Disclaimer: Paramount owns them...but I like to play. Warning: Another alien-of-the-week story...This can be a Halloween story: so beware...
Neelix regarded Jenny Delaney with a frown. Why Commander Tuvok had insisted the young woman accompany him as he rambled through the Ypr-Oad bazaars escaped him. It wasn't as if he needed any help buying supplies for the kitchen. And as for carrying them--that's what the transporter was for.
Jenny sighed. She'd been wandering with Neelix through the bazaar for two hours. He was buying pots and food items. She didn't mind the pots...it was the exotic spices. She groaned at the memory: Neelix had been sampling spices at a booth about an hour ago...She'd been sniffling and sneezing ever since...This only caused the Talaxian to apologize over and over and over.
Neelix stopped to inspect a large pot. He picked it up--nice and heavy--perfect for making stocks. He ran his tricorder over it and smiled. The metal alloys wouldn't react with any of the ingredients he usually used. He nodded to the dealer and started to barter. Jenny stood nearby and watched as Neelix closed the deal and reached for the pot. He stopped as he noticed an item shrouded under a dark cloth. The dealer smiled slightly as Neelix lifted the cloth and looked under it.
The Talaxian grinned. "Ensign, don't you think this mirror would add a certain elegance to the dining hall?"
The dark-haired young woman walked over and studied the delicately carved mirror. "Not exactly regulation, but it is attractive." The dining hall was one of the blander rooms on the ship. She ran her fingers over the dark frame.
Neelix looked in the glass for several seconds, before he turned to the dealer.
The long-eared dealer smiled broadly--his yellow teeth sparkled with delight. "The mirror--it is yours. I would be relieved to know that it is going to such an esteemed home." He replaced the cloth quickly and tied a piece of string around it. "You drive a hard bargain, stranger." Neither noticed the sigh of relief as Neelix carried the mirror while Jenny lugged the pot from the booth.
#
#
"Mr. Neelix," Tuvok said when Neelix had stopped hammering. "That mirror is non-regulation..."
"Ah. Mr. Vulcan. Lighten up. This room is dull. I was thinking of requesting permission to paint it something a bit more cheery. Like...scenes from a Bacchanalia. Grapes...food...*excesses*. Something this crew needs more of." The Talaxian's eyes twinkled in wicked amusement at the Vulcan's discomfort. "As morale officer, it is my duty to see that the crew is suitably entertained."
"I fail to see how a..." Tuvok paused as he searched for a word. "How this would provide entertainment."
Neelix didn't answer him. He was staring into the mirror as he straightened it. "There, perfect." He glanced around. "It brightens the place up considerably." Neelix stepped back and tripped over a chair. He grunted as he stood. "What is that chair doing there," he grumbled as he glanced at the mirror, then at the hammer he was holding.
"Hello Neelix," Harry said as he entered the dining hall. "Nice mirror. I was wondering if I could get dinner early..."
"Ah-yes, your rehearsal." Neelix handed the hammer to Tuvok--who put it on the table and left--while the Talaxian scurried to the cooking area. "I remember you asked. I'm almost ready. Give me three minutes."
"Sure, no problem." Harry walked over to the mirror. "Did you pick this up on Ypr-Oad?"
"Yes," came the Talaxian's muffled voice from the kitchen. "I'm hoping to get permission to remodel the kitchen. Casual elegance."
Harry was studying his reflection and fussing with his hair.
Neelix continued. "The crew spends a good portion of their time here. I've been working on plans to put in a bar too."
Neelix exited from the kitchen carrying a tray. "Here you go." Harry didn't respond. "Ensign?
"Oh, I'm sorry." Harry turned around quickly. "Thank-you Neelix."
#
#
Rehearsal was not going well. Harry closed his eyes in frustration--controlling his urge to strangle Hildy Barnes from Astro-physics. If she stopped them one more time, he just might.
Suddenly, he noticed the group had stopped playing and that the four women were staring at him. Hildy put her flute down with an angry motion as she started to open her mouth--and he couldn't take it anymore. He stood and pulled off his jacket. The four others watched in amazement, then horror as the young ensign continued to strip. When he got to his pants, they quickly left.
