Gazing out of the window, William Duncan-Court was mesmerised by the different swirls of red and orange that currently engulfed the Odyssey. This patch of space was filled with so many anomalies every day since their arrival he was sure he saw something different compared to the day before. 

“William?” Counsellor Horin called out for him. 

Snapping out of his staring, the teenager turned on his heel and looked at the Betazoid counsellor. “Sorry, counsellor, I wasn’t paying attention. What did you ask?”

Horin smiled from the sofa she currently sat on. “You were talking about how school was going well and I asked what you think was making it go so well?” 

“Oh right, yeah,” William said as he walked back to the other sofa he had initially been sitting on. His current weekly session with Counsellor Horin was like almost every other one he had attended since he arrived on the ship nearly ten months ago. “I like the class, and the teachers are nice.”

“And what about your classmates?” Horin quizzed.

“They’re nice too.” He answered.

“William,” She said with an almost irritated tone, “we’ve been speaking about this in your last few sessions about getting to know a few of them.”

“I have,” William replied, “they’re nice.”

Sighing softly, the trained and seasoned counsellor moved on, knowing she was fighting a battle that she would have to attack from another angle at a later stage. “Very well. Is there anything else you want to discuss today?”

Remembering something he did want to share, the teenager tried to appear helpful to the counsellor in his response. “Actually, yeah, going back to school. The other day in one of my sports lessons, Henri McCallister called me Will.”

“Oh?” Horin said, wondering if her patient was going to share anymore. “Are you and Henri playing sports outside of school?”

He shook his head, “No, that’s not it. It was just weird to hear him call me Will.”

“Why?” Horin asked. Deep down, she could sense it was on the tip of his tongue, and she could hear him almost screaming that he wanted to talk about it but was holding it all so close to him. “When did he say it to you? What were you doing?” 

“We were playing a game,” William answered as he paused, “I think it was soccer, and he wanted to pass the ball to me. I’ve never had anyone call me Will before.”

“How did it make you feel?”

“It was okay; I’ve just never had my name shortened before,” William answered.

Continuing to smile sweetly at him, Horin wondered where her patient was going with this revelation. “Well, shortening someone’s name, especially in a team game, can be seen as a sign of endearment. Henri was probably making a connection with you; how did you respond?”

Unsure of how to answer that, William shrugged his shoulders. “I got the ball from him after he passed it to him, and I scored a goal.”

“And what happened after that?” Horin interrogated further.

“Well, he cheered, ran over to me, picked me up, and then kissed me on the cheek before screaming more. Everyone on our team then came over and did the same thing. Henri then picked me up and put me on his shoulders.” William replied. “He kept cheering and screaming, and then the game finished, and he carried on carrying me until we got back to the changing rooms. Henri kept on complimenting me on getting the final goal.”

Chuckling at hearing that, Horin leant forward as she picked up her mug of hot chocolate. “Sounds like you made his day.”

“Does Henri have feelings for me then?” William asked in a deadpan but concerned tone.

Almost coughing up her drink from his expression, Horin placed her hand across her face as she took out a serviette and wiped her face carefully. She shook her head, “Without asking him outright, I don’t want to speak for him and say no outright, but from the sounds of it, he was being a true teammate and was expressing how happy your actions made him feel from that game. It must have been important to him.”

“He ended up following me around the cafeteria at lunch, then sat with me for the rest of our classes that day. Every so often, he kept hugging me and laughing at anything I said.” William said, sounding a bit uneasy about it all. 

Intrigued by his further comment, Horin relaxed in her chair and sipped on her mug before he said anything else. “You seem uncomfortable with that; why is that, William?”  

The teenager took a moment to think, “I suppose…I mean…I just guess….” He paused. “I’m not sure, to be honest.” He lingered a bit more before sharing more of his thoughts. “It’s not as if I didn’t appreciate it, and it’s not as if I don’t think he was being mean. Henri is a nice guy, and he’s always been considerate to me and Jordan since we came aboard. In fact, he and his brothers have always been kind to me and Jordan. I know Jordan spends a lot of time with Alfie, especially since they’re cadets together. I suppose I just wasn’t expecting it.”

“Henri is a good lad, and what I think you experienced is someone who was reaching out and wanting to be your friend at that moment. Have you spent time with Henri or his brothers outside of school?” Horin checked though she had an inkling that she knew the answer already.

“Well, there’s been a few times when our dads have made us meet up with them and their dad for like meals, and we’ve done a couple of visits to the holodeck,” William answered.

“Without your fathers, I meant,” Horin corrected him.

“Then no,” He answered flatly. 

Keeping her smile, Horin gave out more advice to the teenager. “So, why don’t you see if Henri wants to hang out just the two of you as friends?”

“Are you certain he doesn’t fancy me?” William checked. 

Chuckling, Horin shook her head. “Without you asking him outright, I can’t be certain but from the sounds of it I don’t think this is the case.” She paused, “Back to what you said earlier, though. Do you mind Henri calling you Will?”

He considered it for a moment, “I suppose not; it’s easier to say then, William.”

“Well, if you become close friends, you may develop a nickname for him,” Horin suggested. “Now, you mentioned before it all happened while you two were playing soccer. Did you know spectators can enjoy that game?”

“No?”

“Well, it’s like many sports; people from all races and cultures enjoy watching it as much as playing it. Why don’t you suggest to Henri that the two of you watch a match together, say on the holodeck? There’s plenty of options to pick from on the holodeck.” Horin suggested. 

“Yeah, I suppose,” William replied with a couple of nods. 

“Good. Are you going to the diplomatic function tonight?” Horin checked. 

He nodded, “Yeah, my dads are making me go.”

“Excellent, then I know Henri will be there with his father. Ask him there, and then as I am there too, I want you to let me know you’ve organised it before the reception ends.” Horin said, sounding more commanding than supportive. 

“Okay,” William agreed.

Horin made some notes on her PADD and then put it back down on the coffee table before them. “Is there anything else you want to discuss, William?”

Shaking his head, he replied with a simple no. “Are we done for this week?”

“There’s one more thing from last week I want to check in on,” Horin said. “We discussed last week that you want to know something from your past.”

William sighed, “Yeah, well, seeing as that’s never going to happen, why did I bother to bring it up?”

“There’s nothing wrong in bringing it up, William,” Horin assured him, “And I know Doctor Slyvexs has said that the extremely long time you spent in cryostasis has affected your long-term memory,”

“You mean it’s screwed it up and that it’s all pure blankness up there,” William interrupted before pointing to his forehead. 

“Your words, not mine,” Horin corrected him, “and I can sense those same feelings about this topic surfacing again, so I want to know if you did that exercise we spoke about to help you?”

“You mean, write that pretend letter?” William checked after a heavy groan.

“The letter to your mother where you express how you felt about the whole situation, yes,” Horin confirmed. “Did you do it?”

After a second, he knew he couldn’t lie to Horin. “No,” He sighed deeply.

“Why’s that?” 

“It’s a stupid idea.”

Surprised at how caviler he was, Horin leaned on the arm of the sofa. “Why is it stupid?” 

“It’s not as if she’s ever going to hear it,” He replied.

Appreciating the honesty, Horin understood where he was coming from. “Okay, what if you flipped it on its head and write it to your fathers instead?”

“Why?”

“Why not?” Horin encouraged him as she leant forward. “William, this is an essential part of you dealing with what happened. Sharing is vital to come to terms with what we’ve gone through. Now you may not want to write a letter to your mother, but if you put it in words to your fathers, they would be able to relate to you. They spent over two and half months with you, so they will understand on some level. Writing about it will help you see what you’re thinking and feeling. Then it will be up to you to share it with them.”

“Can I do it with you next week if I promise to ask Henri out to see a soccer match before next week’s session?” William tried to negotiate a deal. 

Horin relented and agreed with a nod. “Very well, Will.” She emphasised calling him by the shortened name he had spoken about earlier. 

Chuckling a bit, he thanked her for their time and the hot chocolate before standing up as their session ended. Walking him out towards the door, she reassured him that she was proud of how far he had come since she first met him. “You’re doing well, William, and as I’ve said before, take one step at a time.”

“Thank you, Counsellor.” He said with a friendly smile before he pressed the button to open the door. He was startled a bit by the sudden appearance of Commander Hunsen standing by the bulkhead near the doorframe. 

“Oh, oops, sorry,” The chief engineer said with a smile. “Hey, William, how are you doing?”

William looked at the counsellor and then back to Hunsen. “I’m good, thanks, sir.” He then made his way out down the corridor and towards the turbolift.

Hunsen watched the teenager for a bit before turning his focus back to Horin. “Hey,” He said with a smile.

“Hey,” She repeated back before heading back into her office, “you appear to be in a cheerful mood!”

Following her in, Hunsen allowed the door to close behind him before he spoke. “Well, is there a crime for me to be cheerful, Imzadi?”

“No,” Horin said as she went to the coffee table and picked up the empty mugs of hot chocolate before taking them over to the replicator to recycle. “That said, I’ve never seen you pull a double shift in engineering and come out of it appearing so…happy.”

“Well, I’m happy for several reasons,” Hunsen explained as he followed up behind her and placed his arms around her, “For one, the upgrades to the impulse manifolds went without a hitch, two I get to attend a state dinner and three I get to take the most beautiful woman in the galaxy to it.”

“Someone HAS had a good day,” Horin said after pressing the recycle button before turning around in Hunsen’s arms and placing her hands on his shoulders. “And I don’t think it’s a state dinner.”

“What are you talking about?” Hunsen said after Horin let go of him and broke free of his gentle grasp to carry on tidying up her office.

Turning back around as she moved her PADDS, Horin explained what she meant. “I mean, it’s not classed as a state dinner. I believe Craigen referred to it as a diplomatic function.”

“No, I’m sure Max told me it’s a state dinner. We’re having a meal with the head of state. It’s a state dinner.” Hunsen said.

Wincing at his words, Horin shook her head. “Chairperson Adale made it clear this isn’t a state visit; this Brenari colony doesn’t consider themselves the official government of the Brenari people.”

“So, do I still need to wear my dress uniform?” Hunsen checked.

“Yes!” Horin replied, “It’s still a diplomatic function!”

Hunsen sighed. “There are times I regret agreeing to be the third officer.”

“Imzadi, you know that’s a lie. You love it,” She said as he put the final of her things away and pulled on his hand. “Now come on, we need to change, and I’m sure I’ve got to replicate a new dress uniform for this bump!” She said, pointing to her abdomen and where her pregnancy was starting to show. 

“You look perfect to me!” Hunsen said in a charming tone. 

“Thank the four deities; you’re not the first officer; with cheesy lines like that, you would probably start an interstellar incident!” Horin chuckled as they left her office, hand in hand.

“Captain’s log, stardate seven-seven-eight-three-five point four-five. Since our rescue efforts of a Brenari refugee convoy out of chaotic space over a week ago, we have enjoyed learning more about these people. Their colony has become a sanctuary for those who have been able to escape the tyranny of the Devore Imperium. Hidden in a region of space they have called The Gaharey Sanctum, we have been cut off from Starfleet during this time due to the high levels of gaseous anomalies, radiation from supernova remnants and false vacuum fluctuations. There are also high levels of electromagnetic distortions, creating further interference with all long-range communications.  To ensure that Starfleet does not think we have been lost with all hands, I have sent Commander Banfield and Lieutenant Commander T’Rani out on the Telemachus to drop a communications relay on the edge of the Sanctum and send an update that we are currently mapping this area of space. We are not informing them of the Brenari colony until I am satisfied our messages aren’t intercepted by the Devore or any other aggressive neighbouring species. In the meantime, the crew have been invited by Chief Mayor Adale to join the Brenari for a monthly event called the Festival of Honesty.”

“Hey, dad, is this smart enough?” Henri asked as he stopped in the open doorway of his father’s bedroom. 

Looking away from the mirror he was using to dress himself in, Captain James McCallister turned around to see his son standing there looking extremely smart in an almost shiny dark blue suit with an open-collar black shirt. “Handsome, very handsome, Henri,” He replied as he finished doing up his dress uniform jacket. Noticing from his reflection in the mirror he hadn’t put his pips on, he turned to Henri and asked him to help him with it. 

Agreeing, Henri entered his father’s room and started to help place the pips on the jacket. “I would have thought the captain of the Odyssey would be used to dressing himself for this type of occasion.”

“Now behave,” James countered back to his son with a cheeky wink, “you’re starting to sound like your mother.”

“She used to moan about helping you put your pips on every time you wore this outfit,” Henri replied as he put the third one on. “And she’s right, you know?”

“About what?” James asked as he smoothed his jacket out. 

“You never think to put these on before you put the jacket on!” Henri chuckled as he put the last pip on. “Isn’t this your twelfth diplomatic function in the past four months?”

“Fifteenth, actually,” James corrected his son as he checked himself out in the mirror, ensuring the pips were in a straight line. Satisfied that his son had done a great job, he turned to him. “And who knows how many more before the end of this year! It’s a good thing I’ve got you to help me out with these,” He said, pointing to the four silver pips on his uniform. 

Henri just shook his head. “Well, at least this one might be fun.”

“Diplomatic functions aren’t meant to be fun, Henri. They’re meant to be informative and provide both parties with a chance to share in a social event that allows them to develop bridges of understanding.” James replied as he sat on the edge of his bed and started pulling his black, shiny, polished boots on. 

“I don’t see how us listening to an opera that no one could understand was beneficial to diplomatic efforts,” Henri stated bluntly.

“The Qomar’s musical development is something…different,” James admitted, referring to their visit to the Qomar Planetary Alliance several weeks ago. “Nevertheless, they’ve seen outsiders as inferior for a long time. Our return to the Delta Quadrant has meant they’ve been able to share their creative flare with those who exposed it to them in the first place. This is progress!

“Dad, their version of opera made Klingon Opera appear…calm,” Henri said, wincing at remembering the experience. “Now will this Festival of Truth-”

“Honesty,” James corrected his son as he put on the other boot.

“Yeah, Honesty, will it involve us having to listen to any singing?” Henri asked. 

Shrugging his shoulders, the captain answered his son honestly. “I don’t know; all I know is it’s something they’ve celebrated every month since they settled here.”

Rolling his eyes, Henri begged his father not to allow him to endure a repeat of what happened on the Qomar homeworld. “Please, dad, I don’t think I could cope.”

“Hey, I don’t often ask you and your brothers to join me for many things; lately, it’d be nice for us to spend the evening together putting the Federation’s best foot forward.” James returned. 

Groaning again, Henri placed his hands on his hips. “Dad, you’ve made us attend every single diplomatic function since Starfleet sent you on this goodwill tour of the Delta Quadrant,”      

“Oh, I’m so sorry for disturbing your precious social life fifteen times!” James stated after standing up from his bed. “How do I look?”

Henri looked at his dad and smiled. “Looking good, dad,” He said after calming his tone down. “The Federation President would approve.”

“I hope so,” James said with a smirk before checking himself out one more time in the mirror. “Come on, let’s see if your brothers are ready.”

Captain McCallister put his arm around his son’s shoulders as they walked out of his room together. They headed down the stairs to see if Alfie and Theo were ready for another round of diplomatic dialogue with the Delta Quadrant.

The door chime to his quarters went off, and Lieutenant Commander Flemen responded with a simple ‘come in’ in an annoyed tone. Wrestling his dress suit jacket, the diplomatic officer tried to pin his pips on but was struggling to get them to look straight as per expected regulations. 

“Craigen, where are you?” Lieutenant Commander Tomaz called out as he entered his friend’s quarters with his son S’Tem riding on his back. Tomaz was not alone. Walking behind him was Counsellor Samris. “Where is he?” Tomaz asked his friend.

Samris shrugged before they both heard a loud, aggravated groan from the bedroom. 

Entering the bedroom, they both found Flemen standing in his dress uniform, attempting to place his pips on while staring at his reflection but getting increasingly flustered with each try. His reactions made S’Tem laugh. 

“Why aren’t you ready yet?” Samris asked as he walked over to where Flemen stood and gestured an offer to help him. 

“I had to update the memo to everyone who was going tonight as, for some reason, some senior staff members thought it was a state dinner,” Flemen said as he winced at trying to get comfortable in his dress uniform jacket, “And I can never get this jacket done up properly.”

“Hold still,” Samris said as he helped his friend. “I told you the last time you should replicate a new dress uniform. This one does not fit you.”

“My dress uniform size has not changed since my days at the academy.” Flemen lightly protested.

Samris chuckled as he helped zip his friend up into his uniform, “Of course, it hasn’t, Craigen,” He said sarcastically. “Those extra workouts you’ve been doing lately have nothing to do with it.”

“Tomaz will back me up that having a strict workout regiment is important for success with the Command Program,” Flemen replied and looked over his shoulder for support from his other friend.

Tomaz shook his head, showing he wasn’t having any of that. “Nope, don’t try and get me involved with this one. You’ve been trying to keep up with Commander Lenjir in the gym, especially since that incident on the Pendari homeworld left you in that…awkward position. I told you before, that guy is a beefcake; you’ll never have the same physique as our chief security and tactical officer.”

“Hey, I can be a beefcake if I want to!” Flemen opposed with a smirk.

“More like chocolate cake,” Samris replied as he fixed the last pip onto Flemen’s collar. 

S’Tem laughed at Samris’ comment.

Flemen heard S’Tem’s reaction and threw his hands up for help towards the boy. “Hey, S’Tem, my little buddy, you’re meant to be on my side, not daddy’s side and especially not Uncle Samris!”

“I like chocolate cake, Uncle Craigen,” S’Tem said as he extended his hands out to be carried by the diplomatic officer. 

“Me too, unfortunately,” Flemen admitted as he took the young Romulan boy in his arms. Now ready for their diplomatic function, the three men made their way out of his quarters and towards the transporter room. 

“As ever, my dear, you look beautiful,” Mettex said as he walked arm-in-arm with his wife. 

“Always the charmer, Mettex,” Doctor Slyvexs replied with a smile in appreciation. “If only Starfleet made their dress uniforms to be a bit more flattering.”

“I think I preferred the older version, the first one you had after graduating from the academy. It showed your legs off well,” Mettex remarked with a wide grin. 

Chuckling at her husband, Slyvexs ignored that comment. “I hope you promise to be on your best behaviour this time, Mettex.” 

“I always am, my dear,” He replied. “I don’t know what you mean by that. Are you insinuating something?”

“I don’t think the captain appreciated having to defend why you added spices to your meal in front of the Kadi leader,” Slyvex reminded him as they turned a junction. 

“Kadi food was very bland, and I’m pretty certain Supreme Abbott Tomin agreed with me,” Mettex rebuttal. 

“It was meant to be bland, Mettex; the Kadi don’t believe in overpowering the senses,” Slyvexs said, rolling her eyes. “Anyway, remember the Brenari are an open culture, but that doesn’t mean you share everything with them.”

Realising his wife was warning him not to show her up in front of the rest of the crew, Mettex went along with it. “I won’t, my dear; anything else?”

“Just don’t ask that question you asked the captain the other day to any of them,” Slyvexs asked.

“I think it’s a legitimate question, Slyvexs,” Mettex objected, “who names a region of space after a word used by their oppressors which means ‘alien’.”

“I think the more appropriate definition is ‘outsider’,” Slyvexs replied, “the Brenari may have a sick sense of humour by using the term gaharey.”

“I’m not sure it’s appropriate to be ironic in such ways,” Mettex stated.

“Well, either way, just don’t ask why!” Slyvexs begged him.

“Okay, okay, I won’t ask it, but if they read my mind and I’m thinking it, then I can’t help it, my dear!” Mettex said as he held up his hands in surrender.

“Just don’t think about it then!” Slyvexs told him in a firmer tone as they reached the transporter room doors. She shook her head, hoping that she wasn’t about to walk into another diplomatic incident with her husband. 

“Now remember, Lukiz, keep us in a low orbit, make sure the upgrades to the impulse manifolds don’t come out of alignment and ensure our low warp profile is maintained,” Commander Duncan said as he walked down the corridor with Lieutenant Commander Jen beside him while his family was behind them.

“Max, I’m pretty certain Lukiz can command the vessel without us for a few hours,” Court said, showing his support for the operations officer before getting a smirk from Jordan. William was keeping to himself.  

Shooting his husband a look, Duncan then looked back at the joined Trill. “I know you can, Lukiz, and I know you’ve done it like a million times, but I know the captain is keen to ensure that our presence isn’t detected to avoid us having to set up a permanent defence grid here or help relocate the Brenari.”

Jen laughed before replying, “It’s okay, sir; I promise you we will keep everything in line while you’re having some fun at the Brenari. Lieutenant Marova is holding a steady hand at the helm, Lieutenant Jines is monitoring the manifolds, and Lieutenant Tierra is keeping an eye on the warp drive.” Noticing that the first officer was about to say something else, Jen jumped in before his superior had the chance for another word to come out of his mouth. “Before you say it, sir, Lieutenant Abbej is gleefully guarding over the sensors to ensure what we can see in this area is…well seen.”

Duncan gave out a sigh of relief. “I appreciate it, Lukiz; I really do.”

As they approached the transporter room, it was becoming quite busy, with a large crowd ready to beam down.

Captain McCallister stood in the centre; he turned to face the latest arrivals after hearing the doors hiss open. “All set and ready to go, Number One?” He asked Duncan. 

Duncan looked at Jen and nodded. “Commander Jen has everything in hand, sir.”

Lenjir interrupted them as he stepped forward from the corner he was hanging around by, “Sir, sorry to interrupt, but Lieutenant Jisaraa reports that the beam-in site is secure.”

McCallister sighed. “Cline, do we really need to have a protection detail with us?”

The tall, broad-shouldered Tiburonian looked at his commanding officer, “Sir, do I need to remind you about your altercation with the Lokirrim envoy? Or when Prelate Vinkar attempted to steal Penelope’s program from our database while we orbited Qomar? Or could I mention the Benkaran group that tried to mug Doctor Slyvexs? Or perhaps our favourite diplomatic mission when the Pendarian delegation kidnapped Lieutenant Commander Flemen and wanted to mate with him as they believed he was their messiah?”

Realising that Lenjir had a point, McCallister relented and gave up on his protest. “Very well, commander, but I’d like to point out that in every one of those situations, we were able to resolve them and in some way, they helped with our goodwill tour of the Delta Quadrant.”

“Craigen’s diplomatic overtures certainly helped our corner with the Pendari,” Court remarked with a chuckle.

“If memory serves me correctly when the Hazard Team rescued Craigen, I believe Lieutenant Keli’s words were that Craigen had no issues with the number of naked women and men that were trying to serve him,” Tomaz said with a cheeky smirk.

“As I said, his diplomatic overtures did help us.” Court stated with an extra chuckle. 

“Hey, I was considering the needs of the many!” Flemen said in his defence. 

“I thought you said it was more like infinitive diversity in infinite combinations?” Slyvexs asked, joining in with the banter. 

Hunsen then spoke up. “No, I think that was Lieutenant Keli’s report; she definitely said the Pendari were all in an infinite number of combinations when it came to the positions they found them in when Craigen was tied up to that sacred pole topless.”

“It was a holy totem, actually!” Flemen corrected the chief engineer.  

“Okay, okay, people, let’s stop tormenting Commander Flemen’s recent diplomatic…exchanges,” McCallister said as he considered the last word carefully (which resulted in further laughter from the group) before he looked back at Lenjir. “Point taken though, Cline.”

“Thank you, sir,” Lenjir said with a smirk. 

“Right then, Lieutenant Commander Jen, the ship is yours. Everyone else on the transporter pad,” McCallister ordered, “And let’s put the Federation’s best foot forward with the Brenari.”

“And try to keep it in your pants, Craigen!” Tomaz remarked with a further grin at his friend just as the captain said ‘energise’ to the transporter chief. The chuckles were suppressed by the transporter beam effect engulfing them all. 

“Chief Science Officer’s log, stardate seven-seven-eight-three-five point seven. Telemachus has successfully sent a hyper-subspace message to Starfleet, informing them of the Odyssey’s current whereabouts and our mapping exercise of the Gaharey Sanctum. In exchange, they are sending us back with a briefing package for the captain’s eyes only.”

Sipping on a mug of raktajino while sitting at the science station, Commander Corella Banfield was enjoying reviewing the current sensor readings. “There’s a lot of interesting graviton fluctuations coming not so far from here, bearing two-one-three mark four-seven.”

“Can you be more specific, ma’am?” T’Rani asked from the helm. 

Spinning around in her chair, Banfield then stood up as she answered. “Not at this distance, prepare to alter course-” She was interrupted by the ship starting to shake. Banfield quickly returned to the captain’s chair in the centre of the room and stuck her mug into the cupholder. “Report?”

“Those graviton fluctuations have increased exponentially, commander,” T’Rani answered. The ship started to shudder a lot more. “Sensors are detecting a massive energy wave heading in our direction!”

“Shields up, red alert, onscreen!” Banfield commanded in a calm but crisp manner. 

Everything she ordered happened one after the after. The Aquarius-class ship shields were raised, and the red alert klaxon was sounded, followed by the dimming of its main lights. The main screen changed to show the energy wave that T’Rani reported. It was a shockwave pushing through space and subspace; straight away, Banfield recognised what it was. There was no way they would outrun it. 

“T’Rani, cut our engines, and all hands brace for impact!” She gripped her chair’s arm after activating the bridge seatbelts for everyone. The shockwave hit the ship, throwing the small vessel over on its axis and starting to spin out of control.

“Lieutenant Commander T’Rani,” Banfield shouted over the commotion as panels exploded from the outside pressure. “Fire full starboard thrusters and turn us into the wave!”

“Aye, commander,” T’Rani replied as she attempted to regain control of the ship. Her actions were slowly making a difference for the small vessel.

“Go to one-quarter impulse; push us through the wave nice and easily,” Banfield instructed, once things seemed  

The Telemachus turned around, faced the shockwaves, and rode over the ripples before hitting the tail end. A powerful crimson flash hit the ship, knocking it back on itself. Spinning out of control, the Telemachus drifted out of control. More explosions erupted on the bridge, and bulkheads fell around the crew. 

Finding herself forced against the left arm of her chair, holding on to dear life even with her being buckled into it, Banfield held by the urge to swear aloud. Her inner half Klingon was crying out, but she was shielding it from the rest of the crew. The pain that had gone through her abdomen was excruciating; rather than focus on it, she tried to concentrate on taking back command of her vessel. She needed to stabilise them, so she undid her buckle and attempted to get herself to the helm. With the ship spinning out of control, the internal dampeners were not compensating enough to keep her from falling all around. Using what strength she knew she had, she pulled herself over to the helm, finding T’Rani had been knocked out cold (most likely when that last wave had hit them). Gazing around her bridge, she noticed the other crew members were unconscious. 

“Computer, is the Emergency Holographic Systems operational?” Banfield asked, wincing with pain. 

“Affirmative.”

“Activate all of them, authorisation Banfield-two-two-beta-charlie,” She ordered while attempting to bring the ship to a gradual halt while holding onto her side. 

Holograms then appeared around the command chair; in the centre was a version of Odyssey’s Emergency Command Hologram, Penelope.

“Please state the nature of the command request,” Penelope said before she looked around and soon updated herself with what the ship’s sensors were telling us. “Nevermind, Commander Banfield, are you okay?”

Nodding, she ordered Penelope and her fellow photonic officers to secure the ship and help the injured crew. “Bridge to sickbay,” Banfield called out after tapping her combadge. 

“Doctor Forbes, here, commander. Are you okay?” Forbes responded.

Glad to hear the Senior Assistant Chief Medical Officer was still with them, Banfield smiled before she answered him, “Doctor, we’ve got injured up here.”

“I’ve got injured down here too, commander; I’m assuming that’s why the EMH just came online?” Forbes inquired.

“Indeed, do we have any fatalities?” Banfield asked next, dreading his answers.

Forbes answered her silent prayers. “No, just bruises and cuts, a few headaches but nothing too serious.”

“Keep me posted, Banfield out,” She tapped her combadge and looked over to where the holographic bridge crew had taken over. “Penelope, what’s our status?”

Though she was the ECH, with Banfield still fit for command, the ship’s command codes had yet to be transferred over to Penelope, so instead, the ECH took on the role of the acting first officer while T’Rani was taken to sickbay with the injured. “The ship has sustained massive damage; we are dead in the water.”

Strolling over to the science station, Banfield attempted to get the sensors working. “That shockwave that hit us looked very much like something I remember from one of my history classes at the academy.”

“Which class, commander?” Penelope asked as she joined Banfield by her side to see the chief science officer running a comparative scan. The hologram was surprised to see what Banfield had loaded up. “Praxis?” 

“Praxis,” Banfield confirmed, “The early days of the Klingon-Federation alliance was a module I excelled in; I remember staying up one night reading the logs of the USS Excelsior after they were hit by the Praxis shockwave.”

“You think there’s a correlation?” Penelope asked. 

Banfield nodded just as the answer she was searching for was confirmed. “That shockwave that just hit us was an explosion from a small planetoid on the edge of this sector filled with dilithium.”

“Correct me if I am wrong, commander, but I didn’t think Odyssey detected any sources of dilithium when we entered this sector of space? Also, there weren’t any other life signs besides those from the rescued refugee ship.” Penelope raised. 

“You’re right, Penelope; either we missed something when we entered, or something happened while we’ve been in the Gaharey Sanctum,” Banfield said as she leaned back in her chair, perplexed by the mystery before them.

The intercom went off, and the ship’s Emergency Engineering Hologram voice followed. “Troy to the bridge.”

Tapping her combadge, Penelope answered him, “Go ahead, Troy, what’s our status?”

“The plasma injectors are badly damaged, we don’t have warp drive, and the impulse reactors are in a similar state. We are not going anywhere soon, ma’am.” He reported.

Banfield sighed heavily at hearing that news. Without warp or impulse, they were stuck here until Odyssey came looking for them. Considering her options, she wasn’t prepared to send an away team on board their only shuttlecraft to get help; if another shockwave hit, they would be in no state to survive. “Is the emergency distress beacon still operational?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Troy responded. 

“Then launch it and send it in the direction of the subspace amplifier we left at the edge of the Gaharey Sanctum. We can only hope the Odyssey picks it up when they see we are late in returning. Then get to work on repairing our shields and other damaged systems.”

“Understood, ma’am, Troy out.” The intercom closed from his end.

Standing up, Banfield told Penelope she was heading down to sickbay and left her in command of the bridge. 

Stepping into sickbay, Banfield had already encountered members of her crew sitting on stretchers outside in the corridor. She could see what Forbes meant when he was dealing with a good number of the crew that were injured. Seeing him treating T’Rani on one of the biobeds, she made her way over.

“How is she, doctor?” Banfield asked, stopping just at the foot of the bed.

Forbes looked over, as did T’Rani, who was now conscious. “She has a severe concussion and an unusual chemical imbalance in her prefrontal cortex.”

Banfield looked at the Vulcan pilot, “How do you feel, T’Rani?” 

“Besides the headache, I will be well.” T’Rani insisted.

Forbes rolled his eyes. “Commander T’Rani, you’ve endured severe trauma. You’re not leaving sickbay for the next twenty-four hours while we treat and observe you. Doctor’s orders.”

T’Rani hesitated initially before bowing her head in surrender to the doctor. “Very well, doctor.” She turned to Banfield, “Do we know what hit us?”

“A shockwave from a planetoid on the edge of the sector filled with dilithium,” Banfield answered. 

“Fascinating,” T’Rani responded.

“Well, that planetoid isn’t there anymore, as the explosion blew it up into thousands of pieces. We have no idea what caused the explosion, but from what we recall before entering this sector, we didn’t pick up on seeing the dilithium on our sensors.” Banfield shared.

“Our sensors have been known to miss such material, depending on the quantity of it,” T’Rani suggested. 

Banfield shook her head, “No, we should have seen it, T’Rani. For that explosion to occur, it would require the entire planetoid to be filled with extremely high levels of dilithium. Unfortunately, we cannot investigate.”

“I assume our engines were damaged by the shockwave,” T’Rani said.

“Both warp and impulse are offline; we’re not going anywhere until Odyssey rescues us,” Banfield answered before returning to Forbes, “Doctor, I’m going to need every-”

“-able-bodied crewman at their post,” Forbes said, finishing her sentence. “I promise I won’t keep anybody here a second longer than I have to, commander.”

“Thank you,” Banfield said as she rubbed her forehead.

Taking out his tricorder, Forbes approached her. “Here, stand still for a second; it looks like you’ve got a nice bump coming through.”

“Along with the other bumps up there?” Banfield asked, referring to her forehead ridges.

Forbes quietly snickered at her casual remarks about her Klingon heritage, “It’s nothing too serious, thankfully.” He then injected her with a hypospray. “A bit of pain relief.”

“Thank you, doctor,” Banfield said before excusing herself from his company and T’Rani’s to head back to the bridge. 

Returning to the bridge, Banfield stopped by the replicator near the entrance and ordered another mug of raktajino. Taking the drink out of the replicator, the aroma was a warm welcome; just as her lips touched the mug, she took a long sip. “Report,” She asked after she swallowed the warm Klingon coffee. 

“Troy has sent out the distress beacon; it should get in range of the subspace amplifier within six hours; however, we’ve got something else to show you,” Penelope answered as she activated a set of floating holographic displays. “We’ve just conducted another sensor sweep of the sector and are detecting more dilithium crystal signatures.”

“How is that possible?” Banfield questioned Penelope as she looked at the readings and was in an utter state of disbelief. “We should have picked them up ages ago.”

“Yes, we should, but that shockwave has somehow lit them all up on our sensors like a Christmas tree, but that’s not the only thing sensors have shown us,” Penelope remarked before pointing to the other display. “Long-range sensors have detected another Brenari refugee ship nearby and on the far edge of the sector, two Devore warships.”

“Seriously?” Banfield couldn’t believe their luck. 

“We’re only detecting them as we adjusted our sensors to see Brenari ships, based on that last refugee ship we rescued on the Odyssey,” Penelope explained. “The refugee ship is using the same modified refractive shielding system just like the one we rescued. The Devore, though, appear to be in a more problematic situation than we are.”

“Clarify,” Banfield insisted. 

Penelope tapped on the holographic display, “They were closer to the shockwave when it hit them. They’ve sustained heavy damage and are fully disabled; we’re reading minimal power from them.”

“So, for now, they can’t move?” Banfield checked, already knowing the answer.

“For now, yes,” Penelope confirmed, “but they may have got a distress call out. The Brenari and we could be visited by an inspection team if the Odyssey does not pick up our distress call in time.”

 “Can we contact the Brenari ship?” Banfield asked. 

“We can, but I advise against it,” Penelope replied, “if the Devore do turn up to help their ships, then they may detect our call. I recommend we maintain radio silence.” 

Lifting her mug up, Banfield sighed massively before gulping down a large amount of her drink. “Then we need to get creative in preparing ourselves in case the Devore do turn up.”

“Agreed, ma’am; I’ll start handing out weapons and begin working on tactical strategies to prepare for the worse,” Penelope stated.

Banfield returned to the centre seat and dropped into it. She regretted agreeing to this mission, wishing she was back on the Odyssey attending the diplomatic function with the others.

It was a warm evening, and the sun had set some time ago. The celebrations for the Festival of Honesty had come to a gradual close, and people were starting to call it a night. Walking among the quiet paths of the Village of Kys, Captain McCallister was enjoying a conversation with their host, Chief Mayor Adale. She was the leader of the Brenari and held the dual role of Chairperson and Chief Mayor for the colony. A tallish woman, who appeared to be middle-aged, had short blonde hair cut into a loose bob. Her green eyes were mesmerising, and McCallister had found himself struggling not to appreciate spending time with her. She was an extremely smart and versatile woman who led her people with deep care and affection. Every word she spoke was said with a tone of elegance and calmness.

Moving away from the centre of the festivities, the two leaders made their way through the village. The Brenari settlement was tranquil and showed how much the people who lived there cared for their community. Though they were technologically able, after settling on this planet in the middle of a dangerous region of space, the Brenari had chosen not to build large cities. Instead, they had opted for a more basic, rural approach to their lives. Becoming more of an agrarian society, they used what the land offered them, and their homes were no bigger than two or three storeys high. Technology was barely used by the inhabitants. They had opted for a more basic way of living. 

“I still cannot get over how your people have developed this planet in the past twenty-five years,” McCallister said as they stepped into a courtyard with a water fountain in the centre. “What you have here, Adale is close to paradise itself.” 

Smiling in appreciation for his flattering words, Adale thanked him. “I appreciate that James; I really do. My people have worked extremely hard to turn this world into a haven for those fleeing oppression from the Devore.”

“The fact you found this gem of a world in the middle of the most dangerous backdrop was highly fortunate,” McCallister added as they stopped by the water fountain and sat on a nearby bench together.  

“Our luck was only gained from the hard work of those who sacrificed so much. It’s one of the reasons why we celebrate Honesty every month. It is a time for us as a community to come together and remember who we are as a people and that honesty is important among us. Still, it is also a time to be truthful to ourselves and show appreciation for what we have. Your arrival is only another cause for celebration,” Adale said as she took hold of McCallister’s hand into hers. “If you hadn’t saved our recent convoy, those souls would have perished and not know what awaits them here.”

“We were lucky to be around to pick up their distress call,” McCallister said after adjusting himself to be a bit more comfortable with her move to hold his hand. 

“Your ship bravely transversed Chaotic Space and rescued four vessels with over a thousand of our people. We are in your debt, James,” Adale said softly before smiling at him. 

Realising just how close they were to each other, McCallister changed the subject of their conversation. “Tell me, Adale, do all of the villages on New Brenar celebrate the Festival of Honesty?”

 Sensing he was feeling a bit uncomfortable, Adale leaned back slowly to give him a bit of space before she answered. “They do; it’s a custom we’ve brought from where we fled. The Devore never believed that we were genuine in our intentions, but honesty among our people is important.”

“Because you could read each other’s minds?” McCallister asked.

She chuckled lightly, “It has something to do with that. We believe honesty builds trust, which builds strong relationships and strong relationships build communities.”

“Have those refugees we saved all settled into their new homes?” McCallister asked, still feeling uneasy about how close they were to one another. 

“We allowed them to pick from the villages we have built so far, and already they are starting a new chapter in their lives by settling into their new homes and communities. A few have even offered to help us build the next settlement,” Adale shared. 

“Already?” McCallister said, sounding impressed. “I do want to know why your people only build villages. Why not expand the village you have here? Before you get to any other settlement, there’s so much countryside around you.”

“This planet may sit in a region of space that prevents outsiders from seeing us, and as you know, captain, there are many more natural resources that prevent routine scans from determining what we have built down here. The high deposits of kelbonite are a natural defence for us, and the random ionic interference in the atmosphere makes detecting us even more of a struggle. However, if we keep our people in one place, and the Devore ever turn up, they could wipe us out in one motion. We can ensure we can survive by splitting ourselves up across the planet into smaller settlements,” Adale explained. “This world has so much to offer my people; why not use what it offers? Plus, it’s so beautiful; why spoil paradise?”

“There’s no argument from me about using what this planet can offer your people,” McCallister said in agreement with her. “I’m impressed that your people rarely use technology in their everyday lives.”

