The Return : Inner Turmoil

*USS Lynx*, June 4, 2383

"I am not leaving you again." She cried as she stood on the transporter deck.

"Yes Lieutenant, you are ! Besides, I need you to give a message to Harris."

"But Marc."

*Please don't do this to me !* She thought.

"No buts. Tell Harris the co-ordinates of the Lynx and if I am not on board Leviathan then to engage and destroy the Lynx. Beard has gone crazy and we must stop him. Understood ?"

Sierra started to cry, *I can't live without you !*

"Understood Lieutenant. ?"

"Yes sir."

*How could you do this to me ! I won't survive without you this time !*

"Sierra !! I love you." Devore said as she energised into the pattern buffer.

Hellcat, June 6, 2383

The next thing Sierra knew, she was on the Hellcat's transporter deck.

"We must go get him !!" She screamed not giving the command staff a moment to welcome her aboard. Commander Toran, Ensign Ambrose, and Lieutenant Rashad stood in front of her shocked at the immediate outburst as her pattern rematerialised on the aft transporter pad.

"Counsellor, we will. Please try to stay calm." Toran said trying to calm her down. He then noticed her face and the bruises around her jaw. "Sierra, are you okay ? Who did this to you ?"

"Captain Lighter." She responded lowering her head in shame. "Please, don't ask me any thing else for a little while ?"

Toran understood and ceased asking her any other questions, "Where is the Captain ?"

"We have to go get him. I have the co-ordinates." Sierra excitedly replied.

"Good. But first I want you to be checked out by the EMH. Computer! Activate Emergency Medical Hologram."

In the far corner of the ship the Hellcat's holographic projector created the new EMH. Ambrose, in designing the new, sleek ship figured that a roaming EMH was better then one solely limited to sickbay, so the entire interior had projectors built in.

"Please state the nature of the emergency." The EMH said in its monotone way.

"Doctor. I want you to take Counsellor Devore to sickbay for complete medical workup." Toran ordered.

"No, Commander! I'm fine! I must give you the co-ordinates. of the *Lynx*." she pleaded.

"Fine counsellor. Give me the co-ordinates. then go with the EMH to sick bay. Understand ?" He said also looking at the distraught counsellor.

Sierra agreed reluctantly. With a nod, Commander Toran walked over to the Captain's chair while the Sierra walked over to the helm and gave Ambrose the co-ordinates.

"How long do we have until we reach the Lynx ? asked Toran.

"According to these co-ordinates. we could be there in four hours at maximum warp" Ambrose said verifying the co-ordinates. and location. "Of course these co-ordinates are now two days old, but it would be a start."

"Let's do it !" Exclaimed Toran "Engage ! Counsellor ?" Toran's one word question had but one answer. Lieutenant Devore followed the EMH to sickbay. Slowly they left the Bridge.

While the Hellcat was on its way to the Lynx, the EMH was treating Counsellor Devore's wounds.

"It looks worse than it is, Doctor." Sierra said.

"Well, we don't want to take any chances. Your jaw has a slight fracture. You were hit pretty good." Remarked the EMH.

"Yes, I was." She said remembering the incident. "Do I have to stay here ? Can I go to a crew quarter and rest there ?" Sierra pleaded, "I promise, I will stay !"

"As long as you stay there. I will check up on you every couple of hours. Understood ?"

Sierra nodded and walked out of sickbay.

She followed the short corridor to the crew quarters and found an empty room where she plopped down on a bed. Sierra looked up at the ceiling and her mind began to wonder. Here she was on the Hellcat while her husband, "Mr. Superman" was out "Fighting the Universe". . .alone . . .without her.

*How could he do this to me ?* Tears began to roll down her cheek. She could no longer hold in her emotions and grabbed the pillow. She buried her face in the soft pillow and cried till she fell into a deep sleep.