Reaper: Greener Pastures

Stardate: 20721.0000

Title: Greener Pastures

Author: Nelson Reaper

Scene: Ready Room

Time: various

Captain's log, stardate 20610

Things around the ship have been awkwardly quiet. Maybe it's just everyone appreciating the fact that they're alive... for those who still are, maybe it's something else. 

Pirates have been rounded up and will be turned over to Starbase 12's authority within 24 hours. Our mission at the Aean system has been undertaken by another vessel, which is fortunate since our ship is in somewhat dire condition. Lieutenant Mulder assures me that with SB12's help, we can be on the road again in 2-3 weeks.

Louise and Istari have not left our quarters since their return on board. I am concerned for them, but Doctor Dray tells me recovery is only a matter of time. What records could be recovered of recent months are being analyzed by the Science department.

My sixth sense is buzzing, hopefully more on this later.

==

Personal log, stardate 20620

I have uncovered a document I hope is a hoax.

I received an anonymous message from someone in the Admiral's office. It was written in typical Starfleet newspeak, but its meaning was clear. Now I know the reason my requests for new personnel have continually been denied.

My course of action from here is unclear, though I know from experience trusting my first instinct will only make things worse. I have decided not to confide in Commander De'vil on this matter, for reasons with deep roots.

Still the crew seems in a bit of a daze, me included, though I cannot now know how much of my own malaise in due to the message I received. I suppose it doesn't matter... anymore.

Louise and my son are doing well, much better than I had hoped so early. It lifts my spirits to watch their progress with the counselor and the doctor. I have missed them so much.

==

Captain's log, stardate 20623

Today I have sent my resignation into Admiral Kelly's office. In it I recommended Commander Zild Remo for Executive Officer; his tenure on the ship is the longest and his command potential is strong. His loyalty and idealism make him one of the best men I've known in my career, and I shall miss his candor and nearly human vulnerabilities. In fact, I cannot express the sense of loss I feel over this: my entire crew has been a family to me, and they are all part of who I am. They, and Carpathia, are dear to me, but the time is past due for a change. 

I am unsure how to tell the crew about this, but I am sure by stardate 20801, I will have figured something out. In the meantime, we will make for Starbase Arcadia, where I'm sure Captain Bell will gladly install Commander De'vil as the new CO of Carpathia. My next assignment is uncertain, but I plan to inquire outside Starfleet.

==

Personal log, stardate 20710

I got a reply today from my inquiry at UCLA, and I have been offered an associate faculty position in the Department of History! On-campus housing is available for the three of us beginning in just under a month. I broke the news over dinner and for the first time in weeks we celebrated as if we'd never been apart. I will send my acceptance and make preparations in the morning, and hopefully break the news to the crew.

==

Captain's log, stardate 20714

Today a friend has died. Doctor Katherine Dray died of unknown causes at 1105, as reported by Doctor Steele. Katherine's career has been exemplary, and she will be missed. During her short time on Carpathia, she made friends of us all. I have the unfortunate duty to contact her friends and family, which include Captain Bell, her former CO. I know they were once great friends, and she will mourn with us. A memorial has been planned in Katherine's honor, but it will be a long time before I will be at peace with her death.

We left SB12 only four days ago, which puts us just over a week away from Starbase Arcadia at warp 5, currently our maximum speed. A response to my resignation has yet to come; I am unsure what the Admiral has planned for my ship or my crew. This makes me uneasy, but I am sure they will be in good hands.

==

Personal log, stardate 20719

I found out yesterday that Carpathia is to be decomissioned. HQ is sending the crew invitations to come aboard a new science vessel as if it were a birthday party. I know some will go, they deserve the best in their careers. I hope they find success.

My heart is broken.

I know inside the pain is part of the process of letting go, and would come regardless of Carpathia's fate. But it seems so futile now, all the effort we have made to restore her from the looting. This ship is our home. I thank the Maker my family and I have greener pastures ahead, but I feel like I have deserted the crew to an uncertain fate.

==

Captain's log, stardate 20721

In two days, we will arrive at Starbase Arcadia, and I will depart for Utopia Planetia. I will take the USS Erinyes for reasssignment, go through outprocessing for my discharge, and from there... to Earth.

