Questions and Answers and any you may have.

Posted on Sun Jun 7th, 2026 @ 12:38pm by Ensign Icarus To-Ennien & Lieutenant Commander Kuzos

4,269 words; about a 21 minute read

Mission: 9a. Oubliette - Short Treks
Location: Kuzos' quarters/restaurant
Timeline: Pre Mayhem

Spot on, at exactly the agreed time, Icarus pressed the chime to the security chief's quarters. It felt a little odd to visit his private domain, even if doctors still did make house calls. She took a step back, running her tail through her paws in a nervous attempt to smoothen her fur.

Kuzos was giving himself the once over in the hall mirror when the door chime sounded. He that he looked more than presentable he went to the door and pressed the button to open it to reveal Icarus standing there. "Doctor!" He beamed at her, his voice revealing his happiness in seeing her. "Please do come in. make yourself comfortable." He said gesturing towards the couch. I was just making sure, I looked well enough to be seen in public."

Letting go of her tail, she snaked it forward and wrapped it around his wrist, in a light non restricting fashion. Her ears flicked back and forth and her whiskers quivered in hat might be a smile. "You don't consider yourself to look well enough otherwise when off duty?" She queried curiously. Barring a loose sleeveless tunic she was wearing nothing that would otherwise hide her beautiful coat of golden fur.

He smiled at her, "I always try to look my best but this is a special occasion so, I wanted to be doubly sure of looking good. Especially as you look quite beautiful, I need to hold up my end." He explained as he took her hand/paw in his and gently squeezed it. "Does that make sense?" He asked as they headed for the door.

"Not really," she admitted, the concept of dressing up was very alien to her. As was her paw being held; she allowed it but it was very strange. "Isn't looking good part of basic personal hygiene? I always make sure my fur is clean and that there are no snags."

"Looking good, smelling good it is all part of personal hygiene at least it should be. However some people or races do the bare minimum when it comes to personal grooming. Your fur is exquisite. You should be quite proud of it."

Coiling her tail in a few loops, it was a clear indication of a Sivaoan smile. Tilting her head, one ear twitching, she leaned forward and sniffed at him in true feline fashion. "You do smell good," she remarked innocently. "My fur was the only one of this colour in my family. My siblings have various shades of brown and grey, my mother has white fur and my father has a fiery orange-brown fur as if he's on fire."

"You are truly unique Icarus ." Kuzos said using her name. As she finished sniffing him. he thought it was ... adorable. "You said was before has another the same coloring of fut as you do? That would truly be remarkable." he said honestly.

"Not amongst my siblings no." She shook her head as if to emphasize the recollection. "Perhaps distantly. My mother used to say my fur is as bright as the sunshine. Before I got my Name, she called me Sunshine, as did everyone else," she explained, snaking her long tail forward again. "My tail is very soft, but it is coarser across my back."

"Your fur is beautiful and I can see why you were called Sunshine but that isn't a name for a lovely young lady. It is more of an expression." he observed. "May I, may I touch your fur, your tail?"

"Yes sir, you may," she consented, taking a small step closer. "I promise to keep my claws sheathed," she added, her ears flicking backwards. Her experience with touch at the academy was that everyone wanted to touch and none asked first.

"Not sir, not here, not now just Kuzos." he answered simply as he reached a hand out to touch Icarus's tqil. His fingers gently stoked the fur and he smiled. "Oh my, it is soft. Is it naturally soft or do you have to condition it?" He asked as his hand moved up and down her tail. "Thank you for allowing me to touch and keeping your claws sheathed."

The tail quivered as the fur was stroked the wrong way but otherwise Icarus held still, a soft purr escaping her. "It is naturally soft," she answered, "no conditioners. I don't like water showers or baths, perhaps it is an effect of the sonics but I don't know for sure." She turned slightly, soft green eyes watching him closely. "Claws are for danger, or undesired visitors," she added, "intruders, I mean. Very useful when in the field too, shred a uniform if needed..."

"Perhaps the sonics help the softness of the fur. it any event it is most luxuriant." Kuzos noted and stopped stroking the fur. "As for your claws they are a most convenient and handy weapon to have, They are always with you and you never need to worry about bringing them along or if they need a charge."

She purred in amusement at his comment. "Very useful," she agreed, "I don't really use weapons at least not the modern kind. I know how but I'm not comfortable with it, it goes right against the oath I took when I became a doctor." She turned back to fully face him, noticing they were still standing near the door. "Why did you choose security?"

"Nor should you, you are a healer. However I think that you should remember there may come a time where you are forced to us a weapon." Kuzos replied softly. He paused as he considered her question. After a moment he replied. I am Vorta, Vortas are the face of the Dominion though only a small portion of Vortas ever actually obtain the honor of working with the Founders. I was tested and tested again and again and it was revealed I have a strong capacity for leadership and tactics. I am a captain in the Dominion military. When Odo selected me to be the liaison officer to the Enterprise. The Commodore thought it would be a good idea for me to 'join' the crew and here I am."

