The calming hum of the Enterprise's engines were ever present and calming to the patrons of Ten Forward. It was enough at times to put one in a trance. Deanna Troi was in one of these trances, but gave a startled jump as a hand brushed against her.

"Will, is that you?" she said, annoyed that her attention had been diverted from the bowl of chocolate ice cream she had been nursing for the past hour. What could possibly be more important than her fudge sundae?

Will Riker gave a hearty laugh as he pulled up a chair next to her.

"Aren't you going to join us in the transporter room? It is almost time for us to see the new arrivals."

"I thought there were only new civilian passengers coming aboard."

"There's someone there that I want you to meet." Will grinned as he stood up, and before leaving the crowded room, turned back and looked at his former love for her approval. Deanna rolled her eyes and sighed as she signaled for Guinan to take her bowl away.

The doors to the transporter room swished open as the two officers approach, revealing Chief O'Brien standing ready for the order. Riker gave the command, signaling him to beam aboard the five passengers from the adjacent ship. Deanna perked her head up to concentrate more on the life forms coming in. As the streams of light and energy materialized into living beings, she could already sense their emotions. There was curiosity, fear, uneasiness - all very normal in this situation. Aside from the five strangers, there lay a mountain of luggage, far more than one would expect for the group.

"I'll call for someone to take these to your quarters." The transporter chief assured them as he typed the command into the console.

Standing before them were four men and one woman. The female had long, straight, brown hair, which was as vibrant and full of volume as her lips. They were touched with the crimson red of a terran lipstick. Her eyes reflected a very cautious light. Troi could tell she felt very uneasy, and she clung to the arm of the oldest man in the group. The man had deep lines running up and down his face, obviously a sign of aging. His eyes were obscured by a pair of vaguely antique sunglasses, and his lips appeared to be permanently pursed, as if he were tasting something mildly sour. Riker thought this was perhaps her father, but the way she held onto him reminded him more of a desperate lover, clutching his sleeve like her life depended on it. Both he and Troi thought something was awry here. Riker was the first to initiate greetings between the arrivals.

"Welcome aboard the USS Enterprise. I am first officer William Riker and this is Counselor Deanna Troi. It is a pleasure of mine to oversee your arrival here and someone will be here shortly to escort you to your quarters."

Two of the other men in the group, in their early twenties perhaps, were obviously a couple, their hands interlocked from the second they had transported. The woman, however, was the one Riker wanted to introduce.

"Deanna, I would like you to meet a friend of mine I met on Risa. This is La-"

"The name is Elizabeth Grant." Her voice trembled slightly. "But my friends call me Lana."

Troi gave Will a look of faux-politeness and confusion at this. He merely smiled, and before anything could escalate into something more awkward, the attendants arrived to carry the arrivals luggage. The taller of the two men's eyes widened at the amount of bags they had brought in.

"May I ask which ones are marked for whom...?

The older man Lana had been clinging to spoke at last. "The ones for our room are marked with LDR. The majority of it is stage equipment for the show." The attendant nodded and began his work as the second man escorted the couple to their quarters and O'Brien called for more people to assist in the moving.

After another rather awkward moment the older man introduced himself.

"My name is Mark. I am an artist. That's really all you need to know about me." His voice was rough and grim and Troi could sense that he was hiding something. "I'm far more interested in this fine ship of yours. Would one of you mind taking Lana and I around?"

"Commander Riker has to return to the bridge." Deanna notified them, "But I'll be happy to show you to Ten Forward." She smiled and gestured Riker to leave as the three of them departed.

In darkly illuminated Ten Forward, Mark was busy examining the room for their stage set up, leaving Lana and Troi alone at the bar, where she was finally reunited with her chocolate. Before she could become to entranced by the dessert, Lana struck up a conversation."

"So, you're the ship's counselor?"

"Yes, I've worked here on the Enterprise for five years now. We're all like family here." She paused as she finished contemplated the space around them and the younger woman's emotional state. This was a great advantage that empaths had when meeting new people. "Will told me that he met you on Risa. Were you working as a singer there?"

"I was - that is where I met Mark." There was a tinge of sadness as she said the man's name. He now looked to Deanna to be about twenty years older than the chanteuse. "I spent seven years trying to make it big. At some point I just accepted the fact that something that good could never happen to me. I became complacent with not succeeding. That was wrong of me, and Mark helped me with that. For him I will be forever grateful to whatever sort of God is out there."

She stared out into the abyss of space through the window, where Mark was silhouetted. Lana signaled for the bartender to come and serve her, and Guinan approached her.

"You're a new face."A

"I'll have a whiskey. If you have something other than synthehol, that is."

"I don't serve my real liquor to strangers." She outstretched her hand.

"My name is Guinan."

