"Finding Friends"
Lieutenant Troy Blair
Chief Tactical Officer, USS Galaxy

{Uh…yes, hello? This is Ensign Alan Hewson from engineering. It's good to hear that I'm not alone. Where are you…uh, Troy isn't it?} Blair breathed a sigh or relief, he was not alone

"I'm not exactly sure. Someone made a reference about Chicago to me last night. I think that's where I may be. Are you ok?"

{I suppose so. I did have to stun a man though, and I was able to take his clothes and his belongings. I'm in New York City it would appear. I believe it is the 12th of September, 1924. How are you holding up?"}

"I'm doing alright, though I was roughed up by some guys last night." Troy replied, placing his hand over his still aching ribs

{That doesn't sound good. Are you able to come to New York?}

"No, I believe they used money during this time, something I'm with out. What about you?"

{I got some money form that guy I stunned. I'll find a way to get there, and contact you when I arrive. Right now I think the less we use our comms the better.} Alan whispered, the sounds of people walking by sounded in the background

"Agreed, Blair out" The channel was ended.

Troy sat up right on the couch, he began wishing Doctor Rousseau was transported to this time. Even though she'd probably threaten him for getting beaten up, atleast the pain would cease. After a few minutes, Troy got to his feet and headed toward to closest window to look outside. The scene was that of a busy city street, old cars whisked down the street, as people on foot and bicycles moved down the sidewalks. Somewhere out there, in that busy city, was a way to get home, and he wasn't going to give up, even if it took the rest of his life.

"Beautiful sight, isn't it?" the familiar, high pitched female voice sounded

"Ya, it is" Troy answered, stepping back from the window.

Cherry stepped forward, holding a bundle of clothing in her arms, "Listen, I've got a suite for you, so you can get out of those funny clothes. You can change in my room" she handed him the suite, and pointed to a room. Troy grabbed the suite, and walked into the room.

"Lights" he called out, when he entered the darkened room, "uh...Lights" The concept of a light switch was never taught in history class, in all of his years of schooling.

"What are you doing? Just use the switch." Cherry said, then turned on the lights

"Oh...thanks. I guess I got hit a little too hard on the head" he laughed, then closed the door. A few minutes later, Troy had a new look. He had a black suite, with the cliché pinstripes, white shirt, red tie, a red handkerchief sticking out of the breast pocket on the coat, the black and white shoes, and a hat. He stuffed his uniform under the bed, but before he put the commbadge in his pocket. It felt kind of strange wearing a suite that was hundreds of years older than he was, but then again time travel makes this kind of thing possible. Shrugging his shoulders, and placing the hat on his head, Troy exited the room. He was immediately greeted with laughter.

"What?" he asked

"Your hat...it's on backwards. Baby, I think Anthony did hit you a little too hard. Here, let me adjust it for you" The young lady reached up and turned the hat around, then she tilted it to one side on his head. "There, now you look like you like someone from Chicago."

"Thanks, I never wore too many hats in California."

"I can see" Cherry giggled

"I've never been to Chicago before, do you mind if we go look around?" He had to use this opportunity to do some recon. of the city.

"I'd love to show you around, cutie" Holding out her arm, in the escort position, Troy took it and the two walked out the door

*** Somewhere in Chicago ***

"Boss, I tink there's sumthin' ya should know about" Anthony said to a short Italian man, with black hair, and a scar on his left cheek

"Can't you see I'm eating, you fool?!? Can this wait?!" the man shouted

"I'm 'fraid not. Last night da boys an I were in Exotic Nights. Ya know that speakeasy you run over on 5th street"

"Of course I know the place, you IDIOT!" the short man retorted, slamming his glass of wine down on the table, causing some of it to spill over the side.

"Der was dis guy in der, an' he was en my seat. Had an attitude an everything. Anyways, he says he's new to town an' he doesn't want any trouble wit us, and when I asks him who I work fer, he didn't know who ya's are. After me an da boys roughed him up alittle, Gino, ya know da bartender, said he's from California. And he told Cherry his name was James Bond er something like that. Speaking of which, she's not at work today. Apparently shes left wit dat James guy"

"Ya's boss, he's speakin' da truf. Dis guy looked like he was casin' da joint when we first came in. Den, he was about to leave when we came up." Benito, the large 300 pound, and not too brite, gangster, confirmed

"So what you're saying is, a guy from California was in one of my bars, casing the place? I don't like the sound of this. I heard rumors that a couple of gangs from California, were looking to move out here." The boss said, wiping his mouth with a cloth napkin.

"If ya asks me boss, I tink tey's already here." Anthony said, grabbing a biscuit from the table

"I don't know why, but I agree with you Anthony. Take a few guys and go look for this James character. When you find him, bring him back to my warehouse on the docks. I wanna talk to him.......No one messes with Al Capone and gets away with it!"

"You got it boss! Les go Benito"

*** A street in Chicago, a few hours later ***

"Well, you've seen just about everything there is to see in Chicago. Are you happy now baby?" Cherry asked

"Not really, there's still some more things I want to look at." Troy said, still not happy with his findings.

As the two walked down the street some more, Troy's commbadge went off {Hello Troy? I'm in Chicago, are you there?}

"What was that?" the puzzled looking Cherry asked

"I don't know, it came from that alley. Stay here, I'll go check it out." Troy jogged over to an empty alley, before pulling his communicator out. "Alan, I'm here. I had to find a secluded spot."

{Oh, ok. I arrived in Chicago about an hour ago, and managed to find the public library. I'll be sitting up toward the front, wearing a blue suite. I'll have my commbadge in hand, so you'll know it's me.} Alan planned

"Ok, when I get there, I'll be with a young lady who thinks my name is James."

{Roger that, James. AC out} Tucking the badge back into his pocket, Troy walked back out to the sidewalk

"It's was just a drunk guy. Say, can we go to the library?" his question got another 'are you crazy?' look from Cherry

"Sure, it's right this way"

After several minutes of walking, they arrived at the library and went in. Troy scanned the room with his eyes, before he saw a man in a blue suite, reading a newspaper. He approached the man, hoping he's the right one.

"Hey AC! It's me James!" The man put the paper down and looked up. He extended his right hand, to shake Troy's. The Tactical Officer felt the familiar shape of a commbadge press against his palm, he had the right guy. "So, did you get here the same way I did?"

"Reunion"
by Lieutenant (jg) K'arta

The next morning found K'arta, Adran and Sioban preparing for a journey to Tara, the seat of the king of Erin. While they were talking, K'arta had a hard time trying not to divulge information about the future. The people seemed so aware of everything, nature, the ways of animals, weather and people. It also seemed that they could sometimes see into their own future. She longed to speak freely to them about things she'd read about, but never really understood. As they packed, K'arta heard a chirp then a voice issuing from her waist.

"Lt. Ronni Morris to any Starfleet personnel." Adran and Sioban had a confused look on their faces as K'arta was desperately clawing at her pouch. It was an unfamiliar language to them the K'arta obviously understood. They looked with awe as the gold communicator was finally produced and K'arta spoke into it.

"Ronni!! This is K'arta!! Where are you?" Finally a voice she knew that spoke her language.

"About 200 meters due North of your position. I think I have our way back to where we belong!" K'arta couldn't believe her ears. Apparently the two druids didn't either, they watched the exchange with wide eyes.

As the channel closed, K'arta turned to the two. "It's time for me to leave. Thank you both. For everything." she said simply in Gaelic. A tear sprung to Sioban's eye as K'arta picked up the satchel that contained her uniform.

As she moved to the doorway, a thin hand was placed on her shoulder. K'arta turned to Sioban, wondering why the old druidess had stopped her.

"I have something for you, Child." the old woman rummaged through some clutter on a table and found a small wooden box. Under Adran's watchful eye, she presented the box to the Klingon. "This was my sister's, Adran's mother. I've kept it these long years, it's yours, the vision instructed me to give it to you."

K'arta's green eyes shone with wonder and appreciation as she opened the lid. Inside, an intricate silver torc lay on a square of silk. Amazed and touched at the priceless gift she'd just been given, K'arta delicately removed the silver neck-band and tried it on. It fit almost perfectly. The two ends fell just above the Klingon's collarbones and the torc was just loose enough to allow movement, but tight enough that it stayed in one place. Placing the box in her satchel, she murmered an awed thanks and stepped out the door. The druids stood behind her satisfied with their accomplishments. They would not be forgotten. As K'arta headed north, Scena the wolfhound caught up with her. The huge dog followed her new friend all the way to the monolith.

"What hppened to you?!" K'arta exclaimed as she saw her naked Delphinian friend. Scena rushed up to Ronni and swatted her bare legs with a hairy tail.

Laughing Ronni said, "It's a long story. Let's go home."

"Do you know how to get us there?" K'arta couldn't believe the incredible coincidence.

"Not exactly, but I have an idea. Come stand next to the monolith. Is your friend coming?"

K'arta considered it, but decided Scena's place was with Sioban. She bent and scratched the dog's ears once more, then sent her back to her mistress. The dog bounded away as Ronni pressed the symbols on the monolith. The two friends were engulfed by the mist again and pulled forward through time.

Their eyes opened to show a battle. Angry Klingons were ravaging desperate Romulans. The smell of the battle wafted into K'arta's nose and set her Klingon heritage clamoring. She desperately wanted to enter the fray, it was possible that some of her mother's family was involved in the battle. She wasn't familiar with the time and place, but figured that they were closer to their home time.

'IwlIj ghogh yIQoy' echoed through her mind. 'Listen to the voice of your blood.' K'arta's blood was vibrating with the desire to enter the battle. Klingons thought the blood of a warrior directed his life more than anything else. Ronni's hand on her arm prevented the half Klingon woman from decking one of the Romulan soldiers that was nearby. K'arta turned to her naked friend and realized that they shouldn't do anything to disrupt the time continuum. K'arta also realized that Ronni was stark naked and she was holding a uniform under her arm. Smiling at her forgetfullness, K'arta thrust the bag at Ronni who peeked in and saw the uniform.

