Last time for this series:  Paramount has owned, owns, and will continue
to own (See, I conjugated "own" correctly) Star Trek.  If you've got a 
problem with that, get very, VERY rich and buy the property from them.
Otherwise, it's theirs and Star Traks is mine.  The End.


STAR TRAKS VI:
	The More Things Change...
		by Alan Decker



	Prologue

Stardate 49843.6
The United Federation of Planets' Legal Affairs Facility
Rigus IX

	"All rise.  This hearing is now in session.  The Honorable 
Julia W. Prescott presiding."  Judge Prescott took her seat just as 
the bailiff finished speaking.  The small audience gathered in the 
courtroom sat down, waiting to hear the judge's decision.
	"Will the defendant please rise?" Prescott said.  At the 
defense table Paul Morris nudged his client.  The man, known only 
as Zero, did not acknowledge his attorney, but slowly stood up with 
an air of dignity.
	"Before I announce my ruling, do you have anything to say?" 
Prescott said.
	"I have nothing to say to this farcical gathering," Zero said. 
 "You have no jurisdiction over me, although I have jurisdiction 
over many of you.  Isn't that right, Number 38.2?" Zero turned 
around, glaring at one particular man in the audience.
	Captain Alexander Rydell groaned and sank lower in his seat.  It 
was bad enough that Zero had kidnapped him in the first place, but 
now Rydell had been obliged to testify against the ruler and sole 
occupant of The Suburb.  Zero's delusion of having hundreds of 
prisoners, Rydell being one of them, was still running rampant.  If 
Zero called him Number 38.2 one more time, Rydell was going to have 
to kill him.
	"That's enough," Prescott said.
	"Your honor," Mr. Morris said.  "I object to this entire 
proceeding against my client.  I have shown that he was fully in 
his rights as Supreme Sovereign and ruler of The Suburb to kidnap 
and torture anyone he wanted."
	"Forget it, Counselor," Prescott replied.  "This court does 
not recognize your so-called defense.  Now then, after reviewing 
this case, in particular the testimony of Captain Alexander Rydell and 
Karina Durham who were kidnapped by Mister Zero."
	"That's Zero!  Just plain Zero!" Zero demanded.
	"He certainly was," Rydell whispered to his first officer, 
Commander Travis Dillon, who was sitting beside him.
	"Zero, it is the decision of this court that you be sent to 
the Psychological Rehabilitation Colony at Tantalus V until you are 
deemed fit to re-enter society.  Court is adjourned."  Before the 
bailiff could react, Prescott had stormed back into her chambers.
	Two bailiffs grabbed Zero and dragged him toward the courtroom 
doors.
	"I am not happy!" Zero shouted.
	"I object to you handling my client in this fashion," Morris 
called after them.
	"Shut up, Morris!  This is your fault." Zero said.
	"I'm sorry, Zero.  I tried everything," Morris said, chasing 
his client.  "Nude pictures of the prosecutor, bribing jurors, 
everything!"
	"Hey, Zero," Rydell said as Zero was pushed by him.  "Look at 
it this way, at least you already have your prison number."
	"It's a psychological rehabilitation colony!" Morris said.
	"I will avenge myself, Number 38.2!" Zero said.
	"Right," Rydell replied.  In a flash, Zero produced a light 
pen out of his jacket and threw it at Rydell.  Commander Dillon 
reacted instantly, diving in the pen's path and pushing Rydell to the floor.
	"Get down, sir!  I'll handle...MMMPH!"  The light pen sailed 
into Dillon's open mouth.  Zero laughed and was bustled out of the 
courtroom.
	"Hey, Dillon," Rydell said, picking himself up.
	"Mmmph."
	"I can see light coming out of both of your ears."
	"Mmmph."


	Chapter One

Stardate 51543.4
Psychological Rehabilitation Colony
Tantalus V

	Rebecca Singer, former Chief Medical Officer of the starship 
Secondprize and all-around nut-case, sat in her room idlely ripping 
the stuffing out of a voodoo doll she had made in crafts class.  
The doll was of the Secondprize's new Chief Medical Officer, Dr. 
Beth Aldridge.  Singer was sure that Aldridge had stolen her Alex 
away from her.  Aldridge would pay.
	"I'll get you back, Alex," Singer said to the empty room.  
"You know I will.  Alex.  Alex.  Alex."
	Outside of Singer's room, Drs. Helen Cole and Kulas Drakor 
watched her activities.
	"She's been like this ever since she met Doctor Aldridge," Cole 
said.
	"Who is this Alex she mentioned?" Drakor asked.
	"Her former commander, Captain Alexander Rydell," Cole said.  
Drakor started laughing.
	"You've got to be kidding me.  Rydell?"
	"Yeah.  So?" Cole said.
	"You know that guy Zero who was brought here almost two years 
ago?"
	"Yeah.  Wasn't he the one obsessed with the number 38.2?"
	"Close.  Number 38.2 is a person.  Captain Rydell to be 
precise.  I just found that out last week."
	"At least you've made some progress," Cole said.
	"Well, Zero has devoted himself to the computer programming 
and repair classes we offer.  They've helped his recovery 
considerably.  At least he's finally gotten this 38.2 thing out of 
his system."
	"Maybe we should get them together," Cole said as she watched 
Singer slam her voodoo doll repeatedly against the wall.
	"Zero and her?  Now I know you're kidding," Drakor said.
	"Not at all.  Both of them have fixated on the same person.  
One of them is making progress working through that fixation; the 
other is not.  Zero might be able to help her."
	"Or their psychoses could reinforce each other," Drakor said.
	"Come on.  If you help me on this, next time we're on leave, I'll 
buy you dinner," Cole said.
	"You expect me to put the well-being of my patient in jeopardy 
for a lousy dinner?"
	"We can go anywhere you want."
	"Even the Kulinary Klingon?"
	"You got it," Cole said.
	"Deal."

	"Where are we going?" Rebecca Singer asked as Dr. Cole led her 
down the corridors of Tantalus V.
	"I want you to meet somebody," Cole replied.
	"Who?"
	"You'll see."
	"Is this somebody I'm going to like?  I don't want to meet 
anyone like..."
	"Like who?"
	"LIKE BETH ALDRIDGE!" Singer screamed.  "SHE WILL 
DIE!  SHE WILL DIE!"  Singer began pounding the wall violently as she 
chanted for Aldridge's death.
	"Rebecca!  Rebecca!  This person is not like that," Cole said.  
"Please calm down."
	"I'm sorry, Doctor Cole," Singer said, ceasing her assault 
on the wall.  "Let's go."
	Cole led Singer into a small, living-room-like conference 
room where Dr. Drakor and Zero were waiting.
	"Is this her?" Zero asked, sizing up Singer.
	"Rebecca, this is Zero."
	"Doctor Rebecca Singer," Singer said, extending her hand to 
Zero.  "Chief Medical Officer of the Starship Secondprize."
	"Secondprize!" Zero said.  "Rydell!"
	"You know my Alex?" Singer said, her face lighting up.
	"We'll just leave you two alone now," Cole said, pushing a 
concerned Dr. Drakor out of the room.
	"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Drakor asked.
	"Trust me," Cole said, locking the door to the conference 
room.  "They'll be fine.  Let's go get some lunch."
	"Captain Rydell is one of my residents," Zero said.  "I must 
find him and take him home to his rightful place in The Suburb."
	"Oh.  I know you.  You're the man who kidnapped Alex away 
from me a couple of years ago," Singer said smiling warmly.
	"Yes.  I am Zero."  Singer slapped him, sending Zero 
staggering backwards and tripping over the coffee table.  The smile 
never left Singer's face.
	"I don't like it when people try to take Alex away from me," 
Singer said.  The smile began to fade as tears welled up in her 
eyes.  "I get very upset without him.  We're meant to be together." 
 Singer slumped into a chair, tears flowing freely.
	"You can be with him in The Suburb," Zero said.  "Once I 
escape from our captors, I will reclaim Rydell and return him there."
	"I can go too?" Singer said hopefully, wiping tears away.
	"You may become one of The Suburb's many residents.  But 
first, I must have Rydell," Zero said.
	"OK," Singer said happily.  "I'll help you, but I need you 
to do something for me too."
	"What is that, my dear lady?"
	"I'll help you get Alex, if you kill Doctor Beth Aldridge 
for me.  They will both be on the Secondprize."
	"Then, all we need is to get out of here and find a ship," 
Zero said.
	"That's, as my darling Alex would say, not a problem, but  
we're going to have to get a better ship after we escape to go after the 
Secondprize.  There's nothing here that can match a starship."
	"Then, we'll just have to get a starship," Zero said.  "I 
think I have the perfect place in mind."
	"We're going to need some help."
	"Oh, don't worry about that.  I have made the acquaintance of 
someone whose skills are ideally suited to the task."

	Dr. Drakor approached the conference room door with 
trepidation.  He had a sinking feeling that putting Zero and 
Singer together was a monumentally bad idea.  Singer was 
dangerous.  She could kill Zero or worse.  
	Behind Drakor, Cole whistled completely unconcerned.  Zero 
would be fine.  Singer wouldn't hurt him.  If anything, she'd stop 
talking to him and sulk in a chair.  Nothing more.
	Neither of them were prepared for the sight that awaited them 
when they reached the conference room.  Singer and Zero were 
seated around the conference table talking like old friends.  They 
laughed and smiled.
	"I guess you were right," Drakor said.  "He did help her."
	"I told you."  Cole unlocked the conference room and walked in 
with Drakor.  "Time's up, you two."  Zero and Singer ignored 
them.
	"Come on," Drakor said, walking over to get Zero as Cole 
walked over to Singer.  "You can continued this later."
	"We'd prefer to stay together," Zero said.  In one quick 
movement, he grabbed the back of Drakor's head and slammed it into 
the coffee table.  Cole didn't even have time to scream before 
Singer did the same to her. 
	Five minutes later, Singer and Zero stepped out of the 
conference room fully decked out as Tantalus V doctors leaving the 
unconscious and naked bodies of Cole and Drakor laying wedged 
between the back of a sofa and a wall.
	"That was even easier than I had imagined," Zero said, as he 
and Singer stopped at one of the access terminals located in the 
corridor.  "Now let me make sure that the third member of our party 
is available to travel."  Zero started to work on the terminal, 
expertly navigating his way through the security programs of the 
Tantalus V computer system.  "There.  Let's go."
	"Who is this friend of yours?" Singer asked.
	"Just wait and see."

	The maximum security ward was deserted when Singer and Zero 
arrived, just as Zero had planned it.  He had programmed the 
computer to send all of the staff on their lunch break at the same 
time.  Then, using Cole and Drakor's pass cards, he and Singer 
were able to enter the block.
	"He's right down here."  Zero led Singer to the last room in 
the hall.  Inside on the bed sat a small, pig-faced man: a 
Tellarite.  Zero opened the door.  The Tellarite turned to them, a 
big smile spreading across his face.
	"Hello, boys and girls!  It's Piggly Wiggly time!" the 
Tellarite said.  He jumped up and started dancing wildly around the 
room.
	"Gruver thinks he's a children's holovision show host, but 
other than that, he's fine," Zero said.  "He's also the best 
engineer I've ever met."
	"Can you say matter-antimatter intermix ratio?" Gruver said.
	"Gruver, it's me, Zero.  We're going away now.  Come on."
	"Away?  And I get to come too?"
	"Yes," Singer said.  "We need you to help us with a ship."
	"I love ships.  Do you love ships?  We can love ships 
together."  Gruver skipped happily out of the room followed by Zero 
and Singer.
	Singer led the two of them to a custodial access hatch she 
discovered when she escaped to attack Beth Aldridge when Aldridge 
visited her a year earlier.  This hatch led to an access tunnel 
between the mental facility and the staff habitat building.  In 
this tunnel, she opened another hatch leading to the landing field 
outside.  A small cargo freighter sat in the field waiting for its 
crew.  Singer and the others quickly ran up the freighter's gang-
plank and prepared for lift-off.
	"Let this be a lesson to all the boys and girls out there," 
Gruver said, as he powered up the engines.  "Never leave your 
vehicle unlocked and unattended."  Gruver piloted the ship up 
towards the force field surrounding the facility.
	"Freighter Lokaloc.  You have not received departure 
clearance," a voice said over the comm system.  "Return to the 
landing field immediately."
	"Lokaloc to control," Singer said.  "After careful 
deliberation, we've decided that we'd rather not."  She armed the 
freighter's phasers and fired at the field.  The phasers, while 
weak compared with those of a starship, were enough to overload the 
force field, which was only designed to prevent patients from 
running away from the facility.  They hadn't counted on anyone 
flying away.
	"Well done," Zero said, patting Singer on the shoulder.  
"Now let's go get a real ship."
	"Just how are we going to do that?" Singer asked.
	"Oh, there should be one available.  I believe her name 
is...the Defiant!"



	Chapter Two

Stardate 51543.8
U.S.S. Secondprize

	"Personal log of Lieutenant Commander Jaroch.  Entry number One 
thousand two hundred seventy-seven.  I fear that the growing 
instability in my mind is becoming noticeable.  Despite Counselor 
Webber's success in quieting the voices of my previous incarnations, 
the underlying problem remains.  My performance on the bridge is 
beginning to suffer, and I am afraid that my colleagues are 
starting to realize that something is wrong.  This morning 
Commander Dillon, of all people, corrected me on a math error.  
Nothing overt has been said to me about my degrading performance, 
but Captain Rydell has invited me to join him for some recreational 
activity on the holodeck.  I am not sure that this is a good 
thing."

