When the Doctor seeks 'The' Doctor Pt3

Posted on Sat Sep 13th, 2025 @ 10:58pm by Commodore Finchley Kerr & Captain Kevin, Lord Kilbane of Sanquhar & Lieutenant Commander Shr'Nesh Karadis & Commander Milani & Lieutenant Commander Dex

Mission: Delivering on the undeliverable.
Location: USS Thall/Alternate universe
Timeline: Current.

Shon turned and seeing the sight of Karadis carrying Finchley her breath caught in her mouth. She stopped and walked back to them. Injecting Finchley in the neck she said "this should help for a little while, it's not far now." The were now in the lower decks of the ship and saw very few people. The atmosphere became heavier, darker and then, screams, the screams of someone in the agony of being ripped apart. Shon put her hand up. "Here, he's here." she whispered.

Karadis put Finchley down, and as he stood upright again Finchley nodded his thanks for her carrying him. He listened to the screams coming from just up ahead, "They're using an agoniser on whoever's being tortured" he said, "Standard procedure in the Empire to gain information from those who are being...uncooperative."

He moved further up the corridor and stopped at a door. The screams that could be heard were coming from behind it, and he dropped his head, thinking of how he himself had used such a device on others to get them to talk. Looking round at the others he said, "Best if you all stay just out of sight up against the wall, I'll try to gain access and find out what's going on inside."

Shon was not about to let him walk into...whatever it was that was going on in there but, deep in her heart she knew some poor bastard was being tortured. She made to follow but Milani moved in front of her. She did not expect Shon to push her aside so, when she did she fell back into Karadis.

Karadis automatically held onto Milani, and set her upright again. She wanted so much to ask her if she was alright, but didn't want to make a fuss.

Bracing himself, Finchley touched the keypad and the door opened, allowing him access inside. Walking slowly forward, he looked around to see what was happening but was brought to a sudden halt when he saw who it was causing the tortured person to scream...it was Kilbane.

Kilbane's head swung round at the sound of the doors opening and someone coming into the room. Sweat poured down his forehead and cheeks, and in his eyes there was almost a glean of delight at the pain he was causing someone else.

"You..., what are you doing here?" he asked Finchley.

"Looking for you!" Finchley shouted back, "If you'd come to me with the plan on what you were doing I could have helped you find your Finchley Kerr without having to resort to this barbary."

Kilbane laughed almost hysterically, "You really are a twisted bastard aren't you, I worked out what had happened, this is your universe, this is what your people do to get answers, I'm just using those methods to try to find the real Finchley Kerr and return back to my universe with him!"

"But you're enjoying using our methods a little to much Kilbane, you're showing your true nature" Finchley replied.

"True nature...TRUE NATURE...what do you know of my true nature, the only reference point you have is of your own Kevin Kilbane, wherever he is, and I doubt I'm anything like him!" Kilbane answered.

"Oh really, look at yourself" Finchley called back, "you're having 'fun' with whatever questioning is going on here, I'm supposing it's something to do with finding 'your' Commodore Kerr...but here's the rub, you're in my universe now, and all your darkness, all your pent up rage, all your wants for revenge are beginning to take you over...but you can't see that can you? You think you're just being the same old you, but your not, 'you' are becoming more and more like a soldier of the Empire every second. Besides, who are you torturing to find out where Kerr is, some poor unfortunate who happened to be in the room when you came in?"

"Oh no Commodore, I was quite specific about who I chose to question, and you're right, I am having 'fun' trying to get the information on where Kerr is, the real, look for yourself who I picked to extract it from..." and he stood aside.

Finchley sucked in a deep breath. There, slumped forward in their chair was...Shon..."

Shon, who had come in behind Finchley saw herself, no her counterpart was the one being tortured and.....Kilbane was at the controls. She took her phaser and raised it aiming it at Kilbane's chest. In a voice like Ice she said "let her go, this is set to kill.

Kilbane just laughed, "You think you have it in you to kill me Dex, don't kid yourself. This is one of their own torturers...in a way, kind of like yourself...they chew people up and then when they have what they need, throw them away when they've no more use for them."

He turned back to the Shon in the chair, "Tell them what you told me!" he said brutishly.

The Shon sitting just glared at him but said nothing, so Kilbane raised the agoniser and jabbed it into her side. She screamed in pain and yelled, "OK...OK....WE HAD KERR HERE...BUT HE DIDN'T HAVE THE INFORMATION WE NEEDED SO WE PUT HIM IN SOLITARY!!!!!"

Kilbane turned back to the Shon beside Finchley and said, "Now, either kill me or get out of my way because I'm heading for the security cells where they have the real Commodore Kerr in solitary!"

Shon smiled and fired her phaser. she had dialled it back to stun at the last minute. "Well I can put him to sleep for a good long while. What do you want to do with her?" she asked Kerr her voice sharp as glass. She took her hypo out and walked to Kilbane. "Does someone want to tell me what the hell is going on?"

"Are you out of your mind?" Finchley asked Shon, "he was about to take you to your Finchley Kerr! That 'thing' there" and he pointed at the Shon sitting in the chair, "is the Emperors Chief Interrogator, she torture's people on his behalf without prejudice...and without any morals either. Kilbane just got you the information and he had her tell you that she tortured your Finchley Kerr. You may have just scuppered a chance to get him back, and for what, because he wouldn't stop at anything to save his CO?"

"I'll tell you what we'll do with her" and he reached over, taking Karadis' phaser out her hand, turned and pointed it at the seated Shon. As he did so, he set the phaser to kill and fired, instantly killing the Shon seated. He then looked at the Shon who had just stunned Kilbane, "wake him, now, we're heading for the security cells where your CO is in solitary, just as Kilbane said we should."

He limped towards the body of the now dead seated Shon and checked that she was indeed dead. Looking at the real Shon he said, "If I were you, I would steer well clear of Kilbane, for a very long time, he won't forget what you've done here, and he will be out for vengeance, sooner or later."

With that Finchley about turned and began walking towards the doors, and as he passed Karadis he handed her phaser back to her, offering a silent 'sorry' as he did so. Finnigan had remained silent throughout the whole exchange, but now broke that as he headed over to Kilbane. As he bent down to check on him, he said "Dex, probably best you give me the hypo to wake Kilbane up then get out of here, but heed what Kerr just said, stay away from Kilbane as much as you can, this is the second time you've hurt him. The first was emotional when you chose our Kerr over him, this time it's physical, firing on him. Knowing him like I do, he 'will' find a way to exact his vengeance, sooner or later, don't give him an opportunity to do anything whilst we're here. 'If' we get back, I'll try to reason with him. tell him something that'll calm him down. For the moment though, just leave the hypo and go."

Shon moved to the door and stood behind Karadis, "Drop your weapons, all of you or I will kill the Klingon." She said in a stone cold cruel voice. "I SAID DROP YOUR WEAPONS." She sighed, Very well." she took aim. "I do so enjoy killing enemies of the empire."

"You had better kill me or I will kill you" Karadis said to Shon, and then to Finnigan she said, "Take aim at her, if she kills me, kill her, that's an order Mr Finnigan!"

Finnigan looked between Karadis and Shon, several times. Seeing the seriousness of the look on Karadis' face, he raised his phaser and aimed it at Shon, "It's your call Dex, either way, your not leaving this room alive." By that point, Kilbane had regained consciousness, enough to grasp what was going on and he too drew his phaser and aimed it at Shon.

