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Reboot

The energy spike had caught the SS Explorer's attention and Commander Hawkins had diverted Lisa's patrol to check. New to this section of the galaxy it seemed as if they'd stepped right into a faction war and the team of space explorers were scrambling for intel on the situation before a misstep on their part dragged them into something - or worse, cost them their lives.

"What happened here?" she breathed it but the microphone in her helmet still picked it up, a ghost whisper that seemed to suit the graveyard they found themselves in. And it was graveyard. While it was obvious it was the ruins of a facility of some sort, probably the remnants of what was left on one of the low orbiting moons of this planet, the twisted metal itself held far too many -

coffins. Lisa looked out across the devastation and there were so many coffins. Tubes of glass and steel, at first they'd thought they were energy tanks - until her team had gotten close enough to see there were bodies inside. Acres and acres of ruined metal - and glass tubes. And each tube held a body....

Careful she started to pick her way through, watching her footing, hand out for balance. Whatever this place had once been there was nothing left of it now and her fingertips lightly moved over each glass tube that she came near. You. And you. And you. So many in those tubes that no one would bury or mourn and it seemed wrong that she was the only one that would remember them. Had it been a cryo-facility? Storage? Some of the faces were ruined, the impact of the fall from the moon to the planet's surface brutal but some of them were still recognizable and so she picked up - slowly - on the fact they were all the same person. Cloning? Was that possible? An entire facility of the exact same clone? Why? Why just one man over and over and over again and why had it all be destroyed. Why had they all been killed?

"Lisa?" Krik's voice over the helmet's intercom and she hummed before remembering.

"It's all right. I've got this. Its just - its not what we thought it was. I think it was a cloning facility. I'm sending the readings from my HUD. It's - bad. It's really bad, Krik."

The Alliance of planets that Lisa's squad belonged to were no where near the level of technology to be creating human clones and yet - you. And you. And you. Her hand brushed each cylinder she passed as she worked her way deeper into the tragedy. Someone had made them - and then they'd been killed before they'd even woken and she wasn't sure if that made them alive or not - except her chest ached like a hole and she thought that was her answer. You. And you. And you, she silently promised with each glide of gloved fingertips over glass. I will remember you if no one else will. Some of the pods were open and those were the worst. Because the bodies were spilled out and broken and it made her wonder, horribly, if some of them had been alive for the fall. If they'd known. The ache in her chest deepened and she rubbed absently at it, moon dust across her uniform. The displays across her helmet's screen, linked to her ship, ran through their scans and cycles as she moved.

"Picking up an energy source. Looks like its pretty centrally located. Its not much but its all that we've got. I'm going to check it out. Maybe there's a terminal that survived or something we can download information about the facility from."

"Roger that" Jeff's voice now, even if it was tinny with distance. "Be careful, Leese."

Another hum before she remember and affirmed it but - she couldn't imagine anything being left alive in this mess. And she almost hoped she was right. Nothing would have survived that fall and if it did - chances were good there were no doctors in the fleet or elsewhere that could fix what it would have cost.

You. And you. And you.

The power source was what looked like what was left of a power box, the pillar it had been built into enough to save it during the crash and Lisa carefully opened it. Galra tech. The Explorer was new to the system - but they'd already encountered Galra.

"Hooking in. I don't know if we'll get anything, its pretty rough but - " she slipped the clip into place on the port she could find, having to wiggle it a little due to the damage but the light finally went green and she left it to download what it could. There was no telling how much a power cell would store about the facility but it was all they had at this point. Turning to look around as it ticked through its job, she noticed another mass of cylinders and made her way over. It hurt but - someone should witness it. Someone should acknowledge that they had existed. Her fingers slipped over cracked glass. You. And you. And -

he moved.

Alone by herself on a dead alien world in a ruined graveyard of clones, Lisa did the sensible thing and jerked back with a high pitched hiccup caught in her throat, hands snatched back, barely catching herself from tripping.

