My Haven

The Headsail Lounge is busy. Several tables are occupied by crew from various departments and various species, the most common unintentionally being human. A few tables are empty but only one has a single resident. She is the Captain of the vessel, itself traversing the deep silent black between stars. Kathryn Beringer sits alone in the shade of an overhanging seraph tree, the blue and violet leaves easily blocking the overhead lighting at the corner of the viewport. Her fingertips lightly pushing and pulling a small clear glass containing a dark liquid only a few sips away from being empty. She gazed into the blackness of space as streaks of faraway stars race toward and past the Solaris.


At one table ...

"You could set a chronometer to it. Every fifth day, assuming she's not on a mission; she sits there and stares into space, literally." The bartender finished answering the question to the patrons who were taking turns looking over shoulders to look at their Captain.

A male Benzite Ensign cocked his head to the side.  "Do you know why?"

The Human server shrugged as he placed the last drink on the bar. "She's a private person if you can't tell, but scuttlebutt is she's got some demons for something that happened on a rescue mission against some Orion slave traders a few months past."

The Betazoid at the bar looked at Kathryn over her shoulders again and then shook her head. "Was it successful?  I remember hearing about that mission.  I really shouldn't be prying, and I'm not a counselor, yet I don't need to sense there is a sadness about her."

The server looked at the Lieutenant. "I'm not sure.  I've only ever heard her speak with confidence and strength, like a Captain should in my opinion. If you think she is sad, then we should play poker one night. I need to go, but I wouldn't call it sadness ... more like regret."


At one table ...

"You go ask her."

The Tellarite was frustrated.  "No, you go her!"

The other used his hands as a signal to lower voices. "Damn it, come on and help me out a little!"

Frustration subsided at her Human friend's attempt to keep their conversation from spilling onto other tables and sighed. "I meet her for bridge repairs. If you want love, ask her for it. You not need my help."

Her friend looked shocked, "Who said anything about love? All I'm saying is that I've heard rumors she is lonely and available. Look at her. She's smart, beautiful, tall, sexy ... everything a man could want!" He looked over his shoulder to the burgundy haired woman staring out the viewport.

Rolling her eyes, the Tellarite shook her head and grabbed a fork to stab at the food on her plate.

The man wrung his hands together nervously. "I mean, she's a woman, I'm a man. What could go wrong?"

"She Captain, you not," the Tellarite said with a mouthful of food.

His shoulders fell and he sighed.


At one table ...

The female Andorian looked at the Trill and Klingon. "I'm telling you this so we can stop discussing it. They dated in the Academy. It was a serious relationship the way she talked about it but she ended it when he proposed to her.  I don't know why she did that and she hasn't talked about it to me since."

The Klingon security officer crossed his arms and frowned. "It is really none of our business and dishonorable to gossip about a superior officer."

Looking down as if personally shamed by the comment, the Trill Science Chief reached for her drink. "I didn't mean to impose. It's just ... she's not the most affable person to work with."

The Klingon half-whispered, "I disagree. She gets the job done and very efficiently. She has a warrior's spirit."

The Andorian nodded, "I agree with that at least. I'm probably her only real friend on the boat and I assure you, spend enough time with her and you'll see her bite is worse than her bark."

"Are you sure you said that right?"

Looking at the Trill, she responded, "About being the Captain's only friend? To be honest, I really don't know."

"No, I ... oh, nevermind."


At one table ...

"Are you serious?!" The Security officer put down his drink at the resolution to the story.

"As a heart attack!" The Chief of Security smiled as he rejoiced in the surprised look on the other three officer’s faces. "Don't cross her path, she has a heart of stone."

Another officer whistled a note as he recovered from the tale. "I can't believe she ignored Liberation Protocols."

The Chief nodded and took a sip from his drink. "Neither did I until the XO told me about her being a slave."

The third officer smirked. "Makes you wonder what kind of slave she was. Orion women are -"

"Hey!" The Chief pounded the table and looked around as nearby patrons looked at him. He waited for them to get back to their conversations before he turned his gaze to the members at his table. "Stow that talk, right here and now. She's not like that at all and she deserves more respect. Besides, she not Orion you jackass."

"Okay, okay, sorry Chief."

