"Striking Out"
By Ensign Jenara Redman
and Ensign J.R. Steele

Location: Jenara Redman's quarters
Stardate: 57906.26 00h14

***

Jenara Redman sat on her bed listening to a copy of her mother's famous rendition of "Canto Della Terra," and relaxed a bit. She had just had a long day of extended maintenance, but Jenara figured that Lieutenant Thaine was just trying to see what she was capable of.

Shrugging it off and trying to focus on the music she was interrupted by the comm system paging her. The voice of J.R. Steele cut through the musical overtones and said, "Hi, Ensign Redman. This is Ensign J.R. Steele. We talked last night remember?"

Jenara sat up and tapped her commbadge as she replied, "Yes, I remember. H-h-how are you, J.R.?"

Steele's voice responded, "I am just fine, in fact I'm a little bored and was wondering if perhaps you would care to go to the holodeck and play that baseball game we discussed." With that, Jenara's door chimed to let her know someone was there. Walking over to the door, she pressed the keylock and the doors parted to reveal J.R. dressed in a full replicated baseball jersey, complete with old style leather glove.

Steele flashed her a smile. "I took a chance that you would say yes. I hope I am not overstepping my boundaries here."

Jenara blushed and briefly looked away as she smiled coyly. "N-Not at all. It sounds like fun. Let me get my glove, and we can go."

J.R. looked a little surprised as he asked, "You have your own glove? Most people I know just like to replicate the glove when they go to the holodeck. Do you play a lot of baseball then?"

Jenara shook her head as she emerged from the room with the glove on her hand. "Not a whole lot. My dad is a big baseball fan, and tried to pass on that passion to me. This glove was a gift for my 16th birthday from him."

Noticing Jenara was still wearing her Starfleet uniform, J.R. asked, "Are you going to wear your uniform to play baseball?"

Jenara shook her head and replied, "Oh no, I-I-I don't have a replica uniform like you, so I'll just ask the computer to replicate one for me when we get there, and I am sure you'd give me a moment to change before we begin."

J.R. smiled, acted like he had to seriously think about it before he agreed, "No problem. Are you ready to go?"

Jenara nodded and the two of them left her quarters and began to make their way towards the holodeck. As they walked J.R. kept looking at Jenara and trying not to make fun of the shy way she occasionally looked at him. He thought to himself, She's really scared. I hope she doesn't think I am going to hurt her playing baseball. Out loud he asked, "So what other traits and passions did your parents pass on to you?"

Jenara shrugged. "My mother is a very talented opera singer, perhaps you've heard of Sofia Marelli?"

J.R. thought about it a moment then shrugged. "I admit I'm not much of a music fan. I think I've heard the name mentioned before but I'd be lying if I told you I had heard some of her songs."

Jenara smiled. "Mother says I inherited her talent, but I just don't think I did. She has a beautiful voice and isn't afraid to let anyone hear it. My sister Maria also sings very well. I guess I was just born to do engineering."

J.R. smiled as they arrived at the holodeck. Pausing to enter the program into the computer, J.R. asked, "Jenara, perhaps you'd like to tell the computer what kind of jersey you'd like replicated."

A large grin spread across Jenara's face as she said, "Computer, please replicate an Albany Angels Jersey with my last name Redman, and number of 44." After a moment, the jersey appeared in an empty locker and Jen made her way over. Looking over her shoulder at J.R. She waited until he turned his back.

Quickly taking off her Starfleet uniform, she donned the Albany Jersey and turned around to face Steele. "You can look now, J.R." she said with a slight smile and watched as J.R. turned around, looked her over, and seemed to whistle softly.

"You look great, Jenara. You were born to wear that uniform."

Blushing a little bit, Jenara smiled as she replied, "Th-Thanks... You look good too. Perhaps a little batting practice is in order?"

J.R. smiled as he thought of how much he'd be able to show off as he asked, "Perhaps we could try hitting off each other. It can be a lot of fun when one person gets a good hit off someone else."

Jenara laughed as she replied, "Well I'm not a bad pitcher. Mind if I pitch first?"

J.R. shrugged as he said, "Fine with me. Do you need to throw a few warm-up tosses first? I can always replicate a catcher."

Jenara nodded as she made her way to the mound. Looking around the stadium she was amazed at the detail of the stadium. After taking a complete look she asked, "What stadium is this? I'm not familiar with it."

J.R. continued his warm-up swings as he answered, "It's Kirk Field in Iowa, named after Admiral James T. Kirk. It's a small stadium, but it's a lot of fun to hit homeruns into the cornfields over the left field wall."

Jenara nodded as she continued to throw slow pitches in towards the catcher. A few hit the dirt slightly before the plate, but she didn't seem overly concerned. J.R. watched her warm-up pitches carefully and determined he should have no problem getting a hit off her.

Taking a close look at Jenara in her uniform, he was slightly pleased at how the fabric showed off her lovely figure. J.R. usually went for women who were slightly larger in the chest area, but he wasn't about to be choosy when it came to her. After all he was really only out to hurt Sanchez, and when all was said and done, he seriously doubted he'd ever want a serious relationship with Redman.

Stepping in to the batter's box, J.R. took a few ceremonial swings with the bat and dug in deep, ready to pounce on the first pitch. Jenara leaned in slightly towards the plate and nodded to the catcher that she was happy with the sign. Rocking back into a slightly unorthodox windup, she allowed her body to carry through the motion and sent the baseball hurtling at 92 MPH towards Steele. The pitch came in so fast it caught Steele completely off guard as he failed to even swing at the ball. Shaking his head he tried to remain confident but he could see that he had shown his surprise to Jenara who was smiling.

Jenara chuckled slightly as she asked, "You weren't expecting that were you?"

J.R. cockily replied, "I don't usually swing at the first pitch, I like to see what a pitcher has got."

Jenara didn't appear to believe him as she nodded to the catcher a second time. Her unorthodox motion this time sent the ball away from the strike zone for a split second before the ball began to curve inward sharply towards J.R. He was caught off guard a second time as he swung in vain at the pitch well after it had passed him by and had gone into the catcher's mitt. J.R. grimaced as he realized he was now only a single strike away from being struck out by the lovely engineer.

Looking in towards the catcher, Jenara sensed victory as she nodded to the catcher for the third time and came set. Once again she began her windup and sent a 95 MPH Splitter towards Steele. A mere second before J.R. made contact with the ball it dropped right below his bat as he swung through and missed for strike three. The simulated crowd went nuts as Steele flung his bat to the ground in disgust and shook his head. Looking out at Jenara, all he could see was a wide grin on her face and a look of excitement in her eyes. He continued to shake his head as he headed towards the mound with his glove.

Jenara passed him by and said nothing as she went into the dugout and emerged with a bat and began to take her practice swings. J.R. was visibly agitated at the fact of having been beaten by a girl, but to his credit he went about his warm-up throws. After only four throws he called out, "I'm ready when you are."

Jenara nodded and stepped into the batter's box and took a few timid swings with the bat before coming set. J.R. began to mimic the throwing style of his favorite baseball player from the 20th century historical films he had seen and fired the ball in towards Jenara. The pitch was designed to be outside the strike zone, as he hoped deception might cause her to swing the bat. To Jenara's credit though she did not swing, and the umpire called ball one.

J.R. was impressed with her baseball skills and was now starting to realize he had underestimated the pretty woman standing before him. Clearing his mind he looked in towards the catcher who was flashing an inside curveball sign. J.R. nodded and began his warm-up. The ball left his hands and took a deep cut inside on Jenara but was called a ball as well. J.R. began to leer at the umpire, but said nothing. Shaking his head he looked in towards the catcher, who was calling for a fastball down the middle.

Confident that Jenara couldn't possibly connect with the pitch, J.R. nodded in agreement and came set. Flexing his throwing hand to get it relaxed, he went into his windup and delivered the pitch. The baseball rocketed in towards the catcher's mitt at 96 MPH but never arrived there as Jenara timed her swing to catch the ball directly in the middle of the bat.

The resounding "crack" echoed through the stadium as the ball abruptly changed directions and began flying towards the left field wall. The roar of the crowd picked up in strength as they reacted to what was happening. The left fielder began back-pedalling then turned his back completely away from the infield and began running full speed towards the wall. J.R.'s heart sank as he realized what was happening, but was powerless to do anything about it.

The fielder reached the wall, but could only watch as the ball continued its flight into the cornfield. The deafening roar of the crowd overshadowed the curse that escaped Steele's lips as he watched Jenara jump in the air, pump her fists and begin to run the bases.

Jenara was all smiles as she touched the bases in order and began coming down the 3rd base line with a slight skip in her stride. Pausing for just a moment to look at Steele, she touched homeplate with a grin. J.R. allowed his disappointment to drop from his face as he approached her and said, "I had no idea you were that good at baseball."

Jenara grinned as she replied, "I guess you didn't bother to check I have a full season program set up here on the holodeck I play in from time to time. You probably thought I was an easy mark, didn't you?"

J.R. nodded and said, "Life is certainly full of surprises. Luckily I think we can now be on the same team."

Jenara laughed as she replied, "Sounds like fun. Let's go ahead and begin a game."

Laughing out loud, J.R. watched as she programmed the computer to begin the game and for just a moment forgot about how bad he might look if anyone ever found out that a girl had beaten him at baseball.

---

"Fast Friends, Part 1"
By: Ensign Kelzira Rax
Ensign Amy Reese
Ensign Dwayne Sanchez

with Ensign Jenara Redman and Ensign J.R. Steele

Location: The Lounge, USS Sulu
Stardate 57906.26, 01h10

***

The lounge was unusually quiet that evening, with only a sparse number of off-duty officers occupying the odd table here and there. The mood permeating the ship lately had been understandably somber, especially with the missing crew still unaccounted for. If they weren't found soon, the morale on board would continue to drop. It helped, however, to escape it all for an hour or two in the lounge with a drink, preferably in the company of a fellow officer. As Dwayne Sanchez, someone who was in desperate need of a confidante during this time of melancholy, strode into the lounge, he suddenly found himself with more than one willing volunteer.

"Dwayne!"

The two women, both sitting alone at their own table, waved cheerful at Dwayne, then noticing there had been an echo in the room, Ensigns Reese and Rax slowly shifted their gazes to one another. The black-haired woman snickered at Kelzira, who giggled back at her. As one, they both turned their attention back to Dwayne, who looked rather flustered, then to each other again. Amy smiled at Rax as she slipped out of her chair and moved to Kelzira's table, motioning Dwayne to join her as she did.

Dwayne nearly bolted through the door when he heard twin echoes of his name, coming from either side of him the moment he entered the lounge. He'd forgotten he'd made plans with both young women and here they were, going to tag team him. That thought caused a blush, the shade of the captain's uniform, to stain his cheeks. This hardly seemed fair to the young man as he glanced between the two reasonably attractive females who, by this time were seated at the same table.

He still hadn't gone and claimed his things from his former quarters, still somewhat edgy about what Steele would do, or may have done, to him or his things if he was to go without some kind of escort. His thoughts kept going along those lines while the ladies spoke amongst themselves.

"You don't mind, do you?" Amy asked before she took it upon herself to have a seat.

"Not at all," Kelzira said, still grinning. She motioned to the seat opposite her. "Please. I'm Kelzira Pr-- er, Rax, by the way."

Amy thrust out her hand towards Kel. "Ensign Amy Reese," she announced almost triumphantly. "Nice to meet you."

Kelzira accepted the greeting and placed her hand into Amy's. Her hands were cold, as was the cast with most Trill, but not icily so. The smile she was giving off, though, provided more than enough warmth to compensate for her hands. She glanced over the outfit Amy wore and grinned. While she had dressed casually for her trip to the lounge, she could definitely say that it was nowhere near as unique and interesting as Amy's clothes. "I'm an ensign too. Science department."

"Medical," Amy stated as she withdrew her hand. She looked over her shoulder at Dwayne, and sighed as she noticed he hadn't moved an inch. "Sanchez! Get your butt over here!" She returned her gaze to Kel and laughed. "Shy one, isn't he?"

"The shyest," she said. "Though, it may be close to say who's shyer, him or Tchalla Mel'Chir."

Amy shrugged. "Haven't met her, so I wouldn't know. But I'd place my bets on Sanchez."

He was walking slowly towards the table. He hadn't had any idea this would be so hard, so his thoughts remained on how he was going to get his things from his old quarters.

As the subject of their conversation finally appeared at the table, Amy smiled up at him and pushed out one of the vacant chairs with her foot. "Come on, Sanchez. Don't be coy. Sit with us."

Dwayne was brought from his reverie by Amy's somewhat cheerful voice breaking into his thoughts. He sat down at the table, slumped in the chair with his legs out in front of him under the table, crossed at the ankles, and his arms on the table, hands sort of playing with each other, fingers twining against each other. His deep brown eyes focused on his hands.

Amy watched Dwayne expectantly, but soon realized he was paying more attention to his tangled fingers than either of them. With a shrug, she regarded Kelzira again. "So...what do you do around here for fun? I know we haven't been on the ship long, but I'm so bored! I've had to resort to bouncing around in my room to blaring music." Amy laughed and hoped Dwayne would take the bait and elaborate for Kelzira on just how much she loved her jazz music... But nothing.

No, not nothing. A blush the shade of his shirt stained his cheeks as he remembered Amy bouncing about their quarters in nothing more than a towel. And then again as she had started up and the towel nearly slipped from what was a nude body underneath. Also, his hands clenched against each other thinking about it. And, a good thing they were at a table for another reaction was making itself known to him, if no one else.

As Amy watched Dwayne, so did Kelzira. After a moment of expectant waiting, she finally turned her attention back to her new friend. "Holodeck usually," Kel said. "Though, lately all my time has been spent either cataloguing samples taken from the planet or working on a way to break through the interference in the caves. But I love going into the holodecks. I also love to dance and sing, but the lounge isn't really set up for that."

He kept silent during Kelzira's speech, his attention on his hands. He let the ladies discuss singing and dancing and the holodeck. Not sure what he could even possibly contribute to the entire conversation. Before too long, his thoughts were interrupted by Amy.

"You and I should go to the holodeck sometime, then," Amy offered with a bright smile. "It sounds like you need a break, and I need someone to dance with." Amy nudged Dwayne's arm with her elbow. "You wanna join us, Sanchez?"

He glanced at where she'd elbowed him then back to her. He spoke softly, "I-I never learned to dance."

"Oh, don't worry, Dwayne. Most of dancing, unless you're doing something choreographed, is just moving however you feel like moving. And, I think Amy and I could probably teach you a few moves." She glanced up at Amy expectantly.

Amy waved her hand dismissively. "Of course I can! Dwayne, you've seen me dancing. That didn't look so hard, did it?"

Dwayne's blush deepened even further, if at all possible. Just thinking about her dancing about, and the only thing he had to go on was the first time he met her, and no matter what she did in the future, that was the way he'd remember her dancing, in a towel. He moved his gaze back to his hands and whispered, "No."

Amy sighed and gently placed her hand on Dwayne's shoulder. "Sanchez, you don't have to be so shy around us. We're your friends. We're not talking about sex here. We just wanna have fun."

"Yeah, Dwayne," Kelzira said with a smile. "We're just talking about going to the holodeck to turn on some music...and then dance. Maybe we can even convince you to loosen up a bit."

He was not used to this. Most girls he knew were quite reserved compared to these two. How could he expect to relax? The only thing he could think of was to...well, get down to bare skin and lay on his bed, and he highly doubted that was what these two wanted to do with him anyway.

The only way he'd ever loosened up while at the academy was to go to his quarters that he shared with another male cadet and strip down. While he was naked on his bunk, he would read. Usually a text he was supposed to read for class, but once in a great while it would be a book for entertainment purposes. Nothing too risqué, but perhaps an old western or even one of those his holosimulation was based on. But he wasn't really up to relaxing the way they were talking.

Of course, he could be reading them totally wrong and all they wanted to do was as they were saying, kick back in some club created by photons on the holodeck and dance. He didn't know. All the girls at the academy were the same way: brash, even brazen sometimes to embarrassment. He just wasn't sure, and he sure as hell wasn't going to tell these two his idea of relaxing.

Amy watched Sanchez with increasing puzzlement, and could do nothing but sigh again. "Well, Kel, looks like we've got our work cut out for us if we're gonna get Sanchez here to say at least two words to us tonight. Should we go check out that holodeck program now?"

Kelzira grinned. "Sure," she said. "Dwayne doesn't have any in the system yet, so it looks like it's either going to be something of yours or something of mine." She glanced at Dwayne and grinned, knowing a few programs in her own inventory that would turn him a nice bright shade of red. "What kinds of programs do you like, Amy?"

"Oh, just about anything," she replied enthusiastically. "I find that if I don't do something active to burn off all my excess energy, it's impossible to fall asleep. Dancing always does the trick, but, have you got any preferences, Dwayne? Now, no blushing," she teased. "We want a vocal response this time."

Well, she had to go and mention the dancing again, and he couldn't help blushing. But he also gave her a verbal response. "I-I like to ski-- Um...surf, kayak...um, mountain climb.... That kind of thing." He of course was mentioning many of the 20th century's most favored pastimes.

"Oh, did you want to do one of those, Dwayne?" Kelzira asked. "If that's what you like doing, then I think we should. I always find that you loosen up more when you're doing something you enjoy. Do you mind doing any of those, Amy? I haven't done any of them, but they sound fun. We could find a problem, and do that. I had a roommate at the Academy who loved surfing; she talked about it all the time. Maybe we could dance after."

"I'm up for anything, really." Amy pushed back her seat, then, and rose. "Well...come on! Let's get this night started." She clapped Sanchez on the back. "Up we go, handsome. You're not getting out of this."

He wasn't up for this, really he wasn't. It wasn't the mountain climbing or the surfing, it was who he was with. Not them specifically, but their gender. If he were more like Steele, he wouldn't be having this hard a time, but he wasn't, and he was having one hell of a time keeping from blushing at just about everything Amy said. He had to agree with Kelzira, a person loosens up better when the activity is something they like to do.

Dwayne stood up at Amy's prodding and headed for the door. He didn't seem to need anyone to prod him forward. He didn't even bother to see if the ladies followed him.

As they walked side-by-side, Kelzira exchanged a glance with Amy and shook her head. She didn't know what they could do about Dwayne, but at least he was moving without having to be dragged.

As they neared the exit to the lounge, the door slid open to reveal Jenara Redman and J.R. Steele, both laughing as they walked, oblivious to what was around them, at least until they looked up and saw Dwayne Sanchez approaching them.

Dwayne stopped, a pained expression on his face. He watched as the two walked by him, his full attention on them, and none on the two behind him.

Jenara and J.R. made their way over to a table off to the side. J.R. let his mind fill with the joyous thought of Sanchez's agony, but quickly shifted his attention back to Jenara. Motioning for a server, he ordered drinks for the two of them. After the server had walked away, J.R. began to stare at Jenara.

She brushed her ever present stray hair from her eyes and returned his gaze with a smile. Puzzled, she asked him, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

J.R. shrugged. "I don't know. I see this woman sitting across from me that I just had a fun time with on the holodeck, but now realize I don't know much about."

Jenara became quiet and looked away, a shy look overcoming her face. She began to speak but said nothing for a moment. Collecting herself she smiled slightly as she asked, "What would you like to know?"

J.R. made a friendly motion with his hands as he asked, "Well, I sure would like to know how you learned to hit a fastball like that. That was my best pitch and you crushed it."

Jenara laughed. "I bet you thought I'd be a pushover. Little old me right?"

J.R. nodded. "You're full of surprises Jenara, you really are. I had a fun time tonight."

Jenara saw the admiring look J.R. was giving her and stammered a bit, "S-S-So did I, J.R. Maybe s-s-someday I can teach you how to hit my fastball."

