"Well, that was certainly an...interesting...dish. What did you call it again?" Katianna asked. She and Jovan had joined Johnny and Jenara for dinner. All four of them sat around a small table, the lighting lowered to a low but not completely intimate level. Of the four people around the table, however, only Johnny seemed at ease. The others looked somewhat distressed internally...
"Chorizo," Johnny answered. "I ate it a lot growing up. I thought it would go well with the vegetable stew Jenara made."
"Chorizo...I've heard of that," Jovan said. "Isn't that some sort of Mexican sausage?"
"In the same sense that Genghis Khan was a Mongolian tourist, you could say that," Johnny answered, smiling as Katianna attempted--only with partial success--to stifle a large belch. The Tanzaran palate, almost as versatile as the Tanzarans themselves, didn't quite appear to be up to handling the extremely spicy pork sausages. "I can see that perhaps I should have toned it down a bit. Back on Flor I got used to handling some inordinately hot and spicy foods. I learned later that someone was trying to poison me! It turns out that capsacein is a lethal poisin to Florans."
This sausage is pretty lethal on its own! Jenara thought. Johnny, I love you dearly but you really should learn to cook better!
"Oh, it's okay!" Katianna said. "I always like new challenges. Don't worry about it!"
~Katianna, we've got to get back at him somehow!~ Jenara thought to her fellow Tanzaran.
~Leave this to me! On my signal, here's what we'll do...~
After dinner came drinks. While Jovan contented himself with mineral water from the underground aquifers of Vulcan, Jenara and Katianna had Klingon bloodwine while Johnny had his usual, a Ferengi brand of beer whose label boasted that it was made of "Earth hops, Andorian barley, and the wings of five species of beetles native to Ferenginar." Johnny chose to let his knowledge of the Ferengi language lapse for that last part of the label.
"So, how was your day?" Johnny asked his wife.
"Getting caught back up with the routine. I've been going over the data we obtained from the Eriarti. It looks like they've ranged much farther than we suspected--that vessel you boarded had records on everyone! Apparently they had a few run-ins with the Kelvans. I'm bringing Benton on board to help me assess that one."
"Excuse me--the Eriarti?" Katianna asked. "Are they a major presence here?"
"You could say that," Jenara said as she drank from her goblet. "We've identified them as the race who attacked Tanzara and caused the evacuation back in the 2260's. They appear to be based here in the Gamma Quadrant but have ranged as far as the Beta Quadrant and there is some evidence they may have encountered the Borg. I would have liked to have seen who made out in that encounter!" And if any race ever deserved Borg assimilation, the Eriarti are it!!!
~Is there something you're not telling me out loud?~ Katianna thought to Jenara.
~My reports are on file. Everything that needs to be said, has been said~ Jenara thought back. Katianna, sensing that perhaps she was treading on questionable territory, backed off.
"They've been active in Federation space as well," Johnny added. "The Eriarti were on Earth as early as the 19th century. An ancestor of mine made first contact with them. I'm happy to say that they didn't exactly relish the experience," Johnny said with a grin. The beer was starting to kick in.
"How did you learn this?" Jovan asked.
"Kalmar showed me," Johnny replied. "He and I have developed a very good working relationship since Xenon III."
"'Good working relationship' is an understatement!" Jenara added jokingly. "Those two are as thick as thieves! You'd think they were brothers!"
"Intriguing," Jovan replied. Kalmar wouldn't have attached himself with these two if he didn't see something here. I can sense it too. "I understand you've recently been promoted," he said to Johnny.
"Uh, yes..." Johnny said, a little off guard due to the beer and a rapid change in subject.
"Have you given any thought to your future? You're still awfully young to be a colonel, and all of your promotions have been in the field. More than likely you'll be put in a staff position by Starfleet Command once the Virgo returns to the Alpha Quadrant."
"Yeah, I've thought about that. Not a lot of staff positions I really like, though. I've always been the traditional grunt--life-taker and heart-breaker, you know. I've looked at a few things. Training Command seems interesting, and after Flor I think I might have a future in R&D. I certainly did enough of it there! I was even offered a posting recently, but I turned it down." Johnny said, coming back to his senses a little.
"Really?! You never said anything!" Jenara replied, almost knocking over her wine.
"That's because I was only offered the post today, and I declined it almost as soon as I read it. Company commander for the garrison aboard Starbase 901. It seems Commander Wallace remembered me and asked if I could take command of the garrison. But I like it out here on the edge aboard an exploration vessel and besides, the Briar Patch is a war waiting to happen. I don't mind fighting a war, but I'd rather not actively seek them out if I can avoid it. Bad for the soul. So, I politely declined the post and recommended an old friend of mine instead." What Johnny didn't say was that he had no intention of either abandonning his wife and daughter solely for the sake of his career, or jeopardizing their lives by bringing them into a war zone.
Katianna picked up on his private thoughts--now much more readable due to the influence of alcohol. So did Jenara. He did that for me and the baby?
"Out of curiosity, who did you recommend?" Jenara asked.