The first recovered from his commander’s defense. "I thought you didn't like the Captain?"

"Have you ever heard me actually say anything like that? You three know she pulled each of us out of some very tight situations over the past year. Remember that assault on Mallory's World? We'd all be dead if it wasn't for her single-handed defense at the crash site." The other three nodded as they recalled the scene. "I've stopped caring what she's gone through before Starfleet, and I'm proud she's Captain of this ship."

The Chief looked over his shoulder to the woman in the corner of the room. Without looking away he said, "I know she has some demons, but I think they fuel her to be the officer she is." He looked into his drink, took a sip and then looked to each of his comrades. "If I hear any rumors about her past coming from anyone on my team, they'll have to answer to me and you can spread that around."


At her table ...

The streaks of light had no pattern and that helped Kathryn's storm of thoughts find order and calm. The aroma from the Kanar in her glass soothed her muscles while the liquid warmed her core. The Excelsior-class ship was massive compared to her previous commands. It wasn't the largest ship in the fleet but it was plenty big for her. She considered the officer reports she had finished reading prior to coming down to Headsail Lounge and made some decisions, then prepared some phrases she would use to various persons she would be having meetings with over the next few hours.

When she looked toward the room, she caught the eyes of various persons. Some were too far away to discern if they were really looking at her or at least toward her direction. the Lounge was busier than when she entered the room and it started to feel crowded.

---

Cast:

Kathryn Beringer - Rachel Nichols

 

At first table -

Server - Clifton Kaea

Benzite - Dirput

Betazoid - Lyesaza Hipas

 

At second table -

Travis Mechols - Freddie Prinze Jr

Tellarite - Nudsa

 

At third table -

Anthi Ythysi - Katheryn Winnick

Omazei - Gemma Arterton

Bur'ar - David Ramsey

 

At fourth table -

Karl Melango - Jeremy Renner

Security Officer 1 with Karl - Ernesto Dobias

Security Officer 2 with Karl - Leroy Mallar

Security Officer 3 with Karl - Evan Hollister

 

(Names with no links are true Duty Officers on board Solaris)

Taking Command

Literary Challenge 2 - Taking Command

---

"Permission to speak freely, Captain?"

Kathryn nodded and said, "In this office, always, but I appreciate the request."

Karl Malango smiled softly and he forced his body to relax, his arms falling to the sides and his head lowering to look directly to his superior officer. "That's splitting hairs and you know it."

The Captain never looked away from Karl while standing slowly.  At six feet tall, Kathryn used her stature as an advantage when she needed to - and this was one of these moments. Inside she chided herself on being slightly dramatic, but she wanted Karl on her side. This meeting was due to the tension mounting since her arrival on board Galatea three weeks ago.

"Allow me to speak freely as well." She leaned forward and placed her hands onto the desk. Her grey eyes were now level to Karl's . "I have worked with Anthi ever since the Academy.  From my position that makes her the absolute best candidate to serve as my First Officer. Captain Diranti's assessment of you was not ignored, regardless what you may think, and that is why you are my Security Chief. Let me say it again: that also makes you my Ground Operations Senior Officer."

She raised a hand to silence Karl's next words and then walked around her desk. "Change can be challenging, but that is a constant in the universe and on this ship it is inevitable."

A few moments passed as Kathryn waited for a rebuttal. Karl was visibly frustrated. "I have at least five more years of direct experience on this ship and I know the crew better than ... "

Kathryn grinned as Karl stopped abruptly. She waited a few tense seconds. "Me?"

Karl looked down to his feet ashamed at his transparency. Kathryn nodded and walked past him to stop abruptly at the gold-plated model of her first ship, a Miranda-class, the Sixth Wave.

"Karl, those are strengths that are needed," she turned back to him and noticed he was facing her. "Let me be very candid.  My trust in you is implied by virtue of your experience."

At the mention of trust, Karl seemed to stand a little straighter. "What is your trust in Anthi then?" Kathryn could not tell if his frustration increased further or if she were breaking down barriers.

"Earned. If that's splitting hairs then call me a barber." She spread her arms out briefly to show surrender to Karl's point of view, yet a verbal trump card was available she didn't want to use yet.

