It had been quite some time now. Lieutenant Starsword was busy programming one of the helm computers while she waited without any sign of anxiety for the call that would tell her the decision had been made. If her request wasn't accepted, there would be plenty of other opportunities on a ship like the Ghidorah.

Ah, there it was. Captain Blackfire was sometime such a traditionalist to the regulations, why else would she bother to use her uniform communicator when there were so much easier ways to communicate throughout the ship? Starsword ignored the persistent beep and sent:

***Starsword here, sir***

"Report to my ready-room at once, Lieutenant", she said, still using the transmitter.

***Aye, sir. Starsword out***

As the Lieutenant floated through the corridors, she secretly wondered what the decision had been. Commander Paxton was against her, of course. That stinking half-human would rather see that equally half-breed woman Nogami at the post she was aiming at. And Brightsting, well, he wouldn't be exactly happy about having to lose his status as Head of Security to anyone. But the decision was only the Captain's, who was just as unpredictable as any elf had ever been.

The doors to the ready-room opened for her and she made a graceful touchdown to the floor. The captain rose slowly, then spoke. "Lieutenant Starsword, your request for promotion to the post as Head of Security on this vessel has been carefully considered. I've decided to grant your request."

If the statement made Starsword happy, she didn't show it in any way.

Blackfire continued. "But the promotion is only temporary. It will be a tough job, and you'll have to prove that you're up to it. Understand?"

***Yes, sir***

"Brightsting will get you settled in, and he'll keep an eye on you all the time. You'd better do a good job, if you intend to keep it."

***Yes, sir***

"Dismissed."

Brightsting waited for her outside the door. She could see as clearly, as if it had been written in his face, that he disapproved of the decision, but was trying to hide it.

"Follow me, Lieutenant", he said.

He's not going to call me "sir", Starsword realised. Of course, he wasn't required to. His formal rank was still higher than hers. She floated quietly after him, heading for the Security Office.

Anyone who would have seen them would have noticed only a couple of shadows, moving swiftly and soundlessly toward their goal.

At the office, Brightsting said, "All additional information and equipment you need is in these computers. You can use them with this pass card. If you run into problems, contact me." There was almost a faint smile on his lips.

Starsword knew that any such act would be considered a weakness, but nodded silently.

"You'll be required to carry at least one phaser", Brightsting continued. "Those daggers of yours won't make you long-lived at this post." On this statement, he handed her a small standard phaser. Then he left, telling her just one more thing. "Good luck".

Starsword didn't believe in luck, yet she thought: "That's what I'll need most", when she saw him walking off, back to his Captain's side.

She put the phaser to her belt, then paying it no more attention. She didn't intend to use it - a well-thrown dagger could do the job just as well. Then she turned to the computers. The first thing she had to do was make the security systems work for her, instead of Brightsting.

And that's were she noticed what the Lieutenant-Commander had been smiling at. The system was encrypted, naturally, but the pass card she had received was empty of all the essential codes. Obviously he had figured that she would have to come back and ask for his aid. What a fool! Brightsting must not yet have discovered the true advantages to come with the elfin powers aboard a starship. But, as she had not shared it with anyone, she could be the only one who had. Also, she could be the only one who possessed this kind of power, although she doubted it.

Starsword carefully placed her hands on the computer. Her mind went inside it, an odd sensation filled her when she "collected" the files and brought them up to the screen. It was no more difficult than simple sending. As a safety precaution, she changed all the passwords to 1000 number-and-letter combinations, changing every few minutes. Now she was the only one who could access the files, at least until any other crew member discovered the secret of "going into" a computer. And that she would deal with later.

With that much achieved, she could not resist the temptation to tell the Lieutenant-Commander that she had past the first "test".

***The Security systems are now in my hands***, she sent. ***Thanks for all help*** There was the mental form of an ironic tone of voice in her sending.

Brightsting had been waiting for her to come rushing after him. When she didn't he became concerned. What was wrong? Had the girl didn't even bothered to enter the systems? She couldn't have broken through the codes, could she? Then he received the sending.

