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The runabout Rio Grande was flying through space at warp, passing by all sorts of stars that looked like little specs in the vast amount of space that seemed to reach out with no end at sight. True enough the Milky Way Galaxy did have an end point as the next galaxy would start, but it seemed large with no stopping for all the different species that lived in the galaxy, both big and small.

Chief of operations log, stardate four-nine-six-six-zero point two, after attending a summit of some of the most interesting engineers in the Federation and non Federation worlds alike that gathered together to talk about everything from warp theory to the future of space travel, I'm returning home to DS9 and ready to get back after having a little down time. I do have to say that seeing several people I used to work with on various starships, including Geordi LaForge, my former commanding officer who was the chief engineer for the Enterprise D, was a delight since I got to catch up with all of them, including the good news there's a new Enterprise that is about to launch with the command staff of the Enterprise D returning sans Worf.

Miles was in uniform and was sitting at the ops station. He had his feet on the control panel while nursing some coffee.

"Computer, play something that's peaceful, a relaxing symphony," O'Brien ordered as he was comfortable in his chair.

The computer did as it was requested to and it started to play something "peaceful" as what Miles had instructed it to do.

"Ah", O'Brien said as he was at peace right now. He closed his eyes a little and let the runabout continue its course to the station. He didn't have to worry about anyone causing any disruptions during his journey back. He didn't have to worry about the Klingons since they weren't anywhere near where O'Brien was at currently, nor did he have to worry about the Maquis, the Cardassians, or anyone else. Again, this part of space was peaceful and had no signs of attacks from various ships.

As O'Brien drank a sip of his coffee, he heard a beeping noise coming from his console. He rolled his eyes, removed his feet from the console, straightened up, and put his cup nearby.

"What now?" The man grumbled. He hoped the problem was just a spec of dust out in space and nothing else.

As O'Brien was looking at the readings coming from the console, he raised an eyebrow. "This is odd."

As the curly haired engineer tapped a few buttons on the console, he tried to figure out was going on. Suddenly, without warning, the runabout jolted. The red alert claxon fired up, and shields came on. The Rio Grande was no longer at warp but dead in space.

"To hell is going on here?" O'Brien's voice was shown with irritation.

Suddenly the runabout jolted again sending Miles falling to the ground. The cup holding his coffee fell and spilled all over the carpet. Miles didn't have time to react to the spilling of his drink as he got back to his seat and sat down. His hands were sliding up and down the control panel of the ops station. His fingers were dancing and pushing various buttons on the control panel trying to figure out what was going on out in space.

"Warning, aperture opening off the starboard of the ship," the computer warned.

There was a bright light that O'Brien saw on the side. A hole in space, O'Brien thought. I wonder where it leads to?

As Miles continued to work the control panel trying to get the engines to come back on, the Rio Grande jolted again and sent him forward and this time hitting the control panel with his head. He slid unconscious as the runabout was being pulled to the aperture.

"Warning, runabout on course with aperture," the computer warned. But Miles couldn't do anything as he was lying in his chair with his eyes closed.

The Rio Grande continued to drift close, and closer, and closer to the hole in space before being sucked in. The runabout disappeared and as quickly as the tear in space materialized, it dematerialized several moments later.