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The Raptor warped towards an area of space known as the Nekros Rift. It was an area of space filled with dark dust and the remnants of a long failed nebula. Its exact origins were lost to time, but a lot of space fayers stayed away from it due to it's infamy and unusual gravity wells it contained.

The bridge crew had been relieved. They were all sitting in the mess hall eating under the stars as they streaked by. Land sat his glass down a bit loudly. The silence was driving him nuts. Terri Lu, who was sitting beside him, stopped and looked at him curiously.

"Ok, it looks like I'm going to be the one to say it. I don't like the fact we're heading for that damn rift and I don't want to be on the list of ships that have disappeared in there." Land said, breaking the silence.

"It's our assignment," Jakar said stoically from the end of the table. "Fleet HQ thinks that we might have a chance of actually exploring it."

"The place is a graveyard for starships, Jakar," Land said. "Even my people know that and I'm not too thrilled we'll be added to it."

"It's true there are a lot of disappearances related to that rift," Jakar said flatly. "However, many ships have passed near or skimmed through it without incident. I've sat in the promenade and heard traders boast about doing so off and on."

"When was the last disappearance?" O'mara asked quietly.

"It was a while ago," Rivas said gruffly, sipping his tea. "There's no reason to be dwelling on it. We got a long day ahead of us tomorrow when we enter the rift and we don't need to be speculating when we should be focused on the task at hand."

"Pfft! Come on Don," Fara sighed, "I'm not afraid to say it: it was the Confederation ship the U.S.S Venture, a little over a decade ago."

Rivas scowled at Fara. She glared right back at him across from the table.

"Excuse me everyone, I think I'm going to turn in. I'm not feeling very well," Terri said, suddenly standing up.

This managed to kill the conversation.

"Very well," Rivas said, almost apologetically, much to everyone's confusion. "Have a good night Lieutenant, see you bright and early in the morning."

She nodded and quickly gathered up her tray and took it over to the reclamator.

Land sat, looking a bit confused and excused himself as well, following not too far behind Terri-Lu nearly, colliding with Doctor Okan as he entered the mess.

"What was that about?" Fara asked, a bit concerned. Terri rarely ever got up and left like that. She was usually one of the more social of the crew and her silence during the meal had been a bit unsettling.

Rivas sighed. "It's nothing...just let it go, ok?"

"Those two seemed to be in a hurry. What did I miss?" Okan said approaching the table with a simple bowl of soup and sitting down in one of the vacant seats.

"I have no idea Doctor," O'mara said, "we...we...we're talking about our destination and Terri suddenly got up and left."

"Probably just some indigestion. The replicators have been a bit off today. Has anyone else noticed? I could have swore my pastry today had a hint of glue to it," Okan frowned with disgust.

Fara immediately spit out a piece of fish and started trying to wipe her tongue off. "Ugh! I don't want to know! It was bad enough the last time...they made everything taste like rubber." She grabbed a napkin and spit the rest out.

Everyone else started looking down at their half eaten meals or ones they hadn't started into yet in a mix of horror and curiosity, Okan and Rivas exchanged knowing looks. They knew what was troubling Terri, but they were keeping it to themselves.

===================================

Into Darkness

IDP 2019-2021

By Vakash Darkbane

Edited by Saurex Conoway

==================================

"Hey, Terri! Wait up!" Jack called, jogging up to catch up with her.

Terri-Lu stopped and turned to look at him.

He placed his hand gently on her shoulder. "What's up? You seem upset."

"It's nothing...don't worry about it," she said, forcing a sad smile.

"Uh huh," Land said. "Look, we're all a little nervous. Would you mind some company tonight? I won't talk about it anymore."

Terri sighed. "As long as you keep that promise."

"I've got a bottle of whiskey from home I keep for tense situations. I'm thinking maybe you, me, said bottle and some low lighting...let's just see where it takes us." Jack said.

Terri smiled. "I would like that. Give me some time to clean up."

"I'll be by in about thirty?"

"Works for me." She said, kissing him on the cheek, heading for her quarters.

There was definitely something she was hiding from him, but it would not be wise to push the issue, however; it didn't quell his curiosity. Some inner turmoil was going on in her and everyone could see it, but no one knew what it was.

* * *

Later

Harry walked around the perimeter corridors of Deck 3, deep in thought.

He was a bit on edge, like everyone else, and was honestly trying to get a few laps in to tire himself out. Shortly after he woke up in the morning, they'd be entering the rift.

He was excited. The place was infamous for sure, but anything they'd discover on this journey would be credited to their vessel in the history books. Anything other than their current reputation of busting up pirates and border skirmishes with the Urthean Empire.

The rift was mostly unmapped because many were not brave enough, but to try to skirt the extreme edge of it. A few Confederation vessels had tried to explore it, but they all had disappeared. The Keldryian's were all but adamant about staying away from it and it was highly advised that the rift just be avoided at all cost.

Regardless, the Raptor was assigned to explore it. It was hoped that the ship's defensive and offensive abilities could keep anything at bay that could pose a threat to other ships in the rift. Being smaller and possessing a different profile than other Confederation ships might make it less noticeable if there was a hostile force inside of it.

He could only admit to himself that beneath the excitement was a little lingering fear. What could be lying in wait for them in that swirling mass of cosmic dust that blotted out all external light while inside it? He was able to suppress the fear by telling himself that if they didn't want to deal with the unknown, then maybe he shouldn't be a starship captain.

A smile crossed his muzzle as that thought finished. Traveling amongst the stars wasn't always as romantic as many would perceive it. It involved lots of long, hopefully boring, trips across its vast distances at warp speed and a lot of getting used to sitting, or standing, in front of the console just making sure the ship keeps doing that for a duty shift...every day.

He saw Fara climbing down a ladder with an engineering kit slung over her shoulder.

"Burning the late night oil?" He asked.

Fara smiled up at him as she hopped down. "Just checking on some things before the big day tomorrow."

"Do you need any help? I'm trying to tire myself out."

"Sure! I hate going into the chamber of horrors by myself,"Fara chuckled.

"Oh," Harry said immediately, regretting his offer, "uh...sure. No problem." He'd heard stories of the room that powered the Raptor's alien components, but hadn't been to it himself.

"Follow me," Fara grinned devilishly. "Don't tell me it's your first time? You look a little green, Captain."

"It is."

"Well, aren't you in for a treat," Fara chuckled as she walked down the hall to the reinforced security door. "We had to put in a tighter security code. I kept catching people wandering around down here," she said keying in a code. "It'll open to your command codes, but anyone else needs the codes."

"Nice of you to tell me know."

"Look, I forgot to mention it ok?"

Harry scowled. "Just tell me you used the proper channels to get it authorized."

"Yeah yeah," Fara nodded as the panel acknowledged her code and the door opened, filling the corridor with dank hot air. "Door only stays open for about 5 seconds, let's get in," Fara said.

Despite the strange lighting in the room, the first thing that assaulted his senses was the strange smell of stagnant liquid mixed with something that smelled synthetic. A strange sound of idle machinery, along with an almost organic throbbing, could be heard. Before him stood a block of strange techno-organic machinery, pulsing, whirring and throbbing. Esoteric green lights and displays flashed data he couldn't read, all tied into more familiar consoles and work benches set up around it. The room was hot and very humid, which only made it more uncomfortable.

"This is pleasant," Harry said flatly.

"Oh yeah, wait till I get a few couches in here, hang up a few drapes," Fara's grin was twice as creepy in the sickly lighting of the room. "It'll be a great lounge. The whole ship can come relax in."

"What do we need to do?" Harry sighed.

"First step is to check the fluid levels in the Bio Neural relays. It's the panel with the pink sticker on it. The proper level is marked on the vile."

"Oookay," Harry said, spotting one of the panels.

The sticker looked to be specially made for this device. Its ridiculous coloring made it stand out among the strange green-black and copper tones of the unit. He grabbed what looked like a handle and it opened.

Inside was some sort of tubing filled with a viscous, clear material. A crude mark made with a permanent marker was on the vile. The small compartment contained a well used permanent marker, what looked like a squeeze bottle of the same fluid and some sort of funnel that Harry could only assume probably fed the device somehow.

"Now what?" He asked.

"Is there a green light flashing?"

Harry looked. There was one solitary light blinking above the funnel.

"Yes."

"It probably wants some of the stuff in that bottle," Fara said.

"What is it?" Harry asked.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you and you really don't want to know," Fara chuckled, opening another panel around the corner on the same device. "If the fluids low, just add some till it fills up."

"Right," Harry said, grabbing the bottle and squeezing some of the fluid into the funnel. After a bit, the tube filled up and the light stopped blinking. Satisfied he did the job, he put the bottle back in the place it was resting, replaced the cap, and shut the door.

He headed over to the other panel and opened it. It didn't seem to require any maintenance, so he shut it. "So, what is it we're actually doing? In not horrifying terms?"

