On> Chiara's Quarters.

After spending most of the day studying the ship's schematics and security systems, Chiara accessed the comms and opened a channel to Sovak. While she waited for the signal to go through, she went to her closet and pulled out her black latex cat suit and some additional gear. She stripped down and started to put the suit on.

Chiara zipped up the cat suit. It was skintight and felt good next to her skin. She started to strap on the Nebari paramilitary gear she had acquired over the years.

Instead of Sovak, Soren appeared on the screen.

"Where is Master Sovak?" Chiara asked as she put on a life support pack and affixed the straps around her chest.

"He is.... indisposed. I will continue your lessons." He answered placidly.

"Very well. I am ready Master..." Chiara waited for the new master to introduce himself.

"Since we will be working together it is appropriate that Introduce myself. I am Soren. Sovak and I have known each other for many years, and it has been my good fortune to have encountered him on Starbase." Soren said.

Chiara nodded and sat down. "I am ready for my lesson, master."

Soren nodded. "I want you to initiate meditation." He said as he lit a Vulcan lamp before him. The lamp appeared between them on the screen. "Focus on the flame, and think on the logic and the symmetry of the ship, how it is constructed."

Chiara regulated her breathing and fixed her gaze on the lamp. Her mind's eye shifted and it was now as if she was in the same room with Soren.

Between them, again in her mind's eye, a holographic style USS James Cook appeared, slowly revolving.

His voice softly spoke, hypnotic in tone, "Note the logic of its layout, the simple beauty in its design. Note how the power flows from its heart to all parts of its structure, like a living entity."

Chiara felt as if she could actually feel the starship... to her it became a living breathing entity.

Soren shifted his focus and found himself seeing the ship from her eyes. He kept his own mind still, hiding his rising excitement. Decades of Vulcan training it took for him to mask his emotions from others. And it was going to pay off. "You are an apt pupil, "He whispered into her mind. You are now ready for the next lesson." A pause, then a mental push as he breathed into her subconscious "Ih'hd" (proceed).

Chiara returned from her subconscious and looked at Soren on the monitor.

"It will be done, Master Soren." She said in flawless Rhiannsu. "I will contact you when my task is complete."

"That will be satisfactory." Soren said. "Live long and prosper. Miss Chiara." The screen faded to the Vulcan IDIC.

Chiara walked over to her bed and strapped a pair of phasers to her hips. She then put on a helmet and activated the airtight seal. Once that was done, the life support backpack automatically kicked in.

She walked back over to her computer station and accessed the sickbay computers. She inputted her medical override and inputted the commands that would release sleeping gas with a slight mustard gas additive into the ship's ventilation systems.


On the bridge>

Elsie spoke over her shoulder to Rh'vaurek, "Status?"

"We will be approaching Vela Cava in 2.5 hours, Ma'am" he reported calmly

Elsie nodded. "Keep a vigilant watch. We don't want any surprises. Vella Cava needs these supplies."

"Aye Ma'am" Rh'vaurek went back to scanning the tac console for other craft in the area

A green and yellow gas began to seep through the vents in the bridge.

Elsie started coughing, "Seal the bridge! Ventilate!"

"Ma'am, Environmental Controls have been over ridden" Rh'vaurek reported with a cough

With a shimmer of light, a female figure encased in a black skintight suit appeared on the bridge.

"Damned!" Elsie swore, putting her arm over her mouth, trying to get an untainted breath.

As she drew a phaser, she pulled a stun grenade from her harness and tossed it to the center of the bridge.

Holding his hand over his mouth Rh'Vaurek pulled his disruptor aiming it at the figure "Hold where you are" he replied as forcefully as he could

Elsie looked up and saw Chiara. "Counselor! Get to safety!"

The grenade detonated, taking down most of the bridge crew, including Tarmis.

The woman aimed the phaser at Rh'vaurek and fired.

She popped up the darkened visor to reveal her pale blue face. Chiara smiled at her handiwork.

Elsie's lungs were on fire and her eyes were watering! She couldn't focus! It hurt to breath! ~ Fight! Fight! ~ She told herself, but consciousness was fading fast.

Rh'vaurek dropped below the Tac Console as the Grenade went off

Chiara walked over to Elsie and shoved her to the deck.

~BEEST~ Rh'vaurek telepathically ordered

Elsie whispered, "Damned you, Chiara! You did this to me! You did this!"

"I'm sorry Commodore." Her voice came through the electronic voice filter. "This is for your own good." Chiara aimed the phaser set to stun and fired on Elsie at point blank.

Chira looked up at Rh'vaurek. "Resistance is futile." She replied in Rhiannsu.

Chiara started to walk around the Command Horseshoe and up the ramp to Rh'vaurek. "You will not win this time, Romulan." She said, again pointing the phaser at Rh'vaurek.

Rh'vaurek Fired his Disruptor at Charia's hand holding the Phaser ~I said BEEST~ Rh'vaurek again ordered

~ SHI get a security team to the bridge in hazmat suits on the double ~

The phaser flew out of Chiara's hand to her amazement. She sneered back towards Rh'vaurek. "I was TRYING to do this THE EASY WAY!" From the small of her back she drew the Migichinan Lightsaber that once belonged to Vin Tamar.

On the viewscreen, pirate ships began to decloak.

Rh'vaurek started to wheeze then again fired the disruptor at the new weapon

Chiara saw the shot coming and easily deflected it. She charged at Rh'vaurek and sliced off the hand holding the disruptor. The energy blade immediately cauterized the wound.


Chiara brought her leg up to a roundhouse kick, connecting with Rh'vaurek's head, sending him to the deck.

"Stay down, Romulan."

Rh'vaurek dropped to the deck clutching the wound to his stomach sending the pain through to Chiara

Chiara winced at the pain... the lightsaber fell out of her hand and she too fell to the deck, screaming.

She wrestled to control her self, using Sovak's training to turn off her pain sensing nerves and erecting mental blocks.

~ I'll kill you for this, or die trying ~

"Vrouool!" she cursed at Rh'vaurek. "Frellin' Vrouool!" She said. She stood up and kicked Rh'vuarek as hard as she could in the gut.

She got over to the tactical console and lowered the shield and shut down the weapons.

~ Vang'raden ~ Rh'vaurek shouted into her mind ~ Vang'raden Susse-thrai ~

"Piss off." Chiara growled.

She kicked him again.

"I'd take the time to make you my personal bitch, but the bosses got something else in mind for you weak little boys." She said, bringing the ship to a halt.

Rh'vaurek Reached to his side with his right hand and stabbed his Neca into Chiara's foot

"OWWWW!!!!! MOTHER FRELLER!!!" Chiara screamed.

Rh'vaurek finally fell into unconsciousness

She couldn't kick him any more.

"Finally!!" She said, looking down at the Romulan.

A Ferengi Marauder appeared on the view screen.

Chiara opened a channel as she checked over the lifesigns on the ship. 99% of the crew was now incapacitated.

Ferengi began appearing on the bridge and other parts of the ship. All were wearing masks. "No, Beam the males to the cargo ship, NOW!"

Chiara vented the bridge in order to prevent herself from being overcome. She sat down in Elsie's chair and took out a medkit to start working on her foot.

"About time you people showed up." Chiara growled.

"Brel sneered, "Well it took some time for YOU to get the situation under control, FEMALE!"

Male crewmembers began to vanish.

"I woulda had it under control had that frellin' Rommie bastard not been so frellin' resistant! So go find a corner and frell yerself!" Chiara countered.

As male crew began appearing in the slave holds of the cargo ship, the crew of the Ferengi ship set a course towards Ferengi space.

Brel grinned an ugly snaggle toothed leer, "Only if you come with me!"

Brel ordered Chiara, "Get this ship out of Federation space!"

Chiara stood up and smiled slyly. "Ok..." She walked over to him, taking her helmet off. She breathed in the pure air. "So where do you want to go, big boy?" She purred, running her fingers over his ears.

Elsie began to rouse, coughing. She got to her hands and knees, and tried to focus her burning eyes.

"Take the ship to the Federation area called 30." Brel said

Brel though with satisfaction what profits he would make with selling the ship to COBRA and the females to the Orions.

Chiara went over to the helm and type in the necessary commands. Something in the back of her mind was screaming at her... telling her something was wrong.

Chiara rubbed her head as a headache started to form.

Chiara finished setting the course and pressed the 'engage' button.

Chiara looked around at the Ferengi on the bridge. ~What... what happened?~ She asked herself.

Elsie struggled to her feet, and looked around the bridge. Where were the men? There were only a few of her crew left on the bridge, and Ferengi outnumbered them. She glared at Chiara. "What have you done?"

