The music of Ludovico Einaudi provided the backdrop to Thomas Forrester’s evening as he read over the latest reports from Fourth Fleet Intelligence. Below him, he could hear his boyfriend rattling around in the kitchen. Bentley insisted on cleaning up after dinner since Tom always did the cooking. He hated cleaning up, so Tom happily left his boyfriend to it.

Even after four months, they were both still adjusting to their new home on this Odyssey-class USS Challenger. Their quarters were unlike anything Tom had seen on a starship; more like an apartment in one of Earth’s major metropolitan cities. The room was split over two levels, with the lower level containing the kitchen, dining area and lounge. The upper level contained the bedroom, an ensuite bathroom and a work area with a desk and computer terminal.

It was at that desk where Thomas was now seated as he reviewed the reports. Another few minutes passed before Bently climbed the stairs. “I thought I told you to relax.”

“You did,” Tom confirmed.

Bentley placed his large hands on Tom’s shoulders and gently massaged them. “All the tension in these muscles, it’s like you’re carrying the weight of the galaxy around on them.”

“That’s how it feels sometimes,” Forrester let out a contented moan and relaxed into his boyfriend’s touch.

Finding a persistent knot on Tom’s shoulder, Bentley pressed firm circles with the heel of his palm. “Are the reports that bad?”

“They make for pretty grim reading,” Several colonies along the Federation-Breen border had already fallen, including Izar, with more under threat. The only thing standing between those colonies and the Dominion was the Fourth Fleet and the Cardassian Third Order, though Tom still questioned the motives behind their assistance.

Satisfied that his work was done, Bentley leaned forward and gently removed the PADD from Tom’s hand. “Why don’t you put this down,” he whispered into Tom’s ear, “and come to bed.”

“Isn’t it a little early for sleeping?” Forrester asked playfully.

Bently’s lips brushed against Tom’s ear, which sent a shiver down his spine. “Who said anything about sleeping?” He placed a gentle kiss against Tom’s cheek.

“You’re incorrigible,” Tom tilted his head gently to the side as Bentley started nuzzling his neck.

Tom could feel his boyfriend’s smile. “That’s why you love me.”

“One of the many reasons.” A few years ago Tom was convinced he’d be alone for the rest of his life. To have fallen so deeply in love with someone was unexpected and had unlocked parts of life that had been previously unknown to him.

Bentley straightened and smiled down at his boyfriend. “You can list them all for me later,” he dragged his fingers down Tom’s arm leaving a tingling sensation in its wake and took him by the hand, “but there are a few things we need to do first.”

Tom didn’t put up any resistance as Bentley helped him to his feet. His hands found Bentley’s hips as their lips crashed together. As he placed a trail of kisses down Bentley’s neck, Tom’s fingers slipped underneath of hem of his t-shirt.

“Bridge to Captain Forrester,” The new voice over the comm was a most unwelcome interruption.

Bentley gave a frustrated groan as Tom rested his forehead against his boyfriend’s shoulder. He lifted his head and met Bentley’s gaze. He knew that his boyfriend understood that the Captain was always on duty, but Bentley’s disappointment was written across his face. Even if he’d tried to hide it, which he didn’t anymore, Tom would’ve been able to see it in his eyes.

“Forrester here,” Tom replied.

Commander Dalton’s voice was calm and measured and a red alert hadn’t been called so there was no dire emergency about the befall the Challenger. “Sorry for disturbing you, sir, but there’s something here I think you need to see.”

“I’ll be right up, Forrester out,” Tom was intrigued by Dalton’s message, but he’d much rather stay and continue what Bentley had started. He met his boyfriend’s gaze again. “I’m sorry.”

Bentley kissed him again and whispered, “It’s okay.”

“I’ll be back as soon as I can,” Tom told him as he moved towards the stairs.

As he reached the top of the stairs, Bentley called out, “Babe,” when Tom turned he found his boyfriend was now lying on the bed, “if you’re not back in half an hour, I’m starting without you.”

Tom rolled his eyes and smiled as he descended the stairs. 

God, I love that man.

Commander Theodore Dalton wasn’t naive. He knew the Federation had enemies and that those enemies were ever-present threats to the Federation worlds near their borders. But no one, in their wildest imaginings, could have foreseen the return of an old enemy, a quarter of a century out of time, in the form of a fleet of Dominion ships thought lost in the Bajoran Wormhole in 2374.

What came as no surprise, least of all to Theodore, was the Breen’s involvement. Having grown up on Izar, he was accustomed to the threat of Breen aggression hanging over him. The chance to team up with their old Dominion allies and take revenge on the Federation for defeating them in war and punishing them so severely in its aftermath was too tempting.

The news that Izar had fallen was a serious blow to Theodore. His parents still lived there, as did his sister with her husband and their four children. Not knowing what was happening to them was worse, in Theodore’s opinion, than learning they had been killed. If they were dead, as devastating as it would be, at least he would be able to being to grieve for them. Instead, he was in a kind of weird limbo as he waited for information.

“Officer of the Watch, report,” Forrester’s order as he strode onto the bridge drew Theodore out of his thoughts.

