"On the Edge of Reason"

By
Legate Kylar Curran,
Chief Liaison Officer
USS Galaxy

The Last Boy Scout Part 3

by
Turan Trelar
19 year old Quentite boy

Time: About 3 years after the catastrophe

As every high noon, the sun inexorably burnt the almost shadow free dunes. As every high noon, Turan avoided the unbearable heat in the protecting shadow of his cavern. As usual, he used the time to continue his diary.

"Three of the Malo-bushes I seeded developed very well. After a year without fresh fruits there will be plenty of sweet - sour Malo-fruits the next weeks. I'm glad they thrive in the hot and dry environment almost as good as they did in wet climate.

Incredibly but the giant saucer star ship which caused the death of any vegetation as far as I can see has saved my life. My every day food consists of plants I found in the saucer's hothouse and seeds I found in a storage room. Taking into consideration there are hundred of corpses and the food I harvested was enough for at most five persons I have no clue how they covered the food requirements of their crew.

Today I again visited the alien saucer wreck. I still don't know how much decks are hidden under the sand. I just managed to fight my way to an other deck.

The corpses of the crewmen who died in the lower sections - the saucer hit the ground up side down - smell disgusting. I don't think I will be able to advance further into the wreck without taking any measures against the stink which fills me with revulsion.

I found suits the alien used to wear on their space walks. Unfortunately most of the suits were much to short. Only one seemed to fit although it looks like been washed much to hot.

I didn't find any helmet which fit over my head to seal the suit to an air tight unit. Only the helmet of one crewman who obviously belonged to a species with just half of my size but large ear lobes fit. The helmet was not compatible to the standard style suits due to its different lock so can't use it.

I don't know how species with small heads like those who manned the saucer were able to build a starship able to travel to an other solar system. I wish there had been survivors to the crash but after finding out how deep the saucer stuck into the hard ground under the sand layer there's not much hope. It's a pity. I think I'll have to abandon all hope to ever have given the chance to use what I've learned of the alien language so far."

"Double Therapy?"

Lt. (jg) Ella Grey
Karyn Dallas

*backpost before current mission, after Karyn's attack and before M'Kantu's arrival onboard

Ella hated counselling offices. No matter how personal they tried to look, they were still cold rooms where you were expected to give up your soul.

Well, not today, Ella thought as she punched in her answer to Dallas' question. She had set up her computer PADD to link directly to Karyn's computer console so there wouldn't have to be the annoying pauses where they had to pass the computer PADD between them.

*I'VE BEEN GOOD* Ella typed. *NOT MUCH NEW TO REPORT*

Karyn regarded her carefully, quite familiar with Ella's attempts to evade her. So it was going to be one of those days... It was never a good sign when Ella tried to give her a pat answer this early into the session. Dallas had thought they had gotten past this distrust in their initial sessions. She frowned, realizing they might be regressing. "Care to go to work now?" It was what she always said when one of her clients tried to skirt the issues and Karyn wanted to make them aware of it.

Ella's lips thinned. *SKIPPING THE PLEASANTRIES I SEE. I'VE BEEN FINE, DALLAS.*

Karyn smiled wryly. "No need to get cranky, Ella, I'm merely trying to save you time and energy in the long run by focusing your attention on the business at hand. Now, elaborate on what you mean by 'fine.'"

*FINE AS IN FINE* Ella replied, trying not to let her annoyance show. Truthfully, she wasn't fine and she WAS cranky. She wasn't sleeping very well, which always tended to annoy her, and she had been relying more and more on Victor lately to be able to get a good nights rest. That wasn't sitting very well with her. Ella gave Dallas a sweet smile, but couldn't quite keep the hardness out of her eyes, as she cheekily asked how her counselor had been. It was mean, knowing exactly how her counselor had been, but she needed to deflect the attenetion away until she could get herself in check again.

Karyn ignored what she perceived to be the hidden meaning behind the innocent question. Inwardly she chastized herself. She had to stop projecting her own feelings onto others. She had to focus. "I'm fine, thank you, Ella." Karyn completed the reply with her customary polite smile, which helped her believe her words. Karyn imagined she looked the part.

After the 'incident' with Victor, she'd been forced to take a couple of days off from work. While she didn't like it, she knew the doctor was going to insist she take some more time to regroup, besides the fact that it would take at least that long for the bruises to completely heal and fade. Dallas hated lying to her friends and staff, but she couldn't risk anyone finding out what Victor had done to her. It would ruin both of their careers. Brhode would certainly not allow such a weak 'candy ass cripple' to remain on his ship. He may have supported her transfer early on, but after this, how could he argue with Hoth's assessment? And how in God's name could she?

*THAT'S GOOD* Ella replied politely. She had blamed herself for what had happened between her counselor and Victor. She should have never left his quarters that day. But she realized with that she also had something to 'bargain' with, so to speak, when Dallas began asking questions that were too personal. *HONESTLY, THERE HASN'T BEEN MUCH HAPPENING. ABOUT THE ONLY THING INTERESTING WAS THE VISIT OF THE UPANISHANDS AND EVEN THEY, QUITE FRANKLY, WERE DULL.*

Karyn smiled. "Officially, I have no comment on that, but unofficially," and here she winked, "I'd have to agree." She'd never thought she'd ever describe a peaceful, uneventful, uneventful visit by another race as being boring, although she supposed after the last couple of years, things were relative. "And have you been making an effort to get out of your quarters and do some things with your fellow colleagues? *Aren't we the hypocrite?* answered a voice within Dallas. This time she ignored it, but keenly aware of the consequences of failing to listen to her inner voice, she vowed never to ignore it again

*MY SOCIAL LIFE IS FINE AS WELL* Ella typed in with a smirk. *AND I EAT THREE SQUARE MEALS A DAY, BEFORE YOU ASK.*

Karyn laughed. "I like a girl who can anticipate. And how have you been sleeping?"

Ella frowned, the question hitting too close to home, and then shrugged. *I HAVEN'T BEEN SLEEPING SO WELL. I'LL GET OVER IT*

"Will you?" It was Dallas' common reply to Grey's common response to this question. Ella hated discussing her nightmares, and while they concerned Karyn, she also knew that Ella would talk when she was ready. She prepared to hear the usual sarcastic retort.

Her eyes glittered and before she knew it she had typed out: *AT LEAST I'M NOT HIDING*

Karyn's composure faltered for a moment, but she got it back quickly enough. It was not the reply she had been expecting. In fact, it sounded almost vindictive to Karyn. "I don't understand what you mean."

*YOU'RE PRACTICALLY LEAKING WITH SHAME.* Ella examined her nails a moment before adding *IT'S VERY NOTICABLE.*

Karyn swallowed. Hard. And still she would not get angry or even allow the prickle of tears to creep upon her. And then she realized... Victor. Victor had said something to Ella. Did he think it was funny? Something for the rumor mill perhaps? Fear ran up and down her spine. Maybe something more had happened between them and the tests just hadn't shown it. Maybe Victor felt guilty for more than just slapping her around. And maybe Victor was putting a happy, consensual, face on it to save his own ass. "If you have something to say, Ella, just say it." Her voice didn't portray the slightest bit of emotion. She had retreated.

Ella made herself take a breath. Why was she doing this, she thought. Especially after the woman had been there after her own ordeal. This wasnt using the situation to her benefit, it was the begininings of an attack. Ella sighed to herself.

*DONT BE A VICTIM, DALLAS. SNAP OUT OF IT AND MOVE ON. THE UNIVERSE HAS TOO MANY VICTIMS AND NOT ENOUGH SURVIVORS.*

Karyn smiled politely. "Thank you, Counselor, I shall endeavor to process my emotions on this private matter in the manner you deem appropriate." Ella had had years to process what she'd been through, Karyn had had days. It seemed more than a little rude of Grey to think she knew exactly how she felt, especially when Karyn herself had yet to figure it out.