"A man I owe my life to. Captain Tarik. I met him when I escaped from that prison camp on Taos back during the Dominion War. I was wounded and only about two hours ahead of the Obsidian Order's guards when I ran across his company. I reported to Tarik, he got me treatment, and we went back and cleaned out the place," Johnny answered. "He's Romulan--the first in Starfleet--so promotions don't come easily for him. I had an opportunity to repay him, so I took it. He'll get a promotion to major and a high-profile command for the first time since the war."
Jenara nodded. She knew what it had just cost Johnny, namely any hope at a decent posting after the Virgo, and the odds of Johnny converting his eagle to one or more stars—already slim--had just gone out the window.
"Generally officers who turn down prestigious posts end up sidelined," Jovan replied. "You are aware of this."
"I am. But my rank means nothing if I don't have the honor and integrity to back it up. The junior officers and enlisted personnel both on the Fleet side and in the Corps look to me as an example. What example is a man who forgets his friends and willingly places his family in the path of danger for the sake of his career?" Johnny answered, then took a long pull from his bottle of beer.
Another warrior of the light, Jovan thought. Jenara as well. The Virgo indeed has a role to play in what's about to come!
"Suppose I were to offer you--both of you--an opportunity to rectify this situation. Have you considered a posting in Starfleet Intelligence?"
Johnny looked stunned and was about to become very angry when Katianna picked up on what had just transpired. ~You might want to think about this,~ she thought to Jovan. ~He had some difficulties with our predecessor aboard the Virgo~
"I see," Jovan said out loud. "I understand that Ms. Sinclair's methods of recruiting you were somewhat less than ethical. I assure you that we are cut from different cloth. There are times when the principles of the Federation override its political interests or even its laws. Not everyone in Intelligence is manipulative and calculating. Join with us, and you can help ensure that people like her don't get out of hand. We need good people--good both ethically and professionally. You'll have a career track back in the Alpha Quadrant again and a chance to make a difference."
Johnny suddenly became sober. "I'll have to admit, your recruiting methods are definitely a step above threatening to blow up my family's quarters, having my runabout shot out of space, and having me stranded in a pre-warp civilization in the middle of a time warp. It might even be interesting. Sign me up!"
"Very good," Jovan answered. "I'll inform the Commandant's Office that you and your platoon are to be transferred to Special Forces Command. That will put you in the loop on all Intelligence activities aboard the Virgo. Once you get back to Earth, you and Jenara will be detailed to Intelligence. The information you've obtained on the Eriarti will be of immense interest. Katianna and I would also like to see whatever data they've collected on the Kelvans as soon as you've consulted with Mr. Benton."
"Of course," Jenara replied. "Well now that that's settled, let's have another drink, shall we?"
Several drinks later, everyone except Jovan was quite polluted. Johnny especially was potted, having consumed several bottles of a Ferengi beer second only to Romulan ale in its ability to intoxicate.
~Now?~ Jenara thought to Katianna.
~Now!~ Katianna answered.
"Excuse me, where are the facilities?" Katianna asked.
"Down that way," Jenara answered, pointing to a doorway leading into the compartment's bathroom.
A minute later what appeared to be an exact double of Jenara reappeared through the door.
Johnny looked. Then looked again.
"Wait a minute. Weren't you just over there? Oh, you are over there! And over there!"
"Who's over here?" Katianna, having shifted into Jenara, asked.
"You, Jenara!"
"But I'm over here!" Jenara said from the sofa where she was seated.
"No you're not--you're over there!" Johnny exclaimed, turning around and pointing at--
Katianna.
"No, you must be mistaken, Johnny! I'm Katianna! Jenara's over there!" she said, pointing over at the sofa.
Johnny turned around and saw Katianna sitting on the sofa. Jenara had shifted form into Katianna.
"Looking for me?" Jenara asked, still in Katianna's form.
"Wait a minute! I want you both here where I can see you!" Johnny exclaimed. He was just barely able to stay on his feet.
Katianna walked over to the sofa and sat down next to Jenara. Both of them looked like Katianna at the moment, though.
"Oh, I get it!!! You're shapeshifting! Switch back to Jenara, then!"
Both of them shifted to the form of Jenara.
"No, no, no! Only one of you be Jenara!"
Katianna shifted into Jenara.
"Okay, that's better!"
"But I'm not Jenara. I'm Katianna!" the person who looked like Jenara said.
"And who are you?" Johnny asked the person who looked like Katianna.
"I'm Katianna!" Jenara said.
"Wait a minute!!!" Johnny said, getting a little agitated. The beer had completely clouded his thought processes.
He tried to concentrate, when suddenly the problem was solved for him by a cry from the other room.
"Oh, that's the baby!" the form that looked like Katianna said as she shifted into Jenara. "I'd better check on her!"
Every day I love my little girl even more... Johnny thought as he nearly collapsed. Jovan and Katianna—now back to her proper form--took him by either arm and led him to a chair.
"Okay, Marine, time to take a breather on the beer," Jovan said. "Computer, anti-intoxicant 923B, 500 milliliters."
The replicator hummed to life and produced what appeared to be a steaming hot cup of coffee.
Katianna retrieved it and gave it to Johnny. He drank it down and sobered up within seconds.
"I don't suppose you remember our conversation?" Katianna asked.
"Every word. And I still say yes."
"Good. We're having a briefing at 1030 hours tomorrow to go over some of Jenara's preliminary findings. You and Jenara should both be there."
"You got it!"