"Puckernuts", he swore like a true Wolfrider. He hadn't expected that. Not that it really mattered. The Glider-girl may be good at using the ship's computers - he himself had never bothered to come get to know the silly machines - but she would most certainly not be able to do the job properly. She was just a little bird, trying to act like a wolf. He reported to the Captain.

Blackfire smiled to herself. Dreamsong who sat in her lap, humming, looked up.

"What are you smiling at, my Lord?", she asked innocently.

"Brightsting has done a lot of things on his own lately" the Captain answered. "Nothing that I disapprove of, of course. He gave the Glider a false pass card and she broke into the security computers in less than five minutes! She seems to be quite a burglar, the little one..."

"Won't that suggest that she's fit for the job?"

"Not at all. She still have to prove herself in those areas that are important. And she still has to meet Paxton. But what it does prove is that she has the spirit we're looking for. That's why I smile."

"Oh", Dreamsong said, and went back to her humming.

***Windweaver to Starsword.*** The sending echoed clear in the Lieutenant's mind and was quickly replied to.

***Go ahead, Doctor.*** Starsword knew Windweaver quite well, and she trusted the Healer just a trifle more than she trusted most members of the crew. Windweaver had once offered to heal the Glider's arm, but Starsword had rejected the offer - she needed the scar to remind her what she once was, and what she could have been.

***Please come to Sickbay, lieutenant. There's something here that you must see.***

***Acknowledged. I'm on my way.***

She floated quickly down to the Sickbay, only to find a crowd of curious off-duty personal around one of the sick-beds. Windweaver waved at her from across the crowd and made her way forward to meet her.

***I'm glad you came***, she sent. **I think that you, as our new Head of Security, should take a look at this. It's just awful! One of our Lieutenants, Oleson from Engineering, is badly hurt, and I'm having trouble imagining anyone but an elf to do it to him.***

***An elf?***

***Yes, I think it was caused by magic. Yet I don't know which one of our crew has such strong flesh-shaping abilities.***

***Can I see him, or have you already healed him?***

Windweaver had now reached Starsword and took her hand, urging her to come along.

***I don't think I'm able to heal him. The only thing I can do to the poor fellow is take his arm off, and I've been reluctant to do it. I guess I'm hoping for a miracle.***

Starsword shrugged, as they made their way towards the bed, at the thought of a wound not even the skilful Healer could mend. People made way for the Doctor, revealing a dark-haired, human male lying on the sick-bed. He was obviously unconscious, but his face twitched, as if in great pain. Doctor Sornal was attending him, and looked up as the elves came closer.

"Look at it, sir", he said to the Glider. "Look at it and tell me what you think."

Starsword looked where the Vulcan had pointed and almost made a face. Lieutenant Oleson's right arm was virtually gone, leaving only the bones and a few scattered pieces of flesh. Sure he was a human, and she didn't pity him very much, but it wasn't a beautiful sight.

"As you can see, his flesh has been liquidised", Sornal explained. "The only logical explanation is that it was made by elven powers."

Starsword agreed on that, but she had never met any elf with that sort of power, and she became curious about him. Who was he, and why had he so openly displayed his powers? Surely he must know that at this point, most of the ship's crew was looking for him?

***Have you any idea of who did this?***, she sent to the Vulcan. She approved of Vulcans, both their logical reasoning and their ability to receive her sendings appealed to her. Sornal couldn't answer her question in the same manner, though, so he spoke: "Not as yet. We have found no witnesses, and Mr Oleson has been unable to speak for the time being."

***What about...?*** Starsword was interrupted by a noise from the back of the crowd. It appeared to be an argument going on among some young human Ensigns, and finally two of them stepped forward, glancing nervously at each other and shrinking under Starsword's ice-cold glance.

"Eh... Sir... Doctors... We've got something to tell you", one of them, a rather nice-looking, red-haired young man said. He looked hesitantly at the other one, a blond, eagle-nosed man in his thirties.