“It’s not as if we’re against technology, captain; we know it has its benefits, but when this planet is so enriched with resources that can sustain us, can you blame us for choosing to enjoy it with our own hands? The buildings we assemble use resources from the ground, and our food is grown naturally. Our people are well fed, and we can enjoy our lives by working together.”

“And rightly so, after what you have endured after years of tyranny from the Devore,” McCallister showed he understood where Adale’s people were coming from. “Why can’t you enjoy a bit of paradise?”

“Absolutely,” She smiled before standing up and holding her hand out to him. “Come with me; I want to show you something.”

Agreeing to her offer, McCallister stood up and naturally took her hand before she pulled him in close by linking her arm into his. “Do you think your people will ever properly return to the stars?”

“I can’t see us being as large as your Federation anytime soon,” She answered as they walked along a pebble-made path. Each footstep crunched on top of the small rocks. “For now, we plan to only use our ships to rescue refugees fleeing from the Devore. That in itself has to be precisely planned and done with as much secrecy as possible. They cannot know where we are or how we save those they pursue. Our underground movement is only known to a few people.”

“Talking of which,” McCallister remarked as they started to walk alongside a path near a slowly moving riverbank, “you never told me how you got your hands on so many Devore transports?”

“Once again, luck,” She answered, “I was a teenager with my mother when we were on a transport being sent to a Devore labour camp along with many others of our kind. The Devore would keep us all locked away in one large holding cell in their vessels. They were well shielded to prevent anyone from transporting us out and stopping us from having any telepathic contact with those outside the ship. Days before we reached the labour camp, our transport was part of a convoy hit by a neutronic wavefront. The Devore never saw it coming; every ship was engulfed by it. The sudden increase in radiation killed every Devore on those ships, but we were protected because our holding cells were well-shielded. Days later, we were able to bypass the security systems as they were damaged and found ourselves with four transports without any Devore guards. Furthermore, we were under the escort of a Devore warship. Once the wavefront had gone, we boarded it and were able to take control of it too. Eventually, we were able to free every Brenari and every other species that had been imprisoned by the Devore.”

“Wow, talk about being lucky,” McCallister said, sounding even more impressed. 

Adale flashed him another grin. “Our luck didn’t stop there. My mother was made the leader of our group, and after consulting everyone, she gave the order for us to head to the labour camp the Devore were planning to send us to.”

“I’m guessing it wasn’t to hand those ships back to the Devore?” McCallister asked with a wry smile.

Laughing, Adale shook her head. “Far from it, she had devised this grand plan of rescuing those in the camp. After reaching orbit, we discovered that the wavefront had hit the planet too. It had affected the camp, and again, we found the Devore soldiers all dead, but the Brenari and others were all alive due to the shielding built into their holding areas. There were over ten thousand souls now, all free from the Devore. Using the other vessels we found at the camp, we fled from the Devore. Using their own refractive shielding technology against them, we were able to evade their patrols and inspection teams.”

“Wow, that’s an impressive story,” McCallister said as they reached the side of a small stone bridge. “Your people must have been travelling for some time before they found this place.”

“No, luck continued to be on our side when we found an intermittent cyclical vortex, thanks to a scientist who sympathised with our cause,” Adale said. “The vortex brought us close to the Markonian Outpost. They were extremely generous in taking us for a bit, but we soon understood that we needed to find somewhere to settle down and away from anyone who could harm us. We took some of our ships to a nearby merchantman who owned a vast junkyard of vessels and traded them for other vessels and supplies. He was accommodating to our plight and suggested we meet with the Kadi for further supplies,”

“The Kadi?” McCallister repeated. “We’ve met with them, and we enjoyed our time learning about their culture.”

“Again, more lovely people who gave us the charity we needed. Their Supreme Abbott was generous and suggested we explore a region near them that they believed their Holy Goddess Mother had created to protect them from the Borg. Several months later, we found this place.” 

“And the rest, as they say, is history,” McCallister said with a smile, appreciating hearing the tale of how Adale’s people had got to where they were now. 

“Indeed,” She said, stopping in the middle of the bridge and pointing to the valley in front of them. The several moons in orbit of the planet were all present in the nightline.  “I come here most mornings to see the sunrise, but it is more magical at night.”

“It’s beautiful,” McCallister complimented the view. “It reminds me of my home.”

“So tell me, captain, how does a handsome man end up commanding such a powerful vessel so far from his home?” Adale inquired as she pulled the shawl she had on further above her shoulders and got close to him again. 

Realising she was flirting with him, McCallister leant against the bridge. She remained close to him. “Starfleet is hugely appealing to many in the Federation to see the galaxy. I’ve been fortunate to have a career where I’ve been able to do just that and get to meet and help some amazing people in return.”

 “Well, we appreciate your generosity, not only saving our ships but the medical supplies that Doctor Slyvexs has provided us are welcomed too,” Adale replied. “How much longer will you be with us?”

“If we can explore the Sanctum a bit more, as it is an unusual collection of spatial anomalies that is worthy of investigating,” McCallister stated, “I’d imagine another few more days if that’s okay with you?”

“Go ahead; we will not stand in your way.” Adale told him, “just avoid attracting too much attention from any outsiders.”

“We will do our best to do that,” McCallister assured her. 

“Good, because I would hate to end my term as Chief Mayor having to tell my people to evacuate our homes,” She mentioned before placing her arm back around his and continuing their walk over the bridge. 

McCallister chuckled, “When does your tenure come to an end?”

Sighing heavily, Adale answered him. “In a few days. I am looking forward to resting and returning to what I was doing before.”

“And what was that?” McCallister asked.

“Hopefully, a bit of teaching,” She answered, sounding hopeful, “when my mother retired as the de facto leader, she returned to her roots of teaching the next generation about the universe. She was a scientist initially and felt it was important that our young are given an education that makes them more wholesome. Knowledge is the key to unlocking so many avenues.”

“Sounds perfect,” McCallister said. “I did a stint of teaching myself; in fact, I trained several of my crew before I became captain of the Odyssey.”

“Well, I have to wait to see if there’s a place for me at our college. If not, I suppose it will be either returning to the fields to help with the latest harvest,” She remarked. “Otherwise, I may go travel this world.”

“I could always pull in a few favours and get you a teaching position within Starfleet Academy!” McCallister joked. 

“If I’m not needed here, I may take you up on that offer!” Adale said with a wink. “You mentioned to me before that one of your sons is training to become an officer.”

“Alfie,” McCallister confirmed with a nod, “He’s very eager.”

“The young normally are eager,” She replied. “Your sons are a beautiful reflection on you, James; you must be very proud of them.”

“I am,” McCallister admitted. “They’ve had a tough year, but they’ve not let it stop them from becoming the amazing people they are.”

“I hope you don’t mind me saying, but I did sense within them that they carry the sadness of losing their mother close to their hearts,” Adale said, carefully picking the words she used. 

McCallister knew what she meant by that. “No surprise there; Karyn was a major part of our lives. They miss her incredibly.” 

“As much as you do,” Adale said, comforting McCallister with a stroke of his arm with her free hand. “I know loss can be a burden we carry for the rest of our lives. My mother died last year, and she was the only family I knew, but I took much comfort that in her last days with us, she saw her daughter take on the role she had founded years ago. I am sure your wife was proud of your sons, just as much as I can sense you are.”

“Oh, she was incredibly proud of them,” McCallister answered as they stopped before coming to the end of the bridge. “Adale, I have to say I have really enjoyed spending-”

McCallister was interrupted by his combadge going off. “Odyssey to Captain McCallister,” spoke Lieutenant Commander Jen.

Sighing heavily at the interruption, McCallister apologised to Adale before replying to his ops officer. “Go ahead, Lukiz.”

“Sorry for the interruption, sir, but the Telemachus has failed to return, and our link with the communication relay we left at the edge of the Sanctum has picked up a distress beacon approaching it. Its ID signal shows it’s from the Telemachus.”

Alarmed to hear that, McCallister looked away at Adale, “Start to recall the crew on the surface at once, then, Lukiz and begin preparations to break orbit.”

“Aye, sir,” Jen replied. r

Tapping his badge to speak to Adale privately, McCallister turned to the Brenari leader. “Adale, we need to check this out, just in case.”

“No, I understand; please keep us informed of what you discover,” She replied before closing the distance between them and placing both hands on either side of his cheeks. “Thank you for this evening,” She then leant in and kissed him on the cheek. “Just come back to us.”

Surprised by her affectionate gesture, McCallister just nodded with a small smile before calling up to his ship to beam him up.

Hissing open, the turbolift doors parted, allowing the group to enter the bridge. 

“I really hope this is a sensor glitch, Lukiz,” Commander Hunsen stated as he led the group out of the lift.

The Trill operations manager turned in the captain’s chair to see the return of the senior staff who had been visiting the planet below them. “It’s no glitch, I’m afraid, commander.” 

Hunsen groaned as he made his way to the engineering station and rubbed his template. “Any signs of any bad guys out there?” He asked the joined Trill.

“No,” Jen said, shaking his head. “However, the amount of interference between us and the relay makes it difficult to get a proper readout.”

“I’ll get to work on recalibrating the lateral sensor array,” Hunsen said. He proceeded to call engineering to get the work started.

Stifling a yawn with the back of her hand, Counsellor Horin took her usual chair to the captain’s left. “Do we know what happened to the Telemachus?”

Again, Jen shook his head. “No, it’s just an automated distress call.”

Lenjir, who had taken over the security and tactical station, spoke, “I reckon Lukiz was getting bored of us having a good time and was getting lonely up here.”

“I’m sure the commander was enjoying his stint in the centre chair,” Doctor Slyvexs said in defence for the ops manager. “Does anyone want a coffee?”

The doctor got a round of acknowledgements as she went to the replicator and ordered many drinks. 

“How was the festival?” Jen asked as he tapped several commands into the holographic controls hovering above the arms of the captain’s chair. 

“Probably our first diplomatic function where nothing bad happened,” Tomaz said from where he was sitting at the mission ops station. “Craigen didn’t get kidnap and worshipped.”

Jen chuckled at hearing that and saw Flemen shake his head at the cheap joke used at his expense. “So, you’re telling me nothing exciting happened?”

Everyone shook their heads, with a couple saying ‘no.’

“Glad I missed it,” Jen said as the Denobulan doctor carried a tray of replicated coffee mugs towards him, “Thanks, doc. Did Mettex get a chance to ask why they called this area the Gahery Sanctum?”

Slyvexs chuckled, “That he did, and apparently, Senior Mayor Adale said it was purely down to what the Devore had called them for years, and they wanted those who were feeling like outsiders by the Devore that there was a place for them somewhere in the galaxy!”

“Fair enough,” Jen said in between sips. 

Seeing that Slyvexs had replicated her hot chocolate, Horin thanked the doctor. “Did you read my mind, Slyvexs?”

“I know how much you love chocolate, and the caffeine is never good for Baby H,” Slyvexs said, pointing her eyes towards the small bump that Horin was carrying. “Are you sure you’re needed up here, Louwanna? I’m certain the captain would understand that you need to rest. If he needs a counsellor, he could always call Samris up.”

Horin rubbed her forehead, “You may be correct, it has been a busy evening, and I am feeling exhausted from all of the mental interaction I had with the Brenari tonight.” She looked over at Hunsen, who she saw giving her the same look Slyvexs had. 

“I’m glad she listens to someone around here,” The chief engineer quipped. 

Horin relented and stood up, “Okay, okay, I’m going.” She said as she shuffled over to the turbolift. “I’ll get Samris to cover for me.” The counsellor eventually left the bridge after the brief nagging she received.

Slyvexs made her way around the bridge towards the mission ops station and stopped by the young diplomatic officer. “Are you okay, Craigen?” She asked as she passed the final mugs to both Flemen and Tomaz. 

Flemen nodded, “Yeah, just tired, and like the counsellor and Commander Hunsen, I was also interacting with the Brenari telepathically tonight.”   

“I didn’t think Lumerians were telepathic?” Tomaz asked as he took a sip from his coffee. “I thought you were all empathic?”

“It turns out the Brenari are strong enough telepaths to communicate to my species via our empathic abilities. It was quite the experience,” Flemen said before returning to work. 

The captain’s ready room doors opened, and Captain McCallister stepped out, still wearing his dress uniform like the rest of them, along with Commander Duncan and Master Chief Court. 

“Lukiz, is everyone back on board?” McCallister asked, making his way over to the centre of the bridge. 

Jen had stood up the moment the captain had returned to the bridge. “Yes, sir, the last group just returned.”

As Jen took over at ops from Jines and Duncan took his usual seat, McCallister remained standing in the centre of the bridge, “Good, then let’s get underway.” He then sat down in his chair. “Red alert,” He called out and then looked at the helm. “Lieutenant Marova, take us out of the Gaharey Sanctum at once. Follow the same flight path that the Telemachus used. Let’s see if we can find out what happened to them.”

The Hekaran pilot nodded and tapped away at the console before her. Breaking orbit, the Odyssey moved out at full impulse as it got underway.

“Sir, we’ve got an incoming hail from New Brenar; Chief Mayor Adale wants to speak to you,” Jen announced after a few minutes. 

Surprised to hear Adale calling him, especially as they had just spoken about her people not relying on technology on their planet. “Put her up,” McCallister ordered.

The main screen changed to show the Brenari leader standing in a room McCallister hadn’t recognised. “Adale…I mean, Madam Chief Mayor, is everything okay?” He asked her, correcting his slip-up and trying to remain professional. 

“James,” She said, choosing not to return the professional courtesy he offered her. “I’ve just been informed by one of our transport captains that one of our scouts hasn’t made it to one of their check-in spots. Whatever happened to your vessel may have happened to them as well. Can you look out for them, please?”

“Of course,” McCallister acknowledged. “Transmit their information to us, and we will search for them too.”

“Thank you, they may have picked up more refugees and been delayed, but I know the scout’s captain very well; he wouldn’t miss his check-in,” Adale said, sounding extremely concerned. 

“Leave it with me,” McCallister said with an assuring smile.

“You’re the best, James. Safe journey,” Adale said, smiling and giving him a quick wink before closing the channel. 

Duncan just turned to McCallister and gave him a look of curiosity in understanding the exchange they had just witnessed between their captain and the Brenari leader. “What was that?” He asked quietly.

McCallister frowned at his first officer, “What do you mean?”

“That!” Duncan said, gesturing between McCallister and the main screen. “She was flirting with you.”

“Don’t be absurd, Number One,” McCallister said, ignoring Duncan’s remarks. 

“We’ve got the missing scout’s data,” Jen announced, slightly breaking up the conversation between McCallister and Duncan.

“Lukiz, I want you and Tremt to start analysing it so we know what to look for,” McCallister ordered. He turned back to look at his first officer, still staring at him with a huge smile. “Max, wipe that grin off your face.”

Leaning in, Duncan kept his voice low. “Something happened between you when you left the festival, didn’t it?”

“I was a perfect gentleman,” McCallister responded before telling Duncan to drop it. 

“She’s gorgeous,” Duncan said after a few seconds, which resulted in McCallister glaring at him. Duncan was about to say one more thing but instead received a gentle slap on the back of his head.

“You’re meant to be a married man,” His husband reminded him as he walked past behind the commander’s chair. “You’re not meant to be looking.”

Rubbing his head, Duncan turned to his husband. “Obviously, not as gorgeous as my incredibly hunky husband.” 

“Much better,” Court stated with satisfaction as he sat at one of the science stations. 

Ignoring the domestic between the two men, McCallister looked over at Lieutenant Abbej, who was at the primary science console. “Abbej, the moment you get a clearer sensor reading, start scanning for the Telemachus and the Brenari scout.”

“All ready to go, sir,” The Senior Assistant Chief Science Officer reported. 

“Good,” He then looked over his shoulder, “Cline, start looking out for any other ships, especially the Devore.”

“Understood, sir,” Lenjir replied.

 Calling out for his chief strategic operations officer and chief diplomatic officer, McCallister issued further orders. “Tomaz, Craigen, go through the databases and make sure you know how to deal with the Devore diplomatically or tactically.”

“Sure, captain,” Tomaz replied. 

“On it, sir,” Flemen said a second later. 

Clutching S’Tem in his arms as they walked down the corridor from the transporter room, Jordan Duncan-Court held back a yawn. 

“You, okay? You want me to carry him?” Alfie McCallister offered in a whisper.

Jordan shook his head, “No, I’ve got him, but thanks.” He replied in a similar low hush tone. “However, tell me, how did our brothers get out of babysitting duty for Commander Tomaz?”

Alfie smirked before whispering his response, “He can’t order them like he can with us cadets; plus, think how it looked to the rest of the senior staff when we offered to help?”

“We?” Jordan replied in a louder whisper as he pulled the young boy closer to him to avoid dropping him. “Alfie, you were the one who offered.”

“Us first-year cadets must stick together, Jord; we can’t let anything get between us!” Alfie responded in defence of his action.

Jordan just glared at his friend and shook his head in disbelief. 

Turning down a corridor, they almost collided with another cadet.

“B-B-Beatrice,” Jordan said, stumbling out his words. 

“Hi, Beatrice,” Alfie quietly said, a lot calmer than his friend.

“Oh hey, guys,” Beatrice Grant said after stopping herself from stumbling into them. She then saw S’Tem with his arms around Jordan while his head was snuggled under the crook of Jordan’s neck. “Oh my goodness, guys, he’s adorable.” She quietly said, after realising he was fast asleep. 

Jordan blinked a few times and wasn’t sure how to respond, leaving it down to Alfie to continue the conversation with her. “This is Lieutenant Commander Tomaz’s son, S’Tem; we’re just taking him back to his quarters to babysit. What are you doing up so late?”

Cadet Beatrice Grant was a third-year cadet with short, bobbed blonde hair. She was only a couple of years older than Alfie and Jordan but had gone out of her way since they joined the training unit on the Odyssey to include them in any exercises she and her fellow squad were doing. She was very popular among the cadets and was someone who worked hard on every assignment she was given. “I’ve just finished working in sickbay for the evening; where have you two been this evening?” She then gestured at their dress uniforms before realising. “Let me guess; you guys were invited down to the planet for the Festival of Honesty?”

Jordan just nodded while Alfie explained the situation further. “Yeah, our dads wanted us all to go tonight, but when we all got called back, we offered to babysit S’Tem.” 

“Oh my gosh, guys, that’s so cute of you both. You guys are just as adorable as this little guy,” She flashed a smile at Jordan before saying she needed to go get some sleep before she started her next shift. She wished them goodnight before both lads watched her walk down the corridor and right down another. 

Jordan gave out a huge sigh which caused Alfie to look at him for a second. “You’ve got a crush on Beatrice Grant!”

“No, I don’t!” Jordan said in a stern but whispered tone.

Suppressing his chuckle, Alfie placed his hand in front of his mouth as he noticed how much Jordan was now blushing. “Jordan, you’ve gone redder than a bussard collector; admit it, you like her!”

“Beatrice is a…she’s…a nice person.” Jordan eventually said before starting to walk down the corridor they were initially heading down. “I only like her as a fellow cadet.”

Shaking his head in disbelief that his friend wouldn’t admit it, Alfie started to follow him.  “You keep telling yourself that, my friend.” He teased.

“Stop it, Alf!” Jordan told him in a firmer, “Now, are you going to help me get this kid back to his-”

Jordan’s sentence was interrupted by the sudden call for the ship to go to red alert, the crimson lighting starting to flash, and the klaxon going off. 

“Just great!” Jordan growled as S’Tem began to stir.

Walking up to Jordan and ignoring the little tantrum he just had about his teasing, Alfie placed his hand on the back of the little boy and smiled at him.

“Hey, S’Tem, everything’s okay.”

“Wh-what’s happening?” S’Tem asked as he rubbed both his eyes and blinked a few times. 

“We’re back on the Odyssey, and Jordan and I are going to look after you,” Alfie answered reassuringly.

S’Tem looked around at his surroundings, “Where’s my daddy?”

“He’s on the bridge with our dads,” Jordan replied. 

“Why?” S’Tem asked.

“They were needed to do their jobs,” Jordan answered.

“Why?” S’Tem asked, “isn’t it nighttime?”

Jordan looked at Alfie for help. 

“It is,” Alfie confirmed, “but they’re needed to do the jobs as one of our ships has asked for our help.”

“The Tele-Tele…” S’Tem attempted to say the ship several more times before pronouncing it correctly. “The Telemachus?”

 “Yeah, that’s right. Commander Banfield needs the Odyssey.” Jordan said with a smile. 

“Now you’ve got nothing to worry about, as we’re going to look after you until your dad comes home.” 

“You promise?” S’Tem asked, looking at both of them.

Alfie and Jordan looked at one before looking back at him and, in unison, promised they would stay with him. 

Minutes later, they were in Commander Tomaz’s quarters getting S’Tem into bed. 

“Have you cleaned your teeth?” Alfie checked. 

“Yes!” S’Tem answered before showing Alfie a toothy grin. 

“Excellent,” Alfie said as he leaned down and picked up the boy into his arms, pretending to fly him around his bedroom before landing him on his bed. S’Tem giggled at the action. 

Jordan pulled back the sheets for S’Tem to get under. He did so quickly, and then Jordan pulled the covers over him. “Well, good night, S’Tem,” Jordan said with a friendly smile. 

“What about a story?” S’Tem pleaded.

Jordan, who was almost halfway towards the doorway and stopped, just as Alfie did. Both of them turned to face the boy. 

“It’s late, S’Tem; you need to sleep,” Jordan said. 

“I want a story; I always have a story before I go to bed.” S’Tem insisted as he crossed his arms. “Plus, I need Flotter, Trevis and Toby with me.” He pointed at the cuddly toys at the other end of his bedroom. 

Realising they wouldn’t win this one, both cadets gave in. Jordan collected the toys while Alfie proceeded to find the recent story that S’Tem had been reading. 

“This one?” Alfie checked after picking up the nearest one on S’Tem’s bedside cabinet. 

S’Tem nodded, “Yeah!”

Alfie chuckled as he read the title, “The Adventures of Flotter, damn I’ve not read any of these stories since I was your age, S’Tem.”

Joining them with the stuffed toys, Jordan passed them to S’Tem. “So, who are these guys?” He asked.

“This is Flotter,” S’Tem said, pointing to the blue one before proceeding to the one next to him, “This is Flotter’s friend, Trevis, and that’s Toby the Targ!” 

“Is Toby a friend of Flotter and Trevis?” Jordan asked. 

“No!” S’Tem answered in a manner that he couldn’t believe Jordan asked that.

“Really, Jordan, have you not learnt yet that Toby the Targ is a different character from a different holonovel series and doesn’t appear in The Forever Forest with Flotter and his friends?” Alfie asked in a mocking tone. 

“Obviously, not!” Jordan said with a smirk. 

S’Tem then insisted that Alfie and Jordan sit on either side of him as they started to read the book together. “You gotta promise to do the voices. Uncle Craigen does them, as does Uncle Samris, but Auntie T’Rani is the best at doing Flotter, though!” 

“Very well, lay back and let’s start the next story, Flotter, Trevis, and the Ogre of Fire!” Alfie said in an almost scary tone. 

S’Tem pretended to be scared and then placed his arm around Tomaz’s as Alfie started the story.

“Once upon a time in the Forest of Forever, Flotter and Trevis encountered a strange element they’d never seen before…”

“How bad is she?” Captain McCallister asked as he stepped into the docking control room.

Hunsen was leaning over a console and gazed over his shoulder after hearing the captain’s question. Standing up straight, the chief engineer threw the holographic display towards the captain’s direction and answered. “To put mildly, sir, a mess.” He pointed at the multiple red areas highlighted on the schematic of the Telemachus, indicating its damaged systems. Hunsen returned to his work and started to rub his forehead.

“Damn,” McCallister muttered as he saw the extent of injuries their attached ship had received. Walking across the room, McCallister looked down out of the transparent aluminium window to see the tractor beams guiding the Telemachus in for its final few meters. From up here, he could see many scorch marks along its hull and power fluctuations from the various exterior lighting flickering or just not working. McCallister looked at his chief engineer, who was still wearing his dress uniform like him. “You okay, Tremt?”

Hunsen just nodded, “Yeah, just a slight headache. I’m probably tired from the double shift and our diplomatic function.”

Nodding, McCallister couldn’t agree more with him. 

“Docking complete, sir,” Hunsen announced after the noise of the hatches and maglocks engagement was complete. “I’ve got an entire damage control division ready to get underway in making the Telemachus fit for service in no time.”

“Good, let’s go see Corella,” McCallister said as he headed towards the platform that swooped down in a curve towards the airlock between the Odyssey and Telemachus. After approaching the large door, the captain accepted confirmation for it to open. As the hanger doors hissed open from each other, he was met by Commander Banfield walking out with Doctor Forbes. “Welcome, home.” He said. “Are you guys okay?”

Banfield nodded as they stepped out of the airlock and gave a sigh. “Fine, thank you, sir. Most of the crew were beamed to sickbay.”

Forbes turned to his captain, “If you don’t mind, sir, I’d like to get up to sickbay to lend Doctor Slyvexs a hand.”

“Of course, Remi, go ahead,” McCallister said before turning back to Banfield. “What the hell happened, Corella?”

Banfield thanked Forbes for all his help before replying to her captain. “We’re not entirely sure, but a massive shockwave through subspace isn’t something I prefer to deal with again in a small vessel.” The chief science officer gained her composure. “A small planetoid on the edge of this sector exploded, but sensors detected an extortionate concentration of dilithium crystals on it.”

Confused by that statement, Hunsen appeared puzzled by her answer. “But we didn’t detect any-”

“Dilithium on our entry to this area, no, I know, but it’s there now, and it’s not the only source of dilithium, now,” Banfield responded. “I’d like to get to astrometrics, begin scanning this sector, and work out what is happening.”

“Slow down, commander,” McCallister paused her with both of his hands going up. “You mentioned there’s a Brenari scout nearby, also damaged. Chief Mayor Adale asked us to search for them; where are they?”

“Not that far, sir, but we also detected Devore warships that are also damaged from the shockwave,” Banfield mentioned. 

“Great, we go from one mess to another,” Hunsen grumbled as he rubbed his forehead. 

Ignoring the comment from his chief engineer, McCallister tapped his combadge. “McCallister to bridge,”

“Go ahead, sir,” Duncan replied. 

“Number One, use the information from the Brenari and the Telemachus’s sensor logs to find that missing scout, then set an intercept course for them at best possible speeds,” McCallister ordered. 

“We’re on it, captain,” Duncan stated. 

McCallister took a breath before issuing more commands, “And have Cline start scanning the area for Devore warships.”

“Understood.”

McCallister tapped his combadge after placing his hands on hips, “Is there anything else, Corella?”

“Just this,” She said, taking an isolinear chip out of her pocket and handing it to him. “After we sent our update to Starfleet, we received a hyper subspace message marked for your eyes only.”

 Taking it from her, McCallister thanked her and ordered her to report to sickbay at once to get checked out. Banfield attempted to argue with him, but he ignored her protest and gave her a firm look. “Tremt, maybe you should call it a night and get some sleep. Tierra can take over from you.”

“I appreciate it, sir, but everyone else has been up all night. I can do a few more hours.” Hunsen said, still rubbing his head. “But, I’ll escort Corella to sickbay and get myself some headache relief.”

After watching both commanders making their way in the same direction that Forbes took, McCallister sighed and headed to get the turbolift to the bridge. He wondered what Starfleet had sent him, so with a tight grip around the chip, he would read whatever they sent him before the alpha shift started. 

“They’re literally dead in the water,” Lenjir stated from looking at the long-range scan he had just performed. “Those Devore are not going to be causing us any trouble right now.”

“That’s not to say they’ve not got help coming,” Tomaz said as he looked at the same scan readings. The holographic projection of the sector that floated in the centre of the aft mission ops area was zoomed in to show the Devore warships that Banfield had found sitting on top of the exploded planetoid. “Looks like they took most of the brunt of that shockwave that took out the Telemachus.”

“Why are the Devore so far from their territory, though?” Craigen questioned from where he sat at his station, facing the hologram. “Do you think they know about the Brenari colony?”

“Who knows?” Lenjir answered with a shrug before yawning. “We’ll need to track the Devore in case they use their refractive shielding.”

Tomaz nodded in agreement, “I’ve already got the computer adjusting our sensors based on what we know about it, but that intel is almost thirty years old.”

“It’s a starting point, Tomaz,” Lenjir assured him. “Maybe we could approach the Brenari and see if they know anything about Devore stealth tech?”

Flemen nodded, “If we can, I’d be happy to ask, but don’t forget the captain has placed a radio silence with them for now.”

Stifling a yawn, Tomaz placed his hand in front of his mouth after Lenjir nodded with Flemen. At that point, Commander Duncan had gotten out of the captain’s chair to join them. “How’s it going, fellas?” 

Lenjir nodded with certainty, “I think we’re ready for whatever the Devore throws in our direction.”

“Good,” Duncan said with a grateful nod. “Gentlemen, why don’t you call it a night. We won’t be near the Brenari ship’s last whereabouts for another four hours. It’s been a long night; go home, get some sleep, and shower before we arrive. Delta shift can handle things while we’re recovering.”

The three men thanked their superior for the offer and started to make their way towards the turbolift when its doors opened, allowing Captain McCallister to step out. “Gentlemen, calling it an evening?” He asked. 

“Yes, sir,” Tomaz answered for them. 

Quickly, Duncan spoke up for them. “I said they could go get some rest before we reach the last known location of the Brenari scout, captain.”

“Absolutely,” McCallister agreed and wished them a good night before walking across the bridge towards Duncan. “Number One, why don’t you call it a night as well?”

“Not until you do the same, sir.” Duncan insisted. 

McCallister shook his head, “Don’t worry, Max, I’ve got this data package from Starfleet to read through. It won’t take me too long.” He gestured towards the isolinear chip in his hand.

“You sure?”

“I am. Good night, Max,” McCallister stated with a friendly smirk before indicating for the delta shift officer of the watch to take over while he proceeded to head towards his ready room. 

Duncan called out to the others to hold the turbolift for him as he did a mini-sprint across from the centre of the bridge towards the turbolift doors. Lenjir held the doors back with his hand to stop it from closing in on the first officer and gave enough room for him to enter the cart. 

“Thanks, guys,” Duncan said after a sigh of relief. “I’d be glad to hit the sack tonight.”

Tomaz stifled a yawn, “I just remembered I left your son and the captain’s son in charge of S’Tem’s bedtime routine; I hope he hasn’t caused them too much trouble.”

Rubbing his forehead, Flemen spoke up. “Did you not tell them about the holographic babysitter you have?”

Wincing, Tomaz shook his head. “No, I forgot.” He looked at Flemen and noticed how drained he looked. “You, okay, Craigen?”

“Just a bit of a headache,” Flemen mentioned. “I’m just tired.” He added as he undid his top collar, “It’d be nice to get out of this dress uniform.”

Duncan chuckled, “They were never designed to wear on duty, that’s for sure.”

“Agreed,” Lenjir said. 

“Or worn one size too small,” Tomaz said with a sarcastic tone towards Flemen, reminding him of their conversation from earlier on about his uniform being too small for him.

Throwing his hands up in defeat, Flemen gave in. “Okay, okay, Tomaz, I’ll replicate a new one before our next diplomatic function.”

Chuckling somewhat, Tomaz shook his head in disbelief. “You might want to do it soon, just in case we have to open peace negotiations with the Devore Imperium.”

“Remi, go home!” Slyvexs called out across sickbay. “Everyone else is!”

Forbes looked up from the console he was working at his boss and smirked. “I will; I’ve almost completed my report.” He yawned a bit before stretching his arms and back out a bit. “I don’t want to leave it, and I forget everything. How is everyone?” He asked as he picked up the coffee mug that sat on top of the main console monitor and proceeded to sip from it. 

Slyvexs gave a simple shrug, “They’re all fine. For those you treated on the Telemachus for cuts and bruises, we’ve double-checked to ensure they’re good and sent them home to rest. T’Rani is the only one I’m keeping in for further observations.”

“The chemical imbalance?” Forbes guessed after putting his mug down.

Slyvexs nodded, “Yes, but I don’t think it is what I initially thought it might have been.”

“Pon Farr?” Forbes whispered, even though only the two of them were in the small secluded medical office.

“Yeah,” Slyvexs agreed. “She’s not showing any other symptoms, and T’Rani said she’s got a few more years yet until her next cycle. I know T’Rani has had it rough with being unable to conceive, but in her last two Pon Farrs, she underwent the usual symptoms for it. Nurse Linkovich will keep an eye on her.”

“Have the headaches subsided?” Forbes wondered. 

“Almost, but I’ll run a deep neurological scan if they’ve not by the morning. It could be a side effect of her concussion; who knows with the Vulcan brain.” Slyvexs said with a sigh. “Right, come on, we need to call it a night before we rendezvous with that Brenari vessel. I’m expecting more casualties.”

“Let’s just hope that we don’t run into the Devore and the captain takes us into battle,” Forbes said as he finished the last sentence on his report, saved it and stood up to join his superior. 

“I’ve got a feeling the captain is enjoying the lack of combat recently; he’s upped his game lately with all the diplomatic efforts he has had to take on. I’m confident he’d prefer not to ruin that streak yet.” Slyvexs confidently said as she walked out of sickbay with her deputy beside her. 

“Let’s hope the Devore are in a diplomatic mood then,” Forbes cited just as the doors closed behind them. 

Carefully tip-toeing into his quarters, Lieutenant Commander Tomaz unzipped his entire dress uniform jacket and looked around his home to see if he could see anyone who was up. Everything appeared relatively peaceful because the lights were off, besides the low-level ones around some of the room’s edges. Slowly he moved across the living room and up the stairs towards the two bedrooms; he made his way towards S’Tem’s doorway and could see the hue of the low-level blue light. Peeking his head around the opening, he was presented with the one scene he wasn’t expecting to find. Lying in the middle of his bed with Toby, the Targ tucked under his arm was S’Tem, with Alfie and Jordan asleep on either side. Alfie with Flotter under his left arm and Jordan with Treevis. Suppressing a chuckle, Tomaz shook his head and pressed the button near the doorway to switch the lights off entirely before allowing the door to close. Grateful that both cadets had offered to look after S’Tem while he was needed on the bridge, Tomaz didn’t want to disturb their sleep but would ensure, at some point, he would repay them for their efforts. 

Heading across the hallway, he made his way towards his own room and sent a message to the cadets’ fathers, so they knew where they were and why. After that, he proceeded to get himself changed for bed. First, he took a quick sonic shower before putting on his pyjamas. He was about to crawl into bed and take off his breathing apparatus when he heard a knock on the downstairs door. Confused by that noise, he quickly made his way down the stairs and towards the main entrance to his quarters. Pressing the side console by the door, he opened the door to find Flemen standing in front of him. Wearing just his pyjama bottoms, Tomaz was surprised to see his friend there.

“Craigen, what’s up?” He asked with a whisper, as he didn’t want to wake S’Tem and the others. 

Flemen didn’t answer but just stared at him with a sombre expression.

“Craigen, you okay?” Tomaz asked again, this time reaching out to touch Flemen’s arm. 

Flemen said nothing. He appeared extremely pale, but Tomaz felt his skin was extremely clammy; it was clear that Flemen had sweated a lot.

Tomaz put both hands on Flemen’s arms. “Craigen, you’re worrying me. What’s wrong?” He asked in a normal voice. 

The diplomatic officer still just stood there and said nothing. 

Feeling like he had to do something, Tomaz pulled Flemen into his quarters and got him to move. Walking in an almost trance state, Flemen moved in under the careful guidance of Tomaz. “Craigen, can you hear me?” Tomaz asked again. He was just considering calling sickbay when Flemen snapped out of whatever was causing this behaviour and appeared to take a long deep breath. 

“Tomaz, I can hear them,” Flemen said, sobbing. “Make them stop.”

Pulling his friend in to comfort him, Tomaz rubbed his back. “Who can you hear, Craigen? What are they doing?”

Flemen, in a very uncharacteristic way, continued to cry and just shook his head as he hugged his friend back, “I don’t know, they need to stop.” His mood then changed to anger the despair as he looked up and placed both hands around his forehead as if he was trying to focus on something but couldn’t.

“Dad, is Uncle Craigen okay?” S’Tem asked from the top of the stairs.

“Commander, do you need any help?” Alfie asked next.

Tomaz looked over his shoulder and saw that S’Tem, Alfie and Jordan all stood awake, concerned about what was happening. “Everything’s okay; Uncle Craigen isn’t feeling well. Alfie, and Jordan, I hate to ask more of you, but can you take S’Tem back to his room while I take the commander to sickbay.”

“Sure,” Jordan answered as he and Alfie ushered S’Tem away.

Turning back to Flemen, who was almost rocking in a foetal position on the floor, Tomaz got down and tried to help his friend. “Craigen, whatever is happening, I want to help. Can you stand?” 

“They want us,” Flemen replied, sounding more and more delirious as his eyes popped open, and he took hold of Tomaz tightly. “I’ve got to protect you.”

Becoming increasingly concerned about his friend, Tomaz looked at Flemen. “Craigen, I’m okay, I promise.”

“No, you won’t be; they’re coming for us. He’s planning on something. We won’t survive. We never do.” Flemen was persipring a lot now. The sweat was pouring over his head and down his chest. 

Picking him up, Tomaz put one of Flemen’s arms around his shoulders and placed a supporting arm around Flemen’s back. “Come on, mate, we’re going to sickbay to help you.” Dragging Flemen out of his quarters, Tomaz knew he wouldn’t be getting any rest tonight but was concerned about whatever was affecting his friend. Had the Brenari done something to him while they were talking to him telepathically? He hoped that someone could help him as this was certainly not the same Flemen he was teasing hours ago.

Shocked at what he was watching, Captain McCallister had to put his mug of tea down as the video feed continued to share the logs from the USS Merevek. His update from Starfleet Command included a briefing package about what happened in the Delta Quadrant in the past couple of weeks while the Odyssey had been surveying the Gahery Sanctum. An unexpected and unexplained phenomenon had rippled through fourteen sectors of the Gradin Belt. With it came the surprise pop-up of dilithium crystals in locations that had never had dilithium deposits. Starfleet was eager for the Odyssey to map the area they were in and investigate the sector they were in. Apart of that package included what the Merevek crew had encountered with this new form of red dilithium. When they came into contact with the dilithium crystal, it caused their telepathic crewmembers to lose self-control and behaviour in erratic and irrational ways. Immediately he sent a message to everyone on the senior staff to meet first thing in the morning before they found the Brenari scout. This blood dilithium, the phrase coined by the Merevek crew, was dangerous, and he was certain he didn’t want to see it affecting his crew anytime soon. 

So he hoped…

“Sleepwalking?” 

Flemen just nodded in some slight embarrassment. “Apparently, so.” He confirmed as he picked up his mug of coffee to take a sip. “I don’t remember anything until I woke up this morning and found myself not in my quarters.”

Sitting across from him, Samris sniggered at the recount that Flemen had just shared. “What did Tomaz say?” 

Biting down on a bit of toast, Flemen replied after swallowing his breakfast. “He said he was worried that something else was happening with me beside the absolute nonsense I was sharing. The mild sedative I was given in sickbay was enough for me to fall asleep eventually.”