"Thanks." she said gratefully as she pulled K'arta's uniform on.

The pair now had to find the monolith to hopefully get back to their home time. The battle raged on around them. At first they both felt like they hadn't been noticed, but when an angy Romulan man rushed at them, knife drawn, K'arta realized that he was trying to kill them. She pulled her own knife from her sleeve and deflected the Romulan's attack. Ronni's surprise quickly turned to resourcefullness as she swept the legs out from underneath their attacker.

"Come on!" Ronni urged as K'arta stood over the man, bloodlust evident in her eyes. With much difficulty, K'arta turned away and followed her friend to a sheltered place where they could think everything through. Ronni told K'arta where they were, and when, and what was going on. The Klingon half listened as she also tried to focus on the status of the fight. Ronni punched her friend in the shoulder to get her to pay attention. They crouched in an overlooked corner and made their plan as the battle continued.

"War Zone"
by Ensign Hunter McKenzie

The explosion threw Mac back several feet. He quickly rolled to his feet as he surveyed the carnage around him. The blast had taken out the entire south side of the building. The two security guards lay crushed under the fallen debris. Seeing no sign of Professor Lanson, Mac quickly made his way outside. Mac stopped when he saw the massive attack that was underway. The mortar attack was still underway. Explosions continued to erupt throughout the encampment. Mac saw that the outpost had been taken by total surprise, as bodies lay strewn about the compound and the cries of the wounded echoed between the blasts. Mac quickly took cover as he evaluated his options. Relying on his knowledge of Gorn tactics, he knew that the opening Mortar barrage would be quickly replaced with several passes by ground-attack shuttles. Mac was in a serious dilemma. Here, with federation personnel dying around him, Mac was desperate to help. Unfortunately, Mac knew all to well about temporal mechanics. If Mac assisted the outpost, he ran a chance of changing the outcome and with it the timeline. As much as he hated it all he could do was try to find a way home.

Mac quickly scanned the area. There a few feet from him lay what appeared, by the blue shirt he wore, to be a science officer. Keeping low to the ground, Mac quickly made his way to the body. He gasped as he turned it over, revealing the massive hole where the officers chest used to be. Mac quickly searched the body, recovering the science tricorder, that had miraculously survived the assault. As Mac slung the tricorder over his shoulder; He was greeted with silence. the mortar barrage had stopped.

"This can't be good" he muttered, as he pulled his phaser from his belt.

As Mac scanned the area he knew what to expect. In a few minutes he would see the Gorn GA shuttles sweep through the area, followed by a scout squad to be deployed to search for survivors. He had to get to the monolith, quick! Mac hurriedly made his way to the outskirts of the camp. Mac contemplated a plan. There was about 200 yds of open ground till he could make it to the bottom of the hill. 200 yds of easy shooting for any Gorn that happened along. Taking a deep breath. Mac sprinted for the hill.......just as the Gorn shuttles swooped into the valley, overhead.

"Great!" muttered Mac, as he increased his speed and made a diving roll into a large cluster of rocks at the edge of the valley. He rolled to a stop against a rather large and jagged rock, tearing a huge gash into his right shoulder. Grimacing in pain he hugged the rock in case any of the shuttles came back for a closer look. Peering around the rock, Mac saw the shuttles land and began to deploy their troops. The massive Saurians slowly, but methodically procedded through the camp , slaughtering anyone that was alive. Mac felt the bile rise in his throat, as he watched the slaughter. Unable to take it anymore he turned and headed up the ridge toward the monolith.

It took Mac a good hour and a half to make it to the top of the small mountain, having to stop and seek cover as a Gorn shuttle flew overhead. As he reached the top he saw the welcome sight of the monolith, without the sign of any Saurians in the vicinity. Creeping up to the monolith, Mac kneeled before the entry pad, setting the tricorder to scan the hieroglyphics for further translation. The entire scan took less than 3 minutes, but it seemed like an eternity to Mac. the tricorder analyzed the data and with a "beep" announced it's findings. The writing analyzed in to a series of what appeared to be a set of coordinates. Unfortunately they appeared to be missing a key set of numbers. A set of numbers the tricorder was not going to find as it began to smoke and beep uncontrollably. Mac recognized the problem as a massive feedback and quickly threw the instrument away as it blew into several tiny pieces. Mac kicked at the several rocks on the ground in disgust.

"Well the old McKenzie luck is still holding" He said sarcastically as he stooped to pick up a handsized rock. "I guess it's back to the old drawing bo....ulppp!!"

Mac stopped, swallowing hard as he stared at what appeared to be two large greenish columns. As Mac looked skyward, he came face to face with the largest Gorn he had ever seen.

"Damn" Mac said, as he watched the Gorn raise its disrupter.

Chiron walked up to the merchant's crude wooden table. He could see the merchant straighten up a bit, then try to peek into Chiron's hood. "Uhhh... Whot might I do for ye, sir?"

Transmitting into the merchant's mind, Chiron said, 'I am the wizard Nelor, brother to Merlin. I have a piece I wish to sell.'

The man widened his eyes, then slapped his ears a bit, before answering, "Any friend to Merlin is of COURSE a friend to me. I'll offer 5 gold pieces." Chiron sensed that the merchant was being more than generous. He had picked the right name to drop. Chiron handed him Miss Khan's earring, and the merchant gave him the coins.

Chiron motioned his thanks with a bow, and made his way to the livery. To the stablehand, he transmitted, 'I require four steeds. I offer four gold pieces.' The stablehand didn't give the shadowed man a second glance, only took the gold, then disappeared around the corner.

When he returned, he had a friend help him with the horses, and said that he would also assist Chiron on leading the horses. There was a bay and a chestnut Arabian, then two other breeds he couldn't recognise, but one was bay color with a star mark on its forehead, and the other was a grey. He lead the serf out to the edge of the town, where Kahn was waiting for him. The servant handed two lead ropes to the Bajoran, and the two Starfleet Officers returned to the barn.

K'eytyanna ran her hand over the horses. "Good job, Chiron. Have you chosen your horse?"

'I like the grey. We bonded on the trip over here.' Chiron looked at the horse, and concentrated a bit. In perfect response, the equine layed down on the ground. 'I call her Hana.'

Suddenly, Chiron sensed another presence... a bit distant, but present, nonetheless. Chiron turned his attention to the foreign mind, and went out to greet the visitor. It was the serf that had helped Chiron with the horses.

Quickly, he sent, 'Kahn, Samara, Waylan, we may have a problem.'

[ The Schizoid Man ]

"On A Great Big Boat..."
by: Doctor Will Andrews, Medical Officer

Will had been in Sick Bay, writing up some reports for the CMO, when he was enveloped by a strange fog. It had an almost dizzying effect, and he noticed the others in Sick Bay disappearing in the same type of fog before he himself fell unconscious.

He came to, only to see a large metal wall in front of him. The stench of what he recognized as salt water, along with the foulness of hundreds of bodies piled into a small cramped area almost made Will sick to his stomach. The smell of sickness and disease overempowered him, but he managed to fight it. He closed his eyes tightly, then reopened them to see he was still in the same place. The sound of the water hitting the hull of the ship resonated throughout the compartment he was sitting in. He sighed heavily, trying to get the smell of the place out of his system. *What is this place?* he thought to himself, as he looked around the compartment. It was very dark and damp, with people all lying on the floor, covering themselves with ragged blankets smelling of vomit and excrement.

Making sure that there wasn't anyone else he knew in the compartment, he slowly and quietly made his way out and up on deck. Everyone appeared to be asleep, so he didn't have to worry about drawing a great deal of attention to himself. He sighed to himself, slowly making his way on deck. He had never felt so alone or depressed in his entire life. It was as if he were doomed to this hopeless existence.

He realized that he had a couple hypos on his person - cordrazine and tetrorizine, which could probably be useful. He could use the tetrorizine to knock out a person, and he could use the cordrazine to help any seriously ill. *I hope to God that I am not alone here...*

Suddenly, his communicator beeped. [This is Ensign Jurelle Tash, can anyone hear me, please respond.] Just as he was about to respond, a large man rounded the corner and was heading to where Will was. He quickly dove into a storage compartment, just in time. The large guard stopped for a moment, looking around, but continued on his way, looking satisfied. Will breathed deeply, as he sat back against the wall of the storage closet he was sitting in.

Will breathed deeply again, then tapped his communicator. "Tash, hello, it's Will Andrews. Sorry, I couldn't reply straight away. Where are you and do you have any idea what has happened?" He could hear Tash sigh of relief as she began to speak. Apparently, she was also happy to discover that she was not alone in this hellhole.

The two conversed for a few moments, whispering into their comm badges, as Jurelle explained their situation. *A convict ship!* he thought to himself. *Of all places, a convict ship!* Will had learned about Australian history in grade school, but he never realized that he could actually put it to use.

"Well, we are definitely on a ship," Will replied, looking out the compartment door overlooking the deck, then the sea beyond. "I'm on deck, trying to draw as little attention as possible to myself. I'm going to have to find some clothes."

[Agreed, my spots have already drawn comment,] Jurelle replied. [We won't be able to talk much. I don't think talking to yourself is a very normal sight around here. I'm going to find some clothes and I'll get back to you, Tash out.] The comm closed and Will was once again alone.

*Alright,* Will thought to himself, looking at the hypo in his hand. *Let's put you to good use.* He slowly crawled out of his compartment, and just his luck, one of the guards was doing his rounds on deck. He slithered into a small hallway just beside the compartment he was in earlier, waiting for the guard to pass him by. His heart began to beat faster and faster, and the adrenaline was flowing through him like mad. He was extremely nervous.

