As the Victory's new Captain, Magellan is assigned a mission in neutral space. A chance encounter leaves him recklessly pursuing the man responsible for his old Captains disability.

Forgive and Forget

Written by

The Crew of the USS Victory

Captain Magellan, Cmdr. Steve, Dr. Sek, Counselor Lisa Stardust, Lt. James Carter, Ens. Andros Prime, Ens. Cable

Captain Magellan sat quietly in his ready room. A pile of PADD's sat on the desk, yet more crew evaluations for him to oversee. The Lin symbiont within him seemed uncomfortable. Not enough sleep more than likely. He had hardly slept since the incident on Arkemis 7 and the distressing loss of his commanding officer and friend Locutis. He had received word from Starfleet Medical that Locutis had settled in well but was still showing no sign of regaining his memory. Each night dreams of the Captains loss and the death of L'Etal tormented him. He should have kept a better eye on her.
The door chimed.
A high ranking Admiral had even been seriously injured on his watch. His first command, not exactly the most promising of starts.
The door chimed again.
"Enter" Magellan growled, turning in his chair to see who had entered. Commander Steve stood framed in the doorway.
"Yes" the trill demanded.
"Sir I thought I best inform you that the new officers Andros Prime and Cable have just beamed aboard from the USS Calyx"
Steve moved in to the room to approach the desk.
"Shall I send them up to see you." He said cautiously.
Magellan waved his arm dismissivly.
"Let them report when they are ready"
"I see..."
"Is there something else Commander"
"Yes Sir. I was wondering when last you slept"
"Thats none of your business, Commander"
Steve said nothing, for the moment. He changed tack.
"What are our orders from Command?"
The prospect of duty seemed to rouse the Captain.
"Ahh yes. I have received word from Admiral Simmons at Starbase 147 on the Federation Border in the Kaloordis Sector. Apparently their research base studying the Norpan Expanse was attacked by Pirates three days ago. We are being dispatched to check on the Installation and if necessary recover any stolen material. The base commander, a Commander Alma Halliwell, expects us there by the end of the week. Have the crew prepare for a recovery mission and have our new CTSO made fully aware of the Sectors History."
"Will you be wanting to brief the crew"
Magellan paused.
"No. Just inform me when we have reached the Kaloordis Sector. Now is that all commander?"
"Err Yes Sir"
"Well I suggest you get back to the bridge then"
Steve nodded and backed out of the ready room.
Magellan spun his chair round to face the window. He stared out in quiet awe of the stars that leapt past them

***

Steve walked out of the ready room onto the bridge and sat down in the command chair.
"Sir all department heads report we are ready to get underway" a voice said from behind him.
Steve sat up. "Joe Shmoe, set a course for the Kaloordis Sector, warp 6... engage."
Steve sat thinking about what had happened in the ready room a few minutes ago, he had never seen Magellan like that before, but saying that he had only been aboard for a few months.
Steve stood up and looked at Lieutenant Commander Jameson, who was also on the bridge. "Jameson you have the bridge, if I am needed I will be with Counselor Stardust"
Jameson looked a bit surprised "Aye sir"

Steve pressed the chime on Lisa's door and he heard a voice say come in.
Steve walked in and saw Lisa sitting down reading a pad.
"What can I do for u Commander" she sad looking up.
"Well I don't really know where too start. I am really worried about Magellan. Ever since we returned from our last mission he has been acting strange. I don't think he has slept in days and when I asked him about it he almost bit my head off. I know you have known him a lot longer then me so I was if you could speak to him and find out what's wrong."
"I will see what I can do commander" Lisa said.
"I best get back to the bridge, so I will talk to you later, thanks for your help Counselor." Steve walked out of the room and started back to the bridge.

***

Down in the science lab Andros Prime was familarising himself with his new staff and equipment. "Sir, Could you please read and sign these reports? " Lasooux , the assistant Science Officer asked
" Of Course.".
Mr. Sek walked in to the lab wondering about the new science officer's performance and decided to watch for a bit. Well it looks as though he is a Romulan/Human Hybrid. I do not see much Vulcan in him although he was brought up on Vulcan. He also does not seem to share the Vulcan's love of logic.
Prime walked over to greet Sek. "Is there anything I can help with sir? "
"No, just decided to see how you were doing"

***

Lisa quickly finished reading her pad then placed down on her desk, how to deal with Magellan.... that was tough, he nearly hated counselors as much as Locutis had…did. Lisa shivered as she remembered her old captain and what he had been reduced to, it made her think of the real risks that are involved with this job!
"Computer locate the Captain."
"The Captain is in his ready room."
"Lisa to the Captain, I know that you are busy but I was wondering if you fancied joining me for something to eat?"
"Umm I am sorry counselor but I am very busy I will just replicate something later." he sounded tired and irritable.
"Captain, maybe I did not make myself clear. I will be in the messhall in half an hour and you will be joining me."
"But..." Magellan interrupted her quite shocked at the counselors abruptness.
"No buts sir, I am sorry but your shift ended an hour ago and I think we need to talk."
"Are you giving me an order counselor?" Magellan was now intrigued and had a sneaking suspicion that Steve might have paid Lisa a visit.
"Well not at the moment sir but Sek can relieve you of duty, and I am sure that if I suggested that I thought it was the best course of action...."
"Yes counselor. I get the picture half and hour in the Mess hall, Magellan out."
Lisa sat back relieved yet nervous, she had made it over the first hurdle but her senses were telling her that there were more to come.

Magellan begrudgingly made his way down to the Mess Hall. The small room annoyed him. He had kind of got used to eating in private, the luxury of Captaincy. He could of course have refused Stardust rather brusque request, but he was damned if he would let her and Sek take the Victory from him. Locutis had left her in his hands and he was determined to look after her.
The doors slid open before him. He saw the Counselor sat over by one of the windows and walked to the replicator. He ordered a bowl Chicken Soup and went to join her. The two of them had got on well enough before except now she would no doubt be trying to speak to him in an official capacity.
He had seen counselors before. He had experienced several integration issues when he was first joined to the Lin symbiont.
He didn't think they had helped much then, besides he had no problem now for her to worry about.
"Captain" she greeted as he sat.
"Counselor"
He poked distractedly at the Soup.
"How are things?" She asked cautiously.
"Good. Steve has finished overseeing the recalibration of the Starboard Sensor Pallet and Girade has fixed that glitch in the impulse engines."
"Thats not quite what I meant"
"Look I am here aren't I. I never said anything about psychobabble" Magellan paused, in a softer tone he continued. "A lots happened recently. I never lost an officer on my watch like that before, never mind a CO. I'll deal with things in my own way. It isn't interfering with my work so leave it at that"
Lisa frowned she wasn't quite sure the Captain was right, he hadn't even met the new crewmembers. "Ok. If you insist, I will not push it but remember I am all seeing and all hearing!" Lisa looked at the Captain and they both started laughing.
"You are mad, do you usually use laughter therapy?"
Lisa could hear the sarcasm in his voice but this was a question she could answer honestly, "Yep I do actually, don't you feel better?"
Magellan looked at her thinking to himself for a minute, "Ok well laughing does improve your mood but I don't think that they teach it at the academy!" He was looking deadly serious and Lisa knew that something was bothering him.
"No they don't but I believe that you have to be a patient first before you can ever know whether a treatment works, and laughter does so I will stick to it, Ok with you?"
"UM" Magellan was starring out into space.
"Captain... " No reply "Captain" Lisa said a bit louder, Magellan's head turned to look at her,
"I completely agree with you counselor." Lisa looked at him "Really that is nice, but exactly what are you agreeing to?" Magellan looked puzzled. "Sorry I guess I am just tired."
Lisa decided that it was time to make her move. "Well I have to go as I have an appointment. Umm if you ever want to talk and no I do not mean in the counseling sense, just need a friend. I am here for you."
"Thankyou Lisa I will keep that in mind" Lisa left the mess hall just turning back to glance at the Captain before heading to her office."

