The Trip
by Lt Endris Gakor
with the occupants of the USS Cydonia

*** Shuttle Bay ***

Endris had forgot Lara Ti was going to accompany her mother on the trip to Earth. The small shuttle, with 10 adults and one infant, was more than a bit cramped. There wasn't even room for snacks, which of course, made the Cuisine lover feel hungry!

Mei Yin flew the shuttle expertly, it wouldn't be long before the Cydonia reached Earth. There were many Ensigns on board Gakor hadn't met, who had reported while the Tellarite was away on the Qul 'etlh. Some would probably add pips to their shoulders once the paperwork was transmitted to Fleet HQ.

Gakor was excited to meet a energetic young Benzite named Numa, who had discovered painjenain contamination and contained it before it could threaten the Galaxy's crew. If nothing unfortunate happened to crush her spirits, the Doctor was confident the entusiastic scientist would do well in her career.

She paused to check the synth skin on Ensign Chen's wound, where a Klingon had attempted to slice him for dinner. It looked fully healed, without as much as a scar, so she let him return to reading his book.

But the most puzzling person on the trip was her long time friend, Matthew Albrecht. The lieutenant wore a scowl like a badge, and looked like he was out to prove something. Perhaps he was just lost in thought, trying to come to some decision.

"Snacks, Muffin, you look toasted!", Endris joked. The security officer lifted his head a bit at the joke, but his mood still seemed gloomier than normal.

Endris was looking forward to visiting the casinos in Vegas, which all had scrumptious buffets. Once on the holodeck, Matthew had used the restaurant generator to create a duplicate of Cafe Picard in Paris. Gakes hoped they could visit there, since it might cheer her human comrade. Then there was Rome, where pasta reigned king.

During her last vacation on Deep Space 9, Gakor heard a pair of Ferengi talking about Sisco's, a cajun restaurant ran by the father of Captain Sisco. It was certainly a place to drop in for a day of feasting, especially since it was located in flavorful New Orleans.

And they might even stop in Alaska, for some Breen-temperature fish!

What ever was about to happen, Endris had made an itinerary to seek as many new Foodstuffs as possible. This was going to be fun! Using the replicator to make nourishment for everyone, Gakor turned back into the crew compartment to socialize for the rest of the trip.

"Rest"
By Ensign George Prince
Shuttle Polit

Personal Log:

It feels great to be back in my bed. The brig was ok but no one want to talk. I can understand that being in the brig would make someone to upset to talk. A part of me feels sorry for the people who were killed. That means Klingons and Starfleet a like. When it comes to the Klingons I remind myself it was them or me that had to die. I am glad it was them and not me. The members of Starfleet that die all I do is rember that they died fighting for the ship. They new what they were getting in to when they joined Starfleet. I am going to try and find Ensign Bishop later. I just want to see how he is doing because I did shoot him in the leg.

End Log

George got out of his chair and headed for the door. "Before I visit Xavier I have got to get back to working on my car. You no Prince it willn't build itself." Prince said. George head to the turbo lift not stopping to think twice about what he was doing. All George had on his mind was what car was he going to work in and playing a card game.

The Trip
By Ensign Anthony Mendenhall

The shuttle ride aboard the USS Cydonia had been a noneventful one for Mendenhall. He had been reading about a Multi-Billionare from the late 20th century named Bill Gates. It was enti-tled THE ROAD AHEAD. The original had been made the old way with paper, but the one he was reading was from a PADD. It was funny how the "cutting edge" technology was SO old fashion.

Digit had been passive and quiet. All he did was sleep and eat some of the leftovers from Lt. Gakor’s delicious snacks. He was seated near the front next to Ensign Mei Xiao Yin the shut-tle pilot. He had some vague memory of her, but couldn’t remember where before he had seen her. He constantly had to remind himself to quite staring at her.

The trip was getting tedious, so when the shuttle pilot seemed to not be doing anything, he started a conversation.

"You fly pretty well. My cat hasn’t vomited yet." It hadn’t come out as he wanted it to, but it did catch the beautiful shuttle pilots attention.

"Gee, I thanks. I think." She said it in a half laughing matter. "I think this is the first time I’ve shuttled a cat to Earth." The mention of the word "cat" alerted Digit’s attention. The feline hoped that food was soon to come, but alas, none appeared. Mendenhall stroked the black fur to calm his pet down. "One time at Utopia Planitia, the two of us were on a shuttle when a docking clamp went out of control. Needless to say, everyone in the shuttle lost their break-fast when the artificial gravity went haywire."

The Ensign smiled even though it wasn’t that funny. "So, what brings you to Earth?" Mei checked some readings then turned back around for the answer. Mendehall chuckled. "My best friend and my sister are getting married."

"Really, boy, I’d hate to have to go to two weddings while on shore leave." Mendenhall chickled again since he hadn’t worded his statement clearly. "I know, I’m lucky. Only have one to go to."

"Oh." She grinned sheepishly. "It’s alright. I’m just lucky. Mike, my friend, is about the only guy I trust for my sister to marry. After the wedding, I’m going to probably work on the farm a while. Visit some old teachers back at the Academy." Suddenly he remembered her face. "Is your mothers name Po Xiao Yin, and did she teach at the Academy?"

Mei wondered where the question had come from. "Yea, how’d you know?" She didn’t re-member the Ensign from anywhere. He extended his hand. "That must make you Mei Xiao Yin. Ensign Anthony Medenhall." They shook hands as she nodded. "I had you mother for advanced Spacial Anomolies. She was one of my favorite teachers back at the Academy. I was the notorious cadet that always asked answers I knew she didn’t know."

Mei vaguely remembered the incident. Some obnoxious cadet was always asking her mother questions she didn’t know. Every time the class was over she would look up a answer to one of the annoying questions. But in some odd way, her mother enjoyed doing it.

"Oh, I sorta remember this ob-" she stopped in mid sentence, but Mendenhall finished. "Obnoxious Cadet that always asked those incredibly annoying questions. I know. That was my new name after the first week. Funny thing was though, I made my best grade in that class and finished as #1. Well, there were only five people, but hey, I still worked hard."

A loud beep sounded from the controls of the shuttle. "Nice chatting, but I gotta go." She turned around and started about her business. Mendenhall fed Digit some cat food that he had brought along, and kept on trying not to stare at Ensign Yin.

Ensigns M'Benga and M'aerikh were on their way to the main shuttle-bay. Be'Tran was going on leave, and somehow she had managed to talk V'Ehlma into helping her carry her luggage aboard. The luggage wasn't much, just a few clothes. A very few.

They reached the bay doors behind whitch lay the shuttle-craft USS Cydonia, which was taking Be'Tan, Lieutenant Boudreau, Commander Paran, and Dr. Gakor to earth. V'Ehlma set her share of Be'Tran's luggage down on the floor of the corridor.

Be'Tran watched V'Ehlma as she did so, staring at her hands, and thinking about Jack D'Auria. She felt almost sorry that he wasn't coming along. She and Jack had shared what was Be'Tran's so-far-biggest adventure in StarFleet. They'd even spent a night together; in sickbay. Be'Tran had recovered quickly from the effects of the decompression in the science lab. She had been discharged before Jack. Now, even after partying on the holodeck all night last night, she couldn't get him off her mind.

"Maybe there's something to nearly being sucked out into space together." she said aloud.

"What?" asked V'Ehlma, sharply.

"Oh, nothing." said Be'Tran.

"Y'know," said V'Ehlma," I wont pretend to have known you very long; but if I didn't know better, I'd think it was you who wasn't feeling well this time."

Be'Tran smiled at her new friend, "No, I've just got a lot on my mind these days." she said, "Guess I could use a vacation."

At that she punched the actuator, and opened the shuttle-bay doors, to reveal the awaiting Cydonia, and some of it's passengers. Be'Tran shouldered her travel bag, and picked up the one V'Ehlma had been carrying. She moved toward the shuttle. V'Ehlma followed.

"Guess I'll see you when you get back?" she said,half asking.

"Yeah," said Be'Tran,"sure!"

Lieutenant Boudreau was at the shuttle; "Welcome aboard, Ensign." she said in greeting to her Engineering subordinate. "Didn't take you long to pack."

"I didn't pack much." said Be'Tran, displaying her two bags as evidence to this fact.

"Hello, Ensign." Boudreau said to V'Ehlma.

"Ma'am."

"Well," Be'Tran looked around her, looking over the shuttlebay. In a way she was going to miss the Galaxy. She'd only been on board about a month now, but already the big StarShip seemed like home.

Home. Where was that now. Earth. Africa. StarBase 410. Even the Academy. No. Home was the USS Galaxy. And Be'Tran was leaving home again.

"Well," she said again, and turned to V'Ehlma; "See ya' in a couple of weeks." and with that she gave her fellow Ensign a big hug.

V'Ehlma didn't know what to think, she just grinned at her openly forward new friend; who immediately turned and bounded up the boarding ramp and into the shuttle. The the face of Jack D'Auria invaded her thoughts again.

Ensign M'Benga sat in the back of the shuttle, loads on her mind. 'I bet I'm carrying more emotional baggage thanwe packed real, physical baggage in the cargo hold.' she thought to herself.

She rummaged through a small bag in her lap, and pulled out a hand-mirror. She examined her soft-complected, almost plump-cheeked face. Yes, she wore makeup. She'd always been considered a rather pretty girl, even exotic, given her mixed heritage and her decidedly Klingon appearence. Her green eyes had always caught other's interest.

She dug into this "lap-bag", and was about to pull out a lipstick, when Lt. Boudreau came and took up the seat beside her.

"How are you doing?" Boudreau asked. Be'Tran liked Boudreau, had sience she first met her. Other junior-officers in engineering had said Melissa was a bit harsh, "too much of a perfectionist." they had said, but Be'Tran had always found her quite personable.

"Just fine, ma'am." Be'Tran replied.

Melissa puckered her brows, as if trying to dig up the right words to put on some deep thought. " I don't know," she began at length, " You seem distant, somehow. "

Be'Tran let out a laugh, which surprised Melissa somewhat. "Yeah," the young Ensign began. "I thought I was the one who was part Betazoid."

"Well," began Boudreau," I don't mean to pry, but..." she trailed off, and Be'Tran finished for her.

" No that's quite alright." she said, "I just got a lot of thing son my mind, thats all. I mean, first we were attacked, by Klingons; Klingons! Then..." now it was Be'Tran's turn to fade off.

"Then?" querried Boudreau.

"Well," said Be'Tran, " I was just thinking about the incident in the science lab, with the 'penetrator'." she didn't want to let Boudreau know she was thinking about Jack D'Auria, worrying about him. Worrying about his hand. He never got a chance to tell her about it, even though they got out of the science lab alive. She just left for Earth to quick.

Melissa put a hand on Be'Tran's shoulder, "You did great in there, you and D'Auria both. In my opinion, you two saved the Galaxy, if that thing had gone off while imbedded in the hull..."

"It would've torn the hell out of the science-lab, and taken most of the saucer section with it." Matt Albrecht had made his way to the back of the shuttle.

"Hey !" Be'Tran bellowed at Matthew, "I didn't get a chance to tell you; congrats. I hear that while Commander Paran is at Advanced Training, you'll be taking over his post."

Albrecht smiled brightly, "That's right, Betta, that is your nickname, isn't it. I heard you mention it to K'Eytyanna."

"Yeah, that's right" she said.And she let out another laugh.

The shuttle banked a bit, shuddering slightly; and Be'Tran noticed Casey-Ti Miran cradling her daughter's head in her arm. Lara was a lovely little girl, Be'Tran thought.

She got up and moved toward where Miran was seated. " Excuse me." she said to Albrecht and Boudreau. Albrecht watched her walk her almost strutting walk, and, for a moment. the Betazoid in her seemed to "feel" his mind focused on her.

On her way to talk with Miran, Be'Tran caught the attention of Dr. Gakor; "Hey, how y'feeling?" asked Gakes vibrantly," You recovered from your dehydration in record time. Of course," and she added as an afterthought, " Klingons do have a very high constitution."

"Yeah," said Be'Tran,"we tend to. But I think it was your bedside manner that got me up and running. That and all those extra fluids."

"My bedside manner?" asked the Doctor.

"Yes ma'am," said Be'Tran, "You got me thinking of Las Vegas, all those buffets you kept talking about. I don't know if you know this, Doctor; but I can have a fairly ravenous appetite. For lots of things, lots of different things."

And the Shuttle continued on it's way, Ensign Xiao Yen at the helm.

Scent of Food
Ensign Numa Taurean
USS Galaxy Science Officer

Numa sat in her seat silently. She was exhausted from all the work that she had been doing trying to catch up with the numerous lab experiments that had been ruined due to the Klingon war party that had recently past. She was looking forward to her trip to earth, and she was looking forward to her time to relax.

The young Benzite officer finally had the chance to meet the fabled Dr. Endris Gakor. She was aware that the Tellarite was an immunologist, and Numa felt that the two of them would be able to work well together. Numa had also learned that Endris had developed a filtering system for the painajainen and wanted to hear all there was about it. Perhaps the young Tellarite medical officer would find it interesting to help her with her own scientific experiments of develping and searching for new medical uses of various plants and herbs. Numa was an expert Botonist and Horticulturist. Then again, even if Endris wasn't interested in any of her work, she'd definetly be interested in her extensive knowledge of exotic herbs, fruits, and vegitables.

Numa had given Lt. Erikson the results of her tests on the klingon artifact only mere moments before her departure. In fact, she had almost forgotten to run the tests because of her own tight schedule because she had to oversee the clean up crews in the science labs. The results of the tests that Numa ran on the artifact showed that the item was indeed as old as Lt Erikson had thought. It was the genuine article. The thing that Numa couldn't seem to understand or explain was the presence of the blood on the blade. She let Lt. Erikson know of this finding, but it was his mystery to solve right now. She wasn't going to let her curiousity keep her from making this trip to earth.

During her stay on earth, Numa was sure that she was going to find a place to obtain some of the rare bulbs and plants of the area. She was also determined to have fun.

Numa opened her eyes. She didn't know how long they had been shut. She had sensed movement near her, so she wanted to see what it was caused by. She saw Endris Gakor looking down at her.

"Do you mind if I sit next to you?" Endris was all smiles. "Snacks preserve me, do I smell some treats?" Endris was sniffing the air like a blood hound. Numa chuckled.

"Yes, you do." Numa confirmed. She reached inside her tote bag and produced another smaller bag of flowers.

"What is this?" Endris didn't know what to think when the young Benzite offered her a flower to eat.

"Don't worry. They're edible flowers, and they are quite tasty." Numa couldn't help but laugh aloud at the face that the young Tellarite was making.

Old Friends
Ensign Keras T’Vek
Science Officer
USS Galaxy

Ensign Keras T’Vek awoke as he did every day. He would wake up slightly before his shift so that he could shower and dress. He would light a small amount incense to help clear his mind and prepare himself for the day. He would ask for a traditional Vulcan breakfast and after eating it check for any messages, today there where none. With that he would quench the incense and leave his cabin.

Today the corridors where crowded with the Engineers and repair teams sent on board to get the USS Galaxy back to its original condition. Panels and wiring lay strewn about as they completed there task. His mind quickly estimating how long it would take, as he walked toward a turbolift to take him to the Science Labs. He noted with approval that the turbolift was back to functioning status and quickly entered. "Science Labs" his voice cutting the silence of the turbolift as it sped on its course. His mind running with several task he needed to complete and labs he wished to do.

Just then the doors opened revealing a corridor much like the one he had left seconds ago. He stepped out into the organized chaos and made his way toward the Science Labs. He could see that they had not escaped the damage wrought by the attacking Klingons. Panels and displays were being repaired by it appeared that the worst had been repaired and cleaned. He noticed in the corner of the lab that part of the hull had been breached and that several Engineers where attempting to repair it.

He slowly made his way over to his console and section of the lab, most of the equipment remained undamaged he noted. He logged onto the computer through his terminal and attempted to access sensor logs stored in the database. He had a project dealing with safe and secure usage of Wormholes he had originally began when he worked for the Scientific Research on earth but was unable to get the computer access to test some of his theories, but now that he was on a starship he could not only test his theories in simulation but also gather data to help collaborate or destroy his theories.

He quickly tapped in a command to view the records and was quickly denied. He raised one eyebrow;

"Why am I not allowed access?" he said.

"Non-essential computer functions have been shut down due to repairs." The computer responded smugly.

"When will the computer be fully operational?" he asked.

"In eight hours." The computer responded.

Keras logged off and turned around, without access to the main computer he could not test nor complete any of his required task he thought. His eyes glancing at the Engineers that where almost finished in repairing breach. He turned and decided he could spend the time catching up on the lab reports he had been unable to read due to the Klingon incursion.

***A shift later***

Keras nodded at the arriving shift, the Engineers had left merely minutes ago restoring the silence that often settled in the labs. He stood up and placed the PADD he had been reading back into its drawer and made his way to the turbolift. While on shift he had requested access to the computer on the Starbase to run several simulations on his theories. He had been given acceptance a few hours ago but thought it proper to wait for his shift to end so that he could then test his theories.

He made a quick stop by his cabin to pick up the necessary files so that he could run the simulation, the faint smell of incense still hung in the air. The corridors where slowly taking on the shape and color of there former quality. The repairs appeared to be going without any mishaps he thought. He made his way to turbolift and entered. Soon he made his way to the entrance to the docking mechanism which allowed passage from the Galaxy to the Starbase and visa versa.

People where freely going back and forth and Keras quickly stepped into the stream of movement and left the Galaxy for the Starbase. After stopping and glancing quickly at a terminal Keras familiarized him self with the basic layout of the decks and the location of the Science Facility located on the Starbase. He walked down the corridors and soon found himself at the Science facility.

It was quite large and elaborate, making the Galaxy’s pale in comparison. He noticed that several other Science Personal from various ships where located here using the Starbases computer. He sat down at a vacant stool and quickly logged onto the computer inserting the neccesary information for the lab. His eyes peering at the monitor.

"How long will the simulation take?" he asked in a monotone voice.

"Twenty Four hours, Seven minutes, and thirty-three seconds." Answered the computer.

"Begin" he responded.

He leaned back in the stool wondering what task he would set before himself to use the time most wisely and logically when he heard a familiar voice from behind him.

"Greetings Keras."

Keras quickly placed the voice as a human named David Begget. A Ensign he had been station while working with the Scientific Research on earth. David had become attached to him shortly after Keras had noticed that a fellow Ensign had rigged one of David’s labs in a hope of furthering himself while at the same time damaging David’s findings. Need less to say David’s career had been saved when Keras had been working late and noticed the Ensign rummaging around David’s equipment.

Keras turned and nodded toward David, "Greetings David." He said as he stood up unprepared for the hug he received from David.

"I see you are as Vulcan as ever Keras." David said as disengaged himself from Keras and stepped back, "It has been a year since I last saw you. God, what are you doing now?"

"I have been stationed aboard the USS Galaxy." Keras replied.

"Wow, she is supposed to be some sort of vessel. I heard she has a helluva captain though." David said with his customary smile.

"How have you fared since we last parted?" Keras inquired.

"Me? Well I have been stationed all over the place. Was on the front lines for awhile though, got some action there, then ended up here. I have been working on a new substitute for the drugs that the Founders use to subjugate the Jem‘Hadar. Pretty neat stuff."

Keras nodded and noticed that he was becoming hungry and inquired if David was aware of decent establishment that could provide food. "Sure, I know just the place. They can make a Pasta you could not believe…"

"Return of Hutch"
by Lt. AC Hewson
Assist. Chief Engineer
Reviewed by Captain Price

The site of the USS Galaxy, designation NCC-70637, inside the bay of Starbase 74 brought back many memories to Lt. Alan Hewson. When he was just a small lad, his father had brought him many times to the Utopia Planitia Fleet Yards to view the construction of this first of its kind starship. Dr. Benjamin Hewson had once held the reigns of the Galaxy Class Warp Engine Project before retiring and handing the project over to his assistant, Dr. Leah Braums.

“HEWSON, WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING?!?” A voice screamed over the sound made by the welding teams that were working to repair the damage caused in the ship’s latest skirmish with the rebel Klingons. Alan was helping to supervise the repairs, and was currently hunched over, running a scanner over a piece of the hull to determine how stable it was. AC turned on his heels quickly to see who was shouting at him.

“Why you ugly son of a bitch!” AC shouted back with a huge grin as an old friend made his towards Alan’s location. The scanner dropped to the hull as Alan raced towards Andrew Hutchcraft, friend and former Chief Engineer of the USS Galaxy. The two exchanged handshakes, then a hug. It had been quite sometime since these two engineers had met.

“Jesus Christ it’s good to see you! How have you been? And what the hell did you let happen to my ship?” Hutch said, motioning with his hands towards all the repair crews.

“Hey, don’t blame me! Casey’s the one responsible this time. You know I’d never let anything happen to your baby.”

“So Deiran still hasn’t learned to treat a woman right? Oh well, things don’t ever change a guess.”

“I don’t know about that. Deiran did take over your spot as the sex symbol onboard after you left.” Hutch had to laugh at that. Andrew never had been much of a ladies man. “Though I bet you do get the women now, Lieutenant Commander.” Alan pointed towards the new pip on Hutch’s uniform.

“I started working at the Academy after I returned to duty. Some goddamn fool gave me this promotion a little after that. But look at you, a Lieutenant! You were just a smug little ensign when I left! Whose ass did you have to kiss to get promoted?” Hutch joked.

“My talents surfaced *after* you left. No more waste extraction for me, no sir.” The two men laughed a little more before things switched to a more serious tone. “So really Andrew, how are you doing? I know how hard it is to lose someone you love and I…”

“I’m doing ok now. It was hard as hell right after my father passed away, but I’m learning to deal with it. I mean with all the medical advances, and with people living so much longer than in the past, it was horrible to see him cut down by such a freak accident.” A long, very uncomfortable silence set over the two comrades. Alan turned his head to the left, scanning over the repair teams at work. This was true engineering work; putting a ship back together after a long battle.

“What brings you here anyway, Hutch?” AC said, trying to switch the conversation onto a new path.

“I just wanted to see the old girl again,” Hutch said, tapping his right foot on the hull, “and of course I wanted to see my old ‘mates again, too.” Andrew’s lousy attempt of copying The General’s tone did a nice job of breaking through the cloud that had suddenly come over both of them.

“You should go and see the Captain while you’re here. I’m should he’d be glad to see you.” Alan suggested.

“Maybe I’ll drop by the Ready Room before I leave. But captains are busy men, they always are. I’m sure he wants some time alone to work on reports. Speaking of which, there’s been a lot of talk about Deiran’s “Jawbreaker Battle”. I voted on calling it the “Ballbreaker Maneuver” myself, but my vote didn’t get counted in the ballet.”

“That sounds more like it was. Trust me, I had front row seats on the bridge when he pulled that one out of the bag. I had to replicate myself some new underwear after that one!” AC had no desire to experience the “Jawbreaker” any time soon. It was one hell of a move, a very bold move that stretched a ship of the Galaxy’s size to the limits and back.

“Well, you look pretty busy and I need to go catch up with some people. But why don’t you meet me in the Starbase Café say at…02:30?” Hutch said with a smile.

“Sounds good to me, good buddy. I’ll see you then.” The two men shook hands again, and Hutch headed off across the hull.

“Hutch!” Andrew turned around as he heard AC yell out his name. “It’s great to see you again!” Andrew smiled, shook his head and continued onward.

"Pleasures And Extremes"
USS Galaxy
Lt. Commander Deiran Casey

Deiran watched as the most important things in his life walked up the ramp of the shuttle Cydonia. He waved as Miran turned back to look at him one more time. In his heart, he was missing them already, his love for them both almost overtaking him.

He always felt awkward around the Stephin’s. If their son hadn’t disappeared, Deiran would still be single and Miran would be married to Robert Stephin. He would never wish anyone ill-will, except maybe a Jem’Hadar or a Cardassian, but a part of him was glad that Robert Stephin was out of the picture. And he was ashamed of that and it was why he wasn’t going with Miran back to Earth. He felt that it was best to keep his distance from them as much as possible.

Deiran stayed until the Cydonia embarked from the main shuttlebay out into the black vacuum of space and it was only after the shuttle went to Warp and streaked away that he exited and returned to his office.

Once arriving back at his office, he tackled the wall of reports strewn across his desk.

"Computer, play the Vienna Blood waltz, Op 254 by Johann Strauss and follow it with the second movement of Dvorak’s New World symphony No. 9, then the 1812 overture by Tchaikovsky," he said as he picked up the first PADD.

The computer complied and the beautiful melodies sang in Casey’s ears as he read. It was relaxing to him. Casey smiled as he listened to the 1812 overture, it would’ve been a great piece as background music to the video footage of the Jawbreaker Battle. He in no way wanted to make the battle trivial though. But music always invoked passion, and he enjoyed music because Casey was a passionate person.

*** A few hours later ***

[Incoming transmission from Starfleet Command, command clearance alpha one-nine-seven-two.]

Casey input his own Command level clearance into the computer and a few seconds later his father’s face appeared.

"Hi Dad!" Casey said, actually happy to see his father, and hear his voice.

"Hi Deiran, it’s been awhile. How are things going? How is Miran and my granddaughter?"

"Miran is as beautiful and happy as ever, and Lara is growing and never stops smiling. They are on their way to Earth. You should see them while she’s there. She’s going to spend time with the Stephin’s."

"I’ll tell your mother. She’ll be happy to see Miran and hold her first granddaughter," Admiral Casey said granddaughter and lit up like a star gone supernova. He also emphasized ‘first.’

"I’m sure she will Dad. What’s on your mind, why have you called?" Deiran asked, knowing that his father very rarely called him to just chat, that was his mother’s job.

"Well I have some inside news for you son. News I’m quite proud of actually. Some of my colleagues at Starfleet Command are quite impressed, in fact a better word would be overwhelmed with the tactic you used…the Jawbreaker you called it?" his Dad asked, his eyes had a look of searching to see if it was correct, looking up as if hoping to see the memory written in the sky above him.

"Aye sir, the Jawbreaker."

"Well Deiran you named it correctly, those Battlecruisers didn’t know what hit them," the Admiral stopped and let out a laugh. "Starfleet scientists, tacticians and engineers have gone over the footage of the battle and are amazed. The way they're reacting you may become a legend. They are already studying the maneuver at the Academy. There’s talk that your one of the top Lieutenant Commander’s in Starfleet now. Your name is on the lips of everyone at Command. I’m proud of you, son. I even spoke with your Uncle Colin and he was impressed and proud, asked me to let you know and say hello for him."

"Thank you Dad. I am unconventional. Did what was necessary to win. The loss of life was too high though, I can’t get that out of my mind. Too many good people died," Casey said as he looked his father in the eye. Casey could never show weakness around his father. And the only way he could express an opinion such as this was too look him straight in the eye and not blink. Admiral Casey had been preparing Deiran to be a leader and Admiral since Deiran was ten.

"They died doing their duty. I can’t even count the loss of life under my command, son. You cannot lead men and women if you cannot lead them after they die. Respect their memories, deal with it and move on. An Admiral must not grieve long or he’ll join the dead."

It seemed cold to Casey. His father was always cold about death. Deep down his father hated death and tried anything to rationalize his hatred of it. In a morbid way, his father was correct, the more you grieve for the lost, the quicker your own death. Emotionally or physically was inconsequential, to a leader death was final in any form.

"You’ve said that countless times Dad. It is true I know that. I know that if I can’t handle death, I can’t handle leadership. It’s still not easy. I am having a memorial service for them in the holodecks in a few hours."

"That sounds fine. One piece of advice Deiran… once that memorial service is over, leave the grief behind you and move on."

"Aye sir, I’ll do that," Deiran replied. When his family got together their Irish roots began to show through their voices and an Irish accent bellowed from both father and son and it grew as they spoke.

"I wanted you to know that your doing a fine job, you’ve already surpassed me. I wasn’t a Lt. Commander until I was 28, you’ve gotten there four years before me. I am proud of you Deiran. Your a fine Commander, a fine officer and a fine man. I’m proud to call you son."

Deiran Casey almost fell out of his chair, his father had never said anything remotely close to this to him ever. He wondered if his colleagues hadn’t been showering his son with praises, if his father would’ve even said this. Casey was still in shock as his father continued.

"Be confident in knowing that at Starfleet Command your rising star is burning bright. You are making the Casey name as famous as ever. Your uncles, aunt’s and even your mother and sister are very proud of you."

"Thank you Dad, that means allot to me," he downplayed it, actually it was the most meaningful, touching thing his father had ever said to him besides ‘I love you.’

"Also, Starfleet Command wants to reward you for your brilliance. They’ve given you free reign of one of the holodecks at Starbase 74. You have it all to yourself for a week, enjoy it."

"Starbase 74 has some of the most advanced holodecks in Starfleet. Wow! I could really program a doozy for one of those. They’re three times the size of the holodecks on the Galaxy. Thank you dad, that should be fun."

"That’s not all, you get a week off. A mandatory week of leave while the Galaxy is being repaired and in space dock."

"Have they mentioned giving me a medal by any chance?" Deiran asked, with a sheepish grin.

"That’s my boy!" Admiral Casey laughed. "I can’t say one way or the other, you know that," he replied seriously.

"How is Alexa?" Casey asked, changing the subject abruptly.

"She is doing well. In the top 10% of her class, she won’t admit it but she’s having a tough time. She’s working herself ragged trying to measure up to you."

"Don’t let her do that Dad. We both know she entered Starfleet to forget about her fiancé. Just let her have fun and graduate. She’s a Casey; without the pressure she’ll thrive and do us all proud," Deiran said, knowing what a burden it would be to even approach his records at the Academy.

"I told her I’m just proud she’s there, the pressure is her own doing," the Admiral replied, "I have to go, I have a meeting in ten minutes with the President. Take care son, your mother will call you soon, she’s quite busy. Admiral Casey out."

Admiral Casey smiled and then his face disappeared from the screen, replaced by the UFP insignia.

Deiran smiled, he would never forget what his father said to him this day.

*** Holodeck One ***

Deiran had finished his reports and now he was standing in front of a multitude of Galaxy crew members. All were there to pay their respects and say goodbye to their friends. Everyone from Captain Price and Commander Sterner to the ship’s teacher, Ambria Trenton. Over all more than 300 people were in attendance.

Captain Price said a few words in memoriam as did Commander Sterner. And then Deiran stood to his feet, as it was his turn. He had memorized the speech he had prepared, took him only a few minutes after writing it.

"I am glad you are all here. I wanted to… in some way, show my respect to those who gave their lives at The Jawbreaker Battle. Sixty-eight men and women, all fine, good people gave their lives so that we could stand here today. Our hearts beat, our lungs produce air for us to breathe because they were willing to make the supreme sacrifice.

"As a leader of men, you deal with death all through your career. Death will never disappear from our existence, it is part of life. But it is how you spend that life that matters. Whether it is honorable and worthy of heroism, that is the key to living justly.

"And so we, their comrades in arms, pay tribute to their honor, bravery and memory. That their sacrifice will not have been in vain, and that they will live on in our hearts and memories. All of us have experienced loss in the war with the Dominion-Cardassian Alliance, but they did not die in a battle with our enemy. These men and women died in battle with renegades, bent on revenge and protecting the atrocities committed against their own race. "Let us not see their death as meaningless. Let us see their sacrifice as saving the lives of countless millions of our Klingon allies. We were at Boreth to find the bej’mey, to stop horrible experiments. Let’s remember our fallen friends as heroes and that they gave their life so others would not die a horrible, agonizing death which would have been forced upon them by mad scientists bent on playing god. They did not die in vain!"

Deiran spoke with passion, his heart feeling the sadness of the loss before him. He lit a candle in front of the assembled crowd and continued to speak, "This represents one life. The candle represents their sacrifice and the flame represents their spirits, their memory in our own lives. In this way, I hope to keep their memory alive."

The Captain and Commander joined Casey in lighting the candles. When all sixty-eight were lit Casey spoke up again.

"This holodeck simulation will run forever, the candles burning brightly in a holodeck console that will be placed underneath a tree that I have planted. It will be in the arboretum. You all can visit it at any time." Casey stopped and looked out at the candles and said, "Rest in peace my friends."

All could see that Deiran truly meant every word and could see his grief visibly. Those people died because of him. Deiran was strong enough to move on, but he would never forget them. He truly respected them for unselfishly doing their duty. It was one of the few times that the crew had ever seen Casey in this way. He was human under that Icy exterior. There was a new respect for the man now.

*** Next Day- Ten Forward ***

Deiran had been all alone for a day, he hated sleeping in his bed alone. Miran had become so much apart of him. She was melted into his being, she was his everything. Even a day without her was torture. He needed something to take his mind off of her.

And so he went to Ten Forward to drown his sorrows in strawberry juice with a twist of lime and lemon. And some crushed oranges and a banana for taste. Hmmmm Hmmmm good.

He stepped up to the bar and ordered from a svelte blonde woman. She had a body to die for, wearing a dress that really didn’t seem to cover much and all he could think about was Miran.

He saw Mac and Kay having a drink and Cat was there too. A nice looking counselor walked up next to him and ordered a drink. She turned to him and smiled.

"Hello ‘Commander, Counselor Dallas," she said as she held out her hand in greeting.

Deiran took her hand and shook it gently. "Nice to meet you Counselor," Casey replied in a very charming manner.

"Your quite famous," Miss Dallas said, still smiling.

Casey didn’t say anything in response. What could he say? He was even getting tired of bragging on himself.

"Well fame isn’t what its cracked up to be," Deiran wasn’t exactly in a good mood. He missed Miran and it showed.

"What’s wrong Commander?" Dallas asked.

"My wife left for Earth yesterday and I miss her," Casey said with a frown. He looked like a little lost puppy.

"You need to do something to take your mind off of her while she’s gone. How about a holodeck adventure. Do you know anyone here who would like to go with you?"

Deiran looked around and saw Tebrianne, Cat, Mac and Kay.

"I know a few here. But, they look busy," he replied.

"Commander snap out of it. I know for a fact that Ensign McCloud needs a holodeck adventure. And Cat is in dire need of some rest and relaxation. Aren’t you and Mac friends?" Dallas spoke like she was reading his mind. Deiran was thinking of them also.