#
#
"Tuvok to Janeway."
She sighed as she put down the clay. "Janeway here. This had better be good." She hadn't had much opportunity to visit Da Vinci's studio recently.
"You had better come to the brig."
This got her attention. "I'll be there right away." She ended the program and hurried out of the holodeck.
Captain Janeway looked around the brig. The Doctor was examining someone in the far cell. She turned to Tuvok and Chakotay. "Gentlemen?"
Chakotay suppressed his grin. "It's Ensign Kim. Apparently during rehearsal he removed all his clothes then sat in the corridor and played Mozart..."
Her eyes opened wide, "Our Harry Kim...All his clothes?"
"That is technically incorrect, Captain." Tuvok responded. "He was wearing a pair of black silk briefs when security apprehended him in engineering."
She pinched the bridge of her nose. Was this possibly a headache coming on--she desperately hoped so. "Slow down. He ran practically naked through the ship, with security in hot pursuit."
"Correct Captain."
Janeway noticed Chakotay was trying not to laugh. "This isn't perhaps another practical joke???"
"No." Chakotay answered. "When he was brought here he remembered taking off his clothes...but not why he did it. The Doctor is giving him a complete physical as we speak."
She shook her head. "Have there been any other episodes of unusual behavior from the crew?"
"No, Captain. I've gone over all the security reports for the last 48 hours. I have Ensign Ayala retracing Mr. Kim's footsteps for the last 24 hours."
"Ah, Captain." The Doctor exited the ensign's cell to join the group. "Mr. Kim--outside of extreme embarrassment--will be fine. I have detected nothing more serious than elevated levels of adrenaline, which is to be expected...considering." He added with a droll laugh. "I have given him a mild sedative, he should sleep most the night." With that the Doctor exited the brig--to return to treating real problems.
She looked at her two officers. "Keep him in the brig overnight. Release him tomorrow morning...And get him something to wear."
"Aye Captain." Tuvok left.
"Commander, talk to him tomorrow, see if he remembers more about what happened."
Chakotay smiled at her. "Of course, Kathryn."
#
#
Harry tried to slip quietly into the dining hall in the morning--praying that no one would notice him. The cheers, whistles and applause that greeted him caused him to blush and stammer hello to Tom.
"Harry, Harry. Voyager's first streaker!" Tom announced loudly.
"Tom," Harry whispered. "I'd rather forget about it."
"Come on, you're famous, or is that infamous." The pilot shrugged as an embarrassed Harry walked away.
The ensign stopped at the mirror, then continued to get his breakfast. He'd eat it in his quarters, before going to the bridge. Anything to avoid the stares and smiles of the amused diners.
B'Elanna walked in and grinned as she watched Harry. She leaned over Tom's shoulder. "He's really quite cute. Nice butt." She stepped away quickly and, with a wicked smile, walked over to get her breakfast, with a brief glance at the mirror.
#
#
Kathryn Janeway observed the engineering crews quietly working. It was always a pleasure to come down here. B'Elanna ran one of the finest engineering departments of any StarFleet ship, anywhere in the galaxy. She looked around for her chief engineer. She stopped Carey. "Lieutenant, where's Lieutenant Torres?"
Carey rolled his eyes slightly, "Up there." He pointed to the catwalk.
Suddenly there was a roar, "YOU DID WHAT!?" B'Elanna's voice echoed. Janeway and everybody winced. Then there was a thud. A second of silence; then Janeway and Carey ran up the stairs.
B'Elanna was sitting in a corner laughing or crying--Kathryn couldn't tell. Seven lay unconscious on the floor--a large bruise already forming on her jaw. The Captain contacted security and the Doctor. Seven was beamed to sick-bay. A very quiet B'Elanna accompanied the Captain to Tuvok's office.
#
#
Chakotay looked at B'Elanna who was just sitting there. "Be, what happened?" He asked kindly. Tuvok stood at the back of the room.
"She had bypassed the sub-space relay and was realigning it in an attempt to reconfigure the long-range sensors."
"And you hit her?"
B'Elanna nodded. "Yes, sir."