"I'm okay, I'm okay," was the automatic answer to the sudden worried voices filtered through her helmet and, careful, she edged her way back. There was something illogically frightening about finding a living body when you thought everyone was dead. Closer inspection showed how the tube had gotten caught in cables on the way down, how the metal stacking structure had taken the majority of the impact. Half afraid that there was nothing inside, a body with no mind, she tapped the glass.

His fingers twitched.

"I think I found someone," it came out shaky, not sure if she should be relieved or heart-broken. It took some work but the broken latch finally jiggled loose under her persistence and she got the lid of the thing off. Just like a glass coffin.... His chest was rising and falling. Breathing. Nothing looked horrifyingly broken. Careful she reached out, touched his cheek with her glove, helmet registering the temperature of him at least.

"Wake up." It came out filtered through the helmet and she remembered it belatedly. Reached up to pull it off her head, breaking the neck seal, hair coming loose. Hoping for an answer, scared of what it might be. Defense training went out the window as she leaned over and rested her hands on his shoulders, pressing slightly. "Wake up now. Please. You need to wake up."

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His question had the actual laugh slipping out of her, even if she hid it behind a hand and more coughed it than laughed it outright. There was no doubt what it was though, eyes curving, grin spreading.

"Oh its completely terrible," she shifted back a little to settle into her seat more fully again, hands resting back on the yoke. Smiling hugely. "We all absolutely love it. We don't get a lot of them. There's a lot of transmissions in space at any time, both old and new ones and we can't intercept them all, much less winnow them all down, but the tech crew knows to watch for them and the ones we have got are very popular late in the evenings." Her smile was relaxed and the brightest it had been. "As near as we can tell its supposed to be a giant - cat? - robot.... thing. It's super campy. That's a lot of the reason we all enjoy it so much. I think the icepades episode is my favorite. There are these - noodles? - that dress up like the bad guys and everyone on the voltron side has these - box cats - that they wear and - " she paused. Shook her head. "You have to see it to really understand. I've got a copy, I'll share it with you during downtime one day if you like."

Hearing that laugh and seeing the way she lights up has Kuron smiling even more. At the time the whole thing had been so ridiculous that it had been hard to think about how other people might have been taking it. Hearing Lisa talk about it made him understand a bit better just the sort of impact the show had on people--even if some considered it just a children's show.

"I don't know if I could watch it after being in it," he said without really thinking about what he was saying.

And then it clicked and he almost groaned.

"It was--we did it as a means of improving public opinion of Voltron and the work we'd been doing to stop the Galra," Kuron said before Lisa could say anything, maybe, just maybe, looking a little embarrassed. "It was all based on real events."

Just exaggerated.

She was still smiling when he spoke and it took a moment for his words to register, time enough for the smile to go bemused - and then drop away entirely as her eyes went wide as what he first said - and then stumbled over clarifying clicked for her. And after there was just another moment where she simply stared at him. Until -

"Wh-you were - real events? You mean, that was supposed to be - " her eyes were honest enough that the train of thoughts through them was almost verbal. Going from what she had assumed was only a kid's show to - "That was propaganda?"

Her hand went over her mouth a second later as her eyes went wide again.

"Oh. Oh, I'm so sorry. We only have a few shows of it and we all thought - no wonder why you were so caught off when I said it was - " She was usually more articulate and finally caught herself enough to feel embarrassed about the stumbling. "You're a part of the Voltron team?" Eyebrows low she looked him over, eyes lingering on shoulder width and - "The black one. You're the black and white armor."

Except she'd found him, and hundreds like him, on an abandoned dead planet.... but that was why he'd asked about Voltron when he'd first woken - worry pinched her eyebrows down.

He'd also said he was alone in the universe more or less. Something must have happened -

"We can try to contact them. Once we get back to the Explorer. We know a few planets so far that aren't Galra controlled anymore and I'm sure one of them would know where to boost the signal to for you."

Kuron gave her a slightly apologetic smile as he nodded, gaze shifting to his lap as he let out a soft sigh.