"Your right Karyn," Deiran used her first name. He always checked the files of every officer under him and so he knew her first name. "Thank you," he said as he stood up and started toward Tebrianne.

"Ay matey, may I sit?" he asked Bancroft, smiling at her because of his terrible imitation of a London accent.

"That was a terrible imitation," she said with a smile, "yes you may sit."

"It was suppose to be, no one does London better than you Teb. I have a proposition for you. You interested?" Casey smiled that famous Casey smile that every woman on board knew by now.

"Sure what’s up your sleeve?" Teb replied.

"I have a holodeck on Starbase 74 for a whole week. I have a holodeck program that I think you’ll like. Doing some fun things. White water rafting, rock climbing, snowboarding. You game?" Casey asked. He purposely left out skysurfing. "Sure sounds bloody fun!" Teb replied.

"Great, meet me at Holodeck 8 at the Starbase," Casey replied, smiling.

He asked Ensign McCloud who jumped at the chance. Then he went to Cat.

"Hiya Cat! How would you like to go camping?" Casey asked.

"Sure where at?" Cat replied.

"Well everywhere actually. We’ll be doing some rock climbing, white water rafting. Hiking even. I made the program myself. The safeties will be on, the most you’ll get is a bruise or a cut. Common, it would be great if you’d come. How about it?"

Cat sat in silence, then taking a sip of her drink, looked back at Casey.

"Common Cat, you’ll have fun," Deiran said, smiling, nudging her with his elbow.

She threw her hands in the air, "Okay Okay I’ll come," she surrendered.

"Great! Meet me at Holodeck 8 on the Starbase. See ya then."

Deiran went to Mac and Kay’s table. "Hello you two. May I sit down?" he asked as he pulled out the chair and waited for them to agree.

"Sure take a load off," Mac replied laughing at Deiran’s subtle hints.

Casey sat down and looked at Kay. "Hi Kay, peace treaty for a few minutes ok?"

Kay grunted at him. "I’ll fix the sonic shower tomorrow I promise," she spat out.

"Actually, this has nothing to do with the shower, but you will fix it soon. I’d like to invite you both on a extreme games holodeck program I made. I have one of the holodecks on the Starbase for a whole week and was wondering if you’d like to join me?"

"I’m game," Mac said looking at Kay, Casey followed and looked at her also. Both men waiting for her reply.

"Sure, sounds fun, count me in. Besides it’ll get me out of fixing the shower," Kay replied and masked a small, almost indistinguishable smile.

*** Starbase 74, Holodeck 8 ***

All the crew was assembled except for Cat. Everything was ready and Deiran looked quite excited at the prospect of seeing them all in his program. He didn’t want to warn them at all. A Starfleet officer is always prepared for the unexpected.

Cat arrived ten minutes late. As she walked up to the crowd, she was smiling. "Sorry everyone, couldn’t find my boots."

"Well good thing you found them. You’ll need them," Casey said.

All the men noticed how the women were wearing tight clothes. Deiran was married, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t admire art. He opened the holodeck doors, stretched his hand through the entrance and said, "Enter my domain."

That alone should’ve been their first clue.

Once they were all inside Casey spoke up. "Okay everyone, I’m glad you accepted my invitation. This program is filled with music. So while we hike or swim, or go rafting will be listening to some great music by everyone from the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, the Chemical brothers to Van Halen, the Killjoys and Guns N Roses. You can’t get extreme without some good ol’ fashioned rock and roll," Casey said with a smile.

"Why are we in an airplane hangar?" Kay asked.

Just as she asked that question the holodeck doors shut, the deep sound echoed in the hangar.

"Well, it’s the beginning of our funfest. No one can back out now. We’re in here for a week," Casey said, again he was smiling.

"I’ll ask it again Deiran, why are we in an airplane hangar?" Kay asked.

"We’re going skysurfing. Fun uh?"

The silence told Deiran all he needed to know.

Escape?
Written by Ensign Campbell
contributions by Lt. Commander Sunder

Beeing alone with a restles mind scared Ensign Christopher Campbell. A restles mind gave an opportunity for memories to come.

There was irony there somewhere, he supposed. Former S.I. Operative. Conducting highly classified, dangerous missions on S.I. vessel The Serpent. He looked down at his 'Medal of The Frode'. Bravery under fire.

Yeah, Christopher was pretty sure; there had to be irony there.

As memories once again came to him. He started to rearrange his quarters. The potted plant, the chair, and the few other belongings he had. Anything to keep his mind busy. After having placed the plant to the right of his desk, to the left, on top, in front, against the opposite wall and beside his bunk he fled his quarters. He needed something to occupy his mind.

Extra-work, perhaps? He quickly made his to the Chief of Security's Office and entered.

"Ensign... Campbell, right?" The Chief stated. "What can I do for you?"

"Ah, well, sir." The Ensign began. "I..." How could he explain what he wanted without sounding like a lunatic. "I... I was simply wondering if... You see, sir, there's a lot on my mind."

Chief Sunder lifted an eyebrow. "Oh?"

Christopher pressed the palm of his hands together. "Yes, things I... I was wondering if there might be any extra work needing to be done. Just to take my mind of things, for a while."

"I see." 'Commander Sunder replied. " Ensign, I'm sorry to say that I'm not overly familiar with your service record. With all the recent chaos, I'm only just beginning to make my way through a never-ending maze of paperwork. Suppose you give me a summary of of your recent postings and assignments? " Sunder said cooly, placing his PADD to one side and settling back into his chair.

The ensign blinked in surprise. " Do you mean now? "

" Might as well. " Sunder replied evenly. " I usually follow up my overviews of new staff with personal interviews. Now seems like a good as time as any and we can just say that you're one step ahead. "

Sunder gestured at the chair in front of his desk. To the Ensign it seemed more like an order then an invitation to sit down.

Sunder waited for the Ensign to begin. Leaving him with no other option then to start talking. "Well, sir, after the Dronegar mission I was transfered from the Galaxy to a position at Starfleet Intelligence." He pauses. He wasn't allowed to talk about this; S.I. assignements are almost always classsified. Of course Sunder knew this, too.

"I can't tell you more then this; I served on a S.I. vessel as Combat Control Officer for almost six months. After that I asked for a transfer back to the Galaxy."

The 'Commander, trying not ask questions that couldn't be answered, thought for a while, then asked: "Why did you ask for a transfer back, after all, S.I. is the "promotion-fast lane"?"

"I just... wasn't comfortable with my assignemnt, sir. Promotions don't really feel that important, anyway." Christopher said answering very carefuly, not only so he wouldn't break Starfleet regulations, but also trying not to get very personal.

Sunder realized, he was after all Chief of Security, that his last question made the Ensign uncomfortable.

"Allright, Ensign. I have a lot of men still in sickbay, I could use another Security Officer. Sort through and file theese reports, " Sunder said handing over a pile of PADD's. "Then I need someone to patrol decks 10 to 20. Dismissed."

"Yes, sir." Campbell said, leaving the Chief of Security's office with his arms full of PADD's.

"Thoughts"

Jack had just returned to his quarters after his second stay in sickbay. The effects of the sudden depressurization had been treated and the synthetic skin on his arm had been replaced again. As he went to the bathroom, stripping his clothes and discarding them on the floor, his thoughts were a jumble. Images of battles, Klingons and various other things kept him busy. This wasn't a good thing; deciding that he needed to clear his mind, Jack went back to the living room. He started burning some incense, sat down in the lotus position and started to meditate. Breathing in and out deeply, he began to center himself, intoning the ancient Vulcan words. Finally, after a while, his thoughts began to focus, his calm returning. After 30 minutes, Jack felt he was ready and got up, going back to the bathroom.

He filled the tub, not in the mood for a shower. Sliding into the hot, scalding water, he let out a sigh of contentment. His thoughts turned to the events of the last few days. It was almost a repeat of the time he served on the Nimrod. The man-to-man fighting, the battle against a numerically superior force. It had brought back many painful memories. Shaking his head a bit to clear it again, he decided to think about something else, namely the work Lt. Erikson had assigned him to do on the sensors and the ideas Jack had about designing a new internal/external defense system. He had to contact Lt. Mercury about using the C-defense in his designs. Closing his eyes, he could see the flow of the sensor/defense system in his mind. The way every component meshed with the other, the way the information should flow through the system.

The heat of the water massaged his tense muscles, draining away the fatigue, the aches and pains in his body. As he relaxed more and more, Jack's thoughts turned to a certain Klingon/Betazoid/Human engineer. When he had woken up in sickbay, she had been gone. When he had been released, she had just left for Earth on leave. Ensign M'Benga was by all standards, a very attractive young woman. However, she was rather… outgoing. A small smile spread across his face as he thought back at their little adventure in the science lab, the way she said that her intentions were honorable for now. Or the way she had wrapped her arms around his waist in a rather improper position. Jack felt a little pang of disappointment when he found out that she had left already. Maybe she was just one of those women who just liked to play with a guy's mind. As he closed his eyes, the small smile was still plastered across his face.

Some time later, after drying off and getting into some comfortable clothes, Jack ordered a pot of Earl Grey tea and sat down behind his workdesk. Turning on the computer, he started to call up schematics of the sensorgrids of the Galaxy and the current configuration of the C-defense. After a few hours of work and several pots of tea, he had finished a preliminary model of the new system.

"Ensign D'Auria to Lt. Mercury. I have something I want to show you, sir."

=/\= "Reconvergence Pt II" =/\=
by Matthew Albrecht
and Greer Erickson

Lieutenant Erickson crossed the lushly carpeted floor of the Tellarite Gentlemen's Club, past well-dressed, and apparently wealthy, Tellarite men playing billiards and darts. The diversions had apparently been imported from Earth and had caught on quite well in Tellar's high society. The holodeck- simulated club sported a dozen tables, and six dart machines in the smoke- filled chamber. Several serving women wandered about, delivering orders and taking them. The waitresses wore very little, exposing quite a bit of their porcine bodies to the appreciative men. One of those women was currently draping herself over lieutenant Albrecht's bare shoulders.

Matthew was lining up a difficult shot, aiming for what appeared to be the three ball, which was hiding behind two other balls on the table. He appeared to be ignoring the young lady as he did so. Greer noted that Matthew was drinking something amber-colored from a tall pilsner glass; He caught the girl's attention, and motioned at the beverage. "Two more," he mouthed silently, holding up two fingers. The waitress smiled engagingly at him, and nodded, moving off gracefully to handle the order.

Greer put his things down on the next table, next to Matthew's clothing and PADDs. With a *crack*, Matthew took his shot--no balls went in this time, and the officer grunted. Greer interrupted, "Looks like you were going for a swim, but that's the wrong kind of pool." The joke was delivered dead-pan, but Matthew smiled anyway as he turned to face the chief science officer.

"Hey there, Greer!" He took one hand off the cue-stick, and reached out to shake hands. They gripped and shook, and Greer smiled in reaction to Matthew's good spirits. "Come in to relax? I sure needed this break."

Greer squinted, "Not exactly. I was thinking about what we were discussing before the attack--"

"Me too!" interrupted Matthew, whose jovial mood had him a little too comfortable. "But I'm stuck--who cares what the devils looked like before? They're bigger, and stronger now." He concluded, and gulped down the rest of his beer. He looked out-of-place in his swimming trunks, holding a pool cue and standing in a Tellarite club.

Greer brightened up, "Of course--that's got to be it! The connection..." he got a far-away look for a quick moment. "Matthew, why do governments cover things up?"

The waitress returned with two fresh drinks. Each man took one, absently ignoring the serving woman. "Well, typically it's when they make a huge mistake and want to deny it. Why else?" replied the security officer.

Greer shook his head, "No, it doesn't have to be a mistake. What if they just wanted to cover up their methods, keep their actions a secret, even though the results may have been EXACTLY what they WANTED." Matthew looked a bit confused by the science officer's explanation. Greer continued, "It's right in front of us! The Klingons in the 'after' pictures are bigger, meaner, stronger. Was there any mention in any of your censored documents about genetic engineering?"

Matthew's eyes narrowed, "No..."

"Exactly. What race HASN'T experimented with genetics? They are covering up their past genetic experimentation. You don't believe me?" he asked rhetorically. "What are they about to cover up now? No one will ever know about the attempt the High Council has just made to GENETICALLY ALTER their own people. This is so obvious, I was a fool not to see it!" he exclaimed.

Other club guests were turning to see what the commotion was about at Matthew's table. Ignoring them, Matthew said, "Makes sense, Greer. The text I found on Boreth backs that idea up, too. All the photo-plates in it show swarthy, smooth-headed little Klingon people. Not a ridged forehead in sight. It was a book about their warrior philosophy applied to everyday life. Facinating reading, nearly put me to sleep."

Both men went to their PADDs, and flipped pages, confirming for themselves the reality behind Greer's realization. After a few minutes, satisfied, they stopped. Now they both needed to clear their heads and come up with a plan. Matthew racked up the balls again, and Greer began to powder his cue tip. "So now what do we do?" asked Matthew.

Greer dragged his cue through his soft grasp. Talcum dust billowed up while he lined up with a few practice strokes. "We should get this information out. The quadrant should know about this," he said. Greer struck the white ball with his cue, sending it into the 2 ball and breaking up the triangle of billiard balls nicely. Nothing sunk.

Matthew moved around the table, "What do you mean? This is a Klingon issue--none of our business, now. Besides, it's history." He was taking up 'devil's advocate' again. Matthew didn't really necessarily disagree with Greer, he just habitually found the opposite side of any argument. "Corner pocket," he added, pointing to a far corner.

Greer responded, heatedly, "It's the truth, Matthew. I'm a scientist, I know the value of information." He watched Matthew sink a striped ball, and line up another shot. "Science has always suffered from cover-ups and secrets. The truth is everything."

They played in silence for a few minutes. Greer sank a few, as did Matthew. "Okay, I'll buy that, Greer. But before we tell anyone, we go to the captain. There's a lot going here we don't know about. I'll agree with whatever you two decide." Greer nodded.

They played on, and added a second game as well. Greer joked with Matthew about his taste in clubs, noting the state of undress of the waitresses. Matthew entertained him with the story of his first visit to the Tellarite Gentleman's Club, and his father's reaction. They both had a good time, and benefitted greatly from the chance to relax after the battle and its aftermath...

Ensign M'Benga was in the shuttle, sitting in the front, in the seat next to the pilot; Ensign Xiao Yin.

She was setting up a PADD for writing and storing, but all the ready to take over the conn if Xiao Yen got tired of sitting and monitoring the controls.

"Whatcha doing?" asked Mei.

"Oh, just gonna write a letter." Be'Tran responded, "Post it when we get to Earth."

Mei gave the controls a quick double check, then turned to face Be'Tran; "You've got a big family, don't you?" she asked, "I mean I know you've got a brother in StarFleet, right?"

"Yes," responded Be'Tran proudly," He's a full commander now, of course, he's also several years older than I am."

"Interesting," said Mei,"Single?"

Be'Tran smiled, "No, he just got married, to the CMO of the ship he serves on."

Mei leaned over, as if she were trying to get a look at Be'Tran's PADD; "Is the letter to him, then?" she asked, a charming smile crossing her lips.

"No," responded Be'Tran," just to someone back on the Galaxy, a friend." and with that Be'Tran began typing into the PADD...

" Dear Jack,"

From the Klingon battle in Engineering:

When the firefight in main engineering broke out, Max knew what to do. He quickly obtained a phasor from a wall compartment and opened up on the Klingons.

Adrenaline pumping through his veins, he remained calm as he expertly responded to the threat. Using the Klingons' emotional changes to his advantage, he knew when to hide, and when to fire. Unfortunately, his excellent marksmanship and empathic advantage was soon to go to waste...

He had chosen a display panel to duck behind. The next disruptor blast, aimed at where his head would have been, sent chunks of the molten panel flying towards his head and shoulders. None of his skills or training could have prepared him for the searing pain on his neck and right ear, soon followed by that on his right shoulder and back. The pain in and of itself was almost too much to handle, but it coupled with the smell of his flesh burning and the sight of his burnt right shoulder brought back those awful memories. Those which he had learned to control enough to go on living every day.

By now, he was doubled over with terror, the physical pain a mere memory. He surveyed the horrible scene played out with chilling reality in his mind: the torn and burnt flesh, the insane screaming, the mind-boggling violence, and worse of all the mess of intense feelings of absolute terror flowing through his mind.

**********

Max was rushed into Sickbay, a lot of blood had collected on the engineering deck. The panel that had caused his injury had collapsed and had hidden his prone body for a short time. It wasn't until that the panel was to be examined that he was found.

One of the EMHS took one look at him and called Cat over. Immediately was needed was to remove the burnt flesh. The molten transparent aluminum for the panel had hardened, creating a shiny almost insect like 'carapace' along the neck and shoulder.

Cat could only thank that the ensign was unconscious, now would be a matter of removing the panel wafer and the display wafer that had melted and moulded to his skin.

The burns were deep and as the burnt flesh/alminum was removed, Cat gently probed to remove as much of the upper epidermis from the melt so to increase the speed of the healing. As quickly as Cat was removing the melt, a layer of synthi-flesh was replacing it to seal in the wound and to guide the new skin to be as smooth as the rest and to reduce scaring.

The immediate problem of the panel debris was now taken care of. The brain wave activity was giving Cat plenty of concern. All other indicators had Max in a coma. Neural stimulators could not bring him around. Cat watched for a few minutes with a lot of concern. Max was feeling some form of stress, adrenal levels were going off the scale. Cat could only think that Max was in a fight/flight situation. Whatever the reason, Max was in a fright situation.

Cat had one of the more capable of the walking wounded officers in Sickbay to bathe Max's eyes every few minutes. His eyes were wide open, the pupils dilated, showing hardly any iris. The eyes would not close, certainly on his face, it seemed that Max was experiencing pure terror.

"To Earth"
by Lieutenant (jg) James Chen
Security Officer

Chen's eyes were on his book, yet he couldn't concentrate on the Chinese text. He sighed and closed the book. He couldn't get the look on the crew's faces out of his mind. It reminded him so much of...Wolf 359 aboard the Honorable. The look of shock and horror had been the same. Some of the people on board the shuttle still looked terribly shaken. He smiled as he looked at the other people in the cramped shuttle. Most of them were young. He felt oddly like a dinosaur. He was by no means one of the oldest members of Starfleet, but surrounded by these people, he sure felt like it. And he knew he probably couldn't hold a candle to their abilities. The pilot handled the shuttle like she'd been doing it all her life.

He sighed and shook his head. *Not even thirty yet and you're thinking like an old man.* He was only twenty-nine, but he felt a whole lot older. That's why he was going to Earth. A little R&R would be great. He'd stay on the houseboat in San Francisco that Master Kwan had left him. Chen didn't even know Master Kwan had a houseboat until he went to claim the remains. Chen nodded and leaned back.

He closed his eyes and before he knew it, he was out like a light. Suddenly, he found himself hearing voices, voices that he had no right hearing.

*No! Dear God, no!* He tried to spin to face this voice, but found that he had no form. And the voices started again. *They've cut off the bridge completely. We can't get through to the captain!*

*Auxiliary control has been destroyed. We can't control the ship.*

*Lieutenant Chen, the Borg are on Deck 12!*

*Doctor Harris to security, the Borg are here, repeat, the Borg are in Sickbay. They're killing everybody, get here qu--*

*Oh, God, Chen I don't want to die!*

*My legs! My legs!*

*Push the button, Chen! Push the button!*

*They're coming, they're coming!*

Then the screams started as people died. Chen tried to face the voices, but they always evaded him. He couldn't take it anymore and he yelled at them to stop, but no sound came. Again, he yelled, but his voice wouldn't work. He took a deep breath and yelled again. This time, the scream came out and his eyes popped open as the groan escaped his lips, the need to scream transferring from one world to the next. He looked around and saw everyone staring at him. He smiled politely and nodded at everybody. "Sorry." He wiped the sweat off his forehead and looked up at the ceiling.

Silently, he wondered what had made him have that nightmare again. He thought that the dreams had stopped. It must have been the Klingons. That's all, just coincidence. He closed his eyes and willed the memories away.

Almost home
By: Lieutenant Mélissa Marie Boudreau

It was a fairly long trip to Earth, but Melissa did not want to fall asleep. There were too many people around to see her live through a nightmare.

Melissa knew of all the officers, and civilians in the shuttle, but she didn't know any of them particularily well. She spent some time talking to Ensign M'Benga, and some time with Ensign Mendenhall. They were the engineers and she had things in common with them. She had no idea what she might have in common with anyone else on the trip. Besides, she had invited Ensign M'Benga along on the trip.

As she looked around, Melissa decided that there were quite a few people in the shuttlecraft that she would like to know. She wouldn't normally pass up an opportunity to make new friends but this time, she wasn't really herself. Besides, she wasn't passing up the opportunity, just delaying it until later in the trip.

So she sat on her own for a few minutes, and pulled out a padd. Melissa did not want to be unprepared for this visit. She would have a full schedule planned out by the time they got to Earth. Of course, she would spend most of her time with her family in Québec, but she had a few other goals as well. Melissa wanted to visit San Francisco and at least one other place on Earth, perhaps somewhere she had never been before. Maybe one of the others in the shuttlecraft had a suggestion.

A few minutes later, Melissa put away her padd and decided to try to be sociable for a little while.

Amelie Aka:
Lt. Melissa Marie Boudreau
Assistant Chief Engineering Officer
USS Galaxy NCC-70637

Galaxy "Returning To the Galaxy."
Written By Lt. Kahn Nilani and Lt. Felicia Khatroweena,
U.S.S. Galaxy

We had just finished beaming over as I headed towards my quarters. I entered my quarters placing my bag on the table and walking into the shower area. I finished my shower and walked over to the replicator.

"Computer! I want something NOT Klingon!"

The computer hummed making the food, it finally stopped. Sitting on the replicator was a plate of Crumbed Chicken, I ate it and found it reasonably nice. I got up from the table and moved to my bed falling asleep as I hit the pillow.

**** 4 hours later ****

I got up from my bed and made sure my hair was all nice and neat. I left my quarters and headed for the Sickbay, I entered Sickbay and it was a hive of activity. Cat was working with the dermal regenerator on the back of a patient! I moved slowly over when Cat saw me, she motioned to a nurse to continue regenerating the skin.

"Nilani, it is good to see you back. How was your trip on the Que'etlh?" Cat asked me.

"Uncomfortable! Now I know why Klingons have always got a sour disposition. It's not genetic, it's because they don't get enough sleep!"

Cat gave a small chuckle. "Not a good nights sleep, huh?"

"Not very much at all! I heard Sickbay was busy. And your sleep?"

"What's that?" Cat looked thoughtful, "Umm, I think there is something we should discuss - Now!"

Cat's voiced sounded a bit strained, I frowned a little in worry. "Sure Cat. My office?"

Cat gave a small nod and we both entered my office. I noticed Cat moving to sit in the 'big seat.' I quietly cleared my throat. Cat looked at me and gave a small smile. "I spent enough time in that seat, I began thinking it as mine. But I return your seat in good condition." Cat gave a half curtsy and indicated the chair.

I got comfortable, "So what is it that you want to talk to me about?"

Cat's smile almost fell off her face, it was replaced by a mixture of concern and worry. "I don't know how to say this and... Well... Computer, display contents of Alpha 4 7 2. Medical override Khatroweena delta one five omega six zero."

It took a couple of seconds and I realised that it was one of my personal files, specifically a very special file. "How..."

"Before you say anything, the computer complained that it was not able to complete the encryption on the file. I was having some trouble and an errant computer file was something I just did not want. I opened the file and..."

"That was a personal file!" I exclaimed.

"I know Nilani, now I do anyway. Why didn't you tell someone?"

"Why would I need to tell anyone!"

"Because It is effecting your work! I have noticed for sometime now that your mind isn't on the Job! I could relieve you of your position to get some help but that wouldn't work."

"Your damn right that wouldn't work!" I shouted

Cat just looked at me in one of those ways.

"Look Nilani, I am saying this as your friend! Please go see a counselor and the Captain about this!"

I looked at Cat considering my options I had a couple but like most of the time Cat was right.

"Fine! Now who do I see"

"The Beginning"

The Scene: The great Varga Desert, Tarsas III.

The creature that moved across the desert greatly resembled a horse, with a reptillian aspect that somehow seemed right under the heat of Tarsas three's monsterous sun. It was a great beast, with a leathery hide that changed its greyish hew's to match the greyness of the shifting sands. As it moved, great clouds of the soft powdery sand were kicked high into the air, leaving a trail at its rapid passing. Its eyes belayed a keen intelligence, as it changed its course at the behest of its rider.

The rider himself looked like a picture out of Earth's angient Arabian fables. He was rapped in the guarb of the desert, including a headdress of white that covered all but his eyes. As he rode across the desert, he scanned the shifting dunes for any sign of that which he had sought for so long. His prey had paid him a lot of money for something he had, at the time, thought quite impossible. The offer had intrigued him, and so he had excepted. The hunt had began shortly after...

Darrian Moray crouched low amid the sands..His grey heatsuit shifting to match the colors of the dunes, just like the Horask beast it were designed to immulate. He had spent the first few days of his shore leave on Tarsas III in the best way he knew how. He had enjoyed arranging for the locals to make there best efforts at tracking him down. No modern technology would be used, only the skills of the Hunters and the Hunted. The means of the game had been agreed upon in advance. So far he had been able to take out twelve of the hunters, alive and unhurt except for there wounded pride. Now only one remained, their Leader.

Moray watched as that lone Hunter moved dangeriously close to his current positon. It almost seemed too easy....

Moray: (Whispering) That's right..just a little closer...

Darrian crouched for the leap that would carry him into the attack against his rival....

“The End”
By Ensign Aaron Sharp

It was late in the night. In a small clearing stood a man in a Starfleet Uniform. The lone pip on his collar indicated he was an Ensign. The sad look on his face indicated a great loss. The cold Boreth wind nipped at his exposed skin as he slowly walked towards a funeral pyre. He had built the pyre himself, and now, lying on top of it was the body of a dead Klingon warrior, it’s face and body burnt and charred from some former battle. The Ensign held a burning torch in his hand, and he lifted it up to the pyre, igniting it. He stepped back as the flames licked upwards and lifted his other hand high in the air. It contained a D’k tahg, and was bloodstained. The Ensign just stood there for a while, watching as the flames consumed his former friend, then finally whispered, “I’ll never forget.”

High in the cloudless night sky a single shooting star crossed from east to west.

Ensign Aaron Sharp

Max had been in sickbay for two days...

The Ensign approached the comatose Ensign Jensen with hydrating spray in hand. He was lying there in sickbay, muscles starting to tense again from the last hypo-spray of relaxant wearing off. She was about to spray his wide open eyes again. She jumped back suddenly as his expression changed. The blank yet fearful expression on his face contorted into one of sadness. A low, pitiful groan emanated from him as he slowly curled into a ball and closed his eyes.

"Doctor! ... He's conscious."

Cat approached Max. A quick scan revealed his vitals were unchanged from before.

"How are you feeling, Ensign?"

Max swallowed hard as he lay back down, hands slowly coming up to his face to cover his eyes. "To be quite honest?" he slurred, "Like shit." The way he said it, with his light English accent, and emphasis on the "t", it almost sounded like two syllables. "I have a bit of a headache," he understated as he tried to push his eyes through the back of his skull with his palms.

Cat gave his aide one look. She nodded and went to fetch a hypo-spray with some painkiller.

Cat continued scanning Max. "According to this, you're fit as a fiddle..."

Max reached over to the side of his neck and shoulder where he had been burnt. His uniform was still in tatters, only the charred parts of it had been cut off. He gingerly tested his shoulder with a tap from his left index finger, then placed his hand on it. He turned to his doctor and said, "Some nice work you did there."

"Why thank you... Not my best work, but it will do," Cat mused. His expression darkened somewhat. "Listen, I'm not sure what happened to you back there. There isn't anything in your medical records that could explain what happened to you.

"Interest's sake... What happened to me?"

Cat drew in a breath. "Well, you came in severely burnt and covered in half of a molten display panel on your right side... And you've only just now come out of what seemed like a coma. You never blinked once during the entire time.

A glance at a nearby wall told Max he had been out for about 47 hours since the battle in Main Engineering. He swung his legs over the edge of his bed. "It's nothing I shouldn't have been able to handle. Don't worry about it." He started to rise, but was pushed back down by a hand to his chest.

"Now where do you think _you're_ going?"

"I'm not free to go?" Max said as he looked up with concern.

"I think you need to see a counsellor... After you get some rest."

After a brief pause, Max replied, "All right, I will." He stood up again, this time successfully, and walked out of sickbay without looking back. He headed straight for his quarters.

Tunnel Hill
Casey Ti Miran

After landing on Earth, Miran rented a personal transport to take herself and Lara to Southern Illinois. Tunnel Hill was a small town and had been since the rail road and coal mines left many hundreds of years ago. Kristifer Farm was just a bit off the main drag of town on a road that leads to another nearby small town names Creal Springs.

Everyone that was home filed out from their various locations. Five of the Stephin's children were home, two at the academy and four were serving in various functions in Starfleet.

"Miran! Its so wonderful to see you. Lara's so beautiful. Come let's go into the house." Miran was amazed at how much everyone had grown up. Little Alex had grown taller, but he as his older sister Rachelle were still shorter than Miran was. Now Katy, who was twelve, was the same height. The others had long since passed her.

Miran set Lara on the floor. Lara stood there holding onto the coffee table watching everyone with her curious eyes. This was so different for her and she didn't know what to think.

"Miran, we have some news for you. I didn't want to tell you over subspace but in person. Robert's alive. Starfleet contacted us with news about Voyager and her crew. The ship wasn't destroyed as believed." Miran didn't know what to say, she sat there in shock.

"We got to send him a message. We don't know if he got it but Starfleet said they would try to send the crew letters from home. I know you love Deiran but I thought you would want to know."

Miran couldn't think real clearly. She needed sometime to her herself. She took a bay gelding from the barn and rode to the cave. It was a beautiful spot. You couldn't hear anything but the wind in the trees. She sat on one of the rocks and just gazed down the hillside. It was so peaceful. The cave had several purposes. Sometimes family members would camp here. At times, a family of Bobcats made its home here, evident by the tracks they made in the soft dirt. It wasn't a real deep cave, just big enough to camp without getting wet when it rained.

Miran thought about the news. She had been so in love with Rob. It had hurt her to no end when he disappeared. She hadn't even gotten to say good-bye. It had taken her over two years to get over him. It was on the day they had set as their wedding day that she had her first date with Deiran. Deiran was her light and life. Lara was everything else. The two of them together made up her universe. She didn't want anything to change that. She knew that she wouldn't allow anything to come between her and her family. She rode back with a sense of relief.

Dinner was ready when she got back. No one said anything more about the earlier discussion. It was a splendid meal. Venison, greenbeans fixed with bacon and onion cooked all afternoon, corn on the cob, and mashed potatoes- both regular and sweet.

***

The next morning, she rose nearly with the sun. She let Lara sleep as she padded down to the kitchen were Kateli had coffee and biscuits prepared.

"The boys should be back anytime with fresh milk. Alexander left already to check the back fence, still been having troubles with people cutting the fence." It wasn't long before the troop tumbled in, William carrying a pail of milk. He would be attending the Academy in the fall. He was thinking about being a pilot for Starfleet. He had hopes to do as Miran had- Be a helmsman on a large ship as she had been on the Galaxy.

Together they shared Breakfast after which William begged Miran to come out to the airstrip. He had been working on his plane and wanted to see if she would want to fly.

Miran was more than happy to fly again. She hadn't piloted anything in so long. Main reason she had signed on this shuttle to come to Earth was to fly it but it wasn't meant to be. Miran was glad she stayed in the back so she couldn't watch the pilot, they made her nervous, especially those young like the one that flew here. Experience doesn't count for much obviously.

Miran shrugged off the feeling of resentment. By the time she got into the air, she had forgotten it all. She realized that she had been missing something important in her life while she was up there. Not flying, not helming a ship, just being a parent had created a hole she hadn't even realized was there.

*** BY Ensign Be'Tran M'Benga ***

As soon as the shuttle landed, Be'Tran hit the city. She wanted to go shopping, and pick up some gifts for friends back on Galaxy. Lt. Boudreau and Lt. Albrecht went with her.

The first place they stopped was an antique shop, specializing in 20th- century collectibles.

Melissa dived into a book section, looking for old sci-fi novels; one of her passions.

Albrecht, watching Boudreau scavenging among the yellowed paperbacks, let out a gregarious laugh. "You know," he said to Melissa, "the guys that wrote most of that old stuff didn't get much right."

"So," said Boudreau, her arms full of dusty little tomes, "This is entertainment, Matt, not textbooks." Melissa put down most of her arm-load, and began to thumb a particularly thick book."I mean, this is a great part of what interested me in StarFleet in the first place." she added as if to defend her interest.

Be'Tran was rumaging in the back of the shop, when the attendant, a chubby Bolian, approached her. "May I help you?" he asked, and Be'Tran thought she could sense a touch of suspicion in his tone.

"Yeah," she responded, friendly all the same,"I'm looking for something for a friend of mine. Do you have anything to do with," and here Be'Tran had to stop and think a bit,"...'Monty'...'Monty Python'?" she asked at last.

The Bolian puckered his hairless brow, and curled his lips into an expression that one would normally achieve by tasting animal-droppings."And who might this Mr. Python be?" he asked, making not the slightest effort to mask his sarcasm.

"No," said Be'Tran," Monty Python's not a guy, it's a bunch of guys."

"A...bunch...of guys?" the Bolian obviously thought this young, Klingon-looking woman had the proverbial screw loose.

Albrecht walked up at this point; "What's up, Betta?" he asked giving the Bolian a perfect Security Officer's once-over.

"Oh," Be'Tran seemed disgusted,"He doesn't have what I want, and thinks I'm nuts."

Before Albrecht could respond the Bolian took up the defensive,"I do not think your nuts, miss." he offered,"I just don't know what this 'Python' thing is."

Matt laughed at clapped the Bolian on the shoulder,"Listen fella," he began jovially, " this lady happens to be part Betazoid; if she thinks you think she's crazy, you probably do think she's crazy. Now why would you think she's crazy."

