=/\= "A Cup of Cheer" =/\=
by Lt Leslie Wilson
and Lt Matthew Albrecht

Somebody at the party had decided it needed a little snow, and now flakes were falling from the domed ceiling of the ballroom--as if it were outdoors! This struck Matthew as a bizarre idea, but apparently it was a hit with the other guests. Given the snowy conditions, however, Matthew put the hood of his large burgundy-colored cloak up onto his head. By covering his curly dark hair, he enhanced the illusion that he was indeed Father Christmas. Now all he needed was a long beard and white hair.

His good friend Lexana Ral was on stage performing a song that had lots of energy, with a fabulous old-Earth style beat. So far, however, it had yet to reveal itself as a Christmas song... Well, Matthew knew there were plenty of Christmas carols out there he wasn't familiar with. Nodding his head to one side with the beat as he walked, he headed for the door to the 'outside' of the ballroom. He suddenly had an insistent curiosity about the weather in the holodeck-controlled outdoors.

When he arrived at the french doors, after passing through a small crowd of revelers, he saw that them egress led out onto a wooden deck, with an iron railing only ten feet from the doors. Snow was falling onto the deck outside the french doors, as well as inside the ballroom. The security officer's fur- rimmed cloak was liberally sprinkled with white fluff. He grabbed a door handle, and gained access to the 'outside world.'

He smelled sea air, and heard ocean sounds. The deck was poorly-lit, but he could see that there was another person who had beaten him to the railing. She was wearing a red sweater, and black sweats. Her hair was jet black, and blended with the night sky. He recognized the counselor instantly. "Leslie, hi!"

The young woman turned, and looked the costumed man up and down. "Well, aren't you the thinnest Santa around!?" She was holding a nearly empty mug of Casey's egg-nog. "Colors are all wrong, too. That would make you... Father Christmas, right?"

Father Christmas stood straighter, "Da, fraulien. That is correct! But I have no gifts remaining in my sack. Hold on..." He held out his own, full mug of egg-nog. "I'll share my drink with you," he insisted, pouring half of his creamy beverage into her mug.

"Thanks." she glanced at the cup for a moment, as if in thought. "I feel this stuff is going to overpower me at any moment, I already feel a little drunk." She took a sip--earning an egg-nog mustache in the process. Both officers were illuminated by the rich, warm light flooding out through the french doors. Moving figures from inside passed shadows over their faces while they talked.

"So, how are things in security," she asked. "I hear you are becoming quite the security officer."

Matthew shrugged. "I just do my job, if I earn a commendation, then I'm proud. And you might say that I've developed a better appreciation for the work that we do." He smiled. "What about you?"

"Sometimes I wish I wasn't a counselor, that I had a phaser and could just blast my way out of every thing, then I look around, and come to my senses. Counselor's are almost a rare breed, very few of us on ships, on the other hand, a Security officer, is found on every port, every station, every ship, at almost every corner. They protect the people, counselor's protect them to, but protect them from dream demons, other things that make them have emotional problems. When we help people overcome problems, it becomes a thing we cherish, a personal victory, something we will never forget."

She took a deep breath, savoring the crisp night air. The wind blew her hair in all directions, but she didn't mind. It felt like being home, in New York, the cold air.

He changed the subject, "So, you never told me you were a swimmer..." never one to be too subtle, Matthew let his sentence trail off as an obvious request for information. He moved to the rail beside her.

"And I would have told you this because....?" she said sarcastically. "Well, you never asked me, and I don't usually introduce myself with 'did you know I like to swim?'" Leslie turned her gaze back over the ocean thirty feet below. Snowflakes caught in her ebony hair, which was blowing in a holodeck-created ocean breeze.

Albrecht took his hood back down, so he could more easily carry on the conversation. "Well, Gary Trabuco spends a lot of time in the gym. When he's not staring at the girls run around the track, he's pumping iron. Sometimes he does his lifting by the pool," he explained. "He says you are quite a runner, too."

Her hazel eyes adopted a far-away look for a moment, then returned with, "But I'm in Starfleet, my life is helping people, and running. But I do like to swim, too. It's great exercise--total body workout, you know. Why do you ask?" With all that had gone on in her life since she left the Galaxy some months back, she had grown unaccustomed to discussing her own personal interests. She found it refreshing to discuss such simple things again.

He leaned back from the rail. "I just thought it was strange that I never see you when I'm at the pool. In school growing up, swim team was my life--well, that and debate! One of these days we'll have to plan to show up poolside at the same time," he suggested. He wondered if she had ever done any diving competitively; the thought of a little friendly dive match piqued his interest, but he decided to wait and see and not get his hopes up.

"It feels so good to be back home. And this is my home. New York will always feel like home, but I couldn't just pack up and leave the Galaxy. It's my home. That's why I hated to leave it earlier this year."

"Why did you leave?" Leslie took on a sullen look. Realizing that he had pried, he apologized, "I didn't mean to intrude..."

"Oh, it's ok. My father had a stroke, I had to go help her. My brother was off on same mission, he's a freelance trader, and he couldn't come home, so I had to. My mother couldn't handle it on her own." She remembered with some pain. "It was a very dark time in my life, I started to drink, something I had never done before, because my father hadn't shown signs of improvement. He had massive heart failure a month later."

She took another long sip. It calmed her down. "I was having problems, I didn't want to live, I couldn't take it anymore, the demands were too great. I considerd resigning from Starfleet, I was already on an extended leave of absence, I didn't know when I would be back." She paused, seemed to think for a moment. "But I just got worse. The drinking started to overtake me. That's when my brother, Kyle, showed up."

Matthew just listened in an almost shocked silence. This young woman had been through so much pain, so much agony. It was difficult for him to sympathize, since his childhood had been so charmed.

"Kyle was here. My brother to safe the day. He helped get me back on track, we eliminated the drinking, and started to focus on basics. My father started to improve, and my spirits were lifting for the first time in months. That's when I decided to return to the Galaxy. Kyle would stay with them, and my father was better." She took another sip of eggnog, "the rest is as they say, history."

Matthew stumbled with words. "I can't belive you had to endure all that." He shivered. "There is an old saying: 'What doesn't kill you, only makes you stronger.' But sometimes I think that road hurts too much."

Leslie nodded. "I tend to agree." She looked out again at the ocean, felt the wind whip at her. "Well now that I've ruined the holiday cheer."

Matthew held up a hand, as if to protest. "Not at all. I think right now everyone's spirits are good, with the war the way it's going."

"I know. The war, the Jem'Hadar, war is bloody, messy, and a compromising situation. The 'What doesn't kill you, only makes you stronger,' saying, applies here, but that is a very dark road, and a dark road we are speeding down," commented the psychologist philosophically. Matthew found the analogy disturbing.

"Let's not ruin the spirit of Christmas with talk of war," suggested the security officer. "We will talk on that at another time. For now, 'Here's to Friends'," he toasted, clinking mugs with her.

He smiled, and Leslie smiled too, her spirits improving. She took the last sip of her drink.

Leslie looked Matthew up and down again, and declared, "You know what you're missing?" She didn't wait for an answer, "A bell. In New York at Christmas, all the Santas -- or Father Christmases -- ring these damned bells all night long looking for handouts... Computer, one bell, wooden handle, eight inches long," she ordered.

The two friends re-entered the party, with a bell, intent on soliciting donations of holiday cheer.

As they moved back into the party, which was in full swing now, the two officers chatted together, just about events that had happened on board the Galaxy in the last few months. They swapped family Christmas stories; Matthew had never heard of the peculiar New York aspects of Yuletide cheer, and Leslie was surprised at the traditions the Albrechts had devised on Tellar. The captain had departed a moment before, but that didn't seem to drop spirits.

As they moved into the party, a fast paced Christmas song started to play. Pepole set down glasses, started to dance. Matthew offered his hand. Leslie took it.

Everyone was having a good time, nothing could affect spirits at the moment. Everyone was caught up in the spirit of things. The Galaxy was home to over a thousand people this night, more than any other.

"Party of Two"
Lt. Tebrianne Bancroft
Chief Helmsman

Lt. (jg) Benedict T’Kal
Tactical Officer
USS Galaxy

Benedict watched as Teb played. Dieran played up to the crowd, and it seemed that in his usual style he was bent upon impressing the crew ­ and in particular his wife.

Benedict shook his head, he just couldn’t believe the man's pure arrogance! He was using Teb on stage in a love song to his wife! Benedict felt the cold ball of anger knot his stomach as he realized that Casey was putting Teb in ‘second fiddle’ position ­ playing bass mistress to his lead guitar. Onstage in front of the entire crew ­ he was placing her in the public eye once again in the middle of his quest to regain his marriage.

Benedict and Tebrianne had been very careful to avoid any reference to the affair, which had resulted in the Caseys’ split. Now that bastard was flaunting Teb on stage; publicly relegating her superior musical abilities to his ­ putting her ‘behind’ him ­ placing her in a way that no one could miss the veiled insult. He just couldn’t believe he was using her to win back his wife!

Benedict watched her play. He knew the way she stood, the way she moved, the way her head tilted away from the audience ­ she was like a wilting rose standing up there!

Benedict could feel her humiliation like it was his own! He wanted to rush up to the stage and make her stop playing for that son-of-a-bitch! He didn’t even know what he was doing to her!

That was the worst part of it. He really didn’t! He was totally thoughtless of the feelings of everyone around him. He just saw what he wanted to take and he took it. Like he had taken Teb. He had hurt her. Benedict knew it ­ saw it in the way she acted toward him every day. He just thought that he could get his own way regardless ­ well this time he’d just gone that little bit too far.

The song ended, and Casey walked off stage. Benedict’s eyes were riveted on Tebrianne ­ he watched as she hurried off stage to the rear. She was shaking ­ he could see it from here ­ but then he was so much in tune with her that he would know it anyway. She was hurting again. Casey had hurt her again.

Benedict’s eyes narrowed as he looked at Casey. The mug in his hand shattered. It was mostly empty, and the beer went unnoticed ­ as did the shards of glass that remained in his hand.

Betta grabbed his arm and reacted with surprise at the sound of breaking glass. At her touch she felt his rage. It was directed at one target ­ and Betta instantly knew who it was. Benedict’s mind was totally focussed ­ she could feel the emotions surging through him and she moved to stand directly in front of him ­ purposely blocking his view.

Benedict’s violet eyes turned their killing stare at her. She reached up and took his face in her palms and said, "He’s not worth it Ben. Hewson got away with it ­ you won’t."

Jack was also looking at Casey ­ he turned to Benedict and nodded. They exchanged looks ­ they communicated on a primal level ­ Benedict’s look said one thing ­ they were the hunters and Casey was the game. If they’d been on an op it would have led to a mutual agreement to kill.

Jack shook his head. "We all know what kind of man Casey is." Jack said, "He ’ll get what he deserves sooner or later. I think Teb needs you without the Court Marshal."

Benedict nodded. The calming routine he was trying to establish began to take hold. He felt the anger lessen to a bearable level. It was just the thought of Teb hurting again ­ it speared his heart like a hot knife. He looked for a glimpse of her in back of the stage, but she was gone. He waited ­ Betta took care of the glass.

He saw Tebrianne move through the crowd away from the stage. He could see her distress ­ he could feel it! She made her way to the bar and he caught the eyes of Raoul as he talked to her. She looked down for a moment and the barkeep nodded to Benedict.

He talked to her for a few moments and gave her a drink. She turned and looked straight at Benedict. He tried to keep the concern from his face ­ it was a vain attempt. She smiled at him as their eyes met across the room and he felt relief. She started toward him weaving through the crowd.

It felt like it took Teb forever to make it across the holodeck to Benedict. She smiled at him as she stepped between a pair of dancing scientists and side-stepped an engineer that looked like he was doing something half-way between the limbo and the Risan tango.

"Hey there," she said, finally making it to Ben. It seemed like that had been her goal all night, and finally she'd made it. She smiled up at him, his violet eyes sparkling in the firelight that one of the engineers was keeping lit. "Having fun?"

Benedict reached out his hand and brushed a multi-hued braid away from her eyes ­ he drew her to him and smiled at her. It was a false kind of smile that flickered off too quickly and uncovered his concern for her. He looked deeply into her eyes and put both arms around her waist.

Betta and Jack looked at each other and Betta, always the one to sense these things, grabbed his arm and drew him away toward the dance floor. Jack smiled at her and slapped her playfully on the backside. They went off together, leaving the two alone.

Benedict felt a confusion of emotions as he held Tebrianne in his arms ­ she was everything to him ­ he loved her totally. The sudden clarity of the utter truthfulness of the thought drowned out the noise going on all around them. It made what Casey had done even worse.

Benedict whispered, "You were terrific up there. But I’m lonely here without you." He kissed her softly on her forehead and hugged her close. She felt so good in his arms.

"Thanks," she said, smiling up at him. "It was lonely up there without you too."

Teb sighed. She felt so safe engulfed in Benedict's embrace. The whole Deiran situation suddenly didn't matter as much. The embarrassment seemed to dissipate a little more.

"Would you like to dance," Teb asked as Lt. Commander Sunder took the stage.

Benedict wiped a dark smudge from beneath Tebrianne's eye. "I don't want to share you with anyone else right now," he said. "I saw a quiet corner over there."

"Ooh," she said. "That sounds better than dancing."

Ben and Teb moved toward the corner. As they walked, she found herself missing the comfort of his arms.

"Are you okay?" he asked her. He rubbed his fingers together, brushing away the last of the makeup residue. "You were crying. Is everything alright?" He looked deeply in to her beautiful dark eyes - they never failed to draw him in - he knew that all he had to do to look at them was close his own eyes. She was always there.

"Much better now that I'm over here with you," Teb said. "It didn't hit me what Deiran was doing until halfway through that song...and then I just wanted to crawl away. It was so humiliating up there in front of everyone while he's singing to his wife. I was angry and hurt, and my emotions got the better of me." She squirmed her way into his arms again. "Have you ever celebrated Christmas, Benedict? It was always a very special time for my family. Michael would usually figure out a way to get shore leave for the holidays. Have I ever mentioned him before? He's my brother. Admiral Michael Bancroft. I'm rambling. I don't know what it is about you," she said, looking up into his violet eyes. "I usually don't talk this much...then again, it could be the eggnog. So, have you ever celebrated Christmas?"

Benedict smiled warmly - he remembered many Christmas's. His father was human - and he always celebrated the occasion. Family was a central theme in Benedicts' life. He decided to steer his thoughts and his feelings away from Casey, Teb needed the distraction - and so for her sake he simply vowed to solve this problem one way or another with Casey himself - and brought the memories of his own Christmas's to mind.

"Every year." He replied. He moved them both over to a comfortable looking couch festooned with ribbons and the odd discarded hat. He brushed them away and drew her down beside him. He leaned in to her and placed his arm along the sofa back, creating a small cache of privacy amongst the crowd.

The strains of "Unforgettable" spoke volumes to his sensitive emotional state - he couldn't believe that it was Ursa Sunder singing in that beautiful voice - but he sure knew how to capture a moment. The crowd was silent as they listened in rapture.

Benedict was very close to Tebrianne, he held her hand gently and stared into her eyes. "I love Christmas." He said. "My father made it special. On Christmas day we would exchange gifts, and spend the day together - I've made it a point to remember the holiday as a remebrance of my family. This will be the first Christmas in a while that I've felt any where close to being with family." He glanced away nervously for a second, and then continued in the same soft voice, "Will you spend the day with me?' He asked.

He wanted desperately to tell her how he felt about her - but he just couldn't. He wanted to tell her he loved her, that he needed her - but something inside of him always drew him back - as if from the edge of a precipice that threatened to snatch him into darkness. He knew exactly what it was - it was the fear of losing her - of finding out that she felt as he did, and then losing her.

She complicated things, and so did Dieran Casey - she had just been crying - crying about being with him when he tried to get his wife back - did she still want him? Was it the humiliation of losing Casey? Benedict was so confused - but he did know that Teb had been hurt again - and Casey seemed to do it without thought - he tried to shove those thoughts away again - angry at himself for his slip of self control.

He rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb, and saw how her hand was almost swallowed by his. He smiled at her choice of nail polish - it matched her hair. He glanced up at her, waiting for her reply and had to smile at the row of beaded braids that half hid her eyes - she was always surprising him...it was wonderful.

Tebrianne thrilled at Benedict's words. He wanted her to spend the day with him. He wanted her to be part of his Christmas celebration. She couldn't deny she had been hoping for the same--to spend the day with him. Teb couldn't explain what she was feeling. She felt so safe with Benedict. So happy.

"I'd like that very much," she whispered. "For a moment, I thought I was going to hate this party. After that song with Deiran, I thought I'd just want to go back to my quarters. But, I'm happy now. This is going to be the best Christmas in a long time."

"Step into my Parlor said the Q to the Ensign."
By Ensign Brandis
Reviewed by Captian Price

"Welcome to my parlor said the spider to the fly." Q stated in his goddliest tone.

Lucas was just awakening after his fall from where...Looking around him there wasn't much to see. He was floating in space, somehow able to breath and somehow alive. A binary star system loomed off a little in the distance.

"Who said that?" Lucas yelled into the stars.

"Your Superior...Officer, Jon-Luc-as. What a fermilar name. It seems to ring a certain bell; does it not?" Q revelled in Lucas' confusion. Standing before Lucas with a grin, leaning against some unseen wall, he wore the snug uniform of a Fleet Captain.

"No, not at all. My name is JONATHAN LUCAS Brandis." Looking down was the last thing Lucas wanted to do but with a flick of Q's finger he was suddenly spinning uncontrollably into the void of space.

"Let's not stand on cerimony, shall we, Ensign." Q magically appeared and with a wave of his hand stablized Lucas' spiral through the stars. "Prehaps, something less...imtidating would be a better start."

In a flash of white light, Lucas was on the top of a mountain in Betazed, where he'd grown up. Below him lay the vastness of his home and yet not his home. There was a look of function and uniformity. The city below was a mass of interconnecting buildings that seemed to function as one...being. Then, he recognized the collective type structures.

"That's right. Your worst fears have been confirmed. Now, you have nothing to fear." Q appeared behind him, going unnoticed while Lucas surveyed what was once his home.

Lucas was seized with a bottomless sadness. Hollow and shattered, could they ever beat this? Could this place ever be...home, again. He fell down onto the purple crystal powder-like snow at the peak of the mountian. Lucas remembered it's smell well and a tear rolled down his cheek as he realized his home was no more; The Dominion had taken it.

"Come now, Jonathan buck up. Your father would never go for this pitiful display of self-pity. Pity, Pity, Pity. Silly, how that word could almost be...jolly. So, buck up!" With a snap of his fingers, Q stages a festive carnival booth on the mountian top with him as the booth's proprieter. "Schtep, right up, Schtep right up! Two balls fora dolla, two balls fora dolla! You there mister, how about a try...everyone's a winner!"

Lucas stops his wallowing and sits contemplating some solution to the masses that littered the horizon of Betazed.

Seeing Lucas lying on the ground uncooperative, "Fine." The carnival booth dissappears, and Q immerges sitting on the floor next to Lucas in an Ensign uniform. "Ensign Q, at your service, just tell me what you want to know and all will be answered."

"Who are you and why are you doing this?" Lucas said with venom in his voice.

"Well, as I said, I am Q." He said as though it were the greatest thing.

"I've heard of you...the limited opnipotent race, if I'm not mistaken." Lucas said with a certain contempt.

"Limited!" Q seemed annoyed by the comment. "I suppose in your LIMITED understanding of Q."

"Why did you bring me here?!" Lucas demanded.

"Come now, I can't quite give up my little secret that quickly in the episode now can I?" Q stated, with an overly dramatic look of shock on his face.

"What?" Lucas was thoroughly confused.

"Never mind, next question..." Q quickly continued.

"Can this...be changed back?" Lucas hung on the question without seeing much in the way of hope.

"Yes," Q paused knowing what the Betazoid-El Aurian wanted to hear and continued with, "but, that will depend on you."

"How?"

"Let's not dwell on the future shall we." Q moved on. "I've much more important things to entertain myself with...namely you."

In the next instant, the largest of the buildings let out a squad of Jhem'Hadar vessels. They were closing in fast and were on the mountain peak in a matter of seconds.

"Halt." It was the Jhem'Hadar patrol squad commander.

"Ah, such annoyances." Q said, not moving to acknowledge the patrol. He gave a wink at Lucas and the five patrol vehicels vanished.

"Where did you send them?" Lucas asked, realizing the display of power was intended to show off.

"Far, far away, to a little known sector of the Beta quadrant where they love to...'run tests' on creatures." Q mused. "Oh, but where were we. Yes, importance."

"What do you care about me?" Lucas wondered, feeling like the fly caught in a spider's web.

"To put it bluntly, I don't." Said the opnipotent being, while pompously polishing his nails.

"Then, why..?"

"All in good space-time, Lucas." Q stated, looking distastefully at his surroundings, "But, for now let's sojourn to a far better...atmosphere."

In a flash of brilliance, Lucas was once again on the Galaxy. Only not in Ten Forward, where he'd remembered, he was now in the hallway outside of Sick Bay and there were decorations up all over the ship. Christmas, Lucas remembered what his father had told him of human traditions, was a celebration. This tradition was somehow surprising; it had lasted for millenia it seemed.

Lucas looked around and Lucas thought for a moment that he had lost Q. Not a chance, he was standing behind him wearing a rather festive looking Santa Hat. "Deck the Halls with bells and holly, folla la la la la la la...la." Q sang.

"Whatever is wrong with you, is no small thing." Lucas couldn't help saying.

"Ensign Brandis, do not forget that you are now speaking to a superior officer." Index finger pointing directly at the five circles on the collar of his tunic.

"Sir, whatever is wrong with you is no small thing sir." Lucas replied at attention, deciding to play the sherade since he had no control over it.

"Ensign, I like your spunk so...I'll let you see what's behind door number one! Oh, what fun!" He stepped aside and Lucas approached the doors and they slid open. A strange feeling had taken over him as he entered the room. No one seemed to acknowledge his presence and Sick Bay was empty of the triage that had previously overtaken the ship.

Then, there he was...lying in a bio-bed, life signs stable and active. Lucas had been unconcious for over six weeks. Dr. Kahn showed up and checked on her patient, while wearing a festive Christmas Santa hat.

"Jonathan, I know you'll pull through this." She said with certainty, in a low voice that she thought no one would hear.

"What's happened to me?" Lucas asked the all knowing Q.

"Nothing really, you just refuse to wake up." Q stated matter of factly.

"How can that be? I was fine." Lucas couldn't help but be curious by this strange situation and stepped closer to himself.

"And oh, what a sad and lonely thing it is to be unconcious. It seems that your only companions of late have been a select group, Lt. Commander Casey among the most faithful." Q said after putting his arm around an unnoticing Dr. Kahn.

"Why doesn't he wake up? It makes no sense." The good doctor had grown frustrated with her patient's commatos.

"I don't know, maybe some Opnipotent being placed him in a coma?" Q said to the Doctor who didn't even notice they were in the room.

But, Lucas could hear no more. Turning to Q, he demanded, "What do you want from me?!"

"Tisk, Tisk, you'd think that you were the opniopent being. Truth of the matter is," He said, stepping away from the Doctor and Lucas' physical being on the bio-bed. "I want to strike a deal, sort of a you scrach my back and I'll scratch yours."

Lucas saw it on the horizon, coming from light years away, the old fashioned, well excuted, quit pro quo. But, then it hit him, Ferengi rule of aquisition number 123: If they want something, then you have something they want. Ferengi could always be counted on pointing out the obivious. Rule of Aquisition number 123 of course eluded to the law of supply and demand.

'Whoever said the Ferengi weren't geniouses in there own right was an anti-capitalist.' Lucas thought and seeing his advangate, took it. Suddenly he was in control of the situation, reminding him of the time when he signed the peace accords with the Romulan Star Empire.

Lucas decided that now was the time to relax and hear what the offer was. Then, reject it on first offer premise, something he'd learned at Betazed University, where he'd gotten his degree in Political Diplomacy.

"Well, I'm listening." Lucas stated, picking out an empty bio-bed, laying down, and lacing his hands behind his head.

Q was slightly insulted by the casualness that Lucas had suddenly displayed, but continued undawned, "It's nothing really, for you. All I need is your word that when I ask you for a certain something, you'll give it to me."

"NO." Lucas boldly blurted out. "Too little, what do I get in return?"

A little irratated, Q continues, "I was just getting to that, patience is a virtue..."

"...of the weak." Lucas quoted a Klingon proverb.

More directly, "You will have a the full Telepathic abilities you've always wanted."

It was what Lucas had wanted from a very young age, to be a complete Telepath. What a great thing that would be. He'd grown to the age of Ten without any Telepathic ability, which was normal; but, the years progressed and he never recieved a full Telepathic signal, only emotions and feelings. He could only come so close, but to read minds was a gift he'd long wanted, dreamt about, and even wished for. To have them would be the greatest....

"No, too little." He remembered his training.

"What more could you ask for, Jon-Lucas? You've never felt quite like the other Betazoids growing up. Even your Mother was slightly displeased by your...lack of ablity."

This last comment threw Lucas into a rage, "You BASTARD!" He quickly and instictively jumped off the bio-bed, towards Q. In the same moment, Q vanished, sending Lucas tumbling through the air, having missed his target.

"Not a wise move, I would destroy you but you're not even worth that trouble. So, do you accept?" Q pushed.

'If there's one flaw this guy has, it's persistance. Then again, if he's got just one flaw, I must be the King of the world.' Lucas thought. Rather ironically, considering that he was a Prince of Betazed's First House, and his parents were presumed dead...making him King.

"That little comment I'll cost you more than Telepathy!" Lucas stated, picking himself up off the floor.

"Fine, I'll...add a little something to the pot." Q put in to appease the inferior being. "Do you accept?"

"I'll have to know what it is exactly that you want." Lucas was not fool enough to make a deal with the devil, also know as Q.

"We'll have to approach that barrier when we get there, Lucas. No need to quarrel over petty payments, just yet...after all it's time for you to join the party!" Q grinned evilly .

****Sick Bay****

"Get Doctor Kahn up here, Lucas is waking." Lucas heard an unrecognizable and unseen voice.

"The News"
By Lt.Jg.William Foxtrot
Security, USS Galaxy

Willaim just received his promotion and his new duty assignment. He was in wonderment thta he gets to work with with the Chief. He then realized he hadnt checked his messages since they returned to Federation space.

"Computer display messages!" Will asked while he rubbed the new pip on his uniform.

