Mission: Rura Penthe "
By: Teilani Dane, Chief Medical Officer, [PC]
Giuseppe Silvio, Chief Engineer, [RNPC]
Patia Zoei, Chief Counselor, [PC]
Ian Hunter, Commanding Officer, [PC]

Stardate: 58205.16 0900

=Bridge=

As Hunter left his ready room and walked toward the briefing room, Zoei emerged from the turbolift. "Counselor!" said Hunter as they began walking together, "How are you this morning?"

"Just fine, Sir. And yourself?" Zoei tilted her head to look at the Captain.

Hunter stopped before the briefing room doorway and turned toward Zoei, "Patia, how is the crew doing? I've... read your reports, and..." Hunter's voice trailed off in an echo of concern.

"To be frank, morale is down. You have a crew that is filled with guilt over the prisoner uprising. They don't trust each other the way a solid working crew should. People are minimizing their involvement and maximizing the role other departments played. Sometimes it is justified, other times it is irrational." Zoei's shoulders shrugged slightly. "I have to say they are keeping me busy," a slight smiled tipped just the corners of her mouth upward.

Hunter drew in a deep breath, not exactly what he wanted to hear, but it could be worse. "Alright, when I return from Rura Penthe, I would like to meet with you to see what we can do about this."

=Briefing Room=

Hunter entered the staff meeting a quick glance around noting everyone was present who was expected to be there.

"Alright," said Hunter as he dropped a PADD onto the table. "Lets get this started."

He pulled his chair out from the table and sat down. "I am sure we are all anxious to get this mission wrapped up and get back home." Hunter clumsily thumbed through his files on the PADD, pulling up the mission points and objectives provided by OPS, Tactical and security.

Looking up at Melissa he said, "Jarvis and Korg will supervise the transfer of the prisoners to the Klingon transport ship." He looked at Westfall, "Mr. Westfall will have the Conn. Commander Wright is still on leave, but available if you need him for anything."

Hunter transfered his gaze to Teilani, "Doctor Dane and I will be transporting to the surface of the planet...." Hunter searched for some professionally plausible words, "...to investigate some concerns."

Teilani smiled. She was glad that Hunter did not disclose the full story to the crew. It was certainly not of their concern.

He tossed the PADD back onto the table. "Dane and I will be returning on or before the last transport leaves the surface tomorrow at 23:59. Communications is not permitted therefore at our discretion we will refrain from making contact with the Zion."

She looked around, some of the faces were giving her curious glances. Unfortunately Teilani was not a betazoid so she could not pick up any thought.

He looked at Westfall, knowing this made him uncomfortable, Hunter resumed talking before Westfall had a chance to protest. He turned to Max, "Your ship will rendezvous at 1100. I want to thank you and your crew for the job well done. We've enjoyed your company. Qa'pla"

"Qa'Pla to you and your crew!" replied Max.

Next he looked at Riaan, "Riaan, has been busy with the crew trying to correct some of the deeper problems with the computer core. I've read your reports regarding your finds." He look around the room "It seems Mr. Birkoff left a few other surprises."

Next he addressed his Chief Engineer, "Silvio, we beat the engines pretty hard getting here. How are they?"

"Our engines held up very well," said Silvio with a small amount of pride. "We will use our time at Rura Penthe to get them ready for the trip back."

"Alright, lets try to have all systems ready when we break orbit tomorrow at 0100. The Klingons will expect us to leave promptly. Any other questions or concerns?"

Hunter listened as Westfall provided him his dutiful recommendations. "Your concerns are noted Mr. Westfall, we'll be fine, I assure you."

Hunter looked around the table, "Dismissed."

Alyssa y El Medico "
By: Dr. Bartles , Flight Surgeon , [NPC]
Dr. Alyssa Caitlin Northrop, Intel Officer, [PST]

Stardate: 58205.16 1000

It had been a long night, but eventually Alyssa had gotten back to sleep. As she brushed her hair out, she went over in her head the list of things she needed to do today. At the top of the list was going by Sickbay. Apparently the Fleet felt that it was necessary for returning Exchange Officers to undergo physicals. Though, perhaps in her case that was a good idea. As much as she respected the Klingons....they weren't very clean.

A little while later, Northrop walked into Sickbay. It was fairly early yet, so the fact that she didn't see anyone wasn't terribly surprising. "Hello? Anyone here?"

A man peered from behind a partition, "Yes? can I help you?"

"I think you may be able to do just that. I'm Alyssa Northrop....I just got back from the Exchange Program on the Klingon Ship. As per regulations....it's time for a physical," she said, arms crossed a little.

"Ok Ms. Northrop, I'm Doctor Bartles, I'm actually the ship's flight surgeon, but Dr. Dane is away so I am helping out today." he said, looking through his PADD, "Ah, yes, Doctor Northrop..." his voice trailed off as he read the notes on the PADD. Looking up he instructed Alyssa, "come with me please."