*VICTOR DIDNT TELL ME ANYTHING. I HAD TO FIND OUT ON MY OWN.* Ella sighed aloud this time before entering the next note. *HE HURTS TOO, IN HIS OWN WAY.* If he hadn't been her friend and if she wasn't sure that Victor was under the influence of those fembot drugs, Ella would have told her counselor to seek her revenge. *HE'S VERY SORRY, DALLAS. TRY TO FORGIVE HIM SOMEDAY, OKAY?*

Dallas found herself biting back a retort so angry and so hateful that the intensity of it robbed her of breath. When she finally trusted herself to speak, it was with the professionalism she had come to expect from herself even though her stomach remained in her throat. "With respect, Ella, if you're not ready to continue our session today, then I suggest we reschedule. As for Victor, that's something that he and I will work out when the time is right."

Ella looked at her hands for a bit before keying in her reply. *I DONT KNOW WHY I WANTED TO HURT YOU. I'M SORRY. BUT YOU HELPED ME ONCE AND I WANTED TO RETURN THE FAVOR. DONT LET IT TWIST YOUR LIFE, OKAY?* She got up to leave.

"Would that I could." Dallas muttered softly, before looking up at the retreating Ella. "So that's it, Counselor?" She asked with a small smile.

Ella fingered the keys on her computer PADD. *I HAVE BEEN HAVING TROUBLE SLEEPING LATELY.*

"Oh? Anything in particular on your mind lately?" asked Karyn, grateful to be back on familar ground.

*ALWAYS* She gave Dallas an unreadable look. *I GET MY BEST SLEEP WHEN I SPEND THE NIGHT AT VICTOR'S.*

"I see." answered Karyn, trying her damndest to not allow her own thoughts on the subject to force her to lose focus. Ella felt safe with Victor. Karyn did not. "And when you say spend the night, you mean..."

*I SLEEP IN THE SAME BED AS HIM. THAT'S ALL. I WANT MORE BUT HE DOESNT FEEL THAT WAY ABOUT ME. IS THIS ALL RIGHT, DALLAS? TALKING ABOUT VICTOR?*

She dismissed the worry with a smile. "Of course." She would not allow her personal problems to affect her work no matter how much she was reacting inside.

Ella frowned. *I DONT UNDERSTAND IT. I'VE NEVER NEEDED...COMFORT BEFORE.*

"Maybe you've just never let yourself need it." suggested Karyn. "The Defiant changed everyone, Ella. Maybe you're beginning to let go of some of those old defenses."

*ITS PROTECTION, DALLAS. AND NOW MINE'S WEAKENED. IF ONLY I THOUGHT THAT HE NEEDED ME LIKE I NEED HIM, I COULD FEEL MORE CONFIDENT ABOUT THE WHOLE THING. MORE IN CONTROL. I FEEL LIKE I'M SNEAKING OFF TO DO SOMETHING BAD WHEN I FINALLY ALLOW MYSELF TO INVITE MYSELF OVER TO HIS PLACE.*

"So are you? Aren't you just reaching out to someone you consider a friend? What does Victor say?"

Ella shrugged. *NOTHING. HE SAYS NOTHING. WE'RE ACTUALLY PERFECT FOR EACH OTHER IN THAT RESPECT.* She sighed noisily. *I JUST DONT LIKE THE IDEA OF NEEDING SOMEONE ELSE.*

Karyn paused thoughtfully and then asked, "You don't like the idea of needing someone else, or you don't like the idea of needing him? You've learned how to reach out for support when you need it, Ella, you just might not like all the responses you get."

She wanted him to want her, that was the response she wanted. *WHAT DO YOU SEE WHEN YOU LOOK AT ME, DALLAS?*

Karyn smiled. "I see a very talented engineer who's made tremendous progress when it comes to accepting herself and taking responsibility for her own life. I see a young woman who's capable of doing and being anything she puts her mind to."

Ella smiled faintly. *I HAVENT LOST MY TOUCH THEN. BUT VICTOR NEVER SAW THAT TO BEGIN WITH ANYWAY. I WISH I KNEW WHAT HE WANTED.* She made herself smile more naturally and put some of the sparkle back into her eyes. "Men. Can't live with them, can't jettison them into space."

"At least not without paperwork." Karyn admitted deadpan. "It sounds as if the ball's in your court, Ella. If you want your relationship to change, you're going to have to put yourself out there. I know you're afraid of rejection, but believe me when I tell you, you're strong enough to take it."

She blinked hard and had to look away to compose her emotions again. *THAT STRENGTH CAME WITH A PRICE, DALLAS.*

"It always does," Karyn replied softly, "and that's why you have to start making the purchase worth it, Ella."

She ignored that. *AFTER VICTOR ATTACKED YOU, WHY DIDN'T YOU REPORT HIM?*

There was no doubt Karyn was tempted to lie, or even avoid the question all together, but she didn't have the heart to delude herself. "Truth? I was mortified. I didn't want people to know, and more than that, I knew nothing was to come from reporting him." She shook her head. "I'd like to think it was because I wanted to protect him, but at the time, I was only protecting myself. Now I realize he wasn't in control and I'm working on forgiving him." She smiled wanly, it was definitely a work in progress.

Ella typed *YOURE MORE FORGIVING THAN I WAS* and hit send before she realized what she was doing. She exhaled briefly but then decided that it was an ellusive statement, neither confirming or denying anything. *WELL, I SHOULD GET GOING, DALLAS. I'LL SEE YOU IN TWO WEEKS*

"Two weeks." Karyn echoed. Dallas wondered if she would have any news to report on her own recovery by then.

"A Heart To Heart Talk"

By:
Lt. Commander Rose Isis MacAllen,
Chief of Archology

Lt (jg) Kay Elizabeth MacFarland,
Science Officer (APC)

**Rose's Office**

Her whole body and mind was tired, so tired as the young 'Commander MacAllen lays her small body down on the light purple couch near by her desk that was jam packed with PADDS from all Science departments.

Rose's eyes grew heavier and heavier as the young Betazoid started to fall asleep, the young woman and her team been working non-stop since the away team when down to the planet surface.

Since then the away team have been having alot of problems with ever natural problems known to man.

As her body started to relax more and more Rose close her eyes once more and started to go into an deep sleep, but then as young , small, gentle, hand touches her face gentle.

"Mommy, wake up!" Karyn Shinta MacAllen said to her mother while shaking her awake.

Now Rose jumped up in alert, what was Karyn doing here?

"Karyn, honey what are you doing here?" the young officer asked her older daughter who was still wearing her Betazoid PJs.

"It was my fault ma'am she got alittle worried when you didn't show up to read her an story for bedtime." Kay told her boss while walking into the little light that left on in the office.

"Rose you need to stop pushing yourself, stop burying yourself in your work. YOu been doing this and feeling sorry for yourself since Rashid was killed." Kay started to say while sitting down by her boss while picking up little Karyn who lays her head on her mother shoulder.

"It all I have Kay!"

"All you have what about the children?! How would they feel to see there mother crying herself to sleep everynight!" Kay hissed while looking down at the floor then try back into her bosses eyes.

"You don't understand Kay, I want to feel loved by an man...I have holes in my heart that needs to be fill." Rose told her friend and co-worker while walking towards her window looking out into the stars.

Kay knew this was all about James, she have seen the young human officer keeping his distance from the young Betazoid and her three children.

Plus the hate for Autumn still build up in her heart after she betrayed Rose, the young MacAllen wished that Autumn would died on an far way mission and Rose won't shed one tear for the bitch who took Wilhem away from her.

MacAllen's children would learn to hate Autumn's children and the royal blood feud will be care on for hundreds of years down the genertions of the MacAllen's blood line.

"To hell with Autumn, and if James don't love you to hell with him to. Your an wonderful woman Rose it just going to take more time for you to fall in love if James don't!" Kay hissed once more with the same hate for Autumn and her allies.

But younger half Betaziod walked over towards her boss turn her around, and started to shake her hard, "YOU NEED TO SNAP OUT OF THIS ROSE!"

With that Rose broke down in tears, Kay hold her friend close while the older woman was crying and shaking.

"It will be alright, I will help you and Dallas will too along with other friends. You need to stay strong..."

"The Safety Of The Senator."

James Corgan,
Chief Security Officer

Ramir Omar,
Rihannsu Ambassador

"It is unacceptable!"

Lieutenant Shelly O'Rourke defiantly looked at all of the ten bodyguards of the senator. They were onboard of this vessel earlier than anticipated for their shuttlecraft was to meet with them when they had left from Quentin and not four hours prior to them arriving at Quentin. They had just been modifying the quarters of Ramir Omar when O'Rourke had come to talk to them.