Janeway shook her head as Chakotay continued. "Lieutenant Torres, did you have any reason to believe that Seven was endangering the ship?"
"No, sir. In fact, it might just work...I don't know why I hit her..."
"You're confined to quarters for the next 24 hours. Sentence to begin immediately after the Doctor does a complete examination. Dismissed Lieutenant. Commander Tuvok, have security escort her to sick-bay, then her quarters." Chakotay looked at Tuvok and Janeway. "What the Hell is going on?" He growled after Torres had exited.
"I have a security team scanning engineering. Preliminary reports suggest nothing unusual." Tuvok looked at the Captain. "Considering that both Ensign Kim and Lieutenant Torres displayed exaggerated behaviors after eating..."
"As soon as the Doctor completes his exam of B'Elanna, have him analyze all the food items Neelix picked up on Ypr-Oad," Janeway looked at Chakotay. "Keep me informed. I'll be in my ready-room."
#
#
The next few days brought random reports of different behavior patterns.
Lieutenant Rollins had suddenly burst out singing an aria from a Klingon opera. While on the bridge.
A giggling Samantha Wildman had appeared for duty with big red ribbons in her hair.
#
#
Janeway read the reports quietly. Again the dining hall was the common element. The Doctor had found absolutely nothing in the food items Neelix had bought that could cause such *interesting* behavior. He was presently checking into combinations of the various items...but didn't hold much hope that was the cause.
It was possible that--after over three years on Voyager--the crew was suffering from cabin fever. Shore leave was the answer. It's just that there weren't any uninhabited class M planets in the area. An extended shore leave maybe...A week or so. The crew was due. It was just difficult to arrange.
She sighed as an alarm went off.
"Bridge to Janeway."
"Commander?"
"Someone has taken a shuttle!"
"Get a tractor beam on it..." She stood quickly and practically ran to the bridge. "Who's on that shuttle?" She barked as she entered the bridge.
"Lieutenant Paris," Harry responded from Ops.
She looked at Harry, then Chakotay, then the viewscreen. "Open communication. Lieutenant Paris, what are you doing?"
The only response was a joyful *weeeeeeee!* as the shuttle banked sharply to port. Then he rolled it.
"Where's that tractor beam?"
"Working on it, Captain." Harry responded. Tom was attempting a loop-to-loop when the shuttle froze as Harry was able to lock on to the shuttle with the tractor beam. "Got it."
"Good job. Beam the Lieutenant to the brig and have Hargrove beam over there and bring it back. Commander, Mr. Tuvok--you're with me. Mr. Kim--you have the bridge." She was furious. She then contacted the Doctor whose tart response irked her even more.
#
#
Tom sat in the cell with a big grin on his face. "Heya Captain. Was I any good?"
The doctor walked into the cell and started his examination. "Mr. Paris, when was the last time you ate?"
"An hour ago. Mm-mm good." Suddenly he stopped talking, frowned, then looked around. "The shuttle?"
"Yes, Mr. Paris," the Doctor responded.
"Gees, me too." The blond lieutenant sighed as he ran his hands through his hair.
Janeway motioned for the two commanders to follow her. "This is becoming either serious or ridiculous. Tuvok, have engineering and security go over every inch of this ship. You're looking for anything unusual. Keep looking until you find something. Chakotay..." She shook her head as the Doctor joined them. "Chakotay, I want you to go over the reports, and re-interview the victims. Look for something more than they just ate before these...incidents."
#
#
Tom entered the dining hall early the next morning, well before the morning diners. The accolades for his stunt were a bit more than he could stomach before breakfast.
"Lieutenant."
"Commander," Tom winced. He would be grilled over breakfast.
"I want to know exactly what you did before stealing the shuttle." Chakotay said.
"Ouch, I borrowed...Hmmm. I came here and had the waful succotash." He stopped at the mirror and looked at his reflection--he looked tired. Well, what did he expect, beds in the brig weren't designed with comfort in mind. "I sat over there with B'Elanna..."
Chakotay stopped to look at the mirror before following Tom to the far table.
#
#
Janeway glanced at Chakotay for the third time in 15 minutes. He was restless--she could tell by the way he tapped his fingers and moved in his chair. In the past three years, she'd become quite good at reading his moods.