I have had the privilege to command one of the finest ships, some of the finest officers, in the fleet. For that I am grateful. I have made and lost many friends; I will never forget them. My 2½ years on Carpathia have been the most memorable of my life. May all of you who I leave behind fare well in the futures you choose for yourselves. It has been an honor.

Captain Nelson S. Reaper

Commanding Officer

USS Carpathia

NCC-17499

NRPG:

The Road Goes Ever On

Still round the corner there may wait

A new road or a secret gate,

And though I oft have passed them by,

A day will come at last when I

Shall take the hidden paths that run

West of the Moon, East of the Sun.

(J.R.R.Tolkien)

Goodbye, my friends.

http:/soultrek.net/carpathia/

_______________________________________

"Vera Pro Gratiis" (Truth Before Favor)

Reaper: Broken Dreams Remade

Stardate: 20623.2212
Title: Broken Dream Remade
Author: Nelson Reaper
Scene: Pirate ship
Time: After "Scenes From A Memory"

Nelson led the away team himself, after assuring Zild all was well. He knew inside that even if all was not well, the COS would remedy that in short order.

The pirate ship was a mess of looted crap, among which were parts of Carpathia. Many of them looked unsalvagable by Starfleet standards; he was sure, though, they'd fetch a hefty bounty on the black market. Captain Reaper dispatched most of his team to look over the ship and report on the stolen goods, then headed toward the main hold.

The doors opened and a stench nearly overwhelmed the Carpathian officers. After recovering, they stepped inside. One of the main docking doors was near the entrance, nearby several crates were stacked. Close inspection revealed the contents stenciled on the sides: all were filled with luxury goods that were normally hard to come by, even in places like Starbase Arcadia. There were a few dozen metric tons of various ores, and some crates that appeared to contain munitions.

"Captain," Lieutenant Jordan called over from a computer terminal. Nelson approached.

"What is it, Lil?" he asked.

"I've been looking over the manifest, all of these crates come from worlds or governments not recognized by the Federation," Jordan said.

"That's no surprise, is it? No respectable people would do business with pirates, especially if they expected support from the Federation," Nelson explained.

"That's not the only thing I noticed, sir. Almost all of them come from known slave-trading worlds."

Nelson's mind reeled. Images of barbarism filled his head as he fathomed the practice of the sale of sentient beings. Then Blue's words rang in his ears, "...they are there for you. All along, I saved them, for you." Reaper's eyes flashed, visibly startling Lieutenant Jordan.

"Scan the hold. This isn't the whole thing, look for hidden doors or hatches." He tapped his combadge and recalled the away team to help.

Moments later, it was found. A hatch was uncovered by moving an empty crate, two officers had it open by the time Nelson reached it. He climbed inside immediately.

Here is where the stench was coming from. Two dozen or so empty crates made makeshift homes for what looked like fifty or more people. As the rest of the team filed in, Nelson took a tricorder from Lt. Jordan.

"Call Carpathia, tell Doctor Dray to expect a full house. Everybody on the move to help these people out." Each officer moved toward the crowd that had started to gather. Nelson looked down at the tricorder and moved elsewhere.

He followed a signal to a bulkhead where another hidden hatch was found. He opened it. Inside was a small storage compartment. He climbed inside.

His eyes had to adjust to the dimness, but the tricorder led him onward. At the back of the room, he found two people sleeping in beds of rags. One was a woman, the other a child. He rechecked the tricorder, there was no doubt left in him.

He knelt and wept. The woman began to stir. Clearing his eyes, Nelson whispered, "Louise?"

Captain Nelson Reaper
Commander
USS Carpathia
NCC-17499

Reaper: Scenes From A Memory

Stardate: 20531.2349
Title: Scenes From A Memory
Author: Nelson Reaper
Time: After "The Yin and the Yang"
Scene: Auxiliary Control, Bridge

"Well well... long time no see, Blue." Nelson looked long at the woman before him, and did not try to hide the predatory accents in his voice. "Ever since that night at the bar... what was it? Omar's... of course." He undid her gag.

"So good to see you, Sonny. Who would've known you'd make it so far," she looked around her, presenting the ship with her eyes, "...Captain."

"That was a long time ago," Nelson replied simply.

