I made up psychogenotrosis… I think. To test and see if the name sounded real enough, I started talking to my family members about this new condition where you can inherit weird psychological quirks called psychogenotrosis and they actually believed me! If I hadn't told them I made it up, they'd still think it existed--and probably think I have it, lol.

Chapter Two

Marina let Julian lead her to a large round table near the bar. It was crowded with a variety of races.

"Crew, meet Lt. Marina Richardson," Julian said with flourish, motioning to the girl.

"Hi!" exclaimed the brunette Trill cheerfully. "Jadzia Dax."

"I'm Major Kira Nerys. Welcome to the station." The Bajoran woman nodded to Marina.

"Chief Miles O'Brien. Say, I hear one of you newcomers works with holo-suite programs. That wouldn't happen to be you, would it?" asked the red-haired man.

Marina beamed. "Actually… yes, it would happen to be me."

"Well, I thought maybe you could--"

Julian quickly interrupted. "I think we should let Marina sit down and tell us a little about herself before we start bossing her around." He glanced at her and gave her a reassuring smile.

Marina smiled back at him gratefully. "Thank-you," she whispered. She suddenly realized that they were still holding hands. Blushing furiously, she withdrew her hand from his and sat in the chair he had pulled out for her.

Julian stood behind her chair for a moment, feeling oddly dazed. Why had he held her hand for that long? Mentally shaking himself, he sat between Marina and Miles. "I hear you've met Constable Odo," he said, motioning to the constable, who was watching Quark like a hawk.

"Yes. He seems nice."

"He is," Julian said, picking up his glass. He took a sip, then looked around the table. Everyone was silent, awkwardly so. "So… Marina… tell us about yourself. I hear you have psychogenotrosis." As soon as the words were out, he winced at their abruptness.

But Marina did not seem to mind. "Yes, I do. My father is half human, half Vulcan, and my mother is half human, half Betazoid. Kind of a strange combination. That's why I can sense things and read people."

"Elaborate," Miles said, lifting his glass to her.

"Well, I guess you could say I have a sixth sense." Marina linked her fingers and placed her hands on the table, then realized that Julian was doing the same thing. Trying hard not to blush, she slipped her hands back into her lap. "It's sort of like a for-knowledge of events. I can tell when bad things are going to happen, and sometimes good things, too. And I can read people very well, pick up on their emotions." Good Lord, I'm rambling, she thought.

"Nice," Dax spoke up.

"Yes, it is. Most of the time."

"What would the young lady like to drink?"

Marina looked up. A Ferengi man was standing beside her chair. "I'll just take water, please," she said shyly.

"Water? Leave it to a human to order the cheapest thing on the menu." The Ferengi shook his head. "I'm Quark, by the way. I own this bar. You should come here often. And order something other than water."

Marina smiled winningly at him. "I'll take you up on that," she said.

"But just water this time?"

"Just water."

"Oh, all right." He walked off towards the bar, shadowed by Odo.

"So… you're a science officer?" Kira asked.

"Like me," Dax added.

"Yes."

"And you create holo-suite programs?" Miles asked eagerly.

Marina laughed softly. "Yes, I do. I love the arts and sciences. In fact, I love literature and art more than I love science, but… I don't know. I guess I just thought I could go farther in science."

"Literature?" Julian leaned towards her. "How would you like to join the chief and myself in the holo-suite sometime to act out some epic story?"

"I would love it!" Marina's green eyes lit up.

"Hey, Julian, she could even write out stories!" Miles exclaimed with a laugh.

"Certainly." Marina smiled. Finally, she was fitting in.

"Sick bay to Bashir."

Julian frowned, then tapped his communicator. "Go ahead."

"We've got some really sick people who need to see you."

Julian stood, flashing Marina an apologetic smile. "All right, on my way." He tapped his communicator again. "I'll see the rest of you later." He touched Marina lightly on the shoulder. "You, too, right?"

"Yes. I hope so." She smiled crookedly at him, glad that Starfleet uniforms had long sleeves. Good thing he didn't see the goose bumps I got when he touched me…

She really is something, Julian thought. Wait… did I just think what I thought I thought? He turned and started walking towards sick bay--fast.