Stopping at a bio bed, he gestured, "Please have a seat up here."

The Archeologist got up on the bio bed and looked back at the Doctor. She watched him as he pulled out his tricorder.

As he ran the tricorder over Alyssa, he inquired, "So, how was the exchange?"

"Oh....it was interesting," she said, putting it tactfully. "Never a dull moment."

Alyssa smiled at Bartles. "How much contact have you had with Klingons, Doctor?"

The Doctor smiled, "Well, I have done some work with them, and, I have an extensive background in their physiology." he paused his scan, "But actual contact? Not much. I spent a day on Kronos, and I was on a Vor'cha class cruiser, once." He chuckled, "but I guess they say they're more impressive than the ship you were on. I understand they are not built for comfort." He set down the tricorder stepped over to the console.

"Well," continued the Doctor as he produced a hypo from the medical replicator, "Your potassium levels are low... the hydrolyzed proteins in bloodwine will do that." he said with a coy smile and a wink. "Other than that you are fine, I'm also going to give you a mild antibiotic as a preventative measure with a bio stimulant. Some times their food contains certain parasites."

"Oh c'mon now Doc....you know that sometimes there food is parasites." She laughed a little, thinking of those Serpent Worms she'd been eating the last week.

The doctor chuckled. "That's my point exactly."

He pressed the hypospray against Alyssa's neck. "That's all," he said, "You are free to go. Be sure to report to sickbay if you feel any unusual symptoms."

"Thanks, Doctor. I'll be sure to let you all know if I start feeling strange." Northrop slid off the bed and headed for the door. It was time to get back to the office and go through the intel that had come in while she'd been away.

Shore leave "
By: Teilani Dane, Chief Medical Officer, [PC]
Ian Hunter, Commanding Officer, [PC]

Stardate: 58205.16 1000

=Transporter Room #2=

Hunter finished inspecting his gear bag and slung it over his shoulder as Teliani entered.

He smiled at her as he zipped up a the thick coat he wore, "You ready to go?"

Teilani nodded as she zipped up the same thick coat. From her research on RP it showed that temperatures could drop well below freezing at night. And she was not about to get frost bit. She pulled up her collar and stepped on the transporter padd.

Hunter picked up a duffel bag and stepped on to the transporter right behind her, he nodded at the transporter crewman. "Energize."

The transporter beam seized them up and they materialized on the deck the transport ship.

"Follow me." Said the Klingon who met them.

Hunter and Dane followed them to the mess hall. "Wait here."

"What do you think we'll find?" asked Hunter.

"Honestly Sir," Teilani replied "I don't know. There is so little information to go on. I can only hope."

Suddenly the transport began to shudder from the turbulence of atmospheric entry. Minutes later it touched down. The Klingon returned, he too now wore clothing for cold weather. "Come."

Stepping from the transport, the ice cold air sucked the breath from Hunter. Despite the high tech fabrics he wore, he was instantly cold. The wind some how still managed to pierce through to the bone.

Hunter and Dane walked cautiously across the frozen ice and snow. They followed behind the Klingon guards, pushing and shoving about 12 prisoners a head of them. Barlok always insisted in indoctrinating small groups at a time.

The group stopped marching forward. Hunter and Dane followed several guards who took up positions along side the prisoners. Suddenly a structure pushed up from the ground. A door hissed open and a dwarfish klingon stepped out. He carried a box which set on the ground. Several Klingon guards emerged with beasts bearing large gnarly teeth.

Finally Barlok himself stepped out and took his place on the box. "Welcome to my little gulag," he said looking around. His haggard face bore the scars of many battles. "There are no stockades here... no guard towers, no electronic frontiers." His hand waved over his dominion, coming to rest on his hips, his stance practiced and authoritative. He paused as if to let the wind howl through the souls of the prisoners. Hunter almost felt pity on them.

Barlok continued, "No, none... you are on a frozen asteroid a billion kellicams from anywhere." Again a dramtic pause, "Punishment!" he exclaimed, "means exile to the surface where you will die within minutes." He snapped his fingers. A guard emerged from behind him with a half naked prisoner who was thrown on to the ice. He tried vainly to get back to the door but was pushed back by the guards. Within moments he curled into a fetal position as the warmth of his life drifted away in the frigid howling winds. "The rules are simple. Work well and you will be fed and treated well. Disobey... and you will die."

Barlok pulled his cloak as he turned ad stepped off the box.

The prisoners where herded into the door which descended down a long and winding stairwell. When the last of them disappeared down the dark shaft Barlok's disposition changed, "Hunter! welcome, and you must be Dr. Dane. Come!"

He turned and descended into the stairs. Hunter and Dane followed, behind them several more guards who sealed up the door behind them.

It was a 20 minute walk through the winding cavernous tunnels before they arrived at Barlok's office. He sat at his desk. "So..." he scowled, "we don't get many visitors here, what do you want?"