"Finnigan's right, if you fire on Karadis, either or both of us shoot and kill you" he said, "If you go for either of us, the other will kill you as you won't be quick enough to fire on both of us, plus there's the chance Karadis will have a go at you. This isn't quite a Mexican stand off, close, but not quite, my advice to you, back off slowly and leave the room. The only thing with that is we'll then hunt you down regardless of us trying to find Commodore Kerr, so, it's a sticky wicket for you."

Shon turned off and holstered her phaser. "I'm sorry, I needed to know if any of you were Imperial spies." she walked over to Kilbane and scanned him. "He should wake up any minute." she shook his shoulder. "Kilbane, it's Shon, I'm sorry i stunned you."

Kilbane stirred and began coming too, his eyelids fluttering open as he began to focus on who had spoken to him. Eventually Shon's face came into view and he roared like a lion, "YOU FIRED ON ME!!!"

Finnigan held Kilbane down as he tried to get up, "Stay there Mr Kilbane, at least for the time being till you're fully recovered."

Kilbane glared at Shon, "That's twice you've done the unthinkable to me Dex, TWICE! You stay away from me do you hear, don't come anywhere near me or I swear I'll kill you and Kerr can go fuck himself at the consequences."

Finnigan looked at Shon and said, "At least we know he's recovering, nobody can get that angry if they're feeling the aftereffects of being stunned."

Shon grimaced thinking it would have been better to have stunned someone else. "I will make sure I redeem myself. I chose you because I knew there was no way you would be an Imperial agent but it was a mistake and I'm sorry."

"We should head off to catch up with Kerr, he's not in any fit state to tackle anyone in the Security cells on his own" Karadis said, heading out the door.

Finnigan stood up, helping Kilbane get off the floor. "Well, this is a pickle to say the least."

"Just remember Finnigan, when this is done, I mean to exact my revenge on her" Kilbane pointed at Shon, "If you get in my way, if anyone gets in my way, I'll kill you without a second thought."

He yanked his arm out of Finnigan's arm and walked off towards doorway out of the room, as he passed Shon he whispered fiercely, "Don't think your apology means I forgive you for what you just did, grow eyes in the back of your head Dex, my time will come!"

Finnigan had caught up with them and pushed Kilbane out the way and out through the door, "He's just angry Shon, but as I said just now, my advice is to give him some distance till he calms down."

He started for the door himself and as he walked past Milani he said, "Keep an eye out for her Commander" he nodded back towards Shon.

Milani stood back for a minute with Shon. "what's wrong with you?" she asked softly. "This is not like you, I'm worried."

Shon looked at her. "You had better be," she said. "This atmosphere is just as toxic as I remembered, I think I am better off working on my own Mil."

"But the Commodore?" she asked.

"Exactly.... the Commodore." Shon said before following the group out into the corridor Milani behind her.

Karadis caught up with Finchley and as she walked alongside him asked, "Was it really necessary to kill the 'other' Shon back there?"

"We couldn't risk leaving her alive" Finchley replied, "If she escaped, the alarm would be raised that we were here, if we left her in that room and she was discovered she would raise the alarm that we were here, so the only logical thing to do was silence her. Besides, we got the information we needed to find out where your CO was, that Shon was of no more use to us."

"When she's discovered dead, the alarm will be raised anyway" Karadis answered.

"Possibly, but we can only hope that the discovery comes 'after' we find your Finchley Kerr and begin the escape" Finchley said.

Soon they were at the security holding cells, and Finchley called them to a halt.

"Ok, here's what I was thinking" he began, "Shon, you go into security and tell them you have a few more questions for the Kerr in the cells. There's no reason why the guards in there should believe you're not the Imperial Emperors Chief Interrogator, so long as you act like you belong there. Once you've convinced them to take you to 'your' Finchley Kerr, the rest of us will come in, overpower the guards and release the Commodore from his cell."

She nodded, "But I am concerned about you?"

"You don't have to be, Karadis will look after me" Finchley replied, "Just be convincing like I said, they'll spot it if you're not, she has a certain type of arrogance."

Shon smiled and nodded her head in agreement. "yes, yes she does." she drew herself up and with a slight swagger walked down the corridor towards the cells. At least two crew members dropped their gaze and flattened themselves alongside the walls trying not to be noticed in any way. She finally entered the cells and, noting the crewman looking at her she walked over. "What are you looking at?" she said in a steely cold voice.

"I was wondering...." he sad with a try at bravura. "I was wondering what infernal delights you had for our prisoner Maam?"

Shon smiled a sweet smile. "Well now that you ask maybe I will let you into a little secret." she reached down and grabbed his balls in her hand and wrenched. The high pitched screams reverberated around the room. "How dare you speak to me little man, especially now I hold your life in my hand. You may indeed be the first to get a taste of my new surgical agoniser booth now wouldn't you like that?"

"NO NO please Maam I meant no harm."

"Take me to him NOW and I will think about forgetting you." Shon mocked. The guard nodded and crept in front of her using his codes to unlock the cage. "now that is forgettable and her hand reached out to his neck rendering him unconscious. Stepping over him she approached the naked slumped figure shivering uncontrollably. she knelt down. "Commodore... Finchley, it's me Shon... please we are here to rescue you."

His shaking was severe, his nerves shot, his breathing came in gasps and his body ached beyond anything he'd ever felt before...but he was still alive. he heard a voice that came to him from what seemed like a dream, one that caused a temporary halt to the suffering he'd gone through. Barely able to look up, he managed to turn his head to the side and see where it had come from, then he saw who it was.

"No....no...I already told you I don't know anything..." and he tried to crawl away, backing into the wall of the cell. He turned and began feebly scratching at the metal plate, trying to get through it, desperately wanting to escape.

"I don't know anything...I don't know anything..." he pitifully repeated, his finger nails now breaking and blood smearing down the metal, "leave me alone..."

Unbidden tears began to run down Shon's face onto his naked shoulder making little rivulets in the dirt on his body. "No, no, Finchley we have all come to rescue you, come back to me my love." she took his oh so cold blood smeared hand in her own and put it to her lips. The other Shon is dead, your alternate killed her. " she pulled out the hypo she had used on the other and depressed it into her Finchley's neck. "That should help your pain," she lifted his chin and gently smoothed some of the hair out of his eyes, "See it's really me, your Shon."

His eyes lifted to hers, he heard her words but it took a while for them to sink into his fevering mind. A shaking hand raised up, he placed it softly onto her skin and then snatched it back, almost unwilling to believe it was really his Shon. "She tricked me...but I told her nothing...nothing...and she still kept at me, hour after hour, day after day. I didn't break...as much as she wanted me to..."and his voice pitch raised to almost a squeal, "she did things to me...the pain was unbearable...but I never broke, no, not me..." and the flecks of spittle now sprayed out of the sides of his mouth, "I kept silent, yes, kept silent...then she brought in a new device, something that she used on my..." and his eyes closed, then sprang open and he stared wildly at Shon, "but still I kept silent...can't tell them, won't tell them...no. not me, I'm the keeper of secrets, I'm the gatekeeper between what is and what's not allowed...I do what needs to be done even at the expense of my own soul...and still I didn't tell them, can't tell them, lives depend on it...lives depend on it...lives, so many lives...so many...so many..." he babbled.