"You've just been creating a regenerative security system as well as four adaptive force fields and you've got phasing polaron pistols. Are you going to be fighting with the Borg Collective?" she asked of them with astonishment.

"If that is necessary to protect the only son of Admiral Omar then yes then we shall be fighting with the Borg Collective," The leader of the bodyguards replied to her questioning.

"Weren't those phasing polaron pistols used by soldiers during the Dominion War?"

"They Were Lieutenant." Ramir Omar said to her with annoyance. "These ones have been chemically enhanced to ensure that even one flesh-wound is able to kill an enemy."

"That's ridiculous!" O'Rourke said to the senator several seconds prior to her superior entering into the room. Lieutenant Commander James Lionel Corgan glanced at all of them with a questioning face.

"Lieutenant Commander," Omar said to him. "Are you going to allow for this annoying subordinate of yours to have control of your security policy?"

Already caught in a bad mood, Lieutenant Commander Corgan didn't expect to have the Romulans bad-mouthing his security offiers already. It usually took a couple of days... or a few drinks. But since this was not the case, James hit the argument off with a salvo of choice words of his own.

"Who the f**k do you think you are, calling one of my best officers annoying?!" James placed his hands on his hips, staring down at the Romulan sternly, "She's a goddamn expert in Federation law, and it's our laws concerning your little fortress that you're building in my f**king jurisdiction! Think we wouldn't know about it? We clued into the power spikes and found that you were tinkering with stuff you weren't allowed to tinker with! And worse, we made it GODDAMN clear with you about that! Any tampering with Federation technology must be approved by us, and that includes upgrades to the security system. And since we don't approve of nothing more than a couple of guards with phaser pistols, and since we can take care of the rest, your amazing wondertech can go the way of the dodo. Thank you, and goodnight!" He then began to walk away from all of them.

"Lieutenant Commander!" Omar was enraged and shocked by this behaviour. "You should not walk away from a member of the Romulan Senate!" He was trembling with rage when Corgan looked at him.

He flashed a glance at the force-field schematics. "Standard Romulan tripe. Multi layered and adaptive. We already have this sh*t installed, just swap the type of energy used and the labels in their packaging. Throw it out. You won't need it. You can't trust our tech? Then tough f**king gonads, buddy!"

"I do assure to you that this technology is greatly superior to that of your vessel." Omar was utterly furious at Corgan and his bodyguards were looking at O'Rourke with silent anger.

"And what the flying f**k is this?!?!" James pointed to the Romulan's pistol, obviously a cheap, Romulan or Orion knockoff of the Dominion standard issue sidearm, "We were told that your guards were only going to be armed with standard Romulan Disruptor pistols. Instead you bring these pieces of sh*t on my ship? Unregistered, unlicensed... and they can kill with one cut? Are you guys f**king psycho or something?!?!"

"I am completely sane," Omar said to the chief of security. "Though I would really like to kill you."

"Try me. I'm already risking an intergalactic incident by telling off as is." Corgan sighed.

The senator then sneered at Corgan. "Though I don't think that it would be appropriate though for a noble senator to kill a cowardly pacifist who allows for all of his irritating subordinates to control his department." All of the bodyguards then began to roar with laughter at Corgan.

Corgan laughed. This Romulan was something else! "Pacifist? Ohhh... you're trying to undermine my confidence or something.... nice try, numbnuts! I told your boys why they didn't need the Romulan force fields. We already have that crap, and engineering's going to sh*t a duranium log when they find out, and if you think I get p*ssed off, wait until you see what our Chief can do. As for the phasers, we have a policy. Don't kill unless you have to. You can't set those goddamn things to stun without giving the poor rube an excruciating death! So get some real disruptors and keep them on stun. No more instant necrotizing weapons for you! No more forcefields. Treat the crew with respect, and maybe just maybe... I might be happy."

O'Rourke looked uneasily at the glowering Corgan and Senator, "Sir..."

"Speak to me, Lieutenant."

She finished, "Should I call a squad in?"

James seriously considered it for a second. "Naw... I can handle this. Senator, the reason O'Rourke is here is because i'm preparing for an assignment. That... and she can handle it. We don't pawn off responsibility, we share it. And I didn't think I had to babysit this little gathering to tell you to put your toys away. It was a simple message job that even an Ensign could take care of, and you had to complicate things. Do you know why I want that sh*t taken off this ship?"

"Lieutenant Commander." Omar was really trying to be reasonable with the chief of security. "Nobody who tries to kill me deserves to survive. That is the reason for our weapons killing with one shot at an enemy. I do understand that you are the chief of security but we must have these force fields and these weapons. I do very greatly doubt though that your engineers are going to be able to deactivate our security system for my men have just encrypted the whole of power system of this deck."

James didn't flinch.

"I do hope that our situation does not have to end with us being combatants for that would not assist with the relationships of our peoples. I shall go to talk to your captain and meanwhile then my men shall keep their weapons and the security system shall remain functioning." He then proceeded to sneer at Corgan while the bodyguards looked at O'Rourke with triumph.

The chief of security stayed his ground. "Not good enough. Here, now. The weapons go. The force fields go. I'm not going to let some person die on this ship because of a combination of trigger happiness and a small scrape. Stunning will do fine. As for the force fields... I told you already. We have that covered. You don't need your own. And don't feed me bullsh*t about encrypting the power systems on this deck... i'm not that gullible. Even your officers can't get into vital engineering systems soon enough, and if you did, i'd be over here with a team of hats and bats, hauling you to the damn brig while you contemplated the charges of sabotage and espionage."

James wondered, ~"How much more is this pr*ck going to twist everything around?"~

"That is doubtful to me. Your security system would barely be able to notice members of the Borg Collective beaming onto your vessel."

"Fine... you got me." James sunk his shoulders down, "You have me backed in a corner. You win, I lose. You're grand, and I suck dick. Happy? Now, because of your fine intimidation and oratory skills, I will most humbly reward you with a compromise. How about... no disruptors, and we put in our own force fields, and before you ask... they won't have have the instant kill option activated. You have your security blanket, and we have something that won't uberf**k the ship's systems and won't cause an easy accidental death. And if you don't like it... tough sh*t. I'm the ship's security officer. It's my job to be a total @$$hole to anyone that endangers the ship, and I don't give a f**k if it's a Romulan Senator or not. Final offer. Accept it."

One of the bodyguards whispered into the left ear of the senator. Omar then smiled at Corgan. "Very Well Then Lieutenant Commander. Now then we shall be returning to my quarters to-"

O'Rourke then interrupted into the conversation. She was pointing a tricorder at all of the bodyguards. "I'm detecting several concealed knives as well as a highly illegal subspace shunting system that has just been designed to completely bypass our security system." She then reached for her phaser.

James diplomatically waved a hand, keeping O'Rourke from raising her phaser. "Stand down, Lieutenant. They're jumpy enough as is. There's no need for any weapons or any other surprises." He growled sternly, looking disdainfully at the Romulans. "They commonly carry concealed blades. You thought those shoulder pads and shiny buttons were for asthetics?"

"Your officers are not very experienced are they?" Omar then sneered at O'Rourke.

"Still..." James sighed. The Romulans were very trying, "The concealed blades are a bit excessive. They are not to be kept on your person during off duty hours. But you already knew that."

"That's acceptable but the subspace shunting system has to remain with us," Omar insisted to the lieutenant commander.

"Ambassador, you're pushing it, even for a Romulan with a paranoia complex. I can trust that your men aren't going to stick those knives in the wrong places... but the shunting device? That's illegal even in your empire! Give me the goddamn device and any other toys you haven't told me about. And before you ask, diplomatic immunity doesn't apply when I get a search warrant to turn your room inside out."

"Lieutenant Commander." Omar diplomatically smiled at Corgan. "If you would allow for us to retain the subspace shunting system then I could get an additional pip to be added to your uniform." He then looked at Corgan hopefully.

"Hmmmmm..." James considered the ambassador's offer. He made a show of it, pacing around the Romulans, hand stroking his chin, humming like an electronic storage device retrieving data. "Let me think..." He sighed. James looked at the Romulan face to face, gave a wolfish grin, and shook his head. "No! I know you don't have THAT much pull. Stop f**king around with me and remove the device."

