Chapter Title: Our Separate Ways

Chapter Synapses: Starwind, specifically, is called to the aid of the USS Concorde, which is commanded by Captain Annabelle Carter, who brings bad news. West deals Collins' attraction to Starwind.

Written by: Seraph Koji

Previously

"We have operatives within the heart of Romulus and the Klingon Empire, the Cardassian Union (rather what's left of it), even the Breen Confederacy. We have had men in the cabinet of the past five Federation Presidents. Admirals, Doctors, we have a lot of influence, Captain. And we are expanding." Operative Newberry explained, "You are a member of Section 31 now Captain. You will do your countrymen a great favor by following us."

Admiral Ross later explained, "Section 31 has committed attempted genocide in the name of the Federation, not to mention murder, robbery… but they tend to do Starfleet's dirty work. While we sit, publicly abhorring their tactics, we watch them gather intelligence through questionable means and kill our enemies."

"A tidy arrangement." Starwind stared at his comm. badge before picking it up. He showed it to the Admiral, shooting him a cold glare, "This still stands for something, Admiral." He placed his badge back on and walked out.

And now, the continuation.

From a swirling cloud of light, an Intrepid class ship drifted, heavily damaged. Her Captain, a female officer, rather young and of small stature, looked up from flaming consoles at the viewscreen, "Ensign Plonka, send a message to the starship Hyperion, to Captain Victor Starwind."

"Ma'am?" the female operations officer shot her Captain a glare.

"Make it so, Ensign." The Captain ordered.

Hyperion streaked away from the nearby Starbase 824, and Starwind sat in his ready room. His comm. badge blipped, "Captain, message from the Concorde for you, marked 'Urgent'."

"I'll take it in here." Starwind quickly adjusted his uniform, and faced his desktop terminal, and pressed a key on it, shifting the display to that of a rather disorganized ready room, and a female captain, "Anna! How long has it been?" Starwind said, enthusiastically.

"Too long, Victor." Annabelle Carter, captain of the Concorde, smiled in a sort of comfortable manner, "Vic, I need you to fly my way. We need to have a little chat, and you're the only one in Starfleet I can trust. Have repair and medical crews ready. Top speed."

"Anna, this is a secure subspace communication, you can tell me what's going on now." Starwind suggested.

Carter shook her head, "No, you need to meet me. Secure isn't secure enough. Expect all your aid staff to undergo blood tests when the come aboard."

"Blood tests? What is this Anna?" Starwind asked.

"Please Victor. For me." She paused, "For us."

Starwind was silent a moment, "There is no 'us' anymore, Captain." He rose to his feet, "Hyperion is en route. We can be to your position in less than one day. Hyperion out." Starwind sighed.

It was a long time ago. Eight, nine years, maybe. Maybe more. Two officers in the uniforms of Starfleet cadets sat on a bridge simulator for the legendary Kobyashi Meru test. The test was probably one of the best-kept secrets the Academy had, the test of the no-win scenario. Only a few classes still took the Kobyashi Meru during the Command School courses, but the test was still kept up-to-date. Starwind sat in command, and his first officer was a younger Anna Carter.

"Entering Cardassian Neutral Zone." The helm officer reported.

"Kobyashi Meru, we ask again, why are you in Cardassian space?" Carter asked.

A voice crackled in response, "We must have drifted off course. Please help us."

"Kobyashi Meru, we are dropping out of warp in your area, prepare for emergency transport." Starwind ordered, "Equinox out."

"Exiting warp."

Almost instantly, Carter reported, "Transport underway." Red Alert sirens blared just then, and she added, "Three Cardassian cruisers dropping out of warp!" She said, panicked.

"Relax, Carter. Tactical, get me a weapons lock. As soon as Kobyashi Meru is evacuated, raise shields and get us the hell out of here." Starwind ordered

"They're opening fire." Carter reported.

"Tactical, firing pattern Starwind One." Phasers blasted the torpedoes that shot at the simulated ship.

"We can't hit them all, sir!"

"Brace for impact!" Starwind screamed as the simulater erupted into masses of sparks and fire.

"Losing warp containment." Carter ran to Starwind's side, "We have to abandon Equinox."

"Too late!" a voice called. Their bridge shook violently as the next barrage hit, and the simulator powered down.

Starwind opened his eyes to find Carter in his arms.

"Thank you for catching me, Victor." Carter smiled.

Victor turned slightly red.

But the relationship was never to last.

"Time tore us apart I suppose." Starwind said, after recalling the story with West in the Observitorium while Hyperion neared it's destination, "I went to some ships, and she to others. We talked still. Often at first. Then the Dominion War broke out, and we barely had time to speak. Our ambition consumed us. We were never really meant to be, anyway. I just… I had so much hope. I suppose I sort of resent her… for the mistakes we both made."

West nodded, "And now she reaches out to you?"

"I'm confused, I suppose."

"Well, I have an appointment to get to. There isn't a whole lot I can say about this, I mean, you have to go, it's your duty. Let me know how it turns out, though."

"Helpful, Amy." Starwind snickered.

West stood up, "You want helpful, make an appointment like everyone else, Captain. You want humor and rowdy conversation, meet me for lunch. You want both, meet me for lunch this time tomorrow." West left.

West found herself going from Captain to First Officer, as Collins sat, waiting to speak to the counselor.

