Homestead

Vausees stood with her arms around her chest, the chill of the dusk air seeping into her skin. She leaned against an oak pillar on the porch of Debrah's homestead, the Fergouson Ranch. The Fergouson Ranch, located deep in the valley that leads to Boulder, Colorado, was 440 acres in total and belonged to her family long before the Federation became the entity it is now.

She gazed out into the dusk at the vibrant pinks that hid the mountains in the distance. As she stood there, she sighed and a plume of white breath floated in front of her. As she leaned forward, snow fell onto the ground in front of her.

The porch suddenly lit up as the door behind her opened and Debrah stepped out. Her gaze locked on Vausees' frame, and she stepped up behind her and wrapped her arms around her. As she rested her chin on Vausees' shoulder, a glass mug in her hands steamed up in front of them.

“Are you coming in soon?” Debrah inquired as she gazed out into the snowy landscape.

A tired smile crept across Vausee's lips as she felt the warmth of her fiance's arms. "I'll be in soon," she said tiredly.

Debrah placed a warm kiss on her neck and said, "Don't be too long," as she slowly released her and stepped back into the warmth of the house.

Vausees took a deep breath and returned her gaze to the fading light before turning around and heading back into the warmth of the house. She smiled as soon as she shut the door and turned to face the rustic interior. She was aware that this location had been well used for generations and had received a few upgrades over the years. After hanging her coat on one of the pegs near the door, she entered the kitchen, which was nearly as large as the officer's lounge and galley combined.

Debrah stood with her back to her fiance as she slid a wooden spoon through the ingredients that were cooking in a cast-iron skillet.

"I hope you're hungry, darlin'," she said, turning to face Vausees.

Vausees replied, "Starved." Her cheeks reddened from the cold valley air she had been in just moments before, and they were now warmed by the heat of the large wood-burning fireplace. 

Shadow in the Snow

Vausees and Debrah were lying in bed together, long asleep. A person moved silently through the shadows cast down by moonlight into the thick forest that covered the mountainside deep in the mountains that bordered the valley where the Fergouson Ranch lay. The figure came to a halt in the shadow of two blue spruce trees, their limbs bowed down to aid in concealment as they reached up and tapped a button on the side of their goggles. As they looked down into the valley below, the bright green of their night vision faded and was replaced by the standard view.

"I've found you," said the person wearing the thermal face mask as they looked at the billowing smoke coming from the homestead's chimney. While standing there, the person reached down and tapped on a wrist sling. An indicator on their goggles indicated the presence of a nearby cave system as well as a town not far away. Stepping back into the shadows, the person moved away and toward the town.

As they approached the outskirts of town, they reached up and removed the thermal mask, allowing their long raven black hair to fall free from the garment. Dark brown eyes scanned the town's main street, settling on bright neon pink lights that read "Inn."

When the person entered, the woman behind the reception desk stood up.

"Good evening, my dear. "How can I assist you?" The woman behind the counter inquired.

"I need a room for a few months," the raven-haired individual explained.

The receptionist nodded and started filling out a form on a PADD, but when she got to the name section, she looked up at the person and asked, "What name is this going under?"

"Klair..." paused the raven-haired woman as her dark brown eyes studied the receptionist for a moment, "Klair Valdez."

The receptionist was taken aback by the Raven-haired woman's stare, but she nodded and entered the name. 

Ghosts of the Past

As Vausees stretched her arms, the early morning sunlight filtered through the shades and into the bedroom. As she lay there, a soft groan left her lips, and she smiled at her fiance. She leaned over and kissed her closed eyes before slipping out of the warmth of the bed and heading for the bathroom. Her feet padded softly on the wood floor as she walked. Debrah blinked open her eyes when she heard the sound of running water coming from the bathroom. She stretched before getting out of bed and going to the bathroom, just like Vausees. Debrah smiled as she slowly opened the shower door, trying to be sneaky about it, because she could see steam coming from the large and spacious shower. Only to be greeted by light blue eyes and a wicked grin.

“Did someone miss me?” Vausees teased as she stood under the waterfall shower head.

Debrah's breath caught in her throat as a result of the sight. She couldn't get enough of Vausees; even a glimpse of her body as she walked the Heracles bridge was exhilaratingly painful for her. Debrah's mind was flooded with stark and intimate images as she closed the shower door and moved toward Vausees, who had her arms open and outstretched in an invitation to join her under the hot water, and she knew Vausees was having the same thoughts by the look in her eyes.

Vausees sat in front of a mirror as Debrah slipped a black muscle shirt over her bare skin and brushed her damp hair out. She smiled as her love changed into blue jeans. Her body was both clean and tingly. A testament to how much time they had spent together in the shower under the heat of the water.

