Are you a Star Trek addict? If so, you probably know that Star Trek was created by Gene Rodennberry and is owned by Paramount. If you would like a cure for Trek addiction, I suggest Star Traks. It was created by Alan Decker and is far more humorous, with none of the made-for-network-television side effects. Star Traks: Silverado was created by Brendan Shust. Former Trek addict. http://www.star-traks.com startraks.Silverado@gmail.com Copyright 2010 The following may contain content of a violent, profane or sexual nature. Sort of like real life and the evening news. If your country of origin prevents you from viewing such material, they're probably trying a little too hard to protect you from the world. Still, it's best to follow your local laws. So if they say you can't read this, you better not read it. And they suck for saying so. Otherwise, enjoy the story. Star Traks: Silverado 5.11 - Under Current By Brendan Shust Craigan stepped out of the elevator and into the hollow, three-level pod that was Haven's control center. Queen Anselia, King Hektor, Minister Stafford, Mistress Laheya, Agent Jural and a few Starfleet officers Craigan didn't know were already there. "We've stopped using the replicators, the laundry facilities, the cooking facilities and anything else that wasn't active when we found the installation," a cool voice spoke. "Including you, Fifebee, from the looks of it," Stafford said. "Yes," Fifebee replied, "My holo-relay puts out a distinct energy signature. It had to be shut down," "Which is why you're in the computer?" Anselia blinked. "I am always in the computer," Fifebee sniffed. "She's quite the roommate," another voice spoke up as Craigan mounted the first set of stairs. Looking down through the lower windows, he could see a few lights in one of the towers they'd found connected to the command tower. "We've also cut our network traffic to almost nothing," said one of the other officers, "We are receiving only the same sensor feed as when we first found the facility," "So the Qu'Eh aren't likely to find us," Stafford finished. As Craigan began climbing towards the third level, the group of people came into view. Stafford was gesturing at the glowing hologram of Matria Prime. Small dots were moving slowly across the surface of the globe, "But they're sure looking," "Nothing from the rescue team?" King Hektor asked. "Naw, the HT only boarded P'tarek's ship a little while ago," Stafford replied, "When they're done, I'm sure we'll know it," Craigan shook his head. That voice again. It had popped up during the mission to retrieve the captured Silverado crewmen. Was that only earlier today? That didn't seem possible! "Craigan," Anselia said warmly, "We are pleased you came back, instead of joining the assault on P'tarek's ship," "Your Highness," he bowed slightly. The Starfleet officers returned to their own business. Craigan made aimless small-talk with the Queen for a while, telling her about the school he'd gone to as a child. Ansleia had been bombarding him with questions ever since he'd agreed to help the Rebellion, but he still couldn't quite believe how ignorant she was of their own culture...and she was the leader! Craigan started. That was one of the most coherent things this 'voice' had said to him. It couldn't be a coincidence that he'd started hearing voices shortly after being revived in Haven. His memories of his old life were a bit clouded; working for a Male Rebellion cell, pushing propaganda out, trying to further their cause. Trying to counter the lies and foolishness of the female-led government. But he was pretty sure that he'd never heard voices before. "Craigan?" Craigan started again. Queen Anselia was staring at him, concerned. "Are you well? We could have a doctor examine you. Or even Dr. Wowryk. I understand she has started to return her attentions to medicine," "No, I'm...I'm OK," "She's coming up anyway," Stafford butted in, "She needs to talk to Laheya about...something. I think it involves a Qu'Eh comm center," Stafford pulled Anselia aside. "About that," he said, "Your rebellion is running, your people are fighting back, and the fleet's gotta be getting closer. Are you sure you still need her involved?" "We would prefer to keep her involved," Anselia shook her head, "If not as a symbol for gender cooperation, then as a symbol of the commitment and firmness of resolve of your people," "OK, fine," Stafford muttered. At that moment, Dr. Wowryk climbed the steps into the command deck. "Anything I should know about?" she asked