Dance with the Devil...and Change Partners
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Arcadia # 4830 | |
| — Dinaqa — | |
| |
| year | 344 CE (2407) |
| posted | November 3 2007 |
| previous | Anonymity |
| next | Lady in Red |
Responding to "Anonymity"
Bartokian cruiser Dinaqa
Cerina watched as Lieutenant Thunder sent his transmission, then sat back down and proceeded to eat. A Federation ration pack. Amazing. Half-dead... yet he refused medical attention. Starving... yet he wouldn't eat their food. His clothing torn and damaged... yet he wouldn't use their replicators. Did the Arcadians really hate alien races that much?
She had pondered that question ever since Thunder (she seriously doubted he was a member of Starfleet after defecting) had arrived on board. And she had finally reached a conclusion. Hate? Perhaps not. It reminded her of something her father had told her about once. From Earth's past... about segregation laws in the southern region of the North American continent. The law of the land was "separate, but equal." For example, there were separate bathrooms for the different races. They co-existed, but they did so apart from the other. Granted, there were some who hated the others. But for the most part, it was the case of conditional tolerance. That was the feeling she got from Thunder. Maybe he hated her. Maybe he didn't. But she knew one thing: The two of them would never be too close. It just couldn't be. His beliefs didn't allow it. Just like they forced him to suffer through agonizing injury.
If Thunder was anyone else... anyone Bartokian... Cerina could have ordered him to accept medical treatment. Forced him. But Thunder wasn't a member of her crew. He wasn't even Bartokian. And if he wanted to suffer, all Cerina could do was sit back and watch him.
As he ate, he thanked her for the use of the communications array, and then remarked, "Your XO doesn't like me."
Cerina nodded, a wistful look on her face. "Korrine is very... opinionated. Willful. She isn't afraid to speak her mind. Probably what makes her a good XO." Leaning against a wall, Cerina contemplated what he had told her. "I can't speak for her. It's entirely possible." Bartokians were incapable of lying. Even so... Cerina saw no reason to keep the truth from him.
There was an incoming transmission. That was quick, Cerina thought to herself. And whatever the message was, Thunder certainly was disturbed by it. She was about to ask him what the message was, but stopped herself. It was none of her business. And she doubted he would have told her, anyway.
She was getting ready to leave, when she froze in mid-step.
Standing next to her was a young woman, in a red dress and a black leather jacket. As she glanced over to Thunder, she tsked slightly.
"Paul... you really need to take better care of yourself."
▷ continued ◁