“And they’re certain you were sleepwalking and nothing else?” Samris checked as he lifted his spoon of porridge and took a mouthful. 

Flemen nodded at the same time he answered. “Yeah, the scans showed I was in a hyper-REM state.”

“Have you ever slept walked before?” Samris asked as he put his spoon back down in the bowl.

“No,” Flemen answered. “Tomaz said I was spouting a load of rhetoric about having to protect him and that someone had a plan that would put our survival in peril.”

“And you don’t remember any of it?” Samris checked.

Shaking his head, Flemen reaffirmed what he had said earlier. “Not a thing. I feel like such an idiot, Samris.”

“Don’t be so harsh on yourself, Craigen; you’ve stepped up to the mark in these last few months to assist with this goodwill tour. You’re allowed a blip, and it’s more than likely your subconscious processing everything you experienced while speaking with the Brenari telepathically, along with every other stress your body has probably been screaming out with.” Samris offered him. “Just take it easy over the next couple of days.”

“I will; I don’t want to ever wake up on Tomaz’s sofa bed again. It’s not as comfortable as my bed in my quarters. That said, I suppose I owe Tomaz for helping me.” Flemen said as he crunched into his toast again. The two officers were enjoying breakfast in The Auditorium, and everyone else was getting ready for alpha shift to begin. “How’s T’Rani doing?”

“She says she’s okay, Doctor Slyvexs is releasing her to light duties, but she has to wear a cortical monitor,” Samris answered. “She’s joining us for the captain’s impromptu briefing this morning.”

Flemen nodded in response, pleased to hear their chief helm officer was better since the Telemachus’ return. “Yeah, I saw you were invited to that this morning; how come?”

“Counsellor Horin has called in sick,” Samris answered. “I think the festival took its toll on her, and Baby H is demanding that mummy takes some time to rest and recover properly.”

“Well, it’s good to have you back at the big table again, Samris, even if it is brief,” Flemen said, smiling at his friend.

“Well, once Counsellor Horin goes on maternity leave, I’ll fill in for her for a little while, so expect to see me a bit more!” Samris said with a proud smile.

Begrudgingly, Jordan Duncan-Court slumped down the stairs and into the main living room area and groaned before falling flat face onto one of the sofas.

“Good Morning, Jordan,” Tobias said from where he stood by the dining table, sipping on a coffee cup. 

Jordan just replied with a muffled groan. 

Chuckling at his son, Tobias looked at his other son and asked for support with a simple gesture. 

William just shook his head and returned to sitting quietly on the opposite side of the table to his father and shoved another mouthful of cereal down his neck, milk spilling down some of his chin. 

Stepping out of their shared study and swinging his uniform jacket over his head and shoulders as he finished getting ready, Max noticed Jordan lying on the sofa. Like his husband, he looked for answers from his youngest son before making his way to the replicator. Again, William shook his head and stuffed more of his breakfast in to avoid having to comment on his older brother’s dramatics. 

After ordering a tea from the replicator, Max gestured at his husband for answers, and all he got was a simple shrug. 

Tobias relented, “Jordan, what’s up?”

“I’m so tired.” He replied, “And I hate Alfie!”

Confused by that response, Tobias chuckled a bit. “I thought you two were babysitting for Commander Tomaz last night? Why don’t you like Alfie?”

“Because he volunteered for us to babysit, and we ended up having to act out the entire story of some character that is made purely of water and has a friend made from a tree trunk,” Jordan whined as he eventually pushed himself up and slumped on the sofa.

“Flotter and Treevis?” Max checked.

“Yeah!” Jordan confirmed.

Max chuckled before looking to his husband, “I loved Flotter; I once convinced him to flood-”

“Dad!” Jordan almost screeched. “My issues first, please!”

Smirking at how theatrical Jordan was this morning, Max and Tobias looked at one another. 

“Oh, come on, Jordan, you’ve got the morning off before you’ve got any duties. What’s the issue?” Tobias quizzed.

“I’m just tired, as S’Tem took forever to fall asleep, and that ended up with both Alfie and I falling asleep there. Then we woke up after hearing Commander Flemen being all weird in Commander Tomaz’s quarters; I then had to stay later so Commander Tomaz could take Commander Flemen to sickbay, so by the time I got back into my bed, I only had three hours asleep.” Jordan explained, sounding very done hard by. 

“Ah, diddums,” Tobias said as he approached his son and playfully pinched his left cheek. “What was wrong with Commander Flemen?” 

“I don’t know,” Jordan shrugged his shoulders and playfully smacked Tobias’ hand off him. “He was mumbling a load of nonsense; he sounded like one of those zombies from Captain Proton. By the time Commander Tomaz got back, he had woken Alfie and I up so we could go. He thanked us and said he would pay us back for our help.”

Tobias and Max looked at each other and shared a concerned expression at hearing that about Flemen.  

“Well, if you’re still tired, go back to bed for another hour and stop complaining,” Tobias suggested.

“I can’t, dad. I’ve got Alfie coming over soon so we can study for this test we’ve got today!” Jordan almost shouted as he stood up, flapping his arms in the air before storming back up the stairs. “It’s like none of you gets me!” 

Once again, both parents looked at each other and the moody teenager they had in their presence. 

Before either of his father could say anything, William cleared his mouth and spoke up. “He needs to go back into cryo-stasis!”

The door chime went off, and Tremt looked up from where he was sitting at the dining table, finishing his breakfast. “Come in,” He answered.

Swooshing open, Lieutenant Tierra stepped in and smiled at her superior. “Good morning, boss!” She said with a sweet smile. 

“Tierra, come in,” Hunsen said, welcoming in his Deltan deputy. “Everything okay?”

She nodded as she looked around his quarters and noticed the string of clothes and boxes lying around it. “Did you get mugged, sir?”

Hunsen chuckled, “No, no, those are all Louwanna’s belongings. We’re making these quarters a bit bigger ready for the baby, so we’ve started to move her gear in before the baby arrives.”

“Oh, that’s excellent news. Congratulations, sir!” Tierra said. “And to answer your last question, yes, everything is okay. I just wanted to let you know that I’ve heard from the Telemachus repair team this morning, and we should be on track to have it back up and running by the end of tomorrow. I know you’re meeting with the captain this morning, so I thought you’d appreciate sharing the update with him.”

Hunsen rubbed his forehead, “That’s great news, Tierra. Thank you for the heads up.” She paused and looked around the room, “So where is Counsellor Horin, if you don’t mind me asking?”

Hunsen pointed towards upstairs of their quarters, “Morning sickness,” He mouthed. 

“Ouch,” Tierra said just before Horin stepped down the twisted staircase. “Good morning, ma’am,” Tierra greeted her. 

Horin waved as she pulled her dressing robe around her closer, looking tired and rough from her recent ordeal. “Good morning Tierra; I must apologise for my current appearance.”

“You look amazing,” Hunsen said as he got up and walked over to her.

Tierra smiled in a supportive way, “Don’t worry, counsellor; I’ve been where you were when Abbej and I had our children. Morning sickness will pass.”

“Not for Betazoid women; it can come and go for the whole ten months,” Horin grumbled as she placed her hand in front of her mouth. 

Hunsen placed a reassuring hand on her back and rubbed it. “Is there anything I can get you before I go?”

Horin shook her head, “No, nothing right now, Imzadi.” Horin weakly smiled as she looked up at him. “How’s the headache?”

“It’s going,” Hunsen replied before kissing her forehead.

“Oh no, I don’t believe-” Horin said quickly before she instantly got up and ran back upstairs towards the bathroom. Seconds later, the sound of her emptying her stomach echoed through their quarters.

“Lou, you sure there’s nothing I can do for you before I go?” Horin checked. 

“No, just go!” She shouted back.

“Okay, I’ll see you later,” Hunsen announced loudly enough just as she started to spew her guts again. 

Hunsen sniggered somewhat as he suggested that he and Tierra leave before they heard more gruesome noises from Horin’s bathroom antics. 

Walking down the corridor, Hunsen squinted his eyes a bit. “Is it me, or do the corridor lights seem bright this morning?” He complained as he caressed his temple again.

“Still got that headache?” Tierra asked him.

He nodded, “Yeah.”

“I’ll get a team to take a look later,” Tierra said as they walked past a few colleagues, both men who looked her up and down and smiled at her before carrying on in their direction of travel. “That’s the fourth time this morning.”

Hunsen blinked his eyes as they approached the nearest turbolift, “What is?” He asked her.

“Do I have something on my face or something? I’ve had almost every crewmember I’ve passed by…” Tierra dropped her voice to hush tones, “almost checking me out.”

Surprised to hear her say that, Hunsen leant against the bulkhead as they waited for the lift to arrive. “What do you mean?”

The Deltan shrugged, “I can’t point my finger at it, but almost everyone has given me a lustful look. It’s starting to creep me out.” She sighed, “even Abbej was behaving strangely this morning.”

“What like?” Hunsen enquired just as the doors opened, allowing them to enter the cart.

“I know we’ve been married for a long time now, and we’ve got our way of doing things,” Tierra started, “but she was eager this morning to do things that are not part of our morning routine if you get what I mean?”

Hunsen stared at Tierra for a moment before he realised she had emphasised the word ‘thing’ and what she was implying. “Oh,” He said, “oh, well, they say keeping things fresh keeps a marriage alive.”

“There’s keeping a marriage alive, and then there’s going wild, and she was that this morning,” Tierra said before calling for main engineering. “Maybe it’s just me,” Tierra said, waving the whole issue off.

“Maybe,” Hunsen said before his headache worsened, but he decided to ignore it for now.

Entering the observation lounge with his operations officer, Captain McCallister had always had a soft spot for Jen and his role. As a former operations officer, McCallister had always kept those under his command who held this spot close to him as he related so much to their work. Being the operations manager was a significant responsibility on any ship as it was down to them to coordinate so much among many departments. Add into the mix that Jen was eager to progress into further leadership roles (like most of McCallister’s senior staff); McCallister could relate very well to the joined Trill. 

“We should definitely see if we can adjust the Odyssey’s shields to use this refractive shielding; if not, maybe one or two of those runabouts?” He suggested as the doors closed behind them.

“I’ll get a team to research those possibilities, sir,” Jen remarked and tapped the idea down on the PADD in his hands. The Trill officer stopped in his tracks as he saw T’Rani sitting in her usual chair with a Vulcan spice tea in front of her. “T’Rani! You’ve been let out!”

“If you are referring to Doctor Slyvex’s discharging me from sickbay earlier, you are correct,” T’Rani said after swinging her chair around to see her colleague. “It is agreeable to see you, Lukiz.”

Jen smiled at his old academy friend and gave her a big hug. After squeezing her for a second and realising she was finding their embrace a bit awkward, Jen stepped back. “How are you feeling?”

“Perfectly fine, thank you,” She answered in her usual calm manner.

McCallister smiled at his pilot, “It’s good to have you back with us, commander.”

“Thank you, sir,” T’Rani said with a bow of her head. 

At that point, the rest of the senior staff started to enter, and a small level of chatting took place among them as they took their places around the long, slightly curved table. Once they were settled, he started briefing them about what Starfleet had sent him. After showing them the records of the USS Merevek, McCallister noticed the eerie silence shadow over the room. He had never witnessed his senior staff go so quiet like this. 

From the corner of his eye, McCallister could see that Slyvexs was swiping through data on her PADD at an impressive rate. “Everything okay, doctor?” He asked her. 

Slyvexs, like everyone else, was obviously disturbed by the images he had shown them, but her natural instinct to understand the medical front was fully apparent. “I’m worried I’ve missed something over this Blood Dilithium and its side effects.”

Everyone heard her say that, and many of them looked surprised. For a well-experienced doctor, someone who was well-gifted and knowledgeable in a range of fields of study, to admit she said something was very unlike Slyvexs. 

“What do you mean, doctor?” Banfield asked from the opposite side of the table. 

“I need a moment,” Slyvexs said as she tried to concentrate on what her PADD was telling her. She got to one piece of information and almost appeared to deflate at what she read. She looked at Hunsen, “Tremt, do you still have that headache?”

Feeling like he was being singled out, Hunsen sat up straight from his leaning position. “Yeah, somewhat.”

Slyvexs was then on a mission as she looked over at T’Rani, “Commander, when that shockwave hit the Telemachus, did you feel anything out of the ordinary?”

Considering the question carefully as she tried to recall the incident, T’Rani nodded. “I was overwhelmed by a rush of emotions, doctor.”

Turning to Flemen, Slyvexs shot out her next question, “And Craigen, are you certain you don’t remember your sleepwalking antics?”

Blushing red, Flemen shook his head.

Samris then realised what the doctor was trying to establish, “You think we’ve been infected by Blood Dilithium already, don’t you, doc?”

Slyvexs paused and then looked at the captain, “I can’t be sure; I’d need to run some more tests and make comparative notes to what Starfleet has found so far, but it would explain the odd behaviour and scans I’ve seen in the last twelve hours since we left the Gaharey Sanctum.”

“So next time Craigen goes sleepwalking, do we need to go to red alert?” Tomaz asked, which caused a few chuckles around the room, including Flemen himself.

“I can’t be sure,” Slyvexs said worriedly, ignoring the banter from the Barzan strategic operations officer.

“It says here,” Duncan said, picking up his PADD with the briefing notes that McCallister had shared, “that Starfleet has sent a large flotilla through the Barzan Wormhole to assist with this matter.” He placed the PADD down, “Surely, someone else out there knows more right now?”

Agreeing with his first officer’s idea, McCallister picked up his PADD. “Yes, you’re right, Number One. I believe the USS Sarek has been assigned as a mobile research centre for this mission; they may have some more answers.”

Hunsen spoke up, looking at Duncan, “Max, didn’t you say an old academy classmate of yours recently made first officer to the Sarek? Wasn’t he that former vedek from Bajor that helped you over relieve some…stress from the final exams?”

It was now Duncan who appeared uncomfortable at his friend sharing that news, and it didn’t help with him having a glaring look from his husband. “Yeah, Commander Elbon.”

Noticing the tension between Duncan and Court, McCallister hid his smirk with his left hand and then spoke. “Don’t worry, Number One; I’ll reach out to Captain Taes to see what she knows.”

“It’s fine, sir; let Commander Duncan speak to his counterpart on the Sarek; I’m sure they have A LOT to catch up on,” Court said with a wry smile. 

Ignoring the exchange between them, McCallister looked over to Banfield. “Corella, start scanning the region for this new version of dilithium crystal. I want to know how much we are talking about in our locality.”

Banfield nodded in agreement with that order, “I’ll have astrometrics tune our long-range sensors to see if they detect the moment the crystals appear by this subspace anomaly.”

“Good idea,” McCallister said with an affirmative nod. “Tomaz, have we noticed any changes to the Devore overnight?”

“Nothing, sir,” Tomaz answered, “they’ve not moved a meter. If they are truly mad about getting their hands on this dilithium, sir, especially if they think it has properties to eradicate telepaths, then I am certain they will hold their ground until they are fixed.”

“If the Devore are bent on mining this version of dilithium, then I would think they overdid it on that small planetoid, which resulted in that shockwave we encountered,” Banfield suggested. “If they are being reckless with such things, then we could end up seeing similar shockwaves in the region.”

“We should warn the Brenari,” Flemen suggested. 

McCallister shook his head, “We can’t; if we break radio silence and send a message back to the Sanctum, then the Devore could work out what we’re up to and go looking for the colony themselves. I won’t risk it.”

“We’re only an hour away from the last known whereabouts of the Brenari scout; perhaps they could raise the alarm if we can fix them up and get them underway,” Jen proposed.  

“That’s probably the safest route,” Lenjir said, “that said, we might not be able to defend them if the Devore come after them.”

“Let’s deal with one thing at a time,” McCallister stated before taking a breath. “Tremt, can your team check the Telemachus’s hull damage to see if the shockwave has left any traces of fragments in it?”

“We can take a look,” Hunsen said in agreement. “Is that how you think it may have got on board?”

“I think if we can identify where it’s coming from, it would help Doctor Slyvexs with her tests,” McCallister advised. 

“Captain, will you be relieving any of us from our duties?” T’Rani then asked. 

Surprised to hear her ask such a question, McCallister frowned at her. “Why would I do such a thing, T’Rani?”

“From the data presented, a good number of us in this room have telepathic abilities, and the same can be said for the rest of the crew. Logic would dictate that you act now to prevent us from behaving similarly to those on the U-S-S Merevek.” T’Rani answered. 

“Relieving the telepathic population from duties seems a bit drastic, commander.” Court expressed. “Especially when we’ve not established if Blood Dilithium has had this effect on you all. For all we know, Tremt’s headache and Craigen’s sleepwalking are isolated incidents. They could be the result of their interaction with the Brenari during the Festival of Honesty.”

“The chief has a point,” Slyvexs agreed. 

“I disagree,” T’Rani said firmly.

“On what basis?” The doctor challenged the pilot.

“I have started to experience the early onset of Pon Farr,” T’Rani answered deadpan before turning to the captain. “I am not scheduled for another…few years, captain.”

Not sure he was comfortable hearing about his pilot’s sex life, McCallister looked at Slyvexs for a response.

“T’Rani, you have a minor neurochemical imbalance. That doesn’t straight away indicate it is Pon Farr.” Slyvexs remarked. 

Hunsen cleared his throat, “What about Louwanna? She was complaining about headaches last night, and she’s been violently sick this morning.”

“She pregnant, Tremt,” Slyvexs countered back, “but even so, this is why I need to start my own investigation.”

“Make it a priority, doctor,” McCallister ordered her, “and use whatever and whoever you need.”

“So, will you relieve some of us?” Hunsen challenged the captain.

Duncan then stepped in, “Tremt, the captain can’t answer that question.”

“Not right now,” Samris said and then realised what he had just said, “sir.”

“For now, we have a Brenari scout to rescue and orders from Starfleet to monitor and record the situation in this region of space. Now, do I make myself clear that no one outside this ship finds out about the Brenari colony?” McCallister rose from his chair before asking the question. He received a round of agreements from everyone. “Then let’s get to it. Dismissed everyone.”

They all started to file out of the room, and Court immediately began asking his husband questions about his academy antics. 

“So should I be jealous of Elbon, guy?” Court asked. 

“It was a one-night stand, I was pretty drunk, and I was young and foolish, Tobias. I’m pretty certain last time I spoke to him; he said he was married too,” Duncan said with a sigh just as they crossed the threshold and out onto the bridge.

Banfield and Slyvexs had remained behind with the captain, waiting for everyone to leave before they spoke.

McCallister could sense what they were thinking just by looking at both women. “I know you’re both worried by this.”

“I may have to make some quick decisions about isolating crewmembers, sir,” Slyvexs warned him. “I didn’t want to say it in front of the others, but it may not be you relieving people from duty.”

“I understand,” McCallister said. 

“And if another one of those shockwaves hits us, sir, who knows what trouble we’ll be in. I’ll double our efforts to get an early warning system. Perhaps Lukiz could work on a new shield modulation to help us protect the ship better?” Banfield stated.

“Work together, see if you can find something to help us,” McCallister pleaded both women before nodding for them to get started. 

As soon as they left, McCallister instructed the computer to send a message to the USS Sarek to see if they had any other answers. Before he sent the message he saw the list of ships that Starfleet had sent into the Delta Quadrant. The list was long for such an expedition, and familiar names appeared. The Ulysses, the Ahwahnee, the Endeavour and then the last one caught his eye. Though he still owed Matt Rourke a drink for saving the Odyssey during the Archanis Campaign, almost eighteen months ago, it was the USS Saratoga‘s name that made him pause from sending his message to the Sarek. He knew the Saratoga‘s skipper and like his first officer, Fleet Captain Azras Dex was an old academy classmate. She was a couple of years ahead of him, so seeing that she had made fleet captain before him was no surprise. McCallister gave out a long sigh. Dex was always ahead of him at the academy, she was notorious for her all-night study groups and being the top of her class.  Before Starfleet recalled the fleet from the Delta Quadrant, he wondered if like Duncan, he’d have time to reconnect. 

“Probably not, knowing our luck,” He grumbled to himself before pressing the button that sent his message to the Sarek. 

“Chief Medical’s log stardate seven-seven-eight-three-seven-point-five-one. My current analysis of the effects of the Blood Dilithium phenomena has yet to produce any desired outcomes: no treatment, no discernable pattern, and no explanation of how it affects our telepathic crew. In the meantime, the Odyssey has rescued the Brenari scout vessel. My staff have been treating their injured, just like some on Odyssey; they have also suffered strange side effects from the shockwave the Telemachus encountered yesterday.”

Standing in the medical research lab, reviewing the latest analysis, Doctor Slyvexs sighed heavily as, once again, further tests did not present any valuable data. One of her research assistants that stood by her mirrored a similar expression. Their work was interrupted by Commander Hunsen entering the lab from the far side. 

“Doc, do you have a moment?” The chief engineer asked her after he tracked her down. 

Looking up from the central circular console she had been working on, the Denobulan woman smiled at the Betazoid man as he approached her. “Tremt, how’re the headaches?”

Rubbing the side of his temple, Hunsen answered with a slight look of despair but one he could bare. “The cortical inhibitor seems to be working,” He pointed at the device behind his left lobe and, at the same time, took a breath before passing her a PADD in his hands. “Repairs to the Telemachus have been completed, but we ended up pulling micro fragments from its hull. They all match the data that Starfleet and the USS Sarak sent us. They are Blood Dilithium.”

“So that confirms that planetoid had them in it,” Slyvexs stated as she read the report that Hunsen had given her. 

Hunsen nodded in her assumption, “It does; Corella has already conducted a long-range scan of the remains of the planetoid. She is absolutely certain now that the Devore were trying to mine it but got a bit carried away with their efforts.”

“Just like the Klingons did with Praxis,” Slyvexs said with a slight shake of her head. “What has happened to the fragments from the Telemachus?”

“They’re currently in an isolation field, but we’ve also found similar fragments in the Brenari scout,” Hunsen replied. “The captain has agreed with their captain to scuttle their vessel to prevent the Devore from getting their hands on it.”

“That makes sense,” Slyvexs said. 

“How are you getting on?” Hunsen said, gesturing towards her work behind her.

Shaking her head and shrugging her shoulders, the doctor crossed her arms before responding. “I’m not getting anywhere fast. I can only determine that everything everyone has been feeling or experiencing is linked in the same timescale of the sudden arrival of the Blood Dilithium.”

“Damn,” Hunsen said. “Is there any way we can combat it further?”

“Besides rolling out the stasis chambers for every telepath on the ship, I’m unable to come up with a long-term solution. I’m about to start researching the possibility of setting up a low-level neurogenic field to counter its effect; however, I’m not hopeful it will work.” 

“Well, if there’s anything I can do to help, keep me posted.” Hunsen offered.

“I appreciate it, Tremt,” Slyvexs said with a sincere smile.

Hunsen nodded to her and turned around to leave the lab. 

We are here

You can hear us

So long, we’ve been waiting

To let go of ourselves and feel alive

The door chime went off a few times before T’Rani opened her eyes and got up from her meditation. Ignoring what she had heard in meditation, she rolled her shoulders back to compose herself. Walking from the private confines of her bedroom, she made her way across her quarters towards the door before pressing the release button. She had placed the entire room in privacy mode and wanted to complete some meditation after her first shift on the bridge since returning to the ship. However, she could guess who was waiting for her on the other side of the door.

“Samris,” She greeted her visitor, “It is agreeable to see you.”

“Likewise,” The Romulan counsellor said with a grin, realising that they were safe with privacy before he stepped in and leaned in to kiss her.

Automatically, T’Rani returned the gesture of affection and pulled her lover close as they embraced tightly. Almost like a pair of ravenous predators, they kept kissing one another, almost like they were out of control. Ripping Samris’ uniform jacket off from him, T’Rani continued with the need to be so intimate with him as he tried to undo her jacket. Almost instinctively, T’Rani took control, moved his hands away from her uniform, and pushed them to her neck as she ripped off his undershirt. Her actions caused her cortical inhibitor and monitor to come off. Overcome with the need to mate with him, T’Rani could no longer suppress her instincts as the Ponn Farr fever engulfed every part of her. 

“What do you think you are doing?” She asked him, in between kisses and as they made their way towards her bedroom.

Samris pulled away for a moment from their embrace, “Enjoying myself?” He replied sincerely. He had never felt this amount of passion from T’Rani before, and he couldn’t repress what he was feeling either. 

“Excellent,” She said before resuming their lustful actions. Pushing Samris hard down on her bed, she almost gave him a snarl-like expression as she looked at his half-naked body. Like a beast ready to feed on its prey, she didn’t hold back as she jumped onto him and resumed planting quick hard kisses across his face, neck and chest. 

“T’Rani, are you sure…we should…be doing…this?” Samris asked in between kisses and catching his breath. “I mean, the doctor did say we should all be-”

T’Rani placed a hand over his mouth and then put one finger on her mouth, indicating for him to be quiet. Yanking off her jacket and letting her hair down, she pulled Samris closer and placed both her hands across his face. “My mind to your mind, your thoughts to my thoughts….”

Samris started to scream in pain as T’Rani tightened her control over him. 

No one could hear him.  

We were stumbling

Looking in the dark

We’re lost 

We’ll find a way

You’ll be our light

“Come,” McCallister ordered from behind his desk in his ready room. The captain was sitting quietly, catching up on the latest reports from the elements from the Fourth Fleet that were now in the Delta Quadrant, assisting with the Blood Dilithium situation in the Gradin Belt.

Striding into McCallister’s private confines, Commander Duncan walked over to pass McCallister the PADD in his hands. “Just an update, sir.” He handed the device over. “The Brenari scout has been completely emptied, and we are now ready to destroy it.”

“And our guests?” McCallister asked as he took the PADD.

“Those who are not injured are all settled into guest quarters, while some remain in sickbay,” Duncan replied before a wry smile flashed across his face. “I’m sure Adale will be happy we rescued them.”

“I’m sure the Chief Mayor will appreciate our efforts,” McCallister said, not responding to the bait his first officer was putting out. 

“Maybe they’ll show their appreciation in a certain manner?” Duncan teased further.

Putting the PADD down on his desk, McCallister looked at his first officer. “Max, for the last time, nothing happened between myself and Adale. Now drop it.”

“Is that an order?”

“Yes,”

“Understood,” Duncan said with a sigh, “but she’s awfully nice.”

McCallister glared at him again, not believing the nerve his first officer had. “Remind me again, which one of us has upset our other half recently with another love revelation in a staff meeting?” The captain walked over to his replicator and ordered himself and his first officer a cup of tea.

Duncan raised his hands in defence at the shot fired by his captain, “Tobias is now fully briefed about my…encounter with the Sarak’s first officer from our academy days.”

“Well, you may want to do more damage control if we ever have to meet up with them,” McCallister warned as he picked up the replicated beverages and handed one to Duncan. 

Looking up suddenly, Duncan showed a sense of worry at hearing that. “Are we meeting up with the Sarak then?”

McCallister chuckled slightly at how evil he had been in paying Duncan back for the teasing he had endured about his relationship with Adale. “Who knows, but at the moment, they are dealing with something that involves the Kadi. We’re to remain here and monitor the situation with the Devore.”

“Talking of which,” Duncan said before sipping on his tea. “The subspace anomalies in this region are making it difficult for us to keep on top of tracking the Devore from earlier. Remnants from the planetoid’s shockwave are playing havoc with our sensors. We’ve had to re-align them several times in the past hour.”

“That’s not helpful at all,” McCallister remarked as he sat on the curved sofa under the sloping bay window. He gestured for Duncan to join him, “Any suggestions on how we can overcome it?”

“Corella and Lukiz are looking at other ideas as we speak; their primary idea is to launch several probes and connect them as a large network. If one loses sensor resolution, then the others nearby can compensate.” Duncan shared.

“Is it worth us doing such a thing and using such a large amount of our resources?” McCallister questioned. 

Before Duncan could respond, the ship went to red alert, and the voice of Tomaz came over the intercom. “All hands to battle stations, Devore warships detected off the port bow.”

Both men immediately rose and, quick as a flash, darted for the door back to the bridge. 

“Report, commander,” McCallister stated in a firm tone as he approached the centre of the bridge to see Tomaz standing up from the middle chair. 

Tomaz cleared his throat as he responded, “The Devore warships we detected earlier have suddenly arrived out of nowhere. They’re coming into weapon’s range, captain.” 

“So much for trying to track them,” Duncan said as he took his seat to the captain’s right. 

Looking at the wide viewscreen that showed both Devore warships heading straight for them, McCallister could see the damage they sustained from the earlier explosion. “They don’t appear so scary,” He stated. 

Tomaz had already moved over to his station while Lenjir gave a tactical analysis. “Though they heavily damaged, sir, their defences are operable, as are most of their weapons.” 

“We should be able to survive anything they assault us with to escape,” Tomaz announced. 

Pushing his shoulders back, McCallister wasn’t prepared to give in to the local bullies of the Delta Quadrant, not yet, anyway. “Cline, get a weapon’s lock.”

Lenjir did as he was told and just nodded to confirm that the Odyssey’s weapons array was active. At the same time, he did that, the bridge turbolift doors opened, allowing Hunsen, Flemen, Banfield and Jen to arrive.

“I take it the bad guys arrived?” Jen asked as he took over at Ops from Jines.

“There’s always a party gate crasher,” Banfield said as she took her post at science. 

“Finally, some action,” Hunsen muttered as he sat at the engineering station.

Sharing a quick glance with each other, McCallister and Duncan had both picked up on Hunsen’s comment and knew it was not like their chief engineer to say such a thing. Before either of them could say anything, Jen announced that the Devore ships were hailing them.

“Onscreen,” McCallister said as he sat down in his chair. 

The viewscreen changed to show the image of a Devore Imperium officer looming down at them with only a few lights overhead. The dark shadows around them were meant to intimidate their counterparts. The Devore was male, mostly bald, besides the white whispers around the sides. “Gaharay vessel, prepare to be inspected. Crew members are instructed to step away from their stations.”

McCallister then spoke up. “I’m Captain James Preston McCallister of the Federation starship, U-S-S Odyssey-”

He was cut off as the Devore continued with his speech. “Sidearms and scanning equipment are to be set aside. Deviation from this or any other inspection protocols will not be tolerated.”

Flemen, who had slid into the tertiary chair to McCallister’s left, was taking notes on a PADD as the Devore officer spoke. At the corner of his eye, McCallister could see that the diplomatic officer had written down that the Devore was following classic protocol when dealing with a ‘gaharay’ vessel. Flemen had briefed everyone about the Devore and what it meant if they ever had to endure an inspection. McCallister was never going to allow that to happen. 

“Are you quite finished?” McCallister asked the Devore officer.

“I beg your pard-”

Not giving him a chance to finish his sentence, McCallister played a bit of a psychological game with the man who spoke. “As I said, I am Captain McCallister of the U-S-S Odyssey, representing the United Federation of Planets. Although you outnumber me, I don’t believe you outgun me to demand an inspection. On top of that, I don’t recognise your claim to this territory.”

 “Gaharay vessel, you are far from your incursion fleet, and you will submit to our inspection, or we will take your vessel by force.” 

“You really want to take on the most advanced vessel in the Federation fleet? Do you even know we are?” McCallister questioned the Devore, remaining calm and cool in his chair. 

“It is of no consequence to us who you are, captain. We know you are transporting telepaths. Your ship will be seized, and everyone on it sent to detention camps.”

McCallister shook his head, “No, it won’t, not by you or anyone else. Now, you are far from your territory, and if you don’t know who I am or my crew, then let me tell you that the Odyssey is at the pinnacle of Federation design, but that’s not just it. In the last few months, we’ve been engaged in diplomatic efforts with many of the local races in the Gradin Belt. Not only have we secured a range of relationships with them, but exchanges in technology have given us quite the edge.”

“You are no match for two of our warships.”

“Your ships are heavily damaged, and my vessel is armed with some of the best weapons that the Delta Quadrant has to offer. Along with the Borg-inspired cutting tractor beam, I’m pretty keen to try the quantum-phasic torpedoes that Qomar gave us,”

“Don’t forget the Kraylor cloak we have, captain,” Flemen pipped up, adding to the bluff. “We could easily just cloak, and they would never see us.”

“That is true, but I’m not someone who likes to play hide and seek.” McCallister turned back to the Devore. “So, shall we dance?”

“You are harbouring known criminals, hand them over to us, and you may proceed without any further harm.” 

“No,” McCallister said; he then looked over to Lenjir. “Commander, arm a full spread of high-yield quantum phasic torpedoes and target their warp cores. Standby to fire on my command.”

Playing along, Lenjir did as his captain asked but just armed a full spread of quantum torpedoes. “Torpedoes armed and locked on, sir.”

The Devore stared at the captain once more before suddenly closing the channel. Seconds later and they both opened fire against the Odyssey.

“Direct hit to forward shields,” Lenjir announced. “They’re down….” He paused as he checked the readings. “Ninety-three per cent, sir.”

“How’s that possible?” Duncan asked.

“They’re damaged systems,” Tomaz answered. “Their weapons are barely operational.”

“Then let’s show them what they’re up against?” Hunsen suggested, sounding annoyed they had not done anything sooner. 

“I agree with Tremt,” Flemen said in support.

“I’m glad to hear that,” McCallister said sarcastically. “Cline, fire a full spread of torpedoes at both ships and then fire another spread of photon torpedoes at the Brenari scout. Destroy it before they have a chance to board it.” 

“Aye, sir.”

The Odyssey’s forward torpedo turret came to life as twelve shots were fired towards the Devore warships. Lenjir sent six torpedoes to one and the other six to the remaining vessel. Photon torpedoes fired from the Odyssey’s underbelly and made contact with the Brenari vessel. It exploded from the multiple hits it sustained. The shockwave from it hit both Devore vessels, damaging their already weakened shields.

“We should target their sensors and shields, sir; both vessels don’t have enough shielding protecting those systems, sir,” Tomaz advised. 

“Let’s do it, attack pattern alpha-two, target sensors and engines. Fire at will!” McCallister ordered as the Devore continued to assault the Odyssey. 

Twisting and moving around, the Odyssey fired several shots and took out one vessel. Its shields failed, followed by its engines, and then Tomaz reported their sensors were gone. The last vessel attempted to evade the attack but was too slow to do so. Several more torpedoes were enough to break down their remaining shields, and phaser strikes took out their engines and sensors. 

“Let’s get out of here, helm ahead maximum warp. Take us out of range and mask our warp trail.” McCallister commanded. 

As the drama came to a calm close, the turbolift door to the starboard side opened and walking out were T’Rani and Samris. Both of them appeared smartly dressed. 

“You’re both late,”  Duncan said in an annoyed tone. 

“We apologise, sir,” T’Rani said, bowing her head. 

“We were otherwise engaged, sir, when the red alert was called,” Samris added.

“I don’t want to hear your excuses,” Duncan complained to them. “Take your stations at once. Commander Flemen can update you on what has happened.”

Flemen nodded to that idea.

“Perhaps we should use the observation lounge?” Samris suggested.

Duncan relented, “Make it quick.”

“Oh, we will, sir,” T’Rani said with a smirk as she fell behind Flemen beside Samris. Samris gave her a similar expression before looking upon Flemen’s back as they made their way into the observation lounge alone. 

When the door closed behind them, Flemen turned around and was about to share what had happened when he noticed Samris closely approaching him. Samris had an expression across his face that he had never seen across his friend’s face before. He looked at T’Rani, who appeared to be sharing the same look. “Samris, what are you playing at?” He questioned as his friend approached him slowly.

“Everything’s fine,” Samris whispered to Flemen as he pushed him against a bulkhead and pressed his weight against him. 

Flemen attempted to struggle out of Samris’ grip but couldn’t move. He had never known Samris to be this strong. “Samris, this isn’t funny,” He said, looking at his friend, “I’m not interested in you like that,” He turned to T’Rani, who was now standing close behind Samris. “Or you, T’Rani, no offence.”

“None was taken,” She said as she seductively looked at Samris. “Shall we do this together?”

Samris nodded, placing one hand on Flemen’s left cheek while T’Rani did the right. In unison, they whispered the exact words she had said to Samris earlier. “My mind to your mind, your thoughts to my thoughts….”

Flemen struggled one more time, trying to get them both off of him, but Samris was pushing so hard he was finding it hard to breathe, let alone stop the mental intrusion he was now feeling. Eventually, he took one more breath and succumbed to their pressure. 

“This is a time of awakening, Craigen.” Samris almost purred as he remained firm against the diplomatic officer. His grip on his cheek was tight. “We are becoming one.”

Flemen then slumped into Samris’ arms. Catching him quickly, T’Rani looked at him. “We are done here, Samris.”

Flemen then stood back up straight, and a similar smirk that Samris had appeared across his face. “I understand.”

“Let us continue,” T’Rani said before gesturing for them to return to the bridge.  

We’re calling out for somebody

We’re alone

Where are we?

You’re there.

Home. 

“You’ve got to be kidding me?” McCallister questioned his staff from where he stood in astrometrics. Placing his arms across his chest, he studied what Banfield had wanted to show him since she had called everyone together later that afternoon. They had been able to evade the two Devore warships from earlier, despite their actions rendering both vessels inept from chasing them; they had now called in for support. Another six Devore ships had entered the sector. 

Banfield shook her head as she operated the central console and adjusted the holographic displays in front of everyone. “The Devore are very much keen to find us, sir; their search pattern points towards that. However, I also believe they are attempting to locate more sources of Blood Dilithium.”

“How bad is it?” Duncan asked from beside the captain, his hands on his hips. 

Banfield adjusted the display to show multiple locations using red dots. “The concentration of crystals isn’t as high as it was after the planetoid shockwave, but there are many locations they could plunder.”

“But the low level of dilithium at those sites means we won’t experience another Praxis-level shockwave?” Slyvexs checked from where she was. Leaning across one of the aft consoles behind Banfield, the Denobulan doctor had already shown her dread at hearing the latest news. Alongside this, the exhaustion across her standard roses features was evident. This complete enigma they found themselves in was taking a toll on her. She was finding it frustrating to help those around her. Her numerous degrees in so many aspects of medicine were not enough for her to come to some conclusion that would aid them. This was one side of Slyvexs that none of them had seen before. She was close to defeat and was hanging in by a small thread. 

“Exactly,” Banfield confirmed. “However, that’s not to say that whatever the Devore did in the first place, over-mining is our assumption, may not happen again though on a smaller scale.”

“Lukiz and I have been working on a new shield modulation that may help us if we reencounter a shockwave,” Lenjir reported. He tugged on his large ear lobe and then scratched his goatee. “However, if this Blood Dilithium decides to bloom somewhere else in large quantities and the Devore go for it, we can’t be certain any defence could work in our favour.” 

“It’s a starting point, at least,” McCallister remarked, showing his appreciation to his tactical officer, “any other advancements with our current predicament?”

“Though we are masking our warp trail and energy signatures, I cannot adapt the Devore refracting shielding technology to the Odyssey. We’re too large for it to be effective,” Hunsen mentioned. 

“Shame we don’t actually have a Kraylor cloaking device,” Duncan stated, which caused a few chuckles. Flemen’s attempt to support the captain’s bluff from earlier had not gone the way they had hoped. 

Tomaz then spoke up, “I’m looking at implementing some of the tactics we used against the Hazari.”

