I hear we're supposed to tell people we don't own this stuff. Yeah. Like I could come up with something this brilliant without a skilled team of writers.


Tasha woke gradually. It wasn't until she tried to move that she felt the presser field holding her fast. It took turning her head slowly and painfully before she saw Kestra, eyes closed. Beyond the Betazoid was empty. Worf hadn't been put with them… or, Tasha thought grimly he hadn't made it at all. Lying in a field of 5Gs or better was painful enough, but the tingling in her arms and legs meant some sort of subsonics had been used on her in the recent past. She could have been unconscious for hours. It was impossible to tell.

At least the Betazoid next to her didn't seem in distress. She was breathing deeply and regularly and showing no obvious wounds. "Kestra?" The presser field made it hard to speak above a whisper.

Kestra's eyes snapped open. "I've lost him!"

"What?"

"Data. I've lost contact with him." Kestra strained to turn her head toward Tasha.

"Just stay still. We're in presser fields. You can hurt yourself if you try to move too much. We've probably been under for hours. Data could be light years away by now."

"Oh, don't worry I have no intentions of moving again." Kestra closed her eyes. Minutes passed in silence until she smiled and said, "I've found Worf."

Worf! The Klingon looked around to see if anyone else had heard Kestra's voice. The only one looking at him was Neran, his whip ready to stop the Klingon if he tried anything. Kira paced the middle of the bridge, occasionally throwing Worf a glare or two.

You are awake? Worf tried to look aware of his present surroundings. It would have been easier if he could vocalize—obviously not an option.

Yes. So is Tasha. Where are we?

We are aboard a Bajoran vessel.

Bajorans? Where are they taking us?

I do not know.

Where are you?

On the bridge.

The bridge?! We're down here stuck in these stupid presser fields and you're lounging around on the bridge?

Worf took a deep breath. His alter ego must have a lot of patience. I am not here by choice.

That makes me feel much better. Worf could even hear the sarcasm.

Before he could think a reply, a crewman at the back of the bridge spoke, "High command has responded to our hail, Captain."

"It's about time. On screen," Kira said. She stopped pacing and turned to face forward. The screen flickered for a moment, and then resolved to show the face of an older Bajoran woman. Kira's expression hardened into a mask of cautious hostility.

"Vedic Winn, I did not expect to see you," Kira said with forced courtesy.

"I should think not, child," Winn replied gently. "I have just recently been assigned as the Vedic Assembly's representative in dealing with the Federation. I understand you have some Federation personnel on board."

"Yes, three of them. They were trying to repair the array."

"How do you know this, child?"

"The transporter logs on their shuttle showed that someone had used it recently, although there were no life signs on the array."

""…And is the Klingon beside you one of them?" worf could see that the Vedic was getting tired of terse, uninformative answers to her questions.

"Yes."

"We are happy to have been able to rescue you, Mr…?"

"Since my companions are under presser fields in the brig, I would hardly call this a rescue."

Winn simpered, "I am sure it is simply a precaution until we could speak with you. You understand." That was definitely not a question. The woman moved closer to the screen and peered at Worf. "Do I know you?"

Intent on keeping his identity secret for as long as possible, Worf replied, "I doubt it."

"A name, Klingon!" Winn curled her lip in a sneer.

The finesse lay in telling them something they wouldn't recognize but the Enterprise people would. How could he do that when he didn't know the universe he was in?

"Neran?" Kira gestured to the man with the whip.

"Arex!"[1] Worf finally grasped at the only innocuous male name he could come up with. "I'm Lt. Arex."

"That is a Human name, Klingon. Do you take us for fools?" The Vedic again sneered.

"It sounds Human, but it is Edosian. I was adopted. It is the name my Edosian parents gave me." As both Vedic Winn and Kyra Nerise narrowed their eyes, Worf knew just how weak the story was. Using his shipmate's name was a risk.

The Vedic lowered her head in thought. After a time that put worry in Worf's face, finally she raised her head and said, "Bring the refugees to Terok Nor."

"Vedic, my orders are to…" Kira was clearly displeased.

"My orders take priority in this matter," Winn interrupted. "May the Prophets guide your path, child. Winn out."

"I'm no child." Kira grumbled. "Helm, lay in a course for Terok Nor, warp 7. Take the Klingon back to the brig.