"Fine Then." Omar knew that this irritating human had defeated him. He walked into his quarters and was then followed by the rest of them.

"Sir I'm detecting holographic activity." O'Rourke had her tricorder aimed at a wall.

With a great amount of reluctance then the senator pressed at a console and a rather large part of the wall then completely disappeared and about ten photon grenades as well as the subspace shunting system was behind of it.

"The subspace shunting system has been revealed to you," Omar said to the irritating chief of security. "Could you just get it and then leave from these quarters?"

James raised an eyebrow. "That's it?"

This was the time James drew his phaser. One handed, he placed the setting to 'kill', and aimed the deadly device to the photon grenades.

"O'Rourke... standby for an evacuation of this deck and the areas three decks above and below."

"What?!?!" O'Rourke stepped back.

A message then displayed itself at his Romulan console and it began to beep shrilly to try to alert Omar that the security system was being tampered with. Omar just pressed at it several times to silence it. He then just calmly looked at Corgan.

"Actually..." James slapped the phaser to his hip, a smile breaking across his face, "Nawww. Hold on a second. I'll take care of the wall. Just make sure those photon grenades don't.... you know... explode on me when I disarm the booby trap? Thanks!"

"SIR?!?!" O'Rourke panicked, "What the hell?!?"

"Just hold on a second. This is a learning experience." James waved off his sub ordinate. He kneeled down to the intricately wired trap. He whistled, admiring the Romulan's craftiness. "Damn! Now that's a f**king trap! Check this out O'Rourke. We have a kinetic and sonic trigger to a range of one centimetre on this baby. If some engineer went to check out the local plasma relays, they would have been a scorched piece of chunkified salsa if they did..."

The chief of security deftly pressed buttons on the detonator. The device squealed its surrender, as he pried it out of the machinery and tossed it over his shoulder. O'Rourke caught it without missing a beat.

"That! Now here's the real clusterf**k here O'Rourke." James pointed at the six grenades, "These are interesting. Now... remember the golden rule of the Romulans? They use what now for explosives?"

"Plasma?"

"Plasma!" James poked a grenade with a happy grin, then set to work on the trap, "From torpedoes to grenades. And looky looky... these aren't Starfleet issue. Hell, i've never seen anything like these before. Romulan colony or protectorate perhaps?"

The first grenade was dismantled fromt he trap. He tossed it aside. O'Rourke dropped the detonator, and as if afraid for her life, caught it inches away from the floor.

"Why thank you, O'Rourke! If you didn't do that, it might have been disasterous for us all...." He continued onto the next grenade, "Those grenades are not on my weapons file so I might keep them for study. Meanwhile... i'm not sure if I disabled the grenade detonator... or the yield settings. Catch!"

The next grenade popped out of the wall. James made an obviously miscalculated throw. O'Rourke scrambled to catch the potentially dangerous projectile.

"Good work O'Rourke!" He congradulated his officer, "Now what really gets me as a clusterf**k, Senator, is that you shouldn't be playing with this sh*t. I mean, we have families on board this ship, Mr.Romulan! It's my duty, as well as protecting personnel, to protect those families. Now how in the hell are we supposed to create a safe family environment when your boys walk around with weapons always set on lethal, and booby traps that would kill even an experienced engineer if they didn't know what to look for?!? Huh?!? Then what do I tell the captain!" He tossed another grenade. O'Rourke caught it, and bundled the three explosives in her arm, "What do I tell the captain, mother f**ker?!?!" He threw another. Catch! Death was averted again, "Do I tell him some Romulan @$$hole, whom need I remind you is here on our good will, brought some little toys that caused the death of his beloved crew?!?!" He popped out another explosive. Toss! Catch! O'Rourke was sweating as four grenades were in her arms. "Just because you have some sick sense of security?!?! Just because you think it's ok to set explosives on my watch?!?!? Because your guards want to kill people with papercut phaser fire?!?! Because despite being briefed by your superiors that we won't be taking this sh*t despite our galactic reputation as being a bunch of self righteous pushovers who think peace is paramount over some reckless, clueless f**knut who would use the jeffries tubes to set punji traps to trap unsuspecting children?!?! Is that it?!?!"

*POP* The fifth grenade was removed. There was one last grenade left. James threw it aside, and O'Rourke nearly dropped the others to retrieve it in the air.

"Get it straight! No traps! No lethal weapons! Disrupters on stun! No messing with our systems unless we say so! And if you don't, you might as well be saying f**k the peace process because it looks to me like you want to start the next goddamn galactic war in my front yard! And being that I actually have experience on the Dominion Front... I'll actually know what i'm doing when I face the next little violation of your visit here to our sh*tbrick of a starship! Am I clear? No explosives! No guns! No anything of any kind!"

The last device worked its way free. With a flick of the wrist, he playfully tossed the grenade like a softball toss to a child.

*TOK!* The grenade bounced harmlessly off the floor.

"See that O'Rourke?"

O'Rourke was shaking, barely keeping the five explosives in her arms. "Uh huh..."

"Romulan didn't even break a sweat. Damn he's smooth!"

O'Rourke moved to remove the subspace shunting system but a force field was activated and she grunted with pain. The senator looked at her with a rather amused glance. He then moved to the console and then proceeded to deactivate the force field. "Are you two going to get out of my quarters?"

"Yeah, i'm kind of pressed for time. O'Rourke... you can let go of the grenades now." He spoke to his subordinate. She breathed a sigh of relief and carefully placed the grenades to the side, "Orion knockoffs of Reman SDF designed photon grenades. I got the detonator dead on. I admit, Senator. You have balls. Balls the size of grapefruits."

He turned to leave, giving the senator the luxury of watching him take a few steps away before pausing to finish, "But understand Senator, why I'm doing this. I can't just bend the rules because you guys are new here. I'm more concerned about the safety of this ship than the diplomatic relations of our two superpowers. Hell... we've managed without being your chums for centuries, and so have you, so i'm not too concerned if my actions drive you crazy enough to leave the ship. But since you are guests, please for the love of all things good and holy, try not to pull this sh*t again... because guests are like fish."

James turned the corner of the hall, and yelled, "Eventually, if they don't keep well, they start to stink!"

Omar then proceeded to run into the corridor. "You pathetic veruul! What are my men supposed to fight with then? Your ego? There's enough of it for all of them!"

"That's the thing." James stopped, "You don't have to constantly fight here! We're supposed to be on... somewhat friendly, non fighting terms. If some body uninvited comes aboard, i'll let you do as you will. But as long as you people are our guests, you'll have to stop scaring the sh*t out of everyone! Just relax... get to know us without testing the limits of our patience, and don't look for a fight, and all will be well. O'Rourke?" He turned to the Lieutenant, "Do I have an ego?"

"No, sir." O'Rourke suppressed a giggle.

"See? O'Rourke's a good judge of character, and if she says I don't have an ego, then who am I to argue. Now does the Senator have an ego?"

"Not really, sir. He's protective though."

"That's what I thought. Oh, and if you still want to kick somebody's ass, I suggest the 'Barney the Purple Dinosaur' program on the holodeck. One look and you'll want to kick his ass."

"No Thank you Lieutenant Commander." Omar said to the chief of security. He and the rest of his men then suppressed their anger and then searched for a place for them to drink alcoholic beverages.

“Return to work”

By Lt Jg Jasmine Bannon

Jasmine entered her office/lab and noted casually that it had not been cleaned since she had left it almost a week earlier. She sighed, knowing that she could not work in a dusty room. She walked slowly over to the replicator.

She remembered the doctors words “Eat well and take care of yourself.” The young green Orion ordered cleaning products from the replicator and set to work cleaning her office/Lab.

Almost two hours later she was seated at her station with the numerous PADDs that had accumulated over the past few weeks.

She read over genetic analysis’s and wrote down theories as well as experiments to do. She felt comfortable in her lab. Heaven knows she spent enough time there, eating, and sleeping. Her cabin was, Spartan.

Basically all it had was her clothing, her hammock and her graduation parchment. So why would she bother sleeping or living there?

Jasmine worked diligently for over three hours, and forgot as normal to eat but at the end of those three hours she did get up and went to the replicator and got herself a grapefruit half.

