Day of the Dog"
By: Kandar, Crewman, [PST]

Stardate: 58207.08 0100

==Bridge of the USS Gage==

The Captain spun his his chair to face his communications officer. "A distress call?"

"Yes Sir, audio only."

The Captain stood, and motioned for her to play it.

"This is the USS Derringer...badly..."

He turned to the Communications Officer. "I'm sorry Sir, I've lost connection."

"I've pinpointed the source, Sir," said the tactical officer. "its a half light year away, Two Akiras on long range sensor, leaving the area."

The star map was displayed on the main viewer.

The Captain sat in his chair and barked his orders, "Engage the cloak, helm set a course 0h-two-nine mark 6, warp 8, engage."

The Captain waited anxiously, griping the arm of his chair. Where every second counted, no starship was ever fast enough.

---

"We're arriving at the coordinates Sir," announced the helmsman.

"Scanners are picking up a debris field," reported the ops officer.

"Its the Derringer Sir. Completely destroyed, and one federation akira,"said the science officer.

"All stop." said the Captain, "Any signs of Federation ships?"

"No Sir."

"Scan for survivors."

The Captain turned away from the view screen and clutched the rail which encircled the center of the bridge. He was too late.

"We have one Sir...life signs are...strange Sir."

The Captain turned and looked at the main viewer. "Strange? then engage the tractor beam, get them in here.

---

==Flight Deck, USS Gage==

A rescue crew and watched as the tractor beam set the escape pod down. Medics waited nearby.

"It won't open," said one of the men.

"Hell it's fused. It must have been close to the breech."

The other man immediately began to use a phaser torch on the door. After a few minutes it fell off with a loud clang and a plume of smoke.

The medics shined a light in to the pod. All they could see were two huge glowing yellow eyes.

"What the hell is that?"

"I don't know but get him out of there," shouted the other.

The creature, wearing a marine uniform struggled lethargically as he was pulled from the escape pod and beamed to Sickbay.

The Captain stood near the biobed as the creature slowly stirred to consciousness.

"It's an Antican, Sir." said the doctor.

"A what?"

"That's right, an Antican."

The captain looked at the doctor with a dumbfound look.

The doctor continued, "...there are only 12 enlisted in the Maquis and..."

The Captain interrupted him, "have you ever seen an Antican?"

With a startled blink, the doctor responded, "well, no...Sir... Not personally. But this *is* an Antican, the canine features and..."

The captain walked around to the other side of the biobed and looked up at the doctor.

"Well I have met Anticans Doctor, and I have never seen one like this."

"You mean the pale fur and strange markings, and look at this..." The doctor turned his patient over gently. From the beasts shoulders were tightly weaved dreadlocks which came to colored points."

"I can't explain that Sir, but perhaps you can ask him yourself. He appears to be coming around."

"Can you hear me?" asked the Captain.

The Antican looked around for the voice that asked the question. He looked at the Captain for a moment, closed his eyes as if trying to muster up the strength to speak, "Ay, I can hear you. Where am I?"

The Captain looked up a the doctor and back down to the patient.

"You are on the USS Gage, Do you remember anything?"

"The last thing I remember was being at the hatch to the escape pod, and opening a panel to set up an emergency bypass to the release system on it. After that, is waking up here."

The Antican looked around the sickbay and noticed he was the only patient. "Was there any other survivors from the Derringer?"

The Captain shook his head, "I'm afraid not."

The Antican sat up on the biobed with the expression of a lost puppy on his face, and looks around.

"What is your name son?"

"Most people call me Kandar."

"Kandar..." said the Captain, about to say something when suddenly another officer entered. "Sir...?"

The captain excused himself and followed the officer out the door.

The doctor leaned over, "you are going to be okay. I'm just holding you over night for observation."

The Captain returned after a few minutes. "Your Marine CO left you a message."

He handed Kandar the padd, it began to play a message from his MCO.

"Hey Wolfman, sorry to do this to ya, but..." the image of the CMO could be seen working the release mechanism of the escape pod. "you know only one of us is going to make it off this ship to live to fight another day."

There was a great hiss and steam as the escape pod powered up.

He grunted as he tried to position the final release lever.

"..and in that other day..." he said grunting as he tried to move the lever which finally broke free.

He turned and leaned against the bulkhead, his finger on a button which now blinked, "...I believe you can do more damage to the enemy than I."

The CMO saluted, "kick their ass Wolfie..Kick their ass."

The video went dark.

The Captain took a deep breath.

Kandar set the padd down and silently muttered something in an obscure dialect of Antican, started up with a low growl, then lets out a howl that sounded like everyone on the ship would hear. After the howling, Kandar turns to the captain, "Tank you." Then he lays back down staring up at the ceiling.

The Captain nodded. "Let me know if you need anything."

Looking up at the Doctor the Captain gestured with another nod and left.

After the lights dimmed, Kandar closed his eyes, and tried to sleep. All he could think about was the MCO that got him in the escape pod, and the message he left for him.

After a while he noticed the sound of someone else in the room, he laid there pretending to sleep. His sensitive nose revealed the person was a human female. From the sound of her steps, about 120 pounds.

Realizing that the person was not a threat as they walked around the sickbay, He decided to speak, "Who are you, and what are you doing?"

The steps approached him. "I am the night nurse, is everything alright?"

He looked at the nurse for a moment, “Yes, everything is fine. At the moment, I'm just finding it hard to sleep. Tell me, is there a holo facility on board?�

The nurse looked puzzled, "why yes, but..." she looked down at the charts, "but...doctor's orders are to stay here for observation."

Kandar chuckles a little, “I'm not intending to leave right now. I am just trying to get to know what's on the ship as I am not sure where I will be going when we put in to base. Thank you. I think I am going to attempt to sleep a little before I am released.�

Kandar slept for several hours, and could be heard growling slightly.

Finding Osiris "
By: Dr. Alyssa Caitlin Northrop, Chief Intel Officer, [PST]
Teilani Dane, Chief Medical Officer, [PC]

Stardate: 58207.08 1315

She didn't know what it meant but it appealed to her some how. Propably because it was a cat figure and it reminded her of the captain's cat Chester.

Walking down the Promenade, Alyssa caught a familiar face out of the corner of her eye. Looking closer, she saw that it was Doctor Dane.

Making the turn, she headed into the small store that Teilani was in. "Doctor....what've you got there? Looks interesting."

"Oh hello Doctor I found this, somehow it is really appealing, but I would love to know what those signs mean?"

Teilani showed the cat figure to Alyssa.

Alyssa took the figurine from Teilani and had a look at it. She stared at the inscription for a while....then nodded her head and smiled.

"So what does it mean?" Teilani said eagerly.

The archeologist was unable to keep from giggling slightly as she translated the glyphs. "You might be interested to know that your little statue here is an icon from an Bastet cult. It apparently affords the holder with the protection of Bastet....the daughter of Ra, the Egyptian Sun God."

Teilani beamed at Alyssa, excellent, I need some protection. Is it difficult learning those scriblings? What are they called anyway?"

"Heiroglphics and no...it's not so hard. It just takes a lot of reading. Though we can't actually speak it...because no one knows what it sounds like. Unfortunatly. Though I can't tell you how many research proposals I've seen where people want to pull a James Kirk and slingshot around the sun to go back and find out what it sounded like." She smiled at Teilani. "To date...the Office of Temporal Affairs has denied every request."