coolly. "Just...keep up the good work," Stafford said weakly. "Fine," Wowryk replied, "Laheya, Jural...you both know I'm willing to do whatever is necessary to help you and the rebellion. However, my skills as a doctor are needed as well. Should you need me, I can be found in-" "Captain, we have a problem," Valtaic said sharply. Everybody's attention was suddenly riveted on the dark-skinned alien. "Have they spotted us?" "No," he said, "But the Qu'Eh have opened fire on one of the Matrian cities." "WHAT???" The word was like an expletive, coming from all directions. On the holo-globe, small points of light were moving from one of the Qu'Eh ship icons to a spot on the planet. "I'm getting something on one of the news networks," Fifebee said from the computer core, "I am routing it to display screen 2," On one of the Federation display screens connected to the core, the image of P'tarek standing in the Matrian council chamber appeared. "Behold," the image of P'tarek said, "Your corrective action measures!" The screen behind him showed images of a city being fired upon from orbit. "That's Raleesh," Layeha said, letting out a breath of relief, "It's deserted," "But they are still destroying one of OUR cities!" Anselia seethed, furious. "And they will pay," Layheya vowed, "Rebels! Let's go plan some counter-strikes!" "We've found Haven, Mr. Chairman!" Everybody's attention snapped right back to the screen. "Dear God," Stafford cursed. Wowryk smacked him. But the voice was cut-off before it could report the location. On the holo-globe, one of the ships faded out. There was silence in the command complex for about three seconds, then chaos. Anselia and Hektor were shouting insistent questions at Stafford, who was shouting at Valtiac, who was calmly stating that he knew nothing. Laheya was cheering, slapping Jural hard enough on the back to knock the smaller man over. Wowryk was crossing herself and Craigan's eyes were transfixed by the screen. The image of the burning city was gone from the screen. But it still burned in his mind. Craigan shook his head. That voice! It was almost maddeningly familiar. And the city...something about the burning city. Craigan blacked out. "That has to have been the Hazardous Team," Stafford said for about the tenth time. "Considering that starships rarely just explode for no reason, I'm inclined to agree with you," Wowryk said, also for about the tenth time, "What I don't agree with is you insistence on repeating yourself." "Right, sorry," They were in a small infirmary, located not far from the fitness center in the levels above the Transit Hub. Most of the equipment was either offline or unidentifiable, but Wowryk and a couple of Matrian doctors had setup shop anyway. Craigan was lying on a non-functional bio- bed while a portable unit monitored his vitals. Wowryk tried not to be annoyed that Stafford was hanging around, basically getting in her way. Anselia and Hektor had left to brief the other government members, while Laheya and Jural were preparing coded messages that would start rebel attacks on several Qu'Eh positions. Valtaic, Fifebee and Sylvia were monitoring the Qu'Eh situation and trying to track down some flesh & blood members of the crew to help out. At first, she'd thought he was just bored. Then she caught him looking at her with a grin on his face. For a fraction of a second she thought that maybe he'd joined the legion of lustful men eager for a chance to get in her knickers...then she remembered that he was already in a sinful, carnal relationship with Anselia. That's when the truth hit home. He was just happy to have her back. And for some reason, that was really pissing her off. "Would you go to that crate and get the neuro-scanner, please?" she asked, just to give him something to do and, hopefully, get him out of her hair for a moment. "Sure thing," Stafford rummaged around for a moment. He came back with an odd contraption with a glowing emitter tip. "This thing?" "No that's the defibr-" BZZZTTT! Stafford cursed as the thing shocked his arm badly enough that he slammed it into the side of the crate. "That shouldn't be turned on," Wowryk mused. She was tapping her medical tricorder as the ran it over Craigan. The interference fields in Haven were still causing problems, and her readings were intermittent. "This?" Stafford asked, holding up a complicated-looking collection of tubes and claws. "No, that's for Klingon vasectomies," Stafford paled. "And you thought to bring one of those along, but not one of the Borg extractor-thingies that