Since so many of you have inquired, here's the breakdown of our little cooperative effort: The initial story concept was Alex's; together we refined it; he and I then wrote "Hidden Agenda, Part One," which I edited; I then handled all of "Hidden Agenda, Part Two" myself, both writing and editing it. All in all, it went very smoothly; again, you Argus fans will probably recognize many of the stylistic elements, since I've been your story editor for an entire season now.

Enjoy.

“Hidden Agenda, Part Two”

By Joseph Manno

Prologue

"I hate him."

Vaerth Parihn listened carefully to her friend ... and desperately attempted to keep from laughing.     

"What happened?" She read Arkin Jora well enough to know that anything resembling even a smile at this point would cause an outburst registering all the way back to the Bajoran wormhole.     

Thus, she kept her face carefully neutral, an ability she’d mastered in her previous ... job function.     

"I was at ops two days ago ... tactical yesterday ... my shift today was at one of the bridge science stations, for Prophets’ sake! Where am I going to be tomorrow? Sickbay? Shuttlecraft maintenance? The galley?

"I’m a pilot, Verde! The best ... and I’m supposed to be on leave, to boot! I don’t want to sit at ops and coordinate Liberty’s latest parrisis squares tournament while simultaneously scanning the Sanari pulsar! I don’t want to hunt down Lieutenants Smith, Sito and Aldus when they declare war on the Liberty for an exercise! And I certainly don’t want to spend eight hours ... eight hours...! ... collating inane data on the Argus Array’s latest observations of Cardassian space! I just want to fly the ship!      

"Arrgghhh!"

Parihn strolled over to her quarters’ replicator station, and ordered, "Hasperat, extra spicy, variant Parihn Two."     

After the computer had complied, she carried it back over to her distraught friend and placed it down.     

"Eat."     

She waited until Jora grudgingly picked up the Bajoran delicacy and took a huge bite, then continued.     

"At least what’s going into your mouth is better than what’s come out so far."     

Her friend glared, but couldn’t respond with a mouthful of food—just the way Parihn had planned it.     

"You were the same way at the Academy ... one of the best pilots just about anyone had ever seen—I remember there were even those who compared you favorably to Hikaru Sulu—but you’re not exactly well-rounded, Wrinkles. You’re quite intelligent, and you learn quickly ... but you really have to be prodded. I’d wager the captain read over your performance evaluations, and realized that you avoid cross-training situations whenever possible."     

Jora shifted uncomfortably, and took another bite … this time to avoid responding.     

"I thought so," Parihn scolded. "Piloting’s your comfort zone; everyone knows you’re one of the best."      

The younger woman grinned at the emphasis on “one of,’” but didn’t protest.

The two had run neck and neck at the Academy. The Bajoran had, indeed, finished with the higher overall marks—some of the highest in history—but of all the hundreds of thousands of pilots who’d gone through the training program, only Vaerth Parihn had ever scored a perfect run through the dreaded Holoflight Simulator. It was a feat that had never before been achieved—not by Travis Mayweather … not by either of the legendary Sulus … not by Richard Castillo, Max Vasser or Tom Paris … not even by Arkin Jora, believed by some the single best pilot Starfleet had ever produced.

And it had never been duplicated since.     

"Unless you plan on being an ensign for a fifty-year Starfleet career, though, it’ll be necessary to expand your horizons.     

"You think you have it bad? You should have seen me the first time Commander MacLeod ordered me to take ops, while she manned conn. I scrambled for eighteen hours under the watchful eye of someone who is, in all likelihood, one of the five most brilliant people in the entire galaxy ... and all this with Captain Mantovanni looming in the background. I was exhausted, infuriated and frazzled by the time it was over.     

"You know what, though? Sera told me I’d done well ... and the captain actually nodded approvingly when I left the bridge. It was excruciating, but it was also one of the best performances of my career. I’m rated as an alpha shift ops officer now ... and I’m more proud of that than the fact I’m a great pilot—because I had to struggle for it."     

Jora pouted. "It’s not the same for me ... you’re brilliant, you have an eidetic memory ... you pick things up faster than I do..."     

"...and did they overwhelm you?" Parihn asked relentlessly. "Wasn’t Commander Benteen there whenever you had a question? Did the captain criticize your performance at all?"     

Her friend’s voice was small. "No."     

"Then maybe ... just maybe ... they’re pushing you to your limits, but not beyond."     

"Ensign Parihn, report to the bridge." Benteen’s clipped voice pierced through their discussion. She sounded concerned.     

And she wasn’t done. A second later came, "Ensign Arkin, report to the bridge."

Parihn stood and addressed the intercom. "Acknowledged ... Ensign Arkin is with me ... we’re en route."     

Halfway to the door, she added, "Come on ... no doubt they’re calling a meeting to critique your performance this week. I want a good seat."     

The Orion was quick, but Arkin still managed to tag her with the stuffed bear from Parihn’s bed before she could duck out.

Act One

"Benteen to Mantovanni ... there’s something I’d like to get your impression of, sir."

Just as well ... I was getting a little maudlin anyway, the captain thought. I’ll have to change that later.

As he stepped out of the ready room, he noted that Benteen had recalled both Ensigns Parihn and Arkin—who’d just gone off duty not an hour before. The latter moved towards the rear science station with all the enthusiasm of a naughty child told to go pick the switch with which she would be whipped.     

Melodramatic, but effective, Ensign, Mantovanni smiled inwardly.     

He glanced at Benteen while settling into the center seat, and indicated the moping Bajoran with his eyes.     

She, understanding immediately, ordered, "Ensign Parihn, relieve Lieutenant Sanok at ops." That sly smile was in evidence as her gaze flicked over the captain.     

"Ensign Arkin," she continued, "we can’t very well have you depressing the entire bridge crew."     

The young officer glanced back, bewildered. "Ma’am?" She nearly wilted as she turned to see all eyes—except Mantovanni’s, of course—on her.     

Benteen smiled. "Take over the conn, Ensign."     

The transformation was immediate—and wonderful to behold. Arkin nearly leaped the railing, and was reconfiguring the console to her unique specifications even before she’d taken her seat.     

"What was it you wanted, Commander?" Mantovanni prodded gently.     

By way of response, Benteen gestured towards the tactical console. "Go ahead, Sito."      

The Bajoran nodded. "We began receiving this a few minutes ago, sir ... it’s incredibly garbled, but considering that it’s a subspace signal, there’s no real question that it’s an artificially generated transmission, as opposed to some natural phenomenon." She touched a control on her panel, and began a playback.     

The "message," if indeed that’s what it was, sounded like little more than a sustained burst of static. The few clear moments were relatively dead air, and no help at all.     

The captain said nothing; again, he looked to Benteen, indicating that she should lead the discussion.     

"How many of you took Traffic Analysis with Professor Thelen at the Academy?" she inquired.     

Everyone but the captain indicated "yes" in some fashion.     

"A little after my time, Commander," Mantovanni wryly noted. "However, I do comprehend the basics."     

Sito added, "The message seems to be repeating every fifteen seconds or so ... that’s about all the computer can immediately determine. There’s simply nothing to go on: No words, no code, not even a piece of data. Just rhythmic subspace static, on a chronic loop."     

The momentary silence was broken by an unlikely source.     

"Sir? Could the interval itself tell us something?"     

Arkin Jora had turned back hesitantly to look at Mantovanni while making her observation. The rest of the bridge crew pondered the possibility for a moment ... and none of them noticed the captain nod minutely in approval.     

"Are there any generic Starfleet transmissions that repeat on," he glanced at the display on his chair’s arm panel, "a fifteen-point-seven second cycle?"     

Parihn, after checking, looked back in concern. "Only one, sir—a starship’s automated disaster beacon."     

"And the signal originates from the area of space wherein the Argus is engaged in search operations for two other starships." Benteen had obviously come to the same conclusion moments ago, but for some reason had wanted her captain’s confirmation before acting.     

"Yellow alert," Mantovanni decided.     

"Energizing defense fields," Sito confirmed.      

"Bring us about, Ensign Arkin, course 112, mark 38. Sito, inform Starfleet we’re moving to investigate a possible distress call from the USS Argus; instruct them to adjust Neutral Zone patrol patterns accordingly. Continue attempting to contact the Argus via subspace."     

"Aye, aye, sir."

"Ready on 112, mark 38, sir." Arkin’s tone was now full of worry, but her efficiency suffered not at all.     

