The right atrium’s where the process begins,
where the CO2 blood enters the heart.
Through the tricuspid valve, to the right ventricle, the pulmonary artery, and lungs. Once inside the lungs, it dumps its carbon dioxide and picks up its oxygen supply. Then it’s back to the heart through the pulmonary vein, through the atrium and left ventricle. Pump, pump, pumps your blood.
Pump, pump, pumps your blood.
The aortic valve’s, where the blood leaves the heart,
then it's channeled to the rest of the bod.
The arteries, arterioles, and capillaries too
bring the oxygenated blood to the cells.
The tissues and the cells trade off waste and CO2,
which is carried through the venules and the veins.
Through the larger vena cava to the atrium and lungs,
and we're back to where we started in the heart.
Pump, pump, pumps your blood.
Niki laughed and clapped her hands. “I can do that,” she agreed.
“Of course you can,” Garcia affirmed. “You can do anything if you attach it to something you know and you know music, which is a vehicle for doing just about anything. Let’s do a history lesson. One of the greatest Earth documents ever written is the Consitution. So, here’s the preamble, as sung by a group known as School House Rock.”
Music & Lyrics: Lynn Ahrens Sung by: Lynn Ahrens
Hey, do you know about the U.S.A.? Do you know about the government? Can you tell me 'bout the Constitution? Hey, learn about the U.S.A. In 1787, I'm told,
Our founding fathers did agree, To write a list of principles For keepin' people free.
The U.S.A. was just starting out,
A bold, brand new country.
And so our people spelled it out:
The things that we should be.
{And they put those principles down on paper, and called it the Constitution. And it's been helping us run our country ever since then. The first part of the Constitution is called the Preamble, and tells what those founding fathers set out to do.} We the people,
In order to form a more perfect union,
Establish justice,
Ensure domestic tranquility,
Provide for the common defense,
Promote the general welfare and
Secure the blessings of liberty
To ourselves and our posterity,
Do ordain and establish this Constitution,
For the United States of America.
In 1787, I'm told,
Our founding fathers all sat down
And wrote a list of principles
That's known the world around.
The U.S.A. was just starting out,
A bold, brand new country.
And so our people spelled it out,
They wanted a land of liberty.
{And the Preamble goes like this:}
We the people,
In order to form a more perfect union,
Establish justice,
Ensure domestic tranquility,
Provide for the common defense,
Promote the general welfare and
Secure the blessings of liberty
To ourselves and our posterity,
Do ordain and establish this Constitution,
For the United States of America.
“That is so awesome,” Niki said. “Oh my god, why didn’t you ever direct me to School House Rock before?”
“Some things are more fun when you discover them on your own. You did your homework on the twentieth century entertainment, so this should have gotten some hits for popularity as well as functionality,” Garcia said. “Conjunction Junction was simply brilliant. So was the ‘I’m just a Bill’ song. But I guess my other favorite was Elbow Room.”
“Elbow Room?” Niki asked. “Will you sing it for me?”
Elbow Room, sung by Sung by: Lynn Ahrens One thing you will discover
When you get next to one another
Is everybody needs some elbow room, elbow room. It's nice when you're kinda cozy, but
Not when you're tangled nose
to nosey, oh,
Everybody needs some elbow, needs
a little elbow room.
That's how it was in the early days
of the U.S.A.,
The people kept coming to settle though
The east was the only place there
was to go.
The President was Thomas Jefferson
He made a deal with Napoleon.
How'd you like to sell a mile or two, (or three, or a hundred or a thousand?) And so, in 1803 the Louisiana Territory was sold to us
Without a fuss
And gave us lots of elbow room,
Oh, elbow room, elbow room,
Got to, got to get us some elbow room. It's the West or bust,
In God we trust.
There's a new land out there...
Lewis and Clark volunteered to go,
Good-bye, good luck, wear your overcoat! They prepared for good times and for bad (and for bad,) They hired a Sacagawean to be their guide. She led them all across the countryside. Reached the coast
And found the most
Elbow room we've ever had.
