Tarik had spent most of the trip to the B'aku world mastering the tactical station aboard the Arizona. He'd worked Tactical once before, but it was years ago aboard the Ventura, a Norway-class medium cruiser, and it had only been briefly. The
Steamrunner class was entirely different, and Tarik had been refreshing his skills (and those of the hapless ensigns who comprised the Tactical team) by running computer drills.
The B'aku world hove into view; by Tarik's estimation it was about 0330 station time. In the field, Tarik was used to staying up for several days at a stretch. His Romulan physiology, combined with an enhanced fear of getting shot, allowed him to endure such long watches. But Tactical on a shakedown run was essentially a desk job. And nothing frustrated Tarik more than desk work!
"Sir, I am to relieve you," a voice said, shaking Tarik from his reverie. It was Ensign D'anconio, the Gamma Shift watch officer for Tactical.
"I stand relieved, Ensign. Nothing remarkable to report, although you may want to review the torpedo targeting protocols. They are somewhat different from the old Arizona's."
"Thank you, sir," the ensign said, taking Tarik's seat.
Tarik thought about just heading back to his assigned berth and getting some sleep. His troops were long-since settled in, and nothing more required his attention with the exception of some food! Tarik was curious to see how Kassia was settling in on this, her first trip aboard a starfleet vessel. He didn't want to risk waking her, but something was telling him that Kassia had not yet retired for the evening. He found Kassia's berth without difficulty and chimed the door.
As the door slid open, Kassia was there. In her hands were two glasses of champagne and on her body was a blue Starfleet uniform. Her smile was bright, and her green eyes sparkled. "Surprise," she said.
"I'm sorry, ma'am, I was looking for....Kassia?" Tarik said, suddenly becoming speechless as he recognized her. He smiled.
She giggled. "Here, I think you might need this," she said, handed him one of the glasses. She lead him inside and then did a full turn. "What do you think?" she asked. "Do you like it?"
"Oh, yes--you definitely fill it out well!" Tarik said. And she did, too! "But you'll want to straighten the collar of your inner tunic a bit," he mentioned, reaching over to adjust it. "That's better. But--how????"
She giggled again. "I was asked by Captain Wallace to take the position of Counselor for the Station and the Arizona. I thought about it for a couple of hours and . . . Here I am! A Brevet Ensign!"
"Well, congratulations!" Tarik said. "Still, though, why didn't you say something earlier? I saw you go into his ready room just after we shipped out..."
"I needed time to think," she said. "I mean . . . I have never made a major life decision without Troy . . . and I needed to get a few things sorted out in my own head about that." She lead him to the couch so they could sit. "I would have told you, but I was so wrapped up in my own thoughts anyway . . ."
"Well, this is a surprise, to be sure! You're taking on a big responsibility and a lot of work. Are you sure you know what you're getting into?" Tarik asked. "If you ever need to talk about anything, you know you can come to me."
"Actually," she replied, "I was going to ask you if you'd be willing to be my tutor of sorts . . . There is so much to review . . . and its all so new to me . . . I know I'm going to need someone to help me understand half of it . . . And . . . I'd rather it be you . . . " She looked at him hopefully. What she was asking was a very big job. More so than just answering a few questions here and there.
"I would be honored," Tarik said, looking into her eyes. "Anything you need I can help you with. Do you know what I was doing before I came to SB901?"
"We've never actually spoken about what you did before . . ." she said. "Not really . . ."
"Enlisted Training Command at Starfleet's facility on Mars. Before that, I was an advisor to the Bajoran military, helping them to harmonize their operational procedures with Starfleet's. Someone seems to think I'm good at training people," Tarik said, smiling, "so I might as well put it to the best possible use!"
"Oh thank you!" she said, and embraced him enthusiastically.
Tarik held her close, then laughed. "Don't thank me just yet!!!" he replied.
As she pulled away from him and gazed into his dark eyes, she sighed. "You know, I have never been more sure of anything in my life. This feels right for me . . . but . . . It's really scary too . . . And part of the being afraid, is not leaning on Troy in this . . ."
"One of the things you'll learn as an officer is that you have to exercise your own judgment. You will frequently be in situations where there won't be anyone to advise you or give you the right answers. A lot of times there aren't any right answers, only answers that aren't quite as wrong. But that's why they give you a commission! It says that you have the authority and the responsibility to make decisions under those circumstances," Tarik informed her. "Oddly enough, Troy and I were talking about this not long ago. As much as you need to learn how to make decisions on your own, he needs to learn how to let you make those decisions. It's going to be a growing process for both of you!"
"Well, I didn't even realize just how much I relied on him to help me with decisions until today . . . when Captain Wallace offered me this position," she explained. "That's a lot of what was on my mind . . . That maybe I had allowed myself to rely on
Troy too much . . . and maybe by taking this position in Starfleet, I would learn to rely on myself. But its so new and different. Its uncharted territory for me . . . I asked Paul earlier, but I want to ask you too . . . Do you think I have what it takes?"
