Title: "Wantings"
Author: Ensign Javier Tara
Stardate: 2459800
Earthdate: October 19, 2359
Location: USS Virgo

"Ensign Javier Tara's Personal Log: Stardate 59800. Well it's definitely looking as though things are finally making a turn for the better. It seems as though our crew is once again complete. Unfortunately, absent a few crewmembers. The captain appears to be in better spirits; all signs of depression are absent. We are
now heading through the Gamma Quadrant again.

"The attraction that the Syrenians held on all the male members of the crew was unbelievable. At least for me, I don't believe that I could have resisted them calling on me. I think I would have followed just as quickly as deceased Crewman Sierra. Their thoughts were so tantalizing not even my 400 years of experience
could have held me back.

"Now one of the effects, telekinetic powers, has presented an opportunity for me to study a little more closely. This phenomenon has always intrigued me. With Dweezle joining the crew, I think I will have an excellent opportunity to study the mysterious powers. Just the thought of being able to more an object with your mind...WOW!!! I am going to have to hook up with this fellow and learn from him.

"I have run scans of the ship to ensure that the no aliens or presences reside aboard the *Virgo*. Nothing to be found. Now that is a relief, the quicker we get all of that behind us the better. It just makes us realize that we may not be the supreme and unbeatable Starfleet that many species believe we are.

"I remember Lazarus gathering fresh fruits and vegetables. I believe I will head to the forward lounge to see if any is left."
________________________

Ensign Tara throws on a shirt and heads toward the mess hall. He steps into the mess hall and sees many of his fellow crewmembers talking throughout the room. Noticing no buffets at which Lazarus was speaking, Tara spots him and quickly grabs his attention before Valdago interrupts. Valdago sitting at the bar, almost ready for another drink.

Tara gives Valdago a look of contempt. *Still don't know if he is all that trustable.*

Lazarus turns to Javier Tara. "Can I get you something?"

"I was sorta hoping for some of the fruits and vegetables that you gathered from Meridian."

Shrugging, Lazarus replies, "Lt. Nori insisted on examining all the supplies thoroughly before they can be rationed to the crew. She is afraid that something may still reside within the goodies, so we are all out of luck for a few days. Believe me you will know when they are available for consumption, the crew will be stirring about."

Tara with a disappointed look said, "Well then I suppose I will have to wait. Don't let them all disappear without me getting a bite. Guess I'll have a drink instead. I've seen some of the others drinking bourbon. Why don't you let me try one of those."

A high ball appears before Tara and he quickly downs the first glass and asks for another.

K'lara walked over to Javier Tara. "What, no blood wine this evening? I've noticed that you have a sweet tooth for a real cocktail. Now you go back to the water-like substance."

"Just in the mood for a change this evening. I was really hoping for some of the foods from that hell planet we just escaped."

K'lara responded with the Klingon coming out. "Ahh, that is not real food anyway."

Tara seeing the aggression was projecting quickly changes the subject. "So how is Lataro doing?"

"He is coming along well. I believe it is time for him to eat, so I think I will join him. See you in the morning." K'lara turns and walks out of the mess hall before Tara has a chance to reply.

Tara looks for Dweezle, but notices that he is surrounded by a group of people. All is listening to his stories of the captain and the last moments of Surok.

Tara orders another bourbon and realizes, *There will be a better time for introductions, and no fresh foods to boot. Argh! I can't get anything I wanted out of this evening.*

Javier Tara finishes his drink, returns to his quarters, and grabs his PADD to do a little more studying for the next
encounter with the Kirusans.
 
 

Title: "Sickbay"
Author: Lt. Commander Jonathan Lataro
Stardate: 2459800
Earthdate:  October 19, 2359
Location: USS Virgo

Jonathan Lataro was lying in the biobed hardly coherent to his surrounding when K'Lara came in. His head had been aching tremendously since the Syrenian had used it as an opera hall, so he had asked Lt. Nori to dim the lights in the section which he occupied. He had almost drifted off to sleep when her soft touch grazed his forehead. Lataro flickered his eyes and just barely focused on K'Lara. "Hi," she said softly.

"Hi," Lataro said as soft with a soft smile squinting through groggy eyes.

"How are you feeling?"

"Well, I feel like there is a buzzer continuously ringing and every little thing is making my head swim."

"Really? Would you like me to leave?" she asked concernedly.

"Are you kidding? Pull up a chair and stay a while."

"Well I will stay for a moment. I have to report for duty soon and just wanted to stop in and see you."

Lataro smiled. "Lt. Nori said that you have been here almost everyday."