	"Computer, run program Rydell Twelve," Captain Alexander Rydell 
said as he and Jaroch stood outside of Holodeck Two.
	"Program complete.  Enter when ready," the computer replied.
	"What are we doing here exactly?" Jaroch asked.
	"Relaxing," Rydell replied taking a step forward.  The 
holodeck doors slid aside allowing the two officers to enter.  Jaroch 
found himself in a large room with many long wooden strips running 
to an area where ten small white objects stood.  Several 
individuals were flinging black round objects along the wooden 
strips in an apparent attempt to knock down the white objects.
	"How is this activity relaxing?"
	"It's called bowling.  Trust me, it's fun," Rydell said.
	"But the white objects..."
	"They're called pins," Rydell interrupted.
	"Very well.  I do not see the challenge.  The pins cannot even 
avoid the sphere that is coming toward them."
	"It's harder than it looks.  Come on."  Rydell led Jaroch over a 
counter where a large balding man sat on a stool watching an 
ancient television and smoking the foulest smelling thing Jaroch had 
ever encountered.  
	"We need a lane and two pairs of shoes," Rydell said to the 
man.
	"What sizes?" the man asked, standing up and scratching his 
belly underneath his lime green shirt.
	"Ten and a half and...what's your shoe size, Jaroch?"
	"How is this relevant?"
	"Just tell me!" Rydell demanded.
	"What measuring system are you using?"
	"Huh?"
	"You told the man ten and a half.  Ten and a half what?"
	"Inches, Jaroch.  This is a representation of a bowling alley on 
twentieth century Earth in the United States.  They use inches," 
Rydell said, getting frustrated.
	"Could they not grasp the metric system?"
	"Jaroch!  Shoe size!  In inches!  NOW!"
	"Size ten, sir, and if you do not mind my saying so, for a 
program that is supposed to induce relaxation, it seems to be 
rather ineffective."
	"The program isn't the problem, Jaroch," Rydell said.  The man 
placed two incredibly ugly pairs of shoes on the counter.  Rydell 
thrust a pair at Jaroch and stalked off to their lane.
	"Does this activity have anything to do with clowns?" Jaroch said, 
following Rydell.
	"No.  Why?"
	"Well, these shoes..."
	"Are bowling shoes designed to prevent you from slipping on 
your lane, falling down, and busting your ass!"
	"Could they have found a color scheme other than pink and 
yellow?"
	"No.  Put them on,"  Rydell said.  Rydell and Jaroch sat down and 
changed their footwear.  "OK.  Bowling is fairly simple.  Pick up a 
ball; roll it at the pins.  The computer handles the scoring."
	"I see."
	"Go ahead."  Jaroch walked over to the ball return and examined 
the various bowling balls there attempting to find one he felt most 
comfortable with.  Finally satisfied with his selection, he walked 
calmly up to the end of his lane, watched the form of several of 
the bowlers around him, then made his attempt.  He backed up 
several steps, made his run, released the ball, then watched in 
horror as it rolled straight into the gutter on the left side of 
the lane, passing harmlessly by the pins.
	"That should have worked," Jaroch said, turning back to Rydell, 
who was suppressing a chuckle.  "I double-checked my calculations."
	"Bowling is a bit more complicated than that," Rydell said, 
selecting a ball for himself, then throwing a perfect strike down 
the lane.  "There's a certain amount of technique involved."
	"But my calculations..."  Jaroch sat down in his chair, looking 
defeated.  Rydell walked over and sat down next to him.
	"Is something on your mind, Jaroch?" Rydell asked.
	"I...I am fine," Jaroch replied.
	"You haven't been fine for the last two months.  Counselor 
Webber told me about your visit to her back then.  She thought 
that she had helped you somewhat, but she was concerned that you 
were still having problems.  What's going on?"
	"I must bowl," Jaroch said, standing up to go get his ball.
	"This isn't going to just go away on its own," Rydell said.  
"I'm your commanding officer, and I'm your friend.  I want to know 
what's wrong; I want to help you."
	Jaroch looked down the lane at the pins, preparing his shot.  He 
appreciated Rydell's concern, but this was a personal matter.  He 
couldn't inconvenience his shipmates with his personal problems.
	"Jaroch!  Talk to me."
	"I am fine, sir," Jaroch replied.  The world around him wavered.  
Beside him, the man about to bowl turned green and changed slowly 
into a giant, hideous creature with four arms and sharp teeth.
	Rydell was about to get up and walk over to Jaroch when the 
Yynsian started screaming and pointing at the man next to him.  The 
man turned toward Jaroch, looking at him confused.  Jaroch screamed again 
and threw his bowling ball at the man.  The man dodged, allowing 
the ball to fly past him and slam into the ball return at his lane. 
 Smoke flew out of the device as the ball return kicked into high 
gear, lobbing balls across the facility.
	Jaroch saw monsters all around him.  He had to run, had to escape, 
had to avoid this projectile heading straight at him.  Oh no.  Too 
late.
	"Computer, end program," Rydell shouted as he saw an out of 
control ball heading for Jaroch's head.  The ball smacked into Jaroch, then 
winked out of existence along with the rest of the bowling alley.  
"Are you alright, Jaroch?"
	Jaroch hit the ground unconscious a moment later, suggesting to 
Rydell that he was most likely not alright.

	Jaroch woke up in sickbay with absolutely no idea of how he had 
gotten there.  Noticing that her patient was stirring, Dr. Beth 
Aldridge walked over to Jaroch and pressed a hypospray against his neck.
	"It's just a light pain killer," Aldridge said.  "Otherwise, 
you're going to be feeling one hell of a headache."
	Captain Rydell walked into sickbay a few seconds later as Jaroch 
was attempting to sit up.
	"How is he?" Rydell asked.
	"Well, superficially, he has a concussion, but that will pass 
in time."
	"What do you mean superficially?" Rydell said.
	"Jaroch is also exhibiting a heightened level of synapse and 
neurotransmitter activity, and his parietal lobe is producing some 
energy patterns that I've never seen before.  Of course, I'm not 
Yynsian."
	"Is this normal for Yynsians?" Rydell asked, turning to Jaroch.
	"I would hesitate to use the word normal," Jaroch replied.
	"So would I," Aldridge said.  "But I checked the medical database 
on the subject.  It appears that Jaroch is experiencing a period the 
Yynsians call..."
	"Doctor, please.  This is a personal matter," Jaroch said.
	"Not any more," Aldridge shot back.  "Your condition has gotten 
to the point where it is not only endangering your life, but the 
rest of ours as well.  Captain, if Jaroch does not return to Yyns 
within the next week, he will die."
	"Die!  Jaroch!  Why didn't you say something?" Rydell shouted.
	"I did not want to let a personal matter affect the normal 
operation of this vessel."
	"You could have requested a shore leave or something," Rydell 
said.  "Now, what is it?  Do you have the Yynsian version of Pon 
farr, and you have to go mate or something?"
	"It's nothing like that," Aldridge replied.
	"It is called the Seratch," Jaroch said.  "It means that a 
previously unknown past life is making its presence known to me.  
It is a traumatic experience when it occurs this late in life.  I 
must return to Yyns so that a priest of the Temple of Mi Clane can 
guide me through it."
	"Fine, you leave immediately," Rydell said.  "Take a runabout 
and get going."  He headed toward the doors.
	"Captain, I think I should go with him," Aldridge said, stopping 
Rydell.  "His condition is extremely unstable, and the priests 
aren't going to be able to do a lot of good if Jaroch doesn't make it 
to Yyns alive."
	"Good point, Doctor.  Have a good trip," Rydell said, turning 
to leave again.
	"I would also like Counselor Webber to accompany us," Jaroch said. 
 Rydell stopped again, sighed, and turned back to the two officers.
	"Not a problem.  Is there anyone else you'd like to take?"
	"That should be sufficient," Jaroch said.
	"Good.  Now, get off my ship!" Rydell said, running out of 
sickbay before any other requests could stop him.



	Chapter Three

	The freighter Lokaloc sat dead in space, floating among the 
asteroids of the Verolas asteroid belt.  For the last six years, 
this belt had been the home of a small scout vessel owned by Zero, 
the Centrum.  He kept it floating in the belt in case he ever 
needed to leave The Suburb in a hurry.  Now, even though The Suburb 
was no more, the ship still had waited for its owner.  After a quick ship
change, Zero, Rebecca Singer, and Gruver sped out of the asteroid belt in
the Centurm leaving the Lokaloc in its place.
	
	"We're entering the Bajoran system now," Singer reported 
several hours later.  She was piloting the Centrum while Gruver 
manned the co-pilot's seat.  Zero sat behind them reading up on 
Rydell's exploits over the last two years.
	"Good, open a channel to Deep Space Nine, Gruver," Zero 
ordered.  
	"Hi, boys and girls.  This is the Centrum.  Can we come dock 
with you?" Gruver said into the comm system.

	Major Kira Nerys shook her head hoping that she just hadn't 
heard what she thought she heard.
	"Is something wrong, Major?" Captain Benjamin Sisko asked, 
walking down the steps from his office.
	"I wouldn't say wrong, sir.  Just odd.  A scout ship just 
requested permission to dock."
	"So?"
	"Well, their request was phrased oddly.  Wait, they're hailing 
us again."
	"Put them on speakers," Sisko said.
	"This is the Centrum requesting permission to dock.  Please 
respond."
	"They sound pretty normal to me, Major," Sisko said.
	"Their first hail was not like this," Kira replied.  "It was 
more...childlike."
	"Is there any reason we should deny them docking clearance?"
	"No, sir.  It was just...odd."
	"So you've said.  Centrum, this is Deep Space Nine.  You are 
cleared for docking at airlock six," Sisko said.
	"Thank you, Deep Space Nine.  Centrum out."
	"Now, Major, should I have Odo look into our new arrivals?"
	"No.  There's no reason for that.  Their hail was just..."
	"Odd.  Yes, I know," Sisko said.

	"I see that I am going to have to handle all subspace 
communications from now on," Zero said after he closed the channel 
with Deep Space Nine.  He had taken over for Gruver as soon as the 
Tellarite had finished his first hail.
	"I'm sorry," Gruver said, bowing his head.
	"Don't take it so hard, my friend," Zero said.  "We have 
better tasks for you.  In fact, there it is." 
	As the Centrum closed in on Deep Space Nine, the Defiant, the 
heavily armed starship assigned to Deep Space Nine, came into view.
	"That should be more than enough to take care of Rydell and 
the Secondprize," Zero said.
	"We aren't going to hurt my Alex remember," Singer said.  
"Only Aldridge the bitch dies.  My Alex and I get to live together 
forever at the Suburb."
	"Precisely," Zero said.  "And don't you worry, Doctor 
Singer, I will live up to my part of the bargain.  You get me 
Rydell, and Beth Aldridge will die."

	Dr. Julian Bashir took another sip of his drink as Garak 
continued to explain why Cardassian cinema far outclassed anything 
ever produced by humans.  He and the Cardassian tailor's lunches 
often turned into debates about which culture was superior, 
discussions which Bashir would have been quite content to avoid 
were it not for Garak.  Despite his fondness for debate, Garak was 
a wonderful and fascinating lunch companion.  Over the years, 
Bashir had come to look forward to these lunches as a highlight of 
his day.
	"...so I just cannot see how you could ever begin to compare 
an artist such as Rogath with the so-called filmmakers of your 
precious Earth, Doctor."
	"I guess you will just have to show me one of Rogath's..."  
Bashir trailed off as a woman across the Promenade caught his eye. 
 He could swear that he recognized her from somewhere, but Bashir 
was fairly sure that he had never seen the human male and Tellarite she 
was with.
	"Is something wrong, Doctor?" Garak, watching Bashir intently, 
his eyes bulging a bit more than usual.
	"What?...No.  That woman just looks familiar," Bashir replied. 
 Garak followed Bashir's gaze to the thin, dark haired woman 
walking along the Promenade.
	"One of your past exploits perhaps?"
	"Garak."
	"Well, Doctor, you do sometimes present yourself as a bit of a 
ladies man.  I thought perhaps you had just forgotten one."
	"I never forget."
	"My apologies."
	"I am positive that I have seen that woman before," Bashir 
said, irritated that he couldn't place her.  "I'm sure that I'll 
remember eventually."
	"No doubt," Garak said just before taking another bite of his 
food.

	"Have we put in enough of a public appearance yet?" Zero said, 
growing frustrated as he, Singer, and Gruver walked aimlessly 
along the Promenade.  Gruver was contentedly licking his glop on a 
stick, but Zero wanted to take action.
	"Trust me.  I know Starfleet procedures," Singer replied.  
"If we docked, then promptly disappeared, suspicions would be 
aroused.  We'll get to the Defiant soon, so stop bugging me.  I'm 
starting to get upset."  Zero could tell that she was right as her 
voice grew louder and the words came out quicker as she spoke.
	"I bow to your expertise," Zero said.
	"Thank you....Now we can leave."  Singer walked off toward a 
turbolift followed by an exasperated Zero and a content Gruver.
	A minute later, the trio emerged on the docking ring.
	"This way," Singer said, leading them to the Defiant's 
berth.  They soon found their path blocked by a closed security 
door.
	"Please state access clearance," the computer said.
	"Clearance Alpha Two," Singer replied.
	"State access code for verification."
	"Singer Epsilon Omega Phi Beta."
	"Access verified," the computer said.  A force field winked 
out of existence, then the security door slid open.
	"It is a good thing Starfleet did not remove you from their 
computer system," Zero said.
	"I am just on extended leave," Singer said angrily.  "Why 
would they have removed me?"
	"Never mind," Zero said.  They walked down the hall to the 
airlock leading to the Defiant.  "Well, here we are.  Gruver and I 
can take it from here, Doctor.  We won't act until you have left in 
the Centrum."
	"I'll meet you at the rendezvous point soon.  Then, we can go 
get my Alex," Singer said happily.  She turned around and 
started skipping down the hall.
	"Now then, Gruver, if you would be so kind as to disconnect 
the airlock's entry warning system, I will see about getting the 
docking clamps under our control," Zero said, stepping up to the 
computer panel next to the airlock.  Gruver removed the engineering 
access panel and looked inside.
	"Ooh, isn't this pretty, boys and girls," Gruver said, 
admiring the colored lights and wires that made up the airlock's 
inner workings.
	"I'm sure it is," Zero said.  "Why don't you make it prettier 
by seeing to it that no one notices when we open the door?"
	"You got it," Gruver said happily.  He started humming a 
sprightly tune and manipulating the circuitry, leaving Zero 
wondering if perhaps teaming up with Singer and Gruver was going 
to turn out to be a horrible mistake.

	Operations was having a fairly quiet day.  The only event of 
interest had been Kira's supposed talk with a child on a scout 
ship.  She had just about pushed the incident with the Centrum out 
of her mind when she noticed an incoming communication on her 
status board.  The Centrum was requesting clearance for departure.
	"Well, that was a short visit," Major Kira said.
	"Excuse me, Major?" Chief Miles O'Brien asked from the 
operations console.
	"Never mind, Chief," Kira said.  "Centrum, this is Deep Space 
Nine.  You are clear for departure.  Have a safe trip."
	"Thank you, Deep Space Nine," a female voice replied.  
"Centrum out."
	"Are they playing musical pilots?" Kira muttered.
	"Was that directed at me?" O'Brien asked.
	"No," Kira said as she watched the Centrum on her scopes pull 
away from the station and warp away.  Captain Sisko walked out of 
his office a few moments later.
	"How is everything?" he asked, stifling a yawn.
	"Slow and quiet, sir," O'Brien said.
	"How about you, Major?  Any more children requesting docking 
clearance?" Sisko asked smiling.
	"No.  In fact, the Centrum just left," Kira said.  A flashing 
light on her console suddenly caught her attention.  "Sir, the 
Defiant's docking clamps are releasing!"
	"What?!" Sisko demanded.
	"Confirmed, sir!" O'Brien said.
	"Override!" Sisko ordered.
	"I can't!" O'Brien said.
	"What the hell is going on?" Kira shouted.  The turbolift rose 
up into ops and Dr. Bashir ran out.
	"Sir, I believe we have a problem," Bashir said.
	"Not now, Doctor," Sisko said.
	"But sir, there's a deranged woman on the station.  I saw her 
on the promenade at lunch with two other men, one human, one 
tellarite."
	"The Defiant has cleared the docking ring," O'Brien said.
	"Locking phasers," Lieutenant Commander Worf said from his
strategic operations console.  He was not about to let someone run off with 
his home.  Suddenly, the Defiant's image disappeared off of her scope.  
"They have cloaked!"
	"Captain, what is happening?" Bashir asked.
	"You said we have a lunatic on board?" Sisko said.
	"Yes, sir."
	"Who is she?"
	"Doctor Rebecca Singer.  I met her at a medical convention a 
couple of years ago.  Shortly after that she had a breakdown and 
was sent to the Tantalus V rehabilitation colony."
	"I have the feeling that I may be bringing old news," Odo said 
as he stepped off the turbolift.
	"What is it, Constable?" Sisko asked.
	"I just received a report from the Tantalus V colony.  A 
Doctor Rebecca Singer escaped yesterday with two other patients: a 
human computer expert and a Tellarite engineer.  All three of them 
are considered very dangerous and very insane," Odo said.
	"And they're on the station," Bashir said.
	"Correction, Doctor.  They were on the station," Sisko said.  
"My guess is that they're the ones who just stole the Defiant."
	"We really should get a garage for that thing," O'Brien said.  Worf
let out a low growl of annoyance.
	"Why would they want the Defiant?" Kira asked.
	"Obviously for its superior weapons capabilites," Worf said.  "It 
will be used to attack someone very soon."
	"According to the report, Singer and the other human, a man 
who calls himself Zero, both have an obsessive fixation on a 
Captain Alexander Rydell," Odo said.  "They may be out to get him."
	"Lucky guy," O'Brien said.