J.R. saw the shyness coming out in Jenara, and decided to push the issue a bit. "Do I make you nervous, Jenara? I hope not, because I do truly want you to be at ease around me. I feel us becoming good friends, and maybe more."

Subconsciously nodding her head, Jenara blushed slightly as she answered in agreement, "I think I'd like that, J.R."

J.R. smiled at Jenara as the server brought their drinks. Raising his glass, he looked into Jenara's eyes as he said, "To the future, and whatever it may bring."

The two extended their arms and allowed their glasses to collide, thus culminating their new friendship.

Dwayne watched the two of them till he saw them bring their glasses together. He then quickly turned and walked out. He can't mean it, he can't be serious. If she finds out what he's really like, he'll hurt her. He stopped just outside the lounge, not really even noticing if the other two even stepped out with him.

It wasn't a moment later when they had and he said, "Now. It has to be now. I have to get my things from my old quarters while he's out." Silently he added, "with her."

"Okay, Dwayne," Amy said slowly. She lightly placed a comforting hand against his back, then shot Kel an inquisitive look. She had no idea what had happened back there, but she knew a slowly breaking heart when she saw one.

---

"Fast Friends, Part 2"
By: Ensign Kelzira Rax
Ensign Amy Reese
Ensign Dwayne Sanchez

Location: USS Sulu
Stardate 57906.26, 01h10

***

Kelzira quickly leaned close to Amy and caught her up with the current events, explaining that Steele was now dating her roommate to spite Dwayne. "Maybe we can help him move his things in, and then get him to the holodeck before he goes catatonic with remorse," she finished whispering.

Amy narrowed her eyes and pursed her lips tightly in an expression of immediate disgust for Steele. If she ever caught him alone, he'd certainly get a piece of her mind on Dwayne's behalf, and on behalf of the innocent officer he was manipulating. "You know, Dwayne," Amy said, the smile returning to her face and her cheerful disposition following. "You're far more handsome than that guy in there. And I'm not just saying that because you're my friend. I think it's the eyes... What do you think, Kel?"

"Definitely the eyes," Kelzira said with a grin. "And, even though you're tremendously shy, you're not as smarmy as he is. I don't think you could ever be like that. I think I'm going to have to have a long talk with my roommate. But, that'll have to wait. For now, we have to get Dwayne moved, and then we've got a date for the holodeck."

Amy laughed boisterously and slipped her arm through Dwayne's. "One date with two attractive, exciting women, coming up!"

As Dwayne's other arm was linked with Kel's, the two girls grinned at each other and ushered Dwayne into the nearest turbolift. "Okay, Sanchez, which floor? And don't worry," Amy assured him. "If that Steele fella shows up, we'll take care of him for you."

Dwayne blushed again, not so much from embarrassment as it was the attention from two very beautiful women. One on either arm, he walked arm in arm with them. It was a good feeling, having two friends, even if they were female. He'd thought that when he and Steele had been assigned quarters together that they would become friends and maybe they had started out as friends, but his whistle blowing changed that.

He called out the deck and section of his former quarters and as the lift moved he began to relax. Okay, so things didn't work out well with Steele as a friend, and right now he didn't see anything going with Jenara now or ever. But if things went well, maybe he'd find a way around his shyness and become friends with the two women he was with right now. And if things went well...

Nah, why would they? Amy's so out there, so strong she knows what she wants. And Kel, well, she's a newly joined Trill, what could she possibly want with a young, somewhat immature human anyway? Immature as far as the symbiont was concerned, but not as far as the host was.

The doors to the lift opened and he stepped out, escorting the two ladies to his former quarters and, imputing his access code to get inside. The doors swung open allowing him and the ladies entrance. He then straightened his arms and headed for the bedroom that had been his.

He quickly packed everything, noting that nothing had happened to his mother's picture, and coming from his bedroom, he hauled out about six cases, and on the top of the last one, which was open, he threw the padd from the coffee table into it. Then, hefting four cases, he blushed a little as he asked, "Would one of you mind grabbing the last two?"

"No problem," Amy replied brightly. She touched her hand to Dwayne's back as she passed him on her way to the two cases, alongside Kel. She took one, and her new Trill friend took the other. "Nice quarters," Amy commented after taking a brief look around. "Though, living with that jerk, I imagine it wasn't too comfortable in here."

Kelzira picked up the remaining case. "My quarters are strange. There's only one bedroom and a main area. I sleep in the main area, and Jenara has the room. I think it was originally supposed to be for more people, with bunks, but now it's fine. I like it out in the main area anyway. It's got better light, and easy access to the computer terminal."

"Strange," Amy mused, "ours has two rooms. When we drop this stuff off, I'll show you around. Maybe you can even bunk with us sometime! That'd be fun. We could stay up all night talking and playing games."

"That'd be great! Last night, Jenara and I went and played some springball. We could do the same. We could look up in the cultural databases, and find some games we could play. Jenara mentioned one last night from Earth's past. I know of some Trill ones I could teach you." She grinned suddenly. "You wouldn't happen to like theatre, would you?"

Amy's face lit up and a large smile stretched her lips. "I was the head of the acting troupe at my old highschool. We could...we could organize plays!" She squealed with excitement and would have hopped around exuberantly if Dwayne's luggage hadn't been weighing her down. "This is gonna be amazing! When we get to our quarters you have to stay for a while, Kel. We have so much to discuss."

"We do! Oh wow. On Trill, I went to Gilg'ane Academy of Fine Arts before I went to Starfleet Academy! Oh, this is so wonderful. There's a small theatre on the ship! We can do this, Amy! It's our destiny!" She was giggling so hard, she nearly dropped Dwayne's belongings, but managed to hold on to it. She had a vision of the case crashing to the ground, and breaking open as all of his undergarments spilled out. If that happened, she knew he would die of embarrassment. She steadied the case, and giggled once more. "I think we're going to have to thank Dwayne for practically introducing us!"

"You're right!" Amy swung around towards the overburdened Dwayne and planted a kiss upon his cheek. "Thanks, Sanchez. Now move that cute butt of yours so we can show Kel our quarters." She winked at him, then, with a giggle, swatted him on the rear.

He'd pretty much drowned them out till he felt a smack to his backside only to hear Amy. And he blushed again. Sure, he'd had some people pat his backside before, but mostly the guys whenever they were fooling around after some good play on the field that was made, usually by him.

He responded to her words with, "Give me a break, will ya? I'm loaded down more than you are."

Amy watched in surprise as Dwayne strolled past them confidently, lugging the four cases. That had been the first sign of life she'd received from Dwayne since she'd met him. She couldn't help thinking what a nice change it was. "Well, Kel," Amy said as Dwayne walked through the parting doors, "it looks like we're getting through to him after all."

Dwayne parted through the doors as they whispered open to allow him out. He walked along the corridor, struggling with four bags while the girls each had one.

"It was," Kelzira said with a laugh. "And, did you notice how he didn't even blush...well, I mean after the butt slapping. When he strutted past us, it was quite confident and, dare I say, macho?"

Amy snickered. "Oh, we're gonna have fun with him, Kel. If he keeps this up, I won't mind having a crush on him."

Kelzira glanced askance at Amy. "Do you have a crush on him?" she asked quietly.

Amy neither shied away from the question nor attempted to deceive Kel when she replied, "Not at all. Frankly, he's far too timid for me. But I think if we work on him enough, he might be crush material." She peered at the closing doors, precisely the level at which Dwayne's rear had been. "Oh he definitely appeals to me in the looks department. But that's all." It was Amy's turn to shoot Kel a sidelong gaze. "You?"

Kelzira grinned. "The same," she said. "I've only ever been...intimate with one human before, but if they all looked like Dwayne, I'd have to really learn to control my urges. He's very appealing on the eyes, but you're right, he's far too timid. One thing we have to promise each other if we're going to be friends though: we can't fight each other over him."

Amy waved her hand dismissively, then brought it down upon Kel's shoulder. "Don't worry, Kelli, no man's coming between me and my friend. Now, let's get going before he gets lost or something. Sometimes, he appears a little...confused."

"I think he thinks we want to have sex with him," Kelzira said as they hurried along after Dwayne. "He's really going to have to get used to the idea that just because a woman wants to spend time with you doesn't mean she wants to take you to her bed."

Amy grinned slyly at Kel. "Doesn't she, though? It's not a big deal, really. I mean, what's so wrong about feeling good? If you wanna sleep with someone, I say go for it. As long as everyone's happy."

"There's nothing wrong about feeling good or enjoying being with someone intimately," Kelzira said. "It's just that just because someone wants to spend time with you doesn't mean they want to jump you. At least, not all the time."

"We should tell Dwayne that," Amy suggested. "Half the time, he has this look on his face like I'm ready to tear his uniform off." She looked ahead at the turbolift Dwayne was holding for them, and chuckled. "Sorta like that one."

He had his body placed between the doors to hold the lift. His arms were beginning to strain under the weight of the bags he was carrying. He was half tempted to give them each another one so he would not be straining so much.

Kelzira giggled. "I've seen that look before," she said. "And, I must say that it's not entirely unwarranted."

Amy gave Kelzira a look of feigned appal, then broke into laughter. "Okay, okay. I'll cool it. No more teasing Sanchez, for his own sake."

"For his own sake," Kelzira said. "But, I didn't mean it like that. I'm just saying that look he's giving you, I'd expect it's fairly common for guys to look like that. Perhaps not so...hopelessly as Dwayne. If it weren't for the fact that he'd probably collapse in a quivery mess, I'd suggest that we just keep teasing and flirting to see how far we can go. But, too much more, and we may have to send him to sickbay."

Amy giggled helplessly as she and Kel stumbled into the turbolift, with Dwayne giving them a queer expression. Amy simply shrugged and ordered the turbolift to proceed to their deck. "So," Amy whispered to Kel, "is butt pinching acceptable as well?"

Kelzira gave a quick glance back to Dwayne and then looked back to Amy. "It does look quite pinchable, doesn't it?" she whispered. "There's only one way to find out..."

Amy shifted her gaze slowly to Dwayne, who looked rather suspicious of them both, with good reason. "Only one way," she repeated slyly.

"We could both," Kelzira said with a grin. "I don't know what sort of physiological damage we could cause by doing that though."

"We'd better not, then," Amy said in all seriousness. "He's far too fragile right now. We'll just be his best friends and make him forget about that Steele jerk."

"Exactly!" Kelzira nodded with finality. "Though, if you need to do any pinching, you can pinch me. When I was younger, my relatives always used to pinch my cheeks." She rolled her eyes. "So, if you can't hold back, just feel free to grab a cheek."

Amy laughed, and taking Kel's advice, she did just that. Dwayne didn't appear too appreciative of her crushing his cheek between her fingers. "Is this a little better, Sanchez?"

Dwayne just shook his head, a small smirk playing over his features at the queer way these two were behaving. Then he turned from the both of them, giving them his apparently good side, and allowed a full grin to break over his features.

Amy snickered as she glanced down at Dwayne's rear. "Is that an offer, Sanchez?"

He gave her a somewhat sideways glance, seeing her from the corner of his eye. "You can take it any way you want." Then he turned back to face the doors.

"Why Sanchez," Amy drawled, "you've had me fooled all along." She slipped between him and the doors of the lift, and shot him a mischievous smile. "Pretending to get all flustered, meanwhile, you were enjoying every second of it. Very smooth, Sanchez. I think Kelli and I are gonna have to watch you very closely."

He smirked at her. His confidence seemed to be raising by leaps and bounds. He didn't understand it, but it was. He was halfway tempted to lean in to give her a kiss, but he held back.

"Oh, Sanchez," Amy said softly. She pressed her hand to his cheek and smiled wanly. "It can't possibly be you. Don't ever think that. That girl...she doesn't know what she's missing."

Dwayne closed his eyes so she couldn't see the pain in them, except a tear slipped from between his closed lids. "She wasn't ever given the chance. Steele got to her before I could."

Amy looked over Dwayne's shoulder to Kelzira and sighed softly. Focusing again on Dwayne, Amy could only feel protective of him and sympathetic for a man obviously suffering. "Steele's a jerk," she told him. She ran her thumb over his cheek to catch another falling tear. "You'll get your chance, Sanchez. Kelli and I will make certain of that."

He had to collect himself. He opened his brown eyes and glanced down at her, then seconds later, he pressed his head to hers so they were forehead to forehead. "I'm not expecting to get anywhere with her now. She'll find out the truth about Steele and she'll be hurt. She wouldn't, couldn't trust another man again after that, or if she does, he'll have to work very hard to earn it before she'll trust him." And silently, "Or me."

It was then that the lift doors chose to open, with him in what could be construed as an intimate moment with one woman while another was looking on.

Amy framed Dwayne's face with her hands and held his gaze intently. "You listen to me, Sanchez. We're not gonna let him hurt her. Hell, Sanchez, you can't let him hurt her! She might resent you for interfering, but in the end, she'll thank you for it. Women are stubborn like that." She smiled. "Now, us three are gonna go to our quarters and talk this over, okay? We'll find a way to fix things, Sanchez. We're fellow officers and friends; it's what we do."

"Kel told you what I told her?" When she nodded: "That was my way to save her. Only it backfired. He's using her to get back at me for my telling the captain about the wager. I only told because I felt so bad about my participation in the deal in the first place. And because I was taught better than that." He glanced past her and noticed that the doors were opened. "We better go."

Amy smiled and stepped back, into the corridor. "Come on, Sanchez. You could use some quiet time to vent. Me and Kelli, we'd be willing to listen. What do you say to that?"

"I think right now I could use someplace to put these bags, they're starting to kill my arms," was his response, and a grin went with it to indicate he was joking, sort of.

"Well, then, let's get you to your new quarters, and you can set them down. Then, the three of us can have a nice long talk. Well, you'll talk and we'll listen, and we can advise where appropriate. Then, I think one of those things you like to do on the holodeck to unwind. After that, I think I'll be ready for some sleep."

"You up for that, Sanchez?" Amy laughed and relieved Dwayne of one more case. "Oh, of course you are. Come on," she said as she started down the corridor. "There'll be no more tears when we're done with you, Sanchez. I promise."

Dwayne nodded all the while that Kel was talking. And strangely enough, he believed Amy when she said that when they were done, he wouldn't be grieving over the loss of Jenara. And, he was very relieved. Well somewhat relieved, that Amy relieved him of one of the cases. That arm tingled a little as she did and then with the one with only one case he motioned the girls forward. "After you."

Kelzira started forward again, ahead of Dwayne. "Thanks," she said. "Come on, Amy. Let's get him settled, so he can get take back control of his life. And, we're just the friends to help him!"

"Or drive him completely insane while we try!"

Dwayne watched as they started walking ahead of him, then he stepped from the lift, nearly too late to leave the car. He followed them, his head facing forward but not exactly watching where he was going. It seems I've found a place here. I didn't realize it till now, but I was way uncomfortable with J. R., but, that doesn't mean that this will make it any easier realizing that. But hey, they at least like me, which is more than I can say for Steele. In just this short a time, I've gotten comfortable with the two of them...and they made that an easy adjustment. I like that. It was then that they arrived at his new, and Amy's, quarters.

---

"Pool Party, Part 1"
By: Ensign Kelzira Rax
Ensign Amy Reese
Ensign Dwayne Sanchez

Location: Amy and Dwayne's Quarters; Holodeck 2, USS Sulu
Stardate 57906.26, 01h25

***

Dwayne entered his and Amy's quarters and headed for the only other bedroom in the place. That is, the only one besides Amy's. He walked down the hallway towards that room and began to set up his things inside. He unpacked his clothes and placed them into the dresser that sat beneath a mirror. The bedside table held his novels and holo-programs that he'd created.

Then to the head. He unloaded his favorite items and loaded them into the mirror. He noticed that one side seemed empty till now so he presumed it was for the roommate whoever that person happened to be, and it happened to be him.

Returning to his bedroom, he moved back over to one of the last cases and extracted his mother's picture and a few other little keepsakes. He set the picture of his mother on the bedside table and the other things he hung on the walls using some form of adhesive, a kind that could be removed without damaging the walls.

Then, thinking about the activities after they had their talk, he walked back to the bedside table and grabbed his kayaking program, and slipped it into his pocket. He had, as he was unpacking, changed into more suitable clothing.

He now wore a deep blue t-shirt with black shorts. The shorts were rather short and somewhat tight, the only kind he wore on a normal day, but this wasn't a normal day; this was moving day and he had two very pretty females out there who'd seemed very interested in his backside. He shrugged. He wasn't changing.and after slipping into sports socks and tennis shoes, he was comfortable, or as comfortable as he was likely to get.

Exiting the room, he made his way to the living area and then the replicator. He hadn't eaten in what felt like days. He ordered himself a ham and cheese on white and a glass of milk.

Kelzira and Amy had found their way to the couch and were carrying on an animated conversation when Dwayne entered the room. They were both discussing a recently published paper by one of the most renowned bio-geneticists in the quadrant. Both seemed to be talking at the same time, but neither seemed to be missing any part of the conversation. After a moment, it was obvious they were actually beginning to complete each other's sentences. "I think R'Scadre's theory of the breakdown of cytoneurostasis is a little off, but it's still an amazing read, especially for anyone interested in genetics." She glanced up and noticed Dwayne at the replicator. Colour seemed to drain from her face, making her spots stand out even more. "Oh my."

Amy followed Kel's gaze to where it rested upon Dwayne's lower body. Seeing the finely shaped curve of his rear and the toned muscles of his legs tightly confined under his shorts brought a grin to Amy's face. "Very nice, Sanchez. If you're gonna dress like that, I might just have to wear my towel."

Yep, he expected the reaction but that didn't mean he wasn't going to blush...which he did. And the shade was a shade less than the others had been previously. "Well, I'm at least dressed, in that towel, you're positively indecent. Especially when you are 'dancing.' " Again he blushed and this time it was the usual shade.

"Hey, that wasn't my fault! I thought it was secure." Amy laughed and patted the vacant space on the sofa. "Get over here. I've gotta get a closer look at those tight shorts, don't I?"

He finished his sandwich and milk and placed the empty dishes on the replicator pad and had the device recycle the dishes. He turned and his glance made its way towards the girls. The expression on his face was that of a lost little boy, or more to the point, a child in a dark room who wasn't sure that the monsters were gone. Then he shook his head. Get a grip. You wear these shorts you have to expect a little ribbing. So, he made his way to the sofa and sat where Amy had patted with her hand.

He turned to her and watched her as she inspected the shorts. "Well?" As he sat there he squirmed a tad. The tightness of the shorts rode up till the inseam was tight against his flesh. God, I've got to learn not to wear these things and then sit in them.

Kelzira leaned across Amy to get a look at Dwayne's shorts. She raised an eyebrow and then glanced up at Amy.

Amy, in return, smiled conspiratorially at Kel. "Dwayne..." Amy looked sidelong at him. "Has that Jenara girl seen you in these shorts? If she does, you can rest assured she'll drop Steele in a second."

Kelzira turned her attention back to Dwayne, still leaning across Amy while resting her elbows on her friend's thighs. "Yes," she said. "I have over one hundred years of experience bouncing around in my head, and I must say, Dwayne...very impressive."

Amy took Kel's lead and lightly brushed her hand up Dwayne's thigh. "Yes...quite impressive, I'd say."

Dwayne's first reaction was to stand up, go to his room and change into a looser pair. Along with that, his face turned every shade of red imaginable. And if he had been the type, he'd have put his hands over his face. To hell with it. Forget about being the type, he did it anyway, and standing, he shook his legs a little to get the material from bunching at his groin.

Okay, he knew it was a strange dance, but it was bothering the hell out of him. Then he turned to Amy. "No, she hasn't. I've not met with her but once off duty and then I was in uniform and after Steele did his number on her."

Kelzira turned so she was laying across Amy's lap while observing Dwayne's gyrations. "You know," she said to her friend, "I think we'd better be careful. If we get him all...excited, I don't know if those shorts have the tensile strength to resist that kind of strain."

