DrDMatthews

By Debbie Matthews & Merina At times, Sickbay was a very loud place. The sounds of equipment whirring and alarms beeping and too many people talking at the same time....it could easily grate on ones' nerves. More than once, Debbie Matthew had been forced to retreat to the relative quiet of her office in order to escape the bedlam. But that was not the case today. Reaent was in drydock. Major repairs were just getting underway. Rumor had it the ship would be out of commission for about three months....maybe more. But one thing was for certain.....over half the crew had been reassigned. The medical department had been especially hard hit. Most of the "transferres" had already left the Reaent, heading home for leave before reporting to their new assignment. A few of the remaining crew had also taken off for leave but so far, the seven remaining in medical were still aboard. Under the circumstances, Debbie was grateful they'd chosen to stick around for a while. A couple of days earlier, Aidan had proposed and of course, Deb accepted. So far, the only person she'd told was Gracie Allen. Deb was planning on speaking to her family later in the day. In the meantime, she wanted to talk to what remained of her staff. The wedding was in five or six weeks. She was hoping they would be able to attend. At the same time, she knew they all needed some time off...time away from the ship...time to recover from the trauma of their last mission. And so it was that Deb walked into the now empty and extremely quiet Sickbay. She wasn't expecting to find anyone there but, to her surprise, Merina was sitting at one of the consoles. She looked up as Deb entered and the CMO waved to her. "Can I see you for a minute," she called as she continued into the office. Turning off the computer, Merina went up Deb and asked, "You wanted to see me?" She hoped nothing was wrong or too serious that Deb wanted to talk to her about. Hopefully, it was good news other than her staying aboard the Reaent, while it was in for repairs or whatever is going to happen. Deb motioned for Merina to sit down and smiled. "Yes," she replied lightly. "I'm glad you happened to be here. I was wondering what your plans were for the next twelve weeks or so. I'm told that's about how long it will take to complete repairs." "Well, I had hoped to visit my parents for a while, but their at Earth getting their ship done for repairs. It would take time for a shuttle to get there and back, so I don't have any plans for the next twelve or so weeks," Merina replied as she sits there patiently. The CMO smiled nervously. "I hope you will take some time off, Merina," she said earnestly. "But maybe you could leave in five or six or weeks. That way, you would be here for the wedding." Merina looked at Deb slightly confused,. "Wedding? You're getting married? To who?" The poor Cait had so many questions to ask. Calmly she said, "Five to six weeks, that's in the middle of repairs. Where do you plan on having the wedding? What are trying to do to me, take one of my so-called 'nine lives' as you humans put it." Merina's reaction tickled Debbie. She leaned back in her chair and laughed as the Caitian's eyes went wide and her ears twitched. "Trust me," giggled Deb. "I'm not trying to take one of your nine lives. We can't afford to lose anyone else around here." The CMO smiled warmly at her long time cohort. "But yes, I am getting married and the lucky guy is none other than Mr. Ridire." Her smile broadened as she continued. "The wedding will be here, aboard the Reaent...in one of the holodecks. I've been assured there will be adequate power and with two-thirds of the crew gone, there will be plenty of room for visiting friends and family." She paused and leaned forward in her chair. "So what do you think? Will you stick around until after the wedding?" With her head slightly tilted down, looking around, with a little smile, Merina looked up at Deb, "Of course I will. I wouldn't miss it for the galaxy," she replied. Deb smiled brightly. "Great!," she exclaimed. "It means a lot to me that you'll be there." Her expression suddenly became a bit more melancholy. "But after the wedding, I insist you take a nice, long leave. You're going to need to rest up." The CMO frowned slightly and sighed. "Because when we all get back to the ship, we'll have a whole new team to break in." "Of course, Deb," Merina said with a smile as she got up to hug Deb. "With all that's gone on here, I think it's the medical staff who needs more of a vacation than anyone else." The CMO walked around her desk and embraced Merina warmly. "Thank you for everything," she said as the two physicians parted. "I'm really glad you'll be here for the wedding. But in the meantime, start planning your vacation. I'll probably work you to death once we the ship is up and running." As Merina nodded and smiled at Deb, she replied, "Oh don't worry I will. I'll make sure that I'll bring something back for you and the commander, as well as myself." Then Merina headed back to her desk in main sickbay, she started making plans for her near-by vacation.

Once again, it was late....but not that late. Debbie didn't bother checking her watch before ringing the chime at Gracie's door. She'd didn't care what time it was, she had to talk to her chief nurse immediately. At first, there was no reply. Debbie was just about to ring the chime again when a bedraggled voice came through the intercom. "Whose there?" Debbie winced. Gracie Allen sounded less than pleased. Could she have already gone to bed? Debbie quickly glanced at her watch, a little annoyed that her friend would turn in so early. It wasn't even midnight yet. Then she recalled Gracie telling everyone she turned in no later than 2200 hours....she was no "spring chicken" anymore...she needed her beauty rest. Debbie swallowed hard. Her first instinct was to run as quickly as possible and hope she could turn the corner before Gracie opend the door. But a quick look around squashed that plan. Allen's quarters were in the middle section of a long stretch of corridor. The corners were too far away. She would never make it in time. The only left to do was acknowledge her mistake. "It's me, Gracie," answered Debbie in loud whisper. "Go back to bed. I didn't realize it was this late." With that, the Reaent's CMO stepped away from the door and started back the way she came. The door immediately swished open and Grace stepped out into the hall wearing her nightgown and fuzzy, pink slippers. "Not so fast!" bellowed the seasoned nurse. "You've already gotten me out of bed. Now you're sure as heck gonna explain why!" Debbie froze like a kid caught raiding the cookie jar. She hesitated a few seconds before stepping back to the door. She didn't say word as she extended her left hand toward Gracie. The chief nurse stared at the glistening diamonds on Debbie's ring finger and then glanced up at her boss. "Wow!" muttered Graice as she took Debbie's hand and held it up for a closer look. "That is some ring!" "Isn't it though," replied Debbie proudly. 'I probably should have waited until morning to show it to you but...." "No...no!" snapped Gracie. "This is worth getting up for. I'm glad you came by. Now, step inside and let me see this thing in some real light." Debbie followed orders. Besides, Gracie was still holding Debbie's hand as she walked backward into her quarters. Once inside with the door closed behind them, Gracie let go of her boss and held out her open palm. "Let me see it," she stated matter of factly. So again, Debbie followed orders. She removed the ring and placed it gently in Gracie's hand. The chief nurse examined the ring with the eye of an experienced pro. Hmm... Yep....Oh yeah," muttered Gracie before nodding her approval and handing the ring back to Debbie. "So, when did this happen?" "A few hours ago." "And you're just now telling me about it." Debbie blinked in surprise. "I was....preoccupied until now," she said, stifling a giggle. Gracie nodded knowingly. "I'm sure you had a lovely evening. He impresses me as the type who had this all planned out.....very well planned out." "Oh yes," replied Debbie admiring the diamonds on her left hand. "He certainly did." "So, when are you getting married?" Debbie shrugged her shoulders as she looked at Gracie. "I'm not sure," she said. "We just got engaged." Gracie studied the CMO for several seconds before continuing. "Okay, when do you want to get married." "I almost asked him if he was available tomorrow around 1600 hours." Debbie blushed as Gracie burst out laughing. "After moving so slowly all this time, now you want to rush him to the altar." "She has no idea how close to the truth that statement is," thought Debbie. But she chose to remain silent. Gracie stepped behind her and pushed Debbie toward the sofa. "So, tell me about tonight? Where did he propose? Let me guess? It was tropical beach setting? Right? He knows you like that sort of thing?' Now it was Debbie's turn to laugh. "Yes, it was a tropical beach setting....very casual....yet quite romantic. All in all, I would say it was a perfect evening." She went on to provide Grace with additional details about the holosuite program and how Aidan proposed soon after Debbie arrived. The chief nurse listened intently, clearly pleased about day's events. "So how long were you there?" asked Gracie as she started walking toward the kitchen area. Deb shrugged her shoulders. "I'm not sure exactly....five or six hours at least." "I'm sure you used that time well," offered Gracie with a quick wink. Debbie looked at her, not quite certain what the older woman meant. "We had a lovely evening," she replied, a little cautiously. "I'll bet you did," said Gracie from the kitchen where she was ordering something from the replicator. "A ring like that certainly deserves a special reward." Deb looked down at her hands now tightly folded in her lap. She said nothing. A moment later, she looked up to find a curious Gracie standing in front of her. "You did....reward him.....didn't you?" she asked softly. "That depends on your definition of reward," answered Debbie, wrinkling her nose. Grace Allen looked at her boss incredulously. She slowly moved to sit down beside Debbie on the sofa and carefully handed her one of the glasses she carried in from the kitchen. Deb knew the fizzy brown liquid in the glass was Coca Cola, Gracie's favorite beverage. The two women stared at each other for a long moment before Gracie broke the awkward silence. "You didn't.....did you?" asked the nurse. Deb shrugged her shoulders. "Didn't what?" "You know what I'm talking about?" "Sex?" Gracie nodded. "Yes, sex. How long have you been going with this man and you don't make love with him on the night her proposes to you?" Debbie stared at the woman for a moment before shaking her head. "Why not?" asked Grace, after a slight pause. Again, Debbie shrugged her shoulders. There was another long pause while Gracie stared at her boss and tried to figure it out. After a couple of minutes, she tapped Debbie on the arm. "You never have, have you?" Deb shook her head. "Is there something wrong with him?" asked Gracie, her tone of voice reflecting genuine concern. "No," replied Debbie with a chuckle. "I assure you, there is nothing wrong with him." "Is there something wrong with you?" "No Gracie," laughed Debbie. "There is nothing wrong with either of us." There was yet another pause followed by Gracie moving a bit closer to Debbie. "You're waiting, aren't you?" Deb nodded only once. "And it was your idea?" "Yes, I asked him to wait and agreed." Debbie sighed. "But it's becoming more and more difficult. That was especially true tonight." Gracie chuckled. Wrapping one arm around Debbie, she hugged the CMO and shook her head. "Some women have all the luck." Debbie looked at her curiously. "What do you mean?" "For a man to wait the length of time the two of you have been dating.....honey.....he's definitely in love." "So am I," quipped Debbie with a grin. Gracie's expression softened as she released her grip on Debbie's shoulder. "I'm so happy for you. You deserve that kind of love." Debbie reached over and squeezed Gracie's hand. "Thank you. And thank you for all the sage advice you've offered me over these past few months. I don't think I would have survived this without you." The ever present mischievous gleam returned to Gracie's eyes and grin pulled across her face. "Probably not. And now that I know what hasn't been going on, I understand why you're trying to rush him to the altar." Deb grinned sheepishly. "Can't blame for me that, can you?"