"But the best time in your life... or so you said to me once," Blue answered snidely.

Nelson laughed out loud and moved directly in front of her, sitting on a fallen chunk of desk before her. "Fifteen years, and you still haven't changed. Still the same sweet Blue. How is it we meet again here? It's a shame, you know. It could have been so much better."

"It still could be, Sonny. Chances are that bug you let loose will take out all but our shapeshifter within 24 hours. The ship is yours, if not now then very soon. Just mosy them all over to the nearest starbase for questioning, and I'll escape with my ship... no harm done."

Nelson shook his head and smiled. "Now Blue, you know any other Starfleet captain wouldn't even take the time to talk to you."

"But you're not just any Starfleet captain, are you? You and I... we're special."

"WERE special, Blue. Sophomore summer off from the Academy was definitely a time to remember, and those eight long weeks in San Diego I'll never forget. But that was a different time... a simpler time."

"We were both a lot younger then," Blue said, seeming far away. She shook her head and looked at Nelson. "You have to believe I never meant for it to end that way. That night at Omar's was... I dont' know. I never really figured out why I left like that. It never would have worked anyway."

"It doesn't matter anymore. I moved on because I had to, I wanted to. I had so much to do then. We had different places to go."

Suddenly, Nelson saw just out of his peripheral vision as Blue's hands came out from behind her and reached for the weapon of one of her fallen comrades. The bond of sincerity that had seemingly been forged suddenly came apart as Nelson realized she'd probably meant to kill him all along. She raised the weapon-- he knew it would stop at his chest. He instinctively drew his own phaser and fired nearly point blank. She did manage to pull off the shot, but it just missed his shoulder and hit somewhere behind him.

The look of pain on Blue's face was matched in intensity by the look of betrayal on Nelson's. She dropped the weapon and fell against the bulkhead. She opened her eyes slowly and looked... but not at Nelson, behind him, just over his shoulder. She smiled as if satisfied, and visibly surrendered to her injuries.

Nelson turned around just in time to avoid being fallen on by the body of a man. It was the pirate captain, Ratagan, and he'd been weilding a knife meant for Nelson. It fell on the deckplate with a thump, and was immediately covered with his corpse. The telltale mark of a secondary phaser burn on the center of his back meant Blue's aim had been true. She hadn't betrayed him, she'd saved his life.

Nelson turned and dropped the phaser, and reached for Blue.

"Sonny..." she coughed up black blood. "In the hold of my ship... they are there for you. All along... I saved them, for you."

And then she was dead.

Captain Nelson Reaper
Commander
USS Carpathia
NCC-17499

Reaper: The Yin and the Yang

Stardate: 20531.2349
Title: The Yin and the Yang
Author: Nelson Reaper
Time: After "Ultimatum" and "Come Hell or High Water"
Scene: Auxiliary Control, Bridge

Captain Reaper listened hopefully after delivering his ultimatum to the pirates, but no response came. Finally, he looked around the room to find out what had happened to his team.

The officers were everywhere, and only two were standing. Monday and Reese were unconscious, while Yamashita and Mitchell were rubbing various parts of their bodies that had collided with various parts of the ship.

Immediately, they all moved toward the fallen. Reaper and Mitchell went to Reese's side, quickly assessing the officer's vital signs. "It looks bad, Captain," Mitchell said. "Breathing is shallow and the heartbeat is erratic."

Nelson tore open the man's uniform, revealing the large wound over his entire right rib cage. "The area's warm," Nelson said, "and every one of these ribs is broken. This man will bleed to death inside his own lungs if we don't get him out of here now." Mitchell nodded his agreement.

Yamashita called over from Monday's side. "He'll be alright, just a hard knock on the head. I don't recommend jarring him though, he'll likely be in a lot of pain when he wakes."

Nelson's mind churned, but he could think of no other alternative. Finally, he said, "One of us needs to get Reese to Sickbay."

"I'll do it," Mitchell volunteered. "But what about Monday?"

"He'll be safe here. We need as many bodies as possible when we move forward," Nelson replied. Yamashita and Mitchell nodded their agreement.

[Beta successful and secured,] was heard over the now open shipwide comlink.

"Pr'Zal's taken the bridge," Reaper said as he helped Mitchell lift Reese. "We need to move there now."

