He finished his story and went to the common showers to freshen a bit.<br/>A cute maintenance tech with endearing grease smudges on her cheek asked if he'd like company.  He blushed and smiled.  "sweet and cute, though you are,  my heart and body belong to my partner.  But my libido and my ego both thank you and will regret my decision."  She winked and kissed his cheek, then left.<br/>20 minutes in the shower, a fresh dress uniform with his merchant marine rank hand sewn on and his ID plate, new boots and a beret with the Engineers symbol. Even a loaded light toolbelt with chrome plated, but functional, tools.  Huh...He actually felt presentable.  No sidearm, so he slung his blaster.<br/>The computer gave him Kat's location, and he followed the invisible arrow that it placed before him.<br/>A ship steward stopped him to let him know that the Captain was personally escorting the Pilot and asked to meet him in the dining room. He felt a twinge of jealousy, but pushed it down...not his ship. When they reached the Captain's quarters, he formally surrendered his blaster to a stationed marine.<br/>Uncertain, he entered stiffly.<br/>The Captain was standing with Kat and a 40ish handsome woman- by her insignia, the ship's Navigator.<br/>He formally saluted the Captain, then Kat, then bowed to his equal.<br/>The Navigator gave him a cold nod.<br/>The Captain moved them to the table.  As he seated Kat, Krip moved to hold the Nav’s chair and she put up a hand.  “Don’t. Don’t get near me.”  Her voice was chill.<br/>The Captain sighed.  “El, you promised…  Please forgive, Chief, she lost family in the breed wars.”<br/>Krip nodded sadly…. “I understand, I lost my only family.”<br/>The Nav glared at him.  “Your type doesn’t have families.”<br/>“By whose design?” Krip shot back, then he relaxed.  “My apologies Captain, history is hard for many to forgive.  For any way that we, of the ‘designed people’ have harmed you, you have my personal apologies, Navigator.”<br/>She glared at him and started to rise, but the Captain pointed at her.  “Must I dress down my crew in front of another service group?”<br/>“Service group?  With respect Captain, they’re merchant marine!”<br/>The Captain’s voice turned icy, “And he killed more pirates in one brilliant move than I ever expect us to do together!  He is a hero.  If you can’t handle that fact, and the fact that the human wars are over, then confine yourself to quarters.”<br/>She blinked, then rose and saluted the Captain and Kat, then spun on her heel to leave.<br/>The Captain was outraged and he could see Kat ready to pounce, but he just shook his head.<br/>“War takes pieces from us all that don’t regrow easily.”<br/>