Andy sat propped up on the biobed, working on a PaDD with some of Ari's diagnostics while she waited. Some time ago, she sent a message to the Captain to see him 'at his earliest convenience'. She had something important to discuss with him; after a long talk with Maica, Andy had come to a decision, and it was time for a change...

Captain Kerouac was still 'recovering' from his heart stopping experience. Andy had sent a message requesting Kris to meet her, and he felt that it was worth trying to at least do the administrative end of his job. He had practically had to promise Liam that he would take it easy for a few weeks before the good doctor allowed Kris to come and go from Sickbay.

He entered Sickbay once again. This time, to meet with Senior Chief Petty Officer Carter who had been propped up on a biobed when he walked into Sickbay. "The amount of time I spend in Sickbay is slowly becoming equal to that I spend in my Captain's chair" commented Kris as he looked at Andy and smiled.

"So..." said Kris crossing his arms and waiting. "Hi. What's new in your life? I touched and Orb and didn't agree with me."

"Well, seems like I've been spending a lot of time here too," Andy returned with a chuckle, lowering her PaDD. She looked a little worse for wear, pale and tired, but at least now she was on the mend. "I was apparently bleeding in what's left of my brain and ended up with an infection. Was not fun at all!"

Kris shook his head with soured facial expression. "Andy! I just ate...kind of. Does a green gelatin dessert count as food? I'm not entirely sure myself" said Kris with a sigh. "So, your brain was bleeding. That's rather disgusting and sounds bad. Are you okay?" he asked concerned for his Chief of Operations.

"Yeah, I'll be alright. Ari and the Doc are taking good care of me," Andy assured Kris with a tired smile. "And you know me, I ain't gonna let this slow me down. Much, anyway..." She tapped the PaDD in her lap to indicate that she was working, even now. "But... this has been one of those moments that made me stop and reconsider some things in my life, which is why I wanted to talk to you."

"You know me too. We're the crazy stubborn asses of this starship" joked Kris with a warm smile. He liked Andy for the most part. He could relate to her, connect with her, and understand her approaches to things. However, she was sometimes troublesome when it came to away missions and diplomatic relations that were already stressed. "What's on your mind, Chief?" asked Kris, preparing himself.

Andy hesitated in coming out with what she wanted to say, it was such a huge step for her! To admit that she had anything more important in her life than her work was monumental and now that he was here and it was time to tell, Andy found the words caught in her throat.

"You know, I've tried not to let the loss of my cortical node slow me down," Andy said, leaning over to set her PaDD on a side table, and grab a glass of water, taking a sip before continuing. "For a while, I thought I could do it, keep up the same pace as before, but I can't. I can't work myself so hard and then jump into my alcove to make everything alright..." Andy sighed. This was a lot harder than she thought it would be... "I... I'm resigning as Chief of Operations."

Kris tried to mask the hurt on his face, but he was not really expecting something like this. "Andy, this is some rather big weight you are dropping on me like this" he said honestly. "I can appreciate your stance and situation, but are you sure about this?" asked the Captain.

"I thought about resigning completely right after the failed transwarp jump, but Maica talked me out of it. But this way... I can still manage the NCOs and continue help with ship repairs, but I can't keep pushing myself like I used to," Andy said frankly. "I'd like to focus on my work in cybernetics for a while. This universe ain't as advanced in the field of cybernetics, so if something happened to me then Maica would be fucked if she needed maintenance. Hell, the Legashi don't exist here, so Vara'd be doubly fucked. And Ari got shot and destabilized, I almost wasn't able to save him... With all the extra hours I've been clocking in my lab lately, it's time for a shift in priorities. Kris, I need to do this."

"Oh what damn fuckery" said Kris as he let out a sigh and smacked his hand against the edge of the nearest bio bed "You're right. Don't get used to me saying that, but damn it, Andy...you are right. The Legashi do not exist out here and Vara is indeed fucked. Your technological expertise, Borg and otherwise is going to be a hell of a lot more useful on the cybernetic end with research and development rather than tinkering around repairing sonic showers" said Kris shaking his head. Now, I need to Chief Operations Officer he thought, his mind racing with his blood pressure.

"GO" he added, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Go Andy. I'll approve of this stepping down and move you to to R&D."

"Thanks," Andy said. It felt like a hollow victory for him to tell her she was right, but it had been necessary. "it's not like I'll stop working completely, and anyway, the ship is still in good hands; Will taught me everything I know about being a good Ops officer, and I'm sure Jenni would love the chance to help fill the void. But don't expect Ari to be too active for a while, I'm still trying to fix him from when that Security ass-hat shot him."

Kris smirked and turned away to try and conceal it. I rather enjoyed the security ass-hat shooting him thought Kris, but he wouldn't dare admit to finding some pleasure in that. He composed himself once more and looked back at Andy. "I understand. We have more than enough personnel aboard with Engineering and Operations experience. I think we'll be fine for the time being."

"I know. It's just gonna feel weird not being the one keeping order on this boat. Whoever you pick to replace me has got some big shoes to fill," Andy said. But it was for the best; Andy needed time to transition to the changes in her head and the augmented crew would benefit from her attention. And this way she would have time and energy to spend with Maica in the evenings... Which reminded her! "Oh, by the way, I kinda sorta asked Maica to marry. Or she tricked me into asking.... or maybe we asked ech other? Anyway, we ain't set a date yet, but once we do, would you do the honors?"

Captain Kerouac looked at Andy, smiling brightly. "Congratulations, Andy" said Kris with delight. "I will be more than honored to perform the ceremony in uniting the two of you in marriage. The two of you seem to be happy, and that is a wonderful sight to see."

"She was part of the reason behind my choice," Andy confesssed. "As much as we do need my attention dedicated in R&D right now, If I weren't with Maica I'd probably still try to work Ops.... But I am with her, and at the end of the day I'd like to have time and energy to spend with her."

Kris nodded. "I understand love, Andy. I understand what it means to feel such a connection with someone that you'd do anything for them, even if it meant sacrificing some things" said Kris with some warmth. "However, you've watched Liam and I just have our disagreements about my remaining in Sickbay. Sometimes, you have to do what you want to or need to. Love has to be pushed aside or ignored. I am taking us home...or at least am going to do my damn best to make it happen. I'm going to the Bridge."

"Not alone you're not," Andy stated as she rose from the biobed. She grabbed her grey sweater draped over the back of a chair, and put it on over her tank top; she wasn't going to the bridge with her scars on full display, but there wasn't much she could do about the inappropriate material printed all over her pajama pants. "I know what it means to sacrifice for someone, Kris. The sacrifices you're making to get us home better be worth it. If not, I feel sorry for you and Liam." And Yuri...

"Liam is a big boy. If he mend a few broken bones...stop my heart and bring me back from the dead, then I think he's strong enough to deal with a few choice words" replied Kris.

"Everyone has their limits..." Andy said with a sad look on her face as she threw on her boots. She was speaking from experience. Then she stoood straight and pushed him towards the lift. "C'mon, lets get this over with..."

Jenni left the Intelligence Office carrying a tall metal mug of coffee in one hand and a PADD containing errata on the current disputes between the Breen and the Federation in the other. Since she lost her ship, Jenni thought it would be best to keep an eye on the news as much as possible, but intentionally saving that vice for when she was off duty.

Like she was now.

The Tribune, known for its current sour commentary on the Federation, had just released a heavy article citing the command crew of the Katana--her Katana--for being held as the guilty party in the entire situation for not standing up against their insane commander. Jenni found little fault with the premise of the article, especially as she thumbed through each page as she mindlessly wandered the corridor on autopilot. She did know the ship very well by now, having spent evening after evening walking around the ship.

And then she got to the part where the journalist was attacking her. The true definition of blind devotion she read is epitomized by Lieutenant Jennifer Matthews who, after was forced into command of the Starship Katana, volunteered for service aboard a duplicate starship bearing the same name and registration. Jenni's mouth dropped open as she read sentence after sentence examining her service record and statements from former crew members. Jenni was so absorbed when she turned a corner an--

SMACK! Jenni staggered backwards, but not fast enough to evade the tall mug of coffee that was unloaded on her uniform jacket. "H...hot!!" she gasped, her nerves overwhelmed by the liquid seeping through the jacket to the black shirt.

Sabrina had actually managed to dart out of the way as a woman walked passed, turning the corner blindly and ouch! Smacking into the wall. "Oh, are you alright?" Sabrina quickly grabbed a rag out of her bag and offered it to the woman, then suddenly realized who it was. But that couldn't be.."Lieutenant Matthews??"

Jenni traded the PADD for the rag and began to blot at her uniform, but the coffee was spreading faster than she could react. She looked up to see the young woman's expression, a combination of confusion and recognition. It was one that she'd become very familiar with over the last few days. "I guess I should pay more attention to where I'm going," Jenni offered with a smile, still blotting her jacket. "Thanks, Petty Officer..."

Sabrina was momentarily confused, but then realized what was going on. This was not the Matthews she knew. This was the Matthews from this universe, or timeline, or whatever. "Petty Officer Corbin, ma'am, Sabrina Corbin. Repair Specialist."

Jenni was a poor judge of reactions, but she certainly detected a hint of disappointment in Sabrina's eyes. Her name was familiar, of course, and so were so many from reading the other Jenni's logs. "Well..." Jenni replied with a smile, pausing her cleanup for the moment. "Thank you, Sabrina. You'd think I'd learn to stop reading, walking and drinking one of these days."

Sabrina smiled. "Well I can't even chew gum and walk at the same time, so you are a couple of things up on me." Sabrina felt a kinship with this Matthews. She wasn't the same woman of course, but the Jenni Sabrina did know had been kind and understanding, as well as a good mentor. "It's nice to meet you, well again for me I guess, I mean, you know what I mean." Sabrina shut up so she would stop babbling.

Fighting a chuckle, Jenni's smile became pronounced. "I do," Jenni replied, leading Sabrina down the corridor. "But I'd say the disadvantage is mine." In another universe, it would be like she had amnesia, but the truth was both women had led very different lives. "Forgive my asking, but were we close?"

"Umm. No not really. I mean you, or the other you, was my boss. A really good boss." Sabrina smiled and added.

"How are you adjusting to... here?" Jenni asked delicately, knowing that this reality was a major adjustment for all of the crew.

"Oh fine." Sabrina answered automatically. She had talked to Shira, and Bob, and that was about all she could handle at the moment. "Yourself? Well I mean, to this Katana?"

"It's... different," Jenni replied with almost a hint of caution in her voice. "A good different," she quickly added. "The crew here is more friendly, outgoing. On my Katana we mostly kept to ourselves. Well, at least I did."

"Well that's good. I hope you enjoy your post here. I better get to work." Sabrina commented.

"If you ever need anything," Jenni said, bearing her trademark smile, "don't be afraid to ask."

"Likewise." Sabrina smiled, then gave a little wave as she headed down the corridor

PO3 Sabrina Corbin
Repair Specialist

LT Jennifer Matthews
Asst. Chief Intelligence Officer

Jenni sat at her desk in the Intelligence Office. Her SO, Commander t'Dharvanek, was elsewhere, likely dealing with wonderful senior officer business. Jenni, as a result, was left once again to her lonesome, working through various Intelligence reports. It was days like today that she missed the engine room, or even some sort of menial repair work. The replicator was operating at top-notch effiency, and she'd already carbon scrubbed the EPS relays.

Twice.

Thankfully, this monumental task was nearly done. All that was left to do was prepare the round of reports and briefings for the crew. She was, therefore, all the more surprised when her desk terminal chimed, notifying her of an incoming transmission. Jenni looked to see if it was something rerouted from the bridge. It was not, strangely. The transmission was directed straight to her. Who in Starfleet would be contacting her directly?

Jenni tapped a button on the terminal, accepting the transmission. The person on the other end was one she did not recognize, so she'd allow protocol to dictate the conversation for now. Putting on her best smile, Jenni greeted, "This is Lieutenant Matthews of the USS Katana. How can I help you?"

"Hi, I'm Lieutenant Cho'ran of Starfleet Science. I'm a specialist en route to your ship to study multi-dimensional phenomena and I wanted to ask you a few questions as a first hand witness, if you don't mind." Vara said, smiling brightly over the comm.

Cho'ran? Jenni was momentarily confused. Wasn't there already a Cho'ran on board? She could feel this confusion bleed into her smile. Jenni did her best to correct it, but not before she gave the question a moment of thought. "First hand... witness?" she asked carefully, unsure how much she could actually share with the Lieutenant.

"Mmhmm," Vara spoke excitedly. "The ship you're on and the crew... You're witness to visitors from another reality. I have so many questions about them that I hope you can answer."

Jenni did her best to strengthen her smile, letting the Lieutenant's enthusiasm energize her. It would be nice to talk to someone from her own universe, even if she didn't know her. "Sure." Jenni pushed aside a small stack of PADDs and folded her hands on the desktop, ready to answer what she could.

"Thank you," Vara said thankfully. "I've heard they're almost identical to people in this universe but there are some differences. Can you elaborate on that? Is it just behavior or does that include physical features, smell, or anything else?"

Jenni exhaled a deep breath, and fought to hold back a small chuckle. "There are quite a few differences actually. I think less than half the crew here has a counterpart in our universe. As far as looks go, they're mostly the same. Attitudes are different..." Jenni thought briefly of Lieutenant Collins and the Captain, knowing that both had turned out very differently in each universe, though their personalities were not that much different. "Some slightly. Others are a bit drastic."

Making a few notes, Vara hmmm'd lightly, thinking things over a moment. "Do you know of any duplicate items or people having come in contact with each other? If so, were there any noticeable effects?"

Jenni was half-tempted to say something describing a tear in the space-time continuum, crackling with energy that threatened to tear the ship into pieces if the individuals couldn't be quickly separated. Given the woman's excitement, the lie would likely create extreme disappointment and an unpleasant experience for all when she came aboard.

"As far as I know, the duplicates..." Such an odd word to use to refer to her fellow crewmembers, knowing in their eyes Jenni too was a duplicate. "...have not had the opportunity to react. In the case of the ship's Captain, Intelligence Chief and several others, their counterparts in this universe are dead. We do have one set of duplicates aboard. The ship's helmsman Lieutenant Collins."

"I think I'd like to meet both of them when I get there..." Vara mumbled as she took notes. "I also noticed a name similar to mine on the roster I was sent but she's not listed as a race we know anything about. Do you know anything about Ensign Cho'ren Vara?"

That's why the name was familiar! Jenni's mouth opened as part of the realization. Quickly, she caught herself and said, "Ensign Vara, yes. She's a security officer on board." Jenni had to call up Ensign Vara on the manifest to verify what she was about to say. "A Lagashi." It wasn't until working with Andy and Maica that she began to understand what a Lagashi was. "I think they didn't just dabble in cybernetics. It's part of their lifestyle."

"Yeah, I have no idea what a Lagashi even looks like." Vara said a bit blankly. "Does she look like me? Is it possible that she's my double just from a different race or species?"

Jenni had done a little research on the Lagashi when she'd first come aboard. Though her information was little, she fought the urge to pull up the records for reference. "Lagashi are an offshoot of humanity," she replied. "As far as appearances, they're definitely human. Minor differences there. Firmer and softer skin. Good hair too." Jenni smiled before continuing her reply. "You can see some of the cybernetics though. Not nearly as drastic or obvious as Borg, and nowhere near damaging."

Of course Jenni's example only came from one person. Hopefully Vara was characteristic enough of her species. She'd suddenly remembered the other question. "As far as looking like you..." Jenni looked over at Vara's personnel file before sliding the image into the call with Cho'ren. "I'd say aside from demeanor, the resemblance is almost striking."

"Excellent. Very good to know." Making a few more notes, Vara paused a moment before looking back up and asking her next question. Is the ship itself in any unusual way? Does it have different 'personality' as well? or is it essentially an identical ship?"

Now there was a question Jenni could talk about for days! Her smile grew with excitement as she began, "the design is essentially the same. I knew this universe's Katana for several years, and this ship bears none of her scars. She's got a few of her own, of course. My Katana had an issue with the port Bussard collecting too much space dust. Could never get that fixed. This ship has the same issue, but in the opposite nacelle." There was indeed a lot more she'd noticed from her many walks throughout the ship, but she could save those for when Cho'ren arrived.

"Wonderful to know! I wonder if the serial numbers would match up in reverse... Do they use the same serial numbers for parts and things?" Vara asked curiously.

"Model numbers are exactly the same," Jenni answered. "I haven't done much work outside this office, but I'm sure I've seen the serial number on the relay I replaced in this replicator before. The registry is exactly the same as the other, though I'm sure my Katana was two feet longer."

Now Vara was slightly confused. "Two feet longer? is there any detectable difference in anything structurally? Why would this version be shorter? Is it possible the people are slightly different dimensions as well?"

Jenni was taken aback by the barrage of questions. Perhaps this Cho'ren's curiosity would be a match for Vara's dedication. There was a thought... The two of them meeting for the first time. Jenni would have to make sure she was there for that.

Catching her composure, Jenni quickly replied, "Each universe has several copies, and several unique members. Experiences were different, as is history. I guess if the same people make either slightly or drasticly different decisions, it's easy to see how different results are met."

"Indeed. Thank you. I don't suppose you've done a sub-quantum scan of samples of both ships. I'll have to do that myself, I'm sure." With a smile, Vara nodded happily. "Is there anything else you can think of that might help me in my research?"

The intelligence officer smiled, still relishing in the scientist's enthusiasm. On a small level, it made Jenni miss her old vocation, something she hadn't thought about in days. "I can't think of anything at the moment. I'm sure there will be a lot more over the next few days."

"Excellent! Then I'll see you in a few days!" Vara Cho'ran said as she smiled enthusiastically, a giddiness to her voice. "I can't wait!"

All Jenni could do was to keep her smile. "Have a safe flight." And in jest, "Watch out for sunspace rifts."

[ON]

"Computer, begin program -- Eisovo Two-two-Alpha."

Out of the static gray and yellow infrastructure comprising holodeck two, a lush and green environment not dissimilar from the one M'rayr Eisovo began visiting prior to recusing himself to closed confinement in his quarters materialized ahead of the Caitian. The burdening sensation of what he could only describe as 'spring fever' mixed with 'post-incarceration' subsided almost immediately... along with most his articles of clothing when he began to undress and make his way towards the familiar spring waters.

It was almost as good as being back on Cait. He treaded across the open ground, trailing both paw and claw along various parts of foliage along the way... feeling the touch of something that was otherwise alien to a Federation starship. The Caitian smiled and closed his eyes, purring a deep resonance from deep within his throat while his tail swished and swayed jovially.

The waters were ahead of him. M'rayr found the spring not too far from where he remembered -- (it was difficult to create and then have to recreate a simulation from scratch) -- stepped into it, and kicked away from shore. And as soon as he could no longer touch the bottom, he submerged himself entirely into the crystal clear waters before reemerging a few moments afterward.

Despite the sourness of recent events, one would suppose Jenni walked through the corridor with a spring in her step. She honestly expected to never return to the yellow uniform, especially for the duration of her tour aboard this starship. Yet, here she was, proudly navigating the innards of the Katana sporting her traditional uniform. The crew seemed to take the change in stride, and though Jenni felt it would be a long time before she could even fill half of Andy's shoes, she felt that the Ops team was better than her Engineering team aboard her last assignment.

As she approached the doors to Holodeck Two, hoping for a bit of a reprieve at long last from the standard Starfleet bulkheads, she couldn't help but notice that the panel beside the room was already active. She knew the crew had been using the facilities more than usual lately, often without making reservations, so it really was a slim chance that the room would have been unoccupied. Curious to know who had beat her to the room, Jenni approached the panel and checked the readouts.

"M'rayr?" she asked aloud with a soft voice. She'd learned that whatever restrictions he was under had been lifted (she still didn't know the details, nor did she care to), and part of her wanted to let him be alone.

The other part...

It was a strange feeling, the urge to enter into another's company. Having been a loner for most of her Starfleet life, it had been an adjustment for her serving with a crew so open about their own feelings. The Executive Officer, however, was different than the rest. Perhaps that was what led her to open the Holodeck doors and enter.

She stepped out of the arch onto a shoreline edging a body of water, its size she could not determine. Spatially, she knew the holodecks were quite small. Though she could spot the Caitian well out into the water, she supposed he was only a few feet in front of her. She noted a discarded uniform at her feet. Jenni smiled at the thought of what the Commander wasn't wearing and decided that she wouldn't exactly follow suit. Summoning the arch, Jenni had a bathing suit replicated and then ducked behind a tree to change.

As M'rayr bobbed back to the surface and shook the excess water off his head, his ear startled to the side upon hearing a noise in the foliage. He'd taken great effort to create a convincing environment, but hadn't made it as far as animal life. Instantly, a part of him suspected Commander Maica; it wouldn't have been the first time since the Orion bot had interrupted him during this kind of simulation. Otherwise, it could have been Dekusa. Last time he saw her, the female Caitian had invited him to a romp before the two dozed off under the effects of Nepata.

Dammit... I forgot to lock the doors, the Provisional Commander realized, suspecting that his sanctuary had indeed been violated... *again*. And this time, he'd neglected to keep at least his undergarments on. Convinced that it was either Maica (in which case she deserved what she was about to get), or Dekusa (who wouldn't consider his nudity an affront given Caitian norms on the matter), M'rayr returned to the shoreline, pulled himself out of the water, and moved towards the noise.

Closing in, M'rayr noted the apparent lack of pheromones in the air, which meant it wasn't Dekusa. He began to round a large tree that his target lay behind. "Commander Maica, this is neither the time nor the place for you to..." the Caitian stopped himself mid-sentence as he realized suddenly that the half-naked woman facing away from him was neither Green nor artificial.

Jenni froze, hearing the voice behind her. It wasn't the first time a familiar voice had come from behind expecting someone else. But being mistaken, at least momentarily, for an Orion android was not something she'd expect from the Caitian. She'd already put on the lower half of the bikini, and was about to put on the top when he'd approached in his gruff manner. Maybe this wasn't as good as an idea as she hoped.

Not that she'd had an idea when she stepped into the Holodeck.

"I'm sorry," she nearly stammered, thinking she'd violated someone's privacy. But, if that were the case, why was the door not locked? She quickly put on the top (her clothing had been tossed aside and was out of reach and behind her) and turned to face M'rayr. "I didn't mean to..." her voice trailed off realizing that for all of the effort she'd put into concealing herself, the Commander had taken a different approach.

It took much longer than a few seconds for M'rayr to realize the mistake he'd made. "Lieutenant Matthews," he said, his voice not firm; nor was it as warm and pleasant as she was accustomed to usually hearing whenever they spoke privately. "No. The error is mine. I believed you were Commander Maica. She has... er... made a habit of interfering with my holodeck time lately."

He cleared his throat with a cough, realizing then that she still looked a little distracted. Glancing downward, he realized that human taboos regarding nudity might be a factor, and stepped behind some foliage. "Was there something you required?" He asked. His mind caught up to the fact that she was not wearing a Starfleet uniform, instead a bikini. One that fit her particularly well as far as human standards went.

"I..." her voice abandoned her, still distracted by M'rayr's appearance. Until this ship, her contact with Caitians was negligible at best and she hadn't considered much by way of anatomy or how any of that would work.

Her eyes jolted upward to connect with his gaze. "I was looking for some R & R time and was hoping you wouldn't mind if I joined you." An urge came to her, which her eyes followed the thought down to the ground, to pick up her uniform, dress quickly and head back for her quarters. Maybe a walk in the arboretum would be better suited for her, even though it had been a nightly visit.

M'rayr stopped and studied Jenni for a moment. Whether he was considering her request or coming to realization with the differences between Terran and Caitian anatomy and physiology was up to a toss, however. He'd been looking to enjoy some time in the holodeck, but the more he thought about it now, he realized that he didn't need to spend it alone. Caitians were intensely social creatures, after all, and although M'rayr had spent more than the past decade or so trying to convince himself otherwise, he could no longer deny who or what he was.

"In that case, your company is welcome, Lieutenant Matthews" M'rayr suggested after a pause, uncertain of why he was suddenly rising a professional barrier between hem as he indicated towards the lake with crystal blue waters and its inviting backdrop of cliffs, waterfalls, and more jungle.

A smile creeped onto Jenni's face, actually taking in the view for the first time. She took a couple steps forward and stopping next to M'rayr (it just happened to be that way) as she continued to enjoy the beauty of the program. Several weeks ago, she'd thought it crazy to be enjoying a swim with a fellow officer, a senior one no less. Today, she didn't feel any such thing.

However, what she was about to do was awkward. Though her imposition was now welcomed, Jenni could not bear to stand on formality. Looking over and up at M'rayr, Jenni said, "Thank you." Gesturing to the uniform on the ground behind her, she added, "I left my pips on the uniform. Could we leave protocol here on the shore?" She'd be willing to keep addressing him as Commander should he desire, but she heard enough "Lieutenant"s during the day to satisfy her until tomorrow.

Looking down to the neatly laid out uniform, M'rayr nodded with an audible grunt before moving back towards the spring. Once Jenni had joined alongside him, he stretched his face into a loose approximation of a smile. "I see Captain Kerouac has approved your transfer to operations," he said, knowing full well that 'business' might not be what she had in mind to discuss. Nevertheless, it was noteworthy. And an easy way to kill a few seconds while they worked their way back to the water.

Jenni's feet touched the water and found it cool to the touch. The sensation was perfect, and Jenni realized how long it had been since she had swam. The smile she wore grew. If it were possible, surely a muscle or two was about to be strained. "It was Andy's idea, actually," she told M'rayr as they continued going deeper into the water. "Well, not exactly her idea completely. But it's nice to be back in yellow for sure."

"Indeed," M'rayr commented.

She hoped this wouldn't be considered rude, but the urge was just too strong. As soon as she was deep enough in the water, Jenni pushed off and swam towards the middle of the water. Once there, she dove under the surface, purposely getting her hair wet as she swam in a curved path before finally bobbing back to the surface. In that moment, she'd been disoriented. She wasn't sure where the shore she entered from, nor did she see M'rayr.

While Jenni took the direct route to the lake, M'rayr was inclined to literally climb a tree before he resumed his swimming. He extended his claws and started up one of the taller trees, using his rear claws to keep him from falling during his ascent. Glancing over, he saw Jenni beneath the water in what almost seemed like a dance. Resuming his climb, he reached an agreeable height and then bent his legs, poised himself in a distinctly feline manner, and finally leaped from the purchase of his high ground.

Jenni looked up just in time to see a blur of fur plummet towards the lake. She halfway expected a large splash, but his form yielded nothing of the sort. Jenni watched as he disappeared below the surface and waited for him to surface. She couldn't help but send a small splash of water towards his face the moment his head was above water.

"I haven't done that since I was a child," M'rayr said, laughing agreeably. His heart was beating quickly from the exhilaration of the fall. He looked around, using broad strokes to keep himself balanced and afloat. "Then again, it has probably been at least a decade since I've visited a planet like this." M'rayr leaned backwards, allowing himself to float on the subtle lake currents.

"Where are we exactly?" Jenni asked, keeping herself afloat as well. "It's certainly beautiful."

M'rayr was still studying a series of magnificent looking vines when Jenni asked. "I am not certain. This program is an extract from one created by one of our Caitian guests -- K'larri; but it certainly reminds me of Cait." He rolled off his back and turned in the water to face Jenni.