“So what do you have in mind for today?” she asked Debrah

“I was thinking about heading into town and seeing what is going on, and what has changed since I was last here.”

Vausees nodded as she adjusted the towel that had been wrapped around her; it had slipped down slightly, and she said, "I think I will join you," as she set down her brush and grabbed a hair tie.

Debrah smiled as she buckled her family buckle into the belt that she had slipped on, “That would be great.”

When the doorbell rang, Debrah walked over and grabbed the phaser from the small table next to the door, as she hadn't expected anyone to stop in. As she cracked the door open, she kept it out of sight. Branch Fergouson, her father, was standing on the porch. She let go of the phaser and opened the door for him. He took a look at it, then back at her.

“Expecting trouble?” He asked her

“Not at all, but I wasn’t expecting you.”

He nodded and entered the homestead. "Well, even if the deed belongs to you, this is still my ranch," he said as he stood there in his uniform. "After all, when does a father need to declare that he wants to see..." he paused as Vausees exited the bedroom. He nodded after looking at her and then back at Debrah. "You must be the one my daughter has been talking about," he continued to look at Debrah.

"And you must be Branch," she said, looking at the man standing in the living room. Her eyes remained neutral, but she could see why Debrah despised this man on the inside. She could see the arrogance washing over him in waves, but she could also see the confidence that accompanied it, which her fiance possessed in spades.

"What can I do for you, Lieutenant?" Debrah asked, shaking her head.

Branch shook his head at his daughter and sighed, "Still pissed at me for not supporting your decision to leave the fleet," he said.

"Actually, Mr. Fergouson..." Vausees' sentence was cut short by a look from Debrah telling her not to finish it, and she knew right away that Debrah did not want to continue talking with her father.

Branch looked at them and realized that his time was coming to an end. "I just wanted to let you know that I will be returning to the ranch due to orders from HQ," he explained before turning and opening the door. He paused before walking out, then said over his shoulder, "I just thought you should know." He then walked away.

Vausees could see the trembling on her love's body as she stood there in silence. She crept up behind her, wrapping her arms inside Debrah's and resting her head on her back. "I know you don't want him on the ranch, but I think it would be best if someone looked after the ranch when we leave," she said softly before turning her head and gently kissing her on the back.

Debrah relaxed and nodded, knowing Vausees was correct; they needed someone to look after the ranch, even if it was her father. She turned around, took Vausees in her arms, and gently kissed her. "I'm sorry if this turn of events has ruined our day," she said, looking Vausees in the eyes.

“It hasn’t.”

Debrah's lips creased as she took her and Vausees' hands and led them to the Volga-class runabout that they had borrowed from the Heracles while it was being repaired and refitted in one of the many docks inside the Spacedock.

A few minutes later, the runabout landed on one of the town's landing pads. They walked toward the market after disembarking. Vausees looked around the city as they walked. When she noticed a Raven-haired woman, she had to do a double take. However, this caused her to stop walking, and when she returned to where she had seen the woman, she had disappeared, as if she had vanished into thin air.

Debrah had continued walking when she noticed Vausees wasn't with her and turned to look for her. She noticed her love's expression and moved over next to her. "Are you all right?" she inquired.

"I'm not sure," Vausees replied, continuing to look in the direction of where the woman had stood.

Debrah shifted her gaze to where Vausees was looking, then back to her.

"What exactly is it?"

"I'm not sure, but I swear I saw someone from my past standing right there," she said, motioning to the Inn.

"Who do you think it was?" Debrah asked as she scanned the front of the Inn.

Vausees shook her head, but her mind only said one name: 'Klair’. 

The Past Hurts Too Much

Klair pressed her back against the office wall, closing her eyes. As she stood there, she took slow, deep breaths. She had just walked out of her room, looked up, and quickly moved out of sight. Vausees was standing in the middle of town, and she had been almost spotted.

"What the fuck, Klair," she said quietly to herself.

Her thoughts returned to a memorial as she stood there.

Klair stood in the shadows of a mausoleum, watching her funeral procession. Vausees' tears streamed down her face as she stood in the rain with the rest of their class, dressed in their dress grays. Rain fell from the skies as she stood there in the shadows, soaking her to the bone, and she wished she could run over and comfort the love of her life, but she knew it was best if she remained nothing more than a memory, even if it hurt her.

As the procession left, she observed Vausees standing at the gravesite. She'd seen Vausees fold her umbrella and was now standing in the rain as it continued to fall. It seemed like hours before the gravesite was empty and the cemetery was quiet again. Klair had borne the pain of seeing Vausees leave in sorrow and grief, and now she stood before her own grave, looking down at the marble headstone.

