"Building Relations"
By: Lt. Xayella Tagliesh
Ensign Tchalla Mel'Chir

Location: Caves of Dorvali 449
Stardate: 57906.25, Unknown

***

Consciousness came sluggishly and painfully to Xayella Tagliesh, but at least it had come, which was probably the most fortunate thing to occur since she was thrust into this nightmare. The fog clouding her mind the first time she'd awakened in the caves was not present now, but as recollection slowly came, she remembered soon enough that with as much force as she was thrown into the cave wall, their captors didn't need to waste any toxin on her.

She yelped in anguish as the process of sitting upright triggered some injury she'd acquired in her encounter with the jagged, stone wall. Reflexively, she pressed her hand to her side to ease the pain, but it refused to relent. The tears in her eyes, stimulated by the acute stab of what was undoubtedly a broken rib or two, formed eerie, gnarled shapes in her vision, and added a psychological element to Xayella's physical torment. She was in pain and now she was afraid, but she wasn't going to cry if she could help it.

A vague shape approached just out of the light of the phosphorescent flora covering the walls. It snarled deep in its throat and hissed, but kept a distance. As it shifted, the hind quarters of the creature became visible. It appeared to have a mottled reddish colouring, as well as a pattern of scales that, if this small section was any indication, covered its whole body. It moved back away from Xayella, but as it moved farther away, it became obvious, even in the partial light, that it carried one of the security officers tossed over what could possibly pass for a shoulder.

Xayella's breathing hastened in response to the horrific sight, but it did nothing to stifle her resolve. "Let him go," she said, ignoring the quiver in her voice. She grunted and winced at the rising pain as she pushed herself to her feet. Facing the alien from a distance, looking into its eyes, she felt as if she wanted to scramble into a hole somewhere. "I said let him go!" she repeated more firmly.

The creature made another hissing noise, and mixed within it there was also a series of clicking sounds. It stared at her for a moment before it snapped its head back and hissed even louder. Two fangs were visible, jutting down from its upper jaw. If it were lighter, the droplets of liquid would be easily visible on the ends of the fangs.

Xayella felt her back pressed to the wall as she involuntarily shrank away from the creature. From what she could determine, the alien could tear her throat out with its teeth alone. Her eyes flitted to the officer slung over its shoulder, but she couldn't very well assess his condition unless she could get near him, and with the alien baring its fangs at her, she didn't even want to try. "Why are you doing this?" she asked, knowing her words lacked all comprehension to the reptilian creature. "Just let us go...and we'll leave you all alone. We'll leave your planet if you just release us!"

It paused for a moment, as if listening. It hissed once more, and then started back down the corridor with its prize. Before it disappeared completely, it turned back to look at Xayella, an inquisitive look on its face and in its eyes.

"What?" she murmured. She swallowed back the tightness in her throat and fearlessly took a step in the creature's direction. "What are you looking at! I'm not a lab specimen so stop staring at me!"

Without another sound, it quickly left the section of cave and sped down a side passage.

On the ground to her right, a groan sounded. Glancing in that direction, Xayella could just make out the blue skin of Tchalla Mel'Chir. The young Andorian shifted slightly, almost seeming to try to curl herself into a tight ball.

"Ensign?" Xayella took a step towards her, but emitted a strangled cry as pain flared in her side. She stopped abruptly and wrapped her arms around her stomach for comfort. Yelling at the alien was fine, but the slightest bodily movement seemed to trigger the unbearable pain. Still, she struggled through it until she was kneeling beside Tchalla. "Ensign, are you alright?"

Tchi tried to sit up and was rewarded with another wave of vertigo for her efforts. "Oh," she moaned. "What happened? Where are we?" She looked up. "Lieutenant?"

"Yes, Ensign, it's me." Xayella held out her hand to Tchalla and helped the girl to sit upright. "I think we're in another cave," she went on, looking around at their new holding cell. "They most likely separated us so we couldn't organize another escape attempt. I don't know anything else. I've just awoken myself."

After a few moments, Tchalla's eyes adjusted to the dark. "What do they want with us? We're mostly just scientists. They're not...not hungry, are they?"

Xayella sighed. "I don't know, Ensign. When I woke, one of them was here, carrying out an officer. I think it was Crewman Andropov if I remember him correctly. But I really don't think they plan on making us a meal," she reassured the girl. "The forest is abounding with food sources, they don't need us. And besides, if they were hungry, we would be dead already."

"Slave labour?" She peered out into the darkness once more, and a disturbing thought came to her. Weren't there some species that laid their young within another creature, and that creature would act as the nourishment while the young gestated? A ripple of revulsion went through her, and Tchi found herself praying to whatever gods may be listening that it was slave labour or something like that. Just not the-- "I hope the Sulu finds us soon."

"Don't worry," Xayella said softly. "Matt-- Captain Salinger won't give up until we're safely home." Awkwardly, she reached out and placed her hand upon Tchalla's shoulder. "We're not going to die here, Ensign. I promise I won't let that happen."

"Thank you," Tchalla said, her smile hidden in the darkness. "I wish there were something we could do, but we don't have anything. And, if we try to leave... I mean, if just two of us were to leave, they'd have a harder time finding us. But...but I couldn't do that to the others."

"And I wouldn't advise another escape attempt either," Xayella said. "I think we angered them enough the first time; I fear what they'd do to us if we tried again. But...we'll think of something, Tchalla."

Tchalla rubbed at the two dimpled wounds on her throat where she'd been bitten earlier. "They sting," she said. "And, it kind of...tingles. We wouldn't have any chance. They've got natural weapons and strength, and all we have are rocks. I guess...I guess for now we just do what they want us to. Hopefully it's just sit quietly in a corner and do nothing."

"Well, I for one don't plan on doing that," Xayella said. She rocked back onto the heels of her feet and pushed herself upright. "I'm going to go seek out their leader. You can stay here, Tchalla, but I have to do this. I won't sit here and await whatever fate they've planned for us."

"I'll come with you," Tchalla said quickly. "I-- I don't think I really want to stay here all by myself. I'd feel better staying with you, in case we run into more of them."

"To tell you the truth," Xayella said as she held her hand out to Tchalla, "I'd feel much better with you by my side."

Tchalla placed her hand in Xayella's and smiled. "We'll get through this," she said. "I know with you leading us, we'll always make it, Lieutenant."

Xayella helped Tchalla to her feet and smiled at the girl. "I'm surprised you have so much faith in me, Ensign. I'll endeavour not to disappoint you." As uncomfortable as she was, Xayella maintained her hold on Tchalla's hand and the two ventured slowly and apprehensively to the exit of the chamber. Xayella looked up and down the tunnel, then to Tchalla. "Which way, Ensign? I know you can sense these creatures, and as crazy as it sounds, I want you to lead us to them."

Tchalla turned up one side of the tunnel and then down the other. As she concentrated, she allowed her antennae to pick up on the vibrations of bodies down to either side. Finally she let out the breath she'd been holding and pointed. "This way," she whispered.

Xayella nodded to Tchalla, then led the girl along in the indicated direction. "Don't make any threatening moves when we encounter them," she whispered. "I'm not sure how much we can reason with them, but if we act docile, they might not hurt us."

Tchalla nodded, but didn't make a sound other than a strangled squeak. In the darkness, her white hair seemed to be a source of light unto itself. She moved slowly, staying as close to Xayella as she could. She didn't want to end up being some alien's snack today.

With one arm cradling her sore ribs and her other hand squeezing Tchalla's tightly, Xayella began guiding them into what would no doubt be the aliens' snare. In the darkness, she could detect figures shifting, though they were absolutely quiet. She didn't have to hear them to know they were near; the chill that ran through her body was enough for her to know something was there with them. "We only want to talk," she said quietly, shakily. "Don't hurt us. We don't want to hurt you."

Suddenly there was a figure at their side. A scaled arm reached out to rest on Xayella's shoulder and another reached across their path to stop them from going farther. It clicked once, and then let out a low hissing sound. It shifted its body around until it was directly in front of them. Unlike before the reddish scales weren't visible, instead there was a blurred outline of something. Yet, despite the near-invisibility, the arms were quite tangible.

Instead of acting on her urge to scream, Xayella moved in front of Tchalla and faced the creature alone, but its clawed hand didn't drop away from her shoulder as she had hoped it would. She took in a staggering breath and sought out the alien's eyes with her own. "We're not going to run," she said more confidently. "W-We just want to see your leader." She glanced askance at its hand, then searched the two faint, red orbs that were the lizard's eyes. "Do you understand? Can you take us there?"

There was a shimmering, and then it was once again fully visible. It took a step back and motioned for Xayella and Tchalla to follow.

Xayella nodded slowly and let out a gentle sigh. "Come on, Ensign. I think we're about to meet the family."

Remaining a good distance away from the alien, Xayella and Tchalla followed trepidly along. "I promise I won't let them make a meal of us, Ensign," Xayella whispered in an attempt to lighten the mood.

Tchalla squeezed Xayella's hand. "Thank you," she whispered. "I-- I wonder where they're taking us. I hear sounds up ahead. I think I hear people talking. Only a few though."

"People?" Xayella repeated quizzically. She craned her neck to catch a glimpse of what lay ahead, but she could so no one, only patterns of orange light dancing on the cave walls, the type of light that came from fire. It was easy to distinguish the flickering of flames from other light sources, and as they came upon the opening to another chamber, the bonfire positioned in the center of the cave verified Xayella's inference.

The entire chamber was awash with light, and a warmth embraced Xayella that banished all memory of the chill that had only moments ago been rattling her bones. She looked over at Tchalla expectantly. "Do you sense anything?"

"I can feel the vibrations of the aliens," Tchalla said. "They have a very unique energy signature and I can practically feel it, though it's also like hearing them too. It's hard to describe. I'd guess there are close to twenty of the aliens, and maybe five who aren't. I think they're crew members but I can't be certain."

"It doesn't matter," Xayella whispered. "We're about to find out."

Xayella and Tchalla followed the alien into the cavern, and Xayella could do nothing to stifle the gasp she emitted. Tchalla was almost right in her count; there were over a dozen of the reptilian creatures performing various activities, two working a spit at a hearth located at the far end of the cave (she hoped it wasn't human flesh they were roasting), some gathered in a huddle, clicking rapidly in what could only have been a conversation; others were guarding the officers who now came into view as she and Tchalla moved further into the cave; the rest of the creatures simply sat by the fire, watching she and Tchalla with impassive, piercing stares. Xayella shuddered and was forced to look away. "This can't be all of them," she said to Tchalla. "There has to be more."

"I would be willing to guess that they are spread out all through these caverns," Tchalla said. "I can't sense anything outside of this area, but I can almost hear them. There are a lot of them, Lieutenant. They have a whole civilization in here, I think."

"Then we are severely outmatched, Ensign." Xayella regarded their alien escort, since he seemed to understand her. "Who do we speak to? Which one is your leader?"

The alien didn't answer the question, instead it motioned them forward into the crowd of other crew. Once there, it gestured to an array of pieces and parts scattered on the ground. They appeared to be a mixture of organic and mechanical devices. Beyond the parts the frame of a structure was hidden in the darkness. The creature pointed to the parts and then to the frame.

Xayella glossed over the items littering the ground, then gazed up inquisitively at the alien. "What? What is all this? I don't understand."

Tchalla stepped forward and frowned at the collection on the floor and then at the shape in the darkness. She looked at the others who looked equally uncertain.

The creature motioned to the parts on the ground, and then to the frame. Then it looked back to Xayella and began guiding its hand around before its body.

Xayella still had no idea what the frame was for, but the only thing she could deduce from the pile of their stolen equipment mingled wirh foreign objects was that they were here to construct something. "What is it that we're supposed to build?" she asked the alien. "Tell us and we can help you."

The creature pointed once more to the parts, and back to the frame in the darkness. It looked around to the others of its kind, and then back to Xayella. It then took slow steps into the darkness, gesturing for Xayella to follow.

At first, Xayella shook her head, afraid of what the creature now had in mind for her. At his forceful gesture, though, Xayella feared what would happen if she didn't follow. Her steps were hesitant and slow, but eventually she was standing before the alien. "I'm sorry," she said. "I won't ask anymore questions. I-I'll just build."

The alien was standing next to the frame now. He pointed to Xayella and then touched the frame. He looked at her with a questioning look. He pointed back to the pieces, and then reached behind him and patted the frame. His eyes widened expectantly.

"I know what you want us to do," Xayella told it gently, "but we have to know what it's supposed to be before we can build it." She sighed at the look of incomprehension on the alien's face. It was obvious communication was going to be a problem, so a more rudimentary method would be required, or they would be fated to "talk" in endless circles.

Xayella held up her forefinger at the alien to indicate she'd be back in a moment, then she marched over to the pile of equipment and pulled out a tricorder. She brought it back to the alien and held it up in her open palm. "This," she said, pointing to the closed tricorder, "is that." She gestured to the frame.

"This--" Xayella opened the tricorder and began scanning herself "--does this. Now, tell me what that thing is supposed to do, and we'll build it for you, okay?"

The alien gently took the tricorder into its clawed hands and then held it up in front of him. He then began moving it around, passing it along in straight stretches and then curves, all the while keeping it held flat in the air. He pointed to the tricorder one more time, and then to the ground, and once again began moving the device.

Xayella looked back at the boxed frame, and tried to run through all the possible structures she could think of that would relate to what the alien had just demonstrated for her. An image slowly formed in her mind, and as Xayella squinted at the frame, a crude shuttle began to take shape. "It can't be," she said quietly. She looked to the alien and shook her head. "There's no way we can build that! We're not engineers. We're scientists and security officers. We can't do what you're asking of us!"

The tricorder was slammed to the ground and the creature hissed and clicked at her. Its limbs waved menacingly, razor-sharp claws slashing through the air. One of its claws sliced really close to her, and it wasn't until she felt the warmth on her chest that Xayella realized one of the claws had sliced through her shirt and scratched across her skin. It wasn't bad, but it appeared to have drawn a little blood.

Too horrified to move, Xayella stood motionless and watched the alien with a stricken expression. She knew she was trembling, and with the new pain blossoming from her cut, she forgot all about the pain in her ribs. Whatever these aliens wanted, they were determined to get it, and it was clear she and the other officers were obligated to provide it. "Okay," she said in a choked whisper. "W-We'll build your ship." She held up her hands in a sign of submission and lowered her head meekly. "We'll do what you ask."

It stepped back and made a gesture that could almost have passed for a bow, and then it moved over to stand by the others of its kind.

As soon as the creature was gone, Tchalla rushed over to Xayella. "Are you alright, Lieutenant? It moved so fast, and...oh...it didn't cut deep. It's hardly a scratch." She examined the slice in the fabric of the tunic and swallowed hard. "Sharp."

Xayella winced slightly as she pressed her hand to the wound, and nodded. "And painful." She swallowed back her anxiety and motioned her head towards the frame. "From what I could gather, they want us to build a shuttle of sorts - something that flies. They seem very intent upon having us build it for them."

Tchalla looked at the aliens and then back to Xayella. "They want us to-- What do you suppose they need a shuttle for? Do you suppose they have other vehicles? Maybe somewhere else in the caves?" She swallowed again. "Are we breaking the prime directive if we do this?"

"I believe so, Ensign, but we have very little choice here. It's either we give them what we want, or we end up being turned on the spit over there. We can try and stall, but eventually, they'll want results, or I doubt they'd hesitate to kill every one of us."

"Maybe we can stall long enough for the Sulu to find us," Tchalla said. "I don't want to have to mess with the Prime Directive yet. I just got out of the academy." She sighed. "At least we're still alive though, I guess." She looked at their new project and sighed. "So, where do we start?"

Xayella joined Tchalla in regarding the framework of their shuttle, and added a sigh of her own. "We start by praying to whatever god or deity you believe in, and hope we get rescued very soon." She looked sidelong at the girl and managed a wan smile for her. "Or we could just take a look at the equipment we have and come up with a schematic."

Tchalla picked the tricorder up from the ground and started back over to the pile of equipment. "Well, on the good side, I think we're probably both intelligent and resourceful. At least, I know you are and I hope I am. At least that's what my instructors at the Academy said. I think now we'll find out if they were right. I think we might be able to use some of these to come up with plans, but I don't think we have anything here that will pass for an engine. Maybe they have more equipment somewhere else."

"Not yet," Xayella said. "We'll work on building the hull first, then we'll get to the engine if necessary. As long as they don't have their engine, they'll have to keep us alive. It's the only security we have."

Tchalla nodded and opened the tricorder. "I guess we're lucky these don't have a shuttle construction instruction manual. We have our work cut out for us, I think. At least it gives us something to do other than laying around in a cave."

"Or getting tossed against walls," she muttered sourly.

Holding her hand to her side, Xayella groaned softly and settled onto the ground by the pile of their missing equipment. She exhaled deeply and passed a hand through her tangled hair as she thought upon the daunting task ahead of them. If Matt saved them though, as she knew he would, they wouldn't have to build a shuttle for them, not that they were even capable of it. As long as the aliens didn't know that, they were safe, but eventually they would reason it out, and when that happened, she and the rest of the crew would suffer more than scrapes and bruises. Xayella sent out a mental plea to Matt for help, then reached into the pile to begin searching for a way to bestow upon their captors the gift of flight.

---

"Puzzles"
By: Lt(jg) Samantha Ashbury
Lt(jg) Michael Ashbury

Location: Ashbury Quarters/Deck 2 Science Labs/Holodeck 2
Stardate: 57906.25, 00h30

***Ashbury Quarters***

Sam knelt in the tiny alcove of a recessed doorway and readied her disruptor rifle. Her guards held themselves ready just behind and opposite of her in the small corridor. The footsteps were starting to come closer, their hollow echoes rumbling up and down the stone corridors.

One guard appeared suddenly and, without thinking, Sam aimed and fired a disruptor bolt directly at him. He collapsed backward into the stone wall, a smoking hole in his chest. On the opposite side of Sam, one of her guards fired again. Sam flinched as a blue-green bolt whizzed past her head. A muffled scream from behind her drew her attention. One of her guards had gone down, his arm severed just above the elbow. Sam forced her attention back on the firefight, just in time to see another guard aim his rifle right at her. There was a blinding flash of blue-green light--

And Sam sat upright in bed, her face sweaty from the nightmare. This was the second time she'd had the same dream tonight. Michael was watching her with a worried expression. Sam pushed her hair back out of her eyes. Michael just raised an eyebrow, a habit he'd picked up from her.

"I know, I know." Sam sighed. "The away mission has me a bit freaked."

"A bit?" Michael said mildly. "This is the second time tonight. Sure you don't want to talk about it? That's always helped before."

Sam drew her legs up pensively. In reality of course, she hadn't come to a bad end on Calevere. Well, at least not in that little firefight, nor in any of the other half dozen ones she'd gotten into just trying to escape. Not to mention the bit about commanding a Caleveran vessel and assisting the crew of the USS Windsor. She'd come out of the entire affair without a single physical scratch - emotionally was something else entirely.

"I'm worried about the crew down on the planet. I know what they're going through. I guess it's bothering me more than I thought it would."

"I know," Michael said quietly.

Sam looked at him in surprise. "You do?" She hadn't expected that.

"Of course. I know you and I know this is bothering you. I also know you aren't going to feel better until you're able to do something about it."

Sam nodded slowly. That was the entire reality of the situation. Her conscience wouldn't let her sleep well until she had done her part - well, attempted to at least. So far, she hadn't done that. The sickbay crew was currently removing some of the DNA from the two fluid samples returned from the surface for analysis. The computer would begin its own analysis as soon as that was done.

Sam tossed the covers back and stood up. She wouldn't be able to sleep at all until she had at least done something, however small that might be. The skin sample brought back also needed to be looked at. It wasn't scheduled for a few more hours but getting an early start couldn't hurt any...

***Deck 2 Laboratories***

Sam looked over the analysis the computer had already done on the skin sample. As her initial tricorder readings had indicated, the skin cells had an extremely high rate of light absorption. So high in fact, the skin sample was still not visible by human eyes.

"Computer, has sickbay finished extracting a DNA sample?"

"Affirmative," the computer responded.

"Is there enough DNA on file to extrapolate a possible model for this species?"

"Affirmative."

"Is there enough information on file to extrapolate possible biological responses to hostile action?"

"Negative."

Sam sighed. That wasn't unexpected. The computer didn't have enough information as yet. And, without an actual specimen, that wasn't about to change anytime soon. There was another possibility however...

"Computer, establish a subspace link with the Xenological Database at the Vulcan Science Academy."

"Link established."

"Establish a subspace link with the Xenological Database at Starfleet Academy, Behavioral Science Theory at Johns Hopkins University, and the Federation Xenobiological Database on Ganymede."

"Links established."

"Using known DNA and behavioral patterns from Federation records of currently explored Alpha, Beta, Delta and Gamma Quadrant Class-M planets with species that match this type of early behavior, is there enough information to extrapolate a possible model based on biological and behavioral responses?"

"Affirmative."

"Is there a holodeck available?"

"Holodeck 2 is available."

"Transfer all data to holodeck 2."

***Holodeck 2***

Sam briskly walked into the holodeck. The silver walls were certainly different from the early holodeck models that she was used to. Sam began by first creating a basic bipedal humanoid skeletal structure. One thing that Federation scientists had realized was that most sentient carbon-based lifeforms in the Galaxy had evolved along similar lines. There was some speculation that an ancient race had actually 'seeded' the galaxy to create similar lifeforms - although that theory was still being viciously debated among scientists, despite the supposed proof that had been found approximately ten years before. Sam had heard rumors of the Enterprise-D being involved but even that matter was still up for some debate.

The computer then projected a possible model of internal organs. These weren't really a big concern to Sam. She was more interested in possible movement and hiding tactics. In all species there was a 'flee or fight' automatic response built in to their genetic structure. Some species had learned to deal with it better - Klingons, Vulcans and Romulans especially - but other species still had to fight that automatic impulse to run at the first hint of danger, humans included.

The computer finished up by adding musculature and the epidermal layer, using the DNA and skin sample currently in sickbay and the Deck 2 Science Labs respectively. Sam nodded with approval. The model in front of her was probably off a bit - or it could be way out in left field - but at least it was a start. The model projected claws instead of digits and it had two teeth suitable for biting or stabbing. That might have been how the venom was injected into a victim. The computer had probably gotten them from the numerous snakes on file with similar venom.

Sam glanced at the chronometer: 0230 hours. Good, she was on the right track then.

"Computer, create an environment similar to Dorvali 449. Hold the model in place."

The room around Sam blurred into the foliage she had seen on Dorvali. The model in front of her definitely looked unfriendly in this environment.

"Computer, now allow the epidermal layer of the model to interact with its natural environment. Allow for proper distribution of sunlight."

The model in front of her abruptly vanished. Sam blinked. she hadn't expected it to go that fast. She had been expecting something similar to the octopus of Earth. It would detect danger and change - but that change took several seconds.

"Computer how long did the transition last?"

"Point one five seconds."

Sam whistled in surprise. That was REALLY fast. "Computer, give me a tricorder and a hand beacon." The requested items appeared on a table - she hadn't asked for that - next to her. The model wasn't even detectable by standard tricorder readings. Sam picked up the hand beacon, adjusting it to the high ultraviolet wavelengths. The model was just barely visible, the outer edges of the skin were a slight orange tinge.

Sam sat back against the edge of the table, staring at the model. She'd been hoping that the species might become visible with the ultraviolet wavelengths. If it had the ability to absorb even that, they might have a problem.

"Computer are there any known methods for detecting cloaked or camouflaged lifeforms?"

The computer responded with the typical bit about being able to detect energy spikes from technology. Sam shook her head in amusement. For something so intelligent as the ship's A.I. it could be remarkably ignorant sometimes. She rubbed her eyes, lost in thought. There had to be a way to make this species visible. Sam's head came up abruptly. What had the computer just said?

"Stop. Repeat that last bit."

"--first contact evaluations, the crew uses environmental suits."

"Give me an environmental suit."

A white body suit, energy pack and helmet appeared on the table she still hadn't asked for. After donning the suit - it was surprisingly comfortable - Sam fitted the helmet and activated the suit. Everything appeared in an orange tint.

"Computer, create a stationary crewman in an activated environmental suit."

A figure appeared. Sam shut off the power to the suit and the figure vanished. Turning the power back on and the figure reappeared. The figure wasn't visible to the hand beacon even at high UV wavelengths but it was visible to the tricorder.

"Computer can an environmental suit be adjusted to look for extremely high wavelengths of UV light, beyond the normal range of a hand beacon or phaser rifle light?"

"Affirmative."

"How long a duration?"

"Thirty minutes of power."

Sam sighed; that wasn't long enough. Plus the environmental suits were made for exploration, not combat. There had to be another option. She pulled off the helmet.

"Computer, present other options for a long lasting high wavelength UV adapter."

"Tactical combat interface."

Sam felt a leap of excitement materialize in her belly.

"Give me one."

A standard TCI appeared on the table. Designed to fit over the head and project tactical data in front of one eye, it was light and carried enough power to last for several hours. She might actually have an option.

***0630 Hours, Holodeck 2***

"Here." Michael handed the TCI back to Sam. After beating her head against the wall for almost an hour trying to jury-rig a TCI, Sam had politely - and exasperatedly - asked her husband for help. After all she was a scientist, not an engineer and Michael was the better one with fixing gadgets.

He'd been forced to adjust the TCI to interface with a tricorder. The computer had neglected to mention that a TCI didn't have the ability to detect extreme upper UV wavelengths alone. It would need some help for that and that help - of course - came in the form of a tricorder. It had turned out that the tricorder did actually detect the aliens - more specifically it detected the oxygen they inhaled and the carbon dioxide they exhaled. That however was good for only a few meters in every direction. Michael had pointed that out after a minute and Sam immediately had felt foolish for not thinking of it earlier. To actually see the aliens however, they needed something else.

Sam put on the TCI and activated her tricorder. The model - which to this point had remained invisible - became subtly visible. The exact look of the species was not there, but the model could definitely be seen. It was more like seeing somebody through peripheral vision. They were visible but one could not make out little details like facial expression or what somebody might be wearing. It was just an awareness that somebody was there.

"Computer what is the accuracy of this projection?"

"96%."

"Are the Captain or Commander Lyrr awake?"

"Affirmative."

"Inform them we've found a way to detect the aliens."

"Acknowledged."

---

"Long Night, Part 2"
by Lieutenant (j.g.) Mark Thaine, Engineer, USS Sulu
and Lieutenant (j.g.) Andrea Rhea, Counsellor, Outpost Epsilon 5 [NPC+]

Location: Mark Thaine's Quarters, USS Sulu
Stardate: 57906.25, 02h02

***

The PADD beeped in a typically annoying fashion.

Mark Thaine finished the paragraph of the letter he was writing, and then deleted it. Then he deleted the previous paragraph too. Then he read what was remaining.

It read:

Dear Andrea,

Mark

The engineer sighed, and deleted what was left of the letter entirely. He was, he decided, simply hopeless at writing letters, especially at two o'clock in the morning, after pulling a double shift.

Mark Thaine leaned backwards, and collapsed on his bed.

"Computer, lights."

The lights went out.

***

"Computer, lights please."

The lights came on, although this time they were on in a different room, and a number of light years away.

Andrea Rhea couldn't sleep either. The constant clanging of metal from some area of the station that was being dismantled was reverberating around her skull, and she was starting to develop a headache.

Then the banging stopped. Andrea mumbled a few curses, and rolled over. Then she sat up, deciding that she was far too awake to go to sleep now.

Her blonde hair fell loosely about her shoulders as she padded over to the small living area of her quarters, slouched in a chair and stared with her clear blue eyes at the empty room in front of her, lost in thoughts.

***

The lights were back on in Mark Thaine's room, though dimmed. The engineer was pacing, back and forth. Had the carpet not been made of the standard 'wear, tear, and fire resistant' Starfleet issue material, he would have probably worn it down to the hull plating.

He still couldn't sleep. He'd tried music, and nothing had helped. He'd tried poetry, and even John Keats' and Wordsworth's fine works hadn't helped. He was on the verge of cracking open the bottle of vodka he'd managed to get on board, but was fighting that urge.

There was only one thing for it.

"Computer, can I send open a communications channel to Outpost Epsilon 5?"

"Affirmative."

"Okay, do it. Open a channel to Andrea Rhea."

