Amaranthine Skyways

[Kali Reyes]

[Amaranthine Skyways]

Everything was black except the neon lights and the stars themselves in the sky. Kali revved along the literal rainbow bridge of light minding the bright arrow indicators telling the racers where to go and how to avoid careening off the dangerous narrow pathway and literally tumble out of the sky. There were no kinetic barriers, no paramedic shuttle hovering nearby to catch you. For one mil a head in latinum, no elite betting man would put his summer planet on the line for a go-kart race.

She breached the lead on her skybike because she narrowly avoided that bastard Rominau side-winding one of the racers right over the skyway. It could have been her - should have been her - but her sudden brake kept her from a one-way ticket to terminal velocity bulleting down the atmosphere.

Kali flipped Rominau off with a gloved finger as soon as she found him tailgating her. It was too bad he couldn't see her stick her tongue out at him underneath her helmet.

But then all of a sudden, the raceway beneath them exploded and launched the poor sod in first place up over them in the artificial air. Kali tried to sidewind herself into breaking before speed ended up careening her over the cliff, but Rominau's bike crashed into her's from behind either in malice or genuine confusion. They ended up skidding over the fractured road and would have taken the plunge down below if Kali didn't manage to grab a hold of what was left of the road of the other side.

She gasped in surprise and held on tight to the edge as something heavy tried to pulled her down. Looking down, Kali found that Rominau had grabbed a hold of her legs and was trying to climb up over her to safety or send them both plummeting down. Kali unbuckled her helmet with her free hand and tried to smack him over the head with it as they dangled.

I know what you're thinking, 'Wow, what the hell is this girl doing dangling off the skyway like that without any sort of context for us'? Well, I'm getting there. Don't you have any appreciation for in media res? No? Me neither. The point is - this was a really effed up New Year. Or holidays. Doesn't really matter what term I give. This isn't a political correctness essay, this is me explaining how the hell I got here and how I didn't even get a proper New Year's kiss by the end of it.

Or holiday gift.

Let's start from the beginning, shall we?

[00:00 Starbase Kuiper]

Officers started to trickle out from third shift. Kali yawned and stretched as she walked with a gaggle of crewman who couldn't take the hint that, while she was the mother hen of the ship, she was off the clock, and that meant every poor helpless newbie for themselves.

Mama needed a break and this Vulcan would not stop matching her every step into the lobby. "Yep, that's the skinny," she told T'Shera dismissively. "Need to relax and charge up."

"Skinny, ma'am?"

"Figure of speech," Kali replied and then stopped. "You know I'm part-Vulcan, right?"

"Yes."

"I'm really kinda glad I'm mostly human," she admitted. "No offense."

T'Shera rolled her shoulders back in a way that could have been construed as a shrug. "What is your itinerary, ma'am?"

"Um..." She really didn't expect to be grilled about what she was doing on shore leave. A lot of it shouldn't really be mentioned on any official reports. Like at all. Like meeting Mahak at the Cerulean Plumage for dinner. "I don't know? Maybe get a drink, take the space elevator down planet side and shop a bit."

"That does not sound like rest and relaxation," T'Shera pointed out and yeah, she did have a point. She also didn't know that Kali's version of rest and relaxation was inviting men up to the pleasure dome afterwards. The hot tubs were to die for.

Either way, she didn't have to know any of those things. She's been constantly dogging Kali's steps the past week to talk about Mahak without actually talking about it. Kali learned pretty quickly that for every third question about warp coolant there was a slight jab about her second - like what was his favorite kind of tea or where was his favorite place to meditate. Telling the poor socially-inept Vulcan lady that he preferred her bed to reach enlightenment was kind of pushing the professionalism just a smidge.

Kali couldn't help but snip back. "Well it's not like you have to tag along. I do just fine on my own." It suddenly dawned on her. "You just want to pester me to get back on the ship, aren't you?" And back to Mahak, who would logically keep himself on the ship just like every other functioning Vulcan.

But he wasn't a normal Vulcan. That's for sure.