What was that old expression....when handed a lemon, make lemonade. For Debbie Matthews, the Reaent's CMO, this was a little harder to swallow than the sourest of lemons. Forget about lemonade. Well over two-thirds of her staff had received their transfer orders. When all was said and done, she, Merina, Rocko Studly, Miles Linkowitz and Rus Eckert were the only MDs still assigned to the ship. The nursing staff was reduced to Grace Allen and Jeanie Boyer. Not a single medical assistant or corpsman would remain on the ship once Reaent arrived at the shipyard. Debbie had gone out of her way to speak to each one of her staff....both those remaining and those leaving. Several were a little upset about the transfers. But others welcomed them. They were looking forward to moving on. A few expressed a little concern about the type of missions the Reaent kept pulling. Deb had no real explanation for that. She sometimes wondered about it herself. Did the Reaent have a dark cloud hovering over it? Is that why they were frequently sent on these nearly impossible missions? Or did someone up the chain of command have it out for Captain Michaels? There was no point wondering about such things. Debbie Matthews would remain with the Reaent until something better came along. Those who had not received transfers seemed pleased they were staying. And for those who were leaving, the best Deb could do was offer them her thanks for a job well done and best wishes for success on their next posting. There was one more thing the CMO decided to do before they arrived at the shipyard. She would throw a party.....in Sickbay.....for her staff, those remaining and especially those leaving. The entire crew would be welcome. She, Merina and Gracie Allen managed to organize it while Rocko Studly took care of inviting everyone. Gracie and Jeanie Boyer spent hours earlier in the day decorating the Sickbay. So, the venue was ready....the food and beverages were in place....the music was on and the guests were starting to arrive. For Deb, this evening elicited mixed emotions. It was supposed to be a celebration to thank everyone for their contribution to the ship. But she knew it was also a time to bid farewell to most of the crew and that would be difficult. In many ways, she felt like she was losing a big part of her family. Debbie milled about the Sickbay, chatting with some of the guests, all the while fighting to control her emotions. The last thing she wanted to do was cry. Then again, it was her party.....

"What's wrong?" "What?" asked Debbie, a little startled. She looked up and stared blankly at the Lieutenant standing in her office doorway. "What's wrong with you?" questioned Gracie Allen. She stepped inside and ordered the door closed. "You aren't even supposed to be here today?" "Trying to catch up on this paperwork," replied Deb, returning her attention to the stack of padds on her desk. "You've been sitting there staring a the wall for the past two hours," replied Gracie as she sat down in one of the chairs facing the CMO's desk. "If you wanted people to think you were working, you should have closed the door. Did you have a fight with Mr. Wonderful?" Deb sighed deeply and tossed her stylus onto the desk. Leaning back in her chair, she shook her head and frowned. "No, we haven't fought," she replied softly. "I'm just a little overwhelmed, that's all. Things were moving along at a snails pace. There were times I found that a little frustrating. But now....." "What do you mean?" quizzed Gracie, a wry smile on her face. Debbie looked at her friend and pursed her lips. "You know perfectly well what I mean," she huffed. "So the pace has....quickened. What's wrong with that?" "Nothing, I suppose," replied the CMO. Gracie leaned forward in the chair and studied her boss's expression for several seconds. "Something's wrong," she said gently. "Otherwise, you wouldn't be sitting in that chair looking like you just lost your last friend." Debbie looked at the chief nurse for a long moment but said nothing. Gracie finally shook her head and smiled slightly. "You're scared, aren't you?" "Terrified." Grace Allen again leaned back in her chair and crossed her legs. "What has you so terrified?" "I'm afraid of getting hurt," answered Deb with a shrug of her shoulders. "Define...hurt." "I'm afraid of loosing him," replied Deb with another shrug of her shoulders. "To who?" Debbie shook her head and smiled sadly. "Not to who," she said softly. She shook her head and looked down at her hands, tightly folded and resting in her lap. "I'm terrified something will happen to him." She took a deep breath, leaned forward in her chair and looked intently at her friend and confident sitting across from her. "I'm in this so deeply, I can barely breathe," she continued in a low voice. "Within the past day or two, I realized I don't think of him as Aidan. I don't think of myself as Debbie. I think of....." She bit her lip and glanced around the room searching for the correct words. "You no longer think of yourself as an individual, alone against the universe," offered Gracie. "You don't see Aidan that way either. You now consider Debbie and Aidan.....a single entity." "Yeah," replied Deb weakly. "That pretty much sums it up." She again focused on her chief nurse. "The other day, toward the end of that battle in the nebula, I was down in the brig with those prisoners. I was busy. I really didn't have to time to even think about it." She paused and shook her head. "But after is was over, when I heard his voice on the comm, if I hadn't been able to lean against the wall, I know I would have been a heap on the floor....I was that relieved." Gracie smiled warmly. "How did he feel?" Deb sighed and shook her head yet again. "I think he felt the same way. I know he was relieved to see me. But I don't think he's obsessing over it like I seem to be doing." There was a pause in the conversation during which Gracie studied Deb carefully."What are you thinking?" the CMO finally asked after growing uneasy during the long silence. "I think Aidan has become an essential part of your being," replied Grace thoughtfully. "Just as you have become an integral part of him." The nurse moved to the edge of the chair and rested one elbow on the desk. "What you're feeling," she continued, wagging a finger at Debbie, "is genuine love.....mixed with a heavy dose of commitment....and it's a very precious gift....a gift you should nurture with every fiber of your being." Gracie sat up straight and stared into Debbie's eyes. "I hope to God you're not thinking about walking away from him at this stage of the game because you're afraid something might happen to him....and it would hurt." "No," replied Deb immediately. "No, I'm not walking away. I couldn't do that. It would be like walking away from my....soul." "Good, " quipped Gracie, leaning back in her chair. "Now I'm the one who is relieved. There was another long pause during which the two women sat quietly gathering their thoughts. It was Gracie who finally broke the silence. "The pace has quickened because of this last mission," said Gracie resolutely. Deb looked at the nurse. She had put into words something Deb had just begun to suspect. "I know," she replied soberly. "If nothing else, this latest chapter in the Cairo saga has reinforced the fact we are not promised a tomorrow." "No, we're not....so make the most of the time you have." "The next step is coming soon." "Have you talked about it?" "Yes, two or three times during the past couple of days." Gracie nodded. "It needs to come soon." Deb smiled at her friend. "Yes," she agreed, choosing not to go into the details. "Yes, it does need to come soon. I just have to be ready." "You are ready," replied Gracie with a warm smile. "You've been ready for awhile. You're just now starting to realize it." She pushed herself to a standing position and took a few steps toward the door before stopping and turning to face the younger woman sitting behind the desk. "Just relax. Give yourself permission to love him....and allow him to love you." The door hummed open and Gracie stepped through it. She again turned to address Deb from just outside the office. "You're a very lucky woman. And remember, love is supposed to take your breath away."

