Chapter 1

Star fleet officers, she'd heard of them but never seen one up close. A smile tugged at the corner of her lips as she took in their neat blue uniforms and leather jackets. They looked so glamorous in this bar full of rough smelling, bearded aliens. With her shorn hair and brown patched, jacket she was feeling scruffy too. She frowned to herself and tried to smooth down her jacket. She put her chin down on her arm and peered at them through the gap in the alcove. She wondered if they had girlfriends and how beautiful they would be. They would wear long flowing dresses with diamonds shimmering in their hair and they would be waiting at home with….

She snapped awake as Ambrose shoved her in the back, "get me another drink and bring some meat."

She got up from the stool and walked towards the crowded bar. She was shielded from their sight by a large guant figure in a white cloak. She was shielded but could hear their words.

"I think this was a bad idea."

Her eye caught the man speaking. He had hair the color of desert sand and a very handsome intelligent face. Her mouth dropped slightly as she realized they looked like her. How could that be.

"I'm sorry Travis, I have to agree with Trip. I don't feel at all welcome here."

"Yeah, I'm sorry guys, I don't remember it being this rough. It's been a while since we visited Andora."

Ruby took up two tankerds of ail for Ambrose and Tallan but as she set them down she could see the two large Nauciaans were more interested in the new comers than their drinks. Ruby's heart sank. They were going to corner the three lads and take everything. Ruby winced, they were just here to have fun. Her heart beat quicker as two of the crewman headed towards the rest room leaving one behind. Worst still, the crewman called Trip with the lovely desert hair was heading out the door. Ambrose and Tallan both took a gulp of their ale and followed him. They were large and stocky compared to the crewman who was now alone. They followed after as he swayed in the street. Ruby followed behind, her grime smeared face showing traces of anxiety at what she knew was coming.

Without warning they moved in, they each grabbed hold and threw him up against a wall. The impact took his breath but he quickly turned to face them.

"Take what I have, I don't want any trouble."

Ruby could hear the thinly controlled panic in his voice. His eyes met with hers as they searched him.

Ambrose growled at the scant few coins he carried. He grabbed the man by his jacket collar and slammed him hard against the wall. Ruby winced as she could hear his head smack into the stone behind him.

"Look come on, that's all I have."

There was a commotion just outside the bar, just another fight breaking out but Ruby used it.

"Leave him Ambrose. They're looking for him. Leave it."

Instead Tallen smacked him hard in the mouth. "Where is your weapon, give us your weapon."

The crewman called Trip put a hand up to his mouth, he was starting to look dazed now.

"Leave it, we'll hang for this. Come on." She yelled.

Then something happened that caught her breath Tallan lunged at the man. He cried out in pain and gritted his teeth as he slid down the wall. Ruby could see he was clutching his leg and a large knife wedged there. The two hefty attackers walked off then leaving him in agony. Ruby went to follow, then looked back at him then back at the two retreating figures.

"RUBY," Ambrose yelled out as they made good their escape.

She ran and sank down beside the injured man. She put both hands to the knife.

"Don't pull it out, don't pull it out." He whined as he fought against the agony.

"Please, I'll bleed."

"What then, what then." She asked desperately.

Before he could answer she was wrenched upwards and thrown sideways. She landed on the paving stones and another man picked her up by her jacket and pinned her arms. Ruby watched as the dark haired man from the bar put a shaking hand to his friend.

"Don't worry, we've got this Trip. Stay with me. Trip don't drift off now."

The man holding her called over. "Malcolm, is he breathing."

Malcolm shook his head, "it doesn't look good. Put that…bastard in the shuttle pod, The Captain is going to want to know what happened. Get the first aid kit and we'll try to secure his leg."

Ruby could hear suppressed emotion in his voice as he spoke. She longed to say she was sorry it ever happened but as she was marched towards the small craft she felt more than a little afraid of them.