The computer beeped, and Mark positioned himself in front of his computer display.

There was silence for about five minutes. The 'connecting' logo had appeared, and watched it underdo its constant rotating...

He was just about to ask the computer to cancel, when the logo vanished, to be replaced with the smiling face of Andrea Rhea. "Mark!" she said, blue eyes twinkling.

And it was at this point that Thaine realised he still didn't quite know what to say. "Er...yeah. Hi." He scratched the back of his head. "I know it's late, but I couldn't sleep, and I figured I owed you at least a call, and..." He mumbled his way into silence.

"Nah, don't worry about it. I've had a restless night too. So how have things been? Your new ship's as good as you hoped?"

"Oh, she's a beauty alright!" replied the engineer, suddenly feeling a lot more comfortable. In fact, there was almost the hintings of a smile there. "Still got a few kinks to work out, but I think she'll be okay. And this mission...." He stopped himself. He didn't really want to put all his worries onto Andrea. "Yeah, this mission's going fine." He paused.

"So," Mark said, in attempt to change the subject, "what about you? How's that old station of mine holding up?"

"Oh, you know, it's great!" lied the counsellor. "The power grid's still fine, the doors haven't started making that awful crunching sound again...everything's just great!"

There was silence for a moment, as they each looked away from the other. He coughed, she fidgeted slightly in her seat.

Finally, Mark broke it. "Dammit, Andrea, we never used to lie to each other, and I'm not gonna start now. This mission isn't going fine at all. We've got crewmembers missing left, right and centre, a planet full of hostile aliens, with technology even I'm struggling to get my head round!" He sighed, and rubbed his eyes.

"Hey, Mark? I know you. And I know if there's anyone who can get them back, you can." She smiled at him. "Besides, you worked miracles with this place didn't you?" She gestured with a hand at her surroundings, many light years away.

Thaine looked up again, and nodded. "Thanks. Though I'd be surprised if that place is in one piece by the end of the year. It's just so old..."

"Actually, Mark, it's probably not going to be in one piece by the end of the week." Seeing her friend's puzzled expression, she continued. "They're taking the place apart. Decommissioning it. I don't have a clue what's gonna happen to what crew is left here; re-assigned all over the quadrant probably."

The engineer leaned back slightly, as if trying to gain perspective. "You're more worried about how the crew's gonna take it, aren't you?"

Andrea nodded.

"Typical counsellor." He rolled his eyes, and she laughed at him. "They'll manage," he continued, "you know that. They're a sturdy bunch. And I'm sure if the Captain is having problems, he'll let you know."

"Yeah. I guess you're right."

"Of course I am!" said Mark, with such subtly mock arrogance that only a counsellor could spot it. Which she did, and laughed. Thaine glanced at the time.

"Aw, hell, Andrea, I really have to go. I've got to get some sleep tonight. I'm sorry for making this so short. And so late. I'll try and contact you once we've finished this mission, yeah?"

"Yeah," said the counsellor, smiling. "That'd be fine. Goodnight, Mark."

"Goodnight, Andrea. Thaine out."

The connection closed, letting the screen wink out into darkness.

---

"Relocation"
Ensign Dwayne Sanchez
Lieutenant Sam

Location: Mess Hall
Stardate: 57906.25 at 05h49

***

Dwayne stood from the lounge in the mess and circled the room. He hated being 'homeless,' and that wasn't something he was wanting to have to deal with for too long a time. He wanted to have a set of quarters as soon as possible. The sooner the better too.

And, he was beginning to hate Steele. He KNEW I had feelings for her, and he went and turned her against me. He hadn't felt like crying in almost 18 years, but this may be what does it to him. I shouldn't have told him about her, was his thought. He slammed his hand on the bulkhead as much as in anger as to keep from actually falling to the deck in tears.

He'd left the messhall and made his way to a holodeck. "Computer."

"Ready," replied the computer.

"Create an old fashioned gymnasium with punching bag and required partner in appropriate attire. Also provide appropriate attire for me as well."

"Program complete, enter when ready."

Dwayne entered the holodeck and slipped to the old fashioned locker room and changed. In the locker he had in the room was a pair of boxing gloves. He wrapped his hands in tape then pulled the gloves on. Grabbing the towel, he headed to the main body of the gym.

Over by the punching bag was a photon created personage and he walked over, tossing the towel over against the wall. The image walked over and held the punching bag. Dwayne followed and he began punching, every other punch was a fast one-two, then a left. Another left and then a right. Then another quick one-two.

***

Four subprocesses consumed little overall processing bandwidth, allowing Sam to maintain most of his focus on the dilemma on the planet below. Both science and medical teams were busily working on the samples retrieved from the planet. He had seen to it that all required resources were made available for both teams during their research.

One of the subprocesses was currently deliberating Ensign Dwayne Sanchez's need to relocate his living arrangements. Very little progress was being made there. Sam did not have enough empirical data on human interaction to fully comprehend the subtle nuances of the dynamic that ensured Sanchez's need for a move.

Two more processes were consumed with a variety of simulations of his various conversations with Lieutenant Tagliesh. Again, his depth of knowledge was not great enough to come to whichever conclusion it was he was seeking. He would have to spend more time around the lieutenant once she was found--for research purposes.

The final subprocess was another simulation, though this one would have had much more impact had Sam been capable of feeling emotions. The results of the various simulations he'd already run through his positronic net ensured that the survival of the missing members of the crew was a necessity. Given what information he had access to in the ship's databases, the loss of the missing crew would be devastating to the morale on the ship, especially during the Sulu's first mission. With that in mind, Sam was more determined than ever to do whatever possible to return the missing crew to the USS Sulu. Failure in this regard was no longer an option.

***

Sometime later, Dwayne exited the holodeck and headed down the corridor, with not a clue as to what he was going to do, or where he was going to go. Before too long he made an about-face and headed back to the holodeck. "Computer, create an old style southwest designed home with furnishings as was seen in Mexico in the late19th and early 20th centuries. Furnish it and decorate it with the same type of designed furnishings."

"Program complete, enter when ready."

He entered and the 'house' he found himself in was gorgeous. It had genuine southwest flavor with some Mexican flair added. The colors were rich reds, deep blues, and dark greens with a muted tone of white and off-white. Well, this'll be my home for now, I guess, at least till such time as I get my new quarters.

Then he remembered. His things were still in the old quarters, and he couldn't go back to get them. He didn't know what Steele would do to them and was afraid to go back. The expression in the other man's eyes was enough to frighten him. Oh sure, he could smash the man in the face and feel justified, but there was no way he could justify that kind of thing, so to keep from doing that, he would avoid him. And hope when the time comes, I'll have security there with me when it's time to go and get my things. His only hope was that Steele didn't bust into his private room that was a part of their quarters and destroy anything.

Especially not mama's picture.

He laid down on the 'sofa' and rested his head on the arm, and he slowly felt like he was about to fall asleep.

***

Sam watched the progress of another sensor sweep over the area where the crew disappeared. He was certain that the scans would not penetrate the caves, but at least they would know if there was any trouble outside the caves. He picked up the tricorder sitting on the arm of the chair next to him.

With Captain Salinger and Commander Lyrr off the bridge, he was placed in charge. He had taken the central chair because it gave the crew a boost in confidence when someone sat here. Meanwhile, he was able to monitor the situation on the planet, the scans and probes, as well as reconfiguring a tricorder for use within the caves.

The idea for the modifications had originated during the last analysis of the planetary data and telemetry information gained from the Away Team's foray into the caves. His estimates placed a sixty-two point three seven five percent chance that the modifications would have any positive effect. Given the circumstances, those were good odds.

***

Dwayne sat up suddenly from a dream. He couldn't stand it anymore. He tapped his badge and called: "Lieutenant Sam, this is Ensign Sanchez, is there some way we could speak?"

"Of course, Ensign," Sam said. "Can you come to the bridge? I am currently in command and therefore should not leave this post."

"Yes sir, I'm on my way." He closed the channel and stood up. On the way out of the holodeck, he called, "Computer, end program." Then he went to the nearest lift.

Walking on, he called, "Bridge." And waited. His wait didn't last long as the lift got him to the bridge in record time. Once the doors opened, the entire bridge crew could see that he was not doing well. His hair was a mess, he had a hint of a five-o'clock shadow and his uniform was wrinkled. All signs he wasn't doing well, not doing well at all.

As Sanchez reached the bridge, Sam stood from the center chair and started toward the Captain's Ready Room. "Lieutenant Thalan," he said. "You have the bridge in my absence. This way, Ensign Sanchez." With that, he entered the Ready Room.

He followed the lieutenant to the ready room, his second visit there in as many days. He couldn't believe that. But once he'd entered, he stood at attention and waited for the lieutenant to speak.

Once inside the Ready Room, Sam turned to face Sanchez. "What is it you wished to speak to me of, Ensign?"

"Lieutenant, have you located someplace else for me to live? I-I've not been to my quarters this evening and I'm finding it difficult to sleep." The words came in a rush once the doors to the Ready Room closed behind them.

"I have arranged for new housing arrangements, Ensign," Sam said. "The change was finalized thirty-three minutes seventeen seconds ago." Sam moved over to the replicator and tapped in a sequence of commands. A moment later, a padd shimmered into existence. "Your new housing assignment has been loaded onto this personal-access display device. Your new co-habitant will be Ensign Amy Reese, a medical officer."

Dwayne took the PADD into his hands and sighed. The sound was not an unhappy one. He was very happy, but there was one other thing. "Um, how will I be getting my things from the quarters they are still in?"

"Have you stowed your belongings within your previous quarters, Ensign? If that is the case, then you will need to retrieve your belongings and take them to the location of your new quarters. If you are concerned about your previous co-habitant, perhaps you could move your belongings while he is busy on shift."

Dwayne nodded. His immediate Commanding Officer seemed to have grasped the situation quite well. "Aye, that is what I will do. Does." He glanced at the PADD. "Ensign Reese know to expect me?"

"Ensign Reese has already been notified of the change and is expecting you to move in within the next twenty-four hours."

"Thank you sir." He sounded somewhat relieved.

"You're welcome, Ensign," Sam said. "Was there anything else?"

"No, sir. Thank you, sir." Dwayne spoke those words as he headed for the exit of the ready room.

---

"Seeing in the Dark"
by Commander Lyrr Tayla
Captain Matthew Salinger
Lieutenant jg Samantha Ashbury
and Lieutenant jg Michael Ashbury [NPC+]

Location: Holodeck 2, USS Sulu
Stardate 57906.25 06h40

***

Commander Lyrr rubbed her tired eyes for the fourth time since they'd arrived on Holodeck 2, and yawned for the third. Matt appeared no better off, but at least he'd had time to comb his hair into place. Lyrr needed a good twenty minutes to get hers set properly, even with as short as it was. Although she styled it straight, her hair had natural waves to it that required much attention to even out. With the short notice meeting Lt. Ashbury had requested, Lyrr hadn't had the luxury of attending to her now unruly black locks. She grumbled again and combed her fingers through her hair dourly. "I hate early morning meetings," she muttered. "If I'd known commanders were required to do this, I would have fled when they offered me that third pip."

"Early bird gets the red-hot," Matt said as he glanced at her with a bemused expression. "And, from what the lieutenant said, this is very important. Now stop worrying about your hair."

"I am not," she muttered sullenly. She stopped her hand, mid brush-stroke and turned to frown at Matt. "Why? What's wrong with my hair?"

"I just figured...with the way you keep running your hands through it. It looks fine, now stop worrying."

She glanced at Lt. Michael Ashbury, already present in the holodeck and watching them both with an almost amused expression. "I told you I wasn't worrying," she reiterated to Matt. She smoothed her hands over her hair one last time to flatten it, then folded her arms over her chest to keep herself from compulsively fussing with her hair. "Did Lt. Ashbury say what this meeting was about?"

"Just that it had to do with the sample she was working on. I hope she's found something."

"Me too. I hate being dragged out of bed for nothing."

Lyrr and Matt turned as the holodeck doors slowly parted to present Lt. Ashbury, looking far too alert and energetic at such an early hour.

"Good morning, Lieutenant," Lyrr greeted. "Have you got something for us then?"

"Morning, Captain, Commander," Sam said. "I'm sorry to get you up at this hour but I think we found a way to find the aliens."

"That's definitely good news, Lieutenant," Captain Salinger said. "I think we can dismiss the early wake-up call under the circumstances. Please, tell us what you've got."

"We've combined a standard tactical combat interface with a tricorder. With this, we can find the aliens by the extreme upper UV spectrum that their epidermal layer does not absorb." Sam picked one up off the table off to one side. Michael was working on a second one. This one was a real tricorder/TCI, not one projected by the holodeck. "Michael--" Sam indicated her husband sitting at the table who looked up and nodded politely "--also came up with the idea of tracking the movement of the aliens at close range from their respiration. The TCI is an indirect method of finding them. It won't reveal the aliens directly. It actually reveals the area in which the upper UV spectrum is being reflected instead of absorbed."

"Well, I think the second method is out," Lyrr said. "By the time we get close enough to track their respiration, we'd be out of luck. But what about using the TCI to reveal them.... What's the range on that and how effective is it?"

"We've been able to track the aliens at up to 100 meters. According to the computer, it's 96% effective," Michael answered. "Unfortunately, for now it's line of sight only. I think we can work around that but we'd need to set up a sensor grid of some sort on the planet. The sensors from orbit won't be worth much; the ozone layer reflects too much UV light."

"We've tried doing that in the caves," Lyrr said. "It didn't work. Each beacon we set up, they simply plucked out of the rocks. They'd sabotage any similar efforts. The creatures, whatever they are, are much smarter than we initially gave them credit for. They seem to always be one step ahead of us. Now, your plan is a good one, but is there any way we can modify the devices to work more effectively? Maybe Lt. Sam could help."

"That'd be good. He's bound to have some better ideas. I think we can get the devices to work together, in a sort of group, similar to the way sensor arrays work." Michael frowned slightly. "But I'm not sure how to do it. If we can get that to work, using the Sulu's sensors from orbit, we can triangulate all the signals from the surface, giving us a 'map' of sorts of the entire area, including UV light that's being reflected. The Sulu's sensors wouldn't be involved directly; we'd just need her computing power to sort out the data."

"The problem within the caves isn't necessarily with seeing the aliens, however," Matt interjected. "The problem that Ops has been wrestling with has been the refractive properties of the caves. Scan more than a few centimeters away from yourself, and you're receiving only garbage back on the tricorder. Then, as Commander Lyrr indicated, we have the problems with the aliens. In order to set up a relay within the cave, we'd have to run cabling. We saw what they did with the last equipment we left behind in the cave. If we can make due with the detection equipment for spotting the aliens, that will be best. I don't want to rely on running anything back out of the caves when they could so easily damage it."

Sam looked helplessly at Michael. She was out of ideas on how to improve the equipment. Michael looked thoughtfully at the TCI in front of him. "The TCI in its current form only uses the tricorder's processing capabilities to sort out the data. The TCI is built for tactical use, not search and rescue. How bad do communication or telemetry signals get scrambled in the caves?"

"They become unusable," Matt said. "But, Lieutenant Sam is working on a means to clear up the signal. Perhaps with the TCI and the modified tricorders, we'll be able to find the aliens after all."

"We leave for the planet in a matter of hours, though," Lyrr put in. "Will there be enough time to modify and implement the device by the time we're due to leave?"

"With a little help, we should be able to assemble enough devices to equip the entire away team," Michael replied. "At the very least, the devices do work at a limited range. And it's better than what the away teams had last time."

"Very good, Lieutenant," Matt said with a glance at Lyrr. "See what you can come up with and keep me apprised of your progress."

"Aye, Captain."

"We'll contact Lieutenant Sam and have him aid you," Lyrr added. "Unless the two of you think you can handle it on your own which, from the looks of what you've already come up with, seems to be the case." She smiled at husband and wife. "You certainly do make a good team."

"Thank you, Commander." Sam smiled. She looked briefly at Michael, who nodded, before continuing. "But I think some assistance would be great. We both seem to be out of ideas."

"I can't see how that's possible, considering your present progress." Lyrr laughed softly and nodded to the two lieutenants. "Dismissed. And good work you two. We're lucky to have you aboard."

"Thank you, Commander, Captain," Sam said as Michael collected the assembled TCI/tricorder combination and headed out the door, Sam close behind.

Watching the heavy holodeck doors closing, Lyrr sighed and turned to Matt. "Does this mean I can go back to bed?"

Matt grinned. "I don't think you'll have much time for sleep before the Away Mission, but if you'd like to grab some more sleep... I think I'll be up on the bridge. You don't need me to tuck you in, do you?"

Lyrr frowned irritably at Matt. "Your humour is unappreciated, especially when I'm cranky and my hair's a mess. You'd better watch yourself, Matt Salinger," she said, jabbing a finger in his direction for emphasis, "I might just jam another hot dog into your face."

"I welcome your attempts," Matt said with a chuckle. "Just remember next time you try to do that, we're both going to be on skates. Now, you'd better go get that rest. You're going to have a busy day today."

Lyrr grumbled. "Don't remind me." She gestured dismissively at Matt as she started for the doors. "You'd better hope an alien gets me down there," she called back to Matt, "because when I return from the surface, you've got another eating contest coming up, but this time, I pick the dish." She paused in the open doorway and looked over her shoulder at Matt, bearing an impish smile. "Something Klingon maybe."

"I do not eat Klingon food," Matt said. "You've seen the temperament of the Klingons, haven't you? I think at least seventy-five percent of their foul moods come from indigestion."

"Good," Lyrr said stubbornly. "Then you'll get a taste of how much I hate mornings!" With a petulant stomping of her foot, Lyrr turned on her heel and stalked out of the holodeck.

Matt watched her go and was suddenly thankful that the replicators had tremendous difficulty replicating Klingon food, and made a mental note to make sure they stayed clear of Klingon territory for a good, long while. Once she was gone, he took a look around the holodeck, and then strode out and toward the bridge. Time to get back to work, he told himself.

---

"Sam Squared"
by Lieutenant Sam
Lieutenant jg Samantha Ashbury
Lieutenant jg Michael Ashbury

Location: Bridge, USS Sulu; also Dorvali 449
Stardate 57906.25 06h50

***

Lieutenant Sam stood at the Operations station going over the figures he'd been working on through the night. There had been little progress, but he believed he'd found a way to negate some of the interference from the field within the caves. It would allow for at least ten meters of clear scanning.

He glanced at his station where an alert flashed to get his attention. He approved the resource request the alert indicated and allowed engineering to re-route more of the ship's power for creating the medical supplies that would be necessary for the upcoming Away Team.

He looked up at the sound of approaching feet and noticed the young woman now standing on the other side of the Ops station. "Good morning, Lieutenant," he said. "How may I be of assistance?"

"I'm Samantha Ashbury, sir," Sam said first by way of introduction. "I've been working on a method of detecting the aliens from the epidermal sample we picked up on the surface yesterday."

Samantha produced the TCI/tricorder combination. "My husband came up with this, but because of the interference on the surface, we think we might have more success if we can group the devices together. Create a map of sorts of the entire area that everyone on the away team can see. With all the interference down there, telemetry signals are going to have a hard time. We're both out of ideas--" Sam didn't have to explain that this was way out of her field "--and Commander Lyrr suggested you might have some better ones."

The android examined the device for several moments before looking up at the science officer. "I believe this will provide an effective means to detect the aliens within the caves. I have modified a tricorder to give a clearer scanning field within the interference of the caves. It will only provide a ten meter radius, but within the caves, that should be sufficient. The captain has already indicated that we will be unable to use pattern enhancers on the surface due to the thefts, so we will need to devise another means." He was silent for a moment and then cocked his head to the side. After a moment of processing additional data, he turned back to her. "Lieutenant, using the tricorder's ability to link with other similar devices, it is possible to use one of the TCI devices to record the data, and then send those signals to the other devices. I would approximate that we would have up to five meters before the signal degradation due to interference made such a link impossible."

"That would allow the team to get the information they need," Sam said thoughtfully. "But it would be limited to only small groups. The entire away team wouldn't have the same information. To get a clear picture of where the aliens are, everyone needs the same information. Is there any way that everyone on the team could get the data? Tachyons maybe?"

"Reconfiguring the tricorders to receive a narrow band of frequencies for data could theoretically increase the range of the data transmission. However, within the caves, the natural structure of the cave walls would remain a hindrance. Additionally, I do not believe that Commander Lyrr will want to split the away teams into smaller groups. To do so, could potentially expose the smaller teams to greater amounts of risk. Perhaps we should attempt to modify the tricorders to have a more robust range within the caves first. That would allow us to determine what other modifications may be required to make the device work."

"Sounds good," Samantha agreed. "Michael should be here in a minute--"

As if on cue, the bridge doors hissed open and Michael Ashbury appeared, carrying another of the TCI/tricorder devices.

"This is the only other one we've had time to make. The rest of the engineers are getting things ready for another away mission," Michael said by way of greeting. "Any progress here?"

"The current difficulty," Lieutenant Sam began, "is that the structure of the caves makes tricorders nearly inoperable. I have made some modifications that will allow for an extended scanning range, but that will still allow a twelve meter radius under the best circumstances." The android ran several computations both within his neural net and within the Sulu's main computer. "Perhaps before the devices are given to the Away Team, we can test them in the entrances of the caves. Before the Away Team is forced to rely on untested technology."

"I'd say that's a good idea," Michael said. "Do a test run for now and we can use that data to get a better idea of how to improve the devices."

Samantha Ashbury nodded with disappointment. She'd wanted to get the devices operating as soon as possible, the quicker to get the captive Sulu crewmembers out.

"Would you care to accompany me for the test, Lieutenants Ashbury?"

Michael looked inquiringly at Samantha. She nodded agreement to his unspoken question.

"Yes, sir," Michael answered for both of them.

Sam easily gained the permission to beam down to the planet for the test. He led the way into the cave, only fifteen meters inside, leading the lieutenants and Ensign Glickman from security. He stepped aside as Samantha and Michael Ashbury began preparing for the test.

As they did, Sam stepped closer to Glickman and reassured him as he'd seen both Captain Salinger and Commander Lyrr doing for other officers on the bridge. The ensign seemed more at ease, but still very alert.

The Ashburys appeared to be ready, so Sam redirected his attention to them. "I do not know how long we will have to prepare additional devices, but if the prototype is fully operational we will at least have that. We should begin the test." He gestured to Samantha. "Lieutenant?"

Samantha donned the TCI configuration and activated the attached tricorder. Michael walked a few meters down the corridor and activated his TCI and tricorder, setting the tricorder to record and transmit the data. After a second or so of interference the data appeared on Samantha's headset. She looked at the range in the TCI readout: four meters. So far the interference was acceptable. Samantha backed up another two meters. She was starting to see some interference but it was still usable. Michael waved her back some more. Another two meters and the data became useless. Samantha waved Michael back in.

"Eight meters," she reported to Lieutenant Sam. "That may deteriorate some as the team goes farther in."

"That will be suitable for our needs," Sam said. "Thank you for your assistance on this matter."

As the Ashburys were conducting their tests, Sam had allocated a considerable amount of his processing power to analyzing the situation and coming up with a viable solution for when Commander Lyrr had planned to beam down to the planet's surface. He was quite certain that there would not be enough time to create enough of the TCI devices for the entire team.

The solution he had come up with, while not the best solution, would be one easily created in the time remaining before the team returned to the planet.

As they moved back to the beam-out point, Sam outlined his plan to the Ashburys. Since there was not enough time to complete the rest of the devices, Sam would reconfigure his own optical array in the same manner the TCI had been configured. He would then attach a transmitter to his neural net that would broadcast the signals he was receiving to the tricorders of the rest of the Away Team. With the modifications he had made to his own tricorder already, he believed that as long as the team stayed within ten meters of him, they would be able to receive the signals.

With that plan in mind, they returned to the ship, ready to put his plan into motion.

---

"Counseling Crisis"
by Lieutenant jg Grixble Flummux
Counselor Resanna Jhenal
Lieutenant jg Mark Thaine

Location: Counseling Offices, USS Sulu
Stardate 57906.25 08h01

***

"Oh dear."

His legs carried him quickly through the corridors of the starship. It wasn't just a starship though; it was also his home. But if it was his home, why did he feel so out of place here? Why couldn't he feel like he ever fit in? An antenna twitched in sync with the nervous wave of panic that went through the whole of his psyche.

"Oh dear! Ohdearohdearohdear!"

He turned down another corridor and sped his way toward the alien offices. The captain hadn't been able to help him, but suggested that perhaps the Counselor could. When the captain stepped into his Ready Room and found Grixble already there, he thought he saw a mixture of amusement and resignation in the man's eyes. But he was very nice about it all.

As Grixble thought about it all after the fact, he could imagine that it must be quite startling to walk into your private domain and find someone waiting for you there already. But, he'd needed to talk to the captain. And, after the first time, he'd learned not to go to the captain in his private quarters. The Ready Room was the most logical place.

But, the captain had been very nice.

"Go talk to Counselor Jhenal," he'd said. "She's trained to help people, Grixble. She's trained to make everything better. She should be able to help you much better than I can."

He vaguely remembered sputtering a number of apologies and then rushing out toward the turbolift. The captain finally got him pointed toward the turbolift and out of the supply closet, and he was on his way.

A beacon shone in the distance. Well, not really the distance, but about ten meters away. Still, if he were only a few centimeters tall, it would be a difference.

COUNSELING, the door read.

It opened at his approach, and Grixble rushed inside. He looked around frantically, hoping to see the Counselor there waiting for him.

"Help!"

Fumbling with the PADD in hand, the Counselor's gaze jerked up from reading it. She had been distantly aware of someone in an anxious panic for a few moments, but had no idea he was coming her way. The luxuries of being the ship's medical healthcare provider.

Jhenal moved from behind her desk and over towards the door.

"Are you alright?" she asked, obviously knowing the answer. "Come in. Sit."

With a concerned hand, Jhenal offered him a place on her round couch.

"Oh thank you," Grixble said as he found himself seated on one of the most comfortable couches he'd ever sat upon. He told the counselor so.

"I didn't know what to do or who to talk to," he continued. "With everything happening on the planet and the aliens...I--I couldn't breathe. My antennae, they wouldn't stop twitching. The captain, he usually helps me, but he was busy today and suggested that you might be able to help me. Oh please, Counselor, please...how can I make it go away?"

Knowing her hands would be full with Flummux in the future, Jhenal took a deep breath of her own. Every ship in the fleet had one; they were called, "The Crisis Case." If it weren't for their remarkable intelligence or keen specialty, the average person like the crisis case would be turned away in a heartbeat from the Academy.

"Lieutenant." She paused, searching for the right form of express. "You really have nothing to worry about. You are perfectly safe here on the Sulu. I went down to the planet on the first search party and came back without a scratch or a scar.

"What you have to do is stop putting so much anxiety or apprehension on yourself. And to do that, is to find why you're feeling this way... Why are you so distressed? Hold nothing back, it'll help you put it into better light if you talk about it."

"Well," Grixble began, his voice soft and slightly strained with his own anxiety, "it's just...that...well... I don't really know how to say it exactly. I just feel so helpless. I want to be able to help. I want to be able to contribute, but there's nothing I can do." He sighed and looked over at her. "I just want to help, but I don't know what to do. I don't know if there is anything I could do. It's-- There's--" He sighed again, and his antennae drooped.

"It's alright. Trust me." The Counselor tried to let out a reassuring tone. "There is only so much one person can do."

"Jack Alaska would know what to do."

"Who?"

Sensing his thoughts towards the unknown figure, Counselor Jhenal could feel a certain envy and worship over the person. Yet, a bit of self-pride. Resanna wasn't sure who Crewman Alaska was...

"I was working at my station this morning, regulating power to the holodecks, and I realized I am doing nothing to assist in the crisis. How can I help, Counselor? How can I contribute to the crew? I-- I-- I-- There's nothing. I want to help, but I'm not good at anything."

"You want to know what you can do?"

Giving him a hardened look, she continued, "The first thing is realizing you're not an omnipresent being, you're only Lieutenant Grixble Flummux, an Engineer aboard the U.S.S. Sulu. And that isn't a bad thing. We all have our limits. You must realize that having limitations isn't a bad thing. The second, ask yourself what you can contribute to this crisis. With all the vast knowledge you have, did you ever consider modifying the sensors to penetrate the caves? Or reconfiguring the communications network to try and see if they function within the caves?