"We need to get you home my love I can help you there, back on the Thall. Finchley, Finchley look at me, I do not want any information from you just you back home and..." Shon looked up to see Milani looking shocked, all the colour drained from her as she looked at him seeing only a wild animal. Milani ripped a flag off the wall and gave it to Shon who wrapped it gently round him. "Where are the others, we have to get him out of here, get him home so I can help him."

Somewhere an alarm began to blare.

Finnigan ran into the cell room, "We knocked out the two guards in the hallway, Karadis and Kilbane are standing guard outside, but that sounds like an alarm meaning they found the other Shon who's dead, we need to go, and go now!"

Shon stood, "Help me Milani, Finchley come on, you must stand! we are going to take you home." Milani lifted him up and pulled his arm round her neck. Shon took the other finding a strength she did not know she had and pulled him up. "Walk Finchley....Commodore WALK that's an order." Shon said as the two of them began to move.

Finchley stumbled forward, his legs a little wobbly through lack of proper nutrition. As they came out into the corridor, he saw Karadis and Kilbane, alongside...himself.

"YOU, it was YOU they were after!" he shouted at the other Finchley, "They wanted me to tell them your plans, but I wouldn't do it!"

"I know they did, and I'm grateful you didn't...brother" The alternate replied, "and for that I'll be forever in your debt. Listen, there's no time for this, you all need to get out of here. Get back to the room we came in on transporting here, I'll hold the Imperial guards off as long as I can to give you time."

"That's unacceptable" Karadis replied, "they'll kill you!"

"Probably, in the end, yes, but it means I can give you valuable minutes to get yourselves to the transport point and get out of this universe and back to your own."

Finnigan weighed in, "Look, as much as I'd like us to stay here and talk this out, we need to get going."

Finchley looked at Finnigan, "Still the cold heart eh Finnigan, nothings changed then."

"It's just as cold as yours Kerr, don't think you're out of the woods yet" Finnigan replied, "even if we make it out of this universe, find the Romulan doctor and get that damned inhibitor our of your body, you're still involved with the plans we set in motion...which Kilbane screwed up setting is back as I said before...and I won't let you stop those plans and I am going to make sure your implemented if we fail and get caught."

"Just remember Finnigan, they were my plans originally, and you don't know everything or everyone who's involved..."

"As much as I want to see you two argue the toss about those plans, they can wait, we need to get out of here NOW!" Kilbane said loudly.

Finchley looked at Kilbane, "You're right, let's go" Finchley replied.

"Shon looked at the other Finchley, "I wish things had been different....thank you Finchley." she said as they entered the transport room to sounds of running feet and shouting. Shon and Milani managed to get him up onto the pad. Hurry!" she said as she felt him sag between them. "Let's go home" Milani said.

The sound of phaser fire came from down the corridor, and Karadis looked at Kilbane as they entered the transport room, "He has the heart of the Commodore, an honoured warrior."

"He fooled us into thinking he was 'our' CO Karadis!" Kilbane replied loudly, "he could have killed us if we'd listened to his plans to go after the Romulan doctor."

"And yet he gives his life now so that we can return to our own universe with 'our' Kerr" Karadis answered, "as I said, an honoured warrior."

"Whatever you say Karadis" Kilbane said, getting onto the pad. Finnigan and Karadis got on as well, and Kilbane looked at Milani, "Energise!"

Almost tripping off the transporter Shon said, "I wish we could have known him more." to no one in particular. She hit her comm "this is Dex two to transport to sickbay." She held on to Finchley and, as the beam began to dissolve their molecules she looked round the group on the pad. Who is friend and who is foe? she thought to herself.

[Sickbay]
A second later she was helping him up onto the diagnostic biobed. She breathed in through her teeth as she began to see the damage that had been done to him, "Finchley it's Shon," she said urgently, "I am going to give you an analgesic that will help with the pain." The injector shot analgesic straight into him as she looked into his eyes checking for head trauma, yet seeing a wildness of confusion and pain in them. She tried to reassure him. "We're home, you and me and the gang. Home safe on the Thall, say something...please?"

"The Emperor can't have his cake and eat it if he can't get the information, and you didn't get it because I didn't tell you anything" Finchley replied, his eyebrows raised, "what they can't know is I have the secret, the secret that can't be told. Nobody can know except the five who set it up in the first place and we all swore to secrecy, if one tells, the others kill them and I wouldn't be killed for it...no, no, no...I'm the keeper of the knowledge...only I know the whole truth and you can't have it...none of you can!"

She tried to sooth him, "I don't need to know the truth I just care about you, I'm not her Finchley, I am your Shon" she said as she worked on his bruises, lacerations and burns she began to sing a soft lullaby that Vulcan parents sing to their children inducing alpha waves for sleep.

He began to calm down as Shon sang, but fought against sleep, but it began to take him over. Just as he was going under he said, "Promise me to tell Kilbane, Karadis and Finnigan...the plan must go ahead...now..."

She smiled to see the pain and creases leave his face as she lay him down and walked over to a corner. Pressing her com she took a deep breath and said, "Dex to Captain Kilbane, respond please."

On the bridge, Kilbane hit his COMM badge, "What do you want Doctor, I'm busy?"

"I have a message for you from the Commodore he said 'the plan must go ahead now. I take it you know what that means and it is not going to lead to any casualties?"

"You don't need to know Doctor, you've relayed the Commodore's message, Kilbane out" he replied.

Looking at Karadis and Finnigan he said, "Well, there's no going back now, the two of you know what to do once we're back from this mission to find that bloody Romulan doctor."

Karadis looked non plussed, "We didn't start this Kilbane, he did!"

"And we'll finish it" Finnigan added.

Kilbane looked between them, "One of you needs to let McCrudden know."

"I'll take care of it" Finnigan replied.

Kilbane nodded then looked around the bridge for Milani. Seeing her, he walked over and said, "Commander, can I have a word in private please."

Milani turned away from the science console and nodded as she followed him. "what can I do for you Captain?"

Stopping by the Science console, Kilbane stopped and looked at Milani, "I know you're the ships XO, but I'm on the Commodore's personal staff so am the ranking officer on the ship whilst he's unable to carry out his duties, so am technically next in line to take over. However, that said, I have no desire to do so, I would rather you took the CONN till the Commodore returns to duty. I hope you're ok with that?"

Milani studied him for a minute, "I am fine with that Captain so long as you give me full authority and do not second guess me?"

"You have authority over the Thall's crew, but not myself, Karadis or Finnigan, they are my charges" Kilbane replied, "We are the Commodore's personal staff, outside your jurisdiction" he continued, "If you try to countermand anything I order them to do, I'll exercise my right as the Senior Officer on the ship to stand you down, is that clear?"

"So long as it does not effect the safety of this ship or crew Captain I understand. Permission to take the chair?"

"Granted Commander, I believe our course was to meet Commander Dex' Romulan compatriot" Kilbane replied.

"Yes Captain, we must hold this course for the next forty two hours then hold outside the system and wait to be hailed. I believe Doctor Dex will ask for a senior crew meeting once she has heard from her." Milani walked away and sat in the chair making it look as though it was made for her. "Listen up bridge crew, I want hourly reports on ships systems unless something comes up in the mean time. Once we cross over into Romulan space I want silent running and fifteen minute scans for two light years of the surrounding space."