"I... I don't know..." She stammered. It was like a dream... "What happened?"

"Last I remembered I was talking to Master Soren... getting ready for my lesson." She said weakly.

Lt. J.G. Fara with one more female Security officer ran onto the Bridge with Phaser rifles drawn aiming at Domina "Hold where you are, hands were we can see them". Blaster-brandishing Ferengi immediately intercepted them. The Ferengi herded the two security officers off to the side. Shi followed in behind, reluctantly ordering her officers to turn over their weapons. She saw that a fight here would not be a good one.

Elsie was beyond reason, the residual mustard gas, still burning in her lungs, eyes and mouth. "You sabotaged my ship! YOU! I trusted you and you did... this!" In her fury she backhanded Chiara!

Chiara fell to the deck. Warm, sapphire blood began to trickle from her mouth.

"I... I don't know what happened..." Chiara said.

Shi walked over to Domina driving a savage kick into Domina's ribs "Vang'raden"

The Ferengi watched with glee as the women fought among themselves. "Enough!" Brel said. He gestured for someone to take the helm. "Get us out of here!"

More blood came out of Chiara's mouth as she felt ribs crack. She curled up and looked over to Shi's polished boot then looked upwards at the powerful Rhiannsu woman... then the vision came back to her... she had seen this happen before.

"How...?" Chiara stammered.

Shi roughly pulled Domina to her feet the yelled an order to Lt. J.G. Fara "Take this vang'raden to the brig" Shi roughly pushed Domina to LT. Fara

"No!!! Please, I'm innocent! I didn't do anything! Please, you have to believe me!!!" Chaira pleaded.

~ Weak minded susse-thrai ~ Shi thought to herself

Elsie gave her a black glare of anger as Lt. Fara, flanked by an armed Ferengi, dragged her from the bridge.

Chiara tried to struggle, but found no strength.

Other Orions began appearing on the ship. Brel looked around and howled, "This is not part of our agreement!"

The big Orion heading up the team sneered, "You did your part, now if you want to live, you will shut up and finish the job!"

Brel wanted to live to make profits more than anything else, so he shrugged and complied.

Another Orion took a good look at Elsie and grabbed her arm. "Come with me, babe. You are mine!"

Elsie struggled in his grasp, but he was far to strong. He dragged her into her ready room and had his way.

As she was led out, Chiara started to sob as she heard Elsie’s muffled cries from the ready room.

The James Cook, now under the control of the syndicate, headed for area 30, outside Federation space, escorted by a small fleet of Orion ships.

Off>

JP

Commodore Elsie Veritas
CO USS James Cook

&

erei'Riov (Cmdr.) Rh'vaurek tr'Radaik
CTAC/SEC Exchange officer
USS James Cook
 

ON - Ferengi Ship’s Cargo Bay

Rh’vaurek lay on the floor in agony, he looked at the stump of his left arm how was he suppose to help these people if he was maimed, again he groaned, realizing his Neca was embedded into Domina’s foot last time he saw it. If I live through this, that Vang’raden will wish I killed her

Rh’vaurek started to slow his breathing and his heart beat and with a thought he sent out across the vast expanse of space Jol-ao au Shi, Jol-ao au dianm with that thought the thought of Shi, the thought of S’harien came to mind and a son growing up fatherless. No, I can not let that happen again, not after it happened to me, he will grow up with me at his side.

Rh’vaurek slowly pulled himself to a corner of their prison allowing himself to hide his self-pity and some privacy to pray, for Shi, S’harien and himself for guidance to help the crew escape, the time would come but now all he could do was wait and pray.

OFF

===============================
Erei’Riov (Cmdr.) Rh’vaurek tr’Radaik

CTAC/SEC Exchange officer
USS James Cook
Python fleet Flag ship

"A little chaos is good for the soul"

On> The Ferengi Ship’s Cargo Bay.

Rafe weaved his way through the clusters of James Cook crewmen… all men. He saw no signs of women about… or children for that matter. He didn’t see Tarmis Jeram around, but he did see Kimahri off in a corner. He looked over to the big Ronso who was just standing by himself.

Then he looked over to find Rh’vuarek in another corner. The Romulan looked battered and bruised as Rafe walked over to him.

“Leave me be, Riov Oosha.” Rh’vaurek said.

“Let me help you.” Rafe said as he kneeled down next to the Romulan.

“What can you do?” He said. “We have no med kits, nothing. Let me die in peace.” Rh’vuarek countered.

“We have resources.” Rafe said. He had learned the Spiran cure spells enough to where he was confident that using them would help Rh’vuarek. He looked at the stump of Rh’vuarek’s arm. The wound had been caused by a lightsaber, and Rafe knew of only one other person on the Cook in possession of one.

“Chiara.” Rafe whispered.

“The Vang’raden did this too me!” Rh’vaurek growled.

Rafe took Rh’vuarek’s arm and started to whisper a spell he had heard Yuna use many times over. He prayed to the Fayth that it would still work. Light began to appear around Rafe, then around Rh’vaurek. The Romulan’s hand began to rematerialize. Not the original, but the Spiran magic coursed through Rh’vaurek to search his DNA and recreate a brand new hand. While it was at it, the energy set to work on the Romulan’s other injuries.

Rh’vaurek’s eyes went wide in amazement. “What in the name of D’Era!?!” He looked at his new hand with amazement. The spell had taken much out of Rafe. He was not used to the process, nor the drain.

“Good as new.” Rafe said. “You should be feeling better. Go and find Tarmis. We need to discuss our escape plans.”

“Ie Rekkhai!” Rh’vaurek said, standing up. “Thank you.” He went off to find Tarmis Jeram.

Rafe sat down and uncorked his jug to take a drink. He could not access his telepathic link to Elsie and it scared him. He wasn’t sure if something had happened to her… or worse. He tried to put that out of his mind. He looked at the old picture he carried of Elsie and Shi.

“My love…” Rafe said. “Imzadi.”

Off>
 

Capt. Rafe Oosha

Chief Intelligence Officer
USS James Cook NCC-2098-A
"Wisdom begins in wonder."

ON > Ready room

The Orion finished with Elsie and rose from her with a satisfied groan. “Always wanted to do a Commodore. Nice. Very nice.” He pulled his pants up, adjusted himself and strode out onto the bridge.

Before the door swooshed closed behind him, Elsie heard the hoots of other pirates, cheering his victory.

The stench of his breath hung in Elsie’s nostrils, and she fought not to retch. He had beaten her, cut her uniform off with a knife and had brutally, savagely taken her. Her body hurt from the rising bruises he had inflicted while groping her.

Elsie groaned and rolled to her side, then struggled to her feet. At the replicator she gasped, “Water, cold.” When it appeared, she gulped it down, then ordered another and downed it too.

“Duty uniform, size 7, command.” The uniform appeared, neatly folded. She gathered it in her arms and headed for the sonic shower adjacent to the ready room. For a long time she stood there, leaning against the wall until her skin tingled from the sonic waves. She still felt filthy and longed for a hot tub to soak away the aches and the bruises. She dressed slowly, trying not to jar her bruises. Since the Ferengi had taken her last set of pips and her communicator for the gold and silver, she did not add new ones to her uniform.

Elsie glanced at the door, then headed for her console. It was dead. She tried typing in her command codes to no avail. The Orions knew how to disable communications. Escape! It was her duty to escape. She headed for the door, but it did not open at her approach. Opening the emergency access panel and fiddling with the manual controls were fruitless, too.

There had to be a weapon, something! Elsie strode around the ready room, looking in all the drawers and access panels, but the Ferengi had been thorough. They had taken everything they could carry out of the room and had moved all to the main cargo bay, storing their loot with the supplies destined for Vella Cava.

Under her feet, she felt the ship shift into high warp. The Orions were in a hurry to leave Federation space and start distributing their take among their buyers.

Elsie sat behind her desk and reached out her mind to the bridge. Area 30. They were taking the ship North of the slot, and would piece out their prize there. Her mind swept the ship. Much of it was vacant, but the concentration of minds in the Cargo bay and the brig told where the rest of the crew and children were. There were no adult males on the ship! Had they been killed? It was the usual policy of slavers to slay whom they could not sell. Elsie didn’t sense that anyone had been killed. Moved? Yes! They had been beamed off ship, according to a stray thought she picked up. There was still hope, then, that they were still alive.

Mind to mind she searched. Some minds were numb, some terrified. Some were in despair after having been raped by the Orions. There was one, strong mind. Shiarrael! Her mind was full of anger, but focused, calculating.

~ Shi ~ She sent, hoping that in the chaos, Shi could hear her.