Amy giggled and idly stroked Kel's hair as she watched Dwayne's desperate attempt to conceal more than was possible with shorts that tight. "Oh come on now, Dwayne. Why do you have to be so shy around us? We're only teasing."

He snarled at them both. "That did it, I'm changing into something else."

As Dwayne stormed off to change, Kel rolled onto her back and looked up at Amy. "Eventually, we will break him from that shyness, especially if he wants to have any chance at breaking Jen away from that creep."

"I think his problem is he's far too sensitive." Amy gazed down at her new friend and chuckled. "You know, I say we surprise him. Forget about the kayaking program, let's subject him to something else, something that will force him to break out of that shell of his. Something where's he forced to interact with women." She leaned forward until her face hovered just above Kel's. "Kel, how would you like to go dancing?"

"Oh, dancing would be fabulous," she said. "I can't remember the last time I went dancing. I think...I think it was just after I got to the Academy. I think dancing would be perfect, and I think together, we can get him to open up some."

Amy nodded vigorously, causing her short, black locks to fall into her face. "And with the outfits we'll be replicating, he'll have no choice but to!"

Kelzira grinned broadly. "Oh really?" she asked. "Now, I have to know what you have in mind for us. Something sexy, I presume?"

Amy's blue eyes twinkled with a gleam of mischief. "It's the only way to go, dear Kelli."

"Very well," Kelzira said with a mischievous grin. "Should we change in your room? If he comes out here and we're changing, I think we'll have to do an emergency site-to-site transport to sickbay and call in the entire counselling department once they get his hyperventilating under control."

"We can replicate something when we get there. I want it to be a surprise!" Amy impulsively kissed Kel's brow then bounced excitedly in her seat. "He'll be completely overwhelmed!"

Kelzira giggled and quickly embraced Amy. "Hopefully not too overwhelmed," she said with a grin. "Just because...well, who knows how he'll react! Oh, but I can't wait to see the look on his face when he sees us. Sexy you and sexy me...he doesn't stand a chance."

Amy was about to reply when she heard the distinct sound of fabric tearing. She pulled up and stared quizzically down at Kel, wondering what Dwayne could have been up to...

***

Dwayne had ignored Amy and Kel's comment and went straight into his bedroom. He practically ripped the shorts from his body, then he tore them into shreds, never to wear them again. Damn, I do something to 'relax,' and they spoil that by their comments. He walked to his dresser and pulled out another pair of shorts, something a little looser. These ones actually gave his skin room to breathe, where the others didn't.

He checked himself over in the mirror and frowned. No, these aren't a whole lot better. Forget shorts. He made his way back to the dresser and pulled out a pair of slacks. They looked like something from the latter part of the twentieth century, somewhere around the mid 1980's to the 1990's.

Dwayne changed his t-shirt for a pure white one and pulled on a dressier shirt. Over that he pulled on a black cableknit cashmere sweater. The shirt was white and the pants were black and he put on a pair of black dress shoes.

Checking himself out in the mirror again he liked this outfit better and he exited his room.

As Dwayne petulantly marched into the room again, Amy sat up straight and shot him a secretive smile. "Ready to go, Sanchez? I know Kel and I are."

Dwayne asked, "I thought we were going to talk?"

"We can talk in the holodeck," Amy replied simply. "Besides, you look perfectly dressed for the occasion. Though," she added with a sly grin, "I preferred the shorts."

"Well, so sad to tell you, you will never see those again," he informed her, but he didn't go into any details. If she wanted to know more, she'd have to pry. And knowing her, for as short a time as he had, she would. "Well, if we're going, let's go." He motioned for them to take the lead, being the gentleman he was, and after they both exited, he followed them.

"So, Dwayne," Amy called back to him as she and Kel strolled arm-in-arm towards the turbolift. "You light on your feet?"

"I'm not a dancer. I've got two left feet," was his reply. Truth was, he didn't like to dance. He didn't think of himself as a dancer. He didn't really care to sing either. Acting? He was lousy at it, as he'd told Kel. He wasn't about to make a fool of himself on stage, he'd done that well enough with Steele and Jenara, and he wasn't about to make a public spectacle of himself and be humiliated.

That was why his idea of relaxing was a quiet evening in his bedroom, stripped to the buff and reading a book. Granted, he'd have his blanket over himself, but hey, that was how he relaxed. Not dancing. If he needed to get rid of some extra energy, he used one of his programs. Either mountain climbing, kayaking...whatever. That was his idea of fun. Not dancing.

"Come on, Dwayne," Kelzira said, glancing back at him, "it'll be fun. It'll just be you, me, Amy, and a bunch of holographic people. They won't care how many feet you have, and we'll help you dance. It's easy and fun once you get the hang of it. Dance was one of my areas of study at the Fine Arts Academy on Trill. Before you get out of the holodeck, you'll be a regular Nezril Jax."

"Well, no offense to Nezril, but I'm not a dancer...and likely to not be one any time soon." He continued his way and even passed the two by as they made their way to the turbolift.

Kelzira glanced at Amy with a raised eyebrow that clearly asked the question, "What the hell was that all about?"

Amy sighed impatiently. "I don't understand why he's being a brat," she replied, loud enough for Dwayne to hear. "We're trying to help him and all he can do is snap at us. Is this how you acted towards Jenara?" she asked him directly. "If so, it's no wonder she ran to Steele."

Kelzira glanced at Amy, and then over at Dwayne. While Amy's words may have been harsh, they did seem quite accurate and to the point. And, coddling someone in the middle of a fit was usually unwise. Perhaps they were teasing him a little more than he wanted, but it was to keep his mind off Jenara and, at times, he seemed to enjoy it.

He turned on Amy. He'd never shown a temper before, but she'd pushed the right buttons then, and he wasn't happy. He wouldn't get physical or hurt her, he'd been taught better.

"Now you listen. My first conversation with her was well after he'd gotten his claws into her. I never had a chance. And that one time I was just as shy to her as I was to you when we first met. She never gave me an opportunity to let her see the real me." Those words cooled his temper, and somehow those tears Amy had said they wouldn't see any longer were threatening to well up in his eyes again.

Amy slipped away from Kel and marched up to Dwayne with a stern expression hardening her usually soft features. "Well, tell me, Dwayne, what is the real you? One minute you're crying, and one minute your storming out of a room because you can't take a little playful flirtation. Now you're angry at us for who knows what reason." Amy shifted her weight to her right foot, taking on stance that conveyed her annoyance, and jammed her fists into her hips. "So, which is it gonna be, Dwayne? Are you gonna stop acting like a spoiled brat who's pouting because he didn't get his way, or are you gonna let Kelli and I be your friends and help you realize what a catch you are?"

"A man can only take so much ribbing, and my limit comes very fast, as opposed to some other man. The temper, the tears, it's all me." He slid down the wall of the corridor, his head resting in his hands. "It's all me."

"No, Dwayne," Amy said with a sigh. "It's not you. Yes, you may be more sensitive than most men, but we can help you control all that." She glanced momentarily at Kel, then crouched at Dwayne's feet. Lightly, she placed her hands atop his drawn up knees. "Dwayne," she began softly, "we were teasing you because we like you, and we want to have fun with you. We weren't being offensive; you're a cute guy with a hell of a body, and we just...couldn't help ourselves."

Kelzira moved close and crouched down on the other side of Dwayne. "We're your friends, Dwayne. We're not asking you to do anything you don't want to, but to at least try doing some things that we find fun. Dancing is social, and that's what we think you need right now. You need us being your friend. No one else is going to be watching, just me and Amy. You can be goofy, you can trip over your own feet. We're your friends, and whatever you do that's silly, we're still your friends. We'll do silly things too, wild and crazy things. We do them because we enjoy them, and we think if you let go of your stress and your inhibitions, you'll enjoy them too. We're not going to go have an orgy, we're just going dancing. Three friends, having a good time and enjoying each others' company. If you want, you can just stand next to me and Amy while we dance."

Dwayne looked between the two women. He responded first to Amy. "You don't know me well enough to say that. And my mother taught me to be sensitive to the females of any species, save Klingon females, who seem to be able to take care of themselves." He paused. "And I'm well aware of what I look like and how I'm regarded to the feminine half of the species. It's just no one's ever been that...explicit about it."

Then he turned to Kel. "I've never been very social. Any social event at the academy, I avoided. I love the outdoors, I can't do something like dancing because I don't know how, and I don't know if I can learn. There have been many a person who've tried to teach me. As much as you love it, I can't stand dancing, singing, or acting. My one experience in an acting situation was enough to tell me that I suck at it royally and I won't try that again."

"So what do you want to do, Dwayne? Do you want to come with us? Or do you want to select something for the three of us to do? We can go kayaking or surfing or whatever, it's just that those aren't group activities, even if all three of us are doing them. What do you want, Dwayne?"

He looked between them. "I'm ruining this for you, aren't I?"

Amy smiled warmly. "Not at all. We're doing this for you, Dwayne, not us. If you don't wanna go dancing with me and Kel wearing slinky, revealing dresses, then we won't."

He grinned. "I'd rather go swimming and see you in two piece swimsuits."

"I think we can manage that," Kelzira said with a glance over at Amy. "However, I am very curious what you'll be wearing. I doubt you'll be in a two-piece."

"Nope, but I will be in a bikini." He continued to grin.

Kelzira grinned and looked at Amy once more before looking back at Dwayne. "You'll be wearing a bikini? And, after all the fuss you made about your other shorts? Oh Dwayne." She stifled a giggle. "I think I speak for both of us when I say we approve."

He stood up and held his hand out to either girl. "Let's go."

Amy looked to Kel, shrugged, then slipped her hand into Dwayne's. Once she was upright, she grinned at Kel and all three started towards the turbolift. She wasn't quite sure of Dwayne yet, especially with his unpredictable moods, but he seemed to be coming around. If watching both she and Kelzira swimming around in skimpy bikinis didn't help, then he certainly was a lost cause.

---

"Pool Party, Part 2"
By: Ensign Kelzira Rax
Ensign Amy Reese
Ensign Dwayne Sanchez

Location: Holodeck 2, USS Sulu
Stardate 57906.26, 01h50

***

Dwayne had chosen the program and had it running by the time they stepped into the holodeck. They'd then separated so Dwayne could change in private while Kelzira and Amy went off to find someplace to change into their bikinis. They found a place to change easily enough and slipped inside with the skimpy pieces of fabric the computer had found for them.

Dwayne had chosen a program from his collection. The program depicted his grandparents hacienda in Mexico City. The house had a swimming pool that was about forty feet long by twenty feet wide. On the patio was a bathing room where they could change into their suits.

"I dunno," Amy replied. She slipped the top she wore easily off over her head and let it flutter to the ground. "One minute, he's flirting, the next he's angry, then he's crying." She sighed and pushed down her pants next. "I don't get him at all."

Kelzira pushed the last of her clothes to the floor and then took a moment to regard the swimsuit Dwayne wanted her to wear. She shook her head and laughed. It'd be the most anyone would have seen of her spots in quite awhile. That was fine though. At least the parts that would cause Dwayne to faint would still be covered. "I don't get him either. I mean, I have no idea what kind of reaction I'll get if I flirt with him. Unlike you; I know exactly what kind of reaction I'll get if I flirt with you." She shook her head again and chuckled. "He's a strange case, alright."

Already having pulled on her bikini bottoms and secured the ties on either side, she slipped on her top. After she'd finished barely dressing, Amy stepped forward and began securing the ties of Kel's bikini top for her. "I guess all we can do is be his friend," she said. "If he even wants that."

"I know," Kelzira said, and then glanced back at Amy's fingers working the ties. "Thanks. I guess we can only find out one way. He's so difficult when he gets into that washy-wishy attitude of his. Or when he gets so emotional. I mean, how exactly is someone supposed to react to a guy who's crying?"

Amy chuckled and stepped away from Kel. "All done. Now, turn around so we can appraise each other. I haven't worn one of these things in a long while."

Kelzira did as instructed and grinned at her friend. "Well, it may have been awhile, but you wear it very well. I can't remember the last time I wore one. I think it was when I was still on Trill. Now, turn around."

Amy eyed Kel quizzically for a moment, then played along and lifted her arms in the air as she performed a turn for Kelzira. "Anything interesting?"

"Oh yes," Kelzira said with a grin. "Quite interesting." She reached out and brushed her fingers over the image displayed on the small of Amy's back. "I like it. And, the one in front that the top is mostly covering. They're very...you."

"Yeah?" Amy looked over her shoulder at Kelzira, then shifted around to face her friend. "The one on my back is a Vulcan symbol for peace and prosperity." She slid back the fabric of one side of her bikini top just enough for Kelzira to get an unobstructed view of her other tattoo. "I'm sure that one's familiar to you. I mean, if it weren't for the snake, I'm sure you'd recognize it as the symbol for infinity. Though these are nothing compared to your spots." Amy pushed her top back into place and reached out with little hesitation to drag her fingers along the spots on Kelzira's side. "I think they're amazing. I've always wondered what they were for."

"There are lots of folk stories," Kelzira said as she watched Amy's fingers. "And, there are some theories why we have them, but I'm not sure which ones to believe. Everyone has different patterns actually. I guess they're kind of like human's freckles, in some ways. I'm glad you like them. My dad, he used to call me his little spot."

Amy grinned. "That's cute. My dad used to call me Polly. My middle name." She made a face, then added, "I've always hated that name."

"I like Amy," Kelzira said. "It's a nice name, and it's a fun name. Polly...Polly doesn't sound like that though. It's odd in a way to have our parents name us. I mean, sometimes it's not possible to trust our parents' judgment."

"Well, my mother wanted me to be a doctor," Amy said as she idly brushed her fingers over Kel's stomach. "That showed good judgment, because I'm good at what I do." She smiled at Kelzira and added, "I really like you, Kelli. I guess that means we're friends now."

"I hope so," Kelzira said with a grin, "because I like you too. And, I like when you call me Kelli. I guess knowing Dwayne Sanchez does have its advantages. You're a very interesting and fun person, and exactly the type of person I'm drawn to. I think I'm really going to enjoy knowing you, both professionally and socially."

Amy giggled and embraced Kelzira tenderly. When she pulled back, she gave her friend a chaste kiss upon the lips, then took her hand and backed away towards the door. "Let's go have some fun now. I can't wait to loosen Sanchez up!"

"Oh, that is going to both be fun and a chore. Do you suppose he really wants to wear that skimpy thing in the water? I mean, I'm not exactly an expert at human physiology, especially male human physiology...but, isn't that a little small to hold everything? At least without more embarrassment than the Shorts Incident?"

"Hopefully it's too small," she quipped with a suggestive smile. "Or I'd feel sorry for Jenara Redman."

Amy's black hair was swept back by the gentle breeze manufactured by the holographic generators, but she could distinctly smell the chlorine of the pool in the air. The sun's rays beat down upon her exposed flesh, and she knew if it had been only she and Kel, she wouldn't have hesitated to strip down completely and let her entire body soak up the warmth. Though, with 95% of her flesh uncovered, she was certainly gaining enough heat. "Oh, this is a wonderful program," Amy moaned. "The sun feels so real! And the spray of the water on the breeze.... One thing about Sanchez, he has good taste in holographic programs."

"The advances they'd made with holography in the last ten years is amazing," Kelzira said as they strolled along the deck. "If we ever get to Deep Space Nine, I've heard they have a program there that's absolutely amazing. It's this club from the twentieth century on earth, and they leave it running all the time. The main character is practically alive." She looked around and then grinned at Amy. "Then again, it feels practically alive here too. Dwayne definitely has good taste in holographic programs"--she looked down at their joined hands --"...and friends."

"If that's what he wants us to be," Amy reminded her. "But even if he doesn't, at least we'll still be friends." The two smiled at each other, while a long shadow fell upon their path. Amy looked up at the solitary figure standing before them, and could do nothing but grin. "Why...hello there," she purred as her eyes roamed over the tall, barely clothed Sanchez, and stopped at his bathing shorts. "Good choice."

Kelzira let her eyes wander over Dwayne's mostly exposed form and smiled. "I like those better than the others," she said. "They look stretchier, and more...comfortable." Then she added for only Amy, "And, wearing those, I think we'll easily be able to tell exactly what he thinks of us."

Amy snickered and shot Kel a playfully admonishing glare. "I like those too," she added to Dwayne. "Truly."

He had expected the reaction from them as he stepped from the bathhouse at the photon created image of his grandparent's hacienda. About his shoulders was a towel. The royal blue of his swimsuit was enhanced by the light tan of his skin. In other words, the color even looked good on him. And he knew it. Not a hint of a blush stained his cheeks this time. These were just like what he usually wore when he'd visited his grandparents, and there had been many girls who'd seen him in it, so it wasn't so bad.

He tossed the towel on a lounge and headed for the high-dive. Climbing the ladder, he glanced at them to see what they were doing. When he got to the plank that was the diving board, he walked to the end and turned, his back to the pool. Then he jumped on the board a couple of times then he left the board to twist a couple of times before his hands and his body knifed the water in a perfect dive.

Kelzira raised an eyebrow and then looked at Amy. "I am not jumping off that thing and into the water," she said. She stuck a thumb under the flimsy fabric of her top and shook her head. "This thing couldn't stand the strain."

Amy grinned mischievously at Kel. "Well...I don't care about that." With a whooping cry, Amy tightened her grip on Kel's hand and sprinted towards the pool. Ignoring Kel's protests, Amy launched herself into the pristine water, dragging Kel down with her. When their heads broke the surface for air, Amy wiped the drenched, black hair out of her eyes and smiled at her friend. "Lose your top yet?!"

Kelzira laughed. "Almost," she said as she used her free hand to adjust the top of her swimsuit. She leaned closer, grinning. "You're going to have to try harder than that."

Amy, in turn, drew closer to Kel. "Is that a dare, Kelli?"

"Sure sounded like one, didn't it?" Kelzira asked, as she started swimming away from Amy. "I don't think Dwayne will entirely appreciate it, but it sure did sound like one to me."

Amy's brows raised in surprise. "You are far less innocent than you appear, Kelzira Rax. How many others, I wonder, have you got fooled?"

"I have my moments," Kelzira said with a laugh. "And, while I've only ever been with four guys, I still have over a hundred years worth of experience bouncing around in my head. And, I must say that Looryx was quite mischievous."

"Well, I think he's speaking through you right now." Amy giggled as she lunged at Kel and sent a spray of water at her. Once Kel was sufficiently distracted, she squealed and hugged her friend tightly, trapping her arms in place at her sides. "Dwayne! Come and help! I have a dare to carry out."

His head broke the surface in time to hear Amy's voice and he glanced around to see the two girls in what seemed to be a hug. He swam towards them and looked between them and then his gaze settled on Amy. "What kind of dare?"

Amy held Kel tighter as she began to squirm. "Well, Kelli here doesn't think I've got the guts to relieve her of her top. Care to help me prove her wrong?"

"Let me get this straight, she dared you you couldn't take it off, and you want me to help prove her wrong? I didn't know that a dare could be taken on by one person and shared with another," was Dwayne's reply.

Amy sighed. "That's not the point, Dwayne. She dared me, and since she did, I'm allowed to ask you for help in carrying out that challenge. If you don't wanna help, I'll just do it myself." Then, she grinned mischievously and motioned her eyes towards his skimpy shorts. "Though you will pay for it later."

Dwayne grinned. "I will, will I?" He dunked himself under the water and before too long he'd swam in between the girl's legs.With his eyes open he could tell who was who and he placed his hands on Amy's hips, and in one quick motion he'd untied her bottoms and was gone.

Amy yelped and released her hold on Kel, only to dip her hands into the water and cover her unmentionables. She frantically searched the pool for any sign of her confiscated bottoms, and for the culprit who had stolen them. "Dwayne Sanchez!" she hollered at the top of her lungs, though there was a trace of laughter in her voice. "That wasn't part of the dare!"