Will began to look through his messages. He began to read the newest one. Will eyes blanked out, his hands tightened, and he began to turn red. He couldnt move rage and sadness had glued him to his seat. For there on the screen was a death certificate for his Parents.

"I cant believe it, No this has to be some kind of joke!" Will said astonished.

He continued to read on, finding out that they died in a shuttle craft accident on there return to scotland. Will stood up and went over to where the swords his mother and father gave him were. He ran his finger over the blade. He then bent down and removed a a bottle from the cabinet. He took a huge swig of it and took a deep breath.

"Damn the Gods and the Foxtrots, This drink is for you two!" Will yelled at the space on the other side of his window. He then went to his closet and pulled out a large case. He entered the hall take swigs from his bottle and then headed for Ten-forward.

*****Ten-Forward******

Will entered Ten-forward feeling the buzz in his head from his drinks. He went to a table in the corner and saw that there were hardly anybody there so he smiled and opened the case. He then removed and revealed a set of bagpipes. He positioned himself, downed the rest of the bottle and then began playing. The music so sweet to Wills ears now filled Ten-forward. He kept playing not stopping only hoping to realize that this is all some sick joke.

The others in the bar began to look at him. Will could feel there eyes fix themselves on him. He knew some liked it and others were becoming annoyed with it. He didnt care he had no other way to mourn the loss of the only family, the only two true friends he had. A tear rolls down his cheek as he keeps playing hoping his mother would join in with the flute and his father would join him with the old bagpipes Will remembered always stareing at in all.

“An Absentminded Mind”
USS GALAXY
Lt. Commander Deiran Casey & Lt. Tebrianne Bancroft

Deiran was on cloud nine. He had been saying that way too much lately, since Miran had taken him back and finally wanted to love him again. The party was rocking, everyone was having fun.

Deiran forgot to thank Tebrianne for helping him with the song. He also realized that she may not have been to thrilled if she knew why he sang that. ‘My God what the heck was I thinking?’ He turned to Miran, “Hon, I’ll be right back. And when I do, we’ll dance some more,” he smiled flirtatiously. He had trouble taking his eyes off her. He loved her so much.

Deiran didn’t think of it at the time, but as he thought about it, Tebrianne might not have approved of him asking her to help him sing a song to his wife. Now they were friends, and Deiran wouldn’t have minded if Teb needed his help with anything—no matter how it made him look, the heck with what the crew thought. But, Teb was a female and saw things from a different perspective. She was more sensitive. He had to be aware of that. He would have to do this delicately and brace for impact.

He made his way through the throng, it took longer than he anticipated. Many people stopping him to talk or wishing him a Merry Christmas.

But he finally did find Teb. She was with Benedict T’Kal. Now there was a man Deiran could respect. He didn’t know him, but he saw a bit of himself in him. He didn’t want to interrupt and so he waited until T’Kal left.

He walked up to Teb, who looked festive in her green tights and green/black skirt and red jacket. Deiran thought it was a jacket anyway.

“Hi Tebrianne,” he said, flashing his Casey smile. Doing his best to try and soften the atmosphere. He knew she had a short fuse. Crap what woman didn’t when it came to his actions. Deiran couldn’t breath right and please women, his mother, sister, friends, even his doctor and his counselor. He did know how to please Miran, which was why he married her.

Teb looked up, not realizing anyone was there. She was surprised to see Deiran standing there.

"Hello Deiran," she said.

“Teb, I wanted to thank you for playing bass for me. I appreciate it. I really do. You’re a good friend. You played awesome as usual. I wanted to say thank you and wish you a Merry Christmas. I didn’t realize until after I got off the stage how that might have effected you. It was stupid of me. I didn’t think, I just had my mind on other things. I was thinking about our friendship now and spaced it on how you’d feel once you figured out why I sang that. Talk about your idiotic faux pas. I’m sorry. Can you forgive me? Please?” he just let the words filter out and toward her. Hoping they would be sufficient to appease her. He did appreciate her helping him and he meant what he said. But he didn’t feel Teb was too happy with him. He could see it in her eyes.

It didn’t seem that he could do anything right by Tebrianne. And he felt guilty for it.

“Can I make it up to you somehow, Tebrianne? I am sorry,” he said again, trying to show her he was repentant.

"I don't know what you're talking about, Deiran," Teb said, feigning ignorance. She didn't need this now. Not tonight. She focused on the cup of eggnog in her hand. "Having a nice time at the party? Great eggnog by the way. It's a real hit." Teb gulped down the last of her eggnog. She examined the bottom of the empty glass and wondered where Benedict was with her refill. "Anyway, there's nothing to make up...so, no need to apologize. Everything's fine, Deiran."

Deiran stood there and looked into Tebrianne’s eyes. They betrayed her in Deiran’s opinion. There was hurt there. Deiran tried his best to apologize; to work things out, and Tebrianne was stubborn and wouldn’t work out the problem.

Deiran made mistakes too, he admitted his wrong and inconsideration and she basically passed it off as nothing. It was pride, her typical stubborn demeanor and her vulnerability. He cared for Teb as a friend. He did his best, but it just seemed he couldn’t win with her, no matter what he tried.

He knew she was lying to him. But as his father taught him, ‘Son, there’s times where you have to use a strategical retreat to handle situations. Don’ t hesitate. You can retreat, regroup and counterattack twice as strong as you were before.’ His father was right. Deiran knew this was one of those times.

He showed Teb that he recognized he screwed up, he admitted his mistake and apologized to her. And though she said there was nothing to apologize for, he knew she was lying. Deiran knew how to read people, it was one of the prerequisites of command.

“I’m having a great time Teb. And thanks, I’m glad everyone is enjoying the eggnog. You have fun ok? I have to go make more of that eggnog,” he smiled at her, his trademark white grin. ‘A hasty, strategic retreat.’

‘I know you’re upset with me Teb. I apologized.’ He thought to himself. Deiran was truly sorry.

He walked away from Teb and didn’t look back.

Deiran was so involved, and enthralled with his wife he just didn’t realize his inviting Teb up on the stage for a song would be such a big mistake. He was thinking of Miran and not Tebrianne. It was an easy mistake to make, one that anyone could make. He hoped Teb would forgive him in her heart eventually.

"It Works for the Chief"
Lt.JG Anthony Mendenhall
and Lt.JG T'Zaq

Chief Engineer Mercury turned from the computer screen and spun around in his chair, the extra half pip on his collar catching the light impressively. "I'm assigning you to detached duty, 'Lieutenant. For the time being, you'll be working with 'Lieutenant Mendenhall. Report to him immediately."

T'Zaq nodded professionally and left the office. Being placed on detached duty meant she was assigned to fix various things around the ship. This pleased her; it would afford a chance to see more of the ship and meet different people that she ordinarily might not have never met, had she spent her entire duty shift confined to the engineering and computer core areas.

-----

Anthony clapped his hands together again. And, just like the other twenty-two times he had tried, the lights faded. He clapped again. They faded back on. Off. On. Off. On. Off. On.

It just didn't make any sense. He had tried everything he could. No matter how hard he racked his brain, he couldn't find any answer as to why it did what it did. None of the circuitry was suppose to be sensative to the sound of clapping, or the stomping of feet, or the beating of the wall.

"Well, let's go back in that blasted Jefferies Tube," he said to himself. The small spots of persperation dripped down his face as he crawled throught the little maintainance tunnel. It was only about ten feet from the opening to the panel he needed, but his head still hurt from bumping it so many times. Mendenhall opened the panel that supposedly started everything and took a look at it again.

"Let's see, thats were it's... and this goes... well it can't be... I mean that has to... No, that can't be... wait, this goes... what does that... I wish I could... oh drat forgot it again."

As he turned around there again was the same tool that he had left the last time, and again some person had handed it to him, and yet again, Mendenhall bumped his head.

"OWE!" As he reajusted his eyes again, he started to make out the image of the person who was handing him the blasted codulator. He focused again and saw a Romulan/Vulcan female with black hair. Beyond that he couldn't make anything else out.

"Are you alright?" she asked.

"Um, yea, I'm slowly getting used to it." He rubbed his eyes and then accepted the the codulator from the Lieutenant jg. *Oh great, some lieutenant had to come and help me.*

"Lieutenant Commander Mercury assigned me to help you," she said in a monotone voice. He concluded she must be Vulcan.

*She must be new aboard. It's plain old Lieutenant Mercury* thought Mendenhall. Anthony started to randomly adjust things to see if it would do anything. "You new aboard?"

T'Zaq inclined her head and looked at him strangely. "Yes. How did you know that?"

"It's Lieutenant Mercury, not Lieutenant Commander." Nothing seemed to be affecting it. Struck with a sudden flash of inspiration, he tried adjusting the power rerouters, but this only resulted in the complete failure of the lights. He quickly switched the rerouters back to their original configuration, and the Jefferies tube was again filled with light.

Seemingly unfazed by the sudden interruption, T'Zaq continued, "I'm afraid you are incorrect, the Captain informed me of his promotion."

"Oh." He felt stupid now. "Could you clap?" He tried readjust the harmonic regulators, but it didn't seem to do anything either.

"Clap?"

"Yes, clap. Trust me."

Temporarily abandoning her dignity, T'Zaq clapped twice and the lights all went out. She raised an eyebrow and cocked her head to the side a bit, although no one could see it in the darkness. "Fascinating."

Mendenhall clapped again, and sighed. He looked over and quickly looked away before his glance turned into a stare. *She's a superior officer. don't think things like that.*

"Any ideas?"

T'Zaq thought for a moment, her expression seeming faraway as she calculated their options. "Well, since we have no explanation for this phenomenon, it would seem that the problem lies deeper within the system. Possibly someone with computer knowledge placed a 'prank' program in the light controls which would make them respond to sudden noises such as clapping. Other than completely searching the light control program itself for any rogue subroutines, I see little we can do at the moment."

It seemed like a good idea. He linked up a PADD to the light control program and handed it to her. "Look over this would you, I'll scan for a prank." He quickly looked over it and saw no particularly strange subroutines.

Then he had a sudden flash of insight. If it worked for the Lt. Commander, it must work for a lowly ensign.

"Scoot over a little." He readied his leg and waited for T'Zaq. He clapped making the lights go out again.

T'Zaq did as she was commanded and moved over a little, wondering what the crazy Lieutenant was going to do now.

With a mighty kick, and a large yelp of pain from his newly stubbed toe, the lights turned back on.

"Fascinating," remarked T'Zaq. Mendenhall clapped again, finding that it didn't go out.

Anthony smiled at T'Zaq. "Learned that one from the Chief," he boasted. As he looked at her, he started to blush a little bit. *Boy, she's pretty cute.*

"Good work Lieutenant. I'll have to remember that." She started to crawl out, and after gathering his tools, Anthony followed behind her. When he was out, he started to correct her. "It's just Ensign." He flashed his lone pip showing her.

"No. Chief Engineer Mercury clearly said Lieutenant."

He smiled at her. "Trust me. I think I would know if I got promoted. Computer, state the current rank of Anthony M. Mendenhall." He waited for the reply.

[Anthony M. Mendenhall is currently a Lieutenant junior grade.]

T'Zaq smirked slightly. "Well, what do you know. Congratulations, my friend. I am sure 'Commander Mercury was going to tell you as soon as he saw you, anyway."

Anthony rolled his eyes. "Yeah, I'm sure--"

The computer hummed softly, interrupting their conversation. The slight change in pitch could only mean one thing... the end of duty shift! The two engineers both glanced down at their chronometers in tandem.

"Well," T'Zaq said quickly, "it's been enhancing. See you next alpha shift, 'Lieutenant. And take care of that toe!" She rushed out of Engineering as fast as dignity would allow, gone as mysteriously as she had come.

Anthony just stood there for a moment, wondering what excitement she had planned to be in such an all-fired hurry for. After a moment he just shrugged, smiled to himself and headed back to his quarters to soak his bruised foot.

=/\=
Lt.JG T'Zaq, Engineer USS Galaxy

Galaxy "All Good things Must come to an End"
Written By Lt. Kahn Nilani
Chief Medical Officer

The Ballroom was still very full as officer from the previous shift were entering. I was looking quietly over the side of the ship and breathing mist in the cold night air.

["Beautiful isn't it?"]

I turned my head to see my sister.

"Yes, it is something I have to say the Human race is lucky for. All there land is very pretty!"

["What's the matter?"]

I looked back out over the ocean

"Nothing you need to worry about........ I read the counsellors report on you, she says you are now very confident in your self."

Illiyana smiled and nodded her head in agreement.

"Which comes to my next question, How would you like to work in sickbay?"

Illiyana's mouth droped and her eye's lit up with happiness a second later she composed her self.

["But I'm not trained!"]

"That dosn't matter, I can request to the captain to place you as a cadet in starfleet. Then we would train you here on the ship."

["And you would do this for me?"]

I smiled and looked at her in the eyes

"Of course, your my sister and I want to see you live a wonderful life!"

["Ok then........ when do I start?"]

"Have the next couple of days off and come in next week.... I should then have............."

My comm badge went off

"Dr Kahn here, go ahead!"

["Anara here ma'am..... Ensign Brandis's condition is improving, he is showing signs of consciousness!"]

"Understood record everything I'll be there in a second."

I turned back to illiyana

"Stay at the party and have fun!"

Illiyana smiled and moved off

I ran out of the holodeck still wearing a long flowing dress that I had picked from the early earth 20th century. I entered the Turbo lift and requested Sickbay.

**** 20 seconds later ****

I entered sickbay to see Ensign Brandis awake, I looked around.

"Report!"

"Time in Between"
by Lt. JG Jack D'Auria
& Lt. JG Be'Tran M'Benga

All was quiet as Jack stood in the doorway, looking down at the sleeping form of his lover. Betta was lying curled up in bed, her face restless even in sleep. Ever since they had come back from Earth and had been told that her mother was missing on Betazed, Betta had been restless, quiet and sad. Jack had tried everything he could think of to cheer her up, but it hadn’t worked. She would start to smile but then, something would remind her of her mother and she would become withdrawn again. He was at a loss as to what to do but be there for her, be a shoulder to lean and cry on.

For days now, she had been quiet and withdrawn; usually, Betta was the life of the party, always laughing and joking around. Lately though, it was the complete opposite. At work, she was quiet, almost shy, as if it was her first mission on a starship. Betta hadn’t spent time with any of her friends lately. Numa and V’Ehlma had come around a few times and so had Teb and Benedict. Jack had been surprised to see Lt. Samara in his quarters the day before; the two women had been talking when he came in and had abruptly stopped. K’Eyt had excused herself and left immediately.

Benedict had told Jack about his holodeck ‘exercise’ with the Klingon engineer. D’Auria hadn’t had a chance to talk to her since he and Betta had come back, but he knew it was time to help her. After all, he had promised her he would help her.

Jack took a sip of his tea as he looked at the sleeping form in the bed. He had promised to be here for her but right now, he was at a loss as how to deal with it. Having grown up in a society where one keeps their emotions in check, it was doubly hard on him. Maybe he should talk with a counselor. Betta stirred, waking up from her restless dreams. Jack said on the bed next to her, placing a hand on her cheek, stroking her hair away softly.

“Hey.”

“Hey, yourself.”

“How did you sleep?”

Betta looked into his brown eyes; the worry in them demanding to hear the truth. She sighed, knowing she had to talk to him. “Not too good.” “You’ve been dreaming about her again, haven’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Betta, I won’t insult you by telling you I know what you’re going through. But you know that there is nothing you can do about it now. All you can do is hope that she is al right. Knowing you, I’m sure she is okay.”

Jack smiled slightly as a finger stroked her full lips. “After all, she is part Klingon.” He kissed her forehead, a hand stroking her cheek. “Your mother wouldn’t want you to be sad or worried. She would want you to go on with your life and live. Not sit around worrying.”

Betta smiled slightly, knowing he was right. “I know that, Jack, but I can’t help it. She and I… We never were too close, maybe because she is so much more Betazoid than I. But nevertheless, we loved each other. I can’t help it, I can’t stand the thought of sitting here and not being able to do anything.”

Betta had gotten up, walking around the quarters and standing in front of the viewport in the living room, wrapping her arms around herself. “Betta, don’t get any ideas of trying to do what Nilani did. For one thing, on Ivoni, we had only a small part of the planet to search. Searching on Betazed is a just not possible. Apart from the fact that you’d have a whole planet to search, there is the possibility that she isn’t even on Betazed anymore.”

Jack stood behind her, wrapping his arms around her. Betta rested her head on his chest, wrapping her hands around his, taking strength from him.

It seemed Jack was always there. Always there to hold her. To love her. To care for her. He was everything to her. Everything she needed. She turned around in his arms, pressing her body to his, she took his face in her hands and kissed him. "Promise you'll never leave me, Jack." she said softly.

"I... pro... mise." he slurred between kisses. His embrace changed from comforting to passionate. He returned the kiss, allowing his mind to join with hers as their lips locked together. "Don't fear." he said into her mind. "She'll be alright. Trust me."

Betta let all her worries pour out of her mind. Jack was there. Everything would work out. In the end. As long as he was there, she could always go on.

"This is the Most Wonderful Time of the Year?"
by, Lt. (j.g.) Raesene Hermedhie

Raesene was confused. He had lived among the Terrans for eight years now, and still this weird festival called Christmas still confused and bemused him. It appeared that the festival was in honor of a Christian demi-god called Jesus. One which he had very little understanding of. And he was especially confused as to how this Christ was related to a jolly, old man called Santa Claus.

But the main crux of the problem was rather simple. This festival always took place during or near the winter solstice of Earth. On his world, you did not celebrate on that day. You hid. On his world it was called the Eve of the Dead, the day when the Shadow World crept closest. And the Shadow World was very bad. In it lived all of the undead, such as skeletons, ghosts, and vampires. These creatures were feared for it was completely possible that they could come on that night and steal your soul, while you slept.

So, after staying in the big Christmas bash for an hour, Lt. Hermedhie snuck out, and made his way to an unused Holodeck, which he entered. There he began the program he used every year to dispel the major evil spirits. And the souls of those who were doomed to walk the universe searching for peace. It was not as if he were particularly afraid of them, but even on Aebrynnis, he had lacked the power to deal with them effectively. Here separated from his world, an unknown distance in an unknown direction, Raesene sometimes felt alone.

The malfunction of the power conduit that had blasted him full in the back had left its marks. One was a massive scar that now decorated the point of impact. The other had been a rather strange side effect. His brain had been enhanced to the point where he had begun to exert certain telepathic abilities. Luckily for him (and everyone else), he had also learned how to control them. He did not like prying into anyone else's business, and expected the same courtesy from others. He was now in a room, lit by candles and with weapons lining the walls. He kneeled in the middle of the room, when suddenly the door to the Holodeck swooshed open. And in walked a young lady with red hair and ice blue eyes. She wore the garments of a paladin of Nesirie, the goddess of the sea and mourning on Aebrynnis. She was also Cuiraecen's mother. Stunned, he just stared at what he considered to be an apparition. It was not. She strode into the room, turned towards Raesene, bowed, and said, "Greetings. I am Ensign Dierdren Mhistecai, a Medical Officer. As you can see, I am also a paladin of Nesirie. I was wondering if I might join you to observe this hallowed occasion." Raesene stood and replied, "Of course. My name is..."

"Lieutenant Junior Grade Raesene Hermedhie, Tactical Officer. You are also a paladin of Cuiraecen."

"How did you know that?"

"I was one of those that helped you to SickBay, when that surge knocked you down. Intrigued, I began trying to find out more about you. I hope I didn't intrude too far, but I must say that you are one of the more interesting people I have ever met."

Raesene merely nodded, and allowed her to join him in praying to their gods. All and all, it was a good start to a possible friendship.

"Having a good time"
by Commander Joerg Sterner
Executive Officer, USS Galaxy

"Commander Sterner's Personal Log: Stardate 49812.23

It's Christmas time and the mood on the Galaxy couldn't be any better for now. Although there are few officers currently on duty, most of the crew is singing and celebrating either on the holodeck, in Ten Forward or at some private party somewhere on the ship. I can't blame them for being in such a great mood, after all the things that had happened this past year and little cheer up is the best medicine for all of us.

As for the party on the holodeck, it's one of the biggest and most amusing party in the Galaxy's history, well as far as I remember. But as all good things tend to show some darker sides eventually, the Captain and myself were called to the bridge to inspect an unidentified object.

It turned out to be a Christmas tree and later Santa Claus himself visited us on the bridge. Of course it wasn't the real Santa, it was one of those joke the pseudo-omnipotent being Q played on us. He told the Captain that he wanted to repay his debts by granting a wish to him. But the Captain's only true wish was that Q would leave the ship at once, a wish I could only share knowing many of the stories and rumors of that being's powers. After a short discussion with the Captain, Q seemed to have given up and left the ship for good.

I personally doubt that this was the last we saw of that being, but perhaps he has some code of honor that binds him to his promise. But then again I really doubt that those beings have any rules at all.

For now all I can think of is having a great time at the Christmas party and enjoy myself as long as the current situation stays calm."

The Captain, Lieutenant McKenzie and Joerg were on their way down to the holodeck party again. In their minds the most recent encounter was digging it's way through their Christmas mood. Although they were a bit surprised by the sudden appearance of Q, they decided to fall back in the happy Christmas mood back as soon as possible.

The turbo lift came to halt at the correct deck and the doors opened. One could hear the singing and dancing from the holodeck the moment the doors opened. It was good to see that the crew was enjoying themselves. The Captain, Lieutenant McKenzie and Commander Sterner quickly looked at each other and also began to smile a little. They all knew that at that very moment everything was fine and that this could change very quickly. 'Carpe Diem.' Joerg only thought, while the three approached the holodeck entrance again.

"Here we come a-wassailing?"
by Counsellor Devlynn Salshyar

It had been a long while since the first of her counselling sessions with Deiran and Miran, and it was refreshing to see the two of them together once again. The Caseys seemed happy enough to Dev, and anyone, even a minor Telepath would have been able to sense that Deiran was in his glory.

She stood in a circle, talking with a few of the other counsellors about the recent lull in activity on board the Galaxy. Nearly everyone agreed that it was nice to have the Captain on board for such a long time without having to have him rescued from being kidnapped, found from being lost, or any of the other adventurous things that the Galaxy crew seemed to find themselves doing on a regular basis.

One of the counsellors spoke, "did you hear the rumour that's going around?" Though counsellors weren't much for gossip, Christmas time was an exception.

Another one spoke, "about who this time?" The huddle grew tighter.

The first spoke again, "I hear that Chris Thomas' dead wife has been 'visiting' him, or at least that's what he thinks." There were a few giggles within the group. But Dev's giggle was not among them.

Dev spoke calmly, "you mean Gwyen?" She said simply.

"Yes, isn't that a scream!" They giggled again.

That was concerning for Dev. If Thomas was seeing Gwyen's ghost then something very strange must have happened during his last trip off the ship. Devlynn hadn't talked to Chris much since her return to the Galaxy. Only a few words when she first came on board, while in sickbay with Deiran.

She had engrossed herself in her work, dealing with the Caseys and her other clients.

She had missed the comraderie that they had had before she left, while Colby was still on board, but when she returned, she didn't know what they would have to talk about. They had always had Colby. He was their bond.

The gossip continued within the circle as Dev's mind wandered. She thought about her previous tenure on the Galaxy. What must have seemed so odd to the crew when she suddenly disappeared for parts unknown. Then the equally strange return, without her son.

It had made for an interesting year for Dev, but not one that she regretted. Kal-Dixas was a nice experience, except of course, for the Battle of Kal-Dixas. When the USS Amherst was destroyed - such a tragedy - all those lives.

The Amherst was Star Fleet Academy's training vessel and her mother, Ahlenia D'alkcon had been the Dean of the Academy at that time. When the USS Sovereign had disappeared, the ship that her cousin Janaia commanded, Ahlenia had decided to take matters into her own hands and search for them herself.

The Excelsior class Amherst wasn't enough to stand up to the Dominion-Cardassian force at Kal-Dixas. And was lost, with all 500 hands on board. The single greatest disaster in Academy history.

Dev was brought back to reality when a glass splashed on the floor right beside where she was standing.

She glanced about the room, but couldn't see anyone who had knocked if off the table. A few drops of Deiran Casey's famous Egg Nog had landed on her shoe. Nothing too serious.

As she looked up, she saw Chris Patton leaving the room. She sighed, another missed oportunity to speak with him.

Checking herself from the party and saying good evening to everyone, she decided to retire to her quarters and write a letter to Colby. She thought she might visit the folks on the Bridge this evening also, to see how they were holding up.

"Darn Yellow Alert"
By Lieutenant j.g. Mendenhall, Engineer

"So, were you the scapegoat they got to attend the fire?" Asked Mendenhall to T'Zaq. He had worked with her a few days back on some weird light problem. He wanted to just have a conversation with her, but he knew something would happen before then.

"Yes," replied the lieutenant. She looked over to him, which made him smile just a little bit more. He was about to ask her how she liked the party, but an alarm went off in the small bag he was carry.

Anthony quickly pulled out a PADD that was linked to a program that monitored the Holodeck. When he looked at it, he immediantly stood and started off toward one of the walls.

"Computer, display arch, authorization Mendenhall Gamma Alpha." A small arch appeared and Anthony started to look over it. Someone had requested it to snow, inside and out. He looked to see how much matter they had left, and adjusted the amount accordingly.

He wished that the activities committee asked if something was REALISTIC and not just POSSIBLE. Of course he could make it snow, but then of course, arm wrestling a Klingon was easier. Well, maybe not, but it sure was hard. Between the holodecks and the replicators on board, they were consuming 37.6% of all the energy on the ship! 37.6%! Did they realize how much energy that is? Obviously not.

Another problem hardly ever thought about was if they had enough matter to replicate objects. About 55% of the stored matter had been used. While it probably wouldn't happen, they could run out of matter to use. But Anthony wasn't worried about that, he was more worried about running low on power.

All of the sudden, he saw the power levels drop tremendously.

"What the-" Anthony quickly saw that shields had been raised. He quickly made sure that the safety program was still running, in case they switch to, heaven forbid, yellow or red alert. If that happened, the holodecks would immediantly shut off. The safety program would keep a minimal amount of the party alive, but some of the walls would disappear, and a whole bunch of other problems.

As he was furiously typing away, trying to redistribute the energy around to the different systems in the holodeck (yes even different systems, ventilation, oxygen content, prop replication, etc...), the ship went to Yellow alert.

