Serenity

A Personal Log by Lt. Jen Lee

She walks through the dewy grass slowly, lost in her inner thoughts, and at peace with the world around her. The grass is soft under her bare feet, the earth moist. Bordering the meadow on three sides is a dense forest of evergreen trees, a lazily running river completes the outline. Sun is streaming down from a cloudless sky, and birds can be heard singing in the trees. She lifts her face up to the sun, letting her long dark hair stream out behind her in the gentle breeze, a smile upon her face. She reaches a large boulder by the side of the river, and climbs upon it, eventually sitting down, and arranging her loose flowing skirt around her. She rests back on her hands, and allows the sun to warm her, and to dry her dew soaked feet.

After several minutes, she sits up fully again, and wraps her arms about her bent knees, and surveys the area around her. Across the river is an expanse of rolling hills covered with a wide range of colorful flowers. She smiles at the sight, knowing that there is not another being within kilometers of the spot. This is her favorite spot to come think, and allow the stresses of life to retreat for a time. Though it is somewhat difficult to get to, she feels it is worth it. By the time she reaches her secret meadow, her everyday worries are gone.

She gets up from her boulder, and goes to the shore of the river. The water is crystalline blue, and cool to the touch. She hikes up her skirt to her knees, and wades into the gentle waters. Looking down, she sees her toes on the small rocks at the bottom, and a little fish swim across her feet. She smiles, and wiggles her toes, causing the fish to swim away.

She starts to turn back to her boulder, when she hears stealthy footsteps in the grass. She looks up quickly and sees a Cardassian Gul coming at her. She is immediately at the ready, her Starfleet training firmly in place. With a leer, but no words, the Gul attacks, coming at her with arms out in front of him, reaching for her. She quickly steps from the water, and around to the left of her attacker, ducking when the arms come to engulf her.

She takes her slight moment of surprise, and attacks in return. With a few strategically placed punches and kicks, her adversary is on the ground. Breathing heavily, with her knees in the Cardassians kidneys, and his arm bend up between his shoulder blades, she asks, "Who sent you?" The Cardassian starts to laugh, but won't answer. She tightens her grip, and pull the arm up farther, almost to breaking point. "I'll ask you one more time. Who ... sent ... you?"

The Cardassian opens his mouth, whether to speak, or laugh, she doesn't know. Just as he begins to expel his breath to do either option, he transforms before her eyes into a live pile of writhing Gagh. With a startled yelp, she jumps back. "Computer, end program!" As the meadow is replaced by the holodeck grid, she yells to the ceiling, "Vec! I'm gonna get you for this!"