"Metaphors and Mythology."
By Lt. Commander Peterson
Chief Science Officer

The chief scientist held up the PADD and squinted his eyes a little as he read the first line. It was a report prepared by the anthropology department on the Galaxy after they first identified the vessel off their starboard bow as Tamarian. Grabbing the mug of coffee on his desk he took the report to the couch where he sat down and started reading.

His brow furrowed as he came across a startling fact - the Tamarians did not speak in a way that was easily comprehended by the universal translator. While this linguistic hitch was not exactly a secret, it was something that Kent did not know about the Tamarians. It certainly explained why - even after first contact last century - the Federation had no formal treaties or diplomatic ties with their people.

"Computer, reduce volume of music selection by twenty percent," the lieutenant commander requested.

The computer beeped - acknowledging the request and reducing the music by twenty percent.

The scientist continued to read through the report. There was not really a lot of information there, but what he found interesting was the language itself. An entire dialogue based on mythological metaphors - comparing sights, sounds, and memories through references to the deeds and heroes and demons in Tamarian mythology.

'Commander Peterson only spoke four languages - English, Spanish, Bolian, Nausicaan. English was his native language, the language spoken as a primary language by the state and continent he originated from; Spanish was something he learned during high school; Bolian he learned at Starfleet Academy; and Nausicaan he picked up while working for a transport company between his first failed attempt at the Academy and when he finally got in. None of them shared any similarities to what he was reading about. It was quite interesting, even for someone who did not share an interest in either mythology or linguistics.

Lowering the PADD for a moment he raised his mug and took a mouthful of the cooling coffee.

It seemed odd. It was the first time since the disappearance of the Cydonia that he had thought about asking Wej a question. If she had simply died and they could declare the shuttlecraft destroyed, it might have made things easier, but they had to live with the possibility that Samthia and the other officers could be trapped somewhere.

Perhaps it could have been easier if they all had someone to blame - even if that came down to pilot error - but they did not. Not even Petty Officer Darain could make sense of it. They were there one moment and gone the next. That void was something that would touch the lives of the people they knew.

The somber moment passed - Kent's mind focusing once again on other matters - and he returned to reading through the report.

The report itself was a way of deflecting the anticipation of hearing something from the Tamarian vessel. Lieutenant Quevvenson had reported that Commander Thomas - or the other away team members - had reported back to the Galaxy.

*** Cargo Bay ***

The cargo bay appeared darker than the last time the science chief had entered it. The modification made by Engineering were complete - assisted by Lieutenant Mitchell and himself - but the regeneration alcove at the far end of the room seemed to have allowed Three of Four to adjust quite nicely.

"What the hell am I doing here?" Kent said under his breath, trying to rationalize why he had walked in to the 'lion's den'.

He walked over to the regeneration alcove, fully aware that Three of Four was securely standing on the Bridge with two security officer, Captain Price, and the other officers working on the Bridge.

Placing his hand on the metal side he felt the smooth surface that was warmed by the environmental conditions modified for the drone's 'comfort'. It was an eerie reminder of what had happened nearly a month and a half ago - they had come across the Collective in a state of civil war and saved them. This regeneration alcove and the drone were their repayment. It was ironic.

The cargo bay doors opened with a loud thud. Kent turned around to see Three of Four being returned by the two security officers assigned to accompany her to the Bridge. He was surprised that Captain Price had allowed her up there while they had an away mission in progress, but he realized that it was one of the conditions hammered out between him and the Borg queen.

"Can we help you, sir?" one of the security officers asked as he and his colleague walked beside the Borg drone.

Kent shook his head. "Just down here to see how the alcove is going. Normally I have Lieutenant Mitchell come down and keep an eye on it, but with him on the Tamarian vessel, I'm down myself."

"Peterson, Lieutenant Commander Kent," Three of Four said. "Primary designation: Chief Science Officer, USS Galaxy."

The acoustically-modified sound of what was once Kathryn's voice seemed to work its way along Peterson's spine. It made him understandably uncomfortable - the drone in standing in front of him used to be someone he once knew a long time ago. Even though he realize Kathryn was dead, the physical likeness only reminded him of that fateful time.

Kent simply stood there and stared.

"Sir?" the other security officer asked.

"What is it Lieutenant?"

The security lieutenant's brow furrowed as he looked at the lieutenant commander. "Is there something wrong?"

"No," Peterson replied. "I was just thinking."

The two security officers had received a wide range of reactions from officers and civilians on the ship whenever they saw Three of Four, so they were not surprised by the scientist's reaction.

"But perhaps you can help," he said, addressing Three of Four.

Kent was not enthused by interacting with 'it' - the drone was simply an overly enhanced humanoid corpse kept alive by nanoscopic machines - but 'it' was a resource like the ship's very own, walking computer core.

Three of Four simply glanced back.

"The Collective poses a vast amount of information on humanoid species native to the Alpha and Beta Quadrants, doesn't it?"

"We do," the drone replied, without even battering and eyelid.

Kent walked a little closer, "Are you familiar with a species known as Tamarian?"

"Species 51210. Tamarian. We are familiar with them," she responded. "Tactical vessel Three-Four-Seven-Two encountered a warp-capable vessel belonging to Species 51210 two hundred years ago. Twenty-three individuals were assimilated. Primary analysis: thick saurian-like skin would make them excellent tactical drones, but linguistic communication makes them problematic."

The causal way that the Three of Four spoke of the twenty-three deaths was cold. It sent a shiver along Kent's spine. One of the security officers reacted with an equally displeased response - his brow furrowing as he considered the words of his 'enemy'.

"Did the Collective every decipher their language?" Kent finally managed to ask.

"Species 51210 uses metaphoric references from stories of a mythological nature. We can translate those expressions which relate to persons or actions we are familiar with."

"So ...."

"Comfort Thy Fallen Angel"

By James Lionel Corgan
Security Officer, USS Galaxy

And Holli Von Erst
Visiting Civilian

(Location: Ten Forward)

So many happy people surrounding him. Did he pity them all, or did he envy them?

James passively eye scanned every person who passed Ten Forward's doors. Most were officers, people who just came off duty to unwind from a hard day of work, others visiting friends for their own reason. He could care less of their reasons, since it seemed so irrelevant now.

He was instead sipping, and not enjoying, a cup of red rose tea, and ignoring a bowl of poutine. The tea slid down his tongue, choking his constricted throat with each swallow. Consuming the liquid became an automatic function, neither caring nor putting much effort into enjoying it. His mind was wandering with other matters of the heart.

There were so many people that he saw in Ten Forward. Most enjoyed their stay, laughing, eating, and having a good time as if life was a peaceful existence. Others worked, with a PADD in one hand and an eating utensil in the other, casually going about their business, giving no thought to how miserable they could be. The workers were the minority in the lounge. Most others were just having fun.

Every day was fun for these people.

Did Corgan envy them? For a moment, he hated seeing everyone else having fun while his spirit was constantly being crushed. The constant self fighting during the last days soured his mood and sank him further into a pit of depression. No drugs in the universe could help him. Not even love was strong enough. ~"No," He reminded himself, ~"Love was, is, and always will be dead."~ Love couldn't redeem himself, turn him into a normal person that enjoyed the company of others. He hated how they could feel the feelings that Corgan either eluded or sought and couldn't find. Joy, love, happiness, the people at Ten Forward shoved all these into his face, ground them in, and left their filthy stains that couldn't be washed off. ~"Why can't they be miserable, just like me? Let them fight the voices. let them feel guilt. Why should they enjoy themselves? What the hell did they do to deserve such peace of mind?!?!? Who the hell gave them the right?!?!?! Let 'em all suffer like me!!! They deserve it!!!"~

Immediately, he held back his hateful thoughts. At the same time, he did envy those at Ten Forward that laughed and conversed. Their peace of mind, the ability to enjoy their lives, was something that Corgan sought since the Odyssey incident. They were the products of worry free lives. James had too many problems to worry about. They had very few. The other people could find the time to enjoy what they have, and a little leisure time to boot.

How could he not envy them? It's what he always wanted in his own life, to love his life and live like he did during his first year at the Academy. He saw in everyone else at Ten Forward what he could have become, without his former hatred for the enemy that later turned to guilt for their dead, without the people that were once close to him wandering quickly away from his contact, without the voices constantly reminding him of all his flaws. He could have been just like them, laughing along with them, having fun, enjoying life.

James was close to having the good life everybody took for granted. For the first time in a long time, he had friends on board the ship, trusting companions he could depend on when danger risked their lives. ~"Whatever."~ his thoughts countered the silver lining in the clouds that hung over him, ~"Sotek hasn't contacted me in a month, I'm scared to death of Electra and Rebecca thinks I'm scum of the Earth. Good life my ass! They can kiss it."~

He came to the conclusion that he didn't love life because there was no life to love left in him. He was dead inside, killed by the ravages of war on the outside and within, in all manners of battlefields.

How he hated feeling miserable in a room with so much joy, yet how he envied each and every one in Ten Forward. He sipped his tea again, sighed, and bent his head down to stare at an activated PADD. It read.

=/\=I know, it seems, so strange, but I have to. I must, I guess, I kind of. I WANT TO! It seems, that I have no choice in the matter I want you.. I.=/\=

The song reminded him of Electra Reece. His last counseling session reminded the officer of how he felt for the assistant ops manager. Part of the reason he took no joy in life was because he felt no control over his own destiny. The one thing he didn't control was how he felt for Electra Reece. Such uncertainty brought dread, the same feeling he felt whenever Borg invaded his dreams. If he couldn't take control of his own life and not allow himself to be swept up by outside forces, then how did he know if his feeling for Electra were genuine? What did he see in the girl?

~"Another time. I'll worry about that later. Too many problems so little time to think of them all. So exhausting."~ He complained, with a tone of surrender in his thoughts. There were too many demons to put to rest. That was why his mind always felt tired and old.

Brooding in his drink, James didn't notice the polished wood-grain doors to Ten Forward hiss open to admit a very beleaguered looking Holli von Ernst. ~~~I don't believe this,~~~ The long haired civilian sighed to herself as she suddenly realized what room she had walked into, ~~~Of all the stupid things to do, ending up right where I started.~~~

Since the wee morning hours prior to her daughter leaving for Alpha Shift, the slim Mrs. Von Ernst had been wandering the labyrinthine corridors of the Galaxy's expansive 10th Deck struggling against all odds in an attempt to find her way back to her guest quarters.

What at first appeared to be nothing more than a simple little diversionary adventure, turned out to be an exhausting series of wrong-turns, crossed tracks, and endless retracing of steps.

Almost four hours had passed since Holli had allowed one of the green-garbed Ten Forward employees to bus up her Breakfast tray before setting off in search on a turbolift. Now, to suddenly find herself back in the very same room from whense she came put a strain on even Holli's normally cheerful mood.

A faint plop at her side announced that her traveling companion, the well-fed but lazy Dachshund Miss Wiggles, had all but given up the ghost in her strenuous efforts to keep up with her red-haired mistress.

~~~Call the Paramedics~~~ The panting little dog seemed to say, ~~~I'm a goner unless I get a quick IV full of French Fries.~~~

The entire trip in general had been one big stress after another for the skittish little puppy. First the noisy and rickety Shuttle ride out form Earth to Starbase 114, followed by an eerily quiet transfer to the Galaxy's cavernous Main Cargo Bays before she was reunited with her long lost mistress Rebecca.

The young redheads presence however did little to allay the Dog's naturally skittish nature as the Galaxy seemed to abound in strange smells, and oddly disconcerting sounds and vibrations. Perhaps these were all inaudible to humans, but to Miss Wiggles, every shift in Warp Speed sounded like the ship was ready to fly apart at the seams.

Less winded, but eqaly as frustrated, Holli gave her pooped pooch an apologetic glance, and decided it was probably close enough to lunch-time, and Ten Forward was as good a place as any to take a quick break before resuming the search.

Quickly scanning the crowded room for an empty table, Holli's sharp green eyes were quick to pick out a somewhat familiar face against the background.

Seeing as she really had not had the chance to meet all but a relatively few crewmembers since her arrival, it was fairly easy to narrow down where she'd seen the tall Officer in the yellow collar before.

~~~Ah yess, One of Rebecca's little friends I think...the boy with the funny tattoos all over..now what was his name?~~~

Gracefully threading her way through the lunch-time gathering, the small framed civilian worked her way towards the lonely little table occupied by the sullen James Corgan. Miss Wiggles followed in exasperated silence, quite sure that French Fires would not be forthcoming anytime in the near future.

Standing politely a few meters off, Holli softly cleared her throat. "Excuse me? It's Jimmy Koban is'nt it?"

"James Corgan. you may call me James if you wish." He corrected the older woman.

Looking up suddenly from his brooding, James took note of the slim woman standing before his table. Though he had met her only once just prior to the Galaxy sailing, her petite figure, and extremely long red hair immediately identified her as the mother of Rebecca von Ernst..Molly..or Polly something or other.

Smiling prettily Holli nodded towards one of the empty seats across from James. "Sorry to disturb you but would you mind terribly if we pulled up a seat and joined you? "

"You may." Lieutenant Corgan tried to remain as courteous as possible, instead sounding annoyed and interrupted. He stood up from his chair and pulled out a seat for Holli to sit. She gratefully accepted the invitation. Nervously, the small Dachshund gave the Security officer a small 'Wuff' in warning. She wasn't the bravest little doggy in the world, but she still didn't like the idea of sharing her mistresses attentions with a stranger.

Corgan broke the awkward silence by asking, "How may I help you?"

"Well Jimmy, " Holli breathed a soft chuckled in mock frustration, "Miss Wiggles and I have had quite a morning. I think we've explored this ship from Head to Toe, and I still can't find our way back to our room. What is it with Starfleet and labeling everything in numeric codes rather than simply writing it out in English?"

"It's standard shipcode." He answered.

"Excuse me?"

"Standard shipcode. The engineers who built this ship were more into numbers and codes than formal names. So. they used shipcode to label everything. Saves space when you're writing out all sorts of instructions on bulkheads. About your quarters. usually the guest quarters are on. deck 13. You don't happen to know the number to your quarters, do you?"

"Ummm." Holli shrugged, "No?"

"No problem. I can check the ship's manifest for your quarters. A lot of this stuff is pretty elementary once you get used to it. All you have to do is ask the computer if you have a question involving location. If you need a map, go to one of the black panels that you see on the wall and push the red button on the bottom left corner. Anything else you can ask the computer to show you, such as the map of the ship. Don't worry about a thing with the turbolifts, 'cause the button used to open it is the big button on your right side. Just open, step in, tell it where to go and that's it."

Holli gave herself a little self-depreciating laugh. "Well it just goes to show you what a foggy-headed old coot I am. I've spent too much of my life with my head on the Farm, rather than in the stars. I can't believe I went all this way, and never even left this Deck. This is a big place you got here."

"I know what you mean." James pitched in his opinion, "This is the largest class of ship in the fleet. though the new Sovereign class is longer, Galaxy's tend to take up more space. Me, give me an Excelsior or a New Orleans class any day. I used to live on those types of ships, so I know the layout pretty well... and they're not to big." Corgan babbled, "I also used to live on one of these Galaxy's, but that was only for a short time."

"Well Jimmy, " The civilian continued by changing the subject, "In a away I am so glad I got to run into you again. I never got to thank you for assisting me with my baggage when I first came aboard. I do so hope I didn' t put a damper on you and your girlfriend's little night out together?"

"What?" James turned on the defensive after hearing Holli's remark, "Girlfriend? You mean. Lexa? I mean. Miss Reece? Ohhhhh. no, she isn't my girlfriend. Just a friend, that's all. Just a friend. heh heh. heh. we are not going out, on dates if that's what you mean. I don't know why she left when she did, really, but let me assure you that it wasn't in any way due to your request for help."

In reality, James didn't know why Electra left. It was one of the many bizarre incidents that gripped his companions, where he found no rhyme or reason.

"I'm glad to have helped, madam." Lieutenant Corgan recovered from his nervousness.

"Additionally," Holli added, "I really want to compliment you on that wonderful green dress that you picked out for my little Rebecca. It was quite the fashion statement I must say. I don't believe I've ever seen my daughter quite so fancied-up like that before. She's always been more of a jeans and T-shirt kind of kid. The colors really brought out her hair."

"Right." James recalled the evening gown. As night as it did look, he couldn't help but feel he overdid his apology to Rebecca Von Erst, as shown by a frozen pile of slush being plastered onto his face. Being reminded of the dress reminded him of that night. Rebecca confirmed her loathing for her former friend with the 'snowball' treatment.

He continued, "The dress does go well with her hair, doesn't it? Got it at Splendor's Boutique on Starbase 114. Ask for Sal. He knows all about dresses, flowers, cigars. Klingon tattoo techniques. you'd be surprised at what a former marine can do."

Holli smiled, feeling herself warming up to the polite young officer. "Its nice to see my Rebecca getting along so well with others. It does my heart good Jimmy."

"James."

"Sorry about that, James."

"Quite alright."

On the floor poor miss Wiggles let out a little doggy sigh and contemplated the impending doom of her perpetually empty belly. ~~~Is there no justice in the Universe?~~~ the dog despaired.

Hearing the dog in distress, James looked down on the sad eyed creature. Seeing Miss Wiggles huge, marble shaped eyes look up, begging for a scrap of food tempted Corgan to say, "Get lost" to the poor puppy. Cruelty was unbecoming of a gentleman, that, and Holli looked like she could hog-tie the wiry security officer in a heartbeat. Out of compassion he dug deeply to find, James pulled out one of the gooey french fries slathered in melted mozzarella and gravy.

"Here, girl. Come get the treat." Corgan called.

Miss Wiggled wagged her tail and wiggled around the floor. Alas, the dog was saved from impending starvation! Corgan handed down the french fry; the dog saw it as mana from heaven. She snatched the tempting morsel with her mouth, as James Corgan let go. Miss Wiggles became another recipient of Lieutenant Corgan's unwitting kindness toward women, but she didn't care why it was given to her. She knew that it was food, and the nice human gave it to her. Not much else needed to be known in the simple life of a Dachshund.

"Good girl." James wiped small droplets of gravy from his hands with a silk handkerchief he pulled out of his pocket. "That is what you say to dogs, right?"

"You keep feeding her those fries Jimmy, and you can talk to her any way you want to. Don't let her fool you though. Those little fat thighs of hers could stand to miss a couple of meals.

"Well," James sat back in his chair to think a bit, "Like I said, its been a while since I've been able to talk to her face to face. We spent some time together on a shuttle trip recently back to Earth, and we've shared some....uh....in-depth discussions together." He shaded the truth slightly, not quite sure if Rebecca wanted her mother to know about the mandatory shrink-sessions they were required to attend.

"Oh anything really." Holli encouraged with a smile. "Its been years since I've seen her, and even now she seems to be on duty all the time. She never seems to take time to stop and rest." Leaning forward she added, "Did you know she was up before dawn this morning, and indeed every morning since I've gotten here? This is the same little girl whom I could drag out of bed before noon sometimes! I can hardly believe it."

"I see," James nodded, "Well I can shed light on one mystery at least concerning her early morning activities at least. The Tactical Department frequently joins us during our PT sessions on the holodeck. One of my teammates, Lt. Heather Sanchez is in charge of whipping the Tac-boys into shape so to speak." He had to pause in order to smother a small unexpected smile. The pathetic antics of the Tactical Department under Sanchez's direction was a running joke back in the Security Barracks. "Anyways, I think Sanchez may be pushing her a bit hard duirng the runs." He continued at last.

"Excuse me, but did you say 'runs'." Holli asked, her eyes widening a bit.

"Yes Ma'am. Heather usually pushes them through a standard 3 to 5 mile jog every other morning, why?"

Holli had to control her own amusement for a moment before replying, "Well, its just that I don't think my daughter has run a day in her life when she was at home. I...its just quite surprising."

James shrugged.

"Are you sure this Lieutenant is being hard on her?" Holli asked, "Nothing too hard is it?"

James again felt the need to evade the total truth. Sanchez to be blunt was a bit of a nut-buster, and her treatment of "Lt Snowflake" as she referred to Rebecca was quite well known back in security. "Well....I think Heather has a reputation for being a bit of a hard nose....but she IS a very good PT instructor. Don't worry about a thing. I've known Lt. Sanchez since I came aboard this ship. We've fought together on the Borg cube a few months back, and I'll tell you as a fact that I'd go to combat with her any day. Rebecca's in good hands. But. if Heather's really being too hard on Rebecca, I'll talk to her about it, see if she'll ease up."

"Thank you. I would appreciate that." Holli said.

"No problem. I think Lt. Sanchez will listen to me. or I'm the only one with enough guts to talk to her face to face."

"Is she that bad of a person?"

"Ohhh. no. She isn't a bad person, just that she gets angry easily." James assured, ~"Sometimes it pays to have a deathwish."~

"Hmmmm" Holli nodded without responding, lost in her own thoughts for a moment.

"Mrs. Von Erst, speaking of Rebecca, how's she doing?"

Holli raised an eyebrow and smiled. "I must admit I was about to ask you the same thing. Except for very infrequent letters and even rarer shore leave, I haven't heard much from Rebecca since she graduated three years ago. I had vague inklings of her being assigned some sort of high-priority postings that frequently requires her to cancel shore leave, but other than that I cant tell you much." Holli shrugged her thin shoulders, "She's very busy, and doesn't eat enough, but then again that's just a simple mother's nagging."

"I'm glad to have heard something, ma'am." James replied, "I haven't heard from her since she smacked me with that snowball. Hell, I couldn't reach with a message on the ship's network. never saw her in Ten Forward. Didn't see her anywhere. Probably because she's the new Tactical head. Still, I wanted to talk to her about something important, because the last time I saw her. she seemed to be disgusted with me. Don't say I blame her, but she's not making it easy to say I'm sorry."

Holli chuckled. "Well you DID ask what snowballs were used for, though I admit that it surprised me to see her throw it so hard at you. Anyways, why do you need to say I'm sorry to her?"

James was ashamed to bring up the former memory of his encounter with Rebecca and Poet some months ago. It always reminded him of his blind zeal towards his enemies, how willing he was to abandon his friends, risk their reputations and their lives in a vain hope to catch one criminal. He could have done it without saying all those nasty things, such a fact brought more guilt than he could bear. The result was not a capture, just a room full of idols and an accidental capture by one of the crewmembers. Rebecca had nothing to do with it all, ironically, so why did James lie to Poet about her? Didn't matter anyways. The Poet capitalized and forever ruined one of James' closest friendships, and exposed his vulnerable dark side.

He deserved another snowball to the face from Holli right about now.

"You want to know why?" James stated, "I'm an idiot, that's why. I lied to people about me and her. I thought it was to catch somebody for hurting another friends. and he hurt them both. It was my fault." His tone turned more mournful and sad, "I lied about her, she found out and now she hates me for it. She believed that son of a b*tch. god dammit. I lost her as a friend because I'm the lying son of a b*tch that made her look bad! She. she kissed me.."

"SHE KISSED YOU?" Both Holli's eyebrows shot up at that one.

"Yes Ma'am, " James acknowledged , "And then I said some bad things to one man.. to buy myself some time to catch him. That one man was enough to crash your daughter's self respect, and destroy her respect for me. No dress in the galaxy's going to make up for what I did, cause I helped her lose her innocence."

Holli was too busy absorbing the image of her shy little baby actually talking to a guy, let alone kissing someone. All in all it was quite a shock. Recovering her bearing shakily she managed a tight-lipped reply. "Th.that's...uh.interesting."