Dr. Deborah Matthews took one final look at herself in the full length mirror and tugged on the jacket of her dress white uniform. Satisfied with her appearance, she quickly left her quarters. A few minutes later, she stepped off the turbolift and entered Sickbay. The two medics on duty looked up from their small desks as she walked in. Their names were Martinez and Jacobson, both petty officers on loan from Starbase 435. For the next several hours, they would man the Sickbay while the ship's medical staff attended the farewell service for the Reaent's fallen crewmen. Within two hours after safely docking at the starbase, those patients remaining in Sickbay were transferred to the medical facilities on the base along with a few others who had been confined to quarters due to their injuries. At the height of the emergency, there hadn't been room in Sickbay to accommodate all of the wounded. The staff had been forced to send the less serious cases back to their quarters. Depending on the severity of the injury, medical personnel were required to check up on them every thirty minutes to an hour. It was a time consuming and less than efficient protocol. No one had been happy about it but it was the best they could do under the circumstances. Debbie was greatly relieved when they docked at 435. Reaent had been badly damaged and the engineers struggled to maintain power to essential systems. On more than one occasion, the ship went dark until the emergency generators kicked in. Sickbay was always given preference on the power grid but with so many patients and so much equipment in use, the medical facility drew four or five times more power than normal. It was an untenable situation...another disaster waiting to happen. Long before they arrived, Debbie had been in close contact with the base CMO. The arrangements for the transfers were in place and her staff had the patients ready to go when Reaent was finally towed in. It had taken about two hours to move them and another couple of hours to insure everyone was comfortably settled and the base medical personnel were up to speed on each patients' condition. Sickbay had been empty ever since and would probably stay that way until repairs to the ship were completed. Some of the crew were planning to stay aboard while repairs were underway. Many others had been given leave and were heading home or off to one of the many resorts scattered across the galaxy. But as of this moment, almost all of the crew remained on the Reaent. They would not leave until later today or tomorrow....after the memorial service scheduled to begin in about an hour. The entire medical staff had agreed to attend the memorial together. They would meet in Sickbay and proceed to the Cargo Bay as a unit. The starbase had been kind enough to allow Petty Officers Martinez and Jacobson to hold down the fort until after the service. At that point, a skeleton crew would be assigned to handle any medical emergencies that might arise. It was unlikely there would be any and if there were, the base hospital was easily accessible. But Debbie wanted a couple of staff present at all times just in case. About 25% of the crew were staying aboard. With all the repairs underway, minor injuries were inevitable as were the more common head and stomach aches. The CMO decided some medical personnel should be available on the ship to handle such routine complaints. Dr. Matthews took a moment to chat with the petty officers. They assured her things had been quiet since they'd taken over.... very quiet. She then proceeded to her office but hesitated before going in. Glancing around the Sickbay, she frowned slightly. During recent days, there had been so much going on and the noise level had been so high, Deb sometimes found it difficult to think straight. She remembered wishing for a little peace and quiet and she knew she wasn't the only one who felt that way. Now, there was nothing but peace and quiet...no voices, no beeping and clicking and whirring of equipment....just total quiet. The place was like a tomb and she found that a little disturbing. Deb shook her head and stepped into her office. She hoped the others would arrive soon. The silence in Sickbay was almost as eerie as the silence in the Cargo Bay....and for now, the Cargo Bay was a tomb.

Probably not. And I, for one, have no desire to attempt it. :)

It was well after midnight. Debbie stopped by Sickbay to check on the third shift. She hadn't planned on staying but a few minutes....just long enough to make sure everyone was okay. She was concerned about her staff. They were overworked and over stressed yet they couldn't allow themselves to loose focus. There were lives at stake. For one reason or another, Deb stepped into her office to take a quick look at the new padds waiting for her to review in the morning. She need up sitting down and perusing through a couple of them. She was concentrating on one of the files when she heard a light knock on the door. Looking up, she saw Kat Schawnsee standing just outside the office. The Security Chief looked like she hadn't slept in a week. But considering all she'd been through, Kat appeared to be in pretty good shape. "Come on in," said Deb, motioning for Schawnsee to take a seat. "I bet I know why you're here." Kat has a seat across from Dr Mathews as indicated. "Well Doc, the reason is two fold. I think it's about time I had my arm looked at. I injured it in one of the attacks on the ship but was to busy to have it properly taken care of." Kat holds her left arm a bit over the desk to allow Deb to see it clearly. This was the one that had been made up to make it look as if it had been badly burned. Merina had already repaired that part of it before.This time It was a pretty shade of dark purple and had a nice, half baseball sized swollen place just below the elbow. "I can still move so I don't think its broken but the swelling is getting worse, so I figured I'd better come on in. And while I was here, if you had time, could you give me back my normal eye color back as well as my hair color? I kinda want to get my old look back if I can, please?" Debbie picked up a medkit off the floor by her desk then made her way over to where Kat was sitting. She sat down beside the Security Chief and stated scanning the injured arm. "I don't think I want to know how you did this," she said as she studied the data. "But it does look worse than it is." The CMO looked at Schawnsee as she stood up. "Come with me," she ordered, heading for the door. "There are no broken bones but that soft tissue damage often hurts even worse." "I have to admit, Doc, it does hurt. Thanks for taking the time to look at it." Kat stands and makes her way toward the door. Deb stepped aside to allow Kat to leave the office first. She fell into step beside her as they walked toward a nearby biobed that just happened to available. "We'll take care of that bruising and then we'll see what we can do about those other items. The eyes are easy but the hair may take about half an hour." Kat sat on the biobed. "I think I have a half an hour if you do Doc. But don't feel you have to. I mean, I know you need rest also after all that has happened in the past few days. Medical has been even busier than Security." Kat watches the Doc as she moves away to get the instruments she needed to take care of things. As she returned, Kat smiled. "Doc, I can tell you one thing. You are the first Doctor that I have ever come to see on my own accord. In all my history in Star Fleet, I have had to be literally drug into Sickbay for treatment. There was one time they actually tied me to the biobed to keep me there. There's something different about you. I don't know what exactly, but there is something." Kat laid back on the biobed and watched as the Doc began her work on the arm. "Different?" chuckled Debbie as she dropped the equipment onto a small tray by the biobed. "I choose to accept that as a compliment," she said with a grin. She helped Kat slip her arm out of her uniform. "As far as your past is concerned, I'll bet those Sickbays didn't hand out lollipops. If they had, I'm sure you wouldn't have objected to stopping by whenever necessary." Kat spoke up while Dr. Matthews was preparing her arm for treatment. "That would be what it was Doc, a compliment. Oh they had lollipops on the other vessels also. Many flavors. I think it is just the fact that you haven't hounded me to come in or force me to. It makes a big difference." She laid back and looked away before Deb began the actual treatment. "Your a grown person, said Deb as she carefully sterilized the entire arm and then retrieved the small anabolic protoplase from the tray. "This will only take a few minutes," she said as she started the treatment. "Then we'll use Triptacederin for the pain. The first dose will be from the hypo but I'll send you home with a few tablets in case you need relief later on." Kat just nods her approval but doesn't look at what's being done. She might have came in on her own but that didn't mean she was completely comfortable. She was still a bit leery of watching what was going on. "Thanks Doc." The arm was still a little bruised when Debbie finished but that was to be expected. "The remaining bruises should disappear in a few hours," she said. "If they don't, come back and I'll hit them with the dermal regenerator. The protoplase has already healed the injuries to the soft tissue. But I would advise you to take it easy for a day or two...no strenuous work outs or anything like that." "I kind of figured that one out already. I took myself off the patrol roster and the training session scheduled for tomorrow. I placed myself on Desk Duty, at least for a day or two," Kat says turning to look at the repaired arm. Debbie smiled at Schawnsee. "Now, are you ready for the big fix?" With a deep sigh, Kat settles back down on the biobed. "I'm about as ready as I ever will be, Doc. Let's get going." Debbie called up the medical file detailing Kat's exact eye and hair color. This would assist in returning both to their proper shade. The actual color was still present in the eyes. It had been camouflaged for the away mission but the artificial color would remain in place until the antidote was administered. The CMO picked up a small dropper bottle and gingerly lifted the lid of Kat's right eye. She carefully squeezed two drops of the clear liquid into the eye and then moved on to the left one. Within seconds, Schawnsee's dark brown eyes reappeared. The hair involved a little more work. Deb really felt badly about Kat's hair. It had been necessary to cut it as well as change the color. She could return the hair to it's natural black but only time would be able to replace the long braids. Those braids were a cherished tradition among Schawnsee's people. Debbie wished there was a way she could wave a magic wand and have them reappear instantly. But, for now, all the CMO could do was make sure the color was as close to perfect as possible. It was a simple procedure using a dry color that went on much like powder. The powder was actually beige. It was designed to cling to the individual strands and the color was activated by the natural oils in the hair. Kat's hair was very thick so Deb pulled on a pair of gloves and began rubbing in the powder, taking care to insure it was evenly distributed. After ten minutes, Schawnsee's hair was once again jet black. Deb quickly ran a soft brush through Kat's hair to remove any loose powder. What remained was permanent. The only way to remove it was through new hair growth. Considering how long Kat's hair would probably grow, Deb suspected the artificial color would be around for quite awhile. Debbie to a step back to survey her handiwork. She handed Kat a small mirror. "There you go," she said with a satisfied smile. "Almost as good as new. In a few months, you're own hair will grow in. In the meantime, nobody will know the current color is....artificial. Kat gets up off the biobed and looks into the mirror. With a smile she says, "Thanks Doc. Its good to have my normal eye and hair color back. I can tell you someone else who will be thanking you as well. Mr. Angeliz wasn't happy when he saw the change. He reminded me all to well about our tribes thoughts about the changing of ones self. Matter of fact, I better let him know so he can contact our elders and tell them that I did return everything back to normal." Deb reached into her lab coat pocket and pulled out a Tootsie Roll Pop. "Well don't run off without your lollipop," she replied with a grin. "And thanks for being such a cooperative patient. Remember to take it easy with that arm." Kat smiled at Dr. Matthews again and headed for the exit. Debbie stayed where she was and watched Kat as Kat walked across the room. The Security Chief's remarks about her tribe took the CMO by surprise. She folded her arms across her chest and stared at the Lieutenant Commander as she exited Sickbay. "Hmmm..." whispered Deb. "Mr. Angeliz? Now I wonder what that's all about?"