"Oh crap!"

Several wall faded away in the corner, and he knew there would be a myriad number of other problems. For the next several minutes, he quickly tried to make walls reappear, keep force fields active, and listen to complaints. Luckily, things went back to normal in a few minutes. The yellow alert went off, and after a while, Mendenhall got things in order.

"That was close." He then walked back to the fire to continue the conversation with T'Zaq again.

"So, how have you liked the party?"

"St. Nick and the Party Girl"
by Lt. AC Hewson
Assistant Chief Engineer

Spirits were higher than they had been for sometime, even though the War still raged on. Many were still dying for the Federation, but the Dominion’s foothold in the Alpha Quadrant had been waning for the past few months. Ever since the re-opening of the Wormhole near DS9, Starfleet and its allies had been winning more battles than they were losing. Many people thought that perhaps the Bajoran Prophets had had an affect on the War, while those skeptical of religion had their own beliefs as to why the tide had turned.

Christmas, a holiday that had started out as an ancient Earth religious celebration, was currently being observed onboard the USS Galaxy. While the Biblical story of Jesus Christ being born in a lowly manager had been long since forgotten by most Terrans, the image of a large man in a red suit had remained an eternal symbol of the Christmas season. St. Nick, Father Christmas, Santa Claus: all these names (and many more) represented one jolly old man with a bag of presents draped over his shoulder. And a certain Lt. Matthew Albrecht had taken on the appearance of the fabled character at the Galaxy’s Christmas party.

Seeing the Galaxy’s incarnation of Santa dance the night away was a strange, yet welcomed sight for the crew. They been through so much lately and deserved this break, and A.C. Hewson wasn’t one to let a party go to waste.

“And a merry Christmas to you too, Doc.” AC said as he kissed a rather surprised Kahn Nilani on the lips. It wasn’t a kiss of passion, but a sign of relief. It was all Alan could do to keep himself from jumping ontop of the tables and dancing for joy. The Galaxy itself was in perfect working order. It has been almost a half-year since the ship had docked at Starbase 74, and hadn’t returned since. “And thanks for the hat, too!” AC said, adjusting the hat as he walked into the heart of the party.

***

“VOICES SINGING LET’S BE JOLLY, DECK THE HALLS WITH BOUGHS OF HOLLY!” Alan sang at the top of his lungs. When Teb had jumped into the holiday classic with a riff that would have made any guitarist smile, AC knew the crowd was in for something special. The pure energy generated by the music melted away any ill thought imaginable. Even the Jem’Hadar would have a hard time resisting the beat.

“RRRRRRROCKING ARRRROND THE CHRRRRISTMAS TRREEEE!” A rather energetic Cat shouted (it could not be considered singing) as she came up behind Alan. As hard as he tried, AC could not repress the twinge in his spine as the Caitan/Human’s voice pierced through the air.

“How arrre you doing, my friend?” Cat asked as AC turned to look at her.

“I’ve never felt better in my life!” AC shouted over the sound of the crowd’s voice. ‘She must really be excited.’ Alan thought, noticing the purring sound in Cat’s voice. It had been sometime since he had actually noticed her accent.

“I’m glad to hearrrrr that. This is about the best parrrty I’vvvve everrrr been too.” Cat smiled widely as she looked over the throng of officers. “It seems I’vvve lost trrrack of…Urrrrsa! Overrrrr here!” Cat called out into the crowd, waving wildly.

Alan surveyed the crowd, trying to spot who Cat was calling to. No one really seemed to be making their way towards the two officers, until AC’s eyes fell upon a certain dominating figure that began to move through the crowd (or was the crowd moving for him?).

“Alan, I want you to meet Urrrsa Sunder.” Cat said as Ursa approached them.

“Glad to meet you,” AC managed, still surprised at the size of the man. Ursa towered over the engineer, standing at least six inches taller than AC.

“The same,” Ursa replied, shaking Alan’s outstretched hand.

“Chief of seCUR…” AC’s voice jumped as he felt Ursa shake his hand. The sheer power and size of Ursa’s hands were inhuman.

“Security,” Ursa finished AC’s sentence. “And if I’m not mistaken, you are the Assistant Chief Engineer.”

“Yeah, I’ve been on the Galaxy for about…”

“EVVERRRYONE DANCING MERRRRILY….” Cat’s voice screeched through the conversation. Alan and Ursa looked at each other, both obviously in pain. Ursa allowed himself a slight smile.

“Well, I think I could use a drink about now.” AC said. “It was nice to meet you.”

***

After complaining that the eggnog wasn’t powerful enough (though the majority of the crew would disagree), Betta had convinced Deiran to whip up an extra strong batch of nog. To her delight she had found AC complaining as well, and brought him over to sample the new brew.

“Not half-bad,” AC said as he finished his first cup. “Not bad at all.”

“I prefer a beer myself, but it’s not very Christmas like.”

“Hmmm, never cared much for beer myself. More of a wine man I’d have to say.”

From there, a conversation/debate had begun between the two. Of course the discussion climaxed with one inevitable question: Who could hold the most alcohol?

The two agreed on a contest: Both of them would have to stay standing on one leg while drinking cup after cup of eggnog until one of them fell. While the eggnog wasn’t as strong as the drinks they were used too, they decided it was the best thing to use in this situation. Neither of them wanted to become too drunk and miss the party.

“CHUG, CHUG, CHUG!” The officers that had formed a circle around the pair of engineers shouted as they downed another glass of nog.

***

“Betta,” AC said as he was handed another cup of eggnog. “I have to tell you, I don’t know how much more of this nog I can take.”

“I know what you mean. It’s really starting to taste like shit!” It wasn’t the alcohol that was effecting the two, but the mere taste of eggnog was beginning to drive them insane.

“How about…” AC stopped as he finished the glass, “we call this a draw before we both get sick.”

“Agreed,” Betta said, hopping over on one foot towards Alan. She placed an arm around his shoulder, and together they hopped towards the nearest table and sat down. “A draw it is!”

"Christmas? (Part 2)
By Dr. Felicia Khatroweena, Lieutenant,
(Assistant Chief Medical Officer), USS Galaxy NCC-70637
with Lt(jg) Ryak Sullax (S.O.), USS Galaxy

***** Christmas Party *****

Cat was dancing with all her friends at the party. Her heart was full of joy, overflowing with happiness and her system was a little over full with alcohol. Nothing could screw this day up for her; nothing could screw up this week for her. Ursa had accepted her and they had spent the last few of days exploring the new relationship, when they could. The only real downer, which Cat agreed with, but she didn't have to like it, was it would be best to keep the relationship quiet for a time. Gossip fuelled the Galaxy as much as anti-matter and only a little over a thousand people on the ship, it moved as fast as wildfire. She wanted nothing to go wrong. Heck, there was a thrill in itself in keeping it quiet. She smiled to herself as she remembered how only the day before, she dressed for her man. As she headed for his quarters, she felt an illicit thrill, wondering what most of the other crew would think if they knew what 'Dr Cat' was wearing underneath the 'old uniform.' Ursa was very appreciative of Cat's 'sexy' outfit, and a big smile appeared on Cat's face as the memories came flooding back.Finally getting the courage up to be with Ursa was the best Christmas present she had ever gotten. Then he decides to totally blow her away with singing like that and such a beautiful song. If it wasn't for the fact that Ursa thought it be best to keep it quiet for a little while, she would have kissed him there and then. 'Would have been an interesting method in making comparisons of lung capacity,' Cat quipped toherself.

She looked around for her man, wanting to dance with him, sore feet and all; but the façade had to be kept up. She turned and found him talking to 'Santa.' 'Probably talking shop, knowing Ursa' Cat thought. She watched him and they locked eyes for a few seconds, long enough for Matthew to turn to see what Ursa was looking at. Cat waved at both of them, Matthew gave a small wave back, as Ursa watched. Only because she was watching him, did Cat see the 'shade' of discomfort go across his face. Matthew turned back to resume their conversation. Cat blew Ursa a kiss, she could see it in his eyes, he wanted to do something in return but couldn't think of one and keep it very subtle, especially in front of his 2inC for Security.

Cat moved on towards the buffet table, to grab something to nibble on, her thoughts were full of Ursa. She was totally surprised when Sullar, Ryak's son had run into her.

"Hey, hey! Slow down! No need for such speed." She picked up Sullar, listening to the excited young Romulan, but having to wait for the translator.

"Hello, Doker Khatroweena. We come back from Earth and I saw all new things." Sullar was speaking so fast it was as if he may hyperventalate.

Cat didn't need the translator how excited the boy was about the trip. "So what did you see?"

Sullar began to tell her about how he saw his adoptive grandparents. He also went on about there adventures on skiing and camping and all of the little animals he got to see. Sullar went on for a few minutes about Montreal.

"Sounds like you saw a lot of really good things." Cat said to the young Romulan.

"Oh yes! What that?" Sullar pointed to the party hat.

"This? This is a very special hat given to me by Dr Khan. Do you like it?"

"Yes, it got lots of colours."

Cat could see that Sullar wanted to have it, but was unsure whether he should ask or not. "Would you like to have it?"

"Yes." Sullar already started to take it off Cat's head.

"Hold on, just a sec." Cat removed the hat after she put him on the floor and placed it on Sullar's head. "There now you look like one of Santa's elves, they look like you with their greenish skin and pointed ears."

"Who is Santa?" Sullar asked.

"Santa goes out and gives presents to good girls and boys at Christmas Time which is day after tomorrow. He has very important helpers who look like you do, with that hat."

"How do they get presents?" Sullar looked interested.

'Children know no borders, know no race distinctions, they are the same everywhere. How come we lose that 'magic?'' Cat saw the same look in all children when they think of the chance of getting presents. "You have a tree or a really big sock and Santa Claus uses his magic to put the presents under the Christmas Tree or in the Stocking."

"Oh!" Cat saw Sullar eyes go wide.

"I see you been found by my son." Cat turned to see Ryak.

"Yes, straight into me like a photon. Sullar was telling me a little about your trip to Earth."

"Yes and Dr Khatroweena was telling me about Sana Caws and how he has Romulan's who do really important job of giving out presents and puts them in socks for girls and boys."

"Really?" Asked a slightly annoyed Ryak. He looked at Cat with a look that could freeze water.

"Yes. Father could we have a tree, so I could get some presents. Maybe I could talk to the other Romulan's who help Sana Caws." Sullar asked excitedly. Ryak frowned his displeasure was obvious.

"Ryak, he is a young boy. There is no harm in believing in Santa Claus, for a few years."

"For a human, maybe. Sullar is a Romulan, he shall be brought up as a Romulan with Romulan ways. There is no need for him to beleave in Romulan elves." Determination was obvious in his voice. "Besides, I have no choice in the matter. It is what his mother desired!"

Cat could not think of any to add in response. She just looked down back at Sullar; he had put his hands up to be picked up. Cat picked up Sullar and held him. "Ryak, you were brought up on Earth. You must have had a few Christmases yourself. We are children for far too short a time, let him have his childhood." Cat saw Ryak about to say something else. "Yeah, I know, he'll have a Romulan childhood." Cat just looked down at the slightly snow dusted floor. She looked up and around to see a light snowfall. Sullar was catching them in his hand and watching them melt.

"Cat I am not being harsh. No matter what you are thinking? I love Sullar, he is my son. Nothing in the Galaxy would stop me from doing what is the best for my son."

Cat sighed. She looked at Ryak and nodded. "I know you do. I didn't even mean to imply that you don't. I just..."

Ryak's face softened, he looked at Cat and at Sullar. Sullar hadn't quite understood everything that had been said, but he did understand that he might not get his present in a sock from Santa Claus. Ryak was feeling the unspoken disapproval from Cat and he could see the beginning of disappointment from Sullar.

From this two pronged attack, he capitulated. "When we get back to our quarters, I will replicate a tree. So Santa can put 'a'," Ryak emphasised the 'a', "present for you." He told his son. Sullar gave a big smile. Ryak looked at Cat with a raised eyebrow. Ryak took a deep breath and thought that this all could have been avoided if Lt/Cmd Greer hadn't mentioned the party.

Cat smiled at him. Turning back to Sullar, "When you get back to your quarters, you'll have to send a message to Santa on what you want?" Looking back at Ryak, "You won't regret it! Come on, you want some eggnog, Ryak? What about you Sullar?" Cat headed on her interrupted journey. She passed Ryak, an alcoholic eggnog and Sullar, non-alcoholic eggnog.

Ryak took a sip of the eggnog and cringed. It was not something that he liked. He felt as if it was wrong to give anybody this foul liquid.

Suddenly the walls of the Hall changed, long thin panels of yellow appeared and glowed. A yellow alert had been called. The double doors to the corridor opened as people streamed out to their assigned positions. Cat passed Sullar across to Ryak. "Looks like this party got called a bit short. We better head off." Cat turned to Sullar, "You be a good boy for your father." Cat rushed out with the crowd.

Ryak looked at Sullar and took him home.

"Order in the Midst of Chaos"
Lt.JG T'Zaq

The conversation dropped to dead silence for a few seconds as the holiday scene flickered around them. It was a most disturbing sensation, to have one's reality suddenly cease to exist before your very eyes. For a few minutes, everything was chaos as parts of the party disappeared due to the across-the-board energy redistribution.

After a bit, the yellow alert ended and the festivities quickly resumed. These things were expected to happen aboard a starship, and it was useless to worry oneself about it once it was over. Life went on, as it always had.

Presently, Lieutenant.JG "Repair Man" Mendenhall resumed his position by the fire and turned to T'Zaq. "So, how have you liked the party?"

With practiced accuracy, T'Zaq swiped two mugs off a rapidly passing tray and handed one to him.

"Well, parties seem to be an entity of a peculiar type. I have been observing phenomena of this type for many years, and the exact social physics required to keep a celebration like this continuing never fails to fascinate me."

Anthony took a thoughtful sip of his eggnog and pondered this for a moment. "How do you figure that?"

"The mix of different personality types, all interacting with each other, create enough energy to keep the party running smoothly. Every party requires a specific balance of overbearing, shy, reluctant, and 'party animal' people. In the absence of a critical number of these diverse personalities, the party will expire."

Pausing for a moment to catch her breath, T'Zaq took a sip from her mug. She made a face of utter horror at the taste and emptied her eggnog into the fire. The flames surged upward with a mighty *WHOOSH* . T'Zaq and Anthony just stared at each other for a few seconds.

"For a moment there, I thought I was drinking Toluene. Perhaps I was not far off." T'Zaq said dryly, with a slight quirk of her left eyebrow.

"Anyway," she continued, "These personalities exist in delicate balance at any given party. Although they might not be forced into direct contact in other situations, the friction from these different personalities colliding is what creates the energy to fuel the party atmosphere. Until an outside force acts upon the said party, it can exist as a self-sustaining organism almost perpetually, provided there are enough refreshments. This has been said to be proven by the case of the party on Romitos IV, which, according to some, is still taking place after 15 standard years."

Anthony smirked. "Sounds like you've had a bit much eggnog already."

T'Zaq raised her head a bit in mock haughtiness and crossed her arms. Satisfied that she had boiled the Christmas party down to an exact science, she leaned back against the mantelpiece to further observe the interesting scene unfolding before them.

=/\=
Lt.JG T'Zaq, Engineer USS Galaxy

"Fashionable Late"
Lt. Commander Mercury

Most of the senior crew of engineering was given the day off, leaving the responsible of running the Galaxy up to the junior eningeers. But being Chief, David felt the need to take a stroll through Main Engineering just to make sure that everything was running smoothely. The turbolift doors openned and David walked out. David could hear the constant hum of the warp core, to him it was comforting almost relaxing. Most of the staff was gone, just a few remaining engineers. David immediately saw Petty Officer Williams, David assigned him to work tonight because of displinary reasons. Two week ago Williams, fell asleep on duty causing five hours of overtime for Alpha staff because of a blown conduit. He then saw Ensign Palmer. She requested to work tonight so that she can take of three days next week to spend with her husband. Being the senior officer on duty tonight David walked over to her.

"Good evening, sir." she said while jumping to attention.

"Easy Ensign just stopping by to make sure things are going smoothely. So is everything going smoothely?"

"Yes sir, things are quiet enough that I have a couple officers working on performance issues."

"Splendid Ensign, please be sure to make a full report on them." David chuckled to himself, she is a slave driver, performance improvements on Christmans. I like her.

"Sir why are you not at the party?"

"I just thought I would stop down here before I go, you know just to check on things."

"Fashionable late huh!" she replied.

"Something like that, anyway keep me posted if anything developes." David turned around and walked out of Engineering feeling relaxed that things were in good hands. Getting back in the turbolift, David stopped back at his quarters to change into something more casual.

*************************Holo-Deck 1***************************

" 'Commander nice of you to join us. Didn't think you'd show." Lieutenant jg. Knight said.

"You think I would miss a party, if I remember correctly back when we were in the academy you usually had to carry me home."

"Thats because you could never handle you alcohol."

"Oh now you think you are funny!" David quickly got his friend in a lock. "Who was the one that puke all over the girl in our psychology lecture, it sure wasn't me."

"You win, let me go your wringling my shirt." David released the 'Lieutenant.

"Boys will be boys!" a remark came from the crowd. David and Charles turned around to see who it was. Her eyes were already locked in on David's. "Is it always this rough at parties?" she continued.

"Nope only at Christmans parties!" Knight trying to be funny.

"I was being to think that you weren't going to show." Adrianna said as she stopped in front of them. The 'Lieutenant realizing that he was a third wheel excused himself.

"Didn't know that I was being missed," David smiled, his eyes hadn't moved. "Care to dance?"

"So the Chief of Engineering knows how to dance, I thought you just used your boots for kicking." Moving closer, David lead Adrianna onto the dance floor. Following the beat of the music the two engineers moved gracefully across the floor. "I take that back, the Chief of Engineering doesn't have two left feet." Adrianna smiled. Suddenly an alarm echoed throughout the holo-deck. It was the status alarm, the ship was now at Yellow Alert. The two engineers stopped in there tracks and looked at each other. The room quickly grew silent. All of the heads of departments started to walked towards the door including David. But as quickly as the alarm sounded it was turned off. The ship stood down from Yellow Alert. Everyone seemed baffled and confused. But the party continued and things started to get back to normal. Just as the music started again what looked like snow began to fall from the ceiling. Assuming that it was part of the holo-deck programming for the Chirstmas party the crew didn't think twice about it.

Dan Josephs

"Apologies and Such"
by Tebrianne

***

Tebrianne Bancroft watched Benedict's retreating form as he maneuvered his way to the bar. She smiled as she watched him slip between the same engineers she had to maneuver around. She looked down into her nearly empty mug of eggnog and wondered where things were headed between them. Wherever they were going, it sure felt like it was the right road.

She was startled out of her thoughts by a voice.

“Hi Tebrianne,” it said.

It was Deiran. A momentary panic washed over Teb as she steadied herself, making sure her hands didn't start shaking. She took a moment to find her voice.

"Hello Deiran," she said. She glanced up long enough for him to see that she acknowledged his presence and then returned to studying her eggnog.

“Teb," Deiran said. "I wanted to thank you for playing bass for me. I appreciate it. I really do. You’re a good friend."

Teb glanced around to see where Benedict was. He was still at the bar. She wished he would hurry. She was almost out of eggnog, and didn't really want to face Deiran right now. She was on the razor's edge and about to fall over again. She didn't want to make a scene in the middle of the party.

"You played awesome as usual. I wanted to say thank you and wish you a Merry Christmas."

She wanted to say "Of course, I played awesome. I used to do it professionally." but decided against it. It would just be a snapped, sarcastic comment anyway. It would be better to keep her mouth shut.

"I didn't realize until after I got off the stage how that might have effected you. It was stupid of me. I didn't think, I just had my mind on other things. I was thinking about our friendship now and spaced it on how you'd feel once you figured out why I sang that. Talk about your idiotic faux pas. I'm sorry. Can you forgive me? Please?”

Teb just wanted to crawl away. Don't do this to me, Deiran, she pleaded in her mind. She could feel herself slipping. She could feel her emotional barriers breaking down. She silently pleaded for some greater force to whisk Deiran away so she wouldn't have to answer him. Not now.

“Can I make it up to you somehow, Tebrianne? I am sorry,” he said again.

She wasn't going to get out of this. Not this time. She had to get rid of him. She'd just tell him everything was fine and that he was seeing things that weren't there.

"I don't know what you're talking about, Deiran," Teb said, feigning ignorance. She focused on the cup of eggnog in her hand. She didn't want to look him in the eyes. She didn't want him to see the torment inside. "Having a nice time at the party? Great eggnog by the way. It's a real hit." Teb gulped down the last of her eggnog. She examined the bottom of the empty glass and wondered where Benedict was with her refill. "Anyway, there's nothing to make up...so, no need to apologize. Everything's fine, Deiran."

She was trying to keep her eyes away from his, but Deiran was insistent on looking into them. She looked to the left and right, and he was there trying to peer into her eyes. Into the heart of her soul. She looked down, and his eyes met hers. She tried not to flinch, but quickly focused on the toes of her boots.

“I'm having a great time, Teb," he said. "And thanks, I'm glad everyone is enjoying the eggnog. You have fun, ok? I have to go make more of that eggnog.”

Teb flinched as Deiran retreated. He was upset at her. He was upset at HER? He just humiliated her in front of the entire crew, and he was upset with her? Teb looked at the empty mug in her hand and the retreating back of Deiran Casey and contemplated how long they'd stick her in the brig if she hurled it.

She wanted to scream. She wanted to yell and shout and make lots of noise. She was upset now. She couldn't believe what just happened. Deiran just tried to apologize to her for being a daft bastard and then got upset. She told him everything was fine and he didn't need to. What was he expecting? He shouldn't have had any problem realizing that her answer wasn't sincere, but she'd think he'd at least pick up on the hint that she wasn't ready to talk about it yet.

Benedict emerged through the crowd carrying a beer for himself and another glass of eggnog for her.

"Hey there," he said, handing her the drink. "Miss me?"

She tilted her head back and downed the drink in a gulp. She stuck the glass back in his hand and glared at Casey. "Bloody right, I did," she said as her head felt like it was suddenly filled with cotton and the room started to spin.

Perhaps she shouldn't have drank that so fast.

Lt. Tebrianne, USS Galaxy, Chief Helmsman
tebrianne@elsinore.net
UIN# 2172851

"Looking For Dance Partners"
By Ensign Adrianna and Ensign Suder
Engineering Specialist and Engineer

The party on Holodeck 1 was still in full swing, with all kinds of music coming down from the raised stage and lots of dancing. Everywhere, people were laughing and singing Christmas carols and drinking eggnog like they would never see that magical drink again.

As Adrianna moved through the ever growing crowd, she saw Ensign Suder sitting alone amid a row of chairs near the back of the giant ballroom. "Well", Thinking to herself.."That just won't do"...

"There You are, I've been looking everywhere for You" Adrianna moved around to stand next to Ensign Suder's chair. "Such a grim look on that handsome face of yours. Well, since your sitting and I'm standing, I guess I'm going to be the one to ask If you would like to dance"? Adrianna's smile beamed down at him..

Suder finished the drink he was holding and placed it on a table. He stood up and straightened his uniform. "I um, don't really think....That's a good ide-"

"Oh come on, don't be so formal." she ordered in a friendly way, placing her hands on her hips.

Suder hesitated, and stood up with an empty expression on his face and even in his eyes. He looked empty, lost. He took a step forward trying to get a fix on where he was going. He didn't what it was he was drinking but he was sure it wasn't alcoholic. Maybe it was just him. He saw where everyone else was dancing and strolled over to an empty spot on the floor. He held out his hand towards Adrianna and forced a smile. Even though he was not in the mood for dancing, he didn't want to ruin her night.

For an instant, Adrianna watched Suder move to the dance floor in an almost daze. She knew in that instant that he was doing this for her, and somewhere deep within her she felt a great warmth. Moving to him and standing very close, she took his hands and let her copper-red eyes meet his.

As the next song began, so did Suder, leading her into a romantic slow dance that drew them even deeper into each others arms. Instantly she was comfortable, and moving with him.

"Your quite a dancer Mister"..Smiling she followed his lead across the dance floor. In that moment of comfort, she let her head rest on his shoulder. "I could get very used to this"...

As they danced, something caught Suder's eye, and he shifted there movements. Moving quickly across the dance floor he sent her into a romantic spin that made her smile and almost scream with joy and surprise.

"What was that!" She beamed at him with twinkle in her fiery red eyes.

"That,..oh..that was nothing." His look was more reserved than perhaps it should have been. In that instant she knew there was another reason for the sudden change of position on the dance floor, but she wasn't going to push it. Smiling she said "Well, whatever it is, keep it up!"

They danced several dances, and to Adrianna it seemed as if time had come to a standstill. How is it that this could all be happening to her so fast. Finally, she lead him over to a quite table and grabbed some drinks. Sitting across from him, she could tell that he was somehow both hear and somewhere else.

"What is it, you seem focused on something distant?"

"There are a lot of things." he said staring into his drink as if there was something in it moving. "Only bad things, always bad things.."

"Sounds serious." Adrianna said trying to get it out of him. What was wrong? What was so terrible that he was so distraught.

"A few years ago, my brother joined the Maquis, and two years ago he went missing in the plasma storms. A Starfleet vessel went looking for the ship he was on, but then that ship disappeared too." Suder replied.

"Voyager." Adrianna concluded.

Suder nodded slightly and took a deep breath. "Before that, my parents went missing. They took a transport one day and then I received a message saying that they had strayed off their flight plan and had just disappeared." He continued. "A few days ago I took a trip to the USS Lakota. I used to be part of the crew and somebody told me they had information on what happened." he said. He stopped and looked around. For some reason, tonite, he couldn't hear anyones thoughts. Maybe he was too tied up in his own. "The fall of Betazed." he forced out.

Adrianna could see the hurt, the pain in his eyes. His hands were clenched fists on the table. He took several deep breaths trying to calm himself down. If he didn't, maybe this room would turn out like his quarters. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to push..." she added.

"It was going to come up sooner or later." he said calmly. He sipped his drink and continued to look at other people and his drink. If he looked at Adrianna, she would see the pain he held within him. But he couldn't let that happen. He put his hand in his pocket and pulled out a data chip. "It's hard to believe that such bad news can come in something so small." He said quietly.

"That's the chip?" Adrianna asked softly.

"Yeah, I was going to show it to you tonight, but I didn't want to spoil the mood and the atmosphere that everyone is in." He said looking around again.