Kilbane nodded his satisfaction at Milani's confidence and choice of decisions, there would be no fear or foul with her commanding the ships flight till Finchley was back in charge. Now, as to whether her choices once they met with the Romulan were as confident and exact as now, only time would tell.

[Sickbay]
Back in Sickbay, Finchley began to stir from the analgesic injection. His eyes opened and he looked around expecting to see the walls of the security cell he had been placed in. Instead, he saw the walls and medical machinery of the Thall's Sickbay, but he wasn't sure if this was a true reflection of where he was or if it was a simulation.

"Hel...hello...is anyone there?" he called out questioningly.

Shon had repaired his burns and injuries and was sitting tiredly with a cup of tea when she heard his uncertain voice call out. For a second she was loath to go to him in case he thought she was the mirror Shon but, walking over to his bed she noted with satisfaction more normal bio outputs. "Finchley," she said softly and put her hand on his. "It's Shon, your Shon. We brought you home, you are safe back on the Thall, back home with me."

He put his hand up and touched her face, "It's really you?" he asked, "and how did I get back here, the last thing I can remember is the interrogator using some kind of pain stick on me and asking questions?"

"We set out to follow you with the help of the mirror you, Kilbane, Karadis, Milani, Finnigan and the mirror Finchley. The mirror Finchley killed Shon after we found out where you were and he sacrificed himself so we could get away. We have been home for seven hours. I gave Kilbane your message, can't you tell me what this is all about, you know you can trust me?"

He looked deep into her eyes, "It's not that I don't trust you Shon, I'm trying to protect you if this all goes wrong" he said. He struggled up into a sitting position, feeling some strength returning to his body. Facing her he continued, "Kilbane had been working with McCrudden on a device that would help us get 'into' the mirror universe, we were going to try and negotiate a way of bringing some of their technology back here to help us refit some of the fleet with better weaponry, better shields better scanning equipment, but, the top brass got wind of the experiments we were doing and took the project over, they wanted to bring ships and troops over...start a full scale war on the Klingons and Romulans. The only way this could be stopped was if we went after the team that took the project over and those in the top brass who aided them...kill them in necessary. I hand picked the team that was going to do this and it consisted of myself, Karadis, Finnigan, McCrudden and Kilbane, that way, if failed and we were caught, the only one's who could be charged were us."

Shon wondered at what he had just told her, the scale was breath taking. Can you tell me who was involved, who the top brass were?"

"Well, now I've told you what happened, I may as well tell you the rest" he replied, "I know Admirals Cartwright and La' Belle were, they gave the orders to take the project over, I suspect Admiral T'Khan as he's head of research at Starfleet, but I need definite proof of that. The squad that took the research away from McCrudden and Kilbane was headed up by a former Security Chief of mine, Commander Ben Hallmyre...though who's in his team is unknown."

Shon nodded as she opened her medical tricorder, "I met Admiral T'Kahn once at a dinner. He was extremely sure of himself and by the time the dinner ended I had developed a strong dislike of him. Very unlike me. I have a friend who works in his office that might be able to get information. Hmm, I want to give you a shot of synthetic adrenaline, your levels are very low." She took the hypo. "you may feel a brief surge of anger but it will dissipate in a minute or so. Remember I love you, you are home and safe." She injected him and waited.

At first Finchley felt nothing, then a surge of what felt like electricity flowed through him, "What the HELL!!" he shouted at Shon, "what have you done to me!!!!"

The feeling passed as quickly as it had come and he once again began to feel calm and rested. "Sorry about that overreaction" he said to Shon, "but I've never felt anything like that in my life, it was almost uncontrollable."

He smirked as he felt his old self beginning to reaffirm itself on him, "You must let us try that in the bedroom" he laughed.

She breathed a sigh of relief. "Your limbic system took quite a blow during your......torture. It sort of blew itself out but your hypothalamus will re adjust in time, however you may need further injections but I will monitor that. Now, what would you like to do?"

"I'd like you to take me back to our quarters and tuck me into our bed, I'd feel more comfortable there" Finchley replied, "You could always give me a massage, my body does ache a lot after what happened, so to have all the knots and the bruising massaged, I would feel so much more relaxed and a lot happier."

She smiled, "I am sure Doctor Mora can keep this place running. Come on," she helped him off the bed thinking his legs might give out. the didn't and he stood. Walking slowly back to their quarters quite a few crewmen stopped momentarily at the sight of their CO in tattered clothes, stained and dirty. Eventually they entered their quarters and she guided him towards the bathroom. "you need a long shower sonic or water, a tuck up in bed and something to eat." She drew back the covers on their four poster bed. Tapping her comm she spoke to Milani letting her know that the Commodore was now resting in his own quarters and not to be disturbed for the present. "Come on," she said. "Do you need help in the shower?"

"Yes, I think I'll need your help getting undressed and washed" Finchley replied, "and I think a warm water shower would be more preferable than a sonic one."

Shon guided him in and helped him disrobe. The clothes he was wearing she put in to be destroyed and looked on as they fizzed out of sight. Finchley was shivering so she set the water on warm to hot, undressed herself and helped him in. Closing the door she began another head to toe inspection. There were signs of electrocution around his chest, his genitals and his toes. She gently washed his hair and his body. as the dirty water sluiced away she kissed every bruise and abrasion. He stopped shivering and began to stand taller. Shon's heart jumped as he began to look like her Finchley.

The water stopped and she replicated a large fluffy towel with which she began to dry him. As she dried him she kissed his wounds yet again whilst he remained silent. When he was dry she took him towards the bed. She took her tricorder and checked his brain function again. She was pleased to see it was now completely normal. As she turned to him she noticed he was studying her, his eyes roaming over her naked body and she began to feel warm. "You need to eat Finchley, what can I get you?" she asked trying to be his doctor once again.

"I'm not actually hungry per say" he replied, "but there is something you can do for me, bring out our 'box of tricks', I'd like to use some of them because there is something I'd like to eat" he smiled.

Shon turned smiling. "My love I have to refuse for you on medical grounds. Because the part of your brain that controls emotion has been damaged I am trying....i mean I wish to keep your emotions in range." she shrugged, "You feel good right now because I have made it so with medications and brain manipulation but it is still early in your recovery." she guided him towards the bed. "come on climb in and I will get you a drink and then I thought I might try a Vulcan massage."

Finchley couldn't deny he was disappointed, but he knew Shon was right, "Oh well, you're probably right, another time then" he replied, climbing into bed. The Vulcan massage sounded like something else, "I have to admit, I've had a few massages in my time, but never a Vulcan one, I hope it's a hands on one and not something that's just meditation."

Shon laughed. "No this is a hands on one, it is designed to increase the flow to and from the pleasure centres of your brain to receptors in your muscles." She undressed and climbed in shutting the heavy curtains around the bed. "There now turn on your side and take some deep breaths and then just breathe normally". She felt for the muscle apex in his shoulder and began to use her fingers to stimulate the nerve. As she pushed deeper she could feel the response in his amygdala. "Now you should begin to feel me." she whispered.

As Shon began to massage his aching muscles, Finchley closed his eyes as she began pressing her fingers harder into him. Suddenly his eyes opened and he moved away from her. "I think I've had enough of the massaging for now Shon, thank you" he said, pulling the covers back and the heavy curtains as well, then sitting on edge of the bed.