Debbie Matthews glanced at her watch. Her ten minute break ended ten minutes ago. She took another look at the image of Ensign Eric Lukjanenko and then slowly turned off the console. She continued to stare at the handsome, young face until the screen went dark. Taking a deep breath, the CMO pushed away from her desk and started for the door. As she crossed the small room, she forced herself to reset her priorities. She would forever remember Lukjanenko and his sacrifice. His actions allowed her to continue on with her life and to look forward to the future. But for now, her primary concern had to be the patients now packed into Sickbay like smoked sardines. It was up to Deb and her staff to insure they would be able to continue on with their lives as well. Debbie briefly glanced around as she stepped into the main Sickbay. That's when she caught sight of Aidan, standing motionless a few meters away. She'd known he was okay but this was the first time she'd seen him since returning from the brig. She watched as he slowly surveyed the Sickbay with it's plethora of patients.. She could see his face quite clearly. He remained stoic as any XO would. But every few seconds, there was a glint of something in his eyes. No one else would have picked up on it. But she knew him better than most. He was responsible for the welfare of this crew and it hurt him terribly to see so many of them in Sickbay. She followed his gaze to a woman, strapped to a biobed, with second and third degree burns over most of her legs. It was Ensign Maggie Davison, Lukjanenko's girlfirend. Deb understood how he felt. It was a tragedy and there was no other way to describe it. She looked back at Aidan to find him staring at her. More then anything else, save one, this is what he hated most about his job. The crew....his crew had performed beyond admirably but they had paid a terrible price for it. He glances at the young woman strapped to the biobed. Some worse then others. All the words he could say to the young Ensign, were she concious, all sounded so hollow and false. And it doesn't help that he knows how close he came to being in the same situation as her....or how close Deb came to being in that situation. What do you say to someone when they've had their heart ripped open....what do you say to the family of someone who died, even a heroes death. Aidan closes his eyes for a few moments, trying to get his roiling emotions under control. Finally, he opens his eyes and steps past Deb into her office. The CMO silently followed Aidan into her office, stopping just inside. She waited until the door slid closed before speaking. "Are you okay?" she asked in quiet voice. He turns and steps into her, tucking his head against hers. For a few seconds, he lets himself get lost in her scent and the feel of her. Finally he murmurs, "Given time and a certain Doctor's ministrations, I will be." He tips his head back and looks down into her eyes "And you?" Deb smiled weakly and nodded. "I think so," she replied softly. "What is it they say? Time heals all wounds." She quickly looked down and rested her head against his chest as a wave of emotion washed over her. "His name was Eric Lukjanenko, " she whispered, without lifting her eyes. "He was twenty-four. He's the only reason we're here to ask each other if we're okay." Deb pulled back a step and looked at Aidan. "And here I stand, thanking God it wasn't you," she continued, choking on her words. "How selfish is that?" "And I'm standing here, knowing that if I had been there, I would have done the same thing and thanking God that I wasn't." He glances at the door and murmurs, "And out there is someone who is now in the hell that we'd have been in if I had done so..or if you had." He sighs, "Best and worst out of us all." He closes his eyes against the sudden tears. He murmurs, "This job gave me you but right now I seriously hate everything about it. Would desperately like to run away somewhere with you and do my damnedest to forget everything else." "I know how you feel," she whispered, slipping her arms around him and pressing her cheek against his chest. "I know....exactly how you feel." She remained silent for a few seconds, allowing herself to draw comfort from his presence. "I'm tired....so tired of looking into the eyes of wounded men and women....some of them seriously injured....and trying to remain positive and upbeat." She paused a moment. "I can't think of anything positive about this. Granted, we rescued fifty or so prisoners from that Miranda. But how many of our own have we lost? And how many more are injured?" She looked up at him. "And I'm tired of being scared half to death...especially now. Now, I'm not just scared for myself. I'm afraid for you too." She shook her head and tried to smile. "Things used to be so simple....but not anymore." He tightens his arm around her waist as he brings the other one up to cradle the back of her head. For a few moments he quietly stares down into her eyes. Finally he murmurs, "Yes...but for the life of me I would not go back to things being simple. And I hope you wouldn't either." "No," she whispered, shaking her head slightly. "There's no going back." She smiled sadly. "A young man died today. He sacrificed himself so the rest of us could live. That includes you and I. We have a future because of Ensign Lukjanenko. It would be a crime to waste that future." He nods then glances at the door leading to Sickbay. He murmurs, "Think she would have given up what they shared if she knew what would happen?" "I don't know," answered Debbie, her voice just above a whisper. "I'm not sure I want to know. Right now, I just want to concentrate on our future....how it will be for us...for however long we have." Right now, he'd give anything to be able to tell her with confidence that their future was bright and that they'd have the rest of their lives together. That they'd grow old together and all that. Words that came easily normally don't come so easily given the events of the last few hours. He brushes his lips against hers before murmuring, "I intend to see to your happiness for however long we have. And I hope that is an exceedingly long time, as long as you will spend with me." He tips his head back before adding, "I think for right now, unless you need to stay here, we should go. I very much want some time alone with you, time for us to deal with all this." He closes his eyes briefly. "And given the level of damage we've sustained....I think there is one more thing at least we can decide." Debbie wanted to go with him. More than anything, she wanted to leave this place of pain and sorrow and spend time with Aidan. She needed to be with him...to focus on the future and try to forget what they had all endured over the past few days. But, she couldn't....at least, not yet. She smiled sadly and shook her head. "I can't leave right now," she whispered. "I hope you understand. We're on the sidelines while the battles rage. But afterward, it's our responsibility to pick up the pieces." She sighed deeply and nodded toward the room beyond the closed door. "And there are a lot of pieces to pick up after this one." She again leaned against him and took a couple of deep breaths. "I'll probably be able to leave in a couple of hours. I'll look for you then." He frowns slightly and spends a few seconds mulling insisting that she come with now. He sighs inwardly, knowing that she's right in what she said. He kisses her warmly for a few moments before murmuring, "Ok, I'll be in my quarters then." He glances at the door and frowns slightly before adding, "Trying to figure out what I'm going to say to the Ensign's family." Deb hugged him tightly and then took a step back. She reached for Aidan's hands and held them for a long moment before releasing them so he could leave. "I'll be there as soon as possible," she replied, already trying to refocus her priorities. They left the office together and Deb walked with him halfway to the main entrance to Sickbay. Neither said a word but she noticed him glancing at the patients as he made his way out. He looked back at her one time as he left and she offered him a quiet smile as he stepped out into the corridor. She continued to watch as the doors swished shut behind him. Then she turned toward the crowded ward and taking a deep breath, plunged into the melee to help bring some control to the chaos that was Sickbay.

He was a handsome young man....tall and muscular with fair skin, dark hair and eyes and an engaging smile. And now, at the age of twenty-four, he was dead....for the good of the many. His name was Ensign Eric Russels Lukjanenko. He was from Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania in the United States on the North American continent of Earth. The third of five children and the first, so far, to pursue a career in Starfleet. He was interested in all things mechanical from a very early age. That and his above average aptitude in math prompted Eric Lukjanenko to specialize in Engineering. He graduated nineteenth in his Academy class. Reaent was his first assignment. He had been with the ship for less than a year. Debbie Matthews stared at the photo in Lukjanenko's personnel file. For the life of her, she couldn't remember ever laying eyes on the man. But from this day forward, his name and his infectious smile would forever be engraved in her memory. After their latest skirmish with the Romulans, the injured poured into Sickbay. Deb and her staff were swamped with injured ranging from extremely critical to minor cuts and bruises. There wasn't time to even think about what happened. All she could do, was focus on the situation at hand...help treat the patients and ask questions later. It was three or four hours later that Debbie was briefed on just how close they actually came to total annihilation. They were saved by the selfless act of one man, a young engineer who happened to be in the fighter bay at the most critical of all moments. The flaming wreckage of a once mighty Warbird was seconds away from colliding with the Reaent. It's course was intentional, the desperate act of a defeated Riov who sought revenge as his own ship and crew prepared to meet their fate. Reaent was essentially dead in space. With no propulsion, she was a sitting duck unless the fighter bay could be instantly decompressed. The discharging atmosphere would push the ship just far enough to avoid the imminent collision. Unfortunately, the doors jammed. The fighter bay had been seriously damaged during the Reaent's earlier confrontations inside the nebula. Ensign Lukjanenko happened to be one of the engineers assigned to the repair team. He was still in the area when the orders came to decompress the bay. When Lukjanenko realized the doors had jammed, he rushed into the fighter bay and manually opened them. The plan worked perfectly. The escaping atmosphere nudged the ship out of the way and the derelict Warbird floated harmlessly by. But everything in the fighter bay that wasn't tied down was sucked out into space along with the atmosphere. That included Ensign Eric Russels Lukjanenko. It was Aaron Scherer who finally told Debbie what happened. His department had been especially hard hit with at least half of his engineers either killed or injured. He came by Sickbay to check on some of them and took a few minutes to tell Deb about Eric Lukjanenko. Shortly after the Chief Engineer left, Ensign Maggie Davison was finally told about her boyfriend's heroic sacrifice. She, too, was an engineer who suffered second degree burns in one of the many explosions to rock that section of the ship. Apparently, the two had been dating for a few months. Her reaction to the news was even worse than expected. Lukjanenko's death sent her into hysterics. She was finally calmed but only after she received a hefty dose of melorazine. After Davison drifted off to sleep, the medical team working with her was forced to take a ten minute break. The entire episode left them badly shaken....and that included the CMO. Debbie retreated to her office, determined to learn as much as possible about the young man who, single handedly, saved what was left of the Reaent and her crew. As she looked at his image on the small view screen, she wondered what his final thoughts were. Did he hope to survive the decompression? Or did he know his was a suicide mission? Did he think of family, friends and Maggie Davision? Or did he allow the training to take control of his thought processes only to have the end come so quickly, there was no time to think? She would never have the answers to those questions. However, there was one thing she knew for certain. She would never forget his name or his face or the way he gave up his life for the good of the many. Debbie hoped every surviving member of the crew would remember Eric Russels Lukjanenko, a young Ensign with a promising career ahead of him. For if it wasn't for him, none of them would have lived to see another day.