"You should have seen her before. so skittish, but such a nice person. She had her problems, sure. who didn't? Hell, I'll tell right here and now that I suffer from clinical depression and traumatic flashbacks. She's was normal compared to me. Now's she gone. thanks to me. Her old self is dead, just like everything else around me. I killed that part of your daughter, you got me? Understand? It's my fault. "

~~~Well with that kind attitude its no wonder……~~~ Holli sighed and cut off that line of thought. It was unfair, and unworthy of her. Rebecca was a grown woman, and free to make any friends she wanted. If she wanted to have friendship with someone as surly as Mr. Corgan, then there wasn't anything Holli could say about it…..was there?

"Sometimes, I wish for death myself. Do as you wish, because I deserve the punishment, ma'am."

Taking a deep breath to gather her thoughts and soothe her slightly flustered emotions, Holli reached out across the table to take James hand in her own. Locking her green eyes into his own she squeezed his hand slightly and reassured, "Look James...I understand how you feel. I know at times that my daughter can be very easily excitable and tends to be emotionally fragile at times.. but you need to learn to look beyond that. Don't give up on her Jimmy." Holli paused before giving him a warm smile, little tears beginning to sparkle in the corners of her eyes. "And don't give up on yourself either."

"Give up on her? What do you mean by that, ma'am?" James asked, pulling his hand slowly away. He felt uncomfortable with any physical contact with people, much less touching hands with a complete stranger. "Is there something else?"

Holli stammered, "What do you mean?"

"Ma'am. I'm a security officer. It's part of my job training to spot these signs. Tell me, what is bothering you? If it's about me and Rebecca. I never meant to hurt her like this. Honest. I should have never let her kiss me, I shouldn't have told. HIM about it. I. hate it, ok? Her innocence. her trust. that's all gone, and it's my fault. All we did was kiss, and I twisted it around to hurt someone else. She was innocent. Look. just talk to your daughter and come to a conclusion, ok? I'm telling you my side of the truth. Does that make things better?"

Holli really had no idea what James was talking about at this point. Obviously he was worried about having offended Rebecca in someway, but the very fact that he was remorseful about it made a significant statement. He WAS trying at least.

"Holli. I. hey. I got the name right." James smirked darkly, "I want to try to make things better, I really do. It's just that….. the best way to say it is. everyone dies around me. If they're near me, something bad will happen to them. It has already happened to Lexa, thanks to Carson Pratt, and Rebecca's being pushed around by almost everything under the sun. Why, there's a rumor that she's being prodded by the Admiralty to make it to Captain someday. The old Rebecca you knew is dying. She's being replaced by something different, thanks to people like me, those brass heeled monkeys at SFHQ. and I get to witness it all. Call it. the Corgan curse if you will. Funny. I don't get to die, but my friends do. I'm cursed to watch their lives get ruined."

James paused to take a sip of his tea, and continue with his conversation, "You tell me not to give up on her, but it's too late. She's forever changed. It's too late to save her now. Don't get me wrong, I haven't given up the hope of salvaging whatever's left of all this messed up sh*t. I'm saying that I'll never be the same. I. just wanted to apologize for my part in ruining her life. Let her know that I'm sorry, ok?"

The long-haired woman nodded. Although he may be a bit rough around the edges, and definitely had a flair for the melodramatic, she could tell that Corgan was concerned on the inside. His rough language and pouting exterior didn’t turn her off, but merely emphasized how much he was beating himself up.

"I must be going now." Corgan stated, "It's nearly time for me to go to counseling. Appearantly. there's something wrong with my head. It was nice to meet you, Holli."

He politely picked up his PADD and promptly left Holli Von Erst with her pudgy dog Miss Wiggles. James wasn't in the mood to be 'helpful' or 'informative' anymore. Putting his heart on his sleeve wore him out and taxed his patience.

There was no redemption after all. His actions towards Rebecca were inexcusable. No rest for the wicked, no love for the damned.

He exited Ten Forward, hoping that somehow, a counselor could give him the redemption he sought.

Alone again with the now contentedly snoozing Miss Wiggles, Holli watched the sullen security officer go with a concerned smile. ~~~Poor Jimmy~~~ she thought. ~~~If you only knew how much you really do care. Rebecca could use a few good friends like you.~~~

But then Holli turned her thoughts back to what James had said concerning this so-called PT Instructor that was picking on Rebecca every morning. ~~~But as for Heather Sanchez…..I'll have to do something about that!~~~

Breaking The Fall

Lieutenant Jg Todd Sansky
Medical Doctor

NPC Nathan Carrington

‘Computer skip to the final program on this subject and run.’ Todd smiled at Nathan wondering what he had in store for him.

‘I thought you hadn’t read this far ahead.’ ‘Well I always read the last page of a book first, if I can guess what will happen in the body then I don’t read it because it will be predictable.’ Todd just scratched his head as a scene of an older building surrounded by greenery and a long drive. The sign on the door said in gold writing ‘The Carlton’.

‘Are you ready for a twist Todd?’

‘Oh yeah lets get going.’ The two entered the hotel and passed a tall dark haired man, Nathan told Todd that he was another ex husband of Alexis as they wandered into the bar. They had only a few sips when Nathan stood up.

‘Come on babe something is happening upstairs you wont want to miss. He took Nathan’s hand as they left the bar and were approaching the stairs when Todd heard what sounded like breaking wood above him. He turned and looked up to the landing on the first floor just as he was showered by splintered wood accompanied by the scream of a woman and yell of a man.

‘Oh my God!’ Todd gasped as he held his hands out as the falling Alexis came towards him.

‘Todd, get out of the way.’ Nathan shouted as he ran to push his lover out of the way. He succeeded just to be hit full on the head by Alexis who crashed down on top of him. The man with her fell next to her with a crack as his spine broke. Todd stared at Nathan before running over to him.

‘My god hun are you alright?’

‘For fucks sake get this bitch off me.’ Todd smiled as he lifted Alexis up, she suddenly ran over to the other fallen angel and screamed at the top of her lungs.

‘Dex, Dex answer me Dex.’ She shuck her ex husband but he was already dead. Todd helped Nathan to his feet.

‘Todd I knew we should have gone straight up stairs, we were supposed to push them not break there fall.’ ‘Nathan I thought you said this was the finale, but surely there are many loose ends such as what happens to Alexis.’ ‘No dear this is just as far as there journals went, my father couldn’t create any more due to lack of historical information.

‘Nathan, I wouldn’t mind…’

‘What?’

‘Pushing the bitch over the balcony.’ Nathan laughed and called the computer to reset the program as the comm. Channel opened =/\= Dothan to Sansky report to sickbay =/\= =/\= Acknowledged Doctor Sansky out =/\= Nathan looked upset as Todd took his hand.

‘Well looks like duty calls babe, we can continue this later.’ ‘Ok babe, but you still have to return to your quarters to change. Need a hand?’ ‘Ooh absolutely.’ The two of them left the holodeck before returning to Todd’s quarters. Nathan returned home as Todd entered the turbolift to go to work. Entering Sickbay he saw Dr Dothan standing waiting for him. ‘What can I do for you Doctor?’

-----
Dr. Andree Dothan, Lt. Cmd,
CMO USS Galaxy
-----

"No rest for the weary," was All Andree could mutter after he spoke with Cmd. Thomas. Level four protocol.

Andree strode purposefully into the main ward of sickbay, and called out "Computer"

=/\= Tweedle-beep =/\=

"Hail all medical personnel on duty"

=/\= Tweedle-beep-boop =/\=

"All Alpha shift medical personnel report to the main ward of sickbay."

=/\= Tweedle-boop-beep =/\=

***

Addressing the crowd of medical personnel that had gathered, Andree began "Survivors have been found on the Tamarian Vessel. Level four medical protocols are now in effect. Kira, Keep the door to the pediatrics sealed. Keep all traffic to the entrance from Corridor 12-C. Taggart, you're in charge of the sterilization equipment, and the containment fields. Sudrok, make sure that there are tricorders and hypos in arms' reach. Malgin, make sure the surgery suite is ready with full containment protocols. You all know what Level four means, now let's get to it."

Andree finished his pep-talk, stating, "Any questions come see me, Otherwise, you are dismissed."

(Takes place on Jessie's Gamma shift after replacing James who replaced Rebecca who brought in that stool and of course dropped the stool. And of course before James Leaves the ship:( Hey i know its short but.. things are heactic here and i need to get something out.:)

"A BARSTOOL?"
By Lt (jg) Parry

In this day and age a lot of things can be relied upon to be considered normal.. Tactical was on thing Jessie had learned while on Galaxy was not even close to normal. And now she had proof. James had left the bridge leaving the smaller then him Lt to face the arch and discover fully why there was a stool at tactical.

"What the?" she muttered as she pushed the stool sideways with a ungodly screech of metal on metal earning her a look from Savat and Price. Blushing she straightened and gave them both a smile.

'Becca you and i are going to talk about this..' she thought as she tried to manuover around the blasted stool.

Finally she gave up and did something she had told herself would never happen she took the stool and sat on it. She was at least a good foot taller then Rebecca but this stool was now the bigest problem on the bridge.. she couldn't move it out of the way due to the people needing the walk way behind the arch so she sat on the problem until her shift was over.

When she was relieved she walked into the lift with the others on Gamma shift and muttered "A BARSTOOL?"

"Return of the CLERKS"

by

Crewman Randall Graves
PO3 Dante Hicks

=Security operation store room level 21-beta=

Randall was late for his shift, as usual, and Dante had covered for him when a rather irrritated Rayna O'Grady came by to check with the old, he's in the bathroom excuse. She didn't believe him. Hell he couldn't help it if the dumbass was going to get written up AGAIN, and maybe transferred to a lousier shift, but no one would work with him but Dante, so then he'd end up transferred.

Finally 30 mintues after the start of his shift the door opened.

"You're fucking late Randall."

"And who the hell died and made you chief?"

"I had to cover for you again with Commander O'Grady."

Randall sighed, "Oh man, she's gonna cut my balls off later."

"No shit genius, why the hell were you late it's not like you had to drive here."

"No but I didn't exactly sleep alone ya know..."

Dante looked up, "what did you chloroform and drag home from 10foreward last night?"

"A rather fetching young helmswoman I think she was Betazoid, none of my usual lines worked on her."

Dante scoffed, "Or maybe she just was smart enough not to fall for them."

"Oh ye of little faith..."

Time passed, and after the preshift phaser pack rush subsided the discussion turned to of all things movies,

"Which do you think was the better movie, Empire or Jedi?"

"Empire"

"Blasphemy!"

"No think about it, Empire ended with a series of down notes, Han Solo is frozen in Carbonite and taken away by Boba Fett, Luke finds out Vader is his father and gets his hand chopped off, the Rebel Alliance is utterly decimated, a series of down notes, all Jedi had was a bunch of muppets."

Randall nodded, "But Jedi had the death star destruction, the greatest tragedy in the movies."

"What do you mean?" Dante looked at his partner, some times Randall would have some strange thoughts.

"Think about it, The first death star was destroyed, yes, but it was complete, all it had on it was Imperial Forces, Storm Troopers, Tie pilots and assorted imperial military forces, I mean they die, it's part of the job description. Jedi, the death star was still being built, so there had to be contractors on board."

"Contracters, like roofers, plumbers the like?"

"Of course, you don't think the average stormtrooper can hang sheetrock, all they know is killing and white uniforms."

"Extra people yea so?"

"I mean here you are some contractor, a juicy government job comes along, you got the split level in suburbia, the 2.5 kids to feed, college to pay for, you take it. Next thing you know some terrorist elemant comes along and destroys everything, it's not like you're involved, you could be totally neutral, an innocent casualty of a harsh... war."

It would be along day indeed......

"Dark and Forboding Thoughts"
by, Lt. (j.g.) Wilhem Quevvenson,
Science Officer
------------------------------------

Wilhem sat inside his quarters on the Galaxy, contemplating life. He knew that soon he and Autumn would get married. But he had learned during the trip to Betazed that her family was as ecclectic as his own. And he could be unsure of what that bade for their union.

He knew that she was on board the Tamarian sleeper vessel. And he could sense that all was not completely well over there. He sensed some dark prescence hanging over the vessel. As such he hoped that it would soon be eliminated. For he was actually quite scared for Autumn and the rest of the Away Team.

Then he sensed that the dark prescence was coming over to this ship. Most likely from a shuttlecraft. Did this mean that the Away Team had been disposed of? Or were they being used to further some dark agenda.

Then, he felt that prescence (he could not term it otherwise, it was just a dark feeling he had) arrive in the shuttle bays. He hoped that someone else would sense it, and move to destroy it. For he only remembered one other thing that gave him this much fear. And that was the undead.

=====
William Bolitho aka
Chief Tactical Officer Lt. (j.g.) Wilhem Quevvenson - U.S.S. Galaxy

"Precaution"
by Lieutenant Commander Elaithin, Chief of Security

["Commander Thomas to 'Commander Elaithin Jii." ]

Elaithin sat up and tapped his comm badge. "Go ahead, Commander." he replied.

["We're going to be bringing guest over to the ship, I want a security detail to keep an eye on them. I also want level 4 biohazard security measures in effect for anyone's arrival from the ship."

"Aye Commander, I'll get to it right away." the Bajoran replied.

["They'll becoming over by shuttle, make sure to take them directly to sickbay. I will also order all away team members to go to sickbay as well." ]

"Understood." Jii said, "Security out." The Chief then stuck his head out into the main Security office, were several of his department personell were standing."Corgan, Seth. Report to the Main Shuttlebay and escort our guests to sickbay.I beleive 'Commander Savat is already there."

The officers responded in the affirmative and headed out towards the shuttlebay. Elaithin then looked over the other officers in the room. "Lomax, Worthington. Your two go also, make sure anyone else coming back in heads to sickbay. Sanchez - you go with 'em." Then the Security Chief tapped his commbadge. "Elaithin to all Security personell. Level 4 Biohazard procedures in effect for anyone returning from the Tamarian vessel. Elaithin out."

That should take care of that. Jii looked forward to hearing from Trabuco as to what the old ship was like. After all, that's why they were out here - Exploration.

It just seemed like they were nothing more than soldiers in a neverending battle, was all. It was good to be reminded, from time to time, of that spark of curiosity that had gotten most of them in the 'Fleet in the first place.

“Sprite”
By Lieutenant JG James Lionel Corgan
Security Officer, USS Galaxy

Location: Quarters
Time: After the away mission

=/\=Generations of warriors, bred and raised, waited by the heels of their masters for the trumpet call into battle. They were not the honorable Klingons, nor the crafty Romulans, the brutish Naussicans. Neither cruel Son’a nor stalwart Gorn ran to answer the trumpet’s call, for this battle cry was not for the warrior races. It was the rally call of the Federation, after watching their peaceful world become invaded by infidel barbarians. They came as a solitary angel of death, like the Borg, or they arrived like the floodwaters of the Amazon, like the Dominion.

The peaceful ones, those that sought exploration but rather they die on the sacrificial altar than give away their beautiful kingdom to its enemies, threw themselves at the first invading Borg. The result: 41 ships destroyed, thousands dead and injured, hundreds missing in action.

We think that after this violation of our pristine territory, that would be the end of it. That is not the case, for the Dominion was not like the Cardassians and the Romulans of the past. They cared not that we wished to live in peace. They knew only war, so war they sought.

That was when my generation came to light. Bred on the xenophobia that was Borg propaganda, constantly being reminded that enemies were waiting everywhere, we came to the academy, not as aspiring explorers, but as aspiring warriors. Our generation lived by the sword, died by the sword, and protected the Federation with our lives… and by the sword.

Eventually, when the wars were over, we became a lost generation. Like our enemies, chaos and strife was all we knew. Chaos always tainted my thoughts since my first battle. It reached everywhere, my love life, my friendships, even my lust for life was sapped from me. It still follows me around, as little voices. I regarded all my problems as a fight to get rid of the infidel invaders. I guess that’s what you get when you’re the product of an entire generation of warriors…

Captain James Lionel Corgan, USS Calgary Exert from the book “The Product: Memoirs From The War Generation”, Circa 2397=/\=

James put down his personal PADD, saving the memo as ‘The Product’. He decided that working on his songs was a more productive measure. After all, who was going to read his notes?

He found his writing like he found his thoughts, chaotic. Mixed and jumbled up in a damaged cranium, each thought yelled out to be heard. The war memories competed with love for attention, while friends and depression had their little war over what was more important. Which one was the main problem? What problem rose over all the others, claiming to be ‘the one’ that screwed him up the most? He didn’t know. Sometimes, Corgan thought his disdain for love ruled the others, until he thought of the Borg, or the feelings about killing nearly a hundred soldiers in all his battles… then the next one came to take it’s place on the pedestal.

More of them lined up to speak their opinions.

Just like the voices.

~”Never again.”~ He vowed, ~”Never again will I go under their control. Remember the mantra, I am in control… I am in control…”

Mantra’s made the whole exercise seem less futile. He tossed his PADD on his work desk and sat cross-legged on his bed. As he sat, he repeated over and over the lines he learned from the Vulcan control exercise. ~”I am in control… I am in control…”~

~”If you were in control, we would have never spawned our collective.”~ The Borg voice spoke out.

~”He’s got you there. You know, for a drone, he’s very smart.”~ James’ conscience intervened.

“God dammit!” James cursed out loud. There was no escape from the voices. They were rude, forceful, domineering, and they wouldn’t stay back for all the mind control in the cosmos. He was no longer in control, a fact that at the moment bothered him deeply. ~”Oh well… let’s hear what they have to say…”~

~“You know… we can hear you think.”~ The female voice of the one called ‘Star Lady’ reminded James of how deep they were boring into his brain.

~”Please… I want to be left alone. That’s not too much to ask.”~ Corgan thought.

~”You forgot to say… isn’t it?”~ Star Lady mocked.

~”I don’t need to ask your permission!”~

His mental yell at the personalities silenced the voices for a moment and shocked even himself. He hated to yell, ever since he was a child. Yelling meant desperation, a last resort when calm, clearheaded thinking did not work. He considered such methods crude and impolite.

Here he was, being crude and impolite to himself. The voices were persistant. To yell meant they were winning the war.

Then, he thought of an idea to counterattack. There were voices when he was on the Tamarian ship. They urged him to ‘take care’ of Electra, in a way that meant taking out all outside forces that were a threat to his precarious life. He felt ashamed for listening to the voices, and even more so for nearly carrying out their orders. He never wanted to hurt Lexa, for reasons he couldn’t admit to himself. Revenge was in order. It was time to strike at the voices for what they did. He had to find out who the voices were on the ship, then plan from there.

~”Was that you on the ship?”~ James asked the personality known as Star Lady.

~”Who? Me? Now why would I want to do something like that?”~ Star Lady sounded innocent.

~”I remember… before the away mission,” Corgan said, “You were so eager to get me to confess about something. I think the exact words were… ‘Say it.’ Then there was the ship. You kept suggesting that I hurt Lexa. Why? She has nothing to do with you.”

~”This primitive bipedal lacks knowledge. The collective could have given him all he needed.”~ The drone spoke up.

~”Shuddup.”~ Conscience interjected.

~”I think he should die.”~ The Archangel of Death voiced his opinion.

~”Again… shuddup.”~

~”Thank you, my lovely…”~ Star Lady crooned, ~”As I was going to say before the tin plated terror went on his ‘glories of the collective’ rant, I was going to tell you a secret. You see, I am Lexa... sort of.”~

~”I thought so. You have her body, her voice… but none of her personality. That was taken from part of me, wasn’t it?”~ James asked.

~”You are… CORRECT! See guys, he isn’t so dumb. Sure, he’s as stubborn as a mule and mad as a hatter, but he isn’t stupid.”~

~”His intelligence does not match the collective’s….”~

~”SHUT UP!”~ Conscience yelled, ~”Wait your turn you stupid prick.”~

“So, you want me to confess that I… wait a second! You’re fooling me! I can’t love a person. Love is dead, remember? At least it’s dead in me. I cannot love another. You know, Star Lady, you have nothing to fear from… her. I can’t love her. It’s impossible. Why do you want her gone so badly? She’s no threat to you.” James spoke out loud. He was getting too deep into the conversation. He was being pulled into an argument, one he didn’t plan on backing out of. If he were going in too deep, he would at least put in his hits before he went down.

~”I want her gone because she’s a threat to me. Corgan baby… I hate to see you like this. I want nothing more than for you two to break up, because of you hate love… therefore you hate to be with her. I feed off that emotion, just like everyone else. I need it to live. If I had you break her heart and yours, that would be enough to keep me here forever.”~

~”That’s not true…”~

~”You’ll pine away for her for as long as you live. That’s all I need from you, and I’ll be there, reminding you that you should have confessed. I’d say that’s a plan, no?”~

James opened his eyes for the first time in minutes, barely realizing he closed them earlier. He listened into his thoughts. No voices. Listened to the real world sounds, no voices to be heard. He breathed a sigh of relief.

“That was a bit screwed up… geez I must be going crazy.” He complained.

Then, he remembered a task to perform before he had to go to his mandatory counseling sessions. He thought of anything to keep himself busy. Sitting idly, or meditating to ease his mind, brought the voices out in full force. Work could be the answer to his problems! Swamp himself in work, enough to keep him busy for an eternity, to keep the voices at bay.

To quote from Star Lady, “I’d say that’s a plan, no?”

He set himself to the first task. It was something he put off for a long time. Unlike everything else in his life, this involved healing rifts, instead of tearing them further apart.

He missed his friend, Rebecca Von Erst. It was weeks since the concert, the last time they meet, and the meeting did not go well for either side. Rebecca seemed less than willing to smooth things over, going so far as to throw a snowball into James face to prove her point, while James thought he chased away Electra Reece after trying to be nice to Rebecca’s mother. Being nice was not rewarded richly.

~”No more,”~ He vowed. Admitting that the whole incident was his fault, and his meddling served to make matters worse, he had to take a measure he should have taken a long time ago. The dress, the flowers and the song should have gone out the window. Those tokens of apology were too strong. What he needed was something a little more gentle.

He took his seat on his workdesk and tapped out a letter… =/\=To: Lieutenant Rebecca Von Erst, Chief Tactical Officer From: Lieutenant jg James Lionel Corgan, Security Officer Re: Apology

Dear Rebecca,

I cannot be forgiven for what I have done before. I tried to say that I was sorry before, but that has not worked. I understand that I cannot be forgiven.

At least hear my side of the story. It’s not what you think.

Meet me at Ten Forward after Beta shift.=/\=

~”There…”~ James congradulated as he tapped the send button, ~”That wasn’t so hard. I hope she receives this. If she’s going to judge me, she should judge me as a liar and not a pervert. No…”~ His self doubt caught up to him, ~”I said so myself, how can I be forgiven. I don’t know how Lexa even forgave me. How can Rebecca do the same? She actually believed what Poet said…”~

~”She won’t believe you, because you’re scum.”~ A small, wheedling voice said.

~”Sh*t. Another voice…”~ James thought, ~”But who?”~ He never heard the voice before. This one was different, more malicious than the others. She sounded very familiar.

Before James could pinpoint the voice, he felt a tap on his shoulders. He turned around, looking at a short, sprite like creature.

“BOO!” The Sprite screamed in his face. James was startled by the sudden intrusion. He fell backwards on the floor, from his office chair. He hit the ground hard, his head rebounding off the carpeted floor. The back of his head protested from the dull thud.

In his confusion, he looked up at the new presence. She did have similarities to Rebecca, ending at her physical height and looks. Her clothes looked like a twisted and torn mockery of the dress he bought for her at Splendor’s Boutique. Dragonfly like wings fluttered from her back, and her eyes glowed with the neon green of the Borg.

“What the hell is going on? Computer, scan for other lifesigns in my quarters.”

“Negative. Only Lieutenant Junior Grade James Lionel Corgan is on deck 18, cabin 364.” Came the computer’s predictable response.

The Sprite giggled a mischievous laugh, “You guys were right. He’s gone past the insane stage.”

~”Just as I predicted.”~ Said the Conscience.

~”You guessed me… now guess who this is.”~ Star Lady challenged.

“I don’t want to guess. I’m sick of playing your games! Stop bothering me, or there will be hell to pay!” Corgan spat.

“Awwww… look at him. Back to yelling again?” Sprite sneered.

James blushed hotly from the embarrassment. He realized that once again, the voices had him on the ropes. “What about it? I just want you all gone.”

“Gone? HAH! I’m not going anywhere, because you’re a screwup. Look at you, you pathetic little PEON! Do the words ‘I hate you, I hate you, I hate you’ remind you of anything? I think that little redheaded trollop made it clear.”

He heard the other voices laughing, having a good time at the expense of the host mind. They were enjoying the dressing down James Corgan felt from the Sprite. He felt defeated, dejected, and worse, humiliated. He tried to make things better, apologize, send kindness he usually didn’t have to spare, and all for nothing. Sprite was right. Rebecca did hate him. Killing the voices in his head could give him peace and stop reminding him of how screwed up his life became, but those improvements could only work on himself. Outside, he was still the ship’s psychotic. People hated him, former friends loathed him, and whenever somebody became close, he would always manage to ruin it all. That was death to him. Everything around him died… at least in his mind.

And here was Sprite, reminding Corgan of how much of a fool he was, while the rest of the voices watched and laughed. Then, instantly, the voices disappeared. He was left alone.

At least, for now he was alone. The voices were gone.

“I want it to stop. Make it stop… make it stop…” He begged to the stars.

"The Touch"
By Lieutenant Commander Savat

****Deck Seven, USS Galaxy****

"This vessel is marvelous." Lady Lilith purred as Savat escorted the Galaxy's newest guests to their quarters. "It is simply teeming with life. So many different species. I find it positively delectable!"

Savat did his best to concentrate on the task at hand, but there was no denying that Lilith was provoking an unanticipated physical response within him. He found it both fascinating and disturbing and he pondered the potential catalysts that could have triggered such feelings of desire. Perhaps the Sanguinian species exuded pheromonal chemicals similar to a Deltan. Perhaps it was something on the subconscious level, brought on by the tonal vibrations of her speech, as had been the case with the Prophetess of Decilia VII.

Or perhaps, he was simply aroused by an aesthetically pleasing physical form. No, that simply could not be the case, he reminded himself. He was too disciplined for such hormonal deviations.

"Yes, your vessel is most impressive." Lord Vlad added. "I can not wait to sample the many diverse cultures it has to offer."

"I am certain such a tour can be arranged." Savat stated. He stopped in front of a door flanked by a contingent of security officers. "These are you guest quarters. Please feel free to make us of its facilities. When you are feeling adequately refreshed, these officers will escort you to sickbay for a medical examination."

"Is that really necessary?" Lord Vlad asked. "I doubt your doctors would know what to make of their data, were they to examine us."

"Be that as it may." Savat replied. "It is still standard operating procedure under these circumstances. If you would like to bring the issue up with Captain Price."

"No." Said Lilith, taking a step forward. "We are strangers here. Logic dictates that our new friends take the appropriate precautions." Her dark eyes stared up into Savat's expressionless face. The elder Vulcan marveled at Lilith's nearly flawless sense of detachment. Even as she flaunted her own, obvious state of arousal, she layered it beneath a veneer of serenity that made her presence nearly intoxicating for Savat on both a physical and intellectual level. "Perhaps later you will be able to adjust your schedule to allow us time for further. Conversation?" As the final word rolled off of her perfectly shaped tongue, Lilith's fingertips momentarily brushed against the back of Savat's hand. It was a casual, seemingly unplanned motion but it sent a jolt through Savat's system unlike anything he had ever experienced. Actually, he corrected himself after a moment's evaluation, there was one obvious comparison. But it wasn't time for that, not yet. He tried to put the sensations out of his mind, but one look into Lilith's eyes was enough to make his defenses waver yet again. He could see that their brief contact had sparked something in her as well. Her gaze betrayed her own growing lust, and he could tell that she, like himself, was fighting to remain unemotional. And seeing this only flamed his desire to greater heights.

"I must return to my duties now." Savat stated, the words thick on his lips.

"Yes, that would be. Appropriate." Lilith responded. "Another time then?"

Savat nodded mutely and turned to leave. He walked swiftly down the corridor and began flooding his mind with the minutiae of the Operations Department. He hoped that the discipline of work could act as a salve to repair the cracks in his defenses. And for a while it did.

But only for a while.

**** ****

Lieutenant Commander Savat
Chief Operations Officer, USS Galaxy
AKA
David Friedland
ICQ# 5805168

“Helm to nowhere”
By Lt. (jg) Heather Grant-Wellington
USS Galaxy

It had being an hour since she replaced Maxwell, and so far, nothing was happening. The Galaxy was stationary, leaving the helm control little else except to be on standby to get under way as quickly as possible, if the captain had to give such an order. So far, she had not worked out her room mate and new lover’s secret, which was starting to irritate her. She felt as if the two of them were stepping cautiously when ever they were around her, as if hiding something behind their backs that she was not meant to see. What ever was going on, Heather was determined to find out.

Sitting at the helm while the ship was stationary was not helping matters either. If she truly wanted to, she could of allowed herself to drift off into a daydream, that was a continuation of the dream she had during her previous sleeping period. Beta shift had passed in a brief glimpse, as she slept for most of it. She had experienced a handful of dreams, but there was one that seemed to last long enough to be remember. It vividnous had filled her with varying emotions. What made it a dream to Heather, was that it was about her making love to Ensign Indiana Brisbane, the man she had conflicting interests towards and was one of her late husband’s closest friends. To her, Indiana was still stationed at DS9, well a way from her current position, yet the dream made it seem as if he was in the room with her. She thought she could feel their bodies touch, their lips interconnect, and hear his whispers of affections. It all seemed so real and it made her feelings for him all that more difficult to contend with. However, when she woke up, she felt guilty for feeling the way she did, particularly as she considered herself seriously involved with Officer San Diego.

Yawning, she cleared her thoughts temporarily to check over the console. Still no progress.

“Well, this is boring.” She remarked to herself, looking around and seeing that everyone else on the bridge being basically in the same boat as she.

"Party at the Von Ernst Place"

Starring
Rebecca von Ernst
Holli von Ernst

(Deck 5)

The glow of a single white candle illuminated the small freckled face of Holli von Ernst with a happy orange light.

As she entered the darkened room from the kitchen, the small flame transferred its soft light into the larger living area, and did its best to spread its cheer to the totally darkened room that was Rebecca's Deck Five Quarters.

::Happy Birthday to You::

With each step that Holli took the small flame sputtered and threatened to extinguish itself from the movement, the shadows threatening to reclaim the area for their own….but nevertheless the glow persisted.

::Happy Birthday to You::

Halting steadily before the small polished coffee table, Holli balanced the plate carefully on the tips of her slim fingers before kneeling gracefully to place it gently on the smooth surface. The soft glow reflected fuzzily off the wooden tabletop, casting strange patterns of darkness and light dancing across the room.

::Happy Birthday Dear Rebecca…::

The warm glow illuminated another freckled face, its pert upturned nose scrunched slightly in embarrassment, her lips pulled back in a smile as she gazed at her beloved mother.

"…Happy Birthday to you…" Holli finished the song her eyes glistening with motherly pride at the slim redheaded girl before her.

Rebecca's smile widened even farther, and the beginings of happy tears formed in the corners of her great brown eyes. "Oh….Momma." was all she could manage to croak through her throat, thicjkened with emotion.

"I love you baby." Holli whispered in the candlelight, "And I am so proud of you."

Leaning across the table, the two small women embraced over the cake, and not a few tears were shed into each other's red hair.

"Oh poo, you silly," Holli sat back on her heels 'fanning' her eyes in a mock attempt to dry them out. "You're gonna give your poor old mom wrinkles from crying."

"Oh Momma," Rebecca blushed, her own eyes glowing in the candlelight that was the rooms only source of illumination. "You don’t have a wrinkle on your body……y…you didn’t have to do all this."

"Never underestimate the value of a little makeup kiddo." Holli teased, "and yes I did have to. You're my one and only. What kind of mother would I be if I forgot your Birthday?"

Half smiling Rebecca shrugged and stared into the almost hypnotizing glow of the candle. Here in the privacy of her room, with the trappings of Starfleet faded away into the shadowy walls, and the constant chirps and beeps of the bridge far away, she could almost forget where she was, and imagine she was once again in the solitude of the quaint little Minnesota Farmhouse that was her home…..

….almost

"I dunno Momma," Rebecca sighed "Its just been almost six years since anybody remembered my birthday and….."

"Oh Poo," Holli interrupted, "I send you a holo every year on the button."

"…since anybody AROUND me remembered. "Rebecca corrected with a half smile. "I'd almost stopped celebrating it myself."

Holli maintained the happy grin on her face, but felt her heart breaking for her poor child. ~~~Dear Lord, where has my little girl's happiness gone?~~~ she mourned in her soul.

"Well that’s just silly funny face." She said aloud. "Nobody is gonna mope around while I'm here, especially on your birthday. Heck I went through 16 hours of intense labor screaming my head off just so you could have a birthday!"

Rebecca giggled slightly, her freckled nose crinkling in the effort. Every year it seemed her Mother's labor pains added a few hours longer. She supposed that by the time she turned 30, that her mother would be claiming she spent nearly two days in labor.

"Now are you gonna blow out the candles, or are we gonna just sit in the dark feeling sorry for ourselves?"

"Yes Momma…."

"Make a wish."

Puffing out her cheeks in a mock deep breath, Rebecca cocked her head sideways for a moment in deep though as to what her wish would be…..it wasn’ t too difficult to decide on.

A quick spurt of air, and the dancing flame fluttered out cloaking the room in sudden pitch darkness, the sound of Holli's "Yaay!!" being the only sound.

"Lights up" Rebecca ordered the computer blushing at her Mother's goofy doting upon her. "Noodles, you make me feel like I'm five years old again."

"Instead of Twenty-Five? Well sometimes a good dose of childhood nostalgia is good for the soul."

Rebecca shrugged and playfully dipped her finger into the soft white icing around the corner of the cake. What is it about icing that made it always taste better off the finger instead of off the fork?

"Well, I ran into one of your friends today." Holli said as she gathered up a couple of plates for use. "Little Jimmy Corgan down in 10-whatever its name is…..The lounge with the windows."

As amusing as her mother's insistence of treating all her associates like 2 year olds complete with nicknames and everything, Rebecca scowled at the mention of James name. "Ugh" was all she said as she intently examined her little finger tip to see if she got all of the gooey sweetness off.

"Ugh for him, or ugh for the messy way you are eating that cake dear?"

Rebecca flicked her eyes toward her mother and deliberately stuck her fingertip in her mouth licking off one last spot of icing.

Holli tsked playfully and set about serving up two small sliced of white-cake proper-like with dishes and forks. "As a matter of fact," she continued, "Little Jimmy proved to be a fountain of information for a nosey mother. It seems that you're not playing well with others on the playground."

"Huh?" was all Rebecca could say.

"Heather Sanchez?"

"Oh….her."

"Shame on you Rebecca, letting something like a little exercise get you down. Why I ought to go and give this Sanchez a piece of my mind."

"Really Momma." Rebecca insisted, "Starfleet doesn’t accept notes from one's mother as an approved excuse from duty."

"Still," Holli insisted, "Someone ought to tell her a thing or too. Picking on my poor baybe just because she cant run as far as she can. I wonder how SANCHEZ would feel if someone showed her up like that?"

"Momma….no."

Momentary silence.

"So what else did James spill the beans on?" Rebecca asked quickly to change the subject.

"Well," Holli answered, still fuming on the inside over Sanchez's mistreatment of her daughter, "The young man expressed heartfelt sorrow over any recent distress he may have caused you. He seemed quite broken up about it."

Rebecca glared as she accepted the small dish, and settled back onto the couch, pulling her thin legs up underneath her gracefully. "Noodles to him Momma, he had no right to say what he said."

Holli watched her daughter closely but did not reply. The expectant look in her eyes spoke of her desire to help, but she did not probe.

Rebecca stirred her fork around the cake listlessly, but truth be told, she had lost her appetite. James betrayal had hurt her deeply simply for the reason that it mocked the very part of her she was most sensitive about….and most unsure about.

"Well," Holli began slowly, "I'm sure whatever it……"

"He's going around telling people he's……s….sl….sleeping w….with m…me Momma!" the words blurted out of Rebecca quavering lips in a rush, leaving a void of silence in the room after their departure.

Several moments passed before Holli found her voice and replied, making great efforts to maintain a calm tone. "I…I…see. And….uh….are you sleeping with him?"

"MOMMA?!"

"No no, its okay!" Holli rushed to sooth Rebecca's shocked outrage, "I, know its none of my business baby, but I cant help being concerned about you……I…I know its hard, and sometimes we all make mistakes, but I just want you to be careful."

Rebecca worked her jaw in silence, not believing that her mother was actually accepting of the possibility that her darling little daughter was sleeping around. ~~~What, does she think I'm a freak too?~~~

"In a way," Holli continued still attempting to reign in her own emotions, "In a way, I half expected it once you went off to school…..you know….new experiences….new people….lots of young men….." she trailed off not knowing where she was going with all this, but only wanting to appear supportive. This despite the fact a part of her wanted to catch up with that rat that did this to her little baby and run his balls through the wheat combine!

Hanging her head, Rebecca shook it slightly. "N…no Momma its not true. It's n…never been true. I…I….I'm still your little girl."

Now it was Holli's turn to be speechless. Part of her was rejoicing, but then again…….Rebecca was 25 and never been kissed? 25 and never been ….touched? The strange duality nature of the situation was not lost on the Minnesotan farm woman.

"No, " she said at last, "Not a little girl. You're a grown woman now, and I love you."

"I…I love you too Momma."

"Worried"
By Lt Rose Isis MacAllen, Science Officer

**Science Lab**

Rose is sitting at her station writing out a report about the sleeper ship, it was very scary even though it was very old by 300 hundred years more or less. But with the two saugarians they found on the ship...Rose found then very distrustful and evil.

On the ship she felt so much evil even from the Saugarian that it was scary, she fears that the Galaxy maybe in danger.

When Rose got close to they while talking to then on the shuttle, she can feel the danger but also lust and pleaser all around then.

"Computer send my report to the CSO." Rose order the computer while putting her uniform jacket back on..now off the Ten Foward to have dinner with her boyfriend Ragnald.

As she walked out Rose feels that somebody is following her, she stoped and look around the hallway she was in.

"Must be my mind again going alittle crazy." Rose said to herself while getting on the lift going towards Ten-Foward.

Lt jg. Seth Zonhieb
unauthorized appearance by Lt. jg James Corgan

Approaching the shuttle bay Seth stopped in mid stride. Corgan walked right into the back of the lizard. "OUFF." It felt like hitting a wall of tritanium. "What's up big guy?"

The gorn's forked tongue licked the air. It smelled like a trauma surgeons convention. All blood, sweat and tension. Since the doors to the bay didn't even open yet Seth could only conclude one thing. "Either they are early in departing or we are late."

Once the doors opened the smell got stronger. They saw the shuttle on the pad and Odin still inside. A silly grin in his face and glassy stare. The scent in the shuttle made the gorns stomache growl. "Are you alright?" Corgan asked the pilot.

There was a faint answer the gorn didn't hear. Seth turned away back down the hall. Abandoning Corgan in the shuttle bay.

As he tracked the scent the tapped his comm badge. "Seth to Elaithin, our guest are not in the shuttle bay. I'm tracking thier location. I suggest we seal off the deck."

"You always suggest that." the bajorian commented. "Just find them and take them to sick bay."

The trail might as well have been light up in florecent orange for the gorn. He easily found the route all the way to deck seven. Luming large in the hall the gorn saw the guest talking with Savat. There were two security guards present.

Before the lizard could be spotted by anyone the guest retreated inside the quarters. The vulcan operation officer silently walked past Seth as if he wan't there.

"Ensign." Seth looked down on one of the security guards. "Your dismissed. Report to the chief the location of our guests."

The security guard looked almost ready to challenge the gorn like he wanted to stay at the door. Then he left and let the lizard have his spot.

Seth was determined to stand at that door until the guests decided to visit sickbay.

"Worries and Hopes"
By Lieutenant jg Electra Reece
Assistant Chief of Operations

Location: OPS Office

Electra sat at her chair behind her desk and wrote out her report about the findings on the Tamarian ship. She spent a bit of time on her logic in deciphering the two switches in the mess hall and her possible thoughts on what the third switch could mean. She informed her chief that it would be an interesting find for the sciences to look at with the help of an engineer.

When she finished the report she placed it on Savat's desk and returned to her seat. "Computer, begin personal log recording, this stardate."

She sat back in her chair and sighed. "I just returned from hopefully my only trip to the Tamarian ship. The choking, cloying smell in that place .... I am heartily glad for the air filters on this ship. It was horrible. The corpses rotting away and the stench of that decay filling the ship, overpowering again and again with each new door opening. But the ship is nicely put together."

She closed her eyes and leaned back. "I enjoyed spending time with James, although he was acting very oddly. I'm not sure what his problem is, lately. Though it may be my problem. I'm just seeing things that aren't really there. I'm reading things into remarks and actions that don't mean what I think."

Lexa bit her lip for a moment, before shaking her head and continuing. "And the entire time I was on that ship, random lines from Shakespeare continually popped into my mind. I have no idea why. Or why they were so .... ominous. Hamlet, Macbeth, Julius Caesar ... the worst of the tragedies. Evil, despair, corruption, blackness ... The Tamarian's eyes, I know they were real, they looked so normal, but ... when I looked again ... James thought the ship got to me. Maybe it did. But I'd swear he was warning me. But of what? I have to shake this off. Nothing happened. I'm just still so ... locked into my head with what Poet did to me."

She sat forward, running her hands over her face, as if to scrub away the worry. "I have to make that appointment with Karyn and tell her I'm willing to have her try the hypnosis. I'm still terrified to find out what happened but the nightmares have gotten worse. I stay up until my eyes refuse to stay open but still, every night I wake up screaming and sweating, terrified. And James is figuring more prominently into each dream. I dread sleeping. I'm going to go to the holodeck and get a good workout, maybe I'll be too tired to dream. I hope so. End log and save."

Lexa turned to her computer, checked her schedule and saw that she had nothing to do until her shift the next day. She nodded, turned off her terminal and left the office.

"Personal Log"
By Lt Rose Isis MacAllen, Science Officer

**Science Lab, before going to dinner**

After downloading her report for the Chief Science Officer to look at hoping it will give him some information about the sleeper ship which wasn't very much, including the new guests that she called in her in her report to Peterson "Untrustful and maybe dangerous."

Rose sat down at her station and enter her code word into the computer.

"Computer start personal log recording on this stardate." Rose order the computer while walking around thinking what to say.

After a few seconds of thinking what to say she say Rose started speaking, "I findly got back from the sleeper ship which was a bit scary for me, it felt so unholy, so evil and unsafe but there more to this. We found two guest that I can feel maybe they can be a great danger to the crew and ship but I don't think anybody would believe me even the captain but I will try. On my personal life I going to have a baby soon, and I glad people are going to help me though this because I will need all of my friends more than ever."

"End Log and save."

"Family Meeting, Part Two"

Commander Karyn Dallas RN
Chief Counselor/Nurse

Lt. Commander Navarre Shinta
Assistant Chief Counselor

Lt. Commander Mike O'Grady
Counselor

Lt. Adrian An'quinsos
Counselor

Ensign Sara Taylor
NPC Counselor
USS Galaxy

She cleared her throat and switched back to business mode, "...but I'm still Chief Counselor around here and this is also the weekly CS (Crew Status) meeting, so talk to me. How are we doing on the whole after the Borg? What are your thoughts on morale overall?"

"People are still nervous, and there are a lot of children with nightmares so we have our work cut out for us. But it is getting better, and morale is still good. I think things are slowly returning back to normal." Shinta said, looking around to see if others disagreed. She had been concentrating mostly on seeing civilians the last couple of weeks.

Karyn nodded. "I agree with you. Over the years here, I've gained a barometer for this sort of thing. I can't quantify it, but I feel the same way. We were definitely hit hard, and losing so many brought it home harder than usual, but this group is resilient. I go back and forth between feeling like the pressure to live up to the reputation that we've gained as one of the finest in the fleet is too much, to thinking it's a better motivator than we could ever be." She smiled, "In this instance, I think it's a good thing. I think it's what our departed friends would want."

Mike exhaled, "Well, I do have a concern about the new Chief Tactical Officer. Mainly her abilities to handle stressful situations."

Karyn again nodded in understanding. "It's a concern for many of the senior staff as well, but as much as I hate politics, Admiral Hoth made it clear that it had to be dealt with. If I thought there was no way Rebecca could learn to handle the responsibility, I would push harder for these concerns to be heard by SFC and SFM, but so far I've seen a series of misunderstandings and mishandling of problems that hasn't allowed us to ascertain what the situation is. I have a meeting with her later in the week to see what's going on. I'm not ready to say one way or another she's incapable of doing her job, and I think we have to give her an opportunity to deal with her interpersonal issues with someone she trusts, not just because the Admiral is breathing down our necks, but because I think she needs to be given a chance to be heard. What does she want? How does she feel? When we know that, I think we'll be able to work on assuaging some concerns." She looked down at the PADD that flagged the issues she wanted to discuss. "Mike, what's the status on Ensign Worthington? I see she collapsed in your office some time ago?"

Mike flipped to the appropriate page in his notebook, "Ah yes, Ms. Worthington, Stress and exhaustion, she's having nightmares related to her profession and she's been drinking a LOT of coffee to stay awake, we were starting to get in to the root causes when she collapsed. I transported her to sickbay and am waiting to hear back from medical."

"Light a fire under them, Mike, I want to know what's going on before treatment resumes. People can do some screwy things with the neurological system, and we can't assume she's reacting to a self-imposed psych block because of what appears to be PTSD. Tell the attending I'm riding your ass if you get the run-around." Karyn smiled.

"I'll do what I can. I may need you to pull some rank later on, but only if I can't get the info from the doctors."