Stern was able to use to get rid of the Qu'Eh headsets?" "I didn't pack the medical supplies, I was sort of busy." Wowryk said crisply, "Helping to run a battle. At YOUR insistence," "Right," Stafford rummaged around again. This time, he came up with the helmet- shaped device. He handed it to Wowryk. "About that, Noel," he said, hesitating a little, "Are you...angry with me?" "Angry? Because you pushed me into the first officer slot and into battle? Or because I was captured by the Qu'Eh because of it?" Stafford gulped. "Or perhaps because instead of healing and aiding, I'm spending most of this mission plotting, scheming, and setting into motions plans that result in the deaths of Qu'Eh soldiers as well as Matrian rebels." "Yeah," Stafford said quietly, "All that," Wowryk considered for a moment. "Yes," she said, her voice shaking slightly with anger. This wasn't the ordinary, short but explosive bouts of anger Stafford was used to seeing from her. This was something else. Something harsher, something that didn't promise to fade in an hour or so, "Yes, I'm angry with you." "Noel, it was for the-" "Don't talk to me about the mission!" she snapped, "I understand the mission, I'm not incompetent! I've learned more about strategy and planning in the past month that I ever learned at the Academy! I know perfectly well why you did what you did, even why Jall did what he did!" "Then why-" "You introduced me to power," she cut him off again. She fastened the neuro-scanner over Craigan's head, "Power of life and death over the Matrian ships that were following my orders. And then over Matrian rebels, who are ready to die for their planet on my command." She shook her head, "That's a power that people should never have," "Senior officers have it all the time," Stafford said carefully. "I don't want to be a starship captain, or an Admiral," Wowryk said, "I'm a doctor. My job is to heal." "As soon as this is over, you can!" "Do you think it's easy to just step away from that kind of power, Captain?" she asked, putting extra stress on the rank, "Do you think I can just decide to leave that all behind?" Stafford looked around the dimly lit infirmary. "It looks like you're giving it a good shot," he said finally. "And it's horrible," Wowryk shook her head, "It's like...it's like fighting an addition. I want to march straight over to Laheya and Jural and demand an update, to demand that they hear my input before they do anything." She sighed. "And that's why I'm furious with you right now," she finished quietly. "I'll just...go see what's happening," Stafford said lamely. He bumped into Jural as he left. "Noel, we need your help deciding whether to focus on Qu'Eh communications or logistics for the next round of attacks," he was saying. Wowryk's struggle was worse than an addiction, Stafford realised as he stepped into the dim corridor. At least, when you were fighting an addiction, it rarely came knocking on your door. It was another day before Craigan regained consciousness. The Qu'Eh, after sweeping the planet frantically, had eased back their patrols slightly, though still at a higher level than before. Their ships now operated with shields up at all times, preventing any more unwelcome beam-ins. The rescued Silverado crewmen were trickling into the base, and while the Qu'Eh controlled-news network was silent, reports of rebel activity was still managed to make it's way through the cities, towns and villages of Matria Prime. It was Fifebee who was with Craigan when he reawakened. With the reduction in Qu'Eh activity, her holo-relay had been reactivated. Almost due to meet Valtaic and Sylvia for a tasking, she was just about to leave him in the hands of Lieutenant Yanick when he awoke. "We didn't blow up Matronus," he grumbled, shaking his head slowly. Fifebee raised an eyebrow. "You didn't, your former organization didn't, or-" "What did I say?" Craigan blinked, looking confused. "You claimed that you did not blow up Matronus," she said, "By which I assume you mean Old Matronus, the orbital habitat which was destroyed over 200 years ago, triggering the Gender Wars," "Right, that," he sat up, "Well, of course I didn't. I always already in stasis when it exploded," "As we have no way of confirming that, I suggest we move on. How are you feeling?" Craigan frowned. <> "Somebody told me," he muttered. "I see," Fifebee said flatly, not sure what else to say. "What happened to me?" he asked. "You fainted. Dr. Wowryk identified some strange neural activity, but the interference with her equipment