"We can go look at it, I promise, it won't effect me." She said smiling. Suder forced himself to look at her. His black eyes narrowed slightly and he nodded. He finished his drink and pulled down on his jacket before replacing the data chip back in his pocket. As he looked at her, his Betazoid abilities kicked in and he felt the warm emotions inside her. But those emotions were quickly overrun by the depression and pain of his own feelings.

Without another word, they left the party behind as they went to look at the data chip.

"Here and there"
by Captain Robert Edward Lee Price

After the episode on the bridge with Q in a jovial mood, Captain Price, Commander Sterner and Lieutenant McKenzie made their way back to the party in holodeck one.

Lee was anticipating the onslaught of questions that was likely to come from calling a yellow alert, then later rescinding the order. At least he'd have an interesting story to tell.

Entering the holodeck, Doctor Kahn was still greeting crew members and insisting that they each dawn a holiday hat. Lee smiled still wearing his red and white rimmed Santa's cap.

"Captain, Commander, Lieutenant. Welcome back to the party." Nilani smiled. "Nothing too serious I trust Captain?"

Lee shook his head. "Nothing too serious Doctor. Just Q playing his usual tricks." Price explained.

"Remember you still owe me a dance Captain." Nilani smiled, then glancing at Joerg added, "You too Commander."

With wry smiles the Captain and Commander past the Doctor to rejoin the party.

"I think I'll get some more eggnog sir, if you will excuse me?" Mac asked out of courtesy.

Lee nodded. "Suit yourself 'mate. I think I'll check out the buffet table. Lieutenant Gakor's cooking smells delicious and I'm famished."

"Very good sir." Hunter nodded before trotting off through the crowd.

*****

Quietly a stolid Romulan Starfleet officer and his young son walked through the halls of the USS Galaxy on their way back to their quarters. Ryak seemed to have a serious, contemplative look on his face, while his son seemed confused as to why his mentioning of "Sana Caws" and asking for a tree would anger his father so. All the others on the Galaxy seemed to be having such a wonderful time... the young boy didn't understand what he'd done wrong. Finally, in all of his innocence, the boy glanced up at his father who's hand he held and asked, "Why don't you like Sana Caws father?"

The question took Ryak by surprise, stopping his stride. "It's not that I do not like Santa Claus Sullar. It is just that you and I are Romulan and this holiday is one for the humans on board the ship."

His father's explanation seemed to satisfy Sullar for all of three seconds before his next question, or statement came out. "Doctor Kaweena isn't a human and she likes Sana Caws... There were a lot of others at the party too that were not human."

His son's sharpness actually seemed to annoy Ryak momentarily as he raised a sharp eyebrow. "Yes. Well you didn't see any other Romulans at the party did you Sullar?"

Slowly lowering his head the boy had to agree with his father. "No father." Sullar said in a sad tone, but then added, "But why can't we have a Sana Caws like the others?"

Kneeling down onto a knee to face his son, Ryak patience seemed to shorten. "Because Santa Claws is not real Sullar. He doesn't exist." Sullax explained frankly. "He is a fictitious character humans created to amuse their children, only later to disappoint them when they discover he is not real."

Sullar's eyes widened slightly. "Sana Caws isn't real?"

Ryak shook his head slowly. "No son. He is not."

"No Womulan elves that give out presents?" Sullar asked.

"No elves that give out presents. It is all make believe." Ryak explained.

Lowering his head like the most wonderful thing in the world had just been taken away from him, Sullar kicked a lazy foot to the floor. "Okay. No Sana Caws."

Nodding like he got his point through to the child, Ryak stood upright and adjusted his pristine uniform. "That's my boy. Come we will return to our quarters and I will make you some hot chocolate and read to you."

Sullar's head was still lowered as he and his father began walking down the corridor once again. "Okay father...." droned the disappointed youth.

High above the corridor, the omni-potent Q lurked and observed the entire exchange. "Oh the poor child." Q mused, "Robbed of so precious a gift at such an early age. And what would be the harm in Romulan elves?" Q smiled before disappearing.

Ryak and Sullar continued walking towards their quarters on the large starship. While rounding the circular corridor of the ship's main hull, the pitter-patter of small footsteps caught the young boy's attention. Glancing over his shoulder, Sullar could see three tiny men dressed in green with colorful red and white striped socks and pointy hats tip-toeing through the hall. One of them saw Sullar look at them and pulled a long finger up to his lips in a hushing motion to signal the boy to remain quiet. He had a long pointy beard and large floppy ears that poked out through his cap. He looked quite funny, causing Sullar to giggle at the sight.

Ryak, hearing his sons amusement, stopped to look behind them in the direction Sullar was looking, but didn't see anything at all. "What are you laughing at Sullar?" Ryak wanted to know.

In a pleading like gesture the tiny elves waved their hands wildly, begging the boy not to reveal them. One even fell to his knees and cupped his hands together in a praying motion that made the boy smile even wider. "What? Oh nothing father. I just thought I heard something is all."

Convinced by his sons explanation, Ryak motioned to continue. "Come, your hot chocolate awaits in our quarters."

The two Romulans continues to return to their cabin, followed by the mischievous little elves Q had conjured up for Sullar's amusement.

*****

"Hey there," Benedict said, handing her the eggnog. "Miss me?"

"Bloody right, I did," Tebrianne snapped at Benedict before a sudden dizzy spell overtook her.

"Whoo, are you all right?" Benedict asked grabbing for Teb's arm to steady her.

"I'm fine." She said pulling her arm back out of Benedict's grasp. "I just need to use the rest room is all." Tebrianne quickly recovered feeling the sudden need to get out of the holodeck and away from the holiday cheer.

"Are you sure? I can go with you if you want. Help clear the way...." Benedict offered in a concerned tone.

Teb stood up and tugged on her jacket, recomposing her pride. "Like bloody hell you can. I can take care of myself. At least well enough to go to the rest room. Just watch my drink and make sure no one takes my seat if you want to do something."

Benedict nodded. "Okay, I'll be right here waiting. Don't be too long." He smiled.

Teb just stared at him blankly and pressed on through the crowd. Her insides felt like they'd been through a blender. One moment she was happy, like when she was on stage, and the next she felt like the whole world was out to get her. Especially one Deiran Casey. "Damn him. Damn me!" she thought.

Amazingly, the ladies room was empty when she entered. A minor miracle actually. Usually the room was filled with gossiping women that always seemed to hush their tones when the half Romulan, half Vulcan beauty came walking in. Teb walked over to the sink and activated it, sending a cool stream of water into the bowl. Scooping it up with both hands, she splashed her face several time before glancing up and staring at her image in the mirror directly ahead. It was a contemplative stare. A deep, soul searching gaze that burned through the facades and social shields people erect to cut directly to the heart of the matter.

"Feeling sorry for yourself?" came a smug voice from the rear of the ladies room.

Teb spun around on her heal, being startled at having anyone else in the room with her, let alone a man dressed in a Starfleet uniform. "Who the hell are you? and how did you get into here?"

Q was leaning against the closed doors of the near by water closet. His arms crossed and one leg casually crossed at the ankle of this supporting leg. "Now, now Miss Bancroft, no need to go into the meager details of the where or the how. It should be enough to see that I am here, and with quite an interesting proposition."

"I'm not interested in being propositioned whoever you are. I just want to be left alone!" Teb grabbed a towel and patted her face dry before throwing the white cloth back down onto the sink and preparing to storm out of the ladies room.

Q grabbed her arm and spun Teb around. "That isn't true at all." Q said evenly glancing into Lieutenant Bancroft's eyes, "Being alone is the last thing you want. What you truly want is to have Deiran Casey as your own personal love slave. Admit it. That is what you were just thinking a moment ago. It is what you were thinking on the stage a while back when he was singing to his lovely wife, Miran, on stage...." Slowly Q began to walk around Teb in a circle. "You wished he were singing that song to you. That he loved you as much as he loves his wife Miran. It's okay. I understand. And what's more, I want to help make your dream a reality.... If you will just let me." Q smiled semi seductively.

Joining the Party- part 2
Chief Counselor Dallas

Karyn was having a great time on the dance floor. Everyone's laughter and good cheer was contagious and she soon found herself "dancing" to the music. It wasn't traditional per se, but she moved her chair to the music and snapped her fingers. She wasn't going to let her disability keep her from doing anything if she could help it. No obstacles were impossible, some just called for a little creativity.

After several dances with Lex, she needed a break. She walked over to the bar and decided to talk with Jack. She hadn't spoken to him since their lunch several weeks ago and she wanted to see how he and his daughter had adjusted to their new surroundings. Unfortunately, he was busy with a customer. As she drew closer, she recognized the customer as Ensign Marc, the new tactical officer.

Karyn smiled. She could tell by the way he watched everyone that he was uncomfortable with his new surroundings. Karyn sympathized with the young officer. She remembered what it was like when she arrived only a few months earlier. She had to admit, she was still trying to break into this tight circle of friends.

"Merry Christmas" said Mike

"Hello, ensign, Merry Christmas" replied Karyn

"Oh, Sorry I forgot to introduce myself to you. My name is Mike Marc, I'm the new Tactical Officer."

"Hello Mike. I'm Karyn Dallas, the Chief Counselor."

"I'm very glad to meet you. Do you want to drink Champagne with me?" asked Mike.

"Yes, thank you. That's very sweet of you." Karyn gingerly sipped at the drink. She rarely drank, only on special occasions. Though some were well beyond tipsy, Karyn wanted to be in total control of her actions. She had only been drunk once in her life. It was an experience she never wanted to live through again. She had been challenged by a group of older cadets to drink large amounts of real alcohol. They claimed she was a goody goody who didn't have the guts to be a real Starfleet officer. Not wanting to be made a fool, she stepped up to the challenge. It wasn't long before she was completely plastered. Stumbling back to her dorm room, she plowed into several walls and people. The next morning she learned the hard way that that old cliche "Don't drink and drive" didn't apply to just automobiles.

After she finished her drink, Mike asked her to dance. Karyn happily accepted and soon the shy young man twirled her around the floor. Mike was very sweet and she assured him with time, he'd have lots of friends. After a few dances, Karyn excused herself. It seemed a large group of counselors had gathered in a tight huddle. As she neared closer, she heard one of them say,

"Did you hear the rumour that's going around?"

Another one spoke, "about who this time?" The huddle grew tighter. The first spoke again, "I hear that Chris Thomas' dead wife has been 'visiting' him, or at least that's what he thinks." There were a few giggles within the group.

"You mean Gwyen?" This from Dev, who appeared to have just overheard the conversation.

"Yes, isn't that a scream!" They giggled, all except Dev. Karyn cleared her throat and the young counselors lifted their heads as if they were marionets and someone had just pulled the strings. All gossip stopped immediately. Karyn watched as each fidgeted, clearly wanting to be some where else. Karyn managed to get her point across without uttering a single word. Everything thing was conveyed through a single glare. These young women were psychology interns from the academy who had come aboard to observe what it was like working as a counselor aboard a starship. She welcomed the chance to help out. It was important to Karyn that other students receive the kind of guidance she did while she served on the Enterprise-D. She had to keep reminding herself how young the girls were. It was somewhat natural for them everyone to be gossipy in such a festive atmosphere. Still, they would have to learn as counselors and Starfleet officers it was inappropriate to chatter and laugh about others problems. She felt strange playing the bad guy, but in the end she knew it was something they needed to learn.

Dev and Karyn shared a knowing glance. Dev gave a slight nod. Karyn knew she and Chris had been friends since her previous time on the Galaxy. Dev would be sure to speak to him, gently of course, to see if there was any truth to the matter and to see if she could help in any way. The conversation turned to other things and Karyn decided to leave the party. She wasn't ready to go to bed but she needed a change of scenery. She decided to invite Dev to the arboretum for some quiet conversation. It had been a long time since she'd talked to the counselor and she wanted some company.

"Actually, said Dev, "I was going to go back to my quarters for a little while and then I thought I would visit the people on the bridge."

"Would you mind if I joined you?, I really need to get out of here for a while and get some peace and quiet."

"Not at all Chief. I'll meet you there in a little while, ok?"

"All right and please call me Karyn, we're both off duty."

"Fine Karyn. See you in a few."

Karyn said her goodbyes to the crew, wishing everyone a Merry Christmas. She was half way out the door when the Yellow Alert sounded. She increased her speed as she headed for the bridge. Then the alarm stopped as abruptly as it had started.

Karyn shook her head as she muttered, "Never a dull moment."

"The Famous Egg Nog Goes to Her Head"
by Lt. JG Be'Tran M'Benga

Be'Tran was laughing and giggling with Counselor Walker and Numa near the "rear" of the Holodeck. "I like the snow!" she said in her loud, happy voice.

Dallas walker giggled, her lovely eyes flashing. "Me too."

It wasn't long before Lexana Ral joined them. She was happy, obviously, and had just finished her tenure on the stage. "Hey!!" said Betta loudly. "Good tunes."

"Think so?" asked Ral, swaying to the music that was playing now.

"You bet!" replied M'Benga. "I've never heard you sing before?"

"Me neither." giggled Lex, taking a sip of the Egg Nog in her cup. Walker's pretty features took on a sour expression.

"Hey!" said Lex. "My replacement. Whatsa matter."

"Egg Nog." said Dallas. "Can't stand it. And what do you mean replacement."

Ral sat down across from Dallas and winked. "You're the newest counselor on board... I'm in security now.. you defacto-replaced me."

"Ohhh." giggled Dallas, "I'm sorry."

"'sok." said Lex. "It's cool. I like my new job."

"Hey..." Be'Tran interrupted. "Is that stuff good?"

"Huh?" replied Lex, "Oh... the Nog. Yeah."

"B.R.B." the Klingon said with a wink, and walked over to where the egg-nog was being served. On the way over she took note of several things and faces. K'Eytyanna shoving someone off of her under the mistletoe (she liked her, K'Eyty was her hero), Dr. Kahn, talking with her sister (Betta was happy they were together), Jack D'Auria and Benedict T'Kal chatting in a corner (the man she loved... and the friend who had hurt her).

She noticed Dieran and Miran... they had actually spoke some... Teb Bancroft... she looked lovely. And Father Christmas. Here she caught the giggles again. By now she had reached the Egg Nog. Counselor Wilson was there.

"Hello, M'Benga." she said.

"Hi. Is this the famous Egg No?" responded Betta.

"Yep." said Wilson. "Casey's Famous Egg Nog."

"The Famous Egg Nog." said Betta, and she suddenly seemed to be speaking in a cockney, or Scottish accent. "The Famous Egg Nog made by the Famous Casey on the Famous Galaxy..." she was cracked up now. Wilson didn't get the joke... but she assumed it had something to do with England... as M'Benga was talking just like a Liverpudlian Dockworker.

Be'Tran filled herself a large mug of Egg Nog, and strode slowly back to Dallas and her other companions. She cast one more glance at K'Eytyanna, and then to Benedict. She streightened herself to her full height and walked with the stride of a warrior to her friends.

"Well.." said Ral when she returned, "Whadda you think?"

"Good." said Be'Tran, "Thick."

Dallas curled her lips and gave an "Ewwww".

Be'Tran sipped the strong Egg Nog, and watched as the latest member of the crew put in their artistic two cents on the makeshift stage. "Damnit!" she uttered, surprising her companions out of laughter at a fairly randy joke Lex had just cracked.

"What is it?" asked Dallas.

"I'm gonna do it." replied Betta.

"What?" asked Numa Taurean.

"I'm gonna sing. I'm gonna dance." she said as the music of the last performance ended. "And Feklar take who ever tries to stop me!" she threw the mug down on the floor and it shattered loudly... gaining her the attention of most of the throng.

"What's with her?" Lex asked the other two.

"Egg Nog?" suggested Dallas.

"The Famous Egg Nog." said Numa, giggling.

Betta stepped into the center of the holodeck, not up on the stage, and called out "Computer... delay start Audiofile lh-jlh-82934-2-t12. B. M'Benga personal files. Delete vocals for single play." as the computer began loading Betta's complicatedly titled audiofile, the Klingon woman introduced her song.

"OK..." she said, "This song doesn't have anything to do with Christmas. But I wanna sing it anyway. I'll change it up some."

The music started with a soft blues organ... then background vocalists began scatting "oooh la-la-la, oooh-la-la-la". A mixture of guitars and keyboards joined in to create, along with a snare-dominated drum beat, a pop-rock sounding tune with a bluesy flavor. The background vocalists blended in, and the intro was over.

M'Benga was dancing in the center of the room. Suddenly she lifted her loud voice up, and began belting out a set of almost rediculously optimistic lyrics:

You make me smile
Everybody needs a little bit of Sunshine
And when I do you're always there with my surprise

It's Good to know that I'm Alive

You make me sing
Everybody's lookin for an answer with a metaphysical ring,
And you take me out there

It's Good to know that I'm Alive

Caught up in the middle of a lonely, lonely day
And did you ever get the blues and think they'd never go away
And then you buy this big fat hoo-dee-doo
Who just stopped by to say
There's a lesson to be learned and everybody's got to play

You make me smile
Everybody needs a little Summer Sun
And when I do you're always there with my surprise

It's Good to Know that I'm Alive

You make me sing
Everybody's lookin for an answer with a metaphysical ring,
And you take me out there

It's Good to Know that I'm Alive

Well, I got your crazy whistle to light this awful night
And you're walking that highwire, baby, without a net in sight
And you believed in reincarnation, but that was in another life
Well, like your pappa said, be happy,
It's a clear change of mind

You make me smile
Everybody needs a little sun sometimes,
And when I do you're always there with my surprise

It's Good to Know that I'm Alive

You make me sing
Everybody's lookin for an answer with a metaphysical ring
And you take me out there

It's Good to Know that I'm Alive

Betta continued in time to the music, the prerecorded background vocals accompanying her in sync. She repeated the primary tag-lines three more times... dancing, and following the beats with her feet. She even managed to execute a time-step on one of the song's quick snare-fill-ins.

The music faded and Be'Tran stopped singing. She managed a backflip, and landed on her rump as the music quit. She sat there giggling. Her voice wasn't really that bad, with Terran rock tunes. It was when she tried her larynx at Klingon ballads that her ability to carry a tune soon became similar to carrying water in a sieve.

The audience's reaction was mixed. But most seemed to approve. Jack D'Auria and Benedict stepped up to her and Jack lifted her tall body off of the floor of the holodeck. "I'm surprised you did that. I didn't know you could." he said smiling.

"Neither did I." said Betta, "It's The Famous Egg Nog." she giggled, slipping into the British drawl again.

Jack and Benedict looked at each other, wondering if there was a hidden joke they were missing. "Well... I liked it." said D'Auria.

"I did too." said T'Kal, smiling at her.

"Good." said M'Benga, and she kissed Jack gently on the cheek, and strode over to T'Kal. "We need to have a long talk." she said softly to him, and walked with a suggestive strut back towards her friends in the rear of the holodeck. "After the party!" she called back to him.

T'Kal stared after her. Now he was wondering. Curious. Her outward demeanor was friendly enough, and it may have just been the Egg Nog... but there was a look in her eyes colder than the falling snow.

=/\= "The Bridge of Death?" =/\=
by Lt Matthew Albrecht

Albrecht and Sunder had barely left the holodeck when the yellow alert was cancelled. They shared a look of mild exaspiration, each thinking of the inexperienced bridge crew that was running the ship during the Galaxy's Christmas parties. Other officers were returning to the festivities as quickly as they had left, but Matthew and Ursa paused.

The smaller man said, "Ursa, I'm going to stop by my quarters before I go back. See you in a few minutes," he informed his superior. He wanted to obtain some more gift candies for his sack; The plush velvet bag had been empty for a while. Besides, he wanted to grab a chunk of his mother's divinity to give Gakes.

The security chief nodded acknowledgement, and added, "You might want to hurry. Doctor Gakor looked a little perturbed by your sudden departure," he said with a humorous tone. The large man seemed to be as preoccupied as Matthew, though the lieutenant couldn't guess what was occupying his CO's attention.

On his way to his rooms, Matthew thought about all that had occured during the party's first couple of hours. Several officers had taken the stage to sing or play instruments. Friendships had been strengthened or restored. Romance was in the air. (Or was that holo-snow?) AND, lieutenant Morris didn't disappoint, having worn a wonderfully provocative and colorful outfit--she was certainly the fashion highlight of any gathering!

The passages of the Galaxy were unusually quiet, due largely to the size of the party's 'guest list.' Not only was the holodeck full, but also Ten Forward and at least one other location on board were engaged in festive celebration. He said a silent 'thank you' to whatever higher power might have arranged for the extended period of wartime lull. Without the relative peace in the neighborhood, the Galaxy could not have risked operating with an inexperienced staff while the senior officers all took a break.

As he approached the door to his quarters, Matthew had no idea that Lex had left him gifts. And he definitely wouldn't have guessed what those gifts were. He arrived, and dropped the sack from his shoulder, reaching out to activate the door. The door whisked open, revealing not his rooms as he remembered them, but a wall of fog! He stared in amazement as the fog began to clear slightly, exposing first a large man, then two sturdy wooden posts blocking his way into his home.

The man was immediately familiar, he was very tall and had a skullcap-type hat on his head. Ram's horns protruded from either side of his head. He wore a black cloak, and the stranger's beard was like a goat's, with a gray stripe down its center. His eyes gave him a look of near-insanity. Matthew remembered the man was called Tim, the Enchanter, from one of Lexana Ral's favorite two-dees, "Monty Python and the Holy Grail."

The wooden posts protruding from the fog wall were ancient-looking and worn. Rope was tied around them, and a creaking sound came forth from the fog. This also became familiar to the security officer; It resembled the end of the 'bridge of death,' also from the same movie. But where was the Old Man from Scene 23?

Matthew smiled, and looked left and right for the Old Man. Wind sounds whistled around Tim the Enchanter, who shortly cleared his throat to get Matthew's attention. "A-hem! Stop. RIGHT! there..." he insisted. Albrecht tilted his head and squinted quizzically. He had not moved yet!

"Well, Tim the Enchanter; Where's the Old Man?" he demanded. How could he be expected to cross the bridge of death if the Old Man wasn't there to ask the Questions Three?

Tim the Enchanter pursed up his lips, as a chill wind seemed to whip him with his own cloak. Tim the Enchanter gestured with his staff, and explosion sounds came from the far end of the 'bridge of death.' Matthew imagined his bed shattering to bits under a fiery explosion. Tim the Enchanter responded, "He's DEAD. Ettin' by a FeeeRocious man-eating pigeon!" he explained to Matthew, who only nodded as if this were totally logical.

The starfleet officer played along, "Alright then, what do I have to do to get across the bridge of death?" He opened his eyes wide, lifting his eyebrows, "Kill the pigeon? Find a Grail? Prove that a woman is a witch? Return with a shrubbery?" He found that possible pythonesque solutions came readily to mind. He would HAVE to get Lex to let HIM pick out the next entertainment chip.

The very tall madman gestured again with the staff, causing more explosions to erupt out-of-sight. "SILENCE!" he yelled. "You must answer my questions three, ere the other side ye see!" he said by way of explaination. Matthew was a little disappointed, but supposed that three questions stood a good chance of being answered within a minute or two, while a search for a shrubbery, or chopping down a Nacelle with a herring, would take considerably longer.

He replied, "Alright Enchanter, ask me your questions, I am not afraid." At least, that SOUNDED like what one of the knights of the round table said to the Old Man. Matthew grabbed his Father Christmas belt and hiked it up a bit, squaring his shoulders.

Quickly, Tim the Enchanter asked his questions, and Matthew answered them just as promptly: "WHAT, is your name?" "Sir Albrecht." "WHAT, is your quest?" "To fetch candy for a Christmas party." "HOW, many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll Tootsie Pop?" asked Tim, as his final question. His eyes widened, revealing a disturbing amount of white sclera.

Matthew considered for a moment, and answered, "What do you mean? Cherry or chocolate?" To which the dangerous-looking illusionist replied "I don't know that!"--and flew up and into the fog, his yelling and howling fading as if he were traveling quite a distance. Matthew stepped between the wooden posts of the Bridge of Death, which promptly vanished, revealing Matthew's room beneath the fog. A pair of holo-emmitters sat on the floor nearby. The officer laughed at the situation, wishing someone had seen it all.

A soft 'meow' from the area around the tree caused him to nearly whiplash himself, he turned so quickly to see from where it came. There, amid the middle branches of the small Christmas tree, was a tiny little kitten! Matthew smiled broadly, he was so happy. Had Lex left the little character behind for him when she left her little prank? "Well now," he said to the kitten, "it looks like we're family, my little friend!"

He reached into the tree, and withdrew the placid furball, holding it up to his chest. "But what are we going to call you?..."

Lt Matthew Albrecht
Security Officer
USS Galaxy NCC-70637

Be Of Good Cheer
in association with
Some Beer Company Or Another I Expect
By Gordall Trichiolachnen Kalln

The door opened and Kalln tentatively peered in. The Holodeck was filled to the brim with people, staff and civilians, and the smell of alcohol was in the air. Vaughn stuck close to his legs, sniffing the air. As soon as he stepped in, he was ambushed by the Chief Medical Officer, whom, he noticed, was wearing some kind of party dress. Kalln himself was wearing a long cape in the traditional manner of his people, but in regard for the season he was wearing red rather than the more conventional black.

'Hmm,' said Kalln, rubbing his chin, 'I imagine that you will be trying to get me to wear one of those santa hats?'

Kahn beamed at him, 'That's right!'

'Well, you see, there's a problem. As my head is not constructed in a humanoid fashion, I can't wear one.'

Kahn continued beaming, 'Not so fast, Ensign. Why do you think the CMO does this job?'

With a flourish she produced a bundle of red fur which turned out to be a jury-rigged Gnalish santa hat, specially designed for those with horizontal necks.

'Well if I've got to wear one, then so can Vaughn,' he laughed.

But Kahn was already waving it in front of him. He bent down and affixed the diminutive red hat to the protesting cat. Fully prepared now, he waded out into the throng of people, with the intention of greeting every last one of them.

After mingling for quite a while, at an opportune moment, Kalln took the stage. Someone had thoughtfully left an antique standing microphone in the centre, and he walked up and grabbed it. The holographic band stopped playing, and all eyes turned to the stage to witness the grey lizard shape clad in red. People started murmuring throughout the room:

'*what is it?*'
'*who?*'
'*I think it's a Gorn*'
'*that's no Gorn*'
'*oh, it must be a Saurian*'
'*listen, punk, I'm a Saurian and he looks nothing like me*'
'*hey, does he have four arms*'
'*isn't he one of the new science officers*'
'*yeah, I nearly walked into him in the corridor*'
(And from Jack D'Auria: 'Hey, I didn't think I'd drunk that much already.')
'*sssh, he's saying something*'

Kalln leaned in close to the mike, and said:

'This one is dedicated to the Dominion.'