The guard didn't notice Will, however, and when he was past the hallway Will was in, he ran out and hypo'ed the guard in the back. The guard fell back into Will's arms and nearly fell on Will, as the guard was considerably larger and heavier than he. He dragged the incapacitated man into the compartment and began taking off his clothing and putting it on himself. He noticed the uniform enamated a strong stench of body odour, but it was either that or get thrown off the ship. Will chose the former.

The uniform was slightly large on him, but it would have to do. Will tapped his communicator. "Jurelle?"

[Will!]

"I have an unconscious guard here. He should be out for another six hours or so. I've swapped clothing with the man and I'm on deck now."

Will awaited for Jurelle's response, as to what to do next. He was hoping that it was all a dream, and that it would end soon, but the reality was that he was on a great big boat, headed for hell, no doubt...

Scott Hong - Aka:
Doctor Will Andrews
Medical Officer USS Galaxy

"I'll need somemore time to think about your offer, but yes I know time is not a luxury that we have right now." Dev said as she walked back towards camp. She could read some of his thoughts and emotions, but her only feelings where blocking some of her abilities with regards to Chris. A mindmeld might unlock some mysteries that she wanted to know, and vis versa.

Chris remained behind. Devlynn was in a mental dilemma. She wanted to mindmeld for personal reasons, but her contract with starfleet dictated that she was not to take part in such things, as it is a breach of the doctor-patient priviledge.

Soushonn was on the other side of the camp, and Colby was still asleep. It was good to see him sleeping after that nightmare.

She walked over to Soushonn, she could sense he was up to something, and unusually happy. "What's up?" She asked, but she could see plainly.

He was counting money... Union money. "What are you doing?" She asked from behind him.

He didn't even flinch. "Don't start with me Counselor." He said, "we needed money."

"But we also need to keep the timeline intact!" She moved herself around him and knelt down.

"Our being here is disruption enough to the timeline. The suit I got from the tailor could be a suit that is to be warn by the Prosectution in the upcoming trials. It may have, as unlikely as it seems, made him feel more confident and changed the trials. It's not being there may change the future." He grinned, "you see Counselor, time is a very complicated thing."

She sighed, the Rigelian Ensign was not going to be easily swayed. "Granted, but still, we should try to keep our interaction to a minimum." She stood and began to walk away.

Soushonn and her both gasped and stood and turned to look at each other. "What was that?" Devlynn asked.

"The towns folk?" Soushonn asked.

"I don't think so. I think that it was someone else from the Galaxy!" She looked toward Soushonn. "But I don't know who!!"

"Where are they?" Soushonn asked.

"I don't know, I can't tell from this distance. In town I believe. But there's trouble!" She began to run toward Chris and Colby. "Wake up Colby!" Soushonn stopped to wake him up. "Chris," Devlynn said as she neared the Ensign. "There something happening in town, I think it's another member of the Galaxy crew!!"

Chris flew from thought and jumped up. Grabbed him things and said, "lead the way!"

Devlynn turned on her mental powers to their most sentitive. The headed toward town. It wasn't a long walk, but it seemed like forever. On the way they discussed moral issues, such as non-intervention.

As they arrived in the town, they saw what, or rather whom, was causing the disturbance. Non-intervention flew out the window. Devlynn headed out into the crowd. As she neared the centre of the crowd, she made eye contact with one of the crew members. She shh-ed them with a look.

"We'll get you out of here, as quickly as we..." She mouthed by was cut off when she was bumped by a large man, moving into the centre of the ring. He was dressed very extravagantly for these times. The sheriff, she thought.

The large man stood beside the crew members and raised his hands. The crowd quieted. "Listen!!" He called, "these people, accused of witchcraft, are hereby arrested and shall be taken to trial two days hence!" He waved a hand and the crowd split and men entered from all angles. The crew members were taken into custody and escorted to the jail.

Devlynn sighed as she walked back toward the other, there was nothing she could do right now, but at dark, they would be freed.

Lt. Devlynn Salshyar (Dev)
Chief Counselor, USS Galaxy - NCC-70637

"Heading to Chicago"
By Ensign AC Hewson

The clouds that had been forming in Alan's mind began to dissipate. He was afraid that he was the only one who was somehow snatched back into the early twentieth century, but his fears were cast away when Lieutenant Troy Blair contacted him. It turned out that Troy had woken up in Chicago, while Alan had found himself in New York City. They had decided that Alan should make his way down to Chicago since he did have money after stunning a man and taking his possessions. Alan purchased a one way ticket to Chicago on a bus for a fairly reasonable price.

It was a rather large bus, seating perhaps seventy to eighty people. The seats were big enough to hold two or three people, but he could not find a seat that was not fully occupied by the time he got on. As he approached the back of the bus, he saw two large men sitting on a seat. He thought he could manage to squeeze in with them, but the idea of riding all the way to Chicago between to fat, stinky men did not sound all that appealing to him. Still, there were no other seats available.

"Excuse, " he said as he leaned over the seat, "would you mind if I sat here?"

The two men looked up at Alan. They scanned him from head to toe. A worried looked appeared on their faces. One of them tried to curl up in the corner, while the other one managed to whimper, "Nnn…nnoo sir, www…wwee wouldn' mind! In fact, wwhh…wwhhhy don't you take the whole seat for yourself!" Almost crawling over each other, they managed to exit their seat and quickly walk to the front of the bus. Alan stood in shock for almost a minute before finally taking his seat.

***** En Route to Chicago *****

Time passed by rather slowly. He tried to amuse himself by re-playing his favorite songs in his mind, but he just couldn't relax in this situation. Trying to think of something else to occupy his time, he reached into his back pocket and pulled out the wallet that had belonged to the thug he had stunned.

The wallet was scarcely populated, containing only money, a few pictures of the man in various shots with people Alan assumed were family, and a driver's license. Alan took out the license and looked it over. "Joseph Ruzzo, 5'11, 174 lbs," He read to himself. "Strange, this license is from Chicago, but I found this guy in New York." He placed the license back in the wallet, and pulled out the pictures.

One appeared to be from a birthday party, another from Christmas, a wedding, and a close up of Joseph Ruzzo. By the pictures, it appeared his family was quite wealthy. Alan examined the close-up picture to see just what this man looked like. He didn't get a good look at Joseph before he stunned him, and he was quite surprised that he bore a striking resemblance to Alan. They both had dark hair, the same color eyes, an unshaven, scruffy appearance, but the most remarkable thing was the fact they both had a scar on their chin. Back before Alan had joined the Galaxy, he had landed on a glass table when he was drunk. The table shattered, and he received a deep cut right on the butt of his chin. It healed with the help of a doctor, but Alan would not allow the scar to be removed. He no longer trusted doctors after what had happened to his wife and he actually liked the scar. It made him feel a little tougher.

THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!

Alan felt something striking against the back of his seat in a rhythm as he put his wallet away.

THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!

He felt it once again, but waited to see if it would stop.

THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!

"ALL RIGHT, STOP KICKING MY SEAT YOU JERK!" He shouted as he turned around in his seat. His eyes were met with the sight of a poorly dressed woman holding her two little sons in her arms.

"I…I'm sorry, sir! Please don't hurt my little boys! They didn't mean to do nothing wrong. I'm so sorry please don't hurt us!" The woman's plea was very desperate, and she sounded very scared. Alan didn't think he had yelled that loud at them to warrant such a strong response from the women. He turned around again without saying anything and sat back down.

***** Several Hours Later *****

After a few stops along the way, the bus finally made it to Chicago. Alan had tried to sleep on the way, but the rough ride had made that impossible. The bus c

ame to a stop at a bus station located deep in the heart of Chicago. He sat in his seat waiting for the other passengers to get off, so he could avoid a mad rush to the exit. After a good five minutes of sitting, no one had moved. All eyes seemed to be looking at him. After straightening his jacket, he slowly got up out of his seat. No one made a sound as he walked down the isle. As he approached the door, he turned around and looked at them once more. He spotted the two men who had given their seat to him crammed into a seat with three other people. Nervous eyes watched him as he turned around and exited the bus.

***** Down Town Chicago *****

This city looked almost the same as New York to him. Many tall buildings lined the streets on all sides. The temperature was rather pleasant, and the sun was shining. He looked for a nice quite spot to stop at so he could contact Troy. Spotting a public library, he made his way to the entrance.

Few people occupied the large building, so finding an empty table was not that hard. Turing his head to both sides, he checked to make sure no one was listening or watching before he reached into his pocket and pulled out his badge. He propped his elbows up on the table, and placed his hands together. He rested his nose on top of his knuckes, which placed his mouth in a perfect position to speak into his communicator without being overheard. He glanced around one more time before speaking.

"Hello Troy? I'm in Chicago, are you there?" He tried to whisper as softly as he could, but made sure Troy would be able to hear him. Troy didn't respond instantly, but Alan decided to wait a minute before speaking again. He assumed that Troy had to find a private place so he could respond.

{Alan, I'm here. I had to find a secluded spot.} His crewmate's voice spoke through the metal badge.

"Oh, ok. I figured that's what you were doing. Anyway, I arrived in Chicago about an hour ago, and managed to find the public library. I'll be sitting up toward the front, wearing a blue suite. I'll have my commbadge in hand, so you'll know it's me." He hoped his plan would work all right.

{Ok, when I get there, I'll be with a young lady who thinks my name is James.}

"Roger that, James," he chuckled, "AC out."

After his conversation with Troy, he pulled out the newspaper he had found in New York and continued to read through the articles. Halfway through an article about new airplane designs, he heard someone say, "Hey AC! It's me James!"

