USS Galaxy Sim Log Stardate: 49810.25

Ensign Scott face turns white as the captain vanishes. Looking around he sees no senior officers on the bridge as of yet. Scott moves around to the command well after initiating the red alert klaxon. Ship wide intercom "First officer and any senior officer to the bridge immediately this is a priority one emergency the captain as been kidnapped." Scott nervously waits for a repley. After a couple minutes of silence hoping someone will report to assume command.

Looking around the bridge he sees a skeleton bridge crew as no one as reported in at the moment every ones eyes are on him. Nervously pacing the command well Scott waits still no one shows. Maybe they are playing one of Q's games or something.

"Mr Elaithin what is the status of the borg ship." Sir it is closing fast at warp 8." "Very well set a course to the nearest starbase warp 8.5." 4 days away from starbase that will at least take longer for the borg to catch us."

Scott sits in the command chair waiting for the FO or other senior officer to report to the bridge.

"... Not only did I receive a message about my old crew I had been informed that a Borg was on the ship. It only happened a few hours ago, yet it all seems so long ago. Adrianna was somehow assimilated and turned into a Borg. Perhaps if I was on time, I could have prevented it, but I wasn't. I was too busy, too caught up in all the bad events in my life."

Suder began pacing around his quarters again not knowing what to do. He had been confined to quarters. "I can't remember what happened after red alert had been called. I think I went to find out what was going on... Yes that's it. I was on Deck 22. There were several security guards holding me back as I tried to force my way into the engineering lab. But somebody hit me with a hypospray and I found myself in sickbay. I came to my quarters, tried to relax, but no matter what I did, I couldn't sleep. The faces of all my family and friends crowd my head everytime I close my eyes. And there's nothing I can do to stop it..."

"...I went to the holodeck after breaking out of my quarters. I had to talk to the one person on the ship who would listen to me..."

"Computer, run program Suder Alpha One." Suder ordered. The room suddenly changed from a gridded cube to an engineering lab. Computers and conduits covered the brightly lit room. In the middle of the room working at a science station was the Engineering Program Suder had created. "Sophia." Suder called.

The female hologram turned around and smiled as Suder approached. "Hello Ensign, how can I help you?" she said.

"Is something wrong?" she asked. Suder sat down while Sophia halted her work and looked at him.

"I just got news, the USS Lakota was just captured by the Dominion." he said. "Now all my close friends are gone. When I first began creating your program, Lieutenant Sanders was helping me, now you seem to be all I have left of her." he continued.

"I'm sorry to hear that." Sophia replied with a concerned look on her face. Even though she was a hologram, she had emotions. Something Suder included a little while ago.

"I spent a little while in the holodeck before returning to my quarters. And that was when I began my log. Things seem a little more clearer now. I know what I have to do. As of tomorrow, I will officially request a transfer to the USS Defender. Word has it that the Defender will be part of the Sixteenth Fleet that will be engaging the Dominion in a direct assault one week today. Now that I have nothing left to lose, I may as well try and find the Lakota. I owe them that much!"

"Computer, end log." Suder said. The computer beeped in response and he just stood still in the middle of his quarters for a long time before he moved again.

Lara was sleeping on Miran's shoulder. Miran didn't know where Deiran was, but wanted to put Lara to bed. Plus it would be a relief to escape from the crowd.

She laid Lara on the bed and went into the room. She wanted to start packing her few things so that she can have them moved back home. First she moved to the sink to wash her face. She couldn't hold back the tears any longer.

She didn't know how Deiran could love her. She was plain. She wasn't all that smart. She was an outcast that didn't matter much in the grand scheme of things. She wouldn't even be missed that much....

"It doesn't sound like someone's enjoying her Christmas." Miran spun around to see a man decked out like that person in the book from Earth.

"So many questions. I'm here to grant your Christmas wish, that's all you need to know."

"Christmas is just another day. It does not mean anything to me. I think you should go find someone that cares. Get out!"

"Tsk tsk, listen to what I have to offer you... Anything you want. You name it, its yours."

"Deiran loves me. He said so. We are going to be together." Miran was fustrated at this creature barging in and telling about her life. She knew it well enough.

"How can you be so sure? How do you know he won't cheat on you again?" Miran couldn't answer his questions. There were so many beautiful women onboard this ship. He could find a new one at any time.

"Can you make it so that we will be together forever?" she asked meekly, head down, trying to stop the tears.

"Granted!" In a flash of light, he was gone and in his place stood Deiran. He looked dazed and confused but it didn't matter how he came to be here once he saw Miran's tears. He took her into his embrace and let her cry against his chest.

The cheery christmas music died out, it was replaced by the red alert klaxon, calling all hands to stations. Leslie dropped down her glass of eggnog, and moved back towards the towering holo deck doors.

Inside the dome, everything was a mess. People were moving about, trying to get out the doors, the siren continued to buzz, giving Leslie an ear spliting headache.

She tripped, and stumbled, almost losing her balance. An officer steadied her. "Easy Lieutenant."

He nodded, then moved off. Everything was jumble of motion as Leslie pushed her way forward, rush this way, then push through an opening this way, one big mess. She was elbowed a few times.

She passed through the towering doors of the holodeck, then moved out into the hallways. Moving quickly, she dashed down the hallway. Up ahead she could see a turbolift.

The lift hummed, and stopped at other decks, when it arrived at deck 14, only two of the other six still remained, Leslie nodded, then left the lift. Her sweater was making her feel hot, first chance she got, it was a new uniform for her.

All she could do now was get to her station, with a fierce determination, she moved quickly down the halls of deck 14.

After having enough of the party and slightly drunk from drinking to much klingon blood wine Dallas left the party..she liked Christmas but it wasnt the same without someone to share it with like a loved one.. Dallas stepped into her quarters and left the lights off ans went grabbed another bottle of Klingon blood wine... and went to chair and sat down with her legs underneath her...

"What do you want Q , never thought I'd see you again." Dallas said a bit darkly.

Raising an eyebrow "Where you excpectin a big kiss and a hug?" Dallas asked almost glaring at Q.

"Well , we were close friends at one time, were we not." Q said with a mischivious grin

"Besides that I am Drunk? Yes..." Dallas said.. "Could you please leave..I want to be alone Q."

Q bowed "As you wish my friend...but I'll stop by later." Q said Kowing that when Dallas wanted to be alone, she wanted to be alone...Then dissapered with a falsh of light...but as he left a beautiful white rose droped into her lap along with a beautifully little wrapped box and Dallas just stared at it then began to open it.....

The Red alert had dragged Benedict from his contemplations to the Battle Bridge in only a few moments. He was still dressed in Leather pants, white peasant shirt and reptilian leather boots - Bajoran earrings too. Yet he stood at the Tactical Arch in the Battle Bridge and brought all systems on line.

Current command staff were absent from the main Bridge and Benedict knew that there was an inexperienced crew manning the Bridge. Other officers were scurrying to posts - the Christmas party forgotten.

He examined the tactical scenario and knew that there was no way to avoid the Borg cube. It could out run them. But they needed time for Command to reach the Bridge and give the right orders.

He made a quick decision. "Ensign Elaithin, Ensign Scott, take the Galaxy to maximum Warp now. Course heading 000 Mark 090. I'm routing power to rear defector shields and setting up a cyclic frequency modulation. Rear Photon Torpedoes are locked and loaded. Phasers on line and targetted. Borg Cube is at 4 million kilometers and gaining." He tapped the comm net and opened up a channel to all Security Personnel. "All Security teams prepare to repel boarders. Teams to Bridge, Battle Bridge, Engineering, Computer Core and Life Support. Acknowledge."

Benedicts' voice was calm. He moved over the systems and prepared to fire a full spread of torpedoes for a close detonation in a four star pattern just behind the Galaxy. As the ship began it's tight climb along the 000 Mark 090 course he fired. "Torpedoes away." He said over the comm to the Bridge.

The starburst pattern and the close detonation created a sensor blind as the ship climbed away from it. With any luck the Borg Cube wouldn't see the Galaxys fast climb for a few seconds, long enough to delay their own climb to the new course and widen their arc of turn. It would gain a little time, but that was exactly what Benedict wanted. Time enough to get Command in their seats and giving orders.

Adrianna of Borg slowly paced the length of her cell, measuring out the exact distance of its dimensions. Over her left eye, an optical enhancement implant had grown into place, and now she used to it study the energy patterns of the force field access.

Beyond the force field that sealed the cell, she could see four armed Star Fleet Security guards within the detention chamber. One, their leader she surmised, stood behind a central security console monitoring the LCARs displays. Of the other three, she marked there exact locations and armament, then proceeded to study the walls of her new prison.

As one of the guards moved close to the cell to monitor her, she chose to speak to him.

"We are Borg. Lower this shield and surrender this ship. We will add your biological and technological distinctiveness to our own. Your culture will adapt to service us. Resistance is futile."

It was then that Adrianna of Borg acted, taking the guard completely by surprise. Matching the harmonic frequency of her personal Borg forcefield to that of the security cell, she reached through it, and grabed hold of his phaser rifle. In the next instant, She sent an energy discharge through her arm and into the weapons power unit, yanking her arm back into the cell in one fluid motion.

An instant later, the energy cell of the weapon detonated, exploding in a massive phaser overload that filled the chamber. Protected from within the very brig meant to contain her, she watched as the security force was dispatched, then stepped neatly from her prison and into the room beyond.

"Foolish humans, I am no mer Borg Drone,..But so much more". Walking to the central security console, she noted that the human that had stood at the controls was still alive.

Lifting him with ease, she activated the Borg injectors and pierced his neck. In another instant, the injection of Borg nano-probes was complete. Taking his weapon, she cast the new drone aside.

Turning toward the console, she reviewed the controls. Some of the LCARS displays were damaged, but those that weren't were easy prey. Moving with great speed and using some of the access codes still in the mind of the once Adrianna, she proceeded.

Adrianna of Borg knew that she was more than a drone, and the metamorphosis was just beginning. She had an obligation to the borg ship that was approaching, and she knew what she had to do. Her connection to the collective was complete, and her destiny clear. She was to assume the role the leader that they so desperately needed. In order to understand their prey, they had adapted.

Her first order had been to the Borg Cube. In response it increased its speed to warp 9.98. Soon it would overtake this vessel. Now, the Assimilation would begin.....

The alarm on the tactical consol registered the deaths of three security officers in the Brig as well as a phaser rifle overload. The tactical consol was patched in at all times with the ship board threat displays and the Borg captive was clearly registering. One of the Starfleet Officers was still alive - but barely.

The alert brought Benedict's attention immediately to the situation. He erected a cross harmonic force field at level 10 around the brig and shut off security access to the LCARS system on that deck. He touched the comm again, "Transporter room 1 emergency site to site transport - match co-ordinates - one to beam to sickbay - lock onto the Borg captive now. Initiate a transport and keep the Borg in the transporter buffer."

T'Kal to Sickbay - one emergency beam in - be careful - initiate a force field the crewman was attacked by a Borg."

Adrianna of Borg had expected the transporter attempt, and had been ready. Instead of being held in the Transporters buffer, the unusual energy fields generated by her Borg shields could work too her advantage in more ways than one.

By sending a timed surge through the Transporter beam during transit, the beam was destabilized and the transporter's normal safety overrides kicked in.

Adrianna of Borg, phaser rifle in hand materialized on the Transporter pad and fired. The weapons maximum stun setting struck the Transporter Tech, throwing him back against the wall.

Stepping down from the platform, Adrianna of Borg approached the fallen crewmen and injected him with Borg Nano-probes. Pausing only a second, she moved to the transporter console and reset the control coordinates. Taking the new Borg Drone with her,

An instant later, the energy effect of the transport took them..filling the room with light and the sound of the chime-like transporter effect....

Ensign Scott moved to stand between Helm and ops with the ship hurdling at maximum warp and the borg ship was almost in weapons range. It has been at least 5 minutes with no command officers reporting in. Looking to Ensign Mcloud and Ensign Elaithin "Things must be worse than we thought No word from anyone including the First Officer We have to assume that Q has them pre Occupied. And with the borg ship in pursuit I feel we should invoke Emergency protocol 7.

The 2 ensign turn in there chair and almost at once "what is that?" Scott looks at them Well it is an automated sequence that when a ship has been but in a situation that there is no officer above the Rank of LT Cmder to take command the ship will head for the nearest starbase maximum warp and sends an automated distress signal the Entire way. Once intercepted and a command officer above Ltcmder as come onboard then the protocol is shut down. However if the ships population has been disabled and tractoredd with out proper authorization the ship will self destruct. We can not let this ship fall into the hands of the borg.

At that moment a voice over the com calls out like a voice in the dark. It was Lt.jg T'Kal ordering maximum warp and heading 000 Mark 090. Scott quickly replies "Aye sir we are at maximum warp changing course. Helm turn to heading 000 Mark 090. Ship comes around as the torpedos are fired.

"Thank you LT T'Kal I am glad to know we are not alone and there is still someone else who still alive. Know what do you think about joining us hear on the bridge?" Scott Fills T'Kal in on Protocol 7.

"I think we should invoke it what do you think? I would like to point out that we have passed the deadline to initiate it and if we decide not to we had better be prepared to justify it. infact we are under regulation. However I am not an experienced Officer and you are know senior and in command.

Scott starts to wait for his repley when the security station goes wild registering an explosion. Scott steps over to the station when he sees that T'kal has efficiently dealt with the situation.

Chen had gone to his quarters after putting in a second ten minute appearance at the party, and was reading the book Lex had got him. A voice came from over his shoulder. "'The Maltese Falcon'? That's not much better than the trash Picard reads."

Chen concentrated, then it hit him. Literally. Chen pulled the piece of paper off his face with one letter typed to it. "Q."

Q smiled. Chen reached for his communicator on the table. Q was in front of him in an instant. "Now, Lieutenant. You don't want to interrupt our friendly little discussion, do you?"

Q shook his head, then Chen saw a bright light, and he was sitting in his chair again, Q hovering in front of him. "What do you want?" Chen asked.

"Good. Like I was saying, James. You fascinate me. I mean, you are quite an odd man. Not like anybody running around today. You've made quite good use of the pathetic skills and intelligence you possess. I find it interesting.

Q made an exasperated face. Suddenly, Chen saw the events of his killing of Admiral Nokuma played out. "You see," Q said. "Very few people in this day and age would have taken the course of action you did. You believe in good old fashioned revenge."

Q shrugged. "Perhaps. But, most of them whine and complain that it was something they never should have done, and they sure wouldn't admit they'd do it again. But you. You're different. You're truly a man of honor."

"Coming from you, that makes me want to change my outlook on life. You want honor? Why not find a Klingon. They kill for revenge all the time."

Q made a disgusted face. "But they have horrible breath. Do you have any idea what eating live worms can do to one's oral hygiene? It's not very pleasant."

"Well, I'm out spreading the Christmas cheer and I thought I'd take the opportunity to give you a new lease on life. A chance to have what you never got but always wanted."

Q shrugged and snapped his fingers. Chen found himself sitting on the bridge of a starship. From the design, it looked to be a Sovereign Class vessel. And he was in the center chair. He felt at his neck and counted off captain's pips. He checked the status screen to his right and found they were on course for Starbase 121. "Captain," a familiar voice said. "What were you thinking about?"

Chen turned and saw Q sitting at the Ops station with commander's pips on the collar. "What's going on?"

Q made an annoyed face and snapped his fingers again. The movements of the bridge crew ceased. "I have given you what you always wanted, James. The command of a fine ship, friends and even your first love."

Q nodded. "You catch on quick, my friend. Yes. In this world, Master Kwan was never murdered and you never went on a revenge spree which basically destroyed your career. You never destroyed main engineering on the Honorable, and Lucas Carter still has his legs and his life. He's actually Chief Engineer aboard this ship. He used that IQ of his to switch fields. Lieutenant Brady is now Commander Brady on the USS Hellespont. Admiral Nokuma also met with a rather...unfortunate demise when his shuttle blew up on the way to Starbase 96." A small model of a shuttlecraft floated by, then exploded. Q smiled.

"Oh yes, your parents are still alive and the Dominion forces have been beaten back. You have beaten Jim Kirk's record as the youngest man to ever gain command of a ship. As a result of your innovative thinking and combat skills, the Dominion have named you 'The One Who Fights In The Shadows'. Because you and your crew have discovered a new way to fire while cloaked."

Q chuckled. "Dear me, no! No one human can do all that! If there was some earthly way you could even pull all that off in real life, you'd be much more than a security officer."

Q frowned. "I tipped the odds in your favor. Your enemies are a little slower, and your ship is a little better. I've even enhanced your somewhat meager intellect.

"Well, what about the real world? Surely you don't have the power to completely upset everything that has ever taken place."

"I have more power than you could imagine. But, you're right. I don't have the abilities to completely change the universe. A quick little switch here or there, a simple word whispered in the right ear and I could spark off several intergalactic wars, but I alone cannot alter all events of time and space. If the continuum were willing, perhaps. This is a reasonable facsimile created in your mind. Right now, you lay unconscious in your quarters, blissfully unaware of all your troubles. Simply say the world, and you can live out the rest of your life, here."

Q shrugged. "Ah, Ensign Ral. Fiery little wench, that one. You are attracted to the ones with spirit, are you? Well, unfortunately, she's not on my immediate list, so I'm afraid she stays as is."

"Let me get this straight," Chen said. "You're basically offering me a really sophisticated holodeck program."

Chen smiled. He was really starting to feel the effects of the heightened intelligence. "I don't think you have room to talk, bright boy."

"Bright boy?" The bridge suddenly disappeared and he was suddenly lifted off his feet. He looked down at Q, who was holding Chen by the throat. "Now let me tell you something, whelp. I am just about tired of everybody acting so...human about everything. I come here trying to make you fools happy, and you repay me by insults and petty wishes. Even a Q can lose patience, and you people have just about destroyed what little of it I have left!"

Suddenly, he dropped Chen and the bridge reappeared. Q straightened his uniform and took a breath. "Right. I'm feeling much better now. So, I'm afraid I have other things to attend to. I'll let you get a free sampling from this universe, and return later for your answer. Good day, and Merry Christmas."

Then, in a flash of light Q was gone and activity on the bridge started again. Chen stood. "Q, wait!" There was no answer. Chen spun to face where Q had been sitting at his post before, but instead there was a female Bajoran officer there now. The other officers were looking at him.

Chen shook his head as he sat down. "No, Commander Tilon." Chen paused when he realized he knew her name, as well as the names of the other bridge crew. "Nothing at all." He scratched his chin as he thought about this new universe and whether it was worth giving up all he had known before. He looked at his first officer. "Tilon, take over. I've got to go to my quarters for a few minutes."

He stood and went to the turbolift. He stepped inside. "Deck 12," he said without thought. The lift started moving. When it stopped, he got out and walked directly to his quarters, not stopping once to figure out where it was. He walked in and found a room, relatively large for even a Sovereign class vessel. He guessed it was another gift from Q. On a shelf to his left, he saw several pictures. One was of him and Liz at their wedding. Another was of his parent, standing together in front of the shop. They were both a lot older than when they died. The last was of a small boy, about six years old. He had dark hair and slightly Asian features. He grinned at Chen from the frame. He touched the glass. "Jian..."

He heard a noise and looked up. Liz was in uniform, fixing her hair. "Oh!" She said. "James. You startled me. I thought you were still on duty."

Chen smiled. "Sorry. Thought I'd come by and surprise you. See you off to work."

Chen shrugged as she stood in front of a mirror and fixed her hair. "That's just the type of guy I am."

She smiled. "I know. Say, I was thinking when we get to the Starbase, you could take a few days off and we'd go see your parents and Master Kwan. It's been awhile since Jian has seen either of them. I wouldn't want them to think we were neglecting them."

Chen nodded. "Okay. The ship needs to undergo a refit since that mission to retake Betazed. They could probably do without me for a week." He shook his head, again astonished that he knew any of that.

"Good," Liz said. "I know I could use some time off. At least the war's almost over. Hey, could you pick Jian up from school in an hour? If you're going to take off early, why not spend a little time with your son?"

Chen nodded. "Sounds good to me." As Chen watched Liz leave, he felt strange. Here he was, in the universe of his dreams, and yet, he couldn't allow himself to accept it. He felt sick as he thought of the other, real world. As he looked at the pictures on the wall, he wondered if he really wanted to wake up.

Benedict kept his eyes on the internal threat displays and saw the Borg transport. The crewman registered as arriving in Sickbay, but a moment later the threat alarm registered a phaser rifle discharge in Transporter Room 1.

"Damn." Benedicts' teeth clenched in anger as he realized the Borg had escaped the trap. He tapped the console, his fingers flying over the pads as he spoke, "T'Kal to Mackenzie - any senior officer - I am instigating an LCARS lock down - level 10 encryption codes. The Borg has accessed the systems and has transported."

The computer registered the encryption - now only command staff could take control away from the systems on the Bridge or Battle Bridge. The Borg cube had accelerated to warp 9.98 but the Galaxy had been lucky so far - the increased speed coincided with the sensor blind and the Borgs' approach angle had been widened by the maneuver. It bought precious time.

It was the Borg on the ship that was now a major danger. " Security teams to main engineering." He tapped the tactical arch and walked through the instigation of modulated force fields. He sealed the Battle Bridge, Main Bridge and Engineering and handed local control of the fields to those in each section.

The Borg cube was 4.5 million kilometers away - out of range of the photon torpedoes and the phasers - it was run and weave time - he wished Tebrianne was in the helm seat. He cast a quick prayer that she was okay as he tried to lock down where the hell the Borg was transporting to.

"Ensign Scott, this is T'Kal, instigating protocol 7 will override helm - we can't risk it - we need the maneuvering room. We have senior crew aboard - ops we need more power to Engineering and shields - anything to give us a little more speed." He wanted to know where the Borg was headed - it was only one, perhaps two or three now - a good sized security team should be able to handle it. He sent automated security commands to several teams to take up positions at the sensitive areas of the ship - he knew that the Borg would want to make it easier for the Cube to catch up - and so either power or main engineering was a good bet. The computer core was too. He covered all three and hoped he was right.

They would be watching for another sensor blind - it wouldn't work twice. "Aft torpedo launchers are reloaded." He waited - the Borg cube was still out of range and the Borg intruder was about to appear somewhere. Benedict knew that the Borg had assimilated another crewman - the transporter tech. He was responsible for that. His plan hadn't worked. The Borg had been either prepared or it had taken local control of the transport before it had locked and disassociated her physical form into energy.

The briefings on the Borg and their tactics had been thorough on one point - never try the same trick twice. So at this stage it was Queen takes pawn - the only thing was the Galaxy was a big board to play on and the Queen had just moved again!

The three security personnel with him in the Battle Bridge had their eyes open and phaser rifles in hand. Ops and helm were monitoring action from the Bridge. So far the rookies on the Bridge had performed really well. They had kept their heads and caught the ball. "Mr. Scott, " He said, in a very calm voice.

"When this exercise is over - I'd like to buy you and Mr. Elaithin a drink. Good calls." He went back to monitoring the threat displays.

James sat at the helm position and type in orders for flight control. James could almost feel the fear of his fellow crewmates , that was the effect borg had on people. James wondered if this was Q`s doing or the Borg were after him. Almost like he had been reading his mind a bright flash iminated from the far corner of the bridge.

James sat back down and looked at the Control board. Q hadnt done anything that the bare eye could see or at least the galaxys sensors. Behind the door James could almost hear a mechanical sound. Looking to Scott he says "You hear that?"