He sighed, "As for Rebecca Von Ernst, I do think we should try and find a way to help her. Karyn, I'll get you the notes on my session with her. I think she'd be more comfortable with a female counselor. She seems intimidated by me, for some reason." Mike shrugged.

The El-Aurian had been silent for some time, taking keen observation of everything. Hearing the name of the red-haired tactical officer, he decided it was time to speak up. "I don't think so." Adrian said. Everyone looked over at the serious countenance that was Adrian. "I had a session with her, and she was comfortable around me. Besides," He leaned back with an uncharacteristic grin. "We went to school together, and were in several classes, and can relate to her in the least to the broadest sense of the word." He looked over at Karyn with an inquisitive glow. "She believes me also to be her age." He finished, laying his folded hands on the table.

Karyn shrugged. "Does she know you're not? The last thing I want is for her to think she was deceived by one of us as a means to get her to talk. I'm fine with you handling this, as I would prefer she speak to someone she feels comfortable with, but no deceptions even if you think it's better than the truth. I know I don't have to tell you how important it is for her to have someone to talk to as she makes the transition from junior officer to senior staff."

"I've tried to tell her. Apparently, it didn't settle comfortable within her mind. As for being deceived, from my observation, she gave none. I've no wish to deceive her, and certainly wish for her to be responded to in all honesty and sincerity."

Karyn nodded. "That's good to hear, just take your time with her. It's going to take some time to draw her out of her shell, but the less she internalizes, the better. Just keep me apprised."

She turned to her Assistant Chief. "Last, but certainly not least, Shinta, how did your session with Lt. j/g Parry go?"

"It went very well. I tried hypno therapy on her, and she remembered the name of her attacker. She is discussing it with the Security Chief now, and afterwards she's coming back for more therapy." Shinta said. She was keeping a close eye on Lt. j/g Parry to make sure that she would indeed do what she had promised.

"Great, a satisfied customer. Keep me informed, as I'll want to know if they make any arrests."

She turned to all of them. "That's all I've got if there are no additional questions or concerns. Keep me apprised of what's going on with your cases and feel free to come and talk with me as always. 'Multi-tasking' is becoming my middle name.

After one last read of her people, she smiled and shooed them, "Dismissed."

=====
Commander Karyn Dallas RN
Chief Counselor/Nurse
USS Galaxy

Lt. Commander Eric Odin

Eric managed to get back to his quarters feeling extrmeely light headed and in a daze like never before. He sat down haphazardly and was just in a euphoric state. he tried ot bring his thought together, but found he was having a tough time. He couldn't think of why this was. He stood agai nand said,"I should get to sickbay. Something's amiss here. I don't get what's going on ,but I just feel good." He staggered out of his quarters looking almost drunk. He was headed for sickbay.

Cadet Delecroix
Flight Operations
USS Galaxy

* Present*

Corentin sat silently at the desk in his quarters. Scattered across the ficture were momentos from his years at the Academy and earlier. He had amounted quite a collection of artifacts during his younger years, living on a Starship gave him plenty of opportunities to do some exploring of his own. Of course the crew always took the cool stuff for further study.

He smirked slightly as he thought of his childhood. The Berlin had certainly been an experience. he stopped himself there, nto wishing certain memories to resurface.

Corentin had been trying to keep as up to date as possible with the current missson. A 300 year old starship, oh how he envied the Away Team.

' Dont be a fool, they'd never send you on an away misson like that. They'd give excuses like; it's too dangerous, your too inexperienced, you might get in the way. Ha! that's why I'm for experience. Well........ at least I get to be in space again.'

*Flashback- Several days before the Ships arrival at Starbase 114*

" Talk to ya latta man." rang the voice of a young Centuari man from a desk console.

" Bye....just don't trash the dorm too much while Im gone." Corentin said in a harsh voice. The man on the other side was his roommate at the Academy. Over the years they had gotten to know each other rather well.....of courser Corentin found the mans childish behavior somewhat irritating.

He had arrived at the Starbase a day or two ago. He had gotten there on a Shuttle from Eath to the Starbase. All the cadets being sent out on Cruises at the time , were on the shuttle and would wait at the Starbase until their assignments arrived.

He strolled over to his temporary quater's Replicator system. " Espresso, two shots." he said and waited as the coffee materialized before him. Since he was in his early teens he had loved coffee in every shape and form. He even prefered it to most alcholoic beverages he'd had.

As he was about to turn a beep came from his desk terminal. With a sigh he walked back over to the desk and activated the Comm system. " Delecroix here, how may I help you." his voice was dry and somewhat irritated.

A Woman appeared on the screen with graying hair, wearing the Uniform and rank pips of a Commander. " I thought I taught you better manner than that son." The woman said, slightly amused.

" Of course mother. Cadet Delecroix here and how may I help you?" His voice was fake and cheerful, annoyling so. His mother just rolled her eyes and chuckled.

" Sorry for disturbing you. Just thought I would check up on you while I could. You have no idea how proud I am of you....... getting a field assignment and on the USS Galaxy no less. Hell, for my Cadet Cruise I was stuck on some forsaken outpost on the frontier."

Corentin smirked. " And you were also a medical officer mother. Your job would be the same anywhere you went."

The woman chuckled again and looked away for a second. " Well.... be sure to have fun... but not too much, for all you know one of those junior officers could be your CO in a few years. And trust me...... CO puts you in a position to get back at people who caused you grief in the past." She laughed at her own joke. " Sorry to cut this short but Im needed on the Bridge. You would think that with the war over a Medical Ship wouldn't be in high demand. Unfortunatly during the war some of our outposts and Colonies were cut off from the mainstream Federation........and it'sour job to dig them out."

With that the Terminal shut down. Corentin went back to his espresso and waited for the Galaxy to arrive.

*Present*

Corentin collapsed into his bed and sighed. " Ahh the joy of being back in space. Nothing to hold you down and an eternity in all directions to travel.Got to love it. I wonder how long it will take for something to blow up..."

Truely he was happy to be in space again, it was his home, it was his joy, and most likely the place he would die.

JP by the O'Grady's

Rayna packed up Miles and left for sickbay to visit Gillian. The nurses took Miles while Rayna was feeding Gillian. She was getting stronger each day and soon she'd be home. Afterwards, she went to see Mike in his office. She looked around to make sure Karyn wasn't there. She wasn't ready to see her again.

Mike was going over some patient notes when his office door opened and there was Rayna. "Hey hon, what brings you here?" "I thought that since I was up and out, I'd come see you. I thought too that you might want to show off your son." She took a seat, "Unless you're super busy."

"Nothing that can't be filed later." He grinned and kissed her softly, then brushed Miles' head, "how's Gillian doing?"

"Doctor says that she may be coming home in a few days. She's already gain 2 pounds." Rayna's face lit up at the ought of bringing her home.

Mike grinned and kissed her gently. "That's great news, I told you she'd be a fighter like her mommy." Miles still hadn't picked up on the whole focusing thing so he watched his son for a few minutes." "I guess I should listen to you more. Anyway, I can't wait." "I know Nikki can't she's been in sickbay quite a bit, though the nurses keep telling her she can't give the baby ice cream yet. She says it will make her big."

Rayna laughed, "Yeah, she said the same thing about Miles. She didn't want to go to school today because she needed to take care of me and Miles." Nikki was very protective of him...not that it is a bad thing.

"She's a tough big sister." He grinned and kissed her cheek. "Now come on, let's go find something to do family wise." She got up, "Are you sure? I wouldn't want to take you away from your work." "It can wait," Mike decided, "I mean life is too short to bother with this stuff. I'll get it done eventually."

"Well then, if you're sure, let's get you out of here." She walked towards the door with Miles in her arms. He grinned and kissed her as they walked down the hall. "So, where do you want to go today?

She shrugged, "I haven't eaten yet. Maybe we can grab a bite or something." "Sounds like a plan to me." He smiled and they walked along. The ship was humming a bit more with rumors. But Miles was still new and exciting so he became a fixture of interest from the crew.

They walked into 10 forward and sat down to eat. Miles was set on a chair in his carrier, sound asleep. It was nice for Rayna that she could finally put him down. She waved someone over to get their orders.

Mike ordered and the waitress seemed to fawn over Miles for a bit, then took Rayna's order. Soon she walked away.

"I see Miles is quite popular among the crew." "Yeah, there is something about babies that make people melt. Once we bring Gillian home and out, we'll be hearing comments like, "Ah, bookends" or "Am I seeing double" and definitely, the oldest one, "Aww, how cute, are they twins?"

Mike chuckled, "I bet we will. And that's what twins are for, to get the aww comments." He sipped his drink, "I spoke to the doctor yesterday about that operation we had discussed earlier. It's pretty easy and I can get an appointment as early as tomorrow."

"Well if you're sure, go for it." It was easy for her to say that, "I think it's a fair trade for me having these babies." "Honey, to make it fair I'd have to have the surgery without any anaesthetic and it still wouldn't be enough."

She smiled, "Nicely put. Finally, a man who appreciates what a woman goes through."

"I've always appreciated women, now I appreciate it more." She didn't comment further. Their order came through and they begun to eat.

Of course, it seemed like Miles knew when it was eating time for his parents and decided to wail. Rayna picked him up and sighed. In the short time, Rayna learned not to ever fix or eat something that required use of both hands.

Mike finished his dinner and offered to take his son so Rayna could eat.

"Here let me feed him, you can eat."

She pulled out a small bottle and handed both over to him then continued to eat, finishing her food. She sat more relaxed now, watching the two together, bonding.

He fed his son who quieted down for dinner. Miles still wasn't focusing, that would take some time, but he knew he liked this daddy time. Mike seemed to be at ease with his son.

Miles was happy now...all fed but soon to be crying again from a wet little bottom. Rayna stood and took him, putting back in his little carrier. She didn't want to spoil him so early in life, "Ready to go?" "Ready." He kissed her one time. Then gently touched her cheek, "Love you babe."

"Love you too. In fact, I love you so much that when we get home, I'll even let you change Miles diaper." She loved to tease him.

He chuckled, "and I was hoping for a nooner." He teased back. "But I'll do diaper duty."

"I know you will because I said so." She was still teasing him, "Besides, what kind of a person would I be to deprive the best daddy from the wonderful world of bonding?"

"Ok good point." He laughed, then took on a serious and confused expression, "is the nooner still an option?" She just looked at him, her expression was that of "not yet." She picked up Miles in his carrier and handed it to Mike, "There is a price for everything, even when it is a good thing."

"There always is a price." He took the carrier and they walked along.

Miles had settled down, but he was still uncomfortable and he would some times

make noises of baby outrage. He was definitely his mother's child. Both had a temper and voiced it when they were uncomfortable. Rayna seemed to be able to ignore it. Soon they were back to their quarters. A message was waiting for them. She read it, "Looks like Gillian will be sprung in two days. Isn't that great news hon?" Mike nodded, "that is great news babe, she's getting stronger daily." He disappeared in to the bedroom and changed Miles' diaper before bringing out the now happy baby out to see Rayna.

Rayna laid out a blanket and laid him down on it. Sitting on the floor with him, she began to exercise the baby's legs and a little bit of infant massage. She found this to be relaxing to both.

Miles seemed to like it and Mike noted how happy he was, it was like he knew these people were taking care of him. Rayna even taught Nikki how to do this so that she wouldn't feel left out but it wasn't required so that it wouldn't become a chore to her and then she'd resent them. Miles was blinking his eyes and the fight to stay awake was evident. Rayna bundled him up and put him in the bassinet. The crib was still slightly too big for him.

Mike noted his son asleep, "I still say he sleeps a lot. Must have gotten that from my Uncle Joseph." Now that was one she hadn't heard of and she, quite frankly, wasn't sure if she wanted to know but curiosity got the best of her, "And why do you say that?"

"I remember after dinner at thanksgiving he would fall asleep watching an old football game on TV."

She said in passing, "Stuffing yourself will do that." "Well that's the point of the holiday, we stuff ourselves to the point of bursting." He took her hand and then kissed her.

She smiled back at him and then picked up the bottle of massage oil. Setting it back in an accessible area, she stretched out on the couch, putting up her feet, showing signs of tiredness.

Mike took off her shoes and began to massage her feet. "You've had a long day babe. And it's still early."

"It's just going to take a while to adjust. When Gillian comes home, it's going to mean twice the work. I hope you are ready for it." "You know me babe, I'm always ready for the extra work." He leaned in for a kiss, "It's part of being a father."

"I'll tell you what is going to be hard is getting back to work. With the promotion, I'll have more responsibilities. With that and the twins, I'll have to hire someone to watch them for us. And then there is Nikki." "Well, we can use daycare while we're on the ship, they have a good infant daycare program."

"It would be so much easier if they were taken care of here, in their own environment." She would always be protective over them, maybe even more so.

"I know, but we have to do what we have to do within the ship." He kissed her gently, "Besides, you have maternity leave to use up first." "I know but I have to think ahead. I have three kids now to worry about." With that, she got up and went to the bedroom.

He followed her and placed his hands on her shoulders, "yeah we do have 3 kids to worry about, and we have the full resources of the ship to help us." "I don't really feel comfortable with them there. They're just too young and I feel like they would be better off here...at home." He shrugged, "well, I know, but we may have no choice unless we can find someone to babysit."

"I know." Reality wasn't something she liked facing but was happening more and more.

"Dropping in to say G'day"
by Captain Robert Edward Lee Price

Lieutenant Commander Savat entered the bridge from the turbolift in his typical Vulcan style. His posture was perfect, his stride commanding and efficient. Looking at the Chief Operations Manager one would not be able to tell he was struggling with thoughts of the newest visitors to board the ship. For some reason Savat couldn't get Lady Lilith off of his mind.

Fortunately for the Vulcan, his internal struggles with his lustful feelings were well concealed from the rest of the crew. Captain Price didn't even notice anything out of the ordinary when Savat stepped over and casually handed him a padd.

"Lord Vlad and Lady Lilith have been shown to their quarters Captain." Savat summarized. "They appear to be in good health, but a full examination by medical would be in order once they have settled in."

Lee took the padd and nodded. "I agree 'mate. I'm heading down that way now. I have to speak to Lieutenant Maxwell anyway. Might as well kill two birds with one stone and drop in on our guests."

Savat nodded at the human expression. "That would be advisable Captain. Lord Vlad expressed some, reluctance at allowing our doctors to examine him. However Lady Lilith seemed open to the procedure."

"No worries 'mate. I'll see to it they both get a check up. What about the away team? I understand that Lieutenant' Trabuco was acting odd..."

"That is correct. Doctor Jamison believes he may have inhaled some 'bad air' or other form of intoxicant. He seemed dazed and confused when she rejoined him and discovered the Sanguinarians."

"Well, see to it that Trabuco is beamed to sickbay and given a thorough examination. After Gary's last tour of duty with the Galaxy, the last thing I want to have happen to him is for him to get seriously injured."

"Understood Captain." Savat nodded sagely.

"Fair dinkum. Well, if you'll excuse me, I'd like to pop into see our guests before my appointment with Lieutenant Maxwell." Lee stated. Then looking over to Commander Dallas, he stated, "The bridge is yours Counselor."

Karyn looked over at the Captain and nodded. "Aye sir."

Lee then exited the bridge via the turbolift.

A short time later, Captain Price exited the turbolift on deck 7 where the majority of the residential apartments were located. Carefully watching where he was going, Lee read the designations on each of the apartments until he found the units selected to serve as the Sanguinarians quarters during their stay. Giving his uniform a straightening tug, Lee gave himself a quick, diplomatic once over, cleared his voice and then pressed the entrance chime and waited.

A moment later the door swished open to reveal a very distinguished looking man. He had long, dark hair, was clean-shaven and had very distinctive eyes that captivated you with a single glance. He was wearing a black suit with a flowing cape-like wrap that appeared to be lined in a red velvet-like material on the underside.

"May I help you?" Lord Vlad asked in a deep, charming voice.

The Captain smiled warmly. "G'day Lord Vlad. I am Captain Lee Price. Commanding Officer of this vessel."

Vlad seemed pleased to finally get to meet the commanding officer of the USS Galaxy. "Ah, yes Captain Price. Your Commander Thomas said you vould be stopping by with many questions for Lady Lilith and myself."

The General nodded. "Yes, you could say that we are quite curious to learn how you and your people found your way this far out into space aboard the Tamarian vessel."

"I vould love to explain it to you Captain..." Vlad replied. "Vhy don't we go over to Lady Lilith's cabin where we can discuss this together over a nice cup of tea?"

Captain Price smiled. This Lord Vlad character was quite the charmer. Though Lee was having a hard time keeping from laughing at his accent. It had a strange Transylvania slant to it that, coupled with his black and red outfit, he reminded the Captain of one of those old vampire movies from the twenty first century.

"That would be bonzer Lord Vlad. However I am afraid I haven't time for tea right this moment. I have an appointment with one of my crewmembers that I must keep. But I would appreciate a chance to meet Lady Lilith if that is okay? Just to say hello."

Vlad smiled. "But of course." With an eloquent motion of his delicate, pale hand, Vlad indicated for the Captain to move to the adjoining quarters. Vlad seemed to almost glide across the floor his walk was so stealthy and smooth. At Lady Lilith's quarters, the Captain pressed the chime and waited.

The door soon slid open, revealing the most breath-taking woman Captain Price could ever remember laying his eyes upon.

"Hello?" Lilith greeted.

Lord Vlad made the proper introductions. "Lady Lilith, please allow me to present Captain Lee Price. The Commanding Officer of this spectacular vessel."

Lee nodded and quietly stated, "G'day ma'am." He was still quite taken back by this creature's unrestrained beauty.

"Captain Price. What an honor to finally meet you." Lilith stated extending her hand to shake the Captain's. "Commander Thomas said that you would be dropping by to speak with us."

Lee shook Lilith's hand and was amazed at how warm it was. Her fingers were long and delicate and her pale skin was flawless and very soft to the touch.

"I wish to thank you and your crew for coming to our rescue Captain. Vere it not for your happening along, ve might have remained out here drifting in space forever."

"No worries. We were quite surprised to find your vessel out this far. And even more so to discover anyone still alive ma'am." Lee stated. He was blushing slightly since he couldn't easily conceal his attraction for the beautiful lady. She was wearing a white dress that was heavy on lace. The front was split and a single lacy tie crisscrossed up the front of the garment, barely keeping the Lady's voluptuous figure contained in the skintight outfit.

"Please, come in Captain. I understand you have many questions that ve may be able to help you vith." Lilith said with a smile and a flirtatious brush back of her long, black hair.

"I'd like that ma'am, I really would, unfortunately I 'ave an appointment that I must keep. However I wanted to stop by and say G'day and make sure that you both report to sickbay to have a few tests run just to be sure you are all right after your extended hibernation cycle."

"That is too bad Captain." Lilith said with a pouting lower lip that was simply bitable.

Lord Vlad added, "The Captain has a ship to run my dear. I'm sure that after he finishes vith ship's business the good Captain can spare some time to dine vith his guests..."

Captain Price glanced over at Vlad and then back at Lady Lilith. The woman was just oozing with sex appeal. It was all he could do to not say "to hell with Maxwell" and jump her right there.

Holding onto the Captain's hand and pulling it towards her breast with both of her own, Lilith asked, "Please say that you vill honor us with a bite later Captain Price?"

Lee smiled warmly. "It would be my pleasure ma'am."

Lilith returned the Captain's smile while looking deep into his eyes with her piercing windows to her soul. "I'm sure it vill be Captain."

"We will report to your sickbay as requested Captain." Lord Vlad injected as the Captain and Lady Lilith finished their exchanges. "I doubt that your technology vill be of much use for diagnosing my kind, but it vill be amusing to see your doctors try."

Captain Price released Lady Lilith's hand, reluctantly and turned to Lord Vlad. "Fair dinkum. As long as you report to medical and the doctors there examine you, that will be enough to fulfill Starfleet protocol 'mate."

"The Lady and I vill go there directly Captain." Lord Vlad nodded and gave a slight bow in gentlemanly fashion.

Lee nodded at Lord Vlad.

"And afterwards, you can join us for a bite to eat Captain..." Lilith stated while licking her lips and nibbling slightly on the lower one while looking seductively at the Captain's body.

"I'd like that..." Lee stated. Then looking at the security officers that were stationed outside the corridor, the Captain pointed, "These men can show you the way to sickbay. It's on deck 12."

"That would be most, helpful Captain." Vlad agreed looking at Lieutenant's Corgan and Zonheib.

Lee nodded, "If you are ready, you and Lady Lilith can go with them now."

"That vould be fine Captain." Lilith agreed.

"Bonzer. Then if you two will excuse me, I have a few things to attend to..." Captain Price excused himself. Looking at Seth and James the Captain ordered, "Please escort these two to sickbay 'mates."

Seth rolled his eyes while mumbling, "about time." They'd been ordered by 'Commander Elaithin to take the visitors directly to sickbay, but Mister Savat had insisted that the guests needed time to settle in to their quarters first. Both Zonheib and Corgan had been stuck outside the Sanguinarian's quarters for the last twenty minutes.

Captain Price watched as Lord Vlad and Lady Lilith began to go with the two security officers. When he saw that everything was set, the Captain turned to head for Lieutenant Maxwell's quarters. He was running late and needed to talk to Bruce about the message he sent earlier to himself and Lieutenant Commander Gustavason.

"Remaining on the Tamarian Vessel"
by Commander Thomas
USS Galaxy

Commander Thomas had found the engine room of the Tamarian vessel and checked in with the two officers working in here. They were rigging up some things to restore power to the ship's systems to allow them to get into the database. It would also give them the chance to survey the ship better.

After speaking with them and learning a few things, he'd returned to the beam site to await the arrival of new officers to begin having a more detailed look at the ship. He also wanted to have a look at those sleeper chambers when it was safe to do so, namely with the departure of the two passengers.

Chris was concerned about what he'd experienced, what Lt. MacAllen had told him and then there was the strange behavior of Mr. Gary Trabuco. He was worried that something wasn't right here, of course his nature of life made him that way. He was always skeptical about anything, even his wife's motives before he married her and grew to know an love her.

Everything about him made him that way.

In any case, right now it was just speculation and he needed more proof to make a case for his feelings. Which brought him to another idea about what they had said, where they booked passage and where they were heading.

"Lt. Commander Peterson, yes." Chris said to himself in the ill light room.

Tapping his combadge, "Commander Thomas to Lt. Commander Peterson." Chris said.

=/\= Peterson here. =/\=

"'Commander I need you to do some checking up on the aliens we found on board this Tamarian Vessel. I need you to look up the following information, a planetary system the Kelva system' also the species Sanguinarian and then any references to the names Lord Vlad and Lady Lilith." Chris said.

=/\= Aye sir. I will get someone looking into the information. =/\=

"When you get the time you should come over to the ship and have a look around commander." Chris said.

=/\= Aye sir, I plan to do so. =/\=

"Good. Thomas out." Chris said. This time he didn't take any pot shots at the 'commander. Of course right now he needed the chief science officer on his side and not working against him.

Chris removed his tricorder and started running some scans of the air. Right now the best he could do was coordinate the activities of the away members already on the ship right now.

He didn't want to return to the ship right away and being the first officer he wanted to remain on the ship here. It would keep him away from that lady Lilith and her appearance that nearly over whelmed him.

He wondered standing there, thinking to himself. If this Lady Lilth can turn him on and nearly cause him to lose his own inhibitions, what would happen if.. Chris quickly tapped out a message to his wife, advising her to stay in their quarters. He didn't want her near those two guest for some reason, plus she really shouldn't be in their vicinity anyway. As they would be limited in where they could go and she remained in the same track so their paths wouldn't cross anyway.

All he could do was remain alert and wait for Peterson to join him so they could have a look at the other sleeper chambers.

"Back to work..."
Lt Cmdr Mike O'Grady
Counselor

Guest star

Crewman Randall Graves
Clerk.....

=O'Grady quarters=

Rayna was resting comfortably and Miles was asleep, as fun as family time was he had to get back to work. After kissing his wife he said his goodbyes and then left his quaarters for his office in the counselng section.

Those reports still had to get done, so he went to do them.

Moving through the corridor he had listende to some of the gossip about the new people the ship had picked up. They were wierd gothic types who he would be sure to stay far away from. It wasn't anything personal, he just had no desire to deal with these people, he had his hands full anyway with Gillian coming home in a couple of days, Miles getting stronger and in a couple more months maybe even daycare.

But for now Rayna and him would split the duties so she could maybe even consider a full time return to work.

That would be good for her, as much as she loved being a mother, she also liked her job and she was damned good at it so hopefully she would be back full time.

Heading along he nearly bumped in to a crewmember. "Excuse me."

Randall turned a 180, "No time for love Doctor Jones" Then he turned around again and headed off to the small office that he was used to. Singing something with the line of Bezerker in it.

Mike shook his head as he headed to counseling. Interesting people this ship had.

"Hide and Seek"
by Lt. Commander T'Zaq

While Lord Vlad and Lady Lilith enjoyed their VIP tour of the Galaxy, T'Zaq, Lomax, and the rest of the away team remained on the ancient Tamarian ship to continue gathering data. The two engineers quickly found their way to what seemed to be the engineering nexus of the ship, met by a tumult of smashed consoles and burnt-out electrical components. The lights were fairly easy to fix, and soon the ship flickered to some semblance of life, emergency tracer lights lending a reddish-orange glow to the empty corridors. The meager light didn't help much with the spookiness, but at least it saved flashlight batteries.

T'Zaq's tricorder whirred and beeped, sending a continuous uplink of its sensor data back to the Galaxy for later analysis.

"Now... to find out what happened to the life support to make it reek like this. And who - or what - made such a mess in here?" the half-Vulcan muttered aloud, more to herself than anything. Her monotone voice echoed flatly in the still air of the wrecked engineering room. Making a slow sweep of the area with her tricorder, she finally walked over to a mass of rubble along one wall. She peered at the screen of her device for a moment and raised a brow. "I believe I've located what used to be the primary life support computer."

Again her comment was met with silence, but T'Zaq didn't find it annerving. She preferred to work alone while on the Galaxy anyway, and her young NCO counterpart appeared to be the quiet type as well.

Crouching down near the pile, T'Zaq gingerly picked through the components, trying to determine what was truly broken, and what might be possible to reassemble. Not that it would make much difference anyway... all the sleepers they'd found so far were long dead, with the notable exception of the royal couple. The ship had been verified as safe enough with the secondary life support, so at least the away team wasn't in any danger of running out of air.

After several minutes of fruitlessly picking through the console wreckage, T'Zaq gave up and decided to move on to something with more possibility of success. One of the corner stations was dark and had a smashed display, but other than that, it seemed to be mostly intact. She tried to tune her tricorder to the station's frequency to determine if it was still running.

"This damage pattern seems almost similar to..." she trailed off, suddenly looking up. This silence was getting a little strange. "Lomax, are you listening to me? Lomax?" A quick visual scan of the room confirmed that the petty officer was nowhere in sight. Strange... she hadn't noticed her partner slip out of the room. T'Zaq frowned and tapped her communicator. "T'Zaq to Lomax. Can you please report on your position?"

"Times In Trouble, Nowhere To Go"

By Lt. Commander Maxwell-Naverre Shint
Assistant Chief Counselor

and

LT. Bruce Maxweel
Assistent Che\ief Helmsmen

Shinta was still worried about Bruce, he seemed to go through the motions of his work, and not really enjoy it anymore. so she knew she had to talk to him again, and try to help him. If that did not work, he would have to see a counselor. after work she went into the living room, and sat down on the couch next to him. "How did your day go, love?"

Bruce looks at his wife and smiles. The only thing to bring him joy was his family. "It was a day, and it was work i guess, My angel." He stated simply.

"How was work?" Shinta said, as she began to massage his shoulders. it had been his first day back at work, and she could understand that that would be difficult for him.

Bruce relaxs some. "It was routine, boring work, darlin." He somes solemnly.

"But it was your first day back." She was more worried now than ever. "Bruce? what exactly happened to you in captivity, I want you to talk aboutthat."

Bruce runs his hands thru his hair, and rubs his face. "I was kidnapped off of my shuttle, and tortured for being a war criminal against the Cardassians. I was set free by a Bajoran slave, I proceeded thru the ship and killed them all, all of them. They stripped my shuttle, I escaped and set free the girl, sheis being taken care of. I killed them all, what I do best." Bruce says simply.

Shinta suddenly realize that maybe she was best qualified to help him. She was not only a counselor, but she had killed, many times, and she knew exactly how that felt. Now she held him closely in her arms. "Bruce, I want you to let the feeling back in. I want you too grief for what you have done, and to cry for what was done to you."

Bruce reveled in the hug, then out of no where he chuckled. "Cry, Grief for those bastards. I am actually quite happy they are all dead." He then sighs. "What bothers me is the fact, that it seems that i wasnt missed, it was a welcome back, back to duty type thing. I was used to it in Spec Ops, but never thought it was like that here. I guess my self-worth is low."

"Honey, the people here have had a rough time to." She told him all that happened with the borg. "Don't blame them to much. Things take time to get back to normal. And I am sure that you were missed very much. But I also don't want you to push back what happened to you, that was very traumatic, and you need to talk about it, believe me, I have been there."

Bruce shrugs. "They beat me, and broke parts of me. They were going to kill the girl, to get to me. Killing them all to get away that was the right thing to do wasant it?" Bruce asks.

"Those are not details, Bruce." She said softly, "you are still pushing what happened a way. Just tell me exactly what happened."

Bruce starts to get aggravated and realizes something. "Shinta, yer counseling me arent ya, I dont know what ya wanna hear. It truely dowenst bother me, Its Starfleet Shinta. It truely is, I have beenin for awhile,served them well, and did my job without question and I am still a damned Lt."

"Bruce, I am only trying to help. It is normal that you feel down, it is part of the trauma. That is why you have to talk to a counselor, I do not understand that they have not made you do so after they rescued you. I am not counseling you, I am trying to help you as your wife, but also as somebody who has been were you are. Be patient, you have been away for a long time, people need to get used to you again. Once you get back into the hang of things, that promotion will come."

"Shinta, I love you. But Damn it , i am fine. Hell it sbothers me a little it, yeah. But right now it is Starfleet and starfleet alone." He hugs Shinta tightly.

She still wasn't happy about it. But she realized that she would not get any further now. "We will talk about it later." Shinta said, "for now I just want you to relax."

"Rectum?! Damn near killed 'em!"

or "Ol' Joe checks in during audit week!"

With Lt. Raven Darkstar (Security), Leo Streely (NPC former journalist turned bartender), our good friends the Binars (NPCs) down in Engineering and that creepy old mysterious man from 3 posts ago, who I finally give a name to!

Time: Just before the shuttle and our 'guests' arrive on the Galaxy

Location: Main Engineering, USS GALAXY

"Leo, what the hell are you doing?" Raven asked. Moments ago, he and the little bartender had entered the Binar's office looking for thier assistance in identifying the man they had previously met. Upon seeing the two aliens, Leo promptly took a position directly behind the large Security officer.

"What are you doing?" Raven asked, a little confused by the little man's behavior.

"Aren't you gonna talk to 'em?" Leo replied.

"Why are you hiding? They're crewmen! They aren't going to hurt you unless I tell them to."

"That's pretty comforting, OK, but I think I'll stay right where I am, thank you." Leo said.

"I have seen you stare down Borg drones, yet these two scare you?" Raven asked, a bit suprised. The Binars just exchanged glances and continued to watch the specticle unfold before them.

"Look, I have my own reasons, OK? There are things I don't jump on you about, all right? Lets just let this go, do what we have to do and get out of here, OK?" Leo said nervously.

"I refuse to hold discussions while your clutching the back of my tunic. Now what's the matter? Did you screw over the Binars somehow?"

"I said I don't wanna talk about it, OK?"

"If it is going to hinder our efforts to clear up this mystery of who that old man is, then I think I deserve to know...partner. And I promise not to arrest you for what you may have done to them." Raven said, more sarcasticly than anything else. This caught Leo's attention. He seemingly mulled it over for a moment then spoke in a whisper.

"Ya promise not to laugh?"

"Leo, as long as you have been on this ship, have you ever seen me so much as smile?" Raven said dryly.

"I guess your right. Your the biggest wet blanket, stick in the mud that I know. All right, all right. Listen. I had a bad encounter with these guys here."

The two binars looked at each other again then exchange what sounded like rapid fire gibberish*.

Leo cringed. "Did you hear that? It sounds like a hampster caught in a microwave*! That just creeps me out here, OK. Sheesh! Can't we hurry this along a bit?"

A look of confusion spread across the Indian's face. What exactly is a micro..never mind. What are you talking about - bad encounter? What did you do to them?"

I didn't do anything!! They did to me, OK!!" Leo said, clearly a bit agitated.

"What? What did they do to you?"

"Things."

"Things? What in the hell are you talking about? What things did they do to you?" Raven asked in disbelief. Leo motioned for him to lean down, cast an accusatory glance atthe two Binars, then whispered two words into the big man's ear.

"Anal probes."

Raven stood bolt straight. "WHAT?! ANAL PROBES?!?! HAVE YOU COMPLETELY LOST YOUR MIND!?!? WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH YOU?!"

"WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH ME?? THEY'RE THE ONES WHO SHOVED METAL POLES INTO MY ASS, OK! AND IN CASE YOU NEVER HAD ANY COLD METAL RODS IN YOUR COLON, LET ME TELL YOU...IT AINT COMFORTABLE, OK?!?!"

"THERE IS...there is no way that these two tiny little things could even lift an anal probe! What in the world makes you think that they would..."

The Binars interrupted the lieutennent after another moment of shared gibberish.

"Your statement is..." the first said.

"Erronius. most probes are..." the second added.

"Only a few ounces in weight..."

"Well within the.."

"Strength limitations of.."

"Our species." they said in unison.

Raven whirled on them. "Hey! Do you two mind? Your not helping matters here."

"See! See! They practiclly admitted it themselves! I knew It was you freaks! I remembered! Mind like a steel trap! "

"Leo, shut up! Now tell me when did this happen?' Raven asked looking to get to the bottom of this lunacy he was currently swimming in.

"I was thirteen and I was mowing crop circles into my Uncle Madden's wheat farm.ZIP!! to the right, ZIP!! to the left...and the next thing I know, BOOM!! I'm beamed into a spaceship by little guys with big white heads and beady black eyes who figured the key to human life existed in my bodily orafaces!"

Raven rolled his eyes as Leo continued. "And in case you didn't notice there Sherlock. Big white heads. Beady black eyes. Knowlage of anal probes. Case closed." he said, still staying behind Darkstar.

"Leo, you weren't abducted by Binars."

"How would you know? I was the one who coudn't sit down for three days! Oh, it's true! It's damn true! And if either of you two steps even one inch closer to me.."

"Leo! It wasn't them!"

"Maybe it was thier relatives! All I know is that creatures who looked like them boldly went were no man has gone before, ok?"

The binar's turned thier attention to Raven.

"We should add lieutennent..." the first one said.

"That after sharing the same.." the second replied.

"Space with this human, we wouldn't..."

"Need to probe his rectal cavity. He is.."

"A big enough walking representation of a sphinctor to begin with." they finished in unison.

Leo's eyes grew wider and his hands balled into fists. "Are..are you talking to me? Are they talking to me? Did they just say something about my mother?"

"SHUT UP!!!!" Raven shouted, turning more than a few heads outside the office.

He grabbed the puppet and handed it along with the painting to the Binars. "Here. I need you to tell me who this man is. No more arguing."

They studied the items then said:

"Our work would be most fruitful..."

"With no further insults."

"I'll take care of that. Just process those." Raven said, turning to Leo. "And you..if you cannot be quiet, then wait outside."

'Don't worry about it. I'm cool. Like a cucumber in a deltans fridge. As long as they don't come near me. Otherwise I'll have to start pushing cancel buttons on thier big fat foreheads."

"Just. Be. Quiet." Raven said through clenched teeth. "If I get a headache, someone gets a broken bone."

Leo just scowled as he stared at the Binars as they chirped between themselves then moments later they moved to a keyboard and started typing in unison. Satisfied they swiveled they turned back to Leo and the Indian.

"We have scanned and compared.." the first said.

"The ship's manifest images..." the second replied.

"And have concluded to 98.3 percent certanty that..."

"The probibal identity of the man in question is..."

"Reverend Issac Stoker." they said in unison as they swivled the monitor into the two human's view. On it's screen was the image of the creepy old man.

"Reverend.." Raven said.

"Like in holy man.." Leo replied.

"I wonder if..."

"He's an actual crew member."

"Lets take a look at his bio." they said in unison. The binars just stood there and blinked.

"Says he is an actual crewmen.." Raven said reading the screen before him.

"Came aboard at the last layover.." Leo added, reading over the Indian's shoulder.

"Still wouldn't mind talking to him.."

"Just to see what he's all about. I know."

Raven's com badge chirped.

[Elithian to Darkstar...]

"Darkstar here."

[We have guests onboard on deck ten. We just got a report of a commotion from a neighbor.]

"Copy. I'm enroute. Darkstar out." he said closing the channle and turning to Leo.

"I have to go. The old man.." Raven said.

"I can check him out if you want.." Leo replied.

"Don't you have to get to.."

"Work? No I'm off duty at the moment. I can just.."

"Go and see him. A simple interview you used to.."

"Do em all the time. OK, I gotcha. Don't..."

"Worry? I have nothing to worry about. I know you won't.."

"Cause any trouble. I know, OK?'

"I'm trusting you on this one, Leo."

"No trouble!" they both said in unison, nodding thier heads, then both men departed, leaving the Binars alone in thier office. They shook thier heads and chirped more gibberish before smiling at each other and rolling thier black eyes.

"Humans!" the said in unison.

"Operations Space"

PO3 Peter Gibbons

CWO Bill Lumburg
Ens Joe Smiley
Lt(jg) Tom Ridge

Pete Gibbons arrived in his small cubicle like structure in compuer operations subsection B-132.

He had pretty much been forgotten, hell most of the senior staf couldn't pick him out of a line up.

And that was how he liked it he liked being stealthy, under the radar, and generally ignored by the staff.

All he had to do was get the TP-411 reports in on time and that wasn't that hard.

Chief Warrant Officer Bill Lumburg appeared as if by transporter and sipped his ever present cup of coffee, "Pete, yea, about your TP-411 report, did you get the memo about the cover sheets?"

"Yea Bill I got the memo, I just forgot the cover sheet."

"Well, we need those cover sheets, I'll see you get another copy of the memo."

"Bill I got the memo..." Lumburg had walked away from him as if he hadn't heard

But he was replaced, by Ensign Joe Smiley. "Pete... About your TP-411 report... did you get the memo?"

"About the cover sheets, yea I just forgot.."

He nodded, "we'll get you a copy of that memo right away.... ok?" Then he walked off

"But I...." Then he turned again this time another officer was there Lt(jg) Tom Ridge.

"Pete, did you get the memo about the cover sheets?"

"Yea I got the coversheet memo I jsut forgot the coversheet."

"Well we'll get you a copy of the memo." Then he walked off

It woudl be a long day....

A Second Mystery
by Ensign Ozwald Thatcher, Tactical

*** Bridge ***

Besides the Tamarian vessel, the planet killer left little in this region of space intact. Ozwald was using the thrusters to keep the relative position of the Galaxy near the other ship, while avoiding the largest pieces of debris. He was amazed how the Galaxy class starship moved so freely despite its size. It reminded him of Elephants he had seen on Earth. The largest land mammal seemed to be most graceful at any task.

While Ozwald was new to the crew, he was a veteran in space. His stint in the Merchant marines had taught him many things. For example, he hadn't needed to consult records before knowing this area was off most trade routes. And a Tamarian ship, being antique, was sure a surprise find.

Sensors detected a 3km oblong asteroid heading towards them. Navigational deflectors should take care of something that minor, but before it was pushed out of the way, someone at the science station detected a minute power source in the object. "It's only 3 micro amps, near the bottom of our detection range.", the officer observed.

Intrigued, Thatcher increased magnification of the rock without being asked. He wondered if he should use a tractor beam to keep it from drifting away. Further study prevented that option. The asteroid showed traces of Titanium and Iron, but was deeply pot marked from where other debris had struck it over the centuries it had been there. Approximate age dated it back to only 23 years past first contact between Terrans and Vulcans!

The metallic object rotated to a different angle, and the magnifier could barely make out letters on the side. "SS Ing..." There was a grove after the first 5 letters, caused by the impact of a rock, followed by no further symbols. It looked like an ancient recorder marker from one of the earliest Terran deep space ships!

Calling up a list of Terran ships of that era, Thatcher discovered one reported missing and considered destroyed named the SS Integrity. However, its last known course was towards Vulcan at its maximum speed which was approximately warp 1.5 according to a modern acceleration scale.

And the markers only had thrusters, so they were slower than the ship. Thatcher reasoned there was no way the marker could have traveled this far on its own power. Obviously it encountered a wormhole or other spatial anomaly to reach this distance, even though sensors did not detect the presence of such phenomena in range.

Captain Price was currently in command, and was encouraged that the junior officers wanted to learn more about the unexpected discovery. But he did offer one piece of advice. "Bonzer discovery 'Mates. If what we have found is indeed a recorder from the lost SS Integrity, we should definitely investigate. But an object of that antiquity is bound to be fragile, so be careful how you handle it."

After pausing a minute to frame her thoughts, Lt Suood remarked from the science post "Then the logical course of action is to study it further, to reason out the least invasive method of bringing it on board for physical examinations. This plan will have the greatest chance of preserving the metal fragment without further damaging it."

Captain Price smiled and said "Sounds that way 'Mates, make it so. When you reach a conclusion, inform me of the group's decision. If I find it reasonable, we will execute your plan."

Returning to their jobs, the junior bridge staff began accumulating additional data on the newly discovered object...

"Climbing Obstacles"
By Lieutenant jg Electra Reece
Assistant Chief of Operations

Location: Holodeck 3

Lexa walked onto the familiar black and yellow grid. "Computer, run Reece program, hiking Adirondacks 3." The computer beeped and suddenly Lexa was standing in the woods at the base of Mount Algonquin in the Adirondack mountains. There was a path ahead of her that branched off in three directions but there were no signs near the path. "Computer, increase difficulty level to 4." The computer beeped and two of the paths disappeared. She nodded and began hiking up the path.

In the woods around her, birds chirped and chipmunks chittered. Within ten minutes, the path gradually inclined to 25 degrees and the trees thickened. Lexa's breath began to be labored as she struggled up the mountain. She kept her eyes on the diminishing path as it inclined more and occasional steps appeared. She breathed in the crisp mountain air as it thinned and cooled. In the distance Lexa could see large boulders and soon came to a ladder. She used the ladders to scale the rocks as she made her way along the lakeside. After forty-five minutes she reached the end of the trail and sat at a picnic table, sweat running down her back and face, panting heavily. After her heart rate slowed, Lexa gazed out on the lake she had just halfway circled and smiled as the sun set over the trees, casting golden highlights on the yellowing leaves. She watched the sun go down slowly, and the moon come up, letting her mind relax and taking in the peace of this natural setting.

~ I have to come to the holodeck more often. I'm out of shape and I've missed this. I have to make time to relax and enjoy the life I have. I can't push it all away like I have been. I am lucky and I have a good life. I have friends and family who care about me. I can get beyond anything. I forgot. ~

"I miss you, Daddy."

**** 2347, Mount Algonquin, New York State, Earth *********

"Come on, Glowworm, you can do it. I can't carry you all the time, you know. You walked a mile and I've carried you for the last two and a half but these rocks you have to do on your own. I'll catch you if you fall. We're connected, remember?" The towering 6' 5" man smiled down at the impish four year old as he pointed to the harness between them. "Trust me, my little lightning bug?"

The little girl nodded and carefully climbed over the rocks, biting her lip. After only two ladders she sat on the top on a rock. "Can't we go back now, Daddy? I don't like this part."

The dark-haired man sat next to the child. "Firefly, you can't stop just because something is hard. Around the next corner might be a miracle. Don't let it get you down. Climb over the obstacle and push on to the goal. It is always worth it. If you give up, you'll always regret not knowing what you missed."

The little girl scrunched up her mouth as she thought about what he had said. "Will you help me?" The man smiled tenderly. "Of course. But I won't do it for you." The little nodded once and stood. The pair reached the end of the boulders and there was a picnic set on the beach.

"Ohhhh, Daddy!" The little girl raced to the blanket and plopped down, grabbing up a container of water and taking a drink.

"I told you it was worth it, my little will-o'-the-wisp. And it'll get better in about an hour." The man and child ate in silence and he drew her onto his lap and pointed across the lake. "Watch." They sat watching the sun go down, the light slowly giving way to the lengthening shadows, until only twinkling stars illuminated them.

"Thank you Daddy," yawned the little girl. "It was bee-you-tee-full. Can we come again?"

"Of course, aurora. We'll come every year on your birthday. I promise. And we'll have a picnic and watch the sunset." The girl smiled as the man carried her to a tent near some trees. "Happy birthday, light of my heart," he whispered.

**** Present Day *******

Lexa smiled sadly, blinking away tears at the memory. "I wish you could have kept your promise, Daddy. I might not be so screwed up now. But I remember what you said. I'll climb the obstacle and use the help of those around me." She stood.

"Computer, end program and save." The computer beeped and the grid appeared once more, as she strode from the holodeck.

"Not Just a Few Inches To The Right"