She knelt and lowered her head, placing a hand on its smooth, solid structure. Inside, she was enraged that she had accepted the intelligence department's offer, but she knew that her sacrifice was more important than her own happiness and would save more lives in the long run. Before standing, she removed a necklace from her neck and placed it on the headstone, along with her deactivated combadge. She then stood up and walked back into the shadows, away from that part of her life.

Klair opened her eyes and slowly exhaled, having been holding her breath the entire time she relived that event in her life. She peered around the corner of the wall, watching Vausees and another woman walk away hand in hand. She realized then that Vausees still believed her in that grave. She nodded, but she knew she still had a mission to pursue. 

Calling in a Favor

Vausees sat in the homestead's living room. A holographic projector in front of her was making an outgoing call. It abruptly changed to a woman in a command uniform.

"What can I do for you, Captain Vax?" the woman asked as she looked at Vausees from the projector

“Captain Vehl. "I'm sorry to bother you, but I need a favor," Vausees said, looking at her superior.

Th'lora Vehl tilted her head slightly to one side as she listened to one of her Captains speak. She was intrigued, but she didn't let it show in the conversation.

"I require an internal investigation," Vausees stated as she sat on the plush couch. She averted her gaze for a moment when the front door opened and Debrah entered, stomping her feet to clear them of snow. Debrah smiled as she looked up toward her fiance and noticed captain Vehl on the table. Vausees returned the smile before turning her attention back to Th'lora. "Sorry about that captain, Debrah just walked in," she admitted.

"Who or what do you need to be investigated?" Th'lora asked, nodding.

"This is going to sound strange, perhaps even a tad crazy, but I need an investigation done on Klair Valdez," Vausees said as she leaned forward and took a mug from the table that Debrah had placed and brought it to her lips. As she sipped from the mug, she hoped her nervousness wasn't visible on her face, because only a lunatic would request an investigation into a 'dead' person.

"Captain, when do you need the information?" Th'lora inquired, seeing no reason to deny the request of a highly decorated and promising captain.

The sound of Th'lora asking her when she needed the information instantly calmed Vausees, as she knew her request would be granted right then and there. "There is no timetable, just when you can," she said as she replaced the mug on the table.

"I will have what I can get to you as soon as possible," Th'lora said, nodding.

The holographic projector then turned off as the image of Th'lora faded away.

Disturbing Records

Th'lora sits down in her office a few days later and locks the door. After going over her finds one more time, she establishes a secure and encrypted connection with Vausees. She informed her that she had discovered some disturbing content and was wondering if she could receive an encrypted data package. 

Vausees informs her that she is not at home at the moment and that she and Debrah are out and about in town. Debrah states that her homestead has an encrypted data bank, gives Th'lora the code to access the data bank, and tells her that they will contact her once they have gone over the information Th'lora has given them.

Vausees and Debrah return home from town a few hours later and immediately begin sorting through the data that Th'lora sent them. Vausees sighs and rubs her eyes, clearly exhausted by what she has read and enraged at her former lover for faking her own death.

Debrah approaches with two glasses of wine, one of which she hands to Vausees, who graciously accepts and begins to take a long pull from the glass. She places a nearly half-empty glass on the table and looks up at her fiance.

“It took me nearly a decade to get over this woman and her supposed death before discovering she was still alive." Her irritation was audible in her voice as she spoke to Debrah.

Debrah remained silent as she listened to her speak about Vausees' former lover's deception. She knew that when Vausees entered one of these states, she should remain silent and let her fiance rant and rave uninterrupted.

Vausees placed the PADD in her hand on the table and rubbed her eyes again, "Baby if someone did this to you, what would you do in return?" Vausees asked Debrah as her hand dropped from her eyes, which opened to look at her.

Debrah remained silent as she considered the question Vausees had just posed to her. She shook her head and looked into Vausees' eyes. "I honestly don't know what I would do, but if I were in your shoes, I would want answers regardless of how I got them. Especially the why," she said, standing up and moving over to sit beside her. Debrah slipped her hand into Vausees's and began to massage her soon-to-be wife's wrist and fingers, having discovered that her hand was clenched into a tight ball.

Debrah's simple, yet intimate gesture to Vausees' wrist and hand was soothing and distracting from the anger that was building up inside her mind. She looked at Debrah and smiled as she leaned in and gently placed her mouth over Debrah's. Vausees speaks a moment later, as they separate to catch their breath.

"We need to contact Captain Vehl," she said, her breathing deep as she sat there with her forehead pressed against Debrah's.

Debrah swallowed and nodded in agreement, but she didn't trust her own voice, and her eyes were closed as she fought the urge to increase their arousal even more.