We a suden burst of energy a group od Borg burst into the room. Standing up James pulls out a phaser and begins firing. The random shuts of Phased energy dosent do any harm to the Borg. The other crewmembers also begin to attack the borg.Dropping his phaser James taps on his comm badge: Security alert deck one Two Borg start heading for James not knowing what to do James starts running twoards them.The two borg grap James by the arms and are teleported away back to their base of operations on the Galaxy.

The two Borg Materilize in an assimulated corridor along with James. The two Drones then throw james into an Alcove. The Drones begin to surround him their assimulation tools heading for James face. Struggling to get free James hits a drone in the head damaging one of its tools. Then of course Q reappears with a smile on his face.

"Ensign Brandis' just woke up. Apha and Beta waves started up to normal levels with basic neurological responses to Tricorder Scans. No current explanition for the sudden increase of activity...He just woke up." Replied Doctor Khatroweena.

"He won't shut up. Keeps saying that he needs to get back to work or Deiran will ruin the order he's brought to Ops." The doctor said while stifling a laugh.

"Well, that's one way to put it. But, don't worry Ensign, as soon as we figure out just what happened to you we can pronounce you of sound mind and body." Dr. Kahn smiled at her patient.

"...Yeah, I know that but, I was hoping it could be sooner." Lucas protested, while pushing away the medical tricorder.

"Oh, that's rich, the patient tell the doctor it's okay...Listen, Ensign," Dr. Kahn invoked rank, which always slightly ticked Lucas off. "You have been in an, as of yet, unexplained coma for six weeks. SIX WEEKS. Now, it would be more than irresponsible of me; nay, it would be mal-practice to let you return to duty without a complete and thorough medical check-up. Now, Ensign, either allow me to continue or I'll have security strap you down to the bed and inact force fields!"

The doctor's monologue had caught Lucas off guard. He hated the scum bags that always seemed to pull rank. He didn't know if the doctor was one of them; but, he wasn't about to get lectured without some retort.

"Well, Doc," He said, leaning closer, but not lowering his voice. "No one's offered to tie me down to a bed since my last trip to Risa. But, if you insist." With that, Lucas placed both hands behind his back, in a mock prisioner position. He could sense the nurses nearby holding back a chuckle.

But, Dr. Kahn was less than amused, she finished her scan and moved on with her work. Hardly speaking to the Ensign. Somehow, Lucas knew it'd be a long few days. He didn't want to start off on the wrong foot though.

"Dr. Kahn, I apologize." He said walking up to the prim and proper, on duty Doctor. "Hey, Doc.....wanna go out for a drink?"

"Getting to the bridge"
by Commander Joerg Sterner
Executive Officer, USS Galaxy

The Christmas party was ruined. Joerg knew it from the instant Q was paying his visit to the holodeck. Once Joerg left the holodeck to locate Captain Price, he was contacted by the Captain himself and the Red Alert sounded. Obviously something big was going on.

Joerg entered the turbo lift and headed up to deck 1 to meet with the Captain first. He assumed that the other department heads were soon to follow, but he wanted to talk the Captain alone. While he was in the lift another message reached him.

["First officer and any senior officer to the bridge immediately this is a priority one emergency the captain as been kidnapped."]

'Great, now Q has gone to far!' Joerg thought, while the lift somewhat slowed down. Joerg quickly checked with the controls, but he couldn't see anything wrong except that the lift was practical standing still.

"Sterner to Engineering. I have a problem here in turbo lift 3. I seem to be stuck inside the lift here. Do you know of any malfunction here?" he asked.

'Great, but I'm stuck here anyway. I need to get to the bridge as soon as possible.' he thought and ended the comm link with Engineering to press the badge again.

"Quick, I need a site to site transport to the bridge. Lock onto my comm badge and beam me out of here!" Joerg ordered.

Not a moment after he heard the acknowledgement he was dematerializing. Moments later he was standing on the bridge, standing in front of the view screen, but facing the tactical arch.

"Q took him with him sir." Ensign Scott replied as he was standing up from the command chair.

"Right, and what about the Red Alert? Why did the Captain ordered it Ensign?" Joerg inquired.

Ensign Scott didn't want to answer that question, instead he pointed to the view screen behind the Commander and added "Take a look for yourself sir."

Joerg quickly turned around and couldn't believe what he was seeing. Nearly the complete view screen was filled by the approaching Borg cube. 'The Borg? In Federation space?' Joerg couldn't believe it. Then he remembered a similar experience he had read about. It was on the Enterprise-D under the command of Captain Picard. Back then Q introduced the crew of the Enterprise to the Borg by sending their ship to encounter the unknown species for the first time. 'Now it seems to be the other way around.' Joerg thought and slowly walked away from the view screen to the command well.

Ensign Scott was watching the reaction of the First Officer, but then started to explain the current situation to him. He quickly filled him in on the current situation. Joerg sat down at the Captain's chair, assuming he was once again in command of the vessel with Captain Price gone. Suddenly he had an idea and quickly tried to prove himself wrong on that idea.

["Captain Price is in Lieutenant Sharp's quarters."] the computer voice replied.

Joerg smiled lightly. He knew that Q didn't take to the Captain off the ship, but instead transported him somewhere on the ship. In this case he was in Lieutenant Sharp's cabin.

"Ensign, please notify the Captain that he is needed on the bridge immediately and see if the other department chiefs are already on their way to the bridge." he ordered Ensign Scott, who quickly nodded his acknowledgment.

'Now back to that Borg cube.' Joerg thought and prepared himself for the upcoming battle.

Scott returns to the security station. Pulls out a phasor rifle sets it for a modulating frequency. Taps a few keys on the Security Council Computer Security authorization Scott delta 3-7 Ensign Adrianna has been taken over by borg and is concidered hostile remove her security code access from current level to Level zero with hostile intintions." Computer chirps and it is done. about the only thing she can do is open a door and use the turbo lift.

"Computer Initiate Protocall seven." Computer responds "PRotcol requires verification of no Command personal on the bridge Scanning. Confirmed Protocol seven has been initiated. Transimitting continues Distress signal. Course has been changed for starbase. Current speed will be maintained to keep borg cube at current distance. A command officer with the rank of LTCMDR or higher is the only one who can revoke Protocall seven.

Scott taps his combage. "Protocol has been initiated the borg cube is still several hours away and will remain that way all command functions are locked down the only system online is replicators. Transporters every thing is locked out."

Scott turns to Mcloud "Sorry to take your fun away but with out a command officer we have no choice. Its hands free for know." And when this is all over remined me and I will buy you a drink."

Dallas sat in her chair the more she thought about him , the more depressed she got...Why did he have to die? she will never understand that, she couldnt see his smilling face ,or here his wonderful deep laugh , at least the symbiont (If the symbiont had survied) she could have thought he wasnt really dead.. she was getting more depressed about this..

She got up and walked out of her quarters, she had always been the typ that could hold her liquor very well. After a bit Dallas arived in ten-for it was rather quiet and peaceful ,which she liked. So she made her way to a perfect veiw of the stars and sat down at the table and just stared...

A waiter came up and asked what she wanted to drink , she didnt even look at the waiter and said she liked Klingon blood wine and not the replicated stuff. The waiter left and was back in five minuetes with her drink and sat it in front of her..

Dallas continued staring out ignoring anything and anyone that would walk into ten-for. Trying not to think about Zephyrus.

Mendenhall smirk at the way T'Zaq had taken apart the party. It seemed so typical of a Vulcan. "Sounds like you've had a bit much eggnog already." T'Zaq raised her head a bit in mock haughtiness and crossed her arms. Mendenhall smiled and sipped he nonalcoholic beverage.

Just then the red alert klaxon sounded. Parts of the party started to disappear. Mendenhall and T'Zaq looked at each other, then Mendenhall bolted to the arch. Something was very wrong with this. Everyone started leaving the party, and Anthony tried to see what was going on through the arch.

Mendenhall tapped his comm badge. "Mendenhall to bridge, I'm at the party. What's going on up there to put up a Red Alert?"

A few seconds later he was replied by Ensign Scott. =/\=We just detected a Borg cube on our sensors.=/\="

"Alright, I guess the party is shut down for good. I'll close it up, Mendenhall out."

He waited as everyone started to file out of the holodeck. The Borg cube could only mean trouble. Serious trouble. With the Dominon War going on, spare ships would be almost impossible. It would take a good sized fleet to stop it.

Anthony looked over his shoulder and saw an Lieutenant just standing there looking at him. Mendenhall deactivated the part program, and the small holodeck grid appeared once again. Mendenhall turned around and saw the same Lieutenant just standing there.

This didn't make sense. "Um, Lt. Cue, sir, I need to get to my secondary shift assignment, it is Red Alert."

Alright, to save time he would make a wish for this Cue fellow. "Alright, I wish that A really powerful warship to warp in to help us with that Borg ship."

Suddenly Mendenhall was on the bridge, only it wasn't the Galaxy's. He was sitting in a Captains chair, and they were at warp speed. He looked down at his rank and saw it was a Captain. He looked over and saw the dedication plaque. Wraith Class, USS Wraith NX 20202.

They suddenly slowed down. From the helms station, a red headed Ensign reported their situation. "We've reached the Galaxy sir, ETA of the Borg cube is three hours."

"Thank you Mr. Osborn." How did he know the Ensigns name. As the ship turned Anthony could see the USS Galaxy.

*What is going on. I'm the captain of some kind of ship. Who was that Lt. Cue guy, and what is going on.*

"Meeting with the Captain."
By Ensign Mike Marc
Tactical Officer
with additions by Captain Price

Mike was in Ten-forward when suddenly the Red alert sounded. His mind immediately began thought sober, because he heard from another that it was a borg attack. He still remembered that was the main reason of his father's death. He ran out from ten-forward and ran to his quarter and on the way ran into the Captain (near Lt. Sharp's quarters).

Aaron glanced at the erect Ensign strangely. He still looked and sounded like Captain Price thanks to Q. "No you don't understand I'm not..."

["Captain to the bridge. Red Alert. Captain to the bridge immediately.] came bellowing over the ships intercom system in Commander Sterner's voice.

Captain Price, (who was really Lieutenant Sharp) looked confused, like he didn't know what to do.

"Come Captain you are wanted on the Bridge!" Ensign Marc beckoned motioning towards the turbolift.

"You don't understand 'mate...." Aaron clutched at his mouth, like he'd just said a bad word or something. He sounded exactly like Captain Price, even his Australian accent.

Deciding to go along and explain it to Commander Sterner on the Bridge, the pseudo Captain agreed with a nod as both men headed for the turbolift and then on to the Bridge.

After take some time off to head back to earth George was loveing the action that was going on. When he was on earth he just sat around at Star Fleet looking at the new shuttles. No big changes but a few none the less.

George found out that he missed the big party. He was also told that Q is or was around the Galaxy. George really didn't no much about Q. Just that he was a pain in eveyones neck. To top it all off the borg are out there picking a fight.

"Well, I better have my hand phaser on me." George says as he gets ready to head out of his quaters.

He pick up his hand phaser off his night stand and heads out the door. See the red lights flashing George headed to Ten Forward not thinking about anything.

The small child giggled as Greer continued to pull silly faces. Vyonn's blue eyes light up and the area around his gills went a little red from the excitement. "So my little man," the proud father said as he cradled his son, "are you going to be a scientist like your mother and I or an engineer like your godfather or a pilot like your godmother. Maybe you'll be a writer, an actor, a historian, or maybe even a diplomat like your aunt."

Vyonn wriggled around a little as he got comfortable against the adult's chest. Greer could only smile. The doors to their quarters slid open and Ronni walked in. Walking over to her family, she leaned down and kissed her husband. "So how was Miran?"

Ronni took Vyonn from Greer and sat down with the sleeping child. "Lara loved the bear." she whispered as not to disturb the sleeping infant. "And what have you been up to?"

"I spoke to AC and got the last set finished. Then I went and saw Lieutenant Stafford and her husband in Sickbay. She seems to be doing well now and, oh, I nearly forgot, we got a letter from your folks this afternoon. It seems they're happy with the last lot of photos we sent of our trip to Mackinac Island."

"What's the matter Greer?" Ronni said as she noticed his face change from one of happiness to one which seemed a little more sullen.

Greer sat down on the edge of the chair next to Ronni. "I was just thinking how much my mother would have liked to have seen her first grandchild." he said as he watched their son wriggle around. "I also think my father could have made the effort to visit to meet the newest addition to the family."

"You know your father is busy." Ronni tried to remind him of the story he had been living with for some time.

"That's nonsense." Greer snapped, almost waking Vyonn. "He didn't even make it to the wedding on Delphi. Beverly ended up coming instead and that was only because she had been good friends with my mother."

"I think we should change the subject." Ronni suggested as she realized that Greer and his father were not likely to resolve their differences in that one day. "So what else did my parents have to say?"

"Not much really. I think they just wanted an excuse to speak to me. I am, after all, their favorite son-in-law." he said with a smile.

Ronni cocked her head to one side as if to look at the remark from a different view. "Um, Greer. You are their only son-in-law." she reminded him.

"Have you wrapped up the P-R-E-S-E-N-T-S?" Greer said as Ronni just looked at him.

"Ronni!" he exclaimed. "V-Y-O-N-N doesn't need to know what we are talking about."

"Greer, he's only eleven months old and doesn't know what a present is. He'll just be happy to get it. Actually, I wouldn't be suprised if he gets more fun out of the wrapping paper." Ronni mused.

Greer stood up and walked over to his wife and son. Reaching out, he picked up his son from the arms of his mother. "Let's go see your Uncle AC and the rest of mom and dad's friends in Ten Forward. You mom is being mean to daddy and you know how much everyone loves to see you."

Ronni smiled. "No you don't." she said as she watched the pair of them preparing to leave their quarters. Standing up, she walked over to Greer who was wondering what he had done wrong.

"Oh." he simply said as he looked up above the door as saw the sprig of mistletoes she had placed there this morning. "I forgot." he said before he kissed her. "See you in Ten . . ."

["All hands battle stations. Senior staff report to the Bridge."] the communication system announced as the red alert klaxons sounded.

"Damn it." Greer said as he handed restless Vyonn carefully over to his wife. "I'll see you both when this gets sorted out. Bye little man." he said as he waved to Vyonn.

Racing over to the turoblift door, he waited for a carriage to arrive, wondering all the time what was so important that it had disrupted the festivities on the starship. The turbolift doors opened and he walked in. "Bridge." he said, worrying about his young family.

The red alert klaxons started blaring. Teb blinked twice at the missing band and realized she'd better get to the bridge. Still in a daze, she turned toward the holodeck exit and began moving with the rest of the crew.

Something strange was happening. She felt strange--disconnected, yet connected. It was like she was looking at things through a different set of eyes. Everything around her seemed so much smaller. Tebrianne's spine tingled and her head was still throbbing from the mind meld. She would have to tell Captain Price about Q being onboard. But first, she had to get to the bridge.

Tebrianne blinked in surprise when she realized she was standing at the back of the bridge. Commander Sterner was just sitting down in the captain's chair and Ensign Scott resumed his position at the security station.

Teb moved down to the helm and took her position. The Borg cube was still a few hours away. Borg Cube?!? A momentary panic attack gripped Tebrianne. She'd heard of the Borg, studied them a little at the Academy, but had never seen them. Her palms started to sweat as she recalibrated the navigational array. One of the worst threats to the Federation and they were back...in the middle of the war with the Federation's other worst threat.

Maybe the Borg are here to assimilate the Dominion, Teb thought. Not bloody likely.

The computer chirped that the recalibration was complete. Teb ran a quick diagnostic on the helm. Satisfied that everything was in order, she leaned back slightly in her chair. She wiped a bead of sweat from her forehead, her braids rattling like a beaded curtain. The buzz she'd been feeling at the party was gone--the effect of the eggnog burned away during one of the daftest she'd ever done. What every made her think she could mind meld with Q?

Perhaps it's because the bloke didn't identify himself, she thought in answer to her own question. She just wished the headache would go away.

The cotton-filled feeling from earlier was gone. Her mind was clear and her thoughts focused. Well, as focused as thoughts could be when one is scared out of her gourd over the prospect of spending the rest of her life as a borg drone. Teb's mouth was dry and she really wished she had a glass of water.

She blinked at the glass that suddenly appeared in her hand. Her stomach felt like it was doing flips. Her mind struggled to wrap itself around what was happening. Her trembling hand was sweating again. Q was playing tricks on her. He had to be. It was the only explanation. Teb watched, helpless to make her body react, as the glass slid from her grasp and crashed against the deckplates. Something was very wrong.

Teb recoiled, pulling her hands in close to her chest. Her whole body was shaking. She moved away from the helm, fighting to gain control on the fragile remains of what emotional control she still possessed. The tears were burning hot against her cheeks. Eyes glazed with fright, Tebrianne frantically looked around the bridge. Q had to be there somewhere. He had to be doing this to her.

Suddenly, there was a hand on her shoulder. A voice was speaking to her, but she couldn't make out the words. She pulled away and screamed. There was a bright flash and rapid movement. A body thumped hard against the turbolift door and slid to the floor like a sack of Tellarite baking flour.

Tebrianne felt trapped. Everywhere she turned, someone was there. Where was Q? Why was he doing this to her? She needed to go somewhere. She needed to go somewhere that people would leave her alone. She felt a presence behind her and quickly moved toward the viewscreen and shouted, "Leave me alone." It was more of a shriek than a shout, but at the moment, Teb didn't really care. She needed time to herself to gather her thoughts.

Teb stood breathing for five mintues before opening her eyes. When her eyes opened, she was on a vast field of silvery metal. It appeared to be titanium. Teb looked up at the horizon, trying to figure out where she was, and her equilibrium vanished. She felt like she was falling both up and down at the same time. Waves of dizziness washed over her like when she let Danny Smythe spin her around like a windmill in the playground near her home when growing up. She felt nauseous. Really nauseous.

"Ewww," a smug voice said from behind her. "Captain Price isn't going to like that. You might want to clean that up before going back inside."

"Don't worry," he said, handing her a towel. "The dizziness will go away. For you mortals, the vastness of space can be a little overwhelming. I've never had anyone...well, you know..."

"Yes," Q said, stepping away from the mess Teb had made. "It's quite disgusting really. All those bodily fluids. So messy. Well, Deiran Casey didn't make a mess. Though, ship's gossip claims that you and he have swapped bodily fluids on occasion." Q gave her a wink.

"Just leave me alone, Q," Teb said, turning away. "It was only once. And, its not something I'm proud of."

"Really," Q said, moving in close. "I figured your species would be... Well, that's what humans--and similar bi-pedal hominids such as yourself--that's what they do. You swap all of your fluids to make more."

"There's more to it than that, Q," Teb said. She sat down on the hullplates and stared back between the nacelles. "It's not just to make more. It's supposed to be a pleasurable experience, sex is."

"No," Teb said, a fingernail scraping at the "G" she was sitting on. "Well, yes it was in a way, but not in the way that I hoped."

"Let me guess," Q said. "Love. A l'amour. He didn't love you and you loved him."

"Neither of us loved each other," she said. "He had his wife. I don't know why he did it. I didn't have anyone. I...I don't even know why I'm telling you this."

"Actually," Q said, leaning close. "It's fascinating to hear how truly barbaric your species is. Yet, there is something...something so childish in the way you hold on to these infantile belief systems and put so much weight into all of your emotional drivel. So neither you nor Casey loved each other and you exchanged fluids anyway. What does that mean?"

"Yes," she said. "Like me." She looked up at Q, and he was seated next to her. "Why aren't you trying to insult me and my species? Isn't that what you're supposed to do?"

"Well," he said. "While that is true, I am interested in what you have to say. Call it a change of heart. Call it a secret desire to learn about humanity. I don't know, maybe it's gas from that horrible eggnog."

Teb smiled. She never would have expected that the one person she'd be able to talk to about all of this would be Q. "Love is very special to me. For the longest time, I thought I loved Greer and thought he would be vaguely interested in me. When I found out that he and Ronni were...well,..."

"Making the beast with two backs," Q said, making an obscene gesture with his hands.

"Crikey," Teb said. She shoved his hands away and glared at him. "Yes. That they were seeing each other, I got really depressed. I went to Ten Forward, and then to the lounge. Casey was there. One thing led to another and we ended up in the holodeck having sex. I thought that was what I wanted, but the whole thing turned into a big nightmare."

"I could make it all go away if you want," Q said. He held up his hands, ready to snap.

"No," Teb said. "For as much pain as it's caused--and will probably continue to cause--I don't want to lose that."

"Because it reminds me how special what I have with Benedict is," Teb said. "He is so wonderful and gentle and--" Soft violin music started playing as Teb started talking about Ben. She glared at Q. "Is everything a joke with you, Q?"

She looked up at Q. She expected to see him brushing tears out of his eyes or blowing his nose, but he was just looking at her.

In an uncharacteristic gesture, Q put his hand on her shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. "As difficult as it may be for you to understand," he said. "I think I understand."

Teb pushed herself up off the hull. In a flash, Q had moved from sitting to standing.

"No," she said. "Why are you sitting here talking to me? It's not like you. From what I've read and heard about you, this doesn't seem to be like you."

"Well," he said. "I could say that it is because you don't have it in your microscopic depth of understanding to be able to comprehend Q. But, that isn't the case. Not with you, anyway."

"Oh bloody hell, Q," Teb said backing away. "You're not going to say that you're attracted to me or any rubbish like that, are you?"

"Not quite," he said. "But close. You and I have shared something that no mortal and Q have ever shared before. With that little mind meld you did, we were shared the same...oh, how best to describe it so that you'll understand...shared the same mind for the briefest of moments. There is a part of you still ravaging around in me now... And, you...well, you have been running around the Galaxy for the last hour with the power of the Q--"

"The power of the Q," he said. "You know, the band, the glass of water, suddenly appearing on the bridge...that poor blind ensign with two left feet. You did all that."

"Everyone blames everything on the omnipotent guy," he said, with mock insult. "No, it was most definitely you."

"We aren't in the habit of just handing that out to everyone, you know," he said. "We offered it to Riker, but he refused. So short-sighted of him. Anyway, you have been given a special gift--"

"I was getting to that," Q said. "With great power comes great responsibility. Yadda yadda yadda. You have no control over what you've been doing. The mayhem you've been causing has all been at the subconscious level. That can be dangerous. For you, the rest of your insignificant crewmates, and the very universe itself. So, I will do this one thing for you...I will give you control of your power to do one thing. And then I will take it away."

Before Q could finish, Tebrianne wrapped her arms around him. Q sputtered and looked down at her. "What are you doing," he said.

"If you think I'm going to have sex with you as a way of saying thank you..." he stopped in mid-sentence. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean that." Hesitantly, he wrapped his arms around her as well.

Teb's tears stained Q's uniform as her muffled sobs could barely be heard above the sound of complete nothingness in the vacuum of space.

"It wouldn't be wrong if I asked you why you are crying on my chest, would it?" Q asked.

"No," Teb said. "It feels so good to get those things off my chest. To talk to someone. I've kept a lot of that bottled up for months, and it felt wonderful to finally say something to someone. Thank you, Q. You would be the last person I would suspect as a counselor, but I am glad you were."

Q looked nervous. "Well, why don't we keep that our little secret, eh? I have a reputation to uphold. I mean if the rest of the universe thought they could come to me to unload their troubles and woes..."

After visiting the young officers on the bridge, Karyn decided it was time for her to return to her quarters for some much needed rest. She enjoyed herself at the party, especially because she had gotten to meet more of the crew. They all seemed so much more relaxed and at peace. Even Deiran Casey seemed to be in happier spirits since his apparent reconciliation with Miran.