Commander Karyn Dallas RN
Chief Counselor/Second Officer
USS Galaxy

***Bridge, USS Galaxy***

The bridge is yours, Counselor."

Her response was a respectful "Aye, sir," but inwardly there was a chill of excitement down her spine. She wondered if there would ever be a time when those five little words wouldn't elicit such excitement tinged with anxiety, but somehow she knew that would never happen. It meant a great deal to her to have the chance to command, and while she knew she still had a lot to learn, the reality was that for a girl that wasn't supposed to make it to adulthood, this wasn't too shabby...

Never far from her mind, though, was what had happened to get her here at this point in her career, and then she would feel guilty for feeling joy at Surok's expense. The former COO would probably tell her it was illogical to feel this way, but she would gladly give up her position here if it meant they could take back the venture in Borg space. Even months later, she couldn't shake her own feelings of sadness, and just when she thought she was herself again, she would see Three of Four or Savat in Surok's place and she thought she would be consumed by grief all over again.

She sighed inwardly as she realized this was the upteenth time her emotions had shifted since stepping in for Commander Thomas. Her immediate concern was for their guests and the affect they were having on the Away Team. Dazed and confused was not what she wanted to hear when it came to one of their own, especially since it had taken so long for Thomas to report in. For a long time, she thought the worst, something had gone wrong, and she was going to have to take Chris' place permanently. It wasn't a stretch anymore, it could have been her reality, and it was a few short months ago. It had never occured to her that excitement over their historical treasure had kept Thomas from following protocol, and the fact that it hadn't occured to her bothered her a great deal. Was she ever going to stop fearing the worst?

Her conversation with Lee regarding Fox and Samthia was a perfect example. There was a time she would never have allowed herself to think it better to presume them dead and not just MIA. For a time she would remind herself about how their own last Away Team, presumed to have been killed on a Borg ship, had 'come back from the dead.' The reality was that this crew wasn't invicible, and while Lee had most likely assumed it was protocol acting as the thorn in her side, it was her own reality check that had finally convinced her what was most merciful. She couldn't bring herself to admit her own resignation in front of the others, though, so she had hidden behind protocol. It left a sour taste in her mouth, but she reasoned she was going to have to find a balance between what she saw was right and her own responsibilities as a member of the ship's senior command staff.

*They're going to have to make this chair removable for starters...* She was wearing her prosthetic legs for now, but for long shifts she preferred to be in her hoverchair where she could move around faster and with more ease. Unfortunately the presence of the Captain's chair meant she had to park directly in front of it, putting her close enough to the viewscreen to give her migraines. The "Counselor's" chair had been made removable so she had better access, and she had to say she had become comfortable in her little niche on the Bridge.

There was really no reason a move of mere inches should affect her psychologically, but there was no denying that sitting in this particular spot was a lot different than sitting in HER spot. She ran her fingers over the chair appreciatively, feeling every curve and stitch. She needed to get used to this change. It was a chair. It wasn't so bad.

In this spot rested tradition... authority... respect... and *ugh..sweaty palms. Karyn smiled. She had just discovered her first secret of command.

=====
Commander Karyn Dallas RN
Chief Counselor/Nurse
USS Galaxy

"Carrers, Family, decisions, Future's"
by Captain Price
Galaxy's Commander
and
Lt. Bruce Maxwell
Asst. Chief Helmsman

Bruce made to where he was supposed to meet the captain ahead of time as usual. He actually showed his nervousness, not knowing how the captain would react to what he would say or what was going to happen. He just needed to love Starfleet again, his faith reassured. When the Captain enters he quickly goes to the posture of respect and attention.

"G'day Lieutenant. Sorry I'm a bit late for our appointment 'mate." Captain Price apologized. His introductions to the two visitors on deck 7 had taken a little longer then he had anticipated, though Lee was glad he had taken the time to stop by.

"I hadn't even noticed sir." Bruce lied politely. In truth he was waiting anxiously, having straightened his quarters in anticipation of the Captain's visit. The last several minutes he'd been pacing back and forth the living room before the Captain finally arrived.

Lee smiled with a half chuckle. "At ease 'mate. You're making me tense, which isn't an easy thing to do. Why don't we both 'ave a seat and talk for a spell?" Captain Price motioned to the sofa and chair near Bruce's coffee table. With a nod, Bruce moved to the chair while the Captain undid his duty jacket and sat on the sofa next to him.

"So 'mate, it's no mystery why I've come here today. I received your message expressing your restlessness with your current assignment here on the Galaxy. I m

ust say I was quite surprised to receive it. I know that Shinta was ecstatic when we discovered you were still alive. But then I got to thinking perhaps your recent misadventure and near loss is part of the reason for this? Certainly I couldn't blame you or your wife for wanting to make changes in your lives now that you've been reunited." Captain Price started. "So why don't you tell me what it is that's troubling you 'mate?, and I'll see if there isn't something we can do to help you out?"

Bruce nods. then chuckles a bit. "Shinta is actually against me on this in a way, sir. Sir, to put it plainly, I don't know if I love Starfleet anymore, or Starfleet loves me. Yes, these recent events that have transpired have had allot to do with it, but it has become just a job. I wake up, I get ready, I pilot this Beautiful ship, then I leave. I cant say because its boring, hell my career has been nothing but filled with action." Bruce pauses as he stands up and heads to the replicator and gets something to drink then looks at The Captain. "You want anything, sir.?" He waits for the response then continues. "When I was in Special Operations, I like to be in the thick of things, I don't know, sir this probably isn't making any sense."

"Yes, your message did mention your time in Special Operations. If that is truly where your heart is, I can probably make a few inquiries to see if there are any openings in Starfleet. But I'd much rather that you found a position here on the Galaxy. If being the Assistant Flight Control Officer no longer interests you, there are other departments and positions here on the Galaxy that would benefit from your experience. Have you ever considered switching departments to try something different? Maybe Operations, Tactical or even Security for example?" Lee asked.

Bruce nods, as he takes a sip. "Yes, sir. I have. Of Course I also know, that helm is well under experienced. I saw Tactical was too, security is more to my fitting." Bruce looks a little aggravated and takes another sip of his drink. "That is why I sent the message, sir. Your recommendation, its your ship. I don't want to leave the Galaxy. Shinta, has too many friends on board, my children were born here, and well, There is no other ship that will compare to her."

Lee smiled at Bruce comments. "Well good then. Let's see if there isn't a position here on the Galaxy that can make you happy, and at the same time keep Shinta at her job as Assistant Chief Counselor. I can speak to Lieutenant Commander Elaithin about an opening in security if you like? I'm sure he'd be glad to have an officer of your caliber on his team."

"Yes, sir. I guess if he doesn't, I will be more then happy to lend what experience I have to the tactical position. In the end it is up to you, sir. Bruce finally smiled. "I don't wish to keep you from more important matters sir."

Standing Lee reached over and placed one hand on Bruce's shoulder while shaking his hand with the other. "No worries 'mate. I'll speak to Jii. I'm sure he will be happy to have you on his team. You'll be hearing from one of us shortly. In the meantime continue with your normal duty assignment until we can work things out with your transfer."

"Thank you captain." Bruce nodded. He then walked Price to the door to see him out. "I'm sure Shinta will be happy that I'll be remaining on the ship."

The Captain stopped momentarily at the door when it opened out to the corridor. "She won't be the only one that will be glad you are staying on the Galaxy 'mate." Lee said with a sincere smile. "G'day Lieutenant."

"Good day Captain." Bruce stated with a nod.

“The Charmed Ones”
by
Lt. (jg) Heather Grant-Wellington, Flight Control Offiicer (Pru) Lt. (jg) Autumn Jamieson, Assistant Chief Medical Officer (Piper) Lt. (jg) Jessie Parry, Assistant Chief Tactical Officer, (Phoebe)

Heather and Autumn sat in Ten-Forward, taking a coffee break during the early hours of the Delta shift. Autumn sighed and put her head down on the table.

”Argh!” she moaned at Heather “I want to curl up and die Heather. This job is driving me nuts.” Heather chuckles. “I know exactly how you feel.” “Oh really.. you try having Andree on your case for reports every two minuets.” She looks amused.

“Well I don’t have to try cause I don’t have Andree as my Boss. Though I have to contend with Gustavson who keeps king the helm off me” Jessie walked up to the table. “Hey you two! Whatcha doing!”

“Moaning!”

“Bugger all”

“What are you up too Jessie?” Autumn muttered.

“Planing ways to get a certain engineer assimilated.”

“Get you hands off San Diego"

“Huh?” Jessie looked puzzled.. “I was talking about Serena Hayden” Heather frowns as she wasn’t familiar with the name. Autumn looked up at Jessie. “What did she do to you?” “Oh the norm for her these days.. Bitchy and sluty. She keeps tring to fight me whenever she sees me.” “Have a seat Jessie” Autumn muttered as she lifted her head off the table. Heather leaned back in her chair, regaining her expression of amuzement.

“ Ah you two, here you are moping about on a day when nothing is really happening.” “Hmm why are you in such a good mood Heather?” Jessie asked as she pulled out a chair and sat down.

“She’s getting laid on a regular occasion.” “Are you spying on me now?” she says with an air of innocence.

“No but ask anyone on deck three and you can bet your bottom credit that its you screaming that we hear every night.”

“Sream? I don’t scream.”

“Well it ain’t me cause I still sleep alone.” Heather became serious, wondering what was going on. She was sure she was not that loud when she was going for it, and even though her sex life was on the rebound with San Diego, she would not classify the amount of times they were together as regular occasions.

Autumn grinned and nudged Heather in the side. “Hey lighten up” Heather smiled, suddenly realising that Autumn was teasing and that her Bavarian Coffee with fat free marshmellows was getting cold.

Jessie signaled a waiter and ordered a coffee.

Autumn smiled and drank a sip of her hot chocolate. “So Jessie hows that cute officer I saw you kissing on the battle bridge.”

Heather raises a gleeful eyebrow.

Jessie turned to Autumn and asked “How would you know that I was kissing someone on the battle bridge.” “Oh come on who didn’t see you having your pashing session?’ Heather remarked.

“Um well you try getting from deck 3 to deck 13 without getting Borged without going through the tubes. You looked like you were having fun.” Jessie blushed and tried hard to think of a wity comeback.

“Oh I give in!”

Heather chuckles and Autumn grinned. Jessie shoke her head and took her drink from the waiter.

Autumn sipped her hot choclate. “Ok so what do you think? Elopement? Or formal wedding?” Heather purses her lips in serious thought. “hmmmm “ Jessie smirked and said. “Elopement.”

Heather smiles. “I dare you”

All three break out in laughter. Autumn grinned and shook her head. “I would but would he?” Heather says “Well you’ll be in strife if he doesn’t” Jessie smiled “Well if he doesn’t find another.” Heather shrugs her shoulder as if to say fair enough. “So I take it Jessie that if you ever end up in Autumn’s situation you’d ditch the guy regardless?” Jessie nodded. “Well if he doesn’t see things the way you do then yes.” Autumn sighed.

“Jessie you have no idea what I am going through.” She put her head back down on the table. “My aunts are tearing each other to shreds over wedding plans and Wil and I just want to hide.” She closed her eys again. “Why did I ever think it would be simple just to marry the guy I love?” “Because that’s families for you. Believe me I know I am the youngest of six.” Heather said.

Autumn just sat there. “I don’t want my family involved… they just found out….. talk about a life in hell…” Heather smiles with amusement as she has already been down this path before.

Jessie shook her head. “Well I am glad its not me.” “You are some help Jessie Parry.”

“Yeah I know Autumn Jamieson ”

“Bitch.” Autumn muttered as she tried hard to sit up again.

“Yep” nodded Jessie.”Oh sit up Autumn. Life shouldn’t be such a trial. Get over it.” Autumn straightened up. “Jessie you are really blond aren’t you?” she asked. “I mean your hair .. you dye it red right?” Jessie gaped at Autumn. Heather does the claw motion as if to show an oncoming cat fight.

“Bitch!” Jessie gasped out.

“Yep so what colour is it? I mean is it Napro Brillant Red?” Heather shakes her head and signals for a waiter to order a refill, then sinks back into her chair to watch the cat fight unfold. Jessie saw Heather back off and decided to involve her.

“So Heather, got you licence renewed yet?” she asked Heather while she tried to formulate a response to Autumn. “And have you taken up Gustavason’s invitation to learn to drive?” Heather just looked at her. “Ha ha. Very Cute.At least I keep my hands off my superior officer.” Autumn smirked and raised her hand and marked a single stroke in the air to show Heather’s score.

“Man Jessica you have no way out of this.” “Wanna bet. At least I am not fridged Autumn Maeribeth Jamieson. I hear that you can’t perform,” Autumn saw red almost slaped her in fact she raised her hand to do so but then common sense took over and she lowered it. Heather cringed.

“Jessica Louisa Parry. You had better take that back before I force feed you to Three of four.” “Ooo ahh.” Commented Heather.

Jessie’s green eyes flashed as she turned back to Heather. “Stay clear of this you red haired cow.. at least I don’t need a map drawn for me when it comes to sex.” “Well..” she began. “At least that map gets me to my destination in heaven, baby. And when I get there, this red haired cow can truly satisfy any ones needs now I’m over being a widow.” Autumn smirked and settled back in her chair. She assesed Heather and said ever so sarcastically. “Must be something about red heads you all seem to need your roots re-dyed.” “Only if your not Celtic. But then again, who said that your raven hair wasn’t the real thing?” Heather shot back.

“Do you see any re-growth in this head of hair… anyway how does San Diego find having you read a map while he is trying to screw your brains out.” “Well, let’s see. “ she leant forward at Autumn. “Is there a couple of lighter streaks here?” she inquired as she pointed to the centre of Autumn’s head with a smirk. “Oh and by the way, San Diego spends more time asking for directions to where to park.” Autumn smirked. “Well you didn’t train him well and if you think my hair has light streeks.. check out the white at you temples Heather.” She then turned to Jessie. “And by the way Jessie I heard that Serena took Kincaid out to dinnner last night.. or was that someother blonde he was with… you with out your hair dye perhaps?” “Ouch!” remarked Heather. “Well, that’s because he’s still a boy, where as I was once married to a man who could fuck me long after the cows came home. So Autumn, the virgin of the galaxy, does married life promise you this?

If not, well…” she paused dramatically. “And me showing white streaks.

That’s because I attempted to turn blonde and failed because I have brains.” Jessie sat and fummed while Heather retaliated at Autumn before speaking “So you do admit to dying your hair Heather? And Autumn have you even sized up Wilhem yet?” Autumn smirked. “My marriage promises to be forfulling in more ways then one. My man is satisfied. And it seems to me that if you want the cows to cum home you both should go home. After all I only see two cows sitting in ten-forward.. and they both have dye-red hair.” “Mooo.” Remarked the Aussie born decendent of a firery Scotsman. “Oh, don’t stop. I can’t get enough of your satisfaction.” Continued Heather.

“Gee you’re a bitch Autumn” remarked the Martian. “But if it’s a fight you want. I’ll be happy to bolige you. Holodeck One. Bring old clothes and your favorite weapon. Heather you too. We are going to settle this once and for all.” “Yeah right, you two are a bunch of amateurs. I’d whip both your arses, besides I much rather go back to my room and fuck San Diego than stuff around fighting like men on a holodeck.” “Okay go fuck your toyboy and I’ll go and kill Jessie without you.” Autumn said snidely.

“Oh please Autumn you couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn with any type of weapon.” Jessie snarled.

“Jessie that mouth of yours is going to get you into trouble. Besides if you are serious about this.. I recommend you leave your pay check at home. After all that sword is deadly when used in the wrong hands or should that be….. inexperienced hands. No matter how talented they are in other areas.” “I agree with Autumn. Handling a katana is not like a hand job. Besides, she could wip that sword outta ya hands within a split second and next before you know it, her long sword is pressing ever so deeply against your delicate throat.” Speaking lowly.

Autumn nodded. “You know its just come to me that if Jessie wants a challanage she can move further up the food chain.. I hear there are certain officers on this ship who would pay to have a willing sex slave.” Jessie stands and glowered at Autumn. “Bitchier and Bitchier.” She snarled “Oh give it up Alice…. Oh that’s right.. you already have.” “Thanks for the compliment, but it’s such a shame that you have to leave so soon. This party is just getting started.” “We are a group aren’t we?” Autumn asked trying hard not to laugh. “We must be a sight… have you notced that no guy within a km radius has come even close to us within the last ten minuets?” “That’s because they’re not game enough to stand up to us, just in case our claws tear through them.” Commented Heather.

Jessie shrugged her shoulders. “Not my problem….. If they are scared well then let them be.” Autumn nodded and looked around before glancing at her chrono. “AW shit! I am like so late it isnt funny.” “Well we should get going then.” Heather remarked pushing back her chair. “I’d like to get some sleep before my shift.” “Me too” Jessie added

“Yeah by the way whats sleep?” Autumn asked as she stood and led the way to the main doors. She flashed a smile at Leo who ducked behind the bar in fright. Autumn pauses and walks over and places her hand on the bar, straight faced. Then she smiled at the frightened Bartender. He took off down the bar. Autumn smirked and then re-joined the other two. “Don’t ask.. I still haven’t worked it out.” “Agreed” Jessie said drawing level with the other two as they exited the room three abreast.

As they marched down the corridor togeather people saw them and dove out of their way. Afraid that they would be clawed by the Galaxy’s bitchy charmed ones.

Lieutenant Commander Ethan Suder
Chief Engineer

"Guests"

Strolling out of his office, Ethan looked around and saw three Engineers stood around the main console in the center of Engineering, just chatting. It didn't bother him, their shift was about to end, and as long as they had the days work and a little more done, Ethan wouldn't go in guns blazing. But as he approached, they all immediately returned to their work. As if Ethan had a reputation of being a bad ass Chief or something.

"What's the gossip then?" he asked as he approached the three Engineers. He kenw they were well known for catching up on the gossip onboard the ship and passing it around Engineering.

"Our new guests, Chief." one of them spoke up.

"They look odd." Cadet Jason said as he stepped up to the main console also. It wasn't even his own shift, but Ethan admired the Cadets eagerness to work and learn about Engineering.

"How do you mean?" one of the Engineers asked.

"Well, they look pale, and just out of place." the Cadet spoke up.

"So would you if you were locked away for a long time. You'd look pale and not to mention your clothes would no doubt be out of place." a second Engiener added.

"Well let's not jump the gun. They maybe out of place, even time, but let's not pre-judge them shall we?" Ethan asked.

"Of course." the others replied.

Ethan gave a nod and walked away from the others as they all continued their little chat. He took a moment to look at the warp core. A thing of beauty, in a weird Engineering obsessive way. But each to their own. He would also have to find out about the people onboard. If they were out of place even in the slightest, he'd like to meet, or at least see them. It would be interesting, just to see a new culture.

So that he would...

Lieutenant Commander Ethan Suder
Chief Engineer

Lieutenant Commander Eric Odin
Engineer

"Special Projects"

Ethan had been wondering aroun the USS-Galaxy for sometime. He continued to think about the list of names on the data padd. The new division he was introducing into the department of Engineering was going to take constant supervision and good people. He had been walking around the night before and thought about dropping by Eric Odin's quarters, but then he wasn't really one for just dropping by to discuss work. In fact, he only dropped by the quarters to the several people he felt close to on the Galaxy. On his way around the personnel quarters, he passed Karyn's quarters. The corridor was empty. Ethan stopped and looked at her door. He felt that he should have checking in on her, he hadn't spoken to her for a while now and he wanted to know how she was. He put a hand on the door and just looked at it. It was then that he felt a lot of the feelings that Karyn had felt a few months ago. It had been hard for her, yet she hadn't spoken to anyone, yet a simple glance said a lot between Ethan and Karyn. He understood her pain. She knew he understood.

Eric was working hard at finding out why the one veyr samll section was fluctuating between too much and too little power. Now this was only a small section that this was hppening in, so it was strange.

Twenty minutes later, Ethan reached Engineering and found Eric working at his usual station. He wasted no time approaching the Engineer and cleared his throat. "Eric, can I have a word." he said gesturing towards his office.

Eric looked to Ethan and stopped what he was doing atfer making sure everything was alright and said,"Of course sir." He followed him into his officer and wondered what this was all about.

Ethan sat down in his office and placed the data padd he had been holding on to his desk. He looekd at Eric and wanted to get straight to the point. "I've been keeping an eye on your progress since you came on board. Well, not just you, everyone in Engineering. You've done well, clearly visible by your rank." Ethan began.

"Thank you sir, I've always tried hard and I'm just honored to have my rank." He smiled warmly, but did not know what the point was and it was obvious he was alittle unsure.

"I'll get straight to the point. I'm setting up a new division in Engineering. Special Projects. Effectively what will happen in this section is ideas and projects that will help the ships and crew's efficiency. Also if we face, sorry, when we face a crisis again, this will be where our ideas will be thrown around to come up with ideas on how to get out of a very sticky puddle of mud." Ethan explained.

"That sounds like a great idea sir. I suppose you are wanting me to be in this special dvision if you are pulling me aside like this."He said just assuming this was so, but fully willing to aplogise ifhe was wrong.

"I don't want you to take this the wrong way. But I've asked Lieutenant Nilani to hold the position as the project's head." Ethan paused for a second. "How do you feel about that?" Ethan asked.

"I feel that if you think she has more expertise than I do then she deserves the position sir. I believe she is a good officer and I'll trust your judgement on any such decision." He said with honesty.

"I'm glad you think so. When I was thinking about the position, it wasn't about rank. Nilani has a lot of potential that she's not using. She needs a role to get her moving and to get her back on her feet. As you no doubt know, she's not the easiest person to work with. With that in mind, I asked her to take the position. This could really help her, mentally as well as other things. I need you to be there to support her, help her, but don't crowd her. Look out for her, descretely. If there's a problem, I want to know about it." Ethan said. "Some time soon, I may even get you to run the section with her. She needs to work not just above people or under them, but with them. Does this make any sense?" he asked wondering if he was just blabbering on about senseless issues.

"Yes sir it makes perfect sense. She needs to feel like she's a real member of a team and not just an officer. I believe she and i will be able to work well together and I will keep you informed sir. I do not think there should be any problems and I shall endeavor to make sure it runs smoothly sir,"he said with a smile. This was great opportunity and he was really looking forward to it.

"Good." Ethan said. "I think that covers everything." he finished with a nod. He watched as Eric returned his nod and walked out of his office.

Time to make the difference in the department.

"Special Messages"
By Lieutenant jg Electra Reece
Assistant Operations Officer

Lexa was reading through personal messages on her terminal. She had two from off the ship with the same heading. She viewed them first.

As she watched the screen two older people dressed in formal attire appeared on the screen. The woman spoke. "Hello, Electra. We are not sure where you are or how long this message shall take to reach you since you never seem to let us know but we felt it was only right to send it. Today is the thirty-fourth anniversary of your birth and we send you best wishes. We felt that there was no need to send a present as you are a grown woman. We hope you are doing well and we wish you a good year." With that, both nodded and the screen went blank.

Lexa shook her head. "Computer, remind me to send a thank you note to Grandmother and Grandfather regarding their birthday wishes. Set the reminder for tomorrow when I return from my shift."

[ Acknowledged. ]

Lexa pressed the next button and the screen once again showed two older people. These two were dressed in Starfleet uniforms. (These are Amanda and Jeffrey Coleman, her maternal grandparents.) The woman gave a large smile. "Hello, Lexa, sweetheart. I hope things are going well. It was so wonderful to see you at the base. We miss you. And we have a special message for you today."

The woman nodded her head and music began playing. The two people took a breath and began singing an off-key rendition of "Happy Birthday to You." When the music stopped, the man spoke, "Take care of yourself and keep in touch a bit more. We do miss you. Chin up. We love you. Happy Birthday! We sent a special holo-novel in the next mail ship." The two figures waved and grinned and the screen went blank.

Lexa grinned. "Computer, add a reminder to thank Gram and Gramps. Same time."

[ Acknowledged. ]

As she scanned the subject lines of the rest of the posts there were no others, on the ship or off with that heading. All of the rest had to do with OPS business. It didn't surprise her that no one knew her birthday had recently passed. She hadn't told anyone and her few friends obviously hadn't looked it up. And she didn't blame them. She smiled again and turned to compose a message she had been meaning to send.

----

To: Commander Karyn Dallas
From: Lieutenant jg Electra Reece
RE: Your suggestion

I have been having problems lately. I have decided to take your advice on hypnosis. I really need help. Please find me time. Thank you.

-----

She sent the message, hoping Karyn would find time soon in her new duties as second officer to help her. She turned off the computer and walked over to the bed. "Computer, turn off the lights." As the room darkened, Lexa stripped off her uniform and put on her flannel pajamas. She slipped into bed and hoped desperately that she wouldn't dream tonight.

"The Borg
The Hologram
And the Counselor"
Or

"Facing your fears, The chance encounter, and Meeting a piece of History"

Lieutenant Adrian An'quinsos
Zerhi An'quinsos (NPC)
Daenara Quialla An'quinsos (NPC)
Kailen Anquinsos (NPC)
With
Brief excerpts from:
3 of 5 (NPC)
And
Leo Streely (NPC)

*The Cargo Bay: After a Meeting*

"Species 7156, El-Aurian," A semi-mechanoid voice replied with unfeeling inflection. His hearts literally raced as he slowly entered the room. "Counselor of Unimatrix Galaxy, Lieutenant Adrian…"

"Yes, yes, yes," Adrian said with an aggravated sigh. He had come to face his deepest fear, and it stood there passively, waiting for him to answer. "I know all of that already. I suppose you'll tell me my DNA code next! Does your kind do that to amuse yourselves, or have you not advanced beyond the need of verbalization?"

"We are Borg," She said. "We are advanced beyond all races." She stated in the characteristic haughtiness that so fully accompanied them.

"And yet," He grinned. "There was always that unusual species, somewhere that gave you trouble. However, I didn't come down here to start an argument, I came to see if you…"

"The destruction of your species was inevitable." She said. "You people were destroyed, Resistance was-"

"NOT FUTILE!" His voice erupted, every word as cold as space, yet hotter than the core the hottest star. "We could have destroyed you if we wanted to! But we didn't. We turned our back such menial and inferior thought thousand of millennia before your precious progenitors crawled up their primordial collective sludge!" He spat out. "It was WE, not you, that were THE Lords of the-" He stopped in mid-sentence, trying to regain himself. He was trembling with rage. It was very rare to see an angry El-Aurian and even more so to see a frenzied one.

"You are with avarice." 3 of 5 said.

"As well are you," He replied, calming himself unnaturally quick, or the El-Aurian norm whichever way you choose to look at it. He stopped and looked at her and grinned.

"State the reason for that expression?"

"Irony I guess 3 of 5." He surmised. "We have such a hatred… the Borg see it as a driving goal. But it never fails to surprise me." He looked over at the bemused cyborg. "Thank you 3 of 5."

3 of 5 watched as the El-Aurian left the cargo bay, her collective mind a little befuddled by the strange event, and made a mental note to enter it into her log.

*Later that Day*

Kailen and Zerhi arrived in Ten-Forward. The elder humanoid female had instructed them to meet her at that location. Rather than the constraining clothing normally worn by many of the Federation, many El-Aurian made it a point to keep their sense of identity.

Zerhi was dressed in a series of emerald green kimono-like robes, each embroidered richly in silver, her native tongue. Normally free and flowing, her deep brown locks were braided into a single strand, stretching down he lower back.

Kailen was also in robes, crimson in color, his robes shown richly the golden threads that decorated the cloth.

As they rounded the corner, the younger El-Aurian female caught a glimpse of two strangers, accompanied by two security officers. One of them stopped and turned around, the female and looked at the two strangers before them. Her eyes narrowed and her brows raised as her hands clenched up into tight fists. The other, recognizably male, turned around, whispered something into her ear, and she turned around. They seemed to regain their composure as they returned to their walking.

Kailen and Zerhi looked at one another with slight confusion, as they continued to walk, conversing telepathically.

*"What was that all about?"* Kailen asked. *"I could feel rage radiating form her, and yet, she seemed not to be there at all."*

*"I felt it too, and frankly I've no idea what that was about, but I'd warn her not to do that again. I may come from an advanced, and extremely civilized race, but that doesn't stop me from decking someone!"*

*"Careful, your mother might find out, and you know her view…"* He joked.

Zerhi grinned accordingly at her brother-in-law. *"Oh yes, the usual rhetoric! 'We have evolved beyond the need of fist-o-cuffs.' I agree, we have, but, even your mom likes to let her hair down a bit!"*

They entered Ten-forward, and neared the table and found Adrian and Daenara talking quietly in their native tongue. They were sitting before the trans-parasteel, and Adrian back was to him, but they could easily identify the elder-humanoid's countenance. She looked un-amused, with a demeanor that displayed it!

[He didn't listen to a single word I had to say to him. He just regarded me as some loon!] She banged the table, almost sending the drinks into the air. [You'd think that species would appreciate the word from the more superior races in the Galaxy! No, they're completely reckless, and have to experience the danger to know what the cost!]

[What can I say mom, that's humans for you! They almost never listen to what you have to say, and when they do, they have very little clue as to what you're trying to tell them! I've had to put up with that ever since I journeyed to Earth!] He took a sip of his tea and then continued. [As for reckless, I can remember a couple of stunts you and dad got into when you were younger… no, make that married. I believe some of these involved asteroids and stars… oh yes, and I can't leave out the occasional…] He stopped right there, seeing the deadly look he was receiving form his mother. "On another note, I did get that information for you, and studied it thoroughly. You were right] her handed her the padd out of a bag he had beside the chair. You were right…"

[Right about what?] Kailen asked as they took a seat.

[The Monks were immune to the curse that enveloped our Homeworld.] She said. [It's no surprise. The Monks were had powerful minds, making them invulnerable to their power. A gestalt of them could have destroyed a thousand Nosfere…] Daenara looked over at Zerhi with an inquisitive expression. [Did you bring the stone?]

Zerhi smiled as she brought the jewel out into the open. The noticeable glow intensified slightly, as people around them stopped their conversations and beheld what the humanoid female was displaying. Even Leo stopped what he was doing and looked over the humanoid family and at the beautiful jewel. He was so awestruck, that a perfectly good bottle of Aldeberran Whiskey nearly fell on the floor.

Kailen's brown darkened. [How are we sure that what has been experienced may have come from that vessel? It could have been déjà vu.] He said with skeptic tones.

[Your dream was no more a freakish accident, than my mind sensing the disturbance!] Adrian said, as Kailen eyed him. [An El-Aurian within a twenty thousand parsecs years could have felt that, and made the correct guess as to what was experienced.]

"Have you heard the latest news?" An engineer asked to Leo as he poured the beverage.

"No." He said with a little confusion

"They found survivors aboard the Tamarian Vessel."

"Do you know their names?"

"I think the names were Lord Vlad and Lady Lilith… Sanguinarian from what I heard…"

"By the way, do you know those people," He motioned over to the quartet of humanoids sitting at the table amidst the starlight. "I've never seen them before."

"Who? Oh, them! That would be Adrian, his wife Zerhi, and the others, I'm not sure, but possibly family by the looks of it."

[Now to the Holodeck…]

The El-Aurian family left, leaving a room full of baffled and bedazzled people on their hands.

*Holodeck 2*

"Computer, run program… Adrian-Aqi Injinni Re."

Everyone looked at him, startled by the selection. He looked back and grinned. "If you're doing what I think you're doing, then this would be the most traditional place for this to happen!"

'Program activated, enter when ready'

They entered the simulation, and were awestruck at the scene before them. The Sea of the Sun's Birth was no ordinary place. No Biospheric description could truly classify this wondrous biome. It's fine, silver sand sparkled, and emanated a soft musical tone the filled the room with an orchestral collage of harmony. Far, in the distance, on a mesa was the ancient temple itself.

"Computer, download all information on Pen-Shoza from my padd,"

'Download completed'

"Now, with the information received, can a physical construct be created?"

'Affirmative'

"Then do so." The elder female ordered.

In less than a blink of an eye, a form stood before them in ancient El-Aurian garb. Very stately, it was reminiscent of an ancient Greek chitin; only the design was too alien to be so. It was pure white, and embroidered with platinum threads. The construct was as tall as Kailen, with coppery-brown hair, violet-blue eyes, and a light, olive-brown complexion. He looked to be in his mid to late thirties, with that characteristic gleam that told more. His face was as emotionless as his stance.

"Computer," Adrian said. "Transfer all information I have here, from the Records to Sagas of Hironi-Nubliay. Include the ability of recognition and put interaction between people at maximum. Give him the ability to communicate in every language on file. Finally, make sure he is aware that not only is he a hologram, but also is completely aware of the current situation at hand."

'Done'

The hologram blinked before he laid eyes on the four humanoids before him and smiled. "It's been millennia since I have seen the faces of my people, alive and well."

"It is good to see that the words of our people still speak true." Daenara replied. "We need your help Pen-Shoza."

"At your service My Lady!" He bowed respectively.

"The ship has come under danger and we need your knowledge of ancient lore and language to determine if what this is, is what he may have known all along."

He nodded.

"Does El-Auria have any equivalents to the names Vlad, Lillith, or Sanguinarian?"

"One moment." He replied. "Vlad is a derivative of El-Aurian word Nosfelik for Demon, Stalker of evil." His brow raised considerably. "Which goes back to the root word Nojh, meaning, meaning 'they that die not.' My sagas describe such creatures…" He trailed off in thought.

"Lilith?"

"Hmmm… you got me on that one. It's El-Aurian equivalent is Sahpaak, meaning 'Temptress.' As for Sanguinarian, it has a remarkable similarity to the Terran Middle English word, sanguin, from Middle French, and from the Latin 'sanguineus', from 'sanguin-,' 'sanguis,' used as a noun or adjective to mean a number of terms. Most specifically, in this case, it may mean bloodthirsty… which equates with the ancient El-Aurian term for Saa, meaning drinker of blood."

"In the Record Pen-Shoza, of the Old Time, were all the Nosfere killed in the conflict?" Kailen asked.

"Oh no!" The Hologram replied. "The war lasted a thousand years. By the time the main fleet was destroyed, only a small sum would have escaped. The Council concluded that if they should attack other systems in their hungering quests for blood, that, the attacks would have a minor impact on the population. In fact, it would be nothing compared to what our people faced all those millennia ago. His face turned pale as he continued. "Need I remind you of the Decree made by Ezmion?"

"Any of the Sun's Children come upon a Nosfere Pele' Mo'Secari or Saa'Rhan Mo'Secari, to stop them in anyway possible, even to the cost of your own life." Daenara stated gravely.

"Unfortunately, we have neither met them yet, nor have any idea if they are who we think they are." Zerhi said. "Or for that matter, our suspicions have yet to be confirmed."

"One way to confirm this might be to meet with this pair your selves." Pen-Shoza advised. "Though dangerous, it could be the answer."

"Why?" Kailen asked.

"Because," Daenara concluded. "Therein lies the answer: If they are Nosfere Pele' Mo'Secari, Demons of Night, then that ancient hatred between our races should still, in some way, even through race memory, exist."

"Computer, save and create the following protocols for the hologram Pen-Shoza. Number one, he can only be opened by a voice recognition pattern under this frequency." He inputted the equation as the computer chirped. "Alphabetical and numerical password, which have to be inputted simultaneously, and without hesitation."

'Protocols initiated.' The computer replied.

"Thank you Pen-Shoza." Daenara said.

"Computer, end simulation." Adrian said as they left the Holodeck.

"Paperwork"
by Lt. Cmdr. Ragnald Gustavson, Chief Helmsman

Ragnald returned at his desk, dropped the padd and sat down. Getting Remy free from the brig was quite easy.

He took the next padd and read a report about Lt. (jg) Parry naming Ensign Anderson together with a female crewman of engineering for having attacked her during a holodeck novel. This case was totally different to the one of Remy. Remy was hot-blooded as Ensign Smith was, too. And both had almost equal strength - No need to call for counseling. A match of Pit Bet would soon calm them down. May they even would even become friends during training for that event.

Anderson always presented himself as calm and sensible. Almost unbelievable he was guilty. But in fact, Lt. Parry's testimony was confirmed by Counselor Navarre-Maxwell. Ragnald dropped the padd.

He would have to discuss the case with Captain Price later.

Again, Ragnald's hand reached out for the pile of padds. - A letter of Lt. Maxwell who told him about his future thoughts.

Ragnald laid back in his chair with his feet on the desk. He knew Bruce for a long time now. Both came aboard as Ensigns almost the same day. They became friends and Ragnald even held the speech at Bruce's and Shinta's wedding. When finally the former Chief Helmsman Pailaka left the Galaxy, Bruce was promoted Chief Helmsman while Ragnald became Assistent Chief. Few weeks ago when Bruce disappeared on a journey to a Top Gun training and was declared MIA Ragnald inherited the job.

Since Bruce came back aboard many things seemed to have changed. Bruce didn't seem to be the same man, he was when he left for Top Gun. Ragnald felt guilty for stealing his job and for finally outranking him and didn't dare to talk with him yet.

He would have discuss that with the Captain, too.

"Seduction of the Innocent"

A unique tale of lust, passion, erotica (means rated R for all you prudes out there!) with a dash of the past mixed in, with Lt. Raven Darkstar (Security) and our sinister guest, the Lady Lilith with a quick appearance by Lord Vlad.

Time: A short while after our guests have settled into their quarters.
Location: Lady Lilith's cabin, Deck 07, USS GALAXY

Raven pressed the door's intercom and spoke.

"This is Lt. Darkstar from security."

He stood in the doorway with his arms crossed over his muscular chest. This wouldn't be the first time that a guest onboard a starship had caused a disturbance. More often than not there were conflicts from visiting dignitaries, ambassadors, and even crewmen's family members who were unaccustomed to the systematic life onboard.

Many a security officer had been dispatched in the past to "gently" help reinforce the ship's code of conduct. Raven was sure that this time would be no different. He wasn't yet aware of the guests nature, but he imagined it was a typical, obnoxious, overweight ambassador who felt that while being off his homeworld, everyone else should bow down, kiss his ring and pay homage to his alleged greatness.

The Indian growled as he grew more agitated at being ignored. Every moment 'his majesty' kept him waiting, would be one more moment that Raven would make miserable. He reached for the intercom a second time but before he could make contact he heard the room's occupant finally reply.

[Come in Lieutenant. My door is always open for guests.]

With that the apartment doors opened with a soft hiss.

Raven entered the apartment without pause and was a bit surprised at what he saw. The room was dark. More so than the usual nocturnal lighting settings that most apartments were equipped with to simulate night time. A few candles cast their ruddy glow around the room, their flickering light causing shadows to dance ever so slowly on the cabin walls.

"I am pleased that you have joined me," a soft and very feminine voice whispered almost as if it's owner were mere inches from his ear. He turned rapidly but found nobody standing there.

"You have nothing to be nervous about.." the voice whispered again, this time in the other ear. Again, Raven turned to see nothing.

He felt a fingernail trace the contours of his back then a pair or arms slid across his chest. He could smell a faint trace of jasmine as a soft cheek was pressed against his own. "I wont bite. Unless you want me to."

The Indian abruptly turned and pulled away from the woman who let her arms trail seductively across his own as they parted.

She was tall, nearly every bit as tall as Raven himself. Her hair was long, black and slightly curled. Her skin had a slight tint of darkness that he thought were just a byproduct of the dim lights. On her forehead were slightly raised ridges.

~ Impossible! ~ he thought as he blinked. For a moment the ridges seemed to fade and her skin looked normal, then they appeared again, more pronounced.

~ She looks almost like B'Lar! ~ his mind told him as images of his first and only experience with a woman..a Klingon woman, flashed across his mind's eye. He absently rubbed his collarbone, remembering one of the various injuries he had sustained during the encounter.

The woman moved closer to him, her breasts nearly exposed in the tight leather bodysuit she wore that crinkled as she moved. Again he could smell jasmine.

"What's the matter lieutenant? You look as though you have seen a ghost," she said smiling, her pouty dark lips pulling back to reveal a glimpse of her sharp teeth.

Raven banished the memories from his head and focused on the present. This woman was not B'Lar and even if she was, he had no desire to repeat the painful coupling with her or anyone else for that matter.

"I do not know what the customs are in your land, Ambassador.." he began diplomatically.

"Just Lilith." she purred as she ran her hands tantalizingly across his chest. "Such definition. Such vitality. And the name...Darkstar...powerful and evocative. I wonder dark one. I wonder if your soul matches your name. You have such handsome promise."

Raven cleared his throat and pushed himself away again. "I thank you for your ..compliments, Ambassador, yet I am not here for a social visit. There were reports of a disturbance."

"Shhhhh." she said, moving closer to him. The smell of jasmine..the same scent B'Lar had worn that evening threatened to intoxicate him, yet he held fast, and remained focused.

"What you heard was just me and your..how do you say..replicators having a disagreement. And any visit to me is a social occasion, worthy of my ....hospitality." she said as she slowly undid the leather corset she wore, allowing it to fall to the floor.

"Impressive aren't they?" she asked, flicking the nipple rings with her fingertips as she massaged her breasts.

"They are attractive, yes." he said, fighting back the terror of his previous sexual encounter. Since that fateful night, he had avoided this very circumstance. Yet here it was before him once again and for once he felt a feeling he was unaccustomed to.

Fear.

"And you want to play with them, don't you?" she said licking her lips and dancing her eyes across the Indian's muscular frame.

"Not particularly." he said, honestly. This brought a mild look of amusement to Lilith's face.

"I don't suppose that everyone is a breast man." she said as she peeled off the leather pants revealing her statuesque nakedness. She glided across the room, her gaze holding Raven's own and brought her body so close to his that he could literally feel her body heat.

"Ambassador..." he started as she slid her hands under his tunic, exploring hardened edges of his muscles. she nuzzled her face into his neck, her breath against his skin was hot and steamy.

"Why don't you remove these restraining garments..." she said as she began to pull up on his shirt before he halted her progress.

"It is against ship's regulations to roam the deck nude while on duty."

"You know you want me. You want to feel me. You want to join with me." she said grabbing his hand and running it across her body. He pulled away after a lingering moment as if he were touching a wielding torch.

"You..You are scared!" she said with a coy smile, realization flickering in her eyes. " You are scared of intimacy. It is almost as if you have never before.."

Raven stiffened. "I do not fear..physical contact. And I have had sex once, as if it were any of your business."

"Just once?! Unthinkable! You are wasting such beauty! Such..vitality." she said still tracing her hands across his midsection and lower. " Your mind is fighting what your body apparently wants. Open yourself to me. I promise you an experience like none other. Let me guide you to a paradise the likes of which you have never dreampt..."

"I am flattered by your attention, yet I must decline. As I said I'm on duty." he repeated, stoically, keeping his eyes locked on Lilith's face. Fears that had long ago been instilled in him lingered in the back of his mind.

She backed up and eased onto the couch before him. Her legs scissored open and shut slowly and rythmaticlly. "You mean you want to leave me all alone? It isn't nearly as much fun without you." she said wetting her fingers and trailing them slowly down her neck, between her breasts and further down her abdomen.

"I think I should go and give you some privacy." Raven said heading for the door. "Should you need any assistance with the ships systems, feel free to call. And do be mindful of your neighbors in regards to future outbursts."

"And I will, dark One. We will meet again, you and I. That is a promise."

He exited her quarters and felt something akin to a fog lift from him as the doors closed and he stood alone in the hall. He paused for a moment and glanced at the closed doors before grunting and walking off down the hall.

He hadn't thought of that night with B'Lar in years. Why is it now suddenly ripped to the surface of his mind? Who is this Lilith? ~ he asked himself.

*** Back inside***

Sinister laughter rose from the far corner of the room.

"You are loosing your touch, Dear Lilith." Lord Vlad said as he emerged from one of the rooms dark corners where he had observed thier exchange.

"Never!" she snarled as she pulled her flight suit back on. "He's just playing hard to get. It has been far too long since I had to work for a meal. "

"And you look foreword to the challenge I suppose? You have always been in love with the thrill of the chase, but this seems something more. If I didn't know better, I would think you were infatuated with him"

"Perhaps it has been so long since you have actually hunted that you have forgotten how..stimulating it is.. The Dark Star will be mine. This I vow." Lilith said confidently as she moved to the doors.

"And where are you off to, my Dear?" Vlad asked.

"To explore, and to play. You should try it yourself. This ship is like a whole new world. A world ripe and awaiting a harvesting." she responded tossing her black hair as she exited.

"Long Live the Queen"

Starring

Lt. Rebecca von Ernst

Lt. Heather Sanchez

Holli von Ernst

Miscellaneous Tactical Crew

(Deck 5 Early Morning)

Rebecca von Ernst tip-toed through the early morning shadows of her cluttered Deck 5 Quarters. Not for the first time she wondered if it would be worth it to transfer up to the Senior Officer Quarters on Deck 2 and thus gain a few extra square feet of living space. In the end she decided however that the sheer effort of packing up all her "stuff" would be more trouble than it was worth.

=/\= THE TIME IS 0520 HOURS. YOU ARE SCHEDULED TO BE IN HOLODECK 2 FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING IN TEN MINUTES. =/\=

The soothing detached nature of the computer announcement did nothing to take the menace out of what 'physical training' implied. The morning rituals with Lt. Heather Sanchez were quickly becoming the low points of Rebecca's days.

The wiry PT instructor led hr merry band of gasping Tactical Officers through a simulated 3 to 5 mile run almost daily in every kind of holographic weather from desert heat, to icy roads. How long the actual course ended up being was a moot point as far as Rebecca was concerned for the tiny redhead had yet to make it past the first mile in anything.

