It was a tropical evening on Nestra and Carolyn was not alone.

"Jol? I know you're back there. Don't make me come after you."

He had her mobile phone.

"Give me that."

"You don't need that."

"Yes, I do."

They played chase around the room.

"I need that communicator"

Jol pressed the speed-dial. "Hello, TARDIS. I've a terrible problem down here on Nestra."

"Give me that."

He throws it out of the window.

"Go get it."

"I don't believe you did that."

"Believe it."

They end up on the couch and he produces a device like a headset, but instead of ear pieces it has arms that jut out in front of the eyes.

"What is this?"

"It's a game. Everyone here's playing it. It's fun."

"Do I keep my eyes open, or closed?"

"Open."

Lasers shine into her eyes.

"What am I seeing?"

"The playing field."

A blue horn and a red disc.

"Now what?"

"See the disc and the cone?"

"Yeah."

"Concentrate. Make the disc go into the cone."

"How do I do that?"

"Just let go. Relax. You'll do it."

The first one misses, the second is a success, and she gasps with pleasure.

"What was that?"

"Your reward for clearing the first level."

"How far does this game go?"

"As far as you can take it. Would you like to go for level two?"

Two horns and two discs and more pleasure without effort.

Carolyn had rejoined the TARDIS from Nestra, and they were on their way to an uncharted area called the Phoenix Cluster, a massive, Abell class type I galaxy cluster located at its namesake, southern constellation of Phoenix. They were all anticipating this historic first look at the region.

The Doctor, Nita and Michelle were in the Control Room. There were visiting scientists working at console. The room was alive with activity.

They were all anticipating this historic first look at the region. Carolyn entered from the corridor, looking fit and rested. She headed to where the Doctor was working his controls. Carolyn stood next to him, eager to resume her adventures. "Things are getting busy around here. Five more scientists just arrived from the Zhukov. Quarters are filling up fast." The Doctor nodded, concerned. "And on top of everything, there's been a change. We now have only two weeks to complete the exploration."

"Two weeks? That's not enough time to explore a region that size. I thought we had five weeks."

"Carolyn, the Alliance has added a diplomatic mission to the archipelago world of Veludia."

Carolyn activated the information viewer and scanned the mission orders. "Carolyn, I'm leaving it up to you to make sure that all the scientists accompanying us have a chance of completing their research."

"That'll be quite a juggling act."

The Doctor tried to lighten the tone. "Oh, and one piece of good news.. We're to rendezvous with a shuttlecraft carrying our former companion, Ace. She's on vacation from the Academy."

"Ace? Good. We'll need an extra hand around here."

The Doctor smiled – he was looking forward to seeing Ace again.

It was a busy day in the Cloister Room. Nita and Michelle were hard at work, along with a good looking young man named Ashleigh Judd, who was at an opened panel, organizing a pile of isolinear chips.

Carolyn entered and approached Nita. "Nita, how are you coming with the survey preparations?"

"I'm up to my neck in observation schedules right now." Nita took Carolyn to a console, and showed her a rundown of information. "Our biggest hurdle is sensor availability."

"Especially since two new exobiologists and three stellar cartographers have joined us from the Zhukov."

"Fifteen scientists, only two weeks, and one long-range array don't make for a great combination."

"What about the lateral sensors?"

"They're booked solid for planetary observation."

"And the gamma ray scanner?"

"We're reprogramming them now. Judd, a moment of your time, please?"

Ashleigh set down his work and joined the two women.

"This is Ashleigh Judd."

"Nice to meet you."

"His work around here's been so sensational, I've decided to make him a mission specialist."

"Congratulations."

"Thank you, ma'am."

"Okay, specialist, what's our sensor status?"

Ashleigh took a deep breath. "We're increasing the available bandwidth so more scientists can use the sensors at once. We figured out a way to do it by multiplexing the array."

"Can we have that done before we arrive?"

"Yes, ma'am. You can count on it."

Carolyn looked pleased. "Keep it up, Judd."

Ashleigh smiled, nodded, and returned to her work. Nita moved to another console. Carolyn followed him…

"Nita, I brought something back from Nestra that you have got to try."

"I'd love to, but I'm running a full sensor recalibration in ten minutes. Can it wait?"

"Of course. I'll catch up with you later."

Nita was already reabsorbed in her work. Carolyn left.

Later, in the kitchen, Michelle was sitting alone in a corner, contemplating a large and luscious chocolate fudge sudae. She carefully removed the pointless cherry from the top of her dessert. Slowly, she spooned off her first bite. Carolyn walked up behind her.

"Chocolate ice cream, chocolate fudge and chocolate chips. You're not depressed, are you?"

Michelle was a little embarrassed about being caught with the large dessert. "I'm fine, Carolyn."

"Would you like me to leave you two alone?"

"No, you can join us."

Carolyn sat down. Michelle offers her a spoon. She declined.

"No, thanks. I don't like fudge."

"Really? I never met a chocolate I didn't like."

Michelle took the bite… and her expression turned serious, like she was analyzing something in her mind.

"Doesn't it taste good?"

"Of course it does, but it's not just a matter of taste. It's the whole experience."

Carolyn was curious. Michelle demonstrated, an expert on the subject. "First of all, you have to spoon the fudge around the rim, leaving only ice cream in the middle." She ate a bite. "Then, you gently spoon the ice cream around the sides, like you're sculpting it." Another bite. "Relish every bite. Make every one an event. And then, with the last spoonful, close your eyes." She closed her eyes and ate a spoonful.

"I had no idea it was such a ritual."

"Chocolate is a serious thing."

"I brought something back from Nestra. Better than chocolate."

"Oh? What is it?"

"Just a game."