* * * * *

    * * * * *

 "I didn't think they were ever going to leave us alone," B'Elanna said.
 "Yeah.  That was a pretty good manuevering thrust.  Think I should try it again?"
 "No," B'Elanna said, sounding annoyed.  "Tom, my warp core can't take all the abuse your 'maneuvering thrusts' are giving it."
    Tom grinned seductively at her.  "Well, I'll just have to work it a little harder, and maybe it'll get used to them."
     "I don't think so.  Sorry, Tom, but you don't have the stamina to work it hard enough."
 "Are you sure we're still talking about 'Voyager's' warp core?"
   B'Elanna was about to bite out a sharp retort, but before she could open her mouth, the Captain's voice came over the ship's intercom.  "All senior officers report to the conference room."
 

    * * * * *

 "I called this meeting to give you some information," Janeway said.  "We have officially left Borg space.  We are resuming our course for the Alpha Quadrant."
    Each member of the senior staff heaved a silent sigh of relief.  They were no longer in Borg space, which meant less likelihood of an attack.  Of course, they were still in danger and would have to keep their guard up, but it was better odds than they had before.
 "B'Elanna," Janeway asked, "what is the status of Engineering?"
 "Tom and I are almost done fixing the warp core and nav array, and I've got teams on the repairs.  They should be done in a couple of days."
 "Harry?" Janeway inquired.
 "All the sensors are functioning nominally, Captain.  I made a few modifications to increase efficiency."
 "Good.  Tuvok?"
 "All weapons systems are in working order, Captain."
 "Kes?"
 "Sick Bay is prepared, Captain.  We're running a little low on some supplies, though."
 "B'Elanna can we coax a little more power out of the power grid to replicate some supplies for Sick Bay?  I don't want to be stuck if we get another attack."
 "We should be able to, Captain," B'Elanna replied.
    Janeway nodded.  "Neelix?"
 "The Mess Hall is prepared, Captain.  We have plenty of supplies," he responded in a cheerful tone.
 "Excellent.  Commander, do you have anything to add?"
 "Everyone, stay alert.  Harry, I want long range sensors on passive scan.  B'Elanna, you and Tom work on fixing the problems with the warp core and nav array.  I don't want to be sitting ducks if we meet up with 8-4-7-2.  Everyone else, follow your respective duty shifts."  Chakotay looked back at Janeway to indicate he was finished.
 "Dismissed."
    Each of the senior officers reported to their respective departments to prepare 'Voyager' for any company they might run into.
 