"A favor." said Hunter, "..but first, the customary bribe." said Hunter with a wink. He unzipped the sack and pulled out several bottles. The old Klingon stood and picked up one of the bottles, uncorking it. He took a whif, "Saurian Brandy!" he with a delighted chuckle. Hunter pulled out two more bottles, "And romulan ale." he said. Hunter then pulled out a box which he handed to Barlok. "Whats this?" said Barlok opening it. Hunter gestured at the box, "Cuban cigars...very rare, from Terran."

"Ha Ha Ha!" laughed the Klingon who resembled a child who had been spoiled on Christmas morning as he stuffed his booty back into the bag. Hunter sat down and watched with a grin.

The Klingon shook his finger at Hunter and said, "I hope this favor isn't too big."

"Not really." said Hunter, "We just want information on someone who may have been here."

"Information eh?" The Klingon picked up one of the cigars and smelled it before putting it in his mouth.

Hunter looked over at Dane and nodded.

Teilani unzipped a part of her coat and took out a small padd. She gently placed it on the table. "Yes Sir," she spoke softly. "I was wondering if you have records of an Eric Dane ever being here. From the little information I was able to gather Sir, he should have been here for about 6 years."

The cigar dropped out of Barlok's mouth, "Eric...Dane...." His face glazed over for several moments. "Of course, I see now." He shook his fist at Dr. Dane menacingly, "You are related to that scum?"

Teilani shrugged. " He is my brother Sir."

"Unfortunate for you." he snarled, fumbling to find the cigar he dropped. Recovering it from the floor he put it back in his mouth and sat back in his chair. "Your brother..." he said contemptuously "He cost me a promotion!" he said raising his voice. He slammed his hand down on the desk as he recalled more. "Eric...Dane..." he shook his head.

"I am sorry about that Sir," Teilani replied calmly. "But perhaps you can tell me what he did?"

Barlok pointed his finger at Dane. "What did he do? He was the third person to ever escape from Rura Penthe." He swung his chair sideways so he wouldn't have to look at Dr. Dane. "We tracked him to a location 4 Kellicams from here.

We found a base camp but he was gone. Someone helped him off the planet. There were rumors among the prisoners that someone was after him. His escape was to avoid capture. Either way...." Barlok turning his head toward Teilani, "he is not here."

Teilani glanced over to Hunter. "Would it be possible to go to this camp and check it out?"

"You are foolish if you want to go there," rebuked Barlok.

Hunter cleared his throat and produced a small incendiary device from the cigar box and offered a light to Barlok. He smiled and accepted it. Hunter handed him the device and sat back down.

I will give you the coordinates and an ice speeder. But I warn you... it is not safe out there."

"We will be alright, Teilani said calmly yet her heart was racing. She had idle hope of finding anything worthy. But knowing her brother he would certainly have left something of a clue.

Hunter stood up as Barlok continued, "...and remember, the last transport leaves at 2359 tomorrow." He glared at the pair. "Be sure you are on it!"

Excursion "
By: Teilani Dane, Chief Medical Officer, [PC]
Ian Hunter, Commanding Officer, [PC]

Stardate: 58205.16 1355

The Klingon gravely looked at Hunter who was still mentally reviewing the controls of the snow speeder. "Are you certain you wish to risk this? There are no worthy adversaries out there."

Hunter stepped out of the vehicle and nodded. Even in the equipment bay it was freezing cold. His breath was visible as he replied to the Klingon, "Yes, sometimes our greatest adversary are questions unanswered.

The warrior did not quite understand but looked at Hunter approvingly.

Hunter picked up the container of survival supplies and loaded it into the back of the rig. Climbing back down he stepped off the unit and looked at Teilani, "After you."

As Teilani settled herself in, Hunter regarded the vehicle one last time. It was a crude piece of machinery. It could well have been over 50 years old. It was an internal reactant engine. As long as the reactor was charged it could run on almost anything, especially ice. The engine compartment took up much of the area in the rear of the vehicle.

Large oversized tracks contained long spikes which meant it could easily climb steep grades.

The vehicle's cab was set somewhat high on the machine and was fairly spacious, two seats and cargo room.

Hunter patted the Klingon on the back, "Thanks for your help."

The Klingon nodded, "Qa'pla!"

Hunter climbed inside and sat down in the driver's seat. He fastened the safety harness and nodded for Dane to do the same.

"Alright, let's see..." he muttered.

Hunter pulled a lever back which ignited the reactor. Next he turned a nob around which started the reactant flowing into the engine. The machine sputtered to life and its instrumentation began to glow. Then doing what the Klingon had rehearsed with him, he moved the steering levers forward. The machine lurched forward roughly.

Outside, the klingon laughed.

Hunter moved the levers forward more and the machine rolled smoothly out of the equipment bay. "I hope this thing has heat."