"Oiling it," Fara shrugged, stepping around the machine to grin at him. "Hey, just be glad we don't have to crawl inside and make some adjustments," she said, grabbing a clipboard and signing off on it, then making note of the log on a datapad. "That's one down, ready for two?"

Harry was already sweating a bit and Fara was too, but he nodded in response. She opened the door and the Raptor's normal atmosphere felt welcoming and cool. "So, how often is this checked?"

"I check it about once every two weeks," Fara said, heading down the corridor to the opposite side of the ship. "Number one tends to need a bit more care than number 2."

"Why's that?" Harry asked.

Fara shrugged. "It's always been that way. We've run multiple diagnostics, taken it apart, put it back together again, at least as much as we could, and have found nothing. The only thing I can figure is there was some bad damage in the part of the ship we salvaged it from. Maybe there is some type of damage we aren't capable of seeing, but it works, so we use it."

"The more I learn about this ship, the more it terrifies me," Harry muttered.

"You asked," Fara reminded him, shrugging as they approached the second chamber.

Again they went into the room, but it wasn't nearly as long. Everything checked out ok as Fara said and they were quickly out of the sauna-like room.

"Thanks Captain," Fara said. "I'm going to get something to drink, I'm a bit parched. Care to join me?"

"After that? Yes," Harry said gratefully.

* * *

The door to Terris' quarters opened in front of him. She stood there in sweats and a v-neck crop top that didn't leave much to the imagination. She beckoned him inside and Jack realized he was a tad over dressed. He had forgotten where he had stashed the bottle in his quarters and wasted most of his time trying to find it. Her eyes drifted to the rather large bottle in his hands.

"Please tell me you have enough? I really don't want synthale at the moment," she said, making a motion with her hands.

"How much are you needing?" Jack asked, handing her the bottle.

"I haven't decided yet," she said, going and grabbing some glasses. "Relax...take your tunic off."

Jack did as told and tossed his tunic over a chair by her desk and kicked his boots off as he noticed she already had started on her second glass of whiskey and was coughing a little bit.

"Hey! Easy there! You're drinking that like it's going out of style," Jack said, walking up to her, but she held up a finger up to him.

"I'm fine," she said, clearing her throat, "just want to get to the best part as quickly as possible. Don't worry about it. Relax!"

Jack hesitated, but sat on the couch, wondering what had got into her as she poured him a glass and handed it to him, sitting down beside him on the couch. "Stop giving me that look! You promised you wouldn't ask."

"Ok ok," Jack said, taking the glass and taking a more casual drink.

Terri fumbled around for a control pad, activated the wall monitor and started scrolling through the vast library of entertainment programs. She then hiccuped and grinned mirthfully as she felt the whiskey take hold, finally. She handed him the remote after flipping it a selection of old Cornerian horror movies. "It's your turn to pick. Pick a good one to match the occasion. Something that is scary, but not stupid."

Jack smiled. "Sure."

He started to scroll through the thrillers as Terri put her legs over his lap, wrapped her arms around him and cuddled close. He glanced down at her and saw her chewing her lip a bit, a sign something was bothering her, and her eyes didn't really reflect the mood she was projecting. He wished he knew what was wrong, but generally when she got like this prying resulted in him being asked to leave.

He picked a movie called Silent Island. It was about a detective investigating a murder at a mental asylum while reality, or at least his perception of it, starts to get a bit sideways. It had a lot of disturbing imagery in it and he was certain she hadn't seen it before.

"I think I've got just the thing. It's a murder mystery, but it gets pretty trippy about twenty minutes in."

* * *

Harry and Fara headed towards the mess. When they arrived, it was deserted, the lights turned low and the tables were vacant.

"What do you want, Skipper?"

"Any juice, I am not particular, just lot's of it and cold," Harry said, still feeling a bit baked. He'd been on hot jungle planets that felt more tolerable than those two rooms.

Fara chuckled, put her tool pack on a table and went to the replicator as Harry went to his usual spot and keyed in the security code to open the hatch so they could see the starfield streak by as they cruised through space. She brought their drinks and sat across from him, sliding his across the table as she sat, which he picked up.

"We may as well enjoy the starlight while we can, right Captain?" Fara said, raising her glass.

Harry smiled and nodded, clinking his glass against her's. "Here's to seeing it again soon."

"Are you nervous about going into this rift?" Fara asked.

Harry drank his juice. "Even if I was, I wouldn't tell you. I'm aware of the stories, but despite the hype, there have been several successful surveys into the nebula." Harry smirked. "It's just those that get talked about and mythologised are the failed ones."

Fara drank her replicated sherry and ran her finger along the top of the glass. "You seem pretty confident."

"I have no reason not to be."

Fara smiled wanly and took another drink.

"So, off the record," Harry said, "how have you been doing lately?"

Fara blinked, noticing the glimmer of that gentler side of Harry she had met when he'd been split into two beings not that long ago by a bizarre transporter accident. She wished he'd let that side show a bit more often.

"I've been worse," she replied. "Things are going well. I just try to stay busy and work through it."

"Are you and Nikolai still together?"

Fara nodded. "The Aether is out in the deep reaches right now. It's been a week or so since we talked. We're good though. How's your love life going?"

Harry sighed. "I can't get away from her," he said, petting the bulkhead.

Fara waited a few beats before she spoke again. "I thought maybe you and..."

"It's complicated. We're not really talking at the moment," Harry said.

"Oh," Fara said, "sorry."

"Don't be sorry, I am and that's enough," Harry sulked.

Fara felt for him. He was obviously hurt and not doing that good of a job hiding it from her. She took a drink, got up and slid into the seat beside him, leaning back on the couch and looking up at the stars.

"What are you doing?" Harry asked, feeling her warmth against him.

"Shut up...you looked lonely," Fara said, turning her head towards him. "We're friends, aren't we?"

Harry thought about it and relaxed. "I suppose so," he said, leaning back with her.

"If we weren't, you'd never let me out of the brig," Fara giggled.

"I don't even think it works anymore," Harry chuckled.

"Not really. I just read technical manuals and exercise when I'm in there," Fara said. "It's almost like a little vacation."

Harry rolled his eyes and smiled, amused by her response.

"You know what you said earlier, about the ship being the only thing in your life?" Fara asked. "I totally get it."

"Thanks," Harry said and he suddenly felt her paw slip under his and grasp it firmly. Harry was taken aback. This was unusual for her, but the gesture seemed genuine.

"I want you to know I don't think you're that bad of a guy, Harry," Fara smiled. "I'm glad you are our Captain. To be honest, I was not looking forward to having Rivas at the job."

"I take it you two didn't get on too well?"

"Not great," Fara laughed. "You think I was difficult with you? I gave Rivas even more headaches."

"So what was the real problem?" Harry asked.

"He doesn't listen. Oh, hears what you say, but he didn't really listen to anything I was trying to tell him. Whenever we had a delay or something went wrong, he just expected for me to make it right and wouldn't work with me at all." Fara sighed. "He's gotten better since then."

Harry nodded and they sat in silence for a bit.

"Look, the two of us...we are like the soul of this hunk of metal, you know?" She said.

"I can see that," Harry replied.

"We're stuck with each other, like it or not, right partner?" Fara smiled.

"Yeah we are," Harry smiled back, feeling better. "Thank you."

"Yeah well, just don't tell anyone ok?" Fara said. "We both have reputations to keep right?"

They both laughed as the ship dropped out of warp and the stars faded from view as the Raptor crossed into the rift.

"We're here," Fara said ominously. "Spooky."

The ship shuddered as it struck the particulate matter that made up the rift, causing the lights to flicker. Despite her laissez-faire attitude, she gripped his hand tightly as the ship shook rather violently as it made contact with the matter in the nebula.

O'mara, who was in her quarters, saw the change out of her porthole above her bed and pulled her pillow over her head, hoping she could get to sleep despite her nervousness.

Doctor Okan caught Nurse Twila as she stumbled from the shaking of the ship. They were getting ready to end their shift as well. Twila thanked him and they both warily looked up as the ship's lighting flickered.

Rivas was getting ready to turn in himself and cursed as his drink spilled on his desk from the impact. He grabbed a towel and tried to clean up the liquid and ice as it pooled across his table, noticing the lights flicker.

"Knock it off, you've had worse girl," he said aloud to the ship.

Jakar and Sonya Jax sat in the rec room, finishing a game of 3D chess. Jakar quickly steadied the base just as the ship made contact, but a few of the pieces fell off as the lights flickered.

"Well look at that would ya now," Sonya snickered, "saved by the blunder." She set her queen on the table. She had him within a few moves of a checkmate.

Jakar grunted and put the pieces back into their starting positions. "I don't care. We are settling this match tonight. We're still tied."

Sonya grinned. "'Ave it your way. I can do this all night."

