8/22/2261
Alyen and L'Naym's Quarters
6:10 AM

Nlians were by nature a gentle and peaceful race. But they were anything but weak; one couldn't survive
in a harsh desert world without strength, cunning and above all awareness.

All Nlians had an acute awareness of their environment and they were very good at sensing danger.
Pregnant Nlians' senses were particularly heightened when it came to something that might affect
them or their young.

So when L'Naym jerked awake from a sound sleep…she knew that something had happened to the ship.

Alyen awoke beside her. "Beloved? What is it?"

L'Naym looked around. "I…don't know. Something's happened."

There were no alarms, but Alyen wasn't about to doubt his lifemate's instincts. He reached for
the COMM near his side of the bed. He would have liked to have called Jim, but immediately
shoved that thought aside. If something was happening to the ship their Captain didn't need
to be distracted.

He thought quickly.

Crewmen Ceron.

Yes, Antir Ceron from Security. At 6'3 the Moaven was regarded as strongman by the crew and a gentle
giant by the children. The Nlians had become acquainted with him as a result of their mutual bond
with young people.

He was currently assigned to Gamma Shift. He might know what was going on.

Alyen flipped open the COMM. "Alyen to Ceron."

"Ceron here," came the reply.

"Ceron, do you know if anything's happening with the ship right now?"

"Something's happened all right. That anomaly started expanding again."

Both Nlians stiffened. L'Naym's hand went protectively to her stomach.

"We weren't close to it when it happened, but Helm still moved us back further. I just spoke with Kissi
down in Sensors and she says that readings have gone off the scale."

"Thank you."

Alyen flipped the comm shut.

L'Naym was starting to get up. "We may as well get dressed, Beloved. Neither of us are going
to get anymore sleep."

Alyen nodded. It was only three hours to the beginning of Alpha shift and extra hands would no doubt
be appreciated in sickbay. Rodriguez had told L'Naym not to come back to the labs before her shift,
but there were no doubt crewmembers who could use encouragement until them.

No staying in their quarters for them. They would help this ship, their crew and their Soul Brother,
in any small way that they could.