***

After spending a little while in his quarters trying to rest Magellan finally gave up. Sleep would just have to be something he would have to do without. He rose dressed and left his quarters intent on walking himself to sleep. He passed a few crewmen in the corridors and on the whole they ignored them. Ensign Zoilip attempted to start up a conversation but Magellan was able to brush the eager Bolian off.
He had got as far as Astrometrics when his Comm badge bleeped.
"Magellan Here"
"Sir We have reached the Kaloordis Sector" Girade, the Betazoid Conn. officer reported.
"Very well, assemble the senior staff and have them meet me in the conference room."

Magellan was first to arrive. Slowly one by one his senior staff appeared some looking a little bleary eyed. He had forgotten the time.
"Thankyou for coming. We have reached Kaloordis Sector. We have been sent here to help recover some stolen equipment. 2 weeks ago the Kolnac Research Facility was raided by unknown hostiles. They wore down the limited shields and beamed away some equipment. Admiral Simmons wants this cleared up carefully. The Kaloordis sector is not in the Federation and so we have to tread carefully. Make sure everyone reads the background material we don't want to tread on any toes. Any questions or comments?"
Magellan lay back his eyes screaming to close. Fighting off this most awkward fatigue he gazed about his officers.

"Sir I made a point of reading all the info before we arrived" Steve told Magellan.
"What's on your mind commander?" The captain responded
"Sir, could it be the Romulans?"
The captain sat up quickly in his seat, his face turned from a tired look to one consurned with concern. "Let's hope not. We'll reconvene once we arrive in the sector"

***

After the briefing Magellan returned to the seclusion of his quarters and spent his time quietly until his next duty shift. When he arrived on the bridge, Lieutenant Girade was at the helm and announced that the Victory was entering the Kaloordis system. Magellan settled in to the command chair and let his officers do their jobs. After about an hour they reached the Norpan Expanse and the infamous Memotex Corridor. The expanse was a unique phenomenon found nowhere else. The region was incredibly volatile and would crush any ship that entered it, regardless of hull design or structural integrity fields. Only the thin corridor enabled the expanse to be traversed safely. The corridor was maintained by beacons set up by an unknown alien race many centuries ago. Magellan peered out at the all-encompassing blackness of the expanse as Girade guided them from beacon to beacon.

It took two hours to cross the expanse and once on the other side they were with in sight of the Science Station.
"Commander Steve" Magellan called in to the Comms Network. "Ready an Away Team, You are to go aboard and meet the Science Staff. Find out what happened and what was taken."
There was a pause.
"Are you sure sir, This is a Federation Station. Its perfectly safe for you to go aboard" Steve replied somewhat taken aback that the Captain didn't want to go aboard, in his experience Captains were always trying to jump ship with an away team.
"Quite Sure" Magellan replied
"Ok sir I'll gather my team"

Steve walked off the bridge and contacted Cable and Andros Prime to join him in the transporter room.
Both Steve and Cable waited in the transporter room for Andros Prime, Andros came running in.
"Sorry sir I am late, there was a problem with..."
Steve butted in, "lets just get going".
The away team stepped on the transporter pad and Steve signalled to the chief to energise

***

With the away team on the station, Carter went to the bridge to verify some strange readings he was getting in engineering from the sensors. He headed for the turbolift and got in.
"Bridge"
It seemed to take forever to get there but it finally did. I went straight to the science station and started checking the readings

Lisa who had been hanging around the bridge just keeping an eye on things suddenly felt quite un-easy.
'Captain, as the readings are so strange and fluctuating could it be a cloaked ship? And if it is well, what I am insinuating is quite obvious maybe Steve's first impression was right and it is the Romulans'."
Magellan turned to look at Lisa,
"I agree that it is a possibility, but at the moment I do not want to jump to any conclusions."
"Ok I understand that, anyway contact me if there is anything I can do I will be in my office."
With that Lisa left the bridge and headed for her office to organise her diary, she was still inclined to book Magellan in for some appointments but decided against pushing it.

***

On the station Steve and the other members of the away team looked at computer logs from the day of the raid, when Magellan contacted him on a secure channel.
"Steve we have picked up another ship in the sector which seem to be under cloak, we believe it could be the same ship that raided the station."
"Sir, what are my orders?
"Stay on the station, I don't want them to know that we have spotted them, but be ready to get out of there at the 1st sign of trouble!"
"Aye sir" Steve replied
"Magellan out."

Steve clicked off his Comms to the Victory. He beckoned for Cable and Andros to follow him. He led them up through the station to the small Ops room.
The turbolift gave way to the stations nerve centre.
"Commander Steve" a female Starfleet Officer greeted, "Welcome aboard. I am Commander Williams. I am sorry I wasn't about when you beamed aboard. I hope my staff have been of assistance."
"Yes Commander, what is your status?"
"The station is fine, as our my staff. We are only a small outpost and far from the Federation. Having the Victory in the sector for the next month will be a great asset"
"What of the attack sir?" Cable asked.
"They caught us by surprise, we were entertaining a scientist we rescued from the edge of the Norpan Expanse. That evening a ship suddenly appeared. It was of unknown configuration. Our shield generators strangely failed and they beamed away much of our scientific equipment as well as kidnapping Dr Kavek"
"Dr Kavek?" Steve queried, seeming to recognise the name.
"He was the rescued Scientist"
"Right" Steve ordered "Cable check the stations systems see what info they have on the ship. Andros you compile an inventory of what was stolen."

***

Aboard the Victory Magellan peered at the PADD bearing Carter's sensor data.
"Are you certain it’s a ship"
"Err yes sir" he replied nervously
"Well we can't investigate without drawing attention to ourselves" he paused pensively "Carter you and Sek take a shuttle. Head towards the expanse. Get as close to the cloaked ship as you can. Any trouble and contact us. No heroics all right"
"Aye sir" he replied enthusiastically eager to undertake his first mission. Sek was jogging for the shuttle bay he strengthed his leg muscles and headed down a corridor. He ground to a halt and walked slowly round the corner and entered the shuttle bay. He saw an ensign moving the equipment he had beamed down inside. Sek entered the shuttle.
"Thankyou ensign better clear out while I wait for my partner to arrive."
"ok."
Sek settled himself in the helm and powered up the engines adding a small hum to the background noises. He powered up the plasma injectors tested the shields and prepared weapons. He was all ready for this.
He sat back in anticipation and waited for Carter.