~~~Running and Getting up Early……Two of my least favorite things.~~~ Rebecca grumbled to herself as she stumbled around in the dark looking for her shoes. She supposed she could have turned on the lights to help her look, but she wanted to savor as much darkness as she could this morning before subjecting herself to the harsh glares of shipboard illumination.

~~~I wanna go back to bed~~~ she fretted, half dozing even as she walked about. The Little impromptu Birthday party with her mother the night before had not really lasted too late, but it still had cut into some of the young officer's sleep-time. Still it had been a nice surprise, and there was still a slice of leftover cake in the freezer now that she thought of it.

Rebecca was briefly tempted by the thought of a before-breakfast snack, but then the image of herself on the running trail puking up the cake with Lt. Sanchez standing over her screaming, convinced her it was not a good idea.

"Computer play messages." She yawned as she at last found her running shoes and plopped on the couch to lace them up.

=/\= YOU HAVE (1) SHIPWIDE GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENT…..AND (1) PERSONNAL MESSAGE IN YOUR BOX =/\=

"Play the Announcement first."

=/\= THERE IS A LEVEL FOUR QUARANTINE IN EFFECT FOR THE MAIN SHUTTLE BAY AND AREAS OF THE MEDICAL FACILITY. PLEASE RESPECT ALL POSTED WARNING SIGNS WHILE IN SPECIFIED AREAS. =/\=

Not likely. Rebecca rarely had cause to venture into those areas of the ship, and thus would probably not be detoured by the Quarantine Precautions. She had heard somewhere that the GALAXY had taken aboard passengers yesterday, and she assumed they were the reason for the regulations.

"Computer play the other message." She finished tightening her laces and stood to take a few experimental hops, ensuring that nothing would loosen up. Shoelaces were no excuse for falling out of a run.

=/\= PERSONNEL MESSAGE FROM LT JUNIOR GRADE JAMES CORGAN AS FOLLOWS……. …………DEAR REBECCA, I CANNOT BE FORGIVEN FOR WHAT I HAVE DONE BEFORE. I TRIED TO SAY THAT I WAS SORRY BEFORE, BUT THAT HAS NOT WORKED. I UNDERSTAND THAT I CANNOT BE FORGIVEN. AT LEAST HEAR MY SIDE OF THE STORY. IT'S NOT WHAT YOU THINK.

MEET ME AT TEN FORWARD AFTER BETA SHIFT =/\=