Karl nodded and looked down in thought. Kathryn sat on the couch under the model to try to give the scene a relax the moment. "If it means anything, I met Philip Diranti before his passing. He was an amazing Captain. As you know, his actions in 2400 with the Klingons are mentioned at the Academy and that's not small talk. The fact you are mentioned in his closing dossier is impressive.  I hope you can appreciate that I'm not a woman of words, but of action."

She stood and walked to Karl who remained silent. "I trust you because Diranti trusted you, but I need to trust you because I do. Do you understand my point of view?"

Again, he nodded. His silence bothered Kathryn but she couldn't force him to talk. She decided enough was said. "So, to be clear, this is not about favorites."

"I understand, Captain." He straightened up and Kathryn perceived the conversation was no longer off the record.

"Good. Thank you for your dedication and service. Galatea will be coming to Dalnus IV within the hour. I want Security Team recommendations and equipment checks completed. This is a recon-in-force. And just so you know ... I prefer pistols."

---

Cast:
Kathryn Beringer - Rachel Nichols
Karl Melango - Jeremy Renner
Mentioned but not seen:
Anthi Ythysi - Katheryn Winnick

Prized Possesions

Literary Challenge 1 - Prized Possessions

---

The two officers entered the room and the doors closed silently behind them. The Captain of the ship motioned to a seat in front of her desk and the other quietly moved from the doorway. She watched as the man sat down and then absentmindedly sat in the other chair in front of her desk. The Deltan watched her and smirked slightly.

“So, this is the Solaris,” the man said to break the silence. “She is a fine ship indeed.”

Kathryn Beringer looked away and forced herself to watch the fish swimming in the fish tank. “Yes, he is. Speaking of which, I want to thank you again for your handling Captain Ricol in Club 47. I know it’s been several weeks since that incident but you really didn’t have to do that. I can take care of myself.”

Captain Daikar raised an eyebrow when Kathryn used the male gender to refer to the starship. “Well, like I said then, Ricol is a brute and a bully. It was not his place to accuse you of stealing this ship because no one owns any ship in the fleet. You were assigned to Solaris and it was that simple. Besides, if I had not interfered, I doubt I would be sitting here right now.”

Kathryn blushed slightly. “Indeed. Well I felt the need to offer my thanks again.” She looked from the fish tank back to Daikar. His bald head framed the hard features of his face. Ocean-blue eyes were stern yet inviting and his cheeks seemed to pull his full lips into a perpetually congenial smile. The strong jawline finalized a commanding presence his muscular frame exuded. Kathryn struggled slightly against Daikar’s charm. She turned toward the bar in the back of the room and realized she was not sitting behind her desk and rushed to say something to continue conversation. “May I offer you a drink?”

For his part, Daikar was patient. “Yes, actually. I’d like an Earth Scotch if possible.”

Kathryn stood and walked to the replicator. She enjoyed Scotch as well and replicated the drinks. Turning, she was surprised to see Daikar had walked to the other side of the room and was inspecting something against the wall. She recognized the item of his curiosity and met him. Daikar accepted the drink, took a sip then pointed to the object encased in glass.

“What is that?”

After a sip, Kathryn licked her lips and nodded. “It’s a piece of carpet from the floor to the aft shuttle bay of Galatea, an Exeter class and my previous command.”

Daikar raised his eye bows and took another sip to hide his surprise. “That must have an interesting story.”

Kathryn shrugged imperceptibly, turned and walked toward the edge of her desk. Leaning on it, she raised the cup to her lips and spoke without drinking. “The Galatea was shot apart by Klingons.” Daikar looked over his shoulder to her as if asking for more detail.  After a slight pause, she continued with a far-away glance as she recalled the entire moment. “Nothing exciting: we were pinched between two Vor'cha looking for easy prey and got battered on the run. After limping back to ESD, Quinn personally handed me the scrapyard papers.” She took a gulp from her cup and looked into the fluid that remained. “I loved that ship with a passion.”

Daikar looked back at the token and nodded. “That’s a shame.” He sipped from his cup. “So how did this end up as a souvenir?” He walked back to his chair as Kathryn spoke.