"I can imagine." Teilani replied. She placed the icon on the counter and watched the salesperson wrap it. "So what have you been doin' since we have been here," she asked Alyssa.

Northrop stood next to the counter as Teilani checked out. "Oh..a little bit of this and a bit of that." Given the classified nature of most of what she did, there were only a few people she could discuss it with. "Working mostly. You?"

"Same here," Teilani replied. "Well thanks for the translation Doctor," she said as she accepted the wrapped gift from the clerk.

"It's no problem, really. It's good to get a shot at using some of those skills. I don't get the chance much since most of my reading these days is intel reports." The brunnette smiled.

Teilani nodded. "Well again thanks Doctor. Enjoy the rest of your day."

"Ok....though I don't suppose you've had anything to eat, have you?" she asked.

Teilani stopped. "No that is correct, you wanna grab something to eat?"

She smiled, "That'd be the plan, Doc. Any ideas?"

"I know a good restaurant, next to the old juwelry shop."

"Ok...sounds good. Lead the way," Northrop said....motioning for Dane to head off.

"Sure follow me."

"So...what kind of restaurant is this?" Alyssa asked.

"Nothing fancy." Teilani responded. "Just an old fashioned earth lunchroom they call it. If you ask me the word restaurant is overrated but they serve good food."

It didn't take long before both young women had found the restaurant and were seated at a small round table. The bolian waiter placed 2 glasses and a caraf of cold water on it and politely handed them the menu.

"It all looks delisious, but I think I go for a turkey sandwich with lettuce, mostard and springbeans. Oh and orange juice, Teilani ordered.

The archeologist ordered lunch herself and looked over at Teilani once the waitress had gone. "So...what've you been up to?"

"Oh nothing much, harrassing old doc Kensington, attended some seminars, the usual stuff. How about you?"

"Well I ......." and so both Zion women spoke and had some lunch until it was time to go.

Searching"
By: Krystal, Hologram, [RNPC]
M'Ressha Mikaht, Fighter Pilot, [RNPC]
Maxine Lucinda Tapert, Computer Specialist, [PC]

Stardate: 58207.08 1330

"Krystal?" The pixie hologram looked over from preening her wings. "That was a very long shower, Warrior Toes," she observed. "Long? How long?" Blitzer asked looking back over his shoulder. "Forty-eight minutes, thirteen seconds," she informed him.

"It didn't seem *that* long," muttered Blitzer looking around for this things. "What's our ETA?" he asked. "1 minute, 9 seconds. Approximately," the pixie answered. "Maxie might not be dress in time," the pixie pointed out as he opened his bag and pulled out another caitain tunic and slipped it over his head.

"She'll be fine," said Blitzer with uncertainty in his voice. He quickly sat down at the control panel and accessed the situation. They were coming up fast on their destination. Blitzer slowed the Bajoran shuttle to a quarter impulse. "'ey Kitty... I can't find my---" Maxine began as she stepped from the head; at least mostly clothed.

"We're landing," said Blitzer, "get strapped in!" "Uhhh... roight," the red-headed computer specialist nodded and slipped into the co-pilot's chair, strapping in as instructed. The shuttle glided through the containment field and into the docking area. Blitzer carefully maneuvered the vehicle looking for a place to set it down. He spotted a space next to a very impressive feregni shuttle. It was a tight squeeze but still plenty of room. "Did you 'ide my.... uhh... You know..." she lowered her voice on the last and made a general sort of descriptive motion with her hands. "Your uh..." Blitzer looked over at her as he was rerouting power to landing systems. "No uh, but I think...." Blitzer looked back to see if he could remember where they were. Suddenly there was a loud clang. Blitzer turned around suddenly. "UH!" he said disgusted with himself. Quickly he set the shuttle down. He stood up and looked out the portal on the port deck. There was a big dent on the big black Ferengi shuttlepod. "Oh, that's not good," Maxine said as she looked over his shoulder. "Uhh... M'sorry... I didn't mean t' distract you..." And she was genuinely sorry judging by the look on her face. Blitzer scratched his whiskers, "Its okay, really...just don't tell anyone. But we'd better go see if Burner is here before someone says something," he said as he activated the door. "Mum's the word," she nodded and tugged a little at the hem of her dress, pulling it down just a tad. "Pixie, keep an eye on the ship. Okay?" said Blitzer. "Aye, Aye, Captain Warrior Toes!" Krystal saluted smartly and then ruined the whole effect by giggling. "Mr. Christian! You have the watch!" "Dun't pay any attention to 'er," Maxine told him as they exited the shuttle. "She's been rumaging through the data banks again." Blitzer saluted her back as they stepped through the door. As they walked to the main entrance, Blitzer noticed Max fidgeting with her clothing somewhat. "Did you find your...uhm, your..." "Uhh... no..." she glanced up at him and tugged the hem of her dress again. He smirked, "honestly, I didn't hide it, it must have fallen out when I stowed your bag. When did you see it last?" he added. "Last night... I mean.. when we were napping... when you.... Uhhmm...." she looked up at him and she was starting to blush. "You 'ad 'em last," she accused. Blitzer unsheathed a claw and gently itched his eyebrow, as if that would help him remember. "I..." he pursed his mouth shut. "Let's find Burner," he said. "Uhh... roight," she nodded. "Wingman first, uhhh.... later... I'll look again when we get back," she decided and gave her hem a tug. They walked through the main enterance. The place was huge. Blitzer had no idea where to start. It would take several hours to cover the place.

Burner's Dance"
By: Bart "Burner" Reed, Intoxicated Fighter Pilot , [RNPC]
M'Ressha Mikaht, Fighter Pilot, [RNPC]
Maxine Lucinda Tapert, Computer Specialist, [PC]

Stardate: 58207.08 1503

"Oh yeah," shouted Burner as the Orion dancing girl came out onto the stage. "Hey bartender," he shouted, "I'll have another."

The room was packed with all different kinds of species. Burner had heard of this bar on the last Ferengi Casino ship he was on. It sounded like a right fine place to party. There were several stages all with exotic performers on them. There was something here for everyone.

Burner took his drink and shoved his way up to the front of the stage. He found Orion slave girls fascinating. The Orion began her seductive dance and her spell of her undulating form held Burner's complete attention. So enthralled was he that he failed to notice his own arm hoisting his very own body right onto the stage with her. Burner began to dance along with her, failing to notice the jeers form the crowd that was gathered.

Burner also failed to notice a big Nausican, whose job it was to keep people like him from doing things like inviting themselves to dance with the girls. The Nausican climbed onto the stage and grabbed Burner by the back of the neck and tossed him from the stage to the cheers of the crowd.

Landing with a thud on the floor Burner paused almost long enough to let the room stop spinning before getting to his feet again, "Thanks for the ride," he shouted at the Nausican. Turning towards the dancer, who had started her dance again he shouted, "Later baby." Burner made his way to the bar to replace the drink that the Nausican had made him spill. The Ferengi's knew how to throw a good part he thought. "Bartender," he shouted, "Another, make it a double."

Blitzer had thought that locating Burner in this place would be like finding a Nrrr pod in a pleess stack. That was of course until he spotted Burner dancing with the Orion woman. He quickly pointed out his comrade as the Nauscian launched him from the stage. He turned to Max, "he flies much better in his fighter," said Blitzer assuringly.

"Let's 'ope 'e lands better in it too," Max commented.

Blitzer waded through the crowd toward the bar with Maxine in tow. The place was packed.

