From: Sarah Albertini-Bond (serendipity77_at_gmail.com)
Date: Sun Apr 29 2007 - 09:15:05 PDT
=/\=
When You Are Called – Do You Serve?
<Continued from Chance's "The Devil's In The Details">
=/\=
"The reason there are so few female politicians is that it is too much
trouble to put makeup on two faces."
--Maureen Murphy
=/\=
Location: EARTH
Scene: Paris, France
Stardate: 2.70429.1151
Xana Bonviva was able to do quite a few things, but she'd be the first to
admit she was not perfect. She couldn't, for example, do any kind of
intelligent scientific analysis beyond a first-year Starfleet cadet level.
She was physically fit but she would never be physically intimidating (being
6' tall aside) – she was too happy to be seen as the "heavy" when facing off
against someone.
As she sat there listening to the politicians to the political
party that she nominally belonged to prattle on about the upcoming
confirmation hearings regarding the Ambassador positions she realized that
perhaps she should add one more thing to the list of things she could not
do:
Keep a job as the Terran Ambassador to Starfleet for much
longer.
=/\=
"My brother Bob doesn't want to be in government – he promised Dad he'd go
straight."
-- John F. Kennedy
=/\=
Location: GATEWAY-2
Scene: Bonviva/McInnis Quarters
"So do you want to get drunk?"
Gene McInnis looked up from where he was playing with Dahlia
and saw his weary wife walk in the door.
"Mamamamama," Dahlia chanted as she ran as fast as her chubby
legs would take her. Once she got to her mother, the 14-month old grinned
and held up her arms for a pickup and hug. Getting what she wanted the
little blue girl with wide blonde curls began bouncing up and down in her
mother's arms looking for more attention.
Amused by her daughter, Xana smiled at her and asked, "So is
that a 'yes', Dahlia?"
Dahlia not quite sure what it was that her mother was asking
went for her favorite answer – emphatically nodding her head and cheering.
She cheered louder when her mother joined in with a smile that lit up her
otherwise exhausted face.
Gene, who by this point, was up off the floor and over by his
women wrapped his arms around both of them and kissed his wife. "Are we
talking break out the champagne drunk or – "
"Tequila, no salt, and don't bother putting away the bottle
drunk," Xana interrupted.
The Bajoran/Celt nodded at that. "So it sounds like the
meeting went…."
"It went."
Later on as Gene and Xana were stretched out in the living room
with half empty bottle of tequila between them, they sat there listening,
through the baby monitor, to their daughter snoring softly in her bedroom.
"You know, it's that nose…I'm convinced that's why she's already started
with the snoring," Xana murmured.
"Probably," Gene yawned.
"It's why you snore," Xana replied.
"Ah but would I snore without the nose…that's the question,"
the Bajoran pointed out.
"I don't have a Bajoran nose and I don't snore," the blue
hybrid sniffed.
Gene looked at the tequila bottle, thought of a snappy response
to his wife's comment, and wisely held his tongue. He liked being right,
but also liked not pissing off his wife. So with that in mind he decided
to direct the subject back to what they had been talking about. "You know I
could support us."
"For how long?"
"We wouldn't be destitute, Xana," Gene pointed out
"True but this is more than that…I know you don't care for
politics," Xana began.
"Not true," Gene replied. "I see the merit in it. Most of
the time. Some of the time. Well, fine I support you but I'm convinced I
knew cleaner pigs on my parents' farm than some people you have to deal
with."
Xana smiled at that. "I'm not debating that point. My point
was that I felt...like I was accomplishing some things, I really was. And
now to know that my job will be over in a few months not because I couldn't
do it but because I won't lie and adhere to a political platform I don't
agree with...it's discouraging."
Gene nodded at that -- he did believe Xana was doing good, for
all his shots at politicans. Sighing he sat back and said, "Explain to me
again why you don't think defecting to another party will work."
"It's a politically appointed position, my job. And right now my current
party is the one in power so they get to appoint the people. Even if I
defected to another party, while ideologically appealing, it would mean I'm
still out of a job," the Ambassador pointed out. Leaning back Xana
continued on, "It's the same old story for me, Gene, I can do the job well
enough but I can't shut my mouth long enough for my superiors to realize
it. You think I would have learned by now to do that...thing is I just
can't seem to keep quiet when I know someone has to speak up."