"We were there, sir", the blond man continued. "We saw who did this. His name is Shadowsharp, and he's an Ensign wearing the blue Science uniform..."

"We... we were just walking in the corridor, sir", the red-haired Ensign continued. He refused to meet Starsword's eyes. "All three of us.We were talking, and suddenly this little elf comes forward and... and does this to him!"

Starsword nodded. It was an obvious lie, but there might be some truth in it. She'd better have a little talk to this Shadowsharp.

***I'll take care of this***, she sent to the Doctors, then floated away over the crowd. She took ground again in a corridor, not far from her own quarters. She didn't bother to ask the computer loud, but merely "sent" to it to tell her more about Ensign Shadowsharp.

"Rank: Ensign, Race: Elf, Age: Unknown, Record: Second best in his graduation class. Suspect in the mysterious disappearance of Recruit Pike during his first academy year, but nothing could be proved. Time of Service: Eight weeks, Previous assignments..."

Starsword listened patiently. The perpetrator was obviously a freshman, and his record was not all that good, so he might have reason to get into arguments with the other crew. But she could bet the matter had something to do with him being an elf and Oleson a human. Such things were bound to happen. She had herself some smaller fights with human crew members who didn't think she was competent enough, so that was really nothing to worry about. But still... She made the computer tell her where Shadowsharp was now.

She found him in a corridor, on his way somewhere. She was a little bit surprised to see that instead of walking, the dark-skinned elf was floating over the ground the same way she did. He didn't seem to be in any hurry. Starsword watched him from a distance first - he was quite tall, brown-skinned, almost black, and rather handsome.

***Ensign Shadowsharp***, she sent and landed on the floor before him. He looked a little bit startled, but answered calmly.

***Yes, sir?***

Starsword looked at him closely and got a feeling that something about him was familiar. Perhaps his movements, perhaps his dark eyes that seemed to absorb the light of the corridor.

***I am Lieutenant Starsword, Chief of Security aboard this vessel***, she introduced herself, trying to hide her confusion, ***and I'd like to talk to you.***

***Go ahead.*** His face was expressionless, but there was a glint in his eyes.

She dragged him forward to another corridor that was less filled with people, and told him: ***A Lieutenant Oleson is currently in Sick-bay, his right arm being so badly hurt that it proves impossible to heal. It will have to be removed, making him a cripple for the rest of his life. I'm told you are the one who hurt him.***

***I did.***

***You realise that confession can make me lock you up in the brig, don't you?***

***But you won't do that, right?*** There was a faint smile on his lips. ***After all, Oleson is just human, and my powers might prove useful...***

Starsword was on the verge of smiling too, before she came to her senses. She rather liked this guy, and now she realised why he had demonstrated his powers so plainly.

***That's more or less right.***, she answered. ***As Chief of Security, I'm supposed to work for the good of this ship, and I feel a power like yours is to great to be wasted on your crew mates, when you could use it against the Empire's enemies.***

***So what would you like me to do?*** His smile was broader now, but it was a friendly smile.

***If you are a Flesh-Shaper, I gather you are a Healer. It is beyond Windweaver's powers to heal Lieutenant Oleson, therefore I order you to do it.***

Shadowsharp looked somewhat disturbed, but he concealed it well. ***I'd also like you to give the Captain a report concerning your powers. She will decide what to do with you, but I will recommend you for all battle missions. If you serve her well, Blackfire will perhaps even promote you... What do you say?***

"That seems fine", he said loud, but he looked a little bit surprised.

***I'll keep an eye on you, and if there's any sign of trouble at all from you, I won't be this forgiving again. Understand?***

He nodded.

***We can't have crew members...*** Starsword was interrupted by the beep from her communicator. She sighed.

***Go ahead, Captain***, she sent.

"You're needed in Shuttle-Bay Three, Lieutenant. We're receiving the new Vulcan recruits in about fifteen minutes." Starsword knew about the new recruits. In fact, they were delayed, and should have arrived the day before, but that didn't help her now.