He turned around to see a man dressed in similar attire enter the library with a fairly attractive women hanging onto his arm. Alan extended his right hand with his badge cupped inside of it. The man shook it, and felt his badge before letting go.

"So, did you get here the same way I did?" Troy spoke as they were now both sure they had found who they were looking for.

"Yeah, I sure did. I felt like I just appeared out of nowhere. It must be all of that cheap liquor. Hello, who is this?" He took the woman's hand who was clinging to Troy and kissed it.

"Cherry, this is my old friend AC. We grew up together in California." Troy said as he introduced the two.

"Be careful, baby." Cherry said to Troy as she looked at Alan. "This guy is packing heat!"

"Pardon me?" AC asked, not exactly sure what Cherry had meant.

"Don't try to fool me, I can tell you're wearing a piece!"

"Really, I don't know what you're talking about."

"Oh come on! I can see the strap for your gun holster!"

"That, oh, yeah…I uh…carry it for protection." Alan tried to recover but he wasn't sure if Cherry really believed him.

"Don't worry, Cherry. You can trust AC. Why don't we go back to your place so AC and I can get caught up?"

"The tide turns"
by Lt. (jg) K'arta

With the battle raging on around them, Ronni informed her friend on the details of the battle of Cornak VII. The Klingons were trying to do away with a Romulan outpost on their side of the Neutral Zone. Ronni's brief history lesson also included the fact that the Klingons won this battle. The pair watched silently for a few moments as the Klingon warriors did their best against the Romulans. As one of the Klingon warriors fell near the Starfleet officers' feet, they realized that they would have to join the battle to preserve the timeline. A look of understanding passed between the two friends, as K'arta leapt from their shelter to take out the Romulan soldier that had just killed one of the Klingons.

With a body shaking tackle, the Romulan fell underneath K'arta's charge. Ronni intercepted another Romulan determined to help one of his fellows by stabbing a Klingon warrior in the back. His face took on a startled look as the Delphinian's foot kicked the knife out of his hand. Adapting quickly, the Romulan rushed at Ronni. She sidestepped the soldier and swept his feet out from under him. Before he even hit the ground the Delphinian was on him, knocking him out with a single punch. Meanwhile, K'arta was regaining her feet after making sure her opponent was down for the count.

Ronni gestured toward the monolith and K'arta nodded. They headed toward it just as a Romulan decided to attack them. This one was female, but just as fierce a fighter as the males. She came at the Starfleet officers with fingers outstretched, clawing at their faces. Ronni ducked out of her way and around another Romulan. She delivered a crushing blow to the back of the other's neck that sent him crumpling to the bloodsoaked ground. K'arta knocked the female's clawed hands away, in response, the angry and desperate Romulan woman pulled a dangerous looking dagger and lunged. In one movement, K'arta drew her own knife, leapt out of the way, and held the Romulan's blade at bay. The Romulan jerked her blade back and made another lunge at K'arta. The Klingon danced away from the thrust, slashing very close to the Romulan's chest as she did. The next time her opponent attacked, K'arta grabbed her forearm and pulled the Romulan to her. Her knife was poised at the Romulan's throat as her other hand quickly gripped her opponent's face. Twisting the Romulan's head to the left, the knife was drawn across the throat in one clean motion. K'arta released the dying Romulan who collapsed onto the ground, disbelieving.

Klingon blood was roaring in K'arta's ears. She was emmersed in what Klingons take the most pride and honor in; battle. She started when Ronni grabbed her arm and led her, ducking and dodging, toward the monolith. They knocked away random blows in passing and made it relatively unscathed to the monolith. As Ronni started pushing buttons on the ancient relic, K'arta watched the battle unfolding in front of her. The Klingons were winning again. Just before the red mist engulfed them yet again, she shouted, "tIhIngan maH!", and received an answering roar from the Klingons.

* * FLASH * *

This time neither K'arta nor Ronni knew exactly when or where they were. They did know that they were surrounded by screaming humans though. Alarmed and confused, the stood back to back to fend off the townspeople. They didn't physically attack the Klingon and the Delphinian though, they seemed content to encircle them, shouting. K'arta finally discerned what they were screaming about.

"Demons!! The witches summoned demons from Hell!!" cried one man.

Another was shouting verses from his Bible. The clamor was almost unbearable. People were demanding that they be burned, torn limb from limb and a variety of other unpleasant tortures.

"What's going on?" Ronni asked K'arta over her shoulder.

"I think we're on Earth in Salem, America during the witch trials." some of K'arta's old Earth history knowledge was coming back to her.

"What do we do now?" Ronni queried, growing more apprehensive as the crowd grew, even small children were cursing at the two.

"Fight?" K'arta replied, remembering the battle they'd just been involved in.

K'arta didn't hear her friend's answer as rocks started raining down on them. Grunting everytime they were hit, they tried to bat the rocks away, but more and more were being thrown by the Salem inhabitants.

"More Questions"
Lt Casey Ti Miran

Miran walked to the Paqu village. It was a small village with really nothing of interest. A few young children splashed in the river's edge. Rintas stood ankle deep in the river surveying the scenery with boredom. Rintas weren't all that smart and they were kind of slow. The milk was good. She was given a glass of Rinta milk this morning. Learning more about the Rintas, Miran found that the milk was high in vitamins essential for proper nutrition and growth for the Bajoran people. Maybe that's why she wasn't as tall as the average Bajoran.

After a hour or two and drawing many curious and suspicious glances, she started back for her home. She stopped about half way home and laid in the grass looking up into the sky. She had no clue to why she was here or how she got here. Then a thought hit her. The Galaxy!! Without proper course correction, the ship would crash in three days. It might be four if she didn't remember the altitude correctly. She knew if no one got back to the ship within four days at the latest the ship would crash into the planet they were orbiting.

She started sneezing, which broke her thoughts. Her eyes started watering as she sneezed. She got up and left that spot. She must be allegic to something here. The sneezing gradually eased off.

As she drew near the house, Miran saw that they had visitors. Two Cardassians stood right outside the door. Hatred and anger flared within her. She dropped to the ground hoping that neither had seen her. A third Cardassian came out the door pushing Shen before him. The other two grabbed his arms and then dragged him into a waiting shuttle. She waited for the shuttle to take off before getting up. She paused at the door. The baby was crying. She walked in. The house showed the signs of a search and struggle. Fala was rocking the baby, tears streaming down her face. Nalim looked up as she entered. She could see the pent up fury in his eyes.

Miran was learning more about her family than she wanted. More than anything all she wanted was Deiran. She wanted to be held by him as Nalim was now holding Fala. Miran turned and walked out of the room so the couple could be alone. She wondered what happened to her uncle. Was he killed by the Cardassians or was he alive? If he was alive, was he living on Bajor or moved off planet?

"Plans for the Breakout"
by Ensign Thomas

Chris considered what their next move would have to be in order to rescue they're fellow crew members, but without creating more problems. Furthermore they had somehow got here apparently using the Monolith that was here, but how to use it was something that Chris had worked on very little due to the other concerns that faced, nor for that matter did he really know if there was anyway to use the silly thing until they appeared.

"We'll we must get them out of there, but without hurting anyone seriously." Chris said as he considered their tools at hand.

"I have idea, but we'll need to wait until later, when there are less people around." Chris said as he pulled out the AHEv1.2 and headed of to find a less populated section to work on creating the needed clothing. He would need Dev's help in this area of designing the need attire for the AHE to attract attention while they freed their fellow friends.

The rest of the group joined, though Shoushan quickly left, this time to scout out the area and look for the best way to breach the jail.

"Dev we're going to have to create a distraction so we can free them." Chris only knew they were fellow officers, he hadn't gotten a close enough look to recognize them.

"Yes I know, I suspect you have something in mind?" Dev inquired.

"Yes, but I will need your help, we can use the AHEv1.2 to create the needed distraction while we break them out of jail and then where, well that something I'm hoping they have an answer for." Chris said as pulled out the tricorder and strated on his plan and then stopped and said, "Using the AHEv1.2 we can create our needed diversion, I'll program him to transport to specified corridiantes sent from the tricorder, though doing this will use up about an hours worth of energy. Then lets hope they know how to get us out of here before we all end up getting hung or worse." Chris whispered to Dev, not wanting Colby to hear what he was saying. He loved Colby so much, but he had a duty to rescue his freinds.

"Well in that case we had better get started." Dev said, as she considered how best to proceed.

"Captured"
by Captain Robert Edward Lee Price

"Look, there is a sign." Ensign K'Trall pointed. The Klingon looked quite convincing in his head bandage which hid his true heritage quite effectively.

"Let's see what it says 'mate." The Captain replied and he and Doctor Rousseau eagerly walked up to read it.

"Fairview" Doctor Rousseau said out loud. "Where on earth is "Fairview?"

Lee thought a moment, trying to recall what his father had taught him with such enthusiasm of which he wanted no part of at the time. "I believe it is town near Hazel Grove, both very close to Chancellorsville." Lee looked around, listening to the distant sounds of gun and cannon fire. "Judging from the setting, and time period, and if memory serves me correctly, I'd say we were in the late 1800's. I think there was a famous battle at Chancellorsville during the civil war, but I can't remember the details..." Lee looked around with a frustrated expression on his face. "Damn! I should of paid more attention to my father all of those years."

Jacqueline placed her hand on the Captain's shoulder. "Relax Lee, you'll remember soon enough." Doctor Rousseau smiled as the Captain turned and looked at her.

"There appears to be a structure up ahead Captain. Perhaps we can get some answers there." Ensign K'Trall pointed out.

Lee nodded. "Let's go have a look 'mate. After you Ensign."