She sat up the covers under her chin thoughtful. Why do you feel that way?" she asked. "We rescued you and you jumped right back into command here without reflection, without letting things go. I want you to talk about it?"

He turned to face her, "What you want and what I'm willing to divulge are two different things Shon, be careful about what you demand of me" Finchley answered.

"I am demanding nothing more than a good CMO would ask," she said tartly. "I know full well there are things you cannot tell me but I owe it to yourself and our crew to have our Commodore as fit mentally and physically to do what needs to be done." She said more softly "Finchley you know I love you more than anyone but I know you do not fully trust me and that hurts but I live with it."

She went to the replicator and sat on the edge of her bed sipping slowly.

He got up and got dressed in silence. Returning to the bed he said, "I fully trust one person...me, because I know the monster I am and I know what I'm capable of. There are things I would love to tell you and the rest of the crew, things that would open us all up to a better understanding of why we do what we do or why you follow the orders I give when I don't tell you why, but I simply can't because to do so would not only put all your lives in danger, but end mine, permanently. Now, I'm going to the bridge, if you want to stop me you can do so, otherwise, we get on with the mission in hand" he finished, turning and heading for the door.

She smiled sadly. "No I won't stop you now, but maybe one day I will have to." She stood to get dressed. It will be another twenty four hours before I can expect Pel's call but I need to prepare in sickbay. See you later?" she called.

"Yes, later" he called back. A few minutes later he entered the bridge from the turbolift and walked towards the centre chair.

"Commander Milani, thank you for watching the bridge whilst I was away but I'm back now, you're relieved, please carry on your normal duties."

Milani nodded, "Yes Commodore." we are about to enter the Agromedes anomaly, so external communications will be impossible for six hours at impulse. She left the chair and went to the science station to observe.

Karadis, Finnigan and Kilbane were all very puzzled as to why Finchley was back on the bridge, he was supposed to be resting. Karadis walked over to Finchley and leaning in close said, "Are you out of your mind, what the hell are you doing here on the bridge, you've just been through a traumatic experience and are supposed to be resting!"

Finchley turned to look at her, then he stood up, "Ok, listen up everyone. Yes, I'm back on duty, yes, I've been through the mill a little recently but I'm perfectly able to carry out my duties as CO of this ship. If anyone has a problem with that, speak up now, it won't be held against you, I just want to know if anyone has?"

There was a lot of shuffling in seats, floor or ceiling intently being looked at, a few coughs, but over all there was silence by way of replies.

He turned to Karadis, "Satisfied Commander?"

Karadis looked at him in disgust, "If it were any other person, I would kill you where you stand. I was trying to look out for you, you arrogant bastard, but I see you're back to normal" and with that she went back to her console.

Finchley sat down in his chair again, eyes fixed straight ahead. Now it was Finnigan's turn to go and speak to Finchley, and when he got to the CO's chair he said, "You know Bird, one day this lot will turn on you, you can't stay angry all your life thinking everyone and their dog is out to get you."

Finchley turned his head quickly to look at the Irishman, "Can't I? When was the last time you were fully able to trust the crew you worked with eh? Right now, I can count on the finger of my hand the people I do" and he held up his middle finger.

Finnigan held up his hands and backed off a couple of steps, "Don't say I didn't warn you Commodore, but you believe you know best."

That was enough for Kilbane, he knew things had become taught, and there was only so far he could see it through and he was at breaking point. He walked off towards the turbolift and entered as soon as the doors opened, "Sickbay!" he said.

A few minutes later he entered the medical facility, "Dex, where are you?" he called out.

Shon looked out from her office, "Captain, what can I do for you?" she asked.

Kilbane marched over, "What the hell is Kerr doing back on the bridge, he's supposed to be resting? Karadis just tried to tell him that and he just stood up and asked anyone if they had a problem with him being back in charge. Of course, no-one dared speak up, but should he really be there? He's not done anything wrong asking what he did, but the man's just been through a hellish experience and you're supposed to be looking after him."

"It's not for lack of trying Captain. Physically the Commodore is...if not fine then able to conduct his duties, his physical wounds are healed. Mentally he is keeping himself together but he will not tell me anything, he is putting whatever it is on himself and it is grinding away at him. I can tell you that he is in short order of being medically relived of duty, but I do not want to do that. Milani is keeping an eye on him and I will be coming up to the bridge shortly. "

"So if he's physically fine and he's mentally able according to you, on what grounds do you think you can medically relieve him?" Kilbane asked, confused.

Shon smiled seeing his confusion." The laws are very inflexible if he becomes violent towards himself and, or the crew, if his orders endanger himself and the crew, beyond what would be deemed normal danger and if his orders become strange and unusual to the CMO." she sighed. "There is nothing I would like than for him to rest under his own steam. I thought he would relax in his quarters with me but, it was if a switch had been thrown and he jumped up, got dressed spoke to me of responsibility and danger and left. Something is eating at him, do you have any idea?"

"Take your pick, ideology, duty, arrogance, self loathing, loathing of missions he doesn't see as pertinent, arrogance, distrust of the top brass in Starfleet, arrogance, anything that stops him from killing himself to finish the job he's started...and did I mention arrogance?" Kilbane replied.

"But he has always been arrogant, at least as long as I have known him hasn't he? and, to be honest don't we all have some mistrust in the top brass. I worry a lot about the self loathing but If I take him off duty I will need to report it, Captain I don't think I can fix this, whatever this is. I cannot force him to tell me but it is getting worse isn't it?"

"I've seen him in a bad way before, but not like this, this is a whole new level of arseishness even for him" Kilbane replied. "There was a time when Karadis and I could literally say or ask anything and he'd give us a straight answer no matter how bad it was, but now, he's tighter than a ducks arse during a storm. I suppose we could always try to..."

"Senior staff to my Ready room" the call came through their COMM's from Finchley.

Kilbane looked at Shon, "Well, this can't be good..." he sighed.

"No" said Shon, "I don't think it can." she said as she followed Kilbane to the bridge.

Inside his Ready Room, Finchley watched as Karadis, Finnigan, Milani, Kilbane and Shon all trooped in. "Be seated" Finchley said, though he himself now stood and walked out from behind his desk and then perched on the edge of it. He took time to think about what he was about to say, then he looked each of the staff in the eye for a few seconds.

"I realise that all of you will have come to the conclusion that I'm not exactly...on top form, that I've become somewhat inflexible, cold, standoffish, closed and distant. There's a reason for this, and now is as good a time as any to tell you why. A few years ago, a plot was uncovered by SFI for Starfleet to try and gain access to the alternate universe and make an alliance with them to bring technology and troops into our universe. The reason for this was that Starfleet no longer wanted to be explorers, they wanted to become expanders, conqueror's, tyrannical overlords. SFIHQ thought that 'I', along with a select few other Captain's could stop this from happening. We were set a task, unofficially of course, to gather information where and when we could and if it warranted it, stop this from happening by any means necessary. Of the five Captain's and crews tasked with this mission, four of the CO's are dead along with their crews and their ships, leaving just me and mine. SFIHQ have found out that we're now being targeted by those in Starfleet who have succeeded in bring down the others Captains and their crews. I have found myself in the unenviable position of being both Saint and Sinner to try and keep you all shielded from this, but at the same time also trying to fulfil our missions. That's been a heavy burden to bear and it's taken it's toll on me. The last mission we were on saw me taken to the alternate universe by way of what was supposed to be the return journey through the time portal. Somehow it was altered, I was dragged into the alternate universe and their Finchley Kerr was placed here in ours. You figured that out and came and rescued me, for that I'm eternally grateful. What you don't know, but I'm now telling you, is that when I was being tortured over there, their Chief Interrogator went into a little detail on how they planned to help conquer this universe and how much damage they were going to do along the way in carrying this out. That has been on my mind constantly, so that's why I've been acting the way I have been. What I'm trying to say is I'm sorry that I've seemed untrusting, but this is a heavy burden I've been carrying, and I don't think I can do it any longer myself."

