Disclaimer: I own nothing! all rights belong to their respectable owners.

This story comes right after 1x07 (SOS) of The Last Ship and after season 3 of TVD. Elena has been a vampire for a while and is with Stefan. Because of the virus, Jeremy and Matt are dead. Bonnie is still a witch. Tyler left Mystic Falls with Hayley (Hayley is not pregnant.) Klaus, Rebekah, and Elijah are living in New Orleans. Davina is alive, but Tim is not. Katherine does not yet know about Nadia.

I think that's it for a backstory…so enjoy! don't forget to comment/review for faster writing on my part!

Chapter 1

Somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean

Dr. Rachel Scott paced in her lab. She only had two more monkeys left and she did not know if this last test for the cure would work. She hated knowing she would have to ask Captain Chandler to get more monkeys, since last time things went so horribly wrong. Whenever she looked at XO Slattery's face, the cut on his right cheek seemed to mock her—showing one more cut into the human race the virus caused that she could not fix.

She desperately wanted to call Quincy to help her, but she was still weary of how much he would actually help her, or if he would try to infect the ship again. Tex had reassured her that she knew what she was doing, and that she could figure it out, but she had her doubts.

Deciding that she needed some air, Rachel nodded to the guard by the lab and headed to the flight deck. As she walked in the hall, an alarm sounded and the hallway was suddenly filled with chaos. People were running towards her. She moved to the side to see that people were running away from what seemed like a sort of standoff in the middle of a hallway. XO Slattery, Captain Chandler, Master Chief, and Lt. Danny Green had their guns drawn facing all in one direction at a black mass. Amongst the confusion, Rachel could only see that this person was wearing black boots with five inch heels? She was completely confused. such shoes were not regulation…in fact they looked like a Prada pair she had hesitantly bought from a trip to Paris.

As she approached, she recognized the voice of the unnamed woman sporting designer shoes. Rachel's eyes became large as the woman said in a velvet voice dripping in sarcasm, "God you boys are hot. Hmm…if we can all come to an agreement I'd love to have you," then to Captain Chandler and XO Slattery, "I'd LOVE to have a threesome with you two."

Standing behind Danny, Rachel said in an exasperated, stunned voice, "Katherine." Everyone turned their heads to Rachel, somewhat lowering their weapons. Rachel gasped as she saw Katherine Pierce with her fangs out and blood on her chin, supporting an unconscious Tex, whose neck was bleeding terribly fast. Katherine's expression turned from a smirk to a genuine smile, as she said, "What gave me away? Was it the shoes? Or my fabulous hair?," then seeing Rachel's confused, shocked expression, she sighed saying, "It's been a long summer, Rachel."

Katherine dropped Tex to the floor and stepped over his body to approach Rachel, but was blocked by Master Chief. Scared of what Katherine would do if she didn't get to speak to her, she told Master Chief, "It's okay. Please just let me speak to her." Master Chief wearily nodded and lowered his weapon. Everyone else did the same. Master chief and Danny ran to check on Tex, while Slattery and Chandler remained ready watching Katherine attentively.

For the first time, Rachel was finally able to get a full view of Katherine. Her slight frame was adorned with all black—her leather jacket, her plunging neckline top, her belt…except for her hair. The normally dark curls were spiraticly replaced with strands of white and grey. Noticing the direction of Rachel's focus, Katherine's face suddenly became sad as she said, "Rachel I need your help. I'm desperate."