“I hope you’re not planning on blowing up a sun again, Tomaz,” Court said with a smirk. 

Shaking his head, Tomaz replied to the master chief’s comment. “Not unless their entire task group descends on us. That said, Commander Banfield has already told me that a solar eruption against any spatial body with Blood Dilithium wouldn’t be a great idea.”

“More bangs?” Court asked. 

Banfield just nodded.

“It all just seems a bit hopeless,” Slyvexs said in a serious tone. 

McCallister gave out a huge sigh as he turned away from the display to look at his staff. “What about the rest of the crew?” 

“Morale isn’t great, sir.” Samris pointed out. 

“That’s understandable,” Duncan replied as he dropped his hands and looked at his former deputy. “Anything we can do to change that?”

Samris shook his head. “No, I don’t think so, and it’s mainly from those on the crew who have some form of telepathic ability. The wearing of cortical inhibitors isn’t going down well.”

“Well, I’d prefer everyone being a bit moody instead of going mad,” Slyvexs countered back. Her tone was firm and blunt and realising how she came across, she apologised to Samris. “I’m sorry, it’s just I’m not getting anywhere fast with my research.” She turned to McCallister, “Could we perhaps lift the radio silence and get back in touch with the rest of the fleet, sir. I could do with coordinating and sharing with others in the fleet. Speaking to others, like the Endeavour or Sarak, would help me.”

“I strongly disagree with that idea,” T’Rani said. “It would be illogical to give the Devore our location by broadcasting to Starfleet.”

Surprised to hear the helm officer speak up, Slyvexs turned to her and snapped again. “Then T’Rani, you’ll be wearing that inhibitor for a little longer.”

“Would placing everyone affected into stasis be a decision we revisit?” Lenjir suggested. 

“How’d you like to be told that you can’t be trusted on a ship you consider your home just because you’re a telepath?” Flemen asked in an irritated tone. 

Lenjir frowned at Flemen, “As a Starfleet officer, I would be reminded of the oath I took that includes not just doing whatever it takes to protect myself but also others from harm.”

“Captain, you can’t be serious in considering ordering not only us but the civilians on board who have telepathic abilities into cold storage?” Hunsen piped up as he moved to stand beside Flemen. 

“The Odyssey would lose a large proportion of its population if you considered it. The logical course would be to remain using the cortical inhibitors.” T’Rani stated. 

“We would have uproar if you suggest using stasis chambers, sir,” Samris warned.

“Yes, thank you, everyone,” McCallister said in a more stern tone than the others had taken with one another. “I won’t make that decision, but it may have to be a last resort to secure the well-being of everyone on board.”

A few started to protest, and Duncan stepped in with a quick sharp whistle and raised his voice. “Enough!” He called out to them. “I’d like to remind you all that you are all Starfleet officers, and you will conduct yourselves in such a manner expected of you all as senior crew members. Am I clear?”

Calming down, they all stopped their disagreements and confirmed their understanding of what Duncan had just said. 

“That’s much better; now, back to the briefing.” Duncan insisted, still glaring at those who had started the arguments.

“With this many Devore ships in this region, we don’t dare head back to the Sanctum,” Banfield stated. “We should find other means to wait this situation out until a solution is found. It would also be a bad idea if we gave the Devore the idea to go and explore where the Brenari colony is. I’d hate to find them sticking their noses into the Gaharey Sanctum.”

“I hope you’ve got several ideas, Corella,” Slyvexs remarked. “As I will need a lot of time.”

Banfield nodded and proceeded to show several locations they could hide the vessel. The first one was a gas giant with no Blood Dilithium crystal fragments near it, followed by a moon with a para-magnetic core, and then there was a Class L world with a parthogenic atmosphere. “That last one, we would need to get closer to get a better look to scan for Blood Dilithium Crystals,” Banfield added.

“It’s better than nothing,” McCallister said, agreeing with Banfield’s ideas. “T’Rani set a course for the gas giant.”

“Sir, there is a dense region of subspace vacuoles nearby which would be more a logical location to hide in; the Devore would not consider coming for us there,” T’Rani suggested. “Also, it means they would avoid the area where the Sanctum is.”

“There’s an astral eddy in the centre of that region too, lieutenant commander,” Banfield said, sounding more irritated by the pilot’s attempt to bypass her ideas. “The ship wouldn’t survive long enough for the Devore to give up chasing us.”

“Couldn’t we re-enforce structural integrity?” Flemen asked. 

“Perhaps, but that would require a lot of power,” Hunsen answered as he crossed his arms against his chest.

“Power we don’t want to be overusing in case the Devore detects the odd surge,” Jen stated after shaking his head. “The less power we can use, the better it is for us to keep ourselves hidden from the Devore patrols.”

“Commander Banfield’s original suggestions stands; T’Rani, as I said, set a course for the gas giant,” McCallister ordered.

“Aye, sir,” T’Rani said with a single bow of her head. 

“Dismissed,” McCallister ordered everyone.

Everyone started to leave the lab; however, Captain McCallister started to hang back and gave a look to Duncan, Slyvexs, Court and Banfield to follow suit. 

“Was it me, or was that the most tensed senior staff meeting we’ve ever had?” Court asked once the last person left and the doors closed. “We’ve had our disagreements, but that was a whole new level.”

“Tobias is right; we’ve never had anyone snap at each other like that before,” Slyvexs said. “And I am sorry for my own behaviour.”

“Slyvexs, it’s okay. You’re under a lot of pressure, we get it. But the others don’t have the same excuse.” McCallister assured her. 

“And I’ve never known the likes of Craigen, T’Rani or even Samris to question an idea in the tones they took,” Duncan added. 

“Is it crew morale, or are we looking at a more severe issue, doctor?” Banfield asked.

Banfield shrugged her shoulders, “They’re all wearing cortical inhibitors; it could be the effect of not having complete mental control over their telepathic abilities that may be causing it. Let me check what their inhibitors registered. If it is the effect of the Blood Dilithium, then we may need to consider that option they’re not keen on.”

McCallister rubbed his forehead, “What if we just relieved them of their duties?”

“Maybe, until I know more, let me monitor it,” Slyvexs recommended. 

“Keep us posted,’ McCallister asked her as they filed out of astrometrics soon after. 

Approaching the nearest turbolift,  Hunsen found himself waiting by the door with T’Rani, Flemen and Samris. Rubbing his forehead, he could feel his headache returning, and he winced at it while wearing the cortical inhibitor. 

“Headache returning, sir?” Flemen asked, sounding concerned. 

Hunsen just nodded. “Yeah, it’s probably the inhibitor.” 

“The inhibitors are a nuisance,” T’Rani remarked.

Samris agreed, “The sooner we can get rid of them, the better.” 

“It makes me feel like we’re being punished for our telepathic or empathic abilities,” Flemen said. 

 Hunsen shook his head as the turbolift eventually arrived, and the doors parted, allowing them to enter the cart. “You all know that’s not the case,” He assured them. “But I get where you’re coming from that they could be seen as a tag to show our differences.”

As the three officers followed the chief engineer, they all stood in front of him as the doors closed behind him. They all pulled off their inhibitors before Flemen and Samris rushed at him and pushed him against the wall.

“Fellas, what the hell are you doing?” Hunsen struggled to fight them off him. Their sudden aggressive gesture caught him off guard, and the pain of hitting the back of the lift surprised him. He was in agony from it but was now trying to ignore it as he resisted their tight grip over him.

“It’s okay, sir, you are strong, like us; you can be like us,” Flemen whispered.

“Craigen, what the hell are you on about?” Hunsen said, still trying to push them both off of him as T’Rani approached him. 

“Everything’s fine,” Samris whispered to Hunsen in the same manner he had said to Flemen a few hours ago. He removed the inhibitor from behind Hunsen’s left earlobe and then looked at T’Rani with a grin. 

“Hold him,” T’Rani said as she placed her fingertips around the edge of his face. “His strength will only help us further.”

“You guys will be in a lot of trouble for attacking a superior officer-” Hunsen said before T’Rani spoke the next set of words that echoed through Hunsen’s mind. 

“My mind to your mind, your thoughts to my thoughts….” 

You can see the things we can see.

You’re standing on the edge, like us.

We’re wishing you were us.

Just hold on. 

Hunsen felt his entire mind was about to explode as he heard those words repeated over T’Rani’s voice. It was all too much for him, and he instantly collapsed into the strong arms of both Flemen and Samris. 

Darkness fell over him.

He felt like he was falling into a void. 

Moving faster and faster, he had nothing to hold on to.

Nothing was around him. 

Eventually, he lost. He gave in. There was nothing to stop him, to help him, to protect him.

They had won. 

The turbolift doors opened, and Hunsen stepped out of the cart with a slight swagger. He turned to the other three, “You know what needs to happen.” He said to them. 

“Aye, sir,” They all said in unison, and the door closed in front of them. 

Making his way across the deck, Hunsen made his way towards his quarters to find the one person on the ship he could share his gift with. 

His equal, 

His love, 

His Imzadi.

Counsellor Horin was lying straight out on one of the many biobeds in sickbay. Remaining as still as she could, the sickbay scanners were doing their job. Remaining calm, she took several deep breaths. Horin had finally stopped being sick but could not return to duty today. She was now hungry and had urges to eat so much, but the idea of stuffing her face with any food made her feel queasy.   

Checking her bio scan one more time, Doctor Forbes looked over what he could see from the counsellor’s records and reviewed the latest scans. “Everything looks okay, ma’am,” He assured her. “Baby H is well.”

“Thank you, Remi,” Horin said with a smile as she placed her hands over her bump. “Is the inhibitor having any side effects on the pregnancy?”

He shook his head before answering, “Not that I can tell; I think the low setting that Doctor Slyvexs suggested is enough to protect you and Baby H.”

“Betazoid physiology is known to create a strong telepathic and empathic link between mother and child,” Horin remarked, “I just hope all of this Blood Dilithium crystal saga has no effect on me or Baby H.”

“So far, ma’am, besides the unusual spout of morning sickness returning to you, I’m not detecting anything out of the usual. Do you feel or sense anything different?” Forbes checked as he pressed a button to let the biobed scanners return to the standby position underneath it. 

“Just the urge to want to eat so much food,” Horin shared. “Lots of chocolate. And I mean lots!”

Forbes chuckled, “That sounds normal to me, but just make sure if you go on an eating binge, you don’t overdo it.”

“I understand,” Horin said as she tried to get up but felt a bit dizzy as she did.

Noticing her wobble, Forbes immediately caught her in his hands. “You okay, ma’am?”

“Just a bit light-headed,” She answered as she decided to lay back down again. 

Running his tricorder over her, Forbes could see why. “It’s what I thought; the fact you’ve not kept anything in your system for a long time is having some sort of ordeal on your body. Let me give you a hypospray with everything in it to help you rebuild what you lost.”

“Thank you, Remi,” She answered with a smile as he prepared the injection. “I’m certain that everything I puked up earlier was far more than what they serve in the all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet in the Auditorium.” 

Injecting her with the potion of everything she needed to help her deal with the pregnancy after puking up everything she had, Forbes took another scan. “That’s better. Everything is going in the right direction.”

“My head still feels like it’s spinning,” Horin shared as she winced slightly. 

Horin saw the issue from his scans and explained why she felt the way she was. “Your psilosynine levels are low, which is expected with the cortical inhibitor and your connection with Baby H.”

“Is that dangerous for the baby?” Horin asked, sounding alarmed again.

Forbes shook his head, “No, it’s normal for a Betazoid baby to take a higher level of psilosynine from their mother. Let me inject you with some more, just for Baby H. I’d like to monitor your levels for the next hour or so if you don’t mind.”

Horin’s shoulders shrugged at the idea of remaining in sickbay. “Let’s be safe than sorry.”  

“We can replicate anything you want,” Forbes offered. “Also, I can place you in one of our private examination rooms, and we can set up some relaxing holographic environment if you fancy it?”

Considering Forbes’ offer for a moment, Horin eventually nodded in agreement. She took hold of his hand as he guided her into one of the private rooms. After helping her onto the bed in her own room, Forbes pulled one of the sheets over her and raised her pillow for her. “How’s that?” He asked. 

“Like four-star service,” Horin answered as she found this bed more relaxing than the one she was just on.

“Just four? What can I do to make it five?” Forbes asked as he dimmed the lights slowly and brought the PADD over that controlled the holographic interface.

“A huge bowl of chocolate fudge cake, covered in chocolate ice cream with chocolate flakes on top and a hot chocolate on the side,” Horin answered honestly. “Maybe add some chocolate chip cookie dough into that mix as well!” 

“As one of your physicians, I should warn you about eating an excessive amount of chocolate,” Forbes warned her as he went over to the replicator. “That said, I have also learnt never to get in between a Betazoid and their love of chocolate.”

“Especially a pregnant Betazoid,” Horin warned him with a cheeky grin.

“Agreed,” Forbes said as he returned with her order on a tray and placed it just above her stomach. 

“Hunsen to Horin, where are you, Imzadi?” Hunsen asked over the intercom, almost sounding like he was panicking. 

Horin groaned at hearing the chief engineer’s voice. She was about to tap her badge when Forbes stopped her and answered for her. “Doctor Forbes here, Commander Hunsen.” He said after tapping his own combadge. “Counsellor Horin is currently in sickbay, resting.”

“What? What happened? Is she okay?” Hunsen asked, emphasising every single word he said. “I must see her now.”

“She and the baby are okay, but I cannot permit visitors now. She must rest.” Forbes replied.

“That’s not good enough; I need to see her. Now!” Hunsen exclaimed, again stressing at his need to see her.

Forbes sighed at the awkwardness and responded. “I’m sorry, sir, but those are my orders, and I will not allow you to enter sickbay to disturb one of my patients.”

“Lieutenant, I will order you to let me in,” Hunsen said.

“Sorry again, sir, but medical protocol supersedes your authority. In this case, it recognises my orders, and if I need to, I will have Doctor Slyvexs support them. Do you really want to deal with Doctor Slyvexs today, sir?” Forbes gambled by using the threat of Slyvexs against the chief engineer.

“Very well,” Hunsen relented. “But tell me the moment I can see her.”

“I will do my best, sir; sickbay out.” Forbes then tapped his combadge and closed the channel.

Horin shook her head, “I’m sorry, Remi, for Tremt’s behaviour. Ever since he found out he’s going to be a dad, he has become highly protective.”

“Dealing with patients’ relatives comes with the job, ma’am,” Forbes assured her. “Is there anything else you need?”

She shook her head before tucking into her food. Forbes smiled and made his way out of the private room. Once the door was closed, he decided to find his superior to raise Hunsen’s unusual behaviour. 

“And so the answer would be?” Alfie asked, elongating the ‘be’ and glancing at Jordan from his PAD. Noticing his friend was not paying attention to him, Alfie nudged him with his bare foot. “Jordan!”

Surprised by the slight kick and calling his name, Jordan shook his head and looked over at Alfie. “Sorry, what?” 

Groaning and throwing his head back down on the pillow behind him, Alfie dropped his PADD onto his chest. “You’re hopeless, Jord!” 

Unsure what his friend meant by that, Jordan shook his head again and realised where he was again. He had completely lost track of time and his location. Looking around, he soon remembered he was sitting on the large king-size bed in Alfie’s bedroom as they tried to study for their next exam. Alfie was lying on his back along the centre of the bed while Jordan was sitting on the end. Rubbing his eyes, Jordan looked back down at his PADD and tried to work out where they were on their revision. 

“Sorry, Alf, where are we?”

“We’re reading chapter eleven of the Battle of Sol,” Alfie reminded him as he sat up and joined his friend by his side to scroll his PADD to the right place. “The part where the Romulans attempt to attack Earth with nuclear warheads.”

“Ah yeah, the Earth-Romulan War,” Jordan remembered as he watched his friend help him. “Thanks,”

“Yeah, we’re almost on the last bit where the Challenger N-X-Oh-Three takes on those Romulan drones.” Alfie reminded him. “The question was, how did Fleet Captain Burton disable the drones?”

Jordan quickly looked at his study material, “Oh yeah, wasn’t it something to do with EM-residue?”

“Yeah, Burton and his crew worked out a plan to overload the impulse drives, allowing them to pick them off one at a time,” Alfie added. “Pretty advanced tactics for the time,”

“Why do we have to study pre-Federation history?” Jordan asked. 

“It’s a course requirement, Jord,” Alfie reminded him. “Anyway, you said last week you enjoyed reading the early missions of the third NX-class ship; what’s wrong with doing it today?”

“I said I liked reading about the Challenger, as well as the Endeavour,” Jordan corrected, “And nothing is up; I just keep finding myself struggling to focus.”

“Still tired from last night’s antics with our babysitting duties?” Alfie asked as he jumped off his bed and headed to the replicator, “You want a drink?”

“Whatever you’re having, thanks,” Jordan replied. “And yeah, maybe the interruption to my sleep hasn’t been great.”

Returning with two chocolate milkshakes, one in each hand, Alfie handed one to his friend. “Counsellor Horin got me hooked on these a few months ago; the extra secret is a dollop of ice cream.”

Looking at the metal straw in the glass, Jordan asked his friend how he was meant to drink it. 

Alfie showed him by sucking on the straw, “See, like that.” 

Copying his friend, Jordan sucked on the straw and immediately felt a frosty sensation in the front of his mind. “Oww, what is that?”

“A brain freeze!” Alfie replied, “it’s what happens when you intake something cold so quickly. It’s amazing!” As he got back on his bed, he kept sipping on his drink. “Now, back to the battle, there’s this cool thing where the Enterprise comes in and helps save the day!”

Jordan looked back down at his PADD, but the words became fuzzy. He blinked a few times, and he regained his focus. “Alf, can we stop for a moment?”

 Worried to hear his friend ask that, Alfie placed his drink on his bedside cabinet. “Sure, what’s wrong, Jord?”

“I don’t know, I’m just struggling to focus,” Jordan answered before an all-mighty shiver went down his spine. “I’m starting to feel cold now.”

Alfie placed the back of his hand against Jordan’s forehead and felt his temperature. “You feel fine to me,” He replied before taking the milkshake off him. “Here, put this on.” He offered one of his hoodies that was hanging over a nearby chair. 

Thanking his friend, Jordan put the hoodie over his head and placed his arms through it. “Thanks,”

“Is that better?” Alfie asked.

Jordan nodded. “It’s just a weird sensation,”

“You want to check it out in sickbay?” Alfie offered.

Jordan shook his head, “It’s probably me, still tired, and that milkshake being extremely cold.”

“As cold the Andorian Wastelands!” Alfie quipped back, “Now, come on, let’s get back to this chapter, or we’re never going to be ready for that test!”

Jordan agreed as he moved to sit beside Alfie at the top of his bed as they finished reading their materials. But in the back of his mind, he was sure he could feel something…or someone. 

Hearing the same argument repeated more than once was becoming highly annoying and quite a nuisance. Taking a deep breath and slowly exhaling, Captain McCallister found himself biting his bottom lip as he remained silent and allowed Captain Nictoles to ramble on for a bit longer. The Brenari man had agreed to the scuttling of his vessel to avoid being caught by the Devore. Despite their best efforts to accommodate him, his crew and his passengers, he was complaining.

“This entire situation is unbearable for my people, captain; we cannot remain here,” Nictoles stated as he paced a meter in front of McCallister’s desk in the ready room. While McCallister was behind his desk, Duncan and Flemen sat closer to the Brenari leader on the other side.  

Nictoles was probably the same age as Flemen, maybe a bit older, and had black hair shaved down to a few millimetres. His chiselled jawline and light stubble made him appear quite fierce. He matched his appearance through his confidence and deep voice. Initially, since they rescued him, he had been quite receptive to the Odyssey crew and understood their predicament. Now, that had changed. 

“Nictoles, we understand how you and your people feel; my crew feel the same way,” McCallister assured him. “However, with the Devore crawling throughout this space, we cannot risk them detecting us if we head back to the Sanctum. I won’t have them follow us, and everything your people have worked so hard to build is lost because we couldn’t hold our nerve.”

“This isn’t about holding our nerve,” Nictoles snapped back as he paused in his pacing to look at the human captain. “You have us wearing these damn cortical inhibitors preventing my people from communicating with each other.”

“Those are needed to protect yourselves and everyone else,” Duncan reminded their guest. “Our telepathic crew are wearing them too.”

“Yes, this blood dilithium that can make us all go crazy!” Nictoles said, raising his voice and throwing his arms up in the arm before placing them on his hips; he ended up spitting up his following remark. “We want to be taken home, now!” 

McCallister stood up after he had been shouted at. “While you are on my ship, you will follow my rules. Am I clear, Captain Nictoles?”

Nictoles didn’t reply.

“Your people are guests on this vessel; however, if at any time we feel you are putting not only your safety at risk but the lives of everyone else on this vessel, then you will find those privileges taken away, and your people will be confined to their guest quarters. Do I make myself clear?” McCallister was almost shouting now. 

Flemen stood up, “I think Captain Nictoles gets the message, sir.” He said, trying to be the calming presence in the room.

The intercom went off, “Bridge to Captain McCallister; we’re approaching the gas giant,” announced Banfield.

McCallister answered his second officer by tapping his combadge but still staring at Nictoles. “Understood, commander. I’m on my way.”

McCallister gestured for them to leave the ready room and enter the bridge. Leading the group, McCallister walked over to the centre of the room and noticed that Flemen had taken their Brenari guest under his wing while Duncan had brought up the rear to ensure there were no more issues. Banfield saw the edgy look across her superior’s face and gave him a supportive look as she stood up from his chair. 

 “We’re just dropping out of warp now, sir,” Banfield said as she rose.

“Thank you, commander,” McCallister said, almost giving out a short sigh as he turned to look down at the helm. “Lieutenant Commander T’Rani, take us into the gas giant’s atmosphere.”

T’Rani nodded in response before an alarm went off beside her at the ops station. Jen looked down at his console and frowned at what he was seeing. Shaking his head, he double-checked his readings and then spoke up. “Sir, long-range sensors have picked up what appears to be a Brenari convoy, and they’re sending out a low-level automated distress signal.”

“Are you sure, Lukiz?” McCallister checked as he walked over to stand right behind his ops manager. 

“I am, sir,” Jen said as he looked over the readings again. “I have no idea where they’ve come from, but there they are. Twelve vessels with over ten thousand people among them.”

Finding that find extremely unusual, McCallister turned around to look at Captain Nictoles, “Captain, are you aware of any convoy entering this region?”

He shook his head and made his way across the bridge. “That can’t be. We would never have that many ships or souls in one group. It’s too dangerous!”

“But there they are,” T’Rani remarked. “Shall I lay in a course for their position, sir?”

“No, maintain our course,” McCallister ordered.

“Sir, we cannot leave them to the Devore patrols.” T’Rani protested. 

“They would be captured instantly, sir!” Flemen supported her remark. 

“They probably have children on those ships, captain,” Hunsen stated from the engineering station.

Perplexed at the out-of-character triple bombardment, McCallister shut them down. “Until we’ve determined it’s legit, I am not spoiling our chances of being detected by the Devore.”

“It could be a trap set by the Devore,” Banfield suggested from the science station. “Let me check our sensors.”

“Captain, we cannot ignore that call for help,” Samris said from the tertiary command chair. 

Nictoles then joined in on the debate. “Captain McCallister, if that is a group of my people, then I cannot allow them to be taken to a detention camp.”

“I do not disagree, but I want to know more,” McCallister stated.

Duncan then joined in supporting his captain, “It’s too suspicious that just as we’re about to go into hiding, they arrive.”

“Exactly!” McCallister said, appreciating the backing.

Banfield shook her head at not being able to get the scanners to do what she wanted them to do.  “I can’t increase sensor resolution without us being detected by the Devore.” She looked at her captain, “If we launch a class three probe, it could get closer and get a better picture, plus they’re designed not to be detected.”

Court, who was at one of the mission ops stations, piped up, “Better to be safe than sorry.”

“Make it happen,” McCallister said as he started to return to his chair, “T’Rani, get us in the gas giant.”

“Wait!” Hunsen said as he stood up from his station and approached the captain, “Captain, you cannot let those Brenari refugees be caught. We must alter course now and rendezvous with them.”

“No!” McCallister replied firmly.

Flemen then stepped forward and supported Hunsen, “Sir, if we go after the convoy, we will have strength in numbers.”

Turning to look at his diplomatic officer, McCallister was surprised by that remark. “We cannot risk it.”

“Sir, we cannot lose those Brenari on our watch.” Samris stood up, joining the others.

“We are not going to lose them, counsellor. We need to know that’s not a trap, so we don’t lose the Odyssey to the Devore.” McCallister replied back, still in an assertive tone.

“You’re prepared to allow those innocent people to die?” Hunsen said as he got closer to the captain. 

Hunsen’s movements prompted Duncan to stand up and place himself between McCallister and him. “Easy, Tremt,” He reminded his friend.

“I never said that commander,” McCallister said.

T’Rani then stood up from the helm. “Sir, the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.”

“That’s utter Targ manure, every word of it,” Banfield said as she got up from her chair with her hand on her phaser. Court, Lenjir, Jen and Tomaz all came forward with their hands also on their weapons strapped to their sides.  

“And that is the most illogical remark you have ever said, since joining this vessel, commander,” T’Rani opposed. “The captain is putting the needs of others below the needs of this vessel.”

“Which he is right to do,” Duncan said, “that his duties, as much as it is ours.” He looked at McCallister and could see that his captain remained steadfast where he was.

“Are you really that scared you don’t think we can take on the Devore? Scared we’re going to lose the Odyssey?” Hunsen said, in quite a threatening tone to his captain. 

“As I said, commander,” McCallister said severely, “We’re not going to lose the Odyssey, not to the Devore, not to anyone. Not while I’m in command. You have your orders.”

“I must object to this course of action, captain.” Hunsen spat out.

Flemen stepped forward, “Me too.”

“Likewise,” Samris said.

“I concur,” T’Rani added.

“All of your objections are noted,” McCallister said as he looked at each of them. 

“With all due respect, sir, I don’t think you’re getting it,” Hunsen said as the other came to stand behind him. “You don’t know what it’s like to be a telepath and told you can’t use something that comes naturally to you. We are being prosecuted for being slaves to our own biology, and you’re scared to see what may happen if we take these inhibitors off. You don’t want to experience what happened on the Merevek; it’s influencing your judgement. You’re afraid of the Devore. You want to run away and hide like a coward.”

“Tremt!” Duncan shouted at his friend, “That’s enough!”

“Commander Hunsen is right, though,” Flemen said. “None of you get it.”

“Craigen, you need to calm yourself down,” Tomaz said as he pulled his friend back, which in return caused Flemen to spin and thump Tomaz straight in the jaw.

Lenjir and Court jumped across the room, and both grabbed hold of Flemen. The security chief proceeded to call for extra security to the bridge. 

“You are all relieved of your duties,” McCallister said to the group opposing him. He squared up against Hunsen, “Get off my bridge, now!”

Hunsen remained still for another second before he soon noticed that everyone had pulled out their weapons and were directly aimed at him and the others. “You won’t get away with this.”

The turbo lift doors all opened, and Keli arrived via on lift with a security detail with phaser rifles, while Jisaraa arrived with another team, also armed. 

“Escort Commanders Hunsen, T’Rani and Lieutenant Samris to their quarters,” Duncan ordered. “And have Commander Flemen taken to the brig.”

Banfield had knelt down to help Tomaz up, who was still in shock at having his friend punch him the way he did. Rubbing his chin, Tomaz thanked the science officer for helping him up. 

“So, is this how the great Starfleet deal with disagreements? They go into a brawl?” Captain Nictoles commented as he watched those who opposed the captain’s decision be taken off the bridge.

“Commander Lenjir would escort Captain Nictoles to his guest quarters,” McCallister ordered, not wanting to turn around and look at him. 

“With pleasure, sir,” Lenjir replied as he put his weapon away and gestured for the Brenari to head towards one of the free turbo lifts.

Once the commotion on the bridge had disappeared, McCallister gave Tomaz a gesture to see if he was okay. Tomaz just nodded. “Tobias, take the helm and get us into that gas giant.”

“Aye, sir,”  Court said as he put his phaser back into his holster and took over the flight controls.

“Corella, launch that probe,” McCallister said as he sat back down in his chair. 

“I’m on it,” Banfield replied as she 

Tapping his combadge, Duncan called for Slyvexs to check the cortical monitors of those recently involved in that altercation. Slyvexs confirmed she would get on it straight away before closing the channel. 

Duncan looked at his captain, and for the first time, he could see that McCallister was highly bothered by what had just happened. No one had ever questioned him like that publicly. 

“Are you okay, sir?” Duncan asked quietly.

“Fine,” McCallister snapped back and kept his focus fixed on the viewscreen as they entered the gas giant. McCallister then stood up. He looked over at Tomaz, who had taken over at tactical for the moment. “Tomaz, get yourself checked over in sickbay.”

Tomaz just nodded, rubbing his chin and where a bruise now forming where Flemen had floored him. 

“Number One, the bridge is yours,” McCallister said as he marched across the bridge back into his private sanctuary. 

Duncan and Banfield exchanged a look of concern with each other, thinking the same thing and realising that their captain needed some space. 

“I can’t believe I’m hearing that correctly?” Forbes said as he ran the dermal regenerator over Tomaz’s chin. “Commander Hunsen actually squared up against the captain?”

“Believe it,” Tomaz said as he tried to remain still as he was treated.

“What was that?” Counsellor Horin asked after stepping out of her private examination room with a mug of hot chocolate. 

Realising she must have heard it, Tomaz remained still while he let Forbes deal with the counsellor. 

“It’s nothing, ma’am,” Forbes said, “You should go back and rest.”

“No, tell me. What was that about Tremt and the captain?” Horin said as she stepped closer and saw the massive bruise on Tomaz’s chin. “And who the hell did that to you, Tomaz?”

Slyvexs walked into the room to save Forbes. “It would appear Commander Hunsen and several others are not behaving themselves, Louwanna.”

“Explain,” Horin asked as he placed her mug on one of the side consoles. “Is it the blood dilithium?”

Slyvexs shrugged her shoulders as she double-checked Forbes’ work to ensure that Tomaz’s breathing apparatus hadn’t been damaged. Not that she didn’t trust Forbes, it was standard procedure to have more than one physician review such devices. “That looks fine, Remi,” She turned her attention back to Horin. “I’m about to check the readings from his cortical inhibitor to see why Hunsen got all angry and behaved in a way that was unbecoming of a senior officer.”

“Let me come with you,” Horin pleaded, and Slyvexs nodded as they crossed the room. 

Pulling the latest records from Hunsen’s inhibitor, Slyvexs was going to react surprisingly but didn’t at first. “Commander Hunsen has not been wearing his inhibitor at all times,” She pointed to the logs, “look, there are gaps in its usage.”

“That’s the same for some of the others,” Horin pointed out. “Samris, Tierra, Flemen, hell, T’Rani has the longest gaps in not using her inhibitor, but why?”

Shaking her head in, unable to see a pattern initially, Slyvexs studied the logs closely. “Look here, there are instances where T’Rani is not using her inhibitor at the same time that Samris doesn’t use his, then the same for both of them with Flemen a bit later. Look, it happens again with all three of them simultaneously when Hunsen stops using his. Then later on with Tierra and several others.”

Forbes and Tomaz then approached both women from behind.

“Have you found something, doctor?” Forbes asked his superior. 

Slyvexs nodded and indicated for her deputy to read what she was reading. 

“For us, non-medical people, does this explain why Flemen decided to punch the living life out of me earlier?” Tomaz inquired. 

 “It does, and it doesn’t,” Slyvexs responded. “The inhibitors should have prevented their telepathic powers from being caught, if that’s the best terminology to use here, by the effects of the blood dilithium, so I can’t figure out the rationale for them to remove their inhibitors. They all understood why and Commander Horin hasn’t removed hers.”

“Hey, I’m a good patient; I listen to my doctor, especially when it comes to ensuring my baby’s wellbeing,” Horin said. “What about everyone else who is wearing an inhibitor? Are there any gaps in their usage?”

Slyvexs turned to Forbes and got him to check the logs while she ran a scan over Horin. “I’m just checking to see if there’s anything else I’ve missed here.” 

“Go ahead,” Horin said as she stood straight. 

Slyvexs shook her head in despair, “I’m not detecting anything out of the ordinary that would make you want to take the inhibitor off.”

“I’m not in any pain or discomfort,” Horin shared.   

“Doctor,” Forbes said, calling for the attention of his superior, “we’ve got an issue. Most of the Brenari and pretty much everyone, besides a few of the younger members of our crew, has disengaged their inhibitors at least once in the past twelve hours.”

“How did the sickbay systems not register them?” Tomaz questioned, concerned at the computer not alerting them. 

Forbes pulled up additional files to justify what had happened. “Someone has tampered with the sensors.”

“Who?” Tomaz asked immediately. 

“Initially, it looks like Lieutenant Commander T’Rani, then Commander Hunsen,” Forbes said, looking at the console. 

“What are they playing at?” Horin asked. 

Concerned that something more could happen, Tomaz attempted to trace the dots in this situation that presented them. “It doesn’t make sense, any of it. Who from our younger members has not had their inhibitors touched?”

“I’m loading up the manifest now, sir,” Forbes said as he pushed the data up into a holographic display. “But, the list is starting to grow short. Someone is trying to hack into the system.”

Straight away, Tomaz felt his heart drop as he saw one of the names. He tapped his combadge immediately, “Lieutenant Commander Tomaz to Cadets McCallister and Duncan-Court.”

Alfie immediately replied. “Go ahead, sir.”

“Alfie, are you and Jordan still together studying?” Tomaz checked, pleading quietly to himself that he would say yes.

“We are, sir; why?” 

 “Get to my quarters straight away and get S’Tem for me. Bring him to sickbay on the double. Do not stop for anyone unless it’s either of your fathers.” He ordered.

“We’re on it,” Jordan said before closing the channel.

“Where is the hack coming from?” Slyvexs then asked as she couldn’t believe what she was seeing. 

“Main Engineering,” Forbes quickly said as he attempted to find more data. “The codes being used are those associated with Lieutenant Tierra.”

 “Computer, this is Commander Slyvexs, medical emergency alpha-one. Secure all sickbay systems onto the independent backup systems, lock out all controls from outside of sickbay until further notice, voice authorisation Slyvexs-Two-Two-Beta-Charlie.” 

“Command codes acknowledged, sickbay systems locked out and now running on independent backup systems.” The computer announced.

“It’s worked,” Forbes exclaimed.

“For now, but why the hell is Tierra trying to disable the inhibitors?” Tomaz asked as he crossed his arms. “We should inform the captain-”

He was interrupted by Horin, “Slyvexs, is that what I think it is?” She pointed at several scans that the Denobulan doctor had left open while she stopped Tierra from hacking the systems. 

Slyvexs turned around to see what Horin was pointing out, and she couldn’t believe what she was looking at. “My goodness, how did we miss that?”

“Miss what?” Forbes said as he joined the two women with Tomaz. He looked at the readings, “That can’t be; you’ve not started running the tests for it yet.”

“That’s not mine.” Slyvexs pointed out.

“Again, for those of us who are not medical professionals, can you tell me what I’m looking at?” Tomaz requested. 

“That commander is a low-level neurogenic field directed at our telepathic crew and guests,” Slyvexs answered.

“Meaning what?” Tomaz was still unsure what they were going on about. After asking the question, the main entrance to sickbay opened up, allowing Alfie and Jordan to enter. Jordan had S’Tem sat on his shoulders. Tomaz, relieved to see his son safe, thanked the cadets for bringing S’Tem to him. 

Slyvexs then checked her sensors and finally answered Tomaz’s question. “It’s not just the blood dilithium that is affecting our fellow crewmates, but someone or something is producing a neurogenic field that is controlling them.”

Tapping his combadge, Tomaz called for the captain, but his combadge was not working. The others all tried the same with their own. Nothing. The ship then went to red alert. 

“This isn’t good,” Horin said, “And I don’t need to be a telepath to sense that.”

“Computer, where did the red alert originate from?” Tomaz asked. 

“Main Engineering.”

Tomaz guessed that Tierra was up to something, but he wanted to be sure. “On whose authority?” 

“Lieutenant Tierra’s. A ship-wide red alert was issued after issues with the intermix chamber were discovered.” 

“I bet that’s a lie,” Forbes guessed.

“We need to get to the bridge, warn the captain what is happening, and secure engineering,” Tomaz said.

“Wait a second,” Slyvexs said as she took over from the console that Forbes was working on. She punched a few more commands. “Okay, I’ve separated the remaining active inhibitors from the main system. No one can disable them remotely unless the user removes them.” She looked at Horin, “Louwanna, if you take it off, then I don’t know what could happen to you or your child.”

“Then I need to make sure nothing happens,” Horin said as she walked over to the sickbay’s weapon locker. She inputted in her clearance code, and the locker swivelled around. She pulled out a rifle and threw it towards Tomaz, followed by doing the same to Slyvexs and Forbes. “Remi and I will head to the bridge to warn the captain about what is happening.”

“While Commander Tomaz and I head to engineering,” Slyvexs suggested. As both women were the ranking officers, it was right for them to assume command. Slyvexs looked at Tomaz, “If you think that’s the right tactic to take?”

“I couldn’t agree more,” He said as he armed his rifle. Tomaz turned to Jordan and Alfie, “Guys, I’m not sure what’s about to take place, but do me a favour and find somewhere safe to hide with S’Tem. I don’t want anyone trying to get their hands on him. Make sure that inhibitor stays on.”

They both agreed just as Forbes handed them both a weapon each. 

“My dad’s yacht,” Alfie said as he put his phaser against his hip. “It’s always powered down; no one will suspect we’re there.”

“Great idea,” Tomaz said before he gave S’Tem an assuring hug and promised him he would be safe with Alfie and Jordan while he went to sort out the ship. “See if you can use the yacht’s onboard independent communication system to set up a secure channel for us to use. With the internal com system down, we need an alternative.”

Both cadets agreed to the plan before the group eventually left sickbay to head out to find out what was happening to their ship. 

Feeling the intense glare from Lieutenant Keli burying into the back of his head, Commander Hunsen remained still like a statue among the security officers that surrounded him and the others that had been relieved. That said, he could also sense the strong desire to move quickly to save the Brenari refugee convoy. The tremendous sensation was something he could not ignore or shake off. He knew he was right and could hear the others thinking the same. 

*We cannot allow the captain to continue ignoring those refugees.* T’Rani said telepathically to them all. 

Hunsen turned his head towards the Vulcan woman, keeping his expression neutral to avoid tipping their hat to the security team that something was up. *I agree, but what?* He countered back with. 

*We need to proceed with Plan B.* Flemen said.

*Is Tierra in place?* Samris checked. 

Hunsen closed his eyes and reached out to his deputy while taking a deep breath. At that moment, she heard him, and seconds later, the red alert klaxon went off. That was the signal for everyone to begin Plan B. 

