SPACE: THE FINAL FRONTIER. THESE ARE THE VOYAGES OF THE WWF TITANPRIZE. IT'S MISSION: TO EXPLORE AND ENTERTAIN NEW SOCIETIES AND NEW CIVILIZATIONS.  TO BOLDLY GO WHERE NO WRESTLER HAS GONE BEFORE!

TITANPRIZE CREW:

Captain Vince McMahon
First Officer, Commander Mick Foley
Chief Engineer, Commander Stephanie McMahon
Chief of Chiefs, Commander Linda McMahon
Chief of Security, Commander Kane
Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Taker
Diagnostics Officer, Lieutenant Commander Jericho
Tactical Officer, Lieutenant Commander Austin
Transporter Chief, Lieutenant Commander Debra McMichael
Communications Officer, Lieutenant Commander Rock
Counselor Al Snow (assisted by H.E.A.D.)

... And many more!
 

WWF TITANPRIZE - CAPTAIN'S READY ROOM - Monday

    "Captain's log, stardate 101720.01. Yes, we're still lost. Morale is low. Patience is low. The crew of the WWF Titanprize are not happy campers despite the monthly communications from WrestleFleet. They are complaining that WrestleFleet isn't trying hard enough to get us home. They are complaining that I am not trying hard enough. Whispers have been circulating around the ship about certain officers claiming they could run this ship better then myself..." Captain McMahon leaned back in his chair and stared out at the empty expanse of space. "Maybe they can... " he paused, "Computer delete that last line. End log."

    McMahon stood up and headed onto the bridge.

    In the corner of the Captain's ready room, an innocent looking potted plant turned to liquid, and took the form of a long-haired, grungy looking Ensign, "If YOU can't get us home, Cap, maybe you should let someone else command the Titanprize!"

COMMANDER SHANE McMAHON'S OFFICE - later

    "Pops doesn't sound too good," Commander Shane said as Ensign Raven reported what he heard as the Captain dictated his log, "Running the ship seems to be getting to him. I think pops needs a vacation ... a LONG vacation..."

    Raven nodded, "I couldn't agree more... but if I help you with this, what about me?"

    Shane furrowed his brow, "What do you mean?"

    "What about me?! What about Raven!? What do I get out of this?"

    Shane put a hand on the man's shoulder, "Never fear. You will be set for life, my man! A nice cushy job as my Chief of Security! I will demote Commander Kane to Lieutenant, and YOU shall be the number one security officer aboard this ship. MY ship!"

    Raven smiled slighty, "I like the sound of that..." he replied.

    "Good. Now I have to go find my sis. Keep following pops around. Tell me everything you know about his state of mind," Shane replied.

    Raven nodded, and left Shane's office.

    "Ok, to recap yesterday's lesson -- what do you do if your assailant has you pinned to the ground?" Jericho asked.

    "I'll tell you if you turn off this crap you call music!!" Stephanie snapped over the sounds that came over the Holodeck speakers.

    "Hey! THIS isn't crap! Crap is those 20th Century boy bands you keep playing -- the Backdoor Buddies, or whatever the hell you call them!"

    "They are NOT crap! They sing sweet songs about---" Stephanie frowned and glared at the Y2J Unit, who was currently feigning dry heaves. "Stop it, Jerkicho, or I swear I'll hit you!"

    Jericho stopped his fake gagging, and smirked, "Well... protective of our Backdoor Buddies, aren't we?"

   Stephanie made a fist and let it fly.

    Jericho quickly caught her wrist, "You’ve learned the ‘cheap shot’ well! Didn’t expect that,"

    Stephanie attempted to punch him with her other fist. Jericho grabbed that wrist as well, "Go to HELL!" She said, trying to pull out of his grasp unsuccessfully. Jericho blinked at the anger in her voice. "DAMN YOU!" she shouted, eyes filling with tears.

    Jericho furrowed his brow, "This isn't about music anymore, is it, Steph?"

    Stephanie attempted to pull free again, but he wouldn't let go, "How could you just leave me hanging like that?!" she shouted. "If you had come when I paged you, Russo never would have laid a hand on me! WHY weren't you there?! WHY?!" she screamed.

    Jericho was taken aback at her emotional outburst, "Stephanie..." he started.

    "Why do you hate me?!" she asked, her voice so full of pain that the Y2J Unit felt something stir deep within, "Why do you hate me so much? What is it about me, Chris?!"