"I'm Lana Del Rey."

"See, now we aren't strangers." She grinned as she pulled out a drawer underneath the counter.

"Lana Del Rey? It's a stage name, isn't it?" Inquired Troi.

"Yeah, but sometimes I feel more connected to it than my real name. I've always been an unusual girl. I was called so many things on Risa, but Earth is my home."

"Here you are." Guinan said as she set down her Whisky. "It was nice meeting you."

"Thanks." She replied, brushing a stray strand of hair out of her field of vision.

It was that time of night usually reserved for broken hearts and those desperately trying to get drunk off of synthehol specifically designed to do nothing of the sort. But tonight, Lana and Guinan were the last two left in Ten Forward. The singer had been hesitant to go and join Mark in their quarters, opting to enjoy the atmosphere of the enterprise local with its eldest bartender.

"So, why did you choose this old ship to hitch a ride on?"

"My mother always said I had a chameleon soul. No moral compass pointing due north, nothing to guide me like everyone else. I finally found my freedom in the open road, but even then, that wasn't enough. I looked beyond the earth. I found myself in a godless place - Risa. The land of evil and sin. I sold myself out to so many men, and I eventually found myself in the bed of your first officer. I knew I was one of many, but I didn't mind."

Guinan looked a bit taken aback by Lana's frankness, but not entirely surprised.

"I had been used by so many people, abused even, but he was so kind to me. He didn't promise to take me back with him, like the others. Something about how genuine it all sounded at the time was very attractive. He talked fondly of this ship, so much so that I wanted to come and live that life with him. And now, almost three years later, I finally get to, but this time it's on my terms." Lana finished as she wiped a tear out of the corner of her eye. "Thank you, Guinan."

"That's no problem, Lana. If you ever need anyone to talk to, you can't do much better than me."

"I guess I'll be seeing you tomorrow, then. My first show and all..."

"I wish you luck. I'm sure they'll love you."

Lana gave a drunken wave as she departed, leaving the El-Aurian alone in the lounge, bringing a cup of hot tea to her lips, to contemplate the night.

The lights of the corridors were dimmed, as it was after midnight, but Lana could find her way to her quarters through the help of the computer. The door to the room was unlocked, and she reasoned that Mark would be awake inside, so she was surprised to see that he was in bed, with the lights off. She felt around on the wall for the control panel and turned up the lighting slightly. Mark rolled over, revealing he had been waiting for her.

"I can smell the liquor on your breath all the way over here."

She giggled absentmindedly and collapsed down on the bed.

"I swear to god you make me crazy sometimes."

She rolled over and pulled a cigarette out of her jacket pocket.

"I wouldn't try that if I were you - that damn computer picks up on the smoke and then it goes on and on with some rant about how I'm killing myself. I don't know if I can get used to these Starfleet types."

"Well, we're going to have to, Mark." She yawned, curling up next to him. "It's about time we get to sleep, before you know it, it'll be show time."

"Computer, turn off the lights." A compliant beeping noise followed, and it was done.

However, there still was nothing to be done about the incessant humming of the engines.

Lana felt a cold wash of water come across her face as the early mornings hours arrived. She was slightly hung-over, and pushed aside a mug of coffee as the washed her delicate facial features in the cold metal basin. After a quick sonic shower, Mark stood in the doorway, staring hypnotically into the mirror as she put on her makeup. He grinned slightly as she mockingly began humming "Video Games".

He wrapped his hands around her as the humming turned into singing.

It's you, It's you, It's all for you, everything I do. I tell you all the time

The pair of them nearly fell on the floor laughing, but Lana composed herself.

"I really do hope they like me out there. I don't want things to be the same as they were before."

"That's not going to happen again, you hear me? I told you many times that I'm not going to let anyone take advantage of you anymore, and that includes anyone on this damn ship."

"M'kay." She muttered, a smile returning to her face.

"You look so beautiful when you smile. You should try doing it on stage more often."

"You must be forgetting how pretty I am when I cry..."

When Lana strutted into Ten Forward, she donned vintage Chanel, invoking a hazy picture of 1960's Americana. It was a look she did not expect many people here to be familiar with, but she hoped it would be striking and bold enough a statement to engrave her into their memories. A small hush came over the room, several crew members stared intently at her. Lana ignored their gazes and made her way over to the bar. Guinan nodded as her way of acknowledging her being there, and went off to take someone else's order. Moments later the giant wood plated doors opened to reveal Troi and Lt. Barclay walk into the lounge.

"Lana, it's good to see you again." Smiled Troi.

"Hi, Deanna."

"I would like you to meet Reginald Barclay. Reg, this is Lana."

"Um...it's nice to meet you." Mumbled Barclay nervously.