But when she sat back down with it her attention was once again caught by her work and the grapefruit half sat there ignored for another 3 hours. And even then it go no response, as Jasmine rested her weary head on her desk and fell asleep.

"The Last Boy Scout Part 4"

by
Turan Trelar
19 year old Quentite boy

Time: About 3 years after the catastrophe

Turan looked up to the windmill which since the last sand storm squeaked annoyingly. With grease being scarce goods the bearings' life expectancy proved to bee rather short. Now the bearings at the top of the windmill's wooden tower cried for replacement.

With the first steps Turan climbed on the ladder he felt uneasy. Although the tower's structure was strong enough to survive sand storms it felt weak and instable when it was climbed. Carefully Turan continued his way to the top.

Suddenly something strange hit his eye. Did he see a reflection? A reflection stronger than the twinkling of the sand? Turan kept staring in the direction the reflection occured. An other reflection appeared. Definitely this was no sand twinkle. This was something bigger. - much bigger and more important than a squeaking windmill.

Quickly Turan climbed down the ladder ran into his cavern packed his backpack with his water bottle, a few fruits an the alien translator and left to look for the source of the reflection.

After a few steps Turan turned around and grabbed for the small alien energy weapon. Probably the source of the reflection was not just a part of debris. Probably it was an encounter with a rescue team arrived to search for the crashed saucer. And probably they were hostile.

‘Fire Crystals, continued’

Backpost (just after the ‘attack’ on the Galaxy, you know when Quinten blows up!)

By
Lieutenant (Jg) Dhanishta Eshe (Engineer)
With NPC Lieutenant Jiiles

As Dhani excited her quarters she immediately dropped to the deck. Covering her hands with her head she heard several shouts as consoles exploded and above her she heard the unsettling sound of metal twisting and groaning. She craned her head slightly to look up; above her the bulkhead collapsed. Dhani barley had time to role out of its way before it came crashing down. Huge clouds of dust and debris filled the corridor. Dhani coughed as she took in lung fulls of the stuff. She tried to back pedal away from the rubble as more debris rained down on her but she couldn’t move. As the dust settled she could see why; her foot was caught under the bulkhead.

Looking to her left she saw another officer trapped under the bulkhead. Leaning over she reached out to him. Her ankle began to hurt as she stretched, but she pushed through the pain. Finally she had hold of his wrist checking for a pulse she noticed the pool of blood that had formed around him as her arm rested in it. She wasn’t sure whether or not she could feel a pulse, if she could it was feint. She returned her focus to the bulkhead, somehow she had to lift it. As her hands met the bulkhead she pulled them back sharply; it was hot. The situation began to sink in, looking round she realised that the orangey red glow was not from the emergency lights but from fires that had broken out.

~ Think Dhani ~ she told herself, ~ think. ~

~Focus~ A voice inside her told her, ~ ‘Relax and focus, imagine the energy around everything, and slowly take that energy from under it.’~

It was what Suder had said just a few weeks ago when she was in his quarters. He was referring to the furniture in his quarters which was levitating; he wanted her to help him put them back. She had refused; it was something she would not allow herself to do for fear of… But this was different. This was life or death, her life or her death. Heck she’d already died once this year she wasn’t about to do it again. Maybe, just maybe she could…

She focused on the metal above her ~ Do what Ethan said, just in reverse ~ she ordered herself.

The bulkhead began to move, slowly inching upwards. She could feel the pressure lessen around her foot.

~wow, I’m doing it. I’m really doing it! ~ Dhani felt a tingle of excitement.

“MOVE!” came a booming voice that seemed to make the deck vibrate.

Dhani looked up shocked. She could see a blue head bobbing behind the metal mass. She back-pedalled quickly. Once she was free she could see the Bolian clearly, the tension and strain in his face dissipated as he let the bulkhead go, crashing back down on the deck, making them both jump slightly.

“Are you all right?” he asked climbing over the bulkhead to get to her.

Dhani nodded while crawling through the blood to the injured man.

“He’s dead.” The Bolian said before Dhani even reached him. She looked up at the Bolian, she was shocked though her face showed no sign of it.

~ Don’t feel ~ she told herself. In her head she imagined a switch, all she had to do was flick that switch.

“Jiiles.” He said simply whilst helping her to her feet.

She nodded again slowly before realising what he meant, “Oh, erm Dhani.” She replied gingerly testing her foot on the deck beneath her. Strained only, she concluded, not broken.

They both stood for a moment taking in the situation, as the fires raged around them.

(Flick the switch.)

Dhani was the first to speak, “Check this corridor for those who are alive. I’ll start checking the quarters.”

They parted in silence, with a simple nod of acknowledgment. Dhani entered quarters after quarters, shouting to those who might be alive. Searching through rubble, broken glass, upturned furniture and fallen support beams; she found none. As she excited the last quarters Jiiles returned panting. She looked at him with raised eyebrows.

He shook his head.

(Flick the switch.)

They continued to run down to the end of the corridor. As they turned they both pulled each other back simultaneously; fires consumed almost the entire hall. They gave each other an understanding and appreciative look. It was then Dhani realised that his arm was bleeding as his blood covered her hand.

Ripping his sleeve to gain access to the wound she took a look. Jiiles didn’t even flinch. She was no doctor but she knew enough about medicine to know that he wasn’t gonna die from this wound. Though he would need to get it patched up, by a doctor! She ripped a strip off her vest and tied it round his arm to stop the bleeding. Jiiles made no protest as she tended to him, just looked on smiling a little at her concern.

“Do you hear that?” Dhani asked as she finished tying the makeshift bandage. It sounded like someone crying for help very faint. Standing still, barley breathing they strained to listen.

“Yeah, it sounds like its coming from down there.” Jiiles said gesturing to the hall from hell.

(Flick the switch.)

He grabbed her arm gently and gave her a look as she made a move towards the hall. It didn’t take her long to realise why. Her legs and arms were uncovered, her stomach too now seeing as she had just torn a strip off her top. Even sprinting down that hall she would be badly burned. He patted her arm gently, silently saying; ‘Nice gesture but I’ll go, you stay here’. She nodded her understanding.

(Click)

She watched as the flames swallowed him. Somehow she had to follow. Franticly she searched the conduits for manual fire extinguishers. After several minutes she’d found several different types. She spent another few minutes trying to attach them to her belt, failing miserably. She removed a utility belt from a dead officer who was lying on the floor and several other items that she thought would be of use. She paused a moment to whisper something over the body and close his cold staring eyes.

She put on the belt and attached two plasma extinguishers to it. She carried another in each hand. Not before long she was blasting her way down the corridor. Hell went up in a cloud of powered smoke. More shouts could be heard echoing down the corridor, she recognised one of the voices as Jiiles. She moved faster.

As she moved down the corridor she heard the sound of another bulkhead collapsing. Not sure if the bulkhead was behind, in front or above she felt a surge with in her. Panic, maybe, fear she couldn’t tell. She acted with the adrenaline that followed and sprinted down the corridor. But the deck bucked beneath her and she was thrown into the air. She heard a metallic sound as the extinguishers bounced and rolled on the floor. She felt the other two in her back as she hit the deck. The groaning, twisting sound of metal upon metal seemed to erupt all around her. She could see nothing but a blurred cloud of smoke and dimming light. Retracting her limbs she curled into a foetal ball and waited till it passed, hoping that it was around her and not above her.

Finally the vibrations from the falling debris and the deafening noise ceased and Dhani felt safe enough to uncurl herself. She took a look around, the dust in the air like a thick fog, clouded her view. She sat until most of it had settled. Dust and debris clung to her eyelids, streaked through her hair and seemed to have wormed its way into every inch of her clothing. The first thing she noticed was the hand laying next to her. It was human. Cold, lifeless, dead.

Dhani felt a chill shudder through her. It was a strange sensation; to feel cold while fires raged throughout the corridors.

She traced the hand up the arm to the body of its owner. And cringed when she found none. Part of her wanted to throw up, the part that she had managed to suppress, she wondered how she could ever walk these corridors again without seeing all this slaughter, if they were going to survive this and what the hell was going on. All these thoughts and questions she left to her unconscious mind to ask. She had to think fast, she had to get to engineering, the urgency of that thought startle her. She rummaged around the deck in search of the extinguishers. She blasted everything in sight, just making sure. She could see her surroundings clearly now; she was blocked in. At each side of her there was a collapsed bulkhead, no where to go.