The Bolian looked as dumbfounded as if someone had just asked him to recite the Ferengi Rules of Aquisition, backwards !

"Ready to go?", a voice asked. It was Lieutenant Boudreau, apparently through browsing books. "I've got a busy schedule you two, so if you want to grab lunch, let's go."

"Fine with me." said Matt, releasing his hold on the Bolian's shoulder.

Be'Tran hoisted her shoulder-bag, and followed her two friends out into the street. Matt was grinning widely at her; "He probably thought you were gonna sneak something into that big bag of yours."

"He din't have what I wanted." Be'Tran replied.

Albrecht laughed, "So, Ensign, you would've committed shoplifting if he'd had what you wanted?"

"No-no-no..." began Be'Tran, but Matt was already grinning wickedly. Be'Tran grinned back realizing the Security Officer was teasing.

Melissa asked, "What was it you were looking for?"

"A present, for someone on Galaxy." replied M'Benga.

"Ensign D'Auria?" asked Melissa, "I don't think 'Monty Python' is a subject very familiar to Ensign D'Auria."

"No," responded Be'Tran,"Not Jack. It's for Counselor Ral, I met her in..."

Albrecht interrupted, "Say no more." he offered. Counselor Ral's reputation for peculiar interests seemed to have preceded.

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

The trio went on to an open-air restaurant, and lunched. Quickly, because Lt. Boudreau was in a hurry. They ate at a French restaurant, and Be'Tran ate mostly salad.

After the meal they started to get it in order as to how they were going to spend their shoreleave. Be'Tran was going, first, to Usumbura to visit her family, then she thought she might go to New Orleans and sample some Cajun food. She loved Cajun food.

But first she had to post a letter. Immediately after lunch she darted into a public posting station, and posted the letter she had written on the shuttle. The letter to Ensign D'Auria.

When she exited the post-office Albrecht was waiting on the steps."Well," he said,"that must've been an important letter."

"Yes it was." she responded, feeling more like her usually perky self than she had sience the trip began.

Albrecht scratched his chin, and smiled, almost knowingly.

"Yes," Be'Tran replied to the answered question, "It was to Ensign D'Auria.". She suddenly realized her interest, and concern,for the stoic Science-Officer must've been pretty obvious to everyone on the shuttle; unless they were all Betazoids.

"Tests - Part 1"
by Lt. Ronni Morris
ACSO, USS Galaxy

Ronni sat in the Captain's chair. The three Dominion ships flew in firing double salvos. Ronni gripped the arms of the chair and ordered the Andorian helmsman, "Evasive maneuvers, Lieutenant." Turning to the Vulcan Operations officer, she said, "Attack pattern Delta -Delta - 381."

The Vulcan replied, "Captain, that attack pattern will put us directly in the path of all three ships. It is not a logical manoeuvre."

"That's an order mister! Do it." she yelled. To the science officer she said, "Ensign, load application 'Morris Boom Tube'. When I give the order, activate it!"

"Aye Captain!" replied both the Operation and Science officers.

The ship shook again. "Shields down to 71%." The Vulcan stated.

The three Dominion ships slipped into place. They thought that the Galaxy was in a perfect place for a cross fire. As their weapons locked on, Ronni yelled, "NOW Ensign!"

As the photon torpedoes streaked toward the Galaxy, the shipped pitched forward and appeared to the Dominion sensors to jump forward, but in reality, went five ship lengths up and back. Ronni said, "Attack pattern Beta - Theta - 211." Photon torpedoes showered out of the Galaxy striking all three ships. Two of them exploded as the third suffered from a WARP core breech. Ronni tapped her communicator and said, "Attention all transporter rooms, emergency transport from the damaged Dominion ship to Shuttlebay 3. Security protocols in effect. All available security forces to Shuttlebay 3. Status report in 15 minutes."

Turning to the Operations officer, "Damage report."

"Shields at 83%. No serious ship damage, no hull breeches. Reports of various minor injuries. No deaths. Sensors detect no further ships in the area." she said monotonely.

Ronni stood up and faced the Vulcan, "Very good. Now, I want you to understand, in a battle situation, I do not have time to always explain my decisions. Time is critical. I understand you thought you were looking out for the welfare of the ship, but that is my job. Next time, don't question my orders, just follow them. Understood?"

"Aye Captain." said the Vulcan.

With that, the holodeck program stopped and the room returned to it's normal blackness with yellow grid. Ronni let out a sigh. In the air ahead of her appeared her score:

LEADERSHIP: 78%
INGENUITY: 93%
MISSION SUCCESS: 82%
TOTAL: 84%

"Congratulations, you passed Command Field Test 3 with more than the required 80%." said the computer. Ronni laughed and jumped up and down. "This calls for a celebration!!" she said.

Ronni almost skipped back to her quarters. She replicated a dress that Miran Casey had created for her. It was a strapless aquamarine and silver ankle length dress. She called K'arta and Greer asked them to join her in Ten-Forward for a victory dinner. Both readily agreed.

She sauntered down to Ten-Forward and enjoyed the looks she got along the way. Ten-Forward was crowded. Miran and Derian were eating dinner with their baby. Miran came over and admired her creation. She headed back to her table with a big smile. Derian had that smug little smirk on his face. She liked him, but she wanted to smack that look off of his face. It usually meant mischief.

Ronni sat at a table near the window. K'arta and Greer showed up at the same time, coming in through opposite doors. They sat down and the three ordered dinner. As they were talking, and Ronni was giving a play by play of her exam, Ronni heard a laugh behind her. She turned her head toward the laughter and suddenly felt very 'exposed'. K'arta gasped and Greer almost choked. Ronni grabbed at the front of the dress, but it was deteriorating at an alarming rate. Within 30 seconds, the dress was a pile of threads on the floor.

Through all off the gasps and laughter, Ronni heard one voice laughing in the background. She didn't even need to see him to know it was Derian. With all of the dignity in her command, she stood up. She then turned toward the Lieutenant Commander and headed his way. Miran was scolding him. When Derian looked back from Miran to Ronni, Ronni was only a few steps away. His eyes opened wide, he gulped, and ran toward the door. Ronni leaped over a table, but narrowly missed the fast moving man. He headed out the door at full speed, and the chase was on.

The Scene: The Great Varga Desert, Tarsas III

Darrian Moray had moved low against the side of one of the larger dunes, letting the heatsuit and filtermask shift its colorations to match those of the sands. As he watched, the last of the desert riders came ever nearer. This man, Darrian had thought, would be a particular challenge.

Moray watched as the lone rider moved dangeriously close to his current position. It almost seemed too easy....

Moray: (Whispering) That's right..just a little closer....

Just as Darrian was about to make his attack, the stride of the great Horask riding beast shifted into a sudden side turn. A glint of light and curved steel was all Darrian saw as the Tarsan Warrior drew and thrust a great blade downward toward him...

Darrian enhanced Angosian reflexes were all that saved his life, as he dodged back out of pure instinct. The curved blade hissed through the air like a singing demon, coming close anough to sever the fine monofiber tubes of his breathermask. Darrian used the move to his advantage the best he could, as he fell back he thrust off his arms and maneuvered into a reverse flip that carried him over the crest of the dune and to the other side. Landing hard in the sands, he pivoted to his feet.

Tarsan Warrior: You move like the winds, warrior child of the Stars.. Stay still and this will be quick and painless.

Darrian: This was not a battle to the death, but an honorable test! NO ONE WAS TO BE HARMED!! (Yelling the last).

Tarsan Warrior: The Desert has its own tests. You have taken the honor of my Brothers, but you will not take mine. You from the Stars, who comes without weapons and use's your magic to overcome men never before beaten. I will show you the way of it....TODAY YOU DIE!!!

At some silent signal to great beast, the rider charges forward. Coming high over the dunecrest, Darrian does the only thing He can. Drawing his Doestick, he swings it into the front legs of the creature, hearing an audible snap as the bones break and the front of the Mount drops forward and down into the sands. The rider, to his credit, leaps off the Horask before allowing himself to be pinned beneath its massive weight. In a quick roll he is on his feet, with the great curved blade coming up in defense. The two men now stand dirrectly across from each other, as Darian speaks.

Darrian: It does'nt have to be this way. Put the weapon away and we both can still walk away from this.

Tarsan Warrior: After I finish with you, you will never be able to walk anywhere again!

The Tarsan lunges forward in a graceful thrust of the scimatar-like blade. Moray dodges under the swing and lashes out and up with the doestick. The blow strikes across the hand of the Warrior, sending the sword spinning off as he is disarmed.

Darrian: This ends now. You are unarmed.

Tarsan Warrior: You fight well with that stick of yours, but the first rule of the desert is never to be unarmed. (Jesturing with his arms)..

From all arround them the desert sands shift, as a dozen men shimmer into existance. The warriors wear similar headdress and Arabian-like robes, however instead of swords they are armed with phaser pistols and phaser rifles. Surrounded, Darrian drops his stick, and raises his hands.

One of the warriors picks the sword of their leader from the sands and bowing low, returns it. The desert men form a circle arround Darrian, as the leader speaks...

Tarsan Leader: The test ends...you are defeated. I would not have killed you, but I hope you have learned from this. Never expect the rules not to change. In the desert, we adapt to survive. You would do well to remember that, Star Fleet...

Darrian: (Smiling) You had me concerned for a moment. I thought you had fewer men, not a dozen more waiting in the shadows...

Tarsan Leader: For the sake of the hunt, I raised the stakes. As for the men, the desert is all about illusion. You fought well..but have a lot to learn.

Darrian: I have indeed learned from you today and perhap's have more too learn, Great Hakim...thank you.

At a jesture from Hakim, the warriors lower there weapons and move closer. Darrian steps towards Hakim and shakes hands with the desert leader.

Haqim: Tonight we will be my guest at our camp. Soon your lession's will begin....

Home again
By Ensign Anthony Mendenhall, Engineer

The farm was the same as it had been five years ago. Same barn, same fields, and same atmosphere that he always loved. He had hopped a interplanetary transporter to Salt Lake City, then took a bus near the farm. He had walked the last mile on foot.

Slowly, he opened the rusty old gate as Digit lurched on his shoulders. The cat hated the farm. Children petting him, cold nights, and the big machines that cut off his legs. Mendenhall knew that the cat hated the farm, but he didn’t want to leave the cat at the Star Base.

He didn’t know why he didn’t visit his home in Mapleton. For some reason he always left. Mendenhall even thought about taking an earlier shuttle that was going to the Star Base, but he wouldn’t make a decision until later.

The wooden door slowly creaked open as he set his cat down. Just then his fa-ther turned around in surprise. Before his father could say anything, he gave him a big bear hug. "Long time no see Stranger." His dad smiled. "Nice to see you home son."

Just then his mother came in and almost started crying. "Tony!" she exclaimed. He smiled and replied. "Anthony Mom, Anthony." She just smiled and kept hugging him. He was caught in the middle of his parents and managed to squeeze through.

"It’s so nice to see you home again. I’ll go get you brother and sister. I’ll go replicate some lunch." Mendenhall heard some noise and as his father stepped out of the way, two fifteen year olds tackled him from the front stairs.

He landed with a loud thud onto the floor, quickly getting the two in a head lock. "Ahhh, no, no, not-" his younger brother Zach was interrupted by a maniacal laugh. "NOOGIES!" The two screamed as Mendenhall messed up their hair in a painful way.

After the two young men started screaming too loud, he let them go. "So, you had to get Drew here to beat me up?" He stood looking at his younger cousin.

His younger brother laughed and punched him in the arm. "You forgetting things old man, Drew works here just like Matt did." Matt was his older cousin, and Andrew’s brother. Mendenhall laughed as he remembered.

"Where’s Lex?" Almost as if on cue, his younger sister walked down the stairs. The last time he had seen her was when she was twelve, and since then she had really filled out. But the most surprising thing was the Cadet’s uniform she was wearing.

"Suprise." She turned around showing him the uniform. "Joined Starfleet last week. Didn’t want you to get a heart attack with all the surprises." The eighteen year old hugged her brother.

"Nice to see you again Lex. Don’t know whether I’m more surprised how you’ve grown, or how you joined." This was something VERY unexpected.

"Going to be in Science." It was obvious to him which field. Biology. She loved animals, no matter how many feet they had. "I fixed up your old room. Nicole’s with Mike, and will probably be until the wedding." He hugged her again and picked up hi cat.

The stairs where just the same, and he hoped his room would be too. He opened the door and stepped back for a second, then laughed. A body was plastered onto his ceiling. Blood was dripping from the large phaser hole in his stomach.

Behind him was Zach laughing his lungs out. Mendenhall let the cat down and picked off the holocube attached to his ceiling. It was inside the holographic head, and when he pulled it off, the scene vanished.

"I saw right through that." He looked annoyed at his younger brother. "I know, I know. Just showing you everything you taught me." He caught the small cube that his older brother threw at him.

"You need to bring a few of those back on the Galaxy. You don’t get into the kind of trouble you should." They both sat on the bed. "Got six really cool old time movies. Called Star Wars. There pretty cool, but you’ve probably seen better out in space."

"Where’d you get them?" He fixed a model of the Defiant up on his dresser along with the other fifty-two other ship replicas he had made.

"The city’s central computer."

"How’d you-, wait a second, you hack into it?" He cocked a brow at the younger Mendenhall.

"Yea, why? You used to. You TAUGHT me."

"Be careful, that kind of stuff will get you into trouble." He flipped on his old computer and started looking through some old files he had.

"Come on. You did the same things, only you never boasted about them. All those Viruses. You knwo how much fun I could have if I could break the locks you put on all those one’s you made. Besides, even MOM says you don’t have as much fun as you should. Probably never have gone on a date yet either."

The words stung. They where all true. All of his close friends and all his family told him too loosen up, have some fun.

"Look, I could get in big trouble for all that."

"Come on. Your good enough never to get caught. I know you got some good ones because I tried all those schemes you told me you would do. Besides, you could already be a full Lieutenant now, but you STILL an Ensign. Come on, your 25. 25! I know about those two promotions you denied. I’m not stupid." Lex is going to reach Lieutenant before you do.

Mendenhall had no idea how his little brother knew about him denying those two promotions. He also worried about his little brother carrying out even a fourth of all his crazy schemes. He sometimes regretted denying those promotions, but he liked never having too many responsibilities. Ensign was fine for him, but obvi-ously not enough for his younger brother.

"How about this, I beat you in a game of HoloChess, and you go on a date and play TWO GASP TWO practical jokes. And maybe even accept a promotion." The mocking words sounded fair. Mendenhall could whip him in HoloChess faster than Speed, the fastest horse on the farm.

"Alright. I’ll ask someone on a date and play GASP two practical jokes." Be-fore his older brother could make some sly remark about how good he was, he pulled out a gameboard.

**********3 minutes Later*******

"AHHH!" How had Zach won! He rubbed his eyes. His humiliation shown all over his face. "How did you, but I, ah, oh DANG, who showed you that move!"

"Dad. He didn’t teach you everything. Besides, Mom put me up to it. She said if she ever wanted grandchildren, I would have to get you to go on one soon. I added the pranks."

He smothered his face in his hands. Defeated by an rookie. Five time county champ beaten by a simple trick.

"You stuck big brother!"

=/\= "Vacation, the Best Medicine" =/\=
by Matthew Albrecht

**** the Shuttle Cydonia ****

He had wanted to be grumpy, kind of felt like grumpy was appropriate. Actually, he planned to have a very good time on Earth, but his plan was to be in a really poor mood until the fun actually began. After all, fun was better when it came on the heels of a really bad spell. He had plenty of reason to be in a sour mood; Fighting for his life against people who were supposed to be allies tended to make him grumpy. So did losing so many good officers and crew. Security lost many great people, people Matthew knew personally. As usual, shipboard battles took a larger-than-proportional toll on the security department. Along with the frustration of all the time he and Greer had put into their research, only to find out... well, it was disheaertening.

But, try as he might to remain cranky, it was damned hard. First off, Ti Miran, 'commander Casey's wife, had brought along their adorable daughter. She was excellently behaved the entire time. And ensign Mendenhall brought his cat as well. Lara found the cat fascinating. Although Digit might not have been as exotic as Bobbi the ferret, Lara seemed to think she was alright.

Before he knew it, Matthew was beginning to have a good time--and they weren't even to Earth yet! Gakor supplied some of her delicious creations she called snack food (good enough for an entree in just about any restaurant, as far as Matthew was concerned). The conversation that resulted form the meal was entertaining as well. He enjoyed getting to know ensign M'Benga and ensign Yin as well, although Yin was a little preoccupied piloting the shuttle! He, 'commander Chanor, and the newly-promoted James Chen avoided talk of Klingons like a plague; Apparently, they all felt the same need to escape the subject.

Matthew wanted to tell lieutenant jg Taureen what an important role she played in the entire Boreth encounter--but, he realized, he couldn't bring himself to harm everyone's good time by rehashing the events. Instead, he just smiled and nodded to his friend. "Congratulations again, Numa. You earned it," he told her, with all the sincerity he could force into the small handful of words.

As the shuttle neared Earth, he went over in his head the schedule he would keep for his leave. First, a trip into San Francisco for a little shopping. Second, Las Vegas--he had never been before, and Gakor promised it would be an experience of a lifetime! Third, Alaska, his second home. His family owned a lot of land there, and summers in Alaska had been a significant part of his childhood, and a welcome change from the tropical climate of Tellar. He looked forward to seeing his cousins again, and the housekeepers that had helped raise him during those wild summers when he would get into so much trouble!

Yes, this trip promised to be something great!

Lt Matthew Albrecht
Security Officer
USS Galaxy NCC-70637

Max had been in sickbay for two days...

The Ensign approached the comatose Ensign Jensen with hydrating spray in hand. He was lying there in sickbay, muscles starting to tense again from the last hypo-spray of relaxant wearing off. She was about to spray his wide open eyes again. She jumped back suddenly as his expression changed. The blank yet fearful expression on his face contorted into one of sadness. A low, pitiful groan emanated from him as he slowly curled into a ball and closed his eyes.

"Doctor! ... He's conscious."

Cat approached Max. A quick scan revealed his vitals were unchanged from before.

"How are you feeling, Ensign?"

Max swallowed hard as he lay back down, hands slowly coming up to his face to cover his eyes. "To be quite honest?" he slurred, "Like shit." The way he said it, with his light English accent, and emphasis on the "t", it almost sounded like two syllables. "I have a bit of a headache," he understated as he tried to push his eyes through the back of his skull with his palms.

Cat gave his aide one look. She nodded and went to fetch a hypo-spray with some painkiller.

Cat continued scanning Max. "According to this, you're fit as a fiddle..."

Max reached over to the side of his neck and shoulder where he had been burnt. His uniform was still in tatters, only the charred parts of it had been cut off. He gingerly tested his shoulder with a tap from his left index finger, then placed his hand on it. He turned to his doctor and said, "Some nice work you did there."

"Why thank you... Not my best work, but it will do," Cat mused. His expression darkened somewhat. "Listen, I'm not sure what happened to you back there. There isn't anything in your medical records that could explain what happened to you.

"Interest's sake... What happened to me?"

Cat drew in a breath. "Well, you came in severely burnt and covered in half of a molten display panel on your right side... And you've only just now come out of what seemed like a coma. You never blinked once during the entire time.

A glance at a nearby wall told Max he had been out for about 47 hours since the battle in Main Engineering. He swung his legs over the edge of his bed. "It's nothing I shouldn't have been able to handle. Don't worry about it." He started to rise, but was pushed back down by a hand to his chest.

"Now where do you think _you're_ going?"

"I'm not free to go?" Max said as he looked up with concern.

"I think you need to see a counsellor... After you get some rest."

After a brief pause, Max replied, "All right, I will." He stood up again, this time successfully, and walked out of sickbay without looking back. He headed straight for his quarters.

"The truth"
by Captain Robert Edward Lee Price

Captain Price was busy watching the crews work on the saucer section of the USS Galaxy. A whole team of Engineers where busy guiding a replacement panel into place, guided by the giant over head crane in the spacedock of Starbase 74.

A Galaxy Starship was an impressive site from the outside standing on the hull, but looking at the enveloping spacedock, Lee couldn't help but think how remarkable Starbase 74 likewise was.

"Quite an island in space isn't it Captain?"

Lee spun around, taking an awkward step because of the magnetic boots he was wearing. Both the boots and the hard hats were required by Starfleet regulations to be in the active spacedock, even for someone who was just watching like the Captain was. He could see it was Lieutenant Erikson. "G'day Lieutenant. Yes. Yes the Starbase is quite a work of engineering. It even dwarfs the Galaxy. Not an easy thing to do."

"She does look a lot larger out here than on the inside." Greer admitted.

"Aye. You get more of a sense of scale out here. So what brings you out 'mate?" Lee asked.

"I wanted to talk to you actually Captain." Greer said solemnly.

Lee turned and faced the Chief Science Officer. "What's on your mind Lieutenant?"

"Well sir, while you and the others were gone into Klingon space, I took the liberty of doing some research into Klingon history. Using data available from the Starfleet database, as well as some texts obtained from Boreth in one of the libraries of Kahless, I have come up with a disturbing hypothesis..."

Lee glanced away at the working engineers. "That the Klingon people have already undergone a mutation? That it appears to have been covered up by someone in the Klingon Empire?"

Greer's eyes locked on the Captain's even though he was looking away at the engineers. "Exactly sir. You... you already knew?"

Captain Price shook his head slightly, "No, I didn't know Lieutenant. Not until Dergaus came to me and delivered his brother's message did I know. The wej'oy'nem. That's what the Klingon's call the mutation. It means 'three years of pain'. The subsequent cover up I have learned is referred to as the So'vanvIt. Or 'the rewriting of history'. The High Council's attempt to bury their mistake from the Klingon people."

"So then it was a government conspiracy?! I had a feeling that would be the only way something like this could have happened." Greer declared.

"Aye. But it's not something that we can bring out 'mate. We were able to convince Gowron and the High Council to abandon these experiments at genetically enhancing the Klingon people in exchange for our silence about the cover up and prior mutation. You did well in discovering the discrepancies, but it would be best all around if you kept that knowledge to yourself."

"Is that an order Captain?" Lieutenant Erikson asked.

Lee shook his head no. "Not an order 'mate. But think about this, even with the closing of the worm hole near Deep Space Nine, the Federation is still at war with the Dominion - Cardassian Alliance. And the Klingons are our biggest allies besides the Romulans. If their people were to learn of this past deception, or this recent attempt to again mutate their people against their knowledge, it would plunge the Empire into civil war, taking them out of the fight against the Alliance. Knowing that, you must do what you feel is right."

"I understand Captain." Greer said while he too looks out at the engineering team. "I think I liked it better when I didn't know as much as I do now sir. Made things a whole lot easier." He smiled.

"Aye. It's one of the rigors of command Lieutenant. I wish I could say it gets easier as time passes, but it never really does." Lee said, turning back to face Greer, "Just stick to what you feel is right in here 'mate, and you can't go wrong."

Erikson watched the Captain pat a finger to his chest near his heart. "I'll keep that in mind sir." Greer said, then stood there silently with the Captain and watched the engineers lower the panel into it's proper position before beginning to weld it into place.

"HOO RAAH!"
by Lt K'Eytyanna Samara

Grinning at Hunter, who was sitting next to her, she slid her hand under the table and gave him a very intimate grab, causing him to glare at her as she whispered something in his ear.

Under his breath, he whispered, "K'Eyt, your wild Klingon side may prefer us to have sex on the bridge or here now, but I really would prefer not to."

Shrugging, she went back to the tequila and the small plate nearby with lemon slices and salt.

Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Deiran Casey heading away from the bar. After he drifted around, he started moving towards her and Hunter.

'Bloody hell! I just bet he is going to order me to fix that shower.' she growled mentally.

"Hello you two. May I sit down?" Deiran asked as he pulled out the chair and waited for them to agree.

Subconsciously, she squeezed her hand tight, giving Mac a reason to belive that she was nervous about something.

"Sure take a load off," Mac replied laughing at Deiran’s subtle hints.

Casey sat down and looked at Kay. "Hi Kay, peace treaty for a few minutes ok?"

'Whatever he is thinking, it's got to be bad. I suppose we can have some peace but I'm sure he's upto something.'

Grunting, she spat out,

"I’ll fix the sonic shower tomorrow, I promise."

"Actually, this has nothing to do with the shower, but you will fix it soon. I’d like to invite you both on a extreme games holodeck program I made. I have one of the holodecks on the Starbase for a whole week and was wondering if you’d like to join me?"

"I’m game." Hunter said before they both turned to K'Eyt.

'That doesn't sound bad. I guess it is okay, as long as I watch him.'

"Sure, sounds fun, count me in. Besides it’ll get me out of fixing the shower."

Without thinking, she smiled slightly, glad that she had a reprieve on the shower.

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

Walking out of her bedroom, K'Eytyanna strapped her d'k tahg and its sheath to her right hip. Picking up the honour sash from its shelf, she lifted the steel sash over her head and let it drop over her shoulder.

Smoothing it down, she examined herself in the mirror before shrugging. After examining the system she had quickly setup to provide D'Akana's food and water, she speared some fruit in a nearby bowl with her d'k tahg and throwing a waterproof satchel over her other should before heading to the door.

"Computer, look after D'Akana well or I swear I will give you a personal lobotomy."

Stopping, she decided to leave the sash in her quarters and dumped it at the door.

'No way of knowing what Deiran is going to put us through, and I don't want that catching on anything.'

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

Arriving at the holodeck after recieving quite a few wolf whistles from some of the male crew, K'Eyt found Deiran and a few others waiting. After Hunter arrived, she stepped close and snuggled up against him.

Deiran gave a quick little speech before she decided to ask the obvious,

"Why are we in an airplane hangar?"

Suddenly, the doors slammed shut.

"Well, it’s the beginning of our funfest. No one can back out now. We’re in here for a week," Casey said, again he was smiling.

"I’ll ask it again Deiran, why are we in an airplane hangar?" Kay asked.

"We’re going skysurfing. Fun uh?"

'What the hell is he getting us into?'

After a very short silence, K'Eyt shrugged and gave a loud "HOO RAAH!" before charging towards the plane, calling out,

"Last one there's a spineless Ferengi!"

Lt K'Eytyanna Samara, USS Galaxy - Engineer/Shuttle Pilot D'Akana T'Mok (NPC), USS Galaxy - Pet

"Waltz of the Mighty Oinkus"
by Lt Endris Gakor,
with Lt Matthew Albrecht

***Caesar's Palace, Las Vegas, Earth***

"Dabo!", Endris cried over the gaming table. "Gakes!", remarked Albrecht, "you really should lose some! Winning that much could be against regulations!", he said with a disparaging glance to the growing mound of latinum. "But if I lose, who is going to pay for the All-you-can-eat buffet?", the Tellarite objected.

The Ferengi casino dealer rubbed his ears in apparent boredom, as the pair shuffled off towards the food. "Don't you think 25,000 bars of GPL is enough?", said the human. "You could almost pay for the Ambassadorial Mansion on Tellar for that"!

"Snacks Matthew, I think you would argue with your dinner if it could talk"!, joked the swine-nosed immunologist. "Well, just be ready Gakes. Tonight we dine at the Albrecht's family estates in Alaska. I promised to bring some holo-vids back to the Galaxy, and those winnings could buy a lot of salmon!"

After eating and sharing the wealth with some of her crew mates, who were attacking one arm bandits with gusto, Gakor decided to play a few rounds of Tongo. Matthew fumed around for awhile, then decided to tempt lady luck at the poker tables.

*** A few Minutes Later ***

It was Matthew's turn to win. "Are you sure a no-limits game is permitted for Star Fleet personnel?" the doctor argued. Staring at the Ace, Queen, Jack, and 10 of diamonds, Albrecht remarked it couldn't hurt. He slid a 5,000 GPL token over to the dealer and exchanged the spade, hoping for....

The King of Diamonds! "Yes!!!!, I believe the house pays 750 to one for a Royal Flush!", splaying his cards in full view of the cheering crowd.

"Do you realize you just won a decade's worth of pay in 5 minutes?", the doctor asked while checking both their heart rates. "We should donate some of the profits to charity, before the Fleet Commerce Authority raises an objection.", Endris noted. "Unless you want to thumb scan for an Intrepid class vessel...."

*** Meanwhile ***

Numa Tureen was trying to figure out what she was going to do with the pristine red Miata convertible she had earned from a pull on a slot machine. The status field around the automobile crackled with a bright blue tinge, almost matching the blue Benzite's skin color.

Nearby, Mei Yin muttered a Romulan curse, and tossed her free ale at the slot machine that had jipped her once too often. Yanking back the arm of the device, she hoped her final pull would win back some of her losses. Instead, she crumpled her fist into the casing in frustration, when only 2 bars appeared on the payline.

Something snapped, and the pilot knew she wouldn't be flying again anytime soon. The antique slot machine didn't even have as much as a dent in its reinforced Titaninum hull, as the half Rhomulan woman moved off in search of Gakor to fix her injury.

*** That Evening ***

Matthew and Endris had retired to his family estates for a pleasant Oinkus, leaving the rest of the crew at the casino or where ever they had chosen to spend their leave. The palatial estates sprawled over many acres, all protected by a huge dome. It offered a spectacular view of the tundra, and reminded the pair of the Breen guests that once had visited the star ship.

A quick dog-sled ride gave Matthew a chance to show off one of his less-useful skills to his friend, who whooped and hollered like a true Klondike local. Endris particularly liked the warm faux-fur parka she wore, it was Matthew's mother's, and he offered to let her keep it as a souvenir of her stay.

Albrecht was distracted all evening by the thoughts that flew through his head; Thoughts about moving a certain relationship into higher gear. He wasn't sure how to broach the subject, though. After all, Gakor had never expressed her feelings toward Matthew explicitly. He let such musings occupy his mind for some time...

"Hey, I was thinking", Gakor said in the pause between courses. "Why don't we beam over to Europe tomorrow for Lunch?"

Derailed from his train of thought, the young human assented to his friend's idea over a bite of Endive. "Sounds positively fascinating", he said with an almost Vulcan tone, effectively concealing his plans for later.

*** The Next Day, Cafe Picard, Paris ***

"Qu'est-ce vous voudrez?", inquired a human waiter after flaunting the extensive menu. Albrecht suggested several items, and Endris was impressed with his gastronomic selections. However, there was one treat he seemed to forget. A Terran item that lost all sense of flavor when replicated. Gakor wondered what could cause an omission of this magnitude, but remained silent for a bit to see if Matt would correct the error.

..."And Escargo with lime sauce", daunted the immunologist. She couldn't remain silent indefinitely at the faux pas. The human waiter looked a bit miffed at her choice of cuisine, but who would have the stomach to question a Tellarite? Fine champagne bubbles tickled Endris's nose, and she sneezed quite loudly, drawing stares from other diners.

"Pardonez Moi", she pleaded immediatemont.

"Gakes", distracted her human date, "would you....", he began, but was interrupted by a loud crashing sound from the direction of the kitchens. "Save it for later, little nose", Gakor commented, patting cheese sauce off her fur with a napkin. "Why don't we wander over to the Louvre? I hear they are displaying the Brack collection?"

"The what?", stammered the Terran. The first Enterprise had stumbled on to Flint, a long lived man who had been part of much of Earth's past. During nearly 6 eons of life, the man had created many masterpieces. The being was born with some congenital enhancements that Federation science failed to unravel, the being maintained a ruse all his existence, appearing to age and then popping up later with a new identity. Unfortunately, he sacrificed immortality by leaving the complex environment of his homeworld.

"What would you like to do after that? I understand the gondolas in Venice are a must," Albrecht suggested, hoping to move the trip farther in the direction he wanted it to go.

She nodded absently, "Then we could go to Rome. I want to sample some authentic Pasta," Gakor remarked gluttonously, patting her just filled tummy for emphasis.

"Whatever you say, Madam", the security officer conceded. Things were bound to get interesting, especially with Endris in tow.

A Horse Ride
By Ensign Anthony Mendenhall, Engineer

Mendenhall could see his breath as he prepared the horses with his sister. He was wearing a borrowed pair of jeans and shirt from his father. The cowboy hat he wore was his along with the jacket. He had gotten a pair of gloves from the barn, which belonged to no one in particular.

"I still don’t see why you like riding these things so much." Mendenhall mounted the old black horse named "Fuzz." It was the only horse he could stand in his youth.

"Just because you had to clean up after them until you were 16, doesn’t mean you have to hate them." Lex rode up next to him.

"Ya, well you only had to start when you were ten, then stop when Zach started at eight. One year compared to my six. You know how many tons of manure that makes?" They started with a slow trot towards a river bank.

"Lets see, you made about five hundred bars of GPL, with five to the ton. That means about one-hundred tons of the stinky stuff."

"Yea, at least I made money off it. You guys always just shoveled it into the garden." They started a little faster down a hill.

"Race you to the pond!" With that her horse sped off. Mendenhall laughed and followed after her. Even though he detested horses, it didn’t mean he didn’t like riding them once in a while. He knew he would win easy because he was riding fuzz.

As they approached the pond, Mendenhall could see that she was a great deal ahead, so he pulled off a trick that he had used since he learned to ride. The horse and rider almost went down vertically twenty feet. The horse was used to it by now, but a surge of excitement and fear spread through his body just like every time before. When Lex caught up to them, he dismounted and let the old horse take a drink.

"Still isn’t fair that you can do that." The prizewinning equestrian rider pouted as she let her horse start drinking along with Fuzz.

"I know, but old Fuzz here can’t run as fast as he used too." He petted the large animal’s neck and sat down. He fixed his hat so it blocked the morning sun. "So, what made you join Starfleet?" He puttered with a piece of grass.

She sat there for a moment then started speaking. "Partly you. But most of all, I wanted to be more than just some farm girl. I mean, I love the farm and stuff, but I’d rather be where you are. Up there." She pointed up at the sky. The moon was still showing through the clear blue sky.

He messed up her long blonde hair. "Same here. Just stay away from Security. Half are just over muscled control freaks." With that comment he felt Lex hit him softly on the head.

"Your so mean. You know Mike wanted to be in security."

"That’s my point."

"Your so mean."