"Your anxiety is an anchor pulling down your own self-value. Once you shed it, you can realize that you don't have to come to others to know what you're good at."

"I--" Grixble stopped and looked at her. Resolute, he nodded. "You're right. You're very, very right, Counselor. I'll-- I'll do that. I'll talk to Lieutenant Thaine for something to do to help. He was working on the sensors. Perhaps he'll let me help him. Oh dear, I believe I've been dreadfully foolish. Thank you, Counselor. Thank you very much."

Resanna smiled, pleased she was of some help. "You have so much to offer, you just have to do two things. Stop second guessing yourself and come out of your shell more often than not."

Noticeably more confident, Grixble sat up and then slid off the couch. He gave the counselor a wide grin while thanking her profusely, and then he strode toward the doorway. There was a spring in his step that bordered on a swagger, and his antennae no longer drooped. Grixble Flummux was ready to take on the universe. And, with that, he stepped out into the corridor, and headed for engineering.

Watching him leave, the Counselor felt a burden become lifted from her shoulders. It was nice to help others out, even if they did need much attention as she felt Lieutenant Flummux would. Jhenal hadn't read over his files yet, but she had a psychic feeling that it would be a journey.

"Computer, locate Lieutenant Thaine."

"Lieutenant Thaine is in Main Engineering," responded the computer, in typical fashion.

"Counselor Jhenal to Lieutenant Thaine."

"Yes?" came the slightly snapped, irritated reply. "What's the problem?"

"Lieutenant, Grixble Flummux is on his way to Engineering. It would be of a great personal favor to me if you would let him help on the recalibration of the Sulu's sensors. Though, would you please be descreet about my involvement."

"Yeah, sure. I'm a little busy right now counselor." Thaine's voice did indeed sound slightly distracted. "I'll sure-- No, not there! For hell's sake, the second port, not the first! You wanna fry the whole grid?!"

The Counselor cleared her throat, being startled by the loud reply.

"Sorry 'bout that. We've got some problems with these sensor grid modifications. I'll sure let him help out. I could use the extra pair of hands."

"Thank you Lieutenant. Jhenal out."

---

"A Friend in Need"
by Ensign Kelzira Rax, Science Officer
and Ensign Dwayne Sanchez, Operations Officer

Location: Lounge, USS Sulu
Stardate 57906.25 08h20

***

Kelzira Rax sat in the lounge going over another pile of padds and research information. There wasn't much more she could do in the efforts to rescue the missing crew. Her skillset didn't match either the requirements for helping with the tactical devices they were using to be able to see the aliens or the rescue effort in the caves. So, that left going over the botanical data gathered before the crisis.

She pulled another padd off the stack and started going over it. The tea she'd ordered sat on the table, but after she'd taken the first sip, she set it aside. Growing up, the mint tea had been her favourite. Ever since she was joined with Rax though... She sighed and thought perhaps she'd like water.

Dwayne sat in the lounge on the other side, away from Kelzira. He'd had a semi-satisfying evening in his new quarters. He'd spent the night in the only empty bedroom available. He hadn't met his new roommate yet, but he wasn't about to go and introduce himself just yet. He made his way to the replicator and ordered himself a cup of coffee. On his way back to his table he took the long route back, passing Kelzira on the way.

As the operations officer passed her, Kelzira glanced up and smiled.

He hadn't been paying any attention to where he was going; he was carrying a PADD. He tripped on the leg of one of the chairs, his cup of coffee flying from his grasp and the PADD sliding across the room. It was then that he noticed Kelzira looking at him.and he blushed. "O-Oh, hi."

"Hi there," Kelzira said. "Are you alright? Oh...oh...I think you need a new coffee. Hey, that smells great...er, or smelled great. What kind of coffee is it?"

"I-It's just coffee." He stood up and frowned, "I-I'm sorry, I'll leave you alone."

"No," Kelzira said. "It's alright. I mean...you don't have to. But, if you want to be alone..."

He offered her his hand. "Ensign Dwayne Sanchez." He introduced himself to her.

Kelzira looked at his hand for a moment, and then remembered the human custom. She clasped her hand with his and then smiled. "I'm Kelzira Pren...er, I mean Rax. I'm Kelzira Rax. Ensign. Did you want to sit?"

He looked at her closely. Yes, he'd seen why she was somewhat unsure. "Just joined?" He sat down at the table next to her, a slight yet shy smile on his face.

"Before I came aboard," she said. "It's...it's strange. But, I guess I'm adapting."

Dwayne seemed able to understand, even though he never really could understand the intricacies of the joined Trill, he didn't have a problem. He was one who was so tolerant that he'd be pretty much friendly to one and all. Except maybe Steele, he thought.

"Well, from what I hear being joined is a great honor, so congratulations."

"Thank you," Kelzira said with a smile. "It's an interesting feeling. The most difficult part is actually figuring out what foods I used to like that Rax doesn't like. And, then the strange ones that it likes that I've never had before or couldn't stand. I used to hate the taste of Terran tomatoes, but now..." She smiled. "It's an adventure, to be sure."

"I'm sure you'll make it. You seem to be a strong woman." He blushed thinking that. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't be so forward." He then looked around and realized he didn't have any coffee. "Oh dear, I don't have my coffee; I never got a refill."

"I think I should get some too," Kelzira said. "The tea I got earlier just...well, it's that same problem with other food. At least I don't have cravings for gagh."

Dwayne shuddered at that. "Ewww, I can't see how anyone can stand that stuff." He offered her a hand up so they could both go and get themselves a cup of coffee.

Kelzira looked quizzically at his hand and then realized what he was doing. She grinned and allowed him to help her to her feet. "I don't drink much coffee, at least not since the Academy on Trill. But, right now, it sounds like just the thing I need."

He smiled at her, the expression seeming to indicate that he was quite taken with her. "Well, let's go and get some coffee, eh?"

"A grand idea," Kelzira said. They made their way to the replicator against the wall and stepped back to allow him to order his beverage first.

Dwayne ordered his and stepped aside once the beverage had phased onto the panel inside the replicator. He waited to the side for her to place her order. While he did, he watched her. Her every movement, her every nuance... She seemed to be attractive, very beautiful to him. And to him, unfortunately to someone else, even more beautiful than her. It seemed he had fallen for someone else.

Once she had her coffee, Kelzira took a sip and nodded. "Oh, much better than that tea. I used to love that tea too." As they started back to the table, she glanced at him. "So, Dwayne, what do you like to do?"

He followed her; he wasn't as tongue-tied as he thought he would be. She seemed to be putting him at ease, and that seemed to bring his stammering to a minimum. "Well, I like 20th century stuff...mostly. Anything in the area of 20th century technology."

"I'm not very familiar with that era, well except for some of the literature. I think the twentieth and twenty-first centuries on earth were amazing times for writing. I don't really know much else from that era though. Most of my experiences that I recall myself start in the late twenty-third century. So, do you have any holoprograms of the era you really like?"

He nodded, yes he had a few, he just hadn't had the time lately to run any of them on the holodeck. "Yes, actually, I just haven't had the chance to input them into the holodeck's computer." He sat down and took a sip of his coffee, his eyes wandering to her somewhat, watching her.

"I love the holodeck," she said with a grin. "I've only got about half my programs loaded in so far. Maybe we could share programs. I always love trying out new scenarios. So, which one is your favourite?"

He'd never met this woman before this morning, but he was liking her more and more each minute they sat together. "Well, at least you have some of yours loaded, I don't even have that. What with my shifts on the bridge and bringing the new inventory of flora from the planet, I've been rather busy."

"I'm sure you'll get time soon," Kelzira said with a confident nod. "And, if you want, I can always help you. There's also Lieutenant Flummux too. He's the local holodeck expert. He's pretty shy and quiet at first, but when you start talking to him about holograms or holodecks, you can't get him to be quiet."

"Yeah, I'm sure I will. I mean, I have to get re-settled now too." Again what he'd done to Steele came to mind. And there was that ache in his chest from Jenara's rejection of him, and the expression from Steele when he knew he'd succeeded. "Yeah, well, I think I'll try and install them myself." That is if Steele hasn't done anything to them. And he took a drink of his cooling coffee.

"Okay," Kelzira said with a smile. "But, if you want help or company, just let me know. So, what's your favourite part of the twentieth?"

She was a curious woman. He mentioned twice now about his former roommate and about something he may be doing to his things, and she said nothing. Now he mentioned about getting re-settled, and again she said nothing. Wasn't she the least bit curious?

Kelzira took a sip from her coffee and watched him for a moment. He was lost off in some internal dialogue, mulling over his own thoughts, and for just a moment almost wished she were Betazoid. So, instead, she decided to take the direct, non-telepathic approach. "What are you thinking, Dwayne? I can see you're thinking about something and it looks very interesting from the expression on your face." She smiled and reached out to prod his hand. "So, what's on your mind?"

Dwayne blushed -- it seemed like he was doing that a lot lately. "It's kind of a long story. Do you know Ensign Redman?"

Kelzira nodded. "I do," she said. "She's my roommate, actually."

He just stared at her. "Oh, then perhaps I shouldn't discuss this with you. It sort of has to do with her." He tilted his head to the side. "Her and Steele."

"Oh," Kelzira said. "Is that his name? We talked about things last night, but she wouldn't give me any details. So...what is it?"

"Well, it starts like this: Steele and I used to be roommates. We'd made a wager on something... No, I'm getting ahead of myself. He came back one evening from a date that had been spoiled, he said, by the captain." He stared off into nothing. "And because of this date going like it did, he was angry. I sort of jokingly said he couldn't get every female junior--" He blushed. "Junior officer into the sack. If he did, I'd owe him 200 credits. If he didn't, he'd owe me.

"Well, then the wager went on so that I wound up having a 'trump' card." He blushed a deeper shade. "And, well, Ensign Redman was that trump. Anyway, I got to feeling guilty about it so I told the captain. It got back to Steele that I had and now he's trolling for Jenara. I don't know what to do. She looked at me like I was the worst thing in this Galaxy." Dwayne put his head in his hands, trying to keep from crying.

"Well, I'll put a good word in for you," Kelzira said. She watched him for a moment, chewing the inside of her lip. "Why would you make a bet like that? What would even make you say something like that about being with all the woman on the ship? I mean...I mean, we're not just objects to be used as men want." She sighed. "Well, what's done is done, I guess. So, now he's got her turned against you. She mentioned you in an unfavourable light, I'm afraid. I think she's moving much faster than she should with the relationship, but... So, he's going after her as revenge for what you did?"

He nodded; he agreed with her. "I know you're not objects to be used like that. That's part of why I felt so damned guilty. That's why I told the captain. I was raised better than that. My mother taught me to respect women, so yeah, I knew better." He nodded. "Yeah, I thought so." He slammed his hand on the table. "Damnit."

"Well, you're not living with him now," Kelizra offered gently. "And, maybe I can talk to her, make her see what a creep he is. She's my roommate, and I don't want her to be duped by this guy who was so willing to turn all the female junior officers on the ship into notches on his bedpost. I told her to go slow with him, Dwayne. I can be very persuasive when I want to be. I think it has something to do with having over a hundred years of experience in my head. Don't worry."

He smiled. "Oh, it's okay. I've pretty much given up on her ever accepting me." Of course, she wouldn't need to be a telepath to know or even believe he was lying. "I still need to get to my former quarters to get my things, and I don't know how that's going to work. I may have to call some security people down to help me."

"I may only be a science officer," Kelzira said with a grin, "but I can help you out. Julanna spent a lot of time among Klingons, so I know a few moves if he starts any trouble."

Okay, so he didn't know who Julanna was, but that didn't matter. The only one she could have been was a previous host to the symbiont that Kelzira now carried within her. "I'll let you know when I'll be going down and gathering my things, and thanks."

Kelzira grinned. "Of course," she said. "And, this coffee is good...well, much better than that tea. I'll probably be in the science labs for the rest of the day, but whenever you decide you want to move your things, let me know. Okay?"

"It'll probably be as soon as he's gone on shift; I'd rather do it then than take the chance he'd be there when I go." Okay, maybe he was taking the coward's way out, but he did want to avoid a fight if he could.

"When does he go on shift?" Kelzira said. "I'll talk to Peters and see if he can cover me in the lab while I'm helping you. It should be fine since I worked most of the night last night, and will probably work through Beta shift anyway. I could use a break to help a friend, right?"

When he was thinking of when Steele went on duty, it hit him. "Damn, he's got same shift as I do, Beta shift. I guess I could talk to Lieutenant Sam and see if I could take the time and move my things." He had wanted to slam the table again, but decided not to.

"Oh," Kelzira said and then laughed softly. "I'm on Beta too. I was on Alpha, but the captain and Commander Lyrr switched me because my superior officer doesn't like me. We'll work it out, Dwayne. And, even if we have to do it when he's there or could be there, I think we'll be okay together."

"I'd rather not do it when he's there, that's the problem." He really appreciated this woman's volunteering to help, but he couldn't put her into Steele's mind as someone he could take advantage of; he'd already started working on Jenara and he wasn't about to put Kelzira in his line of sight. "N-No, if I have to do it then, I'd rather you not be there. You know what he's like, but that doesn't mean he won't try to take advantage of you."

Kelzira raised an eyebrow and chuckled. "Well, you just let me know, Dwayne," she said. "I think I could handle myself against him, but I'll help you out when you want me to help you. Don't worry, we'll get you moved."

Yeah, he hoped they would. As it was, he was using replicator energy on getting new uniforms and so far, an exercise outfit and a few toiletries. He hated doing that. His mother always said, 'waste not, want not,' and he thought he was wasting energy on things he already had, even if they weren't in his possession yet. "Thanks, I could use a few friends right now, especially after what Steele did."

He wasn't about to tell Kelzira that he had feelings for her roommate. He wasn't sure if she'd understand.

"Well, you can definitely count me as one of your friends, Dwayne," she said with a smile. "Though, as my friend, you may end up getting drafted into the service of the USS Sulu Theatre Troupe. If you don't mind, of course."

Theater? He was too shy for that. "Um, sure...if you want me to."

"We'll see," Kelzira said. "There may not even be enough people interested on the ship for a troupe. But for now, you're safe."

He sighed and nodded. "I am grateful. I'm sure I would stammer throughout my lines if I had even started with the troupe. I'm not that good anyway."

"I've got some great exercises to get you through that," Kelzira said. "I think theatre is a great way to break shyness. But, it's up to you."

"I'd ruin the production if I was a part of it. I'm just not any good at it." He stopped a moment thinking about the last time he'd tried an acting thing. It was at the academy and there were a group of senior cadets who were wanting to put on a production. One female senior cadet offered him the lead male role, but he had to try out for it.

His try-out was nasty. He put feeling into every word and at the end there was clapping, but someone, once the clapping was done, said, and loud enough for him to hear: "GOOD RIDDANCE."

"It was, to say the least, a bad experience," Dwayne said as a way to finish his little story, although some of it was silent.

Kelzira smiled and put a comforting hand on his forearm. "It's alright, Dwayne," she said. "And, I promise not to try to pester you into it either." She glanced at one of the chronometers on the wall and frowned. "I should probably be getting back to the lab. We brought a lot up from the planet below, and I've got a lot of samples to catalogue and analyze."

He frowned. "You didn't get the catalogue that I did up as the crates were beamed aboard?"

"Oh, different catalogue," Kelzira said. "Once everything is here, we have to take it out of the crates and put it where it belongs on the ship. Which requires even more cataloguing."

"And a little more...detailed too, eh?"

"Oh no, it's not that," Kelzira said with a soft laugh. "It's just that as we pull things out of the crates to analyze them, or put them in storage in the labs, the information needs to be updated. We need to make sure we're looking in the right places for things. The detail was great. It really helps us do our jobs with that much information."

Oh. He felt somewhat sheepish and the stain of crimson on his cheeks told her that. "Well, I better let you get to work then. I need to be heading for the bridge anyway. It was nice meeting you."

Kelzira laughed once more. "I'm going in early," she said. "So, if you show up on the bridge now, they'll wonder what you're doing there. With so many people gone in the science department though, I just want to keep things working in there. Maybe I'll see you later after our shifts though. Or, if you decide to move your things, let me know."

Dwayne blushed again. "Yeah." He now felt rather stupid. "Well, nice meeting you."

"Nice meeting you too, Dwayne," Kelzira said with a big grin. "You've still got about eight hours before your shift, and you're looking kind of rumpled and stuff. Go get a few hours of sleep. We'll hook up later, alright? I'll see ya later, okay?"

All Dwayne could do was nod, yes, his night of sleeplessness was definitely catching up with him.

And, with that, Kelzira strolled out of the lounge, pausing in the doorway to give Dwayne a final wave before she disappeared. She hoped he'd be alright; he seemed quite distressed. Hopefully a friend will help.

---

"Dream Come True"
by Crewman 1st Class Shyla Lynn Moreau - Astrometrics Technician [NPC+]

Location: Astrometrics, Starbase 163
Stardate 57906.25 09h00

***

Lieutenant George Drudge walked into Astrometrics precisely at 0900 as had been his habit since taking over the department. The starbase was a pretty light duty station and Drudge, as the station's Chief Astrometrics Officer, saw no reason to keep a full watch around the clock. The computers had been configured to alert him if any truly unusual stellar phenomena hit the sensors and that had happened but twice in recent memory.

Drudge had only enjoyed his quiet duty for a brief couple months before Crewman Moreau joined his staff. Moreau approached her job with a quiet determination that made the Lieutenant feel a bit guilty about his lax policies. She was always the last to leave as well as the first to arrive and every morning Drudge could count on her being the first sight to greet him as the double doors to the lab slid open.

As expected, Shyla Moreau was crouching near one of the secondary consoles, performing routine maintenance on the spectral sensor system. Her hair was wound into a sensible bun and her sleeves were pushed up to her elbows while she performed her job with her usual ever-present smile. Lieutenant Drudge leaned against a bulkhead and regarded her with a smile of his own. The girl is a wonder, he thought to himself. No matter the drudgery or the mind-numbing receptiveness of equipment maintenance, Crewman Moreau always approached it as if she had just discovered a new star system or was mapping a dense cluster in another quadrant. Drudge would hate to lose her but it was a certainty. It wasn't fair to keep her here forever.

Moreau didn't take her eyes off her work but her smile broadened. "Computer," she said. "Bolian Tea." A china cup filled with bluish liquid obediently appeared in the replicator.

"Since when do you drink Bolian Tea, Crewman?" Drudge asked, taking a few more steps into the lab.

"I don't, sir."

Smiling, Drudge walked over and retrieved the cup. "Thank you, Moreau. Let me guess, you've been here since 0500?"

Moreau reinserted the sensor's optical ring with a snap and brought the system back online. "Since 0400, actually sir. I wanted to get a jump on the sensor maintenance. I also realigned the radiative flux receivers, serviced the replicator, and ran the star map updates twice."

Drudge eased into his chair at the central console and shook his head. "Which leaves us nothing for Ensign Mounks to do. Do you think we should fire him?"

"Sorry, sir," Moreau said, grinning at the joke. "It just seems improper for an officer to do the routine maintenance. I did save the calibration duties for Ensign Mounks."

"Yes," said Drudge taking a sip of his tea. "But if you want to do the calibrations, feel free. I'm sure Mr. Mounks won't mind. He's lucky to have you here, Crewman."

Moreau smiled cheerfully. "I'd rather run the check on the sensor logs, if that's fine with you, sir?"

"Sure, sure," Drudge said, taking another sip. "But if you do find anything, please pass it on to the Ensign. It looks bad for the department if the junior NCO makes the bulk of the discoveries."

Turning away, Shyla laughed a clear genuine laugh, rounded a corner, and vanished from sight into a separate section of the lab.

Drudge drank the rest of his tea with a gulp and grabbed a PADD on the console. Punching a few touch keys, he looked towards the corner where Shyla had just disappeared and smiled slyly.

"Have you had a chance to check the docking schedule lately, Crewman?" Drudge asked a bit loudly so she could hear him in the other section.

"No, sir," came the distant reply. "I've been keeping pretty busy lately with my duties here and my course load during my free time. And I've been helping Commander Urias with the children's activities the last few weeks."'

"Well," began Drudge who now looked at the vacant corner expectantly. "It looks like we're getting an Intrepid-class in the next few days. Now, I know--"

As soon as Drudge had named the class of ship, there was a sound of feet running across the deck and Moreau reappeared at the corner. "Is it Voyager?" Shyla interrupted, nearly trembling with excitement.

Crewman Moreau's fascination with Voyager was becoming nearly as legendary as the ship itself. Voyager had reinvented Stellar Cartography, using a combination of Borg and Starfleet technology that resulted in Astrometrics. As a result, these labs were being introduced into ships and bases throughout the fleet. Starbase 163 had converted their lab just six months ago with Crewman Moreau's help and the Academy had introduced Astrometrics into its curriculum just as soon as Voyager's logs were declassified. Shyla had been among the first enlisted personnel accepted into the new Astrometrics Technical "A" School at Jupiter Station. Using the Voyager template, the newer Intrepid-classes were the only ships coming out of spacedock with Astrometrics labs standard and Crewman Moreau had been trying to get a post on one since she arrived at Starbase 163.

Drudge smiled gently, passing the PADD to her. "No, Shyla. It's the Hikaru Sulu. She's a brand new ship with a brand new Astrometrics lab and a brand new Captain. Salinger is his name, if memory serves."

"The Sulu," she said reverently, looking over the data. Drudge came up beside her and pushed a button on the PADD.

"There's the personnel manifest," Drudge said, indicating a list of officers and crew presently assigned to the ship. "She'll be taking on a number of new crew here at the starbase. You say the word, I'll put in your transfer. They're in need of an Astrometrics Technician."

Shyla looked up at Lieutenant Drudge with wonder in her eyes. "You'll approve a transfer, sir? Really?"

"Of course," Drudge offered. "I'll hate to let you go and I may have to hold a phaser on Mr. Mounks for a few weeks until he gets used to the new workload but we'll just have to adjust."

Shyla continued to beam a smile at the PADD in her hand.

Drudge took his seat at the central console. "I'll process it right now. Look over the manifest, see if you know anyone else transferring to the Sulu. Quite a few of them are here on base already or arriving soon. Maybe you'll see an old friend."

Shyla nodded and beginning perusing the list while Lieutenant Drudge started processing her transfer. After just a bit of reading, her smile faded and she bit her bottom lip with apprehension.

"Sir?"

"Yes," Drudge answered without turning around.

"Can I sleep on it?"

Lieutenant Drudge spun around in his chair and looked at Crewman Moreau as if she were insane. "Sleep on it?" he began. "You've been wanting a transfer to an Intrepid-class since you arrived."

"I know sir," Shyla began, her bottom lip trembling a bit. "It's just that there's a.well...there's this security officer I knew from the Academy and his name is on the assignment list for the Sulu. He's coming in on the Drake. I-I'm just not sure I want to be on the same ship as him."

Drudge rose from his chair and moved close to Crewman Moreau. He was concerned, since this was the first time in almost a year that he saw her without her standard issue smile. He looked at the name on the PADD. "Ethan Storm? What did he do to you? Was it something serious or--"

"No, sir," Shyla interrupted. "He didn't do anything wrong. Not really. It's just... It's...it's not him. It's me, sir. It's my problem." Her head sank.

Knowing something of Shyla's problems, Drudge smiled softly. "Well, sure. You can sleep on it. But you need to remember that while Intrepids aren't as big as Sovereigns, they're big enough to avoid seeing someone you don't want to see."

Shyla nodded but didn't meet his gaze.

"I just don't want to see you miss out on this opportunity, Crewman." Drudge reached out and lifted her chin. "You've wanted this, Shyla. Starbase Astrometrics are static. Stale. No matter which way you point the sensors, it's not going to be that big a difference from the day before. Sure, you get the occasional comet and maybe something big flares up out there in the great beyond and you can take minimal readings but starships can take you right to the source. You don't belong here, you belong out there. This is fine for me and for Mounks. You deserve better than this."

As a few tears welled in her eyes, Shyla hugged Lieutenant Drudge and began to sob softly. As Drudge patted her back, he was aware that this could appear like improper fraternization between a department head and a non-commissioned officer if anyone had entered the lab at that moment but he was willing to risk a bit of gossip if it made her feel better. He had never seen her sad before and there was something particularly heartrending about someone so optimistic shedding even a single tear. Drudge decided he would hold her as long as it took.

It took a surprisingly long time.

---

"Polar Opposites"
By: Ensign Dwayne Sanchez
Ensign Amy Reese

Location: Holodeck 2, USS Sulu; Ensign Sanchez's and Reese's quarters
Stardate: 57906.25, 09h00

***

"I'll kill you for that, hijo de perra," the holo-image of a twentieth century criminal said.

"That's what you said once before, Amigo. What makes you think you'll do it now?"

"Because I know something you don't know," the image sneered and said in a bad Mexican accent, "I got your seester."

"You lie." Sanchez, in twentieth century chic glared at the image. He'd gone to the holodeck at about 08h15 for some exercise, but after he was done, he just couldn't go back, at least not yet. After he'd finished his workout, he'd decided to program the holodeck to create this historical program and he went with the flow. He'd have done it without the safeties, but somehow, he just wasn't that brave.

The image held up an old fashioned print of a picture taken of a girl. The girl was presumably his sister and he glared. "I am not the hijo de perra, you are." He held up his old fashioned weapon and aimed it at the man's head. "Have your men let mi hermana go, or you are dead."

"Oh no, my friend, it will be you who are dead." Just then, the sound of an old fashioned weapon discharging, and then he felt a sting as the weapon's ammunition hit him square in the chest. His eyes widened and he dropped like he was supposed to and landed face down."Computer, end program."

He sighed. Okay, that was fun. He stood up and looked at the clothes that the computer had created for him and sighed. There was 'blood' on the front of the shirt and jacket. Good thing that wasn't real or I would really be dead.

He exited the holodeck and the moment he did, the exercise outfit that he was wearing appeared out of the mess that was his costume in the simulation. He left the holodeck and made his way to his new quarters.

***

With her favourite contemporary jazz music streaming through the room, and having drained a much-needed mug of raktajino, Amy Reese was ready to start her day. She always woke up a few hours before shift to carry out the same morning regimen comprised of getting out of bed, doing a brief work-out, showering, then drying off in her room by dancing frenetically to blaring music. That was one of the reasons she was glad to have quarters entirely to herself, but now she had been assigned a roommate and hoped she wouldn't have to compromise this most essential part of her regime for his sake. If he didn't like jazz music or her dancing, after living with her for a week, he would learn to love both or her mornings would be ruined.

During the saxophone solo of her favourite piece, Amy heard the discordant chirp of the door chime cutting through the music. She wasn't expecting anyone, and had no idea when her new roomy would be arriving, but all bets were on it being him. "Coming!" With her hand keeping the towel wrapped around her from falling open, Amy dashed through the room to the door. As it slid open, she shot the tall, rather doleful looking fellow standing there an exuberant grin. "Hey there. You Sanchez?"

The vision who opened the door after he'd sounded the chime almost stunned him. And because she was in nothing more than a towel, it made him blush a deep shade of crimson so deep that it was the same shade as the uniform of the command staff aboard the ship. He stammered out, "Y-Yes."

"Great. I've been expecting you...sort of." Amy thrust out her hand to him. "Ensign Amy Reese. You don't like jazz music by any chance, do you?"

"I-I like anything 20th century." He still hadn't moved inside. "E-E-Ensign Dwayne Sanchez." He fought to keep his gaze on her face rather than traveling further down her form to take in her lines and curves, but he was finding it hard to do.

Amy rolled her eyes teasingly at Sanchez. Instead of waiting for him to snap out of his apparent catatonia, she grabbed his hand and tugged him into the room. She snickered as he stumbled forward, and to help him in his struggles to remain upright, Amy gripped him by the shoulders and steadied him. "You really gotta loosen up, Sanchez. We're roommates now and if you're going to this flustered all the time, I think we're going to have to keep interaction to a minimum."

That did it. His gaze settled right at her décolletage the moment she grabbed his hand and jerked him inside. And then his face turned bright red once again. "Ir a con Dios."

"What's that?" Amy asked. "Gibberish?" She chuckled as she cuffed Dwayne on the arm and stepped back. "Do women always have this effect on you?"