To her credit, T'Shera's stone gaze fractured when her eyes darted away. "That was not my-"

"Ah-HA!" Kali crowed and held a finger up. "Well I'm on to your game. If you have to shut yourself in a hotel and meditate the entire time, be my guest, but you're not getting back on that ship until the designated clock in. That understood?"

T'Shera dipped her head and held her hands stiffly behind her back. "Understood, ma'am."

"Good. Dismissed. And for God sakes just enjoy yourself," she flapped her hand at her to bug off. "It's the holidays! Be merry, go do merry things. Hasta la vista!" And when she abruptly turned around to drive the point home she almost smacked face first into a holographic ad.

Live life on the fast lane! Amaranthine Skyways is one of the top competitors in repulsor-powered racing! Strap in and rev up - and if not, visit the Mile High Sky Club for drinks and entertainment for the track elite! Amaranthine Skyways - only a teleporter trip away!

"Now that's what I'm talking about!" she said excitedly. Bottle-rocket escorts, heart pounding speed, flipping off your opponent on the track - it was like Christmas. A little late, but whatever.

Speaking of late, the main elevator doors opened up and there, in all his pristine glory, was Mahak. Kali cringed and, before he could have any chance to move forward and speak, she quickly herded him back into the elevator, chest-to-chest, and pressed the button to shut the doors.

If T'Shera saw them, Kali was none the wiser.

On her way up to kiss him she asked, "Let me guess: I'm late?"

[Malcolm Adeyemi]

[Midnight - Starbase Kuiper]

Late, Mahak had learned, was a relative term to Chief Kali Reyes. From his youth it had been drilled into him that punctuality was a way of life. It was not due to any social graces or consideration to others, it merely was what it was. No Vulcan had probably ever been neglectfully late for something since the time of Surak. In Basic, a majority of the young recruits had found themselves coping with the concept of being on time. For Mahak it was as easy as sneezing.

Shore leave was another concept that mystified him. Ordinarily, Mahak kept his recreation to an appropriate minimum of appropriate activities. Studying. Meditating. Exercising. It was such a part of his daily routine that it never occurred to him to set aside an extended period for rest and relaxation. He supposed his discipline is what made him the officer he was, and the man. But after spending so much time with Reyes he felt as if he was lacking something that she brought to the table.

Why, here he was, traveling down the cosmopolitan corridor of a starbase. He idly wondered what he would be doing had Reyes not chosen to share her life with him. Probably in his quarters with a candle lit and in deep thought. It did have its appeal, but right now he could think of nothing else more logical for him to do than to spend time with her.

"Hey, crewman, do you know where the race sign ups are?" Asked a junior officer, a human pilot with hair that was just a touch too long for regulations.

Mahak went to the position of attention like it was a reflex. He brought his heels sharply together, toes out at a 45 degree angle, forefingers and thumbs in line with the seams of his uniform trousers.

"Sir! Crewman Mahak is not aware of any race, sir!"

"We're on shore leave, crewman, let's not do the whole 'work' thing," The pilot said, but he was smiling. "What's your name and rank, crewman?"

"Sir! ...sir, Crewman Mahak, off of the Discovery."

"The Disco! I know you're cook really well. Does she still put ketchup on her hot dogs?!"

"I do not eat hot dogs or frequent the mess hall, sir." Mahak pointed out.

"Of course you don't. I just thought..." The human started. "I mean, ketchup on hot dogs is a crime against humanity."

"I will take your word for it, sir."

"Sure. Enjoy your shore leave, crewman."

Mahak was about to reply crisply but the happy young fellow had already turned away, on his way to find whatever thrill or excitement he was looking for.

Right then, the turbolift opened and Mahak found himself being pulled inside. A quarter Vulcan or not, Reyes was strong. All of that time spent tinkering with machines and moving parts kept her trim and fit, even more so now that they were regularly boxing together. It felt strange to be manhandled by someone, but with her Mahak also found it rather...stimulating.

He kissed her, bristled jaw and lips and all, before replying.