"Warp nine. Go."     

Liberty might not be the swiftest starship in the Federation fleet, but there weren’t many vessels that could match her effortless transition to high warp.     

Of course, in a situation like this, fast was usually not fast enough.

***

Simok’s satisfaction at the death of Kate Sheridan lasted for the better part of a full minute. Even while Lex writhed and twitched in Dr. McDonald’s embrace, he released his hold upon the captain ... then suddenly grabbed T’Kare by her uniform front, lifting her effortlessly off the ground. The Avian, caught by surprise, felt the shirt’s fabric twist and tighten, in part cutting off air.     

The Vulcan observed, rather matter-of-factly, "I instructed you to take Commander Sheridan into custody, Lieutenant. If you had performed your duties adequately, it would not have been necessary to destroy her."     

T’Kare, wide-eyed, fought with all her strength—and both hands—to tear Simok’s one away from her throat.      

She couldn’t even move a finger. Desperate, she went for her sidearm ... only to have him reach up and clutch her left wing in another grip of iron.     

"Such an attempt is illogical, Lieutenant. I am now forced to conclude that breaking a bone in your wing," he clenched down cruelly, and its main support structure cracked under the pressure, "is insufficient to convey my ... displeasure at your inefficiency."     

The pain and lack of air had been sufficient to push the Avian into a state of agonized semi-consciousness; if she was still listening, it was at the periphery of awareness.     

"Perhaps I shall tear both of them from their sockets instead."     

"That’s enough."

Lex, evidently both recovered and reconciled to his new perspective, was attempting to reassert his authority.

Simok didn’t even bother to turn.     

Instead, he sneered contemptuously, "This is a new Argus, ‘Captain.’ You do not command here. I shall deal with you– uuggghhh!"     

He suddenly sagged, strength fleeing from his limbs as a result of the precisely-placed blow Lex had delivered with his remaining good arm. Simok—and T’Kare—then collapsed to the floor in a heap of limbs and wings.     

"New Argus or old, Simok ... I’m her captain... "    

He leaned over and whispered in the groggy Vulcan’s ear, "...and you can consider yourself relieved."

***

"This is odd."     

Benteen rose from the X-O’s chair, and moved to lean over Parihn at ops.     

"What’s that?"

"Sito and I have been coordinating with cryptography in an attempt to determine whether any specific message has been added to the automated distress beacon—if indeed that’s what it is.”    

The Orion’s frown deepened. "We both thought that we’d have an answer by now. As we approach, the subspace interference should be gradually dissipating. Instead, it’s as bad as it was, if not worse."     

Benteen touched at one or two controls, making minute adjustments. "Hmm. You’re right. I wonder if..."     

"Commander,” announced Sito, “sensors now detecting a vessel just coming into range.”     

"Is it the Argus?" Arkin interrupted, momentarily forgetting protocol.     

No one seemed to mind.     

Her fellow Bajoran continued, "No ... much smaller ... she’s a Federation fighter ... one of the new Chimaera-class ... and if I had to guess, she’s in trouble."     

"Conn, adjust course to intercept," Mantovanni ordered.     

"I don’t have to, sir ... she’s directly in our flight path..."     

"On screen," Benteen instructed.     

From one point of light among many, the image on the viewer rapidly grew into that of a silvery, sleek attack craft—all wings and teeth, metaphorically speaking: She was definitely built for battle.     

And she’d obviously seen one.     

"The vessel has sustained heavy damage; there are multiple systems failures, including life support," Sito reported. "Radiation is making readings difficult, but sensors seem to indicate one person aboard—a human female, I’d say. From what I can determine, she’s alive ... I don’t know how, surrounded by all that radiation."     

Benteen snapped, "Transporter room one, lock onto the occupant of that vessel and beam them directly to sickbay."     

After a moment, a frustrated Mav snorted, "There’s too much interference from the fighter’s irradiated plasma coils ... I can’t get a lock."

"We can’t pull it into the bay ... we’d contaminate the entire compartment. Besides, according to these readings, we need to get her out of there now." Parihn’s voice held a hint of concern for the fighter’s occupant.      

Mantovanni took that moment to speak.     

"Sito, phasers to full power..." he began.     

"Sir, no! You can’t just abandon her...!" Arkin practically leapt out of her chair.     

The captain barely spared her a glance, but there was an undertone of frigid irritation in his voice when next he spoke. "Ensign, you’re relieved. Parihn, reconfigure your console and handle the helm ... Erika, cover ops from the X-O chair... Sito, phasers to narrow beam... Mav, prepare to beam the occupant of the cockpit out as Lieutenant Sito cuts the fighter in half ... and leaves you the part with someone in it."     

"Aye, sir."

Parihn had already begun her adjustments. "Z minus 7000 meters, thirty degrees down angle," the Orion declared in that emotionless tone she seemed to adopt whenever the situation required a sure hand.

"Steady as she goes..." Sito commanded. Her hands moved over the console with swift purpose. "Firing ... now."

Liberty’s phaser array lashed out with a potent but surgical strike, and in seconds clove her target in twain. Even as Sito ceased fire, Benteen took over, activating a pair of tractor beams. One quick burst pushed the damaged bulk of the crippled fighter away, while another, sustained beam urged the cockpit and fore section towards the great starship.     

"Now, Mav," Parihn spoke into the pickup, even as Benteen signaled her with a pointed finger.

There was a long moment of uncertainty.     

"Got her. Sending her directly to sickbay," he grunted in reply. "By the transporter log, it’s Commander Sheridan."

"Engineering," the captain immediately called.     

"Irriantia," came the swift, cheerful response.     

"Commander," Mantovanni told him, "I want a full analysis of that fighter—every scrap of information you can get me... and, as usual..."     

"I know, I know ... you want it yesterday, sir."

The Sicilian arched an eyebrow. "More delphine telepathy, Irriantia?"

"That’s better than saying you’re predictable, right, sir?"

The captain glanced at his temporary X-O; Benteen didn’t entirely smother a grin.

"Marginally better, Commander," he allowed. "Get to it."     

"Aye, aye, sir. Engineering out."

That conversation was barely over, when...     

"Sickbay to bridge."

"Go ahead, Doctor."     

Matsuoka was a man of few words; this occasion was no exception.     

"I need you down here."

Mantovanni was moving even before the signal had completely died.     

"Erika, you have the bridge. Ensign Arkin..."     

The mortified Bajoran glanced up to catch the captain gesturing for her to follow.     

It was probably the longest walk she’d ever taken.

Act Two

"Sir, I’m sorry..."     

Once again, Luciano Mantovanni surprised her.     

"That’s all right, Ensign. What happened is as much my fault as yours, if not more so. It’s extremely difficult to fit seamlessly into the operation of an unfamiliar vessel—especially in an emergency situation with a captain whose orders are a little startling."     

"I shouldn’t have leapt to conclusions." Her eyes were on the floor of the car.

"Sounds to me like a reprimand is unnecessary ... I mean, you’ll beat yourself up over this for weeks, right?"     

That coaxed a smile, and a furtive glance. "Yes, sir."

Now the captain grinned wolfishly. "Besides, the crap you’ll take from Ensign Parihn is far worse than anything I could devise."     

Arkin actually cringed. "Oh, Prophets..." she whispered.      

The turbolift deposited them on deck five, and the short walk to sickbay was enough to refocus them on more important matters.     

Matsuoka approached them immediately. That, in a way, was reassuring: It meant Sheridan wasn’t in the type of danger that required the doctor to hover. Behind him, Lieutenant Carteris was taking a series of readings. As they watched, he gave her an injection.     

Again, the CMO wasted no words.

"Radiation poisoning ... twenty more minutes, she dies. As it is, she’ll recover completely, but when she loses consciousness now, she won’t awaken for at least a day. Her body needs time to recover. She wants to speak to you..." As Mantovanni started forward, Matsuoka held up a hand. "I allowed it because she seems desperate, but I’m not sure she can say anything..."     

The captain approached the biobed quickly, intending to reassure Sheridan that whatever it was, Liberty would handle it.

He leaned over her slender form.

"Kate."

Her eyes opened immediately, and found his. Matsuoka had been correct: Her attempt to speak failed, and seemed to exhaust her. Somehow, though, she managed to move her arm from where it lay at her side, and brush his.

He didn’t think about it; he simply took her hand.