"Deb, are those guests of ours still in the brig?" The brig was crowded with security officers and medical personnel, not to mention the ten newly arrived prisoners. If anyone was watching her, and someone probably was, they couldn't have help but notice Debbie's reaction to the sound of Aidan's voice. Her relief was palpable. What's more, she made no effort to hide the fact. She didn't bother looking around to see if anybody was standing nearby. Nor did she question why the XO contacted her to confirm the location of their latest guests. Ordinarily, he would have called the Chief of Security, who happened to be standing just a couple of meters away. Aidan contacted her so she could hear his voice and know he was alright. And he was waiting for her to return the favor. Deb leaned against a wall and took a deep breath as she tried to find her voice. She knew they'd just skirmished with yet another of the enemy's ships. She had no idea what type of vessel it was but she had to assume the Reaent had prevailed. Things had been quiet for a few minutes and now Aidan was asking about the prisoners. He was probably on his way down as well. "Yes," she finally replied. "They're all in the brig, unconscious....relatively minor injuries....two will need medical care in Sickbay. If you want to....interview them, let me know and I'll bring them around for you." Aidan leans back against the wall of the turbolift car and closes his eyes for a few seconds. It was easy being on a Starship and risking life and limb when one is alone and really only responsible for one's own life. It was quite a bit harder to do so as one half of a couple even if it was because of Starfleet that he had met Deb. On some level, it was unsettling and at some point he knows they're going to have to discuss exactly how long they were going to remain onboard a Starship....or remain in Starfleet at all. But that discussion would have to wait for now. He sighs quietly to himself as he opens his eyes. Finally he says, "Keep them out of it until I get down there. If there are any humans among them, that's who I'll talk to first. Make sure Schawnsee keeps them in separate cells. I don't want them coordinating their stories and I don't want them trying anything. And....make sure the prisoners don't have means to kill themselves. As for our prior three guests that are still in the observation lounge, have them moved to guest quarters when you get a chance. But I want guards stationed outside their doors still." "There are seven humans," replied Deb quietly, glancing up and down the corridor inside the brig. "Four males and three females. All ten have been thoroughly searched. None of them have anything secreted away to use for spontaneous suicide and Schawnsee has already separated them. The non-humans include a Romulan, a Ferengi and an unjoined Trill....all males. The Romulan and Ferengi are the two who need to be moved to Sickbay." He blinks when she tells him about the Romulan. He knows that the ship that had run into the second Miranda had been a Romulan ship but this was confirmation how far this cabal went. "Have the Romulan and the Ferengi taken to Sickbay under guard. I want nothing to happen to them. And let me know when they're in a position to talk. Have Schawnsee run their images through our databases to see if any of them are known to us. If that Romulan is attached to the Empire...." Even before he finished speaking, Deb pushed away from the wall and made her way toward the Security Chief. "I'll take care of it," she replied. "See you in a few minutes." The CMO closed the comm and quickly advised Schawnsee to expect Commander Ridire momentarily. She also asked that security escort the Romulan and Ferengi to Sickbay where there were to remain under constant guard while receiving medical treatment. From there, Deb turned around and left the area, choosing to wait for Aidan in the main corridor outside the brig. Along the way, she contacted Merina and warned her to expect two new patients. She made sure the Caitian understood these were no ordinary patients, they would be escorted by security and the guards were to remain with the patients. At no time were medical personnel to be left alone with them. They were to be treated immediately and returned to the brig. She had just finished updating Merina when she heard the nearby turbolift doors swish open. She looked up just in time to see Aidan stride off the lift. He sighs in relief when he sees her. He knows she was fine from their talk over the intercom but still, it wasn't seeing her in person. He steps up to her and leans into kiss her briefly. At the moment, if someone else entered the corridor and saw them, he wouldn't have cared. He murmurs, "Thank God you're safe." Deb fought to maintain control when she first saw him. She eagerly returned his kiss and gently patted his arm. "I have to admit," she replied in a shaky voice. "That was a little scary." Her mood changed somewhat as they started walking toward the brig. "What happened up there?" He lets a hand rest at the small of her back for a moment. "So far since we returned to the ship we've fought and disabled or destroyed five ships. We've taken considerable damage but I think the Saltek has taken the worst end of the stick. At any rate, we're on our way to the nearest Starbase now. Hopefully we won't encounter any more ships, rogue Starfleet or not. I don't think we can take much more. As for the prisoners, plus the three in the observation lounge and our Ferengi bartender, we will be turning them over to Starfleet Intelligence I'm sure." He shakes his head "I hope our part in all this is coming to an end. Speaking for myself, I have something far more deserving of my attention to tend to." She glanced at him and smiled. "I'm with you," she replied plainly. Deb wanted to say more but they were now inside the brig. As they entered, they had to step aside as two teams of security officers escorted the Romulan and Ferengi prisoners off to Sickbay. Both were strapped to gurneys and still unconscious. The XO and CMO continued down the hallway silently until they reached the cells where the remaining prisoners were being held. Deb motioned for her two assistants to join them. "We're going to bring them around now," she said softly. "Make sure they're scanned prior to entering the cells and don't go in alone." She pulled out her tricorder and proceeded to the end of the corridor where the first of the prisoners was housed. "This shouldn't take long," she said to Aidan as she walked away. But she only got half way there before one of the medical assistants quietly waved her over. Vanessa had been on the Reaent for less than a year but was already considered one of the best assistants in Sickbay. As Deb and Aidan approached her, she didn't say a word. She simply held out her tricorder for Deb to look at. The CMO glanced at the data and then at the prisoner, still sprawled on the floor inside the cell. She handed the tricorder back to Vanessa and stepped closer to Aidan. "This one is faking it," she whispered. "He's already awake." He glances from Deb to the indicated prisoner and then smiles wolfishly. He steps past Deb and into the cell after indicating that the guards should keep their weapons on the prisoner. He stops a few inches from the prisoners head and watches quietly for just a second. Without saying a word or any other warning he raises his left leg under him then drives it down to the floor as hard as he can, purposely missing the prisoner's head but causing a very loud report to echo in the brig. Aidan ignores the stares from the others, being much more interested in the reaction of the prisoner who had quickly scrambled back out of the way. Aidan meets the man's glare with one of his own. With a cold menace permeating his voice, Aidan says "Consider that your wake up call, you murderous traitor." Deb watched as Aidan interacted with the prisoner. She knew what he thought of them long before he stepped foot in the brig. And she was certain he wouldn't appreciate this one's feeble attempt to deceive them....as though the prisoner wasn't in enough trouble already. She glanced at Vanessa who was staring, wide eyed. "Let's finish up and get out of here," said Deb. "We have a lot of patients waiting for us....patients who are more deserving than these." ----- See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.

It took the new arrivals a few minutes to make their way to Cargo Bay One. They were unusually quiet considering they'd just been rescued from virtual slavery. Debbie assumed they were suffering from a combination of malnutrition and shock. They were also in dire need of proper hygiene. Merina had things well organized. There were triage teams in the transporter room to deal with anyone requiring immediate medical attention. During the move from the transporter room to the Cargo Bay, each group of refugees were accompanied by at least two medical personnel. The remainder of the staff was hard at work in the Cargo Bay categorizing patients based on their physical and mental conditions. Debbie stood just inside the huge room and searched the unfamiliar faces. She was looking for the lieutenant Aidan referred to but was unable to pick him out of the crowd. She did locate Merina so she headed in that direction. The Caitian physician was just starting the first of many detailed scans on patients considered at high risk for both physical and psychological distress. The CMO complimented her on how well she'd set up the makeshift Sickbay and then asked if she'd seen a Starfleet lieutenant. Merina replied in the negative but promised she'd keep her eyes open. From there, Debbie moved on to what they commonly referred to as the "Sanitation Station." It was one of the first places the refugees would visit once they arrived in the Cargo Bay. The transporter eliminated any parasites the new arrivals might have brought along with them. But it did little to abrogate their strong body odor. After receiving a "dry shower" at the sanitation station, it was much easier to be in close contact with them. The CMO approached one of the numerous security personnel maintaining order and asked if any of the refugees had identified himself as a lieutenant. Her inquiry resulted in a positive response. A lieutenant had just come through and was now on his way to one of the treatment areas. Debbie hurried to the other side of the sanitation station where a dozen or so refugees were milling about. They were carefully monitored by almost as many security officers. Most of the group were males ranging in age from early thirties to at least sixty. "Is there a Starfleet lieutenant among you?" asked Deb as she approached the group. One man turned to look her in the eye. She stopped and met his gaze for a long moment. "Sir," she continued formally. "Are you a Starfleet lieutenant?" He nodded and walked toward her until a security officer blocked his path. "Let him through," ordered Debbie The guard stepped aside and the unknown lieutenant approached the CMO. She studied him closely for a moment. "Your rank is lieutenant," she said firmly. "I need your name and serial number." A slight grin tugged at his lips. "Montgomery," he replied, his voice barely audible. "Ian, Lieutenant.... Starfleet....Serial number CYZ0039282." Debbie nodded and quickly glanced down at the jacket still folded over her arm. She wasn't quite sure why she felt like they had just achieved a major victory. After a few seconds, she again focused on the tall young man standing in front of her. "Lieutenant," she began slowly. "My name is Dr. Deborah Matthews. I'm the Reaent's chief medical officer.....and we've been looking for you."

