(OCC This occurs before Draining Passions)

Chinese Curse

A JP by:

Dr Andree Dothan
CMO USS Galaxy

Lieutenant Jg Todd Sansky
Medical Doctor USS Galaxy

Todd looked for the department head as he entered Sickbay, seeing him turn at the far end of the room he walked over to report in.

"Sir, I'm sorry i was late but this was supposed to be my day off."

"I understand, We will be having guests, and commander Thomas has declared Level Four containment protocols. We will be needing to examine them, for anything that may be transmitted to the crew, and make sure they don't catch anything from us.

"When are they due to arrive Dr, what do we know about this species?" Todd picked up his tricorder and prepared to initiate the correct proceedures. "What do you want me to do Dr?"

"They call themselves Sanguinarians, and it was my understanding that they were to come directly here, so I have no idea what is taking them." Andree stated the facts as they had been represented to him by Commander Thomas.

"I see, how do you want me to proceed?" Todd stood ready to act awaiting his orders.

"Well, Our guests are about to arrive, and we need to give them a 'Once over' there is a male, and a female, and I want you to examine one of them, and we'll compare notes afterwards. I'll perform the examination on Lord Vlad, and you on Lady Lillith"

Nodding Todd left the CMO as the visitors arrived, Todd couldnt believe the beauty of Lord Vlad and wished it was he not Dothan that was 'examining ' him.

Dothan introduced himself to Lord Vlad, and took him off to a corner in sickbay, All the while thinking, ~No one told me that these people bear a resemblance to Trill's. As the Chinese curse goes, "May You Live in Interesting Times"~

"Snack Time"

Starring Rebecca Von Ernst

With Totally unauthorized appearances by Captain Price And Lt. Commander Elaithin Jii

(BRIDGE)

For the second day since their arrival in this desolate region of space, the Bridge crew of the United Starship GALAXY went through the routine motions of their precisely defined duties.

Here amidst the drifting wreckage left behind by the so called Doomsday Device the Pristine hull of the Federation Starship was a lone jewel in the darkness of night. Bands of sparkling running lights encircled the duranium hull over and under with lines of neon brilliance, while the soft blue glow from the idling Warp Nacelles cast an azure radiance across the dorsal aspect of the Galaxy's Enginnering hull and gull-like neck.

Whatever else you can say about her, never let it be said that the famed Leah Brahms didn't have a sense of aesthetics when she first gave birth to the idea of the largest Starship in all Starfleet.

And yet, all that grace and beauty seemed wasted and unappreciated as the Galaxy waited, sitting here quite literally in the middle of nothing. (more so than usual, for by definition a starship is frequently surrounded by the "nothing" of space)

As mentioned, Alpha shift plodded slowly through their workday carefully monitoring, observing, and scanning the inert Tamarian relic just off the starboard bow.

For Lieutenant Rebecca von Ernst, the skittish young Tactical Chief it seemed oddly humorous to think that 'monitoring, observing, and scanning' pretty much were fancy words for exactly the same thing: sitting there bored out of her mind "watching" a dead hunk of floating metal.

Sighing slightly she leaned forward to rest her elbows on the smooth edge of the polished wooden Tactical Arch, idly wondering for the umpteenth time if it was formed from real trees or some form of faux- woodgrain.

If it WAS real, she then wondered what an old Academy classmate, Cadet Thhrishh'Yrslrr the sentient Shrubbery from Planet Malok VII would think of paneling the bridge in one of her (it's?) relative's hides. Lazily swinging her legs from her perch atop her newly acquired metal barstool, the young redhead wondered if Shrubberies worried about such things. Probably not, Thhrishh always pretty laid back....even for a bush.

"Straighten your posture mate." Captain Price reminded mildly from his center seat forcing Rebecca to sit up straight. "..and do be a good lass and stop that feet swinging. I'm half afraid you're going to kick me in the back of the head someday Lieutenant.

Muttering a shamed "A..a..aye s..sir" Rebecca made a point of hooking her tiny ankles around the front legs of stool forcing herself to pay attention.

The Tactical Situation at hand was thus....The USS GALAXY sat deep within the safety of the Federation's own borders, squared off against an obsolete, and abandoned old Tamarian cargo barge that was centuries out of date, and quite unarmed. Right off the top of her head Rebecca could come up with an easy dozen or so various combat schemes for reducing the old hulk to so much scrap metal.

~~~Boooooorrr-ing!~~~ she thought, as she fought the inclination to start swinging her feet again. It wasnt easy. Her left boot was already twitching with the urge to wiggle.

To keep her mind occupied she idly programmed in a massive full spread salvo of twenty Quantum Torpedoes from fore and aft launchers supplemented by a high- intensity Phaser strike to eliminate the Tamarian Ship if necessary.

Suppressing a yawn she tweaked the program here and there, adding more and more destructive power despite the fact the old derelict probably would not survive even a single torpedo hit.

"While I appreciate your enthusiasm and thoroughness Lieutenant," Price began " I assume you realize that your tactical plot is a bit on the...overkill...side of things?"

Realizing that the Captain was monitoring her substation from his own chair-side display, Rebecca blushed and hastily wiped her LCARS plot clean. "S..sorry sir. J…just trying to cover all m..my bases."

"No worries Lieutenant." Price smirked, "However I'll keep your Massive Strike option in mind if another Planet Killer happens to show up."

Rebecca's ears burned as the bridge crew chuckled softly. She knew it was meant in good humor, but the offhand comments stung nonetheless. Blinking her watery brown eyes in hurt, Rebecca bit her bottom lip to keep it from quivering.

Several moments passed in silence save for the deep 'thrumming' of the ships idling engines and the soft bleeps of LCARS commands.

The next person to speak however was none other than Lt. Commander Jii , who was manning the Aft Security Station during Alpha Shift. "Excuse me Captain," the tall Bajoran began, "Turbolift sensors have picked an unauthorized lifeform requesting access to the Bridge. The Lift is on its way up now."

"Indeed?" Price raised his eyebrows. A possible violation of the Main Bridges security protocols was not exactly the sort of even he expected on this lazy mission. "Scan please would you mate?"

"Aye sir…." Jii bent to his task for a moment, "Lift originated on Deck 5 where it took on one passenger….Scans indicate one Terran female. No weapons, but sensors do detect some sort of non- humanoid organic matter present as well."

Price pondered that for a moment as everyone waited. The sound of the lift arriving at the Port Aft of the Bridge was easily heard in the silence, but the Captain ignored it knowing that Jii would not dare allow the doors to open until the CO had made his decision.

"Computer Identify individual in Turbolift 1?"

=/\= UNABLE TO COMPLY. LIFEFORM IN TURBOLIFT ONE IS NOT A MEMBER OF GALAXY CREW OR REGULAR CIVILIAN POPULATION. =/\=

"Which means it could be one of 47 visiting civilians we took on during our Starbase 114 layover." Jii reported dryly.

"No weapons mate?"

"No sir."

"Very well then." The Captain said at length, "Ms. Von Ernst if you will lock down your board, and Mr. Jii you may admit our uninvited guest once that's done."

Gulping Rebecca keyed in a quick command sequence to lock out any access to the Starship's Weapons Systems, just in case the stranger in the elevator was indeed bent on hostile intentions. As the Arch went dark, Jii stepped forward, hand on phaser and faced the Door.

As the only other armed member of the bridge crew, Rebecca hopped shakily off her barstool and nervously fingered her own holsterd weapon.

~~~Noodlesnoodlesnoodlesnoodles…~~~ she fretted. ~~~Its bound to be some bug-eyed Alien that likes to eat little redheads for breakfast….noodles…~~~

On Jii's command, the Turbolift door hissed open softly to reveal……………..

…………….A smiling Holli von Ernst bearing a heaping tray of little sandwiches before her.

"MOMMA!?!" Rebecca couldn't help gasping, reeling at her Mom's second unexpected appearance for the day. "What are you doing here?"

The elder von Ernst, now dressed in a stylish blouse and skirt ensemble flashed a sparkling smile at her daughter and hefted the plate of sandwiches a bit in way of explanation. "Lunch time silly." She tittered, "I though you and your little friends would be hungry…I know you didn't have time to eat breakfast this morning."

"Uh…sir?" Lt. Commander Jii asked the Captain uneasily, not quite sure of what to make of the intrusion.

For his own part, Captain Price was torn between two reactions. First one of anger, and frustration at this, the latest in a never-ending series of unprofessional and embarrassing 'incidents' involving his skittish young Tactical Chief. The sheer insanity of some of these events was enough to make him want to tear his hair out.

However his second reaction was one of intence amusement at the hillarity of it all. After all the smiling Mrs. Von Ernst seemed genuinely proud of her clumsy young daughter, and one could never say that duty was dull with Rebecca around.

"Ahem," he began attempting to maintain a level of proper decorum., "While we appreciate the effort ma'am, civilians are not allowed on the bridge during…."

"Oh poo." Holli waved off the halfhearted protest. "It's the least a lowly farmer can do for the boys in uniform. After all you're out here making life safe for gals like me right?"

"Something like that."

"Then its decided then!" Holli beamed and hefted the tray again. "Tuna Fish Sand-wej Captain?"

=/\=

"A Change of Place"
By Lieutenant jg. James Lionel Corgan
Security Officer, USS Galaxy
And Commander Karyn Dallas
Chief Counselor, USS Galaxy

Location: Inside Corgan's warped mind.

His dream took his conscience to a world cloaked in darkness. Pitch black, devoid of any life but that of his own, and stretching out as far as the eye could see, James wondered how he ended up in this abysmal terrain. ~"All I did was rest my eyes for a second."~ He thought, his last waking memory before turning into the unusually surreal dream. He looked, wincing to squeeze some extra meters to see. His far sight, attuned from years of phaser practice, couldn't see an end to the expanse.

"Hey, you! What the hell are you doing here?" A voice from behind yelled.

He turned rapidly to find the hostile voice, seeing the jeering faces of four distinct people. The Borg Drone's laser tracker dotted a red beam on his forehead, while the green dressed Sprite glared with fire in her pixie eyes. James's conscience, the oldest of the personalities, placed his hands on his hips and stared at James accusingly, while the Archangel of Death turned his back away. He was kneeling in front of a body.

"You killed her, you bastard!" Conscience barked.

"Killed? Who?" James asked.

"Don't play dumb with me! You killed her!" His conscience stepped aside, pointing his shaking finger at the dead body. Corgan's eyes widened in shock when he saw who the victim was.

It was Star Lady.

The Archangel of Death rose up, his scythe in hand, and he walked away from the body and behind the Drone and Sprite. James could fully see the dead form of Star Lady lying in a pool of her blood. A Stiletto stuck out of her belly, with her hand still wrapped around the grievous wound. The frozen face of the Electra-esque woman showed eyes wide open in surprise, and her mouth leaked a tiny trickle of dried blood.

"You sick son of a bitch! You had to confess, didn't you?!?" Conscience screamed. "She was only kidding. She didn't expect you to say her name. How could you do this to her?"

He was beginning to understand at this point. A demon laid to rest meant a personality sent to the executioner's gallows. The Star Lady was the first demon he came up against in the real world. She wanted James to confess all along. or did she?

"She mentioned my bottled feelings towards Lexa feed her. She was willing to risk her existence by goading me into saying her name. She thought I couldn't do it. She is, therefore, a fool." Corgan explained.

"And they say confession is good for the soul." Conscience growled, "I don't think so. Who did you tell? Was it your best friend?"

"Couldn't be, or else I wouldn't be here." Sprite sighed.

"Ohhhhh.. no. Was it Lexa? Awwww. how romantic?" Said the sarcastic Conscience.

"I think being romantic will involve the death of another part of you, Corgan. Better be careful." Archangel of Death tisked.

"No. it was. I remember. hell we are part of you. so. it was your counselor! You f**king @$$hole! You told on the counselor!" Screamed his Conscience.

"You had no right!" Sprite spat.

"I HAVE EVERY RIGHT!" James roared, "She is a part of me, a cancer in my mind. What do you do with cancer? You irradiate it, inject it with ceortornine, and even cut it out with a rusty butter knife if that's all you have left. She's a cancer. YOU'RE A CANCER! You've infected me long enough, and since you're all part of me, I have every right to destroy you."

"At the risk of losing your mind?" The drone asked.

"What can I say? I'm taking you all to hell with me. I've suffered enough from you all. It's time I fought back. You think Star Lady was unfortunate? Wait until I INTENTIONALLY take each and every one of you people out. That's right, Star Lady was killed so easily because that problem was easy to take on, so I didn't need to go gunning for her, but once I intentionally come after you guys. my vengeance will be complete. I'm going to make you all pay for screwing with me. Mark my words, you're all going to die. except for the Archangel of course."

"Of course," Archangel of Death nodded, "How can you kill death?"

"Wrong. How can one person not feel guilt for the people's he has killed. To call yourself Death is preposterous. You show my guilt for the people I've harmed, nothing more. That will never escape me." Corgan countered.

"Hmmmm. the man has a point." The Archangel of Death swung his scythe on his back and pulled back his hood, "Well. it looks like you guys are f**ked and I'm going to be living the high life. See you all later. By the way, Corgan."

"Yes?"

"This is where our conversation ends. Caio!"

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Karyn had to see it for herself. Nurse Kristen Opal had insisted there was nothing to warrant immediate concern, especially since she showed no signs of blood loss herself, but Karyn knew something was wrong. She wasn't the kind of person to fall asleep in the middle of a shift, and the loss of memory was especially disconcerting. She was feeling pretty good now, but it bothered her that she couldn't make sense of what she'd been up to for the past few minutes. She didn't even remember telling Lord Vlad goodbye.

That wasn't all... Karyn had awoken from the water dream. The water dream was really a nightmare, one that she hadn't had for years. It was like the common "falling" dream only in this one she kept being pushed deeper and deeper into warm water until she could no longer see what was above her. She'd stopped trying to tell herself she needed to face what she knew very well she was hiding from and instead focused all her energy on forgetting about the dream. So far, it had worked. Until now.

Staring at the sleeping form of James Corgan, the third person to show signs of blood loss, Karyn knew all of it was connected somehow. None of it had started until they had encountered Lady Lilith and Lord Vlad. Anxiety tightened her abdomen as she realized their mysterious visitors could have contracted the virus they claimed their passengers carried. She had no way of knowing what was going on because so far the medical scans proved inconclusive, but she couldn't rule it out. As she watched Corgan toss and turn on the biobed as if in the midst of an internal struggle, Karyn mentioned the possibility to Kris.

The senior nurse shook her head. "We're certainly looking into it, but so far in the two other known cases of unexplained blood loss, the patients hadn't experienced any signs of illness. As a matter of fact, Gary and Eric reported feeling great." Kristen shrugged. "If you ask me, Corgan just took a few too many blows on the holodeck. He trained too hard and he suffered dehydration. All I know is we can't get ahead of ourselves here, we go around making unfound accusations, and we butcher a First Contact situation. We can't afford to piss off command anymore than we already have." she warned with a knowing smile.

Karyn returned the smile. "Believe me, I know. Can you wake him?" Karyn asked, gesturing to Corgan. Inwardly, she wasn't ruling out the possibility that these were psychosomatic symptoms from Corgan's experiences with the Borg, but she needed to know for certain given her concerns.

"Sorry, Counselor, my orders were to keep an eye on Corgan and report any changes in his condition. I can't wake him without Dothan's consent."

Karyn nodded her understanding. "Keep an eye on him. I'll go speak to Andree myself."

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Karyn was half-way across sickbay when she heard Kris' alarmed cry. The very fact that the normally calm RN was shouting told her something was very wrong.

When she turned toward the sound, she saw Kris kneeling over an unconscious Electra Reece. "Electra?" She moved toward the biobed even as some of the medical staff converged on it.

"She's one of yours?" asked Nurse Opal.

Karyn nodded, and grabbed a medical tricorder. Kris didn't take it personally, she knew Karyn couldn't stand being left in the dark and had to see things for herself. "Damn." Karyn muttered.

"Severe anemia." Kris stated with certainty and more concern than she'd ever heard before.

Without pause, Karyn tapped her combadge. "Dallas to Price. Sir, we've got a problem..."

-----
Dr. Andree Dothan,
CMO USS Galaxy
-----
Questions Abound
-----

Andree began his examination of Lord Vlad with his trademark Flip & Flick technique. He immediately frowned at the display. He was getting absolutely nothing.

"Ve already told you that your sensors vere too primitive to detect us"

"I never heard that, but I'm not even getting a reading of your mass. Would you by chance be some sort of energy based Life Form?"

Lord Vlad, seems to be disturbed at the incompetence of the medical 'professional' before him. "It is far too complicated for you to understand Doctor."

"Try me" Andree egged him on practically begging for more information.

Lord Vlad, remained mum.

"Are you only partially in our dimension, or a manifestation of your real self that exists elsewhere in our universe or Galaxy."

Lord Vlad reached out and grabbed Andree's wrist as he was walking around the Sanguinarian with his medical scanner. His subtle, pale hands had long fingers that were surprisingly strong as he caught Andree's wrist and held it still. looking into the fiery blue of Vlad's eyes, Andree was stunned for a moment at how quickly the visitor had trapped his hand, taking by total surprise. "As I said, it is far too complicated for you to understand. But as you can see, I am quite real. I am quite alive. Of that I can assure you."

A shudder over came Andree as he listened to Vlad speak. His eyes seemed to rip right through his soul and invoked a rather disturbing sense of uneasiness. Twisting his wrist slightly, Andree managed the get Vlad to release him. Massaging his wrist, Andree decided he wasn't going to get much further information from Vlad, or his instruments.

"Well, I can not detect any forms of harmful bacteria or diseases on your person either Mister Vlad. So regardless of who or what form of creature that you are, I don't suppose there is any harm in releasing you for now." Doctor Dothan explained.

Lord Vlad smiled slightly at hearing the Doctor's report on his health. "Thank you Doctor. I assure you that both myself and Lady Lilith pose you no harm unlike my associates vich are safely contained in their sleeping chambers. Were they to be released, I am afraid your entire crew would soon grow sick and die."

Andree nodded, not so much in agreement since the med teams had been unable to detect any sort of bacteria or virus on any of the suspended Sanguinarians either, just like Vlad and Lilith, but more out of politeness. "Well, from what I understand, Engineering should have your friends transferred onto the Galaxy in a short time. And though there is no way of verifying your claim that they are somehow infected, we will be safe just the same and keep them in suspended animation."

"A wide precaution." Vlad looked down at his bare chest and then back up at the Doctor. "May I... get dressed now Doctor?"

"Yes, yes. Go ahead. There's nothing more that I can do right now with you Mister Vlad. But I may wish to reexamine you and Miss Lilith later if I can figure out any additional tests that might be useful."

"But of course." Vlad smiled as he began fastening the buttons on his white shirt.

Andree dismissed Lord Vlad, and retired to his office to prepare his report to the captain.

*****
To Captain Price
From Dr. Andree Dothan, CMO
**

As previously reported by the away team, the Sanguinarians remain undetectable by any means at our disposal. They should be fitted with Commbadges in order that the ships sensors can track them.

I would also advise that they be confined to their quarters where they can be kept in quarantine, as I can neither determine if they may be carriers of a disease that will be harmful to any of the Federation races aboard, nor if any of the races aboard will pose a health risk to our guests

In conclusion, This situation clearly warrants more research, most likely the logs of the sleeper ship will be most revealing. The additional Sanguinarians that Lord Vlad has indicated are in stasis in sleeper pods should remain in stasis, and Federation crew should not bring them out of Stasis until we can determine with certainly that doing so will pose no threat to Lord Vlad and Lady Lillith, The Federation crew and civvies and of course the Sanguinarians in stasis.

EOF
*****

"Breaking of Bonds"
By Lieutenant James Mitchell, ACScO
Petty Officer Tyrola Lomax, Engineering excerpts from Commander Kent Peterson's log: "Lose Threads"

"I'm going to kiss you now, Tyrola, like it or not."

As James' lips met hers, Tyrola offered no resistance nor any objection. They kissed softly for a few seconds then Ty slowly withdrew her head. "I...uh..." She looked into his eyes and sighed lightly. "How about some breakfast?"

James looked more than a little confused and Ty sighed again. Leaning her head on his shoulder she tried to explain.

"It's just...been a long time since I felt for someone romantically. And never has it taken as little time as it has now and well...I just...think we should take our time. Make sure this is what we want - you getting me?"

James stroked her hair, and looked off into the distance. He was trying to understand, but there were other forces bending his will away from him. Her lips had tasted so sweet, so soft, so... full. His heart pumped blood and adrenaline viciously throughout his body, and he felt the familiar tingle of excitement a new love brings. For that one, magical moment, he forgot Marisa and gripped Tyrola tight. Her hair smelt of peaches and cream and he buried his face in her soft hair.

"Ty, I'm not sure what it is that I want... but I have to find out." He kissed her neck, her lobes, her spots. Ty pulled back from his embrace and tried to push him away. The fire in the science officer grew with each push of the engineer. It was as if he were burning up. His longing for her, the desire.. she was so beautiful...

"Stop, James... please....." She tried to break free of his grasp; her wrists were held tight and they were sore from chafing.

James was a man possessed. His eyes were glazed over and distant. He pulled Tyrola by one wrist over to his bedroom and threw her harshly on the bed. Her eyes were wide with terror as she fought him.

"Stop it! No! Don't touch me! Security!" She clawed at him, tearing his clothes, but he never winced once. Pain had no meaning for him right now. He only wanted her. He saw only the woman in front of him.

"I'm going to prove to that bitch once and for all who's controlling who!" He was fed up with her fighting him. With one quick backhand, he slapped her hard across the face, sending her flailing over the other side of the bed, bleeding from the lip.

When Lomax came to stand again James was advancing. She remembered something that she had learned, where she had learned it she could not recall. If someone is advancing on you a swift blow to the side of the head sends them off balance. A leg hitting the side of James' face at full force certainly did that. "Computer, erect forcefield..." She took a moment to try to figure out exactly which forcefield would isolate him from her, finally realizing she could not remember she settled for the easy option. "Computer, contain Lieutenant James Mitchell."

When the small containment field activated Ty backed away a bit. "I was obviously very wrong about you Mr. Mitchell. Very wrong indeed." She knew containment fields set to default only contained someone for a half hour at most. "I'm heading to sickbay now. I shall decide whether to report this incident from there. Goodbye, Lieutenant."

Lomax backed away from the man who was trying to find a way out of the forcefield, not wanting to turn her back on him. When she reached the door she turn and ran to the turbolift, a tear in her eye. This would be the last time she trusted her feelings for a man.

***

From the shadows of an alcove, away from prying eyes, two pinpricks of red symmetrical light blinked off, then on again. They followed the young woman who had run crying from the Science officer's quarters until she left on a turbolift.

Lilith had seen the Trill woman enter James' quarters earlier after she'd licked her wounds. It was the early morning hours of Alpha shift and not a soul was to be found. The Sanguinarian was not about to be outdone. The feelings the Bajoran had for the Trill had formed an emotional wall in him that needed to be broken down, and the opportunity had presented itself when she arrived after she'd been routed off.

Using the bond that had been forged with him during their encounter, Lilith entered James' waking dream as he opened his mind to her nearby and 'encouraged' his feelings for her; to act on them. Destroying the emotional bond he and Lomax shared - breaking his spirit while in pure feeling for another served her purpose of bending him to her will. She pushed him to fight his way out of the containment field, as pain only reinforced her desires to break him, as he had caused so much pain for her.

***

James hammered against the forcefield in rage, sending sharp jolts of electrical energy through him until he collapsed in a heap, unconscious.

Satisfied, Lilith smiled and left his waking dream, to move to her next task.

***

The internal comm system announced an incoming message.

[Peterson to Mitchell.] Silence followed as no reply was forthcoming. James remained in a heap at the base of the field, which had now been running for 20 minutes.

[Lieutenant Commander Peterson to Lieutenant Mitchell.] This one more forceful, but still no reply. After another several seconds, the query was cut off.

Nine minutes later, James door buzzer went off, and it jarred James. He was beginning to wake slowly.

"Containment field neutralized. 30 minute time has expired." The computer didn't give any warning, but the silvery snow that was the isolation field disappeared. James awoke when the buzzer went off again, but this time it didn't shut off. He shook his head groggily as he stumbled tot he door to answer it.

"Must be Tyrola, and I'm late for my shift. Dammit... where are my pants?" He fumbled around as the the buzzer kept ringing in his ears. Looking down, he saw that he was already wearing his pants, and wondered casually how that happened if he went to bed in his boxers.... He opened the door to find, to his surprise, Commander Peterson.

"Sir," he said a little surprised to see Peterson standing there. "What can I do for you?"

"You were supposed to met me down at the cargo bay to visit our Borg guest, Mister Mitchell," Kent responded. His facial expression gave the younger man an impression that his Human colleague was not happy about something.

"The cargo bay?"

"Yes. I contact you about an hour ago to meet me in the cargo bay. We were going to discuss the Tamarian language with Three of Four," the chief scientist explained. "Don't you remember?"

James looked a little confused. He did not remember Kent having contacted him about meeting in any of the ship's cargo bays, let alone a discussion about talking with Three of Four. Even the memory issue aside, he thought it was a little strange for Peterson to actually want to see the drone - that would be a first.

The out-of-uniform lieutenant shook his head - he simply did not remember.

Kent looked at the man. He seemed a little pale and he was obviously tired. "Look, you don't look well James. Maybe you should report to Sickbay, or if you want, I can get someone to come and have a look at you here."

The Bajoran shook his head. "I'll be okay. I just need some sleep."

"That looks like it might be best."

James turned without saying anything else and wandered back in to his quarters - the doors closed promptly behind him.

***

Sitting down on the edge of his bed, the Bajoran was puzzled at the events of the day. Thinking about it, and having indecisiveness creep into his thoughts were enough. Sickbay was the place to go.

He jumped into a quick shower, pulled on his duty uniform, pulled off his earpiece (he wondered why he slept in it), and tried to shake the cobwebs from his head as he left for Sickbay.

"Change of Pace"
by Lt. Cdr Elaithin Jii, Chief of Security
With some blatantly unauthorized usage (albeit minor) of Captain Price,
Lieutenant Von Ernst, and Mrs. Von Ernst.

"So it's settled then!" the irrepressible Holli Von Ernst said as the Security Chief put away his phaser. "Tuna-fish sand-wej, Captain?"

Elaithin covered his smile with a hand, asking a silent question to the Captain. The Captain just shook his head, deciding it would likely be best to just let Mrs. Von Ernst have her way.

He might have been wrong, but, the Bajoran swore Rebecca looked like she was going to faint. "You all right, Ms. Von Ernst?" he asked the Tactical Chief as Holli Von Ernst handed over a sandwich to the Captain.

"S...S..Sure....Si..sir." the petite redhead stammered out.

Jii grinned. "Hey, None of that "Sir" crap. We're senior staff, Von Ernst. We're equals. I won't use ranks if you don't. Call me Jii."

"umn...okay...." Von Ernst replied shyly, and turned back to her tactical board.

Smiling again,(as always) Elaithin turned to Ensign Smith, who'd just come up on the turbolift to relieve him. "Ensign," he said. "Take over here at the Security Station. I'll be in my quarters."

"Aye sir." the young Ensign replied. 'Commander Elaithin walked off the bridge with a smile.

"Deck 2" In the turbolift, with no prying eyes or appearances to keep, the big man's easy, accustomed smile...vanished.

Unconsciously, he flexed his prosthetic hand, thinking the thought that had occurred so many times since he'd lost his hand on the Borg Cube.

Damn you, Peterson....you had to have your experiment, didn't you....

Shake it off, Jii, he mentally chided himself. It's not Peterson's fault. It's not anyone's fault...

Oh, really, smart guy? So Why don't you have a hand anymore?

Come to think of it, that voice was really annoying. Maybe I should take Karyn up on those Counseling sessions, Jii thought. He then refuted the thought, rationalizing (as so many do) that he wouldn't have time for it. By now he was walking down the row of Senior Officer's Quarters and entering his own. "Elaithin to Security."

["Maxwell here, sir."]

"Maxwell? Bruce, where's Raven?" the Chief asked.

["On an investigation, 'Commander."]

"Understood. You settling in okay, Bruce?" Jii said, stripping off his uniform tunic and slipping out of his boots until he was walking around in only his pants.

["Pretty well so far, 'Commander. The gold shirt seems to suit me."]

"I feel the same way. Well, I want you to post the following as the new duty roster.." Elaithin began, reciting the new Duty Roster from memory. As he did so, he began working through the Nausicaan Katas he'd learned as an Ensign.

"On Alpha Shift, I'll be supervisor, with Raven as Brig supervisor. I want Ensign Seryn in the armory. For Beta, we've got 'Commander O'Grady - as soon as she's back from maternity leave - with you serving as the shift super until she's back. I want the new girl, Drakely - put her on Armory Supervisor. Gamma And Delta are mainly unchanged - Seth, Arel and Astrid on Gamma, and Sanchez, Brightspot and Kevin for Delta. The last three are night people anyways. They won't mind. Everyone else keeps they're current shifts. Assign the new transfers to be equally spread out among the shifts."

["Noted and logged, 'Commander. Anything else?"]

"Nope. Good to have you with us, Bruce."