OFF>

 

Commodore Elsie Veritas

CO U.S.S. James Cook
Python Fleet Flagship

On>
Ferengi Cargo Hold>

Tarmis took a deep breath as he slowly stood up. The gas still felt as if it were smoldering in his lungs. He leaned against the wall to steady himself as he surveyed the situation. As he looked about names and position slowly came to him. Some nearby Officers saw Tarmis and walked over to him. Tarmis pushed back the pain and confusion, as he relied on his training to take over.

Rh’vaurek now breathing a lot clearer walked through the crowd to Tarmis, flexing his hand, testing what it's limits were ~ Rekkhai ~ he called into Tarmis's mind

Tarmis had begun to break the officers into teams; he handed out duties as Rh'vaurek walked through the crowd. Tarmis heard the voice, but it was strangely muffled somewhat. Tarmis looked at Rh'vaurek, " erie'Riov tr'Radaik, I would like you to lead the Security team, begin head counts, check the perimeter of the bay looking for any way to escape as well as any weapons that could be used." Tarmis looked at another officer, " I want you to lead the medical personnel in assessing the needs of the crew as well as attending to any injuries, I know we have little or no supplies but do your best." Tarmis turned to another officer. " I want the engineering team to work with security in ways of how we can escape, send messages or any thing else which could do us any good." Tarmis looked at the officers, " I know everyone is highly emotional right now and that is completely understandable, but we must focus and remember our training will give us what we need to get past this. Let's get to work people." Tarmis said then waved Rh'vaurek over.

Rh'vaurek pushed his way gently through the crowd to Tarmis ~Rekkhai, I believe a telepathic conversation is best, in case these cells are being monitored ~ he informed him

Tarmis nodded, then in a whisper, " I am not sure how we will work through it, but we shall try." ~ Rh'vaurek your assessment thus far?~

~ Counselor Chiara is a Vang'raden, she set us up, now it looks as if only the males were taken off the ship, I can sense no female presence on this ship ~ Rh'vaurek explained what he thought

Tarmis first response was a mix of anger, betrayal, love and concern. He believed what Rh'vaurek said but something inside held him back. ~ Understood erie'Riov, but for now we must think of what we can do. Chiara will be taken care of later." Then the fear and concern grabbed Tarmis' mind like a steel trap, ~ If males were the only taken, what of children? Hogah went to play his favorite Holodeck simulation before all this and I do not see him anywhere? Where is he have you seen him?" Tarmis' emotions clenched his heart tightly as he struggled to control the fear and worry he felt for Hogah.

~ I have also not felt any of the children ~ Rh'vaurek informed Tarmis ~ He is a tough kid, he can look after himself if he has to, he has the toughness of a Cardassian with human intelligence, and very spirited, he will be helpful to the other children where ever they are ~ Rh'vaurek tried to calm Tarmis's fears

Tarmis took a deep breath, as his Leader side turmoiled with his fatherly side. As he swallowed hard he slowly regained composure, ~ Very good. Thank you erie'Riov. I must keep my mind on the moment. We need to figure our best plan of action erie'Riov. I really feel sorry for those Ferengi if Hogah gets mischievous.~ Tarmis chuckled.

~ I do not, let's pray he does ~ Rh'vaurek mentally laughed
~ And may the elements protect him ~ Rh'vaurek added

Tarmis shook his head in agreement, ~ You are so very right erie'Riov. Now let us get off this garbage scow. Oversee your teams, and if you see Capt.Oosha inform him we three need to consider our options and discuss them amongst each other.~

~ Very well, I will Inform him if I see him ~ Rh'vaurek informed Tarmis

Tarmis shook his head, ~ Let's get to it erie'Riov, besides~, Tarmis looked up and laughed. " I can't stand Ferengi Scum anyways." Tarmis yelled while he laughed the entire time.

Rh'vaurek gave Tarmis a sideways glance then pushed his way through the crowd to find Rafe

Off>

Joint Post

erei'Riov (Cmdr.) Rh'vaurek tr'Radaik
CTAC\SEC Exchange Officer
USS James Cook
&
 

===================
Capt. Tarmis Jeram

Executive Officer
USS James Cook NCC-2098-A

ON> Ready Room

In the night, the Orion leader came for Elsie again. She struggled against his advances, but he kept hitting her until she was too weak to resist. Finally, he had his way, and left her lying on the deck to fend for herself.

In the darkness of her quarters a voice began to sing...It was a tiny voice, but the harmony was perfect.

"Li e yu I no..."
"Ren me ti..."
"Yo ju yo go..."

Elsie thought ~ I am delirious. But it could be a lot worse. ~

"Ha SA Te ka Na e..."

Elsie began to make out a small figure in the darkness... a child. No taller then Hogah, but much thinner.

"Ku ta ma e..." The song continued again, from the beginning.

Elsie sat up painfully, rubbed her eyes and peered at the figure in the dark. "Who are you? She asked softly, so as not to alert the invaders on her bridge.

"I am a friend." The figure said. The voice was that of a boy. "Do not worry about the bad men... they cannot hear us." He said.

Elsie grimaced and she shifted to a more comfortable position on the deck, "I could use a friend right now."

The boy came out of the darkness and into the minimal light. He was almost transparent. He wore blue clothes with a hood that covered all but his mouth and jaw.

"Praise, be with you....Dream, child of prayer....For ever and ever...Bring us Glory...." He said.

Elsie frowned, now certain she was either dreaming or hallucinating.

The boy walked closer to Elsie. "Don't be afraid. Be strong. You will win. You have to win."

Elsie nodded. "I am trying. My first duty is to my ship. I cannot save my ship if I am dead. I will survive."

"Good." He said. He placed a hand on her bare arm. It was ice cold. "Let me heal you."

The energy from his touch flooded through her, and she shivered at the cold. But the aches and the pains went away.

"Auron lives." The boy said.

Elsie peered up at the boy. "Oh, the Goddesses be praised! I was afraid they had killed all the men!"

"Auron protects them... like he has others. They all live." The boy said.

"Then we will fight here, and retake our ship." Elsie affirmed.

"Yes. Trust your friends... even the ones you do not trust." He said.

Elsie thought he was talking about Shi. "If I did not trust Shiarrael, I would have sent her back to the Empire long ago."

"You know what and who I am speaking of." The boy said.

In her mind the image of Chiara weeping in the brig came. "Never!" Hissed Elsie. "I gave her access to ship's information, and she betrayed all of us with it!"

"There is more than what you see... or think you see." The boy countered. "Be more then what you are."

Elsie didn't understand, but visions often spoke in cryptic language.

"I will be here... if and when you need me." The boy said. The singing began again.

"What is your name?" Elsie asked. But the boy was fading from view.

"...Bahamut..." The name came in a whisper.

Elsie whispered the name, trying to remember it. She would probably forget it when she woke from this dream.

Still cold from the boy's touch, she rose off the deck and headed for the cot in the alcove off the ready room, slipping under the covers for warmth.

~...imzadi...~

Elsie's eyes flew open! ~ Rafe? Oh, is it really you? ~

~... a favor... from a friend... making... possible...~

~ We all live. We are heading for area 30 to be parted out like so much Cargo. But We are waiting for an opening, a chance, to fight back ~ Elsie didn't know how much he was getting, but at least she knew for sure Rafe was alive.

Elsie could hear in Rafe's mind the same song that Bahamut... the boy... was singing.

~...not... know... fate... Fayth...~ Then a long pause and a feeling of wonder. ~...The...Fayth...sing...~

~We will find you, somehow. ~ Elsie thought.

There was nothing more from Rafe.

Elsie pulled the blankets around her tightly as silent tears ushered her into sleep.

Off>

Captain Rafe Oosha (also as boy)
CIO USS James Cook
&
 

Commodore Elsie Veritas

CO U.S.S. James Cook
Python Fleet Flagship

On> The Brig.

Chiara had stopped crying a few hours ago. She sat on the floor in the corner, hugging her legs with her face between her knees.

She knew her Star Fleet career was now effectively over with what happened.

There was not much left for her to do, other then to wait for the Orions, a Star Fleet court-martial, or even death.

Three Orions came into the brig. One headed for one of the other girls to get his treats, while another guarded the rest. The Orion Leader stepped up to Chiara and grinned down at her.

Chiara looked up at him.

"So you are the traitor Soren set up, eh? Well, well. What are yah gonna do now?" He had his beefy hands on his hips and a smug grin on his face.

Chiara said nothing.

Behind him, they could hear the cries and sobs of the young crewman being raped by the first Orion.

Chiara's heart broke again. This was happening because of her.

The leader wanted to turn and watch, but he instead focused on the blue traitor sitting on the deck. "You know, you ain’t got no home anymore. The Feds will give you life for what you did. You have no place to go but to the slave market.... or...you could join us. We could use someone with your talents."