For a moment, there was something ... like a fleeting series of images, all just beyond the range of his perception ... a moment later, he’d shaken it off, and looked at her again.

The lines of pain had smoothed from her face, and her breathing was steady. The captain wondered what had so relaxed her. Gently, he disengaged his hand, and drew back to stand next to the doctor and Arkin.

He glanced at them both. The young Bajoran was actually blushing, as if privy to a scene both embarrassing and wonderful.  

The captain raised an eyebrow. He knew he was missing something, but...

Matsuoka observed, deadpan, "If I knew it could make me feel like that, I’d have held your hand a long time ago.”

***

"Hey! There’s somebody in here."     

Irriantia squealed in surprise at the sudden declaration. He gave his anti-grav unit’s thrusters a mental nudge, and floated over to where Mav was tinkering with the shattered fighter’s emergency transporter.     

He checked the readings, and bobbed his head in agreement.     

"You’re right. According to the transporter logs, they were beamed aboard 17 hours ago."     

"That’s a long time to have been sitting around discorporated." The master chief continued to examine the instruments. "The degradation, despite the pounding this thing’s taken, is pretty negligable. With the damage to the panels though, I can’t tell what it is."     

"Let’s bring it in," Irriantia decided.     

Mav snorted in disgust. "I don’t think so," he challenged.     

Liberty’s chief engineer had long ago grown used to the Tellarite’s belligerent style. The main reason they got along and worked together so well was that Irriantia was essentially impossible to aggravate.     

When dealing with Mav, that was a precious commodity.     

"Why not, Chief?"

Mav glared. Though he was used to acting unilaterally—his superior gave him tremendous latitude—he grudgingly acknowledged the need to explain himself.     

"Hunh ... think about it ... for an officer, Sheridan’s fairly bright, and she had 16 hours to pull this guy out of the buffer if she’d wanted to do it. Obviously she didn’t.      

"I say we just leave him in there for now."     

The dolphin ignored that last. "Maybe she was using it as a stasis chamber; if they’re injured that could be why she left them in there."     

The Tellarite snorted in irritation; he didn’t like it at all when he missed something—especially in front of his boss.     

"All right," he regrouped. "Rather than beam him out right here and have him crash to the floor if you’re right, we should use our transporters to retrieve him out of the buffer, and reintegrate him in the brig ... or, if you’re worried that he might be hurt," Mav sneered, "in Sickbay behind stasis, quarantine and security fields."     

Irriantia, as always, ignored the attitude and simply considered the recommendation. "Well, that might be coming down on the side of caution, Chief, but that’s the way we’ll go. Handle the reintegration from transporter room one, and I’ll arrange a place in sickbay for our ‘friend’ with Dr. Matsuoka."     

The Tellarite stared for a moment more, then grunted in acknowledgment and trudged off.     

The dolphin waited until the doors to the cargo bay had closed, then squealed merrily for a long moment.     

Mav, he thought, if you ever had an inkling of just how fond I am of you, you’d probably have a fit.

He chirped a particular note, thus activating his comm badge.     

"Irriantia to Matsuoka.

"I may have a patient for you."

***

"It’s something you have to confront."     

Luciano Mantovanni was not an easy man to startle, yet his ship’s counselor had just managed to take him completely by surprise.     

"What do you mean, ‘Kate Sheridan’s in love with you’?" While he didn’t attempt to dismiss the idea, he wasn’t exactly receptive to it, either. "Just because someone grabs your hand when they’re injured and frightened..." His voice trailed off as Hatshepsut shook her head.     

The Felisian had known this conversation was going to be difficult. She didn’t shrink from the task.     

"Give me a little credit, sir," Hatshepsut replied with a hint of indignation. "There’s far more to it than that.     

"One: She reacted quite jealously at the … mutual attraction between you and the Arellian queen.     

"Two: As perceptive a person as Jonozia Lex noticed a distinct change in her demeanor," and her body language, she left unsaid, "when discussing you."

At the mention of his old friend’s name, Mantovanni’s gaze narrowed in momentary consternation. For him, it was the equivalent of an indignant rail.   

The Felisian hastened to reassure him. "Yes, Captain Lex came to me a few days ago while on board, rather than bring it up with you. Obviously your past with Saren..." she added that carefully, noting that her captain’s expression had gone cold as stone, "...makes it difficult for him to discuss such matters with you face-to-face. I can’t say I blame him: I’m your counselor, and I have problems with it, at times.    

"Three: There’s a distinct—how shall I put this delicately—pheromonal shift when the two of you are in the same room. It’s quite noticeable to every Felisian and Tellarite on the ship. You humans have no idea how much we know about you after one good sniff."     

"Are you telling me I react to her as well?" the captain asked, clearly uncomfortable with the idea that he was broadcasting his feelings—whatever they happened to be—in a way that was impossible to conceal.     

She trilled softly. "Of course you do. It’s not anything to be embarrassed about. You are a male, Captain, despite your self-imposed monastic discipline. There are more than a few females on the ship with a high level of attraction to you. Some no doubt interpret it, quite legitimately, as a genuine affection having little to do with overt sexuality. With Kate, however... well…"

Mantovanni didn’t look particularly pleased. "Well, that’s just peachy," he snapped. He stood and strode over to the replicator.     

"Hot cocoa with whipped cream and a cinnamon stick … hot milk in a mug." The computer complied, and he returned to his seat with the drinks. As he passed Hatshepsut the milk, he asked, with a hint of his usual arid humor, "More than a few? Care to elaborate?"     

She remained unperturbed. "I’m not prepared to name names. After all, if they don’t choose to throw themselves at you, it’s really none of your business. But if you’re inquiring about me ... yes, we react to each other, too. I find you quite intriguing for a hairless monkey … or, as one of your race’s particularly perceptive biologists used to say, a 'naked ape.'"     

He arched a brow, amused despite himself.     

Hatshepsut continued, "And most humanoids like felines. A sentient one is particularly exotic in a ‘forbidden fruit’ sort of way. The problem with many humans is that they often think an attraction, however slight or inappropriate, has to be explored once they learn of it."     

Mantovanni replied with a dry, "I assure you, I don’t have that problem.”     

"And I assure you, I’m not startled by that," she countered. "However, the fact remains, you’ll have to address this with Commander Sheridan—before her feelings begin to interfere with her performance, and it jeopardizes us in some fashion. I say that as ship’s counselor, but in an ... unofficial capacity. Out of consideration for your privacy, I’ll not mention this in my log or any of my journals."     

"Am I on a timetable, Counselor?" he asked, with just a tinge of asperity in his voice.     

"Of course not, sir. I know I don’t have to say another word. Your own sense of duty..." Among, perhaps, other things. "...will compel you to act." She finished her milk, and rose. "With your permission, I’ll leave you with your thoughts, Captain."     

"Do that.”

As she neared the door, he stopped her with a carefully chosen barb.

"In case you’re wondering, Commander, I’m studiously avoiding watching your posterior as you leave."     

The Felisian’s tail twitched once; he’d scored a hit. She rallied well, though.     

"Too bad, sir," she tossed back, as the door to the bridge opened. "You don’t know what you’re missing."     

Mantovanni took a sip of cocoa as the portal slid shut. It was clear his counselor had been referring to far more than just that particular moment.     

Fire a shot and run, Hatshepsut; you would have made a good Parthian.

The captain sighed, and filed the Sheridan subject away until a more appropriate moment.      

He already knew how he’d handle it.      

Whether all the involved parties would be appreciative of his solution was another matter entirely.

***

The doctor watched as his potential patient gradually materialized within the various isolation fields he’d established. After transport was complete, he frowned, and tapped his comm badge.     

"Matsuoka to Mav."

"Mav. What now?"

"Just wanted to make certain you hadn’t decided to make the trip yourself, Chief. Your discovery looks a lot like you ... same coloring and build."

A moment of silence preceded a suspicious, “This isn’t just one of those ‘all Tellarites look alike’ comments, is it?”

Matsuoka choked back a laugh.

“No.”

There was another momentary pause, then an acknowledging snuffle.     

"I’ll be there in a minute."

Seconds later, Matsuoka knew he wasn’t overstating the similarity; when Dr. Carteris entered the room, he glanced at the table with concern, and inquired, "What’s wrong with the chief?"     

"I’m doing a complete work-up now," the venerable CMO replied, "but this..."     

Mav came rumbling through sickbay’s main door.     

"...isn’t the chief."     