Karyn let her mind wander as she began to undress for the night. She caught a brief glimpse of her night table and saw the pictures the young children had given to her just a few days earlier, when she had visited the ship's classrooms. She grinned, remembering the pride on the young children's faces as they presented her each with their Christmas presents. She loved visiting them and she promised herself she would visit them more often.

Karyn had slipped into bed and almost gotten to sleep, when a flash of light appeared at the foot of her bed. For a moment she thought she had imagined it. Maybe that one cup of eggnog was more powerful than she thought. The flash of light soon materialized into the figure of a man in a Santa's costume. It took a moment for her to place him, but then she realized who she was seeing. She was about to say something when he cut her off. "Merry Christmas, Karyn. It's so good to see you again." said Q sarcastically.

"I wish I could say the same, said Karyn with a sigh. "What the hell do you want?"

"I see age hasn't changed you much, still as saucy as ever. Aren't you at all surprised to see me?"

"Let me get this straight, so far I've see a walking snowman that also talks, Santa and his reindeer and let's not forget the sugar plums dancing over everyone's heads. Excuse me, Q if I don't jump out of bed and give a yelp of surprise at your sudden arrival. No, you omnipotent little snot, I'm not at all surprised you're here. Now if you don't mind, I'd really like to get some sleep. Whatever you want will just have to wait until morning."

To anyone else hearing the exchange, Karyn's words might have seemed extremely harsh, even when talking to an obnoxious being like Q. Karyn had learned never to let people infuriate her like that. In some situations, it was necessary to do the unexpected. By not flying into a rage as Q expected her to, it had put him completely off guard. Now the next move was his. Karyn took some pleasure in watching him squirm.

"How dare you insult me!! I wanted to give you a Christmas present and this is how you thank me?"

"Oh, but Q, look at as the gift that keeps on giving." Karyn said this with as much sugar as she could muster.

He was about to reply when the Red Alert sounded. "Look, I'd love to stay and chat but I'm needed elsewhere." She threw on her clothes as fast as she could and headed for the bridge. She knew Q was soon to follow, but she had bigger things to worry about now.

She entered the TL and barked, "Bridge" to the computer. It didn't budge and at first she thought it was some kind of computer malfunction. Then she thought better of it.

"Not so fast Counselor, I came here to accomplish something and I mean to do it. Tell me what you wish and I'll take you to the Bridge."

"I want....I want to walk for a day." Karyn couldn't believe she'd said it. Her whole life she'd believed she'd come to terms with her disability. Ok, so sometimes it bothered her that others didn't have the limitations she had, and maybe she was sick and tired of the patronizing she still tended to endure. But dammit, she had overcome all that. Yet she wanted it as much as she'd ever wanted anything.

She expected Q to laugh or shrug his shoulders but instead he nodded as if he understood her. She suddenly regretted yelling at him earlier.

"All right, if that's what you want. She watched as he easily snapped his fingers. Suddenly her wheelchair disappeared and she was left STANDING alone. Before she could react, the TL resumed and soon the doors opened onto the bridge. She tentatively took her first steps, hoping not to trip on her high heeled boots.

All eyes turned to her as she walked for the first time unassisted onto the bridge. She watched as the bridge officers turned. One by one their jaws began to drop. They had never seen the Chief Counselor without her wheelchair!

Hoping to lighten the mood, Karyn muttered "Sorry I'm late, I was a little busy....

��2 Borgs assimilating, 1 Frosty Snowman and a omnipotent Q�
by Lt. Hunter McKenzie
Chief Tactical Officer
USS Galaxy

�This is not a good night,� he thought as he rounded another corner, �first Q, then Borg. What else can happ��

Mac slid to a stop as he watched the large white Snowman came bouncing down the hallway. Mac stood in astonishment as the creature appeared to stumble and fall to the ground�.Mac watched as the black top hat rolled toward him, stopping mere inches from his boots. Stooping to pick it up he cautiously approached the now inanimate mounds of snow. Mac looked back and forth from the hat to the snow mound finally placing it upon the smaller of the two balls of snow�

�he was suddenly blown back by a weird blast of twinkling lights that seemed to engulf the �snowman� Suddenly the mounds animated and the creature began to dance around Mac.

�HAPPY BIRTHDAY!�- exclaimed the Snowman, to Mac, before bouncing down the hallway.

Mac blinked his eyes twice before shaking his head and heading toward the bridge�

As Mac exited the TL. He suddenly stopped he stood outside of the Galaxy�in mid space. Quickly stepping back to teh TL he looked around�

�Yes. Like it couldn�t be some other Omnipotent being�always Q this and Q that. How clich�..� came the disembodied voice as Q faded into view�. � Its now your turn, Lt. what is your Christmas wish, every one else has gotten one�rather uninspiring too.

I want to ship,�I want to be a Borg�I want to look like�well that�s not important. Its now your turn. So what will it be?� Q stopped his incessant rambling and sat there in mid-space as if this was a normal day.

Oh don�t be so melodramatic�everyone wants something�� I refuse to leave until you wish�� Q turned his back on Mac and pouted.

Q quickly spun and wringing his hands like a kid in a toy store stood be for Mac.

�I wish for the means to defeat the Borg for as long as they are a threat to this ship AND�� emphasized Mac, �does not involve any Starfleet personnel.�

Mac watched as a slight grin came over Q and with a sudden flash Mac was exiting the turbo lift...the only proof of the encounter a strange greenish device wrapped around his wrist.

Mac made his way to the Tac Arch, relieving Lt groom to proceed to the TacOps center. Scanning the various screens he nodded to Commander Sterner, in readiness.

No sooner then he was about to announce the current situation then a proximity light began to flash on the console�

�Commander, Transwarp Conduit opening between us and the Borg�energy readings off the scale.� Relayed Mac.

Scott returns to the security station. Pulls out a phasor rifle seting it for a modulating frequency. Taps a few keys on the Security Council Computer Security authorization Scott delta 3-7 Ensign Adrianna has been taken over by borg and is concidered hostile remove her security code access from current level to Level zero with hostile intintions." Computer chirps and it is done. about the only thing she can do is open a door and use the turbo lift.

"Computer Initiate Protocall seven." Computer responds "PRotcol requires verification of no Command personal on the bridge Scanning. Protocol denied Commander sterner is in turbo lift in route to bridge Protocol seven is denied.

Scott sighs a breath of relief. A few seconds later a transport is initiated on the bridge. Scott brings his phasor rifle to bare as the individual materialises. Another sigh of releaf as he sees Commander Sterner Standing before him.

Her Bajoran side groaned, 'Ohh.. he's serious about this. Klingon, u caused this, u get us out alive.'

K�Eytyanna sneered at him, "You have no right to question my honor! You are nothing! You are less than nothing! You are not Klingon!" The last words were spat at him as if they were the deadliest of insults.

After a few minutes, she realised it wasn't going good for her yet she fought against showing it. With one move, she became pinned and had her arm twisted. She cried out involuntarily � her first vocal indication of pain.

Her Klingon side growled mentally, 'No, it isn't. I was only protecting the others.'

Angrily, she forced her numb right arm to lash out at him. Within seconds, she was being hit again and she blacked out.

She gasped and shot up, awakened suddenly. She let out a loud bellow as the pain rushed into her head and she fell back.

Closing her eyes, she felt D'Akana's toungue licking her sore arm as if to try and help. Opening her eyes, she gave him a soft rub and spoke,

"That sure went bad. D'Akana, sometimes, I wish that I could be like you. You don't have to ever worry about insults or honor or offending anyone - just eat, hunt and sleeping."

Pulling her targ down to lie next to her, she thought about her actions, and how this had been the best consequence that she could think of out of the many she knew could have happened.

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

Lt Thomas entered his quarters after his shift, Q was being reported all over the ship. No surprise Q was a being of immense power, but little self-control. He found Q to be a being that was so bored of everything else, he only had one thing left in his life to distract him, tormenting other beings of lesser power. Now the ship was at red-alert because the Borg had been not only spotted, but there was a Borg or two already on the ship. This was nuts, they were suppose to be relaxing, but apparently Q had decided to interrupt the relaxation time.

Chris had been sitting in his chair relaxing. The captain had called for the senior officers to report to the bridge, which had caught him off guard. However since he wasn't a senior officer he just needed to be ready to report to the bridge, even though he should be sleeping.

"Just that a nuisance has decided to pay the ship a visit. Namely the being known as Q." Chris said. He wasn't sure she'd truly understand or remember what Q meant to us mortals.

"I remember something about him, or them. They are omnipotent beings from the Q continuum." Gwyen said as she started rubbing his neck and shoulders.

Strange Chris thought to himself as he felt her hands touch the back of his neck, they were warm. He always thought that someone's hands who was dead would be cold. He was originally surprised that she could touch him and he was able to feel her touch, but she could and it felt very good. Chris closed his eyes and relaxed, letting Gwyen's warm hands work their magic on his neck and shoulders.

Chris opened his eyes, she was gone and he felt relaxed. He decided that he should head to the bridge and see what was happening. Even though he wasn't required to do so, he felt that it would be best for him to leave his quarters. He figured that it would be better to appear on the bridge and help, then remain in his quarters.

Lt. Thomas reported to the bridge and then assumed one the aft consoles to monitor the situation. He just hoped that Gwyen wouldn't decided to appear and start talking to him on the bridge. Granted he could ignore her, but then she might just decide to do something to get his attention.

Lt. Hermedhie was praying with Ens. Mhistecai, trying to ward off the curse of the undead. The depredations of these foul creatures had driven a stench across their homeland of Cerilia. The destruction that had been laid when the Shadow World had come closest had most likely claimed the lives of thousands. They had been driven back numerous times, to surge forth again to threaten all of Cerilia. The Anuirean Empire had also been scathed deeply by the plagues of the walking dead. But even for all of that, they both wished they could go home. Suddenly red alert sirens began screaming throughout the ship. Dierdren quickly left en route to her station. Raesene was getting ready to go to his, when suddenly a voice called out, "Greetings, young man." Turning, Raesene saw a dark-haired man wearing admiral's pips.

"Who..." Then, he realized who this must be. "You're one of those Q's, aren't you?"

"Because no one else could have snuck up on me." That simple statement said volumes.

"Yes, but it is a troubling thing to have small thoughts like yours in my head."

"Okay..." Raesene thinks for a moment. "I want you to protect that lady who was in here from harm. Nothing more. Nothing less."

"Nothing more? Nothing grandiose? No schemes to enhance your abilities? No immesurable wealth?"

"No. I have no need for those things. As my teachers taught me, 'A Paladin Never Concerns Himself With Wealth or Power.'"

"Okay..." Q merely snapped his fingers, and said, "Done. Now don't come calling for any more favors..." Then he disappeared in a flash of white light. Raesene stood in the Holodeck for a few more seconds then headed out towards his duty station.

Benedict looked in relief as Scott reported that Lt. Commander Sterner was on the Bridge. At least that solved one problem. He routed Tactical to Main Bridge station with a sit rep. His alert display sounded and he sighed in relief at yet another miracle..a starfleet vessel. It was opening a hailing frequency and by the look of her she could pack a punch. Benedict smiled - this was so timely it couldn't be a coincidence. He silently thanked Q for the other wish and touched the comm link to the Bridge.

" Commander Sterner, this is Lt T'Kal at Battle Bridge. I'm registering a Starfleet vessel exiting warp space at 1.1 million kilometers - its the USS Wraith sir.

Borg Cube is still gaining, but slowly. I have dispatched security teams to sensitive areas and have a complete LCARS lockdown with encryption protocols in place. We have at least two Borg on the Galaxy. Frequency Modulated force fields are in place and a general search has been initiated.

Sir, I haven't heard from Lt. Mackenzie. Do you want tactical control on Main Bridge sir?"

K'Eytyanna crawled down the Jefferies Tube and stopped outside a panel. Opening it up, she activated her tricorder and connected it to the plasma relay transfer conduit inside.

A distinctly male voice came from right next to her, "Hmm.. that looks interesting. Need any help, Lieutenant?"

She turned and growled when she saw someone in a Starfleet Admiral's uniform looking at her from mere inches.

"Who the hell are you, and what are you doing here? There are no admirals aboard at present."

He smiled, "My name is Q, and I'm here to ask you for a Christmas wish. So far, I've been around a lot of the crew and it is your turn."

She bared her teeth and spat out in Klingon, "Get lost, you %&^%* Ferengi dog. I'm busy."

"Sometimes, I wonder why the other Q just didn't decide to stop your Klingon race ever getting past the stage of amoeba."

"Tssk.. tssk.. showing your primitive side again? I cannot understand why you let one third of yourself control the rest. Ever thought of showing some of that human or bajoran aspects?"

Angrily, K'Eytyanna shifted her leg and gave the strange man a hard kick, narrowly missing the junction of his legs.

"For that, I should irradicate you from this universe permanently, wiping all trace of you. However, since this is what the Terrans call Christmas time, I have decided to be charitable. For the next day, you will be confined to a different form.. Now what would be good for a Klingon? That's it."

With a bright white flash, Q disappeared. K'Eytyanna looked around, wondering what he meant. Reaching for her tricorder, she found that it wasn't so easy anymore.

[I have a.. problem. I had an incident with Q in one of the Jefferies Tubes and I need to see you very quick. I'll explain everything when you get here. Top of Engineering.]

"Okay. If this was anyone else, I would say it was a prank. Give me a sec. David out."

K'Eytyanna called out, "I want you to promise not to laugh before you come in here."

Crawling down the tube, he reached the end and entered the cross-tube section. Sitting in one of the tube entrances was a pink bunny rabbit, complete with Lt's pins, a combadge and a nearby d'k tahg.

David fought the urge to grin, but failed dismally, "Nice look. You are right about a problem."

The bunny made an angry face and growled, "When I find Q, I'm going to rip his throat out."

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

Shawn had just gotten off shift and returned to his quarters for a much needed rest. He turned on some classical music and began to relax on his bed when he saw a brilliant flash out of the corner of his eye.

Turning, Shawn saw a man in an admiral's uniform sitting in a chair. "Who are you and how....No wait, I know who you are. You are Q. What do you want with me?"

"Very good little man. You actually know who I am. You should also know, then, what I can do for you if I wish it!" Q stands and walks closer to the bed. "You have a christmas wish to spend, what would you like?"

"Why me Q? Why have you come to me? I don't want anything you can offer." With that, Shawn rolls over and faces the wall.

"Not even your parents? I could bring them back to life for you, allow you to see them again. That would be a christmas present for remembering." With a blinding flash, Q was right in front of the ensign again. "Come now, surely you'd want that for christmas."

"Why would you do that for me Q? What do you have to gain?" Seeing the smirk on Q's face makes Shawn uneasy.

Getting irritated now, Q retaliates. With a flash, both he and Shawn are outside the ship, whirling in the vastness of space. The Galaxy is nowhere to be seen.

"You humans seem to thrive on emotion. I wanted to give you something that you seem to value. It's what you folks call christmas and if I understand correctly, it's the time for giving gifts. This would be my gift to you!"

Getting a little woozy from floating in the middle of space, Shawn formulates his answer. "Okay Q, give me my parents and get me back inside the Galaxy, please."

Another flash and they were back in Shawn's cabin. Shawn saw movement in the corner of the room and out stepped his parents. "Mom, Dad? Is that really you? Oh man, have I missed you guys." Shawn's tears are evidence of his joy at the reunion.

"Yes sweetheart, it's really us. We are overjoyed at all that you've accomplished and where you are going. We couldn't be happier. We have to go now, but we'll see you soon honey. We both love you very much." They stepped back and faded out of existence.

"Don't go! I need you, please don't go!" Shawn could feel the wounds opening fresh and wide and the pain lanced him like a phaser set on kill.

"Don't go, I need you, ha ha ha. Your meaningless show of affection amuses me. How was your reunion my friend?" Q sits down in the chair again and relaxes.

"You are a no-good, dirty, I have no words to describe what you are Q! You just have no compassion, do you. Why did you even show me my parents if you were going to take them away?"

"I thought you wanted to see them. You silly terrans get so attached to those...emotions!" The word slipped from his tongue as if it were bitter to the taste.

"I live those emotions, because I love my family. You've done nothing but open old wounds, Q. Now get out of my quarters! NOW!!!!" Rushing towards Q, he strikes out, only finding that Q is already gone.

A bodyless voice gives Shawn a final farewell. "Ensign you are really amusing, and you're display of emotion, oh bravo!!! I will leave you now, Merry Christmas."

"Q? Q?" Realizing that Q was gone, Shawn heads towards the holodeck, thinking to have a workout like never before, hoping to alleviate some of this fresh pain.

Sunder had no idea where they had come from, but now two soul-less representatives of that ravenous race had suddenly appeared on the GALAXY. From where? Sunder could only guess.

Dr. Nilani and the Gnallish Kalln he had met earlier seemed bruised but not broken. They had managed to subdue the borg with a combination of quick thinking and the Gnallish's superior strength. Adrianna, now subdued by the doctor's hypospray, was a formidable threat to the safety of the GALAXY.

" What are we up against? " Mathew Albrecht asked rhetorically. Sunder looked around at the other officers. Sunder reached down and picked up the unconscious borg. Albrecht turned to look at Sunder. " A spontaneous borg generation. Have they got some new type of broadcast virus or something? "

" According to internal sensors, a Borg module was somehow transported on board the GALAXY. Ensign Adrianna from Engineering was studying the module when it activated and assimilated her. In a matter of minutes she replicated borg implants and is currently attempting to ready the ship and its crew for full assimilation. That's a brief summary of the situation. " Sunder reported, hefting the unconscious drone in his arms.

" Where do we take her now? " Lieutenant Bishop asked, keeping his phaser rifle at the ready.

" Sickbay. " Nilani broke in. " We've got to see if we can reverse the process and remove the borg infestation. "

" I agree. " Sunder said. " But Sickbay turns into a tight cell, and I want no argument about this doctor. "

" I'm not arguing with you there, Commander. I don't fancy having various parts of my anatomy replaced by cybernetic devices. I've gotten rather attached to some of them. " She said wryly.

" Ursa, there's another drone on the loose. " Albrecht cut in. " Adrianna was able to infect a security officer during her escape. "

" You and Bishop take a detachment of officers and try to box him in. He'll be likely trying to finish Adrianna's work down here, so have the bridge seal off the engineering decks with modulating frequency forcefields. "

" Commander - we have to move quickly. The hypospray will be wearing off soon. We have to get her to sickbay. " The doctor interrupted urgently.

" I'll catch up with you two later. " Sunder said, starting to rush down the hallway.

Adrianna of Borg and Borg drone designated 2 of 2 materialized within the confines of Life support control. The room, full of monitoring arrays and LCARS stations, was a heartpoint of the ship.

Within, three Starfleet Officers stood at there duty stations. Only one, a security guard of Vulcan decent was armed. The Vulcan was fast, but Adrianna had been ready. The phaser rifles heaviest stun setting proved more than enough, as the Vulcan was blasted back against a LCARS station.

The drone, moving forward at the same time, seized the nearest Officer. For a moment they struggled, before the Borg Nano-probes found there nightmarish mark. The remaining terran made a break for the door, but was also stunned, as Adrianna targeted him with a second shot.

"Assimilate the others". Her voice was filtered and augmented, but retained a sense of menace. "Proceed to isolate life support control to this station. Override any necessary lockouts.".

At this time, the newly assimilated drone, designated 3 of 3 stood from where he had fallen. The Vulcan was next, followed by the terran near the door.

Adrianna waited for the new drones to rise, then spoke again. "The two of you will come with me, we shall assimilate all life forms on this deck. Resistance is Futile."

As they left, the Borg that had been a transporter and engineering officer continued his work at the life support station.

In the moments that followed, another thirty Borg drones would emerge from the various apartments, from their once living quarters on Deck 13. Of those, some were women and children, family's of the crew. As the assimilation continued, from some places on the deck, you could hear the terror filled screams of the family's caught off guard...

The spirit of Christmas appeared to have been a wash. Q had seen to that thanks to his unexpected visit to the crew of the Galaxy where he'd taken the role of an omnipotent Santa Claus in granting gifts to the General's crew. It was really starting to piss Price off. In the latest turn of events, there were Borg present on the Galaxy with a mother ship cube just three hours away. The Captain, after sounding a red alert and summoning all senior officers to the bridge, confronted Q accusing him of creating a dire situation just so he could save the day like he did once before on the Enterprise.

Q denied it of course, explaining that there were things out in the universe far more threatening than the Borg.

"If not that then what Q? I don't have time for your games!" The Captain bellowed.

With a snap of his fingers, both Q and Captain Price vanished off the bridge of the USS Galaxy.

The gallop of horses rumbled through the sun lit playing field the Captain found himself standing on. Instinctively he turned just as a large steed clamored by. It's rider was not wearing the colorful polo uniform and white pants but appeared to be clad in mid-evil garb. A coon-skin cap, and when he snarled, rotten teeth showed through his gums. Lee leapt backwards barely missing his mallet that was swung not at a polo ball, but at the Captain's head.

The crowd cheered at the near miss. Lee rolled over, his heart pounding and surveyed the area. He was roughly mid field and surrounding the pristine outdoor polo field were thousands of yelling and cheering spectators. All seemed to be dressed in the same post-holocaust clothing as the attacking rider. And his friends.

More horses approached with screaming riders. Their eyes growing wider as they neared for the kill. Lee tumbled to one side springing to his feet and starting out in a full run. Man again horse. It was no contest at all.

The swish of the mallet whizzed past Lee's head as he barely dodged in time allowing the first rider to pass. The roar of the crowd was loud as ever, but all Lee could hear was the pounding of his heart. All he could feel was the rush of adrenaline surging in his veins. All he could taste was the fear of being pursued in this twisted, barbaric game of Q's.

Lee continued to run in the same direction, glancing over his shoulder at the two approaching riders. It appeared they were going to straddle him between them, each striking with their mallets giving the Captain no place to go. Timing it just right, the Captain desperately leapt into the air at the last moment, grabbing onto the saddle of one of the horses with his right hand. Lee jumped high, but not high enough as the other rider's mallet struck him in the back of the calf, flipping Lee over. But he held on with a death grip to that saddle. The two horses split apart and the momentum kicked the Captain's legs back down. Using all of his willpower to work through the pain, the Captain planted his feet on the ground and let the horse's gallop spring board him onto the back of the saddle, directly behind the short, fur clad rider. The barbarian seemed surprised by the move, but even more so when he felt the Captain's fist land square in his face, sending the rider to the ground as Lee took control of the reins and got the horse under control, bringing him to a stop and turning around.

The barbarian was laid sprawled on the ground, slowly sitting up and shaking his head, while rubbing his jaw. When Lee had turned the horse around, he began doubling back. On the ground a few meters away laid the long polo mallet, and though savage, the post-holocaust barbarian knew he was going for the weapon. Scurrying, he tried to reach it, but man against horse was too much of an advantage this time. The Captain reached down and easily grabbed the mallet before the barbarian could get to it.

Again he turned around, watching the other horses and riders at the opposite side of the polo field. They'd had time to turn around and we preparing to charge back to this end of the playing field that Q had constructed. Lee had a moment to watch the crowd. They seemed to be hissing and booing. All very hostile and against the Starfleet officer.

Turning Lee could see it was Q, floating in what appeared to be an ancient judges chair, wearing red robes and a ridiculous wig. Though his expression was very ominous and hard.

"The ball is not allowed to ride or carry a mallet. You sir have cheated." Q scolded.

"Q you are bloody insane 'mate." Lee growled. "This isn't even a real game you have concocted."

Q's eyes narrowed, "Not real? It is you that are insane Price. It is all too real as you will soon discover."

