Star Trek: Cadet Cruise (closed for Iwasagoodgirl)

[The Jeffinator]

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19:14
2373 August 31
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Personal Log, Stardate 50646.4

I have arrived at Starfleet Academy for my fourth and final year of schooling. Like many other cadets, I am excited at the prospect of being elected to Red Squad and assigned to a training cruise. My instructors last year were impressed with my technical aptitude, and predicted that I would be selected for advanced training this year. I hope I do not fail them.

Cade Elmwick ended his personal log and spun his chair around, away from the computer console on his desk. In previous years, he had to share a room with five other men, but fourth-year cadets were only two students per dorm room, so he actually had some personal space. The door to the room was in the center of one wall, and directly across it on the far wall was a replicator. On either side of the replicator was a computer desk, and then past each desk a twin-sized bed. A chest of drawers sat at the foot of each bed, facing a closet on each side. There was only one door and one replicator, serving as a sort of central border between the two sides of the room.

I wonder who's going to be rooming with me this year, he thought to himself as he looked over at the empty bed on the right side of the room. He shrugged and walked out the door, down to the bathroom at the end of the hall. After relieving himself and washing his hands, he stood for a moment in front of the mirror, looking at his reflection.

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He was still wearing his civilian clothing, as policy mandated he wasn't required to be in uniform until classes officially started the next morning. He ran a hand through his hair and observed the light facial hair he was growing with a smile, frowning when he realized he would have to shave it off before class.

“Oh well,” he said before leaving the bathroom. “Once I graduate and receive a commission, I'm totally growing it back.”

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07:45
2373 September 1
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Cade emerged from his dorm room with a clean-shaven face and dressed in his yellow operations school uniform, his neck adorned with the four bars marking him as a fourth-year cadet. His new roommate still had not shown up yet, but he let that fade from his mind as he walked from the male dorms in Ralton Hall through the gardens. Cadets were swarming towards the auditorium, where Superintendent Morris would give his commencement speech and name the students who had been selected for the advanced training squadrons. One cadet in particular caught his eye.

Blonde hair. Cute face. Nice figure, he thought to himself. Yep, we have a go.

Cade followed the girl inside, watching to see where she was going to sit. After waiting a moment, he walked up and sat right next to her. “Geez, you'd think after all these years Morris would have learned to shave properly, but nope – crooked mustache as always. Sorry, forgot to introduce myself – Cade Elmwick, Engineering major. What about you?”

 

[Iwasagoodgirl]

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Brianna Stuart was an ambitious young lady who wanted to rise through the ranks of Starfleet and eventually captain her own ship. It wasn't going to be easy for a woman even in the the twenty fourth century but she was ambitious and nothing, no one was going to stand in her way.

She had a scientific background and at university had majored in physics, chemistry and extra terrestrial biology. She also kept herself physically fit and at the academy excelled in weapons training. She sacrificed everything for her ambition and while her fellow students were going out with boys she spent her spare time in the library ensuring she would master her subject.

Eventually the day arrived for her to be assigned to a training cruise but first she had to endure with her fellow students the pep talk from Superintendent Morris before he announced the names of the cadets who would receive advance training.

Brianna entered the auditorium and sat down. Next she was joined by another student, a handsome fit cadet who introduced himself as Cade Elmwick, Engineering Major. He said something about Morris's mustache and asked Brianna about herself.

"Brianna Stuart, Majored at Science." She shook his hand and then turned her attention to Morris. Suddenly she heard her name and Elmwick's called out. "Seems we're going to be serving together" she said as the group was dismissed. "I'm going for a five mile run, I do that every day except Sunday. I'll see you later no doubt".

That night Brianna entered in her personal log 'I've been selected for advanced training. One of my fellow students looks like he is going to be very pleasing to the eye. No doubt many of the girls will make a play for him. For me there is only one thing I'm aiming for. To be the best cadet of the year'

Briana switched her log off, took a shower and went to bed.

 

[The Jeffinator]

Cade raised his eyebrows as both he and the lovely blonde next to him were elected to Red Squad. In total Morris named forty cadets who were selected for advanced training, splitting them up across four training vessels -- ten students on each. And it seemed both Cade and Brianna were assigned to the USS Sandamay.

Score! he thought to himself as he looked at Brianna out of the corner of his eye. This is going to be easier than I thought! He returned his attention to Morris until the speech was over and the students were dismissed. Those who did not get elected to Red Squad received their class schedules and began exiting the auditorium, while the lucky forty were given the rest of the day off to prepare for their training cruises, which commenced the following morning at 0800 hours. Before leaving, Cade turned to Brianna and smiled.

"Seems we're going to be serving together" she said as the group was dismissed. "I'm going for a five mile run, I do that every day except Sunday. I'll see you later no doubt".

"Okay... See you later..." He sort of frowned as she walked away, not showing the least bit of interest in him. Okay, maybe not as easy as I thought, haha.

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07:15
2373 September 2
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Cade walked into the Academy Shuttlebay with a medium bag strapped over his shoulder, looking around at the other cadets boarding shuttles to Earth Spacedock. He noticed Brianna stepping into one and rushed in after her.

"Hello again," he smiled at her. "Six weeks on the Sandamay to prove ourselves. Are you excited? I sure am." A moment later, the shuttle lifted up and out of the building, soaring high over the San Francisco Bay as it headed towards the edge of the atmosphere. Before long, they were in orbit.

"The stars looks so beautiful from up here," Cade said in awe.

"This is Academy Shuttle Seven, requesting permission to board," the pilot said over the comm to the flight controller on the Spacedock.

"Permission granted," the controller replied. "Please proceed to Shuttlebay Thirteen." Soon the shuttle touched down inside the bay, and the passengers headed out to the central lobby. Cadets and their families were pouring out of the other shuttlebays, saying goodbyes before they headed off to their ships.

Cade felt a little out of place here, being that he had no family to see him off. His mother had died when he was young, and his father had passed during Cade's first year at the Academy. He had no aunts, uncles, cousins, or siblings, and was the sole inheritor of his family's estate in London, England.

Shaking off his thoughts, he smiled and turned to Brianna. "Is your family coming to see you off?"

 

[Iwasagoodgirl]

Brianna's alarm went off at 0400 hours and before breakfast she put on her track suite and made her way to the gymnasium where she did her weight lifting and treadmill running. On return to her room she took her shower before using the replicator for her breakfast of yoghurt, fruits and orange juice.

She dressed in her uniform, checked her paperwork and locked her roo before making her way to the shuttle. Her little case had a spare uniform and a tunic and skirt. Being a tomboy she hoped there wouldn't be many formal occasions when she would have to wear it. At 07:00 hours she boarded the shuttle and immediately noticed Cade making his way towards her. She had to admit the uniform suited him well emphasizing his rugged body.

Cade tied to make conversation stating the obvious about how long they would be on board and expressing his awe at the stars. Brianna just nodded deep in thought. It was only when they saw the other cadets being seen off by family that they she realised they had something in common. "No" she said "I don't have a family." She didn't want to tell him her parents died in a fire when she was only three years old. Brianna spent her young life in various children's homes in London until she got to university. "You'll have to excuse me" she said as she left for the registry. There she signed for her key code and made her way to her quarters.

About two hours later the cadets were summoned to the secondary deck where they were introduced to the crew. The Captain assigned the cadets to their duties "Cadets Stuart and Elmwick" Brianna and Cade stepped forward "as you one of you is trained in engineering and the other in science you will be given an exercise to complete to show how you can work together under pressure. Get to know each other so when the mock emergency takes place you can work together." After everyone received their briefing the Captain announced "Meanwhile this evening we will be holding a formal dinner and dance in the main dinning hall. Full dress uniform."