	Chapter Four

	Lieutenant Commander Jaroch shifted in his seat uneasily as 
Counselor Claire Webber dropped the runabout out of warp preparing 
for their final approach to Yyns.
	"You don't look too happy about this," Doctor  Aldridge 
said from the chair beside him.
	"I was not aware that I was supposed to be jubilant," Jaroch 
replied.
	"You're going home.  We don't get to do that very often in our 
line of work," Aldridge said.
	"Yes, that is one of its draws," Jaroch said.
	"Bad home life?"
	"No.  I just find the majority of my people to be...undisciplined.  
My years at the Vulcan Science Academy showed me that."
	"So, you were a laid-back fun-loving guy before those Vulcans 
got a hold of you," Aldridge said.  Jaroch turned to her, the slightest 
hint of a smirk crossing his face.
	"I still am a laid-back fun-loving guy," he replied.  "I just 
pick my moments."
	"Well, let me know next time you pick one.  This I've got to 
see."
	"We're starting our final approach," Counselor Webber reported. 
 Jaroch stood up and took the co-pilot's seat beside Webber.
	"I had better handle the communications with Yyns Space 
Control," Jaroch said.
	"If you think you're up to it," Webber said.
	"Counselor, I am fine.  I did not invite you along to 
constantly harp on my mental condition."
	"Then why am I here?" Webber demanded, hurt.
	"You will soon see, but believe me, your presence means a 
great deal," Jaroch said.
	"Really?" Webber said, brightening up.
	"Yes."
	"Thank you."  Webber grabbed Jaroch in a bear-hug just as he 
activated the comm system.
	"Urrggh," Jaroch gasped.
	"Approaching vessel, this is Yyns Space Control.  Please 
repeat your last transmission," the comm system barked.  Jaroch pried 
himself out of Webber's grasp and straightened his uniform.
	"Yyns Control, this is the Starfleet Runabout Hudson 
requesting landing clearance in Cageria," Jaroch said.
	"Negative, Hudson.  Cageria docking facility is full unless 
you have a reserved parking space.  Are there any Yynsians on 
board?"
	"Yes," Jaroch said.  "I am Yynsian.  My name is Jaroch, son of Tal and 
P'Ru, resident of Cageria."
	"I am checking our system now," the control officer said.  
"No.  Jaroch, I am afraid that you do not have a parking space on 
file."
	"Of course, I do not!" Jaroch said angrily.  "I have not been on 
Yyns in seven years.  Why would I have..."
	"Wait a second," the officer interrupted.  "It seems that, 
Jarl, one of your registered past lives, has a space.  You have 
clearance to dock there.  Coordinates are being sent.  Yyns 
control out."
	"One of your past lives had a space, and you get to use it?" 
Aldridge said.
	"Correct."
	"How long ago did this Jarl live?" Aldridge asked.
	"Approximately two hundred years ago," Jaroch replied.  "Docking 
control is extremely proud of their records system."
	"I guess it's really hard to get a space at first," Webber 
said.
	"Unless you inherit one from a past life, it is next to 
impossible," Jaroch said.
	"Great system," Aldridge said.
	"It works for us," Jaroch said.
	Webber steered the runabout into Yyns' brownish-orange 
atmosphere and began descending towards the coordinates Yyns Space 
Control had transmitted to them.  They broke through the planet's 
heavy cloud cover revealing the sprawling metropolis of Cageria.  
The city stretched to the horizon in all directions, but only two 
buildings stood over four stories tall.  One of these was obviously 
the city's massive docking facility, a two hundred story tall grey 
box-like structure dotted with landing lights and docking bays.  
The other structure consisted of two long, thin spires, one onyx 
and one ivory, stretching skyward to a height more than twice that of
 the docking facility.  Structural integrity field and anti-
gravity field generators lined the spires, keeping them stable.
	"Wow," Aldridge said softly.
	"That is the Temple of Mi Clane," Jaroch said, pointing at the 
spires.
	"Why is it so tall?" Webber asked.
	"It is to symbolize that, through our past lives, our 
existence stretches toward infinity," Jaroch replied.  "The spires also 
get great reception of interplanetary holovision broadcasts and 
distribute the programs throughout the city."  Aldridge stared at Jaroch 
for a second, trying to figure out if he was kidding or not.
	The runabout entered one of the upper docking bays of the 
landing facility and, after passing by rows and rows of small 
spacecraft and hovercars, soon touched down in an unoccupied 
parking space.  Jaroch opened the runabout's hatch and stepped out of 
the ship followed by Webber and Aldridge.  They were met by a small, 
top-shaped flying robot.  The robot hovered over to Aldridge.
	"How many lives do you have to declare?" the robot asked.
	"Excuse me?" Aldridge said.
	"It wants to know how many past lives you have had," Jaroch said. 
 "It is for population records purposes."
	"I'm just me," Aldridge said.
	"One life.  Thank you," the robot said.  It moved over to 
Webber.  "How many lives do you have to declare?"
	"One, as far as I know," Webber replied.  "I could have more, 
but I haven't encountered them.  Of course, I'm not Yynsian, so I 
may not have them at all.  Who knows?  I don't think they have ever 
proved or disproved that humans have past lives."
	"One life.  Thank you," the robot said.  It moved over to Jaroch. 
 "How many lives do you have to declare?"
	"Seven," Jaroch replied.  "And a half," he added.
	"Are you experiencing The Seratch?" the robot asked.
	"Yes," Jaroch said.  Red and purple flashing lights flared across 
the robot as a screeching alarm went off.  The robot raced away 
from them.
	"What the hell?" Aldridge said.  "You aren't contagious, at least 
not as far as I could tell."
	"I am not, however, Yynsians experiencing The Seratch are, as 
you are well aware, physically unstable.  We are to stay at the 
temple to avoid injuring ourselves," Jaroch said.
	"What should we do?" Webber asked.
	"Stay where we are," Jaroch replied.  "The temple has been 
informed of my arrival and will be sending a retrieval craft."  As 
if on cue, a shiny gold hover-vehicle sped around a corner of the 
parking facility and slammed to a halt in front of Jaroch, Webber, and 
Aldridge.  Two figures covered totally in pale blue robes and hoods 
emerged from the craft.
	"Where is The Seratch?" a deep male voice asked from one of 
the hoods as he looked back and forth from Webber to Aldridge to Jaroch.
	"My name is Jaroch.  I am experiencing The Seratch," Jaroch said, 
taking a step forward.  The hooded figures both pulled small 
devices out of their robes, aimed them at Jaroch, and activated them.  
Two white beams hit Jaroch and began surrounded him in a pale glow.  
The glow then solidified into a white, translucent bubble 
completely encasing Jaroch.
	"What did you do to him?" Aldridge demanded. 
	"He is in stasis to protect him until we return to the temple. 
 Please accompany us."  The hooded figures gestured to the hover-
vehicle.  Webber and Aldridge got in uneasily as the hooded figures 
opened the craft's rear cargo area and put Jaroch into it.  A few 
moments later, they got into the front of the hover-vehicle and 
removed their hoods revealing a friendly-looking man and woman.
	"Sorry about all the ceremony and theatrics," the woman, who 
was driving the vehicle, said.
	"It's temple rules," the man said.  "Your friend will be 
fine."
	"My name is P'Guk and this is T'Wer," the woman said.  "Oh, by 
the way, welcome to Yyns."

	Back in Yyns Space Control, Control Officer Truk looked at his 
monitor again.  The Starfleet ship he had just given landing 
clearance to was bugging him for some reason.  He called up the 
file on Jaroch and re-read the list of registered past lives.  His eyes 
fixed upon the name J'Ter.  J'Ter.  The name resonated through all 
of his beings, past and present.  Truk's eyes glazed over as 
another life took control.  A moment later, Truk was gone, replaced 
by T'Mak, warrior-prince.
	"My enemy is here!" T'Mak said.  "At last, after thousands of 
years, I shall have my vengeance!"
	"Are you alright, Truk?" P'Gee asked from the console next to 
him.
	"I am fine," T'Mak said, standing up to leave.  "Puny mortal." 
 T'Mak strode confidently out of Yyns Space Control.  The final 
confrontation had begun.  This time, J'Ter must die.

	

	Chapter Five

A Hell of a Long Time Before Stardates
Wegan Field, Planet Yyns

	Two mighty armies stood across from each other.  Astride his 
warhorse, J'Ter, Crown Prince of the Cagelands, looked out at the 
forces of his enemy, T'Mak.
	"Many warriors will fall today," he said to himself.  A smile 
spread across his aquiline feature.  "Fortunately, most of them 
will be T'Mak's." 
	J'Ter's father, King T'Rix, had been saddened that his 
youngest son, T'Mak, had chosen the path of war to unseat his 
brother J'Ter as crown prince.  The two brothers had been at odds 
with each other since childhood when they fought over possession of 
a set of toy blocks.  That battle had escalated to include food, 
clothes, sporting equipment, girlfriends, and, finally, the throne 
of Cageria itself.
	Unsatisfied with the system of first-born inheritance, T'Mak 
had left Cageria in search of an army.  Somewhere, on the 
uncivilized plains of Yyns' wastelands, he found men and women 
willing to die for him.  Now, he had returned to take Cageria and 
the throne once and for all.
	"We are ready, J'Ter," J'Ter's first lieutenant and wife, 
P'Fer said from beside him.
	"I will not be the one to attack," J'Ter said.  "If T'Mak 
wants a battle, he will have to come to us to get it."
	Across the field, T'Mak sat on his warhorse waiting 
impatiently for his brother to attack.
	"Damn cocky bastard," T'Mak mumbled.  He sat up a little 
higher.  "Are you afraid to fight me?" he shouted across the field.
	"I was going to ask you the same question, brother," J'Ter 
shouted back, a hint of a laugh in his voice.  New rage bubbled in 
T'Mak's chest.
	"Soon, you will be no one's brother!"
	"I already am," J'Ter said.  T'Mak let out a scream of rage, 
then raised his arm to signal his warriors to attack.  The warriors 
bellowed a battle cry and charged forward towards J'Ter's army.
	"Wait until they have almost reached us," J'Ter said to his 
troops.  T'Mak's army had to run almost two hundred yards to reach 
J'Ter's line.  They would be tired and easily crushed.  T'Mak's 
troops advanced raising their scythe-like hytao swords into the 
air.
	"NOW!" J'Ter shouted, kicking his mount in the sides.  J'Ter's 
army charged forward into T'Mak's winded troops and attacked.
	From the opposite side of the field, T'Mak watched helplessly 
as the army he had worked long and hard to amass was slaughtered 
by his brother's forces.  Then, through the cloud of dirt and blur 
of flailing bodies, a man on horseback broke through headed 
straight towards T'Mak.
	"It is time for you to die, puny mortal!" J'Ter shouted above 
the rumbling of his horse's hooves.
	"Speak for yourself, puny mortal," T'Mak said.  He urged his 
horse forward and soon was in a full gallop heading toward a 
collision with J'Ter.  T'Mak unsheathed his hytao and prepared to 
slice.  Before he could swing, J'Ter threw something at him.  
Several small, hard objects hit him in the face.  Staggered, T'Mak 
fell off of his horse.  Gathering his strength, he grabbed one of 
the objects laying on the ground next to him.  It was one of their 
toy blocks from their childhood.
	"Appropriate, isn't it?" J'Ter said from behind him.  T'Mak 
jumped to his feet and whirled around to face his brother who had 
dismounted from his horse.
	"So, you wish to face me one on one," T'Mak said, backing up 
to his sword which he had dropped in his fall.
	"I wish to slice you up like the dumb slab of meat you are," 
J'Ter said, drawing his hytao.  T'Mak dove to the ground beside his 
weapon, grabbed it, and jumped back up in one fluid motion.  He 
found that his brother was right in front of him.
	"Goodbye, brother," J'Ter said.  He swung, but was blocked by 
T'Mak's quick parry.
	"It is not that easy, brother," T'Mak said.  The two brothers 
swung at each other, beginning a furious sword battle.  Both men 
fought with all of their skill, but soon T'Mak found himself being 
forced back by his brother's superior skill and strength.  Hoping 
to take advantage of J'Ter's tendency for cockiness, T'Mak allowed 
himself to be pushed back even farther.  A smile spread across 
J'Ter's face.
	"This is very easy," J'Ter said laughing.  Then, T'Mak saw his 
opening.  His pulled his sword back to deliver the fatal blow.  His 
sword sunk into something soft directly behind him.  His warhorse 
whinnied angrily and kicked its legs out.  A speeding hoof slammed 
into the back of T'Mak's head.  Lurching forward, T'Mak was met by 
J'Ter's sword.  In one slash, J'Ter cut through T'Mak's neck, 
severing his head from the rest of him.
	"So very easy," T'Mak heard J'Ter say, then all was silent.



	Chapter Six

	Commander Travis Dillon staggered sleepily out of Lieutenant 
Patricia Hawkins' quarters at about three o'clock in the morning.  
The halls were deserted during this portion of the ship's night 
watch, at least they usually were.  This particular night, though,
Commander Dillon almost slammed straight into Captain Rydell.
	"It's a little late for you to be up, isn't it, Number One?" 
Rydell said.
	"Tired.  Need sleep," Dillon mumbled.
	"I take it you were with Lieutenant Hawkins," Rydell 
continued.
	"Yes.  Need sleep.  Collapse soon."
	"You two have been together for over a year now.  Is it still 
going well?"
	"Me need sleep.  Why you talk to me?"
	"Because you're here, and I've got insomnia," Rydell replied. 
 "Now talk."
	"Me and Pat fine.  You need help.  Goodnight."  They had 
arrived at Commander Dillon's quarters.  He entered his room 
leaving Rydell alone in the hallway.
	Before lapsing into unconsciousness, Dillon decided that he 
would have to find a different time to return to his rooms from 
Patricia's.