"Yeah. It..was a means of rallying people to Voltron's cause. To unite people against the Galra," he explained, loosely lacing his fingers together between his knees. "They had suppressed so many people across the galaxy and made it almost impossible to build a resistance...the show was a way of showing people that there was a way to stop what they were attempting. To put an end to their reign."

Even if it had been a little over the top.

His gaze shifts back to Lisa as she puts together that he was apart of Voltron though it honestly hurts more than he wants to admit to hear her say that. He starts to protest but she's talking again before he can say much so Kuron waits, hands clenching together.

"It's alright. We--I'm not a Paladin anymore. I was but it..it's complicated. There's another Black Paladin. I was just a temporary member," he said with only the slightest waver to his voice. "I just want to make sure they're alright but I--" Don't have a place with them anymore. They wouldn't want me back anyway. Not after what I did. "--I'm not a Paladin anymore."

She knows there's more going on. So far she'd found him on a dead planet of twins in the ruin of a base or station of some kind that had been violently destroyed. He'd used the word 'activated', referred to 'waking up' there and said that he felt as if he'd unravel and separate from his body if he wasn't careful. Everything pointed to him being a clone of some sort - except the Voltron Show had filmed long enough ago that the airwaves of it had had time to drift into the space the Explorer had been in -

And he was hurt. With the blanks in her understanding of the situation not everything he said made sense -

but she could read body language and the clenched fists, the way his voice changed -

he was hurting.

And she wasn't sure what she could do to help because she wasn't sure, exactly, what was wrong. Brows down, lips pressed tight for a moment, she absorbed what she could from what he said. Temporary. And that he cared about them.

"All right," her voice was soft and she shifted again, reached out and curled her hands around the outside of his. It was probably more physical touch than she'd offered anyone in months but - it seemed important. Her long fingers curved, held him even if she kept it loose, fingers overlapping his. Nodded. "All right. We'll find out for you. And, whatever you decide after that? I'll help. As much as I can." The light on her comm blinked to life, beeped quietly at her but she ignored it for a moment longer. "I told you - you're not alone now. I'll be right there until you figure out what you want. One step at a time."

His hands got a light squeeze and then she had to pull away to focus on the comm, flicking it to life to reveal Jeff's worried face. And, in the distance on the screen, the looming bulk of the S.S. Explorer.

A wave of relief swept over him when Lisa accepted his response for now, Kuron giving her a thankful look as her hands curled around his.

"Thank you Lisa," he said sincerely, her words filling him with a warmth that he'd gotten use to feeling when he'd been with the other...with the Paladins. That familial feeling, that kinship that he'd grown so fond of while he'd been living Shiro's life. Now, more than ever, he craved it and having Lisa offer it like she was gave him yet another lifeline to cling to as he tried to get himself settled into this new existence he was shaping for himself.

And she was right. One step at a time.

His gaze shifted to the screen as her hands slipped from his, the young man settling back a bit more comfortably, taking in the sight of the ship coming into view. His escape from all of this. No, escape wasn't the right word.

His new start.

It wasn't until they were closer that he found his voice again, so lost in thought as they approached that he hadn't realized he'd lapsed into silence, Kuron blinking out back into the present and looking from the screen to Lisa.

"Any warnings for me before we board?" he asked in a joking manner, trying to lighten the mood since, well, he had been responsible for the dip. "Anyone I should watch out for?"

Lisa didn't mind the silence. Kuron had a lot going on and that was probably an understatement considering all she didn't know about him. He was about to go from a silent planet to a busy star ship and if he needed to gather himself or focus or take some time for himself she understood. She had enough to do with getting instructions first from Jeff and then from Captain Newley as well as routing in to her ship's slot on the Explorer around the work being done on it and the other ships coming or leaving. When he did speak up though, she peeked at him over her shoulder briefly before going back to her course work.