Brianna's whispered to Cade "I don't believe it! My first day and I have to wear a skirt. I hate bloody skirts!" Returning to her room she got her dress uniform out and hung it up. As official duties started the next day Brianna took herself to the on board sports complex and engaged the tennis practice Programme with a robotic opponent. After winning in straight sets she returned to her room, showered, unpacked everything and then prepared herself for the dinner dance.

Dressed in her dress uniform tunic and skirt Brianna felt very self conscious over the shortness of her skirt and the low cut front of the tunic which showed off her cleavage. Arriving a little early she went to the bar where she saw Cade surrounded by half a dozen girls. For a second she felt a brief twinge of jealousy but immediately dismissed it as foolishness reminding herself she was here to further her career and not to find her first lover. Approaching the bar she ordered a vodka and tonic on the rocks and sat on a stall. On the bar she noticed the seating plan for the dinner and saw she and Cade would be next to each other. She raised her glass to her lips deep in thought and took her first sip.

 

[The Jeffinator]

When Brianna mentioned she had no family as well, Cade realized they had something in common. But they didn't get the chance to discuss it right then as she headed off to register. He shrugged and continued forward, getting his codes and boarding the USS Sandamay through the docking port. Once on the vessel, a Lieutenant was waiting to direct the cadets to their assigned quarters, informing them that the Captain would soon announce a meeting where the students would be introduced to the senior staff.

After arriving at his quarters – which reminded him of a small hotel room – Cade set down his bag and took a moment to let it sink in that he was actually on his first starship assignment. He would have to return to the Academy in six weeks, but at that moment, he felt like a true Starfleet officer.

Suddenly, Cade's thoughts were interrupted by a voice over the comm system. “Attention crew; this is Captain Morgan. We will be departing the Spacedock in approximately fifteen minutes. Please conclude any business you have on the station and prepare for said departure.”

In what seemed like no time, the Sandamay was undocking from the station and creeping away at Impulse speed. The Warp Drive was activated once they were a safe distance away, and off into the stars they went. It wasn't long after that when Captain Morgan announced the time for the meeting, which would take place in about two hours. Once there, the Captain handed out assignments to the ten cadets, joining them in pairs of two. Cade was quite pleased when he was paired with Brianna, and that feeling doubled when Morgan mentioned a formal dance.

After they were dismissed, Brianna turned and whispered to Cade, "I don't believe it! My first day and I have to wear a skirt. I hate bloody skirts!"

“At least the view will be nice,” he whispered back, smirking. “Well, at least from my perspective.”

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18:04
2373 September 2
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After clothing himself in his Starfleet dress uniform, Cade headed to the mess hall, which had been redesigned for the evening to accommodate the party. Almost immediately, he seemed very popular with the ladies, but then the lady he was most interested in – Brianna – walked in. He politely withdrew from the group of women and went to sit next to her, ordering himself an Azurian Traxalshine.

“Looks like we'll be sitting next to each other at the dinner,” he said as he sipped the light blue liquid. “I wonder what the Captain has in mind for our assignment.”

 

[Iwasagoodgirl]

Brianna wasn't surprised when Cade came and sat next to her at the bar. Since her early teens men had tried to engage with her and she was accustomed to it. She was always polite but courteously gave them short shrift. But for some reason she didn't want to do this with Cade. Maybe it was the excitement of the mission or the knowledge that they would be working together. Deep down she knew her ambition and her future would depend on the next six weeks and how she worked with the others, especially Cade.

Looks like we'll be sitting next to each other at the dinner Cade said sipping his drink I wonder what the captain has in mind for assignment?"

It was obvious Cade hadn't listened to what Captain Morgan had said. Brianna raised her glass to her mouth, took another sip and then answered "He mentioned the term 'mock emergency', that implies they are going to stage manage something. If it was just an engineering task it would probably be an engine failure. But as it involves both of us I think it might be a mock attack or a mock distress call from a planetoid." As she raised her glass again the call went out for the cadets to take their seats for the meal.

Brianna was still conscious of the length of her skirt and the opening at her top and she was sure Cade was enjoying the view. They made their way to the table where the male cadets withdrew the chairs to help women into their seats. Everyone exchanged smiles and then the captain walked in. Everyone stood as he took his seat and bid the cadets to sit down.

Throughout the meal the small hologram orchestra played softly. The food was served by the crew, the only time they would do this, an old tradition dating back to the British Military practice of the twentieth century. Brianna was quiet, in deep thought throughout the meal just answering mainly with a 'yes' or a 'no' to most questions she was asked.

After the meal Captain Morgan led the diners in toasts to Starfleet, the senior officers and finally to USS Sandamay. He then said "In a few minutes we will commence the dance. For the first dance I ask you to partner your opposite cadet, the cadet you will be working with.

Brianna felt butterflies in her stomach, dancing was not one of her favourite past times. Then she heard the music being played was a slow waltz. The last time she danced a slow waltz her partner tried to rub himself against her and she had deliberately kneed him where it hurts. There was no way she could do that this time.

 

[The Jeffinator]

"He mentioned the term 'mock emergency', that implies they are going to stage manage something. If it was just an engineering task it would probably be an engine failure. But as it involves both of us I think it might be a mock attack or a mock distress call from a planetoid."

“Well, yeah, I remember him mentioning a mock emergency,” Cade added, “But I'm curious what the specifics of the assignment will entail. Will we be stationed at consoles on the Bridge or beam down as part of an away team? I guess we'll find out in the morning.”

Before he knew it, the dinner commenced and then the Captain announced that for the first dance, the cadets would pair with their opposite. Cade smiled as he heard the slow waltz play and stood to his feet, extending a hand to Brianna. “May I have this dance?” Sure, they already knew they were going to dance together, but he wanted to be a gentlemen about it.

Cade led Brianna out to the dance floor, pulling them close together. He was graceful and respectful in his movements as they twisted and turned slowly to the sound of the music. He looked down into her eyes, his firm yet gentle hands guiding her in the dance. Before, he had seen her as a hot piece of ass, but at that moment, he realized just how truly beautiful she really was. He normally wasn't the type of guy to get involved past a certain point -- never truly committing to a woman -- but there was something different about this one. The longer he danced with her, the deeper he could see into her eyes, and the stronger his attraction to her became.

They danced together through several slow songs, until the music changed to an upbeat party theme, the perfect sound to follow a series of slower beats. Cade smiled as he had the chance to show off some moves, stepped back for a moment, and revealed a slew of impressive and incredibly fluid movements in what appeared to be a fusion of dancing and martial arts. Some of the crowd cheered and pulled off their own unique dance steps, and then the Captain unleashed his breakdancing skills.

“Woo! Check out the Captain!” someone yelled out.

“Go Captain! Go Captain!” another yelled.

Everyone had a great time as the night unfolded, but it seemed to end too quickly. Soon people were heading back to their quarters as the mess hall staff began cleaning up. Cade and Brianna were walking slowly down the corridor towards the cadet rooms, laughing and talking about the party.

“I'm really glad we were paired together,” he said as they stopped at her door. “I had a lot of fun tonight. Well, I'll see you tomorrow. Good luck on your end of the assignment.” He turned and headed towards his room, looking back over his shoulder to smile at Brianna before disappearing around a corner.

“Oh man...” Cade said to himself after he entered his quarters and leaned against a wall. “I really like this girl...”

 

[Iwasagoodgirl]

Brianna enjoyed the dance much more than she expected and it was all down to her partner. As soon as they came together she thought she felt something pressing against her but she didn't mind because Cade didn't try to make it obvious.

As they held each other she was aware of her cleavage and knew Cade saw it but again something made her accept it. Cade took the dancing serious and held her gaze, and as she held his she was aware of stirrings deep within her, sensations she had never felt before.

But it wasn't all slow dancing. Much of the fun was watching the athletism of Captain Morgan and Brianna joined Cade and the others in cheering him on. She did dance with other cadets and the Captain exercised his right to dance with every female cadet and he jivedd with Brianna.