The engineer came to a skidding stop, and snorted, "That’s my younger brother, Gav ... he serves on the Argus..." Startlingly enough, Mav’s usual impression of officers was missing here; it seemed to have been momentarily replaced with filial pride.     

Matsuoka smiled, even as he made a final pass with his medical scanner over Gav’s head. His eyes narrowed.

"Hunh."

Mav asked, "Is he all right?"     

The doctor glanced at his crewmate, debating the benefits—and risks—of ordering him from the sickbay. Considering what he’d just seen, he didn’t want another Tellarite problem on his hands, and decided against it. Instead, he enlisted the chief’s help.     

Deactivating the statis field around the head first, he injected the patient with a hypospray full of hypnol, then motioned to Carteris and Mav after lowering the field completely.     

"Let’s turn him over. But brace yourself, Chief."     

Both moved immediately to assist, quickly shifting Gav onto his side.

"Why? What’s the matter?"     

As the other two drew back, Matsuoka indicated the area at the base of the young officer’s skull. There, extending from beneath the surface of Gav’s bristly hair, was a conical appendage that wriggled gently as Dr. Carteris probed the area with his fingers. Mav peered closely at it, then drew back in alarm.     

Matsuoka put a hand on Mav’s shoulder. "Let’s just say your brother didn’t come aboard alone."     

When Gav’s eyes snapped open, and he leaped off the table at them, they all knew the doctor had been right.

Act Three

"Sensors indicate a vessel approaching, sir."      

T’Kare’s voice was still a little shaky; but McDonald has repaired her wing and throat, and the Avian was finally beginning to settle down.     

Lex nestled comfortably back into his command chair, and replied, "Configuration?"     

She checked her readouts. "Federation starship, Sovereign-class. Her ID call marker reads NCC-1776 ... it’s the Liberty, sir."     

Dulmis then added his analysis. "She’s cruising at warp five, sir ... hardly a speed indicative of concern, though she must have received our ... ‘distress’ calls by now. After all, it’s been three days."     

"Discontinue distress signals," the captain indicated quietly. "They’re of no purpose now. Hail the Liberty."     

T’Kare did so. "They’re responding, sir. It’s Captain Mantovanni."     

The screen shifted from that of a starfield to the image of a bridge very similar to Argus’. However, Liberty’s nerve center seemed strangely deserted ... only an Orion ensign at conn, a Bajoran lieutenant at tactical and the captain himself were present.     

His counterpart grinned broadly; immediately, Lex was suspicious.     

I’ve never seen Mantovanni smile like that in the century I’ve known him.

"Captain. We were hoping you’d received our distress calls. We finally have things under control, but it’s still good to see you."     

Mantovanni chuckled. "Well, Lex, there’s distress and then there’s distress. Let’s just say we knew there was no real rush to get here."

He gestured to a figure standing outside the pickup’s range, who then walked into view.     

Lex drew back in surprise. "Gav! What in the...?"     

"Relax, Captain," the Tellarite motioned with his hands. He then touched Mantovanni’s shoulder, and the captain turned around to expose his neck to the camera.     

Lex suddenly realized what was happening.     

"Enhance," he gestured to Dulmis.     

As the ops officer refocused the view screen, it became obvious that the legendary captain had joined their cause; a gill pulsed and undulated there, indicating the presence of their kin.     

Mantovanni grinned. "We’re with you."

***

Lex couldn’t believe his eyes as the three materialized in the Argus’ observation lounge.     

Mantovanni, Gav ... and Sheridan.

She raised an eyebrow and grinned.     

Lex motioned, and the brace of guards raised their pulse phaser rifles.     

"As you well know, they’re not set on stun."     

An ensign stepped forward and indicated for the three to turn around. He examined each at the base of their skull minutely. Finally he turned to his captain and told him, "It’s not cosmetic ... they are with us."     

Now that his worries were assuaged, Lex smiled and stepped forward. "How the hell did you escape, Kate? Dulmis was sure you’d been destroyed."     

As he motioned to dismiss the guards, Sheridan smugly declared, "I simply allowed the fighter’s tumble to bring me around. When the ship was facing the incoming torpedoes, I fired a pair of my own, with zero acceleration, and they fell behind the ship; in the instant of detonation, the computer activated my warp drive. Thus, Argus’ scanners didn’t pick up a trace of my escape, because they were blinded by the detonations."     

Lex shook his head admiringly. "Brilliant. You would have gotten clean away, too ... except you’d beamed Gav and his ‘tool kit’ aboard, little knowing it had five of our ‘brothers’ within, designated for the command crew of the Liberty."     

"And that’s just where they ended up," the Tellarite snorted humorously.     

"Well, except for poor Erika," Mantovanni shook his head in mock sadness. "She was troublesome, so I had to eliminate her. Parihn is with us, instead, as are Sito and the doctor."     

"Excellent," Lex acknowledged. "Four of five primary targets."

They crossed the bridge and entered Lex’s ready room, where he motioned for them to sit.      

"We have to plan strategy for our next move ... the colony ship will be here soon, and there are a number of vessels and outposts I want to secure so as to ease our absorption of the Federation. Do you think it will be difficult t–?"     

"Lex.”

"Yes, Captain?"

Mantovanni shook his head. "No. I’m not talking to you, Jonozia ... and I’m certainly not talking to that little cockroach at the base of your skull. I’m talking to Lex.     

"I know you’ve been hiding, waiting for your moment. This is it. If you’ve ever trusted me, Saren, trust me now."     

Argus’ captain had been listening with growing alarm and anger while the captain had made his little declaration.     

"You’re not with us...! How did you...?!... well, it doesn’t matter," the Trill concluded, pulling his phaser and leveling it at the trio. He made as if to tap his comm badge, saying, "You’ll be joining up soon eno–"     

At that, Jonozia Lex lurched to his feet. For a moment it looked as if he would simply keel over, then he began to gasp, dropped the phaser, and pressed both hands to his temples.     

Sheridan started to move forward.     

"Hold your ground, Commander!" Mantovanni’s voice was like iron.     

They watched, mesmerized, as Jonozia convulsed, heaved and then coughed loudly. First came a stream of saliva ... then, as the muscular contractions deepened, a trail of blood.      

Finally there was a last, wrenching gurgle, and he expelled a gore-covered something from his mouth. It hung there for a moment, then flopped onto the desk…    

…and didn’t move.     

He reached out; Mantovanni and Sheridan stepped forward to support him, even as he staggered and almost fell.     

"I warned you years ago about watching your diet, Lex," Liberty’s captain muttered.      

His counterpart chuckled, even as Sheridan wiped his mouth with a water-soaked rag "Gav" had retrieved from the replicator.     

"These creatures supposedly don’t have access to our long-term memories," Lex whispered. "Where’s Saren’s birthmark, Cicero?"     

Mantovanni frowned, slightly embarrassed; Sheridan coughed to cover a chuckle, and the Tellarite simply ignored them all.     

"She didn’t have one, you perverse son-of-a..."     

"Good enough," Lex cut him off. He grinned impishly for a moment. Mantovanni shook his head disapprovingly, but smiled slightly in reply.     

"You can explain how all of you are you later. Right now, we have a ship to retake."     

"It doesn’t take much of an explanation, actually," Sheridan replied. "Matsuoka surgically implanted the last few segments of a parasite at the base of our necks. It wriggles; it looks convincing... but there’s little beneath the surface of the skin."     

Lex gaped in amazement at Mantovanni's daring. "Back to the gambits, eh, Captain? A lot could have gone wrong with that plan."     

"In your mind, though, Lex, only a fool would beam aboard an infested ship if he weren't himself affected... and I don’t think you’ve labeled me a fool.

"Now, on to business, like you said. Let’s not try to be cute."

"Right ... computer," Lex ordered, "seal the ready room door ... reinforce with security field installed yesterday, authorization Lex one seven four alpha."     

Mantovanni raised an eyebrow. "Getting a little paranoid, are we?"     

"You don’t know the half of it," his counterpart replied, and then continued issuing instructions. "With the exception of the captain's ready room, prepare to flood all compartments with anesthezine gas, authorization Lex one seven four alpha. Implement on my mark."     

"Standing by," the computer acknowledged.     

"This should work," he informed them. "I spent the better part of two hours systematically removing the encryption algorithms Simok designed to give him better control of my ship than I have myself."     

"You’d better not have missed one," ‘Gav’ sneered. Lex frowned in response, even as Sheridan struggled to conceal another inappropriate smile.     

