***** Main Engineering ****** Hawk, walking slowly, made an unceremonious entry into main engineering. Several crewmates turned to Hawk and asked him what was up, his only reply was to grumble and wave off any other questions. The fact that he was pretty much second officer in engineering helped him out in that respect for the moment. Hawk walked into Rick's office and noted he wasn't about. Turns out Rick was very busy setting up some sensor pallets "upstairs" near impulse support. Hawk walked out of Ricks office and tried to figure out what needed to be done. He had a total of 30 minutes sleep, and worked even harder after dinner last night than he did before. That and now he noted he still smelled like Bev's perfume, it was strong and could make for some comments. Just as long as it was fellow engineers he would be ok though. Puzzled by a reference she didn't understand, Rangi had decided to ask for an explanation from the CEO himself so made her way to engineering hoping to find him there with a few moments to spare. Everyone seemed busily engaged when she entered main engineering except for a tall figure standing near the CEO office door. She recognized Hawk straight away, the recent events in Bragg's brig still fresh in her mind. "Lt Versey" she said approaching him "Is Lt Rodgers around?" She glanced inside the empty office as she spoke then looked at Hawk for an answer. Hawk stood for a moment and the only thing running through his head was, (I hope she can't smell me, oh my god if she smells me her opinion will likely go even lower) He realized that she WAS expecting an answer and tried to replay in his head what she just said. Coming to his senses he replied, "No ma'am, he is on deck 3 working on sensor pallets." Hawk tried not to look as though he had been up and VERY active in one way or another for the past 24 hours. Boy this was his first ten minutes of the shift, how was the next 7 and a half hours going to shape up. An inspection by the CO and a battle seemed to be on order just after Rangi leaves. "Right." Rangi replied "No matter..perhaps you can help me instead." She took a step nearer Hawk, at the same time reaching into her shoulder bag for the padd. "It's about this..." she said, activating it and highlighting the paragraph she didn't understand. "Can you please explain it?" She glanced at him as she spoke and paused. {Lipstick?} she thought incredulously, catching sight of a deep red coating on Hawks lower lip. Hawk took the padd and now he was a bit more clarified, he had a task and his mind had a masterful ability to focus on a single item, blocking out the fact that Rangi was now clearly investigating his face. "Well ma'am this is just a power plasma flow notification. We placed a quadruple safety system on the deck 5 impulse drive inlets. The basic wording of what it says is this. In case the warp drive shuts down unexpectedly, there are four safety systems to keep the ships power needs from trying to overwork the impulse power capacity. Thus frying our impulse reactor as well" Hawk elaborated at length. Rangi studied the information carefully, working out the needlessly convoluted phrasing until it was clear. Beginning to smile, she raised her head and turned to Hawk intending to thank him, but a waft of perfume caused her to look at him thoughtfully for a moment. {That's 'Fervent' isn't it?} she questioned herself, recognizing the perfume that Lucy had worn once or twice but had discarded when Scott had told her it reminded him of burnt popcorn and dirty socks mixed together.No matter that he teased her, Lucy had never worn it again. She took a step back, switched off the padd and said.. "Thank you Lieutenant." and gave him a considering look. At that point Hawk noted Rangi looking at him a bit oddly. His first instinct was to scowl and wonder what the problem was, and then his previous train of thought returned. A panicked expression crossed his face as he realized she was smelling him, and god knows what else she noticed. Trying to get something out to explain Hawk blabbed out a fast explanation, "I can explain my current state, Ma'am. I spent the evening with a friend and ummmmm... she....aaaaaaa, I don't normally smell this....aaaaa....Loud." "Lieutenant..I didnt think you'd begun wearing ladies perfume." she said, "..nor yet that you'd choose that particular shade." Her fingers touched her lips, curved in amusement, as a clue that she had noticed. The moment for Hawk turned 10 degrees farther towards a course of pure hell as another crewman walked behind the two. The crewman was one of the new ships barbers. He also happened to be Klingon and was in normal fashion very aggressive, a little too aggressive that is. He passed behind Hawk and paused as Rangi replied to Hawk's panicked explanation. He sniffed a moment and then, growled! Both Rangi and Hawk stopped and turned to regard the Klingon. He spoke to Hawk, "Nice perfume sailor, Grrrrrrrrrr." At this point, seeing the expression on Hawks face, Rangi had to throw her hand over her mouth and turn away to stifle the exploding laughter that threatened to burst out at any moment. Once back in control she turned to observe the pair. Hawk simply stood wide eyed in amazement, or shock, wasn't too sure which at that point. The Klingon continued, "That's a nice shade a lipstick, officer." And then he winked at Hawk. Hawk hurriedly went to wiping his lips and tried to figure out what the hell to say or do at this point. He didn't have a problem with anyone's personal sexual orientation, but the fact that this was a Klingon just threw him for a loop. He had NEVER considered that as possible, that and he wasn't even remotely interested in returning the advances of any Klingon, male or female. "Crewman, I'm sorry but is there something you needed." Hawk finally put together. "Oh I see, that wasn't YOUR lipstick after all, and the perfume......hmmmmm" He replied. Hawk briefly explained the perfume and it's source, the barber who's name was Jinklaw, made sure to point out that Hawk could come visit him for a hair cut any time he wished and excused himself. *** End Log *** LTjg Hawk Versey Asst Eng Officer USS Chimera-A & Commander Rangi Summers XO USS Chimera-A