***I'm on my way. Starsword out.***

"Pressing business, I guess?" Shadowsharp said cheerily.

***Yes. I'll have to go now, but I'll keep an eye on you. As long as you stay out of trouble, you'll be all right, but I don't want you to maim any more crew members.***

Starsword took off towards Shuttle-Bay Three, and before long she stood face to face with Blackfire, Paxton and Brightsting. Together they were to greet the new recruits that came directly from Vulcan, as the starship currently passed near their planet. Paxton gave the Glider a hostile look but said nothing. Brightsting gave her a fierce stare, which she was forced to turn down as she didn't want to challenge him, at least not yet. His wolf, Daggerthorn, however snarled at her openly.

The atmosphere was pressed at the very least. Blackfire saw this and wondered what Starsword would do about it. Was she really strong enough to bear the hostility of most of her other bridge crew?

Starsword ignored the half-Klingon and the Wolfrider, but turned directly to the Captain. Blackfire spoke: "Are you ready to take care of the newcomers?"

***Yes, My Lord.***

"Good."

There was a silence, but fortunately it didn't last for more than a minute, before the air-lock flung open and and let in a small but comfortable Transport Shuttle, made for shorter journeys at low warp-speed. It parked gently in the bay and four Vulcans in golden Operations uniform emerged.

"Welcome to the Empire starship I.S.S. Ghidorah", Blackfire said to them. "I am Captain Blackfire, and this is Commander Paxton, my second in command, Lieutenant Commander Brightsting, my personal guard, and Lieutenant Starsword, my temporary Chief of Security." There were no stress on the word "temporary", but the mere fact that it were there told Starsword that she wasn't at all accepted yet.

The Vulcans introduced themselves, and the officers greeted each of them. Starsword sent her greetings, and was amused by their surprised looks when they received her sendings. These Vulcans had obviously not had much to do with elves yet. The last one, however, did not look surprised. In fact, he stared right through the air as though he had not received her. Starsword's eyes narrowed, and she kept the man's name, Ensign Tavol, in her mind.

After the greetings Starsword led the party to another room where their DNA was scanned and recorded in the computers, and since none of them showed any abnormalities, Starsword relaxed and handed the people over to their department chief.

Eventually, when she found herself back at her quarters, she fell on her bed. She was quite tired, and she felt lucky that another day had passed without serious incidents. She took up the PADD with the crew's personal records, as she had been studying the night before, and sat down on her couch. But she had barely sat down before the beep on her door told her someone wanted to see her. Her probing thought told her it wasn't an elf, so she let the matter be for a moment. If he was eager to see her, he should try again, and if he wasn't, he had no reason to bother her. There was a brief silence, and then the door beeped again.

Starsword sighed and made the door open.

She didn't look up from her read, even as she heard someone was walking towards her. A shadow fell over her face and a voice boomed: "Are you the Chief of Security?"

Starsword nodded without looking up.

"Are you really capable of that job?" Now the voice turned ominous.

Starsword felt her dagger ready at her waist, but nodded again.

"Can you talk?"

Starsword finally looked up at him. It was a huge, dark-skinned, shaved human from Earth, with a mean look on his face as he watched her. She knew him - Lieutenant Hawkins, one of Paxton's most trustworthy associates. She said icily: "I can", but her voice was hoarse and almost broken. She didn't like the sound of it even herself.

Hawkins raised his hand as if to slap her face. Mostly as an insult, to show her exactly what he thought of her and all her kind. But Starsword had known such attitudes before, and she felt a similar way towards him, so before his hand went down, she was there no longer.

Instead she was behind his back, with a dagger in her hand that just barely pierced his skin.

"Girl, you're fast", he said, but as he said it, he grabbed her left arm and threw her over his head. As she was floating, she didn't fall very hard, but the fact that he'd caught her made her angry. She knew Hawkins to be a good fighter. Let's see how good!