The way was opened up for folks with bravery. There were plenty of fights
To win land rights,
But the West was meant to be;
It was our Manifest Destiny!
The trappers, traders, and the peddlers, The politicians and the settlers,
They got there by any way they could (any way they could). The Gold Rush trampled down the wilderness, The railroads spread across from East to West, And soon the rest was opened up for - opened up for good. And now we jet from East to West.
Good-bye New York, hello L.A.,
But it took those early folks to open up the way. Now we've got a lot of room to be
Growing from sea to shining sea.
Guess that we have got our elbow room (elbow room) But if there should ever come a time When we're crowded up together, I'm Sure we'll find some elbow room...up on the moon! Oh, elbow room, elbow room.
Got to, got to get us some elbow room. It's the moon or bust,
In God we trust.
There's a new land up there!
“I love you, Tam,” Niki said.
“I love you,” Garcia echoed.
“Will you answer a question for me and be honest?” Niki asked.
“May I hear the question first?” Garcia asked.
Niki giggled. “Are you saying you wouldn’t be honest on all questions?” Niki asked. “I will endeavor to be direct, but there are some things I can’t or won’t be able to answer, for a
number of different reasons,” Garcia said.
Niki nodded. “I appreciate you telling me that part. I understand, I think,” she said. “What’s on your mind, Niki?” Garcia asked.
“It’s just that it’s been so long and I would have thought we would have heard from my mom by
Garcia set the banjo on the floor to pull Niki to him again, taking her in his arms to comfort her. “I don’t know,” Garcia said. He initiated a light mind meld as she cried into his neck. It was the same kind of general boost that Deana Troi had offered him so long ago. These words went direct to her head: “We’ll get through this together.” Out loud, he said, “Shh, we’re safe. And I imagine your mom is fine. There’s no telling what condition she found the Horizon in. It may be broken beyond repair. The crew that escaped in the life pods no doubt rendezvoused with her and they are just waiting for Star Fleet to send help.”
“What if she’s not alright?” Niki cried.
“Is there anything you can do it about it at this moment?” Garcia asked.
“No,” Niki admitted, wiping her nose on her sleeve. She had received this speech before. “Then this has to be one of those moments where you let go and let god,” Garcia recommended. “But you don’t believe in god,” Niki said.
“No, but there is still an important lesson there,” Garcia said. “There are times when we as human
beings are unable to know or act and those are the times we have to let go and trust that things will work out the way they will. The Serenity Prayer is probably the wisest thing a human could put to memory and when we experience doubt or fear or concern, we draw on it for strength. I asked you if this is something you can change. No. It’s beyond our abilities and resources at this particular moment. But we do know some things. Your mom is highly competent in her field and she will do what is necessary to fulfill her obligations. Further, she is your mother and she loves you and she will not fail in her obligations to you. She will not forget you.”
“Do you really love me?” Niki asked.
“Oh, Niki,” Garcia said. “I love you very much.”
“And you think we’re going to get out of here alive?” Niki asked.
“As long as there is breath in my body, no harm will come to you,” Garcia said. “Now, go clean up. It’s your turn to help Trini prepare a meal.”
Niki kissed him on the cheek and went to clean up. He waited till she had left the room to get up and discovered Trini had been listening in, for how long he could only guess. She approached.
“Are you crying?” Trini asked.
“No,” Garcia said, too defensively. “Maybe. Sympathetic reaction to overwhelming emotions due to close proximity of the person emoting.”
Trini put a hand on his shoulder. “I love you, Tam. Everything is going to be just fine.”
“At this particular moment, I don’t feel as confident about that,” Garcia admitted. “If you’ll excuse me, I should go meditate and exercise this… This stuff off.”
Trini hugged him without warning. “Maybe you could let me be the strong one tonight and you just relax a little,” Trini said.