He sat quietly on an empty stool next to Burner and waited for him to notice.

"Hey, Bartender, where is my drink," demanded Burner, looking around. His blurred eyes falling upon Blitzer, "Woah, a big cat," he observed, "Hey bartender, bring a bowl of cream for this cat here too."

Blitzer shook his head, "Burner!" he said, giving him a little shove, "It's me!"

Maxine peered around the 'Big Cat' to smile and wave at Blitzer's friend. She was sticking VERY close to her escort out of a genuine fear of getting lost in the crowd.

After several days of parties Burner's alcohol soaked brain just refused to register Blitzer,

"Well, 'Itsme'," said Burner as he got to his feet, "That can't be your real name. You don't fool me. Anyway, I'm here to party," Burner tossed a few slips of latinum on the bar just as the bartender brought his drink. "You better get a drink and try to keep up with me. I feel that the dabo tables are going to be good to me tonight. Burner downed his drink, and stumbled away in search of a dabo table."

Blitzer rolled his eyes, "Do you want a drink?" he asked Maxine.

Maxine grinned up at him, rather amused by Burner's antics. "Only if we're not going after 'im. I don't think I can manage t' keep a drink intact and wade through that lot at the same time," she indicated the crowd. "'e's going t' take a bit of drying out, isn't 'e?"

"Yeah, I'm afraid so. At least until his money runs out... and the dabo tables should take care of that in short order," he said turning toward the bar. He gestured to the Bartender, "at least we found him."

"Here kitty kitty," shouted Burner over his shoulder, as he searched for a open dabo table."

Maxine blinked and looked over at the drunken pilot's shout. "Uhm... You're being paged...."

Blitzer looked back over his shoulder. Burner was quite a site.

The bartender approached and nodded, "I'll have an Irish cream," said Blitzer.

"We don't have that," muttered the bartender setting two glasses on the bar.

"Uhm, just an andorian ale then."

Blitzer looked at Maxine.

I'll have the same," she decided, the simpler the better.

The bartender poured the drinks and stood frowning at the Caitian with his hand out.

"Oh," said Blitzer, his ears and whiskers drooped in embarrassment as he laid his Maquis credit chip on the bar.

"No latnium?" croaked the bartender.

"Sorry," said Blitzer with a feigned toothy smile and a shrug.

The bartender scooped up the chip, "Minimum credit exchange is 50 slips."

"Uh, sure." said Blitzer.

The bartender scanned Blitzer's chip and handed it back to him. Then he laid down 40 slips of latnium. "...and a fee of 5 slips."

"Sheesh..." said Blitzer to Maxine as he took a sip of ale.

"It's all about the profit, y'know..." Maxine grinned up at him and took a sip of her own ale.

His eyes scanned the crowd, "let's see how he's doing," he said pocketing the latinum in a pocket inside his tunic. "There he is..."

Again with Max in tow, they waded through the crowd.

Burner had found a nice dabo table and managed to take the place closest to the Dabo girl. "Hiya Honey," he said with a drunken smile. Burner had been playing Dabo all week and had not done too bad. He reached inside his jacket pocket and pulled out a single bar of latinum, "Here ya go," he said placing his bet on the table. "Spin it baby."

The Dabo wheel fired up and everyone at the table watched as Burners Marker lit up. "Dabo," shouted Burner with so much enthusiasm that he almost fell over. "Hey, I need another drink," he called out.

Burner placed his bet again, and again he won, and one more time he shouted Dabo. Taking his drink from the waitress he took a big drink and then set it down. All eyes were on him now. "Aww man I feel lucky," he said and he empptied every slip of lantinum he had right onto the table including his winnings. "Triple over," he said his eyes desperately trying to focus on the curves of the Dabo girl. A hush fell around the table and the Dabo girl looked over at a fat Ferengi sitting nearby. He nodded. She spun the wheel.

Blitzer and Maxine managed to get about 10 feet from the table. It was crowded. Everyone was watching the human play.

The wheel spun, and spun, and finally landed on a marker, not Burners. Burner yelled "Dabo." So this the Andorian across the table from him.

"Sorry honey," said the Dabo girl taking all of his latinum away, "Better luck next time."

"Easy come easy go," he said and slipped away from the table pushing his way through the crowd. He ran into the big cat, who was not starting to look familiar. Suddenly Burner remembered the very large bar tab he had. He looked past the big cat at the bartender who was talking to the nasty Nausican. "Uh oh," he said. "I need to leave." He moved toward the main entrance.

"Wait," said Blitzer trying to catch up to him as he moved toward the exit, he looked and Max and ruefully shook his head as his red-headed companion kept up with him.

Burner ignored him and moved as fast as his drunk legs would carry him. Just as he got to the exit he found it blocked by the Fat Ferengi and two Nausicans. The Ferengi clutched a small hand help device in his hand. "Stop right there Humon," said The Ferengi, "You are forgetting about your bar bill," he said looking at the device, "A rather impressive one I might add."

"Thank you," replied Burner.

The Ferengi checked his computer, "Let's see, 20 bars of gold pressed latinum at the bar, plus another 30 for the private dance you had earlier today,"

"Private dance, "roared Burner, "Your goon threw me off the stage."

"Oh yes," smiled the Ferengi, "Add a 1 bar fine for improper actions with casino staff." He paused, "And a 2 strip fine for Dabo rules violation," he said.

"Violation, what violation," said Burner, "I am the one being violated."

"You yelled Dabo when you lost. That is against the rules," he said pointing at a sign on the wall.

"Rules," Burner was beside himself, shaking with rage, "I can't even read those rules."

"For a fee I will be happy to translate for you," offered the Ferengi. "Now, 51 bars and 2 strips of latinum please," he said.

Burner patted his empty pockets, "Sorry fresh out," said Burner.

The two Nausican's stepped forward, "That is too bad," said the Ferengi." He snapped his fingers and the Nausican's grabbed for Burner.

By the time Blitzer and Maxine arrived, The Nausican had Burner on his knees in a what appeared to be a rather painful armbar.

"What's going on?" asked Blitzer.

The Ferengi looked away from Burner and surveyed the Catian, "This man tried to run out on his tab," he said, "We have to make an example of him."

Maxine stayed next to Blitzer out of the way. But she wasn't without her own opinion. "But what if 'e pays?" she asked.

"He can't, he already admitted that he has no latinum," said the Ferengi gesturing to the Nausicans to get on with it.

The a big Nausican strategically planted his foot into Burner's stomach causing a rush of air to escape his victim's lungs.

"Wait!" shouted Blitzer as Burner slumped to the ground. "How much does he owe?"

The Ferengi smiled at the Caitian, "He owes me 51 bars and 2 strips of Latinum."

"Whew.." said Blitzer with a whistle.

Blitzer pulled out his credit chip and looked at the small display. He scratched his head as he tried to figure out how much it was in exchange. "forty two... times..."

Maxine looked over his shoulder, did some quick math in her head and told him quietly, "You're ten bars short."

"You're short," said the Ferengi in a patronizing tone. He looked at Max and then a smile spread across his fat little face, "I tell you what," he said to Blitzer, "If you give me your feeemale tonight to dance on the stage, I will forgive the 10 bars that your friend is short."

"WHAT???? Me dance??" Maxine squeaked and took a step closer to Blitzer. "Uhhh..."

Blitzer's eyes looked up at the stage where several orion women were dancing. His eyes widened as he swallowed hard, he looked back at Max.