    Jericho let go of her wrists and grabbed her face, preventing her from turning away, "Calm down!" he demanded, "CALM the HELL down!"

    Stephanie glared at him, fire in her eyes, "Just tell me why you hate me so much!" she hissed angrily, her tears dry now.

    "I don't hate you, Stephanie," Jericho's voice was quiet as he leaned in closer, "I just wish we---" he stopped, realizing what he was doing. The energy surges running through his wires were powerful, and he refused to give in to them.

    Jericho quickly let go of Stephanie, "I mean... I just wish we could just finish the lesson!" he snapped, "I wasn't there because your darling brother SHANE called me to his office, then dismissed me! It was obviously a diversion tactic," he explained, "I didn't know what was happening, Steph, OK?" He sighed and shook his head, "Why the hell do you think I was more then willing to continue our lessons?" he asked.

    Stephanie looked at him, her eyes regretful, "Chris... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to--"

    "Good," he interrupted, "Now let's try this again," Before Stephanie could respond, Jericho kicked her legs out from under her and pinned her to the practice mat,  "What do you do if your assailant has you pinned?"

    "You get off of her before her brother blows your damned positronic brains out!"

    Jericho and Stephanie slowly turned their heads to the holodeck door. Jericho was the first to speak, "Ooooooh shi--"

    "Get off my sister, robot!" Commander Shane McMahon's voice was shaking with anger as he stood in the holodeck doorway, training his phaser on the Y2J Unit,  "Computer, TURN THIS CRAP OFF!" the music in the holodeck stopped dead.

    Jericho quickly let go of Stephanie and raised his hands up, moving away from her, "I thought you locked the door, Steph..."

    "Me? YOU were supposed to!" Stephanie replied, then shook her head, "Never mind!" she turned to her brother and quickly sat up, "It's not what you think, Shane..." Stephanie tried to explain, "He was just---"

    "I don't WANT to know what it was JUST, Stephanie!" Shane hissed angrily. He glared at Lt. Commander Jericho, "Tell me why I shouldn't burn the synthetic skin right off your no-selling titanium skull right now?"

    "Because it would ruin my perfect complexion...?" Jericho replied.

    "Because I ASKED him to teach me self-defense!" Stephanie interrupted as she jumped to her feet.

    "That sure as hell didn't look like self-defense to me!" Shane snapped, shaking with anger.

    Jericho attempted to explain himself, "I was actually teaching her how to thwart an assailant who---"

    "I didn't give you permission to speak, android!" Shane interrupted.

    "Put the phaser down, Shane!" Stephanie demanded. "NOW!"

    "I SAW what it was doing, Stephanie! You can't tell me it was perfectly innocent!" Shane replied.

    Stephanie walked up to him, hands on her hips, "It WAS perfectly innocent!" she explained, "He was teaching me how to defend myself, since no one else on this stupid ship will! Why can't you believe that?"

    "First of all, that THING disobeyed my orders to stay away from you...! And now... NOW... you want me to believe it was just teaching you self-defense? A insubordinate officer doesn't exactly have my confidence!"

    "And a man that would rather blow my head off then have his sister protect herself doesn't exactly have MY confidence either!" Jericho muttered.

    "SHUT UP!" Shane shouted, and fired the phaser. Jericho quickly ducked out of the way, the beam missing him by mere inches.

    "STOP IT!" Stephanie shouted, and kicked the phaser out of Shane's hands. Shane looked at the phaser on the ground, then turned to Stephanie, stricken.

    "I really wish the men in your life would STOP trying to KILL ME!" Jericho shouted, "First Triple H beats me with a sledgehammer, and now your brother tries to blow my head off! You're a dangerous woman to be around, Steph!"

    Shane's expression grew hard as he scowled at the Y2J Unit coldly, "This isn't over yet...!" he hissed, then turned to Stephanie and grabbed her arm, "You and me are going to have a nice little chat, sis!"

    Shane quickly picked his phaser off the ground, and dragged Stephanie roughly out of the Holodeck.

COMMANDER SHANE McMAHON'S OFFICE

    "What the hell is going on?" Shane demanded. "Why were you with the Y2J Unit on the holodeck?"

    "I told you..."

    "You told me NOTHING!" Shane snapped.