"Which way?" asked Hunter.

Teilani looked at the controls. "Heading 44.5 east, Sir." she replied, her voice making little clouds in the cold air. She settled in a little deeper in her thick coat, although the glider was somewhat heated she felt the cold cling to her bones. The surrounding was white, nothing but ice, wind and blizzards. Visibility was close to zero and she had to rely on the gliders sensors and navigational array.

After about 20 minutes, according to the console 12.5 klicks, she said. " Now turn west, 23degrees."

Hunter made the course adjustment and accelerated the old machine a little more. A cloud of snow and ice followed in the speeders wake as it sped across the frozen wasteland.

After about 15 minutes the speeder slowed to a stop. A large crevasse lay in their path. The gaping chasm was at least a kilometer across and extended for several kilometers in both directions. Hunter turned the vehicle and followed the crevasse. It took another 10 minutes to detour around the giant fissure.

They continued along the course toward the coordinates. Hunter was concerned about all the strange noises and groans the old vehicle made, but didn't say anything to alarm the doctor.

"Slow down Captain." Teilani said. "I think we are there."

Hunter pulled the vehicle to a halt in front of a cavernous opening. He zipped up his coat, "yeah, this looks like it could be the place."

Teilani too zipped up her coat and put on her gloves before opening the hatch. Immediately she was attacked by the cold wind and sharp slivers of snow and ice hit her face.

They climbed up the side of a small embankment to reach the entrances.

"This way Sir," she yelled through the wind at Hunter. As they entered the cave, it was or less a natural opening in a cliff, they noticed the silence, the howling of the wind subsided and Teilani pulled out a tricorder.

Scanning the area there were no readings. "There is nobody here Sir," she said. Hunter looked around at the large open cavern. A small passage way led from it. "Over here" said Hunter as he lit a flash light.

They walk in a little further, the passage way opened into another cavern, much smaller than the first one. She noticed the remnants of a fire. Pieces of clothing were scattered around it, some metal tins. There were some hand written notes and maps written on a piece of hide.

They meticulously combed the recesses of the cave. It stretched on for quite a distance. Looking further they found hidden in the back on a natural ledge, a Klingon PADD.

Hunter watched as Teilani tried to activate it. It was dead. "We can take it back and charge it up. We'll see what's on it. There isn't anything else here. Lets go."

Teilani nodded and with a last glance in the cave she followed Hunter outside.

They climbed into the snow speeder and Hunter started it up. They turned into the direction they came from and started to head back. After about 4 minutes Hunter slowed the vehicle, "What's that?" he asked.

He watched as Dane adjusted the scanner. Hunter looked up at Dane before she could speak and said: "Its a storm. Winds are 80 kilometers an hour." He watched the wall of white get closer and closer. "We can't navigate around that crevasse in that and its too dangerous to stay out here. We'll have to go back to the cave and wait out the storm."

Teilani was scared, growing up on Mars ment that they never had snow,occasional sand storms but they were not to compare with snowstorms.

Hunter turned the old machine around and accelerated as fast as he could trying to stay in front of it. The storm started overtaking them. Suddenly the low fuel indicator flashed and the machine began to faulter. As they reached the cave opening he tracked the vehicle up to the opening of the cave and managed to drive it through the cave opening. Just inside the cave was enough room to turn the machine around.

Razor sharp ice pellets began to pepper the ground near the inside of the cave, blown in by the high winds. Hunter reached in back and pulled the survival kit forward. "Lets go."

They walked back down the narrow passage way to the smaller cavern. Hunter opened the survival kit. It contained 10 thermoflares, a thermal sleeping bag and dried food rations. Hunter ignited one of the flares and stacked rocks on it to radiate heat.

"These won't last through the night." said Hunter gravely.

"You think we'll make it Sir?" Teilani said softly as she shivered. She huddled closer to the fire. "What if we have used all of them. We need heat."

Hunter shook his head, "I don't know Teilani.

"Perhaps we can use our phasers to heat up the rocks." she said. "Otherwise we freeze to death here. The temperature has already dropped 10 degrees in the last 2 minutes."

Hunter instinctively reached for his phaser, not finding it he reminded Dane, "The Klingons confiscated it. Outsiders are not permited to carry weapons."

Hunter evaluated the situation, "We'll be alright if we can both fit in this." he said unfolding the thermal sleeping bag.

Teilani nodded. "We need to keep eachother warm then and we can not fall asleep, hy......hypothermia will k.........get us." she said with a shivering voice, her teeth shattered.

Hunter was feeling extremely cold as well. The thermal flare was not radiating enough heat to help feel warm it was a helpless, desparte feeling. He pulled a large tarp tent from the survival kit, there wasn't enough room to set it up inside the small cavern. He took out a knife and sliced it into two sections. Using rocks and water from the canteen he used the tarp to seal the enterance to the small cavern they were in. He took the second piece and did the same with the small passage at the rear. It would be warmer to sleep in here than in the cab of the snow speeder.