She didn't miss the stress on the word 'join' and she continued the study him. "You are Starfleet now," she suggested slowly, "you say this as if you don't feel part of the crew, why is that? The commodore asked you to join, that makes you a part of the family, so to speak. Part of the pack, if you will."

Kuzos smiled at the innocence of her question and did not hold it against her. "You and a few others have gifted me with your friendship and I am honored by it However there are many in this crew and among the officers a feeling of resentment and distrust because I am Vorta and I am the face of the Dominion in a war long over that they cannot or will not forget." The words were said evenly with no heat in them just simple and to the point.. "As you pointed out, the commodore asked me to join and I have and I have served the crew with loyalty but the the family, the pack does not seem to see it."

"Yes you're a Vorta, but you're not a representation of your species. You are but one, and can't be held against your entire people's history." Her pale eyes flashed briefly. "The few will become more once they take the effort to get to know you. There are other species out there who have since joined Starfleet. There's the Romulans, Cardassians... And what to think of when Klingons first joined?"

He offered a wan smile. "All true however the key is effort and it seems many do not wish to make an effort it is easier to hate and distrust." he paused before continuing, "Enough of this talk. I asked you to dinner so, it is time we go to dinner." He gestured doward the door, "After you my dear doctor."

Once more, she wrapped her tail around his arm in attempt to be of comfort. "Well...it's their loss isn't it?" She commented lightly as she took a small step ahead of him and back out the door. "Where are we going?"

He smiled at both her statement and question. "Someplace special." he answered a bit cryptically as they entered the lift. "Deck five." He announced as the lift gave a slight jerk and began moving. Moments later the doors parted and Kuzos took Icarus's paw and helped her from the lift. "The Quantum Cafe." He announced proudly, "We can order a meal or if you prefer they have a buffet you can choose from." he explained as they entered the restaurant.

"Surprise me," she answered, coiling her tail into a tight loop as she looked around, her ears twitched this way and that to take it all in. "This is beautiful," she breathed. "What do you usually eat? What do your people like to eat?"

He led her to their table, pulled out the chair so she could sit down before he sat down himself. he chuckled at her question, "Mostly kava nuts and rippleberries but since joining the enterprise i have begun to expand my palette to take in the wide variety of meals offered. What about you? What do you usually eat?"

"Fish, nuts and berries mostly. My parents did teach me to forage for them and catch fish when I was still a cub, but I don't mind using the replicator. But when on leave or on a mission, I do like to scavenge for it if I can. Some plants are good eating but can also make a great paste to put on injuries."

Kuzos nodded as she explained her preferences. "Would you like to see the buffet or do you wish to order from the menu? Also what do you like to drink?"

"I think...the buffet might be a good idea," she answered after a brief consideration, her curiosity getting the better of her. "Drink hmmm....water? What would you prefer? I can't indulge as I'm on call."

Kuzos thought on for a moment then spoke, "Not just water, sparking mineral water a Perrier is what you need. Let us place our drink orders and then we can look at the buffet and see what it has to offer."

Icarus nodded, her attention drawn to a glittering light overhead which seemed to represent illumination in the appearance of a mini supernova. "Wow," she breathed in awe. "That's genius."

"Well. it is certainly illuminating." Kuzos observed. "Now let us see what the buffet has to offer. Hopefully there will be something to satisfy our hunger if not there is always ordering from the menu."

Purring in delight, she softly rested her paw on his arm and allowed him to lead her to the buffet. The choices were extensive and she ended up selecting various vegetables and a few portions of different fish and red meat. All small selections and her plate was modestly filled as she returned to the table. "This is a very good idea to try new things," she suggested as she pointed at the meat in her plate. "I do prefer fish over meat, but I am not opposed to it. There can be situations in missions where preferences have to be adjusted to survive."

Kuzos own plate was modestly filled. it had what looked like chicken along with some meat, shrimp and scallops. there was also some carrots, and string beans. While he didn't get the joy others got from eating as his taste was limited, he did enjoy socializing and being in Icarus's company. "Very true." He replied to her comment. "One must be adaptable to changing situations even when it means leaving your comfort zone."

She seemed to chuckle as she compares his selection to hers. "Looks like you prefer fish too... Do they have fish on your home world? We do on mine... Sivao is still a traditional world, I've been there only once. While there is technology, most do prefer to live in tents, a nomadic lifestyle. I do like camping too, my parents took us on many shore leaves. Just a tent, and whatever was to be found in the wild."

"Yes, there are fish on Kurill Prime." Kuzos replied then added "Kurill Prime is located within a binary star system in the Gamma Quadrant's Kurill sector, serves as the primary administrative capital of the Dominion and the ancestral homeworld of the Vorta." He smiled I have never been camping, so I d not know if I would like it or not. I will have to try it some time."

