I do not own the characters

"Arghh," groaned Admiral Helena Cain as she rubbed the sides of her head with fingers. She opened her eyes but the light caused her more pain, even though it was small night light. It was the third night in a row that she had experienced these headaches that woke her up. Cain had been taking the standard OTC painkillers but they weren't helping anymore. Moreover she had these haunting dreams – always of Gina.

It was time to see the doctor. Cain slowly got out of bed and she sat on the edge of the bed willing herself to get up. She staggered to her private bathroom and hoped a relaxing shower would ease her pain. It did. Cain varied the intensity and temperature settings using the shower knobs. The pain soon vanished.

Looking in the mirror she saw how exhausted she looked and then grinned. Those Starbuck love-bites were nearly faded. It brought back delicious memories as she closed her eyes. Then a familiar hand rested on her neck and a soft voice brought panic. "I bet you'd like to frak her again."

"Nooo," said Cain as she opened eyes seeing Gina standing behind her. Before Cain could react, Gina slammed Cain facedown on the bathroom counter. Cain tried to move but Gina's strong hand pressed hard against her neck. "How in . . .," wheezed Cain, as she was trying to catch her breath.

"So, I guess you miss me," jeered Gina as she held Cain pinned down on the counter. "Well I don't miss you." Gina tied a rope around Cain neck looping it back and tying one her of wrists.

"You can't be alive," said Cain as she struggled. "How is that possible?" She tasted blood from her cut lip.

"Now, get up," commanded Gina as she pulled hard on the rope hearing Cain cry out for help.

"If you do that again, I'll kill you," said Gina as she slapped Cain. "Or I'll do this." From nowhere Cain heard a high pitch noise in her head. It sounded like a cross between a dentist's drill, high-pitch whine and emergency siren.

"Please stop," pleaded Cain as she stumbled.

"I have no hesitation to use these methods if you don't follow my orders."

Cain wavered from the pain, her eyes betrayed anger but the tight rope around her neck and wrist reminded her of the predicament, and she backed off. For the first time she loathed this woman.

"What do you want with me?" gasped Cain as she tried relaxed from the biting rope around her neck.

"I need the access codes to the Pegasus," said Gina as steered Cain to her work quarters.

"Now get to work," said Gina as she sat Cain roughly in front of the computer monitor.

"You'll have to untie me; I need both hands to type."

"Damnit you can do it with one hand," snarled Gina as she grasped Cain's wet hair tightly. "Don't frak with me. Now get those codes ASAP!"

After some considerable typing and mouse clicking Cain found the codes.

"Here are the codes," said Cain as she motioned to Gina to the computer screen.

She didn't dare face Gina. The codes were actually old ones. The codes were when Pegasus had been dry-docked at the Scorpion Shipyards. Cain silently took a deep breath and steadied herself. She hoped this would work and buy some time.

"Good," said Gina as she spun Cain around and faced her. She could see the anguish in Cain's face and smiled.

"Get up, you're getting dress now."

"You have the codes," said Cain. "What do you need me for?"

"We're leaving together," said Gina as she pushed Cain towards the bedroom closet.

"Better wear a flight-suit, you're flying."

"Why are you doing this?" said Cain as she started to dress.

"Don't take this personally but I'm doing my mission," said Gina as she untied Cain's wrist only. "It's just business that's all. You of all people should understand that, you're a soldier just like I am."

Just business thought Cain. Cain wondered if she had meant anything to her. She tried to get her to talk.

"And us?"

"You were a perk, it was fun while it lasted, nothing more."

"What to do you plan to accomplish?

"Admiral, get dress," said Gina as she tugged on the rope.

"You know you won't get away with this," seethed Cain as she zipped up her flight-suit. She could see getting her to talk had gotten nowhere.

"You watch. Both of us will leave and no one will stop us," said Gina as she pulled Cain near her. She wiped off the blood from Cain's face with a towel.