From the outside, one could see the Raptor gradually disappearing into nebulous mass, its running lights briefly seen for a few moments before it was completely enveloped and disappeared from sight.

* * *

Later

The movie was long since over. It had been followed with a rather unexpectedly athletic session of love making. Land and Terri lay together in bed with her, dozing peacefully. Her head was against his chest. Jack looked at the wall chronometer and saw it was only a few hours from his duty shift. He had been awoken by Terri jolting from something in her sleep. He looked down at her, stroked her hair and heard her whimper quietly. Sleepily he gazed up through the porthole at the seeming nothingness out there. He wondered why Terri was acting so strangely and what about this place had her so haunted. Since they'd been together, he'd never seen her stir at night or even do what she was doing now.

Gradually, Terri settled back down and resumed her usual breathing and stopped stirring. His gentle reassurances pulled her away from whatever night terror she was experiencing. He closed his eyes and tried to get some rest, praying that the night shift wouldn't call a red alert.

* * *

The Next Morning

Harry arrived in the mess hall the next morning. They had a staff meeting at 08:00 and Fara and him had agreed to go over a few things before they began because they had a lot of things to cover now that they had arrived. Fara waved him over to her table after he grabbed his breakfast and morning coffee.

"Morning Chief. How goes the ship?" Harry asked as he got settled in.

"Pretty good. The bussard filters we installed prior to this trip are doing what they are supposed to be doing. The night crew did a check and the engines have no contamination, so if we need warp we have it." Fara said, yawning.

"Good. What about everything else?"

"That little jolt we felt last night, that's all it was. Everything is working fine for once," Fara reported, signing off on a datapad and handing it over to him.

"Thank you Chief," Harry said and started to read the report as he started to eat.

The shutters were open, looking out into the black. The Raptor's running lights sent beams out into the void that disappeared into what looked like a black fog. Fara took a few bites and looked out at it, then around at the day shift crewmembers, showing up to start their days and the night shift crew wearily, and gratefully, eating their supper before trudging off to their quarters to get some rest. The room was quiet and filled with a palpable dread leaden din.

"Everyone seems so thrilled to be here," she chuckled.

Harry scowled as he read the report. "As I said, it's just superstitious nonsense. We've got enough to keep us busy in this rift after we get underway to worry about such matters."

"Sir, do you have a moment?" Jakar asked, standing over them.

"Have a seat," Harry said, motioning with the datapad.

Jakar sat down. "I've already run all the tests on our weapons systems, Cloaking Device, Phasers, Torpedos and Attack Mode are all ready at your command."

Harry lifted a brow. "Jakar, it's 0600, the rest of the crew is just getting out of bed. That takes at least two hours to run that full diagnostic."

Jakar nodded.

"Did you get any rest?"

"I did," Jakar said. "I don't sleep much, especially when there's things that need to be done."

Harry looked him over. Jakar seemed more alert than most of the people in the room.

"Hey, if the man says he's good to go, he is," Fara said reassuringly. "He puts most night owls to shame."

Jakar silently nodded, accepting the compliment.

Harry shook his head. "One of these days you need to show me how you do it."

Jakar smirked. "It takes lots of practice."

"Good morning Captain, Ms. Phoenix, Chief," Doctor Okan said, sitting by Harry at the table, seeming unusually chipper.

"Morning Doctor. How are you doing?"

"Taking it easy for now. Sickbay is ready for any possible emergency we may encounter while we're in here. I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm excited we got this opportunity."

"Good to hear," Harry said with a smile. "I'm glad some of us, at least, have the spirit of exploration in them today. Anyway, could you whip that attitude into some sort of curative and distribute it to the rest of the crew?"

Okan chuckled. "Unfortunately, no."

"Well, if the rest of my bridge crew shows up we could probably forgo the meeting I scheduled," Harry said, signing off on the report and handing it back to Fara, who was busy eating.

"Or at least keep it shorter," Fara added. "I'm betting on our navigator not showing up till the last possible second."

"True. Mr. Land does tend to procrastinate," Harry said, drinking his coffee. "I'm more surprised Ms. Lu isn't out and about yet."

Fara shot him a bemused smirk. "It's not that hard to figure out."

"Care if we join you?" Rivas asked, approaching the table with O'mara behind him.

"Sure! The more the merrier," Okan said.

"So, Lt. O'mara and I have been talking," Rivas said as he sat down opposite of O'mara, who sat beside Fara. "She is asking if she can have me assist with taking readings from the ops station. She says she'd really appreciate the help and the extra sensors I have access to."

"And the reasoning for this?" Harry asked O'mara.

"I'm going to have my hands full as it is," O'mara replied. "I think, if we are doing this, we should be as thorough as possible. We're not a science vessel so using the resources of ops and it's sensors would be a great help."

"It sounds reasonable enough," Doctor Okan said.

"Do you think you can handle the extra load?" Harry asked Rivas.

"As long as it's smooth sailing, but if we do encounter something I'll go back to what I normally do," Rivas shrugged.

"Sounds like a plan," Harry said. "You seem like you are actually a little excited for today."

"I am a little," O'mara admitted. "I like nebulae. I'm r-r-really looking forward to it!"

"Did you get the diagnostics done on the new sensor equipment we had installed for this?" Harry asked.

"Oh definitely! I wrapped that up last night," O'mara beamed. "The down side is the computer is being temperamental with it. That's w-why I wanted Commander Rivas' help."

"Temperamental how?" Harry asked.

O'mara shook her head. "Same problems we're still having with strange glitches whenever we add a new piece of hardware to the ship's systems."

"She's not wrong," Fara added. "I had a similar thing happen when we replaced the main system control board a few weeks ago. Some of the isolinear chips we received were, surprise surprise, defective."

"How did you find this out?" Harry asked.

"Well, every single one that we put in the control board fried, but they didn't damage the board." Fara said, taking a bite. "When we checked the chips, sure enough, the rest of them were trash."

"Why didn't you mention this?"

"Because the ship has always been a bit temperamental," Fara said. "It's not strange for the repair systems to fix minor things without the ship being in a restoration cycle. I just see it enough that I don't think about it."

"I thought we'd already learned our lesson about these little things," Harry said. "I don't want another incident like last time."

Fara shrugged. "If you like having more mundane paperwork to do, sure. Not all of it is supercritical, like the plasma conduit."

"I am being serious, Chief."

"I know, Captain," Fara said firmly, glaring at him. "You don't have to remind me."

The both exchanged a cold clare as he finished his coffee.

"Well, other than that, it sounds like we're as ready as we can be," Harry said. "I say let's just relax till 0700 when we all head to the bridge." The others nodded. "I appreciate you all staying on top of things. I just hope Ms. Lu and Mr. Land are bringing their A-game as well, whenever they show up."

* * *

Terri sat eating her breakfast wearing only an oversized shirt t-shirt as Jack finished showering. She was a little hungover and idly eating her melon. Her hair was disheveled and her eyes showed that she was recovering from her over indulgence from the night before. Her stomach felt like it was tied in knots, but if she didn't eat something it would just be worse. She heard the shower stop and shortly Land came out at least half dressed.

"So, are you going to get ready? We have like half an hour," Land said, exiting the shower and finishing drying off.

"I will be there on time," Terri said flatly. "Just make sure you are."

Jack sighed. "Terri, I wish you'd tell me what's going on. You've not been yourself since we left on this mission." He said, getting dressed.

"It's not important," she said. "Anyways, can you replicate some hangover cures for me?"

"Sure," Land said, running over to the replicator and having the little blue pills made and then handing them to her. "I'm just worried about you is all."

"Don't be, it's my problem, not yours." She said, quickly swallowing the pills. "I'll be fine. Just worry about being on time."

"Ok, ok," Land said grudgingly and went back to her bedroom to get dressed.

Terri looked out her porthole at the inky, starless blackness and scowled.

* * *

Captains Log: Stardate 348011.30

We are forging ahead deeper into the Nekros rift. So far, nothing of note has occurred. Sensor scans are revealing nothing unusual at this time and Science Officer O'mara is hard at work cataloging our readings. The crew is in good spirits, despite the eeriness of the lack of stars. I am making sure they are keeping busy to keep their minds off the rumors of this place.

Harry paced around the bridge to stretch his legs, walking a lap past the front of the conn, around the back stations, just waiting for anything to happen. The forward viewer just showed nothing but unending blackness. O'mara was busy at her station, working diligently and everything seemed to be running smoothly for once.

"Captain," Terri said, speaking up.

"Hmm?" Harry asked, walking over to her.

"We've just lost contact with Starfleet relays. I expected it to happen...but not so soon."

"Note it in the log," Harry smiled reassuringly. "It's nothing too unexpected. Go ahead and prepare to launch a buoy with the ships current status and logs."

Terri nodded. "I'll see it gets done, sir."

"Thank you lieutenant," Harry said when suddenly the ship shuddered again and the red alert sounded.