"Speaking of which ...," Gene set the glass down carefully on the floor
beside him. "I'm being demoted."
It took a moment to register ... but just a moment. He admired how Xana
could think through the blur of alcohol. He couldn't do that. The only
thing it did for him was let him say the things he wouldn't normally say.
"What?" she asked, looking suddenly sick.
"Yes," he nodded, a smile quirking the corner of his mouth. "Both of us are
hoping that light at the end of the tunnel is not a train," he said.
"Is this something I should have seen coming?"
"You mean ... did you miss something? No," Gene shook his head and stopped
doing that because the room moved a little oddly. Tequila was not his drink
of choice. "I'm told that Starfleet has the greatest confidence in me ...
and Kat, too," he added.
"Oh, Gods! Kat, too? What the hell happened?"
Gene shrugged expressively, then realized he'd shrugged expressively and
toned it down, which turned the gesture into a cramped sort of expression
that confused Xana more than anything else.
"What hasn't happened? I guess we didn't blow the whole station up, but
that's about all. Kat says the new guy is kind of a hard case. Somebody
named Kane. Don't know much more than that."
"What will happen to you?" Xana asked, touching her husband's hand.
"I'm to be the new Head Counselor. Kat's the new XO. Three steps forward,
three steps back," he almost giggled, and promised himself never to match
drinks with Xana ever again.
"Is this ... could this be ... I mean," Xana tried.
"A good thing?" Gene looked up. "Sure, it could be. Yes, it probably is.
I was a good counselor."
"You were a good Captain, too," she said.
"I lost my ship," he said. "Hard to come back from that. Probably better
if I go back to my roots. Still young. Maybe it's time to rethink all this
'command' feces."
"I'm pretty sure you know the Anglo-Saxon term for feces," Xana smiled at
him.
He nodded and smiled back before taking another sip of tequila.
=/\=
"A politician is an animal which can sit on a fence and yet keep both ears
to the ground."
--H.L. Mencken
=/\=
Scene: Schrodinger's Cat
Gene hated to see his wife upset. He could list other reasons why the
current situation with Xana bothered him but it really boiled down to that
-- his wife was upset. He had to fix it. It was just that simple.
So dressed in a simple brown Bajoran tunic and black slacks, Gene McInnis
went to what must have been the sleaziest bar in the GATEWAY to petition the
Bajoran Ambassador to help his wife. The Bajoran Ambassador, Myall Tai, was
in his defacto office -- the bar known as Schrodinger's Cat. The fact that
it was only 0900 and the Ambassador was in a bar where the floor was sticky
all day and the lights never seemed to go higher than 30%. The fact that
the highly decorated Bajoran Ambassador kept his informal officer here was
somehow just accepted.
Myall Tai was sitting in the back booth when he saw the other Bajoran come
in. Indicating to a seat he said, "Please sit. Normally I enjoy having
drinks with your wife at this time but I suppose I can make an exception and
drink with you too."
"Thank you," Gene nodded. He remembered Xana once told him that Myall Tai
used to be a Bajoran monk but left the monastary for liquor and women,
although she wasn't always sure what order was more important to the
Ambassador.
As a woman came over with a Scotch on the rocks, Myall kissed the woman's
hand declaring, "You are a goddess amongst women. Run away with me and I'll
give you the galaxy."
The waitress, used to this Gene surmised, just smiled and shook her head.
"You promised me pearls and diamonds last week and I'm still waiting on
that." She slipped Gene a scotch as well.
"Uhm...I didn't order this," Gene whispered.
"You'll need it," she whispered back.
Myall, now sipping his Scotch, leaned back and studied the other Bajoran.
"So what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?"
"I'm here about my wife," Gene began.
"Lovely woman. Still won't leave you, I keep trying though," Myall replied
cheerfully.
"And I appreciate that -- that she's not leaving me," Gene responded dryly.
Shaking his head he tried to figure out the best way to dip his toe into
this situation. "You know I was talking to my family last night and they
were mentioning that there's a commission opening up on BAJOR studying
intergalatic treaties within the Alpha Quadrant and their relationship to
BAJOR's small businesses."
"I believe I heard about that," Myall nodded. "Do you want the job?"
"No, but I think Xana would be perfect for it," Gene replied.