["Good to be here. Maxwell out."]

As he ran through his katas, an idea began to occur to Elaithin. What we need around here, he thought....is a change a pace. For a good half an hour, he racked his brain for just what the crew could possibly need...just what would do to lighten their spirits.

Finally, the idea came to him.

In the Academy, Jii had discovered in himself a passion for Theater. Particularly the works of the Human (or Klingon, depending on who you believed) William Shakespeare. Finding the appropriate PADD, he read aloud :

"Two households, both alike in dignity,
In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,
From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,
Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.

From forth the fatal loins of these two foes
A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life;
Whole misadventured piteous overthrows
Do with their death bury their parents' strife.

The fearful passage of their death-mark'd love,
And the continuance of their parents' rage,
Which, but their children's end, nought could remove,
Is now the two hours' traffic of our stage;
The which if you with patient ears attend,
What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend."

"That'll do the trick. Computer!" he exclaimed. The computer beeped, signaling it's preparedness.

"Post the following to the General message board, particularly among those crew member with a noted interest in Theater. Auditions to be held tomorrow evening at 2000 Hours in Holodeck One for a production of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. For further details send messages to Lieutenant Commander Elaithin Jii, Chief of Security." "Acknowledged." the computer replied.

Well, Jii thought. This should be fun.

"Happy hour"
by Captain Robert Edward Lee Price

The anti gravity lifts being used to maneuver the last suspension chamber where making their normal whir sound. Four of the anti-grabs, as the engineers like to call them, were being used per refrigeration unit, each one being handled by a different engineer. As they walked carrying the last Sanguinarian unit off the shuttlecraft and onto the USS Galaxy, Assistant Chief Engineer T'Zaq had a passing thought that they looked like coffins the way they were being marched down the shuttles access ramp and onto the flight deck. Raising a Vulcan brow, T'Zaq found it curious how appropriate that seemed, since in a sense, the occupants inside were in a sense dead. Their life signs were not registering and while in suspended animation, the three male and one female occupant were in a sense dead to this world.

"That is the last one 'Commander." One of the laboring engineers pointed out.

T'Zaq referenced her tricorder and then gave a nod, closing the clam-like unit in the palm of her hand while lowering it to her side. "Readings show that the portable power cells are maintaining the suspended environment sufficiently. We should, however proceed to connect them to a more stable power source as quickly as possible. Lieutenant Reece has authorized the use of cargo bay 24 to house these units. The power connections needed should be prepped and these units brought down to deck 39 and connected in a timely fashion."

The other engineer swiped a forearm across his forehead. The anti-grabs helped offset the massive weight of the sleeper units, but they still required a good deal of strength and effort to maneuver on and off of the shuttle. "Can we maybe take a break 'Commander? These portable batteries should be good for a couple hours easy."

A stern, straight line formed on the Vulcan's face. She really didn't want to delay in getting the units hooked up to the Galaxy's main power supply, since the Sanguinarian guests that were revived indicated that these individuals were carriers of a disease that was very dangerous. However she realized that the human officers that were assisting her were nowhere near as staminous as Vulcans.

"Very well. We can take a ten-minute rest period. I shall check with Lieutenant Reece to verify that the power connections have been suitably preped for our usage in cargo bay 24." T'Zaq responded, "When you have finished,... resting, please deliver these four units to the cargo bay on deck 39."

"Yes sir." The Engineer said with a salute, which was somewhat sarcastic, but the Vulcan didn't bother with responding. Instead T'Zaq turned and exited the shuttle bay.

***

Walking through the corridor immediately outside the shuttle bay, 'Commander T'Zaq saw Ensign Soleri walking towards her struggling to carry a number of instruments in aluminum cases. "My I assist you Ensign?"

"That would be great 'Commander." The Andorian female scientist responded.

T'Zaq reached and easily removed one of the three heavy cases off of the stack on Soleri's arms. "I'm quite certain you are exceeding Starfleet's recommended weight limit by carrying these cases in this fashion."

"I know 'Commander but I'm sorry. Ensign Thatcher was supposed to get most of this stuff, but he must have come down ill, since we just received word he would not be going on this mission." Sendi explained.

T'Zaq's eyebrow shot up involuntarily. "Mission? I was not aware there was another mission Ensign?"

"Oh yes. While the salvage operations were going on with the Tamarian ship, we discovered some ship fragments not far from here. We believe it may be the remains of the SS Integrity. A team is taking a shuttle for a quick EVA excursion to check it out."

"I see, well, let's get your equipment to your destination then to avoid further delays. I have business that also needs attending to Ensign." T'Zaq reminded.

"Of course ma'am. This way. We will be taking the USS Terra Australis." Ensign Soleri indicated.

"Then let's get going Ensign." T'Zaq responded evenly. The two then proceeded towards the shuttle with the equipment they were both carrying.

***

*** Elsewhere ***

Lord Vlad was walking through the corridors of the ship with an angry stride. Lady Lilith's taunts had struck a nerve in teasing the Sanguinarian over his failure to feed off of Counselor Dallas. She made reference to their long isolation and insinuated that Vlad was loosing his touch. Indeed, the ancient Sanguinarian knew that was not the case at all. For several millennium his touch had been fine, and his people had helped shaped the civilizations on numerous worlds throughout this galaxy. No, Vlad knew that the only thing wrong with him was that he was weak from fasting so long. It was something he intended on correcting in short order. Since they had been fortunate enough to be discovered by these Federation people, both he and Lady Lilith had been showing great restraint in only nibbling on their guests here and there -- just enough to satisfy the hunger pains. But now that they had surveyed their guests and realized that they were nothing more then cattle waiting to be slaughtered, it was time to feed in earnest and regain their full strength.

Vlad rounded a corner and laid his eyes on a delicious morsel of a woman. Her back was to the Sanguinarian as he approached her silently. She had a trim body that was unable to conceal her beauty beneath the medical uniform she wore. In her arms, cradled against her chest were a number of books and datapadds, which helped to further conceal her shapeliness.

Reaching out his black finger nailed hand, Vlad laid it upon her shoulder to stop her and spin her around.

"Please, allow me to assist you in carrying these things miss?..."

At first Lieutenant' Liito was surprised to be stopped in such a fashion, but the Betazoid quickly saw the handsome man that had stopped her and was instantly glad that he did. "I think,... I can manage. But thank you."

"Please." Vlad stated evenly, "I am quite sure that you can. However such a beautiful creature as yourself shouldn't have to burden herself with such menial chores." Vlad brushed the cheek of Linda's face with the back of his hand while staring at her with his deep, blue eyes.

"Oh,... Okay." the Lieutenant' said as her grip around her course materials loosened under Vlad's gaze. She seemed to melt when he looked at her the way he did and as her grip released on the health manuals, so too did her inhibitions seem to relax around this tall, dark stranger.

Taking the padds and manuals, Vlad smiled, showing his perfectly straight, pearly white teeth. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Lord Vlad."

Linda returned the smile with one of her own. "Oh yes, I heard that you had come on board. I hope that you are enjoying your stay here on the Galaxy." the Lieutenant' stated as they started walking.

"So far my stay has been, adequate miss?..."

"I'm sorry, Lieutenant' Linda Liito. Pleased to meet you."

Vlad reached a hand out and shook the Lieutenant's. "Linda, what a lovely name for such a beautiful creature."

Blushing slightly, the Lieutenant' couldn't help but be taken by the Sanguinarian's charm. It was quite a refreshing change from the typical meat trucks that were on the ship, always trying to get laid. This gentleman was behaving like a perfect gentleman. And somehow, that was turning Linda on to no end.

"I need to take these to my class on deck 12. Would you mind riding up with me in the turbolift mister Vlad?" Linda asked.

"Vye, I vould be honored to accompany such a lovely woman miss Liito."

"Please,... you can call me Linda." She smiled as they approached a turbolift and proceeded to enter.

Linda entered and glanced over at the clean-shaven man. He was exactly the image of perfection she expected in an ideal lover. Lord knows she had researched long enough running holo-romance novels. Vlad had everything she was looking for, and manners to boot! Drawing in a deep breath of admiration, she called out, "Deck 12."

The turbolift doors closed as the lift began to move. Linda didn't know why, but her heart was beginning to race. She pressed her eyelids shut to tried to fight off her imaginative thoughts of a couple making wild passionate love in an elevator of one of her favorite holo-novels. When Vlad turned and stated, "Hold" she nearly had an orgasm right there.

Opening her eyes she looked over at Vlad. He returned her wanting gaze and for a brief moment, she was on the holodeck and playing the starring role in one of her romance novels.

"Forgive me Linda, but I can not help myself... you are just too beautiful to resist."

Reaching across longingly, she whispered, "Then don't my love..."

Their lips met in a passionate kiss. His arms were strong and at the same time gentle. He explored her body even as she explored his. The tender embrace was better then those of her novels, for this was a living, breathing person. Reaching out with her Betazed mind, she probed for his thoughts, wanting to discover the ways in which he wished to be pleasured. As her thoughts touched Vlad's, she was shocked to learn that his passion was beyond what she had anticipated. Opening her eyes in shock, she tried to pull back, but was too late. She barely caught a glance of his long white fangs before they sank into her neck. Letting out a gasp, Linda was both frightened and ashamed as the pulses of pleasure coursed through her entire body. Goosebumps formed on her arms as Vlad drank her life blood and with each swallow, her own orgasm intensified, until finally, she grew too weak to remain conscious and finally she gave in to the pleasure that was taking her by force.

***

The turbolift doors opened to a surprise for Lord Vlad. There, standing by was Lady Lilith. Arms crossed and foot tapping impatiently. Vlad was unphased as he stepped by the Sanguinarian woman and into the corridor.

Lilith looked down at the pale, blood drained body of the medical officer. It didn't take but one look to realize that the Betazoid was dead, having been drained completely of her blood. "I thought you said we were to bide our time my Lord?" Lilith reminded in a condescending tone.

Vlad didn't slow down. "That has changed." He stated simply.

Lilith looked at the natal position of the Lieutenant's body on the floor of the turbolift. "You aren't going to leave her there are you?"

Raising a hand, Vlad dismissed Lilith's concerns. "It is of no matter my Lady. These people are but cattle to you and I. They are incapable of stopping us from doing anything ve please."

Lilith looked at the once pretty officer and gave a nod. She watched as the turbolift doors finally closed on Lieutenant' Linda Liito's lifeless body. Turning, Lady Lilith began catching up with her Lord. "Then what are our plans my Lord?"

"Ve will take this vessel and head away from this place. The hunters nearly succeeded in their last attempt. I do not intend to allow them a second chance."

Lilith smiled widely. A pang of jealously had riddled her when she found Vlad with Lieutenant' Liito. Though she knew her concerns were unfounded. Vlad could never love one of these lessers the way that he loved her, one of his own kind. "Vere vill ve go?"

"Out to the unexplored regions of this galaxy. With the thousand souls on board this ship, ve should be able to travel for many years without fear of going hungry." Vlad stated.

"And what of the remains of the posse my Lord? What will become of them?" Lilith asked.

"Once we take this ship, ve will destroy the vessel upon which they sleep. Then we will leave so that no others can find us."

"These people vill resist us my Lord." Lilith stated.

"But of course." Vlad stated evenly. "Which is why ve must feed well, to grow strong. For until their vill is broken and ve at

tain full dominance over these cattle, they are like a wild herd that still presents a level of danger."

"Then we will Sheppard them my Lord."

"And we shall celebrate our victory by feasting upon their blood my Lady."

Wrapping an arm around Vlad's, Lilith laid her head on her lover's shoulder. "Vere vill ve begin?"

"In the section of their ship they call, Engineering." Vlad stated. "But first, ve must feed and grow strong."

"Then I know just the place my Lord, where these people flock to relax and entertain themselves."

"Let's go my dear." Vlad indicated with a hand.

***

*** Lieutenant Commander Kent Peterson's office ***

Captain Price met up with the Chief Science Officer in his office. Lee didn't have to wait long before Kent arrived after visiting with Lieutenant MacAllen about what translations they had been able to make thus far from the recording 'Commander T'Zaq recovered from the Tamarian ship's logs.

"G'day 'Commander." Captain Price greeted.

Kent forced a courteous smile, but it was evident he had a lot on his mind. "Good afternoon Captain."

"How are things coming with the translations?" Lee asked.

"They are coming sir. Lieutenant MacAllen has determined that "Dircala at Berliega!" roughly translates to a place on Tamrian, and a person who's name literally means, 'the dark one'. I have her researching Tamarian databanks now looking for a reference to any stories or legends of this Dircala to give the phrase some context that we can understand."

"I see. And how are things going with Three of Four 'mate?"

"Well, I haven't yet had an opportunity to speak to her Captain. Lieutenant Mitchell was supposed to meet me, and when he was taken ill, the schedule sort of slipped." Kent explained. "When I got your hail I figured it would be best to get the log book you referenced and then go see her."

"Aye." Lee stated accepting the Chief's explanation. "Here she is. Quite the prize I would think, especially given the unavailability of recoverable ship's logs."

"This is quite a piece of history..." Kent agreed, looking through the book.

"Near the end there is where I see an entry about that Dircala bloke. " the Captain indicated, "Though it doesn't seem urgent like the recording 'Commander T'Zaq recovered.

Kent glanced at the entries. "I'm sure this will be helpful once it's translated Captain. Right now we can only speculate..." the Chief Science Officer stated flipping back through the pages. "This is interesting."

"What's that 'mate?"

"These entries here." Kent pointed, "While I'm certainly no expert at Tamarian language, I have learned a few things through the course of this mission. These here look like manifest entries."

Lee looked over Peterson's shoulder at where he was pointing with a finger. The names definitely didn't look to be Tamarian. Together they looked over the list.

Danestia
Lilith
Haun
Odak
Baum

"Lilith? That could be Lady Lilith." Captain Price mentioned.

"I would say that these are definitely manifest entries sir. These must be the names of the Sanguinarian passengers."

"Why isn't Lord Vlad listed there too 'mate?"

Kent shook his head. "I don't know sir." He said turning the page over. "There is more writing here below under the same entry. It might explain it once translated."

Lee glanced at the Tamarian text and his eyes were brought to one reference. "'Adnora in chains.' I wonder if that could mean that these were all prisoners?"

"Or perhaps Vlad was, and that is why his name isn't listed? An interesting thought Captain." Kent stated. "Of course until we get this translated, we will not know. For all we know, it could simply be the Tamarian term for hibernation or something."

"Of course." Lee nodded, not wanting to jump to conclusions. Just then an incoming hail was received.

It was from a rather panic sounding Doctor Sansky. ["Sickbay to Price, captain a member of the crew has been attacked by one of our 'guests' at least you could call it an attack. I think you will want to see this for yourself sir..."]

Lee's expression was one of shock. Reaching over he tapped his comm badge. "Price here, I'm on my way Doctor."

Lieutenant Commander Peterson was shocked to hear this. He couldn't imagine that the Sanguinarian would want to hurt anyone on the crew. But now the references to "The dark one" that Rose had commented on were beginning to give Kent second thoughts about that. "Shall I come with you Captain?" he asked.

"Negative 'Commander. Get that book to Three of Four and see if you can make sense out of it. It could be the only intact record remaining of what took place on that Tamarian vessel so many years ago. I'll go look into this disturbance. I'll be in sickbay for now." Lee stated.

"Understood Captain. I'll get right on this." Peterson stated while exiting his office with the black covered Tamarian logbook in his hands.

Captain Price began to follow 'Commander Peterson out of the science section while tapping his comm badge. "Price to Elaithin. Have our guests found and detained 'Commander."

Jii responded a few moments later, ["Understood Captain. Shall I have them escorted to the brig when located?"]

"Negative. Take them to their quarters and hold them there under guard until we determine what is going on. They are still our guests 'Commander. Until we have proof of any wrong doing on their part, we should treat them as diplomatically as possible."

["Very good Captain. I'll let my people know. Elaithin out."]

***

*** Ten Forward Lounge ***

Casually entering the Ten Forward lounge during 'happy hour', the two Sanguinarian guests walked in knowingly. One of the ship's largest social centers where crew members come to unwind, relax and hook up with friends and to make new ones, the visitors were here for a meat market of a very different sort. Lady Lilith took in a deep breath, savoring the aroma of so much youthful, fresh blood. The average age of a crewmember on board this vessel was around twenty five years old, which made for a fresh, young stable of cattle upon which they could feed off of. Lord Vlad was also scanning the room for likely candidates for his next feeding. The wide variety and shear number of individuals present made for a pleasant selection upon which to choose his next meal.

"Come my dear, let us,... mingle before ve retire to have a bite to eat."

"But of course my Lord. But of course." Lilith smiled wickedly.

***

Captain Price reached the turbolift and waited for the doors to open. When they did, he was shocked to discover the pale and withered body of Lieutenant' Linda Liito curled up on the floor.

"Bugger me blind!" Lee declared as he kneeled down to check the Lieutenant' for a pulse. But even though he was not a doctor, it was easy for him to determine that she was dead.

Straightening with a resigned sign, the Captain tapped his comm badge. "Security, Medical, send teams to deck 12. Lieutenant' Liito is dead." Lee paused glancing around, "She may be the victim of foul play."

USS Galaxy "The bell tolls for me"
Written by Lt Kahn Nilani,
Engineering Officer,
Special Projects.

Nilani had been feeling light headed after she had rushed herself to work. Her mind was on the night before and what had happened. 'What happened? Why can't I remember my dream and why am I so tired!' she thought as a wave of dizziness came across her.

She took the side of the turbo lift to steady herself, the floor seemed to slide like jelly did when it was being set in the bottom of a baking tray. She looked back upto the glossy suface of the black pannels, her pale and lifeless skin making her normally youthfull appearence seem sick and ill.

"Computer, frezze lift.... Sickbay!"

The lift went off at a million miles an hour and reached the deck within a few seconds of the command. Nilani almost slid out of the turbolift as she tried to regain her ballance and walk to the one place she hated more than anything.

The door to the sickbay opened and Nilani fell through landing hard on the decking, cutting her forhead in the process and spilling the precious life blood that she was already lacking so much of.

She knew she had to get up, to make it to the bed.... Her survival insitinct screaming out the need to get up and yet not being able to do anything about it. She felt the rush of wind and the blurred vision of shadows moving in to her fallen body.... life seemingly slipping away at every moment as her eyes glistened over.

“Enticing”
Lt. (jg) Heather Grant-Wellington

NPC: Ensign Jose Antonio San Diego
Ensign Marina Williamson
Ensign Indiana Brisbane

Another non-eventful shift passed and Heather made her way down to Ten-Forward to meet with San Diego and Williamson. San Diego had invited the two girls for a post shift gathering. The relationship between San Diego and Grant-Wellington was holding steady, though she still sensed something was not right. They had gone from spending one shift together, for company to spending Heather’s spare time having sex. She enjoyed it none the less, but to her it seemed odd and difficult. Difficult because she felt as if she was cheating on someone. That someone being Indiana. Every time she closed her eyes to sleep, Indiana appeared to dominate her dreams. The dreams were not always sexual, but his very presence was enough to throw into a state of confusion over the difference between sleep and awake. What upset her the most, was that she thought she had gotten over her misguided feelings for Indiana and moved on. She had pinned her hopes on San Diego to help her begin a new. The strange part about these dreams, were that they began around the same time they came into this sector.

Shaking her head, she attempted to clear her mind. Her thoughts were becoming as absurd as the rumours that the new guests were sex crazed vampires. The very thought of sex crazed vampires lose on the Galaxy made her snigger. “Yeah right. And I’m a virgin in avoidance of men.” She mumbled to herself. Stepping off the turbolift on Deck Ten, she made her way towards Ten-Forward, giggling to herself about the vampires. Then suddenly, a figure walked out of one of the adjoining corridors and in the general direction of Ten-Forward. Heather slowed in her pace and turned serious, for the figure resembled Indiana. “Now, I’m seeing him in wake. Or am I dreaming? This is becoming absurd.” She continued on in hope it was just her imagination tampering with her conscious mind.

Walking to the bar, she crossed the room to a table in the far corner beside the windows, where Marina was waiting alone. “Where’s Jose Antonio?” asked Heather as she took a seat. “He’ll back in a moment. He had to take care of something. What, I don’t know.” Heather nodded her head a little, as if to say “O..Kay.” Starting the conversation, she asked Marina how her shift went. “We’re working on the artefacts brought back from the Tamarian vessel. Really thrilling stuff if you catch my drift.” “I’ve heard something about our guests being vampires. That would have been the highlight of yet another shift spent gazing at the stars from a stationary vessel.” Marina glared her as if Heather had spoken blasphemy. Her reaction sparked warning bells in Heather. “Please tell me you don’t believe the stories?” “I have seen proof that may suggest otherwise.” Heather just raised an eyebrow and decided to quickly change the subject.

“I had a weird encounter earlier.” She mentioned casually, when a waiter arrived. “Officers.” The waiter greeted. “A lemon stoly.” Replied Heather. Marina ordered another cup of coffee, waited until the waiter left, then replied to Heather. “What? An encounter with one of our guests?” “No. I swear I saw Indiana Brisbane heading here in the corridor.” Marina frowned. Within, alarms sounded at the possibility Heather had just stumbled across her and San Diego’s secret. “Have seen a counsellor about your dreams? It sounds like they are taking a hold.” Heather nodded her head sadly. “I have and so far no success.” “How strong are the dreams? Apart from the image outside before.” “I see him every time I close my eyes. It’s as if my relationship with San Diego doesn’t take precedence in my unconscious mind. When we share my bed, I feelings of guilt. San Diego is a great lover, I won’t deny that, but I feel that being involved with him is so wrong.” Marina nodded her head to indicate she was listening, when the waiter returned with their drinks.

Marina took a sip of her coffee, as an excuse to look at the doors San Diego had gone through. She hoped that her nervousness at the close call was not showing. Heather on the other hand was oblivious to what was really going on. She had being kept in the dark the entire mission to date, but Marina was starting to feel that may be it was time to expose Heather to the reality that Indiana was indeed the man she saw earlier. Marina tapped her badge. “San Diego, where are you?” “Deck Ten, why?” “Heather’s here.” “I’ll be there shortly.” Heather forced herself to smile. “I haven’t told San Diego about these dreams. So, can you please refrain from telling him.” Marina felt her throat tightened. She had being telling San Diego about Heather’s dreams, as she found no use in hiding them from him since he already knew of Indiana. She had being asking San Diego for ideas on how to help Heather through this difficult patch. Then, everything went to hell.

San Diego entered the room, annoyance splashed across his Hispanic features. “Heather. We need to talk.” announced a familiar voice. Heather was gazing at the window and saw a reflection in the form of Indiana in the glass. She turned pale and lowered her glass. “Muri. I’m having a hallucination.” She gasped. Marina stared at her friend. “No your not. It’s very real.” “Heather. Please.” Said Indiana’s reflection. Heather turned around to see who stood behind her. “What the….?” “Are you alright Heather?” Spoke up Marina. Heather side glanced her friend. “You knew?” “With all your emotions, I tried to..” Heather became infuriated, stood up, slapped San Diego across the face and marched off in protest. “Warned you.” Hissed San Diego. Marina swallowed hard as she stared helplessly at San Diego.

Indiana stood in the flesh outside in the corridor and saw Heather running out of Ten-Forward. He went to say something when she raced passed in ignorance. As he raced after her, the pair were passed by the vampires. Lord Vlad gazed deeply at Heather as they passed each other. He attempted to gain her attention like he had done the others, but was not truly successful. She was seriously pissed off and it worked in her favour to deter the vampire’s alluring manner. Indiana was not far behind and was subjected to the lady’s seductive approach. Unlike Heather, he was not able to resist. He slowed down, his eyes fixated on the glorious looking woman. There was something about her that captured his attention and lured it away from the chase for Heather. He could feel his body liquefying into a state of arousal beyond his control. The couple stopped before the ensign, as if to assess his potential as a present food source. Just as he started to become fully consumed by the seductive notions, something clicked in his mind. “Cat.” He uttered. The vampires ignored him as they attempted to back him into a corner out of site. “Sorry.” Was all he said before continuing his made dash. Fortunately, he already knew her room number, so he had not entirely lost sight of her yet. Lady Lilith was not impressed by this failure to capture her latest victim, especially as most of those before hand had so easily fallen for her moves. Lord Vlad made the decision that Indiana could wait and the couple continue on their way to Ten-Forward.

Heather entered her quarters and locked the door using her code. She immediately sat down at her computer and placed a request through to Commander Thomas for a room transferred, preferably to a single room. Her soul raged with betrayal, lust and disappointment and yet, her cravings for Indiana were tense. She could not explain it, but she desired nothing more right at that moment than Indiana’s company in a place far from here.

The door chime beeped a couple of times before Heather decided to respond. “Yes?” she hissed. “Cat? I’m so sorry. Please talk to me.” Angry at still being trapped, she picked up the vase of flowers sitting on the end of the desk, and hauled it at the door. “Go away. I don’t want to hear your petty excuse. Please, leave me alone.” She growled, then frowned with confusion. “I can explain.” Sounded Indiana, in a desperate, boyish tone. Reluctantly, she opened the doors in hope that the hallucination would end, or San Diego would help her escape it.

Indiana raced in, frantically looking around for Heather, who stood in the shadows. “Then explain.” Indiana spun around to face the direction of the voice. “I contacted you while you were docked at the starbase about my transfer. Since, Marina and Jose have prevented me from meeting with you, saying that my presence aboard will hamper your psychological condition, or some bullshit like that.” Heather listened intently as her body cried out for physical connection with the voice, that now spoke mistrust. “And why should I believe you?” Indiana approached the shadows with caution, wary of her prowl ness. “Because you trust me. Because my heart guides me and not my mind.” “Then prove that your heart is indeed true.” She stepped forward to a point where their faces where in that of the other’s. Indiana stared into her eyes, his heart beating rapidly as if from nervousness. “I am not your betrayer. Look into my eyes and you will see that I am not your enemy.” “How can I? I feel all that I have known behind these doors is nothing more than a lie. Deceit reigns here, not trust.”

Indiana had learnt early on that there was only one way to shut off a self-pitying Heather Grant-Wellington. “I feel nothing more than the dagger you, Marina and Jose Antonio have rammed….” She began, until Indiana pulled her close and kissed her continuously. Heather was taken aback as she felt his hands tighten their grip. Her lungs begged for more air than the quantity she was forcing in through her nose. Eventually, she gave in to her desires and held him closer. Before they knew it, the two of them were tearing at each other’s uniform and the desk cleared. Gently, Indiana laid Heather down on the desk, their lips never parting, until Indiana dragged his moist lips down the centre of her body to between her fair bosoms. As her body filled with the long lost pleasure she once felt, her back arched and she moaned. A fire burned within the each of them, as Indiana and Heather became one in a way they never thought they would. Her breast tingled as they harden and her legs trembled with antiscipation. To her, it felt like an eternity since she last made love, even though she had frequently being slaving to San Diego’s sexuality. This felt so real. It felt so right and no guilt. Indiana was clearly on cloud nine. He was both excited by this event and filled with a passion he never thought he had.

Just as the pair were on the verge of climaxing, Heather fell limp in a cloud of disturbing darkness. For a brief moment, the world had spun out of control and her body trembled like a violent earthquake, before all had vanished into nothingness. All was silent for sometime before a distant voice could be heard calling to her in desperation. For some while, Heather felt herself lingering in the air as light as a feather and yet, she felt nothing but total lightness and peace.

San Diego wrapped the unconscious body in a bed sheet and lifted her gently into his arms. The arms and head were unsupported as they draped off his left arm. She looked dead, but she had a pulse. Carefully, he carried her out of her room and down the corridors to the nearest turbolift. Both him and Marina had had an argument, again over whether to tell Heather about Indiana. He had stormed off, leaving Marina there in search of Heather, as she had raced off after experiencing what had seemed to be an hallucination and it concerned him.

On Deck 12, he carried the body to sickbay and gently laid her down. San Diego informed the doctor of finding an empty of bottle of an unknown substance nearby and a broken vase near the door. He was not sure what had happened, except that she had been left slumped naked over her desk. The doctor examined the limp body, shaking his head at the mystery that surrounded her condition. In a way she was dead, but in others she was still very much alive. San Diego felt his heart slump to his stomach. Something had happened back up in those quarters and he was determined to find out what it was.

Indiana raced in, his skin as pale as the fluorescent lights that lit the room. He glanced at the female human on the far bio bed and raced to her side. He was half tempted to deck San Diego, whom he blamed for their conditions, but instead, he lifted the upper half of the body and held her in his arms. Something very strange had happened between Ten-Forward and Sickbay, which neither of them could explain. It was terrifying in more ways than one, and it was deemed to claim them all.

For here laid Heather Catherine Grant-Wellington. A woman haunted by her compressed feelings for a man beyond her reach and a victim of a hidden force. Should she awaken, the dreams may continue to confuse her perception of what is reality. If she does not, then she will rest without knowing how close her true love was to her. For not even Heather Grant-Wellington could escape the evil that now roamed the corridors of the great USS Galaxy.

Love Bites

Dr Todd Sansky (lieutenant jg)
USS Galaxy

Lieutenant Kahn Nilani

Nathan Carrington

Todd was standing by Nathan's bed praying that he would come back round when the doors swished open, at first he didn't take any notice until he heard a thud. Glancing he saw Kahn Nilani fall to the floor. Quickly he ran over to her.