"Helm, all stop! What just happened?" Harry asked, rushing to the captain's chair.

"Working on it, Captain. It's like we just exited the nebula," Land said. "However, I don't know."

"O'mara, what do you got?" Harry asked.

"Nothing, absolutely nothing outside," O'mara reported.

"I need specifics. There can't be just nothing out there," Harry demanded his eyes boring into the screen seeing endless blackness.

"I detect no mass, no stars, no anything. I can't make it more clear than that Captain," O'mara growled irritatedly.

"Understood, lieutenant," Harry said patiently.

"Sorry, sir," O'mara said sharply, going back to making sure her instrumentation was functioning properly.

"I concur with her reading. The navigational computer has no clue where we are," Land added. "No stars for the astrogation computer to get a fix on...not even the slightest gravimetric wave."

"Recommend we raise shields," Jakar grunted.

"That's jumping the gun a bit, isn't it Chief?" Harry mused.

"I've never been wrong before." Jakar smiriked.

Harry rolled his eyes, but nodded. Jakar activated the Raptor's shields.

"Helm, can we reverse course?"

"Sure can, Skip. bringing us around now," Land said, bringing the ship around and initiating warp drive again.

"Alright, engage at warp 5," Harry ordered. A few moments passed. "Helm? We are moving, aren't we?"

"Aye, at warp 5."

"O'mara? Anything?"

O'mara shook her head.

"All stop," Harry ordered, getting out of his chair and running his hands through his spines. "Commander Rivas, prepare to deploy a navigational buoy, if we somehow got lost, I don't want to get more lost."

"Aye sir, deploying a navigational buoy now." Rivas said. "Buoy away."

A soft chime resounded from operations, representing the buoy's signal.

"Alright. Mr. Land, resume course and speed," Harry said, walking up to the helm and putting his hands on the top of Land's chair.

"You got it. Resuming course and speed," Land replied.

The signal slowly became quieter as they flew further away until its repetitive tone was too soft to be heard.

"Ms. O'mara, are we still receiving navigational position data from the buoy?"

"Yes, sir," O'mara replied.

Harry suddenly felt a bit of relief. At least this was progress.

"Sir, I'm picking up a new signal and receiving navigational coordinates," Jack said.

"We could be getting near the edge of the rift," Rivas suggested.

"Where's it coming from?" Harry asked.

"Directly ahead of us."

The tone started to slowly increase in volume again as they drew closer.

"Skip...this is impossible," Land said, looking frustrated. "It's the buoy we just deployed."

"Oh come on Jack, don't tell me you just flew in a circle!" Harry huffed.

"I didn't! You can look at the flight record if you want. I reversed course and headed as you told me too," Land said defensively.

"All stop," Harry ordered.

"All stop," Land replied, bringing the Raptor out of warp again.

"Just what in hell is going on," Harry wondered, frustrated. "Anyone have any ideas?"

The quiet was broken as Fara walked onto the bridge and activated her engineering console. "What did I miss?"

"Well, apparently we've stumbled into a part of the nebula that doesn't make sense and we're flying in circles," Harry explained.

"Neat," Fara said with zero enthusiasm as she took her seat.

Harry glared at her "'Neat' hardly covers it. Seriously, no one has any suggestions?"

O'mara shook her head negatively. Rivas looked equally baffled.

"Captain, long range sensors are detecting a vessel approaching," Jakar said, suddenly breaking the quiet.

"Can you identify it?"

Jakar worked for a few moments. "It's a Prell warship...it's approaching with weapons hot!"

"Prell?" Harry asked. "Engage the attack mode. Ms. Lu, warn them that if they don't disengage or we will open fire."

The sound of the Raptor's ablative armament sliding into place could be heard on the bridge.

"Aye, sir," Terri replied.

On the screen, the gold and silver trimmed vessel resembling some strange predatory bird swung into view, it's weapon ports glowing with charge. It unleashed a barrage of fire at the Raptor. Everyone on the bridge braced for the impact as it slammed into its shields.

"Shields at 70%," Jakar reported.

"Alright, we tried to be nice," Harry growled. "Torpedoes, maximum yield, full spread."

"Aye!" Jakar said.

The Raptor returned fire. The torpedoes struck the Prell vessel and it exploded on screen.

"No...no...no. That was way too easy," Harry said, getting out of his chair and walking towards the viewer.

"Agreed," Jakar grunted. "From what we know, those ships are on par with this vessel."

"Captain, I'm not detecting any debris from that battle cruiser. It's like there was nothing there."

Harry scowled. He was hating this situation more the longer it was going on. Suddenly, the power began to flicker. Consoles began to flicker. Again the sound of the Raptor's ablative armament retracting echoed throughout the bridge.

"Now what?" Harry said, growing even more irritable.

"Attack mode is disengaging, shields are dropping," Jakar reported.

"Fara! Status report!" Harry snapped.

"Engineering, this is Fara. Why are we losing main power?" Fara said, hitting her combadge. "Engineering? Respond!" Suddenly, her station went black. "Captain, I'm heading down there. Permission to leave?"

"Granted."

Fara quickly disappeared through the aft doors of the bridge. The power stopped flickering and then seemed to come back all of a sudden. Another proximity alarm went off at Jakar's station.

"Now what?" Harry asked.

"It's another vessel approaching, it appears to be a Confederation vessel," Jakar said. "Harrier class."

"On screen."

The screen shifted and showed the larger, tri-nacelled ship with its broad saucer emerging from the darkness. It's running lights made it's gleaming hull stand out against the gloom.

"What ship is that?"

Rivas brought up some scans and grimaced. "It's the Venture, N.C.C. 4261."

"The Venture? That ship has been missing for years," Harry mused. '"Rivas, run a few scans and tell me what you can about that ship."

"Already on it," Rivas said, working away on his console.

"Terri, open a hailing frequency to that ship." Harry ordered.

"Hailing frequencies open, sir," Terri said with a distressed tone in her voice.

"U.S.S Venture, this is Commander Martinez of the starship Raptor. Can we render you any assistance?"

On screen, the vessel slowly came to a halt.

"No response, sir. I broadcasted the message several times," Terri reported.

"Ms. O'mara, scan that ship for lifesigns," Harry ordered.

O'mara nodded and ran a few scans. "No life signs detected, sir."

Harry frowned. "Life support?"

"Life support appears to be active."

"Mr. Rivas, form a small away team and go investigate that ship," Harry ordered. "Perhaps we can learn more about our predicament from their ship's computer. I want you to keep an open channel at all times."

"Understood, sir," Rivas said, standing up. "Jakar, O'mara?"

"Permission to go on the away team captain," Terri suddenly spoke up.

Rivas gave her a disapproving glare and she shot him an equally reproachful one.

"Might I ask why?" Harry asked.

"I am familiar with the computers on that type of ship. I would be able to extract the logs and anything we might else need with a portable back up fairly quickly." She said.

"So could specialist Rydel," Harry replied.

"Doubtful. She's more familiar with recent systems," Terri said adamantly.

"Mr. Rivas? You seem to have some misgivings?" Harry asked, raising a brow.

Rivas seemed to be trying to think out what he wanted to say. "It's just a highly suspicious and dangerous situation. I wouldn't want to risk our best technician on this task."

Terri shot daggers at Rivas with her stare. "I can handle it, Captain."

Harry's gut told him something wasn't right with this. There was something half remembered that was bothering him as well.

"Very well. Take Ms. Lu with you and be careful, all of you."

The four of them left, heading for the transporter room when Rivas spoke up.

"Lieutenant Lu, may I have a word with you?" Rivas snapped.

Terri stopped in her tracks and nodded.

"Jakar, O'mara, give us a few minutes. I need to have a talk with Ms. Lu." Rivas said to the others.

Jakar nodded. "I am getting the phaser rifles. Do you have any objections, Commander?"

"Not at all," Jakar grinned. "After you Ms. O'mara."

O'mara nodded and they headed down the hallway to the small armory by the transporter room. Once they were out of ear shot, Rivas turned towards Terri. "Just what in the hell do you think you are doing?"

"You know damn well what I'm doing." She glared at him. "I won't let you or anyone else stop me."

"I can stop you well enough. I can tell Jakar you are making a piss poor decision and putting the whole away team in danger. He can one arm throw you into the brig," Rivas growled.

Terri got in his face, although she was shorter than him she wasn't going to let him intimidate her. "My mother and father were on that ship and I want answers! I am going to get them," Terri said coldly, looking him right in his eyes.

"Do you think finding their bodies is going to make you feel better? Is that really going to heal that old wound, or just make it worse?" Rivas asked, not backing down. "I think they would prefer their daughter to remember them as they were. I can tell you from personal experience I would prefer not to find my parents dead."

"Well, I'm not you," Terri said adamantly. "Are you going to stand in my way or let me get that backup unit?"

"Does Land know?"

