Ryan's quarters were completely dark. The past few days, his normally tidy quarters
had deteriarated rapidly into an absolute mess! Hardly a single uniform was
left in his wardrobe, but rather they were strewn across the floor or hung oer
the back of furniture. Dirty plates of food and glasses of drink lay everywhere
that had not been put back in the replicator. As the sounds of Ryan snoring
grew louder and louder, the doors to his quarters hissed open and closed again.
A small dark figure silently moved across his quarters. It sniffed at the plates
left on the table andnibbled at a few of the left over morsels. It proceeded
into the bedroom area and found Ryans bed. Slowly and silently, it sliped up
under the covers. and made its way toward the top of the covers.
Ryan slowly opened an eye and peered down at a lump moving about under his covers
on top o fhis chest. He grabbed the covers and tugged them off.
"Bloody cat!!" he yelled as he threw it off the bed. He let out a sneeze as he picked the cat u and escorted it outside his quarters. "Computer, seal doors" he said gruffly as he got back into bed.
Try as he might, he couldn't get back to sleep. It was a good thing too in a way, or he would have had to have been woken up again.
[Chief Talmsin to Captain Evans]
"Go ahead Chief" sighed Ryan.
[I'm sorry for waking you Captain, but there is an urgent message for you from Admiral Ross.]
"You didn't wake me. The bloody cat did that! See that the computers are configured so that that cat can't neter my quarters. And patch the communication down here."
[Will do Captain.]
Ryan got out of bed and replicated some coffee. Pushing a lump of clothes off a chair and moving some dirty dishes out of the way, he sat down in front of his personal mini view screen as the image changed from the Starfleet logo to Admiral Ross.
[My apologies for waking you Captain, but this matter may concern you.]
"Not to worry Admiral, I was awake anyway. Now what is so important?"
[The Arlan IV penal colony was destroyed yesterday in an ariel bombardment from rebel Klingon ships. The colony was completely destroyed.]
"Heim?" asked Ryan suddenly remembering that that was where his former first officer was being held.
[His body was not counted among the dead, nor was he among the few survivors. We can only assume that he somehow managed to get the help of the Klingons to help him escape.]
"Damn it! Does anyone have any idea where he may be?"
[No one at all Ryan. One other thing, several other inmates were not found. Some of the most dangerous people there. It is a good chance that you may meet Mr. Heim again sometime in the future.]
"Thankyou for letting me know this Admiral"
[That's ok, I'm just sorry it had to be in the middle of the night. Try and get some sleep Ryan. Ross out!]
"Damn it!" said Ryan holding his head. *Things keep on getting worse. I can't take this pressure much more.*
It was true that Ryan was near breaking point. His sleeping routines had been sporadic lately and four hours sleep a night was rare. He pulled on a pair of trousers and a grey top, he then got his casual captains jacket and wrapped it round him. He needed a walk. He winced as he stepped out into the light of the corridor and sneezed when he noticed Torasau still waiting by the door. He headed off down the corridor toward the mess hall.
On the way, he passed Karissa's quarters.he stopped outside, wanting to ring the chme and go in, but he knew she would be asleep and if she were awake, then it would not be the right thing to do. "I hope you liked the present" He whispered as he carried on.
On arrival in the mess hall, he sat down and stared out into space. Below the Ronin was a swirling blue gas giant. Ryans gaze became so transfixed on the slow swirling of the planet, that he didn't notice anyone enter the room.
"Captain?"
Ryan almost jumped out of his seat. He turned and saw Dinara walking toward him.
"What are you doing up at this hour?" she asked
"I could ask you the same thing" Ryan retorted
"It's my night for the night shift" she answered simply. Ryan looked back out on the planet below. "Captain, is there something wrong?"
"No.. nothing's wrong" he answered.
"Captain, I'm not stupid. Do you want to talk about it?" she asked, moving before him and obstructing his view.
"I just want to be left alone" he said as he got up and walked closer to the window.. looking out on the planet below.
"Captain, I'm here should you ever need to talk." she said as he rested a hand on his shoulder.
"Thank you" he said without returning her look. Dinara removed her hand and left Ryan standing at the window. Staring out on the planet. For another hour he stared out of the window. Until the cook arrived and began pottering round in the kitchen. Ryan left and headed for the holodeck. He strolled out along the Bosherston beach. The simulation was in synch with the ships chronometer, so it was early morning and the sun was just rising as Ryan walked across the sand. The sky was grey and overcast. The wind was cold and the sea was dark, cold and rough. After two or three trips up and down the sands, Ryan left the holodeck and headed out. On his way to the bridge. He passed Admiral Pike's quarters. Up until now, he was unsure, but now he was adament. He stepped up and ring the chime.
"Come in" came the reply "What can I do for you?" he asked.
"Admiral, we need to talk..."
said Ryan as the doors slid shut behind him.