    * * * * *

    Mara was sleeping peacefully.  She was sitting at a table on the balcony of the 'Manarai Terrace', one of her favorite restaurants on Coruscant.  It overlooked the peaks of the Manarai Mountains.  Her green satin dress accented her eyes. It was strapless and her red-gold hair hung loose, blowing in the gentle breeze.  She heard a voice in her ear.
 "A beautiful woman should never have to eat alone."
    She turned to look at him, but she already knew who it was.  General Wedge Antilles was standing in front of her.  He was dressed in his uniform.
 "Would you like to dance?" he asked.
 "I would love to," she replied.  They moved away from the table and began to dance.  She looked into his sea green eyes.  He looked at her intently and bent his head to kiss her...    "Major, I  need to see you in my ready room," Wedge's voice came over the com link.
     "On my way, sir," Mara said, shutting off the intercom and feeling the heat rise into her cheeks.  She was thankful that he hadn't used the HoloNet, or he would have seen her blushing at being caught dreaming about him.  Groaning as she dragged herself out of bed, she changed into her uniform.  *This had better be good,* she thought, annoyed at the General's timing.  He had ruined a perfectly good dream.
    Wedge looked up from his seat behind his desk as the door opened and Mara Jade entered.  Her uniform was slightly rumpled, and he couldn't help but notice that her red-gold hair was tousled.  He thought it made her incredibly sexy, but he quickly pushed that thought from his mind, remembering that she had the Force and could read his thoughts whenever she wanted.  He only hoped she was too tired to try.
 "Sorry to wake you up," he said apologetically.
 "That's okay," Mara replied, stifling a yawn.  She hoped she looked more awake than she felt.
 "We got a message from Coruscant."
 "Another one?"
     "Yes.  We've got a little more information."  He tapped a few keys on a data pad.  Immediately, a holovid appeared above the general's desk.  The display showed a star map of the border regions between the New Republic and the Empire.  It also showed an encrypted transmission that had been intercepted by a listening station and relayed to the 'Yavaris II'.  Even though Mara had once been the Emperor's Hand, the encryption sequence was unfamiliar to her.
 "Intelligence has tracked some signals coming out of Imperial space.  They haven't decrypted them all yet, but from what they've deciphered so far, there is definitely a high probability of Star Destroyers at Bvengi.  I want the repair schedule stepped up so that we're ready for anything once we get there."  Several blips appeared on the display, representing Imperial ships.  It was unclear as to their exact destination, but their course was definitely near Bvengi.  The partially decoded movement orders didn't specify the class of ships, the number, or their mission, but Mara's gut told her it was trouble.
 "Understood.  What's our ETA?"
 "Four days.  I also want you to coordinate the memorial service for Ensign Kaplan."
 "Aye, sir.  Anything else?"
 "No.  That's all for now.  You should go back to your quarters and get some sleep.  You look exhausted."  Mara thought she saw a hint of concern in his sea green eyes.
 "I am tired," she admitted, stifling a yawn for the second time since she had entered his ready room.
 "Well, get some rest," he said, rubbing the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger.
 "I plan to."  Mara hesitated a moment. "Permission to speak freely?" she asked.
 "Granted."
 "You look just as exhausted as I do.  Maybe you should follow your own advice."
 "I'll take that into consideration."
    Mara rose from her seat on the couch.  "Goodnight, General," she said.
 "We're not being formal now, Mara.  You can call me Wedge."
 "Okay...Wedge.  Goodnight."
 "Goodnight, Mara," he replied with a tired smile.
    Mara crawled back into her bed, not even bothering to change out of her uniform.  She was so tired, she couldn't keep her eyes open.  She drifted off to sleep hoping to finish her dream where she left off.
    In his ready room, Wedge was going over reports.  He yawned for the third time in two minutes.  *Maybe,* he thought, *it's time to take Mara's advice.*  He left his ready room and headed for his quarters.  When he got there, he changed out of his uniform and put on a pair of shorts.  After he brushed his teeth, he flopped onto his bed.  His head had barely hit the pillow for before he fell into an exhausted sleep.
 

    * * * * *

    Wedge sat in the front row, Mara seated next to him and Aves next to her.  Next to Aves sat Wilma Isaacs, her cheeks wet with tears.  Behind them sat Kristin Schwarte, Randy Coe, Nate Westin, John Ormes, Bill Clayton and Barb Conkling.  Their faces were somber though they weren't shedding any tears.  Adam Sams was standing in the front of the transparisteel, delivering a eulogy for the deceased Ensign Kaplan.  Kaplan's body, in full uniform was laid out behind him.
 "Alan Kaplan was my best friend," Sams said, tears glistening in his eyes.  "We trained together and he was a good man.  He knew the true meaning of courage, of sacrificing everything for a cause you believed in.  In all my traveling, on all the worlds I've visited, I never knew a better man.  I'm sure that if he were here today, he would be glad that we defeated that damned Star Destroyer, he would...", Sams broke off, hyperventilating.  After a while, he regained his composure.  "He would want us to keep on fighting, to not give up until the Empire was finally defeated.  He would want us to live for him."  Sams finished, indicating that it was Wedge's turn to speak.
 "Ensign Alan Kaplan," he began, "was the epitomy of courage and martyrdom.  He gave his life so that a new world could exist.  He was happy to give anything for the New Republic, and in the end he paid the final price.  We can't let his death have been in vain.  We must defeat the Empire for Alan.  That is what he would have wanted.  May you rest in peace, Ensign Kaplan, you served us well."
    Wedge returned to his seat.  A junior officer began to play "Taps" on his bugle.  All stood at attention, and saluted Kaplan for the last time.  As the medical droid tapped some keys on his panel, rivers of tears blubbered down the faces of Sams and Isaacs.  Sams lip trembled, but he remained stiff, unmoving.  Behind the transparisteel, a wall of energized particles began to sweep across the chamber.  As the energy wall touched Kaplan's feet, they were gradually vaporized.  The barrier swept slowly across the chamber as Kaplan gradually faded away.  At last, the energy wall consumed the ensign's head, and finished its journey across the vaporization chamber.  The junior officer ceased his playing, and all dropped their hands to their sides.  It was at that point that Isaacs and Sams broke down completely, collapsing to the floor in convulsive sobs.  None could approach to comfort them, and the two sat, embracing each other, as if rooted to the deck plates.
 