"No..." Terri replied after a brief pause.

"So, the fact that we were heading into the last known location of your parent's ship wasn't pertinent information to tell your current lover?" Rivas said, a bit baffled.

"I don't want him to worry...he fusses over me enough as is," Terri said dismissively, her gaze breaking away from his.

Rivas sighed and then thumped his fist against the bulkhead. "Dammit! You are frustrating sometimes! I am going to regret this, but you had better keep your head or I will have your ass!"

"Are we done?" Terri asked flatly.

Rivas nodded "Yeah, we're done."

He stepped aside and let her pass. He thumped the bulkhead again in frustration and headed towards the transporter room.

* * *

Transporter Room, Minutes Later

"Alright folks," Transporter Chief O'bren said as they all stepped up onto the transporter pad, "I have a target lock on the bridge. Sensors show it's deserted, so should be a rather easy transport."

"Alright. We get there, get what we're looking for, and get out. Is that understood?" Rivas said, turning to Jakar, Terri and O'mara, who all nodded. "Mr. O'bren, energise!"

O'bren activated the transporter and Jakar, Terri and Rivas disappeared, but O'mara remained on the platform, looking a bit confused, yet simultaneously relieved.

"O'bren to bridge. Transport is complete, but O'mara is still here," he said, hitting his combadge.

"Was there a transporter malfunction?" Harry asked.

"Negative. She just didn't beam over."

"Bring the away team back," Harry ordered.

O'bren worked the controls and scowled. "I can't, Captain. I've...lost them."

O'mara stepped off the platform to help O'bren. "Captain, I can confirm the sensors don't have a lock on the team...something is blocking, or obscuring, their combadges."

On the bridge, Harry clenched his fists, looking at the Venture as it loomed in the darkness on the screen before him.

"Damn it all!" He muttered under his breath. "Thank you Lieutenant, return to the bridge. Let's hope they are safe."

* * *

Rivas awoke on the deck, feeling nauseous and dizzy. He quickly sat up and let his eyes adjust to the dim light of the corridor he was in.

"This isn't the bridge," he muttered, looking around. He was somewhere on the Venture, that was for sure, but the emergency lighting was on and everything was draped in gloom. He got to his feat and tried to activate a wall panel, however it only made an error beep.

"Jakar? O'mara? Lu?" He yelled, checking his phaser rifle that he had slung over his shoulder. "Anyone?"

Silence was the only response. He tried his combadge. "Rivas to Raptor, come in."

Static was the only thing that answered him.

"Alright," he growled, activating the light on the phaser rifle and making his way forward. "This is fun." He hit his combadge again. "Jakar! Lu! O'mara? If you can hear me, meet at the bridge."

He cautiously made his way down the corridor.

Terri-Lu had found herself in much the same situation. She decided to at least get her bearings and she walked down the dark corridor, stopping near some quarters to read the number that indicated the deck, section and room number. This gave her a general idea of her location. She was in the middle of the ship, where most of the crew would have lived.

She hit her combadge and tried to contact the other members of the away team, but only got static in response. She felt fortunate that she had a rough idea where her parents had lived on the vessel. She knew she was on the right deck, but she'd have to take a side trip to get to the right section.The downside was she was alone and in a potentially dangerous situation.

"In for a pound," she muttered, un-shouldering her phaser rifle and activating it's light as she headed forward.

Rivas carefully made his way towards a turbolift. Everything about this situation was eerie, damn eerie. Every door he checked was locked, every e-lock tool was gone. It was all way too uncanny and it made his hackles stand on end. Suddenly, he heard a scream of agony. It sounded like Jakar.

"Jakar! Hold on! I'm on my way!" He called at the top of his lungs, charging in the direction it came from. He sprinted down the corridor, taking quick glances down each intersection and he soon heard someone charging down the corridor towards him. He stopped and drew up his weapon only to see Jakar doing the same thing. They both stood there, panting, quickly assessing the situation before lowering their weapons.

"I heard you scream," Jakar said. "I was coming to help."

"Likewise...wait...are you ok?"

"I am."

"Have you seen Lu or O'mara?" Rivas asked.

"Negative," Jakar replied.

"I don't like this...I don't like it one bit. We need to get to the bridge," Rivas said.

"Agreed," Jakar grunted. "Let's go."

Terri was close to her parents quarters, trembling, slightly from fright. She was trying to keep a hold of herself, but the eeriness of the desolate Venture was playing hell with her senses and her imagination. Her own footsteps sounded like thunder. She kept seeing things at the edges of her vision. Sometimes it'd be a Paraxeno, other times she thought she saw a Urthean Trooper. Even the shadows appeared menacing.

"Keep it together Terri," she muttered, her grip tightening on her rifle. "Nothing here...just your own thoughts...right?"

She stopped and checked where she was from the signage. She was close, maybe a few doors away. Carefully, she made her way forward until she was in front of the door. She looked up at the names on the door:

Cmndr. Royce & Lt. Cmndr Lu

Terri swallowed hard as her heart skipped a beat. It was a mixture of elation, fear, and sadness all at the same time. She carefully reached out and hit the door controls. The doors opened, filling the corridor with bright light. Music accompanied the light, produced by an album of classical music she remembered her mother being very fond of. Carefully, she entered and the door closed behind her with an ominous hiss.

* * *

Rivas scanned the corridors with his tricorder. "This is the Venture alright, but I wonder why I can't scan anything beyond the corridor we're in."

Jakar tried to force open another door and found it sealed. He checked for an e-lock release in a storage compartment only to find it was missing.

"I don't understand why all the rooms would be sealed," he grumbled, "and why are all the emergency release tools missing? It makes no sense."

"There's a turboshaft down that way," Rivas said, closing his tricorder. "Let's go."

Jakar and Rivas made their way towards a turboshaft.

"This should take us right to the bridge. Then, maybe, we can locate Lu and O'mara and figure out what the hell is going on," Rivas said. "If anything around here works, that is."

Jakar said nothing and simply nodded.

Rivas hit the call button and, strangely, it seemed to respond. After a few beats, the doors parted. Both of them hesitated, staring at the bridge of the Venture before them.

"You weren't kidding," Jakar growled, less than amused.

"This...is...impossible! This should be at least 8 decks up," Rivas gasped.

"Well...it's here now? What should we do?" Jakar grunted.

"I'm open to suggestions," Rivas said.

Jakar stepped through the door before Rivas could object. "Seems solid enough."

Rivas reluctantly stepped through and the doors closed behind him. The bridge was dark and only bathed in dim emergency lighting. Jakar stepped up to the tactical console and tried to activate it. All he got were error beeps.

"The main computer appears to be offline," Jakar noted.

Rivas walked down into the command well and tried to activate the first officer's console.

"Ditto on this console...can't access anything," Rivas growled. "This is a goddamn fool's errand!" He walked back up to the way they came. "Let's blow this clown show." Rivas said disgustedly, heading for the door they came through.

Jakar nodded and followed him, but as the doors parted they found themselves staring at the bridge from the aft starboard side turbolift.

"That is not where we came from," Jakar grunted as Rivas looked on in confusion.

"Wait a minute...are there...." Rivas muttered, trying to process what he was seeing.

"Two bridges?" Jakar suggested, finishing his thoughts for him.

"If we go through here, where would we be?" Rivas asked, trying to grasp the situation.

"On the bridge," Jakar answered simply.

"But we are on the bridge," Rivas said, exasperated.

Jakar looked around. "Blown if I know sir, it's your turn to come up with something clever."

Rivas glanced around nervously. "Ok...ok...let's see what happens."

He stepped through the doorway.

* * *

Bridge, U.S.S. Raptor

O'mara had returned to her post on the bridge and was monitoring the sensors when suddenly she started to detect something. "Captain, I've got something."

"Yes? What is it?"

"Something is opening up in the void! I'm getting telemetry readings again."

"On screen."

O'mara transferred the sensor view and it shifted, showing a hole in the blackness of the void, revealing stars beyond.

"Helm, set a course, but don't engage till my mark," Harry said. "Martinez to transporter room. Do we have a lock on the away team yet?"

"Negative sir, I'm still trying to get a fix on their positions." O'bren replied over the com.

"The opening is beginning to close," O'mara reported.

"Dammit," Harry growled. "Let it go. I'm not going to leave our people over there."

"Understood, sir," O'mara replied.

* * *

As Jakar and Rivas stepped through the doors, they slid shut behind them with a quiet hiss.

"Is it the same bridge?" Jakar asked, walking back down into the command well, towards ops and con.

"Sure looks like it," Rivas said uneasily, "or did we step from one bridge to another bridge?"

Jarkar muttered something under his breath and went to check the forward starboard side lift. It opened. He was now looking up at Rivas from the forward port side lift.

"Commander!" He shouted. Jakar's fur was standing on its end. He didn't want to look to his left, afraid he'd see himself standing at the same door, or behind him looking into an infinite loop of himself.

