Betrayal"
By: Ian Hunter, Commanding Officer, [PC]
Patia Zoei, Chief Counselor, [PC]
Giuseppe Silvio, Chief Engineer, [RNPC]

Stardate: 58209.09 1033

Sahril looked up from the LCARs screen she was studying. "Sir! A transmission has just been made to the Federation from the Zion."

Hunter spun about in his command chair. "What?"

"A moment Sir."

Hunter glanced at Wright and then stood up and looked over Sahril's shoulder.

"The message contains our coordinates and certain mission aspects."

"Who sent it?"

She shook her head tersely, "I don't know. Whoever sent it has intricate knowledge of the ships systems. I'm, I might be able to reconstruct the command pathway to..."

"That won't be necessary Captain," said Silvio, a sad look on is face, beads of sweat running down his face. As he spoke the Zion's massive warp drive deactivated. With it, the Zion's cloaking device also disengaged and the Zion began drifting is space.

Hunter turned and realized what he had done, "Silvio? Why?"

"I can't let you destroy the Federation's best laid plans Hunter," he snapped drawing his weapon. "We will wait here for the USS Minot to come take you into custody. Please sit down Hunter."

"You know we can't do that," said Hunter calmly. He nodded at the two sentries near the turbolift. They reached for their phasers.

Silvio expected this would happen. He raised his phaser and fired twice.

He watched as Melissa Jarvis disintegrated along with one of her security guards. He returned the phaser toward Hunter, "Do not do that again."

Hunter's blood boiled. How could he have trusted this traitorous wretch. "Computer, delta sequence 3."

The computer responded with a muted chirp. "Incorrect authorization."

"You know I can't let you take the ship."

"I've isolated all command functions Ian," said Silvio with a slight laugh.

"Even if you kill me you cannot hope to get away." He laughed again, "I'd rather you didn't kill me though. I'd like to be paid for this mission."

Silvio paused and looked at Patia who stood next to Hunter. "I will miss our encounters though," he said.

Patia's eyes narrowed slightly. Her head cocked. An image darted through her mind, Silvio's erect back as the fingers of his hands danced over the keys of the piano. The sound of "AmadeusMinuet" filled her ears. With absolute certainty, she knew that would be the password. It was a message he was trying to send about their encounters. The sound was tinny, though, not the clear reverberations she remembered so clearly from that night.

"No, you won't." She raised her phaser, site locked on his chest. A cold voice, so unlike her usual warm and inviting tone spat out "Computer, restore command functions, authorization 'AmadeusMinuet'". As the light of recognition dawned on Silvio's face, she pulled the trigger.

"What..." Silvio's face was a mask of surprise. The phaser bolt hit in dead in the chest and knocked him against his console and to the ground.

Hunter nodded at Zoei, "I guess that payment will have to be deferred," he said tapping his combadge, "Engineering, respond."

An anonymous voice answered replied, "Here Sir."

"Get those engines online."

"Right away Sir."

He turned toward the tactical officer who reported, "Cloaking device coming online Sir."

"So is warp power Sir," announced helm.

Hunter nodded, "Red Alert," he said then turning forward, "Helm heading 292 mark 9, warp 6."

Hunter stepped down to where Zoei still stood. Holding the phaser she shot Silvio with.

"Was that hard?" he asked.

"I'll be honest, Captain. It is never easy to kill a sentient being. It is an awesome responsibility to snuff out another's life force, like one would blow out a candle. Was it harder because it was Guiseppe Silvio, is that what you are really asking?" She cocked one eyebrow at him, her eyes searching his face as she waited for his answer.

Hunter simply nodded, 'yes.'

The world froze just as a chime sounded, "Simulation complete"

Silvio --the real Silvio-- suddenly stepped out of a bridge console and stood of his dead body. A large gaping hole in his chest. "I can't believe you actually killed me."

She shrugged. "You shouldn't have sold out us out. If you hadn't, you wouldn't be dead. However, you aren't dead, so I didn't actually kill you."

She shook her head slightly. "I have been around too many humans lately. This circular logic makes my head hurt."

The holodeck shimmered and faded. Silvio watched his dead form disappear.

"I'll make sure not to do that."

"Captain, did you need me for anything else?" Patia asked. "If you don't, request permission to return to my quarters."

Hunter nodded, "Performance debriefing will be at 1600," he said with slight smile. "Dismissed."