She floated up above him with the dagger ready to throw. Suddenly he laughed. "I came only to give you a message. Paxton wishes to see you in Shuttle-Bay One at 02:00. You'd better come." Then he turned and walked out of her room. As the door closed behind him, Starsword's dagger flew through the air and struck the exact middle of it with a sharp noise.

Actually, Starsword was glad for the invitation. She didn't like sneaking around, and she knew she had to take care of Paxton sometime. She was quite certain it was going to be a trap, but that didn't mean she had to step right in it. Paxton would have to learn to respect her tonight!

She picked her dagger up and looked at her timepiece. It was 21:47. She sat down again on her couch and went back to her documents.

At midnight she finally put them away. She still had two hours until her meeting with Paxton, but she wanted to have a look around first - she didn't want anything to surprise her this night. She picked her longsword in its scabbard from the wall over her bed, where she usually kept it when she didn't need it, and fasted it comfortably on her back. She made sure the sword wasn't stuck in its sheath, and that her daggers were easy to use in her belt before she felt ready to leave.

But she realised that she didn't want to be spotted by the ship's computers to Paxton's benefit, so she took her communicator off and left in on her bed. It wasn't exactly permitted according to regulations, but neither was fighting commanding officers, but it had to be done. Then she left her quarters and floated silently down the corridor. No one was nearby, but the light was on in the corridors, for the night-personal to use.

She stopped for a moment and made the computer tell her where Paxton was right now.

"Commander Paxton is currently in his quarters."

He could be there, but he could also have done the same thing as herself, so she didn't trust it. She continued, following a route that would take her through several of the ship's parts, but end her up in Shuttle-Bay One, which was her goal.

The corridors were strangely silent. Not even once did she see anyone or hear any voices. She began to wonder were everybody was, when she suddenly heard the faint sound of wolf-paws in a side corridor. A moment later a huge dark-grey wolf leaped towards her! She had barely time to draw a dagger and bury it in the beast as it attacked, but she knew it was a poor cut, just above the its right front leg.

The wolf howled and stepped aside, making ready to attack again. Starsword saw now that it was Daggerthorn, Brightsting's wolf-friend, and she wondered where his master was. She didn't have to wonder for long - just as her eyes were upon the wolf, she received a sending from behind.

***Let's see how good you are, Little Bird!***

With that she heard a swishing of air just behind her back. She turned around and floated upwards, but was just barely able to avoid the lethal cut intended for her. Instead it hit her left leg, causing a long, shallow wound. She threw her dagger, but her aim was poor after the surprise-attack, and Brightsting was quick to duck, and it hit the floor.

Starsword drew her longsword, and faced the Lieutenant-Commander. ***If you so wish***, she sent. ***Winner takes it all!***

In an instant, they were over each other. Sword against sword clinked time after time. Brightsting was somewhat stronger, but Starsword had the advantage of moving freely through three dimensions. Daggerthorn was watching carefully at first, growling and snarling, but soon he disappeared by some silent command from his master.

Eventually the Glider's sword hit the Wolfrider on his left shoulder, causing a deep bleeding wound. His response was a furious blow that threw her right into the computer panel on the wall. Half-dizzy, she paraded his next attack, but she felt her concentration was failing. She had never fought an elf before, and she never imagined it would be so different. She found she didn't want to kill him.

Maybe Brightsting had the same kind of thoughts, for suddenly his guard went down for a second. Starsword saw her chance and leapt at him, nailing him to the wall with her sword at his throat.

***I don't want to kill you***, she sent, ***but I'd rather kill you than having you constantly behind my back, and I...***

Suddenly a great pain grew in her body. She dropped the sword and fell to the ground with it. Brightsting widened his eyes in surprise, then walked away slowly, with his eyes on something behind Starsword.

The Glider lay on the ground. She wanted to scream out, but she didn't, instead she painfully turned around - she didn't know for sure who had done this, but she had strong suspicions.

Behind her stood Shadowsharp. He was smiling again, but this smile wasn't friendly at all. He shrugged and sent: ***Someone else made me a better offer. That leaves you out. I'm afraid I'll have to kill you.***

The pain in her body grew worse. She tried to fight it, and suddenly hit some inner strength that she never had known of before - with sheer will she kept her body from melting away. Her resistance couldn't last long. She had only one chance, but she needed more time!