"I think it's been a couple years since I set foot on a planet," Jenni recollected, pausing to actually think about it. She's been on a couple Away Teams, but they were always repair-related on a starbase or starship. In fact, it had been a long time since she tasted air that hadn't been through a recycler. What did fresh air smell like these days?

M'rayr let out a small laugh. "You and are seem to be very much alike... Jenni," he added her name almost as an after thought. Being so informal was still very much a work in progress. He couldn't even remember the last time he'd been to Cait; at least not before his exile. And the planets he'd visited were less than barren rocks. "And it is quite... satisfying... to be in your presence," With that thought, his face turned sad. If Kerouac had his way, the Katana would never have come to this universe. Jenni would either be dead or captured; he would have never met her. He looked back to the vines. "I do not wish for the Captain's mission to succeed. Our lives, I believe, would be less without you."

Jenni could not help but to heave a sigh. She didn't want the mission to succeed either, not because she'd finally become comfortable with this crew. It was because she knew where she would wind up. A chill shot up her spine just thinking about it. "To be honest, I don't want to leave," Jenni told him. "From what I've read about the Guardian, if we succeed, not only will you never have met me, I won't be rescued from my Katana." She deliberately chose not to continue that train of thought. There were nineteen people who would for sure be dead. Jenni would not know if she would be dead or captured.

If she had a choice, it would be death. Enough Breen torture stories had been shared throughout the Federation. Jenni had no desire to join that number.

Jenni's eyes had glazed over as her gaze drifted off into the waterfall. Such a powerful force, thousands of gallons of water that cascaded down from above, all at the mercy of gravity. She mused it was a metaphor for time itself, a force so powerful nothing could hope to stop it. If Kerouac was successful, she and nineteen other lives would be forced to follow time's course to their demise. Who knew what would happen in their absence, should this universe's Katana be unable to hold off the Breen invaders.

Something slid past her leg, interrupting her thought process. The sensation was slimy and cold, sending a chill jolting up her leg and spine. Jenni had nothing to push off of yet she leapt out of the water, letting loose a small shriek in the process. Her leg shivered, only for a moment, before she regained her composure. On one side of her, she felt something strong. It wasn't water or foliage, rather a mess of fur. Jenni turned to see that M'rayr had caught her. She looked up to see him looking down upon her. She was no expert on Caitian facial expressions, but he bore one that seemed more tender than what she was used to seeing from him.

M'rayr had acted more on instinct when he reached out. He had no idea what would have elicited such a reaction out of Jenni, although it was clear that something had startled her. But as soon as he found the human in his arms, the catalyst behind that expert leap no longer seemed to matter; M'rayr felt an inclination that seemed sudden as well as alien, and bore witness as it became something else -- an urge. One that only a moment ago would have seemed ridiculous for him to have even considered.

He was sorely tempted to kiss her.

But Jenni was human. He was Caitian. And as far as conventional attraction went, the two species were too separate from one another. As good as Jenni felt to the touch, and as strong the impulse was to act on his long neglected desires, M'rayr could do nothing more than float with her in tow while precious seconds ticked themselves away. A moment later, the opportunity felt missed.

The Caitian cleared his throat with an uncomfortable cough while he pretended to notice something in the water. The illusion of danger passed, he relaxed his grip and let Jenni sink back into the water. Once he was certain that his face had hardened again, he looked back to her.

"I, uh, probably should have mentioned that there are fish in the lake," he said.

She was tempted to have the computer delete the fish and whatever marine life still hid beneath the surface. Just as she was about to open her mouth to do so, Jenni remembered that this was not her program. Her presence alone was enough of an imposition.

But remaining in M'rayr's hold told her she wasn't imposing. The night a while ago in his quarters and the maddening allergy episode all of a sudden didn't feel like impositions either. His earlier comment about being very much alike rang true is so many ways. Was there a hidden meaning in that? Just in the way he'd held her and then let her slide back into the water felt like something else was there.

Did he feel it too? If so, what was it?

Now swimming again on her own power, Jenni looked at M'rayr and smiled, hoping to move past the awkward moment. "It's all right," she said. "I've.. never felt a fish before." She glanced down in the water, hoping to spot whatever it may have been. The water, even out here, was clear enough to see most of her body beneath the surface as well as bits of her...

It was her mind's turn to pause. Her what? Friend? Acquaintance? What was this feeling? Did this mean something too?

She had to leave that thought alone for now. If she didn't know what it was, and M'rayr clearly was distracted, maybe this wasn't the time to bring it up.

"I'm pretty sure," she said, sticking with the subject at hand, "that was not a fish."

[ON]

Provisional Commander M'rayr Eisovo walked the corridors with a medium sized PaDD in paw. He was studying Starfleet records on the Guardian, Talos IV, and the Talosians, hoping to gain some insight on whether Kerouac's mission would bear worse consequences than simply violating protocol and Federation law, and if so, how badly. Beyond considering this mission not only unwise and reckless, but potentially a crime against civilization. There was no telling how much damage they would do were they to attempt to alter the timeline. M'rayr couldn't fathom why Kerouac couldn't see that.

Internally, M'rayr was preparing for an inevitability. He'd acquiesced to Keroac's insistence on at least traveling to the planet and speaking with the guardian. It would likely mean the end of his career... but M'rayr's loyalty to Kerouac hadn't waivered so far as of yet.

If, however, it became apparent that the costs of going through the gateway were to outweigh the benefits, particularly if it meant that people like Jennifer Matthews, Dekusa, and eighteen other survivors from the original Katana would have to die just so Kerouac could return his crew home, M'rayr would have no choice but to...

The Caitian turned a corner and nearly struck something. Rather, someone.

"Commander Maica," he said, recognizing the green-skinned android molded into the shape of a voluptuous Orion.

"Ah Commander M'rayr!" Maica exclaimed in delight, placing her hands on his elbows a moment as if to steady them both. "Just the Caitian I was sniffing for. Do you have a few minutes?"

Eccentric, as always. Those where M'rayr's thoughts as he adjusted to the sudden physical contact from the ship's Chief Diplomatic Officer whom, despite present circumstances, seemed to be in a particularly good mood. He rose a brow and made a grunting sound. "I do."

"Excellent! Come with me, please." Leading them to a nearby window alcove, Maica gave him a meaningful look. "Ok, first off I have to ask how your date with Dekusa went and what you think of her. And don't give me some gruff lack of response. I want your honest feelings."

With everything going on, Maica was concerned about his love life? Or lack thereof? The Caitian snorted, keeping the same general lack of expression he usually had. With everything that had been going on, he'd barely had time to even recall Maica's involvement on that matter. "We very nearly drowned had it not been for the holodeck's safety protocols. The nepata leaves were quiet potent," he stopped, realizing that she probably wanted a little more information than that.

How was he supposed to explain to the ship's sex therapist that he just wasn't interested in the most practical mate on board? "She is... very direct," he pointed out without saying too much about the fact that Dekusa had propositioned him for intercourse. "And is quite brilliant in her field. But as I have told you, Commander, I am not interested in finding a mate," he looked down the corridor. "There is too much happening right now. We cannot afford to be distracted."

"On the contrary, that's exactly what we need. Besides, I think Jennifer Mathews distracts you a bit. Am I right?" Maica asked, her senses on high alert for any change in the Caitian's demeanor, smell, or gaze.

As much as M'rayr wished that he could have been prepared for that sort of question, he wasn't. He felt his insides do something he wasn't accustomed to. In the corner of his mind, he presumed that question wasn't unintentional, but whatever physical cue might have betrayed his next answer, he tried to sound as convincing as possible. "Lieutenant Matthews is a fine officer," he said in as objective sounding a voice he could manage.

Maica had her answer. A slow smile crept onto her face as M'rayr spoke. "Yes, I agree. She's a very fine officer. Did you notice that bounce and sway to her hips as she walks?"

Heaving an audible sigh, the Caitian knew that trying to deny his budding feelings for Jenni would be a waste of time. Maica had him. She knew it. He knew it. There was no point in evading it. Like Jhu, Maica was unstoppable when it came to her powers of intuition and observation. "I have," he admitted grudgingly, deciding that that was enough to answer her suspicions.

Maica was satisfied with that answer for now. It told her enough and she could tell from his physical state just how enamoured with her he was. Now for the next push. "What do you intent to do about it then? If we return to our own universe and time, or if things go poorly with this Talos IV thing, you might not see her again."

M'rayr's face made an ugly expression. It wasn't as though he'd been wrestling with that knowledge ever since Kerouac had come up with this insane plan of his. Sufficed to say, the Caitian took a deep breath before he even began to consider a reply. He was angry with Maica for even mentioning it. He then took another breath, just as a safety. "What would you suggest?" He asked rhetorically. Everybody had their orders. And it wasn't as though M'rayr could assume command just because he had personal feelings towards a member of the crew who would most certainly be affected by any alteration to this space-time.

"I recommend the direct approach. Take her aside and tell her how you feel. Possibly rub your face against hers. That sort of thing." Maica said, not having meant any sort of command takeover. "Then see how she feels."

"Commander, to be frank -- what would that accomplish?" M'rayr asked, his voice incredulous. His mind went back to their previous night in the holodeck, specifically that moment when one of the holographic fish had slid past Jenni's leg and caused her to reach out to him. There had been something there, right?

It doesn't matter, M'rayr reminded himself. "In a matter of days, Lieutenant Matthews will likely be dead or captured, and we -- I -- will have never recalled meeting her." He didn't realize how much it would pain him to say in his own words that Jenni's life would be over. It panged at his chest. "What you're suggesting would change nothing; it wouldn't matter."

"It matters here and now to you. I can see that as plainly as the ship around us." Maica said encouragingly. "It would accomplish a lot for you personally. Will it change much in the long run? No, I think we'll still follow the path we're destined for. But what if that's the path you're destined for?"

M'rayr opened his mouth to speak but thought better of it. As much as he hated to admit it, Maica was right; he'd regret not telling Jenni how he felt about her. Maybe it wouldn't change anything. Maybe it would. And maybe... just maybe... Kerouac would find a way to return the ship and crew to their own universe without compromising Jenni's presence on board.

"Why does this matter to you?" He asked, his voice no longer deflecting. It was a sincere question.

Maica deflected his question with a sincere question of her own. "You're my friend. Why wouldn't it matter to me?"

M'rayr nodded. "Thank you," he said.

"You're very welcome." Maica said. "So what will you do then?"

"That is a matter I must give some thought," M'rayr admitted, not quite sure if, or even how he'd approach Jenni. Aside from being of two different species, there was also the fact that he hadn't approached a woman in many years. There were customs and trials that Caitians followed with one another when courting one another. How humans performed such acts was something he was completely oblivious to.

Maica nodded, satisfied. "If you need any help, please let me know, ok?"

"Ok," M'rayr replied, now wondering exactly where he was going to begin.

[ON]

There were voices. Voices so distant and indiscernible that M'rayr Eisovo had nearly registered them as anything other than the ambient background noises from the ship’s environmental systems before realizing they were anything but. Waking up, the Caitian opened his one good eye and studied the room before him. There was nothing. Even the voices subsided.

Strange, M'rayr thought.

M’rayr felt a stir beside him. He looked and found Jenni, still soundly asleep. Her tussled hair was spread out across most of the pillow; her breathing was barely audible. M’rayr considered waking her, to discuss the voices, but decided against it. It must have been weeks since Jenni had slept so restfully, and he did not want to disturb her.

But now that M’rayr was awake, he decided to relieve himself in the restroom. Sliding out of her hold and out of the bedsheets, the Caitian moved carefully and quietly towards the latrine.

"Turn around... do not come to the place that is forbidden."

"All will be lost if you come. She will be lost."

The whispers were clear this time, and were coming from the bathroom. He rushed into the room, hit the lights, but found it to be empty.

"Stop him."

"Stop him, now!"

M'rayr pivoted on his heel, certain that someone was behind him in the bedroom.

"Computer, lights."

Jenni had stirred a few moments before, feeling the mattress shift beneath her. By the time she opened her eyes, she was alone in the room. Had someone been here?" It felt like someone had. Then she noticed the sheets were not her own, and the texture was the same as the ones she'd woken up to the time she slept in M'rayr's quarters.

And that's when she heard voices. "Stop him."

"Finish it."

Something clinked in the bathroom. Jenni leapt out of bed, then realized she wasn't sure what to do. She spotted a silhouette in the dark. Should she tackle it? No, it was too big. Was it going to attack her? Her eyes darted around, spotting a candlestick. By the time she grabbed it and prepared to raise it, the lights came to life.

Jenni heaved a sigh of relief and lowered the candlestick when she recognized M'rayr. "Did you hear them?" she asked, referring to the voices she'd heard just a moment before.

The Caitian nodded, concerned, but at least grateful that this wasn’t all in his mind. “I will notify the bridge,” he said, reaching for his comm-badge but not finding it on his breast. Knowing that he occasionally would set it on the night stand, his eye took him there next, but it was nowhere to be found.

“Do you have your comm-badge?" M’rayr asked.

Jenni looked down at her camisole-covered breast, noting she was not wearing hers either. Not that she normally wore hers to bed... She moved over to her side of the bed (she had a side of the bed?) and searched for it. "I guess not." The nightstand had a comm panel built in, but it was dark. A lone tap on top of the unit caused it to flash to life, albeit dimly. Not all of the buttons were active, just a single line of text and an "OK" button. The text read, "STOP HIM."

"What the..." Jenni muttered before reading the text to M'rayr.

M’rayr leaned over to read the panel, and grunted. Nothing made sense. Their comm-badges were missing, they weren’t able to reach out using the comm panel, and voices had been emanating from inside his quarters mere moments ago. The more M’rayr thought about it, the less he could recall; he couldn’t even remember falling asleep with Jenni.

Reluctantly, M'rayr looked to Jenni, whose attention was still concentrated on the console, reached over with one paw and pinched her upper arm.

"Ow!" Jenni spun around, reaching instantly for her arm while the pinched arm flinched in response. "Commander!" As much emphasis as she'd placed in days past on dropping some of the formalities, in this instance she couldn't help but object to his action by using his rank.

"I am sorry," M'rayr said apologetically with a mix of surprise.

"What was that for?" Jenni asked, rubbing her arm. "Did you think we were dreaming or something?"

"I considered it a possibility," M'rayr admitted. "Our comm-badges missing, the console behaving erratically, the voices. However, that seems not to be the case."

"Stop him!"

Jenni looked around the room, hoping to spot the source. This one hadn't come from all directions like the last voice had. It came from... the other room? Without a single word, Jenni left the bedroom and entered the living room. "Lights!" she commanded and the room was instantly illuminated.

No one was there.

"Interesting," she commented. "Comm panels are quirky, but the lights are fine. Both are computer controlled."

M’rayr pointed to the open doorway leading into the corridor. “We are not confined to these quarters,” he said. “We should attempt to reach the bridge.”

Jenni nodded, stepping out into the corridor. She was cautious, unsure of what to expect. She did, however, hear an assortment of whispers as she navigated the corridors. It was nothing she could clearly make out. "Look at this," Jenni said, walking over to one of the corridor terminals. All of the buttons were dark, and the terminal itself displayed only two words: "STOP HIM."

The screen immediately went dark before a new sentence was typed in its place. "STOP HIM NOW."

M'rayr motioned for them to continue moving.

"What do you think the messages stand for, Lieutenant?" M'rayr asked while they followed the curving corridor towards a turbo lift access point.

They passed another terminal which bore the exact same wording. "I swear someone's trying to talk to us." Jenni spotted the door to Andy's quarters and started moving towards it. "Maybe we should get a second opinion."

M'rayr couldn't explain why he did what he did next. But from the moment they’d woken up, the two of them acted as though they were mere colleagues when he knew there was so much more to their relationship now. In the back of his mind, M’rayr knew there were more serious concerns. Still, he couldn’t stop himself from snatching Jenni into his arms, or from pulling her into his embrace.

Jenni was taken aback by the sudden action. As she remained in the embrace, she felt herself drawn back to the moment in the lake when he'd caught her and held her in that moment of fright. She didn't know what to do, but as she looked up to M'rayr, electricity surged through her veins. Whatever feelings she experienced over the last few days amplified themselves. The thought of this being her last few days was present as well. If this mission were successful, she'd remember none of this. In fact, she would already be dead. The moment was not worth her discretion. She leaned in, pushing herself up his torso via her tiptoes.

But even now, she couldn't bring herself to complete the task. Chills shot up her spine. It was... As if someone was watching. Jenni turned to her left out of curiosity.

And gasped!

Distracted, M'rayr looked in the direction Jenni seemed so focused on and immediately felt a desire to protect her. He put her behind him. His eye narrowed, his teeth were bear.

“You!" He growled.

Kristopher Kerouac.

"Nice to see you're settling down, Kitty," The Katana’s CO said with a wry lopsided grin. “She’s a nice girl, too. Attractive. Smart. Compassionate. I can see why you like her. But it’s too bad that she won’t be able to stay with you.”

M’rayr pushed Jenni behind him instinctively; he didn’t want Kerouac anywhere near her.

“That won’t help, Eisovo.” Warned Kerouac. “I’m afraid you’ll need to take it a step further if you want to keep her safe from me." Kerouac then snapped his fingers. "See what I mean?"

M’rayr reached behind him, but his paws grasped at air. He turned; Jenni had vanished. Angry, he faced the Captain, grabbed the man’s uniform in both fists, and heaved him into the nearest bulkhead. "Where is she, Kerouac?!"

"What does it matter to you?" Kristopher Kerouac wore smug and lopsided grin. “She’ll be dead in a day or so anyways. And to think, you two were just starting to feel something for one another.”

"Kerouac, if you don't tell me where she is this minute, I will end you."

Kris laughed darkly. "I wish you would. But you won't. And in the end, that's why you'll lose her."

***

When Jenni had been hastily shoved behind M'rayr, she became disoriented. When she spun around, M'rayr was gone. And so was Kerouac. A cold chill appeared on her backside, as if her back had been pressed against steel.

Standing alone in the corridor as she looked around, Jenni instantly noticed the lighting had gone dark and the alert panels had sprung to life, intermittently bathing the area in red light.

"This is your fault."

Jenni spun around to find a man holding a phaser at her forehead. His hair was long, as was the beard wildly growing on his face. The look in his eyes, she'd seen it before.

"You couldn't press the trigger before," Jenni warned, taking a step forward, unsure where her confidence came from. "You won't do it now." The figure instantly stepped forward so that the emitter touched her forehead.

"I'm not going to kill you." The crazed man cocked his head to the left. "They will."

Jenni peered in the direction indicated to find a Breen firing squad approaching in the distance. She found it strange that she wasn't phased in the slightest. In fact, she'd been preparing over the last few hours for the inevitable. In fact, she had wondered how it would end. Captured and tortured for the rest of her life in a prison camp? Shot defending the bridge? Engineering?

She hoped it'd be in Engineering.

Not that she could plan. She wouldn't have any memory of the last few weeks, this ship, this crew.

"It's ironic," the voice said, laughing, "Twice now you couldn't stop me. Are you prepared to lose your love?"

***

“I’m afraid you’ll have to make a choice, Eisovo. The Katana can’t be in two places at once,” Kerouac warned. “If I visit the Guardian, I’ll be able to stop us from using the Borg device. We’ll be home, in our own universe, and still in the Delta Quadrant. You’ll still be exiled by your tribe – without a family to truly call your own. And in the meantime, she’ll still be here, helplessly facing an overpowering Breen assault. Even if she survives the battle, she won’t survive the firing squad that awaits her. She’ll be dead.”

“And what will become of you, then?” Kerouac continued. “What do you think the Federation or Starfleet will do to you and this crew? Do you really think they’ll just accept your argument that you were just following orders? Of course not. They’ll lock each of you away and throw away the key. That is, assuming of course they don’t decide to execute you right alongside Kerouac.”

Kerouac spat. “This isn’t rocket science, Eisovo. You have an easy choice. Kerouac is your enemy, and Jenni could be your mate if you let her. The choice is obvious. So why are so afraid of making the hard decision?”

M’rayr heaved Kerouac back into the bulkhead, but he found his conviction waning.

“Getting angry won’t help,” Kerouac said laughing. “Half your senior staff has already has already abandoned him. Carter, Grae, O’Connor. Even that pesky hologram Zhuri told Kerouac he could go to hell. But you? You just sat there putting out lackluster arguments.

“Don’t you remember why you were even assigned to the Katana?”

M’rayr nodded reluctantly. “The Admiralty had its concerns.”

“The Admiralty knew Kerouac was insane!” Kerouac retorted. “And your job was to replace him. You had everything you needed to do that. The opportunity, the evidence, the resources. But at the last minute, you choked. And you’re choking now.”

***

"My love?" Jenni fired back. The phaser remained buried in her forehead, and now it pressed in further, prompting her to back into the bulkhead behind her. "What are you talking about?"

"Why do you think you are drawn to him, day after day?" her dead commander asked. He dropped the phaser and grabbed her by the shoulders. "That's not friendship you're after. You care for the Caitian."

"As a friend. Nothing--"

"You lie!" he shouted, pressing harder against her shoulders. "You lie to yourself and you know it!" A pair of eyes glowing with fury bore deep into Jenni's own. "He'll protect you if you tell him. Say nothing, and..." He looked over at the approaching firing squad. "And you know how this ends."

***

Kerouac looked like he was reading through M’rayr’s doubts. “Stop trying to believe in a fairytale, Caitian. You can’t have your cake and eat it too.” Kerouac snapped his fingers again. The sound of heavy boot steps echoed across the corridor. M’rayr looked to his left and found Jenni leaning against the wall with her hands tied behind her back as a firing squad lined up to execute her.

“Is this what you want?” Kerouac demanded.

Jenni turned and looked pleadingly to M’rayr. “Please, I don’t want to die.”

Kerouac waved a hand dismissively at M'rayr. “She’s depending on you, Eisovo. And you’re letting her down. Hell, you might as well grab a rifle and shoot her yourself!” “Ready!” Kerouac then ordered. The Breen raised their weapons.

“No!” M’rayr growled, "Kerouac, don't do this."

"It's too late, Commander." Kerouac stated. "Aim!"

The Breen braced their weapons against their shoulders and lined their sights up against Jenni.

M'rayr knocked Kerouac out of the way and rushed for the Breen. But no matter how fast he moved or how hard he tried, they were always just beyond his reach. Jenni was as well. It was as though something were pulling him away from her. M’rayr stretched out his arm, trying to grasp for her. “Jenni!”

"Commander!" Jenni called out, looking back towards the Breen. She was unable to move. One step in either direction meant certain death. She could dodge the blasts, sure, but one fall to the ground and she wouldn't be able to get up quick enough with her hands bound. Her ears could now only hear the heavy footsteps come to a stop and the clicking of safeties as the rifles were raised.

"You can't stop the firing squad, Commander. It'll be too late by then. But you can stop him before it gets this far!”

Six rifles leveled at her. Jenni's eyes grew in horror, noticing the energy buildup behind the emitters. She looked back to the Caitian who was trying to reach her. Jenni knew he'd never reach her in time. "M'rayr!" she called out, tears building up behind her eyes. Please! Not like this!

“Fire!”

***

It was all over before M'rayr was able to do anything. He heard the audible pulsations of the Breen disrupters as the corridor glowed in electric-green brilliance, but he couldn't see Jenni. The word turned sideways as up became down, left became right, and M'rayr lost his balance, collapsing. The room was rubber-banding, and it took everything he had in him to focus on a single lump laying in the corridor where Jenni had presumably fallen.

The Breen were gone. Kerouac was gone. They were alone.

"J- Jenni..." M'rayr said inadequately, crawling his way towards her. He reached her, drew her unmoving body into his lap and stroked her cheek. “Jenni, please come back to me.”

Her eyes fluttered open. She'd felt unimaginable pain when the Breen had fired. Wait. Jenni gasped at the realization. Though she was being held, she moved as well as she could. She noticed instantly her hands were no longer bound, and her abdomen was completely without the scars of weapons fire. "Oh... M'rayr..." Jenni relaxed, allowing her body to fall almost limp within his embrace.

She closed her eyes as his paw touched her cheek again. Tears began to build up behind her eyelids and she fought to hold them back. It was not fear that drove them, nor sadness. Almost as quickly as she felt the first drop roll down her cheek into his paw, the wells dried up and Jenni regained her resolve. There was nothing different about this moment, save for an open acknowledgement of what they both had been feeling. His touch was tender, caring...

Loving.

Jenni found no reason to escape from this close proximity, nor any reason to remove herself from the corridor. There was no hiding from rumors on this ship. Why try?

She could tell he wanted more. Did she? The electricity between them was a critical mass, and rising with every stroke on her side. All it would take was one kiss.

No... she couldn't. There was no life left, not if Kerouac succeeded. It didn't matter if she wouldn't remember these weeks, or the next few hours. Jennifer Matthews would die on her own terms, being herself and nothing more.

Jenni embraced M'rayr tightly, burying her head into his chest. Her face gave no emotion. Her tear ducts remained dry. This moment was perfect. All she needed was to know that just one person truly, utterly cared for her.

She closed her eyes, letting his warmth surround her. So many words were on the tip of her tongue. It wasn't fair to profess a love that would not be allowed to grow. Nor was it fair to foolishly relish in a night of passion that would have no meaning.

So she said the one thing that mattered. In a soft, emotionally charged, but still voice, "I don't want to die."

Arivek Zhuri found himself walking down the corridor on Deck 3, headed to a place he honestly didn't want to see again. The Engineering kit in his hand swung with his footsteps, his shoulders slumped with mental fatigue. It had been a long day yesterday, with his matrix issues and Andy's sudden mental emergency, and he had been working non-stop since then on the Katana's growing list of technical issues.

And now, he was just informed that Commander Eisovo had been confined to quarters, and protocol demanded that any replicators in those quarters had to be restricted to food and beverage orders only, and nothing alcoholic. Normally he would have had a repair specialist do that, but because this was the Executive Officer, Ari felt it better to do the job himself. Even if he did think the XO was a royal prick.

He turned the corner and sighed, seeing the man's door with two guards posted on either side. He stepped up to the guards and quick showed his Engineering Kit, "Just here to restrict the Commander's replicator," he said, opening the kit so the guards could see there were only a few tools and a tricorder in there.

With a nod, they moved aside and pressed a button on the keypad to let the man in.

Commander M'rayr Eisovo's eyes blinked open as he'd closed them while sitting on a couch and reading a PaDD. Unlike his previous readings, this one was recreational; there were only so much status reports he could stand to read in his quarters. It took a moment for his eyes to adjust to the new light as he'd dimmed ambience in his quarters before resting. But the blue was unmistakable. M'rayr blinked, and blinked again. He'd had several visitors since his voluntary incarceration, but he didn't expect this one.

Arivek Zhuri.

Then his Caitian eyes slid down from Zhuri's less than pleased expression, down his shoulder to his arm, and onto the case he was carrying. This was not a personal visit. It was business. "Lieutenant Zhuri," M'rayr greeted with reserve. The last time he'd tried being pleasant with the man, he'd had his courtesy slapped back at him. Not that Zhuri was out of line for doing so, because it had only been a few days earlier that M'rayr had scoffed at his offer of friendship.