"That’s Master Chief Petty Officer Mav," Mantovanni noted. "Gav’s older, crankier brother."     

"Ahhhh ... computer, mark."

They waited ten seconds, imagining the ship-wide surprise and frantic but futile attempts to avoid the gas; then Mantovanni tapped his own comm badge.

"Liberty."

"Liberty ... Sito."

He ordered, simply, "Implement."     

"Implementing.”.

Fifteen more seconds passed. "Computer, remove anesthezine gas from ventilation system," Lex commanded. "Unseal the ready room door when complete." He drew his phaser.     

Mav snorted. "If you did this right, that won’t be necessary."     

"Nobody’s perfect, Chief," Argus’ captain answered, and then stepped forward...     

...into silence.

It had worked. The entire bridge crew was slumped over their consoles or unconscious on the floor.     

"Sito, status!" Mantovanni ordered over his still open comm channnel.     

"Boarding teams report all areas aboard Argus secure, with two exceptions."

Sheridan and Lex exchanged glances.     

Kate began,"Let us guess. Engineering..."     

"...and sickbay," Jonozia finished.

***

Simok realized what was happening almost immediately; Lieutenant Lota, who’d been standing near one of the ventilation ducts, keeled over like he’d been pole-axed. One or two of his engineers managed to reach respirators, but they were groggy and nearly out before securing them to their faces.

The Vulcan didn’t have that problem: His home planet had a much lower atmospheric oxygen content than did Earth—which was used as the norm on Federation starships—and he could hold his breath quite easily for the time it took him to get one of the efficient little breathing masks in place.

Federation marines—no doubt part of Liberty’s customary contingent—were beaming in at strategic locations. Any thoughts he had of easy escape were dispelled by their arrival and efficiency in putting down what remained of the still-active Argus officers and crew. Most were so drugged by the gas that phasers set on stun were actually effective.

In a matter of seconds, he was the only one left on his feet.     

"Computer, Simok Omega, now!"

The intricate pattern of force fields which sprang up throughout engineering as a result of his command threw the marines into a momentary confusion. They were cut off from each other, at least temporarily, by the veritable maze of translucent energy screens Simok had devised.

By all means, continue firing, he thought, while maneuvering through the corridors he’d created. Considering these fields are drawing power directly from the warp grid, I do not believe you will have much luck with your hand-held weapons.

He came around a corner near the entrance to main engineering—only to find a single marine in his path, her back to him. She was firing a variable phaser pulse, trying to find the correct frequency to perhaps disable an area of the field.

Clever, Simok thought approvingly. However...

The Vulcan realized how fortunate he was as he charged forward: She’d been disoriented by the force fields, and so determined to break through that she remained unaware of his presence until he was nearly on top of her.

She was good. Instead of trying to swing a rifle-length weapon around to aim at a rapidly closing target, she dropped it, reared back, and aimed a vicious kick at his abdomen, hitting him hard.

If he’d been a human, or even a Vulcan un-enhanced by the presence of a parasite, it would have been a telling blow. As it was, he barely noticed its force.

Her follow up would have been most effective: She’d expected the strike to force him back just enough that she could spin and draw the hand phaser she wore at her side. All in all, she showed excellent technique.

It availed her not at all. Simok caught her right arm with his as it came around. He stepped into her guard, grabbed her by the neck—and shook her once.

Hard.

Even as his sensitive ears registered the sickening crack of her neck snapping, he released her and started again to move forward; the Vulcan allowed himself a slight smile at his efficiency.

Just then the force fields went down.

He found himself within ten feet of his goal … but in a room full of angry Federation marines. Their eyes focused first on him, and then on their dead comrade at his feet.

Despite their fury, they were too well trained to simply open fire. Those who could do so without hitting their fellows, however, cut loose.     

Instead of being hit by eleven or twelve phaser blasts, thus, Simok was on the receiving end of seven.     

Each weapon was set on heavy stun; even for a being such as he had become, it was a little much.      

As he fell, the open, lifeless eyes of the woman he’d killed were the last thing he saw. He knew it was illogical, but they seemed to glare in a final condemnation before the darkness took him.

***

"McDonald’s carrying the queen," Lex had informed them, even as they’d headed through the deserted corridors towards Sickbay.      

"From what I could tell after reading through the database and Starfleet Medical’s autopsy on Lieutenant Commander Merrick, there’s not much to be done for her," Sheridan answered. Her face was carefully even, but Mantovanni could detect an almost haunted look behind her facade of calm.     

"I know it’s hard to face, but whatever made her Jane McDonald is almost certainly gone now," Liberty’s captain reminded them all as they reached their destination.    

Unbidden, the doors to sickbay slid open.

"Gentlemen and lady, come in, please."

Mav disregarded a warning glare from his captain and took the lead, using his burly body to cover the officers as best he could.     

Sickbay, too, was quiet. There was no real reason why McDonald hadn’t been affected by the anaesthezine; either she’d been able to isolate herself, or the parasite queens were somewhat more resilient than the indivdual creatures.     

Either way, clearly, it wasn’t over.     

"I’m prepared to negotiate," she stated companionably.     

Mantovanni was about to reply, but Lex spoke first.     

"We’re listening."     

"Good. I’m pleased to see that you want to be reasonable, Jonozia. After the horrific manner in which you must have killed my child, I thought you might come down here with phasers blazing.

"That would have been unfortunate for your wife."     

"Sara," Lex whispered.     

"Yes, Sara," she mocked. "Her morphogenic matrix makes her unsuitable as a hostess ... I’ve been forced to keep her in stasis... after all, we have no desire to hurt anyone."     

"Tell that to Simok," he countered.     

Surprisingly, McDonald frowned, nodding. "Yes ... most disturbing, his behavior ... he seems to have had a particularly interesting personality before joining us. I suggest you watch him carefully after I’ve departed. I believe my child’s presence has awakened certain ... attitudes in your officer."     

Mav grunted, and took another step forward.     

"You’re not going anywhere, you sadistic rookah," he asserted.     

Her pleasant smile faded. She raised her arm, revealing a small device which had been hitherto hidden in the folds of her robe. Twice, she clicked a switch on it, and then spoke again.     

"I’ve just shut off the life support in a pair of the stasis chambers. Two of the twelve officers I had in storage are now dead." She grinned momentarily, then sighed as Lex gave a strangled cry.     

"Oh, stop whining, Jonozia. Yes, it might have been Sara, but the odds are five-to-one against, after all. Keep your mind on the business at hand, please.      

"Now, call off your trained pig, Captain," she sneered, "or another Argus officer dies."     

"Mav, step back. Now."

As the Tellarite retreated, momentarily blocking McDonald’s view, Mantovanni tapped his comm badge, but didn’t speak.     

Figure it out, Erika.

"What exactly do you want?" he asked.     

She relaxed minutely. "Our colony vessel is nearing this location ... obviously we’ll have to withdraw for now, since the Federation is aware of our presence in this sector. I require only safe passage to the mother ship. For this, I shall refrain from any further ... examples involving your officers."     

"First, I want the device that controls the stasis chambers’ life support," Lex demanded.     

The doctor laughed openly. "Not until I’m off the ship.

“Don’t worry, Captains... I usually keep my word."     

At that moment, Mantovanni’s comm badge beeped.     

He stepped past the other three, moving from the rear to the front of the group, and gestured to McDonald. "May I?" he requested, his voice bitterly sarcastic.     

She nodded magnanimously, amused at his angry helplessness. "By all means, Captain."     

"This is Mantovanni ... go."     

"Commander Benteen, sir. The Argus is secure."

McDonald smirked and shook her head at the presumption, but said nothing.     

"Very well, Commander. Stand by ... Mantovanni out."     

He took another step forward. "No deal."     

Lex gave a strangled cry behind him. Kate took one arm, Mav the other; they held him back as he attempted to move forward.     

The doctor looked surprised. "You’re rather cavalier with another man’s wife, aren’t you? Especially aboard his ship?"

Mantovanni looked undeterred. He moved closer again, gritting, "She’s a Starfleet officer. She knows the risks."     

"Cicero, no!" Lex again tried to reach him, but Sheridan and Mav refused to let go. Kate whispered something in the anguished captain’s ear, and he gradually subsided.     

McDonald looked unimpressed at Mantovanni’s hard line.      