"Do you miss home?" She asked carefully, while spearing a piece of fish onto her fork. "I've been to the home world only once, and I do miss it. But there's lots of places that are similar as long as there's big forests."

Kuzos stabbed at a shrimp before replying. "I do. Kurill Prime is technologically advanced world but there are still vast areas of woods where one can retreat to a simpler time."

"Does your world have snow? Or was it something new for you...part of exploring new things?" She picked up a cube of beef and bit it in half, studying it for a moment. "This has a weird texture."

"Kurill Prime does not have snow, it is a temperate world. The snow boarding program was part of exploring new things. As you surmised. What is weird about the texture ?" he asked

"Here, taste for yourself," she answered, holding the fork out to him. "So how did you get to a snow program? What sparked the interest?"

"Tell you what. I'll take your beef you take my shrimp. I think they may be more in line with your taste. As for the snow programs wanted something different and it looked like fun as well."

Deftly she speared the shrimp from his plate onto her fork and devoured them one by one. She cleaned her whiskers with her paw and purred in delight. "It sounds like you did," she finally spoke, "but why snow? Why not a warm beach? Or a beautiful rainforest?" She twitched a single ear in surprise.

He nibbled on the meat for a moment before replying. "I know about rain forests, they are on Kurill Prime. As for a beach, i haven't searched for a program yet. When I find one would you like to join me exploring it?"

"Does your home not have beaches?" Another twitch of her whiskers in surprise. "I do like a walk along the beach. The sensation of the loose sand under your feet is very therapeutic. And for humanoids, very good for their feet too." She stuffed about piece of fish in her mouth and chewed thoughtfully. "Sounds like you have a lot of exploring to do," she purred happily.


"There are beaches but they are remote. As for exploring I do and it is much more enjoyable to explore new places, new things, new foods when you have someone to share it with." He answered as he cut another piece of meat and placed it in his mouth.

"You have friends here," she confirmed, "and no doubt among them a wide variety of new adventures to have. I can show you how to build a tent, as has been a tradition among my people. My parents have taught me as their parents have taught them, and there's various ways to do it too. On the ground, or even up in a tree." She showed him one of her claws. "These are good for something after all," she chuckled.

"I would like that very much that could come in useful someday. Thank you for offering." he looked at her claws, they looked razor sharp and he knew he would not want to be on the receiving end of attack from the. "It never entered my mind that they weren't good for something. I am sure they are most useful and you are always able to defend yourself."

"Knowing how to build a shelter when on a mission is essential. Surely you were taught that in training too?" She tilted her head in question as she finished the last of the samples on her plate. "But I will show you our way, and perhaps your other friends can show you their traditional ways."

Kuzos shook his head, "You forget doctor that I received my training in the Dominion military and the training they give their captains is decidedly different than what Starfleet gives theirs."

"But surely you had survival training too? I mean it's a big universe out there, who knows where you'd end up? Right?" Her ears flicked back in concern, her tail tapping lightly against the deck.

"I surely did have training but not specifically survival training which is why I am eager to learn what I can." Kuzos replied as he took another bite of the meat.

"You could organise one for the security department," Icarus suggested, her tail coiling once more. "A bit of a scavenger hunt and then camp in the wild? Get to know your team better?"

Kuzos paused and a smile appeared on his face. "That is an excellent idea, I add one condition to it and that is that you accompany us in the role of survival expert/ advisor."

"You'll have to clear that with Doctor Kholin but otherwise I'd be happy to. Just bear in mind that I'm not a security officer, and I don't handle weapons."

"Excellent. I will clear it with Doctor Kholin in addition, I know you don't handle weapons but you are not unarmed now are you?" Kuzos pointed out.

"I'm not," she confirmed, "and I have a very long tail. Shall we go see the dessert buffet? Or do you want to go for seconds?"

Kuzos leaned back in his chair, "I believe I would like to take a look at the dessert buffet and see what it has to offer." He stood up and offered his hand to her.

Carefully placing her paw in his hand, she quickly replaced it with a wrap of her tail. "I hope they have fruit and ice-cream," she said hopefully, "i can't stand the texture of custard, it's so weird."

A look of confusion came to his face. "Ice cream? What is ice cream? I have never come across this ice cream." he admitted.

"Uhm...it's a frozen treat. Often dairy based but some are water bases." She pulled him along to the dessert buffet and pointed at several frozen options. "I like yoghurt, and then top it with fresh fruits. Maybe a little cream on top."

"I see." He replied and pointed at an orange colored product. He bent down and read the card in front of its container. "Orange Sherbet?" He questioned.

"That's water based I think. An orange is a fruit, can range between very sweet and a little sour. Very refreshing though. Maybe try a little bit of them all and see what you like?"