Milani looked at Shon then Karadis, Shon looked at Milani then straight at Finchley. She took out her tricorder and began to scan whilst the room remained strangely quiet apart from the hum of the little machine.

"What do you want us to do Commodore?" Milani said looking at everyone else.

Shon shut her tricorder and nodded, "This is our Commodore, but i want you in sickbay after for a full check up sir."

"We, because you're all now implemented in this due to your intervention..." Finchley began to answer

"What intervention?" Kilbane asked.

"The one where you went to see the Doctor here after I spoke out to everyone on the bridge to see what could be done about me" Finchley asked.

"How did you know about that?" Kilbane asked.

"Because I orchestrated it" Finchley replied, "Do you really think I would normally speak to the bridge crew like that, I've never done it in the past, but I did then because I wanted to know how you would react and you reacted exactly as I thought you would, go and find out why I was back on duty. I surmise that the Doctor would have said something along the lines of I hadn't shown any ill effects from my torture, so she saw no reason for me not to return to duty but that she would be keeping an eye on me to see if thee were any changes, like mood or reasoning swings."

"So you used me when I showed concern for you being back on the bridge?" Karadis asked angrily.

Finchley looked at her and said, "Yes Karadis, and I'm sorry about that, but I had to do it so that things would follow as I imagined they would."

Karadis stood up, her fist clenching and unclenching by her sides. "You shouldn't have done that Kerr, I will see to it I get even!"

"Calm down Karadis, nobody knew what I was doing, it all looked very natural and you played your part beautifully" Finchley replied.

"There will be a day when I'll make you eat those words" Karadis replied through clenched teeth.

Finnigan began a slow hand clap, "Bravo Commodore Kerr, bravo. Not only have you managed to alienate one of your own...Karadis there...but at the same time you've managed to deceive your crew, use them, then make an admission that you're unable to continue on your current downward trajectory with out us helping you out to save you're bleeding heart. Now that takes guts, or a lot of folly, I suppose it depends on your point of view. Me, I couldn't care less, I've known you for a very long time and never trusted you even when we served together. I'm different to all these other people here Bird, I never take what you say as the truth, I take it at face value knowing that underneath there's something you're holding back. However, as I was involved with the original team to find out why Starfleet were trying to get to the alternate universe, I suppose I gave you some leeway knowing that eventually you'd have to tell your own crew the truth. It's taken a while, but finally here we are."

Shon stepped forward angry, "Everybody calm down right now. I am bloody tired of all this subspeak. Finnigan, Finchley tell us the hell what is going on here? We are so near our next mission, so near Romulan space. Does any of this have to do WITH the current mission?"

"Milani spoke, "Security this is Commander Milani I want a eight security Officers down to the Commodore's ready room to be at my command. She sat down. "We need the truth."

"By all means, have Security come here Commander" Finchley said to Milani, "What are you going to tell them, to arrest me for telling the truth?"

Milani looked at him. "No Commodore I am acting on our Chief Medical Officer's instructions and for the possible safety of all on this ship."

Looking at Shon, Finchley replied to her question, "As a matter of fact, it does Doctor. The Romulans were involved in the last mission, I'm surmising it was them who managed to get me transposed into the alternate universe...how I'm not sure right now...but include the fact I have this 'thing' in my chest which was placed there by one of their own doctors and we have their inclusion. Find the doctor to solve my problem, it leads us to why they did it. If we can do that we can then find out for what purpose I was targeted in the first place. My guess, they found out about the plot by Starfleet to go into the alternate universe and why. They then found out which Captain's and crews were involved, which led them to me and ultimately us as a ship and crew. As to their end game, I think that they want to capture us and question us on what we know about trying to get 'into' the alternate universe and use that to then join up with Empire themselves so they the Romulans can then use their technology and troops to build a new Empire."

"Well as far as I see it" Milani stated "we have two options. Turn tail, run right back to headquarters and rely on medical to get this thing out, if they can then the Commodore is safe and the Romulans plans fucked. the other option by far the most dangerous is continue with the mission, find the doctor and get this thing removed without creating a bridge to the alternate universe."

There was a rush of feet towards the ready room and Shon went out. "Stand down for the moment." closed the door and sat down. "Why not just tell us this?" she looked at Finchley.

"Because I was trying to find a way out that wouldn't affect any of you" Finchley replied, "My intention was to protect as many of you as possible and 'not' get you involved. Those of us who are, myself, Finnigan and McCrudden, are the one's they want, and I didn't see why the rest of you needed to be compromised."

"Because we are your crew Sir," Milani said, shooting a glance at Shon which Shon took as to stay quiet. No one needed to hear protestations of love, service and sacrifice. "YOUR crew Commodore, we joined Starfleet and were recruited by SFIS, we all know the dangers , what might happen but that is why we are here. To deny us that knowledge is cruel and unusual treatment."

"Protecting you and the rest of the crew is cruel?" Finchley asked rhetorically, "Commander, one day you're possibly going to be Captaining your own ship, and there will be times when you're doing that when you'll realise that you have to do what you think is best for your crew rather than yourself. When that day comes, you think back to this conversation and what you've just said to me. Now, regardless of what you think, I took it upon myself to tell you all of this, I didn't have to, I could have kept my mouth shut but I decided not to. Blame me if you want, think of me as cruel if you wish, but one thing you should remember is this, at heart, my only concern was the safety and protection of this crew. Have me arrested if you want Milani, Shon, remove me from Command if you wish, that's your prerogative, but know this, whatever happens, wherever I end up if I'm not in command here, it'll be on your conscious. If things go awry, if any one of this crew dies because of your actions against me, it'll be your fault. Now, this meeting is over, I'm heading back to the bridge, either arrest me, confine me or let me get on with my duty...but bear this in mind, if you do either of the first two, I will make it my life's work to see you pay dearly."

With that, he stood up and headed for the doors.

Shon stood, "give me a minute, she said leaving the ready room for the bridge. "Commodore......Finchley we just want to be your crew and we cannot do our jobs if you won't let us." she took his hand. "you know I love you, more than anything but one man cannot carry the weight of the world alone. Tell us what you want us to do and we will follow you to the end?"

Finchley nodded towards the Security team that were standing beside them, "You want to be my crew, and this is what happens, Milani has the hubris to call them against me...me? Please don't say she was just doing her duty, that's what's called a power play, when you think you can scare someone into telling you something. Well, I don't scare easily, and Milani will find that out. Right now, I bared my soul to all of you, told you what was going on and in return I got anger and hostility. Believe me when I say that the walls are back up, that..." and he pointed back at the Ready Room, "will never happen again, trust me when I say that. I love you too Shon, but I won't change who I am or the mission I'm on. You're right, one man can't carry the weight of the world alone, I've just unburdened myself which means I now have room for more things, what I want you all to do is help me get this mission completed, get this digestion inhibitor out of me...then help me bring down a corrupt Starfleet cabal."