Dwayne popped up out of the water and grinned. "Oh?" he asked all innocent. "It wasn't?" For some reason he couldn't stop smiling. Was he having fun? It sure seemed that way and the sound in Amy's voice told him that, in spite of being bottomless, she was also having fun.

Behind Amy, Kelzira couldn't stop laughing. "It may not have been part of the dare, but it was hilarious!"

Amy placed her hands on her hips, and scowled playfully at Dwayne. "You'd better give those back, Sanchez. If you don't think I'll come there and get them."

Dwayne continued to grin. He couldn't help it, even though he was grinning like an idiot. "Oh, I don't doubt you'll be coming after them," he said as he wrapped the bottoms of her suit about his neck to climbed from the pool. He walked around the perimeter of the pool like it was a familiar place, and to his mind, it was. He watched the girls who were still in the pool, waiting to see what Amy would do now that he was no longer in the water.

"Oh, very nice, Sanchez!" Amy glowered at Dwayne, seemingly prancing around the pool perimeter with a self-satisfied grin on his face. "Kelli, watch my back," Amy told her.

"Oh gladly," Kelzira said with a giggle as her eyes were fixed on Amy.

Amy winked at her friend and with an exuberant laugh, she gripped the edge of the pool and heaved herself above the surface of the water. She glanced back at Kel, giving her friend the view of her behind she was talking about, then climbed fully out of the water. She knelt by the edge for a moment, considering whether it was appropriate to chase after a fellow officer with nothing but a bikini top on. Hell, you're Amy Reese. You've done far worse than this! With an impish grin, she sprang to her feet and dashed towards Sanchez. "Hand them over or you'll be sorry!"

His eyes widened a touch seeing her climb from the pool. He really hadn't thought she'd do it, but it was too late to consider semantics now. He took off running around the pool. His own suit still being a touch wet was clinging to him like a second skin, hiding nothing...including the fact that if things didn't square down a little, he'd be needing a cold shower. He glanced back to see Amy running after him. "I'll be sorry? I beg your pardon, my dear roomy, but I'm not the one running around my grandparent's pool half naked," he replied with a grin.

"Well, whose fault is that?" she shouted back at him. Amy slowed her pace, hoping the faster Dwayne would only succeed in closing the gap between them in his attempt to evade her. "And besides, you're half-naked too!"

He noticed she'd slowed down, and he just sped up. His intent was to catch her and wrap his arms around her, hopefully holding her own arms down against her body. "Yeah, but it's okay for this part of me to be naked, unlike yours," he said with a grin, catching her and wrapping his arms about her, pinning her arms to her body.

Amy laughed breathlessly, but she wasn't about to play the helpless damsel. Instead, she kick her legs wildly in the air, not caring how many times her back rubbed against the lump in his shorts. "This isn't fair! You're two times as strong as me!"

He stifled a groan as she rubbed up against his body. "Yeah," he said between gritted teeth, "but you seem to get pleasure out of this sort of thing." He walked towards the pool and dropped her back into the water.

Amy came up coughing slightly and shook the wet hair out of her face. With her view unobstructed again, she gazed up at Dwayne, his damp body limned by the sunlight behind him. "What's that supposed to mean?" she asked him. "Pleasure out of making you smile? Sure I do, Sanchez! It's better than seeing you cry."

"That's not what I was meaning and you know it." He tossed the bottoms down to her. It seemed his good mood had been deflated. "You know, the first moment I laid eyes on Jenara Redmen, I'd fallen in love with her. I even told J. R. that and he's now using that against me to get back at me for my informing the captain about his predatory ways. He didn't like me informing the captain...so now, he's targeting the one I care most about." No, he wasn't crying, he wasn't angry...and he was just standing there talking.

"The first time I actually met her and tried talking to her I knew he'd gotten to her and lied to her. That in itself will be hurtful enough, but when she finds out the truth about him, that'll be worse, and she won't let me be there for her when she's ready to pick up the pieces."

Then he glanced at the two of them still in the pool. "I know you two are trying to help, and I appreciate it, I really do. And you have helped. I wouldn't do any of the stuff I've done unless I had been relaxed and that helps. I just don't know what to do about Steele and Jenara."

"Dwayne, what he did to you was terrible," Kelzira said. "What he's doing to her is even worse. But, there's nothing we can do about any of that right now. We're in here to enjoy each others' company, enjoy the pool and the holographic sunshine, and just relax. It makes us happy to see you smiling and running around and all of that. I've known people like Steele, and he'll end up pulling everything down himself. Jen's my roommate, and I'll do what I can to get her to see that you're not what Steele says you are." She paused and glanced at Amy, then back up to Dwayne. "And, remember that looks aren't everything, and if she can't see you for who and what you are, then you really don't want someone like that." She swam over next to Amy. "We're your friends, Dwayne, and we'll help you through this. And, one of our jobs is going to be keeping you smiling."

"And we almost succeeded too," Amy added, while her bikini bottom floated by. "But you're dwelling too much on what isn't, and completely missing out on the present. We were having fun, Dwayne. Don't ruin it by feeling sorry for yourself. Do you think she cares about your feelings? Do you think she cares about what she's unintentionally putting you through? She doesn't, Dwayne, so let it go and just smile again. Get in here and have some more fun!"

"No, not almost, my friend; you did. I was so relaxed, and still am that I'll do just that." And with a mischievous grin, he stripped his suit off and dove into the water.

Amy looked to Kel, wide-eyed with shock, then burst out laughing. "Did you get a good look? Because I sure did."

"I said it before," Kelzira said with a grin, "and I'll say it again: impressive."

---

"Second Thoughts"
By Ensign J.R. Steele

Stardate 57906.26, 02h01
Location, Ensign Steele's quarters, USS Sulu

***

J.R. had just dropped Jenara off back at her quarters, and was now making his way towards his own quarters. Thinking about how the evening had transpired, J.R. was surprised to find he was having a hard time getting Jenara out of his mind.

Steele muttered quietly to himself, "Is it possible I actually like her? It couldn't be." Shaking his head, he figured the feeling would pass. As he continued his walk, however, he found that several of the women passing him by seemed to all look like Jenara Redman.

Trying to ignore it as best as he could, he arrived at his quarters and quickly made his way inside. He caught a glimpse of the baseball glove out of the corner of his eye, and his memories of Jenara striking him out and her wide grim, flooded over his mind.

J.R. practically laughed out loud at the irony of the situation. "Here I am going after Redman just to spite Sanchez, and it turns out I actually like her," he said to no one in particular.

Glancing at the chronometer, he realized it was much too late to give Redman a comm call, but he also realized that Sanchez might have plans to try and win Jenara back by revealing the real reason Steele even began his courtship of the pretty ensign. Convinced that making up with Sanchez was a necessity, J.R. went into his bedroom trying to figure out the best possible way to do that.

---

"Epilogue: Phantasms"
by Lieutenant Sam
Ensign Tchalla Mel'Chir
Lieutenant Xayella Tagliesh
and Captain Matthew Salinger

Location: Dorvali 449; and USS Sulu
Stardate 57906.26 02h05 (through 12h20)

***

After he had left Commander Lyrr, Sam had asked Crewman Phelps and Crewman F're to accompany him on the search for the remaining crew from the original Away Mission. It was not easy work given the nature of the caves, but they were making some progress. They had found the remains of three of the crew, in addition to the one they had come upon during one of the forays into the caves.

As they rounded a bend that appeared as if it would be curving back again in the direction from which they had come, Sam's communicator signalled that someone was attempting to contact him. He tapped at the device, aware that given the interference in the caves, he should have been unable to receive any communications through the combadge.

"This is Lieutenant Sam," he said. "Go ahead."

"Lieutenant, this is the Sulu," said the interference-altered voice of Ensign Rax. "We've managed to cut through the shielding devices. I'm transmitting you the information to patch into your tricorder."

"Acknowledged, Ensign," Sam said. It took him thirty seconds to make the adjustments, and the change was instantaneous. He raised an eyebrow, a facial tic he'd picked up from Petty Officer Nebs. "The modifications appear to be working, Ensign. I will continue scanning for missing Away Team members."

"Sir, I'm detecting a mass of something organic about thirty meters to the north. I am also picking up two life signs about one hundred meters ahead of you. One Andorian, one human. The human life sign is very faint, sir."

"I understand, Ensign. Phelps and F're, go to the north; I will attend to the two life signs."

"Aye, sir," both men responded.

"Thank you for your assistance, Ensign Rax. Sam out."

Once the channel was clear, Sam started forward.

***

Tchalla opened her eyes slightly and then raised her head. A strong source of electric and biokinetic energy was heading in their direction. "Lieutenant," she whispered. "Lieutenant Tagliesh, I think someone's coming."

Xayella murmured something unintelligible as her head lolled upon Tchalla's shoulder. She tried to peel back her eyelids, but she felt so tired, so drained. All she wanted to do was continue sleeping and dreaming of Matt.

Tchalla shielded Tagliesh's body with her own, hoping that they could elude whoever it was that was down here. Probably more of those creatures, searching for the missing. Please don't let him find us...

"Ensign Mel'Chir," a voice said from the passage. "Ensign Tchalla Mel'Chir, this is Lieutenant Sam from the USS Sulu."

Tchi's eyes went wide. "Lieutenant," she cried out as she rolled around to see the android's feet striding forward. "Lieutenant Tagliesh is injured. I think she has internal injuries, but...but my knowledge of human anatomy is kind of shaky."

"I understand, Ensign." He helped her out from under the overhang they'd been hiding under and then ducked down himself. "Lieutenant Tagliesh, it is Sam. I am going to lift you up and take you out of here now. Can you acknowledge?"

Xayella could only groan, only because the emotionless, intrusive voice calling her name was interrupting her time with Matt. She would've snapped off a rude comment if she could have.

"Follow me, Ensign," Sam said as he started back along the passage. "The Sulu managed to break through the interference in the caves, however the transporters are non-functional through the rock."

Tchalla only nodded, not really wanting to speak.

Moving at Sam's brusque pace, they managed to reach the edge of the cave within twenty minutes. Once they were outside, Sam crouched down to the ground and gently placed Xayella at his feet. He then activated his communicator. "Lieutenant Sam to the Sulu. Three to beam directly to Sickbay. Lieutenant Tagliesh appears to be critically wounded."

"Acknowledged," came the voice of Chief Riley. "Energizing."

And, with that, they were swept away and up into the Sulu.

***

Captain's Log, Stardate 57906.26.

All of my crew are safely back aboard the ship, those that made it that is. My Chief Science Officer lies in Sickbay, her condition critical. While a captive of the alien species encountered on the surface of Dorvali, she sustained internal injuries during a fight with the aliens. I have read Ensign Mel'Chir's report of the situation, and I will be commending Lieutenant Tagliesh for her conduct on the surface.

I have notified Starbase 163 of the situation and they will be sending a ship with engineers who can assist the Dorvali, as we've taken to calling them, return to their own world. It turns out that they were marooned here nearly seventy years ago. All of their engineers and technical people were killed during their crash. They've been trying to get home, but without any means to communicate with those who happened across the planet, their situation grew dire.

We're not even a month out of Spacedock and I've lost five members of my crew. I will be contacting their families in the morning. It is not a task I look forward to; I don't think any captain ever gets used to this. Memorial services will be held en route to Starbase 163, our next stop before we receive our new orders. We are also scheduled to pick up new crew, as well as transferring some of those who are moving on elsewhere.

I am happy to say that Lieutenant Xayella Tagliesh will be remaining as a member of this crew. I think that she and I came to an understanding, and I know that I connected with her in a way that no one in Starfleet ever has before. I don't believe she's ever had anyone take an interest in her as a person, and I believe that was the first stone laid in what will hopefully be a strong foundation.

Dr. O'Shea has informed me that Xayella will be recovering in Sickbay for a few more days, but he suspects that she will make a full recovery. Because of her wounds, it is touchy now, but the Sulu's medical staff is keeping a close eye on her. As am I.

***

The soft hum of the biobed accompanied with the soft chirps of the monitors was surprisingly soothing as Matt Salinger sat at the side of Xayella Tagliesh's bed. She'd woken up for a brief time a couple hours earlier, but had quickly lapsed back into unconsciousness. Nurse Reese had assured him that Xay was doing fine and there was nothing to worry about.

"You did well down there," Matt said softly. "Everyone I've talked to said that you kept the team focused and together. I think my report is going to surprise a good number of people back at Starfleet Command, especially with the reports of those who were on the surface with you. I'm proud of you, Xay. And, while I may have had doubts in the beginning, I'm very happy to have you on my ship, as my Chief Science Officer. There's a place for you here."

With eyes still closed and body still completely still, Xayella's lips twitched and soon formed a weak, gentle smile. "You're still here?" she murmured. Her green eyes finally cracked open, but quickly closed again as the bright lights of the sickbay assaulted her sensitive vision. "Dim them...please?"

"Computer," Matt said, "reduce lighting forty percent. That better?"

Xayella peeked out through one eye, then sighed and opened the other. Her gaze went immediately to Matt, and once there, her smile returned. "So...what did I do this time?" she whispered. "It must've been something pretty bad to warrant a personal visit by the captain."

"Keeping your wits in a hostile situation," Matt said. "Going over and above the call of duty in an attempt to keep the Away Team safe. Talking to Ensign Mel'Chir, you're a hero."

"Me? A hero?" She laughed languidly. "Does this mean I don't have to sleep in the brig ever again?"

Matt chuckled. "Well, let's hope not," he said. "How are you feeling? Dr. O'Shea says you should be up and around again by the time we arrive at Starbase 163."

Xayella's eyes slowly shifted to her hand lying limply on the bed, but held tenderly in Matt's grip. "A lot better," she replied softly. She returned her gaze to Matt's smiling face. "Better than I've ever been. But you...you look tired. How long have you been sitting there?"

Matt smiled. "Not that long," he said. "Only four hours. We got underway about twelve hours ago, and Sam is watching the bridge now. I don't think I've slept in...well, what time did we wake up? I know that was the last time I slept."

Xayella's smile broadened. "Well, I myself have been sleeping far too much." She brushed her thumb over Matt's and added, "Though...the dreams certainly were nice."

Matt couldn't help grinning. "Well, I imagine you'll be doing quite a bit more sleeping in here. However, if you'd like, Ensign Rax has been busily compiling the information we gathered on Dorvali. If you'd like I can have some of that brought in, if you're interested in keeping busy."

"I am," she said. "But not here. Can't I go? I promise I won't leave my quarters." An impish grin touched her lips. "I promise to be a good girl."

"My dear Lieutenant Tagliesh," Matt said quietly, "I do not believe you've ever been a good girl in your entire life. And, unfortunately, my orders are superceded by the doctor when it comes to things like this. I'm sure it won't be long though. And, when you get out of here, I'd like to double-check the doctor's work, if you don't mind."

Xayella laughed softly, then groaned and squeezed Matt's hand as a slight twinge of pain arose from her abdomen. She let out a deep, cleansing breath, then smiled again at Matt reassuringly. "Maybe I will stay here for a bit longer, after all. But only if you do something for me."

"And what's that?" Matt asked.

A grin stretched Xayella's lips. "Reward your heroic chief of science with a kiss."

Matt raised an eyebrow, and then smiled. He glanced around at the empty Sickbay, and leaned close to her. There was almost an electric shock as their lips touched, thought it was more of an emotional jolt than static electricity.

Xayella raised her free hand to Matt's cheek and caressed it lightly, just as Matt's lips were caressing hers. When the kiss ended, and the moment when his face still lingered so close to hers, she stared into his eyes and became utterly convinced. She'd never felt it before, and although their time together had been brief, she knew now that she loved Matt Salinger. "You should go," she whispered. "You don't want someone walking in and finding out the captain likes unruly women."

Matt smiled and then nodded. "I'll check back in on you later," he said. "I'll have some of those reports brought down in case you want to do some reading. There's also going to be a memorial service for...for those who didn't make it. I'll see if I can get you time out of here, if you'd like to attend."

Xayella sighed gravely and was surprised at the warm rush of tears that filled her eyes. "I tried, Matt," she whispered. "I did try to get them out. I-I'm sorry."

"You did what you could," Matt said. "That's all anyone could ever ask for. Don't blame yourself, Xay. You helped get the rest out alive."

Xayella took in a deep, calming breath as she nodded. "I'll be there for the service. And maybe afterwards, I could stop by your quarters...just to talk, of course."

"Of course," Matt said. He reached down and took her hand again. "I'll see you soon, Xay. I'll have those padds brought down, and maybe I can have Nebbs whip up something special for you to eat."

"You're going to spoil me, I know it." She grinned at Matt, then motioned her eyes towards the doorway. "Go on. You'll start to arouse suspicions and the last thing I need is your commander marching in here to warn me off the captain."

With a chuckle, Matt backed away from the bed and stopped at the door. "If there's anything you need... Oh, and welcome back to the Sulu, Lieutenant Tagliesh."

"Thank you, Captain." Before Matt could leave, Xayella reached out towards him with her hand and called out his name. When he turned back to face her, with the profession she'd meant to give sticking in her throat, all she could do was sigh then smile. "I'll see you soon."

Matt smiled once more, than gave her a quick wave before slipping out the door.

Xayella's hand dropped to her side again, and was followed by a frustrated groan. She'd bring herself to tell him eventually; she was at least grateful she had plenty of time to do it. The same couldn't be said for those who'd died under her leadership. It might have been the trauma of the entire situation making her overly sensitive, or it might have been the influence Matt was having on her, but fresh tears sprang to Xayella's eyes before spilling over. She was alive and almost well; they were not.

For their sake, if not her own, and in honour of their commitment shown to Starfleet by giving their lives in the line of duty, Xayella endeavoured to emulate them and become the best officer she could be. She wasn't certain if she would succeed, and she knew it would break Matt's heart if she didn't, but for now, all she could do was try. And when she finally returned to duty, try was exactly what she would do.

---

"Pool Party, Part 3"
By: Ensign Kelzira Rax
Ensign Amy Reese
Ensign Dwayne Sanchez

Location: Amy and Dwayne's Quarters; Holodeck 2, USS Sulu
Stardate 57906.26, 02h15

***

Amy continued laughing as she watched her bottoms go by, then she reached back to untie her top. "Come on, Kelli. It isn't polite to keep your clothes on while others are nude." She pulled her top away and let it fall into the water. With a squeal, she dove beneath the surface and swam towards Dwayne.

He popped from below the surface of the water to see Amy coming towards his direction. He stayed there treading water and waited on her. When she got close enough he whispered to her, "Well, did you enjoy the view?"

Amy smiled and slowly descended into the water again. She was there for a few moments, then came up again with the same sultry smile on her lips. "I sure did. Twice." She looked down at her denuded torso barely covered by the water, then regarded Dwayne again. "How about you?"

He had to see the whole picture so he went down, eyes open and when he came back up: "Beautiful," was his only word.

"See?" she said with a shrug. "Easy enough. Now, I want you to say the exact same thing to Jenara next time you see her. You can do it, Dwayne. I know you've got it in you."

"Thing is, if she was smart enough to become an Engineer, why isn't she smart enough to see past Steele's ugly facade? I mean, think about it, that man is hardly a good looking guy, but beyond that, he's ugly inside as well. And she can't see that? I'm no Romeo in the romance department, but hell, I know a con man when I meet one. And if she can't see me for what I am, then she can just go to hell." He'd never spoken so strongly before, especially about a woman, but right now, that was how he was feeling and nothing was going to change that.

Amy laughed lightly and placed her hand upon his shoulder. "Now, that's more like it." She leaned forward and whispered, "Come on, Sanchez. Let's go play with Kelli. She's far too dry and that's just not fair." Her gaze lingered on his as she caressed his shoulder gently. In another moment, she submerged herself in the water again and was swimming off towards Kel.

Dwayne laughed before he dove under the surface and followed her. He, being stronger, got to Kelzira first and he grabbed her legs, bringing her under the surface of the water.