But most of her time was spent dancing with Cade. Brianna was a tomboy, very athletic, very fit and when she was a teenager she had won cups for martial arts. While Cade danced the lively dances she recognised some of the moves and saw that he too must have been a champion. Perhaps when they had some spare time they could compete against each other. Brianna always enjoyed a challenge.

All good things come to an end and the time finally came for the dance to end. The engineers pressed some buttons and the hologram orchestra faded away. Cade walked with Brianna to their quarters and said "I'm really glad we were paired together I had a lot of fun tonight. Well I'll see you tomorrow. Good luck on your end of the assignment.

Brianna smiled, lowered her eyes in a form of embarrassment, took a deep breath and said "I enjoyed your company too. Good luck to you too." She saw Cade turn and smile at her before she entered her room.

As Brianna locked her door she saw her life sensor monitor flashing. Taking a closer look she saw it was warning of an 'unknown life form nearby'. Sitting on her bed she checked the monitor for faults and found none. Tapping the communicator on her badge Brianna said "Cadet Stuart to Cadet Elmick."

When Cade answered Brianna said "Cade, it's Brianna. Sorry to disturb you tonight but I might have a 'heads up' on our assignment. My life sensor monitor is warning of an unknown life form nearby. Either Starfleet have programmed the sensors to test us, or they've created a fault on purpose, or my monitor is on the blink. I know it's late, but could you look at it for me please? I know the science, you know the engineering."

Brianna waited for Cade to reply and to say if he would look tonight or the next day.

 

[The Jeffinator]

After leaning against the wall for a moment, Cade walked over and sat at his desk. He grabbed the PADD that had been laying there and turned the display on, running his finger along the touchscreen to scroll through the latest news stories reported by the Federation News Service.

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Suddenly, he heard his communicator chirp.

"Cadet Stuart to Cadet Elmwick."

“Go for Elmwick,” he replied after tapping his badge.

"Cade, it's Brianna. Sorry to disturb you tonight but I might have a 'heads up' on our assignment. My life sensor monitor is warning of an unknown life form nearby. Either Starfleet have programmed the sensors to test us, or they've created a fault on purpose, or my monitor is on the blink. I know it's late, but could you look at it for me please? I know the science, you know the engineering."

“Yeah, sure. I'll be right over.” Grabbing his tricorder out of his bag, Cade headed out into the corridor and over to Brianna's quarters. Once inside, he sat down at her desk and began inspecting the monitor. “Hmmm. Well, it does indicate there is an unknown life form in very close proximity – possibly inside the ship – and your monitor doesn't seem to be malfunctioning. However, the Bridge should be getting this data on their sensors too, and if there really is an unknown life form onboard, we'd have gone to Red Alert or at least Yellow Alert by now...”

Cade flipped open his tricorder and began scanning the room.
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“That's odd,” he said after a moment, pointing across the room. “According to these readings, there is a life form in that corner. Right where that plant is...” Walking over, he scanned the plant up close. “Yeah, this is definitely no ordinary plant. All vegetation has some sort of bioelectric field at the microscopic level, but this is like nothing I've ever seen before. It seems to have complex neural pathways – electronic pulses bouncing back and forth like a brain. This plant appears to be a sentient being capable of conscious thought, as strange as that sounds.”

Cade tapped his badge. “Cadet Elmwick to Bridge.”

“This is Commander Podrick, go ahead.”

“Have you picked up any strange anomalies or readings in the last few minutes?”

“None at all. Is everything alright, Cadet?”

“I'm not sure,” he replied. “Cadet Stuart returned from the party to find her monitor displaying some rather strange lifeform readings. I came to investigate, and I have narrowed the readings down to a plant that is exhibiting the bioelectrical activity of a neural net. This plant seems to be standard in the other cadet rooms, but hers is the only one to my knowledge to produce readings like this.”

“That is rather strange indeed,” said the Commander. “I'll send Lieutenant Rarden to run further analysis – she's an exceptional botanist and may be able to discern exactly what we are dealing with here.”

“Understood, sir,” replied Cade, turning back to Brianna. “Well, hopefully soon we'll know – bloody hell!” Suddenly the plant began to change shape, shifting several leaves into tentacles that shot out and wrapped around Cade, lifting him up off the ground and tipping him upside down. It flung him against a wall so hard it knocked a picture frame to the floor, then slammed him into another wall. He tried to tap his badge to call for help, but the tentacles were whipping him around so much he was becoming dizzy, his head throbbing.

“Brianna.... run!” he yelled as he saw the plant make a grab for her as well.

 

[Iwasagoodgirl]

This was happening so fast Brianna suddenly realised this was not a drill but an actual attack that had to be responded to. Cade's cry of Brianna.... run! echoed off the walls but there was no way she was going to abandon her colleague.

Grabbing her phaser which was set for practice mode she set it to stun and aimed at the centre of the plant. Firing three swift bursts she saw the creature release Cade who was dropped flat on the floor. Brianna didn't have time to punch in the exit code to open the door and she sensed the life form was recovering. She fired at the locking mechanism and the door slid open.

Dragging Cade out she turned to look at the creature and felt a sudden burst of pain in her head as though something or someone was trying to interrogate her memory. Outside security were running towards her room followed by Lieutenant Rarden. Security entered the room and announced there was nothing inside. By now Cade was on his feet and like Brianna shook his head.

Lieutenant Rarden entered the room, dismissed the security after ordering one of them to escort Cade and Brianna to Sick Bay. On the way Brianna said to Cade "I didn't realise who Lieutenant Rarden is. She was one of my lecturers at the academy who lectured on Alien Biology. I knew her as Lieutenant Mason, she was married to Commander Mason. We heard their marriage was going through difficult times and it appears she's reverted to her maiden name".

At the Sick Bay the medics examined both cadets and declared there was no serious injury to either of them. By now Captain Morgan was with them and after checking they were both well he said "I don't know what happened or what you thought happened tonight". Brianna was going to say something but Captain Morgan said "Cadet Stuart, just as a precaution you won't be able to sleep in your room so I'll organize for you to sleep in a guest room". Looking at her and Cade he added "I know that wine can be strong , I just hope you didn't drink too much of it. Either of you!"

As he'd spoke Lieutenant Rarden appeared and said "Captain I know Cadet Stuart from the academy. There's no need for her to be in a guest room. She can share my quarters tonight." The captain thanked her and dismissed everyone. As they were leaving Brianna whispered to Cade "Looks like I've got to stay in this bloody skirt all day tomorrow!" They both laughed, said goodnight and went their separate ways.

 

[The Jeffinator]

“But sir,” said Cade when the Captain questioned whether the attack had actually happened, “the data is logged in my tricorder. There was something in that room.”

“Very well,” replied Morgan, “I'll have my Science Officer take a look at your data.”

“Thank you, sir.”

After they were dismissed from Sick Bay, Cade walked back towards his room, noticing two security officers stationed outside Brianna's quarters as a precaution. Once inside his own quarters, he plopped down in his desk chair and returned to scrolling the news feeds on his PADD. He felt a lack of focus and set the tablet down, too preoccupied with thoughts of that strange plant that vanished without a trace.

How is that possible, he thought to himself. How could that creature – whatever it was – just vanish into thin air? How did it even get on the ship? Maybe it can phase through physical objects such as walls or floors? Maybe it's -- Suddenly, Cade's thoughts were brought to a halt as he looked up to see a white mist pouring out of the vent in his ceiling. It condensed together into what appeared to be a small thunderstorm cloud, which spawned off a tornado-like strand that morphed into a tentacle.

“You vanished into the vents in Brianna's room!” Cade cried out. “What do you --” his sentence was cut off as the tentacle flew at him, wrapping around his neck and throat and lifting him up. The cloud moved down and took on a humanoid form, the tentacle becoming an arm. Where the face would be, a pair of eyes suddenly appeared, followed by a wide grin.