"She would bring an interesting perspective," the Bajoran Ambassador
agreed. "But there is one small, tiny problem."
"And that is..."
"Your wife, stunning though she may be, is not Bajoran." Myall took a swig
of Scotch before continuing on, "But we'd be happy to have your daughter on
the commission...in a few decades, that is."
"My wife has done alot for BAJOR," Gene pointed out.
Myall nodded. "Indeed she has. But Bajoran National Commissions are only
to be staffed by Bajorans -- you know that. We passed that law not long
after the Cardassian Occupation. And though many would appreciate your
wife's dedication to the Bajoran peoples, they would not be willing to
overlook the fact that she is not Bajoran."
Gene was about to say something when the Ambassador held up his hand. In
that moment he realized that although the Ambassador appeared to be drinking
Scotch, and did look inebriated, his brown eyes were clear and his speech
wasn't slurred. The alcohol was his shield, used to deflect prying eyes so
that the Ambassador could do...well whatever it was that he felt he had to
do.
"I do like your wife, very much," Tai said. "And she's young, even though
you and her might not think so. Her future is terribly bright and the path
of it...well may the Prophets guide her, or her gods, or both for all I
know, because I do believe your wife's path still has a long way to go with
the inevitable twists, turns, and bumps along the way. But if you were to
ask me what your wife will be doing after the Terrans kick her out I would
tell you this...she's not done with BAJOR."
Gene gave a look at the Ambassador, "How so?"
Myall gave an enigmatic smile at that and looked around Schrodinger's
Cat. Seeing
no one of importance, the Bajoran Ambassador leaned in and said, "How do you
feel about stirring up some Bajoran grassroots for a good cause?"
Gene said nothing but leaned in.
=/\=
"Democracy means simply the bludgeoning of the people, by the people, for
the people."
-- Oscar Wilde
=/\=
Scene: Four Corners
TI: A few days later
If Gene was sitting in the sleaziest place in the GATEWAY, then
Xana was in the classiest. The Four Corners was a five-star restaurant that
was used to serving the dignitaries that came across. From the clean white
linens and polished silverware on the tables, to the dignified wait staff,
and the soft classical music that was piped in; Four Corners gave the
impression of class.
This morning, over a lovely breakfast of Bolian juju berries
mixed in cream with a chamomile tea cooling in a china cup, Xana Bonviva
found herself rather unexpectedly speaking with the Federation Council's
representative from EARTH, Mikayla Jordan/Ardalan. "So tell me, Ambassador
Bonviva, how do you like being an Ambassador?"
Xana sat back and looked over at the Councilmember. The visit
was unexpected, all the more because up until this morning Xana had no idea
that: a) Councilmember Jordan/Ardalan was in the Gamma Quadrant and b) that
the Councilmember knew her. "I enjoy being an Ambassador very much."
"Steep learning curve," the Councilwoman said as she sipped her
coffee.
"I thrive with situations like that," Xana replied.
The Councilwoman nodded. "Well I appreciate your dedication to
your office. And I appreciate the work you did on behalf of the Security
Council, even if you were…a bit eager."
Xana said nothing but ate her breakfast. The Bolian/Italian had
always known that her appointment to the Security Council, as the Terran
Ambassador to Starfleet, was a fluke and only because there had been a
"situation" (as it was explained to her) with the previous Councilmember. Now
with the newly elected Councilwoman Jordan/Ardalan, it would make sense for
her to take back her responsibilities on the Security Council, in addition
to everything else she did.
Still, Xana thought to herself, it sucked to be bumped back
down. But then again, she was going to be out of a job anyway in a few
weeks, so what did it matter if she was off the Security Council now or
later? "Being in the Gamma Quadrant, you realize that you don't have all
the time you perceive to have in the Alpha Quadrant."
"Indeed," Jordan/Ardalan said. "Well you must be curious as to
my reason for having you for breakfast this morning."
Xana said nothing, mostly because her mouth was full of food, so
she nodded.
"Well it seems as if one of the Ambassador from the Federation
posts has opened up," the Councilwoman continued on. "And given the recent
shift in intergalactic politics, the Federation Council has moved that an
office should be moved to another quadrant – namely the Gamma or Delta."
After sipping her tea to clear her throat, the blue woman said,
"The Gamma Quadrant makes more sense if you ask me. There are more secure
resources here than in the Delta."