Kel's cry was cut short as she was suddenly dragged under the water. She tried to kick her legs free, but couldn't extricate them from Dwayne's grip.

Dwayne released her momentarily. His goal wasn't to drown her. Then his head broke the surface. "I believe there is a dare to fulfill?" Those were the first words to escape his mouth upon surfacing.and along with the words was that same mischievous look on his face as he had when he stripped from his suit.

"Oh there was, was there," Kelzira said between laughs. She struggled against his hold only enough to make things interesting.

Amy swam up beside Dwayne and shot Kelzira an identically impish grin. "I like dares." While Kel engaged in futile struggling, Amy floated behind her friend and leaned forward to chuckle softly into her ear. Her fingers deftly loosened the ties of bikini top. and as she let the fabric fall away, she watched Dwayne's eyes barely grow wide and not even a blush touch his cheeks. He really was changed for the time being. She could get used to this Dwayne Sanchez. "How's the view from over there?" she asked him.

He gave Kel a cursory glance and smiled. "I don't know about from where you are, but it's a beautiful view from here." Then he dunked under, and as he went, he lowered Kelli's bottoms from her body. Returning to the surface, he held them up for both to see. "So's that."

Kelzira gave both Amy and Dwayne an impish grin. "I was beginning to wonder when the two of you would come back over here and pay some attention to me. I really didn't think, after that dare, if it would be right for me to remove my own swimsuit."

Dwayne grinned. "Well, Amy's seen the whole show, what about you, you wanna see it all?" Then he glanced between them and said, "I meant it when I said you were both beautiful."

Kel grinned and then let herself float closer to Dwayne before slipping beneath the water. When she came back up, it was directly in front of him, nearly touching. "Very nice," she said. "And from that look I got down there, I can tell you think we're beautiful."

Dwayne's cheeks pinkened a little at that. "Well, I'm gonna have to find a way to take care of that, those cold showers aren't working very well." Had he really said that out loud? From the expression on Kel's face he had. "Uh, sorry."

Kel laughed. "Don't be sorry," she said. "It's a normal reaction for a situation like this. I'd expect you to be saying sorry if it were the other way around. I mean, I know if I were any of my past male hosts and I saw Amy running around like she was, I would have ripped right out of whatever I was wearing. Thankfully, that I don't have that sort of reaction as a girl."

"Yeah, well, this can get downright embarrassing at times. Most of the time that happens it's at the worst possible time. That's why I think the uniform pants being black is a huge help. It makes it a little less noticeable." He was not blushing now, it was just that one instant. "Well, I think we should get back. It's getting late and I have shift tomorrow," he said that as though the girls didn't have shift tomorrow as well.

"You're right," Amy said. "If you can believe it, I think I'm exhausted!" She moved to the side of the pool and hefted herself out. As she sat at the edge, with her feet kicking lightly at the water, she grinned at her two friends, standing awkwardly close to one another. "Should I let you two have a moment alone?"

Dwayne glanced to Amy. "Is that a normal thing, you being exhausted, I mean?" Then he glanced to Kel. With his eyes on Kel, his words were for Amy. "I don't think that'll be necessary." As he spoke, he watched her face to see her reaction.

"Only if you join us," Kel said with a grin. "I just hope my roommate is either asleep or not home. I really don't want to listen to her talk about how wonderful J.R. is."

"Stay with us," Amy suggested readily. "We don't mind...right, Dwayne?"

Kel's reaction wasn't what he'd expected. He swam to the edge and hefted himself up and sat next to Amy. "Well, I'd say we should get dressed and go to our quarters. Kel, you're welcome to join us."

Kelzira grinned and then nodded. "Sure!"

Amy grinned broadly and held out a hand to her friend. She helped her out of the water and onto the patio, then with all three sitting side by side, she slung an arm across both their shoulders and smiled at each. "You know, I think this is gonna work out perfectly. No matter what, we're friends, right?"

"Definitely friends," Kel said with enthusiasm to match Amy's.

Dwayne stood up and offered a hand to each girl in order to help them up. When they attained their footing, he turned and with a little shake to his backside, gave them a slight show as he made his way back to the bathhouse that was a part of the simulation which also held their clothes.

Kelzira watched Dwayne's retreating posterior and laughed. "Well, I think we certainly did a number on him," she said, and then held her hand out to Amy. "Let's go get dressed. And, I want to get a good look at that tattoo there."

Amy set her hand onto Kel's and bowed her head. "Why, of course, Kelzira Rax." She grinned. "Anything for a friend." As the two were starting for their designated changing areas, Dwayne had already disappeared into his.

He sat on the bench inside the bathhouse that housed his things for while he was swimming. He glanced down at himself considering himself from the female point of view. He'd always considered himself to be rather good looking, but never really looked at himself.

Glancing down he thought, What would anyone-- No, not anyone but any woman see in me? Those two out there seem to think I can get any woman I wanted if I tried. But I'd been taught to treat women with respect and consideration. "A woman isn't only for what she can give you, son," mom always said. "She is a person in her own right, with a mind and a will."

He sat there still. Maybe I should try to get to know her, no not her. A scowl decorated his face for the one he thought he loved. She isn't worth my time, not if she can't see past Steele's facade of a gentleman to the scum he really is. And see me for the one who is her protector. Not anymore. I tried that route and she dismissed me for it. To hell with her. He sat up then and began to get dressed.

Moments later he was back in his dress pants, dress shirt and sweater. He pulled on his socks and shoes and then ran a comb through his wet hair. Moments later he was standing by the arch waiting for the girls.

Swimsuits forgotten, Kelzira and Amy retreated to change back into the clothes they'd worn into the holodeck. Thankfully, the suits would just revert to raw matter, ready for the next time they were used to create something. Kel had managed to slip back into her pants and top and was pulling on her shoes when Amy sat down next to her to do the same. She grinned at her friend and rested her head on Amy's shoulder. "I had fun tonight," she said softly.

Amy smiled and slipped her arm around Kel's waist. "Me too." She placed a kiss upon her head, then nestled her cheek to her friend's damp, blonde hair. "Wanna get going? My bed's not that big so we'll have to figure out sleeping positions for the two of us."

Kelzira grinned and felt her heart flutter at the thought. "I can think of a few that'll work," she said. "Though, it'll require that we're quite close during the night. You don't mind, do you?"

Amy looked down at Kel and laughed. "What do you think, Kelli?" She kissed her friend's cheek quickly and rose from the bench. "Sanchez is waiting. Come on, dear Kelli." She held a hand out to her. "Let's escort our poor boy home."

Kelzira slipped her hand into Amy's and let her friend help her to her feet. "I don't know what he'd do without us," she said. "Hopefully his time with us tonight will help him to sleep well tonight." She looked up into Amy's eyes and gave her hand a squeeze. "I know I will."

As the two stepped out onto the deck, they saw Sanchez waiting for them. For a moment, Amy was disappointed that he was no longer naked, but he looked just as good in the outfit he was wearing. "Ready to go?" she asked him.

He nodded, holding his hands out to them to take. Once they took his hands, he said, "Computer, end program." The computer complied and the images of his grandparents Hacienda faded into the black and yellow grid. Then, guiding them to the doors, they exited the holodeck.

As they walked together through the corridor, all three of them holding hands, Kelzira noticed people watching them. Then there were the ones who nearly had to press themselves against the wall to avoid the three junior officers taking up the whole corridor. At least it's not alpha shift when most of the ship is awake, Kelzira thought.

She slipped her hand out of Dwayne's and dropped back behind him and Amy as another person tried to get past them in the corridor. I'm sure the whole ship will know about this tomorrow, she thought. Not that I mind, but I really don't want to be the focus of gossip about wild threesomes happening on the ship.

Once in Amy and Dwayne's quarters, the two girls waved goodnight to Dwayne and each went to their separate rooms, Kel in Amy's, and Dwayne in his. Amy pulled out a dressing gown for Kel, and one for herself. The two changed in front of one another with little inhibitions, and after the clothing switch, the two stood by the bed. They studied it, wondering how such a small mattress could fit two people on it. Amy shifted her gaze to Kelzira, who wore the nightgown better than she ever had, and smiled. Sleeping close together was the only way to do it. With a giggle, Amy launched herself onto the bed and held her arms open to Kelzira.

Kelzira didn't need any more coaxing than that, and quickly climbed into the bed, and into Amy's waiting arms. "Oh, this is going to be a cozy night," she whispered.

Amy and Kel kicked back the covers, then slipped beneath. "Very cozy," she replied contentedly. She held her friend close, their arms wrapped around one another and their legs tangled beneath the sheets. Amy kissed her friend's brow, then began stroking her blonde hair soothingly. "Goodnight, Kelli," she whispered.

"Goodnight, Amy," Kelzira whispered. She smiled at Amy, and then gently pressed her lips to her friend's.

Amy accepted Kel's gesture, and even added a hint of intensity to the kiss before pulling back and grinning. "Go to sleep, Kelli," she murmured. "I'll see you in the morning." Then, with a soft sigh, Amy nestled her head into the pillow and closed her eyes.

---

"New Horizons"
by Ensign Taylor Bennett

Location: Starbase 163
Stardate 57906.26, 08h00

***

There was no feeling greater than stepping out into the corridor at the start of the day, ready to take on the galaxy once more. Or at least, that's what Taylor Bennett told herself as she strode down the hallway toward the turbolift that would take her to the Promenade level.

She'd been working half shifts on the starbase since her arrival two days earlier. While she normally would have accepted the leave had it been offered to her, she found that after the Lexington she'd had too much time to herself. There was only so much time she could spend on the Promenade, in the holodecks, or in the training facilities.

She entered the turbolift and instructed it to take her to the Promenade. The lift slid easily upward, allowing Taylor a few moments of reflection time. Her schedule this morning was fairly full. Breakfast at one of the cafés, then the beginning of her duty shift at 09h00. After her shift completed at 14h00, she would then begin a two hour workout and take her evening meal. The next hour would be spent in meditation, followed by an hour of reading. The next two hours after that were free, and it was highly likely she would take them in the holodeck. Then, she would return to her quarters and begin her sleep cycle.

Taylor stepped out of the turbolift and strolled down the bustling walkway. She kept her attention focused on those around her, attentive to any potential problems. There were none that she could spot. She spotted one of the cafés she'd had breakfast in the other day, and decided to go there again.

"Good morning, Ensign Bennett," the shopkeeper, a Bolian man by the name of T'gr, called out as she approached. "It is good to see you again."

"Good morning," Taylor said, addressing him in one of the few Bolian phrases she knew. "I would like a bowl of plomeek soup and one of those scones."

"With jam?"

"Please," Taylor responded with a grin. "How are you today, T'gr?" He'd become nearly incensed the other day when she'd called him sir, insisting that she call him by his name. She'd gladly obliged.

"I am quite well," the cafékeeper said. He pulled up a large bowl filled with the Vulcan soup and a dish with the Terran pastry. "Here you go, Taylor. I hope you find the soup quite flavourful. I obtained the recipe from a colleague of mine several years ago."

Taylor took the bowl and plate and moved to a nearby table. She sipped at the spoon and nodded approvingly. "I never thought I would encounter anyone who could make plomeek soup better than Mother, but I must say, T'gr, you have for certain."

"My gracious thanks, Taylor Bennett," T'gr said with a slight bow. "So, what does your day hold in store for you?"

"Work after I finish this, then a workout, meditation, and hopefully some holodeck time."

"Quite busy."

Taylor smiled. "Yes, but it keeps me busy until my ship arrives."

"The Sulu?"

Taylor cocked her head to the side. "How'd you know?"

"There's a lot of that going around," he said. "I wish you luck on your future endeavours, Taylor. And, if you're ever in the area again--"

"I'll stop by and see you," she said. "I think I've found the best place in the quadrant for plomeek soup.

T'gr smiled, and then allowed Taylor to finish her meal in peace.

Before leaving for her shift, Taylor gave him another smile and wave, along with a promise to return later for her evening meal. And, with that, she headed off to the rest of her day.

---

"History and Introductions"
by: Ensign Andrea Collins [NPC+]

Location: Risa
Stardate: 57906.26, 9h15

***

***Seven Years Earlier***

Andrea Collins sat at the helm of the little scout ship she was on with the small crew of five she'd been entrusted with. The Knights of Darkness were helping to fight the scourge that was the Dominion, and fifteen-year-old Andrea was a part of the scout/security team and as a part, she and her squad were scouting out Jem'Hadar vessels so that the mother ship wouldn't be surprised.

But it was to be her and her small crew who were going to be surprised. Part of the plan had been for the squad of scouts to split up and take a small region of space to explore. The logic of the plan had been sound till her ship had been attacked, then all hell broke loose.

"Shields!"

"The shield generator's out!" An explosion from the aft compartment and a pair of screams. "And now we have no weapons!"

She would be damned if she was going to let these scaly, horned freaks of nature take her freedom away from her. She pulled her hand weapon out. "Who wants it first!"

Her small crew knew what she meant and none of them hesitated. There were only her and two others, the other two being already dead in the explosion that rendered her ship useless and it was standard procedure for the Knights to kill themselves rather than be captured. Before either of them could volunteer, another explosion rocked the scout ship, knocking them all off their feet, and rendering them all unconscious.

***Six Months Later***

Andrea, now sixteen, sat in the solitary confinement cell. The room was no bigger than 2.5 meters by 2.5 meters. She had a circuit all mapped out. The foot of the extremely small bunk, the wall across from it at about 1.25 meters (dead center), the door on the wall right of that, then back to the foot of the bed. She'd made the circuit who knows how many times since being placed in solitary, and between that, she'd shadow boxed, practiced her tae kwon do, karate, jujitsu, and kick boxing, more to keep in shape than anything else.

As she was making about the millionth circuit, the door to her cell opened to admit four Jem'Hadar soldiers and a Vorta. She didn't have a chance to attack the first soldier to enter the cell. He stepped forward and slammed her in the stomach, causing the air in her lungs to expel and her to drop to her hands and knees.

"Now, now, now, let's not get too aggressive." This from the mealy mouthed Vorta who thought he was being smooth. "We only came to talk."

She remained on her knees and one hand, while the other was over her stomach where the soldier had slammed her, gasping for breath. She was able to glance up at the smug face of the Vorta with a glare on her face and hate in her eyes.

The Vorta smiled his smarmy smile and leaned down so he could look her directly in the eye. "Now, what should we do with you?"

He was close, so close, she couldn't resist. She was able to get enough of a breath to hock back and spit in his face. Seconds later, she was flat on her stomach from having been hit on the back of the neck as punishment. She laid there breathing hard, gasping for breath from not only the slam to her stomach, which she was recovering from, but from the slam to the back of her neck, which, if the soldier had been any harder, could have broken her neck.

The male Vorta smiled the entire time. "Now that wasn't very nice." He wiped the spittle from his face while he was looking at her. "And here we were in here to talk, and you had to go and spit on me."

She had to force the words out, but she was going to say this no matter what they did: "Who. Said. I was. Nice?"

"Very true, it is you and your kind who are blasting our ships into space dust." His hand came up and his cold fingers traced over her cheek. "We have to find out how we can make this even."

"If you think I'm going to talk, you are wrong."

"And here I thought this amount of time in solitary would have made you so bored that you would do anything to get out." He stood up. "Well, perhaps another six months will do you some good."

"I bet you wouldn't be so tough with the soldiers hovering over you."

He grinned and then motioned the Jem'Hadar out of the cell. Once they were gone, he grinned at her. "Okay, I'm here with you alone, do you think you could?"

She didn't have to be invited twice. She got up on her knees again and without warning, she tackled him to the floor and using her martial arts skills, she began to beat the Vorta in earnest.

Moments later, the four soldiers re-entered the cell and pulled her off of the Vorta. She was sweating and she was breathing hard. She spat at him again. "I hope you die, bastard."

***Four Months Later***

She'd spent nearly a year in solitary. Her wounds had healed completely in that time. They had only come to see her whenever the Vorta wanted them to, and that had only been twice. The initial time when they had put her in the cell, and the last time when she nearly beat the Vorta to death. She found out later that he'd survived.

Good thing too, or you would have been executed, The soldier had told her four days after the beating. That is the penalty for killing a Vorta.

She couldn't - wouldn't - live in this prison. She intended to either get out, or die trying. The next time they came in, she intended to get away or force them to shoot her. The next time came sooner than she'd thought.

She'd come back to her circuit - the foot of the extremely small bunk, the wall across from it at about, the door on the wall right of that, then back to the foot of the bed - when the door to her cell came open, again.

She had the chance to tackle this time and she took it. She surprised them so badly that they didn't bother to try and stop her. She knocked the soldiers on their asses and grabbed two of their weapons. After doing so, she pulled their Ketracel white tubes, then ran from the cell.

***Four Months Later***

In the months since she escaped, although she had the feeling that the Vorta and his Jem'Hadar had allowed her to, she'd made her way from the holding camp in a Jem'Hadar ship. Once aboard and, having left orbit, she'd started a distress call on a carrier frequency that only the Knights would recognize. She'd found herself wandering in that tiny ship for days, and.it had gotten quite claustrophobic for her.

Although it had seemed like months, the Knights finally found her and when they were able to speak to her it had only been 12 days.

Four days after her recovery, she was ready to get back to work. The leader of the Knights had told her not till she was fully recovered, but she couldn't sit still. He asked her to wait for a couple more days and if she absolutely had to work, he'd assign her something. She'd agreed.

Two days later, she said she wanted to get back to work. He finally said yes and assigned something easy to her. She didn't like that; she preferred a challenge, but this simple task would make it easier for her to cover the scars she'd received while a prisoner of the Dominion.

The first scars were on her back. What happened was she'd refused to cooperate and they had decided to do with her as an old fashioned slaver would do to a slave: they beat her. But not with a leather whip, she could have stood that, but they used an energy whip. So, now she bore the scars of that beating. She'd heard of a tattooist who would put a tattoo on her back of whatever she wanted and this task she'd had put before her would be the perfect way to do it.

It was on a break from her surveillance that she'd gotten to go to the artist and she told him what she wanted.

"Are you sure?" he asked.

"Yep."

Seconds later, she had removed the clothing from her upper body and laid face down on the table. Hours later, she had a deep purple rose tattooed to her back, the fullest part of the petals at her shoulders and over her upper back and the bud where the petals started had been created at her waist.

"You need to keep that thing well oiled for the next few days," the artist said while she got back into her clothes. "And I can cover that one up too." He had noticed a scar on her right breast; it looked to be in the shape of a snake coiled for attack. "But the one you have now needs to heal first."

"I'll be back," she said, "and you can do the other one."

He nodded as her shirt came over the scar on her upper chest. "How did you get that one?"

"Someone decided to get creative with a knife and thought a scar would look just beautiful there." In all reality, the one who had done that one had intended to cut that part of her anatomy off, leaving her with just one, but she managed to kill him before he could finish his self-appointed task. What was funny about that was, she was fully dressed when he started, and with her cloak, she still was. "I'll be back." And with that, she'd left the parlour.

Some weeks later, she had. This time for him to look at the tattoo on her back and to get the other one on her chest.

"This one looks good," the artist said, "so, ready for the new one?"

She nodded and with a mild sedative, he got to work. She'd told him beforehand what she wanted and when she came out of the sedative, and looked, it was exactly what she wanted, with the scales being a deep purple and a deep shiny green, and the flared hood being yellow. She nodded and got dressed again. "I have a third one I want, but it's not to cover anything, it's as a decorative piece."

"Okay, what is it?" he asked.

"You ever done any other Earth animals besides snakes?"

"I don't have many that I can do, or have done. If you have a picture of the one you want, I can do it."

As it happened, she did, and she pulled the imaging device from her pocket and showed him an image of a black panther. He nodded, "I can do that. Where do you want it?"

She leaned down and pulled up the right leg of her pants. "Here."

