The situation was steadily becoming more dire, and this wasn't the sort of thing Cate had expected in the least.  Hurdling through time, sure, but the crew experiencing rapid aging, no, that had not been among her "expect the unexpected" scenarios.  Regardless she had a job to do and she wasn't going to let worry stand in her way, no matter how dry her throat felt and how hard it was to swallow in that moment.<br/><br/>Ensign Cassidy's train of thought was cracked, however, as a sound very very rarely ever heard on the bridge of a Starfleet vessel rang out.  A child crying?  Her eyebrows furrowed with confusion, expression lines now being displayed across her forehead along with it, though she had no idea.  Had one of the crew's children somehow gotten onto the bridge?  Instinctively she got up from her seat ... slowly, as the not-so-yong ensign seemed to have a bit of a stiff back and a pinch in her neck.  Blue-green eyes, not quite as bright as they had been only an hour ago scanned the bridge and fell upon the console of the ship's communication's officer.  There was no one there.  She shook her head of slightly dulled red hair incredulously, but when she walked a bit closer she could see a young boy, a toddler, hiding beneath and balling his eyes out.<br/><br/>Cate knelt down next to him, wanting to console the poor child and not yet concerning herself with the "how" or "why".<br/><br/>"Hey," she said softly, offering him a smile, "what are you doing here, little guy?"  It was then that she noted the distinct fabric of a Starfleet uniform swimming about his tiny body ... then she took not of the brown hair ... and the brown eyes.  "Darrin?!" Cate gasped.  "Oh dear ... are you okay?"  Reaching out to put a gentle hand on his little shoulder she then noticed the change in herself.  There was a small brown spot, right in the middle of her right hand, an age spot to be exact.  Her bones too had become much more pronounced, the fullness and elasticity of her flesh having worn away by what looked to be about 12-15 years.  Had Cate not been attempting to comfort the Comm Officer she may have found herself having a similar emotional reaction, but for his sake she knew she had to keep it together.  He seemed so helpless.