Romulan cooradoors were far darker than the Federation's bright and cheery setting. Dark green walls with a glow of green lighting in the corners offering little for any human to see, comfortable for a Romulans genetically engineered eyes however she was able to see the walls and all the intricate operations just under the surface. The wires and pipes running along here and there, control panels just out of normal sight, layers and layers of carefully placed systems making it nearly impossible for any non Romulan from being able to do more than the absolute basic, obvious functions laid out on display panels.

The last she remembered walking along these halls however, her crew worked to check and maintain or train regularly. Every room had people doing something, halls had people moving about to take care of one thing or another.

She was the only one walking down these halls, a straight a ridged posture, neat and tidy cut hair as custom to Romulan women, her sharp pointed nose leading the way with every stride feeling and hearing her starfleet uniform brush against itself with every step. Step, step, step. Her dark green eyes looking for anything beyond the ships breath in front of her.

These were dark and empty halls.

Holding on the badge reminded her that this was no dream, not fiction, but very, very real. The Tal Shiar being a hushed organization that was both mythical and real, silent and obvious. Was this how initiates were brought in? Given a badge and a goal? Did she have to recruit her own crew? Just take her ship and run it by herself?

Duni lost her breath when she opened the cargo hold. It was all there, far as she could tell. Wild treasure stacked and shoved into every corner of the room. Perhaps it was a risk to send anyone to see it. Or another test to see what she would do if she could leave with her ship, all by herself, with a cloak and all. She could enjoy the rest of her life in the highest of luxury. She tried to think of what people did with time and freedom, all she could imagine was what she read about the pleasure planet of Risa or corrupt officials' history of stealing. She spent all her time growing up just training and studying and learning.

She turned, walking past her quarters where her guards used to stand. They were gone too. She tried to think of what happened, giving them orders to kill should they sense betrayal. Like Riker. Except in this case, Riker would be dead.

When the doors to the bridge opened her eyes locked onto the man sitting in the center chair, another Romulan, black hair cut in male fashion, sharp ears and the proper uniform. Her question of being alone on the ship was answered. Stepping quietly on the bridge she didn't say a word to see who it is first, expecting her superior officer or some Tal Shiar here to answer questions.

But it was no officer, nor Tal Shiar nor Romulan in fact.

It was Q.

She knew that face, burned into her mind from his words telling her she failed the tests. What tests? She lost her temper, her heart thumped and blood burned seeing him like this, her words growling, "You!. How did you get on my bridge?"

Q raised a brow and moved his head just enough to let both eyes watch her with a wide grin, "Ahhh, so you remember me. How fun."

Duni reached for her side for her pistol and felt nothing. She had gotten used to wearing the Federation uniform.

A flash of light filled the room and left with him standing behind a console, leaning on one hand with a disruptor pistol pointed at her then tossed it behind him sounding bored, "Oh how predictable, don't bother. It would be useless anyway."

Her mouth opened, not sure what to say beyond standing like an idiot watching him perform magic in front of her. "How did you get on here? What do you want? What did you mean by tests?"

Q appeared behind her, getting her to spin to face him and widened his arms dressed in a high ranking Romulan attire complete with several belts around his chest holding a mighty Tal Shiar eagle in the center. "I am wherever and whenever I like to be, I am Q. You see yourself as the superior species in the quadrant, well I am that in the universe. Did you think, at all about the cost of what's in your ships hold right now? The consequences?"

Duni stood straight, watching him, more tests she thought, "We are superior. It's a fact. If I didn't seize those resources then the Federation most certainly would have."

"Oh would they now?"

"Of course they would. They would be fools not to."

She stood on the planet, around a crowd of people within the merchants district of Deneb 4, a dry, desolate planet with a dull red sky. Duni tried to make sense of what just happened, realizing her cloths too had changed into the locals attire, hearing human voices next to her.

It was the Federation! Dr. Crusher examining a roll of cloth expressing how lovely it would look with gold on it.

Q's voice whispered, "Oh don't worry to them you look like everyone else." He was standing right next to her watching the cloth in her hands shift from a simple color to one with golden detail weaved in an intricate, flowy pattern.

Duni watched the Doctor go from reserved to surprised at the roll, requesting it to be taken to her ship. The air had a feel. Duni took in a breath, she could smell and feel the air, the heat, the smell of everyone. If this was a simulation it is by far an impressive one at that. She faced Q and spoke definitely, "See? She held the cloth and seized the opportunity."