Maxine blinked and looked up at him. "Oh HELL no," she snorted and fwapped him lightly on the stomach with the back of her hand for even *thinking* it, and then patted herself down before pulling out her own credit chip. "You can take the 10 out of here," she told the Ferengi.

"Great," said the Ferengi, "Except for one thing. I want gold pressed latinum, not Maquis Credits. You will have to get these exchanged at the bar," said the Ferengi looking a little disappointed, "All fees and service charges still apply of course." He looked again at Max, "You should have danced," he said, "A feemale like you would have earned many tips."

Blitzer put his arm around Maxine protectively, "We'll be right back," said Blitzer.

They walked over to the exchange booth and presented their credit chips. The Blitzer paid the exchange fees with his 40 slips. "Don't worry, Burner will pay you back," he said.

"I'm not worried about that," Max assured him. "But there was no way I was going to.. I mean.. I don't even.. and with all those guys..." Her voice just sort of trails off.

"I'm not worried about that," Max assured him. "But there was no way I was going to.. I mean.. I don't even.. and with all those guys..." Her voice just sort of trails off. Blitzer leaned near her and confided, "you'd have stolen the show! you have a cute butt and Krystal agrees you have pert.." Maxine covered his mouth with her hand, stopping the rest of his sentence. "Bah!" she snorted softly. "Krystal thinks *she* has pert beasts," she informed him. "And you shouldn't be looking at my butt," she added with a grin. "And besides, I don't wan't 'alf the galaxy googling my breasts." "Well," said Blitzer imitating the Orion girl, "I'd dance for 10 bars." "They wouldn't pay you ten bars Kitty, because you don't have pert breast," she told him, and then laughingly added, "But you do have a cute butt." "And I thought it was my toes..." he said with smirk.

"Those too," she nodded. "Among other things..." she added with pink tinged cheeks.

With that, they went back to the fat Ferengi. "Here," said Blitzer.

The Ferengi took the latinum and handed it off to a Nausican, who dropped Burner in a heap on the floor. "Take him and get out."

"Hey.. no need t' be so rude..." Max told the Ferengi and looked down at Burner. "I hope 'e's okay," she turned her attention to the Cait beside her.

The Ferengi sneered at Blitzer, "You need to teach your feemale some manners. Get out of my casino."

Blitzer helped Burner to his feet and they walked out to the space docks.

Somewhere in the deep recesses of Burner's brain, the place where common sense would tell him his mother would be very disappointed in his behavior, existed a thought that finally penetrated his ethanol soak brain. It's Blitzer, he remembered. The realization hit him like a ton of bricks. "Thanks Blitz," he stammered and then darkness fell around him and he lost consciousness and collapsed to the floor.

Fierce Critters"
By: Qtor , Klingon honour guard , [NPC]
Samantha Carter, Security Officer, [RNPC]

Stardate: 58207.08 1630

Location Qultuq, Quark’s, holosuite 1/

They who have fierce enemies invent fierce legends. One of those came at Q’tor through an opal haze, an ogre out of the cruellest story of defeat, and the monster’s noise was a terrible noise. Blow upon blow ran on Q’tor’s bones, his weapon flashing to petty avail, his body aching and his grace of form completely botched.

The monster’s face was compounded in its ugliness by the hologram computer’s twisted idea of the bizarre, angles of olive light and mouldings of flesh that only a machine could invent. Tell a computer to picture a real animal and it would ado a prime job. Tell it to conjure a legend, and it went inane.

He fought and fought, and no matter how he panted or stumbled, the computer refused to turn off. He had it set on its maximum, only to find that its computer, unlike the tame beasts on the Nightingale had been programmed to give a “customer” what he actually said he wanted. The star ship had known better.

Quark did not.

As so with roar after spit after howl of the ogre’s raw throat and poison breath, Q’tor was being beating back.

“You shouldn’t drop your left arm like that.”

The voice came out of the Quarter grey fog, and there in the dripping jungle stood the outline of that voice, a young slender woman, standing against the now closing exit from the holosuite.

Momentarily distracted, Q’tor heard the swish of the ogre’s attack, and only narrowly skated out of the way.

“I do not recall,” he panted, asking for your advice

“Just trying to help.”

Inspired now that he had an audience Q’tor launched into a torrent of dodges and hits, basting the monster in the face, throttling it when its shoulder dipped, and finally knocking its bleeding legs out from under it. The creature staggered, crumpled, and finally dematerialized.

“So,” Sam said, “how’d you like the program?”

“I found it adequate,” Q’tor lied, hiding his heavy breathing as much as he could. “Though I was surprised to find a Klingon exercise program in this holosuite.”

“It’s mine, she told him with a touch of swagger as she approached.”

“You mean Quarks.”

“No, I mean mine. Computer, bat’leth.”

Q’tor’s weapon was stuck in the ground a few feet to his side. Now another bat’leth appeared beside it, replicated to solidity by the fabulous technology around them.

“I though you might be tired of fighting programs,” Sam said.

Straightening with some effort, Q’tor declined. “It would not be a fair match.”

She smiled. “I’ll go easy on you.”

He knew his was the superior strength, heavy of body and possessing raw power, and that would serve, but he wasn’t so foolish that he didn’t note her lightness of body and agility.

“Very well,” he decided. “Defend yourself.”

The Getaway"
By: Bart "Burner" Reed, Fighter pilot , [RNPC]
Krystal, Hologram, [RNPC]
M'Ressha Mikaht, Fighter Pilot, [RNPC]
Maxine Lucinda Tapert, Computer Specialist, [PC]

Stardate: 58207.08 1830

==Landing deck, Ferengi casino barge==

Blitzer carried the unconscious Burner from the Ferengi Casino after arranging to paying off his wingman's enormous bar tab. With him also was Maxine Tapert, the USS Zion's computer expert who accompanied him on this 'mission' out of friendship.

As they approached the Bajoran shuttle craft they had arrived on, a young Ferengi male stood up from the ground in front of the hatch where he had been sitting.

"I know what you did," said the Ferengi in his raspy, greedy voice.

Blitzer set Burner down and looked at Maxine with a perplexed expression. Maxine was just as perplexed as he was, and moved to stand next to the unconscious Burner.

"What do you mean?" asked Blitzer.

Without taking his eyes off Blitzer, he pointed to the black shuttle craft Blitzer had bumped on landing. "Do you know who owns that shuttle?" he asked.

Blitzer, who towered over the young Ferengi male, looked up at the shuttle, "Oh, that one?" he asked, folding his arms he returned his gaze to the Ferengi, "No, I do not."

Blitzer pointed to his shuttle and mocked the Ferengi's voice, "do you know who owns that shuttle?"

"It doesn't matter," said the Ferengi pointing back to the black shuttle, "That shuttle belongs to the owner of this establishment."

"So?"

"I saaaw you hit it with your shuttle. That's a very expensive mistake."

"How expensive?" said Blitzer, mostly out of curiosity.

The Ferengi wrung his hands together, "Forty bars of latinum and Mok say nothing."

"Well, there isn't even a scratch on it, besides, he shouldn't have taken up two landing spaces," said Blitzer defensively.

"You shouldn't have landed on him," retorted the Ferengi.

"Well, Mok, see ... It's like this, we just came from the casino and we have no more latinum left," said Blitzer.

Mok, with a disappointed look on his face thought about it for a moment. "You must have some valuables?"

"Sorry," said Blitzer side stepping Mok, "fresh out."