***

Aboard the station Cable was going over the stations systems and Andros was doing an inventory of what was stolen. Steve was using the computer to see if he could find out where he knew the name Dr Kavek form.
"Computer bring up all records of Dr Kavek."
The computer informed Steve that the files were secure, so he entered his security code.
Steve read through the long and eventful file of the doctor, at the end of the file he noticed something that almost made his heart stop.
"Steve to Cable."
"Yes sir." Cable replayed.
"I have to return to the Victory and see Magellan right away. Once you have finished all you need to here, return to the ship, Steve out."
"Steve to Victory one to beam out"

After Steve returned to the Victory he headed straight to the captions ready room and chimed on the door.
"Come in" Magellan said looking up, as he saw Steve he looked puzzled "Commander shouldn't you be on the station?"
"Yes sir, but I called up the file on the missing doctor and I thought I should show you this myself" Steve handed the pad to Magellan.

***

Before going to the shuttlebay Carter downloaded all of the sensor data on the cloaked ship to the shuttles onboard computer.
"Download complete" he heard the computer say. With that done he headed for the shuttlebay. As he walked into the shuttlebay he could see Sek was already going through the pre-flight.
"Hey doc, all set"
"Yes, ready when you are Carter"
"Great, I've downloaded all the sensor info on the cloaked ship to the shuttles computer so that should make our job a little easier. From the position that the cloaked ship is holding I think a standard search pattern of the expanse would be our best shot at getting as much info as possible. If we head straight for their position they'll know we can detect them and probably make a run for it, this way they'll think we're searching the expanse for a ship."
"Sounds like a plan, let's go." The shuttle eased out the bay doors and began its search pattern

 

 Sek and Carter eased the shuttle nonchalantly closer to the hidden ship. Whilst Sek remained at the helm Carter rose and began running a few random sensor scans.
"I am not getting much" he grumbled quietly, moving over to a second science console.
"The ships moving" Sek reported "Towards us"
"Back us away" Carter answered taking a seat beside Sek
"I am trying" the Changeling said.
"I'll send a call to the Victory"
Carter pressed the Comms switch but was only met with a non-compliant bleep.
"We're being jammed"
"I am loosing thrusters" Sek growled "They have us in a tractor beam"
Slowly the small shuttle was pulled in to the pirate ships vast hold.

With sensor scans running, the shuttle began to shudder.
"Hey doc try and hold her steady."
"It's not me, they've locked a tractor beam on us. I can't break us free."
"What. Try remodulating the shield harmonics, full reverse."
"No effect" Sek replied "We're being pulled in."
"The Comm systems being jammed too, I can't get a signal to the Victory".
"The engines are starting to overload, I'm shutting them down." Sek said.
With the engines shut down we were pulled even faster into the alien ships hold and with a flash of light we were knocked unconscious. When I awoke Sek was already awake.
"I have one hell of a headache." Carter said as he staggered to my feet in some sort of a cell. "Have you seen anyone doc."
"Not as yet."
"Well seeing as no-one seems to be too interested in us at the moment, I think I'll see if I can't get us out of here."
"Ok, I'll keep a watch."
Even if we somehow get out, we're going to need the Victory's help, I just hoped they had monitored our capture.

***

Magellan peered at the PADD his eyes widening, in anger. He slammed the PADD down on the desk with such force that the screen cracked.
"Kavek" he growled "I want him"
"Yes Sir" Steve replied cautiously "Surely we want to recover everything"
"Kavek was one of the lead scientists at the research station we just left. He is supposed to be dead. I bet he was working with Omega and he did something that caused all the problems we encountered. Now he's moved here to continue his work. I bet he orchestrated the theft of all the science equipment"
"We can't be sure sir." Steve answered although the evidence was beginning to stack up.
"I want him found NOW! That man was responsible for Locutis' injury and L'Etal's death, I know it I can feel it"
Suddenly the lights dimmed and the Red Alert klaxons began sounding. The two officers dashed on to the bridge.

 "Report" Magellan barked
"We've lost contact with the shuttle" Girade at the CONN replied. Steve and Magellan both stood on the bridge looking at the view screen.
"Steve to away team, prepare to beam out."
"Aye sir" Cable replied
Steve looked at Lieutenant Commander Jameson who was at ops, "Any sign of the shuttle, any at all?"
"No sir" was the reply Steve got.
Steve turned to Magellan and whispered in his ear. "Sir if I know Sek he will do everything he can do to try to escape or send us some kind of signal"
"I know commander" was all that the calm collected Trill said.

***

Sek heard a rumbling that sounded like a door.
"Do you hear that Carter."
"Yes lets get ready for a fight hey."
"No go peacefully."
The doors opened before Carter could question his motives. Two men entered flanked by what seemed to be an officer.
"Freeze."
"We will come peacefully."
"We?"
Carter turned to see nothing where Sek should be just a combat case with phaser and tricorder in it.
"Sorry did I say we bang on the head." Letting out a laugh Carter followed them one of them crabbed the combat case.

Sek watched them throw Carter into a cell and raise a field.
"I will be back for you soon" the officer said and left. The two guards settled in and watched Carter.
After a while the guard remembered that he had the case and opened it he looked inside and pulled out a phaser and powered it up. He looked back into the case to see a face in the lid staring at him.
"Thats mine I believe can I have it back," Sek said.
The guard raised the phaser but Sek reached out and pulled it towards his partner and stunned him then knocked out the other guard with an oversized fist.
Carter watched as the face and the two arms connected to the case became Sek. Sek raised his phaser and vaporised the guard then winked at Carter changed his form to be identical to the guard and woke up the other. Carter looked stunned as Sek fobbed the guard of about it being a joke and sat back down.
Sek placed the kit on his belt and waited this was not going to be easy.

***

"Are you certain the pirate ship has them?" Magellan asked
"Not completely" Girade at the Conn responded "but they were very close to the ship when they vanished"
"Well Make sure!"
Magellan stalked across the bridge pausing at his seat.
"Engage them"
"There moving away" Steve reported "There cloak is making things difficult"
"Andros Improve our sensor resolution. Cable arm weapons, Girade move us in"
The Victory sped towards the position where they thought the pirate ship was.
"Steve the minute we get in range I am going aboard. You'll take tactical knock out their shields then myself and Cable, with a security beam will board them. I want Kavek!" Steve walked over to tactical as Magellan and Cable went to the transporter room.
"How long until we are at the site where the shuttled vanished?" Steve asked
"About 2 minutes sir" Girade replied
"Andros, how about those sensors, how long?"
"Almost there sir, just a few more mins"
Steve was working away at tactical when Jameson looked at him...
"Sir we will have to take down there cloak before we start firing, with there cloak up and there Shields down we are almost shooting blind and who knows would we could it and what kind of damage we could do".
"Ok, you and Matheson work on a way of disabling the cloak and inform me before you try it out"

***

On the pirate ship Sek felt the cloak engage and he knew that the only way they would get off this ship is for the Victory to rescue them.
"Carter, is there any way to disable the cloak from down here?" Sek asked.
"Maybe sir, I have never seen a ship quite like this before, we will have to find a power relay then I would be able to tell you"
Sek and Carter went off to find a power relay.

***

Andros looked up "Sir sensors are complete, you should be able to pick up the ship now"
"Well done" Steve said looking at the sensor readout "Girade, bring us within weapons range"
As the Victory got closer and closer, the pirate ships cloak dropped.
"That wasn't me" Jameson called out
Steve looked over his sensor reading and saw that the ship hadn't raised its Shields, Steve fired on its Shields emitters.
"Steve to Magellan, Shields are down!"

