"Cause and Effect"
by James Mitchell
Asst. CScO

James still felt groggy as he moved through the halls of the Galaxy to Sickbay. He returned courtesies to passing crewmembers, who felt to him as if he were in some deep distant dream. It seemed as if something were missing; his mind was elsewhere in the haze of thought, lost in a sea of cloudy memory. Something nagged at him. A sense of deja vu set upon him, as if something bad were about to happen.

He rubbed his temples as he entered an empty turbolift, as his head pounded as if from an intense encounter with a decanter of Romulan Ale, and he thought about Tyrola Lomax.

He remembered dreaming about her, kissing her full lips, tasting her sweet juices on his tongue as he shared a moment of passion with her, then.... nothing. This bothered him. Not since his intense therapy sessions on Earth had he had memories get shored up, and from his own teachings at Starfleet in medical electives, those were only as a result of intense trauma. Last thing he knew, kissing a beautiful woman was not traumatic. Exhilarating, yes, but nothing to make you forget about it.

And Tyrola Lomax was an unforgettable woman. But then again, it was a dream, and dreams are fleeting, everchanging.

He exited the turbolift, to the busy corridors of the Medical deck. He passed offices, labs, and care units. Things seemed unusually busier since the last time he was down here. There were more people on duty, beds seemed more filled. It was odd, but then again, people sometimes got spacesick, and there were a high number of new officers and crew aboard for this mission.

He came to the main doors of Sickbay, and a wave of nausea assaulted him. He gripped the bulkheads of the door in front of him as a wave of light-headedness hit him, almost causing him to faint. It was a strange sensation.

The doors, after an eternity, seemed to sense his presence and opened for him, hissing with am eerie delight. Seemed fitting considering everything else that was happening on this mission.

He stumbled in, his eyes foggy, and gripping his stomach. Things took a while to come into focus, and he squinted his eyes, making his headache send a jolt of fiery pain through his skull. He cringed, doubled up, and rubbed his temple hard, concentrating on the splotchy figures coming towards him.

"Here, let me help you to a bed..." He felt hands grip his arms tightly as he was led to a biobed, where he lay without a fight.

"...not like the others... filter out Bajoran biofunctions..... innoculate......" Voices, faint in the distance, then one he recognized.

"He's the one! He's the one that did this to me! You bastard!" He felt someone slap him, claw at him, then pulled away as his vision began to clear. It was Tyrola.

"Ty...?" He gasped out through dry lips. Her face was bloated on one side, her left eye a dour shade of black, and her lipsplit open. Dried blood has seeped to her chin.

"Oh, by the Prophets! What happened!" He struggled to rise, but two security guards held him down, pinning him to the bed with restraints. James twisted his head at them, tried to fight, but seeing the cold, hard look of one of the security officers, for some reason made him settle into his predicament.

"I want to press charges against this man." Tyrola tore out of the grip of the doctor that held her - Jamieson was her name - and got in his face.

"Take a good look, Mr. Mitchell, as this is the last face your going to see in a Starfleet uniform." She growled at him ferociously, her lip snarled in fury.

James had no clue what was happening to him. His confusion was apparent when Lomax cocked her head to the side and looked at him with bewilderment. The ranking security officer that had been holding was in communication with someone else, no doubt his Station commander. Probably determining the next plan of action in the due process of charging an individual.

"Are you playing coy, James? Drop the innocent act. It isn't going to work!" She raised a cocked fist to strike him, but was held back in check by the other Security officer.

"I don't understand, Tyrola! How could I do this to you? I was alone in my quarters. Commander Peterson can vouch for that... I was asleep up until 30 minutes ago!" Terror filled his eyes as this woman he cared so much about was showing so much vile hatred for him. He couldn't understand what was happening.

"You are such a liar! YOU did this to me. YOU beat me up, and tried to rape me, and you are going to pay!" Her face was flushed with ire, sharpening her redness where she'd been hit before.

"Ty, I don't remember... honest! It couldn't have been me!" James' eyes had gone wide with fright. He couldn't remember any of it! "I only remember dreaming about you........" He went flush. Could he have done it? Could it have been reality? Now he was even more frightened than ever before. Maybe he should be in lockup. He didn't want to be a danger to the crew...

Just as the ranking Security officer was about to open his mouth with the intention of following a set procedure, the sickbay doors opened again, and an ashen-faced officer staggered in, and crashed to the ground. Sickbay was already filled to capacity, and since James was taking up a space, they let up the restraints to free a space for the priority female.

The guard took up a position behind James, as Tyrola backed away, eying him warily.

"As per the evidence we have on hand, it would appear we have a Domestic Assault charge on our hands. Do you wish to press charges, Petty Officer Lomax?" Amidst the chaos that ensued in Sickbay, with the doorway hissing open every few seconds, some businesses were still at hand that had nothing to do with curing sicknesses.

James looked from the security officer's stoic image to Tyrola's tear-streaked, puffy face. He wanted to reach out to her, touch her, but if he did that, he had the distinct feeling he'd never be able to again. He shuddered at the lack of memory he had, and shook with the fear that just possibly, he may have done this horrible, unspeakable act to this beautiful woman.

Tyrola hadn't responded. The wait was agonizing. James had no clue what was happening, and even though he never truly believed in the Prophets, for once in his life, he left his fate in another's hands, even as the officer placed shackles on his wrists.

"Ms. Lomax?" The Security Officer handed her a Padd. He nodded to her, as she tore her heated gaze away from James and took the Padd.

Tyrola, for the first time since his vison cleared, had taken her stare off James and to the arrest orders before, awaiting her signature. James bowed his head and stared at the floor.

"Cause and Effect"
by James Mitchell
Asst. CScO

“Truth”
By Lt. (jg) Heather Grant-Wellington

Sickbay had became a placed for the drained. Indiana Brisbane was now a patient, asleep in the paleness of his victimised body. He had collapsed in grief earlier, at the prospect Heather may never wake again. A near by doctor had insisted that he lie down on the bio bed beside her, and examined the new patient, discovering similar symptoms to the other patients. San Diego felt helpless and departed the crowded room in search of Marina. He and Indiana had continued their argument over Heather’s body before Indiana’s collapse, which aggertating him even further. As far as the agreement went, Heather was not to know of Indiana and that Indiana had no proof that San Diego was also sleeping with Marina.

Deep in sleep, her breath shallowed and her heart slowed, she travelled on another plane of existance as if she had existed there all along, until she saw the figure of her dead husband.

“Am I dead?” she whispered.

The figure approached her and placed a loving hand on the side of her cheek. “No, you’re holding by a thread. It seems that the Fates are undecisive.” She smiled in a way that her whole face lit up by the waves it created.

“Then I must enjoy this while it lasts.” She remarked.

“Your day is not today, my love. But soon it will be. You still have so much to live for and accomplish, before that string is severed.” “May I ask why I am here?”

“You are between life and death. I am here to guide you back to life.” Her face sadden. The passed four years of grief had being difficult and she felt no hope in finding love the same way. She allowed the sensations surrounding her to engulf her soul, and her emotions became exposed.

“Before you guide me back to life my love, will you hold me again?” He smiled and took her into her arms. The strange thing was, to each other, they felt solid even though they knew they were spirits. Together, they relished in the moment that sadly would not last forever. He brushed one of his hands gently down the strands of her hair like he used to, bringing tears to both their eyes.

“You must return to the living, for there awaits someone who will be by your side until we meet again.” He whispered softly. She pulled back, confused by his gesture. “Who will be by my side?” “Awake and the answer will present itself.” He kissed her on her forehead and began to move away, there hands holding together for the width of their arms, then they slipped apart.

She was once again consumed by a white fog, then darkness. It was sometime before she heard the sounds of sickbay surround her and the lights of the ceiling piercing through her eyelids. Taking in a breath, she felt the weakness her body was experiencing due to a breathtaking encounter.

“Indiana.” She whispered, her throat extremely dry.

San Diego had returned and was standing beside her, when he heard her whisper. “Heather. Heather can you hear me?” he called.

“Jose?” she opened her eyes and looked straight up into his. She immediately remembered what Michael had told her and she searched within to see if San Diego matched the description. Her gut instinct was unsure.

“What happened?”

“You’re going to be ok. I found you unconcious on your desk.” Heather was confused and very sleepy. “How did I end up there?” “I don’t know. Perhaps you should rest some more. You are still very weak.” Heather agreed and allowed sleep to engulf her.

San Diego watched her fall back asleep, then went and asked the nearest nurse about moving Indiana to another section of sickbay. The nurse denied his request. San Diego threatened to report her, and the nurse dared him. Displeased by the nurse’s attitude, he then went in search of a doctor, determined to continue until Indiana and Heather were in separate rooms.

Heather woke up again about an hour later, this time stronger. She could hear the voices of two men arguing over her body and she opened her eyes to see San Diego and Indiana.

“Doctor.” She muttered, believing she was hallucinating again.

“You see what you’ve done. She will never believe you are here. Now go.” “She needs to know the truth San Diego. You can’t keep hiding my presence from her. She will learn the truth. All of it.” “This isn’t real. I must be in hell.”

“Cat.” Called Indiana in a caring voice.

”Don’t touch her. I’ll call security.” Threatened San Diego.

“Indy. But how?”

“I’ve being here all along.”

“What? I still don’t believe any of this.” “You must believe me.”

“Jose? Is this real?”

“You idiot.” San Diego told Indiana.

Heather sat up, growing angry at the carrying on. “I can’t believe you knew. Did you really think I would not find out.” She growled at San Diego. “The both of you ……Just go, the both of you.” “I’m a fellow patient.”

“I won’t leave you while this….lier is here.” Argued San Diego. Having enough and feeling strong enough to make an exit, she pushed Indiana aside and tried to leave sickbay for her quarters. She managed to get half way to the door, before collapsing from her body’s weakness. Both men raced to her aid.

“Why Indy? Why did stay away?” she moaned, heartbroken.

“I didn’t. I was…..”

San Diego pushed him away so that he could aid Heather solely. She may have been still weak, but she pushed him away and tried to sit up.

“Right you two. I want answers, no accusations.”

The two men cursedly looked at the other, disapproving the entire situation. “Marina is pregnant with San Diego’s baby. Together, they stopped me from seeing you, and you have being sleeping with a cheater.” Began Indiana.

“You lier. You just kept making excuses not to visit. And Marina is not pregnant.” “Want a bet?” hissed Indiana.

“Enough.” She heaved. “The both of you are as bad as the other. Just leave me alone. Please.” Her head hung heavily, as she sat on the verge of crying. Indiana got the hint and returned to his bed, upset that Heather did not believe him. San Diego felt a sense of honour at winning the round, until Heather shrugged him off.

“Get your hands off me.” She growled, before signalling for medical assistance.

A couple of nurses came to her aid and assisted her back to her bed, where she laid on her side facing away from Indiana. She felt emotionally hurt at learning Indiana was not a hallucination, but had been on board in the flesh and blood. What upset her even more was San Diego’s reactions. Something awful was going on and she did not feel ready to find out what.

‘For there awaits someone who will be by your side until we meet again.’ She whispered to herself. “But who is that someone? Why has Indiana waited until now to show himself and make those accusations against Jose? I don’t want to be hurt anymore. I want the truth.” She pleaded in the whispers of tears.

“Cold Betrayal”
By Lt. (jg) Heather Grant-Wellington

Alpha Shift was due to commence in one hour, leaving her seven hours to recover and change for her own shift. Heather held a PADD in her hand, which she had asked for to record a personal log. There were so many questions she had no answers for.

“Computer. Start recording personal log for Lieutenant Junior Grade Grant-Wellington.” The computer beeped to signalled that it was ready.

“Personl Log

Stardate…Not sure

Well, what can I say? I’m lying on a bio bed with no memory of what had happened for me to be here in the first place. According to the doctor, I had a low blood volume which seriously endangered my life. Fortunately, Ensign San Diego found me in time and brought me here. What is presently disturbing me, is the knowledge my closest friend Ensign Brisbane has being on board as a crew member since leaving the starbase, and I have only just found out. I feel like someone has just pushed me back down the hole I was finally climbing out of. I don’t know whether to believe Ensign Brisbane’s accusations against Ensign San Diego, regarding San Diego’s attempts to keep me unawares, or to believe the other that Brisbane denied invitations to visit. If my health was in a better state, I would demand permission to return to my post, well a way from these men. But, I can’t shake this feeling that perhaps San Diego is scheming.”

She paused, unsure of what else she could say. While she starred aimlessly at the wall, the doctor returned to read over her signs.

“How do you feel?” he asked.

“Tired, but I feel ready to leave sickbay.” The doctor smiled warmly. “Well, you’re stable enough, but you are still fairly weak. I’m releasing you on the condition that you return to your quarters and rest for the next couple of hours. Since the ship is stationary with no immediate plans to leave the area, I see no reason to have you relieved of your next shift.” Heather smiled for the first time since waking up. “Thank-you doctor. I greatly appreciate all you have done.” “Just doing my job. I’ll have one of the nurses assist you to your quarters.” Heather agreed and sat up. As she waited, she closed her log and searched the room. Indiana was sitting up on his bio bed and had his back to her. She could not blame him, after all she had shrugged him off.

Psychologically, she was confused as to who to believe. Lover versus long term friend. She never thought she would come to such a cross road, and now that she had, she had no idea of which direction to go.

***

Deck 12 to 3 seemed to take forever. The nurse kept an arm around her, just in case she fell down. Heather’s legs felt shaky, making the journey that touch harder to walk upon. As they approached her quarters, Indiana managed to catch up. He had being trying to race after her since they were released from sickbay, his own body being not that much stronger than her’s.

“Cat. Stop. Please. There’s trouble.” He continuiously called out.

Heather chose to ignore his pleas, wishing he would leave her alone long enough to work out what was going on. He came into step, exhausted from his race.

“Why are you ignoring me?”

Heather took a while to answer. When she did, she stopped and looked at him.

“I don’t know who to believe, Indy. I have being involved with this man for the past three months and here you are telling me, that I have being blinded from the truth. I just want time to sit down and work out what to believe, without either of you trying to influence my judgement.” She then resumed her walk, some five metres from her door. Indiana shook his head in disappointment and remained standing in his current position.

Heather stood at her door and waited for it to open. When they did, the sounds of a couple deep in passionate love making bellowed out into the corridor. Heather freezed for a second, then swallowed hard. She wanted to continue on, pretending what she was hearing was a figment of her imagination, fuelled by Indiana’s accusations. Indiana looked up in their direction and began to slowly approach her, knowing clearly what he was hearing. As she walked into the dimly lit room, she discovered San Diego naked, his back arched and his eyes closed in absorption of his lower half’s position. Marina was flat on her back, her hands on his chest and moaning with pleasure. The two were so wrapped up in the ecstasy they had being generating, they failed to notice their new audience. Heather glanced over her shoulder towards the doorway, sorrow painted across her features. The nurse gasped in shock and disgust. She looked at Heather to suggest a quick exit. Indiana peered into the room, not daring to tread in just in case Heather reacted to the scene. He saw Heather’s pale features looking at him, as if begging for him to rescue her. She had no longer appeared distraught by discovering proof of lover’s betrayal, that she fainted. The nurse leant over her and was about to summon sickbay, when Indiana moved in.

“Help me nurse. I’m taking her to my quarters.” He insisted.

The nurse assisted him, as they placed Heather’s arms around their shoulders and they began to drag her out of the room. Indiana had wanted to carry her, but he was still fairly weak himself.

On the opposite side of Deck 3, Indiana and the nurse laid Heather down on the sofa, adjusting a cushion under her head so that she appeared comfortable. Indiana then fell back onto the floor, feeling light headed. The nurse turned to him, preparing to help him back sickbay.

“I’ll be fine. I was just overdoing it. Thanks nurse. We’ll be fine.” “If either of you start to experience complications, call us immediately.

Ok?”

“Yes nurse.”

The nurse smiled and helped Indiana to a chair, before departing. Grateful, Indiana smiled back and watched her leave. Resting back into his chair, he waited patiently for Heather to regain consciousness. Something she did ten minutes later.

“Where am I?”

“My quarters. I had the nurse assist me to bring you here.” Responded Indiana.

Heather turned from looking out the windows to the voice coming from behind you. “So, I’m not dreaming?”

“Sadly no. I was trying to tell you so you would not have to see for yourself.” She sighed at her own ignorance. Indiana sat up and went to kneel by her side.

“May be because I did not want to believe you.” She confessed.

He took one of her hands resting on her abdomen in his. “How were you to know?”

She did not respond, as the answer was sadly obvious. Tears welled in her eyes, when she realised she had came close to jeopardising the one relationship she could depend on. “Hey, I’m sorry for doubting you.” She smiled.

“Friends?”

She gazed at him with a loving look. “I hope always.” The two of them continued gazing deeply into the others eyes, reassuring the other all was going to be alright between them. Then, Indiana had the urge to bow down and place his lips upon the fullness of hers. Their lips almost touched each other in much awaited antiscipation, when Indiana’ s computer beeped.

Sitting back, he frowned at the sound. Heather had closed her eyes and sighed with disappointment. Quickly becoming annoyed by the sound, he got up to answer it.

“I’ve being invited to a part to be held in honour of Rose MacAllen.” He read.

Heather opened her eyes and lifted her head.

“Sounds like Autumn has being organising another excuse for a party.” Indiana looked at her in curiosity. “Party?” She smiled. She had almost forgotten that he was still fairly new to the Galaxy.

“Welcome to the USS Galaxy. A ship often found in the frontline protecting the Federation and during its off days, a portion of her crew can be found rocking the holodeck. Does the invite say anything about what type of gig it is?” “Just to wear 17th century costumes and masks.” Heather nodded and rested her head. “For a second there, I thought you would say halloween costumes, as Halloween is just around the corner.” “Does each party have a theme?”

“Not really. Usually, it’s just a gathering to groove away the duty blues.” Indiana nodded his head as it became apparent what he was about to get himself into.

“When is it?” asked Heather.

“Umm, tomorrow alpha.”

“That’s alright then. I have plenty of time to rest, work a shift, rest some more then go costume hunting.” “Well, you’re welcome to crash here.”

Heather rolled over to see him better. “Thanks. I don’t know what I’m going to do about my quarters.”

Indiana returned to her side, knelt down and brushed her hair back over her shoulder, before resting his hand on her shoulder.

“You know I will always be here to help you get by.” “No matter where you are, I know I can turn to you.” They smiled at each other for a prolong moment. “You rest now. I’ll be in my room if you need me.” He offered. She agreed and yawned as she began to force herself asleep. Indiana waited for a few minutes, then went and laid down himself. At first he could not get to sleep, as he was thinking of what San Diego and Williamson had just done to Heather. He loved her and this discover hurt him just as much.

Heather found sleep difficult to come by. She felt the cold edge of the dagger of betrayal deep in her back, piecing her heart. The images of San Diego and Marina having sex right in front of her, disturbed her. It seemed as if the two had being down that road before and she had not once suspected San Diego was sleeping with two women. She was wary of the long road that laid ahead, but thankfully Indiana was going to be around to help her through it. Checking the time, she noted how she still had two hours before reporting for duty. Frustrated that she could not sleep, she got up to check up on Indiana. She peered into his sleeping quarters and saw him asleep on his side. Something inside her began to swirl into the form of an urge. An urge to lay down beside him in search of security from her rapid thoughts. Giving in to them, she quietly walked around the bed and laid down, facing away from Indiana. Just sensing his presence beside her, provided the comfort she needed to finally get some sleep. To aid her sleep even more, Indiana rolled over and curled up behind her. He wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close. Heather wrapped the lower half of her arm over his and the two eventually managed to drift off to sleep.

Neither knowing that they had come together as a result of being victimised by the vampires that roamed the decks around them.