Vausees sat there for a moment, both willed and allowing her symbiont to control her state of mind. When her eyes opened, she reached out and tapped the holoprojector, saying, "Call, captain Vehl." As it attempted to connect with Th'lora, the projector powered up and displayed the command.

***

Th'lora was looking over the station logs at her desk when the holoprojector next to her lit up and displayed Vausees' name. She took the incoming call.

"I was wondering if you had forgotten to call me," she said, putting the monitor to sleep and concentrating on Vausees.

***

Vausees sat there for a moment, then nodded when Th'lora appeared on the holo.

"Nope, I hadn't forgotten, I just needed to understand what you sent me, and I also needed to process some unchecked emotions before I called," Vausees explained, before adding, "Captain, do you happen to know if Klair is in Boulder?"

"Actually, she is," Th'lora said, referring to Klair's most recent mission. "She appears to be on the hunt for a Tal Shiar mole. And, to be more specific, a Federation officer."

"Wait, you're saying the Federation planted an officer in the Romulan Tal Shiar, and she's now looking for this person in Boulder?"

"We don't know, but I do know that Klair was promoted to Captain a few months ago and given complete autonomy to run her own missions as she saw fit, and this came up. I'm not sure why, but if I find out, I'll let you know." Th'lora closed the file on Klair's current mission.

Cheon

Klair sat alone in the diner, reviewing the file on her PADD. She read the contents while flicking her fingers across the device's smooth surface. Cheon Kyo's service record as Captain of the USS Denver was on the PADD.

As she went over his records again, Klair's mind was filled with rage. Nothing in them suggested that he was a Tal Shiar, but she was familiar with their brutal methods from her time as a handled field agent. 'I know you're a traitor,' she reminded herself. She noticed the waitress approaching her with a small plate of apple pie out of the corner of her eye.

As soon as the desert was placed on the table, she looked up with a soothing smile, which was the absolute opposite of what was going on inside her head and hidden behind the calm she exuded. "Thank you," she said softly, dismissing the waitress and returning her attention to the PADD.

***

Vausees sat alone in the living room, her eyes closed. Debrah had retired to the bedroom and was sound asleep. As Vausees sat there in silence, shadows danced on the wooden walls; her thoughts were far from Boulder. She remembered Klair's touch and even her taste, despite the fact that it had been years since she had felt or tasted such things.

Her light blue eyes shot open, and she stood up. She snatched up her long black duster and slipped into it without missing a beat. She paused in front of the bedroom on her way to the front door, looking into the room and at Debrah sleeping. She sighed as she quietly entered the room and hovered over her fiance. Her light blue eyes pierced the shadow that covered Debrah's smooth skin, and her breath caught in her throat for a moment before she turned her face away and closed her eyes.

"I'll handle it my way. I hope you can forgive me," she said quietly into the darkness as she slipped out of the room and out of the homestead, heading for Boulder, where she knew Klair was.

***

Klair set her fork down as the lights went out. She knew who had done it and peered out the diner's small circular window at someone dressed entirely in black under the soft glow of a street lamp. "I was wondering how long it would take you," she said softly to the person in the light, who she knew perfectly well.

A soft swear from the waitress drew Klair's attention for a split second, but when she returned her gaze to the street lamp, the person had vanished. She scoured the dimly lit street, but couldn't see the figure in black, owing to the obscurity of the window size and her knowledge of her ex's skill.

She stepped outside, threw on her overcoat, and made her way to her room at the Inn. She kept looking around her as she walked, mostly into the shadows, but no one was there. She knew she hadn't imagined the figure standing under the street lamp, and she would be damned if she allowed her mind to wander away from her mission and focus on her ex.

She heard a phaser charging as she closed the door to her room. She smiled as she looked over her shoulder at the blue glow of the stun setting that had moved out of the shadow of the corridor leading to the bathroom.

"Sit down," said a disguised voice, but Klair recognized it.

"You can take off the disguise, Captain Vax," Klair said as she turned to face the woman who was still partially hidden in the hallway's shadows.

"I won't repeat myself, Ms. Valdez," Vausees said as she stepped out of the shadows and looked into Klair's dark brown eyes, her light blue eyes shining with a slight glow.

Klair took a seat, recalling Vausees's state of mind all too well. She had seen Vausees' temper flare up on several occasions and knew not to press that button. Even if she knew she could take her ex-lover, she knew she wouldn't leave the room unharmed. Besides, it would only prolong her mission, and she didn't have time to waste.

"What brings you here?" Vausees inquired.

"It's none of your business, Vax."