"On the back?" A nod from her. "You do realize that unless someone sees you in either shorts or no shirt, none of these will be seen."

"I don't intend for many, if any, people to see them." She exited, she knew he wouldn't do the last one till the latest one was healed.

And a few weeks later, she was able to get it. By now, she owed him several bars of latinum from the two she already had done. But this time, she had her PADD with her account information and they were able to take care of that, plus she was able to pay for the new one too.

Again he checked out the last one, and the one before that to see how they were doing. Seeing that they both were doing well, he proceeded to have her lie on the table, face down yet fully clothed, so he could proceed with the new tattoo.

That one didn't take quite as long. And, also, by this time, her schedule in coming to this planet had been spotted by the authorities and her target had been warned. She wasn't to kill him, but she was to steal as much of his priceless possessions as she could. And, after she was done getting this last tattoo, she was going to do just that.

And as per her timetable, the tattoo was done and she left, her mind on the task at hand now. She grabbed a land vehicle and headed for the man's home. Her intention was to steal any and all paintings that had been done from the 17th century and on through the 22nd century, and any other artwork she could lay her hands on. But as she was entering the home, she had a phaser rifle stuck in her ribs and within moments, she was placed under arrest.

But she just about beat the man senseless, and she took off. The only ship she could get off the planet was a Danube class runabout. She forced the ship to accept her clearance, although falsified and she took off. What she hadn't known was, there was a Federation starship in orbit and they fired on her the second she left orbit, incapacitating her engines and weapons.

The Sovereign class vessel tractored her into their shuttlebay and just as she opened the hatch, there were about ten security personnel there. And as she tried to fight her way free, she was shot with a low energy stun beam and she dropped.

"Captain, she's got scars on her back and on her chest, but with these tattoos on her body, it's hard to see them without the aid of a scanner," the doctor said.

The captain's voice came to her ears. "I see. Now tell me who she is."

"I don't know, Captain, she doesn't have any identification. I am however running a scan on DNA to see if any matches can be found."

The captain said, "Good. Keep me informed."

"Yes, Captain," the doctor replied.

All this time, Andrea was coming around from her unconscious state. How did the doctor know about her tattoos? She was fully clothed...or was she? She took an inventory on how she felt and realized that what she was feeling on her body was not her clothing, but the generic thermal blanket the doctor had thrown over her after she had had her clothes stripped from her body for while the doctor ran his scans.

I hate doctors, was her first thought.

But the doctor noticed the change in her breathing. "Welcome to the land of the living. As soon as I inform the captain that you are okay to move, you will be placed in the brig, so I suggest you take this situation as a way to stay out of the brig a little longer and relax."

She nodded. The brig cells they had on these ships weren't much bigger than the cell she'd been in for ten months while she was in the Dominion's tender mercies. The doctor was right, ultimately, being in sickbay - which was where she was - was ultimately better than being in the brig.

***Twelve Months Later***

Her trial had taken all of four days and once it was over with, the tribunal sentenced her to life in a penal colony. The main charge was for stealing the runabout, but there had to be more to it than that, like the fact she was about to steal from this man too. So she was sent to the penal colony for life.

"Miss Collins, I have something to ask you." And that was the beginning of her new life.

***

She woke up from the dream she'd been having. She was in a cold sweat. Damn, why did that have to come up? She pulled a mop of red hair from her face and sighed, her green eyes lighting up with a small hint of anger. And the Knights just left me to rot. Just like they had during the war.

"We hadn't thought you'd come back, especially not alive."

"I nearly died, but the thoughts of getting back with the Knighthood is what kept me going."

"Andi, if we even had an inkling you were still alive, we would have busted our asses to find you."

"Oh sure you would have, just like you did some of he others who had been captured, either by Starfleet or the Dominion."

She shook her head. They never thought I'd survive, they never even thought. She finally slid off the bed and headed for the shower.

She'd been given some time before her assignment to have shoreleave and in doing so, informed her of where her ship was going to go once they were done with their current assignment: Risa. She slipped out of her nightshirt and stepped into the shower. Most rooms had sonic showers, but she wanted a room with a real water shower, and she got it.

She stepped into the spray of the water and the needle-like spray hit pounded her back as she stood there, her head resting against the wall. She'd been to Risa before, but it had been a while and at the time, it had been to work, not to play, but this time, it was for play, although most of them who were there when she'd been there before were here now.

Stepping from the shower she went to her dresser and pulled out a one-piece swimsuit and pulled it on. Then over that, she pulled on a half-sarong type skirt and tied it to her slender waist. She'd never shown off her tattoos before, but in a suit, you sort of had to. The back of the suit was cut out most of the way down with the straps staying on her shoulders, and the only part of the cobra on her chest that could be seen was the head with the flared hood; since the hood itself came to her collar bone, that wasn't a huge surprise.

Then she slipped into her shoes, a pair of slip-on shoes that covered her whole foot front and back. Then she grabbed a towel. The suit and sarong was made of a shimmered-type material and the color was a sea-green shade that went well with her eyes and enhanced more than detracted from her hair.

After she got into her suit, and she grabbed her keycard, she exited the room, locking the door and found herself a lounge out by the pool.

---

"Storm Sparring 1A"
By Ensign Cristobel Sefton - Nurse
and Ensign Ethan Storm - Security Officer

Location: Starbase 163, Mess Hall G
Stardate 57906.26, 12h36

***

Sickbay had been a much livelier place thus far, after a couple of starships arrived, and Cristobel decided he liked it better on days when it was 'too slow'. Seeing plasma burns made him wish it was 'too slow' every day. Corran had chosen to work through his lunch break, and so Cris decided to familiarize himself with the general medical records of the Sulu's crew as he got something to eat. When he entered one of the Starbase's smallest mess halls, he noticed one of the files on his PADD sitting in the far corner of the room in crisp clarity and three dimensions.

Alternating bites of food with information from a PADD of his own, Ensign Ethan Storm sat reading and eating all alone. Judging from the fact that Storm had chosen a table with only one chair, Cristobel could surmise that was exactly the way Storm wanted it. Smiling, Cris grabbed up an empty chair and plopped down on it across from the young security officer. Storm didn't look up.

"What a day," Cristobel stated, by way of hello.

He made no effort to introduce himself, or to let Ethan speak, and instead chose to tell him, "My mother contacted me before work this morning, and she's started up again with the passive-aggressive coercion. She wants me to stay on the Starbase for an extra month, because it'll be a good rest for me, but also because, conveniently, that's when her ship will be arriving."

Storm punched a key on his PADD to save his place and tried to say something.

"Then she moved on to the guilting," Cristobel continued, oblivious to Storm's slightly open mouth. "Telling me that her sickbay is always short on nurses, and so I told her that they wouldn't keep leaving if she didn't keep making them cry, but she insisted that she wouldn't expose her patients to incompetence. I tried to point out that I'm not the most competent nurse yet, but she persisted that she could teach me and mentor me, and so I played the Sovereign card. The ship she's on has a huge crew, and they're always going into battle, and their anxiety would be a terrible headache on me."

In a secretive tone, Cristobel admitted, "Y'see, I was trying to expand my telepathic range months ago, and all I ended up doing was sloppying up my defenses." Cris rolled his eyes at himself. "Such a migraine. Anyway, my mother said she could teach me to strengthen my telepathic barriers too, and finally I just told her that I don't want to work with her, that I don't want to be on the same ship as her, and that I lovehergoodbye."

Storm regarded Cristobel with a small, only slightly forced smile before returning to his reading. Cris had momentarily felt annoyance radiate off Storm like a phaser when he first sat down, but it had quickly settled into a slight bemusement. Chris was impressed with Storm's emotional control. It was rare for a mouth-talker.

"Did you just get in?" Cris asked without waiting for an answer. "Which ship?"

"The Drake." Storm didn't bother to look up or elaborate.

"Ah, so you can talk," Cris said with a grin. "I was about to go get my tricorder and give your vocal cords a full examination."

Storm continued reading but allowed another slight smile. "I can speak when given the chance. To be perfectly frank, I was curious how long you'd go on without asking me a question."

"Oh, I could go much longer," Cris grinned. "If you don't have something important enough to warrant interrupting me, then it's probably not worth saying."

Storm made some kind of non-descript throat noise that was supposed to convey that he understood, but continued reading. Cris may have been offended if he had sensed any intent from Storm to be rude but it wasn't intentional. He was just careful and guarded. Truth to tell, he was finding Storm hard to read. Not that the Ensign seemed to have any mental defense beyond human norm. It was just that there was so much swirling in his head that it was all a bit difficult to sort out without digging deeper.

"I'm Cristobel Sefton," Cris offered, extending his hand across the table. Storm stopped reading long enough to accept it reluctantly.

"Ethan Storm."

"No, it's pronounced Cris-to-bel," Cris said, and then held up his own PADD displaying Storm's file. "I already know who you are. We're going to be on the Sulu together! I've been doing some homework of my own, you see. And I think I remember you from the Academy. I mean, we didn't know one another, but I knew of you. You were pretty good at hoverball as I recall."

"I was okay." Storm shrugged. Cris didn't detect any false modesty in the statement, but only the briefest twinge of regret.

"Are you as excited about the ship as I am?" Cris asked, deciding to avoid conversation that might provoke unpleasant memories. He had no way of knowing how just about anything could take Ethan down that road.

Storm smiled and levelled his gaze directly at Cris. "You tell me."

Cris smiled. "Okay, okay. So you're not excited. You're looking forward to the challenge, but you seem to regard the ship as...irrelevant."

"A ship is a ship," said Storm. "It's the job that's relevant."

Scoffing, Cristobel asked, "You're saying the difference between an Intrepid-Class vessel, and say, a Galaxy, or a Type-2 Shuttle, or a Borg cube wouldn't affect you in the least bit?"

Storm took one last bite from his tray before pushing it away. "Only in so much as being on those ships would affect the job. Except for the Borg cube. The humidity on those ships would probably also affect my hair. It frizzes."

Cris laughed. "Nice of you to lower your shields long enough to make a joke."

"Oh, it's no joke," Ethan said with a mock-serious tone. "My hair in high humidity is truly horrifying."

Cris smiled politely, before non sequituring, "Are you pulling any duty on the station while we wait around for our ride?"

"I'm officially on leave for three more days or until the Sulu arrives, whichever comes first," offered Storm. He held up the PADD in his hand and indicated the small stack on the table. "I'm taking advantage of the downtime."

"You're spending your leave chasing around your next duty station with your nose in a PADD?" Cris asked, not believing his ears. "I'm all for a strong work ethic, but it's going to be all work and no play soon enough. I'd take advantage of the station facilities while they're available."

"I tried to book a little holosuite time," Storm offered. "But the backlog is ridiculous. They're supposed to contact me if they have a cancellation."

Cocking an eyebrow, Cristobel asked, "Now what kind of program would a man like you be planning to play?"

"Nothing like that, I assure you," Storm insisted, guessing correctly what the raised eyebrow meant. He tapped one of his PADDs on the table. "I brought my own programs with me."

Cris appeared to be disappointed at the vanilla admission, but then reached across the table and grabbed that PADD, taking the indication as some kind of invitation. "Okay, let's see what we got here," Cris said, punching the keys and beginning to read aloud. "Storm Ju Jitsu Sparring 1A, 2A, 3A, and 4A. Storm Mok'bara Sparing 1A, 2A, 3A, and 4A. Storm Tactical Simulation Intrepid One."

"Look," Storm began. " Not everybody relaxes in the same--"

"Storm Tactical Simulation Sovereign One," Cris continued reading and making an effort to drown out Storm's voice. "Gorn on Cestus III - Single Attacker. Vulcan Suus Mahna Master - Single Attacker. Oooooh, here's something interesting finally: Orion Female - Multiple Attackers." Cris cocked another eyebrow. "You call the Orion females attackers too? That casts you and the Gorn on Cestus III in a whole new light."

Storm snatched the PADD from Cris but couldn't help smiling a little as he returned it to the stack. "I'll have you know that Orion females are the most formidable practitioners of Py-Tan Ma. Orion foot fighting. They're way better at it than men. It developed from their ritual dances centuries ago as a means of defense."

"Uh-huh," Cris said, not because he was unconvinced but because he was enjoying giving Storm a hard time.

Storm sat up in his chair, a little defiantly. "Like I started to say, not everybody relaxes in the same way. It's either these simulations or hitting the PADDs. This is how I have fun."

"There is fun to be had outside of holosuites," Cris insisted. He wasn't particularly bothered by the idea of Storm fighting in a holosimulation or sitting alone in his darkened quarters, probably brooding, but he still wanted to ensure Ethan knew of the many opportunities all around him. "The officers who came into Sickbay with pulled muscles were positively raving about the gymnasiums, Lieutenant Salo, who was down for heartburn, told me that there's a couple exotic restaurants on the lower decks that cook real food, and the arboretum is...mediocre, but still passable for relaxation time."

Storm stirred a little at the mention of the arboretum and Cris caught a thread of a memory that flashed in Storm's mind before the young security officer forced it back down. "I'll be sure to consider your suggestions," Ethan assured him, rather succinctly.

Cris left the memory flash alone and shook his head. "Consider? Just have fun. Too many promotion-minded junior officers are gagged and bound to their duty stations during their own time."

"That's the difference between us. I don't think it's our own time."

"I'm starting to think I should organize some game nights once I'm onboard the Sulu," Cris said, ignoring the obsessively driven Storm, as he learned to do with his similarly obsessive Benzarite roommate on the Miranda. "We could play charades or Go Fish."

Ethan began shaking his head. "That sounds all well and good but-- "

Cris interrupted, "That's great! You'll be at the top of my list of invites."

Storm sat stunned for a moment before he actually sagged in his chair. "Yes. That is just great," he said, looking the very definition of defeat.

---

"Back On Duty"
By: Ensign Dwayne Sanchez

Location: USS Sulu - Crew Quarters
Stardate: 57906.26, 13h50

***

Dwayne slammed his hand on the alarm clock he had on his nightstand and rolled over to his right side only to have to computer inform him, "Current time is 13h00. Time to get up, Ensign Sanchez."

A groan escaped his lips as he sat up in his bed. The sheet slipped from his naked form, just as he liked to sleep, and he stretched his arms up above him for a moment. Standing up, he made his way to the door only to realize that the room, the entire quarters, was quiet, the only sound being the soft sound of the engines as they wound their way to Starbase 163.

He went back to his dresser and slipped a fresh pair of undershorts and a uniform from it, not to mention a fresh pair of socks, then, walking as he was, he made his way to the lavatory for a shower.

He sealed the room and left his uniform on the john and turned on the shower. He entered the stall and allowed the sonic shower to remove the dirt and filth from his body. A moment later, once the shower was done, he stepped out and ran a comb through his hair.

He glanced at himself and realized he needed a shave. Taking his razor out he ran it over his face for the time it needed to get rid of the facial hair he had there. Then he got dressed.

After he'd performed his morning ritual, including brushing his teeth, he left the lavatory and went to the replicator. "Short stack hotcakes, maple syrup, sausage, orange juice and coffee." After thinking about that a moment, he said, "Scratch the coffee, make it a raktajino, hot."

As the replicator produced the chosen items, he stood there with his hands behind his back. Once his breakfast appeared, he took the tray from the platform and walked to the little dinette set that was in the quarters and began to eat.

He couldn't just sit there and take his time like he would if he'd gotten up an hour earlier, but he'd needed a good night's sleep and he got that the night before. He plowed into the pancakes and sausage and within minutes they were gone. Then came the orange juice, and then the raktajino.

He placed the dishes back on the replicator and set the device to recycle, then checked the time again. "Current time is 13h45," came from the computer. He sighed. He still had time, but he left his quarters and headed for the closest turbolift.

"Bridge," he said as he entered the lift. He rested there against the wall of the car and relaxed a little.

Before too long, the doors to the lift opened up and he stepped out and made his way to the ops console, taking over approximately ten minutes early.

---

"Care Package"
By Ensign Amy Reese - Medical Officer
and Ensign Cristobel Sefton - Nurse

Location: Starbase 163, Sickbay/USS Sulu, Sickbay
Stardate 57906.26, 14h04

***

Sauntering into the Starbase's Chief Medical Officer's empty office, Nurse Sefton began to hum absently to himself, once the transparent doors slid shut behind him. He made his way behind the desk, and sat on the immensely comfortable chair with his legs folded under him. He fidgeted to get perfectly comfortable, but ended up losing balance, and spinning the chair around three-hundred-and-sixty degrees. He grabbed the desk to retain balance, but then used that hold to spin the chair around another time. He instructed the computer to set up a subspace link to the USS Sulu's Sickbay, and spun his chair around again as he waited for the computer to complete his instructions.

A human woman in medical blue appeared on the desktop screen, and Cristobel struggled to both focus his dizzy eyes on hers and remember what he was supposed to be doing. When Sefton had incessantly offered to assist the CMO, as he healed a crewman who suffered from a barely bleeding scrape, the doctor had insisted on Cristobel working on a "special" project. Slower than he would have liked, Cris remembered what the project was.

Finally, he said, "Right. I'm Ensign Sefton on Starbase 163, and I've been instructed to pull together a care package for the Sulu's medical needs. Do you know of any equipment or pharmaceuticals your Sickbay requires to be replicated in the industrial replicators here or special ordered from Starfleet Medical?" Cris grinned.

Ensign Amy Reese propped her elbows onto the desk and leaned her chin into her hands. She smiled back at the man with the same enthusiasm as she did everything in life. "Nice hair," she commented. "You mind if I make mine that shade?" She raked her fingers through her black locks. "I've been looking for a new colour. Oh, Ensign Reese, by the way."

Looking pleased with validation, Cristobel enthused, "Doctor Sras was just snarking to me about how it unnaturally hides an inner beauty, and so I told her that I was born with the wrong natural hair colour. I say you should go for it, Reese. As long as you don't think it'll be terribly quirky with us soon working together, I'm vibe with it."

Amy's face lit up brighter than would have been otherwise imaginable, if it had been someone other than Amy Reese. "You're coming to the Sulu? That's great! Maybe we'll share shifts, talk hair colours. I had the aesthetician on board mix this intense shade of blue for me. I think it would look great on you."

"That would certainly amuse," Cristobel beamed. "It sounds like you've got an awfully understanding CMO, if he lets you gossip on duty." He feigned innocence, before continuing, "Without...irritating him for an hour. Now, we'll get back to the gossip in a nano, but what is the Chief Medical Officer like?" He leaned in closer to the screen secretive-like.

Amy glanced sidelong in either direction to ensure privacy, then hunched forward, closer to the screen. "Haven't really talked to him much, aside from duty stuff, but he's sorta quiet, especially when he's absorbed in his work. Rumour has it - now, I can't reveal my source - that he and the commander used to have a thing for each other, but now they absolutely despise one another! I don't know if it's true or not, but I hear he used to work on Bajor, so the opportunity was there." She shrugged and straightened up slightly. "But he's a pretty nice guy, all in all." Amy giggled and winked as she added, "And damned cute too."

Sefton nodded approvingly, still smiling. "Eye candy is always a good for those days when there's no need for vaccines to be created for mysterious mutated maladies. And perhaps you could put some pressure on the XO to come down to Sickbay to get her annual physical check-up, but not until I arrive to see what happens," he said with a chortle and a cocked an eyebrow.

Amy's grin took on an air of mischief. "Oh, that should inject some excitement into an otherwise dull day. With you around, Ensign, I imagine we can spice things up on a consistent basis. When's your handsome butt arriving anyway?"

"Honestly, I don't even have the glimmer of an idea of when that's going to happen." Cristobel shrugged. Fighting off a pout, he continued, "I'm simply waiting for the Sulu to arrive at the Starbase. As for when that's going to occur, well, you're more in the know than I am."

"Well, we're supposed to be en route to Starbase 163. I hear we'll be arriving in a day or so. If that's where you are," she said with a cheerful grin, "then you're in luck!"

