Relentless Dawn: Hold On Tight
by Charles Pierson

Chapter 1: A Cryptic Call for Help

The Relentless Dawn, a ship that looked like it had been assembled from spare parts found in a dumpster behind a space station, drifted aimlessly through a desolate sector of space. Captain T'Kal, her Caitian fur bristling with boredom, idly flipped through a datapad filled with ancient Vulcan love poetry.

"Anything interesting out there, Nex?" she purred, hoping for a distraction from the monotony.

Nex, the ever-optimistic Vorta science officer, chirped, "Just the usual, Captain. Empty space, the occasional rogue comet, and a distress signal that seems to be... well, it's repeating the lyrics to 'Hold On' by that early 21st-century human band, Wilson Phillips."

T'Kal's ears twitched. "Wilson Phillips? Is that some kind of coded message?"

Th'zalran, the stoic Andorian first officer, adjusted his antennae with a sigh. "Perhaps it's a lost colony of emotionally fragile humans," he suggested dryly.

"Or maybe it's a trap," Gram, the Denobulan engineer, chimed in from the engine room. "A trap set by a species of musically inclined space slugs with a penchant for power ballads and melodrama."

A chorus of giggles erupted from the engine room, where Gram's five wives were undoubtedly engaged in their usual lively debate about the merits of various Denobulan desserts.

T'Kal, intrigued, ordered, "Lox, set a course for the distress signal. Let's see what kind of drama these humans are stirring up."

As the Relentless Dawn, a ship that had seen better centuries (and probably better paint jobs), lurched towards the source of the distress signal, a sense of anticipation filled the air. This wasn't just another salvage mission; it was a chance to encounter the truly bizarre. And for the crew of the Relentless Dawn, the bizarre was their bread and butter.

Chapter 2: Where Do We Go From Here?

The distress signal led them to a derelict ship, its hull a patchwork of mismatched plating and hastily repaired breaches. It looked like it had lost a fight with a particularly enthusiastic game of space debris dodgeball.

"Sensors detect multiple life signs," Lox reported, their Edosian voice a monotone hum. "And an energy signature that's... fluctuating emotionally."

"Fluctuating emotionally?" T'Kal echoed, her Caitian ears perking up. "Like a Vulcan experiencing Pon Farr? Or a Klingon with a bad case of the hiccups?"

"More like... someone going through a bad breakup," Nex confirmed, her voice laced with a hint of amusement.

Th'zalran's antennae twitched. "A bad breakup? On a derelict ship? That's... illogical."

Gram's voice crackled over the comm, "Maybe they need relationship advice! My wives are experts! We could offer them a discounted couples therapy session."

T'Kal, intrigued, ordered, "Lox, bring us closer. But cautiously. We don't want to interrupt their therapy session before we know what we're dealing with."

As the Relentless Dawn approached the derelict vessel, the sound of someone sobbing uncontrollably filled the comm system.

"Well, this is certainly... depressing," T'Kal muttered, her tail drooping sympathetically. "Let's see if these heartbroken humans are friendly."

Chapter 3: Little Bit of Heaven

The away team, consisting of T'Kal, Th'zalran, and Nex, materialized on the derelict ship's bridge, a dimly lit and surprisingly tidy space. A young human woman, her face streaked with tears, sat huddled in the captain's chair, surrounded by empty containers of what appeared to be ice cream.

"Greetings!" T'Kal called out, her voice gentle. "We received your distress signal and came to offer assistance."

The woman looked up, her eyes red and swollen. "Assistance?" she sniffled. "You can't help me. My heart is broken. My boyfriend left me for a Bolian with a gravity-defying hairdo."

Nex, ever resourceful, offered, "Perhaps a change of scenery would help? We have a lovely holodeck on our ship. You could create a simulation of your ex and... well, let's just say you could get some virtual revenge."

Th'zalran, after a moment of hesitation, added, "Or, if you prefer a more logical approach, we could offer you a session with our ship's counselor. He's a Tellarite with a surprisingly soothing voice."

The woman, however, shook her head. "No, that won't work. He said I was too clingy. That I needed to give him space. That I was suffocating him with my love."

T'Kal, her Caitian empathy kicking in, sat beside the woman and offered her a tissue. "He sounds like a fool. Anyone would be lucky to have someone love them so fiercely."

The woman sniffled. "You really think so?"

"Absolutely," T'Kal confirmed. "And if you'd like, we can help you find someone who appreciates your... enthusiasm."

The woman's eyes widened. "You would do that?"

"Of course," T'Kal purred. "We're the crew of the Relentless Dawn. We're all about second chances. And sometimes," she added with a wink, "a little bit of revenge."

Chapter 4: You're Gonna Make It

The woman, whose name, they learned, was Sarah, perked up considerably at the prospect of finding a new love (and possibly enacting a bit of revenge on her ex).

"So," she asked, "where do we start?"

Nex, ever the planner, pulled up a star chart on her datapad. "Well, Risa is always a good option. Or perhaps Orion? They have a reputation for being... passionate."

Th'zalran, however, suggested a more logical approach. "Perhaps we should consider her personality and interests. Does she prefer intellectual pursuits? Or perhaps she's more interested in physical activities?"

Sarah, who had been listening intently, spoke up. "Actually, I've always wanted to learn how to pilot a starship. Maybe we could find a planet with a good flight school?"

T'Kal grinned. "A pilot, eh? I like your spirit. Lox, set a course for that Andorian training facility we passed a few weeks ago. They have a reputation for being... rigorous."

Lox, their Edosian voice a monotone hum, confirmed, "Course set, Captain. Estimated time of arrival: three days."

As the Relentless Dawn set off on its new mission, a sense of optimism filled the air. They had a heartbroken human to mend, a new skill to teach, and possibly a few Bolian hairdos to disrupt along the way. And for the crew of the Relentless Dawn, that was just another day in the life of the galaxy's most unconventional salvage crew.

Epilogue: A Brand New Start

Weeks later, Sarah, now sporting a stylish flight suit and a confident grin, stood on the bridge of the Relentless Dawn, her hands confidently gripping the helm.

"Thanks, Captain," she said, her voice filled with gratitude. "I never thought I'd be piloting a starship. And I certainly never thought I'd be doing it with a crew of such... interesting characters."

T'Kal purred. "We're happy to have you, Sarah. And remember, if you ever need to blow up your ex's new ship, we're just a comm call away."

Sarah laughed. "I'll keep that in mind, Captain."

As the Relentless Dawn warped off into the vast expanse of space, Sarah couldn't help but feel a sense of liberation. She had a new skill, a new purpose, and a new family. And she knew, with absolute certainty, that she was going to make it. After all, she had the crew of the Relentless Dawn on her side. And they were nothing if not relentless.

Disclaimer: Paramount owns all things Trek. I claim original characters and situations in this story for me.

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