Vausees' lips curled into a dark growl as she stood there hearing Klair mention her symbiont's name. "You no longer have the right to use that name," she said through clenched teeth, her phaser held outstretched and level with Klair's face. "And I'm making it my concern because you're now in my town."

For a brief moment, Klair was taken aback. She recognized Vausees as a woman who lived in space. As she looked at Vausees, she cocked her head slightly. "Your town? When did you consider Earth, let alone Boulder, Colorado, to be your home?"

"Since you decided to come here when you were supposed to be dead," she retorted, "since I discovered you lied to me and abandoned me." Since you thought it best to do a mission in my fiance's hometown and to go after someone in the Federation," she explained, having realized that the only reason to return to Earth was to go after someone on the planet.

Klair was caught off guard once more, and she was growing tired of it. As she looked at Vausees, her dark eyes narrowed. "How?" was all she could say.

"I know everything about you, or almost everything," Vausees continued, her gaze fixed on Klair. "Now "Raven," are you going to tell me who or should I call my fiance and my intelligence officer to this room?"

Klair knew she had to try to escape quickly. If Vausees was this close to determining who her target was, she needed to finish the mission right away. She charged at Vausees without thinking. Her palm landed on the side of Vausees' wrist as her other hand snatched the phaser from the disabled hand and tossed it out of reach. Vausees was taken aback by the sudden movement and pain, but she forced herself to react and block a kick with her shin as she attempted to counter with her good hand. It was easily blocked and became trapped against Klair's arm and torso.

When Vausees caught a fist in the face, her vision blurred. When she felt the impact of a knee to the gut, she grunted. Her legs buckled as her breath left her lungs and her strength left her body. As she struggled to stay awake, stars exploded behind her closed eyes.

Klair threw Vausees' body to the ground as soon as she noticed her legs giving out. Leaning down, she said one word into her ear, 'Cheon,' then grabbed her bag from under the bed and walked out the door, not bothering to close it.

Vausees' mind replayed the word as she lay there, her body screaming out in pain that numbed all of her other senses. She tried to stay awake, but her body won and forced her to fall unconscious.

What were you thinking

Debrah wiped Vausee's brow with a damp cloth. The right eye of Vausee was swollen shut and had a deep periwinkle color. When Vausees saw Debrah, she opened her good eye and then looked away.

"Look at me, baby," Debrah said as she sat beside her.

"You're upset with me," Vausees said as she lay there.

"Not at all, but I'm perplexed as to why."

"I needed answers."

"Did you get them?" Debrah inquired as she turned her fiance's face toward her.

Vausees allowed the painful touch as she gazed into Debrah's green eyes. She moved her head. "I don't recall."

"What were you thinking?" Debrah asked, slipping her hand away from Vausee's face.

“I thought I knew her but I was wrong…dead wrong.”

"You're lucky someone noticed the door was open and called the authorities," Debrah said as she stood up and walked over to the window. Snow was starting to fall again and she shook her head as she turned back to Vausees. "Just promise me that if you're going to do something stupid, you'll bring me along."

Vausees sighed and pushed herself up into a seated position. She took the cloth and placed it in her lap, saying, "I doubt there will be another," as she looked down at the cloth with her good eye.

***

Klair stepped off the shuttle that had taken her from Boulder to San Francisco. She closed her eyes for a moment as a breeze kissed her skin and the smell and taste of salt assaulted her.

Her mind was flooded with images of her and Vausees standing on the boardwalk, talking about their future together. She growled and shook her head, attempting to shake the memory from her mind. She opened her eyes and walked toward Starfleet Headquarters.

***

Vausees stood in front of a bathroom mirror, inspecting the coloring around her eye. Debrah had applied a dermal stimulator to her swollen, open eye. She sobbed softly as she lowered her head.

Debrah's hand came to rest on her back as she heard her sobbing and began to rub her back.

"I failed," Vausees said, sobbing.

"How could you have known the type of person she'd become?"

"She was my first love, and I thought I knew everything about her," Vausees turned her head and looked at her. "I was mistaken, and it almost cost me my life."

"I can't imagine the pain you're feeling, but I promise that I will never do that to you," Debrah said as she gently turned her to look into her eyes. As she looked at Vausees, she smiled.

"I am glad you are with me, and I am sorry for trying to fix this issue without consulting you, let alone taking you with me," she said as she leaned forward to rest her head on Debrah's shoulder.

"Don't be concerned. What has been done is done. Just concentrate on us and our future," Debrah said as she led Vausees from the bathroom into the living room.

"You're right," Vausees said, taking a seat on the couch and curling her legs under her.

Debrah sat next to her, pulling up their wedding itinerary so far. 

