Mason, Mara, and Abby "
By: Matthew Mason, Prisoner , [RNPC]
Giuseppe Silvio, Chief Engineer, [RNPC]
Teilani Dane, Chief Medical Officer, [PC]

Stardate: 58205.25 2300

Silvio was a busy man. After the meeting he had updated his men and then set them to work on the shi['s systems. He was a firm believer that a ship going into battle with all her systems fully operational would emerge from battle. Silvio would not accept equipment failure during battle.

So far his crew had remodulated the ship's shields, fine tuned the matter/anti-matter reaction mix, and did maintenance on the ships weapons systems. There was still more to do.

Silvio had worked though supper, he was tired and hungry but decided now would be a good time to run a check on Sick Bay's systems. During battle sickbay was an important place, especially to the crew members who were wounded.

Silvio grabbed his tool kit, pausing at the door of his office to watch the warp core as is gently pulsed. It was running perfectly and it was music to Silvio's ears. There is nothing more harmonious to a starship engineer than the perfect rhythm of the warp core.

Silvio left engineering and made his way into sickbay. He noticed two things as he entered. First the doctor was working in her office and second, there was not one security guard stationed near Mason.

Silvio walked to the doctor's office, "Hi Doc."

Mr Silvio," Teilani said with a smile. Twice in one day. How may I help you?"

"I wanted to make sure that all of your systems were ready for the upcoming battle," he said, "I will also fix that stasis chamber that I forgot the parts for last night."

"That would be appreciated Chief. You might also want to check the diagnostic display on the wall, it seems to have a glitch in it."

Silvio moved past the security guard with a nod and set his tool kit down on the biobed next to Mason. Taking out his tricorder he approached the diagnostic display that the doctor had complained about. He placed the monitor in a diagnostic test run and began searching for the problem.

"You got a thing for that pretty little counselor, don't ya," said Mason.

Silvio did not even take his eyes off of his tricorder as he studied the readout. "Yes," he said.

"She has a thing for you," he continued.

Silvio began re-calibrating the display; he did not bother to respond.

"She does, trust me," said Mason, "Last night you came in and saw her holding my hand and you were threatened."

"I do no think I need to discuss this with you," said Silvio sharply. Silvio began scanning the stasis chamber.

"Good. Just listen," said Mason, "You need to be more confident boy," he continued, "Why in the world would you be worried about that. You would think you ain't never been in love before."

Silvio began tearing apart the control mechanism and pretended to ignore Mason's remarks.

"At any rate, you have nothing to worry about with me. I already have a wife. I do not want a second one, said Mason.

Silvio looked up from the control mechanism, "I bet you wish you could get back to her don't you?"

Mason looked at the young engineer, "Actually, I might be closer to her now that I am here."

"Why is that," asked Silvio.

"When the war started she wanted to leave. She wanted run and hide." Mason looked at the ceiling, "I should have listed to her," Mason shook his head sadly, She took our daughter and left. I have not heard from her since."

"You think she is with the Maquis," asked Silvio.

Mason appeared not to have heard Silvio's question. Still looking at the ceiling, he continued, "I was too bound up in my duty to the Federation. I was too proud."

Silvio replaced the faulty part in the control mechanism and began putting the unit back together.

"I sure hope she is here," said Mason, "If I get out of this mess I am in, I hope to try and find her." Mason frowned, "Your Chief Intel officer is a hard person to convince," said Mason.

Silvio chuckled, "She is new, I am sure she is trying to do a thorough job, that's all, besides, you do not need to convince her, it is Captain Hunter you need to convince." Silvio fired up the stasis chamber and scanned it with his tricorder. "There, that's fixed."

"Let me ask you this," said Mason, "Why did you rescue me from those prisoners like you did?"

"They were torturing you," said Silvio as he began running the unoccupied biobeds through their diagnostic modes. "A few months ago I was captured and tortured by cardassians, I could not let them do that to you."

"I thought you were going to say it was because I saved that counselor friend of yours from being assaulted by a cardassian," replied Mason.

Slivio looked at Mason with a blank expression on his face.

"She did not tell you eh," asked Mason.

Mason told Silvio about the encounter in the turbolift with the cardassian. When he was done he said, "I hate cardassians." He reached out and grabbed Silvio's arm. "Thank you for getting my butt out of trouble."

Silvio smiled at him, "Don't mention it," he said, "Thank you for saving Patia from a most dreadful experience."

The two men looked at each other and then at almost the same time said, "I hate cardassians."

Silvio laughed, "Listen, what is your wife's name? When we get to Qul Tuq I will see what I can dig up on her."

"Her name is Mara and my daughter is Abby," he said.

"I will let you know if I find anything," said Silvio, "I go now though. Listen," he said, "If you want to convince Hunter that you are sincere, it would help your cause if you gave them something, anything, that would help us fight the Federation."

Mason nodded and watched as Silvio waved at the doctor and left.