"I am on one-six-three," Cris affirmed, with emphatic hand gestures. "And I am in luck! This probably sounds crazy, but I think the first thing I'll do when I get aboard is sleep for twelve hours. The Starbase just had a massive influx of permanent personnel, and so Corran, the eternal giver that he is, offered up our huge officer's quarters, since we're only staying temporarily. So we've been put in crewman's quarters that just have bunk beds. Bunks! As comfy as a tight squeeze with Corran can be, it's not terribly indicative of a good night's sleep."

"Bunks, huh?" Amy smiled smugly at Cristobel. "Most of the quarters around here have two beds. Hell, I've got two bedrooms in mine! I'm currently bunking with this ensign... Drama queen, let me tell ya, but the butt on him!" Amy whistled and fanned her face as if a hot flash had just hit her. "You should've seen him skinny dipping." She moaned and smiled dreamily. "You're missing all the action, Seffy. You'd better hope we get there soon so I can fill you in on absolutely everything."

"Nothing to angst about - I'm not exactly short of action on the Starbase, and I'm sure there will be plenty more on the Sulu once I get there. Plus, I think I'm supposed to take my time on acquiring the wish list from you. The doctor said it should take as long as it takes, and the head nurse is glad to see me out of the 'bay, since she thinks my enthusiasm is an effort to steal her job from her or some such nonsense." Cristobel pfft'ed, quickly rolling his eyes.

Amy snorted. "Who would want to be head nurse? Too many responsibilities! Well, if she wants a long list, I think I can come up with something. We'll definitely be needing more dermal regenerators. You should see this crew! A bunch of klutzes around here. I swear, we get at least fifteen cuts and scrapes each day, and considering this is a science vessel with only a crew of a hundred or so, that's a lot!"

"Well then what's going to happen when the crew goes into battle, with exploding control panels and emergency forcefields zipping up all over the place? Sounds like beefing up the Sulu's medical staff is direly needed. I hope we'll still have time to gossip," Sefton said with some concern.

"Oh, don't worry, Seffy," Amy assured him. "We'll always have time outside of duty. After all, I'll have to introduce you to Kelli. She's a sweet girl and I'm...well...fond of her." A slight blush touched Amy's cheeks, then she laughed bashfully. "Anyway, I'll be sure to delve into as much gossip as I can before you get here so I can fill you in."

"That's a relief." Cristobel grinned cheekily, "Is there anything gossip-worthy you've heard of recently? Or participated in?"

Amy snickered. "Oh, you're sneaky, Seffy. I could tell ya, but then I might give you the wrong impression of me." She leaned in closer to the screen and shot him a sly grin. "After all, I'm really not the kind of girl who goes skinny dipping with two practically complete strangers."

"That's just a Sunday morning brunch on Betazed." Scoffing playfully, Cristobel admonished, "I'm a little disappointed. Here I thought you were someone who really likes to have a good time..."

Amy feigned indignation as she pulled back and jammed her fists into her hips. "Sure, that's nothing, but you don't even know the half of it! You just wait, Seffy. When you arrive, I'll show you Amy Reese's definition of 'a good time.' " She grinned at him and added, "I hope you're ready for me, Ensign."

Sefton laughed, "Is that a challenge?"

"You're damn right it is, Seffy," she shot back, jabbing her finger at the image of him for emphasis. She made every effort, however, to avoid poking him between the eyes. Very impolitic, her mother would always tell her, but this had the makings of a war, and nothing was too tactless in such situations. "You just wait, Seffy. You'll regret ever challenging Amy Polly Reese." She scowled at him. "Don't you dare laugh. It's a perfectly fine middle name."

Putting a hand over his mouth, Cristobel yawned. "What was that? I think I fell asleep." He blinked hard a couple times. "It could be the bad bed, or maybe it was all the hollow posturing. I assure you, no one has a good time quite like Cristobel Arion Sefton. And that's a fact, ma'am."

Reese smirked at Cris and dismissed him with a languid hand gesture. "You might want to add an extra dermal regenerator to the list. You'll need it to heal that bruised ego you'll suffer when I'm through showing you up."

"And how exactly are you going to do that?" Cristobel asked, the picture of perplexity. "Dancing on the holodeck in a see-through outfit? Skinny dipping with three practically complete strangers?"

"Don't you patronize me, Seffy," she chided. "I've got more up my sleeve than that. Hell, that was just practice! You'll see, Seffy." She chuckled lowly. "Oh, you'll see it all."

---

"Memories and Daydreams"
By Ensign Andrea Collins

Location: Risa
Stardate: 57906.26, 14h15

***

Andrea had spent all day by the pool. There were several who had walked by her that had asked about the tattoos. The place she'd chosen to stay at allowed nude sun-bathing, and therefore she'd chosen to strip from her suit and lay on the chaise, face down, without it. She did however have on some sunglasses over her eyes and some sunblock to keep the sun from burning her. It was in that position she'd chosen to fall asleep again.

***

"Andi, you should see yourself, you're going to kill yourself if you don't get some sleep soon," Kyok said.

"Ky, leave it, will you? I can't sleep till I get this figured out." She laid on her bunk and had her report in front of her. "Clea wants this as soon as possible."

"Clea always wants things 'As soon as possible.' You don't have to do things just as he asks."

"Ky, you know me, I'm one of those that try to follow the rules here." A scoff from his direction on his bed. They were always co-ed, one male one female per room. "Okay, so I've snuck out from time to time, tell me you haven't done that too?"

Ky had the grace to blush. "Okay, so I've done it too, everyone who's joined the order has."

She nodded. "I thought so." She'd laughed at his discomfiture and went back to her report.

Some moments later, she'd finished her report and placed the PADD-like device to the table and sighed. "There, all done." She glanced over at Ky.

"Oh? Really?" Ky reached over and grabbed the device and ran through the report.

She leaped at Ky, a shriek escaping her lips as she did, her hand reaching for the device. Ky pulled it from her reach, and before she could stop him, he placed a kiss to her mouth.

She shoved away from him. "That's another rule we need to be careful of. We can't risk Clea catching us doing anything that is remotely related to that."

"That's not what you're really worried about, you're worried about being fifteen and doing that."

"In your dreams, Ky. You just don't think anyone could resist you."

Ky growled and leapt at her. His hand wrapped around her throat and cut off her oxygen. A hand wandered down over her form taking in her form.and her being unable to breathe, didn't help. She shoved at him only to have him tighten his hand about her throat.

Then the door slammed open. It was Clea and he strode over and pulled Ky off her. Once Ky's hand moved from her throat she was able to breathe again, but not without a ring of bruises about her neck from where Ky had a hold of her.

"I told you not to touch anyone of the females here. Especially Andrea. Now get the hell out of here, I don't want to see your face again." He slammed Ky against the wall, knocking his head hard against the solid wood of the wall, before he stumbled out of the room.

Clae walked over to her. "Are you okay, Andi?"

After catching her breath she nodded. "Yeah, thanks. H-He w--"

"Shhh, it's not necessary to speak of it further. He's gone and gone for good. Nothing more to be concerned about." He enfolded her in his arms in a bear hug, something she hadn't felt in years and she did something else she hadn't done in years, she cried.

"Oh this is great, me a big strong mercenary bursting into tears."

"You're still human, and allowed such things. As a Klingon, I'm not allowed those."

"Yeah, but you're still gentle when it comes to me or any of the other females in the group. Why is that?"

He pulled her back so he could look her in the eye. "I'm just a...what's the word, old softy?"

She laughed, the tears drying on her cheeks. "Yeah, that's the word." She sighed. "I couldn't fight him off. He had all the leverage. I need to be able to fight my way out of that kind of thing next time."

"You are pretty good at a lot of the hand-to-hand stuff, perhaps I could teach you some things."

"Sure." She nodded, she knew what he meant. That was when she'd started the Klingon form of martial arts. She didn't quite learn all of it.

A few months later, while doing a job, she was caught by the guards. One grabbed her about the throat and threw her against the wall. The problem with this was it was too much like when Ky had done the same thing, when he'd tried to rape her.

Her skills in the new form of martial arts weren't good enough, and what she'd fought so hard against Ky happened with this one.

That happened just before she was taken prisoner by the Dominion.

Then she woke up.

***

She woke up and glanced about herself to find she was still on Risa, still on the lounge, and still in the nude. She pulled her suit and cover up back on and made her way back to her room.

---

"Clash of the Titans"
by Lieutenant Xayella Tagliesh
Counselor Resanna Jhenal

Location: Sickbay, USS Sulu
Stardate 57906.26, 16h15

***

Once again the doors of the sickbay parted, and once again Xayella Tagliesh, still bed-ridden and restless, sat up eagerly to see who could be walking in this time. She sighed as her hopes were dashed once more and a nurse came through instead of Matt. With a resigned shrug, she reclined upon the bed again and closed her eyes. The characteristic hiss of the parting doors sounded again, and as unsettling as the noise was in the memories that it triggered of her time on Dorvali 449, Xayella still bolted upright and responded to it with an expectant smile. Matt still wasn't the person who strode through the doors, though this next visitor did pique her interest.

When the hell did royalty arrive on board? she asked herself sarcastically. She sized up the elaborately dressed woman and all but dismissed her with a contemptuous snort. As the woman drew closer to her, Xayella's annoyance rose. She wasn't in the mood for well-wishers, especially from someone who had such gaudy choice in clothing. With a grimace, she slipped back down beneath her thermal blanket and snapped her eyes shut. If she ignored her, maybe the dear princess would go away.

"I very much doubt that, seeing as how I am ship's counselor." The unknown woman spoke forcefully, knowing well that Lieutenant Tagliesh was very much conscious underneath her thin layered safe-haven.

"I'm not here to wish you well, just see how you are feeling." Resanna Jhenal got no reply. "You aren't aware, but I do have much patience and a clear schedule for the next ten hours. I once had a patient spend two hours just staring at a wall before he even remotely muttered to me his name..."

Xayella sighed impatiently, opened her eyes and flashed Jhenal an irritated glare. "I don't like counsellors and I certainly don't need one."

"Usually those whom first admit they do not need a counselor are usually those whom need them the most..."

Xayella threw back her blanket and pushed herself into a sitting position. With arms stubbornly folded over her chest, she eyed the counsellor warily and said, "If you're interested in how I'm doing, why not ask a nurse?"

"Because the nurse cannot report your mental well-being," Resanna butted back.

"My mental well-being is fine. And besides, when was it a counsellor's duty to visit indisposed officers? Just because I'm in the sickbay doesn't mean I'm insane."

"I am not labeling you a mental psychotic, Lieutenant Tagliesh. As of yet..." Counselor Jhenal sensed much apprehension coming from the older officer. It was going to be quite a nut to crack, but her job demanded challenges. "You just went through a horrific ordeal with unknown and dangerous hostile aliens. Such events are mentally crippling and if not diagnosed properly can lead to severe mental disorders. Such as Post Traumatic Stress.

"Now, if you wish to continue this course of refusal to adhere to my simple conversation to see how you are, we can wait until a later date when the signs are in full force and you are medically discharged from Starfleet because you are unable to fulfill your duties properly." The Counselor spoke up with a brash tone. Not sure as it was coming from her aristocracy heritage or her flat out annoyance with this officer.

"In the chain of command, you do outrank me. Though, in fields of medical crisis, my superiority well out-does your own. The choice is yours, Lieutenant."

Xayella laughed wryly and could only shake her head incredulously. "I've been through far more traumatic things than this, Counsellor, and I'm still mentally stable...relatively." She narrowed her eyes at the counsellor and leaned in closer. "So...who sent you?"

"I sent myself." Lieutenant Jhenal paused, giving Tagliesh a stern, empty look. "This might be a hard concept for you to grasp, for someone as self-absorbed and arrogant as you are. Though, when people are in need of help, counselors do reach out to help for more than just orders and protocol.

"Ensign Tchalla Mel'Chir as well went through a horrible ordeal, and it is my right and place to see if she is in trouble. Not just for the safety of this crew and well-being, but for her own genuine sake as a living, breathing humanoid. As well as I care about her, even though I do not know her."

Xayella eyed the woman queerly and felt the sudden urge to get as far away from her as she could. "I'm glad you care so much about the crew and their mental welfare...but really, I'm fine." She smirked at the woman and added, "But I can always concoct some fake mental illness for you to cure, if that would satisfy you."

"As well, I'm sure, indulge your abundant appetite for mental trickery. Though, seeing as how you seem to be doing well, I will leave you to your thoughts." Nodding to her with utmost respect, Counselor Jhenal turned and headed her way towards the door for her departure.

"Yeah...well you'd better stay out of my thoughts from now on," Xayella murmured irritably.

Having a quick thought as the doors hissed open, Resanna turned. "One more thing, I will talk to the captain about having you come see me once a week to work on your social interaction skills." Smiling, the amused counselor quickly added, "And I wouldn't try getting out of this either. Using family or romantic affiliations. I can honestly tell you, it will not work. Good day, Lieutenant. It was a pleasure to meet you."

"Romantic--?" Xayella pursed her lips tightly at the woman, and once the doors sealed behind her, she threw back her sheets and swung her legs over the side of the bed. "Weekly visits my eye," she muttered. She put some weight on her feet to test her legs. Whether they would support her or not, she was determined to escape from the sickbay and that's what she would do. If only she could find something other than a medical gown to wear....

---

"Past Imperfect"
By Ensign Ethan Storm - Security Officer
and Crewman 1st Class Shyla Lynn Moreau - Astrometrics Technician [NPC+]

Location: Starbase 163, Arboretum
Stardate 57906.26, 16h21

***

As much as Storm hated to admit it, his encounter with Sefton in the Mess Hall did open his mind to the other possibilities on the station. Storm had been so busy trying to stuff his brain with every last security protocol on board Intrepid-class starships, he had never even considered just taking some time to unwind and relax. Sefton may have been misguided on a multitude of levels but he was right about one thing: It would be all work and no play soon enough.

Until his fourth year at the Academy, Storm never had much of an appreciation for nature. Although he was one of few Starfleet brats actually born on Earth, most of his youth was spent on or near his father's various duty stations, barely setting foot planetside until he was well into his teenage years. It wasn't until his science tutor had practically dragged him to the Academy gardens that he began to look at things a bit differently. It didn't hurt that his tutor had been a beautiful girl, only in her first year but brilliant in the sciences, and they had spent hours studying in the gardens together. Inevitably, it had taken a romantic turn and she had nursed him through his various fourth year science requirements until he left on his Cadet Cruise. Initially there had been some attempts to stay in touch but when Seja came into his life, nearly everything and everyone had gone by the wayside. It was cruel irony that since her death, Seja still occupied nearly all of his thoughts and nearly every moment of nostalgia he allowed himself. In fact, Storm had not even remembered Shyla Moreau until Sefton mentioned the arboretum at lunch.

So when Storm entered that arboretum and immediately saw the very girl he had been thinking about ever since that conversation, he was convinced momentarily that he and the entire Starbase must have somehow materialized in another universe - one where thought and time and space were not the separate and distinct things that we believe them to be. Shyla Lynn Moreau was sitting on a bench, reading an actual leather-bound book with paper pages and smiling to herself. She wore a Starfleet uniform with blue collar and her long hair was down around her shoulders. As Storm approached the apparition and it became apparent that this was the real Shyla Moreau and that he was indeed in the same old universe, Storm made a mental note to lay off reading old starship mission logs.

"Shyla?" Storm said with a question in his voice. That she was there was simply too hard to believe.

When she looked up from her book, her smile faded a bit at the sight of Storm but she didn't seem at all surprised. "Hi, Ethan," she offered. "I thought I might be seeing you."

Storm looked even more amazed. "You're way ahead of me, then. You're the last person I expected to see." Storm looked at her closely, noting the uniform and the enlisted patch at the collar. "Crewman First Class? I don't get it. You were at the Academy."

"I transferred to the enlisted program at the end of my first year," Shyla said, closing her book but continuing to look down at the cover, the smile fading completely.

"Why'd you do that?" Storm asked, incredulous. "It couldn't have been grades. You were --"

"No," she interrupted. "It wasn't anything like that. I...I was just in a hurry to get into space."

"Oh," Storm said, a little lamely. They stood in awkward silence for a moment before Storm decided to end it. "I actually thought I was hallucinating. I had been thinking about you ever since I found out this place existed so to walk through the doors and actually see you here. It's a little...surreal."

Shyla's grin returned though not as warmly and completely as Storm remembered it. She tilted her head back and looked up at the holographic sun. "It's my favorite place on the station. Even if it leaves something to be desired."

Storm took his first good look around and had to agree. The arboretum was, as Cris had indicated, a bit of a disappointment. The plant life was fairly unremarkable and the holographic sky had a little too much green in it to be truly convincing. There was a tell-tale shimmer at the horizon where the holomatrix was breaking down and you could even catch the occasional glimpse of the yellow gridlines if you tilted your head a certain way.

"The person in charge of the emitter maintenance should be flogged," Storm observed, taking an unoffered seat on the bench.

Shyla laughed, a bit forced. "I think Starfleet stopped flogging a just a few years ago. Lieutenant Adler usually does a better job than this but he's on leave. I guess the station commander doesn't consider this a high enough priority to warrant a replacement."

"I'm surprised you didn't offer your services," Storm said with a smile, remembering something of Moreau's work habits.

Shyla gave Storm a sidelong glance and a slightly embarrassed grin. "I did. It's pending approval." She shut her eyes and laughed a little at herself. "It'll probably be cleared the day Lieutenant Adler returns from leave. Things are a little loose and free here on the ol' one-six-three."

Storm began shaking his head, still amazed. "I still don't get why you weren't excited to see me. Or surprised. I mean surprised."

"I wasn't excited or surprised, sir," Shyla said with a sly smile.

"But how could you have expected to see me?" Ethan asked, ignoring the light jab.

"I knew you were going to be on the station," she said, shrugging. "I saw the Sulu's personnel manifest yesterday. If I hadn't run into you, I was planning on looking you up."

Storm tilted his head. His face was a question mark but Shyla didn't wait for the question to be asked. Her face grew stony. "I wanted to take you to task for your lack of correspondence once you got out to the fleet."

A lifetime of being his father's son and grandfather's grandson, Storm had met some of Starfleet's toughest personnel. His security force training and athletic interests had complimented this experience. He had received training on withstanding interrogation. He had read about some of the horrific tortures so-called civilized cultures still practiced throughout the galaxy. He was as prepared for confrontation as a Starfleet officer could be and it only took one second under the hard stare of a twenty year old enlisted woman before Storm began stammering out a bizarre and completely incoherent explanation.

Shyla, for her part, began to grin immediately when Storm's face turned its first shade of crimson and her smile only broadened while he sweated out his confession. She knew what had happened on the Yeager but Ethan had stopped communicating with her months before the battle with the Jem Hadar and it was mostly because of that incident that she had previously resisted the urge to contact Storm. She had resented how he had just disappeared from her life. She had been angry that she had meant so little to someone who had meant so much to her. It had hurt her.

However, as she listened to his tortured explanation, Shyla realized that he knew none of this. He didn't know about the sleepless nights. He didn't know about the times she had cried. He didn't even know that he had a small part in her decision to leave the Academy. Storm wasn't cruel. He may have been a bit oblivious, a little selfish, and kind of stupid but he didn't do any of it on purpose. Shyla knew that if she let Storm continue his explanation, she would not be able to make the same claim.

"Sir," Shyla interrupted. "I'm just kidding you."

Storm exhaled his relief immediately but he was still mildly panicked. "I would like to try to explain it to you sometime. I owe you that, I think."

Shyla smiled as she rose, clutching the thick book to her chest. "You'll get the chance, sir. I have a transfer to the Sulu pending my decision. I'm going to tell my CO to send it through."

With that Shyla smiled and walked away, leaving Storm a little stunned on the bench. She made it all the way to the parted double doors before he got his voice back.