"Commander," Arivek replied. "I'm here to take care of some things..." he stated, nodding towards the replicator. He didn't exactly want to come out and say what had to be done, but he hoped that the Commander's knowledge of such protocols would take care of that for him.

Another aspect of standard procedure that M'rayr found unnecessary in this particular case, but was unwilling to protest it. Particularly to Arivek right now. The Caitian gestured to the recently replaced replicator station. "It was upgraded this morning by Ms. Corbin. I am surprised these... modifications... weren't completed then."

"I don't remember authorizing a replicator upgrade," Arivek stated, walking over to the unit. "And I've kept your situation quiet from my department, that's why she wasn't aware of this need."

M'rayr wore the look of mild surprise for a moment, but masked it quickly. One of his biggest concerns was how the crew would respond to knowing that their First Officer attacked another member of the senior staff. If he were to lose their trust and respect, he'd lose the ability to command them. "I appreciate your discretion," M'rayr said after clearing his throat.

"Mmhmm," was the simple reply that Arivek gave. The truth was, he didn't want to be here doing this. If the situation was any less sensitive, he would have had that annoying brat Ensign Storm do this job. But unfortunately, with someone as high up in the chain as Commander Eisovo, it was a Department Head's responsibility. "It should only be a few minutes," he said, bored.

M'rayr nodded and went back to his PaDD.

After a few minutes of work, Arivek placed his tools back in his case and clipped it closed. "All fixed. Enjoy timeout," he said stated to the Caitian, heading towards the door.

Watching the Engineer strode towards the door, M'rayr's brows crossed. He'd at least expected Arivek to hold a grudge for a little while, but it had been weeks since their argument. And the Katana was now in a strange and alien universe. "Chief," the Caitian interrupted, waiting for Arivek to pause. "If you have something you want to say, you should say it. This passive-aggressive behavior is unbecoming."

"I have nothing to say to you," Arivek stated, not turning around. The Commander was lucky he even decided to reply at all.

M'rayr's nostrils flared, but he said nothing else. "Very well then. You are dismissed, Lieutenant." In truth, M'rayr knew that his command had been temporarily suspended pending the medical and psychological evaluation. What was it about this ship that attracted some of the most stubborn and frustrating crew?

Arivek spun around on his heels, "You don't have the authority to dismiss me, M'rayr. Need I remind you that you're the one locked in his quarters?" He sighed. "If you want to chat with someone, why don't you call one of your friends."

"Is that what this is about?" M'rayr asked, ignoring the Chief Engineer's jab and still speaking as though they were discussing something trivial. Pointing out that he was technically on leave (although Cohen's suspension of M'rayr's duties made Arivek's statement at least partially true) wouldn't help the situation. But M'rayr knew what Arivek was holding onto at least. "Did my actions offend you that much?"

"Yes!" Arivek yelled, throwing his hands up in the air. "You think it's easy being the new guy? This crew is like family to each other. And I'm an outsider here. On more than one occasion that has been made very clear to me." Arivek started to pace, leaving the engineering kit on a table by the doorway. "And here, I thought that you may also be feeling the way I was. So I came to you hoping that we could form some sort of bond. Make this transition easier for both of us. And you threw that in my face." He stopped and stared at the Caitian. "You've made me feel like more of an outsider than anyone on board, including the Captain who has told me twice that he doesn't want me here. So tell me, how am I supposed to take that?"

M'rayr was all but ready to bite off a retort, but once he fully processed Arivek's words he closed his mouth. Arivek felt like an outsider. Hadn't M'rayr as well until Jhu, Maica, and Andy forced their way into his life? And even then, he'd knowingly kept them at arms length, as though he regarded their friendship as a liability more than a benefit. Of course, some of that changed since they reached this space-time. But Arivek was right. M'rayr made him feel like an outsider. The least M'rayr could do was explain why. Or at least to try and explain.

The Caitian heaved an very audible and deeply exacerbated sigh. "Arivek..." he said, using Zhuri's name for the first time. "I apologize. I am sorry for ostracizing you. At the time, when I said I had no desire to be your friend, I meant it. But not because of who you are or anything you did." Somehow, saying it's not you, it's me didn't feel right on M'rayr's tongue, so he neglected to speak it.

Arivek held out his hand, staring at the man as he waited for him to finish what he was going to say.

M'rayr grumbled inwardly. Arivek may not have deserved what M'rayr had done to him before, but the Bolian/Trill-Hologram certainly could be irritating... particularly when he wanted something. "There is nothing more to say on the matter," M'rayr said, trying to add some finality to his words. "Other than I was wrong."

"That's it?" Arivek rolled his eyes and sighed. "I just opened up and poured out my feelings to you and that's all you can give me in return?" The man walked back to the doorway and snatched the engineering kit from the side table. "Enjoy confinement, jackass," he said before walking out of the room.

Paige looked over the table she had set and nodded to herself. Everything looked good. "Computer time," she said.

"Time is 1800 hours," the computerized voice replied.

Paige raised her eyebrows in surprise. R'tame always said that to be early was to be on time and to be on time was to be late. He should have been here by now. She shrugged; she supposed there was always a first. She sat down on the sofa to give him a few minutes to show up.

Fifteen minutes later and Paige paced the length of her quarters. She was irritated. "Computer, locate Ensign Eevoss," she commanded.

"Ensign Eevoss is in his quarters," came the reply.

Paige stopped pacing and frowned. Now she wasn't just irritated but getting downright peeved. She strode out of her quarters and toward R'tame's. Reaching his quarters, she chimed his door and waited none too patiently.

On the other end of that doorway was, to his great misfortune, an extremely mellow but high Caitian. R'tame Evoss's eyelids fluttered up to the door, his ears certain that they'd just heard something. taking a deep enough breath, he tried to ignore the colorful lights on the console which had been entertaining him gleefully for the past half an hour... or hour... or maybe two hours. Five? R'tame shrugged off the final details and smiled, feeling more content than ever. "It's open..." he said, half recalling the chime at the door. "Unless that was my imagination. But if you are real, watch out for the lights. They dance."

Paige paused. Something sounded very....different....about R'tame's voice. She walked into his quarters to find him sprawled across the floor with his belly to the sky. She raised an eyebrow. "R'tame?" she said.

The Caitian stretched his body in order to look at Paige. When he saw her, he smiled widely and made a funny noise similar to a chuckle. "Oh -oh HEY! Paige! When did you get here?" He looked to the door and frowned. "I know that we're dating, but you shouldn't enter someone's quarters without ring the chime first." His face went complacent again; a console on the wall caught his attention again. "Pretty lights."

Paige's eyebrows went up even higher. "I did ring the chime. You told me to come in. What on earth are you doing? We were supposed to have dinner, remember?"

Their plans seemed vague to him; R'tame was too content looking at the lights. "Oh yeah. Well, I made some tea using some of the Napata leaves that Commander Maica gave me," his brow furrowed briefly, but then loosened up back to serenity, as though he briefly recalled a bad memory. Then he laughed, more like chuckled as something on the wall had clearly begun to amuse him. "I followed the instructions on the PaDD. One tablespoon of crushed leaves with tea," he pointed haphazardly at a PaDD laying next to an open bottle of what anybody would assume was catnip. He laughed again. "She gave me some strong sstoh'ka."

Paige strode over to the PaDD he had pointed at and grabbed it from the table. She quickly moving from irritated to angry but was trying very hard to keep her growing anger in check. An argument right now would do neither of them any good. She glanced at the PaDD and read the instructions quickly. Shaking her head she turned back toward R'tame. "It says one teaspoon," she said rollimg her eyes in exasperation. "No wonder you can hardly get off the floor," she muttered.

R'tame groaned a whine that began low and ended high. "Oh," he added sheepishly, rolling over and turning so he could see her more clearly. The act came in an awkward movement as he over planned on how much of a twist it would take to do so. He almost rolled twice over before catching himself with one large paw against the carpet. The look in Paige's eye, no matter how well concealed behind falsity, was unmistakable. He turned two grades more sheepish. "You're upset."

Paige nodded and crossed her arms tight. She was trying to fully understand the order of events that had brought her to R'tame's quarters but the one thing she couldn't get over was that R'tame had felt the need to 'mellow out' before having dinner with her.

"I'm sorry," said R'tame. He wobbled himself into a standing position, but had to lean on a desk in order to maintain his equilibrium. The urge to smile was difficult when it came; why was he so happy and carefree? His girlfriend was angry with him. He needed to pay attention to what was going on or she'd be even more upset. "I opened the bottle and it smelled so good," he started to scratch incessantly at the back of his neck, dispersing fur onto the desk behind him. "I didn't think."

Paige watched as R'tame struggled to his feet. If she wasn't so royally ticked off, she would find his present predicament amusing. "Why were you using it now?" she asked.

R'tame shook his head, trying to clear his head. He didn't want to tell Paige about what had happened while he'd been working on removing the holo-emitters in Commander t'Dharvanek's quarters. Somehow, the Nepata leaves alleviated those concerns, and moment later, he sounded in his head light he might have been discussing an average day. "I- I saw Commander t'Dharvanek naked..." he admitted sheepishly. "I was... in her shower... WORKING... near her shower... and she didn't see me or know I was there and... and... she wanted a shower." He pawed at his face. "And... I kinda saw her..."

Paige looked stunned for a moment before bursting into laughter. "R'tame," she said, "what did you think I was going to do? It isn't like you went out of your way to see her naked." She paused for a moment. "If you had done that, I seriously doubt you and I would even be having a conversation right now."

"How so?" R'tame asked.

Paige grinned. "Because, Caitian or not, I don't think you would make it out of that encounter in one piece."

R'tame paused and thought about what she was talking about. He then realized that t'Dharvanek probably could have killed him in any number of ways without him having the first indication when it happened. Instinctively, he gulped, and nodded with as close to a pale expression as he could. "Remind me never to piss you off, either." He said.

"That would certainly be preferable," Paige smiled.

Steadying himself, R'tame walked over and laid his large arms over Paige's shoulders, smiling as he did so. "I'm sorry for missing dinner."

Paige smiled back and leaned in to R'tame's start to a hug. "It's ok. Besides, I have like three years worth of blackmail on you now," she said as she tilted her head back to look up at R'tame.

R'tame did a surprising thing at that point. Whether because he wanted to, or because of the fact that he was under the influence of a powerful narcotic, or maybe a combination of the two. One thing was for certain, however. Paige was as surprised as he was when he leaned forward unexpectedly and kissed her. While Caitian mouths weren't designed with human lips in mind, R'tame managed to make a fair approximation of a kiss that she'd recognize.

Paige grinned as R'tame kissed her and leaned in to R'tame a little more. He might have completely missed dinner, but she certainly didn't mind how the evening had turned out.

Picking Jennifer Matthews off the floor and bringing her back to his quarters knowing full well that whatever it had been that lead them to believe they'd spent the night together was an illusion and a lie, M’rayr Eisovo was still trying to pick his emotions off the floor when the real question came to mind.

Who or what was responsible?

Wordlessly, M’rayr sat Jenni onto the couch and replicated a pair of mugs filled with warm Nepata tea; they’d both need something soothing if they were going to sort things out. Contacting the bridge and notifying the rest of the senior staff of the experience had seemed like a good idea until they considered Kerouac. The man was already on the verge of crossing the insanity threshold, and if he found out that two of his senior officers were experiencing dreams telling them to stop him, there was no telling what he’d do.

“Here, Jenni…” M’rayr said, passing the one woman whom, up until just now, he’d been uncertain as to how explain his feelings to. With that dream – that experience – there had to be little doubt over the fact that he cared for her as more than just a friend and colleague. It was equally obvious that she cared for him as well.

That was another matter they’d need to discuss soon.

"Thanks," Jenni muttered. Her trademark smile was absent from her face as her mind tried to make sense out of everything they'd just witnessed. And felt! Her free hand moved straight to her stomach where just a few minutes ago she was barraged with a volley of disruptor blasts. It might've been just a dream, but it felt so real.

She had so many questions. So many.

Jenni looked over at M'rayr who still hadn't sat down. Despite the moment of passion they'd shared in the hall, it was like neither one of them knew what to do next. "Something tells me," she said at last, "that wasn't your average nightmare."

"It is very doubtful," M'rayr said, although he saw her question as rhetorical. Hesitantly, he came over and sat down beside her, much closer than he would typically. He wasn't sure where to start -- the fact that they were likely being controlled and manipulated by Talosian interference (there was no way that kind of shared nightmare could ever occur naturally between two non-telepaths), or the fact that they'd announced their affections for one another in it. M'rayr also didn't know if he should be the one deciding.

"The Talosians must be involved in this, somehow," M'rayr said, his tone concerned, choosing to begin with the matter with the greater ramifications to ship and crew. "They are likely attempting to manipulate our... feelings," he began, not sure if Jenni was convinced whether or not those feelings were even real at this point, "... for one another, to prevent us from reaching Talos IV.

"This indicates they are regarding us as a threat," M'rayr concluded.

"We can't be that close to Talos IV, can we?" Jenni looked over his shoulder and out the viewport. Starstreaks continued to whizz past, indicating they were still at warp. "If we're such a threat, why not convince the helmsman to alter course? Or an engineer to sabotage the warp drive?" She purposely chose to avoid all talk of their feelings. That was a discussion all of its own.

M'rayr was in the middle of taking a sip from his cup; he needed some Nepata to ease the nerves. "A helmsman can be relived of duty, and a warp core can be repaired," he suggested, although the logic was fuzzy. At his next thought, he heaved an audible sigh, taking no amount of pride or pleasure in the fact that the Talosians picked him. Looking at Jenni, he said, "The first officer of a starship, particularly under these circumstances however, has the power to relieve the Captain of duty. I- I presume that the Talosians hoped that..." he hesitated at his next words. He certainly had feelings for Jenni. Or did he? Was this real? Or was it part of some elaborate plot to convince him to put his career on the line for love? "... my feelings for you would... override... my sense of duty."

Jenni, having just taken a sip of her tea, met M'rayr's gaze as she lowered her mug. The kiss in the corridor was enough to prove he had feelings for her, and her unwillingness to break the kiss proved to her that she felt something as well. "M'rayr..." she said, letting her voice trail off because she believed it was the first time she'd addressed him by name. Her mug had been held by both hands, but she released her left so she could hold his nearby free paw.

She really didn't know what else to say. How would feelings for her override his duty? General Order 7 was punishable by death. Just allowing the Captain to bring the Katana to Talos IV endangered the entire crew. M'rayr could be punished for not stopping Kris when he had the chance.

Regardless, something compelled her to say, "I have... feelings... too. Feelings I'd like to explore if we have the chance." She shuddered, an image of the Breen firing squad momentarily rising to the surface.

"I won't let Kerouac interfere with the timeline, Jenni." M'rayr said inflexibly. There was a wash of emotion roiling its way through him knowing now that he wasn't the only one. There was much more that he wanted to say; so much he wanted to do. This was the first time he'd felt this way about someone. Like a torch rekindled, he felt that fire's desire to burn brightly.

But now was not the time. He needed to be focused -- prepared for the task ahead. Kerouac might appear to be insane and obsessed, but M'rayr remembered when he first came on board; his orders had been to replace Kerouac. But the crew's confidence in faith in the man had given M'rayr paused in executing those orders. He had to believe that Kerouac was redeemable.

Not wanting Jenni to rest on his words alone, however, he reached over with his paw and laid it over hers. "We will have that chance," he assured her, lifting a smile onto his face. "After."

Jenni felt a wave of calm envelop her. She could stay focused, sure. Looking down at her tea, Jenni considered taking another drink to maintain her calm, yet she felt it wasn't necessary. This... tea had an interesting flavor, not to mention an incredible power to calm her nerves. Her resolve, unlike her strength and alertness, was recovering quickly.

"What do we do next?" Jenni asked, deciding to take another sip anyway.

M'rayr looked to the chronometer on the wall and sighed. As eventful as the last half an hour had been, it was only 01:44 in the morning. "For now, I would suggest we get some sleep. Tomorrow will undoubtedly require our full attention," he looked to Jenni, and the expression on his face changed, as though he were contemplating a question he wasn't sure he should ask. While he believed that holding off on pursuing their relationship any further until the current situation was resolved would be in their best interests, he didn't necessarily like the idea of kicking her out, either. "You may... stay... if you would prefer."

Jenni looked down as she hadn't really cared what she'd been wearing until now. She was decent enough to head back to her quarters, but her desire to do so was nonexistent. Therefore, she merely nodded, knowing that the Caitian silk she'd wrap herself in would help her rest tonight.

Word traveled fast on starships, particularly when intelligence was involved, and for a long time, Jhu thought what she'd heard was just a silly rumor. Surely Nathan hadn't surprised Lieutenant Matthews from behind with a hug! But after hearing it not once or twice but three times, she got curious and looked in the sensor logs on the supposed date. Sure enough, Nathan had surprised Jenni while her head was inside the replicator, and the ensuring conversation - at least the parts she could guess without an audio recording - was downright hilarious. Once she was done giggling, she tracked Nathan down to his office and let herself in, casually sitting on the very edge of his desk with a very serious look on her face. "I heard a very strange and interesting rumor..."

"That I groped your new Lieutenant?" Nathan said looking up from a report he was putting together for Kris. "It's true. I thought she was you. She threatened to call myself on me." He said with a little smirk, hoping that just coming clean would deflect any crap she intended on giving him.

"No way. My hair is way darker than hers. And I'm taller than she is!" Jhu snickered at him, lightly pinching his arm. "Threatened to call you on yourself, huh? Feisty, that one."

"Yeah, but both of your butt are small and cute." He said with a chuckle, gently pushing her hip a little. "She wants me to teach her to shoot."

"Oh, am I in your way?" Jhu grinned a bit, not moving from her claimed position on his desk. "Shooting's fun. Just don't have too much fun..."

Nathan leaned back in his seat. "You do know I would never hurt you like that right? We can joke all you want as long as you truly know that I love you and would never do something like that on purpose."

"Relax. I'm just giving you a hard time." Jhu leaned over the desk to kiss him, finding the position more awkward than she'd expected. "You're too nice to do something like that, and frankly half the crew would conspire to murder you."

Nathan leaned up and kissed her back. He grabbed her hips and dragged her off the desk and into his lap. "This might help." He said as he leaned in for another kiss.

Initially squeaking in surprise, Jhu happily accepted the change in position. "Oh yeah. Way more comfortable." She snuggled into him for a moment then sat up - at least as much as she could in that position - to look at him. "Wait, were you working on something?"

"Yeah...why?" Nathan asked looking up at her. "Are you going to write me up for taking an unscheduled break with my girlfriend?" He teased.

"Absolutely. How unprofessional of you... and letting her sit on your lap too!" Trying not to laugh too hard, Jhu kissed his cheek. "If you're busy I can leave."

"You know, I have found one of the nice things about being the department head is I can take a break when I want to." He said and hugged Jhu to him. "Computer, lock my office door..." he said as he gave her a smoldering look.

"Nice, isn't it? Even better when you have a full department to do the important work while you're... otherwise occupied."

Nathan's hands started to travel up Jhu's back slowly. "I wish I didn't need my department." He said. "But yes it is nice."

"Mine could stand to be a little bigger." Kissing him, Jhu shifted so that she faced him a bit more.

Nathan moaned into her kiss as he pulled her against him. He kissed her back with passion.

"You know... there is a couch there in the corner..."

Nathan stood and picked Jhu up in his arms easily. He walked around the desk and laid Jhu back on the couch, laying down on top of her and kissing her deeply.

This was the type of unscheduled break Jhu could really get behind. Relaxing into the soft cushions of the couch, she pulled Nathan a bit closer, kissing him at first and then playfully biting his neck.

Nathan tilted his head to the side so she could have better access to his neck. While Jhu nibbled his neck, Nathan worked at unzipping her duty jacket.

As the usual snug fit of her jacket loosened and fell away, Jhu wasted no time in blindly unzipping Nathan's jacket and not-very-gently pushing it back from his shoulders. In a few well-practiced moves, she tossed his discarded jacket toward his desk chair, taking that moment to wriggle completely free of her own jacket and drop it on the floor next to the couch.

"I have missed you Jhu. With everything going on it seems like I have not had any time with you in a while." Nathan said to her as she wiggled free of her jacket. Once her was settled, Nathan ran his hand along the side of her face. "I love you."

"Tell me about it. Lately being second officer on this ship has sucked." Jhu leaned her head into his hand, tracing the line of his jaw with her fingers. "I love you too."

"Not having fun being the queen bitch of Katana?" Nathan teased her. He turned his head and placed a kiss on the tips of one of Jhu's fingers.

"It's not all fun and games, you know."

"I do." Nathan said. He decided Jhu's neck spots needed some attention, so his lips pressed to her sensitive flesh and he started to gently kiss along her neck up to behind her ear.

"That is really not fair," Jhu said a bit breathlessly, though she turned her head just slightly to the side to give him easier access to the spots that ran down her neck.

"Ummm" Nathan hummed against her spots before moving up and taking the lobe of her ear into his mouth and sucked gently. He let it go.and whispered into her ear. "Yeah but you love it when I do it..."

"You just wait until I figure out a way to make you writhe and squirm helplessly."

Nathan stopped and came up to look Jhu in the eye. "Everyone you speak to Kris you make me writhe and squirm." He said, only halfway joking.

"I don't think it counts if you're scared," Jhu immediately retorted, giggling at the thought.

"You were not clear on the type of squirming." Nathan pointed out with a chuckle.

"Oooh, you like it when he's scared." Jhu grinned broadly, delighted by the idea. "I'll just have to make sure to torture him more often..."

She hadn't gotten much out of M'rayr about his apparent budding relationship with Jenni, so with the intent of finding out more information, Jhu happily tracked Jenni down in the mess hall. Spotting the other brown-haired woman alone at a table, Jhu skipped the line at the replicators and went over, plunking down uninvited into one of the open seats. "I heard a rumor about a certain furry crew member..."

Jenni, right in the middle of putting a bite of salad in her mouth, froze. In one brief moment, Jenni knew exactly what Jhu was talking about. She knew no one had seen her leave M'rayr's quarters, but someone had to have seen her the night before. Jenni closed her mouth and quickly chewed the small collection of kale and carrots. Was this a test? To see if she could not crack under pressure? She hoped so. "That so?" Jenni asked, swallowing. "There's four Caitians aboard. And I think Ari's got a Tellarite or two in Engineering."

"Mmhmm, but only one of them had raktajino with you the other day..." Jhu grinned a bit wickedly, not letting on how she'd gotten that information. "So you like fur, huh?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Jenni quipped, reaching for her raktajino. She was failing. Miserably.

"You are such a terrible liar." Jhu giggled at Jenni's expense. "Come on, Jenn... there's no shame in liking the big cat."

Jenni set down her mug, eyes locked on Jhu's smile. She was honestly unsure about how she felt about M'rayr. "He's a friend," she confessed. "At least I think so."

Gee, it's like they planned their responses together. Jhu grinned a bit more. "A friend. A big furry, compassionate friend... nice to see he's finally got a few people he's close to."

"A few?" she fired back instantly. Jenni paused, interpreting Jhu's question as antagonistic. She also wondered if there also a hint of jealousy in her own voice? Jenni was certain there was.

"Whoa." Jhu held her hands up in mock-surrender, leaning back in her chair and trying not to laugh at how defensive Jenni had suddenly gotten. "Take a chill pill, Matthews. I'm just screwing with you."

Jenni set her mug back on the table as she tried to read Jhu. "The Commander's not a... popular person on board, is he?"

"He's not, but I like him just fine. Reminds me of my cat... you know, when my cat's having a bad day." Jhu grinned at her, hoping to defuse any perceived tension. "Whiskers is a good guy. He's just... lost, and kind of broken."

That description sounded a lot like Jenni in her mind. "Sounds like a lot of people on this ship," Jenni added. "How did you find out that I..." her voice trailed off, really wondering if she'd indeed been spotted.

"I went to check on him and found your raktajino mug on the coffee table. You weren't spotted walking out, if that's what worries you." Jhu had considered stringing Jenni along a bit longer than that, but given how strongly Jenni had reacted, she'd thought better of it. "No one on this ship is going to judge you for being friends with the cat. Hell, the most any of us will do is make fun of you."

She nodded slowly. The last few weeks had been a rush of emotions for her, and somehow this crew had helped her make the best of it. None more so than M'rayr. "Thanks," she said with a weak smile. Jenni still wasn't quite sure how she felt about the Caitian First Officer, and even more unsure if she could talk freely about it with anyone else. Maybe there was no better time to test the waters... "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure, go ahead." Jhu wasn't the most open person on the ship, but there was no harm in letting Jenni ask questions.

"You and Nathan," Jenni began. "Andy and Maica. Kris and Liam... There seems to be a lot of pairing off, more than I've ever seen. Don't you think it's risky if a relationship goes south?" Jenni didn't want to say that though she was developing an affection for M'rayr, she wasn't sure if she should allow those feelings to surface.

"Well... sure. But there's risk in everything, Jenni. Life's not worth living without a little of it." Jhu smiled a bit. "Besides, being in love makes up for the risk."

Jenni nodded. Despite how she felt, she wasn't sure how yet, or if even, to act on it. "Whiskers..." Jenni mused, smiling a bit. "Cute nickname."

"He didn't like it at first." Jhu laughed a little, remembering how M'rayr used to look at her when she used the nickname. "M'rayr is a hard name for me to say, and Eisovo is kind of impersonal. 'Whiskers' might be a bit cliche, but he grew to like it. I think he'd worry if I used his real name with him at this point."

Outside of his rank, Jenni hadn't really addressed M'rayr any other way. A nickname wasn't a bad idea, but it probably wasn't fair to capitalize on what others had developed so affectionately with him. That is, if she was serious about pursuing it. "What do you think?" she asked suddenly, considering the rituals she'd seen him conduct. "Do you think he'd go for a human?"

Jhu shrugged slightly. "Don't see why he wouldn't. R'tame's girlfriend is human."

She'd passed R'tame a few times in the corridor, so Jenni knew who she spoke of. "But the Commander seems so... proper. Traditional."

"So's my mother, and she married a Trill." Jhu smirked slightly. "People change... they get new ideas, new friends. And Whiskers has changed a lot since coming here."

"This ship seems like the best place to loosen anyone up," Jenni said with a smile. Glancing down at her empty plate, she thought about the countless records she still had to go through. She could not wait for the day she could finish with that project.

"It kind of is. We have a really accepting crew." Jhu glanced at Jenni's now empty plate. "I'm not keeping you from anything important, I hope."

"Truthfully, I'd rather be scrubbing an EPS manifold." Jenni sighed. "I honestly don't know how you do it, sifting through so much intelligence every day. I've been thinking about programming the replicator to dispense a few chocolates every couple of hours though."

"You know... that's a good idea. I think we should do that." Jhu smiled sympathetically, knowing how much that paperwork sucked. Until Jenni had joined her, she was doing it all on her own.

"We?" Jenni retorted in mock surprise. "Until I came along, I hear your replicator was always broken! I don't think you should be near it."

"Oy! You're as bad as Andy! Do they teach engineers to be smartasses at the academy?" Jhu couldn't help laughing; Jenni had a point. That replicator had never cooperated before Kris had assigned Jenni to the intelligence section.

Jenni laughed in reply. "Smart, yes. The ass just comes naturally."