***

Sek looked at Carter.
"Good job."
The ship rocked suddenly and Carter and Sek were knocked of their feet.
"The Victory must be firing." Carter called above the sound of a rupturing plasma conduit.
Sek looked up to see a hole in the hull just above where they were stood luckily a forcefield had been raised but Sek and Carter were now separated. Sek saw Carter turn and head away. He walked off round a corner where he bumped into a security team from the pirate ship. They looked at each other then the security team moved on. Sek looked down to see he was still in the form of one of them. Sek headed for the brig to see if their Comm badges were there. It may be the only way off for them

 After getting knocked off my feet Carter realised he had been separated from Sek. He was in a long corridor so began to walk down it. Suddenly he heard several footsteps coming towards him. He dodged back and hid in one of the adjacent rooms till they passed. Once passed he continued down the corridor. As he reached the end of the corridor he heard the familiar whine of a transporter beam. Carter looked round the corner and saw that it was Captain Magellan and a security team.
"Well am I glad to see you Captain."
"Carter Where is Sek."
"I don't no sir we got separated when the Victory attacked."
"Ok, First priority is to find Sek. Carter what's the status of the ship."
"Well sir, I managed to disable the cloak. Crew compliment is unknown and from what I've seen there is some pretty sophisticated equipment onboard which I wouldn't mind having a better look at."
"You may get your wish Carter if we can secure the ship but first we have to find Sek" Magellan replied.
"The last time we were together was one deck down maybe we should start there."
"Ok Carter lead the way." Magellan answered.
Captain Magellan handed Carter a phaser as he began to lead them to the deck below.

***

Sek burst into the brig two men in the corridor followed him in and they looked to the empty cell were Carter should be and shouted down the Comm badges that he had escaped Sek quickly shot them and moved on. Found their Starfleet Comm badges and left. He assumed the shape of a Klingon security officer rather than a Vulcan doctor and hit a few squads who he dispersed easily.
Sek found a corner and placed his Comm badge on his chest.
"Sek to the captain."
"Sek we are looking for you where the hell on this ship are you."
"No idea sir, but I have taken a few out."
"Good try to get a fix on your position."
"Better idea sir meet you on the bridge I want to officer who took Carter prisoner."
"Just Carter."
"Long story sir involving the ability to turn into a suit case."
"Ok." The Captain said in a puzzled tone.
"See you on the bridge."
"Good luck doc don't get hurt."
"And you."
Sek transformed into a small bird and flew down the corridors at speed a few puzzled looks and phaser fire followed him a few times until he fond a sign pointing to the bridge. He turned back into Klingon and landed on his feet. The doors swished open and out walked a man with sharp eagle like features. Sek raised his phaser set to kill but was too slow. The other man pulled up a disrupter and fired. Sek froze, he saw the man firing and tried to return to his gelatinous form. He hit the deck but was still scraped by the high-energy beam. Sek struck the floor as a Klingon with legs instead of arms and stunned. The last thing he could remember, as he was stunned was a funny look from security and more phaser fire. And then it was black.

***

Magellan stormed down the pirate ships main corridor like a whirlwind. Zoilip and two of his security officers flanking him on either side.
At a cross junction near what appeared to be a science lab a number of pirates tried to put up some resistance but were quickly silenced by the Victory Security Team.
With in moments they were on the bridge. Magellan burst through the lift doors felling an Andorian Helmsman. The Pirate in the command chair dodged a second shot and returned fire at the Captain. The shot went wide but forced the Trill to dive behind a tactical console. Zoilip took down the Pirate; the Bolian followed up to stun the only other pirate still conscious.
Magellan pulled himself to his feet, tugging at his uniform.
"Where's Sek? He should be here by now"
Zoilip shrugged.
"I'll have my teams look for him"
"Have engineering secured and make sure Carter is OK. I'll want to see him."
The Comm bleeped.
"Steve to Captain"
"Magellan here"
"Is everything Alright over there"
"Yes commander We have taken the vessel, but I still haven't found Dr Kavek. Stand by"

***

Sek awoke his head was hazy. He struggled to rise but found himself unable to do so. A strange device was stuck to his chest, a series of lights flashed on its surface. He reached his hand towards it.
"I wouldn't touch that If I was you" a voice said form behind him.
Sek struggled to turn. He could just see a human standing. He appeared to be aboard a small shuttle.
"Don't try to shift form or attack me. That is a phase compensator adjusted to create a large explosion if it detects shapeshifting or a press this button."
He gestured to a small device attached to his arm.
"You're going to come in very handy in keeping the Victory off my Back"
The man turned away from Sek and settled in to a seat. It appeared they were aboard some kind of shuttle. He managed to sit upright and found himself detained behind a forcefield.
"Dr Kavek?" he enquired
"Yes" the man replied "Pleased to meet you"
With a jolt the shuttle rose and blasted out though the pirate ship shuttle bay and out in to space.

Sek sat back and watched as the Doctor set to work. He was stuck and couldn't change form. He had to think of a way to get the shuttle to stop and drop their shields.
Sek looked at the viewscreen in the shuttle. He was still dazed and he could not reform his body to full health without blowing up.
"This is the USS Victory to the Pirate shuttle. Power down your engines and weapons or we will fire."
"If you fire you will kill your doctor."
"Listen to me you can not win we will follow you. You are slower than us you will never get away. Just give us our doctor and you will not be harmed."
"Follow me. I think not. If you care to scan my old ship you will see a forcefield being raised and your transporters cannot penetrate it. And oh my ship will blow up in 1 minute. Goodbye."
Kavek cleared the screen and Sek felt the ship jump to warp.
Sek fell back and wondered what he could do.

***

Magellan stood on the bridge of the pirate ship, suddenly the bridge went dark, then red!
**Self-destruct started, 1 minute until self-destruct** The computer informed him.
"Magellan to away team, prepare for emergency beam out" he shouted. "Victory emergency beam out now"
"Sir this is Steve, we cant beam you out, the minute the count down started some sort of shield when up around the ship.... you are going to have to lower it from your end."
**30 seconds remaining** the computer said.
"Carter is there anything you can do?" Magellan asked
"I am trying sir but there is not enough time"
**20 seconds remaining** the computer informed them
"Cater what can I do to help?" Magellan asked,
"just get out of my way sir" he replied
**10**
**9**
**8**
**7**
**6**
Carter was working as fast as he could but the countdown seemed to go just that little bit faster. Carter knew he could get the shield down but not before the countdown reached zero. That's when it hit him.
"Captain, I've got an idea. Instead of trying to get shield down I'll try and do something about the countdown because it isn't classed as a critical system."
"Do it." Magellan replied.
"Give me a tricorder, right. Now all I do is tie the tricorder into the ships computer system, access the countdown sequence. Got it.".
"Ok, I'm using the tricorder to introduce a loop in the countdown sequence, I just hope this works."
"You and me both Carter." Magellan said behind me.
**5**
**4**
**3**
**2**
**1**
**2**
**1**
**2**
**1**
"Yes, thats it but I don't know how long its going to hold so I'd better get that shield down quick."
"Good work Carter." Magellan said.
"Magellan to Victory, Carter's bought us some time, he's working on getting the shield down so keep a lock on Kavek's shuttle, as soon as the shield is down we're going after Kavek and Sek. Magellan out."

***

 Dr Kavek stood still for a moment.
"Damn It."
"Something wrong." Sek said sarcastically.
"Those damn annoying federation scum that's what."
Sek smiled inwardly.
"Oh well they will have another little surprise soon."
"What's that."
"Aha I am sorry that would be telling."
The Dr tapped a few buttons. And a Klingon face appeared on screen.
"They have made it past you trap I told you it would not work. I will carry on towards you but prepare plan b and don't mess up."