He took the third flare from the bag and ignited it. The warmth it radiated made his cheeks feel like they had pins sticking in them. He realied it was a symptom of frostbite. "Come on, we need to get into the sleeping bag until this storm blows over."

Normally Teilani would have declined sharing a sleeping bag but in this case, surviving in this extreme cold was only possible if they cuddled up together. She stood up and walked over to Hunter, placing her long legs into the sleeping bag and sat down.

It was a tight squeeze. Hunter felt a little warmer his feet and hands were stilll bitterly cold.

"Oh Captain this does not work if we stay so reserved," she said softly. "I don't bite so put your left arm around my shoulders and use the right to hold the sleeping bag in place."

Teilani huddled closer to Hunter and put both arms around his waist. There that was much better, now if only she could stop shivering.

Hunter felt sorry for Teilani. He held her tight, he sensed she was worried for them. He might have been wrong but he wouldn't ask.

After about 20 minutes it seemed to be working. They both stopped shivering. It was going to be a long, dark wait. Hunter felt tired. He began to drift off to sleep.

Warm Memories "
By: Teilani Dane, Chief Medical Officer, [PC]
Ian Hunter, Commanding Officer, [PC]

Stardate: 58205.16 2200

"Captain, wake up," Teilani said. "Ian Hunter open your eyes!!"

Ian opened his eyes, "What?"

"You were off to sleep Sir," Teilani said barely able to keep her eyes open. "We gotta stay awake. Hypothermia, you know."

"Awake... right," said Hunter half sleeping. He stirred and repositioned his arms so they were in a more appropriate place around Teilani.

Teilani could not stop shivering, oh how she wished she was back on Mars. But at least being hugged by the Captain made it a little better.

Trying to rouse Teilani's moral, Hunter spoke softly, "This isn't as bad as when my uncle and I climbed Mount Rainier on earth."

She looked up. "Sir,?!? your uncle?"

Hunter chuckled lightly, "ah yes, my uncle. He practically raised me. His name was Stormy Carter. He was about as rugged as they come."

"In what way Sir, Teilani asked. "Was he like the old pioneers?"

"Yeah," said Hunter fondly remembering him. "He hated technology...yeah, you could say he was a 'mountain man'"

Teilani smiled as she hugged Hunter a little tighter. "Your own father he is deceased," she asked softly.

"No, my father was alive at the time. He was just never around. He was a career officer." Hunter paused. "My uncle lived with us for a long time. We lived west of Denver, up in the mountains. He would take me fishing and hiking. We would explore ancient gold mines and had all kinds of adventures."

Teilani giggled as she pictured Hunter as a little boy, climbing rocks, falling and hurting his knees.

"Well Sir, if you don't mind my saying but I just pictured you as a little boy, following your uncle, climbing rocks, hurting your knees and such. It reminds me of a old earth show once called Grizzly Adams."

Ian laughed softly, "I've never heard of that, but it certainly fits my Uncle Stormy."

"Did you ever found gold?" Teilani asked. " I mean I know from old earth history stories that their was something called a gold rush."

"Well, now that is something I can say I've heard of. The Colorado Rockies did not have near the notoriety of the California Gold rush, but growing up there, I can recall hearing lots of stories about the old gold and silver mines centuries ago. Old wild west stuff. "

Teilani gniffled. "Yes I can see it in front of me some old cowboy, herding cows, finding an old goldmine."

"Perhaps," said Hunter, "We could do a wester holo-novel sometime."

"That would be great, we could combine all the wild west items into one big story," Teilani said huddling closer to Hunter.

"So tell me about your brother, when was the last time you saw him?"

Teilani's voice sounded a bit muffled form inside her jacket. "That has been a long time," Sir. "I left home in not such good circumstances and that was the last time I saw Eric in the flesh. During my academy years we had been in regular contact but the last few years I haven't heard from him.

Hunter shifted a little, "What is he like?"

"He is similar to me Sir," Teilani said with a smile around her lips. "Tenacious, stubborn but he is my brother and I just need to know if he is alright. I made a promise to him when he was little and I will keep that promise."

"A promise? what kind of promise?" inquired Hunter.

"Well I told him no matter what that I would always be there for him and that when ever he needed my help he could count me in."

"That is a pretty tall order. How did he end up here?"

"That is what I would like to know too Sir. I know Eric, he would never referred to crime, so either he must have been forced into what ever he did causing him to end up here or he got mixed up with the wrong friends."

"I guess it could happen."

"You know Captain," Teilani continued while trying to get something from her pocket. "I recently heard from Ms Zoei that my parents have been found, Unfortunately they are no longer with us and besides Eric I don't have many family left now."

"I understand, I have only my mother and my sister." Hunter paused for a moment, "..and my niece."