Upon hearing the alarm go off, Keli was about to tap her combadge but instead had to react to the quick rush from the officers she had been escorting. Hunsen, Flemen and Samris had all knocked out her other security guards, while Jisaraa had raised her rifle and turned against her comrades and fired her phaser. Jisaraa had not aimed her weapon at those attacking; instead, she had stunned her fellow security officers. Unable to understand what her friend was doing, Keli failed to do anything. T’Rani launched herself at the deputy security chief and took her out with a Vulcan nerve pinch. Keli fell into the pilot’s arms in a semi-unconscious state. Straight away, T’Rani started to meld with the Coridanite woman. Whispering the phrases of words that would connect them on a cognitive level, Keli could not resist the powerful mental intrusion. Eventually, she surrendered and was overcome with the sensation of absolute relief and ecstasy. Her mind felt like it had been relieved of every single burden, and there was no longer a mist of confusion around anything. Pure clarity filled her thoughts, and as she opened her eyes, a smile crept across her face, and she knew what she had to do. T’Rani helped lift her up. She watched as the Vulcan proceeded to do the same mind meld to the other security officers that had been stunned just before Jisaraa walked over. 

“How do you feel, Keli?” The Orion asked her. 

 Still smiling, Keli replied. “Liberated,” She blinked and turned to Hunsen. “What are your orders, sir?”

Hunsen smirked at hearing the compliance from the deputy security and tactical officer. “We need to take control of the ship.”

“The captain won’t make it easy,” Flemen said. “He has support from the others.”

“Oh, I’m sure we can make him step down,” Hunsen said before he ordered the turbolift to redirect itself towards deck two, section seventeen.

Samris looked at Hunsen, “Deck two, section seventeen is the location of the captain’s quarters. What is there to help us?”

“Not what, but who,” Hunsen answered just as T’Rani finished bringing the others around to their way of thinking. He tapped his combadge, “Hunsen to Lenjir, Cline, are you there?”

“Lenjir here; I hear you, sir, perfectly. Captain Nictoles has been able to make me understand what is needed.” Lenjir said in a confident tone over the intercom.

“Good; proceed to guest quarters and make sure our Brenari brethren are ready to help us,” Hunsen ordered.

“Understood,” Lenjir replied before the channel was closed.

The doors to the turbolift opened as it arrived at its destination. As the others were all handed type two phasers, the entire team left the cart and made their way towards the captain’s quarters to proceed to their next plan. 

With the sudden red alert being sounded and the internal communications going down, Captain McCallister stormed out of his ready room to find out what was happening. 

“Lieutenant Tierra raised the alarm,” Jen reported, “and the computer shows the intermix chamber is fluctuating with its levels. We could end up with a warp core breach, sir.”

“Did this fluctuating have anything to do with the intercom going down?” McCallister asked as he moved to stand behind Jen at ops. 

The joined Trill shook his head, “I can’t see how sir; our logs aren’t showing any correlation between them. However, I am being blocked out by the computer from accessing the diagnostics needed to determine the issue with the internal comms.” 

McCallister was about to issue further commands to secure the situation, but Court interrupted. “Sir,” The enlisted chief said from the helm, “helm control is sluggish; I’m having problems with the impulse engines and thruster control.”

 Looking over to his right, McCallister could see that anything that Court tried to input was being blocked. 

“Chief, I’m reading an EM surge in your console. Get away from there.” Jen called out.

Reacting as quick as a bolt of lightning, Court jumped from his chair just as the helm circuits overloaded. As Court moved, he screamed out as one of the electrical surges hit him in his left shoulder. 

“TOBIAS!” Duncan shouted from where he was in his chair before darting across the bridge to see to his husband.

McCallister had dropped down to help Court as well, “Tobi, you okay?” He asked. 

The chief just nodded and kept his hand where the surge had hit him, his uniform was ripped where the surge had hit him, and his injury could be seen. 

Duncan brought a medkit with him and immediately started to do first aid on his husband after scanning him. “What the hell is happening?” 

The turbolift doors opened, and Counsellor Horin stepped out with Doctor Forbes with her. “I think we can answer that, Max.” 

Seconds later, Doctor Forbes was treating Court while helping Horin brief the captain on what they had discovered about the others. “Tomaz and Slyvexs have gone to engineering to find out what is happening.”

“I don’t understand why they would fake a possible core breach?” Duncan asked as he helped hold his husband up while Forbes treated him.

Jen then realised why they would do that. “The moment a red alert is called, all non-essential personnel are expected to return to their quarters while the crew proceed to their stations. The only red alert that Tierra is authorised to raise is one where the core would breach.”

“So by getting everyone to their quarters, taking control over the ship would be easier for them,” Banfield said as she joined the others in the middle of the bridge. 

McCallister placed his arms across his chest. “That’s clever, but I’m not prepared to give them any more chance of assuming control of this vessel.” He looked at Jen, “Lukiz, use the backup engineering sensors used in emergency situations to determine the status of the intermix chamber.”

Jen nodded and undertook his orders. A second or two later, he winced before speaking up, “Our gut instinct that it was a fake breach is confirmed. Readings from the plasma injectors were simulated to appear there was an overload in process.”

“Which then makes the computer think a breach is a possibility, and then a red alert can be called,” McCallister stated. “Okay, and I bet if you check those same sensors, almost the same approach was used to create an overload in the helm controls.”

Jen checked and then nodded. “The order came from engineering.”

“Computer, this is Captain James Preston McCallister; rescind all command and security clearances to Commander Hunsen, Lieutenant Commanders T’Rani and Flemen and Lieutenant Samris and Tierra, authorisation McCallister-Four-Seven-Alpha-Tango.”

“Acknowledged.”

“Will that be enough to stop them?” Banfield asked.

“It’s a start,” McCallister answered, “We just need to know what the hell they are up to.”

After Court was treated, Duncan helped his husband back to his feet, “Surely with them in custody, they wouldn’t be able to do anything.”

“I wouldn’t count on it,” Horin stated. “If others have been affected and their inhibitors are offline, we don’t who else is helping them now.”

Forbes nodded in agreement as he tidied up the medkit. “If they’ve disabled their cortical inhibitors and this neurogenic field is having some sort of effect on them, we can’t be sure what they are thinking or doing. The mix of the effects from the blood dilithium won’t be helping either.”

“Let me see if I can track the location of this neurogenic field,” Banfield said as she headed back to her science station, “Remi, I’d need your help,” She added, gesturing for the doctor to join her. 

“We should get a team down to engineering to support Tomaz and Slyvexs,” Duncan suggested. “We don’t know what Tierra has done; they might be walking into a trap.”

“Agreed-” McCallister started to talk when every single console and station on the bridge fluctuated with power. The captain paused mid-sentence and looked over to Jen, “Lukiz, what the hell is happening now?”

“Someone is trying to undertake a crude attempt of rerouting bridge controls to engineering,” Jen reported as his fingertips were dancing over his console fast. “I’m struggling to block them out.”

Getting frustrated at this situation, McCallister spoke to the computer again. “Computer, deactivate all command functions and encrypt the main computer core with a level ten fractural encryption lockout, authorisation McCallister-Four-Seven-Alpha-Tango.”

“All command functions suspended. Fractal encryption lockout engaged.” 

Every console was then deactivated. 

“That should stop Tierra,” McCallister said. 

“But if she has others who can help her, then we may not know how long the lockout will last,” Horin stated. 

“I almost got a fix on the neurogenic field’s location,” Banfield announced, “if I can get to astrometrics or stellar cartography, I might be able to complete the scan.”

“Won’t another scan improve the chance of the Devore detecting us?” Court asked with concern from where he now sat in the tertiary command chair, still rubbing his treated left shoulder.

“It would,” Banfield confirmed. “But do we have any other choice? We need to know what is happening to some of our crew.”

“Corella is right,” Duncan agreed with the science officer. “We’re operating in the blind now; we should head to engineering, stop Tierra and then secure the rest of the ship before anyone else has any other stupid ideas about taking over.”

“Are we really at the point where we’ve got a mutiny on our hands?” Jen asked for clarity.

“Unfortunately, I think we have, Lukiz,” Court said.

Everyone turned to the captain, who gave a silent nod in agreement. “If that’s the case, we need a backup plan.”

“In case we fall victim to the neurogenic field?” Horin questioned.

Forbes stepped forward from being by Banfield’s side, “We can’t determine how strong this field may get and who else it may affect. We may not be able to block it either, sir.”

“Then we should hand over what little control we have to Penelope and the rest of the Emergency Holographic Crew and then get them set up with mobile emitters,” Duncan proposed. “At least that way, they won’t be disabled if someone tries to take out the ship-wide holographic systems.”

“Good idea, Number One,” McCallister stated as he walked over to his chair and tapped underneath it, allowing a small hidden compartment to pop open. Within it was a mobile emitter cushioned in so it couldn’t move. “Computer briefly override lockout restrictions and activate the Emergency Command Hologram, authorisation McCallister-Four-Seven-Alpha-Tango.”

The holographic systems came to life, and Penelope appeared before her captain and first officer. “Please state the nature of the command emergency.”

“Computer, transfer the E-C-H to mobile emitter alpha-one,” McCallister ordered after taking the emitter out of its compartment and placing it on Penelope’s left arm. 

Penelope’s program fizzled for a second before transferring her to the mobile emitter. “I can’t seem to access any computer systems, and my command codes are being blocked. What’s happened, sir?”

“It’s a long story, Penelope, but it suffices to say we may have a mutiny on our hands, and if any of us here are incapacitated, it will be down to you to assume command and save the ship,” McCallister answered, “We can fill you in with the rest, but I am keen to retake back my ship and find out what the hell is happening to my crew.”

Penelope just nodded, and McCallister gestured for his crew to arm themselves with weapons before they left the bridge on their way to engineering. 

“I’m scared, Jordan,” S’Tem said as he held onto the cadet’s neck tightly, but not tight enough to strangle him.

“I know things seem scary, S’Tem, but I promise Alfie, and I will protect you,” Jordan said as they continued their climb down the Jefferies tube, making their descent to the captain’s private yacht.

“S’Tem, if you promise to remain brave for us, then we promise to take you to the holodeck and play a chapter of Flotter!” Alfie said from below.

Looking down, S’Tem smiled at that offer. “Okay, I will try.”

“Good man,” Alfie said as they approached an intersection and jumped off the ladder before heading to the access hatch. He stopped as he heard something that didn’t sound right. Jordan dropped down with S’Tem still holding on to him and gave Alfie a quizzing look, trying to understand what was happening. Placing his index finger up to his lips, showing Jordan to be quiet before suggesting with a simple hand motion he should get on the other side of the door, the cadet, for the first time, took out his phaser and raised it. He could hear phaser fire on the other side. Jordan put S’Tem down on the floor behind him and told him to be quiet and stay behind him before he took out his weapon. S’Tem clenched the leg of Jordan’s trousers, still scared about what was happening. 

The noise of the phaser fight ended, and the access hatch started to open as someone pulled it open. Both cadets aimed down, ready to fire on whoever was on the other side. One breath in, one breath out. They knew they could be in the wrong, but they had to defend themselves. 

Stumbling through, in a very dishevelled appearance, was Cadet Grant.

“Beatrice!” Alfie said with surprise as he lowered his weapon. “What are you doing here? Are you okay?”

Beatrice climbed through the hatch and, with a supporting hand from Alfie, pulled herself up. “Just about,” She pushed her roughed-up hair back down. “When the red alert went off, some of us started to head to stations to help out, and then those with cortical inhibitors went crazy and started attacking some of us. The group I was in got split up, and I ended up here after exchanging a phaser fight with Cadet Helenril.” She looked at Jordan and smiled at him. “Hey, Jordan,” She saw S’Tem behind him. “Hi, S’Tem.”

Jordan said nothing, but S’Tem jumped into his arms after waving at her.

“Why did they attack you?” Alfie asked.

Grant shrugged, “I have no idea.”

“Wait,” Jordan spoke, “Isn’t Helenril a Cairn? She’s telepathic.”

Confused by that statement, Grant looked at Jordan. “And?”  

“No, Jordan’s right. Something is happening to the telepathic members of the crew that Doctor Slyvexs has discovered.”

“Like what?” Grant asked.

“A neurogenic field,” Jordan answered.

“We’re heading to my dad’s yacht to set up an independent communication system for Commander Tomaz,” Alfie shared. “Come with us, Beatrice. Safety in numbers and all of that.”

“I’m all for that,” Grant responded. “I suppose you two aren’t on babysitting duties again?” She inclined her head to S’Tem.

Alfie chuckled, “Somewhat; Commander Tomaz is worried that S’Tem’s cortical inhibitor would be disabled.”

Still confused by the missing information she didn’t have, Grant gestured for them to get going. “Why don’t you both fill me in on what’s happened on our way to the yacht.”

“Sounds like a good idea,” Alfie said before he knelt down and opened the next ladder below them. “We’ve got a few more decks to climb down before we get to the yacht’s docking bay.”

“Well, I hope you both plan to claim this towards your daily exercise routine,” Grant said before Alfie started to lead them down. 

“I suppose we can,” Alfie replied before smiling up at Jordan, “We didn’t think of that.”

“I think protecting S’Tem was at the forefront of our minds,” Jordan remarked. 

“And I’ll say it again, you both are adorable for looking after him,” Grant stated as she followed Alfie down the ladder.

“Th-th-thanks,” Jordan stuttered before placing S’Tem on his back and following Grant down the tube. 

“You hold that rifle well,” Tomaz mentioned as they continued to walk down the corridor towards main engineering.

Giving out a snortle, Slyvexs smirked at the comment from her comrade.

“The Dominion War made me a soldier first before a doctor.”

“I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to offend you,” Tomaz said, worried.

Slyvexs shook her head, “I took it as a compliment, Tomaz,” She replied. “I’m not just a doctor, but quite the versatile officer.”

“Indeed,” Tomaz agreed.

As they approached what should have been engineering, they saw that the large isolation doors had come down and were in place. Lying by them were several engineers. Immediately, Slyvexs picked up her pace and knelt down beside them. All of them were unconscious. Scanning them with her medical tricorder, she checked their life signs. “They’re alive, but I can’t determine what’s knocked them out.”

“They don’t have any phaser marks on them,” Tomaz said, looking down briefly before checking their surroundings for possible aggressors. 

“I’m detecting a high amount of…” Slyvexs paused as she rechecked her readings, “this can’t be right.”

“What is it?” Tomaz asked, sounding curious as to what she had discovered. 

“Well, all of them are unconscious from being highly sexually active,” She remarked, “I’m detecting a high level of serotonin and dopamine along with increased hormone levels. Wait, there’s something more in their system,” She scanned them again and then looked up at him. “I’m detecting the Deltan pheromone used to attract a mate.”

“What?” Tomaz said, surprised to hear that. “Has Tierra used her Deltan abilities to knock them out cold?”

Slyvexs nodded as she took out her medkit, “It would appear so; I can only suspect that the effects of the blood dilithium have done it to her. Here take this,” She finished working on a hypospray, “This should block her from trying to do the same to us.”

Tomaz leaned his head to the side as he was injected with whatever potion that Slyvexs had mixed together.

“We need to get in there; I suggest we try the manual override,” He said. 

After injecting herself and checking her unconscious comrades one more time, Slyvexs agreed and put her medkit away again before picking up her phaser rifle. The two officers made their way over to the side entrance door. Slyvexs took over guard duty while Tomaz bent down to the hidden panel and pulled it off the bulkhead, revealing the main release. Tapping a few commands in, he inputted a few commands before standing up. 

“Ready?” He asked as he placed his hand around the switch he was about to pull.

Slyvexs just nodded as she raised her rifle towards the door. 

Yanking on the regulator, Tomaz was able to get the door to open with a simple hiss as the magnetic locks disengaged. Pushing the doors open, they both proceeded to enter engineering. 

With both phaser rifles held up high, the two officers entered engineering to find the entire engineer staff all lying on the floor unconscious in the same manner they found the others outside. Standing with her back to them at the ‘pool table’, Lieutenant Tierra was inputting various commands when she heard her visitors arrive. 

Before she could grab her weapon that was on the table, Slyvexs opened fire and hit the phaser. 

“Hands up, lieutenant!” Slyvexs shouted.

Impressed with the doctor’s aggressive side, Tomaz smirked to himself as they slowly approached her. “Do as she says, Tierra; we don’t want to hurt you.”

Raising her hands slowly, Tierra turned around to face the two senior officers and then took a breath before focusing her stare intently on Tomaz.

“Your Deltan pheromone trick won’t work on us,” Tomaz said with some satisfaction he could repel her advances. 

“The power of science,” Slyvexs said as she got within a few metres of the senior assistant chief engineer. “Now, what are you trying to do here, lieutenant?”

Tierra smirked at them, “You will know soon, but the captain is wrong.”

Shaking his head in disbelief at what he was hearing, Tomaz was about to say something when all of the consoles in engineering went off. “Looks like whatever you planned to do has been stopped.”

“No matter,” Tierra said. “What we’ve started will be finished in another way. We will save those Brenari ships, even if others on this vessel won’t.”

“Tierra, you are under the influence of not just the blood dilithium but a powerful neurogenic field. You are not thinking straight.” Slyvexs said.

“Oh, I’m fully aware of what I’m doing!” Tierra said with a smirk before rushing forward and pushing over Slyvexs against Tomaz. Quickly she pulled something out of her sleeve and looked at the two officers, “Always have something up your sleeve!” Showing them an emergency transporter unit, she then activated it. She was covered by a transporter beam that instantly took her out of engineering. 

“Damn!” Tomaz cursed as he got off the deck plating and helped Slyvexs up. 

“Where did she go?” The doctor asked as he picked up her rifle from the floor.

“We won’t know,” Tomaz answered as he headed to the warp core diagnosis console. “I need to check if the core is stable.”

Slyvexs joined him, and within a few seconds, they determined that whatever Tierra had done, she had faked the issue with the core. 

“Thank god, the core is stable,” Slyvexs remarked. 

“For now, but I’m assuming the captain is suspended all command functions,” Tomaz said as he failed to access some of the systems from the console he was using.

“He must have been forced to do so,” Slyvexs stated. 

“You’re exactly right, doctor,” Captain McCallister said as he rushed through the door, they had just used to come in by. 

Slyvexs and Tomaz turned around to see McCallister surrounded by a well-armed staff. 

“I take it you got the message?” Slyvexs asked her superior as they closed the distance between them. 

“Indeed, have you got any ideas on what the hell is going on doctor?” McCallister asked her. 

Shaking her head disappointedly, Slyvexs couldn’t tell him more. “All I know is our telepathic members of our crew are experiencing something that is producing this neurogenic field and causing them to behave in this manner.”

“We should locate it,” Banfield stated from behind the captain.

Slyvexs agreed with that idea. “I couldn’t agree more; I need to know what is causing all this.”

“First thing, though, we must suppress this uprise before we lose complete control of the ship,” Duncan stated by the captain’s side. 

“How do we track Tierra and the others?” Jen asked. “Without internal sensors and the computer lockout enabled, we’re relying on tricorders and searching one deck at a time.”

“We can’t do that; it would take us days, if not weeks, to search every area of the Odyssey.” Court commented. 

 “Captain, we’ve got another team on the move who could help us once they reach their target.” Tomaz offered.

“Of course!” Forbes said, remembering what Tomaz had organised back in sickbay. “The captain’s yacht!”

McCallister and the others, who had no idea what was going on, looked between Forbes, Tomaz, Horin and Slyvexs for more answers. 

“What do you mean about my yacht?” McCallister inquired.

“I sent Alfie and Jordan to it and attempt to use its systems to create an independent communication system,” Tomaz answered. 

“You did what with our sons?” Court asked, looking worried about hearing that. 

“Tomaz was right to send them,” Horin defended the Barzan, “they were our only option of getting the technical support we needed.” She looked at McCallister, “They also have S’Tem with them and are using the Jefferies tubes to get to it.”

McCallister considered what he was hearing for a second and then just nodded. “It’s a good idea; if they can do what you’ve sent them to do, then we could use the Calypso’s transporters and sensors.”

“So what do we do next?” Jen asked as he raised his rifle up and against his right shoulder. 

“We need to secure engineering-” McCallister started but then was stopped by hearing the sizzling sound of the holographic systems coming to life. 

The entire group turned around to face the projection forming before them. It was Hunsen with the others standing by him. 

“Good try, captain, in locking out all of the systems; you forget that the holographic emergency systems are independent.” Hunsen bragged.

Stepping forward, McCallister looked at his chief engineer and straight away could see that Hunsen was not the usual man he knew. “Tremt, what the hell are you trying to do?”

“I’m ensuring you don’t ignore a call for help!” Hunsen exclaimed as he pointed his finger at McCallister. 

Horin then stepped forward, “Imzadi, this is crazy. Surely you could feel and sense that.”

Shaking his head, the holographic projection of Hunsen showed he wasn’t going to listen to his love. “Imzadi, I don’t know what lies he has fed you, but turn off your cortical inhibitor and join us.”

“Absolutely not,” Horin said as she touched the device behind her left earlobe.

Hunsen growled at her, “Then you’re allowing him to prosecute every telepath on board just like the Devore does to the Brenari.”

Confused by his use of words, Horin shook her head. “I’m not confused, Tremt; you and everyone else are. There’s a neurogenic field in play here, along with the blood dilithium, which is affecting your judgements. Stand down and let Doctor Slyvexs help you.”

“Do not listen to her commander,” T’Rani said, stepping forward. “We are more enlightened than she and the others are.”

“Once we find them, we can ensure they are enlightened too,” Flemen suggested. 

“And then we can proceed with saving those innocent Brenari,” Samris added. 

McCallister shook his head. “I’m not placing this ship or crew in any more danger today. Do you understand that?”

Chuckling at hearing that, Hunsen shook his head. “It’s time you understood, captain, that you’re not in control of this situation now.” He nodded to Lenjir, Keli and Jisaraa, who were standing behind him. 

The security officers pushed three people forward beside Hunsen and aimed their weapons close to their heads.

“You bastards,” McCallister uttered as he watched Lenjir and Keli raise their phaser rifles at Henri and Theo. At the same time, Jisaraa had William in front of her. 

“How bloody dare you bring them into this,” Duncan spat out as he felt Court come close to his side and tightly grip his hand into his at the site of seeing their son being held as a hostage.

 “Tremt, what on Earth are you thinking?” Horin called out against her beloved. “Taking Theo, Henri and William hostage is not the type of thing the father of my future child would do.”

“I’m doing it for our future child,” Hunsen replied before looking back at McCallister. “What will it be, captain? Will you sacrifice your children for the greater good, or will you hand me over control of the Odyssey?”

“No!” Court shouted out.

Looking at the scared faces on his son’s faces, McCallister shook his head at the choices that faced him. He looked at both of them and mouthed the phrase, “I love you both”.

Henri and Theo were both tearing up as they held their hands up behind their heads. Both boys nodded at him.

Hunsen then raised his weapon at them, “Well, what will it be, captain?”

McCallister, unable to control his rage at the situation he found himself in now, looked at everyone else before turning back to Hunsen. “Alright, I’ll do it.” He replied. “Just don’t hurt my family,”

Hunsen smirked at winning. 

Everyone else looked at the captain, surprised at his given-in. Duncan and Court thanked him. 

“But if you hurt them, I promise you, Tremt, I will destroy this ship and won’t let you get your hands on it,” McCallister said. 

“Meet us on deck three, section twenty-one. You want them back, then you can surrender yourself to us and then we can unlock the ship from the bridge.”

Nodding, McCallister answered, “Fine, just don’t hurt my boys.”

Hunsen lowered his weapon. “I won’t.”  His holographic form then disappeared at the same time everyone else’s did. 

“Captain, you can’t give them control.” Tomaz quickly snapped. 

“Your son isn’t up there with a phaser rifle at his head,” Duncan barked back.

Banfield stepped in to help calm the situation down. “All of you have a right to be worried and concerned for the safety of Theo, Henri and William, but we can’t let Commander Hunsen force our hand here.”

 “Corella is right; we need to get control of this situation,” Slyvexs said, “Without anyone getting hurt.”

“Whatever is happening to our colleagues, they’re not in control of their actions. If that means I’ve got to break Starfleet rules to protect my sons and William, then I will,” McCallister said as he pushed back a tear. “I won’t lose Theo and Henri.”

“The captain is right,” Court supported him. 

“I’ll give myself over while the rest of you work out what is happening, so when I activate the command functions and release the lockout, we can move in and take back the ship,” McCallister said. 

“I’m coming with you,” Duncan insisted.

“No, you’re not, Max,” McCallister shot down his first officer. “If anything happens to me, then you need to assume command.”

“And if we all fail?” Forbes asked.

“Then the computer would recognise Doctor Slyvex’s authority to inform the computer that she has relieved the captain of command,” Tomaz said as he realised what the captain was thinking. 

Forbes looked at Tomaz, “Why would she do that?”

Slyvexs then put the pieces of the puzzle together, “Because the computer would automatically recognise Commander Duncan’s authority as the acting captain.”

“Which then gives him the clearance to carry out the captain’s threat to Hunsen.” Tomaz said.

Banfield looked at her captain, “You want us to activate the auto-destruct?”

McCallister nodded. “Yes, and then give the order to abandon ship. Program the escape pods to head to the Gaherey Sanctum and wait for rescue from Starfleet from there.” 

“Isn’t that a bit extreme?” Jen asked. 

McCallister shook his head. “As I said, we won’t lose the Odyssey to the Devore or anyone else. If we’re right and this neurogenic field is affecting the others, then who knows who is behind it, but I won’t allow Starfleet’s most advanced ship to fall into the wrong hands. Are we clear?” 

Looking at each of his officers before him, McCallister all got a nod of understanding from them. He looked at Duncan, “Number One, the ship is yours.” He handed him his rifle before heading towards the turbolift doors on the far side of the room.

“Wait!” Court cried out and he started to jog towards him. “I’m coming with you, there’s no way I’m letting my son and my godsons not have any protection when Hunsen releases them.”

McCallister had stopped in his tracks and looked at the chief. “Are you sure, Tobias?”

Court looked at his husband who just gave a supportive nod. “I am.” Court answered. 

McCallister smiled at Court, appreciating the gesture. Court had stood by his side for years as his yeoman, chief of the boat and godfather to his sons. “We’re counting on the rest of you to be ready.” McCallister called out as they entered the turbolift.

“We will!” Duncan replied just as the doors closed behind the captain and his husband. He then turned to the rest of the group.

“We will?” Tomaz checked, unsure of what their next step would be. 

Deck three, section twenty-one, was one area of the Odyssey that didn’t have much—just crew quarters. At one end of the corridor, Hunsen stood with Lenjir, Keli and Jisaraa, and their hostages sat on the floor. 

“My dad won’t let you get away with this,” Theo snarled at Hunsen with his hands cuffed behind his back.

Hunsen looked at the McCallister boy. “You honestly think he will win today?” He asked with a handheld phaser in his hand. “I have two of his sons and his first officer’s son as leverage. On top of that, once Starfleet hears that he refused to respond to a distress call, they will see my actions as justified.”

“You are delusional,” Theo replied. “Even I know that every action you’ve taken today is against Starfleet regulations, and I don’t even wear the uniform.”

Hunsen shook his head, “You’re too young to understand.”

While Hunsen exchanged words with his brother, Henri leaned into William and whispered to him. “You okay, Will?”

Scared to say anything, William just nodded, focusing on the four officers in gold uniforms.  

“It’s not quite the type of thing I was expecting for us to do when you suggested we hang out!” Henri said in a low tone with a small wry smile. 

William glanced at his friend, “I’m sorry.”

Henri appeared startled at hearing that. “Why are you sorry?”

“If we had gone to the holodeck instead of hanging out at yours, we wouldn’t be here,” William stated.

Looking up at Hunsen, who had stopped talking to his brother, Henri shook his head. “I think they would have found us whatever, Will.”

“I don’t understand why Commander Hunsen and the others are being like this with your dad?” William said, sounding increasingly nervous with each word he shared quietly.  

“I reckon it’s something to do with that blood dilithium that my dad mentioned,” Henri guessed. “Don’t worry; my dad will get us out of here.”

“And if he doesn’t?” William asked.

“Then there’s always your dads, and if that fails, then we can only count on Alfie and Jordan,” Henri remarked. 

William shook his head, “Are we certain they’re the heroic type?”

Henri shrugged but gave an assuring confident smile. 

The turbolift door at the end of the corridor split in half, and Captain McCallister and Master Chief Court appeared straight away. Both men wore the body armour usually used by the Hazard Teams and were armed with phaser rifles and handheld phasers strapped to their hips. The captain stepped out first and called out for Hunsen. 

“Commander Hunsen, let’s get on with this.”

Smirking at his captain being so predictable, Hunsen agreed with a nod. “You start to make your way over, and we release the boys.”

“How about you send one over as a show of faith, especially as you do outnumber us?” Court suggested as he kept his rifle high and aimed at Hunsen. 

“Very well,” Hunsen said as he leant down and picked up William. “Go to your father.”

Nervously, William did as he was told and started to walk towards his father, every so often turning around and looking at both Henri and Theo for assurance. They kept encouraging him and assured him that everything would be okay. Once he reached his father, they quickly hugged one another, and as Court undid the magnetic cuffs, he dropped something into William’s hands. He whispered the words for later before he hugged his son free from his restraints. 

“Now, captain, would you please make your way over,” Hunsen requested.

“Uncuff my boys and start sending them in this direction,” McCallister countered.

Hunsen sighed, “Very well,” He gestured for Lenjir to do as the captain requested. “We’re not your enemy here, captain.”

“Then what are you? Because a fellow colleague wouldn’t take their superior officers’ sons hostage to assume command.” McCallister said as he started to slowly march down the corridor. 

“You don’t understand what you’re not doing, captain,” Lenjir called out. “Commander Hunsen has the clarity to undertake Starfleet’s duties while we’re here in the Delta Quadrant.”

As he continued to stroll towards them, McCallister responded to that remark. “That’s interesting you say that, Cline, because being a Starfleet officer requires you to follow your duties, which includes respecting the chain of command.”

As they approached the middle point, Henri and Theo rushed towards their father and embraced him in a joint hug.

“Get yourselves to Uncle Tobi, now,” McCallister told them before carefully attaching something to each of their collars and giving both of his sons a look that told them not to show Hunsen and the others what he just did. 

Complying with their father’s wishes, both lads picked up their pace and got to Court before their father reached Hunsen. 

“Now, Cline!” Hunsen said with an affirmation in his voice. 

Lenjir flipped open his tricorder and pressed a button. A force field came into effect between McCallister and his sons. 

The captain turned on his heel to see what was happening. “What’s the meaning of this?”

“You honestly think we would let your sons go so freely? They’re our bargaining chip to ensure you do as we want.” Hunsen confidently said. 

McCallister smirked at his chief engineer and then turned to Court. “Tobias, do it!” 

Court flipped open his own tricorder and pressed a few buttons. The objects they had given their sons all came to life as two silver parts opened up, and a red light started to flash furiously before they were all engulfed in a transporter beam. Court then opened his own emergency transporter unit and did the same thing. The moment they were gone, McCallister turned to Hunsen, who was showing his anger at what had just happened. 

“You really think Tierra is the only one who knows that trick? Now I promised I would surrender, so here I am.” McCallister said as he lowered his weapon and dropped it to the floor, and raised his hands behind his head.

“Take him to the bridge,” Hunsen ordered the others. Keli and Jisaraa stepped forward and took hold of the captain tightly. Shoving him forward, they made their way towards the other turbolift doors and made their way up to the bridge. 

Though climbing through several Jefferies tubes and other crawl spaces had seemed like a good idea at the time, Doctor Slyvexs was starting to wonder if all of this action on her knees was such a good thing. Nevertheless, she avoided moaning or groaning at beginning to feel old to her colleagues. 

Heading to astrometrics with Banfield and Jen, the trio were part of Commander Duncan’s plan to retake the ship. They were crucial in finding out what was causing the neurogenic field. In her mind, Slyvexs had attempted to theorise what or who was creating it and how the blood dilithium was only adding to its already messy impact on their telepathic comrades. However, she had not been able to fully determine what was so powerful that it could overpower the cortical inhibitors she had issued to everyone.

“Almost there,” Banfield stated from ahead. 

“Finally,” Jen replied with a sigh. “Can we use the turbolift on our way back to engineering?”

Slyvexs chuckled at Jen’s shared moan and request. “Hopefully, by then, Commander Tomaz has got in touch with his little cadet squad, and they’ve got the Calypso working to help us coordinate this better.”

“If not, I’m afraid exposing ourselves to other crewmembers is not a good idea. We don’t know who else is under the influence of this neurogenic field.” Banfield said. “We can’t be seen in the corridors or stopped using the turbolifts all the way.”

“Any ideas on how other non-telepathic crew members are affected, doc?” Jen asked as they reached the end of the tube and pulled themselves into an intersecting junction.

Slyvexs sat on the edge of one of the tunnels to get her breath back before answering. “I have a couple of ideas.”

“Do share,” Banfield said as she used her tricorder to scan their route ahead. “The route ahead is clear; how’s our thoron generator?”

“Still operational,” Slyvexs replied, waving the device in the air. “I still can’t work out how it blocks out scans?”

“It’s an old Maquis trick,” Jen replied. “Anyway, go on with your theories, doc.”

“Theory one is that this neurogenic field is only targeting specific crew members, hence why the non-telepaths are being affected like Cline and Keli,” Slyvexs stated. “Theory two is a bit more creative, but for them to behave similarly to their telepathic comrades, I believe that someone, probably T’Rani, has performed a mind-meld that has somehow influenced the others. The effects of the blood dilithium and neurogenic field could be a combined impact on them.”

“Intriguing,” Banfield said as she proceeded to open the next access hatch and climb into it. “If T’Rani did mind-meld with them, then why is she not leading the rebelling?”

“I can only assume that whoever or whatever is controlling them through the neurogenic field is trying to ensure they see their behaviour, thoughts and actions as rational. Hence, they are following the command of the most senior telepath on board: Commander Hunsen.”

“But why isn’t Counsellor Horin affected by it all?” Jen questioned. 

“All I can assume is it is something to do with her pregnancy, as no one else is pregnant, and Betazoid females develop a lot of internal mental defences to protect their unborn child from outside thoughts. The bond between a Betazoid mother and her unborn child is extremely strong.” Slyvexs shared. 

“So don’t mess with momma bear?” Jen said with a smirk. 

Slyvexs chuckled, “Absolutely.”

Once again, they reached the end of the tunnel, and Banfield gestured for them to stop. “I’m detecting three life-signs ahead in astrometrics.”

Taking out her own tricorder, Slyvexs checked the life-signs readings. “A Boslic, a Rutian and a Hekaran.”

“So that could be Lieutenants Abbej, Jines and Marova. What could they be doing in astrometrics?” Jen wondered aloud.

Shaking her head with no clue, Banfield suggested that they rush in with weapons armed, lightly stun all three officers. It would allow Slyvexs to scan them to ensure they were affected like the others. The three officers agreed and put their plan into motion. Finding some inner agility she didn’t know she had, Slyvexs joined Banfield and Jen with their plan and took all three officers by surprise. Within seconds the three lieutenants were on the floor out cold for a few minutes.

Jen and Banfield made their way over to the main controls of astrometrics in an attempt to bring the lateral sensor array online and begin the scan of the neurogenic field. Meanwhile, Slyvexs perched beside the downed officers and scanned them all. She detected no sign of the neurogenic field after conducting a brain scan; alongside that, she checked for her theory to determine if a mind meld had been conducted on them, and she could see no signs. Seconds later, the three officers started to wake up. 

“Sorry about that, guys,” Slyvexs said with a friendly smile as she tried to help them get to their feet.

Abbej rubbed her forehead, “Jeez, what was in that phaser blast?”

Jines stretched his shoulders back, “It felt like a shuttle had landed on us.”

Banfield turned to the lieutenant, “I am so sorry, but we set our weapons to heavy wide beam when we took you out.”

“What was with that anyway, ma’am? Did we do something wrong?” Marova asked as she also stretched her back. 

Slyvexs continued to run her scans of them and was pleased they were not injured from their phaser blasts. “We couldn’t take a chance that you were under the control of Commander Hunsen and the others.”

“What exactly is going on?” Jines asked, looking at his superior. “We were all heading off duty when the red alert sounded, and we were then attacked by Lieutenant Commander Lenjir along with some of the Brenari. We locked ourselves in here but couldn’t access any of the systems.”

“Long story short, our telepathic comrades and our guests have all been taken over by some sort of outside source, and when you throw in the mix of the blood dilithium, it’s made them unable to realise what they’re doing,” Jen said. “The captain deactivated all command functions and locked out the main computer.”

“The computer said there was an overload in main engineering with the warp core,” Marova said, sounding concerned. “Was the core dumped?”

Still working on the console, trying to get power back to it, Banfield shook her head. “No, it was all ruse set up by Tierra.” She looked at Abbej. “Unfortunately, your wife has been taken over.”

Abbej bowed her head in shame, “Is she okay? Has she hurt anyone else?”

“Besides using her Deltan pheromones to knock out some colleagues, she hasn’t done anything serious that can’t be undone, but she’s not in control,” Slyvexs said, assuring the Boslic science officer. 

“What’s causing them to have lost control besides the blood dilithium?” Jines asked. 

“A neurogenic field, which the doctor found just before the takeover happened.” Jen replied, “We need to get the sensors back up and operational and see if we can locate its source.”

“And take it out?” Marova assumed.

Banfield nodded. “That’s the plan, or at least find a way to stop it from affecting the crew anymore.”

“How can we help them?” Abbej offered. 

“The captain is about to release the command functions; the moment he does, we’ll have complete access. We need to run a full sensor sweep, locate the source of the neurogenic field and cover up our tracks before anyone realises we’re down here.” Banfield answered. 

“And what about the Devore, ma’am?” Jines asked. “They’ll see us if we conduct a full-blown scan?”

“It’s a risk the captain is willing to take,” Slyvexs said. “So we have to act fast.”

“Let’s get to work then,” Abbej said as she stepped over to assist her superiors. Jines and Marova did the same thing. 

“Here, S’Tem, you sit here and don’t move,” Jordan said as he placed the boy out of his arms and into one of the chairs in the cockpit of the Calypso. 

“Jordan, you are so good with him,” Beatrice said with a smile as she gave Jordan a light touch on his arm.

“Th-th-thanks,” Jordan stumbled out in response.

“Hey, I can do with some help getting systems online,” Alfie called out from the front part of the cockpit. 

Beatrice gave another smile at Jordan before both of them headed over to join Alfie. 

“Is there a problem?” Beatrice asked as she joined Alfie by his right side, and Jordan appeared by the left side.

“The computer isn’t accepting my access codes to bring any of the main systems online,” Alfie answered, sounding frustrated as the computer made a disagreeing noise at what he was trying. 

“Here, let me try,” Beatrice offered as she knelt down under the console and pulled off the panel.

Peering down, Alfie looked at her. “Do you know what you’re doing?”

“It’s called jump starting,” She said with a smirk as she started swapping a few isolinear chips around and tapping a few commands into the small keyboard pad in the compartment she was in. “All auxiliary crafts on a ship have security measures that prevent anyone without authorisation from accessing them. However, with a few modifications, you can make the computer think for a moment you’re someone different. It especially helps that you two have DNA you have.”

“It does?” Alfie asked. 

“Your half McCallister, right?” Beatrice checked as she swapped two more chips around. 

Alfie nodded.