Brought to you by Commander Ridire and Dr. Debbie Matthews Aidan reaches the turbolift just as Deb exits it. He hesitates for a moment, the incident up on the bridge earlier coming back to his memory. Idly, he wonders if she's mad that he denied her permission to accompany the away team to the Miranda. Hopefully, she'd understand that as it was a quick rescue mission, the best thing they could do was to get those who needed treatment back to the ship rather then tending to them on site. "There's about fifty or so people that we rescued back there and I'm sure they're going to need medical attention. I'm having security escort them to cargo bay 1 presently to have them in a central location. Makes it easier to treat them, I assume, as well as easier for security to watch over them." Debbie nearly bumped into Aidan in her rush to exit the lift. She listened to him in stunned silence, thoroughly pleased that he'd made it back safely. "Thanks," she replied, looking down the corridor as a group of about fifteen people came into view. "And well done....very risky but perfectly executed." She was about to continue on her way when she noticed him cradling his left arm. At first, she didn't think much of it, but the way he was holding it made her suspicious. "What's wrong with your arm? she asked, instinctively opening her medkit. He frowns slightly but decides telling her that nothing is wrong is not going to work as she isn't going to believe him. "We had just beamed back when the ship shook because of the Miranda exploding. I got knocked against the wall and my arm took the worst of it. I don't think it's broken. Well I hope it's not." He frowns slightly when he sees a smudge on her cheek. With his non injured arm he brings his hand up and wipes it away. He murmurs "I see I'm not the only one who is in need of a bath." He blinks after he says that, wondering if he should apologize for that comment. She chuckled at his last remark while scanning the injured arm. "The transporter room wasn't the only place rocking and rolling," she replied with a grin. "And you were right. Your arm isn't broken," she added, looking into his eyes. "No ligament or tendon damage either. But that deltoid and biceps are badly bruised....and swelling like crazy even as we speak. I'll give you an anti-inflammatory to control the swelling. Otherwise, you'll soon be unable to lift that arm. And a little Hydrocortilene for the pain." She paused and reached into her medkit to retrieve a hypospray. "Did you have a chance to speak to any of them?" she asked as she set the hypo to the desired settings. He shakes his head, "No, I didn't really get the time to talk to them. It was kind of a rushed rescue operation. Barely had time to take care of the nearby guards and get into where the prisoners were being held and free them before..." He frowns as the very clear memory of an onrushing explosion floats before his eyes, the explosion that had quickly consumed the Miranda, even as he and his team had transported back to the Reaent. Deb watched his lips draw into a frown. She wanted to ask what he was thinking but there wasn't time. "I know it was a very close call," she said flatly as she pressed the hypo to Aidan's neck and activated it. "I was on the Bridge. I should have been on my way down here but I couldn't leave until I knew...." He smiles and reaches up to squeeze her hand gently. "I'm glad you have such an interest in my well-being." His smile fades a bit though as he murmurs "It was a rather close call." She watched as Aidan's mood darkened. She assumed he was thinking about those final moments on the Miranda. She wanted to ask him exactly what happened but this wasn't the time or the place. Already, a steady stream of refugees were shuffling past them on their way to Cargo Bay 1. The fact these hapless souls were all on their feet was a positive sign but as they walked by, Deb could clearly see many were in terrible condition. "I have to go," she whispered, clasping his hand between both of hers. "I'll catch up with you later. In the meantime, no pushups for a couple of days." He smirks faintly "Yes, Ma'am. Though to be honest, was more interested in a massage then pushups." He nods towards the refugees passing by as he lets go of her hand. He says quietly "Go, they need you more then I do. There is a person in a Starfleet uniform among them, some Lieutenant. He'd probably be the most useful for information." He hesitates slightly then adds "And tell Schawnsee that she is to keep sufficient security on them at all times. Unfortunately...some of them may not be what they claim." Deb stepped aside so Aidan could enter the turbolift. "I'll give Schawnsee the message," she said quietly, turning her attention to the new arrivals. "And thanks for the rescue. From here on, no matter what happens with this mission, at least this part of it turned out right." With that, she joined the ranks of the security and medical personnel escorting the refugees to the cargo bay. A minute or two later, she glanced over her shoulder but Aidan was already gone.

The lack of communication wouldn't have bothered her during any other crisis. She would have shrugged it off as nothing more than command prerogative. Besides, Debbie Matthews was rarely on the bridge during situations such as this. She was usually hunkered down in Sickbay waiting for the inevitable causalities . But this wasn't an ordinary emergency. This was an extension of a crisis that began over four years earlier....a crisis that had profoundly affected Debbie and many others who witnessed the carnage that had once been the USS Cairo. Why hadn't the Captain told them about the USS Saitek? Why had they been allowed to think they were in this battle alone? Deb glared at the CO. He surely knew what she was thinking but wasn't at all concerned about it. His attitude only infuriated her more. She wanted to slap him or, at the very least, give him a piece of her mind. But this wasn't the time or the place. She would voice her opinion at the next senior staff meeting or perhaps in a private chat with the Captain. Right now, there were bigger fish to fry hiding within the swirling gases of the nebula just beyond. She forced herself to remember what this mission was all about. They were hunting down the master mind behind the Cairo's sabotage. And now, there was a very real possibility these animals had kidnapped Starfleet personnel. Individuals wearing the fleet uniform had been seen in the compound on that dreadful planet called Winston. But the compound was now deserted. Those Ranger and his team labeled as prisoners must have been too valuable to leave behind. The Captain seemed to think if there were hostages, they were on that Miranda hiding in the nebula.. Matthews glanced around impatiently. "So," she thought to herself. "If they're in the nebula, what are we doing out here?" Again, she remained quiet, choosing instead to return to a vacant seat near the science station. As she sat down, she found herself wondering if that small metallic box was still tucked away in the corner of the freezer in Sickbay. It contained a few antique medical instruments she'd picked up through the years. Some of them were downright intimidating. She made a mental note to check on there whereabouts when things finally settled down. Sooner or later, the Captain would have to stop in for his annual. When he did, she was determined to make it an event he wouldn't soon forget.

Brought to you by Debbie Matthews, Merina (as Takhoma), Kat Shawnsee and Arc Angel (as Ranger.) When the lights go out in space, there are no words to describe the profound darkness left in its place. Such was the case in the Obs Lounge when the engineers shut down main power to the USS Reaent. For a moment or two, Debbie couldn't see her hand in front of her face. Thank God for emergency power...... The faint illumination provided by the ship's generators barely lifted the eerie, black veil they'd suddenly found themselves shrouded in. But it was better than nothing. Debbie watched as the lights flickered to life, hoping they would continue to intensify. But that was not to be. In emergency situations, ship's resources were allocated on a priority basis. The Obs Lounge was way down on that list. Hopefully, things were a little brighter on the Bridge and in Sickbay and Engineering. The CMO sat on the floor beside her newest patient. Trank, one of their three guests, had been injured during the ship's brief encounter with....whatever it was that shot at them. She had just arrived on the scene when the XO informed her they were about to shut down main power. Debbie's first thought was how they would transport Trank to Sickbay if he was seriously hurt. She had just started to examine him when the room was plunged into total and utter darkness. Now that some facsimile of light had been restored, she was able to complete the neural-cranial scan. Debbie breathed a sigh of relief as the data appeared on the small, tricorder screen. Trank wasn't badly injured. He had managed to knock himself out resulting in a mild concussion. He would probably have a major head ache when he awoke, but there would be no long term consequences from this bump on the head. The only question now was whether or not to bring him around or let him regain consciousness on his own. Takhoma watched the doctor scan Trank. "Will he be ok," she asked. "He'll be okay," said Debbie, still sitting cross legged beside her sleeping patient. "Just a mild concussion." She pushed herself to her feet and straightened her uniform. "What do you think, Lieutenant," she asked Kat Shawnsee. "Should I wake him up or let him sleep?" "Doctor, if I remember my emergency medical training, it's best to allow the patient to regain consciousness on their own. Wouldn't he have more complications if we awoke him?" Kat nods towards the patient on the floor but also looks around maintaining her concentration on the other 2 guests as well. Ranger told her they wouldn't try anything but one can never be to careful. Deb shrugged her shoulders. "I don't think it would hurt him if I woke him up," she remarked as she closed the tricorder. "But there is no pressing reason for me to do so." She glanced at Trank, still out cold on the floor. She looked at Kat and grinned. "We'll let him sleep for a while. It's not like he's going to miss anything....exciting." "I am not a physician. I only remember emergency medical training I received while in the Academy, Doctor. That was a long time ago. You are the trained professional here. If you think it better to awaken him now, then by all means do so. It matters not to me. My orders are to keep them under close observation. I can do that either way." Kat again looked between the 'guests' and the doctor. She was also waiting to see what if anything Ranger would have to say about his comrade. While sitting there, Takhoma begins to wonder what will happen to her next. Will she be charged for all actions that were put in front of her? She didn't know. But if there's one thing she knows, she wants to help. Ranger looked about the dimly lit obs room where he and his team were being held. It was comforting to know Trank was not seriously injured, as per the Doc's little conversation with the one he has come to know as Shawnsee. Apparently he was only suffering a mild concussion and would be ok in the end. This may be a blessing in disguise as he is young and quick to anger at times, I have gone over this with him before. I glanced at the security officer, watching her as she seemed to be a bit nervous at the sudden loss of lighting. I did assure her neither I or my team would take advantage of this situation to escape. Takhoma seems to be deep in thought now....probably attempting to remember anything that may assist this ship and crew in their efforts to find and bring justice to the "Rats" we had once been contracted to. I can read Trank very well. He is bent on revenge on HA for what he had done to me. I am sure Takhoma shares his view as well. I would love nothing more than the time alone with my supposed friend to even the score with him as well. Perhaps snap his neck like a Korlaxin egg bird. I can only hope the black box reveals as much data it should be enabled to assist in the catching them. Raising his hands, he stands up. "Doctor, may I join you with my team mate? He can be a bit impetuous at times, he is young and not well seasoned. However he is my friend as Takhoma is, and part of my team and responsibility. Matthews stepped over Trank and moved to the other side of the table. She glanced at Lt. Shawnsee when Ranger asked for permission to sit on the floor with his friend. "He may be out for a while," she replied. "But it's up to security whether or not you can join him." The security officer nodded her approval and Ranger quietly pushed back his chair and rose from the table. He walked the short distance to where his team mate lay and sat down beside the unconscious man. Debbie proceeded around the table and stood beside Kat Shawnsee. They glanced at each other but neither woman spoke. It was evident the Lieutenant was even more on guard now and Debbie didn't blame her. The CMO wasn't comfortable with the dim lights either. "Let me see if I can find out what's going on," whispered Debbie. "I'll be back in a minute."