"As a matter of fact, your intransigence has altered my demands, Cicero." She made a great show of clicking the device again. "Oh, no...! Another dead officer! Wonder if it was Sara, Jonozia?"      

Lex lowered his head, trembling, whispering the word "No..." over and over again.     

Mantovanni closed his eyes. "What do you want, now?"     

"Same conditions, only now you have to come with me, as well. Your tactical abilities will prove quite useful if Lex suddenly decides to use Liberty and Argus against us, despite his word.   

"The matriarch may even develop a special child for you..."     

"I’m honored," he replied coldly. "Don’t go to any trouble just for me, though."

She smiled again, and Sheridan shivered as McDonald’s voice changed.      

There was something in her throat.

"Now come, Captain. You can escort me out, or I kill five more."     

Mantovanni lowered his head in surrender, and as she stepped forward, allowed her to take his hand. She clamped down, and he winced as something in his wrist gave.      

None of the others moved.     

"I know you have a reputation for martial skill. Don’t try it with me. Too many lives are riding on your cooperation."     

She pulled him around to face her.     

He didn’t resist.     

Now it was Lex and Mav who had to hold Sheridan back.     

McDonald pulled his head down towards her own; Mantovanni clenched his teeth together in revulsion, hard enough that the rest could hear them grinding. One might have even cracked.     

"Show me you love me," she whispered, as their mouths came together.     

They heard a gasp, and...     

...Mantovanni staggered back, regaining his balance almost immediately.     

Jane McDonald wasn’t as fortunate. They all watched as she clutched at her throat. One of the parasites had partly emerged from her mouth—it hung there as she spun around, gagging and choking, for almost ten seconds.     

Finally, she stiffened and keeled over backwards.     

Mantovanni knelt beside her, as the others gathered around, stunned at her sudden collapse.

"That’s a good doctor,” he snarled.     

"Open wide and say ‘aahhhhh’."

Act Four

"It’s out there... at the extreme range of our long range sensor arrays ... moving at moderate warp ... it’ll be here in approximately three hours."     

Two captains nodded at Benteen’s observations from ops.     

The Liberty’s bridge was an eclectic mix of various duty shifts: Mantovanni in the center seat; Lieutenant Aldus manning tactical; the Vulcan, Ensign T’Vaar, at the helm; Hatshepsut, as always, quietly ready to offer advice from the counselor’s position.      

And one anomaly, as well—that of Jonozia Lex sitting in the X-O’s chair.     

Argus’ nerve center, however, was a mishmash: Kate Sheridan commanding; Sito Jaxa filling in for the recovering T’Kare; Parihn serving at ops, in place of Dulmis. Arkin Jora, at least, was in her customary place.     

"Confirmed," Parihn added over the viewer’s pickup. "By the readings we’re getting, that thing is huge; it’s no Borg cube, but it easily displaces ten times the volume of either Argus or Liberty."

"I don’t care how big it is ... it’s not going any further than right here." Mantovanni’s tone was that of someone who’d had just about enough.      

Everyone on both bridges knew it was not to be taken lightly.     

"Agreed," Lex said. He and his old mentor had taken counsel together with their respective senior staffs—the ones on their feet, anyway—and had decided to surreptitiously send for reinforcements from Starfleet.      

Robert DeSoto’s Excelsior-class Hood and the Akira-class USS Athene, commanded by Maitland Forrest, were on their way, at the head of a seven-ship task force; but even at high warp, they were more than three days off.     

They knew they’d have to handle it on their own.     

"Why did you want me here, Cicero? I’m better off on the bridge of the Argus..." Lex began. Mantovanni held up a hand.     

"Because we need intelligence, both on that ship and on the entire parasite civilization. They’ve proven themselves a genuine, serious threat to the Federation twice now. Starfleet Tactical will have a thousand questions, and we can’t begin to tell them a bloody thing right now.      

"We need answers, and you’re the one who’s going to get them for us—by going aboard the mother ship."     

Lex grinned, until he realized that Mantovanni wasn’t joking.     

"How? Considering that McDonald simply looked at us and knew we weren’t infected, I’d be detected in a second if I were to try..." His voice trailed off as he gazed into the steely eyes of his friend. "Oh, you can’t be serious... !"     

"Why not?" the Sicilian replied coolly. "The Lex symbiont has already proven it can function despite a parasite’s presence, and that it can kill and expel one at will. It’ll get you aboard their ship, because you’ll be one of them—at least for the moment."     

"You don’t know what it’s like." He shook his head, and shuddered at the memory.     

"True enough," the older man acknowledged. "However, it needs to be done, and you’re the best qualified by far."     

Lex looked to be on the verge of open rebellion. "You can’t order me to do this," he snapped. "You don’t rank me ... as a matter of fact, I’m a Fleet Captain, and you command only one vessel."     

You could hear every switch and device on either bridge as all conversation ceased. Sheridan looked shocked; whether it was more due to her captain’s strategy or Lex’s outright refusal, she wasn’t sure.     

Mantovanni’s expression hardened. "I suppose if Liberty belonged to the Seventh Fleet, I’d have to acknowledge that. But it doesn’t; and since our ships are tactically equal, and I’ve been a captain for anywhere between eight and eighty years longer than you have, depending on how you want to look at it, I reassert my statement: This needs to be done, and you’re the one who's going to do it.     

"Go clear your head, Captain. Dismissed."

Lex rose stiffly. Without a word, he entered the turbolift.     

If any of them had ever doubted Luciano Mantovanni’s ruthlessness before, they wouldn’t again.     

"Well, that was delicately handled," Hatshepsut purred, just loud enough for her captain to hear. "I take it you’re not familiar with the axiom about ‘Getting more flies with honey than with vinegar’?"     

Mantovanni shot her a withering glare, and she realized she’d tread one paw too far.     

"As familiar as you are with the phrases, ‘Because I said so’ and ‘Don’t push your luck.'"     

The Felisian, who knew both, took the hint.

***

Jonozia Lex, still concerned for his wife, found his inevitable way to sickbay.     

The little he knew about the condition of Argus’ crew had been learned in the moments after McDonald’s inexplicable collapse.     

"What happened to her?" he’d asked, perplexed, as Mantovanni had yanked the dormant parasite from the unconscious doctor’s mouth, and dropped it into a specimen tray on a nearby counter. Sheridan, behind them, coordinated with Benteen on the Liberty.     

"Dr. Matsuoka had three days to exhaustively examine living, unattached parasites," the Sicilian had relayed. "I told him to come up with something organic that would kill or incapacitate them, but was harmless to the human host.     

"I’d say he did a good job," Mav had grunted reluctantly.     

"High praise, Chief," his captain had observed, and then added, "The doctor presented me with his brilliant concoction about two hours ago, and I put a packet of it in my mouth, to hide it. I didn’t expect that I’d be the delivery system, though." Even the usually understated Mantovanni couldn’t keep the revulsion out of his tone.     

Sheridan added, "After we’d knocked out most of the crew, Commander Benteen had it introduced into Argus’ ventilators, as well. Any of the little buggers that tried to flee their hosts got about two feet before being rendered inert."     

"What about Sara?" Lex had demanded of her. "She could be... "     

"She’s all right, sir. When Benteen told the captain the entire Argus was secure, she was referring to the fact that they’d beamed the officers in stasis right out of the chambers into counterparts aboard the Liberty. I asked the doctor just now, and he confirmed that she’s in no danger."     

And that, until now, had been the last he’d heard.     

When he entered sickbay, he realized immediately that there’d be no quick private conversation with any of the staff, let alone Matsuoka. They were busy juggling innumerable difficult tasks: Awakening those Argus officers who’d been in stasis; removing dormant parasites from those who’d been infected—about a dozen at a time—while keeping the hundreds waiting for the procedure unconscious without harming them; and examining the now somnolent Jane McDonald.

As Lex approached, he heard Carteris murmur, "Oh, my..." and turn away... he looked a little green. Matsuoka’s Japanese stoicism was in evidence, but even he seemed grim.   

"Looks like this thing literally made room for itself in the most direct fashion it could."

"What do you mean?" Lex asked uneasily.

There was no delicate way to put it. "It ate certain of her organs until it could fit inside her."

Carteris, having steadied himself, turned back to the biobed. He told the young captain, "One of her lungs, a large portion of her stomach, and about half her intestines are gone; consumed in such a way that her body, with difficulty, was able to cope with the loss."

The young captain involuntarily thought of the symbiont contained within him, and nodded.