"Chocolate?"

Hunter smiled and wondered how women manage to find that stuff. "No thanks," responded Hunter politely.

"Anyway if it turns out that he has become a criminal I will make sure that he serves his time, even though it means I have to take him back to RP myself."

"That's tough love." said Hunter with admiration.

"How is the storm doing?" asked Teilani. Ian parted the lips of the sleeping bag and peered out.

Still from the entrance of the cave they noticed the strong cold wind and blizzards of ice beating their hide out.

"No change." he said closing it back up. "But it is definitely warmer in here."

In the back of Hunter's mind, worries of getting back to the landing site by tomorrow night nagged at him.

"Your brother had to get help to get off this rock." surmised Hunter. "After his escape they extended the force field. I wonder how far they extended it."

"Uhu, I wonder too," Teilani responded nibbling at the chocolate. Enjoying the taste. Comfort food Eric used to call it. He always brought her some if she had had a fight with her sister.

Ian looked at the chronometer on his wrist. It was just after 0300. He then pulled a luminary from his pocket and activated it with a twist. It cast a soft light.

"You are worried arn't you Captain. About us, if we get back in time?" Teilani said softly her green eyes looking up at Hunter's face.

Putting on a macho poker face, Ian responded, "Nah, we have 20 hours left. Plenty of time..."

Ian gazed back at Teilani, He remembered the first time he saw her.

After several moments past, Ian spoke softly, "..plenty of time."

Teilani blushed a little, she suddenly felt hot, as she noticed the intense gaze with which Ian looked at her. As strand of red hair felt over her forehead. If only she could read his mind.

"Your sure you don't want to have some chocolate," she asked with a husky and soft voice. She licked the corner of her mouth tasting the sweetness of the candy.

Hunter smiled at the gesture, "Okay, perhaps a little."

She broke some the chocolate and handed it to Hunter.

Taking a nibble of the chocolate, Ian nodded, "I can't remember the last time I tasted chocolate. But then again, I can't remember the last time I did much of anything enjoyable," He confessed.

"How come," Teilani said. "Especially you should be able to do something enjoyable, I mean the stress you are constantly under. It must be difficult to focus sometimes."

"You should talk Doctor, I think you are more of a work-a-holic than I am," said Ian with a grin.

Teilani smiled. "You are right but for what its worth Sir, although I freeze my butt off, I enjoy this little sit around the campfire with you. Although next time, if there is any, we have to find a warmer place."

"Agreed Doctor, or at least some real wood."

"Hatsjoe," Teilani sneezed. "Oh great now I have a cold too. But I mean it Captain, once we are back on board I am going to schedule you some daily R&R doctors orders." She grinned.

"Me? heal thy self physician!"

Teilani laughed, a clear laugher resonated through the cave. "Hatsjoe, I will schedule some R&R for myself as well, but then again I don't have to fly a ship."

Hunter settled back.

After a while Teilani unzipped the sleeping bag and peered outside. "It looks like the storm has subsided Ian, ehm Captain." she said.

Hunter looked at his chronometer, it was after 0900. The night had passed.

" You think we should risk it getting back.? I don't want to be left on this heap of ice any longer."

Hunter stirred and sat up. Teilani was right. The wind was no longer howling and the cave seemed much warmer.

Teilani felt at the padd she had tucked away. Good it was still there, she wondered what was on it.

Standing up, Ian stretched and yawned. It had been a long night. Ian peeled back tarp that he sealed the entry way with and stepped through. Teilani was right behind.

They walked around the front of the snow speeder. "Oh no." said Ian, the cave is sealed shut. Ian and Teilani walked closer to see that the entrance was blocked with frozen ice and snow. Ian kicked the obstacle. It was very solid. "I think I hate this place." Said Hunter turning to Teilani.

What do you do when the Ghosts won't let go? "
By: Patia Zoei, Chief Counselor, [PC]
Dr. Alyssa Caitlin Northrop, Intel Officer, [PST]

Stardate: 58205.16 2300

The only sound in the room was that of breathing. It's pace was rapid and shallow. There was a slight chill to the air in the room, but the lone occupant had broken out in a sweat. She shivered under her covers, but it was not from any cold.

Alyssa's eyes darted back and forth under her eyelids, watching some scene unfold before them. She began to thrash a bit in her bed for a moment, then calmed again.

Inside her mind, Northrop was running. Running through a dense, lush jungle. She knew this place. It was near a set of temple ruins outside the capital city of the Zartec Confederation. She also knew what was happening.

The ground shook under her feet as she was chased. She had come here to study the ruins and had found clues leading her deeper into the temple. Inside, she found inscriptions that told of a very important icon hidden there. After several days of searching, she had found the icon....and set in motion a sort of defence mechanism.

