Samantha MacKade followed Chief O'Brien as he made a slow circle around the Runabout, diligently ticking off items on her punch-list as Miles called them out. She had, at long last, received permission from Captain Sisko to conduct a survey of the Pentara Meteor Array. A naturally occurring phenomenon that was unique to the Gamma Quadrant. According to several ancient Bajoran texts, it only happened once every 900 years and it was due this year. The Runabout was Miles O'Brien's pet project. It had belonged to the USS Tecumseh and sustained heavy damage during a skirmish with the Klingons. The Tecumseh had docked at DS9 for routine maintenance and repairs and left shuttle behind, thinking it was not worth the effort to repair.

"You know, if we amplify the resolution output on that long range sensor using a double feedback loop, we should be able to increase the efficiency by a factor of ten," Sam mused, handing the Chief a plasma clamp.

O'Brien grunted from his position under the main propulsion thruster, "That's a good idea. We've got a bit of time to make the adjustments before you and Dax leave in the morning."

"Are you sure you can't come with us?" Sam asked, exchanging the clamp for parametric scanner.

"No can do."

"But this is your baby, you've been working on her for weeks," Sam protested, "Don't you want to be there for her maiden voyage?"

"Keiko is going to be at that hydroponics conference for another three days," Miles said, climbing out from under the Runabout, "I've got Molly to take care of. Besides, you and Dax can get into plenty of trouble without me."

"Actually, Dax isn't coming," Julian announced, striding into the shuttle bay.

Sam frowned at the doctor, "What are you talking about, Bashir?"

"Dax was exposed to Romulan Night Fever on that mission to Turkana Four," Julian explained, "She and the rest of the Defiant crew are in quarantine for the next five days."

Miles winced in sympathy, "Oh, that's nasty stuff!"

Sam's eye widened in concern, "Are they alright?"

"Oh yes," he rushed to reassure her, "But they are all potential virus carriers for a few days, hence the quarantine."

"Five days," she repeated, her voice reflecting disappointment, "The meteor array will be at its peak in three and then it won't pass this way for another 900 years."

"Yes, I know. That's why I'm going with you," Julian announced.

Sam's eyebrows shot up in surprise, "Really? You?"

"I'll have you know that I can be quite an asset on away missions," he informed her, "Especially ones of the scientific variety. Besides, a wonder of nature that occurs once every nine centuries has got to be worth a look." Julian paused as his earnest brown eyes held hers, "If that's alright with you?"

"Oh," Sam blinked, a slow smile spreading over her face, "Yeah, fine. Great! That sounds great!"

He smiled back, "Great."

"We leave at 0500," Sam told him as he was already bounding towards the hanger door, excitement in every step.

"I'll put together a playlist," he called over his shoulder, "T'Merk just released several new tracks, you're going to love it!"

"Okay," she replied almost absent-mindedly, then what he said registered, "Wait, no! No Klingon ska!"

Julian turned around, his face fell in disappointment, "Oh really? But this is new…"

"No."

"Totally new sound!"

"No way," Sam shook her head firmly, "Julian, it sounds like animal sacrifice."

The Chief snorted in laugher, earning a look of annoyance from his best friend.

"Alright, have it your way," Julian finally relented, "I'll bring the opera instead."

Sam only shook her head at the doctor's retreating form, smiling to herself as she focused on reviewing the information on her data PADD.

Miles considered the encounter he had just witnessed with a speculative frown. A place like DS9 could be a bit of a rumor mill and while he prided himself on not participating, he did overhear the occasional interesting tidbit. MacKade and Bashir had developed an obvious friendship over the past few months, they could often be seen chatting in the Replimat or Quark's. Julian even let it slip that she joined him in the Holosuite to try out his new rock-climbing program. The young doctor was easily distracted by a pretty face and never really stopped looking for love. Unfortunately, Lady Luck never seemed to smile on him in that department. Miles had seen his friend's heart get stomped on more than once and it had him feeling especially protective. Sam MacKade was brilliant, beautiful, and tough as nails. She wasn't the type of woman to string a man along, but that didn't mean she wouldn't break some hearts, even unintentionally.

Feeling the chief's eyes on her, Sam looked up, "What is it?"

"Its just funny, that's all," he said with a shrug.

"What's funny?"

"When you first came to the station you said Julian Bashir was the most annoying man this side of the wormhole, now you seem to enjoy his company." Miles observed.

Sam arched an eyebrow, "A familiar pattern. You weren't all the fond of him yourself on first meeting."

"He grows on a person."

"So he does," Sam returned, inputting a few calculations on her data PADD, "Besides, who says I can't have annoying friends? I keep you around, don't I?"

Miles gave her a good-natured growl, "Watch it, lady."

Sam chuckled and they continued going through the punch list without further discussion of the good doctor.

Twenty two hours into their journey and the Runabout finally neared its final destination.

"How's it going?" Sa asked as she took the navigation seat, handing Julian one of the cups she carried.

He took it gratefully, inhaling the fragrant steam of Tarkalean Tea. "Right on schedule, we should be in orbit around Yellian Four within the hour."

Sam checked the updated star charts that poured through the Nav-Com, "Pentara Meteor Array due to appear about… this time tomorrow."

"We made incredibly good time," Julian observed.

"I know, its great isn't it?" Sam grinned, pride clear in her voice, "O'Brien and I really put our heads together on this one. Its like an outer space hot rod!"

Julian had to chuckle every time Sam used one of those odd 20th century terms. He doubted she was even aware of just how often she peppered them through her speech. It usually got strange looks from other people, but he found it rather endearing. Especially when she used them to describe the latest and greatest out of Starfleet engineering.

Suddenly, an explosion from just off starboard violently shook the entire shuttle. Both occupants held tightly to avoid being ejected from their seats. Warning lights lit up the console and gas vented into the cabin.

Sam's fingers flew over the Nav-Com as she rushed to assess the damage, "What the hell was that?!"

"I don't know," Julian answered grimly, "We couldn't have been fired on, there are no other ships in the sector… we must have collided with something."

"It sounded like an explosion," Sam said coughing as the cabin filled with smoke. "Whatever it was knocked out our navigation system, we're flying blind!"

"Engines failing," Julian flipped switches efficiently and shifted from auto pilot to manual, "We need to land now!"

Sam stood up and craned her neck to get a better view of their position, "Looks like there is a small planet on the starboard side 12 degrees, I say we go for it."

"On it," he confirmed, his face taut with concentration, "Strap yourself in."

Sam was barely seated and the Runabout was already cutting through the upper atmosphere.

"Anti-Grav thrusters operating at 30%... this is going to be rough," Julian warned as she struggled to keep control of the craft, "Brace for impact!"

Sam held tightly to the arms of the navigation chair, holding her breath in anticipation of the crash she knew was coming. As they hit the ground, the Runabout continued to skid for several hundred feet, taking out trees and undergrowth in its wake. The hull shook with such force that several interior panels came loose. Metal, wire and lights sparked and crunched under the force.

The last thing Sam saw was one of those fly off towards her head just before darkness fell.