"I see." Still chuckling a little, Jhu checked the time and leaned back in her chair. "I have to get back to work. Don't rush through your lunch break... enjoy the time you have."

"Thanks," Jenni said, a smile still on her face. Checking the time herself, Jenni decided to drop by her quarters and freshen up before returning to work. She'd need to pay someone a visit when her shift was over.

Sabrina was a little surprised to see the work order she'd been assigned. Commander Elsovo's replicator had an upgrade due. The new functionality would be able to more closely simulate foods from the Commander's home world. Something she was sure the Caitian would appreciate. She knew he was on leave, but she thought she better follow the work order regardless.

Sabrina re read the work order. It didn't mention any security issues, so she shrugged and made her way to the Commander's quarters, she had orders after all. She did fidget with her uniform top for a moment before taking a deep breath and sounding his chime.

It had been a little less than an hour since Jennifer Matthews had left M'rayr's quarters to begin her duty shift. Those events were still saturating his mind, despite how much the Caitian tried to focus on completing his morning prayers to Mraownr. Holding a slither of uncooked meat above the goblet, he murmured low utterances and recantations before dropping it into the consuming flame. A moment later, the electronic chime at his doorway cued. M'rayr glanced up from his prayer, wondering if it were even possible for Jennifer to have forgotten anything considering she didn't come to his quarters with much to begin with.

"Enter," he answered, setting a gold metal dish over the goblet so that the flame would be extinguished.

Sabrina stepped just inside the Commander's quarters and stopped. "Hello sir. I'm sorry to interrupt, but I have a work order to perform an upgrade to your replicator." She tried to sound confident and not like she was about to pee her pants because she was in the Commander's quarters.

So it wasn't Matthews. Not that M'rayr really had any reason to believe it would be. But ever since being confined to his quarters, he'd been surprised by exactly how few visitors he'd had. For a species that survived on their social nature, the seclusion wasn't easy. Gesturing towards the wall with a polite smile written on his face, the Caitian said, "Of course. You may begin at any time." He'd already finished his prayer, so at last he could eat.

Sabrina nodded. "The upgrade says it should more closely approximate some of the Caitian native foods." She told him, as she opened up the panel to the replicator.

"That will be very welcome indeed," M'rayr agreed. He took a roll and consumed it in order to alleviate the growling of his stomach before turning back to the Petty Officer. She looked familiar; he must have recognized her from her service jacket. "Corbin, isn't it?" He asked.

Sabrina was surprised. She certainly didn't expect the Commander to know who she was. "Yes sir." She answered as she began to install the upgrade.

M'rayr nodded quietly. His mind sifted through what he could recall from her service jacket. Admittedly, it wasn't much. She was young, barely out of childhood as far as someone as old as he was concerned. And the Katana was her first assignment since completing her training. He wondered how someone like her was handling some of the Katana's recent transitions. Traveling to an alternate space time was difficult on everybody. But for someone barely out of the nest, he imagined it could only be that much more.

His better judgment suggested that he find out from Arivek. But seeing as how they weren't exactly on speaking terms, he surrendered to his personal curiosity.

"How are you adapting to this new environment, Petty Officer?" He asked.

"I'm doing my best. Thank You sir." Sabrina answered, still a bit nervous to be around the higher ranking officer.

M'rayr stretched his face into a loose approximation of a small smile. "That is good to hear."

"Ok, I think I'm done here. Is there anything you'd like to try?" Sabrina asked.

Looking to his plate and then back to the replicator, M'rayr thought about what he could try that might be an effective test of the new replicator, while not necessarily requiring him to throw his current dish away. "Some Caitian red berries would be nice," he suggested, not quite sure if he should get up and place the order himself, or if she would.

"Ok" Sabrina smiled, happy to test out if the upgrade was a success. She placed the order and a small bowl of unfamiliar small red berries appeared. She brought it over. "Tada" She presented the bowl with a little flourish, then felt silly for doing so and blushed a bit.

M'rayr smiled on the inside; he could remember back when he was the young ensign trying to impress or at least gain the approval of his superiors. He'd been particularly nervous back then. Looking from Sabrina to the bowl, he reached inside and plucked one with his fingers. Raising the berry to his nose, he noticed that it at least smelled rather close to the real thing. Sticking it inside his mouth, he chewed, feeling the soft jelly surface melt away while the seeds within crunched against his teeth.

It wasn't bad.

M'rayr looked up to the Petty Officer. "Quite satisfactory. Thank you, Petty Officer."

Sabrina smiled. "You're welcome sir. Sorry to interrupt you." She began packing up her engineering kit.

"No apologies are necessary. I appreciate your assistance."

ON:
A lone hybrid sat at one of the numerous tables scattered throughout the Katana's general mess hall. Even as crewman and officers from all departments mingled and milled about the communal space, none approached the woman in occupying a table near one of the viewports. A cup of steaming coffee, a bowl of salad, and a Starfleet PADD shared the table with her. Valerie Circe's attention was focused on the words on the PADD as she almost absentmindedly ate her salad.

"This seat taken?" For such a huge man, Nathan had a nack for blending into crowds and not being noticed until he wanted to be seen. He had spotted the woman from across the room. He had seen her a few times be she was clearly one of Katana's more subtle crew members as she had not had a run in with the Chief of security yet. Nathan decided it was time to say hi.

Valerie looked up and smiled at the man before her. It took only a moment for her to recall his image from the manifest, "No, please have a seat Lieutenant Tonkin."

Nathan sat down with his bowl of salad. "Nathan..." he said before taking a bite.

"How are things between you and Commander t'Dharvanek?" She asked casually as she reached for her coffee cup.

"Well."Nathan said, shocked that the woman who he didn't know at all would know about him. "We are very. I look forward to our future together. Um...are you seeing anyone?"

Valerie nodded, "I'm dating William Morgan. And please don't be shocked, your quarters are near mine and both of you have very powerful thoughts."

Nathan's eyes went wide and his face turned red. "Um...well..you um...a telepath then?"

"Yes..." she blinked at him, "Why are you embarrassed and nervous...oh!" Val then chuckled an shook her head as she explained, "I wasn't referring to your romantic engagements. I was implying when the two of you are together there are moments you share the same thoughts... as if telepathically connected."

"Jhu is half Romulan and ever since our encounter with the Undine her telepathic abilities have surfaced slightly." Nathan explained as he tried to calm himself. "We recently moved into that room, we had no idea you were near us. I hope we don't bother you..." as that last sentence came out of his mouth he realized how ridiculous it sounded.

"There is no need to be embarrassed or have anything to apologize for. I hear everyone's thoughts on this ship simultaneously." Val smiled and then it dawned on her that he never met her, "I'm Valerie Circe." with that she extended her hand out to him.

He took her hand and gently shook it, mind full nit to crush her hand in his. Even then, he still had a hell-of-a grip. "Nathan Tonkin, but you already knew that." He laughed a little.

"I am sorry about that. I don't really have a filter." She smiled sheepishly.

"That's ok, I have enough filter for us both." Nathan admitted.

Valerie arched her brow at the remark, "Really? I wouldn't have known."

"So, Will huh? You must be the mysterious nurse he was going on and on about." Nathan said between bites.

Valerie smirked, "That would be me, though I'm more of a medical researcher than a nurse. I found the cure for the Captain's poison."

"He speaks very highly of you. Though to be honest I don't know Will all that well. Andy and him are very close so I wanted to met him." Nathan explained.

"I know he does. And I think highly of him as well." Valerie smiled. "Is there anything you would like to know about me?" she asked as she reached for her coffee. "Since I caught you at a slight disadvantage earlier, it's only fair."

"Umm..." Nathan thought for a moment. "Not exactly." he was still taken a bit off guard buy the fact that she was telepathic.

Valerie eyed him curiously and then extended her hand out to him.

Nathan eyed her right back and took her hand with out hesitation. Not exactly sure why they were doing this he decided to hold it somewhat awkwardly.

Val smiled and focused her emotions and sent empathic vibes of confidence, and contentment to Nathan. "Feeling better?" She asked.

Nathan took a deep breath and nodded. "Yeah, sorry. So, ok. What race are you?"

"I'm a hybrid. I'm half Halanan and a quarter Betazoid-Angosian." Val smiled.

"Never liked that word. But I suppose it's the human in me. My race went through a time period where we tried to redefine the term species to include the color of or skin, theb segregated them and punished them for having the wrong color." Nathan shook his head for a moment. "But, as you well know I am dating a hybrid."

"Yes a Romulan-Trill." Valerie nodded, "Have you adjusted for all of her little quirks related to her genetic make-up?"

"I hope to never adjust. I find exploring and discovering her quirks to be one of my favorite parts of our relationship." said Nathan with a small grin and a slight blush.

Val smirked at him, "That's sweet. You love her very much." she stated plainly, not questioning his sincerity.

"I do." Nathan said plainly. He was not one to talk much about their private relationship.

Val's smile faded, "Oh I'm sorry. I didn't mean to intrude and make you feel uncomfortable again."

Nathan shook his head. "Oh no, it just...I don't know. It makes me feel like we have something special that I don't share with everyone else. You know?"

Val opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out. She tilted her head to the side as if she was pondering how to respond. ''I...don't understand. Maybe it's because there is usually no secrets around me. I am sure however having things private has benefits."

Nathan shrugged, "I suppose it would be hard to have privacy in your situation." He admitted

"My situation is unique with others, however while the concept is still new to me, I respect people's right to it." Valerie smiled and then noticed the time on her data Padd. "My shift is about to start. It was a pleasure meeting you Lieutenant Tonkin."

OFF:

The emergency transport order automatically signalled the duty MO, Liam felt his stomach drop when he saw the red uniform clad form of his boyfriend and Commanding Office. "What, what happened?" He barked swallowing hard and getting his emotions in check.

Lieutenant Verak had not been present for the incident. However, he was in the Science Labs and was alerted to the situation. The Captain had been taken to Sickbay and the half-Vulcan had been en route to Sickbay. When Verak arrived, the doors parted and he found the Chief Medical Officer barking out for answers.

Verak shook his head and walked in, carrying a PADD. "Cardiac arrest" the pointed ear officer said. He was getting used to his new role in the Science Department. "Human impulsiveness and stupidity" added Verak sharply. He sat the PADD down and looked at the Captain and then at the Chief Medical Officer. "The Captain was in the Research & Development Labs and touched that damn Bajoran Orb...the one recovered from Kendi. We've suspected it was home to some Pah-Wraith. All we know is that he touched it, was knocked out an then he entered a state or cardiac arrest" explained Verak.

Liam ripped the Captain's uniform tunic off exposing his chest, he attached a pair of sensors to his chest. "Have OR 1 prep for surgery, push 20 CCs Arazopine." He ordered the nurse. "His neurological readings are off the chart." He added to no one in particular.

"Arazopine doesn't look like it's having any effect."

Walking into Sickbay in a freshly replicated medical uniform, Doctor Landon Milo came to assist. He was only supposed to be a guest aboard during Katana's failed trip to the Delta Quadrant, but sitting around doing nothing was just not a physicians life.

"Prep 50 CCs Atrophora." He order. "We're going to have to try to stop his heart and restart it. Ventilate him." Liam ordered.

Landon approached the biobed, listening to instructions from the Chief Medical Officer. "I thought you could use some extra hands" commented Landon as he prepared 50CCs of Atrophora into a hypospray and pressed it against the Captain's skin. The instruments in Sickbay alerted medical personnel to the Captain's response to the Atrophora.

Dr. Milo looked at Liam "Flatline, Doctor. His heart has stopped" announced Landon, awaiting the Chief Medical Officer's guidance. Landon had been a Chief Medical Officer before, and he had done many operations and surgeries. However, he had never stopped a Captain's heart before.

"Charge to 250. Stand by to push 25 CC Epi and 50 CC Thyrosatrin." He ordered. The nurse handed him the electrostimulation pannels.

"Charged."

"Clear." Liam ordered and after a quick glance to make sure no one was touching the Captain he pushed the paddles against Kris' chest and discharged them. "Push the epi." He said his eyes on the screen watching for a heartbeat. There wasn't one.

"Charge to 275. Prep another 50 of epi." He ordered. "Clear." He repeated the proceedure and watched, this time there was a tiny blip on the readout. Then another, "Push the Thyrosatrin."

"Doctor!" shouted Landon as his eyes caught a glimpse of what was forthcoming from the bio signs. No sooner than his calls for Liam came out, did the action take place.

Captain Kerouac's heart was beating again, and quickly returning to normal albeit as normal as one could be from practically being 'dead' for some short amount of time. Eyes shooting open and gasping for air, clenching his chest and sitting up, Captain Kerouac looked almost like a zombie or a some creature of the night rising from the dead by some means of necromancy.

He reached outward and grabbed onto Liam's collar, pulling him near. "Talos IV" Kris said, almost wincing. His throat was deathly dry. "Take me to the Bridge!"

"I can't release you to the bridge in this state." Liam said.

"Then don't" said Kris, getting off the bio bed and pushing back nurses and other medical staff. "Protest all you want Doctor Cohen. I am leaving this Sickbay. Be it against your medical opinion or personal bias...I am the Captain of this starship and I am going to the Bridge" said Kris firmly.

"Computer. Relieve Captain Kristopher Kerouac of his current command, Medical Authorization Cohen-Omega-2-2-Alpha-Blue." The CMO stated, relieved of command authority the man wouldn't be able to access the bridge even if tried.

"Confirmed. Captain Kerouac has been relieved, USS Katana under the command of Commander M'rayr Eisovo." The computer replied.

"Kris, sit down, let me help you." He pleaded, no longer the CMO talking to the Captain but Liam begging his boyfriend to let him help him.

"Liam" said Kris firmly. "M'rayr was relieved of duty and volunteered to being confined to his quarters pending a full Psych evaluation from Counselor Grae and between you and me, we both know how you feel about Jhu being out there right now. Please, just let me go to the Bridge. I'll take it easy, but I have a command order that I must make" said Kris.

"Fine, I'm going with you then, and if I think you're jeopardizing the ship I'll relieve you." Liam said. "Computer, Medical Authorization Cohen-Omega-2-2-Alpha-Blue reverse last order, reinstate Captain Kerouac."

"Confirmed. USS Katana under the command of Captain Kristopher Kerouac." The computer replied.

Kris let out a small snort. "Yes, Doctor. Escort me if you wish. I need to see Andy Carter for a moment and we'll go up together" said Kris. "By the way, you being bossy is rather arousing" added Kris.

There was no doubt, no questioning, and no time to simply sit around and contemplate the action that he was about to take. After all, learning this vital information had come at a great cost, nearly costing him his life. Oh the damn irony in that. Learn about a way to get this crew back home to where we belong, and getting the message nearly kills me in process thought Kris as he waited for the turbolift to arrive at its destination. The Bridge. His Bridge.

Liam had put up as much of a fight as he possibly could in Sickbay. Trying his damn best as the USS Katana's Chief Medical Officer and as Kristopher's boyfriend in order to protest the Captain returning to duty after being brought back from the dead. “I'm stronger than death” Captain Kristopher Kerouac had said on his way out through Sickbay's entrance and exit, walking on his own free will.

He would not just lie down in Sickbay, recovering with medical personnel looming over him for days or weeks on end. Not now. Not again. I am sick and tired of this bull shit. A Captain's place in on his Bridge in his Captain's chair, not on a damn biobed or in his quarters the Captain thought as he straightened his posture. He was out of uniform. It behind cut and stripped away from him in order to screw around with his chest, jabbing him with this and that and pressing hyposprays against his neck and bare body.

Having thrown on a simple grey tank top, Kris stood in the turbolift with his arms crossed. He was impatiently waiting. Why is this taking forever thought Kris. It felt as though the lift was taking much longer to reach its destination. However, it was operating just fine. The lift had finally reached its destination, the doors parted ways and Captain Kristopher Kerouac swiftly exited the lift and poured out right into the Bridge.

Commander M'ryar Eisovo was still voluntarily confined to his quarters and undergoing a full psychological evaluation from Counselor Lia Grae. He was temporarily removed from duty. Commander Jhu t'Dharvanek was commanding in Kris' absence. She had no doubt quickly received word of what had happened down in the research and development labs. Captain Kerouac did not wait for a single moment. He did not bother waiting for Jhu to stand up or for any of the Bridge crew to acknowledge his presence. The tone he took, thunderous and commanding should have been enough to show he meant business.

“Helm” he called out as he walked down the small series of steps into the command pit. “Lay in a course for Talos IV, maximum warp” he commanded, his back facing Jhu as he stood gazing forward at the back of Hayley's head. “Engage” he added sternly.

Hayley turned to confirm it was the captain who had given her the command. 'Hmmm, Boss sounds serious. At least he's up and moving about,' she thought as she tapped the commands and course correction into her console and initiated the warp engines. "Aye, captain. Heading for Talos IV." The starfield on the viewscreen in front of her flashed and began to streak by.

The atmosphere on the Bridge had changed immediately. There was a deafening and eerie silence. He knew this silence would soon be broken. Be it protest from Commander t'Dharvanek, from his Chief of Security, or some other voice of reason and logic. Kris knew it was coming. Hell, maybe all three of them would chime in like a choir of confusion and alarm.

"Uhh..." Nathan looked at Jhu and shrugged. "Captain on the bridge." He called out from his station. Normally he would have made the anouncment as the Captain entered, but not only had Kris come in on a whirlwind, nobody on the bridge had expected the captain out of sick bay yet.

The Captain wasn't the only one who wasn't supposed to be on the Bridge. Having seen Kris make his escape from Sickbay, Andy took the opportunity to slip out and follow him. The whole ride in the lift, she'd said nothing to him, no stares of judgement, not even the smug smile of an accomplice to his escape, there was just the simple sense of solidarity. but there was something that had Andy curious; the way Kris moved with intent and purpose meant there was a decision he had made and she wanted to know what that was.

So, while the Captain moved to the fore of the Bridge, Andy hung back at the lift, leaning against the doorframe to await his moment of brilliance. The former Operations Chief didn't have to wait long as Kris pronounced their new destination. Andy crossed her arms with a chuckle; she almost wished she had some popcorn, the reactions to that would be good!

"Absolutely not! Helm, belay that order!" Jhu couldn't believe that not only had Kris given the order to go to Talos IV but Hayley had followed it? And the computer hadn't intervened? Something about this wasn't right. "Have neither of you heard of a little thing called General Order 7?" In an instant, she was up out of the chair and on her way to pull Kris back off the bridge and haul his delusional ass back to sickbay. "No ship goes to Talos IV. As acting first officer, I cannot allow you to do this."

Kris shot a glare back at her. "Noted" replied Captain Kerouac calmly and swiftly. "Helm, full stop" he said. This is clearly just going to result in yet another pissing match thought Kris as he turned to face Jhu. However, they were soon interrupted.

=/\= Zhuri to the Bridge, I just got a notification that someone tried to enter in a course to Talos IV. =/\= There was a momentary pause. =/\= Is everything ok up there? I don't recommend trying to input that course. I'm having a diagnostic run on the secondary command processors and so the Computer won't be able to stop you. =/\=

"That was on my order" Kris chimed in, making it aware that he was back on the Bridge. He looked at Jhu, his eyes were locked onto her as though they had built in targeting sensors.

This is a terrible time for a diagnostic! Somehow, Jhe kept that thought to herself, responding only with, "I have no intention of letting this ship go to that planet."

=/\= Understood, Commander. Let me know if you need me to cut power to the Engines. I can do that in a few seconds, tops. Zhuri out. =/\=

"You do not" said Kris sharply. "However" he added, "I do" said the Captain firmly. He knew very well that stating this was about to get him several pairs of eyes looking at him. Oh how I relish the attention of my dramatics he thought, a small smirk sweeping upward upon his face.

He let out a heavy sigh. "Commander, we can have this out right here and now. I would rather we do this behind closed doors" said Kris, crossing his arms.

"I will not let you take this ship to that planet, no matter what sort of fancy words and explanations you come up with. I'm not dying for your stupidity!" Jhu was starting to wonder if the whole ship had spontaneously gone crazy.

Kris looked towards the tactical station. "Tonkin, inform all members of the Senior Staff we are having a meeting in thirty minutes on deck fifteen in the Situation Room. Please see to it that Commander Eisovo is escorted to the meeting as well. Also, please extend summoning to Lieutenant Matthews" commanded Captain Kerouac.

"Aye Captain." Nathan said as his fingers flew across his controls. He seemed to be the only one interested in the why of all this, not the where.

Captain Kerouac look around the Bridge. "I expect you to be in attendance and promptly on time. Call in relief officers for all Bridge stations. Commander t'Dharvanek, please relinquish command at this time to Lieutenant Morgan for the duration of the staff conference meeting. I shall be awaiting your arrivals" added Kris, swiftly turning and proceeding back to the turbolift.

Jhu made a growling noise under her breath as she looked at Will and gestured to the now empty command chair.

He stopped at the threshold and looked at Chief Carter. "Chief Carter, you will accompany me to deck fifteen and attend the meeting as well. This will be your last official duty as Chief of Operations" said Kris with a nod at her.

"No can do, Boss, I'm sick," Andy said, offering a fake cough in an attempt to look pathetic. She wasn't really refusing, she just wanted to be difficult.

Kris gave Andy a glare that was piercing. He meant business and his eyes spoke more words than his mind and mouth could even process at the time. "Now is not the time to be a smart ass, Chief. I am not amused" he said firmly.

"That's too bad, because I am," Andy replied. But just because she was amused didn't mean she wasn't serious either, demonstrated by the fact that she reached up to pull her hair back and tie it into a knot at the knape of her nack. "If my brain starts bleeding again and I die, I'm coming back as a ghost and haunting your ass."

"Just don't get it on the deck, Chief. We just spent two miserably cold weeks at Ophinias and I, several hours with two lovely gay Bolian decorators picking out that new flooring" said Kris as he entered the lift.

"Fair enough," Andy said with a nod, following him into lift.

Hayley let out an audible sigh. She brought the ship out of warp and to a stop. 'Stop, go, stop, go. Make up your bloody minds would you?‘

Will had been running Operations in Andy's abscence and making sure that the department was running as smoothly as possible. With all the craziness of late he was settling into being on the bridge on a semi-permanent basis. However the past few moments had opened up more questions than answers. As Jhu nodded to him to take over Command, Will gave Andy a questioning look as she headed into the turbolift. He then nodded to Jhu before heading over to the Command Chair and taking a seat. It had been a long while since he'd done this but he wasnt out of practice.

Will looked at Hayley and understood her frustration at the orders given and not given. It was a difficult situation. But he was also worried about Andy. They were a long way from home and now this meeting was her last action as a department head? What the hell was going? "It never rains, but it pours," he said quietly out loud.

TAG

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OOC-Jhu: Had to change my edit because someone obeyed the crazy order. Silly helmswoman. :P
OOC-Kerouac: Hahaha. I like her.
OOC: Hayley: You know I have to make things interesting. :p You know you love me, lol

Captain Kristopher Kerouac walked with Senior Chief Petty Officer Andrea Carter. They walked quietly down the corridors of deck 15 together. Though Kris had said nothing vocally to Andy, the fast pace that he was walking and his cold silence said enough. His mind was racing with thoughts of how he was going to express and argue his orders without causing an emotional outburst in the coming meeting. Kris knew that he was going into battle, and Commander t'Dharvanek will likely be his strongest rival.

Arriving at the entrance of the large conference room. Kris stood outside the room and gave his command authorization codes. The computer processed the information and the locking mechanism gave way. The doors parted and Kris looked at Andy, nodding slightly as he walked in, circled around the oblong table and took a seat at its head.

He observed Andy and took a deep breath. "We have at least five good minutes before the others arrive. Andy, what the fuck am I doing? How am I good to present my case that we need to do this?" she asked openly. However, she did not really expect her to offer an answer.

The ex-Borg woman had nothing to offer at first and let the silence drag on for a moment. She knew about Talos IV and General Order 7, so she had a pretty good idea why Kris was taking them there, but she honestly had nothing to say. On the one hand, Andy did want the Katana to get back to their own reality, but on the other hand this might be taking things too far, and she could see Kris struggling with this decision.

"You're doing what you think is right," Andy finally said, taking her seat. she leaned back in her chair as far as it would go, kicking her heavily booted feet up onto the table. "Just say what you need to say, get it over quick."

Kris glared at Andy. "Feet off the good table" he said shaking his head. "This is why we can't have nice things. I will tale as much time as I need."

In one of the room corners, Arivek Zhuri materialized. With a sigh, he set his sights on the Senior Chief. "Andy, you're supposed to be in Sickbay," he stated, walking towards her. "Not in a conference. How are you feeling?" He pushed the back of his hand to the woman's forehead, feeling it radiating heat. "You're still running a mild temperature."

"She's here under MY orders, Lieutenant" said Kris looking at Ari. "I need you all here. Health regardless."

"I'm fine," Andy said in a surly tone, swatting Ari's hand away. And she did take her feet off the table, eventually. "The Doc's treatment worked, I can feel the nanoprobes working again," she assured him in a softer tone.

The man nodded before taking the seat next to her. "You can't blame me for being concerned. You're the only other person on board who has such power over me. Your well-being is important to me."

Nathan entered with Jhu right behind him. He made his way over to where Andy was sitting and took the seat next to her.

Jhu ignored the ongoing conversation as she came in, already honed in on Kris. In what looked like one fluid motion, she swept across the room and decked him solidly in the jaw, glaring furiously at him. "Start explaining before I do it again because Elements help me, I want to."

Kris let out a horrid scream and grabbed his jaw. "Damn it JHU!" he shouted through the pain. Damn Romulan BITCH he thought as he looked at her.

"Holy shit, Jhu!" Arivek stated, standing and leaning on the table. "I mean, we've all wanted to do that at some point, but you actually hit him!"

"You're damned right I hit him. He deserves it for that stunt he just pulled." Jhu's fiery gaze never wavered while she waited for Kris's response.

Captain Kerouac looked at his Chief Engineer. "Don't make me ask Starfleet to send us some Bynars to come erase your presence on this starship" said Kris trying to regain feeling in his jaw. "I will explain my actions when everyone is here and present" he said to Jhu.

"It better be one hell of an explanation or you'll be finding yourself commanding a desk in your bedroom." The tone in Jhu's voice indicated it was not a threat but a promise that she intended to follow through on. "I am a lot of things, but I'm not an idiot. I know what sort of sentence going to Talos IV will bring down on this crew, and I'll be damned if I let you get us all killed."

Captain Kerouac shot a look in the direction of his Chief of Security. "Lieutenant, if she dares to take another swing at me...keep her in line" said Kris, knowing that as Security Chief Lieutenant Tonkin could do that. However, he was also hoping that Tonkin's relationship with the Commander would provide additional support. Would she dare place Nathan in such a difficult place? Kris thought not. He was hoping that she would back down.

"God Jhu..." Nathan said shaking his head, shooting her a 'Thanks for making my life even more difficult' glare.

Arivek sat back down, quietly, suddenly remembering why he couldn't stand that man.

Kris looked at Jhu. He knew how serious she was, but he too was equally matching her seriousness. "Commander, I take my duties to this starship and her crew quite seriously. You can throw whatever temper tantrum you damn well wish, but I have a mission to do and goals to reach. You can sit here calmly and respectfully like everyone else and wait. I assure you that the welfare of this entire crew, even our hologram Chief Engineer is of great concern to me."