“You...” it said in a raspy voice. “You are close with the girl. Your form will do nicely.” the cloud man began changing again, morphing his body into an exact replica of Cade, with his hand still holding up the real Cade by the throat. “Now you will sleep.”

“Nooo...” gasped Cade as the imposter choked him into unconsciousness, hiding the body in the closet. The imposter then put Cade's combadge on his chest and left the room, heading straight for Lieutenant Rarden's quarters.

 

[Iwasagoodgirl]

Brianna was very grateful to Lieutenant Rarden and her offer to let her stay in her quarters. On arrival her eyes beheld the comforts afforded to an officer including a spare bed. "You can take a shower and as we are similar size to me you can borrow a night suite. I'm afraid you'll have to go back to wearing your skirt tomorrow until you can get back into your quarters. But before that coffee?"

"Thank you Ma'm" Brianna replied as Rarden pointed to a chair for her sit.

"I remember you didn't like being in skirts when you were at the academy.are you still like that?" Rarden said as she handed the young cadet a coffee.

"I've always hated them Ma'm, I never quite understood why we had to wear them. I've always been an action girl and skirts make it difficult to run, jump and especially climb."

"You always were a tomboy if I recall" Rarden smiled "I recall your nickname used to be 'Tommy'. Does your boyfriend mind you not being feminine?"

"What boyfriend?" Brianna asked

"You don't have one now?"

"I've never had one Ma'm" Brianna replied seriously

"It makes no difference to me" Raden said "I believe in 'live and let live', but does that mean you prefer women?"

"No, Ma'm" Brianna responded "I've just never had time to be involved in a relationship, my career has had to come first. But one day I might meet someone and settle down."

"It's not everything it's cracked up to be." Rarden sipped her coffee "You know my marriage broke up don't you?"

"I heard that Ma'm. I'm sorry."

"O don't be sorry, I'm not" Raden replied "I'm free now to enjoy myself." She noticed Brianna smile and continued "You know what I mean." Brianna shook her head and Rarden asked "You mean you've never ...?"

"Never" Brianna whispered "I've never met the right person."

"O you will, believe me you will." Rarden smiled "Someone like Cadet Elmwick. You must have noticed him. He's noticed you!" As Brianna blushed Rarden said "O you do like him? Fancy him?" Brianna giggled like a schoolgirl.

Before Rarden could say more the entrance bleep went telling her there was someone outside her door. Looking at the screen she said "It's Cadet Elmwick! I saw he was noticing you during the dance. I wonder what he wants?" Brianna smiled as Rarden said "Well I don't think he's come to see if I'm alright. Open the door and see what he wants."

Brianna stood up and went to the door which slid open. Face to face with the creature she believed to be Cade she said "Hi there!"

 

[The Jeffinator]

“Hello, Brianna,” Imposter Cade said with a smile, replicating the voice flawlessly. He then nodded to Rarden. “Lieutenant.”

“What can we help you with, Cadet?” asked Rarden, smiling as she assumed he was there to flirt with Brianna.

“I guess I wasn't quite ready for the night to be over,” he admitted with a shy smirk. “Brianna, would you care to take a walk with me? I promise I won't keep you long.” Rarden smiled and nodded at Brianna, urging her to take him up on his offer.

Meanwhile, the real Cade regained consciousness and stumbled out of the closet, rushing out into the hall and to the security officers in front of Brianna's room. “There's a Changeling on board! It was posing as a plant, turned into vapor, entered the ventilation system, and then knocked me out and took my form! His target is Cadet Stuart – we have to save her!”

“Whoa, calm down, kid,” replied one of the officers. “What would a Changeling be doing this far from the Gamma Quadrant?”

“I don't know!” cried Cade. “But we need to alert the Bridge!”

“Let's not get ahead of ourselv – hey!” swiping the officer's combadge, Cade turned and ran as fast as he could towards Rarden's quarters.

“Cadet Elmwick to Cadet Stuart! That's not me – it's a Changeling!” he yelled out over the communicator as he ran. Rarden looked up at the Imposter with her eyes wide.

“I guess I misjudged how long the punk would be out for,” he said, grabbing Brianna as Rarden reached for her phaser. “One more move and I'll slit her throat.” His right hand morphed into a long blade as he pressed it against her skin.

“What do you want, Changeling?” spat Rarden.

“You are going to allow me to leave on one of your runabouts,” he said, returning to his raspy voice. “Once I have made it to a safe distance, Cadet Stuart will be sent back in an escape pod.”

“The Captain will never go for that,” she replied. “He won't let you take a cadet – take me instead.”

“No. Cadet Stuart is my hostage. You will comply with my demands, or she will die.”

“And if she does?” said Rarden angrily. “What will stop me from killing you then?”

“Good point,” the Imposter replied, thinking for a moment. “I guess it's best to just kill you now then.” Suddenly the knife-hand he was holding to Brianna's neck pointed towards Rarden, and then the entire arm changed into an extremely long, thin spear that rushed forward and impaled her through the chest. Rarden looked down in horror as blood began oozing from her mouth and down her chin, her face deathly pale. She gasped painfully as he pulled the spear back out, letting her fall limply to the floor as he cackled.

 

[Iwasagoodgirl]

Brianna screamed as she saw Rarden crumble to the floor as the full horror of what was happening dawned on her. Seeing Cade running towards her she shouted "CADE SAVE THE SHIP, IT WANTS ME, KILL ME THEN KILL IT!"

"IGNORE THAT REQUEST CADET ELMWICK!" Shouted Captain Morgan arriving on the scene accompanied by well armed security officers. Turning to fake Cade he said calmly "I don't know what you want with Cadet Stuart but whatever it is I cannot allow you to take her from this ship".

"Then she dies" fake Cade said.

"And you die too" said Morgan.

The creature tried to lash out at Morgan and at the security but they were able to jump out of the way. Instead it held tight to Brianna and said "If I don't return to my ship soon with THIS human" it held tight to Brianna "Then Admiral Ince dies a horrible death!"

Brianna looked round, took a deep breath and said thoughtfully "Sir, I request you allow me to go with this ... this THING!"

"Sensible girl" said fake Cade "you and Admiral Ince have, shall we say, connections?"

Brianna lowered her head and looked at Cade then the Captain "Yes ... But not in the way it sounds." She hesitated thoughtfully "I suppose it doesn't matter who knows now. When my parents died I was moved from children's home to children's home. Then when I was thirteen I was put up for fostering. Admiral Ince and his wife took me in, gave me a home and ..." She held back the tears. "When I joined the Academy I wanted to do it in my own right not because of my foster father."

Looking at the Captain, then to Cade and back to the Captain "Sir, I request permission to leave the ship with this ... this CREATURE to try to save the life of the man who gave me the ambition to become a cadet. Sir, I owe him everything".

 

[The Jeffinator]

“I can't just let him kidnap a Cadet,” Captain Morgan said to Brianna.

“I'll go with them,” said Cade, stepping forward. “Captain, you have my word we will both return safely. Changeling – will you consent to taking me as well if you are provided access to a runabout?”

“We may find a use for you,” he replied, though Cade knew the Changeling would probably try and kill him once they got to their destination. It was a risk he was willing to take. The Captain was reluctant, but ultimately granted their request, 'officially' sending them on a covert mission to gather intel on the missing Admiral Ince. Security escorted them to Shuttlebay Three where Cade, Brianna, and the Changeling departed in a runabout, jumping to Warp shortly after.

“My ship has been trailing behind the Sandamay,” announced the Changeling after a few minutes. “We should be rendezvousing with it soon.”

Cade's eyes grew wide as a small ship uncloaked in front of them. “That's a Jem'Hadar fighter... equipped with a cloaking device?!”