"Out of Sorts"
By Petty Officer Tyrola Lomax
Engineering

Ty had been sitting in sickbay for a quarter of an hour by the time a nurse had time to look at her. It seemed there had been some sort of incident or something - as far as Ty could see there were a lot of personnel in here with a lot of problems. They seemed weak, barely able to come to consciousness. In fact, it unnerved her, seemed veyr spooky somehow. Almost as spooky as that old Tamarian vessel she had been one of the first to see in however many centuries.

The nurse was very quick but still polite and efficient. The cut on Ty's face was quickly healed with a dermal regenerator and the slight concussion was treated and she was given a hypospray with painkiller to take every 5 hours. The accident was recorded as 'minor injury' and no more details were asked for.

It wasn't until Ty was in the turbolift that she had a sudden change of heart. She couldn't say where it came from or why, but she called out for the security offices without even thinking about it. Five minutes later she had two burly security Ensigns escorting her to sickbay. She had to admit one of them was kinda cute and had been very sensitive in making sure she was alright and had seen a member of the medical staff and whether or not she wanted a counsellor.

As the trio entered sickbay the man who stood just inside the door was immediately recognisable. It had never happened before, and it was completely out of character for Tyrola Lomax, but something inside her snapped.

"That's him!" Lomax pointed out the science officer as if he had commited high treason in the days of kings and queens.

Before James had time to react he had one security officer on each arm gripping him firmly but not as to hurt. "This is the man? You're certain, Petty Officer?" The man who had seemed to be in charge the whole time asked.

"James Mitchell, Science Lieutenant." Ty nodded to herself and folded her arms gently. She could feel her hands shaking and didn't want it to show too much yet.

"Mr. Mitchell, we're putting you under arrest." The more sensitive gentleman said. He was Bajoran and very soft-spoken.

"Wha...?" James seemed highly confused.

"We'll let someone attend to your injuries then you're coming with us to the Security offices." The Bajoran Ensign sat him on the end of the biobed. "We'll process this more when we get there.

"I don't understand." James looked from one officer to the other then to Ty who simply turned away, feeling suddenly ill and wanting nothing more than to be back in her quarters with Joe - safe.

"You are being charged with attempted rape, Lieutenant." The older man in charge said again. "We suggest you say no more until we get to the security offices."

James went to protest then seemed to think better of it.

The Bajoran man came over to Ty and leaned in to her ear. "Ms. Lomax, I would suggest you go home and rest or go and visit one of the counselling staff. We won't need you until later - we have your statement so we only need you when the charges are processed. Are you sure you'll be ok?"

Lomax nodded slowly and allowed herself to be turned away from James who was giving her some funny looks. She didn't know how she felt, somewhere inside she still felt something for him, but there was a loathing now ever-present in any thought of him. "Yes...Yes I think I shall. I think I'll head to the counselling offices...and...is there any chance that you can deal with the charges for me, Ensign, I just don't feel secure with anyone else right now..."

The Ensign smiled reassuringly. "I'll do my best, Ms. Lomax. I'm Ensign Rakal if you need me in the meantime."

Ty smiled her gratitude, she wasn't sure it looked entirely genuine but it was meant to be. "Thank you, Ensign, Thank you."

"It's quite alright, Petty Officer."

Ty nodded and turned to the doors. She heard James say something but somewhere in her mind the message was scrambled and lost. Lomax had chosen to ignore him, and would do so for some time Ty thought.

"Goodbye James." Ty wasn't sure if it was said aloud or simply in her mind, nor at what volume it had been voiced if it had been. However it concerned her little. She had other things to attend to.

"Emotional Doctor"
by Captain Robert Edward Lee Price

Captain Price and Chief Medical Officer Dothan entered sickbay surprised at seeing the foot traffic that was there.

"My, this place was practically a morgue when I left earlier." Andree commented while moving aside to allow an intern to hurry by with some supplies.

"We need to find Doctor Sansky," The Captain reminded, "whatever he's discovered sounded urgent."

Doctor Dothan nodded. "Aye, he's probably back in the medical ward where most of the biobeds are located. This way."

Andree started his way through the maze of patients that were triaged in sickbay. The Captain began following him as closely as he could. As they walked past, Lee could see that many of those waiting to be seen looked pale and dreary, as if they were extremely tired or suffering from exhaustion. Though even with their unhealthy postures, for the most part they looked happy enough to wait their turns. One might say they almost looked like they were at one big party enjoying themselves the way they were mingling and talking while waiting for the medics to get them in to see a doctor.

Finally Doctor Dothan and the Captain reached the med-ward. It wasn't difficult picking out Doctor Sansky. He was standing near a patient's bed with tears streaming down his face while he yelled.

"DON'T YOU DIE ON ME NATHAN! DON'T YOU EVEN THINK OF DYING ON ME!"

Andree immediately cleared his voice loudly, gaining the Doctor's attention. "Ahem!, What is going on here Doctor Sansky?"

Todd turned almost as if he was shocked that what was happening around them wasn't plainly apparent. "Isn't that obvious at this point?!" Todd blurted out angrily at his superior officer and at the Captain. "Those freaks from the Tamarian vessel are going around and draining the blood of all of our crew members, that's what! I saw what that bastard monster did to Nathan. I've administered seven pints of blood and am pushing another and still I can't get him to come around."

Captain Price listened to the anger and frustration in Doctor Sansky's voice. He also noticed the emotional way the Doctor was talking, and could see the tears welling up in his eyes as he spoke of Nathan. At first Lee didn't realize, but it came together the way Andree was holding onto Nathan's hand. It wasn't the way a Doctor or even a dear friend held another's hand. It was much more... intimate then that.

Doctor Dothan looked at Nathan and studied the readings above the medical bed. "Well, you are correct about this patient having lost a great deal of blood. But how did that happen Doctor?" Andree asked.

"I TOLD YOU, THAT PRICK VLAD DID THIS TO HIM!" Sansky screamed. "And Nathan isn't the only one either. Kahn over there was just brought in. And Paxton there, and McKinnley. They are bleeding the whole frigin' ship dry I tell you." Todd's eyes flash over to the Captain's, "They have to be found and stopped Captain!"

"We have security looking for them now 'mate." The Captain responded awkwardly. He still was a bit shocked at discovering that the Doctor was apparently homosexual.

Doctor Dothan grew upset at Sansky bypassing him and at the Doctor's current, irrational behavior. Piping in he snapped, "What makes you think the visitors did this?" Andree asked while running a medical scan over Nathan's body, trying to detect some sort of injury that would account for the total loss of all his blood. "I'm not detecting any sort of wound, or puncture that would indicate foul play of any kind."

"DIDN'T YOU LISTEN TO ME!!? I WAS THERE I SAW WHAT VLAD DID TO NATHAN!!" Todd steamed back in a flood of anger, tears and spittle.

Captain Price stepped closer and quickly put a hand on Doctor Dothan's shoulder, since it was obvious Sansky's insubordination was pushing the Chief's patience. Evidently Andree hadn't made the personal connection between Nathan and Todd that the Captain just had. "Tell me Doctor..." Lee started in a semi-calm voice, "What exactly did you see Vlad do?"

Todd swiped at his face with his sleeve, brushing back some tears. Sniffling slightly, he thought a minute. "I entered the room and Nathan was laying on the bed, squirming in pain. Vlad was just standing there next to Nathan, watching and smiling." Todd took in a deep breath and let it out quickly. "I know I can't explain the how or why Captain, but BELIEVE me, this is Vlad's doing."

"Well Doctor, as I said, Security is locating the Sanguinarian's now as we speak. I'm sure it's only a matter of time before they will be in custody and we can get to the bottom of this." the Captain stated.

"We found Lieutenant Liito dead in one of the turbolifts..." Doctor Dothan commented while continuing his scans of Nathan. "She too appears to have suffered from massive blood loss with no apparent signs or reasons why."

"It was Vlad, it was Vlad, it was Vlad I'm telling you!" Todd blurted out. "I was there, I saw him."

"Well, like Nathan here, Lieutenant Liito showed no signs of attack or assault, and according to the security recordings in the turbolift, she was alone at the time of her collapse." Andree stated as he stopped his manual scan of Nathan with a sour expression reflective of his dismal findings. "That could suggest some sort of virus or infection of some sort. Lord Vlad's presence may or may not of had anything to do with this crewman's condition."

"No, NO, NO!!" Todd protested, "It was Vlad. I don't know what or how, but he did this to Nathan and he did it on purpose." Sansky insisted.

"The Sanguinarians did make mention of a contagion carried by the others in the hibernation chambers..." Captain Price stated to Doctor Dothan.

"I don't believe we can rule anything out at this point sir. Our medical instruments showed our guests to be non-carriers, but then again it's possible that this disease or virus or whatever it is is similarly undetectable by our instruments." Andree pointed out.

While they were talking, Counselor Dallas came over, making her way through the sickbay crowd to see the Captain.

"Excuse me sir. I believe you may want to hear my report on the visitors." Karyn stated politely from her hover chair.

Lee glanced over and gave a nod. He saw this as the perfect opportunity to escape from the over emotional Sansky and let Lieutenant Commander Dothan deal with his medical staff in his own way. "Commander, I was about to come looking for you directly..."

As if taking the Captain's comments as a cue, Andree turned to the Captain and pointed, "You can escape the rhetoric sir and use my office if you like." In a was Andree wanted the Captain to leave sickbay to him as much as the Captain wanted to distance himself from the emotional Sansky. It would allow Dothan to run the department how he saw fit. He certainly didn't want to dress Doctor Sansky down in front of their commanding officer.

"Bonzer 'mate. I'm sure you have things under control here. Keep me posted of any progress or information that you discover." Lee agreed. He then turned to Counselor Dallas. "Commander?, after you..."

"Thank you Captain." Karyn stated as she hovered into the Chief Medical Officer's office followed by Captain Price.

"Mutual revelations, part one"

Lt. Commander Navarre Shinta
Assistant Chief Counselor

Commander Karyn Dallas RN
Chief Counselor/Second Officer
USS Galaxy

After all the commotion died down a little, Shinta went to Karyn's office, it was the end of the day, and their shifts would be over soon.

"Boss, I think you and I should talk. It has been awhile, and a lot is going on, for both of us."

Karyn smiled wanly. She had the look she always did when the day was almost over. It was the tired expression of one who'd slogged through the emotions of dozens of people personally and then had read what seemed to be hundreds of reports regarding the emotions of others. She was tired, but not unhappy. She'd had some good sessions and others that could have gone better, but ultimately, she'd done well today and she was pleased with her efforts.

"You're telling me. I'm happy I took the promotion, but sometimes I swear I can actually hear what little free time I had being sucked into the vacumn of space. It's scaring me, Shinta, it's even starting to rival the ticking of my biological clock." Joking was a reflex for Karyn, it allowed her to express her emotions without having to delve into them too deeply. Truthfully she was still taking a lot of things in and had not had much of an opportunity to figure out where she was in life at the moment.

"I know what you are talking about." Shinta said with a tired smile. The department was pretty busy right now. "But you know that I still worry about you. That's my job as your counselor, you have been working pretty hard lately. Karyn, you know I am working with Michael, how are you two doing?" That was something that still bothered her.

She blew air impatiently from her lips. "There's two of us all right. We're still getting to know each other again, Shin, though we did have an interesting PT session the other day...He doesn't remember me, but I think we're becoming reacquainted. I had dinner with him the other night, and it was nice just to chat with no pressure."

"What is that doing to you?" Shinta asked. She knew how hard this must be for Karyn. Her friend did not connect with men easily, not in that fashion. Now that she had a boyfriend, the fact that he did not remember her must be hurting pretty badly.

"It's making me happy to be honest. Oh, sure, it hurt at first he didn't remember our relationship, but who am I kidding? Our 'relationship' was barely off the ground at the time of the accident, so it's not as if I have a right to feel hurt. If anything, I pushed him away from me long before this happened, but here and now, there's no pressure for us to make something again of something that didn't exist to begin with. I can't hurt him this time. We can act as though what was between us never existed, we can start over."

Shinta was not entirely happy with this anwser. It seemed that once again, Karyn was getting out of a possible relationship. She was running away again, like she had done so often in the past.

"There might be a chance that he can get his memory back." Shinta said. And then told Karyn about the mindmeld idea. Although while she was watching for Karyns reaction.

Karyn sighed, clearly torn. "I won't...I won't deny him a chance to gain what was lost, but there is a risk with undergoing a meld, not to mention the possibility it won't work. I want you to make sure he doesn't get his hopes up too high...I can't afford to do it either. I care about him a great deal, but it's not as simple as regaining those memories."

"It is what he wants, in fact it is the only thing that keeps him going right now. I talked to him about it a great deal, and he knows and understands all the risks. But for him this is the only choice, and I must agree. I am afraid that if I did not agree, he would do it on his own any way, and I would rather observe what happens."

"Enough about me. How are you and Bruce holding up? Has he agreed to see one of us, or are you still trying to get him to open up?"

"I am working on that, it is a touchy subject. It does not help that he is jealous of Eric. He does not really understand that Eric is just a good friend. He helped me through a difficult period. And I should mention this to you, before you hear it from somebody else. I am still suffering from nightmares, it is getting less now that Bruce is back. But I thought you should know." She also noted that Karyn had very quickly changed the subject away from herself, and she filed that for future reference.

Instantly, she was back into professional mode, "What kind of nightmares?"

First they were about Bruce, all that could be happening to him. But now they are more about my past, Things I have done when I was a teenager. I thought I was over it completely, I thought wrong. Maybe I can talk to you about it a couple of times, I think that will work better than pushing it away. I should be giving it a place in my life, then stop running from it." Shinta felt very light, because that was exactly what she's had been doing the last couple of years. And being so open about it felt very liberating.

"That's the battle right there," Karyn smiled, "I take it you are ready to win the war?"

"Yes I am. I am not going to put it away again. I have done so too often in the past. There is never right time to Face your demons, so I had just as well do it now. And I will win this and I will win that war, trust and me, boss."

"Come see me tomorrow at lunch and we'll talk. In the meantime, I'm giving you something to help you sleep tonight, and I'm calling your sitter. No arguments, I'll not have you coming to work tomorrow looking worn out." Karyn smiled, knowing that couched like that, Shinta was not goiing to be able to resist.

Shinta opened her mouth to protest, but one look at Karyns face told her that would be in vain. "OK, I already took something some nights back, doctors orders. And it did help. I am already doing much better, Karyn. But we will talk about it tomorrow." She leaned forward. "And be warned, we are not only going to talk about me. Remember that I am still your counselor, and you have been avoiding a lot of my questions today. You will not get away with it tomorrow." She smiled, and with that left her chief.

(( This Happenes before Operation ROSE))

"Meet Riana"
By Jill as Lt Riana Parstran, Ex-starfleet operative, Now a security officer USS Galaxy NPC
Lt (jg) Jessie Parry, ACTO USS Galaxy

Riana was walking down a corridor on deck three. Her destination was Autumn's Quarters. She needed to talk to her. She rounded a corner to see a tall red haired woman leaning against the wall looking awfully dizzy and sick. "Hey are you ok?" she asked.

Jessie looked up at the woman carefully. "UM yeah.. was just on my way back to my quarters.. feeling a bit light headed that’s all"

Riana smiled at the woman. "Here let me help you Lt. I am Lt Riana Parstran" She supported the other woman with an arm around her waist. "And you are?"

"Jessie Parry, tactical department." Jessie mumbled "I live just down here." She pointed down the hall past a number of doors.

Riana smiled. "Come one Lt lets get you home.. IS there anyone i should call to let them know?"

"No one" Jessie replied as Riana and her made their way down the hall. "Your name is familar.. Have you been on board long?"

Ria shook her head. "No just came on board not a day ago. What about you?"

"Oh I have been on board for over three months now." Jessie replied as they neared her door. "This is mine." she said as they stopped out side her quarters.

Ria smiled and hit the door release. “Ok Lt lets get you inside so you can rest.” She helped the Lt in side and helped her into her bedroom.

“It is Jessie. I hate being called Lt..” Jessie’s eyes were closing and Riana smiled as she took off the girls shoes. She covered the other woman up and left the room.

Jessie fell into a deep sleep.

Riana walked down to Autumn’s door and rang the bell. No answer. ‘Drat. And Double drat’ she thought as she moved back towards her quarters on deck 5.

"Voyage Past Unknown Barriers"
Lt (jg) Wilhem Quevvenson, Science officer Lt (jg) Autumn Jamieson, ACMO

Wilhem got off Gamma Shift and headed for Autumn's quarters. He wanted to meet her for a special display of something from his past. He hoped she would be awake and willing to do so. He loved her, and would follow her lead where it became necessary.

Autumn was sitting in her lounge area reading reports. She should have left them at the office, but found that she just had to get them out of the way. She looked up at the knock and called out, "Come!"

Wilhem entered, and saw that Autumn was busy with some work. Still he smiled, and said, "Good evening Love. I wished to see you as soon as I could."

Autumn smiled as she placed the PADD down on the coffee table and stood up. "Hello Love... how are you feeling?" she asked as she walked over to him.

Wilhem smiled warmly, "Strong enough to hug you. And I felt great the moment I set eyes upon you." He hugged her close, on the left side of his body.

Autumn studied his face carefully looking for signs of pain and stress before kissing his cheek. "That's good Love... so what brings you by?"

Wilhem grinned, "I was thinking of taking you to the Holodecks and showing you something from my past. I am not sure if you are free to do so, but I was thinking of showing you my old castle in Grabentod."

"Ok sure give me a minute to get changed and put these reports away and I'll be right with you," she kissed him again and walked off into her bedroom to get changed. She exited some time later in black jeans and a long sleeved green shirt. She quickly stacked the reports onto her desk and grabbed her hiking boots from their spot by the door and slid her feet into them. "Ok love ready," she straightened and walked over to him with a smile.

Wilhem smiled softly, "Then let's go." He held out his arm adn waited for Autumn to weave hers into it. Then he set out for the Holodecks. There he entered in the program, "Alber-3," and the doors opened to reveal the gates of a massive Germanic castle. Once through them, they were into the massive keep.

Autumn smiled as she looked around. "It is lovely Wil." she said softly as she rested her head on his arm.

Smiling Wilhem led her into the main hall, with its banners and tapestries. And its large oak table. "This is the main dining hall," he said. Then he led her into the real reason for his visit. A tower bedroom, with a view of the Great Bay. And with a beautiful, double-post feather bed. "This was my room," he said.

Autumn walked to the window and looked out. "That's the bay where we did our first holoprogram right?" she asked as she stared at the view. She turned back to him and rested her elbows and back on the windowsill.

Wilhem smiled and nodded, "Yes, that is the place." He looked at her, and couldn't help but be aroused. This was the sexiest woman in the MegaVerse. And he would not turn down any of her whims.

Autumn smiled back and held out her hand to take his. She was drawn to him and as her hand went to his she stepped clear of the window and closer to him.

He watched as she stepped clear and closer to him. Drawn by the magnetism of the moment, Wilhem stepped closer still and kissed her. Her mouth was as soft as down as they kissed, and he reveled in the feel of them against his.

Autumn slipped her hands up around his neck and pulled him closer as she kissed him back.

He could sense that she was readying herself for something. And he could not say he blamed her. He broke the kiss, and turned and shut the door. He then turned back to her. "Let me do something wicked with you," he said with desire dripping from his voice.

"Are you sure Love?" she whispered as she moved closer again. "I mean you have just had an operation..." she said trailing off.

Wilhem smiled and nodded, "I am sure. Let me help you with that." He picked her up and placed her on the bed. He pulled off her boots, and stockings, then kissed her lips, before trailing kisses down to her shirt top. then he began to work the shirt off her shoulders. He stared at the contraption called a bra, and massaged her breasts through it. Then he unbuckled it in the front and slid the fabric off her right breast. He then kissed the breast, and finally took her nipple in his teeth and brought it to attention.