She heard Dr. Crusher admit something was staring, her son pointing out how it changed when she asked about it with her admitting to Riker that something was, in fact, strange before leaving.

Q asked, "Oh that's right, you weren't here to see what happened next. Well I'll let you know that the Federation decided against the Bandi from joining the Federation.

Dani held her attention to the roll of fabric the Dr. left. Q's statement went against her own predictions. If that was true, something happened, why wouldn't the Federation jump at such an opportunity? The Bandi have something here." But it was just her now in the crowd, Q nowhere to be seen. Looking around she was surrounded by Bandi with Federation troops all around her. No way to communicate with her ship in orbit, if it was even an option, her eyes went back to the merchant.

She thought of the most ridiculous kind of cloth she could, exotic metal with infused gems in an obnoxious pattern. Aside from the bolt the Dr. seemed to have touched, the rest were quite plain. Asking the merching, the tall, quiet man simply shrugged as if not quite understanding what she asked. Duni was a bit surprised to see a bolt of her request neatly rolled next to the others.

What was the cost? Well it was cheap. Far lower than the materials alone would be, then again she did have a cargo hold of wealth. If they could create this however, why not manufacture ships? Or Weapons? Or… It was as if the market knew her wants and caught her eye, a table of various blades and staff seemed to call to her as well as pistols and rifles. The merchant wasn't armed, he just stood there. She inquired about one particular blade and the tall man just shrugged without a word or explanation. He just sold what was here. He didn't seem to even know what was here.

Q had left her without any kind of money or method of trade. Their currency was simple enough, pressed metals. Scoffing at being left like this, tripping on a heavy pouch just a few feet away. Taking a deep breath with just how blatant this was getting. It was one thing to trade, another to trip over coins.

She did like the blade she picked up. The metal seemed as if dancing with black and deep blue etchings all over. It was something, with coins to spare. Though looking around, no Federation troops were around. "Okay Q, now what?"

"Figure it out yet? These people are watching, testing you, seeing what you're going to do." He stood next to her, pointing at the locals, some looking over, most going about their day. "Aren't you curious how they make such goods?"

Duni scoffed at him, clicking with her tongue in response but looked around for any sign of transporter or stocking. It had to be a transporter and replicator, somehow these people got their hands on something powerful, something alien? Her eyes snapped to Q, "You're their prisoner?"

"Do I look like someone these people could control?" Q sighed, "You have a lot to learn Romulan. There's a lot of reasons why your little empire will fall. Why no one wants to join it, why everyone seems to flock to the Federation. Yes yes you're better blah blah blah. You can win in a fight, why I would bet you could slaughter this whole town with just that little knife of yours if you wanted. You'll still lose even if you did. You will still, fail."

"Stop playing games." She snapped, "You brought me here for a reason. If not to save you then why?"

Q placed his hand over his heart, "My dear, it is not me that needs saving. But I'll give you a little hint. You are on the right path for a change."

He was gone again. She kicked the dirt towards where he was and gripped the handle of her blade. Games. He was playing games. She was stuck here and he was playing games. Romulans didn't play games, this was clearly game playing. On the right path, if he knew what was going on then someone like him was in some kind of danger and he was here, needing her help. Why else would he go through all the trouble?

Seeing her 2nd in command took her by surprise. He had the away team, browsing, buying from one merchant and transporting goods. He was supposed to be dead. All of them were. When she approached them however they not only didn't recognize her, but one pulled a pistol on her and threatened her to leave them alone. Treating her like she was some local. They were quick to move away and vanish in the crowed, leaving her standing in this alien market.

"This test is pointless Q." She muttered. Finding a mirror was easy enough, finding herself however was impossible. She looked nothing like herself. Her sharp, detailed features replaced with tired lines and flaky, dirt-like skin. Even her eyes were a mud brown. If this is what Q could do, then why bother with her? Why not save whoever was being hurt?

The rest of Farpoint Station was about the same. Areas of luxurious accommodations, little markets to let the locals sell or serve, it was well built and stood out from the planet. No one bothered her in the slightest or even looked at her. Everything she needed always seemed to be only a few steps away except the answers she needed to pass this test of Q.

"Fine. I'll expose your little tricks." She muttered, looking for a way down, "The only explanation is replicators and transporters nearby, below, playing tricks on buyers." Making her way down wasn't easy either, every path lead to another. No dead ends, no access ports, this station had to of had quite the superstructure below to keep it steady. The claim of geothermal energy as its source from the report meant all the equipment was underground somewhere.