'I need some help here.' Two duty nurses ran over to assist as Todd hauled the woman onto a biobed. Scanning her he realized a familiar dread, severe blood loss.

'I need blood supplies up here now, move!' One of the nurses scurried off again as the other set up the blood transfusion unit. Todd ran to get his dermolregenerator, activating it and healing the gash on her forehead he saved more of her blood from escaping her body. The nurse returned and began the transfusion. Her life signs began to stabilize at last. Todd stood looking grimly at his two patients.

=/\= Sickbay to Price, another member of the crew has been attacked, your presence is needed in Sickbay. Sansky out =/\=

'God damn it where is he?' Shaking his head he walked over to the computer console and inputted his command codes before the comm. opened throughout the ship.

=/\= Attention all off duty personnel report to Sickbay for emergency blood donation. Sansky out =/\= 'Right everyone we are going to have to stock up on our supplies especially the more rare species, Vulcan, Bolian etc.'

=/\= Security we need some officers to guard the Sickbay and the Blood storage area. Sansky out =/\= 'Right people lets do it.'

The green wall of scales was busy doing what he was suppose to doing. With his regular statuesque, Seth stood outside the guest quarters.

For the past several hours the gorn was there and he would swear no one had come or gone since the start of the shift. It seemed like a blurry eternity since that time.

Then with glacial speed the security guard did something he never did. He blinked. Green scale eye lids rolled over the multiphaseted eyes as they shrunk into the huge skull. Then the blink was over there was something strange going on.

Again the communicator beeped. Seth had heard it before but a strange fog in his mind didn't make the connection. His clawed hand instinctively moved slowly and tapped the badge.

"Lt Zonheib." he said. Seth thought his own voice sounded strange in the auditory holes.

"Security alert." Elaithin Jii said over the channel. "Priority one find and detain our guests."

Green mountains of muscle rolled as Seth stretched. His statue broken and replaced with an evolutionary killing machine ready to hunt.

Opening the door to the guest quarters. Seth swore he would see the two sitting there. It was impossible to get by the gorn on guard. Yet all the rooms where empty. Somehow they snuck by.

Reviewing the shift in his mind Seth only remembered standing in the hall. Yet there was a tender blank spot in his memory. He recalled walking the guests up to the doors but couldn't dig up an image of them actually entering.

Flicking in the air a slim red tongue smelled the air. Its bidirectional split let the lizard know which way the scent was coming from. The trail was clear and Seth moved down the hall bent on his duty.

"So Much For That"
by Lt Cdr Elaithin Jii

"I'll get my men right on it. Elaithin out." the bajoran said, and tapped his commbadge, closing the connection with the Captain. Quickly, he got back into uniform, opening a comm channel to Security as he did so.

"Elaithin to Security."

["Callin back so soon, 'Commander?"] came the voice of Bruce Maxwell.

"Sure am, Lieutenant. Dispatch a security team to Captain Price's location. We have a possible homicide, current suspects are our guests, the Sanguinarians. Send all available teams, intercept them and return them to thier quarters. Try to pick them up on internal sensors."

["Roger that, 'Commander. Teams are being dispatched, we're looking for them now."]

"Understood. I'm on my way down to Deck 12, and move down from there. Contact the bridge"

There was a pause on the line for a moment, and Maxwell spoke again. ["Aye sir. Lieutenant Sanchez has a team on Deck Thirteen. She says she'll meet up with you there."]

"Acknowledged. Let's try to keep this quiet, Maxwell. I don't want to start a panic." the Chief of Security instructed. By now he was in the turbolift, heading for Deck 12. Within moments, he'd arrived. A few junior security officers were on the scene, examining for evidence. The medtechs solemly announced that the pretty young Lieutenant was dead.

"'Commander..." the Captain started.

"I understand, Captain. Don't worry, we'll get them." Jii replied reassuringly.

"Carry on, then, mate. I'll remain here with your security officers."

Sanchez then arrived, with a junior midshipman, fresh from basic, in tow. "What's the word, boss?" the latino officer asked her old friend.

"I'm not gonna get used to that you know." Jii replied.

"Would you rather I called you ...." the rest was not audible, as Sanchez whispered it in her friends ear.

The 'Commander actually blushed.

"That's harrasment, you know."

Sanchez just raised an eyebrow. "And?"

"Fair enough." he smiled, and paused a moment. " Allright, Heather. We've got some murderes to catch. Let's go."

Sanchez just nodded, and hefted her phaser as the trio walked off.

"Turbo cam"
by Captain Robert Edward Lee Price

Captain Price couldn't believe his eyes. Lying in the bottom of the turbolift was one of the Galaxy's best medical trainers, Lieutenant' Linda Liito. Her skin had an ashen look, and she was curled up in a fetal position. Touching her neck, Lee could feel that it was cold, not warm it should be. Brushing back a lock of her hair, the Captain looked at the Lieutenant's face. Even though it lacked color, she seemed to have a relaxed, peaceful expression frozen there. Reaching over, Lee used his finger and thumb to close Liito's eyelids.

Finally the med team arrived, lead by Doctor Andree Dothan, the Chief Medical Officer.

"Give us some room Captain." Andree stated while whipping out his medical scanner.

The Captain was quick to stand and move back, giving the medical officers room to work.

Doctor Dothan glanced at his tricorder in one hand while passing a medical scanner over Lieutenant' Liito's body with the other. He was staring intensely at the tricorder, shaking his head in a negative direction at what he was seeing.

Finally he closed the tricorder. After a pause Andree stood up to face the Captain.

"She's dead Lee."

The General gave a somber nod.

Dothan saw that this was hitting Captain Price pretty hard, having been the one that found the once vibrant young woman dead in the turbolift. So he turned to the two other medics he brought with him. "Try not to disturb anything. I'm sure Lieutenant Commander Elaithin will want to do a thorough scan of this area to collect whatever evidence there may be."

Lee looked away from the deceased and caught Dothan's eyes once again. "Any early speculations on the cause of death Doctor?"

"It appears to be from blood loss Captain. Though I can't really detect any injuries internally or externally that can account for it." Andree looked at the dead crewmember and added, "Her body simply shut down from whatever caused her to bleed to death."

"What could have done this?" Lee asked.

"I can't say I know sir. There are rare cases of diseases that can cause blood disorders. The Bolian blood burn is a good example of one of the more quickly acting ones. But I've never seen anything like this. I'm sure that an autopsy will help shed some more light on what happened here."

As Dothan was finishing his sentence, Lieutenant Commander Elaithin and two security officers approached.

"We got here as soon as we could Captain." Jii stated, gaining the Captain's attention.

"No hurry 'mate." The Captain said sadly, "Lieutenant' Liito is dead. Cause of death is undetermined at this point, though the Doctor says that she died of severe blood loss."

"Blood loss?" Elaithin repeated, "I don't see any blood around here?"

"Aye." Lee nodded, "It's a rather odd mystery. We haven't eliminated the possibility of a virus of some sort."

Doctor Dothan was quick to jump in, telling from the somewhat apprehensive looks the security folks suddenly formed that he needed to ease their fears. "It should be okay. I ran a scan on the Lieutenant's body, there are no detectible contaminants or infectious agents to worry about."

Lieutenant Commander Elaithin glanced at the scene and then turned to the Captain. "If it's all right sir, I believe these two officers can collect any scans and evidence at this scene. I'd like to resume the search for our two guests."

Lee gave a nod. "Go ahead 'mate. But remember, we still have no evidence that indicates there was any foul play here, or that the Sanguinarians are involved. So proceed... diplomatically 'mate."

Jii gave a nod and as he did, he realized something. "Sir, there was a security alert ordered at the time Lieutenant' Liito likely entered this turbolift."

"Aye. That is a reasonable assumption. With the traffic through here, I don't expect the Lieutenant's body could have remained here for more than an hour tops before someone would have discovered her." The Captain agreed.

"Well sir, in that case, there should be a surveillance recording of anyone occupying the lift." Elaithin pointed.

"Cri-key! You are correct. Let's have a look at the recording 'mate." The Captain stated in a hopeful tone.

Lieutenant Commander Elaithin, Captain Price, and Doctor Dothan all walked down the corridor a ways to the nearest wall-mounted terminal. Elaithin punched in his access code and began ordering up the security recordings for the turbolift in question. Rapidly playing it backwards, they soon came to the proper time index. "Okay, this should be it." Elaithin stated as he played the recording back at normal speed.

It showed the empty lift, and then the turbolift doors opened. Lieutenant' Liito was alive and well, and carrying a number of datapadds in her arms. She seemed to be in a good mood as she stepped in and the lift started moving.

"Okay, here's where she enters..." Elaithin stated.

"Why is the lift stopping?" Doctor Dothan asked.

"Maybe someone is coming onto the lift 'mate." The Captain suggested.

"Who is she talking to?" Elaithin asked when he saw Lieutenant Liito turn to her side, as if she were talking to the Invisible Man.

"Do we have audio on this 'Commander?" Lee asked

"Negative sir. Not at this level of surveillance." Elaithin explained.

"What is she doing now?" Dothan asked not believing his eyes, "Is she kissing thin air?"

The three men watched in silence as Lieutenant' Liito appeared to be pretending to make out with an imaginary friend. After a few moments, her head rocked back in a shriek of ecstasy.

"Um, I've been on a lot of turbolift rides, but never one like this..." Elaithin stated awkwardly.

The three men watched as the Lieutenant pressed her body back against the wall of the turbolift and continued her passive moans of pleasure until finally she collapsed and curled up on the floor of the turbolift.

"This makes no sense at all." Lee stated.

"Look, the lift started moving again." Dothan pointed out.

The Doctor was correct, the turbolift began moving and then came to a stop. The turbolift doors opened, only to reveal that there was no one standing there. They remained open for nearly a minute before they swished shut.

"That's all that was captured on the recording Captain." Elaithin stated.

Lee sighed. "Well, that certainly creates more questions then answers."

"Yes sir. I'll have this saved as evidence. We can also run additional scans on it to see if there is anything recorded here that we may have missed." Elaithin explained.

Lee nodded. "That would be a good precaution 'Commander. I'll let you get back to finding our guests. Now more then ever I want them found and accounted for."

"Understood Captain. Consider it done." Elaithin stated as he started heading off to rejoin the search parties sweeping the decks of the ship for the two missing Sanguinarian guests.

"If you'll excuse me Doctor, I'm headed to sickbay now to check on Doctor Sansky's patient."

"I'll accompany you Captain." Andree stated, "I need to get back to sickbay anyway."

"Fair dinkum 'Doctor. Come on, we can use the other turbolift on the opposite side of the deck."

"After you sir." Doctor Dothan motioned with a hand as the two officers started heading towards sickbay to see what trouble Doctor Sansky had gotten himself into.

"Leo Streely, Vampire Hunter!"

With Leo Streely (Naturally! Who else would appear in a post called Leo Streely: Vampire hunter, but a guy named Leo Streely, OK?)...Hey! Aren't you like an NPC or something? A background charachter?..(Background character? Have you lost your freaking marbles? I'm a star, baby! Don't forget it!)..A 1000 pardons, star of stars. Can I finish my rundown now?...(Hey, I ain't holding ya back, OK?)..Argh! Anyway, with Leo Streely and the Reverend Isaac Stoker. ( Bout time ya got around to doin somethin with him, OK?)

*Special thanks to Pat B. who, way back when, gave me the inspiration for this piece.

Time: Just after "Mirror, Mirror..."(by me!)
Location: Leo's quarters, USS GALAXY

"What the hell is the matter with these people?!?" Leo grumbled under his breath as he pouted down the hallway and back to his quarters. He was still in a state of disbelief after being made a fool of by the Sanguinarian guests in the Ten Foreword, and on top of that being made to look like a liar in front of Raven Darkstar.

"They wont be happy until they are all bouncing into walls, with great big gaping holes in their necks and not a drop of blood in their bodies." he muttered as he neared his quarters. "Then it will be 'Oh Leo, how come we're all undead freaks now?'. Sheesh! I bet Guinann never had this problem on the Enterprise."

The doors to his apartment swished open but before he could enter, a clammy hand clamped on his shoulder.

"AAAHHHH!!!" he screamed, as he jumped and turned, thrusting out his fingers in the shape of a cross.

A petite female in Lieutenant's pips was standing behind him with a look of bewilderment on her pixyish face. "Um..sorry to startle you..but I was told to come get you."

Leo paled. "Oh is that right, huh? You tell those blood sucking leaches that this man doesn't go quietly into the night, OK?! And its gonna take a lot more than a pretty smile on a cute girl to get me to walk blindly into the mouth of the undead!!"

"Um, I think you have me confused with somebody else. I was sent by the Reverend Stoker."

"The..the Reverend S..Stoker?" Leo repeated, letting his guard down a bit.

"MmmHmm." the woman said with a nod.

'And you don't have fangs or snakes for hair?" he asked.

The woman reached up and ran her hand rapidly through her short brown hair. "It gets a little out of control sometimes, but no snakes."

Leo began to blush. "I..ah..I may have confused you with somebody else. Do you know that there are vampires onboard?"

"Um, this is the first I've heard of it, actually." she said taking him by the arm and guiding him down the hall to the turbo lift.

"Well, ya better be careful, OK? they could leap out from anywhere! Anytime! And you cant count on security to save ya. They think I'm nuts."

'Then I suppose its best that your with me. You can keep me safe if we run into the werewolves."

"Vampires." Leo corrected. "And, ah..you really feel safe with me, eh? You know I am available for 24 hour guard duty. I'd hate for you to feel vulnerable when showering or sleeping or getting dressed or something like that. That's when the fiends like to strike ya know."

The woman giggled. "Come on, Romeo. Reverend Stoker is waiting."

*** The Reverend Stoker's Quarters ***

They had made so many twists and turns that Leo didn't think he would be able to find his way back here if his life depended on it. Of coarse it didn't help that he was looking over his shoulder for Vampires constantly. Being a watchdog for the undead had a way of making you forget everything else around you at the time.

"We're here." the small lieutenant announced as they stopped before what appeared to be an ordinary set of doors to an ordinary apartment.

"This is it? I expected something a little more...gothic. Maybe some stone pillars and gargoyles. Great big creaky wooden doors with giant brass handles. Some bats even."

"I think you watch too many movies." she said still smiling. She activated the doors and they opened slowly and with a squeak, making Leo step back a bit.

"I don't believe they just did that."

"We've been meaning to have engineering repair that for some time now. C'mon." she said motioning from the open doorway where she was standing. She took his hand and they entered the darkened room.

The doors squeaked shut behind them sending chills down Leo's spine. "This place gives me the creeps!" he said looking around the nearly darkened room. It was nearly double the size of his own apartment. Rows of chairs seemed to stretch out around a central stage that was lit with shimmering candles, wedged into giant candelabra's. They were the only source of light in the room.

"Is the air always this..damp feeling?" Leo asked.

"The atmospheric controller needs a bit of adjusting too. Stay here. I'll go tell Reverend Stoker that your here." she said, her voice seeming to echo throughout the cold, dark room.

Leo looked up at the ceiling with it being so dark and with the rooms screwy acoustics, it seemed as though the rooms roof went on endlessly. "So help me if she wheels out a coffin, I am freaking gone!" he vowed.

"Good evening." a raspy voice called out.

Leo leapt noticeably and looked over at the stage to find the old man standing there against the pulpit as if he were delivering some dark sermon.

"H..Hey there p..padre. Ya know you guys could use a little better lighting in here."

"I'm afraid that my eyes are a bit to sensitive. Prolonged periods in the light can be painful." he said. the pretty young woman stood next to him as he spoke. "Come forth young man."

Leo looked around nervously then moved foreword a bit. "Look, I don't want to sound pushy, OK, but I don't really have the time to chat right now. All hell is about to break loose on the ship and I have to find someone who will believe..."

"That there are vampires among us." the Reverend said.

Leo just stared at him.

"What..how..how did you know that? "

A smile cracked across the old man's face as he nodded to the small woman. "Our families have had a bit of experience with those who walk among us. Come. We have much to prepare you for and precious little time to do it."

"Prepare?! Prepare me for what?" Leo asked.

"To fend off the darkness, Garat."

"Garat? What the hell does that mean?" he asked watching the old man enter one of the back rooms.

The small brunette leaned over and whipered in his ear. "it mean's Chosen One."

"Chosen one. I can dig that." puffing out his chest as he walked. "So tell me doll. What do you need your chosen one to do for you?"

The woman giggled as she led him into the room. Leo's mouth dropped open. The inside of the office was lit by more candles, and in their flickering flames he saw racks of sharpened wooden stakes. Necklaces woven from cloves of garlic. Vials of what looked like holy water. Large crosses on chains. On the walls were painted murals depicting scenes that looked to him to be something from a vampire movie.

"What in the blue hell is all of this?" Leo asked, stunned at what he was seeing.

"These are your tools." the Reverend said from behind the desk that he sat at. in front of him was a massive leather bound book. "Sit, and I shall tell you all you need to know."

"Waitaminute! OK! there's a lot of freaky crap happening here! If you expect me to sit here and buy into your spiel, your gonna have to give me a bit more than all the window dressing here, OK? Like who you two really are for starters."

"Please be seated."the old man said, " We mean you no harm. As I have told you, I am Isaac Stoker. Ancestor of Abraham Stoker."

"Abraham Stok..you mean Bram Stoker?! The Dracula Stoker?"

"The same. For centuries my family have chronicled the travels of the vampire, looking to warn those in danger."

Leo blinked rapidly. This was a bit much for him to swallow, yet so was the image of the vampire snake lady in the bar. He looked over at the petite brunette and asked: "And you are?"

'"Rachel van Helsing."

"The vampire hunter. Right." Leo said. He began to feel light headed. "And your the family who..."

'Trains those in danger to defend themselves." she replied.

"OK. Right. I think I'm gonna sit down now." Leo said.

((OOC: warning this post contains sexual encounters))

"Comforting Autumn and Her First"
By Lt (jg) Wilhem Quevvenson, Science Officer Lt (jg) Autumn Jamieson, Assistant Chief Medical Officer

There is an office off to the left of main med bay. Its door was open. To the passer by the Assistant chief medical Officer wasn’t in her office. But the computer would have argued otherwise. She was there but no one could see her. It was the end of Gamma before someone realised that she wasn't about.

Wilhem had learned from the computer that Autumn was in her office. But as he approached it, he noted that it looked empty. Entering the office, he looked around and suddenly he noticed her.

Autumn was sitting on the floor with her knees pressed up to her chest and her arms wrapped around them. Her long black hair was out of its ties and her green eyes were staring into space.

Wilhem rushed over to her. He gently touched her, "Autumn. Are you okay?" When he got no response, he shook her gently. "Autumn. Please answer me."

Autumn could feel the hands on her and the voice was Wil's but her mind's way to foggy with the information she had somehow gleaned from Vlad. Slowly she nodded and tried to refocus on what was happening around her. "Wil..."

Wilhem noted that she was still confused by something, and shook her again gently. "Come on Autumn. Snap out of it. What happened?"

Autumn shook her head to try and clear it. "Wil... I... Vlad was here."

Wilhem was confused, "Who is Vlad?"

Autumn looked Wil in the eye. Her eyes were wary. "Lord Vlad... one of the visitors from the Sleeper vessel..." she drew in a ragged breath. "He was here... he... he is something... Horrible."

Wilhem hugged Autumn to him. He made a few comforting noises. "I think I know what to do about him. Of course it would help if I knew where his heart was. Then I could stake it properly. He is a vampire. And that means he must be destroyed before he causes more damage. If I can help it, he won't hurt you at all. I'll kill him before he has that chance."

Autumn shuddered.. "I know what he is and he knows that I know... He will be back to make sure no one finds out... he... somehow managed to confuse me enough..." she shook her head as her mind became clearer. "He is more powerful than we think... the more he feeds the stronger he becomes... her as well..." she lowered her head on to her knees and shut her eyes. "He said... 'I can break you and then remake you.' I wonder what that meant."

Wilhem held her tight. "He means that he can make you turn dark. Become so wrapped up in fighting his thoughts that you become hard. He means that he can make you hate me for being one of those fighting for something. I know because once I was victim to a vampire. I have the scars to prove it." He looked at her, "You will prove him wrong. I'll see to it."

Autumn shuddered and let him hold her. "I was so stupid I shouldn't have let him in here..." she struggled for control. "I don't want to hate you Wil... I won't let him win." she raised her head and looked at him.

Wilhem nodded, "I know you won't. You are too strong for that. Unlike the great many of the masses these two beasts have probably fed upon. I will help you bring them down. That I promise you. If I have to kill them myself, I will."

Autumn leant against him. "What time is it Wil?" she asked softly trying to get her bearings. Wilhem smiled, "0400. Half an hour after Gamma."

Autumn's eyes widened, "But... he was here during the middle of Beta... I have been out of it for that long?" She shook her head again trying to get her mind back on track. She closed her eyes as her thoughts began to come together.

Wilhem nodded, "I guess the shock was too much for your mind to take. It is okay. I guess the shock would have been too much for mine to take either. And I won't hold it against you."

Autumn sighed. "Never have I felt something so... so evil... not even the Borg or the Breen come close to this. When he was in my mind... he did something... I wish I knew what it was." she paused. "I wonder if Rose is feeling the evil on this ship?"

Wilhem nodded solemnly, "Rose feels the evil that these two represent. I just hope that they don't turn to take on her. I'm not sure if she could take it."

"Oh surely they wouldn't.." she asked rasing her head to look at him. Her eyes wide with worry about her friend. Her mind was spinning still and she lowered her head back down. "If they did... you know... bite her... would it kill the baby Wil?"

Wilhem winced, "It would depend on how much blood they took. As you know pregnant women are naturally anemic. They have to produce the blood for both mother and child. If they took enough blood, her body would probably terminate the pregnancy."

Autumn paled slightly, "I don't know how she would handle it if she loses this child Wil... It could be very bad." Autumn shivers slightly.

Wilhem nodded, "I know. So we must hope that we can stop them from doing that."

Autumn nodded. "I hope that we can stop them before things get out of hand... I hope I can resist what he can do to my mind..."

Wilhem nodded solemnly, "I can try to put blocks in your mind. But I don't know what they can do telepathically. So they might not work."

Autumn shook her head. "No I want to be able to do this my own way love. I am sorry it is sweet of you to offer... but if he can do this once... I want be able to learn from my errors."

Wilhem nodded appreciatively, "Okay. I will let you do this your way. I just hope you come out of it okay. I don't want anything else bad to come out of this for you."

Autumn nodded and looked at him. "I think we should leave here... I mean it's bad enough I have been sitting here for over twelve hours in a daze. Have you eaten yet?"

Wilhem smiled, "No. I was looking for you, concerned the whole time."

Autumn smiled and slowly stood up. "Come on then my gallant rescuer. How about I cook you dinner?" she offered as she leant against the wall to stretch out her cramped legs.

Wilhem smiled warmly, "I would like that." He stood and held out his hand.

She took it and walked out of the room with him. They walked slowly to her room and Autumn led the way into her quarters. "So what would you like Wil?" she asked.

Wilhem smiled, "Whatever you want to cook, Autumn. I am sure I can handle it."

Autumn smiled and went over to the replicator. She programmed it for two light salads and two servings of Chicken Kiev with Rice. When it was ready she placed them on the table. She smiled at Wilhem. "Dinners ready."

Wilhem chuckled, "Good one." He then dug in, eating slowly to gain the full flavour of the meal.

Autumn sat down and slowly ate her meal her mind wandering. Soon her mind was so far off that she wasn't eating anything. She eventually pulled her mind back and continued eating. When she had finished she stood and placed her plate in the replicator and then went and sat on the couch waiting for Wil to finish.

Wilhem finished eating, and placed his plate in the replicator, and went to sit by Autumn on the couch. He hugged her, "You are going to be just fine. Don't you worry too much about this. He can get to anyone."

Autumn shut her eyes and leaned into his shoulder. "I just don't understand why me?" she paused. "I mean why me of all the people of Galaxy what did I ever do to him... I mean what made me a threat to him... other then the fact that I knew about him being what he was? And why didn't he just finish what he started?" she stopped her babbling with a hand over her mouth and tried hard to get herself under control. Everything was just piling up on her.

Wilhem hugged her close. "He chose you because you know what he is. And because he could. He thinks of us as cattle. And cattle should not know what is going on when they are harvested. I fear we will have more attempts like that in our future."

Autumn just hid her face in Wil's shoulder, the events going through her mind. She didn't say a word just sat there and wrapped her arms about him.

Wilhem just held her tight. He did not want to let her go, for fear that one of those creatures would come back for her after he left.

Autumn raised her head and looked him in the face. "Thanks love." she whispered.

Wilhem nodded, "You are welcome, Autumn."

Autumn smiled and snuggled down into his arms. "Can you stay for a while tonight love?"

Wilhem grinned, "Sure thing, Autumn. I can stay as long as you need me to."

Autumn closed her eyes and sighed. "Til morning?" she murmured sleepily in his arms.

Wilhem smiled warmly, "Yes. I can stay here until morning." He leaned over and kissed her.

Autumn kissed him back and sleepily stood. "Well I think bed is an idea love."

Wilhem nodded, "Where do you want me to sleep? On the couch? Or cuddling with you?"

"Cuddling... I don't want to sleep alone tonight love." she smiled. "Is that ok?"

Wilhem smiled, "I can arrange that. You go first. As I said before, I don't want to see your body until our wedding night. Then I will undress it with kisses. Okay?"

Autumn gave him a smile and went into her bedroom to get her pajamas and then went to get changed in the bathroom.

Wilhem waited for her to finish. He knew she needed time to herself some days. This was just not one of them. He knew that she was afraid of these vampires. And that was not like her. It was if the life was being drained out of her by that fear. He hoped she would recover. And be the fearless woman he fell in love with.

Autumn stepped out in her long dark coloured Pjs and smiled at him. She was plating her long hair into a braid as she walked. "Ready?" she asked softly.

Wilhem nodded, "As ready as I can be. You ready to share your bed with a strange man?"

"Strange man? What are you leaving and is someone else staying here?" she asked lightly as she walked up to him and placed her hand on his cheek. "You aren't strange Wil. Not to me," her green eyes met his as she gazed upwards.

Wilhem smiled warmly, "Well. I hate to admit this, but there is some strangeness in you. I fear most men find women strange. And there is a mystery behind your eyes. A mystery I will have fun in the coming years unravelling."

Autumn smiled and took his hand. "And you don't think that men are mysterious to women?" she asked softly as she slowly led the way into her bedroom. Once in there she stood on tipetoe and kissed him softly on the lips.

Wilhem returned the kiss. Then when it is broken, "I guess that men are mysteries to women. Just I hope not as much as women are to men. I find myself fumbling over the right things to say to you. I guess the words that come out are fine. Well, at least you have not snapped at me."

Autumn shook her head. "I don't think that I could ever get mad at you Wil. It just wouldn't happen." She smiled and stifled a yawn. "Let's go to bed Love." She said as she hit the lights out for the outer rooms.

Wilhem nodded, "Let us." He got into bed first, then waited for her to get in, and smiled as she put her head down on his chest. He was comfortable with that arrangement. He put his arm around her shoulders and prepared to drift off to sleep.

Autumn snuggled down in Wilhem's arms and shut her eyes and was soon asleep.

Wilhem drifted off at peace with himself and her by his side. He soon was dreaming of a good life with her. And a family of their own. He hoped that someday she would be ready for such a commitment. For it would not do for this love to end with them.

Autumn slept well for the first time in ages. If she dreamt she didn't remember them. The next morning she woke first and gently moved free of Wilhem and sat up and looked about her room. She felt better.

Wilhem woke up soon after Autumn. He glanced at the room in front of him, then looked at Autumn, "Feeling better, Love?"

Autumn turned and smiled as she looked at him. "Yes much better then yesterday Love. Thanks for staying with me."

Wilhem smiled warmly, "My pleasure. I just wanted to see you get better love. And seeing you bright and cheerful again is all the payment I need."

Autumn smiled and leaned over and kissed him lightly. "Thanks My love."

Wilhem returned the kiss lightly, "You are welcome Love. I wish I could be of more help in the matter. But you will decide that for yourself."

Autumn looked down at the bed and then looked back at him. "Those mental shields... might be an idea... How would you do that?"

Wilhem smiled, "I would place my hand on your head, and concentrate for about thirty seconds. You might feel some discomfort while I put them up. They will shield most of your mind from attack. The only place I cannot shield is at the back of your mind. There anyone who attempts to raid that area, will be thrown back forcefully. The shields will only be as strong as my power allows. No stronger."

Autumn nodded and snuggled down in his arms again before saying. "I understand... when do you have time to do this love?" she asked softly as she relaxed in his arms.

Wilhem held her tight, "I have time right now, if you like. I can do it right now. It should last for one session with that vampire. I can only guarantee one session, as it will work only once."

Autumn nodded slightly as she lay there. "Once will have to do," she whispered. "Hopefully we won't run into them again," she smiled up at him. "Just tell me how we do this Love..."

Wilhem put his hand to her temple, smoothing out a few hairs, "We do this slowly. I wouldn't want to hurt you. During this process you will hear my thoughts in your head. Don't worry, it is natural."

