Elia trudged through the door to her quarters, struggling to keep her eyes open. It had been the week from hell and she knew it was far from over. She plodded into the bathroom and splashed some cold water on her face. Looking at her reflection in the mirror, she could barely recognise herself. She thought briefly about freshening up but she hadn’t slept in 36 hours and she just couldn’t think straight anymore, she knew she had to get some sleep before she was like a walking zombie.

Letting out a loud yawn she wandered over to her replicator and ordered a hot cup of cocoa and allowed herself a brief moment of pleasure as she sipped the inviting treat. Feeling a little more like herself, she made her way over to her bed and threw the covers back with glee. “Hello old friend, remember me?” She chuckled to herself as she slid under the covers and finally let herself relax. She did think about looking over some reports but she knew she needed to switch off so instead she plucked a well worn book from her bedside cabinet and jumped back in to a little escapism. She had barely read a page when her comm link chirped. Rolling her eyes she set her book down and tapped her comm reluctantly. =^= Yes? =^= she snapped, a little more curtly than she had intended. The familiar voice of NE Watkins replied. =^= Sorry to bother you Commander Greenway, we’ve detected a slight anomaly in the sensor grid…=^=

Elia shook her head and wearily rubbed her eyes.

=^= Ensign, I’m sure whatever it is, Lt Cmdr Arden is more than capable of handling it. I am off duty for the first time in 3 days and I am in my bed where I plan to stay for the next 8 hours, kindly put my comm channel on do not disturb. =^= Elia wasn’t normally so terse with her staff but she had run out of patience and good manners for the day. =^= I take it there is nothing else? =^= she challenged the young Ensign. After a few seconds of silence, Watkins replied in a sheepish tone. =^= No Commander, I’m sorry to disturb you… =^= and he cut the comm line.

Greenway took another sip of cocoa and pulled the covers up, enjoying the warmth and comfort of her bed. She smiled as she got stuck back into her book, feeling her eyes starting to droop. After a few minutes she let out another yawn and popped her book back in the drawer then rolled over onto her side, finally letting her eyes drift shut.

Elia had no idea how long she had been asleep when she woke with a start. Her eyes instinctively darted round the darkened room. Something wasn’t right. She felt a deep sense of foreboding that she couldn’t shake. She slowly reached for her drawer and silently slid it open to grab her phaser, her eyes still frantically scanning the room. As she scrabbled around in the drawer, she felt herself breaking into a cold sweat as she failed to locate her weapon.

Wasting no time she leapt out of bed and ran towards the door but before she took two steps an imposing figure loomed before her. The intruder shoved Elia back onto her bed and was towering over her in a split second. Slowly the figure reached into a pouch on his waistband and pulled Elia’s phaser out, waggling it in front of her face. “I’m guessing you’re looking for this?” The figure chuckled as he grabbed the weapon with his other hand and snapped it clean in two with incredible force. Knowing the Commander was trapped, the intruder sat on a nearby chair, putting his feet up on her bed. “I don’t care much for phasers, they lack the personal touch,” the intruder continued, keeping his gaze fixed on Elia. He exuded an unnerving calmness and quietness but Elia could tell he was ready to spring into action in a split second so it was pointless trying to escape. As the figure threw the destroyed phaser on the ground, he slowly pulled a large elaborate knife out from a sheath on his back. His eyes were covered by what appeared to be an elaborate tactical display but Elia grimaced as she saw a sickening smile appear on his lips. “It’s beautiful isn’t it?” He sneered as he swung the knife a few times in the air, the swooping of the blade cutting through the silence. With incredible accuracy he swung the knife and stopped it a mere millimetre from Elia’s throat as she took a sharp intake of breath, gritting her teeth. A single tear rolled down her cheek and delicately splashed on the blade of the knife.

The intruder gave another sickening smile as he leaned in close enough to whisper in her ear. “Now Commander, you’re going to do exactly what I say…” his words hung in the air as Elia shivered, feeling his warm breath against her cheek.

• GM