	Eight hours later, Commander Dillon walked onto the bridge 
wide awake and smiling happily.  He'd come to a decision that 
morning, a decision he would talk to Patricia about as soon as their 
shift was over.
	"Morning, Lieutenant," Dillon said to Hawkins as he headed 
down to his seat.
	"Good morning, Commander," she replied.  A quick look and a 
smile was all they would allow themselves on the bridge.
	"Status, Ensign," Dillon ordered as he sat down in the command 
chair.
	"We are maintaining our course to Ikanol Four," Ensign Andrea 
Carr reported from the operations console.  "All departments 
report normal status.  No communiques have been received in the 
last twelve hours."
	"Where is Captain Rydell?"
	"Most likely unconscious in the ready room," Carr said. 
 "At least that's were he was when I came on for my shift, and I'm 
pretty sure he didn't leave."
	"Thank you, Ensign," Dillon said smiling.  He stood up and 
walked over to the captain's ready room.  He thought about ringing 
the door chime, but thought better of it.  Instead, he 
knocked...loudly.
	Captain Rydell was jolted awake by several extremely loud 
booms.  At first, he thought the ship was under attack, but the red 
alert lights were not flashing.  The booming sounded again.  Rydell 
managed to triangulate its source to his door.
	"What?" he shouted groggily.  Commander Dillon walked in with 
a slight spring in his step.
	"Good morning.  Good morning.  Good morning," Dillon said 
happily.  "How are you this fine day?"
	"What time?"
	"Eleven hundred hours," Dillon replied.
	"Uggh.  Need more sleep."
	"Where have I heard that before?  Oh yes, from me...last 
night, and someone kept bothering me.  Who was that?  Oh, I 
remember.  It was you."
	"Go to hell, Dillon," Rydell mumbled.  "Up all night.  No 
sleep until nine."  Rydell put his head back down on his desk.
	"Why don't you go back to your quarters and get some real 
sleep?" Dillon asked.
	"Comfy right here."
	"I can have Lieutenant Vaughn beam you there.  I'm sure she'd 
even take your uniform off of you in transit."
	"Close mouth.  Get out."
	"Bridge to ready room," Lieutenant Hawkins' voice said over 
the comm system.
	"Dillon here.  Go ahead, Pat...I mean, Lieutenant."
	"I think you and the captain had better get in here," Hawkins 
said.
	"Not now," Rydell said.
	"This is pretty important."
	"We're on our way," Dillon said.  He walked behind the desk to 
Rydell and helped the captain get out of his chair.  Dillon draped 
Rydell's arm around his neck and walked him out of the ready room 
onto the bridge, attempting to keep Rydell steady as he went.  
Unfortunately, he wasn't succeeding.  Rydell kept slipping out of 
his grip towards the floor.  Finally, he wrapped both of Rydell's 
arms around his neck and hefted him onto his back.  Staggering 
under Rydell's weight, Dillon waddled out onto the bridge to the 
confused stares of the bridge crew.
	"He's asleep.  Give him a break," Dillon said.  He maneuvered 
Rydell over the command chair and dropped him into it.  Then, he 
collapsed into his own chair.  "What is it, Lieutenant?"
	"We just received three messages right in a row," Hawkins 
said.  "The first one is from Counselor Webber saying that they 
arrived safely on Yyns.  I'm going to play the other two for you." 
 Hawkins activated the playback on her console.
	"This is the Tantalus V Psychological Rehabilitation Colony.  
Yesterday afternoon, three patients escaped from our facility.  
These three are identified as Gruver, a Tellarite engineer; Rebecca 
Singer, a human female."  Rydell snapped wide awake and sat up in 
the command chair.  "...and Zero, a human male with advanced computer 
abilities.  They are all three considered to be dangerous and 
highly unstable.  Two of these patients have exhibited a fixation 
on Captain Alexander Rydell of the Federation Starship Secondprize.  Be 
on the look out for these escapees."
	Rydell sank back down in his chair.
	"Oh God," he mumbled softly.  "This is not good."
	"What was the third message?" Dillon asked.  Hawkins hit 
another button.
	"This message was specifically for you, Captain," Hawkins 
said.
	"This is Captain Benjamin Sisko of the Federation outpost Deep 
Space Nine.  Captain Rydell, I am sorry to inform you that earlier 
today, the Starship Defiant was stolen from Deep Space Nine by 
three escaped mental patients.  Our information suggests that they 
may be searching for you.  I hope this message gets to you in time, 
Captain.  Good luck, and please try to get our ship back without 
inflicting too much damage on it.  Sisko out."
	"So, three psychos have a heavily-armed starship, and they are 
looking for me," Rydell said.
	"That's about the size of it, sir," Hawkins replied.
	"Can I request a transfer now?" Lieutenant Emily Sullivan 
asked from the conn console.
	"Captain, we have a ship decloaking directly ahead," Hawkins 
shouted suddenly.  "It's the Defiant!"
	"Talk about timing," Sullivan said.
	"I think it's a little late for that transfer," Dillon said.
	"We're being hailed," Hawkins said.
	"On screen," Rydell said, standing up and straightening his 
uniform.  He was not looking forward to this.  The Defiant's image 
was replaced by the scowling face of Rebecca Singer.  As soon as she 
saw Rydell, she broke into a big smile.
	"Hi, Alex," Singer said happily.  "I've come for you, just 
like I always said I would."
	"You never said that, Rebecca," Rydell replied.  Singer thought 
for a moment, then shrugged.
	"Well, I always meant to say it.  Come away with me now, 
Alex.  I've found us a nice place to live."	
	"And where would that be?" Rydell asked, trying to force a 
smile.  Maybe he could talk to her enough that she wouldn't use the 
Defiant against them.
	"Oh, it's a place that you're familiar with, Captain," an 
uncomfortably familiar male voice said from off-screen.  Then, Zero 
walked into view beside Singer.  "It's called The Suburb."
	"Zero tells me that it's very nice," Singer said.
	"You don't really want to live there," Rydell said.  "It's 
so...empty.  But I've heard there are some lovely accommodations on 
Tantalus V that you would absolutely adore."
	"No, Alex dear.  I want us to live in The Suburb," Singer 
said.
	"You really should listen to your beloved, Rydell," Zero said, 
clearly enjoying the situation.
	"She's not my beloved," Rydell said angrily.
	"He's just maintaining an image in front of the rest of the 
crew," Singer said to Zero.  "You don't have to pretend anymore. 
 I know you love me, and I love you.  And there's nothing that evil 
bitch Beth Aldridge can do about it."  As she said her last 
sentence, Singer's voice went from congenial to full of hatred and 
malice.
	"There's nothing between us, Rebecca," Rydell said, trying to 
maintain his calm.  "You were a colleague, nothing more."
	"He's such a professional in front of his crew," Singer 
said.  "That's why I love him."
	"Rebecca, you don't love me," Rydell said.  "Now please, turn the 
Defiant over to me and let me take you back to Tantalus V."
	"And why should she listen to you?" Zero said.  "You're trying 
to keep her away from her one true love."
	"Stay out of this, Zero," Rydell said.
	"Be nice, Alex," Singer said.  "He's supplying our new 
home, dear.  Without him, how would we start our new life 
together?"
	"There's not going to be any new life together, Rebecca," Rydell 
said.  "This man is a dangerous..."
	"Psychopath?" Zero finished.  "Well, what a coincidence.  So 
is the good doctor here.  Maybe that's why we get along so well."
	"Zero," Rydell said. "I'm warning you..."
	"No, Rydell, I am warning you.  If you and Doctor Beth 
Aldridge do not beam over to the Defiant within the next three 
minutes, I will open fire and you will all die."



	Chapter Seven

	The temple hovercar twisted and turned through the streets of 
Cageria as Aldridge and Webber looked out the windows at the Yynsian 
city.  Residential and commercial districts flashed by.  Then, they 
passed a large university campus followed by several research labs 
and medical facilities.  All in all, it was just like any number of 
Federation worlds except for the two giant buildings looming over 
the skyline.
	"How was your trip?" P'Guk asked.
	"Fine," Aldridge said.  "Just your average journey."
	"Glad to hear it, not that you should have had anything too 
eventful happen around this area of space.  It's pretty quiet 
around here."
	"Hey, are you two hungry?" T'Wer asked.  
	"Actually, I haven't eaten since we left the Secondprize ten 
hours ago," Webber said. 
	"We could stop and get something," P'Guk said.  "There's a 
great restaurant just a little ways ahead."
	"In case you've forgotten, there's a man in your trunk," Aldridge 
said irritated.
	"He's not going anywhere," P'Guk said.  "And if it makes you 
more comfortable, we can sit him at the table with us."
	"I don't believe this," Aldridge said.
	"If you don't want to eat, we can head straight to the 
temple," T'Wer said.  "But I'm warning you, the bread and soup 
there leaves much to be desired."
	"Come on, Beth.  This may be the only chance we're going 
to get," Webber said.
	"Claire, you're supposed to be the one caring about Jaroch's 
psychological welfare here," Aldridge said.
	"At the moment, Jaroch isn't thinking about much of anything, but 
I am thinking about getting something to eat.  We haven't had anything in 
hours.  At this rate, our psychological welfare is going to be in 
danger."
	"Fine.  Fine," Aldridge said.  "But let's make this quick."
	"No problems there.  Yynsian cafes are known for their speed," 
P'Guk said.  She turned down a side street and pulled up beside a 
small sidewalk cafe.  Only a couple of the café's fifteen tables 
were occupied with patrons enjoying a late lunch.  Upon sighting 
the temple vehicle, they all stood up and extended their hands, 
holding up different numbers of fingers.
	"What are they doing?" Aldridge asked.
	"Oh, they're just showing us how many past lives they have 
registered.  It's one of those ceremony things," T'Wer said.  "It's 
show time."  He and P'Guk pulled their hoods up and exited the 
hover-vehicle followed by Aldridge and Webber.
	"Return to your repasts, multiple ones, so that you may 
nourish yourself and the many souls that reside within you," P'Guk 
announced solemnly.  The crowd briefly applauded, then sat down to 
return to their meals.  P'Guk and T'Wer led Webber and Aldridge to a 
table, sat down, and removed their hoods.
	"What about that whole ceremony thing?" Aldridge said.
	"It's over now," T'Wer said.  A man walked over to the table 
and placed his hand on T'Wer's shoulder.
	"Did you catch the kerdis match last night?" the man said.
	"Are you kidding?" T'Wer replied.  "Of course, I saw it."
	"Damn, I was hoping you missed it."
	"What?  And not be able to collect on our bet?  I don't think 
so," T'Wer said.  The man sighed and handed T'Wer a small credit 
tube.  T'Wer pulled his own credit tube out of his robe and quickly 
preformed the transaction.
	"I'll get you next time," the man said.
	"Not likely," T'Wer said smiling.  "I haven't lost a bet this 
season."  The man groaned and returned to his seat.
	"Your society has developed a very clear separation of 
religious and social functions," Webber commented.
	"Thank you," T'Wer said smiling.

	T'Mak walked the streets of Cageria trying to come up with a 
plan to locate his nemesis.  Finding J'Ter's current body in a city 
of ten million people was going to be a bit of a challenge.  He had 
to think clearly.  Pushing aside his millennia-old rage, T'Mak 
allowed Truk's mind to regain a portion of control.  This Jaroch that 
J'Ter was in was a Starfleet officer.  Why would a Starfleet 
officer come to Yyns?  There were many possibilities.  What about 
family?  Truk tried to recall the information on Jaroch.  
Parents...lived in the Farderas Mountains.  Sister...Priestess of 
the Temple of Mi Clane.  Perhaps Jaroch was headed there.  At the very 
least, the sister could be persuaded to divulge her brother's 
travel plans.  Satisfied with his course of action, T'Mak walked on 
headed towards the two great spires looming over Cageria.

	"So, I take it neither of you have been to Yyns before," T'Wer 
said after swallowing the last bit of his lunch.
	"Correct," Aldridge said poking through the strangely shaped bits 
of food in her meal in an attempt to find something that she 
recognized.
	"But we're really enjoying it," Webber said, her mouth still 
half-full.  She was digging in to the Yynsian cuisine with no 
hesitation.
	"I don't suppose this place serves steak," Aldridge said.
	"The Yynsian diet is rather light on meat," P'Guk said.  "Many 
of us find it disturbing to eat creatures that we could have been 
related to in a past life."
	"What about replicated meat?" Aldridge asked.  "It never lived."
	"We don't use replicators for food really," P'Guk said.  "It 
just doesn't taste as good.  I can go talk to the chef if you'd 
like.  They probably have a replicator back there for dishes and 
such.  I'm sure we could whip up something more...Earth-like."
	"Thanks," Aldridge said.  P'Guk finished the last of her drink 
and walked into the kitchen area of the cafe.
	"So this is why you never get invited to diplomatic dinners," 
Webber said.
	"Captain Rydell and I have an understanding," Aldridge said.  "He 
doesn't make me go to those things where I'd have to eat strange 
food, and I make sure that no unfortunate medical accidents befall 
him."
	"Sounds like extortion to me," T'Wer said smiling.
	"That's because it is," Aldridge said.  A few moments later, 
P'Guk emerged from the kitchen empty handed.
	"They can't help you," she said.  "But we have a replicator at 
the temple you can use."
	"That would be fine," Aldridge said.  "I'd like to get Jaroch out of 
stasis soon anyway."  The group of four returned to the hovercar 
and set off for the temple.

	"This is a really long walk," Truk's mind said.
	"Quiet, puny mortal," T'Mak said.  "It builds character."

	The hovercar descended into an underground parking facility 
beneath the Temple of Mi Clane a few minutes later.  T'Wer and 
P'Guk put their hoods back on and got Jaroch out of the trunk with an 
anti-grav unit.  Aldridge and Webber followed the two acolytes as they 
pushed the bubble-encased Jaroch towards a small elevator.
	After a short ascent, the group emerged in a small, chapel-
like room.  A dark haired woman in flowing white robes trimmed with 
gold was standing at the front of the chapel with her back to them. 
 Her arms were raised toward the ceiling as she spoke softly.  
After a short time, she completed her ritual and turned around.  
Upon seeing the newcomers, she broke into a run.
	"Shut it off," she yelled.
	"Yes, Priestess," P'Guk and T'Wer said in unison.  They 
quickly pulled their stasis controls out of their robes and 
deactivated the stasis field surrounding Jaroch.  The last vestige of 
the bubble dematerialized just as the woman reached Jaroch, throwing 
her arms around him, her face full of delight.
	"Oh, brother, you've come home!  I've wanted this for so 
long," she said.  Jaroch was too stunned to speak at first.  He blinked 
several times and shook his head as he regained his faculties after 
the time in stasis.
	"I am glad to see you as well, P'Tal," Jaroch said.
	"Warm and fuzzy as ever.  Who are your friends?" P'Tal asked.
	"This is Doctor Beth Aldridge and Counselor Claire Webber, two 
of my colleagues from the Secondprize.  I have asked them here to 
assist in The Seratch," Jaroch said.
	"Which one will serve as your Tersu?"
	"Counselor Webber...if she agrees," Jaroch replied.  Webber's eyes 
widened in surprise and confusion.
	"I...I guess," she said.
	"Thank you, Counselor," Jaroch said.  "Doctor Aldridge will monitor 
my health."
	"Very good," P'Tal said.  "T'Wer, P'Guk, show Jaroch's friends to 
their rooms and take care of any needs that they may have."
	"Yes, Priestess," the acolytes said, bowing.  "Please follow 
us."  They led Aldridge and Webber out of the chapel.
	"So, tell me, Jaroch, what brought this on?" P'Tal asked.
	"This visit?  I am experiencing The Seratch.  Without your 
assistance in the emergence of this new past life, I could die."	
	"Cut the avoiding the issue with facts crap," P'Tal said.  
"What happened to you that started a Seratch?"
	"I do not know what you are talking about."
	"You know, you've become incredibly annoying since you left 
Yyns."
	"Insults will do nothing to help my situation," Jaroch said.
	"And avoiding my question won't help you any either," P'Tal 
retorted.  "The Seratch is only brought on by some kind of mental 
trauma.  When you were nervous about passing your entrance exam to 
the Vulcan Science Academy, Jarl emerged.  Before that, T'Mer 
emerged when you were taking your physics proficiency tests.  
Before that..."	
	"You have made your point, sister," Jaroch said.
	"Good.  Now what is going on, Jaroch?  I am your sister and your 
priestess.  I can help you."
	"Captain Rydell said something very similar to me recently," 
Jaroch said.
	"You are avoiding the question again," P'Tal said.
	"All right," Jaroch said, taking a deep breath and walking over to 
one of the pews to sit down.  P'Tal sat down next to him, taking 
his hands in hers.
	"Whatever it is, you can tell me," she said, smiling kindly.
	"Well, there is this woman..."