“I was the last crew member off Galatea and by the time I reached the door to the shuttle bay I realized I had nothing but memories … I had to take something from the ship, something I could hold. So I cut that chunk out, walked into the shuttle and waited on Space Dock for a new command.” She spread her arms out as if to show off the entire ship and smiled.

Daikar returned the smile, stood and raised his glass to toast. “Well then, here’s to our ships, may they carry us across the galaxy and back safely.”

---

Cast:
Kathryn Beringer - Katheryn Winnick
Daikar - Billy Zane
Mentioned but not seen:
Hassid Ricol - Matt Nable

Lone Drone

Literary Challenge 39 - Lone Drone

---

"Last time I saw one was before I took command of the Sixth Wave," Kathryn said sullenly.

First Officer Anthi looked at the Borg Drone lying on the table and nodded. The table itself was the only piece of furniture in the room. Between the Drone and the two Starfleet officers was an invisible barrier of energy whose modulating frequencies hummed louder than the engines of Solaris. The medical bay was otherwise silent.

"I'm impressed it's still alive," Anthi said. "The Probe was utterly destroyed."

Kathryn kept looking at the specimen. "Any more findings about that?"

Still holding the PADD with the data, the female Andorian recall edthe information from memory and did not look away from the Borg either. "Analysis suggests the destruction occurred two days ago. Particle forensics reveal high amounts of Polaron energy primarily used."

Kathryn nodded. "Not many races use Polaron weapons." Anthi agreed silently.

Chief Medical Officer Annika Kramer walked up to the pair and spoke in a whisper. "Captain, racial scans revealed the Borg is Orion."

"Really?" Kathryn could not hide her surprise and Anthi looked to the Doctor incredulously. "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. What's the next move?"

Annika crossed her arms, PADD in one hand. "Well, we have plenty of options: place the Borg in stasis for Starfleet review, attempt liberation protocols, or the airlock."

Kathryn smirked. "In other words, whatever we want." Annika nodded. "Ok, let me review your notes, Doctor; I'll decide when I'm finished." Kathryn walked away with Doctor Kramer's PADD.

+++

Within seconds of reading the Doctor's report, Kathryn was running back to the medical lab. She tapped her communicator and contacted Anthi and Karl Malango: her two most trusted Tactical officers. Crew members were dodging clear from Kathryn's sprint down the hallways. When she reached the medical bay, Karl and Anthi were waiting. Kathryn stopped and hunched over to catch her breath. She reached for Karl's sidearm phaser in between gulps for air but only put her hand out.

Karl was clearly confused. "Sir?"

"Anthi -" Kathryn paused to take a deep breath. "It's one -" another breath, "- of them."

Anthi's eyes widened and she turned to Karl. "Officer Melango, you are ordered to relieve your firearm to the Captain." Karl maintained his confusion but followed the order. He watched as Kathryn set the phaser to it's most powerful setting. She was regaining composure and her breathing was normalizing.

"Thank you Anthi. Follow me in." Kathryn straightened her jacket and all three entered the room. The Borg was still lying on the table. The doors hushed closed behind them. Karl looked at Anthi who replied with a finger to her lips.

A few steps into the room, Anthi said, "Captain, are you sure?"

"Certain Orion slavers have a brand that runs down the left arm."

Karl paused as he followed the others toward the shielded room. "What's going on here?"

Kathryn stopped at the control panel to the Borg's room. "If that Borg is who I think it is, then it's not walking out of this room alive." She quickly tapped a command and the shield collapsed. Walking up to the Borg, she poked at the exposed flesh on his face. After a few seconds, she stepped away and retrieved a laser scalpel. The tiny beam cut open the sleeve without burning into the skin. All three watched as a grey/green scar was revealed. She parted the Borg cloth and winced as she touched its cold skin.

Karl persisted, "I don't understand."

Kathryn spoke without looking away. "This Orion was certainly a slaver. He was a part of the group that attacked a colonial ship heading to Hesperus. I was on that ship ... I was a slave before I joined Starfleet."

Kathryn placed the phaser's emitter at the top of the Borg's head and then paused.

Anthi and Karl looked at each other and took a step back.

Kathryn was still for several seconds then lifted the pistol and handed it back to Karl. "No, you don't deserve that." She tapped her badge. "Thel, what's our current speed?"

"Warp four," the male Andorian replied casually.