***

Magellan stormed on to the bridge.
"Report" he barked
"We are in pursuit of Kavek's ship. He's edging away."
"I want Kavek. Can we transport Sek off the shuttle"
"Negative" Carter replied "His shields are to strong and it looks as if Sek is being held in a Diametric forcefield"
Magellan took his seat his face as black as thunder. He was not about the man responsible for Locutis' injury and L'Etal's suicide get away, not again.
"Arm torpedoes, bring the Phasers online. Target the shuttle"
"Aye Sir" Cable replied "Targeting their shield emitters"
"No" Magellan snorted "Target the engines and bridge"
"That will risk an antimatter explosion" Cable noted
"Risk Acknowledged" Magellan answered.
Steve looked over at the Captain. The trill stared steadily at the viewscreen seemingly unaware of the rest of the crew.
"Sek is still aboard" he reminded.
"I know" Magellan answered "Cable prepare to fire"

***

Aboard Kavek's shuttle Sek sat staring at the Doctor. Kavek appeared to be Human although as Sek knew well appearances could be deceptive.
"Kirot." Kavek roared in to the Comm. "How far are you away."
"Not far" The Klingon mercenary growled.
"Good. The Victory is about to blow me to kingdom come"
"Stand by" Kirot replied "This rescue will cost you double"
"Fine" Kavek snapped

***

"Ready to fire on your command sir" Cable replied.
Magellan stood in front of the view screen not even blinking, he turned his head and looked cable right in the eye "Cable fire".
"Sir Klingon Bird of Prey decloaking right in front of us" Cable called out before he had a chance to fire.
"Sir the ship is in between us and Kavek's shuttle" Steve said.
"Cable what is the status of the Klingon ship?" Magellan asked
"Its weapons are charged and shields are up"
"Open a channel to the bird of prey!"

***

Sek held his breath as he saw a Klingon bird of prey miss them and fly in between them and the federation vessel.
"I think you will find the victory cant get me now."
"Oh well I am sure a bird of prey wont last long."
Kavek smiled.
"I don't care either way I always have a back up plan no matter what."
"Ok." Sek said defiantly.
"Anyway what is a mere Dr doing on a covert op chasing a criminal genius."
"A Big headed genius." Sek laughed.
"Laugh all you want at the end of the day I will go free and you will die."
"Why have you kept me alive if I am going to die."
"I thought I was safe with you by me. But as you saw your captain doesn't care about some changeling he wants me dead. Ha ha weak minded fool I will crush him and you."
Sek remained silent.
"Ahhhh the Victory is chatting with my Klingon friend."
" This is Kavek beam me aboard."
"Hello"
"Not going to plan then." Sek said.
"Ah haha ha ha ha ha."
"At least your happy." Sek called out.
The doctor walked towards Sek and pulled a trolley of apparatus. Sek immediately recognised a device that was designed to keep him in one form and not need to turn to liquid. And the other was new to him.
"Lie still."
Sek felt the force field around him loosen he tried to change form but then it was reinstated. Sek unfortunately had be froze with his belly in liquid form and was incapitataed again. Kavek picked up both devices and placed them inside Sek. Suddenly Sek had no control Kavek did! "I think you will find a bomb in your gut that will blow up upon your return. And of course I could always do this instead."
At that Sek opened up and Kavek walked into him and Sek's body wrapped Kavek up and Sek realised that Kavek had many opportunities. Whatever the captain was saying to the Klingon he hoped it was good. And he hoped whatever it was didn't involve him being shot at and nearly killed. At that Sek realised to any passer by it looked like just Sek on the vessel and Kavek was completely hidden to scanners and other devices.

***

How can we help you Captain Kirot" Magellan asked, a veil of politeness over his annoyance.
"Go away Human or Die"
"That is not possible"
"That shuttle is under our protection. This neutral space. You have no authority here"
"I have four Quantum Torpedo launchers that say otherwise"
"The House of Kirot will not be threatened! You would not risk an intergalactic incident over one shuttle. My brother is on the high council"
"High Council or not. Hand over the Shuttle" Magellan's voice held a note of steel born either of confidence or over-riding stupidity.
Kirot's gaze wavered for a moment. It looked as if he was conversing with someone of screen. He nodded and then turned back to the viewscreen.
"Very well Captain you may have the shuttle if you want it so much. Be warned you have made an enemy here today. The next time we meet will be a good day for you to die."
"The Bird of Prey is Cloaking" Cable reported
"Good" Magellan sighed "Keep an eye out for it they may not be gone. Steve get a tractor on that shuttle and bring it in to the main bay."
"sir!" Girade reported at the Conn "I am only picking up one lifesign on the shuttle. Its Sek's."
"DAMN!" Magellan cursed "Why the hell didn't we register his transport to the Bird of Prey"
"Unknown Sir" Cable answered
"Well find out. Commander Steve go and meet Sek of the Shuttle see how he is and what's going on. Carter you go down as well back engineer that shuttle I want to know everything. Understand Everything! Cable start searching for Kirot's ship it can't be far"

***

Sek walked onto the Victory's shuttlebay floor and was met by the XO. Sek tired to call out but he could not do anything.
"Hello Sek glad to have you back. Do you know where the bird of prey is heading we want Kavek and the co is going to chase them.".
"No Sir. I do not know I just saw him beam up and that was it."
"Why did he let you go."
"Didn't want to murder me and get even more trouble following him."
"Very well Sek do you know anything else."
"No sir."
"Ok off you go."
"Steve to the captain Sek doesn't know anything sir."
Sek walked out and headed away from the shuttle bay.
"Sek where are you going that isn't the way to your quarters or the med bay."
"Sorry little disorientated sir." Sek said and muttered damn as he walked the other way.
"Tell you what I will take you to sick bay to be checked up."
"Ok then sir."
Sek and Steve headed for sick bay.

***

Magellan sat brooding on the bridge. Kavek had escaped him once more, but how? This scientist was up to something and it worried the Captain that he had no clue what it was. Kavek's previous experiments on Arkemis 7 had killed half the colonists, caused Locutis' injury and prompted L'Etal's suicide. I'll get you in to Sto-vo-kor L'Etal he vowed quietly remembering the Klingon officer. Now Kavek had turned up in the Kaloordis Sector stealing scientific equipment from a Federation Outpost. He needed more information.
"Any luck on Kirot's ship?"
"Negative Sir" Girade replied.
Suddenly the Comm sounded.
"Carter Here. I've overhauled Kavek's shuttle. What was left of his database was encrypted but I managed to get round it. It looks as if Kirot has a base on Dortad 2 on the other side of the Norpan Expanse"
"Good Work Carter. See what else you can find out. Girade plot a course Maximum Warp."