prevented her from identifying it." Fifebee cocked her head, her voice very matter-of-fact, "Have you experienced any unusual symptoms in the past day or two?" Craigan hesitated. "I've been hearing voices." He braced himself. He was still getting used to dealing with the Starfleeters, and with this artificial one especially. He half expected her to look down her nose and make some sort of demeaning comment. "That could mean many things," she said instead, "Please pardon me a moment." Within an hour, Craigan found himself surrounded by Starfleeters. Stafford and Wowryk he already know, but they'd been joined by a third, a blond woman with a rounded yet severe-looking face. "I am Conzelor Yvonnokoff," she said crisply, "You may call me Vonna," "C'mon doc," Stafford groaned, "You haven't broadcast a show in at least a month!" "Jas, but is easier to pronounce," she said, "I am being helpful to patient, jas?" "Jas-ever," Stafford muttered. "Look, did I do something wrong?" Craigan asked, looking around at them. "No, Mr. Craigan," Stafford shook his head, 'It's just that...well...there are a lot of reasons for people to hear voices. And with the amount of brain-tampering that's gone on around this planet, well..." "You don't think I'm just crazy?" "That's why we have Yvonno...Vonna here," Stafford replied. "So, Mr. Craigan, tell me about your mozer. Did you hate her?" "Oh, THIS is going to be productive," Wowryk snapped. Fifebee, Sylvia and Valtaic met in the main lobby of one of the ornate staircases bordering the outer ring of the Transit Hub. Fifebee was towing her holo-relay with one hand. "Ready?" Valtaic inquired politely. "We are," Fifebee replied. "Exploration time," Sylvia smiled. Valtaic took over the relay, and the three of them moved into one of the corridors branching off of the lobby. "Exploration teams in the outer rim found some time ago that the facility there extends several levels below the transit system," Valtaic said. He gestured out at one of the short passages that led to the tram platform, "As well, several tram tracks here appear to descend below Hub level. We are certain there are levels below the Hub, but we have yet to find a stairway or lift that would take us there." "We've already checked all the doors in this section," Fifebee said, "Unless it's behind those big double doors in the lobby; the ones you can't open," "Very possible. But as we cannot access that area, the point is moot," They pushed open a door that Valtaic had unlocked previously. This time, Fifebee took careful measurements of the room, hoping that once they had a more detailed floor plan, they could identify 'empty' spots that might be hidden passageways. After two more doors and two more rooms, Sylvia spoke up. "Fifebee, I've still got a few scattered memories of when we were merged," she said. "Expected," Fifebee nodded. "There were several stasis tubes in the laboratory where we found Craigan, yes?" "Yes," "The laboratory in the Command Tower, in the center of the island?" "Actually," Fifebee said, "The laboratory was off-set slightly. You see, there is a connecting structure of some kind between the-" "And nobody's seen, oh, I don't know...rooms full of stasis pods around the Hub area? Or in the other towers?" "We have not," Valtaic confirmed. "Then where did they come from?" Fifebee accessed her memory. "There was an access tube," Fifebee said, "The stasis units likely came through there," "But from where," Valtaic mused, "As Sylvia has reminded us, we have found no stasis facilities in any of the island towers or in the areas surrounding the Transit Hub," "That we have access to," Fifebee pointed out. "We could return to the lab and follow the shaft to its source," Valtaic suggested, "It is easily large enough for your relay," "And we could use a rope or hover-boots for your solid form," Fifebee finished, "Indeed. It is an excellent plan. Let us-" "Hold on," Sylvia said. She had looked through a small door and into a storage space, possibly a janitor's closet, "Fifebee, do you see anything odd about this room?" Fifebee squinted, her behavioural subroutine interpreting the increased focus her program was giving the visual sensors on the holo-relay. "Inconclusive," she finally said, "The interference is too great," Valtaic moved forward and put his hands on the wall. There was a flash of energy and he was flung back, across the corridor and against the far wall. "I think we found what we're looking for," he said, matter-of-fact as he picked himself up off the floor," "Close