"Lieutenant Parker will be back on her feet within a few hours," Matsuoka mentioned, even as he continued to examine his patient.

"I have some additional news: One of the stasis chambers deactivated in your confrontation did, indeed, contain your wife. For some reason, she simply wasn’t affected by the cessation of life support. Unfortunately, Dr. McDonald would probably know more about that than I do—and she’s not talking at the moment. A second chamber was empty."

Lex had a sudden feeling of dread.

"Who was in the third, Doctor?"

Matsuoka turned to face him. 

"It was your first officer, Commander Rudman. 

"He’s dead."

***

"They’ll be on us in less than a minute, sir," reported Aldus.     

"Tactical analysis," Mantovanni inquired.     

"Sensors indicate a sophisticated shield grid, and what looks to be heavy anti-proton projectors. She’s as tough as she is big."     

The massive vessel loomed before them as she dropped out of warp; she was symmetrical, but ungainly—‘bloated’ described her perfectly.     

"It looks like a ship that would carry a bunch of parasitic centipedes," said Benteen.     

"Now that,” Hatshepsut purred, “is a scientific observation if ever I heard one.”     

"They’re hailing the Argus..." Aldus relayed.      

A moment passed.      

"She’s activated her transporters ... Captain Lex is aboard their vessel."     

Mantovanni’s expression made ice seem invitingly warm.     

It was only a matter of minutes ... but those minutes were interminable for everyone aboard both Federation ships.     

And they didn’t go as planned.     

"The parasites’ vessel is raising shields. Her weapons systems are powering up ... if Mav’s counterpart on Argus was maintaining a transporter lock on Captain Lex, they certainly don’t have it anymore."     

"Understood, Mr. Aldus," the captain acknowledged. "Follow Argus’ lead."     

"Aye, sir ... shields up, weapons ready." The Roman examined his readouts, and the usual discipline shown by its military personnel slipped, just a bit. "I’m reading...      

"...explosions aboard the parasites’ vessel ... her shields are dropping ... there’s still some sort of scattering field in effect, though."     

Benteen took that moment to interrupt. "Whatever they’re using for a faster-than-light drive over there, its power grid seems to be imploding ... I estimate fifty seconds before it detonates."     

She glanced back for emphasis. "We don’t want to be here when that happens."     

Her hands repeated the same series of patterns over the ops console a number of times, with slight variations. "I can’t get a lock on Captain Lex ... Parihn is trying aboard Argus, too ... no dice."     

Liberty’s crew looked on in growing dismay as the massive vessel, an overweening threat just moments before, began to buckle in some places, while gouts of flame erupted from others.     

"Bridge to transporter room one ... Mav, stop screwing around and get him out of there..."     

For a change, the Tellarite answered with information rather than insolence. "I’m narrowing the confinement beam to try and punch through the interference..."

The frustrated snort told them he’d failed.     

"Come on," Mantovanni muttered. "I want to tell Gav something else great about you when he wakes up."     

He hadn’t meant it as either a goad or an insult … but evidently the chief had heard him. He growled angrily; then, suddenly, he cut the channel.     

"Detonation in twenty seconds," Benteen warned.     

"Order the Argus to withdraw ... T’Vaar..."     

"Our escape course in already plotted and laid in, sir," the Vulcan provided easily.     

Sheridan, despite concern for her former captain, heeded Mantovanni’s directive: Argus exploded into warp and disappeared from the main viewer, even as Benteen urged, "Seven seconds."     

"This is Mav. I have Lex!"

T’Vaar, in that moment, decided logic to be the better part of protocol, and punched the warp drive controls before her captain could even open his mouth.     

If Meridian had made an impressive exit in her last moment, then the parasite mother ship’s departure was downright awe-inspiring. At the range they’d been, the shockwave would have shattered either of the great starships.     

As it was, they’d gotten through unscathed. Almost, Mantovanni relaxed back into the center seat.     

It would have been premature.     

"This is Mav. Get down here."

What now? the captain thought.     

He motioned for Benteen to accompany him.     

"Lieutenant Aldus," she ordered, "you have the bridge ... exhaustive long range scans before we relax, please."     

"Aye, sir." The Roman’s calm had, for the most part, reasserted itself.      

Even he and T’Vaar, though, couldn’t resist a pair of concerned glances after they’d left.

***

Other than Mav, transporter room one was empty.

"Did you transport Jonozia directly to Sickbay?" Mantovanni inquired.

He was still fiddling with the controls, but answered with a gruff, "No."

Benteen snapped, "Then where is he?"

In answer, Mav gestured at the transporter pad.

"Still in the buffer ... I’ve already called sickbay, and Matsuoka’s preparing to receive him."

"Are the injuries bad?" Benteen asked, worry causing a grimace.

"As far as I know, he’s in perfect health."

Mantovanni was past the point of patience.

"Then why is he still in the buffer?"

Mav pointed to his instruments; Mantovanni and Benteen took a long look. For a moment, it didn’t register.

He drove his point home quite well, though.

"I said, ‘I’ve got Lex’... not ‘I’ve got them.’ To grab anything at all, I had to narrow the confinement beam so much that..."

He hesitated, then plunged forward.

"...I was forced to take the symbiont right out of the host’s body. I retrieved Lex.

"Jonozia’s gone.”

Epilogue—USS Argus/USS Liberty

"I think I can save them both."     

Shiro Matsuoka’s announcement was greeted with stunned expressions.     

"Lex and McDonald?" Sheridan answered incredulously. "I know you’re good, Doctor, but ... there are no un-joined Trills aboard Argus, Liberty or anywhere in the approaching task force. Even utilizing a human host as a stopgap measure, we’re three weeks away from any. Lex won’t last three days—even in stasis."     

She, Mantovanni, Benteen, Mav and Simok—who’d been restored to his former self—were assembled in a surgical alcove. Matsuoka looked haggard; he’d been going non-stop for more than a day, and probably had another ten or twelve hours ahead of him before he could relax.     

"What did you have in mind, Doctor?" Mantovanni asked.     

At that point, Sara Parker burst into the room.     

"Where is he? Where’s my husband?" She looked around wildly; evidently Carteris had finally managed to revive her, and then tried to tell her what’d happened.

From her reaction, she’d run out in the middle of the explanation.

The captain turned to face her.

"I’m sorry, Sara ... Jonozia’s dead."

She slapped him.

Even Simok looked stunned.

Before anything else could be said or done, Kate Sheridan stepped forward and put her arms around her friend.

Whatever anger she had left suddenly disintegrated into racking sobs, and she allowed herself to be led away. Kate whispered calming words to her, while Sara continued to shake her head ‘no.’

Matsuoka cleared his throat.

"As far as Lex is concerned, he’s the easier one to help."

Now he had just about everyone confused.

Simok, though, perhaps because he was emotionally detached, realized the doctor’s line of thinking.

"You are going to clone Jonozia."

Liberty’s CMO nodded.

"It seems an ideal solution ... Argus has recent tissue samples, and it's reasonable to assume that the Lex symbiont and the clone will be perfectly compatible."

"Smart," rumbled Mav.

"In addition," Benteen added, "from what I know of Trills, Lex will be able to turn the Jonozia clone into a literal duplicate of the original... he has all the memories, and can simply download them, so to speak."

"Do it," Mantovanni ordered.     

"You should perhaps consider Lieutenant Parker’s feelings in this matter," Simok interjected. "In addition, I must also point out that it is clear from precedents in Federation law that a clone or other duplicate may not assume the rank and position of the original." The Vulcan’s observation was like a pail of cold water on everyone’s hopes for an easy resolution.     

"Well, I didn’t wait for permission," Matsuoka admitted. "In my medical opinion..." He paused for a moment for emphasis. ‘In my medical opinion’ was a phrase he used when he would brook no defiance. He then continued. "...it’s the only way to preserve the symbiont’s life." The older man grinned slightly. "Frankly, I don’t care what you, Sara, Simok, or the Trill Symbiont Commission thinks. It’s being done.     

"I started growing the clone four hours ago. It’s aboard the Argus, in a sealed sickbay lab."     

Mav grunted. "Good. It was the right thing to do."     

"Well, we’ll address this later, if necessary. What about Dr. McDonald?" queried the captain.

Matsuoka frowned. "I’m headed into surgery now. My problems are twofold: Detaching the dormant parasite, and restoring her body to normal function. I believe cloning is the answer here, too."     