She searched the nearest bulkhead for a way out, but there was nothing. Turning her back on it she began to search the other. She could hear shouting now, slightly muffled by the blockage, but she knew who it was. “Jiiles?” she shouted, “Can you hear me?” she asked still searching for a gap of any size in the rubble.

“Over here.” Came the reply surprisingly clear. She followed the sound of his voice. Eventually she could see a spot of blue in-between the beams. “Jiiles, are you all right? What’s going on?”

“I’m fine.” He said, “There are a lot of wounded back here. The fires are worse and the auto extinguishes aren’t working, they must have been knocked off line during the attack.” He said more to himself than to her.

She heard someone scream as another explosion rattled the deck. The din behind the bulkhead dulled for a second but then increased with panicked voices.

“Jiiles?” she called out again, worried that something might have happened to him. When no reply came she cried out, “Anyone?” A beat, and another, and another.

Then she heard him, the rising shouting behind almost blotted out Jiiles’s voice.

“Here.” She heard him say.

“What just happened?” Dhani asked.

“A Plasma fire,” he coughed, “I have to evacuate this deck Dhani. Go back the way you came, the radiation will seep through this bulkhead. Get out of here. That’s an order!” The blue blob disappeared. Dhani tried to call out to him but her voice was lost in the din.

~Dam! Go back the way I came, sure. I’ll just float through the dam bulkhead shall I? Geeze, I don’t have time for sarcastic comments to my self, get a grip!~

She searched the wreckage again for an opening. At the bottom right she found one. It was, she guessed, where one of the officers had been, squashed, for want of a better word. She assumed this from the amount of blood on the floor and the torn strips of uniform she saw on the jagged edges of the bulkhead.

This wasn’t going to be easy. The gap was small and she wasn’t sure if it was stable enough to pass under. ~Hell,~ she though, ~better than staying here and dying by radiation poisoning.~

Sinking on to all fours she popped her head into the gap followed by her shoulders; testing its size. She would have to slide along on her belly, through the blood! But first she had to find a way to get the extinguishers through. It was obvious that they didn’t have any on the other side, or they would have used them! One by one she tied them on to a long piece of rope and attached that to her belt. Then she made her way through the narrow opening, belly to the ground, her arms straight at her sides; there wasn’t enough room to use her arms to pull herself along, she was going to have to use her feet for momentum. Even her face touched the floor, sliding through the blood. She could smell it, almost taste the iron in it. She had to use her senses to guide her through this as there wasn’t room to lift her head. She both cursed and thanked the blood that lined the passage way, it helped her to glide along the deck but her shoes kept slipping, making the ‘trip’ as it were, longer.

As her head popped out the other end followed by her shoulders she felt someone grab her, pulling her out.

“Lieutenant Jiiles.” The man shouted across the raging flames, “We have a live one. Looks pretty bad Sir.” He said as he continued to pull Dhanishta free of the wreckage.

Dhanishtas top was caked in blood, it dripped off her face and arms. It was in her hair, her shorts were soaked too and her long legs streaked with the stuff, she looked in bad shape. Yet none of the blood was hers.

At first glance Jiiles didn’t recognise Dhani but as she spoke it clicked.

“I’m fine,” she told them earnestly, “the blood isn’t mine. Just give me a hand would ya?” She gestured the rope that was attached to her belt. The man next to her took a moment to realise that she was unhurt, though Dhani could sense his disgust at the blood that covered her like a second skin. Reluctantly he grabbed at the rope and began to pull.

With no room for a third to tug at the rope Jiiles sat behind Dhani and said; “I thought I told you to go back the other way? In fact it was an order.” Though he spoke calmly, there was an air of authority in his voice and a tinge of annoyance at the apparent insubordination.

Dhani gave him a quick glance, looking for the pips that lined his collar. Sure enough; he out ranked her. Something she obviously hadn’t noticed.

“I know Sir.” She replied formally, “but the other way was blocked and besides, though you might need these.” She said pulling the last of the extinguishers through. The man next to her looked almost ecstatic as he clasped his hands on the Plasma extinguisher and hurried off with it. But lieutenant Jiiles expression… she could not read.

She stood up, handing one plasma extinguisher to Jiiles and firmly gripping the other two. She felt the blood as it dripped off her face to the floor. She ignored the ticklish sensation it caused as it trickled down her back, chest, stomach and legs. She turned from Jiiles, something in his eyes began to creep her out, just a little. She wasn’t about to stand around and wait for orders, she could see what needed doing. Squeezing the extinguishers into life she blasted the flames all the way to ‘Kingdom Come.’

“Gatekeeper”

By Lieutenant Commander James Lionel Corgan
Chief of Security, USS Galaxy

Location: Quentite surface, near Galaxy crash site

Underneath the alien sky, a sky that should have been by all accounts scorched and uninhabitable, the Starfleet crew that should have been dead were crawling over a long entombed ship that by no means should have been there.

“Temporal quandaries… no wonder every Captain fears ‘em.” Thought the chief of security darkly. Perched atop a tall rock, Lieutenant Commander James Lionel Corgan had a great view of the mostly buried crash site. A small bulge in chalky red badlands and the partially exposed duranium hull of the Galaxy was not too difficult to see, as it showed for miles around. Starfleet crew wandering to different areas picked at the now aged corpse of the majestic starship’s carcass like annoying flies. The main horsefly, the shuttle Opaka, was nearby as a gleaming gray bulge in the landscape.

The sun was freshly setting, casting the crash site in a ruddy orange glow. The alien sun was a citrus disk in the sky, half concealed by the horizon. Blue clashed with yellow and orange in the sunset. The dying day was beautiful enough for any officer to give pause, and for one second, James couldn’t help but admire the exotic beauty bestowed on him in this foreign soil.

But then his stomach gurgled. Willing his unruly vital organ to calm itself, he went back to watching the crash site. Being spaceborn had its disadvantages. James was less tolerant than most when it came to planet gravity, which told his stomach to hold on for dear life. But James didn’t mind. Sometimes a star field outside a starship’s porthole was a little bit boring, and sunsets were almost unheard of.

His stomach grumbled again. “Hold on… I’ll get you something.” James grumbled back. He got out of his perch and trundled to his tent, a shimmering, tinfoil colored bulb that sucked itself firm to the ground. He dug into his tent and picked out his meal for the night.

Breaded chicken with green beans, and peach cobbler for dessert, with a packet of water for rehydrating and drinking. Not the breakfast of champions, not by far. His stomach turned out another backflip.

~”Shut up and digest the f**king chicken.”~ He told his stomach. It never objected again afterwards.

Sourly, Corgan started up a fire at his position, using nearby dried twigs and a short burst of his hand phaser. A second later, he had a warm fire burning up the twigs. He placed more twigs and a few broken branches in its place and watched them burn. As soon as the fire was independent, James set up the wire cooking gear over the fire, and boiled the ration packs and water over it.

Even the smell repulsed him, but he knew better than to give into his disgust. He rested his phaser rifle on a nearby rock. Gently, he took the chicken off the fire. Blowing away the excess heat with great gulps of air, he then dug into his unappetizing meal.

“Ugghhh..” He shuddered. Looked bad, smelled bad, and even tasted bad. So much for two out of three.

As he solemnly ate his meal, James pondered the stone like monolith that so prompted his latest duty. Rebecca called it a Class 1-A Directive, nothing more. In Starfleet terms, a Class 1-A was as serious, if not more so, than the prime directive. Most careers didn’t hear about a Class 1-A, except for a boring lecture during the academy’s first year ethics and protocol class. Fewer still had to hear those words from their commanding officer. Most were thankful that they didn’t have to hear it, because it was the equivalent of being thrown into a dark closet, and told to defend it from a Jem’Hadar assault armed with nothing but a plastic spork. Nobody knew what the threat was, only that it’s there, and it was unimaginably dangerous…

For Starfleet.

Though curious as to what the threat was, James didn’t have the rank and authority to ask. Rebecca said the rocks were a threat, then the rocks were a threat. Class 1-A Directives completely depended on the trust and confidence of the crew and their superior officers. Said superior officer noted that there was a threat, then the crew had to take it for granted and make sure the threat wasn’t triggered. For some reason, it took two hours, including examples, to hammer home what Class 1-A meant back at the academy, when it could have taken one person with common sense to boil it down to one sentence.