Mok became angry and pulled out a knife. "I want my forty bars of latinum."

With cat-like reflexes Blitzer grabbed Mok's wrist and pulled the knife from his clenched little fist and tossed it over his shoulder.

"Those are dangerous," said Blitzer with a condescending voice.

"I'll teach you!" said Mok as he started swinging at Blitzer.

Blitzer casually unsheathed his claws and grabbed the Ferengi lightly by his lobes. On feeling the light pricks of Blitzer's claws on his sensitive ears, the young Ferengi cried out in pain.

Maxine winced, but was more than willing to let Blitzer handle the irritating Ferengi; although she couldn't blame him really. After all... It was all about the Profit...

"You big baby, I'm not even hurting you," admonished Blitzer.

"Let me go! let me go!" he yelled.

"You must have some sort of Rule of Acquisition to describe this predicament." said Blitzer teasing him.

Mok stopped struggling realizing he was hurting himself more by struggling, resigned for the moment, to be Blitzer's prisoner.

"Uhmm... Ferengi Rule of Aquisition #203, 'New customers are sometimes like greeworms. They sometimes bite back'."

"Good one," said Blitzer as he winked at Max. He released Mok, "now get out of here," said Blitzer somewhat pleading.

"You have built in knives, what kind of alien are you?" asked Mok.

Blitzer lifted Burner onto his shoulder and looked back.

"I'm Kzinti."

"And you should be very careful around him," Maxine added.

They were suddenly interrupted by the commotion coming from the direction of the casino. The fat Ferengi and his guards were heading in their direction. "You there, stop where you are," he demanded, "You damaged my shuttle. I demand payment!"

Burner snored loudly, slumped over Blitzer's shoulder.

Maxine looked from the young Ferengi, to the fat one, and then to Blitzer. "Pixie.." she touched her communicator, "Open the bloody 'atch and start the engines.."

"Aye, Aye, Mr. Christian!" the tiny voice replied as the hatch started to open and the sound of the engines could be heard spinning up.

"Time t' go, eh?" Max grinned at Blitzer.

Blitzer shifted Burner's weight on his shoulder and turned toward the entourage coming their way. "Yep," said Blitzer in full agreement.

"The sooner the better, I always say... No sense in wearing out our welcome..."

Blitzer nodded, "I was thinking the same thing."

As they walked up the ramp the little Ferengi continued his protest and followed them inside.

"You don't dare leave!" he snorted.

Blitzer slid Burner off his shoulder onto the deck, "Max, pleeease?" he said motioning with his head toward the Ferengi.

"...if you leave with me on your ship that is kidnapping, you'll go to prison for that, you will go to prison anyway, you should have just paid me my 40 bars of ...."

"In order to prove kidnapping they'd 'ave t' find you," Maxine pointed out as she stood in the way of the small Frenegi. "You can come with us if you want, but there's no guarantees you'll make it to our destination... accidents 'appen in space, y'know..."

It took a moment for Mok to decide to call Max's bluff, "You don't scare me," said the insolent Ferengi, "you wouldn't dare leave with me on the ship, I'm staying right here."

"Suit yourself," Maxine quirked a brow at him and shrugged as the little Ferengi pushed past her. "Ferengi Rules of Acquisition #275: Never bargain with people who 'ave already given all their money t' another, fatter, Ferengi," Maxine scolded him.

The Ferengi thought about that a moment, and then protested, "Hey, that's not rule #275."

Nobody was listening.

While Max was arguing with the Ferengi, Blitzer hopped in the pilot seat, "Krystal, systems check?"

"Everything's in working order, Captain Bligh!" the pixie announced. "Engines, -check-. Shields, -check-. Sensors, -che---. We have an intruder on board, Captain! Should I shoot it???"

Blitzer paused from what he was doing, "Can you do that?" he asked curiously.

"Affirmative," Krystal nodded her head. "The shuttle is equipped with passable phasers," she told him. "I can always shoot it with my arrows!" she added as a tiny quiver of arrows appeared on her back and a longbow materialized in her hands. "I'm a good shot." And she nocked an arrow just to prove her point.

Blitzer grinned, "Max, just close the hatch, we're out of time," he said as he engaged the shuttle's thrusters.

Blitzer turned and looked over at his chair, seeing Max close the hatch he looked at the pixie, "Okay, if he moves, shoot him."

"Affirmative!" Krystal giggled and moved to flutter closer to the Ferengi with her arrow at the ready.

The Ferengi stared at the pixie wide-eyed, uncertain if he were in any real danger or not.

As soon as the hatch was closed, Max moved to secure Burner with some of the cargo straps, and then hopped in the co-pilot's seat to do the same for herself.

"We're leaving!" announced Blitzer, "Hang on!"

"Ready!" Maxine clicked the harness.

The shuttle lifted up 20 feet off the flight deck and bolted toward the open hanger door. The Ferengi lost his footing as the shuttle accelerated rapidly and slipped, landing in a heap at the back of the shuttle.

The massive docking bay doors began to close. "Uhh... Kitty... their tractor beams are powering up..." Maxine told him as she fiddled with the computer console. "Better put a move on...."

Blitzer urged the shuttle into a dive and flew just a few inches above the deck, weaving in and out of other parked space vehicles. As the shuttle veered back and fourth it would lightly touch the metallic flight deck or brush another ship sending a flash of sparks raining back down on to the deck.

When he neared the docking bay portal, the huge blast doors which were now almost closed. The shuttle was now just a blur of motion as he snapped it to a side-ways roll and squeezed through gap in the door with just inches to spare.

"Whoo!" said Blitzer, as adrenalin surged through his body. The fur on the back of his neck was standing straight out, he smoothed it into place as he laughed nervously, "hah!"

"WEEEEEEE!!!" Krystal squealed in delight.

"Holy Parser Rat on a stick!" Maxine tried to breathe. "Damn you're good," she reached over and lightly tweaked a whisker with a wide grin.

He winked at Max, "They don't call me Blitzer for nothing."

He looked over his shoulder at the unconscious Ferengi. "Did you shoot him?" he asked the Pixie.

"Uhhhh...." Krystal looked from Blitzer to the Ferengi and back to Blitzer. "Uh-huh... but it was just a Sleep Arrow!" she defended herself, not that the holographic arrow actually *did* anything and the small Ferengi was likely passed out from fright.. Or clunking into the back of the shuttle.

"Time for a little cleanup, I think..." Maxine observed as she began rapidly typing on her keyboard. "Krystal, run your intrusion program and get us into the station's computer logs..." she instructed.

Blitzer looked over at her working frantically, "What are you doing?"

Maxine looked over at the question and smiled as she answered, "M'going t' change our registry number in their logs..."

Blitzer nodded, "You can do that?"

"Well... assuming they don't have any security Pixie and I can't hack...." Maxine started and then finished with, "Done!" as she sat back and grinned over at him.

"Damn you're good," said Blitzer.

Max laughed and winked at him.

"We're going to take the long way home. If I know the Ferengi they'll be looking for us."

"True, true," Maxine agreed and went back to the working on the computer. "I'll try and scramble their sensors..."

"We're a light year from Betazed. I'm going to fly that way for a bit then we'll circle back so we have a different approach vector."

Max nodded and did some computations. "We're a little short on fuel, Kitty. It's going t' be tight," she told him and looked back at the Ferengi. "Might want t' lighten our load..."