"Yeah. I hated seeing you like this."

"Are you kidding? Do you think I like be laid up in a bed? I am the Chief of Security. I should be out there keeping an eye things, but the only thing that I can do is see the insides of my eyelids."

K'Lara smiled. "Well, lover, you just get well. As soon as you the good doctor releases you, we are going to go to the lounge and have a drink, so that you can meet Dweezle. Then you and I are going to have a nice romantic dinner."

"You know something. How about we just forget the forward lounge and the dinner and the romantic thing," Lataro said with a half-smile. The slight laughing caused his head to pound.

"We'll see now won't we?" K'Lara said with a smile from ear to ear. "But you just get well then we can plan the festivities later." She leaned over and kissed him on the lips softly.

"Okay."

Lt. Nori approached from behind and gently cleared her throat. "Lieutenant. I am sorry but I have to run some tests."

"That's fine. I was just leaving," she said to the doctor. "I will see you when I get off duty."

"Okay, K'Lara if that the doctor will release me," Lataro said hinting to Dana.

"Commander. I don't think so. Not right now," Lt. Nori said with a smile.

"Well I tried."

K'Lara and went to the bridge to report to duty and all that was in sickbay was Jon and Dana. "Dana, I just wanted to say I am sorry," he said after a moment.

"Sorry for what commander?"

"Well. I really have treated you like garbage, and well I guess I owe you a lot more than an apology. You saved my life, took command when need be and overall just have helped me out. Really in more ways than one."

"Commander. That is my job."

"Well. For some reasons, but not all."

Dana just looked at him for a moment then smiled. "Okay, if you say so, but if you are trying to use flattery to get out of here, it is not going to work. You can count on a few more days in here."

"Dana, I am hurt that you would think that I would try to manipulate your feelings in such a way. I really do mean it. Thank you. You are a fine doctor and a fine officer."

"Well, thank you, Commander. Now unfortunately you are not going to think that highly of me for what I must do now."

"Huh?" he said confused.

"Turn over!"

*Oh no! Not again.*
 
 

Title: "New Toy"
Author: Lieutenant JG Garek Loran
Stardate: 2459803
Earthdate: October 20, 2359
Location: USS Virgo

*Damned piece of machinery!* Garek thought to himself. It had been four days since he was taken control of by the "Sirens" and two days since the Captain's briefing in the conference room. He was on his knees, staring at a bio-nueral gel pack junction inside the cloaking device. "Computer, what program is running right now?"

*I don't remember having already done 30 simulations. Oh well.* "Computer, what is the phase variance in the clocking manifold at the time of shutdown?"

"That's way to high. It should be at at least 13 to operate successfully. Listen to me! Now I'm talking to myself!" He sighed. "Computer, what time is it?"

Garek had been working on this project day in and day out for the past few days. He hadn't realized, however, that he had been here all night. Once Garek got started on a problem, he lost all sense of time. *Now, if I remember correctly, I can adjust the variance at door three alpha on panel two.*

He walked around to the other side of the device, and crouched down again. He opened a panel, and a simulated isolinear optical chip panel had blown out. *Yet another problem.*

"Computer, save note to program Charlie 26. Cloaking device shut down do to blown out isolinear Optical Chip panel blowout. Cause..." Garek fumbled around, and took out the panel. "Power feet beyond acceptable limits."

A pleasant distraction occurred when Valdago walked into the holodeck. "How's it coming Garek," John asked.

"Oh, hi, John," Garek said looking up. Garek stood holding the chip panel. "Not as good as I had hoped. I had adjusted the power output to compensate for the low cloaking output, only to blow out an ODN panel."

"That bad, huh?" John asked.

"Yep." Garek tossed the simulated piece of equipment on the floor, and picked up a PADD. "I'm almost at my wit's end with this thing." Garek put down some notes on the panel.

"I can see that." Valdago walked over, and looked over the device, sitting in the middle of the room. "Looks similar to a Klingon cloaking device."

"Yeah. That's the type I know of," Garek replied. He picked up his uniform jacket (NRPG: The jacket that goes over the gray T-shirt on the uniforms.) and slung it over his arm. "The thing is that power for the device is usually fed off of a warp core. Now, the warp core on a Bird of Prey and all other Klingon vessels is bigger then that on a runabout. The only way I can think of actually putting this thing in a runabout, is by putting in a bigger warp core..." Garek trailed off slowly.

"What is it?" John asked.

"I think I've solved a major piece of the puzzle," Garek said. "Come on, let's get a cup of coffee, and I'll tell you about it. Computer, save and end program."