"Increase speed to maximum warp until further notice."

There was a pause before Thel acknowledged. The thrum of the engines increased before sonic dampeners compensated.

Kathryn tapped her badge again. "Transporter Room 2."

A female voice replied, "Aye, Captain?"

"Scan for my position. Lock on the Borg life signature nearby and immediately beam it out of the ship, one hundred meters in front of the forward shield facing."

Two seconds later, the Borg's form shimmered and disappeared.

---

Cast:

Kathryn Beringer - Rachel Nichols

Anthi Ythysi - Katheryn Winnick

Karl Melango - Jeremy Renner

Annika Kramer - Abbie Cornish

Transporter officer - Random Extra 1

Borg Drone - Random Extra 2

Mentioned but not seen:

Thel Ythysi - Kevin Sorbo

We'll Always Have New York

We’ll always have New York – LC 38

---

"You don't understand, I belong here!"

The man was frantic with his words, almost hysterical. His eyes were wide and blood-shot while his white hair was disheveled. The lab coat he wore was of this time and not from the 25th century. The man looked between the person aiming a pistol at his chest to his right and the swirl of impossible insanity to his left. The vortex was a discordance or sound, light and weather that was both rapturous and repulsive to look at, and the man in the lab coat looked at it dreadfully.

"No doctor, you don't."

The person with the pistol was a hardened veteran of these events. All of them say the same thing and almost of them end the same way: death. These travelers would rather die in a time frame they never existed in, yet insist on being a part of.  And why not? They left their own time to find something new sometime else. But that is not permitted. Not natural. You deal with the cards you are dealt with - anything else, temporally speaking, is just running away from your own existence.

And these runners force other people to leave their own time to chase them - hunt them - down. Just. Like. Now.

The sphere of beautiful terror pulsed in the alleyway and made this little corner of New York City the worst place to be. The man with the pistol was ironically becoming impatient with how long this process was taking. His female partner watched the scene and tried to remain passive by mimicking a statue. Her attempt failed as she looked over her shoulder every few seconds hoping no one either followed or stumbled upon the scene. It was enough that one man was trying to live his life when he shouldn't, much less having another two people from the future drag him back, dead or alive.

"Kyle, listen to me," Kathryn said. "Your work on personal Temporal Teleportation worked! Look at your achievement." She pointed at the globular beast.

Kyle looked away from the menacing pistol to his delightful child of intellectual effort then to Kathryn, a pained expression on his face. "They took it from me to use as a weapon!" He pointed at the man with the gun, his face snarling.

"Kyle Retarius, I'll say again: enter the portal and return to your own time."

Kathryn rolled her eyes in frustration. The agent from Section 31 was dismissive of every suggestion and action she took while on this 'journey' and she was beyond annoyed with him. "Kyle, focus on me. I'm your Captain. We've been through a lot since the Academy, you can trust me. Trust me when I say that the 23rd Century is filled with more danger and less hope than home. Starfleet needs you; I need you to come home."

The scientist lowered his arm and looked at Kathryn. His face transformed from hate to sadness. He nodded as the luminescent ball pulsed again. He looked up to the night sky at the immense buildings towered above. "Did you ever love me?"

The agent looked sideways to Kathryn. "Is he serious?"

Kathryn ignored him and took a step forward, her hand outstretched. "Can you forgive me for being honest with you?"

Doctor Retarius looked at Kathryn with resignation. "You didn't answer my question."

The agent stepped forward with Kathryn, his wrist band beeping as if a timer expired. "We don't have time for this doctor. You must enter the portal."

"Kyle. I - "

Suddenly, a hover car appeared above them and slowly passed over the alleyway. All three looked up, but it was the agent that recovered from the surprise the fastest, stepped forward and yelled at the man. "Doctor, you are being ordered to enter the portal!"

Kyle Retarius leapt away from the agent and drew a pistol. Kathryn recognized the Type 2 Phaser and gathered her wits. "No, don't!"

A blue phaser beam appeared into the night and missed the agent by centimeters. The agent responded with his own purple-colored beam. It connected at Kyle's chest. He screamed as he disintegrated. Within seconds he was gone forever.