    Stephanie crossed her arms, frowning, "Listen, Shane! I don't care what you THINK happened, but Chris was teaching me self-defense and that's it! OK?"

    "Chris? You're on a first name basis now?" he asked, "I recall ordering KURT to teach you self-defense!" Shane replied.

    Stephanie glared at him, "No doubt you also ordered Russo to try to kill me!" She spat angrily.

    Shane put a hand to his chest, a pained expression on his face, "I would NEVER do that!" he insisted, "You're my SISTER!"

    "Oh yeah... and that's why you held a phaser to my head the other day in the Smackdown?!" she snapped.

    Shane smiled coldly, "Too bad I didn't pull the trigger before the damned 'bot had a chance to grab it from me..."

    Stephanie was stunned at the audacity of her brother, "Just stay the hell away from me, Shane!" she hissed.

    Shane frowned darkly, his voice sounding edgy, "No... YOU should stay the hell away from ME!"

    Stephanie's eyes went wide, then she reared back and slapped Shane across the face.  "Don't you EVER threaten me again, Shane McMahon! Or so help me... you will be SORRY!"

    Without another word, Stephanie walked out on her brother.

THE SMACKDOWN - Tuesday night

    "Chris, what's wrong? You look a little worried," Terri began as Jericho nursed the same synthehol he had been drinking for the past hour.

    "I'm in deep crap," he replied.

    "I don't suppose Stephanie would have anything to do with it?" Terri questioned.

    "What have you heard?" he asked.

    "Nothing. I'm just saying that the only time you're in deep crap is when she's involved,"

    Jericho frowned, "I need to stay away from her. She's caused me too many problems lately!"

    "I thought Shane ordered you to stay away from her anyway,"

    "That's one of the problems that lead to my 'deep crap' comment," Jericho smiled sheepishly, then gulped down the rest of his synthehol, "Don't worry about that though. Tell me about you and Nurse Saturn. You two have gotten pretty close,"

    Terri smiled, "We have... though lately he's been carrying this weird mop around..." she shrugged.

    "Saturn's a loon. I'm surprised you're still with him,"

    "I like his loonacy though," she said, "I think it's cute..."

    "Hmmm... just be careful, Terri. You don't need to get your heart broken by a whacko with a mop,"

    "Well, Chris... if my heart DOES get broken, I'm sure YOU could cheer me up,"

    Jericho smirked smugly, "I'm glad you think so! It must be my winning personality..."

    "Your personality has nothing to do with it. There are MANY ways you could cheer me up," Terri replied with a sly grin.

    Jericho raised an eyebrow, looking rather amused, "Are you flirting with me?"

    "Oh if only it would work!"  Terri answered with a wink,  "But we all know your interests only lean towards a certain McMahon woman," Before Jericho could protest, Terri interrupted, "Don't you even DARE deny it!" she replied sternly.

    "Well I...." Jericho started, then stopped as something caught the corner of his eye, "What's this?" he asked curiously.  A few feet away, Ensign Raven was approaching the Cocky Kanatians.

    Now if only he could hear what they were saying...

    The Cocky Kanatians looked at Raven with disdain, "Dude... your fashion sense reeks of heinosity!" Edge paused, then sniffed the air, "Ewww... and so do YOU! That whole smelly grunge thing is SO two centuries ago!"

    Raven glared at him, "If you had come from a poverty stricken family like I had, you wouldn't be so quick to judge. My mother used to dress me in grungy outfits every day because she didn't love me! You don't know what it was like to sleep in complete filth every night!"

    Edge and Christian looked at each other, then Christian turned back to Raven, "Dude, you're, like, a SHAPESHIFTER! Can't you shapeshift yourself some new clothes?"

    "Yeah, man... I mean... you look totally uncool!" Edge replied

    "When you get some new clothes, come talk to us. For now, get your totally grungy self away from our table!" Christian snapped.

    Raven frowned, " I have a message from Shane. He wants you two blonde bimbos to meet him on the garden deck at 23:00h!"

    "Ok... message received.... now take thy form from off my bar stool, and nevermore sit beside us again. Quoth the Edge," Edge said.

    "Dude! You totally misquoted Poe!" Christian gasped, then smiled and nodded, "Misquoting Poe RULES!" Christian high-fived his older brother.

    Raven sighed and shook his head, then quickly took his leave of the Cocky Kanatians.

