Post 546: Full Disclosure Part One

Stardate: 71111.1800
Title: Full Disclosure Part One
Authors: TC Blane and Zanh Liis
Scene: Seven/Arboretum
Time: After "And They Call Her Sir" and later on
------------------------------------------------

"Drinks all around!" N'Dura shouted, holding a bottle of Bloodwine up high into the air.

TC Blane shook his head and smiled broadly. He had not had much opportunity to catch up with his former department head, but it seemed that she was just as 'Klingon' as ever.

He gave an enthusiastic hoot in response. A less than an honorable action for a newly minted Lt. Commander, he knew, but considering the current relaxed atmosphere he really did not care.

He was one of the first to accept a full glass from N'Dura then with a wink to the security chief he moved away to allow others to partake in the fine bloodwine.

As he did, he took his first sip. Smacking his lips he let out a deep sigh. It was good; he could not longer feel his tongue, so it had to be good.

He looked around at the crew, they were all smiles. This was good.

His eyes fell upon the ship's captain, Zanh Liis; currently better known as Wonder Woman. He grinned and adjusted his golden helmet once more. It was time to get into trouble. He took another sip of N'Dura's mother label and cringed.

"Ahhh. That's good."

He made his way over to Zanh. "Good evening, Captain." He motioned to her outfit with his cup. "Nice. . .boots." He smiled.

"Nice. . .dress." Zanh said, looking him over from head to toe quickly. "The spear and magic helmet aren't bad either."

TC grinned. Apparently Zanh was in a mood to give as good as she believed she was about to get.

"So, be honest." He offered the glass to her. "You did not pick that outfit did you? Not that it does not look good."

Zanh thanked him with a nod, but held her coffee cup up to show she already had a beverage. "To be honest, the first picture that the computer showed me looked a hell of a lot more like February Grace used to and a lot less like. . . this."

She shot a look across the room at Dabin Reece, who seemed to be having an animated conversation with someone who had come dressed in head to toe leather, a black wig teased high, and who seemed to have some kind of long, scissor-like shears attached to their costume where hands should be.

"At least the Little Wooden Boy seems to have had his fill of teasing me. I don't think I'm ever going to live this down. But Margolis swore that it was the best option. . ."

She gestured with her head over again toward the figure with Reece. "I wonder what he's supposed to be?" She realized at the last moment who it was, wearing the fright wig and scissor hands. It was Micah Samson. "Good grief, the scientists around here truly are mad."

"Samson's costume has something to do with kitchen shears, I think." TC replied. "Maybe he should take on our friend Spork to decide once and for all who wins the Great Utensil Wars."

Liis tried not to laugh, but she was sorely tempted to. The Vulcan was in rare form tonight. "Poor Salvek. I'm sure Jariel used the same "morale of the crew" speech on him that he used on me. Sneaky little mime."

"Did you see the swordfight?" TC chuckled, taking another slug of wine. "I thought we were going to have to separate Salvek and Biggs before someone lost an eye." He suddenly turned serious and nodded for Zanh to follow him to a somewhat quiet corner. She gave a puzzled look but followed just the same.

"I submitted the after action report." He paused.

Liis shrugged her shoulders. "And?"

TC shifted uneasily. "You'll find the information. . . typical."

The Captain's arched brows rose high above her blue eyes.

"I need to discuss information that was not in the report with you ASAP." TC stood a little taller. "Your ears only."

The tone of Blane's voice concerned Zanh even more than the sudden change in his expression, as he gazed deeply into the bloody colored liquid in his cup, as if trying to find the secrets of the universe hidden somewhere within.

"Is now too soon?" Zanh looked around. "You'd actually be doing me a favor. I've been looking for a way to get out of here for half an hour since Jariel vanished. Where would you like to discuss it?"

"Somewhere we won't draw attention."

"Give me ten minutes, to ditch this. . ." she struggled to find the appropriate word. "This." she finally concluded. She was already preparing to make her apologies to Biggs that she couldn't be the announcer for his costume contest after all. "Pick your location, and I'll be there."

TC thought for a moment. "Arboretum." He seemed to relax a little. "But leave the truth lasso behind."

- Later -

TC stood in the quiet of the Arboretum as he waited for the captain. He had changed back into his uniform along with his new pip. He was admiring a particularly pretty tree that seemed to resemble a Weeping Willow from earth when the captain arrived.

She seemed to be looking around for something, or someone, Blane observed, as she made her way over. He didn't have to guess who. "The Vedek is not here," he offered. "Seemed like he left the party in a hurry, everything all right?"

"I don't know, but don't worry about it," she said, trying to convince herself more than him that there was nothing to be concerned about. "Let's go over here."

She gestured toward a wooden swing situated over toward the far corner. Not only because it was one of her favorite places to sit, but also that she knew that she had angled the security cameras just so, so that they would not be recorded during their conversation in that location.

She plunked down onto the swing and gestured for Blane to join her. He sat, a sigh involuntarily expelled from deep within as he did so.

Zanh's brow furrowed. She could not remember, in the time she'd known him up until this point, seeing him so apparently troubled by something.

--------------------------------------
Lt. Commander TC Blane
Chief of Operations
USS Independence NCC-90791

and

Zanh Liis
Acting CO
USS Independence NCC-90791