The Retreat : Enter Darwin

On the Bridge, the lights began to flicker. Back up power was operating fine, but hardly anything else was. Lieutenant Shale sat in the command chair, an honor that only had been bestowed him seeing that all the higher ranks were in the holodeck with Captain Devore. Lieutenant Gordon sat at Ops trying to reallocate power to the ship, but to no avail. She hit the console with her fists.

"Janet..." Shale said after the initial shock of the massive thud. "....what's wrong ?"

"I can't get power back up. This cascading power failure is really beginning to upset me." She replied frustrated.

Shale got up and walked behind her, placing his hand upon her should. Gordon smiled and nuzzled her cheek against his hand. "I just don't understand it. According to the computer everything should be running perfectly, but obviously not !"

"I know, I know. We have got to find out what is going on. Look!" Shale said pointing to the monitors. "That black hole there almost got the Hellcat and I will be damned if I let it get the Leviathan."

"Well Rick, if we don't get power back to the warp core, we won't have anything to say in the matter will we ?" She said with a sarcastic smile.

"Get to work then." Rick said returning the smile.

Holodeck Two

Devore stood with his back to a tree. His weary crew was now injured and everything that he had planned was not going at all. Now his son's life is left in the balance and Morriden was no where to be found. *What is going on in here ?* Devore thought.

Just then from behind a stick snapped and like lightening his swords were unsheathed and he was poised for attack. As he turned around it was Sierra, dressed in a cloak covering her revealing outfit. "Don't do that !" Marcus said sheathing his swords.

"I am sorry." Sierra said with a small smile. "You looked mighty impressive though... you know pulling your swords and all."

"The time I spent in security helped honed some of my senses."

"That isn't what I meant, Marc."

The Captain knew what she meant and just smiled. He gently stroked her cheek. "I know what you meant, Sierra." He stood there and looked at her for a moment. "How is Brayden ?"

"Brayden needs to get to Lynn," Sierra said solemnly.

"If I could I would let you all go...." He said shrugging off and began to walk away. "but my programme has gone all to hell and I can't stop it."

Sierra grabbed her husband's arm. "I know Marc. It will be okay." She pulled Marc to her and held him closely, wrapping him gently in her cloak. "You know that I love you."

"Yeah," Devore said pulling her close and kissing her passionately. He pulled away momentarily. "I just wish we didn't have all this missing time between us."

"It will be okay honey." She smiled devilishly.

Marc looked at her and returned the smile. "Well you do look mighty sexy in the outfit. It almost makes me want to....."

"Shut up and kiss me !" Sierra said cutting him off with a passionate kiss.

From the darkness of the woods there came a gentle clapping sound.

"Bravo ! Bravo ! I am almost in tears." Said a voice from the general direction of the clapping.

Captain Devore acted instinctively and pulled Sierra behind him. He jumped ahead to protect her from the unknown assailant. "Come out and show you yourself." He yelled pulling his boomerang out from its harness. "Identify yourself !"

"...or what ?" The voice retorted defiantly.

"Or I will make you sorry that you crossed my path."

"Oh really..." The voice said in its sarcastic tone. "....well then I may want to identify myself."

Into the campfire radius, a small humanoid creature walked in. He stood about five tall and had violet eyes. His ears were pointed which barely shown through a silvery mane of hair. His frail looking body was covered in 20th century suit, complete with a tie and handkerchief which protruded from his breast pocket. Under his arm, he had something that resembled a scepter but it was simply an elegant walking cane which he grabbed and leaned on.

"Let me introduce myself, my name is Darwin." He smiled showing his pointy, white teeth. "Welcome to my reality !"

Marc looked at Darwin. He didn't remember programming someone, or something, like this into the program. "Who are you ? Or better yet, What are you ?"

"Sir, I am an elf... well at least that is what I was able to get out of this primitive program... by the way what is this programme Captain Devore ?"

"You know who I am ?" Devore said astonished.

"But of course....." Darwin said as he approached the Devore's. ".....I know everything about you and all about you my dear."

Darwin's eyes lit up as he neared Sierra. However, Marc stepped in front of Darwin. The short elf was at chest level to Devore, but slowly looking up he glared into his eyes.

"I mean no harm.... at least not yet." With a wisp of his hand, Captain Devore was pushed to the side as if an invisible force moved him.

"... and to you my dear," Darwin said grabbing her hand and gently kissing her knuckles. "Tis a shame that you are with this oaf. You could have done such better."

"Like you ?" Sierra said jerking her hand away.

"Sierra, you mustn't be rude." Darwin said mocking a frown.

"Okay that is enough you." Devore said returning to his place in between the two. "Sierra, why don't you check on Brayden."

"Yes... why don't you check on your son and while you are at it, you may want to check on Dakul. The berserkers really did a number on him." Darwin smiled again but this time his smile was almost devilish even sadistic.

Sierra left the area and headed back to the sleeping area.

"What do you want ? What did you do to my programme ?" Devore yelled grabbing Darwin by the lapels.

"Temper, temper mon Capitan." Darwin said with a tight lipped smile. He reached up and grabbed the captain's hands and as if it were nothing peeled the rock hard grip away. "What I want will be known soon enough, as far as your programme... well it just seemed such a bon fide outstanding way to access your ships' systems."

"You have got to be kidding. All this is an elaborate scheme to take control of the Leviathan ?"

"Nothing as grandeur Captain. Just ease." From behind, Phanan armed with his sword, Rashad, Barker, and Taline joined the Captain. "I see the cavalry has arrived, but obviously there is no threat as of now."

"Captain ?" Rashad asked.

"It is all right as of now Commander." Devore responded.

"May we go to the fire. It is deathly cold here," Darwin said wisping through the crew to the fire.

"What is going on Captain ?" Phanan asked as the Captain walked by.

"I am not sure Jon, but I don't like this."