Q watched with interested eyes as his floating throne lowered to horse-rider level.

Lee slowly walked his mount closer to the ever powerful Q. "I will not be a part of your entertainment Q. This 'ball' is refusing to play these games any longer."

Q smirked. "You are taking the ball and going home? How quaint." Q leaned back in his floating seat and glared back for a moment. "Why Price you are missing the whole point. You already ARE providing me with entertainment. And as for not participating, that is not necessary. You primitive species have this wonderful survival instinct already programmed into your microscopic minds." He gloated.

"Oh, very well." Q agreed changing back into a Captain's uniform and once again wearing a Santa's Cap. "That in itself can be the source of great fun. Come Mon Capitain.... Let's see what your crew has gotten themselves into whilst you were away."

On deck 13 the Captain and Q stood by non-saliently watching as a Borgified Ensign Adrianna assaulted another crew member and injected Nano-probes into the base of his neck. The Vulcan twitched and then soon surrendered to the logic of the situation.

"What the devil is going on Q?" Captain Price hollered over the phaser fire and noise of the Borg progress through the corridors of the USS Galaxy. Security had taken up positions to engage the intruders, but their weapons were of no use. The Borg personal shields had already adapted to the phasers.

"I thought you didn't believe in things like Santa Claus or the Devil Price. Have you suddenly found God?" Q mussed.

The Borg advanced on the Captain and Q's position. Lee prepared to engage the powerful enemy that was trying to assimilate *HIS* ship. Bravely he stepped up and threw a haymaker punch right towards the Borgified El-Aurian, Doctor Adrianna, who was ironically the Galaxy's new Borg technical specialist. She appeared to be leading these Drones. Unfortunately Lee's fist never connected with Adrianna's jaw, it instead past right through her as if Lee himself were a ghost.

"It's no use Price..." Q smiled, "You can't affect anything here. Consider me the ghost of Christmas present." He declared smugly tugging on the white fur rim of his Santa's cap.

Lee's eyes widened slightly when he realized Q was right. The Vulcan that had just been assimilated walked right up and through the Captain like he was not even there.

Q laughed at the expression of bewilderment on the Captain's face. "Relax Price. You are in no danger. Your crew now... that is another matter entirely."

Turning Lee watched as the entourage of drones proceeded to systematically defeat the opposition on Deck 13 and assimilate everyone in their path.

"Mon Capitain, there are much worse things going on than this little skirmish here. Allow me to demonstrate." With a wave of his hand Q had instantly transported the Captain and himself onto the outer hull of the USS Galaxy, about forty meters in front of the Bridge.

Lee's eyes widened at the Borg Cube that was busy engaging another Starship, and beating the crap out of her. As one of her warp nacelles was blown off the hull, Lee could just make out that it was the USS Wraith just moments before the Borg cube finished her off. The resulting explosion of the Wraith showered the Galaxy with debris and bright light that harmlessly past through the Captain and Q in their ghostly state, but sent the USS Galaxy tumbling backwards from the blast.

"They will focus in on the Galaxy now that this other distraction has been dealt with." Q calmly stated waving a hand as if the Wraith were merely a pesky fly.

"Why are they here at all Q? Crickey, if you wanted to kill me, if you wanted to destroy my ship, you could have easily done so before. Why are you doing this now?" Lee pleaded watching the Borg cube latch onto the Galaxy with it's powerful tractor beam.

"Why Captain. None of this is *MY* doing. It is entirely the result of your own crew members wish to know all about the Borg. What better way to do that than to simply assimilate them into the collective?" Q smiled at the brilliance of his solution to the ignorant human's petty request of a gift.

As Q gloated, it snapped into place in the Captain's mind. "Crickey. That's why the Borg appeared on the Galaxy. You transformed one of the 'mates into a Borg. Who was it Q?"

Within seconds he'd remembered how Doctor Adrianna seemed to be directing the other Drones. She was the new technical specialist that had recently come on board the Galaxy. An El-Aurian with no love of the Borg, her specialty. "Adrianna!" Lee declared.

"You see Price, you never know just how clever you humans can be until you try. Well, no need for me to stick around. You have all the answers today." Q taunted.

"Q!" Lee snapped, stopping him in his tracks. "I want you to undo all of this. Take back the 'gift' you gave to Doctor Adrianna. Get these Borg off my vessel. Restore the Wraith and her crew. Make things the way they were before all of your meddling Q."

"Now, now Price. Be careful what you wish for. You have no idea just how extensive Q meddling has played a part in the evolution of your meager race."

"But you don't believe in any of this Price. You said it yourself." Q explained before instantaneously transporting the two of them back to the Christmas party on holodeck one earlier.

Lee and Q watched as the past unfolded. Captain Price was speaking to Commander Sterner near the punch bowl....

"So the scuttle butt is the war with the Dominion may be over before too long." Joerg commented.

Lee gave a slight nod. "The Federation has made great progress in the last several months. Thanks to the aliens in the Bajoran worm hole restricting the movements of Dominion vessels into the Alpha Quadrant, we were able to regroup with the aid of the Klingons and Romulans to maintain control against the alliance."

"Don't you mean the prophets Captain?" Joerg asked turning aside to allow the person in front of him to pass between himself and the Captain momentarily with her full glass of eggnog.

Lee smiled. "I'm not one that is a great believer in myths and legends Commander. Though you are correct the Bajora call the beings that live in the worm hole profits, I prefer to call them what they are. An alien race of beings that control the worm hole."

"I see..." Sterner replied stepping up to the eggnog bowl and filling his glass with a generous portion of the yellow-sweet liquid. "I suppose the next thing you'll say is you don't believe in Santa Claus either." Joerg twisted a half grin the Captain's way.

"Father Christmas? Not in the literal sense. I'm sure that at one time there was a jolly old man that cared for the children and crafted toys for their enjoyment. But now,.. now we have pretty much outgrown those humble beginnings."

"The myth is greater than the man Captain?" Joerg commented taking a sip of his newly refilled eggnog.

"Something like that 'mate. I agree completely with the spirit of Christmas. Being kind. Sharing. Being with one's family. But believe in Santa Claus? I'm afraid when it comes down to it, I have to say no 'mate."

"You see Price, your own words. You don't believe in Santa Claus or omnipotent beings that created and influenced the evolution of mankind. To you this is just a time of celebration and being with family.... You humans thing in such small terms. You have lost the real spirit of what this particular holiday is all about."

"You did all this to change my mind? Fair dinkum 'mate. I believe. Now get rid of the Borg Q!" Lee snapped back.

Q crossed his arms. "I do not believe you Price. Your tone lacks a certain level of sincerity..."

"Q, I have had just about enough of all this. Now I demand that you replace things to the way they were on the Galaxy and that you do it right now!" Lee was growing more and more angry with each passing moment. It seemed to amuse Q.

"My my Price, you do have a temper. I can't recall Picard ever getting that angry. Or Sisco either...."

"Q!...." the Captain growled even as the Borg ship collectively broadcast a message of the Galaxy's pending assimilation.

"Oh perhaps you are right Price. Maybe all of this is beyond your human minds simple way of thinking....." with a wave of his hand, everything changed.

The Borg cube was gone. The USS Wraith was light years away and conducting scientific scans of a Z class nebula, The USS Galaxy was fully restored, her crew once again human, and Ensign Adrianna was quietly sitting in her quarters reading a Starfleet technical report on the Borg while eating from a box of Bolian chocolates that Q had given her instead of the assimilation node.

Captain Price glanced around the holodeck. People were still partying and carrying on as if nothing had happened. A sort of calm flowed over Lee like a sort of intuition letting him know that things were once again safe for the moment.

"I suppose I am partially to blame in all this...." Q quietly stated walking away and sitting down at an available chair near the dance floor. Lee stepped over to where Q was now sitting and noticed that he still seemed to be in a ghostly state. Crew members ignoring his presence and passing right through him. "I should have known this would have been too advanced for you humans to understand.... I must do better next time."

Q seemed to not be paying any attention at all to Captain Price, still pondering whatever it was he was thinking about. "Maybe if I brought you to a setting your minds could comprehend. Placed you in a situation where you understood the problems and consequences of meddling into others affairs then you'd get an inkling of an idea what it is I'm trying to show you..."

"And what exactly is that 'mate? What is it you are trying to show me?" Lee asked skeptically.

Suddenly Q snapped his fingers in the universal "Eureka!" gesture and smiled widely. "I've got it! I know just the thing. Oh it's so perfect, how could I not of thought of it before?!"

"Q?..." Captain Price said skeptically. But in a flash Q disappeared and the Captain was once again solid and back on the bridge.

In a way, Lee was glad that everyone around him reacted when he magically 'popped' in. At least he knew he was no longer a ghost.

Lee glanced around. He could see that the senior officers were on the bridge and sitting at their stations. Lieutenant Commander Casey at Ops, Lieutenant Bancroft at the Helm, Lieutenant Commander Erikson at Science, Counselor Dallas near Joerg, Lieutenant Commander Mercury at the rear engineering station, Lieutenant McKenzie at Tactical and Lieutenant Commander Sunder standing besides him from Security. It made the Captain smile.

"I remember sir..." Tebrianne said placing two split fingers to her temple in Vulcan fashion.

"He's been playing games. Pretending to be 'Father Christmas' on the Galaxy and granting wishes..." Lee began to explain when all of the sudden the USS Galaxy lurched unexpectedly streaking at a phenomenal rate through the time space continuum....

Chen walked silently to Deck Nine on his ship, which he now recalled was the USS Olympus. He stopped outside the door to the schoolroom and was getting ready to go in when the doors slid open and several children came filing out. Among them, he saw his own son. Jian saw him. "Dad!" He exclaimed. Chen kneeled down and lifted the small boy in his arms.

Chen made a face. "Yeah, if you want to grow up stupid. You want to be Starfleet captain like your old man, stick in school."

"Lost a bet." Jian slugged Chen in the arm. "Because I wanted to see my son. Is that so wrong?"

Jian chuckled. The two walked back to their quarters. When they got in, Jian ran into his room to go play, and Chen sat down at the beeping communications console. He hit play and the message started. He saw his father sitting in a chair. His hair was gray, and the lines on his face a little more pronounced. The spectacles on his face made him look scholarly. "Hello, son," his father said. "I'm calling to see how things are going out there, and maybe to see if you can take time out of your busy schedule to actually come see a couple of old fogies. Anyway, I won't bother you too much." He reached for the off switch, then in an almost absentminded way, added, "Oh, son. We love you."

The screen went blank and Chen leaned back in the chair. It was everything he'd always dreamed of. A son. A ship under his command, and his parents. Q had really offered him all he wanted. "Well," Q's voice chimed behind him. "What do you think?"

Chen turned and looked at Q. "It's...incredible. All of my hopes and dreams are right here. Everything I've ever wanted."

Q smiled. "Make your choice. You cane either live in this utopia, or go back to the soon to be destroyed Galaxy."

Q shrugged. "Just some business with the Borg, nothing to be too concerned with. Just say the word and you can forget that place forever."

Chen looked around, torn. In the opposite room, he could here his son playing. He touched the ring on his finger. He even glanced at the blank screen where his father's face had appeared to him. Chen felt cold inside, as he thought. He wanted this so bad, he could taste it. He also felt the sense of duty towards the Galaxy and her crew. He clenched his fists as he thought of Lex, on a ship full of Borg. He couldn't leave them. If there was anything at all he could do to help, he'd have to give up his own wishes.

Chen shook his head. "Nobody. Come here." The boy walked forward, and Chen gave him a hug. His memories of the boy were as vivid as if he had lived them himself. He swallowed. "Damn you, Q," he whispered. Then, more loudly, "I can't stay here. Not while I may be needed back in the Galaxy. I won't leave everybody to die. No, Q. I don't accept your offer."

Suddenly, the world faded away, taking Jian with it. Q shook his head. "You really are a fool, you know. I have even less respect for people like you than I do for all other humans. I offer you all you ever wanted, and you refuse me. You will not forget this, Chen."

Chen awoke with a start. He was lying on the floor of his quarters, still in his party clothes. He shook his head and he could hear red alert klaxons going wild. He felt something tight n his ring finger. He looked down and saw the wedding ring still there. He remembered Q's words. He had a feeling the ring wouldn't come off anytime soon. He took a deep breath and grabbed his communicator off the table and ran out the door, sprinting as fast as he could.

After his run-in with Q, Shawn lay on his bed feeling really tired and emotionally exhausted. He'd cried himself to sleep. He felt the pain of his parents death all over again. "Darn that Q! He just can't leave things alone can he? Meddling little monster!"

Just then the red alert klaxon began to wail. Arising slowly from the bed, feeling every muscle ache, Shawn put on his uniform and attached his communicator to it. He quickly ran to the security station to get a briefing on what was going on.

He read the briefing about the imminent attack of the Borg, realizing that the ship would need to be secured. Looking over the duty roster, he found that every available security person was already working on securing the ship and that he had better get busy.

Heading down the living quarters deck, he started chiming at doors. "Folks we are in imminent danger, nothing to be alarmed about just now, but you had better lock your doors and stay inside." Then Shawn headed for the next door. He, along with other security personnell soon had all of the living quarters secured and started for the next level.

"I wonder when this is going to be over. Why don't the Borg just leave us alone. We have lives to lead and our family's are important to us and all they want to do is destroy." Shawn thought this to himself, having no voice to speak. "Well, next level."

By the time the ship went to red alert, the party was pretty much over. The assembled partygoers exited the holodeck in an orderly fashion as they had been instructed.

T'Zaq walked briskly back to her quarters to change into her uniform before proceeding to her station at Damage Control. She uttered a loud Romulan curse as she fiddled with the straps of her dress. ((How did I ever get into this thing?)) she thought. Taking a deep breath to calm down, she repeated her attempt to free herself, this time succeeding. Hastily she removed the restrictive clothing and looked around, wondering where she had placed her uniform.

She turned around slowly toward the sound of the voice. A humanoid male in Starfleet red was holding her uniform, a slightly teasing expression on his face.

T'Zaq crossed her arms indignantly. "Q, I presume? I never imagined you as much of a peeping tom. I wonder what *she'd* think of that..."

Q made an appropriately realistic expression of surprise, whether real or feigned T'Zaq could not tell. "You-- you've seen *my* Q?"

"Mm-hm." The half-Vulcan shrugged nonchalantly. "We've had some interesting... adventures. Now..." She held out a hand to him expectantly. With a snap of his fingers, she found herself fully dressed in her uniform.

"Down to business, now." he continued, seemingly having forgotten T'Zaq's revelation. "In honor of this season of celebration, you will be granted one wish, as is, no exchanges or refunds. So, what'll it be? What's your wish?" He smirked at her raised eyebrow. "C'mon, T'Zaq, I know you've got one."

"To quote an overused Terran expression, 'just scram', Q. I have played this game before, and I have no wish to participate this time."

Q tilted his head and looked down his nose at her. "You know you'll never be able to live with yourself if you knew you had one wish, for anything, and you let it slip through your fingers."

She sighed heavily, and when she finally spoke her voice was laced with sarcasm. "All right, Q. Will you show me the past I never had? You know, the fairy tale where my mother never abandoned my father and me for the Maquis. The one where she and Dad really loved each other."

Q smiled. "Your wish is my command, mon chere. Just be careful what you wish for." As if in slow motion, he raised his hand and snapped his fingers...

"Huh?" T'Zaq blinked, her eyes slowly refocusing on the Betazoid woman sitting directly across from her.

Shayna's deep black eyes reflected concern as she lowered her hand. "We were in the middle of an exercise, and you just blanked out all of a sudden. Are you all right?"

Lowering her head and concentrating briefly to center herself, T'Zaq nodded. "I was... distracted. Please, let us continue."

The Betazoid closed her eyes and once again extended her hand to touch T'Zaq's forehead. The game was a familiar one; in effect, Shayna would simulate a telepathic attack which T'Zaq was expected to fend off. The two battled silently for several minutes, then finally Shayna dropped her hand and drew in a deep breath of air.

"I concede. You successfully blocked me completely, for the first time. Good work!"

"Now," Shayna continued, "that's enough for today. Let's go get something to eat. Surev is coming to see you this afternoon, don't forget."

A cloud passed over the young Vulcan's features. "I haven't forgotten." She gazed out toward the stars outside for a brief moment before following her teacher out of the room.

Benedict had sat quietly just holding the gift that Q had given him. Now that the extraterrestrial menace was gone, Benedict began to feel the effects of the Tequila reasserting themselves. He was vaguely aware of being dizzy and totally unaware of the moment that his head hit the bed. In fact he was blissfully unaware of anything.

When the red alert siren sounded - he stirred in his drugged sleep and rolled over...however...

The Red alert dragged Benedict from his contemplations to the Battle Bridge in only a few moments - for a slit second he blinked, and realized that he wasn't in uniform. He was still dressed in Leather pants, white peasant shirt and reptilian leather boots - Bajoran earrings too. Yet he stood at the Tactical Arch in the Battle Bridge and brought all systems on line - he operated in somewhat of a daze, and the eerie slow motion quality of the events didn't seem to bother him that much.

Current command staff were absent from the main Bridge and Benedict knew that there was an inexperienced crew manning the stations. Other officers were scurrying to posts - the Christmas party forgotten. In fact there was only two Ensigns on the entire Bridge crew at the moment. Where was Groom? Why wasn't he at Tactical?

He examined the tactical scenario and knew that there was no way to avoid the Borg Cube. It could out run them. But they needed time for Command to reach the Bridge and give the right orders. Borg Cube? Borg Cube? Black Cube...Black Cube..

He heard those words...sounding through the ship like they were on total surround sound..."Resistance is useless."

The starburst pattern and the close detonation created a sensor blind as the ship climbed away from it. With any luck the Borg Cube wouldn't see the Galaxys' fast climb for a few seconds, long enough to delay their own climb to the new course and widen their arc of turn. It would gain a little time, but that was exactly what Benedict wanted. Time enough to get Command in their seats and giving orders. Where the hell was the Phase Cloak? And what had happened to the Bridge crew - only two ensigns on the entire watch?

Benedict was surprised by a calm yet mocking voice coming from behind him, "You won't get away that easily you know." Q leaned nonchalantly against the tactical arch - he was dressed in Starfleet Admirals uniform. He smiled.

"OOhhh look.." said Q pointing at the tactical consol, "You have a Borg Queen aboard with you." He grinned, "Merry Christmas and a happy assimilation." he was just as suddenly gone but in his place stood the massive form of a Lizard dressed in a Santa Suit.

Benedict's mouth dropped open as he said, "You're wearing my second cousin." as he pointed accusingly at Benedicts' very shiny replile leather boots.

"I'm sorry." Benedict managed to say, "But we've got a Borg to deal with - " Benedict felt totally confused but it was okay - he knew that Santa Claws with the four arms was a pretty good singer and would be doing a small lounge act later while juggling and stomping on some pretty interesting nodes.

The alert brought Benedict's attention immediately to the current Borg situation. He erected a cross harmonic force field at level 10 around the brig and shut off security access to the LCARS system on that deck. He touched the comm again, "Transporter room 1 emergency site to site transport - match co-ordinates - one to beam to sickbay - lock onto the Borg captive now. Initiate a transport and keep the Borg in the transporter buffer."

T'Kal to Sickbay - one emergency beam in - be careful - initiate a force field the crewman was attacked by a Borg."

"Thanks." Said a very pleasant Dr type voice with a soothing bedside manner - she purred, "I always wanted a Borg for Christmas."

He was really worried now. Ensign Tikashi turned to look at him from the ops console - the bright yellow of her Starfleet Smiley Face badge flashed as she smiled and said, "So - what did you think of the party?"

Ensign Casey turned from the helm station and said, "Worst egg nog I ever tasted." He pulled a sour face and started a redition of his previous hit melody "When I was a Lt Commander" - the keyboard flashed at the helm station and his top hat swayed as he smiled a diamond bright grin.

The Borg cube was 4.5 million kilometers away - out of range of the photon torpedoes and the phasers - it was run and weave time - he wished Tebrianne was in the helm seat - Ensign Casey was drivelling on again about some kind of "We Come In Peace - Shoot To Kill" song and the Galaxy was swaying with the music from the keyboard at the helm station. He cast a quick prayer that Teb was okay and didn't have to listen to this mockery of musical talent, as he tried to lock down where the hell the Borg was transporting to.

For a split second he cursed Q's wasted wish - he could do with a miracle about now. Like the Captain showing up on the Bridge - that would be a bloody good start! Where was Commander Sterner? Would Deiran ever shut up? Hell - had they been assimilated ? Would the Borg even try to assimilate Casey? They would probably refuse - something about lowering the standard of their gene pool. If the Captain and Sterner had been assimilated then they were doomed.

"Yep. Doomed." Said the Repltile with four arms. "Doomed." He walked across the Battle Bridge repeating it like a mantra.."Doomed."...He looked sadly at Benedict and said, "Just like my second cousin. I know I'm going to be a luggage set...maybe a briefcase if I'm lucky.."

"Ensign Scott, this is T'Kal, instigating protocol 7 will override helm - we can't risk it - Deirans' still in the middle of his song. We have senior crew aboard - we need more power to Engineering and shields - anything to give us a little more speed. We need to get away so that he'll stop bloody singing!"

He wanted to know where the Borg was headed - it was only one, perhaps two or three now - a good sized security team should be able to handle it. He sent automated security commands to several teams to take up positions at the sensitive areas of the ship - he knew that the Borg would want to make it easier for the Cube to catch up - and so either power or main engineering was a good bet. The computer core was too. He covered all three and hoped he was right.

Ensign Casey stood up and saluted - he'd finally stopped playing and he was serious now. "Sir." He said, "I know the perfect plan."

Benedict looked at Casey and nodded. He knew that if anyone could get the Galaxy out of this mess it would be Deiran Casey the brightest star in Starfleet, the top bill of the Lounge Bar in Ten Forward, he was strong and his Starfleet Mr Perfect badge gleamed all shiny and new.

"I'll seduce her!" Said a grinning Casey. "That's the plan! She's a woman! It's perfect!" He stood there and as he grinned a little point of light shone on his front teeth and a tiny 'ting' sounded in the air.

The three security personnel with him in the Battle Bridge had their eyes open and phaser rifles in hand, they were studying Deiran Casey with utmost respect - they ALL knew that this plan had merit! No woman could resist - they all said as one "Resistance is useless!" and cheered.

Benedict nodded - thay HAD to do something! The Phase Cloak had fallen off the ship in the last tight turn - they had no options. Perhaps Casey was right - what was he saying? Casey was ALWAYS right! So far the rookies on the Bridge had performed really well. They had kept their heads and caught the ball. "Mr. Scott, " He said, in a very calm voice.

"I'm sending Ensign Casey against the Borg enemy. He's willing to seduce her!" Benedict said with fierce pride at the personal cost this would cause Casey.

"But sir.." pointed out Ensign Scott, "Casey's willing to seduce anyone!" Scott said, "But won't that make her even madder at us?"

"Sir." It was Scott again, "Commander Sterner has arrived in the Bridge - we're going to be fine - he brought cake!"

Benedict looked in relief as Scott reported that Lt. Commander Sterner was on the Bridge. At least that solved one problem - the Bridge crew wouldn't go hungry!. He routed Tactical to Main Bridge station with a sit rep. His alert display sounded and he sighed in relief at yet another miracle..a starfleet vessel. It was opening a hailing frequency and by the look of her she could pack a punch. Benedict smiled - this was so timely it couldn't be a coincidence. He silently thanked Q for the other wish and touched the comm link to the Bridge.