~~~Ooohh noodles, that’s all I need to make my morning complete. A letter from HIM!~~~ Rebecca ceased her warm-ups and hung her head for a moment, alone in the dark. She didn’t have time for this.

=/\=IT IS NOW 0525 HOURS. YOU ARE SCHEDULED FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING IN HOLODECK 2 IN FIVE MINUTES. =/\=

~~~Right…I don’t have time.~~~ "Computer delete all messages…no reply. Block all further messages originating from Lt (j/g) Corgan unless they are of official Starfleet Nature."

=/\=COMPLETE…NO LONGER ACCEPTING MESSAGES FROM LEIUTENANT JUNIOR GRADE JAMES CORGAN =/\=

And with that…..Rebecca was out the door.

=============================================

< Shortly >

"Get a move on people! I don’t have all day to sit here and babysit your Burrito-Butts! We've got three miles to go today and a short time to do it in so MOVE!"

Lieutenant Heather Sanchez of Security stood astride the rugged mountain trail like a Warrior-Goddess amidst her domain of devastation. Off to either side of the trail in the muddy ditches the collected masses of The Galaxy's Tactical Department grunted and groaned as the bent and twisted in a last minute effort to stretch out their cold muscles before the run.

Sanchez was a stickler for proper stretching out, and Tactical had come to take her at her word. Any individual forced to drop out of a run today due to cramps or strains would have to be carried by the rest of their buddies for remainder of the run. Nobody wanted to be the one to suffer the indignity of unduly straining their crewmates when a little attention to proper warm-ups could have prevented it all.

"Two Minutes Chunky-Butts!" Sanchez warned, the simulated chill air of the Holodeck creating little mists of vapor from her mouth as she bellowed. "Two minutes and then you are MINE!"

For this morning's little trot Heather had chosen a rural New England setting complete with fall trees brilliant in autumn foliage. The Red-Orange of the Holographic sunrise washed through the browns and golds of the leaves creating and almost surreal atmosphere of Heavenly glory.

Unfortunately the cold crisp Autumn air was more of concern to those about to run, and indeed there were an unlucky few who had unwisely forgotten to dress for the occasion. They shivered alone in a little huddle desperately trying to warm their frozen muscles, praying that they wouldn’t be the ones to drop out.

In the midst of this Fall Landscape, the incongruous modernity of the Gray Holographic arch faded into view, and the twin doors groaned open noisily. From a hole in the universe appeared the slight form of Rebecca von Ernst breathing hard as she chugged up the Passageway from the Turbolift visible behind her. The look of near panic in her eyes revealed how close she was to being late.

"Buenos Dias Princess Snowflake!" Sanchez greeted the girl with a mocking grin. "You have thirty seconds in which to warm up before we set on out." Turning to the others she continued. "It looks to me like we're going to be carrying LT. Snowflake today. Five slips of Latinum says she cramps up before the first half-mile."

