I do not own the characters.

It was midmorning; Admiral Helena Cain, Captain Kathryn Janeway, and Lt. B'Elanna Torres were leading a company on the outskirts of a city. They were passing a bridge, when suddenly a laser shot blasted a concrete column just above B'Elanna's head. The unknown assailant fired again. Cain, Janeway, and B'Elanna and the company crouched down. B'Elanna fired back. Several more shots come from more assailants.

The assailants showed themselves and marched toward them. B'Elanna waited before she had her sights squarely on the torso and then fired. The assailant blew up and metal parts scattered. Cain and Janeway fired at the remaining assailants and destroyed them in a similar fashion. B'Elanna went ahead and kicked a metal head from one of the assailants.

Later that day as they entered the city streets, they could see the smoke from the opposite end of the city. An out of control fire was burning at the city's perimeter.

"Spread out," commanded Cain as they walked the city streets.

Civilians were running everywhere and away as Cain lead her party into the city. At the rear, the party was lead by Lt. Tom Paris with Ensign Harry Kim. Neelix was part of that team. Lt. Seska lead the middle accompanied by Guinan. All had their weapons out and were vigilant.

Across the street, something caught Tom's eye, it was an attractive, young woman who was passing him in the opposite direction. Instinctively he smiled. Tom thought she was a lovely dream. When the woman stopped and smiled back, he sighed. She had such a friendly face and she wore a tight, barely-there, wispy red dress; she was gorgeous. Tom decided he wanted to talk to her and go from there.

"Oh Harry look," smiled Tom, as he motioned to the woman in red. "Isn't she hot?"

Harry sighed.

Tom figured he had nothing to lose; he was tired of putting up with the uptight women of Voyager. This vision was practically beckoning him with those eyes, it was so refreshing and now he was hard.

"Harry lets have some fun," whispered Tom. "Look, I'll go first and introduce myself, and then you can go."

"Tom, I don't think this is a good idea," murmured Harry.

"Harry, I haven't had any action lately," grinned Tom. "Maybe she has a twin sister."

Harry hesitated.

"Between the two of us, it shouldn't take any longer than 15 minutes, tops. Come on, what do you say?"

"In case you've forgotten, we're suppose to lead the rear guard. Besides, what if someone sees you?"

Tom was exhausted from walking and he wanted to stop. He hadn't slept for almost 24 hrs and this was the best thing he had seen in a while. Tom wasn't about to pass up a golden opportunity.

"Relax, Harry, no one will. You just keep watch and watch the rear."

"Neelix, come here for a moment," called Tom. "I'm putting you in charge of the rear guard temporarily; just follow the main party."

"I gotta take care of some business," winked Tom as he softly patted his bulge.

"Oh my! Mr. Paris, contain yourself," said Neelix as he started to blush the color of an Chinese eggplant.

"You're such a dog," said Harry, as he shook his head.

"And I thought you liked dogs," said Tom as he strode off towards the alley. "I'll see you in a bit, Harry." Tom could hardly wait to fu#k her; he was so painfully hard.

Harry didn't know what to do. He didn't feel right to leave the rear guard but at the same time he didn't want anything to happen to his friend. Why did Tom have to be such a pr!ck? He was always off chasing women and sometimes at the expense of his duties. He wished Tom could be more responsible. Harry shook his head in dismay and gave Tom some space as he looked away.

"Harry," shrieked Tom. "Help! Harry, help me."

Harry ignored Tom at first thinking he was taunting him.

"Help! Harry ! Someone help me!"

Harry panicked and ran to his friend. The woman in red was straddled over Tom, punching him in the face. The woman was stronger than Tom. Suddenly, another identical woman in red came around the corner and was walking towards Harry. Harry tried to talk and reason with the woman. He started to back away as she came closer. She slapped Harry hard and he fell.

* *

"Admiral Cain, we need help," cried Neelix urgently. "Mr. Paris and Mr. Kim, they're in trouble. And we're under attack." Cain could hear the skirmish in the background.

Cain looked at B'Elanna. "Lt. Torres handle this."

"Seska, and you four guards come back with me," commanded B'Elanna.

When B'Elanna arrived, the skirmish was escalating. Neelix had the rear guard at one of the corner streets but the alley where Tom and Harry had entered was blocked. B'Elanna had fought those same assailants earlier that day. She cursed under her breath at those mechanical robots.

Between her team and Neelix they finally annihilated the robots. They quickly entered the alley and found Tom and Harry were still fighting with the two women. The one on top of Tom had a gun pointed at him.

"Computer stop program," said Cain as she entered the alley. She went up to Tom.

"You're dead, you're excused from the exercise," said Cain without any emotion.

She glanced at her watch; it had been a long training day. Cain could hardly wait when it was over, she longed for some sleep. She had been training the entire crew and this was the last set.

"Ensign Kim, what happened here?"

"Admiral, I can explain," said Tom. "And can you please remove this woman."

"Mr. Paris you're dead, don't interrupt me."

"Sir, Tom and I decided to take a small break and then suddenly we were attacked."

"Computer, remove the woman from Lt. Paris."