K'Trall, Price and Rousseau began walking up to the large building. It appeared to be some sort of a residence on a very large plot of land. As they walked nearer, they could see that the drapes were all drawn. The building looked like it had not been maintained for a long time. Some of the windows were boarded over. The ground near and around the wooden structure was scored with divots from galloping horses. Cautiously, the crew members from the Galaxy approached the house.

Ensign K'Trall knocked firmly on the door. "Hello, is anyone home?"

A long pause passes with no answer.

"G'day. Is anyone here? We need some help..." The Captain started as he tried the door. It was unlocked, so he swung it open and took a step inside. "Anyone here? My friend is wounded..."

Doctor Rousseau followed the Captain and Ensign K'Trall inside, allowing the door to creek closed behind them. Glancing around what must of once been a grand mansion now revealed a looted and stripped home.

"Is anyone here?!" Lee called out, raising his voice. "Can you help us please?"

There was no reply. The Captain and Ensign K'Trall looked around making sure that no one was lurking in the lower floor where they were presently at.

"I think they may have abandoned this building Captain." K'Trall stated.

"Aye. There were a lot of homes that had to be abandoned during the civil war. Always are 'mate."

"I still do not understand all of this Captain." K'Trall said in a frustrated tone. "Why are we here? How do we get back to the Galaxy?"

"I don't know 'mate. Doctor Currie said this city she discovered was based on riddles and puzzles. Maybe this is some sort of a test or something. That monolith back there was definitely not from this time period. Once Doctor Rousseau has a chance to reprogram her tricorder, maybe we will know more."

"I'll get on it right away Captain." Jacqueline said as she sat down on what looked like a dusty table and began looking at her tricorder.

"This time perio

d is so primitive Captain. How did they live like this?"

"It's not that bad Ensign. We've visited cultures far more primitive than this on the Galaxy."

K'Trall frowned as he rubbed a hand on an old chair standing in the center of the room. "Wood? They made their furniture out of wood?"

Lee smiled. "Yes 'mate. They made a lot of things out of wood. And that chair would be worth a fortune in latinum in our time. What they'd call an antique. Something very old, and thus very valuable."

K'Trall nods. "I understand Captain. Part of my heritage is Romulan sir. They value their old far greater than the Klingons do."

"Well, yes, I guess you could apply that logic to people as well, though I'm sure anyone would be offended if you called them an antique. I know I would be 'mate!"

"Sir, I didn't mean to imply... I mean, no Sir. I would never call anyone an antique. Though I do value ones age and wisdom just as the Romulans do."

"Well said Ensign. But right now we have other things to worry..."

The Captain was cut off mid-sentence when a scuffling noise was heard upstairs. Both K'Trall and Doctor Rousseau look up at the ceiling.

"We should check that out. Doctor, you say here." The Captain ordered before motioning to K'Trall to follow him up the stairs.

Each step creaked as the two men walked up the curved stair case. When they reached the top, Lee pointed one direction for Ensign K'Trall to check out, while he took the other.

Glancing into the rooms as he walked past, Lee could see that they too had been looted. Broken pottery and busted furniture were laying about. Muddy foot prints lead into and out of each room. Bloody stains smeared the door jams and walls where someone had used the wall to prop themselves up.

Approaching the third room, the Captain glanced in, quickly pulling his head back as a rifle discharges splintering the wood of the door frame where his face once was.

"Die you Yankee scum!" screamed the voice of a terrified young girl, maybe ten years old.

Lee poked his head out to take another look. The young child was struggling to recock the riffle for another shot. Quickly he ran into the room and pulled the weapon out of her grasp.

"Captain!" yelled Ensign K'Trall who quickly came running to the Captain's side. Doctor Rousseau was not too far behind, slightly winded after racing up the flight of stairs.

"I'm all right Ensign. Just a little shaken up is all." Lee said, still looking at the little girl who cowered in the corner gripping her legs and rocking back and forth. Her eyes looked frightened, but she would not take them off of the Captain or the others.

Looking at her, the Captain reaches out with an open hand. "It's okay young lady. We mean you no harm. My friends and I are lost, and wish only to find our way home again. We won't hurt you miss."

The girls eyes narrowed slightly. They seemed so filled with hatred and spite. She looked at the Captain's hand, but wouldn't stop rocking. Just staring into Price's eyes.

"Captain, let me try." Jacqueline said. Lee nodded, and backed away, still holding the riffle in one of his hands while he stood by with Ensign K'Trall.

"Hello honey. My name is Jacqueline Rousseau. I am a doctor, so you don't have to worry, I won't hurt you or anyone else."

"You lie. There are no women doctors. You are with them. And the Federal soldiers that did this to my house. Murdered my mommy and daddy. Leave me alone!"

She slapped Doctor Rousseau's hand away, startling the Chief Medical Officer. She glanced over at the Captain with a bewildered look at the unexpected reaction.

Lee stepped forward, smiling slightly. "That is not true ma'am. Look at our uniforms. Have you ever seen Yankee soldiers ware gray uniforms before?"

The girl was still giving Doctor Rousseau a evil look, but when the Captain mentioned the uniforms she looked back at him. Pausing a moment to regard their uniforms.

"I've never seen anyone were uniforms like yours before." She said skeptically.

"Of course you haven't. But you can see that they are gray and not blue yes?" Lee waited for a moment, hoping she would answer, but when she did not, he continued on. "My friends and I are Naval officers. That is why our outfits look different than the Confederate uniforms you are used to seeing. We normally serve on board a great ship. But we have lost our way, and need to get back there as soon as possible."

The girl regarded the Captain and the others for a moment before she used her sleeve to wipe away a tear. She was thinking about what the Captain had said. It seemed to make some sense at least.

"Then you won't hurt me, since you are Confederate officers?" she said hopefully.

Lee shook his head. "Of course not 'mate. We just want to find our way back to our ship. That's all."

Captain Price took a step forward and offered the weapon to the girl. With a surprised look, she took the gun, lowering the barrel to the floor as she began to get up.

"I am Captain Price. This is Doctor Rousseau, she really is a doctor, and Ensign K'Trall."

The girl looked around, and pointed at Ensign K'Trall. "You got hurt."

Giving the Captain and Doctor Rousseau a dirty look, K'Trall crosses his arms and agrees flatly. "Yes. I did."

"Do you have a name young lady?" Doctor Rousseau asks.

Looking at the strange uniforms, the girl replies with out looking up. "Molly."

"Hello Molly. Pleased to meet you." Jacqueline responded in a pleasant tone.

Molly just looked up at her. "How can you be so happy? There is a war going on. People are dying. My family is dead. My home is ruined. How can you be in such a cheerful mood?"

Doctor Rousseau was taken a back by the youths insights. She had meant for her pleasant tone to be taken as kindness, but evidently, it was taken the wrong way.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you. I was just glad to meet someone who wasn't shooting at me is all..."

Having recovered nicely, Doctor Rousseau received a small nod and a tiny smile. "I git it. So you are from a ship huh?"

"Yes. That is right. And we need to get back there right away. We past a sign post back there that said 'Fairview', is that where we are?"

Molly nodded. "Yup."

Lee smiled. "Then that means we are a short distance from Hazel Grove and Chancellorsville?"

"Yup."

"Humm. Then I think I have an idea of where we are. You wouldn't happen to know what the date is would you Molly? Being on a ship at sea for so long, I seem to of lost track of time..."

"Nope."

Lee smiled. "Well that's okay. I suppose we will find that out in good time."

Suddenly Molly began to look around all worried like.

"What is it Molly?" Doctor Rousseau asked.

"SHHHHHH! It's the Yankees..." she said as she quickly and quietly ran out of the room.

Captain Price motioned to Ensign K'Trall to follow her, as he and Doctor Rousseau also tagged along.

Molly crept up on one of the covered windows on the second story. Carefully, she moved the curtain aside and looked out. I was a whole regiment of Yankee troops. Some on horse back, some on foot. They were congregating outside the residence. She could see one of the soldiers "tracking" the away team's foot prints into the house.

"You brought them here you idiots!" Molly hissed before she managed to cock her weapon and scurry away into the house.

Lee stepped up to the curtain to have a look for himself. His eyes widened at what he saw. "We are in a load of trouble 'mates." He said flatly.

No sooner had he said it, then the sound of the front door being kicked in was heard. Many screaming, howling Yankee soldiers came storming into the house.

"DIE YANKEE SCUM!" Molly screamed from the balcony above the stair case as she leveled her riffle and squeezed off a shot, striking one of the soldiers in the chest, dropping him as he reeled over in pain.

A barrage of gun fire rocked the little girl as a dozen balls ripped through her tiny body. The force backing her up against the far wall where she slumped, sliding down the wall until she rested, eyes wide open is shock. A pool of her own blood forming about her body.

"NO!" Doctor Rousseau screamed out.

Lee raised his hand, trying to stop the Doctor, but it was no use. She bolted out of the door and to Molly's side. Desperately trying to save the girls life. Had she been on the Galaxy, the Chief Medical Officer would of been able to do so. But here, in this primitive time, there was little she could do but watch as the innocent child's life faded away.

"Git the woman. Spread out, there may be others."

"Yes Sir, General Hooker sir!" shouted an eager young soldier.

Captain Price and Ensign K'Trall were both still hidden in the adjoining room. Lee glanced around, trying to find a hiding place, or a way out onto the roof. Only then did he notice the blood lust in Ensign K'Trall's eyes. His Klingon half was calling him.

"K'Trall. K'TRALL!" Lee whispered as he shook the Klingon by the shoulders. "Not now. There are too many."

The Ensign was too far gone. Lee had seen the look before. It was the look of a Klingon preparing for battle.

"It is a good day to die Captain." K'Trall managed in a low, controlled tone. The tension could be heard in his voice.