"You are late for a Vulcan but early for Kali Reyes. I suppose I cannot ask for much more."

[Kali Reyes]

A tad sacrilegious what with her lips still pressed against bristled skin and male scent, Kali checked her watch and hummed into the corner of his mouth. "Fashionably late. It's a thing." The elevator buzzed for a destination and she squeezed a bit more against him. Why waste a moment of privacy, after all?

Her fingers scratched along his chest like a relaxed kitten. The purring helped a lot too. Kali was all a purr because there was nothing more relaxing than a date on one of humanity's most exciting starbases in the quadrant. The buzzing stopped when she idly pressed the floor button before pleasantly working on making sure Mahak's attention was completely focused on her and not the random elevator music on the way down.

"I'm hungry," she told him, but the glitter in her eyes said nothing about food before she kissed him again. The elevator music was interrupted by the in-house advertisement.

Live life on the fast lane! Amaranthine Skyways is one of the top competitors in repulsor-powered racing! Strap in and rev up - and if not, visit the Mile High Sky Club for drinks and entertainment for the track elite! Amaranthine Skyways - only a teleporter trip away!

[Malcolm Adeyemi]

[Starbase Kuiper]

Mahak held her tight against him while the doors were shut. He took and gave his affection in private. It was the Vulcan way. Eagerly, he locked his arms around her waist and felt the pleasant pressure of her body against his. His touch was not gentle or too strong, but it was forceful, urgent. He was a man who took what he wanted.

"I also have not eaten," He admitted after a long moment of hugging. "The restaurant you have selected is very logical. There are many meat free options--"

Live life on the fast lane! Amaranthine Skyways is one of the top competitors in repulsor-powered racing! Strap in and rev up - and if not, visit the Mile High Sky Club for drinks and entertainment for the track elite! Amaranthine Skyways - only a teleporter trip away!

Mahak could not beg, or say please. He couldn't fall to his knees and ask his lover to not risk her life for a thrill. He couldn't cajole with her to get the excited gleam out of her eyes when she head the advert.

What he did was lock eyes with her and beg through them.

"Kali..."

[Kali Reyes]

The way Mahak gripped her told another story about the menu. "I think you like flesh just fine," she purred. Behind him, she could see Amaranthine's skyline with it's elegant architecture lit up in dark blues and golden lights. It was quite literally the crown jewel of the elite players of the Federation and it haloed Mahak's hair wonderfully. A night of sin was practically everything she's asked from Santa.

Nightlife, fine dinery, maybe a rouse in a subdued nightclub with partitioned booths and heavy incense. There was nothing cheap about Starbase Kuiper or the city beneath it.

Live life on the fast lane! Amaranthine Skyways is one of the top competitors in repulsor-powered racing! Strap in and rev up - and if not, visit the Mile High Sky Club for drinks and entertainment for the track elite! Amaranthine Skyways - only a teleporter trip away!

And, well... that.

Her mouth pulled away from his with a tiny pop and he looked positively against whatever she was thinking right now. He'd be right - the skyways pretty much beckoned like a siren's song.

Oh, she was definitely going to go. "The Mile High Sky Club sounds fun. Let's get dressed up," she said instead. "I've got this red dress that slits all the way up. All the way." And it was literally boxed in above the Skyways. They could watch the matches and maybe she could work her way into a good seduction to distract him.

Leather and metal called to her more than just a silky number.

[Malcolm Adeyemi]

[Starbase Kuiper]

If Mahak could feel relief it would have washed over him in an awesome wave at Reyes's decision. She did not intend to participate in the race, merely to watch it. That was fine with him. He did not know the appeal of viewing such a spectacle, but it was a lot better than her risking life and limb in it.

"The Mile High Sky Club is one of the premiere restaurants on the starbase," He mentioned while the turbolift shot upwards. "It is frequented by high ranking Starfleet officers and enlisted personnel on their off duty hours, who give it excellent reviews. I am looking forward to sharing a meal with you, Kali."

And only a meal.