"I know." He smiled at the comment. "How did Zach, or anyone for that matter know about me denying those promotions?" The thought had bugged him all night when him, Drew, and Zach had watched the first three Star Wars movies. It was funny watching them. Death Stars with lightsabers. He laughed just thinking about the funny white guys.

"That guy wrote us. Lieutenant, um-" Mendenhall finished her sentence. "Smith." She snapped her fingers. "Yea, that’s it. Lieutenant Smith. Why did you anyway."

Mendenhall thought for a moment. "Well, I guess I was afraid." He looked down at a blade of grass and fumbled with it. "Afraid of what." Now she was curious.

"I don’t know. Responsibilities. Having all that pressure. I mean, if I had gotten promoted then I’d be in charge of people. If I made a mistake other people could get hurt because of them. You know." He felt a reassuring arm over his shoul-der.

"All goes back to that cat, doesn’t it. It wasn’t your fault he got bailed." She tried to be serious but it sounded pretty funny.

"Yea, it was my fault. I goofed off that day and everything needed to be har-vested. It was late at night, and I was going by power beam lights. If I hadn’t that whole family of cats wouldn’t be dead and Digit would have four legs. It’s things like that. Digit reminds me what happens if I goof up or make mistakes."

Lex sqeezed his shoulder. "Your too hard on yourself. Look, I won’t accept En-sign until you make Lieutenant Junior Grade." She looked him coldly in the eyes. He knew there was no reason to try to argue with her. "And you better hurry up because I’m going to be commanding my own Science ship before I’m thirty."

"If they found a way to hook up your Ego into shields, this Dominion war would be over." They both laughed. "Let’s go back. Mom wants me to eat some REAL food, not replicated."

They both started riding back home. When they got to the stables, Mendenhall asked his sister a question. "How many little pranks has Zach pulled off that I thought of?" He locked the gate to Fuzz’s stall and waited for his sister.

"You know that file you made called "Schemes and Scams."

"Yea."

"Zach hacked into it and has tried everyone of them twice, some more."

He chuckled and imagined all the things he had thought of being pulled on some-one else. "How many times has he been caught?" They started off "That’s the scary thing. Never. He’s as slick at pulling those off as you were hacking into things. In fact, he’s just a mini version of you, only with guts." She poked him in the stomach.

"One day he’s going to get into something way over his head, and it’s going to teach him to stop."

"What ever made you stop?" He stopped him wondering why he suddenly quite one of his favorite past times, computer intrusion.

"Just think of the things I could do with a Galaxy class computer core. If I didn’t stop before I was assigned, then I’d be in the brig right now." They both laughed as they started in for a REAL breakfast.

"Shore Leave"
by Lt. Tebrianne Bancroft

***

Tebrianne took another swig of her beer. She glanced around Ten Forward and sighed. She took another drink and put the shuttle trip to Earth she'd missed out of her head. There would be other times to visit her family. The time off would give her the chance to get caught up on some helm reports. Not that she really needed to get caught up since she'd already done that.

She wanted to get Greer out of her head. She'd chickened out telling him how she felt last time they were together. She was a gutless wonder. Teb knocked back the last of the beer and ordered another.

She'd finished with the rest of the novel she'd started. Les Miserables. It felt like her life story. Well, Eponine's story felt like her story, anyway. The bartender dropped the beer off and gave her a smile. She managed to give him a half-smile.

"Computer," she said into her comm-badge. "Please prepare a list of any other works based on the novel Les Miserables by Victor Hugo and download them into this PADD." She nudged the PADD on the bar and waited for the computer to work its magic.

=^= Results compiled and downloaded. =^=

"Thank you, computer," Teb said with sarcasm. "You are most kind."

She picked up the PADD and started reading. There had been several movies made during the 20th, 21st, and 23rd centuries. A project had been started in 2334, but the lead had been killed by a rogue Breen psychopath. Something farther down the list caught Tebrianne's eye. A musical? They'd made a musical of that tragic story? It had better be better than the musical version of the fall of Rome, Tebrianne thought.

She put on the headset attached to her special "Walk-PADD" as she called it. It was a name she'd pulled out of the history databanks.

"Computer, load a copy of the music from selection seventeen into PADD Walker-Alpha-One-One."

A polite chirp a moment later told Teb the computer had done as she asked. She flipped on the switch and started listening. It was pretty good.

Teb sat listening to the music for nearly an hour. She didn't move. Occasionally she'd remember to take a sip of her beer. She was completely enthralled. Finally, after what seemed like days, the music stopped. Teb wiped the tears from her eyes and tried not to snuffle too much. She downed the rest of her beer in a single gulp.

"Are you okay, Lieutenant?" asked the man behind the bar.

"I'm fine, Raoul," she said. "I just listened to the music from an old musical called Les Miserables. I guess they used to call it Les Miz--which is bloody easier than saying Les Miserables."

"That good, eh?" he said offering her a tissue.

"Well, it was fab music and all," she said. "But for some reason, I really connected with one of the characters in it."

"Oh really? That's great. I saw the holo-re-enactment of Casablanca, and I really connected there too. So I know what you mean."

"Don't tell me you connected Humphrey Bogart's character..."

"No, I connected with Sam for some reason. And, I don't even play the piano."

Teb smiled.

"So," Raoul said. "Which character did you connect with?"

Teb giggled. "I'd tell you, but I'd have to space you."

"Ahh," Raoul said. "One of those roles."

"It was Eponine."

"Eponine, eh?" he said thinking. "If I remember correctly, isn't she the one that is in love with the one guy that ends up falling in love with the Val Joan guy's daughter?"

"It's Valjean," Teb corrected. "And, yes she is. I didn't know you knew the story."

"Grew up on the classics, Ms. Bancroft," he said with pride. "I read them all." He wiped the bar a little with the rag he held in his hand reminding Tebrianne of an old movie. "And if you connected with Eponine, I would reckon that there is some 'bloke' on this ship who you have a big heart for, but he has his sights set elsewhere?"

"You're not Betazoid, are you?"

"Human, through and through," Raoul said with a grin. "It's the bartender's intuition. It's a gift. And, now you're dodging the question."

"Okay," she said. "But, I'm not going to say who it is."

"Very well," he said. "Then you force me to guess. Did I ever tell you I was a fan of Sherlock Holmes?" Tebrianne shook her head. "Let's see, first thought would be Deiren Casey because everyone is hot after him. But, it's not Casey with you, is it? No, it's someone gentle and intelligent. An officer? Okay, just off the top of my head...Lt. Erikson the Science Chief."

Teb's mouth dropped open as she stared slack-jawed at him. She slapped at his arm and said, "Okay, yes it's Greer and if you breathe a word of this to anyone, I'll bloody well dump you out an airlock."

"Your secret is safe with me, Tebrianne," he said. "Consider it privileged information. I will take it to my deathbed with me."

"Okay."

"Another drink, Lieutenant?"

"That will be fine," she said. Tebrianne smiled at him, wondering if her feelings for Greer were that obvious. Well, at least they weren't to Greer. Raoul brought her another drink and excused himself to take care of another customer.

Teb's thoughts were interrupted as a body moved up behind her.

"Ay matey, may I sit?" Teb looked up at 'Commander Casey. He was grinning from ear to ear...probably after knowing that he just slaughtered her native tongue.

"That was a terrible imitation," Teb said, adding a smile. "Yes." She motioned to the stool next to her. "You may sit." She hoped he didn't hear any of her conversation with Raoul.

"It was suppose to be," Casey said. "No one does London better than you, Teb." Okay, Teb thought. He's trying to flatter me...and it's working. "I have a proposition for you. You interested?"

He flashed the smile that had melted more than a few hearts on the ship.

"Sure what’s up your sleeve?" Tebrianne asked.

"I have a holodeck on Starbase 74 for a whole week. I have a holodeck program that I think you'll like. Doing some fun things. White water rafting, rock climbing, snowboarding. You game?" 'Commander Casey was positively beaming.

This would probably be Casey's element, and she'd look like a fool. But, it would get her mind off of Greer for a little while.

"Sure sounds bloody fun!" Teb with as much enthusiasm as she could muster.

The Casey smile flashed again, and he said. "Great, meet me at Holodeck 8 at the Starbase."

***

Tebrianne got dressed in a pair of spandex shorts and a pair of tank tops. She checked through the replicator to find a shoe that would work for what she expected in the holodeck.

"Computer, replicate model 31 in my size please. Color navy." The boots would match the outer-tank. She put on a pair of socks that matched the inner tank top. "I sure hope the layered look is still in," she said with a smile. "Not that it matters." Tebrianne looked at herself in the mirror. "Be a trend-setter," she taunted herself.

Tebrianne grabbed a black leather choker and strapped it around her neck.

"Time to rock and roll."

On her way out the door, Teb grabbed her guitar and the key-mat. What were extreme sports without music?

Tebrianne took a transporter over to the Starbase and met the rest of the crew. She barely knew anyone...except for Ensign McCloud sort of. She had talked to the others on occasion, but never at any length...even Casey.

Casey seemed impatient, checking the chronometer and tapping his foot. The little ritual seemed to have some effect because it wasn't long before Cat showed up. Now Teb knew two people.

"Sorry everyone," Cat said. "Couldn't find my boots."

"Well good thing you found them. You'll need them," Casey said.

Casey took a look around the room at the group surrounding him, waiting to get on with what he had planned for them. He keyed open the holodeck doors and stepped to the side, with a flourish, he said, "Enter my domain."

Teb stepped through into what appeared to be an aircraft hanger. It was big, and loud and everything echoed.

"Okay everyone," Casey called. "I'm glad you accepted my invitation. This program is filled with music. So while we hike or swim, or go rafting will be listening to some great music by everyone from the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, the Chemical brothers to Van Halen, the Killjoys and Guns N Roses. You can’t get extreme without some good ol’ fashioned rock and roll."

"Why are we in an airplane hangar?" Lt. Samara asked.

The holodeck doors banged shut, causing Tebrianne to jump.

"Well, it’s the beginning of our funfest. No one can back out now. We’re in here for a week." There was an almost sinisterness in Casey's smile that time.

"I’ll ask it again Deiran, why are we in an airplane hangar?" Samara asked again.

"We’re going skysurfing," Casey said, adding a little emphasis with his eyebrows." "Fun uh?"

There was a long moment of silence and Samara erupted into a near battle cry and took off toward the plane.

"Last one there's a spineless Ferengi!" she called as she ran.

Teb adjusted the guitar on her back, and bolted for the plane. She couldn't think of anything cool to shout so she just ran. She really hoped she knew what she was doing.

Lt. Tebrianne, USS Galaxy, Chief Helmsman
dodger@hevanet.com
UIN# 2172851

*** By Ensign BeTran M'Benga ***
*** And Lt. jg Numa Taurean ***

The passenger transport to Africa was full. Stacked to the gills. But Ensign Be'Tran M'Benga didn't mind, or she didn't seem to mind. She'd been feeling on top of it (whatever it was) all day, sience she'd gotten her letter to Jack D'Auria, back aboard the Galaxy, posted at a subspace-mailing station earlier that day.

The young Benzite sitting next to her, however, was not as happy. She was squirming in her seat. "How do you breath with so much...so much Humanity crowding around?" she asked, disgustedly. Numa , of course, wasn't discomforted by the large crowds of people. She was just remembering what the Galaxy had just gone through, and she was remembering all the deaths that she had seen. Numa just wanted to get away from every thing and every one. She wanted some time to herself.

Be'Tran giggled, and added "Very carefully.", then she began to breath slowly, all the time peering around bug-eyed, as if someone was going to snatch something from her.

"Not funny!" said Numa Taurean, as she tried to stretch her feet out. She'd been walking all day. Going from flower-shop to flower-shop, looking for something exotic and unusual for her collection.

"Just for that." she said, and draped her legs over into Be'Tran's seat, and across the taller girl's lap.

Be'Tran let out a loud laugh. "That's OK," she said, "Take a load off. Seriously, Numa, I'm just greatful you decided to come along with me. I just don't know if I really would've wanted to go home, alone I mean.", and at that her mind wandered back to the bruised and battered Galaxy. The science-lab. Something she would never forget.

Numa wiggled her feet, and tried to kick her flat-soled boots off, "Hey, after all that bragging you did on your dad's arboretum, how could I resist?" she said. The Benzite was hooked as soon as the Klingon had mentioned that her father was a collector of plants as well. Yes, Numa was going to enjoy wandering around the arboretum, which Be'Tran had told her was as big as a house, in search of the strange, the unusual, and the exotic. Of course Numa knew that she didn't have room in her tiny apartment aboard the USS Galaxy, but she would be sure to add any new prize to the arboretum where she spent much of her time tending the plants anyway.

**************************************************
USUMBURA, THE UNITED STATES OF AFRICA
**************************************************

The Usumbura Municipal Hospital was a huge old building. Built over 300 years ago, before the Eugenics War in the 21st Century. It was originaly the sight of the first Usumbura University.

After the War, it was converted into a hospital, and it stayed that way ever sience. It was a public hospital, meaning it served anybody, anytime, regardless... just plain regardless! Good policy!

Or, at least Dr. Paul M'Benga thought so. He had been on staff at the hospital for, well, sience his third child had been born. And he and his wife had 14 kids. Now, as the fourteenth was trying to make a name for herself in StarFleet; Dr. M'Benga was Director of Medicine at Usumbura Municipal.

It had been a long day. M'Benga had treated over 30 patients, and he was ready to go home. Tired. He wanted nothing more than a hot bath, and a hotter cup of Roktajino.

He sealed the security-lock on his office, and tucked his old fedora-hat under his arm, and started for the main exit. "Good night, Dr. M'Benga." called a young female voice from behind him as he went. One of the nurses on the ward.

"Thank you," he called back, "but it wont be a good night 'till I'm home in bed, fast asleep!" he spoke with a thick Bantu-African accent.

At the main entrance he met up with UsuMun's (as the hospital was often called) head nurse. "Good night, Helen." he said.

Helen, an attractive middle-aged woman, with a more-than-obviously mechanical right arm, grinned at the doctor. "Good night, Paul." she said, and she took M'Benga's hat from under his arm, and placed it on his head. Her arm whirred and whined as she did so.

"Y'know," said M'Benga, "I can upgrade that for you. Only take a minute." he meant, of course, the noisy old prosthetic.

Helen laughed, "You mean a week. No thank you, Paul. The patients need me alot more than I need a new arm. Now get the Hell outta here and go home and get some rest."

M'Benga just grinned, as he walked out into the bright Usumbura evening-sun. He'd known Helen all his medical career. He was at the Hospital when she lost her arm, in an accident there. She was probably his best and truest friend.

Just as he stepped out, a young female voice, off to his right and below, bellowed something in Klnigon. Paul looked down to see a tall, attractive Klingon-looking woman, and a distracted looking Benzite female standing on the lower steps of the hospital's entrance.

"Betta!" called the doctor, and ran into his youngest child's outstretched arms. They kissed, he, the taller by several inches, kissing Be'Tran's head-ridges. Then they embraced warmly. Numa remained silent allowing the intamcy to exchange between father and daughter. She smiled and thought of her own family.

"Betta." the doctor said again, "I didn't know you were coming home. When did you get leave?"

"It was kinda short notice, dad." Be'Tran admitted, "It was almost like orders, you see, this Lieutenant..." Be'Tran trailed off.

Dr. M'Benga's attention was now focused on his daughter's companion. "Hello," he said loudly. "I'm Dr. M'Benga, Be'Tran's father," and here he walked down the steps, towards Numa Taurean, offering a hand, "and you are?"

"Numa, Lt. jg. Numa Taurean." the Benzite responded using her newly assigned rank and taking the offered hand, and shaking it. Then, a surprising thing happened; M'Benga hugged the startled Numa with, seemingly, all his strength. Numa wasn't prepared for such a display of affection. In fact, the last time she had allowed anyone to hug her was just before Torel Jenkins, a botanist, left on a scientific expedition to gather information. Later she would be told that her young lover had been killed. He was her lover, her teacher, and her reason for her chosen field of study. His legacy lived on in her work.

"Any friend of Betta's is family to me. Any friend of any of my children is family to me." he said as he released his hold, as if to explain his actions.

Numa was busy catching her breath. "Dad..." Be'Tran sounded almost scolding. She had sensed the strong emotions within Numa that had suddenly risen to the surface, even though Numa's exterior remained as calm and expressionless as always.

"What," asked the doctor, "They don't hug in StarFleet?"

"Well..." replied Be'Tran.

"Not as a general rule," offered Numa, with a warm and welcome smile, "of course in your case, I'll make an exception."

Dr. M'Benga, who's bedside manner must have been something to behold, tugged his short grey goatee thoughtfully. "Well, then," he said at last, "I must make amends for 'rule-breakage', you, Miss Tureen," he mispronounced, "must spend the night with us!"

"She's gonna be spending several nights with us, if it's not a problem. She wants to see the arboretum." said Be'Tran.

"Well, well, well." said the doctor, "A plant-lover, are you?"

Numa took on a look of sudden confidence, "Yes, sir!" she replied.

Dr. M'Benga smiled, "Then my arboretum can be your home, if you wish, while you're here with my daughter." with that, he tilted back his hat. " Now, let's go, I'll give you a ride to the house, girls. It's late, and I'm tired. I wanna get home."

Numa cast a sidelong smile at Be'Tran, "You seem at no loss for energy to me." she remarked to the doctor.

"I always save as much energy as I can for meeting new people. Makes a better impression." said the doctor, "you never know. You might be apatient of mine someday. And you wouldn't want a dullard for a doctor, now would you?"

"Well, as long as he knew his stuff," offered Numa, "i don't think I'd mind too much. Not that I'd want some tempermental grump with no bedside-manner at all either."

"My point exactly." said M'Benga, and with that they were at his car. It was an old model hover-craft, with a rebuilt engine. Rebuilt by Be'Tran, and her sister Khryshaan.

"Get in girls." said the doctor, and they did so, Numa taking some time to squeez a big bag into the rear storage area.

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

The M'Benga home in Usumbura was lavish. It had three stories. It was another old building from the 21st Century. Grey stones, with vines climbing the walls that were only a hundred-or-so years younger than the house. The young Benzite was in awe, "It's so beautiful and serene."

Dr. M'Benga parked his hovercraft in a port that could habe easily held ten such vehicles (there were three others there). He then showed the two young officers inside, and gave their luggage to an old Ferengi who seemed to pop out of nowhere as soon as the doctor enterred the house.

"Nir, this is Lt. Taurean," M'Benga said to the Ferengi, "give her the guestroom on the second floor. Khalfani's old room."

The old Ferengi nodded, and with a quite "Yessir." took the bags up the long, wide, front staircase, with the help of a gravlift.

"A Ferengi houseboy?" Numa whispered to Be'Tran. Be'Tran just shrugged.

"Well, girls, " said the doctor, clapping his hands together loudly, "I'm ready for dinner. Hungry!?"

Be'Tran nodded, "Where's mom?", she asked.

"Oh, I guess you didn't know." was her father's reply. "She's gone to Betazed. Your granduncle, Zaan Pyathar, died last week. Heart-attack. She's gone for the funeral."

Be'Tran looked downcast for a moment, then sad. But her moods seemed to have a way of brightening quickly. She turned to her companion.

"C'mon," she began, heading for the stairs, "I'll show you your room. The we can grab dinner."

Numa smiled, "Sounds like a plan."

"Then," said Be'Tran, "tomorrow we can visit the arboretum."

With that, Numa followed Be'Tran upstairs, and into the labyrinth that was the M'Benga mansion.

Pig be Gone
by Lieutenant Endris Gakor

*** Rome ***

The Galaxy had taken a pounding during its mission to support their Klingon allies. It would take a few weeks to retrofit the star ship, even if the interval seemed like only a short span of days. Although she and Albrecht were now in Europe, Endris thought back a week, when the two had covered the cajun restaurants in New Orleans.

A place called Sisco's was bound to stick in her memories for a while. Their gumbo recipe was truly amazing!

Endris and Matthew looked at the ruins of the Colosseum, as workers in orange suits erected historical preservation fields to ensure the building remained in tact for future generations to admire. Sniffing the fragrance of fresh olive oil, Gakor had soon tracked down the elusive Pasta Palace.

"Linguini!", she exclaimed. Her human comrade pointed to a far table, where a Ferengi appeared to be choking. "It looks like big ears needs help, Doc", he said in surprise.

Without hesitating, Gakes moved over to the large lobed one and chopped him on the back. A fragment of bone slipped out, and a swift intake of air demonstrated for all the problem had been resolved.

*** Later that evening ***

A pair of weary space traveler returned to their hotel. The view of ancient aqueducts was breathtaking, however, Endris wasn't looking at the scenery. The pudgy Tellarite was toting several shopping bags, but the small pasta machine and other items didn't do much to deplete her Vegas payday.

Gakor dressed to retire and was soon heading for her room, about to dream of the fragrant sauces and cuisine of Earth. With this distraction in mind, she failed to notice the distinct smell of Ferengi Tube Grubs in her room, or even see the flap of elephant sized ears hiding in the shadows.

Once she had separated from Albrecht for the night, an alien hand yanked her into the alcove.

"My name is Zaek", informed her Ferengi captor. "I suggest you be quiet, unless you want to die now in poverty", he gestured with an energy whip. The distinctive Ferengi lash crackled with a menacing threat of discharge.

"I have a business proposition to discuss, Doctor. Medical services can pay handsomely", he joked, ruffly grabbing her comm badge and confiscating it. "And since you aren't a Ferengi Fee-male, we might even leave you keep some clothing, if only to spare us your pigish figure."

"Pack your things, we are taking a vacation", the profit monger proded with a easily concealable palm phaser. To make it look less like a kidnapping, the greedy troll threw a pair of strips of latinum on the bed for the cleaning functionaries. After Endris rounded up her things, Zaek had her shunt the key to the checkout counter and insure the staff things were normal.

Touching his chest, Zaek informed a Ferengi vessel in orbit that he and Endris would beam up. A purple smudge of energy transported the bacon lady to the Marauder class ship, while Albrecht slept comfortably unharmed back in the hotel.

=/\= "Abandoned" =/\=
by Lt Matthew Albrecht

He was awakened by the sound of his chamber doorbell. Matthew kicked off the sheets of his huge hotel bed, and stood quickly. He always awoke quickly when in a strange place, and Paris was about as strange a place as he had ever been. Taking a quick look at himself and at the time according to his nightstand chronometer, he determined that his cotton boxers would have to be enough clothing for whoever was ringing his bell at seven AM. Besides, he reasoned, it might be Gakes...

It wasn't. At the door stood a sharply dressed and clearly quite awake young man, rolling a cart. He wore a hotel uniform with a bright pink carnation on his lapel. On the cart was a bottle of champaigne, and a small pitcher of orange juice, along with two covered dishes. "Is monsieur breaking his fast alone, this beautiful morning?" asked the young waiter, with only a hint of disdain.

Matthew was perplexed. Two dishes, two champaigne glasses, it appeared he could expect company. "It looks as if I will not be alone for long. Thank you very much,"he said, looking into the Frenchman's eyes. Matthew went to his nightstand, and scooped up a couple of latinum slips for the man. When he turned around, the door was clacking shut, in that way mechanical doors have. Matthew was left standing alone in his luxurious room, morning light from the windows reflecting off the mint-toned white walls and gold-gilded decorations making the room terribly bright.

"Computer," he prompted. The room's rudimentary computer system responded with a whistle. "Allow access to any one who knocks upon the door. I will be in the shower." The computer again whistled, the only reply it could provide other than the sour note it would give when it meant 'no.' He then went into the giant, well-appointed bathroom and climbed into the shower/spa, leaving the door open so he could see if he had any visitors. His shower turned into a long bath; Still, no one came to his room.

He spent some time considering the room service cart sitting in the center of his room; Undoubtedly, Gakes had sent it in. So where was she? Eventually, Matthew gave into his thirst and poured himself a glass of champaigne and juice. His mother had a name for the concoction, but he couldn't remember what she called them. It was delicious, the champaigne was undoubtedly an expensive one, but Gakor was never one to let convention keep her from trying yet another culinary experience. If the kitchen staff only knew he was pouring orange juice into their rare-vintage champaigne, they would certainly curse him loudly and brandish sharp cooking utensils. Forget them, he figured, they had never toured restaurants with Endris Gakor!

Eventually he gave in further to temptation, and lifted the covers from one of the breakfast plates. Crepes and fresh fruit, covered in confectioner's sugar and a cherry sauce. The dishes were beautifully laid out, with the sauce dribbled carefully in a spiral from the center of the plate to the edges, and the powdered sugar dropped in a perfect checkerboard pattern. Someone had spent some serious time on this meal, yet unfortunately it had become cold while he waited for company. Why had Gakor not shown up to eat before the meal turned cold? He began to get worried about his friend.

**** Outside Gakor's Room -- fifteen minutes later ****

The hotel's head of guest safety, the hotel's equivalent of a gendarmes, was a tall, thin man with a perpetual pout and a lazy eye. In his thick French accent, he said, "Monsieur Albrecht, I want you to know that it is only due to our great respect for the Star Fleet that we have agreed to open the madamoiselle's room to you." The man, Matthew had discovered, had a habit of referring to himself in the plural 'we.' He continued, "We do not like to invade the privacy of our guests on a whim."

Matthew responded to the man's superior attitude, "Monsieur LaRousse, I assure you, this is no idle worry. She missed our breakfast date, and she is not responding to her comm badge. I would be neglecting my duties as a Star Fleet security officer if I did not check to see what has happened!" He attempted to hide his concern behind a mask of professionalism.

The Frenchman deactivated Gakor's room lock, and they walked in. Matthew's senses were keenly alert for danger, but none was to be found. Her rooms were vacant. All her belongings were gone, packed up and taken away. There were two latinum strips lying on the bed for the cleaning woman, and an old- fashioned comment card was lying on the nightstand, filled out. LaRousse picked it up, and read it aloud; "Cleanliness of accomodations: Good. Quality of service: Excellent. Overall environment: Good. Ease of checkout: Good," he emphasized each rating by raising his voice. "Comments: Lovely hotel, I will recommend it to my friends." He looked at Matthew with pity, and shook his head.

The hotel security guard's radio squawked, "Monsieur LaRousse, the desk reports that madamoiselle Gakor's key was in the night-drop. What would you like me to tell them?"

LaRousse looked away from Matthew, and spoke into his microphone, "Mon Dieu, just process the checkout as usual. There is no longer any reason for concern." Grumpily, the thin man left Matthew alone in the room, to wonder at his friends' sudden and unannounced departure.

**** Paris Shuttle Port -- that evening ****

The platform was bustling with dozens of people waiting for the next shuttle to Seattle. The crowd was mostly Terran, but Matthew spotted a handful of Klingons, Andorians and Vulcans among the throng. He didn't spot a single Tellarite. *I scared her away!* he decided. *I came on too strong, she got scared, and she left. Probably went to Italy without me!" Matthew had left word at the hotel in case she returned there to look for him. He doubted she would. He didn't expect to see her again until the Cydonia left Earth for the Galaxy at SB74. *I just can't compete with pasta,* he joked to himself.

Soon he was on his way to Washington, and on from there to the Albrecht dome. He certainly had lots to do there, visiting family and old acquaintances. It had been the Summer of 69 when he had last visited--people would expect a visit from the town's 'favorite son.'

On the connecting shuttle out of Seattle, he made up his mind to forget about Gakor for a few days and have a good time. There would be plenty of time to figure out why she had ditched him back on the Galaxy!

Lt Matthew Albrecht
Security Officer
USS Galaxy NCC 70637

"Medal of Honor"
by Lieutenant (jg) James Chen
Security Officer

Chen stretched his stiff muscles as he stepped down off the Cydonia. Barring the dream, the trip had been pleasant. The people were nice and conversation was good. The people were planning on going different places. Several of the other officers were going to Las Vegas to have a little fun. Chen considered it, but had decided he would be better off with as little human contact as possible right now.

He caught the first shuttle to San Francisco and headed immediately for the docks, stopping off to get some groceries first. He walked to where his houseboat was docked and typed the code on panel next to the door. The panel not only computed the code, but also read his fingerprints to make sure it was really Chen. He opened the door and went below.

The room was cleaned immaculately without a trace of a cobweb anywhere. Master Kwan knew an old woman who came weekly and cleaned the place. Chen was happy to pay her a fair sum to continue. He didn't have much money, but he had a few bars of GPL stashed away. He found bed linens in the closet and the small refrigerator still working and running water. He unpacked and made himself a sandwich.

He changed out of his uniform and walked back on deck. He sat down on a deck chair in the shade and looked at the ocean. He closed his eyes and smelled the sea air and took a bite of his sandwich. Chen quietly polished off his lunch and went below to take a quick nap.

He wasn't asleep for more than a few minutes when he heard a voice. "Hello? Anybody here?"

Chen rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and climbed up the steps. He saw a tall man with brown hair in a Starfleet officer's uniform standing near the boat. He smiled at Chen when he came up. "Lieutenant Chen?"

Chen nodded. "Can I help you?"

The man smiled. "I hope so." He walked up the gangplank. "Permission to come aboard?"

Chen shrugged. "Sure."

The officer extended his hand. "I'm Lieutenant Commander Jacoby. I'm with the Internal Affairs Bureau."

"And what does IA want with me?"

"I'm just here to congratulate you."

"Congratulate me? On what?"

"You haven't heard yet?"

"Apparently not."

Jacoby looked Chen directly in the eyes as he spoke. "You're being awarded the Starfleet Medal of Honor."

Chen's eyes widened. "What for?"

Jacoby smiled. "Well, you and the other two officers who helped repel the Borg at Wolf 359."

Chen looked at the floor. He looked at the deck for a moment, then looked back up. "It's hot out here. Can I get you something to drink. Water, iced tea?"

Jacoby nodded. "Iced tea would be great."

Chen turned around. "Come on down." They walked down into the boat. Jacoby looked around as Chen made the tea. "Nice boat. Inherited it from Master Kwan?"

Chen smiled and handed Jacoby his glass. "You IA boys know just about everything, don't you?"

Jacoby smiled and took a short pull from his tea. He pointed at it. "Not bad. You don't seem very excited about receiving one of Starfleet's highest honors."

Chen shrugged. "I'm a little surprised, that's all. We were already decorated for that once. The Starfleet Citation for Conspicuous Gallantry."

Jacoby made a face. "Yeah, but that's an outdated award. Captain Kirk was awarded it when he was starting out. Besides, I guess what with recent events and all, they just thought they owed Lucas something."

Chen's head snapped up. "What about Lucas?"

Jacoby didn't seem too surprised. "You mean they haven't told you yet? Man, sometimes I wonder how we can manage to get subspace communications through and yet not tell somebody what's happened to a friend of theirs."

"What happened," Chen asked more urgently.

Jacoby looked at Chen, his eyes sad this time. "He killed himself aboard the USS Olympia. Apparently, he set his phaser to overload and laid down on top of it. He was long gone when the doctors arrived. You could've cleaned up what was left with a sponge and a dustpan."

Chen sat down on the bed. "My God." He sat there for a moment. then he looked back up. "You act like you knew him."

Jacoby nodded. "Before I joined IA we served aboard the same ship for a couple of years. We were good friends, but I always got the feeling that he was holding something back." He looked at Chen. "I wonder what could have drove him to do this."

Chen looked back at the floor. "Whatever it was, it must have been bad."

Jacoby nodded. "You have any idea what that could have been?"

Chen answered immediately. "No. No idea." He deftly changed the subject. "So why did that prompt them to give us the medal now?"

Jacoby shrugged and casually sipped at his tea. "I'd imagine it was political. I mean, we lost most of our heroes and experienced officers at Wolf 359. And now, you've got this war with the Dominion and Starfleet figures they need as many officers as they can get. I mean, more and more kids are entering into the fields of Engineering and Command while fields like security and sciences are suffering. Why? Because they don't get the publicity. They don't get the glory to attract the cadets."

Chen nodded. "Then you pull up three security officers who made good and all of a sudden, kids decide security might be a neat thing to spend their time on."

"And at the same time, cover up the events of Lucas' death with the events of his life. In the end, the fact that he killed himself will only get a few seconds of press. A blurb in the news."

Chen nodded. "And nobody's ever the wiser."

Jacoby smiled. "Exactly. Well, I think the Admiralty is sending an aide or somebody over to tell you. I think they'll want you to leave tomorrow sometime for Starbase 74, where the dinner is held." Jacoby looked at Chen. He set down his glass. "Thanks for the tea. Hope to see you again. I'll let myself out."

Chen watched as Jacoby left. Chen didn't like the way he looked. He seemed to know, or suspect something. Chen sighed and poured his drink into the sink and slowly packed his things again. He left a note for the cleaning woman to take all of the supplies he had left. There was a sound as someone else came on deck. "Lieutenant Chen?"

Chen climbed back on top and locked the door. "Let's go. You guys are springing for the hotel, though."

Trapped in the Regan Years
By Lieutenant Endris Gakor

*** Ferengi Marauder "Latinum Trove", present ***

*** Bridge ***

Endris woke up, wondering where she was. She noticed scribbled notes on the walls, and recalled being abducted by a Ferengi during the night. A fat but short auditor waltzed into her rest chamber and pulled her out to the bridge, tugging fiercely on her hair. With a thump, she was hurled across the room and deposited in front of Zaek.

Okay, everyone, time to introduce you to our Doctor. I'm sure she would heartily agree with our 214th rule of acquisition, "Never begin a business negotiation on an empty stomach".

"Fooood is good for business", Endris joked, hoping the lecherous money lovers would fondle piles of latinum elsewhere. "Proprietor Blrat has a broken femur, I suggest you mend it", Zaek demanded with a toothy grin.

*** Sick Bay ***

Ferengi medical technology was backwards at best. Gakor was not sure if equipment cobbled together from spare parts was supposed to work, but she managed to set Blrat's broken bone.

"PSST", hissed her patient. "Zaek has a plan to hijack us into the past. You look like a smart Female, perhaps you could help foil his plans and make us profits", he noted with the greed of his race.

Just then, the Latinum Trove slid sideways, as if it had been struck by a meteor. "Snacks!", Gakor cursed. "What in cuisine's name....", grabbing a tricorder, she scanned for the source of the trouble.