"Win Jeff over. He's a bit impetuous but he's our team leader and he's the most loyal friend anyone could hope to have. If he's on your side, no one's going to stand a chance on the other side. Don't take Ginger's flirting too seriously, at least not at first. She's friendly and lively and beautiful and she flirts with everyone because its fun. If she's serious, she'll make sure you know about it later on. Rocky is a blow hard with a heart of gold so don't take any of his threats as anything but his way of being friendly. Krik, my squad leader, is intuitive. If he tells you he's got a hunch about something, do what he says." Another glance over her should with a soft smile. "And its alright if you forget half of that right now and only remember it later. You're not going to meet everyone at once. Jeff will meet us in the hanger. Then we'll all head to the med bay so you can be checked over. Commander Hawkins will meet us there once he's free." Her eyes hardened just a little before she turned back to her screens. "And then, if I have my way, you'll get a hot meal and a warm bed where everyone will leave you alone until you're rested properly. Once you get a com, we'll make sure you've got my connection programed into it so you can reach me any time. After you're rested, we'll work out the rest but we can work on finding a contact with Voltron and meeting some of the others if that's comfortable for you."

The space carrier grew large and then filled the entire screen as Lisa, from old practiced habit slipped her ship into one of its ports and neatly shifted and set it down amoung an assortment of other smaller ships like hers. Her fingers shifted over keys and toggles, finishing out an end flight check before she shut everything entirely down, dark eyes glancing at him and the hard edge wasn't entirely gone from them.

"And if, at all, anytime, you feel overwhelmed or like you want to take a break or stop, find a way to let me know and I'll do my best to make sure it happens. Don't hesitate on that." She offered a quick smile that finally softened her eyes.

"Finders keepers and since I found you first, I get some say in things. All right?"

Jeff was the team leader. Ginger was the friendly flirt. Rocky was the tough guy with the heart of gold. Kirk was the intuitive squad leader.

It was a lot and he wasn't going to remember every little detail but he had least had a good basis to go by to start. He'd remember names, if nothing else, and that would be enough to help him through the initial introductions. Putting names to faces and building his own mental files on everyone was something he could work on in time, like Lisa said.

"I promise I won't get too overwhelmed. It might just take me a little bit to get everything down," he admitted with a sheepish smile. "Meeting the team leader first, then to the med bay. Then we meet the commander. That's easy enough though." A little terrifying, he couldn't help but feel that way, but he would deal with it. Lisa was putting a lot on the line for him and he wasn't about to do anything to jeopardize that. The mention of a hot meal and a warm bed helps him relax a bit, Kuron nodding as he goes quiet while she maneuvers the ship into the port and gets everything settled for the end of flight check.

He's in the process of undoing his harness when she glances at him, a bit of that hard edge still there that Kuron's come to recognize as Lisa's determined 'I mean it' look.

"I will," he promised before letting out a breathy laugh as he made to stand. "Finders keepers huh?" he teased, shaking his head in amusement. "Good to know I've got one of the toughest women around on my side at least."

She unharnesses as well and slide out of her seat once things are fully shut and locked down but she has to stop when he laughs. Its a quiet sound but - it feels good to hear it coming from him, building a strange satisfaction inside her to know its because of her and its a good sound.

She also doesn't apologize or take back her comment about 'finders keepers'.

Her eyebrows do shift over her eyes though, up a little in surprise as he pegs her as a force to be reckoned with. It's - sincerely flattering - its just that most people take a look at her face and her low voice and

well, she's not exactly the firecracker that Ginger is.

She is, however, quietly, stubbornly determined to be in his corner and back him. She doesn't know him, not really, but what she does know so far says that he deserves a chance. She just wants to make sure he gets one. Or two or three or however many he needs.

"Tough, huh?" the smile's wide and a little bit pleased and embarrassed at the same time. "I can live with that." She sets her helmet in her seat and then heads for the door. "Come on. Let's get this going so you can get your down time as soon as possible."

