[Report This]Date: 25 Oct 2009 22:14 Title: Chapter 1
So, the Doctor is a slave to her passions. Very good. It kind of rounds out the healers we've seen thus far.
Date: 25 Oct 2009 22:02 Title: Prologue
So, Icheb has moved up, and Starfleet is taking the next logical step after Voyager's return. A strong start!
Author's Response:
Thanks for reading and commenting! It's always nice to see a new name in the reviews! Hope you enjoy it!
[Report This]Date: 23 Oct 2009 10:55 Title: Chapter 32
It really was nice to see everyone relaxing and I thought you handled the Adrien/Claire family really well - very realistic and a nice change onboard ship.
John definitely better be careful - if he has waited this long before telling Maren how he feels, I would suggest that he wait a little longer!
Oh and unrequited feelings mixing with alcohol? That can't be good!
Continued awesomeness, K7
[Report This]Date: 23 Oct 2009 06:58 Title: Chapter 32
It's nice to see everyone getting to relax for once. Adele and Julian at an interesting dinner party as their host attempts to accidentally poison them, and John and Maren heading out for a night on the... well, ship, I suppose.
John's feelings for Maren are coming to the fore, and he'd better be careful or he could find himself becoming an awkward third party in a particularly troubled love triangle.
I'm glad to see they're getting away from Tyndorian space, though the possible Borg-related mysteries that species was likely hiding haven't been answered. But, sometimes such answers aren't forthcoming, at least not until the Borg data on the iso-chip is decoded.
A nice break from the adventures of late as the crew gets a much needed opportunity to get to know one-another in a non-duty related capacity. 
[Report This]Date: 22 Oct 2009 19:13 Title: Chapter 32
I love Claire. *grins* I have a new favorite side character. I'm always getting picked on for how adventurous I am with food. The temptation to do things like that with a replicator would be very strong. Really nice dynamic among the four at dinner. It's good to see them off duty from time to time.
Euphoria? Oh, lordy, is this the Tyndoran equivalent of absinthe? Instead of the green fairy, they have the fire fairy. I had to laugh.
John, John, John, that's no way to go through life, son, and now isn't the time to be thinking such thoughts. It can't end well!
Great chapter. Can't wait to see the party!
Author's Response:
Claire is fun. And it is nice to see them off duty. We'll get a little more of that in the next chapter.
Absinthe is a pretty good comparison, yes. They better take it easy ... unfortunately, Maren is heading into this with the wrong attitude. Sigh.
Yeah, poor John. Of all the times for his long-term latent crush to rear its ugly head ... now is probably not the best.
The party (and the rest of the "adult's table" dinner party, too) is coming up. :) Thanks for reviewing!
Date: 21 Oct 2009 04:00 Title: Chapter 31
Wow, I didn't see the development with the Borg coming. That's really intriguing. I can't tell where you're going with that yet, which is obviously a good thing, but I'm interested in seeing it further in the plot.
I really hope Maren isn't going to fall for Beckley's charms. I have yet to see him be charming, but I have no doubt that he can be when he chooses. That will also be interesting to watch.
And tired people, alien alcohol, and some...messy...interpersonal relations, this party should be something else!!
Author's Response:
Thanks for the comment! There's a lot going on in the background we haven't seen yet. Our visitors to the comm buoy are just a small piece of the puzzle.
Beckley can, indeed, be charming when he chooses to be. So far, you're the only one who seems concerned about Maren falling for whatever he's trying to pull with her, though.
The party is coming up ... tired people, alien alcohol and messy interpersonal relations sums that situation up well.
Date: 21 Oct 2009 03:35 Title: Chapter 30
OK, I must've been on drugs or something when I read this chapter, because I could've sworn I reviewed it then. I'll echo what has been said about being happy to see Dr. Bashir getting to do what he does best, make others comfortable in uncomfortable situations and guiding them to do what's best for them without being an overbearing ass.
I'll be really interested to see what has Adelle off kilter like this. I doubt it's anything as simple as a change of life thing. I, too, have a theory, but I'm not much for sharing. :D I'll sit on it a while and see if it goes anywhere.
I'm sorry I didn't review because I read this a while back, and as I said, I could've sworn that I did. Old age and treachery are catching up with me.