" Commander Sterner, this is Lt T'Kal at Battle Bridge. I'm registering a Starfleet vessel exiting warp space at 1.1 million kilometers - its the USS 'Up Yours' sir.

Sir, I haven't heard from Lt. Mackenzie - is he still mad at me? Do you want tactical control on Main Bridge sir?"

"Certainly." Replied Sterner - he sounded sterner. "I have a much better plan to escape the Borg. I've enlisted the aid of a team of reindeer. That should do the trick mate!"

Adrianna sat on the couch in her quarters, after opening a green foil box, beautifully rapped and tied with a white ribbon. In front of her, she gazed out at the flowing starscape and let her thoughts wander.

On her lap, rested the latest technical report on the Borg, including an interesting summary of the latest adaptations there newest and strangest drones had employed. Indeed, they were evolving, becoming an even greater threat than ever before. More intent than ever, she knew she had to find a way to stop them.

As she looked down at the greenish box of Bolian Chocolates, she picked out a roundish shaped one near the center. "This one." She thought. "This one must contain the carmel." Biting experimentally at first, and then with more vigor, a satisfying smile spread across her delicate face.

"Ethan, I owe you one for this, it almost makes up for you standing me up in the lab." Smiling again, she curled up onto the couch, and contented herself to watch the flowing movements of the stars.

Something caused her to stir from the couch. Yawning and reaching out her arms like a cat, she let the wonderful feeling of stretching overtake her for a moment. The room was still dark, and the stars still streaked across the viewport, but something wonderful and terrible was happening.

The starscape beyond had changed, the stars twisting and spiraling at impossible angles, and with impossible colors. It was if the heavens themselves were in chaos, time and space seeming to rip and stretch out of form.

"What in the world is happening?" She thought, as she sat frozen in awe. The images in the viewport holding her gaze in an unrelenting grip....

Walking into Ten Forward, K'Eytyanna gulped and zeroed in on Deiran Casey, who was sitting alone luckily. Heading over, she stopped next to his table. He didn't look up so she coughed.

"Sit down, Lieutenant." he looked up at her and smiled. He loved teasing this woman, she was so easy to rib.

"You know what this is about. I've come here to ask you to fix whatever you did to my replicator. Whatever it is, I can't do it myself."

"It took you a lot longer to come to me than I thought. You are very stubborn. I believe you owe me something first, Kay. "

"From that tone, you don't seem to mean it," putting on his poker face he played with her and looked serious.

She growled and stood up quickly, "If that is the way you are going to be, stuff you!!"

"Listen, I was only teasing you. Kay, I'll fix it for you," Casey laughed uproariously at the situation. He loved every minute of it. She had learned her lesson.

"Computer, remove loop algorithm 150 on the replicator in Lt K'Eytyanna Samara's quarters, Ops authorization Casey Gamma One Five Delta Two, voice authorization... Deiran Casey."

She could hear Casey's smug laugh as she walked out. He loved every minute of it. Casey was famous for helping people realize that he could get back at anyone who played a prank on him. His legend at the Academy for just such occasions preceded him. And those same pranksters never tried it again.

But still other people persisted. And he always won. And so he laughed until she was gone. Then returned to his meal.

The Christmas sack was filled to the brim with more candies for the party. Matthew was looking forward to some more of the 'commander's prize-winning egg nog, and another dance with Gakes. Heck, he was in a great mood, and needed to thank Lex for the wonderful gifts as well. And he had promised Doctor Khan he would check in with her before the night ended. He just had a big night planned.

The kitten scratched at his pant leg, so he lifted the little fur ball up to eye level with a big grin on his face. The cat was charcoal grey, with a thick coat of fur. It was a boy cat, with golden eyes. "What are we going to call you, little man?" he asked the kitten, rhetorically. *What's this* he wondered, seeing that the little feline held something in its mouth. It was a small, tightly rolled bit of parchment. Matthew took the little note from the cat, just before all hell broke loose.

Red lights flashed, and a wail erupted from the walls--the Galaxy was at red alert! The kitten, never having experienced a red alert before, reacted badly. It leapt out of Matthew's hand, vaulting straight onto his face. There, the cat dug in with claws for purchase, and sprang from there to leap across the room. Matthew's hands went straight to his face, which was in great pain. The kitten landed square on the bed, and ran off the edge to hide underneath.

"Damn! Sh&*!" he exclaimed, thinking, *We'll settle up later, cat!* With one hand over his most pained eye, and rivulets of blood starting to form on his cheek and forehead, he grabbed his phaser and headed out toward the hall. As he reached the doors out of his room, Tim the Enchanter appeared. The hologram started to demand attention, complete with explosions and fog and a mad glare, but the security officer was far too preoccupied with his painful scratches and the red alert to stop for an illusion (or illusionist for that matter).

The starfleet lieutenant passed right through the tall figure dressed in layers of robes, and right through the fog bank, and across the Bridge of Death, such as it was. Once in the hall, the Father Christmas costume-wearing security officer contacted security to get word on the situation with the Borg intruders.

Albrecht, Bishop, Trabuco, Sanchez and Torricle made up one security team assaulting the Borg stronghold on deck thirteen... unlucky thirteen. Reports indicated that drones were being assimilated at an alarming rate, and were fight-ready within minutes after assimilation! None of the phasers were doing damage any longer, regardless of the modulation applied. The quintet was retreating yet again from another wave of cyborg attackers.

Bishop spoke up, in a whisper, "I got another idea... Sanchez, gimme your rifle!" They exchanged weapons, and Xavier brought out some micro tools to begin adapting the heavy phaser rifle. Sanchez managed to collapse a ceiling joist, knocking the nearest drone to the deck and holding up the progress of the others. She was buying time for the Andorian to work.

Matthew observed the jg lieutenant disassemble the beam focusing array with interest. But when Bishop struck the delicate lenses with a spanner, sending small bits flying, he wondered how this would help. Xavier merely looked up and smiled, "You never know 'til you try!" He reassembled the array, manually adjusting the tuning band at one end of the focuser.

The junior officer smiled, "The beam is now dual frequencied! It should produce a tight packet beam in a modulating pattern similar to what we've been using, along with a lighter, low-frequency carrier beam. The drones will, hopefully, adapt against the more obvious threat, and miss the high-frequency modulated beam," he explained. A few feet away, ensign Torricle was leaping across the fallen joist to tackle a pair of drones. The mighty security officer vanished amid a cloud of debris.

Another moment or two and Bishop was ready to try his modified weapon. He leveled the rifle at the nearest drone, which was heading toward him anyway. This particular drone appeared to once have been a civilian woman in her fifties or sixties. He fired, and the borg's personal force field shimmered into visibility under the onslaught of his beam. A moment later, the drone was engulfed in sparks and fell over onto the deck, motionless.

Matthew whooped and slapped Bishop on the back, "Nice work, let's see how long this'll last!" Bishop fired again, with the same result. Heartened, the Andorian warrior moved toward the advancing borg drones to get another target. Firing, bringing down multiple targets, his confidence grew, and he crossed the fallen pieces of superstructure. Matthew moved forward, too, to see the officer's progress and back him up if need be.

Finally, the new rifle modifications were rendered useless by borg adaptability, although the weapon remained useful for longer than most. The new Torricle Drone appeared, shrugging off the dual-frequencied beam, and grasped hold of Xavier's neck, lifting him off the deck. Jumping forward, Albrecht foolheartedly grapples the giant cyborg. As assimilation tubules plunge into Xavier's neck, Matthew is lifted off the ground also by the huge drone. Gasping for breath, the lieutenant is forced to watch his friend turn a pasty grey color. Almost immediately, small dark metal devices burst forth from the Andorian flesh.

Despite his kicking and grappling, Torricle-Drone never released Matthew. Once through with Xavier, the drone turns his attention to Albrecht. Matthew's eyes widen as the Assimilation Tubules erupt from the borg.

Across the hall, Trabuco and Sanchez take aim at the bodies of their friends, Matthew and Xavier...

The last thing Casey remembered was being on the saucer hull of the Galaxy and talking to Q. But in a millisecond, that time�s Deiran Casey was taken back 3 months into the past. He replaced the Deiran Casey from that moment in time and stood in his place in a darkened room. It was his quarters. A d� k�tahg was in his hand. A firm grip that Deiran seemed to notice. His muscles straining to keep still.

He never attempted suicide. History rewritten, he was still the old Deiran Casey. Deiran smiled. �Now, that is the perfect way to win.� He said to himself.

=/\= Commander, I�m releasing you pending investigation into the Ten Forward incident. Report to the Bridge, we�ve found the Dominion Battleship. =/\=

Casey walked onto the Bridge and down into the command well. He took his place next to Sterner and faced forward. If it wasn�t a battle situation, Casey would have the biggest smile anyone had ever seen brandishing his face. But, he was all business. A poker face of serious, command-like stoicism.

�Sir, the ship isn�t detecting us. The phase cloak is working within specified parameters,� Mercury replied over the comm.

�Are the Torpedo�s loaded Mac?� Casey asked. Remembering the information Thomas had given him when he had been in sickbay, which now never happened.

�David are those torp�s phase cloaks completely operational? I don�t want them to fire and not work. Scan them one more time before they�re discharged. Understand?� Casey was using his knowledge of what happened the first time. �Why am I still here Q?� Casey asked himself as he spoke to Mercury.

Casey didn�t expect a reply. He would play out this little adventure and have fun blowing up a Dominion Battleship. He would make sure it would go smoothly this time. �How can this not go smooth with me on duty?�

Casey smiled at Sterner who was looking strangely at him. It was a strange request.

�Let�s call it intuition sir,� Deiran smiled and winked. Then giving a quick fiery stare to Pressman. �Thank God I don�t have to thank that man for saving my life this time,� Deiran thought.

=/\= Engineering here. Bad news, we�ve found a problem in the phase cloak on the torp�s. We need to unload them and fix the problem. It�s funny we didn�t see it until we scanned for anomalies in the cloak. =/\=

problem. We�ll have it fixed ASAP, the whole of engineering is on it Admiral =/\= Mercury was sure he could fix it. Casey trusted he would.

�I want to see you in the ready room Commander Casey, now!� Pressman shouted.

Casey didn�t appreciate being shouted at. But he stood up and followed the Admiral into the ready room. When the doors shut the two men were standing toe to toe. A fierce glare gluing them together.

�What was that about? Those phased torpedo�s should�ve been fine. You know something I don�t?� Pressman shouted.

�The important thing sir is we found a problem before we launched the torp�s and they�re being fixed. We�ll be better off sir. Phased technology is at times unpredictable,� Deiran smiled. Pressman had no idea he knew about Phase technology.

�Admiral, does the Pegasus ring a bell?� Casey smiled like he�d just won 1,000 bars of latinum at the dabo tables.

Pressman�s eyes had fire in them as he stared at Casey. The two men were in each other�s face. �Stand down Lieutenant Commander! The past is just that. Let it go. We have a mission to accomplish.�

�Like the one you had to accomplish on the Pegasus that killed many innocent people?� Casey replied, not wavering. He stood his ground. It was stupid, but he hated the man.

�For that remark, I�m going to bury your father. Consider the Casey name a disgrace at this moment. Don�t mess with me mister or you�ll go down too!� Pressman�s anger was intense. He wasn�t hiding his ferocity.

Deiran didn�t move. There was a silence in the room. Both men still glaring at one another. Deiran chose his words before he spoke.

�Don�t even try it Admiral. You have a very dirty past, my father has already received word and is maneuvering to counteract your lies. You will not beat up on my family. I swear if you touch my father I�ll take you and all your family down with you. I can play the game too Admiral. I�m one of the few people who is not scared of your threats! My father is just as vicious as me. Who do you think I learned the game from?�

The two men�s rank had been forgotten. It was a feud now. They were not in Starfleet when these threats were being thrown around. They were two men who fiercely hated one another. Nothing more, nothing less. Both were trying to survive.

�You�re a conniving dangerous SOB. But, you have a lot to learn. Your father has already been indicted you insipid punk!�

�I sent the order after our encounter in Ten Forward. Your father and Admiral Blair�s careers are over!� Pressman laughed in Casey�s face.

�You won this round. But rest assured, you will receive your reward. You have so much dirt in your past and way more enemies than friends. I have so much info on you. My father has the info now. I sent it to him after we spoke. So the pawns have been removed from the board. When that indictment comes out on the UFP wire he�ll release a number of �embarrassing� truths about some of your many missions. And let me say the President will have to distance himself from you, all political ties broken. You will stand alone and burn in the hell you just made for yourself! Starfleet will strip you of rank and you and my father can share a cell together.�

Pressman�s face almost turned white. Tom Casey was in big trouble but so was Pressman now. And there was nothing Pressman could do about it.

�I�ll take you down with me son,� Pressman replied, still a bit shocked at Casey�s move to send info to his father. Which wasn�t true, but it would be soon.

�Try it. The info I have on you is quite serious. When your out of the picture I�ll figure out a way to restore my father�s reputation and he�ll be right back where he is now. And you won�t have anyone to stand by your side. Even if I have to blackmail them, and I will too. I play for keeps just as you do Admiral Pressman. I�m not a bit scared of your tactics. I have my own and they�re just as ruthless as yours.�

�We�ll see,� Pressman said. �But for the time being your father�s career is over. And If mine will be soon, it was worth it just to see a Casey go down,� Pressman smiled and bumped Casey as he left the Ready Room.

Deiran�s father was ruined. Admiral Blair�s career was over too. All because Deiran and Troy impersonated them to save Ronni Morris. But Deiran knew he could save his father�s career with a bit of political maneuvering and calling in some favors. At least he hoped he could. Pressman�s allies would be blackmailed to betray him. No one would stand by his side.

But this was all relative at the moment. They had to destroy a Battleship first.

Casey returned to the first officer�s seat on the Bridge. Casey showed no emotion from his encounter with Pressman. He was cool as ice. Iceman to the end. He was now playing a dangerous game of cat and mouse. He knew he could destroy Pressman, but he wasn�t about to let the Galaxy get caught behind enemy lines and blown to bits by Pressman�s madness.

It had been a long, agonizing wait. But it was worth it. The Engineering department fixed the phased torpedo�s. All was ready.

The phased torpedo�s flew perfectly to their target. This time they didn�t stray off course. The first volley hit the Battleship and tore through the hull. The body of the battleship buckled toward the tail. But it was still intact.

�Shall we fire again?� Sterner smiled. �Load, lock and fire Lieutenant Mackenzie!� Sterner gave the order again.

Minutes later four more torpedo�s were on there way to the Battleship. That volley impacted and sent a fireball throughout the ship. They were crippled, their warp core was off-line.

�Sir, it seems their shields are down and their warp core is offline,� Mac informed from Tactical.

�Do we save the rest of the torpedo�s Admiral? We can finish them off with phasers and quantum torpedo�s now.� Sterner was correct. Those phased torp�s were quite valuable.

�Yes, de-cloak and destroy�� Pressman and Sterner were rocked out of their chairs.

�Sir shields at 60%, we�ve lost impulse engines,� Mercury reported over the comm. It sounded quite hectic down in engineering.

Greer heard the question, �They could have guessed the trajectory of the torpedo�s Commander.�

�Bridge to sickbay, three injured crew get here now!� Casey said, tapping his combadge.

�David I need impulse now!� Casey barked. He was standing in front of the viewscreen, staring at the crippled Battleship.

This wasn�t the way it happened before. �Why are things changing so drastically?� Casey wondered.

He didn�t have time to care. The Battleship fired their phasers and they slammed into the Galaxy. That blow took out the Phase cloak.

The Galaxy was dead in space, exposed behind enemy lines and it was all on Casey�s shoulders. �I can get us out of this.�

Casey leaned down to check Sterner. He was unconscious but didn�t seem to be seriously injured, a concussion at the worst.

Pressman seemed dazed. His eyes were fluttering back into his head like he was having an epileptic fit. At that moment two blue uniforms showed up.

�Here you see to him Ensign,� Deiran said and stood up to command the ship under impossible odds. The medical crew arrived quickly. They were always on call in battle situations.

�Where�s the impulse engines David? We�re dead in space here!� Casey said.

�Noted! Hurry up!� Deiran cut off the comm and turned to Mac. The ship took another blow, rocking the floor beneath Casey. He steadied himself and kept his gaze on Mac. Casey was determined to get them out of this. He had done it before, he�d do it again.

�Mac, fire everything we have at their warp core. Take that sucker out. And don�t wait for me to say fire again, hit it with everything we have. Even if we have to use the phased torp�s.� Deiran turned around and shouted �Fire!�

The Call of the warrior, the Klingon song rang through Casey�s head. �We�ll get out of this, I�m not about to lose to some clumsy piece of junk!�

Mac released all the firepower the Galaxy could throw at the Battleship. When the torp�s hit and the phasers impacted the Battleship erupted in flames. The explosion was so powerful it rocked the Galaxy like a toy boat in a bathtub.

�What the �!� Casey exclaimed so the entire Bridge crew could hear. It wasn� t on purpose.

Mac let another volley of fireworks go from the bowels of the ship. Again the weapons slammed into the Battleship.

=/\= Commander, we have impulse engines back on line =/\= Mercury announced over the comm.

The Galaxy narrowly missed a second explosive shock from the ship. Shields were at 40%. The cloak was down. And that stupid ship was still existing and hanging on for dear life.

�Okay then, Sharp, take us to bearing 281, mark 000. Making them think we�re going to their right. When they power their phasers shift and come around behind them at bearing 190, mark 020. Mac fire aft phasers and shift all power to the aft shields. We�re going to fire twice at one time�almost. Sharp on Mac�s mark spin the Galaxy around so he can fire the forward weapons. Mac when you do that, shift power to the forward shields from aft. We�re going to fire twice and twist and shout like Chubby Checker,� Casey laughed. Few Commanding officers laughed when faced with death. Everyone looked at him like he was crazy!

It was the only chance the Galaxy had to destroy the Battleship. Firing at two places without giving it�s crew enough time to react was an advantage the Galaxy had. The Battleship was losing power. The Galaxy had power.

Hunter fired the phasers and the torpedo launchers in front of the ship were destroyed. Now that would give them some time to swing around behind and use Casey�s improvised maneuver.

Everyone thought Casey was nuts, another strange maneuver. No one seemed to mind though as no one else had any good ideas to suggest. And Sterner and Pressman weren�t exactly available.

The move was pulled off flawlessly. The Galaxy twisted and turned as it fired aft phasers at the warp core. Then the forward weapons let go of it�s volley, as the ship came around and steadied itself, the volley slammed into the Battleship. It all happened so quickly. No one had ever seen a ship fire so fast in this fashion.

The Dominion ship erupted into more flames. They got off one shot before the ship imploded in on itself and then incinerated in a colorful display of orange, red and yellow.

The one shot the dying Battleship got off was a direct hit to the saucer section as the Galaxy swung around and corrected itself. One hit. Casey could not have suspected it. There was no way to know. The shot ripped through decks 8 through 12.

�Sir major casualties are being reported on decks 8 to 12. Sending med crew now sir.�

�Sir, part of sickbay has been damaged. Structural damage, three dead and ten badly injured,� Mac reported from tactical.

Casey tapped his combadge, �David can you get that phase cloak back up? I�ll give you all the power I can. Please get it working,� Casey said and sat down in the Captain�s chair.

For the next three hours they headed toward Federation space, engineering working to fix the cloak and everyone praying not to run in to a Dominion fleet.

=/\= Commander, the cloak is fixed. =/\= Mercury�s voice reported over the c omm. It was great news.

�Great work David, turn it on and phase us out of existence. Sharp set a course for Starbase 74, max warp!�

Once they were safe, Casey let his guard down. He smiled, happy to be alive. He lost people under his command again. It happened to his father, it happened to Captain Price, even to Picard. But it still wasn�t easy. But he saved the ship, and the majority of the crew.

=/\= You�re needed in what�s left of sickbay sir. It�s extremely important! Please come quickly. This isn�t a joke Commander. =/\=

Casey could tell Cat was telling the truth, because she didn�t sound happy at all.

Casey entered sickbay. It was scaring him to death but he was in command at the moment and had no choice. He controlled his fear and found Cat.

�Deiran please sit down,� she asked him. A serious, melancholy expression stamped on her face.

�Deiran I don�t know how to tell you this�� Cat paused and wiped her eyes, tears began to fall down her cat-like cheeks.

�Miran and Lara were here in sickbay during the battle. Nilani put Miran and Lara on a bio bed in the back med bay. Some support beams were damaged there�� Cat stopped again. Doing her best to try and get through this, she had to tell Deiran what happened.

�Cat your scaring me, just tell me!� he said excitedly as he leaned forward and then stood to his feet.

The words hit him hard. He just stood there silently. Eyes full of tears that would not fall.

�There�s more Deiran,� Cat said, drying her tears with the back of her hands.

The three words stabbed Deiran in the heart, as if a Klingon warrior ripped it out with his bare hands. He erupted in tears. He couldn�t control it. His baby was gone. His angel! And Miran was a paraplegic.

Casey wiped his tears, pushed Cat away from him, as she had come to comfort him with a hug.

He looked upward and screamed out, �Q!� He had never been more angry in his life.

�You never attempted suicide. You won the day for the Galaxy and are a hero! Congratulations boy! You�re a brilliant commander. I must admit it was a good show. What did you call that maneuver?� Q�s expression was one of ice cold emotion.

�You�� Casey stopped himself. He had to be careful. Q was the only one to get him out of this.

�Yes and you knew what would happen. This was a disaster. I take the wish back. Return things to the way they were and take your damn wishes and leave me alone!� Casey was furious. He even swore.

�O contraire mon amie, I just granted the wish I had no idea what would happen,� Q replied, faking innocence.

�Fine have it your way you impertinent brat. Try to do something nice, and this is the thanks I get��

In an instant, Deiran found himself standing in front of Miran. He was a bit disoriented but happy to see his true love standing on her own two feet. Everything was back to normal.

Yep everything was back to normal. He would never regret his actions again. A hard lesson to learn. Things happen for a reason.

Endris trotted to the cargo bay at full tilt. There were an unknown number of Borg on the ship, and assimilation procedures had begun. Gakor activated 3 EMH replicas and set up triage. During her research on the Teresi virus, the Tellarite had come upon many loose ends that she didn't need to report. However, none of her research discovered variants that might effect the Borg or the collective. Unless... the immunologist had read up on older drug therapies. There was one thing she was reluctant to try, since it was very dangerous. But with the Federation's most threatening enemy on the loose, a gamble couldn't hurt.

The doctor looked at the well ordered supplies, filling her hypo with a concentrated Kirodyne derivative. Admiral Mc Coy's old logs indicated an interval of several minutes was required before the substance conveyed Psycho Kinetic powers. Gakes just hoped it would be enough to ward off the Borg's interest in the cargo bays.

Several drones were banging the reenforced doors from the passageway. Gakor hid in a Jefferies Tube, injecting a masking agent to hide her bio signs. Tricorders and other surveillance devices couldn't locate her now! Angela Dana sheared the door out of its frame, and as she marched into the cargo bay, Borg implants were evident. She swept the area with a scanner, but when it revealed no life forms, the efficient directives of the collective informed her not to make a more diligent inspection.

Three Borg entered after the Deltan, and hooked a device into the Cargo Transporter. Despite being locked down, the device glowed with evil energy. They were making some kind of emitter, most likely to assist in the assimilation of the crew! Gakor was on her own. She couldn't even contact her friends, who knew who had already succumbed to the Borg threat? Gakes hoped Muffin was not sprouting any Borg implants. It would make Oinkus much more difficult, after all. (Although it might give him an efficient taste for fruit.)