~~~Five slips say I puke before that even.~~~ Rebecca shivered as the warmth of the Starphip's corridor faded into the icy chill of the New England Morning. She was dressed warmly in standard Academy Sweats, with a gray headband to hold back her red hair and small white gloves to slip over her delicate fingers, but the chill still tickled at her bones nonetheless.

~~~It's been too long since I've been in Minnesota Winters~~~ she fretted bending over at the waist and pulling her nose into her knees to feel the slight burning as her slim calves unsorted themselves in protest against the cold. She may not have been athletic in most other respects, but at least she was limber.

Hanging thus for a moment, Rebecca heard the Holodeck doors grind open again, and felt a brief spot of pity for the poor soul who was arriving even later than she had. ~~~Looks like I wont be the only person carried today…..~~~

"I'm sorry Ma'am, but this is an official Starfleet exercise" she heard Sanchez gruff voice saying to the newcomer, "….we have the Holodeck reserved at this time. I’m afraid our workouts are not suited for civilians."

“I understand completely, “ a strangely familiar voice replied, “but surely you guys wont object to a over the hill farmgirl joining you on this morning’s run?”

Rebecca straightened so quickly she almost gave herself a head rush. ~~~It cant be……~~~

But it was.

~~~Oh noodles on a stick~~~

Standing at the open Archway was none other than her dear ol Mom, Holli von Ernst. The elder von Ernst stood comfortably attired in a plain blue baggy sweatshirt hanging low over streamlined runner’s spandex. The tight gray material accentuated long slim legs that ended in some rather expensive-looking Running Shoes.

Holli’s normally long and flowing waves of red hair were tightly bundled into a single long braided ponytail that she draped nonchalantly over one of her thin shoulders. A pair of wrap around sunglasses sat pertly atop her head, and completed the image of clashing with the stark uniformity of the Starfleet personnel.

Squaring off against the smiling Holli was the formidable Lieutenant Heather Sanchez who frowned openly at this upstart civilian puke who was barging in on her PT torture session

“I’m sure you can,” the Hispanic Security Officer said politely, not meaning it at all, “but I think you might want to join one of the beginners classes…You should find a posting of schedules on the Ships Bulletin Board.”

Holli narrowed her brilliant green eyes and shrugged while pointedly altering her stance to stretch her own well formed calves. “Oh humor me please. You’re Sanchez right? I heard your workouts were the most challenging of anyone’s on the ship, and I wanted to see if they were up to snuff.”

A sudden silence passed over the assembled crowd at the stranger’s implied challenge. The Tactical Department was hurriedly making good use of the interruption to get in some last minute stretches, but they were quite awed at the nerve of this lady in standing up to ruthless Sanchez on this.

Forgetting her own stretches, Rebecca stepped towards the Arch with a worried look in her eyes. “Momma!?!” she blurted out before she could bite off the name.

Now it was Sanchez who raised her eyebrows in surprise. “Momma is it?” she said, “Madre de Dios but now I have TWO Princess snowflakes to baby-sit on this run?” she rolled her eyes in disgust.

The other Runners began buzzing as well. Lt von Ernst brought HER MOTHER on a run? What was she trying to do get poor old mom killed? There was no way the skinny long-haired civilian was ever keep up with the PT Goddess herself…..especially if she shared the same pathetic athletic abilities as her clumsy daughter.

“Mira Senora,” Heather warned, “I don’t care if you are a civilian- puke. This is MY course and I’m not going to carry your sorry ass across these mountains. You fall out on my run and Little Snowflake is going to be carrying you herself, savvy?”

“Roger-o.” Holli agreed snapping off a mock salute. “You set the pace kid, and don’t worry about me.”

Heather Sanchez bristled at being called ‘kid’ but striking a civilian she was sworn to protect was not a good idea for her career, so she merely scowled and turned to address the rest of the group. “Listen up you Tactical Chunky-Butts…In honor of your esteemed leader bringing along ‘Mommy’ for the run, we’re gonna add two more miles to today’s activities….that’s FIVE MILES instead of three for those of you keeping track.”

A smattering of groans and curses were borne upon the chill morning’s wind, and not a few glares were cast in the newcomer’s direction. Oblivious to it all, Holli merely lowered her wrap-around shades onto her pert freckled nose, and smoothed down some imaginary wrinkles in her running tights.

“Bring it on” she purred.

Caught in the middle Rebecca bit her lower lip but said nothing, knowing what drama was about to be played out on the Holodeck this morning. ~~~Noodles, she’s gonna get me creamed~~~ she fretted.

“Allright Chunkies….Fall in!” Heather bellowed to the assembly of uniformed runners. “On my pace, at the quick ­step…March!!”

With a simultaneous bellowed cry of “Hu-ah!!” which amused the civilian Holli to no end, the runners were off. A solid block of 50 crew with one civvie braved the fall chill and crinkled through rustling piles of golden-orange leaves that had fallen across the path.

Towards the front of the block one of the Tactical Ensigns whispered as best she could to her puffing commander. “Way to go El-Tee. You’re gonna give your Mom a Heart Attack, and make Sanchez come down on us all the harder!”

Shaking her short crimson hair briefly to dislodge an errant lock, Rebecca huffed a reply, “ I feel sorry for her…I really do.”

“Why’d you let her come then?”

“Not her,” Rebecca said with a sigh, “I feel sorry for Sanchez……”

*** Quite a bit later…***

EIGHT miles into the FIVE mile run, it was quickly becoming apparent what Rebecca was referring to. 95% of the Tactical Department had dropped out by the end of the originally planned finish line, and quite a few of those had dropped out even earlier. (Rebecca at the ¾ mile marker)

While some had hurriedly vacated the simulated New England environment in order to make Chow Call or report for Duty Stations, the vast majority who had nothing better to do, had remained to line the tight pastoral trails in an eager effort to bear witness to one of the most amazing events to transpire on the USS GALAXY in quite some time. Lieutenant Heather (PT Goddess) Sanchez going one on one with Holli (Rebecca’s Mom ) von Ernst. It was for lack of better terms, the fight of the century.

Stumbling and cursing her way desperately up the steep rocky trail, Lieutenant Heather Sanchez maintained a meager lead over the calm and collect pace of the persistent Holli von Ernst. The tight-lipped civilian had kept close on the Hispanic’s heels, nipping like an annoying little dog for the entire length of this morning’s run, and had indeed at times threatened to take over the lead of the run, each time forcing the prideful Heather Sanchez to redouble her effort just to maintain pace.

It had quickly became obvious to the now-puffing Sanchez that she had been setup and this skinny little ‘civilian-puke’ was by no means what she appeared to be. After the third mile Sanchez had allowed a slight nod of respect towards the gray-tighted lady, and after the fifth there was an unspoken agreement to continue the challenge to the bitter end. The rest of the Runners were long gone, but the strange pair remained, dueling alone amongst the rocks and trees of New England.

“Damn El-Tee,” one of the Tactical Officers swore, “You’re Mom making Sanchez look like an idiot. Who’d have figured”

Sitting and resting on a grassy hillside, Rebecca shrugged. “Me.”

“Well she looks like she’s in good shape.” One of the male officers commented. “You mind if I hit on your Mommy Lieutenant?”

Rebecca rolled her eyes in disgust.

“After all,” the crewman continued with a grin. “Her butt looks really nice in those Spandex.”

“Belay that, or you’ll be scrubbing out the torpedo tubes during a live fire exercise Johnson.” Rebecca warned.

Now nine miles gone, and Sanchez was beginning to sweat for real. Not merely from exertion, but in truth as a matter of pride. Her personal best was an even Twelve back in her Academy days, so she still had a bit of reserve left in her, but the double-cursed farm- girl was still with her.

