Author's Note: The events in this story occur in early 2371, between the events of TNG "All Good Things" and Star Trek: Generations. It is also before DS9 "The Search."

Captain's log, stardate 48195.3. The Enterprise is en route to Federation Relay Station 107 in the Zed Lapis sector in response to a distress signal, indicating them to be under attack from an unknown force. The transmission ended before much could be learned; however, the station's proximity to the Vagra system is troubling, given what we encountered there nearly seven years ago.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard's face was grim and stony as he sat in the command chair on the Enterprise bridge, barely even registering the activity around him. His thoughts were on a time, place and being he had tried very hard to bury in his mind for years. Painful recollections of death...and evil.

"You think it's Armus, don't you?" William Riker, sat next to him, asked. His eyes were filled with deep concern as he looked at his captain, as were those of Counselor Deanna Troi, sitting on the opposite side of Picard.

"Vagra II isn't far away," Picard replied. "If Armus has somehow managed to escape...the consequences are too terrible to contemplate."

"Our weapons had no effect on it the first time," Riker muttered. "It could already have killed everyone on the station, just like it killed - " He stopped himself then from saying the name on the thoughts of all of them: Tasha Yar, the strong and beautiful security chief cruelly murdered on Vagra II by the creature calling itself Armus, the 'skin of evil', as it had described itself.

Troi's thoughts also were on that awful day years ago. Tasha had been a beloved friend to them all; the scars from her death still ached to this day. From her seat, she glanced up at Worf at the security and tactical console, and sensed the anger, hatred and desire for vengeance on Tasha's killer boiling in his Klingon heart. Commander Data too, though an android, had cared deeply for her.

She sometimes thought about the race that had abandoned Armus, the personification of all their negative and destructive impulses, and wondered if they had had any conception of what their actions would lead to...

"Now approaching designated coordinates for Relay Station 107," the navigator reported.

Picard nodded in acknowledgment. "Very good, Ensign Matthews. Drop us out of warp, go to impulse. Mister Worf, raise shields and arm weapons - we have to be ready for anything."

On the main viewscreen, the streaking spears of light retracted into the points of stars as the Enterprise exited warp space. Up ahead, drawing steadily closer, was the relay station - along with the unmistakable form of a Klingon Bird-of-Prey docked alongside.

Riker tensed. "Klingons? Why would they attack the station?"

"Let's not jump to conclusions, Number One," Picard said. "Whoever attacked them could have stolen the ship, or they responded to the distress call first."

"Scans identify the Bird-of-Prey as the IKS Torg," Data reported. "It was last reported as being in this sector four standard days ago."

Picard got to his feet and approached the viewscreen as he barked "Lifesigns?"

Data worked his instrument panel for a few seconds before answering. "There are life form readings, but they are vague. I am getting interference from the station."

Picard spun round then at a soft gasp from Troi. The counselor's eyes had gone wide, her palor even more pale, and she was shivering. "Deanna?" Riker said, concerned. "Deanna, what is it?"

Troi was still shaking as she looked first at Riker, then Picard. The single word she spoke chilled both of them: "Armus."