He was about to nod and agreed to relinquish command to her when Kletsova appeared. He separated himself from Trini and went to his room.
“I’m sorry,” Kletsova said. “Did I interrupt something?”
“No,” Trini shrugged.
kjº
As they drove home from another concert and reception party, Garcia started a fight with Kletsova. Niki was passed out, leaning against him.
“Did you give her alcohol?” Garcia asked.
“Just a little,” Kletsova admitted.
“How dare you?!” he snapped, but in a whisper. “You don’t have that kind authority. Not to mention how stupid that is in the light that we’re being monitored by child protective services.”
Kletsova’s eyes almost seemed to glow, but she was not goaded into the fight. Trini tried to change the subject. They arrived home, Trini led Niki to her bedroom, and Lenar became scarce.
“What has gotten into you?” Kletsova demanded.
“You know, I’ve had about enough of your crap,” Garcia said, stepping in closer to her, as if he might hit her.
Kletsova pushed him. “So, what are you going to do about it?” she said, effectively demonstrating that she was not going to be intimidated, even by him.
“Why don’t you just admit that you’re jealous,” Garcia said.
“Of you? Or of all the little tramps you parade around with at every reception?” Kletsova demanded, shoving him again.
“It’s pure research,” Garcia said, shoving her back.
“Yeah, right,” Kletsova said, turning to walk away. “Research my ass.”
Garcia caught her, pulled her in close and kissed her hard. She struggled to get loose, but he pinned her against the wall. Her resistance faded and soon she was returning the kiss with equal passion.
“Tell me you love me,” Garcia demanded, as he came up for air.
“Of course I love you,” she said, crying, pushing him away using her elbows. “That’s never been a secret.”
“Kiss me,” he said, pulling her back to him.
“No!” she yelled, and then, as if changing her mind. “At least, not here. It’s too public.”
“Where?” he asked her.
“There’s only one place in the whole house where we have absolute privacy,” she said.
They moved their love scene to the bathroom, not ending the display of affection until the door was closed and locked. As soon as it was, Garcia let her go and turned on the shower.
“Continue to make noises from time to time,” Garcia said.
“Oh, Tam!” she said, loudly, then softer she said, “The crew?”
“Yes,” Garcia said, contacting Scully via his implant via the cell phone in his pocket.
“But why now?” Kletsova asked. “At this point, we might as well just wait till help arrives.”
“They killed another cadet,” Garcia said.
Kletsova nodded, and began helping him out of his tux and into the bullet proof jacket. “You want me to go with you?”
“No,” Garcia said. “If I don’t come back, your priority is to keep Niki safe until help arrives. If the show gets canceled, you’re to go live with Gene.”
“I don’t like you doing this alone,” Kletsova said.
“Once I free the first group, I won’t be alone,” Garcia said. “Don’t worry. Now step back. I don’t trust their transporter system.”
Kletsova stepped back towards the door, leaned against it, hitting it with the palm of her hands a few times for show, and saying his name. Garcia signaled Scully and her Lone Gunmen to proceed. Being ripped apart by the Iotian transporter was the most painful thing Garcia had ever experienced in his life, a pain that seemed to start in every bone at once, radiating outwards. It was like he was on fire, spontaneously combusting. Though he wasn’t aware of elapsed time from the dematerialization site to the rematerialization site, which in real time was the time it took for the energy to travel from his place through a satellite and back down, due to the intensity of the pain it seemed to take forever for the process to be over.
Garcia came out the other side alive, hugging himself as if trying to put out a fire. Scully came up and kissed him. “Are you okay?”
“God, how can you guys stand that?!” Garcia said.
“Only the military uses transporters at this time, except in extreme emergency situations, and even then, only in rare circumstances will medical facilities transport a person from an accident site to the hospital,” Melvin said.
Garcia took a moment to catch his breath and then stepped off the transporter pad. He didn’t want to do it again, but he had to. He accepted the phaser that John offered him.