Jhu easily met his gaze, no sign of the fire in her eyes abating. "Until Doctor Cohen clears you for duty, I'm in command of this starship. Which means, Captain Kerouac, that you do not have the luxury of ordering me to sit down and be quiet. No matter your mission or goals, I will not violate General Order 7."

Captain Kristopher Kerouac looked at Jhu and raised his arm. He pointed to the corner of the room where a food replicator was installed. "Jhu, go sit in the corner. Go replicate yourself some nice warm gooey chocolate chip bull shit cookies and drink a tall cold glass of shut the fuck up."

"You're an idiot." With that as her parting words, Jhu spun around and found a chair far away from the rest of the group. Once there, she sat down, still glaring those fiery daggers at Kris.

"Alright, both of you stop!" Arivek yelled, slamming his hands on the table as he stood back up. "Seriously, the rest of the Senior Staff will be here any moment and I don't think this is a good time to be arguing like a bunch of children." His eyes shot to Captain Kerouac, "You, be nice. You have to admit your order was strange and has a right to be questioned." Then his eyes glanced to Jhu, "And you, I know how you feel, but antagonizing him won't fix this. I think it'd be best for all of us to just take a seat and calmly wait for the rest of the staff to join us and then we can calmly discuss this."

As if on queue, the doors to the room opened as Arivek was sitting and the Executive Officer stepped through.

Kris looked at the hologram. "No shit. Why do you think I asked you all to come down here? I will explain my actions and orders, but I am not going to repeat myself a dozen times over."

It had only been the second time since his voluntary albeit enforced incarceration that Provisional Commander M'rayr Eisovo had been allowed beyond the walls of his quarters. He wore his uniform feeling like he belonged in it again; but the road it had taken him to get here... The doorway into the situation room parted in front of him and sealed behind him as the Caitian looked at those present. He frowned when he looked and saw what was becoming a red bulge on Kerouac's jaw, then over to Jhu and saw steam practically coming out of her ears.

Before he sat, however, he looked to Kerouac, and kept his tone as neutral as he could. "Permission to resume my duties as your first officer, Captain."

Kris looked at Jhu, casting a stern glare in her direction. "Considering what that spotted bitch just did, I may consider it. However, I would like to speak to you and Ms. Grae afterwards. I am not eager to grant you permission to return to duty until I know that you are fit and sound to do so."

M'rayr nodded curtly before moving over to his chair between Kerouac and t'Dharvanek.

Jenni was not far behind M'rayr, having spotted him entering the situation room at the other end of the corridor. She'd wondered not just what this meeting was about, but also the not-so-cryptic message that had summoned her. Standing inside the situation room now, seeing the collection of senior officers and feeling an unusual amount of tension, Jenni didn't quite know what to say. Instead, she rounded the table, keeping an eye on the situation as she prepared to take a seat near Andy.

Bridget entered the situation room and scanned the table before selecting a seat away from the command crew. She had enough experience on board the ship to know that she didn't want to be anywhere near that when whatever news Kerouac had came out.

Lia walked into the room right after Bridget. She glanced over at the Captain and Commander t'Dharvanek undoubtadly the source of the tension in the room. Judging from the redness of Kris's face, she scolded herself for not arriving sooner. She took the first empty seat she found and sat down and waited for what the Captain had to say.

Hayley entered the lounge and took her seat. `Here we go again. Another pissing match in Command,' she thought.

Stepping into the conference room, Maica all but ignored everyone in it, her glasses on and face buried in a pair of larger PaDDs. She didn't even glance up as she sat down at a random open seat. "Hello," she muttered as she flipped through whatever she was reading.

Captain Kerouac was still nursing his jaw which felt as though he had gotten into a boxing ring with a Nausicaan, and not one that was all too happy to see him. The fact that it had been his Second Officer, acting First Officer, his Chief Intelligence Officer and someone that he had come to view as a friend that had knocked his jaw...it did not please Kris one bit.

He could tell that even though the room was sparsely populated at the time, those just having arrived could feel the tension and see the Captain's red jaw line which undoubtedly would be showing bruising in coming hours. It was embarrassing to say the least, but he was not going to allow this incident with his hot tempered subordinate get the best of him.

"A little more than half an hour ago, I ordered this ship to set course to Talos IV. I was rightfully and justly stopped, prevented from doing so. The USS Katana came to a full stop. Her course has resumed as previously plotted. However, I am calling this meeting of Department Heads, Senior Staff, and a few selected individuals to further discuss my most recent attempt to change course" began Captain Kerouac.

He looked at Jhu. "Some of you..." he said sharply, his stare then moving over towards Counselor Lia Grae "...may think me mad. Others, probably expect this sort of unorthodox and sometimes irrational behavior from me. So, I may not be the most by the book Commanding Officer in Starfleet, our universe or this one. However, what you should know is that I would do anything for this crew. I would and am trying to get you all home, back to your family and loved ones. The technology that got us here is gone, destroyed, or just damn not operational. Correct me if I am wrong, but we can pretty much forget about using Borg transwarp tech to get us back?" asked Kris, nudgingly looking at Andy and Ari.

"Unless I've suddenly become a golden goose that can magically shit out transwarp drives, then that ain't an option," Andy said bluntly.

Arivek sighed and gave the woman a crooked grin, "If what the Senior Chief said wasn't enough to deter you, let me just say that I will refuse any order to do what we already did."

Kris nodded. "So, we're stuck here. At least by all Federation Starfleet technological means that we're aware of and have at our disposal. Now, I am sure that I speak for just about everyone aboard when I say that I'd give anything for a pair of ruby slippers right about now. The Federation is of no help to us. Starfleet here is not our Starfleet. Sure, we can probably trust them...but what are they going to do? Nothing. They can't send us back home because even if they could and even if they had the technology to use, they would not risk it" said Kris firmly.

Lia gazed at Kris, not liking what she was hearing from him. She pressed her lips together keeping quiet until he was finished explaining himself.

"What if I were to tell you that there is a way back home. That technology is out there right now among the stars...technology that could send us home easily?" asked Captain Kerouac, looking around the table.

There was an uncomfortable silence in the room. M'rayr Eisovo gazed around the room from the corner of his eye without moving, curious to see how most of the senior staff was taking this. Undoubtedly, there were enough people here who thought Kerouac was going mad. And had it not been for the fact that M'rayr's own sense of emotional balance had been in question until only a few hours ago, he might have been more eager to speak up.

Given how the crew's opinion of the Caitian might be in flux, he kept his words even toned and measured. "Even in this universe, General Order Seven is quite specific. 'No one will ever visit Talos IV'. It is the one general order that, beyond the act of committing treason, still carries the penalty of death."

M'rayr wanted to say that also he found it difficult to believe that anything they might find on Talos IV could be worth the consequences. But as Kerouac's first officer, he also felt a duty to the man. Circumventing Kerouac's authority this early in the discussion would violate that duty. It was better to hear him out. But to also lay out the fact that there were laws and regulations that should be adhered to or at the very least considered. "Assuming there is such technology on Talos IV, and that we are able to safely return to our universe, we would still be in violation of General Order Seven. Every man and woman on board this ship would be eligible for the death penalty."

Lia blinked, "Talos IV? Is that what this meeting is about?!" She slammed her hands on the table, rising to her feet and glared at Kerouac. "Are you fucking insane?!"

Kris couldn't help but flash a small smile at Lia. Leave it to the Counselor to be the one to question my sanity he thought. "No more than you, love" he replied sharp tongued. He knew that Lia probably wanted to pull him out of the room and into her office. He would allow it if need be, but that could wait.

"Look, I am not thrilled about this either. Fuck, I do not even want to step foot anywhere near Talos IV. However, I have reason to believe that Talos IV is the present secret location of the Guardian of Forever...and that is our way home. I am well aware of General Order 7, Commander Eisovo, and the consequences of violating it. I will make note in logs and all records that this was my doing and my doing alone. If I need to tie all your hands with my own command, I will do it. Nobody, not a single one of you should be held accountable for my actions. I do want my sins to stain your hands" said Kris shaking his head.

He looked at his First Officer with a look of remorse. "Starfleet Regulation 3, Paragraph 12: 'In the event of imminent destruction, a Starfleet Captain is thereby authorized to preserve the lives of his or her crew by any justifiable means'" quoted Kris. "Yeah, I've been reading. If I take us to Talos IV, this starship may very well be placed in imminent danger, possible destruction. I won't let that happen. I will do whatever it takes to ensure that all life aboard this starship is preserved" responded Kris.

M'rayr looked disturbed by Kerouac's rationale, but said nothing. He gave a weary glance to Jhu and then to Lia.

Kris then looked towards Jhu t'Dharvanek, perhaps his strongest opponent. "I do not fear death. I am stronger than death. I am not afraid of the dark outside of this starship or inside of myself. If the Talosians place this crew in danger, there's not a power in the cosmos that will stop me from putting an end to that danger, even if it means an end to them...General Order #24 gives me the authority to make that judgment call. I can order the destruction of a world or the annihilation of all life on said world."

Jenni hadn't been slouching during the meeting, but just the mere mention of destroying a world prompted her to sit up straighter. Of course he wasn't talking about destroying Talos IV. Was he? Her fears for the last few weeks, however, were completely realized in this one moment. This Kris had indeed the same makings as the one who destroyed the Breen colony world. The situations were different, yes... She gripped the armrests of her chair, trying to figure out what to do. Jenni could tell something was different between the two men. Hers was insane, and this one was just trying to get his crew home, no matter the personal cost to him. This meeting, for her, was only accomplishing one thing: realizing that this was a group that she was indeed an outsider. Here they were talking about going home, but she was already home. And there was a Jenni in their universe. If this were successful, Jenni would have a lot to answer for.

"I don't care if you're not afraid of death. You won't have any power to stop the Talosians once they get ahold of you, and you damn well know that. You won't be able to enact General Order 24 either. They won't let you. Whether they mean us harm or not, we won't be able to leave until they allow it, and when they do... Starfleet's going to blow this ship to smithereens. It's not worth it." Either the man really was crazy or this was some sort of cosmic joke, and Jhu didn't like either of those possibilities.

Andy had been content to remain silent until now, but she couldn't hold it in any longer. It started as a chuckle that eventually grew into a full bellowing laugh that stopped all the fighting. The ex-Borg woman sat up in her chair, wiping away tears as her laughter slowly subsided. "Fuck's sake, Kris, I knew this idea had to be crazy, but this is fucking delicious," Andy said as she continued to chuckle softly. "I mean seriously, do you hear yourself? A guardian of Forever, really?!" she asked a bit more seriously.

"Acting against the wishes of the Talosians would nullify our right to claim self defense in any court of law. Regulation 3 paragraph 12 will not apply," M'rayr pointed out, his tone expressing palpable concern. He was no longer able to remain neutral. Not with what Kerouac was suggesting. "The Katana is not in danger, Captain; the danger has passed. While this universe may not be the one we were intended for, it is more than conceivable that the crew will be able to make lives for themselves here."

Dammit... M'rayr thought, wishing that his own dip into emotional insanity had come at a better time. It completely compromised his ability to declare the situation for what it was -- Kerouac was obsessed with getting the crew home no matter the cost. But worse, his idea was completely insane. Unfortunately, even if M'rayr wanted to, he was still technically powerless to do anything as far as protocol was concerned.

Kris shook his head in a very defiant manner. "NO" he said with a ferocity towards the Caitian. "General Order 7 was established by Starfleet under the authority of the United Federation of Planets. The Talosians would have welcomed humans. They held Captain Cristopher Pike and several members of the USS Enterprise crew captive, caged like animals to study. It is all on Starfleet why we aren't allowed to venture there, not allowed to set foot on that planet...all because of the dangers of Talosian mental abilities, their illusions and manipulations. Starfleet and the Federation fear human understanding and potential development of these abilities" said Captain Kerouac

Nathan sat quietly, listening to everyone. "What if we don't want to go back?" He spoke up suddenly.

Kerouac looked at Nathan and then at M'rayr. Both men were indeed correct. This crew could continue their lives in this universe, and they had the right do so if they so wanted. "Then stay" replied Kris. "Stay here, live your lives out where we do not belong. I would never ask any of you to put your lives and careers on the line for this. The Captain of a starship is always held accountable for his or her crew, and whatever happens aboard. I will not order anyone to set foot on Talos IV nor would I force any of you to go back home."

Kris let out a sigh. "General Order 7 is a very serious order to violate, probably the most serious as it may carry punishment of death. What I have planned breaks several dozen orders, rules, regulations, and potentially ethical and moral codes of humanity. General Order 7 clearly states that no starship should visit or set foot on Talos IV...and so I am not going to order anyone to do so. However, I am going to Talos IV" said Kris, looking around the room.

"I would take myself there in a shuttlecraft...in a heart beat and spare you all from knowing about it. But the fact of the matter is, I can't get anywhere near Talos IV on my own in a shuttle. The Federation and Starfleet no doubt have vessels patrolling the outskirts of the system. If not for the sake of General Order 7, then for confirmation of my suspicion that the Guardian of Forever is on Talos IV" explained the Captain.

Kris turned his seat and looked down the table at his Second Officer, his Chief Intelligence Officer. "You know that I don't always play by the rules, Commander. You of all people know this. I shouldn't have lead that Away Team down to Arboreal, but I did. I did and you assisted me in doing so. You helped me sever communications with Starfleet Command and prevented Lieutenant Commander Tul Zanaar from stopping me. So, help me now. Help me get to Talos IV" he said almost pleadingly.

"Damn it, Kris, you're asking me to take you to a place where they imprison intelligent life forms to study them!" Where before it had been merely anger that drove her protest, now a note of desperation entered Jhu's voice. "I can't do that. I can't be someone's pet experiment, not again. Please don't put me in that position."

"A shuttlecraft stands no chance at getting to the Talos star system before being stopped by the Federation and Starfleet. Starships would be on my ass before I could get within transporter range. The Katana is fast, maneuverable, and we have the best and brightest crew aboard. Just take me to the Talos system and I'll take a shuttle down the surface of Talos IV myself and alone if I must."

"The fuck you will!" Snapped Nathan suddenly. It was very out of character for him to get worked up, he was hoping the outburst would get Kris' full attention. "You made me a promise after the other Katana incident Captain. If you think I'm going to let you off this ship with out some form of security going with you, you might as well take yourself down to the Brig right now... your not going anywhere with out me." Nathan stated with out giving any room for argument. Just like that, Nathan was attached to this crazy mission .

That restarted Andy's laughter anew, sending her laughing and snorting so hard she slipped out of her chair. "Ow, I think I broke my... everything," she said with a snicker from under the table. She crawled her way back into her chair, then leaned against the table. "Oi, Nate! You weren't supposed to agree to go with him, that just gave him permission!" she fake whispered across the table.

Kris looked at Lieutenant Nathan Tonkin down the table and gave a polite nod with a subtle but quite noticeable smile. Security...always a sucker when the Captain wants to do the inarguably dangerous shit thought Captain Kerouac. "Well, I would feel somewhat safer with you with me, Lieutenant. Plus this is an away mission albeit of my own personal undertaking. Standard away team procedures do strictly prohibit me going alone. Plus, guidelines do state that the Chief of Security shall be present or send someone in their place" the Captain said looking at the man.

With Jhu's boyfriend more or less volunteering himself for this asinine and rule breaking adventure, Kris could not help but turn his attention to the woman herself. "You know...away team guidelines do typically suggest that the Second Officer be part of an away team" said Kris with just little smirk.

Jhu crossed her arms, shaking her head. "No. You can have Nathan throw me in the brig, but I am not setting foot on that planet."

"This is absolutely selfish, dangerous, reckless, and idiotic. This crew has already been through a lot and to stand there and manipulate your us into getting what you want proves you may not give a shit about any of us." Lia spat out not caring anymore. "In the end this is about satisfying you guilt. Well frankling Captain no. No. Our situation here can't be fixed. This is going to blow up in our faces just like the transwarp coil and we will be left picking up what's left." Lia bit her lip and shook her head.

"Ya know, I'm with the Counselor on this," Andy said, all sense of her earlier joviality gone as she leaned back in her chair. "Lets assume for just a moment that one of these Guardian things are on Talos IV, and for shits and giggles lets assume we can even get it to agree to help us..." She paused for a moment to let that little tidbit sink in. "The Borg have come across these things before, so I don't need to read a file to know that these things have sentience, intelligence, it can refuse to help us. But for the sake of the argument, lets assume it will help us; is this a sacrifice you're really willing to make? Think long and hard about the consequences of those left behind, like Jenni and the others we rescued from the other Katana. They won't be going with us on this fool's errand, so think about what waits for them if we succeed. We could be destabilizing relations of this entire sector if we do this, and anyone left behind may be seen as accomplices and end up spending the rest of their lives in a Federation penal colony. And you talk about imminent danger and defending ourselves; lets not mince words, you're willing to carve a swathe of blood to get us to this Guardian. If we made it back to our reality, I wouldn't be able to live with myself knowing how many bodies we would have to crawl over to get there. Is that really what you want for us?"

Two women. Two very strong women were voicing their opinions and concerns, putting him in his place. Then there was Jhu. She had even gone so far as to try and physically knock some sense into him. This is why I prefer to sleep with men thought Kris, tapping his feet underneath the table. He was anxious to fire back...but how he would do so, he was still unsure even as the words began to pour out. If only this were a Ferengi marauder.

His first few shots would be directed at Counselor Lia Grae. "It is times like these that you make me wish so deeply, Lia, that Lieutenant Commander Tegan were still my First Officer. Cameron knew how to deal with you. You come aboard this starship with your cute little smile and seductive walk, swing those hips of yours around these corridors and have a hundred plus pairs of eyes swooning over you. You may sit there, Counselor, looking all angelic with that smile of yours, but I know. I know that behind those amaranth pink eyes you are a sly and cunning little she-devil Ardra. You can look all professional and dolled up as you want, Lia...but you're just a bustier wearing princess" said Kris sharply.

"Really? Is that the best you can do Captain?" Lia stood up glaring at him. "With all due respect, you don't know me and trying to use Tegan against me just proves how right I was to keep my distance. All this time I thought you were a decent man, caring about your crew. I even argued with M'rayr here how you were a decent captain, unorthodox, but a good man. How wrong I was. And if this crew is stupid enough to follow your orders about this, I want off."

"I did not want to use the Borg technology. You know that, you all know that. I was under orders to do so and Command wouldn't give us the damn time we wanted to thoroughly study it and test run it" added Kris. He turned his attention to Andy. "And then there's you, Ms. Carter. How many diplomatic missions or first contacts have we had gone astray because you can't hold your god damned tongue. Leave it to you and your impulsiveness to cause a fight or bring us close to starting a war. You can sit in that chair, swivel it around all you want, being this ship's clown or be a royal thorn in my ass, but when all is said in done there is one huge difference between you and the others in this room. Officer and Enlisted."

"With all due disrespect, sir," Andy said as she rose from her chair, removing her commbadge from her sweater, "you can go fuck yourself." The ex-Borg woman tossed her commbadge on the table, then stepped away from the table and walked out of the Situation Room without waiting for a response. They could drop her off on the nearest inhabited rock and she would make her way from there, but she wasn't going to have anything to do with this mess any longer.

Lia watched Andy leave and smirked, Good for you, Andy, she thought.

Bridget looked back and forth between the captain and the other crew members before taking a deep breath. "Captain, I agree with both the counselor and Chief Carter. Scientifically speaking, this mission has a very low chance for success. Ethically and morally speaking, I don't want any part in it. And, if we do ever make it back to our universe, I would rather not have to defend my non-action when asked by Starfleet command why we as a crew did nothing to stop you. Don't get me wrong, I would rather be back in our own universe, but not at the expense of innumerable lives." Bridget sat back in her chair, uncertain as to the reaction she would get. She wasn't sure anything the captain said would surprise her after his responses some of the other crew.

Finally looking up, Maica set her PaDDs down and pulled her glasses off, starting to speak to the room as a whole. "Since I caught wind of this I've been studying and comparing the various logs and data on several subjects in regards to the recent seemingly ill-advised orders from the Captain. Among the data I've found that General Order 7 in this universe is not enforced other than by remote probes. I've also discovered that the order was signed by a unanimous silent council with no discussion or objection to anything regarding it. On top of that, There's plenty of data indicating that these Talosians can control the minds of people dozens of lightyears away." Pausing a moment, Maica let that sink in. "Basically, I'm saying it's highly likely that General Order 7, the only remaining death penalty in all of the Federation from both our universes, is likely an attempt by the Talosians themselves to blanket discourage the visitation of their world by curious visitors barring only 2 types of people. The most hard core of daredevils and those desperate. Both groups are likely under their control. In conclusion, anything decided here is moot. If Captain Kerouac is under their control and he is unsuccessful in getting the ship there, they will choose someone else to aid in the means of conveyance to their planet."

Sighing heavily, Maica continued. "As for the subject of the Guardian of forever, I've found 3 references to its location. In our universe it was called Planet Guardian. In this one it seems to be JFS47. In this universe's 'Mirror' universe, it was a Preserver ship in orbit of a planet known as Halka. There's no evidence the Talosians can do anything other than show us illusions and make us think we're in our own universe, nor is there evidence that there's a second Guardian in any Universe. Furthermore, though they have seemingly shown the ability to control technology as well as minds from lightyears away, I'd like to request that all command codes for the ship are transferred to me during this mission for safety." Finally finishing her monologue, Maica sat back in her chair and waited.

There goes Andy thought Kris, smacking his palm against his head. He let out a frustrated sigh, but welcomed Maica's unbiased and factual information. He also appreciated that his Chief Science Officer was performing her duties as an officer of Starfleet and as a scientist. She weighed options and was calm and softly spoken yet still firm. She was stating moral and scientific interest, and that was always something that could strike Kris' heart.

She sounds like Merith thought Kris, of one of his pasts loves, and a woman who was also very much still aboard his vessel. So is Commodore Larkon thought the Captain. Those two together could cause me a lot of trouble if they caught word of this he concluded. "Thank you, Lieutenant O'Connor. I will make note of your objections both personal and professional on this matter. Though, not everything is scientifically sound nor explainable. I have faith in this and in what I am doing" replied the Captain.

"That is true but it doesn't mean we have to go chasing after a hope and a prayer. Even scientifically some things are meant to be left unexplained." Bridget paused and debated whether or not she wanted to continue. She wasn't entirely comfortable going against her commanding officer but she didn't think she could, in good conscience, stay quiet. "Quite frankly, Captain, this mission seems as though it is a personal one and that you are trying to justify involving the Katana by attempting to make it seem like it would benefit the crew. And I could live without the involvement or the....benefit."

Kris looked at his green skin Chief Diplomatic Officer who has chimed in with cold hard facts. "So, the Guardian is not on Talos IV. If those facts are indeed factual and I take them as such, fine. But I cannot just ignore what I saw...what I was shown. I saw the Talos IV and I saw the Guardian. There has to be some sort of connection, and that to me warrants my going. I need answers, Maica" said Kris in a softer tone than he had been taking with the others.

Nodding to the Captain's assertions, Maica didn't have to think long on her reply."Given the powers of the Talosians and the powers of the Guardian, I suspect they would be a powerful combination if you can get them to speak with each other. Indeed, if the Talosians are as powerful as I suspect they are, granting you direct and immediate telepathic communications with the Guardian may be simple for them. either way you look at it, it would be a far cry easier than finding JFS47 in a star nursery."

The Captain then looked towards his boyfriend. The Chief Medical Officer aboard the USS Katana, Doctor Liam Cohen. "What of you, Doctor? What do you see in your Captain's words and his actions? What do you see in my eyes? Do you see nothing but the ramblings of a crazed man?" asked Kris.

Liam said nothing. He had no words to express his concerns

Hayley was in thought as the other officers around her bickered. She then spoke up. "I can get the Katana to Talos IV undetected by dropping out of warp directly into a low magnetic polar orbit coasting into the system on a warp pulse and reduced power emissions."

Captain Kerouac's own career as a helmsmen and pilot had his mind meeting Hayley's. He knew she was a damn good pilot albeit a more than crazy one when it came to stunts and pushing a starship or shuttle to and through risky endeavors. "Lieutenant, you know how risky that sounds even on a good day" said Kris, his eyes locking onto hers. "You are the best active pilot we have aboard which is why you are our Chief Flight Controller. I believe in your abilities, but we're talking Talos IV. We'd have to take counter measures for sure."

Kris thought for a moment. "The Talosians are dangerous with their mental abilities. They may not be able to directly affect our equipment or technology, but their illusions can affect a group of people and make us see or hear things that aren't there. It seems like Lieutenant Commander Maica and Lieutenant Zhuri both being non-biological lifeforms would be unaffected" said the Captain.

He looked at the woman. "Collins, how confident are you that you can get us there relatively undetected?"

Hayley shrugged. "It'll be difficult and a rough stop, but I've done it a few times on the simulator."


With that, Kris looked down the table at his Chief Engineer. The day has come that I am trusting my life and the lives aboard to a hologram and an android thought Kris. "Lieutenant Zhuri, you know the Katana better than most. I know that you're more comfortable down in Main Engineering, but I'll be counting on you to help us get to Talos IV in one piece. I want you on the Bridge at the Engineering station" commented Kris. "I trust Collins can get us there, but none of us our immune to the Talosians except yourself and Maica. If we're seeing an asteroid belt on sensors...I want to make sure there's really an asteroid belt on sensors."

Arivek rolled his eyes. "Captain, as I've said it multiple times already, I will repeat myself again. My mind is a living, breathing entity. The Talosians have just as much effect on me as they do the rest of you!" He sighed, trying to keep himself from getting as worked up as Andy and storming out. "And besides, even if I was immune, I would refuse. I can't support this and I won't risk my career for your half-cocked idea. While Andy may be a bit more dramatic than I, her sentiments were exactly on point."

He sat there for a moment, before he continued. "I have a duty as an Officer to uphold General Orders, even if that means going against your orders. I think now is a good time to inform you that I will do that at all cost. If you want a course laid in to Talos IV, you'll be required to have the authorization codes of each one of the senior staff. I've input that algorithm into the primary Computer Command Processor and you'll need my authorization to remove it. I can promise you that you won't be able to meet either criteria any time soon. I'll delete my matrix before I allow that to happen."

Clearing her throat for effect, Maica spoke softly to the rest of those assembled. "As a Diplomat, I have... had... backdoor codes to just about every comm array and door in the Federation in one way or another. Along with the excellent work that my wife has made to both my speech synthesis units and my new positronic brain, I'm likely the only person here that could keep either side of this from doing something stupid. Lieutenant Zhuri, please don't do something stupid. Captain, also, please don't do something stupid."

Waving a hand in the air in a circular motion, Maica continued. "Alternatively, we could work our way through this like civil members of Starfleet and come to a conclusion without threats and coercion. I very much like that option, personally."

"As I see it, we could either not go there, not do some thing that may or may not help, the Captain goes crazy, people most likely die. Or we could go there, possibly be captured, tortured, possibly executed if Starfleet finds out... but the Captain would be able to settle his vision and either get us home or not, depending on what that lopsided doughnut has to say." Pausing for just a moment, Maica continued. "As my codes may or may not work on the probes registered as being actually there, there's a risk of Starfleet finding out. As for this armada of ships everyone seems to think is there..." Tossing a PaDD towards the Captain with a map of the area around Talos IV on it, Maica pointed at it as it slid across the table. "I assume you've looked at this exact same map. I see no ships on it at all. Do you?"