He then sucked on it for one minute. Then he did the same with the left breast. While putting his left hand on her right breast and caressing it.

Autumn moaned and ran her fingers through his hair and down to his shoulders. She then let them fall to his arms and then trail up to his neck teasing with her finger tips.

Wilehm felt the tinlging sensations that her fingertips gave him. But he continued onwards. He kissed down to the top of her jeans, then removed that garment to reveal a pair of pink frilly panties. He then slowly, sensuously removed that piece of clothing. He then trailed kisses down through her pubic hair to her most sensitive spot. He then kissed and licked that area until she reached her crescendo. He put his arms up towards her shoulders to grasp her hands while she climaxed.

Autumn shuddered as the tensions flowed through her body. She grasped his hands and tugged him up so that she could touch him again. She wanted to touch him and make him happy like he made her.

As he was pulled upwards, he made it all the way to her mouth, where he kissed her once more. He waited thirty seconds, then broke the kiss, and said, "Now it's your turn." He rolled over onto his back and waited for her to begin.

Autumn smiled and began unbuttoning his shirt. She tugged it off his shoulders and began to kiss his chest softly. She started at his shoulders and worked her way down alternating kisses with grazing her teeth across his skin softly. She kissed his stomach and flicked her tongue across his navel. She looked up towards him and kissed her way back up to his mouth. Her hands started undoing his pants.

Wilhem kissed her with reckless abandon. He had been aroused even further when she had kissed his chest, over the artificial lung. That area was still pretty tender, and had given him a thrill. He waited for her to finish what she had started.

Autumn's mouth moved across his face to his neck again and then down to the hollow of his shoulder. Her hands finished undoing his pants and she slowly tugged them down. Her hand slid along the sensitive flesh of the inside of his thigh as her mouth again desended to his chest.

Wilhem groaned under the onslaught. He placed his hand on her temple and entered her thoughts once more. ~You are doing fine, Love.~

Autumn smiled as she traced her tongue across his scar and then up to his nipples. Her hand traced light patterns on the inside of his thighs. ~I love you,~ was all she sent back to him as her hands and mouth continued to tease him.

Wilhem groaned and arched his back as her tongue touched his scar and his nipples. The sensations were growing stronger as she assaulted him. He hoped that she would remember that he was slightly weak right now. And remember that it was better for him to let go in her rather than outside her body.

Autumn smiled as their thoughts mingled and slowly she laid down on him her mouth teasing him even more as it moved up his body again.

Wilhem gently entered her, as he placed his hands on her breasts and caressed the sensitive flesh there. He waited for her mouth to arrive at his, and then he kissed it.

Autumn moaned as he entered her. She kissed him back as they began to move together. Her hands were moving over his torso as they moved.

Moving softly, Wilhem slowly felt the build-up of tension in her body. He knew that she was reaching her climax. So he began to move a little faster, so as to climax as she did.

Autumn felt the sensations flowing to the breaking point and her body tensed as they started to get too much.

Wilhem felt the tension increasing in her body, and could not hold off any longer. He rocketed into her body several times as he climaxed. Then she climaxed as his organ spewed into her body. He rode the wave of emotions until they ended. He then gently kissed her mouth, ~You did great, Love. You are the best lover I've ever had.~

Autumn rested her head on his chest. ~Thank you love,~ was all she sent as her hands linked with his. After a minuet or so she lifted her head and looked up at him. ~I love you so much,~ she sent as she kissed him gently.

Wilhem returned the kiss, ~I know. And I love you more than life itself. I would die if you left me, did you know?~

~As I would die love if you left me,~ she replied as she moved slightly to his side so they rested more comfortably.

Wilhem smiled, ~I know. And nothing will seperate us, but death itself. And even then, we will be together in spirit.~

Autumn kissed his cheek softly as she let her thoughts mingle with his. She allowed him access to all her memories.

Wilhem smiled at the memories flitting through his head. He let Autumn see all his memories, too. The battles. The mistakes. And the friendships. He hoped that she would take the memories well. He did not need her to think any less of him for his mistakes.

~Your life has been so much more interesting then mine Love... Thank you for sharing them with me,~ she thought as the memories moved in their joined minds.

Wilhem smiled warmly, ~Our life has just begun together. We will have many adventures. Some to rival those I just showed you. And all because of our love for one another, will we survive them.~

Autumn kissed him gently as she showed him pictures of her closest friends on Earth and a picture of Riana as she had last seen her. Sharing her thoughts wasn't as hard as she thought it would be and she found that it got easier as it went on. ~I Love you Wilhem.~

Wilhem smiled at the pictures in his mind. ~I love you Autumn. Now it's time for soemthing a little less friendly.~ He showed her the details of his conversation with Sigmund. The details of the Dark Men, the 98 men and women who wanted the good Aebrynnians dead. That was why they were after them. To destroy their happiness.

When he noted Autumn's dislike of the thoughts, he switched back to comforting thoughts. ~Sorry, Love. I just thought you should know.~

Autumn nodded against his chest. ~I understand Love. I am glad that we have the information now... maybe they will give it up eventually,~ she shivered slightly in his arms.

Wilhem made soothing noises, ~I don't want you to worry. We will deal with them when they reappear. And we will defeat them. that I promise you. Come now, let me make you warm again.~ He kissed her lips softly, not demanding anything.

Autumn kissed him back just as gently. ~Just being here with you keeps my heart warm Wil.~ She sent that to him.

Wilhem broke the kiss, and trailed kisses lower, down her jaw to her neck, and then to her right breast. ~Thank you. Just being with you makes me warm, too.~ He gently sucked on her breast, while fondling the other one with his right hand.

Autumn moaned as the sensations hit her again. ~Love you keep that up and...~ she trailed off as the heat began again.

Wilhem switched breasts, and sucked gently on her left breast. Then he trailed kisses down through her belly, and into her pubic hair. Then he kissed and licked her most sensitive spot. He wanted her to reach her crescendo once more. And then he would allow her to have fun with him.

Autumn felt the heat build. She wasn't sure how long she could stand it. She began to tense up as the feelings built to the breaking point once more.

Wilhem allowed the tension to build to her crescendo. His hands went up to her hands, and gripped them, so as to let her ride it out, squeezing his hands. ~I love you Autumn. Never forget that.~

~Never love will I forget that,~ she sent back in a dazed mind voice. ~I love you too much to ever leave you or stray,~ she tugged on his hands to bring his head up to hers.

His head was brought up to her head level, and he sensuously kissed her lips. ~I will never leave you or stray. I could not even if it was forced upon me.~

Autumn kissed him back as her hands drifted along his shoulders and down to his chest. Her hands played across his chest and her mouth moved down to his neck.

Wilhem groaned as her hands played across his wounded chest. He waited for her to kiss that area, then sent, ~Thank you love. You are my best friend.~

Autumn flicked her tongue across his nipples as her hands drifted lower on his body. ~You are mine as well Love.~

Wilhem groaned and arched his back as she played games with his body. ~Good Love. Keep at it, and I might become your willing sex slave.~

~I am already yours Wil,~ she sent as she moved her mouth lower to his navel. Her teeth nipped at his skin around it and her tounge flicked across it.

Wilehm moaned as the sensations began to assault him, ~I thank you for that priviledge. Go and do whatever you want to me. I will still be here.~

~Oh I want you Love,~ she sent back as her hands traced along him and the inside of his thighs as her mouth kissed his chest again and her tongue trailed along his scar.

~Good.~ And he quickly turned her over onto her back, and moved downwards. As soon as he was the proper level, he entered her once more, and slowly moved back and forth, trying to bring her to climax again. He leaned over and kissed her fully, and used his hands to rub her bottom.

Autumn moved with him as she felt the sensations rise in both of them. Her hands moved over his shoulders as she kissed him back alternating kissing and tugging on his bottom lip as they both moved closer to the edge of pleasure.

Wilhem gave of himself fully, moving his hands up to fondle and bring her breasts to full force. They were soon going to crest that wave, and ride it into full passion.

A whimper came from Autumn's throat as her body began to react to the pleasure and she kissed Wil as she felt the wave start to break.

Wilhem moved with her, and sent, ~Am I hurting you Love? I don't mean to if I am.~ Then suddenly, she began to climax, and the sensation of her vagina squeezing his member set him off. So he rode out the wave, and then released his hold on her body.

Autumn felt the emotions ebb away. ~You didn't hurt me Love,~ she sent as they relaxed beside each other. She curled into his side and rested her hand on his chest as her head laid against his shoulder.

Wilhem nodded, ~Good.~ He kissed the top of her head softly. He put his arms around her spent body, and hugged her close.

Autumn shut her eyes and held onto him tight. Her body relaxed and her mind began to slowly shut down as her body demanded sleep. She sent to him, ~I always feel as if the world outside isn't really there when I am with you. You make me feel safe from out there.~

Wilhem smiled, ~I know. You always do the same for me, Love. Now it is time to sleep. We can talk about this tomorrow morning. I love you Autumn.~

Autumn was drifting off when her mind reminded her where they were. Holodeck. ~Um Love... We are in a holodeck... we could get caught,~ she sent as she opened her eyes and sat up.

Wilhem opened his eyes, ~True. I guess we should get dressed and head for your quarters. If that's all right with you Love.~

~No I don't mind,~ she sent as she reached for her clothes and passed him his. She smiled as she pulled on her clothes and watched him get dressed. She felt more awake now but still bed called.

Wilhem finished dressing, and they walked out of the Holodeck, arm in arm. ~Thanks Love. I almost forgot where we were.~ They reached her quarters, and Wilhem waited for her to open the door. When the door closed behind them, he turned her around and kissed her softly.

Autumn kissed him back. ~Shall we get some sleep love or do you have other plans?~ she sent teasingly as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

Wilhem smiled, ~One more time, and then we can sleep well.~ He picked her up and put her on the bed, slipping her shoes and stockings off her feet. Then he went to work on her shirt, removing that once more. Finally he got down to the brassiere, and removed it slowly, sensuously, kissing and fondling her breasts one at a time.

~Oh I think I can handle this,~ she sent as she grabbed his shoulders and tugged him back up to face her. She caught his mouth with hers as her hands moved down his shirt undoing it.

He kissed her softly, then struggled out of his shirt. His hands began working on her jeans, slowly tugging them off. Then he put his hand inside the waistband of her panties and rubbed her vaginal lips with his hand.

Autumn moaned against his lips as her hips arched up against his hand. Her hands moved to his pants and she began to undo them.

Slowly, senuously, he removed her panties. He then stuck three fingers into her vagina, and moved them back and forth trying to make her reach crescendo. He knew that his hand was a poor substitute for his lips or his organ. But it would have to do.

Autumn wanted him and she wasn't beyond using his own pleasure to get them both where they wanted to be. She broke the kiss and nibbled on his ear and neck as her hand slipped inside his pants as the other one tugged them down his hips.

Wilhem quickly shucked his pants, shoes, and socks, and reveled in her touch on his most private part. He sped up his fingers as she gently fondled him. Finally, it was too much. Growling, he pushed her back on the bed, removed his hand and replaced it with his throbbing member. He slowly began to move back and forth in her love canal. He fondled her breasts, and kissed her chin as he began to slowly build her up to her climax.

Autumn clenched her muscles around him as she moved with him. She was determined to make him climax before her just to prove that she had no problem with it.

Wilhem groaned as the feelings became too much, ~Sorry Love. I am weak, I know.~ And he climaxed violently. As he became spent, he continued to move inside her, trying desperately to cause her to climax. So that she could feel the experience of it.

Autumn felt the emotions inside of her burst and after she was spent she sent to him, ~No love you are not weak. I love you and I wanted you to feel how much which is why I did that...~

Wilhem kissed her softly, ~Thanks love. But I want only the best for you. And the best is to go off together. I am sorry I was unable to hold off that long that time.~

Autumn smiled and curled herself up against him. ~Sleep Love,~ she sent. ~I love you,~ she closed her eyes and slowly drifted off to sleep.

Wilhem smiled, and pulled the covers over their naked bodies. Then he began to fade off into a state of rest. Ready to jump up if anything ever tried to hurt his lady. Even the most powerful undead.

Autumn drifted in sleep and dreamt. The dream seemed so real as if she was watching it herself and she couldn't stop it. ***** Autumn hovered above the sceen watching.

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 to 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...

*****

Autumn sat bolt upright in bed as a small scream escaped her throat unbidden. Her dream... that poor girl... what they had done to her had been horrible and she tried hard to grasp the meaning of it.

Wilhem awoke to find her shaking. ~What's the matter, Love,~ he sent as he tried to embrace her.

Autumn shut her eyes as if to block out the images of the girl backed up against a wall and the two men advancing on her, and took Wilhem's hand and let her thoughts mesh with his again and showed him the dream.

Wilhem examined the dream, and then thought this, ~It is a portent dream, placed there by Vlad when he attacked you earlier. It shows what he wants to do with you. He wants to make you one of them.~

Autumn almost screamed. ~This majorly sucks!~ she sent to him. ~Well he isn't getting me... that's one thing for sure love,~ she wrapped her arms around him and rested her head against his chest.

Wilhem kissed her forehead softly, ~I know how much it sucks. And I will not let him have you. That I can assure you.~

Autumn snuggled down in his arms. ~I am sorry to wake you love,~ she sent as they laid back down.

Wilhem smiled, ~Anything to help you love.~ He thought a moment, then frowned, ~Now there is one thing I think you need to know about some of my dreams. Back in Grabentod, when I got extremely tired, I would dream and act out the dreams. If that should ever happen to you, then please pinch the nerve at the base of my neck, on my right side. It will bring me around. I don't want to hurt you in one of these states. I hope you understand.~

Autumn kissed him softly and smiled. ~Ok one Vulcan style nerve pinch when you act out your dreams... I'll remember that.~

Wilhem smiled, ~I'm not joking. I feel that tired right now. So I may do some things you may not understand.~

~I will understand Love... Go to sleep... there is still a long time before we have to wake up for shifts.~ Autumn hugged him close and shut her eyes as she felt him relax.

They both faded off to sleep for a what seemed like a few minutes, when Autumn awoke to him speaking and fidgeting. He was saying, "No... no..." And then he began to whimper.

Autumn waited a few seconds debating wether or not to impliment the action as he said. She moved closer and brushed his hair from his forehead. ~Shush love,~ she sent. ~Its just a dream... It is ok,~ she stroked his brow gently hoping that it would pass.

Suddenly, his left hand shot out and grasped her right arm harshly. He then forced her onto her back, and began to enter her violently. But it was obvious by his eyes beign closed and the sweat pouring from his brow that this was part of the dream.

Autumn decided to use that manouver before things got out of hand. She reached out with her left and pinched the nerve at the base of his neck on the right hand side hard. ~Sorry Love,~ she sent as she did it.

Wilhem collapsed, letting go of her wrist as he did so. Then slowly he came around. He noted his position, and groaned, ~I did something bad didn't I? I'm sorry if I hurt you.~

Autumn held him close and sent, ~You didn't hurt me that much love... I should have reacted faster to your state... What were you dreaming of love?~ She gently ran her hand through his hair and kissed him gently.

Wilhem returned her kiss, and sent, ~I was dreaming I was a pirate. Raping and pillaging a small town on the other side of the Great Bay.~

Autumn kissed him again as she sent. ~I remember you telling me that you were a pirate a while ago. Love look at me.~ she broke off the kiss and raised his head so that they looked eye to eye. ~I understand what happened... and I have no anger about it. I love you and next time I will understand the signs... though you shocked me I still love you. Have no guilt over this ok?~

Wilhem smiled, ~Thank you, Love. Although I never did the raping and pillaging part myself, I can remember seeing the results of said raids. And I thank you for understanding. I will try not to do this again. Ever.~

Autumn smiled and kissed him again. ~Sleep love... Things will be fine...~ she ran her hands through his hair as she deepened the kiss slightly before breaking it.

Wilhem smiled warmly at her, ~You are my true love, Autumn. Never forget that.~ He wrapped his arms around her, and he felt her breasts brushing his chest. He was aroused but he decided to wait until they awoke to do anything about it.

Autumn felt his thoughts and snuggled down in his arms and closed her eyes and was soon asleep in his arms.

Wilhem grinned. She looked so innocent while she slept. And he did not want to disrupt that fact. Soon he too fell asleep. This time there were no dreams. And that was a very good thing.

Autumn woke slowly and when she opened her eyes she smiled at the sleeping man beside her. She slowly reached out and touched his face with her left hand and traced her fingers over his jaw and neck.

Wilhem awoke even slower to the sensation of fingertips on his jaw and neck. When he opened his eyes, he saw the beauty beside him, and smiled, ~Good morning Love. I hope you had a restful sleep. For I intend to ravage you some more today.~

~Really?~ she replied as she let her hands roam down his body. She smiled as she kissed his lips.

He kissed her back, and waited for the kiss to be broken, then kissed her chin and neck. ~Really, my love. I intend to make gentle love to you until there is no tomorrow.~

Autumn slid her hands down his torso. ~I think I can handle that love,~ she sent as she moved them along his chest.

Wilhem smiled, and then kissed around her chest. Then, he focused his attention on her right breast, kissing and sucking on it gently. ~I know you can, Love.~ He then repeated the procedure with her left breast, while fondling her right breast with his left hand.

Autumn moaned and moved beneath him. She ran and hand down his back lightly and the other hand traced further down his body.

He then leaned down and went under the covers. He kissed and licked at her most sensitive spot. He positioned his body so that she could still touch anything she wanted to, while he brought her to her crescendo.

Autumn touched his body as the sensations built up again. She let her hands touch his chest and his lower torso as she let out a slight whimper as the heat built up.

Wilhem kept trying to use her most sensitive spot to cause her crescendo to break. He hoped that she would not touch him in his most sensitive spot. He might be forced to cut short his ministrations and enter her.

Autumn slid her hand lower on his body and caressed the flesh on his inner thigh and then along the length of him.

Wilhem groaned, but kept at trying to bring her to crescendo. When she was almost ready, he could not wait any longer. He moved himself into position and rammed himself into her as quickly as he could, but not violently. He then moved back and forth quickly. He wanted her to climax with him this time. He wanted her to get the full experience.

Autumn kissed him fully and moved with him her hands moving along his shoulders. She knew that she was close and that he was too. The heat was nearly unbearable.

Wilhem let out a moan deep in his throat as they both reached the top of the wave. And then they both climaxed. He continued to move until the wave was past, then broke the kiss, ~Thank you, Love. You were wonderful.~

~Not as wonderful as you,~ she sent back dazedly. She smiled at him and curled against him again.

He held her and caressed her back. He wanted her to know that he was content to lay there beside her for the rest of his mortal life. And the eternity that awaited them afterwards.

Autumn didn't want to move at all. She shut her eyes and prayed that the world outside her room would go away and she could stay here all day.

Wilhem smiled at that thought, ~I don't think it will go away because we want it to. But I am willing to help make you forget about the outside for as long as you need to.~ He decided with a devilish smile to tickle her. He did so mercilessly on her chest.

Autumn squealed and grabbed at his hands and tried to hold them away from her. ~No fair tickling,~ she sent as she tried to gain an upper hand.

Wilhem continued to tickle until she forced him onto his back, and straddled his body. ~Now you are in command. Do with me what you will.~

~Oh that's tempting Love.~ She leant down and flicked her tongue across his nipples as she slid lower down his body.

Wilhem groaned under the feeling of her tongue bringing his nipples to rock hardness. He put his hands on her chest, and fondled her breasts until the nipples were like diamonds.

Autumn moved further down and nipped lightly at his skin and teased his navel with her teeth and tongue.

Wilhem groaned, and moved his hands all over her torso. He wanted to make her feel as good as she made him feel. ~You're doing great, love. Keep at it, and I won't let you leave for your shift.~

Autumn smiled as she kissed her way back to his mouth. ~My shift isn't for a few more hours Love so I am yours until then,~ She kissed him gently on the lips while her hands caressed his body.