Yves handed Garcia another, more lethal weapon. “I know you’re going in, phasers on stun, and all, but you might need this. It’s a projectile weapon, armor piercing bullets. It’s the only thing that will get through the suits, if you know what I mean. Here’s several extra clips and an ammo belt.”
“I would prefer not killing anyone,” Garcia said.
“You may have, to,” Melvin said. “It’s part of the game. They will kill you if given the chance.”
“He’s right,” Skully said. “As it is, I don’t think you’re being realistic, going in one man and all and expecting the outcome you want.”
“Still, we’ve seen the blue prints for the prison you provided, and evaluated your plan,” Ringo said. “It’s has a sixty eight percent chance of success.”
“I think you’re not factoring in all the variables,” Garcia said.
“Such as?” John asked.
“I never loose,” Garcia said.
“That kind of thinking will get you killed,” Yves said.
“And I want you to come back alive,” Scully said.
Electronic sounds erupted from the computer John was working on. “Alright, the transporter pattern coils have recharged. We’re ready to transport you.”
“I’ve programmed the coordinates that you gave us into the computer. It appears to be about half a kilometer away from the base,” Melvin said. “It’s far enough outside their transporter detection grid that you shouldn’t light up any monitors.”
“I’d really like to go and see how you’re going to break in,” Yves said. “I might learn something useful from you.”
Garcia smiled at her as he strapped on the last item he had requested, a knife, and returned to the transporter pad. He was now fully armed and ready for war. He nodded to John to proceed with the transport and then met Scully’s gaze. If something went wrong, her eyes would be the last thing he saw in this world. The second transport was even more painful than the first, perhaps due to the short interval between transports. He doubled over and would have gone to the ground had Brittney not been there to catch him. It took a much longer moment to recover after the second transport, but he pushed through his pain and followed Brittney back to the base, traversing the same path she did so as to avoid tripping sensors. With her in front, he had use of her eyes for surveillance. He could see the guards using her night vision. They were bored, as usual, lollygagging around and telling jokes. They were no threat.
The first obstacle was the main fence. Ideally Brittany should have been able to float him over, but the antigravity unit he had installed would not support his weight. Instead, he had her boost him over. She literally threw him over the fence, cheer leader fashion as he stepped into her locked palms and she tossed him up as he jumped. He flew over the fence, dropped, and rolled on the other side. Brittany just floated up and over. He sent Scully a message informing her that he was technically on the base. Now all he had to do was get into the main hanger and descend to the prison. Having Brittany there had made it almost too easy. He hid in the shadow and made Brittney invisible and sent her into the hanger ahead. When the coast was clear, Garcia entered. He crossed an expansive floor, ducking once under the wing of an unusual looking aircraft. Had he more time, he would have liked to have examined it in more detail, for he admired the rakish, half moon like wings and the tiny bubble canopy, and the apparent anti-radar surface features on the body of the vehicle.
He caught up with Brittany in a changing room. The room had a supply of pressurized flight suits, the same kind the Iotians used in boarding the Philadelphia Freedom. Garcia found one that didn’t contain explosives and donned the suit, but took the explosives out of two other suits to use later. The suit came with its own weapon. He gave the weapons he had collected from the Lone Gunmen to Brittney. They became invisible as soon as she stowed them. The suit had its own communication system with tactical and other information on a heads up display on the inside of his visor. He activate this and familiarized himself with the information display.
He sent Trini an email. “Alright. I’m logged into the suit. Brittney will send you telemetry. Trini, I want you to access the suit and figure out all it does, and also, find a way to disarm any suit remotely.”
Her email was quick and to the point. “Downloading the suit’s operating system and programs. Working on it.”
When Brittany appeared again, she was wearing the Uniform that designated her as secretary staff. He accompanied her down in a lift to the medical floor where he intended to rescue the Captain. He was not happy to discover she was not in the bed she was supposed to be.