[Mile High Sky Club]

The restaurant was a far cry from most starbase watering holes. The Kuiper was an almost civilian installation with how many non-Starfleet personnel it employed. Nestled in the heart of the Federation roughly where the former Andorian, Vulcan, and human territories met, it hosted diplomatic functions, parties, and almost never had a heavy Starfleet presence in the traditional sense. By comparison, the Columbus was an armed camp.

A variety of species went to the Mile High Sky Club to relax. It boasted the longest bar in the Federation, or so it claimed. Mahak did not go to many bars so he could not say, but it did wrap its way around every wall in the restaurant, each seat full.

The tables and main dining area were in the middle, full than more people Mahak had ever seen in a restaurant before. The waiters were elegantly attired, even for work, touting bottles of wine and trays of food back and forth from the main kitchen.

Unlike many starbase establishments, the Mile High eschewed large portholes and a view of the stars. Instead, it was intended to be more intimate and less open. There was instead a skylight of sorts where people could invariably look up and see the stars, but it was set high above them in the ceiling. Instead, parquet floors, tapestries, and a great deal of plant life abounded. The decor itself had no particular theme, as so many species called it home.

"You have a reservation?" The Andorian maitre de inquired politely as they approached. Like the rest of the staff, he was wearing a human style tuxedo that even looked fitted.

[Kali Reyes]

[Mile High Sky Club]

Uniforms weren't allowed, though the dress uniforms are to an extent. It was elite intimate dining in the Mile High Sky Club and no billion latinum diner wanted their mood to dampen at the sight of low poly fabric and tight conversation about the Borg pressing down on the borders or diplomatic strain with certain Klingon dignitaries. If you weren't dressed to impress, you were turned from the door - even if you booked a reservation months ago.

Kali urged Mahak to change into something fancy, even if it meant that they had to peruse every expensive store on Amaranthine. If they weren't pressed already for time, she would have made plenty of barbs of her wearing dresses disguised as lingerie - that seemed to be the new fashionable thing this quarter - but she had no time to head up the ship for her dress so she improvised.

Slinky, classy, embroidered, and a hot rod red mesh over black that turned heads. Kali dressed for first impressions. Even her strapped heels glinted with embroidered stones. As they waited in line, she dolled her hair up almost messily with shiny embroidered pins that matched her ankles. That too seemed to be a fashion statement when they walked along the smooth marble floors of the marketplace.

Her thick curls swirled around her fingers while she eyed Mahak. "Too stiff," she teased with a mouthful of pins. By the time they reached the maitre de, she had finished putting the last pin on and cocked her hip to the side like she didn't just do herself up in record time.

"Don't have one," she told him with a lazy shrug.

The Andorian raised an eyebrow at her. "Madam, the Mile High Sky Club requires at least a six month reservation list."

"So make one. Like on the spot. You can do that you know. I've seen it before."

He let out a very fancy snort. "We do not offer such-" Kali stuck a shiny black card at his face and resisted the urge to stick her tongue at him. The Andorian faltered and licked his lips nervously. "That is a member's only card. I have worked here for ten years and have never seen you before."

"Ten years ago, I was barely a teenager," Kali grinned. "I think your daddy put me at the kiddie table."

An older man who wandered by took a gander at them and then clapped the Andorian on the shoulder. "Hold on. Is that Caleb's little girl?" A few patrons around him were starting to take notice.

[Malcolm Adeyemi]

[Mile High Sky Club]

Mahak watched the interplay with interest. Reyes, as usual, was one step ahead of him. Of course they'd have a waiting list. Restaurants like this always did. In all of the research Mahak had put into tonight, it simply hadn't occurred to him that the Club wouldn't let them in. They were a restaurant with food. Barring occupancy violations they should...

"As I live and breathe," The older Andorian was saying. "It can't be you."

"You are addressing Chief Kali Reyes, senior-most enlisted member of the USS Discovery," Mahak said.

"And her handsome, stoic companion, of course," The older Andorian was shooing away the younger. "You shall have a table, the finest. Please follow me to the Enchanted Grotto."