"You'll get mine as well won't you?" she asked him. She looked into his eyes.

Wilhem smiled, "Yes. But I could get them by just thinking hard. I don't because that would consiteute mind-rape. And I don't want to do that to someone as beautiful as you. Or anyone else, for that matter."

"You can read my mind anytime love," she whispered.

Wilhem smiled warmly, "Thank you, Love. I will try to remember that. But I already know all I need to know. You love me, and that has me content. Are you ready?"

Autumn nodded and relaxed her posture and waited.

Wilhem placed his hand on her temple, and concentrated. As soon as he was inside her mind, he began to put up barriers. To calm her, he showed her mental pictures of his parents and siblings. As he formed the last shield, he prepared to exit her mind. He would have to do it slowly, so as not to rip apart the delicate nature of her thoughts.

Autumn felt slight discomfort in her mind and when he showed her his pictures, her own parents rose to the forefront of her mind and she knew that he would see them as she had last seen them. She knew that no matter what slight pain or discomfort she wanted to share her memories with him, so she didn't try to hold it back. She just hoped that it wouldn't overwhelm him.

Wilhem smiled at the thoughts. He paused and thought, ~They are beautiful. Just like mine. I hoped they loved each other like we love each other. So that nothing could have separated them.~ He waited for a reply, before he left her mind.

~I hope nothing separated them... they were very happy I believe... I miss them as I know you miss yours my love.~

Wilhem nodded, pleased. He then finished exiting her mind. When he was out, he smiled, slightly exhausted. Being in another's mind was exhausting enough. But putting up shields added a whole other realm to the equation. He said, "Yes, I miss my parents. And most of my siblings. Well, maybe all of them. Even Sirena, though she hated me. Jealousy is a fine blade, always taking what it does not need to."

"I used to wish I had siblings... being an only child can be hard sometimes," she touched his face with her hand gently. "It must have been nice to grow up with brothers and sisters Wil."

Wilhem smiled, "It was nice at times. I was the fifth child. So I had plenty of older siblings to help me with my problems. Most of them went on to great things I hear. But being an only child is not all that bad. At least you had privacy."

Smiling Autumn nodded. "Yeah I guess there is that," she looked at him and gently pulled him closer and then kissed him.

Wilhem returned the kiss with a little passion. When it was broken sweetly, he said, "Look on the bright side, please. It will make your life all the more brighter. And yes, privacy is a good thing."

Autumn nodded and rested her head on his shoulder. She really didn't want to move at all.

Wilhem held her close. He did not want to let go. But he knew that her shift would be coming up sometime soon. So he made sure to keep her close for as long as possible. "Do you need to eat?" he asked softly.

Autumn shrugged. "If you're hungry Love... we can get up," she smiled up at him.

Wilhem smiled, "No, not hungry, Love. I have all I need here in my arms." He kissed her deeply.

Autumn returned the kiss just as deeply and wound her arms around his neck.

Wilhem reveled in the feeling of her arms around his neck, and the feel of her lips on his. He let her breathe in the air from his lungs, then released the kiss, to breathe on his own. "You are so cute when you breathe, my love. Never lose that innocence about you."

Smiling Autumn touched his face softly. "I love you Wil... I will try to make you happy."

Wilhem smiled and caressed her cheek, "And I will try to make you happy. Always."

"You already do love..." she kissed him again. He returned the kiss with passion. He wanted her to know how much he loved her. Even more than life itself. That truth would carry him along for many years to come. Especially those years he was by her side.

Autumn let herself fall into the kiss. Her hands slipping into his hair and just holding him close. She didn't want to move anymore so she stayed where she was.

He broke the kiss, then trailed kisses down her beautiful jaw. When he finished at her chin, he said, "You are the most beautiful person in the world. I will never leave you alone, Autumn. You have my word on that."

Autumn murmured. "I will be by your side always love," she gently traced a line with her fingers along his cheek and down along his jaw.

He did not say anything. He simply kissed her again. He loved this woman like no other in his history. And no other in his future... Well, except maybe any daughters he might have. But that was not a sure thing. He knew that getting pregnant took more than just blind luck. And he knew it would be a while before Autumn was ready.

Autumn kissed Wilhem back. Deep inside she wanted this man but she wanted it to be the right time. Gently she broke the kiss. She met his eyes and smiled. "You make me feel so safe Wil."

Wilhem smiled, "I try, my Love. And I know your hormones are raging. Just like mine are. But I cannot defile you. At least until we are married. Then the time will be right." He glanced about. "When is your shift, love?"

Autumn moved a bit and spoke up a bit. "Computer ship time please."

Computer: Ship time is 11h00.

Autumn sighed. "In about 4 hours."

Wilhem nodded. "That's enough time to eat and get ready. And to cuddle some more." He kissed her nose, then her forehead. He then trailed kisses down the left side of her face, ending with her lips once more.

Autumn moaned slightly as they kissed. She was seriously thinking of calling in sick but she knew that wasn't a good idea so she just kissed him back.

Wilhem kissed her as fully as he dared. He was seriously tempted to let his defenses down and connect with her once more. It was more intimate than sex to be connected mentally. And he wanted her to know how he felt for her.

Autumn just let the emotions wash over her. She knew that anything could happen and she would not try to stop it.

Wilhem broke the kiss. "I love you Autumn. I just don't want to hurt you. I fear that more than anything in the world."

Autumn smiled. "I trust you love. I know you'll never hurt me."

Wilhem smiled, "I have heard tell that when a man makes love to a virgin, that the woman feels a small bit of pain. It is because of the hymen. I want to prevent that for as long as possible. Love, I am unsure of my motives right now. But I want to do something wicked with you."

"Wicked?" she looked up at him. "Like what?"

He looked at her frankly, "I want to make love to you. But if I do I will need to follow a small little ceremony. I hope you don't mind."

Slightly confused yet trusting him Autumn kissed his cheek. "Ok love. I trust you."

He thought a moment, then remembering what he carried, he pulled out a small vial of a clear liquid. He broke the cap, and sprinkled it over her, "May the blessings of the gods be upon us both." He glanced at her, "That was holy water. I just anointed you with the blessings of my gods. I hope you will accept them as such."

Autumn nodded. "Yes," she whispered.

He smiled and rubbed her cheek. "One other thing, I need to check before doing the rest of this ceremony. It is not because I don't trust you. But with these vampires around, I need to be sure." His right hand descended into her pajama pants, and he put one finger into her vaginal opening, feeling for her hymen. Once he found it, he withdrew the hand, and said, "Yes. You are a virgin." He placed his finger, which was slick with some moisture, to her lips. "This is what you taste like. I want you to know."

Autumn slowly opened her mouth and stared at him in the eyes. She had no idea really what to do but she drew his finger into her mouth slowly.

Wilhem smiled at her trepidation. He let her taste her vaginal fluids, then slowly withdrew the finger, "I bet it tasted sweet. Now let me do some thing else." He kissed her on the lips, tasting part of the fluid on her sensual lips. He began to place his thoughts into her head. He knew that this was something she'd want to experience as much as the love-making.

Autumn gasped as his thoughts entered her mind she felt everything and she let her mind meld with his as she kissed him back. She sent back her own thoughts and feelings.

Wilhem smiled at the thoughts. He then broke the kiss and trailed kisses down her neck to the top of her pajama top. He looked back up, "Are you sure about this? I don't want to go faster than you are ready for."

Autumn touched his face. "Whatever you want My Love... If you are up to this then yes," she smiled softly.

Wilhem nodded, and reached up to the buttons of her pajama top. He slowly began to unbutton them. When he reached a suitable distance, he pulled the garment off her right breast. He inhaled deeply, "It is beautiful." He then trailed kisses around it, then onto the breast. Then he gently took her nipple in his teeth and teased it sucking softly.

Autumn gasped and let her hands move over his shoulders and back.

He finished with that side, and moved the garment from her left breast. Again, he kissed around it, then onto it. Then he again took her nipple into his teeth and teased it. While he did this, his left hand fondled her right breast, flicking the nipple between his thumb and forefinger.

Autumn moaned in her throat as the sensations assaulted her. She ran a hand through his hair. She wanted to do more but couldn't because of their positions.

He smiled at the thought, and sent this one back, ~Wait a little longer Love. I will soon be done with the ceremony. Well, mostly done. Then I will let you do what you want.~ Satisfied, he unbuttoned the rest of her pajama top, and removed it. Then he went to work on her pajama pants, quickly shucking them too. He took a long look at her body, now completely exposed to him. "You are beautiful Love." He then trailed kisses down her belly, into her pubic hair, and then he kissed her most sensitive regions. He moved his tongue in and out of that area. Trying to bring her to a crescendo.

Autumn gasped as his mouth touched her there and her hands clenched beside her as the tensions became too much. A small whimper came from her as she let the tensions flow.

After the tensions had flooded through her, Wilhem let up. His lips were drenched in her fluid, and he maneuvered up to kiss her again. Then he stood back, "You're turn," he said.

Autumn still a bit dazed and timid began to kiss his neck and undo his shirt. Her hands slipped inside his shirt to touch his chest. She gently tugged the shirt off his shoulders and ran her hands over his torso.

Wilhem smiled and let himself feel the strangeness of her hands on his torso. He thought to her, ~Don't be timid. I'm not going to hurt you.~ He let his hands play on her shoulders as she caressed her chest.

Autumn lowered her mouth to this collar bone and slowly trailed kisses down to his chest. She could hear his thoughts in her mind and responded with her own, ~I know Love... I...~ she trailed off her hands rested on his hips and her mouth played over his chest.

Wilhem gasped as her lips hit his nipples. He relaxed and let her kiss his chest with all the reason in her being. ~You're doing fine Love.~ he thought as he felt her move about.

Autumn moved her mouth back up to his as her hands began to undo his breeches. She kissed her way up his neck and nibbled on his jaw before kissing his mouth again.

He returned the kiss and groaned as her hands entered his breeches and wrapped around him. He let her feel himself erect and almost ready for anything. He hoped that she would go slow. He wanted to make love to her slowly, gently.

Autumn shut her eyes and opened her thoughts to him again. ~Is this what you want love?~ she asked as her fingers trailed along the inside of his thigh and her mouth fused with his.

Wilhem thought back, ~If this is what you want, then it is what I want, Love. If you are ready, lay back, and I will proceed.~ He kissed her passionately.

Autumn kissed him back and let her thoughts flow into him. ~I love you... Yes I want you...~

Wilhem smiled, broke the kiss, and removed his breeches. He slowly picked her up and placed her onto his erect organ. He slowly, gently slid into her vagina until he felt resistance. ~That is the hymen. This is your last chance to jump off. As a virgin, anyways. If you are willing, I will let you go, and I will let you have control of me.~

Autumn willed her body to relax and she looked Wilhem in the eye and sent the thought, ~Please,~ to him and she gently kissed his lips.

Wilhem returned the kiss with passion. And he then pulled her down and forced his way through the resistance, and deep inside her. He felt her wince in pain as he slid through her hymen, and he thought, ~I am sorry Love. But that was necessary for us to join together.~ He then found the bed and laid back with her on top of him. He then began to push her up and pull her down in a rhythmic procession.

Autumn placed her hands on the bed above his shoulders to steady herself and moved with him. As pleasure was spreading through her limbs she thought at Wil, ~I understand Love.~

As Wilhem groaned under the onslaught of her thoughts and his senses, he thought back, ~Good, Love.~ He felt himself ready to go, but he held himself as long as possible. So that they could climax at the same time.

Autumn could feel his restraint and knew they both were very close to reaching their limits. She slowly lowered her head to his shoulder and kissed just below his ear as she let her mind tell him about how good he made her feel.

He smiled, and let her know how she made him feel. Extremely good. He reached his hands up and fondled her breasts once more. To make her feel even better. At least for a time.

Autumn moaned deep in her throat and her mouth worked its way up to his mouth as the tension built to an almost unbearable point.

Wilhem kissed her passionately as they both reached their climax. He moaned and bucked hard into her repeatedly. He rode the wave until it ebbed. He broke the kiss at this point, and said in a rasp, "I hope you aren't having regrets, milady."

Autumn let herself relax onto his chest before replying softly, "No it was just how I thought it would be." She reached out and entwined her hand with his and said nothing more.

Wilhem smiled, "Good. I would not want you regretting such a momentous decision." He kissed her softly.

Autumn raised her head and smiled at him. ~No my love I regret nothing. Thank you love...~ she sent before kissing him back.

Wilhem nodded. ~Good.~ He enjoyed the feel of her skin against his. And he knew that this feeling was just the beginning.

Autumn moved minutely as she contemplated moving and calling in sick again. Her green eyes met Wil's in a contented look. ~So love what now?~ she asked as she ran a finger down his shoulder casually.

Wilhem smiled, ~We wait. And if you are willing we can do it again.~

Autumn smiled and in his mind said, ~Tempting, very tempting Love... but don't we both have jobs?~ she kissed him again. ~Whatever you want love is ok with me,~ she sent again as her hand continued downward to his stomach.

Wilhem nodded, ~I would love to make love to you again. But if duty calls, don't be afraid to pull away. I will not fault you for it.~

Autumn smiled and sent her reply back. ~I love you Wilhem Quevvenson and I would like nothing more then to explore this feeling with you.~

Wilhem smiled and said nothing. He just maneuvered himself downwards and began kissing her breasts again, caressing the other one as he did. He wanted her to feel good for a long time to come.

Autumn let her hands roam again and she moaned softly again.

He then slowly trailed kisses down her belly and into her abdomen. Then he continued down through her pubic hair, and onto her most sensitive spot. His hands roamed over her breasts, fondling them. He continued to do this until she reached her crescendo once more.

Autumn moaned as the feelings assaulted her again. She couldn't think straight her mind was clouding in the heat of what he was doing to her.

He kept kissing and licking the sensitive spot. When she finally reached her crescendo, he felt her hands grasp his hands, and squeeze tightly. He let her ride the emotions all the way to completion. ~I hope you feel good Love. For this is just the beginning of the second wave.~ He moved back up her body and planted a kiss on her lips. His lips were coated with her sweet juices, and a little of his. He hoped she would appreciate this move. Right before he did the rest of his deeds.

Autumn kissed him back. ~Second wave?~ her mind sent back dazedly.

Wilhem smiled, ~I can wait until you are more aware to, as the Terrans say, "screw your brains out."~

Autumn gave a soft smile. ~That sounds interesting love... not sure why that term exists.~ She kissed him again.

He returned her kiss, and maneuvered his body and hers, so that he was in position, and entered her quickly. He moved in and out rhythmically, building up strength as he came closer to his climax. He would hold off as long as possible, so as she could have her orgasm at the same time.

Autumn moved with her hands trailing across his chest as the sensations built up again.

Wilhem kneew she was getting close to her climax, so he put his hands on her breasts and fondled them. He then also kissed her again, deepening it as they reached their climatic moments.

Autumn moaned deep in her throat as the emotions reached breaking point inside her and her body shivered.

He climaxed hard as her vaginal walls squeezed onto him. Bucking into her repeatedly, he rode the wave of emotions until they ebbed, and then released his grip on her breasts and mouth. ~I hope you feel good, Love. I know you made me feel good.~

~Oh very good indeed,~ she sent back as she lazily trailed kisses down his neck.

He smiled, and trailed kisses around her face. He disengaged, and laid there next to his lover, and grinned, ~Now I know you like no one else has before. And you know me better than I know myself. I hope you appreciate the meaning of this.~

~I do Love. I am glad it was you and not someone else,~ she sent back to her love. ~I love you Wilhem Quevvenson,~ she touched his face softly her mind absorbing everything that they had said and done.

Wilhem smiled and caressed her face, ~And I love you Autumn Jamieson. I am glad that I finally made you mine.~ He smiled warmly, then tickled her breasts again.

Autumn grabbed his hand and smiled. ~That tickles,~ she sent as she curled up against him. ~I am glad this happened Love.~

Wilhem nodded, sending, ~As am I, Love. As am I.~ He glanced around, ~Much as I hate to break up this love fest, but don't you have to be on shift in a little while?~

Autumn buried her head in his shoulder as she thought about it. "Computer ship time please."

Computer: 13:30

~Yeah I guess I do Love,~ she kept her face buried in his shoulder. ~I really don't want to go.~

Wilhem smiled, ~I don't blame you. The first time for anyone is a sacred occasion. I'll stay here as long as you need me to.~ He kissed her softly.

Autumn kissed him back and leaned up on her elbow and looked down at him. Her left hand traced a line along his jaw. ~How does forever sound?~ she sent to him as she lowered her mouth to his.

Wilhem kissed her. And then he sent, ~Forever sounds fine to me Love. Come let us get you ready for your shift. I want to watch you dress. After all the wicked things I did to you, I fear I may have lost something in the process.~

Autumn blushed and sat up ~Um ok... but I am having a shower first...~ she trailed off as her eyes met his. She stood up and with not a word and held out her hand.

Wilhem smiled warmly, and stood up, and took her hand. They padded over to the shower and he waited for her to enter first. Then he came in behind her. They took turns washing each other.

Then when the tension got too much, he grabbed her and picked her up, and placed her on his now-erect organ. He put her back against the wall, and made love to her once more. As they both reached crescendo, they sled down the wall, and he ended with her on top of him, reveling in the feelings washing over them.

Autumn pushed wet hair out of her face and kissed him gently. ~Wow,~ she sent to him. She smiled as she ran her hands over his torso again. ~Now I really want to call in sick,~ she sent as she lowered her mouth to his chest.

Wilhem smiled, ~I know. Do what you want to do. I won't prevent you.~ Then as her lips found the scar from the lung operation, he groaned. That was a sensitive part of his body. And he knew that she would use that to her advantage.

And she proceeded to kiss ths scar and then let her hands slip further down his body. ~I should get going, get ready for work Love~ she thought to him as her hands ran up his thighs and her mouth teased his skin.

Wilhem groaned under the onslaught. He then sent, ~Do what you have to. I will not hold it against you.~

~Oh well five minutes late will be fine.~ She sent back as her hands slipped up his sides and her mouth teased his neck as she worked her way up to the spot beneath his ear and then she claimed his mouth with hers.

Wilhem returned the kiss, ~If that is your wish, I can see to it.~

Autumn smiled as she raised her head to look at him.~I am yours love... Do whatever you wish,~ she sent to him as she kissed his neck again.

He groaned, and as he was ready again, he pushed her onto her back, and entered her swiftly. As he made love to her body and soul, he kissed her breasts, taking time to tease her nipples until they were rock hard. As she reached her climax, Wilhem let go, and watched her groan under the onslaught. He claimed her mouth with his, and rode her until he was done. Then he sent, ~I am sure you are fully mine now. As I am fully yours. But we have to get you ready for your shift. Let's go now.~

~Ok Love.~ She sent as they stood up. ~I guess I had better not push my luck any further with Andree,~ she smiled at him as she quickly finished her shower and got out to get dressed.

Wilhem exited after her, watching her cute bottom walk out to get dressed. He knew that she had to go on shift soon, but he reached out and caressed that bottom.

Autumn smiled over her shoulder as she grabbed a fresh uniform. "Keep that up Lt and I won't be going anywhere," she mock threatened.

Wilhem smiled, ~I was just admiring the smoothness of your bottom. Nothing untoward about it.~ He touched her forehead, and withdrew his mental pattern from her mind. "There. Now you can think on your own. Without having everything you think coming to me without fail."

Autumn smiled and kissed his cheek. "Thanks Love," she whispered before turning back to get dressed.

Wilhem smiled warmly. He watched her dress, then got dressed himself. He held out his hand, "Would you like an escort to your duties?"

Autumn smiled and took his hand. "If you are offering Love then yes," she led the way out the door and down the hall towards the turbolift.

When they entered the turbolift, he kissed her passionately. Then when the doors opened, he let her lead him to SickBay. Once there, he turned to her, and said cheerfully, "I'll see you after my shift, my love. Don't let anything bad happen to you while I'm gone, okay?"

Autumn smiled and kissed him hard. "I won't. You take care Love." she smiled up at him and walked into the main medbay.

Wilhem watched her go, and turned to leave. He felt that this past night and the early morning of today had been worth it. He had finally made her mind. Of course, he had not told her that if Vlad came the mental shields in her head would alert him. And he would be there in a flash.

107 vspace=10 hspace=10 border=0 align="right"> “Mind Games: Part One: The Start Of The Battle For Life”

*******Memories From The Past**********
*****The past. A Bar.*****

A dark bar, dim lights and cigerette smoke floats about the room and off in a booth a young man sits across from a young woman. Their conversation is something to listen to if you care to listen.

“I work for the Nucleus.. I am on a story hunt… vampires and Werewolves.. some crazy old lady gave us a lead and I am the lucky person who gets to report on in … Vampires.. if you can believe in that sort of thing.” The young man with blond hair smiled at the young brunette who so naively sat there in a room where the dark was the biggest enemy. He knew that and part of him would enjoy toying with the young woman’s emotions and playing games with her mind.

“And what do you believe?”

“That they might exist but I have yet to find conclusive proof.” The woman said to the man across from her. Her eyes were watching the man and everything about her.. she was nervous and it was showing. He smiled back at her his eyes glinting in the semi-darkness of the booth. He leaned forward and took booth her hands in his and tugged her closer as he opened his mouth to show off his now extending canines.

"And now?" he hissed softly . The girl tried to tug her hands free and found that she couldn't. "People shouldn't involve themselves in things that should be left well enough alone." He smiled at her now frightened face. "We are real Little one." He pulled her closer to his face as another man with dark hair and beard walked up too them and sat down beside the girl so that she was trapped. He drew the curtain. What ensured was a lot of chaos and fear.

People in the bar heard the scream and a voice telling someone to sit down.

"Leave me alone!"

"SIT DOWN!"

"Looks like she is scared of us for some reason Savage" "Yes"

A muffled sob emanated from the booth and soon the curtain was drawn back. When the men had finished they left the bar with a slightly dazed girl between them. The vampires had done what was needed and she would become one of them soon enough. The tall blond man slipped his arm around the girl’s shoulder and she gave him a dazed smile and they were soon gone from sight.

**** The present****

***Autumn’s Quarters***

Vlad stood there watching the young woman and her fiancé sleep. The memory he had meant to implant stayed in his mind. He had come to take what he wanted but now he wasn’t so sure about what to do. The man had managed to get Autumn back on track with her thoughts and he didn’t want that. Together they could defeat him and Lillith, he wanted them apart. He stole from the room and headed out to hunt. This one would have made an admirable mate and companion to him and Lillith but for now he would content himself with playing with her mind. When she was weak from the fight he would then attack her and finally defeat her. He silently buried the memory deep where it would surface when she least expected it.. and no one would find it. He left the room as he had come

*****Beta shift later that day*****

Autumn stood in main med bay looking about at the people. Todd’s friend was lying stretched out in a coma. She didn’t like how things were going on this ship.

Wilhem was totally right about these new people. And with that thought firmly in her mind, she strode out of med bay off in search of information.

She had a lot to do this day and no vampire was going to stop her. To do so was to get staked. She walked quickly down to her office and stepped inside to see the pile of PADDs stacked up on her deck. She pulled the first one off the pile while walking over to her main computer console and starting a data search.

“Computer search Starfleet database for any other instances where a crew suffered severe blood loss which wasn’t explainable by normal means.” She pulled up the report on the PADD and began to get to work. The computer continued its search.

She worked through her shift and by the end the results were inconclusive and she was about to leave when Todd’s announcement went out.

=/\= Attention all off duty personnel report to Sickbay for emergency blood donation. Sansky out =/\=

=/\= Security we need some officers to guard the Sickbay and the Blood storage area. Sansky out =/\=

“What the hell?” She asked as she dropped what she doing and took off towards main med bay. She skidded to a stop and looked about.

“Sansky! Report!” She snapped out as she walked towards the chaos.

"Relaxing"
By Lt Rose Isis MacAllen,Science Officer (Buffy) Lt Jg Autumn Maeribeth Jamieson, ACMO(Faith) Lt Jg Jessie Louisa Parry, ACTO (Willow) Lt jg Wilhem Quevvenson, Science Officer (Remandant) And Spike as written by Jillian Locke

**Holodeck 2 Program:"Buffy The Vampire Slayer"

Rose sent a message to her friend Autumn to join her and bring some other friends along with her, since Rose don't have very many because of what happen to her Rose wanted to be friends with Autumn, Jessie, and Heather and get to know then more.

Autumn stepped clear of her room dressed in black leather pants and skimpy white tee-shirt. Her long black hair was tied up into a complex bun that she liked and she walked down the hall with Knee high boots on her feet. She had decided to take Rose up on the program. Time to have some fun.

Rose smile at her best friend, "Thank you for coming I was starting to think you dislike me in some ways."

Autumn smiled and shook her head. "No Rose... Actually I have been avoiding my family... never you." She looked about. "OK so when the others get here we can start right?"

Jessie all but ran down the hall towards the holodeck. Dressed as Willow she all but ran into a few superior officers but after hasitly ducking and weaving she skidded to a halt in the holodeck door. "Hey you two.!"

"Hey Jessie how are you my friend?" Rose said with a smile while putting on a belt that when together with her leather pants outfit, Rose put the belt on tight trying not to show her stomach since the baby is not growing. Jessie grinned at Autumn and Rose. "Very good thanks. And I am ready for this... where’s Heather?"

"She should be here so I hope." Rose said sitting down on the floor waiting. Jessie sat down beside her and smiled. "So Rose tell us about the program."

"It from a old TV program called "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" I play Buffy who a high school student by day and a Slayer by night, Jessie I want to ask you something you must know that I got pregnant after I got raped and I want you to be one of the royal godmothers of my daughter." Rose told her with a little smile.

Jessie smiled. "Thanks Rose I would be honoured." She looked to Autumn "And who are you suppossed to be?"

Autumn smiled. "Faith. Another slayer... she eventually ends up against Buffy,,, but not this time round."

Rose smiles at Autumn, "Sorry I been very bitchy and depressed this last few months I don't want either of our friendship to end." she said while looking at both Jessie and Autumn.

Autumn smiled. "Rose don't you dare apologise for your feelings. You have had a rough few months and you have every right to be mad at the world."

"I know but that was selfish of me and it won't happen again." Rose vowed out loud.

Jessie smiled. "Oh well... Oh by the way... they arrested my attacker not a week ago."

Autumn smiled. "Who was it Jessie?"

Jessie looked down. "Simon Andersen"

Rose sighs and gets up from the ground, "My attacker is out of jail now." Jessie stood. "He won't be back Rose... Security can handle it..." She placed her hand on Rose's shoulder and squeezed it.

"I can't wait for Heather lets go." Rose said walking into the holodeck, there are now in front of Buffy's house as they walked in. "Mom I'm home!" Rose said with a grin.

Autumn smiled. "Hey Mrs Summers!" She followed Rose and gave a smile.

Mrs Summers looked up and smiles, "Hey girls, Buffy you got a letter from Angel."

Autumn smiled. "Way to go B." She smiled at Mrs Summers and walked into the lounge area causally. "So how is our resident Vampire without a soul?" She asked Rose who was holding the letter.

Jessie sat down on the couch and tucked her feet up under her. “Yeah Buffy How is Angel?”

Rose looks at it for a second then give it to Autumn while sitting down, "You read it outloud Autumn."

Autumn grinned and opened the letter. "~MY dearest Buffy~..Wow he lays it on doesn't he? ~I Miss you so much. This trip though not that important couldn't be avoided. Tell Giles that I have his information. I miss you Buffy. I miss seeing your eyes and face every evening. ~ Mushy stuff.. ~ I shall call you sometime this week. Lots of love. Yours Angel~ EW gag... Man B does he have it bad for you."

"I miss him...so who wanted some cookies that my mother have made, I hope to Gods I don't bump into Spike tonight." Rose said walking into the kitchen to get some cookies.

Autumn followed saying. "You can hope that you don't bump into Spike B but I'll take him off your hands if you want." She grinned back at Jessie

"Oh you would too Autumn." Jessie said. "I thought Wil would be enough." she grinned evily.

"Hey Buffy I have to go out for a little while, have fun girls." Buffy's mother said with a smile then walks out

"Bye Mrs S!" Autumn called as she picked up a cookie and bit into it. "Hmmm can i hire your mum B? She is a great cook" Jessie smiled and picked up a cookie as well.

"Well come on girls I got to go to the graveyard to work." Rose said getting her bag together, then grins at them.

Autumn grabbed her bag "Cool B Staking vamps is what i excel at.. oh and Wesley isn't on my case anymore"

"Wesley is always on your case," Jessie opened the door to reveal a tall blond haired man.

Rose looks up at Spike, "What are you doing here Spike?"

Autumn grinned and walked past Spike with a "Hello Spike." and an apraising glance.

Looks at Autumn, "Calm down, so Spike what do you want?"

"Look SLayer. I have information for you... But if you don't want the information then i can just leave." He turned to leave and grinned at Autumn.

Autumn smiled back and looked at Rose. " Oh Come on B. Give the vamp a break.. I know I would." Spike turned and waited.

Rose rolls her eyes, "Ok Ok what is Spike?" she said while walking back into the house.