Wilhem returned her kiss, and moved her body still lower on his. When she was positioned over his hips, he gently picked her up, and placed her on top of his swollen organ. She opened like a flower, and closed like a fist over him. ~Now you have control of both our bodies. Use me to do whatever you want.~

Autumn moved her body on him and kissed him again. She clenched her muscles around him as they moved together. ~I love you,~ she sent as the pace increased.

Wilhem groaned as the sensations assaulted him, ~I love you, too.~ Then as the pace increased even further, he moaned in his throat. They were both getting close to their limits. And that meant they were both ready to explode.

Autumn nipped his lips with her teeth as she felt the heat get too much. Her body contracted hard around him.

Wilhem climaxed as she did, and rode out the wave, gritting his teeth against the power of his climax this time. When the storm was over, he collapsed back against the bed, and sent, ~Thank you, Love.~

Autumn kissed him gently and laid beside him. ~Anytime,~ she sent as she hugged him gently.

Wilhem hugged her back, and caressed her back. ~I love you, Autumn. Never let anything get in the way of that.~

Autumn shut her eyes as she held him. Her mind sending the lone thought of, ~Nothing ever will.~

Wilhem shut his eyes, and travelled the streams of their mingled thoughts. He hoped she would see in him a good person, not one whose mistakes had tainted him from ever being a well managed person.

Autumn felt his thought and sent him pictures of her life on Earth and asked him to tell her more about his family. ~Can you tell me about them my Love?~

Wilhem smiled, and thought, ~I can tell you what I know. Sometimes they were so aloof that I don't know the real story behind them.~ He sent her picutres of his parents and what he knew of them. He sent her pictures of his siblings and what he knew of them. He also sent her picutres of his life on Aebrynnis. He hoepd they would not make her feel sad. Sad that she had not experienced some of his adventures. Sad that she had not been there for some of his greatest deeds. Things like that.

Autumn let the images filter in her mind and then sent back images of her and Ria mucking around on the academy's campus and some of the pranks they had pulled.

Wilhem smiled, and showed her his Academy days. Plain and boring mostly. But he also showed her the scientists poking him and testing him after his arrival in the area of Dresden. It was a bad expereince, but one he wanted to show her for her own peace of mind. So that she knew it was not all fun.

Autumn hugged him as the images were sent to her and she sent, ~I love you Wilhem... don't ever change.~

Wilhem nodded softly, ~I won't. As long as you love me.~

Autumn smiled and then kissed him again. ~Oh you can count on me loving you for a long long time.~

Wilhem returned the kiss softly, ~Good. Because you can count on me loving you until time ends.~

Autumn smiled and ran her hands into his hair as she deepened the kiss before sitting up, "Computer Ship time please."

Computer: Time is 10h00.

She slanted a look at Wilhem. ~So what now?~

Wilhem smiled, ~Now you let me have my way with you.~ And he reached out and tickled her stomach mercilessly.

Autumn laughed and tried to still his hands but her heart wasn't really in it. ~Ok love anytime you want me you can have me... So have your way,~ she smiled.

He tickled her torso, including her breasts for five minutes. Then he pushed her over onto her back, and sucked on her breasts one by one. While he sucked on one breast, he fondled the other to rock hardness. Her breasts were small, but firm, which was just how he liked them. No more than a handful was necessary.

Autumn moaned deep in her throat. She placed her hands on his shoulders and ran them along and down his arms.

Then he went further down her body, kissing as he went. He then kissed and licked her most sensitive spot. He kept at it until she would reach her crescendo.

Autumn whimpered as the heat built up inside of her. Her hands no longer able to touch him were clenched at her sides as the tensions built up.

Noting that she was clenching her hands, Wilhem put his hands on top of hers. And grasped her hands as she gave out under the onslaught. Her grip was as strong as steel as she rode out her crescendo.

Autumn whimpered as the waves hit her and in her mind she sent to Wil, ~Love...~

Wilhem kept her going, and sent, ~Yes, Love?~

~Please make me yours,~ she sent in desperation to have him.

Wilhem smiled, and moved up her body. Then when he was the proper level, he entered her as she was still throbbing in the heat of the moment. He teased her by pushing in as far as he could, then pulling back almost to the point of leaving her body. But then the heat built up and he ceased that and moved back and forth rapidly.

Autumn moaned again as things heated up for both of them.

Wilhem continued moving back and forth in her, trying to cause her to climax with him. He groaned as the feelings began to get to be too much. As they reached the top of the wave, he sent, ~I love you Autumn. I am all yours.~

As they climaxed Autumn sent ~And I am yours Love.~

Wilhem rode the wave out, then leaned over and kissed her once more. ~I am grateful for that fact. Thank you again.~

Autumn smiled and curled back into his arms and closed her eyes. ~You are welcome love.~

Wilhem closed his eyes and held her tight. He was thrilled by the feeling of her next to him. He knew it was just a matter of time before they would be ready to do it all over again. But he did not want it to become passe to her. So he would go slowly.

Autumn drifted off content and safe in his arms.

Wilhem soon drifted off to sleep. But two hours later, he awoke first. Seeing her in his arms, he slowly disengaged himself from her. And with a mischeivious grin, he began to wake her up by kissing and sucking on her breasts.

Autumn opened her eyes and gave him a sleepy smile. ~Can't control yourself, can you Love?~ she sent teasingly.

Wilhem smiled, ~No. I can't when such a beautiful woman, who happens to be my fiance, and who I am madly in love with is laying there with no clothes on, and I need to wake her.~ He moved under the covers, and kissed her in her most sensitive spot. He flicked his tongue over her clitoris, and tried to bring her to crescendo. As he did so, he positioned his body, so that she could touch anything she wanted.

Autumn let her hands wander over his body as she felt the sensations rise in both of them. Her hands moved up and down his torso and one ran along the inside of his thigh and then up along him.

He continued to lick at her, then he took her clitoris in his mouth and sucked on it. He felt himself getting very aroused. He sent, ~If you want to, you can take me into your mouth. I know that most women don't find it appealing. But it is an option.~ He hoped she would reach crescendo before he did. Otherwise, the sheets could get very messy.

Autumn sent back, ~For you love anything.~ She gently began to kiss him. Her tongue played along his length.

Wilhem groaned under the new sensations. He felt like he was going to explode right there. He went back to his ministrations, trying to make her crescendo all the more powerful.

Autumn moved her tongue along him and gently sucked. Inside of her the heat was getting unbearable.

Wilhem groaned under the onslaught, and suddenly he knew that he was close to climaxing in her mouth. That might be bad. ~Love, do you want me to enter you, or do you want to suck me dry?~

~I want you inside of me love please,~ she sent back to him.

Nodding, he removed himself from her mouth, turned 180 degrees, and quickly entered her. He then began to move back and forth rapidly. Trying to build up her climax even more. Then as they approached the top of the wave, he sent, ~By the gods, you feel so good around me. I hope I can make you feel good about me being in you.~

~You always make me feel good love,~ she sent back as the wave broke over both of them.

Wilhem let the wave wash over him, and rode it out for one minute. Then, he leaned over and kissed her lips, which were swollen with blood from the arousal of the sexual intercourse. He loved this woman and hoped that she loved him just as much.

Autumn kissed him back hard and smiled after the kiss was broken. ~Love I love you so much,~ she sent.

Wilhem smiled, ~How much? I mean I love you more than the essence of life.~

~I can't explain how much I love you Wil.. I don't think there is a word for it,~ she smiled and kissed him again.

Wilhem kissed her back, and then searched her emotions for her love for him. When he found that area, he was exstatic. He then showed her the extent of his love. They were equal in strength and purpose.

Autumn smiled and snuggled down again. ~I love You Wil.~

Wilhem smiled and held her close, ~I love you Kender. Never lose that innocence in your smile. It brightens my day so much.~

~Seeing you brightens my day Love.~

Wilhem nodded softly, ~And you are a bright light in the darkness that is my life.~

Autumn smiled. ~Thank you love,~ she kissed him gently. ~We should get up soon,~ though the thoughts behind that were of staying cuddled up with him.

Wilhem nodded, ~Yes. We should. Though I would love to ravage you some more, I fear that we should get cleaned up for your shift.~

Autumn smiled and sat up. "Computer ship time please."

Computer: time is 13h00.

Autumn sighed and shrugged. "I hate beta shift," she muttered.

Wilhem smiled, ~And I hate Gamma Shift. Anything that takes me away from you I don't like. I fear for your safety most times. Especially with these threats around today.~

~Well I can take care of myself normally... but those Vamps give me the creeps.~

Wilhem nodded, ~Don't worry. Vampires give me the creeps, too.~

~Well hopefully they stay clear of us for a long while to come,~ she sent back as she contemplated getting out of bed.

Wilhem nodded solemnly, ~Hopefully.~

Autumn flopped back onto the bed. ~I am not moving until 14h00.~

Wilhem smiled devilishly, ~Oh, you will.~ And he began to kiss and suck her breasts, one at a time.

Autumn groaned. ~Love... Not fair.~

Wilhem smiled, ~See? You are already moving. Just stay in that general place, and I'll make you move in time to the beating of my heart.~ He then maneouvered himself lower, and kissed her in her most sensitive spot. He also maneouvered hismelf so that she could touch and kiss as well.

Autumn moaned as she began to feel the heat again. Her hands touched his body and she kissed his stomach lightly.

He kissed and licked her until she was near the brim of her crescendo. Then he took her clitoris into his mouth and sucked on it. ~Do what you will with me. I just want you to feel good.~

Autumn moved her tongue along him and gently sucked. She ran the tips of her fingers along the insides of his thigh as the heat built up.

Wilhem groaned and continued to suck on her clitoris. As she built up to a frenzied height, he suddenly realized he was about to explode in her mouth. ~Love, do you want me inside you or are you going to suck me dry?~

Autumn sent. ~I want you Wil.~

Wilhem nodded, and removed himself from her mouth. He turend around and slowly, teasingly entered her again. then he began a furious pace of moving in and out. He wanted her to climax at the same time as he did.

Autumn moaned as she moved with him. The heat was unbearable. She felt the wave begin to break.

Wilhem let himself go as she climaxed violently. He nipped at her breasts with his teeth as he climaxed just as violently. Then as the wave receded, he kissed her once more.

Autumn kissed him back gently. ~Now I don't even want to go on duty Love,~ she sent.

Wilhem broke the kiss, and smiled, ~If that is your wish, I will go along with it. I can ravage you all the way to my shift. If you like.~

~Oh yeah that would go down really well with my chief after all the chaos in Medbay nowadays... my excuse? 'Oh I am sorry Andree but I was to busy with my fiance to come to work.' that would go down soo well,~ she smiled. ~I have to go to shift love you know that.~ She kissed him again.

Wilhem smiled, ~Then let's get you ready. Do you need to take a shower?~

~Yes I do need one,~ she smiled and climbed out of bed and headed for the bathroom and left the door open. She hit the water on and waited for it to heat up.

Wilhem smiled and waited two minutes. Then he padded over silently and entered the shower stall. ~Need help getting clean?~ he sent.

Autumn who had been washing her hair jumped at his mind voice. She spun around and dunked her head under the water to get rid of the shampoo. ~Love you startled me,~ she sent as she did so. ~If you are offering,~ she sent teasingly.

Wilhem smiled, ~I am offering.~ And he began to slowly soap her up, touching every place he could sensuously. He wanted her to get excited at his touch.

Autumn kissed him and sent, ~You don't want me to go to work do you?~ While her hands slipped across his torso.

Wilhem returned the kiss, and sent, ~I don't care. I just want to make love to you as much as possible.~

Autumn smiled as she moved closer to him. Her hands moved down his body slowly. ~Same here.~

Wilhem made circular motions with his hands on her vaginal lips. He sent, ~Then take me as I am.~

Autumn smiled and slowly began to kiss his chest as she pushed him back against the shower wall. ~Ok Love,~ she sent as she began to tease him with her hands and mouth.

Groaning he inserted three of his fingers into her vagina, and rubbed them back and forth, trying to cause her some pleasure. ~Go for it,~ he sent.

Autumn lowered her mouth to his navel while her hands roamed lower. She kissed her way back up his body and slowly pressed closer to him and lifted her hips.

Wilhem did not need a second invitation. He removed his hand and placed himself just outside her body. He would let her put herself on top of him. He just sat there teasing her with his prescence.

Autumn moaned softly at the feeling of him right there and wrapping her arms around his neck she slowly lowered herself onto him. Slowly and clenching her muscles she lowered her body.

As soon as he was inside her, he began slowly moving back and forth in her. Building up the passion as he went. ~Now, do what you will with me.~

Smiling she gently nipped at his lower lip as her body contracted around him as they moved together. Her hands ran down his back as the passion built. She moved her mouth down to his neck and to the hollow of his shoulder and one of her hands traced along the scar gently.

He groaned at the onslaught, and gently traced his fingers around her nipples. He reveled in her body around his. And he would try to let her climax with him once more.

Autumn moaned deep in her throat as the tensions rose again to the breaking point. She kissed him on the mouth as she felt them start to break.

Wilhem returned her kiss, and kept the kiss going throughout the running of the wave of emotions. Then, as the wave receded, he broke the kiss, and trailed kisses down her beautiful jaw. ~Thanks, Love.~

Autumn rested her head against his shoulder. ~If this keeps up I am not going to make it to work on time love,~ she sent, ~but you just seem to have that affect on me.~

Wilhem smiled, ~Do whatever you wish. It is your life. I won't pressure you into doing anything you don't want to.~

Autumn groaned, ~I have been trying to become a bit more responsible in my duties on this ship... So I guess I had better.~ She pulled away slowly.

Wilhem leaned in and kissed her, ~Good. Then I'll let you do what you need to do. Don't mind me.~

~Oh I won't,~ she sent as she finished her shower and then headed to get dressed.

Wilhem walked in behind her, and marvelled at her smooth bottom. He turned to his clothes and got dressed as she got ready for her shift. He knew that she would want to go to her shift alone, as she wanted to prove that she was strong-willed enough. So he would let her.

Autumn put her hair up and turned to him with a smile as she straightened her uniform. She glanced past him to the chrono and sighed. ~Love I have to go soon,~ she sent.

He moved closer, and bent to kiss her. ~Then go. I will head back to my quarters and wait for your word.~

Autumn smiled and kissed him back before breaking it and sending, ~Ok Love You take care. I love you.~ She hugged him and then sent, ~Um you wanna undo this?~ She waited until he had and then kissed him again, "Bye Love," before exiting her quarters and heading for the turbolift. Once outside she let down the shield that had held back her anger at Vlad and at her own weakness at the situation.

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

"Perspectives"

Starring Rebecca and Holli von Ersnst

Look and see...

The Universe, awesome and overwhelming in its immensity, and eternal in its mysteries. Unending and Incomprehensible..Unforgiving and Empty.

Look Closer...

The Milky Way Galaxy. A ovoid smear of light amidst the darkness of the night. A blazing hot spot of light and radiation spinning slowly on gaseous axis, an ancient traveler on its way to its inevitable doom.

Look Closer...

Alpha Quadrant. The well spring of life in the Galaxy and home to an infinitely diverse group of lifeforms and civilizations the likes of which boggle the mind. Yet even here there is much emptiness. Each star-system is a mere bubble of life drifting alone in a vast ocean of darkness. The waters give no attention to those insignificant bubbles, for what are they compared to the eternal depths?

Look Closer..

A Starship! That Empress of the Stars, and heir to the hopes and dreams of mankind since time immortal. Here wrapped in a skin of Duranium and pulsing with the throbbing rush of unimaginable energies, was the epitome of creativity and wonder. This was the USS Galaxy. The eldest in a sorority of graceful sisters each patterned after her own design. This was a privileged coven. The Galaxy class explorers were a rare sight along the spacelanes of the Federation, and even rarer was the sight of the Lead ship herself sitting motionless in the dimness of empty space.

Look closer....

The soft blue light from the dimly lit Aquarium bathed the newly rebuilt lounge in cool blankets of tranquility. The Wall to wall transparent Aluminum barrier had been reestablished during the Galaxy's layover at Starbase 114, and now two new specimens of Cetacean grandeur drifted gracefully in their space-going home. This was the Whale observation lounge on Deck 13, a secluded spot of peace amidst the hectic goings-on aboard the Galaxy.

"Why do bring fish along on Starship's anyway? Just to show off that you can?"

"Whales Momma, not fish."

"Tsk tsk, I know that. The point is why do you have so much space devoted to them?"

"Because they're pretty."

"No really."

Lieutenant Rebeca von Ernst smiled and stretched lazily from her position on the plush couch that faced the great aquarium window. She was curled up comfortably at one end of the seat, while resting her head on the lap of her mother Holli von Ernst who studied the drifting leviathans with intense curiosity.

"Really Rebecca, tell me." The elder von Ernst repeated again. She idly ran her long fingers through her daughter's fine red hair as she observed, while her own crimson locks lay spread out over the back of the couch like some great silken blanket, covering nearly half the backside.

Snuggling her head comfortably down further into her Mother's lap, Rebecca scrunched her nose and lazily inspected her fingernails for possible filing down. "Its all purely functional to be honest." She said as she bit at an errant sliver of skin on one finger. "This place is called Cetacean Ops, and its directly tied into the ship's Navigational Department. That's what the whales are here for."

"Don't bite your nails hon." Holli reminded softly as she continued to watch the amazing creatures. "They're for navigation? How?"

Rebecca shrugged and continued to bite at her finger anyway. "I dunno really. I haven't a clue on all the details, but something about the whales possessing some form of innate sense of direction, and situational awareness in regards to navigation. Seems that they know where they are even if the ships computers go down. They're supposed to be perfect for dead-reckoning a course back home in case the ship gets lost."

"Is that safe? Don't whales have a habit of beaching themselves back home?"

Rebecca scowled. "Like I said I don't know all the details. Supposedly their senses become more attuned in space than in the oceans. Remember that Space-Probe incident about 100 years ago or so? It has something to do with that."

Holli nodded. History wasn't her best subject, but the Whale-song incident was one of Earth's more colorful tales of the last century. "Okay so the whales know which way to go...How does that help you guys. How do you talk to them?"

Rebecca shrugged again, "Vulcans..Betazoids..Deltans...Any halfway telepathic species can interpret for them. Most of the Crew in Cetacean Ops are telepathic or empathic or whatever."

The two von Ernst women were relaxing after a stressful day of miscommunications between the two of them. Beginning with Holli's sudden appearance during one of Heather Sanchez's training runs this morning, and leading up to the unexpected 'snack-time' on the bridge later on, Rebecca was understandably a little more stressed than usual.

However all of that tension was melting away now under the gentle caress of her Mom's fingers drifting through her hair, and as the great creatures of the deep drifted in their fluidic ballet.

"So," Holli asked mildly, "do they have names?"

Rebecca raised a lazy eyebrow. "Names?..the whales?"

"Yes silly goose."

"Amos and Andy." Rebecca replied pointing each out from her reclined position. "Apparently there's a Starfleet tradition of naming Whales after old Vaudeville acts."

(OOC: Ala George and Gracie from ST:IV)

Holli chuckled. "You're still my same old daughter. I distinctly remember your habit of giving every stinking cow in our herd its own unique name. Every year a new herd, and every year a new batch of names. Holli smiled, "If it wasn't for that photographic memory of yours hon, I don't know how you would have kept them straight."

Rebecca nodded, her so called perfect recall was something of a mixed blessing of late. Even though she could years later still remember the names of every single cow her Parents ever raised on their small Minnesotan farm, her talents were more recently pressed into more devious and deadly service for the benefit of Starfleet.

"I remember them Momma." She said simply. "I remember them all..even Madame Moo-Moo."