"I surrender. I'll do anything", she whispered, not daring to send this time. No one can send a lie. Shadowsharp looked at her somewhat surprised and the pain decreased.

"So..." he said.

He didn't get any answer. Starsword's mind had leapt into the computer systems, figuring her only chance lay there. But something was strange - she felt at once that someone had tampered with the systems! There was no time to investigate it now, so she found what she sought for and started it.

Behind her Shadowsharp disappeared in a flash of blue light-strings...

Starsword breathed hard and felt her body slowly getting back to normal. She hadn't killed the Ensign, although she could easily have done so by transporting him outside the ship. Instead she had put him in his own quarters with all doors locked. She knew she had to take care of him later - but that would hopefully keep him in place until the morning. She also had to find out who the person was who had "made him a better offer".

Starsword thought about reporting the incident to the Captain, but she did not intend to report Brightsting's attack. It was a matter between him and her, and had little to do with the ship as whole.

She had a little more time now, and she was curious of what had happened with the computer systems! She sat as she was and "went in" to examine it. What she saw chocked her. Some of the security codes had been broken and classified information had been transmitted by hyperwave to a planet in the Theta Sector - at the border of the Romulan Empire!

There must be a spy from the Romulans on board!, she thought, but the only Romulan on the Ghidorah was one of Blackfire's personal slaves, and that poor girl could hardly have the opportunity and knowledge for this - it was a neat job. Starsword doubted that anyone without her special powers could have discovered it at all. She had to tell the Captain - and immediately, before the spy did more damage.

Starsword hesitated. Too much was running around in her head right now, and besides - which she noticed as she checked out the computer - it was only a few minutes until her appointment with Paxton. She rose and flew down the corridor towards Shuttle-Bay One, with more than one goal in her mind.

Commander Ra'Kul Paxton had been waiting for her. It wasn't his usual way to make an appointment with his victims, but he was curious about this spunky little elf that had dared to get the position of Chief of Security. Letting Hawkins handle it - scare her and kill her if necessary - would have been the simplest way, but the simplest way was not always the right one. Paxton wanted to kill this girl - but he wanted to do it himself!

He had chosen Shuttle-Bay One for two reasons. Partly because there were lots of room - he didn't like fighting in narrow spaces - and partly because it was empty. It was the least used of Ghidorah's Shuttle-Bays, and he knew for sure it wouldn't be used tonight - except by himself.

His bat'leth weighed light in his hands as he waited...

Ah, there she was. The door opened and, silent as death, the Glider entered. Her long sword glimmered and her eyes were unreadable. She touched down maybe five metres from him and said nothing. He didn't expect she would. Sometimes he wondered if this strange woman could talk at all. Instead he fastened his eyes on her and said himself:

"Ah, there you are. Feel honoured, I don't usually settle my disagreements this way."

He took one huge step forward and struck at her with his weapon, but she parried it with ease, which surprised him. He had learned that you have to count on surprises when dealing with elves. She wielded her sword towards him, but only struck metal against metal. In the same movement he tried to get her from the left, but he struck only air as she had already flown from the spot. He barely parried a blow against his back, but his counter blow hit nothing again.

Paxton almost started to regret having challenged her openly. She was fast - very fast - and she flew like a bird, hiding at the ceiling for a second, then diving towards him again. He still did not doubt he could beat her, but although he had hoped for an easy fight, he wouldn't get it!

Starsword had never fought a Klingon, or even a half-breed, with a bat'leth before. He was incredibly strong and his weapon struck differently than a sword. As long as she could confuse him by getting at him from all angles at once, she was sure she could beat him eventually.