Spike tried to follow but hit the 'Wall'. "Um Slayer slight problem." he motioned to the dorrway while Autumn had collasped on the ground laughing. Autumn couldn't help it it was so funny when he ran into the invisible barrier. "Oh poor Spike" she gasped out.

Rose laughs alittle to herself, then looks up while siting on the dinning room table, "Ok Spike what is it?"

Spike glared at the slayer on the ground in a giggle fit before turning back to Rose. "Information about the new vampire lord in town. He is after Slayer heads." Autumn sat up at that and paid attenetion. "Now slayer are you going to let me in or not?"

Rose sighs alittle, "Ok Spike come in just don't touch anything."

Spike walked in with Autumn following him. he walked past Jessie who he smiled at.

Jessie shrunk back and Autumn rolled her eyes. Spike stepped up to Rose. "Ok heres the deal slayer. He wants all slayers wiped out and the watches as well.. He is starting here. With you and the scooby gang."

Rose looks him in the eyes, "Who it this vampire Spike?"

Spike looked Rose up and down before adopting a stance that bespoke arrogance and Autumn rolled her eyes. "What you're telling me that you haven't heard about Remandant?" Autumn sat down on a spare chair leaning her arms over the back of it.

"He is the new 'master' Vampire in town.. Since Angel left town and I have been in semi-retirement.. you know.. he took over and his first order of business is to kill you and Faith here."

Rose sighs and gets her stuff together, "Do I ever get a normal night while working... come on."

***On the Other Side of Town**

Wilhem was unsure of himself in this role. But he had fought vampires before. So he knew what he had to do to play one. Glancing out at his brood, he smiled. "The time has come. Go forth and bring death down on the Slayers and their allies. If all else fails lead them back here. I'll take care of those left over."

**Back at Buffy's House**

Spike flashed his teeth as he followed them out the door. Jessie hung back and Autumn rumaged in her bag for a stake for Jessie to use. "here catch Jessie." she chucked it and then turned back to Rose. "OK so whats the plan?"

"Wait for the jackass to come to see what were up against." Rose said walking towards the graveyard.

Autumn laughed and as they walked into the graveyard she perched her self on a headstone. "Come on out jackass." she said with a laugh.

Spike glowered. "He ain't a jackass."

Autumn rolled her eyes and looked about. There off by the west enterence. "Vamps B west."

Rose looks up, and grab her stake "Get ready because all hell is going to break loose."

Spike looked about and said "You know slayer I think I might just leave you lasses to it... I mean after all..." He broke off as Jessie stuck a stake to his back and Autumn smirked.

"Stay Spikie.. you never know you might learn something." Autumn jumped off the grave and moved to take up postion beside a tree. "Lets kill a few and then follow them home Rose."

The five vampires swept in and struck fast and hard. They began with Rose and Autumn and proceeded inwards.

Autumn faced her oponant casually as if she was out shopping and as he flung a punch at her she kicked him in the head and he hit the tree hard. Before he could recover she planted the stake in his heart and he was dusted. Autumn then turned to see how the others were fairing.

Spike stood in front of Jessie and was now holding the stake she had been holding. He moved in on the two that had headed his way but on dodged him and headed for Jessie. He started to combat the other while yelling. "Run Willow."

Jessie wasn't pleased at all as one dodged around Spike and moved towards her. Without her weapon she was out of options. So it was into hand to hand. She ducked and weaved the punches while trying hard not to get killed.

The one vampire grabbed a hold of Jessie and brought his face close to her neck. If he could just get close enough, he would kill this witch and turn her against the others.

Jessie screamed and kicked at the vampire. Autumn who was turning to deal with the fifth broke off the fight and sprinted towards her friend. "Jessie!"

The vampire thought better of it, and dragged her off towards the base of operations. The fifth vampire quickly moved behind Autumn and tried to capture her as well.

Autumn wasn't having anyone that. She grabbed the arm and flipped it over her shoulder and the vamp hit the deck hard. She then left it there and took off after the vamp with Jessie. She didn't get far because Spike's vamp got in her way. She pushed him back to Spike and turned to the one who had tried to catch her as he came up behind her.

He hissed and attacked. Trying to weave away from the stake, he used his fist to strike her a glancing blow. Meanwhile the vampire holding Jessie began to put some distance between himself and the Slayer's party.

Jessie screamed and struggled against the vampire "Let me go you sorry excuse for a zombie!!"

Autumn heard the yells and called to the others, "Finish this lot off! Spike hurry it up. B Go ahead I'll deal with this one." She turned back to the vamp and tried to duck the next punch.

He swung wide as she ducked, and then he kneed her in the gut. He smiled wickedly, and attempted to kick her again.

Meanwhile the vampire holding Jesse, picked her up bodilly and swept away towards the north. And he would not stop until he was at the sanctuary.

Jessie struggled in the vamp's grasp.

Autumn doubled over in pain. she tried to get her breath back and dodge the next kick but failed as it connected.

Spike meanwhile was staking his vamp and turning to help Buffy as Autumn went down.

Autumn grunted in pain. She would have bruises in the morning.

The fifth vampire grabbed Autumn, and

began to drag her away towards the sanctuary. He knew that his master would love to kill these Slayer's himself.

Autumn began to scream and curse the vampires. "ROSE! SPIKE! HELP!" she struggled but couldn't break free.

The vampire quickly dragged her away to the north, heading for the sanctuary. There he could put this Slayer in her place. In many evil ways.

Jessie again struggled in the grasp and she tried to get her hands free.

The vampire was no fool. He knew that if she got even one hand free, he was doomed to destruction. So he held on tightly, dragging her into the Sanctuary of the Devil, on the edge of the town.

Autumn turned her head back towards the fight that they were leaving and dug her heals in to the ground. "Oh not on your unlife," she hissed as she tugged hard on his grip. She dropped a shoulder and hit the ground as she tried to unbalance him.

The vampire grunted, and his grip loosened. This was just enough for the other slayer to wrench free. Knowing that he had lost, the vampire fled to the north. Leading them back to the sanctuary.

Autumn stood up and dusted off her pants and groaned at the slight tear in her shirt. "Darn undead... never leave your clothes in tact." she began to give chase not waiting for the others. Her long legs rapidly cut up the ground between the vamp and her until he was just a hundred meters in front of her.

Spike turned to help Rose. "Gee Slayer come on."

The vampire attacking Rose saw the oncoming ex-Vamp lord, and turned and fled off to the north. He knew he could not take on both of them at once, so he led them back to the sanctuary, where thirty more vampires, and their lord waited.

Rose gets an stake and start attacking the rest of then, then she killed the vampire. After that she helped Autumn and Jessie with the other vampires.

The vampire in front of Autumn saw that she was gaining on him, so he turned and kicked at her again. Hoping to knock her off balance again. Meanwhile, the vampire holding Jesse had presented her to his master.

Rose sees the vampire taking Jesse, "WAIT, I WILL TAKE HER PLACE JUST LEAVE HER AND MY FRIENDS ALONE!"

The vampire yelled back, "Come get her then, Slayer. You will not survive Remandant's wrath."

Rose took her stake and ran towards the vampire, without him looking she flip over on the vampire other side and stab him though the heart. His body turn to dust.

"Jessie are you ok?" Rose said as both of them walked back to the others.

"I have to go alone for this one guys stay here until I give you a yell ok?" Rose said as she walked off looking for the vampire lord.

Autumn muttered "Like hell." and she looked at the other two and nodded. "Lets go." Spike was already moving and Autumn dragged Jessie along with them.

Wilhem watched the action from afar, then he saw that Rose was guided by some unseen force towards the Sanctuary. He went down to meet this Slayer and to be victorious.

"You got a problem with me mister?" Rose yelled while looking at him.

Wilhem smiled toothilly, "Yes, Slayer I have a problem with you. Your days of slaying are over now. I will soon feast on your blood."

"Oh geez and I was hoping for a date first." Rose said trying to joke around a little.

"You won't think its so funny when I kill you." He jumped at her, knocking the stake from her hands, and grabbing her by the throat.

Rose kicks him in the stomach and falls down on the ground getting the stake back into her hands... "Don't mess with me I can be one dangous bitch to mess with!"

"I am sure you think of yourself as bad. But I am worse." He again knocked the stake out of her hands, and grabbed her arm and flung her into the back room.

"ROSE!" Called Autumn as she rounded the corner in front of Spike and Jessie just in time to see Rose get thrown. "Jessie see to Rose. Spike watch for any friends this guy might have." and then she carefully aproached him.

Jessie muttered. "Why do i get to play dr.. Autumn is the doc.." she helped Rose to her feet before stating. "You should be more careful.. remember."

Wilhem smiled at Autumn, "Oh, another Slayer. How cute." He motioned for his thirty other vampires to attack the others while he dealt with this Slayer. He squared off in a sparring stance.

Autumn rolled her eyes and smiled. "Enough chat Vamp boy lets see what you have really got behind all that Bluff and bluster." She flung herself into combat with a flurry of kicks and punches to the head and midsection.

Rose got up and went after Wilhem, she follows him into a dark old house near by the graveyard.

Wilhem was busy fighting Autumn, so he was blocked from Rose by fifteen vampires. It was a flanking maneuver.

Rose got knocked out cold by one of the vampires. The vampires then dragged Rose off to a side room, bound her hands and left her there unharmed for now.

"ROSE!" yelled Autumn momentarily distracted."Jessie help her!" And she turned back to the fight.

Jessie rolled her eyes and dodged a couple of vamps heading in the direction Rose was taken.

Rose woke up and sat up, she yelled at one of the vampires while Rose was getting herself untied, "HEY YOU!" she said as the vampire was moving closer to her, Rose got untied and kicks him in the face hard. She grabs the stake and stabs him though the heart.

Rose runs back in and started to kill more vampires, she knew the vampire lord was watching her every move.

Spike began to move in the direction of the vamp Lord. He quickly staked a couple of vamps and was engaged with hand and hand combat with another two when Rose came back.

Wilhem and Autumn were deep into battle. Each was blocking the other's attacks, and trying to land heavy blows. Each was doing quite well. But that was about to change.

Autumn grinned as she feinted left and then landed a kick to Wilhem's Midsection. She watched as he fell backwards.

WIlhem tried to get back up. But he began to wheeze violently. Something was wrong with his artificial lung, and he could not breathe. He managed to gasp out, "No stabbing the main characters, okay?"

Autumns eyes widened and drop down beside him. "Oh shit," she hissed as she took in his pale counternance. "Wil... Just lay down." She said as she placed her hands on his shoulders. "I should have watched where I was kicking. I am so sorry Love..." she whispered as she tried to think clearly. "Computer standard medkit." It materialised beside her and she pulled out the tricorder. Quickly scanned him. His Lung was playing up. "Have you been taking your medication?" she asked softly ignoring the Fight around them.

Wilhem nodded, unable to even gasp out the word, yes. He knew it was important to do so, and had been taking it in his food. His breaths became even more labored. He felt a warmth spreading inside his chest. It appeared as if the kick had dislodged the lung.

Autumn stood up and called to Rose. "Rose i have to get Wilhem to med bay. Have fun. Transporter bay one. Prepare to transport two driectly to med bay." She crouched down again to look at Wil. "Ok we are going to get you to med bay."

Wilhem nodded, and soon they both felt the transporter beam encompass them. When they arrived in MedLab, Wilhem began to cough slightly, bringing up blood. The doctors swarmed around them. One of them began scanning for problems. The more powerful scanners detected soemthing the tricorder had not. "He has hairline cracks in several ribs, and there is a crack in the artificial lung. From what we can tell here, the artificial lung was of inferior quality." They sprang into action. He would need surgery and a new lung. One of better quality.

"Fine," Autumn said. "Get Grazella and Smith in here and tell them what is happpening. Lemur lets get the Lt ready." People flew off to do the assigned tasks and Autumn turned back to Wilhem and gave him a smile.

"You'll be fine love... I'll see when you get out of Surgery," she kissed his forehead and backed off as the nurses started to prep him for surgery.

Wilhem looked into her eyes, saw the fear, and sent this into her mind, ~I'll see you when I get out of surgery. And don't worry. These doctors know what they are doing.~ He did this, then closed his eyes and passed out.

Autumn watched the surgical crew surround him and she felt Lemur's hand on her shoulder. "Don't even think about Pinching me Lemur to knock me out I am fine. I shall be in my office. Tell me when he gets out of Surgery." and with that she backed off and into her office.

The surgical team worked for three hours removing the damaged device, and putting a much more efficient design into his chest cavity. After hooking up the blood vessels, they began patching the area. Soon his skin was back to its original scars and valleys. There was only a small amoutn of redness around the site. But they let him sleep until he was to awaken.

Autumn was notified and was sitting at his side waiting for him to wake after his operation. She linked her hand with his and laid her head on the edge of the bio bed and shut her eyes and waited.

Wilhem soon stirred. He groaned softly as he woke up. His eyes took thirty seconds to adjust to the lights of SickBay. ~How did I... Oh... yeah...~ He looked around and saw Autumn by his side, He then sent to her, ~Hello love. Sorry about that.~

Autumn raised her head and gave him a look that spoke volumes and her mind sent to him ~Oh love I am sorry about that kick. I should have watched where I was landing the blows...~

Wilhem smiled solemnly, ~Don't worry. I should have blocked the kick. But my reflexes are going slowly. And I don't blame you. The heat of the moment can be quite distracting.~

~Yes I guess Love.~ She stood up and brushed his hair from his forehead. ~I love you Wilhem,~ she smiled down at him. "How are you feeling?"

Wilhem grimaced, "Like this starship landed on me. I have not been paying attemtion to my body like I should, I guess. That is why the gods let this happen."

Autumn shook her head. "It was an accident Love nothing more nothing less." ~They fixed you up right this time Love.~

Wilhem smiled softly, ~Good. Those doctors on Betazed must have been quacks. I do know one thing, I will not challenge you to a roundkicking contest anytime soon.~

Autumn shut her eyes momentarily and then opened them ~I won't even conisder it Love,~ she squeezed his hand. ~I should have been more careful I know that.~

Wilhem caressed her cheek, ~It was not your fault. I am at fault too. I should not have left that area open to a strike. I was negligent.~

Autumn gave a slight nod. ~You can get out of here tomorrow and no sooner,~ she sent. ~I am sorry love but Grazella won't hear of letting you out this evening. I will send a message to Peterson later.~

Wilhem nodded, ~I understand. I don't feel like leaving either. Just looking at your beautiful face is enough for me.~

~Flattery Kind Sir gets you lots of places,~ she sent back as she smiled at him. ~Can I get you anything from your quarters?~

Wilhem thought a moment, then shook his head, ~No, milady. I have all I need right by my side.~

Autumn smiled. ~ This is twice now you have scared the hell out of me Love,~ she touched his cheek. ~I hope this isn't becoming a habit.~

Wilhem grasped her hand with his, ~I promise to try not to scare you ever again. But bad things do happen to good people. Take Vlad and Lilith for instance.~

************************************************* Meanwhile in the holodeck...

Rose ended the sim, she was upset with herself for not keeping in shape.

"Computer END PROGRAM!" Rose said while walking toward the door very very upset with herself.

"If anybody needs me tell then I locked myself in my damn office."

Jessie sighed and shrugged her shoulders and stood and watched her leave. 'Oh Boy!' she thought as she decided to check on Wilhem and Autumn. She walked off calling to Rose. "Bye Rose You did really well!"

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

Jessie strolled into medbay and spotted them the moment she looked. She waltzed up to them and said, "Hey you know there are easier ways of getting out of a holoprogram other then getting yourself put in med bay Lt," she smiled.

He smiled weakly at her joke. He said in a hoarse voice, "Not trying to get out of the Holo Simulation. Just got hit wrong, is all."

Autumn smiled at Jessie. "So did you guys win?" she asked her friend.

Jessie shook her head. "Am not sure. Rose stalked off to her office shortly after you guys beamed out. I think the program finished... I was too busy dodging Spike's wild swings as he missed the other vampires," she smiled.

Autumn sighed. "Oh well maybe you'll do better next time."

Wilhem smiled grimly, "Oh, you won all right. I have the scars that prove it."

Jessie smiled. "I had nothing to do with that.. if you two see fit to bash each other into pulps who am I to stop you?" she grinned at Autumn.

Autumn drew her forefinger across her throat and pointed at Jessie who paled. "Watch it Jessie."

Jessie stuck her tongue out and then said. "Well now that I know both of you are well I shall depart. Have some letters to write." she waved and backed away from Autumn with a smile. "Bye!" and she took off out of med bay.

Autumn shook her head in silent laughter before turning back to Wil.

Wilhem smiled slightly, ~I think she's afraid of you.~

Autumn shook her head. ~Nah not Jessie, she is just acting... she is a good actress... though I think the events of the last mission still wear on her mind.~

Wilhem nodded softly, ~That's too bad. At least you were spared the worst of it. Though how so many got on board we will never know.~

~She got attacked by a fellow crewman Wil... just like Rose but she wasn't raped... Simon didn't go that far.~ She sighed. ~You need your rest love I should let you sleep.~

Wilhem frowned, ~Please don't leave me. I want to see you when I wake up.~

Autumn smiled and nodded. ~I won't leave here until you are able to love that I promise you.~ She sat down again and held his hand. ~But you need your sleep~

Wilhem nodded, ~You get some sleep too, love.~ Then with her hand in his, he slowly faded off to sleep. He would sleep for some time to come.

Autumn watched him drift off and then leant back in her chair and watched him sleep until she drifted off.

Wilhem's mind reached out and joined hers as something really strange happened. In their dream, a strange hooded figure was seen approaching them. When he arrived, he pulled back the hood to reveal a red-haired Rjuven man.

Wilhem fell to his knees, "My Lord Erik," he said as he kneeled there. "You priviledge us with your prescence?"

Autumn just looked at the man and then at Wilhem. She then followed Wilhem's lead before sending a thought of, ~Ok what the hell is going on?~

Wilhem smiled, ~This is Erik, God of the Forests, Nature, and Rangers. He is also Patron of the Rjurik. He is my god.~

Erik smiled, "That is correct. I am here to grant my blessing on you two. Soon now, you will have a couple little surprises. Well, sometime in the next three years, anyway. Soon in the eyes of the gods."

Autumn could have groaned out loud. ~Do I really want to know what that means?~ she sent to Wilhem before dropping her eyes to the ground.

Wilhem smield at her, ~Don't worry. I don't know what it means, either. A god's words are always cryptic.~

Autumn just shook her head minutely and sent back to him, ~You have weirder dreams then me at times.~

Wilhem sent back, ~That I know, my love. Let us do these things with care in our arms. It is the only way.~ Then the meaning dawned on him, ~Uh... You did say you did not want children, right?~

~Um yeah but that was a joke,~ she sent back blushing as she did so. ~Kids are fine.~

Wilhem smiled, ~That's good. Becuase sometime in the next three years you will be pregnant with two of them.~

~Oh boy... Gee thanks for the translation,~ she sent back before looking back towards the man who was standing before them.

Erik nodded at them. "My work here is done. I will let you go back to your dreams. This was just a small thing that needed to be done. Well met." And he faded away. Soon thereafter, Wilhem's mind stopped entering her mind, and he slept for ten more hours.

Autumn woke up to Trisha tapping her on the shoulder at the begining of Beta shift. She had nodded and stayed put while people had began their shifts. She sat there and waited for Wilhem to wake.

Suddenly, as Wilhem slept, his body slowly became less substantial, and slowly faded away. Then, it slowly faded back in. And repeated this for six cycles.

Autumn gasped and grabbed her tricorder and scanned him as this was happening. She couldn't believe what was happening. She just stood and stared. She reached out and grabbed his hand as soon as he was stable again and waited for him to wake.

Wilhem soon awoke and looked at Autumn's concerned face, ~What's the matter Love.~ he sent.

~Love... you just faded in and out of... sight about six times,~ she sent as she replaced the tricorder on the small table beside his bed.

Wilhem gasped, ~I... I... I what? Faded in and out of sight?~ His mind struggled to grasp what that meant. Then he sent, ~I must be still connected in some way to the temporal anomaly I was struck by so long ago. I just don't fit in this time. We better figure this one out. Or it could be dangerous to us all.~

~Ok calm down Love,~ she sent. ~We will figure this out... Just give me a minute... this is the first time that i have seen this happen... it might just be a one off... And you fit in here fine,~ she smiled down trying to hide her own fears about him.

Wilhem nodded, sensing those fears. ~I know I fit here with you. But I don't know what is happening. And it scares me, too.~

Autumn glanced over her shoulder and sighed. ~Well if you are feeling better you can get up now,~ she sent to him. ~But I am sending a note to Peterson that you are on light duties for the next two weeks.~ She squeezed his hand ~We can deal with this then ok?~

He nodded, ~Okay. I'll see you then, my lover.~ He carefully got off the biobed, and stood on the floor. He took a few steps but he had to stop and catch his bearings. Then he looked back at Autumn. "Thank you. I would not be where I am without you." And then he turned and left, heading for his own quarters to rest a little bit.

Autumn smiled and watched him go and then retreated to her office to write up that message.

To: LT.Commander Peterson From:Lt (jg) Jamieson ACMO RE: LT (jg) Quevvenson

Sir, I regret to inform you that Lt Quevvenson is hearby placed on light duties for two weeks due to a complication with his artificial lung. Recomend that he undertakes no stressful or strenuous duties until the end of the two weeks.

ACMO, Dr Jamieson.

"Computer send message" Computer: Message sent

Autumn sighed and decided to pay Rose a visit.

"Change in Tempo."
By Lt. Commander Peterson
Chief Science Officer

Kent returned to his chair as his office doors closed behind Captain Price. He heard the Australian starship commander opening a channel with another member of the crew - he did not who or what about - but he suspected it was something to do with the attack of a Galaxy crewmember by one of the Sanguinarians.

The news changed the tempo of the mission considerably. Until now it had been a standard analysis and catalog mission, even though they ended up retrieving survivors from the derelict Tamarian vessel.

Peterson reached across his chest and tapped the communicator attached to his duty uniform, "Peterson to Security," he said, swiveling his chair to face the desktop console, "I've got another away team scheduled to transport over to the Tamarian vessel. Has there been any word from Commander Thomas or Lieutenant Commander Savat as to whether it will be cancelled?"

The security officer answering the hail scuffled around a little, finally responding, ["Elaithin here 'Commander. I haven't received word from either of them, or the Captain, as to whether away teams to the Tamarian vessel will still be permitted."]

Kent leaned back in his chair, "If they're still to go ahead, would it be worth sending along a few security officers?"

["I reserve that judgment when we know more about what's going on. I'll keep you posted Peterson."]

"Thanks," Kent responded. "The next one isn't due to leave for another hour. I'll hear from you before then."

["Will do. Elaithin out."]

The communication channel to the Chief of Security closed - noted by the beep from the ship's computer.

Kent reached across and tapped one of the buttons on the desktop console. He skimmed through some of the most recent reports, looking for something from either MacAllen or Ronald. Not seeing a follow up report from the archaeology section chief, he reached across and tapped his communicator once again, "Peterson to Science Lab Five."

["Ronald here sir."]

"Where's Lieutenant MacAllen?"

["She's not hear 'Commander. The last time I saw her she was going to meet Lieutenant' Quevvenson I believe."]

"Did she say whether or not she was coming back?"

The Betazoid linguistics expert through about it for a moment. ["I cannot honestly say."]

Kent leaned back in his office chair again. "Then maybe you can tell me where we're up to with our search for this 'Dircula at Berliega'. How are we going?"

["Well one thing is for certain. The Tamarian that made that recording was under severe distress. Analysis of his voice patterns suggest hypertension, a high level of adrenaline ... definitely a sense of urgency."]

"All that from a vocal analysis?"

["Speculative, but it does add to the evidence that 'Dircula at Berliega' is actually some kind of warning. I'm not entirely sure how far Rose got with her analysis, but I'll send everything we've done so far."]

"That would be good. If you get a chance to speak with her, could you get her to drop by an see me. I wouldn't mind discussing this further with her."

["Understood sir."]

"Peterson out," the chief scientist said, reaching across his chest and tapping the comm. badge.

A few moments later the desktop console beeped a few times - indicating that his terminal had received information. While he reached over and grabbed a PADD to make notes with, he speculated it was the information that MacAllen, Ronald and the other scientists had been busy with. Turning to the console and looking at the screen, his speculation proved correct.

"Computer, search through the research notes from Science Lab Five and look for references to Dircula," he said, remembering that Rose was pursuing that line of research when he last saw her.

["Working ...."]

"Rose's Archology Report"
By Lt Rose Isis MacAllen
(with help by William Bolitho)

**Science Lab**

Rose is siting at her computer eating a large cup of ice while she started to write her report:

To: Commander Peterson, Captain Price From: Lt Rose Isis MacAllen

This is my report about the findings and the ideas we have about the sleeper ship. Since the visitors have come to our ship myself as will as other Betazoid and races who have telepaths powers have been feeling some unholy things from the visitors including, lust, unholy passion, and the thirst for blood.

I worked along with my friend and co-worker, Lt. (j.g.) Wilhem Quevvenson as we worked together along with my Archology crew very hard and we came up with the belief that this two visitors, Lord Vlad and Lady Lillth are vampires.

For an week or less now in my dreams I been encounter by both Vampires...but mostly the male vampire. During though dreams I was tranfored into an female vampire, in my last dream which was last night, I dreamed that I killed my favorite Betazoid cousin Lily Williamson along with a handsome guy that was with her and sucking their blood. After putting some new compound blood into their systems, they became vampires as well.

As for my co-worker Lt. (j.g.) Wilhem Quevvenson he had encounters vampires in the past on his homeplanet which gave him the same bad feelings that I been getting since the Lord Vlad and Lady Lillth first came to the ship.

In the ships logs we found all of the crews members names and post on that ship during that time period...along with the mythology of their people called "Diricala at Berlingia" that is an story that have vampires in then.

After studying what the title means, "Diricala at Berlingia" we came up that Diricala does mean the Dark One, but it also means Evil One.

Diricala was the name of the Evil One, maybe a vampire in Tamarian mythlogy.

This is the end of my report, I hope this report pleases the both of you.

"Computer send reports to Commander Peterson and Captain Price." Rose said was she went to get more ice to suck on. The lust was getting out of control but she have to hold out the best she can and she vows that she will.

{ NRPG: This post is quite erotic, and is probably gonna get close to the sim's R rating. If you don't wanna read it, it probably won't spoil much.. }

"How much is that doggie"
by Lt Kahn Nilani and Kira Murphy
------------------------------------------------------------

Walking down the corridor towards Ten Forward was one of the hardest things that Kira could think of at that point in time.

During the Academy and back on GemWorld, she had a few flings with various people, both male and female, but this would be only her second real relationship. Technically, she didn't think the first one counted in her opinion, but she had dated Johan for four months so it could have been considered a relationship.

Stopping outside the door, she composed herself before stepping inside.

To her disappointment, it was more crowded then she was hoping for. It wasn't that she didn't like crowds, but they unnerved her a bit and also, she doubted that Kahn Nilani would react well with this in a crowded situation where anyone could hear.

Looking around, she spotted the lone Bajoran over in one corner and headed to the bar, where she ordered something she had been introduced to by a very unusual Pakled bartender on Genox IV - lime cordial, Terran strawberry milk, a very very liberal amount of synteholic Bailey's and topped with lots of cream as garnish. The bartender grimanced at the thought, but was still willing to make it for Kira. From memory, the Pakled had called it a Blended Tree Frog.

Moving over towards Lt Kahn, Kira ignored the bumps and rubs that she normally got in crowds and stopped opposite the table before coughing to get the Bajoran's attention. Nilani looked up at her and Kira suddenly realised she didn't know what to say as her heart started pounding. Obviously, 'I love you' wasn't a good idea with so many people around, so Kira just blurted out whatever came to mind.

"Hi. Mind if I take a seat? You are the closet engineer and I have a question."

Nilani looked up and shrugged, Kira was one of those people that she didn't really like. The woman was intollerable!

"Umm.. In the bathroom of my quarters, the gravity regulation seems to be playing up. When I came aboard, something was done so that it could be adjusted from normal G down to the gravity on the moon, but it seems to be stuck at Rigellian. Got any ideas on what I could do?"

Nilani took a sip of her drink and thought for a brief moment. "Just realign the grav control card in the primary controler"

After a bit, Kira excused herself and headed away, using the pathetic excuse that she had some paitents coming by in Paediatrics.

Once she had left Ten Forward, she walked to the nearest wall and started banging her head against it, muttering, "Stupid, Stupid, Stupid."

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

Kira felt a soft vibration from her combadge and smiled.

Earlier after talking to Nilani, Kira had directed the computer to silently let her know when the other woman left the room, since she was worried.

Even though they weren't very close, Kira had felt towards her, especially after the mistake in alerting DS9 to Nilani's presence despite Nilani's reluctance - one that earned another reprimand to her record's long list. Oh well, it wasn't like she ever wanted command and her brief stint between Cmdr Gakor leaving and Cmdr Maas arriving had proven that beyond the shadow of an incredibly skinny, practically anorexic, 'doubt'. She had only been trying to be nice anyway, so what was the big deal?

Slipping into a lounge and dropping into a chair, Kira asked,

"Computer, location of Kahn Nilani."

=/\= Lt. Kahn Nilani is on Deck 5 =/\=

"Good.. Maybe, I can cut her off there."