Silence washed across the room (excepting those already totally ratassed) as Kalln signalled something to the holoband, who started up a military marching rhythm. Kalln began to sing in a deep, tuneful voice, totally belying his lack of proper lips.

'But it's very cold,
'Out here in the snow,
'Running to and from the enemy.
'I have had enough,
'I am going home,
'Can you stop the Cavalry?

'I wish I could be standing now,
'In the arms of the girl I love,
'Though she calmly waits at home,
'I wish I could be standing now*

'Babadubadubdub
'Dabadubadub
'Dubadubdubdubadub
'Dubadubada
'Babadubadubdub
'Dabadubadub
'Dubadubdubdubadub
'Dubadubada
'I wish I was at home,
'For Christmas.'

The song concluded with the loud ringing of bells.

"Jingle Q"
by Lt. Tebrianne Bancroft

***

Benedict shot and arm out and steadied Tebrianne as her legs suddenly felt weak from the rapid intake of alcoholic beverage. The eggnog tasted good going down, but left a dizzying after-effect.

"Whoo," he said. "Are you all right?"

A sudden wave of embarrassment washed over Teb as she recovered from the drink. She was feeling the effects of the eggnog, and didn't want Ben to see her this way, especially after her recent encounter with Deiran. "I'm fine," she said as she pulled her arm back. She needed to get some air, alone. As much as she wanted to be with Benedict, she needed a few moments to regroup. "I just need to use the rest room is all."

"Are you sure?" he asked. "I can go with you if you want. Help clear the way...."

"Like bloody hell you can," she snapped, not wanting to be coddled. "I can take care of myself. At least well enough to go to the rest room. Just watch my drink and make sure no one takes my seat, if you want to do something."

Benedict nodded, and Teb felt like she was drifting into his eyes. A wave of nausea washed over her as her insides reeled against the alcohol and emotions.

"Okay, I'll be right here waiting. Don't be too long."

Teb stared at him for a moment, wondering if she should apologize for snapping at him. Or if she should just get out before Casey showed back up. The thought of cool water against her face suddenly appealed to her. With a half smile, Teb turned and fled the scene, pushing her way through to the loo.

She didn't get it, one moment she was happy and in the mood, and the next...the next, she was ready to snap the head off the man she had come to care very much about over the last couple months.

And then there was Casey. He was so caught up with being reunited with his wife, that he didn't even consider the feelings of others. Sometimes he could be so selfish... Teb grumbled as she stepped through the arch. He may have been upset that she wouldn't give him a straight answer, but she needed the space. They could probably work it out later...provided that he still wanted that. "Damn him. Damn me!" she thought.

Teb stepped into the women's rest room and was shocked to see it empty. A bubble of anger rose up as she remembered the usual gossip sessions that grew eerily quiet when she entered the room. Teb activated the faucet and stuck her hands into the cool water. She splashed some of it on her face, washing away her ruined makeup and tearstains.

She took a moment to look at herself in the mirror. The masks were down now. Alone in the restroom, the need for the walls she'd erected around herself were no longer needed. She could let down her defenses for a few minutes--defenses that had been battered worse that the USS Galaxy at Boreth.

'Damn you, Deiran,' she thought. 'Why did you have to pick Christmas to pull this on me? The party was a blast until you called me up to the stage for that bloody song to your wife.'

A man's voice she didn't recognize interrupted her thoughts. "Feeling sorry for yourself?"

Teb started and quickly spun to face the intruder. It was a man she had never seen before. He was wearing a Starfleet uniform and sporting lieutenant's pips on her collar. Teb knew most of the lieutenants on the Galaxy, but she didn't recognize this bloke.

"Who the hell are you?" she snapped. "And, how did you get in here?"

He was casually leaning against the closed door, arms across his chest and legs crossed at the ankle. He checked the fingernails of his left hand and 'tsked.' "Now, now Miss Bancroft," he said. "No need to go into the meager details of the where or the how. It should be enough to see that I am here, and with quite an interesting proposition."

Proposition? Tebrianne's anger quickly reached the boiling point. 'Not another one,' she thought. 'I thought that rubbish was over with.' She was beginning to think that having sex with Deiran was the biggest mistake of her life. She thought the endless requests for a midnight trip to the holodeck had ended though...she hadn't had any since she'd started seeing Benedict. 'Damn you, Deiran.' She glared at the intruder. "I'm not interested in being propositioned whoever you are," she snapped at him. "I just want to be left alone!" She grabbed a towel, dried her face, and tossed it back onto the counter. She adjusted her jacket, making the skin exposed beneath it less noticeable from the freak in front of her. Of all the times she wished to be wearing her uniform. With a roll of her eyes, she moved toward the door.

The man grabbed her arm and spun her around. "That isn't true at all," he said, looking into her eyes.

There was a depth to his eyes that Teb had never seen before and it frightened her. When she looked into Benedict's eyes, she found comfort. When she looked into the man's, there was a void.

"Being alone is the last thing you want," he said. "What you truly want is to have Deiran Casey as your own personal love slave. Admit it. That is what you were just thinking a moment ago. It is what you were thinking on the stage a while back when he was singing to his lovely wife, Miran, on stage...."

He slowly began to circle her, his steps methodical, his voice hypnotic. "You wished he were singing that song to you. That he loved you as much as he loves his wife Miran." He leaned in close, his voice a rasping whisper. "It's okay." He quickly moved to her other side and whispered into her other ear. "I understand." He started circling her again. "And what's more, I want to help make your dream a reality..." He paused, regarding her for a moment. "If you will just let me." He gave her a smile that nearly made Teb's skin crawl.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Teb said, stepping away from him. "I don't want any such thing. I don't know who you've been talking to, but there hasn't been anything between me and Deiran for months. He's my friend, that's all. You'll have to find someone else to play your games with."

"Oh come, come," he said with a shake of his head. "'Methinks the lady doth protest too much.' Come on, you can admit the truth to me. Just say it. You want Deiran Casey."

Teb glared at the man. Her anger was near the boiling point and she wanted to get back to Benedict. The freak in front of her kept taunting her with Deiran and claiming to know what she was thinking. 'Perhaps it's time for enlightenment,' she thought.

Without warning, Tebrianne's hands flashed out and connected with the man's temples.

He gave a brief squawk and tried to move away.

"You want to know what I'm thinking," Teb yelled at him. "Here. Have them all."

Tebrianne didn't have the psionic training that most Vulcans got, but her skills had improved considerably. Most vulcans would regard her technique with the mind meld to be unorthodox and highly illogical. Tebrianne opened her mind and let her thoughts go in a torrent.

She hadn't expected what she received in return. Her mind felt like it was on fire. It was as if the entire universe opened up to her in an instant and them was closed. Her vision went black, but she still saw the bright flash.

Her body was thrown back against the wall as a blindingly bright flash lit the room like a quantum torpedo. She slid to the floor with a boneless thud.

***

(to be continued)

Contemplation
Lt. (jg) Benedict T’Kal
Tactical Officer
USS Galaxy

Benedict stared at the half empty bottle of Tequila sitting on the low table in front of him and strummed his guitar with idle fingers. He felt a little numb – he felt a little stupid. This whole Christmas was getting to him. He was full of opposites; he felt like he was with family, but right now he was alone – he was in love with Tebrianne yet he was afraid to let her know. He had witnessed the effect Deiran Casey had on her – on stage and again later – she was clearly upset – driven to tears by the song he’d sung to his wife.

Teb had told him that she was humiliated – Benedict was almost sure it was because he’d made her play the song and made her watch as he reclaimed his wife. She was upset about it – enough to cry. Then she had snapped at him after he’d shown concern for her. Benedict didn’t know how many drinks she’d had but he was sure it had been a few since the song – she was getting herself drunk over it.

The Tequila bottle stood there accusing Benedict of doing the same thing. He picked at the strings and unconsciously started the intro to "Solitary Soul" - a song that he’d written for Teb. A song he’d dared not sing her – and now he felt the words as if they burned in his mind.

He stopped playing and took a deep breath. His gaze rested upon the gift wrapped bundle sitting on the shelf across the room. It was simply wrapped – dark blue plain paper with a silver ribbon. A small square box. It held something very important to Benedict – it was a gift for Tebrianne on their first Christmas together. A part of him wanted to get rid of it – and another part wanted to keep it – and yet another wanted to take the chance and give it to her. The internal conflict had raged for days – and he had gotten as far as wrapping it. So he supposed that the gift giver within him was slowly winning.

Yet now he wasn’t so sure. She had all but ordered him to stay at the party and look after her drink – said that she’d be back – he’d told her he wasn’t going anywhere. But he was taunted by the retreating back of Casey. Taunted by the hurt in her eyes, by her tears, by her admission of humiliation. Benedict was filled with doubts. The only thing he no longer doubted was how he felt about her.

"Computer. Record song "Solitary Soul" and assign T’Kal prefix. Commence recording." He said in a quiet voice.

"Recording." Replied the female computer voice.

Benedict waited several seconds and then let the music flow from his thoughts and his feelings and into his fingers. He felt so alone – and the true nature of his feelings for Tebrianne came out in his music and his voice. The song was full of loneliness and despair – sung to the woman he knew he loved. In this moment the song took on so many dimensions for Benedict and as he approached the final verses he felt the chains that he had wrapped around his own heart – and he sang the last verse as a plea to Tebrianne.

"Oh Dark eyed girl come set me free
Lift my head so I may see
I stood alone, a Solitary Soul
And now my love, come make me whole
I do not want to stand alone

No longer alone
Never alone
A Solitary Soul

Oh Come to me and set me free"

The music came to a rippling halt. A few seconds later Benedict told the computer to cease recording. He leaned forward and took another drink of the fiery Tequila. The gift sitting atop the shelf mocked him.

He sat in silence for a few minutes and then said, "Computer. Send recording of T’Kal "Solitary Soul" to Lt. Tebrianne Bancrofts’ quarters as a personal message."

"Message sent." Replied the computer.

Benedict wondered what she would be thinking after she found that he’d left the party. He knew that she’d needed space – and so that’s what she was going to have. She had to decide between T’Kal and Casey.

“Christmas blues, annoying Q’s”
By Lieutenant (jg) Aaron Sharp
Reviewed by Captain Price

Aaron sat at the table in his quarters, glass in hand, staring silently into the air. He deliberately didn’t go to the holodeck party, as this was not turning out to be the best Christmas he’d ever had by a long shot. He’d sent greetings and best wishes to his parents and his sister by subspace, but only his sister had replied. His parents had forgotten. Just like they forgot last year. It wasn’t that they did it on purpose, they were just… busy. Probably intended to get round to it eventually. But it still hurt. He swirled the liquid in his glass, watching as the ice cubes spun round and round.

“Not the party going type, hmmm?”

Aaron leapt out of his chair and spun to face the voice. A junior grade lieutenant with a smirk on his face leaned against the wall.

“Who the hell are you?” Aaron asked angrily, “Don’t you knock before entering someone’s quarters?”

“Well,” Said the officer in mock indignation, “that’s a nice way to welcome someone bringing good tidings and Christmas cheer.”

“I’m not going to ask you again.” Aaron continued, “Who are you and what do you want?”

“Why, I’m simply here to give you the Christmas present you’ve always wanted.” The officer grinned.

“And what would that be?” Aaron asked suspiciously.

“That depends on what you want.” The officer stated, throwing his arms open wide, the grin still plastered across his face. “You name it, you got it. What could be better than that?”

“If this is some kind of joke…”

“No joke, my friend, I couldn’t be more serious.” The grin faded and the officer took on a serious expression. “So what’ll it be? A few nights with a roomful of Orion slave girls? An instantaneous trip to be with your loved ones on Earth? How about President of the Federation for a day?” A mischievous look sparkled in his eyes.

“Just who are you?” Aaron asked incredulously.

The officer stepped back and with a flamboyant bow, announced, “My name is…” out of no where, a fanfare played, “Q. At your service.”

Suddenly it all made sense, and Aaron knew exactly what was happening.

“Oh no, I’ve heard all about you when I served on the Enterprise. I don’t want anything you might have to offer.”

A hurt look crossed Q’s face. “How could you say such a thing! After all I’ve done for that ingrate Picard, this is the thanks I get!” Behind Q, mourners appeared, dressed in black, weeping and crying. “What have I done to deserve this?” Q looked skyward, about to burst into tears himself.

Oh god, Aaron thought, covering his eyes with one hand and grabbing his elbow with the other, I don’t need this.

“Alright Q, that’s enough. If I take up your offer will you leave me alone?”

Instantly Q was smiling again. Behind him the mourners turned into dancing clowns and a Mexican band, playing excitedly.

“Why, of course, Lieutenant! My only wish is to bring joy and happiness to one and all! Just name what you want and it’s yours!”

“Alright.” Aaron thought carefully. “I want my parents to reply to my last subspace message.”

Q looked incredulous. “Is that all? Surely you want something that’s at least a ‘little’ bit more challenging for me?”

“No, that’s it.”

“You can’t be serious.” Q’s expression took on the look of a small child about to do something he’d been told not to. “I know. Perhaps you’d prefer something like this.” He waved his hand and suddenly Aaron was no longer on the Galaxy.

*****

It was night, wherever he was. The stars twinkled in the sky. Behind him, a source of light. Aaron turned to face a large campfire, around which several dark skinned humanoids danced to an odd sounding droning noise. As he approached the fire it became obvious the dancers were Australian Aborigines and the noise came from a didgeridoo. One of them broke away from the group and Danced over to Aaron. Standing upright, The Aborigine spoke.

“Now isn’t this much better than some measly little electronic message?”

“Q! This is not what I asked for! Take me back to the Galaxy!”

“Oh, I’d love to, but there’s no rush, my young Lieutenant. Relax and enjoy!” Q began hopping around on one foot, doing a little jig.

“I can’t be off the Galaxy like this! I’ll be missed!

“ Oh I don’t think anyone will notice. Besides, We’re thousands of years in your past, in the Aboriginal Dreamtime.” Q grinned. “The Galaxy won’t be along for some time, I’d imagine.”

“Q! I don’t care where we are!”

“Would it help if you had a superior officer along? Then you could pass the blame for this misdemeanour up the chain of command.” He waved his hand and suddenly Captain Price appeared, a plate of cake in one hand, a glass of eggnog in the other. Price’s jaw dropped open as he slowly looked around, his eyes coming to rest on Lieutenant Sharp.

“Lieutenant, what’s going on, mate?”

Aaron was to embarrassed to speak, so he pointed at Q. Price looked in the direction he pointed. Then his face began to go red with anger as he realised who was behind this. He took a deep calming breath.

“Q, I don’t know what you think you’re doing but you agreed to leave. Take us both back to the Galaxy right now.”

“Mon Capitan, but you are such a spoilsport!”

“NOW, Q!”

“Oh all right, all right.” Q muttered sullenly. He waved his hand and Aaron found himself and Q back in his quarters. Captain Price was not there.

“Where’s the Captain, Q?”

“You don’t have to worry about him, I sent him back to the holodeck.” Q said, still sullen. He looked up at Aaron. “However I still want to give you a little something…” Q waved his hand and a light flashed before Aaron’s eyes. He looked around, but all appeared normal.

“What have you done?”

“Oh you’ll find out soon enough. And if you don’t like I’ll change it back.” The grin came back to Q’s face. “If you can answer this riddle. A certain King had three wise men. One day the King decided he didn’t need three, but only one wise man, but was not sure how to choose who was the wisest. Then an idea came to him. He took the three into an empty room with no windows. The only furniture was three chairs, facing each other. He sat the three wise men down, then opened a box he had with him. ‘In this box,’ the King said, ‘I have three white and two black balls, all identical in size and texture. I am going to place one ball on each of your heads so that you cannot see it, but can only see what is on the others heads. The first man to tell me what colour ball is on their head will be my wise man. The other two will be put to death.’ The King the placed a white ball on each of their heads and left the room, taking the box with the other two balls. The wise men looked at each other, not daring to simply guess lest they guessed wrong. After ten minutes, one of the men stood and announced, ‘Your Majesty, I have a white ball on my head.’ What was the solution?”

“Q, that’s the most ridiculous riddle I’ve ever heard.”

“Maybe so,” Q replied, “but I’d really think about it, if you don’t like my gift.” Then with a flash of pure white light, he disappeared.

“I can’t believe that just happened.” Aaron rubbed his eyes and headed into the bathroom. He splashed water over his face, then looked up to get the shock of his life. There, staring back at him in the mirror’s reflection was not the face he usually saw, the face of Lieutenant Sharp. Instead, he saw another familiar face. Q had turned him into the spitting image of Captain Price.

Lieutenant Aaron Sharp
Helmsman, USS Galaxy.

"Gone but not forgotten"
by Captain Robert Edward Lee Price

The Captain had returned to holodeck one after the run in with a jovial Q on the Galaxy's bridge. Through some quick logic, Lee had successfully 'wished' that Q would simply leave the USS Galaxy as his repayment for rescuing Q's son many months earlier. Lee was feeling quite happy at the accomplishment, and was looking forward to visiting with his 'mates at the party.

Pausing at the buffet table, the Captain picked up a slice of Lieutenant Gakor's world famous angel food cake and another glass of Deiran's secret family recipe eggnog from the newly refilled batch.

Taking a few steps nearer to the dance floor, Lee approached a group of officers that were socializing. He recognized one of them as Ensign Kalln, the Gnalish Elt officer that had a remarkable resemblance to a lizard.

"Evening there Captain." Kalln greeted.

Lee smiled. "G'day Ensign. Enjoying the party I take it 'mate?"

Kalln nodded, "Aye sir. A most interesting human ritual celebration. The Gnalish have nothing quite like this Christmas of yours."

The Captain took a bite of Lieutenant Gakor's angel food cake. It was sweat, spongy heaven that melted in his mouth. Swallowing quickly, Lee replied, "Certainly there must be holidays that your people celebrate as well 'mate?"

Ensign Kalln was about to respond when suddenly Captain Price was whisked away from the holodeck in a flash of light.

*****

Lee noticed the sudden and instantaneous change of location immediately. He was out of doors. It was night time, the stars twinkling above. It was warm, the sounds of a crackling bond fire could be heard a short distance away. Standing between Lee and the fire, Lieutenant Sharp stood with his mouth gapping open in surprise.

"Lieutenant, what's going on, 'mate?"

Silently, Aaron pointed to the Captain's right. Lee turned and saw Q standing there wearing a Captain's uniform and a red Santa's cap, exactly like his own.

"Q, I don't know what you think you're doing but you agreed to leave. Take us both back to the Galaxy right now." Lee fumed.

"Mon Capitan, but you are such a spoilsport!"

"NOW, Q!" the Captain insisted in an even sterner tone that sounded more like a parent scolding a child than a human addressing an omnipotent Q.

"Oh all right, all right." Q muttered sullenly. With a wave of his hand, the Captain again was whisked back to holodeck one where Ensign Kalln was finishing his explanation of the Grrvok Ahismo.

".... and then the nodules are stomped into the ground with their powerful tails to signify the coming season of fertility." Kalln explained to the other officers and the Captain who all didn't seem to notice he had ever left. Lee wondered if Q's abduction had even taken any time at all. The Q are capable of manipulating the space time continuum, so the entire incident might have taken less than a nanosecond for all the Captain knew.

"Sir, are you paying attention?" Kalln asked noticing Lee seemed to be preoccupied with his own thoughts.

Lee glanced up at the Gnalish Elt and feigned a smile. "Yes, yes Ensign. Nodules that are stomped into the ground, quite interesting. I imagine it's not that unlike our own customs dealing with mistletoe. If you will excuse me 'mate?"

Kalln nodded at the Captain. "Of course sir." before returning his attention to Ensigns Scott, Dillon and Praskovya who were still interested in hearing about Gnalish Tarn customs and holidays.

Lee glanced around the holodeck, searching for Commander Sterner. Glancing around, he wasn't able to spot his first officer anywhere in the crowd. While still searching, he felt an hand grab him by the arm.

"Captain, you promised me a dance if you remember..."

It was Doctor Kahn. She seemed to be glowing from the holiday spirit. A far cry from the seriousness of treating so many casualties from the Dominion war.

"Doctor, now is not a good time..." Lee stammered, "I am trying to locate Commander..."

"I won't hear of it Captain!" Nilani insisted, taking the half eaten plate of Lieutenant Gakor's angel food cake and the glass of eggnog from Lee's hands and placing them on a near by table. "You promised me a dance and I intend to collect right now... Doctor's orders Lee!" she smiled, "Besides I just love this song. Come on... I won't bite."

Seeing that the Doctor was not going to take no for an answer, Lee agreed and stepped onto the dance floor with Nilani. His thoughts were on Q and the mischief he was still likely to cause on board the Galaxy while he and Nilani circled the dance floor in a fast waltz keeping with the rhythm of the music.

"You dance well Captain." Doctor Kahn commented.

Lee smiled in a boy-like fashion. "I'm just tryin' not to step on your feet Doctor."

As the end of the song neared, the Captain's comm badge chirped, interrupting the Doctor's waltz. "I'm sorry 'mate."

Nilani smiled warmly. "That's okay sir. You'll just owe me another dance later on." She grinned.

Lee smiled as the Doctor walked away and quickly joined a crowd of officers standing near the dance floor and chatting. Reaching across his uniform he tapped in. "Price here."

["Captain, Lieutenant' Bishop here in security sir."]

"Go ahead 'mate." Lee replied.

["Sir, there have been a number of reports of a... of a cartoon snowman roaming the decks of the Galaxy."] Bishop explained.

"Come again 'mate?" Lee asked thinking he didn't hear things correctly.

["I have three reports of a cartoon snowman, roaming the decks of the Galaxy. Evidently he is wearing a magical hat and refers to himself as 'Frosty'"]

Lee frowned for a moment. Normally he'd of suspected another practical joke. Several members of the crew were known to go to elaborate lengths to 'get' each other, and many had the technical skills and knowledge to come up with a convincing holo-projection of an animated snowman. But with Q being about, Lee's instincts told him there was more to it that simply a prank. "Send security teams to round up this snowman and try to place him in the brig. I'm on my way to the Bridge now. Keep me informed 'mate."

["Understood Captain. Bishop out."] the security officer replied before closing the channel.

Giving the holodeck one more look over for Commander Sterner, Lee turned to head out of the holodeck and towards the bridge. Q had not kept his word, and was still playing his games on board the USS Galaxy. The only question now was, what it was Q really was doing here and what it was going to take to get him to leave for good.

"Christmas Heartaches"

Lt.(jg) Jack D'Auria
Science Officer

Lt.(jg) Benedict T'Kal
Tactical Officer

Lt. K'Eytyanna Samara
Engineering Officer
USS Galaxy

Jack was standing next to Benedict, as they both watched Betta walk away after her singing performance. Benedict had a surprised look on his face, mixed with a look of apprehension.

"What is it, Ben? You look like you've seen a ghost."

"I don't know, Jack. First Teb, and now Betta - they both seem to be upset with me."

Jack looked at Benedict, left eyebrow raised in disbelief. "Betta? And Tebrianne? My friend, I think you are reading too much into things."

"No, Jack. Teb was angry when I came back with our drinks. I saw Casey walking away from her." Benedict watched as Betta vanished in the crowd. "I think it's time to discuss certain things with Mr Casey." The way he said it made Jack worry a little. There was an edge to his tone - sharper than a razor.

"Ah, our intrepid first officer. No wonder she was angry, Benedict. I suggest you go and talk to her." "No. She needs to be alone. I know her Jack, now isn't the time to push her on anything. She has some serious thinking to do." He said the words wistfully, and looked at the tips of his shiny reptilian leather boots. "I need a drink buddy - not the shit that Casey made!" He pushed his way through to the bar - leaving Jack alone.

Benedict was wrapped up in his own thoughts. He was worried. For the first time in over a month, he really wondered if Tebrianne still loved Casey. Her reactions on stage, her anger, her denials - her distance sometimes. What would he do if she loved him? It was a question he tried not to face - yet at this moment in time it was like a solid wall in front of him.

Benedict knew what he would do. He even hated himself for it. He would smile - and walk away. He would go because to do anything else would hurt Teb. He couldn't face doing that to her. His name wasn't Deiran! He would lose himself in work - and a part of him would die. He needed to tell her he loved her. He had to before it was all too late.

But would that make it worse - would that push her into a decision she wasn't ready for? Prophets guide me, he thought - and knew that the only real guidance would be from his own heart. He grabbed a strong drink from Raoul - who simply nodded to him as he handed it over. The look on Benedicts' face must have shown something of his inner turmoil.

He felt angry at Casey - and at the same time he felt despair over Teb. What was she thinking? What would she do? Did she still love the Son-of-a-bitch? After everything he'd done to her? After he went back to his wife as if everything should just be instantly forgotten? What kind of selfish moron was he anyway? The Great - the Famous - THE Deiran Casey - God he was sick of hearing that bloody name!

Benedict skulled the tequila in one shot and signalled for another. Raoul just poured and stood there looking at him as he did it again. He poured a third without comment - and then placed the bottle in front of Benedict and walked away.

Benedict took it and poured another. He really felt like drinking himself into oblivion - denying everything and just sinking into depression. A small part of him was telling him he'd lost her. That she still loved 'him'. He took the bottle and moved toward the Holodeck arch. He didn't need all this - all these people being happy!

He walked out and made his way to a turbo lift. Stepping in he said, "Deck 19" The lift took him back to his quarters. He just sat in his room and took up his guitar.

The only song that would come to his mind was "Solitary Soul" - a song he'd written a couple of months ago - a song for Teb that he'd never played to her.

***********

D'Auria had looked at his friend, and seen the despair in his eyes. As usual he kept most of his private thoughts to himself. Benedict was a strange one for that - he never stinted on helping others, but at the same time - he kept very private himself. Betta seemed to be the only one that could get to him - her Betazoid abilities allowing her insights that Benedict had admitted to him, were discomforting - but accurate.

Jack hoped that Teb and Benedict would get together; in his eyes, they were perfectly matched. Jack was thinking hard about what Benedict had said about Betta being angry with him. He couldn't think of anything that Benedict might have done to get Betta vexed with him, but then again, maybe he was being dense as usual.