Captain’s Log: Stardate: 74880.73. It’s been several months since the Delta Quadrant incident, and my crew and I are still mentally and physically scarred. Though most of us have moved on, I’m afraid my closest friend and brother have witnessed the worst of it. Trever hasn’t been himself since we first encountered the Blood Dilithum shard…’

A chime interrupts Vausees, and she lets out an annoyed but soft sigh. “Computer pause,” she says as she reaches over and taps on her ready room’s pulsing intercom icon.

“Go ahead.”

“Incoming message for you, Captain,” Debrah said.

“I’ll take it in here,” Vausees said, tapping the icon again to disconnect from the comms.

She closed her eyes and concentrated on Debrah’s voice as she turned to the holo-monitor. It was the only thing that had aided her during the Delta mission. She notices the spinning “Shield and Bolt” that indicates this is a message from their Task Force when she opens her eyes.

“Computer, secure the room and play the incoming message.”

As the room was secured, a soft beep was heard. Vausees expected the icon to change to show her Commanding Officer, but all she got was an audio message.

‘Captain Vax, I hope you receive this message well. I’ve given orders for you and the USS Heracles to return to the Alpha Quadrant. When you and your crew arrive, you will be given new orders. I know you chose to remain in the quadrant in case of a new threat, but with a new threat so close to home, I can no longer allow that. I wish I could tell you more, but you’ll have to wait until your return to Starbase Seventy-Two for that. We’ll see you soon, Captain Vax.’

When the audio ended, the Task Force icon vanished. Vausees sat motionless. As she mentally replayed the message, her hand cradled her chin.

‘What could be more important than keeping a ship within the Delta,’ she pondered as she gazed into space.

Vausees reached over and tapped the bridge icon, “Commander Bettencourt, set course for the Barzan wormhole,” she instructed. She was aware that their journey would take several days and that they would have to wait at the station near the wormhole until the next opening.

~~~

A couple of days later…

Cody stood on the station’s promenade, looking out into the vastness of space as ships of all shapes and sizes flew by, going about their business. A chill engulfed him as he stood there. He closed his eyes and pushed the feeling away, even though he knew he should have listened to it, he knew it was unnatural for someone like him to have such a trait, and he knew his father was to blame.

Vausees approached him as he continued to stand there. “Anything on your mind, Commander?” she asked as she stood next to him, looking out at the Heracles moored to one of the pylons. The ship appeared to be suspended in the dark inkiness of space. Her nacelles were powered down to a dull glow of their usual self, creating an eerie sight.

Cody looked at Vausees’ reflection in the window glass that they shared. “I have a bad feeling about our upcoming mission,” he admitted before turning to face her.

“Would you like to elaborate?” she asked, looking into his eyes.

“I’m not sure what it could be, but a feeling tells me that something isn’t being told to us,” he says, turning to face the people moving around the station.

“A gut feeling,” she says. “Have they even been wrong?” she asks.

“Only once,” he says.

“And that was?”

Cody fell silent as he remembered that day so long ago, “When my father sent me away. Something didn’t feel right about how he sent me away, but I trusted my father back then, and now I trust my gut instincts.”

Vausees nodded in agreement, understanding how he felt. She, too, suspected something was wrong but couldn’t pinpoint what it was. She smiled as she returned her attention to Cody. “Get some rest, Commander. We depart in twelve hours to find out what our fate is.”

She then leaves Cody alone and proceeds to the mooring and the Heracles.

~~~

Zyvia walked into the living room of the quarters that she and Cody had acquired upon arriving at the station. She knew that the two of them would have a short time together before having to reboard the Heracles. As the door opened, Zyvia turned to face the man who had saved her. As she looked him in the eyes, she smiled.

“Welcome home, Mister Bettencourt,” she teased as she turned to face him, dressed in a sheer kimono. She turned again and headed for the bedroom, a sly grin on her face.