COMMANER SHANE McMAHON'S OFFICE - Wednesday  night

    Shane went through the duty roster and frowned. It seemed Jericho was still positioned in Engineering with Stephanie. Shane would just have to reassign certain officers... and Shane knew EXACTLY where to reassign Lt. Commander Jericho to keep it the hell away from Stephanie!

    But a reassignment would be too easy for the Y2J Unit. Shane could never let the android off the hook that easily. Especially after the bot's insubordinate, arrogant attitude.

   Oh yes... the Y2J unit would have BIGGER things to worry about then just a mere reassignment. MUCH bigger...

ENGINEERING - Thursday

    "What are you doing here, Kurt?" Stephanie asked as Ensign Angle reported for duty.

    "On orders from Commander McMahon, I am now posted here with you.  I am to learn everything I can about Engineering,"

    Stephanie sighed,  "I don't have time to teach you all that! Engineering is something you have to study in WrestleFleet Academy!" She looked around Engineering, and called out to Ensign Hardy, "Matt, have you seen Lt. Commander Jericho? He's supposed to be on duty,"

    "If I may..." Angle began before Matt could reply, "Your brother informed me that Jericho has been reassigned,"

    Stephanie turned back to him, "WHAT?!"

    "Jericho is now responsible for keeping track of the inventory in the cargo bays,"

    "EXCUSE ME?!" Stephanie replied, "My brother reassigned my second-in-command to jobber duty?"

    "Well, actually, Commander McMahon used one of my 3 I's in this case -- intelligence! Since the Y2J Unit is an android, this is indeed the best position for him. He'll be able to keep all the inventory in that positronic brain of his, and---"

    "I'm going to talk to Shane!" Stephanie interrupted, and tapped her comm badge, "Commander Stephanie McMahon to Commander Shane McMahon..."

    "Yes, Steph...?" Shane's reply came through her comm.

    "Why the hell did you reassign Lt. Commander Jericho to jobber duty in the cargo bays?"

    "Because, it would be the best use of the 'bots skills,"

    "Oh please! The best use of his skills is in Engineering!" Stephanie snapped.

    There was a slight pause, then "The decision stands, Steph. Jericho is staying in the cargo bays! End of conversation!"

    "But---" Stephanie started, but it was too late. Shane had cut the communication. Stephanie muttered an unpleasant phrase under her breath.

    "Commander Stephanie! I am truly shocked that a lovely woman like yourself would use such colourful phrases!" Angle replied.

    "Whatever, Kurt. Listen, you want to learn about Engineering?" she asked. Angle nodded, "Fine then. Take this, " she handed him her padd, "Follow me and take notes when I tell you too."

    Angle furrowed his brow, "Like a secretary?" he asked, "That's not exactly what Shane was thinking of when he assigned me here. I can be of great use to you in---"

    "Shut up, Kurt! Just do what I say! And DO NOT touch the warp engines! Got it?"

    "Yes ma'am," Angle replied, and saluted politely as he set about the task of being Stephanie's personal secretary.

ENSIGN EDGE AND CHRISTIAN'S QUARTERS

    "So... what do you think of Shane's plan, brother?" Christian asked as he combed his hair for the one-hundreth time in the bathroom mirror.

    "It TOTALLY reeks of heinosity!" Edge replied, then paused, "But..."

    Christian heard the tone in his brother's voice, "But WHAT, Edge?"

    "Well, as much as taking over the Titanprize rules all... the plan seems overly EVIL... don't you think?" Edge asked.

    "What do you mean by that, brother?" Christian asked. He didn't like where this was going. Maybe it was time to appeal to Edge's vanity, "Just think... if we get on Shane's good side, we could totally get bigger mirrors in our quarters!"

    "While that would be cool... I... I don't know. It's just..." Edge shook his head, unable to put into words why he was feeling so hesitant.

    "C'mon Edge, don't tell me you actually give a damn about that walking, talking computer!" Christian spat bitterly.

    Edge furrowed his brow as he turned to Christian, suprised at the tone in  his brother's voice, "Man... you're starting to freak me out. I mean... you're acting all... well, TOTALLY not cool!"

    Christian couldn't believe what Edge was saying! His airhead brother was going soft. Christian figured it was up to him to set Edge straight! This was going to be one of the shining moments in his WrestleFleet career! Big brother wasn't going to be selfish THIS time.

