The Cryger are a fearsome race, with armoured ships that have cloaking devices that even the best technology wouldn't be able to pick up. It is said that their females are very similar to mythical creatures from earth called sirens. They use their enchanting singing and breathtaking beauty to lure me their deaths. And their males; Oh, their males are something to be feared. They are the best in any battle. And not because of their talent. Oh no! It is because they are the best cheaters. They fight to the death and have no honour. As long as they remain alive. There was one time…..

"Neelix, I think that's enough for now" Harry Kim intruded. Neelix looked up at the Ensign, who held a coffee in one hand and a bowl of chicken noodle soup in the other. He then looked back at the person across the table to him. Naomi Wildman's face was pale, her mouth agape and her eyes were huge.

"Oh, uh, yes." He stuttered a the young girl. She was never scared of his stories, but perhaps this story was going a little too far. "I think you've heard enough for one night."
"NO!" Cried Naomi, snapping out of it. "Go on Neelix, Im brave" Neelix smiled.

"Now now, your mother gets off her shift in a minute and wouldn't it be nice if you were in your quarters waiting for her when she got there?" he said. The girl thought about it for a second then nodded. She hugged her godfather goodbye, shot a beaming smile at the tall Ensign and skipped out of the mess hall.

"Now, isn't she growing up fast" Neelix murmured to Harry, who sat in the newly vacated seat.

"She wouldn't HAVE to grow up so quickly if you stopped telling her such frightening bedtime stories" replied Harry. He took a large mouthful of the soup and let the flavours sink in before swallowing to continue. "But I am older, and I am curious. Are the stories true?"

"I have no idea, Mr. Kim" came the answer "I have never come across one in my travels, but know of many people I have done trades with who claim to see these people. Of course we call them all sorts of names…" he paused when he was the curious expression on Harry's face, "none of which I ever said or know" he added quickly. Harry smirked and took another gulp of his soup.

Neelix watch him eat as he gathered his thoughts. After a long while he spoke up again. "though come to mention it…only female's ever talk about the female Cryger, which would fit if all the men were killed by them. And I remember one of the women telling me about them who used to have a husband. But she said it was a terrible mining accident. Though come to mention it….." his words trailed off and the verbal gibbering dissolved once more into thoughts.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXX

"Harry, my dear friend, you are too gullible. You mean you're CHOOSING to listen to Neelix's disturbing children stories?" Laughed Tom Paris, on their way to their duty shift on the bridge. "Please don't tell me you're truly believing those stories?"

"I never said I believed them, I asked if you had heard of them" corrected Kim, who walked with his head down. They reached the turbolift and they both walked in. "Deck one"

"Oh Harry" Kim heard his best friend say, and he fought the urge to roll his eyes. "you can't listen to everything Neelix says. Honestly, I think we left the part of space Neelix knows all about ages ago"

The turbo doors opened to reveal the bridge of the intrepid class starship. He saw the familiar sights around him. He saw the back of the Captain's head, her hair curled into her usual bob. He saw Chakotay leaning over between the gap in the chairs to mutter something to her. It was obviously something amusing, because Janeway threw head back and laughed heartily. The two men walked out the lift and walked to their respective stations. Paris walked and relieved the exhausted Lieutenant at the conn. After a few moments worth of handover over ship handling, the woman excused herself and walked off the bridge.

For many hours there was sporadic chit chat, someone occasionally asking to tactical advice, or informing the appropriate people of developments. However, other than that, it was a pretty quiet shift. When Paris was relieved at 2200hours, the Captain had just retired to her ready room and Tuvok passed him, about to begin his shift. He nodded his head respectfully just as the doors closed.