"I-It's Spanish." He winced a tad as she boxed him on the arm. He kept his eyes on her. "M-Most w-women d-don't m-meet me a-at the door wearing n-nothing but...." He couldn't finish, but he indicated with his head, as well as his hand which hovered over her chest about six inches, and blushed again.

"Well, I'm not most women, Sanchez. I'm less inhibited than most. But, if you're uncomfortable, I won't walk around like this anymore." Amy smiled assuredly at him, then shrugged as she turned and started towards the bedrooms. "Computer, decrease volume 50%." The computer obliged promptly, and the jazz music filtering through the room died down. "Come on, Sanchez. I'll show you to your room. You look like you've had a rough night and could use a nap."

He nodded, yes he had had a rough night. Barely sleeping and then the assignment to this room and the roommate he had been assigned to. "Y-Yeah, it's been a rough night."

"Well, if you're not on shift right now, you should probably get some sleep," Amy suggested. She stopped in the doorway of Dwayne's room and jerked her thumb over her shoulder. "This is yours. Pretty spacious, isn't it? I thought the same the first time I saw my room. You like?"

"I don't know about spacious, but it's gotta be better than where I was at before. I won't be getting much rest since as soon as I can get a shower and a change of uniform, I'm going to go back to my old quarters and retrieve my stuff." He mumbled again, although he was hoping she wouldn't hear him, "Steele better not have done anything to mama's picture."

"Were you in a hurry to get out of there or something?" Amy grinned as she pushed off from the wall and moved towards the refresher. "Let me show you around. If you're going to be taking a shower, I'll need to tidy the refresher for you so we might as well start there." Amy looked back at Dwayne to ensure he was following. She couldn't help chuckling to herself. She'd never met anyone as shy as he was. Hopefully some time with her would cure that. "So, where are you from, Sanchez?"

He was indeed following her, and his gaze was on the back of her head for fear his eyes would wander lower, to look over her shapely hips. He closed his eyes a moment Just long enough to clear his head, and to concentrate on the situation, not on the woman in front of him guiding him around. "Y-Yes, that would be a good idea."

Amy sniggered and shook her head at the new roommate who was growing stranger by the minute and so preoccupied that he seemed hardly able to pay attention to anything but her scant attire, including her questions. "You're nervous. I can tell. So, we'll just leave the getting to know each other stuff for when you're not so overwhelmed."

Amy led Dwayne into the refresher and immediately set about retrieving her clothes strewn about the floor. She glanced up at him and noticed his eyes wandering to her chest as she bent over. Amy simply grinned to herself. "Sanchez, why'd you change quarters anyway?"

He ogled the woman's chest as she bent over to pick up her clothes. "Uh, well, um...um...well, that's kind of hard to explain." His face had by this time been red so long that it was conceivable that his face was going to retain that shade of deep crimson.

How could he tell this woman that the reason he'd left his other set of quarters was because of a wager that he had made, then reneged on by telling the captain, only to save all the female junior officers from being hurt? Would she understand? Would she even care? He wasn't sure. He sighed, "It's a long story."

"Well." Amy straightened up, holding a bundle of clothes against her chest. "We're gonna be roomies for a while, so I have time. Maybe tomorrow you and I can go to the lounge when our shifts are done. We'll get a couple drinks and then you can tell me why you're always blushing. How's that sound?"

Dwayne kept trying to keep from staring at her. Her body, the lack of clothes...everything. He couldn't help it. "Uh, yeah, sounds good." He finally looked away from her, looking at anything else but her in order to gain control of his feelings of embarrassment. Otherwise they were going to take control of him.

"Great." Amy patted Dwayne on the chest as she squeezed past him through the refresher doorway. "You go on and take a shower," she called back to him as she moved towards her room. "I'll just keep drying off." Amy tossed her clothes through the open doorway of her room then, with a boisterous laugh, demonstrated the drying process by bouncing up and down excitedly and wildly shaking out her sepia-coloured locks. "See! Works like a charm!" She yelped and stopped her frenzied dance as her towel came loose, but caught it in time before it could slip off. At Sanchez's almost stunned look, Amy shrugged apologetically. "Happens all the time. You gonna shower then?"

Dwayne blushed again when she patted him on the chest. He was thinking she was being a little too familiar with him since they'd just met. His eyes had widened the moment she started bouncing, and it wasn't just her feet moving up and down either. The color that had been staining his cheeks, and had somewhat subsided, had returned full force when the towel slipped from her. He was very happy she'd caught it; he wasn't about ready to see what attributes a female had as a part of her anatomy, at least not yet. Her suggestion to him about a shower was a good one and she didn't have to say anything to him twice. Moments after she did, the doors slid shut, coming between his vision of the room and his new roommate.

"Strange fellow..." Amy muttered. She simply shrugged it off, as she did most everything that was of little concern to her, and asked the computer to increase the volume of her music. In moments, Amy was hopping exuberantly into her room, resuming her interrupted morning regimen.

---

"Rescue Effort, Part 1"
Commander Lyrr Tayla
Lt. Sam
Lt. Jorell Thalan
Dr. Sean O'Shea
Ensign Glickman [NPC+]
Ensign Porter [NPC+]

Location: Transporter Room, USS Sulu; Surface of Dorvali 449
Stardate 57906.25 09h30

***

Lieutenant Sam stepped into the transporter room. It was his second time returning to the planet's surface, though this time under more dire circumstances. He clipped a modified tricorder to his belt and checked the power settings on his phaser. The tricorder showed that it had fully synced with the transceiver he'd affixed to the side of his head. Utilizing the development Lt. Ashbury had made on the TCI device, he and the science officer had made modifications to his own optical array and neural net that would allow him to use his own subsystems as the team would have used the TCI device. The tranceiver would them transmit the signals to the rest of the Away Team. It was the best solution they could develop in the short time allowed to them. That Lt. Ashbury had come up with this design said much for her abilities as a scientist, and yet again Sam was impressed with the human capacity to find their way through potential problems.

Chief Riley glanced at him and nodded. "Good ta see ya again, Lieutenant," the Irishman said.

"It's a fine day for a trip down to the planet, boyo," Sam said, doing a very impressive impersonation of the transporter chief's brogue. He then switched back to his normal speech pattern, and glanced over the settings on the transporter console. "Ah good. Those coordinates will put us just outside the cavern."

"Cap'n figured the less work ye all have to do to get back in the caves, the better."

"A wise decision on the captain's part," Sam concurred.

The android turned away from the console and moved to stand at the base of the pad. He was about to go back through his records of the science and medical findings when the doors opened to admit Commander Lyrr. He looked up and nodded in her direction. "Commander," he began. "I have taken the liberty of modifying our tricorders for this away mission. I have added a filter and refractive isolation buffer that will increase the clarity of scans within the caves by twenty percent. Additionally, while we are in the caves, I shall act as a repeater for the scans made to detect any aliens we may encounter. The range of the scan is limited to eight meters, but as long as the team remains within ten meters of my position, the data that I gather will then be transmitted to their tricorders."

"Very good, Lieutenant." Lyrr retrieved one of the modified tricorders and slipped it into her belt. She looked around the empty transporter room, then back to Sam with a raised brow. "Well, I hope our team's absence isn't a sign of apprehension in returning to the planet."

"We are both early, Commander, therefore their absence may merely be that they are on their way. Chief Riley's coordinates will place us just outside of the cave entrance. From there, we should be able to make good time using the path used previously. While the beacons may no longer be present, I believe I should be able to follow the path left by the imperfections in the cave walls."

Lyrr nodded. "That should minimize the danger to the team, at least a little. The longer we're outside in the forest tramping around, the more attention we draw to ourselves; we'll have enough danger to contend with inside the caves without having every creature in that forest tracking us." She smiled at Sam and added, "I was just joking about the team, Lieutenant."

"Ah, I see," Sam said, though it appeared that he didn't actually get the joke. "Currently I have my phaser on Heavy Stun, Commander, is that an acceptable setting?"

"Yes, Lieutenant. The captain wants a live captive, though considering we know nothing about these creatures, we have no way of knowing whether that setting will kill them or if it will even subdue them." Lyrr sighed. "I guess we'll find out soon enough, won't we?"

"Indeed we will, Commander," Sam said. "Perhaps they will not be expecting that we will be returning and we can catch them off their guard."

"I highly doubt that, Lieutenant. Though, with the modifications you've made to the tricorders, hopefully we can gain an edge on them."

Lyrr turned as the doors to the transporter room swooshed open and offered passage to Dr. O'Shea. She gave him but a nod of acknowledgement, then proved evasive by crossing the room to converse with Chief Riley.

Sam noticed the interchange and decided to ponder the reactions at a later time. He moved toward the doctor and picked a tricorder off of the top of the transporter console. "Good afternoon, Doctor," he said. "I am Lieutenant Sam. I have configured this tricorder using the results of yours and Lieutenant Ashbury's findings. Or, I can configure your medical tricorder with the same algorithms."

Sean smiled politely to the Android. Sam was a unique officer, one of the few whose health and welfare were beyond Sean's ability. He was a doctor, not an engineer. He removed his medical tricorder from its belt pouch and handed it to Sam. "Might as well use mine, mate," he said. "Otherwise I'm going to be carrying around two of them."

As Sam tinkered, Sean reached into his shoulder bag and removed a number of hypos. "I know I do not need to inoculate you, but take these." He handed over three of the hypos, marked with red tape. "These are concentrated anti-venom. If we find any of our missing crew members and they are incapacitated, inject them with one. Don't worry about where, any spot will do."

Sam quickly finished the modifications to Sean's tricorder and handed it back. Sean glanced over at Lyrr, his commanding officer and former friend. Her attitude and body language had not been lost on him as he entered the transporter room. She was making it perfectly clear that she wanted as little to do with him as possible. He sighed, shaking his head. Whatever she thought of how they had parted ways, she was a First Officer now. She could not go on treating him this way, not without consequences. "Just another case of Tayla making up her mind without knowing the facts," he told himself, remembering their first meeting on Bajor.

He crossed the short distance to her and pulled out a hypo marked with blue tape. As she glanced up, he said, "Anti-venom inoculation. Which arm do you prefer?"

Lyrr passed her gaze from Sean, to the hypo, then again to him. She took a step back and thrust her hand out towards him, palm upturned. "I've seen a hypo in use many times. Just give it to me and I'll do it myself."

"Unless you are prepared to show me your diploma from Starfleet Medical you'll do no such thing." His face displayed a friendly demeanor but his eyes flashed challenge. "It's just a hypo, Commander."

"If you had any sense at all, you'd know it's not about the hypo," she muttered as she grudgingly presented her left arm to him.

Once she was injected, Sean returned the empty hypo to his bag and handed her three marked with the red tape. "Anti-venom. Use them on any incapacitated crew we find."

As soon as she took the hypos, he stepped away back to the other side of the room. The temperature seemed to get warmer the further away he got. Clasping his hands behind his back, he hummed softly to himself as he waited for the rest of the team to arrive.

Lyrr tucked the hypos away into her pocket and finished scowling at Sean just in time to glance aside and see Lt. Thalan coming through the transporter room doors. Flanking him were two other security officers; all three were armed with phaser rifles. They looked to be expecting a battle, and rightly so, but she sincerely hoped they were able to capture a live creature if a confrontation did arise. She would advise Thalan privately to recommend restraint to his officers - as much as they could practice during the heat of battle.

Jorell walked into the transporter room, still a little sore from his accident earlier. He carried his rifle with an ease of many years of use and wore a light padded, black armor, over his uniform. He looked ever the part of the soldier. He briefly looked about the room before motioning the two officers at his side to the transporter pad.

"Doctor, we meet again," the man said as he recalled his many bruised ribs. He then nodded to Lyrr. "Commander."

"Lieutenant," Lyrr greeted. "Lt. Sam has modified some of the tricorders. I recommend you each take one. The doctor, as well, as a little surprise for you." She smiled wryly at Sean and motioned her head towards the three security officers.

Thalan nodded to the XO. "Alright..." and claimed a tricorder from the android and promptly slipped it into a slot at his belt and then looked to Lt. O'Shea in a questioning manner.

Sean smiled and took out another hypo. "As I've already explained to the others, this should help keep you up and running, if the aliens manage to get their venom into your system." He quickly and efficiently injected the security chief with the hypo.

The Chief of Security nodded and accepted the injection without comment, trusting that the good Doctor, as any other ship's doctor, worked his magic.

Next, Sean handed over a half dozen of the more concentrated hypos and explained their use. If anyone was likely to stumble upon the missing officers first, it would likely be Thalan. Sean's hand brushed against the phaser pistol on his belt. Small comfort, he thought. Anything that could survive the larger phaser rifle in the hands of the security chief was not going to be bothered by his little sidearm. Shaking his head, and with a final glance at Lyrr, he stepped onto the transporter pad.

Once the Away Team had gathered on the transporter pad, Chief Riley looked to Commander Lyrr. At her nod, he activated the transporter. He looked up as they slowly dissolved before his eyes, and sped their way down to the planet's surface for reassembly. When his board showed green, indicating their safe arrival, he set about putting the transporter into standby mode.

***

Sam flipped open his tricorder as soon as the team was on the surface. The device revealed no alien presences in the nearby area. He slipped the device back onto his belt and strode over to stand at Commander Lyrr's side. "We appear to be alone, Commander. And, my tricorder detects nothing within the first ten meters of the cave entrance."

"I'm still not confident of our tricorders' ability to give accurate readings," Lyrr told him. "I would prefer that we didn't venture any closer to the caves. Nor would I like to wait here for them to surprise us. We need a way to draw them out, to lure them to us and not the other way around."

"Commander," Sam said, "I am not certain there are any of the aliens close enough to be lured out. Perhaps a brief foray into the caves to test the tricorder's functionality."

"Enemy territory?" Lyrr sighed and turned to face Lt. Thalan. "Lt. Sam suggests we enter the caves. What is your opinion, Lieutenant?"

"We go in, look for our crew, and bring them back, of course," Jorell stated looking directly at Cmdr. Lyrr. "Why else are we back here, if not to actually make a rescue?" The man then stood there awaiting Lyrr's orders, looking nowhere but the caves ahead.

"Our primary objective is to capture one of the creatures," Lyrr replied. "We tried a rescue mission and we failed. We won't succeed until we can make contact with the aliens and negotiate a peaceful resolution if we can. Now, it's not the way I would do things, but that is Captain Salinger's wish. So, that said," Lyrr added, "to the caves it is. Lt. Sam, you have the lead."

"Aye, Commander," Sam said, and then started toward the cave. As he passed into the darkness, he pulled out both phaser and tricorder. He gave a satisfied nod when he noted that the tricorder appeared to be giving a clear scanning field out to twelve point five five seven three one meters.

Using the markings left by the beacons that had been removed from the wall, Sam was able to easily lead the Away Team back as far as Lieutenant Thalan had progressed in his first trip into the caves. When there were no more beacons to lead him, he turned to Lyrr. "Commander, we have come as far as Lieutenant Thalan reached in the last Away Mission."

"The question is: Do we go further?" At Thalan's expectant look, Lyrr's lips twitched with a suppressed smile. "We'll go another hundred meters," she said finally. "What better way to lure them to us by invading their home?" With her phaser in hand, Lyrr motioned with it for Sam to continue onward.

Moving slowly, Sam started forward once more. He'd gone twenty meters before he stopped. "Commander," he said quietly. "I am reading traces of biomatter ahead."

"Can you be more specific, Lieutenant?"

"I will need to proceed further, Commander," Sam said, seeking permission before advancing. He knew she was a cautious woman, and therefore did not wish to risk any endangerment by going against her orders.

Although she preferred to rely on her natural senses and was wary of depending too much on less mundane sources, Lyrr looked to Thalan for more information than Sam's tricorder could provide. "Anything, Lieutenant?"

The man was looking forward in an intent manner; his phaser rifle seemed to follow his gaze as he looked about. At the Commander's question, he looked to her and shook his head and answered in almost a whisper, "Nothing that would note any real sentience."

Temporarily satisfied that they wouldn't be walking into an ambush, Lyrr nodded to Sam to lead the way. "Doctor." She looked to Sean briefly, then focused ahead through the tunnel. "Stay close," she said, unintentionally giving her words far deeper meaning than she'd intended. Before the moment could grow uncomfortable, Lyrr followed Sam towards the mysterious readings.

Sean nodded. "Aye, Commander," he replied, keeping one eye on her backside and the other on his medical tricorder. What is going through that woman's head? he thought. He did not have time for distractions, not when there was a good chance they were about to get added to the tally of missing officers and crew. "Get those bloody thoughts out of your mind, you pillock!" he muttered quietly under his breath.

Once Sam was within a meter of the initial readings, he paused. "Blood," he said quietly, but in the darkness of the cave, the word took on a much more ominous feeling...especially when delivered by a dispassionate, emotionless android. He continued on and looked down at his tricorder.

"I am detecting a larger concentration just ahead." He quickly crossed the distance to the new readings. When the others caught up to him, he was crouching beside a rumpled pile of debris. In the dark, it was nothing, but as soon as the light from one of the handlamps brushed across it, the thing took on a new form.

Lying with sightless eyes staring up into the void of the ceiling, what was once a human being stood as a warning to any who might pass this way. The jaws and mouth were twisted in a scream of death, and everything below the neck was a shredded pulp. It appeared that whatever had attacked the man had torn his insides out, but none of that remained. The smell of death clung in the air as they all gathered around the body.

"Ensign Phillips," Sam said, looking up at Commander Lyrr.

A choice, Bajoran curse directed at the aliens who had done this was the first thing that came from Lyrr's lips; the second was a short blessing to the Prophets to watch over Phillips's pagh. She knew, now, there would be no negotiating with whoever had done this. If Matt wanted one alive, he was going to have to come to the planet and do it himself. Lyrr was out to kill now. "Doctor--" Before she could order him to examine the body, Sean was already crouched beside it doing just that. While she waited for his assessment, Lyrr gestured Sam towards her. "Lieutenant, please tell me you're not getting anymore readings."

Sam checked his tricorder. "This is all I am detecting, Commander, at least in quantities of this size. However, I am detecting smaller readings in that direction. It is possible I am detecting more blood, and there is a thirty-eight point seven three three seven percent chance that that path will lead us to the aliens."

"How can you be so sure?" Lyrr said sarcastically. She sighed and stared into the darkness where the aliens, according to Sam, were waiting, most likely for them to walk into their snare. "We either go to them, or leave these caves and wait for them to come to us. Any preferences, Lt. Sam? Lt. Thalan?"

"We currently have no evidence to suggest that they would leave their cave to come to us," Sam said. "They apparently left to capture the crew they now hold hostage, but there has been no activity since then that indicates they have left this area. Therefore, if we wish to retrieve our crew, we must go forward."

Lyrr considered Sam's reply for a moment, then regarded Thalan. "And you, Lieutenant? Do we risk going in there with but five capable officers and the doctor, or do we turn back?"

"Ouch!" Sean whispered under his breath as he probed the corpse, examining the wounds. "Just couldn't resist slipping in another low blow, could ye, dear?" Shaking it off, he continued his examination.

Thalan was already looking at the Bajoran woman when she looked to him for his opinion. He easily read her unguarded thoughts when she spotted the dead crewman and though Jorell was more than willing to oblige, he knew those thoughts would cloud anyone's judgement. He then answered after a moment of silence. "I am all for moving on, Commander, but...perhaps it would be better if I mentioned it to you alone, Sir."

Lyrr raised a questioning eyebrow at Thalan, but nodded her assent at any rate. "Let's move over here," she told him. The two found a spot five meters from the rest of the team and Lyrr gestured for Thalan to speak his mind.

In a low voice Jorell started with some concern, "Sir, your thoughts on revenge are hard to miss, and I understand them. They just have no place, especially if we continue. Such emotions will cloud your judgement, so I would suggest you set those feelings aside, deal with them later. We complete the mission we were given. If you do not think you can do that, I suggest we turn back now."

Lyrr chewed on her bottom lip to stifle a laugh. "Lieutenant, I know you don't know me very well, and you may not have faith in my abilities as a commander, but I am quite capable of separating my sense of duty from my own personal feelings. Yes, I would like to kill whoever did that to Ensign Phillips, but I know running into those caves brandishing a phaser and shooting at anything that moves is not the correct course of action." She looked over her shoulder to ensure their conversation was not being overheard, then she stepped closer to Thalan. "Now, Lieutenant, I may be just a woman and I may be just a Bajoran, but don't underestimate me yet. I might just surprise you. Does that put your concerns to rest?"

With a nod the man replied, "Yes, Sir. I was just picking up on your strong thoughts at the sight of a Ensign Phillips, and wanted to be sure. I have seen revenge ruin some good people." He then straightened. "If you are ready to go, Sir?"

"I'm ready," Lyrr replied. "But before we go I just wanted to make one thing clear, Lieutenant." She leaned in closer and gave Thalan a taut smile. "Don't invade my thoughts again. Even if you accidentally catch a stray emotion or thought accidentally, ignore it. It's called privacy, Lieutenant, and as a Starfleet officer, I expect you to respect that." With her admonishment complete, Lyrr stepped back and rejoined Lt. Sam and the doctor.

Jorell looked on as Lyrr gave her warning, but said nothing as she walked away. As the Commander approached the doctor he shook his head as he noted that he never had qualms with reading other people as he needed, and he was discreet. With a shrug as not taking the woman's warning he turned back to watching for the invisible 'enemy'.

Lyrr stopped beside Sean's crouched form and rested her hands upon her hips as she visually examined Phillip's body again. "Have you found anything valuable, Doctor?"

Sean looked up from the corpse and snapped his tricorder shut. "If it's any comfort to you, our murderous friends are not looking to add us to their cuisine. The wounds are deep, the result of hand to hand combat with natural weapons, probably claws at least three inches in length, or something designed to simulate the same. There are no signs of mastication. No gnawing on the bones or bite marks on the epidermis. But whoever did this was bloody pissed." He pointed to the abdominal and neck wounds with a medical probe. "These gashes here are what killed him. He likely bled out in under a minute." He then pointed at wounds to the head, torso and limbs. "These ones occurred post mortem. Someone took their time to work over the corpse, doing as much damage as they could."

"Okay, so we know they're vicious and barbarous," Lyrr noted. "And we know how he was killed. But do we know why they killed him?"

"From the look of it, Phillips was dragged or carried here. There is not enough blood on the ground for the fight to have occurred here. Someone placed the corpse here, Commander. They likely wanted us to find it."

"Most likely to ward us off from proceeding any further." Lyrr gave a smile, one filled only with malice. "Well, it's not going to work. We're moving deeper into the caves, whether they want us to or not. Lt. Sam, lead on." She glanced at Sean briefly and as awkward as it was, she added, "Good work, Doctor." Before he could utter a reply, Lyrr moved off to join Sam.

A smirk formed on Sean's face as he stood and ran his medical probe through a portable sterilizer before stowing it in his shoulder bag. A begrudged compliment. Will miracles never cease? He thought as he followed the rest of the team deeper into the caves.

"Aye, Commander," Sam said with a nod. With that, the android started deeper into the caves, past the body of Ensign Phillips. He made a mental note to retrieve the ensign's body for proper burial rights. Suddenly Sam slowed to a stop, allowing the others to catch up to him. "I am detecting movement ahead," he said. "The configuration appears to be that of an ambush. Orders, Commander?"

"Ah, so they know we're here," Lyrr said, appearing thoroughly amused. "Can you gain an accurate reading on their locations? If we know exactly where they are, perhaps we can be the ones to ambush them."

"I am detecting one just around this corner," Sam said softly. "There are more, but they are out of the range of the tricorder, and their signatures are indistinct. My estimate would be that there are four of them, Commander."

"One, we can deal with," Lyrr whispered. "Lieutenant, is there any way to flank it?"

"Given the nature of the caves, I do not believe that flanking will be an option. However, perhaps Lieutenant Thalan will have a more sound tactical analysis of the situation. My programming for ground-based tactical scenarios is fairly limited."

"Well mine isn't," Lyrr replied. "I say we split up. But, Lt. Thalan, you are the CSO.... I would be doing you an injustice if I didn't ask for your input."

The Lt. looked to Lyrr and asked in a hushed tone, "Can we split up is the question? Does a tunnel near here lead to up ahead? It's rather self-evident that if no such tunnels are readily there, we have to stick together." With a pause he continued, "Probably better if we stick together right now anyhow. I can only guess what is planned for us."

With that the betazoid attempted to reach out with his mind, seeing if indeed he could feel the creature that was supposed to be ahead. And almost immediately his thoughts were bombarded with 'noise'. Noise that made no sense to the man and made him reel back a step as he tried to close off his mind so that he could think again.

"Lieutenant?" Lyrr studied the CSO's contorted features and placed a hand on his shoulder to help him steady himself. "Well, if you feel that strongly about it, we won't split up." She turned her head towards Sam. "You'll take point, Lieutenant. We'll back you up. Doctor O'Shea, try to keep a low profile, especially if there's a struggle. You won't be any use to us if you're injured or dead."

"Not a problem, Commander," Sean replied. He was glad to see that common sense had prevailed and the away team was going to stick together. Not only did they have no idea of the magnitude of the threat they were up against, but splitting a team with only one doctor into two would mean that half of the officers could find themselves without medical attention when they needed it most. He patted his hand phaser, a slight smirk forming on his face. He had few illusions about his prospects if the situation went to hell. Anything that could get through their chief of security and Lyrr, a former resistance fighter, was going to make short work of him.

Sam moved out in front of the group again, moving silently ahead around the corner. He crouched low against the wall and shut down all pseudo-human habits, such as breathing and the odd trait of blinking. A quick touch to the side of his head activated the TCI/UV subroutine he and Lieutenant Ashbury had designed using the work she and her husband had conducted. The lighting in the cave snapped brighter in his field of vision, and the tricorder emitted a vibration to indicate the change in mode.

He slipped around the corner to where the aliens were waiting, unaware. Moving as he was, they hadn't seen him yet. He glanced back to make sure the rest of the team was there.

Lyrr and the other crew remained concealed behind the cave wall, but she peered around the corner to observe Sam. She gave him a nod to assure him they were covering his back. To reassure him, she aimed her phaser into the darkened tunnel, prepared to fire at a moment's notice.

Sam nodded and then moved forward once more. He came around the corner quickly, startling the alien standing there. It appeared, as he rushed forward, that it was working at a hidden alcove in the cave. He could see it clearly through the UV enhancement he had arranged with Lieutenant Ashbury. There were no others in sight.

And, then it looked up and saw him approaching. It let out a screech, and charged him. The creature was fast, but so was Sam. Though, Sam was not fast enough to stop the alien before it sank its teeth into his epidermal layer. Of course, the poison would have no effect on him. As he struggled against the alien, he could hear the rest of the team coming around the corner behind him.

Although it would be an alert to the other aliens lurking in the darkness, Lyrr opened fire on the unseen creature wrestling with Sam, though she held little hope of actually hitting it. Studying Sam's pose and the position of his arms hugging the phantasmal creature, Lyrr used it to extrapolate its size. It was certainly giving Sam quite the fight, and when it whirled the android around, placing its back towards her, Lyrr was forced to stop firing. "Sam! Bring it around towards me so I can get a shot!" Lyrr hollered.

It was a struggle to do so, but eventually Sam managed to shift the creature around so it was between him and the Away Team. "Now, Commander!"

It was disorienting watching Sam struggle with an invisible foe, and she having to fire at where she surmised it was (essentially aiming at Sam, which was even more disconcerting), but with little time to contemplate the situation, Lyrr focused a beam of phaser fire centred on Sam's chest. She was almost forced to look away as it sailed towards Sam, but before it could connect with the android, it impacted with an unseen barrier. A peeling hiss rang out within the cave at an almost painful pitch, and Lyrr knew she had definitely hit something. Careful not to accidentally catch Sam with the phaser beam once the alien collapsed, Lyrr stopped firing the moment the hissing ended and a heavy thud sounded in the cave. "Sam? Did I...?"

Sam looked up at her. "The alien has been rendered unconscious, Commander. However, I am detecting several bio-signatures coming from the other direction."

"We've got what we came for. We're getting out of here," she announced to the team. "Ensigns Glickman and Porter...you're responsible for the doctor's safety. Thalan, you'll take up the rear with me. Sam, get us out of here and don't forget the alien."