    Christian quickly smiled, hiding the bitterness that slowly crept into his heart, "Listen, dude... we're going to totally rule the school if we go through with this! Just imagine... we could even be promoted and stuff! I mean... people would actually be all respectful to us instead of making fun of us!" he then reiterated his early point, "And MIRRORS, bro! Big-ass mirrors!"

    "You're probably right..." Edge smiled slightly, though he was still a bit hesitant, "I guess I'm in..."

    "Cool!" Christian replied, and high-fived his brother.  Edge may have been older, but Christian was wiser!

    Manipulation RULED.

COMMANDER SHANE McMAHON'S QUARTERS - later

    "We have to do something about the Y2J Unit, pops..." Shane began.

    "Why?" Captain McMahon asked as he sat at the table across from his son.

    "It's been acting somewhat irrationally lately..."

    "Oh?" McMahon started, "Explain?"

    Shane took a deep breath, "When you told me you wanted to keep Lt. Commander Jericho away from Stephanie after it's sloppy scans caused Steph to end up in a coma, I gave it a direct order not to associate with her outside of Engineering." Vince nodded for his son to continue, "Well, it defied that order, pops! It's been meeting Stephanie in the holodeck  for... who knows HOW long now!"

    Vince looked at Shane, his eyes shadowed, "He WHAT?"

    "I saw them, pops! When I went to the holodeck, there they were, lying on the mat and..." he shook his head in disgust, "Let's just say it's looked like it was teaching her some moves... if you know what I mean..."

    McMahon jumped to his feet, the vein in his temple pulsing ever so vigorously, "WHAT?!" Vince was practically hyperventilating, "My poor baby... she must be so confused now! After that fiasco of a marriage to Triple H, she's so vulnerable! Now... to have Jericho take advantage of her---" he stopped, and turned to Shane, his voice quiet. Dangerous. "I guarantee the Y2J Unit will pay!"

    Shane's smile was cold enough to freeze Hell, "I previously warned the Y2J Unit that if it disobeyed any orders, I would reprogram it,"

    "Reprogram?"

    "YES! It has to be done, pops. It's been corrupting Stephanie! Who knows what lies and stories it's been telling her! It may very well be trying to turn her against us! Would you believe Stephanie SLAPPED me? ME! Her big brother! And all I was trying to do was protect her!"

    "She slapped you over... THAT?" Vince asked. Shane nodded. Vince studied his son, "Very well, Shane. Do what must be done!"

    "Thank you, pops! And there will be an added bonus in all this! When I reprogram it, I can change it! Create the perfect officer even! An officer who will do as his commander says, and never question. Never disobey. It's obvious that the Y2J Unit's current programming is in desperate need of an upgrade. Perhaps it even has a virus! Surely to disobey a direct order from a superior isn't normal!"

   McMahon nodded briskly, "Understood. Take care of it!"

    "With pleasure, pops... with pleasure..." Shane's grin was unseen by his father.

    My, but daddy-dearest was so easy to manipulate!

TITANPRIZE CORRIDORS

    Jericho backed away from the door of Shane's quarters. Reprogram HIS beautiful positronic brain? Did Shane really MEAN that? No! He wouldn't... would he?

    Damnit... why hadn't he just ignored Stephanie when she had pleaded with him to teach her self-defense? Why hadn't he called her bluff that first time she had asked? He KNEW Stephanie wouldn't have followed through on her threat, so why did he fall for it?

    Because he wanted to. He couldn't let her be defenseless. He just couldn't!

    Jericho heard Shane coming closer to the doors. The Y2J Unit quickly ran down the hall, and  turned the corner. He was pretty sure the whole 'eavesdropping' thing would have been looked down upon.

    Jericho let the latest information sink in: Unit Y2J was going to be reprogrammed.

    Shane might as well just execute him on the spot.

    Jericho couldn't let everything he was... everything he had BECOME... be taken from him. To save himself, Lt. Commander Jericho would have to take drastic action.

TITANPRIZE CORRIDORS - the next night

    "Here's the plan," Ensign Raven began as he quietly headed down the corridors with Ensigns Edge and Christian, "We go into Cargo Bay 4. I'LL distract Lt. Commander Jericho, and YOU make sure he comes with me. We will carry out Shane's plan without a hitch, do you understand?"

    Ensign Edge nodded his head, "Totally, dude!"  he replied.