Trust us, it’s dangerous.

But it still couldn’t quell James Corgan’s curiosity. Whatever it was there, the item that forced him to set a perimeter guard around the area, the item that forced him to set his phaser to kill, the item that demanded he shoot dead anything that came near said artefact for fear that farting in the wrong direction could destroy the entire universe (or at least, it was that serious), it was dangerous as hell.

~”It that why I’m here?”~ He began to speculate, having nothing better to do between mind numbing boredom, consummate fear, and a bad k-ration meal, ~”Am I protecting the object in question that sent me to this strange place? Is it the reason why I saw my comrades dead inside my own ship, which for some reason is buried in the dirt and impossibly aged?”~

He came to the conclusion, ~”No sh*t! The coincidence is so damn obvious that the circumstantial evidence points to one truth. Whatever that thing is… I’m protecting it even though it most likely stranded me into this place for all time.”~

His frustration mounted. James ruefully looked at the object in question. “Thanks a f**king lot.” James muttered, “I’m stuck here, and it’s most likely your fault. So what… you’re going to taunt me? Going to just look down at me, as I’m looking at my former ship? Looking at my long dead shipmates? For f**k sakes…” His voice took on a more mournful tone, “My godchildren were on that ship. My friends, my department was there. Bad enough I had to watch Federation phasers clash in the sky, but to see this? What the hell is this, some big conspiracy to break my heart?”

The stones looked at him, not making a sound or a move.

It was silly to talk to an inanimate object which may have caused his unfortunate circumstances, but for a reason, James felt it appropriate. “Looks like I’m stuck here. I just hope… my friends are safe.” He thought of Rose and her children. He hoped to any god that they made it to an escape pod. Nothing sickened him more than innocent people, especially children, being killed by unfortunate circumstances on starships. His thoughts went to Rose, “Hope to god I don’t find her or the kids in there.”

James shook his head. He didn’t want to go into that rather uncomfortable train of thought. His heart couldn’t take it if he saw Rose dead, or his godchildren dead. Terrible enough that there was a chance of being displaced in time, but that would break his heart.

He took his last bite out of the breaded chicken. After his uncomfortable moment of intellectual sobriety, the chicken didn’t seem to have any flavour.

What was he to do in this new landscape? With the possibility of being displaced in time with no home (except buried under rock and neglected for ages), and the very real possibility that he could be a pariah in the eyes to Starfleet for being associated with The Galaxy (still a possible catalyst for Quentin’s Armageddon), he was facing the real possibility that he was going to go back to civilian life in a time and place where he wasn’t wanted or remembered. He supposed there would be a dishonourable discharge, though no jail time because James had nothing to do with the planet being destroyed or the ship being shot down and crashed. The closest victim would be Rebecca, whom was now in command of a derelict. Since Starfleet would want someone to blame, Rebecca would be the sacrifice for their need for justice. The most she could get was life in prison.

Rebecca was smart, James shrugged, and she could handle herself. Perhaps avoid jail time, lose her commission but keep her head. And if they were displaced in time and associated with the destruction of a civilization, the possibility of being pariahs was very real.

And most likely, they would have to draw closer to each other for support during such a hostile time.

James shook his head. He couldn’t let such a thought distract him. Granted, he was fond of Rebecca Von Ernst, and he couldn’t deny that a relationship with her would be preferable to their fragile friendship. But being that James was in a difficult situation (being that he also was fond of Rose MacAllen, and feared that any wrong move could shatter her like Denobulan glass), he felt guilty for feeling how he felt.

~”How inappropriate.”~ James gazed at the stars, sipping chickory from his ration pack without paying the vile taste any mind, ~”I’m facing doom and I’m thinking about two women? And I can’t even decide whom? I must be cracked. But… if I get out of this ok, I’m going to have to decide who, and take my chances. I can tell that Rose has a crush on me, and I don’t need to be Betazoid like her to figure that out. Not sure what Rebecca thinks, but if our last conversation meant anything, it means she trusts me to a degree. If I wait too long on this, something will give. I can’t leave myself hanging… hell… can’t leave them hanging either. I got to decide now…”~

The stars twinkled, without a red beam in the sky. “Guess it can wait until I’m hanged.” He laughed at his own irony.

*crunch* James heard the weight of a foot stepping on a piece of dried clay. His eyes widening, and panic seizing his heart, James dropped his mug. The liquid splattered on his pantleg as the mug clattered on the ground. Jumping for his rifle, James clutched it in one fluid motion, rolled, and snapped to his knees, the rifle clicking as he disengaged the safety and aimed it at the target.

“FREEZE!” James barked.

An astonished ensign in a scientist blue watched the chief of security, his jaws agape, as his tricorder threatened to shake out of the precarious grip of his fear stricken hand.

“ss..ss..sir?” The science officer peeped.

James kept the officer in his sights, “Don’t move another millimetre, ensign. I have authorization from Commander Von Ernst to frag you if you go anywhere near those rocks. And if for some reason I don’t frag you, the other officers in the perimeter will. Now back away!”

The ensign looked confused, “I was just trying to get a better reading over there sir. No harm done… sir… really.”

He didn’t lower his rifle, though the ensign sounded innocent, “Kid, this is a Class 1-A Directive. Do you know what that means?”

The ensign paused, “Not sure… I remember it being mentioned sir, but it was a long and boring class…”

”Oh for f**k sakes, don’t they train you newbies properly anymore?” James sighed, “Look, a Class 1-A Directive is simple. It means that a stated item, phenomenom and or persons are a direct and dangerous threat to the Federation, planet, and or the entire galaxy. If we were to go anywhere near the object with the possibility of triggering said effect that would have us uberf**ked, it could be more dangerous than we could possibly imagine. All we are to know about it is that our Commanders know, so that we’ll be less likely to trigger said events, and that we are to stay away from it. If we violate said rules… we could be court marshalled and thrown in Leavenworth, that is, if security doesn’t frag your ignorant ass first. Do you understand?”

The ensign nodded, gulping dryly, “Yes sir.”

”Good. Leave me to my coffee and get your reading on the opposite side of the camp. Now go! That’s an order!”

The frightened ensign staggered off, casting worried sidelong glances as he followed a new path, away from the stone faced security chief and the gaze of his compression rifle’s scope. James waited until the ensign was gone before he relaxed his rifle.

“Another threat averted.” James said, “I just hope its serious.”

"People in Glass houses . . . . . . . . "

EARTH
10,000 years ago

Og and Grog trudged their weary way across the wind parched land of the African Serengeti. The Water From the Skies, had been absent for 4 Moons, and the juicy root-plants that the two Cavemen grubbed around for were starting to become scarse.