Kathryn stood rigid. The hovercar appeared again, this time with blue light swirling and flashing at various points on its fenders. The agent tapped his wristband, grabbed Kathryn at the waist and jumped into the ball of light.

A beam of light from the car probed into the alleyway, itself now dark as if no one was ever there.

---

Kathryn appeared on the transporter pad. Alone.

Science officer Margaret Retarius stood next to the transporter consol. Her hands knotted together with knuckles white. When she saw Kathryn she looked around the pad chamber as if to expect someone to appear from behind the Captain. After several extremely long seconds, Margaret's face changed from hesitating expectations to the realization of reality. She broke down and collapsed to the floor sobbing.

Looking out the window of a transporter room in Earth Spacedock, Kathryn could see the bright lights of New York City through the clouds. She huddled next to Margaret.

"I'm so sorry, there wasn't enough time to save your brother or bring him back."

 ---

Cast:
Kathryn - Rachel Nichols
Section 31 agent - Mark Harmon
Kyle Retarius - Matthew Fox
Margaret Retarius - Emma Roberts

Mirror, Mirror on the ... viewscreen?

Literary Challenge 37 - Mirror, Mirror on the ... viewscreen?

---

On the viewscreen, a human female grinned. Her bright red hair was straight and flowed around her shoulders. Scars ran across the left eye from the forehead to the cheek and most of the damage was covered by a black eye patch. She was clearly sitting in a shuttlecraft since the background revealed walls and functional panels with no other crew member in sight. "Hello captain," says Kathryn Beringer with a grin.  "I have a favor to ask."

Everyone looking at the viewscreen on the bridge of the Solaris was stunned. Some looked to their captain for a response; others just sat quietly, fingers raised above their stations waiting for orders.

Captain Beringer stood from the command chair. "I wondered if I'd ever meet ... me."

The one with the eye-patch raised her head slightly without looking away. "Under other circumstances, I wouldn't care to and doubt we would have. I'm glad to see you're still alive. For now." Her grin widened.

Kathryn lowered her head and looked at the screen sternly. "You're right, I shouldn't care either." She looked to her Tactical Officer. "Anthi, remove that shuttle from this universe."

"Belay that order," shouted Kathryn from the screen. The Andorian heard her 'captain's' voice and paused; it was all the time the visitor needed. "I can save the Federation."

Kathryn raised her hand and Anthi caught that queue then sat back in her chair.

"I'm reluctantly listening."

Kathryn on the screen waved a finger. "We need to talk privately. I'll meet you on your ship as a sign of good faith."

Kathryn on the ship crossed her arms and considered the offer; the taste of ordering her alternate-self a quick phaser-fueled death was on the tip of her tongue, but the idea that one person had the means to 'save' the Federation was too-good to pass. Yet, any person to say something like that must be desperate and in a low position to bargain or negotiate ... and that appealed to Kathryn.

"Lower your shields, prepare to be transported."

On the screen, Kathryn stood and walked to the center of the shuttle with raised hands. "I surrender," she said with a perfectly toothy grin.

+++

30 minutes later, in the Officer's Ready Room

“That's insane.” Kathryn Beringer was visibly angry at her mirror self.

“That's the way of the universe,” replied the other Kathryn.

The 'prime' Kathryn sat like a statue staring at the eye patch. “So the part about saving the Federation was a ruse?”

“Of course it was! I’m staring down the barrel of a gun and needed to get out of the way. Look, I can't be in two places at once. But for this, I must be and you’re my only way out.”

“This is really thin, Captain. Why should I help you?”

The other Captain nodded. “I asked for a favor ... as much as I hate to ask. This is a quid pro quo situation. Basically, you'll have a one-time ally, you have my word.” Another toothy grin followed.

“What is the value of your word?”

The alternate Kathryn's grin faded and she leaned over the table. “Captain, I'm sure we differ in many ways, but I'll kill you before you question my honor again. We know how big the galaxy is, and every starship Captain can use all the help they can get.” She crossed her arms and sat back.

+++

15 minutes later, in the Captain's Ready Room, all Chiefs are present with the ‘prime’ Captain Beringer, the alternate Kathryn beamed back to her shuttle ...

“Respectfully, that's insane.” Anthi's Andorian voice was stern.