"Be right there, sir," Yamashita answered. Nelson looked back to see her leave her canteen and and Reese's phaser next to Monday. She stood and moved with a vengance in her stride. "Ready, captain."

=^=

Captain Reaper and Ensign Yamashita moved openly toward the bridge. Along the way, they encountered several makeshift strike teams moving through the ship, having secured more and more as they moved forward. Several surviving pirates had been rooted out in recent minutes, having succumbed to the initial stages of the Gana Alti virus. Apparently, however, most chose to stay hidden and die, or were regrouping with what energy they had left.

Once on deck 4, there were enough liberated crew that they had an escort to the bridge. Ensign Pr'Zal was in the command chair and stood when Reaper entered.

"Captain on the bridge!" she hollered.

Each officer came to attention where they stood, a courtesy usually only reserved for formal occasions. Nelson breathed in the collective pride and accomplishment of the entire crew as he strode forward. "As you were," he said.

Ensign Pr'Zal approached the captain as Yamashita moved to assist the others. "The bridge has been secured," she reported. "We are working on a full status report, but many of the ship's sensors have been disabled. We don't know the extent of the damage, but it seems we've been pillaged quite effectively."

"Indeed," Reaper barely said. "Keep working on it," he continued aloud. "Coordinate with the senior officers you can reach to reconstruct ship's systems one by one. Good work, everyone!" he spoke loudly enough for the whole bridge to hear him, but looked and smiled at Ensign Pr'Zal.

"One of the intruders has been detained in your Ready Room, sir," Pr'Zal said just as Nelson began to move away. He promptly turned in the opposite direction and headed aft.

"Thank you very much, Ensign," he said.

The door to the captain's office was leaning against the bulkhead in an attempt to make it look normal. Nelson glanced at it as he moved past into the shambles of his Ready Room. The guard there came to attention.

"Where is the prisoner?" Nelson demanded. The guard moved aside and Nelson could see the form of a woman bound on the floor. She looked up at him and their eyes met.

"Dismissed, crewman. I will deal with the pirate privately," Reaper ordered without taking his eyes off the woman. Quietly, the guard left.

Reaper silently regarded the woman while she surveyed him. Though bound, gagged, and wounded, she did not look defeated. Her eyes especially challenged him with an uncommon pride.

"Well well... long time no see, Blue."

Captain Nelson Reaper
Commander
USS Carpathia
NCC-17499

Reaper: Ultimatum

Stardate: 20531.2311
Title: Ultimatum
Author: Nelson Reaper
Time: After "Components"
Scene: Auxiliary Control

Reaper's team moved silently through the Jeffries tubes toward Auxiliary Control. Scouting ahead of him were Ensign Mitchell and Lieutenant Monday. Behind, Lieutenant Reese and Ensign Yamashita monitored their progress. Silently, Nelson hoped the other teams he'd dispatched were moving as smoothly as his.

Suddenly, Reaper's combadge emitted a startling noise [Capt.....his is....Mulder......hear me?]. He immediately silenced it, although any pirates in earshot of the noise had already been alerted.

Nelson cursed himself for allowing such a blatant oversight of preparation, but changed his thinking quickly to thankfulness that Mulder and his officers were safe. He glanced over his shoulder and looked back at Kimiko Yamashita. She was holding a tricorder, and shook her head urgently.

"Let's move," Reaper ordered. "Will engineering be able to cut into any of the auxiliary control mechanisms?"

"No, Captain," Andy Reese answered. He was one of the newest engineers on board, and seemed to know the Jeffries tubes like the back of his hand. "We'll need to access these junctions here... and here." He pointed out schematics on a PADD as he spoke. "Once we're in, we'll have to signal Engineering to override anything and everything that's happening on the bridge. They'll be able to take control then."

Reaper nodded to Ensign Yamashita. "Code our progress to Beta Team. Move out."

==

Several of the plasma conduits were exposed in ways only meant for drydock maintenance, having been expertly dissected by Reese and Yamashita. With their assistance, Reaper handled the final bypass node, and connected it when they nodded their okay.

All hell broke loose.