Arivek sat there for a few minutes, running his fingers along his chin, as he listened to the Commander speaking. Then suddenly, the gravity of what she stated hit him. "Maica, I swear if you imitate my voice to ever usurp my authority, I will never forgive you. That's violating a trust so deep that there would be no repairing it."

"As is usurping the chain of command, Lieutenant." Warned M'rayr, whom despite his opinion over Kerouac's behavior and conduct, still felt an obligation to the man's position as commanding officer. "Until notified to the contrary, you will not attempt to manipulate the course or speed of this vessel."

"If you commit suicide by deleting yourself and we need to get the ship moving again, how else could we? Besides, we're stopped and discussing it now." Maica requested of Arivek before looking back to the Captain, wondering if he saw what she suspected he saw on it or if he saw what she saw.

Arivek sighed. He knew the android was right, but his eyes slid back to the Commander, a man he couldn't stand at the moment. "Until notified to the contrary, M'rayr, you're relieved of duty. So fuck off. You can talk to me until you're blue in the face but your threats don't mean shit. What can you do when you're confined to quarters? Nothing."

"Lieutenant Zhuri." Having calmed down quite a bit since her fear-driven furious attack on Kris, Jhu's voice took on a note of measured calm... with plenty of fire behind it nonetheless. "Keep your personal issues with Commander Eisovo outside of this briefing."

"Yes ma'am," Arivek stated, softly, leaning back in his chair.

Lia looked between Collins and then Maica before leaning back in her chair. "Lets change the focus for a moment. We've been debating whether we go or not, and I am adamantly opposed to the Captain's plan, however lets just say we do decide to go. And lets say we even survive getting there, and it's a total success. How are we certain that you.." Lia then turned Kris and stared at him, "...you, Captain, will follow through with getting us home? You expect us to believe you'll use this one opportunity to be at the gateway to all time, for us, and not for personal use?" Kris used her past flame against her, time to return the favor. "What about Uri Brennan? How long have you spent looking for him again? You even took the Gamma Quadrant assignment because of a rumor of some debris found there. You'll be at the doorway to not only answer the mystery as to what happened to Uri...but to even save him. To put it bluntly Captain. I don't trust you in the face of that kind of power. How you just treated most of your senior staff in this meetings proves you'll do anything, say anything, use anything to get your way, for you objective. Even lie. So exactly why should it be you who'll talk with the Guardians?"

Arivek snorted a laugh at what the woman had just said. "Sorry," he said, glancing to her for a moment. While he was fairly new to the crew, the story behind the Captain's long-lost fiancé was no secret. "You have to admit though. Bringing up the fact that he never fully got over his ex in front of his current boyfriend is a bit funny. Don't you think, Doctor?"

Captain Kristopher Kerouac had looked over the PADD that Maica had sent his way. "I...I do not I see nothing there" he admitted. After hearing his Chief Engineers words and the words of Counselor Grae, Kris was unsure what to do, but he knew he had to be firm. Lia had gone deep and dirty with the comments about him and Uri.

Kris shook his head. First he would deal with his Chief Engineer. "You, Lieutenant abide by the behavior of an officer and Chief Engineer. As Commander t'Dharvanek stated, you will not bring your personal dislike of my First Officer into this room. Leave it in your quarters" said Kris sharply. "Furthermore, if you do anything to lock command staff out from having control of this starship, I will personally consider it an act of treason and you will not need to delete your matrix...as I will have the full force of Engineering and Operations personnel removing your existence sub-routine by sub-routine, bit by bit" said Kris.

Arivek stared at the man, "You're the last person to talk about treason..."

The Captain looked at Lieutenant Matthews. "With Ms. Carter not here, I require your assistance. Please deactivate the holoemitters on the USS Katana, except for in Engineering until further notice."

Jenni had been silent for the duration of the meeting, her eyes darting to each person and their respective outbursts and commentary as the meeting progressed. It wasn't shock that kept her mouth shut. This wasn't a senior staff bickering amongst themselves. It was a family feud, worse than what her family had broken down into when her mother died and father crippled. However, she found herself growing angry with every passing moment. She wasn't a senior officer aboard this ship and her opinion didn't matter a damn bit. Even now, at the order to deactivate the holoemitters aboard this ship, there was not an ounce within her that was willing to follow that order. If Captain Kero... no, Kris... If Kris was so hellbent on going to Talos IV without Katana, so be it. Let Starfleet catch him. The fate they'd give him would be far worse than anything the Breen could do to him. Fortunately for her, Kris looked over at Ari before Jenni could refuse the order.

Kris flashed a look at Ari. "I may not be able to confine you to your quarters like I can any flesh and blood crewmember aboard, but I can make your life...or lack there of rather difficult and constricting, Lieutenant."

The hologram stood. "Fuck this. You want me to respect you and Commander Kitty over here but then talk to me like that?" He scoffed in disgust. "Fuck you. Computer, deactivate Arivek Zhuri." The man's form shimmered and disappeared.

It was then that Kris turned his focus back on Lia Grae. "I have no words for the amount of disappointment that I have in you, Counselor. Your words and actions disgust me, but I have no time to deal with your teenage tantrums" replied Kris shaking his head. "If you have a problem with my being the one to speak with the Guardian of Forever, then get up off your ass and I'll see you in the shuttlebay when we arrive in the Talos system."

"You know what...I'm done." Lia stood up and pulled her rank pips off her tunic, then pulled her com-badge off and placed them on the table. "I didn't sign up for a suicide mission when I took this posting. I resign. God help whoever follows you down the abyss." she walked around the table and left the room.

As Lia stormed out, Jhu rolled her eyes and put her head down on the table. This whole mess was giving her a headache, and Arivek's outburst followed by Lia storming out wasn't helping.

Bridget had stayed quiet as long as she could out of respect for command but the constant bickering was making her extremely irritated. "Captain," she said abruptly. "As it seems there are a few of us hell-bent on getting to Talos IV, I would like to repsectfully request to be dismissed. I have stated I want no part in this mission and, if we are going to dissolve into name-calling and passive-aggressiveness, I see no further reason to be here." She folded her arms and looked down the table at the captain, stony faced.

M'rayr frowned. This meeting had long departed from the protocols established by Starfleet. Perhaps he even contributed in allowing it to seeing as how he hadn't put his foot down harder and earlier. Then again, it was by Kerouac's decision not to restore his rank and title before the meeting began -- a choice that people like Arivek were taking firm advantage of. But in the last few minutes, M'rayr watched as more than half of the general senior staff abandoned their Captain for having alienated them.

Kerouac was wrong. Why couldn't he see that? He'd lost the faith and trust of his crew in the proverbial hunt for the great white whale. And as much as M'rayr wanted to resign himself, he had an unnerving feeling that he'd need to stay if only to stop Kerouac once they reached the surface.

Kris looked at Bridget and nodded. "You're dismissed, Lieutenant. I appreciate your concerns on the matter and I also appreciate you acting respectful in stating your opinions" commented Kris with a small sigh.

Bridget rose to leave. The respect she was showing was for the position and not the man. She nodded silently toward the Captain as she walked out of the room.

Hayley was angry and couldn't understand the attitudes of the others. "I don't know about any of you, but I want to go home. We don't belong here, and you all know it," she stated in a raised voice that was rarely heard from her.


Wanting to protect Lieutenant Collins from what he feared would be yet another lashing out. The Captain quickly chimed in in hopes that he could shield his Helmswoman. "Thank you, Lieutenant" said Kris swiftly. He looked around the room "I think we've heard enough from both sides here. Jhu, M'rayr, and Maica, if you could please remain behind."

We don't belong mucking about in this dimension's past either, but that's not stopping anyone, Jhu thought crossly, keeping the sentiment to herself and making a non-committal noise in response to Kris's request to remain behind.

"The rest of you are dismissed" said Kris with a nod.

The meeting had come to an end. Some decisions were made, but the tension from the meeting lingered onward after all was said and done. The dust was clearing. Kris was an emotional wreck as were several others of the crew. His jaw hurt like hell, and he just wanted to go lock himself in his quarters and speak to nobody. However, as Captain he could not and there was work that had to be done. Captain Kerouac had asked Lieutenant Commander Maica to remain behind.

Additionally, he asked Commanders Eisovo and t'Dharvanek to remain. Maica had brought up some valid points, points that he could not ignore. Jhu and Kris had unfinished business, and with Counselor Lia Grae pretty much unofficially resigning as Ship's Counselor...there was the whole M'rayr matter to deal with. Let's just get this all done and over with thought Kris as the last of the others left the room, leaving the four of them alone and in private.

"Thank you for staying behind" began Captain Kerouac. "Please, sit...stand...speak freely or come take another shot at my face if any of you so wish" added Kris, looking at Jhu.

"I have nothing left to say," Jhu responded sharply, tempted to leave the room anyway.

"I think I've said enough for now. I wish I could go down there with you." Maica said as she slipped her glasses back on, tapping them a few times to change displayed files.

Kris let out a sigh, and ran his fingers through his hair. "Well, that was a pretty nasty meeting. I don't think we've had one of those since Tul was around" said the Captain, kicking his feet up on the table and leaning back in his chair. "So...you two have nothing more to say. That's fine, but I do and we have decisions to make" added Kris.

Jhu rolled her eyes at him. "I don't know what you expect me to say. You've made your decision and ignored my input so far, so why the hell am I still here?"

"Oh because, I like to look at you and count your spots. It helps calm me down and sometimes, I like to count them like sheep" he said rolling his eyes and turning his attention elsewhere.

Maica made a mental note to ask Andy about what it would take to temporarily put trill spots on her beautiful and perfect skin without risking damage to it.

He looked at his First Officer. "I am not sure if we still have a Ship's Counselor or not, you gorgeous hunk of fur" said Kris shaking his head. "Regardless, you seem back to yourself more or less."

M'rayr nodded wordlessly.

"One problem we have presently is Chief Carter" said Kris. He looked at Maica. "No offense, and nothing personal Maica. Andy tenured her resignation to me before I left Sickbay and by her actions recently, I am inclined to just accept it" he said pointing at the comm badge on the table. "Is she serious about leaving the position, Maica?"

Maica nodded slowly. "Yes... we agreed that her resigning from Ops and moving to R&D would be best with her recent decline in health and with the need for a dedicated maintainer for myself, Vara, and Ari. After that outburst though..."

"I'm sorry" said Kris looking away from Maica. He did not want to look at her but he brought himself to do it. "I will find Andy later and apologize to her. I said things and I really did not mean to...not the way that I did."

"Thank you." Maica said. "Try to use some tact though please. She's under enough stress with all that's happened. As you pointed out, she's not an officer and thus not entirely trained to deal with that stress the same way."

Kris nodded in understanding and then took his feet off the table, leaned forward and picked up the comm badge. "We need to replace her as Chief of Operations and need to do so immediately. Jhu, I do not mean to reach my hand into your small department already, but I would like Lieutenant Matthews for Chief Operations Officer. She has the technological abilities and knowledge of the Katana and Intrepid-class starships" informed Kris.

"What? No, I like my pet engineer!" She'd only just gotten someone else in her department so it wasn't just her, and Jhu was losing Jenni already? That was just unfair.

"I know" said Kris nodding. "I like her in Intelligence too, but let's face it. Short of pulling Ari out of Engineering and putting him at Ops...we don't have many options. Will Morgan could easily step up to Chief Operations Officer, but I am not fond of that. I like Will, but he's doing excellent work down in R&D" explained Kris.

He looked at Jhu. "What would you have me do? You know she is the best we have for the position next to Andy. I mean unless you want me to promote Petty Officer Corbin to Lieutenant or something...it's going to be Matthews. It just has to be."

Jhu sighed at him. "Fine, take her. But you have to find me someone... I can't do this job by myself."

"Having a problem with your Ferengi?" asked Kris.

"Right, the Ferengi... forgot about her..." How she could forget about Noxa with that shrill voice of hers was mind-boggling. Jhu saw the short orange woman every day.

"Ah the Ferengi woman..." Maica muttered under her breath. "I can smell her everywhere she's been... Including my office..."

Jhu snorted at that, some of her fiery facade falling away. As she considered a reply about Ferengi hygiene habits, a familiar tightness settled into her chest. Oh great. Now this. Totally needed this. Knowing she had to get it back under control, she quietly slid back as far as she could into her chair and pulled her knees up to her chest, settling into a practiced breathing rhythm and hoping no one talked to her for a few moments.

M'rayr heaved an inaudible sigh. There'd been several things he'd wanted to say back during the general briefing, but a significant part of his duty as first officer was to support the Captain; half of what he might have said would have betrayed that confidence.

But now that it was just him, Kerouac, Jhu, and Maica, the Caitian felt an opportunity.

"If we proceed with this mission plan, Lieutenant Matthew's posting as Chief of Operations will be extraordinarily short-lived, would it not?" M'rayr said, looking between Kerouac and Jhu. If he was going to sound objective, he needed to keep his personal feelings towards Jenni closed. "Because if we proceed and are successful in preventing our past-selves from utilizing the Borg Singularity Device, she and nineteen other members of the former Katana, all of whom have since become part of this family, will have been killed in a battle against the Breen -- whether we remember it or not."

Selfish thought Kris as he listened to M'rary. Lia was right. I am being selfish, though not in the way she pointed out. I do want what is best and right for my crew, to get them home, but I had not considered those that do belong here the Captain told himself as he listened in silence.

"I have to agree. We were brought to this universe either through providence or fortune but we've changed the lives here not only of those 19 but of all that know them and those that know us as well as all those that we will meet. I've read a lot of logs and reports as well as historical events... This universe is a lot worse off than ours and they could use our help." Maica interjected. Some of what she said she had nothing more than opinion to go on, but she felt sure of everything she said. "On the other hand, I'm excited for a chance to meet the Talosians. A species no other diplomat has even seen, let alone spoken with? What more could I professionally ask for? Besides, they've displayed no direct skill in casting illusions into or remotely controlling equipment items. As my brain is, hence my request for the ship's command codes for the duration of this mission."

Kris had listened to both officers. He was in full agreement that Maica should assume command of the starship, especially if they were going to go anywhere near Talos IV. "I do care about those 19 lives and the hundreds, thousands, or millions more that would be affected. I assure you both that I do. But can we really say that going back and preventing us from ending up here would doom them to anything? Hell, for all I know it was our disruption in space and time by arriving here that caused the universe to bastardly try and correct itself with the destruction of the Katana" said Kris offering the possibility.

He looked at the three officers. "Is that not a possibility? Or is it not a possibility that we already inadvertently fucked with everything here by saving Matthews and the others, maybe their deaths was what was supposed to be. How am I...how are we to ever know? Captain Kathryn Janeway one noted in her logs that time travel gave her headaches, and frankly I am in full agreement with that assessment."

"Don't you know anything about time travel? Going back won't fix it... us coming here created an alternate timeline altogether." Jhu's voice didn't carry its normal strength or tone, but she spoke up anyway. "It continues to exist even if we travel back in time... which creates another timeline. And the Guardian won't send us back anyway. It would corrupt the original timeline, and the Guardian won't allow that."

M'rayr resisted a low snarl, and had to look away from Kerouac. He was discussing those 19 lives as though they were expendable.

Kris made note of his First Officer looking away. It didn't take an empath or telepath to judge and observe physical responses. The Captain looked at his First Officer. "Cat got your tongue?" asked Kris, raising a brow with his facial expression. "You've been rather quiet, Commander. Both in the meeting and right now" said Kris, calling out the Caitian.

"My duty is to assist and to support you; not to question your decisions in front of the others," M'rayr replied tensely. "That being said, if you desire my honest impression of this... mission... I do not concur with your judgment. We will be sacrificing too much to return home."

Captain Kerouac leaned forward in his seat. "Your duty, Commander is to this crew and to this starship. Yes, you are my First Officer and I do expect you to assist me and provide a united front on matters. However, I also expect you to be vocal if you disagree with me" replied Kris.

"Odds are, even if the Guardian can't or won't help, it'll give a damned good reason not to. Either way, by the precedent set by prior Captains, we are ultimately responsible for the lives we've affected since the incident. We can't just dump them somewhere or toss them in a shuttle and leave them to fend for themselves." Maica pointed out. "On top of that, anything here could be the result of our intervention. The exact same day and time that we left our universe, a Nebula class ship vanished from this one into what is suspected to either have been a temporal vortex or chaotic space. Who's to say we didn't inadvertently cause that?"

Kris groaned and looked at Maica. "Why am I always the last one to know about this stuff?" asked Kris, though he knew there were a stack of PADDs on his desk that his Yeoman had marked urgent or read asasp. He had gotten started on the stack...which was becoming two stacks. "Point taken. Our actions may have an affect on these people and this universe" stated Kris, agreeingly.

The Captain shook his head. "Is it not worth the trip to ask the Guardian questions? At least to learn if we can get home without causing any more damage than we already have."

"I consider it well worth it. Especially if we can get in and out relatively safely." Maica said in reply.

"Wouldn't it make more sense to go the the planet Maica actually found references to instead of going some place you dreamed about?" Jhu asked in an irritable tone. If Kris wasn't going to listen to her concerns about the Talosians imprisoning the crew, maybe he'd listen to logic. There wasn't much hope in it, however, and already Jhu was prepared to hear him repeat that ridiculous 'I feel drawn to Talos IV' line.

"If we had an exact location, it would be. Unfortunately, the exact coordinates are missing from the databases I've searched and there are a lot of planets in the Hromi cluster's stellar nursery." Maica explained, glancing Jhu over and really hoping she was going to be ok.

"You mentioned JFS47 in the briefing." Jhu tried to ignore the concerned glance over Maica was giving her, not wanting to invite attention from Kris or M'rayr.

"I did. It's lost in that stellar nursery and I expect it'll be harder to find than Shira's homeworld." Maica said. "Are you ok? Do you need some tea? I have some from a long island if you need some..."

That is so not a question I want to answer. Jhu shook her head slightly, grateful that Maica had thought to ask but also somewhat wishing the question hadn't been voiced. She didn't know if she could answer it honestly with Kris in the room; he might think she was just playing it for sympathy.

Kris shot a look of concern in Jhu's direction. "You doing alright over there, Spots?" asked Kris. He may have not been a fan of Jhu's temper or the fact that his jaw hurt like hell, but he did admire and respect his Second Officer.

The genuine concern in Kris's voice caught Jhu off guard; she'd been expecting much more mean-spirited comments after how the briefing had gone. She hesitated for a long moment, never a fan of approaching this particular topic. "Physically speaking I'm fine. Just... anxious." That was an understatement, but there wasn't much point in getting him concerned over something she nearly had a handle on again.

"Hopefully not anxious about hitting me again" commented Kris with a small smile. "I know that this whole Talos IV thing is a lot to deal with" added Kris.

"Uh... no," Jhu replied sheepishly, looking away from him. "Look... I'm sorry, okay? But it was that or have a complete meltdown in the corridor and miss your 'important briefing'."

Kris stood up from his seat and crossed his arms. "And I'm sorry for all of this. I'm sorry that we're here...away from home, away from family, and I am doing the best that I can."

"I know that, but the Guardian can't send us home. It fixes aberrations caused by the people who originate here... it won't know what to do with us." Jhu sighed, maintaining her defensive posture and still not quite looking at Kris or anyone else. "I don't mind asking it questions. It's the Talosians I don't want to deal with."

"Look, I am not a damn scientist, physicist or engineer of any sort. I don't know a damn about temporal fluxes, incursions, or any of that shit. I took the most basic amount of education at the academy when it came to the science and technology bull shit. You put me in the helm seat and I'll get you there in one piece, and I can fly circles around ships. But this is out of my area of expertise" said Kris with a shrug. "And quite frankly, so little is known about the Guardian. Half of what we do know is probably speculation."

Kris looked at his Second Officer and nodded. "The Talosians are my greatest concern as well. Their abilities are downright terrifying when considering what we see or hear may all be an illusion."

Jhu smiled a bit weakly. "I was hoping you'd say that. If you want me on the planet, I'll go. Just don't expect me to like it."

"Crazy loves company" replied Kris. He looked at his First Officer and smiled. "What about you, kitten?" asked the Captain.

M'rayr took a moment to consider his words. "Captain, in the last hour you have witnessed more than half of your senior staff abandon you... because your actions alienated them. We are without a Chief of Operations, Chief of Science, Chief of Engineering; our Chief Counselor has even turned away. You are still the commanding officer of this starship, and until such time as you demonstrate a disregard for this crew's safety, or the safety of others, I will continue to follow your orders. But even if we do manage to return home -- hopefully without having to send Lieutenant Matthews and her crew to their deaths -- I wonder if this ship, or its crew, will ever be able to serve together again."

"Whiskers has a point," Jhu pointed out quietly.

"I'm forced to agree with Whiskers as well. I'm inclined to go with you in a runabout or even the aeroshuttle for safety, if you'd be willing to go that route. That way the ship and the crew that are against it are out of harm's way at the very least." Maica offered.

Kris protested, crossing his arms. "That's a bit of an unfair assessment, Commander, but you have a valid point. Andy stepped down as Chief of Operations before that meeting. Lieutenant O'Connor simply has opted to distance herself from having any involvement. Counselor Grae has threatened her resignation, but until it crosses my desk I am not seeing it as official. Also, I have a tendency to misplace things" said Kris shaking his head. "As for Ari, he is throwing a fit. I will speak to him afterwards" said Kris.

"The crew is split right now, and it is my doing. I take full responsibility for it, but things will mend" stated Kris. "I will do everything that I can to ensure this crew doesn't remain fractured. Maica, I appreciate that offer and I will consider it. I just am concerned with all these volunteers who refuse to let me go down without them or want to go with me. You three, Tonkin, Collins. Let's face it at this rate, if anything goes wrong down there, this ship will be in the commands of a Lieutenant."

"Hey, I didn't volunteer. I said if you want me there I'll go. There's a difference." Jhu shifted so that her arms were crossed over her knees, a position that was less tight and defensive but still offered some security against imagined dangers.

Kris threw his hands up and then crossed them. "Oh yes, my apologies. There is a difference, but do you really expect me to believe that you'll stay aboard the Katana if Nathan is down there with me? Yeah, I'm not buying that."

"Nathan's chief of security. He gets the dangerous missions... don't act like I don't know that." Even as she said it, Jhu knew he had a point, and she sighed. "Fvadt." Kris was right; she couldn't let Nathan go down to Talos IV on his own. If something were to happen to him there, she'd never forgive herself for not being with him.

The Captain just sat there a moment and gave the woman a curious little look. "Dangerous missions happen often. Talos IV is more than your typical dangerous mission."

"Believe me, I know. I really, really don't want to go there. But I can't let Nathan be on that planet by himself either." Jhu paused, looking away from everyone again.

Kris smirked. "Well, you know we do not need to take him. It wouldn't be the first time you helped me slip out of this ship relatively unnoticed, Commander" offered Kris.

"I'm going to have to decline." Jhu smiled just a tiny bit. "He's already going to give me hell for hitting you."

"Fine, it's settled then. We're going to Talos IV...we'll take a shuttle down to the planet's surface. I want the three of you with me. Tonkin will come as security escort, and I want Collins to pilot. She has already volunteered herself. Commander M'rayr, I want you to speak with Lieutenant Matthews. Do whatever you must to get her to accompany us as well. If anything goes wrong with the shuttle, I will need her."

Kris looked around the room. "I am calling this meeting to an end. We have work to do ladies and gentlemen...let's get to work."

Having finished his holo recording in the Holodeck, Kris stripped of his uniform jacket and down to the bare red undershirt and black slacks, the Commanding Officer of the USS Katana made his down to Deck 11. His legs moved tiresomely with the stress weighing on his shoulders. He was worn out and beaten down emotionally from the verbal barraging that he had endured.

'Shots' had been fired at him and he had fired them back at them. Some had fired 'shots' at one another, most notably his Chief Engineer speaking his mind about the ship's First Officer. I cannot allow this crew to fall apart thought Kris as he headed down the corridor of the ship's 11th deck. His arrival in Engineering likely wouldn't have gone unnoticed by the vigilant Chief Engineer.

As it turned out, the man was right. As he walked into Main Engineering, the doors of the Chief Engineer's office opened and the hologram leaned against the doorframe.

Kris brought his attention, his focus entirely on the Chief Engineer. "I know I am the last person you want to see right now, Ari" said Kris with a sorrowful look. He felt a tightness in his throat. This would not be easy, but it had to be done. "You have every right to be pissed at me right now. Hell, the whole crew has a right to be pissed at me. Spare me a few minutes?" asked the man looking anything but a Starfleet Captain at the moment.

Without a word, the man moved aside and motioned for the Captain to enter the large office.

Oh? Are we playing charades today? pondered Kris with a reluctant sigh. "I hate the silent treatment, Arivek" commented Kris as he took a seat at an empty chair in the office. "I said some things back there...they weren't right to say" added the Captain.

Arivek stood behind the man for a few moments, his eyes closed and his back pressed against the bulkhead. He knew this would happen eventually, he just didn't figure it would be so quickly. But it took a lot of balls for a Captain to come down here and he deserved to be met with the same respect. "I'm not trying to give you the silent treatment, Captain," he stated, pushing himself off the wall and taking the empty seat next to the Captain rather than his chair behind the desk. "I also said some things that were quite out of line. For that, I want to apologize. I don't know your personal life and I definitely shouldn't have spoken out like that regarding your relationship with the Doctor."

"Kris" corrected the man with a small though awkward smile. "I'm off duty and not properly in uniform. It's just Kris. Your crazy Captain took the rest of the night off" added Kris with a shrug. "Yeah, Lia opened a wound there and you threw salt into it. I probably deserved it, but Liam...I don't even know what to say to him when I come home. If there's a home to come back to."

The pit in Ari's stomach grew to a full ache. "Kris, the last thing I wanted was to hurt what you have with Liam. If there's anything I can do to help, tell me and I'll do it."

"Keep this ship running and just do your damn best, Ari. You are a damn good Engineer and this starship needs you" replied Kris. "You are as flesh as blood as me or anyone else. I am sorry if I ever make you feel otherwise, Lieutenant."

Arivek hesitated. "You have." He stood and took a step away. Keep it together, Ari, he told himself, taking a deep breath. "I'm doing my best Captain. And to be fair, General Order 7 requires that I do everything in my power to stop you from doing what you're trying to do. That includes usurping the chain of command if need be." He turned back around. "I'm sorry, Captain, but you're punishing me for doing what my oath to Starfleet demands me to do."

"I know Ari" replied Kris letting out a sigh. "I am practically driving a wedge between your duty as an officer of Starfleet and the loyalty a crew should have to their Captain. In all honesty, if I were in your place there would be very little standing in my way from stopping the Captain" admitted Kris. "However, I am not doing this just for the hell of it. I feel greatly responsible for sending us all here. I may have not been the one to force us to use the Borg technology, but I didn't put up a fight against it. Who are you trying to be keep your oath to, a Starfleet that isn't here. There's a Starfleet here...yes, but what would they do to some of the members of this crew? Look at Shira. An Arboreal from the Gamma Quadrant. The people here...they don't explore that quadrant. She's so alien to them. They'll want to keep her, examine her and study her like some sort of lab rat. What about Jhu? She's a Trill/Romulan hybrid...a pure bastardization of everything. And what about you? I don't know what this universe has as far as holograms but a hologram with a rank, a Chief Engineer? You could end up removed from this ship and treated no differently than Shira or Jhu."