	Chapter Eight

	The ominous image of the Defiant hovered menacingly on the 
Secondprize's viewscreen.  Zero had cut off communications as soon 
as he delivered his ultimatum to Captain Rydell.  They now had just 
under three minutes to do something.
	"I don't suppose they'd just leave if we told them that Doctor 
Aldridge was not on board," Commander Dillon said.
	"Probably not," Rydell said.  He turned to Lieutenant Hawkins. 
 "How would we do in a fire-fight against the Defiant?"
	"Assuming that all of their weapons are on line and we stay at 
this range, our shields would be down in less than a minute...if 
they even gave us an opportunity to raise our shields."
	"Never mind," Rydell said.  "Bridge to engineering."
	"Baird here," Commander Scott Baird, the Secondprize's chief 
engineer replied.
	"We are about to get blasted by the Defiant, Commander," 
Rydell said.  "I need some options."
	"Aren't they on our side?" Baird said, obviously annoyed at the 
thought of being blown up by another Federation ship.
	"It's been hijacked by Doctor Singer," Rydell replied.
	"F***!  How did she..."
	"We really don't have time for this," Rydell said quickly.  
"We can't out-fight them at this range, and if we try to move away, 
they'll open fire.  I need options."
	"What do they want?"
	"Me and Doctor Aldridge," Rydell replied. 
	"Well, beam yourself over there and take a map to Yyns with 
you," Baird said.  "Otherwise, we're dead."
	"There's got to be something we can do," Rydell said.  "Can't 
we..."  An idea suddenly presented itself to Rydell.  It was 
bizarre, but maybe...  "Commander Baird, can we go to warp in 
reverse?"
	"What?"
	"I need warp one backwards in two minutes, or we're all dead," 
Rydell said.
	"Somebody up there assume command," Baird said.  "The captain's 
gone bonkers."
	"Can it be done?"
	"Yeah, if we put the nacelles on backwards," Baird said.
	"Baird!"
	"Okay.  Okay.  Let me think.  Got it!  I am the f***ing man!"
	"Not until you get us out of this," Rydell said.  "Get to it."
	"I'll let you know when I'm ready.  Baird out."
	"I sure hope he knows what he's doing," Lieutenant Hawkins 
said.

	"Now, Doctor, we have a lot of work to do and very little time 
in which to accomplish it," Zero said, walking over to a console on 
the left side of the Defiant's bridge.
	"What do you mean?" Singer asked, confused.
	"If there is one thing I have learned in my prior dealings 
with Rydell, it is not to underestimate the resourcefulness of him 
or his crew," Zero said.  "Therefore, as a precaution, I want to 
break into the Secondprize's computer system, ascertain the exact 
positions of Rydell and Doctor Aldridge, and be prepared to beam them 
out if Rydell tries anything."
	"Why not just take him now?" Singer asked.  Zero looked at 
her and smiled.  
	"That wouldn't be fair, my dear," he replied.  "We villains 
have to have a certain code of conduct."
	"Oh...okay," Singer said.
	"Now then, I need you to tell me everything you know about the 
Secondprize's computer."
 
	Another minute ticked by.  Rydell was starting to fear that he 
was going to have to give in to Zero and Singer's demands.  Of 
course, he still couldn't produce Dr. Aldridge.
	"Uh...Captain?" Ensign Carr said hesitantly from the 
operations console.
	"What is it, Ensign?" Rydell asked testily.
	"I think something's wrong."
	"There are a lot of somethings wrong right now," Rydell said. 
 "Could you be a bit less vague?"
	"Well, I'm monitoring some strange activity in the computer 
core," Carr said.
	"What kind of activity?"
	"I'm not sure."
	"Well, you had better figure it out in a hurry," Rydell said. 
 "In another minute or so, it's not going to matter."

	"We're in," Zero said.  "Captain Rydell is on the bridge.  
Surprise, surprise.  And Doctor Aldridge is...not on the Secondprize."
	"No!" Singer screamed.  "Where is she?"
	"I don't know," Zero said.  "Rydell could just be hiding her. 
 Don't panic.  But start downloading everything you can from their 
logs from the past couple of weeks.  We will find her."

	After what seemed like an eternity, the turbolift doors at the 
rear of the bridge finally opened.  Commander Baird stepped out and 
walked over to the deactivated engineering console along the bridge's 
rear wall.
	"Computer, transfer engineering control to this station," Baird 
said.  The console lit up, showing several schematics of the 
Secondprize and its warp field.
	"What are you doing up here?" Rydell asked.
	"I felt like getting out," Baird said.  "I don't come up here 
very often.  Besides, if we're about to get blown to hell, I want 
to see the fight."
	"Captain, the Defiant is hailing us," Hawkins said.
	"Time's up, Commander," Rydell said to Baird.  "Please tell me 
you're ready."
	"Anytime, but all this is going to do is get us out of here 
and majorly f*** up the deflector dish.  I've got a crew standing 
by to begin repairs on the dish as soon as we activate it, but 
until it's fixed, we have to run with shields up at all times," 
Baird said. 
	"I don't think that will be a problem, Commander," Rydell 
replied.  "Hawkins, as soon as we hit reverse, arm all weapons and 
raise the shields."
	"Aye, sir," Hawkins said.
	"Let's give this a shot.  Open a channel, Lieutenant," Rydell 
said.  Zero's face appeared on the viewscreen.
	"Well, Captain, have you come to grips with the inevitable?" 
Zero asked.  "Or would you prefer it if I went back to calling you 
Number 38.2?"
	"Captain is fine," Rydell said.  
	"Beam yourself and Aldridge over now," Zero said.
	"Nah, I don't feel like it," Rydell said.  "Now, Commander."
	Almost immediately, the deflector dish emitted a blinding 
flash as it produced a static warp bubble between the two ships.  
Zero's image vanished from the viewscreen.
	"The Defiant is preparing to fire!" Hawkins screamed.
	"Hold on!" Baird shouted.  The warp bubble exploded, bombarding 
both ships with its effects.  The crew of the Secondprize was 
thrown forward as the ship sailed backwards at warp speed.  A 
moment later, it was over.
	"Status on the Defiant," Rydell ordered.
	"They are now two light years away from us," Hawkins said.  
"They appear to have been shaken up a bit."
	"I would hope so," Rydell said.  "How are we?"
	"The deflector dish is toast, but other than that, we're 
fine," Baird said.  "The effects of the explosion hit them more than 
us."
	"Good work, Commander," Rydell said.  "Weapons status."
	"All weapons are armed and ready.  Shields are up," Hawkins 
said.  "And the Defiant is heading toward us."
	"Great."

	"What the hell did he do?" Zero shouted.
	"We didn't catch the ball," Gruver said from the helm console.
	"What ball?"
	"The bad man threw a static warp ball at us and we didn't 
catch it, so it blew up," Gruver replied.
	"Damage?"
	"Shields are weaky-peaky and phasers are only halfy-wafy, but 
photons and engines are finey-winey."
	"Goody-woody," Zero said.  "Full ahead.  We're still more than 
a match for them."  Suddenly, Singer screamed.  "What is it?" 
Zero snapped.
	"The bitch is gone!" Singer replied.  "She left yesterday to 
go to Yyns."	

	"Captain, I just figured out what was wrong with the 
computer," Carr said.  "Somebody on the Defiant was accessing 
it."
	"Perfect!" Rydell shouted.  "What'd they get?"  Zero could 
have discovered their prefix code by now which would give him 
control of the Secondprize.
	"They checked where you and Doctor Aldridge were, then downloaded 
transfer files," Carr said.
	"Because they couldn't find, Aldridge," Rydell said.  "Hawkins, 
send a message to Yyns warning Doctor Aldridge of the situation."
	"It's on its way."
	"Uh, Captain, I hate to interrupt," Commander Dillon said.  
"But the Defiant's still closing."
	"Believe me, I know.  Hawkins, put the tactical display up on 
the viewscreen and stand by to fire."  A grid showing the relative 
positions of the Secondprize and the Defiant appeared on the 
screen.  Rydell watched the distance between the two ships shrink 
rapidly.
	"Ahead full impulse," Rydell ordered suddenly.  "Commence 
firing."  The Secondprize's engines hummed a little louder as the 
ship shot forward.  A barrage of phaser fire and photon torpedoes 
streaked away in front of the ship.
	"Several impacts on the Defiant's shields," Hawkins reported.
	"Should I slow down?" Lieutenant Sullivan asked.
	"Definitely not," Rydell said.  "Hawkins, as soon as we're 
past them, fire another volley."  On the viewscreen, the 
Secondprize's symbol passed right over the Defiant's and continued 
onward.
	"They're returning fire," Hawkins reported.  "Photons only."
	"Sixty degree ascent," Rydell ordered.  Sullivan quickly 
punched in the command.  Everyone was pulled back as the ship 
strained to execute the sharp climb.  Then, the Secondprize rocked 
violently.
	"One impact, five misses," Hawkins said.  "Shields are 
holding."

	"Damn!" Zero screamed as the Secondprize avoided his torpedo 
volley.  "I hate you, Rydell!"
	"Zero, cool it," Singer said, uncharacteristically calm.  
Zero saw a vacant, slightly demonic look in her eyes.  "I will 
handle this."
	"But the Secondprize is right here?" Zero insisted.
	"And they are pummeling the crap out of us," Singer said.  
"Aren't they, Gruver?"
	"Yes, Rebecca.  One hundred percent correct.  Very good.  You get 
a gold star."
	"Cloak and get us back to the Verolas belt," Singer ordered. 
 "We're going to have to take a different approach."
	"And what approach is that?" Zero said.
	"We're going to take care of Alex's problems at the source," 
Singer said smiling as she sat down in the command chair.  "Don't 
worry, Alex baby, Doctor Rebecca knows what's wrong and just how to 
fix it."



	Chapter Nine

	Counselor Claire Webber sat uncomfortably on the bed of the room 
that had been assigned to her as T'Wer busied himself tidying and 
checking the dressers.  Webber hated just sitting there while 
someone else did everything for her, especially since she didn't 
know what exactly was being done.  Jaroch's request for her to be his 
Tersu had caught her off guard.  For one thing, she had no idea 
what a Tersu was or what it was she was supposed to do in the 
Seratch.
	"That should do it," T'Wer said finally.  "You will find the 
appropriate attire for the ceremony in the top drawer of the 
dresser.  There are more casual garments in the other drawers.  
Would you like me to assist you in changing clothes?"
	"What?"
	"As a Tersu, you are assigned an acolyte to see to your needs. 
 I was assigned to you."
	"I see.  Well, thanks, but I think I'll get dressed on my own. 
 No offense, but we just haven't known each other long enough yet," 
Webber said.
	"Fair enough," T'Wer said.  "I will be right outside if you 
need anything."
	"OK."
	"I'm serious.  Anything at all, and I'll come running."
	"I understand."
	"Don't hesitate to ask."
	"I won't."
	"All right," T'Wer said, moving toward the door.  "I'm right 
out here."
	"I know."
	"Just making sure," T'Wer said, then he left, leaving Webber in 
peace.

	Doctor Beth Aldridge said on her bed munching happily on a 
sandwich that P'Guk had gotten for her.
	"Does that satisfy your human palette a bit more?" P'Guk 
asked.
	"Yes!  Thank you, thank you, thank you," Aldridge said.
	"Good.  Enjoy your room.  There's some clothes in the dresser 
if you feel like changing," P'Guk said.  She headed out of the 
door.
	"Wait," Aldridge said.  "What am I supposed to do?"
	"Your guess is as good as mine," P'Guk said.  "You aren't 
actually involved in the ceremony, so you serve no purpose.  I'm 
sure that you'll find some way to keep busy, though.  Take a nap or 
something."  With that, P'Guk left Aldridge alone in a strange room 
with no idea where her friends were.

	Webber had just about gotten into the layers of robes that were 
considered casual wear when there was a knock on the door.
	"I'm fine, T'Wer.  Just leave me alone," she said.  Actually, 
despite their bulk, the robes were very comfortable and easy to 
move about in.  She never would have guessed that from the amount 
of trouble she went into to get into them.
	"I am not T'Wer," Jaroch said as he entered the room.
	"Jaroch!  I'm sorry.  I didn't realize..."
	"That is quite all right," Jaroch replied, taking a seat in a 
chair on the far side of the room.  "Yynsian apparel suits you."
	"Thank you," Webber replied, smiling at the unexpected 
compliment from Jaroch and doing a quick turn in her robes.  "I like 
them."
	"Good."
	"Was there something in particular you needed?" Webber asked.
	"I thought that now would be a good time to explain your role 
in The Seratch."
	"Definitely," Webber said, sitting down on the bed.
	"As Tersu, you are to accompany my mind as it travels."
	"I don't understand."
	"The priestess, my sister, will be leading my mind through the 
past in order to discover where the breach is that my undiscovered 
past existence is trying push through.  This can be a traumatic 
experience as unfamiliar images flood my mind in no particular 
order.  The Tersu is there to provide stability and comfort to the 
mind experiencing the Seratch while my sister guides the journey."
	"Wow, Jaroch, this is..."
	"Very important to me," Jaroch interrupted.  "You have assisted me 
in the past, and I have found your efforts to be both helpful and 
comforting.  That is why I have asked you to help me now."
	"I would be honored," Webber said, genuinely flattered.  "That 
is so sweet that you would ask me."  She leapt off of the bed and 
picked Jaroch up out of his chair in a big bear hug.
	"Think nothing of it," Jaroch gasped.

	T'Mak stood outside of the Temple of Mi Clane deliberating his 
next course of action.  The odds of finding one person inside the 
massive temple were slim at best.  Truk's estimates of the odds did 
not concern T'Mak, however.  He pushed Truk's consciousness back down 
and surveyed the structure again.  It was not a question of whether 
or not he would find the sister of Jaroch; it was just a question of 
which door he would enter the building through.  At the moment, the 
front door looked as good as any of them.
	The large golden doors moved aside automatically at T'Mak's 
approach.  He walked inside and found himself and a large lobby 
area with doors leading off in every direction.  A robed acolyte 
seated at a desk in the lobby stood up and walked over to him.
	"Welcome to the Temple of Mi Clane.  How may I assist you?"
	"I am looking for someone," T'Mak replied.
	"Interior or exterior."
	"What?"
	"Is this person a past life that you wish to contact, or are 
you looking for a presently living individual?"
	"I am looking for a priestess!" T'Mak said, his patience 
wearing thin.
	"I believe that all of our priestesses are busy right now, but 
I may be able to get you in to see a priest.  Polem Jeek is free.  What 
shall I say that this is about?"
	"I want J'Ter!" T'Mak shouted.  "You will take me to his 
sister!"
	"I'm afraid that I have absolutely no clue who you are talking 
about.  There is no J'Ter here."
	"Of course there isn't, you stupid mortal!  J'Ter is long 
dead.  I seek his current body."
	"Then what..."
	"Shut up!  You will take me to the sister of Jaroch.  She is a 
priestess here!"
	"Do you know her name by any chance?"
	"No!"
	"Then, I don't think I can help you.  Come back when you..."
	Not waiting for the desk clerk to finish his sentence, T'Mak 
picked the man up and hurled him into the wall.
	"That was unnecessary," the man gasped, then fell into 
unconsciousness.
	"That's your opinion, puny mortal," T'Mak said.  He then 
randomly chose a door and opened it revealing a staircase.  
Deciding that this was as good of a place to start as any, T'Mak 
began climbing.

	"That's it!" Aldridge said to her empty room.  She had been 
sitting alone and bored for the better part of an hour, and she had 
had enough.  Determined to find something to keep her occupied, she 
walked out into the hallway.