Author's Response:
You DID review it. ;-) But that's okay, because I have another extra L for Adele, now. She collects them, you know. Hehe.
Thanks for the additional commentary!
Date: 19 Oct 2009 16:42 Title: Chapter 31
Mysterious renegade Borg and our favorite Dark Admiral being his usual manipulative self... who could ask for anything more?
Icheb and Maren appear to be finding a demilitarized zone of professional cooperation that allows them to do their jobs without unnecessary emotional impediments. Here's hoping they can maintain it for the duration, to save Adele's sanity if nothing else.
Perhaps Adele can find allies in the two captains assigned to the advisory board. Heavens knows she needs someone to confide in, seeing as though she keeps herself so tightly controlled and separated from those around here... not an easy thing to do for anyone, and less so for a person whose part Betazoid.
Wonderful stuff all the way around.
Author's Response:
Hee hee ... glad you approve.
If Icheb and Maren didn't find a way to work together, it would almost be criminal. They're a very good team in that regard, better together than apart, very complementary and all that. So refusing to cooperate would be doing everyone else a disservice. We'll see how it goes, though, there are a lot of things that could shape their interactions for better or worse ...
Adele definitely needs a friend or two to confide in. Maybe she'll find that in Bashir or the Kellers, maybe the captains, maybe all of them. She has plenty of options if she decides to open up.
Thanks for the comments!
Date: 18 Oct 2009 20:41 Title: Chapter 31
Oh the Admiral is going to try the divide and conquer approach by courting Maren's influence. His job might be made easier by her current status with Icheb but Maren doesn't strike me as the easily converted type. That said, I doubt the Admiral will be too blunt or overt in his overtures. Can't wait to see how he goes about winning her to his side.
Adele did well in the meeting but likewise the former captains made a good impression on her of the council and the need to keep them onside and in the loop.
Alas, for our little trio, things are very messy and John has it right when he observes how they are at present. Atop of which, it is a weird situation at the moment and i admire Icheb for abstaining from the party for the sake of Maren and Maren in turn apologising for her own behaviour to Icheb.
Now as to the mystery of Iden Nix's communication buoys that was quite a reveal there. I hadn't expected you to do so soon. So wow, what a little treat and still very, very mysterious. What the heck? Freed Borg or somet? Whatever next?
Author's Response:
Thanks for the comments, MF!
I also doubt the admiral will be obvious in whatever he's trying to do. I'm curious as to what makes you think Maren isn't an easy sell, though. (Is it her total stubbornness with Icheb? Or something else?)
Yes, things are messy for the I/M/J trio for sure.
We'll see what happens with our visitors to Iden's buoy. ;-)
Thanks again!
Date: 18 Oct 2009 06:19 Title: Chapter 23
Maren and Icheb...aye, that's awkward. I feel for them. Come on, work it out kids!
Great chapter.
Author's Response:
Yes, it is. Thanks for reading and reviewing!
Date: 18 Oct 2009 05:32 Title: Chapter 22
Beckley is a bad seed...I'm hoping he meets an unfortunate death. The dude is bad karma walking.
Nice chapter...creepy Beckley.
Date: 18 Oct 2009 05:24 Title: Chapter 21
Beckley is a sneaky SOB, ain't he? Not to mention Gentry is playing right into his hands.
Hopefully Beckley doesn't do something that could get the ship in trouble.
Date: 18 Oct 2009 03:56 Title: Chapter 20
Well...seems as though things are setting up for a farily important first contact. Wonder how it's going to go down, and what the devil is up with that subspace? Nice work.
Date: 18 Oct 2009 03:50 Title: Chapter 19
Surprise surprise! It appears as if the crew has found a new people to meet...now, are they hostile or peaceful? Good stuff.
Date: 18 Oct 2009 03:13 Title: Chapter 18
Maren and Icheb continuing their duel, but a surprise discovery of Borg remains...a tactical cube at that! Species 8472...could they be behind this?
Questions and more questions...awesome stuff!
Author's Response:
Hmm. 8472? Guess you'll have to keep reading and find out. ;-)
Date: 18 Oct 2009 02:56 Title: Chapter 17
Beckely is a coniving SOB isn't he? Certainly more than meets the eye. Glad to see he isn't the only one looking out for number one...Gentry and he could be a power duo on the board...or very bitter rivals. Great stuff.
