Captain Devore entered his quarters. It was dark and unfamiliar to him considering he just spent the past few days in the holodeck, which seemed to him to last an eternity. The sounds, or rather the absence thereof, began to make him slightly nervous. In the holographic forests and jungles that he spent the last few days in, Devore was more comfortable with the chirping crickets, screaming bats, and the rustle of trees from wind and creatures alike. Now the mechanical sounds of the door whisking open and closed, the gentle beeps of the computer consoles around, and the harmonic feminine voice of the computer were all now something that Captain Devore will have to reacquaint himself with.

The darkness of his quarters didn't bother the captain. He walked in to the darkness, the door sliding shut behind him. As it did, the sliver of light from the corridors vanished. Devore walked about five feet. As he did as out of nowhere, a chair that had been stationary for many months even years, victim to the harsh treatment of humans and animal a like, lurched from it solitary placement and struck the captain. Devore's yelped in pain as he fell, cursing under his breath. Angrily he yelled out, "Computer. Lights! Full illumination." Instantly the lights came on and Devore moaned rubbing his foot. The chair in a subtle way, unnoticed to the human eye smiled as it watched the mere human, fragile and weak, succumbed to its vengeance.

"You know something, if I didn't know better I would of thought that you had a mind of your own," Devore said to the chair. Fortunately no one was around for if there was and he had been talking as he was, they would have for sure questioned his mental state.

"I need a shower," Devore said under his breath getting up and throwing the cape he had been wearing down to the ground. The tunic, britches and finally the boots, almost as useless as they looked, then followed it. Now the captain stood naked heading for the sonic shower. He couldn't wait. Yes it had been a long weekend, dangerous almost traumatic, but one thing that he did enjoy the sonic shower. "Computer. Initiate sonic shower."

Instantly, atoms, molecules, and other particles began rising off the captain's body leaving behind a clean that could never be duplicated with water. However, something about an old fashioned bath was always desired as a reward or even a pleasure, but for times' sake and function, the sonic shower was the best.

After finishing his shower, Devore stepped out and looked in the mirror that stood opposite the shower. It was unavoidable to see the reflection of her occupants and Devore was no different. He saw the aging man who once was a tremendous gambler, ladies' man, rogue now a loyal, honorable, husband.

Husband. at a time that word used to bring shivers to Devore's mind, now it was something that he was and it was something that he wouldn't give for the world.

[Captain,] the inter ship communication system chirped. [I am sorry to disturb your rest, but I think that you need to see this.]

"See what Lieutenant?" Devore asked rubbing a towel through his hair. The sonic shower even though used no water or liquids, the natural moisture present in the bathroom caused his hair to be moist.

[It is hard to explain, sir.]

"Fine. Patch the image here to my quarters." Devore walked out of the bathroom and headed for his desk where he had a small computer. He turned it towards him and punched a few buttons. On the screen the wormhole or black hole that was once about 100 feet across, was now double that.

"Lieutenant? What is going on?"

[In a matter of hours, the black hole has grown, doubled in size.]

"I will be right there. Notify Commander Rashad and the rest of the command crew. I want them on the bridge when I get there. Breaks will have to wait. Devore out."

Devore quickly put on his uniform. It was a far cry from the comfort of leather and cotton, but the familiar feeling of his Starfleet uniform and the four pips sported on his collar reminded him of his duties and obligation. Devore smoothed down the front of his jump suit and made sure he was zipped and ready go before he left his quarters. With urgency, Devore moved through the corridors and headed for the nearest turbolift. He entered it. "Deck 1"

The captain stepped off the turbolift on to the bridge. The crew was frantically working to keep from going into the black hole. Lieutenant Shale looked up from the science station where he had been helping Lieutenant Gomez with some calculations. At tactical, Lieutenant Dakul was analyzing some readout. Gordon who sat at Ops was frantically allocating the necessary resources to the departments so that the Leviathan can stay at bay. Devore took a moment to look over the bridge. He was glad to be back.

Devore patted down his uniform and headed for the command chair. As he approached it he smiled. The chaos of the bridge didn't phase Devore one bit, and as he sat down in the soft chair, he let out a soft sigh. "I almost forgot how comfortable this chair was," Devore said just under his breath, but just enough that Dakul heard him.