"Like the GATEWAY STATION – 2?"
Xana smiled at that. "I am, of course, biased towards the
GATEWAY."
The Councilwoman also smiled at that but continued to eat her
eggs. Finally after a few moments she said, "You never asked why I was in
the Gamma Quadrant."
"I didn't think it was up to me to question a Councilmember
about their itinerary," Xana replied.
"Good answer but you can ask."
"Okay…so Councilwoman Jordan/Ardalan, what are you doing in the
Gamma Quadrant?"
"Officially, I'm taking out the nominee for the Ambassador from
the Federation to breakfast. It's expected when the nominee is from your
home planet to spend some time with them," the Councilwoman replied.
"You came all the way out to the Gamma Quadrant to take me out
to breakfast and tell me I'm the nominee for the Ambassador from the
Federation?" Xana asked, trying very hard not to choke on her food or appear
as incredulous as she felt.
Mikayla Jordan/Ardalan gave a wry smile. "A person got
nominated from my home planet and I didn't know her, which was embarrassing.
And since we were discussing moving the post to the Gamma Quadrant, I agreed
to come out here with a delegation to inspect the GATEWAY STATION – 2 and
the resources here."
Xana sat there stunned for a moment before something hit her. "If
you didn't nominate me, then who did?" She paused for a moment before
suggesting, "BOLARUS IX?"
"No, but the Bolians immediately seconded your nomination. I
think they were a little put out that they didn't think to nominate you,"
the Councilwoman mused. "No…BAJOR nominated you. I don't know what kind of
relationship you have with them but they skipped over their own people, a
very unusual move for them, and nominated you. In fact the Bajoran
Councilmember said that his people 'owed' you for what you've done for them,
and that there was a ground swelling of support for you on BAJOR, which also
made me curious."
This sounded a lot like the work of two Bajoran men that Xana
knew all too well….
"I married a Bajoran," Xana smiled as she sipped her tea. "And
then have spent the better part of the last year being hit on by the Bajoran
Ambassador. I suppose it could be that."
=/\=
"Politics has less to do with where you live than where your heart is."
--Margaret Cho
=/\=
Scene: Corridor->Gorman Residence
"Dahlia, dear, we're going on a field trip," Xana announced as
she pushed a stroller and carried an insulated basket. Her daughter began
singing something that made sense only to her. Amused by this, the
Bolian/Italian chuckled as she began her trip.
At the first stop Xana was faced with Hannibal O'Patterson, the
Chief of Security for the GATEWAY. Putting down her basket, Xana pulled out
a large covered tray with a PADD on top. "One tray of truffle and eggplant
mariana Toscana with recipe," she smiled.
O'Patterson looked suspiciously at Bonviva. And Bonviva, upon
being suspiciously looked at, smiled all the brighter, which made
O'Patterson even more suspicious. The woman was making him nervous with her
smiles – no one sane smiled that much. Hell, people doped up on the best
drugs didn't smile that much. There was a pilot, a few years ago, on the
GATEWAY who more doped up than anyone else and he most certainly didn't
smile that much. It made the Security Chief wonder what the hell the
Bolian/Human was on to be like that.
It was a never-ending circle of smiles and suspicion, an odd
combination to be sure. What ended it was Dahlia bouncing in her stroller
chattering something that sounded like, "Hi-hi-hi-hi-hi."
O'Patterson looked down at the little smiling girl and then back
at the mother. "It's been passed to the next generation," he
muttered. Shaking
his head he sighed and took the tray and recipe, "Thank you, Ambassador," he
said before stepping back into his quarters.
"Charmed and thank you, O'Patterson," she cheerily called back.
Shaking her head she went to close her bag but realized that she forgot to
give the Security Chief his cookies. "Damn it," she sighed. "I don't want
to bother him again."
Xana was closing up her basket, silently debating who to give
the cookies to, when she heard whistling. Looking up she saw the FCO coming
down the corridor. Stepping in his way as he got closer she held out a
large package of chocolate chip cookies. "Lieutenant Cannon, these are for
you," she announced with a grin.
"Me? Really?" Cannon said taking the cookies. "What's the
occasion, Ambassador?"