"Join you?" Chiara asked.

"Yah. Just think of it! Riches, glory, power! See the stars with no one to tell you what you can't do. No one will dare touch you under my protection!" He grinned and waved expansively.

This was the same man that had raped Elsie... she wanted so much to get her hands around his neck and strangle him.

"Yeah?" Chiara asked. "And what do you want in return?" She stood up.

"Aw hell, Lady! I got what I want. A nice warm high-class Betazoid to keep me company. Naw you don't get touched. You become one of my lieutenants!"

Chiara started to rely on the Vulcan training to restrain herself from kicking the monster in the balls.

"All right." She said, cocking her head to the side. She knew there was a way she could turn this to her advantage. "You got a deal."

Chiara couldn't believe herself saying that.

The Orion leader saw the shift in her eyes. He had seen that look many times, and knew what it meant. She was danger, but then, she might be swayed. "All right. I give you your own quarters. Ain’t nothing in there anymore but a replicator and a head, but at least you don’t hafta watch my boys entertain themselves."

"Good." Chiara said. "You want me as a lieutenant, then I need some show of authority. I want my phaser and lightsaber back."

"Oh, no. Not just yet! I heard what you did on the bridge! You ain’t cutting MY hand off with that thing! You gotta prove yerself first. You stand watch with Gregy here, and then we see." He nodded to the brig guard to lower the forecefield, and then stepped out with Chaira.

"Hey, I thought you said I don't hafta watch this?" She said, pointing at the Orion with the human girl in another cell.

"You don't. Look at the other five cells." He glanced over at the rape scene. "He's just about done, anyway. All yer gonna see is a bunch of crying."

~Joy...~ Chiara thought of her options... then she remembered her experiences on the Viper. "Right... whatever." It would be a shame to let the Klingon experience go to waste. "I guess if I'm to be a pirate, I gotta get used to this sorta thing, right?"

"Yah. We might even bring you one of the little boys to play with. We aint gonna cut you outta the action, if your prove yourself." He patted her on the back and left her to her new duties. As he left, he already was thinking about visiting Elsie again.

~Bastard~ Chiara thought.

She sat down at the brig control desk, wondering what to do next.

In the cell she had just vacated, the Orion got up from the crewman and adjusted his pants. With a nod to Gregy, the forecefield was dropped just long enough for the two Orions to exit the cell. They left the brig with satisfied grins.

The other females in the cell rushed to their abused crewmate and began to take care of her needs the best they could.

"You boys get your fill?" Chiara asked.

"Plenty more where that came from," One laughed as the door closed behind them.

~Right...~ Chiara growled mentally.

Gregy eyed Chiara. "You musta done something pretty damned special to get let out like that. You give him a good screw?"

"Wouldn't you like to know." Chiara said.

Gregy grinned and turned full towards her. "Yeh! I would!"

Chiara stood up. She cocked her head to the side.

Gregy's mouth began to water.

"Ever had Nebari flavored treats?" Chiara asked him.

"nn...no." His voice came out in a whisper.

She was thankful she was still wearing the Nebari paramilitary suit... it would have enough 'treats' for her to use.

"What's wrong boy? You nervous or something?" Chiara asked.

Gregy licked his lips, and stared at her like a hungry man.

He reached up a hand and very gently stroked Chiara's cheek. 'You are so pretty..."

"That's what they all say..." Chiara chided.

"Then it must be true." He stepped closer and cupped her face in his hands as he drew near to kiss her.

Chiara reached up to him to return the kiss. She place her black latex clad hands around his neck.

Crewmen in the cells turned their backs firmly away from the sight of this traitor warming up to the enemy.

"Aww, so pretty," Gregy whispered, his desire rising.

She place her right index finger softly behind the Orion's ear and pressed, activating a Nebari Neural Overload device. The device, a one use item, sent a charge of electricity coursing through Gregy's neural system, causing his brain to fry and his heart to go into a catastrophic cardiac arrest.

Gregy died on his feet, still thinking about Chiara and him together.

Chiara let Gregy's body fall to the floor. "Yeah, and oooo so deadly to, jackass!" She said.

Several of the brigged crew turned back to look with astonished expressions! What the blue hell was going on?

Chiara weighed her options. She could access the ship's computer from here, but all activity would be traced. She couldn't readily dispose of the body... and if she were to save the ship, she'd have to do more then just kill one Orion.

Chiara hit the comm button. "Domina to the boss."

Frank hit the com on the arm of the Center seat. "Yah, what is it?"

"Something's wrong with Gregy... he just dropped to the floor... he ain't moving or breathing." Chiara said with a measure of concern.

"He got a pulse?" Frank asked.

"Lemme check... No, nothin'!" She said.

Frank Laughed! "Ha! You musta stopped his heart. One look at you! Just toss his body into the corridor. I'll have a couple my men toss him out an airlock. With a chuckle he broke the connection.

"Right..." Chiara said.

Chiara looked around at the cells. "Who wants to help me get this piece of crap out into the corridor?"

Thirty cheers went up! And one bruised, shaky victim stood up with hate in her eyes and just glared.

Chiara selected two prisoners and let them out of the cell. "Look, no funny stuff or we may all be screwed." Chiara said. "I'm going to do what I can to get us all out of here, but I need time."

"Miss Domina," One crewman said, "They are gonna send another shift in here in about two hours. We all better pretend everything is OK."

They dragged to body out and deposited it in the corridor. Chiara then escorted them women back to thier cells.

"Yeah... nothing happened here, all right? Gregy had a heart-attack. He couldn't take all that frelling at once..." She said.

A lt. from Engineering spoke quietly to some of the crew. They looked solemn and nodded. She turned to Chiara. "Ma'am, we will do what is necessary to keep them happy. Anything."

"Hey, once this is all over, and provided I still have a job, I'll help you guys through the aftermath... I've been there myself. Right now, we just all have to be strong. Detach yourselves to some point and just cooperate. The key thing is we all have to stay alive. We got our men out there counting on us... just remember how much you love them and keep that love in your heart." She said, hoping her reassurances would get through to them.

Some of them nodded, knowing they had to be strong. Other clutched their arms and shuddered. But the unspoken agreement was there.

Chiara sat back down at the brig control desk and waited. For what, she did not know.

In less than a couple hours four Orions entered the brig. Two walked up and down the line of cells, and tested the forcefield. The other two stepped up to Chiara. "You, come with us. The boss said we escort you to your quarters. We gotta lock you in till the boss can trust you. Let's go."

"Sure thing." Chiara said. She didn't bother to look at the prisoners. It would give her and them away.

They took her to the turbolift that brought them to the Officers' deck. They brought her to a door that was marked with "Executive Officer" And gestured for her to go in.

Chiara walked into the quarters. She wanted to smile but didn't show it. She was happy to be in Tarmis' quarters.

The guards activated the lock and one took his station outside the door. The other returned to his duties.

Chiara looked around. Tarmis was obviously absent, but she took a chance. "Hogah?"

A muffled voice answered from behind a well-hidden panel, "Miss Domina?"

Chiara came over to the source of the voice and gently opened the panel. "Hogey?"

Not one, but two dirty faces peered out at her.

Chiara's eyes went wide. "What's this?"

"The Orions came, and well, I got marina and we hid. Just like I used to do on Solotec." Hogah said proudly as he helped Marina out of the compartment.

Chiara wasn't sure what to do. "Ok, you guys gotta stay quiet." Chiara whispered.

"No problem, Miss Domina! Me and Marina, we will hide. And...well I can carry messages for you. I know the jeffries tubes..and well..." .his voice drifted off as he realized he was revealing all his stunts.

Chiara started thinking...

She didn't want to put him in a situation where it would be dangerous, but then again they were all in danger.

"Can you get to the Commodore's quarters?"

Hogah thought for a second, seeing the passageways in his mind. "Yeah, but she's not there. The Orion Leader sleeps there. I think she is in the Ready Room. They got her locked up there." His face got sad and he looked down.

Chiara rubbed her head. "There's no jefferies tube access to the bridge, is there?"

"No, Ma'am. They got it isolated. and guarded."

Chiara sat down cross-legged and put her hands on her head. "Frell!"

Hogah sat down in front of her and looked up into her face. "It's gonna be all right, Miss Domina. I seen this kinda thing on Solotec all the time, only not on a ship. These priates, they are kinda stupid. They know some stuff, but they forget stuff, too. You just gotta wait till they forget something. Then you make your move." Hogah spoke like an authority. He had outwitted them more than once.

"You're right." Chiara said, putting her hand on his shoulder.

Hogah grinned like a Cheshire cat.