Ummm....he forgot to mention the part about the "hard nosed Ensign" telling the CO he needed a shrink. ::shakes head sadly:: Not a good idea, Cadet Pace.....especially in the Academy. :lol: <<Sorry Brian....we warned you we would NEVER let you forget. >>

The names....that long list of names.....Who were they? Debbie was unfamiliar with the names but the list disturbed her nonetheless. The notations beside each name was even more troubling. "Prisoner'? "Test"? Prisoner was self explanatory. Obviously, those noted as prisoners were just that....prisoners. But "test?" Was it possible they choose some of the prisoners to use as test subjects? Debbie drummed her fingers on the arm rest of the Captain's chair. "Of course that's what happened," she thought silently. "And they went to great lengths to document what they were doing because....they didn't plan to get caught." Matthews glanced at the view screen. The image hadn't changed much since Reaent entered the nebula.... a lot of static interspersed with brief glimpses of swirling, multicolored gases. She turned slightly and looked back toward the Lounge. The door remained closed. She wondered if the Commander would be able to wrest additional information from any of their three guests. She couldn't blame him for trying but her instincts told her that luckless trio had been kept too far out of the loop. They probably didn't know any more than they'd already shared. The leader of the pack, Ranger, kept insisting they weren't privy to much of what was going on behind closed doors. Yet, Ranger was so suspicious of his employer, he secretly recorded data to use against him should the need arise. He must have suspected this Val Satis was involved in something illegal. It was quite possible Ranger and his security team chose to look the other way as means of self preservation. Ranger claimed the information on his "black box" would answer all of their questions. Unfortunately, deciphering that datum was proving to be a time consuming project and so far, the information they'd recovered had failed to provide the much anticipated answers. Instead, all they had were more questions. Which led Debbie back to the list of names.....some noted as prisoners and others with the word "test" beside their names. "What kind of tests?" she wondered silently and then shuddered as she recalled the second manifest Aaron had deciphered. She'd only had time to glance at it but it was obvious the items on the manifest were chemicals....a wide variety of chemical agents, some so deadly, the Federation had banned them. Until she had time to study the list more carefully, Debbie was unsure exactly what the various chemicals could be used for. She did note one particular explosive agent that was notoriously unstable. It would require a high degree of expertise to rig a bomb using that explosive but Deb couldn't think of any other use for it. Her thoughts drifted back to the Cairo....the deadly explosion that decimated the ship and killed three-quarters of her crew. This particular compound could have done it with no problem at all. And someone with an engineers credentials would have had the necessary expertise to rig it to blow at just the right time. "Hold on," thought Deb. "You're getting ahead of yourself. Don't jump to conclusions." She again looked at the view screen, silently urging either the Captain or Commander Ridire to return to the Bridge. She could count on one hand the times she'd been in command of the Reaent. She wasn't comfortable with the responsibility nor did she feel all that qualified. What she really wanted to do was closely examine that manifest....determine exactly what was purchased and how they might have been combined to create lethal chemical agents. That was her field of expertise. Dr. Debbie Matthews, in temporary command of the USS Reaent, glanced at the Chief Science Officer as she drummed her fingers on the arm rest of the Captain's chair. "Brian, anything on sensors?"

::clap clap clap clap clap clap::: For a die hard TOS addict, this was a badly needed fix! I loved it!

I have a question... Why doesn't STSF offer a Wikipedia database for the players? This would be a lot of help for all of us medical and engineering types. We could create lists of terms and equipment. I know a lot of groups have these. Just thought I'd ask. :)

Brought to you by: Debbie Matthews, Kat Shawnsee and "Ranger" (Arch Angel) with input from Takhoma (Merina) "Crazies?" The term struck Debbie as odd. She studied the one called Ranger for several seconds, her right hand resting on the Fleet jacket lying on the conference table. Of their three "guests," he seemed the most willing to cooperate. His buddy, Trank, flatly denied ever seeing anyone in a Starfleet uniform anywhere on the planet, including the now abandoned compound. The only female in the group, Takhoma, claimed she'd seen others wearing similar clothing but she never gave it much thought. She'd been in the Maquis before arriving on the planet. She wasn't familiar with such uniforms. Debbie thought that was highly unlikely. Quite a few Starfleet personnel defected to the Maquis. It was highly unlikely the young woman had never seen one of their uniforms. If nothing else, Takhoma would have been taught what those uniforms looked like. After all, Starfleet was an enemy of the Maquis. Kat listened to what was being said. Her ears perked when she hear Takhoma say something about the Maquis. If this was a person from the Maquis, how did she get to the planet? What happened to the rest of her crew? Where was her ship? Who was she if Takhoma was not her real name? When did she get here? Why didn't she try to escape? Everything was running through her mind quickly but too fast to even ask as Deb continued with questions of her own. Kat stood back with her hand on her phaser hoping they didn't make her pull it and use it. She was about to question the woman further when Ranger came right out and admitted the jacket looked familiar. He'd seen them many times. They were worn by some of those kept on the compound as forced laborers. "Forced laborers," thought Deb, her temper flaring. "That's just a polite term for slaves." Then Ranger referred to them as "crazies or loonies." "Why would you call them crazies?" she finally asked. "What did they do or say to make you think they were crazy?" "They behaved irrationally, did crazy things," answered the injured man. "It was the drugs." Debbie glanced at Kat Shawnsee who was standing at the far end of the table. Then she returned her attention to Ranger while his two cohorts busied themselves with their soup and sandwich. "Why were they drugged?" demanded the Doctor. Ranger took a spoonful of soup before looking at Debbie. "They were criminals," he said flatly. "Or that's what we were told. It's standard operating procedure to drug criminals used as laborers. The drugs allow them to function but they inhibit any hostile tendicies....make the prisoners easier to control." "Of course they do," snapped Debbie. "I assure you," continued Ranger. "My team and I had nothing to do with that. The prisoners or laborers, which ever you choose to call them, were already on the planet before we arrived." He looked the Doctor in the eye. "You must understand, we were contracted to provide security. That is all we were contracted to do. There was a lot going on we knew nothing about." "And you never questioned why these laborers were needed?" asked Debbie incredulously. Ranger shook his head. "I never had reason to. I trusted my employers and assumed we were working for a legitimate operation. It wasn't until my former good friend tried to kill me that I figured out they were probably involved in something illegal." Matthews didn't know whether or not to believe the man. This one, Ranger, seemed to grasp the severity of their situation. He knew cooperation was their best option. But could he be trusted? Could they believe a word he said. "And exactly who was in charge of this....operation," she asked without looking up. Ranger answered immediately. "Vel Satis was in charge. I answered to his right hand man, HD. He was a good friend until he betrayed me. Debbie pushed back her chair and stood. "Do you know where the prisoners are now?" "I assume they're on that ship we're pursuing," he replied with a shrug. "Along with other things you're looking for." He paused and followed her as she walked around the table. "You have the information you need. It was in the black box I turned over to you when we first arrived on your runabout. That black box will tell you where Satis and his cronies are going as well as details about their cargo." He shook his head and frowned, "But be warned, Doctor. I believe from what I have heard.....someone in your own Starfleet is involved in this venture up to their neck." Ranger wasn't telling her anything she didn't already know. For over four years, Debbie and a handful of others on the Reaent had strongly suspected there were traitors holding sensitive positions within Starfleet Command. But she had no intention of sharing that suspicion with this motley group. Instead, she attempted to show disinterest in the black box. "There is a team working on that black box" she replied nonchalantly. "As to who is involved with what.....that remains to be seen." She held up the jacket once owned by Lt. Ian Montgomery, a Planetary Science Specialist who was last posted to the USS Cairo, NCC-42136-A. "You're absolutely certain you saw....laborers wearing uniforms like this?" Ranger nodded. "I have seen that particular type of attire before, sometimes in the compound, loading, off loading cargo and in the private shuttles of Vertis and "His" mystery company. Again, keep in mind there were certain functions neither I nor my team were not privy to" Debbie folded the jacket and carefully draped it over her arm. "I need you to tell me something....is it possible some of these people could have wandered away from your boss? Could they have made it to the tarmac near where our runabout was parked?" "Oh...you speak of the homeless loons...ah, yes," said Ranger with a nod. "It appears they were part of that group of criminals, contracted for labor. They did have moderate freedoms, but were under constant surveillance. I know for a fact they were drugged heavily, sedated if you will, to suppress their hostile instincts. That was the explanation given to me upon my own query. I did ask why they, if criminals, were allowed to wander a bit...my answer was, where were they to go...and they are drugged to subdue their aggressive or criminal tendencies." Ranger looked up and smiled. "As a matter of fact, I saw one of those jackets in town before that scum bag shot me....on one of the loonies dancing around a drum fire. You remember do you not? Debbie's heart sank. Could those dancers have been kidnapped Starfleet officers? They certainly didn't look like it. But who knew how long they'd been held prisoner. Or how many drugs they'd been given to alter their personalities. Maybe they were nothing more than common criminals who had been sent to Vel Satis as laborers. She felt her temper rising yet again. "And you accepted their word that these people were criminals with hostile instincts?" The question was redundant but Debbie had to ask. "You never wondered why your boss had so many criminals on his compound?" Well, Doc," said Ranger with a sigh, "It is common place in the outer worlds to get cheap criminal labor then hire whatever security staff you need. As for keeping the criminals in line, they use drugs and many other ways to keep them passive. Given a choice of mining Borite or Dilithium crystals for the remainder of their lives in a penal colony such as Rurapente and die a slow painful death many gladly choose to go to another planet, be fed, cared for as well as drugged. They have to work but they also have minimal freedom. Debbie had heard enough. "Thank you for the information," she said curtly. "Enjoy your lunch and while you're at it, I suggest if you believe in a deity, you start praying we're able to board that ship we're pursuing....and find what we're looking for. Otherwise, your lives may change in a most unpleasant way. As she passed Kat Shawnsee on her way out of the room, she paused and whispered in her ear. "Keep a close eye on them and see if you can find out why the one called Trank claims he never saw anybody in one of these uniforms. While you're at it, ask the girl