Sam reached down and hefted the alien into his arms. "Commander, I recommend that we only pull back to a safe location. I believe we have made enough of a disturbance that withdrawing completely could jeopardize the missing crew." As if to punctuate his words, an inhuman, very alien scream echoed from down the corridor. As answers to that first cry, others, as equally jarring, seemed to sound from all around. Perhaps, Sam thought, safe is a relative term.

---

"Putting It All Together"
by Lieutenant Xayella Tagliesh
Ensign Tchalla Mel'Chir
and assorted Hissing Aliens [NPC]

Location: Somewhere in the caves, Dorvali 449
Stardate 57906.25 10h05(?)

***

No food, no sleep, and no breaks for relieving oneself certainly weren't providing much incentive to continue an already gruelling and exhausting job. Xayella and Tchalla had conferred briefly on the design of the vessel they were to build for the aliens, but after a very motivating growl from one of the creatures overseeing their work, they abandoned the discussion period and set about constructing the shuttle.

Neither Xayella nor Tchalla were engineers, and although they were scientists with a vast array of knowledge, technical and biological, neither knew how to go about even designing a craft. Xayella had discovered a newfound respect for engineers, and the skills and complexity involved in their work; if they had one with them now, they could all have been on the ship right about now, eating a warm meal, followed by a good night's rest in an actual bed. Instead, they were cold, hungry, and accompanied by the incessant pain in her side, Xayella couldn't stop coughing; worse than that was the blood that came up with every one.

She smiled reassuringly at Tchalla, who looked more and more concerned each time Xayella had to wipe the specks of blood from her lips using the back of her hand. Why the girl even cared, Xayella could not fathom, but it was clear that she did, so Xayella made certain to calm her fears every now and then. "It's nothing. Just keep working, Ensign. I'm fine."

"Still," Tchalla said, "I may not be a doctor, but I have enough experience with biological sciences to know that coughing up blood isn't a good thing." She cast another worried glance at her senior officer and then held up a small circular button-shaped device. "Recognize this?"

"Of course I do." She took the device from Tchalla's hand and held it up before her for closer examination. "It's a sensor beacon. A Federation sensor beacon, to be precise. But why would the aliens have one?"

"We weren't using them on our survey," Tchalla added. "These are from the Sulu, too." She turned it over and showed Xayella the markings showing the Sulu's registry number stamped in the back. "I believe they are trying to find us."

"I knew they would," Xayella said genuinely. "I knew Matt wouldn't leave us down here for long. But--" Xay sighed. "If they haven't found us by now, I'd say their rescue attempt failed. Since we haven't seen any new additions to our building crew here, it's safe to say they escaped and weren't captured. That does nothing for us, but..."

"If they weren't captured, that means they can try again though," Tchalla said. "At least we have some hope. They won't give up on us. That's what Starfleet is all about. They won't leave us behind, Lieutenant."

A goading hiss from beside them interrupted their conversation. Xayella looked up at the creature, baring its fangs, and waved it off dismissively. "If you want us to work, you've got to allow us some time for discussion," she told it. "But...if you insist." With a heavy sigh, Xayella made a show of enthusiastically connecting together two panels of metal casing. The creature passed its menacing, scrutinizing gaze over them both, then promptly hulked away to join the other aliens. "They won't kill us," she told herself. "They can't. They need us. For how long though?"

"We have to make sure the Sulu rescues us before we can finish, then," Tchalla said. "If that's thruster control there, there should be power leads coming from... I knew I should have taken more engineering courses. And...and it's so hard to get my mind out of thinking of starships. There aren't any warp induction conduits or EPS taps here. They'll find us, Lieutenant. You'll see."

Xayella gave the girl a wan smile. "I'll believe you when it happens, Ensign. Now, do you know how to create a matter-antimatter reaction assembly?"

Tchalla raised a single white eyebrow. "You're not really thinking of giving them... That's pretty much warp drive, right there."

"Well. It's a good thing I don't know how to build one." Xayella laughed softly at Tchalla to assure the girl she was joking. "We'll keep it simple, unless they specifically ask. Frankly, I'm not even sure what to give them. Too little, and we'll anger them. Too much... I don't even want to think about the consequences of that."

"There aren't many options available, given the resources we have to work with. Perhaps we can construct a rudimentary internal combustion engine that could power a series of thruster jets. Do they really want this thing to fly?" She sighed. "Why did the stupid aliens have to grab scientists and security officers?"

"That's all they had on hand," Xayella replied with a shrug. "What I don't understand, though, is where is the rest of the team? If they're so intent on getting this thing running, why not use us all? Why only use some?"

"Maybe they figure that if they put too many of us together, we'll have a better chance of escaping. Divide and conquer."

"Us conquer them?" Xayella snickered. "It's nice that you have so much faith in us, Tchalla, but have you seen those things move? We haven't a chance."

"We're Starfleet officers, Lieutenant," Tchalla said. "Not only do we have some very sharp, astute scientific minds, we also have minds that were trained to think through tactics. They've handed us a pile of equipment. They have phasers, tricorders, communicators, sample collectors, and other assorted gear here. Who knows what we could come up with in a desperate situation." She smiled. "If it's true that they separated us to keep us from organizing, then it shows that they do respect us. The respect of an enemy is always welcome."

"And exploited?" Xayella offered. She gave Tchalla her characteristic feral smile and leaned in closer to the girl. "Have any experience in repairing phasers, Ensign?"

"Not much," Tchalla said with a shadowed smile, "but I'll adapt quickly. I believe we can make use of this other equipment as well. You know, Lieutenant, I think we may get out of this better than we'd expected. Perhaps we can have a welcome ready for the Sulu when the Away Teams find us."

Xayella snorted. "I'd certainly like to see that. Now, hand me that probe. I'm going to get this tricorder working."

Tchalla grabbed the probe and handed it to Xayella. As the chief science officer started in on the tricorder, Tchalla hunkered down next to the casing they'd been working with for the engine and made herself look busy. If the aliens didn't know what they were doing, they couldn't really get upset at what specifically they did. All they had to do was keep looking busy, and perhaps the aliens would leave them alone.

***

"Tchalla!" Xayella waved the girl closer. She looked around to ensure the aliens were concentrating their attention elsewhere, then presented the functioning tricorder to her. "There was little damage. It just needed recircuiting to bypass some burnt-out wires."

The young Andorian peered over Xayella's shoulder and frowned at the display of the scanning device. "These caves are really bad for scanning. No wonder the Sulu is having troubles finding us. Do you suppose it's natural mineral deposits in the caves doing that?"

"I'm not certain," Xayella said slowly. She scanned a small area of the cave, still keeping the tricorder out of sight. The readings on the display spiked, then, as she continued panning it slowly across the small section of the cave, the sharp peaks levelled off. Her lips turned down into a frown. "Wait... That can't be." She moved the tricorder back, passing it over the area again to ensure the initial reading wasn't a glitch. The peak appeared again. "That definitely isn't a mineral deposit. Take a look at this, Ensign. There's something behind that wall."

"There's something there alright," Tchalla said. "It appears to be a refractive pulse on a lower energy band. It could be an inverted power interleave cycled through a projection field." She frowned again, and scratched at one antenna. "No, the signature is too high. Electro-magnetic?"

Xayella modified the scanning field to detect the magnetic polarity that would be present as a by-product of an electromagnetic source, and the repaired tricorder verified just that. "What do you think?" she asked Tchalla. "Should we check it out?"

Tchalla nodded. "Yes," she whispered. "We'll have to be careful though. We need a reason to be over there. We can't say the light's better, but maybe we can occupy the new space for...for an experiment. To see if the new power routing sequence works."

"We could do that anywhere," Xayella said. "They're not idiots, Ensign. If they took the trouble to hide whatever's back there, they certainly aren't going to let us wander there on our own. We'll need a distraction so one of us can sneak in there."

"Right," Tchalla whispered. She glanced down at Xayella's side. "Injury?"

Xayella grinned fiendishly at Tchalla. "I think I can manage that. Is your phaser working at all yet?"

"I think I can get a few shots out of it," Tchalla whispered. "I think if I lower the settings slightly and widen the beam, it'll be more effective. It won't disintegrate them, but it'll do a lot of damage."

"All we need is something to slow them down. Now, take the tricorder with you as well. Find out what that thing is. I'll take care of everything in here." She closed the tricorder and slipped it covertly into Tchalla's hand. "Go on. I'll distract them." With a conspiratorial nod, Xayella got to her feet and started towards the aliens, holding her injured side for effect.

Once Xayella was away, Tchalla slipped off toward where they'd detected the energy signatures. If there was something there that could help them get out of this.... A slow smile crept across her lips as she opened the tricorder to begin a scan. She just hoped that Xayella's distraction was a good one.

"It's my side," Xayella was saying as the wary aliens surrounded her. "It hurts. I think something's broken." She pointed to the side where she suspected there was a broken rib and hoped they were comprehending her at least a little. "And look!" She held her hand over her mouth and coughed into it. When she pulled it away, speckled with fresh blood, she shuddered slightly, then held her palm out towards them. "See? Something's wrong."

One of the aliens screeched something at the others who had gathered around Xayella. One of them prodded at the wound, though, was quite gentle in doing so. Three of them chattered questions at her while they ushered her closer to a lichen-encrusted wall. One of them made a motion that appeared to be a request for her to lift her tunic.

"It's okay...really." Xayella wrapped her arms around her stomach and cowered against the wall as they hovered about her like she was a lab specimen. With as closely as they were watching her, she couldn't help thinking that's what she was about to become. "Hurry, Tchalla," she whispered between her teeth. "Look," she said to the aliens again. "I-It just hurts, that's all. I just thought you might have something for it. But if not, that's really okay." She edged her way along the wall, seeking a route of escape. "I'll just go join the group again. Forget I mentioned anything."

One of the aliens snapped something, its clicking and hissing voice sounding very agitated. The others looked at it, and then they all turned to Xayella. One of them advanced slowly toward her. It hissed softly, menacingly.

"What?" Xayella's breathing hastened and her body trembled uncontrollably as she soon realized her brilliant plan hadn't been so well-thought out after all. She raised her hands before her, hoping they would recognize the submissive gesture and cease their advance, but they kept coming. "What's going on? Stay back!" Xayella dodged the alien and darted to the side, seeking to elude them all, but a clawed hand encircled her wrist and jerked her back against the wall. She groaned as the impact of her head against the dense stone sent radiating waves of pain through her skull. Her vision began fading, but she blinked it away. If she went unconscious now, she had a feeling she'd never awaken.

One of the aliens sprang after Xayella, blocking her escape. It jerked a hand toward the space next to her and gestured again. It brought a single hand up, and extended two talons above its head. It gestured again beside her, demanding an answer to its unspoken question.

"I-- I don't understand." Xayella's eyes darted about each of the aliens surrounding her. All looked as impassive and inexorable as the one seemingly interrogating her now. "Look, I'm sorry, okay? I won't do it again. Just...let me get back to work." She pointed to the small section of the cave that had been designated their construction area, then pointed to herself and back again. "Let me work. I'll build your engine. Please..."

The alien in front of her gestured with the hand atop his head again, almost as if he were pantomiming...antennae.

Xayella shook her head slowly, still not comprehending the alien's meaning. "I'm sorry. I don't--" A sickening fear twisted her gut as her reeling mind suddenly pieced together what was being conveyed. "Tchalla," she breathed. She should have known they'd immediately miss the only blue-skinned crew member among them, but they wouldn't for long. With a strained, seemingly pain-stricken cry, perfectly disruptive enough to divert their attention away from Tchalla, Xayella clutched at her side and dropped to her knees. "It hurts!" she shouted at them. She groaned loudly for effect. "The pain! Help me!"

"Lieutenant!" Suddenly, Tchalla rushed forward, but before she could reach Xayella, she was grabbed by two of the aliens. Both sent a flurry of clicking and hissing questions at her. She looked frantically between them and looked down at her skirt where her hands were still fumbling with the catch on the side. "Pee."

The aliens stared at her for another moment, then let her go. She immediately rushed to Xayella's side. "Oh, Lieutenant, are you alright?"

"I'm fine," she whispered to Tchalla, then: "Oh, it's unbearable!" Xayella drew her knees up towards her and rocked herself rhythmically, briskly. "I need to lie down. Help me to that secluded corner over there, Ensign," she told her, motioning suggestively with her eyes towards an isolated section of the cave.

Tchalla nodded, and then carefully helped Xayella to her feet. Seeing that the situation was under control and nothing untoward was happening, the aliens blended back into the darkness. Once they were alone and safe, Tchalla raised a questioning eyebrow to Xay.

"They noticed you missing," Xayella explained. "I had to do something to draw their attention elsewhere." She folded her arms over her chest and stubbornly looked away. "You should thank me."

"Thank you, Lieutenant," Tchalla said softly, shyly. "It's a good thing they understood going to the bathroom. It was the only thing I could think of for having gone off alone. We'll have to be careful. I got the readings though." She slipped the tricorder out from under her tunic and handed it surreptitiously to Xayella.

Although she could only safely give a cursory glance at the readings, that was all Xayella needed to gain insight into the source of the electromagnetic readings. "A shielding device?" she whispered. "How could they possibly build something like that?"

"Perhaps they're technically advanced in some areas," Tchalla offered. "Or, perhaps we're not the only ship around here. It's not Federation in origin. Could it be possible that someone else visited, and they got it from them?"

"It's possible," Xayella replied pensively. "Does it appear to have been modified at all? I mean, it seems to work perfectly with the cavern's natural reflective quality in confusing our sensors. Could they have done the same thing before as they're doing now, to us? Taken others hostage and forced them to build?"

Tchalla glanced back over her shoulder and then to Xay again. "I think they could have. It's a good thing we didn't land any shuttles on the planet. We have to stop them, Lieutenant."

"A good idea, Ensign. If we don't, we'll end up with the same fate as those before us," Xayella said grimly. "What do you propose, Ensign?"

"We should continue to appear that we're doing what they want," Tchalla said. "We don't want them to get suspicious. We've still got that phaser. If we can get to a point where they're all distracted, or we're all in a position to capitalize on it, we can use the phaser to destroy that device."

"If you need another distraction, just leave that to me, Ensign." Xayella snapped her eyes shut and groaned as another sharp pain hit her side, an unmanufactured one this time. She let out a series of slow, short breaths until the sudden ache subsided, then sighed. "Just...give me a little time to recuperate, then I'll be ready for you," she told Tchalla in a voice thick with pain.

Tchalla nodded. "Of course, Lieutenant," she said. "You stay here and rest, and I'll keep working on the engine. I don't really know what I'm doing, but if we plan this right we won't have to finish anyway."

"We can't finish," she said quickly. "If we finish, we're dead. At least that's what probably happened to the others before us. They outlived their usefulness. We mustn't do the same. Now--" She placed her hand on Tchalla's shoulder and, with her back to the cave wall, gently slid to the ground. "Go on. I'll be okay here."

"I'll come back and check on you soon," Tchalla said, concern showing in her eyes. "We'll get out of this, Lieutenant. I won't fail you. We'll get out of this, I'm certain of it."

"I like your optimism, Ensign." Xayella chuckled weakly. "Remind me to make you my assistant when we get back to the ship."

Tchalla smiled and her face darkened with slight embarrassment in the dim light of the cave. "Thank you, Lieutenant. I should get back to work now before they get upset. I'll be back soon." With that, she quickly fled to where the assorted parts all lay stretched out waiting for them. It would be good to get busy now, to take her mind off...things.

---

"Rescue Effort, Part 2"
Commander Lyrr Tayla, Executive Officer
Lieutenant Sam, Operations Manager
Lieutenant Jorell Thalan, Security Chief
Dr. Sean O'Shea, Chief Medical Officer
Ensign Glickman, Security Officer [NPC+]
Ensign Porter, Security Officer [NPC+]

Location: Dorvali 449
Stardate 57906.25 12h13

***

Lyrr fired again at the phantoms relentlessly pursuing them, with only hisses and unsettling shrieks alluding to their presence. With the modifications Sam had made to his optic sensors, he had the capabilities necessary to see their alien foes; he was their only means of gaining visual confirmation, though all he could do for the team was give them a direction to shoot in.

Their tricorders were useless to them in the chaos of the situation, even with their increased functionality courtesy of the Ashburys' modifications. Already pre-occupied with blindly shooting at the aliens while sprinting through the twisting tunnels, they hadn't time to puzzle through the tricorders' still vague readings.

A strangled cry came from one of the aliens as Lt. Thalan hit the invisible mark, but they had no way of knowing whether the creature had been subdued or merely inconvenienced for a brief moment. Either way, they still had what sounded like an army after them.

"Sam! How many?"

"Under the current conditions, such an estimate would be inconclusive, Commander," Sam called as he continued firing back behind him. His phaser had been set for a wide-beam setting, but even with that the constant movement toward an exit was making aiming very difficult. "My current estimate based on all information available would be twenty aliens."

If Lyrr weren't so engrossed in fleeing for her life, she would have spared a moment to gape at Sam. "How much farther do we have until the exit?"

"I approximate four hundred meters until the exit," Sam called again, continuing to fire his phaser. Screams erupted where the iridescent beam hit. "I now estimate fifteen aliens, Commander. Three were incapacitated due to phaser fire; two fled."

"Fled?" Lyrr found a moment, now, to chuckle. "Well, at least we know they're not completely fearless-- Dammit, Glickman! Stay close to the doctor! If something happens to him--"

The young officer fired off two more shots over his shoulder, then hurried back to Sean's side. "Sorry, Commander! I was--" With a grunt, Ensign Glickman stumbled over a large rock embedded in the floor, then fell prostrate to the ground. As fast as they were running, it took no time at all for the fallen officer to be left behind as he struggled to pick himself up.

"Commander! My leg!"

"Glickman!" Lyrr cursed and, being the away team leader and also the one taking up the rear, she was the first one to notice the officer go down, and the first to spring into action by backtracking to retrieve him. If it was one thing Lyrr learned from serving in the Resistance, it was that you never left behind a fellow soldier.

Lt. Thalan was at Lyrr's side within moments and was firing pulses down the tunnel hopefully taking out as many aliens as possible. He looked to the Bajoran woman and called, "Hurry, get him out of here!"

It was then that the security officer felt something tear into the padding across his chest and as mere reaction brought the butt of his phaser rifle across in an arc hopefully striking out at whatever was there. With a slight crunching sound he knew he had struck something. He then kicked straight out and knew instantly he connected once again, sending the invisible creature reeling back. He brought his weapon to bear down the tunnel again and fired off several more shots. By then, Lyrr had handed Glickman off to Porter and was contributing a round of phaser fire aimed into the darkness.

"Let's get out of here," the man called to no one specifically and managed to look across his chest to see the armor torn almost clear through. Thalan then fired several more shots and started backing up towards the others.

"Doctor, Porter," Lyrr snapped. "Help Glickman. I don't expect him to sprint, but I want you to help him go as fast as he can."

"I-I can run," Glickman assured Lyrr, rather unsuccessfully.

Lyrr sighed impatiently. "I admire the brave front you're trying to put up, Ensign. But drop it and accept some damned help!"

Glickman nodded rigorously and slung his arms across both Porter and the doctor's shoulders, then began hopping away on his one good foot.

Sean was doing his best to make the most of a bad situation. His phaser was in one hand, his modified tricorder in the other. But for the most part, he left the shooting to the experts. They were outnumbered by an invisible enemy in its own backyard, not exactly the best environment to perform medical care. But when Glickman went down he did what he could to help the patient, which in this case meant keeping him moving. He holstered his phaser and rummaged in his pack for a hypo and pressed it against the security officer's shoulder.

"What's that?" Glickman asked.

"Booster shot." Sean smiled. "Combination of pain killers, adrenaline enhancers and lactic acid inhibitors. A man could run on two broken legs after a shot of this, so you should do just fine till we get you out of these caves." He clapped the man on the shoulder. "Now let's keep moving!"

"Commander," Sam called as he managed to move and fire at the same time, obviously having no problems conducting the two actions at the same time, "I am showing that the Dorvalis are ceasing their pursuit and are pulling back."

"What? Why? They had us outnumbered." Lyrr peered into the darkness. "I'm not liking this. Sam, can you determine where they're moving off to?"

"Judging from their movement," Sam said as he ceased firing and continued to move, "it appears that they are fortifying their position. We have moved beyond the range of my scans, but that is what they were doing before I lost contact."

"Well, while they're out of the way, let's get outside. Lt. Sam, you have the lead again. Thalan and I will cover you." Lyrr took up a defensive position with Thalan behind the team. "Move out!"

As the team took up a slower pace through the tunnels, Lyrr motioned her head to Thalan's slit chest armour. "You're not hurt, are you?"

"It didn't penetrate the skin," the man answered as he shook his head in the negative. He then commented, "If we ever get a chance, I have to see what those claws of theirs are made of. Ripped through this thing--" patting the armor "--almost as if it were not there." He continued to follow the party out and glanced over his shoulder for any sign of the aliens, even though he knew he would not see them until it was too late.

"Once we get outside," Lyrr told him, "you'll get your chance. We'll need to interrogate the alien, Lieutenant, and from what I can tell so far, they have no discernable language. Do you think you can communicate with it?"

Continuing his escape of the tunnels, yet again, Jorell thought a moment about the Commander's query before answering, "I could try. I know I can pick up their thoughts, but those thoughts are alien themselves. I suggest using Lt. Jhenal. I could aid her as needed."

"Very well," Lyrr said. "Once we get out of these caves, we will contact the counsellor." Determining that silence was then a priority, she gave a nod to Lt. Thalan and sidled away from him to increase the distance separating them. If an alien did surprise the two, at least it wouldn't take them both down at once.

The trip the rest of the way out of the caves was a simple matter of backtracking. As they gathered outside the cave entrance, Sam approached Lyrr. "Commander," he said, "I will watch over the cave entrance and make sure none of the aliens have followed us outside."

"Alright, but first I would like you to set our...prisoner down. We'll need to interrogate it if we can." As Sam set about finding an appropriate spot away from the cave where they could "question" the alien, and while the doctor moved his patient to a comfortable examination area, Lyrr took a moment to contact the ship - more specifically, Captain Salinger. After relaying a summary of the events within the cave to Matt, she let out a deep breath. "It was close there for a while, Captain, but we made it out with only minor injuries."

"Well, I'm glad that you're all safe," Matt said over the communicator. "What's your plan from here, Commander?"

"Lt. Thalan suggested we have Counsellor Jhenal beam down and help him interrogate the alien. From what we can determine, they are incapable of speech and unless someone can quickly modify the universal translators to decipher their hisses and growls, I'm afraid telepathy may be the only way to speak with these creatures."

There was a moment of silence on the channel before Matt answered. "Do you believe that Thalan is adept enough to carry out the interrogation on his own? I'm leery of sending any additional personnel down to the planet's surface. If he can handle the interrogation on his own, do that. Otherwise, I imagine I'll have to have the counsellor beam down."

Lyrr regarded Thalan from over her shoulder as he examined the tear in his body armour. "Yes, I believe you're right, Captain. I'll have Thalan attempt to communicate with the alien. I will update you on our progress, Captain. Is there anything else?"

"No. Good luck, Tayla," Matt said. "And, stay safe down there. Salinger out."

Lyrr sighed once the transmission ended and turned to face her crew. Sam had returned to the cave entrance to guard against any surprise attacks; Thalan and Porter were standing before the alien, who was slumped against a tree, with their phaser rifles poised to fire at a moment's notice. It was to the doctor tending to Glickman's injury, however, that Lyrr went.

Once at his side, she said nothing for a few moments and simply watched Sean at work. It reminded her of many occasions on Bajor when she'd observed him tending to patients from her village. At times, she even assisted him in basic procedures, and at other times, she was simply content to watch him work. His hands were masterful and the ease with which he interacted with her people was impressive...for a human. She hated to admit it, but she missed those times.

Lyrr caught herself as a nostalgic smile touched her lips, and as quickly as it had appeared, she banished it from her face. That was a different time; now, she had more important things to concern herself with.

"Is he alright?" she asked Sean, a slight tightness in her voice.

"I'm fine, Commander," Glickman answered quickly.

Lyrr smiled briefly. "I think I'll wait for the doctor's prognosis before I deem you fit for duty again, Ensign."

"Nothing serious," Sean said. "Stress fracture to his tibia. Some swelling to the knee where it impacted." He ran his knitter back and forth over the leg, the pale blue beam working its magic. "Ordinarily I'd tell an officer with this injury to stay off it for a day or two. But those are under ideal circumstances. If the ensign needs to get back in the thick of it, he should be able to without doing any serious harm to himself." His hands touched and probed the injury, making certain that his tools had done the job, his eyes watching his patient's reaction. Satisfied, he put his tools back in their case.

After the doctor's diagnosis, Lyrr made the only decision she could. If they had to go back into battle, Glickman would only cause himself further harm. As Lyrr tapped on her communicator and called up to the transporter room, Glickman's face sank. When she ordered Chief Riley to beam up the Ensign, he seemed too despondent and disheartened to even raise a protest. "Sorry, Ensign. I can't let you take the risk," was the last thing he heard Lyrr say to him before the glittering energy stream enshrouded him.

"Thank you, Doctor," Lyrr sighed. "I'm certain before this mission is over, we'll have kept you sufficiently busy." As Lyrr promptly departed, a replacement for Glickman materialized before the small team and Ensign Porter quickly apprised him of the situation.

Sean glanced over at the captured alien, his brow furrowing. He knew what was going to come next was necessary, but it left a bad taste in his mouth. Interrogating aliens was something he had his fill of back at the institute. He knew Lyrr still wondered why he had never contacted her after Bajor. It wasn't so much that he couldn't talk about his work, but that he had grown disgusted and ashamed with it. She would not have recognized the amiable general practitioner she had met on Bajor. Over time, Sean got to the point where he could not recognize himself and had called it quits, a move that nearly cost him his career.

At being told he would be trying to communicate with the alien, Jorell stripped off the light padded armor he wore. He then sat about two meters in front of the alien, not wanting to get too close, but close enough that he could make an easier connection. He took in several breaths and let them out slowly, trying to calm his own thoughts. It took several minutes, the thoughts of the recent battle in the caves was still running fast through his mind, but he managed to clear his thoughts.

He opened his eyes and looked at the alien opening his mind, ready this time for the bombardment he faced in the caves. That bombardment never came and Jorell easily slipped into the alien's thoughts. It was almost too easy, so the Betazoid backed off and shored up his own mind before he began feeling out for an psychic attacks. And there it was. Had he proceeded any deeper he would have been hit. A grin crossed over the Lieutenant's face and he commented aloud, "Nice try."

After making the needed defences he again slipped deeper into the alien's thought and as predicted was attacked. A primal psychic energy lashed out at Jorell's thoughts and momentarily stunned him. Recovering from the attack he looked to the alien tilting his head in a questioning manner asking if it was done.

To everyone standing about the pair mere seconds had passed. Keeping his connection with the alien he looked to Lyrr. "I'm in. I do not know how much sense any of this is going to make but I can now make an attempt. Let's hope our 'friend' here has nothing else waiting for me."

"At the first sign of danger, Lieutenant, I want you to pull out." Lyrr regarded the alien again, and with as calm as it was now, she could hardly believe this was their enemy. Looking at the sharp claws extending from the tips of its digits, though, she wasn't about to let her guard down. "Ask it about our people," she told Thalan. "Ask it where they are and what is being done with them."

Nearby, O'Shea had casually removed his tricorder and set it to monitor Thalan's cerebral patterns. There was no telling what interaction with an alien mind might do to the Betazoid and the doctor wanted to be ready if anything went wrong.

"Understood, Commander," the Betazoid stated and looked back to the alien. He thought to himself, Let's see what you've got. He started off with asking directly, but what he got back was as confusing as before, but much more manageable. Alright, so our thoughts will not cross the boundary of species.

Concentrating, he started with showing the alien the physical images of those that were missing from his own memories, hoping this alien would recognize one of them.

A spark of dawning understanding appeared in the alien's mind as one of the images proved familiar to it, but it smothered the recognition evasively. Instead, it battered Thalan's mind with a series of memories, of stars, a planet foreign to Thalan, but known to the alien and which struck a chord of melancholy and yearning in the creature. It showed Thalan a small vessel hurtling through space, then Dorvali 449 appeared. The alien abruptly ended its bombardment of images and looked between Thalan and Lyrr almost pleadingly.

"What is it, Lieutenant?" Lyrr asked. "Where are our people?"