Sek saw himself walk to sickbay. Kavek allowed Steve to lead so that his ignorance of the ship did not show. Once there Dr Kapoor came over and began to conduct a check up.
"You seem fine Doctor" he replied at length "Although your mass is twice what it was when you left and your molecular alignment is slightly out"
"Must have been the forcefield I was kept in" Sek heard himself say. It was infuriating not to have the ability to help himself. If only he could find away to warn the others. Kavek was among them.
"Did you find out what Kavek was doing?" Steve asked
"No" Sek replied and left the medical bay. He paused once checking with the computer where his quarters were. Then Sek had an idea, Kavek maybe in control of him at the moment, but he had to sleep, or perhaps his equipment would run out of power. Either way he couldn't keep it up for ever and then Sek would be free and Kavek left stranded on the very ship he was avoiding

 

Carter was almost finished with Kavek's shuttle. I think I had got as much out of it as I was going to get. I had informed Captain Magellan of Kavek's secret base and was finishing up with some standard scans of the shuttle.
"Thats strange theres no particle ionisation within the shuttle. That can't be right, Sek told us Kavek transported to the Klingon ship, so there should be residual ionisation from the transporter beam unless.... "Carter to captain Magellan"
"Go ahead lieutenant"
"Sir I think you should come down to the shuttlebay, we may have a problem"
"On my way"
As he waited for the captain he decided to double check the readings to make absolutely certain.
"Carter, what's the problem Magellan asked. Carter turned to see the captain at the rear of Kavek's shuttle.
"Sir I don't think we should be looking for the Klingon ship."
"What the hell do you mean we shouldn't be looking for the Klingon ship, I want Kavek and he's on that ship." Magellan shouted.
"No sir I don't think that he is." Carter replied.
"What makes you think that". Magellan asked.
"When I scanned the shuttle I couldn't find any particle ionisation in the shuttle."
"How can that be, If Kavek beamed to the Klingon ship there must be unless..."Magellan said.
"Unless he never beamed off the shuttle at all. " Carter said finishing the captain's sentence.
"If thats true, it would mean that Sek lied to us, but why would he help Kavek?" Magellan asked.
Before I could reply Capt. Magellan asked another question.
"More to the point, If Kavek didn't beam aboard the Klingon ship then where the hell is he." Magellan asked.
"You got me sir, when we opened the shuttle there was only Sek aboard unless...no thats just stupid."
"What is it Carter." Magellan asked.
"Well sir there was a device aboard the shuttle and from what I can make of it, Its designed to prevent a changeling from changing form."
"So how does that explain Kavek disappearing." Magellan asked.
"Well sir If Kavek could prevent Sek from changing form maybe he make him assume a form."
"What are you saying." Magellan asked.
"Maybe Kavek's wearing Sek as a suit. He may have some sort of portable device that is able to expand Sek's mass to encompass him." Carter stated.
"Thats not stupid Carter, its genius. Where better to hide than on the ship thats looking for you. It's exactly the kind of thing Kavek would try." Magellan said.
"Theres no way to know for sure without walking up to Sek and asking him." Carter said.
"Lets go Lt." Magellan ordered.
"Where are we going." Carter asked.
"To sickbay, Sek was ordered to report there for a check-up. We may be able to prove your theory without asking Sek but we'll have to do this quietly, we don't want alert him before we're sure." Magellan said.
With that said, we headed to sickbay

***

Steve was walking towards the shuttle bay to see how Carter was doing when he bumped into Carter and Magellan.
"Commander aren't you meant to be in sick bay with Sek?" Magellan asked.
"I was sir but Dr Kapoor gave him a clean bill of health so I told him to go back to his quarters" Steve replied.
"Did the Doc find anything at all?"
"Well yes sir he did. Sek's mass as almost doubled and his molecular alignment is slightly out, but other then that he is fine."
Carter turned to Magellan. "Sir that proves it, I was right."
Magellan started walking off "Where are you going sir" Steve asked
"To my ready room, I want both of you and Cable to join me"
"For what reason sir and what had Carter proved?"
"I will tell you when we get there Steve but we don't have much time!"
Steve Magellan and Carter all headed to the captain's ready room, Cable got a call over the Comm to join them

 Magellan waited until Cable arrived before beginning the briefing.
"Carter has uncovered something quite disturbing. He believes Kavek is hiding inside Sek"
Cable double taked in disbelief.
"Inside?"
"Yes he's using some molecular isolation device" Carter said, "I found a changeling stability hand set on his shuttle"
"How are we going to get Kavek out of Sek?" Steve asked.
Everyone sat quietly for the moment. Ideas were not forthcoming.
"I could perhaps modify the Stability Handset to cause Sek to revert to his gelatinous phase early" Carter suggested.
"Would it work?" Magellan asked
"Possibly" Steve mused. Carter certainly had the technical expertise but he wasn't convince the plan was sound.
"Computer Where is Dr Sek?" Cable asked,
"Dr Sek is in his Quarters. Deck 5 Section 2"
"Might I suggest I have a security detail detain Sek... Kavek in the time being."
"I am not sure about that Sir" Steve said, "Kavek may have a way to threaten Sek's life. This could be a hostage situation"
"Damn it" cursed Magellan jumping to his feet and pacing the small ready room.
"What if we stun him" Cable suggested
Carter leaned forward a little in his chair.
"I am not sure that would effect him much. It takes a heavy blast to effect a Founder. It seems very risky"
"Risky! Risky! " Screamed Magellan "Risky is having an obviously dangerous murderous scientist on board. I want this resolved"
Everyone shrank back in their chairs a little the Captain was behaving so uncharacteristically. The trill seemed to see the look in their eyes and tried to calm himself.
"Alright. Here's what we will do, Carter will work on the device. Steve I want you to stick close to Sek. Make sure he doesn't get in to any trouble. Cable have a security team on stand by."
"Aye sir" the officers replied
"Dismissed"

***

Once everyone had left the ready room Magellan resumed his seat.
"Computer Conduct a full sensor scan of Dr Sek"
"Complying Scan will take 5 minutes"
"Relay the data to my PADD"
Magellan watched the data stream on to his screen. Once it was all downloaded he leaned back.
"Computer what is the probability that Dr Sek could survive a phaser blast set to 30 kilodynes"
"Probability of Survival is 50%"
Magellan frowned. Well Locutis was always a risk taker I guess I will have to avenge him in the same way.
"Commander Steve " he called in to the Comms "Can I see you on the bridge a moment"
With that he turned off his console and pulled a phaser from out of a draw and headed out the door.

***

Magellan stepped out of his ready room and found Steve waiting for him on the bridge.
"Commander. Follow me."
Steve followed Magellan into the turbo lift.
"Deck 5 Section 2." Magellan told the computer.
Steve saw the phaser in the captain's hands. "Sir do you want me to call for some security?"
"No Commander. We'll do this just the two of us"
"Sir shouldn't we wait for Carter to finish working on his device?"
"Computer halt turbo lift" Magellan said in a soft voice.
"Commander, Sek has been taken over by a mad genius and he is running round our ship and there is no telling what damage someone like him could do."
Steve nodded. "Computer resume turbo lift."
The turbo lift opened on deck 5 and both Steve and Magellan stepped out.
"Steve set your phaser to 30 kilodynes, we can only hit Sek once so this must work, it we hit in more then that he will be killed"
Steve set his phaser, as they got to Sek's door Steve looked at the captain.