	The staircase led T'Mak up to a short hallway.  Down the hall, 
was another set of stairs leading farther upward.  He was about to 
head toward the other stairs when a door opened along the hallway, 
and a woman walked out.  She was dressed in strange clothing that 
T'Mak did not recognize.  He allowed Truk back up a moment to 
identify it.
	"It is a Starfleet uniform," Truk's mind told him.  "Jaroch is in 
Starfleet."
	"Then, perhaps he is with her," T'Mak thought.  This was 
turning out better that he had hoped.  The woman spotted him 
standing at the top of the stairs and walked over to him.
	"Hey, is there anything to do in this place?" she asked him.
	"What do you mean?" T'Mak asked, caught off guard.
	"I'm bored.  Oh, never mind."  The woman pushed past him and 
headed down the stairs.  Seizing his opportunity, T'Mak ran into 
the room that the woman just exited.  It was empty except for a 
grey case sitting on the bed.  T'Mak opened it, spilling out its 
contents.  Several unfamiliar devices fell onto the bed.
	"What are these?" he asked Truk's mind as he picked the items 
up one by one.
	"Medical tools," Truk replied.  "Except for this one," he 
added when T'Mak had picked up a small, rectangular object.  "This 
is a weapon called a phaser."
	"A weapon?" T'Mak said.  "But it is so small."
	"Yes, but it fires a powerful beam of energy that destroys 
anything in its path."
	"Phaser.  I like it," T'Mak said.  He quickly threw the other 
items back in the case, closed it, and left the room.

	Doctor Aldridge walked down the long staircase and out into a 
lobby area.  At first, she thought it was deserted, then she 
noticed a man slumped against the far wall.  Cursing herself for 
leaving her med-kit up in her room, she rushed over to help the 
man.  He was unconscious and bleeding slightly from a gash in the 
back of his head, but he would be all right for the short time it 
would take her to get her med-kit.
	Aldridge ran upstairs to her room, quickly grabbed her kit, and 
raced back downstairs.  She opened the case beside the unconscious 
man and found everything in disarray.
	"What the hell?" she said angrily.  The man groaned painfully 
drawing her attention away from what had happened to her med-kit.  
Aldridge rummaged through the mess in her case until she found the 
necessary equipment and set to work helping the injured man.  
Several minutes later, he had regained consciousness and, despite a 
mild concussion, seemed to be doing fine.
	"What happened?" Aldridge asked.
	"A man...he was looking for the sister of someone named J'Ter. 
 I could not help him, so he attacked me."
	Aldridge remembered the man she saw on the stairs and feared the 
worst.  He hadn't been dressed in temple robes, and he was near her 
room.  Maybe he had been the one who messed up her med-kit, but 
why?  A sudden realization shot a cold flash through her entire 
body.  She quickly emptied out her case and rummaged frantically 
through the equipment.  It wasn't there!
	"Aldridge to Jaroch," she said, tapping her commbadge.
	"Jaroch here, Doctor."
	"We've got a problem.  There's a man in the temple looking for 
your sister, but I think he may be after you."
	"Please explain."
	"He attacked the guy in the lobby demanding to see J'Ter's 
sister.  He didn't know her name, though."
	"This could be very bad."
	"It already is very bad.  He went into my room while I was out 
and took my phaser out of my med-kit," Aldridge said.
	"Thank you for the information, Doctor," Jaroch said.
	"What are you going to do?" Aldridge demanded.
	"Go to my sister.  The Seratch is scheduled to begin in less 
than an hour, and it cannot be delayed.  We will go ahead as 
planned, and if this man shows himself, we will deal with him."
	"You're awfully calm considering some guy may be trying to 
kill you," Aldridge said.
	"Would you prefer that I panic and run away screaming in 
fear?"
	"No, but a little concern wouldn't hurt."
	"If this man is looking to kill J'Ter, he is the one who 
should be concerned.  Jaroch out."
	"Damn cocky bastard," Aldridge muttered.
	


Chapter Ten

	"Captain's Log.  Stardate 51545.9.  We have been searching for 
the Defiant for the last several hours.  Normally, attempting to 
find a cloaked ship would be pretty close to hopeless, but 
fortunately, we damaged the Defiant's cloak during our brief 
skirmish.  It was not enough to render the cloak ineffective, but 
it is now leaking intermittent bursts of ions from the ship's 
engines.  From this ion trail, we have been able to track the 
Defiant's movements while we continue repairs to our deflector 
dish, but we are still a long way from discovering the Defiant's 
exact position."

	"Lieutenant, how long have you been on the bridge?" Commander 
Dillon asked Lieutenant Hawkins.
	"Excuse me, sir?"
	"How many hours straight have you been on shift?"
	"I don't know...six."
	"Try nine and a half," Dillon said.  "Go get some rest."
	"Sir...I..."
	"We're just following bread-crumbs right now.  We need you to 
be fully alert when we actually catch up to the Defiant.  The 
Captain went to bed, so should you."
	"I agree, but you've been up here almost as long as I have.  
Shouldn't you get some rest yourself?" Hawkins asked.
	"Good point," Dillon said.  Dillon looked around the bridge, 
trying to decide who to leave in command.  A moment later, 
Lieutenant Emily Sullivan, who was just coming back on shift after 
a seven hour break, walked out of a turbolift.  "Lieutenant 
Sullivan, you have the bridge.  Let me know if anything happens."  
Dillon got out of the command chair and followed Hawkins to the 
turbolift.
	"Where are you two going?" Sullivan asked.
	"To sleep," Hawkins said.
	"We've been on shift for almost ten hours straight," Dillon 
added.  "We have to rest too, you know."  The turbolift doors closed, 
cutting off the conversation.
	"You think they're going to sleep?" Sullivan asked Ensign 
Kreiger, who was on shift at operations.
	"Not a chance," Kreiger replied.

	The turbolift stopped on deck seven, and Dillon and Hawkins 
exited to head towards their individual quarters.
	"Well, I'll see you in a few hours, Travis," Hawkins said.
	"Yeah, see you then," Dillon replied.  Neither of them moved.
	"This is so childish!" Hawkins said finally.
	"Definitely," Dillon said.
	"We are two adults here.  We have separate quarters, but we do 
not have to always feel obligated to stay in them."
	"Exactly," Dillon said.  "So...would you like to come to my 
room and sleep over?"
	"I'd love to," Hawkins said smiling.  She wrapped her arm 
around Dillon's, and the two of them walked back to his quarters.

	The Defiant entered the Verolas asteroid belt and slowed to a 
stop next to the Lokaloc and the Centrum.  On the bridge, Singer 
walked over to the engineering console where Gruver sat humming 
happily.
	"What is our condition?"
	"Okey-dokey," Gruver said.
	"Define okey-dokey," Zero said from across the bridge.
	"Everything's exactly the way it was when we stopped 
fighting."
	"You haven't fixed anything!" Singer shouted.  "What have 
you been doing over here for the last several hours?"
	"Keeping everything okey-dokey.  I can't make the ship better 
without bigger tools."
	"So we're still fighting at half strength?"
	"Yes, but the engines are perfecto," Gruver said smiling.
	"Good enough.  Where we're going, we probably won't be getting 
in many fights anyway," Singer said.  "Now then, Zero, it is time 
for you to hold up your part of our deal."
	"What do you mean?" Zero said, shifting uncomfortably in his 
seat.  He was not sure that he liked this more assertive Singer. 
 She was better unstable.  At least then he was in control.
	"You said you'd kill Beth Aldridge for me.  She's on Yyns, so 
you have to go to Yyns," Singer said.
	"What about Rydell?"
	"Alex will be mine.  Don't you worry.  I won't let anything 
stop me.  By the time you get back, he and I will be ready to live 
together in The Suburb."
	"What makes you so sure?" Zero said.
	"Just call it...women's intuition," Singer said smiling.

	Captain Rydell walked onto the bridge feeling like a new man. 
 As soon as the crisis with the Defiant had been diverted, his 
fatigue slammed into him like a freighter.  He'd gone back to his 
quarters to get some sleep, and now, after several hours, was 
feeling much better.
	He stepped out of the turbolift and found Lieutenant Sullivan 
sitting in the command chair.  Ensigns were monitoring the conn and 
the tactical consoles.
	"Where is everybody?" Rydell asked.
	"Commander Dillon and Lieutenant Hawkins went to get some rest 
so that they would be awake and refreshed when we found the 
Defiant," Sullivan said.
	"Is that sarcasm I'm detecting in your voice?" Rydell asked.
	"From me?  Never," Sullivan said.  "The bridge is yours."  She 
went back to the helm allowing Rydell to take the command chair.
	"I've got another ion emission matching the Defiant's engine 
signature," Ensign Kreiger reported from ops.  "It's in the same 
position as the last one."
	"The same?  They must have stopped," Rydell said.  "Where is 
it?"	
	"The Verolas asteroid belt," Kreiger said.  "Wait!  A ship 
just decloaked in that position.  It's got to be them."
	"We're on a course there now," Sullivan said.  "ETA...twenty 
minutes."
	"Red alert," Rydell said.  "All senior officers to the 
bridge."

	The red alert klaxon went off, shaking Dillon out of a very 
sound sleep.  He snapped to attention the second that he realized 
what had awakened him.  Cursing himself, Dillon raced to throw his 
uniform on.  He must be getting old.  A year ago, when a red alert 
was sounded, he was halfway to the bridge before he woke up fully. 
 It was a reflex.  Now...now was different.  Turning back to his 
bed, he remembered why things were different.  Patricia Hawkins.
	"Pat, get up," Dillon said, shaking her gently.
	"Five more minutes," she mumbled.
	"Sorry, no can do."
	"Oh God.  Red alert," Hawkins said, sitting up in bed 
suddenly.
	"Bingo," Dillon said.  "I'll meet you on the bridge."  He 
finished straightening his uniform and raced out of the room.  
Hawkins sighed and started pulling herself together.  Duty called, 
and Dillon didn't have the common decency to wait for her.

	"What's going on?" Dillon asked as he walked onto the bridge.
	"Have a nice nap?" Rydell asked.
	"Slept like a rock," Dillon said.
	"Heavy exertion will do that to you," Sullivan said.
	"Excuse me?"
	"Never mind, Commander," Rydell said.  "We're getting very 
close to the Defiant."  The turbolift doors opened again, and 
Lieutenant Hawkins charged out onto the bridge.
	"What's going on?" she said.
	"Time for the instant replay," Sullivan said.  "Do you want it 
with the smart comments or without?"
	"Without," Hawkins said.
	"Okay, but it's not nearly as interesting this way," Sullivan 
said.
	"I'll suffer," Hawkins replied.
	"Considering who you're dating, I'm sure you already are," 
Sullivan muttered.
	"What?" Hawkins and Dillon said.
	"Nothing," Sullivan said innocently.
	"We're closing in on the Defiant," Dillon said.
	"Thank you," Hawkins said.
	"Well, now that the floor show's over, can we get ready for 
battle?" Rydell said.
	"Do we have to?  This is more fun," Sullivan said.
	"Sullivan!"
	"Aye, sir," Sullivan said.  "But I guarantee that combat won't 
be nearly as entertaining."

	"I'm ready for departure," Zero's voice reported over the comm 
system.  Singer almost didn't hear him as she watched the 
Secondprize's approach on the scanners. 
	"Understood," Singer said.  "Wait until we fire to leave."
	"Fire?  What are you firing at?"
	"I'm trying to cover your departure so Alex won't notice," 
Singer said. 
	"Got it," Zero said.  "Centrum out."
	"Fire a volley of torpedoes, full spread," Singer ordered.
	"Bye bye, little torpedoes," Gruver said as he pressed the 
fire button.

	"The Defiant is firing," Hawkins said.
	"At what?  We're way out of range," Rydell said.
	"I have no idea," Hawkins said not noticing the sensor contact 
quickly speeding out of range.

	"The Centrum is gone," Gruver said.  "Have a nice trip, Zero."
	"Get us out of here," Singer said.
	"Where to?"
	"Sector zero zero one."
	"Isn't that where Earth is?"
	"Very good, Gruver"
	"What are we going to do there?"
	"Take care of Alex's reluctance to be with me once and for 
all," Singer said.

	"The Defiant is making a break for it," Hawkins said.  "And 
they aren't activating their cloak."
	"What the hell?"
	"It does use up a lot of power, sir," Dillon said.
	"Well, if Singer and Zero think they're going to outrun us, 
they've got another thing coming," Rydell said.  "After them!"