   "We get to SO kick ass!" Christian shouted happily.

    "SHUT UP!" Raven hissed.

    "Geez, someone’s all bitchcakes tonight!" Edge muttered.

    "Want me to DDT you?" Raven asked.

    "Uh… no!" Edge replied quickly, "Now let the chairalicious beat down begin!".

    Raven rolled his eyes, and sighed, "Why me?"

CARGO BAY 4

    Jericho looked up from his padd. Was there someone in the cargo bay with him? He slowly turned around, and saw a flash of golden hair, "Hello...?" he called to the empty cargo bay, but only received silence. He shrugged and turned back to his padd. A few moments later, he heard whispering. He spun around quickly, but again saw nothing, "What's going on here?" he asked.

    "Lt. Commander Jericho..." a voice spoke.

    Jericho turned to come face to face with Ensign Raven. He frowned, not in the least bit happy to see the shapeshifting officer,  "What is it, Raisin?"

    "Commander Shane McMahon requests your presence in his office,"

    "I'm busy!"

    Raven reached into the pocket of his WrestleFleet uniform and pulled out a weapon. It was an Evenflow --  a powerful weapon with the ability to render its victim completely helpless.

    Raven grinned, "Please don't keep Shane waiting..."

    Jericho quickly chopped Ensign Raven across the chest with a titanium forearm and jumped on his shoulders, forcing the shapeshifter to kiss the cement with a hurricanrana. Raven didn't have a chance to blink.

    "That was SO not cool!" Edge shouted as he and Christian quickly jumped out from their hiding place. The cocky Kanatians attacked Jericho, who responded with split-second chops, and a double bulldog.

    Lt. Commander Jericho ran to the wall and ripped off a panel, "Tell Shane he will never eeeeeeeeeeeever reprogram MY gorgeous positronic brain!" Jericho snapped.

    Before Raven and his sidekicks could get back to their feet, Jericho had disappeared through the jefferies tubes.

COMMANDER STEPHANIE McMAHON'S QUARTERS - 2 hours later

    Stephanie woke with a start as a hand clamped over her mouth. Her mind raced back to Russo. She had eliminated him though, hadn't she?

    Stephanie started hyperventilating, fearing the worst. She tried to scream, but the hand over her mouth muffled her cries.

    "Calm down, Skankanie. It's just ME!" Lt. Commander Jericho brought his hand back to his side and flicked on her bedside light.

    Stephanie bolted upright in her bed, hugging the sheets to her chest, "What are you doing in my room?!" Stephanie was angry despite the flood of relief that washed over her. How DARE he scare her like that.

    "I'm leaving," he replied.

    "Yeah, you'd better leave!" She snapped.

    "No," he started, "I mean, I'm leaving for good. Leaving the Titanprize,"

    Stephanie's voice grew quiet, "What do you mean you're leaving the Titanprize?" she asked.

    "I mean exactly that! You saw how incensed Shane was when he found out I disobeyed his orders,"

    "Listen, I can talk to daddy about that. I should talk to daddy about a LOT of things Shane's been doing," She paused, then continued, "I'll tell daddy that I overrode Shane's orders because I wanted the lessons. I'll make sure he doesn't give you a demotion! No need to run away because of it!"

    "I wish it was that easy, Steph, but it's not. Shane got the blessing from your father to reprogram me..."

    "Don't be ridiculous!" Stephanie said, "That would be like brain washing a fellow officer! My father would never agree to that, no matter how manipulative Shane was being!"

    "Your father WOULD agree to reprogram a malfunctioning computer though!" Jericho pointed out.

    "What? But you're not---"

    "According to WrestleFleet, yes I am! Remember when the PTC abducted Dr. Taker and myself? WrestleFleet declared me nothing more then a sophisticated tool. Easily replaceable... and reprogrammable,"

    "That was before! My mom's seen how important you are to the crew and has forced Wrestlefleet to change their stand on you!"

    "It doesn't matter. Because of my insubordination, Shane has convinced your father I am a liability. I am to be reprogrammed. I can't let them do that!"

       Stephanie threw off her covers angrily, "I'll go talk to daddy myself! I'll tell him about Shane's little game in the Smackdown while I'm at it! Daddy will be VERY interested to know that Shane knew about Russo's escape as well!" She said, and headed to the door.