The ship lurched violently, throwing most of Alpha Team against the nearest bulkhead. Reaper himself was bashed against a control kiosk, but the shunt held. The flow of power had been successfully rerouted between the helm controls and Engineering. Now, it was up to Commander Remo. Nelson waited the breathless seconds without moving.

[Remo to Reaper, you're on.]

Immediately the captain stood and spoke, knowing his voice would be heard all over the ship. "This is Nelson Reaper, captain of the Carpathia. Attention to the invaders: my science officer has released a sample of a lethal virus that we encountered not too long ago. We have established a link between four operating units of personnel, and have locked out all control. You have two choices, and you have them right now. You can either come out and fight, or you can surrender and get the hell off my ship. Either way... you lose. Throw down your weapons and report to the ship's brig. Acknowledge."


Captain Nelson Reaper
Commander
USS Carpathia
NCC-17499

Pr'Zal: Come Hell or High Water

Stardate:  20531.1456
Author:  Kitanna Pr'Zal
Subject:  Come Hell Or High Water
Time: After 'Components' and before and during 'Bite Me!'
Scene:  Bridge

*** Initially on the Bridge ***

Beta Team's members were thrown out of the conduits into the bridge by the concussion of the ship's sudden lack of movement. Inman took a laser bolt to the chest and was killed instantly when she entered the room first. nce Kitanna's feet hit the floor, she retaliated by swinging her rifle and smashing the butt into the jaw of one of the ship's invaders. The man staggered backward, blood pouring copiously from his mouth, and tumbled over one of the navigation consoles, unconscious.  Phaser fire erupting around her, she jumped into the vacant seat and regained control, bringing the ship out of its literal drop through space.

"Shit! That was close!" Kitanna heard the rest of Beta Team taking advantage of the surprise 'fall out' from the Jefferies tube as phaser fire continued around her. Ducking several times, she motioned for another Ensign to take the helm. "Make sure NO ONE takes control of this helm but you or the Captain... understood?"

"Aye, Sir," came the simple reply.

Turning, Kitanna watched as another Carpathia crewman, Lieutenant Cray from Alien Sciences, fell at the hand of one of the remaining pirates. No longer able to control the rage building inside her, she ran full force toward the over-sized intruder.  Come hell or high water she was going to help take back the Captain's ship and...their home.

Screaming, she slammed into the figure from behind, causing both individuals to hit the floor of the bridge... hard. Within seconds, she had stood and, stepping on the man's throat, fired her phaser rifle into his chest. Looking up, she watched as Ensign Baitman strangled an intruder trying to shutdown the ventilation system. Hearing a click behind her, Kit instinctively turned and fired, dropping the last pirate face first into the floor.
==================

"Get another team to take back Engineering. Honestly, how hard is it to take a ship? WE ARE FARKING PIRATES FOR Q's SAKE!"

She stomped around in her thigh high boots and leather outfit like an angry dominatrix.

"I think it's time to kill the Monkey's Captain... do we know where he is?!?"  Before anyone could answer the door to the Captain's Ready Room opened and several Starfleet officers entered, led by what looked like a Vulcan half-breed.

"What the...!" Kitanna took all of three seconds to fire three times, hitting Blue in each leg and once in the stomach.  The pirate dropped to the floor, but not before firing back, hitting Kitanna in the left shoulder, causing her to scream in pain.

The remaining officers quickly disabled the leather-clad woman and bound her hands and feet until reinforcements arrived.  One officer remained, pointed his phaser at her head, smiling.

"Keep her alive but immobile until the Captain gets here," grimmaced Kitanna.  Slapping her comm badge, Kitanna uttered four words, "Beta successful and secured."

Ensign Kitanna Pr'Zal
Security Officer
USS Carpathia

Reaper, L: The Road Goes Ever On And On...

Stardate: 10109.2344 
Title:   The Road Goes Ever On and On...
Author:  Louise Reaper 
Scene:    Cappy's Office 
Time:    Current 

Goodness, the office is awfully small for the size of the station!

Louise sat quietly thinking in Captain Bell's office off Command Central.  It was the first time she'd even been on that deck, since it was reserved for Starfleet personnel only.  The Captain hadn't arrived yet, and a very large Klingon stood siletly behind Louise at the door.  She'd met him breifly when she first came aboard 6 months ago, and hadn't seen much of him since.  SAH had a well known reputation, however.