Holli frowned. The selling off of Little Rebecca's favorite cow, Madame Moo-Moo had been a particularly traumatic experience in the then 8 year old girl's life. Amazing that she still bore a grudge over that.

"Momma.." Rebecca looked up at her beautiful mother, "I missed you so badly these past few years...e.ever since I .I .left home really."

"There there baby." Holli soothed. "No need to get nervous and stutter with me. Besides, you're a big girl now. Look at you, all grown up and flying spaceships now."

"Starships momma."

"Whatever." Holli tossed her long hair with a playful flourish. "The point is you're not a little farmgirl now. You're an officer in Starfleet, head of your own department, and running around making friends with Klingons and Borg and things like that."

"Actually the Borg aren't too friendly Momma." Rebecca giggled.

"Well you ought to see the Ferengi traders that drop in from time to time to look over the cattle. I swear it don't even want to think about what happens to the poor things once I sell them off to market."

Rebecca scrunched her freckled nose in disgust. "Ewwww..does Damon Hoj still come by?" Rebecca remembered times as a little 12 year old girl when the Ferengi Merchant would make purchases from her mother's cattle stock.

Holli laughed merrily. "Ha! Old Hoj. No I haven't seen him since you left for the Academy. I don't think he ever got used to the idea of dealing with a human female for business transactions...let alone a clothed one."

Rebecca stuck out her tongue. "Yuk."

For long moments of time the two women sat there in silence, Rebecca's head cradled in Holli's lap as the gentle brushing of her mothers fingers threatened to send her off into a blissful doze. The occasional soft gurgling from the huge whale tanks only served to soften the mood to one of tranquility and peace.

For the first time in nearly six years, Rebecca was almost at peace. She couldn't quite put her finger on why, but ever since those frantic days at the Academy, her life seemed to be one disaster after the next. First those dismal days at Starbase 108, followed by the disastrous events aboard the USS Victory at Nar Hallas. She shuddered slightly, the images of the Lyran starship detonating in low orbit still gave her nightmares...~~~All those poor people on the surface..~~~~

Sighing deeply. Rebecca forced back the images of past horror, only to be flooded with tragedies of a more recent nature:

Nilani Kahn.....

James Corgan...

The counseling incident with Michael O' Grady...

The incident in the Brig...

The battle with the Borg Fleet....

The meddling of Admiral Hoth...

~~~Noodles...noodles to all of them..~~~ she fretted.

Sensing her daughter's sudden tension, Holli frowned. Her heart ached for her poor little Rebecca, but the be honest she had no idea what was going on. Rebecca may have still considered herself a shy little farmgirl, but Holli could see it from another perspective:

Rebecca was so close to the problem that she failed to recognize how far she had truly come...

She was less shy than usual, but less happy as well. Fear seemed to have been slowly replaced with an even worse emotion...regret and guilt.

~~~And lonliness...~~~ Holli thought to herself. She had been aboard for over a week now, and except for a brief run in with Lieutenants Corgan and Reese, Holli was quite aware that Rebecca had had no interaction with other crew members other than on an official basis.

Clearing her throat softly Holli ventured to speak, "You know Hon.its nice that your able to spend so much time with me during my visit, but I hate to take you away from the rest of your social life..I could stand to be on my own for an evening or two.

Holli felt Rebecca twitch a bit on her lap, and there was a pause before she responded. "Its okay Momma..I like spending time with you."

"Well that's nice and all silly," Holli smiled, "But surely you don't need to drag your fuddy-duddy mother along to everything now do you?"

Rebecca snorted a short laugh, "DRAG you along!?! Momma, every time I turn around recently you have dragged YOURSELF along to my duty stations..The Holodeck.the Bridge for noodles sakes!"

"Oh, I'm sorry.I just.."

"No really Momma, It's okay. It was worth it to see the expressions on Sanchez's and The Captains faces. Priceless. (No pun intended) The truth is, you're the real party animal in the family, and I'm the old fuddy-duddy. I haven't been out socializing...well never."

"What about those nice friends I met in the hall before we left?" Holli asked.

Rebecca tensed again. Corgan and Reece were a particularly sore subject, and she was totally confused as how to handle it. If anyone could be considered a friend, they could...at least she thought so. The tall security officer turned Ops handler totally confused her. What the noodles was he thinking? What was the truth?

Then she remembered her own rather erratic behavior around Corgan on one fateful night of deep depression and she realized she hadn' t been treating him fairly either.

As for Electra..well things seemed okay with her, but conflicting schedules just seemed to conspire to keep them from getting together...at least since the Spaghetti incident.

"Hello Rebecca you in there?" her mother called teasingly when she didn't answer right away.

"Oh, uh sure.I'm sorry, They..they're fine Momma.I just don't hang out much with anybody."

The long haired farm woman considered that for a moment as she watched the idle whales drift by slowly. What was wrong with her daughter? She was 25 years old, and acting like a scared 12 year old. Why did she go out? What happened between her and Jimmy Corgan? What had Starfleet done to traumatize her so?

"Well poop on acting like an old lady!" Holli chastised while giving Rebecca a playful smack on the head. "What about that announcement for that ship-wide costume party I head overhead earlier? Why don't you go to that? It'll be fun to dress up and all."

Rebecca shrugged. "Eh.You can if you want Momma. It sound more like your speed. I have some work to do this evening anywa----WHAAOOOO!!!!"

With a sudden flailing of limbs and a soft THUD, Rebecca von Ernst found herself rather rudely rolled off the couch by her own mother and dumped on the soft lounge floor. "Mother!?!" she whirled her head around accusingly to see her innocent looking mom sitting pertly on the edge of the couch staring down at her. "Oops my hands slipped." Holli said simply. " But as long as you're up you might as well go out and do something."

Grumbling under her breath, Rebecca picked herself off the carpet and turning her back to her mother walked over to gaze into the giant floor to ceiling window of the whale tank. The slightly chilled surface of the glass tickled her freckled little nose but she ignored it.

"What do you want form me Momma? I'm not some darling little socialite-queen, nor the life of the party."

Holli drew her slim legs up underneath her and frowned at her Daughters small frame silhouetted by the enormous Aquarium. ~~~She looks so fragile~~~ "I want you to be happy baby. I want you to go have fun with kids your own age."

Rebecca didn't turn but idly fogged the window with her breath, enjoying the way the transparent aluminum misted over just like real glass. "I don't have friends my age Momma. I don't have friends period, and I sure don't have fun."

"But what about.."

"NO Momma." Rebecca interrupted. "That's not me." With the tip of her finger she doodled a small stick-figure in the fogged glass, and admired it for a moment before erasing it with the back of her hand. "I'm not Rebecca the social bug, or Rebecca the girl from Rural Minnesota..Heck I'm not even Cadet Cloaking Device anymore.."

The red headed officer paused and stared into the depths of the crushing pressures before her. Part of her seemed to feel those tons squeezing down on her fragile little psyche, scarring it forever.

"What I am.." She continued, "Is the newest TOP GUN of the Federation. As of a few months ago I have the dubious honor of being the single officer responsible for more deaths than any other in the fleet."

"Impossi-" Holli began before Rebecca cut her off.

"Believe it Momma." For a long time it was some guy named John Luke Picard who was responsible for about 11,000 Dead at a place called Wolf 359. You remember the news reports?"

"I do." Holli whispered

"Well so do I even though I was a teenager when it happened..but since then I have visited 359. At any rate you add that figure to a couple of Borg Cubes at about 10,000 crew each and add in a few Romulan Warbird Crews and you have roughly 40 to 50,000 dead because of Picard."

Holli nodded silently.

"Heck.I killed 15,000 at Nar Hallas when the Black Jaguar detonated in low orbit, and thanks to our new Multiphasic weaponry..this is classified by the way..I have personally destroyed 39 Borg Cubes, totaling almost half a million dead because of little miss Social bug! HALF A MILLION! And you know hat Momma?"

Rebecca turned back to face her horror-struck mother.

"I...I .I think that's all I'm ever going t.t.to be good at." Tears were welling up behind Rebecca's deep brown eyes, and her tiny shoulders were shaking visibly. "I don 't know who I am or what I am. You raised me to be a proper, well adjusted little girl, but I don't think I'll ever be that. I'm garbage! I'm not worth anything to anybody except in some crazy old Admiral's fiendish plans! "

"Rebecca-"

"Momma please...Boys don't like me. I've never ever ever EVER been asked out on a date! NEVER! When you were my age you already had a kid. I havent even had a boyfriend. Noodles, I don't even know if I'm supposed to have a boyfriend! "

Rebecca grabbed the front of her simple shirt to emphasize her point, "Look at me! I look like a boy Momma. Heck the only person who ever tried to hit on me was another girl!!! You know what that means!?! It means I'm second class citizen..I'm not good enough for guys! The one guy I tried to kiss totally rejected me and is probably laughing his patootie off at me now!"

Holli listened closely as she felt her own heart breaking for her poor daughter. She remembered her own struggle with the tendency towards skinnyness for von Ernst Women, and had her own issues with the 'flat-chest' dilemma as a teenager. But Holli was always energetic and outgoing and had no problems making lots of friends. She had Cross-Country Running in school, and soon after had found John, whose tastes ran towards slender women anyways....poor Rebecca had nobody. Nobody except the overbearing powers that be at Starfleet.

"I.I.feel like I'm going Crazy Momma!" Rebecca spread her arms helplessly, framing herself neatl against the window, "I don't feel like a girl..I feel like an IT."

She hung her head. "I'm not even sure I even care anymore.." Rebecca mumbled, "What else is there anyways?"

Holli unfolded her legs and came off the couch smoothly, moving towards her sobbing daughter, her flowing hair trailing behind like a cloak of red silk.

Alone with the creatures of the deep...

Alone in a tiny unoccupied corner of the galaxy....

Alone and insignificant in the face of the universes awesome eternity...two women hugged and cried.

And that somehow, was the most important thing in the universe at the moment.

=/\=

"Medical Emergency."
By Lt. Commander Peterson
Chief Science Officer

The door shut behind Kent as he walked out. Two security officers had been dispatched to his quarters to identify the assailant - he had also requested that his own forensics department take a look also. It was not that he lacked confidence in the ability of the Security department, but having someone uninvited in his quarters unnerved him a little. The incident itself made him a little irritable - just one more thing to have to think about.

Taking Captain Price's advice the chief scientist finally got around to heading towards Three of Four's cargo bay. The facility itself had been converted primarily for her use - the regeneration alcove itself consuming vast amount of energy. Since no one really wanted to be in the same room as a Borg drone, it was only logical that its cargo be diverted to one of the numerous other bays on the Galaxy-class vessel.

Kent himself still had obvious apprehension about visiting Three of Four, but he was only now starting to accept that 'it' was not going away. A deal was a deal - even if it was with the Devil herself.

Navigating through the decks and corridors of the mightly Starship Galaxy he finally reached the cargo bay. Taking a deep breath - and letting it out in a similarly deep sigh - he approached the doors until they parted.

Peterson stopped midway while the doors were parted, but he did not walk through them. He stopped for a moment to remind himself why he was there.

"It's work," Kent said as he reassured himself that Three of Four was NOT Kathryn Rogers, the ensign he once knew from the USS Roosevelt.

Finally walking through, the cargo bay doors closed. To his left were cargo containers that still had to be moved, but he noticed the drone in her alcove at the far right of the facility. He remained there and watched 'it' for a few moments before finally walking over to her.

As a drone he did not expect much emotion or reaction to his presence, but Kent was distrubed by her lack of movement. The reports he had received from Lieutenant James Mithcell, his assistant chief scientist, suggested the drone usually acknowledged a humanoid presence moments after entering the room.

Getting closer he noticed that Three of Four was simply standing there, motionless, but not apparenlty injured. The drone did not register his presence.

Kent walked beside the alcove - warey that it was not some elaborate deception. The Collection had deviated from their Directive fifteen years earlier and deception was one of the many traits they had gained from assimilating other humanoids. With Romulans and Cardassians added to their distinctiveness, it was not surprising since both species had used it in diplomatic and military tactics.

The Borg heiroglyphics were unclear at best, but there was definitely something wrong. Reaching across his chest, Kent tapped the communicator firmly attached to his uniform, "Peterson to Sickbay. Medical emergency in Cargo Bay Seven."

As the ship's communicator relayed the message he had to stop for a moment - should he call Sickbay or Engineering. The drone was more machine than woman.

"Reunited"
By The O'Grady's

Mike decided to talk to Rayna today, see how she was doing. He was tired at work anyway so he went home.

Sighing he headed in to check on Miles, "Hon? you home?" Rayna walked out, "Shhh. I just laid him down for a nap." She sat down on the couch, "You're home early. Didn't expect you for another hour." "Well it ain't like there's much to do, for a large galaxy class ship, this crew is remarkably well balanced."

"I wouldn't know. I feel so distant from the rest of the ship. No one even knows that I exist on this ship but that's okay. I like the peace and quiet...well, when Miles isn't crying." Mike walked over and kissed his wife, then followed it with a hug. "How's he been?"

"Fine. He eats, sleeps and, well, you know. I 'm not complaining. I'm glad he likes to sleep."

"You and me both." Mike smiled, "I hear him some times and when i can I get up, but if he's hungry... well I can't exactly breastfeed him." She laughed, "You could try." She couldn't resist teasing him.

He smiled then opened his uniform shirt, "well I'm not properly equipped." Then he kissed her again, and noted her chest, "you on the other hand... aside from cutting a very nice figure in a bikini are equipped." "I believe father like son. He's noticed too." She smiled at him, "Okay, enough about my breast. Are you hungry?" She caught another joke, "I mean, I could scrounge up some replicated grub." He nodded, "I could eat, but then again I always could." Then he surprised her with a rather passionate kiss.

"Aren't we a little feisty? Anything that I should know?" She teased again.

Grinning Mike kissed her again, this time his hand went to her breast and he caressed her gently, "what? It's been a while..." "Uh huh." She had heard rumors but wasn't one much to believe them, "But then again, they're just rumors."

"What rumors?" He asked with a surprised look.

"Just strange things going on, that's all. I really haven't been paying attention to them. After all, I am on maternity leave. I'm supposed to be not concerned about anything except my family." Mike nodded, "Yea there are some weirdness, I sent a memo to Karyn, those guests give me the willies, I'd rather avoid them if at all possible." "Well, you can lock yourself in here with me and the kids." "Oooh." Mike gave her a sly smile, "that sounds like a nice idea, lock myself in here with you.... "

She looked at him, "And the kids."

"Well they aren't invited...." Mike was still teasing her. "I don't work well with an audience."

"I'm afraid you have no choice and neither do they. Speaking of the devil...I swear he wakes up at the drop of a hat." She went into the room and patted Miles back to sleep.

Mike noted how tired the poor boy was and after he was sleeping he slipped his arms around her waist and hugged her gently. "Have I said that you look so incredibly sexy today yet?"

She nodded, "You said that this morning, last night, the day before and the day before that but I never get tired of hearing it." He leaned in and gently nibbled on her ear, "Well it's true... you are a very sexy woman Mrs. O'Grady."

"I'm not disputing that. In fact, I am the sexiest woman on this ship and don't you forget it." She kissed him back,

"Thanks." "I'll never ever forget it." He deepened the kiss then gently caressed her cheek. "How you feeling today?" He asked her softly, some of it was wondering if it was too soon, but most of it was real concern for her physical well being."

"In a few weeks I'll be back to my old self...well, almost. Talking to Karyn, it has helped a great deal."

"I'm glad babe. Karyn's a good boss. If you wanted to go to the gym I'll watch Miles?" He had been to the gym already.

"No, I'm too tired to do any real physical stuff today. I don't get it either. It's not like I've done anything strenuous." He shrugged, "it's work raising kids." He began to gently massage her shoulders. "Any word if we can take Gillian home today?"

"I haven't heard anything yet but I'm sure that she's due to come home. We could go over there and see if they'll spring her." Mike smiled and then decided to kiss her again, Once the kiss broke he said, "ok now let's go get our daughter."

As they walked to sickbay, Rayna could feel the excitement well up inside of her. She was ready to take on the second one, completing their family.

Mike could feel the excitement, "Docs said she's strong." "I know she is and that is what I am counting on. I've been waiting it seems like forever."

He slipped his arms around her for a hug. "Our family is complete mommy." She smiled and nodded, "Yes it is...daddy." The lift doors opened and they walked in to sickbay, it was it's usual chaotic state and they flagged down a medical officer and explained why they were here.

"Oh yes, we were going to contact you but as you can see, we are quite busy.

She is free to go but if you have any concerns or questions, you know where to find us." Rayna tried not to jump up and down. Instead, she grabbed her daughter and made Mike grab her things and they went back to their quarters, reuniting the twins.

"Danger From All Sides"
A prelude of things to come...

‘New Zealand Penal Colony scene'
By Lieutenant Lita Jovan, Starfleet Intelligence's ‘TacOps' Squad And Commander K'ringe, son of K'akle, Klingon Defence Force

‘Smashed up Sanity Records scene'
By Courtney Elizabeth Corgan, CEO of Smashed up Sanity Records And Vincent Rios, Producer, Smashed up Sanity Records

‘Trouble on Vulcan scene'
By Lieutenant jg. Sotek, Science Officer, USS Tokyo And Stane, Vulcan High Priest

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

"New Zealand Penal Colony"

On this day, a crazed man went free.

At the beautifully scenic New Zealand minimum security penal colony, the proud warrior K'ringe, son of K'ackle, walked out of it's bar-less doors a free man. As a trained warrior, and one of the elite among the elite Klingon Defense Force, he was a man that could have easily orchestrated a way out of the prison. No, it was not K'ringe's way of dealing with problems. Running around the colony, with his trusty Mek'leth in his hands, slaying each and every one of the pathetic and puny humans while singing out an opera about his exploits turned out to be dishonorable, according to the rules of Kahless.

K'ringe was a patient man, for a Klingon anyways. He could afford to wait the last six years, honing his already formidable killing skills inside his spacious and luxurious prison cell. He counted down the days, relishing each drop of sweat trickling down his face as practice swing after practice swing brought him closer to his goals. As easy as it would have been to gut every human in the building, especially the annoying landscaper with the genetically modified son, no, he was patient, and he decided to bide his time. All those years of practice, of plotting, and practicing his plotting made him into the Klingon he was today.

As he walked into the main lobby of the penal building, K'ringe truly felt rehabilitated.

Yesterday, he was hard at work, doing his thousandth pushup, when the warden told him the good news. He was going free. His sentence for attempted manslaughter was served to it's fullest, plus the extra year for assaulting the warden after a failed probation hearing. He was free to go back to Quo'nos, back to disgrace, but at least away from the humans that tried his patience.

But no. This was not the time to go back home. He waited and trained six whole years for these events to unfold. In order to gain his honor back, he had to complete the task that got him in trouble in the first place. His mind was set on one task and one alone.

Kill Corgan. Kill Corgan. His mind repeated the mantra.

First, the tools of the trade had to be returned. The Federation was lenient on the Klingon warrior after he assaulted and nearly slew a young cadet whom dishonored his woman's name. They didn't decide to recycle his battle armor, nor his disrupter pistol, or even the prized Mek'leth kept in the House K'ackle family since the time of Kahless (it was rumored one of K'ringe's decedents shaved Kahless's ass stubble with the renowned blade). He took the items into his massive arms and walked into a changing booth. A few minutes later, K'ringe came out a new Klingon.

He was huge, armed to the teeth, and deadly. He had the look of a warrior on a trail of vengeance. Finally, honor would be avenged.

"I shall be avenged soon, and my honor will be..."

K'ringe looked, acted and even sounded poetic at that moment, almost like Kahless himself, until his ‘woman' appeared.