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o178/TheJeffinator/jemhadarship_zps8a9ybymd.jpg

“Indeed it is,” the Changeling replied with a laugh. “After the Obsidian Order and the Tal Shiar fell right into our trap in the Battle of the Omarion Nebula, we were able to salvage several Romulan cloaking devices and install them on other vessels. That's how we were able to catch your dear Admiral Ince off-guard.”

Cade and Brianna looked at each other as the Changeling mentioned the Admiral. Before long, the runabout entered the ship through the belly-side hatch, since it lacked a shuttlebay. Once the area was re-pressurized, the cadets were escorted by Jem'Hadar soldiers to the holding cells.

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o178/TheJeffinator/Ikatika_zpsgrzjomd2.jpg

After what seemed like hours, the Changeling came to their cell, startling Cade with his new appearance.

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o178/TheJeffinator/johnelmwick_zpswaqw8vqd.jpg

“Do you like it?” he asked in his raspy voice, snickering. “I was able to pull the image from your mind during our encounter in your quarters.”

“You disgrace his memory!” spat Cade, disgusted. When he saw Brianna's questioning look, he replied, “My father. He has taken my father's form...” The Changeling walked away, cackling.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

“Rise and shine, children!” the Changeling said happily to the cadets in the cell. They had lost track of time without any exterior references or displays, unsure even of the current date. “We are about to arrive at your new home – Internment Camp 414. Your near future will be, shall we say, unpleasant? Bahahahaha!”

“How long has it been?” asked Cade, groggily. “Why do we feel so... disoriented?”

“That would be the drugs, of course!” laughed the Changeling. “We introduced a sedative gradually into your air supply – you didn't even know it was happening. It has been nearly a month since we left your ship.”

“Bloody hell...” Cade rubbed his forehead. Soon the cadets were forced to their feet and marched off the fighter, which had docked to a prison facility orbiting a large jungle planet in a binary star system. “Where are we?”

“This is the Kamatoaken Sector of the Gamma Quadrant.”

“The... the Gamma Quadrant?” Cade asked wearily.

“Yes – we traversed what your Federation calls the 'Bajoran wormhole' while you were out,” explained the Changeling. “You are currently over seventy-thousand lightyears from home.”

The cadets were taken through the corridors of the facility, which were dull and dominated by various shades of gray. They arrived at a large cell and were pulled inside. The only other person in the room was an older man with shaggy, unkempt hair and a white beard.

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o178/TheJeffinator/admiralince_zpsunjphxjz.jpg

“You will not fool me with this illusion!” the man cried, his weathered face contorting in rage. “No matter how many times you try, you will not fool me!”

“This time, it is no illusion, my friend,” replied the Changeling. He grabbed Brianna, dragged her over to the man, morphed his finger into a needle, and stabbed it into her thumb, letting the blood drip into the old man's hand. Cade tried to rush forward, but was held in place by the Jem'Hadar.

“No.....” he said, his face suddenly turning pale, his eyes wide with horror. “Brianna... they really have you....”

“Yes, Admiral. Yes,” laughed the Changeling. “You will have twenty-four hours to visit with her – to ensure your fatherly feelings are as strong as they can be – before we renew your interrogations. We will see how tight your grip on the information we desire remains when forced to witness your dear foster daughter scream in unbearable agony as we cut and rip and burn her into a husk of her former self.”

“I won't let you!” Cade screamed angrily, followed by a lurching sound as he was punched in the gut by one of his handlers.

“Now for some father-son time,” the Changeling said to Cade with a laugh. “Remember, Admiral – twenty four hours. And then her screaming begins.” The Jem'Hadar dragged Cade out of the room, followed by the Changeling, resealing the door.

“Brianna... I'm so sorry...” said the Admiral as he wept.

 

[Iwasagoodgirl]

The old man told Brianna that they were orbiting a large moon which was itself in orbit round a ‘gas giant’ planet about the size of our own Jupiter. There was vegetation below and it had an atmosphere was similar to earth. They needed some information from Admiral Ince that was of the high security level he couldn't even share with his foster daughter.

Brianna was numbed by what was happening but then the thought surfaced in her mind “The Changeling or whatever it is used the term ‘Father-son time’. It doesn’t understand sex as we do. And you, YOU! You didn’t answer, there’s something far deeper going on here.”

Admiral Ince was concerned his foster daughter was losing the plot but he said nothing as Brianna continued to ram home her point “You’re not Admiral Ince, you’re a changeling and not very good at it. Admiral Ince had a deep scar on his left hand and a rose coloured birth mark in the shape of a map on his chest.”

“Brianna, what are talking about?” The old man asked as his step daughter turned her face away and faced the corner of the room. The Admiral tried coaxing her “Please Brianna, don’t do this. I am who I say I am. I’ve no idea what you mean”.

Brianna turned and grabbed the old man’s hand and looked at it. “Yes you are my foster father” she said as she kissed him. “a changeling would have included the fictitious scar in the time I was facing away from it.” The pair embraced and Brianna said “At the academy we were told that if we were faced with capture and torture with no chance of survival we were to take our own lives.” She looked at the stressed face “For the sake of Starfleet kill me, strangle me. If I’m dead they can’t torture me and you won’t give up any secrets.” The old man refused but Brianna insisted “You have to don’t you see? YOU HAVE TO!”

Weeping Admiral Ince grabbed Brianna’s throat and immediately the door burst open and the changeling still dressed as Cade’s father entered the cell to separate them. Brianna moved backwards in the Rao defence move before throwing the changeling to the floor. The creature morphed it’s left hand into a blade to defend itself from Brianna when Admiral Ince jumped onto it taking the force of the thrust into his heart. He gurgled as blood fountained from his chest, mouth and nose and he breathed his last sending crimson droplets into the air.

“YOU BASTARD!” Brianna screamed knowing nothing could be done for foster father Brianna rushed out into the corridors and saw Cade restrained by a force field. She grabbed her weapon which was on desk alongside Cade’s. Aiming it on full power at the control panel she destroyed the field releasing Cade and threw him his weapon.

By now the changeling was back on the deck and about to recapture the two cadets. Brianna aimed her weapon at full power at the station's computer causing extensive damage to the systems "That should keep it busy" she said as she grabbed Cade's hand "let's get out of here!" She said as she and CADE made their way to a pod.

Somehow, more by luck than judgement the two cadets managed to land their stolen pod on the moon below. They heard the sound of water splashing as they crawled out of the craft. Looking down at herself Brianna noticed her skirt was torn upwards so her thighs were exposed in a slit and her top was cut in several places. “Now you know why I hate being feminine!”

http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah198/julieagas/Star%20Trek/Jungle_zpsny34wmdp.jpg

Sitting down she buried her head in her hands and started to cry "Now I've got no one. Admiral Ince was the last person who cared for me. Now I've got no one."

 

[Omnilore]

(Taking over for The Jeffinator)

“Ugh...” moaned Cade as the two Jem'Hadar soldiers dragged him into another room, followed closely by the Changeling. They threw him into a cell and activated the force-field while the Changeling flipped on a monitor showing Admiral Ince's room. His lips curled into an evil smile and then he turned back to Cade.

“Are you ready for some quality father-son time?” he asked with cackle.

“Shove off,” spat Cade as he struggled to stand. “Bloody stinking lump of dung...”

“Tsk, tsk,” replied the Changeling with a laugh. “Offensive words must be punished.” He walked up to a panel and pressed a button, causing several nodes to poke out of the ceiling and walls of Cade's cell. They began to crackle with energy, and a moment later, unleashed rapidly-arcing streams of electricity that shocked Cade's body as his muscles convulsed and his limbs flailed. He screamed out as the burning pain seared through him, but a moment later, it stopped. He dropped to the floor, breathing heavily and trembling.

