Capt. Kaim Kurogami

[Kurogami, War Room]

As Kaim got settled into his somewhat comfortable position, he caught the movement of someone getting up from the table. He watched as she deliberately got up and slowly walked over to where he sat, taking the seat next to him. She took another sip of her tea and set the cup down. She then turned to him and gently reached out with both hands toward his closest hand, shaking her head a little as she did so.

"Allow me...it would appear that you still don't take good enough care of yourself."

"Is that opinion based on you somehow knowing my personal habits or just an observation of Starfleet captains..." He trailed off slightly as he looked at her collar and saw her rank pips. "...Lieutenant?"

She held his hand with one of hers under his and slowly moving her other over his, just barely touching it with her palm. As she did so, she commented, "Forgive me, sir. I'm Samantha Waters. We've never met, but you knew a friend of mine. Her name was Cindy and she was the assistant to your Counselor, Andrea Tate, when they were on your ship."

"Andrea and Cindy..." Kaim said quietly with a quick flash of sadness crossing his face. It had been months since he had heard from both of them and he wondered if they had made it here. He hadn't been here long himself but he hoped there was a chance that those two made it and he had just missed them.

As her hand finished passing over his hand, the cuts and bruises were gone. She continued and finally looked him in the eye, "Don't worry, it's only a dermal regenerator. You look like you could use something to drink though. When was the last time you ate? As I recall, you delight in neglecting yourself."

Kaim came back to the present moment as Samantha spoke. He shook his head and chuckled. "If I didn't know any better, I would say that Andrea was preparing you to serve under me. I don't know where you have served or what position but a friend of Andrea is always welcome on my ship." His expression changed to show he was thinking. "The last time I ate was yesterday... I think."

She set released his hand and as she leaned forward, set a glass of water on the table in front of him before taking her own cup and taking another sip. When she set her cup back on the table, it was nearly full again.

She leaned back, looking him over slowly and shook her head slowly, "That left shoulder is going to bother you tomorrow if you don't do something about it. Are you going to let me help you, or am I going to need to call a medic in here?"

Her look was almost playful, but she was just serious enough for him to know that she meant it.

Kaim studied her face, taking in every detail. He knew that face very well. It was the very same face that all the women in his life, from his mother to Andrea and Cindy, made when they were prepared to fight him to take care of himself. He sighed quietly, not seeing a way out of this and his fatigue setting in. "I'm gonna be honest with you. After being awake for over thirty hours, I really don't have the energy to fight you so do what you think is necessary. I hope you don't think I'm being rude or anything. I am grateful you are here and appreciate your effort to patch me up." He offered a half smile that showed signs of how tired he really was.

[After Samantha's response]

Kaim perked up slightly when John McKnight spoke. He never had the privilege of serving under John but he definitely knew of him. While the details of the incident were classified, the console licking story that Kaim had heard after being assigned to the Seventh Fleet was hilarious. Kaim actually met John sometime back on Risa but that seemed like a lifetime ago after the Vroa and now the Zikkomt.

"Does anyone have any happy news to share?" asked the Captain as he looked around.

Another Lieutenant spoke first, telling news that her father had made it out of the quadrant almost a year ago.When she was done, she seemed to lock eyes with John and said, "I know. Not the best news, but still a faint glimmer of hope."

"Any tiny bit of hope is a hell of a lot better than what we have right now Lieutenant." He offered her a warm smile. "I also have some good news. The engineers managed to get the replicators in the mess hall mostly working so we can get a decent cup of coffee and a hot meal that isn't emergency rations. Like the Lieutenant's story, it is a small thing but it will go to help boosting the morale of this place.

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Ensign Altair Redfield - CNS - Valdivian Station / USS Trinity
Player: A.J. Foster
ajfoster.actd@gmail.com