Kathryn rubbed her forehead slightly, wishing that she could put her thoughts in order. As soon as she thought of one thing it lead to another, and then another in a never-ending cascade effect. "Well . . ." she threw down the PADD. "This is the first time I have absolutely nothing beyond the basics."
"How much am I going to have to pay you to not entertain your scientific side by going back into that thing?" Chakotay teased. He looked at the redheaded woman who sat cradling her forehead in one hand, as he stood and sat down in the chair opposite hers of the desk. "Captain, look at it this way . . ." he met her blue-eyed gaze with his own dark eyes, "Your crew is accounted for, ship repairs are underway and we've cleared the . . .anomaly."
"That isn't good enough, Chakotay." She said softly but solidly. "Out here, if we let one thing go, let one thing slide it always comes back to haunt us. It happened with the Vidiians, The Kazon . . . even Ses . . ." she stopped herself. "I'm sorry," she turned to him.
He grimaced but nodded, "It's alright. Seska was a unique case in which your Commanding officer let one to many things slide," he admitted as he went and sat down awkwardly on the ready room sofa.
"Chakotay," she sat by him, her hand on his shoulder, "everything was so new. It was natural to feel defensive of your own crew above and beyond the new one you were being integrated into."
"Yes, but . . ." he paused and took her hand in his, "knowing now, all that I know about this Starfleet . . . about you, Kathryn, . . .I . . . ."
He didn't get to finish as the ready room doors mechanically beeped for someone's admittance. "Enter," Janeway agreed, with little or no choice. Their conversation would have to wait.
Harry Kim entered, paused slightly, noting his Captain's hand in the Commanders and then continued, "Senior staff is assembled and waiting, Captain."
"There have been no permanent structural damages nor have any of the gel-packs sustained any infections. The warp core, however is still offline. I'll have it up and ready in two days, Captain," B'Elanna stated.
"Understood," Janeway took the chief engineer at her word, knowing she was good for it. "Security check out, Mr. Tuvok?" She turned to the Vulcan.
"Affirmative, Captain," he pushed his fingers together to make a triangular temple with his hands. "As far as we can tell there were no unauthorized beam-ins or outs. I have doubled regular, ship-wide security rounds," he informed the senior staff and raised an eyebrow as Mr. Paris whistled out loud.
"You went all out, Tuvok," Tom, who couldn't even walk down a hallway without seeing a security-op at one turn or another wondered if he'd have to shoulder his way through them now.
"It was . . . logical," Tuvok countered with his Vulcan trait to secretly annoy Paris. Though Vulcans did have feelings they were in total, if not absolute control of them at all times.
"Fine work, unfortunately the commander and I have nothing but basic scientific data to offer any of you on that particular anomaly and what we did get you can find in Starfleet's introductory course at the Academy . . . page . . ." she turned to Chakotay.
"Page five hundred and thirty two, chapter eighteen," he smirked.
"Ah yes," she smiled at the crew members who were enjoying the light hearted banter -- a relief from the stress they had been under these past hours. "Unfortunately it seems to be impervious to our scans. Mr. Paris informs me that all internal and external injuries among the crew have been taken care of by the Doctor, but I want to stress to everyone that if they feel unsure about something . . .anything . . . to not put it off. Is that understood?" She took in the silent nods, knowing her crew appreciated the concern. "Well then . . . let's all get some R&R. Dismissed."
"Captain . . ." Chakotay stepped closer to Kathryn and he rubbed a bit of smokey residue off of the bridge of her nose with his thumb.
"Oh!" She exclaimed rubbing at the same spot in embarrassment after he had removed his finger.
"Would you want to join me in my anomaly-ransacked quarters for a late dinner?" he smiled.
"Are you replicating?" She asked.
"Of course," he offered his arm as they exited the debriefing room.
CONTINUED IN PART 4!
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