There was a long silence as Blitzer tried to confirm Max's fuel computations and she kept trying to hack the systems on the Ferengi casino barge.

Blitzer heard the Ferengi groan.

"Krystal, can you take over?"

"Aye, aye, Cap'n Bligh!" The arrows and bow disappeared to be replaced by a pirate's outfit complete with eye patch, and the little pixie saluted.

Blitzer got up from the pilot's console and checked on Burner.

He was still out cold. The Ferengi on the other had was sitting up, rubbing his head.

"Are you okay?"

"You tried to kill me," sniveled the Ferengi who then pointed at Maxine, "and you! You threatened me!"

"Technically that's not true," Max swiveled in her seat to watch the big Cait and the smaller Ferengi.

"Under Ferengi law I order you to turn your vessel over to me."

"Not a chance," said Blitzer, "just pipe down."

"Besides, we're not Ferengi," Maxine added helpfully.

Blitzer smiled at Max's ruse and nodded.

The Ferengi stood up as he rubbed his neck. He looked out a small round port hole, "Where are we?" he asked in a demanding voice.

"We're in Khzinti space now,' said Blitzer, keeping up the charade.

The Ferengi turned and looked shocked.

"That's right Mister, your Ferengi laws have no jurisdiction here," stated Blitzer.

"Wh-What are you going to do with me?" he asked.

Blitzer shrugged, "We're going to sell you into slavery to the Orion Syndicate of course." The poker-faced Caitian did everything he could to keep from smiling.

Maxine cleared her throat and busied herself at the computer as she tried not to laugh either.

"Nooo!" cried the Ferengi slumping to his knees pathetically. "Please, I beg of you, I will pay you anything you need, Don't do this to me please!"

He got up and started swinging at the Caitian, "I won't let you!"

Blitzer grabbed his arm and lifted him up, forcing him to walk on his tip-toes as he walked over to the weapons locker.

Punching in the code, the door opened revealing an assortment of Maquis and Bajoran weapons. Blitzer opened several drawers until he found what he was looking for.

"What are you going to do to me?" pleaded the Ferengi.

Blitzer pulled out some wrist binders and dragged the little Ferengi to the back of the ship where he locked both his wrists to a bulkhead facing backwards so they wouldn't have to look at him.

The Ferengi immediately began to complain, "This isn't very comfortable."

"Shut up already," commanded Blitzer.

The Ferengi continued to whine.

Blitzer found a knife and cut the bottom of his tunic off.

"I'll pay you anything you want. Name your price," continued the Ferengi with his pleas as Blitzer began to gag him.

Blitzer returned to his chair.

Maxine looked from direction of the bound and gagged Ferengi to Blitzer.

"That's effective, Kitty," she smiled. "And much quieter," she nodded, only to have Krystal start singing...

"Yo, ho, ho, and a bottle of rum... It's a pirate's life for me!"

"Maybe we should gag her too," Maxine suggested, clearly teasing.

"You can't gag me!" Krystal protested as she looked from one to the other of them and scowling at them both.

"Krystal, would you mind singing the beer song to our guests in the back?" asked Blitzer.

Krystal's eyes lit up and she nodded. A captive audience!

"Oooohhhh ninety-nine bottles of beer on the wall... ninety-nine bottles of beer..." she sang as she fluttered back to the Ferengi who groaned expressively.

"Good idea," Max laughed

***

Several hours had passed. During the whole time Blitzer and Max made small talk while Krystal continued to entertain the the Ferengi and the unconscious wingman.

Blitzer yawned. "I'm going to take nap," announced Blitzer as he got up and stretched.

"That's a good idea," Max agreed. By now she'd managed to tweak the casino's sensors enough that they believed the shuttle was heading in a direction that took them away from its current position, a fact she told Blitzer.

Blitzer nodded, "That should help."

He turned and looked at Krystal who was still hovering near the ferengi and stepped to the rear of the shuttle.

"...it helps if you have pert breasts," Krystal told the Ferengi as she showed him hers. "Maxie says I have pert breasts..."

"Krystal, you can go fly now for a while. Wake us up if anything happens...at all."

"Aye, aye, captain!" the pixie saluted and waved to the Ferengi before flittering off to the pilot's console.

The Ferengi rolled his eyes and groaned a sigh of relief.

Blitzer peered around the bulkhead beam that he had bound the Ferengi to. The little twerp looked very uncomfortable. "If I take the gag off, you promise not to say one word?"

Mok, the Ferengi nodded.

Blitzer loosened up the gag and slipped it off.

Mok opened his mouth to complain but before he could say anything Blitzer gestured, "Shh! Not a one word."

Blitzer unfastened the binders and said. "Go use the head."

Standing up he rubbed his wrists where the binders had been, then nodded and opened the hatch. "Leave it open," commanded Blitzer, "and no tricks."

While Mok was busy, Blitzer pulled out the little draw that supported the sleeping mat. He lifted the mat and looked under it. "Not there," he mumbled.

When the Ferengi emerged, Blitzer asked him, "Did you wash your hands?"

Mok only returned a dumb looking expression. "Never mind, just get over here."

The Ferengi slowly complied and took up his seat facing the rear of the shuttle again.

Blitzer knelt down and fastened the critter's hands again with the binders.

Next he checked Burner. There was no question he was still alive. His snoring was incessant.

He decided to leave the Burner strapped in for his own protection.

Finding a blanket he spread it out. With another yawn and another stretch Blitzer knelt down on the mat and pulled up the covers.

"Want some company?" Max turned in her chair to watch him.

"Sure," said Blitzer, "If you want to."

"Yeah," Maxine nodded and slipped from the chair to settle onto the mat next to him.

"I got t' tell you, Kitty... retrieving wingmen is pretty intense work," she smiled and let her breath out in a heartfelt sigh. "Did you ever find my... y'know..." she gestured and looked over at him.

Blitzer twitched his lips and tilted his head. "Sorry, I have no idea," he said thoughtfully, "but you seem to be doing fine without them," he offered sympathetically.

"Well.. Yeah.. but..." her voice trailed off.

"If we don't find it, I'll get you a new one when we get back," he added.

Maxine blinked and looked up at him. "Y'know, Kitty... That just might be worth not finding it..." she told him with a thoughtful smile.

Blitzer's ear's snapped to attention as he arched an eyebrow and then returned to their normal state as he smirked. He pulled the covers up and tucked Max in. "Good night Pixie."

He pulled the covers up and tucked Max in. "Good night Pixie."

"Good night, Warrior Toes," the pixie responded in a rather soft voice as the lights started to dim.

"Good night Mok"

The Ferengi just groaned.

"Good night Burner."

Burner just snored.

"That's everyone," Max announced and pulled him under the covers with her.

"G'night, Kitty."

"Good night Max." he said leaning over and giving her a playful lick on the cheek which made her giggle and tweak his whiskers.

***

Burner's head throbbed, his stomach felt as if someone had turned it inside out. Slowly, he opened his eyes, The room was dim, and for that Burner was thankful. Burner then realized that he was cargo, or rather that he was strapped to the wall by a cargo restraint. He twisted his body around so that his hands could release the cargo restraint. He landed on his unsure legs.

As he was massaging the areas across his chest where the restraint had been Burner noticed a white fabric in the cargo netting, it appeared to be ladies under garments. Burner strained his brain trying the remember the events of the last few weeks. He could remember doing a lot of drinking and gambling, however, he did not remember any intimate moments. Shrugging he dropped the white fabric on the ground.