Acting on instinct, Theodore stood. “We’ve received a message from the Higgs.” He picked up a PADD from the empty XO’s chair and handed it to Forrester. “They’ve encountered a squadron of Jem’Hadar fighters. They’re currently trying to take refuge in an asteroid belt in the Daylos system.”

“Helm,” Forrester barked as he read through the message for himself, “alter course for the Daylos system and increase to maximum warp.”

The gamma shift flight control officer quickly acknowledged the order and informed them that they would arrive at Daylos in roughly four hours.

“Have Lieutenant Rur prepare her squadron. She may finally get to see some real combat she keeps talking about.” Forrester ordered.

Theodore had heard the Lieutenant’s complaints about her squadron not getting to see what she called real combat in her four months onboard. He thought they were rather childish complaints and that an up-close encounter with the Dominion would make her think again about her lust for combat.

Forrester stared at the PADD in his hands and Theodore wasn’t sure if he was looking at it or looking through it. He’d found Fleet Captain Forrester to be rather inscrutable and he wasn’t the only one. Forrester, like many Captains, preferred to keep a certain distance from his crew, with few exceptions. “Computer, locate Lieutenant Commander Egan.”

“Lieutenant Commander Egan is in the Executive Officer’s quarters.”

Quickly handing the PADD back, Forrester retreated into the turbolift. 

The mood in the Executive Officer’s quarters was more subdued than usual. These gatherings were typically more raucous affairs with much synthehol being consumed, copious amounts of laughter and the occasional secret being revealed. None of that seemed appropriate tonight so, while they were trying to lift Egan’s mood, the atmosphere was kept a little calmer.

Antonia Carerra and Tarven were seated on the couch while Allegra Rosetti sat on the armchair and Callum Egan sat cross-legged on the floor. The four of them made up the core of their social group on the Challenger. Others would join them occasionally but tonight it was just the four of them.

“How’s the casting going?” Carerra asked.

This topic had come up at every one of these gatherings ever since Tarven announced his intention to stage a production of Macbeth. “I’ve cast every part except for Lady Macbeth,” Tarven told her.

“What about you, Allega? You’d be the perfect Lady Macbeth.” Carerra smirked into her glass.

Rosetti was mid-sip. She lowered her wine glass and announced, “I’m already playing Lady Macduff.” That news, only agreed a few hours ago, came as a surprise to Carerra judging by the look on her face. “Why don’t you do it?”

“No one would ever believe me capable of being so evil,” Carerra explained, “I’m too nice.”

Tarven and Rosetti both laughed loudly while Egan forced a tight smile as he rubbed his thumb across the bottle in his hand. I wish there was something I could do, Tarven thought. The last time Egan had spoken to his girlfriend, the ship had gone to red alert. That was forty minutes ago and they hadn’t heard anything since. Tarven had hoped to distract the Challenger’s counselor but it seemed he was having little success.

Not expecting anyone else, Tarven was confused when the door chime sounded. He set his drink down and answered the door, finding Fleet Captain Forrester standing in his doorway looking grim. Tarven’s heart sank. “Oh no.”

“It’s not as bad as you think,” Forrester quickly explained, “but it’s not good either.”

Tarven called Egan over reaching out and giving his arm a reassuring squeeze as they passed. After retaking his seat on the couch, the three of them watched as Forrester talked to Egan in hushed tones. Thomas Forrester wasn’t known for being touchy-feely, except with Bentley, but in this instance, Tarven wasn’t surprised when Forrester pulled Egan in for a hug, albeit a brief one.

Both Rosetti and Carerra looked surprised. “They both have someone they love on the Higgs.” Understanding dawned on them. Lieutenant Commander Mitchell was like a brother to Forrester, so the Challenger’s  CO was as afraid for his best friend’s life as Egan was for his girlfriend.

Egan returned to the group, looking every bit as grim as Forrester had, to find them looking at him expectantly. He didn’t bother sitting, instead updating them on what the message from the Higgs said. “I think I’m gonna go home and get some rest before we reach the Daylos system.”

That was a good idea. “I think we should all do the same. Sounds like we’ll be back on duty in a few hours.” Resetti and Carerra nodded in agreement and said their goodbyes, each of them giving Egan a kiss on the cheek and a hug.

Once they were alone, Tarven reached out and placed a hand on the back of his ex-husband’s neck. “They’re going to be fine. She is going to be fine.”

“You can’t know that,” Egan told him tearfully. “A Nova-class starship doesn’t stand a chance against three Jem’Hadar fighters. Four minutes is a long time for them to hold out, never mind four hours.”

He was right, of course. Tarven couldn’t know that for certain. “No, but I have faith in Ana and her crew. They may not be able to fight their way out of this, but there are more ways of getting out of a situation like this than brute force. I believe they’ll find a way.”

“Thanks.” Egan took a step forward and Tarven opened his arms, enveloping his friend in a hug. 

When they pulled back, Tarven didn’t break their physical connection. He kept one hand on Egan’s arm as they walked to the door. “Go home, have a shower and get some rest. We’ll be at Daylos before you know it.”

After saying goodnight at the door, Tarven climbed the stairs to the upper level of his quarters and began peeling off his clothes. Having recommended a shower for Egan, he planned to follow his own advice. Stepping into the already active sonic shower, Tarven closed his eyes and allowed the sonic waves to wash over him.

Please let them be okay.