Alyssa didn't know how the thing worked.....nor how to stop it. What she did know is that the giant robot was pretty much impervious to phaser fire and fixated on retrieving the icon she had clutched in her hand. That had led her to her current situation.

She continued to run, branches of trees slapping at her upper body while the under brush cut at her legs. There was no where to go......nothing she could do except keep running. Running till either the Golem gave up...or she couldn't run anymore and it got her.

Suddenly the Intel officer jolted upright in bed.....panting for air, sweat tickling down her back. It took a moment of looking around before she realized just where she was. She'd been dreaming again....like a highlight reel of her life's closest calls. What the hell was going on here?

"Computer....time," she croaked out.

"The time is 2315 hours."

Slipping out of bed and into a robe, she went to the replicator and retrieved a glass of water. "Computer....locate Counselor Zoei."

"Counselor Zoei is in her quarters."

The glass began to shake in her hand.....so she put it down. What could she do? Apparently her mind had other ideas about sleep than she did right now.

Alyssa hugged herself....then reached over and pressed a button on her desk. "Northrop to Zoei. Um...Patia...I know it's late.....and I know you're off duty. But would it be possible for you and I to talk?"

Her voice, though no longer cracked, sounded small and scared. She needed to see a friendly face....someone to help her figure out what was going on. Obviously there was more going on in her subconscious than concern over taking a promotion test.

Zoei jolted awake, instantly alert. The voice she heard was not the normal voice of Dr. Northrop. Of course, Alyssa. Where would you like to visit?

It took a moment for Alyssa to answer. She ran her right hand through her tangled dark brown hair. "Um...if it wouldn't be too much trouble, I could come there? I'm really sorry I woke you up.....but I didn't know what else to do."

Do you know where my quarters are? I will be waiting for your arrival. It is no trouble at all for me to be up. I will be happy to help you.

"Thank you, Patia." She killed the comm channel and looked down at the floor. Heading back into the bedroom, she pulled on some clothes. A few minutes later, she was standing in front of Patia Zoei's door. She reached out and pressed the chime. Alyssa looked like she'd just been in a shuttle wreck. She was a complete mess.

Quickly, Patia dressed in a fresh uniform. She twisted her hair into a smooth knot and slid an antique gold clip into the middle to hold it all in place. Efficiently, she tidied up her quarters. As she pulled the bed clothes tight over the pillows, the door chimed.

"Enter," Patia called softly.

Alyssa stepped into the room and looked around. "Holy Cow....you were asleep like 5 minutes ago."

She felt a little non-plussed seeing the state of her friend's quarters...and the state of her friend. "That's amazing, Patia.....really."

"You haven't met my mother," Patia winked. "She was the wife of a diplomat and a certain presence was required. She used to run drills to see how fast I could get ready. There was no dawdling in front of the mirror at her house," Patia chuckled.

"You look very tired. Have a seat, Alyssa," Patia gestured toward several chairs in a cozy corner of her quarters. "Did you want something to drink? Or a snack?"

Alyssa sat down in the chair, then tucked her feet up under her body. "No thank you, Patia. I'm fine. I just need to talk to a friend."

She smiled feintly, "Well, I guess I should get started. Last night and tonight I've been having dreams....well, maybe it would be better to call them nightmares. Last night I relived what could probably be classified as the worst day of my life.....and tonight my mind kept replaying all the tight situations I've found myself in over the years. I'm not sure why. At first I thought that I was telling myself to take the Chief Warrant Officer's Test. But now...with this newest gambit of bad dreams...I'm not so sure if I was right about that first one. I just don't know why I would choose now of all times to relive these events."

Tears began to form in her eyes, "Gods...I hope you never have to see or experience some of the things I've witnessed. So many people died....and they were relying on me."

Patia tucked her feet under herself as she settled into her chair. She propped her chin on her hand. "Would you like to talk about what happened?"

She sighed, "I'm not sure where to start."

"Well....I guess I'll start with the first dream. It was a few years before the war started. I was still in school....and my Mentor and I were out on a dig on the planet Pella V." Alyssa quickly wiped a tear, then

continued. "A group of locals didn't like the fact that we were poking around in the ruins there. After weeks of causing trouble.....they took it to the next level and staged a full scale attack. They took us all hostage. We spent a week under lock and key....till Professor Morita and I were able to make a break for it."

Northop paused a moment, collecting herself. "The locals chased us down. While we were running, Professor Morita was shot. It was a lucky shot. After that, it didn't take long for them to catch us. Their leader's name was Nolan.....and as my mentor lay in the dirt under the tree canopy....he yanked me to my feet and put a knife to my throat." She sniffed back tears, "He was going to kill me.....and he nearly did. I didn't know it...but my Brother's ship had been called in. Robby beamed in with a security team and saved me. Only....he was a little late. Nolan actually slit my throat. But he was in a hurry and didn't get all the way in. He nicked the artery."

"Robby had us beamed up to the Perseus' sickbay...but they couldn't save Professor Morita."