Finally, the door slid open behind Louise.  She turned to see her boss, Lieutenant St.  James, and the Captain enter together.  They both had a natural air of importance as they came in, and combined with Louise's unfamiliarity with this part of the station, that made her feel a bit insignificant.  Which made it even harder to admit what she'd come to say.  She stood to greet them.

"Louise, so good to see you," Captain Bell shook her hand earnestly and spoke to her like an old friend, though they'd never actually met except in passing at a few briefings and meetings.  Louise immediatly liked her, and the crew's dedication to her seemed obvious all of a sudden.  Tessa smiled at Louise; they knew each other personally, even if their relationship was still mostly work-based.  It would be hard to say goodbye to these outstanding women, let alone a whole outstanding crew.

"Shall we sit?" the Captain invited.  As all took their appropriate seats, an awful squeak was heard as Captain Bell sat.  "What's on your mind, Louise?"

Louise looked into her lap as her mind went blank.  She could feel herself turning red, and stared at the PADD in her hands a long second before coming back to senses.  She lifted the PADD and smiled nervously at the Captain, who seemed not to have noticed her brief confusion, or was at least being polite about it.

"Well, ma'am...  just a quick update, ummmm," Louise tapped a few times before coming to her list of discussion items.  It was short, only five items, but its purpose was weighty.  "Of course, MACII is in good shape, his systems were just updated and I made several small improvements which I'm sure he'll tell you about soon.  CIPP-Y is intact, though for some reason Doctor Dray still seems unhappy with him.  It's really of no consequence since her medical staff is usually large enough for their work load.  Commander Gilbert beat me in chess last week; I really no longer consider him an assignment as much as a good friend to Istari and I!" Louise laughed openly, then remembered she was in the CO's office.  Her nervousness again took its rightful place before Louise looked back up at Captain Bell and Lieutenant St.  James.  They were smiling, listening as intently as ever.  Louise continued.

"The holographic 'personality' at the Rem, Uncle Ron's family, and other miscellaneous AIs on board have all been looked over and updated as necessary.  And finally, although he's been around for a few weeks now, I haven't had a chance to meet the THI yet, though I hear he's extraordinary..." 

*Oy!* Louise thought she heard something, but wasn't sure.  She looked up.  The Captain was rolling her eyes.

"Ma'am?"

"Oh, it's just...  extraordinary indeed!" Captain Bell laughed to herself, then looked at Louise and waited for her to speak.  Instead of saying more, Louise became nervous again.  "You didn't come all the way up here to give me an update, did you Louise?"

"No, ma'am."

Captain Bell and Tessa glanced at each other as if they had been expecting something.  Tessa spoke now.

"Lou, I think we know what you're going to say.  And believe me when I say that we all understand.  It's hard work raising your boy by yourself, and you've got a big job here on the station that keeps you awfully busy."

Louise shrugged and looked down at her lap.  "Yes.  That is why I came.  Istari needs to be with his father again." She looked back up expecting to see cold faces that simply could not understand, but she was disappointed.

"You've done well here, Louise, despite your quiet existence.  and we're all grateful.  And," Captain Bell reached her hand out and put it on Louise's, "I think you really got what you came here for, didn't you?" Catrina smiled softly.  Louise did not retract her hand or break the eye contact.

"Yes, I believe I did.  And now I'm ready to go home."

Louise Reaper 
Civilian AI Specialist 
Starbase Arcadia 

Reaper: Mixed Meetings

Stardate: 00718.2136
Title: Mixed Meetings
Author: Lt.  Commander Nelson Reaper
Scene: USS Carpathia
Time: Morning after "...  Sweet Sorrow"

Austin met Nelson in the hall outside his quarters.  There was an obvious anxiety in the XO's face.  Nelson didn't notice, he was too excited about his family's return to the ship.

"Hey, 'Austin-baby'!" Nelson said, slapping his superior on the back.  Austin eased up a little, and allowed himself to be teased.  "Ooh, whatsa matter, still sore from yesterday's game?" Nelson laughed as he started out the door at a quick pace.

"Hey Nelson, how about some breakfast?  Where are you off to so early?" Austin asked.