Burner decided he needed to find out where he was so he ordered the lights up 10 percent. From here he could make out the face of a sleeping Ferengi. Burner gave the Ferengi a shove, "Wake up," he demanded.

Mok, the Ferengi woke up with a start "huh?" When he came around to realizing he was still having a real life nightmare he sighed, "What do you want?"

"Who are you and what is going on," demanded Burner.

"Shh!" said the Ferengi, "I am Mok, keep your voice down," he said with a whisper. "We have been kidnapped. Quick! Unbind me!"

Burner probed his Swiss cheese memory and seemed to remember being confronted by a Ferengi so he was not quick to help this one. He laughed, "Why would anyone kidnap a Ferengi," Burner laughed some more, even thought it hurt his head to do so. "Who kidnapped us, Ferengi?"

The Ferengi nodded toward Max and Blitzer, "A furry Kzinti and a Huumon. They are going to sell us to the Orions."

The word Kzinti had a familiar ring to it. He seemed to remember Blitzer telling him about them. The idea of being an Orion slave did not bother Burner one bit; he found the green women fascinating. Turning around he walked over to where Blitzer and Max were laying asleep.

"It's Blitz," thought Burner relaxing. He wondered what game Blitzer was playing with the Ferengi but then turned and started towards the shuttle controls.

"Where are you going Huumon? Unbind me!"

Burner stopped to count the throbs pulsing in his head, he could not have this Ferengi screeching at him. He searched the room until he found a strip of cloth that had been dumped on the floor. He picked up the rag and walked over to the Ferengi and shoved the cloth into his mouth, "I don't think so little guy," he said, "Patting him on the top of the head."

Burner returned to the front of the shuttle and sat down in the pilots chair. The shuttle seemed to be flying on automatic. "Computer disengage automatic flight control."

"Hey! You're not supposed to be flying! I am," Krystal announced as she popped into view, still looking like a little pirate with wings. "You don't know where we're going," she pointed out. "And that we're evading the Ferengi's," she added with a small nod and a flutter of golden pixie dust. "I better wake up Warrior Toes."

"Warrior To--," stammered Burner in shock, "What.., Who are you?" said Burner. He was afraid that he might have gotten into some bad Ferengi drugs and was having a bizarre flashback.

"I am Krystal. I came with Maxine." She pointed to where Blitzer and Maxine were asleep. "Actually, I'm multi-tasking. No, technically I'm Cloning," she corrected with a little nod. "But I don't like dragons. They scare me, and babysitting one wasn't very much fun, so I'm here too!" she told him with a giggle. "And Warrior Toes told me to wake them if *anything* happened... and you count as an 'anything'," she pronounced with another little nod.

Burner shook his head to try to make, what he was convinced was a delusion, go away. When the pixie did not go away he reached out his finger and poked her gently.

"Hey!! Cut that out!" she shook like a wet dog after his fingers disrupted her pixels. "It's not nice to poke holograms in the stomach," she scolded him, and used her finger for emphasis.

"A hologram," said Burner in utter amazement. He looked around, "I do not see any holoemitters. How can you be a hologram?"

Krystal pointed to Maxine who was just barely visible under the covers next to Blitzer. "Maxie has them in her hair," she told him. "But I can't be a *real* pixie here because there's no replicator and no force field generators," she added helpfully.

"A real pixie," said Burner with a chuckle. He looked over at Blitzer, "Let's not wake up the big cat just yet," he suggested. "Why don't you just get me caught up on what we are doing and I will fly for a while." Burner really did want to fly, anything to take his mind off his pounding headache.

"But... Warrior Toes..." the little pixie hologram began, only she was forestalled by the prospect of telling him what had happened.

"Welll.... You see, it was like this..." The pirate's outfit disappeared to be replaced by her normal pixie garb. And then she proceeded to act out everything she knew as she told Burner everything that had happened. She started with the "party", pantomiming Max and Blitzer when they were drunk. Then she told him about the broken sign and from there the shower, then to landing on the fat Ferengi's ship and to winding up with the stowaway, who she pointed to just to make sure he knew who it was.

She drew a breath and then proceeded to tell him, complete with sound effects, how they narrowly escaped though the closing dock doors and then how she and Max changed the logs, and then how they she shot the Ferengi, but told him it didn't count cause it wasn't a *real* arrow. She went on to tell him how they confused the casino's sensors so they couldn't find them, and how they were flying around to come at the other side of Betazed, but they were low on fuel.. And she showed him how Blitzer tied up and gagged the Ferengi and how she sang the beer song to him.

She finally took another breath and plopped down on the console with a tiny poof of pixie dust.

Burner shook his head. There was no way he could keep up with the pixie; it made his head hurt -- Even more than it already had before her story, "Let them sleep," he said. "And let me have control of the ship. I will follow Blitzer's flight plan."

The little pixie eyed him rather comically with one eye opened and one closed as she sprawled on the console. "I don't know... I might get in trouble.. And bad things happen when I get in trouble," she told him. "Really, Really bad things."

Burner flashed her a smile and turned on his charm, this was, after all, a female hologram, "Relax pretty pixie, Blitzer is my wingman. I will not let anything bad happen to him." He looked at the fuel stores and their present course. They would need to adjust their course a little. Their fuel supply was getting low.

"Nonono... Bad things happen to ME when I get in trouble," she clarified with a little giggle. But his 'pretty pixie' comment had her starting to preen her wings. "Maxie will put me on restriction," she told him. "And not let me into the computer... And the worst... the very worst thing is..." she lowered her voice to a mere whisper... "..if she turns me off..." She shuddered delicately at the mere thought.

"I tell you what...," Burner paused in mid sentence and studied the pixie closely, "wow...I have got to hand it to Max, you have the most incredible ... eyes," said Burner.

Krystal blinked big blue eyes at him and grinned. "I have pert breasts too," she told him as she stood up and cupped her breasts to show him. "See? Don't you think they're pert?" She turned this way and that so he'd be sure and get a good view of them.

Burner flashed a smile at her, "Oh my yes...you sure do!" he exclaimed enthusiastically, "Very pert. I'd say they are perfect."

"Oooohh... Perfect..." Krystal began preening herself again because now she had PERFECT breasts instead of just pert ones.

"I tell you what, "You let me fly for a while, and you can sit right here," he said indicating his lap, "and keep me company. You can keep an eye on me too. If something bad happens you can wake up the cat, no argument from me."

Krystal stopped her preening to look from him to his lap, then to the computer console that housed the flight controls. Her gaze flitted over to the sleeping Blitzer and finally back to him as she processed his request.

"Well..." she placed her tiny hands on her hips and tipped her head a bit to look up at him and blink. "Okay!" she gave him a huge grin and the computer announced that the autopilot had been disengaged.

Burner smiled at the little imp and tried to relax in the pilot's seat.

"I'll be right back!" she told him and then flitted over to the sleeping Maxine. "Maxie! Maxie! Maxie!!" she squealed in the computer specialists ear. After all, she didn't agree to not wake up Max, just Warrior Toes. "WAKE UP!! WAKE UP!!"

"What? 'uh?" Maxine woke from a dead sleep to sit up and look around in confusion. "Bloody 'ell?" she pushed her hair out of her face and blinked as the hologram fluttering right in front of her nose had her looking cross-eyed to see the pixie.

"I have *perfect* breasts," Krystal announced as she cupped her breasts and showed them off to the still groggy computer specialist.