"Yeah. It's my pleasure." She responded coolly. She was obviously now completely enveloped into her persona - the famed gangster Nancy Sinatra she was born to portray. Deanna took note at this and motioned to the lieutenant.

"Maybe we should go take a seat. We look forward to the show." Reginald looked slightly confused and perhaps a little upset about this, not understanding that this had not been another one of his social mishaps, but perhaps something much deeper.

Lana took a deep breath as she walked up to the microphone that was waiting for her on the only slightly elevated stage. She was situated about ten feet away from the nearest audience members. Deanna and Reg sat down in the front row just as Mark came through the grand doors. She began the mic-check nonchalantly. It was almost like none of them were actually there for that brief moment in time. Everyone in attendance who was not engulfed in their work or simply not interested became silenced as she began muttering lyrics before her backing track came in.

Elvis is my daddy, Marilyn's my mother,

Jesus is my bestest friend.

We don't need nobody 'cause we got each other,

Or at least I pretend.

She broke suddenly, as if at the last moment changing songs, and the sound of her voice humming erupted from the speakers, and she began again with another tune.

I've been out on that open road

You can be my full time daddy,

White and gold

Singing blues has been getting old

You can be my full time baby,

Hot or cold

Her eyes drifted to Mark as her voice cracked slightly, who pretended not to notice this.

Don't break me down

I've been travelin' too long

I've been trying too hard

With one pretty song

Her head swung back momentarily as she brushed her hair out of her eyes. She belted out the chorus in a newfound falsetto.

I hear the birds on the summer breeze,

I drive fast, I am alone in the night

Been tryin' hard not to get into trouble,

but I, I've got a war in my mind

So, I just ride, just ride,

I just ride, just ride

Every eye in the room was now fixated on the chanteuse as she strengthened herself after nearly falling over from the weight of all that was happening.

I'm tired of feeling like I'm fucking crazy

I'm tired of driving 'til I see stars in my eyes

It's all I've got to keep myself sane, baby

So I just ride, I just ride

After effortlessly making her way through the final chorus, the crowd erupted into a thunderous applause, which was quite impressive for about thirty people.

"Thank you, thank you all so much. My name is Lana Del Rey, and I'm your singer this evening." She announced to those unaware as she took a swig of water from a bottle situated just below her microphone. "For this number, I'll be needing a bit of assistance."

This was Mark's cue to come to the stage. He swaggered over to the piano located in the back with an energy usually reserved for those far younger than he.

He began with the opening piano chords to the track, and Lana twirled around, waiting for her cue. When she did, all eyes were back on her.

He used to call me DN

That stood for deadly nightshade

Cause I was filled with poison

But blessed with beauty and rage

Her voice was much lower now, and the instrumentation far more acoustic. Instead of the pre-recorded orchestral accompaniment, there was just Lana's voice and the piano.

Jim told me that

He hit me and it felt like a kiss

Jim brought me back

Reminded me of when we were kids

At this point, the backing track kicked in, and so did a part of Lana's soul she long thought no longer existed. The memories came flooding back. She may have been on the Enterprise, but her mind and her soul had their feet firmly planted in Brooklyn.

This is ultraviolence

Ultraviolence

Ultraviolence

Ultraviolence

I can hear sirens, sirens

He hit me and it felt like a kiss

I can hear violins, violins

Give me all of that ultraviolence

After a few more minutes, the song concluded, followed by more applause, and Lana abruptly leaving the stage. Mark could see but a single tear streak down her cheek as he approached the microphone and told the audience she would return later in the evening for an encore.

She ran down the hallway and into the nearest lift she could find.

"Take me to my quarters." She ordered the computer. Again, the compliant beeping sound.

The lift stopped only a deck up, and let in Commander Data, who was holding a tricorder. Lana had tears streaming down her face at this point, and was embarrassed at having been caught like this. Data was concerned.

"Ma'am, may I enquire as to what is wrong?" He asked in his distinctive way only an android would dare ask in this situation.

"No," She refused the offer, but cleared her eyes and realized who she was talking to.

"Wait, you are the android?"

"Yes, you could say that I am the android. I am Lt. Cmdr. Data. I am not sure that I recognize you however. I assume that you one of the five new passengers that we acquired yesterday."

"Yeah, I am. I'm sorry that you had to see me like that. It's been a really rough week for me...you know, it's really been a rough year, or past five you could say. Now that I think about it I've always been kind of miserable."

"If you do not mind me suggesting this, Counselor Troi's office is open if you would like to speak with her."

"I know... I've had the pleasure of meeting her in Ten Forward." She remarked somewhat sarcastically. So far she was getting along with this artificial person better than most of the real people on the ship.

The doors to the lift opened at Lana's point of destination and she exited, waving half genuinely to the android she left behind.