    * * * * *

    Most of the crew had gone to the Mess Hall for the wake.  Kris Schwarte, Randy Coe, Nate Westin, John Ormes, Bill Clayton and Barb Conkling were seated at a table talking quietly.
 "Well," Kris said, tucking a strand of her sandy blond hair behind her ear, "that's over."
 "Boy, am I glad," Randy remarked, relief showing in his bluish-gray eyes.
 "It was a nice service," Bill added.
 "Very," agreed Barb.  "I almost lost it when the General was talking, and I didn't even *like* Kaplan that much."
    Kris looked over and saw that Nate had a look of despair on his face.  "We're sorry, Nate, we didn't know that Alan was a friend of yours."
 "He wasn't," Nate replied.  "I'm just thinking of having to work in Engineering with Isaacs after this.  She's gonna be even more neurotic than usual, and Sams...I'll be lucky if they don't drive me insane."
 "What's the deal with Isaacs anyway?" Randy wondered out loud.
     "You don't know her back story, do you?" John asked.  Randy shook his head.
 "She was a Basic teacher on the planet Palmetto.  She taught for twenty-four years  until the Imperials took all of her students hostage in the middle of her lesson, then blew up her school.  She was almost executed on the spot when she attacked one of the stormtroopers with a lightpen," John finished.
 "Why did she attack him with a lightpen?" Randy asked.
 "He stepped on a flower her mother had given her before she died and she flipped.  This is just a rumor, but I hear she's been in therapy for alcohol addiction.  The New Republic needed her skills, so they rehabilitated her, but if she falls off the wagon again, rehab doesn't want her back."
 "Great," Randy said sarcastically, "My life is in the hands of a time bomb waiting to explode."
 "I know what you mean," John replied in the same sarcastic tone.  "Makes me feel safer already."
    Nate Westin looked absolutely miserable.  Kris shot him a look of sympathy.  "How are the repairs going?  That battle must have messed us up pretty good," she said, changing the subject.
 "We're working on it.  Some of the X-wings got pretty banged up, but don't worry, guys," he said turning to Randy and John, "I'm taking care of the X-Wing repairs myself.  Isaacs is busy with the rest of the ship's repairs."
    Both John and Randy relaxed visibly.  "I hope that they're all fixed up before we run into anymore trouble.  Having my panel explode in my face is not an experience I'd like to repeat," Randy replied, stroking his red beard.
 "Why not?" Kris said in a joking tone, "It would probably improve your looks."
    Randy looked directly at Kris, an amused look playing across his face.  "Maybe then you'd go out with me."
 "Not a chance," she replied, eyes dancing.
    Randy didn't reply, he just ran his hand over his smoothly shaven head.  Bill stole a look at Barb, who rolled her hazel eyes.  They knew that Randy was interested in Kris, and although she denied having any interest, Barb somehow felt the feeling was mutual.
 "Come on, you two," Bill said, "you're almost as bad as Antilles and Jade."
 "I have no idea what you're talking about, Bill," Kris said innocently, a blank expression on her face, but there was a mischievous glint in her light green eyes.
 "Speaking of the General and the Major," Nate said, running a hand through his dark brown hair, "what's the deal with those two, anyway?"
 "Yeah," Barb said, "they're always stealing looks at each other and quickly looking away when the other catches them.  You should have seen them when she was thrown out of her seat in the attack.  He held out his hand to help her up, and it could have been my imagination, but I thought he let his hand linger a little longer than necessary."
 "It's completely obvious to everyone that they're perfect for each other, so why don't they just do it?" Kris wondered aloud.
 "They're afraid they might be going against protocol," Bill said, "and I can't blame them.  Would *you* want Admiral Ackbar and Mon Mothma quizzing you about *your* love life?"
    Kris blushed to the roots of her hair.  That was definitely one experience she wouldn't want to have.  At the look on her face, Barb broke into a fit of giggles, causing her reddish brown curls to bob up and down.  John managed to keep a straight face, but it took effort.
 "I bet it'd make a great story," Randy teased.
 "It probably would," Kris replied, "assuming you were ever going to hear it."
    Randy winked at her.  "Oh well, can't blame a guy for trying."
 "Well, I hate to leave when the conversation's getting so good,"  Nate said rising to his feet and looking directly at Kris and Randy, "but I've got to get down to Engineering before Isaacs, or she'll blow a gasket."
 "We're still on for that game of sabaac, right?" Randy asked.
 "Definitely.  I'll need it after spending fourteen hours with the most annoying voice in the fleet," Nate said as he headed out of the Mess Hall with a wave.
    The five of them stayed behind and talked a little while longer before each of them left for their respective duty shifts.
 