Og absently scratched his furry chest, and scanned the horizon out from under a low sloped brow. His black Bushy eyebrows narrowed in concentration.

~~~. . . Food. . . gone. . . .~~~ he thought to himself.

He decided to convey this revelation to his companion.

"Grog. . . .Food . . . Gone." he said.

Grog was busily picking his nose, but grunted in agreement. He always thought Og was the brains of the two.

Indeed the African plains were almost empty. There was nothing around for miles except bunches of the little 'Horn-Heads' , and smaller 'Furry-Snouts' that always seemed to be about.

Og and Grog did not like the 'Horn-Heads'. They were always eating the Roots that the cavemen survived on, and their presence was an endless annoyance.

If there was no roots to eat. . . .then there was nothing to eat.

"Horn-Heads. . . . . .Bad." Og surmised.

Grog by this time had given up on his nostril expedition and put in his own two cents worth. "Horn-Heads. . . . .Bad." Og agreed this was a good additional point.

There was nothing to eat.

No Roots.

No Berries.

Nothing but silly smelly Horn-Heads.

It was then that fate intervened in the lives of Og and Grog, and a revelation came down from above. . . . . . .

Well actually it wasn't so much a revelation, as much as it was something like a large fist-sized ROCK that fell from the clear blue sky and struck poor Grog squarely in his little sloped forehead.

"Og. . . . . Ouch!" Grog whimpered for a moment before falling down to the ground quite dead.

Og looked at Grog.

Og looked at the Rock.

Og looked at Grog again.

Og looked at the Rock again.

Og looked at the horn-heads.

Og looked at the Rock.

>>>>Enter 2001 theme here<<<<

Somewhere in Og's little pea-brain a spark fired.

"Rock. . . . Good?" he postulated.

Reaching down to collect the stone, he hefted it in his hand.

"Rock. . . . . make. . . . .Grog. . . . .Dead." "Rock. . . . .make. . . . . Hornhead. . . .dead?"

It was worth a try.

Og walked up to the nearest horn-Head that was calmly chewing its cud. It looked at Og quizzically as if to say. . . .."What do you want."

"Og. . .SMASH!"

And with that Og crushed the poor horn head's skull with one blow from the Rock from the Sky.

As it collapsed in a cloud of dust, Og smiled a toothy smile.

"Horn-Head. . . . .Food!"

Thus Humanity was saved.

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

EARTH
1,100 years ago

The long awaited peace treaty between the Northern Barbarians, and the Roman Empire was about to be finalized.

Two great armies stood facing across a foggy grassy meadow. This was the VII and X Legions of the Army of Rome, and the assembled tribes, of VisiGoths, Huns, and Vandals.

Long time enemies come to end decades of war.

Between the armies, Emperor Quintus Averticus XIV stood face to face with his long time rival Chief Gruebar LongTail of the Germanic tribes.

The noble Emperor, resplendent in his golden armor, and flowing red cloak took a good long look at the Barbarian who had plagued him all these years.

Gruebar was a mountain of a man, at two cubits in height, and weighing as much as two Centurions put together. his bristly blond beard flowed down over his broad chest, and the mangy bear fur thrown over his shoulder was alive with lice.

Nevertheless the treaty they signed today would end the wars, and stave off the Barbarian advance. The Roman Empire would be saved, and the bloodshed at an end.

The tribes were equally as tired.

Chief Gruebar opened his mouth to greet the Emperor as a brother at last. . . . . . .

. . . . . . and promptly got all his teeth knocked out as a fist-sized stone fell from out of the sky and smashed him in the mouth.

The Barbarian Chief reeled backwards, and spat blood out over his blond beard.

His eyes locked on the Emperor's with sudden rage.

"TREACHERY!!!" he cried.

". . . .no wait. . . .there's been a misunderstanding. . . " Averticus quavered.

"RAAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!" Gruebar cried in the universal barbarian word for 'attack'.

The armies charged.

The peace was lost.

Rome Fell.

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

EARTH
600 years ago

A fist sized Rock sailed out of the sky, and struck a branch on a nearby tree.

The branch shook from the impact, and dislodged one of its apples which promptly plopped onto the head of a young Mathematician resting in its shade.

"Blimey. . . ." exclaimed Isaac Newton, "There must be gravity!"

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

EARTH
400 years ago

"you should feel bad General. Everybody has a bad day."

"Yes, James, I know, but to loose a battle because of I fell off the horse and could not see the field."

"Well General. . . .If we find out who threw that ROCK at your horse, spooking it, . . .we'll see them properly tried."

"Sigh. . . ..fine fine James, but now we need to look to the army. . . . What was the name of this place we fought and lost anyhow?"

"That town? Why that was Gettysberg, Pennsylvania, General Lee."

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

EARTH
300 years ago

"It is a sign from Allah! I tell you. . . . .we need to make peace with the West!"

Muttered disputes.

"Its true. . . . .I was with Osama bin Laden when this Rock flew from the Heavens, and struck him down. . . . . . "

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

ORBIT ABOVE QUENTIN
30 minutes ago
BRIDGE OF USS HOOD.

"Whats that Lieutenant? Read the Admiral's orders back to me again?"

The young Starfleet officer nodded and repeated. "To Captain DeSoto, Commanding USS HOOD, From Admiral Hoth, Commanding NIMITZ BATTLEGROUP. . . . . .etc etc. . . .you are hereby ordered to stand down, and take no hostile action against the USS Galaxy. We are not. . .repeat not. . . .going to start a war here. You will power down weapons and take no action unless fired upon."

Captain Desoto nodded sagely at the wisdom of the orders. Hoth was playing it cool and that was good.

"Very well Lieutenant. . . .standby for our tactical orders . .. " Desoto paused to think of how to word this.

~~~how about. . . We will attack all out . . . .ONLY when fired upon as per orders.~~~~

He decided that sounded fine.

"Lieutenant. . . .We will ATTACK. . .ORK!!!"

From seemingly nowhere a fist sized rock flew across the bridge of the USS HOOD, and struck DeSoto before he could finish his sentence.

Leaping from their seats the crew was aghast to say the least.

"What happened?"

"Is he dead?"

"What was that?"

"A rock!!"

"The Galaxy must have beamed it over!!!"

"Those jerks!!!"

"You heard the Captain. . .his last words were. . .'WE Will Attack!!!!'"

"Helmsman. . .all power to weapons. . . . .ATTACK!!!"

Th Hood roared into battle.

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

QUENTIN SURFACE

Now.

Bored out of her mind, Rebecca von Ernst scooped up another nearby rock and tossed it into the glowing Portal that was the Guardian of Forever.

As before the fist-sized stone disappeared with a satisfying sparkle of energy and a flash of light.

"Too cool." Rebecca breathed to herself.

It was boring as heck sitting here upholding Starfleet regulations about keeping the Guardian secret and all, but at least the sparkles were pretty.

"Silly regulations." Rebecca mused. "What harm can come from messing with a dumb pile or rocks?"

[OOC: Okay, folks. In the interest of time this post is rather short and to the point, but it accomplishes the task. (Dedicated with love to Pat Buckley. ;))]

--------------

"Worst Fears" part 3 of 3

Lt. Jeremy Savoie,
Chief Helmsman

Lt. Curtis Geluf,
Chief of Operations

For the next fifteen or so minutes neither Geluf nor Savoie said a word. Their minds freshly imprinted with the sight of the wreckage they had just left, each sought in his own way to focus on something else.

Jeremy’s escape was piloting, it always had been. Ever since he learned to fly a shuttle he would seek out a holodeck simulation or the real thing through which to vent his frustrations. This particular flight served well in that capacity as he pushed the Opaca to get them back to Von Ernst and the rest of the landing party as quickly as possible. Breaking through the cloud layer above, the shuttle was soon streaking over the landscape, carrying the messengers of the shocking discovery they had just made. Yet another shocking discovery still lay ahead.

“There’s something ahead,” Curtis reported, a perplexed look on his face. “Large, metallic. In the hills about five kilometers to the south.”

“More debris?” Jeremy asked, not particularly eager to see more.

“I’m not certain. Sensors indicate definite concentrations of duranium and other materials consistent with the Galaxy’s construction, but these fragments show no indication of recent re-entry burns or interstellar radiation.” He paused and looked to his shuttle mate. “They’re appreciably older.”

“Guess we better get a closer look,” Savoie replied, making the necessary adjustments to their flight path.

In less than a minute Geluf’s sensor readings were confirmed by what the two men saw with their own eyes: embedded in the mountainside in front of them was the unmistakable disk of a starship’s saucer section.

“My God,” Jeremy muttered as he hovered the shuttle over the large remnant and its accompanying fragments. “That’s not any piece of the Galaxy,” he said. “That’s a Sovereign class . . . or at least what’s left of one.” The chief helmsman knew his starships.

Geluf continued his scans. “Judging from the topographic conditions around it and some minor evidence of exposure in the more heavily damaged parts of the saucer, I’d say it’s been here no more than a few decades. Three or four at the most.”

While Curtis scanned the wreckage, Jeremy had maneuvered the shuttle to a position closer to the saucer fragment in order to see it better with his own eyes. A couple seconds later he found what he was looking for.

“USS Nimitz.” The tone of his voice conveyed the sense of respect, as if for a fallen comrade, that only a helmsman or ship’s captain would use for such a vessel.

“The Nimitz?” Geluf echoed, looking up from his console to view the saucer himself. “Why would it be…”

“I don’t know,” Jeremy interrupted, “but this is starting to look like a pattern that I don’t like. We’re getting out of here and back to Von Ernst and the landing party now before any more wreckage pops up.” With that, the Opaca turned sharply and shot off in the direction of the ruins it had left earlier.

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