The past few days had been... trying for Tanaka, but he felt that his luck might be changing. ZEX had shaken off the Institute's control, and now Hayes was here. Tanaka had never known the starbase commander very well, although they did talk occasionally when there were housing or discipline issues involving the Shofixti population there, but from the little they'd been in contact he'd always seemed to be a level-headed man, and not one to run away from a fight (being willing to ally with the Captain before he knew the Ur-Quan had begun to ignore Earth was testament to that much). Perhaps he'd even be able to avoid ZEX drooling all over him... but then again, perhaps that was too much to ask.

Tanaka picked up a few meat-topped slices of pizza, and then sat down near the door, watching the crowds to see if he could pick out Hayes as he entered.

[for Hayes, and possibly ZEX too]