Gakor felt a wave of energy pass through her, and realized it must be the drug kicking in. Concentrating, she rose a cargo container up in the air a few inches. The Kirodyne was working! The container appeared to shift and fall from its position. Before they got suspicious, Endris nudged a few more containers until they were teetering from the shelves. One of Four thought things shifted a bit since she came in, but her optical implants were only 3,991,185,203,674 nano seconds old. Perhaps they were malfunctioning. The former woman sent a request for repair to the collective.... It would be processed shortly.

Two of Four looked up. It was not efficient to complete a manual search, but the former Galaxy crewman knew how resourceful the Federation could be. The collective tried to check his action, which seemed almost to be a vestige of independence, but he sent a reply stating the reasons for his search. 4.5 seconds later, a reply arrived that the actions were sanctioned given the logic of the situation. Endris felt a layer of sweat drip off, as the Borg looked a few inches from her face. Was it resistance and determination she saw in Gru'br? The pilot could have almost seen her from the angle he was surveying....

Borgs Three and Four of four were bent over the transporter console, busy adapting it for its new role in the Galaxy's assimilation.

Would Gakor's growing powers be enough to stop all 4 of them? Endris turned to shimmy out the conduit. She barely peeked out of an overhead lighting panel, and saw Albrecht march by with a group of Borg. Going for help was going to be futile, so she bumped up the level of kirodyne in her blood stream. She could now levitate a large size human, or something as big as a Borg drone! (Or maybe one of those Killer Tomatoes Numa was fond of growing in the ship's garden).

Endris decided she needed a distraction. The Drones avoided the EMH programs, dismissing them after noting their unsubstantial nature. Perhaps the drones thought they were 'Pod People'. But not for long. Gakor reloaded the software so that the interfaces all looked exactly like her.

[We exist here], claimed the one on the left. All four drones turned to listen to this new statement, expecting some type of Federation trick.

[You are here but you are not], boomed the one on the right. That seemed like a threat, and Grub'r raised his mechanical arm in protest. Angela, who seemed to be in command of this contingent, motioned him off, wanting to hear the rest of the challenge.

[Resistance is Futile], nagged the holographic Endris in the center of the room.

With that, Endris sent a psycho kinetic punch which fractured the Dana drone with multiple wounds. A entire platoon of floating scalpels had somehow diced her like an evening meal, appearing like ghosts in the night.

Two of Four ran from the rain of knives, expecting to be skewed at any minute. Unfortunately, he didn't see the improvised giotine that chopped his neck off like a kid finding a razor blade in a piece of Halloween candy.

Three of Four extrapolated from the trajectory of the projectiles, and aimed a scarlet beam of force at the real Gakor. Fortunately, the clever Lieutenant was expecting an attack, and used her new mental powers to deflect a cargo container to intercept the beam. But that meant revealing her hiding place.

Four of Four, which was now technically Two of Two, continued on his task to modify the transport unit to bypass the lockouts. Three changed her tactics multiple times, but couldn't catch Gakor off guard. One of her beams incinerated a structural support, which fell and pulled her organic arm clear out of its socket. It looked like a scene from a B grade horror movie, and was accompanied by appropriate scream from the former human's voice box. The unit shut down for repairs, and was thus unable to move from the path of silicon fluid (used for healing Hortas and other silicon life forms), that appeared like a blob. It totally encased her before the collective could complete repairs, the drone transmitted an unsuitability/unsalvageable operating code to her fellows.

There was now only 1 of 4 left. Despite no orders to do so, the remaining drone shivered. His companions had all been defeated by a talking pig who under other conditions could be considered quite a Babe!

Smelling the fear, Gakor walked out into the open. The transporter was on line! Gakor adjusted the dials with her new psychic powers. "What you assimilate is elsewhere", she yelled while energizing the unit. Intended to beam through the shields, Endris's lever twisting made the drone materialize inside the rapidly modulating pulses of the ship's protective grid. Despite his speed and efficiency, the former Galaxy crewman couldn't adapt fast enough, as the raw energy shielding the ship tore him limb from limb.

There were now None of Four left. Sensing a lack of diner companions, Gakor scurried over to the replicator for a nice, silent pair of lamb chops.....

"Ethan, I owe you one for this, it almost makes up for you standing me up in the lab." Smiling again, she curled up onto the couch, and contented herself to watch the flowing movements of the stars.

"What in the world is happening?" She thought, as she sat frozen in awe. The images in the viewport holding her gaze in an unrelenting grip....

Mac watched as the Trans-warp conduit shunted the weird greenish vessel into normal space. The sensors were unable to penetrate the ship, but all power readings were off scale. space.

The bridge watched as greenish beams sliced into the Borg cube as if its shields were cardboard. The power of the unknown ship was immense.

�Were being hailed, Comm�.� Began Mac, who suddenly halted in mid-sentence , �belay that commander�it appears that I am being hailed.� As Mac looked at his wrist a small screen powered up on the greenish communicator and the face of an unknown race appeared. The creature had a large domed, and ridged forehead and eye sparkled with an inherent malevolence. Mac suddenly felt that malevolence flow into his mind�creeping into his consciousness �prying apart his very �

A bright flash of light suddenly brought Mac back to the bridge�shortly after a similar flash brought an amused Capt. Price there also.

Lee glanced around. Mac watched as he took in each station as he completed the scan a small smile crossed his lips.

"I remember sir..." Tebrianne said placing two split fingers to her temple in Vulcan fashion.

For the umpteenth time, T'Zaq glanced around the room and nervously smoothed her tunic. The main room of the diplomatic quarters aboard the Galaxy was quite large by starship's standards, although compared to the family home back on Vulcan it was positively claustrophobic.

As she was again memorizing the features of the opposite wall, the door slid open. A tall, thin Vulcan male wearing the traditional clothing of a trader entered the room, his dark gaze immediately fixing on her. He slowly approached, index and middle fingers extended to her. T'Zaq mirrored his gesture, touching his outstretched fingers in the traditional greeting. Their minds touched briefly, but there was none of the intimate sharing T'Zaq craved, only a vague connection.

T'Zaq motioned to a seat and brought two glasses of kithaa juice from the replicator. "Quite well, Surev. And you?"

With the pleasantries over with, the two sat in silence for several minutes sipping their drinks. They simply had nothing to talk about. It was going to be a long afternoon....

Mercifully, the red alert siren interrupted the uncomfortable silence. The voice of the computer calmly stated, "Intruder alert. Intruder alert."

T'Zaq jumped up from her seat, a bit too excitedly to be entirely dignified, but at the moment she didn't care. "Come on, we've got to get to the bridge!"

Surev infuriatingly raised a calm eyebrow. "What would be the purpose of that? We are both civilians, our presence on the bridge in the middle of a situation would be unwelcome at best."

...T'Zaq bolted upright in bed and opened her eyes. Had it all really been a dream? She stood up and paced around the room, pondering this. Her parrot hissed softly and shifted around in his cage, startled by the disturbance.

"Perot?" she whispered softly. She could hardly believe her eyes; all her pets had been killed when the Hay'letts attacked the Sovereign. Or had they? Here was her parrot.. and there! Her three chameleons, dozing peacefully beneath their infrared heat-light. Maybe it wasn't all a dream after all.

T'Zaq slowly climbed back into bed. "Itaren-tu.." she murmered to the air before turning over and falling into a contented sleep.

So many questions flowed through Mendenhall's mind. Namely who, what, where, when, and why. Who was the Cue guy? What was going on here? Where the heck was he? When are things going to get back to normal? Why was he here?

He looked around and names of the crew members started to come to his mind. Small tidbits of information started to flow through his mind, he could remember things that he knew he hadn't experiance. Maybe Captain Price could explain things once he contacted the Galaxy.

The view screen changed from a view of the approaching borg cube, to the face of Commander Sterner. The bridge crew looked just as frazzle as Anthony felt.

[Thanks for comming... 'Lt. Mendenhall?!] The Commander seemed as much confused about this new situation as Mendenhall.

On the Bridge of the Wraith, the bridge crew seemed puzzled by Commander Sterner refferin to their captain as a lieutenant. Everyone stared at each other for a second, then simultaneously, both science officers spoke up in unison.

A rectangular portion of the screen appeared in the lower left corner of the screen, allowing the "Captain" to see the Commander and the cube at the same time.

Mendenhall knew he was in charge of this crew. This was his ship, and they had to do something to stop that giant monstrosity. The only problem was, he had no training whatsoever in how to run a starship. He seemed to have some new found knowledge, but he couldn't rely on that.

Folding his hands and leaning his chin on them, he gave his first orders as a Captain. "Raise shields. Ready all weapons, and full speed toward the Borg. Commander, wish me luck."

The warning klaxons rang, red lights flashed, the fight was on. The large starship reversed it's course, completeing a sharp turn, straight toward the Borg. Mendenhall knew that the he was going to die. The odds were soundly against him. There was no chance of survival. But, Mendenhall didn't fear death for now. His sole responsibility was to fight that thing until they were destroyed.

He looked up at the commision plaque. On it, he read the quote, queitly to himself and smiled. "Into the Jaws of death, into the Mouth of Hell."

The Wraith streaked toward the giant black cube. The Wraith was an experimental ship. The saucer section looked much like that of an Excelsiors, but the strategic placed ablative armor gave it a rougher look than the Excelsior's. Two large flat, rectangular weapon mounts were connected to the saucer. Each held two quantum torpedeo launchers, giving it it's fighting force. Connected in the middle was a small deflector array. On the sides of the weapons mount were connected two warp nacelles.

"Attack pattern Omega Ms. Y'kad, go now. Bring quadcores one and two up to 100%. I think they can handle it. Aim for their weapons, and fire two volleys when ready Mr. D'Rax."

The words just flowed out of his mouth. The Wraith must have two quadcores. That was twice the energy output that of a Defiant Class. What the heck was he on?

Mendenhall's jaw dropped as he saw three volleys of four quantum torpedoes each on the view screen. A large green beam of energy from the Borg Cube flew past them. Two phaser streams streaked toward the massive ship, doing little visible damage.

"Shields at 94%. And they didn't even get a direct hit. We didn't even scratch them sir."

This was bad. Anthony shouted. "Get in closer, attack pattern Delta, go now." The ship rocked from a near miss of the destrutive green energy. In a weaving pattern skimming the shields, an almost continuous volley of torpedoes flew from their launchers. Phaser streams exploded on the shields. As they pulled up away from the cube, a green burst blasted the saucer section.

"Shields at 51%. We've gone through a fourth our quantum torpedoes. Damage on decks 3 and five."

"Keep going, we've got to stall this thing." Anthony felt that he should give the crew some kind of support. "To all crew members aboard. I'd just like to say, it's been an honor serving you, and your the finest crew-"

A sudden blast rocked the Wraith and the science station exploded, sending shrapnel into Lopez, killing him. A small fire started, but was soon extinguised by Ensign Deloras.

"Keep on going. We HAVE to try to stop this thing. What's it's status?" The view screen started to faze in and out.

The news was disheartning. Every shot they put out had hit, and it had only knicked the paint. "Keep on going Lieutenant. The Galaxy should be joining us soon."

Volley after volley of torpedoes hit the surface. The Wraith manuvered, each time barley missing the green beam of death. Black patches could be seen were major damage was occuring. The phaser banks fired two, sometimes three beams at a time. Hardly any damage inflicted, the Wraith boldy flew on.

Anthony shouted "I want-" He was cut short by a incredible shake that made Anthony fly out of his seat. Fate spared him, because a giant beam fell ontop of his chair. Mendnehall didn't need anyone to tell him how hopeless it was now.

With the ship shields almost certainly down and major hull damage all throught the ship, there was only one thing to do. It seemed almsot in slow motion as Anthony lunged toward the helm controls. Pushing aside the bleeding body, he set speed to maximum, and shields to full front. He felt his blood run down his face, his leg hurt, but he knew he had a job. He as given only one option. Nothing was left, except a noble sacrifice.

As the Ship got closer to the giant black wall, a green energy burst cut through the hull of the Wraith. A warp nacelle flew off as flames started to engulf the rest of the ship, leaving only the skeleton. Anthony screamed. "At LEAST I'M GOING TO HELL YOU MECHANICAL FREAKS." With that, the Wraith was no more. Mendenhall's world went black. He was dead.

Mendenhall shook his fist in the air as he cried out again. "YOU HEAR ME, AT LEAST I'M GOING TO HELL YOU MECHANICAL FREAKS!" As he opened his tear filled eyes, he expecting death to star back at him. Instead, everyone in the corridor was starrring at him. One crew member who had just walked out of their quarters, hurridly went back in thinking he was an assimilated Borg. He looked around for a moment realizing he was alive, and in shock made his way to damage control station because it was red alert. He just sort of stood there at his station, his hands shaking, trying to comprehend the situation at hand.

"The Borg, Q and Federation Doctor's Bedside Manners"
Written By Lt. Kahn Nilani and Dr. Cat
USS Galaxy

I was sitting in the Medical Research Lab, Cat was sitting beside me. Neither of us had changed from our party clothes but we were too busy to worry about anything else. Cat had just rushed in because of the red alert.

["I know I'm late. But the klaxons really disturbed my children. I left as soon as I could, but they were really upset.]

"We will have to discuss that one later on. Right now we have to worry about the Borg taking over crew. I can't believe there is only one proper report on removal of Borg implants! There's a lot of theories but no one has proved them yet!"

["Yes I know, it seems as though either they're scared of doing it. Or no one but the Enterprise crew has survived face to face with the Borg."]

I looked up general stuff about the Borg, Cat bent over and looked hard at the screen.

"The USS Righteous, Excelsior class. Disappeared from Wolf 359 and presumed destroyed! Reappeared in time for second Borg Incursion. Apparently Q has a soft spot for some people!"

["I doubt she wanted to become a Borg. Who in their right mind would want to become Borg?"

["Who ever said you lower species have a right mind? Or even have a mind? I only gave her what she wanted."]

"Q you are the most annoying thing I have ever met, leave me alone before I do something to you!"

["You, a Bajoran! A religious people whom while being a very old species are still inferior. So I doubt my little Doctor you could do anything to harm me."]

["Nilani calm down, count to ten, do something, before you do something we will all regret. Right now, you're dealing with nitroglycerine."]

["You better listen to her, Doctor, she after all is obviously more stable. Doctor, all I was going to ask you was, What do you want for Christmas?"]

Moving towards him all the time "Q, I have everything I have ever wanted. So here is what I am going to do. If you don't leave in 5 seconds I am going to hit you so hard that the next Q will feel it!"

I punched Q in the face, his nose broke under my fist. Blood start to slowly run from his nose!

["Quite Obviously all Federation doctors are the same. Bad bedside manners, Dr Crusher was always like that!"]

I turned around and walked to the computer terminal. I watched as Cat moved forward with a tricorder.

"Look Q, you have caused too much trouble as it is. You want to help, clear it up."

["You expect me to deal with this situation. It is not of my making. I can't bear to think of not letting you have the fun of dealing with it."]

"I wish for a comprehensive medical report in the removal of Borg implants and the needed procedures for complete recovery and rehabilitation of the patient."

A flash of light and a PADD appeared in my hand. I looked down at it expectantly.

The PADD was covered in some form of alien heiroglyphics. It was next to useless. Iooked at him with a sneer.

["I gave you what you wanted. You didn't say that you wanted to be able to read it now did you. Besides, I can't take all the fun. Bye"]

I slammed the PADD on the desk, as a head stuck through the roof of the Sickbay.

["You should recognise it. It's in your own language. Albeit, many thousands of years long since forgotten."]

["Maybe we could get the computer to start translating it. We need all the help we can get. I don't think you should have annoyed him like that."]

"What ever! You're right! Let's get on with the translation. By the way, what is this I hear about you having children and a mother."

I transferred the files to the main computer as Cat called up the translation routines. We could only wait and hope that something could come out of this. Hopefully we could the bright spot in this darkening day.

Suder glanced out of the window again and briefly glanced at the brightly lit stars. He took a sip of his drink and pulled the computer padd over to him from across the table. He thought for a long five minutes about his friends, family and other loved ones. He tapped a control on the padd and an information display of names appeared on the screen. It was a long list of names. Well over a thousand names. It was of course, the casulty list that Suder had been avoiding for weeks. He found five names of people he knew well. People he had served with. And then there was an entire list of people killed, wounded or missing from Betazoid. He knew a lot of people there, and then all of a sudden, their lives were taken by the Dominion.

Suder slowly turned away from the data padd and looked at the man with the Starfleet uniform on. "What do you want Q?" he asked finishing his drink.

"I want to help..." he hesitated before continueing. "I've helped people before. Peple with problems like you. The one person I think had a similar problem was Cadet Furlong. Of cours ehe only lost his father to the Borg. But you've lost everything to both the Borg and the Dominion." Q said.

"I want to give you an insight into what is happening with everyone." and with that last word, Q snapped his fingers. Suder looked around and found himself on another ship. It was dark, with dark green lights. Thousands of people insight. He didn't even have to think about it, he was on a Borg ship. Two Borg Drones passed him and Q and Q pointed to them. "Recognise them, their your parents." Q said.

Suder stepped forward and looked at the Drones. They connected themselves to the Borg Alcoves and were still and silent. Then Suder saw something in them that made him realise it was his parents. He had known they were captured by the Borg, but he had hoped that someoe had killed them to release their lives from the Collective. Suder looked at Q and watched as he snapped his fingers again. This time he was on a rocky planet. It was dark, wet and a horrible night. There was a storm passing over. "Why here?" Suder asked. Q raised an arm and pointed a finger.

Suder followed his fingers direction and looked passed some rocks. There were several people running as fast as they could over the rocky and wet terrain. Five people were chasing them. Jem'Hadar warriors. One of the officers fell over and another grabbed him and pulled him to his feet. The Starfleet officer in front of the group was a women that Suder recognised. He took a step forward and Q answered the question he was going to ask.

"They can't see you, you can't do anything." he said. The officers ran passed them and the Jem'Hadar warriors finally caught up with them and began hitting them for their disobediance.

"Once the Vorta gets through with you for trying to escape, you'll wish you never joined Starfleet." one of the warriors said.

"It's best not to dwell on such things." Q said snapping his fingers again. This time they were back on a Federation Starship. Suder walked around and Q just watched as he finally found what he was here for. In front of some yellow lights, there was a biobed with a Betazoid male on it. There was a Doctor stood by him looking down on him with a proud look on his face. A Vulcan joined him and looked at the Doctor before looking at the Betazoid. Both of the officers wore the old Starfleet uniform. Where were they? Who were they?

Suder glanced down at the floor and turned to Q. "Why are you showing me all this?" he asked.

"Because your planning to kill yourself. Your going to request a transfer to the Captain and after a long and tiring arguement, he'll let you go. You'll go join the Sixteenth Fleet and you'll die on the USS Defender." Q said as if it was a report of what to come.

"Do you know what death is like? Do you know what will happen?" Q asked. He snapped his fingers again. This time, there was nothing. Nothing to stand on, nothing to see, breath, touch, feel, or do. "This is what death is like. It's just your consioussness floating around in the middle of no where. As you can see, it is better to live with revenge in your heart than to die a worthless cause and spend the rest of your existence here." Q said from somewhere.

There was a flash of light and Suder looked down at the floor and then glanced around. He was back in his quarters and Q was gone. What was the point in all of that. So now he knew where all of his friends and family were. But what next?

He sat down and began feeling. He would contact Starfleet Intelegence, find out where the prisoners of the Lakota were, he'd work with Adrianna on how to help find a way to brake his parents away from the Collective once he found them. He'd also find a way to reach the people who were with his brother. And last but not least, he would take on any mission, any assignment aimed at the destruction of the Dominion and the Borg. If he was going to go down, he was going to go down fighting!

Ripping her gaze away from the whirlwind of spiraling stars, Adrianna knew what she had to do. Quickly, she changed from her party costume into her Starfleet Uniform. From a small pouch hanging within her closet, she placed a set of engineering tools in the carrying pockets of her uniform shirt.

Moving with great haste, she realized that she had to get to Engineering. Leaving her quarters and rushing down the corridor, she nodded at a few of the crewman that she recognized. As she reached the Turbolift and entered, she spoke the next words without even thinking.

After the turbolift doors opened, Adrianna ran down the corridor and up to the access leading into main Engineering. Pausing for only an instant to collect herself and her thoughts, she entered.

She knew it wasn't her duty shift yet, but with whatever was happening the current shifts engineer's were bound to be busy.

Indeed, as she entered, the Engine room was a buzz of activity. Approaching the highest ranking officer she could find amid the confusion, she spoke.

"Ensign Adrianna, reporting for duty". With a look of total seriousness, she awaited her first orders.

Lieutenant Hewson seemed to regard her for a second before speaking. " All right Ensign, assist Ensign Sota at station two. He is working on maintaining the structural integrity field."

"Yes Sir." Adrianna moved quickly to the engineering control station. Sota was indeed hard at work. "What's the status?" She asked him as she took the chair next to his.

"Whatever's happening out their is putting a terrible strain on the ship. I've been able to boost power to the Structural fields, but its not enough. The secondary hull is starting to take damage." His hands moved quickly over the LCARS displays as he spoke.

"Lets try a trick I learned from studying the Borg. Try an inverse feedback loop, it should strengthen the shields in a direct proportion to the power curve we feed it. The only trick is getting the power. I'll put in the equations, while you work on the power problem". Her slender fingers now danced across the LCARS panel in front of her, as her copper-red eyes focused on the complex equations being displayed on the data screen.

"Got it." Sota said as he began searching the ships available power reserves. Slowly, he started to frown. "There's just not enough available power in reserve, the strain on the engines is even worse than the shields. Hold it, I've got it. Im feeding you another 15.3%. Stand by." Smiling, he completed the power transfer.

Adrianna too began to smile. "Its working, the integrity fields are holding strong at 131% of normal. Damage to the secondary hull has ceased. Looks like we will be able to ride this out..whatever it is."

Adrianna turned for the first time to look at Sota. "Um,..Mr. Sota, do I want to know where that power came from?"

Ensign Sota's smile was enough to tell her that she probably didn't want to know...

"Sigma Iosha 2 ? Why does that sound familiar?..."
by Captain Robert Edward Lee Price

The ship was caught in a flat spin after being flicked through space like a bottle cap on Q's sudden whim. The gallant crew of the mighty vessel struggled to get her under control.

"Status report!" Captain Price called out in a near shout while struggling to get to the command chair on the bridge. The speed in which the USS Galaxy was hurdling through the space / time continuum was more than the internal dampeners manage. The inertia from the spin had caused gravity to strengthen to nearly double normal levels.

Tebrianne quickly hooked a finger around her pointed ear, disposing of a tuft of purple hair before tapping into the flight control console of the ship's helm. "I'm trying to regain lateral control but it's no use Captain. We are spinning too fast. I'll try using the impulse engines to counter the rotation."

Lee nodded at Lieutenant Bancroft, acknowledging her actions before turning his head to Deiran at the Ops station.

"Structural integrity is holding but weakening sir." 'Commander Casey explained. "Our speed is,.. it's off the scale Captain."

"'ave Engineering try to bolster the integrity field 'mate." Captain Price directed before pivoting to face Lieutenant Commander Erikson at science station one. "Anything on the sensors 'mate?"

Greer double checked his station. "Negative Captain. We are spinning too fast for the stellar sensor array to lock on and decipher our current position."

"Sounds like one wild ride Q is sent us on Captain." Commander Sterner commented.