Author's Response:
Thanks!
Date: 15 Oct 2009 21:31 Title: Chapter 30
Oh I have another theory as to why her empathic powers are acting up - similar to another theory about the gelpacks. Not the Medusan causing them to spoil nor the phase causing Adele - but the Admiral and whatever abilities he possesses. Of course, I'm very untrusting of him anyway and still think there's more to him than the very little we have learned thus far. But I will just have to wait and see. Now looking forward to the remainder of Adele's 'date' with Bashir and her meeting with Alvarez.
Author's Response:
Not Medusan ... Cairn. :) And you certainly are untrusting of Admiral Beckley.
Oh, and hee hee -- you heard Adele, it's NOT a "date." Squee all you want, they barely know each other and maybe Julian's just being nice!
Alvarez will be coming right up, though. Already written and ready to post as soon as I get the rest of the chapter done.
[Report This]Date: 14 Oct 2009 22:47 Title: Prologue
It's good to see the good Doctor making an appearance. He has aged gracefully, judging from his handling of his captain. Little wonder she tried to read his offer for subtext given his former reputation as a ladies man, or at least a frequently attempted one. The Garak mention made me smile. If Icheb can lie like Garak, I'll be incredibly impressed with him.
I think it's probably safe to say that the buoy going out isn't just a sensor glitch, not the way things have gone for them so far! Maybe I'm sadistic, but I hope it's something else. Dun dun dunnnn! Dun dun DUNNNNN!!
And I laughed aloud at the idea of a Bolian with pink fingernails. I love the little details you put in. Very cool chapter that raises lots of new questions.
Author's Response:
Glad you approve of Bashir, DS9 expert that you are. I've tried to make him a little less spazzy while keeping the humor intact, and I'm also keeping the idealism while dumping the naivete. Then there's the interest in spy stuff that went from fantasy to reality over time ... that's still part of him, for sure. Think it'll come in handy? ;-)
Icheb can't lie like Garak. I don't think that's giving anything away that wasn't already incredibly obvious. No one can lie like Garak. Simple deception, Icheb can handle pretty adeptly -- outright fabrication, not as much. We'll see what happens with him and Bashir -- Bashir is suspicious, and he's clever.
Iden is a fun character, pink fingernails and all. We haven't seen much of her yet, but she's going to play a role in all that's coming. We'll see what happens with her missing buoy ...
Thanks for the review!
Date: 14 Oct 2009 21:44 Title: Chapter 30
Ok, just one more time - squeee! I know I've been looking forward to some Adele and Bashir interaction and have some silly notion of the possibility they could be shipped together. The truth is, Adele needs such a relationship probably like a hole in the head but she definitely needs a friend. And the two of them shared a great bit of banter. One forgets the humour Julian had, not to mention his way of putting people at ease. Now will he be asking her to the holodeck next or for a game of darts?
Poor Adele. As if the mission in itself is not enough of a pain she now has to contend with the idea of having the Phase! Argh! How crappy.
And gleeful smiles with the bridge scene and John's reaction to it all. Hee heee. Again, more wonderful banter and fun.
Not so much banter and fun between Maren and Icheb though. One can see why the captain got a headache around them!
Now as for answers ... none at all. Instead, what does Alvarez want with Adele? What is the problem that Iden Nix has encountered [and I can so picture her now - hopefully this weekend kes7]? And just how bad is Claire's cooking? What trashy Betazed romance novel will Adele read?
Lots of little scenes and great character interactions. Fantastic weaving of character interactions and plot. Fab stuff kes7.
Author's Response:
LOL at "squeee!" Bashir did have a nice sense of humor and was excellent at making his patients feel comfortable. He also rarely hesitated to reach out to people when he sensed they needed it (at least once he got past that oblivious newbie phase). Hmmm, holodeck or darts? We'll see.
We'll also have to wait and see if she has The Phase, or if she's just having a crazy week, or if it's something else.
I thought the bridge scene was fun, too. John is having a great few days on the bridge, getting to be part of all the action. He's not normally assigned there unless it's night watch, and those people aren't as entertaining and don't have the same decision-making power.