Thalan gave a questioning look to the alien at first then at Lyrr's question looked her way, answering, "I do not know. He--" he motioned to the alien "--did seem to recognize some of our people, but before I could continue he showed me a planet of some sort, and then a ship traveling through space ending up here on Dorvali." For a long moment the man looked to the ground trying to piece everything the alien sent together and added, "I think he's trying to say he wants to go home."

Looking up at Lyrr: "I know it does not help with our people, Commander, but it's a start." He then asked in a questioning manner, "Would you like for me to try again?"

Lyrr searched the alien's garish red eyes pensively. "No. I want you to ask it more about the planet he showed you. I want you to ask it why it's here now. We'll try a little indirect approach in gaining information about our people."

Jorell nodded. "Alright, Sir."

He returned his look at the alien and first thought to himself, wondering how he was going to ask questions in images and memories alone. He concentrated on the image of the planet the alien had showed to him and showed it to the creature, hoping for a response.

The response he did get was an immediate and violent one. His mind was assailed with dizzying flashes of the unknown planet, then the ship again. Trails of smoke followed the vessel as it plunged into Dorvali's atmosphere and plummeted towards the surface. Next came bodies strewn about the forest floor, some charred beyond recognition and others convulsing violently in their death throe. Fluorescent, blue blood seeped into the rich soil of the forest, marking the places where many of the alien's kind had died. Others, however, were shown limping away and heading for the caves. The alien pulled his thoughts back abruptly, as if it was painful to go on.

As the alien images faded it took several moments for Thalan to recover. With a slight shake of his head he looked up to Lyrr. "Sorry, but I did not get anything coherent about the planet, but more of what happened to them. It seems they crash landed here on Dorvali. Many of them died on impact, and they fled into the caves."

"Our sensors detected no signs of wreckage, though," Lyrr pointed out. "Unless they scavenged what remained of their vessel and stored it in the caves with them. What I don't understand is why - if they are advanced enough for space travel, and if they are advanced enough to develop the shielding they've erected in the caves - why haven't they repaired their vessel and returned home?"

As if anticipating Lyrr's question, the alien injected another flood of thoughts into Jorell's mind and showed him more...showed him all. The images flashed with even greater intensity and speed, forcing Lyrr to keep the staggering Jorell from collapsing. Showing surprising tenacity, the Lieutenant remained conscious and relatively upright. "Thalan? What is it? What's going on?"

Hanging on as best he could, he strained to comment, "Showing...showing me everything..." He then placed his hand on the ground to steady himself feeling a little light headed. After taking some time to regain his senses he then continued, "They are forcing our people to rebuild a ship for them, that is why they were taken." He paused to sort through the images. "I know where they are..."

Lyrr shifted her gaze slowly to the alien, refraining from expressing her distaste with a sneer. "Lead us there, Thalan. Ensign Porter, you'll stay here with Ensign Yuill and guard the creature. Doctor, Thalan... You two, myself, and Lieutenant Sam will begin our retrieval attempt."

Thalan stood and looked to the Bajoran. "I know the way to our people. It's a simple course through the caves. It's all the other aliens that we will have to deal with along the way. Perhaps we can offer them our help willingly, in exchange for the freedom of our people. Seeming like a warp capable species, we would not be violating the Prime Directive. It's better than shooting our way in." With a pause he looked to the alien and back to Lyrr and asked, "Commander, shall I ask our friend here if he and his people would find this acceptable?"

"You may," she replied, "after I speak to the Captain. Excuse me." Lyrr moved off from the group after giving Thalan a nod, placing him in charge of the team for a brief time. Once she was in a relatively secluded area, she contacted the ship again.

It was only a moment before Matt was on the comm. "Salinger here," he said. "Go ahead, Commander. What have you found?"

"Thalan's been in contact with the alien," she replied. "However, it seems things are more convoluted than we thought at first glance. These aliens... They are not indigenous to Dorvali 449, Captain. In fact, they crashed here who knows how long ago and have been stranded since. The fact still remains that they abducted our people, but have only done so for a chance to get home...or so Thalan tells me."

"I understand," Matt said. "I imagine they're somewhat desperate. Be careful in there, Commander. If they do just want to find a way home, then I can't entirely fault them for something like this. Phasers on stun and get our people out of there. Once we have our people back, perhaps we can find a way to open negotiations with them...help them find their way home somehow. But, not before we have our own crew back safely aboard the Sulu."

"It wouldn't be too misleading to suggest to them we'd give them warp travel in exchange for our people...would it, Captain?"

"Given the circumstances," Matt said, obviously smiling from the sound of his voice, "I think that would be an acceptable trade, Commander. See what you can arrange with them."

"Very well, Captain," she replied, attempting to suppress a grin of her own. "Is there anything else?"

"We're working on a way to get through those shielding devices," the captain said. "Lieutenant Thaine has made some progress, but it's slow going. The number of permutations within a field of that size is enormous. We're trying to bring it down, but perhaps your friend there could give you some insight into it, even if it means we modulate our sensors. We'll keep working up here; good luck down there."

"We'll get what we can from the alien. And thank you, Captain. Lyrr out."

The commander rejoined the gathering and stopped before the alien. She searched its glassy, hard eyes and wished they would show even an iota of emotion. At least if they did, she could detect when the creature was holding back. "Talk to him again, Thalan," she said, holding the alien's stare with an unfaltering gaze. "Ask him about the shielding devices in those caves. And make certain he tells us everything." She unholstered her phaser and pointedly aimed it at the creature. "Absolutely everything."

---

"Glimmers of Hope"
by Lt. Xayella Tagliesh
Ensign Tchalla Mel'Chir

with Ensign Monica Gainsborough [NPC]
and Captain Matthew Salinger

Location: Caves on Dorvali 449; and Bridge, USS Sulu
Stardate 57906.25 12h23

***

For the third time in a few minutes, the welder slipped from Xayella's trembling hands and dropped to the ground. Her fingers were numb, matching the same lack of sensation throughout the rest of her body, and the sweat running down the sides of her face and that collecting in the hollow of her neck seemed out of place considering how frigid it was in the cave. She'd done well in hiding the difficulties she was having in remaining awake, but she could tell Tchalla wasn't buying it. Perhaps it was the sudden pallor suffusing Xayella's face that had tipped her off or the frequent coughing bouts, but either way, the worry lines on the girl's brow made it clear that Tchalla was anxious about her condition.

Xayella smiled tightly at the girl as she retrieved the energy welder and held it up to assure Tchalla that she was still alive and functioning...barely. "Don't look so worried, Ensign," Xayella told her breathlessly. "I'm not dying. I'm just...a little tired, that's all."

"You can barely hold that welder, Lieutenant," Tchalla said. "And, I'm not a doctor, but you don't look very good." She picked up the tricorder they'd gotten working and pointed it at Xayella. She ran a surreptitious scan, knowing the aliens would be upset if they knew she had a working tricorder. Too bad it wasn't configured to give medical readings. "Your lifesigns are fluctuating, Lieutenant. You...you need water. Fluids are always good."

"I don't--" Xayella sucked in a sharp breath and cradled her abdomen. She laboriously slid closer to the cavern wall and eventually managed to lean her back against it. She sat motionless until the pain passed, then finally opened her eyes and regarded Tchalla. "We have to keep working," she muttered weakly. Her languid gaze moved to the rudimentary hull they'd partially constructed laid out upon the dirt floor. "If they think we're obediently following their demands, we've got a better chance of catching them offguard and destroying that shielding device."

Tchalla nodded, and glanced back at the aliens. One of them was watching. She clenched her jaw in anger, suddenly furious at what the creatures were putting them through. She snapped her head back around and looked at Xayella. "Are you sure you're okay with that welder, Lieutenant? I could work the welder, and you could start programming that circuit board if you want."

Xayella waved her hand dismissively, then let it fall limply into her lap. "Either way. I just...I need a minute." She glanced up to see an alien approaching, no doubt to goad them back to work. "Keep working. We're drawing attention to ourselves." Xayella tightened her hold on the welder and, although it took some effort, she succeeded in sliding closer to the hull plating and resumed soldering the seams. The alien paused, watched them curiously for a moment, then rejoined the group.

Once the alien returned to his own kind, Tchalla's antennae drooped slightly, mirroring the tension in the rest of her body. She took a deep breath and let it out, realizing she'd been on the verge of what would have come out a growl. She realized that her knuckles were pale was she gripped the hyperspanner and quickly let it clatter to the ground. Another breath, and she felt the tension dissipating more completely. "I'll check on that circuit board. Are you alright, Lieutenant?"

Xayella nodded her head while her teeth bit into her lower lip as she fought back a groan. "Ensign," she rasped. "I want you to promise me something. When we carry out our escape attempt and I'm unable to continue, you just keep going."

"Don't worry, Lieutenant," Tchalla said with a smile. "You'll make it, and you'll see C-Captain Salinger again. I promise you that."

Xayella laughed softly, though the sound was more that of a wheeze. "Who told you?"

Tchalla's eyes went wide. "No one...no one said anything. It was just...just the way you talked about him...him rescuing us."

"And he will," she said. "He'll rescue us, Tchalla, but I meant what I said. If I can't make it, I'm ordering you to leave me behind and get this team to safety."

Tchalla's antennae drooped and she slowly nodded. "Yes, sir," she said softly.

"Good," Xayella replied. "If I had a way to contact the captain or to make an official log, I'd recommend you for a commendation, Ensign. You've done well."

Tchalla felt herself blush and as she settled down with the circuit board, she glanced up at Xayella. "If you'd like, I'll do what I can to make sure you see him again, sir. So you can tell him."

Xayella smiled ruefully. "Thank you, Ensign." She focused again on the hull plating, seeing Matt's face in the reflective surface. Her fingers brushed lightly over the image that was most likely a hallucinatory episode brought on by whatever was afflicting her. With the amount of blood she'd been coughing up, she had enough medical knowledge to suspect internal bleeding. She'd keep up the illusion for Tchalla's sake that it was nothing severe, but eventually the girl would know. But, she would persevere for as long as she was able. This was her team and there was no way she was leaving them to perish. And there was no way she would lay down and die without seeing Matt one last time.

***

Tchalla looked up from the optical cables she was stringing across the board that would eventually be plugged into the shuttle's flight control system. Her eyes widened, and her antennae tensed as she scanned the inside of the cavern. She leaned toward Xayella. "There's only one left over there. The rest of them just left. I think something's going on."

Xayella looked around the cave. "Only one?" She returned her gaze to Tchalla and grinned. "I guess that means we get a break. Care to go destroy a shielding device, Ensign?"

Tchalla smiled and then reached under one of the thruster housings and pulled out the phaser. "I'll be back in a moment," she whispered. "Watch for that one. When the device goes, he'll know something's going on."

With that, Tchi slipped away. She glanced back at Xayella, and then disappeared into the darkened alcove where the device was. She took a calming breath and levelled the weapon at the small device, a spheroid about the size of her head. I've always hated phasers, she told herself, just before depressing the firing button.

There was a shower of sparks and then a loud pop. When her vision cleared, the device still glowed red, but the instrument panel was now dark. She'd done it.

A startled hiss sounded from the alien outside, but before it could alert its friends, Xayella was standing behind it - barely standing - and jammed the prongs of the energy welder into the side of its neck, hoping to hit any major artery that might run through there. The maximum setting on the device was enough to send a spasm through the creature's body. Only a strangled shriek came from the alien before it went rigid and toppled to the ground. Xayella, dizzy and weak, soon followed.

Tchalla sprang from where she'd been and ran toward Xayella's prone form. "Lieutenant," she whispered. "Lieutenant, it's me. Please wake up. Please, be alright!"

"I'm awake," Xayella muttered inaudibly. Her eyes fluttered open and it took all her strength to keep them that way. "I'm okay," she groaned. She raised her head and gripped Tchalla's arm. "Help me."

Tchalla slipped an arm around Xayella and helped her to her feet. "Do you think we can risk getting the others and trying to leave, Lieutenant?"

"We could split up," Xayella suggested. "This way at least some of us have a chance of escaping. Groups of two, like they have us divided into now while we work."

"Yes," Tchalla said. "Come on, let's go tell the others." She pulled out her tricorder and ran a quick scan. "I think they have more of those devices because I can't scan out past fifty meters, but there's a change. I think removing that one device weakened the field they had set up."

"Is there enough fire power in that phaser to destroy the others if we find them?" Xayella asked.

Tchalla checked the power. "I think I can get a few more shots out of it," she said. "What if we send the others out, and go looking for the other devices?"

Xayella nodded in agreement and the two informed the rest of the team about their plan. She was surprised how readily they obeyed her orders, though she assumed they were just jumping on a chance to finally achieve freedom. With the crew members rushing out of the chamber, Xayella and Tchalla followed as quickly as Xayella's lethargic body would allow.

She stumbled as they made their way to each of the adjacent chambers, searching for signs of the other hidden shielding devices. All Xayella could concentrate on, though, was keeping her eyes open. "Anything...Ensign?" she wheezed.

"I'm detecting something," Tchalla said, not taking her eyes from the tricorder. "Twenty meters straight, and then fifteen meters to the right." She adjusted her arm that was supporting Xayella. "Are you alright, Lieutenant?"

"Don't worry about me," she replied. "Just find that shielding device, Ensign."

"Come on," Tchalla urged, and then led the way forward. "It's just up here. And, and I have to be concerned about you, sir. I won't leave you to them if I can avoid it."

"You will if I order you to," Xayella told her. "You're loyalties are misplaced, Ensign. Think only of yourself right now."

"I'm thinking of the success of our mission," Tchalla said as they crept forward. "I think the Vulcan axiom applies in this case: The needs of the many do outweigh the needs of the few."

"I am hardly the many, Ensign," Xayella retorted. "And that means if lugging me around this cave will put you or the rest of our team in jeopardy, you will leave me behind. Understood?"

"Yes, sir," Tchalla said. "Though, you're not jeopardizing us yet. We're almost there, just around this corner. I haven't met the captain yet, but he sounds like a very nice man."

Xayella sighed, though it came out sounding only like a choked gasp of pain. "He is a nice man, Tchalla. The best. He believed in me, Tchalla, like he believes in all his crew. Place your trust in him...and you'll go places you could never have imagined." Xayella felt her legs beginning to go numb and knew there wasn't much time left before she passed out.

"If you have to leave me behind," she said, her words beginning to slur, "you tell him... Thank him. He was good to me, the first one to trust me and give me a chance..." She laughed, then, almost ironically. She was soon to die and only then, remembering how it felt to be with Matt, was she beginning to realize what love must feel like. It's a shame I couldn't have experienced it a lot sooner...

Xayella cried out in anguish and her legs crumpled beneath her. She slipped from Tchalla's supportive hold and slumped to the ground. "Go..." she breathed. "Go, Tchalla."

Instead of moving forward, Tchalla went back to Xayella and quickly helped move her to the side of the tunnel, into a small alcove where she was out of the way. "I'll come back for you if I can," she whispered. "I won't abandon you, Lieutenant, not if I can help it."

She stood up and stepped back. Thankfully, in the darkness, the tears rimming her eyes weren't visible; the grief of leaving behind a comrade and friend, unseen. She turned away and rushed down the corridor, tricorder and phaser in hand.

As Tchalla melded into the darkness, a weak smile touched Xayella's lips. Finally she was doing something valuable, something right, and something selfless. It may have been Matt's influence, or it may have been the knowledge of her looming death, but she no longer cared what happened to her and hoped her efforts would help the rest of the abductees find safety.

As darkness pervaded Xayella's vision - one more dense and palpable than that of the caves - she thought of Matt again and then of how disappointed her mother would be that'd she'd sacrificed herself - her parents' only heir - for others. With the image of her mother's scowling face imprinted in her mind and her shrill voice shouting at her, telling her what a failure she was, a disappointment, Xayella closed her eyes and simply welcomed it all. She always had relished in causing her mother misery, and as she did so now, she could only smile. Even as the darkness consumed her, the smile never left her face.

***

Ensign Monica Gainsborough sat at the Sulu's science station, running a diagnostic on the new sensor calibrations. They'd been working for some time, most of the morning. However, they'd still been unable to push through the field obscuring the caves. "Too many combinations," she said under her breath.

She'd noticed a drop in the field strength several minutes before and was watching it closely. Captain Salinger had been intrigued, but since it hadn't made a significant difference, urged her to keep monitoring and let him know if there were any other changes.

There hadn't been yet. Doing a scan of the cave area, she could see a weak spot, a blank spot, but unfortunately there was still enough residual interference, she couldn't get a clean scan.

Monica sighed and took another large gulp of her raktajino, double-strong, double-sweet. It was like drinking pure energy, and she knew with four large mugs of the stuff in her each morning, she'd be good for most of the day. She was just glad she didn't get the shakes, though the affect the beverage had on her was a humourous one, at least to her shipmates. Still, most people tended to think her overwhelming hyperactivity was cute.

In the midst of her musing, there was a pulse of data on the screen, and Monica's eyes widened. Did it just--? She ran a quick scan.

"Captain," she said, quickly swivelling her chair to face the center of the bridge, "I'm detecting another gap in the field. I have a hypothesis, sir."

Matt was already out of his chair and moving toward the science station. "Go ahead, Ensign."

"If you look at the patterns involved here"-- she pointed to the display on her console --"it begins to suggest overlapping patterns. Judging from what I've seen so far, I would hypothesize that two nodes in the pattern have been removed."

"The Away Team?"

"The Away Team just entered the caves again five minutes ago, sir," Monica said. "These gaps are too far away for them to have covered that distance."

A glimmer of hope touched the captain's eyes. "Our people."

"That is my theory, sir."

"Good work, Ensign.

---

"Arriving at Starbase 163"
by Lt. (jg) Arthas Hex - Future Deputy Chief of Secruity/Tactical Department

Location: Shuttlecraft 'Slazenger' en route to Starbase 163
Stardate 57906.25, 13h15

***

Arthas sat back in the co-pilot's chair of the small shuttle Slazenger. It was only a warp 5 capable shuttlecraft that was cruising ahead of its due time at warp 2. Arthas and the pilot of the shuttle, a Lt. Commander Jacobson, were en route to Starbase 163 to be picked up by different starships.

Arthas closed his eyes as he attempted to calm the previous hosts of the symbiont Hex that continually invaded his mind. He was beginning to get used to it now, although he didn't think that he would ever totally control them.

He was not trained for a symbiont; he had once applied for one but his tests had given him no hope of being given a scholarship at the symbiont academy. Still he was stuck with one now and greatly appreciated the experience and information that it gave him, especially a former Admiral Gredala Hex who had once been a great Admiral in Starfleet.

She was always there behind him, helping him, guiding Arthas away from the few mistakes that she made and the mistakes that Arthas might be walking into.

"Lieutenant, we'll be there in a few minutes. You should get your stuff ready," the voice of Commander Jacobson said next to him.

"Yes, sir." He sat up and went into the back where he assembled his belongings back into their suitcases.

The two officiers had spent a night on this shuttle so there wasn't much tidying up to do.

Lt. Commander Jacobson struck Arthas as the type of man who deeply enjoyed his career and couldn't see anything but it in his life. Arthas was a lot like him in so many ways. He too wanted success for his own career and Starfleet's future, but not so that he sacrificed his own life.

Jacobson had barely said two words to him during their 35 hours together, but Jacobson wasn't going to the USS Sulu as he was.

***Five Minutes Later***

"This is Starbase 163 accepting your codes and opening landing bay 17 for the shuttlecraft Slazenger," the computerised voice welcomed them.

Arthas got back up off the bed he had been sitting on and pulled his handluggage over his shoulder. He knew that the rest of his luggage would be transported to his room, but he wanted to keep his valubles near him.

After a few minutes the airlock opened and a Cadet stood in the archway.

"Welcome, sirs. If you would follow me I shall show you to your quarters."

Jacobson, who hadn't stood up since docking, got up from the pilot's seat. He walked over and picked up a small bag, almost a woman's handbag and followed the cadet and Arthas out of the shuttlecraft.

The cadet showed Arthas to his temporary quarters first and Arthas expected what he saw, a spartan, grey Starfleet standard decor, with a replicator, sonic shower, and bed. All the average human needed

"Thank you, Cadet," Arthas said as he walked in

"No...no problem, Lieutenant," the cadet stuttered as he walked out and showed Jacobson to his quarters.

Arthas threw his bag onto the bed and walked toward the sonic shower. He needed to be clean.

---

"Waiting Patiently"
By Ensign Cristobel Sefton - Nurse
and Corran Quezith - Civilian Biologist

Location: Starbase 163, Arboretum
Stardate 57906.25, 13h18

***

Sprawled out on his back in the deep green grass of the arboretum, Cristobel Sefton stared up at the holographic sky. Behind his head, a periwinkle blanket was spread out on the grass, and a Betazoid picnic basket, made entirely of flowers, overflowed with food atop the blanket. He rolled his head from side to side slowly, taking in the plant-life surrounding him. "Meh. Your garden on Earth was prettier," Cris commented frankly.

Corran chuckled as he removed his hands from the basket and reached down to run his fingers along Cris' face, then he leaned down to kiss his lips softly. "I think so too, but that was my garden, this is someone else's... We don't all have the same taste in garden arrangements." He glanced around them as he sat back up. It was okay to relax in, and when they'd arrived it'd given him the opportunity to get some work done.

Cris reached up to squeeze Corran's chin between his thumb and forefinger. "Modesty's cute on you. But, really, you can go ahead and say you think this landscape architecture is ugly, or even merely 'aesthetically displeasing', if you'd like," Cristobel stated, regardless of the science officers milling about, tending to the arboretum. "If anyone objects, you just bop 'em on the nose with your exo-botany Nobel Prize."

"Oh I don't think they would appreciate that. Besides, the arrangement may have to do with the alien chief of staff handling it. Everyone has a different view on beautiful..." Corran chuckled while looking down at Cris thoughtfully.

"I've always heard that beauty had to do with mathematics and degrees of symmetry, and those seem like awfully universal concepts to me." Cris offered a cheeky grin.

"Perhaps the gardener's math is completely reversed?" He chuckled. "Or perhaps he's using calculus or algebra instead of plain simple math to form his gardens?" Of course, the problem there was that algebra 'and' calculus had a lot to do with geometry. He looked up, then down at him. "Okay, so he isn't a good mathematician!"

Cristobel laughed at Corran over-thinking this. "The correlation between math and beauty isn't conscious; it's all in the perception."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah..." He looked down at him with a warm smile, then his brow rose as he decided to flatter his dearest boyfriend. "In my perception, I have an image of perfection here before me."

"Perfection is impossible," Cristobel playfully chided him. "But Achicarians do come damn close with the symmetry of their faces." He reached up and tapped Corran on the nose.

In the time Cris had spent on-duty, he had discovered that the starbase's medical staff never ceased talking about food. All any of them seemed to eat was Terran food, the way they spoke of it, and so Cristobel had had the basket filled with foods solely found on Earth. Salty, sweet, bitter, sour - to Cris' Betazoid palette there didn't seem to be much variety to the food. Still, much of it was rather tasty.

"Grape me," Cris ordered playfully, and then opened his mouth widely.

"Awww, and here I thought you'd exchange the first vowel..." Corran teased Cris as he reached for the grapes and plucked a few.

"Corri! We have to behave ourselves in public," Cris said in a mock-serious tone of voice. He struggled to keep from laughing, since the arboretum on the USS Miranda had been a favourite place to misbehave during gamma shift.

He reached over Cris and dangled them over his mouth tentatively. "Hmm, I think my arm's stuck there."

Cris cocked a sceptical eyebrow at him, before jerking his head and shoulders off the ground to bite at the air just below the grapes a couple times. The third time he leaned up, he wrapped his lips around a grape, and let gravity pull him back down to the grass, with the juicy snack in his mouth.

"Me, behave?" Corran asked him completely incredulously and hid the other grapes from Cris for that. "I am incapable of behaving in your presence, Mr. Cristobel Sefton; that is a banished concept." He chuckled as he popped Cris another grape and then himself one.

Rolling onto his stomach, Cris leaned up on his elbows to look Corran in the eyes. "We have to learn to behave, or we're going to be banished from the Sulu." Cris switched to telepathy to tell him, When I mentioned to the other nurses that I had been assigned to the Sulu, they told me that they heard that the Chief Science Officer was caught having sex in a turbolift by the Captain. And the Captain just watched! Then, once she was complete, he sent her to the brig.

That sounds pretty severe...but then again, it was his Chief Science Officer, probably did it on duty, and in a turbolift? I think Earth society does the same with civilians because it is called...exhibitionism? It wasn't illegal on his own world, but it was still avoided at all costs because it was plain simply inappropriate. Everyone knew when someone was having sex because of telepathic implications, it couldn't be avoided, but one thing was to 'hear' it from someone's home or a hotel or what-have-you, and another to 'hear' about it happening in an elevator of one of their buildings or in some back room.

Cristobel shook his head lightly. "I dunno what I've been doing in science labs all this time; nurses and medical technicians, by far, have all the best gossip. I mean, everyone comes through Sickbay."

"Why do I get the impression I'll want to stay out of Sickbay as much as I can?" Corran chuckled down at him as he fed him another grape. "God knows what they'll tell you about me!"

Squinting his eyes with suspicion, Cris asked, "Is there something I should know?"

"Ohh, umm, nothing!" he joked teasingly.

"You must know that keeping secrets is pointless," Cristobel said faux-sternly. "I may not have the telepathic range that you do, but when you sleep, any secrets you've been keeping bubble up to the surface of your thoughts. Oh, and, by the by, that idea you had to throw me a surprise birthday party? Not gonna be a surprise."

He made a face and stuffed Cris' mouth with a group of grapes, then chuckled. "I know, I'm just kidding. Besides, I know other ways to keep our lives interesting. I didn't live amongst telepaths as a native myself without learning something after all." It was weird for them to both talk like they were outside their own races, but it happened.

"Well I hope you exercise one of these intrigue-creating-catalysts promptly. Starbase life is not for me, and if the Sulu doesn't arrive soon, I may have to start injuring people when I'm off-duty to create some work for myself when I'm on-duty," Cris insisted facetiously.

"Sounds like someone's planning to rough house it outside of our quarters." Corran shook his head at him slowly, and quite seriously. "What, don't I satisfy you? So soon?" Then he shot a crooked grin at him jokingly. Cris could be considered a hyperactive kind of guy in Corran's eyes.

Cris rolled his eyes, and told him, "Of course you satisfy me." He rolled onto his back again, and rested his head in Corran's lap. "But I don't think the Chief Medical Officer will let you come into sickbay and give me orgasms, and then let me call it 'work'. And if he does, then I'm studying medicine for nothing."

"Hmmm, well, you never know. The Chief might want you to keep doing my physicals and 'test me out'. Shana had just seen the tip of the iceberg back on the Miranda, and then on Earth nobody bothered to continue the study. For some reason, we keep eluding Federation Medicine." He chuckled before he thought about the implications of such a thing. He'd been a doctor before, and not having a medical record or studies on a person were dangerous.

"There's a limit to how much medical information I can glean from an endurance test," Cristobel deadpanned. "Are your Achicarian medical records from the past year not at all compatible with Federation computers?"

"Oh they are..." Corran looked around thoughtfully before staring at Cristobel, down on his own lap. "Problem is they were recorded for telepathic computer medium, so the translation is insane or impossible for Federation standards. They just get a bunch of brain wave frequencies for the record book." He shrugged his shoulders. That'd been a problem from the start with his own society's technology.

"Well, I'll make sure this CMO doesn't give up on the effulgent study that is you," Cris beamed.

"So you'll take care of 'checking me out'?" He started to run his fingers through Cris' hair, his voice strong and caring in its tone albeit the evident playfulness.

"If I'm allowed. Isn't there some sort of conflict of interest there?" Cristobel asked seriously, ignoring that one drop in a hail of innuendo.

Corran shrugged his shoulders visibly. "I think that would apply more to you operating on me, but we're talking about general examination. Isn't it a doctor's job to see that their patients are also comfortable?" His brow rose.

"Okay, well then I can 'check you out', take your clothes off, have you get all sweaty, and still call it work," Cristobel laughed. "Speaking of work, does the Sulu even have an arboretum? I don't believe Intrepid-class vessels are equipped with them."

