life's blood

[warpfairy]

They're not near Cardassian Union space.

But then, they're not near Federation space either. This ship has as much right to be in this system as they do.

It makes Isabella nervous, anyway, and she's just about to suggest leaving and coming back another time, when the Prometheus is hailed.

They're armed. She can't warp inside a solar system.

She answers the hail.

"Hello, Federation vessel," says one of the three visible Cardassians in bad but intelligible English. "What're you doing out here alone?"

Isabella swallows. "This is the deep space survey vessel Prometheus," she begins.

The computer lets her know that they're charging weapons.

"We have no hostile intention," she says.

Comments

[dream_me_up]

Lalita chuckles.

[alicornucopia]

Kelvok shifts uncomfortably and takes another bite of his meal.

[dream_me_up]

"Didn't turn out so well for your friends. I guess it's up to you what you think of the tradeoffs in your case," says Lalita.

[alicornucopia]

Kelvok declines to comment on this subject.

[dream_me_up]

Lalita giggles.

[alicornucopia]

Kelvok still doesn't have anything to say, although he does look more uncomfortable when Lalita laughs.

[dream_me_up]

Yes. Lalita can tell.

"Well," he says, "I could break all your weapons systems, get back on my ship, and let you go home."

[alicornucopia]

Kelvok nods.

After a pause, he says, "I'm incompetent at repair, but if my uncle can fix them when I get back I'll be in less trouble."

[dream_me_up]

"I'm sure I can find something vital but not particularly expensive to rip out and take with me," he says cheerfully. "I'm good at that sort of thing."

[alicornucopia]

Kelvok nods.

And then he observes:

"The lock didn't stop you. You could've broken out any time."

[dream_me_up]

"Yep."

[alicornucopia]

Kelvok is not, apparently, feeling nervy enough to ask any followup questions.

[dream_me_up]

"I thought my friend was safe," he says. "And I like you."

[alicornucopia]

"She was going to be. I didn't have anything invested in hurting her. Brol badgered me into modifying the deal on the grounds that there aren't many of those flying around anymore," mutters Kelvok, and then he preemptively flinches, like he expects harm to result from admitting this.

[dream_me_up]

Lalita shrugs.

"I figured it was something like that," he says.

[alicornucopia]

"The deal was that if he got her to make a noise the excursion was over, we dumped you both and went home. She didn't."

[dream_me_up]

"I noticed."

[alicornucopia]

Kelvok looks away, shrugs.

[dream_me_up]

Lalita sits quietly.

[alicornucopia]

"So you spoke Cardassian the whole time, huh."

[dream_me_up]

"Yes I did."

[alicornucopia]

Kelvok appears to find this embarrassing.

[dream_me_up]

Lalita appears to find this adorable.

[alicornucopia]

Kelvok appears to find that embarrassing too.

[dream_me_up]

It's a never-ending cycle!