"Starvation!", she exclaimed. "The ship is fragmenting into piles of debris, and we seem to be washed in chronoton particles."

"That was part of his plan", Blrat informed, "he had a stolen chronton generator, and was going to use it to take us to Earth's past.", the Ferengi was cringing in fear, and giving out free advice only to preserve his later bid for profits.

"These readings", the Tellarite said, "indicate we must have hit an orbital satellite. A reporter module in the damage indicates the name.... Galaxy 4. That doesn't seem to be a problem, but the ship is desegregating around us! Quickly, run towards the nearest transporter, I will follow." She paused only long enough to pick up her tote bag, which had supplies she might need later.

Without hesitating, the troll ran on his short little legs towards the Cargo bay, which had a full complement of cargo transporters. Blrat fell under a pile of debris. Endris struggled to free him, but before she could rescue her captor, Zaek noticed her and pulled her back to sickbay, complaining of a massive ear hemorarage.

"Not now, Zaek", Endris argued hard. "This ship is going to be toast in less than 5 minutes", she speculated, handing him the tricorder and its evidence. "Get us to the transporter room, this instant!" Zaek was not used to taking direction from women, but he saw no other reasonable course of action and reluctantly complied.

Sturdy Ferengi hands fought to focus the beam, but the rapidly decaying ship did not want to cooperate. The power levels drooped, and the lighting started to fizzle out. At the last minute, a purple haze enveloped the Ferengi and his Tellarite 'guest', but the beam disbursed on its way to the planet and they materialized:

*** In a Swamp, Earth, sometime in the Past ***

The Latinum Trove blew apart at the seams, decorating the night sky brighter than fireworks on the 4th of July. There were no indications anyone else had survived the incident, but the doctor did a brief survey just in case. "This tricorder has ceased functioning", the Ferengi complained. "I was trying to get data on where we are."

"Shush!", Gakor commanded. "Someone is coming. I suggest you hide those big ears of yours, Dumbo!" The Ferengi panicked. If an ancient Earthling saw his alien facial features, his prospective profits might be crushed! He did manage to grouse and ask how Endris intended to explain her long nose. But the Tellarite already had a plan to fool the locals. Zaek continued looking frantically for a place to conceal his ugly mug, and he finally sank into the mud, breathing through a reed that popped through the surface like a scuba tube.

At the same time, a man paddled up in a canoe.

"'ello, long nose. How did you get stuck in this swamp?", the stranger inquired. Gakor pointed to the fuselage of a plane crash, and the man concluded she must have descended from the sky (which was at least partially correct).

"Name's Lucius McCoy, who be you?", he scrawled in a southern accent. Endris couldn't use her real name, it didn't sound even remotely human. "I'm Alice", she said, "Alice.... Albrecht", she finished borrowing the appliation of a trusted friend.

"Well Alice, 1980 is not a good year to be stranded in a swamp. I best hall you in to civilization. While we cruise, you can tell me why you look so... unique", he concluded politely.

Endris thought fast, and wove a tale quicker than she could fix a snack. "I was a passenger in the plane we saw earlier. It was carrying a cargo of Masks for a drama troupe. I tried to remove this pig mask, but the heat from the reck has fused it to my skin."

"I see", our savior him hawed. "I happen to fashion myself a Thespian as well".

He plopped me off at New Orleans. Remarkably, Zaek had the strength to keep up with the boat, and also stay hidden. The computers and com gear continued to malfunction, so I had to rely on memory, since Zaek knew next to nothing about hu-mon history. I recalled the west coast had a high concentration of computer companies, so we headed to Seattle. But first we had to make a lay over to pick up some extra cash.

*** Las Vegas, Earth, 1980 ***

McCoy had generously given me 50 bucks, which was a minor fortune that far in the past. Still, it wouldn't have lasted on a trek clear accost primitive America. We pulled off a Greyhound in Las Vegas, and Zaek used his sinister talents to rig a few jackpots at the Space Quest casino. Men and women in Ferengi and Klingon costumes looked positively perplexed at the two real aliens hiding in plain sight. The mound of winnings did not seem feasible, given the ratio of payoffs.

Marching out of the casino, we resumed our trip to Seattle in a freshly minted convertible. Zaek's ears were know bandaged to the sides of his head, and my prominent snout had been disguised by a pilfered mask. We marched straight for Microsoft headquarters, which were totally non existent.

*** Seattle, Earth, 1980 ***

Milling about town, Zaek's prominent lobes picked up rumors a local resident, Ms Gakes, had been assassinated by a shell-backed reptile with a set of numchucks.

I had a better grasp of Earth's normal time line than Zaek, and could pass for a human with the disguise. Still, my grasp of Earth's normal time line wasn't perfect. Knowing trouble was sure to brew with the founder of Microsoft out of the picture, I swiftly moved in and hogged the role of Willimena Gakes the Third."

Zaek and I found out shortly after, without the guidance of the real Ms Gakes, Intel was never inspired to create the micro processor. Fortunately, I had an antique Tellarite pasta machine that survived our trek through the swamp. Zaek gutted the thing, and the '8088' chip was, viola, Cuisine.

*** A week Later ***

"Nourishment!", Gakor screamed. She was staring at a computer screen, now that micro processors had been discovered. There were enough hints from the kludge she made from patching the tricorder into the 8088 pasta maker to guess Earth's original timeline.

Sneaking off with a few hundred dollars in profits with a Ferengi lurking in the margin was no easy task. But a few days later, Zaek had been surgically disguised as Microsoft's true founder, Willam Gates. The level of Earth's technology wouldn't be able to penetrate the ruse for centuries.

"Relax, Zaek", complained Endris tailoring his suit. "I did this so you could make money". She placated.

"Money--- Bah! what good is money?" he groused.

"In this day in age, it's symbolic of the thing you admire most. Profits."

Zaek felt the sides of his head, and nearly went ballistic when he couldn't give himself some form of self-omoox. "No one will suspect you are an alien", she whispered. "But that leaves us with a big problem. I can't stay here. In order to repair the future, I have to return to 2374."

The Ferengi, now wearing a permanent copy of Bill Gate's face, thought for a minute, racking his four-chambered cranium for a solution. "Fine. If it will make a profit, lets get to work.", he smiled, showing the remains of long slender incisors. Silently, Gakor added dental work to the list of things to prefect the former Daimon's disguise.

Pranks under a tree
By Ensign Anthony Mendenhall, Engineer

"So, how did you pull it off again.?" The two young men were sitting under a tree near a small pond. It was noon now, and Mendenhall’s parents and sister were getting ready for the wedding, leaving the two boys alone to manage the farm.

Anthony had been a little worried about the information of his denying the pro-motions. He was pretty sure it wasn’t on his official record, but he needed to know if it was. He was going to hack into his file and see. If it was, there was nothing he could do. He wasn’t going to start changing files. That was too dan-gerous.

"Alright. Me and Drew rigged one of those holocubes so it projected an image of a ghost. Drew threw a tomato at them and the whole gang ran after him. You know Drew, so he outran them all. I hid the projector on the ceiling light, then slipped the sonic emitter in a loose floorboard. Then I hid the other cubes in the mud. Then I cut right out of there." Pride boomed in his younger brother’s voice as Mendenhall listened.

"So what happened?" He put a blade of grass in his mouth.

"Well, they all got back, so when they turned off all the ligh-" The younger brother laughed for a while then pulled himself together. "They all freak out when this ghost slowly appears. At first they don’t care thinking it’s an illusion, then the ground starts shaking. They all start run out, but then the circle of holo-grams make half of them wetting their pants. Will, you know that bully, he wets his pants!" Zach laughed so hard tears started rolling down his cheeks.

"OK, OK, but here’s the best part. They split, and we get all our stuff back. They never suspected it was us. The cubes recorded it all, so we rigged a pro-gram that plays it all back. Well, a week later Will, you know that bully kid, he throws a party where all the "cool" people are invited. It’s in a holotheater, so I hack into it, and instead of the scene switching to Rome, it switches to that pro-gram."

Laughter boomed through the air again. "They never even expected it, and they were the laughing stock of the entire school for the rest of the year. They never picked on Josh, Drew, or me again." By now Zach was rolling on the ground laughing.

"That’s nothing," said Anthony. "I’ve got a story for you." He rubbed his stom-ach full of "real" pancakes, bacon, eggs, crapes, and some fruit salad thing. "I did do one joke, but Lt. Smith ordered me to do the program, so I was safe."

"What was it." The kid sat now looking curiously at his older brother.

"Well, it was more of a punishment for slacking off. There was this guy, Mathew. Well he was a poker champ. I was the only one of our small repair team that didn’t play. Well, for the next two weeks, he never checks in. Lt. Smith noticed it and found out they were betting shifts, so for a week, Mathew didn’t do anything. I rig this program that looks like this little Defiant Class ship is slowly exploding, and he is trapped in engineering. Well, he beam him in the holodeck, and the Lt. asks him to go help him with some problem, I don’t re-member. Well, during the program, the Captain ditches and a holographic ver-sion of him gets fried. Poor Mathew tries as hard as he can to fix the problem, but for ten minutes he tries to fix it. Normally he would have picked on it, but when part of engineering explodes and a forcefield keeps the atmosphere in, he panics."

"So, did he wet his pants?" He was waiting for the funny part.

"Ya, that and, er, number two. The same program was run for everyone else in the poker game, but Mathew’s was the best."

They both laughed. "So, what are you going to do to someone on the Galaxy. More importantly, who?" The youngster wanted to be a part of his older brothers tricks.

"Well, I’m going to look over everyone’s records and find some other practical jokers. Usually they’re more sympathetic and don’t report them in." Zach nod-ded. "But how are you going to get the files?"

"Duh, who taught you how to hack?" He hit the top of his younger brother’s head.

"Sorry, I wasn’t thinking." Anthony continued. "I think I’ll use three different holocubes. One of a Orion battle hound, another a Romulan Guard firing, and that plastered person you used with a few modifications."

"How you going to plant them? I mean won’t the computer log if you go in. It’s pretty hard to cover entries." Anthony thought Zach was pretty sharp.

"I’m not. Going to use my "Borg Cubes." With the mention of that Zach’s eyes widened. "WOW! PLEASE PLEASE show me how to make one of those. You NEVER let me even look at one." He pulled on his arm pleading to his older brother.

"If I showed you one of those, you’d be in some reform school. No way. End of discussion. Besides I have to go to Mike’s party."

"Can I come?" "No." "Awe, please!" "No" "Your so mean!" "I know."

"The Only Thing to Do."
by Lieutenant Greer Erikson

Slowly opening his eyes, Greer found himself staring up at the ceiling which was being illuminated only by the faint lighting from outside the observation windows. "Computer," he said as he sat up in bed, "lights. Forty percent."

Throwing the sheets to one side, Erikson got out of his bed and began to make his way to the main living area. "Computer, display personal research file Erikson-alpha-zero-two." The scientist carefully looked at the series of search parameters, analyses, and other annotated files that he had pieced together with Matthew Albrecht. "Computer, delete file Erikson-alpha-zero-two and all associated files." he said with a sigh.

["Unable to process that command. Personal security authorization required."]

"Personal authorization, Erikson-two-two-gamma. Enable." The computer, recognizing the personal codes, complied with the authorization code and began to systematically delete the research files, watching each file disappear from the display. He knew from what the cleric Divok had explained about the Klingon concept of honor, and what Captain Price had told him only hours before, that this information was better kept to himself. At first he was dismayed at the thought, but gradually he realised that this was the right thing to do. Not everyone wants to know the truth. Who was he, or anyone else, to force them to accept it, especially the kind of truth he and Matthew had found.

"Computer, send message to Lieutenant Matthew Albrecht . . . Matthew, Although I would had been adamant about it the last time we spoke, I decided to delete the files afterall. Make sure you have a good time on Earth. Until then, Greer." he signed off the short note. "Computer, send message."

Erikson sat down in one of the chairs opposite the observation windows. Superimposed against the large planet of Tarsas III was the impressive starbase the ship was currently docked at. He had hoped to get home during this break but both professional duties and personal attachments ended up keeping him with his home on the USS Galaxy. "Then again." he said as he thought about home.

*** Holodeck Three: Erikson Lake Armstrong Program ***

Laying down with his hands behind his head, Greer was looking up and staring at the medium size orb in the atmosphere. Three hundred and seventy five thousand miles away and the planet Earth was still as beautiful from this distance. Despite the artificial M-class atmosphere which surrounded the Lunar Colony, it was a spectacular sight, even during the day. It was times like this that reminded the science officer of the many hours he spent at the shore line of Lake Armstrong, not far from his home city of Copernicus City.

As he lay there, the holomatrix to his left began to distort as the Holodeck doors opened. Inside them stood Rr'lonii Morris. "I wasn't sure if you would agree to take me up on the offer."

"Well, I wasn't really doing a great deal and I could use the break." she replied, looking much more comfortable than she had in Ten Forward the night before. "We really didn't get much of a chance to speak last night." the Delphinian smiled.

"So, have you thought about how you are going to get Deiran back yet?" he said with a smile. "I'm not volunteering for the position of an accomplice, but I would not mind knowing if you have anything planned."

"Not yet. I plan to make a good one though."

"I'm sure you will." Greer said as he got up from the ground. "Ronni, there's something here I want to show you."

Ronni looked at him with a confused expression on her face. "What?"

"Take a look at this." he said pointing to a plaque, surrounded by grey soil and encased in some kind of protective covering.

"Here men from the planet Earth first set foot upon the Moon, July 1969 AD . . . We came in peace for all mankind." Ronni said as she finished reading the inscription. "Interesting." she said, unsure of what else to say.

Greer looked at the ground as he tried to put together what he wanted to say to her. "For many years I used to come here and read that plaque over and over again. There were times I could close my eyes and I would imagine that I was one of those astronauts. I would like to have shown you the real thing, but that's not exactly possible right now. Is it?" he asked rhetorically. "But this isn't the real reason I asked you to come here. I was meaning to talk to you about what happened the other week," he said as he gestured her to take a seat on the ground beside the plaque, "in your quarters before you left for assignment on the Qul'etlh."

"I was wondering if you were ever going to bring that up." Ronni said with a devilish smile, trying to cover up the awkwardness of the moment, unsure of what he was going to say. "I just thought . . . after the vortex . . . that you felt something there too. I wanted you to know how I felt."

"That's what I wanted to speak to you about. I did . . . I mean I still do." Greer said still not sure if he was expressing himself properly. "I was on duty, we hadn't spoken since that time in the vortex . . . you just caught me at an awkward moment. "

"It wasn't until the last few weeks that I realized how I felt." Ronni smiled and ran her blue hand over Greer's hand. "So, what should we do now?"

"I guess we could take it slowly and see how we feel about it." he answered her. "It's really the only thing we can do." Ronni's lack of response seemed to suggest to Greer that she agreed with him. Leaning over to her, he paused for a moment, before giving her a kiss.

Lt. (jg) Numa Taurean
USS Galaxy
Science Officer

"Sweet Mother of Pearl!!" Numa screamed joyfully as the slot machine spit out its treasure. The benzite was having the time of her life. She'd never known that gambling could be so much fun, but she was glad that she took up Gakor's offer to join her and Albrecht on this little excursion.

Numa spun around as she heard Endris' voice above all the others. "Dabo!", Endris cried over the gaming table. It was obvious that the tellarite was winning too.

Numa pulled the arm of the hulking machine once again. She nearly fainted when she came up the winner of a brand new pristine red Miata. She looked at her Asian Romulan friend. "I think I'm going to have a heart attack." Numa was so elated.

"Well, I've about had it with these stupid machines." Mei Yin wasn't having as much fun at the Caesar's Palace as the rest of her companions. In fact, she looked down right angry throwing her ale in the face of her enemy, the slot machine. She pulled the menacing arm of the metalic machine once more. It was apparent that she was determined to win back something from this villain. The disk like eyes of the machine spun then blinked several times with loud thunks as they stopped and flashed fanciful pictures. The machine regurgitated nothing. Mei Yin let out a defeated cry and threw her arm at the cold metal face of the beast. She was determined to show this metalic hunk of junk a thing or two.

The enemy stood motionless staring unblinkingly into the eyes of the pain stricken Mei Yin. It took the abuse as it had so many times before. Numa thought that she could actually here the machine whine and whir in glee when she heard the sickening snap of Mei Yin's arm. The Romulan gasped in pain. She knew exactly what had hppened and cursed herself as well as the machine for her actions.

Mei Yin scanned the room looking for Endris. Numa came to her side. "That looks bad." It was an understatement. "Over there." Numa pointed in the direction that Endris was. "Dr. Gakor needs to look at that arm. I'm not sure what she can do for it since we aren't near a medical facility, but at least she can stop the pain until we get back to the Galaxy." Numa smiled and patted Mei Yin on the back. "You really showed that machine who was boss." Mei Yin couldn't help but chuckle at Numa's statement.

Numa returned to her slot machine winning even more treasures. She'd have plenty to spend on the items for her collections back at the ship.

Already the young Benzite was looking forward for the trip to Africa with Betta. She didn't really know much about the half Klingon woman, but Betta had told her of the arboretum located on her father's estate. This was enough to get Numa hooked.

"Yes, show me the money!!" Numa screamed once again, borrowing the phrase from an old 'movie' that they all had watched earlier. Her machine spat out more of its rewards.

** By Ensign Be'Tran M'Benga **

It wasn't until dinner that Be'Tran discovered her brother M'Bope was at home. He was the 13th M'Benga, just ahead of Betta. And he had been born autistic.

Be'Tran had always been closest to him of all her siblings, and she had helped her parents take care of him a great deal when she was a teenager.

At dinner, Numa warmed to M'Bope almost immediately. She had a very warm personality, and, Be'Tran thought, just seemed to get on well with people. After dinner, Be'Tran and Numa spent time in the huge library of the mansion, telling M'Bope what they could of their adventures in StarFleet.

They stayed up well into the night, going to bed long after the Doctor had tuned in. It was about an hour later when a tall figure snuck down the stairs, and back towards the library.

It was Be'Tran, clad in her night shirt, which was short, like a sweater; with her long hair pinned behind her. She creeeped up to the library door, and opened the oldfashioned doorknob slowly. Barely daring to breath, she slipped in.

Without turning on a light (Be'Tran had always had an uncanny ability to navigate in the dark), she made her way over to a long shelf, where her father had displayed several unusual items and artifacts.

She checked them over carefully, obviously looking for something in particular. She knew it was there. It had been there after dinner. She had picked it up, and M'Bope had played with it; maybe he snuck back down and took it back to his room.

No, there it was. Be'Tran curled her long fingers around a vaguely cylindrical object, and lifted it from the shelf. A faint, soft music filled the air in the library. Distant, but melodious, almost as if it came from the thing in Be'Tran's hand.

"Whos in there!?" came a voice from the library door. It was Doctor M'Benga. "Who's there? Nir?"

Be'Tran made her self visible from the doorway, by stepping into the light flowing into the library from the hall. "Betta?" the elder M'Benga seemed surprized, "What are you doing?" He looked around, obviously hearing the soft music.

Be'Tran glanced downward sheepishly. "I wanted to borrow something." she said.

Paul M'Benga smiled, "Oh, well, if that's all why didn't you just get it after dinner, you and that charming little Benzite were in her for the better part of three hours with M'Bope?"

"I don't know, dad." Be'Tran began. Her father smiled knowingly at her.

"I guess I mean I wanted to borrow it permanently." she continued.

M'Benga walked up to her, and into the dark of the library, placing a strong hand on each of her shoulders. "Betta," he began, "you know anything I have is yours, but what is it you wanted."

"This." she answered, holding up the object in her hand so that had anyone else but the two of them been there, they could not have seen it (especially in the dark of the library).

The doctor seemed taken aback a bit, but smiled all the same. "You know, those things are hard to come by." he said, "What do you want it for."

Be'Tran smiled, almost bashfully; not a very common look for her, and her father noticed. What she said was; "A friend, back on the Galaxy."

"A friend?", repeated the doctor.

"Yes," said Be'Tran, "a friend."

Dr. M'Benga grinned, almost a sad grin (if that is possible). "He must be a very special friend."

"He?" said Be'Tran, "But..."

Dr. M'Benga embraced his daughter, and kissed her forehead. "Little Betta," he said, "I may not have your mothers unique Betazoid insights, or even yours, for that matter. But I know my children." he released his embrace, "I couldn't have raised M'Bope without that peculiar talent."

Be'Tran tried to hand the appearently musical little object back to her father. He put up a hand to stop her; "No," he said, "take it with my blessing. Take it! It's a smlaa gift really, but it'll show you have a big heart. And whenever he touches it, he'll always think of you... whoever he is."

"Oh, c'mon dad, it's not that serious." said Be'Tran. The doctor laughed, his eyes widening as if to say "oh really".

Be'Tran caught the knowing glance, and sensed her father's curiosity, "He's just a friend dad. Just a friend."

"Well," said the father, "Take it anyway, and give it to your friend."

Be'Tran started to almost run out of the library. "Thanks dad!" she hollered back.

"Will you be stealing anything else tonight?" called the doctor.

"No," replied Be'Tran, "but I want to go through mom's tapestries tomorrow!" at that moment she reached the foot of the huge staircase, and nearly bumped into Lt. Taurean.

"What's up, besides you I mean?" asked Numa, who had come down stairs looking for a drink.

"One down ,one to go." replied Be'Tran.

"One what?" asked Numa.

"Present." said Be'Tran, "One present. Tomorrow I go after the Captain's." and with that she was bounding up the stairs, clutching the still purring object to her bosom. "G'night dad! G'night Numa! Thanks, dad!"

Dr. Me'Benga waved his hand at her, as if she were going on a trip. "Happy to be of service, my littlest!" he cried.

Numa was momentarily confused, but she shook it off, and aproached the doctor.

"Do you happen to know what's going on?" M'Benga asked her.

"No. not really." was Numa's reply. "Do you?"

The doctor just shrugged. "Well," said Numa, "in that case, where can I get a tall, cool glass of... something... something refreshing?"

The doctor smiled, "This way." he said, and offered his pajama-clad arm like an escort. Numa took it, grinning, and the doctor led the way to his kitchen, with the young Benzite taking a last glance at the stairs, and wondering exactly what all of Be'Tran's excitment was about.

~ David Lyles ~
a.k.a. Ensign Be'Tran M'Benga
Engineering, USS Galaxy
e-mail; burgoyne48@hotmail.com
or; sa_3_16@yahoo.com

Polina Praskovya
Engineering

The excited Orion girl was twirling round and round within her new apartment aboard the Galaxy. Music was blaring loundly and multicolored lights flashed in rythm to the techno beat of the newest band. Polina sang the lyrics as loudly as she could and continued thrashing to the pure energy that was electrifying.

With a scream, Polina dove for the plush couch in the center of the room. The music came to an abrupt end. With her delicate hands, Polina pulled her hair back from her deep green eyes. "Oh this is so Rad. I can't believe I'm actually here. I mean, I'm really here." Polina screamed again.

She jumped from the couch and ran toward her bed which was concealed beneath mounds of clothing that hadn't yet been sorted, folded, or hung up. She grabbed a long black skirt that hung to her ankles and a vibrant, almost neon, orange shirt that allowed her mid drift to show. She slipped a pair of sandles on her feet, then ran for the door of her new quarters. The door slid open with ease, and Polina continued sprinting down the hallway. She rounded a corner and ran into a group of young ensigns.

"Oh, sorry." She had literally knocked the lead officer off his feet. He landed with a thud on the floor and was about to reprimand her for her careless actions. That was until he saw the face of the loveliest woman there ever was. His friends were also gawking with slack jawed awe.

Polina saw the stares that the three young men were giving her. It wasn't anything new. She smiled and laughed. The prostrate ensign was looking up into her emerald eyes. She offered assistance to the boy. "Here, let me help you up." Polina thrust out a hand.

"Uhh...sure....anytime." The dark headed boy reached up for the hand. "My name is Ensign Kell. I'll be working in Medical."

"Yell, Kell..." Polina couldn't help but giggle at what she had just said, "I'm Polina. I'll be working in Engineering. I guess we have something in common. We both fix things." Polina looked at the other two fellows who hadn't said a word. They just continued to stare. She looked back at the love struck Kell. "Well, I'm off. I have a mission to carry out."

"Uhh....what mission? Maybe I..."

"Maybe we." Interupted the blond blue eyed companion of Kell. Polina giggled more.

"Yes, maybe we could help you."

"Oh really? Well, I'm on a mission of utmost importance." Polina's expression changed abrubtly. Her dark eyes clouded, and she leaned in closly to the young boys pulling them all into a tight huddle. She whispered, "No, I couldn't allow you to help me."

"Why not?" asked the inquisitive Kell.

"It's a dangerous mission. I wouldn't want to get you involved." Polina stole a quick glance over her shoulder to make sure that no one was watching.

"We'd like to help. It wouldn't be any problem at all." Kell was insistant. He was spell struck by the bewitching beauty of Polina.

"Well," Polina paused and stole another glance over her shoulder. "I guess I could use the company."

"Cool." Kell's face lit up like the neon signs of Las Vegas. His friends were ready to follow this green skinned siren to hell and back if need be. Her spell was woven, and like a fly in a spiders web, they'd all been caught. Polina smiled knowing that these boys were her's to command.

"The mission is to seek out and engage with the various life forms of this vessel." Polina giggled as the boys serious and somber expressions changed to confusion. Then they began to laugh as well.

"I'm going to Ten Forward. All of you are welcome to accompany me if you'd like." Polina waited for a response.

"We'd love to, but we have to finish moving our things in." Kell spoke for both himself and his companions.

"Okay, I'm off to Ten Forward then. You know where to find me." Polina kissed the palm of her hands then blew it at the three young ensigns. "Ta Ta." She spun on the heels of her feet and was sprinting down the corridors once again.

The doors to Ten Forward sliced open. The room was full of people who hadn't left the ship for one reason or another. Some of the guests here were repairmen sent to fix the ship while it was in space dock. They were merely taking a break. Others were officers assigned to the ship that had chosen to remain aboard instead of galavanting around known space while on leave.

"Oh drats." Polina's smile turned into a pouty frown.

"What's the matter, miss?" The question came from the cutest Cardassian that Polina had ever seen.

"I thought that this place would be the place to party. Instead, all I see is a bunch of dullards sitting around." Polina approached the bar where Door was. "I mean, where are the lights, the music, the energy?" Her eyes lit up and a smile spread across her face. Door just smiled at her.

Polina heard laughter over her shoulder. She swiveled her chair to see where it was coming from. Across the room was the dreamiest Andorian she had ever laid eyes on. Of course all young in shpae guys were dreamy to her. *He would be a heavenly jeans model.* Polina thought to herself. The Andorian was obviously having a good time with a few of his friends.

Polina leaned closer to Door without taking her eyes off of the Andorian. "Who is that over there?"

Door followed her stare. "That is Xavier Bishop."

Polina turned back to face the bartender once again. "And what is your name? I'm Polina Praskovya." Polina said with a bubbly voice.

"Call me Door." The Cardassian smiled. "Can I get you a drink or something?"

"Yes. I'd like a fruit punch with a splash of rum, please." The Cardassian smiled again, gave the Orion her drink, and departed to wait on another customer.

Polina heard the doors to Ten Forward slide open. She spun around in her chair to see who might be coming in. It was a tall dark and handsome figure that strode in. Polina exhaled slowly. Her heart skipped a few beats, and she felt her face flush with warmth. "Wow. I'm going to love this ship. I know I'm in heaven if all the men are like the ones that I've just seen." Polina heard laughter over her shoulder. She turned to see Door. He'd overheard what she had just said. She smiled. "Well, it's true." He chuckled again.

"That's Ursa Sunder." Door informed the green skinned beauty.

Farm Daze
By Ensign Anthony Mendenhall, Engineer

The chronometer beeped beside the sleeping ensign. It was an annoying high pitched squeal that he had made himself years ago. It was back to haunt him. Anthony didn’t want to remember the bachelor party last night.

For all tense and purposes, everyone got drunk and did stupid things, except him, his other friend Josh, and Mike himself. They never drank, even snythale. Dur-ing high school one of Josh’s friends got beaten by her drunk boyfriend. It looked kind of silly for the three to just sit there. It was really boring.

He threw the chronometer out the window, a ritual he had made when he first made the stupid thing. He’d get it after he milked the cows. He pulled on some clothes and made his way outside. The sun hadn’t even gone up yet, so he turned on some external lights.

"Things to do. Hmm. Harvest field number one. Milk cows, feed pigs last nights leftovers, feed chickens, check on sheep, gather eggs. Oh, and get ready for wedding. Hmm. What to do first."

He headed down stairs and repliacted a quick food energizer. Then he headed to the machine barn. He punched in the code and quickly gazed over the different machines. The wheat harvester was ready to go. He punched the "on" button, the hit the field number. Spread at full. It was nice being on an automated farm. The large cylindrical cutting machine hovered off it’s large racks and made it’s way outside to the field. It would cut the wheat then the second component, the harvester, would gather it and take it to the cargo truck where it would latter be taken to some place in Ogden by his sister.

He noticed the fertilizer spreader needed some adjustments. He put on a pair of glove and quickly went to work on it. After a few minutes of playing hide and seek with the problem, he finally found the faulty power relay. With a quick re-placement it was ready to go at any time. He left a note to his father saying he had fixed it.

He cleaned the grease off him and headed out to feed the pigs. The large con-tainer of scraps in the kitchen was quickly dumped into the feeding trough. The thirteen animals all started pigging out on the starting to mold food.

Next he took some chicken feed from the barn, and fed the squacking birds. By then Lex was up and was starting on the horses and cows. One less thing to do on his list thanks to his caring sister. Anthony hung the bag back up in the supply barn, and made his way over to the sheep pen.

The pen was a large rectangle separated by a fence in the middle. The bio-engineered super grass grew three inches every day. Each morning they would switch sides to the newly grown grass. Special nutrients were watered once they were on the other side.

Anthony opened the gate and the newly shaved animals went to the other side. They had done it so many times before, they didn’t put up any fuss. Once the last lamb was on the other side, he closed the gate and activated the watering system. Small sprinklers shooted up from the ground and started spraying the watery mixture.

He walked back over to the hen house and pressed a button. All the eggs one by one fell into an egg basket. He picked it up and headed toward the house. An-thony met Lex at the door. She was carrying four pales full of milk.

"Thanks for taking the cows for me." He opened the door into the almost empty house. His mother and father were getting the wedding set with Mike and Nicole.

"It was nice of you to take over for Zach and Drew." She set the pales down and started pouring them into a large milk container.

"They stayed up watching those old Star Wars movies. I thought they would like to get some rest." She nodded and she pressed a button that triggered an alarm to wake the two boys up.

"You want anything?" She replicated some French Toast for herself. "Ya, how about some pizza. Extra pepperoni."

"You know mom and dad hate that stuff." He punched it in and took a slice. "Then why are you stealing a slice." He took the hot plate and set it on the table. The hot food felt good.

"Because you older and I can blame it on you." She stuck her tongue out at him and he returned it. They both laughed.

"When’s the wedding?" asked Drew as he stumbled down the stairs.

"We need to be there in four hours. You guys eat and do you house chores. Then get ready for the wedding." Zach trotted in and Lex repeated the com-mands to him after pouring a cup of hot water over his head.

Anthony made his way over to the main computer in his dad’s office. He checked on when the next flight to the Star Base was. It was in two days. He booked a flight on it and sent a message to the Galaxy’s shuttle saying he would leave on an earlier flight.

"Leaving early?" Lex was standing in the doorway eating a blue zutabega.

"Yea. Don’t like being away from work so long." His sister came up behind him and started to choke him.

"You never stay long enough. I don’t smell that bad do I?" He managed a reply through her grip. "No, but Zach does." She let go and they both laughed.

"Maybe I’ll be placed on the Galaxy with you." She frazzled his already messed up hair as they made their way into the den to take a short rest.

"Maybe. Just don’t go off dating anyone from security. You going to program the harvester and load?"

"Your so mean. Security isn’t all that bad. Yea, I will."

"I know, I probably shouldn’t joke around like that. They did an awesome job on our last mission." He fixed a picture of his family.

"What was your last mission about." She looked at him curiously.

"Classified. Well, I’ll start on the Vaporators while you start on the Harvester."

"Alright, looks like it’s back to the good old Farm Daze." They both started off, and Anthony placed a loving arm around his sisters shoulder. She leaned her head on his shoulder until Zach jumped on both of them.

The Wedding
By Ensign Anthony Mendenhall

The wedding had gone perfect. Anthony had been to a lot of weddings. Too many in fact. The only reason he went were for two reasons: Food and the fact it was his sister’s and best friend’s wedding. If it had only been his sisters of just Mike’s, he probably wouldn’t have gone. It seemed mean of him, but the whole family knew that he really did care about the weddings.

His things were almost all packed. The shuttle to Starbase 72 or where ever it was had to leave early for some reason. In a way it was a good thing. He hated good-byes.

He finished packing in the "Borg cubes" and some other of his old prank things and set his cat Digit on his shoulder. The cat was glad to finally be rid of the farm. He decided to pack his hat and headed out the door. He left a PADD on the table. It was a letter to everyone. He had left another under Lex’s pillow.

As he closed the gate, he looked at his home. It was his real home that he was afraid to come back to. Still, he loved it. He loved the memories which was something that no one could take away. They would always be his.

Now it was time to turn emotions to "off mode." He was enjoying life too much. Something he never did. No more staring at shuttle pilots, he was through with all that. He would wait until someone asked him on a date. Like that would ever happen.

Then he started on the road towards town where he would catch a transport to San Fransico and then make his way back to the Galaxy.

********Several hours later*******

The shuttle ride was going smooth. Not as smooth on the way to Earth, but the pilot seemed like he had a few trips under his belt. With him was a plant-like creature that Mendenhall tried to avoid. Digit was scarred of the leafed man and stayed in the bag of his.

He pulled out one of the "Borg Cubes" and admired one of his greatest works ever. It was small enouhg to fit in ones hand. The small anti-gravity engines in-side let it float through the air almost silent. It had a holoprojector with a sound card.

