Disclaimer: For the millionth time, I DON'T OWN STAR TREK!

AN: Well, it seems that my imagination has started working again. ON WITH THE SHOW!

Lowering his torture device, Natal continued to observe his captives with great interest. The male, Demitri, was unconscious, and the female, Anja, was just starting to wake up. The smell of burnt flesh still lingered in the air. Natal licked his lips.

This was a good day.

He walked a little closer to the small female. She opened her mouth, and a small moan was heard. Her head lulled to one side, as her eyes began to open. They continued to get bigger and bigger as she surveyed her surroundings. Her emerald eyes conveyed the fear that she felt.

It was those eyes that fascinated Natal more than anything else about Anja. More so than the fact that she was immortal.

Fully awake, Anja continued to stare at Natal.

He smiled, baring his sharp, white teeth. "Good morning Anja."

She cringed. Her eyes wandered over to Demitri's unconscious body. Not thinking, she yelled, "WHAT DID YOU DO TO HIM!"

SMACK!

His hand left a giant red mark on the side of her face. Natal's lip was curled in fury, his hands trembling in suppressed rage. His breathing came sharp and fast as he tried to remain calm.

"How dare you speak to me like that. If you want him to live, I suggest you hold your tongue."

Trembling, Anja could only look in terror at the Romulan. His muscular body was taut with rage, and she knew that she was going to die by his hands alone. Her bright green eyes became moist with tears, tears that she would not let herself release. Anja closed her eyes, wishing everything would go away.

"Oh don't worry," Natal droned. "Your time WILL come." He leaned in closer to Anja, so close that their noses almost touched. His breath was foul, and his black eyes sparkled in the dim light. Anja (still strapped to the table) could only look up at him and await his next move.

He took a deep breath, and his head was filled with the smell of the immortals fear. Natal almost sighed in pleasure. Almost.

"Now it is time for the games to begin."

He licked his lips, and drew one of his large fingers across the scar on her cheek. Anja was trembling. His finger lingered at the base of her chin, drawing her head slightly upwards. Natal grinned.

This was a very good day.

"Captain, I must ask you to reconsider your decision!" Diana, although normally calm and collected, had become anything but calm. Her face had become flushed, and her normally woven hair was all frizzled in her frustration.

Picard just looked at her. His face was practically set in stone. Had it not been for his ears and eyebrows, he would have passed off as a Vulcan. His hands were frozen over the panel he was working on.

"I am sorry Diana. But my decision is final." Picard returned his gaze back to the panel he was working on.

"But Captain, this is practically a suicide mission!"

Picard said nothing. His hands flew across the panel, filling the room with tiny beeps.

"I'm asking you one last time to reconsider your actions." She pleaded.

Again she received no response.

She looked at her feet. "...revenge isn't the answer."

Beep. Bee-

Stop.

Picard froze. He slowly raised his head so that he was looking into Diana's eyes. Whatever warmth that had once been present in his eyes was gone now. Now there was only hatred. He opened his mouth to speak...

Beep beep!

Not looking away, he hastily pushed the com button. "Yes?"

"Sir? I have completed the autopsy," the steady voice of Dr. Crusher announced. "And Data and Worf are ready to go."

"Thank you doctor. I'll be right down." The steadily balding captain turned his com badge off. All the while he kept eye contact with the small and flustered counselor. He stood up, and straitened his outfit (just like he always does when he stands).

"Dismissed."

He turned and left his office.

Sickbay was busier than it normally was (for obvious reasons). Many people were lying on beds with third degree burns, and in one case, missing arms. It was an atmosphere of despair, and the grim faces on the nurses didn't help lighten the mood.

The doors swooshed open.

Most were expecting more patients arriving. Chatter seemed to stop when everyone saw it was the captain.

He looked around, displaying no emotions what-so-ever on his face. To him, it was as if there was no one in the room. It was only when Beverly called him over that he snapped out of his trance.

Shaking his head, he walked towards the far end of Sickbay. He was greeted by four Romulans. He studied the two that were sitting up.

Picard smiled.

"Doctor, you outdid yourself again." He turned to the two Romulans lying on the beds. "And what happened to those two?"

"Burns, concussion, suffocation. Life support must have gone out when their ship was hit."

"Yes, well, Geordi should have that problem fixed by now."

"I should hope so," the gruff voice of Worf said. Picard turned. Facing him was not the Klingon Worf, but the newly-transformed Romulan Worf. Sitting next to him was a slightly puzzled Romulan.

Picard almost laughed. "Don't worry about it Data."

Data opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted when Picard's com badge went off.

The captain tapped his com badge. "Picard?"

"Captain?" Geordi answered him. "Repairs are almost complete. We just need to fix life-support and we're done."

"Good work Geordi. Inform me when you're finished. Picard out."

AN: I am SOOOOO sorry that I haven't updated in a while. What with the fact that I have to look for a job and that I had writers block for a while didn't really help anything. But now I'm back.

Please people, review. As much as I like writing, it really depresses me when people read and don't review. I like to know what you think of my story. Heck, you can flame it if you want, I just want some frickin' feedback.

THANKS!!!!!!!