Marina could not help but watch him walk out of the bar. What easy grace, what style…

"Did I just hear you sigh?" Dax asked.

Marina jerked her gaze from Julian's disappearing form. Dax was smiling. "Did I sigh?"

Kira was looking at her sideways. "Did I just hear you sigh over… Julian?"

"I… don't… know…" Marina felt the heat rising to her cheeks.

"Leave the poor girl alone!" Miles exclaimed. "Julian's my best friend. There's nothing wrong with him. Of course girls are attracted to him. Why, he's even genetically--"

"Chief," Dax hissed.

Marina frowned, wondering what Miles had been about to say.

Miles suddenly realized that if this girl was interested in Julian, then she would have to find out the doctor's secret for herself. Dax was right. "Well, I'd best be getting on to my quarters. Keiko and Molly and Yoshi will be waiting." He quickly stood and left.

Marina found herself suddenly flanked by Dax and Kira.

"So… you like Julian?" Dax asked eagerly.

"I--I just met him."

"What does your sixth sense say about him?" Kira added.

At first Marina thought the major was joking, but Kira's brown eyes were serious. This was a woman Marina could trust. "It likes him," Marina said quietly. "I sense that he is a good man, passionate about something… his work, perhaps. I like passion in a man." She stopped, blushing.

"Go on!" Dax prodded.

Marina looked at her two new friends. Both women seemed sincerely curious, and interested in what Marina had to say. But… "You won't tell him this, will you?"

"No," they answered in unison.

"Even if I wanted to, I probably wouldn't get in a word edgewise with him," Kira said dryly. "Sometimes he just won't shut up."

Marina laughed lightly.

"Go on," Dax repeated.

"I sense that he is lonely," Marina said. "That was the easiest thing to sense. I think that's because it's a feeling I share with him. If I share a feeling with someone, it's easier to find it in them."

"Sounds like this sense of yours is pretty good."

The three women turned around.

"What?" Quark set a glass of water in front of Marina. "Just because I'm a male doesn't mean I don't understand people. I'm a bartender! Of course Julian's lonely. Of course he is passionate about his job. And say… lieutenant, maybe you and I can reach an arrangement of some sort. Your mind powers would be very useful to a man like me."

Marina just stared at him, not sure what to say.

"Quark. Go away," Kira said through her teeth.

The Ferengi shrugged and walked off, planning to waylay Marina at a later time about his idea.

"Anyway," Dax said, "I think you and the doctor would make a cute couple. A dark haired man and a blonde-haired woman. Both of you are intellectuals. Both of you love literature and holo-suites. It's perfect."

"They only just met, Jadzia," Kira reminded her.

"I know. But think, Nerys. Wouldn't it be sweet?"

Marina smiled and thought, Yes. It would.

(LINE HERE)

Standing by a new patient's bed in sick bay, the object of the three female's conversation felt a sense of dread wash over him. Something was very wrong with the four people who had just been brought in. Something was wrong with their minds.

As he studied the readings on his equipment, Julian realized that this sudden outbreak of headaches and nausea was an allergic reaction. It was relieving that it was rare, not life-threatening, and non-contagious, but… What were these people allergic to?

"Doctor, what's wrong with me?" asked one of the patients, Tom Barnett, one of the new security officers.

"It's an allergic reaction, Tom, but to what I can't tell." Julian gave the young man a reassuring smile, then administered a pain reliever. As Tom drifted off to sleep, Julian sat down to study his readings. A brain allergy? This was something entirely new to him. He glanced back at the four sleeping officers, then suddenly realized something.

All four of them had been in the bar when Marina had entered. In fact, Tom had been with her. And all four of them had left soon after being seated. Was it just a coincidence? Was there something in the bar that they were allergic to?

Suddenly, looking at the charts, he discovered something else. These people were allergic to some sort of brain waves. All the signs pointed to it…

Oh, God.

Julian quickly tapped his communicator. "Dr. Bashir to Constable Odo."

"Yes?"

"Odo, go get Marina--Lt. Richardson--and bring her to sick bay at once."

"Is something wrong?"

"Yes."

"Is Richardson in danger?"

"Dear God, I hope not."