He took the utensil in the container and took some of the sherbet. he then moved to the yogurt. "Which do you like?"

"That one, with cherries." She pointed at a cream coloured one with a red-ish sauce and berries, "and that one." A brown -grey one. "It's licorice, it's an acquired taste though." She heaped both in a bowl and proceeded to add quite an amount of various fruits. "I don't like that brown one, it's a bit bitter."

"I think I will try some red colored one with the berries and this orange one." Kuzos remarked, as he also took some cream and placed it atop the dessert. "I think that is enough to begin with."

Looping her tail in a tight coil of amusement she agreed with him. "There's always going for seconds," she purred in delight. When they returned to their table she did her best not to spill anything but getting it all in her whiskers somehow seemed unavoidable.

He returned to his seat, and tentatively brought the spoon full of orange sherbet to his mouth and swallowed. he looked at her and down at the bowl and back at her. "Vortas tastes are limited but I must say, this is quite good." As he took another spoonful and swallowed.

"Limited how? As in not everything available, or some things just seem bland? Replicators can make anything you want, we could try something different with each meal to widen your experience and see what you like and what not?"

"As in some things just seem bland." He admitted, "Trying different foods can't hurt and only help me in seeing what i like and i wish to avoid."

"Or should avoid," the young doctor supplied helpfully, "there's bound to be things that you might actually like but your body disagrees with. Indulging then wouldn't be wise unless you're happy to live with the consequences. Humans are stubborn in that aspect, they'll eat things anyway and then come to sickbay for treatment." She scooped up a strawberry and studied it. "And then there's allergies," she added, "sometimes you simply won't know until you experienced it."

He nodded his head in acceptance of her statement. "A true enough statement though I have yet to encounter any food that my body disagrees with it is still a possibility. "Allergies? You mean there may be food I am allergic to? What a depressing thought. I hope i never encounter that." He took another spoonful of the sherbet. "What a delightful concoction. it would dreadful to find I am allergic to it."

"You probably won't know until you encounter something that doesn't agree with you or makes you feel unwell. But in those instances, sickbay is only a transport away." She seemed to smile in encouragement. "So far you seem to enjoy this without ill effect."

"I for one hope to never have to experience such a thing. However, it is a comfort to know that Sickbay is close by and full of capable, caring individuals' who stand ready to help all who need their services."

The feline leaned back in her chair. "It is rare," she explained, "but with so many aliens out there, and different food substances it's not impossible. You just need to be a little bold and scan strange things just to be safe." Her long agile tail snaked forward to touch his hand, almost affectionately. "And as I said, the medical department will look out for you, as no doubt will the science department. They too can make sure things are safe to consume."

Kuzos nodded at her words, they made sense and he expected no less from a doctor. He looked down as her tail reached out and touched his hand. He smiled at the action. "I would expect no less from the medical and science departments to stand ready to assist in keeping any member of the crew safe. However, is it not possible that what is safe for one may not be or even prove fatal to another?"

"It's entirely possible," she nodded, "but I doubt the replicator would give you something that's dangerous to you. Assuming it's programmed to your tastes and biology? At least here on the ship things should be safe for everyone." She actually looked puzzled for a moment. "Though I'm not sure how that works with holodecks or if someone else replicates it. Id assume someone would enquire after their guest's allergies? I don't know though...I have very little experience with such things."

"That makes sense though I am not going to test the theory." Kuzos remarked as he took a spoonful of cherry flavored ice cream. "Marvelous." he remarked, "A true delicacy."

"Testing such a theory might not be wise" Icarus agreed, "though as I said if something does go wrong sickbay is only a transport away. I'm glad you're liking these new substances. I'm happy to explore your food tastes with you, it'll help me expand on mine too."

"I have no intention of testing the theory." Kuzos assured her. "I would like that very much. Together we will explore different foods and their tastes. How extraordinary that will be."

"Extremely," she purred, "and maybe we'll make a few more friends in the process."

"Quite so my dear Icarus. What a marvelous opportunity to try new cuisine as well as make new friends in the process." Kuzos positively beamed at the thought.

"Would you want me home?" Icarus looked apologetic as she put down her spoon. "I had a lovely evening, but I have an early shift tomorrow. Perhaps we can do this again another day and explore more alien cuisine? Perhaps combine it with your snow program?"

Kuzos rose from his chair and extended his hand to her, "I would be delighted and honored to walk you home. I would very much like us to do this again and explore more alien cuisine. Combining it with the snow program should prove most interesting."

Placing her paw on his hand, she got to her feet. "Just let me know when. As security chief you have access to my schedule, probably. Barring unforeseen circumstances, I'll be looking forward to it."

His fingers curled around her paw in a tender grip. "I should have access to it." He admitted and continued, "As will I doctor." he said as they exited the restaurant and headed for Icarus's quarters.

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