"It was a dark and stormy night…," Captain Nickeas softly said out loud. He smiled then put the book back into the bookcase. He was never sure why he had kept it but it was good to read that title when he needed a lift. He was off shift and wondering what the future held for them. The starship Chicago had been in the mice’s universe for a few months and he remembered with a smile the reason they had come back. (okay this may be wrong but I couldn’t think)

Preparing himself for bed he sat on the edge and looked at the picture of the mice and his crew. ‘This is a good assignment for all,’ he thought to himself. Putting the picture down he stretched out and fell instantly into a deep sleep. The next moment he was back on Mars in what looked to be a park of some sort. Looking around he saw a playground with swings and bars for children to climb on. "Where am I?" He asked out loud.

"I would think it would be obvious," a snide voice said behind him.

Turning around Captain Nickeas saw a man dressed in a Starfleet Admiral’s uniform. "I know you," he said. Thinking to the ships records that he had read he thought of only one person. "Q."

"Very astute," Q said and clapped his hands sarcastically. "Just as quick as the others; Jean-Luc, Benjamin, and of course the lovely Katharine, who had the chance of a lifetime to bear a child of "Q" but I thought better of it."

"I read that it was she who declined," Keith said smiling.

"Well, what ever," Q said and waved his hands to dismiss it. "I’ve come here because you were wondering what the future had in store for you and your crew?"

"It was just a passing thought," Keith said, not trusting Q’s tone of voice.

"Well, I’m here to give you the chance of a lifetime," Q said expansively with a smile. "You will be able to see into your future and be able to change it."

"Not this time Q," Keith said and turned around to walk away.

Q appeared in front of him. "Not even if it means the death of your crew?" he said mysteriously.

Keith paused and looked at Q seriously. "Why do you care?" he asked.

"Because I have come to be fond of you humans for some odd reason."

"I don’t believe you," he said.

"Be that as it may, I can show what will happen soon enough," Q said.

"What?" he said, knowing that Q wouldn’t stop, nor let him go, until he consented.

"Well, just that your ship and all of your crew will die in temporal effect that will be starting soon," Q said matter-of-factly.

"When?" he asked in shock.

"Soon. The past will be changing and the effects will be great," Q said. "And I’d like you to meet someone of interest." Q pointed behind Keith and he turned around. There on the swing set was a cream/white colored, female Martian mouse. She came over when she saw Keith looking at her.

"Hello," she said, smiling, and held out her hand.

"Hello," he replied and shook her hand. "What’s your name?"

"You may find that out soon enough," Q said, coming up to stand behind Keith. The female mouse lowered her hand and stepped back. Q put his hands on the captains’s shoulders. "But there is one question you should ask yourself…"

"What?" Keith asked when Q didn’t finish.

"Is she friend or foe?"

Keith turned his head to look at Q but he had disappeared. He turned back to the female mouse and her expression had turned sinister. She raised her hands as they began to glow and advanced on him. He tried to move away but was unable to budge from his spot. "NO!" he yelled but she kept coming closer. She put her hands to either side of his head and he screamed in pain as energy began to flow through his body.

On the Chicago, Lieutenant Jess Martin was on her way to her quarters when she passed the Captain’s quarters. Thinking to herself, ‘Man, I’ll be glad to get some sleep.’ She had just finished pulling a twelve-hour shift because her relief was not able to come in so she had to wait until they could get someone else. As she went buy his door she heard him cry out, "NO!" Stopping at his door she tapped on the panel to come in. The bell sounded but he didn’t answer. She heard him start to scream in pain and she said to the computer, "Security override to the Captain’s quarters, authorization Romeo-Echo-Delta 843." She drew her phazer as the door opened and leapt into he room, ready for anything. Seeing nothing around she went into the sleeping room and saw the Captain thrashing around in his bed, holding his head. She put her phazer away and walked to the bed. "Captain?" she asked. When there was no response she shook him and said louder, "Captain! Wake up!"

Instantly coming awake he stopped thrashing and looked around. "Wha…?" he said dazedly.

"Captain, you were yelling," she said. She backed away as he sat up.

He saw the Lieutenant standing there finally and said, "Thank you Lieutenant…?" Remembering the pain he began to rub his temples expecting to find burns. Not finding any, to his surprise, he swung his legs over the edge of the bed

"Lieutenant Jess Martin, sir," she said and saluted. "I came in when you started yelling, thinking something/someone was attacking you."

"Did you call for back-up Lieutenant?" he asked her and returned the salute.

"Negative, sir," she replied.

"Next time call for back-up before you enter a unknown situation," he said then rubbed his face, trying to make the feeling of being electrocuted away.

"Yes, sir," she said. "I have been reminded of that many times."

"Next time do it," he said.

"Yes, Sir. May I ask what was happening?"

"I was dreaming…I think," he said with a pause. It had felt very real to him.

"Sir?" she said confused.

"I’m fine now Lieutenant," he said tiredly.

"Yes, sir." She saluted, crisply turned around and started to walk out the door.

"Jess?" He said, halting her in mid-stride. When she turned around he said, "Thank you for waking me."

She smiled, blushed a little and said, "You’re welcome sir." She turned back to the door and left.

"What does he want with me?" Keith asked himself after she had left.