Chief Science Officer Omazei spoke next. “Captain, I appreciate your risk-taking in the past but this is beyond reason.”  The demure Trill hid the inner strength she displayed so often on the Bridge.

Finally, the hulking Andorian Chief Engineer Thel Ythysi crossed his arms and frowned, but was otherwise silent.

Kathryn looked to each as they presented their opinions in their own way, and then nodded. “I understand. Nonetheless it is happening.” She raised a hand to stop any protest. “I appreciate your concern, but I assure you taking this 'job' may have a payoff worth the investment. Look, we've been through a lot together and if I have earned any trust then I'm cashing it all in all on this one.”

“Why?” Omazei was uncharacteristically blunt.

“Because I believe the ends justify the means.”

+++

1 hour later, on board Abyssal, Mirror Kathryn's flagship ...

In the room, the two women looked at each other, one an exact copy of the other. The Captain of the ship beamed with a bright smiled. “Your Science Officer did an amazing job replicating that scar. Now all you need to do is be a real ***** to my bridge crew. Remember, look over their shoulder and correct something, anything. If they snarl or say anything … pistol whip them into compliance. You shouldn't have too many problems really. They know what it's like.”

“Just get this done quick. The more I think about it, the less your offer appeals to me.”

Kathryn smirked. “That's the Federation in you.”

The modified Kathryn rolled her eye, took a step away, cleared her throat and stalked into the corridor leading to the turbolift. The other Kathryn checked her combat harness to make sure all the components were in place. Once satisfied she waited another several minutes; just enough time required to get from this room to the Bridge. She gave another two minutes then walked the opposite direction down the corridor.

Several minutes later she came to a crew quarter door and looked both ways before requested access. The door opened to reveal a naked male. The Deltan smirked. “It's about time you came around to my way of thinking.”

Kathryn pushed on past him. “Daikar, we don’t have much time.”

“Well then, I'm sorry to report, but you're going to be late.” He started to caress Kathryn's shoulders and she responded by leaning into his muscular chest while fidgeting with the straps to her combat harness, its clamps unsnapping almost rhythmically to his kisses on her neck. Daikar's hands moved from her thighs and under the straps as if trying to assist its removal.

Kathryn pulled away from his arms. In her hands was a small pistol whose power charge was warming up. Daikar's face contorted from surprise to anger. “What's the meaning of this?”

“You will never touch another woman again.” She pulled the trigger and the thin Tetryon beam lanced into the darkness. Daikar tried to scream but the beam burned first into his throat. As his skin boiled then dissolved subatomically, Kathryn dragged the beam down. The charge expired silencing the weapon as Daikar’s body collapsed to the floor. Almost fifty percent of his body was disintegrated. The acrid smell of exposed internal organs assaulting her sense of smell, Kathryn gagged then pressed her communication badge. The signal to her compatriot sent, she exited the room as quietly as she entered.

+++

On the bridge of Abyssal, Kathryn's badge chirped. She stood over the still form of a Tellerite on the deck with her phaser pistol in one hand. She looked around at the others then pointed in a wide arc without saying a word. The rest of the bridge crew looked at their respective consoles in submission.

“Tactical, you have the con,” she barked. “And get this scum off my bridge floor.” As a Terran officer shuffled toward the fallen comrade, Kathryn slowly walked toward the turbolift. Once inside, she smirked as the doors closed.

---

Cast:

Kathryn Beringer - Rachel Nichols 

Anthi Ythysi - Katheryn Winnick 

Thel Ythysi - Kevin Sorbo 

Omazei - Gemma Arterton

Daikar - Billy Zane

Tellarite - Random Extra 1

Terran Officer - Random Extra 2

Haunting of Deck 13

Literary Challenge 36 - Haunting of Deck 13

---

Captains's Log - Stardate 90606.63

I've received reports since the Solaris launched of various events occurring on Deck 13, from missing items found days later in odd or bizarre places, to - quite simply - ghost sightings. As all the reports have been benign in nature, I dismissed them as exactly what they were - benign.

I'm not a superstitious person or Captain, but some of the details in the reports would raise eyebrows. Some of the non-resolved reports look like they will never find closure. On a hunch, I decided to do some research:

The Solaris is a new ship and I have been graced with being his first commander. As a side note, that may explain the altercation I experienced with Captain Ricol in Club 47 when I had to surrender the blasted hulk of my beloved Galatea. Regardless, sifting through the construction documentation, I chanced upon several accident reports.