Blow upon blow... Starsword wouldn't have had a chance without her floating skills, but as it was, she matched him. Neither of them could hit the other one. Suddenly Starsword drew a dagger from her belt, floated off beyond his reach, and threw it in one swift movement. It hit him in his upper right arm, just where she had aimed. He shouted something in Klingon, but Starsword stayed where she was and waited for him to be quiet. Then she spoke:

"Listen!" her voice was still hoarse, but surprisingly loud. "We have worse enemies than each other! A Romulan..."

Paxton didn't listen. With the speed of light he drew his phaser - he had his chance now when she didn't move. Before Starsword had even registered it, the gun was in his hand and fired! His aim suffered due to his damaged arm, but the ceiling just to the right of her glowed red for a moment.

The Glider cursed herself silently. She hadn't expected him to use such weapons, but it didn't really matter. He obviously wouldn't listen to her, and that was just as well, but it had been only fair of her to try.

Now she came after him again. Their weapons met, sword and bat'leth, but this time Paxton was indeed furious. His blow came with all his strength, and Starsword was carried away by its power. The Klingon smile returned to his lips. With the next blow he sent his bat'leth slightly aside and downwards, a manoeuvre that would never work against another bat'leth, but did seemingly well against a long sword.

Starsword's teeth clenched as she lost grip of her sword and saw it slide away over the floor. The drew her second dagger as a final defence and headed for the lost sword. She was off balance, however, and Paxton's fist struck her to the ground. She grabbed her phaser, but it was too late! Paxton's great weapon was already upon her in an instant. But even before that instant had passed, the half-Klingon collapsed at her side. Starsword could hardly have been more surprised, no matter what.

She quickly floated up, not trusting her eyes' witness. Paxton didn't move, but now she saw he was breathing, alive but unconscious. As if he had been stunned...?

She felt around with her mind. No elves were in the bay, but she did feel someone.

"Who...?" she asked towards nothing. A few seconds passed without answer, then a figure emerged from the shadows behind a shuttle. A Vulcan, holding a newly-fired phaser in his hand. She could recognise him as Ensign Tavol, the new recruit she had been suspicious of earlier in the day. She suddenly realised who he was.

"You are not a Vulcan." she said.

"I am not." His eyes gleamed. "But I believe I saved your life."

She picked up her sword and turned towards him again. "Why?"

Tavol smiled, a sad smile, but yet a very un-Vulcan gesture. "I saved you so that you can save me. You see, I'm in trouble."

"I am sworn not to aid the Empire's enemies. What could you do to make me change my mind, Romulan?"

"I'm not asking you to help my people, only myself. And as for a reason, don't you elves have honour enough to feel gratitude when someone saves your life?"

"I'm listening...", Starsword said, almost against her will.

Tavol sat down with his back against the wall. "I failed my mission", he said. The transport to get here on your shuttle was delayed, and so the files I sent to save my people were sent too late. Too late to avoid a massacre. The Agnesters, my people, were all killed." His voice was emotionless now.

Starsword began to feel sympathy for the boy. He was alone as she had been.

"The plan was that I would come here, send them some files and then escape during an attack on the Ghidorah in a few days", he continued, "but there will be no attack now. You're the only one who know about me - and as Chief of Security you can make sure no one else ever will! I am officially a crewman of the Ghidorah - and that's all I am now! All I want you to do is to let me stay."

"You'll be doubly a traitor. Whom do you serve?"

"No one. The Agnesters were an independent colony. I was never in the service of the Romulan Emperor."

Starsword thought about it. She knew it would be treason to keep this young man safe, but on the other hand, she just couldn't send someone who had just saved her life to certain execution.

"What about Paxton?" she asked suddenly, as if just remembering the Commander, still lying on the floor.

"I stunned him. He'll be okay when he wake up, but he won't remember how your fight ended."

I am twice in this one's debt then, thought Starsword. He didn't only save my life, but also hid the fact that I was beaten.

"I will do it." she said. "As long as you don't have any communications with the Romulans, I'll let you stay on board under your alias. But you'll have to tell me your real name."

The Romulan hesitated, then he said: "I am Un'dem."

Starsword looked deep into his eyes and saw no lies.

"I trust you", she said.