P.O. Rayek
[Lounge] (prior to yellow alert)
Lounge
Lizzie turned back to Rayek.
"Oh I doubt you'd break her." She replied. "All you have to do is let her sit on your lap and keep hold of her." She paused. "You don't have to if you are uncomfortable with it, I just thought I would offer." She finished.
Rayek regarded the infant a moment before he nodded.
He was uncomfortable with the idea, but was reluctant to turn down the doctors offer. He shifted his chair back away from the table to make room for the child and held open his hands in invitation. He did this rather than taking the child from her in case mother instincts kicked in and she changed her mind about her offer.
While he set himself up he listened to Lek's rebuttal.
[Crew Lounge]
Lek sighed heavily and looked extremely disappointed.
"Now you are just getting defensive. Maladaptive, at least as how Counselor Maddux explained it to me, is, an adaptation that is harmful. It doesn't mean it doesn't work, it just doesn't benefit the individual. A common example is when someone is attempted to avoid or cope with a trauma of some sort, they choose some sort of substance to bury that thing that bothers them rather than deal with the issue.
"From what I am hearing, your desire for 'knowledge is power' is not to learn, not to better society, and not to become a better person. It is only for your own self-aggrandizement. You want to have power over others, that rarely ends well, especially if your goal is blackmail.
"If you continue on this path, you will never break out of your own causality loop of Einstein's definition of insanity. You left the Romulan empire for a reason, no different than I left Feringinar. The difference I see between us is, you brought your empire with you and I did not bring the Ferengi Alliance with me.
"Ultimately, the choices you make are your own, but if this is the path you seek, you will perforce have to walk it alone as even as another outcast, I find no merit in having power over the others in the crew, regardless of how they may treat me. I would hope you would reconsider your current choice, but the most amazing thing about choices, is that there are an infinite number of them and you can change them. I cannot wish you luck on your quest for revenge, but I can wish you luck on finding peace."
"One thing I have learned about those in the service industry is they rarely get thanked enough for what they do, and I do thank you for making the effort. I must however, bid you all good afternoon as I must return to engineering. Good day."
The fact that Lek chose to take his leave then told Rayek that the conversation was over according to the Ferengi. A shame -Rayek had been enjoying their discussion. Rayek inclined his head as a farewell to the engineer. But the man didn't go far before a side conversation caught the Ferengi's attention.
Lounge
Lizzie nodded.
"Thanks Liv." She replied before taking Alys' favourite purple teddy out of the bag and handing it to the little girl to try and get her to sit still.
She then turned so she ws facing both Lek and Rayek.
"Anyone else think that this sip is on it's last legs?" She asked. "We're patrolling the border with Tholian space. Nothing ever happens. From what I've heard it's a death sentence for a Starship. This patrol is usually given to ships that are about to be scraped or Mothballed." She added, keenly looking at the two men.
[Crew Lounge]
Lek's remarkable hearing caused him to stop in his tracks and return to talk to the doctor.
"This is an old ship, but she's still got useful service left in her Doctor. Not unlike an elderly patient, just because she is old, does not mean she serves no purpose. The Tholian border has to be patrolled, no reason why the Challenger can't be the one to do it."
Rayek nodded his agreement to the engineers words. Though the doctors words did bear looking into later.
[Bridge]
A comms message cut through the relative dullness and quiet of the Bridge. An urgent call... from Tholian space. Being on a distress frequency, it was immediately played on the speakers, being filtered through the Universal Translator.
This is the Tholian Colony Estrene. We are requesting Assistance. Please respond.
The Duty Officer frowned, and tapped their chest. Bridge to Captain and XO. Please report to the Bridge. Yellow Alert.
Rayek glanced up at the Yellow Alert and watched as Cleroux immediately responded. Rayek, being off shift currently, had time. He knew where he had to be should the ship upgrade to Red alert.
[Deck 8 - Lounge]
Liv had moved back behind the corner to fill the orders for Rayek and Lizzie, starting with the spiced chai tea, followed by Lizzie's jug of peach iced tea with ice, Alys's watered down apple juice and finally the selection of biscuits. Placing them all onto a tray she carried them out carefully just as the ship went to yellow alert.
"So much for a routine patrol"she thought but knew that the crew were in safe hands and hoped whatever it was could be resolved quickly especially after the last couple of missions and what the crew had been through.
Going over to the table she placed Rayek's tea down first then Lizzie's order on her table " There we go and just let me know if you need anything else although hopefully you won't all have to rush off straightaway but if you do especially you Lizzie, I don't mind watching Alys as Jeessa will be here soon with Elijah".
He nodded his head in thanks for the drink and looked to the doctor half expecting her to have to leave, but like himself she wasn't in duty at the moment.