The next morning Kylen rose early, showered, then grabbed her gold services uniform and dressed quickly. She was on about to zap herself some breakfast when she heard the console on her desk chime. She moved over and pulled up a note from Counselor K'Teira inviting her for some breakfast in the ship's forward lounge.
Kylen grinned. Classic ice breaker. But, since she could think of no better way to familiarize herself with the crew, she responded with a yes.
K'Teira met her at the door of Paris.
"Good morning Commander." she said with a friendly smile.
"It's Kylen, and good morning to you too, Counselor."
K'Teira's smile widened. "Well, if I have to call you Kylen then you have to call me K'Teira."
"Deal." Kylen replied with a grin.
Paris was spacious and neat, and since the hour was so early very few people were present. Those that were there were scattered around the room in small clusters.
Kylen froze for a moment in the doorway and K'Teira placed a supportive hand on her arm.
"It's all right." The Counselor said softly. "You're safe here. No one's going to hurt you."
Kylen smiled over at her gratefully. She then took a deep breath and walked over to one of the food slots.
K'Teira followed at a discreet distance, giving the Commander this small victory.
According to Counselor Troi's preliminary psych evaluation, after being released from Sickbay, Kylen was jumpy and nervous around large groups of people. K'Teira had decided that, while she helped Kylen adjust to life onboard Fairburn, she'd help the woman adjust to life again.
Kylen sighed and drummed her fingers on a table as she tried to decided what she wanted to eat. She'd gotten used to just zapping in some breakfast and eating whatever her mind conjured up. However, she knew she couldn't keep that up. It wasn't at all healthy, and if Beverly Crusher, her mother or even Doctor Pendehar ever found out, she'd never hear the end of it.
With a smile Kylen remembered the breakfast her father had brought for her the first morning they'd been back aboard the Enterprise. She was still in Sickbay and he'd wanted to cheer her up. She had woken up to the smell of cappuccino and croissants-torpilles - torpedo-shaped croissants; her favorites.
"Computer," she said firmly addressing the replicator. "Warm croissants-torpilles and a cup of hot coffee. Cream, sugar."
She waited while the computer processed her request. Seconds later her breakfast began to materialize in the slot. However when it did a confused look appeared on her face. "What in the Elements?" she said, picking it up. "Computer, what did you just replicate?"
"Croissants-Torpilles and coffee, cream, sugar." the computer's voice replied calmly.
"Is therrrre a prrrroblem?" a voice with a decided purr said behind her.
Kylen jumped slightly and turned, tray in hand.
"I am sorrrry." the Prarrian said softly. "I did not mean to scarrrre you."
Kylen smiled. "No it's ok. I didn't sense you coming."
"Kylen this is Chianeé Deserine. She runs Paris. Chianeé, this is the new Communications specialist., Lt. Cmdr Kylen Dubois."
"Welcome, Commanderrrr." Chianeé said warmly. "It is a pleasurrrre to meet you."
"It's a pleasure to meet you too. It's been a while since I've talked to a Prarrian." Kylen responded, eyeing her tray.
"You've met Prrrarrrrians before?" Chianeé questioned.
Kylen nodded. "Yes. We had a couple on board the Enterprise as passengers."
Chianeé smiled. "Rrrrreally." It was then she noticed the look Kylen was sending towards her tray and remembered why she’d come over. "Is therrrre a prrrroblem with yourrrr brrrreakfast?"
Kylen chuckled. "Not a problem per se." She placed the tray on the table and stared at it with her hands on her hips. "It's just that the replicator didn't give me what I asked for. Unless of course, this is the computer's idea of croissants-torpilles, in which case I'll be conjuring up my own meals from now on."
K'Teira smiled then bent over the tray. "What is it?" she asked, looking faintly disgusted.
Kylen grinned at her expression. "It's ambrosia." Seeing the questioning looks both Chianeé and K'Teira directed at her, she quickly clarified, "An old Earth dessert made of gelatin. It's a joke. I'm an Olympian, and the so-called gods of Olympus on Earth were rumored to eat a substance bearing the same name. The word ambrosia actually means "The food of the gods". It supposedly gave them their powers. And since I'm half-Olympian..."
Both K'Teira and Chianeé picked up on the cultural symbolism of the joke, K'Teira saying,
"Ambrosia for an Olympian. A fake version of the food for a..."
"Fake version of a god." Kylen finished with a rueful smile. "Someone's got an interesting sense of humor."
K'Teira and Chianeé shared a look that. While it wasn't telepathic, it spoke volumes. Chianeé made a small noise in the back of her throat and stroked Kylen's hair.
Kylen looked at her worriedly. She'd heard Spot make a noise quite similar to that, and when she did Will Riker usually headed for the hills. And since Prarrians were similar to Earth's feline species Kylen had to resist the urge to read her new friend's mind. Kylen shot K'Teira a questioning look but Chianeé spoke before the counselor could stop her.
"Daniels. I will perrrrrrrsonally...!"
K'Teira reached over, touched the Prarrian on the shoulder and cut her off with a barely perceptible shake of her head. A definite 'not now' gesture.
It was then Kylen picked up on the familiarity between the two women. It had nothing to do with the naturally tactile behavior of Chianeé; these two had been friends for a very long period of time.