“And Jordan still has some DNA imprinted on him from when his fathers falsified our records to get the Hazari off our backs?” Beatrice questioned. 

Jordan replied with another stuttering affirmation. 

Beatrice smirked as she completed her work. “Then let me do my thing, and then both of you can pretend to be the captain and first officer!” 

“Are we allowed to do this?” Alfie checked as she stood up.

“Probably not, but I learnt it from Lieutenant Commander Jen, so if I get into trouble, so will he.” Beatrice tapped at the console, and the computer then appeared ready. She took hold of Alfie’s hand, pressed it against the console, and did the same with the Jordan’s. The computer then beeped in acknowledgement, and the ship’s systems came online.

“You’re good,” Alfie chuckled and was backed up by S’Tem clapping behind them. 

Bowing in acceptance of the admiration she just received, Beatrice thanked her fans before getting on with checking the Calypso’s systems. “Looks like the computer lockout hasn’t affected any of the onboard systems.”

“The docking clamps are locked, though,” Jordan said from one of the side consoles.

Alfie chuckled, “We’re not planning on going for a ride, Jord, but if we do, we may need to fire another way to disembark.”

“We’ve got access to the entire weapon’s array,” Beatrice said with a grin. “There’s our escape plan.”

“First off, let’s secure the ship, so no one gets on board,” Alfie suggested. 

“I’m on it,” Beatrice said before turning around on her heels and grabbing hold of Jordan’s hand. “Jordan come with me; I can teach you how to use a transporter inhibitor network and how to ensure no one can unpick a lock without a few Borg algorithms up their sleeve.”   

Chuckling more at Beatrice, Alfie watched as his friend was taken away by the attractive cadet while he got on with trying to find a way to use the ship’s communication array and transporter systems to help Commander Tomaz and the others. 

Several minutes later, Jordan and Beatrice returned to the cockpit. 

“How was the lesson?” Alfie asked his friend.

Jordan smirked at Beatrice before replying. “Informative.”

“How’d you get on up here?” Beatrice asked as she joined Alfie at the forward console.

“I’ve got a secure channel setup and the transporter targeting scanners active. I think we’re ready.” Alfie answered.

“Let’s do it!” Beatrice said with confidence.

Tapping the console, Alfie opened a channel. “Calypso to Commander Tomaz,”

A second later and a voice crackled over the speakers. “Go ahead, Calypso; what’s your status?”

“All accounted for, sir, along with Cadet Grant. We’ve got full control.” Alfie reported.

“That’s good to hear, cadet; well done!” Tomaz replied. “Things have slightly got out of hand on board the ship; we may need to use you to help out. What’s your transporter status?”

“Fully operational, sir,” Alfie shared. “Is everything okay, sir? Is my dad alright?”

“He’s…well…he’s dealing with the situation, but we need a backup plan, just in case. Is S’Tem there?”

“I’m here, daddy,” S’Tem answered. “Jordan, Beatrice and Alf are looking after me!”

“I’m glad to hear that, big man; stay safe and do as they tell you.”

“I will!” S’Tem said excitedly.

Another voice joined Tomaz, “Jordan, are you there?” asked Commander Duncan.

“I’m here, dad,” Jordan replied. “Are you all okay?”

“We will be; you guys will have to help us by being our eyes and ears.” 

“We can do that, sir,” Beatrice said, speaking up for the first time.

“Glad to hear it, Cadet Grant,” Duncan said, “Now listen carefully, as this is what we want you to do. Scan for Trill,  Denobulan and Klingon life-signs in astrometrics; once you’ve done that, see if you can get a transporter lock.”

Being pushed into his own chair with his hands cuffed behind him, Captain McCallister was not expecting his security chief to be so rough with him. Hitting his back against the chair suddenly caused some pain, but he tried his best not to show the pain.

“Now, your command codes,” Hunsen said as he stood behind Lenjir with his hands on his hips. “Unlock the computer core and restore command functions.”

“This isn’t you, Tremt,” McCallister attempted one more time. He was trying to delay them as much as he could. “It’s not any of you.”

“Not this bullshit again,” Flemen replied with a roll of his eyes. 

“Seriously, Craigen, you would speak like that?” McCallister shot towards the diplomatic officer. “I get it that you all want to help those Brenari, I really do, but you are all talented, gifted officers that have served with me for a long time. Have I ever lied to you or not followed protocol?” 

Hunsen shook his head. “We’re not listening to any more of this. You had your chance.”

“You say you’ve never lied to us; what about deceived? Or backtracked?” Samris questioned the captain as he got closer to him. Poking the captain hard with his right index finger, “You went back on your decision to make chief counsellor, you could have argued to keep me, but instead, you rolled over and let Horin take over. How can I ever trust your word again?”

“Samris, you know that decision was taken out of my hands,” McCallister said. “Starfleet made it after we returned home from the incident with the Quirennal. We were all under scrutiny.”

Shaking his head, Samris disagreed with his captain. “No, we weren’t. Only me. Only my professional judgement, and instead of coming to my rescue, you gave up and allowed them to take away my accomplishment from me.”

“That is not the only judgement call that Captain McCallister carried out that caused suffering.” T’Rani spoke as she joined Samris’ side. “He made the decision to take this vessel into battle against the Klingons without removing its civilian population. That decision resulted in the death of my husband.”

“You’re both confused and not making any sense,” McCallister replied, but deep down, he had always wondered if both of them would ever share such feelings and thoughts with him. “T’Rani, the death of your husband, though tragic, was not my doing. We were ordered to defend those Federation colonies in the Archanis system, and S’Tefe died saving his students. Tell me, where’s the logic in re-examing his death?”

T’Rani didn’t respond.

“And Samris,” McCallister said, turning to his counsellor, “I admit, I wanted you as my counsellor the moment I promoted Max, but what happened to you, me, and every single one of us on the Quirennal will probably be the most significant trauma we would ever face as a crew. You could not deal with your loss and support your colleagues. You said it yourself.” The captain then turned to his chief engineer, “And what do you say about all of this? Louwanna is your Imzadi and you are taking action that, once caught, would stop you from seeing her and your unborn child. Seriously Tremt, think.”

“I say you do a mind meld,” Flemen suggested. “He’s not taking this seriously.”

“A mind meld would ensure he understands our clarity,” Lenjir added.

“Then do it,” Hunsen instructed T’Rani.

T’Rani extended her hand and approached McCallister.

“Okay, okay, I’ll do it,” McCallister said, knowing that if T’Rani did perform such a stunt on him, he would be useless to the plan to retake the ship. He straightened himself up and spoke up. “Computer, this is Captain James Preston Harvey McCallister; unlock the main computer core and activate all command functions, authorisation McCallister-Four-Seven-Alpha-Tango.”

“Command codes verified, command functions restored, fractural encryption lockout disabled.” The computer announced. 

In engineering, the entire room came to life as the consoles were restored with power, and the warp core automatically returned to life. 

Standing around the main ‘pool’ table, the unaffected senior staff, as well as others, got to work. Slyvexs was up first.

“Computer, this is Doctor Slyvexs; update crew records to reflect that I hereby relieve Captain James Preston Harvey McCallister from command of this vessel under medical grounds, authorisation Slyvexs-five-eight-zeta-foxtrot.” 

“Medical authorisation confirmed; this ship is currently without an active commanding officer. The chain of command directive must be followed in accordance with Starfleet regulations, first officer Commander Maxwell Jack Duncan must report for duty as acting commanding officer.” The Computer stated.

“Computer, this is Commander Maxwell Duncan reporting for duty, authorisation Duncan-one-seven-delta-romeo,” Duncan stated quickly.

“Voice authorisation confirmed. This ship is temporarily under the command of Acting Captain Maxwell Jack Duncan.” 

Duncan looked around at everyone else. “We know what the captain wants us to do, but if we fail, we know what he has asked of us.”

Everyone in the room remained silent. A few nodded solemnly. 

“Computer,” Duncan said after sighing and feeling his husband come and stand by him. “Begin autodestruct sequence, authorisation Duncan-one-seven-delta-romeo,”

Banfield then stepped forward after returning from the astrometrics lab; the chief science officer would now fill in as Duncan’s acting first officer. “Computer. Commander Corella Banfield, confirm autodestruct sequence authorisation Banfield-two-one-beta-charlie.”

Duncan then looked back at the doctor, who nodded, showing she knew what to do next. With Hunsen out of the picture, she was the next senior officer in the chain of command. “Computer. Commander Slyvexs, confirm autodestruct sequence authorisation, Slyvexs-five-eight-zeta-foxtrot.”

With the captain not present, the sequence required one more authorisation. The final piece of the puzzle was Horin. “Computer. Commander Louwanna Horin, confirm autodestruct sequence authorisation, Horin-seven-two-gamma echo.” The Counsellor was sitting on a stool as she gave out her clearance codes.

“Command authorisation accepted. Awaiting final code to begin autodestruct sequence.”

Once again, Duncan felt his husband’s hand tightly grip his hand as he carried out his next part. “This is Acting Captain Maxwell Duncan, destruct sequence alpha one. Sixty minutes silent countdown.” He paused as he looked at Tobias before saying the last word to start the entire chain. “Enable.”

“Auto-destruct in sixty minutes. There will be no further audio warning.”

Knowing that the others would have heard that on the bridge, Duncan wasted no time getting down to business. “Now, doctor, tell us about the source of the neurogenic field.”

“You’re not going to believe it,” Slyvexs said, “but we’ve piqued the interest of a telepathic pitcher plant.”

 “And it’s no ordinary telepathic pitcher plant,” Banfield added.

“Do tell us more,” Duncan encouraged his two lead scientists.

“It’s a baby telepathic pitcher plant,” Slyvexs said. “And that’s not the worst news.”

“How bad is it?” Tomaz asked from the other side of the table.

“It’s laced with blood dilithium.” Slyvexs shared.

“Could this day get any worse?” Court asked them all.

No one had an answer.

Thirteen minutes had passed, and their attempts to retake the ship were being hampered in every direction they could find. Nervously, Acting Captain Duncan paced around the pool table in engineering as he allowed those that were left to do their jobs. The ship was now at high warp after Hunsen and T’Rani had found a way to transfer helm control to the bridge. The vessel was heading towards the telepathic pitcher plant, and there seemed no way out of it.

“Any luck, Lukiz?” Duncan asked the joined Trill.

Looking up from the station he had been working on, Jen nodded at his superior. “I’ve bypassed most of the lockouts that Hunsen has placed after we reactivated command functions. Give it a try now.”

“Computer,” Duncan said, “Recognise Duncan, Maxwell Jack, Alpha-Two clearance.”

The computer beeped before responding. “Priority clearance recognition, Alpha Two.”

“Isolate all remaining command functions and accept related orders and inquiries from main engineering only,” Duncan ordered.

“Acknowledged.”

Duncan turned to look at the computer console that Jen was at to see if his actions had helped him. “Do we have full control now?” 

“We do, but helm control has somehow been isolated with a computer virus. No one has control over it.” Jen answered after checking the readings. “Helm control seems it will be restored once we arrive at our destination.”

“Perfect, which by the time that happens, we’ll either be under the control of this telepathic pitcher plant, or the self-destruct would have gone off.” Duncan responded. “Keep trying to gain access, Lukiz.”

Jen just nodded.

Duncan turned to Jen’s deputy, who was sitting next to him, “Decter, unluck with our covert distress call to Starfleet?” He asked.

The Rutian man shook his head, “Commander Hunsen has not made it easy for us, sir; he has somehow been able to prevent us from covering up any external communication channels. The moment we send a message out, we’ll be seen by the Devore.”

“What about our receiver array? Can we get access to the latest updates from Starfleet?” Duncan wondered.

Pushing his grey and white lock of hair back, Jines tried to do as he was asked but ended up shaking his head again. “No, sir, if we attempt to uplink to the Starfleet relays in the area, the Devore will be able to triangulate our position within seconds.”

“Damn it,” Duncan cursed again. “What about if we separate from the chevron section? Could we restore complete control then?”

“The same computer virus has blocked out chevron separation as helm control,” Jines reported. 

Duncan’s youngest son, William, approached his father with a mug of tea. “Dad, I thought this might help.”

Smiling in appreciation for the gesture from his son, Duncan patted William’s left shoulder as he took the mug. “Thanks, William.” He took a sigh. “You should really get yourself down to the Calypso and be with your brother and dad.”

William shook his head. “I want to stay with you, dad.”

Duncan didn’t bother to argue with him, not now or in front of his crew. “You can stay for another fifteen minutes, then I want you out of here, no questions, understood?”

His son just nodded. “Sure. Is there anything I can help out with?”

“Do you know how to break through a computer virus or how to stop a baby telepathic pitcher plan from controlling everyone?” Duncan asked, slightly teasing him.

“Sounds like more of a job for Doctor Slyvexs,” William said, indicating towards the chief medical officer that stood behind him. 

Agreeing with his son’s idea, Duncan excused himself from his operations officers and headed over to see Slyvexs. “Anything more about this pitcher plant?”

 Standing with Banfield, the CMO just shook her head. “Nothing more than what we’ve already shared. From what we can see, the creature conforms to the same sensor readings that Voyager took when it encountered its mother in twenty-three-seventy-five.”

Banfield then spoke up. “We’ve got readings of organic compounds, bioplasmic discharges and a vast network of neural pathways.”

“However it’s only five hundred kilometres in diameter,” Slyvexs added. “We think it became laced with the blood dilithium after the small planetoid the Devore were mining had exploded. It was a lot closer to them than we were.”

 “Okay, any theories on stopping it from using its psychogenic manipulation on the crew?” Duncan asked.

“Distance from it is key,” Banfield explained as she activated a holographic display of the baby beast. “Voyager only escaped thanks to help from an alien called Qati, who had tetryon-based weapons and fired on a pocket of antimatter released from Voyager’s nacelles. It produced an electrolytic reaction that forced the original telepathic pitcher plant to release them.”

“It puked them out,” Slyvexs clarified. “We’ve already got a team working on making adjustments to the Telemachus to fire a similar beam, and the nacelles will be able to eject the antimatter.”

“But that doesn’t help us with the blood dilithium,” Duncan pointed out.

Both women agreed with that assessment. 

“We need more data, but it’s data we don’t have,” Banfield said. “Sir, as your acting first officer, I think I need to say that I think it’s worth contacting Starfleet.”

“Not with the Devore so close to us,” Duncan disagreed with her. 

“Max, with or without the Devore on our backs, you’ve set the auto-destruct. They wouldn’t be able to take the Odyssey.” Slyvexs reminded him. “Let us run those scans, get in contact with Starfleet and deal with this before we are all incapacity.”

Duncan rubbed his temple as he considered his choices. He was about to agree to their idea when both Horin and William screamed out in agony. Rushing to his son’s side, Slyvexs and Banfield moved quickly to get to the counsellor as well.

“What is it, William?” Duncan asked as he grabbed his son into his arms.

“I can hear them, dad,” William said as he grabbed hold of his head. “All of them.”

“Who?”

“The Brenari,” Horin whispered as she knelt down on the floor with Slyvexs over her with her medical tricorder.

“It’s the neurogenic field,” Slyvexs said as she quickly scanned William. “It’s increasing in strength as we get closer.”

The intercom then went off, followed by the worried tones of Master Chief Court. “Court to Duncan, we’ve got a problem with our young people down here.”

Duncan tapped his combadge, “What do you mean, Tobias?” He asked his husband.

“Remi is running scans of them now, but they all just dropped to the floor in agony.”

“The same happened here with William and Louwanna. We think it’s our proximity to the creature,” Duncan said.

Slyvexs came over to William and placed a cortical inhibitor behind his lobe.“Tobias, tell Remi to attach cortical inhibitors to each and everyone one of you. Then he needs to increase neurotransmitter levels by forty-seven per cent.”

 “Understood,” Court replied.

As she finished working on William, the teenager appeared more at ease after the inhibitor started to work. “That’s better,” He smiled at the relief.

Slyvexs moved to Horin and helped her. “Are you okay, Louwanna?”

“Yes, it was like a sharp pain of agony being projected into my mind.” She answered. “But it wasn’t from the Brenari on the ship.”

Slyvexs appeared confused by that statement. “Then which Brenari?”

“This is going to sound stupid, but it felt like there were Brenari with the creature,” Horin said after a breath. 

“Sir!” Jines shouted. “I’ve been able to get something from Starfleet.”

Hearing that, Duncan jogged over to Jines to see what it was. “Anything of use?”

“It’s a small data block; I’m just attempting to retrieve it now.” Jines then activated a holographic interface as he loaded up the work. “I’ve got what looks like a schematic of something.”

“Let’s see it,” Duncan ordered.

The schematic appeared before them all, but it was only partially complete. 

“What is it?” Horin asked as she approached the group with help from Slyvexs.

“It appears to be a subspace resonance emitter,” Jen said. “I recognise some of the technology from something one of my previous hosts once encountered.”

“Without knowing why Starfleet has sent this out, we can’t be sure how it will help us,” Jines said. “And without breaking the radio silence, I can’t get any more data, sir.”

“Damn,” Duncan cursed again. He looked at Banfield and then back to the deputy ops manager. “Decter, you have my permission to break radio silence and get in touch with Starfleet. Inform them what is happening onboard and what action we are taking to retake back the ship.”

“Aye, sir,” Jines said nervously as he looked to Jen for encouragement, which he got with a simple nod. 

“Corella, begin long-range scans. I want to know everything about that pitcher plant,” Duncan ordered her. “And someone start looking out for the damn Devore.”

“They’ve somehow restored the lockouts,” Lenjir announced at tactical. “The computer is not accepting any enquiries or input from up here.” The Tiburonian hit the console with a heavy thud. 

McCallister smirked from his command chair as T’Rani’s grip against his face tightened. “Cline, I’m trying to concentrate.”

“What’s wrong, commander? Unable to make the connection?” McCallister teased her. Whatever was preventing her from placing him under her control, McCallister was thanking it. 

T’Rani gave out a huge sigh of frustration, which was unlike her. She let go of him and walked away. “I’m sorry, sir,” She said, looking at Hunsen. “I can’t focus.”

Hunsen, standing in the centre of the room, looked at McCallister deeply. He was almost studying his captain, trying to read his mind and work out what McCallister had planned. “I can’t get anything either,” He stepped forward and picked his captain up by his uniform jacket. “Tell me what Max’s orders are.”

“I don’t know,” McCallister said with a smirk.

Hunsen used the back of his right hand and slapped McCallister’s face. As the captain fell backwards onto his chair, Hunsen picked him up again. “Tell me what you told him to do.”

“Nothing,” McCallister spat blood out. “Honestly.”

Kneeing the captain into his stomach, Hunsen then punched him in the jaw, knocking the captain down to the deck plating.

Seeing what Hunsen was doing, Flemen stood up from sitting at ops. “Sir, is that really necessary?”

“Get back to your station,” Hunsen said between gritted teeth. “I don’t need your input, Craigen.”

“We’re still Starfleet officers,” Flemen said in defence. 

“I said get back to your station,” Hunsen hollered before he kicked the captain again, where he lay on the floor. 

Samris interjected. “Craigen is right; this isn’t a part of the plan.”

Pulling his phaser out of its holster, Hunsen aimed it at Samris. “And neither is questioning my orders. Are we clear, counsellor?”

Samris and Flemen both looked at one another. “Perfectly clear, sir.”

“Good,” Hunsen leant down and picked McCallister up. “Now, deactivate the auto-destruct.”

Coughing up more blood and barely being able to see, McCallister shook his head. “Go to hell, Tremt.”

Tierra then stepped forward from the engineering station. “He won’t be able to give us any computer access, sir.” She passed a PADD to him. “It would seem he has been relieved of command by the good doctor.”

Slapping the PADD out of her hands from pure rage, Hunsen gave out a roaring sound. “So Max is the damn captain now?”

Startled by his reaction, Tierra picked up the PADD. “It would appear so, sir. All of our access clearance codes have been rescinded too.”

Hunsen stepped over the captain and sat down in the centre chair. “How long until we arrive at the convoy?”

T’Rani, who had returned to the helm, looked at the readings. “Just over twenty minutes.”

“We would have ten minutes before the auto-destruct completes once we arrive,” T’Rani stated. 

Hunsen was about to say something when Lenjir interjected. “Sir, I’m not sure how they’ve done it, but we’re now broadcasting a general distress call on all Starfleet frequencies, and our lateral sensor array is in full use. The Devore will be able to see us.”

Feeling like everything was crumbling around him. Hunsen tightened his grip around the arms of the chair he was in. 

“Duncan to the bridge,” the intercom went off, and Odyssey’s acting captain’s voice followed. “Tremt, by now, you know we don’t have long until the self-destruct is completed. I’ve also sent out a distress call and used the lateral sensor array. The Devore can see us. A squadron of their warships are on a parallel course with us and will intercept us just before we drop out of warp. Either you take that computer virus out, or we’ll be blown up. The Brenari convoy is not real. You are all being manipulated by a telepathic pitcher plant. Adjust your sensors to scan for bioplasmic activity.”

“No, Max! You’re wrong. The Brenari need us! Now stop the countdown, or I’ll take further action!” Hunsen replied with a sincere and angry tone.

Spitting out more blood, McCallister quickly spoke up. “Max, it’s the captain, do whatever it takes!”

Hunsen got up and kicked McCallister in the back one more time. “Shut up!”

“Tremt, none of us will be conscious by the time we reach the telepathic pitcher plant. The neurogenic field it is producing will overwhelm us all. Now surrender, and we can sort this mess out.” Duncan pleaded one more time.

“Never; we’ve got to help the Brenari,” Hunsen stated with affirmation.

“Then you leave me with no choice,” Duncan said, “I’m sorry, my friend, but I won’t let you do anything more that will risk everyone. Sleep well.”

 Hunsen looked over at T’Rani, but before he could say anything else, gas started to pour out of the vents at a vast rate. They all began to collapse from the toxic fumes.

McCallister, lying straight out on his back, just smirked as he took in the gas and knew what Duncan had done to their ship. Glad that Duncan had taken that action, McCallister soon fell out of consciousness as he took one more breath in. 

“Has it worked?” Duncan asked, rubbing his forehead again. The massive headache he could feel was starting to get worse.

Banfield nodded. “The neurozine gas has worked well.”

“Well done, doctor, in coming up with that idea to trick the computer into letting us release the gas,” Duncan said, congratulating Slyvexs. “Now, how much time do we have?”

Slyvexs shrugged her shoulders. “Not much longer; I think we will start to feel the effects of the neurogenic field in the next ten minutes.”

Duncan turned to their ECH, “Penelope, it’s more than likely we will all succumb to it. You will be the only one left unaffected. Do you understand what needs to happen?”

The hologram just nodded. “I do, sir.”

“Good; activate the rest of the holographic crew and get them on mobile emitters. I’m entrusting you all to see us through this.” Duncan said before transferring command codes over to Penelope.

“Lukiz, Decter, where are with this subspace resonance emitter from Starfleet?” Duncan questioned.

“The plans show us that Starfleet has created a communication device with the blood dilithium,” Jen explained. “Attempts by the crew of the Discovery show that the subspace trumpet, as they called it, gave them a chance to find out that the consciousness our telepathic crew experienced at first was the subspace imprint of the collective telepathic rage of millions of Brenari murdered by the Devore.”

“How’s that possible?” Horin asked.

“Let’s not worry about that for now; let’s worry that same rage is now interacting with a baby telepathic pitcher plant,” Slyvexs stated. “I can only imagine what distress the pitcher plant is in.”

No one spoke for a moment. None of them could believe what they were now dealing with or considering. 

“Maybe we could communicate with it using this emitter,” Horin suggested.

“I don’t think we would be able to,” Banfield remarked. “It would be far too dangerous.”

“I don’t see how else we’re going to get out of this mess,” Horin remarked. She looked at Duncan, “Please, Max, let me try and communicate with those Brenari who are linked to the plant. I might be able to find a way out of this mess for us.”

Duncan shook his head, “Corella is right; it’s too dangerous. We don’t know what you’ll encounter or what pressure you’ll put on your baby.”

“Actually, Louwanna would be safe,” Slyvexs stated. “Her pregnancy is creating a natural defence, plus what else have we got to lose?”

“Besides our minds?” Jen asked aloud. 

Ignoring the comment, Horin turned back to Duncan. “Max, come on. We can give it a try, and if I don’t succeed, then we have our other plan.”

“The only issue with our backup plan,” Banfield started, “Is the moment we detonate an antimatter cloud, we put the creature at risk of the dilithium crystals from exploding.”

Considering his options again, Duncan relented and gave Horin the nod. “You go in, and you get out quickly, but if we all succumb to this neurogenic field, then the EMH will be ordered to bring you out before Penelope detonates the antimatter.”

“Understood,” Horin said.

“I just hope I don’t end up regretting this,” Duncan said as he gave out a heavy sigh. He looked over at the countdown. They had just under twenty-five minutes before the ship destroyed it.

Yanking the transparent gas mask off his face, Lieutenant Commander Tomaz walked into engineering and swiftly approached Commander Duncan. 

“Report?” Duncan asked his strategic operations officer. 

“The Telemachus is secure and ready to launch remotely if we need it. The neurozine continues to pump through the ship’s systems; no one else is waking up.” The Barzan conveyed as he adjusted the straps around his neck. “Where are we at with things?”

“I’ve finally restored helm control to us,” Jen announced from one of the stations. “But we’re just about to drop out of warp near the baby telepathic pitcher plant.”

“That would explain why my headache is growing,” Tomaz commented. 

Gliding over to him, Slyvexs had her tricorder out and ran her scans over his head. “As I feared,” She closed her tricorder, “Our proximity to the pitcher plant will start to affect the rest of us non-telepaths as the neurogenic field increases.”

“Didn’t the Voyager records state that during their encounter, everyone, except those who couldn’t be tricked, was rendered unconscious by the neurogenic field?” Tomaz checked as he ripped off his uniform jacket. “My skin feels like it’s crawling with bugs. Is anyone else feeling that?”

“Yes to both accounts,” Slyvexs answered. “Your right about what happened to Voyager, but you’ve got to remember they were playing with the real full-grown thing. We’re dealing with an offspring of it, a much smaller version, but its manifestations are appearing randomly for all of us. I thought I saw half of my grandchildren sitting around the warp core a moment ago. It’s unable to decide how it wants to control us.”

“Sounds like any typical child, unsure of what it wants!” Tomaz remarked with a snigger as he soon realised nothing was crawling around him. Instead of putting his jacket back on, he left it off, pulled his combadge and stuck it to his uniform undershirt. “And we have just over ten minutes until we’re blown to smithereens. It sounds like a typical day in Starfleet! What else can I do?” He looked at Duncan. “By the way, sir, I spoke with your son, and he mentioned you’ve ordered them to leave the Calypso. Change of plan?”

 Duncan wobbled his head slightly. “Sort of,” He replied. “We’ve established there are no ships near us who can help us in time. I don’t want to launch the Calypso and something else happens that they can’t manage without Odyssey’s support. We’re better if we stay together.”

“Dealing with the monsters head-on together?” Tomaz wondered.

“Exactly, now Tomaz, will you go help Abbej with her scans of what’s happening to the Devore squadron we just detected,” Duncan ordered.

Tomaz nodded and proceeded to help the deputy chief science officer. 

Duncan turned to Slyvexs, “Where are we with our subspace trumpet?”

Slyvexs turned around to see where Jen, Jines and Banfield were working while Horin meditated nearby. “I’m not sure about this still, Max.” She whispered. “This may be the worst version of a mind-meld I’ve monitored.”

“Or it could be one for the books!” Duncan said, trying to sound optimistic. 

Penelope walked over to Duncan, who was rubbing his forehead again. “Sir, I’ve been able to transfer all ship controls to here in engineering. Unless someone has high-level clearance, no one can access them.”

“Good, because the moment we start this crazy plan of ours, then I don’t know how long it would take for us all to succumb,” Duncan replied.

“Well, so far, if Doctor Slyvexs’ theory of the pitcher plant being an infant and is unable to give out a powerful neurogenic field like its parent, then you may all survive this ordeal,” Penelope said, copying Duncan’s positiveness from earlier.

“We can only hope, but I do mean what I said earlier. If you need to assume command, then do it without hesitation and save us at all costs,” Duncan asserted. 

The hologram just nodded. 

Walking over to stand by Horin, who had just opened her eyes, Duncan smiled at the Betazoid counsellor and extended his hand out to help the heavily pregnant woman up off from the decking plating. “Are you sure about this, Louwanna?”

She nodded and smiled at him. “I’m ready,”

They were about to turn over to the resonance emitter setup when Lieutenant Marova spoke up. “Sir, we’re dropping out of warp!” 

Duncan looked over his shoulder at the pilot, who was using holographic controls to pilot the ship from the console she had commandeered. “All stop then, lieutenant,” He ordered.

“All stop, aye, sir.” announced the Hekaran deputy chief pilot. 

Abbej cleared her throat before reporting what the sensors were showing them. “Sir, that entire squadron of Devore warships are all sitting in a line on the edge of the pitcher plant.”

“How comes?” Duncan queried as he moved over to see the sensor readings.

 Shaking her head, unable to work out what was happening, Abbej couldn’t give him a clear answer. “It’s weird, none of their defence systems are operational, but it’s almost as if they’re lining up to be eaten by the pitcher plant.”

Clarifying her scans, Tomaz agreed with the Boslic woman. “Abbej is right; I think the Devore have been taken over by it too.”

“I thought the Devore spent years of training resisting telepaths?” Horin questioned aloud. 

“Obviously, they can’t defend themselves from a baby telepathic pitcher plant that is laced with blood dilithium,” Tomaz responded. 

A warning signal went off at Abbej’s console, forcing her to frown at what it was telling her.

“What is it, Abbej?” Duncan asked.  

“Sir, I’m detecting over forty-seven thousand Brenari life signs spread across the twelve Devore warships.” She reported, “My scans are detecting neurogenic fields on each vessel, so I think they are all unconscious, but they are there. With their defences down, I can get a good look at their interiors.”

“I would suggest they are all in what appears to be large detention areas. Almost like our cargo bays and shuttlebays.” Tomaz summarised. “We can’t leave them there, sir.”

Duncan looked at Horin before turning over to Jen. “Lukiz, can we expand our life support systems to deal with forty-seven thousand extra people?”

Jen dropped the tool he was using on the emitter and walked over to the others. He had been listening to the conversation they were having. “We can, but it would require other systems to lose power. Plus, the transporters would have to be set beyond their safety limits to beam that amount of people over.”

“How quickly can you do it?” Duncan asked before looking up at the self-destruct system. They had seven minutes to go.

“A couple of minutes,” Jen answered. 

“Do it, and start to beam them over to the cargo and shuttlebays,” Duncan ordered. “Once we’re done here, we’ll set a course back to the Sanctum where we can take them all.”

“Are we sure they’re not another mirage?” Horin checked. 

Penelope joined the group and checked the readings, “They’re real.”

“Sir, the emitter is ready,” Banfield announced after a few deep breaths. The neurogenic field was starting to take its toll on her. “And can I make one more suggestion? We cancel the auto-destruct? We’re not in any danger of being taken over by anyone else.”

Duncan agreed with the idea. “Good idea, Number One,” He said, using the nickname McCallister sometimes used on him. “Computer, terminate auto-destruct sequence. Authorisation, Duncan-one-seven-delta-romeo.”

 “Computer, this is Commander Corella Banfield; I concur; terminate auto-destruct sequence. Authorisation Banfield-two-one-beta-charlie.”

“Confirmed. Auto-destruct sequence terminated.”

Sighing with relief, everyone appeared to be calmer the moment the countdown had ended.

“Now that’s over; once we have those Brenari over here, can I suggest we disable the Devore warships?” Tomaz shared. “Without engines or weapons, they won’t be a threat to us and wouldn’t enter the pitcher plant.”

“That’s not a bad idea,” Penelope stated. “Let me handle it.”

“Make it happen,” Duncan agreed as he rubbed his forehead.

“Bad headache?” A familiar voice said at the entrance of main engineering.

Twisting his neck, Duncan smiled at his husband returning with their son Jordan, and the captain’s sons, S’Tem, and Cadet Grant. All of them were wearing gas masks and unclipping them after entering the safety of engineering. “Welcome, weary travellers.”

Jordan walked up to his father and gave him a hug. “I know you’ve set up containment fields around engineering to keep us all safe, but climbing through more Jefferies tubes and crawlways as the transporters can’t be used, isn’t my way of fun, dad.”

“Sorry, mate,” Duncan said, embracing his son again. “We needed to ensure no one had delusional ideas about taking back control of the ship.”

“Is our dad safe?” Alfie asked Commander Duncan, which was quickly followed by his brothers bombarding the first officer with more questions. 

“Uncle Tobie said you knocked everyone out with gas?” Henri asked. 

“Can we see him?” Theo also queried.

Duncan raised his hands, “Your dad is fine; he is on the bridge, sleeping it all off. We’ll get to him once we’ve sorted out this situation. Why don’t you all make yourselves useful and get checked over by Doctor Forbes.”

Court walked over to his husband and gave him a light kiss on the cheek before seeing what he could do to help. “I can tell you my headache is getting worse.”

“It’s the same for us all,” Duncan assured him. He turned over to Horin. “Louwanna, are you ready?”

“Let’s get this show on the road,” The counsellor remarked as she made her way over to where the others were with the modified resonance emitter. 

Slyvexs placed several monitors on her forehead. “Now, in case any of us do pass out from the neurogenic field, then Doctor Agnes will take over. Remember the plan; you get in, you get out without harming yourself.”

Doctor Agnes, the ship’s EMH, smiled at Horin. “I promise to take good care of you and your baby, commander.”

“Thanks, Agnes,” Horin said. “Now remind me how this will work again?”

Jen, who had finished working on the transporters and beaming over the Brenari survivors, had returned and was now working with Banfield. Speaking up, the joined Trill and explained how they had connected the emitter up to the main deflector. “Hopefully, you’ll be able to connect with the blood dilithium, just like the Discovery crew did, but this time you’re connecting to the blood dilithium laced within the pitcher plant.”

“We can’t be certain what will happen once you’re linked up,” Banfield said. “We’ll monitor your vitals, but if anything goes out of the ordinary, then we will cancel the link.”

Horin nodded. “Let’s do it,” She said with a confident smile. Looking around the room, she could sense they were all looking at her, and all of them were doing their best to ignore the headache and the slight dizziness they felt because of the neurogenic field. She closed her eyes, and Slyvexs activated the device. 

Standing in what looked like a barren desert, with only a few bits of grassland and what looked like dark red cactuses, Counsellor Horin looked around at her surroundings. She didn’t recognise where she was. As she surveyed the land, she placed her right hand just above her eyes as she tried to shield herself from the strong sunlight.

“Hello,” A small voice beside her said.

Startled by the sudden appearance, Horin almost jumped out of her skin. Looking down, she saw what appeared to be a young humanoid girl. She had long wavy curly blonde hair and wore a white summer dress.

“Hello,” Horin said with a smile. “What’s your name?”

“I don’t have one,” The young girl answered. “Do you?”

“I’m Louwanna.”

“I knew that,” 

Confused by that remark, Horin ignored it for now as she tried to work out what was happening. “Where are we?”

 “My home,”

“This dessert is your home?”

“Well, it was, until they started growing everywhere,” The girl pointed at the crimson cactuses dotted around the desert. “I started to chop them down, but the others stopped me.”

“Who are the others?” Horin asked.

“My guests,” The girl pointed out to a large rock formation in the distance. “They’re all gathered together there. Do you want to meet them?”

“Sure. Do you know who your guests are?”

She shook her head. “Most of them all look the same; they have funny noses, but some of the others who joined us recently are wearing the same clothes as you.” 

Horin looked down at her uniform and was intrigued by what the girl meant by that. “Do you know their names?”

The girl just blinked, and before Horin could react, she had moved and was now standing within the rock formation, surrounded by hundreds, if not thousands of people. It was busy. It was crowded. Looking around at the people; they were all moving past her, almost ignoring her. Horin took a moment to breathe and then realised that the people were, in fact, the Brenari, but she didn’t recognise any of them. They were all wearing rugged clothes.

“Louwanna!”

Spinning on her feet at hearing her name, Horin turned and saw a group she instantly knew coming towards her, especially the man leading them.

“Tremt!” She exclaimed before her Imzadi grabbed her and picked her off the ground into a tight hug

“I don’t understand; how are you all here?” Horin questioned after letting go of Hunsen. 

“We were trying to figure that out ourselves a moment ago,” Hunsen said as he looked upon the others that were with him. 

T’Rani stepped forward, “It is agreeable to see you, counsellor.” She said in her usual calm Vulcan manner. “We have theorised that somehow the combined influences of the blood dilithium and the telepathic pitcher plant have placed us all in some collective unconscious.”

“Wait, you know about the pitcher plant?” Horin asked, surprised to hear that revelation. “You were adamant that we would be rescuing a Brenari convoy.”

Hunsen nodded, “Before you arrived, we were all just sharing how the past twenty-four hours or more have been like out-of-body experiences for us all.” 

Flemen, who was with them, clarified that idea further. “Whatever took control over us, we’ve been consciously aware of but have not been able to control ourselves, if that makes sense?”

“So everything you’ve done, you’re aware of?” Horin said as she looked at Hunsen.

The chief engineer looked solemn as they all confirmed her question. He was now distant with his reaction, and it was clear he was ashamed of his actions. “I can’t believe what I’ve said and done, especially to the captain.”

“You weren’t in control; we know that,” Horin assured him. 

“Is the ship safe?” Samris asked next.

Horin looked at her deputy, “Commander Duncan and the others have secured it, but it won’t be long until those that are conscious succumb to the neurogenic field.”

“How are you here, Imzadi?” Hunsen asked. 

Unable to find the words straight away, Horin took a breath. “Starfleet has developed a device that allows telepaths to communicate via the blood dilithium. Lukiz, Corella and Slyvexs have linked such a contraption to the main deflector to allow me to attempt it. The telepathic pitcher plant is laced with blood dilithium crystal.”

“So, where is this place?” Flemen asked, looking around the massive rock formation they stood in. “And who are all these Brenari?”

Horin studied her surroundings one more time. The little girl from earlier had vanished, but the Brenari crowded around them, either huddling in groups or just glaring at them like unwelcome visitors to someone’s home. The counsellor looked at T’Rani, “You mentioned earlier about being a part of a collective unconscious; what makes you think that?”

T’Rani turned to Samris, who answered for them. “We remember being gassed out on the bridge, and then the next thing we know, we are here,” He gestured to their surroundings by waving both arms around. “We no longer sensed the thoughts and feelings of the others from the blood dilithium, but we knew of the neurogenic field. Somehow, this place has brought us here for a reason.”

“I believe if any of us were human, we would see this as being in purgatory,” T’Rani stated. “The fact we are experiencing the same things as one another but not in a conscious state proves we are in some sort of collective unconscious.”

“An interesting theory,” Horin said, though she agreed with the idea as being the likeliest of possibilities. “Wait for a second; how did you get others, like Cline and Keli, to join you?”

“Mind melds,” T’Rani answered. “The combined blood dilithium and telepathic pitcher plant reached out to me first, and somehow I became a vessel for uncovering what I could sense and was able to open their minds to the neurogenic field.”