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

Ten minutes later..

Kira walked upto the door and pressed the buzzer. When nobody answered and the door did not answer, she held the button down and banged on the door with her other hand.

She was hear to help, and while she could have used Medical Override, she didn't want to totally piss Nilani off at this point. Although, the continual door buzzer would be getting close about now.

Getting bored after a few seconds, Kira started pressing the button to the tune of 'How Much is That Doggie in the Window?'.

Finally, the door wisked open and Kira took her hand off the buzzer, waving in the process.

"What do you want Kira.... I'm in the middle of a...."

Kira shrugged before shifting forwards. Reaching forwards, she pulled Nilani close to her and kissed her fully on the lips passionatly. Since she fully expected to be decked, she decided to make the most of it the situation with a french-kiss.

Nilani wasn't too sure what was happening.... her mind was racing and then she realised that Kira was kissing her. She moved backwards through the circle she had cast only moments before - her body felt like it was falling and when she felt her bed beneth her she realised that this woman was ontop of her. She felt wonderful, she was embraced in a passionate kiss with a beutiful woman.

Reaching upto her shoulder, Kira pressed the hidden closure and felt the back of her suit peel apart. Once the back was open, the suit was designed to peel off to the front like the easy-fit wetsuits developed in the early 1980's to 90's.

As it did, it gave Nilani a good view that Kira wasn't wearing anything else apart from the suit.

She shook her head "What's that for!" she said still somewhat taken aback from the situation.

Thinking for a second, Kira shrugged before replying, "Coz you are very attractive and I thought that maybe you need someone to talk to. Maybe loosen you up a bit so you enjoy life."

Nilani looked suspicious and then shrugged it off... she laid back onto the bed and removed her top exposing her self to Kira. "That's fine..." she smiled

Sliding up, Kira kissed Nilani on the lips as she slowly rubbed herself against the Bajoran laying on the bed below her. Shifting a hand, she slowly slid her hand up Nilani's stomach and around her breasts, teasing her. Finally, she ran a finger over a nipple and grinned. As she did, she gently start rubbing her bare hips against Nilani.

Nil was still somewhat surpised at Kira.... especially since last time they had spoken Nilani and Kira had almost gotten into a rather large argument which would of sent both of them to the brig for some time to come.

Her mind was still rather confused as to what was going on, she needed an excuse to stop.

She looked to Kira and moved back slightly "Kira... we... can't!" she said passivly "Karen should be back soon!"

"I've loved you ever since I first saw you, and anyway, Karen probably won't be too mad. I hope at least."

Giggling a bit, Kira smiled and wriggled backwards until she was crouching over Nilani's legs. Leaning forwards, she gently took hold of the top of Nilani's uniform pants in her teeth and started pulling downwards.

Nilani's eyes rolled into the back of her head and LIGHT she knew that her body was wanting Kira to continue, but she had to think about Karen... this wasn't her room!

She took Kira's arms and lifted her up slightly when she felt her wrists being grabbed by Kira and being placed above her head with the womans weight on them. "Your not allowed to do that Nilani" she said in fun.

Nilani smiled "Yes Mistress..." she said in reply, a smiled over her face.

"Now, that is over, we can do something about the location." Holding Nilani, Kira spoke,

"Computer, activate program Kira-AH7, parameter NewCal-Beach."

Before Nilani could react, a transporter beam had locked onto them and in the span of 5 seconds, the pair found themselves in one of the holodecks.

A few seconds later, a shimmering beach next to an ocean with palm trees appeared around them.

"Better? Security allows me to use that program during the times that my suit is inconvenient and the ship isn't in Red or Yellow Alert."

Nilani looked and smiled, running her finger over Kira's soft face.

Taking hold of Nilani's hand with one of her own, Kira moved the finger to her mouth and slowly sucked on it, running her toungue around. As she did, she moved her other hand between the Bajoran's legs and softly started stroking her.

After a few moments, Kira stepped back and spoke, "Now, Puppy.. Lie down on your back."

Nilani eyes opened up as she smiled, she felt wonderful and who would of thought that this woman.... a womand Nilani didn't like would ultimatly be the one she would enojoy pleasure from. She lay on her back as Kira had asked, she was having far too much fun.

Kneeling on her hands and feet, Kira crawled along the sand, stopping when she was over Nilani.

Leaning down, she kissed Nilani. As she did, she felt hands move down her side. The hands stopped for a brief second when they met the hairless vee between Kira's legs.

Nilani smiled to her as Kira broke the kiss, replying, "Hmmm.. Kinda kinky, aren't we?"

Giggling, she nodded, "Yeah. It was a byproduct of my time with the Orions."

"Please show me some more" Nilani almost moaned out with pleasure.

"Computer, add items C7, LV and P."

Instantly, two vertical steel poles, about a metre apart, appeared nearby. They were seven feet high with chains from the top and bottom. At the end of each chain were padded cuffs.

Next to the poles was a closed canvas bag.

Kira reached down and grabbed Nilani between the legs before she sprang up onto her feet,

"Up, Puppy, and over here."

Once Nilani followed her, she motioned the Bajoran into place and snapped the cuffs to her limbs.

Opening the bag, which was out of Nilani's sight, she removed a costume that was made up of a series of small steel rings joined together by strips of black leather. Slipping into it, she adjusted the crotch, shoulder and breast straps.

Stepping forward, she moaned when she realised the strap between her legs was too tight and rubbing tight in a very intimate area. Quickly, she adjusted it before picking something else out of the canvas bag and moved around the front.

Nilani's eyes blinked as Kira stepped up close and started rubbing the small black hand whip down between the Bajoran's breasts.

"Oooo you are getting kinky!" Nilani said mocking the woman in leather.

Quickly, Kira flicked the whip on Nilani's left thigh, "Puppy, I didn't give you permission to speak."

Running the strands of the whip up between Nilani's legs, she then dragged the whip up Nilani's body and around her breasts.

Finally, she moved it up and said, "Puppy, kiss the whip."

Nilani smiled and lowered her head, she kissed the end of the whip.

After Nilani did that, Kira let it dropped and moved to the side. Suddenly, she swung it hard and aimed it for the Bajoran's ass, hearing it land with a sharp crack and causing Nilani to jump.

Reaching forwards, she snapped, "Start counting, Puppy, or the next blow will be down here."

With that, Kira grabbed Nilani between the legs and smiled.

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

After Kira had enough of whipping, she undid the cuffs and helped Nilani to lie down on the sand nearby, tummy to the ground due to her bright red tush.

Leaning down, Kira ran her toungue softly across one of Nilani's red cheeks.

"Computer, replicate some baby oil."

Picking up the bottle, she poured some over Nilani's bottom. Using her hands, she softly rubbed the oil in, being tender as Nilani winced from the pressure.

After a few minutes, she turned Nilani over to her side and Kira snuggled up close to her new lover, feeling totally contented and delighting in the experience.

After all, it wasn't very often that she shared a bed with such a beuatiful woman, even if it was under gravity. In her life, she had realised that most non-zero G or low-G humanoids had physical difficulties under extended zero-g, ranging from nausea and intense muscle wastage, thus, Kira had learnt to live with it. Although, quite a few who had tried sex in zero-g found it an interesting experience, and maybe she could introduce Nilani to it later on. As long as they didn't start tumbling so Nilani didn't get motion sickness, things would go great. Anyway, Elaysians were biologically immune to motion-sickness since it involved a small internal part of most humanoid ears that housed a small amount of liquid and none of the GemWorld species had one.

Leaning on her side, she gently and softly ran a hand up her Bajoran lover's body before smiling.

Nilani smiled and leaned in, kissing Kira's ear "I am yours to do with as you please!" she said seductivly.

Kira smiled and pulled Nilani's lips to hers, kissing her. As she did, Kira reached behind her and picked up a little device she had hidden.

Feeling with one hand, Kira pulled Nilani close before pressing the device to one of the Bajoran's nipples. Pressing the button, a small laser beam quickly pierced it.

"Ouch!" Nilani shouted suddenly from the pain. She winced as the second went through.

Giggling, Kira smiled, "You did say anything.. Sorta.. Anyway, you can do mine if you want."

With that, Kira leant down and ran her toungue over Nilani's pierced nipple, grinning.

"Such a good girl!" Kira said rubbing Nilani's head. Nilani smiled and nodded "Yes Mistress"

"Disturbences."
By Lt. Commander Kent Peterson

The chief scientist sat in his office as he read through the report that had arrived from Lieutenants MacAllen and Quevvenson. He was not surprised that Will had joined Rose - he had some unique perspective on the type of research she was conducting. But Kent was not blind either. He had seen the friendship between the two scientist develop, as well as the third wheel in the group, one assistant chief medical officer.

The idea that Lord Vlad and Lady Lilith were as evil and dark as described in the variety of sources appeared a little implausible. In the sixteen or so years that the Starfleet lieutenant commander had been on the job, he had seen more credible villains worthy of the 'evil' or 'dark' moniker. The Borg Collection was definitely high on the list, especially after recent events.

["Analysis complete,"] the computer said, finally finishing the search for the references to Rose's research on the Tamarian phrase 'Dircula at Berlingia'. Since he had a new data package from the young Betazoid officer and her colleague, he figuratively pushed the computer search to one side and began reading through the message.

Kent took a few moments to think about the report itself. As the chief science officer on the ship it was his job to maintain and objective position and relay what he felt to be factual to the Captain. Since he had little faith in dreams - what they stood for and the 'powers' associated with them - he did have to take in to consideration the recent report of an attack by a member of the Sanguinarian party.

The thirty-four year old stood up and straightened his uniform. "Computer, began a search on references to," he began, pausing because he could not believe he was going to state that particular topic, "the vampire mythology."

["There are instance of vampire mythology indigenous to three-hundred and seventeen worlds."]

"Great!" Peterson exclaimed. He never would have thought that there would be so many occurrences of references to the vampire mythology which he had, until now, thought was a Earth-based legend. "And how many of those are centered around blood-rites?"

["Two hundred and seventy-seven worlds."]

Peterson tapped his finger on the table for the next few moments. "Limit that to ..."

*** An hour later ***

"... it's possible that we're simply dealing with people that have a 'blood-lust'. Perhaps people that wish to personify the vampire myth. According to the research from my department, that was no uncommon, even for Earth," Peterson explained as he and Captain Price walked in the direction of the primary turbolift shaft.

"Well whatever it is 'mate," Lee said as they both turned in to an adjacent corridor, "I'd like to get to the bottom of it."

Kent was not so surprised. While he was still a little skeptical of the whole 'vampire thing' that Quevvenson and MacAllen were pushing, he had to keep an open mind. For the time being he was going to stick with the concept that they were vampire-wannabes. That was all.

"So would I sir," the Starfleet lieutenant commander finally responded. "Perhaps it would be worth talking with Counselor Dallas. It is possible she could have some insight on what would drive a person to ..."

*** A little time later ***

The doors to Peterson's quarters closed behind him as he walked in and removed his top. Throwing it on the floor just inside his bedroom, he walked over to the wall-mounted replicator unit. "Balso tonic," he requested.

The matter-energy converter hummed as is replicated the beverage the man ordered. Kent reached down and removed the drink. Lifting it to his mouth he drank it as quickly as he could. He could not explain why but he was feeling particularly thirsty.

As he walked over to grab a book for the bookshelf he heard something moving around in his bedroom. At first he shrugged it off as being nothing but his imagination. It was not until the second time that he took notice.

Kent placed the book down slowly on the desk and walked towards the room in question, armed only with his Balso tonic. He saw a flicker of a shadow, which sent a shiver down his spine. The thirty-three year old man squinted his eyes to make sure they weren't playing tricks on him, but it looked as though someone was definitely in his quarters.

The sound stopped only as he got close to the room. Before he had an opportunity to stick his head in and have a look he was knocked over by someone running out and straight for the main doors - the only exit out to the corridor outside.

Kent lost his balance and fell to the ground. As he landed on the ground he was struck with the light that came from the corridor lighting outside, but he did not get a look at the blurred figure leaving his quarters quickly. Picking up the now-empty glass he stood up and made his way in to the bedroom.

He took a few steps inside to find nothing disturbed. Still, someone had been in his quarters, and with all the recent disturbances, he was not likely to take a chance. Leaning down he picked up his uniform top and tapped the communicator, "Peterson to Security ...."

"Becoming One of Them"
by, Lt. Rose MacAllen,
and Lord Vlad Tepes (written by William Bolitho)
------------------------------------------------------

**Rose's Dream State**

Lord Vlad Tepes awoke from his sleep during the day, and found it dark enough to rise from his coffin. Exiting quickly, he opened the next coffin and revealed Rose in a blood red Victorian dress. The type that bespoke authority.

Rose woke up in pain a little and very thirsty for blood which was very wrong for her, she was thinking why she was in this dream again.

Vlad smiled. "Are you ready to be converted to a vampire, Rose? It is the last step in the path of immortality."

Rose looked into his eyes, she couldn't stop looking at him... soon she was under his spell, "Yes my lord," Rose said in a zombie like voice as she rises from her coffin.

He smiled and bent to kiss her neck. Then, in a flurry of activity he set his fangs into her neck, and began to suck the blood from her body.

Rose yells a little, the starts moaning it felt so good to her. She slowly enters a deep sleep so her body can rest from the blood been sucked from her.

Soon Vlad had succeeded in draining all the blood from her body. Her pale skin was white against the redness of the dress. He then injected a compound into her body. Which would finish the transformation from mortal to undead.

Rose lays on the floor near her coffin, her skin was pale and white. Then she woke up moaning in pain, "Oh my gods what happened to me?"

Vlad smiled, "You have become one of us now. You are a vampire. And you will gain many followers through your deeds."

"NO!!! Why did you do this to me? Who am I to you?" Rose said trying to get up from the ground but he grabbed her wrist hard.

He smiled at her, "You are the sweetest person in the galaxy. And that means you have to become one of us. For your own good. Come now, you did not expect to find love in the other world, now did you?"

"What do you mean?" Rose said while trying to break away from his grip.

"I mean that no one there really cares for you. You are just a tool to be used and discarded when the time is right. That Helmsman, Gustavson, he does not really love you. Quevvenson and Jamieson are too wrapped up in each other to notice your pain. And they probably wouldn't care anyway. I am the only one that cares for you."

"YOU LIE!" she said while running towards the door.

Vlad stopped her, "Enough of that. Let me show you your first new meals." He dragged her down to the dungeon of the castle. There in chians, and gagged were her cousin Lily Williamson and a strange dark, handsome man.

"Why are you doing this to me?" Rose told him walking up to Lily. Lily tried to yell though the gag along with the dark and handsome man, her cousin's blood smells sweet but she tries to get too close to her cousin.

"Because you need to sever all ties with your past life. And this is the beginning of doing so."

Rose can't help it anymore she rips off the dress that Lily was wearing and started kissing on her neck, "Please forgive me Lily." Rose said as she bit Lily deeply until all of her blood was gone.

Vlad looked on with pleasure at the scene, "Now the male. Make sure you defile him as well."

Rose said the same thing to the man as she did to Lily, both Lily and the man were dead as blood dripped from her lips.

Vlad clapped his hands together, "Good, good. Now are you ready to turn them into vampires?"

Rose looks at Vlad trying to hide her sadness, she just killed one of her favorite cousins.

"Yes my lord," Rose told him trying to hide her anger.

"Then inject them with a compound of your new blood."

Rose injected compound of her new blood into Lily and the young man, she looks at Vlad with a look and then she looks at the door thinking about escaping from him but she know now that he have her under his control and he can do anything he pleases with her.

Vlad smiled as the two people slowly revived with pale white skin and with their fangs at the ready.

"What are you going to do to me now Vlad?" Rose told him looking into his eyes, like he was putting her under his spell again.

Vlad smiled, "I love your frankness. I will now make you one of my lovers. It will be fun."

Rose who is under Vlad's control walks to her bedroom to wait for him while he deals with the new vampires.

Vlad qucikly sent he new vampires out into the countryside to wreak havoc on the unsuspecting locals. He then went to Rose's bedroom. To deal with her as a vassal female vampire should be dealt with by the dominant male.

Rose sits on the bed still fully clothed looking out into the moon.

Vlad entered the room, and leaned over to watch her move. "Are you ready, Rose?"

Rose looks into the moon more and she can hear screaming of people in the next village, "Yes my lord."

Vlad smiled, "Good," He then quickly untied her dress and let it fall to the floor. He then kissed her breasts one by one, then trailed kisses lower. Until he had his lips in her nether regions.

Rose falls onto the bed moaning, "My gods why is this happening to me?"

He merely smiled and stood up, shucked his pants and mounted her roughly. He rode her until she climaxed, and then got off. "You are now a proper vampiress."

Rose had a big grin on her face as she fell into a deep sleep before the morning sun rises.

Vlad picked her up adn placed her in her coffin, then settled into his own. The morning sun rose soon thereafter.

**Next Night**

Rose wakes up and sees herself in the dining area of the castle all alone with Vlad who was looking at his new prizes.

Vlad smiled at her, "You have done fine, my lady. You will continue to do fine for many years to come."

Rose still looks in shock as the vampire Lily walks in with an after dinner drink: some green Vulcan blood. She looks away from Vlad as he walk towards her with an evil grin. Rose can feel his touching her long brown hair, as she feels his power.

Vlad smiles down at her, "As you can see, Your cousin and her friend are getting along well. Her friend is the one you heard about, called Drago Mornoi. They seem to like Vulcanoid blood. It suits them perfectly."

Rose looks at the green blood from inside the gold wine goblet, "I'm not thirty sir."

Vlad smiled, "You will be, milady. You will be. Here let me give you some things." He motioned for one of the servants, and in came a beautiful black satin dress. And some gold earrings. And some platinum necklaces.

"What are those for?" Rose said while trying to drink down her cup of green Vulcan blood.

Vlad smiled, "Those are for you, Rose. To try on and see if they suit your fancy."

Rose walks upstairs into the bedroom and tried it on, when in a few minutes she was dressed in the black satin dress, with the gold earrings and a platinum necklace.

Vlad waited for her to come back down, and then smiled, "You look beautiful Rose. Just like a proper vampiress."

Rose stops in the middle, she don't want to walk down to him. Then some music started playing, a Betazoid song she used to dance to with her father.

Vlad looked into her eyes, and said, "Come."

Rose walks down to him like he ordered and takes his hand, then looks into his cold dark eyes.

Vlad smiled, "Now it is time to let the new vampires have their fun." He turned to Lily and Drago, "Do what you want to." He sat back to watch. The two vampires stepped up to one another and ripped each other's clothes off. Then, Drago pushed Lily to the ground, and mounted her violently. He proceeded to effectively rape her until she moaned her submission. Then, he removed himself and turned to his master, dripping blood from her inner wounds. He turned to Rose and Vlad, bowed and turned into a bat, and flew away.

"Why did that happen?" Rose said while trying to get back upstairs but he pulled her by her wrist hand and pushes her back to him.

Vlad smiled, "Because some vampires are more vicious than others. You made one of the more vicious ones I've seen." He gripped the front of her dress, "Now, it's your turn." And he tore it off of her, and raped her repeatedly.

"NO!!!!" Rose yelled before giving herself freely to him against her own will.

**Rose's room, USS Galaxy**

Rose jumped out of bed in a cold sweat, this was getting alittle out of control. She can feel Vlad power all over her room and her life, Rose pray that the Captain and Peterson will know what kind of visitors they have in her report before it too late for all of then.

"The Vampire and the Witch…"

Zerhi An'quinsos (NPC)
Adrian's beautiful wife
With
Lady Lilith (NPC)
Seductress Magnus

Zerhi walked the corridor, listening to anything out of sync, or that might have been lurking about. Unaccustomed to Starfleet civilian clothes, she preferred her El-Aurian garb second to none, as did Adrian on her.

Since the visitors had showed up, she and her family made themselves as scarce as theoretically possible. When rumors of from low-level personnel spoke of people supposedly 'drained' without evidence, they all began to get even more suspicious…

"Good evening."

Her eyes narrowed, calmly turning around. The female smiled with interest. 'Damn.' She thought. 'Note to self, in being cautious, make sure the back is thoroughly guarded… store on permanent file.' "Hello, you must be Lady Lilith, it's a pleasure to meet you!" She said, almost vomiting the words up through a vivid façade.

The Sanguinarian wore a beautifully embroidered gown, that looked a bit tight, and showed off more than anyone wanted to see, including the nipples of her voluptuous breasts. Zerhi was impressed by her beauty, but mentally gagged at the attire she had on. From an El-Aurian standpoint, it looked most offensive and degrading.

"The same," She said. "Since I've been on this vessel, I've never really seen you." She genuinely replied with inquisitive interest.

'Oh, so that demonic glare you gave didn't me counted?' "I generally come and go." 'None of your bloody business where I go to begin with!' She winced at the mental comment. 'Bloody… bad pun.'

"You do look rather young to be walking these halls without someone to escort you, especially on the officers deck." She began. "I thought civilians were unallowed here."

Zerhi visibly smirked at the remark. 'If the wench had only had a clue!' "Actually, I'm older than I appear… MUCH." She emphasized, causing a befuddled look on Lady Lilith's face. "And as for the second comment, I am married to an officer."

"Really? You look too young…" She trailed off, as if trying to draw her in.

'She wants to hear it…' "For El-Aurians, time has no meaning. We age, but not in the humanoid sense of the word. I myself am 498."

A glare, too noticeable to go unnoticed. An odd feeling of satisfaction filled the El-Aurian's mind. She knew for certain what this creature was and what it could be capable of. "Have you heard of us?"

"The Race of Listeners…" She trailed off, futilely regaining composure lost. "I and my people are very aware of your kind. You are known to us as Zhu'Maurhj Krejkli, or in your language, [Mages of Light.]

'So, I'm a Witch eh?' Zerhi mused. Lilith was not very surprised to find that the humanoid female new she could she her language. With that in mind, the Temptress began to eye the El-Aurian with a cold, deadly gaze. Zerhi's eyes narrowed, her calm face turned from calm to predatory as she met the demonic gaze of the Sanguinarian. It was a Mexican standoff, with both sides at equal footing.

"And you are well known to my people," Zerhi said, preparing for anything. "Or legends speak of you very well, and we know you in deed and in songs of old. You were the product of darkness and hatred, with a insatiable hunger, and stopped at nothing to fulfill that quest no matter the cost. You have many names on other worlds, but we only know you as one: Nosfere Pele' Mo'Secari."

The Sanguinarian smiled darkly. It had been ages since she had heard that name. "And an apt name it is. Will you still remember it after I feast on your blood?"

"Depends," She replied, pulling out a beautiful jeweled dagger. "Do you still have a taste for silver? This dagger in particular was not only blessed by the monks, it was Ezmion's. So tell me, where is your heart, or do I have to search for it?"

"Zerhi!"

Adrian approached them hurriedly, as the standoff began showing sings of stopping. The Sanguinarian stepped back, showing her teeth. It was obvious, the way Zerhi held it that she was proficiently trained in its' use. Additionally, with the arrival of Adrian, she wished not to pursue the conflict any further than it already was.

"Know this El-Aurian, when we have finished feasting on this crew, I'll come for you, as the final feast!"

Both parties stepped back as a quick flash appeared and she disappeared, leaving no trace or her presence. Simultaneously, Daenara walked towards them from out of the shadows. Her face was in deep thought, as she sighed with regret.

"And so it begins again…"

"Never...NEVER!...piss off a Sanguinarian!"

With Lt. Raven "Oh, man! Am I in trouble now!" Darkstar (Security) and our guests, the Sanguinarians - Lady "Lookin for a boy toy" Lilith, and Lord "Mirrors really tick me off!" Vlad. With a suprise appearence by...now, now, now. If I told you then it wouldn't be a suprise. I'll give you a hint though..it isn't Leo!

Time: After "Mirror, Mirror.." (by me!) and whenever this ifts into continuity. Location: The hallowed hallways of the USS GALAXY

Raven Darkstar was in a foul mood.

This wasn't really a change of pace for the Indian security officer. More than one crewman had in the past commented ~ behind his back, naturally~ on the man's perpetual "glass-is-half-empty" attitude about life.

On this evening, Raven's typical scowl seemed to be etched just a bit deeper into his face. He had just left the 10 Foreward after yet another forgettable moment. Embarassment wasn't an uncommon emotion there in the bar. The hub of the USS Galaxy's social life, the 10/4 had seen many nervous attempts at finding the ideal mate end in disaster.

Embarassment was, however, an emotion rarely felt by the brooding Indian.

That was, until Leo Streely came aboard.

The little journalist turned bartender had seemingly made it his life's mission to place himself and Raven into one shameful situation after another. This last time ranked high up there on Raven's list of reasons to hate the annoying little man.

Somehow Leo had managed to convince him that the Sanguinarian guests found aboard the drifting Tamarian vessel were actually ~ he swallowed hard just thinking about it ~ vampires. The little man was so convincing in his argument, that Raven had forced the 'ambassadors' to look into a mirror against thier will.

Not only had Leo made him look like an imbicel in front of all assembled when everyone gazed at thier reflection, but he had also ruffled the feathers of Lord Vlad ~ who would undoubtedly be reporting the ugly scene to Captain Price as soon as time allowed.

On top of all that ~ he thought as he thundered down the hallway in no particular direction ~ he had made a deal with the devil herself. In exchange for thier cooperation, Raven had agreed to put himself into Lilith's debt.

"Whatever the hell that means." he said, trying to keep the sexy images of the woman from invading his thoughts.

"Talking to yourself is a sign of impending mental collapse." a familiar voice purred. (10 extra points for anyone who knows from what computer game that line came from.)

Raven looked up from the floor's plush carpeting , that moments ago he had envisioned Leo's face upon, to see Lilith standing before him.

"I believe you owe me a debt." she said. " I am here to collect, Dark One."

Seeing no way around having given her his word, the big man sighed heavily. "Very well. What is it you want from me?"

Lilith placed one of her long fingernails in her mouth coyly and pretended to be lost in thought before announcing: "I think I would like to talk."

Raven's eyes narrowed suspiciously. " You want to ..talk?"

"Sometimes a woman likes to just relax in the company of another like soul. I would like to talk with you. Privately. Away from the prying ears of the rest of the ship." she said.

"And Lord Vlad?"

She dismissed the notion with a wave of her hand. " The Lord is off doing his own thing, leaving me all alone."

"We can use my office in the Brig." he stated. He had no intention whatsoever of letting the woman get even remotly near his personal quarters.

'That's so...confining. I want a place thats nice and secluded. Away from everybody, where its just you and me..maybe a view of the stars." she said moving closer to him. The sound of her voice was intoxicating and he couldn't help but find himself scouring his mind for a place on the ship that matched her discription.

"I think I have such a place." he said in a voice that sounded distant to him.

*** Planetarium, USS GALAXY ***

"It's beautiful." Lilith said as she stood and admired the view from the wide window, nearly the size of a standard viewscreen.

Raven stood in the back of the planetarium. During the last layover at Starbase 114, the USS Galaxy had undergone massive repair and refitting to heal the tremendous damage recieved during thier encounter with the Borg. Most of the labs and apartments on this floor were still under construction and remained unoccupied.

The planetarium was a new addition to the ship, one that the crew would find most welcome. Rows of comfortable seats ringed the large window where people could sit and gaze at the various celestial marvels. The cieling itself was a viewscreen that could project the view from the ships hull giving anyone inside the illusion that they were sitting on the outside of the saucer section. Currently it was showing the vast array of stars outside the ship.

"This will officially be open to the crew once we return to the Starbase." Raven said as he his eyes were drawn to the Tamarian vessel hanging ominously in space. "For now, we have complete privacy. You may talk about anything you wish. No one will hear us."

"Amazing.."she said looking up at the images of the stars and twirling her body in circles, then resting her gaze on the Indian. "Come closer."

Raven moved as ordered, almost as if he had no control over his own legs.

"Tell me why you resist me." she said.

"I do not know what you mean." he responded stiffly.

"Yes you do. You know what I want." she said running her hands under his shirt. His muscles tensed at her touch and he pulled back from her using as much effort as he could muster.

"With all respect, I don't have time for this. I have to.." he protested.

"You have to nothing, Dark One." Lilith said, her hand over his mouth, her gaze holding his firmly. She took his collar in both hands and jerked violently ripping open his tunic almost effortlessly, exposing his scarred chest.

Lilith seemed mesmerized by the old wounds.

"Where did you aquire these?" she asked the tips of her fingers tracing over the long and jagged pink scar tissue that cris-crossed his torso in crude patterns. " They are beautiful! Ferocious! Violent!"

"I ...wrestled bears when I was younger." Raven said as Lilith's tounge flicked across his hot flesh. " They are large clawed animals."

Lilith was impressed. "Such spirit. To willingly engage in the battle of man versus beast. There is no greater thrill than the conquering of that foe which seemed not only unbeatable but also able to end your own life. You transcend yourself and become something more primal. More a force of nature itself."

"Tell me what it felt like.. at the moment that you found yourself besting the creature." she said against his neck as she moved her mouth up to his ear and along his cheek. "Swimming in pain and excitement.."

He trembled at her touch. His breathing came more rapidly now.

"Tell me what it was like as you looked into the animal's eyes and it realized that defeat was inevitable." she said her face inches from his. Her lips just out of his reach.