Suddenly, a hush came over the gathering; Jack looked up to the podium; what he saw or thought he saw made him completely forget his Vulcan upbringing. The huge four-armed reptilian figure (and a sma

ll cat) stood on the podium. Jack blinked his eyes, looked into the mug in his hand, "I didn't think I'd drunk that much eggnog." Then he remembered that he had met the ensign before, when he had gotten back from leave. 'You gotta stop with the booze, it's turning you into an idiot', he scolded himself.

The Reptilian looking Ensign wore the uniform of the science department. Jack blinked a few more times as he (he assumed it was a he) began to sing. Its voice was quite good and Jack enjoyed the song. Jack moved over to the refreshment table, intent to get a non-alcoholic drink, maybe even a cup of tea. His head was a bit light, it seemed, the taste of the eggnog leaving a bad taste in his mouth. Probably more due to the alcohol content then his current dislike of Casey.

"Congratulations, Lt. Jg. D'Auria." Said a female voice behind him.

Jack looked around, seeing a grinning K'Eytyanna Samara standing next to him. "Well, hello Lt. I see you're not the worse for wear", Jack said grinning.

"Well, they don't serve Bloodwine otherwise…" She smiled and left the sentence hanging.

"How are you doing, K'Eyt? I'm sorry that I haven't been around lately." Jack replied, he turned to face her directly and looked into her dark eyes.

"S'Okay. I heard about Betta's mom", said the engineer. She exchanged a sympathetic glance that said a lot - Jack would be bearing the brunt of Bettas' moods.

"Thanks for stopping by. I'm glad she's got friends looking out for her", replied Jack. He knew how much Betta looked up to Samara - in fact it was closer to hero worship. Jack looked at his friend, his face pensive. "How are you, K'Eyt?" He asked.

"I'm doing good, Jack", she said, but turned her face as if she was afraid of looking him in the eyes. Jack touched her shoulder, squeezing it gently.

"Really? I beg to differ. The last time we talked, you looked like hell. You promised that we would talk about it."

She looked up, a haunted look in her eyes.

"I made no such promise", she said vehemently. "You just assumed that I was feeling bad. I don't need you digging into my private life!"

Samara's voice had grown louder progressively, her anger mounting. But it was more then that, it was also the old feelings coming back. She pulled away, rapidly walking away in the crowd, mumbling a quick goodbye. Jack walked quickly after her; grabbing her by the arm.

"K'Eyt, don't walk away." "Let me go", she hissed, turning around, her eyes blazing. "No, K'Eyt. I can't do that. I promised you I'd help you and I am going to do that, whether you like it or not."

Samara's head turned from side to side, trying to find a way to get away, but Jack's right hand was strong enough to crunch duranium. After a short futile struggle, she gave up, her eyes meeting his. Jack's heart felt heavy as he saw the pain and shame in her eyes.

"K'Eyt, I want to help you. Let me, please."

Her eyes pleaded with him to let her go, but his eyes told her he wouldn't. He would not let her emotions destroy her sanity, not if he could help it. "Meet me in holodeck 3 after your next shift."

"Why?"

"You'll see. Be there."

"Jingle Q, Part 2"
by Lt. Tebrianne Bancroft

***

Tebrianne pushed herself up from the floor. Sparkles of light danced in front of her eyes, but she couldn't focus on anything. She saw a movement to the side of the room and moved into a defensive crouch.

"Who are you and what just--" she stopped in mid-sentence when she realized that she already knew the answer. "What the bloody hell do you think you're doing, Q?"

"Me," Q squawked, brushing off his Starfleet uniform. "You're the one that just tried to mind meld with an omnipotent being. Now I have all of your tiny thoughts dancing around in my head. Picard would have never done that you know."

"I'm not Picard," Teb snapped.

Q opened his mouth to speak and stopped. "That's the same thing Sisko said." He watched Tebrianne for a moment and then quickly moved in close. He put an arm around her shoulder and whispered conspiratorially, "Incidentally, you were right about what you were thinking about Casey. But wouldn't it be fun?"

"Crikey, Q," Teb said, shoving his arm away. "Don't you ever give up?"

"Well...," Q said, pondering the idea. "Now that you mention it, I don't. I think its one of my more endearing features, don't you?"

"Not really," Teb said. "Now, if you don't mind, I've got a party to get back to."

"Oh, come, come, dear Tebrianne," Q said with a sly grin. "Don't you want to sit and chat with your old pal Q? We have so much to talk about. You like music...I like music." Q paused for a moment and glared at Teb. "Why do I have a sudden desire to listen to...Molten Rebar?"

"They're a great band," Teb grinned at him. "I didn't think you'd be up to their speed."

"I'm not," Q said. "I've never liked that insipid music you humans listen to."

"I'm not human, Q," Teb said with a smirk. "And, I do believe you're a little discombobulated."

"I am not," Q said, puffing out his chest. "I'm omnipotent. I don't get...what was that word you used?...discombobulated. It was that mind meld. I'm not used to having such simple thoughts in my head."

Tebrianne giggled and looked Q in the eyes. There was something different in them this time...but she couldn't place it. "You'll get used to it."

"Oh, I've had my brief moments as a human," Q said, shuddering. "What a mistake that was. Perhaps I should have chosen a Romulan. No matter...I am Q again, and I have a mission."

"That's very nice, Q," Teb said. "I've got to get back to the party. Benedict's going to be missing me if I'm gone too long."

"Oh, yes," he said. "Benedict T'Kal..." Q moved in front of Teb as she moved toward the door. "We're not through yet, Miss Bancroft," he said. "My offer still stands..." Q poised his hand to conjure up one of his gifts, and paused with a glance at Tebrianne.

"Not interested, Q," she said.

"I offer you anything you wish and you aren't even interested," he snapped. "You ungrateful child. You and your entire race are--"

"Get out of my way, Q," Teb shouted. *FLASH*

Teb blinked in surprise when Q disappeared. She shrugged her shoulders and stepped back into the corridor. It was a quick trip back to the holodeck. She hoped she hadn't missed too much.

Teb slipped through the crowd toward where Benedict was when she left. As she wove her way around a crowd of science officers dancing to the sounds of Lieutenant Piersen's rendition of Shout (a really sad version of the song re-written for Christmas in the late twenty-first century), one of the officer's stomped on her foot.

"Crikey, mate," Teb yelped, jumping back. "Watch where you're going." She pushed on toward where Ben would be waiting muttering about blind science officers with two left feet.

*FLASH*

On the stage, Piersen continued to wail like a Borallian Howlrat. Piersen's vocal stylings quickly grew old and started to grate on Tebrianne's already frayed nerves.

"Bloody hell," Teb snapped, glaring at the stage before stepping past Dr. Nilani. She couldn't take much more of Piersen's wailing. "Do us all a favor, and go play in the cargo bay," she muttered.

*FLASH*

Suddenly, the room was very quiet. Crikey, she thought. They heard me. Teb stopped and slowly turned to the stage, preparing her apology for insulting their talents. Tebrianne's jaw dropped in surprise. The band was gone.

"One Hat, Minus a Crat"
by Lieutenant Commander Greer Erikson, Chief Science Officer
and Lieutenant Alan Hewson, Assistant Chief Engineer

". . . and it is pleasure . . . I am pleased to meet you . . . ," Erikson continued to rehearse as he walked out of the turbolift on Deck Ten, ". . . I am very pleased to meet you."

"And it is always a pleasure to meet you too my dear Greer." Hewson said as he joined Greer en route to the Ten Forward lounge. "I just thought I would remind you that Scrooge's bedroom set still needs the final touches. And I think we should see whether or not the antigravity units will need that triple redundancy we discussed."

"Well AC," the scientist-turned-thespian said as he stopped for a moment to turn to Hewson, "you're the engineer, so I'm leaving it in your more than capable hands. If you think we need the triple redundancy, then we do the triple redundancy."

"You say 'redundancy' one more time and you'll have a triple yourself. You do seem a little tense, pal."

"I'm the producer. I'm allowed to be stressed." Greer remarked with a casual smile. "Actually I am more stressed about having to record this holomessage with Ronni for her parents."

"Oh." the engineer simply said. "So you weren't happy to see me."

"You're a pleasure as always AC, but I think 'oh no' would be a more accurate expression for this situation. I think that I finally understand why . . . "

["LaSalle to Erikson."] the comm system announced as it interrupted Erikson in mid sentence.

"Erikson here." the lieutenant commander said as he tapped his comm badge.

["Lieutenant Stafford has been taken Sickbay sir. It doesn't look like she's going to be able to make it for the final rehearsal this evening."]

Greer looked at AC with an expression of concern. "Is she all right?"

["Ah, yes sir. We were going over the last of her lines when her water broke."]

"I see. Well it looks like we're going to need another Mrs. Cratchet. See what you can do. Erikson out."

"More good news."

"Faulty sets, performers going into labour, wound up producers . . . we have all the major problems of any theatrical production." Greer said before he changed his tone to a more sarcastic tone. "An Assistant Chief Engineer who won't leave me alone."

AC whacked Greer in the arm as the two of them resumed their way down the corridor. "I see Teb isn't in the play this time around. I thought she made a great performance in 'The Tempest' production your did earlier this year."

Greer frowned for a moment as he realized that he and Tebrianne appeared to have seen the end of their friendship. No more lunches that were always interrupted, no more discussing their musical interests, not even the chance to have shown her the jazz club program he promised her some time ago. "I'm sure you know why she isn't there."

"Yeah," AC said as he scratched his head, "I almost forgot about that." A sly smile crept onto Alan's face as he thought of his brief skirmish with Casey. "Anyway, you were saying that Ronni wanted you to record a holomessage with her for her parents."

"No matter what I've done to avoid it, Ronni has managed to circumvent my wishes and is adamant that I am going to do this. It is just . . . well I don't want to . . . I am just thinking about our respective careers."

"It could be worse, she could have asked you to marry her."

Greer quickly shot his head around to face AC in one tense motion. Realizing it was a joke on the engineer's behalf he relaxed a little more, but AC had a point, it was not like she was asking him to marry her. It was only to introduce him to her parents. "One day AC, I will be the one making your life miserable with torments."

"That's pretty big talk. One would think that you're a Lieutenant Comman...oh, that's right, I forgot." AC smacked his head in mock stupidity. “That must have happened while I was stuck in that cave with my eyes shut and my fingers in my ears."

"Watch it Hewson, I've got your triple redundancy right here."

“What the hell?”

“Well look who’s tense now.” Greer turned to look at AC, a rather irritated look on his face.

“No, look at this.” AC pointed towards the carpet. “It’s rather damp…it almost looks like a trail.”

Greer stopped, bending down to feel the wet floor. “Yeah, that’s moist all right.” The Chief Science Officer shrugged it off. “Probably something to do with the Christmas Party in Ten-Forward.”

“You’re probably right.” AC nodded.

“So,” Greer began as they continued down the corridor, “what do you think about the stage lighting near the…” he trailed off as something else caught his attention.

“Is that a top hat?” AC asked, pointing towards the object lying on the floor near the cross-section of the corridor.

“I think so.” One of Greer’s eyebrows shot up in a Vulcan like fashion. The two officers began to approach the object quickly. But when they were halfway there, a stick poked out from around the corner.

“What the…?” AC stopped in his tracks.

A rather round, pure white face looked around the corner after the stick (an arm?) retrieved the hat. “Merry Christmas my boys! And a happy New Year!” The man of snow shouted, giving a quick wink to the two stunned men.

“…hell.” Greer finished his friend’s sentence.

“Encounters Of The Q Kind”
USS GALAXY
Lt. Commander Deiran Casey, Chief Ops & Second Officer

Casey was sad that he couldn’t work things out with Tebrianne. He truly cherished their friendship, no matter how difficult it became at times. He knew they would work it out somehow. It was best that he leave her alone for the moment so both of them could enjoy the party. ‘A strategic retreat.’

Deiran returned to his most gorgeous wife. She was sitting down, Lara in her lap. Miran was feeding Lara, some vanilla pudding it looked like. Deiran just stood there for a minute and watched his two favorite girls. They were his life. Deep inside his heart, he knew his love for them could never be measured. He’d do anything for them. Absolutely anything.

He was so thankful they were part of his life, they were his life. He looked up, staring out the clear atrium up into the starry night. The moon was shining brightly. The holodeck simulation of the Titanic ballroom was well done by Nilani. He would have to mention it to her.

As he continued to gaze into the simulated night, he saw a bright star begin to move and then it started to decrease it’s distance until a bright light hovered above the atrium. The clear glass that made the atrium was beautiful as the light shone down upon Deiran.

‘I don’t think this is part of Nilani’s simulation,’ Deiran thought skeptically.

Then as Deiran thought that, the light turned into a man in a Star Trek uniform, red tunic, red Santa hat and a gleam in his eye.

And as Deiran focused on the figure above him, he was whisked away in an instant to the outside of the Galaxy. He was standing on the outer hull of the saucer section, right next to the Bridge.

“I finally encounter the Great Deiran Casey, truly Starfleet’s brightest star!” Q exclaimed. “I did this once before with Jean-Luc. I have heard many things about you Commander, this is truly an honor,” Q was pouring it on thick.

“Who are you?” Casey asked. He was quite happy to be on the saucer section actually. He enjoyed the exhilaration of it all. You couldn’t beat the view. It also appealed to Deiran’s reckless side.

“Q of course!” Q replied, quite offended that Casey didn’t know who he was.

“Oh yes. The infamous Q; of Enterprise fame. Your reputation for causing trouble proceeds you Q. What do you want from me?” Casey asked hurriedly. He had a wife and daughter to return to.

“I, my dear boy, want nothing from you. You’re a mere mortal. What could you possibly give me?” Q replied and laughed at Deiran’s audacity

“Q, I may be human, but I’m not helpless. You’d be surprised what I could offer,” Deiran replied, he was playing with the omnipotent being.

Q ignored Deiran’s insolence and continued, “It is Christmas. I am acting as the Santa Claus of the Galaxy, granting a wish to everyone. And it’s your turn my boy. What can I give to you? What do you want?” Q asked, smiling mischievously.

Casey looked at Q, thinking of what to say. “How about Q powers? Yes, make me a Q. With all the great power of Q.” Casey replied.

Q was completely shocked at that request. No human had ever asked for

that before. Deiran’s arrogance was endearing itself to Q. Q let out a hearty laugh and walked toward Casey. Standing toe to toe, he looked at Casey.

“You my boy are one of the most intriguing humans I have ever met. So honest. So wonderfully human!” Q laughed again.

Casey was tired of Q calling him boy. Casey was a man.

“No one else has ever asked me for that. I have given it to humans in the past, but it was eventually denied. The Q continuum isn’t taking any applicants at this time. Is there anything else I can give you?” Q asked. He was clearly enjoying being around Deiran.

Casey thought for a moment. Deiran had made many mistakes in his life. There were so many things he could ask for, so many things he wanted to request of Q. But one thing stood out in his mind.

Casey couldn’t ask to have the encounter with Tebrianne removed from time. He felt that that huge mistake made him love Miran more than he ever had before. He wanted to keep that apart of him. He thought about asking for another child, but knew that he could make that a reality himself. His only other wish was one perfectly suited for Q to grant.

“I wish that I had never attempted suicide three months ago. I was distraught and not thinking like myself and it caused me to miss out on a great battle and it could effect my career if anyone ever found out. If you will never reveal this to anyone, I will ask for this wish to be granted. Erase my attempted suicide from everyone’s memory and let things continue as they would have, had that not taken place. If you do this my boy, I will be appreciative,” Casey replied. Enjoying ribbing Q with a very good impression of Q, with his reference to ‘boy.’ No one had ever treated Q like Deiran Casey.

“I find you a most intriguing boy. So I will grant this wish to you. We will meet again. And let me say, I’ll miss you boy. I’ll miss you.”

With one wave of his hand Q disappeared.

By: Ensign Adrianna
Engineering Specialist

Adrianna had left Suder for only a second to refill their glasses of nog, her head still spinning from the dance floor. Suddenly, she saw the handsome form of Lt. Commander Mercury moving across the ballroom. She thought, as she adjusted her course to intercept him.

"I was being to think that you weren't going to show." Adrianna said as she stopped in front of them. The 'Lieutenant realizing that he was a third wheel excused himself.

"Didn't know that I was being missed," David smiled, his eyes hadn't moved. "Care to dance?"

"So the Chief of Engineering knows how to dance, I thought you just used your boots for kicking." Moving closer, David lead Adrianna onto the dance floor. Following the beat of the music the two engineers moved gracefully across the floor. "I take that back, the Chief of Engineering doesn't have two left feet." Adrianna smiled. Suddenly an alarm echoed throughout the holodeck. It was the status alarm, the ship was now at Yellow Alert. The two engineers stopped in there tracks and looked at each other. The room quickly grew silent. All of the heads of departments started to walked towards the door including David. But as quickly as the alarm sounded it was turned off. The ship stood down from Yellow Alert. Everyone seemed baffled and confused. But the party continued and things started to get back to normal. Just as the music started again what looked like snow began to fall from the ceiling. Assuming that it was part of the holodeck programming for the Christmas party the crew didn't think twice about it.

Adrianna caught up to David near the doors and flashed him an energizing smile. "Sorry, but Im going to have to head out for real, Im working on something with Ensign Suder. Thanks a lot for the dance..David." Pausing for a moment, she said, "I promise I will only call you that during social occasions, if you'd like." Winking, she turned and began heading out to where she knew Suder would be waiting.

**************** Deck 22/Engineering Support Lab 3 *****************

As Adrianna entered the Support lab, she ordered the lights on and moved to the nearest diagnostic computer. Slowly, with methodical skill, she moved about the room and activated a series of engineering computers and lab equipment that she would use to analyze the borg chip. After she had spent several minutes calibrating the delicate equipment, she realized that Ensign Suder was..for lack of a better word, late.

* I thought he was suppose to meet me here.* She thought to herself as she gazed through the enhancement viewer, making another small adjustment.

"Computer, access all information currently available concerning the Borg. Display the most current information on the Primary Instruction Node contained in every Borg Drone. Display all relevant data on screen 1. Security Access Alpha 77 Beta 23." Adrianna paused to allow the computer a reply.

The computers female voice spoke almost immediately. "Working"..The Information requested is currently being displayed on Screen 1."

Adrianna turned the data screen to face her, and leaning over the worktable, as she started to read through the material at great speed. Lost within the worldwind of new information, she didn't notice as the moments passed, one after another....

"Omnipresent Too! This guy gets everywhere!"
By Ensign Gordall Kalln, bestower of presents and meeter of everyone.

Kalln made his way out of the ballroom and headed back to his quarters in preparation for his shift. Red robes were traditional, and festive, but a well-presented Science Officer they did not make.

As he entered the corridor to his quarters, he dodged out of the way of a giant snowman who was singing 'Merry Christmas Everyone' loudly, and found two people talking near his room. One was a security officer that he didn't recognise, and the other was a man dressed in the uniform of a rear admiral. There was something familiar about the face. The man was saying:

'*so you see I can give you anything you want!'

Suddenly the face clicked, and Kalln bounded forward and snatched the man up in a four-armed bear hug.

'Torlen Doash! It is you! Where did you spring from?' The man looked around wide-eyed, and squirmed. Kalln set him down. The security officer scurried for cover. The man span around to face Kalln.

'Unhand me at once you great lizard! Do you know who you are molesting?'

'Well yeah, it's you, duh!'

'My name is not Torlen Doash! I am Q! Oh, hang on, did you say _Doash_? Kalln? Is that you?'

'Q?' replied Kalln, dumbfounded, 'I knew there was something funny about that picture in the records. So you weren't killed when the Narcosis blew up?'

Q pretended to dust himself down, 'Well, no.'

'So all that time we thought you were a Tevonalian, and you were Q?'

Q feigned a look of guilt, 'Well, yes. Anyway,' he continued, puffing his chest out after the little embarrassment, 'I'm here to bring Christmas Cheer to the crew! Ho ho ho!'

'Is that Jabba or Santa?' asked Kalln.

Abruptly Q's uniform changed into a Santa outift.

'Ho ho ho, little boy,' he said, 'What would you like for Christmas?'

Kalln did not pause, 'I'd like you to wait right there for a moment.'

Q looked confused as Kalln vanished into his quarters. He emerged moments later with one of his small black presents.

'This is for you,' he said, 'Merry Christmas!'

Q accepted the outthrust gift with some bafflement, but when he tried to pick at the wrapping Kalln put his hand over.

'Ah ah ah,' he said, 'Not until Christmas Day!'

Q looked petulant, 'Well all right then!' he said gruffly, 'But what can I give you?'

Kalln rubbed his chin thoughtfully with three hands, and scratched his head with the fourth.

'That's a toughie,' he said, 'Hmmm*. Got it! I'll have half a dozen Orion Slave Girls, a billion bars of gold-pressed latinum and I want to be the Captain of this ship.'

'You got it!' said Q enthusiastically, and raised his hand to click his fingers. His middle finger and thumb met*

'Only kidding!' said Kalln, 'Thought that one would get you going. Okay then, seriously, I'll have , uh, let me see* um* uh* oh, I know. Do you reckon you can stop Ben and Teb and Deiran and the others fighting?'

Q looked conspiratorial all of a sudden, and leaned forward, 'Well,' he said, 'I'd like to say yes, but I think that little encounter will be sorting itself out fairly soon,' he winked.

Kalln looked pleased, 'Oh, well in that case I'll have a new box of Ixlewarns.'

Vaughn, unnoticed until now, mewled and pawed at Q's leg.

'He says he wants,' started Kalln.

'A new range of fashionable about-the-house outfits, yes, I heard,' said Q, 'Is that it? Oh, very well then.'

He finally managed to snap his fingers, and vanished. In his place, tastefully wrapped, were a new box of Ixlewarns and a range of fashionable about-the-house outfits. Kalln grinned to Vaughn and took the items back into his quarters to get changed for duty.

'Nice to meet old Doash again, wasn't it?'

The doors slid shut behind him.

Tim Fletcher for:
Ensign Gordall Kalln, Science Officer, USS Galaxy

***** Family *****
By Dr. Felicia Khatroweena, Lieutenant,
(Assistant Chief Medical Officer), USS Galaxy NCC-70637
additions by Captain Price

***** Sickbay *****

Cat dropped down at her desk and quickly wrote up her report on Ensign Brandis. Things were going well. Nothing at all life threatening, he was doing well. As she was finishing the report her thoughts turned to her new love of her life. She could almost kick herself for not letting him know her feelings sooner. The last few days were wonderful, it could've been more if she wasn't such a coward.

Over the comm came, "Medical emergency. Lieutenant Stafford water just broke."

Cat tapped her badge, "Bring her in straight away. How far apart are the contractions?"

The line went quiet for a few seconds, suddenly "Not sure, just over five minutes."

"Right get her in as soon as you can. We'll have everything set up. Khatroweena Out." Cat stood up at her desk and called out to Annara. "Hey get everything ready for Stafford. She just entered the second stage of labour."

Annara smiled, "What a Christmas present!"

"Yes, she has been wanting this child for a long time."

Turning around, facing away from the main ward. "Ursa, its Cat. I was just about to come back to the party. We've got a bit of a small emergency. We are going to have a new security officer on the Galaxy. Your Lieutenant Stafford has gone into labour. I'll see you as soon as I can. Don't wait up for me. I'll make it up to you when I see you."

"Ok Cat. I'll see you later."

***** Not long after *****

Lieutenant Stafford was on a grav-stretcher, her breathing was in short gasps. She held her husband's hand and by the look on his face, he looked like he was going to have a panic attack.

"Hello Diane. Why didn't you say something earlier?" Cat moved over a scanned her and the coming child.

"Gasp... Cat... had so many... gasp... whoosh false contractions. Didn't... gasp miss the play." Diane gasped it out.

"Is she going to be alright?" Kyle, Diane's husband asked concerned.

"Of course she will. Everything is fine, Kyle."

"Arrgh! Ohhhh God, Arrrgh, gasp." Diane screamed out.

Kyle almost jumped out of his skin, he looked at his wife, terrified. "Breathe, Breathe Honey, Breathe."

"I am breathing, arrgh."

Annara looked up from her tricorder and spoke, "Cat, the contractions are five, seventeen apart."

"Alright, just like in the classes. Nothing is different. Kyle you know what to do!" Cat tried to reassure the couple."

"Uh, yeah sure. I'm to..." Kyle was in a daze.

"Kyle, help her breathe. Make sure her breathing is regular, ok?" Kyle nodded his head in enthusiastic agreement.

"Push, Diane, Push!" Urged Cat.

***** Couple Hours later *****

The cry of a baby pierced the quietness of Sickbay as smiles appeared on everybody who was in there. Cat took the newborn child and wrapped it in a thermo-blanket. "A health baby girl. What are you going to call her?" Cat held the child for a few seconds and then placed the child on Diane's stomach.

Diane had tears of joy and it seemed that Kyle wasn't that far from it either.

"Oh, she is so beautiful." Diane let her head fall back for a few seconds, her hand around her new baby. She looked up at her husband as he looked down at her and smiled. Kyle half laughed and cried at the sight of his daughter. "You tell her hon."

Kyle looked at Cat. "We are going to name her Katrina Lee-Anne. We want to thank you."

"Very pretty name. She is a very pretty girl. You are both blessed. Annara, take them to one of the private rooms. Kyle, you can take one of the beds if you want. Diane will be able to go back to her quarters on Christmas Day."

Diane and Kyle barely heard Cat's words, they were too busy in admiring their child. Cat moved back to her desk, just to grab a few moments rest. She was thinking about what she could wear for Ursa. Especially what his response would be when he awoke with her in his arms.

Her closed eyes opened with a start when she saw a bright flash, through her closed eyes. She saw a tall dark hair man with an air of smugness, wearing a captain's uniform and a Santa's cap.

"A beautiful child! When you do a job, it should always be done properly. Don't you agree?"

"Who are you?" Cat was surprised at someone just 'popping' in like that.

"The amount of ignorance on this vessel is beginning to give me a complex. Do you not recognise ME?"

"I think I would know if another captain was on the Galaxy." Cat looked unimpressed, "So who are you? Certainly not a captain..."

"I've always had this distinct lack of being impressed by you lower species." Sneered Q, "Your ability to state the obvious is so... so... even I can't find the words to describe it."

"You didn't answer my question. Who are you?" Cat again probed, crossing her arms across her chest.