Tom was free of the woman however, he realized he was revealing too much. He quickly zipped up his pants. A few snickers buzzed about the crowd. Lt. Seska whispered something to Lt. Torres and she rolled her eyes.

"That's enough," admonished Cain as she glared back at the crowd.

"Ensign Kim, you have a dead colleague next to you. It's you and this woman. What are you going to do now?" Cain asked rhetorically.

Harry understood and nodded; it meant the field exercise was to continue.

"Computer resume program."

Harry struggled with the woman. The woman had her hands on his neck and started to choke him. He wondered was this woman a Cylon that Cain had spoken of; however Cain never did describ. Though, Harry had never had seen one before. He wasn't sure if she was or wasn't. To him, she was too attractive to be a Cylon. He didn't realize he almost passed out. At the last moment, Harry reached for his gun and held it toward her but did not do anything. He let the gun drop.

Harry struggled with the woman. The woman had her hands on his neck and started to choke him. Though, Cain had briefed the crew of Cylons, she did not described them for the purpose of the exercise. Harry wondered if the woman in red was but he wasn't; however Cain never did describ. Though, Harry had never had seen one before. He wasn't 100 percent sure if she was or wasn't. To him, she was too attractive to be a Cylon. He didn't realize he almost passed out. At the last moment, Harry reached for his gun and held it toward her but did not do anything. He let the gun drop.

"Computer end program," said Cain as she looked flustered. "Remove the woman arms from Ensign Kim's throat."

Cain was about to lash out and say 'this woman is choking you and you did nothing' but she held her tongue. This was a training exercise and Harry was under Captain Janeway command not hers.

"Mr. Kim you're dead, you're excused from the exercise."

"I can't believe how real they look," blurted Neelix as he peered closely at the woman in red.

"Say that again, Neelix," said Cain.

"Admiral Cain, if I may say, this exquisite looking woman … this vision in red is dazzling."

"Yes they are, they're eye candy and that's how they get at you. This happens to be model #6. She and variants killed over 800 over my crewmembers. Don't be fool by this Cylon skin-job, she's no different than her mechanical brother; they're both deadly."

"Lt. Torres you're the OIC now. It's up to you if you want to continue; if so I will brief you on the next exercise."

Cain was leading this training exercise; she was the military instructor while Janeway was an observer. Chokotay and Tuvok were also observers but on the sidelines in the holodeck.

"Admiral, I accept."

Harry got up and dusted himself off while he looked about. On the other side of the street next to a bench, B'Elanna and Seska, and other crewmembers were attending a briefing. He couldn't believe how he failed miserably. It was one thing to be dead by being killed in a firefight but he was dead for a stupid reason. Harry looked down dejected.

He broke out in a cold sweat, feeling that familiar helplessness wash over him. It was the same sensation he experienced when the Caretaker abducted him. Harry remembered sitting on the edge of hospital bed in a smock with his feet dangling in the white sterile room. He sat there watching B'Elanna. Then she woke and jumped out her bed, pounding her fists at the metal door trying to open it. She was screaming and he was sitting.

A shadow came up next to him and he looked up; it was Guinan.

"Hi, Harry."

"Guinan, you dead too?"

She nodded yes.

"I am sorry I got you and part of the team dead, it was a stupid mistake," lamented Harry.

He looked across the street; he could see the group being briefed by Cain.

"I really wanted to finish all the exercises," continued Harry.

"Why don't you go over there and ask if you can?"

"But, I'm dead, Admiral Cain won't let me."

"How do you know?"

"She really looked disappointed; I think I let her down."

"Harry, has it occurred to you that she may not be disappointed at you but maybe how the exercise is going. She's responsible for the exercise for the entire ship; she's under enormous pressure. If you want back in, ask her."

* *

Harry crossed the street just as B'Elanna had sent her officers to be ready for the next exercise. She was talking to Cain while a reviewing a map.

"Admiral Cain, if you please, I would like to speak to you," said Harry as he stood at attention.

"Go ahead," said Cain as she finally looked up.

After five minutes of explanations, Harry concluded by stating, "Based on those circumstances, I would like to participate in this exercise."

Cain looked at Harry intently.

"Mr. Kim for the past several minutes I've heard nothing but excuses. Because I am Ensign I did this, because this is my first mission I did that, Tom told me to do this, Neelix was responsible for that and so forth. While Neelix may have the initiative, he's not an officer; he's a civilian. It was inappropriate to ask him when you had several NCOs under your command that could have done the task. Ensign Kim you left your post to engage in a frak-fest and now you have 15 individuals that are dead."

Harry bit his lip; he miscalculated. He thought his explanations were reasonable. If he had a similar discussion with Janeway; she would probably let him off the hook, lightly. Then he remembered what Guinan had also said. Cain was tough but don't give up, stick to your guns. Harry also realized that Cain didn't put up with bullchit either.

"Sir, I made a mistake and I am responsible for what happened. You are correct; I should have stayed at my post. I know I can contribute and I will follow orders. Please give me a second chance. I'm ready to kick some Cylon ass."

"I leave that decision to Lt. Torres. She's the CO for this exercise."