Of sitting ducks and dubious honors

>Jordan tore the paper wrapping off revealing the >wooden plaque within, "For bravery above and >beyond the call of duty," Jordan read, "For >allowing the bad guys to drug her and drag her off, >and for allowing her team mates to shoot in her >general direction. Team ZULU proudly presents >the Sitting Duck award to Special Agent Zenya Gorky."

>Jordan turned the plaque around to show everyone >the text and the mallard duck emblem boldly displayed >in the lower corner, "Congradulations, Zenya."

>Applause broke out around the table and Zenya >looked embarassed. She stood up, shook Jordan's >hand and took the plaque from him.

>"Speech!" Jim began chanting. The others joined in.

Zenya looked the plaque over and smiled, touched and amused by the sentiment. "Thank you, Jordan and everyone, for this� only slightly dubious honor. There's an old Russian proverb, 'vek zhivi, vek ychis,' literally translated, 'if you live a century, you learn a century.' I can honestly say I feel as though I've managed to pack all of that education into a couple of days, and it can be summed up in one sentence. If you can't avoid getting drugged and abducted, just make certain you have good friends who will come to your rescue. All I have left to say is�" She raised her wine glass. "Here's to Jim and Leo. And expert marksmanship!"

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Sydnie Kathryn MacElroy

SA1 Kate Calloway, X-Files, DELTA
SA3 Zenya Gorky, X-Files, ZULU
Fianna Nikal, Kal-Dixas Spaceport

Linguae quae genera distincta non habent inuriam faciunt feminis.

"It may not be apparent, but I am often amused with human behavior."