The temptation is there to touch him one more time. Just to reassure. But she doesn't want to make him think she's overly touch oriented and so instead she gives him a wink on the way past and then lets herself out first. She knows there are cameras in the dock and she knows Jeff is here too and it just seems sensible to let everyone see her first for reassurance purposes. They've all run into refugees that they've brought back with them - and not every being they brought back was really as honest as they seemed at first. Its a trial and error and Lisa suspects she's considered more susceptible to trusting than most of the rest of the crew. Jeff was obviously watching for her as well because he breaks into a trot the second she's in the doorway and she barely gets down and clears room for Kuron before he's there.

Very deliberately, Lisa steps so her body is between him and Kuron.

It registered on his expressive face, puzzlement going into a scowl and then back to puzzlement that changes to bemusement and, she thinks at least, fond exasperation. It does its job, whatever he feels and she steps to the side so she's not in the way once she's made her unspoken point. He snorts and then grins.

"Well, welcome back, Leese." There's a drawl, barely there, in there and she knows he'll tease later. Or at least poke at her in a friendly way. It's affection and so she's fine with it.

"It took longer than I thought it would but it was worth it and I've got intel for the commander. Also I think I might have found a new crew member. Jeff, this is Kuron. Kuron, Jeff."

"Good to meet you," Jeff's voice is a bit wry but its in the next sentence that why is apparently. "Lisa's already told us a lot about you. Welcome onboard."

Maybe, just maybe, his handshake was a little tight.

Kuron just smiles and follows her out of the ship, unable to fight off the tension that seeps over him.

Unfamiliar place. Unfamiliar face. Memorize the layout. Figure out the exits--

He stops just out of the doorway of the ship and closes his eyes for a moment, forcing himself to take a deep breath and anchor himself. Lisa was right in front of him; she was there. He could trust her. It was okay. Some of the tension is still visible in his stance as he opens his eyes again, just as Lisa steps to the side and Jeff speaks for the first time but Kuron does his best to relax and make it clear he's not about to do anything.

He's just...it's all new.

"Likewise," Kuron said with a hesitant smile as he took Jeff's hand, returning the tight grip with a firm one of his own. "Hopefully I can fill in whatever gaps there are in what she told you guys."

An olive branch of sorts? Maybe.

Releasing Jeff's hand Kuron can't help but take a slight step to the side, putting himself closer to Lisa as he tucks his arms behind his back, standing at attention though a rather lax version of it.

"I owe all of you a lot, letting me come aboard like this."

"Its what we do," Jeff was casual about it, neither bragging nor underplaying it. For the most part he supported the Commander's policy on refugees - but he also shot Kuron a look at the shift closer to Lisa, not at all sure he liked that but also not sure he had a right to make that kind of call. Yet. Lisa, for her part, shifted when Kuron did, just the slightest subtle shift of weight from one leg to the other - except her shoulder was lightly nudging up against the side of his afterward, even if, from all other outward appearances, her face hadn't changed in the least. And Jeff really wasn't sure how he felt about that either. Lisa had a soft heart but it was easy for other people to misread what that meant, at least as far as Jeff was concerned.

"I'm sure you'll fit in just fine," he added the encouragement all the same. There were plenty of other positions that needed filling and plenty of other people the new arrival could attach to once he was established. No sense making a big deal about anything now when he'd just showed up.

Though - Jeff didn't miss the military stance either, for all it was a relaxed version of it.

"Come on. The Commander sent me to lead you in," and make sure Lisa didn't need back up. "He said to let you know he'll be along shortly."

"Has a room been assigned yet?" Lisa wanted to ask as Jeff started moving and she fell into step, not next to him, but keeping even with the stranger.

"Should be by the time everything's done in med bay. "You know how it is. Everything's a puzzle piece right now." Too many people, not enough bunks. Jeff hoped the new arrival didn't mind sharing his space. Lisa just hummed next to him and didn't comment. Which was usually a bad sign. She'd better not commandeer a broom closest and refit it. Her hand slipped out, found Kuron's as they walked, wrapped briefly and then gave a squeeze before retreating again.

"Place is huge," Jeff was commenting. "But all the passages are marked by color strip and number," he pointed. "Once they get you settled in, you'll pick up the color code for where your set of dorms are. Follow any of the same color stripe long enough and you'll end up at a common room. Yellow's mess hall and supplies. Stick with your color and yellow and you'll pick up the layout in no time. This ones medical." A gesture at the grey stripe on the hall they'd just moved into. "Can't get too lost if you stick with a single color code."