eyes, Craigan," Yvonnokoff was saying gently, "Let mind wander. Vhat do you see?" "Um...it's black?" "In mind! Not vith eyes!" "I see...I see....nothing!" Yvonnokoff sighed. "Valtaic to Stafford," Stafford rose, then moved away from the group. "Report," "We have found a hidden passage," Valtaic said, "It was disguised by an energy field, identical to the one that hid the main body of the installation from the entrance hanger when we first arrived here. We are proceeding into the passage," "Be careful," Stafford said, "Report in every 15 minutes. Stafford out." Behind him, Wowryk gave out a surprised gasp. Stafford spun to see Craigan slumping in his seat. "What happened?" "He said 'It takes forever to walk through all these passageways', then passed out," Wowryk said. She was checking his vitals by hand. Only once she was convinced he was stable did she pull out her medical tricorder, bringing it as close to him as she could in an effort to get around the interference field. "Strange activity in the hippocampus," she said, "Fading rapidly, probably why I missed it before. It looks like..." "Chris, he's been mind-wiped!" she exclaimed. "Who vould do zat?" Yvonnokoff asked. "Probably whoever hid him here to begin with," Stafford said, "Doc, can you undo it?" "Not with the equipment at hand," Wowryk shook her head, "Maybe not even with access to a full medi-lab. The whole point of a mind-wipe is to get rid of information!" "It looks like it's bubbling back up to me!" Wowryk and Yvonnokoff watched as Craigan started to stir. "Maybe enough of it will, as you say, bubble up on its own," Wowryk mused, "But why wipe his mind if he was going to be frozen for centuries?" "Maybe Valtaic and Fifebee will find something," Stafford said, "Whoever did this to him is long gone, but if they've left anything behind, I bet it'll be in that hidden area," Valtaic led the way down the staircase they'd found. At least, for the first minute he did. "Here, sweetie," Sylvia said, pushing past him, "Why don't you let me keep en eye out? That way, if we trigger a booby-trap, you're less likely to be killed." Valtaic inclined his head. Despite Sylvia's many, many, MANY social irrelevancies, he had to admit that he approved of the manner in which she often put rational thinking to good use. Perhaps something to do with her being a computer program, which would also explain why he found Fifebee's company more pleasant than that of many of his other crewmates. Valtaic frowned. If his two favourite members of the crew were both machines, what did that say about him? In any event, now was not the time for such thoughts, he quickly realized. The stairway they were in spiralled downward in a tight arc. The combination of stone, brushed metal and fabric that had been used to pattern the walls in the upper levels had been replaced with metal panelling with inset lighting. Several gleaming components in the ceiling appeared to be observation lenses or sensor arrays, with no effort being made to hide their presence. They'd descended at least five levels by his count before the stairway opened into a metal-panelled, utilitarian corridor. They followed the corridor for a short distance, noting the series of sealed doors and side passages. "This appears to be similar to a maintenance passage, only bigger," Fifebee noted. Sylvia had approached a computer panel built into a sort of alcove off the main corridor. She started tapping at the buttons. "Access is very limited," she said, surprised, "But it's not completely locked. There are some maintenance logs, some power output reports. Very little. I don't believe it will help us." "What do the logs say?" Sylvia was about to reply when the terminal abruptly went blank. When it powered back on, it was displaying the same lockout message as the rest of Haven's computers. Valtiac's head spun around. "Does anybody else here that?" "A sort of droning hiss, followed by a series of atonal beeps?" Fifebee inquired, "Yes, however that's due to a minor malfunction in my auditory sub-routine. If you hear the same, you may want to consult Dr-" "No, I mean the series of metallic taps, almost like a series of metal feet," Valtaic said calmly. "Uh-oh," "And, of course, we only thought to bring one phaser," Sylvia shook her head as Valtaic pulled out his weapon. "The place is abandoned!" "Not quite!" Fifebee exclaimed. Down the corridor, several mechanisms had come into view. They each stood around Valtaic's height, with angular, ovoid bodies. Each moved on six spider-like legs. Their six