Stardate: 80325:1900
Title: Round About
Authors: Emma Smith & Alex Ross
Time: Following "The Dark Side of Fairytales"
Scene: Planet-side


"Strange kid? That's putting it mildly," Ross interjected as Gitta Conway looked on, somewhat confused.

The whole damned thing was confusing to Alex, fairytales were not his forte, either in reading or re-enactments. Emma was his sounding board, had been since they'd met. It was only natural for him to rib her a little every now and then.

Let's see here. We have a Snow White with a splotch of 'lucky' blue-bird poo on the shoulder of her blouse, a Borg dressed as an ogre, a scientific Cinderella with a history fetish, an engineer in a blood splattered red hood and a... er... Well to tell you the truth, Alex Ross was as clean and spiffy as if he'd just jumped off the page of a storybook.

"I don't like this," Sparky repeated for the third time. "I think we should be going in the direction of the castle."

Gitta hiked up her skirt and stepped over a pile of twigs. "That's where the Grimalkin crew is."

"It's the memory issue that worries me," Emma countered. "I can't help thinking that we run the risk of the Grimalkin's fate if we go that way."

"Maybe we can find some more the crew. We're sure as hell not doing much good just standing here." Ross folded his arms across his chest.

"I just wish I had my tricorder," replied Gitta, "then maybe we could get close enough for some readings without endangering ourselves."

"If wishes were horses," Remmick flicked another bit of goo from his cape, "then beggars would ride."

"Too bad none of us ended up in the Aladdin story," Emma smiled then just as quickly, the grin dropped off of her face "Oh, no." She stopped in her tracks.

The little band of crew-mates stood with mouths agape.

"It can't be," Conway gulped.

"My sense of direction is perfect. I have been monitoring our progress. This is not logical," said Three.

"Why am I not surprised?" Ross shook his head. "I don't get paid enough for this."

Just ahead, sat the little cottage of the dwarves.


=================
Lt. (S.G.) Emma Smith
Chief Security Officer
USS Horizon
NCC-72400
=================
&
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Ensign Alex Ross
Operations Officer
USS Horizon
NCC-72400
=================