"K'ringe, you stupid @$$hole.... get over here NOW!" Screamed the domineering voice of a redheaded woman in a Starfleet uniform. She wore the face of a woman of power, a woman confident of all she did and a master of all she controlled. Her hair was shoulder length and red, like the blood she would spill if K'ringe didn't do what she said. She was a little short, only five foot three, but her deceptive frame packed wiry muscles and a sly intellect. Her black and gray uniform partially hid her red shirt and two brass buttons on the collar, and the symbol of Starfleet Intelligence on the background of a shield and two crossed swords on the opposite end of her neck. At the bottom of the crest, it read in engraved letters ‘TacOps' Quick Response Squadron. The woman had some evident credentials on her neck, then imagine the other credentials she doesn't wear on her uniform. A former Red Squad leader, top ten in her class, confirmed thirty five Jem'Hadar kills during the last year of the war, and a reputation for being ‘persuasive', she was, and always will be, the most impressive Lieutenant in Starfleet.

And now Lieutenant Lita Jovan was in a pissed off mood.

"When I tell you to hurry the hell up, you do it, got it?" Lita hissed.

"Yes..." K'ringe growled.

"Aren't you missing something? Yes...." She trailed.

K'ringe rolled his eyes and sighed, "Yes mistress..."

Lita's face turned from the fiercest woman in the galaxy to a kitten in under a second. "That's better!" She lit up, jumping up on the mountainous Klingon and giving him a French kiss as she wrapped her legs around his torso. Despite all the physical, emotional and sexual abuse Lita put through her pet Klingon, K'ringe took it in stride. It wasn't everyday he could fulfill his fetish for human women while finding one that understood the value of breaking his hip during sexual intercourse. K'ringe (and a lot of admirals knew) she was one of a kind, a woman worthy of writing her name and her communicator number inside a waste extraction stall.

As for Lita, she enjoyed having the brutish Klingon around. He was handy for all sorts of messy jobs, including their latest task.

"K'ringe baby... I've got a little bit of good news for ya' hon'." She cooed, "It involved a certain ex-boyfriend of mine."

"Corgan..." K'ringe's bloodthirsty growled emanated from his gut, "He is without honor. I will slay him quickly and efficiently."

"N'ahh uhhhh uhhh," She waved her index finger in front of K'ringe's nose, "You heard the Klingon judicial courts. You were lucky enough to get away with attempted manslaughter, and thanks to me and your good family, you were transferred to New Zealand. If you try to kill that loser once again, the Federation will charge you with attempted murder. Not only they throw you into a maximum security complex, they'll have you chased by starving targs wearing nothing but a thin coating of steak sauce."

"But... Mistress... my honor?"

"What about it? In case you haven't noticed, you don't have any of it, remember? Father disowning because you couldn't kill a lowly human? All that jazz?"

"Mistress... if I reclaim my honor, perhaps I'll be allowed back into my house. The only way I can do that is to kill that p'tak James Corgan!"

"Hhhhhuuuuuuuummmm... fine." She sighed, "I'll let you humiliate, injure, cripple, even turn my loser ex-boyfriend into a vegetable, but you can't kill him. Besides... you can still regain your honor without having to kill him. And not only that, I get to see him suffer."

K'ringe looked forward to killing James Corgan, ever since the day Federation security broke up a fight between him and the former academy cadet. Being Klingon custom to find out about his mate before going through with marriage, K'ringe asked the first person on an extensive list of ex-boyfriends about Lita Jovan. James told some stories that did not set well in K'ringe's mind. Lita warned the Klingon about James being a ‘vindictive loser', and he didn't believe in such rumors too much until he heard the lewd stories about his mate from the mouth of the cursing spacer. It only took a few minutes before K'ringe threw his Mek'leth at the cadet and challenged him to a duel for the next night. Who could blame the Klingon? Anyone, much less a Klingon, would get angry when their mate was labeled a ‘sl*t'.

The next night, James didn't show up. Not a big surprise for K'ringe. Most humans were cowardly or they didn't have enough respect for Klingon rituals. K'ringe specifically told James the fight to the death was a ritual for dishonoring his mate, but did James take stock in this? No. Over the communicator, he told the Klingon to ‘blow it out his ass'. So, K'ringe waited at the doorstep of his dormacile, until Corgan walked out, weilding his Mek'leth like a brave warrior, had the gall to tell K'ringe to ‘f**k off'. He couldn't control himself any longer. K'ringe leaped and attacked the brash cadet with all his might, right in front of his dishonored mate. Corgan was quick and equally enraged, but K'ringe was a warrior of the Klingon Defense Force, which made him an infinitely better skilled fighter. Before long, he had Corgan disarmed and on his knees. Before K'ringe could chop off his head and disembowel him in a split second, Corgan mentioned something about K'ringe being ‘not half as scary as a drone'. That was the last straw, the action to bring on what would have been a killing blow, until five security officers tackled K'ringe to the ground. Corgan was not charged, thanks to the witnesses whom all said he was defending himself, while K'ringe was sent straight to jail.

There was hell to pay for six years of confinement, where the beds were not hard and the food was always dead and cooked, the sun always shone and the birds always sang without worry of being killed and eaten. Earth was hell, and Corgan trapped his Klingon adversary there. He was going to pay dearly.

"The worthless worm deserves to die." K'ringe spat.

"I'm sure I can persuade you to just... cripple him, can't I?" Lita fully kissed K'ringe, stuffing her tongue far into his throat and gently rubbing his coarse chest armor with her smooth hands.

"You're right." K'ringe said begrudgingly, "My honor can be fulfilled without killing him. But not all of my honor will remain intact, unless I parade him throughout Quo'nos and have a statue made for him to place in the Halls of the Dishonorable. That way, my honor will be fully restored."

"Don't forget to hog tie him and stuff an apple in his mouth. I want to be there with a holocam for that." Lita spoke, "Now, let's hurry. I got the runabout Rhine waiting for us out back. James is serving on a ship called the Galaxy right now as a Security Officer. It's in the middle of nowhere, so tracking it will be easy. I told my superiors that I'm trying to track down an enemy spy, so they won't suspect. We'll be there in a few days if we get our asses in gear."

Finally, K'ringe was going to get his revenge. Six years was a long time to wait. Now, it was all coming together, thanks to a wonderful girlfriend and a new chance at gaining honor.

"Is it true what they say about prisoners being let out?" Lita whispered in his ear, "About being insatiable? I say as soon as we warp out of the system we test the runabout's inertial dampners."

K'ringe let out a wide, sharp toothy grin. Indeed, this was a good day to live.

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

Meanwhile, at "Smashed up Sanity" records...

"Computer, display sales figures for ‘The Lost Souls, Deux Ex'." Commanded CEO Courtney Elizabeth Corgan.

The gigantic LCARS display hanging meters away from the desk of the galaxy's most successful music mogul displayed the requested stats for The Lost Soul's debut album. James Corgan's band was successful back in the year 2374, where their aggressive sound and remorseful tunes fit in well with the current generation. Some would say it was a reflection of the times. Chaotic surroundings made for chaotic music, and a band that could reflect the times while having a sense of talent helped make The Lost Souls very popular.

The sales figures showed how popular The Lost Souls became. In three years, they sold over a million copies of ‘Deux Ex'.

"Computer, now show the current sales of their remix album ‘Mystics'."

The sales figures for ‘Mystics', the album The Lost Souls made of different versions of their popular songs appeared right beside the statistics for Deux Ex. The record didn't sell as much as the original, and it only had seven tracks as opposed to the twenty four from the previous release, but it was expected. The remix albums catered to the hardcore fans with who wanted to hear the other versions.

"Computer, show the current sales of ‘The San Francisco Sessions'."

The statistics for ‘The San Francisco Sessions' album spiked up the chart, surpassing the point marked for ‘Deux Ex'. It stopped at 1.3 million copies of the album sold. It took three years for ‘Deux Ex' to reach a million, thanks to a second spurt in sales. San Francisco Sessions took only a few months to rise to fame, and it already surpassed Deux Ex's sales.

"Computer, compare Lost Souls album sales compared to the following bands... Latinum Glam Queens, Bloody Targs, The Scottish Slamtastics, The Jaded Wankers, Que'toks and Zog Spacedust and the Beetles from Krenor."

The listed bands showed up beside the sales of the Lost Souls sales. The two Ferengi latinum glam bands each came up with half a million sales. The Klingon bands, one a Rock Opera quartet and the other specializing in Klingon black metal rock, placed 75 and 86 thousand recordings sold. The Earth grown talents of an Electronica/Techno-Industrial band and a Scottish bagpipe/guitar punk band brought in each 80 thousand. Though only a small fraction of the population bought such music, these were impressive sales for what was considered a dead art form.

The art of rock and roll, and all it's derivatives.

And still, no band reached platinum sales like The Lost Souls. They were the crown jewels of the recording industry, the band of misfit academy outcasts turned angry and aggressive musicians (except the Vulcan harpist Sotek, she was never angry) lead by the mentally unbalanced and tortured soul of James Lionel Corgan. A pet project done after school, for Sotek's doctorate on ‘Human Emotion, and their Effect on Artistic Sound' turned around a dying record company. There was no doubt that the Lost Souls saved Smashed up Sanity records. Courtney was knee deep in Ferengi debt slips before James came up to her with an innocent request to record an album.

Thanks to him, the company was saved from bankruptcy, and it became the huge conglomerate it became to this day.

Now, it was time to repeat the process over again, with one change. This time, Smashed up Sanity Records had the financial backing, the drive, and the advertising campaign to send it's prized band from a cult following into the clutches of superstardom. No longer would rock and roll (and all it's derivatives) take a backseat to boring old Jazz. No longer would rock and roll be held back by unoriginal classical recordings. No longer would rock and roll have to sit in the shadows of dull operas or hokey folk music. The human race's most dynamic and rebellious music form would once again rise out of the ashes and re-claim it's crown lost since the twenty first century.

There was one element missing...

Where was the freaking band?!?!?!

No word from the lead singer and older brother of the CEO has been heard from in weeks. ‘Machinations', the prototype name for the new album, was way behind in scheduling. The touring equipment that was first tested during the release party of ‘The San Francisco Sessions' was still being tested with less than happy results, and the Exodus, the Oberth Class touring ship owned by the company, was having a complete warp core overhaul.

How was Smashed up Sanity going to upstage it's competition when it's star band couldn't get together? All the members of the group were dispersed over the Galaxy. More than half of the band was still in Starfleet, with James on the Galaxy, Hikari Jo'hann on the Toronto, Gary Freeman just tranferred to Starbase 12 and Gerald Morton trapped in an isolated monitoring station. Sotek was somewhere on Vulcan for reasons unknown and Lita Jordan retired from Starfleet to jump on a job in the private sector, mainly, being the head holodesigner for Smashed up Sanity Records. No wonder work for the new record couldn't be done. Everyone was flung across the Galaxy. The new holotechnology Lita invented to solve such a problem was buggy at this stage. Combining subspace communications, holotechnology, and creating perfect timing so that everything synchronized without burning out the equipment was a tricky task. Therefore, no way for the entire group to get together.

This made Courtney agitated. They had a contract to fulfill, dammit!

"Computer, shut down and retract screen."Courtney commanded. The large screen pulled it's way back into the office's ceiling. Courtney stared blankly at the wall, planning on what to do about her current dilemma.

The doorbell rang, indicating the presence of somebody else.

"Come in." She invited.

The doors swished open. Vincent Rios, a shareholder and producer in the record company, confidently strode into the room with a stack of PADDs and a big, goofy grin. As a producer, he moulded the new talent, turning them into future rockstars. The week was his, for he finished working with the Scottish Slamtastics on their latest album ‘Gaelic Swing'.

Courtney was not in the mood to hear about his good news, now while her pet project was running loose across the galaxy.

"What is it, Vinny?" Courtney huffed.

"Some reports, that's all. Came to give you an update on the Slamtastics. The album has been completed. We can ship it any time you want." Vincent Rios reported.

"Good. We'll ship it on Friday. We'll want to release it just in time for the holidays." Courtney sighed. She shifted her eyes away from Vincent Rios. She wasn't in the mood to talk to the usually enthusiastic producer.

Vincent read her thoughts like a book. Courtney wasn't very good at hiding her emotions. "Something wrong, boss?"

Courtney turned her gaze back to Vincent, "Sure is. Lost Souls are behind in their record production, thanks to them being apart from each other all the time. Jeez... sometimes I wish my brother would get out of Starfleet and get the rest of his band together. Instead, I don't know when they're going to book some studio time, and I don't know how much work they've done on Machinations. I have my brother on contract you know."

"Then tell him to hurry it up a little." Vincent suggested.

"I can't." She complained, "Starfleet's more important to James than music. Hell, I don't know why. He's always complaining about the war and all the fighting he's done. You'd think he would be smart enough to quit and take a job here, but no. He ‘hates Earth'. I can't believe he'd stay in Starfleet just because it allows him to stay in space. He could have been a merchant marine or he could have lived on a Starbase, but no. He had to be in Starfleet. Because of that, and the rest of his Starfleet friends, we've been shortchanged one album."

"We could always visit your brother." Vincent said.

"We could..."

Courtney trailed off as she slipped into deep thought. She weighted her options a little before taking Vincent's advice. The last she heard, her older brother was serving on a ship called the Galaxy, a ship similar to her parent's last assignment, the Odyssey. She didn't look forward to stepping on one of those dreaded starships again. Mother and Father lost their lives living on such ships, and she worried daily that James would be the next to die in her family.

Then again, record sales were at stake. It was worth a little emotional stress and discomfort.

"Vinny, is the Exodus ready to depart yet?" Courtney asked.

"No, it isn't." Vincent said, "It's still having a warp core overhaul."

"Oh, ok... we'll take the Hendrix instead. I'll meet you at Cape Canaveral tomorrow morning. In the meantime, I want you to find the location of a Federation starship called the USS Galaxy..."

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

Meanwhile still, on the desert planet of Vulcan, at Mount Zio's Religious Sanctuary, High Priest Stane defied all Vulcan logic.

"I will kill the one you mated with, Sotek. I swear it, on my father's lirpa, I shall kill this man known as Corgan."

Sotek was as disgusted as her hidden Vulcan expressions could allow. Stane was going through the early stages of Pon'farr, the deadly Vulcan biological urge to ‘f**k or be f**ked'. It was literally do or die for the illogical acting High Priest. The fever in his head rose and threatened to boil him alive.

At any time, Stane and his newly betrothed Sotek could go through the rituals of the Pon'farr, have some enormous Vulcan beefcake fight the high priest, have Stane win the fight then allow Stane to take Lieutenant Sotek away to his secret love nest nestled high in the Sartak mountain ranges for a long night of intimate love making.

The plan would have worked if it wasn't for Corgan's actions years before. Stane almost felt regret for going to Risa for the annual High Priest conference. While he was away, Sotek felt her Pon'farr rising. The unwitting human, thinking it to be nothing serious, suffered an entire night of intense sexual activity at the hands of the Sotek. In Stane's eyes, she became damaged goods the second James Corgan entered her.

Logically, James did the right thing, saving Sotek's life for the greater good, but Stane was not in the mood to think logically. Sotek was his mate and his alone. The thought of a human violating what was rightfully his seemed irrepressible.

Sotek didn't like the jealous quality in Stane. It was an illogical trait to possess. If it wasn't for the arranged marriage, the more liberal Starfleet Lieutenant would have abandoned her more conservative husband.

"You are acting illogical again. The Pon'farr is affecting you." Sotek reminded Stane.

"No... I am acting perfectly logical for the situation at hand." Stane's voice quivered. "According to the sacred texts, I must challenge and kill Corgan in a duel. Otherwise, I cannot rightfully claim you as my mate."

"Stane, I want you to desist this train of thought." Sotek calmly commanded, "The Pon'farr is affecting your judgement. I suggest you let me alleviate your discomfort before you perish from the blood fever."

"No!" Stane yelled, swiping his arm and knocking over a decanter of water, "This human you mated with took away what is rightfully mine. He did, as the humans say, ‘break the seal'. He violated you. You, being... saved... by a human! How deplorable!"

"Calm yourself." Sotek warned, "Spock was the product of a human and a Vulcan. He became one of our greatest heros. Do not say interracial interaction is flawed, for it too can teach us lessons."

"Your example is flawed." Stane countered, "He wants to re-unite us with the barbaric Romulans. I do not consider him a hero. And as for your interactions with other species, I have had quite enough of it. You, being sympathetic towards these emotional creatures... how dare you! The religious community on Vulcan is ashamed of your actions. Mating with a human, playing their music, defending their emotional volatility and calling it a worthwhile trait... you disappoint me, Sotek."

"I told you before, it was the logical way to study the cultures of other races, by participating in their art. How many Vulcans have truly studied artforms in such ways? Nobody has. I am the first to do so. It is illogical to consider learning about other cultures taboo in your religious community. Do you not agree?"

"No I do not. It's such interaction that erodes our logic and emotional self control."

Sotek became as fed up with Stane's illogical arguments as a Vulcan could be. She didn't know why her parents considered the two to be a compatible pair. They both came from opposite ends of the Vulcan spectrum. Stane was a religious leader who kept with the strict doctrine recorded in books as old as Sartak himself. Sotek was a traveller of the stars whom seen many interesting things during her travels. Her liberal views didn't blend well with Stane's religious life, while Stane's misgivings on outside races would not work well in an environment of peace and understanding, such as a Federation starship.

"We must continue the ritual, before my time runs out." Stane was adamant in his request.

"You do not need to do the dominant mate ritual before Pon'farr. There is nothing in the religious text that commands you to take such action. I request that you do not go through with this. It is..."

Then Sotek was cut off by her aggressive husband, "Illogical! I don't care how illogical it is. I have to uphold the traditions of my religious order. If I do not, I will be banned from my order and forced to live among the commoners. The religious texts were actually quite clear on this. Two potential mates fight, only one survives. That way, the strongest will live on. Is it not logical to be left with the best potential mate?"

She was trapped at Stane's exact words. True, it was logical for the two combatants to fight and for one to die. Such actions were taken in nature, a human law called ‘survival of the fittest'. The stronger mate produced stronger children.

~"How debased, yet how logical. I must not let him go through with the fight, but how..."~ Sotek wondered.

"Come now, my dear." Stane shook, "I am about to take my first trip into space. We have a shuttle waiting for us to go to this ship you call the Galaxy..."

How Does A Psycho Say, "I Love You?"
A Joint Post By:
Lieutenant jg Electra Reece
Lieutenant jg James Lionel Corgan
Commander Counselor Karyn Dallas RN

Karyn moved about sickbay trying to make sense of the organized chaos around her. Since the arrival of Corgan and Reece, the number of strange cases which featured unexplained blood loss seemed to have grown exponentially. What had started as a simple trip to meet their Sanguinarian guests had quickly turned into something a great deal more frightening, and while they knew without a doubt now that Lord Vlad and Lady Lilith were involved and had some explaining to do, it did nothing to alleviate their immediate problems, namely people losing blood faster than the medical staff could keep up with. Between the number of people who were in need of medical attention and the number of arrivals offering to donate blood, Karyn was just trying to get a handle on moving around and keeping things moving smoothly.

Dr. Sansky had summoned Lee what seemed like hours ago, though truthfully she wasn't sure what the captain was going to be able to at the moment.

Until they found Vlad and Lilith, they were doing the best they could to keep their heads above water. She owed it to him, though to report her encounter with Vlad and offer her take on this unusual medical mystery, and frankly, she would be grateful to receive updated news from the bridge. As Second Officer, she needed to stay informed as well as to gather as much information on the situation as she could, which for her meant getting the latest news from sickbay. As a registered nurse and a woman who watched two of her patients fall to whatever was going around, she felt better about getting the information first hand.

Seeing that things were temporarily under control for the moment, she decided to go check on Electra and James. She wondered briefly if they had succumbed to the same kind of bizarre daydreams she had, and if they had, she had to accept they had another Madame Kiye on their hands.