The room turned into a black room, with a yellow grid running across the walls and floor. Both of the men left the holodeck."
_____________________________

Lazarus was overseeing the transformation of the lounge into a bar. A few ensigns were removing some panels here and there.

"Make sure to leave enough room for a kitchen!" Lazarus called out to the Lieutenant overseeing the project. Dweezle was behind the bar, wiping off the counter.

Garek and John entered the Lounge. "Hello Gentlemen," Dweezle said, walking over to them. What brings you around at this ungodly hour?"

"I was coming off the night shift," Valdago answered.

"I've been in the holodeck for...," Garek checked his chronometer, "...for about eight hours." He rubbed some sleep out of his eyes.

"Well, what can I do get you two?" Dweezle asked.

"Coffee," both John and Garek said in unison. They then looked at each other. "I'll have mine black," said Garek.

"Same," John added.

"Well, why don't you to find a seat somewhere and I'll be back with your drinks in a moment."

"Thanks, Dweezle." Garek sat down at the nearest table. John sat across from him.

"You were going to tell me about your 'big piece of the puzzle'." John stared at him.

"Oh, yes. Sorry." Garek put the PADD on the table that he had been carrying and started to look at some of the information. He then looked up at John. "Here's what I plan to propose to Captain Maruu. What I want to do is put together a new type of shuttle. It will have a bigger warp core then that of a runabout, and a larger sensor and weapons suite."

"You think the Captain will go for this?" John asked.

"I don't know," Garek replied. "However, it's the only feasible way I can get the type of power regulation and output I need, without blowing out a set of isolinear chips every time we cloak and uncloak."

"I see your point. However, I think there's also an ulterior motive behind your idea." John gave a confident smile.

"Well...yeah," Garek said. "I want to be able to soup up shuttles and build new vehicles like I did back home. This is the only way I think I'll get a chance out here."

"So, the cat is out of the bag," John said with a grin. "However, I can understand where you're coming from. There's a lot of things you can't do out here."

"This being one of them?" Garek asked.

"Right." Jhon sat back in his chair.

Dweezle came by with the mugs of coffee. "Here you are Lieutenants. I don't see why you'd want to drink coffee. I'd rather get some sleep if I were you." Dweezle placed the two mugs down in front of the two.

"Speaking of sleep, why exactly are you here so late? Wouldn't you be in bed?" John asked.

"Are you kidding?" Dweezle asked. "I'm having so much fun hanging around in the lounge. Besides, it's fun to watch Lazarus order those ensigns over there around." He grinned.

"I see your point." Garek smiled.

Dweezle returned the smile. "Enjoy your coffee gentlemen." He then headed back behind the bar.
_____________________________

It was now 0900 hours. Garek had gotten about five hours of sleep. He stepped off the turbolift, and onto the bridge. *Place looks rather empty,* Garek thought. Second string officers were manning Security, Ops, and Tactical. "Is the Captain in?" Garek asked the Ensign at Tactical.

"Yes, Sir," the Lieutenant replied. "He's in his Ready Room."

"Thank you." Garek walked over to the Ready Room door, and pressed the door chime.

"Come in," Maruu said from inside.

Garek walked in slowly, trying not to show the grogginess he was feeling.

"Ah, Lieutenant Loran. What can I do for you?" Maruu turned around in his chair face Garek, and put down a PADD on the table.

"I have the Engineering reports from yesterday, and the progress on the cloaking device for you."

Garek handed the PADDs over to the Captain.

Maruu glanced over the PADDs, and then thought for a moment. "You think that by building a new shuttle, you will be able to get enough power output to use a cloaking device."

"Yes, Sir. I've been running simulations with the type of power output from a normal runabout, and have kept hitting dead ends. By making up a new shuttle, I should be able to get the cloaking device to work."

Maruu sighed, and then looked over the PADD again. "I'll think about it. In the meantime, try to see if you can get the device to work, and try upgrading a type 8 shuttle instead."

"Yes, Captain," Garek replied. He was trying to force back a yawn.

"Lieutenant, is there something wrong?" Maruu asked.

"No, Sir, I'm just a little tired. I've been working since 0300 to try to get the device to work."

"Hmm. Why don't you go and get a few more hours of sleep. Then head back to work on the cloaking device. I'll assign Ensigns Ek'Ra and Galen as head engineers until you return from your project."

"Yes, Sir. Thank you, Sir." Garek nodded in agreement to the Capain's idea.

"Dismissed, Lieutenant."

Garek nodded, and left the Ready Room, heading back for his quarters.
 