"The Enchanted Grotto?" Mahak asked as he picked up his feet to go after the head waiter.

"The most divine dining in the entire sector, maybe even the quadrant," The Andorian assured them over his shoulder, rising his voice to be heard over the clatter of plates and conversation. "Only our finest and most discerning patrons are even aware of it. In fact, you will be one of three guests tonight. Rominau is competing in the second leg of the race tomorrow, and should you three choose to speak I am sure he will be delightful company."

[Kali Reyes]

The Reyes girl. People behind them were starting to cross-reference each other for verification. Corporate royalty Reyes' girl? They thought she died on a random binge out in Orion territory - or Kali was pretty sure that was the rumor that spread on the extranet. Her father scorned Starfleet's jurisdiction on his colonial territory, so it didn't make sense that his daughter took rank there.

She can feel her communicator buzz from the filter she put on all channels. Her appearance was going to be tagged from Mile High Sky's domain and other social media soon. So she smiled like a smug snake, which pretty much matched the rest of the diners and picked up a glass of champagne from a wandering waiter on their way to the Enchanted Grotto.

Kali had been only five when she first visited the Grotto. Her dad brought her to interview a potential new mother. A plate of spaghetti worth a year of a farmer's pay grade ended up on the wall when the woman ducked. She wondered if the stain was still there.

Her nostalgic daydreaming ended quickly. "Rominau?"

Wall-to-wall of the grotto was pure glass to accommodate the illusion that they were smack dab inside an aquarium, though instead of water it was the empty void of space. Lanterns hung outside the room to attract the bio-luminescent marine-like life that journeyed like a sea above Amaranthine's atmosphere. It was truly a divine experience for any lucky enough to catch a glimpse of it.

Rominau sat alone in the corner nursing a glass and looking at the fish that soared on by. He was a svelte young man with pale skin that just barely revealed the veins underneath it, but what was truly striking was the angry violet color of his short spiky hair and bright gold eyes that was glowing under the dim lighting. There was an intimidating air in the way he kicked his boots up on the table and looked so lax - like the entire place was beneath him.

Kali knew exactly what to do with a bastard like him. She clacked over and then kicked his legs off with her heels. "You blighted, seedy bastard," she snarled. "Figured you're dining alone - the only thing interested in you is your hand."

Rominau nearly fell out of his seat to try and tower over her as if he was poised to smack her. "Trash that peeps!" he snarled back.

"Degenerate!"

"Cheap!"

"All show you how cheap these heels are when I stick them right up your-"

The Andorian cleared his throat and tapered on as if this was a common thing. "Menus?" He opened a chair for her at Rominau's table and she reluctantly sat down before gesturing Mahak to do the same.

Rominau sat back down and let out an insane howl of laughter. "As I live and breathe, destiny comes to me-"

"Oh god, please don't rhyme," Kali grumbled then gestured to Mahak. "Rominau's a frequent player here. Very dramatic. Waxes poetry. It's a Leda species thing." She should have known he'd be here, really. He had shouted plenty about becoming a skyways racer at the kiddie table as long as she's known him.

[Malcolm Adeyemi]

[Enchanted Grotto]

The barrage of insults came quicker than a fighter strafing its target. Mahak blinked at the tirade of abuse, and studied the other man. He was no Tellarite, to be excused for such behavior.

The fellow had an air to him, that was for sure. Mahak studied the elegant surroundings, the expensive clothing, and the drink that this Rominau was nursing. There were a few people on Harmony, but not many, who could be called rich. Mahak's family was not one of them. But he'd seen them in town, and others like them in Starfleet. They acted is if the entire galaxy owed them something.

Mahak studied his own outfit. He looked like a farm boy working up the nerve to go to a harvest ball. Not for the first time, he wondered why Reyes wasn't with someone like Rominau.

"Your speech is coarse," The Vulcan said, more to the Leda but in his mind he was speaking to Reyes, too.

[Kali Reyes]

Rominau finally took notice of Mahak and then snorted derisively. "Exhausted your options, did you? A harpy to celebrate the view."

