McCoy glanced at the clock on the wall. Three hours, twenty-five minutes and six seconds flashed in bright red letters. He groaned before turning back to Tara's unconscious body. Three hours…three goddamn long hours in surgery and all they'd been able to discern was the presence of these bug like creatures inside the bumps on Uhura and Tara's necks. A full scan had shown that there were more patches attached to the two women's spines. At least the sedative was keeping the bug's progress minimal, though their delicate position did nothing to calm McCoy's nerves.

Time was running out and cutting them open seemed to be their last option. He didn't like the invasive tactic, but they had no other choice. He turned toward Nurse Taylor. "Inform Doctor Langfield to commence with opening the first patch. The one to the right of the neck."

Taylor nodded before relaying the information. "He says he's ready."

"Good. Now hand me that scalpel."

He was about to cut through when Taylor noticed the patches becoming agitated. Tara's bioreadings were slowly becoming more and more erratic.

"Wait, doctor. The creatures somehow can sense you. They're causing her pain. Attempting to remove them will surely kill her."

"These things are sucking the electrical energy from her nervous system. She'll be paralyzed within the hour and dead in another few minutes after that. Leaving them in there will kill her. Her only chance is if we can get these things out of her."

"We should do another scan. There's got to be another option."

"I don't like this any more than you do, but this is the only way they can be removed. Now hand me the scalpel."

Another hour and all the bugs were removed. Uhura and Tara were placed in biobeds with Nurse Taylor and Nurse McKella to keep an eye on them.

"What do you think?" Langfield looked into the clear cage where the sedated bugs were kept.

"They're parasites of some sort. Half-organic and half-robotic. They're emitting a low frequency signal. I'll have to wait for more information from the scans to know more."

"I'll go report to the captain."

McCoy held up a hand. "No. I'll do it."

There was a sharp knock. Langfield opened the door to find Nurse Taylor. Her eyebrows were drawn together in confusion.

"What is it?"

"Uhura and Marie are awake."

"That's damn impossible."

"See for yourself."

McCoy and Langfield burst from the office and saw both women sitting up. Tara was looking somewhat tired but refused to lay down. Uhura's arms were crossed, and her eyes were glaring at the two doctors.

"Doctor McCoy, I need to speak to the captain right away."

"It can wait. You're still recovering from major surgery. You shouldn't even be awake."

"As you can see, we are. If you won't let us go, at least bring the captain to us."

Tara pushed away the nurse trying to run a body scan. "This ship is in trouble. Those bugs are going to destroy us. I need to speak to Aeryn."

"Who's Aeryn?"

"My sister. I saw her before I passed out."

"Don't you mean, Siri?"

Tara thought for a moment. "No. Her name's Aeryn."

McCoy took in a sharp breath. "Doctor McCoy to the bridge."

A rather irritated voice greeted him. You better have good news.

"Uhura and Tara are awake. Jim, where's Siri?"

In Engineering with Scotty.

"I suggest she be confined to her quarters."

Why's that?

"I'd rather not say over an open circuit."

There was a moment of silence before, Ok, Bones.

McCoy shook his head. He didn't think it was that big a deal, but if Siri lied about her name…what else could she be hiding?

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Aeryn narrowed her eyes. "Ah, I see the problem. If you like, I could explain it to your men. I'm sure you wouldn't want anyone else to touch the machinery."

"Thank ye. I dinnae know you were so good with machines."

"I've lived on a smuggler vessel all my life. It's only logical I would know my way around an engine. I must admit that the Enterprise is the most sophisticated ship I've ever seen. May I?" She indicated the warp reactor.

"Go ahead."

Aeryn flipped open the panel where the anti-matter stream was pumped into the reactor. Her eyes scanned the connections and was impressed.

"Mr. Scott."

Scott looked somewhere over Aeryn's shoulder. "Would you mind?"

"Not at all. I'll stay here."

"Thank you."

Aeryn returned her attention back to the wiring. She felt every pair of eyes in the room on her. She began to concentrate on the plating but stopped. She reminded herself there wasn't much time left. If she didn't release the bugs soon, then Captain Renolt's ships would return to an undestroyed Enterprise. She'd surely have hell to pay if that happened. Still, even with this knowledge, she couldn't bring herself to do what needed to be done. Aeryn was still debating when Scott returned.