arms were mounted on a ring-shaped track that circled their upper bodies, allowing them to rotate them around to whichever side required them. Their heads were shaped like capsules, with a pair of glowing red eyes and a vocal grill. Several sheets of thin metal, identical to the paneling on the walls, hung from their sides. "Head back to the stairway," Valtaic said firmly. One of the robots raised an arm in his direction. It's claw-like hand held a barrel-shaped device. A beam of red energy abruptly shot out, passing directly through Sylvia and narrowly missing the holo-relay. "Wielding beam," Sylvia said, "they're construction bots! Probably been here since Haven was built!" "But why are they still down here?" Fifebee wondered. "Let us debate that later," Valtaic said. He fired at one of the bots, disabling it. In unison, the rest brought around one of their extra arms, grasped pieces of sheet metal from their sides and held them up as makeshift shields. They came around the last turn between them and the stairway, only to find three more bots waiting for them. "Move the relay behind the bulkhead, NOW!" Valtaic baked. The instance they'd done so, he jumped towards the robots. They grabbed at him, each of them locking a steely claw onto the compact officer. Before they could do anything further, he pulsed his energy field as hard as he could. There was a shower of sparks as the robots jerked, calling out with a strange yet plaintive series of beeps and electronic tones before dropped to the floor. "Nicely done," Fifebee acknowledged. Unfortunately, the robots hadn't just been placed behind them for an ambush. They'd had a slightly different goal in mind: The doors leading to the stairway were now gone, wielded over by a series of metal sheets. "They've trapped us!" Sylvia exclaimed. "They must have sealed it up as soon as we moved out of sight!" Fifebee said. Valtaic thought quickly. "Haven was constructed in a repetitive pattern," he said, "There should be another stairway 60 degrees around," "Let's hope we can get there before another group welds that one up!" Wowryk and Stafford had stepped out into the corridor while Yvonnokoff continued talking to Craigan. Despite her earlier remarks, Wowryk was remaining civil. Stafford wasn't quite sure how to handle that particular situation, so instead he called up Valtaic and asked for a status report. "We are being chased by construction robots," Valtaic replied back tersely, "We are attempting to escape via an alternate stairwell. Could we speak of this in more detail at a later date?" "Um, sure. Let us know if you need help. Or a security team, or anything like that," Stafford said. "It would be foolish to risk trapping more people down here," Valtaic said, "We will attempt an alternate escape. If that fails, please have a team with cutting phasers standing by," "OK. Stafford out," Wowryk raised an eyebrow. "What? They're Starfleet officers and they're being chased by robots. Happens all the time!" Stafford said. He frowned. "Actually, it's about time something normal like this happened to us. Good for them!" "Why are there robots in Haven," Wowryk asked, "Any why are they behaving aggressively? It doesn't fit with the pattern we've come to expect from this place," "That's what happens when you start poking around in places that were supposed to be hidden," Stafford shook his head, "I wish Sylvia had stayed up here. Maybe she would have had some insight on this whole Craigan thing," Wowryk frowned. "Craigan wasn't hidden," she said. "Yes he was," Stafford shook his head, "Everything but the entrance hanger was hidden behind one of those holographic walls," "But it's like layers," Wowryk insisted, "The entrance hanger was open to the outside world. Then the next layer, the Transit Hub, the Command Complex, the transit station and Craigan. The next layer is whatever they've found underneath the Transit Hub. And beyond that, you have the computer lockouts. It's the same as the Matrian Rebellion, the way we've structured the leadership. Layers." Stafford frowned. She was on to something. And he had to admit, he'd been too busy dealing with Hektor, Anselia and the assorted issues of hiding the Matrian government to really think too much about the motives behind Haven. And yet here comes Wowryk, with just as much on her mind, ready to pick things apart. In his defence, sometimes all it takes is a new perspective. "You're saying that whoever setup the security here wanted us to find Craigan if we made it into the Command Tower," he