"Uh...I think I can handle this one on my own." Kylen said with a grin. She zapped her tray and instantly the ambrosia vanished and became the breakfast she ordered. "After breakfast Lieutenant Daniels is going to get a nasty surprise."
Chianeé purred softly. "It sounds like you'rrrre planning a verrry interrresting rrrevenge." She again punctuated her statement with a light brush of Kylen's hair.
Kylen chuckled. "You can bet on it. I served on the Enterprise for five years. I learned a thing or two about pulling pranks."
"And what would you be planning, commander?" K'Teira inquired.
Kylen shot her a purely sneaky grin. "Oh, you'll see."
After breakfast K'Teira headed to her office while Kylen decided to take a look at her station on the bridge. So when she finished her breakfast and left Paris, Kylen headed for the turbolift.
The doors slid smoothly open and she stepped inside. Clasping her hands lightly behind her back she spoke. "Bridge!" Underneath her feet she felt the slight shudder that signified the lift's start.
As the lift shot towards the bridge Kylen reflected on the people she'd met since coming aboard. Granted they weren't the Enterprise crew but they were something special in their own right. Kylen smiled, she had a feeling that she would enjoy serving on the Fairburn. It would be good to work with Tom again.
So lost was she in her thoughts that she never noticed when the turbolift stopped at a deck to admit another passenger.
"Hello."
The voice startled her out of her reverie, making her jump.
It was then she noticed the Ralexim standing next to her.
"I'm sorry." he said in the whispery soft voice customary of his people.
Kylen smiled cheerfully. "No need to be. I should have sensed you coming. I'm Lieutenant Commander Kylen Dubois, the new Communications specialist."
The Ralexim nodded in acknowledgment. "I’m Lieutenant Jedera, the science officer for the bridge."
Kylen smiled. "You're a Ralexim, aren't you?"
He nodded again. "Yes."
Kylen tilted her head to one side and surveyed him. "There aren't many Ralexim in Starfleet. Guess you must get lonely sometimes. Elements know I do and I'm half human."
"Half?" Jedera looked intrigued.
Kylen chuckled. "Yes. My mother's an Olympian."
He smiled. "A truly fascinating people."
Kylen grinned. "So everyone tells me." Sensing a varied group of minds in one place she realized they were nearing the bridge. "Listen, if you ever want to ask me anything about the Olympians don't hesitate."
Jedera's features brightened and Kylen realized he'd definitely take her up on that offer.
"Thank you. I'll do that."
Kylen smiled at him as the turbolift came to a gentle stop and the doors slipped open revealing the bridge.
When the turbolift doors opened, Daniels’ head snapped up and he glanced over to see who was coming out.
Lieutenant Jedera stepped out and Daniels nodded at him. He'd been kind of hoping that it would be Commander Dubois. He wanted to know what the guy was like. A friend had told him that Kyle Dubois was an amazing officer but strict.
Daniels had no idea what the guy was like. All he knew was that the Commander was part Olympian - and that was all he needed to know to rig the food slot to give the commander a hearty ambrosia breakfast. The captain had told him that the commander's record from Starfleet command would be arriving that morning. Apparently the one that had come in from the Enterprise was for certain senior officers only. Another one would be coming in for general records.
That in itself was enough to get Daniels attention. Two records meant that said officer had something big in his or her past; something Starfleet Command didn't want everyone else to know. Something like they were SI or something. That was the only thing Daniels could think of.
It took him a second to realize that the turbolift doors had yet to close. Which meant they were still occupied. Hmm... maybe Commander Dubois was going to make an appearance after all?
The final occupant of the turbolift stepped out and the doors slid shut. And Daniels’ jaw was suddenly somewhere around his knees.
The person that had stepped out of the turbolift could not be Commander Kyle Dubois. Not with curves like that.
She was gorgeous. Dark thick hair arranged in an elegant style atop her head and striking hazel eyes scanned the bridge.
It was then Commander Grieg spotted her standing there.
"Good morning, Commander." he said, rising from his chair.
"Good morning Commander Grieg." the woman in services gold responded with a nod as he walked up to meet her.
"I trust K'Teira got you settled."
The Commander smiled. "Yes she did. I even got a chance to meet some of the crew."
"Excellent. Allow me to introduce you to the bridge crew, then."
Grieg took Kylen around the bridge showing her the various stations and introducing her to the various officers manning the stations. It was still rather early so most of the alpha shift had yet to arrive but Kylen enjoyed meeting the officers that were there.
However, her greatest enjoyment came when Grieg lead her to the tactical console.
"And this is, as you must have guessed, our tactical station. And this is our chief of security. Lieutenant Matthew Daniels. Mister Daniels, this is the new communications specialist, Lt. Commander Kylen Dubois."
As she shook his hand, Kylen eyed Daniels suspiciously, causing him to feel just the slightest hint of nervousness. This caused Kylen a great deal of amusement and she made a mental note to use this to her advantage later.
"Nice to meet you, Lieutenant." she said, her tone cool.
"Likewise, sir." he said somewhat respectfully.
"I prefer Commander." she said, her tone getting a little more chilly.
"Of course, Commander." He nodded.
Kylen hid a grin. Mr. Daniels, we'll make an officer of you yet! she thought.
The two commanders started to go aft when Kylen stopped and added as an afterthought, "Thanks for breakfast. It was... interesting."
Daniels returned his attention to his console, a frown appearing on his features. That was too easy. Way too easy.