"Of course," marveled Benteen. "You’re going to clone the organs the parasite consumed, and graft them into place as appropriate. Very slick, Doctor."

"Hunh ... if it works. Now, if you’ll all excuse me." Without a further word, he disappeared into the O-R.

***

Argus’ crew waited, agonizing over the fate of their captain and CMO, while grieving for the X-O they’d come to know and like.     

Simok, of course, had proven to be difficult.     

Benteen, on an impulse, had stopped the Vulcan before he’d left sickbay.     

"Commander, you do realize you’re not to discuss what happened to Captain Lex with anyone outside this room?"     

"You wish for me to conceal the truth about the situation, Commander?"     

"No, Simok; I want you to exercise a modicum of restraint."     

He’d simply looked at her as if she’d suddenly grown horns out of her head. His eyebrow had climbed a bit, and he’d replied, "Your recommendation is noted, Lieutenant Commander Benteen."     

Mantovanni, who’d been speaking quietly with Mav after the group had dispersed, had noted her troubled expression, and approached her after the Vulcan had left.     

"He’s not having any of it, eh?"     

"After what Kate’s told us about him, you’re surprised by this?"     

The captain’s expression had been grim.     

She’d continued, "He’s not stupid enough to openly defy you aboard your own ship, or Sheridan on the Argus... however, odds are he’s already framing a little report to Starfleet on events of the day."      

"Fine," Mantovanni had answered her. "Let Beethoven compose all he wants. Until further notice, there are to be no ship-to-shore transmissions without the express consent of either Commander Sheridan or myself. We’ll have to keep you out of the loop, too, Erika..."     

"...or Simok can legitimately question why he can’t send messages, too, since we’re the same rank," she’d finished.     

"I knew I kept you around for something," Mantovanni smiled slightly.     

Sheridan had approached, even as Erika had left sickbay to implement his orders.     

"She’s a little calmer, now, but she doesn’t want to hear from you; she’s made that abundantly clear."     

He’d touched his cheek where she’d slapped him, and answered, "I’d gathered that."

Now, hours later, Argus and Liberty were in close formation, headed for Starbase 338 ... and a lengthy debriefing. Athene and Hood had replaced them on patrol, and the only thing that needed doing was the only thing no one wanted to do.     

Wait.     

Both bridges were back to their normal complement, with one exception; Kate Sheridan still held the center seat on Argus.     

Matsuoka and Carteris had been back and forth between the two vessels, close-mouthed and insular the whole time. Even Mantovanni had been able to get little from either.      

"It’s still touch and go in both places," was all they’d say.     

When at long last the CMO signaled them to come down, he and Benteen found it difficult to restrain themselves from running.     

Upon arrival, Liberty’s two officers found they weren’t the first to have been notified.      

Sheridan was already present. She was standing next to a biobed: Its occupant was a pale but smiling Jane McDonald.     

In the center of the room was Sara Parker.     

Her arms were wrapped around Jonozia Lex.     

As the mix of officers milled around in ecstatic relief and joy, Mantovanni strode over to where Matsuoka leaned against the wall. He was practically out on his feet.     

"I’d like to hire you," he whispered, "as my personal physician."     

Matsuoka grinned.

***

"You wanted to see me, Captain?"     

For the first time, Luciano Mantovanni permitted himself to look at her—not Commander Sheridan, but Katherine.     

It’s remarkable. She literally inherited every positive physical trait from her mother, and none of the negative.      

Where Janeway was angular, almost bony, Sheridan was merely slender, with very favorable curves; where the mother’s natural expression was almost a sneer, the daughter’s was simply intense.     

Ah, well. No matter, he thought.

"I’ve just received orders. Liberty’s been called away," he told her. "We have an all-too-brief rendezvous with the starship Monitor, then we’re headed to Bajor."     

Sheridan nodded, her mind already preparing itself for the responsibilities she’d be shouldering. "Is there anything specific upon which I should be briefed for the upcomi–"

"You’re not going, Kate."     

She looked at him blankly.     

"It’s about time you went back to the Argus. Jonozia ... Lex..." he corrected himself, "...made it clear you were only aboard until I thought you ready to go home.     

"Not only are you ready, they need you—now more than ever. You’ll be executive officer this time ... just like you’d originally hoped."     

"I..." She hesitated.     

He raised an eyebrow. "Problem, Commander?"     

"I suppose you’ve already cut my orders, sir?"     

Mantovanni grinned slightly. "As a matter of fact, your command code authorizations have already been transferred to Argus. You’re all set. Captain Lex is waiting for you ... they’ll be holding the memorial ceremony for Commander Rudman as soon as you go aboard.    

"We’d love to give you more of a send off, but we’ll have to let the New Year’s party and your promotion suffice to let you know how we feel about your contributions."

Sheridan shook her head, amazed at the turn of events. "Be careful what you wish for," goes the old cliche. Just when I have absolutely no desire to leave, it’s back to Argus.

She surrendered to the inevitable. "Permission to disembark, sir?" she requested.

He stood, and came around the desk.     

"Granted, Commander. I’d say something inane about Argus getting a fine officer, but they knew that before I did."

He offered her his hand.

She took it, and asked, "I’m already reassigned as X-O of the Argus, right?"

He nodded. "As of about ten minutes ago."  

Kate stepped forward, and tilted her head up even as she released his hand and slipped the arm about his waist.

"Good."     

She kissed him, lingeringly.     

After a moment, he may have even kissed her back.     

When they came apart a moment later, neither was sure who’d broken contact.     

"I’ll be in touch," she whispered huskily. "Assuming you’d like that..."

"Assuming I can take that," he replied softly.     

She chuckled, and turned for the door. As it opened, Kate Sheridan looked back over her shoulder and wriggled her eyebrows.     

"You’ll improvise."

Hatshepsut, with her customary perception, was looking directly at her with an unwavering feline stare as the door to Mantovanni’s sanctum sanctorum closed behind her.     

Sheridan couldn’t resist: She grinned, winked, and strolled, practically sauntered, off the bridge.     

Mere seconds after she’d departed, the counselor rose, started towards the ready room ... and nearly bumped into Mantovanni as he emerged.      

He looked significantly less happy than had Sheridan.     

"Do you want to talk about it?" she inquired gently. He brushed past her towards the center seat, and took over for Sito, who saw his expression and vacated—quite swiftly.     

As she resumed her own chair, he answered so softly that even she had trouble hearing it.     

"What do you think?"

***

"...as far as I can determine, they came aboard in the ‘quarantined’ Meridian crew members we beamed aboard; McDonald must have been the first of us infected. They’ve already managed to take over most of the ship; infecting Simok early on must have facilitated that quite nicely. The guy’s a total jerk, but he knows his stuff."

Lex smiled.     

"Those of us unaffected have sealed ourselves on deck eleven and disabled the main deflector dish... this should prevent warp travel and make conventional forms of communication difficult, if not impossible. Considering we can’t escape, it’s the best we were able to come up with on such short notice.

"If you manage to get away, Kate, Jonozia ... bear in mind that they could’ve smuggled some aboard that little fighter you brought in ... you also need to remember that even though I’m making this now, it’s likely I’ll be dead or 'zombified' by the time you get back with help."

Lex could hear weapons fire in the background; they were a distraction, but the speaker managed to keep his focus.

"You’ve got to stop them. Remember, don’t trust any of us.     

"This is Commander Michael Rudman, aboard the USS Argus."     

He stopped the playback.

You did your duty, Michael, Lex thought. Cicero said that if you hadn’t managed to send that message to Kate’s fighter just before it went into warp, the same thing that happened to us might have gotten Liberty, too. In a way, you saved us all.     

I’m sorry we couldn’t do the same for you.

The funeral had been touching.     

Bimitri Cassaria had delivered the eulogy, and he’d been brief and eloquent.     

"Michael," he’d chuckled, "snuck up on people ... you didn’t realize you liked him until well after you did. By then, it was too late..." there’d been some laughter, then.     

"...and you really didn’t mind."     

When they’d consigned his body to space, the gathering had broken up quietly. It was obvious that Michael Rudman had affected the crew of the Argus far more profoundly in his absence than he had with his presence.

***

There were others, though, who considered Michael Rudman’s presence to be quite important. Important enough, they decided, to take the body from the vastness of space and bring it aboard their vessel.

As with many great men, Michael Rudman was destined to make a more significant contribution in death than he had in life.