"When did you make this decision?" Storm asked, having to yell a bit to cover the distance.

Shyla looked back over shoulder and smiled, this one more like the one he remembered. "Just now!" she yelled back. "See you on the ship, sir!" The doors slammed shut.

---

"Hopeful Futures"
Lieutenant Xayella Tagliesh
Captain Matt Salinger
Commander Lyrr Tayla

Location: Bridge, Ready Room, USS Sulu
Stardate 57906.26 16h35

***

After suffering the indignity of having to walk through the ship's corridors in nothing but a sickbay gown, and combined with her aggravating encounter with the obviously insane counsellor, she felt it was her right to storm onto the bridge as she had. At least now she was wearing a uniform, one she'd retrieved from her quarters, and could vent her frustrations without herself looking less than mentally sound.

When she stopped before Matt's chair, the glare Commander Lyrr gave her was expected and acknowledged with a falsely congenial smile; knowing she annoyed the commander to no end brightened Xayella's mood slightly, but when she asked Matt if they could speak in his ready room, the edge in her tone proved to herself that she was still livid.

"Of course," Matt said and waited for Xayella to back up a step before standing. "Number One, you have the bridge. This way, Lieutenant." With that, he led the way across the bridge, and through the doors to his Ready Room. After the doors had closed, he turned around, concern etched on his face. "I take it everything isn't alright."

Xayella sighed. "Can I sit? I'm a little...winded I think." At Matt's ready nod, she moved to one of the vacant chairs and sank down into it. She let out a relieved breath and allowed her weary body to relax. "Much better..."

"Yes," Matt said, and took a seat next to her. "You look winded. What are you doing on the bridge? Dr. O'Shea didn't tell me he released you from Sickbay."

"That's because he didn't. I...went for a little walk and decided not to return." She smiled at him reassuringly and patted his knee. "Don't worry, I'm fine...though, according to the ship's counsellor, I'm on the verge of a mental breakdown."

Matt sighed. "I have a feeling coupling your background with what happened down there, she thinks you're probably in bad shape. So, after all that, how are you doing, Xay? I know a lot of people have trouble after those sorts of experiences. Do you have any nightmares? Do you feel that what you went through has...will affect your performance?"

"I'm fine, Matt. I mean...there haven't been nightmares..." She shrugged uncomfortably. "I try not to think about it. I just... I feel guilty, and I will for a long while. I just... I could've done more." With a weak chuckle, Xayella added, "Silly, I know. There was nothing I could've done, but still..."

"Maybe it is best for you to talk to a counsellor, or talk to someone. It's good to talk through these things. She is the ship's counsellor, and she is responsible for the ship's mental health. I can't say that you don't have to talk to a counsellor, especially if you are still feeling guilty or having nightmares. I know most of us don't like talking to counsellors, but for something like that...I think you may need it. At least until you've worked through the guilt." He reached out and took her hand into his. "And, I can be unofficial counsellor as well, if you ever want to talk, Xay. I just want to make sure, after everything, you'll be alright. I don't want to save you from being tossed out of Starfleet just to have you go insane." The smile on his face said that he was teasing, but there was genuine concern for her in his eyes.

She laughed softly and rolled her eyes at the silly man who had managed to capture her heart...not that he knew that. "She did suggest weekly visits, you know. But...I really don't think I need them, Matt. I mean...I feel fine. I look fine, don't I? Yeah, when I close my eyes, I see them there, and...and hear them..." She shuddered visibly and squeezed Matt's hand tightly for support. "I thought I was going to die," she whispered. "I thought... I didn't know if I'd see you again, or do everything I've been wanting to do... And I think that's what scared me the most."

Matt smiled. "Well, you do have the chance now to do those things you've wanted to do," he said. "Though, I think it may be a good idea for you to talk to the counsellor. It does sound like there are some lingering threads. You did go through a rather terrible ordeal, and I want to make sure it doesn't leave any lingering traces in your psyche...like involuntary shuddering just thinking about it. However, how would you like to do dinner with me on Starbase 163 once we get there? I've heard that's also a good remedy for this sort of situation."

Xayella raised a skeptical eyebrow at Matt. "In public? Where everyone can see and get ideas and spread gossip about the captain and his insubordinate officer?"

Matt smiled. "His insubordinate officer who has become rather subordinate lately. And, I don't see any trouble with having a dinner together, especially if we keep public appearances platonic. If you'd prefer, though, we can have a secret rendezvous in my quarters instead."

Xayella smiled tightly and nodded. She'd neglected to realize that her relationship with Matt would have to be a low profile one, to the point of having to smuggle her into his quarters for a chance to be with one another. It hadn't come to the point yet where it bothered her, but she had a feeling that time would come eventually. "Okay...your quarters," she replied. "We'll refrain from raising any controversy for now."

Xayella rose from her seat and took a moment to assess how she physically felt. She didn't want to be sent back to sickbay, so stood tall and gave the appearance of being fully healed. "I will see the counsellor because you want me to, Captain. And...when exactly can I return to duty?"

"That's up to Dr. O'Shea. I imagine he'll prescribe light duty at first, and then you'll be back full time. So, I imagine it'll only be a couple more days."

"So...I don't have to return to sickbay?" she ventured.

Matt grinned and then took her hand. "Talk to O'Shea. If he's satisfied with your recovery so far, then you don't have to return to sickbay. How's that sound?"

She chuckled. "Like a very diplomatic solution. You really are a captain 24 hours of the day, aren't you?"

"When it comes to following protocol and taking care of this ship, yes," Matt said. He brought his hand up and brushed it against her cheek. "I promise I'll be just Matt at dinner though."

"Why?" she asked with a sly grin. "It's always been a fantasy of mine to get into a captain's pants."

Matt couldn't help laughing. "Well, I guess that's settled then," he said with a wide grin. "I'll be just Matt tonight, but I'll make sure I'm wearing the captain's pants."

Xayella bit back a loud giggle and embraced Matt, burying her face into his chest to dampen the sound of her escaping laughter. She then gazed up at him, still chuckling, and added, "Only the pants, I hope."

Matt grinned, then kissed the top of Xay's head. "Only the pants," he said. "It's so good to have you back. I was...I was afraid we'd lose you in there."

"Sure you were," she teased. "You were only worried that you'd lose the best sexual partner you've ever had."

Matt chuckled. "Sure I was," he said. "You've got me all figured out. And, I imagine you were nice and content knowing you'd experienced the best sex you've ever had with me. I'm going to have to prove you wrong, though. You do realize that now, right?"

Xayella laughed. "Oh, and how are you planning on doing that?"

Matt gave her a mischievous smile. "I guess you'll have to come to dinner to find out, won't you?"

"I guess I will," she replied. "And if I want to make it, I'd better go get the doc to give me a clean bill of health so I can take a nap in my quarters." She slipped her arms around Matt's neck and kissed him softly. "You know," she whispered, her expression showing no trace of humour, "I was afraid too down there. I didn't think I'd get to see you again."

"We got a second chance, both of us," Matt said quietly. "I think we should use it to the best of our abilities."

Xayella smiled gently. "I know which abilities you have in mind. Fiend..." She pressed her lips to Matt's again, and thought once more about confessing her love for him. But, again, she found she couldn't, or didn't know how, at least. When the kiss broke, all she could do was gaze speechlessly at him and finally step away. "You should get back to the bridge. Lyrr will have a fit soon, wondering what her captain is doing with that witch of a science officer that's taking so long."

"I will just tell her that it was a matter concerning your counselling sessions with Jhenal. I'll see you later, Xay. Get some rest, and we'll spend some time together later."

"Will do, Captain." She winked at Matt as she turned and started for the door. For his benefit, she swayed her hips lasciviously and while the doors parted, she looked over her shoulder and blew him a kiss. Then, she disappeared onto the bridge.

Matt waited a moment before returning to the bridge. As he sat down in his chair, he glanced at Lyrr. "She's feeling better, but as is typical with most every Starfleet officer, she's not happy about having to talk to a counsellor."

"A counsellor?" Lyrr smiled slowly, displaying her pleasure. "Well...I say it's about time. Someone should have sent her to one a long time ago. I'm glad you were the one to finally do it, Captain."

"I have a feeling you will be seeing a noticeable change in Lieutenant Tagliesh from now on. She wants to be a Starfleet officer and this ship's chief science officer. I believe, Commander, you will be quite surprised."

"Nothing surprises me anymore, Captain," she said. "But...I hope you're right about her, for your own sake and career."

Matt smiled and turned his attention back to the stars streaking past on the forward viewer. "Oh, I am," he said. "I'm certain I'm right."

Lyrr sighed and couldn't help shaking her head at Matt as she returned her focus to the main viewscreen. She wondered where he'd developed such a strong sense of faith that it allowed him to believe in even the most lost of causes. Maybe he could save Lt. Tagliesh, and most likely he couldn't, but she did give him credit for at least trying as only a man like Matthew T. Salinger would.

---

"Thoughts and Ponderings"
By: Ensign Dwayne Sanchez

Location: USS Sulu - Bridge
Stardate: 57906.26, 17h20

***

While he worked on the bridge, his mind wandered over the things that had happened over the last few days. The bet that he'd thwarted, Jenara's cold rejection of him, and Amy and Kel's warmth and friendship towards him. Hard to feel badly when you've got such friends, he thought. His mind was on the 'pool party' rather than on the panel before him, but he didn't seem to really need to see the panel to know that something needed changing. His hand just moved automatically to the panel and made the changes without even looking, or knowing whether or not the changes were correct or not.

It was rather fun though. And those tattoos that Amy has on her are...interesting.to say the least. He glanced to the panel in front of him again, then went on staring out into space...literally. He couldn't keep his mind off the party in the holodeck. What in the hell were we thinking? Oh, I know. We weren't thinking, that's it. His smile could be seen by anyone who was close enough, but since everything that was being 'said' was being said in his brain, it was not likely too many of them would hear his thoughts.

I think they're both rather attractive...beautiful even, but hell, I can't have either of them...can I? Of course not, fool, you would be a fool to think you could. He shook his head a moment and then glanced about to see if anyone noticed anything he'd been doing since he'd arrived on the bridge. Noticing no one glancing at him, he went back to his thoughts.

Well, Kelzira has her spots. Those don't take away from her looks, they enhance her looks. Hell, she's gorgeous. I can't figure out why no one's nabbed her for his own yet. And those spots... Damn those are beautiful. He let out a short breath as though he was relieved, however he was still thinking of what happened in the holodeck.

Then there's Amy. Her brazen behavior, her tattoos... Damn, she's beautiful too. He shook his head again. Those were the thoughts he'd had going through his mind his entire shift.

---

"Cheaters and Saviors"
By Ensign Andrea Collins [NPC+]

Location: Risa
Stardate: 57906.26, 18h15

***

After a half an afternoon of relaxation, Andrea decided she was going to shop for souvenirs. She went from shop to shop till she found one she liked, and walked in.

For her afternoon of shopping she decided to wear a backless top that covered most of her front but left a very decent, or more to the point, a more indecent exposure of her right breast, at least leaving the very end of the mound of flesh covered, baring most of the tattoo there. She also wore an old fashioned style of pants called capris pants, from the twentieth century, which showed off the tattoo on her calf. Her outfit basically was to do just that, show off her tattoos.

She'd spent a few minutes looking around and she had found a few items she liked and since she brought her tricorder to this and through every shop, she knew what the items were worth. She would have known what they were worth. She walked to the counter where the proprietor was and stood there while she watched the customer and proprietor argue the price of an object.

"This item is worth the price marked." The accent sounded French, but she knew that couldn't be possible. "If you do not like the price, then perhaps you should put the item back and find something that is more in your ability to pay."

"I will not pay anymore than five slips of latinum, and that's final." This from the customer in front of Andrea.

"That item is worth 10 times-- no, 100 times that amount," came from the proprietor.

Andrea couldn't stand it any longer. She stepped forward and asked, "May I see the piece?"

The angry customer glanced at her, the expression on his face still angry yet it was directed at her. But, he handed the item to her. She took the item carefully in her hands and looked it over. A few moments later, she handed it back to the customer and pulled her own personal tricorder and ran the hand scanner over the piece. Her eyes would wander to the proprietor from time to time and the expression on his face wasn't happy.

Closing the tricorder and replacing the hand sensor, she said, "This piece isn't worth more than five slips. He's trying to cheat you." She turned to the ones behind her. "He's trying to cheat all of you." She didnt' say anything about having stolen things worth more than the items in the shop, but she did continue with: "These are nothing more than very cheaply made copies. And bad copies at that. There are copies out there of these same pieces that are worth more than these. They were made in the twentieth century and made by people who know more about the objects d'art like these than this man."

She glanced at the proprietor. "And I've also scanned the pieces I'm wanting to purchase. I suggest you price them the proper price and maybe in about 200 years, they will be worth the amount you have on the shelves."

"Yo...you bi--."

"Ah ah ah, temper, temper... Perhaps the price and a small percentage above so you have some profit...but that's all." She did some calculating. "A ten percent increase for profit, that's about it." She informed the man in front of her, "You should just pay him six slips of latinum, that's all it's worth. The first five and the sixth one for his profits."

The customer looked at her with a relieved expression on his face and paid the man what she had suggested he pay him, then he left, leaving Andrea there to face a very angry proprietor. "Okay, I have six pieces, at six slips, I owe you 36 slips of latinum." She dug in the pouch and pulled out 36 slips from it. "There you go."

"Get out of my establishment, bitch. If I see you in here I will call security."

She shrugged. "Then I can tell him how you've been cheating the tourists that come to this beautiful planet."

The proprietor glared at her, and accepted every slip offered to him, but he was still very angry at her.

She exited the store with her purchases and headed back to her room to add the items to her luggage. She was about bored with this vacation and was ready to go back to work again.

---

"Anticipation"
by Lieutenant (jg) Arthas Hex - Deputy Chief Tactical Officer

Location: Starbase 163 - Holo Facilities
Stardate 57906.26, 18h30

***

Arthas bent low to the animal's head and whispered Trill into its ear. The large horse-like holo-animal immediately began to sprint. Arthas smiled, taking in the fast moving air, as he guided the large animal in the direction of his barn on the Planet Pilot.

His old friend, Ricardo Creed had designed this program for him to relax when he went off to Starfleet. He still remembered his final birthday before he left for the Academy. Arthas was then apprehensive of living with aliens and was relieved when he was given the program.

Ricardo was a famous holo-designer until a couple of months back - when he died of second lung failure.

It had given Arthas a double-blow. At the time he was on the Trill homeworld, trying to control his new symbiont - and failing badly. He had heard the news and it had caused a setback. But the feeling of pain somehow encouraged the symbiont to help him.

He remembered - while he was weeping, a feeling of unity inside of him - as Hex's former hosts had all tried to comfort him at the same time.

You will be fine, the Vulcan-like Ashly Hex had told him.

It's fine to weep sometimes, the famous Rear Admiral Gredala Hex had told him.

Right now Arthas felt a mixture of emotions, from himself and his symbiont. He was feeling utterly relaxed, alike were the feelings that he got from Clavain, Hex's second, and total opposite, to Ashly host. He was feeling happy, his former superior Lt. Craz Hex, who he had gotten the symbiont from after his unexpected death was laughing as well.

After a few hours of charging through the countryside of his holo-designed estate on Planet Pilot he terminated the program and returned to feelings of anticipation of his latest assignment.

Deputy Chief of Tactical and Security, it was a big challenge on such a ship as the Sulu. But he hoped that he would overcome it with the help of his new family - the Hex's that lived inside of his chest and head.

---

"Finding Some Time to Fight the Spirits"
by Lt.(j.g.) Arthas Hex, Deputy Chief Tactical/Security

Location: Deck 23 and 26, Hex's Temporary Quarters - Habitat Section - Starbase 163
Stardate 57906.26 21h20

***

"Thank you for the last few days," Arthas said, upon reaching the young lady's quarters

The dark-haired Human blushed slightly. Arthas had known her for the last few days and had gotten to know quite a bit about her history. She was a civilian, awaiting transport to the Briar Patch, a mysterious area just outside Federation space.

There was a lot of classified information that the late-twenties human had not been allowed to tell him, but he got a general idea of a possible medical breakthrough in the not-too-distant future.

The two of them had spent the last few days counting the days until their respective starships arrived. Her starship had arrived yesterday and the pair now knew that this would be the last time that they would see each other

The woman slightly nodded her head as she said, "Would you like to come in?"

The invitation was obviously not for coffee and biscuits. Arthas recoiled mentally as his symbiont's former hosts blasted into his mind, all with conflicting choices of actions, and wills that they wished to impose on him.

Arthas realised that he had physically moved when the woman blushed through. "I...I apologise, I thought that you liked me," she said, turning around and walking through the door

Arthas made a move to walk after her. "Alison..." The door stopped him.

Arthas banged on the wall in frustration and returned to his own quarters. He needed to fight his spirits.

***Hex's temporary quarters***

Arthas had already started the fight inside of his head, talking to the former hosts of Hex to stop them from shouting at him - at least until he was in private.

He arrived at his temporary quarters and pressed the button.

"Voice Confirmation Required."

Arthas imagined forcing a wall up and rediscovered his ability to talk. "Arthas Hex, Delta 1-6-3-3 Omega."

The door obediently opened, and closed behind him.

Arthas collapsed on the bed that contained his unmade covers and clothes that he had discarded prior to his date.

He was going to have another stern talk with his spirits.

---

"Convening A Mental Meeting"
by Lieutenant (j.g.) Arthas Hex Deputy Chief Security

Location: Deck 26, Hex's Temporary Quarters - Habitat Section - Starbase 163
Stardate 57906.26 23h00

***

Arthas stripped down to his vest and boxer shorts and laid down on the bed in his temporary quarters.

He closed his eyes and cut off the outside world as best as he could.

"All of you listen up," Arthas said, trying to talk to his symbiont.

To any person in the bedroom along side him, he may have looked like a mentally-unbalanced person. He was curled up, his head resting in the crook of one arm. His Trill spots visible down his neck, torso and legs, his short jet black hair - normally brushed and gelled up - was a dry mound of hair on his head.

He looked like a wreck as he fought to control the outburst or responses from his symbiont's previous hosts.

Arthas used a technique that was taught to him by the Symbiont Commission - about the only thing they could do to help him - he imagined a large conference room.

Suddenly he was in on the USS Blizzard - his previous starship - the small conference room that was just off the bridge of the Galaxy Class Vessel.

Arthas was seated at the head of the long black table. And, one by one, each of Hex's previous hosts appeared.

Craz Hex, Arthas' previous department head and Hex's last symbiont, was the first to appear. He sat to the right of Arthas and smiled the smile of a person trying their best to help. He wore a t-shirt and some shorts - both blue.

Former Rear Admiral Gredala Hex appeared second, wearing a previous incarnation of the Starfleet Uniform. She was always composed and looked down upon Arthas from the other end of the table.

Gredala had helped Arthas when he needed help, such as when Arthas applied for the post on the Sulu. Gredala had aided him by using her tactical background to help with a test that Arthas had to do.

Arthas and Gredala had come out first - not surprisingly, as Gredala had been the leading tactician of Starfleet for forty years before retiring.

Next - Clavain Hex, the one that gave Arthas the most trouble, materialised to the left of Arthas. Arthas did not know much about Clavain as Clavain had always refused Arthas' undisciplined advances into his memories.

Arthas hoped that at some point he would be able to discover what bothered Clavain so much that he was such a pain to him.

Lastly, Hex's first host - Ashly Hex materialised next to Craz. Arthas did not know too much about Ashly either, other than she never gave him too much trouble apart from when Arthas advanced on women. Arthas didn't blame the previous host, he wouldn't like it too much if - when he was dead - he was forced to watch as Hex's future hosts engaged in a relationship with a male.

"Right then," Arthas said, mentally standing up. "Let's get some rules straight shall we?"

---