Marina sat up close beside Hogah, solemnly listening to them talk.

"Well, I guess all we can do is wait for a hole to open up." Chiara said. "Unless you got some ideas."

Hogah shook his head. "We just gotta wait."

"Yeah..." Chiara said.

She stood up to go get a cup of coffee.

"I'm hungry!" He jumped up and headed for the replicator. "Whatcha all want?"

"Coffee." Chiara said. "I don't really have much of an appetite right now."

Marina piped up, "Hamburger n fries and a vanilla shake"

Hogah ordered two. "You can have some of my fries, Miss Domina. You'll like them. Coffee is yukky all by itself!" Hogah brought the food to the table and the kids scrambled into the seats and began to devour the food, as preteens will do.

"I'll pass, thank you." Chiara said. "Look, keep it down. I want you guys to go hide again."

Chiara started looking around to see if Tarmis kept a phaser in his quarters.

Hogah lowered his voice. "OK, Miss Domina. He and Marina grabbed their food and headed for their hiding place.

Chiara watched them close the panel as they disappeared. She sat down on Tarmis' empty bed.

She was thankful that Hogah and Marina were safe. She knew she had some allies on the ship... as long as she didn't tell them she caused all of this.

Chiara cried herself to sleep.

Off>

JP

Commodore Elsie Veritas (as Orions, and kids)
CO USS James Cook

&
 

On>

Rafe woke up. He had seen Tarmis with Rh’vuarek and was going to make his way over to them as the Ferengi gassed the cargo hold they were stuffed into. Now, he found himself waking up in a forest.

Rafe looked around. He still had all of his gear. It was apparent that the Ferengi were not interested in trying to render them helpless, just to get them out of the picture.

The forest was alive with sounds. Birds, wind gently rustling leaves on high. It was peaceful in its own right, but it served as a sinister message. They were stranded.

Rafe looked around his vicinity. Littered about were other men in Star Fleet uniforms and civilian clothes.

“They must have dropped us off.” Rafe said to himself. He uncorked his jug and took a drink. Then, he set out to look for Rh’vaurek and Tarmis.

Off>
 

Capt. Rafe Oosha

Chief Intelligence Officer
USS James Cook NCC-2098-A
"Wisdom begins in wonder."

On>

Vance came to in a strange place. It took him a moment to remember everything that had been happening, but it all came back quickly enough.

~Faye...~ he thought, and he shot up to a sitting position.

"Easy there Vance..." Titus Ford's easy voice said, trying to calm him down. In the short time that Vance had been aboard the James Cook, he'd found that his fellow pilots were a lot easier to get along with than back in his old squadron.

"Half-Pint, where the hell are we?" Vance asked, shaking his head.

"No clue, Vance. It's still just us guys though."

Vance let out a heavy sigh and nodded, slowly getting to his feet. "Where's the rest of the squadron?"

"Still out. Capt. Oosha is looking around with a few of the others, making sure everyone's here."

Vance nodded again. "I guess we better go meet him then, huh?" ~What a way to meet the rest of the crew...~ Vance thought ruefully. The only people he'd gotten to know so far were his squadmates, especially one Faye 'Sweetie' Valentine. Now there was no telling what had happened to her.

Off>

=/\= Lt. (JG) Vincent 'Vance' Johnston
VF-1, Wolf Squadron
USS James Cook, NCC-2098-A

ON> Cargo Bay 2
Shi was sitting quietly thinking when she received Elsie's message. Now she must act on it. She had located the terminal it was on the other side of the room in a small-enclosed area. ~Commodore I received your message. We are in Cargo Bay 2 mostly Security and Engineering personnel. We have 2 guards I am going to slip over to the computer terminal and hack into it. using some Rihannsu techniques they will not be aware of. I want you to try and get a message to Starbase. May the Elements protect you.

~ Understood ~ Elsie sent back. She sat at the console, waiting for it to blink to life.

Meanwhile 2 of the Security personnel had attracted the attention of both guards using feminine wiles. Shi slipped quietly across the floor to the terminal. It took her just a few minutes to remove the controls the Orions had placed on the system. Then she sat up a blind so it would appear they were still in place. ~Commodore, Its all set. Its up to you now.~

The terminal sputtered to life! ~ Bless your Green Rihannsu Heart! ~ ELsie sent and then quickly sent out a distress call and a copy of the recording of all events that transpired since they left spacedock.

As she finished, Frank walked in, with a leer pasted on his face. The rape in the brig had made him horny again. Elsie's eyes snapped to Frank's.

His face became a mask of rage. "Chon!" He roared, " Get yer ass in here! Disable this console now!"

Frank strode over to Elsie grabbed her by the hair with one hand and reached for the billy club hangin on his belt. "You goddam whore!" He shouted and began to beat Elsie as hard as he could. At first she tried to ward off the blows, but soon she was crying out as the baton broke ribs, and upper arm, a wrist. Finally she blacked out, and he continued beating her until his fury was spent.

Frank looked up at Chon, who held a handful of isochips he had pulled from the console. "There won't be any more transmisiions, Boss!"

Frank spat, "There better not be or I start shooting people!" He stormed out, with Chon following him.

Shi had just been in the act of contacting Elsie so through her mind she saw everything that transpired in the Ready room until Elsie finally passed out. Shi was in a rage. They would pay for this the time had come to make their move.

She sent out a short message telepathically ~All who receive this message do everything you can to disable your guards wherever you are. If you can get into a corridor proceed to Cargo Bay 4 my team will be there Await further orders.

The message had gone to a few of her Security and a couple of engineers (Betazoid and Vulcan) Security took advantage of the guards being busy with their pleasures and investigated the locks on the doors. No luck they could not open them but they found an access to a Jefferies tube they could use.

Slowly one by one they made their way out the access. The rest bunched together to hide the fact they had left. After about 10 had gone through the access. Shi
signalled to stop. She called over one of the Gashta and gave him some instructions then signaled him to go through the access with 5 of his people.

With the rest of the prisoners grouped together they could hide the absence of the rest of them. All those who had left had been instructed to make their way to Cargo Bay 4 secure it and wait for further orders.

OFF>

JP

Commodore Elsie Veritas
CO USS James Cook

&

ereiRiov Shiarrael t'Radaik
ASEC USS James Cook
 

ON> Ready Room

Elsie came to slowly, her mind totally taken by the pain of trying to breathe. She had the urge to cough, but stifled it, knowing it would hurt worse if she did. Her left arm and right wrist were broken and swollen from the beating.

~ This is becoming a habit, finding myself on the deck. Maybe I’ll just stay here.~ She started to drift off but a spasm made her cough! OH! The pain! With the back of her right arm she wiped the flecks of blood off her lips. ~ A punctured lung. Not good. Gotta try and stay awake, or I will not waken at all. ~

With great satisfaction she remembered she had gotten off the distress call and the details of the attack. At least Intel would know what had happened here and who had betrayed the ship. She stirred up her anger, fighting to stay awake. ~ Oh, Chiara! Why? Why? We loved you, took you in as one of our own, and you did this! ~

Elsie could not hold the anger. It was slipping away along with her consciousness. ~ I should have cherished my immortality. Oh, Imzadi! I am sorry. I am not strong enough….~

The blackness took over, and Elsie slipped into a coma.

OFF>
 

Commodore Elsie Veritas

CO U.S.S. James Cook
Python Fleet Flagship

On> The Forest.

Rafe walked through the woods, giving orders to the men had had come across. His instructions were simple. Go to the clearing that had been found and wait there.

Rafe continued on unit he saw a silvery uniform.

"Rh'vaurek!" Rafe shouted.

Rh’vaurek looked up noticing Rafe coming towards him, he gave one last savage side kick to the tree he was hacking at felling it "Ie Rekkhai?"

"Are you well?" Rafe said, examining Rh'vaurek's handiwork.

"Better that I have been, the fresh air has cleared out my lungs" he noticed where Rafe was looking "A Spear, we heed to eat, I am sure you have noticed the animal calls, so there has to be food somewhere"

Rafe nodded. He had forgotten his own hunger up till now, as his stomach reminded him he should find food.

"I have noted some animal calls, yes. However, I first order of business should be to gather the crew. Then we can worry about survival." Rafe said.

Rh'vaurek nodded "Understood"

Rafe looked around. "I have crew members gather at..." He stopped.

Rafe looked around.

The rustling of some bushes could be heard nearby.

Rh'vaurek Stopped and cocked his ear, he to heard the rustling nearby; he removed the makeshift handle from his kailune readying it to be thrown.

In front of them, a growling came from a bush and the head of a large lizard poked out.

Rh'vaurek stood perfectly still eyeing off the lizard.