"That must have been very hard for you. How do you feel about what happened?" Patia shifted forward slightly. The story was obviously hard for the young woman to tell. Her emotions were emanating in waves from her.

"How do I feel? That was the absolute worst moment of my life. But I don't know why I'm reliving it in my dreams, Patia.....I mean, I thought I knew....but after tonight, I don't know anymore. Why would my mind pick now to drege up these memories?"

"It is hard to say why our minds do what they do. You just got back from a Klingon exchange. Is it possible something that happened there triggered your memories? Or did the exchange remind you of a fact finding mission, similar to a dig?" Patia asked softly.

Alyssa thought about that for a moment. Nothing specifically came to mind.....thought there was one thing...but that couldn't be it. Could it?

"Aboard the Klingon Ship...I was acting First Officer. I was responsible for a whole lot of others.....but that's not new, Patia....I've been leading digs for years. Why would a leadership role all of the sudden make my subconscious go haywire?"

"Alyssa, it is hard to say why anything triggers our self conscious. If you think about the people who reported to you, were there any emotions present that reminded you of the time of the attack?"

"Maybe a feeling of failure....for feeling like I failed them. A feeling of guilt." She looked down at her knees. "Patia...they died because I didn't see some angle...and now it's getting ready to happen again."

"What do you think is going to happen, Alyssa?" Patia asked. She shifted slightly and pulled her leg to her chest. She leaned her chin on her knee as she listened.

"That's the thing....I don't know what's going to happen. I'm afraid I'll fail again and more people will die. I...I don't want any more blood on my hands because I didn't see something important that I should have." Alyssa rubbed her face hard. "I've never been like this. I mean...I've continued to go on digs. Why is this bothering me now?"

"Did you have any feelings of failure while you were with the Klingons?" Patia asked.

Looking at Patia, "No...that's the thing. Nothing really happened to my knowledge while I was aboard the Klingon ship. I did a lot of paperwork and personnel assignments while I was aboard. Beyond the whole eat, drink and be honorable thing." Alyssa laughed just a little, "That's why I don't understand where this came from. Taking a test shouldn't be doing this to me....but it's the only explaination."

"Are you approaching the time of year when the incident with your professor took place? Or an anniversary of a date that would have relevance to him at all?" Patia adjusted her position so she leaned slightly more forward.

Alyssa thought a moment, then shook her head. "If that were the cause...why would my mind choose to bring up the other incidents...the other times where people's lives were in danger?"

Northrop sat there a moment....and wondered what the heck was going on inside her head. Why was she acting this way? She wasn't the type to do this? But then why was this happening? She looked up at Patia...and something began to flick inside her mind. It started small....then grew till it was a full blown idea. Here she was...sitting in Patia Zoei's den in the middle of the night...yammering about dreams that bothered her. And Patia was listening. Could that be it? Nothing else made any sense.

"I think I know what the problem is." She sighed, "And I know what the solution is."

"What do you think it is, Alyssa?" Patia asked. As she watched, there was a change that came over the person in front of her. She sat a little straighter, the puzzled look was fading from her eyes.

"You. You're the solution....or at least part of it, Patia." Alyssa smiled. "It makes sense now....sorta in it's own screwed up Alyssa Northrop way. Only a friend would let someone wake them up in the middle of the night to talk about dreams. I'm not entirely sure why my mind felt the need to prove this to me just now....but maybe it was just trying to keep me from screwing this up. The last real friend I had was Professor Morita. That was the first dream....and the second, that was showing me how well going it alone had gone. So yeah....maybe the first dream was telling me to go for the promotion.....but the second one was telling me to let someone in....to let someone be my friend. So I have someone to ask for help from....like I did a little while ago."

Northrop smirked, "I'm probably going to need it."

"So what do you think, Counselor? A plausible explaination...or am I full of it?" Alyssa vaguely wondered if Patia would understand the reference. Few people recognized old Earth sayings.

"Definitely a plausible explanation, and I wouldn't say you are full of it. I have met people who are full of it, and you don't quite fit the description," Patia smiled slightly. "How do you feel now that you have figured out what the dreams meant?"

The archeologist returned the smile. "I think I feel better....assuming that I actually have solved this little mystery of the mind. Guess all I really needed was for someone to listen to me babble."

"Sometimes that is the best medicine. I am happy to see you looking more relieved." Patia noticed Alyssa's posture was a little more relaxed and her facial features did not show the tension which had been so patently obvious when she came in.

"Well...when we get back to DS9...I mean Qul'Tuq, I'm going to take you out and we'll have somoe fun ok? To make up for the lost sleep." Leaning forward, Alyssa took Patia's hands in her own, then looked into her friend's eyes. "Thank you, Patia. Thank you very much."

That said, the archeologist stood. "I should be going. We've both got some sleeping to do....and shift in a few hours."

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