“That, my son, was the lowest setting,” explained the Changeling. “The maximum setting can kill you in sixty seconds, but if I cycle between ten seconds of pain and ten seconds of relief, I can prolong your suffering for hours – maybe even days. That is what I intend to do to Cadet Stuart – after I've carved symbols into every inch of her skin and smashed her kneecaps and cracked open her teeth and ripped her fingers and toes off.”

“I will destroy you,” growled Cade, trying to stand again. “If you lay a hand on her, I will do everything in my power to end you.” The Changeling laughed and turning the setting higher, pushing the button and watching as Cade screamed again and twitched violently. But then suddenly the shapeshifter saw the Admiral about to kill Brianna on the monitor, and ran out of the room.

“Brianna!” Cade cried as she entered a moment later, freeing him from his cell. What followed next was a bit of a blur, his senses still swirling from his short-but-intense torture session. Phasers firing, alarms beeping, and an escape pod ejecting. They were immediately fired upon from the station, and soon found themselves struggling to pilot an inevitable crash-landing.

“Here we go!” cried Cade as the pod entered the atmosphere and shot towards the ground. They managed to reverse thrusters and tilt the vessel up enough to prevent a full-on crash, instead skidding across the jungle floor leaving a long trail of torn up grass and tree roots behind them. After sitting perfectly still for a moment to make sure they were safe, Cade began scanning the area on the pod's console.

“There's an extensive cave system about four miles north of here,” he explained to Brianna. “We need to distance ourselves from the crash site before they show up looking for us. We don't have our combadges, so they can't lock onto us with those, but they may still be able to scan for our life patterns. I may be able to reprogram this pod's computer to duplicate our patterns and spread it out over a ten-mile radius, tricking their scanners into thinking there are hundreds of us heading off in every direction. It may buy us enough time to get underground in those caves, but it won't take long for them to realize what we've done and disable the pod.”

Cade began tapping away furiously at the console, then stood up from his seat. “Okay, it's done. Those caves are deep enough that they can't beam us out from orbit even if they do detect our life patterns, so they will have to come in after us. If we can circle around and come out behind them, we may be able to steal their ship and escape. Let's aim for that goal.”

The two cadets climbed out of the pod, hearing the water of a nearby stream. Cade noticed Brianna's skirt had ripped, revealing her soft and warm thighs.

“Now you know why I hate being feminine!”

Cade wasn't minding it one bit, though he didn't have time to stare – they had to get moving. They hiked the four miles to the mouth of the cave system, watching the skies for search parties and staying out of site. It was getting dark as the two of them descended into the tunnels, stopping at an underground stream to wash off and rehydrate.

Cade saw Brianna sit down on a ledge and bury her face in her hands, the magnitude of what had happened finally hitting her as she wept. “Now I've got no one. Admiral Ince was the last person who cared for me. Now I've got no one."

“Hey,” he said gently as he sat next to her, putting an arm around her shoulders. “You've got me. I care about you more than you know. We're in this together, and I'm going to do whatever it takes to get us home safely. I don't have any family either, so how about this – we'll be there for each other. You can come and stay at my house over the holidays and we can prepare a feast and listen to Christmas music and put decorations up.”

Cade looked into her eyes adoringly, wiping away her tears with a thumb. “Admiral Ince was a great man, and he will be missed. We will bring the truth of what happened to him to the Federation. His death will not be in vain. I promise you that, Brianna.”

 

[Iwasagoodgirl]

Between them the two cadets had a lot of resourcefulness, enough to make a fight of their efforts to stay alive. While Cade was reprogramming the wrecked pod Brianna was testing the vegetation and fungi to find anything that could be eaten without being boiled. She gathered some leaves, large apple like fruit and four large thick mushroom like tree fungus discs.

After placing the food in a make shift ruck sack she ran with Cade to the Tunnel complex. Using her sensor she tested for life forms and found none. After they washed and drank they went below ground where Cade put his arm round her dried her tears and said "Admiral Ince was a great man and he will be missed. We will bring the truth of what happened to him to the Federation. His death will not be in vain. I promise you that Brianna"

Brianna found herself looking into Cade's eyes and for a very brief moment almost moved forward for what would be her first ever passionate kiss. She sensed Cade about to do the same when she blushed before the severity of their situation became clear and they jumped up and moved further down the tunnel saying nothing to each other.

Moving down further the cold damp smell began to close in on them. There was enough sunlight creeping in from the cracks and holes above but soon it would be night and the only light they would have would be that from the mother planet. Sitting on some rocks they ate some of the food and moved further down into the heart of the tunnel complex.

Suddenly Brianna's sensor started picking up a familiar wave pattern and she looked down at it before saying "I'm picking up a trace of decomposing human material". It was not long before they found two skeletons in the remains of star fleet uniform. In the hand of one of the corpses was a parchment on which was written a brief note:

I am Lieutenant Christopher Wright of the USS Gannicus. My companion is Cadet Sandra Joyce Hope. We were both captured by a changeling during a training exercise and brought to the Gamma Quadrant where the changeling ship developed a fault. We managed to escape and crashed on this moon where we found this network of tunnels. After what must have been several earth months we are so disoriented we do not know how to get back to the surface. Having run out of food and water we are preparing to embrace death together. If we are ever found by Federation Personelle please notify our next of kin.

"Bloody Hell!" Said Brianna "if I remember my Foster Father, the Admiral was on the Gannicus when it vanished. All I was told was it was on very secretive mission. Maybe that's how he was captured. But what happened to the ship? Was it destroyed or ... is it in this quadrant?" She shook her head "We can't leave them there. They deserve a decent burial."

Between them the two cadets used sharp flint tools to dig a grave deep enough for the two bodies. Then standing to attention they saluted before covering them up. Brianna placed the parchment in her ruck sack. "When we get home" she said "we'll give that to Star Fleet." They moved on into the tunnel and found an opening in to a shelter "We both need sleep" Brianna said pointing to it "I'll take the first watch. After what those bastards did to you you need to get some rest."

 

[Omnilore]

At first, there was a good amount of light seeping into the tunnels, but as they ventured deeper and the darkness of night set in, it became increasingly harder to see. Before they left the pod, Cade had noticed an emergency survival kit, and had taken it along with them. Now that it was too dark to see well, he flipped open the container and pulled out a glowstick, illuminating the tunnel in front of them. The kit also had a small tricorder and a few medical supplies.

They continued on, noticing a strange smell and then they came upon two skeletons.

“Bloody hell!” he heard Brianna exclaim.

“My thoughts exactly,” Cade agreed.

"We can't leave them there. They deserve a decent burial."

The two of them prepared the graves and saluted, then continued to venture deeper into the tunnels. Soon they came to a small cave off one of the main tunnels that looked like a suitable shelter for the night. Brianna suggested Cade sleep first, and he tried to argue, but she was right – he was drained and needed rest.

“This tricorder appears to have a clock that is not based on Federation standard time, but I think....” he was lost in thought, tapping away at the small touchscreen on the alien device. “I don't recognize the written language or the numerical symbols programmed in this design, but if I can find some sort of voice command, our Universal Translator implants should translate that into English, and our words into the device's native language.”

Cade continued tinkering with the tricorder, and he smiled as a computerized voice spoke out and they understood it. “Voice Command Mode activated.”

“Okay,” he said, “Computer, link with my Universal Translator implant located inside my cranium near the primary auditory cortex in my left temporal lobe.”

“Link successful,” the device replied, connecting wirelessly to the implant.

“Duplicate the Latin-based English scripts stored there and adopt them as your primary script format, including the numerical symbols as well. Adjust your internal clock to match the Federation Universal Time as displayed in the operating system of my implant.”

“Reprogramming successful.”