He watched as the other Rivas started to walk down towards where he was on the other bridge. Not knowing what else to do, Jakar stepped through. Rivas watched the doors close behind Jakar and then heard them open behind them and saw Jakar standing behind him.

"How did you? Where..." Rivas wondered, baffled at how the echidna had just managed to teleport.

Jakar slung his phaser rifle over his shoulder, clearly irritated. "What is going on? A ship has one bridge...ONE! BRIDGE!" He stormed toward the starboard lift again, past Rivas, and stopped in front of the doors as they opened again. "One, Rivas! One! Bridge!" He declared, taking a step toward the doors as they began to shut. He tried to catch them and force them open, but the doors insisted on closing. Jakar struggled for a few moments, trying to keep the doors forced open, growing more enraged to the point he was snarling.

"Lieutenant!" Rivas snapped. "Let it go!"

As if he was suddenly hit by a bucket of cold water, Jakar stopped what he was doing and took a deep breather, clenching and unclenching his fists.

"You ok there big guy?" Rivas asked.

"No, I am not," Jakar huffed. "Everything is wrong with this ship!"

* * *

Terri inched forward into the quarters. The air was stale, like a tomb. The shutters were open, only looking out into the blackness of the void, save for the outline of the Raptor in the distance. Everything looked neat and orderly. The table had what looked like the ancient, dusty remnants of a meal, but from the dust it looked like it had been that way for awhile.

She walked over to a wall alcove and found a picture frame with a picture of her and her parents when she was a young girl. She smiled as she picked it up. Everything, strangely seemed, in order as she walked over to the replicator and pulled up the logs. They indicated that it was last used over almost twenty years ago. It looked as if a rather nice meal for two had been prepared and....

Atroquinine capsules.

"Why would they make a neurotoxin?" Terri frowned, checking the other logs. More importantly, she wondered why the replicator would allow it, but it appeared it had been set up to do so. Terri glared around the room and hefted her phaser rifle.

"Mom? Dad?" She called out with worry heavy on her voice. "It's me, Terri! Are you here?"

She waited a few beats. Only the music playing of the speakers answered her. Her eyes roved over the bedroom door that sat shut, unmoving.

"Computer...mute music," she ordered.

The computer responded, dropping the room into deadly silence.

Terri swallowed nervously. "Mom? Dad? It's your daughter, Terri! Please come out!"

She slowly approached the door.

* * *

"...inez to Rivas."

"Finally!" Rivas said, hitting his combadge. "Captain! Am I ever glad to hear you!"

"What's going on over there?" Harry asked.

"There was some sort of malfunction. We have no idea where O'mara and Lu are," Rivas said. "Jakar and I seem to be stuck in a repeating version of the bridge."

"O'mara never beamed over. Something interfered with the transporter," Harry replied.

"That's a small relief," Rivas sighed. "Do you have any idea where Terri is? We've tried to scan for her with our tricorders, but they are practically useless."

"Chief O'bren is working on the problem right now," Harry replied. "We're going to try to get you out there as soon as we can."

"The sooner the better...Captain...." Rivas said, trailing off as he and Jakar heard one of the doors to the bridge open up. They could see someone was backing into the bridge.

* * *

Terri took a deep breath and stepped through the door to the bedroom. They parted to admit her.

The room was cast in heavy shadow by a candle. There were two forms on the bed. The air was thick and stagnant. Reluctantly, she panned her light across them. In her heart she knew what she would see, but that didn't make the shock any lighter. A wail that echoed throughout the quarters tore out of her.

Two mummified, desiccated corpses--a male and female echidna--lay on the bed beside each other. Terri dropped to her knees, clutching the phaser rifle, crying uncontrollably for a few moments. She kept sobbing, but she tried to get control of herself, forcing herself back to her feet. This was the outcome she had expected, but it was an outcome she hadn't wanted all the same.

Wiping her eyes furiously on her sleeves, she spotted two envelopes on the bedside stand. One had "To Starfleet" scrawled on it in marker and the other said "Our beloved daughter Terri" in her mother's hand writing.

She snatched up the two envelopes, sobbing heavily, tears cascading down her face as she fled the room. If she stayed there a moment longer, she knew she would break. The doors hissed mockingly, loudly, as she passed.

"Lieutenant!" She heard Rivas say loudly behind her. She spun around, desperate for something to replace the images still burned into her eyes. The terror was quickly replaced with confusion and disorientation as the doors slid shut behind her. She was on the bridge.

"Where have you been?" Rivas demanded.

"Combadge...doesn't work," Terri choked, relieved to see her crewmates but dazed at the change of scenery. "I was...in the crew area. Why...how am I on the bridge?"

"Good question," Jakar snarled as he stepped through the doors for what felt like the hundredth time.

* * *

"Captain, somethings happening," O'mara said.

"Be more specific," Harry ordered.

"The Venture...it's starting to...vanish...."

"What?" Harry gasped, turning to the screen as the Venture seemed to start slowly fading away.

"Captain, another opening is appearing too," O'mara announced.

"Away team, stand by for transport," Harry said over the com. "O'bren? Do you have a lock?"

"I'm trying sir...there is still a hell of a lot of interference," O'bren replied.

"Figure something out! Reroute power, boost the carrier signal...anything!" Harry said desperately.

"The opening is starting to close...and the Venture has nearly disappeared," O'mara reported.

Herry clenched his jaw. "O'bren...you are going to lose the away team if you can't get them onboard, now!"

O'bren worked the controls. He was finally able to lock onto Rivas, Jakar and Terri.

"I've got a lock! Energising!" He cried.

The transporter hummed and three forms began to materialize. However, they started to destabilize almost immediately. On the bridge, Harry watched as the Venture started to fade from view like some sort of illusion. "Chief, did you get them or not!" He shouted.

O'bren scowled. He narrowed and boosted the containment beam and eventually the three were standing before him on the transporter platform.

"Bridge, this is O'bren, they're home and safe!" He crowed triumphantly as the three of them stepped off the transporter pad. After stopping to stow the rifles, Jakar, Terri and Rivas returned to the bridge.

"Sir, I suggest we find a way out of here as soon as possible, because I've had about enough of this," Rivas snapped as he stormed onto the bridge. "Let's put all this technology to use and get the hell out of here!"

"What happened over there?" Harry asked.

"It's hard to describe. Nothing made sense. Jakar and I found ourselves on multiple bridges and we have no idea what Terri experienced. Somehow, she ended up on the bridge with us." Rivas explained with a sharp edge in his tone.

"Every door was sealed and we couldn't find a way to access anything. It was like we were being corralled and led to wherever we were supposed to go," Jakar added. "Like some sort of lab animal in a maze."

Harry nodded, glancing at Terri. She was clutching two envelopes in her hands.

"What did you find over there Terri?" Harry asked.

Terri looked down at the ground. "Something I really shouldn't have gone looking for," she muttered sadly, handing both envelopes to him.

Harry looked them over and saw the one with her name on it.

"I understand. I'll return this to you once we have it reviewed, if we get out of here. Station please."

Terri merely nodded and went to the communications station. Harry took the two envelopes and stowed them in a storage compartment on the side of the captain's chair. At least, if anything, they might get out of this with some new insight on what had happened to the Venture.

"Captain," O'mara reported.

"Let me guess? Another starfix?" Harry asked, sitting in the captain's chair.

"Land, be my guest."

"Aye sir!" Land said, somewhat relieved, activating the warp drive.

O'mara cursed and slapped her console in frustration. "The opening is closing again! It will be closed before we get there."

"At ease Lieutenant," Harry ordered as he rubbed his chin in thought. "Helm, all stop."

"Aye Skip, all stop."

"Another opening has appeared," O'mara announced, almost tired of hearing her own voice at this point.

"Hold position."

Land turned in his chair with a confused look on his face.

"You heard me, Mr. Land. Hold position," Harry said firmly.

"Captain...don't you think we should at least attempt to make an escape if we can?" Rivas spoke up.

"Wholeheartedly, Commander," Harry replied, sitting up in the chair, "but I think there is something severely amiss here."

"Care to fill the rest of us in?" Rivas said, trying to restrain his frustration.

"Let's just say something about this that feels oddly familiar," Harry said, glaring at the monitor as another starfix opened. "No need to report it Ms. O'mara, I see it."

Just then, Fara entered the bridge again and took her station. "Wow, you are all suddenly really quiet." She mused.

"We're waiting on bated breath for what Harry was about to say," Rivas said curtly.

"This reminds me of my Captain's test at the Academy," Harry explained, "the whole time I was in a holographic simulation that was trying to push my buttons to see how I reacted to certain stimuli and situations. I saw through the whole thing, much to Admiral Kramer's dismay."

"What happened to you?" Rivas asked.

Harry chuckled. "I told him to shove it and to shut down the program, because I wasn't going to play anymore. After about three days of being stuck in that simulation, I had had enough."

