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

[alicornucopia]

The prisoner looks at him. And at these items. And doesn't say anything.

[dream_me_up]

"If you want to eat or get dressed or both, I will untie you and let you do that," he says.

[alicornucopia]

Kelvok nods.

[dream_me_up]

Lalita unties him.

[alicornucopia]

Kelvok puts on the clothes. He takes the food and starts eating it, not taking his eyes off Lalita.

[dream_me_up]

Lalita leans casually against a wall and watches him eat.

[alicornucopia]

Kelvok's eyes used to go all warm and soft when he was whispering supposedly incomprehensible words.

They are not like that now.

[dream_me_up]

No. He wouldn't expect them to be.

It is, on so many levels, a pity Isabella was with him when he met these people.

[alicornucopia]

Kelvok has apparently firmly decided on a policy of silence to avoid annoying his captor.

[dream_me_up]

"You can talk if you want," he mentions. "I'm in a much better mood now that my friend's been looked after."

[alicornucopia]

"And say what?" shrugs Kelvok.

[dream_me_up]

"That's a point," he laughs.

"You could help me figure out what to do with you, for one thing."

[alicornucopia]

"I think I can get this thing home on my own. It's not designed for a one-man crew but I was doing most of the work to begin with."

[dream_me_up]

"Were you?"

[alicornucopia]

"Yeah. It's my uncle's. Janor was along to translate and Brol was along because it was his idea in the first place."

[dream_me_up]

"What was the idea?"

[alicornucopia]

"...Find somebody off by themselves. Pick them up. Go from there."

[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."