	Chapter Eleven

	Doctor Aldridge entered the small chapel where The Seratch was to 
take place and was surprised to find the room empty.  Jaroch had said 
that the ceremony was going to begin shortly.  Where the hell were 
they?
	A blur of movement off to her left told her that the chapel 
wasn't quite as deserted as she thought.  She turned her head 
slowly, hoping that someone friendly was standing over there.  No 
such luck.  It was the man she had seen on the stairs.
	"Nice day, isn't it?" she said, trying to not sound like she 
was in fear of her life.
	"Not yet," the man replied, an evil smile spreading across his 
face.
	"I don't believe we've met.  My name's Doctor Beth Aldridge," 
she said.  "I'm in Starfleet.  You know, Starfleet.  That 
organization that severely prosecutes anyone who harms any of their 
personnel.  And you are?"
	"T'Mak," the man replied.  "Now please leave me in peace."
	"Just making conversation."
	"It aggravates me."
	"Well, excuse me.  Just who the hell do you think you are?"
	"I would ask you the same question, puny mortal."
	"Hey, we all have to die sometime," Aldridge said.
	"Death is only a temporary setback," T'Mak said drawing the 
phaser out of his pocket and aiming it at Aldridge.  "At least it is 
for Yynsians.  How about humans?"
	"I'm leaving.  No need to get testy," Aldridge said, backing up.
	"You had better stay," T'Mak said.
	"Thanks for the invite, but no," Aldridge said.
	"I must insist," T'Mak said.  Aldridge's instincts took over as 
she dove sideways between two rows of pews, narrowly avoiding a 
phaser blast.  "This will be quicker for you if you just accept 
it."
	"Humans have a very hard time accepting death," Aldridge replied. 
 She crawled forward underneath several of the pews trying to get 
into a position where she could attack T'Mak.
	"There's no acceptance involved.  It just happens," T'Mak said 
as he searched for Aldridge.
	"That's one theory," Aldridge said.  This was not working.  She 
needed a distraction.  Suddenly, the main doors to the chapel 
opened and P'Guk and T'Wer walked in leading P'Tal, Webber, and Jaroch. 
 T'Mak whirled around and fired, nailing T'Wer, who slumped to the 
ground.  The phaser was still set on stun at least.  Of course, 
once T'Mak figured that out, things could get worse.
	The group entering the chapel scattered for cover as T'Mak 
started firing wildly.  Aldridge figured that this was going to be the 
only chance she'd get.  She silently stood up, maneuvered herself 
behind T'Mak and leapt.  T'Mak, sensing something behind him, 
turned at the exact moment Aldridge was in the air.  She slammed into 
him, sending them both to the floor.  The phaser fired as it hit, 
stunning P'Guk.  T'Mak screamed with rage and kicked Aldridge off of 
him.  She flew over him, skidding painfully along the stone floor 
when she landed and lay there hurting.
	"Enough of this!" T'Mak shouted.  "Face me, J'Ter!  I tire of 
your weak minions."
	"I am Jaroch," Jaroch said, standing up.  "J'Ter resides within me, 
but he is not in control right now."
	"Get him!"
	"Who should I say is calling?" Jaroch said.
	"His brother, T'Mak."
	"I will check, but I do not believe he will want to speak with 
you."
	"Then, I will kill everyone in this room one by one until he 
shows himself."  He walked over to Aldridge and lifted her off the 
floor with one hand pressing the phaser against the side of her 
head roughly.  "What will it be?"
	In her pained state, Aldridge realized she was in trouble.  Even 
on stun, a phaser at this range would do some major damage.
	"T'Mak, please listen to me," P'Tal said.  "Jaroch is not in good 
health.  J'Ter's emergence could kill him."
	"That's the idea," T'Mak said.
	"Are you sure that this is what you want?" Webber asked.  "This 
is your brother that you want to kill.  He's family.  Doesn't that 
mean anything?"
	"I was family.  It didn't stop him from killing me," T'Mak 
said.
	"If I recall J'Ter's memories correctly, you were going to 
kill him in an attempt to become crown prince," Jaroch said.
	"Details, details.  I want vengeance!  Produce J'Ter, or this 
puny mortal dies."  He pressed the phaser even harder against 
Aldridge's already throbbing skull.  Jaroch looked to Webber and P'Tal.  
Both of them shrugged their shoulders signalling that they had no 
clue how to get out of this.
	"I will attempt to comply," Jaroch said.  "But you must first put 
Doctor Aldridge down."
	"Agreed, but if anyone tries anything, she dies."  He flung 
Aldridge across the room.  She landed on T'Wer's body with a thud.  Jaroch 
closed his eyes and concentrated.  This would be difficult.  
Bringing past lives to the surface at will was not an easy task.  Once the 
past lives were in control, it was simple for them to summon his 
consciousness back to the surface.  Getting them to the surface in 
the first place was the problem.
	Nothing was happening.  In his weakened mental and physical 
condition, he did not have anywhere near enough control to find 
J'Ter.  He would have to try another approach.
	"Counselor, could you assist me please?" Jaroch asked.
	"I guess," Webber replied, walking over to him.  "What can I 
do?"
	"Inflict a great deal of pain upon me very quickly," Jaroch said.
	"Hey, that's my job," T'Mak said.
	"Wait your turn," Jaroch said.  "Counselor, please do this, or we 
may have no hope of saving Doctor Aldridge."
	"Whatever you say," Webber said.  "I hate to do this."  She 
looked Jaroch deeply in the eyes, placed her hands gently on the sides 
of his face, then quickly slammed her knee into his groin.
	"Thank you," Jaroch gasped, falling to the floor.  The change was 
taking place.  Less than a moment later, he was on his feet again 
and very angry.
	"T'MAK!  You spineless piece of logarn droppings!" J'Ter 
shouted.  "This is a cowardly way to seek revenge.  A true warrior 
would not threaten innocents."
	"It was necessary to convince you to show yourself, brother," 
T'Mak replied.  "You were the one hiding from me."
	"I have no need to hide," J'Ter said.  "I will fight 
you anytime."
	"So I had hoped," T'Mak said.  "Although, you will not last 
very long."  He fired the phaser at J'Ter, sending a stun bolt 
slamming into his chest.  J'Ter hit the ground with a dull thud.  
"That was very easy, yet satisfying," T'Mak gloated.
	"This is not over yet," J'Ter said, standing back up.
	"What?  How is this possible?"
	"You do not understand the weapon which you hold, T'Mak.  You 
cannot harm me with it."  The knowledge Jaroch had given him about the 
operation of phasers was coming in handy after all.  Hopefully, 
T'Mak would take him at his word and not figure out how to adjust 
the weapon's setting any higher.
	"You lie!" T'Mak said.  "Look at the others.  They have fallen 
at a blast from my weapon and so shall you."  He started hitting 
buttons on the phaser.  Jaroch's consciousness told J'Ter that the 
setting was being raised and lowered quickly.  When T'Mak finally 
stopped fiddling with the phaser, Jaroch had calculated from the mix of 
high and low toned chirps that the phaser was now set on level six. 
 This was the lowest level necessary to kill, but it would still 
kill.
	As all of this was going on, Doctor Aldridge regained enough 
feeling in her body to notice that something was jabbing painfully 
into her stomach.  She slowly moved her arm underneath of her to 
find out what it was.  A few seconds later, she pulled out T'Wer's 
stasis device.  Aldridge was about to put it aside and continued 
laying very still when the small part of her mind that was not 
occupied with the extreme pain she was feeling realized the 
implications of what she had found.
	"T'Mak, we should end this in a fair duel," J'Ter said.  
"Using the phaser weapon is a cowardly way to settle our battle."
	"Perhaps, but it assures my victory," T'Mak said, aiming at 
J'Ter.
	"Think again," Aldridge gasped, firing the stasis device.  The 
beam lanced out, surrounding T'Mak.  He screamed angrily and pushed 
himself out of the field forming around him.
	"That only works with two beams shot simultaneously," P'Tal 
called from across the room.  "Nice try, though."
	"Thanks," Aldridge said as T'Mak whirled to face her.
	"You die for that," he said aiming the weapon.
	With his enemy momentarily distracted, J'Ter leapt.  The two 
brothers hit the ground and wrestled furiously for control of the 
phaser.  Webber and P'Tal took the opportunity to rush over to Aldridge 
and T'Wer and drag them behind some cover.
	"Shouldn't we help them?" Aldridge said.
	"No.  It's a guy thing," P'Tal said.  "Let them settle it."
	"But Jaroch could be killed," Webber said.
	"Do you want to be the one to interrupt J'Ter when he's in the 
middle of a fight?" P'Tal asked.
	"Well, when you put it that way..."
	J'Ter managed to get control of the phaser and throw it 
aside.  The weapon slammed into one of the chapel's stone walls and 
fell to the floor out of reach.
	"Now, we will settle this fairly," J'Ter said, pushing away 
from his brother.
	"You always spoil my fun!" T'Mak said angrily.  "Why can't 
things ever go my way?"
	"Because you are evil and my younger brother.  Those two 
states see to it that you will never have your way."
	"I hate you!" T'Mak screamed, launching toward J'Ter with a 
furious barrage of punches.  J'Ter blocked his brother's attack and 
landed a couple of punches to T'Mak's stomach.  T'Mak gasped in 
pain and staggered backwards.  
	"You have no discipline," J'Ter said.
	"Discipline is not everything," T'Mak said, landing a 
roundhouse kick against the side of J'Ter head.
	"That does it," J'Ter said.  He rushed forward, picking T'Mak 
up off of his feet.  Raising his brother helplessly into the air, 
J'Ter walked up to the altar at the front of the chapel.  He 
slammed T'Mak onto the stone slab, then, grabbing T'Mak by the 
hair, bashed his head against the slab repeatedly.
	"J'Ter, stop!" P'Tal shouted.
	"You will never ever do this again!" J'Ter shouted, each word 
punctuated by T'Mak's head hitting the slab.  "Do you understand 
me?"
	"Jaroch, that's enough," Webber said.  "J'Ter has won.  You can 
come back out now."  J'Ter let T'Mak's head fall to the stone.
	"I do not want the weak mortal to come back," J'Ter said.
	"This is his body," Webber said.  "If you usurp it from him, 
you are no better than T'Mak."
	"Do not compare me to this weak..."
	"You have brought the comparison upon yourself," P'Tal said.  
"Give Jaroch control.  You know that you can come out again."
	"Yes.  And I do not have to deal with his petty work and woman 
problems," J'Ter said.
	"What's he talking about?" Webber asked.
	"Not now," P'Tal said.
	"Farewell...puny mortals."  J'Ter laughed, then fell silent.
	"Jaroch, are you there?" Webber asked.
	"Yes."
	"Are you all right?" Aldridge asked.
	"No."  Jaroch barely finished the word before he collapsed, 
falling across T'Mak's limp body.



	Chapter Twelve

	Captain Rydell stepped out of his ready room.  No one on the 
bridge looked like they had moved in the last three hours.
	"I don't suppose we've gained any ground on the Defiant," 
Rydell said.
	"Nope," Dillon said, sitting in the command chair with his 
head in his hands and his elbows on his knees.
	"They've been making erratic turns like they're trying to 
throw us off their track," Sullivan reported.
	"But we're still with them, right?" Rydell asked.
	"Of course.  Who do you think you have flying here?" Sullivan 
replied.
	"My apologies, Lieutenant," Rydell said, walking over to the 
command chair.  Dillon didn't budge.
	"Commander."
	"Yes, sir," Dillon said.
	"My chair."
	"Huh?"
	"Move your ass."
	"Oh, sorry," Dillon moved over a chair and let Rydell sit 
down.
	"Commander Dillon, I've finished analyzing the Defiant's 
movements like you ordered," Ensign Carr said.  "I think I've 
got an idea where they're headed, but I don't think you're going to 
like it."
	"It would be keeping with the pattern of today's events," 
Rydell said.  "I haven't liked much of anything that's happened 
today."
	"Where are they going?" Dillon asked.
	"Sector zero zero one."
	"Earth," the rest of the bridge said in unison.
	"Well, yeah," Carr said.
	"Hawkins, contact Starfleet Command," Rydell said.  "Hurry."
	"Why would they be going to Earth?" Dillon asked.  "The 
orbital defense systems would blast the Defiant to atoms in a 
second."
	"You are assuming that we are dealing with sane, rational 
people here," Rydell replied.  "Which I think we can safely say 
that we're not."
	"Good point," Dillon said.
	"I've got Starfleet," Hawkins said.
	"On screen," Rydell said, standing up.  The face of Admiral 
Thomas Wagner appeared on the viewscreen.
	"Hello, Alex.  What can I do for you?" Wagner asked.
	"Admiral, are you aware that the Defiant is on a heading 
directly for Earth?" Rydell asked.
	"Well, not directly," Dillon said.  "They're kind of twisting 
and turning..."
	"Dillon, shut up!" Rydell said.  "This is my story to tell.  
You can inform Starfleet next time a group of wackos shows up!"
	"Sorry," Dillon said.
	"The Defiant's headed here?" Wagner said.  "I thought you were 
the one they wanted dead."
	"Well, I fought them off, and they're coming to you," Rydell 
said.  "So sue me."
	"Alex, I don't need to tell you how valuable the Defiant is. 
 We will hold off firing on it as long as it takes no aggressive 
action."
	"Understood.  We'll be right behind them to take care of 
things."
	"Good luck.  We need that ship back in one piece."
	"I'll do my best.  Uh, Admiral, have you noticed that we 
always seem to talk to you whenever we contact Starfleet?"
	"Yes, so?"
	"It's just kind of weird."
	"Not really," Wagner said.  "I'm the only one willing to take 
messages from the Secondprize.  The other admirals are scared of 
you."
	"Us?  Why?" Dillon asked.
	"There's a perfect example," Wagner said, pointing at Dillon.
	"Gotcha," Rydell said.  "We'll contact you when we have 
anything new to report, Admiral.  Rydell out."
	"I get the distinct feeling that he doesn't like me," Dillon 
said.
	"That's okay," Sullivan said.  "Neither does anyone else."

	"We're getting warmer," Gruver said.
	"What?" Singer asked.
	"We're getting close to where you wanted to be," Gruver said. 
 "We're getting warmer."
	"I see."  Singer walked up to the helm and checked their 
position.  "Perfect, I'll take over here.  Go start making the 
calculations for time warp."
	"Time warp!  When are we going?"
	"As soon as you've finished making the calculations."
	"No, silly.  When are we going to?  What time?"
	"Late twentieth century Earth.  Old calendar year 1993 to be 
exact," Singer said.
	"Why are we going there?"
	"To get Alex.  A couple of years ago, Alex was zapped by 
something and switched minds with a twentieth century college 
student also named Alex Rydell.  Before that happened, everything 
was fine between us, but when we rescued him..."  She started to 
cry.  "He had me sent to Tantalus pretty soon there after."
	"What are you going to do?"
	"I don't think that it was actually him we rescued.  You saw 
how he treated us when we tried to get him and Aldridge the bitch.  My 
poor Alex is still trapped in the twentieth century, but I'll save 
him."
	"But then, who did you rescue?"
	"Some evil twin from another universe probably," Singer 
said.
	"Oooh, that's bad," Gruver said.  "But don't worry, Doctor 
Rebecca, I'll help you get your Alex back."

	"We're now entering sector zero zero one," Lieutenant Sullivan 
reported.
	"The Defiant is still maintaining its course and speed," 
Hawkins said.  "No, never mind, it's speeding up and heading 
straight for the sun."
	"The sun?" Dillon said.  "They're not going to commit suicide 
are they?"
	"At this point, anything's possible," Rydell said.
	"We've got an incoming message from Starfleet," Hawkins said. 
	"On screen," Rydell said.  Admiral Wagner's face appeared 
looking concerned.
	"Alex, are you monitoring the Defiant's course?"
	"Yes, Admiral.  We aren't sure what they're up to."
	"Well, we are," Wagner said.  "According to our computer 
simulations, they're on a trajectory for the slingshot maneuver."
	"Time travel!  Oh great!" Rydell said.
	"Based on their current course and speed, we have projected 
their destination as the late twentieth century," Wagner said.
	"Why would they..." Rydell trailed off.  "Oh sh**," he said 
softly.
	"What is it, Captain?" Dillon asked.
	"I think I know what they're after," Rydell said.  "Me!"
	"Oh no," Ensign Carr said.  "You mean that time when you 
got switched and you ran into all of those twentieth century 
versions of people on this ship and we had to find a way to get you 
back and Commander Baird went back as a hologram to help you and..."
	"Yes, Ensign," Rydell said, cutting her off.  "We're going 
after them, Admiral.  Rydell out.  Carr, start the 
calculations for time warp."	
	"Uh...I'm not really sure how to do that.  Jaroch would 
normally..."
	"We've got a program to help you.  Just hurry," Rydell said.
	Carr went back to the science console and sat down 
nervously.
	"Computer, please load time travel program," Carr said. 
 A moment later, the screen went blank, then the words "Warpin' 
3.1" appeared.  
	"Welcome to Warpin'," a happy voice said.  "Please input 
destination time."
	"This shouldn't be bad at all," Carr thought.  The 
turbolift doors opened and Commander Baird walked out onto the 
bridge.
	"I'm back," he said.  "Did I miss much?"
	"The Defiant is preparing for time warp to go back to the 
twentieth century, and we think that they're going to do something 
to Captain Rydell's twentieth century ancestor, so were going after 
them," Commander Dillon said.
	"Woah!  We're doing what?!"
	"Preparing to slingshot around the sun." Rydell said.  "Please 
tell me that the deflector dish is working."	
	"It's fine, but time warp?"
	"Yes," Rydell said.
	"The Defiant is beginning their warp," Hawkins said.
	"Are we ready, Ensign?" Rydell said.
	"Just a second," Carr replied.
	"There you are.  Have a nice warp," the computer said.  
"Remember, don't cause any paradoxes.  Thank you for using Warpin' 
3.1."
	"All set," Carr said.
	"Wait.  We're doing the time warp based on a happy f***ing 
computer program," Baird said.
	"Well, we'd prefer to use a partially insane Yynsian, but he's 
not on board right now," Rydell said.  "All decks, this is the 
captain.  We are about to attempt to slingshot around the sun.  
Brace yourselves; things could get a bit bumpy.  Punch it, 
Sullivan."
	"Beginning slingshot maneuver now," Sullivan said.  The ship 
shot forward, headed toward the sun.  A few moments later, the 
turbolift doors opened, and Trinian, the hostess in the Seven 
Backward lounge stepped out onto the bridge.
	"Captain, I need to talk to you," she said.
	"I'm a little busy right now," Rydell said as the Secondprize 
began to shake from encountering the sun's gravitational field.
	"This is pretty important," Trinian said.  "It's about Alex."
	"What?  I'm Alex.  Who are you talking to?"
	"You, but it's about the other Alex," Trinian said.
	"We can handle this, Captain," Dillon said.  "It's all 
automated anyway."
	"All right.  Let's go into my ready room, Trinian," Rydell 
said.  The two of them walked off of the bridge.
	"Now, what's this all about?" Rydell asked once the two of 
them were seated in the ready room.
	"I hear that we're going to the twentieth century to prevent 
anything from happening to Alex," Trinian said.
	"How did you know?  We just decided that a minute ago!" Rydell 
said.
	"News travels," Trinian said.
	"Okay, so what about us going to the twentieth century?"	
	"Be careful about who you let know that you're there," Trinian 
said.  "I have no memory of anything else strange happening after 
you and Alex switched minds."
	"And you two were together the whole time."
	"Yes, Alex and I dated all through college.  If anything else 
happened to him, I would have known about it."
	"In other words, we can't let the younger you know that we're 
there," Rydell said.
	"Exactly."
	"But if you don't remember it, that means we don't screw up, 
right?"
	"Not necessarily.  Time is a funny thing."
	"Got it.  We'll be careful."
	"And Captain..."
	"Yes."
	"Don't let those psychos do anything to him."
	"I won't."  Rydell fell silent for a moment.  "Trinian, I've 
been wanting to ask you something for a while now."
	"Go ahead."
	"If you married Alex Rydell in the twentieth century, and 
he's my ancestor, doesn't that mean that you're like my great great 
great great great great grandmother or something."
	"Something like that," Trinian replied smiling as she stood up. 
 "I wouldn't think about it too much if I were you, though.  Thanks 
for listening to the blatherings of an old woman, sonny boy."  She 
walked out of the ready room. 
	The ship suddenly began to shake more violently, then 
everything went white.  Rydell saw flashes of faces and places, all 
of them somewhat familiar.  The images flashed faster and faster 
until he couldn't take it anymore and lost consciousness.
	"Bridge to Captain," Dillon's voice said.  Rydell lifted his 
head up off of his desk.  Only a moment had passed since the 
temporal disorientation had grabbed him.
	"I'm here, Commander.  Is everyone okay in there?"
	"Other than the usual disorientation, everything's fine," 
Dillon said.  "We've have arrived at the last part of the twentieth 
century."
	"I'm on my way," Rydell said, standing up and walking out onto 
the bridge.  The blue and white globe of Earth hovered on the 
viewscreen.  "Scan for ion particles."
	"Nothing, sir," Carr said a few moments later.  "I don't 
think anyone from our century has been here for almost a decade."
	"A decade?"
	"Well, if I remember my history correctly, Captain James T. 
Kirk visited this era back in 2286."
	"Oh yeah, I remember.  The whale thing," Rydell said.  "Well, 
in any case, we've arrived before the Defiant.  That gives us some 
time to prepare.  I'm going to beam down to find my twentieth 
century counterpart and keep and eye on him.  Commander Dillon, I 
want you to take the Secondprize to the far side of the moon and 
wait for me.  Put a comm buoy between here and there, so I can stay 
in contact with you."
	"Sir, I want to go with you," Dillon said. 
	"Why?"
	"I've made this era in history a hobby.  I understand that you 
spent a week here, but I still think that I could be useful."
	"Fine, but you're it.  The fewer of us that go down there, the 
better.  Lieutenant Sullivan, you have the bridge.  Hawkins, keep a 
close eye on the scanners for when the Defiant shows up."
	"Aye, sir," Hawkins and Sullivan said in unison.
	"Keep things together up here.  I've been stuck in the 
twentieth century before, and I have no desire to do it again," 
Rydell said.  "We'll be in college if you need us."