Rivas looked nonplused. "So, you think this is some sort of experiment or test?"

Harry nodded.

"Do you think it could be Coyote again?" Rivas said.

"Oh, most certainly not," Harry smirked. "This isn't twisted enough for his tastes."

"What makes you so sure?" Rivas asked.

"Are you kidding? He'd show up to brag or otherwise annoy us," Harry said drolly. "This isn't his style at all." Harry scowled. "No, this is something else entirely."

Rivas tried to retort, but just shook his head. He couldn't argue

"The opening has moved closer," O'mara reported, sounding relieved.

"Has it now?" Harry said amusedly. "We'll just sit right here. I tire of this game anyway, and I am done playing it."

Just then, a strange face with a metallic covering over a weird dome-like head resembling a sort of armored mushroom or cowl and glowing red eyes appeared on the viewer. In some strange way, it appeared slightly feminie.

"Why are you so alarmed? I do not appear that much different than you little creatures," a feminine voice said over the com with a strange metallic twine.

"Captain, there is nothing there," Jakar said, checking his sensors.

"I concur," O'mara said, equally baffled.

"Well then, that's a whole lot of ugly nothing," Fara muttered under her breath.

"I am Commander Martinez of the Confederation Starship Raptor. Can you Identify who or what you are?" Harry said after a beat.

"Megrim," the visage replied. "I am familiar with what you are, Martinez, but Rivas, Phoenix, you, are of different construction to the species I have observed of this Confederation. What are you?"

"We are from Corneria," Rivas replied a bit uneasily.

"Interesting," Megrim hummed. "Does your species also only have a limited existence?"

Rivas looked at Harry, who wasn't too sure what was being asked as well.

"Answer me," Megrim insisted sternly.

"What...information do you want? I don't understand." Rivas replied.

"You exist, and then you cease to exist," Megrim said with a hint of annoyance in her tone. "I believe the Termians call it death. Do you also experience this?"

Rivas swallowed. This line of questioning made him very uneasy. "Yes...we die."

"I have observed many forms of this phenomena. I must admit I find it extremely fascinating." There was a pause. "Would you and Phoenix be willing to demonstrate your mating rituals?" Megrim asked.

"Hell no!" Fara shouted.

"What is it you want?" Harry asked, cutting in.

"I have thoroughly studied your kind, Avians, and Altairians. I wish to study this new species, since your vessel has them." Megrim replied. "Roughly over a third of your crew would be subject to testing, if you allow it."

"And if we refuse?" Harry said.

Megrim's strange, nearly featureless face seemed to shift a bit with quiet amusement. "Then here you will stay. I can wait, forever, Captain."

* * *

Many Hours Later

Harry sat in his ready room, bleary eyed and tired. In front of him was the envelope marked "Starfleet". Inside was an optical data chip that had almost 20 years of log entries made by Terri's parents, as well as those of other members of the crew. It was harrowing to go through. He had the computer sort through based on specific inquiries to consolidate whatever he could.

The Venture had been put in much the same situation they had been, but the Captain of the Venture had believed that by complying they may get their freedom. What had happened had been left to posterity in the records that he was now going through.

Jack Royce & Janet-Lu had been placed in a control group, where they were allowed to live in captivity for observation with their basic needs taken care of. Honestly, it was a far kinder experiment than what many others had been subjected to based on the other logs. Megrim assumed, since they had a child before, she could possibly get them to do it again since they were both still young enough to do so. However, they had refused to comply. In the end, after many years of captivity and hopelessness, they took their own lives by ingesting a neurotoxin.

This one story was almost more than Harry could stomach. He couldn't bring himself to go over the others. Let the starfleet archivists deal with that, when and if they got the chance.

He'd gone over the other envelopes contents. It was a simple letter to their daughter, expressing their love and hope for her, containing nothing of what was gone over in the logs. He could understand why they did what they did.

"Martinez to Lu," Harry said, hitting his combadge.

"Yes sir?" Terri replied.

"Come to my ready room please."

"Of course."

After a few moments, Terri entered the ready room.

"Have a seat," Harry offered.

Terri said nothing and sat down

"Since we are at a stalemate with Megrim out there. I took some time to review the material your parents left us." Harry said. "I was trying to get some perspective on what to do next."

Terri nodded.

"As far as the one addressed to you goes, you may have it," he smiled somberly. "I suggest you do read it...I also am relieving you of duty."

Terri looked startled. "Why sir?"

"Because with what I fear I may have to do," Harry sighed. "I want you to at least have some peace with what you went through."

Terri looked nervous, but then nodded. "I...understand. What about the rest of it?"

"It's best I not go into it," Harry replied sadly. "If anything, it has only helped me be more adamant in my decision."

Terri nodded.

"You are dismissed," Harry said, handing her the envelope.

Terri took it and quietly got out of the seat, clutching the letter gently. She headed for the door and stopped.

"Captain?"

"Yes?"

"Is there any way we can destroy this Megrim?" She choked.

"I don't believe so," Harry sighed. "The most we can do is deny her what she wants. I'm sorry."

Terri sniffed. "I thought so." She wiped her eyes. "Thank you, sir," she said as she stepped out into the corridor.

Harry watched her go, then hit the com key on his desk.

"All command staff meet in the observation lounge in ten minutes. Martinez out."

Once they had assembled in the observation lounge, Harry shared the basics of what he had learned from the logs. Even the barebones version left his command staff in shocked horror.

"So, with what lies ahead now being known, our options are do nothing and wait until our ship's power reserves run out, comply, or destroy ourselves." Harry took a deep breath. "Being as the first two are equally as bleak, at least the latter is merciful."

"Not this again! Are you really suggesting we destroy the ship?" Okan protested.

"I am not thrilled with it either," Jakar grunted, "however, I am not thrilled about letting this thing, whatever it is, just have it's way with our shipmates."

"Thanks for that Jakar, I'll remember to get you a Solsday gift this year," Fara said genuinely.

"I will hold you to that if we live to see it," Jakar grinned, trying to bring some levity to the situation.

"I agree with you doctor," Harry said. "If there was any other way, I would take it."

"I don't like any of this," Rivas added. "I'm with you Captain, if that's what you want to do."

"Mr. Land?" Harry asked.

Land sat with his arms folded across his chest looking up at the ceiling. "You know my answer. If I could fly us out of here, we'd been long gone by now. I don't want to be some freaky metal chicks chew toy."

"Fara?" Harry asked.

"I agree with Land and Rivas. It's been a wild ride, but if it's gotta end, let it end with a bang," Fara said sadly.

"Doctor?"

Okan turned away, grinding his teeth. "As long as I don't have to start it this time...fine!"

Harry turned to O'mara. "Lieutenant?"

"I'm really starting to regret not transferring at this point," O'mara sighed with a nervous chuckle, "but I don't see any better options either."

"Very well then. Are we all in agreement?"

Everyone nodded.

"Commander Rivas, Chief Engineer Phoenix, if you will stay? The rest of you are dismissed, please return to your stations."

Okan, Land, Jakar all got up and left. Harry hit a comswitch in the table in front of him.

"Attention all hands, this is the Captain. I am sure many of you are aware by now of our situation and it is not ideal. Our options are all equally as dire. We can't escape this void, so our options are to capitulate to Megrim's demands or sit here for the next few months, waiting for our ship to run out of power and slowly perish. I am not a fan of either option, but I will not hand over my crew to be this things test subjects. I want you all to know that if escape were possible, I would not take the course of action I am about to take. Regrettably, with no recourse available, I and my command have decided to destroy the ship. I will make a note in the log to recommend you all for the highest commendation possible for your service and for being the finest crew I have ever served with. Everyone but the essential engineering and bridge crew is relieved of duty. I wish...I could do more for you all...you deserve far better. Martinez...out."

He flipped the switch to close the channel and sighed heavily, leaning back in his chair.

"Well...that's it then," Rivas sighed.

"Now for the fun part," Harry growled with a tone that suggested the contrary. He stood up and placed his hand on the wall display. "Computer, authorize Activation of Destruct Sequence."

"VOICE CODE RECOGNITION: POSITIVE. ENTER DESTRUCT SEQUENCES," the computer announced.

"Commanding Officer, Harry Martinez. Authorization Delta Theta Three. Destruct Code, Zero Zero Zero Destruct," Harry said.

"CODE ACCEPTED. INPUT NEXT SEQUENCE."

Harry stepped aside. Rivas heaved a sigh and stepped up, placing his hand on the panel as well.

"Executive Officer, Donald Rivas. Authorization Echo Alpha Seven. Destruct code, Zero Zero...One...Destruct."

"CODE ACCEPTED. INPUT FINAL SEQUENCE."

"After you Fara," Rivas growled as he stepped aside.

"Please tell me you know how to do this," Harry whispered to Fara.