"'eh?" Maxine blinked and pulled back so she didn't have to look cross-eyed any more.

"Perfect Breasts! I have *perfect* breasts! See?" she showed them off again. "HE said so!" she grinned and pointed to were Burner was piloting the shuttle.

"Yeah baby! Perfect!" said Burner, egging the hologram on.

"See!!" Krystal giggled and made sure Maxine got a really good look at her Perfect Breasts.

Maxine squinted and rubbed her eyes as she dutifully turned her head to look at where Burner was grinningly sitting in the pilot's seat. "What's 'e doing?"

"Flying," Krystal was still pretty occupied with showing off her Perfect Breasts.

Maxine reached her hand back to grab hold of Blitzer and shake him. "Kitty..." she turned to look back at him then. "Kitty..." she leaned in close and tickled his ear. "Wake up."

Blitzer sat up quickly, his eyes and ears quickly accessed the scene, "What's going on?"

Maxine sat up with him and nodded towards Burner. "Our Dancing Dabo player is awake and according to Krystal, 'e's flying." There wasn't a whole lot of concern in her voice. More than likely because she didn't figure he could crash them into anything and was probably pretty lucid if he told Krystal she had perfect breasts...

Blitzer rubbed his eyes and peaked under the covers before standing up.

"'ey now..." Max grinned at him and poked his stomach as he got up.

Blitzer winked at Max.

He stretched and yawn before taking a chair next to Burner. Blitzer pulled up the navigational data on the adjacent console, "you shouldn't be flying this thing, you know."

"I have *Perfect* Breasts, Warrior Toes!" Pixie popped into view on the console and cupped her breasts to show him. "He said so..." she pointed to Burner.

"Is that so?" replied Blitzer, giving Burner a sideways glance.

Blitzer cocked his ear attentively toward Burner waiting for an explanation, "You told the hologram she had...?"

Burner turned around, "Perfect breasts! Hell yes I did, look at em!"

Maxine could be heard snickering as she padded softly across the deck and disappeared into the head.

Blitzer cocked his head slightly as he regarded her breasts. It seemed to him he had been though this ritual with the Pixie before.

Krystal pushed her Perfect Breasts out just a bit more and began preening herself.

"Yes, they are perfect," agreed Blitzer turning back to the console and checking the status.

"Oh!" Krystal blinked and looked like she was about to explode from prideful pleasure. She had PERFECT BREASTS! Even Warrior Toes said so.

Blitzer tried to be nonchalant as he settled back into the chair, "you okay to fly this thing?"

"Relax my furry friend," exclaimed Burner, "I could fly this thing passed out."

Blitzer smirked.

"Do you even know where we are going?" he asked.

"Home," said Burner, "The pretty pixie filled me in."

"Right...Of Course she did," said Blitzer turning toward the pixie again. Sometimes it was hard to remember she was just computer software.

A pause silence passed. Blitzer watched Krystal preen for a bit, then he turned and asked Burner, "Had some fun did you?"

Burner clapped his hands together, "Oh man, Did I! I have some stories to tell you?"

"Well, if it were half the adventure of trying to find you...." replied Blitzer.

"Why did you come looking for me anyway?"

"We've been assigned to a new project!" said Blitzer.

"Sweet," said Burner. "What is it about?"

"Yeah, something called the...." Blitzer looked back at the Ferengi and then over to Burner.

He pulled the seat up to the console and typed a message into it and sent it to Burner's console.

The message read: "PEGASUS"

"Nice name," typed Burner back into his console, "What else?"

"Not much to tell," said Blitzer verbally as he typed in: 'some sort of small, fast attack ship, crew compliment of 8.'

After seeing Burner read the new message Blitzer said, "Max is designing an AI for the ship."

"Excellent," said Burner clearing his console, "I hope she has perfect breasts."

"I just hope they are not dragon breasts," chuckled Blitzer.

Blitzer stood up, "I'm going to get cleaned up and get some food...you okay?"

"I'm fine"

Blitzer opened the door to the head, "Are you about done?" he asked Max.

"'ey Kitty..." Maxine smiled up at him and scratched his stomach as she slipped by him. "All yours... Did y'see my barrette?" she asked, touching her loose and tousled looking hair.

"Oh... never mind. I see it," she pointed to the bed where the holo-emitter glinted softly in the subdued lighting, and headed over there to retrieve it.

"Oh... she stopped halfway to turn around and look back at him. "Uhhh... I never did find my... uh... y'know..." she made some abstract motions with her hands and shrugged.

Blitzer gave Max a sheepish look, "Uh, no... I hope we find it before someone else does." Blitzer looked over his shoulder at the other two occupants.

"Keep an eye out, eh?"

Blitzer stepped into the head and closed the door.

Maxine tidied up the bed, pushing the drawer back into the bulkhead and plopped into the co-pilot's seat as she fastened the barrette in her hair.

"'ey Burner. 'ow's the 'ead?"

"Throbbing," he said. "I don't suppose there is any Romulan Ale around here is there?"

Maxine snorted softly and gave him a *look*. "Nah. We drank it all. But there's some pain killer in the first aide kit."

"OOOOhhh!!! I'll be the EMH! Can I be the EMH, Maxie? Can I, huh?" Krystal stopped her preening and looked from one to the other of them, grinning widely.

"The Ale works better," said Burner glumly.

"Aye, I know," Maxine gave him a quirky smile. "I 'ave a killer 'angover cure... but unfortunately I can't make it without a replicator," she shrugged a bit. "I'll get the pain killer," she offered and slipped from the seat.

"And no, Krystal, you can't be the EMH. There's no replicator and no force fields..." Max pointed out as she retrieved the drug from the first aide kit.

The pixie hologram pouted for a moment, but went back to preening herself.

"So what's up with you and the 'big cat'?" asked Burner taking the medicine that she offered him. "You trying to make him purr or something?"

"We're...uhh... friends?" she offered kind of sheepishly, unsure what he was asking, and unsure what to actually call what they were. More than friends, certainly, but Max's ability to actually label that was sadly lacking. She didn't have any code for it. "And what do y'mean, *trying*?" Maxine asked curiously, and with a quirky kind of smile. "'e already purrs.."

"Really?" said Burner, flashing her a grin. "Just what did you have to do to make him purr?" Burner paused, "On second though, I don't want to know."

Maxine blinked. "You mean he didn't always? I mean... he didn't before we... I mean... He's a CAT!" Her cheeks turned a soft rose color as she stumbled her way through that.

Krystal giggled.

About that time Blitzer emerged from the head adjusting his tunic. He eyed everyone there suspiciously, "What?"

Maxine's cheeks turned even redder and she looked like she'd just gotten caught with her hands in the cookie jar.

Burner leaned forward and whispered into Max's ear, "Purrrrrr!"

"'ey now," Max hissed in a scolding whisper and lightly elbowed him.

Blitzer cocked his hear in Burner's direction, but despite his sensitive hearing, he wasn't sure what Burner had said. He squinted a moment, certain it was about him.

He turned his attention to the Ferengi who was tied up and gagged.

He pulled out the gag and released the binders. "You have 10 minutes in the head. No funny business," he said waving a finger with its claw protruding menacingly.

The Ferengi didn't even say a word but slipped into the head.

"I don't think we're being followed. Are there any Maquis ships in the area that could refuel us?" asked Blitzer from the rear of the cabin.

"I'm sure we will find someone," said Burner.

Log Index | Go to Stardate 58207.09