There were numbers at each intersection as well and Lisa tapped the 07 absently with the backs of her fingernails as they went past it. Didn't say anything.

"And here we are," Jeff pulled to a brief stop in front of a double set of doors. "It says quarantine but we had to repurpose. Come on, I'll introduce you to the doc before I go."

"There's a computer terminal in the room," Lisa's low voice cut in. Gentle. And the hard look was back in her eyes. "I'll stick around with Kuron and file my report from there."

"Leese," Jeff said it from the corner of his mouth even though it was obvious he knew the new arrival would still overhear it. "The Commander isn't going to eat him."

"I know." She turned her head and looked at Kuron, trying to judge from his face whether she was being intrusive - or welcome. "But its medical tests even if they're not invasive or going to hurt, by strangers. Having a friendly face nearby might make it a bit easier to get through quickly."

The press of Lisa's shoulder against his side was a welcome touch and it helped Kuron to relax more despite how unsure he still felt about this. Jeff seemed wary, and rightly so, and that was making every warning signal in Kuron's brain go off all at once. But Lisa was here and she trusted this man, trusted her crew, so he was going to fight every urge to flee that he had and see this through.

"I hope so," he said sincerely, an thankful note to his voice as Jeff gave him that encouragement. The man didn't have to do it but he did. It meant a lot given the strange circumstances of all this.

Kuron let his stance relax, arms falling to his sides now as he followed after Jeff. He kept his silence and just let them talk, a little worried about the puzzle piece comment and what would come of it since he had a feeling that meant he'd be sharing quarters with someone. It wouldn't be a problem, at least he hoped it wouldn't. Then again, he hadn't thought coming on board this ship would be either yet here he was as nervous and on edge as he had been when he'd woken up in a completely different body with Lisa hovering over him. The tension was starting to seep back into him but yet again Lisa was there to save him from it. He startled as he felt her hand in his and glanced over at her as she squeezed his. A grateful look seeped into his expression and he returned the gesture before she pulled her hand away.

He was really glad it was Lisa that had found him.

"Seems easy enough, assuming there aren't too many colors," Kuron murmured with a small smile, glancing at the stripes on the wall only for his gaze to flick to Lisa as she tapped 07 on the wall. He didn't say anything, didn't nod, but the message was received as his gaze lingered for a moment longer than necessary before it was on Jeff again. "Will the commander be the one to assign me quarters or is that something that will be done before I meet with him?" Just so he can start process all the information and mapping things out as he moves about the ship.

His steps halt as they reach the med bay and he starts to say something only to stop himself, gaze flicking between Jeff and Lisa as they go back and forth. He can see both sides of it and he doesn't want to seem too reliant on Lisa and make things more awkward that necessary--he'd seen the way Jeff had looked at them when Lisa had rested her shoulder against his side--but...

"If..it's alright, I would appreciate having her stay. This probably should be easy enough to manage on my own but--" Kuron stopped, frowning slightly as he glanced towards the doorway of the medbay. "...I'm still getting my bearings and Lisa saw everything back there. I'd like to have her with me when I speak to the Commander."

There was a shift in Lisa's lips as Kuron requested her. It was far too quiet and soft or it might have actually been a smug smile. Jeff's eyes went to her first and his look flattened out. Someone that had been out-maneuvered. A snort through his nose and he shook his head before looking back at the new arrival. Shrugging.

"Well, you asked for it, Buddy," it was more wry humor than threatening though. Then he stepped forward and the doors slid open. "And it depends on how fast Supply can verify bunks and which ones are empty. If the Commander doesn't know by the time he gets here, I'm sure he will by the time he leaves. Hey, Doc!"

An older balding man at a computer terminal turned around, somewhere between annoyed and polite and Jeff headed over to make sure everything was clear as Lisa stepped closer to Kuron, fingertips lightly on his arm for a moment.