"Tell me..." she whispered as her mouth inched painfully closer to Raven's own.

He leaned closer and just as his lips brushed against hers....

He felt a sharp and searing pain as Vlad grabbed his hair with both fists and flung him through the air and into a row of chairs, thier generous padding being the only thing that kept him from sustaining serious bodily injury, yet not deminishing the pain of the fall.

The Indian barely had time to register what was happening before the Sanguinarian was upon him again, this time grabbing him by the throat and flicking him straight up into the ceiling with a sickening thud.

"VLAD!" Lilith snarled as Darkstar fell in a crumpled heap on the floor. "STOP THIS! What are you doing?! How dare you!"

"HOW DARE I WHAT?!! HOLD YOUR TOUNGE WENCH!!" Vlad spat as he rolled Raven over with his toe. "And you. I told you that we would finish things."

He shoved the man with his toe, sending him careening through the air and over the chairs again, then moved upon Lilith. "What do you think you were doing with it?"

Lilith recoiled a bit under Vlads intense glare and apparent fury. "I..I was feeding!"

"Feeding? Is that what you call it? You look like you were doing a bit more than feeding. It looks as though the two of you were on some sort of date! A date! With ones supper!" Vlad shouted. He turned to further vent his rage and frustration on the fallen Indian again, only to be suprised to find Darkstar on his feet, brandishing a broken piece of one of the chairs.

"Your under arrest!" Raven said as he swung the club and connected a series of blows with the man's face in rapid sucession, sending him to the floor. He crouched behind the fallen Sanguinarian and rolled him over but the man disappeared as if he had never fallen in the first place.

"Such primative minds. Manipulating them is hardly any challange at all!'" Vlad said from behind him as he thrust the Indian's head violently against the floor. Blood began to seep from the Raven's mouth and nose and he found himself to dazed to stand. He took a silent inventory of his teeth while the Sanguinarians continued to argue.

"Stop your childish behavior! This isn't nessicary!" Lilith said, a bit indignent at having her motives questioned by her companion.

"They are food, Lilith. If I wish to drop them on the floor before eating them, I shall. Perhaps you should realize that yourself instead of following them around with lust in your eyes!"

Lilith smiled her seductive smile. "Is that what this is about? You..you are jellous of them?"

"Do not patronize me! I feel nothing for them!" Vlad snapped.

"You are! My Lord...do not see my happiness at the buffet at hand for anything other than just that. They are cattle to me. Nothing more. They are less than house pets." she said reassuringly. "This one fought a bit more than the others, but it doesn't make him anything more than they all are." she said reassuringly. her words having a soothing effect on the man.

"You would do well to remember that." he warned.

Raven had staggered to his feet and could barely make out the pair. To him they looked like shimmering mirages on a hot day. There one moment then gone the next. He figured this was an effect of the attack and waited untill they were back in focus then swung his fists only to have his attack pass through thier forms as if they were ghosts.

Again he swung and again his fists passed through the pair as if he were battling thin air.

"What..What are you ?" he asked through bleeding lips.

'Your masters." Lilith said sinisterly as Vlad thrust his hands through the Indian's chest.

Raven began to jerk back from the specter's touch but an intense and ever growing pain began to radiate from his chest as Vlad began to ever so slowly solidify. Feeling first like heartburn then mutating into something more extreme.

"Painfull isn't it ,cur!" Vlad sneered, as Raven writhed in agony. Lilith leaned foreward and licked the free flowing blood off his cheek.

Raven screamed a gurgled scream.

Vlad smiled, his fangs showing. He continued to solidify as Raven twitched spasmaticly in his grasp. "What is it with your kind? Whenever you are warned of danger, you ignore it. I told you to let us pass, but you insisted on harassment."

Raven couldnt even begin to form a thought through the waves of pain crashing through him. Blood flower freely from his cuts and abrasions as Vlad lifted him off the floor with his ever solidifying hands.

"I can almost feel your heart now." Vlad teased. "Perhaps I will remove it and hand it to you that you may watch your own life blood flow away."

"PERHAPS I WILL REMOVE YOUR HEADS FROM YOUR SHOULDERS." a voice hissed from the now open doorway, it's tones dripping with danger.

Vlad and Lilith turned to see the massive, hulking form of Seth Zonhieb.

"AND PERHAPS I WILL DO SO NOW." the Gorn said, his claws bared.

(To be continued, naturally!)

"Dinner"
by Commander Thomas
& Anna Thomas
USS Galaxy

Commander Thomas left the bridge, but didn't leave his concerns behind. His mind was still very worried about his initial reaction and thoughts about Lord Vlad and Lady Lilth and he only could hope that he was wrong. Everything he knew told him that they should be worried, but there wasn't proof.

After thinking about the situation as much as he could, Chris decided that it would just be best for the moment to drop it and go have dinner with his wife. Once he finished his dinner, then he could spend some more time thinking about the situation. In fact he probably would turn in for bed and then return to the Tarmarian ship afterwards.

After taking the turbolift and walking the distance from there, he arrived at his quarters. His wife was inside waiting for his arrival and thankful that he was safe. She always worried about him, but knew this was were they belonged.

"Hello dear," Chris said giving her a kiss as he came into their quarters and walked over to her, only to have her meet him half way.

"Hello," she said. "I was wondering if you were going to come back to the ship. I understand you're worried about a possible problem with this Vald and Lilth who's come onboard the ship?"

"Yes I was planning on coming back for dinner, but you're right this situation has me worried. Maybe I am so taunt by our encounter with the Borg and other recent events. I might just be seeing or wanting to see trouble where there is none, but still I can't shake this feeling of dread." Chris said.

"I know, and I see is challenging your knowledge and understanding." Anna said.

"Thank you." Chris said. "Lets have dinner, and enjoy ourselves. I don't have to be back on duty for the rest of the day, I hope." Chris said.

Smiling, "Good, then come with me and eat." she said.

She was to good for him, but he wouldn't admit it, except to her. "You're always too good to me, I know I do a lot of things that you love and a lot that you don't, but you accept me for who I am." Chris said.

"I know dear, and you do a lot for me. You support me in studies and love of animals." she said.

Chris smiled, "I love you."

"And I you."

Sitting down for dinner, this might be the night. They both wanted to start a family some day, but they weren't sure when.

"I hope you enjoy what i made." she said.

"I always do, enjoy what you make." Chris said.

Brining his plate to the table, she showed him dinner. "Tuna fish casserole, with onions, some garlic, peas, egg noddles and a little something extra." she said with a smile.

"Looks good, smells good, then it has to be good." Chris said as he waited for her to take a seat and noticed that she'd had wine already poured for them.

"Cheers," they said picking up their wine glasses.

The two of the ate their dinner quitely, as that was what happened when they were hungry and the food was good, silence followed. Eating was a passion they both shared, especially good food, and good wine.

They'd taken only two vacations in their short life together and they'd both been to great places on Earth known for good food and drink. One was Italy, the other they didn't remember as it was for their honeymoon.

"Chris?" Anna said.

"Yes?"

"Do you want to have a family someday?" she asked.

"Of course, I do. We've talked about this many times and we said we knew when the time would be right." Chris said.

"Yes, I know dear." she said. "Still we're not getting any younger."

Chris could only smile, "No we're not and we never will."

"Good, then I think we should start trying." she said.

"Now?" he asked.

"Well I was thinking more like after we finished our dinner, and had desert, but if you're not hungry anymore?" she said.

"Could we wait until I finish eating the main course at least?" Chris said. "I've been away from the ship all day and haven't had a bite to eat."

"of course."

Chris finished his dinner and drank his glass of wine. While he felt almost like she was telling him hurry and finish or else, it just wasn't going to happen. He felt bad, but he also needed to eat something before he passed out.

After eating the two them did proceed to retire to their bed and a more private setting were they could renew their marriage vows and become closer to one another, both in mind and body.

Slightly before, during and after
"Never..NEVER!...piss off a Sanguinarian!" Appearances by Raven Darkstar and Arel Smith. Oh and our guests.

***Due to the graphic nature of this program, viewer discretion is advised.***

Blood swelled in the air as the hunt was on. Seth crouched down in the hall practically running on all fours limbs. It helped him gain speed and not bump his head.

It seemed the trail lead to ten forward, the most populated area of the ship. If the murderers where there Seth needed all his stealth.

As his forked tongue smelled the air a primal urge build inside the gorn. Not only was he on the hunt, there was the growing smell of death to spear him on.

Arel had watched with interest the meeting between Darkstar and Vlad in ten forward, figuring that it was better than reflecting on her own misery.

When they had all left Ten Forward she had merely shrugged to herself and finished the last few remaining drops of her drink, as synthetic as it was, although she did have to admit that Lord Vlad was an impressive looking man. She was so entranced she missed the security alert.

She pushed away from her seat, leaving her empty glass behind and quietly left, noting the cheerful chattering of the people all around her. The hall seemed empty and as she didn't really have anywhere she really needed to be she chose the right side of the hall, deciding to take a stroll.

The scent split and went to and from ten forward. The guests had moved their location. Seth suddenly changed his direction.

The focus of his eyes narrowed on the hall. With single-minded abandon he bolted after the trail. Pushing people out of the way so the steamroller didn’t trample them.

Arel was startled by the "light slam" on her left shoulder as someone pushed her out of the way as they ran past. Arel was only able to catch a glimse of the person but it appeared to be a large gorn and Zonhieb appeared to be unhappy about something, running down the hall likely to hurt the source of his unhappiness.

Intrigued, Arel decided to run after him...

The gorn stopped short of the public restricted bay. The smell was strong on his tongue. The rusty wire that holds the cork and keeps the anger in, gave way. (I bet everyone knows that quote)

Inside the room Vlad was holding Darkstar off the floor. The Indian looked in great pain.

"I can almost feel your heart now." Vlad teased. "Perhaps I will remove it and hand it to you that you may watch your own life blood flow away."

"PERHAPS I WILL REMOVE YOUR HEADS FROM YOUR SHOULDERS." Seth's voice hissed more than usual, it's tones dripping with danger.

Vlad and Lilith turned to see the massive, hulking form of Seth Zonhieb.

"AND PERHAPS I WILL DO SO NOW." the Gorn said, his claws bared.

The gorn pounced; Vlad had just enough time to remove his hands from Raven. Claws tore at his half unreal form and teeth sunk into his neck. Then there was the crushing and snapping of bones as the figure was tackled.

It was now the lizards turn to dig into a chest cavity. Gurgles of pain and blood escaped from Vlad as his insides were exposed.

The bite seemed to anchor the being into reality for the time being. Lilith came to the rescue of her traveling companion. She formed her own claws in her lizard persona the gorn liked. Jumping on the beast's back she savagely ripped at his uniform.

The green scales of the gorns back saved him from the wraith behind him. That was when Ensign Smith entered the area.

She saw Raven trying to stagger to his feet. Then saw the pile of combatants. Instead of the aggressive hand-to-hand attack she drew her phaser and blasted Lilith.

The bolt of energy only partially hit her when she wasn't expecting it. Then the light passed through her and hit the gorn.

The stun setting was only enough to enrage the lizard further. Yet he yelped with the pain and let go of Vlad.

The second the teeth withdrew from the male lizard guest he vanished. There was still blood and gore on the ground but the body had flitted away like smoke.

Seth found his feet quick and before Lilith could jump on Arel he grabbed her from behind. The gorn's great clawed hand wrapped around her skull and squeezed hard.

The cranium cracked and imploded. Then the rest of Liliths body vanished and Seth was left holding thin air.

Across the room the doors opened by themselves and everyone could sense that wasn't the last they would see of the guests.

"Operation Rose"
By Lt (jg) Jessie Parry, ACTO

Jessie sat up the next moring after her holodeck program and looked about. "Woah what a weird dream." she looked about. A small holo of James sat on her bedside table. She smiled as she swung her legs over the edge of her bed and stood up. She walked over to the computer and began to compose a message to all of the crew minus Rose. Rose would be informed at a later date.

To: All Crew members
From: Lt (jg) Parry
RE: Masquerade Party for Rose MacAllen

Well here is the deal.
It is a masquerade ball and it is in the theme of the 1700's Eearth stlye. The reason? Well a certain scienc officer is expecting so why the hell not? Anyone willing to come please reply to either Dr Jamieson, Lt Quevvenson or myself by tomorrow night.

Thanks
Jessie Parry.

"Computer send message"

Operation Rose was in progress. She smiled and got ready for her shift.

NRPG: Takes place before the arrival of our mysterious guests. Sorry for the timewarp, guys, it's been a bit crazy here. I have two more flashbacks coming tonight, and then I should be more caught up. To my JP partners, especially Dallas and Elaine, my additions are coming! ~Lori

"A Breath of Fresh Air"

Commander Karyn Dallas RN
Chief Counselor/Second Officer

Lt. Commander Kent Peterson
Chief Science Officer
USS Galaxy

***Holodeck Two, USS Galaxy***

With a sigh of satisfaction, Karyn smiled as the last finishing touch - a pitcher of lemonade and a couple of glasses - materialized on the picnic table in front of her. She inhaled the fresh air and for a moment she could almost believe she was back on Betazed just a few miles from her childhood home in Janaran Falls. This was the way she liked to remember her birthplace, full of sunshine, fresh air and greenery. Just down the road was supposed to be the plantation style home her father designed from scratch when he and her mother got married, but it held no happy memories for her, and so she could never bring herself to finish that part of the program.

Instead she focused on the park that was her once her refuge as a child. Officially, it was the largest recreational park on Betezed, complete with rolling hills, bike trails and just about every kind of plant and flower native to the southern continent, but as a child, all the park represented to her was a safe haven. It was a place to get away from her troubles and take in fresh air while dreaming of happier times. Her father never found her here simply because as a drunk, fresh air ruined his buzz. She'd had no real need to visit in a long time, but every once in a while she returned, hoping the fresh air - however simulated - would help her clear her head and serve as a reminder of where she had come from.

She was a bit nervous about sharing her simplistic program with Kent. She was by no means as much of a true lover of the outdoors as he was, having never really enjoyed traversing ground that was not always hoverchair friendly, but it was apparent from their last session she was losing him to his own insecurities despite how much she knew he needed to connect with someone who could relieve him of the pain he had carried with him for too long.

In this place there was no ultimate objective, only respite from the pressures of the outside world, and as such she would not push him today. Even for her the confines of her office could be too much, and as a native of Colorado, she hoped Kent would feel more comfortable here in the more open spaces. She sensed he had become more resistant to speaking to her lately and she knew if she didn't do something to reconnect with him, he would retreat further into his depression. Reaching over to pour herself a glass of lemonade, she heard the swish of the holodeck doors. She didn't need to turn to know that it was Kent right on time.

When she finally did turn to greet him, she was pleased to see the surprise on his face. No doubt he was annoyed with her for keeping him on his toes. "Welcome to my little piece of Betazed, please, come and make yourself at home." She gestured to the bench across from her attached to the picnic table.

Peterson walked in through the Holodeck doors and looked around. What he saw was a landscape that did not differ greatly from any other M-class planet with the climatic pattern of the Betazoid homeworld. His eye was caught by some species of flowering plant he was not familiar with - not surprising since he was not a botanist - but it took a little getting used to. As the doors closed behind him, he felt a gentle breeze pass by him, caressing him on the cheek and hand, making it all seem much more real than a holographic simulation.

He turned his attention back towards Counselor Dallas, "Ah! Nemesis," he jested, "we meet again."

"Would you just come over here," Karyn said with a smile. The very fact that he could joke about how he felt about these sessions put her more at ease. He knew he needed to be here, but he was no longer afraid to share his emotions with her. Like her, he was using humor to deal with akward moments. She smiled as she realized she was beginning to rub off on him.

Kent grew a little impatient. The Starfleet commander may have been outranked by Commander Chris Thomas, but to some degree she intimidated him more than the ship's First Officer. Not only was her official rank higher - even though she had entered the Academy well after he had graduated - but she was now also the Second Officer for the USS Galaxy. He felt a little like he could not, or was not allowed to, say 'no' to her, even though that was not how she portrayed herself to anyone.

She challenged him regularly. Was this another way of drawing out the information she wanted? He suspected as much. The clue was evident when she asked him to join her in the Holodeck rather than her office. She was up to something - he knew that - but she confirmed it by the way she gestured him to the simulated picnic bench in the simulated park.

The thirty-four year old relented and took several strides from the inner entrance of the Holodeck to join Counselor Dallas. Reaching the picnic bench, he sat down and placed both hands on the bench.

Kent looked at the picnic bench and his brow became furrowed. "It's not exactly your office, is it?"

"That's the idea," the Ship's Counselor said as she once again gestured him to come and join her.

"Where are we, exactly?"

"This," she said, spreading her arms to encompass the scene before her, "is my little hideaway, otherwise known as Janaran Falls Recreational Park. Just down the road a few miles is supposed to be my house, but I've never gotten around to finishing it," then she added quietly, "I have better memories here." She looked at him then and brightened. She did not bring him here to talk of her own memories after all. "I'm not much of nature woman, but I like to come here to clear my head after a long time in my office. I find that spending too much time in one place physically can also prevent progress mentally," she explained. "Is this comfortable for you? I thought about a rock climbing program instead, but then I was worried you wouldn't be able to keep up." She smiled, enjoying being able to return the jest.

It was an awkward situation. Counselor Dallas was confined to her anti-grav chair. Was it appropriate to laugh, joke back, or make a quib to counteract her own?

"There could be logistical problems with that," Kent finally laughed. He figured that if Karyn had no problems with it then he should take her lead.

She reached over to pour him a glass of lemonade. "I take it from your Nemesis comment you're going to continue to evade me today?" Her tone was teasing, but she wanted to get him to open up about why he was afraid to be honest with her without making him feel as though he was being pressured. She wondered if he was embarrassed to be seeing her. She had seen him at some of his most vulnerable moments, and while it didn't bother her in the least, she knew if the tables were turned, she would be evasive too. It was incredible the lengths people went to, just to avoid pain that if left to fester, threatened to tear them apart. As hard as she still fought to avoid talking of her of her abusive childhood, she had made a lot of progress in the past ten years.

Peterson shook his head. He tried to get into the mood of it. Karyn was making an effort and he had come to appreciate her concern for his mental well-being. "I guess."

She looked at him with a 'don't even bother hiding it, because I know you better than that' look on her face. "I've been on this merry-go-round a couple hundred times now, thank you, and I think it would save time if you just answered my question honestly. I have no problem with taking countermeasures if you want to use your typical evasive maneuvers today, but sometimes it's nice for a girl to get some advanced warning is all. Frankly, I thought you would have grown tired of this dance weeks ago."

The lieutenant commander scratched the back of his head. "You're a persistant woman. I'll give you that. Most counselors tend to back off after a while and lose interest."

Dallas' face became more serious. "That's because none of them have seen you in a position where you've faced the Borg again. I happen to think those who fight help so long and so hard have the greatest need for it, and don't even know it."

Kent stood up for a moment, took a few steps towards a large collection of indigenous flowers, and then turned back to the counselor in her anti-grav chair. He did not seem to be angry, but it seemed obvious that he was trying to get something out. Just not exactly sure how he could convey his thoughts.

He clenched he fists, not in an aggressive manner, but his body language only seemed to emulate the nervousness he demonstrated by standing up. "I keep trying to tell myself, 'Kent, man, get over it'. I just don't know why this keeps on being an issue."

"Is it an 'issue'?" It was coming. The self-recognition that was going to ease everything that came after this would follow, Karyn was sure of it. Kent was beginning to see for himself just how this was affecting him, in essence keeping him from moving forward. Soon, he would no longer have to rely on his slight inkling that something was wrong and her prodding just to get him to open up. After all this time, it was wearing him down, and while Kent was not thrilled about it, Karyn considered it progress.

"When you're having nightmares about it," he said a little frustrated, "then, yeah, I guess you could call it an issue. I've tried everything ... meditating using Vulcan tradition, Human, Bolian, and you name it type techniques. I've tried facing my fear, and we all know how well that went."

Karyn allowed him to vent his frustration.

Kent took a deep breath and returned to the picnic bench. Sitting down he grabbed the glass of lemonade and nursed it like an alcoholic would a scotch or bourbon. Lifting it up he took a mouthful before smiling. Turning to Karyn, "That's not bad."

"Why, thank you, I replicated it myself."

The smile he had on his face disappeared slightly. "Is this irrational?"

"No," Karyn quibbed, "that's lemonade."

She waited for the smile but 'Commander Peterson simply shook his head.

Becoming serious for a moment, he said "I think that because ...."

Karyn noticed his long hesitation and gently prompted, "Go on, you think because what?"

"I was young, idealistic, and I thought Starfleet was going to be all fun and games. It was easier back then to think that our only purpose was the 'go boldly where no one has gone before' ... all nebulae and comets, peaceful first contact and such," he said, starting to sound a little cynical of the role Starfleet had played in the last ten years. "I don't know. To be honest ... I really don't know."

The rational side of Kent Peterson came through - the side that made him an objective scientist - but it did not provide him any comfort. He face and muscles in his shoulders began to relax as Karyn gave him the space he needed.

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

NRPG: This is a continuation of Part One posted by Martin on October 17th. I apologize to him and to you all for the delay. Part Three will follow. For those of you who can't remember, or weren't around to read the event, several months ago Michael was trapped on the planet Grainus VI after he was thought to have died on a humanitarian mission there. He became infected with a virus from a poisonous plant, which subsequently put him in a coma for four months. Since he has awakened from that coma, he has suffered from some severe long term memory loss (including the loss of all memories pertaining to a romantic relationship between himself and Karyn). Karyn has since kept her distance for fear of opening up a can of worms neither of them can handle.

This is the beginning of the departure for Michael, but a lot more is to come, so please stay tuned! Martin and I had a blast writing this. End of babble.
:-) ~Lori

"The Nearness of You, Part Two"

Commander Karyn Dallas RN
Chief Counselor/Nurse

Lt. Michael McDowell
Assistant Chief Engineer

Michelle Crawford
Physical Therapist, NPC
USS Galaxy

One look at the belt and the resistance bands and Michael knew Michelle had them cornered. There was no easy way out. One look at Karyn confirmed that she'd reached the same conclusion. "I think it's fairly safe to say that she's got us trapped. One point for her." Michael said with a low voice, without even hesitating once. The nervous feeling was almost gone, as it always did as time went by, but much sooner than he expected. Maybe it was because he'd noticed a change in Karyn's behavior the moment Michelle explained what they had to do. Something in her eyes told him that she wasn't sure if she could walk all the way to the end of the p-bar. "Ready to even the score?"

"I..., I'm not sure..." Karyn answered but didn't finish her reply and looked down. She'd always managed to conceal her most vulnerable side. Obviously, she couldn't do that now and it scared her. But at the same time Karyn was relieved because it was Michael who saw her this way and not someone else. "I've never made it from here to the other side... Gods know I've tried, but my physical endurance isn't where I'd like it to be. I suppose you'd call it my Achilles Heel." She laughed slightly, "I've survived how many firefights? But this?" She had no idea why she was unloading all of this self-doubt on Michael, but suddenly in this situation, she was too pissed at herself to suck it up.

"Karyn,...I believe you can." Michael said. He placed his hand under her chin and gently forced Karyn to look at him. "You can do it because I know you're a fighter."

Karyn smiled, why had she felt she couldn't be anyone but herself with him? Because she cared for him...and she didn't want to add the complication to his life. Knowing all of that, she ached to be with him as much as she hoped he would someday need her. They had been forced into this situation and it was torture to be so near and yet so far in hope. Just looking into Michael's eyes was enough to make Karyn feel at ease. But there was one thing left that worried her. "But what if I fall? Michelle always...-"

Michael acted on impulse and quickly placed a finger on her lips. He was surprised himself that he did that. The first thought was to immediately remove it again but he didn't since it was already too late for that. "I will catch you. Just say it when you think you can't go on. Trust me... "

Inside, she felt warmed, heart and soul. She steeled herself for the challenge ahead and realized that no matter what happened between them, there would always be a bond between them because he had seen her as she was, with well developed defenses created long ago, suddenly gone. Karyn nodded to reaffirm she was ready to jump in, literally feet first.

"Alright, that's the spirit." Michael said as Karyn bobbed her head. "Of course, if we want to make it to the other end we have to work together. What if I lead and you follow? That way you can concentrate on your walking."

"Alright, sounds fair. Once I've taken the first steps, it's not so bad, it's just a matter of getting my feet to do what my mind is screaming. They have a hard time taking orders. Sometimes I feel like I have two brains; one to control the upper half of my body and another to control the lower half."

"In some strange way this all does remind me of my days at the Academy." It was a somewhat irrelevant remark to keep the silence away but Michael hoped that it would start a conversation. He did his first step backward while at the same time keeping an eye on Karyn to see if she could follow.

Karyn took a step forward, first tentatively and then leaning her full weight into it. She had to force herself to look up instead of at her feet. She was operating on full adrenaline in part because of Michael's presence. She figured she wouldn't be so full of energy toward the end.

"How does this remind you of the Academy? This was part of my physical training, though at the time they thought they could accommodate my desire to be in Starfleet by sticking me behind a desk at some Starbase, so I never really passed inspection. Then came the Dominion War and suddenly in the personnel shortage I didn't look so bad."

Karyn's comment took Michael by surprise. He never expected that Starfleet Academy would discriminate anyone. It made him feel guilty although he never did anything like it himself. It must have been a hard time for her. Michael felt the urge to comfort her;...if he only knew how. He thought a few seconds on how he should answer while carefully doing another two steps backward.

"It's not really something you want to talk about, is it? ...The Academy I mean."

Karyn shrugged as if to say it didn't bother her, but she knew better and so did he. It was such a comfort to know he understood her with such ease, but scary too because it meant she couldn't be the person he needed her to be...the one that was in control of everything and the one that was good enough to be his friend. "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times," she quoted, making light as if by reflex. "SFA wasn't the best place to be 'different.'" She was being glib and she felt guilty for it because he could see through it. He must be tired of her evasive maneuvers, she certainly would be.

She admitted, "It was a painful four years, there was lots of pressure and not enough encouragement. My father and I weren't on good terms...we never have been really."

"I'm...sorry. I didn't know that." Michael said. The relation he had with his father was very good. He couldn't imagine what it would be like if it was different.

Karyn took another few steps, starting to feel the burn creep into her muscles. Forcing herself to ignore the increasing dread, she focused on the conversation. "So, how goes the recovery effort?" Her close relationship with him prior to the accident compromised her objectivity as his counselor, so Shinta and Adrian were handling things. She'd read the reports, but she wanted to hear it from him. Somehow, she never could bring herself to go to him.

Michael half expected this change in subject. The Counselor in Karyn was ever present. That and she must have read the reports from the sessions he had. But if she already knew everything there was to know why ask him? And if he was really honest then he'd rather not talked about his ongoing recovery. However, it was Karyn, and not somebody else, that asked how things were going and that made all the difference.

"Physically it going okay I think. The Physical Therapy I've had the last few months really helped." Michael said. He continued whispering, "I do find it boring though...but don't ever tell that to Michelle."

"Paybacks are hell," agreed Karyn.

Michael grinned but immediately composed himself when he noticed Michelle did cast a quizzical eye. "Anyway, I can't complain when it comes to my condition. It's almost back to what it was. But on the other hand, my long term memory... well, it doesn't seem that will improve anytime soon."

There was a moment of silence before Michael continued. "It's hard to explain, but I only know that I miss certain memories of my past at specific moments. For example the first time I noticed the change in pips on Ethan's collar, or that time when Ensign Sota referred to a memorable joke in the past which I normally should remember but now couldn't recall. But the most awkward moments are those where someone has to point out that he or she is not new on the ship and is in fact a good friend of mind,...at least before I had the accident on Grainus VI..."

"I hate it when that happens." Michael said with a whispering voice. "Sometimes,...sometimes I feel like I'm a complete stranger here you know, although it's almost been two years since I first set foot on this ship."

She understood and for the first time she let it all show. The pain, the fear, the relief that he was alive. There was no way to express in words what she was feeling and words she knew would be cold comfort. Before she knew what she was doing, she reached for him, placing a hand on his, suddenly wanting nothing more than to kiss him gently as she had so long ago.

But he was vulnerable right now, and hell, so was she. She withdrew her hand realizing he wanted and needed the counselor in her more than a roll in the hay. He deserved more.

"I understand and I'm sorry," She cursed inwardly. She was retreating to a safe distance. She took another step. "I would take your place if I could.." She bit her lip, reminded that she'd almost taken her life when she thought he was gone, suddenly so ashamed.

The moment Karyn placed her hand on his it looked like the world came to a halt. On the first touch Michael felt what could be described as some kind of electricity, although he knew perfectly well that was an illusion. It was a strange yet wonderful feeling. But that was all over as soon as it dawned on him what Karyn was actually saying.

"Don't say that. You know that wouldn't solve anything. And besides, I wouldn't let you if it was at all possible."

Karyn suddenly couldn't look him in the eye, feeling the slight sting of tears threatening to overtake her. She looked down at her feet and concentrated all her will on trying to reach the end of the bars. She was only vaguely aware that she had passed the half-way mark several steps ago, now more focused on trying to come up with something to say that would express her thanks and feelings of warmth without torturing herself further in the process. "I know it wouldn't solve anything, it was the rash act of a coward too afraid of being alone." She laughed, "I'm flattered to know you would be willing to 'slum' it with those of us who have trouble with reality, it is the one thing I am least proud of in my life, but I'm young and foolish, so stay tuned." She smiled.