No, not so much banter or fun for Icheb and Maren. I can't imagine that the overall mood in the engineering lab is going to improve once Icheb gets Bashir's message, either.
I'm going to try to have the next chapter up sooner than usual since this one was all set-up, so you'll soon find out what Alvarez wants, as well as how legendarily bad Claire's cooking is. No promises of an immediate answer to Iden's issue ... in a couple of chapters, maybe. I think everyone should go post ideas for Betazoid romance novel titles in my Tesseract thread on the forum, haha.
Thanks for all the compliments and the awesome review, MF. :)
Date: 14 Oct 2009 21:09 Title: Chapter 30
My goodness, a captain that actually goes to see the CMO without having to be ordered?! That's unheard of! Good on Adele for being proactive. And yikes that she could already be facing the equivalent of Betazoid menopause. Perhaps more likely that a saturation of 20-something angsty pheromones in her vicinity have caused a sudden jump in her telepathic senses. 
Good stuff.
Author's Response:
It IS unusual, isn't it? Captains are supposed to fear the CMO. I'm pretty sure her exec fears the CMO enough for the both of them, though, so it's okay.
Adele could be experiencing heightened awareness for any number of reasons ... Bashir was just suggesting one possibility. We'll see. Your theory is another possibility, seeing as her exec also has more than enough emotional angst to share.
Thanks for the review, and get well soon!
Date: 14 Oct 2009 01:32 Title: Chapter 29
Why do people lock important things in their desks away from their persons where anyone could come along, pick the lock, and steal it? Why do I think such devious things?
I loved this chapter. It's really nice to see Maren and Icheb inching closer toward resolving some of the issues that are still so heavy between them. At the least, they're getting better at working together.
I'm really curious about the Tyndorans and the Borg. Something very odd is going on there. Very odd. I know you'll reveal it in time, but I want to know now!! :D
Author's Response:
Because you're Elim f'ing Garak, that's why. Haha.
I'm glad you liked the chapter. Slowly, slowly, Icheb and Maren are remembering how to act like the adults they are supposed to be. I kind of wish I'd written the prequel first, because these two used to be adorable together. (Just take my word for it for now.) Actually, if I ever finish the challenge piece I'm working on, some of that will be revealed! But that's a big if.
We are inching toward some interesting revelations about what's on that data clip. Wait and see ....
Thanks for the review!
Date: 10 Oct 2009 18:33 Title: Chapter 29
One really has to feel for Maren. She's in quite a bind with the many problems and issues she faces with the ship and the circumstances. But on top of all that is this almost unrelenting pressure from Icheb.
He really is being a bit of an ass being so pushy. However, considering his Borg past, one can understand his poor social interactions and understanding of relationships. Not that I'd give him a free pass for his behaviour. He is XO of a massive ship and he is going to have to learn how to relate to others. And holding his condition over Maren like that - some sort of emotional blackmail ticking stopwatch - is fairly cold and heartless. Maren should have slapped his face off for that. At least her retort put him in the right.
And at the same time I can feel for Icheb. He only wants to make up for lost time and capitalise on the remaining time they might have. That and he does show a little commonsense and concern for Maren by making her report for some rest. That and the fact the two of them can bury their issues to work on the mystery package proves that he can do better than act like an ass.
Alas, for Adele their potent relationship problems are only another headache and it is clear that her headaches are only beginning. So the Borg encryption and the day dreaming are adding up to a very suss situation. What to make of all of this? I dunno - other than to say it makes for a fascinating story and terrific reading. Kudos.
Author's Response:
Luckily for Icheb, Maren knows and understands him about as well it's possible for a human to understand a former Borg drone, or she'd have done worse than slap him -- she'd have gone to the captain by now and he would be in a fair amount of trouble for harassing her after she's asked him to stop. She's making her own life more miserable than it has to be by trying to handle him herself, but she obviously cares about him enough to continue to keep all manner of secrets for him, and despite her poor attitude, she is actually cutting him some slack as far as his unprofessional behavior goes.
Icheb doesn't mean to be an ass, he's just a very damaged individual underneath all the squeaky clean boy genius stuff. Maren knows that and tries to be understanding (her actions, or lack thereof, speak a lot louder than her words), but everyone has their limit. If he doesn't back off and let her breathe a bit, who knows what she'll do?