Cody paused for a moment, his gaze fixed on Zyvia. He thought his mind was playing tricks on him until he noticed the heat emanating from his body as a result of his arousal. He immediately followed her and closed the door behind him.

~~~Vausees opened her eyes to a breathtaking view. Her wife rested her head on her chest. Leaning forward, she kissed Debrah on the nose and smiled as her green eyes opened halfway.

“Can you tell me about her?” Debrah asks.

“Klair is a fierce woman when I knew her at the academy,” Vausees knew who she was talking about, “Nothing could stop her. When a challenge arose, everyone knew Klair would beat it into submission, one way or another.”

“Sounds like you were describing me there for a moment,” Debrah smirked.

Vausees kissed her on the lips. “You two have a lot in common,” she said, her lips caressing Debrah’s brow.

“Was that the reason you fell in love with me?” Debrah inquired, raising her head and looking down into Vausee’s light blue eyes.

“I’m not sure. On a subconscious level, it might have,” she admitted, “but you have to remember I thought she was dead and I had to move on with that knowledge.”

Nodding Debrah sat up for a moment to consider it. “Would you go on if I died?” she asked.

“No,” Vausees said as she slipped behind Debrah. “I loved Klair, but I married you,” she said, wrapping her arms around her wife. She rested her head on Debrah’s back while clutching her. Debrah reached up and encircled Vausees with her arms.

“I love you,” Debrah said as she bowed her head and kissed Vausee’s arms.

Vausees smiled as she felt Debrah’s lips on her skin after the kiss. “I absolutely love you as well.”

‘It has been several days… almost a week,’ Vausees thought as she looked at the main viewscreen at the passing space before them. This route was always the longest one for her as she sat there in the command chair, hoping that something would happen to kill the long stretch of boredom; she found herself in.

Debrah walked over with a PADD in hand and handed it to her. “This week’s summary results,” she said.

Vausees took the PADD and looked it over, knowing all too well that the information on the PADD was accurate. She looked up at Debrah and nodded. “Another satisfying week. Keep up the great performance,” she stated as the PADD was handed back, with her signature added.

Debrah nodded to her Captain and the XO before she returned to her station behind them. She could tell that this part of the return was starting to eat at her wife, but she kept it to herself, knowing that at the end of the day, she would be able to ease some of that stress away, alone with her.

Standing, Vausees looked at Cody, “Commander, I’ll be in my Ready Room if I’m needed. The con is yours,” she said before heading off the bridge through the door that led into the Ready Room. Once there, she sat in her plush, comfortable chair and pulled up the audio from the message again. That had been sent to them from their Command at StarBase 72.

As she listened to the message, Vausees wanted to know why the orders couldn’t be sent over the subspace channels. This puzzle she knew was going to end soon enough but she hated being in the dark about orders, mystery orders at that.

A chime at her door brought her back from within herself and she looked up at the door, knowing all too well who was on the other side. As soon as the door slid to the left and the officer entered, a smile crossed Vausees mouth. But as quickly as the smile appeared it left, she knew that right now was not the time to show affection to her wife.

Debrah on the other hand knew that she had to do something for her wife. “I know this isn’t the time to do this, but you need to talk to me and tell me what is eating at you,” Debrah demanded.

Vausees looked at her wife and lowered her head, “Has it been that noticeable?” She asked while she looked at the dull steel surface on the solid oak desk that was in the room.

Debrah shook her head, “No, but I know you well enough to know when something is eating at you. I have an idea as to what it could be, but you know that I don’t take chances when it comes to you.”

Vausees looked at her. “I have been racking my brain trying to figure out what is going on,” she stated as she leaned back into the chair. “I am not the only one that feels like something is going to be off about our next mission.”

This caught Debrah off guard and she tilted her head slightly to the side, “What do you mean?”

“Ever since we got that audio from the Task Force Commanding Officer, both myself and Cody have been feeling that something is off about the mission that we are about to get,” Vausees admitted as she looked into the emerald green eyes of her wife.

“Who else knows?” Debrah asked.

Shaking her head, Vausees replied, “No one.”

~~~

Later that evening Zyvia looked at Cody, she could tell that something was on his mind, and she slid in behind him and began to rub his bare shoulders. As she rubbed she tilted her head to the side to catch the profile of his face.

“Care to share?” Zyvia asked as she continued to rub his shoulders.

Cody looked at her for a moment and smiled. ‘Am I really that easy to read,’ he thought to himself. “Just command stuff babe,” he stated, hoping that would be enough to satisfy her curiosity.

Zyvia smiled, “I know it’s more than that but I won’t pry.”