“She’s not here,” Brittney said, with obvious concern in her voice.
A guard approached them. “May I help you?”
“What happened to the prisoner?” Brittney asked, glancing at the name on Garcia’s uniform. “The general asked that Gordo, here, interview her.”
“She was transferred,” the guard said.
“Obviously,” Brittney agreed. “Where, too?”
“I’m not saying nothin,” the guard said.
Garcia pulled a phaser from his holster and shot Brittany point blank. She fell to the floor screaming bloody murder and then faded out. Garcia pointed the weapon at the guard. “Will you talk now?” he asked.
The guard immediately revealed where the Captain had been moved to. Garcia then stunned the man, using the same weapon he had just used on Brittney. Brittney reappeared.
“You’re right,” Brittney said. “That is an effective tactic.”
“Let’s hurry,” Garcia insisted.
They went down two flights of stairs and came out on the prison floor. The prison layout was basically a cross. The center was the guard post that had direct vision down the four corridors. Garcia and Brittney approached the guard station.
“Tam, its Scully. John says a silent alarm has gone off. He believes they may have found the man you stunned in medical,” Scully called.
“Alright,” Garcia said. “Contact the red and gold shirts, have them begin their assault on the base.”
“Done,” Scully said. “They’re moving in now.”
That conversation was over before Garcia reached the station. The guard had observed them coming, waved, and returned his attention back to his TV. He was watching Star Conquerors, The Next Generation. Garcia came around the station as if to see the program.
“Boy, that Duana chick is one fine looking lady?” the guard said.
“Indeed,” Garcia agreed, not bothering to disguise his voice. The guard didn’t even have time for a double take. He slumped in his chair due to the correctly applied pressure from the Vulcan Nerve pinch. At the far end of the hall, a guard stood and began walking towards them. He said something, which roused the other three guards. Simultaneously, alarms began to blare. Garcia raised his weapon and fired at one of the guards, dropping him with the first hit. Brittney raised two phasers simultaneously, firing both weapons in different directions simultaneously, hitting both of her targets. Garcia knocked out the final guard before he even had his weapon drawn.
“Unlock the cells,” Garcia instructed as he ran down the hall. He sent a message to Scully. “Have John disabled the lifts now.”
“Lifts? You mean elevators! The base is at full alert,” Scully announced, over the back drop noise of cell doors opening. “The reds are attacking their assigned targets. Gold team is moving in for their attack on the opposite side of the base.”
“Great,” Garcia emailed her back.
As Garcia approached the end of the hall, Osaka stopped him.
“What’s going on?” he asked, thinking the suit was an Iotian.
“I’m breaking you out,” Garcia said. “Go to the center, round everyone up. I’ll explain in a moment.”
“Garcia?” Osaka asked.
“Yes, go, quick, while I still have time to rescue the Captain,” Garcia said.
“She’s alive?” Osaka asked.
“Yes, go, quick,” Garcia said.
“Who authorized this rescue?” Osaka demanded. “You’re going to get us killed.”
“No, your delaying is going to get us killed. Now, to the center, quick,” Garcia said. “I’ll be right behind you.”
Osaka complied and rallied the crew at the main guard post of the detention center, trying to explain that Garcia was in the process of rescuing them, to hang tight. Garcia joined the group and told everyone to duck and cover.
“Why?” Osaka asked.
Garcia didn’t explain with words, he simply fired at the explosives he had placed, blowing a hole in the floor at the end of the corridor. Everyone ducked, some covering their ears, but only after the fact.
“Are you crazy!” Osaka yelled.
“Just using the same tactics they used on us, and yes, I’m crazy,” Garcia admitted. “But not as crazy as you apparently. Do you not want to be rescued?”
“How can you, one man, rescue us? Where are we going to go that they aren’t going to pursue us? Have you been contacted by Star Fleet?” Osaka demanded. “Who authorized you to rescue us? You are going to get people killed.”