Chakotay shifted in his seat when he noticed that she was observing him--again. Suddenly he stood and started to walk around the bridge. Janeway forced herself not to watch him. She instead concentrated on his report about Tom.
She froze when she felt his hands removing the hair-clip, freeing her locks and running his fingers through her hair.
"Commander?" Her voice squeaked. She was aware that every eye on the bridge was watching them.
"Such beautiful hair, I've always liked your hair, Kathryn."
"Commander, not here..." Oops...She looked at Tuvok, who nodded and walked toward them. "Commander, you need to go to sick bay, the Doctor needs to examine you."
He leaned over the back of her chair and whispered. "I'd rather you examined me."
Tuvok spoke quietly, "Commander, if you would come with me."
Reluctantly Chakotay did. Janeway waited a couple of seconds before turning command of the bridge over to Tom and following the two commanders to sick bay.
#
#
The Doctor was finishing his exam when she entered. "Doctor?"
"He is fine, Captain. No sign of anything unusual..." He grinned knowingly as he stepped out her way.
"Commander?"
He blushed slightly, noting that she hadn't put her hair back up. "I'm sorry Captain."
"That's all right, Chakotay." It was her turn to blush. She quickly touched his shoulder. "Let's discuss this over a cup off coffee."
#
#
Kathryn glanced around the crowded dining hall. Considering the number of knowing smiles, she figured the scene on the bridge was already common knowledge. "There's a table in the back, I'll get the coffee."
Chakotay watched her for a second, before walking to the table. He stopped to look in the mirror.
"Good morning Commander," Seven said. She looked in the mirror. "A reflective device. Does it serve a purpose?"
He smiled. "We use it to see what we look like."
"Appearances are inconsequential...Am I attractive?" She asked loudly.
Chakotay gasped, then looked around quickly. "Usually we don't ask..."
"It is inefficient not to ask. One cannot learn the answer without asking. Am I attractive...Do you find me attractive?" She continued in the same loud voice.
Chakotay choked as he moved away from Seven. Everybody was watching him now, including Kathryn--she was trying not to laugh. Seven's attention was no longer focused on him, as she started scrutinizing the other diners.
He quickly walked over to the Captain and took his coffee. They walked toward the back.
Seven continued. "Does anybody think I'm attractive enough to copulate with???"
Kathryn dropped her coffee cup, spilling the hot liquid on the floor and her leg. "Spirits, it's gotten her."
The young woman was unzipping her top when Kathryn moved to stand by her. "Seven, you need to go to sick-bay."
"But why? Are you jealous that I asked the Commander..."
Tuvok had appeared beside Seven.
"Come Seven," Janeway said.
The former Borg, looked at Tuvok, "Hey good looking want to..." She looked in the mirror then at Tuvok. Then the Vulcan glanced into the mirror.
"I'll come." She quietly responded, as the threesome walked to sick bay.
#
#
The Doctor looked at Seven, "Not another one." He pulled out his tricorder.
Tuvok grinned as he played with the doctor's equipment. Suddenly he turned and spoke, "A young Klingon was undergoing his manhood ceremony to become a warrior. He was faced with 3 tents:
"In the first one was a gallon of blood wine, which he had to drink in one go. In the second was a targ with toothache--he had to remove the painful tooth. In the third was a woman who had never had an orgasm...
"He entered the first tent, and after a while staggered out holding the empty wine skin. The warriors all applauded. He staggered into the second while the warriors held their breath. There were terrible screams and growls, which got worse and worse as time went on, culminating in such a loud shriek that the warriors were convinced he must be dead. But finally he staggered out, bruised and bleeding, and said *Now take me to the woman with the toothache...*"
The Doctor and Captain watched the Vulcan in horror. They exchanged a quick glance and the Doctor quickly started examining the Vulcan.
"Hmm most curious. He's the first patient I've had in here while actually undergoing the behavior change. His brain chemistry is off--like he is undergoing a mind-meld." The Doctor made some adjustments to his tricorder.