“Those of us with limited telepathic or empathic abilities were dosed up on the sensation of blood dilithium once T’Rani illuminated the way,” Flemen added. “She had no idea what she was doing.”

“I believe the telepathic pitcher plant chose Commander Hunsen and me for our positions due to our powerful telepathic skills,” T’Rani shared. “Though I am confused as to why you were not affected.”

“Doctor Slyvexs thinks it maybe something to do with my pregnancy,” Horin explained. “Betazoid mothers are known to develop a strong protective bond with their infant while in the womb. It’s our natural instinct to safeguard them from external threats on a telepathic level that may have saved me from the neurogenic field.”

“Never mess with a Betazoid mother,” Tierra said as she joined the group and looked at Hunsen. “I’ve finished the count-up; everyone here has telepathy or empathic abilities and is from the Odyssey.”  

Hunsen thanked his senior assistant chief engineer for her work before returning to the previous conversation. “Now that we are all here, what do we do?”

“I’ve tried communicating with all of the Brenari that are here, but it’s almost as if we are talking to a wall when we speak to them,” Flemen added.

Samris crossed his arms as he considered their situation, “Craigen is right; it’s almost as if we’re invisible.”

“Not invisible,” T’Rani corrected him, “They can obviously sense our presence, but it is almost as if they are being stopped from speaking to us.”

“By whom?” Tierra asked. 

Searching around their location, Horin had an idea. “Well, one person could see me a moment ago; let’s find that young girl I arrived with. See if she could give us any more answers.”

Walking out of the rock formation, the large group of Starfleet officers moved through the crowds of Brenari, who didn’t say anything to them or each other. It felt eerie, almost like walking through a graveyard at night. All of their faces were expressionless, gormless as if no one was home. 

Leading the group, Horin found the girl standing in the desert chopping down the crimson-coloured cactuses. “Hello, again,” Horin said sweetly. 

The girl stopped using the axe in her hands and turned slowly towards Horin. “You found your friends.”

“I did,” Horin nodded. “I see you are chopping them down again.”

“I wanted to do it before they stopped me,” The girl pointed to the larger crowd behind the Starfleet officers. 

“Why are they stopping you?” Flemen questioned. 

The girl shrugged her shoulders. “They won’t tell me besides telling me they feel like they are home.” She looked at Horin, “You don’t need to be here; you could go home.”

“I could,” Horin agreed, “But I want to bring my friends home with me.”

The girl took in a breath and looked at everyone standing behind her. She pointed at Hunsen. “You called each other Imzadi; what is that?”

“It’s a Betazoid term that means beloved,” Horin smiled as she crouched down beside the girl. “Tremt and I love one another, and we’re having a child together.” The counsellor proceeded to touch her belly.

The girl looked at T’Rani and Samris, “Are you each other’s Imzadi? You two have a strong connection.”

Samris chuckled and shook his head, “No, Imzadi is only used by Betazoids.”

“Samris and I may appear similar, but that is due to our ancestors coming from the same world many generations ago,” T’Rani informed her. “However you are right that we have a strong connection with one another.”

Moving her eyes to the rest of the group, she looked at Flemen. “You have a strong connection with someone else….”

“Do I?” Flemen asked, puzzled by whom she was referring.

“Yes, but your connection is different,” The girl replied. “It is for a child similar to me. I can hear him calling for you. No, wait.” She paused. “He is speaking to you about a chocolate cake?”

Flemen chuckled. “You’re talking about S’Tem.”

“Yes, you have a strong connection with him,” The girl stated, almost repeating herself. “But he is not your offspring.”

“No, S’Tem is my friend’s son. A few of us help look after him.” Flemen said. 

“I once had a connection,” The girl said before taking her axe high into the air and bringing it crashing down on the cactus she was chopping down a moment ago, “but I cannot find them. These,” She pointed at the plant, “Stop me from seeing where I have to go.”

Hunsen then looked at Horin, and at that moment, both of them were starting to realise what was happening. 

“Do you need help removing them?” Hunsen asked.

The girl nodded, “They are making me feel sick, but I feel sad for those people who like them.”

Horin smiled at her. “We can help you.”

The girl smiled weakly. “I don’t know how to remove them; they are making me feel ill, but once I take one down, another one appears.”

“Let us discuss and see if we can come up with a plan to help,” Horin stated before she got up and walked over to the others. “I think I can work out what is happening here.”

“She’s the telepathic pitcher plant,” Hunsen stated.

Horin nodded in agreement, “And the cactuses are the blood dilithium that has laced itself to the pitcher plant.”

“Wait, what?” Flemen checked, confused. “How did we get to that idea so quickly?”

Horin smirked, and she looked at Samris, who soon understood her train of thought. “Samris, you want to explain?”

“It’s an interesting idea, but it does make sense,” Samris agreed with his superior. “This whole area is probably the unconscious collective manifestation of the neurogenic field. We are viewing it on a level that we can comprehend. This is the home for the telepathic pitcher plant, but the blood dilithium is stopping it from being a healthy one. I just don’t understand the Brenari involvement, though.”

Horin added more detail, “The crew of the Discovery found that somehow those Brenari that had died at the hands of the Devore have imprinted their consciousness to the blood dilithium. I think the blood dilithium that has laced itself within the telepathic pitcher plant is overwhelming the creature.”   

“Fascinating,” T’Rani said with a raised eyebrow. “Would that explain why it only connected with a few of us at the start?”

“Yes, probably,” Horin answered. “And by adding more of you to the neurogenic field, it’s probably trying to use our crew as a natural barrier from the Brenari. Like any child, it’s overwhelmed by feelings and sensations never experienced.”

“How do we help it?” Tierra asked. 

“She mentioned she felt ill by the blood dilithium crystals,” Flemen said, “So I remember when S’Tem had eaten way too much chocolate cake when I first babysat for Tomaz, that he felt a lot better when he puked up his guts and got it out of its system.”

“How do we make a bioplasmic creature make itself sick, Craigen?” Samris asked, not believing what he was hearing from his friend.

“No, no, don’t shoot down that idea,” Horin said. “I think I know how we do this.”

“Go on,” Hunsen said.

“I need to get back to the conscious world, but all of you need to help her chop down the cactuses. It might strengthen the neurogenic field and block whatever the blood dilithium is doing to the telepathic pitcher plant.”

Not entirely convinced, Horin explained her idea in more detail and eventually promised the little girl they would help her before she found a way to make herself wake up.

“Welcome back,” Doctor Slyvexs said faintly as she saw Horin open her eyes and start to flutter them. “How are you feeling?”

Horin shot up but straight away felt light-headed and dizzy. Slyvexs caught her while Jen took her other arm. “I’m fine,” She looked around and saw that some of her colleagues had passed out. “Is everyone okay?”

“There’s not many of us left who are awake,” Jen answered. “What did you learn?”

“The trumpet work,” Horin told him. “But it somehow took me into the neurogenic field that the blood dilithium crystal is interfering with. Our telepathic crew are there too, but we’ve got to help the pitcher plant remove the crystals. It’s making it unwell and unstable.”

“How do you know this?” Slyvexs asked. 

“I just do,” Horin said. “Trust me.”

The Denobulan doctor nodded. “We do; just tell us what the plan is.”

“We’re taking a page out of Craigen’s babysitting book,” Horin said as he pulled herself around and jumped off the small bed she had laid down on. 

Tomaz walked over, “Counsellor, is that such a wise idea?”

“It is, but we must do it before we are all….” She took a moment and felt another wave of dizziness wash over her. “Knocked out.”

Slyvexs called over Penelope as they started to plan their next steps.

Doctor Slyvexs took a moment to catch her breath as she felt another wave of nausea and headache hit her. 

“Doctor,” spoke Doctor Agnes behind her, “why don’t you rest?”

The Denobulan woman shook her head, “No, we’ve got to see this through.”

“We will, doctor, I promise, we’ve got this,” Agnes said as she placed both her hands on Slyvexs’ shoulders. She started ushering the weary chief medical officer to a chair to sit in. “Come on, you don’t want to be overwhelmed by the neurogenic field and fall on your feet.”

Slyvexs nodded in agreement. “You’re right,” She sat down in the chair and gave out a big sigh. “Penelope, are you ready?”

Odyssey’s Emergency Command Hologram walked over and nodded. “The Devore warships are all disabled. They have no engines, shields or weapons. The moment we enter the beast, carry out Counsellor Horin’s plan and then escape, they won’t know where we are or be able to chase after us.”

Slyvexs nodded again and felt her eyes become heavy. She could no longer fight the field’s intensity as they approached the mouth of the telepathic pitcher plant. “Just make sure you don’t harm the creature; we don’t know what will happen to the blood dilithium once we create the electrolytic discharge.”

“We know the plan; Doctor Agnes will monitor the pitcher plant’s life signs while Troy monitors the ship’s systems. I’ll be flying the ship and the Telemachus.” Penelope assured her. 

Slyvexs smiled in appreciation as she became more and more tired. “Just make sure we don’t lose the Telemachus. The captain won’t be happy to ask for another support ship.”

“I promise,” Penelope said with a smile just as Slyvexs passed out.

Penelope looked at Agnes, who had a tricorder in her hand. 

“She’s out,” Agnes confirmed. “It really is down to us.”

“It sure is,” Penelope agreed and turned to the rest of her holographic crew. “Okay, let’s get started on Operation: Flemen Babysitting Trick.”

Agnes shook her head, “I can’t believe we’re calling it that.”

“Lieutenant Commander Tomaz is responsible for it,” Penelope said as she looked down at the unconscious form of the Barzan man near her. She walked over to the main controls in engineering where Troy, one of the Emergency Engineering Holograms, stood. “Are we ready?”

“I’ve adjusted our shield harmonics to a frequency that should make them more resistant to the bioplasmic discharges.” Troy shared. He then pointed to the control between them. “Our remote link to the Telemachus is set up and ready to go.”

“Excellent; undock the Telemachus, and let’s get underway,” Penelope ordered.

The Aquarius-class escort disembarked from the aft section of the Odyssey and took up a position relatively close to the secondary hull as both ships used their thrusters to place it close to the mouth of the telepathic pitcher plant. Its massive mouth-like entrance opened wide, and like Jonah and the whale, both ships entered and were soon trapped inside. 

  Flying into the beast, both Starfleet ships were struck by random bolts of white light. The bioplasmic discharges were intense; however, some were red in colour from where the blood dilithium was laced within the creature’s body. Lodged tight, they didn’t look like they would move anytime soon. Some pieces appeared to float and were pushed aside by the Odyssey’s powerful deflector dish. 

“I’m plotting a course for the organism’s oesophageal aperture,” Penelope announced. “Agnes, what’s the creature’s condition?”

“Still no change from previous scans,” The EMH reported. “However, I am reading more intense bioplasmic discharges coming from those areas that are infected by the blood dilithium. It’s almost like the organism’s immunity system is trying to fight it back.”

“Fascinating,” Penelope said as she looked at the same sensor readings. “Are we sure this plan is going to help the creature?”

Agnes looked at the scans one more time, “I believe so; the electrolytic reaction should help dislodge the blood dilithium fragments.”

The ship then shuddered, and Troy spoke up. “Shields are down to ninety-eight per cent.”

“We’re almost in position,” Penelope stated. “Prepare to release the antimatter.”

Troy nodded. “Our pocket of antimatter is ready to go.”

“I’m cutting impulse engines on both ships,” Penelope said before pressing the button, “now.”

“Reading all stop, thrusters on standby,” Troy said.

Working faster than most humanoids, Penelope’s fingers moved across the displays quickly as she controlled both ships. “Expel the antimatter while I charge up the tetryon beam on the Telemachus.”

A significant hue of antimatter gas was released from both nacelles of the Odyssey and started to fill the compartment they were in. Seconds later, the Telemachus fired its tetryon beam. The reaction was instant, and the bright white-blue gas exploded and started to push the Odyssey and Telemachus out. Like a surfer on top of a powerful and high wave, the two ships were driven out of the organism at impressive speeds. The electrolytic reaction started to interact with the blood dilithium fragments; each one was hit by several energy bolts as the Odyssey glided past them on its wave.  

“I’m reading fierce contractions throughout the digestive chamber,” Agnes called out. “The fragments are breaking away from the creature’s inner systems, and we’re moving back through the oesophageal aperture!”

“Great, it’s working!” Penelope said with a smirk of pride. 

“I’m no longer detecting any bioplasmic energy around the ship; we’re out!” Agnes stated. 

As everyone around them started to wake up, Penelope remained in command of the situation. “How’s the creature?” 

“I’m not detecting any blood dilithium fragments laced within it.” Agnes shared the sensor readings she was seeing. “I think Operation: Flemen Babysitting Trick worked.”

“Great, see to our fellow crewmates while I take us to maximum warp and lay a course out of this area of space,” Penelope said.

Pushing himself slowly off the deck plate, Commander Duncan blinked several times as he looked around the room and soon realised he had been unconscious on the floor of main engineering; instantly, he stood up. “Report? What’s our status?”

“Our plan to help the telepathic pitcher plant worked,” Penelope announced. “The blood dilithium that was laced within it has been removed. The Devore are no longer a threat, and we are now at warp nine point nine six, heading far away.”

“I feel like I’ve missed something, but that all sounds positive,” Duncan reported. He looked over to Horin. “Is Louwanna okay?”

Agnes had moved over to the counsellor when she hadn’t woken up straight away like the others. Slyvexs and Forbes had joined her quickly. “The counsellor is still unconscious. I’m detecting a low-level neurogenic field.” The EMH reported.

Slyvexs took her own tricorder out. “Somehow, the neurogenic field is linked to the subspace resonance emitter; the counsellor is still connected to the creature.”

“You’ve saved me,” the little girl said with a weak smile.

Horin sat next to her and rubbed her back gently. “The blood dilithium, has it left your system?”

The girl nodded, “And those people have all returned to their own homes.”

For an intelligent creature, Horin wondered if the telepathic pitcher plant really understood the issues that the Brenari, who had become trapped within its neurogenic, had faced. Was it capable of empathy and sympathy for what they had to endure under the brutal hands of the Devore?

“What will you do now?” Horin asked it. 

“I will find my mother,” The girl answered. She looked around and saw the other senior members of the Odyssey crew that were still present. “None of you left me.”

Hunsen stepped forward. “We said we would help.” He said with a reassuring smile, giving the little girl a hand to pull her up.

“Thank you,” the girl answered.

As Hunsen helped Horin up, the counsellor looked at the girl. “What will you do now?”

“I think I will find my family.” She looked at Flemen. “Hopefully, I can find my own version of chocolate cake.”

Flemen smirked, “If we ever find a large source of it, I’ll make sure to send it in your direction.”

“I’d like that,” the girl answered, smiling. “You should all go.”

“Are you sure?” Horin checked.

She nodded. “You are all needed with those you are closely connected with. I will be fine, thank you.”

“We were just doing our jobs,” Hunsen said before a huge bright white light engulfed them.

“Tremt, Tremt, are you with me?” 

Hunsen flickered his eyes open and blinked a few times. He recognised the voice and instantly saw his captain hovering over him. “Captain?” He asked with a hoarse voice before coughing. He then saw the injuries on the captain’s face and immediately remembered what had happened. “Oh my god, sir, are you okay?”

Wiping his chin and mouth, the captain just nodded. “I’ll be fine; I just want to make sure you are?”

Hunsen nodded. “I am, and I am so sorry, sir.”

McCallister offered his hand towards his chief engineer, “Just promise me no more mutinies.”

“I promise,” Hunsen said as he took his captain’s hand and shook it before standing up. 

Slowly running the dermal regenerator over the captain’s bruised abdomen, Doctor Forbes held the medical device tightly as he treated his commanding officer. The glowing blue light pulsed against the skin, slowly healing the harm Captain McCallister received when Hunsen was under the combined influence of the blood dilithium and baby telepathic pitcher plant. “Almost there, sir,” Forbes said with his positive bedside manner. “Though you do know Doctor Slyvexs will question me for why I treated you now instead of when she offered you treatment last night.”

Trying not to move too much as he allowed Forbes to work his miracle, McCallister nodded a bit. “I know, she’s going to kill me.” He answered.

“And me, probably,” Forbes added. He finished working on the captain’s stomach. “Turn over for me, sir.” 

McCallister complied and shifted himself so he laid flat on his stomach while Forbes worked on the bruises on his back. “I was just too tired last night to want to be fussed over, especially as we’ve now got over forty-seven thousand guests on board that needed treatment.”

“Sickbay has been busy all morning, sir. So many of them are grateful we saved them from being taken to the Devore detention and labour camps,” Forbes said as he reactivated the dermal regenerator and slowly hovered it over the massive bruises on the captain’s back. It was evident how hard Hunsen had punched and kicked the captain from his injuries. “I take it we’re not going to hear from the Devore anytime soon?”

“I believe so.” McCallister said, “That said, I’d imagine they’re not going to go quietly.”

“There, all sorted, sir,” Forbes said as he switched the device off, placed it back in the tray, and took out his medical tricorder.

McCallister pushed himself up and picked up his vest that was draped over the side of the bio-bed. He had requested a private room, one to avoid dealing with Slyvexs and her ‘I told you so’ attitude and two, he wasn’t keen on bumping into any of the crew that had mutined against him.  “Thanks, Remi,” He answered as he pulled his vest over his head and pushed his arms out of the proper holes before standing up and picking up his undershirt. “I have to say, from what I heard from Commander Duncan and the others, we owe a thanks to you and the other senior assistant chiefs that stepped up during the crisis.”

Forbes looked at his captain with a bewildered expression. “Sir?”

“You, Decter, Marova, Abbej – you all pitched in when the others were under the influence of the telepathic pitcher plant and the blood dilithium,” McCallister stated as he pulled his shirt on. “You four have been lieutenants for some time now; you should seriously start considering the next steps in your careers.”

“Do you want me off the ship, sir?” Forbes questioned.

Shaking his head, McCallister picked up his uniform jacket and put that on too. “No, but you should all consider taking the next bit of work to gain that third pip on your collars, just like Tomaz and Craigen.”

“I wasn’t sure if having that many lieutenant commanders on board the Odyssey would be allowed?” Forbes said as he scanned McCallister to make sure there were no other hidden injuries.

“You know that’s not the case, Remi,” McCallister replied. “We’re like a travelling starbase; there’s plenty of opportunities for you all to do it. Hell, we’ve got cadets on board; we’re more like a floating academy campus in the Delta Quadrant.”

Forbes nodded in acknowledgement. “I will definitely consider it, sir.”

“Thank you, you’ve been a lieutenant for too long now and the same for the others. I’ll speak to Max about it,” McCallister said after Forbes gave him the all-clear that he was okay. “Can you declare me fit for duty?”

Forbes picked up a nearby PADD and typed into it. “All done, sir, but you know it’s the chief medical officer’s job to reinstate you to be fit for command?”

“Damn, I thought we could get around that,” McCallister grumbled before the door chime went off. “Come in,” He answered. 

The doors parted open, allowing three of McCallister’s command officers to arrive. Commander Duncan led the group with Master Chief Court and Penelope behind him. 

“Talk of the devil,” McCallister said, referring to his first officer, “Good Morning, everyone.”

“Morning, sir,” Duncan replied, “You all okay?”

The captain nodded as he pulled his jacket across and clipped it into place by his shoulder. “All fine, thanks to Remi’s handy work.” He smirked at the senior assistant chief medical officer.

“Fit to return to command?” Penelope asked, looking between McCallister and Forbes.

“Fit to return to duty,” Forbes corrected her. “Doctor Slyvexs has the honour of declaring him able to return to command,”

“We need to pay Remi more,” McCallister mockingly said to his first officer. “So if I’m not back in command, who is?”

Duncan looked at Penelope. “Technically, Penelope is as I transferred all of the command codes to her before I was knocked unconscious by the baby telepathic pitcher plant.”

“We really need to come up with a better name,” McCallister stated.

“Lukiz has been using Princess, simply down to the fact that Counsellor Horin shared how, in her link with it via the neurogenic field, it was represented as a humanoid girl.”

“Is Lukiz making Princess a thing?” McCallister wondered.

“I believe so, sir,” Duncan confirmed. “Anyway, we wanted to update you on our situation.”

“It doesn’t take three of you to deliver such news,” McCallister said. “How bad is it?”

Court passed a PADD, “Though we are using emergency and auxiliary power to extend our life support systems, we won’t be able to maintain hosting our guests for much longer.”

“Over forty-seven thousand guests are paying a toll on our environmental controls and other support systems. Guest quarters are crowded, and so are the cargo bays and shuttlebays. We’ve converted all of the holodecks, but we can’t sustain this for much longer, sir.”

The former operations officer within him came to life as McCallister reviewed the information before him. He could see from the PADD that they had at least three, maybe four days before the Odyssey’s systems started to kick back from their overuse. Furthermore, their deuterium supplies would end up being eaten up sooner. “Am I reading this right? Our deuterium emergency supplies have been topped up since our last resupply at the Kadi home colony?”

“Umm, yeah, about that,” Duncan started to explain. “We were able to restock them.”

Intrigued by that point, McCallister pressed to know more. “How?”

“We stole it from the Devore,” Penelope answered bluntly, “well, to be precise, I stole it.”

McCallister looked at the ECH, surprised to hear that. “How? Why?”

“When we found the Brenari on their ships, we knew that once we had saved them and dealt with…Princess…” Penelope paused as she used Jen’s designation for the baby telepathic pitcher plant before continuing with her explanation. “They would be a threat to us. So as part of my plan to disable them, I borrowed their deuterium supplies.”

“I take it we’re not planning on giving it back to them?” Court checked with the ECH.

“Seeing as they kidnapped those Brenari, I thought it was only right we would need some sort of compensation for saving that many on our ship,” Penelope said with a slight shrug.

“That almost sounds poetically justified,” Court said with a smirk.

“Indeed,” Penelope replied. “I also damaged their engines, sensors and weapons enough so that we would be far from them before they tried to chase after us.”

“Was there anything else we ‘borrowed’ that I should know about?” McCallister asked his ECH.

“I may have transported some hardware over,” Penelope admitted.

“Some hardware?” Forbes repeated. “Don’t we have three new transport ships in our main bay?”

Penelope shot Forbes a look for sharing that with the captain so soon before turning to her superior. “Again, sir, I acquired them as I believed we may need the extra support with the Brenari.”

“More poetic justice?” McCallister asked.

Penelope nodded. “Indeed, but at the time, it felt like the right tactic to ensure our survival and to avoid the Devore finding out about the Gahery Sanctum.”

 Passing the PADD back to her, McCallister chuckled a bit. “Well, who am I to argue with the captain of the Odyssey?” 

Grinning now, Penelope thanked the captain for his support. “I appreciate that, sir, but we still have the dilemma of our guests perhaps overstaying their welcome?” 

“What are our options?” McCallister asked them. 

“Is there really any other choice?” Court rhetorically questioned. “There’s nowhere else they would be safe except for one place.”

“Tobias is right,” Duncan said, agreeing with his husband. “We should head to the Gahery Sanctum and see if Adale and her people would take them in.”

“Agreed,” McCallister expressed. “Are we certain we’re not being followed or tracked, though?” 

“Long-range sensors have not picked up any other Devore ships in the region, be they masked with their refractive shielding or not. The squadron we disabled is still repairing, and Princess has swiftly moved on from the area.” Penelope reported. “We can set a course to the Sanctum and see if we can mask our warp trail.”

“Sounds like a plan,” McCallister agreed. “And what about the blood dilithium we collected?”

“All safely on board the Telemachus,” Duncan informed. “It’s currently manned by a full crew complement and those that are non-telepathic who are closely following us.”

“Excellent,” McCallister said, liking what he was hearing. “I suppose I best face the music and speak with Doctor Slyvexs.”

Forbes spoke up. “She was already seeing another patient; let me see if she’s free, sir.”

McCallister nodded in agreement, and Forbes swiftly left the treatment room.

“Fascinating,” T’Rani said as she looked at the scanner’s readouts on the holographic display before her.

“That’s one way of describing it,” Slyvexs said as she glared at the readings too. “How do you feel?”

T’Rani took a breath and looked to Samris, who was holding her left hand tightly, before staring back at the Denobulan doctor. “I feel…nothing.”

Rolling his eyes, Samris shook his head. “Really, T’Rani? You feel nothing?”

“I suppose a slight headache has been present, but I had alluded that to my experience with the blood dilithium and being possessed by the infant telepathic pitcher plant,” T’Rani replied. “I suppose now the evidence before me proves that it is something more.”

Sighing, Slyvexs shook her head. “Vulcan logic always wins,” She grumbled before smirking at the pilot. “T’Rani, you are about to enter pon farr ahead of your normal cycle,” The doctor paused. “And if these readings are correct, then Princess has given you a parting gift.”

“I am not sure if that was the infant telepathic pitcher plant’s intention, doctor,” T’Rani said, still in her deadpan tone.

“T’Rani, for the first time since I have known you, your experience with Princess has left you with the opportunity to conceive a child,” Slyvexs said plainly. “This is good news, and Princess has given you a push start,” The Denobulan woman looked up at Samris. “You both have a lot to discuss, sooner rather than later and before those neurochemicals become too imbalanced.”

T’Rani looked up at Samris. “Lieutenant Samris, do you wish to mate with me and produce an offspring?”

Samris stuttered in his response. “I-I-well-I think we should follow the doctor’s advice but do it in a private location.”

“Very well,” T’Rani said as she got up from the bio-bed she had been sitting on the end of. “Doctor, if you no longer require our presence, we will return to our quarters to discuss this matter.”

Slyvexs smirked and just nodded. “Keep me posted,” She replied and then added to one more piece, “when you’re ready!”

The two officers soon left the private examination room, and just as they walked through the open doorway, Slyvexs’ deputy entered. 

“Remi, you okay?” Slyvexs asked as she downloaded her scans and added them to T’Rani’s medical records.

Forbes just nodded, “I’m fine, and I have the captain wanting to return to command, with your blessing, of course!”

With another smirk, Slyvexs finished her update and switched off the console she was using. “I wondered when he would turn up and want back command of his ship!”

Standing under the warm waves that hit him from the sonic shower, Tremt Hunsen was hopelessly trying to block out every memory that kept on returning to his mind from the last few days. However, despite how much he tried, he was failing. Screams. Cries. They were all there. Then the flashbacks of him taking Henri, Theo and William hostage appeared before his brutal attack against the captain. The rage was so powerful. The memories were overwhelming. Trying to make sense of everything, along with what he experienced within the neurogenic field, made everything feel just so much. Punching the sonic shower wall in front of him, he felt the madness seeping all over him. Hitting the wall one more time, he ordered the computer to adjust the shower’s mode, so it was no longer sonic waves softly crashing against his skin but pure warm water instead. The smooth transition didn’t feel any difference; instead, pouring the water felt like a better way to distract him from his thoughts. It didn’t last. The water mixed in with his emotions, and he could feel the tears starting to appear under his eyes and before long, he found himself sobbing. Dropping to the floor, his bare skin hit the puddle with a sudden splash, and the chief engineer pulled his legs up to his chest and buried his head into his knees as he continued to cry at what he was remembering and feeling.

Questions began to run through his mind.

What would he have done when he took the boys hostage? Would he have harmed them? Would he have taken their lives to prove a point? How far would he have gone to push the captain into a position where he gave in to his demands? 

Then the memory of aiming his phaser at Samris appeared. He knew at the time that Samris was on his side, but the Romulan counsellor was questioning his behaviour. He became a threat, and for some reason, Hunsen’s reaction was to almost intimidate the counsellor in remaining at his side. Would he have shot Samris? What setting was his phaser set at? Was it stun or kill? Or worse, vaporise? 

Then the outrage he carried out when he discovered that McCallister’s idea to circumvent his plan to take control of the ship pierced his heart and mind. The burning sensation he felt like a dagger through his chest. He wanted to be sick, but his tears were taking over. The water from the shower was almost drowning the tears, though. Would he have killed the captain? 

The guilt, the shame, the humiliation, and the anger was too much. Why had it been him? Why had this organism picked him and T’Rani to be the ones to take control? Was it just looking for someone to help it? Or did it want something more? Was it more bothered about devouring them, like its natural instinct required, or did it genuinely want help removing the blood dilithium fragments from its body? 

Rocking back and forth on the shower floor, Hunsen couldn’t find the answers he sought. 

For the first time, he didn’t know what to do or what to feel. He felt numb. He felt sick. Really sick. Instantly, he got up and rushed over to the nearby sink in his bathroom and emptied out his guts. The nauseating sensation lasted longer than he expected until there was nothing else to bring up. Activating the tap, he ran the cold water, placed both hands cupped together, and splashed the water against his face. Looking up, he stared at his own reflection of his naked body and once again, the feeling of shame and anger overwhelmed him. Punching his reflection in the mirror with his right fist, he immediately broke it, and the smashed pieces fell into the sink below. Looking down at his knuckles, the Betazoid chief engineer covered the blood that started to come from the cuts he had just sustained. He walked back into the shower and slumped back down on the floor. Dropping his injured hand onto the wet floor, he let the water pour over the blood and watched as the mixed liquids trickled into the plug hole at the end of the shower cubicle. 

He sat there, almost in a trance state, just watching the water run down his body and away. 

Hunsen didn’t know what to do, so he remained there under the warm water.

A second later, he felt someone calling out for him.

Imzadi? 

Horin was reaching out to him, but she was only in the next room. However, he didn’t respond. 

He closed his mind from her and closed his eyes. Hunsen didn’t want to move. He didn’t deserve someone else’s attention, not after all of the pain he had created. He was paralysed with absolute guilt. 

The door chime went off and Jordan looked up from the PADD he was reading while lying on his bed. “Come in,” He answered. 

The door parted and standing there with a warm smile was Beatrice Grant. Instantly, Jordan shot up from his bed and quickly made himself look a bit more presentable. All of the cadets had been told to take the day off after the recent incident involving the blood dilithium and the baby telapathic pitcher plant. He had opted for a lay-in, he had only just had a shower and got changed into what his dads are had referred to as scruffy, lazy clothes. A navy blue hoodie and black jogging bottoms. He hadn’t bothered doing anything with his hair either, which he instantly pushed to one side and soon regretted that choice as he could feel it now sticking up.

“Beatrice!” He exclaimed.

Grant smiled at him. She was wearing similar casual clothes but still looked beautiful in Jordan’s view. “Hey, Jordan, is it okay if I come in?” 

“Umm…yeah…sure.” He hurried over to where he had a small arm chair and pulled his uniform that was draped over it and offered for her to sit down. 

“I’m sorry if I’m disturbing you, but your bother said it was okay to come in when I knocked earlier. He was on his way out when I arrived and he pointed me in the direction of your room.” Beatrice stated before thanking him for the chair. “I just wanted to check in and make sure you’re okay, after what’s just happened.”

“Yeah,” Jordan said, trying to act cool and calm and just shrugged. Normally he would have Alfie by his side helping him, but this was completely different now and he was now by himself. “Yeah,” He repeated, “I’m all fine.”

“Good,” She nodded and smiled.

He then realised he needed to return the question. “And you?”

“Yeah, the same,” Beatrice shared. “I just wanted to say thank you for being so calm. It helped me.”

“Oh,” Jordan said, surprised to hear that, “thanks.” He returned the smile as he sat awkward on the edge of his bed and then tried to act cool. “It was nothing, I suppose I was just taking lead from my dads and Commander Tomaz.”

“Your dads are pretty cool,” Beatrice stated. 

“They are,” Jordan agreed with a proud nod. 

“And you’re so good with S’Tem.” Beatrice complimented him.

“So is Alfie,” Jordan added, not wanting to take all of the credit. “So…um…what have you got planned for today?”

“Nothing,” She confessed. “You?”

“Same.” 

She smiled, “Fancy doing that together?”

“Sure…um…should I see if Alfie wants to join us?” Jordan suggested.

Wincing a bit, Beatrice just smirked and relented. “Sure.”

Jordan smiled before he called his friend to see if he was free to join them, but he was completely oblivious to what Beatrice was implying from a moment ago. 

“Lukiz, do you have a moment?” Commander Banfield asked as she entered main engineering.

Looking up from the central command table, Lieutenant Commander Jen paused the work he was doing and smiled at the chief science officer. “Sure, commander; what is it that I can help you with?”

Holding out a PADD in her hand, the half-Klingon-half-Human woman handed him the specifications they had just received from the USS Discovery. “It would seem the answers to this entire mess with the blood dilithium crystals have been solved.”

After taking the PADD, Jen started to read its contents and nodded away as he digested what the Discovery had created. “This should be quite easy to sort out,” He confirmed before passing the device back to Banfield. “I can spare a few engineers to assist.”

Smiling in appreciating her motives in visiting him, Banfield chuckled. “Are you sure? I know the captain has left you in charge of engineering while Tremt and Tierra are recovering, and you have your hands in full in keeping us going with so many Brenari on board.”

Jen nodded with confirmation. “Well, how many probes are you hoping to modify?”

“At least one test on the blood dilithium we collect from Princess and those shattered pieces that lodged themselves the Telemachus,” Banfield explained. 

“We can do that,” Jen answered. “Are there any subspace anomalies nearby?”

“Long-range sensors have detected a class three nebula with a subspace vacuole near the centre, acting as a gravitational anchor for the surrounding gas. It’s out of the way of anyone, and the nebula should be enough to protect us from any side effects.” Banfield answered. “However, that shockwave from that planetoid, the Devore were mining, has saturated this entire region with further fragments of the blood dilithium. I don’t think this vacuole is powerful enough to suck up all of the dilithium.”

“Is there anything else we could use?” Jen asked. 

Banfield nodded and showed him the PADD again, with another document open. “The small planetoid the Devore destroyed somehow caused a subspace tear. It’s powerful enough to do everything we want it to do.”

The Trill ops officer read the new sensor readings and then looked back at the science officer. “That is one powerful subspace tear. Any theories on how the Devore caused it?”

“Two theories, actually.” She replied, “Either they overmined it and were being callous with their safety precautions. Or they detonated an isolytic burst.”

“Subspace weapons?”

She shrugged, “Maybe, we know some other Delta Quadrant races have the technology, so it’s possible they got their hands on it in an attempt to crack this planet and gain access to its dilithium deposits.”

Taking a seat on one of the stalls, Jen gave out a sigh. “This could become much more dangerous if we do it.”

Banfield nodded in agreement. “Unfortunately, so, and to make matters worse, that Devore squadron Penelope disabled are making their way back to it all. Tomaz thinks they are going to try and finish what they started.”

“And with the way we are now, there’s no way we’ve got the extra power reserves to stop them and look after all of our Brenari passengers,” Jen noted. “Do we have any other options?”

“Commander Duncan and Tomaz are working on a plan with a team,” Banfield stated. “In the meantime, can we get started on those probes?”

Jen nodded before calling for some engineers to join them.

Shaking his head, Commander Duncan didn’t like the odds that he was seeing. “There’s no way we can do this,” He complained as he rubbed his chin. “Every simulation we run, either we run out of fuel, or we’re too late in stopping the Devore.”

Though astrometrics was rarely used for planning such large-scale missions, its mighty viewscreen, multiple holographic projectors, and consoles gave what the team needed to work out their new problem. 

“I still think looking at the refractive shielding technology is worth a shot,” Lieutenant Marova suggested. “If we can use it to slip by them, then we are in a better place to avoid them.”

Shaking his head, Tomaz turned the pilot’s idea down. “There’s no way we could generate enough power on the Odyssey to adapt the technology to our systems and use it without compromising life support and environmental controls.”

“Then maybe we’re overthinking the problem,” Lieutenant Jines offered. “Perhaps we should scale down our approach.”

Intrigued by that statement, Duncan turned to the Rutian male. “What are you thinking, Decter?” 

“Don’t use the Odyssey,” He answered as he stepped forward and activated a new holographic display that sat beside the other ideas they had floating in the centre of the room. “Instead, use the Telemachus.”

Lieutenant Abbej nodded in support of the idea. “Good idea Decter and that would make more sense,” She said. “The Telemachus is fast enough to get ahead of the Devore squadron in their damaged state.”

“And it’s much smaller than the Odyssey, so the refractive shielding could be easily applied,” Marova added. “It also means the Odyssey’s ETA for the sanctum would be on time, which helps us avoid using more energy with our guests.” 

“Do we have the time to test the first probe so the Telemachus has time to get ahead of the squadron?” Duncan questioned. 

Marova started to work out the calculations with Jines and Abbej. She looked up, “It will be tight, but yes, we could do it.”

Duncan looked at Tomaz, “What do you think?”

“I think it’s worth a shot,” Tomaz nodded. “We get in and out before the Devore can interfere with our plans. It also means this area becomes less interesting for them to explore any further, keeping the Sanctum’s location quieter for a lot longer.”

Crossing his arms, Duncan agreed with that conclusion. “Very well, I’ll speak with the captain and get things into motion.” He looked at the three lieutenants, “Well done, you three. It would seem the captain’s faith in having you three step up to run your departments was a wise choice.”

They all appreciated the compliment, and Jines spoke up. “I don’t think I had much choice with Lukiz taking over in main engineering.”

“The needs of many, Decter, the needs of the many,” Tomaz reminded the deputy ops leader.

For the first time in a matter of days, Counsellor Horin felt quite comfortable. She was seated in the captain’s chair, overseeing the beta shift. Even though her thoughts were preoccupied with matters concerning her Imzadi, she couldn’t help but think how much more comfy the captain’s chair was compared to the tertiary command chair she usually sat in on his left. There was definitely more back support and extra padding. She would have to make a request to have similar support added to her chair. 

“One hot chocolate, Louwanna,” Master Chief Court said as he handed her a steamy mug of her favourite beverage. “With extra whip cream and chocolate buttons.”

“Ah, you star, Tobias, thank you!” Horin said with a smile as she took the mug from him. Before she took a sip, she looked up at the senior enlisted officer. “How’s your new job of taking care of the security department?”

Court chuckled before sighing, “Challenging,” He answered at first. “Not having the entire department available, due to them being relieved of their duties because they were taken over by the Princess, has caused some headaches trying to keep our guests safe.”

“In other words, the Brenari have been trying to go in places they shouldn’t be?” Horin asked after enjoying the first sip of her drink. 

“That’s one way of putting it,” Court confirmed before he headed back to the security station just behind her right shoulder. “Cline, Keli and Jisaraa run a tight department, and even though we are using other personnel from other departments to supplement security, it’s almost like I’ve thrown out a net with millions of holes in it. We’re unable to keep all of the fish in it.”

“I know the feeling,” She said, rubbing her forehead, “Being the only telepath on duty has been tough when we’ve had to deal with the Brenari leaders.”

The doors to the ready room opened, and the captain stepped out. He had a mug in one hand, most likely tea, while in the other hand held a PADD which his focus was currently on. “Report,” He asked, concentrating still on what he was reading.

“Nothing out of the ordinary to update you on, sir,” Horin announced as she started to get out of the chair. 

After taking a sip from his drink, McCallister shook his head and waved his hand with the PADD in it at Horin. “Don’t worry about getting up, Louwanna; I’m going to head down to cetacean ops to see Lieutenant Commander Quendez.”

“Everything okay, sir?” Court checked.

McCallister nodded. “Yes, fine, thanks, Tobias.” He simply answered before heading towards the turbolift. 