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

The rush of blood into James Corgan's system slowly rose his conscious back from limbo. He still felt tired and weak from the loss of blood. At least he was being replenished for what was stolen from him.

What puzzled his mind was 'how'? He didn't remember being cut or bludgeoned on the holodeck. The holographic safeties wouldn't allow much more than bruises, and he knew for a fact that the Jem'Hadar he faced suffered worse than he did. He tried to cut through the foggy veil to his memories, recalling every moment during his late night holodeck fighting. He remembered fighting the Jem'Hadar, beating the holographic soldier with the standard stunning blow/knockdown blow combination. Then, he took a rest under the trees, watching the petals float in the wind and thinking about his problems, then Lexa.

Then he woke up, fainted in the corridors, and ended up in the medical care of the chief counselor. He thought there was something missing in between, a dream or a waking moment not revealing itself. The fogginess in his head was too thick to penetrate, much less with a light of truth. He gave up on finding the answer.

"I guess I'll never know how I ended up here." He sighed.

He looked at the crimson red tube connected to his wrist. He hated feeling so helpless on the biobed. Being at the mercy of the doctors and their machines meant a great opportunity for them to ask questions about his condition. ~ What if I can't answer? I don't know what happened. ~ James worried. Not answering their questions brought on more questions, and more questions made James Corgan extra nervous.

Turning his head to look for other patients to talk to, he tried to find a distraction. The biobed to his right was abandoned and partially blocked by a blood infusion machine. He lolled his head to the left biobed to visit with its inhabitant.

His eyes shot up in surprise and his head sounded off the panic alarms. There, occupying the biobed to his left, was Electra Reece. Even when she lay on the bed, he noticed her queenly grace and tranquil expressions. Her hair coiled around her shoulders while some of the strands covering her porcelain face.

James never felt so nervous, yet so happy just to be with a friend at the moment. He needed company during this time of confusion, and there was no company quite like Electra Reece. Though a bit embarrassed by his feelings of affection for her, he decided to brave whatever feelings he had and talk.

"Hey Lexa," James asked, "Is that you?"

"Hi James. I came to visit you and ... I don't know what happened but I collapsed, I guess. I wish I knew what was going on. How did you end up here?"

"Well, I must say, I've never been so glad to see a familiar face in a long time. Great that you could come to visit." He said, "As for ending up here .... I can't figure it out. I was in the holodeck after I finished some reports. Couldn't get to sleep ... and ..." Corgan omitted the part involving Rebecca out of tactfulness, "I decided to kill some time in the holodeck. I woke up .... and there you are, out of sheer coincidence. Why it happened is beyond me. So, now that I've told my story, what's yours?"

Lexa smiled. "When I got up this morning I felt really good, but then after I went to the bridge for my shift I had this really intense desire to chew on some ice. It was horrible. And it kept getting worse. At the end of my shift I went and parked myself in front of the nearest replicator and ate .... I can't remember how many, 8, 9, 10, maybe ... glasses of crushed ice and ice chips. Then I decided I wanted to talk to you and the computer said you were here. I got here and asked a nurse about you and ... I guess I passed out. I don't remember." She looked sheepish.

"Interesting. we both end up here and we don't know what the hell is going on. I'd be a fragging moron if I didn't think something was going on. Wonder what it is?"

"I don't know. I wish I did but I have no clue."

"No matter," James continued, "I'm here, you're here, that's all we need to know for now. You know, ending up here may have been strange, but I'm glad you showed up when you did. I would have been bored out of my freaking skull laying on this bed and staring at the ceiling. Besides, I have some good news to tell you."

"What is it?" She asked.

"I've been transferred to operations." Grinned a proud, but downcast James Corgan. He mustered a smile to show the silver lining in his gray clouds.

Lexa's eyes widened. ~ I wonder why? Could this be because of ... no, of course not. But, then again he seemed so happy to see me and he transferred to OPS. Am I reading too much into his transfer? ~ "That's great. OPS is a great department. I love it. When we get out of here, I'll have to make sure you get put on the duty roster."

"Thank you. but I also got some bad news." James eyes rolled away from Electra for a second. His voice took the tone of a person in mourning, "Things aren't going so well with me and Rebecca."

~ Rebecca. ~ Lexa gritted her teeth and turned her head away for a few moments, blinking to hold back the tears that rushed to fill her eyes. When she had control she turned her head back. "What happened?"

"Well ..." James hesitated to tell his friend, "I tried to send the good news to Rebecca, when I found that she locked out my mailing address. I don't get it. I try so hard to make things better, and it keeps getting worse."

"Oh. Well, keep trying." Lexa knew that as a friend she should ask for details so she could help them work it out but she just really didn't want to hear about his sex problems with Rebecca. She wanted to help but she also wanted to get him away from her. So she decided to try to ignore the subject because she knew that since he liked 'Becca, she didn't have a chance. They were too different.

"No. No more trying for awhile." James sighed. "I'm sick of kissing ass for nothing. I apologized to her, and if she can't accept it then it's her tough sh*t. I'm quite fine with the fact that she doesn't want to see me or hear from me again. It's what happens to all my friends. They move on... they die inside... and I'm left alone again. I will live without her, and she'll live without me. It may be fraggin' miserable, but that's what I get for f**king up on doing the right thing. I accept that."

"Thank god you two are awake," Karyn breathed a sigh of relief, "I was hoping you two could tell me what happened." She realized it was probably unlikely they remembered anything, but thus far, they were the only two to regain consciousness.

Lexa frowned at the counselor. "What's going on, Karyn? Why is this happening? What happened to us to put us here? Why don't we remember?"

"I wouldn't mind finding out myself, ma'am." James added in.

"Both of you are suffering from anemia, though we have no idea how to explain it because we can find no sign of internal or external injuries to explain the blood loss. Right now we're transfusing a few units of blood into both your systems to help you feel better, and I was hoping you could tell me the last things you remember." She paused, deciding they would find out about it sooner or later. "We have reason to believe that Lord Vlad and Lady Lilith are involved somehow. Do either of you recall meeting with either or both of them?" She looked to James.

"I ... was her escort for awhile. Me and Lt. Zonheib... we escorted the Lady Lilith to sickbay. I remember, she kind of looked like a woman straight out of a gothic music video, like the ones my sister's record company produces. She had the old fashioned black velvet dress and the pale skin... and that perfume she wore. She was great looking, but I knew better than that. Just lustful thoughts that didn't get the best of me. That's all." James described.

His mind tried once again to cut through the mist, to glean any small shred of information to tell about his past dealings on the holodeck. No, nothing came to transpire... except for a flash of a moment. The petals from the cherry blossoms fell like the winter snowflakes all around him. He remembered feeling content, probably from the adrenaline rush after beating up on the Jem'Hadar. The veil's opaque surface folded back to the image of a foreign visitor in the guise of the sheepish Electra Reece. Her erotic features stuck out sorely in the beautiful setting. The short and revealing black dress, the tall high heels, the wavy dark hair and her creamy skin flashed instantly, then disappeared.

"I might have been daydreaming, but I don't know. When I think of it, I remember somebody else. She didn't look like Lilith... more like someone else. Lexa, out of curiosity, did you try to visit me in the holodeck?"

"No, why?" She asked.

"It's the strangest thing. I keep thinking of a woman like you in that black dress you once wore. She looked like you, but didn't feel like you, if you know what I mean. Ma'am, I was working out pretty hard in the holodeck, but I don't think that has to do with why I'm here. I always bring something to drink and to tell you the truth, I didn't fight all night. In fact, I only fought once on the rifle training exercise and it was only on setting seven. After that, I laid down and took a rest. So. no, I don't think I overexerted myself. In fact, I took it easy, just enough fight off my insomnia. I guess it worked, cause I think I did daydream and see some woman like Lexa."

Lexa's eyes widened. ~ He daydreamed about me? ~

Karyn looked to Electra. "Electra, did you have any contact with Vlad or Lilith?" She thought about asking both of them whether they recalled having experienced any strange daydreams, but she felt sure they would have volunteered the information had they remembered something like that. They, like all of them, were at a loss as to how to explain any of this.

Lexa shook her head. "No, I've been working a lot. I met them when we found them on the Tamarian ship but I haven't seen them since I beamed back. I finished my duty shift on the bridge, went to the holodeck for a while to relax, then went to my cabin and slept. I woke up and felt great, which isn't normal for me lately, Karyn. Then I went on duty and things were weird. I craved ice. It was so weird."

Karyn saw no reason to upset them further. Checking both their vitals and then the machine restoring their much needed life force, Karyn poured them both a glass of water. "Here, both of you need to drink as much as you can so as to keep you from becoming dehydrated. I think you'll find the iron deficiency has made you quite thirsty." She handed them both glasses and cautioned them to drink slowly and to not move too quickly so as not to become too dizzy.

"Excuse me, ma'am," Corgan asked, "When are we allowed to leave?"

"I'm afraid both of you are stuck here until we figure out what's going on. We haven't ruled out the possibility that this is due to the virus our guests say their companions are carrying, and we can't risk having this spread to the others if it is a virus. You're safer here, and so far, you two are the only people to have regained consciousness so we'd like to keep an eye out." She squeezed both of their hands and smiled. "Just let me know if you need anything and in the meantime, try and get some rest." With that, she headed toward the entrance to sickbay upon hearing the swish of its doors. She hoped it was Lee bearing good news.

He watched Counselor Dallas move away, checking out her diagnosis on her PADD. The strange illness striking the two officers puzzled more than just her. James didn't like the idea of a mysterious ailment sneaking up on him. He had no history of anemia, nor any type of blood related deficiency. Mystery meant uncertainty, and nothing crippled morale quite like uncertainty. He felt his security officer instincts kick in, telling him to find out what was going on and quickly, until he stopped his train of thoughts. He felt the urge to find out what was going on, but knew full well he did not had the experience the doctors held to tackle this latest problem. It was no longer in his hands, but in the hands of the healers. He didn't like the idea of depending on others, especially the doctors, but he did have a begrudging respect for the people of sickbay. Setting aside security/sickbay animosities grown since the beginning of space exploration, he decided to let the doctors take care of the problem. He couldn't do it, and besides, he was an operations officer now.

~ They better not screw it up. ~ James thought.

Electra was quiet for the few minutes James spent pondering his last problem, and currently thinking of the next. Lexa's kindness and beauty still toyed with James' urges. As strange and foreign as it was, he felt giddy and nervous around her. Most people made James shy away, but Lexa drew Corgan closer, being more curious to find out more about his accidental companion. The nervousness didn't come from not wanting to talk to people, but wanting to talk to her and not knowing how without turning it into an embarrassing disaster.

~ I'm going to have to do something soon, you know, ~ James chided himself, ~ I mean, look at her. I'd have to be pretty low to tell her how I feel about her right now. She'd probably think I lost way too much blood and not believe what I say. So. how am I going to do this? How does a psycho say, 'I love you'? ~

He remembered the concert, and how it felt that day to meet Lexa in her black dress. There was the flush of embarrassment, followed by the stinging humiliation of being fully aroused, and the bumbling foolery of hiding the extent of his gratitude for her being so damn beautiful. She was not only stunning, but also so kind and gentle towards him he felt like she was protecting him with an angelic shield. ~ Such a nice person with a beautiful heart ... and yet so fragile I'm afraid each movement will shatter it to pieces. How do you deal with such a person? ~ He remembered how perfect that night could have been. He played a concert that made him feel so alive, then meet the girl of his dreams whom he didn't realize until that night. Then there was the song 'Rain', a song meant for apology but in retrospect he found the song to be quite romantic. Everything went perfect, except for his dealings with Rebecca that tore him away from her company. Despite himself, and all the dark and terrible deeds he couldn't find forgiveness for, he decided to try. So what if he wasn't worthy, or if Sickbay wasn't the most perfectly romantic scene like the concert, he was going to try before she slipped away.

~ I'm not going to lose you this time, my dear. ~ He vowed. James lolled his head in Electra's direction and spoke.

"You know, it's funny how things end up, isn't it?" James rasped, "I find that whenever I have friends, they always run away from me, in some way or another. I see them, they become my confidants, and then they leave my life. I don't want that to happen to you. You're too.. nice to lose."

Lexa had spent the last several minutes lost in a thought cycle of her own. She couldn't get over his statement about his daydream. Though tempted to read things in it, she was holding herself back. She had been burned by thinking James had meant things other than what he had in the past. She didn't want to struggle like that again. She knew he liked Rebecca but she couldn't get beyond him daydreaming about herself. His words interrupted her flowing, circular thought stream.

"Thanks." Lexa bit her lip. ~ At least he cares a little. ~

"I was just thinking. what if we weren't friends? What if ... we were better than that?"

Lexa's eyes widened as she turned her head to stare at him. She bit down hard on her inner lip and her fingers clenched at the blanket. ~ Better than friends? Does he mean ... he must ... but what about ... Becca? ~

"What I'm trying to say is ..." James froze. He couldn't find the words to describe how he felt without doing them justice. He couldn't say 'I love you', just as he couldn't confess to the emotion in the first place. Confession was dangerous, and with love in the picture, it could be too explosive for him to handle, "Would you like to meet me sometime? You know, because I'm going to need to learn the ropes in operations, and.. I wouldn't mind finding a guitar partner to play with. You think that would be ok?"

Lexa's muscles relaxed. ~ He just meant a best friend. I have to stop hoping. ~ She smiled a bit sadly at him. "I'll help you anyway I can, James. You are a great person and I ...," she paused, took a deep breath and began again. "I'd love to play with you. I enjoy your company."

Lexa turned her eyes away to look at the ceiling. ~ But ... he daydreamed about me. He said so.

And better than friends. What if he does mean ... ~

"I like you a lot, James and ... you ... you ... you're a great musician." A tear at her own cowardice leaked under her lashes and down her ultra pale cheek. She looked towards the rest of sickbay. She whispered softly, "And a wonderful man. Rebecca's lucky."

James stared at the back of her head, perplexed. He wasn't sure he had heard her last statement correctly because it didn't make any sense. He shook his head in confusion and lay back on the bed, exhausted by his emotional battle and the blood loss.

'Keeping things rational'
Ensign Alia Drakely
Security Officer.

She pushed herself off the deck as elegantly as she could. She started to stumble a few steps forward but had to stop, however, even standing still she was swaying slightly. She reached a hand up to her face; she was going to have an impressive bruise, it had already started to swell up over her cheekbone.

She leant heavily against the wall to catch her breath. She felt a familiar flame start to flicker within her; she was getting angry. Very angry. She tried to calm herself, the logical part of her brain telling her it was ridiculous to react so strongly over something so petty, after all, she had been attacked more violently than that often enough in the past, and had still laughed in her would be assailant's face. But there was something about this that just really sparked something off; she just couldn't get over the so-called Lord striking her! And to top it off was the calm way they had just sauntered away afterward.

And where were the other security officers? Perhaps she hadn't been out cold for as long as she had thought. She looked at the phaser that had been of absolutely no use to her. Who the hell was he? She'd seen a lot of things but she had very rarely seen someone immune to phaser blasts, and never like that! She was half tempted to go and fetch her House sword, track the Lord down and show him exactly what she thought, but she restrained herself. She started to walk; she wanted to get this sorted out, but a few steps later she was hit by a wave of dizziness.

"He must have hit me harder than I thought." She muttered to herself as she slipped down to the floor, she told herself she would only sit down for a few minutes. Resting her head on her knees she added, "besides, the others should be here soon, I'll go with them", before closing her eyes, waiting for the others.

"Medical Talks"
BY:
Andree Dothan CMO
Autumn Jamieson ACMO
Kira Murphy
Vladimir Malgin
Todd Sansky
Torsag (NPC)
Lemur (NPC)
Petri, Vet (NPC)

Autumn walked into the large room, which served as the medical department's conference room. She gave a brief smile to Lemur and another woman Autumn hadn't met yet , who were sitting side-by-side talking. Walter Cooper nodded at her and sat down beside Geoffrey Harper who she smiled at before taking her seat beside Torsag. She knew that Vladimir would talk the seat on the other side of Torsag so she had chosen the on closest to the head of the table. Her seat, well the one she should have had was taken by a cadet. Zola Telari gave her a brittle smile and Autumn ignored it and waited for the others to arrive. She pulled out a couple of reports and placed them in front of her. This was going to be a long meeting.

Over in one of the corner, Lt Murphy was jokingly trying to setup a date between the ship's Phylosian vet, Lt Jg Petri, and some ferns - to Petri's annoyance. Finally, Petri just moved away to the other side of the room and Kira headed over to the main table, taking a seat opposite Autumn. Grinning like the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland, Kira started softly banging her hands on the table while softly chanting, "Why are we waiting, slowly decomposing?"

Autumn flashed a grin and called out "Hey is there a doctor in the room we have a decomposing woman here!"

This was met by laughter and Autumn looked about for a volunteer but no one stepped forward. "Oh well Kira, looks like you will have to decompose with out help."

Kira pouted, and jokingly slid down in her chair.

Autumn smirked at Kira and opened her mouth to make another comment.

About that time Dr. Dothan makes his appearance, his features grim, he called the meeting to order

"First order of business. Mysterious woundless Blood Loss. Does anyone care to venture a hypothesis?"

Autumn raised her hand. "Our guests. Sir with all seriouness, they frankly gave Lt MacAllen and Myself creeps while on that vessel and i can frankly see no other possiblility.. but I am open to other suggestions.."

Grinning, Kira called out, "Quick, break out the pepper spray!"

Autumn picked a PADD and gauged the distance mockingly before glaring at Kira.

Ignoring the glares from around the room, Kira continued, "Being serious for once, from what I have seen, they breathe like us, so maybe there is something we could pump something into the atmosphere that makes acts like a marker to prove that they did it."

Autumn took a deep breath and said "Oh they did it alright.. they don't breath Kira they,.. drink blood." she ducked her head. "Or is it souls?" She scanned the Padd and sighed. "Most of the cases admitted were seen with or were with our guests before they suffered their laspes."

"Unfortunately," Andree interjected, "Vampires seems to be the only explanation that fits the evidence. The Woman who died in the turbolift seemingly died alone with her overactive imagination. Furthermore, The sensor records of sickbay show me giving a medical examination to an invisible man. Last I checked, Security was making an attempt to round up our Sanguinarians "Guests" and confine them to quarters, though we would be hard pressed to keep them there"

Autumn nodded. "They can't be scanned.. how can you keep them in the one spot if you can't even tell where they are? I would recommend com badges normally.. but this time i am out of Ideas. Vampires or not.. this ship is in trouble if we don't stop them. Blood suplies aren't low yet.. but if this continues.." She let the rest of her sentence hang in the air.

Todd walked into the room as everyone turned to see him enter. 'Sorry i'm late i was with my patient.' Todd walked over and sat down. 'Nathan is still in a coma, both he and Kahn are stable, i have used ships stores to bring there blood levels up to normal, personel have begun reporting for blood donations, as for the blood suckers they are still at large. Sir.' Todd reported to Dothan before taking a deep breathe, showing obvious fatigue he rested his head in his hands for a moment before listening to the rest of the conference.

Autumn nodded without a word and shoved A PADD Down the table to Andree. "These are the lists of crew who have reported in and those who are either in medbay or have had to stay in medbay until stabalized." She sighed. "This is getting out of hand."

Andree scrolled over the long list of names on the PADD, "No this is not good at all. Unless someone here has something to add, I am going to take this report directly to the Captain, personally."

Kira chirped up, "At least I'm okay now."

Before he turned to go, Andree had one final thing to say, "I would like you to brainstorm for a while, before you return to duty, and see if you can't come up with a way that we might be able to catch these Sanguinarians in the act."

I would say that this is a good place to break this off, and the rest of you could continue to gossip, scheme and plan.

