“This sounds like something from one of those old fairy tales.”  Captain Helena Dread was reading through the report, a cup of coffee ready.  “Your analysis of the images was inconclusive, and I don’t blame you.  Whatever did this avoided the cameras intentionally all three times.  Sneaky bastard.”  Dread returned the PADD to Fowler, who stood in front of her in the CO’s ready room.  “The biological readings, however…they couldn’t hide that.”

Lieutenant Sadie Fowler agreed, “It’s a complex lifeform with an unusual arrangement of appendages.  The last data transmitted suggests this is an underground creature capable of incredibly fast travel.”  She tapped at her PADD, “There is another theory, one I didn’t include in the official report.”

Helena watched her face and read it.  “You think there’s more than one.  It would explain why the third probe was attacked shortly after the other two.”  She took a long draw from her coffee, “Biologically, it makes sense.  You don’t have the survival of a species with just one specimen.  You have multiple.  It’s a big enough planet that several could survive on plant or animal life.  If anything comes along to threaten their ecosystem, they take ‘em out.”

Sadie felt the attention return to her. “That’s part of the equation for figuring out our next steps with the planet and the evidence of…whatever is down there.  Given the nature of…well, nature…we’ve come up with a plan.”  Fowler outlined using a runabout with three away team members transported down in environmental suits to conduct quick sensor scans and analysis. At the same time, the fourth remained aboard the runabout, holding twenty feet above them with a transporter lock at the ready.

The CO’s eyebrows were raised, “There is a lot of risk in this plan, Lieutenant Fowler.”  She turned her eyes to her newly installed XO, sitting on the couch reading through his PADD with the details.  “Commander Ford?”

Milton looked up, “What about flying the runabout first to get an overview of the planet?  Get a full scan of the surface and whatever is beneath.  We’ll know more about what we’re dealing with – and it keeps us farther from danger.”  He tapped the PADD gently against his arm, thinking.  “It’s not a bad plan, Fowler.  It’s a mystery, and you want to solve it.  Let’s take the proper precautions before we set foot on the planet.”

Fowler replied with, “Understood, sirs.”

“You don’t understand.”  Ensign Jake Shaw stood in the crew cabin with the checklist.  He’d been firmly told no; he was needed on the bridge to run communications with the New Atlantic class runabout.

Sadie grumbled, “I don’t.  Between the suits and the runabout, we’d have enough protection.”  She stabbed at the checklist, her face flushed.  “I’m annoyed.  I’m frustrated.”

Shaw turned as Lieutenant William Prentice entered the cabin, his eyes boring into Shaw, who made excuses and headed downstairs.  “Hey.”

She didn’t look at him, remaining buried in her checklist, “Did they send you to check on me?”

Will sidled up beside her, “You’re upset.  And no, they didn’t send me.”

She sighed deeply and fell into one of the chairs, “I’m not used to being told no, Will.  I’ve been doing this for over a year…every time I had a plan or an idea for a plan – I just got to do it.”  She groaned, “Saying it out loud makes me seem like an idiot.”  Regret swelled in her stomach, “Rookie mistake.”

Her boyfriend sat in the chair opposite her, “I’m not going to disagree with you, Sayd.”

“You think I’m an idiot?”

He rolled his eyes, “Sadie Fowler – give me a break.”  She blinked at his pushback, and he explained, “You said it yourself – you’ve been doing this for a year—Edinburgh, Mackenzie, Olympic, Daedalus, and now Douglas.  You’re an idiot if you think you’re an idiot.”  He reached his hands out to hers, and she grasped them tightly, “We’re only a year into our careers.  If you think you won’t make a mistake sometimes, you’re in the wrong business.”  He looked her in the eyes, “You know my Academy record.  You know I made mistakes…big ones.  I know my weaknesses…and I have to watch out for them.  You just found out you’ve got a blindspot around perfection.”

Sadie muttered, “Who gave you that annoyingly good advice?  That’s not a Prentice original.”

Will chuckled, “Commander and then Captain Harris.  From the Erigone to the Mackenzie…he worked with me and coached me.  I’m still working on myself, but he pulled me out of a few slumps…helped me know myself more.”  He leaned over and kissed her cheek, “He also taught me about helping people out of holes they get stuck in.”

“I’m not in a hole.”  She stared at the floor, grouching, “Goddamnit, I hate it when you’re right, Will.  How do I get out of this hole?”

He stood, pulling her up, “You call over someone who’s been in the hole before, and they get down in there with you…and show you the way out.”  He accepted her extended arms and held her until a voice interrupted their embrace.

“Lieutenant…are you ready for us?”  

Sadie separated from her boyfriend, her face blooming in embarrassment as her science team stood there awkwardly. “I am. Set up the equipment, and Wil…Lieutenant Prentice will work with you to connect to the runabout systems.  We launch in ten minutes.”