	Chapter Thirteen

	Zero brought the Centrum out of warp and went into orbit over 
Yyns.  Almost immediately the comm system started flashing that a 
message had been received.  Zero went through his cover story 
again, then activated the system.
	"Unidentified craft, this is Yyns Space Control.  Please 
identify yourself and state your business," the voice of a control 
officer said.
	"This is the scout ship Centrum of the Lokaloc trading 
consortium.  I'm here to see about opening some trade accounts with 
your planet," Zero said.  He looked over at the scanners, which 
were searching for Starfleet commbadge signals.  It had located 
three clustered together in a building in the city of Cageria.
	"Do you have an appointment?" the control officer said.  This 
could be trouble.
	"Actually, no, but..."
	"I've got an aunt who owns this store in Cageria.  She might 
be interested in checking into some off-world opportunities," the 
officer said.  Zero smiled.  Sometimes, things just sorted themselves 
out so perfectly that it amazed him.
	"That sounds wonderful," Zero replied.  "I would appreciate 
getting her name and address."
	"I'm sending them now, but I can't clear you for parking in 
Cageria.  The lot is full."
	"Can I land outside of the city?"
	"Uh, sure I guess.  It's a bit of a hike, but I might be able 
to arrange some transportation for you...since you're going to talk 
to my aunt."
	"Why, thank you," Zero replied.  "That would be perfect."

	Counselor Webber shifted uncomfortably in her seat at the 
altar.  Jaroch was laying across the altar as P'Tal sat at his head. 
 Webber sat off to Jaroch's left holding his hand while Dr. Aldridge 
monitored Jaroch's vital signs. This had been going on for the last six 
hours, ever since they had sent T'Mak to the Past Life Sorting 
Center and begun The Seratch.  Jaroch was deep in a meditative trance, 
but, so far, P'Tal had not been having much luck breaking through 
to Jaroch's emerging past life.  She was about to make another attempt.
	"Jaroch...Jaroch...are you here?" P'Tal asked.
	"I am here," Jaroch replied.
	"Jaroch, there are many forces within you...many minds, and 
another is trying to join them.  Can you feel that mind?"
	"Yes."
	"Can you locate it?"
	"So many...too much...demons!"  Jaroch's grip strengthened on 
Webber's hand.
	"His pulse is rising again," Aldridge said, looking at her 
tricorder.  "It's at twenty percent above normal."
	"You are not alone, Jaroch," P'Tal said.
	"I'm here, Jaroch.  Tell us what's happening," Webber said.
	"Demons...so many demons...must keep fighting."
	"Can you leave?" Webber asked.
	"No, must fight the demons."
	"I don't think I even want to know what past life this is," 
Aldridge said.
	"I believe that it is part of the new one," P'Tal said.  "But 
I'm worried about Jaroch.  If this life is as traumatic as it sounds, 
bringing it to the surface too quickly could be dangerous."
	"But if we don't bring it to the surface he'll go insane or 
maybe die," Webber said.
	"Remind me to beat the hell out of him when this is all over," 
Aldridge said.

	Zero touched down in an empty field about ten miles west of 
Cageria.  A small hovercar was already waiting for him with a young 
man in the pilot's seat.  Zero grabbed his bag and stepped out of 
the ship.
	"Are you the trader?" the driver asked.
	"Yes, that would be me," Zero said, walking up and extending 
his hand to the driver.  "Mister Leroy Harris.  Just call me 
Leroy."
	"All right, Leroy, my name's Twil, hop in."  Zero climbed into 
the hovercar, and they were soon on their way to town.
	"So, Leroy," Twil said, about five minutes into the drive.  
"What kind of work do you do exactly."
	"Oh, acquisitions mostly," Zero replied, reaching into his 
bag.  The metropolis of Cageria was approaching quickly, but they 
were still out in the country.
	"What kind of stuff do you acquire?"
	"This and that.  For instance, now I'm going to acquire this 
vehicle."  Zero pulled a phaser out of his bag and blasted Twil 
before the Yynsian could even register a look of surprise.  Zero 
opened the door of the craft and shoved Twil out of it.  "Have a 
nice walk," Zero said.  He steered the hovercar towards Cageria and 
the coordinates where the three commbadges were.

	"DEMONS!"  Jaroch sat straight up and began screaming.  Webber was 
up in an instant.  She wrapped her arms around him and pulled him 
close to her.
	"You're all right.  There are no demons here.  You're fine."
	"Thank you, beautiful," Jaroch said.
	"Was he talking to me?" Webber asked, taken aback.
	"No offense, Counselor, but I doubt it," P'Tal said.  "He's 
still deep in the trance."
	"Where is T'Mak!" Jaroch shouted suddenly, his voice full of fury.
	"I get the feeling that he's jumped lives again...to J'Ter," 
Aldridge said.
	"I'm afraid so," P'Tal said.
	"Release me, puny mortal," J'Ter bellowed.
	"Don't do it, Claire," Aldridge said.  Webber clenched Jaroch more 
tightly.
	"Cannot move," J'Ter gasped.  "Must find T'Mak."
	"You have defeated T'Mak, oh great warrior-prince," P'Tal 
said.  "He is no more."
	"If you are lying, your death will be more painful than you 
could possibly imagine."
	"Would we lie to you?" Aldridge said.  
	"We're your friends here," Webber said.  "Now, please give us 
Jaroch back."
	"I will consent to this request because you are friends of Jaroch, 
but if T'Mak returns..."
	"We all die.  We know.  We know," Aldridge said.  Jaroch's body fell 
limp in Webber's arms.  She gently lay him back onto the altar.  A 
moment later, Jaroch's eyes fluttered open.
	"We appear to be encountering some difficulties," he said.
	"You could say that," P'Tal said  "I have never, in my entire 
career as a priestess, had this much trouble in The Seratch."
	"Would the fact that you two are related have anything to do 
with it?" Aldridge asked.
	"No.  If anything, it should help," P'Tal said.  "I just don't 
understand it."  Jaroch groaned and clutched the sides of his head.
	"Well, we had better figure something out soon, or he's going 
to be in some real trouble," Aldridge said, watching Jaroch's vital signs 
fluctuate on her tricorder.
	"Can The Seratch be performed if Jaroch is under sedation?" Webber 
asked.
	"I don't know.  It's never been necessary," P'Tal said.
	"Whatever drug was used would have to allow my mind to stay 
alert while sedating my body," Jaroch said.  "Otherwise, I will not 
have the faculties necessary to reach my past selves."
	"I can use nephodopaline," Aldridge said, pulling a hypospray out 
of her bag and loading it with the drug.  "You won't be able to 
move, but it will keep your vitals stable."
	"Do you think that this will work, sister?" Jaroch asked.
	"I certainly hope so," P'Tal said.  "It's worth a shot 
anyway."
	"Go ahead," Jaroch said reaching for Webber's hand.  "I will 
hopefully not be quite as violent this time around, Counselor."  
Aldridge placed the hypospray against the side of Jaroch's neck and 
injected the drug into his system.  Jaroch began to lose sensation in 
his limbs, slowly spreading inward.  Soon, he was motionless.  
P'Tal took a deep breath and put her hands against the sides of 
Jaroch's head.
	"Let's try this again," she said.  "Jaroch, I need you to focus on 
the ceiling.  Watch the design...how the red lines curve in and out 
of the gold..."  Jaroch felt his mind slipping into the trance.

	Zero checked his "borrowed" tricorder again.  The commbadge 
signals hadn't moved for a long time, and he was growing surer and 
surer as to the origin of the signal.  He stopped the hovercar 
across the street from the giant spires of the Temple of Mi Clane. 
 They had to be in there.  He pocketed his phaser and stepped out 
of the hovercar.

	"What do you see, Jaroch?" P'Tal asked.
	"White.  Lots of white.  And the demons.  They're right in 
front of me.  I must stop them.  Must get to the end.  Kill them 
all."
	"This sure sounds like a fun place," Aldridge muttered.
	"Everything's fine," Webber said soothingly.  "The demons can't 
hurt you."
	"Where are you?" P'Tal asked.  Suddenly, a phaser blast seared 
by them.  Webber, P'Tal, and Aldridge dove for the floor.
	"Dammit, Jaroch!" Aldridge shouted.  "How many people are trying to 
kill you?"
	"I am not here for Mister Jaroch," Zero said, stepping into the 
room.
	"Who the hell are you?" Aldridge said.	
	"My name is Zero."
	"Oh no," Webber said.
	"Do you know this guy?" Aldridge asked.
	"He kidnapped Captain Rydell a couple of years ago," Webber 
said. 
	"Then, what does he want here?" P'Tal asked.
	"I'm glad you asked," Zero said, walking closer.  "I am here for 
Doctor Beth Aldridge."
	"What do you want me for?" Aldridge said, trying to crawl 
unnoticed to her med-kit which she'd put the phaser T'Mak had taken 
from her back into.
	"To kill you, of course," Zero said laughing.  Then, he 
started firing.



	Chapter Fourteen

	"All right," Captain Rydell said as he and Dillon descended in 
the turbolift.  "We need to get a couple of twentieth-century 
outfits and something to carry them in."
	"Okay.  Two suitcases, and watches and wallets with 
identification inside."
	"Preferably with names other than our own," Rydell said.  "If 
I remember correctly, there is a hotel very close to Old Dominion University
that we can check into.  The only problem is that we need money."
	"Taken care of," Dillon said.  "I've got a ton of twentieth 
century currency."
	"How did you get that?"
	"It's just worthless paper now.  I found it at an antique 
store.  I picked up two hundred thousand United States dollars from 
this time period for two credits."
	"We're rich!" Rydell said.  "But we are not going to waste it. 
 Even what we buy could affect the time stream if we're not 
careful."
	The turbolift slowed to a stop, and the two officers walked 
out into the corridor headed for the main replicator facility.  
Once there, they started gathering their supplies.
	"Computer, load the database of late twentieth century 
fashion," Rydell said.
	"Specify location."
	"The United States."  The computer flashed several images 
across the screen, most of which looked extremely bizarre.  
Finally, Rydell saw some clothes that he recognized.  "This looks 
about like the stuff people on campus were wearing."
	"All right.  Computer.  This is Commander Dillon.  Access my 
clothes replication size file and create these outfits for me."  
Dillon touched the images of a suit and several casual outfits.  
"Also, create one black leather wallet and one digital wrist watch, 
black band."  The replicator hummed, then produced the requested 
items.  Rydell then placed his request, and the two agreed to meet 
back in the transporter room once they had changed into the proper 
attire.
	Rydell entered the transporter room ten minutes later carrying 
his suitcase.  Commander Dillon hadn't arrived yet.
	"Well well well," Lieutenant Monica Vaughn said walking toward 
him.  "Don't you look spiffy."  She ran her hands along the front 
of Rydell's suit coat.  "Very sophisticated and sexy."
	"Thank you, Vaughn," Rydell said, backing away.  He bumped 
right into Commander Dillon who was just walking into the room.  
Vaughn took one look at Dillon and fell to the floor laughing 
hysterically.  Rydell didn't know what was wrong, but he was pretty 
sure that he didn't want to turn around to find out.  He did 
anyway, and started laughing.
	Dillon was dressed in a suit much like Rydell's, but he had a 
large furry mass of brown hair perched on his upper lip.
	"What the hell is that?" Rydell demanded, pointing at the 
clump of hair.
	"It's a mustache," Dillon replied, placing his hand on it 
defensively.
	"I know that, but why do you have it?"
	"You said that there were people at Old Dominion who looked a 
bit like us, so I decided that I would disguise my appearance.  I 
just used a follicle stimulator to quickly grow a mustache and 
voila."	
	"Well, it looks like something curled up on your lip and died. 
 Get rid of it," Rydell ordered.
	"All right," Dillon said.  He opened his suitcase, pulled out 
a shaver, and quickly removed his mustache.  "I can't believe that 
you didn't like it."
	"Believe it," Rydell said.
	"I loved it," Vaughn laughed.  "It made you look so rugged 
and wild, kind of like a badger."  She started laughing so hard she 
had to support herself against the transporter console.
	"Just beam us down," Dillon said, marching angrily up onto the 
transporter pad.  Rydell walked over to the console and programmed 
in the coordinates.
	"That should put us in a clump of woods near the hotel," 
Rydell said.  "We'll be fine from there, but keep a lock on us just 
in case.  We'll contact you ten minutes after we beam down to check 
in.