Holli ran along closely behind her, her long braided hair slung carefully over her slim shoulders to keep it out of the way. The wrap-around shades that Sanchez had mocked earlier, not served as an effective psychological weapon, as it left the freckled faced Redhead’s expression quite unreadable by keeping those piercing green eyes hidden.

~~~Damnation but who is this bitch?~~~ Heather thought

Eleven miles, and with long trail wearing on her unbearably, Heather broke stride and allowed the nipping little redhead to draw abreast of her. “I….give…lady.” she puffed deeply. “Who…the hell are you?”

A bit winded herself, Holli allowed a small shrug and smile. “Just a…… simple civilian-puke…kiddo.”

“No really.”

“She’s ranked in the top 40 for the last ten years for the Chicago Marathon. And top 15 for the Minneapolis Run.” Rebecca explained calmly as she watched with the others from a distant hilltop, “ Though I don’t think she’s even finished higher than 13th overall, she’s still quite competitive and doesn’t miss a race.”

“Holy smokes El-Tee!” One of the Ensigns gasped, “You knew this shit all along! You knew she was gonna show up Sanchez in front of everybody.”

“I had a suspicion.” Rebecca admitted with a shrug. “Momma’s always been a bit over the top in making a point, and I think Heather got her dander up so to speak. The weather isn’t doing her any harm either. We’re from up north, and Momma runs in the snow all the time during the winter months. I suspect that Sanchez may be used to a more temperate climate.”

“Aw friging hell!” Heather cursed, “You mean I’ve been trying to run a damn Marathon-er into the ground!?!”

Smiling broadly now Holli again shrugged, stepping lightly to avoid a loose rock in the trail. “Not my fault kiddo. Although in your favor I must admit, I haven’t logged a mile I the last few weeks since I left Earth.”

“How the hell does a frigging Marathon runner have a goofy kid like Lt. Von Ernst!?”

Holli frowned at that one but said little. “Rebecca’s good people.”

Sanchez swore again as she half stumbled for the sixth time in as many minutes, the situation was quickly becoming unbearable. “Well what the hell do we do now lady?” she puffed through gritted teeth? “I’ll be damned if I’m gonna pace you for 15 more miles…”

“In truth you wouldn’t have to.” Holli admitted, “I don’t do a full 26 but once or twice a year, and it takes a good deal preparation to do lead up to that. This is just a pick-up run, and I probably haven’t got more than one or two in me….”

Briefly Sanchez felt a surge of hope at this admittance, and entertained thoughts of still running this skinny bitch into the ground……but a quick analysis of her own systems revealed that ‘one or two more’ were not going to be forthcoming.

“I’ll make you deal,” Holli breathed, interrupting Heather’s thoughts. “You treat my daughter with the respect she deserves, and cut out the ‘Snowflake’ crap, and I’ll let you off the hook with this run….We pass the next bend, and I’ll drop out letting you claim victory.”

“And if I don’t.”

“Then we’ll see how far I can really push myself.” Holli warned.

======================================================

In the end it went down as Holli suggested. Sanchez walked away claiming victory as von Ernst dropped out at the beginning of the twelfth mile, but the easy nonchalant stride of her mother spoke volumes to Rebecca (and everyone else) about who really won.

Stepping lightly in her sweat-slickened spandex, Holli flipped her braided pony tail back over her shoulder and was greeted by a thunderous cheer from the assembled Tactical by-standers. Quite a few had missed breakfast or their assigned shifts in order to stay and watch, but none would complain at all, for they were witness to a one of a kind event.

The P.T. Queen was dead.

Long live the Queen.

"Free Remy!"
by Lt. Cmdr Ragnald Gustavson, Chief Helmsman
Ensign Miette Michelle (Remy) Remmington, Helmsman
Ensign Arel Smith, Security

A spiral staircase leading down into darkness. Water dripping down the wallbuild of rough red bricks. Cells where delinquents were locked away behind thick rusty iron rods. Nothing of that was found in the Galaxy's brig. Nevertheless the brig like every prison all-over the galaxy was meant to calm people down, to make then think about their wrongdoing or at least make them feel a little bit uneasy.

Indeed, while walking the brightly illuminated corridor, Ragnald felt a little bit uneasy. He came here to get Remy - Ensign Remmington out of here, but didn't get a clue how to furthermore handle that case. He would simply decide spontaneously when it was about time.

Lt (jg) Srallansre looked up from his desk. "Lieutenant Commander, Nice to see you down here. Let me guess, you're here to look for Ensign Remmington, aren't you?"

"Right, Lieutenant, and to take her with me." answered Gustavson "Where is she?"

"Over there ..." described the Sivaoan Security officer pointing at the corridor "... third cell, right paw, Sir."

Remy sat on the pallet of the modern but scantly outfitted cell. No iron rods divided the cell from the corridor, just an almost invisible energy curtain admittedly efficiently kept the delinquent from leaving the room or attacking Ensign Smith who sat in a similar cell on the opposite side of corridor.

Ragnald nodded at Ensign Remmington then turned at Ensign Smith. Again, he nodded. Sarcastically he started his speech:

"Ladies, words can't tell how happy I feel now I'm here, face to face with two of the most famous wrestlers on board the Galaxy. Thank you for making my oh so boring leisure time a little bit funnier. By the way who of you won the match?"

Ensign Smith gave a lofty smile and replied "I did"

to which Ensign Remmington snorted. "Like hell you did."

"Let's count the bruises and see."

"It's not my fault you have a thick head."

Smith's eyes narrowed. "I was going to apologize before. Now you can kiss my..."

"Ladies!" Ragnald interrupted in annoyance.

"Yes?" both asked in unison.

The redhaired helmsman presented the padd previously hidden behind his back.

"Let's look at the official results ..."

Deminstrative he started reading over the report.

"Oh here's a Lt. Zonhieb who's telling us: I found the two Ensigns wallowing on the corridor, fighting in a rather unprofessional style. I decided to take both to the brig. Both women kept struggeling and shouting at each other the whole way.

And here's a report of the technician who opened the turbo lift door.: ... the brawling officers fell out of the turbolift and continued fighting on the floor. Until ... *laughing* sorry it looked so funny ... until the Gorn arrived and carried then away. One under each of his arms.

Okay ladies, for me this sounds like a clear draw.

To talk seriously, Ladies. I cannot appreciate members of my department wasting their time by annoying other members of the crew. I expect my helmsmen to be calm and reasonable during duty and peaceable towards their crew mates."

Ragnald turned towards Ensign Smith

"I think, that's Lt Cmdr Jii's opinion, too. As I remember the right place for a security officer is on the other side of the energy curtain.

Come on, Ladies, there are so many sanctioned occasions to show your personal strength or weakness and to eliminate your dissidences. If you don't know how, I'm able to proudly present you a way ..."

Remy rose her eyebrows as she followed Arel and Gustavson out of the brig. "This should be interesting. A sanctioned way to beat the other into a bloody pulp. But hey, I'm all for it. I was afraid of counseling." She struck a dramatic pose, head tilted back with a quavering hand on her forehead. "It all started when I was a child. . . . my mother. . .she. . ..she. . .locked me in a dark closet with nothing but health food to keep me alive!"

Arel made no reply except to snort and continue to ignore Remy. She was just jealous she had lost. That made Remy smile. Arel had been lucky. Fist fighting, Arel probably would have eventually won, but had Remy actually been mad enough to use her knives, Arel wouldn't be here to snort at her. Ah, bring on the wannabe klingons any day.

“Lovely, Lovely Lady Lilith”
By Lieutenant jg. James Lionel Corgan
Security Officer, USS Galaxy

Guest Starring:
Lieutenant jg. Seth Zonheib
Security Officer, USS Galaxy

Location: Outside of Guest Quarters

Guard duty was boring enough for James to silently protest. Stand at attention, guard the door, wait for a threat that wouldn’t come, then walk around while some stuck up diplomat or goggle eyed luddite commented on the guard’s rigidness. Fun for the whole family… if he had one.

James sighed incontently. Guarding the Sanguinarians doorstep was boring enough. Having to put up with an equally boring guard partner was another problem altogether. His partner in crime, Lieutenant Seth Zonheib. He didn’t mind the fact that Seth scored some impressive kills against the Borg. In fact, he sort of respected the towering Gorn for causing the destruction of his former ship in favor of the other alternative; giving the ship to the Borg. But… what was the use of hanging around with another combat veteran when all he did was stand at attention?

~”Does he have to be so bloody… scary?”~ James tisked. The Gorn stood at the door, unmoving, except for a couple of times. He caught Seth taking downward glances at the gangly security officer. Despite the lack of pupils, James could tell that the Gorn didn’t care about his partner beyond what protocol allowed. ~”Fair enough Seth. I don’t mind having a quiet duty shift, but do you have to look like you’ll swipe my head off with your claws if I ever so much as breathe the wrong way?”~

There were many moments that James didn’t mind having a silent partner. Lt. Darkstar was the most hospitable so far, losing points for his ‘cross me and die’ stare. At least Raven and James shared the same experience with the stalker incidents. He remembered asking Raven about what he wanted to do. Much like James, it involved the merciless killing of convicted stalkers. From then on, James liked his ‘hands on approach’, or in Raven’s thinking, using his hands to strangulate the felons, as opposed to James’ more careful ‘blast the f**ker’ stance.

Seth was different. He seemed more animal than human. Unlike Raven, Seth had enough strength to rip apart a duranium hull plate, which meant Corgan, lacking the density of duranium, made a great meaty pincushion for Mr. Zonheib’s teeth. The Gorn was as tall as a Trellian Hopper Beast, with scales that could resist stun of all settings. Having such a large, potentially dangerous killing machine made Lieutenant Corgan feel uneasy. Worse, he didn’t know how to feel so unintimidated. Talking would only get a menacing growl, and unlike the Jem’Hadar and Borg that most people feared, James couldn’t use boiling hatred to push intimidation away.

He glanced at the Gorn again. The lizard kept at the task of boring a hole through the deck plates with his quicksilver eyes.

~”Nice to know you’re enjoying yourself, chuckles.”~ James sighed.

While ‘Chuckles’ watched the exciting action on the beige walls, James slipped into deep thought. Working on something else was much better than sitting and staring at the walls. There was plenty of songwriting left to do for his new album, and plenty of ideas to refine.

He searched for his ideas… coming up with…

=/\=Album ideas
Deux Ex
Machinations
-Burn
-Kind of/I Want to (incomplete)
-Home
-Rain (I’m so Worthless)
-For You, My Mortal Coil=/\=

~”That’s it? Four complete songs?”~ James exasperated, ~”Geez… four months with only four freaking songs? I have to get down to business and fast… later”~

Duty shift wasn’t the appropriate place to do his ‘artistic work’. Back to his attention on the wall, or the swatting of errant thoughts. At this time, he could welcome even the annoying and sometime frightening ‘other’ voices in his head. At least a good argument with the voices would shut them up. Sadly, they did not appear. He noted that the voices seemed to appear only when it was opportune for them to do so.

He let out another bored, forlorn sigh. This was more than a duty shift. It was murderously boring at some points.

~”I’d rather have Rebecca chew me out, or Lexa bump into me at an awkward time… or have that Sanguinarian lady stop by than just stand here. This is boring as hell. Somebody shoot me now!”~

He took back his words about the lady, the alien with the earthly name of ‘Lilith’. There was something not right about the woman. Her beauty was unearthly to say the least. Her hair shone like polished onyx, braided like the finest silk, cascading down her shoulders like the waterfalls of Betazed on a dark, cool night. Her skin was pale and wan like a ghost, except for the rosy cheeks and her sparkling blue eyes. Even her body was a creation made from an expert artisan. Every curve teased and enticed James to take a second look, even though she knew full well that the bashful officer was too ‘polite’ to stare. Her clothes, a dress with a victorian corslet, silhouetted her seductive looks with overtones of gothic black and velvet red.

He felt almost the same way for Lexa, and now this… being decided to mess with his thoughts with teasing promises of temptation. It was best to stay away from the woman. As soon as he could, James was going to request he presume his duties in the Brig again.

No gigantic lizards, commanding officers or incredibly hot women to raise his flagpole. Silence, a PADD with his poetry and writings, and the weekly visit from the local drunk was all he needed.

The cruel omnipotent ones that loved to complicate matters further did not allow Corgan the chance. The door to the quarters slid open. Out walked the imaginable beauty that was Lilith, followed by her cohort, the somewhat handsome Lord Vlad.

James could admit Vlad was more handsome than he was without thinking to himself that he harbored some sort of homoerotic thoughts. Lord Vlad, after all, was an afterthought when Lady Lilith appeared.

She was everything that James expected, and more. Her attire was changed by an item from the ship’s replicator; a blue and gray jumpsuit that clung to her body like a second skin. He couldn’t help but look at the Sanguinarian. Neither did Lieutenant Zonheib, as he turned his thick neck to meet the stare of the alien temptress.

James shuttered at the thoughts of such a beautiful creature and an overgrown iguana trying to make love. ~”Ugggg, she’d break in two if Seth was on top. That’s just anatomically not… right.”~

He stole another glance at Lilith. She seemed to notice the human Lieutenant, and smiled warmly in his presence.

“I was told that we had to report to your sickbay.” Lord Vlad announced.

“We are ready to go to your doctors right now. We were told that you two would escort us.” Lady Lilith spoke fluently in Federation Common. Her words were more than newly learned. She had the perfect grasp of the language. Her voice spoke with the grace and soothing melody of a flute being played by a master, while her slight body language conducted the symphony that was her actions. She was too perfect for James to resist any longer. He prayed for some way to get out.

“Ummmm… yes sir… ma’am. We will escort you to sickbay.” Corgan stuttered.

“Come this way.” Seth hissed with his Gornian accent, flickering his tongue as he took the lead, making sure that he was positioned at Lady Lilith’s side.

~”That scaly bastard’s making the moves on Lilith. I can’t believe that surly reptile wants such a delicate woman like herself. He must have a fetish for the hot blooded.”~ James hostile thought spoke out.

While Corgan stewed in jealousy, Seth thought about his charge while trying hard to keep the face of a dedicated officer. Lilith was as strong, healthy woman to Seth. While a little small for his liking, she made up for it with a slim, dexterous tail, a broad and shaply snout, a crimson red tongue that begged to be flickered by his own, and the perfect dusting of reptilian scales in his favorite hue of green, like the women in his area of the planet Gorn. It was a long time since Seth had the opportunity to look at such a ravaging female, since there were not many Gorn women living in the Federation.

Lucky for him, an excellent mate ‘appeared’ from nowhere.

Everyone boarded the nearest turbolift. Lieutenant Zonheib entered first, being it was convenient to cram the larger creature in before the other, smaller beings put themselves in the turbolift. His silver, beady eyes spied Lieutenant Corgan leading Lilith into the turbolift, graciously coming in last to show kindness toward HIS potential mate.

“Sickbay.” Corgan chirped, with a little bounce in his step.

~”That skinny little Lintibean pole is trying to win the lady’s trust. I can’t believe that sulking psychopath wants such a strong, virile woman. He must have a fetish for the cold blooded.”~ Seth protested.

Lady Lilith enjoyed the veiled fawning from the two security guards, or so it seemed to the two officers. She let out a reptilian hiss of contentment, inaudible to most humanoids except for Seth. He heard the tempting hiss escape her lips. Seth’s blood, as cold as it was, was starting to heat up from the teasing alone. He put out his own quiet hiss. The Lady Lilith hissed back, the equivalent of saying, “Try to pin me, if you can.”

~”She is strong indeed.”~ Seth nodded.

In Lieutenant Corgan’s corner, he couldn’t keep his eyes off of Lady Lilith. She stood right beside him, taking inviting glances up at Corgan’s face. He blushed heavily, looking down to prevent himself from staring, then looking back again for another guilty glance. Her luscious curves were still waiting for attention, her tight jumpsuit unbuttoned to show enough for the imagination to come up with the rest of the picture.

~”Oh my god… first Lexa and now this… I really must not, but I want to so much. Can’t I at least tell her she looks… like THAT?!”~ James thought.

The turbolift stopped, then swished open to reveal the next deck, the medical area of the ship. James purposely avoided this part of the saucer section, because of the events during the last skirmish with the Borg. Sickbay’s entrance was the scene of some of the worst carnage in the bloody fight for the ship. James remembered the last few Borg he killed on the deck, during a time when instinct and pure hatred ruled him more than clear thinking. He remembered the blood that soaked into the carpet, after he smashed a drone’s head in with a phaser rifle, and the splattering gore of the next drone he murdered by slamming his type two into the drone’s head, and firing at point blank. He could still see the slight discoloration of the carpet from where fabric, blood and intense heat mixed. Like his guilt, the carpet couldn’t come clean.

Lady Lilith’s finger traced on the back of James’ neck. At first, the gentle stroke of her fingernail surprised the young officer, then comforted him during his lapse into distress. The fingernail felt arousing to the touch, mixing pleasure with a tiny scratch of pain. Her soft hand was next, wrapping itself around Corgan’s arm. He felt more relaxed than before.

“Ummm… ma’am?” James asked Lady Lilith.

“It’s all right, Lieutenant Corgan. You need not worry.” She whispered.

James was worried. Lilith easily charmed the officer, a fact he found unsettling. Then, he looked at her ravishing face, and the arm that encircled his. ~”This feels… good.”~ He admitted, ~”Wait… I have to stop myself.“~

“We are here.” Seth interjected, glancing a disgusted stare at Lieutenant Corgan, or at least, that was what Corgan thought. It was hard to tell without pupils.

The doors parted for the Lord Vlad and Seth Zonheib. The Gorn Lieutenant took his place at sickbay, waiting in front of the doors for the lady to finish her examinations. James took the opposite end of the doorway. Lady Lilith unwound her arm, and walked away.

“Thank you for the escort, Lieutenants.” Lilith spoke, before turning away to meet one of the doctors.

“Yes, thank you. Me and the lady are pleased.” Lord Vlad voiced.

James already missed such a nice touch. Her erotically appealing dress, her alluring touch was ambrosia to James’ mind. Women like her, who knew as if they were empathic how to please a man, were hard to find. Here he was, looking at such a woman.

~“Dammit! Lexa was bad enough. I can’t believe this! I must be a fool for women or something.”~ James scolded himself.

He hated what seemed to be a weakness for the opposite sex. Every time he meet them, he either helps them out with a problem, becomes their friend, falls in love with them, or all three as was the case with Lieutenant Reece. Lady Lilith skipped steps one and two, bringing in the convenience of step three in record time. He quickly corrected himself. Love was different than lust. Lilith was kind hearted, nice, and incredibly beautiful. There was no personality that he could pin on the woman. All she had going for her was her stunning looks and an ability to flirt. Somehow though, she exceeded his expectations. Her personality molded into the type of woman James could hope for. Soft, smart, incredibly sensitive to how he feels and not afraid to get close to him. She was perfect. ~”Hell.”~ He cursed for having his argument shot out of the sky. He had to admit it, she was a wonderful woman, and he thought of making conversation with her before Seth put his scaly paws on her.

Unfortunately, Seth saw a strong, protective and highly aggressive mate meant for an enjoyable roll in the sand. Most of the other races on board the ship were too frail, or they didn’t have enough scales for his liking. Lilith was perfect in such aspects. He seriously considered asking her to mate with him. Such a beauty was not to be wasted on the likes of James Corgan.

“She’s something… isn’t she?” James blurted out with a warning tone to Lt. Zonhieb

“Yesssss….” Seth hissed, readying himself to leap on the human at any second, “She sure isssss…”

"Forgetting Her Face"
By Lieutenant Commander Savat

****COO's Office****

Savat looked up from the stack of reports splayed across his desk as Captain Price entered his office.

"G'day, mate." The captain said with his usual half-cocked smile. "Keeping busy?"

Savat rose on reflex before the Captain could tell him to stay put, and stood at ease with his hands folded behind his back. "There is sufficient material to keep me adequately occupied. Is there something I can do for you, Sir?"

"I'm concerned, Savat. Looking back on the past few days, I can not recall seeing you anywhere other than on the bridge or in your office. When is the last time you took a break?"

Savat took a moment to reflect. It was more for show than anything else. He knew exactly how long he had been on duty, down to the last minute. "We are somewhat understaffed at the moment." He finally replied. "My assistant chief has been preoccupied with her away team assignment and has only recently returned. I concluded that it would be more efficient to fill in the gaps in the duty schedule myself."

Price snorted at the classic Vulcan non-answer. "How long, Mr. Savat?"

"Seventy three hours, fourteen minutes." The elder Vulcan replied nonchalantly.

"Crikey! Are you serious?" The Captain saw a hint of amusement on the Vulcan's face. "Right, dumb question. But no dumber than pushing yourself to the limit for no reason."

"I've hardly reached my limits, sir." Savat replied.

"I think Dr. Dothan would disagree. Am I going to have to solicit his opinion, or are you going to do the sensible thing?" Price could see a hint of resistance remaining in his Ops Manager. "This isn't the Gamma Quadrant and we are not at red alert. Let some of the department's junior officers take over for a while. They can use the practice. Go get some sleep or some recreation or whatever suits you."

"If you insist sir."

"I do." Price said firmly. "I do not want to see you on duty again for another twenty four hours, not unless the ship is falling apart around us and I rather think that is unlikely here in the middle of nowhere."

"Understood, Sir." Savat stated with resignation.

****Holodeck Four****

The program was a simple one by ship's standards. No sprawling vistas, shimmering oceans or attacking hordes. Just a simple well lit room with a pedestal and a mound of wet clay.

Savat, stripped to the waist, was massaging the clay with his fingers, willing the shapeless mass to take on a more aesthetic form. It was a relatively new artistic pursuit for the senior Vulcan, one that he had been practicing for less than a month. But it fit well with his decision to try new things. The switch to Operations Manager had been a first step. Learning to sculpt was the next. Master Saitek on Vulcan had been impressed with Savat's work in crafting the vessel for Surok's Katra and had encouraged Savat to pursue the craft further. And while glass sculpting was all well and good, Savat decided it would be best to get the basics down first. Perhaps in a decade or so he would switch to stone, and then a decade after that, return to Saitek for further instruction.

Slowly but surely, the clay began to take form under Savat's guidance. He had chosen to sculpt the bust of a Vulcan female. The decision was a simple one. It would be to honor his former wife, T'Pal, who had never been far from his mind in the sixty seven years since her death. Even his brief and tragic joining with T'Prin had not removed her memory from his mind, as illogical as it was for him to hold onto it.

The head and neck were a simple task, but the face was proving a more difficult matter. Three times he began the details of her eyes, her lips, her ears. Three times, he ran his palm roughly over the surface, erasing his work and starting over. Savat grew more restless with every failure. He tried to analyze where he was going wrong, telling himself the nose had been a centimeter too long or that the eyes needed to be angled another seven degrees.

But the hard and bitter truth was, that Savat could simply not remember T'Pal's face. At long last, the process that should have begun with the announcement of her death during the Tomed Incident had taken root. T'Pal had become a sweet but hazy memory, no longer a constant companion in his thoughts, but a flicking illusion filled with an overwhelming sense of regret. His body shuddered at the realization. Had it been T'Prin? Had she finally instilled in him the healing process? If so, then it had torn open wounds twice as deep. T'Prin, his promised mate, the first in decades and his last hope for children, was a frozen corpse, drifting in a cloud of debris in the Gamma Quadrant. And as he thought about her, he realized that her face was beginning to loose definition in his thoughts as well.

Savat felt a strange wetness on his face. Curious, he touched his cheek with his fingertips and was startled to see clear salty tears.

"No." He said under his breath, beginning to realize what it meant. "Not yet. NOT YET!"

The lean muscles of his upper torso tightened and his fist clenched into a ball. With a snarl the likes of which was rarely heard in his species, Savat's fist shot forward, impacting against the wet clay like a cannonball. With a loud "splut" the soft gray sculpture was shattered and splattered, coating the walls, the floor, his chest arms and face. He stood there, his breath ragged, staring at his handiwork as if he was on the outside, observing a stranger.

"Now that is the Vulcan I remember." A soft inviting voice spoke up. "Passionate. Savage. Irresistible."

"Lilith." Savat stated, without turning around. Just the sound of her voice was enough to inflame him. He dared not to look. The hairs on the back of his neck rose as he felt her approach.

**** ****

To be Continued.

Lieutenant Commander Savat
Chief Operations Officer, USS Galaxy
AKA
David Friedland
ICQ# 5805168

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Kicking Ass

Ensign Miette Michelle (Remy) Remmington

Remy stared at the ceiling of her quarters, smiling contentedly. Had she been a cat, she'd probably be purring. With a get of a jail free card in one hand, a chocolate milkshake in the other, listening to old 20th century music her brother had been particularly fond of called rock and roll, and getting permission to kick someone's ass in the near future, Remy was a pretty happy girl.

If she had a boyfriend life would be perfect. Ah, well, one can not have everything. That's why stealing was important. If one can not be given everything, one must learn how to take. Theft. It was all about being assertive.

Remy put her half empty glass of milkshake down (it's always half empty when it's something good) on a nearby table and got up from her bed. "Computer, begin personal log, stardate. . . .um. . .shit, what day is it?" After finding the correct date, she began her journal.

"So, I got into this fight with this chick Arel," she told the recording computer and the empty room around her. "If we hadn't been so pissed off at each other earlier we probably wouldn't have. But hey, I got to have some fun watching my bruises change shades of color (which of course every true artist understands is a beautiful thin) and spend some time singing in the brig and probably annoying the guard. So it's all worth it. Besides, I've been on the Galaxy for a few months now and I hadn't gotten thrown in the brig yet. I was really getting kind of worried. Brig sick, y'know. After all, if I'm not in trouble, there's got to be something wrong with the universe."

"So, anyway, I got in this fight, though to tell you the truth it really wasn't much of a fight. Brawling. Eh. But we get to fight later on. It's a betazoid event. I've never played it but I've seen it been played before. Takes training. Hard work. Destruction and restruction of muscles. Agony and horror in every bone in my body. Sounds like fun. Anything beats counseling."

"Mom's birthday is next week. Looking forward to it. . . .hah. Maybe I can send some dead roses. Wouldn't that be cute. Well, I'm not that mean. Sweeter than that rich bitch. Oh gee, did I say that out loud? Whoops."

"Not much else really. Have to prepare to fight. Pilot the ship. Get in more trouble. That sort of thing. Maybe I'll drop in on our guests. I haven't seen 'em yet and I've been getting a weird vibe from what i've heard about them. Don't know why really. Could be my wannabe Betazoid hunches again, could be my overactive imagination. But it doesn't feel right. Besides, easiest way to piss someone off is to nose around or displease foreign ambassadors."

"God, life is great! Always need to end on a positive note. Computer, end log."

And life, though had it's really, REALLY crappy moments at time, was great. Roller coaster of life and Remy always loved roller coasters. That's what there was to live for, the good times, best moments. That was freedom was all about: breaking down the walls that surround you and just flying through life. Sometimes you take a dip and sometimes your dip ends in concrete to break your heart as well as your head but hey, it's all good. Life was good. Freedom. Life, liberty, and kicking ass. "Baby, this is what I like."

"Moody Blues"
Ensign Arel Smith

Arel was moody as she walked back to her quarters but that in itself was nothing new. Still, as she walked, she couldn't help but notice a few people, floating blissfully on their metaphoric clouds of love and happiness, and it made her more depressed. She snarled at those who were unfortunate enough to get in her way and muttered about idiots and morons until she got back to her rooms.

But who was she kidding? she thought as she entered her quarters. Arel probably would have given her left arm to be in their place. To be happy.

She stripped off her clothes, leaving a clothing trail that she was sure would have attracted any man, and headed right for the sonic shower to wash away any lasting blood left over from her fight with Ensign Remmington. She rolled her shoulders, in her customary motion of discomfort, and closed her eyes while the shower did its work.

As always, she was conflicted, torn between two different schools of thought, two different worlds. There was a small part of her that was excited about this Gustavsen's solution, Arel had to admit, she was always up for a fight. This part was the angry one, the one that wanted to take all the pain out on whoever was unlucky enough to be in her way. Remmington wasn't really all that bad, upon reflection. She was just a means to an end.

And Arel was really ready for an end.

She stepped out of the shower, dried off, and padded her way to the closet. After minutes of rifling through her mediocre wardrobe, she finally settled on a brown jumpsuit and big ass black boots. She tied her hair back and then added little braids to the tail and was out of her quarters before she realized that she was headed for Ten-Forward.

Maybe she could get the bartender to sneak her "some of the good stuff." At least then she could be chemically happy.

"The lizard people"
by Lieutenant jg Seth Zonhieb

Captain Price walked into the guest quarters faster then the security guards could protest. Something about their smell had Seth suspicious. When the man came out again he informed the guards to escort the Lord and lady to sick bay.

Seth shifted one eye from the captain to the guests. They should never have gotten on board without the doctors scans. Even dispite thier scales, teeth and claws the guest should be checked out. They had been in hibernation a long time.

The leaner of the two lizards had a colourful fin on its head and down its back. Puffing out cheeks to make it look bigger it let out the breath that purfumed the air. The scent immediatly conveyed the female was in egg heat.

The gorn sized up the other, obviously male from lack of fin. He didn't even look effected. Seth doubted the creatures strength in resisting the security guard if he chose to take the female. Survival of the fittest was something gorns where use to.

Right now the orders where to take them to sickbay. They walked down the hall and into a turbo lift. The scent was concentrated, the blood smell made sence now.

"Shell game and cheesy accents"
by Captain Robert Edward Lee Price

Captain Price settled into his ready room and opened a channel.

"Captain Price to Lieutenant Commanders Gustavson, Elaithin and Savat. Gentlemen, report to my ready room at once please."

Within a short span of time, each of the department chiefs responded that they were on their way to the Captain's office. Within six minutes, they had all arrived, Mister Savat being the last since he seemed to be distracted. Which was no wonder since his department was short handed and he was coordinating the efforts on board the Galaxy, seeing to the guest arrangements for the Sanguinarians, and coordinating the away team activities on the Tamarian vessel.

"Thanks for coming so quickly 'mates." The Captain began. "Now that I have you all here, we can get started. Mister Savat, I understand that the Operations department is presently understaffed with qualified officers."

Savat nodded. "That is correct Captain. As was indicated in my last departmental report, we have sufficient officers to cover the present duty rotation, however not enough to smoothly staff the department when expected absences occur such as away team assignments, sickness, shore leave, and so forth." The Vulcan explained in a dry monotone that was typical of Vulcans.

"Well then, I have good news for you 'mate. Effective immediately, you'll be receiving two additional officers to add to your roster." Lee stated referencing a prepared padd that he read off of. "Lieutenants junior grade Talryn McCauley, and James Corgan."

The General handed the padd to Savat who quickly checked it to see the transfer was all in order. "I'm sure that we will be able to utilize their talents Captain."

Lee nodded. "Obviously a brief training period will be required to familiarize them with their new responsibilities and duties as Operations Officers, but I'm sure you'll find it easy to bring them both up to speed."

The Captain then looked over at the other two officers. Both Gustavson and Elaithin figured that was why they were summoned. Since McCauley was presently in Flight Control and Corgan was presently in Security. So when the Captain handed them each a padd it came as no surprise.

"Elaithin, you'll find the transfer order for Corgan listed." The Captain confirmed of the contents of his padd. Then looking at Ragnald, the Captain stated, "Gustavson, you'll see McCauley listed as well as Lieutenant Bruce Maxwell."

Ragnald glanced at the padd and saw exactly what the Captain had stated. However it was Jii that spoke first.

"Maxwell? I have him listed here on my padd." Looking up Lieutenant Commander Elaithin asked, "Bruce is transferring to Security?"

The Captain nodded. "Aye. So you'll be loosing an officer, but gaining one right back. 'Commander Savat will be gaining two additional Operations Officers, and 'Commander Gustavson..."

"Gets screwed out of two officers sir." Ragnald said flatly with a hint of sarcasm.

Lee nodded. "Aye. But your department is still well staffed 'mate. And with the addition of Cadet Delecroix, I believe things should be well covered for at least the next several months until we can get Starfleet to assign additional pilots to the Galaxy."

"You do realize that Bruce is giving up an assistant Chief position in Flight Control to go to Ops?" Gustavson pointed out.

"Yes 'mate. Truth be told, it was Bruce that requested a change. I believe you received a copy of his message? I needed to find him a new challenge on board the Galaxy, or we'd of likely lost him to a new assignment, along with his wife, Assistant Chief Counselor Navarre Shinta."

Ragnald nodded. He remembered Maxwell's message, but hadn't had the time to respond to it. Evidently the Captain had, and thus the transfer from Helm to Ops for Bruce. "I understand sir. I'm sure we will get along fine with the personnel that remain." Ragnald, glanced up and asked, "Sir, this transfer request... It doesn't have anything to do with the Flight Control department or myself as department head, does it?"

"No 'mate. You can rest assured; Bruce's request is simply a case of restlessness with all that has happened to himself and his family. So no worries."

'Commander Gustavson took solace in knowing that. He hated to think Maxwell was leaving his department because of some problem he wasn't aware of.

"Captain, if this is all, I would like to begin preparations to bring these officers into the Operation Department." Mister Savat stated.

"Of course 'mate. Gentlemen, that is all. Dismissed."

The three department heads began leaving the Captain's office with their datapadds that contained the official transfer orders for the personnel change.

Lee was busy putting some final touches on a report when the enter chime sounded to his office.

"Enter." Price called out.

Commander Dallas came walking in on her specialized legs. "I have an update on the away team members that have returned from the Tamarian vessel captain."

Deactivating his monitor, the Captain gave the Counselor his full attention. "What is it 'mate?"

"Well, everyone seems to be in good health after a full medical examination sir. No bio-contaminants, no viral agents or bacteria from exposure to the environment of the Tamarian vessel. Of the members that have beamed back and been examined, only Lieutenant Commander Odin has shown any sort of medical anomalies at all." Karyn explained.

The Captain's expression grew curious. "What sort of anomaly Commander?"

"Doctor Dothan believes it's nothing to be concerned with sir, and as a registered nurse, I can agree. But scans show that 'Commander Odin's blood pressure was a bit low. Scans show that he seems to be missing a pint of blood."

Lee leaned back in his chair. The image of Lord Vlad flashed through his mind as he remembered how the gentlemanly Sanguinarian had reminded him of a Vampire in that black and red getup he was wearing when he stopped by his quarters. "Are you sure the 'Commander didn't just give some plasma?"

"Not according to Doctor Dothan's medical records." Karyn stated and noticed the Captain smiling foolishly. She couldn't resist asking with a smile of her own, "What is it sir?"

"Oh nothing Commander. Just a foolish thought." The Captain dismissed.

Moving to a chair, Karyn sat down to take a load off her synthetically enhanced legs. "Tell me Captain. I could use a touch of foolishness right about now."

Lee looked at Karyn a moment and then decided to share with the Counselor. "It's just when I meet Lord Vlad and Lady Lilith for the first time... Oh, this is just silly." The Captain waved his hands.

"Tell me!" Karyn beckoned. "Judging from your smile, it must be rather humorous..."

The General shook his head. Finally he relented. "It's just that the suit and cape Lord Vlad wore. Well, it..." the Captain stated looking into Karyn's eyes, "...it reminded me of something a vampire would wear."

Karyn threw her head back and laughed. Now she realized why the Captain was reluctant to mention this. It was nearing Halloween, and already decorations and plans for a costume party in Ten Forward were underway. Now the ship discovers these strangers on board an ancient Tamarian vessel, and by coincidence one of them was dressed in a suit reminiscent of a vampire, and with Odin missing a pint of blood... it was all rather a spectacular sort of "trick or treat".

"Well, now I know why you didn't want to say anything Captain." Karyn laughed. "I know that the Halloween party is on everyone's mind, but I'm sure that there is no connection between Lieutenant Commander Odin's low blood condition and the arrival of these visitors."

"Yes I know. It's unlikely. But what is worse is that both Lord Vlad and Lady Lilith also speak in a rather... unique accent."

Karyn couldn't resist. Raising her hands with fingers spread out in Boris Karloff claws, she stated in a perfect, Transylvanian accent, "I vaunt to suck you blud!"

Both the Captain and the Counselor laughed for a spell at the silliness of it all.

Finally Karyn returned to a semi-serious state. "Captain, Doctor Dothan did a thorough examination of 'Commander Odin. There were no signs of internal or external bleeding, and no internal or external punctures that could explain the blood loss. Near as Doctor Dothan can tell, Odin is simply suffering from some strange condition of fatigue that has depleted his blood supply. He's been given Doepoxaline to promote blood production and restore his levels to normal. So you see sir, no one could have bitten Odin to 'suck his blud!'" Karyn finished again raising her Karloff claws.

"Fair enough 'mate. Fair enough." The Captain chuckled. "Though I do think it would be a good idea if you stopped by and visited our guests to get your own impression of the Sanguinarians."

"That sounds like a good idea. I'd like to meet them." Karyn agreed.

With an outstretched hand the Captain added, "But whatever you do, don't do that vampire imitation. I'm sure they wouldn't understand our sense of humor about their unique accents."

"Don't worry Captain. I'd never do anything like that. I save all of my teasing for members of the senior staff, and my Captain." Karyn smiled deviously.

"Well that's good to know." Lee smiled. "Is there anything else Commander?"

"Not really. Engineering teams are still working on retrieving the ships logs from the Tamarian ship. Evidently there is heavy damage to the engine room that they have so far been unable to explain." Karyn explained.

"What sort of damage?" Lee inquired.

"Lieutenant Commander T'zaq is unsure sir. There are no hull breaches in the vessel, yet the entire engine room appears to have been destroyed. Virtually all of the control consoles and machinery are smashed from the inside of the ship. It's like someone purposely took a wrecking crew through there to destroy everything so it would be unusable."

"Cri-key." The Captain declared. "I'll have to ask our guests if they know anything about what happened when I see them later."

"The ship's logs may show something or document what happened. T'Zaq believes that at least some data will be recoverable, but only fragments because of the damage and the antique nature of the storage medium of that era." Karyn explained.

"This just keeps getting odder and odder." The Captain Commented.

"Yes sir. But if it was easy, anyone could do it." Karyn stated rising to her feet once again.

"Aye." Lee nodded. "Thanks for delivering the report Counselor."

"My pleasure Captain. Will you be taking over the bridge, or should a I remain in command?" the Counselor asked.

Looking at his monitor, the Captain then looked back at Karyn. "Actually, I think I'm about done here for now 'mate."

"Great. Then with your permission, I think I will go and say hello to our guests. I'm looking forward to finding out 'vot they are like.'" Karyn stated, falling back into her Transylvania accent impression once again.

"Get out of here 'mate before you make me bust my gut." The Captain waved the Counselor off with a smile.

Karyn chuckled and walked playfully towards the exit to the bridge. Before exiting the Captain's office, she stopped, took a calming breath to return to her professional demeanor and then walked onto the command deck.

Captain Price straightened his desk quickly, and then followed to retake command of the bridge while the Counselor went to meet the guests who were presently in sickbay undergoing examinations.

"Blood Fever"
By Lieutenant Commander Savat

**** ****

"Will you not turn to face me, Savat?" Her voice was like a warm breeze, sending a flush across his skin. The elder Vulcan dug his fingernails into the palms of his hands, sending small rivulets of blood across the lines in his flesh like a copper spiderweb.

"I dare not, Lady Lilith." Savat replied, his voice thick. "And I would ask that you leave now."

"You know that I can not." She replied, her voice calm and even, but with an underlying hint of heated anticipation. "I am drawn here by the same tidal forces that you are."

"You are not of Vulcan." Savat stated, his voice horse as his eyelids fluttered closed, his every once of strength focused on resisting his primal urges. Painful tremors wracked his body, the forces of nature compelling him in every way possible to act upon his instincts.

"No, I am not Vulcan." Lilith replied. "But your people are known to us. We have tasted the fruit of Vulcan culture. I know of the savagery you fight to contain every day. And how now, during this time, it is a war you can not hope to win."

He could feel her stepping closer. A perfectly sculpted hand reached out to stroke the back of his neck. Savat anticipated the touch and moved out of reach. "DO NOT!" He commanded, his voice echoing in the small clay splattered chamber. His heart was hammering in his chest. He felt overheated and dizzy. The pain came anew in a fresh wave, and he clutched his ribs in an effort to fight it. "We must not touch, you could be overcome."

"I am already there!" Lilith said. Her voice rising in urgency. "The other day, when we touched. I had no idea what it would be like. But now, I know Savat. And you can not deny me this. I feel as it I will die if I do not find release!"

Her voice, dripping with feral desire, was driving Savat to madness. He clutched his head and pulled at his hair, his eyes scrunched shut. He flung himself against the far wall, nearly separating his shoulder, hoping the physical pain would drive away the onset of the Plak Tow. But it was an exercise in futility.

"Am I that undesirable?" Lilith asked suggestively. "Would you allow us both to die, rather than allowing yourself this brief rapture?"

Savat turned to find Lilith standing right in front of him. She was practically panting, her eyes roving over his body. She was dressed in a skin tight Vulcan jumpsuit, a style of fashion that had not been seen on his world in over two centuries. But that simple incongruity was lost on Savat, who stood transfixed by Lilith's perfect form. From the elegant curve of her neck to the suppleness of her breasts to the taught muscles of her thighs. She was the most aesthetically pleasing female he had ever seen.

Lilith stepped forward, her body less then an inch from his own. Her ragged breathing was hot against his bare chest. Savat stood silently as Lilith reached down and clutched his wrist, bringing his injured palm up for her inspection. She brought his hand to her lips, kissing the wounds. As the verdant blood touched the tip of her tongue, she moaned involuntarily. Savat felt the vibration travel up his arm and throughout his body, stoking the fire in his core to greater heights. He knew then that he was lost.

He placed his hands upon Lilith's waist and effortlessly lifted her into the air, turning her around and pressing her back against the wall. She snaked her legs around his hips and lifted her arms above her head, arching her back and pressing herself against him, mashing her breasts against his chest as she ground her hips against him, feeling his desire growing.

"Koon-ut-so'lik!" Savat said, as his hands began to rove over her body. "I claim you as my mate!" He gripped the fabric of her jumpsuit and tore it away. Lilith gasped and snaked her arm around his head, forcing his mouth down over her breasts. Her free hand reached between Savat's legs and stroked him teasingly until he moaned out loud. Then, with strength that shocked the elder Vulcan, even in his delirious state, she pushed him away, sending him sprawling backwards across the small room.

"Kal-if-fee!" Lilith said in a commanding voice. She shimmied out of the remains of her jumpsuit and stood facing Savat in all her naked glory. "Earn it!"

Savat's eyes narrowed and a guttural snarl escaped his lips. The Koon-ut-kal-if-fee was rare in modern Vulcan society. One either married their arranged bond mate without argument or they married freely as the fortunes of love guided them. His marriage to T'Pal had been without incident or debate. His bond with T'Prin a matter of mutual attraction and respect. But Lilith was a different creature entirely. Even as she was in the midst of her own blood fever, she challenged him, forcing him away moments before their union. In an instant her lover had become her hunter.

They circled each other in the center of the room, neither saying a word. Savat's eyes remained locked on the sway of her hips. He forced himself to ignore the maddening scent of her long enough to analyze her movements and anticipate her strikes. Lilith unleashed the opening volley, closing the distance between them with stunning quickness, her fingers together and slightly curled, as if imitating claws. She slashed at his torso, but Savat was already on the move, pivoting to the right on the ball of one foot, allowing her hands to cut nothing more than the air. The momentum of her attack carried her forward and slightly off balance. Savat caught her wrist in his hand and continued his spiral, carrying her momentum around clockwise. Then, as she was about to pitch forward, he reversed direction, sending the full force of her energy back upon her. Lilith's legs kicked up into the air and her spine arched as she desperately fought to maintain her balance, but it was of no use. There was a snapping sound from her wrist, just moments before her back and head hit the floor with a loud smack, knocking the wind from her. Savat was on her in and instant, his leg pressing her chest to the floor as his forearm bore cruelly down upon her throat.

"Submit!" He ordered, his eyes blazing. He eased up just enough to hear her response.

"You take your prey in a single devastating move, without mercy. I like that. What I fine Sanguinarian you would make!" With an uncharacteristic smile, she reversed their positions so that she was straddling his chest. He could feel the heat of her sex against his belly as his thoughts quickly reverted from conflict to conquest. Her hand pressed down against his chest as she reached back and undid his pants, pushing them back over his hips. "I submit." She said in a throaty voice. She slid slowly backwards until she was up against him. She hovered for a moment, teasing, until she saw that he could bear it no longer, before plunging herself down upon him.

Savat's back arched spasmodically, driving their hips together as she entangled her legs in his own, not allowing him to pull back even an inch. She ran her nails up along his sides to his face, her fingertips brushing against his temples. As liquid heat spread outward from their thighs, Savat felt, through their connection, the first glimmerings of the mind behind his mate. His eyes opened wide in recognition.

"I know what you are." He breathed.

"And you shall forget all but the bliss." She said, smiling as she began to kiss her way up his chest to his neck.

**** ****

Lord Vlad turned and smiled as Lilith glided into his quarters. "How was your evening with our Vulcan friend?" He asked.

"Delicious." She said with a wicked smile.

"A shame I could not be there." Vlad said wistfully. "I have not tasted of that vintage in many centuries."

"My sweet, sweet Lord." Lilith purred as she crossed the room to the replicator. "Did you think I would forget your needs?" She faced the replicator and spoke. "Two champagne flutes, empty." She ordered. She picked up the delicate glasses as soon as they materialized and walked back to her consort, holding one in each hand.

Her mouth began to distend, as her lips curled back to reveal gleaming white fangs. Her head pitched forward and she began to regurgitate the green brackish blood she had collected into the flutes. When she was done, she handed one over to Lord Vlad, who inhaled the aroma of Savat's lifeblood, savoring the bouquet.

Vlad lifted his glass. "A toast."

"To the hunt!" Lilith said, devilishly.

"To the hunt!" Vlad replied, as they tipped back their flutes and drank deeply.

**** ****

Lieutenant Commander Savat
Chief Operations Officer, USS Galaxy
AKA
David Friedland
ICQ# 5805168

USS Galaxy "Blood Lust and Passion"
Written by Lt Kahn Nilani
Engineering Officer
Head of Special Projects
USS Galaxy

******

The dark streets of London, nights darkness extending the shadows of the buildings that lined the streets. Wisps of fog rose from the cobbled pavement as a lone horseman rode past a cloaked figure her shadowy presence moving on the flickers of light.

She lifted the dress and cloak at her knees and headed towards the inn, it's noise was easily heard from some distance away as men and women drunk them selves to a stupor.

Her shoes echoed on the pavement as she approached the door, inside the inn a man was getting up from the ground, having tripped on his way down from the 1st floor.

She opened the inn door, light poured into the street as she lowered the cloaks hood and smiled at the roughness and charm of the place. Nilani moved her way to the front bar, her dress folded neatly behind her as she managed to sit down on one of the rather high chairs.

"Why hello miss.... what can I do for ye?" a rather plump Scottish man asked her as he cleaned a wooden mug. Nilani's smile crept up another notch as she pulled a two pennies out of a small bag.

The bartender smiled and winked at strange woman, he knew that 'decent' women didn't drink ale and that for a women to do so either meant she didn't care what people thought of her or she was looking for some company later in the night! He looked over the strange woman again as he placed a mug of ale in front of her. 'Aye she is a lady of the night....' he thought to himself and took the two pennies from the table top.

She looked around casually, the inn was busy, everyone either drinking, laughing or dancing. Out of the corner of her eye she noticed someone looking at her, his handsome and ruggard face showing strength and kindness. She shrugged it off and took another long gulp of the ale and draining the mug dry.

She placed another two pennies onto the table top which received another look from the bartender and seconds later another mug of ale. Her attentions moved back to the man, his eyes said wonders about him, they seemed so distant... yet... so near.

"Excuse me mis...." asked a man who now stood beside her. She was shocked when she noticed his presence beside her. She looked him up and down and gave a coy smile, her hand ran down a curl of her hair which had only just grown long enough. "Yes..... I apologize for not knowing your name sir" she said and ran a hand down his leg.

The man merely laughed "Perhaps me and you should go elsewhere?"

She looked him up and down once again and took his hand, she moved quickly through the door and turned down the side street next to the inn, his hands felt up her dress as she pulled his shirt open and started to kiss his chest.

Suddenly the man went limp and fell away, she looked up to see the man that was across the other side of the bar. His eyes seemed to sink her into them like a calm tranquil ocean.

She moved her hands over his chest and felt her hands being taken by his, he felt over her legs and kissed the softness of her neck.

Nilani moaned slightly as she felt the softness of the mans touch, suddenly she felt like her whole body was on fire. Every nerve in her body tingled with excitement as she felt more and more euphoric than she had been before. She knew in the back of her mind what he was doing, she didn't care.... she wanted it to continue, to go on....

'Thank you my dear....' he said as he sucked on her beautiful soft neck.

*****

Nilani woke up, her hair was a mess and her body was covered in a fine sheen of sweat. She felt content and at peace, yet she felt extremely tired. She looked over at the clock "SHIT!" she screamed and got dressed, running out of her quarters.

WARNING: R-rated material (or worse) below. Don't read if you are squeamish about sexuality.

"Almost a Dream"
By Lieutenant jg Electra Reece
Assistant Chief of Operations

Lexa struggled against the arms holding her. "NOOOOOOOOOOO!"

She awoke, the echo of her scream still reverberating through the walls. She sat up panting. "Damn it. I thought I was too tired to dream!"

Lexa rose from her bed and walked over to the closet, requesting a uniform. She put it on and walked out of her quarters, deciding to wander about for a bit until she could shake off the dream. They were getting stranger and stranger. It was annoying her. She hoped Karyn would have time for her soon.

She walked to the turbolift and said, "Ten Forward." ~ Maybe I should have a nightcap. ~ The turbolift doors opened and she walked down the hall. She entered the room, got a drink of warm milk and sat at a table, staring out at the stars. The room was practically deserted, but for the bartender. She sighed, wishing she could recapture the peace she had felt after her holodeck hike. She continued staring out at the stars, sighing.

Ten minutes later, she felt a hand on her arm. She looked up and almost fell out of her chair. She shook her head and rubbed her eyes. The man smiled down at her. "Hello, may I sit down?"

Lexa nodded and watched him slowly place his towering frame in a chair. "I'm sorry. You just really look like someone I used to know."

"I know, firefly. I am that someone." The man smiled.

"I'm hallucinating, then, or dreaming. You can't be real."

"But I am, my little lightning bug. I'm real and I'm here."

"Daddy?" she whispered.

"Yes, aurora. It's me. Let's go to your quarters and talk."

Lexa nodded and rose, dazedly following him down the corridor, into the lift and to her rooms. They entered and he sat down, drawing her onto his lap. He stroked her hair and she snuggled up to his chest, drawing her legs up and resting her head on his shoulder. "If this is a dream, I don't want to wake up." She snuggled closer to his hard frame.

"This is almost a dream, my glow worm. Almost. And you'll only remember it as that. Seeing your dead father and hugging him." He ran his hands over the enchanted woman's breasts and stripped her of her uniform. His long tongue bathed her breasts and legs and he swirled it inside her. He lifted her hips to allow his mouth better access. She floated on a sea of the mind, unknowing of what he did, only talking to her father in her head. His front teeth plucked gently at the clitoris and his hands dropped her hips to massage her breasts and squeeze her nipples, lightly. When he finished his play, he moved on to the main course. Lexa smiled up at him as he ran his tongue along her carotid artery, moistening the spot to glistening. Her head fell back as his teeth sank into her neck, drawing out blood. Her breathing slowed and her eyes drifted shut. When he finished feeding, he changed her into her pajamas and put her uniform away. "You won't know this really happened, Lexa. But we will meet again. Your blood is so innocently sweet."

Lord Vlad smiled and walked to his quarters. Lilith smiled ferally. "How sweet! Have you decided you need a child after all this time? Posing as her dead father and molesting her ... really, my lord? It seems beneath you."

Vlad grinned. "Don't be catty. You've been having all the fun and I wished to hunt. She would have been repulsed by anything overtly sexual. Father was the best approach, especially since he was upper most in her mind. And her blood ... ah, the sweetness of a virgin but with the tang of a missing hymen. Delicious. It has been too long since I have tasted the large numbers we have on this ship." He bared his fangs. "Let the hunt continue. For many of these prey we have need of all of our skills, my dear. That is the best part, if you but remember."

"True love conquors all"

Lt Cdr Mike O'Grady
Chief counselor

Lady Lillith
slutty vampire chick

=Counseling office=
=USS Galaxy=

Mike was going over the mountain of paperwork that as usual had piled up. Something about counseling requred him to deal with reports, information, journals and other stuff.

These new people on the ship were a cause for some concerns. Strange reports had come in since they were on board. Karyn had been busy helping run the ship, and SHinta had been busy with Bruce's crisis and the babies so he had picked up the slack.

And Rayna and his love life had been stagnant, which wasn't anyone's fault, doctor did say it would take some time for them to resume normal sexual activities.

And for them not to have a regular sex life was hard for them, because they were a very affectionate couple....

"Commander O'Grady... I was told I would find you here." A female voice purred.

Mike looked up and saw Lady Lilith staring at him. He could feel her eyes looking in to his very soul... Physically his body began to respond to her as she seemed to float over to him.

"Uhh.. what can I do for you?" Mike managed to get out.

She perched herself on the side of his desk, Rayna had done that a few times... his mind kept going back to his wife. "I believe you were wanting to see me about something.

His heart thudded in his ears as he saw her skirt slide down and expose some of the nicest legs he had seen in a while... then he smelled her scent... it was a perfume, a mixture of lilacs and jasmine. Rayna wore the same perfume when they had their last evening for just intimacy... before the twins came early

Why did he keep thinking of his family? His eyes shifted to a picture on his desk, it was his wedding picture, Rayna looked beautiful in the gown, he looked at the picture and he felt his resolve strengthen. Taking a deep breath he exhaled and then said with a steely resolve. "I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to leave my office."

There were several responses she had anticipated. But this was not one of them, "What?"

"I'm sorry, I'm going to ask you to leave now." Mike said looking right in her eyes, "I have a lot of work to do and I need you to leave please."

She shifted off the desk looked in his eyes and this time, she didn't see his soul, it belonged to another..... she had been defeated.

So she stormed out of the office and Mike decided today would be a great day to go to the gym. Maybe box a few rounds.

"You Rang Your Majesty."
By Lt. Commander Peterson & Commander Thomas

The blue, shimmering field of the transporter beam focused on a single point, the beam in location for the first away team. Several humanoids forms materialized on board the two-hundred year old Tamarian vessel. Peterson looked around as soon as the matter stream disapated, checking the members of the team that came over with him.

"Mister Peterson," Chris said as he noticed the Starfleet lieutenant commander and the other officers standing there, checking their tricorders, "I was expecting you a little earlier than now."

Kent squinted his eyes a little. "All good thing comes to those that wait, sir," he said with a hint of sarcasm in his tone.

"Have you completed the analysis I asked for?"

"I'm having Lieutenant MacAllen process that information. This mission is still archaeological in nature, so she is my most qualified officer," the chief scientist replied. "Ensign Talbot and Lieutenant Roy are available to assist her."

"I see," the First Officer remarked, not saying any more.

The short statement from Chris was easy for Kent to take the wrong way, but there was no clear indication that it was meant in the same sarcastic or antagonistic tone he had taken with the lieutenant commander in the past - then again, Kent was not completely innocent in that regards either.

"As soon as she's able to bring up some information, I'll make sure you see the report. However," he cautioned, "without narrowing the field of reference, it is quite possible that it could take some time to get a definite answer."

Chris looked a little unconvinced. "Surely we've got references to the Kelva system in the astrometrics database?"

Peterson nodded. "Of course, but find references to a single, or pair of individuals, and their race, can take some time when we really don't know that much about them. There's a lot of information to cover," he continued, "searches on possible crew manifests, transport logs, journal entries, and the such. The computer is fast, but not necessarily THAT fast."

"Well I'm sure you're doing what you think is necessary."

Kent furrowed his brow a little. Again with the short comments. It was as though Commander Thomas was back to his old self and trying to challenge every decision that Peterson made.

"Indeed," Kent simply replied.

Thomas nodded, "I am sure she will turn something up, and yes I know it's a challenging task to go searching for such obscure information. For all we know the system they're heading is not there any more, either by change of name or it maybe just gone."

"And then there's the problem of time," the older man added.

"300 years is a long time."

The Starfleet lieutenant commander nodded.

"Now let me show you the remaining sleep units we've found with 4 other's of their kind." Chris said. "We've not located any other chambers with sleepers in them and that's odd. Unless the disease these four have was unleashed on the poor souls before us."

"The technological level is primitive by modern standards, but when you consider that this is 'centuries old' technology, it's not too shabby for the Tamarians," Kent said as he visually inspected the remains through the statis tubes. He did not seem particularly disturbed by their appearance.

"I've keep the room with the other sleepers off limits as not to distrub them." Chris said.

"It's a start, but I think it would be worth increasing the biofilters on the transporters to maximum. You just can't be too careful. Has Medical even had the chance to look ..." Peterson began before trailing off, something else catching his eye. Without regard to finishing off his sentence he approached one of the consoles and looked at the Tamarian writing.

Thomas looked at the older man as his attention was drawn elsewhere. "Is there a problem 'Commander?"

"I wouldn't mind getting a catalogue of these before we return to the ship," he added, turning to one of the science officers that beamed over with the rest of the second away team. "Not at all, sir," Peterson finally said, responding to the inquiry made by the First Officer. "The anthropology and linguistic specialists on the ship will have a field day with this. It's not often they get a chance ot study Tamarian in more depth."

"Why do you say that?"

"While the Federation have had more than a century's worth of contact with the Tamarian, we simply still don't understand that much about their language ..."

Lieutenant Commander Ethan Suder
Chief Engineer

"The Dream World"

After returning to his quarters for the first time in the past coupl eof days, Ethan had gone straight to bed. He had been tired and anything could wait until tomorrow. If there were to be another day, on this ship, anything could happen. But everything like repairs, reports, paperwork and introductions to the new guests could wait until alter. Ethan needed to catch up on his sleep.

Ethan's mind was once again throwing him into a world of badness. It was dark, wet and cold. It was a dream he had a lot lately. For several months anyway. He found himself on a rocky surface, looking up to the dark cloudy skies that lit up with lightning and echoed the sound of thunder. It was windy and raining too. Ethan's clothes were soaked, yet he didn't mind. It was like the end of a world somewhere. Nothing existed. Just harsh weather conditions. But then again, like in all of his dreams, there seemed to be a figure standing about twenty meters away from him. She seemed to be holding some sort of torch. An old fashioned torch that wasn't put out by the rain.

She just stood there in the rain, waiting to catch Ethan's attention, and when he got it, she turned and began walking away, as if leading him somewhere. As Ethan began his journey, following her down the rocky slope, he woke up to the sound of the computer and alarm. It appeared to be morning already. That was somewhat weird. It felt like he had only just got to bed, and he didn't feel refreshed at all.

Still, he would look into later. There were now new things to do, places to go, people to meet. A busy day for some...

Lt Jg Seth Zonhieb, Gorn Security Officer reviewed by Mark.

The swish of the sickbay door allowed a waft of sickly sweet iron hit a red forked tongue. The smell was nearly intoxicating and made the gorn's stomach growl with a different kind of hunger.

Corgan practically tripped over himself to get close to the lizard lady. It seemed strange that the human would want to risk his life like that. She would easily find him inadequate.

Lilith looked longingly at Seth as they waited for the turbolift. The gorn actually moved from his usual stone like posture. He flexed his huge muscles and the green scales rolled. One of his eye flicked over at the male.

Vlad didn't seem to be bothered at all. Yet a rage was building inside the gorn. He wanted to ripe both males appart right there. Luckily the turbolift interrupted.

The ride seemed to last forever with the silly human security guard practically melting. ~Surely she can't find that attractive.~ Seth thought to himself as he flexed his clawed hands. They bunched up into boulder like fists. Corgan had no clue how close to death he was.

The turbolift doors saved them all again. The group arrived outside the guest quarters and Lilith dragged Corgan into the room with her.

Seth snapped. He lashed out his tree trunk thick fore arm and smashed Vlad into his quarters. He dived in after expecting the smaller lizard to be stunned.

Vlad wasn't on the floor when the gorn dented the place he rolled away from. He grabbed Seth and lifted his entire bulkd off the floor. The gorn hit the wall hard but rolled off so the lizardman hit is just as hard.

Seth tackled the guest and the both crashed onto the furneature. Splinters flew across the room as the two rolled. Each combatant holding the arms of the other.

The security officer butt heads with Vlad and broke free. For a second Seth had an advantage he used his tail to sweep out the other lizards feet. Again the gorn pounded the floor as the other rolled.

This time Lord Vlad tackled the gorn. He tossed a punch to the head that seemed to do nothing. Then another punch to the stomach. This knocked a little wind out of Seth and filled him with more rage.

He swung his arm to bash the guest, who hit the wall. Seth jumped on the lizard and sunk his teeth into his neck.

Vlad stopped fighting for a second. He had never had his prey bite him before. He could feel the powerful jaws could easily snap a normal neck. There was a little pain as the teeth jabbed into the skin. Yet there was not much blood. The only thing that was missing was the sucking of his life juices.

Once Seth felt the male submit to the bite he felt he had won. Now Lilith could be his. She entered the room as if on queue. Her heat was still very obvious.

There where no words exchanged, the gorn grabbed her and tossed her over the arm of the couch. Her tail wagged back at the huge lizard. Seth found himself laying on her back releasing his primal urges.

Again Seth sunk his teeth into a neck. The female nearly screamed her head off in excitement. She experienced many of the same thoughts as her traveling companion. But the act she was going through nearly split her in half it completely drained her.

Lord Vlad regained his composer and grew excited as Lilith was bitten by the beast. ~What a wonderfully strong and violent race.~ he thought to himself as he sunk his teeth into the scales.

He had to bite hard to get any blood at all. Lilith bit into the gorn at almost the same time. All three where hurt through their actions at least the vampires could try to replenish themselves.

Hard Times

NPC Nathan Carrington
Zoologist -Civilian
USS Galaxy

Nathan moved down the corridor on the way to his quarters, he already missed Todd’s touch despite the fact it had only been a few minutes since they were together. Passing various male crewmembers he checked them out and realized why he had decided to live on a Starfleet vessel, all the men were gorgeous. Something else he couldn’t help but notice that was a number of the guys were fully aroused. Nathan smiled as he saw more and more men erect. He wondered to himself if someone was holding a little get together in someone’s quarters and wondered why he hadn’t been invited. Shacking his head he wandered into his quarters, which were a fair size smaller than Todd’s and not as nicely decorated. He pottered round reading a bit and just generally trying to pass the time.

At last he thought to himself, why not plan a little surprise for his new lover, seeing all the guys in the corridor had made him horny, the air of the ship seemed to promote eroticism at the moment and Nathan wasn’t complaining. He stripped off and went into the bedroom finding his most revealing thong, some shorts and a vest top. Dressing he realized how Todd would shoot in his pants at the thought of it.

‘Got Nat your fuckin ball blowin.’ He left and went back to Todd’s to wait for his night of passion. As he past the horny men in the corridor again he knew he was making their hard ons worse, he had to be.

In Todd’s quarters he made his way to the bedroom so that Todd would come home to a finding of a lifetime.

"Maple and Brown Sugar Memories"
By Lieutenant jg Electra Reece
Assistant Chief of Operations

[ BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP. It is now 1000 hours. BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP. ]

Lexa blinked her eyes and stretched. She felt very relaxed and loose, unusual over the past few months. "Hmmmmm." She lay in bed and marveled at how good she felt. ~ Oh, this is wonderful. I feel so loose and rested. I don’t think I’ve ever felt this great before. And my mind is so calm. That dream was so wonderful. I guess I just needed to talk to Daddy. I have been thinking about him a lot lately. I’ve been feeling so alone, so isolated. But it was such a strange dream coming right on top of my nightmare. Was it real ... of course it wasn’t. My father’s been dead for decades. But it was so nice. I hope I have that dream again some time. ~

Lexa rose from the bed and strolled to the replicator. She stood in thought for a moment, and then she smiled. "One bowl of maple and brown sugar oatmeal, hot, with a small pitcher of cold cream on the side. And hot lemon tea."

The replicator shimmered and her food appeared. She took the bowl, still steaming and poured a bit of the cream over it. She carried her breakfast to the table and slowly ate it, savoring every bite and remembering her father serving her this in the early morning hours before anyone else was up.

******** Boston, Massachusetts, Earth, 2346 ***********

A small child sat at the antique wooden table, her short legs swinging against the rungs of the antique chair as she watched the tall man mixing brown sugar and real maple syrup into a bowl. She held her spoon in readiness, knowing that she would get her share of this gourmet meal.

The man grabbed another bowl and spooned some of the mixture into it. He placed it before the child and sat opposite her. She smiled up at him. "Dig in, glow worm. It’s cold out today and this will stick to your ribs while we’re playing in the snow."

The little girl dug her spoon deep into the mix and came up with a heaping pile on the utensil. She opened her mouth wide, but it was too large for the heap. She scrunched up her face and glared at the spoon in her hand. She opened her mouth as wide as she could and brought the spoon closer.

"Hold on, firefly. There’s no rush. It’ll taste better if you take it slowly. Don’t hurry through it. Enjoy the sensation and it will be all the better. Trust me?"

The little girl nodded and placed the spoon into her bowl. She shook the spoon until only a small coating was left on the spoon. She brought this to her mouth and closed her eyes in ecstasy as she savored it. "Yummmmm."

The man laughed. "I told you. Enjoy it slowly and you’ll truly learn joy."

******* Present Day, 2377 ****************

Lexa placed the empty bowl, spoon, teacup, and pitcher of cream on the replicator pad. She pressed the button for recycling and they disappeared in a sparkle of light. She took a shower and grabbed the first uniform to hand. Plaiting her hair and wrapping it together in a bun, she left her quarters for her duty shift.

“Aftermath”

Starring
Rebecca von Ernst
Holli von Ernst

(USS GALAXY)

The wide beige corridors of the USS GALAXY echoed with the twinkling peals of girlish laughter.

It was still early in the brief moments before Alpha Shift, and the passageways were quite crowded in the Starships equivalent of morning Rush Hour.

Gaggles of handholding strings of gaily clad children wormed their way through the traffic towards the shipboard schoolhouse in the Primary Hull. The pastel garbed Instructor in the long flowing robes led them about like a 24th Century Pied Piper.

Cadres of Black and Grey uniformed Starfleet personnel marched their dutiful way hither and yon in search of this morning’s duty station. Regardless of whether the great ship was under way, or sitting dead in the water there was things to be done.

Civilian Mom and Dads also made their way to work as well.....perhaps with less military formality...seeking out their jobs at Ten Forward, in the Science Community, or the various Entertainment facilities available aboard ship.

In the midst of it all weaved the giggling arm-in-arm twosome of the von Ernst girls. Just returning from this mornings rather surprising Holodeck PT session, the two whispered and laughed merrily, weaving almost drunkenly down the corridor as they went.

The shorter Rebecca walked in her standard pale blue Academy sweats whose baggy appearance did much to hide her too slim figure. A simple white headband pulled back shoulder length red hair from her eyes revealing a pert freckled nose and similarly dusted cheeks.

Walking wearily alongside her was her mother the slightly taller Holli von Ernst. Though in her mid-forties, the active farmwoman was in remarkable shape and still quite lovely. Flashing green eyes stared out over the inevitable family freckles, and while her upper torso was covered in a similar baggy sweat top, her long slender legs were tightly sheathed in gray running spandex that emphasized her modest, but still desirable curves.

Holli's most striking feature of course was her endless waves of silky red hair that cascaded down from her head and brushed at the backs of her knees. Currently however, those same locks were tightly braided into a single four-foot long ponytail that made for easy management while running. Now as the pair made their way merrily through the crowd, the braid swung and danced back and forth like a prancing cat's tail.

"I tell you Momma," Rebecca was saying between girlish giggles, "You made yourself into quite a hero back there. My whole Department has been aching for someone to take Sanchez down a peg or two."

"Oh piffle." Holli said dismissively, "I did nothing of the sort. I just wanted to come see my little baby on her job."

Rebecca snorted sarcastically. "Sure Momma. Whatever you say. The truth is you went there looking for a fight. The second you walked in wearing your running outfit, I knew exactly what you were up to."

"Oh sweetie." Holli teased leaning to give her daughter a kiss on the cheek, "You just know me too well.....I'm flattered."

"Well you deserve it Momma. It’s been what, six months since your last Marathon? You should be at the low point of your training cycle, and you still made an impressive showing. Nobody in Tactical was fooled by the dive you took at the end. Everybody knew Sanchez was at the end of her rope and you were still going strong."

Holli shrugged and took a swing from the electrolyte bottle she carried. Truth was that this WAS the low point of her training cycle, and she hadn’t logged a single mile in several weeks since she left Earth to visit Rebecca. To drop in this morning and suddenly pick up a twelve-mile run over uneven terrain was not the smartest thing to do...but it had been fun.

"Well I don’t know about you babycakes, but I'm in desperate need of some fuel. Did you want to grab some breakfast again this morning?"

Smiling, Rebecca shook her head. "No thanks. Your little impromptu PT session set the whole Department off schedule by nearly an hour.

Everyone wanted to stay and see Heather get her butt kicked instead of reporting for chow. I barely have time to jump in the sonic shower and make it for Bridge Duty as it is."

As if to underline the statement, Rebecca's stomach rumbled hungrily, but she figured it was well worth the sacrifice.

"You go get rested up and I'll meet up with you later." She paused and smiled, "You sure you wont get lost again?"

"Oh poo.." Holli stuck out her tongue. "Its not my fault you need a college degree to even read the signs on this luxury liner."

"Well that is why they send us to the Academy...to read signs and stuff."

"I'll be fine sweetie. You go get your shower and get to work."

Giving her mom a quick hug, Rebecca did just that, hurrying off through the morning crowd and disappearing around a corner.

--In the meantime,-- Holli thought, --I'm not about to let my kiddo go off to work without a decent breakfast...I wonder if the Captain would mind me bringing her a snack on the Bridge?--

"Oooo, What Big Teeth you have, Grandma"
by Lt Kira Murphy General Medicine, Paediatrician & Vampire Bite Victim
------------------------------------------------------------

Looking up from some paitent records that Kira was reviewing, she saw that two of the Sanguinarians had entered, both in some sort of space-suit. One was a tall distinguished man with long black hair while the other was a very attractive woman whose suit did not hide leave her slender curvaceous figure to the imagination.

Penny the inquisitive dolphin hologram had already spotted them and was 'swimming' over to the aliens, as Sherman hid behind a bench.

Grinning, Kira got up and walked over, happy to be able to show off the Paediatric Ward to some new faces.

"Welcome. My name is Lt Kira Murphy, but you can call me Kira. This is the Paediatric Ward, where our younger civilian crew-members are treated. I'm sorry but I don't really know how to address you properly."

The tall impressive looking man responded, "Lord Vlad and Lady Lilith is fine with us."

Kira smiled, "Sure. The creature that keeps bumping into you is a holographic dolphin from Earth. Penny, leave the nice people alone and go annoy Sherman instead. Do you want a quick tour?"

The two aliens followed Kira around the ward as she showed them various things and answering questions - a few about the ward & equipment, some with the holographic projections and others about her anti-grav suit.

As Kira did, she could feel her body responding to something in the air - a quite sensual and arousing effect that seemed to be coming from the Sanguinarians. Although she was curious, she decided not to do anything covert with tricorders or other sensors - underlining the covert bit. Hopefully, they might ask her for a demo.

Finally, after the short tour, she looked over to Vlad and realised that they wouldn't need a demo.

Vlad moved upto Kira and took her hands into his as he stared deep into her eyes before saying,

"Since we have had a tour of this ward, how about we have a tour of you? I know Lady Lilith here is just dying for it. Elaysians are just soo juicy."

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

Moving his hand to the top of Kira's anti-grav suit, he gently activated the catches which deactivated it and allowed it to peel open a bit.

As Vlad opened her suit, Kira could feel a familiar dampness between her legs and moaned out of lust. When the suit caught on her breasts, Vlad quickly took hold of it and pulled hard, wripping and tearing the delicate yet strongly built suit apart.

Kira was quite impressed with that, and especially since the top half of the suit lay in tatters down to her waist, exposing her breasts to their sight, her nipples quite hard and perky.

While Vlad helped the rest of the suit to release Kira, Lilith moved around back and started to massaged the Elaysian's breasts from behind.

Turning her head to the side, Kira kissed Lilith passionatly on the mouth, noticing that the woman's suit had changed into a shimmering emerald-green dress with a deep cut down the middle. As the two woman kissed, Kira's toungue brushed against long white fangs in Lilith's mouth and was amused. Pulling Lilith closer, Kira and Lilith continued with their passionate french-kiss.

When Kira kicked away her anti-grav suit, she around and started helping the Sanguinarian woman out of her dress while Vlad looked on.

Once the dress was removed, the two woman moved forward, kissing and rubbing against each other's nude bodies. Althrough this, not once did it come to Kira's attention that her body seemed to be ignoring the effects of gravity and she technically should be sprawled on the ground, needing help to move around like a fish out of water.

Kneeling, Kira ran her toungue down her new lover's body, kissing and licking around her breasts before heading lower.

After a few moments, Kira felt a gentle mental nudge and turned her head towards Vlad. Stepping away from Lilith, she headed over to Vlad, ignoring the soft hiss from behind her. Vlad's suit had also changed but into a black tuxedo reminesent of an old 2D James Bond movie that Kira had seen at the Academy.

In her mind, Kira could hear the buzz of some sort of words but ignored them, since she was temporarily only interested in pleasure from between her legs, {Lilith, be paitent. Vlad, you know this one is unusually open in her choice of partners and she can barely keep her hands away from her intimates at the moment. Yes, but you must wait.}

Moving over to Vlad, she lowered down onto her knees, bringing her eyes to his waist. Making eye contact with a look of unadulterated lust, Kira reached for Vlad's belt.

Suddenly, she felt a sharp slap across her buttocks and heard Lilith tell her to wait for commands first.

Kira whimpered and pouted towards Vlad until he nodded to her. Grinning, she quickly helped him out of his trousers. Diving in, she quickly fished into his trousers for what she really wanted in her mouth.

After a few moments, Vlad pulled her up if she was a rag-doll and she realised what would come next. Squirming due to a total lack of paitence, Kira moaned as he half-dragged her to one of the biobeds and used his strength to make her lean down over it.

Quickly from behind, he entered her hard in one push and she started mewling like a cat in heat, enjoying herself immensly and ignoring the fact that she probably would get some serious brusing from the rough abuse. As she was roughly taken, Vlad pulled back on her long beautiful hair like she was a mare being ridden and she started bucking backwards hard in time with Vlad.

All of sudden, Kira felt a wonderfully warm sensation rush into her so happily-filled area and her whole body shook. Pure waves of pleasure rushed through Kira, started from the core of her being outwards, causing her to shake and scream out of ectasy.

Vlad didn't stop abusing her during the waves. Finally when she came down, he pulled out of her and let Lilith move in.

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

Lilith helped Kira up onto the biobed, the pair rubbing against each other sensouslly. Running her toungue down Kira's body, starting from her mouth.. down and around her breasts... past the silver belly-button ring... down to the totally hairless patch between Kira's leg.

Shifting around, Lilith climbed up onto the table and lay down on top of Kira in the opposite direction. Kira realised what was in store and quickly dove her toungue in between Lilith's legs as Lililth did the same for her.

It wasn't long before both of the women were quaking in ectasy. Vlad helped the pair of them roll over without falling off the table and they just went right back to what they had been doing.

After a few moments, Lilith stopped and Kira gasped when Vlad entered her again. He started pounding into her while Lilith's tounge also assaulted her most intimate areas. It wasn't much longer before more waves of pleasure and warm feelings came again.

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

Vlad moved over to one of the other bio-beds as Lilith continued making out with the nympho Elaysian and sat down on it.

Finally, Kira rolled off at Vlad's request and crawled over to him on her hands and feet as he directed her to, happily wriggling her hips in the process.

When he motioned her, she got up before crawled up onto his lap facing away from him and started wriggling her hips around. Picking her up once again, he aimed her and quickly forced her down hard. She threw her head back and screamed as her body was filled all of a sudden.

Using his strength, he bounced her up and down on his lap, causing her to moan, whimper and shudder. After another series of waves, she fell backwards onto him, panting for air like a dog in hellish temperatures as he still continued with her.

Pulling her close, he quickly sank his fangs into her neck, suck her blood. Kira gasped all of a sudden and started quaking as the most erotic pleasurable sensations rushed through her.

Holding Kira to him as he slowly lay her back on the bio-bed, Vlad nodded to Lilith as Kira's blood pooled on the biobed after it had run down Kira's naked body. Quickly, Lilith moved forward and sank her fangs into one of Kira's breasts, causing Kira to quake even more.

Kira moaned in ectasy and writhed on the biobed as Vlad and Lilith feasted on her, waves of pleasure riding through her.

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

All of a sudden, Kira gasped and sat up quickly. Looking around, she found that she was all alone in the Paediatrics Ward. Her anti-grav suit glistened as she moved, totally undamaged.

Nearby, some pink flamingos walked around from one of the benches and headed out the door, which to Kira, seemed natural even though they shouldn't have been able to. As the flamingos moved, their skin changed to swirling bright rainbow colors.

A pair of Rainbow Lorikeets also came in from Main Sickbay, even though the door was locked, with their feathers changing just like the flamingos.

Kira turned her head slightly and laughed out loud, "Ooooooo, cool!"

Giggling, she headed out of the room, feeling quite dazed and totally as she started skipping after the flamingos and Rainbow Lorikeets.

"Getaway."
By Lt. Commander Kent Peterson
Chief Science Officer

Chief Science Officer's Log. Stardate 50110.13

At the invitation of Commander Thomas I have transported on to the old Tamarian vessel with specialists from my department. While they first away team seems to have ascertained that the vessel and its contents pose no immediate danger to us, I was surprised as many to find survivers on the ship. Now we begin the task of using this opportunity to learn more about the Tamarian people - an enigma of sorts - and their technology. Even if it is a couple of centuries old.

The Galaxy's chief science officer worked carefully along the guidelines issued by the Lieutenant Rose MacAllen and her counterpart in the anthropology department. While he was the head of that department, he had full confidence in their abilities to catalogue and study the ship in closer detail, utilizing their expertise.

"You look like your enjoying yourself there," Chris remarked, passing the older man as he made closer tricorder scans of an object he found in one of the crew quarters.

Kent looked up, "It's a nice break from the usual," he replied.

And that was exactly what it was - a nice break from the usual. He could just sit there and relax without having to worry about the Borg trying to assimilate him and the others, arguing with Captain Price about something he did not agree with, facing Three of Four at least once a week, officers having gone missing due to a spatial disturbence, nightmares, worry about Cardassian infiltrators trying to steal artifacts purported to have mystical powers, dealing with the little hiccups that happened when you commanded a department, and not have to worry about how he looked when expressing his 'feelings' during a counseling session with Counselor Dallas.

The only things was that dry, artifical, musty smell that lingered in the derelict vessel.

While the Starfleet scientist still enjoyed a good adventure as much as the next guy, he just wanted, once in a while, to have that break that everyone needs to keep going. In fact, considering Dallas' last stance, he was surprised she did not try and discourage him from leaving the ship. His mind wandered towards her and this mystery counseling session she had planned - she was up to something and he knew it.

["Mitchell to

Peterson,"] the Bajoran assistant science chief said.

Kent reached across his chest and tapped his communicator, "Go ahead James."

["We found another one of those statuettes,"] he reported, ["I guess that's what you could call them. MacAllen said if we found any more, you wanted to know about it."]

"That's great news."

["It is?"]

"Well," Peterson said as he place the figure he was working on and stood up. Straightening his uniform, he continued, "you know the way that the Tamarian language is based on metaphores relating to mythological deeds and heroes?"

["Yeah."]

"I think these 'statuettes' could be figures of some of the heroes that the Tamarian reveres. I was hoping that we could possibly start piecing some of those references together ... get a better idea of this mythological or historic background they revere so much."

["I thought you didn't hold much on religious, supernatural or mythological topics,"] Mitchell said, voicing an observation of Peterson's attitudes to such 'phenomena'.

Kent smiled. "Very true. But this is more from a point of learning more about their languague, not seeing whether or not these people existed or whether their deeds, no matter how amazing, were historically accurate."

["Well, Starfleet has never had this chance to find out so much about them ..."]

"My point exactly. It's solving a 'mystery' if you will about a race we really don't know that much about."

["I'll make sure you get the statuette then."]

Eventhough Mitchell was not there, Kent gave a nod, reacting to James' understanding for why he was excited by this opportunity. "Thank you. Peterson out."

As the comm channel close - indicated by a wharbled beep - the Galaxy's chief science officer sat back down on the cold floor and continued to analyze the collection of objects they had undercovered since transporting on board. There was no telling how long it would be before the Tamarians came to claim the vessel and no telling how long it would be before Starfleet Command could work out exactly how to tell them. Either way, Kent treated time as being of the essence.

"Spellbound"
by James Mitchell
Asst. CSO

James had been digging out a section of consoles in a dim corner of Tamarian vessels engine room when T'Zaq and Thomas shuffled in, coughing in fits.

T'Zaq had some business with Lomax to attend to, as in a game plan in how to establish the ventilation systems on board. Commander Thomas listened in, gathering a report on the conditions afoot.

James shifted under the unit he was working on digging out, causing a rumble as debris fell near him. Clouds of dust drifted upwards and settled out as the lack of draft curled it flat. The other three officers jumped at the sudden break in the silence. Lomax ran to his side and helped him out to shake off the dirt that gathered on his uniform.

Thomas helped him out from the other side as James limped out from the crevice he had been under. His leg had a bloody gash in it.

"You're done here, Lieutenant." The First Officer huffed as he gripped the science officer from behind while lifting out with Lomax. James only grimaced in pain.

"Thomas to Galaxy." He motioned Lomax to hold him up, as the Bajoran couldn't put the weight on his leg.

[Galaxy here, sir]

"Two to beam to Sickbay. One with superficial wounds to upper thigh. Both need decontamination. Apply standard methods in beamout. Thomas out."

Chris nodded to the two officers.

"Good work, you two. I want to see you both back here to stabilize the ship when you're done." With Lomax holding James up and supporting his weight, they dematerialized in a wash of light, causing the dust to swirl and dance as it filled the vacuum left behind.

***Corridor 7-B***

James walked tenderly on his left leg as it had been recently healed by Dr. Sansky just moments ago. Only slight lacerations, baely missing an artery, yet the irony wasn't lost on him. For so close to a life-threatening injury, the repair of his damaged cells only took 2 minutes to send him off to duty again.

He couldn't wait to get back to his quarters and change out of his grimy clothes. His jacket he had tossed in a recycling chute in sickbay, and he felt the gazes of his fellow crewmates as he moved through the busy corridors in a tanktop and surgical pants, as his pants were torn and stained with his blood.

He didn't bother to wash the blood away from his clothing, as he was heading for a shower first chance he could.

As he rounded the corner to catch the next turbolift down to his deck, he felt a sudden twitch in his spine and groin, and felt his primal urges arising in his nether regions. Strange sensation, as the people around him seemed to move in slow-motion. Or maybe it was him. Time seemed to be slowing down for James.

The turbolift doors opened as he turned to face them, his body coming to a faltered stop as the female exited the lift near him. He completely ignored the others that were with her, as she was simply an incredible sight to behold.

Slender, flowing red hair, which gave off the appearance of flame trailing behind in wisps, undulated as it unfolded from her, caressing the air as it reached out in waves. Her skin was porcelain white, smooth, perfect, and no creases or wrinkles. Her age was impossible to read, and her eyes followed him hugrily as he stepped into the turbolift. His voice sounded dull and muffled, distant as he said something to her; he didn't know what he said, as he couldn't take his eyes off her ice-blue eyes.

Her gaze was intense, hungry, as if drinking in his appearance. She wet her lips at the sweat and blood-soaked shirt he wore, and her eyes glowed and sparkled at him.

"Lilith...." Her soft, lilting voice whispered sensually to him as if in his ear, yet she was already halfway down the corridor. Her sheer white gown flowing in the breeze....

He blinked finally, and she was gone as if in a dream. Never had he seen a woman as elegantly poised as this one, and his groin was on fire and aching with desire. Quickly, he entered the turbolift and slumped to the side, whispering his destination. His desires made him forget all his troubles for a time, except one. He had to have her.

***Personal Quarters***

The cold shower did little to help alleviate James' needs. It had been 3 months since he had had any kind of sexual contact with anyone, hologram or no, and this Lilith did little to help matters much. He hadn't heard from Marisa in over a week now, and that should be worrying him, and he felt guilty for not wondering why.

What was this woman doing to him? He'd been able to control his desires for longer times than this before, yet she was beyond perfect....

He lay himself down on his bed, tucked a hand under his pillow, and the other in his pants. He looked to the ceiling and began to drift off...

The room darkened past the dim state simulating twilight, and a sweet odor began to permeate the room. James slept soundly on his bed as a vapour pooled from the vents that circulated the environmental systems throughout his quarters.

The mist roiled and twisted as if alive and in search of something. It drifted across the floor, and up the walls, in focus on James' room. It swarmed over furniture, around furniture, and under the bed. It reached cyclonical tendrils, that ttwisted and warped themselves in torturous stretching, as if in fear of something, then suddenly sucked itself under James' bed.

All was well for a few moments, until a sudden rush by the fog from under the bed, up the walls and to the ceiling overlooking him. For a moment, it just hung there, angrily crashing into itself as it flowed turbulently above him, until it began to gain balance.

The mist stopped moving and settled into a smooth layer of cloud, which parted in the middle, folding out like an ocean wave, to reveal a shadowy image....

It gathered the fog into itself as it began to gather form, revealing the sinewy shape of a creature, clinging to the ceiling, gazing down upon the deeply sleeping science officer. A hiss could be heard upon the breeze that blew in from the environmental systems detecting the anomaly, and its head reached down from the rafters where it hung. The Tamarian vessel hung off to the Galaxy's port side, and the light of the derelict vessel shone inside James' room for just a moment as the Galaxy drifted in a cosmic wake before thrusters adjusted for the shift.

Working teams lights shone through his port to reveal a creature's great claws, long and sharp, gripping the durnaium roof of the quarters. It hissed at the light, snaking out a great, long tongue, fangs agape in fury, as it scampered out of the light.

It dropped to the floor, away from the light, and waited until it passed before finishing what it came to start. It licked its claws that were wet with blood from its previous kill, and bade its time for fresh food.

"Clueless Diagnosis"
by
Lt. Commander Eric Odin
Lt. JG Vladimir Malgin

Eric stumbled into sickbay and said,"Hey, I am feeling really light hewaded and I don't know why. Any chance you can help me out?" it was clear by his walking stance and demanor something was wrong ,but not life threatening.

Vladimir was tired like wolf after hunt. So, when he heard somebody, entering sickbay, some dirty words immediately flashed in his head heading to his mouth, but he managed to stop the, seeing Lt. Commander pips. "Ahem... How can I help, sir?"

"I need to find out what's wrong. I'm very lightheaded and I feel good, but strange." He said obviously trying to shake it off, but unable to do so.

"Huh... Sounds not very good. Let's go make a check. Follow me, please"

Eric followed and said,"Thanks."

They gone to the biobed and Eric sat on it. Vladimir took his tricorder. "Well, well... Let's see (looks at tricorder and frowns) Kakogo cherta? (it means 'What the hell?' in Russian)"

"Excuse me? What's wrong?"Eric asked not knowing what he said.

"I think I must throw this tricorder into trash and take new... It shows that you have minor blood loss. Absolutely noy life threatening, but... You was injured?"

"Not at all,"Eric said not sure what he was talking about.

Vladimir frowned even more "That is more than just strange... Well, for now I think that little relax would be good - I can't add anything more, because I don't know, how you lose blood..."

"Neither do I, especially with no injury. Well thank you. Is there any way you cna icnreasew the blood to take away the strange feeling?"He asked wanting the feelign gone.

"I have NO ideas... I am not hematologist - I am mostly surgeon. But relax is what you need on my sight of view."

Eric nodded as he walked out and headed for his quarters to rest.