said. "Yes," "But he's mind-wiped! He can't tell us anything!" "Maybe he's not supposed to," Wowryk mused. "Huh? What the hell does that mean!" "Chris, whoever hid Haven must have had a plan," Wowryk said, "They hid it for a reason, they hid access to certain areas for a reason, they must have left Craigan out for us to find for a reason. We just have to figure out what that reason is," "And hope it doesn't involve a messy, violent death," "I think Valtaic has that covered at the moment," Wowryk said. By Fifebee's estimation, they'd only managed to get about halfway to their goal when they found themselves confronted by another group of bots. Valtaic pulled out his phaser and immediately started firing. "This doesn't look good, sweetie!" Sylvia exclaimed. Valtaic ducked as one of the robots exploded. Another shot back with its construction wielder, burning a streak in the metal paneling behind his head. "More seem to be coming," he said, "I cannot hold them off! Nor can I get close enough to attempt another energy pulse!" "Maybe now would be a good time to take Chris up on his offer of a rescue team," Sylvia suggested. "Why don't you get on that," Fifebee said, shoving her holo-relay into a cross-corridor and gesturing for them to follow, "In the meantime, I suggest we run!" They ran, following a straight corridor that appeared to lead directly away from the center of the installation. Before long, they were forced to turn into another curved corridor running tangent to prevent the perusing bots from keeping them in their line of fire. Several of the corridor doors hissed open automatically as they passed by, revealing glimpses into offices, labs, storage rooms and more of what they'd found in the upper levels. Of course, since they were being chased by rampaging robots, they really didn't have time to check things out. "We should try to find a transit station," Valtaic said, "We cannot get the tram to access the lower tracks," "But maybe a tram from down here can access the upper tracks!" Fifebee finished. She processed information for a moment. "If we continue moving in a circle, we should cross the track eventually!" It wasn't the tracks or a transit station they found first. They'd managed to put a bit of distance between themselves and the robots. They continued moving quickly, but Valtaic holstered his phaser and Fifebee pulled out her tricorder. "Wait," she said suddenly, her gaze moving to a set of double doors set into the inner wall of the corridor, "Strange readings," "We really don't have time to explore," Valtiac said. "Unless our explorations yield an escape route," Valtaic considered. He then stepped towards the doors, which obediently swished open. "You will want to see this," he said. Fifebee and Sylvia crowded in. The space was easily the size of Silverado's main engineering compartment. A number of display panels adorned the walls, and several fairly standard control panels were visible in different locations. In the center of the room, however, a single Matrian control pulpit faced a large, pulsating crystal column. It almost looked like a collection of giant snowflakes, with bluish, crystalline spikes jutting out in all directions. Energy coursed through the crystals, crackling between the spines and arcing out towards three collection nodes before being challenged into a series of conduits that led into the bulkhead. "This is not a useful method of escape," Valtaic said, moving towards what he assumed was an exit in the far wall. "But...but...this looks like the source of Haven's interference field!" Fifebee exclaimed, "I need to take measurements! Analyze the crystal growth! Determine why the impact on our equipment isn't greater at the source!" "Angry robots on the way, dear," Sylvia said, patting her arm and pulling her away, "We can come back later!" "But...but...I want to do science!" Fifebee objected as she was pulled into another corridor. Craigan wasn't sure whether or not he was supposed to be scared at the moment. He'd been left alone with this strange human woman. Anselia and Hektor were off debating the political ramifications of the destruction of the Qu'Eh flagship, Jural and Laheya were plotting rebel schemes and Wowryk and Stafford had run off after receiving a call for help. "Where did Dr. Wowryk go?" he asked, "It sounded urgent," "Oh, some of our people are exploring ze lower levels," Yvonnokoff said, "Found zecret door, I zink. Anyvay, is no concern to us! Ve haff comfy office, you haff comfy couch, and ve are going to have a chat, jas?" "The