Oh, and it very much sucks to be Adele. As Gibraltar put it, she has to play "camp counselor" to her angsty, immature XO and chief engineer, plus the mission is just not going very well at all. Not to mention the advisory board ... think it's time for her to find a friend yet? I think she needs one.
Date: 10 Oct 2009 07:53 Title: Chapter 29
I've got to agree. The relationship angst between Icheb and Maren is so thick it's like a physical presence in the room with them, which of course only serves to give Adele a headache.
Icheb is pushing too hard. Hell, they're barely out of spacedock and he's already made repeated attempts to force them to draw a definitive conclusion about the state of their relationship. Riker and Troi served together for 15 years before they re-ignited their relationship. Granted, Icheb feels he may not have sufficient time, but if that's the case then how would it be fair to Maren to start things up again only to put her through the agony of losing him to whatever mystery malady might be ticking away within him?
Poor Adele not only has to captain the most ambitious Starfleet exploration mission in over a decade, but now finds herself playing the part of camp counselor to these two.
"Security, set phasers to ‘drama.'"
Continually fantastic stuff, kes7.
Author's Response:
Thanks for the review and encouragement, Gibraltar!
Yeah, Icheb is being pushy. But re: Riker and Troi -- even if Icheb didn't feel like his clock was running out, he would call fifteen years of relationship buildup most inefficient! He's no Riker. He's an extremely serious person with a mind still largely ordered like a Borg drone's, and he doesn't do anything halfway. When he left Maren, he REALLY left her. Now that he's changed his mind, he can't leave it alone. It doesn't help that he's always been an impatient person by nature, even without the Borg influences. He also has some other factors playing into his change of heart now that they're headed for the DQ, but we'll get to that.
Like I told you on PM, I had written a scene where Adele talks to Janeway between the Aris 4 misison and the launch. She complains about feeling like a babysitter to Icheb, Maren and John and jokingly asks if they couldn't get some kind of Starfleet reg to prevent people who went to the Academy together serving on assignments together before ten years have passed. In response, Janeway just about spits out her coffee and says "Tell me you don't have all THREE of them." Camp counselor, indeed. Poor Adele. What a mess.
[Report This]Date: 09 Oct 2009 17:59 Title: Chapter 29
Wow, another great chapter - you really excell at these character moments, and the relationship between Icheb and Maren is so realistic it's almost painful. I think you've really captured the way that kind of relationship would work and Maren especially is reacting in a very real, visceral way - her reactions at the end were especially life-like. You keep on proving how 3-dimensional these characters are, while giving us an intriguing plot that keeps us all coming back for more.
And the Tyndorans having a Borg-encryption code?!!! What is going on there?
Love it, love it, love it! Since I know you've been having a bad couple of days, not going to be all pushy as usual and say MORE MORE MORE... But you can bet I'm thinking it!!!
Thanks again for this wonderful story.
Author's Response:
Thanks for the kind words, CaptainSarine! That made my day.
[Report This]Date: 08 Oct 2009 01:59 Title: Chapter 5
Ok, I half expected that Icheb's response to the question "Why are you in my quarters?" would be a rather dead-pan: "Because you invited me."
Glad it didn't pan out like that, because these two characters have some wonderfully painful chemistry together. That's probably the biggest compliment I can give to how you've painted them.
Quite often, character relationships feel forced and ignore the important role of chemistry in the relationship.
Suffice to say, beautiful work.
Having missed most of VOY, I'm wondering what the illness is that Icheb seems to have contracted, and why what appears to be such a loyal officer, would hide the affliction from Starfleet Medical.
Interesting.
Still loving it so far! Thanks for getting me into it!
-Funn
Author's Response:
I'm happy you're still liking it! Thanks for the compliments regarding the characterization. Coming from you, I'll take it as a huge compliment, because that's my favorite thing about your storytelling: your awesome characterization.
Oh, and Icheb's not ill, exactly. More like damaged and distrustful. You'll see. Keep reading. (By the time I spill all the details -- which I haven't yet -- maybe you'll have caught all the way up!)
Thanks again for reading and reviewing!