"Don't worry too much about it. Just take whatever bunk they assign and I'll take care of the rest. I promised a hot meal and a warm bed, remember?"

And then Jeff was back with the older man.

"Kuron, this is the Doc. Just - call 'em Doc. This is Jun his assistant. Jun's the nice one, Doc's got no sense of humor." Which earned an affronted look but no protest from the doctor. Jeff grinned. Offered his hand again. "I know I'll see you around again. You need anything, just ask me. I'll do what I can to help."

Kuron isn't sure if he should be worried or amused by the entire exchange, the look on Jeff's face definitely something he was use to seeing on say Keith's face when the other was fed up with Lance at times but considering how at ease he was with Lisa? He was going to call this a win over all.

"Alright," he mused, glancing at Lisa and giving her a smile before he stepped inside and immediately found himself being introduced to some new individuals. The hesitation that he couldn't shake crept back in but he was polite as ever as he nodded to them, a ghost of a smile on his lips as he looked from one to the other.

"It's nice to meet you both." Sense of humor or not, it was always good to have the medical staff on your good side. Jeff.

The offered hand helped Kuron relax and he took it, giving it a firm shake.

"Thank you, Jeff. I really appreciate everything you've done already, even if it doesn't seem like much," Kuron said sincerely. Given the circumstances Jeff could have acted completely different but he'd been welcoming and informative and that was more than enough for Kuron. He released the other's hand with a lingering smile before his attention went back to Doc and Jun. "So I guess this means I'm all yours now?"

Jeff gave Lisa one last look as he headed out the door and she just nodded. He wanted to talk and she expected no less. He was relaxed as team leader but that didn't mean he didn't stay on top of things and she understood, at least she thought she did, his concern. But he also trusted her call on this and she appreciated that too.

She let herself fade into the background as the doctors took over with Kuron, setting up next to an out of the way computer terminal and slotting the chip she'd filled to download what it had managed to gather, one handed typing her report with the other hand with occasional glances at the scrolling intel. There were also occasional glances up at Kuron as well, without lifting her chin, watching him closely when she did, trying to take what she'd learned already to measure the set of his shoulders, how far apart he'd planted his feet at any given time and the low tone of his voice. She was protective of almost everyone but - he was her special find, as silly and childish as that sounded, and he had looked to her for stability and - the way that made her feel felt good. And just upped her level of determination to make sure things were as smooth for him as they could be. The tests at least didn't need to be too invasive since the ship's diagnostic could pick up almost everything by scan. She still snuck glances from the corners of her eyes when they had to touch him. And she was just stepping away from her terminal when the door slid open and Commander Hawkins walked in.

Lisa automatically relaxed and yet straightened to attention at the same time, murmuring her 'sir' and getting a smile for her efforts.

"I hear you had quite an adventure out there, Lisa. Krik and Jeff filled me in. It sounds like a tragedy, I'm sorry. I'm glad you brought back someone new to us though. Any information we can get about what's going on out there is useful and its always good to have a new face onboard. Why don't you introduce me?"

Which meant the doctors were done whether they were or not and Lisa hit the enter key on her report and slipped the chip loose before handing it to the Commander and heading over to Kuron. Again, the urge to touch him, just a brush to reassure was there and again, she held it back, not wanting to come across as either needy or smothering. But she did give him a smile and settle next to him as she stood.

"Kuron, this is Commander Hawkins. He's the CO for the fleet. Commander, this is Kuron."

"Pleased to meet you, Kuron," the commander offered his hand and a smile. "I bet you've got quite a story to tell. How about something hot to drink back in my office and you can take your time telling it."

Allowing the doctors to do their job, Kuron did his best to stay relaxed and compliant with whatever they asked and whatever they needed to do. It was difficult though, especially since this body was still so new to him; just a few hours old at best. Each unfamiliar touch felt twice as strange as it probably should, his body still adjusting him to the fact that he should be feeling that and yes that was his body they were touching. Occasional glances were thrown over towards Lisa as the doctors looked him over, ran their scans, just needing the reassurance that she was still there. That the person he was most familiar with, even if they had only known each other for a short amount of time when it came down to it, was still visible. Hadn't left him.