It was all getting too depressing. This whole conversation only brought pain and sadness and Michael was tired of having to live with that day by day. And this time it was his own fault. He started talking about it, didn't he? And what the hell was he thinking anyway? Why did he put Karyn up with his personal problems? He could talk about that while he had his regular counseling session with Shinta. "Karyn,...I'm sorry. I never should've brought this up. This is not the place or time to talk about it." Michael said. "What about we forget about it and talk about...well, whatever makes you happy."

Karyn was about to put her hand on his forearm, but then stopped herself from that which she knew would make him uncomfortable. "That's ok, Michael, no need to play brave in front of me. I know you're struggling with this, and I would be more worried if you told me recovery was a bed of roses. But you're right, if we're to endure this torture, we might as well speak of happier things." She paused, trying to think of happier topics as she also tried to ignore her burning muscles. Tiny beads of sweat broke out on her forehead. "Hmm... What makes me happy? I'm afraid I'm a bit boring actually. Besides work, I've been trying to read the same novel for a year. I keep reading the same part over and over. All my other hobbies are really girlie and I would hate to torture you more than you already are."

A boyish grin appeared on Michael's face. "Ah c'mon, you must've something you like to talk about. What about your hobbies? Babies perhaps? Or maybe even men? You can trust me you know."

At this she laughed delightedly out loud, unable to remember the last time she heard the sound. "I've always wanted a best girlfriend," she teased lightly. "I guess it's time I trusted someone, I demand that and more from others. Let's see, my hobbies... I love acting and I love to sing, though I haven't done either in a very long time. I've always wanted to participate in shipboard theater, but can never seem to find the time. My claim to fame at the Academy was playing the lead in Taming of the Shrew, but I think that says more about me than our drama department." She giggled a bit and hoped it would cover the fact that she was out of breath and her legs felt like jelly.

She recovered a bit and looked to see they were almost to the end. They had about ten steps each left, but Karyn had hallucinated before always at about this point in her training, so she continued, still convinced that Michelle lengthened them every chance she got. "I love children and I want to have them someday, but that would require success in the other area you mentioned, men, and I'm even more out of practice with men than I am in voice. They say it's like riding a bike, but... well, does it look like I've ever ridden a bike?" she deadpanned.

Michael kept still although he wanted to say something,...anything to make her see that it was not so bad as she thought it was. He was sure that there were quite some men on this ship who secretly looked at her when she passed them in the corridor or when she was in Ten-Forward. Karyn had a good figure , despite the fact that most of the time she was bound to a grav-chair, and that was a well known fact. It made him think why none of the men, himself excluded, ever pursued a relationship with her. That is, he never heard that that had happened. Granted, there were times where her temper got the best of her. By now her fiery remarks were famous. But Michael didn't doubt that only happened if the situation called for it. Behind the mask there was a gentle woman with a warm hearth. A woman that really cared for people and was deeply concerned about their well-being. Key ingredients for the ideal woman, ...at least for Michael. That she was beautiful was a big plus.

"And in keeping with today's theme, I'll just say that there was one who chose to explore other...bike trails, behind my back. We grew up together, but he left and went to the Academy to explore 'strange new worlds' and I didn't feel like sharing," she stopped then started again, thinking what could it hurt? "There was someone else more recent but we thought we had all the time in the world, and it turns out we were wrong... So, how about you? Break any hearts lately?" She was keenly aware of the irony in her statement, considering his not remembering their brief courtship after the accident. It wasn't his fault, but it had still broken her heart and confused the hell out of her because she didn't know where to go from here.

So there had been others. He just never heard about them, not even through the rumor mill. She must've been very tightlipped. It made Michael feel privileged to hear her talking about it. However, his thoughts went into another direction when something else caught his attention.

*'All the time in the world.' Why does that sound so...familiar?*

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

"The Nearness of You, Part Three"

Commander Karyn Dallas RN
Chief Counselor/Nurse

Lt. Michael McDowell
Assistant Chief Engineer

Michelle Crawford
Physical Therapist, NPC
USS Galaxy

"Michael?" she could see he was light years away with his thoughts, but was pleased to think that her little phrase had jolted his memory a bit. It was the last thing he had said to her that early morning in the empty mess hall. He had just made her waffles with strawberries from scratch and the conversation had turned to more intimate matters. She told him she wasn't ready to jump into a serious relationship right away, and he'd been wonderful, insisting he just wanted to spend time with her...that they had all the time in the world. If only that was still true.

"Er,...I'm sorry. I, uhm, was thinking about something. Something you said." Michael said. He slightly shook his head. "Never mind. It's probably some kind of déjà vu." Michael said while he took another step backwards. They were almost at the end of the p-bar. That was good news. It would be great if Karyn made it all the way.

"To answer your question: no, I didn't 'break any hearts' lately. I'm not a heartbreaker anyway,...not that I know off." Michael briefly paused before he continued, thinking he probably would be stating the obvious. Karyn, of all women, should know it if you considered their encounter at Risa. "To be honest, I'm not that good with women. I never have been, really."

"Why would you say that?"

"Well,...I dunno,...I just get nervous around them. Not when I have to work with women but when off duty." Michael answered. He felt his cheeks redden a bit. It was somewhat embarrassing to reveal all this to a woman.

"I can understand that. On-duty you don't need to be concerned with personal details because you're a team working for common goal and nothing more, but off-duty, you take the risk of being rejected, but you just need to be yourself. We're having a conversation right now, and I happen to think you're pretty charming, though I can only imagine how I must look to you right now. Besides, one conversation is hardly a good way to judge a person."

"No,...no,...it's everything. You see...if I bump into an attractive girl, say in Ten-Forward,...well, I, I don't even know how to start a conversation. I get..., how shall I put it, ...scared? Scared that I could do something wrong."

"We all get scared like that, though you're the first guy I've heard admit it so candidly, and I respect that. I also know what a great guy you are, and if you give yourself some credit, the right girl will see that. You just need some practice. I'm not speaking of all the lines people use to get together. If you want to know the truth, I like it when a guy speaks to me as an equal rather than as a possible date. Just taking an interest in my day is enough. This is going to sound corny, but I believe a firm friendship has to exist before I would feel comfortable going any further. I have an idea that could keep our minds off the rest of this torture. You could pretend to initiate a new conversation with me. All you need is a little practice to gain some confidence. Go on, I'm too tired to bite." she tried to put him at ease and to convince herself she was delirious and couldn't be held responsible for any of the corny stuff she'd heard come out of her mouth as of late.

Weird. That was how you could describe this conversation. As far as Michael could remember they'd never talked so openly about such a subject as relationships. What had triggered all this? He had no idea. And now it would even become weirder. Although Karyn's proposal to do some role-playing carried some merit, he hesitated.

Michael lowered his voice. He almost whispered. "Role-playing a conversation? Here in the Gym? I don't know ...And what about her?" Michael briefly looked toward the door of the Gymnasium where Michelle stood. It was a big hint, and one he knew Karyn would understand. Simply put, they were not alone here and if Michelle would find out what they were about to do...well, to Michael that would be rather embarrassing.

Karyn looked in Michelle's direction. To the woman's credit, she actually seemed engrossed in her work. For that Karyn was grateful. "I doubt we can be humiliated any more than we already are, and besides," she smiled, "at least you know I'm not going to go anywhere."

"Maybe you're right." Michael replied and immediately added, "But I'll stop as soon as she does one step in our direction."

"Agreed, I've put you on the spot enough already. The last thing I want to do is make you more uncomfortable than you already are."

"This is going to sound silly." Michael said. He chuckled, more to hide to hide his nervousness than anything else. While clearing his throat, yet another sign that he was nervous, and taking a deep breath he thought of how to begin. Nothing came to him. How typical. "Geez, I don't even know how to start."

She decided to tease him a bit more to get him to loosen up. "Here I thought all the typical cliches were hardwired into males at birth." She chuckled, but in truth she found his honesty to be a welcome change. Gods know her former fiance, Alan, hated to be without words. He was the kind of person that would rather say the wrong thing than say nothing at all. It was a crapshoot most of the time, but never knowing what was going to come out of his mouth kept her on her toes. She missed their verbal fencing.

"Well, of course I know all the cliché's like 'Haven't I seen you before?' or 'Are you new here?' but I thought that was not done anymore these days. So I'm always searching for original opening line, which is not that easy." Michael said. "But what about this one? 'Hi I'm Michael. I've noticed you coming to Ten-Forward every morning about 8:30. Are you from Alpha or from Delta Shift?'"

She resisted the surge of memories of all the stalking cases she had handled lately and focused on the true meaning behind what he was trying to convey to her. There was no denying the recent experiences had impacted her a great deal, but at some point they had to let go and stop looking for the monster around the bend. Tilting her head and raising an amused brow, she slipped into the casual, yet flirtacious conversation. "So you've been spying on me, huh? Well Michael, should I be flattered or fearful?" The tone of her voice was serious, but the sparkle in her eyes told him she was intrigued by his directness. "I'm Karyn and I work Alpha

. I suppose if you were a psychopath out to get me, you could find that out easy enough already. "You weren't spying on me though, were you Michael?"

Michael smiled when he noticed how smoothly Karyn got into her role. She was more used to this than he. Not really surprising if you took her love for acting into account. He listened to her as she challenged him to come up with a good answer to one of her tricky questions. "Spying on you? Now I wouldn't call it that. But, yes, I watch you every morning as you drink your coffee here,...all alone. I just thought you would appreciate some company."

"I see," answered Karyn, starting to play with her charm necklace out of habit. In truth it was what she always did when she was nervous, but she hoped Michael would see it as more flirtation on her part. "Just how long have you been thinking these thoughts?"

"Honestly?" Michael said and looked Karyn in the eyes. "Maybe this is going to sound a bit strange, but I watch you every morning when you come to Ten-Forward and pick up your first cup of coffee...and I've been doing since the day you came aboard."

Michael paused a moment as he tried to decide if he should tell Karyn what was on his mind or not. This whole role-playing 'game' was confusing in that they both used their own names. And the fact that they were both very serious about it (at least it seemed so from Michael POV) only made it more complex. Maybe this conversation wasn't the real thing but it sure felt like the real thing. "Actually, Karyn,...I've been thinking about you ever since I first saw you."

Something about the way he looked at her and the way he spoke made her break out of the role for just a moment. Even as she told herself it was a ridiculous notion, there was a part of her that wanted to believe he was trying to get through to her. Maybe he hadn't gotten his memory back completely, but maybe he wanted to rekindle something he was told used to exist. Karyn would never have mentioned their previous relationship, but if he sensed there was something more between them and asked Shinta about it, Shinta would not lie to protect Karyn from having to deal with her feelings for Michael. In almost a harsh whisper she replied, "Tell me, what did I ever do to deserve such loyalty from you?" She wanted to caress his cheek more than anything at that moment, but she knew that would confuse him further so she didn't.

The question spoke volumes for Karyn because it had come from her heart. Even before the accident, Michael had never pushed her too far or too fast, he was content to wait for all eternity for her love, even when there were times she had done all she could to push him away. She told herself it was because she was protecting him from the pain of not remembering. He needed her friendship now more than anything, how would he feel if she told him of a love he wasn't prepared to return? She couldn't risk tainting that friendship for him.

While Michael listened to Karyn's voice (so familiar and yet not,...how was that possible?) he did another step backwards on the seemingly endless p-bar. He wondered when they would reach the other end, but only for a brief moment. Michael knew it couldn't be far anymore but now he was more concerned about Karyn as he could see she couldn't hold out for much longer. He had to be ready and react quickly when she signaled she couldn't go on anymore. At the moment that was priority number one. Besides that Karyn had captured him with her brilliant acting performance. It had really drawn him into the conversation they were playing out.

And than the inevitable happened. When Michael did his next step backwards he reached back with his left hand to get hold of the p-bar,...only to find nothing there. It caused him to lose balance and in an attempt to compensate for that, he quickly put down his left foot. But that made his position even more precarious since he didn't find solid ground but thin air. It was then when Michael realized they'd reached the end of the p-bar. Unfortunately it was already too late. All he could do was cry out a distorted "Wooow!"

What followed happened fast. Michael helplessly fell backwards onto the thick mattress that surrounded the p-bar and pulled Karyn with him in the process. She fell right on top of him and Michael was able to catch her. It was only because Karyn had partially broken her fall by reaching out with her hands in mid-fall that any painful consequences were avoided.

When it was all over Michael was looking right into a pair of big bright blue eyes. He kept his breath. The were so close together. Their faces were only about half a centimeter apart. Their lips almost touched.

For a moment Karyn didn't so much as breathe. It was as if time itself had stopped, and she and Michael were the only two people in the world. She was lost in his eyes, seeing for the first time just how much he had suffered, and how much she needed him to be there with her forever. It was one of the only things she was sure of in her life. The steady rise and fall of his chest lulled her into safety, a place where just being was enough to sustain her forever as long as she was with him.

A few moments went by. Michael felt how he held Karyn just above her waist, her warm breath as it washed over his face, and the warmth of her body that passed right through his T-shirt. He didn't dare to move, fearing that it would get them into a awkward position.

"Sorry..." Michael finally managed to say half whispering.

Karyn looked at his entire expression and smiled, wanting to feel his arms around her and knowing if she could feel that right now, she would never push him away again. "Forget about it." Even as she went to press her lips to his, the little voice inside her head quipped, *This is so cliche...*

Unfortunately, she didn't get very far because they were interrupted by the clearing of a throat directly above them. "I see the empire has fallen." She shook her head. "Ah well, it was bound to happen. Let me just free you from your captivity."

The embarrassment in Michael's face was unmistakable, and for a second she tried to hold him in the moment, but it was too late, for him to make his move now in front of Michelle would be too embarrassing, and if she moved first it would only more uncomfortable. Karyn spoke first. "I would appreciate that."

Was that relief or disappointment in his eyes? She couldn't really tell, but she didn't have to wonder long because she was roughly pulled up and back into a standing position before being helped gently into her hoverchair. By the time she was secure, Michael was up off the floor, wiping the sweat off his face and preparing to leave, no doubt wanting to break away from Michelle's ribbing. "Same time next week?" asked Michelle.

Uh, yes,...I think that's okay. But I have to check my work schedule next week. Word goes that the Duty Shifts in Engineering will undergo some changes." Michael said and threw in a fake smile. He slung his towel over his left shoulder and was already moving to the exit of the Gym while he sought for a suitable way out. "I'll send a message when I know more."

As he turned to go, Karyn called out. "Michael?"

Michael stopped and turned halfway towards Karyn. After what happened minutes ago it was kind of hard to look at her, but at the same time he wanted nothing more. How he longed to hold her in his arms and show her his real feelings. If it only had worked out differently since Risa.

There were so many things she wanted to say, but unfortunately coherent thought seemed to be near impossible for her today. After pausing a moment, she said, "Thanks for the workout. Are you free for dinner tonight? It's the least I can do after this ridiculous exercise."

Slowly a smile appeared on Michael's face. And this time he was not faking. He had not expected this at all. "I don't recall having any plans tonight. Yeah,...dinner would be nice. Is 1900 hours alright with you?" he said. When he saw that Karyn approved of the time he stepped backwards through the door, all the while carrying that typical boyish smile. "Great! See you tonight then."

As she watched him go for the last time, she turned to Michelle who stated with more than a touch of humor, "I'd say that went well."

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

[NRPG : This post happened way back before this mission started.. Before the Galaxy even reached the starbase that repaired it after the Borg.]

"Hysterical"
by Lt Cmdr Dallas and Lt Kira Murphy
------------------------------------------------------------

The ship was finally out of the woods and heading back to a starbase for repairs.

Since Engineering was so busy, Brightspot was leading a team around the ship to make a visual examination of what needed to be looked at.

Coming from up ahead, her nose picked up an unusual smell. Moving ahead, she spotted a small bundle on the ground and moved over to it.

Looking down, she saw it was a dead bird. It didn't take long for her to remember where she had seen this unusual one - Lt Murphy's quarters.

Picking up the body, Brightspot spoke,

"Computer, locate Lt Kira Murphy."

["Lt Murphy is currently in the Sickbay."]

After a short amount of time, the team was outside Sickbay.

Walking into Sickbay, Brightspot headed over to a nurse, she asked where Lt Murphy was, and the nurse directed her to one end.

Turning to the ensign who was following her, Brightspot took Kira's dead pidgeon and carefully carried him in front of her.

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

Screaming out in horror when she saw Brightspot carrying her pet in her paws, Kira raced forwards, a terrified look on her face.

If Fooey was alive, Kira knew in her heart that there was no way in hell that he wouldn't be fighting now, but instead, wasn't moving.

During her time on the USS Greyhawk, Kira had bought Fooey for comfort after a bad relationship, and had grown very close to the little bird. Truth be told, deep down, Kira's only real friend was Fooey. Although she had quite a number of friends aboard the Galaxy, none of them were really close as Fooey or her old crewmates from the Greyhawk. Now, Fooey was gone and she was alone once again.

Even though she knew that Fooey never understood a single word she ever said, he had become a big emotional crutch for Kira and she reguarly talked to him about how she felt. When she woke up screaming in terror from a bad nightmare, Fooey always flew down and went to sleep perching on her while she cried, snuggling into her teddy bear.

The other security officers stood back as Kira leant against Brightspot, sobbing hysterically as she rubbed Fooey's body, as if trying to bring back a spark of life.

After a few minutes, Kira pushed herself away from Brightspot and headed off down the corridor.

As she ran, she kept thinking about how everyone would now want to take her bird away.

She had seen a lot of crap in her life, and experienced a lot of bad things. After being kidnapped by the Orions, forced to do sick things, physically abused, sold to the Ferengi, crushed under gravity by a sadistic Commondant on Rigel and then once again by an equally sadistic omnipotent baby, reprimanded countless times for just being herself, losing her best and only friend was too much. Her emotional pressure outlet was totally gone and she didn't know if she could cope.

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

Kira's combadge came off in the process when it got caught in part of Brightspot's fur and fell to the deck.

Brightspot quickly tapped her combadge as she lead her team after Kira,

"Lt to-Srallansre to Counselling, come in."

["Commander Dallas here.. What is wrong?"] It wasn't often she was contacted by security directly, and on the rare times she was, there was never good news on the other end.

"I think we have a case for you. I just informed Lt Murphy from Medical that her pidgeon was murdered by the Borg during the failed invasion. She broke down hysterically and now, I think she has flipped out totally. She just ran off and I am currently tracking her."

["Understood. I'm on my way. Should you find her before I get there, do your best not to appear an active threat to her. I'm not sure what's going on, but if this is at all connected to our last encounter with the Borg, stunning her or restraining her unnecessarily could cause more harm than good. I want to avoid it if all possible. Keep me informed, I'm heading your way. Dallas out."]

Karyn's mind raced through all the possibilities she could encounter as she moved out the door of her office, making sure to grab her medkit in case Kira needed medical attention. Emma knew better to interrupt Karyn's train of thought in the middle of an emergency, but she didn't need to. She would inform Shinta of Karyn's whereabouts if need be, but right now all they could do was wait.

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

Brightspot just came around the corner in time to see a turbolift door close and she quickly came to a stop.

Lt Marcus called out from behind as he caught up,

"She lost her combadge, Lt. How are we going to track her now?"

"Aye, but you forgot something more important. One - she is the only Elaysian aboard and two - she is the only one wearing an anti-grav suit."

Tapping her badge again, she spoke into it, "Computer, activate a continuous tracking lock on Lt Kira Murphy, security authorization Brightspot-Alpha-Nine-Tango. Use Elaysian bio-print and combine with a search for anti- gravity suits. Every thirty seconds, give me an audio location."

[Working.. Lock established. Lt Murphy is currently travelling by turbolift, destination Deck 6.]

"Computer, also alert me when she enters or leaves turbolifts. Link with Sickbay and auto-transport into a containment field if it looks like she will hurt herself."

Smiling, Brightspot flicked the turbolift signal button with her tail before turning to the team around her,

"I don't want to beam her unless we have to. Marcus, inform the Security Office of what has happened while we track her down."

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

Seven minutes later of travelling all around the ship by turbolift and foot..

Kira raced into a lounge area and headed into one of the corners. Crouching down, she snapped to the computer to plunge the room into darkness.

Snuggling up against a chair, Kira sobbed and rubbed Fooey, rocking herself without thinking. Softly, she whispered out loud, over and over again, "Wake up, Fooey. Come back to me."

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

Reaching the door to the lounge that the computer informed her Kira was hiding in, she motioned her team to stay back by a couple of minutes. Closing her eyes tight for a few seconds until her eyes adjusted to the dark, Brightspot peeked around the door and spotted Kira in the corner.

She was still sobbing and now, was trying to talk her bird into coming back to life.

Sighing softly, Brightspot moved back to the security officers and tapped her combadge,

"Lt to-Srallansre to Commander Dallas."

["Commander Dallas here. Have you tracked down Kira yet?"]

"Yes, and she looks to be in a bad condition but doesn't look in a violent mood. She is crouching in the corner of a lounge on Deck 8, trying to convince her bird to come back to life and still sobbing. She can't leave without coming past us though. Nothing in the Security Training manual deals with this sort of thing, and I'm lost for ideas now."

["It's ok, Lieutenant. My manual picks up where yours leaves off. I'll be there in five. Just keep an eye on her for me. Dallas out."]

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

True to her word, Karyn was outside the lounge on Deck 8 within five minutes. As she approched, she saw the two Lieutenants outside the lounge as she had requested but with their hands still grazing their phasers in case they needed to act quickly to protect the ship and crew.

She resisted her initial impulse to bark at them to get their trigger fingers under control, but then she reminded herself they were just reacting to the situation as they were trained to. She could recognize a woman in pain from Brightspot's description, but the security officers had to prepare for all potential outcomes and view the situation as a potential threat.

"She's been like that since we located her, ma'am," said Brightspot, gesturing at the crouched and sobbing Kira.

Karyn peeked into the darkened lounge and tried to assess the situation from where she was, but she couldn't determine much from where she was. Obviously, Fooey's death represented something far more than just a sad end to a beloved pet. She had run from them, almost like she feared them...like she was abandoned. From what she could ascertain, Fooey represented a constant in Kira's life that had been stripped away from her by the Borg. Was this a reaction to the Borg invasion that up until that point she had been able to suppress? There was only one way to find out. "Be back in a minute, guys."

"Commander, with all due respect, we have no idea what we're dealing with here. One of us should go with you to make sure you're protected in case she decides to run again or hurt you because you're in her way."

"We can't let you in there unprotected." insisted Lt. Marcus.

"I appreciate your concern, but I really don't think one or both of you going in with phasers right off the bat is a good idea either. We have no reason to believe she will be violent, this is a woman grieving as far as we're all concerned at this point."

Lt. Marcus looked about to protest, but Karyn was in the darkened lounge before he could get a syllable out. Brightspot held Marcus back as he was about to go after the senior officer. It would only aggravate the situation, not to mention the commander, and Brightspot knew all too well how much Karyn hated it when security got under foot. "It's her superior ass she's risking, we warned her." whispered Lt. Marcus.

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

Entering the darkened lounge, it took time for Karyn's eyes to adjust, so for a moment, she simply followed the sound of the sobbing. She was careful not to get too close as she didn't want to make Kira uncomfortable or to frighten her unnecessarily.

The scene before her was eerie, as she could barely make out a crouched form clutching the bird for dear life. She was hoping to spark life into the bird so fiercely that it was as if her own life were in danger.

Lowering her grav-chair so that she and Kira were at the same level, Karyn spoke softly to Kira, hoping to get her to open up a bit. "Kira, it's Counselor Dallas. No one's going to hurt you, I promise, but I want to help you if you're upset. I need you to talk to me for a bit. Can you do that?"

"Just as long as nobody tries to take Fooey away."

"All right, but if we're going to talk, I need you to put Fooey down and look at me so we can talk. I promise, no one will take Fooey. Deal?" Karyn needed to connect with Kira and she couldn't do that if her attention was focused elsewhere.

Looking up at Karyn with red-ringed eyes, Kira nodded her head and gently put her dead pet down on the carpet next to her.

"Can you tell me why you ran from Brightspot? What are you afraid of?"

"I don't know what to do. I'm feeling like the universe is just compressing around me, squeezing me tight from all sides. My mind is just racing and I am so confused. And then when I looked at Brightspot, I thought he was going to feed him to the Frills. That's what happened to all of my pets, and it won't this time."

Bringing her legs up tight to her chest, she wrapped her arms tight and sobbed into them.

"The Frills? What do you mean?" She needed to keep Kira talking clearly about her pet. She seemed so scared to be without him, as if his death left her unprotected, at the mercy of something or someone too painful to deal with. She wondered if this was some sort of reference to her past.

"They're big fat flying carnivore eels. Back on Gemworld, we don't have any ground for burial, so the Frills do the disposal work."

"I promise nothing like that will happen here. Lots of people have arranged proper burial services for their pets, it helps in the healing process a great deal, especially for the children. You must know that from your experience as a pediatrician. It must be hard to explain sickness and death to a child. How do you help them understand that death and birth are a part of life?"

Thinking for a second, Kira replied, "Yeah, that is true. I haven't really had to explain death and birth to them, but sickness is something I had to. Very difficult."

"Almost as difficult as accepting death, I'd imagine," Karyn surmised. "Kids, and even some adults, want to blame themselves for bad things that happen because they feel guilty about doing something or even not doing they thought they should have. Is that how you feel, Kira, like you are responsible somehow for Fooey's death because of something you didn't do?"

Nodding, she wiped her eyes before responding, "If I had been there when the doors opened, I would have been able to bring Fooey back to my quarters or to Sickbay for safety before the Borg found him."

Trying to be strong, Kira asked, "I'm really lost and depressed without Fooey. Do you think there is anything that can be done to stop this feeling? I will do anything."

"I think there is plenty we can do. Just by talking now, you've helped yourself begin to feel better. I do think we need to keep talking though, about a lot of things, not just about Fooey. Once we dig a little deeper, I'll know better how we should move forward. It may mean going on some anti-depressants, but before we do that, I'll want you to get a full physical exam. For now, I'll get you something to help you sleep if you want it and I can stay with you tonight if you don't want to be alone." She reached out and squeezed Kira's hand. "You're going to be all right, Kira, I'll help you through this."

"Thanks for the offer about staying, but I doubt that it would be very comfortable for you. A few times, I've crashed in Sickbay and turned the gravity off in the Paeds Ward. Holgrams don't mind it and I will lock Grinchy in with me, after I disable his voice."

"An ideal shift"
Ensign Alia Drakely
Security Officer

Great. Well, that's how not to start a day. Not only had she somehow managed to become separated from the others, but she was also trying to hunt down the two, quite frankly, strange "guests", who she had only seen once before when someone had briefly pointed them out to her. However, she remembered them clearly enough. At least there was no chance of her missing them, she thought to herself with a small chuckle as she went on her way.

Alia strode briskly down the corridor. Well, at least she was on her way to rendezvous with the others again.

"Well, that may have been a laugh a minute for you, O Great One," she said as she cast her eyes upwards for a moment, addressing the deity that she believed in; it had always been her belief that God held a kind of understanding with her, he'd let her have her mistakes and mocking, cynical humour, coarse language and bad habits, and he'd turn a blind eye, after all, she was only human, "But you ever pull something like that on me again, and I will have to start thinking of an alternative to focus my, admittedly meagre, worship on." she said with that hint in her voice that was sometimes the only indicator that she was joking. The thought briefly flashed across her mind that anyone passing would probably think she was crazy, walking down the corridor, talking to herself. She just shrugged her shoulders and allowed herself a small smile.

As she rounded a corner, her eyes widened a little, although she swiftly got her reactions under control. She couldn't believe her luck! Walking towards her were the Lord and Lady that she sought. She raised her voice to travel the distance between them,

"Excuse me, my Lord? The Captain has requested that I see you back to your quarters."

Lord Vlad looked up and stared at her. He started moving his gaze analytically up and down her, and then brought his gaze back up to lock with her eyes. For a moment, Alia was completely lost in his gaze, but then, she managed to come back to herself. With a violent shake of the head, she commanded, her crisp English accent making her sound even more indignant than she had intended to be,

"Stop that!"

The Lady pulled at his arm,

"Forget it, we don't have time, it's not worth it."

They started to move down the corridor towards her again. Alia pulled out her phaser,

"You will accompany me. Now."

They merely continued to walk, moving past her.

"This is your final warning, you will come with me."

They ignored her, walking on. She tapped her communicator,

"Ensign Drakely to Security. Request backup, deck 11."

She then fired her phaser on Lord Vlad. She watched with a mixed feeling of shock and awe as the beam hit him, but did absolutely nothing. Not one thing. He didn't even flinch. She looked down at the phaser in her hand,

"What the..." she said confusedly.

It came out of nowhere. Not even hearing his approach, Lord Vlad sent a heavy backhand across her face. She staggered a little backwards, trying to lean against the bulkhead, but instead slumped to the floor. She just had time to see the Lord and Lady go on their way before her world went black.