Crap, she needed a reason. Sane people had reasons for these
things. And true, Xana would admit she wasn't sane but other people were
sane. Or so Gene told her. "For being so good about me keeping the B-IX
SOLSTICE in the hangar and always having someone check on it," she blurted
out.
Cannon said nothing – keeping track of dignitaries' shuttles and
modified freighters (like the B-IX SOLSTICE) was nothing new. And he had a
feeling that wasn't the reason behind the cookies. But…well homemade
cookies didn't come his way everyday, now did they? "No problem,
Ambassador. But if you excuse me…"
Xana stepped aside, "Of course."
As Cannon went one way, Xana went another way, this time to the
Senior Staffer she knew least of all. Hitting the doorbell she faced the
CEO, Ronnie Zanders. The Human/Vulcan/Borg looked at the Ambassador with a
confused expression but did nothing more untoward than say, "Yes. Can I
help you?"
Xana reached into her bag of food and pulled out a canister of
soup and a small package. "This is for you. I know we haven't had the
chance to talk much but…"
Then she didn't know what to say. Ronnie Zanders had come back
when her friend Tomas' Vukovic hadn't. She didn't know what had happened
but Xana did know that much. And wasn't sure what had happened but she knew
that Tomas' had always felt so lonely as BORG, feeling separated from the
crew. Xana knew that Ronnie wasn't as in isolated situation but it still
wasn't easy.
"The soup is Vulcan Plomeek soup and the package has traditional
English fish and chips. I thought you might want something homemade to
eat," Xana explained. As Ronnie took the package the Ambassador admitted,
"Anyway, I hope to see you more."
With that Xana backed away from the CEO and continued on her
walk, this time to the Gorman residence. This time she got a friendly
person to answer the door – Jeff. "Xana! What are you doing here?"
"Dahlia and I come bearing gifts," the Ambassador smiled. Holding
out the basket she said, "Everything in here is for you."
"Sweet," Jeff grinned. Shaking his head he stepped aside,
"Where are my manners? Get in here." As Xana pushed Dahlia in, Jeff turned
and called out, "Kat! Xana and Dahlia are here."
"I thought I smelled food," Kat grinned. Coming over she kissed
her godchild first before looking at her friend, "You haven't been over in
ages," Kat admonished.
"And I come bearing food as an apology. Dahlia's just here for
the visit," Xana explained.
As the kids came running out from where they had been playing
and greeted Xana and Dahlia, Jeff sat down and opened up the basket. "Lovely
to see you, Xana. What did you bring me to eat?"
"Jeff!" Kat said.
"Lovely to see you Xana, and Dahlia too, but we couldn't figure
out what to make for dinner and I'm starved," the CMO grinned. Pulling out
the first box he opened it and looked in; closing it he said, "I will eat
this but I think this is for Kat."
Kat looked at Xana and then grabbed the box. "That's gotta be
tiramisu."
"It is," the Ambassador nodded.
"Sweet, we've got dessert. Now if I know Xana, there's dinner
in here too. Now kids, thank your Aunt Xana for saving you from starvation
by giving us…" Jeff said as he opened up the tray, "…baked ziti." Pulling
out a long foil-wrapped package from the basket he said, "And garlic bread
if my guess isn't too far off."
As she got the chorus of "thank yous", Ely looked up at
Xana. "Aunt
Xana, are you gonna stay with us for dinner?"
"Thank you, sweetie, but I've got to go. Uncle Gene is
expecting us at home," Xana explained.
"So what are you giving the new CO?" Kat asked.
Xana made a face at that. "I don't have anything for him. You
don't get to demote one of my best friends and husband and then expect
cookies."
Kat looked stunned at that. "He's not even here yet, and you've
already decided to declare war on the CO?"
"War sounds too formal," Xana replied studying her nails.
Jeff shrugged at that, his cheeks full of garlic bread. "You
know, he's gonna be my CO too. And I want to, and have to get along with
him." Jeff ate some more, "But if I was in Xana's position, free to do what
I want, and feeling hurt because of slights given for no real reason to my
spouse and friend, then…well I understand what she's doing."
Kat was going to respond when she noticed something. "Jeff…did
you eat all the garlic bread?"
The CMO looked down at the empty wrapper where the garlic bread
had been. Looking up sheepishly he grinned, "No, I shared with the kids."