“Oh bloody hell,” Garcia snapped. “Are you really mad that I am rescuing you, or just feeling bad because you couldn’t escape on your own initiative? Now listen up, the Captain wants me to get you all to safety, and by god, I am going to do that. Now, you can either cooperate, or I’ll render you unconscious and carry you out. I would much rather you cooperate so that I can still have time to rescue the Captain. Now. Which option do you want?”
It didn’t go beyond anyone’s notice that Garcia was armed. And so was Brittney, who was taking position behind and to the right of Osaka so that her weapon could be in play if need be.
“What do you want us to do?” Osaka said, obviously biting back on what he really wanted to say.
“The only way out is via transporter,” Garcia said, and quite a few began to protest. “I know it’s not pleasant. Trust me, I know, but it’s the only way. Follow Brittney, she’ll take you to it, and then start getting everyone out. I’m going to get the Captain, I should be with you before the last of you beams out. Go. Time is of the essence.”
With that, the crew followed Brittney. Except Osaka, who grabbed Garcia’s arm. “You’re going alone?”
“I’m wearing the Uniform. I think I’ll blend in. The Captain wants you rescued before she will even think of leaving. So, the sooner we get the crew to safety, the sooner we’re all out of here,” Garcia said.
“Fine,” Osaka said. “Just remember, this isn’t a movie. These are real lives you’re playing with.”
“I won’t forget,” Garcia said. “And if its any consolation, Brittney is recording everything that’s happening here and downloading the data back to my base. You can use any of that material you want should you wish to court marital me. Until then, your job is to keep your crew safe.”
“I know my job!” Osaka snapped. “It’s you who doesn’t seem to know his job or his place.”
“We’ll talk later,” Garcia said. “I’ve closed down the lifts to this floor. The only other way in is through the emergency fire exit. Don’t go there. I’m about to take it out with explosives to ensure you have enough time to get everyone out before the guards come hunting you.”
Osaka nodded. “Go, and good luck.”
Garcia headed for the stair well. He used the last of the explosive he had removed from the suit lockers, set them, and ran up the stairs. He made it three floors up before leaving the stairwell, and closed the door just in time to hear the explosives go off, collapsing a good portion of the stairway. Now, the only way to get to the detention center, and the floor below, was the lift, and hopefully, it would take the base security some time to figure out why the lifts were off line. Using the map in his implant and the tactical information on the heads up display of his suit, he navigated around the enemy on his way to get the Captain. kjº
Tolro, Riko, and Brock were lounging around, each of them being personally pampered by a secretary, when the first explosion rocked the base. Brock screamed, clinging to his favorite secretary for support. “What’s going on?”
“Sounds like we’re under attack,” Jill said. “Aren’t you supposed to be protecting me?”
“I’m a brain, sweetheart, not a hired gun,” Brock said.
“I thought this was a secret base? How could anyone attack a secret base?” Tolro asked.
Disgusted by the Ferengi’s sudden display of fear, Jill shrugged Brock off and signaled to her companions that they were leaving. They didn’t need much convincing. The manic fear part of the fight or flight response had the Ferengi huddling together like wild meerkats, their eyes wide and their ears focused in hyper alert mode searching for a threat. Their knowledge of the base was limited and so they were confused to which was the best way to flee.
“You can’t leave, Jill,” Brock protested. “You’re assigned to take care of me. I mean us. You’ve got to get us out of here.”
Jill smiled. “Tell you what, if you’re still alive when this little coup is over, and the money’s keeps coming in, we’ll be back. If not, see ya.”
“Wait!” Brock screamed. Another explosion literally echoed through the building, rumbling up through the floor, shaking the walls, and dislodging a ceiling tile. “Please, take me with you,” he begged, clinging to her skirt and falling to his knees so that she was literally dragging him towards the door.
“Get off me, you coward!” Jill said, trying to hold her