These are not unusual by themselves: starships are built in space and the number of reports was well within expected parameters for a ship this size. But if there is any anomaly it is that the majority of them occurred on Deck 13. And it gets more interesting if one were to go the distance: 13 accident reports were filed within 13 days, 1 per day, all happening on Deck 13. No other deck experienced this coincidence. If I were superstitious then I would wipe the sweat from my brow learning there were no fatalities building Solaris.

Luck?

Maybe.

But that would make me superstitious.

(sighs)

I have yet to experience any shenanigans on Deck 13 but that doesn't mean anything. I gave this ship a shake-down as soon as I could so now it's time I had a walk-about.

+++

Deck 13 was slowly being evacuated. Kathryn ordered personnel to leave the deck when she met them in person and catalogued their name on her PADD she strapped around her torso. Each was told not to tell anyone else where they were going and if asked, then to fabricate some excuse that would sound like they were staying on Deck 13.

The subterfuge was necessary because Kathryn was on the hunt for something on Deck 13. Her walk-about was fruitful in other ways: getting to “see” her ship in more detail and meeting more crew face-to-face for other than disciplinary or congenial reasons. This event gave her the idea to walk around the ship more often. But she’ll plan that later … she actually saw the “ghost” for a split second and was determined to catch it … so to speak.

By now, Kathryn had bumped into twenty-three crew and six civilians. Deck 13's hallways had perceptibly less traffic since she started the hunt. She stopped at an intersection and slowly looked around the corner. I don’t believe in ghosts, she whispered for the hundredth time she realized. Was she trying to convince herself?

But there it was: a humanoid figure, almost completely transparent except for a very faint distortion at the edges of itself. The apparition stood still … was it looking at her? One arm raised and seemed to be … scratching its head? Kathryn's eyebrow raised in that ever so Vulcan way she had seen so often. Its head seemed to turn to one side and Kathryn quickly ducked from view, hoping not to have been caught, if possible.

Seconds ticked away and Kathryn realized she was holding her breath. The “ghost” turned the corner and bumped into Kathryn and she staggered in confusion. Looking around she barely noticed the apparition move past and down the hallway her back was facing.

“Stop!” It was all Kathryn could think to say, but the form kept moving and she strained to see her ghost.

She took off her PADD and threw it like a Frisbee toward the ground at the ghost's feet, the strap flailing. The ghost was tangled and quickly fell to the ground. Kathryn's mind was whirling at what she was looking at: her PADD was dancing near the ground with a blurry blob moving around and within the straps. As Kathryn got closer the transparent blob stopped moving until a face appeared from within its form, startling Kathryn.

“Lieutenant Retarius?!”

The face blushed and sighed. “Captain. I can explain- “

Kathryn crossed her arms and shifted her weight to one leg, angry and waiting.

“Oh, right now, yes … you see, on my downtime I've been working on a side project, this stealth suit. I actually finished it several weeks ago while we were aboard the Galatea.” Margaret Retarius pulled back the invisible cowl and her head looked as if disembodied and floating by magic. She was disentangling her feet as she spoke. Kathryn just watched.

“Um … so I was just … uh-”

“Having some fun,” Kathryn interrupted.

Margaret stood and handed the damaged PADD back to the Captain. “Yes, sir.”

Accepting the PADD and looking it over, Kathryn said, “Does anyone else know about this suit?”

“No, sir.”

Kathryn stood looking at Retarius' worried face for several seconds as she mulled her options, then settled on one. “Lieutenant, meet me in my ready room in one hour and bring all data on this project with you. But first, hide your … head … and sneak back to your room. Solaris’ ghost ends here, do you understand?”

“Yes, Captain.”

With that, Margaret's head slowly disappeared. Kathryn turned on her heels toward the turbolift with a grin on her face.

I knew I didn’t believe in ghosts.

---

Cast:
Kathryn Beringer - Rachel Nichols

Margaret Retarius - Emma Roberts

Mentioned but not seen:
Hassid Ricol - Matt Nable