The man spun around quickly, staring at the man, "I have no loyalty to you, either. Let's get that straight right here and now. You've made it very clear that you don't want me here, so why should I go against my ethics and morals for you? Yes, you might be right, this Starfleet may not be any better than our own, but we're still officers and we have to uphold the values that we swore to."

"You're wrong though" said Kris softly. "Not about ethics or morals. You are an officer of Starfleet and I expect you to hold up to as much, but I do want you here, Ari" said Kris. "You mean as much to me as anyone else on this crew. I antagonize you, but not because I don't want you here."

"Don't try to feed me that line of bullshit. Twice you have told me, in dead seriousness, that you didn't want me here. Once in this very office and then again in your quarters." Arivek leaned over and gripped the edge of his desk, his knuckles turning a bright sky blue with tension, "You told me that you missed your old Chief Engineer and you wanted her back. Funny thing is, you got her back. Maybe not the exactly the same, but she's back. So what am I supposed to think now? I've been on your ship for two fucking weeks. Am I really supposed to believe that you've suddenly had a magical change of heart in that short period? Do I look stupid to you?"

"Well, you are blue and spotted..." began Kris and let out a sigh. "Forget it. My apologizing to you will apparently serve no purpose except making an ass out of myself. Maybe I just keep things to myself, Ari. Maybe I don't always tell people how I truly feel. Maybe you'll have to learn it all later. Regardless, you'll likely be getting a new Commanding Officer and they will be getting a great Chief Engineer" replied Kris.

"Those algorithms are still in place," Arivek grumbled, not looking up at the man.

Hologram or not, he's sure the hell as stubborn as me or any other flesh and blood crew member thought Kris. "You aren't a fucking computer. You aren't a food replicator, and you aren't a damn tricorder. I don't care about algorithms being in place or not. I care about your feelings" said Kris standing up from the chair that he had taken a seat on.

Arivek slammed his hands down on the desk. Then in a sweeping motion, shoved half the PADDs and other things off the desk and onto the floor. "Since when do you care about my feelings?" he screamed. "Since when has anyone on this fucking ship cared about my feelings?" Without realizing it, the hologram began to cry. He took a few steps back until he was pressed against the bulkhead and then slid to the floor, pulling his knees up to his torso.

"We always have, Arivek Zhuri" said Kris as he approached the man and joined the man on the floor. "Your feelings do matter. You matter. I haven't shown you the respect that I should have nor have I been the best to you. I am so sorry for that, but I am here now. You think that nobody here cares about your feeling, Ari, but do you ever let us in? You avoid the tension, you shelter yourself and hide. You avoid talking to us. You are always here in Engineering...working your ass off, but when was the last time you went to the holodeck? When was the last time you had a date?"

"I'm not having this conversation with you," Arivek said, sniffing as he wiped the tears away with the sleeve of his uniform. "I work because I have nothing else to do. I avoid the crew because they never know how to act around me and it's always awkward. And I don't date because there's no one on board I'm comfortable with."

Kris looked at Ari and wanted to touch the man, but knew it wouldn't be right to violate his personal space. "We don't have to have the conversation, but maybe you should have it with someone. Lia is a good counselor and Maica, she's an android. Maybe you could see one of them, talk to them?" asked Kris. "There's so much you could do, Arivek. You have a lot of potential and the makings of a fine officer. You could always volunteer some time and sit in that big chair on the Bridge during Night Watch" suggested Kris.

"I already am a fine officer. I'm not sure if you ever got around to reading my Service Record but I've had an outstanding career already." Arivek looked up at the other man. "I've commanded special ops teams into the heart of enemy territory. I've taken a leading charge in some of the most controversial and influential research in Starfleet Intelligence. Some of the modifications and refits this ship underwent are directly taken from research that I did. I'm featured in three different textbooks that are used at the Academy. So don't talk to me like I haven't made my mark in this universe."

Kris smiled "Arivek, I know that you are a highly accomplished officer and a scholar. You are featured in some textbooks at Starfleet Academy, but that was back home...not here. Who are you here? Are you anybody here? We're in this universe now. I am a mass murderer and war criminal responsible for the destruction of a Breen colony world. I do not mean to burst your bubble or belittle you in any way, but you may not even exist here, or if you do...you may not be known for anything, you may not be in any textbooks" stated Kris.

Arivek leaned over and grabbed one of the PADDs that now littered the floor and handed it to the Captain. "I already know who I am here," he said, refusing to look at the man. "My parents never worked for Starfleet Intelligence, or anywhere for that matter. A child by the name of Arivek was born and given up immediately. He was shuffled through the foster care system until he was 18 and was thrown on the streets." Arivek finally looked up at the man, more tears streaming down his face. "I'm a homeless man in this universe. I have nothing here."

"No, Arivek" said Kris firmly. This time he didn't care about boundaries. He placed a hand on the Chief Engineer's shoulder. "You do have something here. You have family. Look around you. Look all around this starship. There's about 200 crew aboard this starship, they are your family if you let them be. I was an orphan Ari, I was homeless on a backwards world that fell out of the Federation. This crew became my family" replied Kris.

"Some family," Arivek stated, pulling his shoulder away and standing up. He picked up another PADD and tapped a few controls on it. "The algorithm has been removed. I'm logging my official reluctance to these orders but I won't stand in your way any longer. I'd like you to leave please." Arivek sat down in the chair behind his desk and turned his back to the door.

Kris stood up and looked at Ari. "Thank you Lieutenant" said Kris, but he wasn't go to simply walk away with that. "Ari, if something goes wrong down there...if we lose contact with the ship...any indication that we may be in trouble, I want you to get a lock on the others and get them back. Don't you waste any time with me. Get the others, get them back and get the Katana as far away from that God forsaken planet as possible ans quickly as possible" ordered Kris.

Arivek turned around a little, just enough so that he could look the man in the eyes. "I will, Captain. I promise."

The Captain gave Arivek a salute. There was no real reason for it except a little parting respect. "As you were" said Kris before turning and exiting the man's office.

"Computer, locate Noxa." Ivan said with a hard look on his face. It was time to deal with this problem.

The Computer processed the request and determined the information. "Lieutenant Noxa is in her quarters" replied the voice of the USS Katana's computer.

Ivan took a deep breath and stormed out into the hall. He hated ending relationships,nit was why he tend to not get into them. He had thought he would make an exception with Noxa, she had proven him right. It had been a bad idea to get tied down.

In her quarters, Lieutenant Noxa sat on the sofa waiting. It was only a matter of time before this confrontation would have to happen and Noxa had wanted to be informed the moment that Ivan had served the full extent of his time. She had not visited him, not even for a moment in the month that he had been in his holding cell.

How am I going to even explain this she thought with a sigh. Two bottles of beer sat on the table before her. The proximity detector alerted her of Ivan's arrival. She reached forward and grabbed a bottle of beer, taking down a quarter of it before standing up and heading to meet Ivan as soon as he walked in.

Ivan didn't feel he had the right to just enter her room, not considering what he was here to do. Instead, Ivan opted to ring the door chime and wait for her to answer. He played with his fingers as he waited, nerves seeping up and mixing with his anger. God he hated doing this.

Noxa had expected her boyfriend, Ivan to just walk in. However, she waited a few moments and the proximity detector was becoming increasingly annoying. Why are you just standing out there pondered Noxa as she shook her head. She opened to door and peaked her head around the corner. "Are you just going to stand out here? I have beer and it isn't getting any colder."

Ivan glared at Noxa, not moving to enter her room. "What the hell is wrong with you? We have nit spoken in over a month and that's how you great me?" Well she was certainly helping his resolve. "I don't want to come in, I just need to tell you something. It will not take long."

Noxa let out a sigh. "You're going to break up with me...I know. I can tell by the way you are looking at me and standing out here. Can't say that I blame you, Ivan" said Noxa as she thought about either punching a bulkhead or Ivan. It was a difficult decision, but not entirely. She had no desire to hurt Ivan. "You have every right to be pissed at me. You have every right to just walk away from this...from us, but I couldn't see you" sighed Noxa.

She looked at Ivan and shook her head. "Come" said Noxa almost pleadingly. Lieutenant Noxa entered her quarters and grabbed a holo picture from off her dresser and came back to Ivan. "My mother...seeing you in the Brig, it reminds me of her. I couldn't, Ivan. I just couldn't bring myself to it."

Ivan steped into her room, but only just inside. "Well had you bothered to even check on me you would have known that I was confined to my quarters and could still have guests. But since I only know one person on this ship, and my communications were limited to emergencies only I spent the entire month sitting on my ass staring at my empty walls!" Ivan exploded. It was no excuse to completely ignore him.

His anger, the fierce tone in his voice. Ivan? thought Noxa as her heart beat wildly. He ears, her little feminine lobes were pulsating and feeling hot. Who was this before her? Back on the USS Black Hawk she befriended and became involved with a meek little ensign flyboy. The man before her was exciting, refreshing, and sexy as hell. "Ivan!" she grunted as she sprung herself forward. She caught his lips with her mouth and bit lightly but firmly on his lower lip. Moving his hand up to her lobes.

So, standing in front of the door was not one of Ivan's best moves. But to be fair he had not expected Noxa to throw herself at him, literally. She tackled him, he pushed back, and they both landed on the hall floor just out side Noxa's room. Now, with the little Feringie laying on too of him, kissing him, and with several of the crew walking past and giggling at the pair Ivan's anger gave way to embarrassment. "Mova..." Ivan mumbled aginst her lips. His hand moved from her ears to her shoulders as he tried to push her off him.

She rolled off of him and looked at her...was he still her boyfriend? "I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me" she said with a small smile. She had noticed that they had made a scene and attracted attention from passing crew.

Ivan was not smiling. He scrubbed his slaved over his lips and pushed himself off the floor. "So that's your plan? Try and jump me?" he said standing aside and waiting for Noxa to read enter he room.

"No" said Noxa, her voice rather shrill. "I don't have a plan Ivan. I don't know what to say and I don't know what to do. All I ever wanted was to be understood and to be a good officer in Starfleet. Then, I met you and what I wanted was to be the best that I could be for you...but I messed up and now you're going to leave" said Noxa, tears forming. Keep it together, Noxa she tried to tell herself.

Ivan kept quiet for the moment and simple pointed into her room, people were now stopping and watching them. Noxa's voice had the ability to draw a lit if attention when she got excited.

"Fine, I see how it is" said Noxa letting out a groan. "Go, Ivan. Just go! Get your things tomorrow when I am not here to punch your face in, take them and do whatever you want with them. Go take them back to your own damn quarters or shove them up your ass for all I care!" screamed Noxa as she stormed back into her quarters.

Ivan sat in the mess hall stabbing at his food with a pissy look on his face. This transfer to Katana was supposed to be the best transfer of his career. Instead it had been nothing but problems after problems. After almost flying Katana into fluidic space he had been arrested. When chief Carter had been abducted he was moved to his quarters and forgoten, but everyone. The captain didn't know he was there, the holographic chief engineer never checked on him, he'll his own girlfriend had not bothered to even wonder where he was. When Commander t'Dharvanek had finally remwbered him and released him she was visably embarrassed and assured him this would be stricken from the records and would never show in his file...to save her own ass.

Now he didn't even have a schedule for work. So he sat alone and mad in the mess, fuming over his treatment both professionally and personally.

Hayley looked over at the officer stabbing at his food near a corner of the lounge. She grabbed her Sumarian Sunrise drink and made her way over. "I think your food is dead, " she grinned. "You ok? "

Ivan looked up and his pissy look melted into on of defeat. Katana was Hayleys ship, and as a pilot himself Ivan had every reason to believe that Hayley would be livid over what he had tried to do to her ship. She was the one person who he honestly felt sorry to for what he had done. "I'm sorry..." he said sincerely looking up at her.

Hayley sat down across from Ivan. "For what? The food or that mess with trying to take the ship swimming?" she asked with a grin.

"Your ship." Ivan said watching her take a seat across from him. "I use to be helm control also. I should have been more respectful of Katana."

"Ah. True, but I'm not mad. If there is one thing I've realized while being a pilot is that shit happens."

"You can say that again." Ivan said with a bit if a chuckle. Hayley was clearly not upset so Ivan relaxed a bit in his sit.

"Just don't do it again, " she grinned. The bloke was rather handsome as she looked across the table at him.

Ivan leaned back in his seat and gave her a lop sided grin, "I doubt I will ever be allowed back in your seat. Besides, Katana likes you better. She prefers a woman's touch." Ivan reached out and absent-mindedly touched a neat by bulkhead.

Hayley laughed out loud. "Should I leave the two of you alone? "

Ivan looked back at her with all seriousness said, "I just told you she prefers women. You should hear her thoughts on the captain." Then he smirked at her. "You don't believe me?"

"Not really. And why are ships considered to be females? Besides, if the ship is a she, I'm not interested. "

"Good question, but Katana is all girl." Ivan said. "The last ship I was on self identified as a man, each ship is different." Then he changed the subject. "I thought everyone on this ship was gay."

"No, not everyone," Hayley replied. "Men are much more fun. At least for myself, anyway. "

"Where I see your point, but have to disagree." Ivan joked. "I'm sure you can understand."

Hayley grinned. "I believe I do. Why don't we test it? "

Ivan blink once then smirked at Hayley. "I am ever so curious as to what you mean by that. Care to show me?"

Hayley laughed. "I mean let's try a date on the holodeck. Interested? "

"I am very interested." Ivan admitted. "But I feel I should tell you that I technically still have a girl friend...for now." Ivan easy smile faded. Maybe it was time to confront this issue. "But that will not be a problem for much longer."

"Hmm. Hope I'm the only reason for you breaking up with her. " Hayley was a flirt at times but she would never be the 'other ' woman.

"No no no." Ivan said with a shake of his head. "You have nothing to do with it. I was locked in my room for well over a month because of my stunt with Katana, she never even called to check on me once, let alone came to see me." Ivans grin faded into a slight scowl. "I don't even know anyone else on this ship, she was it and she abandoned me!"

"Well, I don't have an explanation for her, but you know me, so now you know two people on this ship," she chuckled. "Let's go, shall we?" she gestured to the lounge exit.

Ivan quickly pulled himself out of his mini pity party. His easy, half grin sprining back onto his face. "May I make a request?" He asked as he stood and steped up to Hayley. He offered his arm to her.

Haley looked at his arm and then to him. "Depends...what's the request?" she asked with a grin.

"I'm not really a dinner at sunset kinda guy. I need some excitement." Ivan said with a grin. "Let make it something thrilling!"

"Sounds like my kind of plan," Hayley smiled as she stood and took his arm.

Ivan grinned at her. "Now I really can't wait to see what you have in mind!"

Hayley simply grinned as the two exited. "How are you at orbital sky diving? "

"Ohh!" Ivan said with a grin. "I love orbital sky diving! Sounds like a perfect afternoon."

A nice cold shower had been a shock to Andy's system, but it had allowed the ex-Borg woman to finally cool down and properly regulate her body temperature. Clean and no longer overheating, Andy flopped on to the couch for a nap, intending to get back to her work on Ari within an hour, two tops! But then an hour came and went, then another hour, then another... Andy was exhausted and she needed more than a nap on the couch, but far be it from her to actually admit that...

Four hours had passed by the time the hologram decided to reactivate himself. The soft noise of the emitters disrupted the silence as Arivek peered around the room. He soon found the Senior Chief lying on her stomach, her arm falling down to the floor. He decided he wouldn't wake her.

He stepped over to the nearest computer terminal and pulled up his diagnostic information. The Borg had started a diagnostic that would run while he was deactivated before she came back to her quarters. And the results weren't very helpful, at least as far as he could tell. If he was honest with himself, he wasn't exactly an expert in holotechnology.

The sleeping woman grumbled incoherently, reaching up to scratch the back of her head as she rolled on the couch slightly. As she moved, the probe Liam had made her wear fell away and rolled across the floor. Andy may not have been a very good patient, but she had worn the probe faithfully, keeping it hidden under the copious amounts of fiery hair. There was something innocent and vulnerable about her as she slept soundly on the couch. It was almost hard to believe this was the same foul-mouthed Engineer that held the ship together through sheer force of will.

With a smile, Ari stood and stepped over to where the woman was lying. He bent over and picked up the probe, rolling it over in his hands. It seemed like a lifetime ago that he needed medical equipment of any type and he wouldn't be needing it any time soon. Such was his life now. He softly pushed the woman's hair aside and pressed the probe gently to her skin, hearing it latch on.

When it came to noise, Andy could sleep through just about anything, but she didn't like being touched. Unless it was by Maica, but that was something else entirely... But the brief contact of Ari reattaching the medical probe was enough to startle Andy back to consciousness. Her hand snapped out and grabbed him by the wrist almost violently, and it was fortunate for him that he couldn't feel the grip she had on him. Her eyes were wide, afraid... It took her a moment to recognize Ari and her surroundings, then she exhaled a breath she didn't know she had been holding and let go of him. "Ari, I..." she started a bit awkwardly, not really knowing what to say about her reaction.

"Shh...it's ok," he said in a soft voice. He gently took her hand and pulled it from his wrist, setting it down next to her. "I didn't mean to startle you, or wake you. I just wanted to reattach your medical probe."

"Okay..." Andy replied uneasily, still calming down from the startling wake-up. She took a few measured breaths as she relaxed back into the couch. "I don't like people touching me," she said quietly as she looked away from him. "For a moment, I thought you were Borg and was gonna assimilate me again..."

At that point, the door opened and Maica stepped in, looking rather ragged. "Who's assimilating my wife?" Surveying the situation, she looked over the both of them worriedly as she headed to the replicator.

"We ain't married yet," Andy grumbled, but made no attempt to answer Maica's question or get up from the couch.

Arivek stood and extended his hand, "Hi, I'm Lieutenant Zhuri. We've seen each other around but I don't believe we've ever been properly introduced."

Shaking Arivek's hand graciously, Maica gave a warm smile before turning to the replicator and punching up a glass of water. "I'm Maica, ship's diplomatic officer. Can I get you anything?" she asked, sipping at her water and awaiting a response she fully well expected, a slightly mischievous grin behind her glass.

"I'd actually love a glass of water as well," Arivek replied, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"Play nice you two," Andy said. She sat up with a groan, holding her head. "Ari's the holographic Engineer I've been putting so many work hours into. Speaking of which, I kind of need to borrow your desk for a while," Andy explained to Maica as she rose on unsteady feet.

Tapping a few controls on her desk, Maica punched up a glass of water through her diplomatic suite's holo-emitters. Handing the glass to Ari, she still had that mischievous grin. "That's what I gather. And take it easy, ok? You look rather grey today."

Arivek took the glass and took a sip. He still didn't understand why he would do such a thing. Even if it appeared to be right, it felt so wrong. "She's right, you don't look so good. Are you still not feeling well?" He leaned in close and stared at where her cortical node used to be. "Your skin is starting to lose it's pigmentation in this area."

"Fuck..." Andy muttered as she staggered a step. She really didn't feel good at all. "I.. think I need to regenerate..." she added as she slumped back onto the couch, forgetting for a moment that she couldn't regenerate anymore.

The hologram put his hands on her shoulders and stabilized her, "You can't regenerate anymore," he reminded her. "How long have you not been feeling well? Since the other day in Sickbay?"

"I don't think she ever truly recovered from when I ruined her cortical node..." Maica mumbled as she stepped closer and looked Andy over, one hand reaching up to worriedly grip her arm. "Our doctors are good, but I doubt they have much experience with Borg tech."

“Luckily, I’m very skilled with Borg Technology.” Arivek leaned closer, “It was my specialty through my R&D career…” He stood and walked over to Maica’s desk. “I need someone to reactivate my tactile interface, I can’t do anything without it."

"Maica, for the thousandth time, you did not ruin my cortical node!" Andy said. She tried to get back up, but she couldn't seem to manage. "Now gimme a PaDD so I can fix Ari so he can fix me," she said, reclining back on the couch tiredly. "And I've been really tired since the other day, but today just knocked me on my ass," she explained to Ari. "I was doing some work in Junction J23 on Deck 4 and it always gets so hot in there and I got overheated. When Nate called for some help with his arm, I didn't cool down like I should have and my fine motor skills started to degrade further."

"Which means you're sick and need to rest." Maica picked up a large PaDD and took it over to Andy, sitting down with her and rubbing her back with one hand. "Excuses or not, I've noticed you haven't been feeling well. And I know you've been trying to keep it from me. That's why I haven't said anything."

"I just didn't want you to worry," Andy admitted as she took the PaDD and accessed Ari's matrix. "My immune system is attacking my cortical array; it ain't rejection, but Ari and the Doc don't know what's causing it to happen. I figured I'd tell you once I had something more substantial to tell you other than 'we don't know what the fuck is wrong'."

Maica could only chuckle lightly as she brushed a bit of hair from Andy's face. "When will you learn that I'll worry about you all the time no matter what?"

Arivek sigh in contentment as the feeling came back in his body. "You shouldn't keep things like this from an important person," he said, pulling out a tricorder and passing it over the woman's forehead. "And I know she's important just by the way you talk about her."

Andy blew raspberries in her frustration. "Yeah, that's it, gang up on me and make me feel like shit..." she grumbled.

"We're not ganging up on you," Maica said tenderly. "We're just reminding you of how much you're loved."

"Loved and needed," Arivek stated with a smirk. It was true, his program may have been eternally lost by now had it not been for this woman. As he looked back at the tricorder, his forehead scrunched in concern, "Andy, I think you have an infection. We need to get you to Sickbay right away."

"An infection?" Andy said, looking at him curiously. "I shouldn't be able to get infections. I know I don't regenerate, but the nanoprobes still function and they should be preventing infections."

He shook his head, "I know, that's why I'm so concerned." The man stood, holding the tricorder to her. "Something isn't right." His figure glitched for a moment and the tricorder fell to the ground. "Fuck, not now..."

"Great... You're both sick..." Maica muttered as she stood up, scooping up the tricorder and holding it out to Ari. "Let's get Zhuri stable, then Andy, you're off to sickbay. I have some experience with holomatrixes, having been based on one. What can I do to help?"

"No," Arivek replied, pushing the tricorder back to the woman. "I'll transfer myself to Sickbay. You get her there, now. And make sure Dr Cohen is there before you are."

"Maica, give me a hand," Andy said as she started to get up. She hated needing help, but at this point she was willing to submit to assistance; she believed Ari's concerns were real, she shouldn't be able to get an infection, and it had to be serious if it was so severely impairing her motor functions. "There's no telling how long I'll be confined to Sickbay, so I'll bring some stuff with me so I can keep working on you. Katana can't have both its Chief Engineer and Chief of Operations out of action at the same time."

"Yes, my love," Maica said, helping Andy to her feet. "I have several holoprogramming tablets in the bottom drawer of my desk with my old diagnostic tools if you think those will help."

"Yeah, those should help," Andy said, lumbering slowly to the desk with Maica's help to work at the console for a moment. "Alright, Ari, you have a secure connection to Sickbay. I transferred the scans you took, so you can update the Doc while we take our time getting there." She found her heavy work boots by the desk and sat in the desk chair to put them on, not even bothering to tie them.

"I'll fill him in on my progress," Arivek stated, walking to where Andy was sitting. "You two just get there as soon as you can. Computer, transfer Arivek Zhuri to Sickbay." Moments later, the man's form shimmered and disappeared.

Andy grabbed the PaDDs Maica suggested, loaded up the diagnostic data she had been working on, then handed it all off to Maica to carry. She grabbed a cardigan to cover her bare shoulders, then they were off. It was slow going, Andy was losing coordination and motor functions at an astonishing rate, not to mention the fatigue was slowing her down as well. She had never wanted to regenerate more than she did right now; her body was practically screaming for her alcove.

Maica didn't want to have to carry Andy but by the time they got to sickbay, she almost felt she should have. Looking around for Ari and Liam, she helped Andy to the nearest biobed.

Liam had been half asleep when the rushed call from the CEO had come in, he rushed into sickbay still pulling his scrub top on. "Report!"

"She's sick, Doctor. Please heal her." Maica said bluntly. Had she ever met this Dr Cohen person? She knew he had been taking care of Andy's health but she didn't recall ever really speaking with him before. "Elevated temperature, loss of motor control, slightly slurred speech. Zhuri said she had an infection?"

"Can't get infections," Andy said disjointedly, seemingly forgetting that she had already brought that up with Ari in her quarters. "Why am I here? My alcove, something's wrong, I need to regenerate..."

Maica patted Andy's hands as she helped settle her into the biobed. "And let's add delirium and memory loss to the list of symptoms, Doctor."

"I believe the infection began in the nanoprobes, actually," Arivek stated as he walked into the room from the other side of Sickbay. His form glitched momentarily but then returned to normal. "She has blood pooling around the cortical node casing, and I believe that's the source of said infection."

Andy looked at Ari with awe, like she was seeing into his soul and divining some sort of unknowable truth. "I know how to fix you... transfer your core to a virtual brain, like Maica's! You could sleep, dream... even daydream..." Then she shook her head violently with a shiver. "No, you can't store a metaphysical construct in a linear package," she added, leaning against Maica tiredly.

"I daydream enough as it is," Arivek said softly, with a smile, before looking back up at the Doctor. "What're your thoughts? This is more your specialty than mine."

"For now we need to stabilize her," Liam said, administer several medications. "I'm extracting a sample of nanoprobes from her cortical node, I can compare them to the file records we have, if they are in some way infected we should be able to confirm that. It's possible if the probes are infected they aren't attacking whatever it is in the way they normally would, that's resulting in what's left of her original immune system attacking the pathogen, or the probes, or both and resulting in her current state."

Andy made a sour face as Liam administered his drugs, then shied away from him when he was he was taking a sample of nanoprobes. "You can't have them! They're the only things keeping the ideas from bleeding out my ears!" Andy declared, trying feebly to leave the biobed so she could escape and protect her precious nanoprobes.

"Right now they're doing more harm than good." He said as he extracted the sample. "It will take a few minutes to analyze but she's stable for the moment." The Doctor moved over to one of the work stations on the other side of sick bay to work. Pulling up the Senior Chief's medical record and as he began a full work up on the probes.

Maica had to hold Andy still while Liam extracted the nanoprobes, and then Andy did the one thing that no one expected: she started crying. "He took my nanoprobes," she sobbed against Maica. Those were her nanoprobes, for fuck's sake! They were like her babies, they had names! At least for now in her delirium they did.

Liam began to pour over the read outs as the Katana's advanced diagnostic systems analyzed the probes. Even visually he could tell something was wrong, some of the probes had a deformed like appearance. The tiny leg-like structures used for movement and attachment were damaged and other had a far more bulbous like appearance. "This isn't good." Liam said.

"What is it?" Arivek stated, walking up behind the man. As the Doctor moved aside, the hologram peered through the microscope, "This isn't anything I've seen before, and I've seen a lot. Any ideas?"