It was an engineering masterpiece. All Mendenhall had to do was walk by the door and the cube (although it was more rectangular) did the rest of the work. Once the door opened the cube would silently slip by and then attach itself to the lights in the designated room. The camouflage coating blended in with the color of the room (it would also do wood, plad and a wide variety of color patterns). Tapping an indistinguishable about of power, it would then hook up with the sound system of the room, Once it had enough power, it would project the image and hook up the sound system. Once the person blinked, it would cut off, making them think their mind was playing tricks on them. It would continue doing it until someone found it, or some of the circuits malfunctioned.

He put his work back and pulled out the book he had on Bill Gates entitled "The Road Ahead." While he was reading it, something didn’t seem to go with a chapter he had already read. He flipped back, but it made sense.

"Weird."

The Recluse
Ensign Keras T’Vek
Science Officer
USS Galaxy

Ensign Keras T’Vek watched as the waiter left the table to go prepare there order. The establishment had a Italian feel to it from the objects,

colors, and clothes chosen to decorate it. David sat across from him smiling away,

"You still like plain rice? Never did understand you taste for it, I always thought it to be bland. Of course there aren’t that many exciting Vulcans are there?" he laughed at the joke he made as Keras took a sip of the water he had ordered.

"David how is your family, your wife Rebecca?" Keras said in a bland attempt at small talk. "She is doing fine. She is thinking about retiring from the field till the kids are grown. Did I tell you had kids?" asked David as Keras only shook his head to respond. "Well I have a kid already. His name is John and he a curious one. Keeps getting into things. Well enough about me, how is you family?"

"My parents still disapprove of my choice in joining Starfleet. I still have not heard word of them since my initial joining of Starfleet." Keras said in his calm voice as he took another sip of his water. He glanced up to see that the waiter was approaching with there meals.

"White Rice with bread," said the waiter with a puzzled look, "and Lasagna with a side order of cheese sticks." he finished while placing the meals in front of there owners. Then smiling he turned and left to go wait on another table.

"Have you met anyone special on the Galaxy?" David smiled as he asked pointing his fork in Keras’s direction, while Keras raised an eyebrow in response. "Come on Keras, you must have made a few friends, or are you being your old self. The recluse?" David laughed smacking the side of the table while people sitting next to there table began to give David and Keras looks.

"I have met a few people while working in the Labs, otherwise if you are implying that I have remained by myself, yes I have." Keras said in his monotone voice, finishing up the rest of his rice while David motioned for the waiter to bring more Lasagna.

"Well Keras what you need to do is get out more, experience life, meet some people, and party!" David said while looking lovely at the new plate of Lasagna laying before him. "You see Keras that is the true way to happiness…Enjoy life…Loosen up. Have you heard of any get together that the crew are doing?"

Keras thought for a second, "Yes, I have heard that there is a poker game that several crew members are going to be playing soon. I believe walk-ins are welcome." He said while taking another sip of his almost empty glass. "That would be perfect, meet some crew members make some friends. You are going to be working with ‘em for some time. As you would say, It’s the most logical thing to do." David said, attempting to mimic Keras’s voice.

Just then David glanced at a clock on the wall, "Oh my god, I am late. I gotta go Keras. Nice seeing you again. Remember, mix with the natives." David said as he stood up and paid for his meals then waved and left at a quick jog. Keras sipped the rest of his drink then stood up and pain the waiter who had been giving David glares for his loud outburst. "Please excuse my friend, he is only human." Keras said as he turned and left, leaving a puzzled waiter.

***Some Time Later***

Keras had stopped by the Starbase’s Science Facilities to check on his lag and see if it was working. He had some time left and it would not probably be ready till his next free shift. He left and jogged toward the closest turbolift, quickly checking a LCAR’s console to help him remember what level and section the Galaxy was on.

Soon he was standing in front of the ramp leading to the seal that connected the Galaxy and Starbase, people where leaving and attempting to get back onboard before there shift started. He fell in line and was soon back on familiar territory. Not much in the way of repairs on the inside had been accomplished he noted as he made his way to his cabin.

Enroute he saw two men in uniform falling over themselves trying to talk to an attractive female Orion, who appeared to have some Romulan or Vulcan heritage. He raised one eyebrow in a grand show of emotion as he passed the two humans and continued on his way. He was definitely not going to become "one of the natives" if it involved acting like a total fool he thought to himself.

He arrived at his quarters and quickly entered the dark room. The faint smell of incense still hung in the air as he quickly disrobed and checked for any messages. None, as usual. Maybe he was not being as "sociable" as he thought. He decided he would attempt to change that.

He turned so that he was facing a picture he had taken from home and sat down on the floor, legs crossed and began to clear his mind and place his life in order as he always did before going to bed. He would examine his day and ponder his actions using several different Vulcan methods. Then when he was content he would raise himself from his position and go to bed. Sometimes he would get no sleep due to the reason he could not bring himself to contentment. He doubted he would gain much sleep tonight he thought.

"Keep It Simple Stupid"
by Lt. Ronni Morris
ACSO, USS Galaxy

"I'll get him yet!" Ronni said to herself. He had used his command protocol to do a site to site transport to his quarters. Derian, Miran, and Lara were going to Earth, so she would have to wait until that rat returned.

She returned to her quarters and went to sleep. The next day she visited the ship docks and got some non-replicatable parts for her projects. She also sent messages to her parents and to her sister. She checked the roster from Siencia Colony. Her brother Vyonn was still MIA.

In her lab, she saw that there was a message waiting for her. It was from Lt. Erikson. He asked her to go to the holodeck for a trip to his favorite lake. Ronni went back to her quarters and changed into the dress she had been given during a previous mission from the now android Harry Mudd. It was a long sleeved, high neck gauzy dress that trailed slightly on the floor. The colors almost hurt her eyes. It was a kaleidoscope of bright oranges, blues, reds, and yellows.

She went to the holodeck and keyed in her entry. The Holodeck doors opened. Greer was laying on the grass, looking up at the sky. As she stood, suddenly hesitant, in the doorway. He said, "I wasn't sure if you would agree to take me up on the offer."

"Well, I wasn't really doing a great deal and I could use the break." she replied, looking much more comfortable than she had in Ten Forward the night before. "We really didn't get much of a chance to speak last night." the Delphinian smiled.

"So, have you thought about how you are going to get Derian back yet?" he said with a smile. "I'm not volunteering for the position of an accomplice, but I would not mind knowing if you have anything planned."

"Not yet. I plan to make it a good one though."

"I'm sure you will." Greer said as he got up from the ground. "Ronni, there's something here I want to show you."

Ronni looked at him with a confused expression on her face. "What?"

"Take a look at this." he said pointing to a plaque, surrounded by grey soil and encased in some kind of protective covering.

"Here men from the planet Earth first set foot upon the Moon, July 1969 AD . . . We came in peace for all mankind." Ronni said as she finished reading the inscription. "Interesting." she said, unsure of what else to say.

Greer looked at the ground as he tried to put together what he wanted to say to her. "For many years I used to come here and read that plaque over and over again. There were times I could close my eyes and I would imagine that I was one of those astronauts. I would like to have shown you the real thing, but that's not exactly possible right now. Is it?" he asked rhetorically. "But this isn't the real reason I asked you to come here. I was meaning to talk to you about what happened the other week," he said as he gestured her to take a seat on the ground beside the plaque, "in your quarters before you left for assignment on the Qul'etlh."

"I was wondering if you were ever going to bring that up." Ronni said with a devilish smile, trying to cover up the awkwardness of the moment, unsure of what he was going to say. "I just thought . . . after the vortex . . . that you felt something there too. I wanted you to know how I felt."

"That's what I wanted to speak to you about. I did . . . I mean I still do." Greer said still not sure if he was expressing himself properly. "I was on duty, we hadn't spoken since that time in the vortex . . . you just caught me at an awkward moment. "

"It wasn't until the last few weeks that I realized how I felt." Ronni smiled and ran her blue hand over Greer's hand. "So, what should we do now?"

"I guess we could take it slowly and see how we feel about it." he answered her. "It's really the only thing we can do." Ronni's lack of response seemed to suggest to Greer that she agreed with him. Leaning over to her, he paused for a moment, before giving her a kiss.

Never in the history of the Alpha Quadrant had there ever been a kiss so simple, pure, and innocent. When it was finished, Ronni blushed for probably the first time in her life. Greer laughed softly. They both laid down, head to head, and watched the holodeck sky turn slowly toward evening. Very few words were said. Very few were needed.

Hob Nobs and Chronotons
by Endris Gakor

*** Seattle, Earth, 1980. Dentist office ***

"Hold still Mr. Gates", prattled an old and mostly sightless dentist. "You teeth will be straightened in a few months", he said while applying braces.

"Ouch!", Zaek protested loudly. "How do you hu-mons tolerate such gangly contraptions?", he blurted, momentarily forgetting his cover story. Luckily, the feeble dentist was hard of hearing as well. Pretty soon, he would retire, but the ancient codger wanted to rake in the moola first.

Gakor waited in the lobby, just to make sure the Ferengi didn't make trouble. She picked up the newspaper and scanned the headlines. It seems a pair of humpback whales had disappeared mysteriously from an aquatic park in Saucelito. "Fascinating!", Endris echoed with almost Vulcan passion. *I seem to recall something about whales*, she though to herself, but couldn't place the reference.

Thumbing through the business section, she noticed Intel had published the release of the 8088 processor. So the damage to the time line of the real Mr. Gates being murdered had apparently been repaired. Gakor shrugged at the idea of what changes might have happened in the future if Zaek and herself hadn't plugged the leak.

Also, the paper claimed a meteor had struck the Earth near New Orleans, and was giving off strange radiation. Fortunately, Endris knew of this event. The archaeology digest did an article on the great "Chronoton Scare" of 1980, and Gakor ate the material up. It turned out later analysis discovered the meteor leaked a stream of Chronoton particles. Which caused ferrous rocks in the neighborhood to age prematurely. When the water became 'rusty', it prompted a local panic.

*This may just be my ticket home*, thought Gakor, already musing on how she might harness Chronoton radiation with ancient parts. Endris retrieved Zaek from the clutches of the eclectic dentist and saw him back to Microsoft Headquarters.

*** A week later, Endris presents her plans to acquire the meteor ***

"We have to buy that meteor", Endris pleaded with Zaek. "The humans of this era don't know the value of it. Besides, without some form of containment field, the Earther's will die off, and kill your profits!" This statement activated the Ferengi's built in "cha-ching" effect, and his ears actually seemed to inflate to their old proportions, remained for a minute, then retracted to human sized lobes. "When scientists later discovered its properties", Endris continued, "they had to get a permit from the Microsoft museum to perform their research". One more argument to support her hypothesis couldn't hurt.

Turning to his intercom, Gates had his chaufer gas up the limo and pull it out front. "To New Orleans, again", said the deposed Daimon. But this time they could go in style. They were in control of what would eventually become Earth's biggest conglomerate.

*** New Orleans, Later that evening ***

Gakor and Zaek were both a bit dizzy. They had taken the limo to the air port, boarded a Lear jet, and were in New Orleans mere hours later. However, the antique convenance left the Tellarite feeling a bit peaked. When another limo pulled up when they quit the plane, Endris felt bold enough to make a demand.

"I need food to settle my stomach", the Doctor told the Ferengi. Humans of all shapes and sizes mingled in the busy French Quarter, but 'Bill' soon found a bistro named Sisco's. The place looked average and homey, but it also seemed a bit sad, as if the owner didn't have enough money to fix up the joint. The food arrived quickly. Surprisingly, Zaek was the first to try the meal, grabbing the order before the Tellarite could lift her spoon. A grimace crossed her face at the first taste.

"You call this slop edible?", Endris said, "I demand to inspect your kitchens," she cried, bribing the waiter with a C-note. An hour later, delicious smells escaped to the streets, and the restaurant was packed to the gills with patrons. Seeing a commotion disrupting his laze-fare attitude, Shamus Sisco wandered in. Due to the quality and overwhelming demand for her Gumbo, the proprietor copied down Gakor's recipe in his own hand, and sealed up the last gallon of the first batch of "Sisco's cajun stew". Had he known Zaek's area of expertise, the restaurateur may have got tips to corner the food market of an entire planet.

However, there was no way Endris could allow the Ferengi's true heritage to escape. Already, Gates was acting more hu-mon. Although the scullions complained about the extra chopping and work, they didn't mind once they saw the bonuses in their paychecks. And Sisco's later became a local legend, even getting a much needed facelift. From generation to generation, the yellowing 'family' recipe was passed from father to son.

*** Meteor Crash Site, just outside New Orleans ***

Zaek was starting to contemplate how much damage would occur to the timeline if he decided to make his acquisition of Gakor permanent. After all, the swine lady did know more about Earth history than he did, which already had brought him profit.

But this meteor was going to set back his bank account considerably. If he didn't know better, he would let the natives die off and then take over. But genocide was bad for profits, as one of the rules clearly stated. It took some time, and the lead scientist collapsed mysteriously after objecting strenuously to the buy out proposal.

Nonchalantly, Gakor hid the improvised hypo with traces of the diluted sedative she made from local plants. If Zaek got ahold of such medicine, he would definitely try to sell it! Bill Gates the Ferengi had concluded the payment negotiations with the rad-suited one's assistant, and soon the meteor was contained in a lead box in the trunk of the Microsoft Limousine.

*** Seattle, the next morning ***

The trip back proved uneventful. Gakor wished she knew more about temporal mechanics. Not even a single person from the Galaxy's crew knew of her abduction or that she was stranded in the past.

Using the 1980 equivalent of a PC, Endris had managed to build a device which allowed a steady stream of Chronotons to escape. But she wasn't able to shape or control the duration of the field. At this rate, it might take her decades to get back to her friends on the Galaxy, if it was even possible.

Zaek was adapting well to his role as Bill Gates, and didn't bother to count the profits as they were coming in in droves. Still, he wanted Gakor out of his hair. The Ferengi shook his now smaller ears in dismay, wondering how such a thin beast could pack away so much grub.

However, Endris was the only one who knew his secret and could provide intelligent, 24th century level conversation. Pressing the intercom on his desk, he summoned a functionary from the kitchens to fetch a plate of spaghetti and meatballs to shovel to the hungry Doctor.

*** Laboratory, Microsoft Headquarters (Area 51) ***

"Starvation!", Gakor exclaimed after another test failed. A pile of dead tribbles was growing on the floor. The machine did manage to shift things up to a day in the future, but the capacitance overloaded and killed the recipient. It was a good thing that her bag had a small container of Tribble embryos, because Endris needed something that could breed quickly to fuel her experiments.

(This also explained why so much food was disappearing, but she had so far managed to keep Zaek and his cronies away from the Tribbles). When Mister Gates himself appeared at the door, baring a plate of food, the Tribbles instinctively headed for the source of nourishment. Zaek tripped over the unexpected avalanche of small beasts.

The spaghetti flew accost the room as Gates fell out. Landing on the improvised but non-functional time machine, Zaek heard sparking and a loud snap, as the machine vaporized itself and saturated the room with Chronoton radiation. When the now Human Gates finally mustered the courage to poke his head back in the door, Gakor was no where to in sight. However, the little Tribble menaces had also disappeared in the explosion.

*** Inside the Chronoton Beam ***

Endris felt as if her guts had exploded. *Okay, Humpty Dumpty*, she thought, *Time to be put back together again*. Perhaps the tribbles had died because they were not sentient. *Focus, girl, Focus*. Albrecht had mentioned his desire to visit the canals and gondolas of Venice. Perhaps if she thought of....

The machine had never produced such a large surge before. Gakor worried it might not send her home, but there was nothing she could do about it. *Concentrate, Endris, and I don't mean Juice*, she joked to herself.

Abruptly, the river of Chronotons cut off. She was above the ground. Naturally, the force of gravity pulled her down, and the Tellarite's fall was broken by a gondola! (Conjunctly, the downward thrust also ruptured the gondola itself). The man poling the lavish raft towards waiting tourists did not looked pleased, and started cursing in Italian. "Sauce!", Endris said in frustration, knowing her Vegas winnings were already spent.

*** Venice, Citizen's Jail ***

The calendar indicated she had arrived a week prior to her trip on the Cydonia. Because of the time shifting, Endris vacation had lasted several months longer than intended. The Tellarite was growing bored and was anxious to get back to work. But her fall from above the city of Venice had attracted much attention, and sooner or later, someone was bound to investigate.

Meanwhile, having lost her identification, the local constables were not inclined to dig through records and free the Bacon Lady. A week of complants about replicated food convinced the lazy guards to place a call to Matthew Albrecht.

-/\-Yes, Sir, we have a Tellarite woman in our facility who claims to know you. She says her name is Endris Gakor.-/\-

*Gakes, in a Venice jail, I wonder how that happened*, the human thought.

-/\-Oh, I know her officer. When she originally suggested our trip to Earth, it was to keep me out of trouble. What exactly did she do to land herself in the poky?-/\-

-/\-She fell out of the sky and ruptured a valuable antique gondola. Her implausible story blamed a transporter malfunction for the incident. Your infuriating lady friend also claimed she won enough in Vegas to cover the expenses. But we can't release her on her own recognisance until her identity is confirmed and the fines are paid. -/\-, said the official.

Hearing her friends voice over the comm line, Gakor smiled and relaxed a bit.

-/\-Just where are you people from, anyway?-/\- asked the nosey policeman.

-/\-We are officers on the USS Galaxy-/\- Albrecht claimed pridefully.

-/\-Well, at least that much of her tale is true. When can you be by to pick her up?-/\-

*That damm woman disrupted my vacation, but if she's in jail, I suppose she's been punished enough. Replicated food, even!*

-/\-I'll be there before our shuttle returns to the Galaxy-/\- Matthew said nebulously.

Gakor sighed in relief. She would be free soon, but was in no mood to reveal her ordeal with the Ferengi. By the time the human arrived to bail her out, she would have an excuse ready to explain her abduction. Maybe in a few years if they were still friends, she would explain the entire journey to her peers.

"Doldrums"
by Lt. AC Hewson
Assist. Chief Engineer

The black and gray jacket hit the floor as soon as AC stepped into his quarters. Coffee with Hutchcraft had come and gone, and Alan was left with a stiff neck from welding all day. A loud moan echoed from AC as he stretched out all the muscles that were tight from a long day of work. Actually, it was more like a week’s worth of long work. Mèlissa had taken off for earth, and David hadn’t been around much either. But AC had no reason to be bitter towards them since pretty much everyone had been given shoreleave. Alan had elected to stay and help supervise the work on the ship.

His body made a thud as he hit the bed, his face looking up at the ceiling. For a moment, he simply laid there, eyes closed as he tried to catch up on some sleep. But the moment soon passed and AC sat up.

“I should be tired,” he stated outloud. “Correction, I should be *very* tired.” He glanced around the room, noting that the ship’s clock read 03:47. “Wine,” he mumbled to himself. Kicking off his shoes, he walked over to the computer terminal.

“Computer, record message addressed to Lt. Mèlissa Boudreau and send it through the Starfleet Message Board on Earth”:

Hi Mèlissa, hope you’re enjoying yourself more than you should be. Repairs to the Galaxy are going…well at least they’re going. Anyway, I really sent this message to ask a favor of you. Before you leave Earth, could you pick up a few cases of wine for me? I’ve reserved a case of Banyuls Grand Cru Cuvee, Le Pergole Torte, and Blanquette De Limoux at a shop called “Mousier LeBeau’s” in Quebec. I would really be grateful if you could make sure that they make it to the shuttle for the return trip with you. I was going to ask you before you left, but it slipped my mind.

Thanks a lot, AC

“Message sent,” the impartial voice of the computer acknowledged.

“Computer, reserve the first available holodeck for two hours and reserve Holodeck 2 for stardate 49807.17 from 19:00-21:00.” AC said as a few ideas popped into his mind.

“Holodeck 3 will be available in 36 minutes. Holodeck 2 reservation for 49807.17 confirmed.”

“Computer, post a message to the social activities forum,”:

Alan Hewson will be hosting a poker game on Stardate 49807.17 from 19:00-21:00. The game is seven-card stud, so brush up on the rules if you would like to join. The winner gets to select any bottle of wine from AC’s personal collection (or other beverage if they wish).

End Message

***** 77 minutes later *****

Alan had rolled up his sleeves, selected the highest ranked poker players of all time, set the skill level to expert, supplied everyone with a starting amount of 1000 bars of GPL (represented in chip form), and had so far lost every hand. Horribly.

“Son, why don’t ya jest give Uncle Jack yer cash?” Jack Chambers mockingly said as he raked the pot of chips towards his already massive pile of booty. Dressed in dreadful white cowboy duds with gold trim, Mr. Jack Chambers had the appearance of what Santa Claus would look like if he got really drunk and headed down to the Grand Ole Opry. “This jest ain’t yer day, mister,” Jack continued in his stereotypical hick accent.

“Ok, you try to play a decent game of poker after spending the past twelve hours patching up a hole the size of a cow in the hull of a Galaxy class starship!” AC returned.

“Now don’t ya talk about cows wit’ me, boy! I won thirty-five thousand dollars after wresting in forty head o’ cattle only an hour before.” Jack said, straightening out his vest in a forceful manner, almost as if he thought Alan would be jealous of his accomplishment.

“I’m sure you do know quite a bit about cows Mr. Chambers,” AC said in a tone of respect, which caused the old man to smile, “cause it looks like you’ve inhaled enough beef to last a lifetime!” Jack’s face quickly turned sour. “How many people do you have hiding in there anyway?” Alan asked, pointing to the cowboys rather large stomach. The table erupted in laughter.

“He’s just trying to get to you, Alan,” a Romulan named Telrek commented after the laughter died down. “He may not seem to be the smartest guy around, but Jack is a master of getting a person riled up inside.”

“Enough talk, deal out the cards!” Moreth, a Klingon female demanded. Moreth’s pile of chips was only slightly larger than Alan’s, a fact that she didn’t relish. No one wanted a wild Klingon at the table, so Telrek dealt out the cards.

AC received a six of clubs and the king of spades. The first round of betting commenced with Alan calling everytime the bet came his way. Any strategy he had in his mind had long since been done away with. Telrek placed the first three cards on the table: six of hearts, jack of diamonds, and the king of clubs.

*Two pair, eh? This has got to be the best I’ve done all game.* AC thought to himself. The second round of bets followed the same course as the first.

Telrek placed the fourth card on the table: seven of hearts, followed by yet another round of bets. Telrek then laid down the fifth and final card: the king of hearts.

Alan felt like he had hit the jackpot. He had a full house: kings and sixes. The pot was loaded, and everyone except Jack and AC had folded.

“How much ya got, boy?” Jack asked, monitoring towards AC’s meager pile of chips.

“Two hundred and forty-four,” AC responded after double-checking his stash. Jack fingered his white beard for a moment before shoving a stack of chips that equaled exactly two hundred and forty-four GPL.

“This game is gonna be over if ya call me, boy.” Jack said, taking a long puff from the cigar that rested in the corner of his mouth.

“I’m in, fat man.” AC countered by moving his own stack of chips into the fray. If Alan won, he’d be back in the game. If not, he’d be screwed over. “Full house, kings and sixes.” AC tossed his cards on top of the pot, then smiled rather broadly as he leaned back in his chair.

“Full house,” Jack said, laughing hard, “kings and sevens.”

Alan continued to smile. “Computer, end program.” Everything around him faded into the familiar hex-field except for the chair he sat in.

^ PRESENTS: PART TWO ^
** BY ENSIGN BE'TRAN M'BENGA **
** & LT. JG NUMA TAUREAN **

Numa Taurean had spent what seemed like hours wandering Dr. Paul M'Benga's arboretum. It was the most wonderful arboretum she had ever seen being filled with all sorts of unique and unusual flowers, trees, shrubs, and vines. Numa's interest was captured by the exquisit blooms of several hybrid zantedeschias more commonly known as arum lilies. She had alread added a few of the tuberous plants to her collection. M'Benga's arberetum was by far larger than the one found on the Galaxy, and it had a grossly greater variety of plant-life.

Dr. M'Benga had pointed out several bizarre plants to her during his "grand tour" the morning after her arrival at the mansion that had medical aplications. "That would interest Gakes." Numa voiced aloud.

The doctor was an openly generous man, and he had told Numa that she could take anything she wanted, as long as she didn't try to pack the whole arboretum off to the Galaxy. This, of course, was exactly what the Benzite would love to have done as impossible as it was.

"I think Captain Price would have something to say about that." Numa had said, giggling, at the time.

"I suppose he would, indeed." the doctor had responded.

Now Numa was in the arboretum alone, except for the Ferengi houseboy, Nir, who seemed to serve as the doctors gardener as well. The young Benzite was holding up one of the plants Dr. M'Benga had told her had medical properties. It's folliage was leathery and a dark green in color with umbels of small white flowers that gave off an intoxicating aroma. The scent was most hypnotic and soothing putting Numa into an almost dream like trance.

Her mind wandered back to her days with Torel Jenkins. Everything he had taught her, and every thing they had felt, together, for each other. Sometimes, it seemed, those thoughts retuned almost too easily. But, then, Numa never wanted to forget.

"That's one of The Doctor's medicine-plants." The ancient Ferengi, Nir interrupted. "Don't think he'd be a-wantin' you to take that one if y'has a mind to take any, miss."

Numa chuckled, "Don't worry, Mr. Nir. I'm not going to take this one." she said, and wandered over to a display of tangled branches, peppered with red and yellow orchid shaped flowers.

The arboretum was arranged in such a way that the doctor could easily pick up the plants and rearrange them at his leisure as often as he liked. The plants were housed separately in their own "environcubes" surrounding their roots with their native soils.

Numa stooped over the red-and yellow display, and gently removed one of the plants, it's branches protruding well out of the trasparent cube that was its home. She studied the cube. There were holes, for water and other natural seepages all around the bottom of the cube. Numa thought of the ancient methods of keeping plants in old tera cotta pots which were a far less reliable means of keeping the greenery alive and well. But at the same time, the old methods needed the gardener or tender to know a great deal about their green leafed companions. The ancient ways also instilled patience in their masters because there was know way of causing many of the plants to 'bloom' out of season or on a continuous basis. Now a days, it was easy to keep even the most difficult plants in good health and blooming continuously. Numa enjoyed tending her plants in the archaic methods of a time long since gone. She smiled seemingly at the plant as she whispered some words of encouragement to it.

The Ferengi stood up from his work, and glanced at Numa proudly. "Now that one, miss Tureen..." he began.

"Taurean." Numa corrected casually, carefully studying the plant.

"That one," he said again," is a rare K'arpeythan Primrose. I know, helped the doctor grow it from a seedling m'self."

A K'arpeythan Primrose. Numa had never seen one. She pulled it closer to her face, rubbing the leaves against her cheeks. The oils of the leaves mixed with the oils of Numa's face producing the sweetest jasmine like scent. It was delicious. They touch was soft as silk. "Torel..." she whispered to herself.

"Smell it." said the Ferengi, "Go on, smell it." he had walked up to her now.

Numa did so, inhaling the sweet, almost chocolate-like fragrance of the blooms that complimented the scent of the leaves. Suddenly there was a gentle tinkling g sound in the air; not only the plant Numa had sniffed, but all the primroses in the arboretum were singing the notes like that of countless tiny silver bells; singing like little wind-chimes, or Betazoid muk-tuk.

Numa glanced around, momentarily startled. Then she let out a sigh. "How beautiful. I wish I had a hundred of these."

"Yes'm," said Nir (he was almost anachronisticly servile), "When ever anyone sniffs one of those things, they all sing. They always do that. Even if someone sniffs one of'em up to a mile or two off." Nir streightened himself proudly, "The Doctor, he took some of those up to the Hospital, brighten it up an'all. These roses here are allways goin' off like that, cause somebody's at the Hospital sniffin' the ones as is up there. And I just bet, when anyone sniffs these, the ones at the Hospital go off like that too."

Numa laughed, "I bet they do. But how did the doctor get so many of these, as you said, they are rare?"

"Bred'em," said Nir,"from one seedling. Started the year before Miss Be'Tran was born. From one seedling. I bet DR. M'Benga's now got more K'arpeythan Primroses than the K'arpeythans do." and at that, Nir laughed a hoarse sounding chuckle.

At that moment Be'Tran entered the arboretum, clad in tight-fitting pants, and a baggy shirt. "Hey, Numa, find a cool one yet!?" she asked loudly.

Numa held up her primrose proudly. "You bet, Betta. This one. Of course I could and would take all of them, if I could, but this one. It's the one."

"Done." said Be'Tran, taking the plant from Numa, and handing it to Nir, "Nir," she said, "Fix this one up so that we can take it with us when we go."

"And be very careful." said Numa, rubbing her hands together excitedly. The Ferengi knodded, and trotted off with Numa's plant.

"There," said Be'Tran, hands on her hips, "That's your present."

"You are really big on this present thing." said Numa.

"Yes." said Be'Tran, widening her eyes, and speaking in a loud whisper. "Now come on, your dressed for it. I've got something to show you."

Numa was fuzzled, "Wait, 'dressed for it', dressed for what?"

"C'mon!" Be'Tran was half out of the arboretum. Numa's curiousity prompted her to follow after the half Klingon woman.

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

In moments they were both astride beautiful horses. Numa's was white, and Be'Trans a dark, almost burgundy brown. They rode along the banks of the Usumbura river. It was a man-made river, formed for the irrigation of the Usumbura valley in 2209. The valley had prospered.

Be'Tran, before she went to the Academy, had loved to ride the banks of the Usmbura. She was exstatic. Numa was happy too, but her mind was wandering again. Somehow, staying with Be'Tran, and her father, she couldn't help but feel the warmth in that house. And she couldn't help but to think of Torel Jenkins. How she wished he could've seen all this. Especially the arboretum.

At one point, where the river widened, not too far from the house, Be'Tran stopped her horse. She dismounted and started pulling off her boots. "C'mon!" she hollered once she was bootless, and jumped into the lake.

Numa followed suit, and soon the two young officers were swimming and laughing in the warm Usumbura river.

It seemed like no time at all, before the tall form of Dr. M'Benga appeared at the bank of the lake. "Betta!" he called, loudly.

Be'Tran got a splash in the face from Numa, feeling very playful, as she answered. "Yes... splutter... yes,dad?"

"I just got off subspace with your mother." said Dr. M'Benga, "She said she did make a tapestry for that Klingon house you asked me about; she said if you can find it, you can have it!"

Be'Tran was extatic. She leaped out of the water, and threw her arms around her father, soaking him thoroughly. "Hey-hey-hey !!" he said loudly, laughing. "I've got to go into the hospital, now I'm all wet!"

Be'Tran immediately backed off, her expression that of a gigglish young girl; "Sorry, dad.", she said.

"Oh, that's alright." said the doctor, "I'm practicly in charge of that hospital. If the boss can't show up a little late because of a happy daughter, what's the good of bein' the boss?"

"None at all, that I can see." laughed Numa, joining the M'Benga's on the riverbank, and wringing the water out of her shirt.

"And how are you liking Betta's little tour, Miss Taurean?"

Numa put her hands on her hips, and grinned proudly at the doctor. "Just fine." she said, "You know, your daughter gave me one of your Primroses this morning."

"Did she indeed, " said the doctor, "Well, that's fine; that's fine: I have plenty more, take two if you like!", and with that, he began climbing away from the river-bank, and to a tall mount of his own, a strong looking grey mare.

The three of them rode back together, and after the girls had changed their clothes into dryer summer-type things (shorts, sleeveless tops, etc.); Be'Tran lead Numa into her mothers tapestry-room.

Their were several tapestries adorning the walls, all about a 2-meter square. The center of each tapestry featured the seal of the individual Klingon house for whitch the work was designed.

Around these seals were murals, featuring events in the lives of members of historicly (or socially) prominent members of the individual household.

But what caught Numa's attention was the shelving. A shelf, like a deep bookcase, adorned the back wall of the room. The shelf was 4 levels high, and each level was made up of several cubby-holes, going back 2 meters deep, and housing 4 or 5 tapestries apiece.

"Wow!", exclaimed Numa, "Your mother made all these?"

"Not all," said Be'Tran,"Some my grandmother made, some grandfather had when he and grandmother first moved into this house. The one I'm looking for, though, mother did make."

Numa took a long look at one of the hanging tapestries. She couldn't read Klingon, but she could certainly recognize Klingon lettering, and cultural ideals, as they were portrayed in the tapestrys. Especially after all the rather unwanted Klingon contact she had had aboard the Galaxy recently.

"Which one were you looking for?" she asked Be'Tran at length.

"Kras, the House of Kras." replied Betta.

"And you're sure you have one in here?" asked Lt. Taurean.

"Oh, yeah," said Be'Tran, "I wasn't sure if mom had one, until dad talked to her on subspace this morning, but I'm sure now."

"So," said Numa, rubbing her hands together, as if she were eager for the challenge, "how do we find it?"

"You read Klingon?" asked Be'Tran. All the tapestries were labled with their house-name, in Klingon.

"Nope." said Numa.

"Well, then," replied Be'Tran, "You wont be much help.", and here she let out a giggle. "You can still keep me company, if you like."

Numa shrugged, "I think I'll go back to the arboretum for a while, if y'don't mind. But not-to-worry, I'll come back and check on you when it gets close to lunch-time."

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

Actually, it was much closer to dinner, and the girls were still looking. Numa had found an antique CD player in Be'Tran's room, and brought it down to the tapestry-rrom, along with some of Be'Tran's CDs.

Numa loved music, and wanted as much of it as she could get while unrolling, and trying to help Be'Tran study the dusty tapestries.

After hours of searching, they were still unsuccessful, when M'Bope, Be'Tran's brother wandered in. Dr. M'Benga had retuned from the hospital about an hour before, and after a dinner-break with him; Numa and Betta had returned to their search.

M'Bope, though older than Be'Tran, was smaller. His autism caused him to behave like a pre-teen child. Be'Tran loved him dearly.

"Betta sleepy?" M'Bope asked as he enterred the room, "M'Bope sleepy. Wanna go to bed now."

Be'Tran stood up, and carrying a tapestry with her, walked over to M'Bope. As Numa watched, be'Tran unfurlled the tapestry, and wrapped it around her brother, lovingly, then she kissed him on the head.