    * * * * *

    Janeway and Chakotay were sitting in his quarters, having dinner.  Kathryn had been a little surprised, albeit pleasantly, when he had invited her to join him.  She had almost said no, but she had really wanted to spend some time alone with him.  She may be the Captain, but she wasn't going to sacrifice her happiness and the best thing to ever happen to her because Starfleet might frown upon it if they ever got home.  As she had said once before, they were a long way from Starfleet.
 "You're quiet," Chakotay said.  "Is there something wrong?"
 "No," she answered with a serene smile.  "I was just thinking."
 "About?"
 "About how nice it is to just sit and have dinner together.  Thank you for inviting me."
 "You're welcome."
 "Chakotay," she said, then stopped, not quite sure how to continue.  She decided on the direct approach.  "I've been doing some thinking lately, and I've made a decision."
    Chakotay looked at her for a few moments before breaking the silence.  "What decision have you made?"
 "I don't want to deprive myself of being happy simply because Starfleet might frown on a relationship between us.  We're a long way from Starfleet, and some rules were made to be broken," she finished with a smile.
    Chakotay returned her smile with one of his own.  Reaching across the table, he captured her hand in his.  They were going to have a very interesting report if they ever got back to Starfleet Command.
 

    * * * * *

    Tom and Harry were on the holodeck.  They had just put the finishing touches on a new program, and were now waiting for Kes and B'Elanna to join them so they could run it.  They finally met them, and Tom and Harry's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.  Kes was wearing a blue dress with a matching wrap, and B'Elanna was wearing a black, sleeveless form-fitting dress.
 "Good evening, Tom, Harry," Kes greeted the guys as she and B'Elanna came up to the doors of Holodeck 2.
 "Hi," Harry replied, kissing Kes on the lips.  He turned to B'Elanna.  "Hey, B'Elanna, glad you could make it."
 "I couldn't pass up the opportunity to see this new program of yours."
 "Evening, Ladies," Tom said, extending his hand to B'Elanna.  She took it and he brought it up to his lips and kissed it.  B'Elanna felt herself blushing, and fought the urge to yank her hand away.
 "So," Kes said sensing B'Elanna's discomfort, "when do we get to see this impressive new program of yours?"
 "Right now," Tom replied as he slipped B'Elanna's hand into the crook of his arm.
    The four of them entered the holodeck and Kes and B'Elanna looked around in surprise.  They were in an elegant dinner club.  There was a huge dance floor in the middle of the room with a enormous chandelier hanging over it.  Around the dance floor, there were two tiers of tables and chairs.  Tom led them to a table on the first tier.  He pulled out a chair for B'Elanna to sit on, and Harry did the same for Kes.
 "I'm impressed," B'Elanna said as a waiter came by and put a glass of champagne in front of each of them.
 "This program is wonderful, Harry," Kes said leaning over to kiss him.
    It was Harry's turn to blush.  "Tom did most of it.  I only helped a little."
 "You did just as much work as I did.  To enchanted evenings," he said as he raised his glass.
 "Here, here," replied Harry and Kes in unison.
 "Here, here," B'Elanna said attempting to keep her tone light.
    B'Elanna sipped her champagne and tried to concentrate as Tom and Harry talked with Kes about the finer points of programming a holodeck.  She was relaxing a little, and just started to think she'd be okay when the band started to play "Strangers in the Night".
 "Would you like to dance?" Harry asked Kes.
 "I would love to."
 "Come on, B'Elanna," Tom said taking her hand and pulling her to her feet, "let's dance."
 "I don't think..."
 "It'll be fun," he said cutting her off and pulling her onto the dance floor with him.
    B'Elanna sneaked a look at Harry and Kes.  He was holding her close to him, and he leaned down to kiss her.  B'Elanna looked away, feeling like a spy.  They looked so happy.  Just once, she wanted to feel loved, she wanted someone to look at her the way Harry looked at Kes.  She felt Tom's arms tighten around her, his hand resting on the small of her back.  She looked up at him and her breath caught.  Tom bent his head and covered her lips with his.  Inside, B'Elanna smiled.  She had gotten her wish.

On to Part 3

This page hosted by Get your own Free Home Page