"Does a radioactive cat have 18 half-lives?" Tuvok looked around and laughed. The doctor quickly picked up a hypospray and emptied its contents into the Vulcan's neck, who promptly slumped to the floor.
"Silence is golden. I believe I have detected an alien presence in the Commander." He continued to scan the unconscious Vulcan on the floor. "The presence has lessened considerably over the past several seconds.
Seven sat up on the bio-bed. "This alien caused the behavior?" She almost looked relieved.
"Yes," the Doctor said. "It apparently blocks normal inhibitions...causing unusual behavior patterns to appear. Now we need to discover where it is coming from.
At that moment, Harry's voice sounded over her comm-badge. "Captain, we're being hailed."
"I'll be right there." She glanced at the Doctor. "Keep me informed"
Chakotay had already returned to the bridge when she arrived. He smiled at her as she opened communications.
"I'm Captain Kathryn Janeway of the starship Voyager."
A tall, light-purple alien female appeared on the view screen. She was wearing a headdress of scrolling metal that extended about 30 centimeters above her head. "I am First Ambassador of the Borders, Martu-Paon. Captain Janeway, your ship is trespassing on Tangorra space. We must ask you to cease traveling until we arrive at your location. You will negotiate for permission for your ship to depart our space. Failure to comply, will be fatal to you and your ship." The screen went blank.
"Negotiate permission to leave?" She looked at Chakotay with a shy smile. "Yellow alert and continuous scans. Commander, it seems we have an alien intruder on board."
Chakotay looked startled, "Ah. This alien is responsible for..." They both blushed at the memory.
"Sick-bay to Janeway."
"Janeway here. Doctor?"
"Mr. Tuvok has recovered, we are going to the dining hall to retrace his steps. Seven has been cleared to return to duty."
"Very good Doctor, I'll meet you there. Commander Chakotay, you're with...Umm...I believe your presence will be beneficial to the investigation." She noted they had about 20 minutes. "Lieutenant Paris, inform me when the Tangorran ship arrives or the appearance of any other ships."
"Aye, Captain." He smiled to himself. An alien visitor...
#
#
Tuvok looked around the dining hall. "I entered and approached the Captain and Seven. They were standing here." He stopped and looked in the mirror. "Then the Captain and I accompanied her to sick-bay. Where my most illogical behavior occurred." He looked at the entrance as the Captain and Commander entered. Neelix and the Doctor were the only others in the dining hall.
"Anything?" Janeway asked hopefully.
"I would have suspected that transfer involved physical contact of some sort. Except that many of my patients have not been in contact with the previous victims. Because only one person at a time has been infected, I suspect we are dealing with one alien."
The team started scanning the room. As Kathryn passed the mirror, she noted her hair was still down. She had put her clip in her pocket after...She smiled at the memory. She ran her fingers through her hair and pulled it back...An evil smile appeared on her face as she turned and looked at her First Officer. The clip fell to the ground as she walked over to him. Before anybody could say anything, she wrapped her hands around his neck and kissed him.
Chakotay returned the kiss with increasing ardor, before his brain kicked in and he pushed her away. "Kathryn?"
The Doctor rushed over and quickly scanned the Captain. "I am detecting sighs of the alien. But it's presence is rapidly diminishing." He looked at the mirror, then the Captain, then Tuvok. "The mirror."
Kathryn had turned beet red, but managed to respond. "The alien lives in the mirror." She walked over to it and looked in it. The Doctor and Tuvok scanned her and the mirror.
Tuvok raised an eyebrow as he spoke, "Fascinating. It would be logical to assume that the mirror is the alien's home."
"Mr. Neelix," the Doctor said. "Tell us about this mirror."
Neelix laughed nervously, "I bought it from the same merchant from whom I bought my large stock pot...Funny. I didn't think so at the time, but he just gave me the mirror." He reached behind the counter and pulled out a black cloth. "It was covered with this."
Chakotay took the cloth from him, then carefully covered the mirror.
"Paris to Janeway, the Tangorran ship has arrived."
"We'll be there. Mr. Tuvok, form a security escort for our guests. Mr. Neelix, keep that thing covered until we can deal with it." She and Chakotay quickly made their way to the bridge.