His smile was gone, replaced by a scowl. "There are some men here. They're telling me that you're to be confined to your quarters."

All the blood rushed from her face. Had she been found out? She didn't say anything while the guards dropped her off at her room. For the next few minutes, Aeryn struggled to keep her heartbeat under control.

"You're being illogical," she told herself. "They can't know anything."

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"Are they ok?"

"Scans show they are perfectly healthy."

Kirk paced back and forth between the three beds holding the newest additions to the crew.

"What can you tell us about your time on Renolt's ship?"

Uhura sat up a little straighter. "It looks much like the one we were on during our last encounter but with better weaponry and stealth technology."

"If you are correct, it is impossible for it to possess cloak technology due to its size."

"Unless they have a stronger energy source than the Federation has ever seen."

"Ichliesben VII?"

Spock nodded. "That's would be the logical conclusion."

"Captain? What was wrong with us?"

"You were infected with a parasite. Doctor McCoy and Doctor Langfield were able to successfully extract them before any permanent damage could be done. Do you know why they infected you?"

"I can answer that."

Kirk and Spock sent a surprised glance to the slightly middle aged man.

"I don't believe we have been acquainted."

"Agent Charles Winston, at your service. I was sent in to infiltrate Captain Renolt's ship and relay information. The situation became hot last year and I couldn't risk exposure." He struggled to sit up. Nurse Taylor gave him some water, which he gladly took. "This is the first Federation vessel I've been on in a long time."

"You said you knew about the infection."

"Yes, I do. Captain Renolt has been experimenting with these parasites that require a body to grow to their adult phase. Once grown, they burst from the host and consume the remains. They then search out anti-matter and finish off with the ship's electrical systems, including communications and life support. These things could destroy this ship in six hours flat. Problem is, once they find a place to hide, they're never found. Their signature fluctuates so often that the computer can't get a fix on their location."

Kirk swallowed hard. "We'll have them destroyed immediately."

"No."

Kirk and Spock looked at him in confusion.

"Those bugs are emitting a low frequency signal that can be traced back to Captain Renolt's fleet. Think about it, Kirk, you could be the one to finally bring him in. From what I've been able to gather, he plans on destroying this ship and then going after a planet. He'll put the bugs into the water supply. They're undetectable while in their egg state. By the time anyone finds out, it'll be too late."

"Sir, Nurse Naya will need more observation, but Uhura and Agent Winston should be fine."

He looked to Uhura who smiled. "Get to your post."

"Aye, sir."

Kirk and Spock left sickbay. "What do you think, Mr. Spock?"

"I've heard of Agent Winston. He is a reliable source."

"Escort him to the bridge. Maybe he can help Uhura trace the signal."

"If it's all the same to you captain, I'd like to clean up a little first. Maybe get in a decent meal."

Kirk nodded. "Of course. Be up on the bridge in thirty minutes."

Winston smiled. "That'll be ideal."

Kirk stayed in sickbay while the others left to their duties. The nurses spared the captain a glance before returning to their duties. He knocked on the door to McCoy's office twice.

"Come in." McCoy started to stand when Jim entered. "What's wrong, captain?"

"Something doesn't feel right. I think Aeryn knows more than what she's letting on. I need you to do me a favor."

McCoy grumbled. "I'm not going to like where this is heading, am I?"

"Not one bit, but she seems to trust you. See what she really knows."

"She'll probably catch on and throw something at me."

"At least you have practice dodging."

Again McCoy grumbled. "Fine, Jim. I'll see what I can find out."

Jim clapped a hand on his shoulder. "I knew you'd come around."

He watched McCoy exit sickbay, still grumbling under his breath. Meanwhile Kirk meandered over to Tara's bed. She was still sitting, refusing to lie down.

"I'm telling you I don't need rest, sir. I need to do my job."

Kirk laughed. "Don't make me order you to rest. I don't need you passing out while on duty."

"Captain. I…you know I'd never—"

"And they say doctors make the worst patients."

"Just trying to do my job."

"I know." He sighed, sitting on the edge of the biobed. "Listen, I want to apologize. As captain, I should have been more aware. It's my fault you were captured."

"No, sir. I am the one with better senses. I should have heard them coming. Your apology is accepted, though," she added with a slight smile.

"Nice smile. I didn't think Vulcans were capable of smiling."

"I'm half-Vulcan, sir. We are capable but we just choose not to. It amuses me that now, when I'm recovering from major surgery, you decide to flirt."