    Jericho grabbed her wrist gently and stopped her, "It won't work. Shane told your father I was having a considerably negative influence on you. Anything you say will be construed as that influence," he explained. "I have no choice. I need to get off this ship..."

    "And go where?" she asked.

    Jericho shrugged, "I haven't quite figured that one out yet..."

    "When will you be back?"

    "If I value my life, never," he replied, " Listen, you'll have to get Angle to teach you self-defense from now on. I'm sorry, Steph--"

    "I won't let them reprogram you!" Stephanie insisted,  "I still have some influence on this ship! I am Commander Stephanie McMahon, damnit!"

    Jericho studied her for a moment as she wiped the tear that had slid down her cheek, "Are you actually CRYING over me, Stephanie?" he asked with amusement.

    Stephanie blinked quickly, embarrassed, "I am NOT crying over you!" She snapped, "You're not even WORTH crying over! You're nothing but a--"

    Before Stephanie could finish, Jericho gently brushed his lips over hers. She slowly closed her eyes, welcoming the warm electrical tingle that went through her body, then suddenly found herself wrapping her arms around his neck.

    Lt. Commander Jericho quickly broke the kiss, startled. He wasn't sure what suprised him more - his own actions, or Stephanie's response. Jericho offered a smirk in an attempt to cover the former.

    "Just a little something to remember me by," Jericho replied, and attempted to pull free of Stephanie's arms before both of them regretted it. Stephanie refused to let go.  She felt so soft pressed against him like that-- NO. Jericho tried to pull away again, but it only caused her to pull him closer, if that was possible. "What are you--"

     "Don't you take anything seriously?" Stephanie interrupted angrily.

    "Well, when faced with certain death, you have to keep a sense of  humor about you..." he replied.

    "That's not what I meant!" She snapped.

    "Then what---"

    Before Jericho could say another word, Stephanie pulled his face towards hers, kissing him with such intensity that he stumbled back against the wall.  After a few moments, she let go.

    Jericho could only stare at her, confused and dumbfounded.

    Stephanie offered a sly smirk that could rival his own, "Just a little something to remember ME by, Y2Jerk!"

    He blinked, then allowed a small smile as he gently unwrapped her arms from his neck, "And here I was, hoping to forget you as soon as I left the ship," Jericho replied. He then grew quiet as his smile faded, all joking aside, "Goodbye, Stephanie..."

    "Wait!" Stephanie started, but before she could grab him again, he jumped up into the air ducts and disappeared.

    Too late.

    Lt. Commander Jericho was gone...

TITANPRIZE CORRIDORS - the next day

    Stephanie walked down the corridor slowly, remembering the events of the previous night. Had the Y2J Unit really left the Titanprize? Why hadn't she tried harder to stop him? What was she so afraid of?

    Stephanie let out a startled shout as she hit something solid coming around the corner. She was ready to blast the clumsy officer... but stopped.

    It was Lt. Commander Jericho.

    Her eyes went wide, "YOU?"  Jericho looked at her blankly. Stephanie grew angry. "Why did you lie to me like that?" she shouted, "You made up this whole story about leaving the ship... and for what? Was it a joke? Some stupid immature joke?"

    Jericho said nothing, and smirked. Stephanie gasped. His smirk was cold. Almost evil, if that was possible...

    The Y2J Unit roughly shoved Stephanie out of the way, and continued down the corridor.

    Stephanie backed against a wall, noticeably shaken. This wasn't normal behaviour. Not normal at all.

    For the first time since she had known him, Commander Stephanie McMahon found herself  afraid of Lt. Commander Jericho.

COMMANDER SHANE McMAHON'S QUARTERS - later

    Commander Shane McMahon looked over his father's personal logs. He had to thank Ensign Raven for stealing them. Having a shapeshifter with Houdinian blood in him was truly an asset.

    Shane studied his father's thoughts and feelings. It seemed that Vince was starting to feel somewhat hopeless about the Titanprize's current situation.

    The Commander got to his feet. Behind him stood his attentive entourage - Ensign Raven, the Cocky Kanatians, Nytron Page, Paul E, and one lone figure leaning casually against the wall.

    Shane rubbed his hands together gleefully, a sneaky smile playing on the young McMahon's lips, "Let the games begin," he said, and headed towards the door with his new-found allies.

    Lt. Commander Jericho quickly pushed away from the wall, and loyally followed his Commanding officer out...