He shook his head thoughtfully. "No, I was told I would be working in the science labs, but if my work load isn't too heavy I think I'm gonna ask the Captain or Chief Science Officer about setting up some space for an arboretum... They offer so much to such metallic ships..." Corran lost himself in thinking about that from having imagined 'hot and sweaty' with Cris. It was probably the one passion that Cris sometimes had to struggle with. He chuckled about that as he became aware of it.

Cristobel had closed his eyes, and focused on drinking in the physical and mental warmth of Corran's presence, since Corran would quite-likely be distracted by the mental plans for his dream-arboretum for some time. Cris attempted to push conscious thought away from his mind, an arduous task for Cris indeed, and simply find pleasure in the moment.

Corran came to quickly though. He started to massage Cris' shoulders firmly while sending a bit of a telepathic buzz through his hands to further relax him. It was good to see Cris like this; he tended to get all wound up about work so easily...

Being soothed in body and mind, Cris dozed, slipping towards sleep. When next he awoke, he would have several hours fewer of waiting time until the Sulu's arrival.

---

"Arrival at the Starbase"
Ensign Jeremy Haskins, future Flight Control Officer

Location: Cargo ship Expression
Stardate 57906.25 13h20

***

Feeling the bumps and the shakes of the cargo ship didn't sit well with Haskins. The Expression, as armored and as safe as a ship like she was, she sure lacked fluidity of movement and the ability to be graceful. But, this was a cargo ship, and the Expression seemed to act more as a liner, because its cargo were people - the majority, Starfleet, but there were aliens also, one that Jeremy bunked with in the small quarters. Jeremy had the top bunk, and the alien, Stamel, had the bottom. Stamel was a Bolian, a race that Haskins found funny at times. His full human side said to talk to the man, who must have been squirming, and his Klingon (in spirit) side said to ignore him, as he was a coward and a pacifist.

"Hi, I'm Jeremy," he finally said.

"Oh, I'm Stamel!" The Bolian sighed a heavy relief and stood up. "I was squirming in my seat in the silence. I didn't think you would say anything."

Jeremy hopped off the bunk and they shook hands. Inside he smiled because he had predicted the Bolian's behavior to a key. Well, he did get an "A" in his General Psych course, Haskins remembered.

"Ah, you're Starfleet! Where are you headed?"

"To the Starbase, and then to the Sulu," Haskins replied. He itched at his neck to find his hand near the single pip that he hoped would have doubled. "I'm in flight control."

"Interesting. I'm just a commerce merchant, passing through. Have a big sale at the Starbase."

Haskins was tempted to ask him what he was selling, but he silently corrected himself and decided not to. Besides, the Bolian wouldn't shut up after that.

"Now hear this, now hear this. Expression approaching Starbase 163. All passengers who have 163 as their destination, please proceed with your belongings toward the docking bays," the loudspeaker rang.

"That's us!" Stamel said.

Haskins quickly grabbed his dufflebag and a long carrying case of specialties. Stamel quickly followed him as they traversed the corridors and ended up in the docking bay. The Expression shifted to dock with the Starbase without any problems, and the doors opened, only to be stopped by greeters from the Starbase. One person walked out, and raised her voice.

"All Starfleet to the right, all civilians to the left please!"

"Well, good luck, Stamel," Haskins said. "Wish we could have had more time to chat."

"Me too!" Stamel said. "See ya around the galaxy."

Haskins waited in line, and as he got up to the platform, he was greeted by a stoic Marine.

"Name and identication number."

"Haskins, Jeremy. 1911."

"Assignment?"

"USS Sulu, flight control officer."

"Belongings?"

"Federation standard dufflebag, and specialty box."

"Contents?"

"One Klingon Bat'leth and Dac'Tagh, and extendable bo."

"Very well, Ensign, you may proceed."

Haskins wasted no time to find his small quarters, stashed his things, and decided to take a stroll around the Starbase to pass some time...

---

"Rescue Effort, Part 3"
By: Ensign Tchalla Mel'Chir
Lieutenant Xayella Tagliesh
Commander Lyrr Tayla
Lieutenant Sam
Lieutenant Jorell Thalan
Doctor Sean O'Shea
Various NPCs

Location: Caves of Dorvali 449
Stardate 57906.25, 15h20

***

The darkness was oppressive, pushing down on her as she tried to stay out of sight. Aliens had passed not long ago, but they hadn't found her. Their search tactics had been fairly crude and without much planning. Perhaps they didn't anticipate their "prey" would hide. She shifted her gaze from the corridor just past the shelf of rock providing her cover and down at the human woman in her arms. She felt a twinge of regret and fear as she looked into Lieutenant Tagliesh's pale and dirty face. She was certain the lieutenant had internal injuries, and was now in some state of shock. She was thankful for the thin fabric of the uniform since it allowed her, by holding Xayella close, to use her own body heat to keep her superior officer warm. She'd told Xayella she'd go, but she couldn't. She couldn't leave a colleague and fellow Starfleet officer behind. "You're going to make it," she whispered into Xayella's ear.

Tchalla's warmth had been enough to rouse her long ago, but still Xayella was in a state of half-consciousness and looming death. She managed, as weak as she was, to chuckle wryly at Tchalla. "I'm not," she murmured. "I don't. Want to die, Tchi... I just can't hang on."

"Don't worry, Lieutenant," Tchalla whispered. She had to get over her normal reticence. She had to do something to keep Xayella going. "I--I'll help you hang on. I'll help you through this. Wh-- What-- What's your favourite feature on the captain? I've heard he has a very nice...smile."

Xayella's blood-speckled lips curled into a feeble grin. "The smile's nice," she managed. "T-Those dimples... And--" She wheezed and gripped Tchalla's arm with what little strength she had. "His eyes," she continued breathlessly. "They sparkle. They show...everything he's feeling. I love that...."

"You'll see them again, Lieutenant," Tchalla said. "I promise. We'll get out of this, both of us. A-- And, you'll see the captain again." She was quiet for a moment, but then she found the question to ask, personal though it may be. "Have-- Have you ever been in...in love-- before?"

Xayella closed her eyes for a moment, then sighed and shook her head. "Never f-found anyone... Never wanted to before."

"Before?" Tchalla smiled. "I never really had a choice. I managed to get into the Academy before...so...so I didn't have to. Sheral was always very nice though. I'm sure he'll be here for you, Lieutenant. The captain, I mean. Not Sheral. I'm sure he won't stop at anything before you're back and safe on the ship. And, then I bet he'll have a really nice, romantic dinner for you. Just the two of you...with candles and everything."

Xayella laughed softly. "Sounds nice..." She turned her face up towards Tchalla and looked upon her quizzically. "What do you mean you didn't h-have a choice? You don't get to choose who you fall in love with?"

"It's different with my people," Tchalla said. "We-- we have four genders, so producing offspring isn't entirely easy. And...and there are problems. I can't-- shouldn't...we're dying, the Andorians are. I'm not a geneticist, but I should have been...but...I care for my bondmates very much...but...but I'm not very good at all in social situations."

"You're dying?" Xayella paused, her expression one of consternation, then all she could do was laugh gently. "How ironic. I guess this means I'm not the only one."

"My people are," Tchalla said. "I don't know how many more generations are left for us, but if we don't find some sort of genetic therapy to reverse the damage that has been done, we will no longer be able to maintain our civilization or species. All of our best scientists are working on it." She took a breath and let it out. "I'm sure they'll figure something out."

Xayella forced a reassuring smile for Tchalla and lightly patted her hand. "I'm sure they will," she said softly. Xayella exhaled shakily and laid her head upon Tchalla's shoulder when she could no longer keep it raised. "Maybe there'll be salvation for us all. But if not.... I-I'm glad you stayed, Tchalla. I'm--" She gasped slightly in pain. "I'm glad you stayed."

"Me too," Tchalla whispered. "If I'd gone out there...they probably would have caught me again. Like the others. I don't think they got far. When I did sneak out to look, they were taking some of them back toward the shuttle. We're safe here though. They've gone by several times, and haven't seen us. We're safe."

"You're safe," Xayella corrected. "And stay that way, Tchalla. You...you have to tell Matt everything. Just let him know..." She sighed and her eyes began fluttering closed again. "I-I need to sleep," she mumbled. "So tired..."

"When we get out of here, Lieutenant," Tchalla said, "you'll be able to tell him yourself. Sleep now, Lieutenant, and dream of him. Dream of him coming to save you. Then you can tell him you love him."

"I will," she murmured. "I'll let him know..." Still wearing a surprisingly tranquil smile, Xayella settled against Tchalla and let sleep come to her. If she didn't make it through, she hoped Matt would dream of her as she would now dream of him. If she didn't survive, at least they'd have one last moment of bliss, even if it did only exist in her mind.

***

Lyrr couldn't shake the sickening feeling in her stomach that remained after the alien's disclosure. It had happened before. Their crew wasn't the first to encounter the aliens, and unfortunately for those before them, they hadn't come out of it unscathed. It was an extreme case of those biting the hands that fed them, but the aliens had done far worse to the others than that. After the abducted members of the expedition had turned over the shielding devices they now used, all had been slaughtered. Lyrr didn't know why, and the alien couldn't sufficiently explain, but the explanation seemed to be that they had simply outlived their welcome. It wasn't the cold in the cave that made her shudder, then, it was that her people would succumb to the same fate if they weren't found soon.

The alien captive had reverted to its camouflaged state, but Sam kept a close eye on it, and a phaser jammed into its back. Thalan was taking the lead this time, while Lyrr covered his back. Without him, they might never find their crew. "Lieutenant, are we close?" Lyrr asked. "We've already moved deeper than before and I'm not seeing anything."

The Chief of Security nodded to Lyrr and motioned back to her that ahead the tunnel split in two. Motioning to the left it was two more meters to the main cavern, and the right about fifteen as it went around to another side of the same cavern. He suggested that he and another take the right branch while the others attempted a straight in approach. Thalan, looking eager to get going, then looked directly into the Commander's eyes, awaiting her next order.

"I would prefer we stuck together, but we may not have time to be cautious," Lyrr replied. "Take Ensign Yuill with you. I want you to be careful, Lieutenant, and don't make any moves unless you're certain you can handle it."

He merely nodded. "We'll wait on your actions." He then motioned to the Ensign to follow him and he moved away quietly.

Thalan was soon in position and he could see a few of his fellow crew mates working on what he knew to be the shielding device. If he were to destroy it perhaps the Sulu could beam folks out without any more losses. He motioned to the Ensign at one of the aliens that was watching the crew working on the shielding device. He was ready to take out another. All he needed now was for Lyrr to act.

***

Five meters into the tunnel Thalan had directed them to, Lyrr was forced to halt her team. Their job was to ensure this area of the cavern was clear of the enemy element so Thalan could carry out his part, but from the hisses and rasping growls coming from a chamber nearby, it was obvious they were not alone. Before Lyrr could order her team to backtrack, more human sounds - those of two men conversing in Standard and one even groaning in pain - gave her pause. "Sam...you don't happen to know how many there are in there, do you?"

Sam tapped a sequence into his tricorder, and then held it up. He ran a quick scan for biological life signs and then glanced up to Lyrr. "It appears, Commander, that there are seven aliens present. I am also detecting two human and one Vulcan life sign, however one of the humans appears to be unconscious."

Lyrr gave the doctor a stern, warning glance before he could bolt into the cave and aid the injured officer, as he was mostly likely wont to do. "Sam," she said, returning her attention to the android, "what do you estimate our chances are of subduing them all without injuring our crew?"

"If we can keep the aliens far enough from the crew, I estimate we have a seventy-six point three three seven five percent chance of accomplishing that task."

Lyrr shrugged. "Good enough odds for me. Sam, you make sure our friend here doesn't try anything. Doctor, stay close to me." With her phaser at the ready, Lyrr motioned for Sam to proceed. She and the Doctor followed closely behind. The closer they came to the opening of the chamber, the louder and more disturbing the aliens' unique form of communication became.

Lyrr halted the team just at the edge of the opening. She ventured a look inside, where the aliens were visible in the light of the blazing fire illuminating the chamber. Some were sitting by the hearth, seemingly conversing; three others were also speaking, but in a more animated, harsh manner, complete with vicious hand gestures. The crewmen were seated against the wall of the cave, watched closely by two of their alien captors. Ensign Corrigan, as she recalled him, was lying unconscious upon the dirt ground.

Lyrr pulled back and gestured for Sam to wait for her mark. She then signalled Sean to keep his phaser on hand. After her instructions were given, Lyrr crouched to the ground and pointed her phaser into the cave. She nodded to Sam, who was standing above her with his phaser also aimed into the opening, and his free hand holding the alien by the back of the neck. The two aimed at the aliens guarding their crew, and at her signal, they fired. With a collective shriek, the creatures' bodies arched, then both toppled to the ground. After that, there was only chaos.

Keeping one hand on their alien captive's shoulder and the other on his phaser, Sam pushed into the cave, firing toward the aliens hissing and screeching now that they knew the Away Team was present. He felt something biting into his hand, and glanced to see the captive's teeth caught within his epidermal layer. It was obvious from the wide eyes and sudden greenish hue within the red scales, that his epidermis was not palatable to these aliens. He decided to ignore the sensation in his hand for now, and instead whipped his phaser around, and scored a hit in the chest of one of the aliens that had chosen to lunge for Ensign Corrigan.

The doctor was seemingly holding his own, and this left Lyrr free to put some distance between them and keep the aliens from advancing upon them. Those gathered around the hearth sprang into action, with surprising agility. Her phaser took down one, while the doctor's subdued another. A din of hisses and shrieks resounded in the cave, but they were sounds of desperation to Lyrr, for the aliens were apparently overmatched...apparently.

Before she could cry out or fire, one of the creatures hurtled through the air, over four meters in distance, and tackled her to the ground. She struggled with the much stronger, much more equipped alien, judging by he length of its claws, and was surprised and grateful that instead of slashing her to ribbons, it sank its teeth into her neck. Not waiting for Sean's anti-venom serum to take effect, Lyrr managed to jam her phaser against the creature's abdomen and fire. It collapsed instantly onto her, bearing its entire bulk down on her and making it impossible to move. If Sean's anti-venom did work and she wasn't incapacitated by the alien's bite, she knew she would soon succumb to the crushing weight on top of her.

Sam watched, fascinated as one of the aliens slipped aside, avoiding the spear of crimson energy from his phaser. He corrected his aim, this time factoring in the creatures agility. He then fired again, hitting the reptilian creature solidly in the shoulder. It skidded to a stop on the cave floor, unconscious. He looked around, quickly assessing the situation. Dr. O'Shea was alternating between firing his phaser at onrushing aliens and trying to run his tricorder over Ensign Corrigan.

"Commander," Sam called suddenly, seeing the Bajoran woman pinned beneath the alien. He moved to her side, and holstered his phaser. With the now-free hand, he reached down and lifted the unconscious body off the commander and set it aside. "Commander Lyrr, are you uninjured?"

Lyrr took a moment to catch her breath, then picked herself up from the ground. "I am, Lieutenant," she replied. Her hand went to her neck and came away spotted with blood. "Those things move damned fast--" Lyrr's arm went out, pointing her phaser at an alien barrelling towards them, and ended his futile attempt with a shot to the chest. Once its body thudded onto the ground, she added, "And I think that makes all of them."

"I believe that is an accurate assessment, Commander," Sam said. "And, Dr. O'Shea has begun treating the missing crew that were located in this section."

"We have to rejoin Lt. Thalan, but we can't just leave the crew here, nor do we have enough phasers with which they can defend themselves if they join us in the rescue effort." Lyrr frowned momentarily, then regarded Sam. "What happened to our tour guide?"

Sam shifted his body around and brought the alien back around front. Thankfully, the creature had ceased its mastication of his hand. "I have scanned the area as well, Commander, and there is still too much interference to be able to beam the crew back to the Sulu."

Lyrr sighed and her gaze wandered to the missing crew, then to the shielding device lying abandoned in their make-shift repair area. With a slight grin, she turned to face the alien. "Show us," she told it. Thalan's aid would have been indispensable now, but she would manage without. Using hand gestures, she pointed to the shielding device, then to the alien, and finally she settled her hand upon her own chest. "Show us where they are."

The alien ran a tongue over its teeth, teeth that had been gnawing at Sam's endoskeleton. Finally it slashed its head to the side, and made what could have passed for a sigh. Finally, it pointed toward a cave heading to the north.

"Good," Lyrr said, a smile slowly curling her lips. "Your cooperation is much appreciated. Doctor O'Shea, you'll remain here with the crew. You." She pointed to one of the officers, the only conscious security officer in the bunch. The man stood up briskly, and approached Lyrr. "You'll be in charge of shooting at anything that comes through that opening and anything in here that decides to wake up." She handed the man her spare phaser, and her tricorder. After the crewman accepted the items duteously, he moved to take up an appropriate defensive position behind a large boulder. "Alright, Lieutenant Sam, let's see what our friend here has to show us."

Sam pushed the alien forward, and the being moved gracefully off to the North. Sam kept his phaser in one hand and the other in contact with the alien. If the creature decided to mask itself, at least he'd still be in contact.

They moved fifty-three meters down the corridor before the alien stopped. It glanced back, and then indicated another side passage. Sam glanced to Lyrr and at her nod, he nudged their guide forward. It was ten meters before Sam realized that something was wrong. With his tricorder closed and on his belt, he'd been unable to see the aliens, but suddenly, the hissing in the darkness told him they were not alone.

"Commander," he began, "I believe we have a problem."

***

Lt. Thalan and Ensign Yuill made it around the tunnel and peered in cautiously, managing to spot two of the Sulu's crew and two aliens watching over them as they worked on some device he could not see from his vantage.

The Lieutenant waited several minutes for Lyrr and the others to start something but after not hearing anything and seeing that the two crew members appeared to be completing their work he knew he had to act.

With hand signals he and Yuill devised a simple plan. A nod later both officers stepped into the open, each shooting at an alien. Thalan hit solidly and the alien crumbled to the ground. Yuill was not so lucky, having just missed the alien as it stepped behind a large stalagmite. As the two each moved around opposite sides of the large stone formation where an alien should have been, there was none.

Before either could comment, and still wearing confused looks, the alien leapt from where it had climbed the stalagmite, taking the surprised Ensign. Thalan raised his rifle and shot the creature full in the back and it collapsed to the floor by Yuill.

The young Ensign rolled away from the alien and looked to his side and noticed the blood from his shoulder where the alien had caught him. As Thalan pulled out a hypospray and began treating Yuill, the two crewmen came over and thanked the Lieutenant and Ensign for their rescue. One of the crewmen was part of the medical department and took over taking care of Ensign Yuill.

Looking to the other, a petty officer from the science department, he held out his hand phaser to the man who readily took up the weapon. He then asked of the man, "What were you fixing?"

The man told Thalan that he and his crewmen were ordered to fix one of the fusion generators that powered this section of the caves.

The crewman then reported that she had tended to Yuill's wounds and he should be fine. She also now had Yuill's phaser in hand.

Motioning to the cave he asked, "What's that way?"

"About twenty of the aliens," the Petty Officer replied.

"We backtrack back the way we came then. I also need to find out what happened to the Commander; she should have acted by now."

They began to exit the cave and Thalan smiled and took a parting shot at the generator before he left. The small armed group then backtracked to Lyrr's last known position.

Not finding the commander he continued on and soon ran into the small group that the Commander had liberated. Seeing Corrigan unconscious was not a happy sight for him.

Spotting another of his security officers he continued, "Yuill, hand your phaser rifle to Ensign Nelson. You will stay here with the Petty Officer--" motioning to the medical officer he had come across. "Crewman, you're staying with me, unless you have any objections."

He replied with a prompt, "No, Sir."

Thalan nodded.

Thalan then looked to the doctor and called, "O'Shea," and as the doctor looked over to the call: "Take care of things here, Nelson's with me." With that Lieutenant Thalan, Ensign Nelson, and Crewman Dirks continued after Commander Lyrr.

***

"Don't make any threatening movements," Lyrr muttered to Sam and Porter. She tightened the grip she had on her phaser, even more so as the aliens began emerging from the darkness. At first there were only a few, but after a few moments, it seemed as if a whole legion was surrounding them. Some were fully seen, and others appeared in a state of flux between invisibility and tangibility, giving them a partially transparent appearance. The small team huddled together in the center of the large circle of aliens. There was no escape.

"Sam," Lyrr whispered, "I need some escape scenarios here. What are our options?"

Sam quickly ran the computations through his neural net and glanced at the commander. "It would appear that our greatest chance for survival is by going straight through them; that is where the least amount of aliens are present."

"Sam, have you seen those things move? Even if we do manage to get through them, they'd be on top of us in a moment." She sighed, and as much as she hated to admit it, she said, "I believe our best chance lies in surrendering."

"Perhaps, with our recent conversation with the other alien, we may be able to get through to them." Sam moved his thumb off the firing stud, and lowered the weapon.

Lyrr reluctantly did the same, then carefully crouched down and set her phaser upon the ground. One of the aliens lunged forward and swiped it, then scurried back into the darkness. With her hands free of anything that could be construed as threatening, Lyrr raised them up before her in a gesture of surrender. "Hopefully they won't take this to mean we volunteer to be their meal for the evening."

"I do believe that I would prove to be a rather unappetizing meal, Commander," Sam said.

Porter had set down his phaser as well, which was also quickly snatched up by an alien, and held his hands up in a similar manner. He glanced nervously at Lyrr and Sam.

"It will be alright, Ensign," Sam said.

The aliens started slowly advancing, carefully observing each of the Away Team members and their fellow still in Sam's grasp.

"A gesture of good will, Sam," Lyrr whispered to him. "Let their friend go."

Sam released his hold on the alien and allowed his hand to drop back to his side.

The former captive leapt away to rejoin its companions. It gave them a hiss, though the sound seemed somewhat half-hearted.

A moment later, the crowd of aliens stepped back into the darkness, leaving a few behind. They approached Lyrr, Porter, and Sam, but their movements showed not a hint of ill intent. Instead, three of them proceeded to grasp an arm each and began leading the team towards the rest of their group. Porter appeared to be resisting slightly, and received a cautionary hiss from his escort. With one stern look from Lyrr, he submitted and went along without a fight.

"Commander," Sam said softly, "I believe we are being taken back in the direction Lt. Thalan had gone. I believe they intend for us to help them with the ship the lieutenant mentioned."

"If that's the case," Lyrr replied, "you mustn't let on how qualified you are in building it for them. If at all possible, Lieutenant--" She smiled at him. "--play dumb."

"Ahh, I understand, Commander. I am to act in a manner contrary to my programming. I shall endeavour to portray the part of a below-average intelligence sentient being." There was a moment of silence as Sam concentrated, and as the others looked at him, subtle shifts in his facial expressions seemed to convey the impression that he was dumb as a rock. "Uh, is this acceptable...Commander?"

Lyrr held back a laugh, despite the danger of their situation, and nodded briskly. "Very good, Lieutenant. Just don't act so unintelligent that you are no longer useful to them. I would really hate for them to dismantle you."

"A good point, Commander," Sam said. "I will attempt to find a balance that will be suitable for the situation."

"Very good, Lieutenant."

The three of them, trailed by an innumerable group of aliens, were led to a fire-lit chamber with a mixture of Starfleet and other unidentifiable equipment strewn about, along with partially constructed items laid out neatly in one corner. "I guess this is their building area," Lyrr muttered to Sam.

"A vehicle of some sort," Sam said. "That appears to be an impulse manifold housing, and those casings to the side are warp plasma injectors, though of a very primitive design. If I were to hazard a guess, I would hypothesize that this is the area where the shuttle is being constructed."

"And we're here to finish it." With a rather indelicate push, Lyrr and the team were forced into the chamber, and receiving animated, harsh gestures from the creatures, they were directed to begin working; though, only after Porter received a violent shove from one of the aliens, and Lyrr and Sam very sinister glares.

Once seated, they took their pick of tools and began working on whatever they had before them. She hoped Thalan hadn't been captured or killed, and she hoped Matt and the Sulu's crew broke through the shielding, for they could only delay for so long before arousing the creatures' suspicions. And with their obvious, collective temper, she didn't believe they would tolerate any dawdling for long.

---

"Rescue Effort, Part 4"
Lt. Jorell Thalan
Commander Lyrr Tayla
Lt. Sam
Captain Matthew Salinger
Lt. jg Mark Thaine
Ensign Kelzira Rax
Dr. Sean O'Shea

Location: Surface of Dorvali 449; USS Sulu
Stardate 57906.25 16h36 (through 02h03)

***

Lt. Thalan and the two others he had ordered along easily traversed the cave system, the lieutenant using what he had gotten from the alien's 'visions' to guide him.

It did not take long to catch up to Lyrr and the other away team members, but he could see them all being led away, in the direction of the ship the aliens were constructing, or what the aliens were forcing the Sulu crew to construct.

"Damn!" Thalan cursed under his breath as Lyrr and the others disappeared into another tunnel with several aliens in tow. He also knew from the thoughts he felt that several more remained about to guard this cavern.

Motioning to Nelson and Dirks, they started back the way they came. Returning to where he had left the doctor and the other crew members, Dirks spoke up. "Sir, what are we doing now?"

"Good question, Crewman," Thalan stated. After a moment he asked, "Do you know where any more of those shielding devices are located? We might be able to take a few more out so that the Sulu could aid us in a rescue attempt, and we might find some more crew members."

Dirks thought for a moment. "Ahh... I can only think of one other shielding device on this side of the cave complex, the rest are beyond that cave where we saw the Commander."

"Let's go then," Thalan stated.

The trio moved off down a side corridor and soon came to a small cavern. A rectangular device sat against the far wall. Thalan stopped the small group and laid out his battle plan. "Dirks, you have the right side, Nelson the left. Use a wide dispersal setting to either side and I will move right down the middle. That should catch any alien sentries off-guard."

With nods of understanding the battle plan was set in motion. Everything seemed to work just as Thalan had hoped. Dirks' firing dropped two of the aliens before they could reach him and he was a meter in front of the device. He shot at the power supply and when the lights died out he and the two crewmen retreated.

Back in the main tunnel the small team returned to the cavern where he had crew waiting. As they entered the cavern several phasers were aimed in their direction and all ready to fire. At seeing that it was their fellows most appeared relieved.

"Okay, folks, pack up, we are moving out," Thalan ordered.

Thalan was leading the small procession of rescued officers out of the caves as fast as they could manage. Knowing the way through the various tunnels from the aliens' images and having traversed them now numerous times Thalan almost had them committed to memory.

It took some thirty minutes to reach the exit, where before it would have taken an hour or more. He moved the crew off to a safer location and then once everyone was well away from the caves, and with a heavy sigh of having to report to the Captain, he tapped his commbadge. "Sulu, this is Lt. Thalan."

"Salinger here, Lieutenant," came the voice from Thalan's communicator. "Go ahead."

Thalan then explained in detail what had occurred in the caves, from destroying several shielding devices, rescuing several more crewmembers, and Lyrr's capture.

"Captain, perhaps it is it time for a diplomatic approach. I know it is not policy to negotiate while there are hostages, but in any assault there will be many casualties and we risk giving them more people to work on their ship." With a short pause Thalan added, "Either way, Sir, I will need some fresh bodies down here. Those caves are not a kind place and we have wounded."

"Understood," Matt said. "We'll begin beaming the injured crew up. Another security team is currently en route to the transporter rooms. The medical staff up here can tend to the wounded. Keep Dr. O'Shea with you. Good luck in there, Lieutenant, and bring our people out. From what Lyrr has told me, they're just trying to get home. I think we can negotiate with them to that end, if they'll free our people."

"Thank you, Sir. Thalan out," the Lieutenant stated and watched as the wounded crew was beamed up to the ship.

The security chief waited for another security detail to beam down and rounded up those crew members that were left and ready to return to the caves. Soon enough the sound of a transporter beam was heard and there stood another five security officers, all enlisted personnel, and from the looks of them all rather green. This brought the number of the team returning to the caves to nine, ten if the doctor was returning with him. The more the better, Thalan thought.

No matter though, they were Starfleet and if anything, Starfleet had a good security program. Jorell addressed the new detail. "We are moving out of here shortly. Watch your step and that of your fellows. We are returning to attempt to negotiate with these aliens for the release of our people, so try not to harm any of the aliens if you can. All phaser settings to stun," he stated and waited for each to check over their settings. "One last note, if I am captured, try and return here and contact the captain. Right now I am the only one in our party who can communicate directly with these aliens. The captain will need to send another telepath if he deems it safe enough."