Reluctantly, Lee gave him a nod. He knew Klingons. Trying to stop one from fighting after the bloodlust had started was like trying to stand opposed to the wind in a hurricane. Not bloody likely.

With no weapon other than his d'k tahg, K'Trall runs out of the room, and engages several of the Yankee soldiers in hand to hand combat. Upon seeing K'Trall dash out, three soldiers draw their pistols and fire shots, but the Klingon is too quick. Using one of the Yankee soldiers as a shield, he swings him around. The boy screams in pain as the shots dig into his side and chest. Wielding the d'k tahg with a fury, K'Trall manages to defeat five soldiers in a few seconds.

Seeing one of his own men get blown away from 'friendly fire', General Hooker, better known as 'Fighting Joe', yells out. "Swords only!"

His soldiers comply, charging up the stairs with swords drawn. K'Trall fought bravely, but even a Klingon is no match for a full regiment of soldiers. The Ensign screamed a roaring growl as a sword is thrust through his chest. Lee could see the tip jut out of K'Trall's back. Still the Klingon kept fighting, skinning those that faced him with his multi-edged d'k tahg. Another sword is thrust through the Klingon's chest, then another. Until finally, K'Trall could go on no more, stumbling on the stairs and falling to the feet of the swarming Yankees as they thrust their blades into him until all that is left is a bloody heap of unrecognizable flesh.

The Captain was stunned by the display. He should of kept his head. Been using the distraction to find a way to escape, or a hiding place to hold up. But Captain Price just stood there. It wasn't until the battle was over, when K'Trall fell to the ground and was killed that he'd even noticed the soldiers grabbing Doctor Rousseau, roughly pulling her from the side of the dead little girl.

Lee stepped forward. Hands out at his side. "She is a doctor." He called out loudly, but in a civilized, gentlemanly tone. "Please be careful."

Lee's comment got the attention of General Hooker as he stood in the entry way to the deserted Confederate mansion. "Bring the woman, and that man. Then, torch the place." Hooker glanced again at Captain Price, glaring into his eyes from the distance between them. When two soldiers grabbed the Captain, and he showed no signs of resistance, Hooker turned and exited the house.

With abrupt force, Captain Price and Doctor Rousseau were shoved along. The loathing and contempt for their 'colors' could be seen on the faces of each soldier that they past. Outside of the mansion, they were forced to sit on the ground and watch as torches were lit and the mansion was set on fire. Soon it was a blaze in an amber glow.

"Watch you Confederate traitors. Watch as your home is burnt to the ground." One soldier tormented.

"Captain..." Doctor Rousseau whispered quietly, "Ensign K'Trall...?"

Lee blinked once. "He's dead 'mate. The Ensign won't be coming home." He said in a sad tone.

"Well in that case we had better get started." Dev said, as she considered how best to proceed. Devlynn thought for a long time while Chris tinkered with the Holo-emitter. Then it came to her. "Chris," she said, "I have an idea." Chris stared blankly at her for a moment.

"What do you have in mind?" Chris asked Devlynn.

She told Chris her plan and Chris nodded, "the Captain will not like that idea at all." Chris frowned.

"But," Devlynn smiled, "the Captain isn't here, is he?" She paused, "and who's to say that we will ever get back to the Galaxy to begin with?" She waited for a response.

Chris conceeded slowly. "Understood. Lets begin with the modifications."

They worked for long hours on the plan, Soushonn arrived and he was made privy to the plan, he liked it, Chris sighed when he saw his reaction. He thought that he was the only one with a clear head.

The sun fell from the sky quickly and night soon consumed the party. Soushonn lead them to the jail sell were their fellows were being held. "Shh... Dev said to the prisoners!!"

They shh-ed...

Lt. Devlynn Salshyar (Dev)
Chief Counselor, USS Galaxy - NCC-70637

"Swords, Horses & Serfs"
by Ensign K'Eytyanna Samara

K'Eytyanna growled in frustration as she tried unsuccessfully to fix her damaged tricorder using the broken parts of the outside of her combadge. Examining the tricorder's inner working, she realised that most of the sensors and small preproccessors had suffered unrepairable damage. As her human and Bajoran sides worked on the task, her Klingon side mumbled,

'Since the combadge's subspace transciever array is stuffed, couldn't we use the tricorder's one instead?' Smiling, she started ripping out the damaged circuits in her tricorder until there was enough room for the combadge circuits before removing the sarium krellide power cell contained in the combadge by flicking it out with her d'k tahg. Looking over to S'Dan, she called out,

"S'Dan, do you have something that is thin, hard and doesn't conduct electricity? If not, find me a sharp rock." A minute later, S'Dan handed her a small rock that had a semi-sharp point.

"Thanks."

"Miss Samara, what are you trying to do?"

"Trying to get one of these devices working. From inital examination, the tricorder was unrepairable, but it does contain the parts that might be able to fix this combadge, which we might need." Keeping her hand very steady and aiming carefully, she brought the rock down directly in the middle of the combadge's STA. The small heart of the combadge broke apart, exposing the wires. Using the edge of the combadge cover, she bent the wires on the tricorder's STA up and started joining them to the combadge by twisting wires together.

**********************************

After ten minutes work, K'Eytyanna had managed to get a decent-working communicator made from managled tricorder & combadge parts. Getting up, she threw the device to S'Dan, who caught it.

"Look after that. I'm going out side to practise." Checking her armour and putting the helmet on, she stepped outside and drew her broadsword. Looking around, she spotted an oak tree which looked fairly study. Taking the surcoat off so as not to damage it, she hung it over a branch before she started swinging the sword. She was about to run through her exercises when K'Eytyanna's hearing picked up the sound of what sounded like horses heading towards the barn. Sheathing her sword, she adjusted her helmet so it covered her Klingon ridges and threw her surcoat over her armour before heading inside to let S'Dan know and be ready for anything that may happen. With her hand on the hilt of her broadsword, she got ready to attack if needed. A few moments later, Lt Chiron and Ensign Nilani walked into the barn, holding the reins of some very fine looking horses. K'Eytyanna walked over to the horses and ran her hand over one of them. Her human side stayed back as her Klingon side happily examined the horses with child-like enthusiasm. Her Bajoran side murmured,

'Human, remeber that horse-riding trip in the first year of Academy? Klingon went from hating it to not wanting to leave.' Her human side nodded,

'Kindred spirits are like that.'

"Good job, Chiron. Have you chosen your horse?" Less then a few seconds later, Chiron's words appeared in her mind,

'I like the Grey. We bonded on the trip over here. I call her Hana'

Her Klingon mind lit up with happiness as it chirped out, 'Human & Bajoran, I like the star-marked bay stallion. He seems very strong and wild.' K'Eytyanna rubbed her hand over the stallion and she moved to it's head, rubbing it's head softly. It neighed happily and she knew that it could sense an equal streak of wildness in her. Her Bajoran and human sides discussed for a few moments before her human side replied,

'Klingon, we both agree. You can name it whatever you want.'

'In that case, I want to cal him Kiri-Jolith.' Walking around to the right side, she was about to get onto the horse when her Klingon senses picked up Chiron leaving the barn fairly quickly. Jumping up quickly, she motioned the horse forward slowly by very softly knudging with her knees. She was about to call out to Chiron when his voice, now very commanding, fluttered in her head,

'Kahn, Samara, Waylan, we may have a problem.' Quickly, she drew her sword and motioned the horse out of the barn, her senses on full alert. Standing near some trees, she saw Chiron talking to a human serf, from the looks of the person's clothing. Making a soft growling sound, she motioned led the horses towards the trees.

Ensign K'Eytyanna Samara,
USS Galaxy NCC-70637
Engineering Department

"Camp Fairview"
by Captain Robert Edward Lee Price

The flames engulfed the southern mansion in a roaring blaze that sent billows of dark smoke into the late afternoon sky. Captain Price and Doctor Rousseau knelt by helplessly at the mercy of the Federal Soldiers as they watched the house burn, knowing the deceased body of their comrade, Ensign K'Trall laid inside.

Jacqueline closed her eyes as she thought of K'Trall and the young girl, Molly, who they had just seen murdered by the blue uniformed soldiers that now held them prisoners. Looking over, Jacqueline gave Captain Price a uneasy glance.

Lee looked at the Doctor and could see the uncertainty on her face. That questioning look, as if asking if they were going to be killed.

The Captain's posture was strong as he too knelt on the ground besides the Doctor, watching the building burn to ashes. The building these Yankee soldiers wrongly believed to be their own. Lee shook his head back and forth, trying to stir up confidence in Jacqueline that all hope was not lost.

"We will be all right Doctor." Lee started.

"Shut yer mouth Rebel scum!" A soldier called out before striking the Captain on the side of his head with the butt of his riffle.

Lee fell to the ground with a thud. The cheek of his face slamming onto the road in a puff of dust as the dried dirt of the country side billowed up in a tiny cloud, choking him as he gasped in pain.

"Leave him alone!" Doctor Rousseau screamed, "He's done nothing to you!"

The Yankee just smiled at Jacqueline, showing his missing front tooth as he spoke. "I'll get around to you later lady Reb. You can count on that..."

The evil look on the soldier's face explained exactly what he meant by his remark. Jacqueline just looked away, moving over to where the Captain was laying on the ground. He was still wrestling with the pain in his skull.

"Captain, let me look at that."

Jacqueline pulled the Captain's hand down from the side of his temple. A gash a few inches long was bleeding where the butt of the riffle had struck him.

"That looks pretty bad Lee, but if you keep pressure on it, it should stop bleeding shortly." Doctor Rousseau sighed. "If I had my med-kit I could use a regenerator on that and mend it instantly."

"That's okay 'mate. We will have to make due." The Captain replied, placing his hand back onto the wound. His eyes widened and narrowed as he exercised his jaw muscles. He was obviously in a lot of pain with slightly blurry eyes from the head injury.

