From the Kirusan ship, both Ensign Garza and Lt. Lataro were beamed directly to Sickbay. The medical staff had gone to work right away on Garza. When Captain Maruu entered Sickbay, Garza was recovering from his phaser burn, and Lt. Lataro was resting. The doctor had just finished with the dermal regenerator on his face.
"Jonathan, I am glad to see that you made it back," Captain Maruu said.
"Thank you, sir." Jonathan went into detail about what he saw, and the Kirusan he encountered.
"Well, Lieutenant, I can't wait to read your report. As soon as you're finished here, get to work on that and get it to me as soon as possible."
"Yessir."
"Well, Captain," the Doctor began. "That blow to Mr. Lataro's head caused a little damage to his facial bone. I would like for him to rest for the rest of the day, and he probably will be able to report back to duty in the morning."
"Very well. Jon. You heard the man. Take it easy for the rest of the day. First thing in the morning I want to see a report." Captain Maruu left.
"No problem, sir." Lataro directed his attention at the Doctor. "But I feel fine."
"I know Lieutenant, but I want to make sure that are no internal injuries and/or head injuries."
"Fine, sir. But do you see any reason why I must remain in here?"
"Well, I guess not. As long as you take it easy and listen for me to call if I wanted to check on you. Give me your word that you will call me if there is any problem or you begin to experience any headaches or pain."
"Don't worry Doc, I will. You have my word."
Lt. Lataro sat at the far table nursing a glass of blood wine when she came in. Ensign K'Lara noticed Lataro and approached the table. "Hi. Mind if I sit here with you?"
He cleared his throat and shoved PADDs out of the way. "No, not at all. Please. May I get you a drink?" he asked.
"I can't; I am still on duty."
"Oh. Well maybe when you get off. The doctor took me off of duty for the rest of the day."
"So what happened over there?"
"Nothing really. I just got into a fight, damaged my face, and so now I am here sitting in the forward lounge drinking and talking to a very beautiful lady."
She blushed. "Now Lieutenant, what really happened?"
He began to tell her what had happened: Garza and he were trying to upload the computer information to the Virgo, the Kirusan shooting at them injuring Ensign Garza, and then the fight. "K'Lara, you should have been there! It was glorious. The large Kirusan seemed to fly at me and just as he landed I moved out of his way. I laid some harsh blows to his face and stomach. He got a lucky punch in but it didn't stop me but I just went at him. Ha! When I was finished with him he was a bloody pulp!" Lataro laid it on thick. He exaggerated everything from his roundhouse kick to how he broke the Kirusan's arm. He wanted so bad to impress K'Lara, and as in Klingon ways, he told of the battle and how he was victorious. I hope that she doesn't find out the truth, Lataro thought.
"Wow!" Her eyes were glazed over. K'Lara was so engulfed with the story that she didn't realize her lunch had arrived. She consumed the gagh quickly like a true Klingon. Lataro just watched her and awed at her beauty. The ridges on her forehead were pronounced, the sign of a true warrior. As she was female, Lataro assumed that she had not had too many opportunities to prove her courage and her honor, but Jonathan just looked at her and admired the roughness and just plain ruggedness of her actions. She could definitely prove herself as a warrior! he thought. Most humans would have been appalled at the moving gagh, the crudeness with which Klingons conduct themselves at the table, their loud boisterous laughter, or even just their overall appearance, however Lataro had spent most of his teenage life amongst the Klingons on Kronus and never had he actually seen a more beautiful woman. Finally, he swallowed hard and threw down his fists on the table startling K'Lara.
"Would you like to have dinner with me tonight?" he said.
"Well, this is sort of sudden," she said as she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. "This is the first time we have actually talked. Well, sure. But then again you are handsome...for a human."
"Thank you. I think that..."
"I will have you!"
"What?!" K'Lara caught Lataro off guard. His time with the Klingons did not prepare him for that.
"I will have you!" With that she reached over the table and grabbed Lataro by the shoulders to pull him close. His eyes were wide!
"Um...there is no hurry, K'Lara."
"Yes! There is!" She pulled him to her and pressed her lips against his. Rough and to the point; that is what he liked, but this was just a little faster then even he understood! However, he liked this no matter and didn't want it to stop. She pulled away. "Hmmm. Maybe there is hope for you yet, Lieutenant."
"Um...please call me Jon."
"Very well...Jon. How about if we go to my quarters and continue this conversation?"
"Uh..."
[Lt. Lataro please report to Sickbay.]
What?! Oh man... talk about bad timing! he thought. "Be right there." he replied. "Well, my dear, we may need to take a rain check on that. Trust me though, we will continue right where we left off."
"I will be waiting."
Damn! "Computer save program!"
The forward lounge disappeared as did the image of Ensign K'Lara. He knew that there was a problem with ethics in his problem but this was how he dealt with the reality of being unnoticed. Oh well. I guess this is better than nothing, he thought as he left Holodeck One and headed for Sickbay.