***

Steve overrode the locks on Sek's quarters and the two officers carefully entered the room. They moved slowly in to room, their eyes searching for. Then from out of the bedroom Sek appeared. "Can I help you Sir" Sek asked innocently.
"You sure can" Magellan growled "You can get the hell out of Sek!"
Sek stared hard in to the Trills eyes and then looked at Steve.
"I am sorry? I don't understand"
Magellan's eyes narrowed and he advanced towards Sek who took a few tentative steps backwards.
"The games up Kavek. Your not going to get away this time"
"I have no idea what you mean. Kavek escaped." Sek replied. "Commander is the Captain unwell?"
Steve looked at the two officers. What if Magellan was wrong? What if he weren't?
"Sek. Will you subject yourself to further tests" he asked,
"I don't see why. Dr Kapoor gave me the all clear. Captain are you sure you are okay. You seem agitated"
"AGITATED!" snorted Magellan taking a step towards Sek and unsheathing his phaser.
Sek shot a glance to Steve.
"Do you want me to relieve the Captain? Is that why you are here?"
At that moment Steve knew that this was not Sek speaking. The founder would be nowhere near as bold in such a request.
"No. Kavek we only want you"
Sek confused face melted in to one of utter contempt.
"You'll not get me. Not without killing him. Who are you and why does it mean so much for you to 'GET' me"
Steve could see that the Captain was practically seething with anger.
"You are the man responsible for the tragedy at Arkemis 7. The injury of Commodore Locutis and the death of Lieutenant Commander L'Etal."
"Casualties are inevitable in my line of research."
"Casualties" Steve retorted "What about the attack on the Science Station?"
"Our research requires expensive apparatus." he paused. "Let me go you have no charges to bring against me."
"No charges!" Magellan replied incredulously
"How about manslaughter, theft and bodysnatching?" Steve said.
"My lawyers would have me off easily. Why not save the trouble? Let me leave and I will release your Doctor"
"No deal Kavek" Magellan retorted raising his phaser.
The orange light leapt across the room striking Sek squarely in the chest. The Doctor was thrown backwards, slamming in to the wall before slumping down.
"It didn't work" Steve remarked "We'll have to wait for Carter"
Magellan didn't seem to hear.
He raised the phaser again and took aim at the prone form of the Doctor.

The captain took aim at the Dr again
"Sir you can't hit him again, we may loose Sek for good"
The captain didn't seem to notice or even hear Steve.
Steve put his hand on the captain's hand and pushed the phaser down. "Sir lets get Sek to sick bay. I am sure Dr Kapoor will be able to give him something strong enough to keep him out, and we can put him behind a force field until Carter has found away to get him out of his body."
The Captain agreed somewhat reluctantly with the commander.
" Steve to Cable, I want a security team posted at sick by until further notice."
" On my way commander."

***

Steve and Magellan managed to get Sek to sickbay where Dr Kapoor gave him something strong enough to keep a normal man knocked out for a week. Steve had filled the Dr in on what was going on and Steve and Magellan where now just waiting for Carter to come up with away to help Sek.
Sek moved in his bed and both Steve and the captain moved over closer.
"Captain, Commander why and I here?" Sek said in a soft voice
"You know why you are here Kavek" The captain barked
"Captain, its me Sek" Sek asserted hurriedly.
Magellan stood there looking in to Sek's weak and heavy eyes. "Doctor is this possible, could this really be Sek?"
Dr Kapoor stood over Sek scanning him. "Sir it seems that the Tyrazine I gave him has knocked out Kavek completely but not Sek, I do believe this is Sek you are talking to"

 Sek looked into the captain's eyes.
"Thats twice your nearly killed me."
"All for a good cause." Magellan replied.
"Very well sir."
"Sek can you return to liquid and get of Kavek's body."
"No sir. There is a bomb as well as the device, which holds me in this form in my body. You hit the gadget that holds me locked when you shot me and as you can see I have some mild control. But if I change fully then I will explode and although it is a minor explosion Kavek told me in my quarters that it implodes."
"Implodes?"
"Yes it will suck the ship in then blow it out again. It is a very dangerous explosive." Sek said weakly.
"Ok then Sek what can we do?"
"I have no idea sir but I fear I am going to fall unconscious in a few seconds. Judging by the side effects I think that this anaesthetic will only take me out for an hour sir."
"Ok Sek talk to you then."
Sek blanked out and the mouth he was forcing to keep open changed back to solid skin. Within Sek could hear a voice.
"Hello Sek Kavek here. I will gain control soon and when I do you ship will be doomed."

***

Carter studied the device carefully. Suddenly he realised that it wasn't a stability emitter at all. The device regulated the structure of a founder but was in fact stabilised by a smaller unit that Kavek no doubt had about his person inside Sek. He leaned back in his chair frowning. There had to be some way to cause Sek to revert to his natural form without killing him. Slowly a plan began to form in his mind. He stood and ran to the sickbay.

Meanwhile Sek was escorted under guard to the Brig. Magellan paced angrily in front of the forcefield.
"Sir perhaps you should return to the bridge"
Magellan ignored him.
"Sir?"
"No Commander I am staying here. If you are so worried why don't you check on Girade."
Steve decided it may not be a good idea to leave the captain alone.
"Its okay. I ll stay here" he said taking a seat.
The doors slid open and Carter entered holding a small vial and a hypospray.
"I have a solution" he said
"The device?"
"No good. But this should work. I remembered that during the Dominion War the Founders were infected with a virus. It caused their cells to disrupt and loose cohesion. If we inject Sek with a large dose it'll cause him to regenerate regardless off the device"
"Won't that kill Sek?" Steve asked.
Carter shook his head.
"A cure was discovered. I had Dr Kapoor make me some up" he waved a second hypospray vial before them.
"Okay Carter. Give it a try." Magellan ordered lowering the forcefield to the cell.
Carter crossed over to Sek. The doctor lay on the bunk his eyes closed. As Carter approached he suddenly woke. With a snarl he grabbed at Carter. The engineer stumbled back. Steve dashed across and grabbed Sek. The doctor span about trying to get at the first officer.
"The sedative must have worn off" Magellan cursed running to join Steve.
Sek grabbed Steve and knocked him back only to be grabbed by Magellan. The two struggled a moment. Just as Sek/Kavek looked about to get the better off him Steve returned and helped pin him to the bunk.
"NOW CARTER, QUICK" Steve shouted.
The engineer dashed over and injected Sek.
Sek screamed. His body seemed to shake and then ripple. Droplets began to form all over his body. It dripped. Carter grabbed a bucket to catch Sek's gelatinous goo. Magellan and Steve backed away, a little horrified of the scene.
Suddenly Kavek burst from Sek's body. The man lunged forward he struck Carter with the Anti-changeling device knocking him senseless. He dodged a punch from Steve and grabbed the officer's phaser. Kavek span at the approaching Magellan, who paused his hand hovering over his own phaser.
"Don't even try it" Kavek snarled "You can't stop us. Even if you get me. The others will carry on"
Magellan growled
"For the Captain" he went for his phaser. He managed to get the phaser up to about waist height when Kavek's phaser beam struck him. The trill hit the floor with a thud. Kavek turned to Steve, raising the weapon again. As the orange light shot out before him Steve dived behind the brig console. The beam shot over his head.
Kavek cursed and ran for the door.

***

Lisa was sat in he quarters when the red-alert signal went off, jumping up she went straight for her Comm badge. "Lisa to the captain? Magellan are you there?" No response. "Lisa to Steve?" after a pause Steve responded and told Lisa to get down to the brig now.