Finally, his focus returned. "We need to get the tricorder back Doctor." Lee said.

"They took it Captain, I saw when they dragged us out of that building."

"Good. That means it wasn't destroyed in the fire. Whatever the connection is between us, that monolith and this time period, the information on that tricorder is our only hope of figuring it out."

The Doctor was about to speak when she closed her mouth as two soldiers came towards them.

"Okay you two, on yer feet. The General wants ta have a word wit cha."

A revolver from the old west being drawn and having the mechanical trigger cocked makes a very distinctive sound. Particularly when it's being pointed directly at your head. Shakily, Captain Price made it to his feet with the Doctor's help.

They were escorted to a clearing about a mile away from where the mansion was burnt down. It looked like a make shift command center made up of portable tents and awnings. The Camp looked as if it had been set up hastily. Both Doctor Rousseau and Captain Price had their arms raised up, hands behind their heads. The many ranks of Federal soldiers gave them both peculiar glances as they walked. Some were looking at their unusual gray uniforms, but most were looking at Doctor Rousseau. It made the Captain and Jacqueline very uncomfortable.

"In here. General Hooker wants to speak with you."

The soldier pulled back the tent flap and let the Doctor and Captain Price walk in.

Lee glanced up and saw "General Hooker" standing there with two other soldiers. On the table he could see the doctor's tricorder and the portable holo-gram emitter that Ensign Thomas had given him to try out. The Captain returned his glance quickly from the table, but was sure that Hooker had noticed him looking.

The Federal officer walked up to the two prisoners. "These are strange uniforms, the likes of which I have never seen on the battle field before. What regiment are you with sir?"

Lee looked at the soldier, not realizing exactly who he was, or the significance he would play in the upcoming battle at Chancellorsville. Remembering his earlier ruse, the Captain answered. "We are naval officers sir. That is why our uniforms appear strange to you."

Hooker raised a bushy eye brow at the Captain's explanation. "Naval officers? Here? That seems highly unlikely sir. What business would sea goers have in these woods?"

Lee smiled slightly. Involuntarily. This officer was not a ten year old little girl. "Wrong place at the wrong time 'mate."

"Humm." Hooker grumbled. Picking up the tricorder and the holo-gram emitter from the table, he held them up. "And what exactly are these things here? In all of my years of soldiering, I have never seen such devices as these."

Lee glanced at the tricorder. "That is a medical device, used for treating and diagnosing patients. This woman here is Doctor Jacqueline Rousseau, a skilled Doctor and surgeon. The device is a tool she uses to help treat the sick and wounded."

Hooker regarded the device and then glanced at Jacqueline. "Is that so? You are a surgeon? And this device is yours?"

Doctor Rousseau nodded. "Yes sir. I am the chief medical officer on board our... ship."

Hooker's eyes narrowed suspiciously, "And what 'ship' would that be sweat Doctor?"

Jacqueline gave an unsure glance to Captain Price. Lee nodded reassuring her to answer the question.

"The Galaxy sir."

"Never heard of any ship named 'Galaxy'. But no matter. You say you are a doctor, then come, prove your skill and I won't have you killed."

Jacqueline again glanced at the Captain who nodded silently. Reluctantly, she asked about the tricorder. "I will need this if I am to help tend to your wounded sir..."

Motioning with his hand, Hooker let Rousseau get the tricorder. "You take her to the wounded tent, and keep a close eye on her."

The soldier nodded. "Yes sir, General sir."

Rousseau and the other soldier then left.

Returning his attention to Captain Price, Hooker held up the Holo-emitter and asked, "Then what exactly does this strange contraption do sir?"

The Captain struggled to think up some cleaver lie that would sound convincing to someone from this time period. He couldn't just come out and explain the holo-emitters true function, but he also didn't want to fabricate a story that he'd then have to prove to be true, or die. This man seemed like the 'show me' type.

"It is a navigational device 'mate. It is used to find one's way while at sea during the night."

Hooker examined the tiny, silvery looking emitter. "This metal is unlike any I have ever encountered before..."

"As I would expect unless you frequented naval vessels 'mate. It's a special metal made to withstand the salty water of the sea without corroding." Lee lied.

Hooker nodded as he tossed the emitter back down onto the table. "No matter. Now, why are you here?.... what did you say your name was sir?"

"Price 'mate. Captain Lee Price."

"A Captain is it?" Hooker said very sarcastically, "I guess that explains your age then."

Lee nodded. "Aye Sir. I have... been around 'mate."

Hooker suddenly got angry. "I don't believe it. I don't believe you, or your story. Now I want to know the truth! I want to know what you are doing here, and why you are wearing this 'special' uniform. What are you? Some kind of special agent of the Confederate Army? Did you hold up in that mansion purposely to get caught? Some sort of covert surveillance for General Lee?"

Lee was surprised by General Hooker's sudden out burst. "I assure you, I know nothing of what you are talking about 'mate. I'm just trying to get back to my ship is all..."

Hooker grabbed onto Captain Price's jacket, pulling him closer towards him as he stared angrily into his eyes. Lee thought Hooker was going to loose it just when an explosion of near by cannon fire stirred up the campsite.

"Warehouse"
Lieutenant Troy Blair
Chief Tactical Officer, USS Galaxy

After learning that the same flash that brought Troy to the 20's, also brought Alan, the three began to head back to Cherry's apartment. The two out of place officers had to come up with a plan, so they could return to the right time. As they walked down the sidewalk, Troy silently cheered he was with an engineer, instead of a botanist, or a stellar cartographer. (Neither of which, would have the slightest clue about temporal mechanics.)

*** In a car, driving down the road ***

"Hey, der he is....dat's de guy!" Benito called out, letting go of the steering wheel with one of his hands to point.

"Are ya's sure? Cause de last time ya's said that, it ended up being a cop" Anthony remarked, trying to get a better look at Troy's face

"I's positive, it's dat James guy."

"Alright, alright, pull over here."

*******

Alan, Cherry, and Troy waited at a crosswalk for a hole in traffic, so they could cross, when suddenly three cars came to a screeching halt in front of them. Then, atleast a dozen gangsters stepped out onto the sidewalk and grabbed Troy.

"Da boss wants to speak wit ja's" One of the goons whispered into Blair's ear.

Seeing Troy being shoved into a car, Cherry began to scream, "Let him go! He never did anything to you! You ...You...You......."

"Shuaaad up, ya tramp" Anthony said, placing his hand over Cherry's face and pushing her back. Just as fast as they arrived, the three cars sped off.

*** Abandoned Warehouse ***

After a rather unpleasant car ride, Troy found himself in an old looking office, tied to a chair. The chair was in the center of the room, with a desk not too far behind him. To his left was an old coat rack, covered in cobwebs instead of coats, and a window with the shades closed. The room had a musty smell to it, unlike anything he had ever smelled before. He sat in the room for several minutes, before a few men entered.

"Here he is boss, James Bond" one of the well dressed bootleggers said.

"Well Mr. Bond, I hear you want to move into Al Capone's territory..." The short Italian man said, leaning into Blair's face

"No sir, I was just passing through town, and I thought i'd stay here for a few days. I'm not looking for any trouble" Troy stated, not liking the direction this conversation was heading

"And an exceptional liar too....I'm impressed. Here's a tip, no one, I mean no one, moves into my territory. That clear?" Capone demanded, in a low evil sounding tone.

"Like I said, I'm not moving into your territory. If you give me a day or two, I'll be gone forever." Troy replied with a smile

Troy's words quickly brought an intense stare from Capone's eyes, "I don't think he gets it. Guess this lesson will have to be beaten into his thick skull." Al stated, as a blindfold was placed on Troy's eyes

"We's can do dat boss....but uh do ya's mind if we grab a bite to eat first? I can't give beaten' on an empty stomach" came Anthony's voice

"WHAT? You are a fool, did you know that?" Capone responded

"It's not like dis jourk es goin' anywheres. Don't ya's want dis to be a good beaten?"

"Fine you idiot. Go eat lunch, and then I want this guys eyes to pop out from being hit too hard. Got it?"

"Ya's, I got it." The sounds of footsteps, and the a door closing came from across the room.

*** Several Minutes later ***

Attempting to get loose, and being unsuccessful, Troy sat back in the chair, scheming another way to break out. During his thought, the door opened again, and footsteps approached him. Bracing for a punch, Troy did not expect to feel a kiss on his lips.

"AHHHH!" Troy began spitting, " If you're one of those gangsters, I'm gonna rip you a............" Troy screamed

"Relax baby, it's me" Came the sweet, but annoying, sound of Cherry's voice. Troy sighed in relief, he wouldn't have to take another beating.

Once the ropes around his hands were loose, Troy stood up. :"Thanks AC" he stated

"Hey, no problem man. After they hauled you off, we followed you until we got here" The engineer smiled

"I don't mean to break up this reunion, but we better get out of here before they return" Cherry said. In unison, Alan and Troy nodded in agreement.

While trying to find a back exit, the group passed many cases of alcohol. As well as objects the cases were hidden in, but one object caught everyone's eyes, a large stone monolith with hieroglyphics scribbled on it. Alan immediately ran up to, inorder to inspect it closer, Troy followed.

"This is like some of the others on Sigma II" Alan whispered to Troy

"Think it can get us home?" Blair asked

"Defiantly, but I will need to know what the writing says. Unfortunately I didn't have a tricorder on me when I was zapped." came the reply, as he began to look at the control panel closely

"Hmm, there's gotta be something that can help us"

Then, almost on cue Cherry spoke up "They must of stolen this from the museum to bootleg with." Both Troy and Alan looked at the young lady at the sametime

"There's an Egyptian exhibit at the museum?" Alan asked

"Oh ya" she replied "They even brought in some smart guy from Egypt" The two officers stared at each other, they had a break.