Almost as if on que, Deiran turned around. "Sir, if we clear shuttle bay two, we could try firing lateral thrusters and at the same moment decompressing the hangar in a sudden burst. That might disrupt the rotational harmonic of the ship enough to allow the impulse engines to pull us out of the spin." The 'Commander's eyes looked hopeful as he spoke.

Glancing over to Lieutenant Bancroft, Lee asked, "What do you think Lieutenant?"

"Aye sir!" Deiran smiled swinging back around in his chair and making the preparations. "It will take them one minute to clear the shuttle bay Captain. Everything else is standing by."

Captain Price nodded, "Fair dinkum 'Commander." Lee glanced around the bridge. Chief Engineer Mercury was at the rear of the bridge manning the engineering consoles and monitoring the Galaxy's impulse engines. Lieutenant McKenzie was standing by at tactical and growing frustrated because his sensors were no more effective than the ones at the science station.

"Shuttle bay two reports they are clear sir," Deiran relayed, "standing by to fire thrusters and decompress shuttle bay."

Outside the spinning ship, lateral thrusters fire to counter the flat spin and at the same moment shuttle bay two is explosively decompressed, disrupting the 'Frisbee' like motion of the spinning starship enough to allow Lieutenant Bancroft to regain control with the impulse engines that glowed brightly.

"Struggling to regain control Captain...." Teb informed, "our velocity is still off the scale."

"Try to bring us to a full stop Lieutenant. We need to figure out where the heck Q has sent us." Captain Price explained.

The engines of the Galaxy roared under the strain, but slowly, her velocity decreased until suddenly Lieutenant Bancroft had full control.

"Thank you sir, but I'm not entirely sure it was all my doing. The ship just seemed to suddenly respond where before it wasn't." Teb explained.

Lee paused a moment and then nodded. "Still 'mate, bonzer job. 'Commander Erikson, any luck with those sensors and determining where we are?"

Greer was sitting at the Science station recalibrating the ship's stellar sensor arrays, locking onto a near by star formation and running it through the computer system. "I'm checking now sir. We appear to still be in the Alpha quadrant, though we are clear across the opposite side from where we were last positioned."

Captain Price took in what the Chief Science Officer said before glancing at Deiran at Ops. "Send a message to Starfleet Command reporting our position 'Commander."

A puzzled look formed on the Captain's face. Lee was wondering why Q had sent the Galaxy clear across the quadrant to this location. "Have you got a fix on our location yet 'mate?"

Greer turned and looked at the Captain, "We are near a class J solar system. Computer is identifying it as the Daubii Sigma system."

Lee nodded. "Commander Sterner, anything of interest in the databanks on this particular system that would make Q want to send us here 'mate?"

"Checking Captain." Joerg replied, tapping into the small data terminal to the side of the command well near the first officer's chair.

Lee waited patiently while Commander Sterner conducted his search. Greer commented, "There is a M class planet in the system sir. Sigma Iosha 2."

The Captain looked at Greer and gave him a 'thank you' blink and jog of his head. Mean while Lieutenant Commander Casey ran a quick scan of the Daubii Sigma system. "I'm detecting no signs of interstellar capabilities. High concentrations of decaying radiation and contaminants in the atmosphere of the second planet. Hard to get anything more from this distance Captain." Deiran explained.

"I have something sir." Joerg declared capturing the attention of everyone on the bridge.

"Well sir, it seems Sigma Iosha 2 was visited by the S.S. Horizon over two hundred years ago. Before the prime directive was in place. The Horizon was subsequently lost, but sent an old style radio signal back to the Federation." Commander Sterner explained.

"A radio transmission? Crickey! I haven't heard of radio being used anywhere but in those old style holodeck novels since sub-space transmissions were developed." Captain Price takes note.

"Right Captain." Deiran chimes in with a smile, "It must have taken sixty or seventy years for a radio signal to reach earth from here."

"Try a hundred years Deiran." Joerg corrected. He then looked at the Captain, continuing his briefing. "When Starfleet learned of this, they dispatched the USS Enterprise under the command of Captain James T. Kirk to go and investigate. By then the noninterference directive had been put in effect, an earlier version of our own prime directive."

"It says here that when the Enterprise arrived, the inhabitants had been badly contaminated by the S.S.Horizon crew. Specifically, they seemed to spend the last hundred years building their society around a book left by the Horizon, 'Chicago Mobs of the Twenties'. It had left their society in utter chaos. Various factions warring with each other constantly. No technological progress beyond that described in the book having been made or being pursued. Commander Spock's report on the mission is quite detailed sir."

Lee rubbed a hand onto his chin thinking about what his First officer had just told him. It seemed the Daubii Sigma system stood out in the area, and Sigma Iosha 2 was acting as the focal point in all this.

With a flash Q appeared on the bridge. He was still dressed in a Starfleet uniform, wearing his ever present Santa's cap, and a devious smile. "Really Price. Isn't it obvious? Oh please, don't tell me I've failed once again to provide you with something your pathetically small intellect can comprehend..."

"Q..." Lee growled. There was something about this person that seemed to just grate on the Captain's nerves. Forming a tight fist at his sides to control his temper, he asked in a civil tone, "Indulge me please."

"Your wish is my command Mon Capitain!" Q gloated jovially with a raising of his hands over his head and a snap of his fingers.

In a flash, Q, the Captain and several members of the USS Galaxy vanished off the ship.

Aaron/Price was in the elevator with Ensign Mike Marc, heading for the bridge, when suddenly, in a flash of light he found himself back in his quarters. He shook his head, the memory of a turbolift and an Ensign from tactical quickly fading from memory.

Aaron/Price managed to avoid any conversations along the way and slipped through the doors to sickbay. He looked around for a doctor.

"Can I help you, Captain?" a voice behind him asked. Aaron/Price turned to see the EMH doctor.

"You didn't. I was left on while everyone else attended the.." the EMH rolled its holographic eyes and sarcastically announced, "Christmas party." It looked back at Aaron/Price. "Anyway, what can I do for you, Captain?"

"Well, you certainly look like the Captain." The hologram said, whipping up a tricorder, "And you certainly register as the Captain." it emphasized again.

"But I'm not!" Aaron/Price stressed. "Q did this to me! I think it could be affecting my DNA!"

* Robert Edward Lee Price, Fleet Captain, Commanding Officer, USS Galaxy, NCC 70637.* The computer stated flatly.

"There you are." said the EMH. "You are the Captain. Perhaps this Q has simply made you think you're not."

"I'm not sure, something happened. Q changed me, then I was coming here, then I was going to the bridge... then I was in my quarters..."

"Huh? No! Don't you understand! I'm not Captain Price!" Aaron/Price was starting to yell. The EMH got a concerned look on its face. "I - AM - NOT - THE - CAPTAIN!" Suddenly his knees went weak. As he collapsed to the floor, he realized the EMH had hit him with a hypospray. He managed a feeble grunt before blackness engulfed him....

"Soothing Each Other's Sorrows"
By Councelor Dallas Walker
& Lt. JG Be'Tran M'Benga

'Maybe if I go to ten-for ,I wouldnt be so lonely.' Dallas thought She got up and walked out of her quarters, she had always been the typ that could hold her liquor very well. After a bit Dallas arived in ten-for it was rather quiet and peaceful ,which she liked. So she made her way to a perfect veiw of the stars and sat down at the table and just stared...

Dallas continued staring out ignoring anything and anyone that would walk into ten-for. Trying not to think about Zephyrus.

Betta M'Benga enterred ten-forward angry. Angry. That's what ninety percent of her emotions had been made up of sience certain events occured both on the Galaxy, and in her own life. Her mother. That was the main source of her anger. She screamed inside when she thought of her gentle mother... in the hands of Cardassian torturers... her lovely red hair ripped out by some Obsidian Order son of a ....

M'Benga let off a growell of sorts, which was loud enough to catch Dallas' attention from the bar."Are you OK... Betta?"

"Yeah." she sat her self down almost harshly in the barstool next to Dallas. "It's just... my mother." she said softly.

"You told me." said Dallas, "I'm so sorry. Is there anything I can do?" the counselor reached over and put a hand on M'Benga's knee.

M'Benga smiled, "Whadda you say we storm the bridge, take control of the ship, take it to Betazed and bring back my mom."

Dallas giggled. She was begining to feel better. Be'Tran had a way of making her feel better. "I don't think Captain Price would apreciate that overmuch." she said, smiling sweetly.

Betta gestured for the bartender to come over. "No..." she replied to Dallas. "I don't suppose he would." she was feeling better. Talking to Dallas always made her feel better. She was such a warm, open person. Betta was happy she was aboard the Galaxy.

The waiter approached, and M'Benga gestured to Dallas' drink. "I'll have what she's having!" Betta said loudly, her spirits returning more to their normal chipperness.

Soon M'Benga and Dallas were sipping bloodwine together, and talking, and laughing. Dallas soon forgot her sadness over Zephyrus, and Be'Tran found it easy, in the presence of the sweet counselor, to let herself relax and stop worrying about her mother.

They spent a wonderful relaxing hour or so together... soothing each other's troubles.

Jack looked around the holodeck; Betta was nowhere to be found. He had enjoyed the party, a first for him. His family had never celebrated Christmas, even though he knew what the festivities represented. At the Academy, he had spent countless hours debating the logic of the Bible with one of the chaplains there. Most people didn't know better than that it was a time to give gifts to ones loved ones. Truth was that it commemorated the birth of Christ, the Son of God.

Jack had wondered at the fact that there were so many people still clinging to religion and thus had sought out a representative. It had been an illuminating experience for him. He had logically pointed out to Father O'Reilly that if the texts were true, then the theory of evolution was invalid and all the research done over eons was nothing but a big charade. The chaplain had countered that nowhere in the bible was said how long a day was in that time, it could have been centuries, maybe even millennia. Moreover, the chaplain went on to explain, in a universe where there was a race of beings who were omnipotent and, by their own admission, had been to Earth, wouldn't it be a possibility that there was a being that was even more evolved then them, that could do such things? One who could, with a mere thought, start the development of the universe? Jack had lost that discussion; many more were to follow.

He smiled a little, something he was getting more and more used to lately, thinking about Father O'Reilly. Jack felt in his pocket, his hand closing around the small velvet covered box. Betta had a surprise waiting for him, she'd said. But so had he; he hoped it would be a welcome surprise for her. Jack walked out of the holodeck, a spring in his step as he counted down the minutes it took to reach their quarters.

Betta was there, currled up in the bed, reading that fat old book Dallas Walker had given her. Jack had seen in laying on the small glass table in their quarters several times, with the word "Centennial" printed accross the front in bold red letters.

"Hey." Jack said happily, and she pulled her green eyes up from the pages to look at him.

"Well, well." she smiled, "Grinning from ear to ear." she tossed the book on the bed and hopped up."Something must have happened after I left the party, now..." she put her arms around his shoulders, and kissed him, "want your present."

"Nope!" she replied and let loose of him. She walked back to the bed and knelt down, her lovely body being lightly revealed by the opening of her long black robe. She pulled a box out from under the bed, wrapped in green paper and tied with a silken purple ribbon. "I bet you thought I was going to just drop my robe and say 'here it is' didn't you?"

"Not this time." said M'Benga. "This is a real present.Not just something you get everyday. Go on, silly; open it. Unless you've forgotten how to unwrap anything besides me."

Jack grinned suspiciously at her, and sat down in one of the deep-piled chairs in their quarters. He began to slowly unwrap the box as Betta giggled. "Go on... tear it off... we don't need the paper."

D'Auria smiled at her again, and tore the paper off mock violently, tossing it on the floor. He grinned wickedly as he ripped off the top of the box. When he peered inside he found ((I thought it could be an antique pistol, or something along that line for Jack's collection, fill in what you most know he would want.))

"Betta." said Jack."It's wonderful. I love it. And I love you." he set his present aside, and jumped up out of the chair. He loved her so mutch. And now it was time for her present. "I have something for you too, Be'Tran." he said, and he reached into his pocket and pulled out the velvet covered case.

She looked at it, but the look was a downcast one of suspicion. She crossed her arms, and gave Jack a questioning look. Suddenly D'Auria realized something about Betta that he had noticed, but just never seemed to think inportant. She never wore jewelry. He offered her the box almost nervously, the look on her face making him think she guessed his plan and was not pleased.

Betta uncrossed her arms, and took the box as if reaching for a tool to do a job she found distasteful. She opened it to find a diamond ring held firmly in place in the center of the small case. Quickly she snapped the case shut, and the noise it made resounded around the room. "Jack... what is this?"

"It's a ring." he responded, "A diamond... ring." he realized now from the look in her eyes that he had made a mistake.

Betta nodded knowingly. "And I bet there's a question that goes with it, right?"

Jack started to nod sheepishly. She gently thrust the box back into his empty left hand, and said with a smile, "The answer is no."

To his surprise, she let out a laugh. "Why?" she asked back. "Jack," she said turning towards him, "Where is my mother right now?"

"No," said Betta, and she picked up he chubby little soft-covered book, "Because she was married." to Jack's utter surprise she hurtled the thick little tome into their wall mirror with all her Klingon strength. The glass shattered, and splintered, pieces falling to litter their floor. The little book bounced away seemingly unharmed.

She turned to face Jack pointing an accusing finger at him. "My parents were together for 12 years befor they married, Jack. Except for me and Mbope, all their children were born. 12 years, without making any promises to anyone but each other.Then they decided to get married..."

"No!" bellowed Betta, "Because it was the 'socialy acceptable thing to do'!" she said the last 5 words in a mocking and sarcastic tone. "And... after making a bunch of glorious promises, infront of everybody they knew... and several people they didn't... they started to grow apart. Don't you understand, Jack. It wasn't their love anymore. Their promises to each other. Now they were beholden to something they didn't even believe in. Something I definately don't! "

She walked away from him, seemingly as fast as she could. "Be'Tran... I love you. I just want to show you..."

"By making me your property!" Betta bellowed. "Let me ask you, Jack... who is going to perform the ceremony?"

Betta crossed her arms again, and looked indignant. "Soooo.... I'm supposed to promise Captain Price that I'll never have sex with anyone but you."

"That's what it ammounts to, doesn't... a goddamn legal right to control my body. To control everything I do... everything I feel!" her Klingon temper was growing in her. "We get into our dress uniforms... assemble the whole ship's company... and pledge before Captain Robert Edward Lee Price that I will love you... honor you... and obey you... Obey You!" her green eyes were flashing.

Jack looked at the woman he loved without knowing her anymore. He didn't expect this reaction. He didn't really know what to do about it. He was growing angry. "Be'Tran... I meant this as a gesture of love.If you find that so offensive."

"No!" she yelled, "Don't you dare! We had an agreement. You accepted me for what I am... what I was. I told you I could never be monogamous. I assumed you realized that meant that marriage was out of the question."

"But you told me you were changing." he reponded, "That you couldn't sleep with T'Kal..."

"Ha!" Betta scoffed. "T'Kal. He wouldn't sleep with me unless I commited to him anyway. It's not his way. "

"No... really... I resisted. Of my own free will." she stared into his eyes. "Of my own free will, Jack. Nothing else binding me. Nothin else. And if you love me, you'll never expect anymore."

D'Auria slumped into the chair again. "I just wanted us to be together... forever."

"Forever!?" she yelled, "Why the hell do you think we share this room. Not because the Galaxy is overcrowded!" Jack just looked up at her like he was looking at a stranger.

"That's my sister, Jack... my oldest sister. My hero Jack." Betta was kneeling by the chair now. "Remember when my father took us on that tour of the hospital in Usumbura?"

"Remeber the room at the very top of the hospital, on the top floor... far to the east end of the building. He wouldn't take us in there. Remember."

"Irilana. That's her room, Jack. That's where she lives. Or, at least that's where Dad keeps what's left of her!"

"Betta, what do you mean?" asked D'Auria, growing concerned for her as he could feel the tension grow in her again.

"My sister got married when she was 24, Jack." Be'Tran continued, her blood boiling in her. "That sonofoabitch beat her every damned day... because she wouldn't obey... Obey! And he was a Klingon. I thought Klingons were honorable Jack. I thought that when a Klingon hit someone, it was a fight... not just a goddamn beating. A senseless beating!" suddenly she lashed out with her foot, and caught the edge of the small glass table that Jack had brought in around Thanksgiving a month ago.

The table hurtled against the wall, and shattered, making a terrible noise. Be'Tran growelled, and slammed her fist into a nearby wall. As the table flew, Jack jumped out of the chair.Be'Tran turned to face him with a look of rage in her eyes. "One day Irilana's... husband... came home and found her in bed with another man. I wont tell you what he did to the man... let's just suffice to say he'll never be caught in bed with any one else again. But poor Irilana. He just beat her and beat her. He didn't stop Jack... not even when he had cracked her skull. Not even when he had broken her neck, and severed her spine. Not even when he thought she was dead. He just went right on beating what he believed to be my sisters' corpse!"

Jack stood shocked. No wonder Betta had been so bitter sience she had returned from Earth. No wonder she was so mad about K'Eytyanna. No wonder she was reacting this way.

"I swore the day I saw Irilana hooked up to the damn machine that keeps her 'alive' that I would never marry. That I would never be monogamous. That I would never put myself in that kind of position." Betta continued. "I swore that to myself, Jack... and to Irilana. And I'll never let a man make me his property... his wife... until she gets up and walks out of that hospital bed... and walks out into the world again, Jack."

"I'm sorry too." she replied. "I really am, Jack. I thought we already had our bond. I never thought you would want another... promise... one I know I already told you I would never make."

With that she turned suddenly and walked out of their quarters. Her Klingon rage still on her, yet a gentle tear building in her eye.

She left Jack alone... with the little velvet-covered box still clutched in his hand, and a tear of his own rolling down his cheek.

The light died down and I looked at the computer screen, the Information I want was still there. I heard a voice from behind.

Cat walked off, I typed a little on the computer and started the translation of the Borg information. I stood up and moved out of sickbay heading towards the turbolift, I entered the TL and requested Holodeck 1. After a short period of time the tl stopped and the doors opened, I walked to the holodeck and entered.

The program kicked into life, the bajoran priest walked past. I moved to one of the pillows and sat down and started preying, I felt at peace when.......

Benedict clutched his forehead and felt as if his head was going to roll off. His mouth was as dry as a desert and tasted foul. He couldn't remember drinking so much. He groaned and rolled on to his back. He was still fully dressed. He looked up at the darkened ceiling of his quarters and reached out his hand across the bed, feeling for something that a vague memory told him must be there.

He felt the cool hard metal and grabbed it. It was cold, ridged and formed with intricate designs in a rainbow mix of precious metals and stones. He couldn't see it with his eyes, but he felt it with his fingers, the Bracelet.

Q had been with him. It wasn't a dream. But he knew that the bad dream he'd had moments before was a reflection of something quite bazzar. Something about singing and a battle with the Borg. His head pounded. The party. He'd left it, left Tebrianne there.

Tebrianne. He groaned. His head would hurt far worse after she ripped a new hole in it. She was going to be pissed! Benedict knew she was going to go ballistic. It would be even worse than when he'd forgotten to meet her for dinner a couple of weeks ago, he'd gotten caught up with AC Hewson, Jack D'Auria and a few others in a game of poker. He'd paid for that one for days! This was far worse, leaving her at a damned party! Prophets save me!

He had a recollection of her wanting to be alone, but he knew that Deiran had gotten to her, hell he'd gotten to Benedict too! He took the bracelet in both hands and held the cold metal to his forehead. The smell was still there. It was as if Q had taken it from her while she was still wearing it, flowers, such a delicate scent.

He saw her face as clearly as if she was sitting in front of him. His others violet eyes, that matched the color of Benedicts' own, her hair a red blonde that was so long it touched the backs of her knees when she released it from the intricate coils she wore.

He remembered his father, sitting behind her and combing it lovingly as they talked. He could hear her voice as she sang to his father, rich and fluid. They were so much in love. That love had sustained them through very bad times, they had lived together and they had died together. Benedict's father had once told him that the love he felt for his wife was more enduring than a mountain, deeper than a sea, and brighter than a star.

Benedict stood and felt his stomach turn as he rose. He was dizzy. He almost staggered to the replicator and ordered a pain killer and a hangover cure with two liters of cold water.

After the medication he disrobed, still in the dark and took a shower. It was several minutes later that he felt better. It was still somewhere in the middle of Gamma shift and he had several hours to kill before his shift started.

It wouldn't be wise to call her now. She'd be in bed asleep. He wondered if Teb had checked her messages. He felt guilty about sending it now. He just couldn't believe that he'd gotten that drunk that he'd passed out!

What if she'd tried to contact him and he'd been totally out of it? That would be worse still! Oh Prophets he was going to pay for this! Teb had been looking forward to this party for weeks! She'd been great right up until Commander Casey had ordered her back to the stage. Then it had all fallen to pieces.

He grabbed a small breakfast from the replicator, and sat in silence eating. Something had happened to him during last night. Benedict felt certain within himself that what he felt for Tebrianne was what he'd been looking for all his life. He knew that he felt what his father had felt.

Alayessas' face came to mind, her strength, her spirit, her courage, her passion, her love. She had been there for him during the hardest of times, but their love had been ignited by fierce passions, and dark times. It wasn't the same as the love he felt for Tebrianne. He knew that she held his heart with her eyes, and her gentleness. He felt that a part of him was missing whenever she was gone from his sight.

He dressed in his uniform and placed his mothers' bracelet in a safe place. He picked up the small gift wrapped package meant for Tebrianne and placed it back on the shelf. He had absolutely no doubt now. She would have it.

Perhaps if she felt the same as he, and time gave them the opportunity, she would also accept the other gift. But that would be a long way from now, not until the war was over at least.

He knew that there was going to be some pretty heavy grovelling in store, and he'd also arrange to meet her somewhere where there was very few loose throwable objects, he just prayed that the Christmas spirit would help him out, and maybe Q could just grant him a second wish..

"Suder's Personal Log Supplemental. I'm not sure where it all began. Where it all... Started. I'm sure if I look back at what has happened, it'll be clear for once. I guess it started when I recieved the news that my parents transport ship had been reported missing. I was young at the time. I assumed that somebody would find them, but they didn't. I lived with the fact that I might not see them again."

Suder sat down in his quarters which he had cleaned up. He picked up a glass of water and sipped it before replacing it to the same spot. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Then, I recieved another message a few years later. This time, it was my brother who had disappeared. Him and the crew of a Maquis ship had vanished without a trace. I used my contacts in the Maquis to see if they were playing around to trick Starfleet into thinking they were gone, but they didn't. Some weeks later, a Starfleet vessel went looking for them and they too, disappeared."

"I joined Starfleet, in the hope of using my engineering skills to the best of my abilities, and then, after a few years, explore the galaxy for the two missing ships that put a massive "dent", in my life. Things were going fine for a while. But as every month passed, the chances of the Dominion starting a war with the Federation seemed to be building up until they finally attacked."

"For a while, I was with the Seventh Fleet. And for a while, it seemed that I should have died when we went to attack the Dominion head on. But I didn't. Me, and some of the crew of fourteen other ships made it back to safe territory. I lost a lot of friends. And the more attacks Starfleet made, the more friends I lost."

Suder hesitated in his log. Trying to fit the pieces together without saying the words. He stood up and began pacing around the table in the middle of his quarters.

"Then we recieved word that Captain Sisko was going to lead a fleet of ships to attack Deep Space Nine and retake it before the minefield was destroyed. The USS lakota, and six hundred other ships were in the attack. The Lakota only just made it through. One more direct hit and we would have been destroyed. Most of the systems were down, main power was offline. Everyone had been injured. We had been hit again, but it was not a direct hit. Glad to be alive, but assuming that our lives would soon be over, we watched the view screen with anticipation on our faces. But then all the Jem'Hadar and Cardassian attack ships turned around and jumped into warp."