On arriving Lisa was met with a scene of chaos! Magellan had been shot and Sek, well what appeared to be Sek was in a pool on the floor, or several pools as it looked. "What the hell happened here Steve?" " It was Kavek. He shot the captain then escaped. I am going after him; the Captain will be beamed to sickbay. I need you to collect Sek in the bucket then also take him to sickbay."
With that Steve left running with a squad of security behind him, Lisa turned and saw that Magellan had already been beamed to sick bay and all that was left was to gather up Sek. It felt very strange and Lisa made a mental note to apologise later. Lisa then decided to use a transport to get to sickbay as Kavek was still on the run. Once arriving Lisa left Sek with a nurse and rushed over to see the captain who was just awakening.
"Sir are you alright?" Magellan blinked a few times before responding. " I have felt better, what about Kavek has he been caught?" He began to sit up but the doctor told him to say where he was. " Lisa to Steve, any sign of Kavek?" "Not yet but I will keep you informed, how is the captain?" "Not to bad I will stay here and help in sickbay, good luck"

***

Sek's body rose taking form from the bucket. He looked around and saw the captain.
"Sir what has happened?"
"Kavek is lose on the ship." Lisa replied.
Sek did not continue the conversation but instead sprinted from sickbay and off in search of Kavek.
" Sek to security where is he."
"Unknown he has a poloron emitter and is blocking the tricorders." Sek paused.
"The shuttle bay" Sek suddenly said.
"We are on our way"
"Tell the xo's team as well where we think he is."
"Will do."
Sek began to run again he reinforced his leg muscle's and was hurtling to the shuttle bay.

***

Steve was walking towards the transporter room when he was contacted by Lisa
"Lisa to Steve"
"Go ahead"
"Sir, Sek just left sickbay, after we told him that Kavek was loose on the ship he just ran out... Sir, I don't think he is stable, he could be dangerous"
"Ok, Lias thanks for the warning"
Steve kept on walking to the transporter when he was contacted by Ensign Cobur.
"Sir, Sek informed me that he believes Kavek is heading or already could be in the shuttle bay and for you to meet him there."
"Steve to Sek."
"Ah, commander. Meet me in the shuttle bay ASAP."
"But Sek, what makes you think he is even in the shuttle bay?"
"Commander when I was joined with him, I could sense his thoughts. I know what he is doing and we have to hurry."
"Ok, Sek I will be right there, but don't enter until I arrive, Steve out"
Steve looked at the team behind him "We have to get to the shuttle bay and quickly, follow me"
Sek skidded to a halt outside the shuttle bay he looked down the corridors waiting for Kavek to arrive or Steve. Sek prayed Kavek would arrive first so he could have his revenge. He waited until he heard running then Steve hurtled around the corner.

"Sir if you got here first he must be inside."
"He wont get far if he launches we will just pull him back in with a tractor beam."
"Sir he will have thought of that."
The xo began to brief the security teams on the way he wanted things to happen.
"Sir request to go in with the security teams."
"Denied Sek."
Steve turned back to the security teams.
"Sir with all due respect."
"Damn it Sek I don't have time for this."
"Yes Sir."
Sek waited for Steve to finish his briefing and began to think of a plan of his own

 Steve decided to enter the shuttle bay by a Jeffrey's tube and told Sek to wait out side the main entrance in case he tried to escape. All other ways in and out had either been locked or had people guarding them.
After the briefing with the rest of his team he set off to the tube.

***

Meanwhile Sek was waiting outside the door, he had only been waiting for 5 mins but it seemed like I lifetime.
Sek looked at the to Security Officers standing with him "Its been to long we are going in"
"But sir, its only been 5 min....."
"No buts" Sek replied "I don't want the same thing to happen to Steve that I went through... was are going in."

 The doors opened and Sek burst in with his phaser rifle in his shoulder he looked at the shuttle and could see no sign of life. Security followed him in and then Sek saw a movement inside. A phaser discharged from the shuttle towards Sek the security team. They all ducked, Sek dived out of the way as a beam flew close over his head and hit the shuttle bay door behind him. The security team ran into safer positions and opened fire. Sek transformed into a bird and flew to safety. Sek landed on top of the shuttle and turned into a beetle with friendly fire impacting on the hull he tried to find a way in.
After a search that felt like eternity he found a plasma ejection port or what seemed to be one and crawled in the phaser fight continued Sek came out into the shuttle as it rocked from another blast.

***

Steve was waiting by an access port to the shuttle bay, his team of four men stood nervously at his side.
"I want him alive" Steve ordered
Steve was just about to enter the shuttle bay when he heard weapons fire from inside.
"Steve to Sek, what's going on?"

There was no reply. Sek what have you done Steve thought to himself.
Steve entered into the shuttle bay and in the far corner he could see Sek's security team pinned down, but there was no sign of Sek.
Steve and his team went around the back of the shuttle trying to find another way in, but there wasn't one.
Suddenly the sound of a phaser discharging came from inside the shuttle and then stopped and everything was quiet. Steve and his team slowly walked to the front of the shuttle. Steve led the way cautiously walking into the shuttle. On the floor he saw Kavek with a nasty cut down the side of his face, standing over him was Sek

Steve stood there looking at Sek and the bloodied Kavek below.
"Sek I thought I told you to not to enter the shuttle bay, you could have been hurt or killed."
"I know sir but I had to stop him...."
"I will deal with you later" Steve then looked down at Kavek on the floor. "Take him to sickbay."
As Steve Sek and Kavek made there way towards Sickbay Kavek moved his arm.
"Sek what is he doing?" Steve asked, Sek could hear the tone in his voice that he was not in a good mood
"I don't know Sir, he seems to be...."
Suddenly a bright light engulfed Kavek and he was gone.

"Steve to bridge, Kavek just beamed off the ship I want to know where he has gone"

There was a pause as the Girade checked the sensor data.
"Sir we can't trace him, there also aren't any other ships in this sector.... He's just gone" he replied shortly.
Steve decided to keep on going to sickbay to inform the Captain that they had lost Kavek a job he did not particularly relish.

***

Dr Kapoor ran the tricorder over Magellan once again. He frowned and then hummed.
"Well" Magellan asked trying to sit up.
Kapoor's hand pushed him back down. He tapped a console.
"Well. I feel Okay"
Kapoor paused and put the tricorder down.
"You are alright. We have to be careful ever since you took that disruptor blast your symboint has been more sensitive to energy discharges. Take it easy for a few days and everything should be fine."
"Thanks Doc." Magellan said springing down from the bed. He pulled on his jacket and saw Steve hovering at the door.
"Commander" He acknowledged
"Sir I have some bad news"
"yes"
"Kavek escaped"
"ESCAPED. How the hell did you let that happen" Magellan roared.
Kapoor span round.
"That is not taking it easy" he said assertively. "Keep that up and I may have to confine you to sickbay"
Magellan scowled at the doctor but relented.
"OK, OK I am calm. See how calm I am. Tell me what happened"
Steve retold Kavek's escape.
"And we detected no ship nearby"
"No, but we weren't looking for it"
"What about the transporter beam did it have a recognisable signature?"
"Chief Tallows reckons that it was commercial Federation Model. Widely available."
"So we are nowhere" Magellan sighed.
"Not exactly" Steve answered "We stopped Kavek from stealing the equipment, recovered it and revealed that they have Klingon mercenary help"
"I suppose" Magellan replied quietly. "But I will find Kavek one day. Anything else Commander"
"Yes Sir. Command have asked us to return to Starbase 147, The S.S Suval is en-route to recover Kavek's pirate ship and the stolen equipment"
"Very Good Commander. You have the bridge I think I want some time alone"
Magellan accompanied Steve as far as the turbolift, there he left his colleague and entered his quarters. Dimming the lights he took a seat beside the window.
"I will find you Kavek. One day, one day."