"Cherry darling," Troy said in his charming tone, "Could you please take us to the museum? We want to speak with this guy."

"Uhhhh.....ok, but I think we should all leave town instead." Cherry protested

"We will soon, I promise. But right now we need

some information" Troy replied

"If you say so, baby. Follow me" she smiled

"Tears of the Watchdog"
by Ensign Soushonn Arcas

Soushonn glanced at K'arta, who was shackled to the wall of the prison cell, bumped and bruised... He wanted to provide some sort of solace for her then more than he wanted to take even one more breath of the sour Salem air... His gaze crossed Ronni Morris for the first time he could remember, and he felt terribly sorry that such a fate could have befallen his two crewmates... Rage was filling up inside of him and if something wasn't done soon, he knew he wouldn't be able to contain it...

"Soushonn, Chris, help me with this!" whispered Dev as she tugged at the window-grate of the county jailhouse.

They obeyed, and with a short few tugs the bars came loose...

"Take lookout, Soushonn" ordered Thomas as he helped Dev in the window to where the crew members were being held...

Soushonn glared at him for a brief moment. Chris Thomas was in no place to be giving orders and he hadn't even so much as looked at Colby, who stood with his arms crossed in the moonlight... Soushonn knelt and whispered:

"If you see me running back here, tell everyone to hurry up and get out of here fast, okay? That'll mean there's someone coming and it's not safe here anymore."

Colby nodded and Soushonn clapped him on shoulder as if to say 'that's a good boy.' As the Rigellan quietly crept along the side of the jailhouse, the rescue mission inside the cell became the focus of Colby's attention and he started to try and climb the wall of the building, grabbing a nearby metal water-bucket to stand on.

Soushonn chewed on a long blade of grass, tasting the chlorophyl and feeling the sharpness of its ridges on his tongue. His eyes were peeled for any signs of movement in the twilight-cast village. He was kneeling in such a position that if anyone were to approach him in the hope of surprising him, he'd be able to spring up like a panther and knock them over, in the same motion... His natural reaction ending in his leaping over the downed assailant and running to warn the others...

Like a predator, he was prepared for any eventuality with the utmost of readiness for immediate action, but with all the lax of tension present in a sleeping lion or resting bear. In short, he was comfortable in his lookout duty to the point where an unknowing passerby might have thought Soushonn had found a place to sleep.

His mind began to slip into a semi-conscious haze as the minutes passed on by... The thought "what could be taking them so long, they're only in metal chains" passed through it before it willed him into a twilight daydream...

* * *

"Shonn... Shonn, the fever's breaking." came a voice so gentle it was like a summer breeze to Soushonn's waking ears...

"Can you see? Are you awake? Please tell me you're awake."

Soushonn's surroundings came into focus somewhat and he blinked several times before he realized he was looking straight up at the lovely oval face of someone he knew... He felt so odd... So... Lost...

"You are awake!" she exclaimed, with her spirit visibly rising up in her as the phoenix rose from the ashes in the old addage. "I knew you'd pull through! I knew it!"

"Who...? Where...? I'm... Sou... Soushonn Arcas..." he managed as he struggled to get up.

"There, there, rest!" the beautiful young lady advised as she pressed him back down against the covers of his bed. "You won't get any better if you start gallavanting around like you never had double pneumonia, you know..."

Was this his mother? Was this sweet, young bud of a lady his mother? Had he died? What was going on?

Soushonn pressed the lids of his eyes shut and focused...

"My mother... Is dead." he thought, then continuing... "My family is gone... My... world... Is gone... I am dead... Soushonn Arcas is..."

He blinked as he felt cold water running into his eyes...

"Hold still, I'm trying to keep your fever off of you." the rose-scented young woman ordered as his hand went to his forehead, where a damp cloth filled with ice cubes was being pressed.

Then the scene passed into another, as with many dreams that root themselves from one's memories...

"Please... For me, Soushonn... Don't go... I'm not one to beg, but I'd do it every day for the rest of my life if only that would keep you here instead of out there!" she pleaded...

"Don't leave me... Please don't leave me!" she pleaded as tears filled her eyes. "I... I can't stand the thought of... of... "

Cassandria was an angelic human girl of perhaps sixteen... Her eyes were soft and held the shimmering of all the stars in the midnight sky in their depth. She was beautiful and seemed so out of place in the dingy scene of the rebel village of Maresh Q'ii... Her rose-coloured lips were trembling slightly as the first crystal drop of sadness rolled down her soft cheek.

"What if you never come back to me?" she went on, "What if you... if they kill you? What if you die?"

Soushonn took her in his arms as she fell into a hysteria of sobbing and crying... He wasn't feeling any better than she was about the departure, but he knew what he was going to have to do, whether it was now or whether it was later... He embraced her with a gentle strength that made her feel safe and warm... Made her feel like the world wasn't coming to an end...

"Casseux" he spoke to her softly, "I will come back for you... I promise with all that holds me in this universe, I will return... Not any force in all of Kuria will stop me, for what I do here is the only thing I can do... The powers that be will smile upon us once I am finished. They will smile, do you understand?"

He felt her pull her strength up into her chest as she tried to speak, only mouthing the "yes" as her breath didn't have the will to carry the wind past her lips... He cursed himself for being able to cause such a darling angel so much grief... How had she come to care about him like this? How could he be so near to someone so perfect in all his vision? He cursed himself again and again as he felt her shivering in his arms... Her frightened heartbeat challenging his own through the pounding in both of their chests...

One heartbeat...

One pulse...

The scene faded again...

"Ironic, isn't it, Soushonn?" taunted a voice from the darkness, "I invest all of my faith and trust in a miscreant like you and this is how you repay me? By trying to employ the very traits I sought from you against me?"

There was a singsong mockery in the voice and Soushonn's grip tightened around the blaster in his hand as it continued on...

"Well I have another irony for you to look at in-depth..." the voice boasted, "Remember how you used to have that little hop in your step when you worked for me? Remember how you were always eager to get back home? Well now I'm going to show you just what the price is for leaving the company..."

A column of light struck downwards into the darkness in from of Soushonn... Not twenty feet away from him, a slab of metal angled forty-five degrees off of the floor faced him, and upon it was a prisoner, shackled in high-tech restraints...

"Casseux!" he yelled, running forward, only to smash fists-first into a force-field between him and the circle of darkness around him...

"Soushonn! Get out of here! They're going to kill you too!" she pleaded, but it was no good... Soushonn's blaster was already in his hand and he was firing away at the force field, trying to bring it down so that he'd be able to save his only love...

"Muahaha! You'll never get through the field in time like that..." cackled the voice in satisfaction... "But you will have something to take your mind off of her screams, I suppose."

At that, two large figures moved among the shadows nearby, growling their disapproval at Soushonn... But his view wasn't cast upon them... He was gaping in horror as a virtual armada of surgical and not-so-surgical tools maneuvererd into the column of light around Cassandria... They weren't going to kill her... They were going to torture her!

"Soushonn! Soushonn, listen to me! You have to get out! Now!!!"

But it was too late... Soushonn felt his ribs crack under the impact of two heavy fists clenched together as they were brought down upon his back...

He fell to the ground and looked up at the two towering figures above him, who stood laughing at his insignificance upon the floor of the chamber...

He rolled aside just in time to save his head from being crushed by the larger figure's right boot... But his focus on survival weigned as the first of Cassandria's screams filled the chamber...

* * *

Soushonn sobbed... The prickly beard stubble left from not having the mirror to shave in protested softly as he covered his mouth with his hand... Tears had already stroked his smooth cheeks and he shuddered from the loss of strength and breath that accompanied the sick grief he was suddenly in...

Then the Rigellan part of him clearly took effect as he sniffed one fina time and wiped his eyes... He resumed his lookout duty and appeared about as emotional as an Easter Island statue... He had purged away what he was feeling... Or so he would have liked to think...

The reality with the Rigellan skill of 'purging' their emotions , was that they were genetically imbued with the ability to repress emotion to a point where it would never require much thought... However, Soushonn had always clung to the human half of his chromozomes when it came to his personality, and he was terribly lousy at keeping his emotions buried in the extremities...

Nevertheless, he had just managed to shut out all of that pain in the blink of an eye... Had shut it out so completely that he was already back in focus of his task at hand: watching the...

*CRASH* came a sound from the jailhouse.

Soushonn spun and leapt in one motion, running more like an animal than a man back towards the jail... He stopped as he came close enough to see the rolling metal bucket...

"Trying to free your minions, eh?" came a voice from within the cell... "Well now it looks like we've got the demons and the witches."

Soushonn saw a flash of flesh through the cell window, but as his eyes focused to regard the two hands on the window edge, he heard the voice again...

"I wouldn't try to get away if I were you, unless you can shrug off the sting of a pistol from this range!" it advised, obviously belonging to some law official... And at that moment, several officers appeared around the sides of the jail, cutting off any chance for escape...

Soushonn reflected on their capture...

"I sure hope Colby is with them... There's no place for children in a time like this." he thought as he swung up onto one of the village hut's roofs.

"Well, now it's me... No phaser, no tricorder, no anything other than this stupid getup and my family's razor... Perfect." he complained to himself as he ran silently across the rooftops...

He would have to observe from a safe distance and judge exactly how he would now rescue everyone that had been captured from the Galaxy... In a way, he wished it were someone else in his place, but then again, who else would be able to do it?

He leapt down to the dusty road's edge and fled from the visible part of Salem into a thick outcropping of weeds... Where he would wait and watch...

"Next time I see them, I'm definitely taking the phaser... If I had had it all along, everything would be A O K." he muttered to himself...

And then he laid down with his head propped up to watch the town and half-slept again...