=/\=
"A politician is the only person who can make waves, and then make you think
he's the only one who can save the ship."
--Ivern Ball
=/\=
Scene: Bonviva/McInnis Quarters
TI: Later that night
"You've had a busy night," Gene commented as he and Xana lay in
the tub together. The baby monitor, sitting on the vanity, was blissfully
silent as Dahlia was out for the count. "You cooked for the Senior Staff
that was here, including making me hasperat soufflé." Kissing the top of
her head he said, "Again, thank you for that. You didn't have to do that."
"You and Tai didn't need to go on a tear amongst all the Bajorans," Xana
commented. When Gene said nothing she leaned back against her husband and
asked, "Did you think I couldn't figure it out?"
"I was hoping it would take you longer," Gene admitted. "Myall does,
Prophets help me, like you. So I put a bug in some people's ears about
contacting their representative. My family had fun, I think, pushing your
name forward at all the local meetings. And I did get to talk to a lot of
my old comrades because I had idea that the government might listen to
Starfleet officers and enlisted a little more than the average citizen. Heck,
Tim found out what I was doing and called showing me a prosthetic Bajoran
nose found so he could call the Bajoran government." Gene waited a minute
before saying, "Yeah, I told him not to do that but you never know….
"Anyway, Tai talked to other government types. I just…I just wanted to make
it better for you. I am proud of what you do, and…I just wanted to make it
better for you." Before Xana could say anything Gene kissed her head and
said, "You know like you want for me, which is why you told Kat and Jeff
that you want to declare war on the CO."
"I didn't say that…exactly," Xana muttered.
Gene chuckled. "It's sweet." He let a pause go by before saying, "And I
know my very loving dear would *never* cause me to be in an awkward
situation with my boss by trying to kill him. Right?" When Xana said
nothing he questioned again, "Right?"
"I have to work with him too, just in a different capacity," the blue woman
pointed out. "I'll be civil. Hell, I'll even dig up courteous. But that's
it."
"Find out what he likes and make that," Gene said, knowing his wife loved
doing that kind of thing for people. It helped her get closer to the
person, even though Xana would never express quite like that. "Or just make
cookies if you're stumped."
"Can I make them with arsenic?"
"You know, courteous is fine."
"I thought so."
=/\=
NRPG: There you go – I'm alive and I can post! I know, it's a shocking
thing, to me too <g> I thought I'd post how Xana moves her jobs, catches up
with people, and all that good stuff. I apologize for the massive size of
it – that's what happens when you're slow and don't post often.
Jerome: I figured…why make Kane's life easy, when hard is so much the
better? LOL I thought I'd take advantage of Xana being out of the chain of
command to make his life difficult (not that it wouldn't have occurred to
her when she was in chain of command but you know, now it's more fun).
Joy: Did I do ok with Kat? I haven't written for Killer and Bols together
in a while. Egads, they have kids, it's like they've matured or something
:)
Rahul: I apologize for making Jeff so greedy with the food – it was too
good to resist LOL
Margie: I didn't know what to write for Ronnie so I do hope that's ok? And
is Eilean still with Xana? Does she still want to be Chief of Security for
her or would she want Chief of Staff now?
Steve: Unfortunately (or more likely fortunately <g>) Cannon isn't someone
that Xana has completely and totally screwed up so I apologize if the cookie
thing seemed stilted.
Jasmina: Hi <waves>. Welcome to the GATEWAY. Rest assured Xana will not
have the same vendetta against you Yao as she does with Kane. Cookies, or
whatever Yao likes to eat, will be coming once she gets on board ;)
Kenneth: Thank you for posting with me – it's been a while and I loved
doing it.
=/\=
Sarah Albertini-Bond serendipity77_at_gmail.com
Ambassador Xana Bonviva
Federation Ambassador
GATEWAY STATION - 2
"However, it is immensely moving when a mature man – no matter whether old
or young in years – is aware of a responsibility for the consequences of his
conduct and really feels such a responsibility with heart and soul. He then
acts by following an ethic of responsibility and somewhere he reaches the
point where he says: "Here I stand; I can do no other." That is something
genuinely human and moving. And every one of us who is not spiritually dead
must realize the possibility of finding himself at some time in that
position."
-- From Max Weber's "Politics as a Vocation"
From HyperNews_at_youth.net
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