Shon nodded meaning to speak to Milani later. "Commodore I need you to come to sickbay when you are able so I can check on this inhibitor?" she looked at him to see anything in his eyes which told her he loved, or even cared for her. It seemed that nothing they could do or say would persuade him that they had no ulterior motive, but

"I will, but at the moment I need to prepare for this meeting with your Romulan friend" Finchley replied.

Milani walked back onto the bridge and Shon could see she was about to move over to him. Looking at Milani she shook her head imperceptibly and Milani settled herself at the science station.

Finchley turned to the Security team and said, "Stand down for the moment, I may be calling on you shortly though." As he turned back to walk towards the turbolift, he saw Milani at the Science station and stared hard at her, "VERY shortly!" he added. As he walked towards the lift, he stopped by Milani but didn't look at her, "Don't think I'll forget what you did Commander, I have a very long memory for those whom I find are treacherous", then he moved off again and got into the turbolift.

Shon followed him keeping pace, "Commodore do you want to be with me when I speak to Pel in four hours?"

"Yes, I believe that would be a great help" Finchley replied as they entered the 'lift. Once the doors were closed, he looked at Shon and said "I realise now that sharing what I did with everyone was perhaps a shock to you all, but now that I have, you all realise what's a stake. However, that said, as I mentioned a few moments ago, it'll never happen again and you're going to have to live with that Shon."

She smiled, "I believe it will happen again, one day when you are ready Finchley. My love for you does not grow dim, nor does it waver. I am here for you whatever happens, whatever you do remember that and cling to it if you can." for a minute she reached out to take his hand and held it. Then the moment was gone. "I need to go to sickbay to prepare to transfer us all into Romulans. I will return to our quarters prior to our meeting with Pel.

Back on the bridge, Kilbane exited the Ready Room and headed back round towards his Operations station. As he passed Milani he stopped for a moment, "That was a huge mistake calling the Security team Commander. Kerr will be livid, he may not have shown it in the room, but he 'will' be livid with you and I wouldn't want to be you now for love nor money. I've been on the receiving end of his ire for much much less, if I were you, I would grow eyes in the back of my head", then he moved off.

Karadis was next to exit the Ready Room, and as she passed Milani she said, "That was a brave call...the Security team...stupid, but brave."

Finally Finnigan came out and looked around the bridge. He realised that things weren't going to be the same from now on, fractures had begun to appear within the Senior staff 'before' the meeting, but now that the meeting had gone the way it had, those fractures were now chasms. There had to be a way of repairing the damage that had been done, though for the life of him he didn't know what.

Milani noted what was said to her, especially Karadis. She so badly needed a friend and had hoped the Klingon woman would be that....and maybe more but she would be damned if she was going to put up with that. After all she was just doing her job, trying to protect everyone from each other and themselves. She truly believed that trouble may have begun in that ready room and she had called security to actually protect the Captain.

"Two hours to the rendezvous point Commander." Ensign Sato said which brought her out of her reverie. She nodded and moved to the vacated chair. "Be on the lookout for any anomalies now we are out of the anomaly. Helm ensure we remain cloaked and run constant scans for two light years around us. We are now running silent and I want a yellow alert." She sat back wondering what shit she had gotten herself into.

In Main Engineering, Jock McCrudden walked around the room looking intently at the readouts of each station. Now and again the 'tut' or an 'Mmmmm' and he tweaked here and adjusted there. He was almost at the stage of relaxing when an alert blared out.

"What the hell's that?" he called out.

"It's the cloaking device Sir, it's malfunctioning" his assistant called out.

"That bloody thing, it'll be the death of us all!!!" Jock shouted, stomping over to it. He looked it over and saw that the main power line had ruptured, causing the cloak to stop working.

Tapping his COMM badge he said, "McCrudden to bridge, the cloaks offline, the main powerline's ruptured, we're attempting to fix it but I'll need to take the main reactor offline before we do that. We'll have no cloak, no engines, no shields and no weapons till we power the reactor up again."

Milani shuddered, the thought of being out there with nothing. she stopped to look at the faces of the bridge crew looking expectantly. "How long do you think it will take Mr McCrudden and is there any way we can return to the anomaly we only just left, we could hide in there?"

"It'll take us about thirty minutes to get everything back online, you'll have thrusters but that's about it" McCrudden answered, "I have no idea what the anomaly consists of as we have nothing to scan it with, you're going to have to make a decision yourself, McCrudden out."

"We cannot stay here." she said out loud. Tapping her comm she said "Commodore Kerr please respond?"

In his quarters, Finchley was about to sit at the work console when his COMM badge chirruped and Milani called for him to respond. Tapping it, he said "Kerr here, what do you want Commander?"

"Commodore, just informing you Mr McCrudden has advised the cloaking device failed, the main power line has ruptured and we have no engines, shields or weapons for about thirty minutes or so. I am preparing to try to return us to the anomaly we have just left for some cover."

"Did we scan the anomaly when we passed through it before Commander, if we have no shields, we could end up in bigger trouble than we're in just now?" Finchley replied.

"Sir we were unable to scan the anomaly due to the amount of Tichler radiation but we were able to pass through it. I just do not like the idea of being naked out here Commodore. We can use thrusters to return?"

As far as he was aware, there hadn't been any ships detected within two light years in previous scans before the trouble they had now, but that didn't mean there couldn't be ships coming their way now. "Best speed back to the anomaly Commander, try and get short range scanners back online if you can reroute the system bypassing the main frame power grid. Any kind of scanners would be helpful."

"Aye Commodore." Milani replied. "Helm port thrusters one quarter, we are turning around to return to the anomaly.

For a moment nothing happened then the stars began to change as the Thall began to turn.

"Slowly does it helm." Milani said as the anomaly they had just left came into view. "Now port thrusters ahead full." The Thall began its painful slow journey back into the anomaly. " Helm please place the Thall one hundred meters inside the anomaly and come to a complete halt."

Finally the Thall entered the anomaly and Milani breathed again. "Helm turn us around again and stop. I will be in engineering. Lieutenant T'las you have the bridge. She stood and took the turbolift to engineering. Entering she saw everyone at work and had a hard time finding McCrudden. "We are back in the anomaly Mr McCrudden how are the repairs going?"

"This bucket of shite needs an overhaul!" McCrudden shouted back at her above the noise of the work being carried out all around them, "and that bastard cloaking device needs to go, I don't care that it helps us 'when' it works. But, when it breaks down, it takes a whole load of other systems with it most of the time. I've tried telling that useless cretin Kerr a dozen times, but he wants it kept, but he doesn't need to put this place back together again when things go tits up!"

Milani smiled to herself. "Any kind of bucket of shit short range scanners we can get on line by bypassing something else?" she said.

"What fucking good is that?" McCrudden asked incredulously, "by the time we detected any ship it would be right on top of us. But, never let it be said I'm not a helpful old git. Get yourself over there to that secondary power modulator console. Open it up and remove chips one, three, six and twelve, move ten into three and fourteen into six. Close the panel and reboot the console, you should have a scanning range of about three thousand meters but that's all."