"I'm not sure, there's two general ways we could attack it, immune boosters in hopes he immune system will reassert itself and fight off the infection, or immune suppressants that will stop the immune response that's cause the damage, we'd then have to find an artificial way of attacking the pathogen, and I'm not even sure what we're dealing with." Liam said.

"Ask my brain," Andy blurted out, wiping away her tears now that she had forgotten why she was crying in the first place. "It has all the answers," she added cryptically.

Liam looked from the recovered borg operations chief to the sex-robot turned diplomat and holographic chief engineer, "Any idea what she means by that?"

"Uhh..." Arivek shrugged, his mouth hanging open in confusion as he looked at Maica, hoping she knew the answer.

Maica didn't know much about all this medical and technical stuff, but she was fairly adept at programming. Thus, she knew that there had to be a control of some sort for everything. "If the cortical node used to control all that stuff and now in its absence the brain is... Why isn't her brain controlling them right?" she asked curiously, hoping she had hit upon something clever.

"Hmmm, he brain lacks the ability to control nanoprobes, the research shows part of the task of a cortical node is supervise and manage the nanoprobes, correct minor problems and order the destruction of damaged ones. It's possible that without the node, this supervision is now gone, minor errors in the nanoprobes have now begun to compound leading to the infection like state we see now, kind of like a form of cancer where cells development and division runs amuck." Liam said.

"That makes sense. The nanoprobes need a governing body." Arivek's form glitched for a moment.

"If that's the case, we may be able to build a new cortical node, we have the specs on file, if we engineered one capable of controlling the nanoprobes, but not much else it could solve the problem." The doctor stated.

Arivek looked at the man, "That won't work," he stated with a sigh. "Cortical Nodes can't be replicated. Her brain is supposed to be that governing body for the nanoprobes. That is the answer."

Liam looked over the read outs again, "Computer run a T'Prell Neurological scan." He ordered. The computer chipped in acknowledge as it began to run an in-depth scan of Andy's neurological activity. "See, that's not right." He said pointed to a section of the read outs. "The neurological activity in the R-7 gamma waves, that's the frequency that the cortical node used to direct the cybernetic components, there's should be much higher activity here."

"Gamma waves? Like that old Earth comic book hero?" Andy asked, standing from the biobed to strike a heroic pose."I must have super powers!"

"Chief lay down. I don't want to sedate you." He ordered.

"Supah powah!" Andy repeated with 'jazz hands' as she sat back down, looking over at Maica with a crooked grin. "Oh yeah, X-ray vision...." she said, shamelessly checking out her android girlfriend.

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"In theory, we might be able to jump start it, direct neuroelectric stimulation of the several clusters of neurones should hopefully cause her brain to ramp up and take over normal activity." Liam said.

"I say, whatever we decide to try, we do it quickly," Arivek replied, taking Andy by the shoulders and pulling her back onto the biobed.

"I'm going to have to sedate her for the procedure." Liam said, "Nurse prep for direct neuroelectric stimulation." He added as he administered the drugs to knock the Chief out.

Andy tried to mount a complaint, but the drugs rather quickly had her incoherent, then unconscious, which was good because she needed the sleep even if they weren't doing this procedure.

Once she was back on the bed and stabled the Commander began the procedure, it took the better part of half an hour of carefully adjusting the equipment, he was after all directed high energy waves into the Chiefs brain, one wrong move and she'd be a vegetable. Finally it was done.

On the main display where Andy's vitals were displayed, they could see that the stimulation had caused a change in the behavior of the nanoprobes in Andy's blood. It would take a while to clear out the deformed nanoprobes, but those that were still functional were now repairing the brain bleeds, clearing away the infection, bringing down Andy's fever, and repairing the nanoprobes that were salvageable. She wasn't out of the woods yet, she would still need a lot rest, but these were some promising results to see so quickly.

"I'll keep a close eye on her in case she needs another treatment, but I think she'll finally be okay now," Liam said.

"Computer, activate Arivek Zhuri," Andy said as she looked over the diagnostics on the PaDD in her lap. She was still pretty delirius, but in a moment of lucidity she realized a fatal flaw in Ari's program and started working while Liam ran off to tend to the Captain. She still had a raging fever, she shouldn't be doing this, but she had to work through her idea while it was still in her mind.

With a hum, the requested program materialized before her. "Is everything ok?" Arivek asked, walking towards the woman. "You still look like shit."

"I feel like shit," Andy replied bluntly, but that didn't stop her from debuggng Ari's program. "The floating variables from the additions we've been making, they're interfering with the underlyins structure of your matrix, but it keeps slipping away from me... I need to do this before it's gone."

"Need to do what?" Arivek looked over her shoulder at the PADD she was working on. "I don't know how comfortable I am with you messing around in my matrix while you're in this condition. Just an hour ago you were hallucinating about being a super hero."

"I was a what?" Andy asked, looking up at him. As a nervous twitch, she began touching her thumb to her fingers in rapid succession on her right hand. It was originally a test for eterity, but she had done it so many times over the years since her assimilation that it had become a sort of nervous tick. "Was I awesome?"

The man shrugged, "I'll be honest, I don't know what a super hero. But I'm sure you were the best one you could be in your state." He pointed at the PADD, "Those are the algorithms I put into place. Are they causing this issue?"

"Yes, but it's not really your fault, I made the same mistake," Andy said, returning her attention to the PaDD. "Your program is highly adaptive, so it didn't cause a problem at first, but we didn't give you any instructions for what to do with all these variables after they were used, so they just stayed there mucking things up. Just giving you a few new instructions aaaaaaad-" Without waiting for his approval, she set her changes into action, causing Ari to flicker violently before snapping back into perfect clarity. "I AM NINJA!" she decared proudly.

"Please stop doing that!" he stated, touching himself in a few places. "Am...am I ok?" he asked, pinching himself and wincing from the slight pain.

"Dunno, are you?" Andy asked blankly as she continued to review the diagnostics of his program. "Looks like you still have some residual bugs to work out, but you're stable enough to work around the warp core now. I can finish debugging and reprogramming later."

He nodded, but then stopped, staring into the distance. "I can remember it. All of it."

"Remember what?" Andy asked, making a few more notations.

"The algorithm I built is supposed to download certain non-personal related information from the Computer and file it into a portion of my Matrix that I can then retrieve with my mind, like a memory. And..." He smiled, "It's finally working. I can remember them."

"Yeah, I added a temporary fix for that, full update to come once my head doesn't feel like it's about to explode...." Andy said, covering her eyes in an attempt to shut everything out. She could feel Liam's treatment was working, she was getting better, but she still felt like she was on fire.

Arivek turned back to the woman and placed his hands on her shoulders, pushing her back slowly. "I think it's time for you to lay down," he stated, taking the PADD from her hands. "Thank you for taking care of me. But now it's time to worry about you, you need to rest."

"Yeah, not gonna argue with you there," Andy mumbled, laying back on the biobed. She took a few measured breaths before looking up at him. "Sorry, I hate leaving problems unfinished and... I didn't like keeping you in limbo."

"Trust me, I'm very appreciative," he stated with a smile. "Now go back to sleep and I'll check on you in a few hours."

Andy simply nodded and closed her eyes. As grateful as she was to be resting again, she was just glad and relieved that Ari was safe now.

Arivek walked into Main Engineering, feeling much better than he did earlier. His session with Andy was quite helpful and he felt like he was a new hologram. Or at least had his matrix realigned. He smiled as he walked up to the large Warp Core and began a diagnostic.

"Ensign Eevoss," Arivek called, seeing the young Caitian climbing down the Engineering ladder. He waved the young man over and went back to the diagnostic.

Moving down the ladder, the Caitian looked over his left shoulder and saw his boss. As soon as he landed, R'tame joined Arivek at the console. "Yes, sir?"

"How did the holoemitter deactivation go? No issues I assume?" Arivek asked, not looking up from the console he was staring at.

R'tame was suddenly reminded of the incident between him and Commander t'Dharvanek. If it were possible for a Caitian to blush, he would have. Instead, his fur cackled in surprise for an instant before he recomposed himself, trying very hard not to think about Jhu's state of undress. "The devices have been removed, sir. There were no... technical problems."

Arivek stopped, his hand hovering over the LCARS menu, "Removal?"

There was something in the way that Arivek paused that made R'tame think something was wrong. "Yes, Sir." The Caitian nodded.

Looking up at the young Caitian, Arivek scrunched his forehead. "You were only supposed to deactivate them, Ensign."

R'tame fur cackled again, his eyes flashing wide in a second of surprise. He'd been sure that the orders read to both deactivate and remove the holo-projectors. A mistake like that was a severe violation of R'tame's ability to follow orders; if he couldn't handle simple work requests like deactivating holo-emitters, how could Arivek trust him with more serious responsibilities, like the Warp Core or Phaser Capacitors. Flipping a coin inside his head, R'tame decided on whether to admit fault, or protest it. If he contested those orders and was wrong, it could make things worse for him. But the nagging convicting that he'd read those orders properly wouldn't go away. "I- Sir, I am certain the work request read a complete dismantlement of the holo-emitter network in Commander t'Dharvanek's quarters."

Ari sighed, shaking his head, "The work order was for deactivation. I know that because I wrote it. Now don't argue with me and figure out how to fix your mistake, Ensign."

R'tame opened his mouth to speak, but closed it as he reconsidered his options. Protesting any further would be very likely to do more harm than good... even had he been correct. Arivek was his senior officer. While his ears went flat and sideways, R'tame nodded in compliance. "Aye, sir..." he replied, sounding professional but wounded nonetheless. "I'm sorry, sir." He continued, now feeling as though his intuition had been wrong in the first place. "I will strive not to let it happen again."

The blue man nodded. "Now, explain how you're going to fix this," he asked, leaning against the console, looking at the Caitian. Something didn't seem right about his countenance. This young man seemed very bothered by this discrepancy. But Arivek shook it off. New crew members always thought they were right, it was just how they were.

R'tame felt a tightness in his chest work its way down into his gut. He could reinstall them, but at the same time he was eager to avoid seeing Commander t'Dharvanek for at least a week... particularly if Lieutenant Tonkin happened to be nearby. The Caitian doubted that the Chief of Security would appreciate another man seeing his female in that... state. But if Zhuri was asking him for a solution, that meant he expected those emitters to be reinstalled. He made the small list of things he'd need to do it, and if Zhuri was willing to let him go with only a minor scathing, would head out immediately.

"I will reinstall them immediately, sir. Eh- Assuming Commander t'Dharvanek doesn't have an issue," the way R'tames eyes shifted uncomfortably to the lower left indicated he was at least apprehensive about seeing Jhu again.

"And why would she have an issue with it?" Arivek asked.

R'tame's ears drooped a little bit more. Anybody familiar with Caitian body language would recognize the position as embarrassment. Once again, the mental image flashed into the front. "I, uh- came across the Commander at a rather... inopportune time." He admitted.

A smile slowly crept across Arivek's face as he realized what the man was saying, or at least what he thought he was saying. Ari had an inopportune encounter with the Commander himself only a few days prior. That situation is what prompted the work order in question. "Dare I ask what inopportune time that was, Ensign?"

R'tame looked around main engineering sheepishly. The last thing he wanted to do was to compromise the Commander, or have stories and rumors of what had happened circulate through the decks. Not that he thought Arivek would spread anything like that around. "With respect, I do not wish to violate Commander t'Dharvanek's honor, sir."

"Then I won't press the issue," Arivek replied. "Wait until the Commander is on duty and then reinstall the holoemitters. Today."

The Caitian nodded, appearing a little grateful. "Aye aye, sir."

"And this time, try to follow the work order exactly. I create those as detailed as possible and include all necessary information. If you want to do well here, I suggest starting there," Arivek stated, turning back towards the console.

R'tame swallowed a retort that entered suddenly into his head. He'd been sure that he's read those orders correctly. Once the retort was well buried into his gut, the Caitian nodded again. "Yes sir."

Andy was kicked back on the couch with her violin, working through scales and arpeggios as a test of her dexterity. With her recent brain damage, she had suffered a loss of dexterity and was now having to work to get it back. The doctor had recommended some hand exercises, all of which Andy already knew how to do, but instead she decided that this worked better. Besides, this worked as a better distraction for all the fuckupery that was Kris' plan to go to Talos IV...

Knowing that he could not leave the starship without trying to right some of his wrongs, Captain Kristopher Kerouac walked down the corridor that lead to Andy and Maica's quarters. Things were said. Really nasty things that caused Andy to pretty much storm out on him. He took a deep breath as he arrived outside the woman's quarters and stood there for a moment, allowing the proximity detector to let Andy know he was there.

Andy sighed. There were only so many people it could be outside her door at this time, and if her guess was right then she'd rather let the bastard rot! But she didn't; Maica's influences were rubbing off on the ex-Borg woman, and after a while she called out, "You can come in," but did not bother to get up or stop playing.

Kris walked into the quarters and had a look around. This place needs a gay man's touch he thought to himself. He saw Andy and moved towards her but kept a safe distance. "Hello" he said calmly, evenly as he contemplated what to say. "You uh... you play nicely."

Play nicely? Andy grunted. It was just scales and arpeggios, it wasn't like she was playing an actual song. "What do you want, Kris?" she asked, not bothering with the formalities of rank anymore.

"To apologize" he said looking at her. "On my knees if I must" he added with a sigh. "Andy, you and I...we're not like the others and if anyone can understand getting frustrated and just saying shit... I think it would be you."

"You know damned well that a ship can't run on just Commissioned Officers," Andy said, sitting up abruptly and setting her violin on the coffee table. "Ain't enough Officers in Starfleet to do something like that, NCO's are the backbone of a starship, we do shit you hoity toity officers won't do. We do all the menial tasks that keep a ship operational, and any Captain worth their salt would never treat one of us like you did in that meeting. Yeah, maybe you Officers are a bit elitist, and hell you earned it, but you crossed a line in there, and now you just want me to forgive you?!"

"No! No, I don't expect you to just fucking forgive me for that!" shouted Kris back at her. "I am a fucking idiot. You know that, I know that, and the whole ship knows it. I said something and it was cruel, stupid, and flat out wrong of me to say. I know better and you deserved to have been treated better. I'm sorry, Andy. This ship needs you" he added.

"Do you know how often an NCO makes it to a Department Head status?" Andy asked quietly. "Not nearly often enough, in my opinion. It didn't matter that you wanted me in there as my last task as Chief of Operations, all you see is that I didn't go to some fancy Academy like the rest of the Officers in that room..." She rose from the couch and picked up her violin, moving slowly over to the wall mount to put her violin away. She thought long and hard about what he'd said to her and what he was saying now. "But I guess it didn't make any difference, you treated the rest of the Senior Staff with just as much disrespect, so I suddenly don't feel so special."

"Andrea" said Kris firmly, crossing his arms and looking at her. "You know me better than that. I put you in that position because I believed that you could do the job. I put you there and named you Chief of Operations ahead of all the Lieutenants and Ensigns in that department. I trusted you and I still do" he said shaking his head.

"I ain't coming back to Operations," Andy said firmly, walking towards him now that her hands were free. "I already resigned from that position, you know my reasons why, but I'm not abandoning the people who need me either. I can still maintain Maica and Ari as a civilian if I have to, but I'm not going to return to duty and serve under a Captain who shows that kind of disrespect for his staff. You have more apologies to make than to just me before you fix all the shit you broke. And after all that, you're still going through with your plan, ain'tcha? Don't suppose there's nothing I could say that could sway that decision?"

Kris sighed "Andy, I am not trying to get you back as Chief of Operations. I am going to offer the position to Lieutenant Matthews. She can handle the responsibilities and duties of the position" replied Kris. "No, there isn't anything you can say, but it won't matter. I won't be your Captain by the end of this... either by death or court martial."

"Well, if that's the case then I'll begin my duties in R&D, in uniform, as soon as the doc clears me for it," Andy said, then she drew back her arm and hit him, hard. "Now get out of my quarters."

"ANDY!" shouted Kris, his face red from the hit. He let out a sigh. "Between you and Jhu, I'm going to be bruised" he added, sharply turning on his heels and leaving. Why is it always the women on this ship that hit me?

Andy snorted. That had practically been a love tap; she hadn't broken any bones even though she fully capable of doing so. But as much as she disagreed with his decision, she wasn't going to stop him; and breaking his face, even though she wanted to so fucking badly, would have surely put a stop to his plans. Oh, she wanted to go after him and hit him hard enough that it would put him back in Sickbay so he wouldn't go, but he made his choice, now he had to see what it would earn him...

Jenni leaned against the wall in the Intelligence Office. "Why the hell did you call me in there, Kris?" she muttered, knowing there was no one in the office to hear her. She'd been the only one present who wasn't a member of the senior staff. In what universe did that make sense? Certainly not hers. Was she there to be a friendly face, just the image of someone who would have been in Kris' corner? After witnessing the mud slinging, it was hard to think anyone could've successfully have the Captain's back and not earn a couple scars.

And then there was that order.

She agreed with Arivek. This whole idea was insane. If Kris was successful... The odds she'd seen her Kerouac overcome during the last four years would likely even be in this Captain's favor.

Jenni instantly moved to her desk and called up information about the Guardian of Forever. Captain Kirk's report was quite detailed, and much of it classified, though not for long with her Intelligence codes. The Enterprise and her crew had disappeared the moment Doctor McCoy stepped through. History had been altered.

Her heart sank. This crew saved her. If this crew never came...

She gripped her chair as her knees buckled. Jenni could feel the tears well up behind her eyes. Gort. Whedon. Gordon. All of the survivors never would have made it. Even her.

No! She couldn't think about it now. There was still time to end this. But how?

Jenni changed her screen to display the controls for the holoemitters. "C'mon Jenni, you're an engineer..." Maybe she could disable the emitters, but put in an override switch for Arivek to use when the time came. Or a time delay or location restriction to expire the moment they were within range of Talos IV.

"Access denied!" droned the computer.

"What?" Jenni asked. "Explain."

"Access has been restricted under authority of the Chief Engineer."

Jenni frowned, staring at the large print on the screen. If this was going to work, she'd need Ari's help. Hopefully, she could get his support without pissing him off like the command staff already had done. She stood up and departed the office, heading straight for Engineering. It didn't take her long to get there, just a single turbolift ride and a walk down a corridor she purposely avoided every day.

Engineering seemed to be quiet, much more quiet than it should be. It made it all but impossible to spot the Chief Engineer deep in the room. Knowing how angry the man was earlier, Jenni approached him with caution. "Lieutenant," she greeted, choosing to follow protocol, especially since the man was a member of the Senior Staff and she was not.

Despite the frustrations from the Staff Briefing and the following conversation with the Captain, Arivek was genuinely happy to see Lieutenant Matthews. He didn't know her very well, but she was always very nice and sweet. It was a nice reprieve from the chaos and tension that were becoming common place on board the Katana. "Hello, Lieutenant," he said, giving the woman a half-smile.

After so many years, responding to a smile, even a half-smile, with a smile of her own was a simple reflex. Part of her wanted to get straight to the point. A very, very small part of her. "How're you holding up?" she asked instead.

"Don't ask," was the simple reply, his head turning back to the console he was working at. On the screen sat an opened algorithm, and one by one, each component was being deleted at the root level.

"That good, huh?" Jenni asked. She crossed her arms and leaned against the console. Her smile lost half its strength as she looked at his form, guessing his strife only continued to mount after the meeting.

He shrugged. “I can't help but feel this is a bad idea. But I'm not in command, so there's not much I can do," Arivek stated.

"How bad can it be?" Jenni suggested, her tone saturated with sarcasm. "If the Captain is successful, you'll get to go home. See your family, friends..."

Arivek stopped and looked up at the woman, "I wouldn't mind going back to a universe where I am well known for my research. But family and friends?" He paused for a moment, just looking at her. "I don't really have that anymore."

Jenni paused. Besides noticing that Ari hadn't picked up on the sarcasm, she could see a twinge of regret and sadness in his eyes. "Not even here? On Katana?"

He looked back down to the interface and shook his head, his hands holding onto the edges of the console. "A few are professionally polite to me. Most keep their distance. Some have even outright ostracized me. There aren't any friends for me here and this crew will never be family."

She frowned. Maybe she should've kept this professional instead of going down this road. "Are you saying that because you don't want this crew to be family? It's dysfunctional, sure, but I doubt everyone is that bad. Besides..." Jenni kept her gaze on him though his was elsewhere. "For what it's worth, I hope you stay around a while longer."

"Forget it," Arivek said, his hands slowly going back to the work he was doing earlier. "You obviously aren't understanding what I'm saying." With a quick sigh, he continued, "So what brought you down here, Lieutenant. What can I do for you?"

Jenni held in a sigh. Like him, she too was an outsider among this crew, and every step she'd taken up to this point was aided by the fact that her doppleganger had paved the road for her. She hoped part of Arivek's resistance had nothing to do with that.

And now it had to be business. "Orders, actually," she said. "And a hope that we can create a creative solution."

He waited for a moment, assuming the woman would elaborate. "What are those orders?" he asked, finally, when it became obvious that she wasn't going to tell him without some sort of prompt.

"I'm to deactivate the holoemitters," Jenni replied bluntly, left with no other ideas for a gentle introduction. "Which, it seems, I'm locked out of."

"Of course you are. As a person who's life is entirely reliant on that system, putting security measures on it was the first thing I did when I came aboard." Arivek looked up at the woman, "And why should I allow you access?" he asked.

"Because I've seen what it's like when individuals named Kristopher Kerouac become too focused on one idea," Jenni replied, almost matter of factly. "And I've also seen what happens to people who try and stop him. I know it doesn't sound like much, but I believe deactivating, no, suspending the holoemitters is the best chance to put you in the center chair at the right time to keep another Katana from being destroyed at the cost of one man's passion."

Arivek looked at the woman, his eyes squinting with question as the side of his mouth curled into a devilish smile. "You're scheming, Lieutenant. And you can't tease a former member of Starfleet Intel with a scheme and not divulge the rest of the plan."

"We can't stop him here, on Katana," Jenni continued. "You were at the meeting. He still has supporters, and even if he's relieved now, he'll still make it. The best thing to do is let him go with an escort."

"Go on," Arivek said, deciding to hold his questions and concerns until he gave the woman enough time to talk.

"We've got to let him think we're on his side. The less flare ups we have until then, the better chance we'll have at thrawting him on Talos IV. Besides Maica, you've got the best chance at resisting Talosian influence. So, if we put a time delay or a locational restriction on the holoemitters, the captain will see you out of the way until we're close enough for you to be freed and get the Katana out of range until we know it's over."

"Lieutenant, I'm the Chief Engineer here, I don't need a timer. You deactivating the holoemitters is merely a formality. My authorization trumps yours, especially when it comes to ship systems. Unless the Captain locks me out of the system, I can reactivate them at any time."

Jenni simply nodded. Clearly her plan had its flaws, and she could tell she struck a nerve. If she wasn't careful, their conversation could get heated real fast. Jenni wanted to be a friend to Arivek, and maybe that would have to wait until after this was all over. "Well, then," she said at last. "Sounds like there's no need to complicate things."

"Indeed," the hologram replied. He tapped the panel he was standing in front of and the Computer chirped in reply. "There, you'll have access to deactivate all holoemitters except the ones in Main Engineer. I would ask that you keep the ones in my quarters functioning. I may not use the room, but it's still mine."

"Have you ever thought about using them?" Jenni asked, glancing down at the panel and thinking it would be rude to immediately go to work. The question itself was hollow, coming from a person who rarely used her own quarters. The room was just as spartan as when she first came aboard.

"For what?" Ari asked, stepping away from the console and sliding up onto the railing that surrounded the Warp Core. He kicked his feet gently. "I don't sleep, I don't relax, I don't eat or drink. What would quarters give me that this room doesn't? I can just walk into my office and deactivate myself."

"And what happens then?" Jenni asked, her tone a mixture of curiosity and ignorant. "Do you read? Tinker? Look at something sexy? Or does time just forget you exist until someone calls you up like an EMH?"

"When I'm deactivated?" he asked, double-checking what the woman was asking. "Honestly, deactivation is just like sleep, just without the possibility of dreaming. I don't notice the passing of time, and the Computer will automatically reactivate my program when I've been deactivated for seven hours. My mind feels fully rested after that point."

"But you don't relax," Jenni countered. It probably wasn't her place to, but she really didn't want to start on locking down the holoemitters. Not yet, anyway. "Sleep doesn't fully relax anyone, but it helps. When was the last time you actually laid in a bed?"

"My body doesn't need to relax," Arivek replied. "I'm sitting right now, but it's not relieving any pressure or tension. In this form, the only form of exhaustion I can suffer from is mentally and emotionally. And resting my mind alleviates that."

Jenni was no psychologist by any means. In fact, she could talk better to an impulse manifold than she could to the person standing next to her. But she couldn't help but consider how she herself behaved when she first came on board. "Fine then," she said. "Tell you what. When this is all over... You and me. Holodeck. I'll give you a reason to relax. If it doesn't work, I'll leave the topic alone forever."

Arivek smiled. But this one was different than any other smile he'd given in the past week. This one was genuine and it was filled with glee. "That sounds fun. I must warn you though, I don't get tired."

"I didn't say anything about getting tired." Jenni returned his smile with one of her own.

"We'll see," he stated, swinging his legs again. "Are you going to deactivate those emitters? Would want the Captain to become suspicious." He sat there for a moment, "Who else is in on this plan of yours?"

Jenni glanced down at the controls. She did have to finish this, and it may as well be under his purview. "So far... You. Me." She glanced up and nodded to the hypnotic swirl of matter and antimatter. "And the warp core." She began to work on deactivating the emitters, deck by deck starting with the Bridge. "I think I can get Commander Eisovo on board as well."

"Let's not," he said, quickly. The last thing he wanted to do was involve someone who he honestly couldn't stand. Involving him would lead to conversations, and he definitely didn't want to talk to that man. "If I'm the senior-most officer on board after the away team goes to Talos IV, then I should have no issues taking command of the ship. I will take the Katana far away from Talos IV until I receive a signal from you or Commander Maica that everything is ok. Sound like a plan?"

Jenni paused, noting how tense he became once again at the mention of M'rayr. She wanted to ask, but this was not the time or place. "Good plan," she replied, having locked down the top five decks sans Ari's quarters.

"Are you ready for this?" Arivek asked, peering over the console to watch the Lieutenant work.

"Not a bit," she replied in full honesty, making quick work of the task. "I only get one chance to get it right."

"Only once chance to save the world," he replied. Arivek pushed himself off the railing and stepped around to the console next to the woman. "But maybe if this goes right, we can save everyone. Or at least most everyone."

"Let's go for everyone," she said. Including me. "There we go." Jenni stood up and faced Arivek. "I'm no security guard, but you're officially confined to... here." She looked around the room. "The Katana offers the best confinement cells this side of the galaxy. Complete with warp cores, more than enough isolinear chips and enough bioneural gel packs for those nasty bruises." On a final bit of the joke, she added, "Just watch out for those magnetic constricters. I hear they can be a real pain to holographic projections."

"So I've heard," Arivek said with a smile. He held out his hand to the woman, "It's been a pleasure, Jennifer," he stated, hoping she wouldn't mind him using her first name. "Let's be heroes, eh?"

"Big damn heroes," Jenni replied, accepting the hand. "See you on the other side, Arivek."