"Just a little longer, sweetie." she said, and let the tapestry fall loose. The next thing that happened surprised both Numa and M'Bope.

Be'Tran let out a loud howell. "What!?" asked Numa excitedly.

Be'Tran was staring at the tapestry, overjoyed. She didn't recognize any of the figures in the mural of the tapestry, and she didn't know if Captain Price's friend, K'Ral, was pictured (she doubted it), but the house-name on the lable clearly read "Kras", in bold, red Klingon lettering.

"This is it. I've got. Numa, this is the one! The House of Kras." Be'Tran turned and planted a huge smooch on M'Bope's still startled face. "Thanks, big brother." she laughed, and ran over to Numa.

Betta held the tapestry up proudly. Numa studied it, but couldn't make out the Klingon lettering. "We're through then?" she asked, sounding tired, but still cheerfull.

"Yep !" said Be'Tran, loudly, "Oh, Numa, thanks for all your help."

"Don't mention it," said Numa, "I've had a great time here.". And with that, she threw herself into a pile of tapestries, fully intent upon falling asleep where she lay.

One of Be'Tran's CDs, something from a group called "Matchbox 20", continued in the background.

~ David Lyles ~
a.k.a. Ensign Be'Tran M'Benga
Engineering, USS Galaxy
e-mail; burgoyne48@hotmail.com
or; sa_3_16@yahoo.com

It was time for a break.

Sunder eased his mammoth chair back to stretch out new kinks that had taken root in his back. He stretched, causing sinovial fluid to run from one joint to another, making loud popping noises. Stress was taking its toll on the security chief. With all the pandemonium over and the administrative chores done, he wanted to take a rest.

Working out was out of the question. In which case, he would have normally he would have headed back to his quarters to work on one of his pet projects: his military miniatures, the robotic weapons system he was tinkering with, or even just sit back and listen to some Wagner with a cup of moccacino. Perhaps some Clive Barker would an excellent choice of relaxing literature...

His mind and his body needed rest. However, his favourite activities were also out of the question. His quarters were finally being repaired after the trashing it received from one of the klingon invaders. The majority of his miniatures were likewise destroyed - some irreplaceable. His Napoleonic Grenadiers minted in the 21st century were no more - mere puddles of lead. Despite his broken ribs, his new kidney and his migraine - that had really hurt.

He still had his books, though he didn't feel in the mood for Clive Barker. Tonight he felt like relaxing with something more historical. perhaps the loss of his miniatures had triggered some yen to lose himself in history. He checked the holodecks' availability in the computer. Not surprisingly, they were all accupied - some reserved for the next few days. That left the only place to go for a quiet read being Ten Forward. With most of the crew on leave, he guessed it would be fairly subdued. He downloaded 'Sharpe's Waterloo' into a PADD and left the security office.

Within minutes he was down the hall and through the door to the ship's lounge. He was pleased to see that his suspicions were confirmed. There were only a few people around and it looked like they had the same idea that he had.

Door was tending bar, talking to a young woman - he assumed. He couldn't see her face. He gave the half-cardassian a nod and sat at his usual spot: the table next to the Rigellian fern-tree, sitting with his back to the wall. The chair was a bit tight on his ample frame, but he pulled up another one and stretched, resting his feet on it.

Looking back towards the bar to catch Door's eye, he finally got a good look at the young woman he had been talking to. She was Orion, he observed with a twinge of nostalgia for home. Although, he thought, she looked more ... refined than the women he grew up with back on the conclave worlds. They were far more savage and proud of their ferocity. Perhaps she had been raised on another world, just as he had been raised on the Orion Homeworlds.

Manners getting the better of his reclusive nature, he stood up and walked over to the bar to introduce himself and order his moccacino.

" Good evening Lt. Commander. " Door greeted him solemnly. Door had an odd respect for Sunder. He was usually witty and charming with the other patrons, but he reserved a particularly formal courtesy for the security chief. It puzzled Sunder to no end, but he chose to see it as a form of respect and always responded in kind.

" Door...all is well, I trust? " He replied.

" Nothing could be finer. What can I get you tonight, sir? "

" My usual, if you don't mind? "

" Not a problem. One extra large moccacino with double chocolate coming right up. "

Sunder turned to the young orion woman beside him.

" I don't believe I've had the pleasure. My name is Sunder. " He said, introducing himself.

" Polina Praskovya. " The orion replied.

" Praskovya? " Sunder replied. " Isn't that a human name? Sk'al deyan fell 'st ta? " He continued in one of the common Orion trade dialects, asking her if she had an orion birthname.

" Nedar br'ial isst van 'ef. " She answered, saying that she didn't. " I was raised by human parents - Russians, actually. "

" Interesting... " Sunder mused. " I was raised by Orions. I have no idea who my human parents were, but it's been said that I must have some Russian bear in my ancestry. " He quipped, pleased with his own joke. She smiled back in response. " You speak D'unedas very well though. "

" Thanks, " Polina said. " It was one of the first Orion languages I learned. I couldn't actually go to any of the homeworlds though. "

" Why not? " Sunder asked, retrieving his moccacino from Door. Polina drew back her hair.

At first, Sunder didn't acknowledge the seriousness of the gesture. He took it for a typical feminine gesture. Then he noticed her ears - her pointed Vulcanoid ears.

" Ahh... I see. " Sunder understood. Being a half-breed on one of the conclave planets was a ticket to total ostracization, abandonment, or even violent assault. Sunder had grown up with a similar prejudice, being not truly orion. However, his adopted status in Kengar Ursa's house had usually protected him from serious harm. Still, he understood the cultural perceptions of his adopted home.

" They're very flattering. " He said awkwardly. He knew she had taken a big chance in showing her mixed heritage to him, being raised with orion standards. Sunder acknowledged bravery, whatever its form.

" Isn't this place supposed to be more exciting than this? " She asked, changing the subject.

" Usually it is. " He nodded. " However, we're being re-fitted and repaired; most of the crew is on leave, and therefore things are a bit more slower than normal. If you were expecting a party, I'm afraid you'll have to wait. What department are you in? " He asked, unable to guess from the long black dress and the neon green blouse.

" I'm in engineering. I'm not scheduled for any assignments for a while. In fact, I haven't even received the grand tour yet. " She said, waving her hands.

" That explains it. Engineers: party animals, every one of them. Most of the serious work is being done by base technicians. The GALAXY's staff already kept the ship together getting here. They deserve to have someone else do the grunt work. Doesn't matter, they'll probably change it all around afterwards anyway. But for now, the department needs a break. "

" What about you? " She asked.

" Me? Oh, I'm no-one important. " He demurred. " Just the bloke who keeps an eye on things every now and then. "

Polina raised an eye-brow coquettishly.

" Am I to assume then, that you're keeping an eye on me? "

Sunder chuckled inwardly. She had orion blood in her, that much was for sure. He kept his face still though, remembering his father's advice on orion females.

" Well, it wasn't my intention when I walked in here, but seeing as you're new I thought I should warn you about Electra. "

Puzzlement creased her face. " Who's Electra? "

Door walked back up to the two conversationalists.

" I was going to tell her about Electra eventually, Commander Sunder. " He said in hushed tones.

" Where is she tonight Door? " Sunder asked.

" Luckily she's out with friends, taking some of her own leave time while we're in spacedock. " He answered conspiratorily. " Our shifts will overlap when she returns and I'll ... warn her ahead of time about Ms. Praskovya. "

" Who's Electra?" Polina asked again, frustrated by the two men.

" Electra's another orion female - and I have to tell you: she's a bit territorial... wouldn't you say, Door? "

" Indubitably, Mr. Sunder. " The bartender answered, giving a sly wink.

=/\= "Enjoying the View" =/\=
by Matthew Albrecht

Majestic mountain peaks adorned the horizon, in all directions. The peaks were covered from top to bottom with snow, thin in places where the mountain faces were too steep for the powdery whiteness to cling. To the people in the valley between these peaks, it appeared they stood in the center of a giant crown. Ancient Inuit people believed the mountains were the teeth of some great beast. Modern residents call the valley the 'Crown of Teeth.' In the great, flat area between the peaks, snow ruled. This time of year, the blizzards rarely blew; But the snow would be deep for another month or so. The air could still chill below zero in the morning, and a wise traveler would stay indoors at night.

Matthew checked his wrist-mounted device, a 'Sledder's Companion,' to see how cold it was in the 'Crown.' Twenty degrees Farenheit. He reached up and took the scarf away from his mouth. A gust of steam escaped him as he exhaled, and he watched his breath crystallize. The dogs, each wearing cold-weather harnesses that protected them from unexpectedly bad weather, were relaxing in their formation. Matthew reached into his pack in front of him on the sled and withdrew several strips of beef jerkey, made from beef his cousin Audrey raised on the Albrecht land. He tore the strips into three-centimeter bits, and tossed them to the dogs, who nipped at each other playfully to get at the chewy treats. After he had given each dog a piece or two, he finally took a whole one for himself.

The lieutenant took a few minutes to absorb the view, more spectacular than ever despite his many interplanetary adventures. He thought back to all the times he had visited the estate in Alaska over the years, including the times he didn't want to be there. Those times especially seemed far away and not entirely real. How could he have ever disliked the beautiful vistas and the kind friends and family that lived there?

Eventually he began to wonder where the his friend Degruiss was. When he left the kennel with the dogs, he had been accompanied by another sledder, a Gozarian whose multiple layers of fat tissues and thick fur coat made his people well-suited for the arctic cold. Degruiss was also an excellent sled dog trainer. He had been employed by the Albrecht Company for seventeen years, and his responsibilities had grown to include operating and managing all the kennel operations. He was also well-respected throughout the surrounding domes and cities; On his own time he operated a volunteer dogsled rescue team that had performed several high-profile rescues.

Matthew retrieved his binoculars from his pack, and began scanning the horizon for the other dogsled team. Mostly the view was snow, snow, snow; But when his view passed over a running stream he witnessed something beautiful. A big brown bear was fishing for salmon! He watched the bear fish for a minute or two and saw it catch a couple, loping off with the second fish still in its jaws. Soon the bear was out of sight over a snowy hill. Matthew was happy to have seen it, he remembered learning of the controversial efforts a couple of generations before to reintroduce the animals to the area after centuries without them. Matthew had never seen a bear before in its native environment.

His 'sledder's companion' soon squawked, and Degruiss's raspy voice came out, "Well, where the heck are you, Matt-boy?" The big Gozarian had always called him that, from his childhood sledding lessons on. Matthew had long ago decided he preferred 'Matthew' to 'Matt,' but family and old friends, of course, got 'grandfathered' in and got away with calling him whatever they wanted.

The security officer replied, "You know exactly where I am, you old coot. My location is displayed on your 'companion.'" He figured the man was just asking rhetorically, but played along. Matthew checked the time and realized he was supposed to be treating the Chief Sledder to lunch a half-hour earlier!

Degruiss laughed, "You were always the most oblivious child. Get back to town, my stomachs are growling!" Then Matthew remembered the other man's appetite, which was incredibly large even for a man his size.

He replied, "You better order some appetizers while you wait! How about some of those smoked salmon quesidillas with the avocado?" he suggested, and immediately his stomach, his only stomach, started growling as well. There was only one place in town he wanted to dine, the Big Sky Restaurant. He remembered his first time there and the friend who had taken him--he hadn't found more creative and healthy dining anywhere since.

A moment later he was speeding back to town, his mouth watering for the meal he was about to eat. With only a few days of leave left, he was no where near ready to go back to his ship. He loved his position and the people he worked with, but the trip had been so much fun! On the other hand, he realized, he was really looking forward to the increased responsibility 'commander Sunder had offered him during Paran Chanor's absence. As quandaries go, it was a pretty good one to be in!

Lt Matthew Albrecht
Security Officer
USS Galaxy NCC-70637

"To The Extreme"
USS Galaxy
Lt. Commander Deiran Casey

Everyone boarded the propeller airplane. Which was a novelty in itself. The plane started it’s engine and the sound of rotors began blurring in everyone’s ears. Casey smiled as he looked at everyone with their parachutes strapped to their bodies. It seemed to him that he was the only one who didn’t have a pale face.

He smiled at Kay, who was enjoying herself or at least appeared to be. When this week was over she was going to get a big surprise. A surprise he owed her. Play a joke on Deiran Casey and he’ll get you back sooner or later, and you’ll never know when. But, at the end of it, you’ll wish you’d steered clear of him.

"Computer, decrease the sound of the propellers and start music," Casey commanded the computer. It replied in it’s usual way and complied.

Blink 182’s Song #2 began filtering through the plane. Just before the plane began to taxi on the runway; a few minutes later they were off into the wild blue yonder.

Deiran was sorry Miran missed this, she would have loved to fly the plane.

Casey checked the altitude of the plane, it was at 15,000 feet, "Okay everyone, remember your training exercises from before. I’ll stay here to see you all get out ok," Casey said standing by the door of the plane.

One by one they all filed out into the clear blue sky, seemingly floating and beating gravity for the time being. Casey watched to see that everyone was okay, he strapped his snowboard like surfboard to his shoes and jumped, he let out a scream of "Waaaaahooooo and yeeeeehawwwww!!!!"

It was a crazy display as he did flips and turns that would’ve made a gymnast nauseous. He began to do some very cool tricks, letting the wind no using the wind to do his bidding. Each twist, each somersault in the air was like a ballet. As usual Casey showed off, and did not disappoint.

Everyone else had released their parachutes and were gliding to the ground. Casey waited for as long as possible. He was 1200 feet from the ground when he released his parachute. His friends stood and watched, concern and fear on their faces. He was near death.

Casey continued to fall. Laughing at the incredible rush his body was experiencing. 500 feet away and he still had not slowed. Almost on cue his parachute snapped. Casey pulled for the second chute, nothing came out. 200 feet.

Casey looked at his friends standing below him and scared white that he was going to impact into the ground and break every bone in his body. 100 feet.

Casey saw the ground coming at him like the speed of sound. It seemed so at least to his eyes and brain, still high on the adrenaline coursing through his veins. 50 feet.

When he got to 25 feet he began to slow down in mid air. A grav-belt caught him and slowly lowered him to the ground. His boots impacted on the grass below with a silent, gentle thud. His legs buckled and then he did a back flip.

He looked at everyone, all stunned at what he had just done. Jaws were dropping, Tebrianne was looking at Casey like he was a crazy man. "Man that was fun!!! Talk about adrenaline rushes, that was the ultimate!!!" Casey screamed in excitement.

Just as Casey went to pick up his backpack for the hike to the river, Metallica began to play. It was like being at a concert but no band was seen. The program was very good. The whole thing conceived by Casey and was very elaborate. The Brian Seltzer Band, Cherry Poppin’ Daddies, the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Smashmouth, Goo Goo Dolls, Poison, Van Halen, The Killjoys, Chemical Brothers, The Crystal Method, Prodigy, Third Eye Blind, Oasis, Sheryl Crow, Fuel and Guns N Roses.

Casey took the lead as he knew where the river was where they would be white water rafting. It was a beautiful day. Casey had a smile plastered to his face, loving his creation. He truly enjoyed living on the edge. No one had ever seen this part of him because he had never shown it. There were times when Deiran needed to just throw caution to the wind, in this case literally, and enjoy life and take risks.

Teb and Cat walked next to Casey as they headed up a steep mountain.

"Deiran your crazy!" Cat said, still in shock at the horrible sight of Casey plummeting to earth.

"Thanks Cat!" he replied in a sincere manner.

"You actually enjoy being crazy in this environment!" Teb commented.

"Sure, that’s why it’s fun. I had that all planned I knew the second chute wasn’t going to open. Why do you think I let you all go first?" Casey laughed.

As he said that Kay caught up with them to ask a question. "How far to the river Deiran?" Kay asked.

"It’s about twelve miles up this mountain and then eight miles down," he answered.

"Do you like torture?," Kay asked in reply.

"No it keeps me in shape though. Here’s food for thought Kay; if I’m willing to freak you all out with that stunt back there, have fun with it and all. What do you think I’m prepared to do to get back at you for your little prank?" Casey’s laugh had a sinister, eerie sound to it as he walked ahead of her. Kay stood there thinking. He didn’t hear her reply. Didn’t need to actually. His point was made.

Casey started jogging up the hill. He turned and coaxed everyone to start running. They did, but not by choice. Casey smiled. He picked Cat up into his arms and continued running.

Mac yelled at Deiran, "Show off!"

Casey laughed. He was carrying Cat at the toughest part of the mountain, all the while Cat protested. He finally let her down. He started laughing again.

"Why are you laughing so much Deiran?" Cat asked.

"I know what’s coming," he replied and walked off and back up the mountain.

An hour later they arrived at the river. It looked like a nice, peaceful brook as it’s water flowed south.

"This doesn’t look so bad," McCloud stated.

When McCloud said that Deiran was putting the raft into the water. Everyone heard him laugh at McCloud.

Deiran showed them the most dangerous parts of the river. Names like "Devil’s Canyon," "Hell’s Fury," "Death’s Door," and "Poison Rocks." Casey based the river on some of the most difficult white water rivers in the world, including Colorado River.

"Okay, everyone we’re ready. This is a big raft. Kay, you and James get in the back and steer, I’ll help steer in the front with Mac. Teb and Cat you’re in the middle. Let’s go have some fun."

The peaceful river only lasted for a mile. After that it turned into an insane asylum. Water slammed into everyone as it took the raft into a whirlpool. Then down raging waters that did not relent. It was like being in a blender almost. It took everyone’s strength to stay on course. But everyone was having fun, battling a river was more peaceful than battling renegade Klingons or the Jem’Hadar.

Cat was looking ahead, trying to figure out what she had to do next when she noticed the river stopped up ahead. "Deiran where does the river go ahead of us?"

Deiran laughed, "It doesn’t go anywhere. Just sit back and enjoy! We’re all safe, this is just for fun. The safeties are on, and I wouldn’t want any of you to be hurt. Just enjoy it!"

A few minutes later all six of them were falling over a waterfall and down into a deep lagoon. The waterfall was about five stories tall.

Deiran came popping up out of the water after the long descent. "Yes! Man that was awesome!" he yelled, making his way to shore. The others in the party were beginning to worry at what was coming next.

They didn’t realize that they’d be camping at such a beautiful sight. The day was over. And none of them knew what the morning would bring. Deiran knew.

** by Ensign Be'Tran M'Benga **
** suggested by Lt. JG Numa Taurean **

Be'Tran woke up late her second moring home. She crawled out of bed, and activated her antique CD player. Searching the few CDs she had left at home, after her last visit (before leaving for the Galaxy); she pulled down a worn copy of one of her favourites.

It was called "New Miserable Experience", and it was by a late 2oth century band called the Gin Blossoms. She opened the CD's transparent case, and red the embossed label out loud; "GIN ! NEW !" she laughed at the two big words on the lable.

She placed the old CD gently into the player, which she had rebuilt herself, and activated the play mode. Loud, but melodius Rock'n'Roll soon filled the room.

Be'Tran danced her way over to her window, and threw open the antique shutters, to see Numa hurrying on her way to the arboretum. "There she goes." Be'Tran laughed. She was feeling particularly pleased with herself, sience her success with getting her father to surrender the present she wanted for Ensign D'Auria.

Dancing her way around her room, she made her way over to an elegant wooden cabinet, upon whitch, gnestled among her "girlie-stuff", was the mysterious gift. It was smooth, and cylindrical in shape; but it seemed made of stone. It was dark-grey, and covered with blue and brown speckles.

Be'Tran picked it up, and the soft, melodius humming that had filled the library eminated from it again, stuggling to be heard above the Gin Blossoms. Be'Tran retuned it carefully to the top of the cabinet. She smiled at it slightly, and, just for amoment; thought back to the incident in the Galaxy's science lab.

Happily, she went over to her closet, and through open the doors. She began tossing all manner of rugged and warn looking outdoor clothing on her bed. After she found an outfit that suited her, she peeled off her short nightshirt, and squirmmed into a pair of worn jeans, and a sweatshirt.

Picking up a pair of riding boots from a far corner, she bolted out of her room, and down the stairs. At the foot of the stairs, she met her father.

"Dad," she called, "do me a favor?"

"I'll try." the doctor said, smiling.

"Great," said Betta, "Could you call mom on Betazed, and ask her something."

"Why don't you call her youself?" asked her father.

Be'Tran thought on this one a second. Frankly, she had beenglad her mother hadn't been there when she and Numa got there. Be'Tran's mother was more Betazoid than Be'Tran was; and Be'Tran wasn't quite comfortable with the prospect of her mother sensing feeling from her she wasn't even sure she felt herself. Feeling for a certain science-officer.

"I've got a guest to entertain," was her answer, "besides, she never says no to you, and this is very important to me."

"Another present, like in the library last night?" asked Paul M'Benga.

"Yes," said Be'Tran smiling, "this one's for my CO, Captain Price."

Paul looked impressed, "Lee Price is a good man. I was glad when Khalfani told me you would be serving with him." the doctor rubbed his hands together enthusiasticly, "And what can I get from your mother for your Captain."

"One of her tapestries, if she ever made it."

"Well, I don't know, I can ask, but..."

"Please, dad, do ask." Betta pleaded.

"Don't worry, I'll call her before I go into the hospital today. Now what tapestry did you want?"

"The House of Kras." said Be'Tran, "According to just about everyone on board the Galaxy, the Captain had a close friend in that house; and his friend died onour last mission."

Paul smiled broadly, "And you want to give Price the tapestry to remember him by. Very thoughtful ,littlest. I'm sure your mother would be glad for him to have it." Dr. M'Benga here put his arm around his youngest child's shoulder, "StarFleet's been good to this family. From the time that science-ship rescued your grandparents from that passenger-liner; right up to accepting you and Khal, and giving you all the wonderful oppertunities you both have. I'm sure your mother would be proud to have one of her tapestries hanging in the quarters of one of the Fleets finest officers."

"Then you'll talk to her?" said Be'Tran, ina girlish tone.

"Said I would, didn't I. Yes I did. Now you runalong and see that your friend doesn't have my entire arboretum packed for shipping, OK!" said Paul, and with that, he headed towards his den, where his personal subspace tranciever was.

Be'Tran began hopping towards the kitchen, trying to pull her boots on as she went. First a bite (she assumed Numa had already eaten), then she was taking Numa horse-back riding by the river

~ David Lyles ~
a.k.a. Ensign Be'Tran M'Benga
Engineering, USS Galaxy
e-mail; burgoyne48@hotmail.com
or; sa_3_16@yahoo.com

=/\= "On Trial" =/\=
by Lt Matthew Albrecht
with a few 'just deserts' tossed in by Dr Endris Gakor

When Matthew returned to the house after his dogsledding and lunch, he was greeted at the door by Mniq!ok, the caretaker of the Albrecht estate. After a short greeting, Mniq!ok informed Matthew that an Italian official was waiting for him on the subspace radio in the parlor. When he arrived in the parlor, he activated the monitor screen which rose from a large pedestal at the side of the room. A sixty-inch two-dee image of a man in uniform appeared, and he explained to Matthew that he had detained a woman claiming to be Endris Gakor of the Starship Galaxy for destruction of public property. The bureaucratic functionary seemed suspicious of Gakes, and by extension, Matthew, but after a few minutes of conversation the man seemed to just want rid of the Tellarite woman.

After terminating the call, Matthew sat down and began to think about his friend Gakor. He was feeling hurt by her apparently insensitive behavior, running off in the middle of the night while they were touring Europe. If he wanted something from her she was unwilling to give, why couldn't she just say so? He was a grown man; He could take the news. And then she goes off and gets herself arrested? Something was up with her, he decided, and she wasn't letting him in on it.

*Well,* he thought, *If she's going to be that way, then I know just how to repay her.* The starfleet lieutenant began plotting. His family had contacts around the sector, and favors were owed that he intended to collect. This was going to be one bail-out the frustrating woman would never forget!

**** Their last morning on Earth ****

Gakor paced her cell. She was irritated, and not just her stomach from the substandard replicator food. She was cross with Albrecht for waiting so long to bail her out. He had learned of her imprisonment a whole day before! Nearly twenty-four Earth hours. Truly, she had waited long enough in the Venice detainment facility before they even contacted the straight-laced lieutenant in Alaska. And the Cydonia was scheduled for departure in only hours! *What else could go wrong?* she rhetorically asked herself.

As if on cue, one of the guards approached her cell. "Doctor Endris Gakor?" he asked, as if anyone else would be in her cell. She was exhausted of patience with the entire place and all the people in it. She nodded and gave an irritated little snort, not wishing to give him the satisfaction of words. "Your bail has been revoked. The judge has decided that you will stand trial today for your crime," he announced with brusque finality.

The tiny woman's jaw dropped. Mouth agape, she stammered, "S-ss-starvation! What the Hell crime are you talking about?!" The doctor was irate, her understanding was that the gondola she broke her fall with had been an antique, and therefore valuable, and she had been unable to pay the damages. She was being held because she could not prove her identity or produce the money to repay the fines. There had been no mention of prosecution!

The policeman smiled evilly, and explained, "Destruction of a National Treasure. Punishable by a fine of up to one million bars of gold-pressed latinum and a jail sentence of up to six years," he concluded with apparent relish.

She couldn't believe her ears. All she could think to do was ask more questions in the hope that she was just misunderstanding the whole thing. "All of a sudden the weatherbeaeten old boat is a National Treasure??? Who is this judge anyway?" she demanded, as if she'd recognize the judge's name.

The guard had apparently decided to cease cooperating. "You'll meet her soon enough, Doc," he declared.

Just then Matthew Albrecht came into the hallway. He was out of breath and his necktie was over his shoulder as if he'd been running. "Gakes, what's going on?! They told me they wouldn't let you out!..."

**** Two hours later ****

There hadn't been time for small talk or discussion of where Gakor had gone that night in Rome. Instead, they went over and over Gakor's story of how a transporter accident had placed her in air above a rickety old gondola in one of Venice's many canals. Matthew avoided any discussion of what transporter she was talking about, insisting that they concentrate on disproving the value placed upon the boat by the local government. He assured Gakor that he was quite knowledgable in the local legal practices.

The court room was sparsely populated, but Gakor noticed a Tellarite in an Icarian wool sweater favored by the Temporal Investigative Unit. During her descent to Earth, Endris caught a glimpse of a shadowy figure on a balcony. Could this man have witnessed her dramatic arrival? He seemed to be jotting down notes on a PADD, even though the court session had not formally commenced. *That's odd*, Gakor thought. After Endris looked back towards her lawyer, she noticed the scruffy snack monger had shrank through the exit.

The pair stood at a small table in the judge's personal chambers, a large wood-paneled room with great tall windows looking out over a rooftop. They had been informed that the trial would not be conducted with a jury; Endris would be tried by the judge alone. The prosecutor was a skinny little guy with large anachronistic bifocal glasses balanced upon his nose. She had never seen him before, nor had she seen the judge. Both spoke with heavy Italian accents, and neither was in a good mood.

"Your honor, I object-" Matthew interjected.

"Overruled, counselor."

"Your honor, counsel is baiting-" he tried to say.

"Overruled, Mister Albrecht."

"Your honor,-" Matthew began with annoyance.

"Overruled."

"Overruled!"

"OVERRULED!"

"I'll find you in contempt, Mister!" barked the judge, obviously not interested in hearing any of Matthew's arguments. Things were looking bad for the snack-loving lady.

Finally, the prosecution rested. Matthew began his case for Gakor. He was eloquent, yet profoundly bad. He contradicted himself. He argued against his own points without apparently realizing it. The judge and prosecutor shared looks of disbelief at his ineptness.

The doctor stared in horror and disbelief at her friend who appeared to be losing her case. She had always assumed that Matthew was going to be a great lawyer--he was intelligent, well-spoken, and dedicated! How could he fail her like this? She looked over at her friend, and he was sweating profusely! She had never seen him so nervous, his hands were shaking. As his case continued to fall apart around him, he began to stutter and repeat himself. "Um, um, uh..." became his favorite phrase.

When it came time for the judge to pass a verdict, she put down her gavel and sighed, looking at her desktop. She began, "I don't believe I have ever witnessed such a sorry display of jurisprudence in my courtroom before this day. However, Miss Gakor, my sympathy for your pitiful defense is insufficient to allow me to overlook your guilt on these charges. Therefore..."

Under his breath, Matthew spoke aloud, "I was afraid of this." He slapped his comm badge, and a voice responded, ["Ten-Four"].

The judge looked suspiciously at Gakor's defender, and was caught by surprise when the tall windows behind her desk erupted in shattered glass. A cloud of pea-sized glass hail filled the room, and everyone squeezed their eyes shut. There were shouts, and Endris heard phaser fire around her. When she opened her eyes, two large men in black body suits were in the room, lines trailing behind them onto the roof. The judge and prosecutor were lying across their tables, limp, and covered in glass pebbles.

One of the men, the furry fat one judging by the hairs protruding from around his mask, grabbed her around the waist. "Don't worry, doctor. We'll get you out of this!" The four of them rushed out onto the rooftop, climbing into a waiting sublight shuttle. An attractive young lady was at the pilot seat, and lifted off as soon as the door started to slide shut.

Matthew exclaimed, "Punch it, Audrey!"

The two men removed their masks. Gakor recognized the smaller one as Mniq!ok, the caretaker. The larger one she didn't know, but he smelled of dog. He was a Gozarian, and a small one, but that was all she could tell.

Matthew began introductions after ordering, "Cousin, activate the cloak!" Gakor was stunned. How could Matthew have arranged all this so quickly? She had been scared silly in that judge's chamber. She had nearly been convicted, and surely with her lousy counselor she could have counted upon the full six years of prison time! She decided that Matthew was a far better tactical planner than he was a lawyer. If they ever got back to the Galaxy, she would tell him.

**** Approaching a nearby Shuttleport ****

Matthew was finding it difficult to keep a straight face, but every time he looked at his cousin Audrey he realized that if he so much as cracked a smile, she would totally lose control. The only other option to continue the gag was to keep it all over-the-top. Degruiss was lecturing on how to avoid local law-enforcement, and other advice for fugitives. He was ad-libbing fantastically, weaving a serious set of logical-sounding tips out of thin air. After minutes of near panic, Gakor finally set herself down to the planning of her future. She said several times that maybe she ought to just turn herself in and try for an appeal--even after her experience, she refrained from characterizing Matthew's work as bad in front of his friends.

Matthew put on quite a show of his regret and shame at defending her so poorly. He nearly broke into tears over his failure to protect his friend from jail. While Gakes never actually tried to comfort him, she attempted to distract him from his self-punishment by steering him onto the subject of survival.

Finally, the shuttle dropped its make-believe "cloak" and landed at a private shuttleport. Mniq!ok explained that they were going to transfer to a public shuttle, and that the group would split up to avoid capture. The shuttle doors opened, and they all spilled out onto the concrete. Two baggage handlers approached to get their bags, and when they arrived by the shuttle, they removed their sunglasses and caps. Without their concealing headgear, they were revealed to be the judge and the prosecutor!!

The half-dozen practical jokers raised their right hands, fingers splayed and pointing skyward, and exclaimed in unison, in a melodramatic shout, "ACTING!!"

Endris walked over to the nearest replicator and ordered "Venician Kludge Cake", which is what the Tellarite chose to call the jail food. "Acting?", she said furiously bristling her fuzzy hair. "I'll show you acting", the Doctor fumed, lobbing the hideous tasting Italian layer cake in Matthew's direction. "There's an old Earth saying- Let'em eat Cake!", Gakor shrilled at the top of her lungs.

Not expecting his friend's extreme reaction, Albrecht barely had time to duck the flying baked goods. The cake struck the ceiling above his head, but a cascade of gooey icing tumbled down on the human. He looked positively yummy in such a sweet coating, so naturally Gakor had no course but to forgive the man.

Both shuffled off to separate sonic showers to clean up from their ordeals, and Gakes was a bit more forgiving once she noticed her considerate friend had packed her belongings and stowed them in the Cydonia. "Where were you, Gakes, I was worried about you", Albrecht commented with sincerity. "Would you believe it if I told you I was kidnapped by Ferengi?", she replied.

Matthew gave her a scowl of disbelief, obviously not in the mood to hear an off-the-wall story. Maybe, a few years from now, the whole truth could be told. But for now, it looked like the security officer was not ready to believe all the things that challenged the immunologist in the past.

Gakor spent a few minutes questioning Albrecht and his friends, but couldn't detect any changes to the present as she knew it. *It looks like that Ferengi Gates kept his clutches off the time line*, Endris thought to herself. *Nothing appears to have changed*. Satisfied that things had returned to normal, the group disbanded to go to where ever they were destined to be.

"Extreme Holiday"
by Lt. Tebrianne Bancroft
with additions by Lt. Commander Deiran Casey

***

Tebrianne climbed aboard the plane. It was an old propeller model. It seemed like years since she'd flown one. As Teb settled into her seat, she tried to remember when the last time she'd flown a number like the one she sat in was. It was back before the Academy. It was a couple days before the Manchester concert if she remembered correctly.

Teb strapped on the parachute and sat back. She knew she must be pretty pale. She knew she must look about ready to lose breakfast. It wasn't her fault. Teb was used to flying the plane, not jumping out of it with one's feet strapped to a piece of plastic.

Casey stood up in front of everyone and shouted over the noise of the engines. "Computer, decrease the sound of the propellers and start music."

The sound level dropped immediately and then music blasted through the plane. Teb felt her seat begin to shudder and could tell they were taxiing. It was only a few minutes before they were climbing through the sky.

Teb sat watching the others for a little bit. McCloud was doing well. This trip would give her a chance to observe him. She wished that Lieutenant' Sharp could have come because it would give her a chance to see how he worked as well. It was getting close to time for her to name an assistant, but she barely knew anyone in the department.

It seemed like they hit a magical point and Casey moved to the door. "Okay everyone," he called. "Remember your training exercises from before. I’ll stay here to see you all get out okay." Deiran threw open the door and a blast of wind whipped through the cabin. It was time.

Teb followed Cat to the door. As she strapped her board to her boots, Teb realized that she suddenly had to pee. "Motivation to get to the ground quickly," she told herself.

"Ready, Teb," Casey asked.

"A small biological problem," she said with a smile. "But, I'll be fine."