lower levels. You mean underneath the Transit Hub?" he asked. Something about that was bothering him. No, more specifically, it was worrying him. "Ze hub, ze towers, ze island. Vhatever. Is not our problem," He tried latching onto the voice, hoping that it would go on. Something must have shown in his face. "You heard voice again, jas?" Yvonnokoff asked. "I...yes," Craigan shook his head, "It's like she's speaking right into my ear, only nobody's actually there. Sometimes my whole world starts spinning." "Zat is because sometimes you pass out, and fall on floor," Vonna said helpfully, "But ve haff given you medication zat should help. Or cause homicidal episode, ve are still unsure of Matrian bio-chemistry," Craigan sighed. How did he come to this? So much of what he remember was a bit hazy, but he could still recall it. He remembered his position in the Male Rebellion, working to spread the agenda of one of Matria Primes smaller regions. He remembered going up to Old Matronus on a mission to retrieve information from a contact close to the Council of Mistresses , a contact that had vital information on something the Council was planning. He remembered being captured, but after that everything was blank. He only remembered waking up in the Haven laboratory, surrounded by strange people. There'd been no sign of...of... Who? The voice was speaking up more and more often, it seemed. Like a scab that you didn't really notice until you started picking at it. Then it wouldn't go away. "Craigan, I vant to help you. It is vhat I do. Vhy don't you chust tell me what you are zinking. I can see it in eyes, you are zinking of zings very carefully," "I feel like I was expecting somebody to be there when I woke up," he said slowly, as Vonna jotted notes down on her padd, "Wait, that's not quite right. I was hoping for somebody to be there. But I was afraid I'd find..." He trailed off, his eyes widening. "Vhat vere you afraid of finding??" Vonna demanded. "All of you," Craigan said softly. "You expected us?" Yvonnokoff asked sceptically. "Yes. No. Not you specifically," he said, massaging his temples, "But I knew somebody was going to find us...me. But it might take a long time," "But why did you hide it?" Craigan grunted, frustrated. He ran his hands through his platinum-blond hair. "Hide vhat? My sandvhich? Because vhen you passed out last, you squished my ozer vun," "No! Not you! Her!" "Her? Voice in head is female? Interesting!" "I wish I could remember what she was telling me!" he said, exasperated. Yvonnokoff thought for a moment. "I haff suggestion!" Stafford stood at the bottom of the secret staircase Valtaic, Fifebee and Sylvia had unlocked. The entire janitor's closet had been a hologram. Once deactivated, the stairway was hidden only by a nondescript door. Lieutenant Sage and Lieutenant Day were cutting through the metal panels the construction robots had welded over the door leading into the corridor, while Lieutenant Bith and the Beta-shift security officers waited with weapons drawn. "I really wish the Hazardous Team was here right about now," Sage said over the sizzle of the cutting beam, "Any word on them yet?" "No," Stafford said, "Orbital sensors picked up a small vessel leaving right before the Qu'Eh flagship blew up. They'll probably show up on our doorstep after they've had a chance to ditch the Qu'Eh hardware and hook up with a rebel cell." At least, he sure hoped they would. "Stafford to Valtaic," he tapped his comm-badge, "How's it going?" "We have located the source of Haven's interference field, and have located what appears to be a top-secret Laundromat," Valtaic reported, "The pursuing robots appear to have slowed. Fifebee believes they may be concentrating on guarding the inner areas, and are less concerned the further the intruders are from the core of the facility," "Interesting thought," Stafford mused, just as Sage and Day finished the cut. A two- meter square chunk of plating clattered to the floor. Wait a minute... "Uh-uh," Stafford muttered. At least thirty mechanical bots armed with wielding beams were crammed into the corridor, all of them aiming weapons directly at the newly cut hole. "Baaaad timing," Sage groaned. Realizing they were standing directly between a heavily armed security team and a small robotic army, Stafford, Sage and Day slowly and carefully moved back up the stairs. "Craigan, zis is Lieutenant Commander Sevkor," Yvonnokoff said "Hello," Craigain said nervously, eyeing Sevkor's pointed ears, bowl-shaped haircut and angled eyebrows.