 

Title: "Forgetting the Past"
Author: Captain Stephen Maruu
Stardate: 2459816
Earthdate: October 25, 2359
Location: USS Virgo

"She was a great woman. A woman I loved. She gave me the confidence to withstand this continuing Kirusan attacks. She was very powerful. The Jeorri lost a great diplomat." Captain Maruu removed a tear from his cheek. "The Federation lost a great ambassador." He nodded to Valdago. Valdago nodded back and pressed a few buttons which launched the black coffin into the void of space. Maruu smiled at seeing Roen finally free of the
physical realm. "Now, on to the celebrations!"

The crew applauded. The new bar had been built; Lazarus and Dweezle had made it look mopre like home in the past few days. It took two decks now. Two floors of entertainment plus one additional holodeck reachable only through a spiral staircase that led to the "fun room", as Dweezle so comically put it. In the center, Dweezle had asked to place a fountain in the form of a sculpture. He said it was in the form of his favorite mate, but
it looked more like abstract art. It was still nice to look at.

Maruu looked at the Chief Medical Officer and smiled. His new relationship was becoming a bit obvious to the rest of the crew.

Lt. Nori smiled back.

"All right, people. Promotion time. Will the following people please step forward," he paused, "Lieutenant Commander Jonathan Lataro, Ensign Javier Tara, Lieutenant Dana Nori, Lieutenant Junior Grade Garek Loran, and Lieutenant K'Lara."

The five officers stepped forward.

Captain Maruu asked Valdago for five, small, black cases. He handed them over. "Lieutenant Commander Jonathan Lataro, for your ability in time of emergency to handle the captaincy of this vessel and due to the death of Commander Surok, I hereby promote you to the position of First Officer and the rank of Commander."
He shook Lataro's hand and handed him a case with three gold pips. "You are also relieved of your duties as Chief of Security of this ship." Maruu went on to the next officer. "Ensign Javier Tara, I hereby promote you to the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade." He shook Tara's hand, handed him a case with one gold pip and one black one, and went on to the next officer. "Lieutenant Dana Nori, for your ability to command this vessel in times of
distress and for doing a great job with my leg, I hereby promote you to the rank of Lieutenant Commander." He shook Nori's hand, smiling from ear to ear, handed her a case with two gold pips and one black one, and went on to the next officer. "Lieutenant Junior Grade Garek Loran, for your excellent work on the cloaking device and shuttle which I expect to be built before New Year's Day, I hereby promote you to the rank of Lieutenant." He shook Loran's hand, who was already euphoric about the thought of building a new shuttle, handed him a case with two gold pips, and went on to the next officer. "And Lieutenant K'Lara, I hereby promote you to the rank of Lieutenant Commander." He shook K'Lara's hand, handed her a case with two gold pips and one black
one. "Congratulations to all."

The officers stepped back and congratulated each other. Now that the funerals and promotions were over, Lazarus had Dweezle roll out a huge cake. It was big enough for all the crewmember to eat anything they wanted. The crew dug in. They were all having fun again.

After a few minutes, Commander Nori got a call on her com badge. [Commander?] It was the captain.

"Yeah?" She smiled. "What are you doing on the com?"

[Don't worry about it. Prepare for a site-to-site transport.]

"Oka..." She hadn't finished when she was transported out of the bar.
_____________________________

Nori appeared horizontally a few feet above the floor, she began to fall. Suddenly, two arms caught her softly. "Hello, Dana. Thanks for dropping by."

She smiled at her Commanding Officer. "You're crazy, you know that?"

"Actually, Lt. Zano gave me a clean bill of psychological health. So, medically, I'm not crazy." He twitched his nose. "But maybe I just hide it well. What do you think?"

"I like you crazy." She pressed her lips to his. "Thanks for the promotion."

"Hey, don't thank me. You earned it." He paused. "I wonder what the crew would think if they saw me with the Chief Medical Officer."

"They'd probably think you're just in this for the health benefits."

"Hell yeah. That'd be interesting."

Nori stood up and looked around. The beaches were magnificent. There were palm trees everywhere. The binary stars were eclipsed shading a beautiful light on the transparent salt water. The sandwas gold and warm. It was paradise. "What is this?"

Maruu smiled. "Program Maruu Alpha Four. It's a mix of different places; Risa, Denmar IV, Earth, pre-Syrenian Meridian, Ourha's garden; to make the most perfect paradise ever. Do you like it?"

"It's beautiful. Did you just make this program?"

"Just last week. C'mon, let's enjoy it."

The two moved into the holodeck to enjoy the artificial utopia that was before their eyes.