A/N: Angel897-Thanks so much for your faithful reviews! I love signing on and seeing them! :-)

Zinor's three moons appeared in a dark blue sky, presiding over the sand and the stones and the wind-beaten ruins. Carmen's eyes wandered across the stars as she leaned against a rough-hewn wall. The wall had once been part of a dwelling, but its roof had caved in long ago, affording her a grandiose view of night's arrival.

She sighed deeply, trying to clear her mind. At first, she had been grateful for the chance to be a wayfaring explorer, to go on a peaceful mission. But she was a warrior without a war, and now she had no idea what to do. It made her feel useless, unnecessary, unneeded. And alone.

Carmen envisioned the commander and felt a sudden a pang of loneliness. She knew that when he assigned her to be part of this team, his aspiration was for her to make friends, to fit in. But she didn't fit in. Not here. Not in this universe. For she was more than just a misfit; she was an outsider. A shadow of a person that didn't exist. A piece that belonged to a different puzzle.

Word of her background had travelled quickly throughout the Enterprise, and so she found herself the frequent center of speculation and rumors. Other ensigns would often cast her furtive, nervous glances when she passed them in the hall, making her feel as though she were some exhibit to be gawked at. And now, thanks to her earlier blunder, the entire away team thought she was crazy. Even Sheppard.

Footsteps sounded on the old road. Carmen's well-honed instincts took over, shoving all other thoughts to the back of her mind. She gripped the edge of her bat'leth and sidled towards the crumbled doorway. Then, holding the breath in her chest and the bat'leth at her side, she peered cautiously around the corner.

Silence. Carmen's jaw clenched. Was this another trick of her ears? She had almost turned away when something emerged from a darkened doorway nearby. The breath flew out of her chest in surprise. She watched, transfixed, as a black figure stepped into the sickly yellow light of the moons. It was tall, too tall to be anyone from the away team. And there were no discernible features on its face, as if it were wearing a mask of some sort. It sauntered towards the next doorway and then slipped inside, blending seamlessly with the shadows.

The darkness seemed to penetrate Carmen's mind. She sensed the stranger's presence like a storm cloud, stifling her thoughts with a foreboding and oppressive silence. Malice. That was the feeling of malice.

The young woman sank back against the wall, keeping a covert eye on the figure as it made its way down the street, disappearing briefly into various structures and then emerging again with a whiff of disappointment. They're looking for something, she thought. What, though? There's nothing on this planet but dust and shadows.

Carmen considered tailing the mysterious figure as it faded into the distance. But echoes of its malice remained in her head and flickers of fear leapt up in its wake. She scoffed aloud at herself. Since when was she afraid? She had faced armies before. She had even faced the Borg. So why wouldn't her feet move?

My empathic senses. Carmen remembered how quickly she had learned to bury those senses, to shut out fear and replace it with something cold, something efficient. But the counselor had been working with her to get back in touch with those emotions. Emotions that were not efficient. Emotions that made her feel like a soldier without armor.

Another set of footsteps approached. Carmen crouched, poised and ready. She clenched down on her teeth, trying hard to block out her Betazoid senses lest the fear return. Then, as soon as the footsteps passed her doorway, she sprang forth and tackled their owner to the ground.

She was met with a yelp of surprise. It sounded distinctly male. He put up a fight, but his abilities paled in comparison to the young woman. Soon Carmen was straddling his chest, pinning her legs against his sides. One of her arms snaked under his chin and pressed down, slowly crushing his windpipe.

Then she caught sight of his eyes. Wide and fearful eyes. Chestnut brown eyes. "Sheppard!" she exclaimed, immediately pulling back. "I didn't realize it was you!"

Air surged into his lungs. His chest heaved beneath her. "Oh, um-" A hoarse cough rattled in his throat. "It's okay. I didn't mean to be sneaking around. I should've known it would scare-I mean startle-that it would startle you."

Carmen wiped a smear of dust from his face with an apologetic grimace. "No, no. It's not your fault. I saw a-" She paused. "Well, I thought I saw something." Then she realized she was still atop him and hurriedly slid to the ground. Sheppard sat up, clearing his throat several times.

"Saw something?" he echoed. "Out here?"

"Maybe. I...I don't know." Carmen's cheeks stung. "It was just as real as what I heard earlier. But I was wrong about that. So I could be wrong about this, too."

"How did you get hurt?"

Her hand flew to the dried blood on her chin, reminded. "Oh. I was just doing some climbing."

Sheppard nodded slowly. "Climbing...okay. Well-" He pulled his jacket collar up. "It's pretty cold out here. Want to uh, head back to camp?"

"I suppose," she replied, somewhat reluctant. As they both pushed off the ground, Carmen cast him a sideways glance. "So what were you doing out here anyways?"

"Me? Oh, well, I was...um...concerned." They started off together in the direction of a column of smoke.

"Concerned? Why? Did you see something, too?" She stiffened suddenly, throwing a cautious look over her shoulder.

"No, no," he demurred. "I mean...about you."

A lopsided smile crossed Carmen's face, chasing away her wariness. And when the young man smiled back, her loneliness fled as well.

Perhaps she had made a friend after all.