Rafe turned side long to the lizard. He produced a large red sword seemingly out of thin air and extended it to Rh'vaurek.

"I trust you know how to use one of these?" Rafe asked his Romulan comrade.

"Indeed" Rh'vaurek extended his hand accepting the blade

Rafe shot his left arm up into the air, shrugging off the left side of his kimono. He dropped back into an open kendo ready stance and his own Tyrusian blade appeared in his right hand.

The dragon-like lizard walked forth from the brush, growling and hissing.

Rh'vaurek took up a more closed stance, making as little a target of himself as possible

The lizard went after Rafe first, since he was wearing the more colorful garb. The samurai sidestepped the lizard's advance and cut the beast across the shoulder. It roared in pain.

Rh'vaurek charged to the opposite side slicing across the lizards blindside flank while it was preoccupied with Rafe, he circled around the lizard keeping away from the tail

The lizard growled in rage and frustration at its prey. It could not believe that prey would actually try and fight back and succeed in doing so.

Rafe dodged a swipe of it's claw and fell back in another stance. He held out his left arm with one finger raised and sword cocked at the ready to size of the beast.

Rh'vaurek dodged a swipe from the beast tail with an upward slash he cut a deep gash across it's hind quarters then rolled away getting away fron the furious sweeping tail

Rh'vaurek rolled right into a furry blue leg.

Looking up, he was Kimahri Ronso, a friend of Rafe's from what he heard to be 'a long time ago.'

Rh'vaurek breathed a sigh of relief, he was not ready to handle another enemy in this position

"Save some for Kimahri!" The Ronso shouted, leaping over Rh'vaurek and onto the back of the lizard and drove his halberd into the beast's neck.

Rh'vaurek looked on with a raised eyebrow, he had seen a lot of things but this blue felinoid with a halberd was intriguing.

The lizard tossed off the Ronso with some effort. Kimahri rolled to the ground and took up position next to Rafe. Rafe switched his Tyrusian blade for his lightsaber.

"Enough!" He said as he charged the beast. With the lightsaber he severed the lizard's head.

Rh'vaurek just shrugged as he held his blade in mid swing aiming at the lizards hind leg

The beast fell with a thud.

"Looks like we have dinner tonight." Rafe said.

"Lizard on a Spit sounds good" Rh'vaurek replied looking at the fallen lizard

Rafe walked over to Rh’vaurek. "You did well."

Rh'vaurek bowed "Thank you, it was an honor to fight by your side for once"

Rafe nodded and thumped him on the chest. "Hey Ronso... you remember how to cook?" Rafe asked.

Kimahri was already dragging the lizard. "Kimahri make food for everyone." He grunted.

Rafe turned to Rh'vaurek. "Ever eat a lizard before?"

"Once, a long time ago" Rh'vaurek replied

"Is it true they taste like chicken?" Rafe asked.

"That depends on how it is cooked, mine tasted like charcoal" Rh'vaurek laughed

"Kimahri is a good cook. We'll leave it to him then." Rafe said.

"Sounds good to me" Rh'vaurek replied as le looked over at the blue felinoid dragging the lizard towards the camp, Rh'vaurek decided to help getting behind the lizard and starting to push

Rafe stopped. He looked around. "Rh'vaurek. Go ahead with Kimahri and see to it that a camp is set up. Find Tarmis if you can. There is something I want to go look at."

Rh'vaurek nodded "Understood"

Rafe turned and walked off into the forest alone. Once Rh’vaurek was out of sight, Rafe started to sing. His tune was slow and mournful…

“Li e yu I no...
Ren me ti...
Yo ju yo go...
Ha SA Te ka Na e...
Ku ta ma e...”

He stopped when a wave of grief rushed over him… he could no longer ‘feel’ his Imzadi.

Off>

JP

Erei’Riov (Cmdr.) Rh’vaurek tr’Radaik
CTAC/SEC Exchange officer
USS James Cook
Python fleet Flag ship
 

Capt. Rafe Oosha

Chief Intelligence Officer
USS James Cook NCC-2098-A
"Wisdom begins in wonder."

Rape wasn't an experience that Vasata had had before, but the pirate that was eyeing Arianai might change that.
~They want you to be afraid of them. Look him in the eye right back.~ She did so, and was rewarded with a slight respectful nod from the pirate. He looked over the other women in this cell, and moved on.

"I guess they aren't all bad. I'm Arianai."

"I'm Nicole. Science, right? I'm in Medical. I wish there was more I could do for the ladies brutalized by these scum!"

"We just need to wait. We won't be here forever. With the help of those that managed to get out of here, we'll take this ship back." Arianai reassures the nurse.

Looking dejected, "I guess. It all seems so hopeless though."

Smiling and leaning closer, Arianai confides, "I now of at least on man on this ship that won't give up. He's a bastard himself, but he won't sit still for what's been happening here."

"Telling secrets, my pretties?" taunts a pirate at the barrier.

Nicole cringes away from the opening, as the pirate signals for it to be lowered. "You look tasty...let's have a go at you." He teases, and makes a grab for Nicole.

Jumping in the way, Arianai stops his advance. He stops short, and looks at her up and down. Spitting at her feet, he says, "You're to skinny. I like a bit of meat on the bones...get out of my way."

"No."

He back hands Arianai, causing her to stumble to her right. Grabbing Nicole, he takes her out of the cell, and throws her down. The barrier goes back up just before Arianai has a chance to act. She kneels on the floor, trying to catch Nicole's eyes, to reassure her that this will end soon, as the pirate has his way with her.

~But will it? Will it end before they have ravaged every female on this ship?~

LtJG Arianai K Vasata
Chief Science Officer
USS James Cook NCC-2098-A

On>

"“Li e yu I no...
Ren me ti...
Yo ju yo go...
Ha SA Te ka Na e...
Ku ta ma e...”

The voice was deep, but carried for a distance. The person sang with a great amount of grief.

Elsie opened her eyes not to her ready room, but to a city destroyed thousands of years ago, and its ruins bathed in the light of dusk.

“Li e yu I no...
Ren me ti...
Yo ju yo go...
Ha SA Te ka Na e...
Ku ta ma e...”

The song was sung again. The same voice, the same grief.

Elsie looked around. "Spira," She whispered. "I know this place. But it is gone."

“Li e yu I no...
Ren me ti...
Yo ju yo go...
Ha SA Te ka Na e...
Ku ta ma e...”

Elsie spun around slowly, looking for the source of the singer.

On a hill not too far away was a lone figure. His kimono flapped in the warm breeze.

Elsie's breath caught in her throat! "Imzadi?" She began striding towards the hill. The fact that her body lay on her ready room floor never crossed her mind. This was real. The other was not.

Rafe extended his clay jug to her direction and drank to his lady's honor.

"Zanarkand." Rafe said. In the blink of an eye, he went from the hill to her side.

Elsie's face widened into a dimpled smile and she gazed at him with loving eyes.

"My home for ten years... as it was a thousand years ago... and as it was a thousand years after it was destroyed by Syn." Rafe said.  This is my strength. This is my will... to never allow this to happen again."

"Where is your home, now, My Love?" She asked, as if it were a riddle, a mystery to be solved.

"My home is at your side, milady." Rafe said.  "My home is our hearts combined."

"I am here, with you, Imzadi. At your side now." Elsie said knowingly.

"And I with you." Rafe said. "But when you go back, we will be apart again." He said sadly.  "I want to teach you something."

Elsie nodded.

Rafe put his hand to her forehead and his fingers glowed on contact. Into her mind he implanted the knowledge of the 'Curaga' spell, a healing magic that would aid her.

"You may find that to come in handy. The Fayth will you to posses the knowledge.

Elsie understood. She understood the path behind, the path she trod, the path before her, and knew this was right.

"I was wrong when I said the Fayth stopped singing... I thought they were no more... but I was wrong. They were only in shock at what had happened to my... our world." Rafe said.

"The Fayth, they sing....they sing a chant. Then I did not dream him." Elsie said.

"“Li e yu I no...
Ren me ti...
Yo ju yo go...
Ha SA Te ka Na e...
Ku ta ma e...” Rafe sang.

"It's The Hymn of the Fayth." He said.  "Praise, be with you....Dream, child of prayer....For ever and ever...Bring us Glory...."

"His name was...Bahamut....He sang that to me" Elsie said in wonder.

"He has found you in favor then, and well lend his strength and power to you if you ask it of him." Rafe said.

"Just...ask? But I am not a believer" Elsie said.

"There is nothing to believe. It is not a religion." Rafe said. "It is simply a fact. The Fayth exist on a higher level then us... just like the Bajoran Prophets. They are only called the Fayth because that is what Yu Yevon first called them."

