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By Root 1286 0

the massive cruiser, one of the most advanced vessels in the Romulan fleet. It measured more than twice as long as the Enterprise, stem to stern, with an impressive complement of firepower. In fact, with its three disruptor arrays, torpedo launchers, and cloaking device, it might actually outgun a Galaxy-class starship like the Enterprise, but the warbird’s offensive capabilities were offset by the fact that its speed was limited by the forced quantum singularity employed as its power source, which also served to make the warbird less maneuverable in combat.

Ro had been searching for some design flaw, some Achilles’ heel, that she could use to her advantage, should she find herself in ship-to-ship combat with the Haakona.

Of course, Captain Picard had ordered her to return to Federation space if she didn’t hear from him within twenty-four hours, of which only six remained. And if she followed orders, there seemed little chance of a combat encounter with the Romulans, since the Enterprise could warp out of the system before the Romulans even had a chance to realize that they had been hiding behind the star’s far side.

Still, Ro couldn’t help reading over again the report from Starfleet Intelligence about experiments using antiproton beams to detect ships employing Romulan cloaking devices, and checking again the design schematics of the D’deridex-class, looking for weaknesses in the shield architecture.

Was she intending to follow orders? Or was she intending something else entirely?

Ro wasn’t sure of the answer herself, and was wrestling with the question when the ready room’s door chimed.

“Who the devil is up this late?” Ro muttered to herself, checking the chronometer. “Or this early, I suppose.” Day watch wasn’t scheduled to begin for more than an hour yet. She glanced at the door, and in a somewhat louder voice called, “Come.”

The door hissed open, and Doctor Dalen Quaice stepped in. “Good morning, Laren,” the doctor said with a smile. “Or is it still 'good night’?”

Ro sighed, and turned from the computer screen. Only an android or upload could be that perky at this hour of the morning. “Is there something I can do for you, Doctor?”

Instead of answering, the physician strode across the room to the replicator. “Two cups of green tea, hot,” he said.

Ro crossed her arms over her chest, leaning back in the captain’s chair. She watched as the doctor retrieved the two cups and came to set them on the desk before her, tactfully pushing the half-finished cup of iced raktajino out of the way with his elbow. “Take it from someone who drank far too many cups of black coffee in medical training, Laren. A cup of raktajino can be a nice way to end one day, and a nice way to begin another, but drinking them to bridge the gap can play hell on the digestive system.” He sat down in the chair opposite hers, and then slid one of the steaming cups toward her. “I prescribe green tea instead, to settle the stomach and give your body a little chance to catch up.”

The doctor picked up the other cup, and took a sip, his little finger held out to the side, daintily. They sat together in silence for a few moments, the only sound that of the doctor’s gentle sipping. Ro tried not to think about what would become of the tea once it filtered down through Quaice’s artificial body; of course, what happened to food and drink in an organic’s body was hardly a pretty picture, either. Still, Ro drank and ate because she had to do so, to avoid thirst and hunger. For the most part, if she could get along without it, she would more than likely do so, aside from the occasional bite of hasperat, for old times’ sake.

But the doctor, who didn’t need to consume anything at all, went ahead eating and drinking anyway. But why? To remind himself what it was like to be human?

“Tell me, Doctor, does it ever bother you? Not needing to eat and drink and…well…” She waved her hand, unsure of how to continue.

“The other demands of the body, Laren? To say nothing of the pleasures? And please, call me Dalen.”

Ro gave a tight smile, and a quick shake of her head.