=/\= Pochinki’s Quarters =/\= Quarters on Starbase were quite spacious. They consisted of several linked rooms, including a bedroom with a view of the stars, as well as the necessary facilities and a miscellaneous room to the far left, where a table and several chairs sat. Acheson politely deferred the honor of entry to the beautiful Lieutenant, to whom he’d recently become acquainted. “What would you like?” He turned over to see her, in a revealing light, and could only gaze at the spectacle. “I said what do you want?” Nathan shook his head and looked down, momentarily, as thoughts of what to ask for rushed through his head. He wanted to choose a dish indicating humility yet sophistication that was not only acceptably nutritious, but also palatable. “Ah, Betazed avian salad.” She smiled and tapped at the replicator. “2 Betazed avian salads.” The computer made a sort of mechanical buzzing sound as it compiled the necessary molecules of which their meal consisted. 2 identical plates, with necessary silverware, appeared beneath the replicator. She drew both out and placed them on the table. “I’ve never have this before. How is it?” Acheson smiled. “It’s fantastic. It’s made with a sauce coming from a rare plant on the service.” She nodded and began to work her way on the steaming platter beneath her. The bird from which it came was a white meat and the foliage around it consisted of various textures and flavors. The entire meal was covered in a thick liquid of sorts. Acheson took a bite, knowing that the dressing alone would probably require hours of holodeck training to undo. “How is it?” he asked. Clarissa smiled. “It’s great!” She continued to eat, with a slight smile as she continued to look up at Nate. Acheson’s eyes wondered, momentarily, and he looked to the side of the room. His face shifted, as he noticed something peculiar in his peripheral vision. Looking at the side, he noticed a black plating, with green icons, in the middle of a silvery-metallic tritanium bulkhead. He began to breath fast, …. “Borg!” his mind filled. But suddenly, the image disappeared and was replaced with the usual color, and no indication of Borg infiltration. He rubbed his eyes, trying to determine which reality was actually reality and which vision was either hallucinatory or imaginative. “Is something wrong?” She headed toward him. “Oh, nothing.” He shook his head a final time, before returning his attention to the meal. She finished hers as he had been staring at the side. She watched him patiently, with a look of admiration upon her. As he finished, he pushed the plate away. “Well, I guess …” She cut him off. “You know, I have one of those holoprojectors from the 23rd century, where they were entertained passively by 3 dimensional projections of theatre. He smiled. “Sounds like fun” She cheerfully nodded. “Let’s go.” They walked from the miscellaneous room, to her bedroom. The bed was unkept, and clothing seemed to cover the floor more often than carpet. Nathan sat down on the foot of the bed and she walked forward, typing a few commands into a console. An image appeared, of a man in 17th century clothing. As the production began, Acheson listened as the story developed. A Danish prince was visited by the ghost of his father, who told him that his Uncle had murdered him and that he must avenge his death. Acheson shook his head. “I know I’ve heard of this before.” “It’s Hamlet, silly.” “Oh, right.” He watched, edging closer to her as she sat there. She didn’t seem to object, so he continued. Once he was close enough, he reached a friendly arm around and connected at the other end of her shoulder. She leaned into his embrace, resting her head on his shoulder. The play continued. Hamlet used in a play in order to cause a shouted confession of his Uncle Claudius. “Methinks the play’s the thing wherein I’ll catch the conscience of the King” he said, via soliloquy. The two sat together and Nathan slowly turned his head and connected to nudged hers. He brought his lips to hers and they kissed. At first she was startled, but she continued along with him. The play continued. Hamlet killed Cladius, but he himself died from a poisoned weapon. This tragic ending mattered not to the two Starfleet officers who had so previously been watching, as they continued to concentrate only on each other. =/\= END LOG =/\= 1Lt Acheson CTAC USS Chimera -- ___________________________________________________________ Sign-up for Ads Free at Mail.com http://promo.mail.com/adsfreejump.htm