"Shuttle bay.  Louise and the baby are due on board in 10 minutes!" Nelson huffed around a corner toward the turbolift with the XO trotting behind.

"Ten minutes?  I thought they weren't due to board til 0930?"

"Nurse Gretchen cleared 'em for early boarding.  Ain't she just such a sweetie?" The two men stepped onto the turbolift.

"Umm, look Nelson, there's something on my mind I'd like to discuss with you.  It's...  difficult." Austin was about to muster the courage to hand his friend the PADD he'd received from the captain the day before. The turbolift stopped, and a pair of crewmen stepped in.

Both officers stood silent as the crewmen engaged in small talk about their night shift.  The lift stopped again at the bay deck and Nelson and Austin stepped off.

"What is it?" Nelson asked when they were alone again.

They walked side by side among the dozens of crew and shuttles.  Various freight movers slid between rows of cartons and containers as all was being made ready for their departure from Starbase Arcadia the next day. Nelson slowed and pointed, "There, bay 2B," and he turned toward a bay door just opening for an approaching shuttle.

The two men watched silently as the vehicle cleared the forcefield and landed.  After it was docked, the aft section opened and a dozen or so people exited.

Austin stammered, "Nelson, I..."

One small individual ran from the crowd toward the two men.  It was Istari, the littlest Reaper.  Barely two years old, he toddled fast toward Nelson and called out "Dod-DEEEE!" Every face within earshot lit up as the father-son reunion was witnessed.  Nelson picked up and hugged the little boy tightly, spinning him around as he did.

Austin looked absently into the dispersing crowd, not quite sure what to do at this point.  Instantly, his eyes met those of Louise as she walked slowly toward her husband.  She looked tired, and emotionally spent.

Their gaze held a long fraction of a second, and they seemed to each other the only two in the whole shuttle bay.  Time slowed as Louise spied the PADD in Austin's hand and her blank face was overcome with fear.  She looked back up at Austin, and knew why he was there.

Her eyes pleaded silently with him as he firmly held his gaze upon her face, judging her, scolding her, daring her to come forward.  He clenched the PADD tightly in his hand, knowing that only seconds ago he was the only person separating his friend Nelson from the truth.  As Austin watched the tears form in Louise's eyes, he knew he no longer had to be.  The captain was right: this was indeed a family matter.

Austin turned toward Nelson just as Louise approached and buried her head in the nook of his shoulder, embracing him.  Slowly, he turned and walked away.  With measured steps, he headed for the turbolifts, and his duty station.  He briefly thought of the words he'd use when he informed the captain of his decision, and then his thoughts turned elsewhere.  Perhaps one last visit to the Rem was in order before casting off, and one more round of oblivion under the glittering, mind-numbing disco ball.  Yes, he decided, it most certainly was.

LtCmdr Nelson Reaper
Chief Operations Officer
USS Carpathia

Reaper, L: ...Sweet Sorrow

Stardate: 00718.0454
Subject:  ...Sweet Sorrow
Author: Louise Reaper
Time: After "Parting is Such..."
Scene: USS Carpathia

The morning briefing had just come to a close.  As the senior officers exited the room, Captain Johna approached his Executive Officer.  "Your opinion on a rather...  delicate matter, Commander?"

Austin looked up, fairly surprised.  He'd expected that the day's routine business was concluded.  Ro gave him that 'let's go' look and Austin rose and followed the captain to his ready room.

"What is it, sir?" he asked when they were both inside.