#
#
The First Ambassador's image again appeared on the view screen. "Ambassador Martu-Paon, we are ready to negotiate." When Janeway looked at Chakotay, she blushed slightly.
"Very good, Captain. My associate and I shall transport to your ship. Lower your shields so that we transport over."
Janeway nodded to Harry, and a second later two Tangorran females appeared on the bridge.
"Welcome to Voyager," Janeway said.
Ambassador Martu-Paon gave a curt nod. "A mixed crew. Interesting. Doesn't this cause problems?" She didn't give anyone a chance to answer. "Come, I will inspect your ship. It is one of the conditions of negotiation."
"Certainly." Janeway and her two guest left the bridge. They were discretely followed by a security team.
During the two-hour tour, Janeway told about their trip and their wish to get to the alpha-quadrant. The Tangorran ambassador was not impressed.
The two Tangorrans found engineering dull and that part had lasted only ten minutes. They were slightly curious about sick-bay. But to Janeway's horror and surprise, they found deck three--crew quarters--fascinating.
She had shown them her quarters, then received permission from Chakotay, B'Elanna and Tom to show them theirs. They ended the tour in the dining hall.
"Officers eat with the crew?" Ambassador Martu-Paon asked with a look of distaste.
"Certainly," Janeway cut in. "This is Neelix..."
The Tangorrans looked shocked, Janeway realized that he was the first non-human crew member they'd seen. (B'Elanna had conveniently been in a Jeffrey tube when they'd been in engineering.)
"Greetings Madam Ambassador." He was a tad put out that Janeway had forgotten his function as Voyager's Ambassador.
"Do you not have a troubles functioning as a mixed crew?" Martu-Paon asked as she looked around the dining hall. She ignored the funny yellow male.
"Mixed crew?" Janeway asked.
"Certainly. Tangorran vessels are not mixed. Females serve together and males serve together." Martu-Paon walked over to the mirror. "What is this and why is it covered." She removed the covering before Janeway or Neelix could react. "I demand that this mirror be included in the negotiations. In fact I'll exchange safe passage through our space for this mirror." She took it off the wall.
Neelix started to protest, but Janeway quietly motioned for him to be silent. "Ambassador Martu-Paon, that mirror has great *sentimental value*..." She controlled the urge to smile at the Ambassador's petulant look. "But in exchange for safe passage, we are willing for you to have it." She wasn't sure what was going on--but it solved the problem of what to do with it...and the Alien presence seemed willing.
The ambassador handed Janeway a small item. "This is my permission and a map. You may not stop anywhere or communicate with anyone, until you leave our space. It should take you 8 days. Your progress will be monitored." She then contacted the Tangorran vessel, and the two alien women vanished.
"Captain, they don't know about..."
"I know Neelix. But the alien chose them. This may be how it travels through the galaxy." She looked at the bare wall. "I wonder what it's life is like."
#
#
Janeway looked up from the Doctor's report when the doorchimes rang. "Come in."
"The Doctor's report?" Chakotay asked as he stood in front of her desk.
"Yes. The alien lives in the mirror. Apparently it has to return there before moving on to another." Her eyes wandered to the paragraph on inhibitions...
"About that kiss..." He started after several seconds of silence.
"Chakotay," she pleaded.
Relentlessly he went on, "Did you mean it?"
She blushed, then smiled. "As much as you meant it when you were running your fingers through my hair."
He rested his hands on the desk and leaned over it. "Dinner tonight?"
She looked into his eyes and briefly wondered what it would be like to kiss him again. Instead she said, "Yes."
#
#
"I am Ini'Laelev. For centuries I have lived apart from my people. I have sought refuge in many places between hosts, and have found a mirror to be ideal, but boring. Not always the same one--but for too long I have called one home.
"I seek my natural host. My normal existence is to share a body and a mind: together we are powerful.
"I have traveled extensively, but while I have not found my people, I have visited many. Some are more suitable than others. For the brief time I am with them, I have learned much, but none seem to know my own.
"I have found yet another alien race. Already I know, they are not mine. And yet--I smile at the mischief I can cause before I move on."
You were expecting a scary story???
The alien names are anagrams...