"Ahhh, now we come to an important part. He moved away from the desk, and with a flourish straightened up his uniform. In an impressive tone with drums rolling in the background, "I am..." A flash of light and the clash of cymbals, "Q." he said bowing nobely.

Cat turned to see Q sitting on her desk, legs crossed, studying her. He appeared to have magically teleported from standing before her to the other side of the room in an instant. "Now you know who I am. Let us get down to business shall we?"

"What can I do for you?" asked Cat a little suspiciously, uncrossing her arms and turning to face the desk.

"Absolutely nothing my dear. What could you do for me? Me?, the great omnipotent Q?, it is to laugh!" He laughed sarcastically for a moment gazing off in the distance. Cat had the distinct impression he was laughing at her.

"Then what do you want here?" Cat was getting a little short with this Q character.

"I may be Q, but even I repay my debts and I owe your "General", a tiny debt. I am here to make your greatest wish come true. Though how great it will be could be debated... You humans rarely think in true greatness." Q pointed out again in his superior tone.

"I am Caitian!" Cat corrected venomously.

"Oooh, a little touchy on the subject I can see. Well, Caitian, Human, Klingon, Horta, Giant Amoeba from Centris Five. All the same to me. Your wish?" Q seem to wait, his fingers held as if about to click them.

"If you're such an omnipotent being, why do you even need to ask? You would know it already!" Cat challenged Q.

"Because having such tiny little thoughts like yours are sometimes so hard to discern. Now come, come! I really don't have all day to just hang around waiting for you. I have things to do, places to go, people to meet, wishes to grant, universes to create..."

"Prove it." Cat challenged again.

"Prove what?" Q asked in disbelief, slightly taken aback by the Doctor's question.

"Prove you are an omnipotent being or just scram. I've heard stories of you. None of them good..."

"Your disbelief wounds me madam. It's almost enough to make one cry." Q pulled out a white handkerchief from the air and blew his nose, tears boiling up in his eyes. Cat's hard stare slowly began to crumble, she almost began feeling sorry for Q.

"But not quite," Q finished. The handkerchief gone with a flash, the tears far from his face. "Very well. Though it pains me to have to sift through random petty thoughts like social insecurities, pet names, recipes for bunt cake and other such clutter your puny little minds hold in them, if it is the only way to repay my debt to your Capitain,..." he shrugged, "So be it."

Q looked at Cat and frowned. He reached down into Cat's desk and pulled out an old fashioned stethoscope and placed the probe on Cat's head. He nodded a couple of times and looked at Cat disappointed. "Do none of you think of something of greatness? You all want such boring little things. Nothing to stretch my abilities." He waved his hand airily around as he clicked his fingers, "It has been done," his tone was almost as if he was disappointed.

"Well?" Cat asked.

"Allow me some sense of the dramatic! Well, I search this ship for someone who can think in real greatness. But I really do doubt it. Ta ta." With a white flash, he was gone.

Crystal came in to Cat's office. "Cat I think you should come out here. Umm, some people to see you."

"Who are they?"

"I think you should just come out." Crystal just affirmed.

Cat headed into the main ward and when she saw her four visitors, she started to cry. Q had given her, her wish. With finding Ursa, it was becoming a perfect Christmas. She couldn't stop crying, as a Caitian boy and girl rush towards her. Behind them, a distinguished looking Caitian woman, looked about fifty, she was holding a young Caitian baby girl.

As the two children hugged Cat's waist, they looked up at her with concern. "What is wrong mummy?" asked the girl in Caitian.

"Yes Khat'rowee'Na, what is wrong?" The older woman asked, also in Caitian. "You can tell your mother."

"Nothing, Nothing. I am just so glad you are here." She hugged the two children around her waist, took the baby in her arms and held her close. No matter how much she tried the tears would not stop, she was so happy.

"I tried to make them go to sleep, but they wouldn't until they had said Goodnight to their mother. Saying Goodnight to their grandmother just wasn't enough. Once they have said their goodnights, I will make sure they go to sleep."

Cat had the equivalent of mental double vision, she remembered her whole life, but now at the same time she had another life. She wasn't an orphan, she had a mother and she had three beautiful children. She remembered everything about her children and her mother. With Ursa, she had everything. She never needed to be alone anymore. Her greatest wish had finally come true. She was a part of a real family.

"No, No, I'll go with you. I want to put my children to bed. Something I've not done enough."

Cat walked out with her new family as the rest of the staff watched, bemused and confused. Anarra turned to Crystal, "What just happened?"

"I don't know. I was hoping you would know."

"Do you think we should say something?"

"To who, then what do we say?"

Anarra shrugged, she tapped her badge. "Keene to Khan"

"Go ahead Anarra. What is it?" Nilani replied over the link.

"Nilani, err, Cat... just left Sickbay with her mother and her children to put them to bed." Anarra's words showed her own confusion.

***** Holodeck 1 *****

"Anarra, Did I hear you right? Did I hear you say Cat's mother and children?" Nilani asked, momentarilly stopping her dance with Commander Sterner.

["Yes Nilani, that is what I said. I didn't know what to do, so I contacted you."]

"Alright Anarra. I'll think of something." Returned Nilani. "Khan Out!"

Joerg looked at Nilani, "I didn't think that Dr Khatroweena had any relatives on the Galaxy..."

Nilani looked back at the Commander, "She doesn't have any relatives, at all. She is an orphan and has no family."

A look of annoyance appeared on Commander Sterner's face. "Q!" he bellowed glancing at the Doctor.

"Q?" Nilani asked not knowing about the recent events on the Bridge and about the ship.

"No time to explain Doctor. If you will excuse me, I need to find the Captain." Joerg explained preparing to exit the party.

"Why is everyone always running off on me today?..." Nilani mumbled to herself.

"What?" Joerg called back on his way off the dance floor.

"Nothing Commander." Doctor Kahn said with a weak smile, "Go on and find the Captain."

Joerg gave a slight nod and then headed off the dance floor to locate Captain Price.

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

Scott sat at the ops station with McCloud still at the helm. As he sits there scaning the sector for any anomilis ready to occupy the time. Another ensign comes on deck. "I am hear to relieve you Ensign Scott. Go and enjoy the party." Scott looks at him."Ther is nothing there for me. Although I stand relieved you have the ops board."

Scott gets up and moves to the back of the bridge to the security station and takes a seat. *At least I we won't have to call someone from the party to man this station with Q running a muck not such a bad idea* Thinking to him self as he takes his seat at security station 1.

As he brings the security station online and begins making the first sweep of the ship trying to see if he can find Q.

Ensign Fletcher arrives on the bridge. Ensign Scott sees him but not recignizing him as he has not meet this individual yet turns in an offical Matter. "Can I help you?"

Ensign Scott USS Galaxy

By Ensign Adrianna
Engineering Specialist

************** Deck 22/Engineering Support lab 3 ****************************

Adrianna was lost in the new data. Star Fleet had compiled an entire storehouse of information since the few weeks before when she had last studied the reports. As she continued reviewing...the doors to chamber opened as someone entered. Thinking it was Ethan Suder, she didn't even bother looking up.

"So You've finally arrived. Took your time about it." The mischievous smile that played across her face was not enough to draw her attention from the viewer.

Q smiled back, but said nothing, content for the moment to watch her.

I certainly hope you brought it. You've got me very interested in giving it a real once over." Adrianna's gaze became more intent as she read a particularly interesting scientific note.

Q's response was minimal, except for his own smile. After composing himself and just as he was about to speak, she cut him off...

"The Borg are pure evil, but within that evil, total efficiency. It never ceases to amaze me the lengths they will go to in order to enslave every race they encounter."

Q spoke at once, "Absolutely despicable. Of course, there is an answer to all that, if that's what you want?" Bathed in the light of the viewer, Q's smile was a match for her own.

"I wish it were as simple as just waving your hand, but it isn't." Adrianna made another adjustment to the viewers side controls. "What I wouldn't give though, just to have one of the drone's to study, research a way to stop them once and for all."

"Really" Q's smile suddenly becoming very broad. "I think that's a wonderful idea, anything I can do to help after all." Q snapped his fingers together in a flourish that she totally missed as he disappeared.

"Suder, sometimes I don't know about you." Finally looking up from the viewer, she was amazed to see...that he was gone. On the table next to the viewer however..was a small, neatly raped present.

"Suder, you are just too much". Adrianna smiled as she picked up the gift and began unwrapping the silver bow that surrounded the perfectly sealed green foil. Within the small box was a large, modified Borg Neural Processor.

"Now, aren't you interesting". Adrianna said to herself as she pulled the device out and raised it toward her for a closer look. Suddenly, and completely without warning, catastrophe struck.

With lightning speed, twin Borg injector tubes launched out like a scorpions tail and imbedded themselves into her neck, delivering their lethal cargo of Borg nano Probes. Realign back, she collapsed on the floor. Instantly, the metamorphosis began.

Acting with every bit of her remaining strength, she touched her combadge and activated it.

Her voice was barely a whisper as she spoke.

"Adrianna to Sickbay..Medical Emergency.....Deck..Deck.."...

Her voice trailed off as she gazed toward the ceiling, eyes still open. On her face, bursting from beneath the skin like an insectoid monster, came the first of the Borg Implants...

"SANTA IS NOT ROMULAN"
By: Lt(jg) Ryak Sullax S.O. USS Galaxy
with parts from Captain Price

Quietly a stolid Romulan Starfleet officer and his young son walked through the halls of the USS Galaxy on their way back to their quarters. Ryak seemed to have a serious, contemplative look on his face, while his son seemed confused as to why his mentioning of "Sana Caws" and asking for a tree would anger his father so. All the others on the Galaxy seemed to be having such a wonderful time... the young boy didn't understand what he'd done wrong.

Finally, in all of his innocence, the boy glanced up at his father who's hand he held and asked, "Why don't you like Sana Caws father?"

The question took Ryak by surprise, stopping his stride. "It's not that I do not like Santa Claus Sullar. It is just that you and I are Romulan and this holiday is one for the humans on board the ship."

His father's explanation seemed to satisfy Sullar for all of three seconds before his next question, or statement came out. "Doctor Kaweena isn't a human and she likes Sana Caws... There were a lot of others at the party too that were not human."

His son's sharpness actually seemed to annoy Ryak momentarily as he raised a sharp eyebrow. "Yes. Well you didn't see any other Romulans at the party did you Sullar?"

Slowly lowering his head the boy had to agree with his father. "No father." Sullar said in a sad tone, but then added, "But why can't we have a Sana Caws like the others?"

Kneeling down onto a knee to face his son, Ryak patience seemed to shorten. "Because Santa Claws is not real Sullar. He doesn't exist." Sullax explained frankly. "He is a fictitious character humans created to amuse their children, only later to disappoint them when they discover he is not real."

Sullar's eyes widened slightly. "Sana Caws isn't real?"

Ryak shook his head slowly. "No son. He is not."

"No Romulan elves that give out presents?" Sullar asked.

"No elves that give out presents. It is all make believe." Ryak explained.

Lowering his head like the most wonderful thing in the world had just been taken away from him, Sullar kicked a lazy foot to the floor. "Okay. No Sana Caws."

Nodding like he got his point through to the child, Ryak stood upright and adjusted his pristine uniform. "That's my boy. Come we will return to our quarters and I will make you some hot chocolate and read to you."

Sullar's head was still lowered as he and his father began walking down the corridor once again. "Okay father...." droned the disappointed youth.

High above the corridor, the omni-potent Q lurked and observed the entire exchange. "Oh the poor child." Q mused, "Robbed of so precious a gift at such an early age. And what would be the harm in Romulan elves?" Q smiled before disappearing.

Ryak and Sullar continued walking towards their quarters on the large starship. While rounding the circular corridor of the ship's main hull, the pitter-patter of small footsteps caught the young boy's attention. Glancing over his shoulder, Sullar could see three tiny men dressed in green with colorful red and white striped socks and pointy hats tip-toeing through the hall. One of them saw Sullar look at them and pulled a long finger up to his lips in a hushing motion to signal the boy to remain quiet. He had a long pointy beard and large floppy ears that poked out through his cap. He looked quite funny, causing Sullar to giggle at the sight.

Ryak, hearing his sons amusement, stopped to look behind them in the direction Sullar was looking, but didn't see anything at all. "What are you laughing at Sullar?" Ryak wanted to know.

In a pleading like gesture the tiny elves waved their hands wildly, begging the boy not to reveal them. One even fell to his knees and cupped his hands together in a praying motion that made the boy smile even wider. "What? Oh nothing father. I just thought I heard something is all."

Convinced by his sons explanation, Ryak motioned to continue. "Come, your hot chocolate awaits in our quarters."

The two Romulans continues to return to their cabin, followed by the mischievous little elves Q had conjured up for Sullar's amusement.

Ryak and Sullar arrived at their quarters. Ryak turned around as his door opened and closed again. Ryak looked around to see why it happened but saw nothing.

"Sullar go get changed for bed." Ryak said as he made his way to get the hot chocolate.

Sullar made his way into the bedroom. As he grabbed his bed clothes one of the elves sat down on the bed as the other two began to decorate the room. Sullar turn and saw them. His eyes widened as they worked.

The elf on the bed walked over to Sullar and in Romulan said, "We have to keep this a secret from your father he does not know we are here."

Sullar was to overwhelmed by the whole situation. "Are you Sana Caws?" Sullar asked.

"No we are his little helpers. He will be coming later." the elf replied.

"Lets, go Sullar your hot chocolate is ready." Ryak called from the other room.

The elves all scurried under the bed and hid as Ryak entered the room. Ryak looked at the decorations around the room. He looked at Sullar who was in the midst of changing. "Sullar, what happened here?" Ryak asked as he towered over his small son."

"The Romulan elves did it father." Sullar stated as he could not lie to his father.

Ryak's face turned to anger as he knew this could not be true. "Sullar, you know what I said. There are no such things as elves." Ryak looked around and thought that it could be just a thing that Cat would have done to make Sullar happy. "Finish dressing and come get your hot chocolate." Ryak turned and headed back into the living area. Sullar came out shortly. He kept looking back into the room as he made his way to the couch.

"Father, why do humans believe in Sana Caws if he is not real?" Sullar asked as he kept looking towards the room.

Ryak gave his son his hot chocolate and said, "Sullar, humans are weak. The believe in things that help them get through life. They have proven themselves to be very unreliable. They change their minds when ever it suits them. This is one of those times. There are many cases like this."

Sullar was confused. "Father but doctor os not a human."

"But she has been deceived by the humans." Ryak said as he heard a large crash in the bedroom. Ryak stood up and headed into the room. The room was covered in decorations now. There was a tree all lit up in the corner and a light dusting of snow on the floor. Ryak turned and walked out into the living room and grabbed his tricorder. Returning to the room he began a scan. Everything in the room was real. There was no life forms in the room. Ryak was confused. Ryak walked back out into the living area where he could here Sullar laughing again.

Ryak walked out into the empty living room and said, "Sullar what is going on?"

"The elves father! The elves!" Sullar said as he stood up on the couch and pointed to the bathroom. "Romulan elves father."

Ryak began to scan the washroom and he picked up three life signs. Ryak was ready to tap his comm badge when a flash of light came from the couch. Ryak spun around to see a Romulan Santa Claus with Sullar on his lap.

"What is going on here." Ryak stated.

"Oh come on Ryak. Come sit on Santa's knee." the being said.

"Sullar come to me." Ryak said.

The Santa Claus prevented Sullar from leaving his lap. "Now Ryak, you should allow your son the privilege of his childhood. He wants me to be here."

Sullar was taken by the image of the Romulan Santa Claus. He just sat there staring at him.

"Security, intruder alert!" Ryak said.

"Belay that order, all is fine." the Santa said in Captain Price's voice.

"Who are you." Ryak said as he began to scan the being.

Santa turned to Sullar and waved his hand across his face and Sullar fell asleep. "Now." The being snapped his fingers and Sullar was gone and Ryak was sitting on his lap.

Ryak stood up right away. "Where is my son!"

"Would a Romulan Santa hurt your son?"

"There is no such thing as a Romulan Santa Claus!"

"Very well. Your son is in his bed." The being waved his hand and turned into a Romulan Centurian. "Oh this is what it feels like to look Romulan. Interesting."

Ryak was not impressed at this point. He had put up with enough. Ryak walked over to the now Romulan and said right in his face. "You will leave my quarters now."

"That is what I hate about Romulan's." the being said as he changed into a human Starfleet Captain, "your race is so arrogant. You think that nothing in this universe can harm you."

"You are not a threat to me." Ryak said as he felt pride in accomplishing to upset the being. "Now leave."

"Do you not want to know who I am?" the Captain asked.

"I have an idea." Ryak replied as he opened his door. "You are leaving."

"I do not need the door." the Captain said. " I do have to say your attitude is not to be desired. I am 'Q'. I do as I wish."

Ryak clued in on who it was once he became the Captain. "So, Q." Ryak said, "Great to know you know leave!"

"Not yet young Romulan. I have a few things first." Q replied. "One is why do you not allow your son the privilege to experience this Christmas thing?"

Ryak let out a laugh and said, "For someone who is not too hospitable to humans and who believe they area savage. You do ask the most obviously answered questions."

Q gave a puzzled look as he noticed that the answer was obvious. "Ok, so humans are not that desirable but children need hope."

Ryak was busy with his tricorder while Q talked. Ryak adapted a few things to assist in the removal of Q. Ryak looked at Q and said, "Now leave." Ryak pushed a button on the tricorder and Q vanished. Ryak knew that Q was not going to be happy about that. He also knew that engineering was not going to be happy that he fried a tricorder doing it. But Ryak had to get a way of keeping Q from his son.

Q appeared in transporter room one and looked around. He did not expect the Romulan to be so innovative. But he had other things to attend to. He would get back to the Romulan and his son later.

Chris Gagne
ALSO KNOWN AS:
Lieutenant(jg) Ryak Sullax,Science Officer,USS Galaxy.
Contact at: i2qtnot2b@hotmail.com

Galaxy "All I want for Christmas"
Written By Lt. Kahn Nilani
USS Galaxy

**** Sick bay ****

["Adrianna to Sickbay..Medical Emergency.....Deck..Deck.."]

Anara heard the request and responded

["Anara here what deck?"]

A couple of seconds past and Anara tapped the her com badge.

["Anara to Kahn please respond!"]

**** Holodeck 1 ****

I had just watched the commander leave when my com badge went off again

"Nilani here go ahead Anara!"

["Ma'am there is a medical emergancy!"]

"Who is it?"

["Ensign Adrianna"]

"Location?"

["Deck 22/Engineering Support lab 3"]

"Ok on my way, Exit!"

The arc appeared and the door opened, I ran out of Holodeck one and to the turbolift.

"Deck 22, Medical emergancy!"

The turbolift rushed down to deck 22. I stepped out and picked out a medkit from an access door. I moved to the Engineering Support lab and entered, I wasn't expecting what was in the door, laying on the floor was a borg drone. Formally known as Ensign Adrianna!

I quickly tapped my com badge!

"Nilani to Security! We have a Borg on the ship! Deck 22 Engineering Support lab 3! Get here on the double!"

I looked as the Ensign stood up and started to move towards me.

"Facing up to it"
By Lieutenant Jg Aaron Sharp

Aaron stared at the mirror with open jaw. This was unbelievable. Q had turned him into a duplicate Captain Price. Now what was he going to do? He couldn’t stay in his quarters, he had to go on duty sooner or later, but what would happen if he went out into the corridors. He couldn’t exactly go around impersonating the Captain. Perhaps he should contact Price.

“Computer, what is Captain Price’s location?”

*Captain Price is in holodeck one and Lieutenant Sharp’s quarters.*

“Huh?” This was getting worse. Even the computer reconised him as the Captain. “Computer, please explain how the captain can be in two places at once?”

*Unknown.*

A thought occured to him. How was this affecting his physical body? You couldn’t just mess around with someone’s DNA and expect everything to be just hunky dory. Now he began to worry. That was it. He decided to head for sickbay as quickly as possible and let them check him out. He’d just have to try and avoid as many people as possible. He headed for the door.

Lieutenant Jg Aaron Sharp
Helmsman, USS Galaxy

“On the 13th day of Christmas…”
by Lt. Hunter McKenzie
Chief Tactical Officer
USS Galaxy

Lt Groom stifled a yawn as he studied the sensors on the Tactical arch. Reports continued to come in from all over the ship. Reports of elves and reindeer abounded. So far most of the reports had been merely nuisances, such as sugar plums circling peoples heads and replicators only dispensing fruitcake and Christmas wine. No sooner had he thought that then the security screen lit up.

"Nilani to Security! We have a Borg on the ship! Deck 22 Engineering Support lab 3! Get here on the double!"

Groom could barely believe his ears, but his well conditioned reflexes took over. His finger danced nimbly over the security controls activating the Red alert protocols as he activated the comlink.

“Intruder alert. Repeat, Intruder alert, Deck 22 Engineering Support Lab 3. All security teams respond. Captain Price to the bridge. Repeat, Intruder ale...”

_______________________________________________________________________

Capt. price adjusted his uniform as he stepped from the Turbolift onto the bridge, just as Lt Groom was about to call him again.

“Its okay, Mate. I’m here…What do you have.” Asked Price as he took over the captains chair.

Lt Groom swallowed hard and addressed the Captain as he monitored the security teams as they converged on Eng. Lab 3.

“Lt Nilani called and reported Borg on deck 22. I’ve dispatched security teams and erected level 5 forcefields around the lab. Scans indicate there is indeed one drone in the lab and no detectable Borg ships within scanner range.”

“Q.” mumbled the Captain

“Sir?” asked Groom.

“Nothing Lt.” dismissed Price. “Summon Cmdr Sterner to my ready room and continue red alert. Advise me as soon as we know what the devil is going on….” The Captain stood and headed for his ready room, passing Ensign McLoud.

“Merry Christmas, Captain.” He said jokingly

Price grinned, “Yes . Merry indeed.” As the doors to the room opened and he stepped inside.

Lt. Hunter McKenzie, Chief Tactical Officer, USS GALAXY
ICQ # 6728583

"A piece of the action"
By Gordall Kalln, pseudoheroic fool

Kalln, dressed now in his specially-cut four-armed science uniform, made his way to the science department to assume his post. Stopping off on Deck 22, he headed for Engineering Support Lab 2 to see if the engineers had finished the Quorlox Animator he had requested. As he was heading towards Lab 3, he saw Kahn Nilani uncharacteristically running into the room. As he approached the door, he heard a shouted communication, of which the only clearly audible word was 'Borg'. Accelerating, he gripped the doorframe and swung himself around, to find himself facing a scene of baroque menace. Kahn Nilani stood cowering before the threatening form of a recently-assimilated Borg drone. Arms raised like a zombie, she shambled towards Nilani. As she got closer, Kalln made out the original features of a humanoid female. It was Dr Adrianna!

As Nilani scrabbled backwards, Kalln began moving. He grabbed Kahn as carefully as he could, and threw her aside. He hurled forwards into the newly-born Borg, and they both tumbled over. The scrum resulted in Kalln lying flat on his back, with Adrianna-of-borg holding a primitive and not complete implant device above his face. Kalln's four arms shot up in defence, and gripped Adrianna's wrist. He pulled his head away from the descending arm, and pushed against it with all his strength. Thumping Nodules but this woman was strong, even without the implants! He tried to lash out with his barbed tail, but found that it was trapped under his expansive body. Unable to hold the arm, he resigned himself to his fate as the whirring device moved ever closer. Gnalish skin was too tough for the nanos to get through, but his face was another matter*

Tim Fletcher for:
Ensign Gordall Kalln, Science Officer, USS Galaxy

"All I Want for Chirstmas"
by Lt Endris Gakor
additions by Captain Price

*** Cargo Bay 1 ***

Muffin scampered away as the Yellow Alert klaxon made him drop the fruit. *Snacks! Why me?*, Gakor thought. After being promoted to Lieutenant, her alert duty station had been moved to the cargo bay. She was in charge of the medical supplies stored there, and could use the emergency holo emitters to run the EMH or set up triage if the alert condition escalated.

Then something amazing happened. Out of nowhere, sugar plums appeared to dance in mid air above her head. "Treats!", she exclaimed dramatically, reaching for the confections. Despite Endris' nimble approach, the delicacies slipped from her reach. Gakor emitted a frustrating growl, seeing oinkusable objects eluding her like the cure for the virus she wanted to find.

"Cuisine! Just once I wish.....", Endris began. No one was around to hear her remark, however. Her train of thought was broken by a bright flash of light. Turning to face the anomaly, Gakor's mouth dropped open.

In front of her stood an old, gnarled Tellarite with one of the longest beards she had ever seen. His leg hooves were muscled and long for the porcine race, and he laughed with a deep baratone voice. The being's routund tummy protruded several hundred pounds of Snacks, and he was carrying a sack with a steaming ham! The aroma distracted Gakor, since it was the most delicious thing she had ever smelled. Sniffing towards the big piece of meat, Endris noticed the Tellarite had tusks! Could this be the first Tuskcan, Father of Cuisine? After all, Albrecht had pretended to be Father Christmas at the party. Perhaps this was another of his lame jokes, or maybe it was just Grub'r, the only other Tellarite on the ship....

"Now, Now, Miss Piggy", Q said from beneath his disguise, "I believe you were about to make a Christmas wish."

"So?", Gakor gruffed. "I suppose you are in a position to grant it?", she retorted sarcastically. Whoever this was was distracting her from organizing supplies that might be needed any second. Not to mention interrupting Oinkus at the party and a few new ideas for her Teresi project.

"I hear you have a reputation for being the most infuriating woman in the Galaxy.", Q commented. A giant multi colored lolly pop appeared in mid air, hovering a moment before Q licked its surface. "I see it is well deserved.", Q suggested with a wink "Perhaps a game might interest you...."

"Q?", Endris guessed. "I might have known. Didn't you cause enough trouble in the past?", Gakor said retorically.

"Good guess, Doc Hog!", Q congratulated transforming back into a Starfleet Captain's uniform, and Santa's cap, "And the prize is...."

"What? Like I believe you are going to give me something I want?", Gakor said implying Q would never consider doing something nice.

"Temper, Temper Doctor.", Q cautioned waving his index finger slowly back and forth, "I might have to sew your mouth shut if you keep up those grumblings. Perhaps I will just leave before you make me do something rash." With another flash, Q was gone, along with the bag of snacks.

"Starvation!", Gakor exclaimed. "I am going to find a cure for Teresi if it kills me! I'm just glad I don't have to rely on Q for help", she mused.