Captain Johna walked solemnly to his desk and retrieved a PADD.  He handed it to Austin.  "There has been an incident on board Starbase 185.  Normally, you would not be involved with this decision, but I need your advice." Saying no more, he sat, leaving the XO to read.
~~~

"Oh my god, she KILLED him?" Michaels gasped.

Ro nodded.  "Claimed an attempted rape defense.  185's CMO validated her story by citing the bruises on her shoulders.  But read further, Mrs.  Reaper's full post trauma medical report follows."

Austin skimmed the PADD, then read aloud, " '...mental trauma consistent with subject's account, but recent physical evidence suggests...' oh my god, is this for real?"

"So it would seem.  And now my dilemma is this: do I tell Lt.  Commander Reaper that his wife slept around on him, or leave that to her?  I have never been a good judge of family matters.  That is why you are here. That, and you know Nelson probably better than anyone except his wife.  What's your opinion?"

Austin sat back and sighed.  "I think I will be late for our volleyball match with Bally and Mulder, that's for sure." He stood and paced the room.  He stopped briefly and addressed the captain.  "What are the chances of making this...  go away?" he shook the PADD containing the report as he spoke.

Ro only sighed.  "Nil.  That copy came directly from Admiral Kelly.  It may be classified to protect Louise from the stigma associated with the accidental death, but the affair...  well, that's the best he can do.  He's graciously decided to let us have a go at it before submitting it to Starfleet personnel, which is why I need an answer.  Soon.  It would not do to leave the good Admiral out to dry on this one, would it?"

Austin looked disappointed.  "I suppose not.  Let me handle this, sir.  Can we get 24 hours out of him?"

"Most likely.  What do you plan to do?"

"I'm not sure, but I'll keep you informed."

"Very good, Commander.  Dismissed."

Louise Reaper
Civilian
USS Carpathia

Reaper, L: Parting is Such...

Stardate: 00718.0852
Subject: Parting is Such...
Author: Louise Reaper
Time: Before "Burned Into My Memory (ouch)"
Scene: Starbase 185

"Thank you, Commander.  Yes, I'll be ready at 0600.  See you then."

Louise Reaper closed the Starbase's internal commlink and looked despairingly to the floor.  A male hand reached to her shoulder from behind, caressing it, kneading it.

"Then tonight is our last night together," a male voice said.  Louise did not respond.  Slowly, she reached with her own hand toward the man's, reluctantly, longingly. Softly, she said, "Yes."

A long moment of silence followed.  For Louise, it was less than comfortable, but welcome.  One long moment with only the dimness of the room to behold, only the familiar staleness of the air to contemplate.  Silently she closed her eyes and her hand became cold stone over that one of flesh on her shoulder.  She could touch, and it would mean nothing... couldn't she?

The silence was broken by a coarseness she was becoming all too familiar with.  A rough voice, an over-strong hand.  She was pulled away from the desk and spun around in her swivel chair.  There before her was the face that, only three long nights ago, comforted her in her moment of weakness.  It regarded her now with a distance that laid her bare, exposing her regrets.  She knew that distance was simply a reflection of that in her own gaze.

"John, I..." Louise began.

"... can't," the man abruptly finished.  "I know.  I can feel your reluctance." His words were cold.  He removed his hands from her body, and she relaxed unconsciously, but visibly.  The man looked off to one side, and shrugged.  "I should have known.  You're just too good for your own good.  And now you're going to run off to your high and mighty husband on the Starfleet fast track, and be a good little wife and mother again, eh?  Do you really think you can be satisfied with that role ever again, after what you've done here?  And do you think you could ever face that man after what you've shared with me?"

He was standing now, looming over her while she sat in the chair, shaking, sobbing, seeming to cower beneath his oppressive form.  She neither noticed his dominant stance, nor would she have cared.  She was in her own misery, wallowing in her misdeeds as they threatened to consume her.  Raging with herself in her own mind, she was taken by surprise when he took her by the shoulders and forced her out of the chair.

"Well, don't you have anything to say to me?" was what he meant to say, but little more than the first word ever escaped his lips.  Instinctively, Louise raised her forearms, separating herself from the powerful man's grasp.  Rising on her own, the heels of her hands came down below his ears with more force than she estimated.  The man reeled back, reaching for his head in pain.  As he became prone, Louise wheeled around and put her foot against his larynx, shoving him violently backward.  As he fell, he tripped on the coffee table, and fell neatly into the edge of the desk.  The base of his skull contacted cleanly, and separated from the spine.  He fell to the floor, finally, with surprising grace, and lay silent.

Louise stood dumbfounded as she looked upon the dead man.  She was shaking, her muscles tense, her heart pounding.  She began to sweat, or realized she had been.  She knew the meaning of the faint cracking sound she heard as his head hit the desk, but fought to deny understanding.  Turning wildly, she ran into the room where Istari lay sleeping, scooped him into her arms, and ran as fast as she could to the infirmary, the image of the powerful man following her all the way.

Louise Reaper
Civilian
USS Carpathia