"Captain, hold position here, the sensors are starting to pick up another universe." ASHER requested.

"Helm. All stop, try and maintain this position." The Captain ordered.

"The scan is working, attempting to access the Bridge of the mirror vessel." ASHER remarked.

"Put it on the screen." Devore requested.

Suddenly the viewscreen changed from the wormhole to a view of the mirror Leviathan's Bridge. This time however, the sounds of the Bridge could be heard as well, if a little distorted.

ISS Leviathan - Bridge

Devore exited the turbolift, his personal guard taking up position right outside the lift door. Devore surveyed his Bridge with a sneer of mastery and with the walk to match he swung around to the command chair. The small tunic/vest did little to hide his muscular chest, the large scar running across his belly, worn like a badge of honour.

"Report! Ships status!" He ordered.

"Unchanged" Barker said, "Still no sensor contact with the target. We're sure they're avoiding us, but we're continuing our search pattern."

"Very well," said Devore and made for his chair.

Barker stood but did not immediately move away from it, so that for a moment he and Devore were almost nose to nose, Barker looking at him with an expression that bordered on amused pleasure at making Devore wait.

*Insolence, obviously.* Devore thought.

"Mister Barker, " Devore said, his voice rather pleasant, "Kindly remove yourself away from my seat before I am forced to request my chief bodyguard to put his phaser up one of those unlovely nostrils of yours and give your brainpan, as it where, a long overdue cleaning"

There were snickers around the Bridge, ASHER folding his arms and gazing in what could be classified as amusement. Should he decide to kill Barker, Devore knew ASHER was next in line for his position - it was no secret ASHER wanted Barker dead. Still, Barker backed off - but just slightly with a smile on his face that indicated Devore's personal bodyguards might not do as they were told.

*Or am I reading too much into it?* He thought.

He doubted it though and made a mental note to have Oakenshield mindscan all of the Captain's personal bodyguards later. Maybe if she had the opportunity, she could also scan the Captain.

Barker knew that the Captain was secretly seeing the Chief tactical officer, behind his wife's back. Whether the Captain knew that Barker knew was another matter, but Chu had in place a trump card if anything should happen to him. Insurance against any untimely death.

"Anything to report?" Devore asked Barker.

"We're still searching for Ensign Kowalski." Barker said, now frowning. "I should have thought there would be some sign by now. Don't anyone have any news as to why she's missing?" Devore enquired.

Barker's eyes gleamed. "There is always the matter of advancement in the ranks. Kowalski dies...someone else takes her place and everyone below them gets bumped up in rank accordingly." Chu replied. "There were several crewman under her that didn't like her style. Who's to say that they just waited for her to get a rotation that put her out of plain sight and took the opportunity to put her out of the way."

ASHER spoke up, his cold, mechanical voice filled with menace. "I am having them.... interrogated....now." Several of the consoles behind ASHER flashed and beeped.

Devore raised a brow at ASHER. The hologram was a ruthless Security Officer and a master tactician. He was known for his sadistic tendencies - something that was not unusual on this ship. However, where the use of pain was
required during an interrogation, he usually deferred to the ship's EMH.

Because of the EMH's skills and knowledge of anatomy, he was a master torturer, being able to 'squeeze' the answers out of prisoners, by 'squeezing' an internal organ or two. Plus, the EMH knew just how far to go without actually killing the prisoner. ASHER enjoyed the more physical side of interrogation, as did the Captain.

"Will they survive the interrogation, Mister ASHER ?" Devore asked, his
voice stern.
ASHER held his gaze for a moment, as if challenging him. Then he tilted his head to the side and behind him, the Security consoles flashed and beeped again. "They will now."

"Very good," Devore said, as if it mattered little. In truth, it did. Kowalski may have only been an Ensign, but Devore had liked her and marked her down for a great future.

"Carry on then, Mister Barker, and make sure all system are ready. Because if they aren't, you'll have a significantly reduced reason to smile." Devore threatened.

He kept the formal, polite tone, but nodded to ASHER's coldly sneering face. With a sullen look, Barker stepped over to a console and tapped a button.

"Engineering, " he barked. "Taline."

<Taline here, Commander. Ol' Scarchest still taking his nap ?>

Barker smiled like a schoolboy watching someone else get caught in a wicked act.

"I stopped needing afternoon naps in Kindergarten, Mr. Taline, " Devore spoke softly. "As for my scar, that is none of your business and you are asking for trouble."

<Uh, just a joke Captain.> said a voice from Engineering rather desperately <You know that you and Commander Barker have my utmost respect and....>

"Spare me the platitudes" Devore snapped. "Status report!"

<Engines are nominal, Captain>

"Mr. Taline, when I say report, a mean give me a full report, not these sullen half answers of which you seem so fond. Must I send Mister ASHER down there to apply some encouragement towards detail?" Devore sneered.

<Uh, no sir> said Taline, a bit of a cringe in his voice <But really, there's not much to report. The interphase reality shifter is on standby for the moment. We're checking it over, as per your orders, to make sure it took no damage whilst opening the rift.>

"That's better. And you better not be lying, Taline" Devore said menacingly, "I might be down there later to check myself and it would not be wise to have a malfunction - certain people would not be amused." Devore cut the line and sat back in his chair, contemplating the main viewscreen with intensity. Barker, standing at his side, coughed lightly.

"Yes, Commander?" Devore enquired.

Barker shook his head. "You're too easy on him. One of these days, he's going to get ideas and try something smart."

"For him..." Devore said softly "Or for you ?"

The stroke went home. Barker looked momentarily taken aback before recovering.

"Captain, you know I support you completely" He replied.

Devore laughed, heartily and from the chest, making it clear he didn't believe him. "Of course you do, Commander. And I trust you implicitly." Devore turned his seat towards the front again, crossing his arms over his mostly bare chest.

"Well, there's our ration of humor for the day. Mr. McCaffee, REPORT." Devore ordered.

He didn't really listen to the Ensign. The fact that he obeyed and seemed fearful of his own father, was enough for the Captain to hear. Sierra was always too soft on the boy, Devore wanted to make him a warrior, cast his son in his own image.

Back on the USS Leviathan, the ship went to red alert; the images on the screen blacked out and the view of the wormhole ahead of them came back into view.