"Amy, it's about Captain Starwind…" Collins said, as West sat down in her office.

West rose an eyebrow, "What? Did you tell him?"

"No…"

"What's wrong, Dorian? You're and energetic, creative, loyal, wonderful person. You think he'll reject you?" West asked.

"Well…"

"Look, I can't be sure, because he's never said anything about it, but I think he feels the same. The rank makes it awkward."

"I'm aware Starfleet has no regulations about officers' intimacy and interpersonal relationships in this regard, but all the same…"

"Dorian, go for it when you're ready." West advised, "I think he'll accept."

Starwind sat in the ready room aboard the Concorde, "Medical and repair crews are being tested as we speak."

"Computer, privacy mode." Carter ordered, "This is off the record, Vic. You know about Section 31, right? Well, you know the Dominion race of shape-shifters, the Founders, the former head of D. S. Nine station security was one. Section 31 examined him a few years ago. Seven or so. Who knows? But I have reason to believe Section 31 has breed Founders in a laboratory in the Amagosa System. And they are infiltrating the Federation, the Romulan Empire, the Cardassian Union…"

"Do you know how crazy that sounds, Anna?" Starwind shot her a skeptical glare.

Carter motioned for him to be quiet, "I was in the Amagosa system. We were researching long-term effects of that Nexus thing that came through a long time back, and my ship encountered some anomaly and was pulled in, and why couldn't we escape? Evidence suggests sabotage. When we caught the saboteur, he turned to this gelatinous ooze, and into some Section 31 operative. He told me he was aware of our past and said you better return his hails next time or Concorde is history. Vic, what the hell are you involved in?"

"Anna, these guys think I'm their ace in the hole for the Hyperion, one of the most offensive ships in the fleet." Starwind explained, "But I refuse to serve them."

"Seems to be too little too late. They have you, Captain."

"Kobyashi Meru…" Starwind gritted his teeth, "The no-win scenario."

Carter sighed, "We tried our best. But we failed."

"It was a no-win scenario."

"At least you didn't blame me…" Carter paused, "I still love you, Victor."

Starwind froze. In a serious tone, he asked "Who the hell are you?"

"What?" Carter sounded shocked.

"Annabelle Carter shot me down years ago to pursue her Starfleet career, citing to me, and me alone, that she loved Captain Zachary Decker, who died during the Dominion War, before she ever told him." Starwind drew his hand phaser, "So, I say again, who are you?"

Carter sighed, "Computer, end program." Carter's façade was replaced by that of a female Section 31 agent. Their surroundings replaced by a large holodeck.

"My crew?" Starwind asked.

"Unconscious, but more or less unharmed." The woman replied.

"The Concorde?" Starwind continued his gunpoint inquiry.

"Adrift, destroyed comm. unit, but salvageable." The woman explained.

"Why?"

"To get you to Amagosa." The woman looked around, "Victor, you should not be forced to help 31, so I'll tell you now. They are after you. And they will alter memories if they have to in order to get you to serve them. They want Hyperion and aim to get he at all costs."

"The Fusion Catalyst." Starwind gritted his teeth, "Starwind to Hyperion, two to transport. Lock on to our people and beam them out as well. I want security ready to take a member of Section 31 into custody."

"Aye, sir."

Starwind tapped his badge again, "Bridge, once our crew is back aboard, disable this phony Concorde and set the course my prisoner will transmit to you in exchange for a reduced sentence."

The woman nodded and typed a course into her tricorder.

"Energizing." The transporter chief chirped back to Starwind. The two dissolved in a beam of light.

"And that's what happened." Starwind later explained to the real Annabelle Carter.

Carter nodded, "A Defiant class, unmarked, attacked us while we were studying a nebula. They told me they were going to have Hyperion come here once their shape-shifter forces were ready to overthrow both our ships. It seems now it was only a ploy to get me to hail you and draw you to the rendezvous point."

"They are that underhanded and sneaky." Starwind nodded.

His Ready Room door chimed.

"Come."

Collins entered, saw Carter, and stopped herself from talking. "Captain."

"At ease, Dorian." Starwid ordered.

"You look like a first-year cadet who just walked on a fight between an Admiral and his wife." Carter observed.

Starwind smirked, "Where in the name of all that is decent did you come up with that?" Starwind turned to Collins, "Speak freely, Commander."

"No, that's okay." Collins nodded, "If I may politely excuse myself?"

"Allow me. Concorde isn't going to reapir herself." Carter stood, and on her way out whispered to Collins "Get 'em, girl."

Collins smiled nervously.

"Commander?" Starwind asked after Carter was long gone.

Collins shook her head, "It's nothing, sir."

Starwind nodded, "Starfleet has no regulations that would force you to keep silent on this matter."

Collins scowled, "What?"

"Winters told me about your activities during your time-loop accident." Starwind smiled warmly, "Ones omitted from your reports."

"Captain, I-" Collins stopped herself, "Sir, please don't hate me."

"Hate you?" Starwind rose an eyebrow, "Dorian, I can't hate you. You're my friend."

Collins nodded, "So we're going to be alright."

"It's all good, Commander." Starwind nodded, "And don't feel like you have to say anything you're unprepared for, since I'm not prepared to reply."

"Aye, sir." Collins nodded.

"Dismissed."