Ah Ha!! So THAT'S how he's replacing the laptop!

I got hooked 40 years ago and never grew out of it. I'm going to have the theme from "Undiscovered Country" played at my funeral. :)

Okay, I'm dating myself and I know it.....but I saw the very first Star Trek ever! Of course that was the TOS episode called "Man Trap" and it aired on September 8, 1966 ( I think.) So guess what my favorite Star Trek show is? :)

There were just too many coincidences. Debbie was now convinced the entire thing had been carefully planned. A thought suddenly popped into her head and she quickly jumped to her feet. Moving forward, she tapped Kat Shawnsee on the shoulder. When the security officer turned around, Deb handed her the jacket. "Scan ever centimeter of this thing. Let's make sure there are no bugs or tracking devices sewn into any of the seams." From: Too Many Coincidences Kat looked intently at Deb. Then, without a word, she took the jacket and immediately moved to a less crowded area where she could thoroughly scan it. As Debbie started back to her seat, she noticed Aidan Ridire staring at her. He'd overheard her request to have the jacket scanned. "It's just a precaution," she said quickly, hoping that's all it turned out to be. The Commander nodded and looked away. The exchange took no more than a few seconds but left Deb with a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach. Aidan had a strange expression on his face. She hadn't seen that look in his eyes in three or four years. Although she found it both sad and concerning, it didn't come as any surprise. The truth was, she'd been expecting it to happen ever since they arrived on the planet. Debbie carefully made her way aft and again took her seat. She glanced at Kat who was nearby, going over the jacket with the most sophisticated sensor she could find. As she watched Shawnsee meticulously scan the jacket, she doubted the security officer understood the ramifications involved. She wasn't sure Aaron or Jontilles did either and there was no way their Ferengi guest would know. But Deb understood it all to well....and so did Aidan. Glancing away, Deb considered all she'd learned about Lt. Montgomery and it wasn't much. All she knew was that he supposedly died over fours ago, on Deck 13, Compartment 4C of the USS Cairo. Cairo was an Intrepid Class Starship. Deb was familiar with the basic design but she couldn't be sure exactly where Compartment 4C was located on Deck 13. She wondered how close Lt. Montgomery was to the initial explosion that resulted in the ship's destruction. Was his body intact or was he among those who were identified by DNA only? Her thoughts drifted back through the years to the make shift morgue they'd been forced to set up in one of Reaent's cargo bays. She could still see them....all 116 bodies, arranged in neat rows along the back wall of the morgue. Brian Smith spent hours painstakingly tagging every body so forensics would know the exact location where each one was found. It was Deb, Brian and Rocco Studly who signed the death certificates but Debbie, as the CMO, signed every one of those for whom DNA was the only means to determine identification. Unfortunately, there had been quite a few. She had triple checked the data to insure there were no errors. After all was said and done, there was only set of remains left unidentified. And that's what first opened this nasty can of worms. The Cairo's Chief Engineer, Lt. Richard Drew, was the only person on the ship's manifest who was still unaccounted for. What they assumed were his remains were found in a corridor between the cargo bay and main engineering. He bore the full brunt of the blast and there was very little left of him...just a few bone fragments. In spite of that, they were able to extract more than enough DNA for a positive identification. The problem was ... the deceased's DNA did not match the profile in Lt. Drew's personnel file. The official Fleet photo ID in the file was shown to several of the Cairo's survivors. They all agreed it was Richard Drew. But the DNA definitely wasn't...not even close. The speculation began in earnest once Fleet Intelligence boarded the Reaent and unceremoniously confiscated the unidentified man's remains. The great fear was that someone had been able to tamper with Lt. Drew's personnel file. They'd managed to replace the photo but not the DNA profile. Had they made a mistake and forgotten to switch it? Or were they unable to so for one reason or another. The possibilities were endless. Among them was the unsettling fact that more than one personnel file might have been doctored. All of this begged the question of responsibility. Who was behind this conspiracy....if there was a conspiracy? Whoever it was, they had access to very classified data....data that would require a high level security clearance. Was there a spy among the upper ranks in Starfleet? Was there just one traitor or a whole ship load of them? Again, the possibilities were endless....and very concerning. Now, all these years later, they appeared to have answered at least one of those nagging questions. Lt. Richard Drew's personnel file wasn't the only one altered. It seemed obvious to Debbie that Lt. Ian Montgomery's file was also tampered with. She seriously doubted the true owner of this jacket died four years ago on the USS Cairo. Whoever she or one of her staff identified as Lt. Montgomery must have been an imposter....just like the man who passed himself off as Richard Drew. But this time, the DNA profile had also been switched. Deb looked to her right where Kat was still working on the jacket. If they hadn't stumbled on to it, they would never have known Ian Montgomery survived the Cairo's destruction. They would never have to wonder exactly who it was they sent "home" for burial. That was another can of worms they would now have to deal with. Debbie again looked forward and caught sight of Aidan. He didn't notice her watching him even though she could clearly see his face. That troublesome expression had only deepened during the past few minutes. There was a good chance his mood would grow even darker as their mission progressed. As she quietly studied him, she thought back to the first time she had an in depth conversation with the Reaent's XO. It was in that make shift morgue after he positively identified Lt. Cmdr. Fiona Nashawryn, one of the Cairo's medical officers. He'd know the woman for years having served with her prior to his posting on Reaent. She had been someone.... special. It was of small comfort to Debbie, but at least there were no doubts about Fiona's identity. Thanks to Aidan, she could rest assured the right person was returned to the Nashawryn family for internment. If only she could be as certain about the other 114.

There was a lot going on aboard the small, unnamed runabout. For one thing, they were finally off the ground. For another, they still couldn't make contact with the Reaent....a fact that was becoming of increasing concern. And then there was the addition of a new member to their crew. The Ferengi bartender called Darion had been persuaded to turn informant in exchange for a ride out of town. Down below, Jontilles Shamor, concealed by his personal cloak, had managed to infiltrate the highly secured base he'd located the day before. Much to everyone's surprise, initial scans indicated the base was now pretty much abandoned. They were probably on one of the ships Kat spotted leaving a few minutes earlier. Shamor was still looking for any flight logs that might offer a clue as to where everyone disappeared to. The odds of him finding anything were slim and none. Deb Matthews had taken a seat in the aft section of the runabout. She was trying to focus on all that was going on but found it difficult to concentrate. Two things were foremost on her mind. First was Lt. Ian Montgomery, whose jacket was draped across her lap. And secondly....what happened to the little dance troupe from whom they'd taken the jacket not more than ten minutes ago. Glancing at the jacket, Debbie shook her head and gently stroked the dark red fabric. It was in remarkably good condition considering it had been out and about for over four years. She thought it strange that after all that time, the jacket was only slightly soiled. She speculated that it probably hadn't been worn in years. Instead, it had been stored somewhere for safe keeping. She wondered how a ragtag band of aliens had gotten their hands on it? How long was it in their possession? "Not that long," she thought to herself. "They would have traded it for something more valuable...or worn it until it was thread bare." So why was one of them wearing it today? Was it because their shuttle was in close proximity to a suspicious runabout? Were they paid by someone to dangle this enticing piece of evidence in front of that runabout's crew hoping to draw them out into the open? If that's what they wanted to do, they'd succeeded. Debbie and her companions walked right into that one. She was becoming more and more uncomfortable with the entire scenario. Especially after the little dance troupe disappeared. Kat conducted a thorough scan of the area looking for them. They weren't in their shuttle or anywhere else in the vicinity. The only explanation was they'd been taken aboard one of the two ships seen leaving the planet's surface shortly after Deb and the team confiscated the jacket. There were just too many coincidences. Debbie was now convinced the entire thing had been carefully planned. A thought suddenly popped into her head and she quickly jumped to her feet. Moving forward, she tapped Kat Shawnsee on the shoulder. When the security officer turned around, Deb handed her the jacket. "Scan ever centimeter of this thing. Let's make sure there are no bugs or tracking devices sewn into any of the seams."

::high fives Kansas:: I always prefered the Captain who was willing to take the bull by the horns. ;)