"They sing, and what else?" Elsie asked.

"And they sing." Rafe said. "Their sole purpose is to counter Syn. When Syn is defeated, they will rest."

This Elsie did not understand. Her mind was still linked to mortal logic. That a species existed solely to counteract another was..well, too much like ecology..one preyed on the other. But Rafe spoke of spiritual things, and this did not translate.

"Are they two halves of a whole, then? Only divided, one evil one good?"

"Yes." Rafe said.

Clarity! Elsie could nearly grasp the concept. "If they are united, they become one whole entity, at peace with itself?" She asked again.

"Perhaps." Rafe said. In fact, he did not think anyone had ever actually looked at it that way.

"You showed me that previous methods of defeating Syn were only successful for a time. If the Fayth and Syn were somehow united, would this not somehow transform the beast into something else. Not defeat, transformation?"

"You may be right... but I'm afraid it will be some time before we... before I can test that theory." Rafe said.

“Li e yu I no...
Ren me ti...
Yo ju yo go...
Ha SA Te ka Na e...
Ku ta ma e...”

This time the voice was female. The pitch was perfect. It sounded as if it belonged in a cathedral.

Elsie looked around, "I must go back." She said. "I have work to do. How do I use the spell? My body is broken and bleeding."

"The knowledge is within you to use it. "Center yourself and concentrate on the word 'curaga', but keep the Hymn of the Fayth active in your mind, for it will only work if you can hear the song." Rafe said.

Singing was not Elsie's strong point. She hoped she could remember what it sounded like.

"You will remember..." Rafe said, his voice trailing off... but the female voice singing was still fresh and alive. Spira and broken Zanarkand began to fade away.

Elsie woke to find her self covered in a blue and white blanket woven in an exotic pattern. It was perpetually cold, but for some illogical reason it warmed her.

Elsie remembered the spell Rafe had taught her. She whispered the word 'curaga' as she focused on Rafe's singing and that of the disembodied female voice. Green light danced about her, repairing the injuries and even made her feel younger then before.

She was stiff, but she managed to stand and look around. Blood, her own, was everywhere... but something struck her as odd. She walked over to the window looking out into shape. It had been frosted over with a word... no, a name drawn into the frost.

"Shiva." Elsie whispered, gripping the blanket closer to her.

She turned and walked towards the replicator for a cup of coffee when she looked into it and saw a face staring back at her from the black glass. It was not her own.  Her first instinct was to reel back in horror, but there was something about the woman's purple face and wild hair that said she could be trusted as a friend and as a protector.

"Shiva." Elsie said again. The purple faced woman in the black glass smiled and vanished. The replicator produced a cup of coffee without Elsie even requesting it.

Elsie picked up the cup and smiled.

Off>

JP

Commodore Elsie Veritas
CO USS James Cook
Flagship Python Fleet

&

Capt. Rafe Oosha

Chief Intelligence Officer
USS James Cook NCC-2098-A
 

ON >Ready room

It was evening, and Frank, the Orion Leader, entered the Ready Room with two soldiers, expecting to have Elsie’s dead body tossed out and airlock. Well if she was almost dead, she would be dead soon enough.

Frank stopped just inside the door and gazed at the spot where he had left Elsie to die. The blood stains were disappearing before his eyes as the ship used sonic waves to disintegrate the blood and recycle it through the environmental system. Frank's eyes swept the ready room. Elsie was standing by the replicator, sipping a mug of raktajino.

He growled, “What th’ Hell is goin’ on? I left you for dead!”

“I got better,” Elsie grimaced.

Frank strode over to her, grabbed her and felt her all over. He thrust her from his grip. “You some kind of shapeshifter? This ain’t right!”

“There is more to this ship than meets the eye, Pirate! We are more than a crew of Starfleet Officers, more than cargo for you to sell or plunder at your leisure.” Elsie countered.

“You just cargo to me, lady, and a good screw.” Frank gruffed.

“That is too bad, because this is all you will ever have, what you hold in your hand. You will never be happy inside, because your spirit is empty.” Elsie sipped at her coffee.

Frank’s face reddened. He didn’t understand what she was talking about, but he figured it wasn’t good. He backhanded the mug from her hand and it crashed to the deck in a shower of coffee. “I’ll show you what makes me happy!” He lifted her up over one shoulder and headed for the cot in the alcove.

Off>
 

Commodore Elsie Veritas

CO U.S.S. James Cook
Python Fleet Flagship

ON>

Laura sat in the quiet lounge of the USS Enterprise. Captain Picard had been very generous to allow her passage from Starbase 514 to Epsilon Indii to their destination to the Romulan neutral zone. She had heard that Starfleet Intelligence fearing a buildup along their boarders of Romulan warships has dispatched the Enterprise to check things out. The dark woman with the outlandish hat came to her table, and spoke as she poured Laura another cup of tea. Laura had given up on the hard stuff for the time being.

“You look like you are carrying the weight of the Enterprise on your shoulders, and you are only a passenger on this ship,” The bar tender observed.

Laura took a slow sip of her tea and considered the woman’s comment before answering. “Trust me it’s not this ship, rather my ship. The James Cook. I am to represent the best of every squadron at Starfleet’s top fighter pilot training program, and I cannot even follow orders.” Laura sighs and looks out of the view port watching the stars streak by at over 700 billion kilometers per hour. “To top it off I fear my captain does not feel I am worthy of commanding a squadron on her ship, especially not the flagship of the Python Fleet. Especially after I got drunk and took on one of the security deputies.”

“So that’s who you are then.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Laura turned to face the woman.

“Nothing. I heard of you though. A pilot, who single handily evaded capture behind enemy lines and helped bring the CIO and Commanding Officer home safely. You stood for what you believed in, and never wavered. Weather it was wrong or right is not the point. What you did was honorable.

“So what you think is I was in the wrong?”

“You didn’t lose your rank did you?

Laura shook her heard no.

“You weren’t removed from the fleet were you?”

Again Laura shook her head no.

“Then I rest my case. What you did was the right thing. Captain Kirk would not be the legend that he is today if he followed the Prime Directive or orders all of the time. It would be a good bet that both Ambassador Spock and Earth would not exist today if it wasn’t for him bending the rules.”

Laura nodded her head, and took another sip of her tea. “You have amazing insight. I had never considered that before.”

“I have been accused of that a few times,” the dark woman agreed.

“You are not human are you?”

“No I am not. I am a species known as the Listeners, but also known as El-Aurian.”

The El-Aurian woman refilled Laura’s cup and left her to her thoughts. Well she would need time to think, and she had plenty of that. She was still two weeks away from Earth, and that was assuming she got good passage from Epsilon Indii.

Suddenly Big Cat came strolling into the lounge with a wide grin spread across his face. He saw Laura and crossed the room and sat down across from her. “Evening Mav, what ware you so down about?”

“Is it that obvious?”

“Obvious? Hell, it’s like you have your own personnel rain cloud following you around. It’s been like that all trip too. You aren’t still worried about your actions on the Nazi planet are you?”

“Yeah a little.”

“Don’t worry about it Mav, let by gones be by gones. It’s all in the past, all you can do is learn from it.”

Laura smiled and gave him a friendly slap across the arm. “Guess every one’s a counselor today. Even the bar tender is.”

Cat smiled. “You don’t know who she is?”

“No. Should I?”

“Look. I am not one hundred percent sure of that but I think she’s Picard’s trusted advisor, and if he listens to her, you had better too.”

Turns to look at the lady behind the bar. “No kidding?”

“No kidding.”

“Where did you hear of this?”

“I served with a lieutenant who served on the Enterprise-D, and he talked highly of her, and told me many interesting things about this ship and it’s crew. Like the First officer and the counselor have a thing for each other, but are in denial.”

Laura laughed. “I never thought you would be one to give into ship board gossip.”

“I’m just repeating to you what I heard.”

“You just keep telling your self that.”

Suddenly a huge smile spread across the big man’s dark face, as an idea came to him. “I found this really neat program in the holodeck. Ever hear of a Mustang?”

“The horse?”

“No, but I think you will fall in love with her at first sight. She’s right up our alley.”

Laura J. Allen

Squadron CO
USS James Cook
"My What Big Teeth We have"

On> The Camp

Rafe stood a good distance away from the rest of the camp, on the edge of the clearing. It was getting chilly, but Rafe was thankful that Rh'vaurek was able to whip the crew into shape and get some shelters erected. Spirits were generally good, but Rafe could feel the wave of concern.

