<div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/3/32/OdedFehr.jpg)</div><strong>Name:</strong>Commander Kar'tak Timor Vanzell, First Officer (http://elliquiy.com/wiki/Kar%27tak_Timor_Vanzell)<br/><br/><strong>Location:</strong>His Quarters ---> Captain's Quarters<br/><br/><strong>Time:</strong>Late evening<br/><br/><strong>Tagging:</strong>Captain Lyra Core, Closed<br/><hr/><div style="text-align: justify;">It had been a rather uneventful day, all things considered. There were issues, of course, but every one of them was handled quickly and efficiently by the crew. It had been almost two months since they set off on this journey, and though there had been a few 'kinks' during that first week from spacedock, the crew had finally settled-in and the ship was running like a fine-tuned piece of well-oiled machinery. <br/><br/>The crew itself was as diverse as Kar'tak had seen since some of his classes at Starfleet Academy. Andorians, Pakleds, Bajorans, Trills... they even had a Tholian guest on-board, as well, which was an extremely rare thing no matter how one looked at it. The sheer diversity in cultures onboard this ship only seemed to amplify the feelings he, himself, thought about on a daily basis, as half of his Klingon heritage seemed often at odds with the Bajoran half of his heritage.<br/><br/>His parents had taught him well, how to temper the two very dissimilar facets of his being. The war-like, aggressive part of his soul always seemed at odds against the peaceful, spiritual part. Kar'tak still had moments, of course, where one side or the other would dominate, but usually he kept the two sides of himself perfectly balanced as if mired in a delicate truce between the two.<br/><br/>As the First Officer, Kar'tak had kept himself free of 'entanglements' amongst the crew. There were many who had similar interests and who might make good 'friends', but he felt his obligation to the Captain was his first and foremost duty. To that end, developing close 'friendships' might get in the way of his judgment, and if that happened, he could fail his Captain and Starfleet. There were also quite a many eligible women onboard, as well. Many of them delightful to the eyes, with interesting culture-views on sex and intercourse and mating. Again, though, he refrained from pursuing such activities - so far - for fear of it interfering with his duties to his Captain and to Starfleet.<br/><br/>For the past nearly two months, Kar'tak had worked his 'vigor' off in the holodeck. But there was something... unreal about that place, no matter how detailed he made the women there. They seemed too... mechanical, and he found himself still longing for the touch of a real woman... and there was one that he knew would satisfy him beyond all doubt. She just so happened to be the least-likely to succumb to his desires.<br/><br/>Lyra Core was the half-vulcan, half-human Captain of the USS Artemis. From the first time Kar'tak had laid eyes on her, he wanted her. Obviously he kept this desire completely hidden... for the most part. Over the past two months, Kar'tak had periodically invited her to spar, to ten-forward for relaxation, and even to musical performances on the holo-deck. As he spent more time with her, an affection was seeded and began to blossom - at least on his end. On her end, Kar'tak felt pretty sure that he was no different to her than a couch, a replicator, or a jeffries tube: he was a part of her crew, an asset, and nothing more.<br/><br/>He was aware, of course, of Vulcan emotional control, yet he knew that she was half-human, as well. Had her interest in him been so non-existent that even her human-half was not intrigued? <br/><br/>But now, nearly two months later - he had decided it was time for a more direct approach. The klingon-side of him was eager to pursue her, while the bajoran side of him wanted to learn once and for all if there was any 'hope' for any such pursuit, and if there wasn't, it would allow him 'closure' so that he would stop making the attempt to get her attention once and for all.<br/><br/>Kar'tak was off-duty now, and he knew Lyra would be as well. He was in off-duty clothing, a relaxed, casual outfit of red and black with black boots tucked beneath the legs of his pants. In his hands he carried a bottle of hard-to-find Vulcan Port. He knew that Vulcans did not -often- drink alcohol, but he had read that they would indulge if the situation called for it. <br/><br/>Soon, he arrived at his destination - the quarters of the Captain. The computer had told him just minutes ago that she was in her quarters, so he assumed she was still there now. He paused at the door and waved his hand across the motion-sensor panel just to the side of the door, which chirped softly three times.<br/><br/>"First Office Kar'tak", he said, announcing his presence. And then he took a deep breath to steady his nerves... and waited.</div>