Time to go to work:
The door to Jarans office chimed for the fifth time and Jaran ignored it just has he had the previous four. Then there was the sound of a fist pounding on the heavy wood.
Without looking up Jaran reached over and pressed a control to open the door. Nala stormed into the office, her red hair flowing behind her looking like flames.
"What the Hell Jaran? You've been locked up in here for two days!"
He stood up from behind his desk, tugging his tunic straight. "Sorry. Been busy." he started for his bedroom.
"I gather" Nala said, exasperation in her voice. "I take it you now have a plan?"
"A plan?" he replied as he began putting clothes in a carry all. "I've found something that may be useful to me."
"Really, and what is that?"
He finished putting the last article in the bag. 'Can't say yet. Need to confirm it." he started for the door.
She stepped in his path. "Not without me you're not."
He came up short, truly surprised. "You..... You intend to baby sit me on a mission."
"Where you go , I go. For now. You're not totally yourself yet." she could hardly believed she said that.
He studied her for a moment. "Ok... There is no real danger"
She looked at his bag. "I need to pack."
"Pack light. It's a short trip." he said as he started out of his office turning towards her quarters.
****
Dayor Jaran piloted the Bajoran Interceptor like he was born to it as they began an approach to Ossimer Station, in orbit around the Ephyra Colony Planet.
"When are you going to tell me what we're after?" Nala asked.
He looked over at her in the co-pilots seat. "When I need to. Not before."
"I need to be prepared." her voice sharpening.
"Not for the mission. Only to help me with my little problem.".
Nala stewed in her seat as the small ship entered a docking bay of the Station.
Ossimer Station is one of several Bajoran construction platforms moved into position over the mottled surface of the recently moved planetoid. A Space Elevator was constantly moving material brought from Bajor and other planets down to the planet surface to re-build the Colony that was wiped clean after the trip thru the wormhole.
Once the ship was secured the pair made their way thru the decks to a central Promenade. Along the outer rim Jaran found a small coffee shop, went in and took a table along the back wall, from here he could watch every person entering and leaving.
Nala looked around. Nearly every seat and booth was occupied by Humans. She had never been around so many of the Terrians.
"What's wrong? You look uncomfortable." Jaran asked as he sipped his second cup of coffee.
She shook her head "I hate to admit it. It's just......its the first time I've been off planet and around so many......."
"Dr. Tal. Why I'm surprised. Next you'll be telling me you agree with the garbage Servita Bor is spewing."
"No...No...I just...."
A group of women came thru the front door off the Promenade deck, all in their twenties, all blond and blue eyes. All but one. They took a booth several tables away from Nala and Jaran, taking no notice of them.
Nala was instantly aware that Jaran was watching them. "It that who you're waiting for? Them?!"
"One of them, yes. Please don't stare."
Nala forced herself not to look.
"Really Jaran I don't understand what a Human girl would have to do with Servita Bor."
The dark haired girl stood up and began walking toward the back of the restaurant. As she started to pass them Jaran stood up and accidentally bumped her.
"I'm so sorry, please excuse me." He said.
The girl giggled. "No worries." and she continued on.
Jaran walked over to a counter, retrieved a napkin and returned to his table.
"What was that about?"
Jaran placed a tiny bit of hair in the napkin, folded it and dropped a five credit piece on the table. "Come on.. Back to the ship."
She stood up taking his hand. 'That's it....we're going home?"
He didn't answer.
Back in the ship he carefully placed the hair on a Medical tricorder as Nala looked on.
"Oh... I should have guessed." she said looking at the readout. "But this makes not sense."
Jaran looked at the results and smiled.
"It makes perfect sense."
***
Nala leaned against wall along the Promenade as Jaran walked up to the dark haired girl, now sitting alone on a park bench in a small grouping of plants, reading a data pad.
Sitting down next to her she looked up and in a moment recognized Jaran from the Coffee shop."
'Oh.. Hello." she smiled.
Jaran nodded. "Hello Sarah."
Now the girl was on guard. "How...how do you know my name?" She started to slide back a bit, ready to run.
"I know a great deal about you Sarah."
"Like what?" anger growing in her voice.
"I know you work for Haster Industries, you're twenty five years old, top of your class in school, and an excellent engineer."
"All you could find out with a bit of investigating." she said standing up.
"And...I know who you're real father is."
'My real father? I only have one father, Michael Trumbel."
"That is what you've always believed. That is not the truth."
"I don't know what your up to mister. But I suggest you leave me alone." she started to walk away.
"Sarah. I can tell you why...."
"Why what?"
"Why you feel different for all your friends."
She stared at him for moment then turned and left.
Nala walked up to him. "That went well. So.....just who is her REAL father.?"
They started walking back to the ship.
"Servita Bor of course."
Nala looked at him astonished.
Off:
A post by Commander Dayor Jaran
Senior Research Administrator of the Bajoran Temple Vor-Huar
Clandestine operative of the Bajoran Intelligence Service
Previously Marcus Dinn