"I know, captain," Dakul responded. "When I went to my quarters and laid down for a minute I almost fell asleep." Devore smiled.

"Okay Mr. Shale. Give me a status report," Devore said standing up. He didn't want to get too comfortable nor did he want to seem that there wasn't an emergency.

"Captain. The ship is losing ground approximately.." Shale said looking back at the science monitor.

"About 100 kilometers per second," Gomez said.

"Captain Devore to Commander Taline," Devore said loudly.

[Go ahead captain.] A voice said from the other end.

"Luke, how much power can you give to break us out of the black hole's gravimetric pull?"

[The impulse engines are running at full capacity and the warp engines at 20%.]

"What would happen if we jumped to higher warp?"

[With the black hole still holding on? It would be like trying to pull a piece of tape off of your face. you can break free but you will leave some traces behind. We need something to disrupt the pull.]

Devore looked around. "Where is Commander Barker?"

"Captain," Shale responded. "He is tending to ASHER."

"What the hell is ASHER?" Devore said angrily.

"It is a long story captain."

"Fine. Mr. Gomez. If we were to launch a quantum torpedo detonating it right at the edge of the hole, would it be enough to break us free?"

"I am not sure. Theoretically if you detonate a torpedo in a black hole or worm hole you can destabilize it."

"Not in it, but just before it enters the mouth."

"Theoretically yes. We would need to engage the warp engines within moments the detonation."

[That is completely feasible captain,] Taline said through the combadge.

[I can give you full warp power on command, but the timing must be exact.]

Just as they were discussing the options the turbolift doors opened to the Commander Barker and ASHER who simultaneously came on the bridge.

"Permission to come a board captain?" ASHER said in an almost mechanical voice.

"I assume you are ASHER. Ensign Asher?" Devore said noting his pip.

"Aye sir."

"Fine. Take your post."

"Which is?"

"Over there, ensign," Barker said pointing to Dakul.

ASHER walked over to tactical and sized up the information instantly. Barker walked over to the science station where he looked over the computations.

"Mr. Barker," Devore said with a half smile. "Well?"

"Captain. We can time it within the mille-second, but there is no margin for error. It has to be done right the first time or we can leave the aft section of the ship behind."

"Alright. What is the time?"

"8.3 seconds," ASHER said looking up from the panel. "Which of course takes in to account the travel time of the torpedo, detonation time, and our acceleration speed."

"Impressive," Devore said sitting back down facing the view screen. He pressed a button. "All hands this is the captain. Secure all decks. We are going to execute a risky move, and all non-essential personal and items must be secured or locked down."

"Load two quantum torpedoes," Dakul ordered.

"Fire on my mark Mr. Dakul," Devore instructed. "Ready Mr. Taline?"

[Aye sir.]

"Helm set a course away from the black hole warp 9."

"Course laid in bearing 200 mark 2," the helmsman responded.

"Fire torpedoes."

"Torpedoes away."

On the screen, a swirling blue sphere appeared flying toward the black hole. It glittered and rotated as a Christmas tree light as it was pulled into the dark void of the hole. "Helm," Devore ordered. "Engage!"

The Leviathan's nacelles lit up and as the torpedo detonated, a large visible ring pulsated out away from ground zero. The hole fluttered and shrunk slightly, but as the ring reached the Leviathan she bucked once and took off towards the stars. The Leviathan shook and rattled, but within 3 seconds they were light years away from the hole.

"Good job everyone," Devore said with a smile. Every one deserves a break"

Lieutenant Gordon you, too. Shale take some time and be with your fiancée."

"Thank you sir." With that, Gordon and Shale walked off the bridge followed by some of the bridge crew. Devore sat at the chair and smiled.

"Captain," S'qeurei said from behind. She had come on the bridge as most were leaving. "I think that you and your crew need a break. Please take me to my planet and you will be ale to take some rest."

"Thank you, S'qeurei," Devore said with a smile.

"Helm, set a course 299 mark 3."

Devore nodded to the helmsman who looked back, questioning the order with his eyes. He punched a few buttons and the Leviathan turned heading for Daleria.