He gave her an odd look as she pushed herself through the door--

And then she was flying.

Teb curled the board under her and rocketed past Cat--laughing as she flipped end over end. She tucked the board in tight and shot down past Samara and McKenzie. Teb twisted her body as she came out of roll and spun around towards McCloud.

Teb couldn't believe what she was doing. She was having fun though. More fun than she'd be having if she'd stayed on the Galaxy. Tebrianne checked the micro-altimeter on her wrist and decided it was time to rip open the chute. She reached out and pulled the cord letting the silk unfurl above her. Teb felt the harness tug as the parachute snapped taut. She started giggling uncontrollably as she drifted slowly toward the ground.

Teb rolled out as her feet hit the ground, pulling herself away from the billowing chute. She quickly unsnapped herself from the harness and waited for the others to hit the ground. Teb sat on a rock and pulled out a container of water. She took a couple gulps and remembered she had some business to take care of. While the others continued to drop from the sky, Teb slid behind some bushes to take care of personal matters.

She stepped out into the clearing again as Casey was descending. When the first chute didn't open, she didn't start panicking since he had the backup chute. Things got scary when the second chute snapped away. Casey continued to fall, plummeting toward the ground. Teb knew the safeties were on, but it would still hurt. There was nothing they could do, and they couldn't stop the program--Casey had made sure of that. Only Deiran could end the program.

Teb wasn't picking up any fear from Deiran. He was either very confident that his head was stronger than the ground, or he had something else up his sleeve. Suddenly, he started slowing. He hit the ground with a silent thud and did a backflip.

What a complete loon, Teb thought.

"Man that was fun!!!" Casey shouted, still pumped from the fall. "Talk about adrenaline rushes, that was the ultimate!!!"

As Teb started following Deiran, the music changed. She fell in next to Cat as they marched down the trail following Deiran.

"Deiran your crazy!" Cat shouted, and Teb giggled.

"Thanks Cat!" he called back as if she'd just told him he was aces at Springball.

Teb decided to join in on the ribbing. "You actually enjoy being crazy in this environment!"

"Sure, that’s why it’s fun," Casey said. "I had that all planned I knew the second chute wasn’t going to open. Why do you think I let you all go first?"

Casey laughed.

And you give us all bleeding heart attacks, Teb thought.

"How far to the river, Deiran?" Samara asked, coming up next to Casey.

"It’s about twelve miles up this mountain and then eight miles down."

Samara put her hands on her hips and cocked her head to the side. "Do you like torture?"

"No it keeps me in shape though," he said. "Here’s food for thought Kay; if I’m willing to freak you all out with that stunt back there, have fun with it and all. What do you think I’m prepared to do to get back at you for your little prank?"

Casey started jogging up the hill. He turned around and started gesturing to get everyone else running. For some insane reason, it worked. Teb started jogging after him. I must be going nuts, she thought. A devilish grin crossed Casey's face as he passed Cat. He quickly scooped her up and continued to run up the hill with her in his arms.

Lt. McKenzie shook his head. "Show off!"

***

Teb sat down heavily on a rock. It had been an hour since they started hiking and they'd finally reached the river.

"This doesn't look so bad," McCloud said.

Teb knew better. It would get bad. Very bad.

Deiran showed them the map of the river they'd be following. To say it looked rough would be like saying a Ferengi _liked_ Latinum.

"Okay, everyone we’re ready," Casey said. "This is a big raft. Kay, you and James get in the back and steer, I’ll help steer in the front with Mac. Teb and Cat you’re in the middle. Let’s go have some fun."

The ride was smooth for a little while, and then things got tough. The raft got caught up in a swirling froth of white that threatened to toss everyone into the water. It was a fight to get down the raging river with everyone still in the raft, but somehow they'd managed it.

As the cavern they were passing through widened, the waters suddenly calmed. Teb sighed with relief, hoping she could get a breather. Her hopes were short-lived.

Cat broke the momentary silence. "Deiran where does the river go ahead of us?"

Casey laughed. "It doesn’t go anywhere. Just sit back and enjoy! We’re all safe, this is just for fun. The safeties are on, and I wouldn’t want any of you to be hurt. Just enjoy it!"

Teb's eyes got big as she heard the roar of the water crashing over into the nothingness. The raft drifted closer, picking up speed as it moved. Teb leaned over the edge of the raft to get a better look. It was going to be a long fall.

"Bugger me," she said as the raft went over the edge.

The fall was amazing. Falling off the top of a waterfall into a churching pool was almost as good as falling out of an airplane. Teb hit the water and quickly kicked upward. She broke through the surface and took in a long ragged breath. She heard Deiran whooping it up a few meters away. Teb started making her way to the shore. A quick check told her that her tank tops had stayed in place. The last thing she needed now was to lose her top in a churning froth and have to come out of the water where the world could see her. Okay, it was a few of her shipmates, but even that was too many.

Teb climbed onto the bank and wrung some water from her top. It was a blast.

***

Teb sat and watched the holographic sunset. The sun dipped lower in the sky with flocks of birds passing in front of it. Their silhouettes dark against the brilliant orange and pink. What a sight.

Her acoustic guitar rested across her knee, and Teb absently strummed her way through a few chords. The crunching of gravel behind her alerted her to someone's presence.

It was Casey. "Cheers, mate," she said. "Pull up a stone."

"Thanks Teb," Casey said as he sat down in an Indian position. "Did you have fun?"

"It was a blast," she said, her grin going from ear to ear. "I can't believe I jumped out of a bloody plane. I usually fly the things... You seem to know what you're doing out here. You're not a green novice like me. Why do you do it?"

"Thanks I enjoy the adrenaline rush. It calms me actually," Casey revealed not wanting too. It came out of his mouth before he could stop himself.

Teb nodded. "I know what you mean," she said, looking at her feet. "I usually feel that way when I'm on the stage. Every once in awhile, I'll run a program of one of the places my band used to play--just to feel the rush. In a way it feels a little selfish. I don't know. I have trouble actually getting up in front of people and doing it anymore. I guess I didn't have that shy thing kicked the way I thought I did. Oh well. How do you handle being in front of people so much? You're always an outgoing kind of bloke. You never seem to have a problem with anything. How do you do it?"

"Most of the time I wear a mask Teb. I mean part of me is shown, but for the most part I do what I have to, so that I can accomplish my goals, become an Admiral some day. I am like everyone else deep down. There wasn't anyone on the Galaxy who was more beat up about the deaths than me. It happened under my command. I showed no emotion because that's what I was taught. Inside it hurt me pretty badly." Casey was silent for a minute and listened to Teb.

She didn't say anything right away. A lot of good people died during the fight. The Jawbreaker Battle. "I know," she said quietly. "It shook us all up pretty bad. I guess some of us where our emotions on our sleeves. But, you did show people that you did care...with the holo-cube and the tree. Thank you for asking me along on this little holiday. It's nice to get away from everything."

"I needed this trip. I can let myself go and people think it's my ego. When in fact, it's just the real me coming out," Casey said in a revealing moment Teb wasn't prepared for. "I get to relax. Not be the winner, the bright young officer of Starfleet. Just plain ol' Deiran Casey."

"You call this relaxing? Jumping out of a bloody plane with a buggered up parachute? You are certifiably bonkers, mate," Teb said with a grin.

"I enjoy the edge. I need the edge. I mean I am the Iceman, and that's part of me. But, I'm not as egotistical or arrogant as people think," Casey paused, "I can be a pain. But, I'm really just kidding anyway. It's like a joke to me. I am good at everything I do, that's not my fault. I was just blessed with those gifts."

Tebrianne looked at her feet again. "I'm sorry," she said with a shrug of her shoulders. "I think you're an okay bloke. Maybe the people that get on your case don't really know you. I know what it's like to be really good at something...and be resented for it. They're all jealous of what you have. You've got talent, a great wife, and a wonderful daughter. It's the folks like me, who don't have anything, that get upset when they see that. I don't hold that against you. Miran is a very lucky woman. I don't know...I'm just blabbing now."

"Your okay Teb. A great pilot, good friend. I didn't mean to open my big trap like that. Sorry," embarrassed by the sensitive moment.

"That's okay," she said. "I guess I'm just feeling a little down. I've got a huge crush-- Well, it's not important right now. I guess I started dwelling on things that I was trying to avoid dwelling on." Teb strummed her guitar a couple times. "I've heard that you play..."

Casey asked the computer for an acoustic, giving him a Gibson remake from the 22nd century. "Do you know 'With Or Without You'? By a band called U2?"

"Know it and love it," she said as she started playing.

Casey and Tebrianne sat and played a duet on guitar. Enjoying the moment, the scenery and the new friendship between them.

Tebrianne's voiced carried through the campsite. As the sun disappeared below the horizon, the sound of two guitars and a single voice rose into the holographic sky. The computer generated music faded away as Deiran and Tebrianne played until the darkness covered the camp. As their song neared its finish, they put away their instruments and smiled at one another.

Teb and Deiran rejoined the camp once their playing was through. Before long, all of the adventurers lay under the simulated stars anticipating what would come tomorrow.

Lt. Tebrianne, USS Galaxy, Chief Helmsman
dodger@hevanet.com
UIN# 2172851

Note: This parody occurs in an self-contained alternate time line, which was sealed by Q in one of his whimsical fits. It pokes fun at many contemporary events and big business, and is meant to be taken humorously. Have a good laugh!
-Qa'Plah.

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

Microsoft Hog
By Commander Endris Gakor,
With Admiral Lee Price and Professor Matthew Albrecht

February, 2377, CO's ready room, Tellarite Hospital Vessel "Feast of Healing"

"You actually intend to convince me Bill Gates is a Ferengi?", spat the puffy Tellarite Inspector. His terse but slender human companion immediately corrected "was".

"You better make this good, or we'll go back in time and throw your ancestors so deep in a sty you'll never be born", snorted the belligerent and boisterous one. Most TI operatives were from Earth, but Gakes didn't really know what to make of the Tellarite. Earlier that week, Admiral Price had boarded the Feast, as had distinguished Harvard law professor Matthew Albrecht. Albrecht had been selected over 30,000 other candidates to occupy the "Cogley seat". Besides this and a smattering of friends from the Hospital ship, few would hear what went on behind the sealed doors of the Captain's ready room.

"It all started 3 years ago, shortly after the Galaxy's journey to Boreth. I had learned much from my stay aboard the IKS Qul' etlh, and my friend Korof presented me with a hand crafted D'pla as a parting gift."

"I remembered your return, Gakes" Matthew said fondly. "Spines was swimming in circles from boredom. The Klingons also gave you a spicy colored K' O'nos Torka fish, if I recall correctly." Normally, the support of friends calmed the Immunologist, but the nasally congested, high pitched squeal of the Terran time cop made her uncomfortable.

"Anyway," Gakor snorted at the interruption, "the then Lieutenant Albrecht convinced me that we absolutely had to visit Cafe Picard in Paris, and other restaurants on Earth. So General Lee here gave us leave to go on the trip, and we set course for non-replicated Oinkus."

The Tellarite investigator fidgeted uncomfortably at the mention of food, while his lanky second clipped notes on a PADD and made rude, distracting noises. "In short order, we docked the shuttle at Luna base and transported to Paris, Rome, and other Earth cities. At a place called," *hum*, thought Gakor, *ever since I was cured of Teresi syndrome, I've been a bit forgetful.*

Admiral Price diplomatically volunteered "the resturant was called Pasta Palice. I remember Albrecht's frantic messages, telling of your disappearance, Gakor. Besides that, he told me you were so impressed by the food you perchased a pasta maker, which proved to be of Tellarite manufacture. The week prior to that, you had wandered all over New Orleans."

"Ah yes, the home of world-renouwned Gumbo. Now that you mention it, I can almost taste the delicous cajiun concoctions.", Gakes dished while smacking her lips. This furter irritated the Tellarite Javert, who was starting to look like he might munch Endris to get rid of the evidence.

"Get back to the story", prompted the Human gumshoe.

"Oh, right. As I was saying, this was the summer of 2374, and we were in a Rome bistro. A Ferengi named Zaek, who turned out to be the Daimon of a Maurader class ship, was choking on a bone. Naturally, being a Doctor, I cured the big-ear troll. Later that night, the vile little weasel snuck into my room and 'acquired' me and my pasta device."

"There was quite a furry of activity searching for you," Albrecht chimed in. Endris rewarded him with a knowing smile. "A certain Lieutenant lead the survalence. As it turned out, the Ferengi ship had already departed with its kidnapped passanger."

The General looked cross. "That was just before the 'Intel' incident." The Federation had been nearly distroyed, when computers acrossed the Alpha and Beta quadrants shut down. Something unknown had distroyed the discovery of the micro processor, substantually altering Earth's history. Luckily, the Galaxy had been testing new Binar computer designs, and was isolated from the shutdown. Computing power was miraculously restored within a couple of days. Apparently, the time stream managed to repair itself.

"This is the part of the story you don't know, Gentlemen", she emphasized with an all too Tellarite snort. Albrecht thoughtfully pased her an iced rakajeno, cooling Endris' parched throat. "Zaek had a hair brained scheme for altering Terra's past. It nearly worked, too. It turns out his 'vessel' had been appropriated at a second hand auction, and the crew were outcasts from Ferenginar. "

"Which explains their need for a Doctor. If they were short on crew, someone with Medical skills would be a prime target", Contributed the Tellarite TI man, rubbing his growling tummy in lew of Oinkus.

"Zaek had a stolen chronton generator, and used it to take us to Earth's past. We arrived in spring of 1998. Unfortunately, the machine didn't work correctly, and altered our tragectory. In his hasty run for profit, the 'Daimon' had not bothered to aquire desent tools."

Admiral Price looked at Gakor with renewed interest. "Wait... I recall something about an orbital satellite", he hurumpt.

"It was called the Galaxy IV. The akward Ferengi ship hit the thing, knocking it off course. The accident propelled the Maurader further back in time, to the beginnings of the Regan administration. It also finished all the crew, except Zaek and myself. The tin-foil thick hull ruptured everywhere but Sick Bay, exposing the Ferengi to the vaccuum of space. Zaek was in my face, complaining of an ear ache at the time."

"What happened next?", asked the impatient human who started tapping his foot.

"We noticed the computer started reporting flaky information. Zaek hit the machine, trying to get it to display accurate results. The ship's course began decaying, and we barily had transporter power to escape."

"If the trinkets on the Marauder were that cheap, I expect it wasn't easy to focus the beam", observed Albrecht.

"Which is why we landed in a swamp. I believe the actual term is 'bjiou'. Anyway, Zaek knew he had no chance explaining his huge ears, so he sunk deep enough into the muck to hide. At that point, a man in a kyack appeared, and ported me back to civilization. That is, if you can call the middle of no where in 1980 civil."

"Didn't he ask about your distinctive Tellarite features?", queried the other alien.

"By coincidence, our savior happened to fashion himself as a Thespian. I quickly wove a story about my exotic Aboriginal nose, which he bought like a charm."

"I expect that made the Ferengi jealous", said the quiet man. Gakor wondered how much the investigators had in their files. "Zaek followed the boat, careful to avoid preditors. It was quite a challenge for him to keep up and remain hidden at the same time."

It took us about a week, since Zaek had to remain invisible and knew next to nothing about hu-mon history. From memory, I recalled the west coast had a high concentration of computer companies, so we headed to Seattle.

Zaek's ears were know bandaged to the sides of his head, and my prominate snout had been disquised by a pilfered mask. We marched straight for Microsoft headquarters, which were totally non existent. Milling about town, Zaek's prominate lobes picked up rumors a local resident, Ms Gakes, had been assassinated by a shell-backed reptile with a set of numchucks.

I had a better grasp of Earth's normal time line than Zaek, and could pass for a human with the disguise. Knowing trouble was sure to brew with the founder of Microsoft out of the picture, I swiftly moved in and hogged the role of Willimena Gakes the Third."

The Tellarite inspector had had enough. "Snacks!", he exclaimed. "Your story is quite absurd, but, like desert, it's an entertaining yarn. When will we get to the main course?", he demanded.

Gakor paused to clear her throat, and replicated a small feast for everyone. Her story had taken some most unlikely turns. Had Albrecht and Price not served with the Doctor, even they might think it a fiction.

"We found out shortly there after, without the guidence of the real Ms Gake's, Intel was never inspired to create the micro processor. Fortunately, I had an antique Tellarite pasta machine that survived our trek through the swamp. Zaek gutted the thing, and the '8088' chip was, vola, Cuisine."

"Wait a gosh darn minute", said the irate human. Referring to his notes, he began an emotional tirade. "You ended up 3 centuries ago on Earth, after bumping a satellite off course. Without the assistance of technology, you altered the normal flow of time. These actions generated the 'Intel' incident, decimating the whole Federation. Your only accomplice was a disruptable Daimon that couldn't possibly be trusted. The pair of you cross America, after trudging through a swamp. The one Earthling you encounted at this point happens to be gulliable enough to believe you come from the outback, and doesn't even see the Ferengi or question why you are toting a pasta machine. Further, he provides you with a disquise so you can travel discretely."

"A week later you find one of Washington's most prominate citizens had been killed by a ninja in a turtle costume. So you attempted to repair the time line by assuming the persona of Williamena Gakes, and founded the Microsoft corporation, which later went on to infulence Dastrom Electronics. Then, when Intel failed to create the first micro processor, you pulled one out of a disguarded Tellarite cooking utensil! Plus, you left a Ferengi in charge of one of Earth's biggest conglomerates?"

"That is correct", Endris stated flatly. Albrecht and Price barely contained snickers at the embellished, ludicrous story. Invisibly, Q smiled at the chaotic events he had caused. Without his secret intervention, Endris would have never had the covert guidence to pull off her stunts and save the world. And the bland consistency of the story without his assistance would have landed Gakor in the brig! Q had even been sufficently entertained by Gakor's antics that he returned her to the present.

"But I heard the real Gates made billions and billions of dollars.", remarked Albrecht.

"Which is why after a few weeks, I swindled Zaek out of enough of the profits to purchase medical supplies. With the return of computer access, I discovered my faulty reconstruction of Earth's past and the name of Microsoft's true founder. And due to my surgery skills, Microsoft soon had a new clone of William Gates the Third heading the operation. You see, only a Ferengi could have played so many Earthlings for a fool. Zaek promptly sealed the records concerning its true founder, Ms. Gakes"

"No one could possibly believe that story!", claimed the other Tellarite, "Besides that, you were still stranded in the 1980s, and left a Ferengi back there to contaminate the time line."

Gakor continued her unfeasable verbal Feastunium without pause. "Zaek was only concerned with profit, so his position assured he would cause no further tampering. As for my being stranded, I used the rest of the parts from the pasta machine, plus the 'modern' micro processors, to build a single-use chroniton field transporter. Inadvertently, this coined the phrase 'spaghetti code'."

"Well," commented Albrecht, "that certainly explains why Microsoft products were neutorious for Hoging memory. I've heard they were positively... gluttonous!"

"I don't believe a single word of it!", said both inspectors at once. "Even if you had the resources, you didn't have the expertise to pull that off."

*** 2 Minutes Later ***

"Temper, Temper, Swineykins", Q cautioned as he popped into the room, facing swine-faced investigator. With his usual chaoticness, Q was dressed as extravagantly as Liberace at a piano convention. "Endris can be quite entertaining, even without my help", said the sarcastic demi-God.

"Q!", exclaimed Gakor and the Admiral at the same time. Lee looked directly at the Tellarite Doctor with a telling smirk. He remembered the 'bargain' he made with Q to save the ship during the Galaxy's mission to the Argonii system. This being's quirky brand of 'help' was always extracted with a price.

"I always knew Q was a recipe for trouble.", remarked the Tellarite inspector, itching his arms where the wool sweater felt like poison ivy. During this distraction, Gakor picked up a fork and advanced on Q with intent to Oinkus. "Get off my ship!", Endris demained in a tone that could have commanded an armada of Klingons without hesitation.

The little twerp spun, pointing at the utensil which wilted swifter than a flower under the sun. "My, my, Gakes", said Q as he flowed into the form of a Denibian slime devil, "aren't we being a bit rash?". Endris nearly fainted, and as it was only remained erect due to Albrecht's intervention. She could have sworn her nose was growing beyond its normally vast purportions.

Q looked directly into the human's eyes and said mischeviously "And you, Mister Albrecht. What ever happened to the question you intended to ask Doc Sow face in Paris?" At the same time, the Immunologist's nose grew to almost the lenght of an Elphant's trunk.

"Not now Q", said Admiral Price. Remarkably, the Tellarite's nasal swelling vanished as rapidly as it appeared. The blustering, abient powerful alien assumed the persona of a reprimanded juvenile persuaded not to pull pranks.

Q gestured magnaomously, turning to face the new speaker. "Promoted, I see. Pity it hasn't improved your disposition". Thinking rapidly, he added "You could learn a lot from Doctor Williamena here. After all, I hear she's been called the most infuritating woman in the Universe.", he scorned while rolling his eyes.

"You have the temperment of an obnoxious brat, Q", informed the General. "I have half a mind to bend you over my knee and spank you." Q smirked haughtly and quipped "there may be hope for you yet!", without performing the proposed lobotomy. The rest of the room's occupants giggled at the idea of Q recieving punishment appropriate for his demeanor.

Tapping his foot, the Admiral snatched trumphantly at a compromising solution. "No one outside these chambers shall learn of this", he proclaimed. "After all, my staff has always proven themselves amazingly creative!", he boasted with pride.

Then the inspectors departed in a huff, muttering in low tones about handling this case "code Q". As for the annoying know-it-all, he faded slowly, a smile remaining last like the Cheshire cat.

***New Orleans, Earth. March, 2377***

Past a neon green Starbuck's sign that advertised "Fresh Rakajeno made from 100% non-replicated Klingon arabica beans", people traveled through the busy French quarter. A human, lanky in stature, with squealy pitched voice that could hobble an opera tennor, wandered into Siscos. Out of the corner of his eye, he observed Joesph, (the narly proprietor) unfold a hand written recipe, barely preserved on taped and cracked yellow parchment. Maticulously, he copied the document by hand as if to savor every nuance of flavor.

Sisco remembered his great grandpap recanting the story of how a mysterious stranger pulled up in a limosine with a Microsoft logo. Dissatisfied with the cuisine, an imperious snout-nosed woman stormed the kitchen to produce the secret creol recipe, only to disappear just as mysteriously. The document was reverantly passed down to each generation, and had always been a local hit.

"Gumbo!", he ordered. Within minutes, the savory stew appeared, steaming with alien aromas impossible for a centuries old establishment. *Naahhhh*, thought the operative of the Temporal Investigators department, sulking in his prentious wool sweater. *There's no way her story could be true.*

***Seattle, Earth, September, 2374***

The haughty offices of the Microsoft Corporate museum were being audited by guests from the FCA. Deep in the bowels of the orignization, in a vault dubbed 'area 51', the Ferengi unsealed records that had been molding for centuries. Under a dusty sheet, one found an old oil painting of a 'hu-mon' that looked almost like a Tellarite. A small plaque identified her as Williamena Gakes the Third, founder of Microsoft.

Influnced by the greed of his species, the auditor knew the huge, ungangly corporation would deny all knowledge of this, so he pocketed the portrait and other evidence of Williamena Gakes. Unfortunately for him, a competitor sabotaged his ship, and the ill-gotten gains perished forever in a flamboyant collision with Sol.

***Space, THV Feast of Healing, February 2377***

"Did any of it really happen?", asked the two humans who had shared so many adventures with the amazing Immunologist.

Pausing over a bite of Talbot salad, Endris replied "The part about the satelite going off course is true. And Q must have had some role in it all. As for the rest, I really don't know. I was just trying to get rid of those annoying Bozos from Temporal Investigations.", she said with a mischievous wink. "Food isn't the ONLY thing I know how to cook!"

Neither the professor or her former skipper noticed Gakor hadn't actually denied any of it, but the Doctor's tale WAS too preposterous to be believed. The memorable Tellarite produced a table worthy of the Admiral, and the trio were soon absorbed in Oinkus until the wee hours of the morning, reminicing over old times. "Matthew," Endris addressed directly, with no tinge of her usual impishness. "Just what did you want to ask me in Paris?"

"Water"
by Lt K'Eytyanna Samara

Following on behind, K'Eytyanna gave a rock a kick, sending it off the path. Moving faster to catch upto Deiran, she asked,

"How far to the river Deiran?"

"It’s about twelve miles up this mountain and then eight miles down," he answered.

"Do you like torture?," she asked in reply.

Quickly, he answered, "No it keeps me in shape though. Here’s food for thought Kay; if I’m willing to freak you all out with that stunt back there, have fun with it and all. What do you think I’m prepared to do to get back at you for your little prank?"

Stopping, she looked at him in surprise,

{ What the hell have I gotten myself into? }

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

Later when they were on the raft....

Further on down the river, K'Eytyanna's Klingon hearing picked up the sound of a big waterfall. Realising that this would be very much like the plane, she decided to go with the flow.

As the raft tipped over the edge, she dove upwards in the air and spun herself around so she was diving straight towards the water far below.

When her body finally reached the bottom, she came in flat and dove towards the bottom.

As she went down further, her hands reached out and snagged some of the fish at the bottom, which the holodeck convienently converted into real, albeit dead, salmon from Earth. Heading up, she moved one to her mouth and grabbed another.

Breaking the surface last, she grinned behind the fish in her mouth and threw one at Deiran, who was turned away. It made a nice sounding splat as it collided with his head. He spun around in the water and laughed, as she started munching on one of dead raw fish.

Lt K'Eytyanna Samara, USS Galaxy -Engineer/Shuttle Pilot
D'Akana T'Mok (NPC), USS Galaxy - Pet

Ensign D'Auria

As Jack entered his quarters, after his meeting with Lt. Mercury, he noticed the blinking light on his console, signifying the presence of messages. Since there was no one who would send him a message, he was intrigued. However, it would have to wait a little while longer. Walking into his sleeping quarters, he ordered the computer to play some music, while getting dressed in a pair of jeans and an Academy Athletic Department sweater.

"Computer, play musical selection D'Auria 3."

As the soft tones of Ravel's Bolero started to fill the quarters, Jack went to the replicator and got himself a mug of hot chocolate with whipped cream. The music, while beautiful, had an eerie, almost haunting quality that would have been right at home in some early 20th century movie. It bred fearful expectation, taking you right to the edge, making you dread what was lurking in the darkness. His Academy roommate had once said that the music reminded him of Death, of the slow march the Honor Guard took on their way to the cemetery to bury some leader.

The lights were dimmed, giving the room a cozy feel. Looking around the room as he sipped carefully at the steaming liquid, he was glad that at least he didn't have the propensity of Vulcans to turn his room into a tomb. Several black and white drawings hung on the walls; a small smile formed on his lips as he looked at them. His roommate would have said that, combined with the music and the intensity of the light, these pictures would clearly indicate the presence of a twisted soul. The drawings were of women; however, not mere women, but rather sensual posings of female vampires. Seductive and deadly. Then again, his roommate always said that women where like that.

First things first, however. He started checking the ships manifest to see who the owner was of the T'arg that had saved his life, so he could thank that person. Almost immediately a name came on the screen, Lt. K'Eytyanna Samara, a Klingon/Bajoran/Human engineering officer. Jack involuntarily started to count the odds of him interacting with so many engineering officers in the last few days since the Klingons attacked the Galaxy. He found out that the lieutenant was currently on the starbase in one of the holodecks with several crewmembers and would be there for several days. He would go to her after she had returned. With that out of the way, he began checking his messages. Jack was pleasantly surprised; it was a letter, posted on Earth by ensign M'Benga. Before reading it, he got himself another cup of hot cocoa and sat back down, the music now turning to soft classical piano.

Dear Jack,

Sorry if I ran out on you in sick bay. My schedule was just cramped, that's all. Boudreau wanted me to go to Earth with her. I think she wanted to make sure there were enough Engineers on the shuttle.

Thinking' aboutcha. How's your hand? Look, you don't hafta explain anything to me. However you lost that arm, it doesn't matter. I guess that doesn't sound too logical does it?

Look, I know we don't know each other very well, but, after you go through something like we did (face it, we nearly died together), well, I guess a bond just kinda develops.

I hope we can get together when I get back. I'm not gonna take a long leave. Somehow I think I'd rather be on the Galaxy right now than anywhere else in the Universe.

So you hop to it. Get better. I mean I wanna see ya, all decked out in a dress-uniform for me, fully recovered, smiling, when I come back aboard.

I'm bringing you a present. You'll love it.

Be'Tran.

PS.: I mean, Ensign M'Benga.

PPS.: No, I really mean "Betta".

PPPS.: Vulcan's can, and often do smile (just while nobody's lookin') give it a try.

Ok, I'm writing this on the Shuttle, sorry 'bout all the post-scripts, gotta go !

Love, Be'Tran

'This is ridiculous', Jack said to himself, a broad grin splitting his face. In all his life, he had never smiled this much as he had the last few days. His Vulcan teachers would have been appalled, he was sure. Jack read the letter again; it filled him with warmth. She hadn't just upped and gone; it was her Klingon constitution that let her recover more quickly then his Human one. He had to remember to thank Lt. Boudreau for sending M'Benga down to the science lab when he had asked for assistance.

'In dress-uniform and smiling, huh? Maybe this assignment wouldn't turn out to be so bad after all', he thought to himself, an inane grin plastered on his face. Jack saved the letter, he would read it again later, before the start of his shift. Maybe even have it printed out on real paper. Somehow, he felt better then he had in a long time. Uploading a request to the computer to immediately contact him when Be'Tran was to arrive, he turned to his bed. Mere moments after laying down, he fell asleep, still smiling

"C-Defense Phase II"
Ensign D'Auria
reviewed by Lt Mercury

"Won't you sit down, ensign", David asked as he watched the science officer stand at rigid attention. Without a word, he sat down in the chair opposite Mercury in his office in engineering.

"Now, what is it you wanted to talk about?"

"Sir, I have been working on improving sensor performance as per orders. However, in light of recent events, I started to wonder if there is not a more effective way of dealing with multiple threats. Your C-Defense idea was what prompted me to look further into it."

"Really? And what did you come up with?"

Jack handed over the Padd he was carrying.

"Sir, why doesn't any Starfleet vessel have an automated defense system?"

The question caught David by surprise, he didn't know what to say. Jack went on unperturbed, his face a mask of stone.

"I am somewhat a student of strategy and tactics, sir and one thing that caught my eye was that the then Western military in the late 20th century did have such systems. Much like your C-Defense. However, unlike yours, they didn't use the main weapons systems. For instance, naval vessels had to content with anti-ship missiles launched against them, either from the air or from other vessels, surface or subsurface.

They had weapons systems specially geared for these threats. The U.S. Navy had a class of battleship, the Ticonderoga class, which was in fact nothing more then a missile boat. It had a full crew that handled all the systems, but when there was a confrontation, they would switch to full automatic control. Attacks were mostly made from long distance and at any time there could be a huge number of missiles on an attack profile. The ship's computer would use radar and other means to track them and compute the threat , in order of high to low, then it would assign a missile to that threat and launch. All this without the crew having to do anything."

Mercury was intrigued, he had never read up on the military of the past when he had made his designs. "This ensign certainly had done his homework", he thought to himself as he perused the Padd's contents.

"Invariably, some of the missiles would get through the curtain and close in on the ship. For this threat, they carried the CIWS system, the Close-In Weapons System, which was nothing more then a multi-barrel Gatling gun that could fire between 4000 to 6000 rounds a minute, creating a wall around the vessel. Anything that came into that wall was destroyed. These devices were fully automated."

"All very interesting, ensign. I think you have something there. Wonder why it was never implemented on a starship."

"My idea exactly, sir. I want to correct that oversight. That Padd contains my plans, with full schematics and a list of the components we will need. In fact, two lists, one containing what is minimally necessary, the other what I would like to see."

"I'll read it later. Just give me an overview of what you want to do."

Jack shifted a bit in the chair, crossing his right leg over the other as he began to explain.

"First of all, internal security. We got caught because we couldn't pinpoint the location of the intruders quick enough. I want to set up a separate computer system with all DNA patterns of the crew and dependants onboard. Coupled to it are the internal sensors, which I want to double in number. Since we know who is supposed to be onboard, this system only has to watch for DNA patterns that do not match its database.

It should also be programmed to look for any anomalies, like Thoron radiation and other means of cloaking. We win valuable time that way. It should also be linked to the internal defense system, which I would like to upgrade."

"Upgrade? With what?"

"Automated phaser, set on heavy stun, anesthazine gas, forcefields and the transporter. As it finds an intruder, it immediately activates its weapons and takes out the intruder. It can even transport said intruder to the brig or into its pattern buffer."

David nodded, it sounded all very good and he said so.

"But what about when we are docked at a starbase? We get a lot of people on board, engineers, new crewmembers, dignitaries, you name it. How do we see to it that they don't get caught by this system?"

"Simple, sir. First, at a starbase, there are only a limited number of ways to get onboard, namely through the docking ramps and the transporter. We set up DNA scanners at the ramps and the transporter sends the samples to the database. That way we know who is and isn't onboard. I suggest linking it to the Security database to see if anyone coming aboard is not someone who is a fugitive.

Now, the external defense system, for that I would like another separate computer installed, its only purpose, checking for any signs of a sneak attack and countering them with force. We will need to install extra phaser mounts, not rings and if possible torpedo launchers. The system should be linked to the sensors so it can act autonomously and intercept any threat from any quarter. Of course, the layout of the bridge will have to reflect the change because somebody has to monitor both systems to take over in case of malfunction. It will automatically sound General Quarters, raise shields and make a threat assessment. That, in a nutshell, is my idea. I would like any input you might have, any thoughts. Also, I would appreciate it greatly if you could talk to the captain about this."

"Very well, ensign, I will review it and make my recommendations. And we will both go see the captain if I think this plan has merit."

"Thank you, sir. I am gratified that you took the time to listen to me," Jack said as he got up.

"Don't mention it. Ideas on how to do things are always appreciated, whether they are of any use or not."

D'Auria dipped his head slightly by way of greeting and stepped out of David's office, going back to his quarters. He needed to catch up on his sleep, before he went to the science labs for his shift.