Milani almost wished she could stay in engineering to clash swords with him but she moved to the indicated panel and removed and replaced the chips. Shutting the console she took a deep breath and touched the panel. It sprang into life and she breathed a sigh of relief. As she walked out she shouted "Thank you Mr McCrudden, now get this ship working." and hurried out of his way.

"What the hell do you think I'm trying to do, bake a cake!!!!" McCrudden shouted after her, but she was gone. He swore that when they pulled in for their next refit, he'd chuck the cloaking device in the nearest crusher and to hell with the anger it caused.

Milani was smiling broadly as she walked back to the bridge and sat down. Several officers looked at her and wondered what she had found to smile about.

[Sickbay]

Shon was definitely not smiling, in fact she was beginning to feel trapped in sickbay. This was not where she wanted to be. She wanted to be with Finchley but he did not want to be with her. He questioned her loyalty and her love for him. She took out a paDD with the scans of his 'implant' studying them again for, what seemed the millionth time trying to find a way to remove it. She sighed reminded of her appointment with Pel. Tapping her comm she said "Dex to Milani, are we any nearer leaving the anomaly?"

Milani replied almost immediately. "No, Mr McCrudden is working on it and we have thrusters only. I do not want to leave until we have our shields, propulsion and weapons. Why are you asking Dex?"

Dex knew she could not tell Milani. "No reason I'm just anxious to get this mission over Dex out." It took her a while and she did not even know if he was in their quarters, or, even if they were still their quarters. However she had to try to prepare for her meeting with Pel. She walked into their quarters and looked for him. "Finchley, are you here?"

Coming out of the bedroom, Finchley replied "Yes, I'm here, I was just lying down for a little while to preserve the energy I still have. Is it time to contact your Romulan counterpart?"

"In an hour, but we are back in the anomaly. Milani told me the ship had just left the anomaly when it stopped dead. We had to limp back into it on thrusters. McCrudden says it will be a while. Trouble is we cannot communicate in here. If Pel does not reach me she may run and we loose our in. I wanted you to speak to her as well."

"One thing at a time, I'll deal with what McCruddens doing in a moment" Finchley said, "Why do you want me to speak to this Pel, I have no connection to her, only you do?"

Shon sighed. "I was thinking about what you said earlier, about trust, I want to see her reaction when she sees you."

"Are you thinking she may think I'm the alternate universe Finchley Kerr?" he asked.

"Yes, I am not sure she is not involved, I may be very wrong but when I see her eyes I will know. I can certainly disguise us as Romulans but if we don't have the in she can give us I am not sure what we can do. She does not know I have anything to do with you."

"We also have to know 'how' she knows the other Finchley Kerr, I mean, would she have met him, if not, how would she know who the other Kerr is and how he acts? I have no problem speaking to her Shon, it's 'if' she knows who he is that's the worry" Finchley said.

Shon agreed and set up the monitor in their quarters using a secure algorithm. "She pressed her comm. "Dr Dex to Commander Milani?'

Milani took a minute to answer and Shon looked at Finchley. "This does not bode well, we need to be out of this anomaly now and we need those comms."

"Milani here Doctor."

How is the progress with the repairs, we need to get out of here pretty much now?"

"I have been to engineering to see Mr McCrudden, he is working as fast as he can."

Shon cut communication. "You know if I were of a certain frame of mind I would say this failure right now is pretty suspicious. Maybe we should take a shuttle out of the anomaly to make our call?"

Finchley thought for a moment, "That's not a bad call..." he began to reply, then his COMM badge chirruped.

"It's McCrudden here, the main reactor's back online" McCrudden reported, "we've got the cloak working again so engines, shields and weapons are back online too, out!"

Finchley looked at Shon, "Man's a force of nature, I swear if you handed him a bowl of jelly, some biscuits and a cup of coffee he'd make you fuel for the ship to run on. Right, let's get us back out of this anomaly so we can contact Pel."

Shon smiled, as she felt the ship move forward out of the anomaly her screen burst into life, "five minutes to go. "Pel said she would piggy back it on an outgoing Preator transmission. Apparently there are several of them every day exhorting the citizens to 'greater things'. Suddenly the screen blipped and the face of a small beautiful black haired Romulan female appeared.

When she saw Shon her face broke into a grin. "Bless you Shon I have missed seeing your face and I was not sure your mission was still....." Her hand went to her mouth and she gasped...."Nooo" she breathed. Finchley, is that you? Ohh, it has been such a long time. Shon, oh Shon." Tears began to stream down Pel's face. "Oh Shon where did you find him?" Her fingers reached out to touch the screen. "Husband." she whispered.

Finchley reached out to the screen from his side, "Pel, e'lev...yes, it's me. I can't say to much just now, but rest assured Shon has been a great help to me. However, rest assured the Empire will be grateful she was able to do so, I may even recommend her for a citation."

Shon sat there for a moment not sure what to do or say. "Er Pel yes, I...we are hoping to see you soon?"

Pel still looked shocked "I thought you, you were going home? I never thought to see you again. Our son is growing strong, learning to speak his father's name, he looks just like you." Pel's eyes looked hazy.

Shon harrumphed. "Pel we cannot stay long on this frequency."

"Yes, yes, of course. I will meet you a day from now at the mining station on the second planet of Eteva. I have business there so no one will wonder why I am there. I will be in the little flea pit they call a bar. Safe journey, remember there is extra warbird activity, I still do not know why." She touched the screen, fly fast my love."

The screen went white and flickered off.

"Well!" Shon said. "Now we know she is not planning to betray us, or, maybe she was and now she has seen you?"

"This is going to get rather complicated" Finchley replied, "I mean, I don't have 'his' memories of the marriage, nor do I have 'his' memories of his son, how am I going to speak to her about those kinds of things because she'll want to?"

Shon looked solemn, "The only thing we can do is tell her the truth, Finchley do you think he might still be alive after all?"

"I don't know, the only way to find out would be to go into the alternate universe and see" Finchley replied.

Finchley's comm chirruped. "Commodore this is Milani, we are now out of the anomaly, shields, warp and weapons working. Where do you want us to navigate to?"

"We'll be heading into Romulan space, to the second planet of Eteva, but we have twenty four hours so we'll take our time" Finchley replied.

"Yes Commodore we are at warp three, cloak is working and scans show no other ships, looks like clear space to our destination. I know Commander Dex will be wanting the away team in sickbay for our transfer into Romulans at some stage. Milani out." She spoke to helm, "Helm our destination is Eteva plot a course there that will take twenty four hours at warp."

Shon sat down a sudden tiredness washing over her. "I will need to know who is going to be on the away team other than you and I, it will take me a few hours to replicate exact, comfortable disguises and I want you in sickbay so I can complete a full medical. But first I need to lie down." Shon stood swaying and sat down again. "Oh, dear me. Maybe I will stay right here on this comfortable couch." she swung her legs up settling into the deep comfort. "we need to talk about how we approach Pel Finchley, the last thing I want to do is lie to her."

"The away team will be you, me and Kilbane" Finchley replied, taking a blanket from a nearby cupboard and draping it over Shon as she lay on the couch. "As for speaking to Pel, I won't lie to her, I'll tell her I'm not 'her' Finchley Kerr, that he's in the alternate universe. I suppose we could use her being transported there to be with him as leverage in her helping us find the Romulan doctor we're looking for."

TBC