When the commander entered Kuron instinctively straightened to attention out of habit and because he caught the way Lisa did and followed suit, not turning away from the doctors just yet of course.

But maybe this meant--

yes. They were done.

He gave them both a parting nod of thanks for their time before turning his attention to Lisa and Hawkins, thankful for the familiar presence at his side as he was introduced to the commanding officer.

"Likewise, sir," Kuron replied as he took the other man's hand and shook it. "That sounds great, actually." It's hard to shake the constant feeling of cold especially when you're still dissociating from your body. It was as he released the commander's hand that he looked at Lisa, a momentary, fleeting look of hesitation in his gaze before he was once more looking at the commander. "I know I have no place to be asking for things just yet but would it be alright for Lisa to stay with us?" To continue to stay with him, just for now.

Hawkins lifted an eyebrow at the request but nodded all the same, a little smile on the edge of his lips.

"If you're comfortable with it, I don't see why not. All right. Three warm drinks then. Follow me."

Again, Lisa fell into step next to Kuron instead of her commander and once they reached the hallway, her hand shifted to touch his again, offered him a smile without turning her head. Her hand was back at her own side though when they stepped briefly onto the bridge, several of the heads turning to look before going back to their stations. The commander stepped into his office then though and the doors shut out the low noise and bustle of the bridge.

"Please. Have a seat." The commander gestured to the couch in the corner and then went out again. Lisa settled on the couch. Held out her hand.

"Last hard thing today. Then its a hot shower and bed. How're you holding up?"

Kuron simply nodded. He was extremely grateful that they were all being understanding and allowing Lisa to stay with him. He knew it was a selfish request perhaps even a bit out of line to some degree but--

he glanced at her as their hands touched again and a gentle smile appeared.

She was the only constant he had right now.

Once they were on the bridge he was back to his more neutral expression, nodding just slightly to some of the officers about as he followed the commander into his office. He didn't make a move to sit until Hawkins was gone again and Lisa had taken a seat first, his shoulders sagging almost unnoticeable as he made his way over to sit beside her and rest his hand in hers.

"I'm alright. It's more overwhelming than I'd like to admit." Probably because he's still not settled. Still not comfortable. He'd get use to it. His fingers tightened around hers some, his eyes staying on her as he smiled that same gentle smile from before. "Thank you for staying with me."

She shifted when he settled near her, moving her legs so her knees nudged up against his. She wasn't an expert yet, but she was a quick study and she had been paying a close amount of attention to Kuron's body language. She would have guessed he was on edge naturally considering the situation but she thought at least that she'd picked up on little indications in the way he held himself as well. Her fingers responded to the closer hold of his but mimicking the motion and holding him just as closely back that way. But despite the subtle fierceness in the way her fingers held him back - when he smiled at her everything about her softened.

"Of course I'd stay. There's no reason for you to face all of this alone." Her fingers twined with his. Smiled back. "And you're welcome. You're doing wonderfully. Once this part is over, you'll be all done for the day. I've already got the nicest room on the ship picked out for you."

The door slid open and for a second her hand twitched, an instinctive move to withdraw. Except.... she paused and then her fingers curled with his again, looser so he could have his hand back when he wanted but there for as long as he wanted to hold on to her. Commander Hawkins' eyes noted it but he didn't comment, simply set the tray with its cups down on a nearby table and pulled over a chair so he was facing them both. Then he handed out the mugs, the smell of chocolate drifting up from the dark liquid in them.

"Thought we could all use something relaxing," his voice was easy but it thrummed with quiet authority. "All right, Kuron. I've read Lisa's reports. I'd like to hear your side of things now as you're comfortable."

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such a cute face!

some of his faces are just adorable I can't deal with him

way too adoreable, its dangerous (ps feel free to bring the commander whenever)

o7!!!

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