Tarmis sat on a stump near the edge of camp, his mind going over what has been completed so far and what must be done in the future. Security teams had already begun perimeter sweeps and according to head count all males over age 16 were beamed taken from the ship and dumped here. Tarmis looked up and noticed Rafe some distance away, he got up and made his way to him. Once there he said, " Cpt. Oosha." Concern could be heard in voice.

"Tarmis." Rafe replied. He only stared at the campfire. "Please do not address me by rank. It means little to me."

Tarmis knelt down by the fire, " But it is also the structure we need to help move us past this and back to our home. I will honor your request when we are alone but if others are around I need to show the semblance of structure and use of rank will be one way I do this. Cp... Mr. Oosha" Tarmis said realizing they were alone.

"Rafe will do fine, Tarmis. How are the men holding up?"

Tarmis looked away from the fire at the officers muddling about the camp. In a soft but strong voice Tarmis said, " On the outside they show little regard for what has happened, but you can see the questions and concerns running through there minds."

"Their questions and concerns are well founded. The Cook does not bode well." Rafe said.

Tarmis gazed at the fire, " No it does not, at that ways heavy on all of us." Tarmis looked at Rafe." Even you and I, but first we need to find a way off this planet and then we hunt these bastards down." Tarmis took a deep breath. " We find the people who did this and bring them to justice."

"I... have a way off this planet..." Rafe said quietly.

Tarmis stood up in shock, he drew closer to Rafe, " How what, a ship?" Tarmis took a centering breath." Please go on M.. Rafe."

"I can only go alone... I have the ability to. I've only done it one other time in my life because of a promise I made to a friend. It was not easy." Rafe said.

"Alone?" Tarmis rubbed his chin in thought. " That is not safe, if anything happens to you we would never know, and you can not take on an entire vessel of pirates, Rafe although it is an option I don't know." Tarmis said.

"If you order it, it will be done... though I am tempted to do it anyway." Rafe said. "I would be an asset to the ship's survival."

Tarmis walked around in a circle, his mind in thought. He tossed up a hand, " Yeah I kind of figured you would do it no matter, however if we are going to do this we should try to come up with a way to keep in contact or so on to ensure we know you were able to send help and such."

"There would be no means to do that." Rafe said. "We have only what we brought with us. No one knows where we are."

"While this portal or what have you is open, you would not be able to send any thing back?" Tarmis asked Rafe, as he stared out away from camp.

"There would essentially be no portal." Rafe said.

Tarmis rubbed his chin once more, then looked at Rafe." You would for all purposes just vanish then?"

"Pretty much." Rafe said.

"A long time ago, when I lived on Spira, I fought a summoner named Yunalesca. I died in that fight, but lived on because of the magic of Spira. I had the will to live because of my promises to my friends Jecht and Lord Braska, as well as my love for Elsie and Shi." Rafe said.

" Ok, that will be one option. Give me till the end of the day if nothing else better surfaces then we will go ahead with your plan. But Rafe, even though sometimes we may see things differently I would never want to see anything happen to you. I want your word if we go ahead with it you will do your best to stay alive." Tarmis said with a wink and a nod.

"I have found that I have a hard time dying, my friend." Rafe said.

Tarmis smirked, then chuckled, " However for something like death it only takes finding one way, lets not look for it ok?" Tarmis said as he chuckled and patted Rafe's shoulder.

Rafe said nothing.

"How are you and Chiara getting along?" Rafe asked.

Tarmis got a sideways smile, " Well, to be honest I am not sure. It is like riding one of the old earth roller coasters, there are times I know exactly where it is going then bottom drops and things change all over again. But no matter what I am enjoying our time together, it is special." Tarmis said with a far off look in his eyes.

"Chiara is a special woman. Treat her well." Rafe said. "She has a lot of love to give, and she needs a lot of love in return."

Tarmis thought of Chiara, suddenly what Rh'vaurek said slammed into his mind. He turned to Rafe, with a start. " Chiara, Has Rh'vaurek told you?"

"No... what happened?" Rafe asked.

Tarmis leaned forward so as not to allow any others to hear. In a hushed voice he said, " Rh'vaurek says Chiara is the vang'raden. I know Rh'vaurek tells the truth, but something inside tells me to look deeper. There must be more than what one can see. I can not believe she would just suddenly become a traitor like that."

"Are you saying Chiara caused this?" Rafe asked.

Tarmis shook his head, " That is what Rh'vaurek has told me. But I refuse to believe it without speaking to her myself. I will not assign a blame like this with out finding out the entire story."

"It would explain how Rh'vaurek lost his hand. I gave Chiara the light saber I had won in my battle with Vin Tamar. She must have used it to slice of Rh'vaurek's hand." Rafe said.

He looked down. "It would not be like Chiara to act in such a manner. We will investigate when the ship and crew is safe."

"But why?" Tarmis blurted out, then after he looked about he toned his voice back down. " What would cause her do that, something doesn't add up."

Rafe was again silent.

"Chiara had no family. Cook has become her family. Her love for you is great, as is her love for Elsie and myself. If she is guilty, then I would assume that it was not of her own free will." Rafe said. He took a swig from his jug and to be friendly, offered it to Tarmis.

Tarmis eyed the jug then looked at Rafe, " That is what I thought also." Tarmis put a hand out the stopped, " Isn't that the stuff that got the Klingon sick on the viper before?" Tarmis asked.

"Yes." Rafe said. "It makes a person stronger... Its an Al Bhed potion... cures all kinds of ailments."

Tarmis took a long pondering look at the jug then took it from Rafe and slammed a gulp down. " Holy Lisius that crap is strong." Tarmis said as he coughed.

"It is an acquired taste. When I quested for the second time to defeat a creature named Syn, my group lived off this stuff." Rafe said.

Tarmis coughed and spat some more then looked up, " Acquired is one way of putting it."

"It is late, go get some rest." Rafe said.

Tarmis nodded as he got up, " You also Rafe. Be safe friend." Tarmis said then exited to his small shelter.

"I will keep watch through the night." Rafe said. "Pleasant dreams."

Off>

Joint Post

Capt. Rafe Oosha
CIO-USS James Cook.
&
 

===================
Capt. Tarmis Jeram

Executive Officer
USS James Cook NCC-2098-A

On>
Camp - Planetside>

Tarmis couldn't get any sleep, he decided to get up and check on the injured crewman. He walked over to the medical tent, which had been set up. Torches hung all about as Tarmis walked into the light. He spotted Dr.Merlose overseeing the medical staff. He hovered over an injured crewman who looked like he had been badly beaten. Tarmis walked between the make shift cots, he gently touched each crewman as he went to show him someone still care about them. He walked up behind Dr.Merlose and waited for him to finish the crewman.

Jake tore off a piece uniform to put pressure on a cut one of the patients had. They had turned some of the plants on this planet to work as disinfectants. Luckily, they had beamed off some of the men when they were holding some medical equipment. But it was scarce and not much of it left. He noticed Tarmis coming in his direction, "Hello Captain, what brings you into my.. uhhh, sickbay I guess."

Tarmis gave a sullen look as he looked about the area. His mind filled with sadness and anger. He pushed back his own emotions to be strong for the crew. He said, " I was unable to sleep Doctor, these men’s suffering was weighing on my conscious and I had to come down to see it for my self." Tarmis said, his gaze frozen on an unconscious officer.

"Well sir, I don’t know what advice to give you. But what I do is take my self out of the moment. I believe that’s what we all have to do. Or else, I wouldn't be able to take all the pain around me. Being a Betazoid doesn’t help much, as I can feel their pain." He continued working on his patient.

Tarmis slowly shook his head, " That is where we differ doctor I can not take myself out of the situation, I have never been able to and to be quite honest I do not believe I would want to. I have to do something, or I feel useless." Tarmis said then ripped off his uniform sleeves and his pant legs. He ripped them into rags and began to hand them to corpsman. " What can I do to help Doctor?" Tarmis asked as the moans of the men echoed in his mind.

Jake looked around, "Well if you have basic medical training you can help with minor injuries. They aren’t, being taken care of, because we don’t have enough people." He felt a chill run up his spine as he looked around.

As Merlose finished speaking a security team brought in another injured crewman. As they sat him on a nearby cot Tarmis realized who the man was. It was the captain's yeoman; he was beaten badly and bleeding from many wounds. Tarmis walked over in a daze, he stopped next to the stretcher. The security officers said, " We found him on the edge of the clearing we almost didn't find him." Tarmis nodded and the officers left, he turned and looked at Merlose. A questioning look across his face.

Jake saddened, "There isn’t much you can do, use your rags to stop the bleeding. The dermal regenerators are running low on power by now, so we can't use it on him. I'm sorry"

Tarmis slammed his fist into the edge of a nearby table, then grabbed a rag and began putting pressure on a wound. He g