After the captain had disappeared off the bridge, Horin turned in the chair towards the chief. “Tobias, is it me, or is the captain being a bit-”

“Off?” He finished.

She nodded in agreement. “Yes!”

“Max and I noticed it earlier,” Court shared quietly; he didn’t want the others on the bridge to hear. “I think the mutiny has shaken him.”

“No surprise,” Horin whispered back. “And Tremt is kicking himself for it all too.”

“He can’t blame himself for what happened; he wasn’t in control.” Court said. “Don’t get me wrong, I hated seeing what he and the others did to the boys, but Princess was pulling their strings.”

Horin sighed. “I thought we had just got over what happened with the Quirennal; it seems that another trauma has hit the crew, and I’m not sure how we go about helping everyone recover from it.”

“Maybe this time, people need their time and space to do it.” Court offered. 

Intrigued by his notion, Horin gestured for him to elaborate more as she drank more of her hot chocolate. 

“I’m no counsellor, but everyone’s experience this time has caused a divide among the crew. On one side of the crew, we have those telepathically manipulated initially and then those that T’Rani and the others took control of with mind melds. They all have to come to terms with the actions they took while not fully possessing their bodies. While the rest of us who were left have to deal with what they said and did to us.” Court summarised with a shrug. 

“Maybe you should consider becoming a counsellor as well as a security chief,” Horin joked; however she agreed with his analysis. She knew it would be her job to bring them back together, but how? “The crew of the Odyssey is such a close group, I’m afraid it would take a lot of effort to rebuild what has been lost.”

“Then we best start thinking about how we bring everyone back together. If there’s one thing we’ve learnt over the years, and that’s for a vessel of this size to work, we need everyone on the same page working together as a team.” Court said.

“As a family,” Horin corrected him.

He nodded in agreement, and the two started to discuss ideas.

The senior staff briefing was lightly attended. With a good number of the senior officers all still resting in their quarters from the trauma sustained from the telepathic pitcher plant encounter, it was now down to those left to carry on. 

“And that’s the plan,” Commander Duncan finished as he looked up and down the table at those assembled in the observation lounge. He was standing in front of the large wall console after explaining his and his team’s plan to remove the remaining blood dilithium crystals from the region.

“Seems simple enough,” Court commented.

Tomaz agreed with that assessment. “As the commander said, we need to get in and out quickly, and time is definitely not on our side. The sooner we start, the better.”

“The modified probes are all ready to go,” Banfield announced. “We’ll be in range of the class two nebula within the hour to test the first one.”

“And our team on the Telemachus have already made the modification I sent them earlier,” Jen reported. “We’ll need to beam over the other modified probe for the second phase.”

“The sooner we resume our course to the Sanctum, the better,” Jines shared. “We will definitely have to enter grey mode sooner. I’m worried the moment we enter the Sanctum area, we may need more power for our shields if a stray anomaly hits us before we reach the Brenari colony.” 

“If we go to grey mode, don’t we lose the use of Penelope and the other holographic personnel?” Marova checked.

“And many other systems,” Abbej added.

Seeing these department deputies stepping up to the plate brought a slight smile to Duncan. They continued to impress him with their professionalism during this crisis.

“Then all departments will be overstretched due to the lack of crew who are fit to be on duty,” Slyvexs added. She turned to her deputy, who was also present at this meeting. “Remi and I are finding it hard to keep on top of the medical needs the Brenari need. Many of them have injuries inflicted on them by the Devore.”

“How bad is it?” Duncan asked, with a concerned tone in his voice.

Forbes answered. “Pretty much all of them are suffering from malnourishment.”

“Along with a good number having broken bones, bruises, cuts and scars from the torture they endured while in captivity,” Slyvexs added. “We’re prioritising treatment, just like any mass triage, but the moment we enter grey mode, sickbay’s services will be limited.” 

“It’s the same for the counselling department,” Horin shared. “Between helping the Brenari and our own crew, we are stretched beyond capacity.”

“Surely, the Brenari could handle their own people once we arrive at the colony?” Banfield asked aloud. “Shouldn’t we focus on our own people?”

“That’s not really who we are,” Horin reminded the chief science officer. “I’m not prepared to pick our own crew over those in need.”

“Likewise,” Slyvexs agreed.

Duncan sighed at that news, “Then we’ll need to deal with what we have for the moment. Hopefully, this is short-term.” He crossed his arms against his chest. “Any signs of any nearby deuterium that we can access?”

Abbej shook her head. “Astrometrics hasn’t had much luck.”

“And once we enter grey mode, then astrometrics will be deactivated,” Banfield reminded the group.

“So we could end up stuck in orbit of the Brenari colony?” Tomaz asked the group.

Jen nodded. “I’m afraid so.” He sighed. “I am preparing a plan to augment the warp cores on our shuttles and runabout to support power needs on the Odyssey, but it won’t be enough.”

“Could we not send a message to Starfleet and see if they could send us some help?” Marova offered as an idea.

Duncan agreed with it. “Yeah, we’ll need to see which ships are nearest to us.” He paused and looked at McCallister. “Is there anything else you want to add, sir?”

Everyone assembled looked at the captain at that point. McCallister had been sat in his usual chair at the head of the table and had remained quiet. He shook his head. “No.” He said.

“Then we go ahead with the plan?” Duncan checked. 

McCallister nodded as he sat up. “Absolutely, but I’ll take command of the Telemachus.”

“Sir?” Duncan asked, curious to know why McCallister had said that.

“You should remain here in command of the Odyssey, Number One. You’ve got the experience to support the crew and our passengers. Corella, Decter and Marova can join me to complete this.” McCallister stated. “It shouldn’t take us too long.”

Duncan, Horin, Slyvexs, Banfield and Tomaz shared the same expression of concern with his reasoning. Banfield sat up, “If we’re going to go, then we should go soon and ensure we have a full crew on the Telemachus to guarantee success.”

McCallister nodded with that idea. “Corella, see to it that crew assignments are made and that we don’t leave the Odyssey any more understaffed than it already is.”

“Aye, sir,” Banfield said with a nod. 

“We should explore asking the civilian population of the ship to assist with ship business,” Court proposed. “There must be some we can rely upon?”

“I’ll look into it,” Duncan replied. “Is there anything else?”

No one said anything. 

“Thanks, everyone. Dismissed,” Duncan ordered.

Once the room was empty besides the captain and first officer, McCallister pushed his chair and rose to his feet. 

Duncan spoke up at that point. “Are you okay, James?” 

Pausing in his tracks, McCallister looked at his first officer. Rarely did he call him by his first name in private, let alone in public. “To be honest, Max, no, I’m not.”

Looking up at him, Duncan, on some level, was pleased McCallister shared that. “The whole mutiny business or the hostage situation with the boys?”

“Both,” McCallister admitted before slumping back in his chair. “Did Tobias tell you what they said while holding the boys hostage?”

Duncan nodded. “He did some pretty intense stuff.”

“But on some level, there’s some honesty there, some truth,” McCallister remarked. “Then the anger that Tremt possessed was truly incredible, and I know you’re going to say they weren’t themselves.”

“But I bet it hurt,” Duncan offered.

“It did,” McCallister acknowledged. “Both physically and emotionally.”

“The former counsellor in me would advise you to write your thoughts about everything you endured,” Duncan said. “So you can see it in plain black and white with your own eyes. Then you need to delete that list.”

“Easier said than done, Max,” McCallister returned. “I just feel guilty too and how badly Henri and Theo got involved with all of this. How am I supposed to command a ship and raise three boys but be forced to choose between them and everyone else?”

“First off, they’re not boys anymore,” Duncan reminded him. “They’re young men, and you’ve done a great job since Karyn was lost. From what William told me, Henri and Theo were a force to reckon with and protected him, so for that, Tobi and I will be grateful. Secondly, you didn’t make those choices alone, the rest of us had your back, and we put plans in place to protect them, just like everyone did for us when the Hazari came after Jordan and William.”

“True,” McCallister admitted.    

 “And the final thing, this crew is loyal to you. If anything, what happened has proven to us that it takes a lot to shake us, but even still, we are still standing together.” Duncan finished with a reassuring smile.

McCallister nodded in agreement. “You’re right; I just need to shake these feelings off and see where we rebuild what we’ve lost.”

“And rebuild, we will,” Duncan guaranteed. “We’ve got through a lot worse and come out on the other side still intact and together.”

“Wise words, Max; thank you,” McCallister said, showing his appreciation.

“Now, are you sure about you commanding the Telemachus?” Duncan quizzed. “The last time you commanded our Aquarius-class ship, you didn’t come home with it? I believe you came back in its shuttlepod, and we don’t have the power to come and rescue you guys.”

“No promises, but I’m planning not to request a new Aquarius for a little while, Number One,” McCallister stated as he got to his feet again and tugged on his uniform jacket. “Let’s get this final part started sooner rather than later.”

“I couldn’t agree with you anymore, sir,” Duncan said as he got up, and the two men walked out of the observation lounge side by side. 

Gracefully and elegantly, the Telemachus dropped out of warp and gradually halted. Before, it was a planet that appeared to have a massive chunk of it ripped from its belly. Countless rocks now orbited around, but the one thing that stood out the most was the constant glow of the crimson crystals that lay within almost every inch of every rock. 

“That is a lot of blood dilithium,” Lieutenant Jines muttered from the front station beside Lieutenant Marova. 

The Hekaran woman nodded in agreement with her colleague. “I’m not surprised the Devore wanted to desperately mine here.”

Standing up from the captain’s chair, McCallister wandered over to his acting first officer (for this mission)  and chief science officer. “Corella, how much dilithium is there?” He asked her as he stood behind her chair at the science station.

“Plenty to keep the entire Federation powered for the next century or so,” She answered. “Scans indicate that the subspace tear is at the centre where the planet ripped itself apart.”

“Continue scans to determine how the tear appeared,” McCallister ordered before walking back to the bridge’s centre. “Marova, keep our distance. I don’t want our warp core attracting the subspace tear’s attention.”

“Aye, sir,” 

“Dec, is the probe ready?” McCallister asked next.

Jines looked over his shoulder. “All prepared and ready to go on your order, captain.”

“Get a targeting solution ready, lieutenant. The sooner we finish this off, the quicker we get back to the Odyssey.”

“Sir,” Banfield announced, “scans are complete, and I can confirm the usage of a subspace weapon to crack open this planet.”

“Damn, the Devore have subspace weapons,” McCallister uttered. 

“Actually, sir, I don’t think it’s the Devore, but they may have helped towards the tear being created,” Banfield reported.

“Explain,” McCallister said as he returned to stand behind Banfield.

Banfield pulled up the scans onto a floating holographic display and started to point out her reasons why she didn’t think the Devore were behind the subspace tear. “I’m detecting countless amounts of debris in this region that is older than the explosion itself. I can’t determine who the debris belongs to. Still, this system’s amount of subspace radiation is off the charts. A good number of it is older than the explosion we recorded before this mess happened.”

“Meaning what?” McCallister requested. 

“My theory is that system is a testing ground for subspace weapons; based upon the debris, I would say this place is used to destroy old ships or unmanned probes,” Banfield expressed. “It’s most likely when the initial subspace wave happened that caused the sudden appearance of blood dilithium; the amount of subspace radiation attracted large quantities of the crystals to form on this planet.”

“Thus attracting the attention of the Devore,” Jines added.

“Most likely,” Banfield confirmed. “Then, when they arrived and started to mine the planet, they probably attracted a subspace weapon or two as I’m detecting the remnants of gravimetric distortions, probably created from the subspace warheads as they emerge from subspace.”

“Mix all of that together, and we get one big bang?” Marova guessed.

“Precisely,” Banfield confirmed. “The debris in the area is not of Devore origin.”

“However fascinating this is, are we safe to proceed with launching our modified probe?” McCallister asked. 

“Yes, sir,” Banfield answered. “The conditions seem almost identical to our earlier test on that subspace vacuole. However, I recommend we move away when we fire the probe at our best possible speed to avoid being dragged in. The amount of gravimetric energy that subspace tear could cause as it sucks up the crystals will be difficult for the Telemachus to handle.”

“You heard the commander, Marova, go to full impulse the moment Decter launches that probe,” McCallister ordered as he sat back down in his chair. 

A proximity alarm then went off. McCallister sighed before Banfield spoke up. 

“It’s the Devore Squadron; they’re less than five minutes away. We need to do this now.” She announced.

“Fire the probe and get us out of range,” McCallister commanded. 

Obeying his orders, Jines fired the probes, and Marova immediately pushed the ship’s impulse engines to full power. The vessel flew from the planet, and the subspace tear. The probe hurtled towards the tear before it vanished within it. A second later, the tear almost appeared to change colour and pulsate as it started to pull the dilithium towards it. Like a powerful cyclone, everything was sucked towards it.

“It’s working. I’m detecting that almost seventy-eight per cent of the blood dilithium crystal has been removed.” Banfield reported. “At this rate, the crystals will be returned to subspace in less than thirty seconds.”

Marova then spoke up. “I’m also detecting blood dilithium crystals from across the region being pulled towards the tear. Sir, I suggest we jump to warp now before any large fragment hits us.”

“And the squadron?” McCallister asked.

Looking at her readings one more time, just as the ship started to rumble under the external pressure, Marova smirked after seeing what the sensors were showing. “The squadron has altered course; they’re heading back to Devore territory at their highest speed.”

“Excellent,” McCallister said with a grin before ordering the Telemachus to head into warp.

“Captain, long-range sensors are detecting several Federation ships nearby; one of them is the Saratoga.” proclaimed Jines.

Hearing that news, McCallister told Jines to hail the Saratoga immediately and to put the call into his small ready room. He had a favour to ask a fellow Starfleet captain.  

“Cadet McCallister, meet Cadet Vialen,” spoke Lieutenant Commander Sitark, “your new mentor for the upcoming semester.” 

McCallister looked from his Vulcan instructor to his new mentor as they met outside one of the lecture halls. “A pleasure to meet you,” He said with his boyish smile at the young Trill woman and extended his hand to shake hers. 

Smiling, she shook his hand, “Nice to meet you as well.” Azras replied as she looked at the younger cadet.

Sitark looked between them both, “I can remind you both, you are only informally assigned to each other. Cadet McCallister, Cadet Vialen is not here to do your work and vice-versa. Is that clear?”

“Yes, sir,” McCallister replied formally.

“Understood, sir,” came Azras reply.

“Excellent; I will leave you both to get to know one another,” Sitark stated before placing his hands behind his back and walking away from them. 

McCallister watched as the Vulcan teacher walked away from them before turning back to Vialen. “So, is this the part where you beat me up and make me do your homework?”

Raising an eyebrow, “why would I do that?” She asked, looking at him for a moment as she tilted her head to the side, “I am not that type of person to do that.” Azras replied though she had heard of it happening before. “Encouragement goes a longer way than making your life miserable,” she added.

“I’ll remember to be just as nice when I get my first mentee in my fourth year,” McCallister replied with his boyish grin still apparent. “Can I at least get you a coffee? I mean, aren’t I suppose to suck up first to fourth-year cadets so you’ll be nice when I’m stressing over my exams?”

“I won’t turn down a cup of coffee, but you don’t have to suck up to me. I’ll be here to help you through everything.” Azras added with a soft smile.

“I think the Quantum Café is open if you fancy it?” McCallister suggested. “They’re normally open this early in the morning.”

“Sounds good to me,” Azras replied.

As they started to wander from the lecture hall, McCallister piped up. “Oh, and call me James or JP; my friends do.”  

“You can call me Azras,” Azras replied. “What does JP stand for?” She asked, unsure of what the initials stood for.

“JP is short for James Preston; I’m hoping it will stick by the time I make captain, almost like James T. Kirk,” McCallister answered.

She chuckled with a smile, “I am hoping to get approved to be joined after graduating before going to my first posting. Though I do hope to become a starship captain someday,” she said with a smile.

“You’ll probably make admiral before me,” McCallister uttered as they reached the door, and it opened for them to leave the warm corridor and enter the freezing cold campus in San Francisco.

USS Odyssey NCC-80000, Gahery Sanctum, Gradin Belt, Delta Quadrant

Stardate: 77878 (November 2400)

“Captain’s log, stardate seven-seven-eight-seven-eight. The final amount of blood dilithium crystal has finally left our region, and long-range scans detect no further Devore presence. This has allowed us to focus solely on depositing our passengers in the Brenari colony; however, with over forty-seven thousand souls to move, it has caused a lot of hassle for the Odyssey. Our power supplies are at an all-time low. I am fortunate enough to be able to call on a former Academy friend of mine to help us out.”

Standing beside one another, like a pair of bodyguards in formation, the USS Odyssey was orbiting the Brenari colony alongside one of its sister ships, the USS Saratoga. Both Odyssey-class vessels looked the same, while the trained eye could also see the slight subtle difference. 

Walking into transporter room three, Captain McCallister smiled at the Bolian transporter chief and ordered her to beam over their guest straight away. The typical buzzing sound from the transporter being activated was heard, and the pure white and blue sparkling effect appeared before the Odyssey’s captain. A few seconds later, the form of a Starfleet officer in command red, wearing four pips and a gold line underneath them, emerged on the transporter platform. 

Azras appeared upon the transporter room pad of the USS Odyssey; seeing her old friend, she smiled. “Permission to come on board, Captain?” Azras asked, looking at him.

“Permission granted.” McCallister said warmly, “Fleet Captain Azras Dex, welcome aboard the Odyssey.”

“Thank you, JP,” She said with a wink and a smile, remembering when they first met. “It’s great to see you’re doing so well,” Azras added.

“I certainly appreciate you turning up when you did,” McCallister remarked as they shook hands before giving one another a brief hug. 

“I am glad I was able to help,” Azras replied as she returned the brief hug.

“Your jump-start of deuterium will help us keep going long enough to complete our mission and find a new source of deuterium,” McCallister stated with an appreciative smile. 

Azras nodded, “hopefully, it won’t be too hard to find deuterium in the Delta Quadrant.” Azras commented as she stood there for a moment.

“If you don’t mind us skipping the tour, I’ve got a pot of coffee in my ready room with your name on it if you fancy a quick catch-up?” McCallister offered his guest.

“Sounds good to me,” Azras replied with a grin at the sound of coffee.

“I would say follow me, but I’m certain you know your way around an Odyssey-class,” McCallister joked as they made their way out of the transporter room. 

Azras chuckled a bit, “when you been on one, you have seen them all.” Azras replied as they began walking.

The moment they entered the corridor, they were confronted by how busy it was on the Odyssey. “Our efforts with the Brenari refugees we saved from the Devore have meant that almost every part of the ship is hosting one of our passengers,” McCallister explained. 

Azras knew a thing or two about hosting many passengers; she had to do the same during the Century Storm within the Paulson Nebula. “I know how that goes,” Azras replied, looking at him. “Though at least they are safe out of the Devore’s hands,” Azras added.

They got to the end of the corridor, entered the turbolift, and headed straight to deck one. After a brief ride, they walked out of the lift and into the ready room. There sat a pot of coffee next to a pot of tea on the small circular-shaped glass table: both warm, both with mugs on either side. McCallister offered for Dex to sit on the long sofa under the diagonally shaped window. “Milk or sugar?” He offered as he poured her coffee into her mug.

Taking the offered seat, “I’ll take both,” Azras replied with a smile.

He passed her the drink before making his mug of tea. “I was surprised to see the Saratoga out here in the Delta Quadrant,” McCallister stated as he finished making his beverage. “Last time I looked you up, you were still assisting the Romulans out.”

“So was I,” Azras said with a soft chuckle. “Apparently, the Fourth Fleet needed everyone’s help with the mess here,” Azras added as she took a sip of her coffee.

“This whole situation with the Devore has been messy,” McCallister commented. “What was the Saratoga dragged into doing while out in this neck of the woods?”

“We received a distress call from a distant Monean colony,” Azras began with a sigh holding her cup of coffee in front of her face for a moment. “The Devore were driving them out of their home; they requested assistance to return to their homeworld.” Azras finished with the shortened version of their mission.

“How did it go?” McCallister asked, sitting down and taking a sip from his drink. 

Azras took another drink of her coffee, “well when we arrived, a Devore squadron opened fire, though we were able to repel them away. While evacuating the colony, we did find blood dilithium on the planet and decided to beam them onboard so the Devore couldn’t get it.” Azras began to explain, “I sent the Oneida to escort the colony ships back to their homeworld while the Saratoga went in the opposite direction.” Azras continued before taking another drink, “another Devore warship began chasing us.” She added before pausing for a brief moment and taking a deep breath. “We fell upon the Hirogen near the Void space and landed in another fight though the Devore ship backed off.” Azras finished looking at him.

“Hirogen?” McCallister repeated, “We’ve not seen a single hunting party since we arrived in the Delta Quadrant last year. Any serious damage or losses?”

Looking down as she tried to keep her composure, “my youngest son was killed in a hull breach that we sustained; he was in one of the classrooms.” She replied as a single tear began to run down her face.

Hearing that news, McCallister sighed and placed his mug down. “Oh, Azras, I’m sorry to hear that.” He pulled out a tissue box and handed one to her. 

“Thanks, James,” she replied as she looked up at him for a moment. “It has been a hard and tough few days, though I don’t suspect things will get easier as time goes on.” She added as she sat there looking at the cup that was in her hands.

He shook his head, “It’s never easy losing a loved one,” He shared. “My wife was lost during the Paulson Nebula storm earlier this year due to a temporal anomaly.” 

Azras looked up again, “I am so sorry to hear that, James.” Azras replied, placing a hand on his with a soft smile. “I never thought that something like this would happen when I decided to keep my family together, even though I knew the risks,” Azras added, thinking of her oldest daughter and husband, that was still here with her.

“Having our families with us is what makes us stronger, but it can cause heartache when things go wrong,” McCallister said, offering empathy for her. “My sons are still on the Odyssey; one is now a cadet. I’m not sure how I feel about that yet.”

“I know that feeling; my eldest daughter is a second-year medical student on the Saratoga,” Azras replied with a chuckle.

Picking up his drink, he resumed taking a sip from it. “What will you do now?”

“Well, nothing at the moment, as there are still a few days before the wormhole is scheduled to open,” Azras began looking at him. “What happened with the Odyssey?” Azras asked.

“Us? We encountered a squadron of Devore warships, but before that, we found this hidden colony of Brenari refugees. When we went to save one of their ships, we soon found ourselves affected by the blood dilithium, which had infected a telepathic bioplasmic organism. It was able to communicate and take control of our telepathic crew.” McCallister continued to recount what happened to the Odyssey. “The creature was hoping to eat us and the Devore squadron to fight off the dilithium infection, but we found another way of dealing with it. We saved over forty-seven thousand Brenari from the Devore squadron, released the telepathic pitcher plant from the blood dilithium, and now we’re here helping the Brenari build new homes for themselves.”

“That does sound like the adventure; glad you were able to free the telepathic pitcher plant and save all those Brenari,” Azras said as she always knew that James would make a great Captain and here he was proving her right. “Anything we can do to help?” Azras asked.

“Well, if the Saratoga can remain for a day or two to help us build a few temporary shelters, that would be great.” McCallister requested. 

“You got it,” Azras replied with a smile. “Oh, I do have a request,” Azras said, looking at him.

“Sure, fire away!”

“How about you and your sons come over to the Saratoga for dinner tonight?” Azras asked, looking at him. “I won’t take no for an answer,” Azras winked.

The idea of having a home-cooked meal far from the Odyssey sounded appealing. He nodded, “Sounds like an offer I can’t refuse. Thank you!”

“Great,” Azras replied. “Arzin is a great cook,” Azras added.

“A chance to properly catch up sounds like the perfect distraction,” McCallister added.

“I’ll send some of my officers down to the planet to assist in building those shelters,” she said with a smile.

“That’s great,” He showed another smile of appreciation. “Do you mind if I bring an extra guest with me tonight? I owe Adale, the Brenari leader, dinner and meeting a fellow Starfleet captain she can trust would go far.”

Azras smiled as she saw that spark in his eyes that she had felt so many years ago, “That would be great,” Azras said with a wink. “I will have Arzin set things up in our diplomatic suite, as it is a larger area,” Azras said.

“Perfect, thank you, captain!” McCallister said before sipping on his drink one more time.

Exhausted, drained and depleted, Lieutenant Commander Craigen Flemen entered his quarters and stifled a yawn. He had just completed his morning workout in one of the ship’s gyms and was keen to head into his sonic shower before making his way to the Auditorium for breakfast. Today was his first day back to duty, after having several days to himself to recover from the entire experience with the blood dilithium and the baby telepathic pitcher plant. During his recovery, he found that going to the gym at least three times a day and keeping up with his fitness regimen helped him get his mind off any stray thoughts about the entire situation. Though he felt guilt over what he had done, he had come to terms with the fact that it wasn’t him in control of his body. Nevertheless, it hurt, and it hurt hard. 

Counsellor Horin had started some small support groups to deal with their trauma, and he found his group particularly helpful. It mainly consisted of the senior staff who had led a mutiny against the captain. Horin led the group session, using The Lion Gate to host their group, and she always put out sweet treats and plenty of hot drinks at every session. In every session, the group would share something they either remembered or felt from their collective experience. Last night Flemen recalled how he, Samris and T’Rani had attacked Hunsen in the turbolift. It had made him sick to his stomach how violent he could have been. As a result of last night’s revelation, he had spent an extra hour taking out his frustration on the punch bag in the gymnasium. 

Walking towards the curved staircase that would take him up to his bedroom, he paused as he saw someone sitting in his living room area. Wandering over, he smirked as he saw that his small dining room table was laid out with food and one familiar figure sat at one of the chairs.

“S’Tem, what are you doing here?” Flemen asked, curious to find the young Romulan boy there.

“We’re here to join you for breakfast,” Tomaz answered for his son as he revealed himself from behind Flemen and out of the tiny galley that sat to one side of the main living area. 

Turning to see his friend come out with a plate full of toast, Flemen was taken aback by this surprise. “Tomaz, what…how…what…” He stumbled to get out, confused by his friend’s appearance in his quarters.

Placing the plate down, Tomaz turned to his friend. “We know it was your first day back on duty, and I -” He paused to correct himself as he looked at S’Tem “we wanted to give you a good start.”

Flemen smiled at the gesture. “You really shouldn’t have.”

“Why not Uncle Craigen?” S’Tem asked as he poured orange juice into three empty glasses.

“I-I-I,” Flemen stuttered. “I really appreciate it.”

“Think nothing of it,” Tomaz said with a smile. 

Flemen turned to his friend, “Tomaz, you need to know I’m sorr-” He was about to say sorry, but Tomaz placed his right hand over his friend’s mouth, muffling the last sound.

“I’ve told you before; I don’t want to hear it,” Tomaz assured his friend. “You know none of us hates you for what happened to you while the blood dilithium affected you and the others, along with everything Princess got you to do too.” He then removed his hand, “Do you get it?”

Flemen nodded. “I know, but I don’t deserve this.” He gestured to the breakfast spread.

“Can’t I spoil one of my best friends once in a while?” Tomaz asked. “I know your recovery has been difficult, but we’re here for you. Aren’t we, S’Tem?”

“Sure thing, dad!” The young lad said. “Now hurry up, Uncle Craigen, we’ve got double chocolate chip muffins for later!”

Flemen chuckled. “Sounds amazing,” He turned to Tomaz and hugged him. “Thanks, mate.”

“Anytime,” Tomaz replied, returning the gesture. “Now, I love you like a brother, so what I’m about to say, I say it from a place of love, but seriously man, go take a shower.” Tomaz broke from their embrace. “You are sticky and smelly from the amount you have sweated from your morning workout; plus, I can smell the chlorine from the swimming pool on you.”

Flemen chuckled before agreeing to head upstairs and shower before joining them for breakfast. 

“The time is oh-seven hundred hours.”

Hearing the computer announce the time woke Louwanna Horin up from her deep sleep. Ever since she became pregnant, she had found her sleep patterns all over the place, and when she was asleep, she would enter deep nights of sleep with vivid dreams. Blinking a few times, she pushed the bedsheets off her and looked around the bedroom she shared with Hunsen. Their king-size bed was colder than usual, and she soon realised he wasn’t there. 

Imzadi?

She called out through her mind and soon felt his presence nearby. Getting up, she walked across their room and towards the bathroom. Pressing the button, she was immediately presented with Tremt Hunsen standing in front of a mirror, checking himself out in his uniform.

“Hey, handsome,” She called out to him, walked up behind him, and placed her arms around his waist. 

“Morning,” He said, smiling at her touch. “You okay?”

She nodded. “You?”

He nodded and took a deep breath in. “I think so.”

“One day at a time,” She reminded him. 

“One day at a time,” He echoed before turning around to her. “I don’t deserve you, Imzadi.”

“The feeling is mutual,” She went onto her tiptoes and kissed him briefly. Her hand stroked the side of his left cheek; his smooth skin felt good against her fingers. The lack of stubble was a first, but she enjoyed it as much as he did.

 “Do you want some breakfast?” He offered, still holding her close. 

“That sounds lovely,” She muttered to him before they kissed again, but she quickly pushed him back and placed her hand in front of her mouth.

“Morning sickness?” He asked before she suddenly pushed by him and went towards the sink, emptying her stomach.

“Sorry,” She answered back. 

“Let me get you a glass of water,” He offered.

She shook her head before she puked further. “No,” She said in between her hurling, “it’s your first day; I want to make it special-” She was sick again.

“Louwanna, it’s okay!” He replied as he left their bathroom and headed to get her a drink of water.

Walking up to the replicator, he ordered a glass of cold water, and as the beverage materialised, he soon saw his reflection against the display. For a moment, he could feel those Brenari he met during their connection with Princess. Then she was there—the baby telepathic pitcher plant’s appearance in the neurogenic field. She smiled at him, and for the first time, he didn’t feel anxious, he didn’t feel sick, he felt calm. Picking up the glass, he closed his eyes and found the strength to carry on. He knew he had to, and he turned around to head back to the bathroom; a sense of warmth fell over him before he soon heard Horin puke up her guts one more time.

He shuddered, wondering how bad it would smell and how much longer she would endure during her pregnancy. Nevertheless, this was it; he was starting fresh today and knew he had to take on the challenges he faced, and Horin was always by his side.

Imzadi, he called out to her with the same warmth he finally felt within.

Horin turned around at the sink and smiled at him. She felt his calmness and some peace around him.

That was before she had to turn back around and throw up another time quickly.

Hunsen sighed; maybe life was getting back to normal, he considered.

Though it was starting to become busy with people, there were barely any Brenari among the crowds queuing up for breakfast for the first time in days. The gentle hum of an atmosphere was apparent in The Auditorium. Those who were there were those who would be reporting for the alpha duty shift in less than an hour and a half. After queuing up to grab a plate of food and a hot drink, Cline Lenjir walked across the vast lower floor of the Auditorium and joined the group he had planned to meet this morning.

“Morning, everyone,” He said softly as he took an empty chair.

Jisaraa looked up and smiled at her superior, “Good Morning, sir,” She was gripping a mug of hot tea between her green fingertips. “How are you?”

He wobbled his head, “So, so, it was weird putting the uniform on this morning.”

“I know the feeling,” Keli said beside him. “Though on some level, it felt good.”

“I’d prefer another hour or so in bed, to be perfectly honest,” Jisaraa replied to her Coridianite superior.

“Amen to that,” Keli said as she lifted her mug of coffee and tapped it against Jisaraa’s.

Lenjir smirked at his two assistants as he pulled the serviette from his tray and placed it over his lap. “Have either of you spoken to anyone from the department who is returning to duty today?”

Keli nodded, “A few; the anxiety level is a bit high, but I think focussing on building those shelters for the Brenari will help reduce that and keep everyone focussed.”

Lenjir nodded. “I’m heading down later on with one of the survey teams.” He sighed.

Noticing his reaction, Keli looked at her boss. “Cline, it’s going to be okay.”

“Absolutely,” Jisaraa agreed. “As we said in the support group last night, we need to promote to everyone that the security and tactical department can turn things around.”

“But it’s our job to protect everyone,” Lenjir replied. “We didn’t do that.”

“And we’re back to square one,” Keli replied as she dropped her fork onto her plate and looked at Lenjir. “Sir, what has happened has happened, and as Counsellor Horin said, it’s time we move forward. We couldn’t help what had happened; none of us could.”

“Place the worry into building something good,” Jisaraa supported. “Place it in proving to everyone that we can do our job and recover from what has happened.”

Nodding in agreement, he knew that both women were right. “How did I get so lucky, and have you two wise women assigned to me?” 

“Wise women?” Keli remarked, pretending to be offended by that comment.

“Wise, beautiful, powerful women would be a better description, sir,” Jisaraa corrected him.

“Absolutely,” Lenjir said with a smirk, raising his coffee mug at them both. “Thank you.”

“Anytime!” Keli said, clinking her mug against Lenjir.

“We’ve got each other’s backs,” Jisaraa reaffirmed before returning to her breakfast.

Picking up his fork, Lenjir attacked the scrambled egg and took a bit. One step at a time, he thought. 

“All hail the chief!” Tierra remarked as she entered main engineering, hand in hand with her wife, Abbej.

Looking up from the centre table, Lieutenant Commander Lukiz Jen smiled at the arrival of Odyssey’s senior assistant chief engineer. “Tierra, Abbej, what are you two doing here so early in the morning?”

“The same thought crossed my mind,” Tierra replied warmly. The Deltan woman approached her superior. “I thought I would get started before Commander Hunsen arrived, but I can see our new chief engineer hasn’t left.”

Chuckling, Jen shook his head. “I’m more than happy to hand the reigns of engineering back to you and Tremt.” 

“See, I told you that Lukiz would be happy to have you both back,” Abbej said, jabbing her wife in the side. “We heard you pulled another double shift overnight?”

Jen nodded, “The work with the Brenari shelter operation has kept me busy, along with repairs to the ship’s life support systems.”

“Then let me take over, and my beautiful wife can take you to breakfast,” Tierra offered. 

“Decter, Remi and Marova are going to save us a table if you fancy joining us?” Abbej offered.

Jen sighed and glanced down at the chronometer on the display. “Getting something to eat and then heading home to sleep does sound appealing.” He looked at Tierra, “Are you sure, lieutenant?”

“Are you kidding me? She’s been itching to return to duty for days now; I had almost to stick her in a confinement field,” Abbej remarked. 

Tierra chuckled and nodded. “I’m ready to do my bit, sir.”

Jen handed a PADD over to her, “Then here’s what’s left to do on the to-do list. I’ll get Decter to check in before I get back on duty later this afternoon.”

 Taking the PADD, the Deltan deputy chief engineer nodded as she reviewed its contents. “All looks simple enough,” She replied. 

“Thanks, Tierra,” Jen said as he logged out of the console and started to walk out of engineering with Abbej, “And Tierra, it’s good to have you back!” He said after turning back to face the Deltan woman.

“It’s good to be back,” Tierra remarked with a proud grin before calling her engineer staff around for a catch-up to get on with the day’s work ahead of them.

In a private treatment room within sickbay, T’Rani sat on the edge of one of the biobeds with Samris standing beside her and holding her hand. Both were in their uniform and anxiously sat there waiting for Doctor Slyvexs to complete her work.

Closing her tricorder, the Denobulan doctor placed it beside T’Rani on the bed and looked at both of her visitors.

The doctor smiled. “Congratulations, you’re pregnant, commander.”

T’Rani took a deep breath before Samris pulled her in for a hug and thanked the doctor for the excellent news.

When the door chime went off, Max Duncan was about to go and answer it and instead was stopped by surprise due to the calling out of his youngest son.

“I’ll get it; I’ll get it!” William screamed as he rushed down the curved staircase and down to the living room area. 

“Slow down, William!” Duncan called after his son.

Rushing towards the door, William pressed the button and opened the door to show the arrival of the two of the McCallister-Reyas boys. “Hey, guys!”

“Hey Will, you ready for our trip?” Henri asked his friend.

“Absolutely,” William replied before turning back to his dads, “See you later, guys. Have a good day!”

“Hang on!” Duncan called out with a slight chuckle, “Where are you guys off to this early?”

William turned to his father, “I told you last night that Henri and I have that soccer match we’re going to go and watch on the holodeck this morning.”

“Oh, okay, I didn’t realise it was going to be that early!” Duncan replied before encouraging his son to get going. He turned and saw that Alfie was still hanging in the doorway. “Cadet, get in before you get dragged into something.”

“Thank you, sir,” Alfie replied as he entered. “Is Jordan up yet?”

Court then entered the living room from the office and answered that question to his godson. “Unfortunately, your best bud is still in the shower; he seems to be spending a lot of time getting himself ready in the morning. Any ideas?”

Smirking because he knew why Alfie just shook his head. “I’m afraid not, Uncle Tobie.”

Duncan looked at Alfie for a moment. “You know I’m a fully trained counsellor, cadet; I can tell when someone is lying.”

“I’m not lying, sir, just protecting a fellow cadet’s…integrity,” Alfie replied, still grinning.

Court gave out a big laugh and looked at his husband. “That’s enough to confirm our suspicions, Alf. We know about Cadet Grant and Jordan.”

“You heard nothing from me,” Alfie begged his godfather.

Tobias placed his hand over his heart, “We promise not to say anything,” He looked at his husband, “Do we, Max?”

Duncan shook his head. “Not at all, now Alfie, you look like you’ve not eaten. Care to join us for something while you wait for your bestie?”

Alfie nodded, “That sounds perfect, thank you, commander.”

“How comes you’ve not eaten today?” Court asked as he passed Alfie a croissant on a plate.

“I was up early, like Henri, to get here, and Theo is taking shifts to help out in the Auditorium, plus dad wasn’t around.” He answered.

Both Duncan and Court looked at each other after hearing that last bit.

“Where is your dad?” Court asked as he poured a mug of tea for Alfie.

Alfie took a bite of his croissant, “We assumed he was still on the planet below.”

“What was he doing down there?” Duncan wondered.

“Visiting Mayor Adale.”

Duncan and Court both smirked at each other before carrying on with their breakfast.

Banfield rarely got sat in her living room doing work, but today she had off, and she had decided before her husband woke up she would use the morning to catch up on a couple of reports from her department. She was now on the last one and was sipping on a mug of raktajino when she paused at the final part of the report she was reading. It was an analysis of the sensor sweeps she took of the planet that the Devore had destroyed to mine the blood dilithium crystal. She had one of her subordinates look deeper at the readings after returning to the ship several days ago. Pausing in what she was reading, she placed her mug on the coffee table before her, sat up straight, and read the sentence she was now glaring at.

Possible interlink frequency detected.

She sighed, “qu’vatlh” she cursed in Klingonese.

Brenari Colony

James felt a single hand, followed by a warm arm wrapping around his waist and pulling him closer to the body beside him.

Slowly he turned around in the tight bedsheets, catching a flash of his uniform sprawled across the floor beside him, and saw the smile that waited for him. “Morning,” He whispered.

“Hey,” Adale said. “So last night.”

“So last night,” He repeated with a smile. “I don’t usually do this.”

“Likewise,” She replied. 

“So, will this be awkward?” McCallister asked.

Adale shook her head. “Absolutely not,” She leaned in, kissed him on his lips, and pulled the sheets over them.