*Don't be too sure, Gakes*, Q observed from his hiding place above the supply racks. *Your puny brain hasn't even deduced where to look, despite hints from those Prophets*. What harm could a few more suggestions do? Wasn't his current goal to do something nice acceptable? But Gakor's wish would be complicated even for him. The 'Endris' who knew the cure lived in the mirror universe, where Q powers were ineffective.

Still, simple tasks were possible there, as he jossled a few probabilities. Not even Q was sure if his plan would work, as he moved to another area of the ship to spread more holiday cheer. It was possible if Gakor made it to the other universe, he wouldn't be able to get her back. The quantum fluctuations of the mirror reality made it hard to locate small objects, and besides that, that universe had been ruled 'out of bounds' to Q in the resolution of the recent Q civil war. But Gakor's thought was that she was GOING to find a cure, and Q's response was to try to make that happen as his gift. Just once, the ecectic godling wished that inferior races were better at verbalizing what they wanted. It would make granting wishes much more practical.

Endris would suspect Q of interfering. So he granted the wish in a very sneaky way. Q nudged the beings known as the prophets into communicating one of their nebulous visions on the Tellarite. Since she had experienced them before, Gakor didn't expect the origin of the events she saw unfolding.

*** An Orb Vision ***

A misty portal opened in front of the Immunologist. The colors looked like those in her previous Orb visions. Gakor gasped. She saw several of the away team members on the surface of Ivoni, before the explosion. [Alaiyo, we have returned], an image of Nilani dictated. [The Sisco has restored us to Bajor], another of the aliens said. Another 'prophet' assumed the form of Captain Price. Wearing a whimsical expression, he said [It is a time for healing wounds]. [Our children are prospering], piped another.

Gakor frowned. It seemed a bit odd that the prophets would discuss healing, especially after her wish. *Is Q behind this?*, she thought. If so, it could explain their sudden "linear" desire to help. Still, there were many Orbs held by Bajorans. Endris had heard one was called the Orb of Health, but she wasn't entirely sure.

[Step into the light, my child], invited an image of the Kai. Gakor felt an uncomfortable chill as her resistance to the suggestion melted away. Despite her reservations, she stepped forward into the circle of light. Gakor thought she felt a pair of hands pull her elsewhere, but they were too unsubstantial to be certain.

*Snacks! Where am I?*, Gakor thought to herself. [You are elsewhere but you are not], her own image said to her. Except this messenger wore a provocative leather harness. The chamber she was in was quite dark, although she could make out a vaguely Tellarite form out in the distance. [This is the place that that which corrupts / has corrupted / will yet corrupt was born], a figure of Samara pronounced. *The virus! My vision must be showing me hints of it's genesis*, Gakor guessed. Several more images presented themselves, but nothing the Tellarite could grasp concretely. [You exist here.] a profit spoke in the guise of Matthew Albrecht. Gakor turned and looked at Matthew standing before a large mirror. As she approached she saw her own reflection. But it wasn't a reflection at all. [You exist here.] Matthew repeated, [What you seek exists elsewhere.]

Gakor still didn't understand. Glancing at the mirror, her leather clad counter part laughed back at her hysterically. Evilly. It frightened the doctor that this person could be so evil and still be herself. "Is that me?" Gakor asked.

[You exist here.] Matthew offered once again before turning and walking away into a mist.

Then the prophets were no longer contributing visions to Endris, and she felt her energy drain as their presence left her. She slumped over, no longer having strength to stand. Before succumbing to a long winter's nap, Gakor thought she heard soft voices nibbling at the edge of her consciousness...

*** End of Orb Vision ***

*** Cargo Bay 1 ***

Soon, Endris was awake and struggling to her feet. The vision was complete, but she felt drained and weakened.

The Yellow alert was quickly over, and Gary Trabuco popped his head in the door. "Doctor Gakor", he asked, "are you okay?"

"Yes, yes fine..." Gakor said weakly, still puzzling over the vision she'd just experienced. Then with renewed passion she whipped her head up, "YES of course!"

Trabuco looked confused, but knew the Doctor was a strange sort. "Okaaaay.. just checking Doc." With that the officer walked away.

Gakor stood in the room for a moment, gathering her thoughts. "I exist here." she mumbled to herself recanting what the profits had told her, "What you seek exists elsewhere..." Gakor puzzled over the vision for a while before remembering her date with Lieutenant Albrecht.

=Computer, where is Matthew Albrecht?= Endris asked.

=Lieutenant Albrecht is in his quarters=, the machine spat in a neutral tone.

*Best get going then.* the Doctor thought, still not realizing the importance of the gift Q had covertly given her.

Ensign Scott Taps his combadge this is "Ensign Scott security is in route" Scott taps the control board sound the intruder alert klaxon. Ship wide intercome "Intruder alert intruder alert Deck 22 Engineering Support lab 3! Borg intruders on board."

Ship wide intercome still "Captain to the bridge."

Combadge tap "Ensign Scott to LTCMdr Sunder's Please report to Deck 22 Engineering Support lab 3."

Scott begins to make an intense sensor sweep of the ship looking for any other borgs. Turning to the other ensigns on the bridge. Will someone please start scanning for borg cubes. And raise shields. We should have a command officer on the bridge momentarly." Over from accross the bridge an Ensign report "Shields raised."

Scott turns back to the security council and continuing his sensor sweep of the ship looking for any signs of borg or borg technology.

Ensign Scott

"Seven maids a milking"
by Captain Robert Edward Lee Price

Lee stood with a concerned look on his face as he stood alone in the turbolift on route for the bridge. The Christmas party was a smashing success on the holodeck, but that wasn't what was of concern to the Captain. Q had shown up and even though Lee had asked that he leave the Galaxy as his 'repayment' for saving his son, Q had obviously not complied. How does one get rid of an unwanted Q? Lee thought. He planned on finding out as soon as he reached his ready room to study up on the Q Continuum.

The turbolift doors swooshed open to a fury of activity much to the Captain's surprise. He overheard Ensign Scott ordering security to one of the Support Labs on deck 22. An intruder alert was in progress.

"Crickey, what is going on here Ensign?" Captain Price asked stepping off the turbolift and down into the command well.

Ensign Scott turns. "Sir, Doctor Kahn reported that there is a Borg in support lab 3."

"Borg, on the Galaxy?!" Lee grumbled back, his Christmas spirit completely lost for the moment. Turning on his heal, the Captain placed a hand on Ensign Elaithin's shoulder at Ops, "Seal off the deck with a series of level ten force fields. That should buy security enough time to get into position. Bring us to Red Alert. All senior officers to the bridge."

The Bajoran Operations Officer nodded, tapping the controls, "Security force fields activated throughout deck 22 Captain."

Turning back around, Lee faced the tactical station and Ensign Groom who didn't seem too happy to have this happen on his shift. First Q, now the Borg... you could hardly blame the young officer.

"Scan the sector for signs of any Borg vessels...." Captain Price instructed.

"Already on it Captain. I'm not detecting any Borg vessels in the area. No signs of trans-warp conduits. Nothing sir." Groom explained.

The Captain's brow furrowed, "Keep looking 'mate, that Borg had to of come from somewhere..." Lee started, "...it didn't just pop in out of thin air...." Even as he said the words the Captain began to form a theory. From what he remembered of the Borg, the first human encounter with them was at the hands of Q on board the Enterprise. "...unless this is Q's doing!"

A bright flash appeared before Captain Price. It was indeed Q, still wearing a matching Santa's cap and smugly sitting in the Captain's chair at the center of the command well.

"Bravo Price. I was beginning to think you were too daft to make the connection." Q patronized.

The veins on the Captain's neck tightened as he grit his teeth slightly. "Q! You said you were leaving the Galaxy. You lied 'mate." Lee declared with a pointed finger.

"I did no such thing Price. You asked me to leave. I left... You didn't say anything about not returning." Q declared with a smile.

"Q!!!" Lee growled.

"Far be it for me to argue. What with the Borg on your precious vessel and all, I thought you could use my help but I see I am unwanted. I will be leaving now to leave you to deal with your pending assimilation." Q retorted preparing to snap his fingers and transport away.

"Wait..." Lee beckoned, halting Q mid snap, much to the godling's amusement. "You brought the Borg on board my ship Q, you can take it off again."

Leaning forward eagerly like a over grown child lurking over a chess board after a foolish move, Q smiled. "If you wish, I would be more than happy to dispose of the Borg drone for you. Just say the word and you will never see her again."

Now it was Lee who was on the defensive. From what little he knew of Q, it seemed he never readily was willing to help out unless there was something of consequence in it for him. The Captain didn't want Borg on his vessel, but he didn't trust Q either. He seemed too eager to want to dispose of this drone.

"I think we will wait until security reports on the situation in more detail Q..." Lee stalled.

With a disappointed glance, Q leaned back in the command chair. "What an indecisive creature you are Price. Give the word and with a wave of my hand that drone will be far away from the ship. So far away she will surely never bother you again,... I can assure you."

"I believe I will wait to hear what the 'mates have to report Q." Lee repeated with more confidence. He could sense that Q was up to something, though he wasn't sure what exactly that was yet.

"Tisk, tisk. Well, I suggest you hurry then before that drone's collective friends get here." Q pointed out waving a hand as if he were motioning or pointing out across space.

Turning, Lee glanced at Ensign Groom. The light green glow of the tactical station shone on Groom's face as he shook his head indicating all was clear on the long range sensors. But then, out of no where, a double warning tone chimed out from the arch. The Ensign's eyes lit up was they swelled in size. "Approaching Borg cube Captain. Approximately three hours away."

Lee glanced back at Q. The Omnipotent being just smiled in an expression that relayed the message "I told you so."

"Q why are you doing this? What is this, another one of your tests of humanity 'mate?"

"Oh please Price. Must I always restate the obvious? I already told you why I am here. To show you my gratitude for..."

"...For saving your son. Yes, yes I know." Lee interrupted impatiently. "Then is that why you are doing this? Is that why you've brought these Borg to the Galaxy? So you can create a situation where you can save the day and rescue me and the 'mates from a crisis that you yourself created?"

"Why Price, you wound me!" Q feigned, acting like he'd just been insulted. "Were I to concoct such a ruse you can be certain I wouldn't use the Borg. That is old news Price. It's been done already. I know, because I did it to Picard." Q smiled widely before his eyes narrowed and his tone sharpened to a more serious point, "Besides there are things out there in the universe that are far more threatening than the Borg Mon Capitain."

Lee was growing frustrated. "If not that then what Q? I don't have time for your games!"

"Games?" Q perked up, "What an excellent idea Price."

With a snap of his fingers, both Q and Captain Price vanished off the bridge of the USS Galaxy.

Q.
Lt. (jg) Benedict T’Kal
Tactical Officer
USS Galaxy
Reviewed by Captain Price

Benedict was sitting in his room alone. His guitar lay on his bed beside him and he cradled a bottle of tequila between his hands. He rolled it back and forth in his palms – head down, sitting on the side of the bed.

His long black hair hung straight and loose, his shirt was loosened at the collar, and his jacket lay on the floor in front of him. He looked without seeing at the shiny pattern of the lizard skin of his boots. He wore skin-tight black leather pants, and a loose weave peasant shirt of white linen. The loosened thongs at the neck dangled down, and he wore several earrings in his left ear – he was out of uniform. He’d been to a party.

It had started out fine. In fact it had been more than fine. Tebrianne had gone with him and they had shared an intimate time together on the dance floor before she had to take the stage and sing for the crew. She had sung her set – and he felt a touch of pride at her performance – she was beautiful and so talented!

And then Casey had ruined everything. Making her sing. Making her cry. Hurting her again. Benedict took another long drink of the fiery liquid – it burned as it touched his throat. He was slightly dizzy now. He’d had most of the bottle to himself.

He’d managed to work up the courage to send her the song he’d written for her. Now he wondered if that had been a mistake. He couldn’t very well take it back now. He looked at the gift he’d wrapped for her on the shelf across the room. He took a ragged breath and closed his eyes. Deep inside he knew that he was lost.

Deiran was the image of a perfect officer, he was strong, confidant, a real commander. He was a powerful man in a powerful position. What did Benedict have to compete with him? Nothing. He felt like nothing. He’d made the last two months into a sham in one song. He’d taken Teb away from him in a breath and then cast her away again. She still loved him and the knowledge of that was tearing him apart.

"Well, well, well….." said a quiet voice.

Benedict spun around, and almost leapt from the bed. He found himself facing a man in Starfleet uniform, Command staff red and black with Admirals pips on his collar. He was laid on the bed – full length with his arms behind his head. He had a smirk on his face. His feet were crossed at the ankles. He was dark-haired and strong featured – his eyes were almost black and they regarded Benedict with a compassionate gaze.

"What the hell…" the words came from Benedicts’ mouth at the same instant he glanced at the bottle of Tequila in his hands.

The man smiled and sat up. He reached for Benedicts’ guitar and swung his legs off the side of the bed and strummed the instrument. His fingers started to play. It was the same song that Benedict had played minutes before – note for note.

He looked into Benedicts’ eyes and continued playing as he spoke – he didn’t miss a beat, "Don’t be alarmed." He said in a quiet voice. He smiled. "She is rather attractive isn’t she?" He asked.

Benedict was dumbfounded – how could anyone have gotten into his room, and laid on his bed without him sensing it? "Who?" he asked – he was thoroughly confused now – an Admiral?

"Tebrianne of course." He smirked, "Quite a little she-devil hey?" he chuckled, "yep, full of surprises…" He let the sentence hang while he went into the second verse of the song.. "Then again…" He grinned, "You could be surprised yourself before too long."

"Who the hell are you…sir?" Benedict had enough presence of mind to allow the apparition the benefit of the doubt as far as the Admirals pips were concerned.

He stood in one quick movement, the song forgotten, "I’m Q." he said with a wide grin, and he dropped the guitar on the bed. He pointed at Benedict, "You my little friend have a few surprises coming!" He looked around at the décor of Benedicts’ quarters and walked to the replicator. He paused for a moment and said, almost to himself, "Primitive…primitive.." He turned back to Benedict and beamed another hundred kilowatt smile at him, "I’m doing the rounds – saw your light on, thought I’d drop in."

Benedict didn’t know what was going on – the alcohol was getting to him, the emotions of the evening and now this? Q smiled and walked over to him. He reached out and put one hand on Benedicts’ shoulder and pronounced, "One wish. You can have one wish. What’s it to be?" He looked deeply into Bens’ eyes and said, "How about Tebrianne?" "What?" Benedict was now really confused.

"One W-I-S-H." He pronounced it like he was talking to a deaf man, "How about it? Tebrianne? All gift wrapped and sitting under your tree?" He motioned to the corner and a Christmas tree appeared – colorful lights and all. Benedict looked at the bottle in his hands and put it down.

Q saw the motion and sighed, rolling his eyes. All he did was look at Benedict and suddenly he was totally sober. The effects of the drink vanished and in the light of his new sobriety he also knew one thing – this man in front of him was real. He knew who Q was. The knowledge was there in his mind. Q smiled depreciatingly and said, "I’m so weary of having to introduce me." He turned away and picked up a Christmas stocking that had suddenly appeared on an equally sudden mantel piece on a fireplace with a merrily burning fire.

Benedict felt like he was in some kind of holodeck fantasy. He wondered for a brief instant if Jack had done this to him as some kind of practical joke.

Q shrugged and said, "No Jack didn’t do this to you." He grinned. "Come on man choose! Anything you like I can give…how about it? Tebrianne…she’s quite a gal…you know you can beat Deiran if you like….I can make her love you…even if she does like ‘him’…" he reached out and took the small gift wrapped present in his hands. "Oh this is so quaint!" He said, "Cute custom…" he smiled a warm smile. "She’d love it …if she wasn’t so wrapped up in somebody else that is…" His eyes were black and held a glint of darkness deeper than space.

Benedict shuddered, he knew without thinking that he was in danger here. This Q was dangerous – his every sense told him to beware. He was in the presence of something larger than he’d ever encountered, and for the first time Benedict felt fear. He felt that speaking to this man was like treading a minefield.

"Why do you want to offer me this wish?" He asked. He was sober and taking in every facet and movement of this being – he wasn’t just a man – that was apparent. He held power – casually, like a rogue God. His every move and word held it – Benedict could feel it. He was no Admiral, no Starfleet Officer. Benedict wondered about his comm badge – it lay on the table several feet away. As he looked at it - it vanished!

Q shrugged and sat down on the bed. He tossed Tebriannes’ present in the air and caught it between hands, left to right – right to left. He looked at Benedict and smiled a wolfish smile – predatory. "Name something you want – anything and I’ll give it to you. How about Deiran Casey – busted down to Ensign?" He chuckled.

No matter how much that particular thought appealed to him, Benedict steered his thoughts away from anything important. It was apparent that this man was reading his mind. "Why?" Benedict asked again.

Q looked petulant – like a small child driven too far and now beginning to sulk, he stood and threw the gift on the bed and said, "I’ve got places to go and people to see. One wish. What is it?" He was adamant this time. The games were over. His hands were on his hips and he stared at Benedict. He smiled a split second later and said, ‘Did you know you have lovely eyes?"

The question took Benedict by surprise and his jaw almost dropped open. He turned away from Q and was thinking furiously – how to contact security, what was this being doing here? Why me? One wish? Prophets guide me…he turned again to see Q dressed in the mantle of a Kai. He smiled at Benedict as if this was natural.

"If I make this wish…what happens then?" He asked tentatively.

"I grant it of course! That’s why I’m here!" Q beamed as if he’d won. " Which one? Tebrianne or Deiran? Love slave or busted ensign?" He awaited Benedicts’ answer with baited breath,

"Neither." Said Benedict. "My father once told me that something won by deceit was not worth winning. If Tebrianne loves me then so be it – but I won’t make her do anything." Benedicts’ voice held an edge. No matter what the power of this being – Benedict would rather die first! As for Casey – he wasn’t even worth the wish.

Q looked disappointed. "What will it be then?" He asked. "Not something small…please…I have the power of omnipotence and have no limits – stretch yourself!"

Benedict looked at the small present sitting in the middle of his bed, and a sudden inspiration hit him. He looked at Q with an enthusiasm in his eyes, yes there was something he wanted. Something important. If this man could get him what he wished for then Benedict would take the chance.

"There is something." Benedict said. Q looked eagerly at him. "My mothers’ Betrothal Bracelet. It was in my family for seventeen generations. It was lost on Bajor during the occupation. I want it."

Q looked at Benedict for a second and laughed. "Is that all?" he mocked. "A stupid little bauble?" He spun in a circle and reached up to the ceiling with both hands as if imploring the Gods, "So simple!" He said, "Why don’t you want something difficult?"

"That’s what I want." Benedict said. "It’s very important to me. If you can give it to me then you will make this Christmas very special for me." Benedict held his breath. He was taking a chance here.

Q sighed. He held out his hand and it held a small gift-wrapped box. It was wrapped in golden material with a black ribbon. Benedict reached for it carefully and took it. As he grasped it Q vanished. "I’m sure she’ll love it." A disembodied voice said. It sounded vaguely disappointed.

Benedict sat on the bed and stared at the small bundle. He sat like that for several minutes before getting up the courage to open it. With trembling fingers he ripped the ribbon and wrapping. The box was silver. He took the lid off it and looked inside. He closed his eyes and tears came. He cried freely.

Inside the box lay his mothers Betrothal Bracelet. It looked like new, but it was unmistakable – what made him cry was the scent of flowers that surrounded it – just like his mother.

In mid dance the red alert sirens went off and there were mass exodus from the Holodeck. Taleen just grimaced and started out the door also, heading for Sickbay. She decided, after taking a couple of crooked steps that maybe she had better do something about all the alcohol she had drank. Leaning crookedly against the closest wall, she shut her eyes and concentrated for a few minutes. She was ask several times if everything was ok, and she nodded yes.

It took several minutes to remetabolize the alcohol but she straightened up and started to sickbay. The initial rush was over and the halls were empty when she approached the sickbay. Suddenly from around the bend came a showman leaving a trail of water. Taleen shook her head and leaned against the wall again. *"I am seeing things still,"* she thought to herself as she again concentrated on her body. Opening her eyes she looked around. All there was, was a trail of water down the corridor. She shook her head and went on to sickbay and checked in.

Ensign Taleen Cyndanian, Medical Staff, USS Galaxy
ICQ # 14035112, Nickname - Karilla

"Wreck the Halls."
by Lt. Cmdr. Ronni Morris and Lt. Cmdr. Greer Erikson

"How disgusting." a voice said from behind Morris and Erikson as they leaned over to give each other a Christmas kiss. Turning around they saw Q sitting on a chair and looking directly at them with an exaggerated look of disgust on his face. "I'll never understand this humanoid preoccupation with members of the opposite sex. All this kissing and touching. I don't know how you can stand it."

Ronni looked at Greer and the pair of them started to look embarrassed. "Don't you have other people on the ship you can bother?"

"What hostility." Q said as he stood up from his chair and moved closer to them. "What a perfect example of the barbaric bipedal hominid species you are." Q said as he pretended to scrutinize the facial features of the Human. "I wonder where all this anger is coming from 'Commander."

Greer leaned back to move his face away from Q's invasion of his personal space. "Perhaps from dealing with people who cannot understand a simple concept such as privacy. Surely that is not even beyond you."

"Au contraire. I can do whatever I want, when I want. That's the advantage of being Q." the onimpotent entity pointed out as he completed his examination and leaned against the bar. "All this Christmas cheer is making me thirsty." he said as he clicked his fingers. In the other hand appeared a glass of eggnog.

"That is very impressive." Erikson said mockingly, hoping the alien would simply disappear and leave him to enjoy Ronni's company. "Now then, could you please go away."

"Actually, I am willing to overlook your rudeness and grant you a Christmas wish."

"Then I wish you would go away." Erikson requested.

"What gratitude. I am giving you the opportunity to have anything, do anything, but your barbarous nature simply lashes out at me in unprovoked anger. I guess I should have expected as much from a pathetically limited creature."

"Go AWAY!"

Q though for a brief fraction of a second before he began to smile with an expression which seemed to be one of satisfaction. "I was going to turn you into a Romulan tocuss flea but then I reconsidered. After all, it is Christmas, the season for giving. I shall be back to give you a present 'Commander. Trick or treat."

"That's Halloween." Greer pointed out.

Q waved his hands around to indicate how trivial details were. "Yes, yes, yes, whatever. I can't be bothered keeping up with all of these trivial Human traditions." Q raised his hand and clicked his fingers again, this time disappearing in the same flash of brilliant white light that summoned the glass of eggnog.

The Human and Delphinian got up from their chairs, their meeting together ruined by the Q entity. Ronni kissed Greer good night and left Greer to finish his drink. Taking one more sip and placing the glass down on the bar, he heard the word 'trick' come seemingly from no where in particular.

******

She entered her quarters and started to get undressed. She was still humming "Deck the Halls" and was enjoying the slight buzz she had from that WONDERFUL eggnog of Deiran's. As the dress slid down around her ankles, she suddenly heard, "Well you seem to be in a rather festive mode!"

Ronni yelped and turned toward the voice. Sitting upon a golden throne raised almost to the ceiling, surrounded by hundreds of candles and foil wrapped gifts, was Q. He was wearing a long green robe trimmed with cream colored fur. Upon his head, he wore a crown of holly leaves and berries.

She put her fists on her hips and said, "Q! What are you doing here?"

"Tis the season to be jolly! I'm here to grant you a Christmas wish. You helped save my son and I thought I could repay you. Though I have to say I liked the clothes you were wearing when you escaped with the dear Captain!" said the mostly omnipotent being. He waved his has and Ronni was suddenly wearing green body paint and was dressed as an Orion slave girl. Leash and all.

"Q, does the Captain know you're here? I was having a good day, could you just get lost please." she said removing the collar.

"But my dear, it's the season of giving and I'm here to grant you your heart's desire. So, what is it? What is it you want?" he said as he crossed his legs and putting his knuckle to his lips.

Ronni really just wanted him to go away, but she couldn't stop thinking for what it was that she DID want. The image of Greer meeting her parents and them loving him and Greer loving them. Then Greer and Ronni getting married on Delphi and coming back to the Galaxy and raising a family.

Q smirked and softly said, "Done. But it won't last forever. In a few days everything must return to normal. I can't have Price hounding me about protecting the timeline you understand." Raising his hand, he clicked his fingers . . . . .

. . . . . Ronni looked up and couldn't remember what she had been thinking of only a few moments before. Greer was to be home soon from the Bridge. From Vyonn's room, came the soft sound of whimpering. With a soft smile, Ronni turned and headed into the room. Vyonn, only 11 month's old, and named after Ronni's missing brother, already looked a lot like his father. The only real indications of a not full human parent, were the gills and ability to breathe under water.

She brushed back his dark hair from his face until he settled back into sleep. She then re-adjusted his blanket and restarted his music box. As she turned to leave, the triplets inside of her decided to shift positions. Rubbing her belly with her right hand, she put her left hand to her mouth. She hurried to the bathroom. One of them would always sit on her bladder and another would push against her stomach. With them due in six weeks, Ronni hoped it would pass soon.

By: Adrianna of Borg
Borg Drone

*** Deck 22/Engineering Support lab 3 ***

Adrianna of Borg had pinned the large four-armed form of Gordall Kalln beneath her, using a leg and an arm to do it. Using his free arms however, he held hers at bay, as she clenched the modified implant device dangerously near one of his eyes.

"Resistance Is Futile." Adrianna spoke in a neutral, machine tone.

However, even as she spoke those hated words..they keyed some inner reserve of strength. Fighting with all her willpower, she released her grip on the modified neural processor, letting it fall to the floor.

Looking down into Kalln's eyes, something in her expression changed, almost as if for an instant...

Kalln struck out with all his strength, lashing as if his life depended on it. Adrianna was sent flying back, and into the wall. Slumping to the floor, she was at least momentarily disoriented.

Kahn Nilani had used the time wisely, having pulled a hypospray from the medkit and loaded it with the most powerful sedative she could. She didn't know if it would be enough, but she had to try. Moving forward with lightning speed, she injected the Borg at the base of the neck, with enough of the drug to drop an elephant in seconds.

For an Instant, Adrianna of Borg moved as if to rise from her slumping position, then fell. Crashing forward, she lay in the middle of the room, unmoving.

The two federation officers traded glances, and then turned there attention back toward the silent form of the borg.

An instant later, the doors to the lab opened, as three Star Fleet security officers rushed in, with phaser rifles in hand....