“Okay,” said Cade, handing the device to Brianna. “Now we have a way to keep track of time and can actually use this tricorder in a script we understand. Don't let me sleep more than four hours – then I'll take over the watch. If anything happens, we'll need to be ready.”

Removing the outer coat of his dress uniform, Cade balled it up as a makeshift pillow, curling up against the far wall of the cave. It was incredibly uncomfortable, but eventually he drifted off to sleep, dreaming about his dance with Brianna a few weeks prior. It ended too soon, though, and he found himself taking over watch, allowing his fellow cadet to use his makeshift pillow as well.

 

[Iwasagoodgirl]

Brianna stood opened mouthed with admiration as Cade reprogrammed the tricorder. She was grateful Starfleet and Captain Morgan had placed them together. The Man was a genius and she knew that their slim chances of surviving this were improved by them working together.

Cade eventually dropped off to sleep while Brianna took the first watch. She did not waste her time. She scanned the area for edible fungi and drinkable water. She had no idea what was happening above ground. Was the changeling still there? What was the secret her foster father knew that would be useful to the changelings?

Returning to the area where Cade was sleeping she saw him having rapid eye movement and knew he was dreaming. She hoped he was not having nightmares. Soon the time came for the cadets to change places and Cade allowed Brianna to sleep on his makeshift pillow.

It wasn't long before she was asleep but like Cade she dreamed. In first dream she was reliving the fire that took her parents only this time they survived because Cade rescued them and her. Next she was at the accadamy only this time one of her lecturers was a changeling. Suddenly Cade burst in to the room and the two of them ran through the accadamy corridors which became the very tunnel they were in now.

Opening her eyes she saw Cade looking at her and she knew it was time to get up. They shared some of the fungi which although it was full of protein tasted putrid. They both giggled as they pulled faces before washing the food down with some water. After having a discreet wash each they moved on down the tunnel. "I can feel a gust of fresh air coming from the left path. There must be a way out through there" she pointed to the left. "But if we can get out, they can get in. I don't think we should explore it yet."

Turning right Brianna noticed the remains of what must have once been a portable medical kit. "That must have been brought here by the two we buried. I'll take what we might need in case we need it." She smiled as she placed them in her sack. They moved further along noticing some marks on the tunnel walls. "That's in a language I've never seen before and it's not covered in the academy. Is there any way your machine can translate it? It might give us a clue as why we are here." She looked at Cade and smiled.

 

[Omnilore]

As the two cadets came upon the markings on the wall, Brianna suggested using the tricorder to translate the symbols. Cade ran his hand along the stone, feeling the carvings. “This script appears familiar to me somehow... Hmmm...”

Scanning the writing with the tricorder, a memory suddenly came to him. “That's it! Brianna, this is the ancient Iconian language! It's not something we'd learn at the Academy and certainly nothing the average officer would know about. The only reason I recognize it is from some material my father was working on when I was younger.”

Cade tapped away on the device for a moment, then continued. “My father served in Starfleet during his younger days, but eventually turned in his uniform and became an archaeologist. About eight years ago, he was part of an expedition to Denius III in which they discovered an Iconian artifact with a starmap including the location of the planet Iconia. My father stayed on Denius III while the expedition's head, Dr. Ramsey, traveled with the crew of the Yamato to Iconia. It was fortunate that my father did not go with them because that ship met it's demise on that mission.”

Looking around and thinking for a moment, Cade turned back to Brianna. “You know, after that event, my father said Starfleet Intelligence took over the dig site and apparently found other Iconian ruins that they kept from the general public... He was brought on a few times as a consultant, but they seriously limited his exposure to the data... Admiral Ince was a Starfleet Intelligence Officer who was being held in orbit around a moon that had a cave system with Iconian symbols... What if... What if the Admiral was involved with the Iconian research program and they brought him here to uncover some secret?”

Cade looked back to the tricorder and smiled. “Okay, I've got a rough translation. The writing on the wall signifies some sort of entrance – a door, maybe. But I don't see how that could be, unless...” He adjusted the tricorder to scan for energy-based readings only and began walking along the wall, coming to a stop at the end of the Iconian writing. “There is a doorway here, but it is being hidden by a holographic barrier that blends in perfectly with the surrounding rock. It's even cool to the touch – I never would have been able to tell it wasn't a naturally occurring rock wall unless I scanned it. It's a tremendously detailed recreation.”

Reconfiguring his phaser to match the wavelength of the barrier, he fired upon it several times, causing it to flicker and vanish, revealing a long, dark corridor. Unlike the natural tunnels, this was a carved out hall, which eventually led to sealed hatch in the floor. A few phaser blasts busted it open, revealing something that resembled a Jefferies tube on Federation starships.

“Whatever is down there might give us some answers. Shall we descend?”

 

[Iwasagoodgirl]

Brianna stood mouth open as Cade deciphered the Iconian script and regaled the story of how his father and her foster father had been involved in an expedition and discovery in the past. "It's very odd, spooky even that your father and my foster father were involved in this discovery. It's almost as though they are reaching out from beyond the grave to help us."

After Cade worked his magic to open way to the tunnels and the sealed hatch Brianna listened as he said "Whatever is down there might give us some answers. Shall we descend?"

"Not just yet" Brianna replied as she placed her left hand on Cade's right arm "let me do some tests." Using her scanner she pointed the search laser down into the darkness and took some readings. "I don't believe this" she said as she reset her probe wavelength "something ... Something is malefunctioning ".

Turning the probe off and on again she tested it again. "I'm getting a strange reading. An Earth reading. It's as though ... as though ... there's a ... a life reading compatable with Earth life forms." She was about to recalibrate the sensor when they heard a noise and turned to see the changeling behind them.

Grabbing Cade's hand Brianna shouted "JUMP!" The two cadets leaped into the darkness and found themselves falling into what felt like the proverbial 'Bottomless Pit'. Eventually they landed softly in what looked like a lush green field with cows, trees, and other livestock. Brianna again used her scanner and it registered Earth life.

Turning to Cade she said "Can you use your tricorder? Because I'm getting some very strange readings. Either we're somehow back on Earth or an Earth like planet, or the changelings have set this up". She hesitated "Or I'm in some kind of a coma and Im imagining all this." She aimed her scanner at a cow which was approaching them "If this is 'real life', that is a real cow!"

 

[Omnilore]

“Bloody hell!” Cade cried out as they fell through the bottomless pit, eventually landing in a grassy field. He immediately looked up and could see not see the hole they had just fallen through. “How did we... Where the hell are we?” Cade began scanning the area with his tricorder, a look of confusion spreading across his face. “This is Earth... but how?”

“No, it's not,” came the Changeling's raspy voice, dropping down from the sky behind them. “It's the Iconian's advanced illusion technologies. The cave door was easy to get into. But you can't get past this – we've been trying for years. There are hundreds of these hatches all over this moon, and we think they lead to an underground complex, likely equipped with one or more Iconian Gateways.”

“Iconian Gateways? Why...” Cade stared at the Changeling. “Why are you telling us this? And what are these Gateways?”

“Gateways are shortcuts through space,” he explained. “Much more advanced than warp drives or wormholes. This ancient technology is ages beyond anything current civilizations have invented. Most Gateways were destroyed long ago, but the level of security measures placed here leads us to believe there is a working one inside this moon. And I am telling you this because you have intrigued me.”

“What do you mean?” asked Cade, a bit of anger in his voice.

“There is an advanced artificial intelligence managing these illusions,” explained the Changeling. “It does not usually produce peaceful and serene environments like this one. Anyone else who entered one of the hatches was greeted with their worst nightmares in an attempt to scare them away. I am intrigued why the computer gave you two a lovely place like this.”

“Did you kidnap Admiral Ince to try and get past these barriers?” Cade asked, watching their pursuer very closely.