"Damnit Harry! Give me some credit," Fara hissed, punching him on the shoulder and putting her hand on the panel. "Chief Engineer, Fara Phoenix. Authorization Tango Foxtrot Delta. Destruct Code, Zero Zero Four...Destruct."

"DESTRUCT CODE SEQUENCE ACTIVATED," the computer announced. "PLEASE DESIGNATE A TIME."

"Good question...how long is long enough to wait to die?" Rivas asked sourly.

"About twenty minutes. That's a nice round number," Fara suggested.

"Fair enough," Harry said. "Computer, twenty minute countdown. Visual, silent countdown, announce last sixty seconds."

"ACKNOWLEDGED. SELF DESTRUCT SEQUENCE INITIATED."

A red image of the Raptor appeared on the screen, announcing the auto destruct and showing the timer. The red alert automatically signaled, although thankfully it was muted.

"I'll be on the bridge," Rivas said.

Harry nodded and he left. Harry turned to Fara, who seemed to be chewing her lip.

"Are you going to be ok?"

"Not in twenty minutes," Fara scowled.

"What's on your mind?"

Her green eyes locked on his and for a moment she seemed to be searching for something she really wanted to say, but she just sighed.

"What?"

"Nothing," she said, sounding more disappointed with herself than anything. "I'll be on the bridge...I guess. Being busy is better than doing nothing at all."

* * *

Harry sat in his quarters, glumly enjoying a Cherry Fizz soda while just staring at the wall. The dark gloom of his quarters was only broken by the repetitive flashing of the red alert and the countdown display on his monitor. Time was running out. It was now down to less than ten minutes.

The opening in the void still sat open. He told the bridge to keep an eye out for any changes. Sure, they could make a run for it, or at least attempt it, but he was making it known that they were done playing Megrim's little game.

His door chime went off.

"Come in," he sighed.

Terri-Lu stepped inside. Strangely, she was still in her duty uniform.

"Lieutenant? I thought I ordered you to be relieved of duty?" Harry asked.

"I am relieved. I just haven't changed yet," she replied. "May we talk?"

Harry looked her over. She seemed strangely placid and calm.

"Be my guest," he said, sipping his soda and motioning to the seat across from him.

Terri nodded and sat down.

"How can I help you?" Harry asked.

"I've just got a lot on my mind...mainly about what we're doing."

"I told you, I wasn't thrilled about it myself," Harry said, taking a drink.

"Megrim only wants the Cornerians. It just seems wrong to sacrifice the rest of the crew," Terri stated matter of factly.

Harry raised a brow mid-swallow. "Oh? Why is that?"

"It just seems cruel to do that to the others who would be let go. Is that not what our goals are as a civilization?" Terri asked.

"It is," Harry admitted, setting his drink on a side table. "However, I am not about to hand over my people to this...entity...just to save my own hide."

"But don't the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few by our own doctrines?" Terri said patiently.

"There are exceptions to every rule," Harry said. "If you ever want to sit in the big chair someday? That's something you'll have to understand."

"I see," Terri nodded. She seemed to ponder something. "It just seems like a loss of a third of the crew to save the majority would be an acceptable loss."

I got you, Harry thought.

"So, you're telling me that you would condemn the man you love to a fate worse than death? Especially when your own mother and father fought until the end to deny Megrim what she wanted?" Harry stood up. "Computer locate Lieutenant Terri-Lu and status."

"LIEUTENANT TERRI-LU IS IN HER QUARTERS, SLEEPING." The computer replied.

"Your research leaves much to be desired, Megrim. I suggest you tighten up your copy work," Harry smirked.

The image of Terri-Lu glared angrily at him and suddenly vanished.

"Captain, this is Rivas," a voice came over the com.

"Yes? What is it?"

"We are clear of the Nekros rift."

Harry glanced out his portholes and saw stars. "I'm heading to the bridge."

It was several minutes later when Harry entered the bridge.

"Skip, we're clear of the rift. You can disengage the self-destruct," Land said excitedly.

Harry walked behind Land's chair and rested his hands on the back of it, looking at the starfield. "Set a course, any heading, warp six," Harry ordered.

"Aye, sir," Land said, plotting a quick course and engaging the warp systems.

"WARNING SIXTY SECONDS REMAINING TILL SELF DESTRUCT." The computer announced.

"Captain?" Rivas said in his ear.

"I know," Harry said, "maintain speed and heading."

"WARNING: FIFTY SECONDS REMAINING TILL SELF DESTRUCT." The computer announced.

"Ms. O'mara, what is our location?" Harry asked.

"We'll pass the Narrada system shortly on our current heading. The next closest area will be the Dolsi Cognate," O'mara reported.

"Sure seems like we're out," Harry muttered darkly, drumming his fingers on the back of Land's chair.

"WARNING: FORTY SECONDS REMAINING TILL SELF DESTRUCT."

"Captain, I think it's pretty evident that we're clear of the void," Rivas said patiently. "We need to abort self-destruct."

"I'm aware of that. At ease, Commander," Harry said with equal restraint. "Fara? How are those engines looking?"

"We're at full power and can maintain this speed for 20 hours," Fara replied, "unless you keep screwing around." She added.

"WARNING: THIRTY SECONDS REMAINING TILL SELF DESTRUCT."

Harry went back to his chair and sat down as Rivas glared daggers at him.

"This just seems entirely too convenient," Harry yawned, "however, I'm not disregarding what any of you are telling me. I just want to be sure, myself." He settled back into his seat.

"WARNING: TWENTY SECONDS REMAINING TILL SELF DESTRUCT."

"Captain! I'm pretty sure we're free. I appreciate what you are doing, but there is such a thing as going pushing things too far. I think you've made your point," Rivas said sternly.

Harry said nothing and steepled his fingers, watching the starstreak on the main viewer.

"TEN SECONDS REMAINING,."

"NINE."

"EIGHT."

"Computer, abort auto destruct sequence!" Harry barked.

"ACKNOWLEDGED. DOES THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER OR CHIEF ENGINEER CONCUR?"

"YES!" Both Fara and Rivas shouted.

"SELF DESTRUCT ABORTED. HAVE A NICE DAY."

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief and then a weird look crossed Harry's face.

"Have a nice day?" He said looking at Fara.

"I...I don't even want to know," Fara muttered. "I'll look into it now that we're not going to blow up."

* * *

Later

Land entered Terri's quarters cautiously. The lights were dimmed. He made his way back to her bed and sat down, listening to her snoring. He saw a tumbler on the nightstand and after some inspection found it had a bit more of the whiskey he had brought earlier.

"Hey," he whispered, placing a hand on her hip and gently shaking her.

Terri growled and rolled over. She had a sleep mask over her eyes.

"Are we dead yet?" She asked groggily.

"No," Jack chuckled, unbuttoning his tunic. "Harry pulled another miracle out of his butt."

"Great," Terri yawned, "what time is it anyway?"

"2100. That's why I'm here," Land grinned, "I'm beat! I'm ready for some down time."

"Are we heading home?" Terri asked.

"Yeah," Jack confirmed. "Harry called Starfleet. They're going to cease all traffic to the rift and we've been recalled home."

"Good."

"Are you ever going to tell me what is going on?" Jack asked patiently, removing his boots.

"Later...once I process everything," Terri replied, yawning again. "Get showered and come to bed."

* * *

Harry stood in his ready room looking out the window.

"I hope you got what you were looking for, Megrim," he muttered aloud.

There was a strange sound from his terminal. He turned to see Megrim's strange metallic face staring up at him.

"You've provided me with more than I could have ever hoped, Captain," she said with an amused tone to her voice.

"Why did you let us go?" He asked, leaning towards the terminal.

"Because your destruction wasn't necessary. I've completed my study," Megrim said expressionlessly. "Would you be interested in my observations?"

"I'll pass, thanks," Harry said.

"Very well. It's probably for the best," Megrim replied. "I thought you might have been curious."

"I don't care to hear them." Harry glared at the image. "I can understand what you are doing, but what you put the Venture through was purely barbaric."

"Is it now?" Megrim said, showing some amusement. "Your species experiment on lesser creatures for their own benefit. Just because those creatures cannot talk back doesn't make your actions any less barbaric. I at least informed you of your options."

"By giving us none?" Harry growled.

Megrim's expression was very hard to read, but if anything, a slight twitch in her expression suggested a shrug. "Since you do not wish to hear my findings, that is your assumption."

"What you are doing isn't science by any definition of the word. It's amoral, unethical and cruel by its very nature. If you want to learn about us, then meet us out here in the stars." Harry said evenly. "We now know who you are and your kind have a lot to answer for, given what you've done."

Megrim chuckled. It was a strange, mechanical sound. "We shall see. Farwell, Captain. We will not meet again." Megrim chuckled as her image vanished from the monitor.

Harry deactivated the terminal in disgust.

"I sincerely hope not."

The End