Looking over the security team, he nodded as all appeared to understand. "Alright, let's move out."

***

Lyrr cursed again as the control panel sent another shower of sparks in her direction. She looked away to avoid getting her face singed, then tossed the unit aside in frustration. The aliens watching them work growled, and after shooting them a glare, she picked up the unit again and began tweaking the wiring. As the growling ceased, Lyrr shook her head and stifled another curse. "Do they seem more testy to you than they were a couple hours ago, Lieutenant? I think they're beginning to wonder why we haven't made much progress."

"I believe that is an accurate assessment, Commander," Sam said. "Perhaps we attempt to please them with our progress without actually moving closer to a resolution in this matter."

Lyrr smiled. "Exactly, Lieutenant, and I believe I am weary of sitting here and waiting to be rescued. I suggest you take a look at what we have on hand and search for anything with which we can assemble a weapon, even a detonator if possible."

"Yes, sir," Sam said, and quickly looked around for anything that could potentially be used as a weapon. "Commander, I have cataloged three laser welders and a plasma torch. I believe those could prove to be useful as a means to make our escape."

"Explain," Lyrr prompted.

"The range is limited on each of the implements, but each is capable of causing severe injuries. Used carefully, they could prove to provide an adequate means of defending ourselves while we try to get away."

"We would have to be in close contact with them," Lyrr said. "They are quite agile, Sam, which means we might not even get the chance to use those weapons before they seize us."

"That is correct, Commander," Sam said. "However it appears that the only other weapons would be rocks and other throwing implements."

"Well...can we not modify any of these components into something a little more effective?" She searched the area around them, littered with scrap metal and other useless equipment. Her eyes then settled upon the control panel she'd been adjusting. "This thing has been zapping me all hour. Wouldn't it be possibly to install the plasma vessel from that torch into it and create an explosive device that could at least cause enough of a distraction to actually give us time to use our make-shift weapons?"

"It would be possible, Commander," Sam said. "I believe I could use the power cells from the laser welders, and the plasma torch could serve as a payload within the makeshift device."

"Will we have anything left over to use as a weapon, Lieutenant?"

"I believe so, Commander," Sam answered. "I won't need all of the power cells from the laser welders; therefore we will be able to use them as weapons."

Lyrr nodded. "Good. Then get to work, Lieutenant. I'll keep giving them the illusion we're actually doing something productive while you carry out the modifications. I really hope this works."

"Aye, Commander," Sam said as he began gathering the things he would need. "I will begin at once."

"Very good, Lieutenant." Lyrr sighed and returned to the task of appearing busy. She was tired of waiting to be rescued by whoever was left out there; she preferred a more active approach as opposed to passively sitting and hoping someone would find them, even if it meant dying in the attempt.

***

It was still well before Beta shift, and realistically Kelzira wasn't supposed to start her shift for several more hours. However, with the missing crew, she decided to work early. Dwayne was still sleeping when she and Amy had left their quarters. Amy was going to be getting some extra work in in sickbay, and Kel would be helping out with the sensor modifications.

Waking up this morning had been very nice, both she and Amy agreed. They'd shared a quick bite of food from the replicator before leaving. As they parted ways in the turbolift, they exchanged a quick kiss and waves, with promises to meet up later for a meal break, and then after their shifts ended.

So, it was with a spring in her step, Kelzira entered the starboard sensor control room. She looked around and quickly spotted Lt. Thaine barking orders at a poor blue guy with wilted antennae. Flummux, she realized and smiled. She'd have to talk to him later about the holodecks.

"Lieutenant Thaine," she said, approaching the caustic engineer. "I'm ready to help."

"What?" replied Mark, as he turned away from Flummux and looked at Kelzira. "Oh, it's you," he greeted her. His face looked weary; presumably he hadn't had the best night's sleep, but there was something in his eyes that looked a little...happier, a little more hopeful, than the last time she had met him.

"Good," he continued. "We're just about ready to complete the modifications. Then it's just cross-your-fingers-time and hope the whole ship doesn't go up in a big burning ball of plasma."

"Whatever I can do, sir," Kelzira said with a grin and offered a smile to Grixble, who turned a darker shade of blue.

Thaine's communicator chirped. "Salinger to Thaine."

He tapped his badge. "Thaine here."

"Lieutenant, Ensign Gainsborough has detected a break in the field covering the cave region. We're getting some readings through sensors, but not much. It looks like the field is set up in distributed, overlapping nodes. Two nodes have dropped from what we can tell. Hopefully it'll make your job easier."

"Thanks, Captain. It sure will. Is that all?"

"That's all, Mr. Thaine," the captain said. "Carry on."

***

"Commander," Sam finally said as he looked up from his work. "I believe I have constructed a suitable weapon for our escape."

Lyrr set down the circuit modulator she'd been working with and shifted closer to Sam. "It'll work? Without blowing us up in the process, of course."

"Provided that we give ourselves a suitable distance from the point of explosion, we should be safe. I would say that a distance of fifteen meters would be sufficient."

"Fifteen meters?" Lyrr chewed her lip pensively. "We'd have to find a way to give ourselves that much distance. They haven't been more than five feet from us the entire time. Any suggestions, Lieutenant?"

"I can attempt to constrain the explosion more," Sam suggests, "though I am uncertain how it will affect the blast. Without the proper tools, I am unable to more precisely calibrate the mechanism."

"What about our communicators?" Porter asked.

"An astute observation, Ensign Porter," Sam said. "It would be possible to use a communicator to signal a detonation. We could position the device, and use the communicator to signal the detonation. It is my supposition that under those circumstances, the aliens assigned to guard us would be distracted by the explosion enough for us to disable them."

"The problem is, we'll still have to get ourselves far enough away from the detonator," Lyrr said. "Perhaps we can present them with our completed 'engine' and see if it meets their approval. Once it is in their possession, we can detonate and escape."

"That does sound like a suitable solution, Commander," Sam said. "And, given their circumstance, perhaps that engine will assist in getting them home, providing Captain Salinger does intend to help them return to their home once the Sulu's crew is safe."

"I guess that all depends on if they kill us or not." At Porter's fearful look, Lyrr smiled. "Don't worry. I'll get us out of this, Ensign." She regarded Sam next. "Make the modifications to your communicator. I want to get started soon."

"Aye, Commander," Sam said, and then settled down to modifying his communicator.

***

Lyrr had tried to remain patient, but after what seemed the second hour of watching Sam adjust his combadge, while she pretended to work on the engine, she decided she'd had enough. "Dammit, Lieutenant, are you done yet?" She sighed. "Sorry, Sam. I just can't take this anymore. We have to get out of here."

"It is rather precise work," Sam said as he offered her his communicator, "and without the proper tools, it becomes increasingly more difficult. However, I have accomplished the task."

Lyrr cocked an eyebrow. "You have?" She took the communicator from Sam and held it carefully in her hand. The last thing she wanted to do was detonate the device prematurely. "I guess this means it's time. Ensign Porter, keep a weapon on hand. Sam...would you care to deliver the device?"

"Certainly, Commander," Sam said, and quickly picked up the explosive from where it sat. Assuming his role of "yokel," as Porter called it, Sam carried the device back farther in the cave. As expected, the aliens descended on him quickly, chattering and clicking. Deterred, Sam dropped the device to the ground and hurried back to where Lyrr and Porter waited. "It has been delivered, Commander."

"Let's just wait until more of them gather there..." She chewed her lower lip nervously as more of the aliens flocked towards the device. Two stubborn ones remained uninterested in Sam's delivery and continued watching them. Two, they could deal with in combat; eight, and they hadn't a chance.

Satisfied with the six that were studying the detonator, Lyrr depressed the commbadge in her hand and waited for the explosion that would subdue their captors. Moments passed, then a few more, then Lyrr depressed the commbadge again. This time, the device reacted to the signal, but instead of the large conflagration of flames and blown apart pieces of metal, Lyrr got a fizzling shower of sparks. "Lieutenant..." Lyrr sighed. "Please tell me that wasn't it."

"It would appear that the ODN cables connecting the power cells to the detonator switch were flawed," Sam explained. "I am afraid, Commander that that was, in fact, it."

"Well...I think it's safe to say we're in trouble." She motioned her head towards the hulking creatures moving as a single mass towards them. From their body language alone, she could tell they were not happy. "Porter, don't try anything. Sam...suggestions?"

"Perhaps now would be a good time to do as they ask," Sam suggested. "I do not know if another opportunity will present itself, but ingratiating ourselves to the aliens will increase the likelihood that such an event will transpire."

"Do as they ask?" Lyrr repeated. "I don't know about you, Lieutenant, but those hisses and growls mean nothing to me."

"They are indecipherable to me as well, Commander," Sam continued, "however, I do not believe the aliens will accept 'I do not understand you' as a viable excuse for our actions. We must, as the saying goes, try."

As the aliens edged closer, Lyrr sighed and knew what she had to do as the leader of the Away Team and as the Sulu's first in command. With not a trace of fear or hesitation in her demeanour, Lyrr rose to her full height and held her head high in the air, hoping it made her look at least a little intimidating to the aliens. "Stop right there!" she hollered at them.

They looked only momentarily confused, but continued their encroaching advance. Lyrr glanced furtively to Sam, and as he had said, she had to try, no matter how fruitless communication might prove. She extended her arms out before her in a halting gesture. They seemed to understand that for whatever reason, and slowed until they were at a stop. Still, they were far too close to her for comfort. No matter how effective Sean's anti-venom had proven, she doubted it would work against the venom produced by eight pairs of fangs.

"Commander," Sam said softly from beside her, "might I suggest that you attempt to relax? It appears that they understand body language better than our vocal communications. If you allow your nervousness and tension to show, it is likely that they will notice."

"I'm not nervous," she snapped. "Just...uncertain." Lyrr sighed sharply, yet despite her annoyance, she still took Sam's advice and relaxed her body. Now assuming a less commanding pose, Lyrr regarded the aliens with a gentle smile. "We only want to talk," she said. She pointed to the dud Sam had built, then placed her hands over her heart. "We're sorry. We had to try." She then held out her hands, palms upturned, to extend her apologies. "Forgive us?"

The group of aliens slowed their approach, except for one. He -- though their gender was difficult to determine -- moved until he was directly before Lyrr. He let out a buzzing series of hisses and clicks. He held out two clawed hands to her, mimicking her gesture.

Lyrr studied the alien's apparent offering warily. "I guess this means they accept," she muttered to Sam.

"At least to enter into some kind of discussion," Sam said. "Though, I must wonder, Commander, how much skill you have with the Terran game of...charades."

Lyrr raised and eyebrow. "I have none. Why?"

"It is a game in which participants would try to convey a meaning through gestures and pantomime. Considering the language barrier, I believe that is all that we will have available to us for communicating with these aliens."

"Well...I guess I'll have to try my best. I've never been a diplomat; my commanding officer on the Davies always said I'd never be any good at diplomacy." She smiled at Sam. "His exact words were that I had the manners of a Klingon in heat. Whatever that means."

"I do not believe it is a favourable comment, Commander," Sam said. Porter snickered.

Lyrr scowled at them playfully and was about to shoot off a riposte when the alien before her growled inquisitively, as far as she could tell. She immediately returned her attention to the creatures still surrounding her, and seemingly awaiting her next gesture. The alien standing directly before her still had its hands held out. Was he waiting for acknowledgement or acceptance? Lyrr had no idea, so tentatively and cautiously, she raised her own hands - first displaying them to all the aliens to ensure they knew it was an innocuous movement - then lightly laid them upon the creature's.

She felt the urge to recoil as the sensitive flesh of her palms brushed up against the coarse scales covering the alien's exoskeleton, but she didn't pull away. The creature's eyes grew wide, as if it was surprised by her gesture, then it clicked and hissed excitedly. The other aliens, too, joined in on their friend's celebration, and all Lyrr could do was watch them quizzically. "What did I do?" she asked Sam.

"I believe, if I were a comedian," Sam said, "I would have to say that you have made first contact. However, perhaps touch in their society is a method of communication. I believe touching the alien was a positive action, Commander, and could potentially assist us in our diplomatic endeavour."

"Well, in my society, touching means many things, one of which is a sexual advance," Lyrr said. "I really hope I've not just proposed to it."

The alien's grunt cut off any reply Sam might have given and seized Lyrr's attention again. She looked expectantly at the one before her. He pulled one hand away from hers and jabbed a finger repeatedly towards the engine, lying incomplete on the ground behind her. Lyrr twisted around to look at it, then faced the alien again.

"We know you want to go home," she told it. "And we want to help, but not like this."

The creature cocked its head to one side in a questioning manner. Lyrr nodded her head in acknowledgement. "Come on, then. I'll tell you everything."

She gently placed a hand on the alien's spiny shoulder and pointed to the large rocks arranged in a circle around the fire. The alien looked there and back, and started forward with Lyrr. She glanced over her shoulder at Sam and Porter and blew out a deep breath. The other aliens trailed behind the two of them and joined them as they seated themselves around the fire. It was unsettling having all their beady, garishly red eyes watching her so intently. At least they were ready to 'listen' before they brutally murdered the three of them.

After taking in a calming breath, Lyrr passed her gaze over each of the aliens and raise her arm over her head, one finger pointing to the ceiling of the cavern. She didn't know how or where to begin, but she figured starting with the Sulu was as noble a beginning as she could make. "There's a ship, a grand ship. Her name--" She leaned forward, her face becoming awash with the orange light of the flames "--is Sulu."

***

They were making progress, slowly. Kelzira Rax looked up from her station and down the corridor at Lt. Thaine. She pushed away from the console and got up to stretch her legs. As she did, she started toward the engineering officer. He looked up at her approach and she smiled. "Sir," she said, "I just wanted to report that we've narrowed it down further. I tried an inverse resonance pulse along the lower end of the spectrum, and we briefly had a clearer picture on the sensors. I think that's where we need to be working."

Thaine looked at her for a few seconds, almost as if he was studying her, and then nodded. "Alright, if that's what you think, we'll go with it. Can you set up the equations on the computer? It'll take a few minutes for me to reconfigure the sensors."

"Of course, sir," Kelzira said. "I'll have that done in just a few moments. I'll route it back to your station as soon as I've got it."

"Thanks." Mark nodded, and returned to his work.

Kelzira returned to her station and quickly began programming in the equations for the sensor modifications. She brought up a working model of how the new calibrations affected the system and smiled, happy with how the model looked. With that, she sent the information back to Thaine.

There was a beep from the engineer's console, and then he looked up at her. "Thanks," he called. "Come over here now, and we can give this a go."

Kelzira was about to leave her station when she noticed several more of the pods go dark. At least, the fields that were covering those areas were suddenly vacant and faint traces were coming through the sensors. Kelzira laughed happily and rushed down to Thaine's station. "Sir! It's opening up! I think the Away Team is destroying more of the devices. I think we can do it now, sir. I think if we do it now, we can easily break through the interference!"

Thaine sprang up from his seat like a coiled spring, and it was only then that Kelzira realised exactly how tense the engineer was. "Right," he said. "I just hope we're ready." He punched a few commands into his console, and then hit his comm-badge. "Thaine to Salinger."

"Salinger here; go ahead, Lieutenant."

"Captain, we're making the attempt with the sensors now. Are you ready up there?"

"We're all set here," Matt said. "Go ahead and do it. If you need anything from us, just give the word. It's your show for now."

"Thanks Captain. Thaine out." He looked to the science officer. "Okay. Here we go. We may have to improvise a little on the way, if it looks like things aren't working." Mark pressed a command on his console, and the two officers watched with intense scrutiny what appeared on their display.

At first, nothing happened. But, as the minutes stretched out, and Thaine made a few modifications, a slow smile grew on each of their faces.

Suddenly, Kelzira let out a cheerful cry. "It's working! Lieutenant, we're through! We did it!"

"Well of course we did," said Thaine, folding his arms and looking genuinely pleased for once. "I knew we would. Never had a moment's doubt."

***

The aliens had led them on a cat and mouse chase through the caves, seeming to be trying to draw them away from their intended location. Attacks came from all sides. Invisible assailants emerged from the shadows with a claw or fang, but not enough to kill. It was obvious they didn't want the Away Team to progress farther.

The game had gone on long enough. They'd already been in the caves for four hours, and each time they ended up in a side passage and away from their objective. Morale was failing, and it was clear the team wouldn't be much good for much longer. They'd been on the defensive for too long, and after the demoralizing feints they'd been enduring since their return, it was good to go on the offensive again. The Away Team, undeterred this time, pressed in toward their objective.

They finally returned to where he had last seen Lyrr and the others now hostages. Thalan kept an easy going pace as he was on the watch for any traps the aliens might have placed in his absence.

He knew that the aliens would be in wait for him there and he really did not want to go in, but he knew there was no way around unless he wished to backtrack and take other, unfamiliar, tunnels some ten kilometers away.

"A wedge formation. Move in about five meters and let's try and keep some way to retreat," he stated in a whisper. The team moved about and then moved in with the signal from Thalan. Everyone tensed and waited for an alien to attack at any second.

Thalan stayed a rank within the wedge and as soon as they moved deep enough into the cavern, while still maintaining a retreat path, he called a halt. He reached out with his thoughts and sent the images of peoples talking and negotiating. He then shielded his mind from a possible onslaught of numerous alien minds that might be about and awaited a response.

The one he got was from a familiar 'voice,' one that slipped easily into his mind as if he knew the way in. It displayed himself sitting against a tree in the forest, with Thalan standing above him. It was clear this was the alien they had apprehended hours ago. The alien did not show itself, but remained near enough to allow communication with Thalan, and he did so by mentally rejecting his request for a parley. It wasn't a stubborn, forceful refusal; it seemed more that the act was an unnecessary one.

Before Thalan could direct another mental inquiry to the alien, it showed him an image of Lyrr and a group of aliens huddled around a fire, then it made a series of rapid, urgent clicking sounds and began backing away.

"Lieutenant," Ensign Yuill said. "Sir...I think it wants us to follow."

Thalan nodded and stated, "Let's see where he wants to take us... Stay alert, this could be a trap."

The alien turned its back to the small team, but kept its eyes on them to ensure they were indeed following. Throughout the long trek through the tunnels, the alien sent Thalan many telepathic assurances - rather, images and emotions that were meant to convey that they were in no danger. After a half hour of walking, a lit chamber finally appeared up ahead, and the alien twittered and hissed enthusiastically, even adding arm gestures to hurry Thalan and the team along. It then slipped into the cavern, assuming Thalan would merely follow.

"Do we go in, Lieutenant?" Yuill asked.

"We have come this far, might as well see what he really wants to show us," Thalan said as he peered about still expecting a trap of some sort.

"Aye, sir."

When the team cautiously made their way to the chamber opening, it was as the alien had shown them. Around a blazing fire, eight aliens were gathered, chirping and clicking away rapidly. Blotted out by the bright flames was Lyrr and another alien - the leader presumably - but splashed onto the wall were two shadows, one of their Bajoran commander with her hands held out before her, and the other, the hulking alien with its own hands covering hers.

"Lieutenant Thalan," Sam called out softly when he saw the Sulu's chief of security. He quickly approached, and continued, "It would appear that Commander Lyrr has made contact with the aliens. The last I was able to ascertain from the discussion is that they need assistance returning to their home."

The man chuckled and shook his head. "I believe I mentioned that while I was talking to the alien on the surface. My suggestion of negotiation seemed dismissed then. The Captain has authorized negotiations now, if they let our people go." He looked over at Lyrr and asked Sam, "Will the Commander need any help?"

"I believe that Commander Lyrr is doing a sufficient job for now, however your presence here now may help the negotiations move more smoothly. We will need to speak briefly with Commander Lyrr however."

"Lieutenant Thalan," came Lyrr's voice. She moved towards him and his team with the aliens gathered behind her and following. "Put down your weapons. There won't be anymore fighting."

Sam turned to the commander. "Your orders, sir?"

"We take our crew, escorted by our alien friends here, and we go home, Lieutenant." She looked to the alien leader beside her and smiled. "We all go home."

"And, the aliens' ship, Commander?" Sam asked.

"We'll discuss it with the captain," Lyrr replied, "but we're not leaving them stranded. But that's up to Captain Salinger."

"Aye, Commander. I shall have our people start gathering the rest of the crew and begin taking them back outside to return to the Sulu. We have not yet had a chance to verify all who were abducted."

"Well, it appears that both Ensign Mel'Chir and Lieutenant Tagliesh are still missing." Lyrr sighed gravely. "Even if they are among the dead, I want them found."

"Of course, Commander," Sam said, and then stepped away to make arrangements to have the crew search for the missing.

Once Sam departed, Lyrr nodded to her alien companions and started out of the chamber, with Thalan and his team taking the lead. She'd never fancied herself a diplomat, but she certainly got the hang of it quickly enough this time, though, it might have had a little to do with the fact that not once could they understand a word she'd said. She'd have to test Captain Wiley's theory about her ineloquence on a different occasion. Now, all that concerned her was getting her team safely to the ship, retrieving the rest, and making certain she kept good on her promise to the aliens.

---

"Setting Sail"
by Ensign Ethan Storm

Location: USS Drake, Passenger Quarters
Stardate 57906.25, 21h30

***

The door chime had chirped three times before Ethan Storm finally pulled his head out of the PADD in his hand and looked up with a bit of dread. He had known catching a ride with the Drake had its peril and the ride could possibly come with a small amount of social responsibility. Now that the possibility seemed a certainty, Storm dropped the PADD on his bed, rose with a slight sigh, and began to pull on his uniform tunic. In the meantime, the door chime chirped a fourth time and was soon followed by a flurry of heavy blows.

"C'mon Storm, you ol' space puppy!" said a voice not sufficiently muted by the duranium door. "Have you got your legs under you yet or are you still losing your lunch?!"

Storm smiled in spite of himself. Maybe this wouldn't be completely awful. Maybe. "Come."

As soon as the doors had parted just enough to let in more than six and a half feet and two hundred and thirty pounds of security black and gold, Ensign Franklin James was in the room and the big bear of a man had easily lifted Storm off the ground in a big bear hug. Storm didn't even try to struggle. It was shaping up to be pretty awful after all.

"Ah, as I live and breathe it's me ol' pal, Ethan Storm," Ensign James said, putting on the inexplicable and quite awful brogue he liked to do around friends. Frank claimed that he was imitating some former Academy instructor that had made an impression on him but as neither Storm nor anyone else in their immediate circle had shared the experience, the imitation was lost on anyone who wasn't Franklin James. Storm was beginning to think it was either an imaginary friend or some interstellar entity visiting San Francisco just long enough to teach a young Frank Transporter Operations in the guise of a Starfleet instructor with a rather bizarre accent.

Frank finally dropped Storm to his feet. "Scourge o' the galaxy and the young ladies," James began then immediately contradicted with, "Defender o' the Federation. Winner o' the--"

"Can we dispense with the titles this time, Frank?" Storm interrupted. "And stop talking that way - you're from Texas. How are you? The beard looks just awful, you know."

Ensign James grinned at the insult through the bushy tangle. "Not all of us are blessed with your silky smooth skin, lad. I'm playing it safe and hiding me ugly mug. Maria says it breaks up the monotony of my face."

"She may have a point," Storm said, smiling. "How's she doing? She's on the Cochrane, right?

"Aye, my boy. She's on the Cochrane and we're here and do you know who else is here with us, lad? Lassies, my boy! Ensign Wanda Hill and Lieutenant Erica Leigh. Ensign Hill likes my beard and Lieutenant Leigh might just like you. Stranger things have happened."

"And what does Maria like, Frank?"

Frank clutched his hands over his chest like he'd been stabbed with a spear. "Argh, lad. You shame me. But what me lass doesn't know won't hurt her."

"I'm not getting in the middle of that, lad." Storm gestured to a stack of PADDs sitting on the bureau near the large security officer. "We'll be at Starbase 163 before I know it and I have a lot of studying to do."

Frank looked at the stack with a frown before beginning to sort through it. "The Ethan Storm I used to know wouldn't let a bit of homework get in the way of an evening of soft company and potential delights."

"Well, that Ethan Storm used to do all manner of idiotic things, " Storm said as he sat down onto the bed.

Ensign James held up a couple of the PADDs and grinned quizzically. "Your packing list?"

"Be careful with those, lummox. Don't delete anything."

Frank simply shook his head and began punching keys. "These are just molecular patterns. So you know that once you feed this into the replicator, it's not going to be your stuff but just exact replicas of your stuff?"

"Yes, Frank. I'm aware of how replicators work. I've got the MMR receipt from Jupiter Station so I don't think I'll have a problem replicating aboard the Sulu."

Frank continued to shake his head and examined the PADDs. "It's not that, lad. No one in their right mind would give you a problem if you didn't have Matter and Materials Recycling receipt for a few meager possessions. It's just that folks like to have their own things. Move them around. It's human nature."

"I guess I'm not very sentimental," Storm said with a shrug. "Now, if you don't mind--"

"Ah-ha!" Frank exclaimed. "There are three matter streams on this one. So you're not completely cold-hearted. And here I was thinking you may be a Vulcan." Frank's large brow furrowed. "Do you know that one of these is bioactive organic material? Is it...?"

"...Skipper."

Frank look horrified. "Will he be okay like that?"

"Sure," Storm said with a wave of his hand. "All I have to do is set the pattern to refresh every hour. It's easier than feeding him. Or explaining him."

Ensign James shook his head for the tenth time. "You are an oddity, my friend. What are the other streams?"

"One is my grandfather's Grankite Order of Tactics. The other...I'd rather not say."

Frank set the PADDs down gently on the bureau. "Okay, keep your secrets, lad. I won't pry anymore but when I tell Maria that you reduced the sweater she knitted you last winter to a mere molecular pattern, there will be Hell to pay."

Ethan smiled. "What Maria doesn't know won't hurt her."

Frank snapped his fingers and chuckled at the timing of the remark. "Clever boy. Now are you sure you won't do me and the two ladies the pleasure of your company?"

"I appreciate the offer but I've got to hit the PADDs. It's already late. Send my regrets."

Ensign James walked over and shook Storm's hand with his overly large meaty palm. "Don't worry, lad," he said, as close to serious as he ever came. "You won't let your family down. You'll do them proud again just like you did on the Yeager. You saved us all."

"No. No, I didn't. I didn't save you all."

Frank smiled gently. "You'll be a legend, lad. It's only a matter of time. Trust me." The grin broadened. "Now, me...I'm looking to be a different kind o' legend."

Storm smiled back. "You're well on your way, Frank. Warp speed."

***

After Frank had left, Storm spent a couple minutes making abortive attempts to return to his reading but the visit still hung like a disruptive specter in the air. Franklin James was a decent enough sort if you were anyone other than the long-suffering Maria, but Storm was amazed how many unpleasant memories were always associated with meeting anyone from his Academy days. Frank's few minutes in the room and his jovial interrogation had reminded Storm of all his scholastic failures, his family pressures, the Yeager, and the one thing that he never liked to remember but could never let himself forget.

Ethan pushed himself off the bed and grabbed one of the PADDs that Frank had handled. As he looked at the contents, his eyes got a faroff look and he took himself back to his first seven months of his Cadet Cruise when everything had been just about perfect. Absently, he tapped his combadge.

"Ensign Storm to Transporter Room."

A disembodied voice answered. "Transporter Room here. Crewman Mitchell. What can I do for you, Sir?"

"I'm going to upload a stored matter stream into the transporter matrix, Crewman. Would you please materialize it in my quarters?"

"It's a bit unusual. Couldn't you use a replicator, sir?"

"It's a transporter matter stream, Crewman. There's too much risk of molecular decay using a replicator and I'd like to keep the item intact. Can you do it?"

"As long as it's not anything prohibited then aye, sir. I can do it for you."

Storm punched a button on the PADD. "Uploading now."

"I've got it, sir. Verifying." There was a brief pause while Crewman Mitchell presumably checked the matter stream against the regulations. "Sending to you. Energizing."

The transporter whine sounded behind Storm so he turned and watched as a small lock of stark white hair bound with a blue ribbon materialized on the bureau next to the bed. Storm picked it up and immediately caught its fragrant scent. He was instantly amazed that after all these months and successive transporter materializations, it still smelled exactly like her.

Crewman Mitchell's voice crackled over the com. "Did you get it, sir?"

Storm hung his head and blinked away the mist in his eyes. "Aye, Crewman. I got it. Thank you."

---