Kiara Pagliacci - First Post

The crowd in 6-10 was larger than usual.  People were in jovial spirits... more than likely due to the return trip home.  The MacKenzie was due for an upgrade... and everyone was excited about seeing loved ones... familiar surroundings.

Except for one.

Sitting in a darker corner of the lounge sat the ship's assistant chief of security.  She had made the transition in near record time... from ensign to lieutenant... from security officer to assistant chief... in less than two years.  Yet, the prospect of returning to Earth did nothing for her.  In fact, if anything... it was more depressing.  Because unlike everyone else... Kiara Pagliacci had no one to go home to.  The truth be told... she didn't even have a home to go home to.

So, she sat in the corner.  In front of her was her usual drink.  Coffee.  Two sugars and a splash of milk.  Everyone knew that was what she usually had.  Some wondered if she drank anything else.

"Can I get you anything else, Lieutenant?"

"Nah... I'm good... thanks, though."  Her unmistakable Brooklyn accent didn't carry its usual upbeat tone.

"You okay?"

She shrugged.  "I dunno... just not lookin' forward to the next coupl'a days."

"But... we're back home."

Kiara looked up, a tinge of sadness in her eyes.  "No... you're back home."

The young woman walked away.  She knew better than to press the matter.  It was the one sore subject with Kiara... and arguing it was not a good idea.

Finishing her coffee, Kiara stood, straightening her uniform.  Uniforms.  It seemed her entire life she had worn a uniform... in one form or the other.  Red and black in cross country, swimming and track for the Piedmont Lady Hawks.  The camouflage fatigues of the United States Army.  The crimson and blue of the Ole Miss Rebels.  The dark blue of the New York City police.  And now... the gold and black designating her as a member of security.  She decided heading back to quarters was the best idea... maybe some holodeck time later.

"Lieutenant Pagliacci."

She looked up.  "Commander Havicek."

"Pardon me for saying... but you don't look too happy."

"That obvious, huh?"

"You look like a bankrupt Ferengi, actually."

Kiara winced.  "Gee... you sure know how ta make a girl feel good."

"Sorry... wasn't trying to drag you down further.  Want to talk about it?"

"If it's all the same... not really.  Just the same old shit to a different tune, anyway."

Dain Havicek nodded.  He seemed to be one of the few who didn't get bent out of shape by Kiara's near-constant use of profanity.  "Well, I'll be sticking around the ship, too."

"Why?  You have family."

"Yes... and they're coming here.  My parents and sister."

The holodeck was in the middle of one of Kiara's many programs.  She had a lot of catching up to do.  Right now... she was in a hockey mood.  This was Game Four of the 2041 Stanley Cup Finals.  The Rangers and the Red Wings.  The Rangers were down two games to one... and losing this game 3 - 2 in the second period.

Dressed in a Rangers jersey, blue jeans, and boots, Kiara jumped out of her seat... along with eighteen thousand other "fans".

"What are you fuckin' blind???  How the fuck you gonna call that boarding???  Come on, ref... gimme a fuckin' break!!!"  Plopping back into her seat, she turned to the "man" next to her.  "Can you believe that shit?"

"No fuckin' kiddin'... if that call costs us the game... I swear to ya... my cousin Paulie is gonna pay that guy a fuckin' visit."