[snip]

The fury in her escalated,Marthese could have said more but she knew it was classified material so instead she stood up and simply walked away into the darkness,not caring in which direction she was heading.

Faith didn’t quite know where that had come from. She was only trying to defend Cross. “Oops! I guess I forgot about her not being trusted… she obviously holds a grudge, but the truth is, no one trusted anyone, and Kim really was spying. You are right… the whole ship needs some counselling! I expect you are wondering what a strange ship you have been posted too? And this is meant to be rest and recuperation, not getting stressed out and worked up!”

Tinga took a minute to take it all in.

“I guess R&R is over rated. I’m sure you meant well but I really think I should go find her. Besides, the coffee is making me tired and I should really sleep soon although, just between you and I, remind me never to make her angry.” Tinga said rising to her full height.

It was true, Andorians were stronger than Humans but Tinga had learned to never underestimate and angry person.

“Yes, I’d better go and find her and make up to her,” replied Faith. Faith was about to leave when Beth spoke up, “We were thinking of calling it a night too. Sorry, it’s beautiful but this is too cold for me out here.”

While Beth and Karen said goodnight to Tinga, Faith quickly walked off after Marthese and tried to catch up with her.

Tinga smiled and wished Beth and Karen a good night before turning to follow Faith. Her long legs made it easy to catch up with the young woman and she found the cold exhilarating.

“Oh! You’re coming too!” said Faith, as Tinga caught up with her. “I really feel bad about upsetting her now. I forgot that practically the whole ship thought Marthese was responsible when it was really Kim. She obviously hasn’t got over it yet.”

“I want to make certain that if she leaves the ship, it’s because she wants to for some other reason than being angry. Career decisions made in the heat of anger are usually bad decisions. Do the two of you spar like this often?” Tinga asked as they rounded a corner.

“No, I hardly know her,” replied Faith. “I’m an Auxiliary Nurse. I work in Sickbay during Red Alerts. So, I’ve seen her about but only when it is extremely busy. It was Miriam Cross who I crossed swords with, but we patched all that up. If I had known Marthese better then I would have remembered how badly she got treated.”

“Ah. I see then. Interpersonal relationships have never been my strong point. I’m trying to change that…” Tinga trailed off.

How many times did she slip Marthese was not even sure two, maybe three times but it did not matter actually right now nothing mattered.She was definitely angry but with relevance to what? .Was it Faith or the whole crew? Perhaps her anger stemmed from the way her brother treated her? Her father’s suicide? Or was she really angry at herself?.

Her watery eyes held the strangest unreadable expression, yet from somewhere deep inside her memory came the words Cry babe…cry.

Eventually Marthese realized she had acted rather foolishly and irresponsibly ,the doctor initially come back on the ship to be as far away from her brother as she possibly could.Maybe it was that they were back on Earth and was finding it hard to cope and deal effectively with her difficult past,the female doctor decided to turn back.

‘’Sorry Faith I just don’t know what came over me, can you forgive me?’’ Marthese asked just in time to see Tinga catching up with them.

“I think I need the forgiveness,” replied Faith. “I forgot that you were there when Dr Cross was abducted, and were there when we got her back . I forgot that you carried on even though Sickbay had two missing doctors, and when Kim committed suicide, and while many crew trust did not trust you. I think I still had an open mind, but the evidence was stacked against you, and that must have been difficult for you. So, I’d like to apologise and thank you for how you carried on regardless.”

With her lower lip quivering ,the doctor hugged Faith tight ‘’Thanks for understanding and rest assured I have no intention of harming Cross’’ marthese replied as she pulled away looking directly into the Yeoman’s eyes ‘’ As if any of us can especially now that she is dating the CoS !’’ at this point she managed to smile and it felt great.

As if on cue the lights increased and were shining much brighter as both females looked up in awe at such a spectacle that nature had created.
Marthese held Faith’s hand in hers and offered the other to Tinga.She had forgotten how it felt to be calm, peaceful, untroubled and tranquil until now.

Tinga took Marthes’ other hand and looked up at the aurora.

So she really was dating the COS. Oh well , there went that idea. It would have been much easier if this were an Andorian ship. she thought.

“You know, Earth is beautiful in it’s way but I think we’re feeling a little homesick for the stars.” she said softly.

“At last, there’s something we can all agree upon!” said Faith.

• Faith, Yeoman

And the doctor nodded in agreement as well,how strange that when on the Merrimack every human longed to go back to Earth and when they eventually did they realized that their true passion was among the stars.

Marthese Dr.

“How sweet.” came a woman’s voice dripping with sarcasm, “and how sentimental.”

The young woman was tall and wiry, her dark hair and skin blending into the night. She was flanked by two athletic young men and all three of them had a look in their eyes that said that they were up to no good and that they had chosen the three women, who’d apparently wandered off the main thoroughfares, as their targets.

“I wonder what they’ll be worth.” one of the young men said.

“We get to keep one as out commission right?” Ask the other young man.

The first one punched the second one in the shoulder as the woman spoke.

Marthese turned around as the silence was shattered by the trio.

“You get to keep one instead of getting your cut,” she said, “But we’re still getting paid. The contract is for ten and we already have eight. I guess you’ll get the extra one. You can pick when we get them in the containers with the others.”

“I think I want that one.” the first man said pointing straight at Marthese.

It was the memories that tumbled one after the other, unfortunately she was used to such scenarios Fight or flight rang her brother’s words and now she stood her ground as the doctor let go of Faith’s and Tinga’s hands.

The anger was building up again,who would come nearer she had no idea but Marthese was prepared and determined what ever the out come.

Faith wondered where the hotel security were. These people must be guests? Faith thought. They have to be guests in this place? The only other people were the glacier tour guides, the langoustine-selling truck owners and zodiac boat tour operators… and the hotel staff.

If it came to violence then these strangers might get more than they bargained for. Tinga was a lot stronger than she might initially look, and she would naturally have her Ushaan-tor, the Andorian ice miner’s tool, hidden somewhere about her person. As a young girl in the Sons of the New Earth, Faith herself had been taught boxing, as well as other forms of unarmed combat.

• Faith, Yeoman