“Indeed,” he replied. “He was part of a team of Federation operatives working with top secret Iconian artifacts found at ruins scattered across the Alpha Quadrant. We captured the entire team and brought them here because they knew the secret to bypassing these barriers from their previous work with Iconian technology. The Iconians once ruled the entire galaxy, but they perished over two hundred thousand years ago, leaving behind remnants of their vast empire.”

“If you were able to probe my mind for the image of my father,” asked Cade, snorting in disgust with that last part, “Then why were you unable to do the same with the Admiral's secret information?”

“Key members of Starfleet Intelligence have safeguards against psychic intrusions,” he explained. “Their Universal Translator implants are equipped with an add-on that renders any psionic invasion moot by clouding the person's mind with multiple layers of static. We needed him to tell us willingly, and we ended up killing our other captives when we tried to surgically remove the add-ons.”

“And now he died without giving up that information,” Cade said, then smiled. “And now you'll never get it.”

“Perhaps. Perhaps not,” said the Changeling. “The A.I. here seems to like you. Maybe you can get it to reveal the Gateway.”

“Never,” Cade replied immediately. “I don't care how much you torture us – we're not helping you.”

“That is unfortunate,” he said, then his lips curled into a smile. “But maybe the A.I. will respond on its own if something were to happen to you two!” His arms suddenly turned into tentacles, one wrapping around each cadet's throat, choking the life out of them. The blue, sunny sky became dark and cloudy, thunder storms rolling in. The animals in the field turned into hulking monsters, all running over and grabbing the Changeling, pulling him away from the cadets.

“This way,” came a voice from behind the cadets. They turned around so see a dark tunnel had hopped up out of nowhere, with a bright light at the end and the silhouette of a man standing there. “Hurry!”

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They ran through the corridor, coming out into a large room as the path behind them vanished, cutting them off from the Changeling. There were several people here, and in the center of the room, a giant Gateway.

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“These are the personifications of the multiple A.I. systems running here,” explained the one who had saved them. “We conceal this Gateway from those who seek to use it for violence and war. You appear to be innocent and just want to return to your home, but you must do so quickly so that we may reseal the Gateway before the Changeling gets to it.” Through the portal, they saw a vision of Starfleet Headquarters in San Francisco. A moment later, the Changeling somehow made it through to the room and the cadets ran for the gate. Before they got to it, their enemy fire a phaser at the device controlling the portal, causing it to destabilize and turn into a violently swirling vortex, sucking both Cade and Brianna in and sending them to an uncertain location.

Landing on the banks of a large lake, they looked up as the portal vanished. Surveying the environment around them, they noticed another green field with a forest and mountains in the distance. The air was easy to breathe and very much felt like Earth.

“I wonder if the Gateway still sent us home, but to a different part of the planet,” Cade started, then fell silent. “Okay, nevermind. Look over past those mountains – two moons in orbit. This is not Earth...” He began scanning the area with his tricorder, boosting it to maximum range. “There is not a single sentient life form anywhere near here. I wonder...”

Cade pointed the tricorder straight up and attempted to wirelessly link with a satellite in orbit. “Nothing. I'm not detecting any advanced technology anywhere in orbit either. There is no pollution in the air, no signs of civilization – I think this planet is uninhabited, and with no way to contact anyone, we may be here for a while...”

 

[Iwasagoodgirl]

Brianna looked at Cade and smiled “Never a dull moment when you’re around is there?” They both giggled, she hit his right shoulder playfully while he pretended to be hurt. Looking down at her skirt she said “If I didn’t have this on I’d race you to that tree. They both laughed and then Brianna had a thought “seriously, you don’t think that tree could be a changeling do you?” She used her scanner on all the vegetation around them and shook her head “No it’s all as it should be. Wherever we are the changelings aren’t here. No one’s here, just you and me, like Adam and Eve.

She scanned round again “There are several vegetables here that are edible and those two trees” she pointed to the two in the distance “carry fruit that’s ok for us to eat and that one” she pointed to one nearby, the one they were going to run to “has nuts that are full of protein so we won’t starve.” Scanning further she sighed “I feel filthy, I need a wash. We must find some water.”

When they reached the tree Brianna took some of the large almond shaped nuts, opened them and shared them with Cade. They tasted sweet and were very filling and the food sustained them until they reached the fruit trees whose produce they enjoyed. Looking up Brianna noticed the sun beginning to go down and she said “We’ll have to find some place to sleep tonight and somewhere we can build a fire where we can keep warm.” Then as they descended the valley her eyes saw a beautiful lake. She scanned the water and declared “It’s drinkable. But it’s also somewhere we can wash. I know you’re a gentleman and that you’ll allow a lady to go first and won’t look while I strip. But” pointing to the outer coat of his dress uniform she asked with a smile “can I borrow that and wrap myself in it while my clothes dry?”

Without waiting for a reply she ran off with it laughing like a naughty schoolgirl. Once by the waterside she stripped off grateful that modern science had protected women from the curse that effected their ancestors. No longer did they have to shave, or wax their legs and their private hair was limited to a ‘landing strip’ Brianna’s choice, a baldness or in some cases if the woman desired it a full bush. Wrapped in Cade’s coat she washed her clothes and placed them in the sun to dry before taking it off and stripped naked she swam in the cool water of the lake.

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Refreshed and renewed she put on the coat again, collected her clothes which were almost dry and looked for Cade. Noticing some smoke she saw he had lit a fire and was sitting by it. Using a branch to prop up her clothes she dried them by the fire, went behind a bush and put her clothes, apart from her stockings, back on. Blowing Cade a kiss she said “Thanks for being a gentleman. It’s your turn now”.

While Cade was swimming Brianna scanned some decaying leaves and found traces of the chemicals that make up penicillin present. Using one of her stockings she placed a leaf in it and after boiling some water in a dish like rock she dipped the leaf and stocking in it. When Cade returned she said “I’ve made some medicinal tea. It won’t taste nice but if either of us have picked up an infection it will help us fight it. It’s an old technique I learned on a survival course when I was an innocent, well I’m still innocent, when I was an innocent junior cadet.” She saw Cade’s look of surprise, felt herself blush and then giggled before taking the first draught. She handed the rest to Cade and he spluttered but drank it.

After boiling some vegetation and eating some nuts and fruit the two cadets noticed the sun was falling. “It’s nearly time to sleep” she sighed. “I wonder how long the nights are here?” She sat next to Cade and asked “Shall I take the first watch or you?”

 

[Omnilore]

Cade enjoyed his swim, and soon they were sitting at the camp fire eating and drinking what they were able to find and prepare. The sun was setting, and as Brianna pointed out, they had no idea how long the nights were. They didn't even have any idea what system they were in or how far away from home they really were. The gravity of the situation set in as Cade realized it was very possible they would be there for the rest of their lives.

“You know what?” Cade asked as Brianna inquired about first watch. “I think we should set the tricorder to automatically scan the area while we both sleep. Based on those mountains over there and the light chill that is moving in as it gets dark, I'm assuming we are at a higher elevation and the night will likely be very cold. We have no shelter, and if a strong gust comes through it could put out the fire. I think we need to sleep next to each other to share body heat.” He couldn't help but blush a little bit when he said the last part.

After looking over towards the forest at the foot of the mountains, he turned back to Brianna. “First thing in the morning, we should set out for that forest. We'll probably find enough materials in there to build a decent shelter. We don't know how long we're going to be here, so we should start thinking long-term. If we find no way off this planet, eventually we'll have to make a permanent structure – there is plenty of lumber in the forest with which to make a house, and the phasers will make cutting them and shaping them fairly easy.”

Cade began stuffing his uniform coat with leaves and grass to make it a thicker pillow, then laid it out in a way that could support both their heads. He laid down on his side, facing toward the fire. He gestured to the ground in front of him. “Shall we? I'm bigger and have more body heat, so I'll wrap my arm over you and keep you warm.”