After an hour of wondering she cursed, "Okay Q, how do I get underground?" A flash of light blanked her vision.

Just like that, she was surrounded by halls of a deep blue green metal making up the halls. Metallic lines like vines seemed to cover every inch of the walls, grown onto and within whatever she was in. Dunis eyes strained to try and make more sense of what she was looking at. "This, where am I?"

As if he was waiting the whole time Q spoke behind her, "Underground. That is what you wanted right? Been walking and wasting your time above, well, here you are."

"This isn't the same as above. The walls, the materials, this was grown. The pattern follows a ratio of cardiovascular distribution. You took me into a living organism. I meant under Farpoint Station. I want to be in the base levels of Farpoint Station." Her eyes narrowed at him, "Why are you testing me like this?"

"Is this how you treat all your friends?" Q retorted, placing a hand on the walls, he clutched his other hand over his heart, bowing his head, "Can you feel it? The pain? The agony? Do you have any sympathy at all for what isn't Romulan?"

Duni took in a full lung of air and sighed long and hard. Looking at the wall, taking a few steps closer, lifting a hand and pressing hers against the being she was inside. "Not all Romulans have such gifts Q."

"Ah, but you do." He snapped his fingers, his eyes watching her every movement as her mind opened up. Unlocking those Romulan senses buried deep and untrained. Her hand flinched, feeling it, pressing it again against the wall her mind was hit harder this time with the beings loneliness, begging for a friend, screaming in her mind for help.

She jumped back, hands on her head going down to her knees, "What have you done!?" Duni cried out, "It's so much. So much pain. So alone. What is this?"

Q knelt before her, watching the woman wrap her hands around herself, crying in agony. "Everything has a price. I'm not the prisoner here, this being is. Now what will you do?" Q snapped his fingers again, letting the Romulan take control of her unexplored telepathy and back to her own form.

Duni breathed, the emotion, the waves of despair and dread and clutching anxiety pushed back, quite. She could sense it now. The being. Her hand pressing against the ground she could feel its resonance. "They, captured this? How?"

He praised her like a father praising a child for speaking a word. "Very good my little Romulan."

"It's not your kind that's held prisoner? Something else?"

Q nodded.

"Why are you trying to help it? How does this benefit you?"

He shrugged his shoulders, "Why would I? Romulan. Why would I waste my time helping such a thing?"

The Bandi had captured this being and somehow managed to build a base right on top of it. So now what? How was she able to try and help it? To pass this test of his. "So what now? I need to be on my ship to do anything…" Just like that, she was on the bridge in the captain's chair. Just, not in her body.

That didn't matter, she was going to pass whatever test this was. The science officer spoke, reporting of an unknown craft on the edge of the solar system. The probe had picked it up and it seemed to be a ship of some kind.

Dani knew what that was. "Send a transmission." He directed, looking at his command station pad and added what to send. "Send this, and take us out of orbit towards it so we can have line of sight."

The two guards at the door took steps forward, pointing their pistols at Duni, one speaking firmly, "We are to stay here until the commander returns."

Duni tilted his head at them, "I am the commander, we'll…"

She fell to the floor, back below the station, Q laughing at her. Her words shot at him with anger, "You killed him! They shot me! They shot me and now he's dead because of your games."

Q clapped his hands, "Oh you could have handled that far better. You got him killed but you did manage to tell the friend where we are."

Duni clenched her chest, it felt like it had happened. Disrupter fire right in her torso. His torso. She felt her, his body burn away doing what she needed him to do. It started and was over in just moments yet it burned in her mind the look of their faces as they shot her. That same agony was what the creature was feeling, whatever the being she was within felt this way being left alone, a slave to these people. Trapped. "Why not just help it escape?" She pleaded, "Why do all of this?"

Q tapped his foot against the ground, "Romulans. You just don't get it. Was his life worth the trade? You spared this creature. A Romulan died because of your mistakes, but you saved this being from death. Do you think he would have saved you? You posted guards to watch him. He was going to take control and leave with all those riches on board and didn't just have a plan to do so, it had been carried out before you got back.

She coughed, still feeling the sorrow and despair of the being below her, around her, his words rang in her ears, her mind, her memories. "Is… that what happened to the crew?