"We restored main power and joined what was left of the fleet and made our way to Deep Space Nine. It was a victory, but only for a while. One day, I walked into my quarters after an enjoyable day in engineering to find a data padd on the table. I picked it up and read it. I knew it was going to be bad news, it had to be. What annoys me most is why, why did Betazoid fall victim to the Dominion. Where was the Tenth Fleet?!"

"Just when I didn't think things could get any worse, I recieved a message from an old friend. I gave her a visit and she gave me a data chip. A data chip that had the logs of a very old transport ship that was found drifting in space. I took it back to the Galaxy and reviewed the data. I destroyed my quarters with rage and anger rushing through my body. I went to the christmas party and afterwards, showed Adrianna what was on that data chip."

Suder and Adrianna strolled into the Engineering Lab. Adrianna took a seat at a console while Suder stood beside her. He took the data chip and placed it into a slot on the console. Some text came up on the small view screen. Suder tapped a view controls and skipped one hundred and seven logs made by the crew on one transport vessel. The very last log recorded began. There was some interference, and the longer the log played out, the clearer the message was.

"-and there was some strange readings in the nebular today. We ran as many scans as we could before it disappeared and my theories are that it is some kind of transwarp conduit. It's only a theory, but it fits the facts. We'll be returning home in three days to Ethan and I hope-"

The man making the log was interrupted by the snapping comments made by his wife, Ellenor Suder.

"Jack, get over here, I'm picking another one of those conduits up on long range sensors!" she barked. Forgetting to turn off his log, Jack turned and looked directly in front of him. After Jack moved out of the way, a view of the bridge of the transport vessel could eb seen very clearly. Only half of the view screen was visable, but it was enough to show what was happeneing.

There was a bright white flash of light, only for a brief second. The light from the sun was suddenly blocked out by a large object in front of the vessel.

"I recieving a hail." the communications officer said. He put the message through when Jack gestured with his hands to. A hum filled the speakers and one voice that sounded like millions strapped together spoke.

"We are the Borg. Existance as you know it is over. We will add your biological and technological distinctivness to our own. Your culture will adapt to service us. Resistance is futile."

"We're caught in a tractor beam, I can't break free!" Ellenor snapped. Jack went to help here when he saw a light at the corner of his eye. Someone was beaming onboard. It was wearing black armour whatever it was. It's left hand had been extended by somekind of implant, and his right eye had been replaced by an implant with a red beam coming out of it. Jack's first reaction was to grab his disruptor and fire it. Sparks flew out of the Borg drone as it fell to the floor dead.

Another drone beamed in from behind Jack and caught him offguard. Two tubiles sunk into his skin in his back and he fell to the floor in pain. Ellenor fired her disruptor but a green field came up in it's defense. She tried again, but still, nothing. The drone turne dit's attention to her and began moving towards her. She stepped back against a conduit and leapt forward to attack the Borg. The drone was too slow and she was behind it before it had a chance to respond. She grabbed some wires and ripped them out and then grabbed it's head and ripped it to the right. There was a loud cracking sound and the drone fell to the ground.

Two more Borg beamed on to the bridge and Ellenor was caught in the middle of them. As she struggled with them, she gave out cries of pain as her husband began helping the two drones. But he had changed now. His skin was a greyish colour and he had implants sticking out of his skin.

The log continued for a while showing how the Borg scanned the data banks of the ship, took the rest of the crew to the bridge for final assimilation and how they left the ship itself to become adrift. Suder pulled the data chip out and handed it to Adrianna.

"Here. It also contains the information that was found on the ship itself. You might find it intersting. Pay close attention to what was found on the hull." Suder said.

Suder sat on the window sill and lost his gaze in the stars. "Adrianna agreed to look the chip over and then get back to me with her thoughts. I strolled back to my quarters not feeling any better than I was earlier that evening. I walked into my quarters, and there was a new message waiting for me. Another part of my life was reported missing. Another person, another crew and another ship!" he yelled at the log. "All my friends and loved ones are now gone! Missing! My parents were taken by the Borg, my brother, lost in the Bad-Lands and Lieutenant Sanders captured by the Dominion. How much more can I lose before it's me that is reported missing?!" he asked himself.

Suder as usual felt pain, anger and sadness. Everyone he knew was gone, except for the couple of people he had met on the Galaxy. Those couple of people had been engineers as well. Would he ever meet new people?

He had finished his log a while ago and had got a couple of hours sleep. Again, he had bad dreams. He dreamed about how the Lakota got ambushed and how they were overwhelmed by Jem'Hadar soldiers.

He slipped on his uniform and strolled out of his quarters. He was no longer confined to his quarters. He thought for a while wondering if he mentioned it in his log of why he was suspended in the first place. He couldn't remember, and right now he didn't care.

He made it to engineering. He logged on at his console and looked at the time. He was two hours early. Strange that he didn't know that before he left. There were only a few people around, the usual group of people that didn't go out of their way to meet knew people. Or maybe it was his fault. Perhaps he was so enclosed because of all the losses he had suffered, but how would the rest of the crew know about it? What he really needed was to talk to another Betazoid. Even if it was just about Betazoid, at least he would be with one of his own kind. It was great to be out with a crew full of Klingons, Bajorans, Romulans, Humans, but at the end of the day, he felt like an outcast.

He jumped up and grabbed a Betazoid beverage and then got back to his station and began writing a message to the one person he had forgotten all about. The one person that was alive and well. That person was close to enemy lines, and was a very important source of information, how could he have forgotten about that person?

Deiran stood in front of Miran, looking at her. Her expression seemed sad. But she smiled when he appeared. He walked close to her, putting his hand on her shoulder. A silent reassurance of love and devotion.

Deiran frowned. �I have to go Miran, don�t plan anything tonight okay? I want to be with you,� he smiled at her, his face just glowing. He still could not hide his happiness of having his love back in his life.

Deiran took Miran into his arms and kissed her passionately. It was a kiss of love and Miran could feel the love in the kiss. At least Deiran hoped she could. Deiran reluctantly pulled away from her soft form. He gave her one last look. He noticed that she was fluttered and flushed at once. He smiled, as Deiran�s knees were a little wobbly. It was clear that they were in love all over again.

�What the�?� he asked out loud. �I�m not getting anywhere. I need to get to the bridge,� he said.

No matter how hard he tried he wasn�t going anywhere, at least not forward. He backed up and was standing near Miran. He started forward again and at ten feet, his feet and legs were moving as if he were walking, but he wasn�t getting anywhere.

He stopped and turned back to Miran. �Have you seen Q recently my dear?� he asked skeptically.

�And what did he do? Did he listen?� Deiran asked, smiling at her as he spoke.

�He disappeared when you appeared.� Miran wasn�t telling him what he needed to know.

�Honey, is there something I should know about? �Cause I�m not getting anywhere here? The Captain is going to want to know where I�m at and why I�m not there�� Deiran was nervous. The last thing he needed was to show up on the Bridge late.

�He wanted to grant me a wish,� she replied. Miran�s usual expression was clearly displayed on her face. It said �I�m not revealing anything I don�t have too, because I�m shy� look.

"I asked 'Can you make it so that we will be together forever?'" Miran replied. She began to lose her composure.

�Ah ha! Do something for me Miran. Try and walk away from me would you? Let� s see what happens.�

Miran walked away from him and at ten feet she began to walk in place, going nowhere just as Deiran had.

�Okay, well it looks like we�re together forever,� Deiran laughed. He walked over to his wife, picked her up into his arms and walked out of the quarters. He actually enjoyed having her in his arms. She wasn�t even heavy. She was a little thing, Deiran towered over her by at least a foot. She looked very cute in his arms.

She was glowing as she smiled. She could feel Deiran�s muscles bulge against her, his steps were quick, but she didn�t bounce in his arms. They reached the turbolift and entered. They were alone. Deiran took advantage of the situation and leaned down to plant another passionate kiss on the beautiful rose petal lips of his wife. He just enjoyed the tingles that scattered throughout his body when his lips touched hers. They held the kiss for a long breathless moment. They didn�t stop until they were at the Bridge.

Deiran walked onto the Bridge. The glances he and Miran received were comical. He walked down the command arch, set Miran down to his left and took his place at Ops. �Now you stay there and be a good girl,� he said to her playfully.

�It�s nice to see you again Mrs. Casey, may I ask why you�re here?� the Captain asked, hiding the smile on his face with a smirk of sternness.

�Well sir, it is Q�s doing. I didn�t exactly get what I wished for,� Miran replied, looking nervous and embarrassed.

Deiran turned to face the Captain. �Sir, Miran and I can�t stray but ten feet away from each other or we don�t get anywhere. Please don�t ask why. I actually like it though. I�m not sure if I�ll ask Q to take the wish back or not,� Deiran laughed as he took a quick glance back to his wife, a playful flirtatious smile on his face, he even winked at her.

�Trust me Commander, when we see Q again, I�ll ask him for you,� Price replied. He could tolerate Miran being on the Bridge for the time being as he knew she was quite familiar with Bridge procedures and trusted she�d be okay at the side of her husband.

It was all very sweet when you thought about it. The senior staff looked happy for the Casey�s. Well maybe except one to Deiran�s right. Teb might have had a problem with it. But there was nothing they could do now.

"Status report!" Captain Price called out in a near shout while struggling to get to the command chair on the bridge. The speed in which the USS Galaxy was hurdling through the space / time continuum was more than the internal dampeners could manage. The inertia from the spin had caused gravity to strengthen to nearly double normal levels.

"I'm trying to regain lateral control but it's no use Captain. We are spinning too fast. I'll try using the impulse engines to counter the rotation." Tebrianne was at her best in these situations.

"Structural integrity is holding but steadily weakening sir." Casey explained. "Our speed is... It's off the scale Captain."

"'ave Engineering try to bolster the integrity field 'mate." Captain Price directed before pivoting to face Lieutenant Commander Erikson at science station one. "Anything on the sensors 'mate?"

"Negative Captain. We are spinning too fast for the stellar sensor array to lock on and decipher our current position."

Casey had an idea that just might work. Just when he heard the Captain speak he decided to present it, Deiran turned around. "Sir, if we clear shuttle bay two, we could try firing lateral thrusters and at the same moment decompressing the hangar in a sudden burst. That might disrupt the rotational harmonic of the ship enough to allow the impulse engines to pull us out of the spin." Deiran was confident it would work if they timed it just right.

Glancing over to Lieutenant Bancroft, Lee asked, "What do you think Lieutenant?"

"Aye sir!" Deiran smiled swinging back around in his chair and making the preparations. "It will take them one minute to clear the shuttle bay Captain. Everything else is standing by."

Captain Price nodded, "Fair dinkum 'Commander." Lee glanced around the bridge. Chief Engineer Mercury was at the rear of the bridge manning the engineering consoles and monitoring the Galaxy's impulse engines. Lieutenant McKenzie was standing by at tactical and growing frustrated it seemed. Deiran couldn�t see behind his back, so he wasn�t sure why Mac was frustrated. Aside from the fact that sensors were useless and the ship was spinning out of control. What did Mac have to be frustrated about?

"Shuttle bay two reports they are clear sir," Deiran relayed, "standing by to fire thrusters and decompress shuttle bay."

"It worked sir! We are coming out of the spin." Deiran smiled, a gleam almost sparkling from his teeth. �I knew it would work.�

"Struggling to regain control Captain...." Teb informed, "our velocity is still off the scale."

"Try to bring us to a full stop Lieutenant. We need to figure out where the heck Q has sent us." Captain Price explained.

The engines of the Galaxy roared under the strain, but slowly, her velocity decreased until suddenly Lieutenant Bancroft had full control.

"Thank you sir, but I'm not entirely sure it was all my doing. The ship just seemed to suddenly respond where before it wasn't." Teb explained.

Lee paused a moment and then nodded. "Still 'mate, bonzer job. 'Commander Erikson, any luck with those sensors and determining where we are?"

"I'm checking now sir. We appear to still be in the Alpha quadrant, though we are clear across the opposite side from where we were last positioned."

This amazed Casey and intrigued him all at once. He said nothing though. He was trying to open a channel to Starfleet when he saw Captain Price look his way.

Captain Price took in what the Chief Science Officer said before glancing at Deiran at Ops. "Send a message to Starfleet Command reporting our position 'Commander."

Greer turned and looked at the Captain, "We are near a class J solar system. Computer is identifying it as the Daubii Sigma system."

Lee nodded. "Commander Sterner, anything of interest in the databanks on this particular system that would make Q want to send us here 'mate?"

"I'm detecting no signs of interstellar capabilities. High concentrations of decaying radiation and contaminants in the atmosphere of the second planet. Hard to get anything more from this distance Captain." Casey explained. The sensors were a bit clouded from the trip and the fact that normal sensors were not able to penetrate the system fully.

"I have something sir." Joerg declared capturing the attention of everyone on the bridge.

"A radio transmission? Crickey! I haven't heard of radio being used anywhere but in those old style holodeck novels since sub-space transmissions were developed." Captain Price said.

"Right Captain." Deiran chimes in with a smile, "It must have taken sixty or seventy years for a radio signal to reach earth from here." It was a good guestimate without assistance from a computer.

Casey remembered falling asleep while reading it during his days at the Academy. �No wonder they rewrote the thing.�

"Q..." Price growled. Deiran swiveled around to face the action. The Captain made a tight fist at his sides to control his temper, he asked in a civil tone, "Indulge me please."

"Your wish is my command Mon Capitain!" Q gloated jovially with a raising of his hands over his head and a snap of his fingers.

In a flash, Q, the Captain and several members of the USS Galaxy vanished off the ship.

Deiran watched as some of his friends disappeared along with the Captain. Casey stood up from his Ops station and walked to the middle of the command well. Miran was sure to follow him.

�They left me again,� Casey thought to himself and surveyed the Bridge. But in typical Casey fashion he was always ready for the unexpected. He wasn�t second officer for nothing.

Karyn tried not to look at the bridge officers as she made her way to her seat to the left of the Captain's chair. She had just been given the one true thing she desired, and yet she couldn't wait to sit down again. She felt as if all time had simply stopped, as those around her watched while the young counselor gripped the side rail so tightly her knuckles were white. She had dreamed of this moment many times, picturing herself standing erect with a confident gait. It was a silly thing to dream of, but it was the kind of impression she could never seem to give completely while in her chair.

After reaching her seat in what seemed like hours, she glanced in Com. Sterner's direction. He was clearly shocked at this new transformation. Before he asked any questions, Karyn answered him. "Q granted my wish. He..." Before she could finish there was a flash of light as Capt. Price and Q popped on to the bridge.

"I remember sir..." Tebrianne said placing two split fingers to her temple in Vulcan fashion.

Karyn struggled to stay in her seat, wishing these seats came with a seat belt as in her wheelchair. Eventually they stopped their wild ride, thanks to Teb, Deiran and David. Soon they were able to ascertain where they had been taken: Sigma Iosha 2. Karyn vaguely remembered hearing about it. She listened carefully as some of the crew shared what they knew.

"Why would Q bring us here?" Lee verbalized his thoughts. With a flash Q appeared on the bridge. He was still dressed in a Starfleet uniform, wearing his ever present Santa's cap, and a devious smile.

"Really Price. Isn't it obvious? Oh please, don't tell me I've failed once again to provide you with something your pathetically small intellect can comprehend..."

"Your wish is my command Mon Capitain!" Q gloated jovially with a raising of his hands over his head and snapped his fingers. The next thing Karyn knew, the bridge vanished in front of her...

After Ryak was sure that Q was no longer around he took put on a clean uniform, picked up his son and headed to the day care. Ryak dropped off the sleeping child he headed to his lab.

The lab went black and lit up with stars. Ryak sat down at the terminal and began to catch up on some work. A few seconds passed and the lab began to go nuts.

Ryak began to focus on the terminal so that he did not get dizzy. Ryak began to extrapolate on the course of the Galaxy. All sensors were useless. The Galaxy stopped at the edge of a solar system. Ryak started to align the stellar array to get him a better view of the area. The computer quickly added the system to the star chart and labelled it as the Daubii Sigma system. Ryak scanned around to notice an M class planet in the system. Ryak brought it up on the map and saw that it was Sigma Iosha 2. As he scanned the planet he noticed that he was not detecting no signs of interstellar capabilities but the planet did have high concentrations of decaying radiation and contaminants in the atmosphere of the second planet.

Ryak thought about where they where. Ryak noticed that he dropped his tricorder in the spinning so he picked it up and attached it to his belt.

Chris Gagne
Lieutenant(jg) Ryak Sullax,Science Officer,USS Galaxy.
Contact at: i2qtnot2b@hotmail.com

=/\= "Resistance is Fruit-ile" =/\=
by Lt Endris Gakor, temporary Monster
and Lt Matthew Albrecht, temporary Borg

Endris decided the lamb chops would go good with a plate of passion fruit. She shuffled over to the replicator to make it so, and heard a noise in the corridor heading towards the broken door!

*Starvation*, she thought, *it must be Matthew and the other Borg coming to check on the emitter*. He was with a bunch of others, too many for Gakor to defeat, even with her temporary Psycho Kinetic powers. But at least the Tellarite could teach Albrecht a lesson before she was assimilated. Endris ran to the far end of the Cargo Bay. Even a Borg would take time to cross the distance, so the piggy would have time to unfold her plan.

As if on cue, Matthew and the security Borg funneled into the door, scanning the chamber for the 'disturbance' their malfunctioning comrades had reported. Within seconds, Gakor was spotted with a tray of fruit at the far side of the bay. The Borg fanned out to pursue her, but Endris was to wise to flee. She new with this many drones chasing her, it would only be a matter of time before they pinned her and absorbed her into the collective.

Endris decided to take initiative and speak. "Resistance is Fruit-ile", she taunted loudly. Matthew, the advancing Borg who was closest due to his direct approach, paused to evaluate the perversion of the collective's motto. It didn't take him long to grasp the meaning, as he was pelted by a barrage of gooey and sticky fruit. "Dessert is Irrelevant", he said to the cuisine loving Doctor. Just for that, Gakor prescribed a flying platter attack. It boned him on the head, slumping him to the deck, just as a wave of energy penetrated the cargo bay.

The 'dead' Borg Endris had defeated in the previous fight animated like Zombies. Gary and the drones approaching from other angles reached Gakor, injecting her with nano probes. For some reason, they had no effect. The Borg implants on everybody dissolved like a bad dream, and Muffin's Borg carapice was replaced with a Starfleet uniform jacket, covered in fruit stains...

Then Endris found herself mysteriously alone outside the doors to Albrecht's quarters. She shook her head, wondering how she arrived outside when only moments before she was almost borgified. In her hand was the 'Passion Fruit from the party. *oh yeah, I was on my way here to feed Muffin... But no, I was fighting borg... no, wait...*

A wave of confusion washed through the semi-porcine looker as her mind attempted to reconcile memories from two different timelines. *At least in this one,* mused the doctor, *I still have a chance to avoid servitude to the collective!* Her imagination cooked up images of her, clad in black plastic, forced to consume only the liquified supplement that feeds all borg drones. For all time. She shivered with the fear inspired by the imagery.

At her approach, Matthew's doors slid open to reveal him sitting on his couch with a kitten on his chest. Interrupted while brainstorming cat name ideas, he turned to look at the doctor with an innocent look on his face. For some reason, her fiery temper took over and she was suddenly extremely angry at him for leaving her at the party like he did. Perhaps it was his expression, apparently unaware of the insult he delivered when he left her holding the fruit in the middle of the dance floor.

She reached back and then flung the Passion Fruit across the room, striking him below the kitten. There was a fierce cat shriek, arms and claws flailing, fruit juice splattering; It was quite impressive!

Matthew leapt to his feet, reddish/yellow juices running down his tunic front. "Young Lady, you shouldn't go throwing food at people", he chided as he wiped at himself. He walked over to her.

"Why not? You didn't seem inclined to EAT it", Gakor said with tightly balled fists. Matthew's feigns and resistance were pushing Endris to the limit. One way or another, the Immunologist was going to discover her cold-footed friends true intentions, (even if she had to ask Q for another wish).

"I'm going to confine you to MY quarters for this latest assault on my dignity", the security officer claimed. He took the Frizzy-headed lady into his sticky arms, leaned in to meet her lips, when...

The ship violently spun beneath them on its way across the quadrant, spilling the two lovers onto the couch, and sending the as-yet-unnamed cat sprinting across the cabin again...

IN THE BEGINNING

The door hissed open and in stepped Ensign Ken Miller, one of the newest recruits aboard the USS Galaxy.

It had been a hard shift, what with the borg being aboard and him being 'one of the new boys'. Miller stepped into the room which was dark apart from the arc of light shining in from the corridor into the room. These were his quarters, assigned to him when he came aboard the Galaxy, they were spacious, not luxurious but certainly better than he'd been accustomed to on board Deep Space 9.

As he stepped further into the room the doors hissed closed behind him and the room was left in almost complete darkness.

A moment passed. "Lights. Dim." The room suddenly lit up bright as a star for what seemed like an eternity. "Computer! Lights off!" he shouted, his eyes hurting from the searing onslought of the light. The computer responded with its customary tone and the room slid into darkness again.

"Damn those lights." he muttered, blinking and rubbing his eyes. "I'll need to get those fixed, but not tonight, I'm too tired to deal with engineering and their excuses."

Miller walked into his quarters, groping blindly along the wall until he found what he was looking for on a small table in front of him, he flicked a switch on a small lamp sitting on the table. The room gradually flickered into a dim, homely light. "Aah, much better!" he sighed and surveyed his quarters, they were quite spartan, with several cases sitting in the middle of the floor. He hadn't yet unpacked his things, this was a habit of his, at Starfleet Academy and Deep Space 9 he'd been notorious for living out of suitcases for lengthy periods of time before unpacking.

"This times going to be different." he thought to himself, "This time its all going to work out, no problems." He removed his uniform and left with just his boxer shorts on he picked up the cases and heaved them into his bedroom, laying them down on his bed.

Miller was a muscular man, which because he stood at 6" 8' was good because if he'd been gaunt then the effect would have been like that of a 20th century telegraph pole.

He sighed and rolled his shoulders around to loosen up and then set to work unpacking his gear.

It took almost two hours to finally get everything just the way he liked it, mainly because he was a follower of taoism and feng-shui, he was essentially a perfectionist not allowing any clutter.

"There! All done." he murmered with satisfaction as he hung the final painting on the wall in the bedroom. "A tidy living space is a tidy mind.

Miller stretched and looked up at his wall clock, "Damn, its almost midnight! better get this finished up." Sweat trickled down his back and dripped onto the floor. He moved to pick up the last of the cases and put it into a storage cupboard when he noticed that it wan't empty. There was a bottle half hidden in the material of the case.

He smiled "I wondered when you would turn up!" he picked up the bottle and looked at it in the light, it was a bottle of Romulan Ale, he move his hand up to his mouth as if contemplating a sip, but then decided against it. "No my little friend, I shall save you for a special occasion, maybe if I have a quarters warming party you can come out.

(This is a hint, if anyone wants to come along to the quarters-warming party, drop me a line and I'll include you on the guest list.)

He walked over and knelt down beside his bed, he placed the bottle underneath the bed and nudged it gently so it didn't show.

As he stood up his back cracked. "Aargh, goddamn! too much work." His face was a grimace of pain and torture as clutching his back, he limped over to his bed and fell onto the sheets, wrapping them around him. He curled into a foetal position as the real world fded and the dreams came....

By Ensign Ken Miller