"Angel of Mercy"
By Lieutenant jg James Lionel Corgan
Operations Officer, USS Galaxy

Location: Sickbay

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

Officer's log, stardate

Being one of the many victims of the blood loss epidemic, I was confined to sickbay, as was the assistant chief of operations Lieutenant jg. Electra Reece. We were diagnosed with severe bloodloss and anemia, but were able to recover sufficiently with the proper treatment. Until the epidemic's cause is found, we were confined to sickbay.

Needless to say, I've had plenty of time to reflect on the events of the past few days...

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

James Corgan had the best seats in the house... for staring at the ceiling.

Inside sickbay, most people would call it exciting. Doctors and nurses hurried to find a solution for the mysterious blood loss epidemic. They ran from patient to patient, feeling dumbfounded at what they saw. People came in, fainted, or were carried in by nurses and security officers. Depending on the urgency of the patient, they would be administered blood or cytotetrimine, a drug used to promote the replenishment of red blood cells. The staff kept tabs on the patients, hiding their puzzled faces to ease the patient's worries.

As fun as it would have seemed to watch medical staff scurry around like cockroaches, James was not in the mood. He had to endure more waiting, thanks to Commander Dallas's insistence that he stay until a cause for his blood loss was found. In a sickbay where the staff was too busy for it's more well off patients, James was given only his biobed and the ceiling for entertainment.

Here he was, staring at the ceiling. His eyes were distant, as if he was looking past the roof that imprisoned and entranced him. He thought, ~"I can handle this."~, since after all, mind numbing boredom was when he created his best works of art. Usually, when the job handed to him by the higher ranks was so boring and mundane that a regular man would balk, James accepted those tasks and sometimes thrived. He kept his brain entertained by thinking up his new ideas for songs and literature, while doing the boring task assigned to him. Or, he could be doing nothing at all and not feel like doing anything. Such an instance was the runabout ride to Earth months before. He thought up of the song ‘Burn', his most swear intensive song yet, while waiting for Rebecca Von Erst to talk.

If the sickbay didn't stir up his creative juices, utter insanity would slip in. A mental block on creative artistry combined with laying on a biobed and staring at the ceiling threatened to give Corgan a reason to storm out screaming like a madman. Not even the voices in his head decided to play. They were probably watching him not speak or react to anything, and having a good laugh.

Sickbay was confining.

It was so noisy.

The Biobed felt like a flat board.

He had to get out!

~"No... I gotta get a grip on myself."~ He scolded. Sickbays weren't supposed to be bad places to end up in. They were places of healing and miracle. Life and death hung in the balance and was held by fine artisans of the art of medicine. So what if the place felt like death and smelled like disinfectant. Sickbay was a safezone.

None of this re-assured Corgan. He had a feeling half of the people being administered to would die from the blood related injuries. Death had a habit of following Corgan around like a lost puppy. It was as if he held the essence of the Grim Reaper himself. Fate saw, by some strange methods, that James was not killing anymore, and somehow, they balanced it all out by having death and destruction follow him, reminding him of his destiny in life, to witness the destruction of others before he himself was destroyed by chronic misadventure.

~"God I hate this place..."~ He complained, trying to find a redeeming factor in all of the melancholy. He looked down at Electra Reece, slumbering peacefully in an adjacent biobed, ignoring the din due to pure exhaustion. ~"Oh, how I envy you now Lexa..."~ James thought, ~"Some days, I wish I could just sleep and hope it all gets better somehow. Or when I wake up, I wish to sleep for five more minutes, hoping that will delay the inevitable return to my life enough to change it."~

He looked at the patients after hearing the high pitch screech of a heart monitor screen. ~"Death... the ultimate rest. I envy them somedays, because I'm too afraid to kill myself, and too lucky, or unlucky, to die under the worst struggles. Look at them, getting the easy way out. Isn't it my time yet? Can't I leave with them? I want to go with them, but I know I'd be leaving too much behind. Hmmmm... somedays I do envy them, and somedays I'm glad I'm alive. I wish I could choose... should I stay or should I go? I can't decide. My life is miserable, but there's people in my life that make it worth living. Are they worth it?"~

Looking down at Electra again, he asked the sleeping woman, "Are you worth it?"

~"I don't know... you tell us."~ His conscience sharply spoke.

~"My god..."~ James diverted his thoughts toward Lexa, ~"You were not supposed to happen. Love was supposed to be dead. How did you end up defying what I thought was right? I always believed the ones in love were fools being lead around by emotions waiting to kill them off. Now I'm the fool... or was I the fool all along and now I see the truth? I know it's not lust. No, lust doesn't go to the heart, and yet somehow, you reached mine. What can I say, except... thanks? I have a reason to live thanks to people like you."~

And then, he thought of his friends. ~"And that's not all. My friends may die, or they may move on and change. I know Rebecca's change greatly. Living means I can see these people, and as long as they are around, that is all I need. But... how do I keep my friends when they too just leave me? Rebecca hates me, I haven't heard from Sotek in months and... the strangers I could have felt close to died in front of my eyes. Ensign Kotobuki died... so did Sargeant Mathias. And Lieutenant Tannhauser, Ensign Sandi, Ensign D'avenon... they all die. I don't want to lose anymore friends... I must keep the ones I have, including Rebecca. Once I get out of this place, I'm going to confront her. I'm not going quietly away from her. She must hear my side of the story. It's the only way to keep a friend. She won't leave or die like the others. She may have changed, her original self may be dead, but I'm not going to let her leave."~

The sickbay didn't change during his few minutes of silent reflection. Still the bustling cradle of suffering, filled with comatose patients and frightened medical staff, James was the observing outsider, or the Grim Reaper he envisioned himself to be, watching the people die, not being able to help the despaired and ease their pain. He would if he could, anything to stop thinking such depressing thoughts, if it wasn't for the nurses who insisted he stay on the Biobed.

He had to do something, anything, to get his mind off boredom and depression.

There was a solution, seen through the window of pediatrics. It was a beautifully polished oak acoustic guitar. It's varnished surface gleamed with the radiance of it's reflected light. Fine guitar strings ran down the middle, and they too had a shine to them. The guitar didn't look to be worn or heavily used at all.

The guitar tempted James to escape sickbay and retrieve it.

~"To hell with the nurses. I want to play that thing."~ James thought. His feet transplanted themselves to the floor for the first time in what seemed like hours. Steadily, he took his first step, then his second. His head spun for a few second, then regained it's clearheaded focus. The new blood pumped into his body was the key, otherwise he would be helpless in his prisoner's cot.

Looking around warily, Corgan entered pediatrics, sneaking through the sliding doors while watching out for the medical staff. Most of the staffers were busy attending to the sick and dying, too busy to pay attention to a perfectly healthy patient making his temporary escape.

The guitar waited for his outstretched hand to take from the counter. His call was clear. The guitar almost said "Take me..." over and over again. He walked closer to the guitar, being careful to be quiet. He nearly tripped on an object. He looked down...

It was a Terran Flamingo, bright pink, staring him in the eyes. The bird looked accusingly at the rogue patient.

"You should be in bed." The bird squaked.

"*Sigh* Computer, disengage flamingo hologram." He said in an annoyed tone. The flamingo swirled away, being transported back into the holobuffer, waiting to be pulled again for the entertainment of sick boys and girls. He was not impressed with the bird's meddling. It was none of the hologram's business anyways.

The guitar still waited. He was about to snatch the instrument until a cat leapt onto the shelf holding the guitar. The cat was another specimen of the Terran species of animals, a tabby if James recalled correctly. The holographic kitty wasn't in the mood to be kind and cuddly. It's growl rose from it's throat like the warning from hell itself. Then, to make matters worse, the cat hissed and batted at Corgan's hand.

"Computer, disengage the cat." He sighed. Seconds later, the holographic kitty was gone. Nothing stood in the way of Corgan and the guitar.

He held the fine instrument in his hands and played a few notes. ~"Not bad. It's needs a little tuning, but not bad at all."~ He observed, tightening and loosening the knobs, then repeating the notes again to compare. His fingers swiftly plucked the string, creating melodious music. ~"It works. I better get to my bed before anyone comes by."~

The escape was simple. Walk casually, with guitar in hand, back to his biobed. If anyone asked, they were to be told very little. Security officers were good at that skill. It brought more questions than answers, and if he could keep a doctor trying to find a question that would reveal everything he wanted to know, it was most likely that they would give up and administer to another patient. It was just a matter of hiding specifics. With an alibi (or a way to not give an alibi) and an instrument, James prepared to exit pediatrics.

~"Not on my watch."~ Thought a holographic golden retriever. The holopet doubled as a watchdog, making sure pediatrics was a safe and happy environment. The intruder intent on taking away one of pediatric's items wasn't going to get away easily. The golden retriever ran in front of the door, blocking the exit from Corgan, and growled.

"I don't have time for this... computer, delete the fragging dog, authorization Corgan Gamma Epsilon Black." James rolled his eyes and said.

The dog vanished into thin air. Not even the holobuffers could save the pooch. It was forever to be in the backup memory systems. Though not exactly holodeath, it was more like hololimbo, a harder to escape hololimbo. No more dog, a confined cat and bird, and the guitar was his. James felt much better. He made his way back into sickbay. Unsurprisingly, nobody noticed. He propped himself back up to his biobed, sitting cross legged with his guitar on his lap and the strap slung on his shoulder.

He needed a song to help pick up the mood of the medical staff. As much as he wanted to play a depressing song to relate to his usual mood, the staff wouldn't appreciate the not so kind gesture. He understood such situations well. They were similar to battlefields during the war. He remembered some of the relief actions during the end of the fighting, and how something as small as a song or a joke could instantly lift the morale of a bedraggled unit of soldiers. One time, he heard one of the Lost Souls songs being played by a squad of men, the song ‘Raise Your Fist'. The men adopted the song as a fighting anthem.

Music could help the soldiers fight a losing war. It could easily pick up the spirits of the doctors fighting a losing battle of their own. He picked his first song, a song not too cheery and fast, but soft and beautiful. The guitar obeyed his finger's commands, echoing the lovely music's soft tones across the room.

In the room of death and despair, James felt like he was doing something important. He traded the image of the Grim Reaper to one of an angel of mercy.

"Unexpected trip"
by Captain Robert Edward Lee Price

Ethan ran a hand through his hair as he let out a semi-frustrated sigh. "Try it again computer. This time, try scanning for temperature variances."

There was a brief pause while the computer calculated the request before replying. ["There are fourteen thousand, six hundred and seventy two temperature variations on board the USS Galaxy."]

The Chief Engineer rolled his eyes. "Stop." Scratching his head again, Ethan thought of another idea. "How about air particle displacement?"

["There are three hundred eighty one pressure variations on board the USS Galaxy."]

"Okay, and how many of those are constant?" Ethan asked.

["There are seventy two constant pressure variations on board the USS Galaxy."]

"Can you isolate the other pressure variations and eliminate the ones that can be attributed to a crew member on board the ship?"

["Working."] the computer responded. ["Two hundred eighty five of the pressure variations can be attributed to crew members in the vicinity."]

"Great! Isolate and display the other 24 on this monitor." Ethan ordered as he prepared to watch the screen.

["Working"] the computer intoned.

Lieutenant Commander Suder watched as the various security monitors throughout the ship flashed on his view screen one by one.

"No, next one. Next. Next..." Ethan was saying while watching the various scenes display.

In no time the Chief had displayed a dozen of the locations on his screen and still no sign of the visitors.

"Next." Ethan called out and was surprised to see the display in engineering flash up. With a chuckle, he could see his own back where he was sitting near the monitor. He could see there was no one there, which was odd since the ship was registering a pressure variation as if someone was moving through that section. The Chief's humor soon turned to something else however, when the hairs on the back of his neck began to tingle, and he sensed that he was not alone. Glancing at the monitor, he could see that he was alone, but still...

Turning Ethan was shocked to see Lady Lilith standing directly behind him. She was blowing lightly down the back of his neck, which explained the sudden tingle he felt. Across the deck, Ethan could see Lord Vlad messing with one of the engineering consoles.

"Did I... startle you my dumpling?" Lilith asked in a flirtatious tone.

"Yea..yeah. You did. "Hey, what are you doing there?!" Ethan called out. Instinctively he began to reach for his comm badge to alert security of the visitor's presence. The Captain had called a security alert and had ordered the guests located and detained. Every security officer on board was looking for them right now.

Ethan's hand never reached his own chest before the lightning fast Lady Lilith caught his wrist in her strong grip.

"Vye vould you vant to disturb this beautiful moment?" she asked while licking her lips.

Ethan tried to pull his wrist back out of the Lady's grip, but she held it with supernatural strength. He was shocked how such a feminine form could posses such sheer strength. "Let me go." He demanded.

Lilith threw her head back, allowing her long, raven hair to flip to the other side of her shoulder. "I vill, vhen I have finished tasting you mister Suder..."

Ethan's eyes grew wide as Lady Lilith's fangs were revealed and she pounced on the Engineer's neck and began to feast.

While the Vampiress fed on Lieutenant Commander Suder, Vlad continued his tampering with the Galaxy's systems.

"Such a vonderfully simple and primitive interface design. I can see that mankind has not gotten very far since ve left their blue planet so many centuries ago." Vlad glanced over at the Lady, who was having a wonderful time drinking Ethan's blood.

Returning to his work, the Sanguinarian finished reprogramming the ship's systems to do his bidding.

"There, that should do nicely." Vlad stated while stepping back to admire his work. With a press of a button, the Sanguinarian activated the program and then smiled with satisfaction as he could feel the starship begin to get underway. Turning, Vlad looked at Lilith, who was rubbing against Suder while she drank his precious blood with orgasmic eagerness.

"Come my dear. Ve must be going." Vlad called out with an outstretched hand.

Reluctantly, Lady Lilith broke off her feeding on the virile Chief Engineer. Part of her wanted to saver his flavor. Drink him dry of his lifeblood for it tasted so sweet. But she knew not to upset her master. For Lord Vlad was the strongest of the Sanguinarian. He had been hunted far and wide for several millennium by his fellow Sanguinarian that wished to see him face justice for his crimes against his people. That power and savagery was what had attracted Lilith to Vlad in the first place. She could not resist his call.

"Yes my Lord." She stated, wiping the blood away from her face as she released Ethan. The Chief Engineer dropped to the floor in an unconscious heap. He was severely low on blood, and would likely die if left untreated.

The two Sanguinarian guests strolled out of engineering like nothing had just happened.

***

*** Commander Thomas' quarter's ***

"This is nice." Chris stated with a smile.

His wife, Anna, had set a table for two, complete with candlelight. From their dining area in the senior officer's apartments, there were giant, star filled portals that could be gazed out of against the wall. In the distance the ancient Tamarian ship could be seen, staying perfectly still, just as the Galaxy her self was holding position right where they were at.

After dinner, the couple had retired to their bedroom, where Chris and Anna proceeded to make love under the starlight. Now the two of them lay there together, gazing out the portal at the stars as they slowly began to move...

"What the?!..." Chris questioned in shock. Rolling out of bed, he stood to get a better look as the Galaxy began moving away from the Tamarian vessel. "We are moving." Chris stated in near disbelief.

Anna pulled the sheet up and used it to cover herself as she sat up in the bed. "Is that not supposed to happen?"

"Not while we have people over there it's not." Chris said while moving to where he'd tossed his uniform. Bending down and unintentionally mooning his wife, Chris grabbed the gold communicator from his lapel and activated it in his palm.

"Commander Thomas to bridge. What is going on? Why are we moving?"

A confused, nervous sounding Lieutenant JG responded. ["I.. I don't know sir. The ship just started moving all by itself."] Rebecca explained in a stutter.

"Order full stop." Chris returned in a voice of authority

["I tried that. The helm is not responding..."] von Ernst explained.

"We have away team members on the Tamarian vessel Lieutenant. We can't leave them stranded out here." Chris explained with a sense of urgency as he began pulling on his pants as he talked.

["I can have them beamed back."] Rebecca stated quickly.

"Do it. And notify the Captain." Chris stated as he tapped his comm badge again. "Engineering, this is Commander Thomas. What is going on?"

Chris finished pulling his pants up and was working on his shoes now. He was even more worried when there was no response from main engineering. "Commander Suder, come in please."

Glancing over at his glowing wife, Chris was able to relay both his sorrow for having to leave and his concern for the well being of the ship with the same look.

"Go on. Take care of the ship." Anna waved her husband off while holding her wrap of sheets around her body.

Grabbing his tunic, Chris began slipping it over his head while moving over to kiss Anna on the cheek. Then turning he started heading towards the exit of their quarters. "Commander Thomas to security. Have a team dispatched to Main Engineering. I'm headed there now."

["Aye commander. A team is on their way."] came the response over the channel as Chris raced out into the corridor on the way to the nearest turbolift.

“I don’t believe in Vampires”
By Jill as Ensign Susan Mitchell, Science Officer NPC Ensign Micheal Farley, Engineer, NPC
And a very hungry vampire (have a guess:)

******Deck 15, Junior Officers Quarters******

****Room 132pc**** Susan Mitchell sat in her quarters. Her long brown hair was loose and her dark eyes was fixed on the PADD on her lap. Sighing she debated the last couple of days. “Computer open personal log S. Mitchell. Ensign.” Computer: Working.

“Personal Log:

Ok I know I have said it before, and I will damn say it again. The people on this ship are weird! I mean really vampires? Of all the crazy things.. and you know what? It is two of the science department leading the charge with Commanders Peterson and Thomas right behind the two. I have no idea what Mac Allen and Quevvenson are thinking but.. oh ok.. I know what Quevvenson is thinking… He has been walking around with a smile on his face for days with slight changes to concern. Something tells me that the medical officer that he has been seeing may have given to his charms. Mac Allen on the other hand well.. she can be a bit crazy as well…. But I never thought she would actually take the silly thing further then a theory. Vampires bah humbug! I mean we finally get a QUIET MISSION.. with no Borg , Cardassians or DOMINON! And look what people do.. they create something out of nothing!! I mean yeah ok so their pods activated when the away team beamed aboard and a couple of people are getting light headed and yeah ok a couple may have ended up in med bay.. but gee is that any reason to go over board? *Groans* oh well that is all I have to say so bye until tomorrow. Computer end log.”

Computer: Acknowledged.

Susan stood up and walked towards her bedroom when the doorbell sounded.

Groaning she walked to the door and opened it to find a man standing there. "Yes?" she asked him casually. He smiled and took a step forward into her room.

Susan took a step back and her hand moved to her comm badge automatically. He smiled and grabbed her hand to stop her.

"I don't think so.." he hissed at her as he started to back her back up against the wall. "We don't need company.." he smiled as Susan began to look for a way out.

Susan glared. "Look I don't know what you think you are pulling.. but it won't work... Now get the hell out of my quarters!" He just smiled and lunged at her neck. Susan screamed as the fangs drove into her skin. The pain is intense and its all she can to do to try and push him away.

Vlad drinks deeply of her blood.. the hot red liquid rushing over his fangs and down his throat is heavy with fear and pan .. just right for him. Susan slowly looses the fight to stay awake and goes limp in Vlads hold.

Vlad pulls his fangs out of her, leaving her drained but not completely. He picks her up and places her on the table and styles her body into a pose of the cross. Her head lolling to the side to show of the now smooth and unmared neck. Smiling he walked to the door and as it opened he turned and looked back at her and said.

"So you don't believe in vampires little one? What about now?" and with that he stepped out into the darkened coridor and melted with the shadows and was gone.

*****Almost Two hours later*****

Micheal Farley knocked on his girlfriends door. Frantic he yelled through the door "Susan!" no response. "Computer open door 132alpha. Acess code delta-omega-gamma" The door slid open to reveal the scene that Vlad had left and he ran in and cheeked her pulse. it was there faint but sure. He grabbed her off the table and dashed out the door heading to medbay.