"I never waste an opportunity, not when you were almost lost."

Tara looked back up to find Kirk's eyes uncharacteristically serious. "Thank you, sir."

"Now get better, that's an order."

Tara waited until Kirk was out of sickbay before smiling again and laying her head against sickbay's poor excuse for a pillow. This was an order she'd gladly follow.

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Aeryn paced her room exactly sixty three times since being brought here by security. Her thoughts went to Agent Winston. Captain Renolt really mustn't trust her to have sent him. She didn't know what he was going to do to her if she didn't follow through with the plan, but she hoped she wouldn't have to find out.

Aeryn lay down on the bed that had been supplied and closed her eyes. Winston's face immediately appeared before her. Aeryn flipped over to her side and tried to push the image away but found the task difficult.

There was a shower in her quarters and cleaning up would be nice. Ignoring the ache in her lower spine, Aeryn stumbled into the shower and figured out the shower's controls. In no time she was out of the baggy clothes and had stepped into the warm water. After a few minutes of getting used to the water, Aeryn turned the temperature up, letting the water pressure wash away the stress that had been building. Aeryn felt control coming back within her grasp.

Ten minutes later, she was curled up in a towel on the bed. The mattress was a little hard and was starting to bring pain back to her lower back. Regardless, Aeryn could feel the pull of sleep on her eyes. She yawned, stretching her limbs out like a cat basking in the sun. Ten minutes wouldn't hurt anyone, right?

Siri.

The voice made her slightly agitated until she realized who its owner was. She rose and unlocked the door to see McCoy leaning against the door frame.

"May I come in?"

"Of course." She waited until he was a good ways in before shutting the door and turning around. "Now what can I—"

Her sentence was cut off when McCoy's lips were suddenly on hers. They moved with a passion she was unfamiliar with. She was only stunned for a minute before her hands began pushing against his shoulders. His hands batted hers away, pulling her closer where nothing was being left to the imagination. His mouth had left hers to leave a trail of kisses and aggressive nips along her jaw and neck.

"Doctor McCoy. This is highly illogical."

"The hell it is." Without warning, he scooped her body within his arms and brought her to the bed.

"What are you doing?"

"What does it look like I'm doing?"

Aeryn shook her head. "This isn't real. This isn't real. Wake up, Aeryn."

McCoy's hands began to wander up her sides and up her neck until they rested at her ears. His fingers stroked the tips once, sending a shock wave of lust through her.

"This isn't right."

"Like you haven't thought about this."

"No. This has to be a dream." Her sentence ended in a gasp when McCoy lightly nipped her ear.

Her hands fought to keep the towel wrapped around her while McCoy's fought to tear it away. So far Aeryn was losing. She was lost in shock. McCoy wouldn't do this. She was sure of it. He'd been such a gentleman on the planet and had even saved her sister.

"Why are you doing this?"

"You honestly didn't expect me to save Tara for nothing."

Panic began to set, but Aeryn refused to let it control her. She was able to free a hand and managed to get it to his throat when McCoy realized what she was doing.

"Oh no you don't." His hands were faster, capturing hers and bringing them high above her head where she squeaked from the pain. Using his position, McCoy flipped her over and Aeryn felt her wrists being bound. She was flipped back over; only to be greeted by intense blue eyes and that smile that made every one of Aeryn's thoughts completely illogical.

She started to say something when his lips cut her off. Though she hated this, her body couldn't not respond to it. She found herself leaning into every inch of him and moaning into his kisses.

When he pulled back, just as out of breath as she was, Aeryn resorted to begins. "Stop. Leo, please."

"Begging won't work. You know that."

Stop, her mind screamed. Aeryn, you must stop this now. Would Leo really do this?

No, she realized, he wouldn't be nearly this rough. He'd listen to her. He would stop if she asked.

Her body continued to struggle, but McCoy was far stronger. In moments he was shirtless and staring down into her with lust filled blue eyes that she suddenly found weren't really blue. Aeryn concentrated and found their true green color lurking beneath the illusion.

That's when it hit her like a ten-pound brick to the cerebellum. This wasn't McCoy. This was…

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Author's Note: *Gasp* Who could it be? Find out next chapter…

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Time left until Enterprise Destruction: 8 Hours

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Also, don't forget to review. Reviews make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Please and Thank You

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