“I am here for you Julien. Professionally and personally. I am here to help catch a killer. Other details I can’t quite trust. I will talk more to Stark when I can.”

“Oh good, we share that mission? Marc Price, the one who killed the former counselor? It makes sense to place you here to help in that, it’s part of my mission too, but of course you knew that, being a CIO in reality and all… I have to say I’m really eager to find him, but even more the Conclave that’s probably behind him. They’ve messed with my life, they messed with… many people’s lives. They supplied the weapon’s to the rogue Klingon’s who destroyed my brother on that godforsaken colony, Marishka.” he said fiercely.

Marihska paused and smiled.

“I have a totally unrelated question. Why would Commander Nightstalker say I remind him of a Voodoo Priestess?”

Marihska was clearly teasing him now but wondered what the answer might be anyway.

• Marishka

That made Julien laugh. “Did he now. tut tut, he has a wife you know. The tiny counselor. But nobody is immune against your charms my love.” he said and just had to kiss her again, she just tasted so good.

• Julien

Marishka understood a lot at that moment. Things were falling into place even though she couldn’t see the whole puzzle. Right now, responding to Julien was aobut as far as her intellect got her.

• Marishka

“Besides, Caitians have a very good sense of smell, only he can’t switch it off like I can.” Julien said tapping the side of his nose.

“So why don’t you tell me why you’ve changed your hair and eye colour love. Not that I mind, it looks exotically beautiful, but I don’t mind which colours you wear.” he pulled her closer into him and brought his lips to her ear “I love you for your fierce-and-loving nature.”

• Julien

Marishka sighed.

“Stark’s wife has nothing to fear from me. I can’t help but play a good game in public but she has his heart and I don’t want it. I have this strange sense that she’s a very intelligent woman to be mated with him in the first place. I don’t think some silly little girl could hold his interest.”

She smiled and shifted position slightly to look into Julien’s eyes as she ran her long nails through his hair.

“After everything that’s happened over the last few months I decided I just needed a little change, as far as the hair and eyes go that is. Besides, I have a feeling this position will require a lot of my Orion skill set and these colors bring out the green in my skin.”

Marishka paused, not wanting to be too serious but she was curious about what he’d been up to for the last six months also.

“So how did you wind up here my love?” she asked.

• Marishka