She was right, but only the Captain and himself knew that something was off. “Thank you,” he stated as he closed his eyes and enjoyed the attention that his shoulders were getting from this woman whom he found very attractive.

~~~

A soft chime sounded within the bedroom of the Captain’s quarters. A lazy arm came down to silence to chime only to miss. The covers suddenly exploded as Debrah sat up, annoyance registered in her eyes. A soft moan behind her caused her to look back at the bare back of her wife. Silently she swore for disturbing her. Leaning down she kissed her wife’s back before slipping out and padding over to the shower.

The sound of the sonic shower was the final straw that woke Vausees. She lay there with her eyes closed, wanting nothing more than to sleep the day away but she knew that they were only a few hours away from SB72. Slipping out of the bed she joined her wife in the bathroom, sonic shower.

A few minutes later…

Vausees stood in the turbo-lift as it ascended the one floor up to the bridge, Debrah had already left ahead of her. So she waited in silence as the lift came to a smooth stop on the bridge. Stepping out of the lift she dismissed the alert of her arrival and took her place in the central chair.

“Report,” she announced.

Cody looked at her as he began to lay out what had happened on the night shift. Vausees nodded as she listened. ‘Another night of silence.’ “Nothing on the long-range?” She inquired as she looked ahead of the Heracles into the darkness of space.

Debrah shook her head. “Nothing, Captain,” she replied.

‘Odd,’ Vausees thought. She had practically memorized all of the movements along this stretch of space that was before the arrival point to the Starbase. Pushing the thought aside she turned and looked at her Operations officer.

“Jonton give me a full spectral spread for any ion or tachyon trails.”

Jonton nodded and his hands flew over the console as he entered the commands for the ship’s scanners. He performed this task twice and shook his head as he looked up at Vausees. “Nothing, Captain,” he said as his look turned to that of confusion. He assumed that there was a reason behind her request as if she knew something was missing.

“Lieutenant, place the scan on an oscillating timer and have it run until just before we arrive,” Vausees ordered.

“Aye, Captain,” Jonton replied as he set about the task.

Cody looked at Vausees before leaning in. “Something you care to share?”

“It might be nothing, however, since we began our tours aboard the Heracles I have made it a priority, to know what is going on in this section of space, and three ships that have always been here during our travels are missing.”This intrigued Cody, “All three have always been here?” He repeated.

Vausees nodded. “Every time,” she replied, “I am sure it is nothing to worry about. Which is why I have the scanners running overtime until we are near Starbase 72.”

Cody nodded slightly, realizing the sudden concern that his captain had for the missing ships. “A precaution for an ambush,” he said while returning to sit back in the chair.

“Exactly,” Vausees replied.

Two hours later Jonton looked down at his console’s monitor and a single ping registered. “Contact. Bearing 348, mark 36.”

“Can you identify it, Lieutenant?” Vausees asked.

“Negative, just outside of our IFF scanners range. This also means that they can’t identify us and more than likely don’t even know we are even here. Since we are pushing the scanners passed their intended maximum range.”

Vausees nodded, “Let’s hope that gives us the advantage over whoever they are,” she said, “Tag them and keep scanning. Let me know the moment they move, either toward or away from us.”

Jonton nodded as he placed the contact in a circled tag marker.

“Lieutenant Neif, how far are we from 72?” she asked her Chief Flight Control Officer.

“Ten minutes at our current speed and heading,” Trever replied.

“Debrah, when we are five minutes out inform 72 of our findings,” Vausees ordered.

“Understood, Captain. Anything else that we need to transmit?” Debrah asked.

“Not at this time. I’ll let you know,” replied Vausees.

Five minutes later…

“We are five minutes out Captain,” Trever informed the Vausees.

She looked back at Debrah, knowing that the Commander was already on the task that she had given. Suddenly the viewscreen changed.

“Captain, you are ordered to make the best possible time.”

Before she could reply Jonton spoke. “Captain, I am now detecting several incoming ships heading for our location.”

Vausees looked at Trever, “Pour it on, Lieutenant.”

Trever nodded and began to increase the Heracles beyond its maximum speed. “9.5…9.6…9.7…” He began to announce the increases.

“Take us to 9.79 and keep it there, Lieutenant,” replied Vausees.

“9.79, aye, Captain,” Trever repeated as he slid the controls into place.

“Debrah, hail 72 and informed them that we are coming in hot with some company,” Vausees stated as she leaned forward in her chair. She knew that they were only seconds away from the defense grid that surrounded the Starbase.

Jonton reported that their guests were turning back.

“Trever drop us out of warp,” Vausees ordered.

Looking out of the viewscreen the stars that were flashing past them suddenly stopped and in their place was a massive spacedock and the base of 72’s operations in this part of the Alpha Quadrant. As she continued to look at the impressive base she realized that there were more ships than normal here.

“Starbase 72, this is Captain Vausees Vax, Commanding Officer of the USS Heracles requesting docking.”

The screen was silent for a moment before it shifted to an officer wearing an operations uniform. “Glad to see that you have made it in one piece Captain. Request granted for Alpha 3-4. Also, Captain, you and Commander Bettencourt have been requested to report to the CO’s office.” The screen then returned to its static view, before she could reply.

She looked over at Cody, who shrugged his shoulders, “You got me Vax.”

“Debrah place the ship in Blue and make sure everything is ship-shape.”

Debrah nodded as the interior lighting shifted from running lights to a blue hue. Vausees stood up and looked at Cody, “Shall we.”