(Open) The Stranger

[tasha_yar]

Tasha hadn't want to scare anyone - or worse - have their pity. She'd been here on some nights before, but always in disguise and making it a point to watch, but not interact, with anyone. Also, she didn't like to admit it, but she loved make-up. Not the kind that Deanna or Beverly wore to bring out their features. That kind of make-up wasn't for her. It didn't feel right on. She didn't like extra attention regarding her appearance; a holdover from Turkana IV, she supposed.

But make-up to disguise? To conceal who and what you were and be able to become someone else? She had an incredible love of that. She justified her enjoyment by its usefulness as a skill, but it was more than that. It was a chance to be someone without the burden of duty or a past. Someone more normal - unless the part called for something else.

The risk of discovery also played a big part in both the thrill of the challenge and the growing irritation at her self-imposed isolation. Tasha justified it easily. She might disappear at any moment - or maybe even drop dead - because "dead" was still her official status, though Picard had assured her the wheels of bureaucracy were getting a firm push regarding all that. Starfleet's reluctance was understandable with all the strange happenings onboard the ship, but it gnawed at her patience. She didn't want to upend anyone's life, but she missed them! It would also mean opening herself up to stacks of unfinished business, too, but she was tired of avoiding her friends - even is she still thought keeping her distance might remain the best course of action.

At least her insistence on isolation had gotten her caught up on as much security information and protocols a civilian had access to. Well, a civilian and a cadet. It turned out the Academy hadn't cancelled her alumni access. There wasn't much dangerous in that, but "not much" wasn't "nothing" by a longshot. She'd have to talk to them about that.

Tasha's tired of keeping to herself and making Aggie feel like she's rooming with a crazy hermit. Tonight, she's keeping her "disguise" to a hooded sweatshirt. It's time to go Ten Forward, to stop being someone else, face what, if anything, comes of it.

Comments

[knight_2000]

"But you could put in a good word, right?" Even if they didn't know what the Captain did, surely they could still help in other ways? "I met another young woman recently - Gaila. She was an acting Ensign on her version of the Enterprise, and when I spoke to her she was studying, trying to catch up to this century and its requirements. There have to be more people out there who would be interested in your idea, Tasha."

He certainly was.

[tasha_yar]

"There's more displaced officers?!" She thought she was the only one.

It was an easier "d" word to work with.

"If so..." Her mind starts whirling. Committing to this life and then just sitting around was torture.

[knight_2000]

"Not exactly. From what I understand she never actually made it to graduation before she was called on for a mission. Which is why she was an acting Ensign. But I know that she would very much like to be a full officer."

It did have a certain ring to it.

"Indeed." If they could pull this off and convince Picard this was a worthwhile opportunity, their lives could become much more interesting sooner rather than later.

[tasha_yar]

She bites her lip for a moment and smiles. "Every time we talk, you give me more to think about." Which she likes in a man, but her life is complicated enough, thank you very much. Plus, he's four. It would be robbing the cradle.

"You mentioned another form? A 20th Century vehicle?"

[knight_2000]

"Do I? I must say I'm very pleased to hear that, Tasha." Four maybe, but going on forty? Okay, maybe not. Late teens at the most. But very smart late teens?

"Yes, it's down in one of the cargo bays." He turned to her, enough so that she could see the device on his bicep. "It's a mobile holo-emitter. It contains my programming while in this form. Quite remarkable, really." He brushed his fingertip over it, still amazed by it when he took the time to really think about it.