"Rominau's always been a prick," she told him simply. "He'll steamroll over you if you don't pick up a chair and stop him." It was also a Leda thing, or maybe not. His mother ever acted like that before, she vaguely recalled before drinking her champagne. "Spoiled whelp."

The Andorian handled them their menus, though Kali wasn't exactly hungry anymore. She had been looking forward to a more intimate atmosphere - not playing politics with a forgotten playmate.

Romineau at the very least didn't mind them occupying his table. "Here you weren't to draw breath-"

"I was in the neighborhood."

"-after your father's untimely death."

Kali slammed the menu down to end this. "I can play dirty too, you know. You said you didn't want to race anymore after your mom ended up in a pile up during the Grand Prix. What happened to that?" It was so horrendous, they only found bits and pieces of her during clean up. The autopsy report that spread afterwards made her a bit sick.

Rominau went back to his drinking. "A child not abstained, is a legacy obtained."

Her lip curled unpleasantly. He was doing this on purpose. "Have fun with that." 

[Malcolm Adeyemi]

[Enchanted Grotto]

Mahak studied the back and forth. He had no macho, protective instinct for Reyes. She could take care of herself. But he still did not appreciate this man ruining their evening.

"Your status and presence here does not excuse your boorish behavior," The Vulcan said, in what passed for a witty retort among his people. "We may be forced to share a table with you, but that does not mean that you get to insult us."

The race was beginning, and all conversation hushed at an announcement.

"Starbase Kuiper! The first leg of the Amaranthine Skyways is about to begin! Watch as the Rainbow Road shimmers into existence! 12 death defying gladiators feel the need for speed, 650 kilometers per hour!"

"That is more than the half thruster speed of a Galaxy class cruiser," Mahak said aloud to Reyes.

[Kali Reyes]

Kali tilted her head to carefully hear the announcement and the excited jitter happening beyond the Grotto and out into the bar area. "It must be one hell of a wager for the silver lining to start. There a moon on the line or something?"

"The quadrant runs on stocks and bonds," Rominau drawled, uncaring for Mahak's quip earlier. "So lives are laid on corporations pawns."

Those were always boring. Kali let out a flighty wave of her fingers for the Andorian. "Can I get a spread on tonight's race?"

He nodded and handed her the extra PADD under his arm. She took it with a sweet smile and looked at the data. A lot of them she's never heard of before. Meesrak, Red Helix, Treetop - they all looked like fledgling startups looking for a sugar daddy to help with a bit of funding. "Do these really warrant the cost of a good bike?" she wondered aloud.

The Andorian opened his mouth, then hastily moved away and bowed to a new patron that entered the Grotto. "They said Caleb's lovely spitfire was occupying dinner tonight. I'm happy to see that they're right." The voice called out from behind her and made her turn in her seat.

Platinum blond hair, sharp blue eyes, and a suit worth an entire fledgling colony. "Jacob Wilde," she remembered vaguely. "I see you grew into your ears." They used to call the lone human boy at the kiddie table 'satellite dish' for a reason.

Jacob helplessly shrugged in Mahak's direction. "I almost forgot how she can make an insult sound so charming." He smiled at her and then took the other vacant seat like he belonged there and, before she could process what happened, he pulled her halfway up for a 'friendly' kiss. She grimaced and got rid of the taste by drinking it down. That made Jacob a bit curious. "What's wrong, Kali? You used to enjoy kissing all the boys at these functions. Even with a date waiting on you."

"I was a teen with hormones." She glowered at him. "I grew up."

He snorted. "Hardly. That's a shame. There was something magical about that. You were always a crowd pleaser."

[Malcolm Adeyemi]

[Enchanted Grotto]

"And they're off! The fan favorite Bomber Bukai is off to an early lead! Nipping at his heels is Commander Carol DeMarco. Ooo, Chang'e's Rabbit just disabled Pirak with an active denial burst, how clever! Meesrak, Red Helix, and Treetop round out the top twelve!"