"Part of the interview process for prospective Academy cadets is an interview by a serving Starfleet officer, a captain or higher. If Wallace didn't think you could handle it, he would never have offered you the position to begin with, Kassia," Tarik replied. "But what he thinks isn't important. It's what you think . . . If you had any doubts, how come you didn't ask me? I would have helped you!"
"I didn't want to interrupt you . . . I don't know what the protocols are for disturbing you on the job . . . and . . . as I said, there's so much I don't know . . . " she replied, with a soft, yet concerned smile. "And I don't know if its real doubt or just the fact that I have never done anything remotely like this before . . . "
Tarik laughed. "Honey, unless someone is shooting at me I am more than willing to talk to you at any time! Especially tonight, the most boring watch I've had in years! But that was when you were a civilian. Now that you're a Starfleet officer, you're right--there are protocols! Gods, are there protocols!!!" he groaned. "You're probably a bit intimidated, and that's not unusual for a new officer. I could tell you some stories!!! But when I got to the Academy, particularly after my parents were killed, I was scared to death to think independently. You've got some advantage in that you're coming into this as an adult with some life experience. As long as it's what's right for you, all else will follow."
"And that's the one thing I'm sure of," she said. "That this is right for me . . . predictions about my own future are never clear and yet . . . This feels right . . . This feels like what I should be doing . . . I can't explain it . . . This all goes beyond the scope of what I've experienced . . . But I also don't want to disappoint Captain Wallace. I feel like he's placed a lot of faith in me . . n. "
"Let me quote something to you, Kassia. I think it applies here," Tarik said. "This was said nearly six hundred years ago by an Earthman named Goethe:
'The moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves also. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of nunforeseen incidents, meetings, and material assistance which no one could have dreamed would have come their way. Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it! Boldness has a genius, power, and imagination to it. Begin it now!!!!'"
She smiled, and caressed his face tenderly. "Thank you," she said, and kissed him tenderly.
Tarik took hold of her, and returned the kiss somewhat more stridently. "You're going to do just fine! I'll make sure of that!!!" he said. "And I think once Troy thinks about it, he'll agree with your decision, too. And even if he doesn't, it's your decision!"
The more Tarik thought about it, the more it made sense. Troy's worried about Kassia being unprotected. He won't have to worry about that anymore--not many people would dare lay a hand on a Starfleet officer! And those who do quickly regret it, legally or otherwise! Tarik smiled a devious smile...
"You and Troy have talked a lot more than I realized," she smiled, as she read his thoughts, as if they had been her own.
"He and Paul are the siblings I never had," Tarik told her. "Troy and I probably speak every other day; the sentries don't even challenge him when he comes down to Marine Country these days!" he added with a laugh, not mentioning that he'd long since put both Troy and Kassia on the permitted visitors list for the restricted area.
"One thing you should consider, though: who is going to mind your shop? Even on a brevet basis a Starfleet commission means a lot of work. A lot of us have interests that need to be maintained while we're on extended assignments--I'm probably the only Marine officer who retains a literary agent!" Tarik said. His parents' collections still brought in significant royalties. "Do you have someone with whom you'd trust your shop?"
"Danni," she replied without hesitation. "I would trust her with my life . . . not to mention my shop." She laughed again.
"Of course! How could I have forgotten?" Tarik laughed again. "Then you're set. Tomorrow we'll begin the lessons...unless you'd like to begin tonight," he said with a twinkle in his eye...
"Lessons tonight, might be very beneficial . . . I might as well get a headstart," she replied, and she nibbled her lower lip as her smile grew.
"Okay, our first topic: uniform maintenance and presentation! I don't like the looks of that uniform, Ensign!"
"Then, Sir, please show me how to fix it . . ." she replied, trying to hide a seductive smile.
"Well, this is serious. I'm afraid you're going to have to take it off completely and start again..." Tarik said with a leer...
Without hesitation, she reached for the zipper, though she knew she would have to stand up to disrobe completely. "You know, this zipper seems to be stuck, sir . . ." she replied, her green eyes sparkling. "I believe I may need your assistance."
"It's like this," Tarik said, demonstrating with his own. "Here, let me show you." He reached over and completely unzipped the tunic.
She was just about at the point where she wasn't sure she wanted to play anymore, and quickly pulled the tunic off and straddled him. "Sir . . . I think I need your help with something else . . . and it isn't my uniform . . ." The passion burning in her eyes.
Tarik responded immediately. "I think I have just what you need!" he said, pulling her close and running his hands along her flanks. He took her face in his hands and kissed her passionately, a kiss that never seemed to end as his hands continued their nprobing...
She lost herself in his touch and kiss. Their bond was powerful and grew with every day.
"I love you," she whispered breathlessly, as their kiss ended for a moment.
He'd never felt as close to anyone as he'd felt to Kassia...and now she would share in the only other thing that had managed to possess his life and his thoughts to anywhere close to the same extent. "I love you too, Kassia. More than anything," Tarik answered.