"Active denial is a military component," Wilde said lazily. "Very smart. Overloads the other vehicle's internal computer with nonsense commands and shuts it down."

"I had no idea this was such a violent race," Mahak commented, eager to change the subject.

"No permanent damage, except for pride." Rominau said, and smiled. "And those are the wounds that hurt the most, eh, Kali?"

Mahak misliked the man's tone, but before he could rebut the Andorian headwaiter appeared, fingers poised over his PADD.

"I will have the green apple salad, extra bread. No butter. Plomeek broth and water." The Vulcan told him.

"No wine, sir?"

"I did not ask for wine." Mahak replied. The last thing he needed around these people was losing his senses.

"How very masculine of you." Wilde snorted. "I'll have Aldebaran whiskey. And leave the bottle for me and Kali. We've had some interesting times after a bottle of the green stuff."

[Kali Reyes]

"If I had wanted two men to gang up on me, I'd have gone to the Pleasure Chest on Risa," Kali grumbled. The Aldebaran whiskey came quickly with the food and Wilde thought it was funny to order her a plate of spaghetti without asking her. Kali stabbed at the pasta idly with a fork with the memory of Merida's screech and her father's snarl beckoning in the back of her mind.

Wilde dug enthusiastically into his steak that was so rare, it bled, and would have insulted plenty of vegetarian species in attendance by how savage he went at it. Rominau ate nothing because he was probably trying too hard to be mysterious and aloof like his mother succeeded better at.

"So, how long will you deal with this one?" Wilde gestured at her and then at Mahak with his knife. "A night? Two? What happened to your no-Vulcans policy?"

Kali speared a meatball and looked at it as if it was an interesting science specimen. "Rescinded. Also none of your business."

Rominau snorted into his drink.

"But it is my business," Wilde said viciously. "Everything about you is my business. And Mr. Reyes was very relieved to find there was someone your age to take you on. You haven't forgotten about that, did you?"

"I was kinda hoping that if I'd sleep with enough of the galaxy, you'd be disgusted enough to let it go," Kali snapped back. "Can I eat?"

She could practically count every single one of his stupidly perfect teeth. "You may. With my permission."

If Mahak wasn't here, she'd probably upturn her entire plate over Wilde's head.

"You see - what's your name again?" He eagerly turned to Mahak. "Oh, well it doesn't matter much does it? Her father and I had an um... an arrangement, if you will. Or my father, at least. Lovely little Kali is well, I'm sure you know by now that she's not the most mentally stable lady in the quadrant. Vindictive, prone to mood swings, an absolute horror at diplomacy. The first time we met, she punched me in the face - one of her little temper tantrums, mind you. I was the first one to come back for a second round of playtime."

"We get it," Kali said dryly. "You lack common sense." She shook her head and took Mahak's wrist. "Jacob thinks he's sneaky, but he's not. He thinks he owns me, he doesn't. That arrangement died when dad kicked the bucket."

Wilde snorted. "When one opportunity closes, another opens. I may not own you, but you'll be singing a different tune when I cut your 'allowance' off." He laughed at her confusion. "My own father passed on. I've inherited everything. The stocks, the bonds, the trade agreements - you're looking at the newest member of Reyes Industries board. The majority holder, in fact."

"Grey is the majority holder," Kali corrected. "He holds fifty-one percent of the company."

"Mr. Daniels hasn't been around to make decisions for a long time," Wilde snapped back. "Which would have been defaulted to you, if you had been around. And with you so preoccupied with Starfleet, the board had to choose the next best thing." He gestured to himself.

Kali slammed her fork down and leaned forward. "You don't get to run my father's company. If I have to strong arm you through a comm screen during the next board meeting, you bet your ass I'll be there."

"With your credentials?" Wilde challenged. "Your resume is filled with bars and pleasure cruises. Not to mention that little incident that earned you a rap sheet with the authorities. The board would take you as seriously as a freighter deckhand. What do you know about colonial affairs?"

"Don't have to worry about that," Kali said simply.