A Charming Match-

My name isn't Roddenberry or any of toughs other people who do this. So I don't make any money for this, I intend no infringement or any of that other stuff that gets people in trouble.

Chapter 7- Something's Wrong With Hoshi

Malcolm's quarters

The Stewart had brought the lasagna about thirty minutes ago. Now Malcolm had nothing to do but wait for Hoshi to show.

He couldn't help but worry; she had never been late before, and with the Captain having gotten sick.

He walked over to his wall com. And called "Reed to Doctor Phlox?"

'Doctor Phlox here. What can I do for you Lieutenant?'

"I just wanted to see how the Captain is doing." Malcolm said.

'He's doing well. I released him ten minutes ago.'

"That's good. Did Hoshi develop any symptoms?"

'Not that I know of.'

"Okay, thank you Doctor. Reed out."

He turned back to the table in the middle of his quarters. Set for two, the candles were lit, and amongst them a small rectangular box next to Hoshi's place. Inside was a simple silver chain with a silver charm, a circle with another circle, and on it a wolf paw print to signify intelligence.

One of the traders from the freighter had sold it to him the first day they were here. He had waited to give it to her until after they had gone.

He walked over to the table and sat down. He picked up the box, opened it, and carefully studied the charm inside. With great pain in his heart, he closed the box and put it down, standing up to blow out the candles.

He stood there in complete darkness for a moment, then called the steward to come get the dishes. After they were gone he put the box in a drawer under his bunk, laid down in the darkness until he fell into a restless sleep.



Bridge

Jon noticed when Malcolm walked on the bridge, because he was waiting for it. He looked up from his display screen, but there was something wrong with Malcolm; he seemed deflated, like he hadn't slept well.

"Hey Malcolm, are you okay?"

"Yes sir. Why do you ask?"

"You just seem a little tired." He didn't want to make too big a deal out of it, because he knew Malcolm would only get worse.

"I'm fine Captain. How are you? Are you feeling better?"

Archer could take a hint it was time to change the subject. "I'm feeling much better, thank you." 'I wonder if his attitude today has anything to do with Hoshi, or if it's just the events of yesterday?'

Hoshi arrived on the bridge at exactly 0800, going straight to her station with out even a side-glance at Malcolm. 'Well that answers that. What happened last night?'

Malcolm tried for most of the shift to get her attention, just one look. But she didn't even seem like the Hoshi he had spent the last week falling in love with. This Hoshi seemed cold....almost as if none of the last week was real.

He thought about all the things they had discussed- the books the movies. He thought about the way she had felt lying next to him, with her head on his chest, and suddenly found it very hard to breath.

'No one even notices the difference. They can't tell there is a spy on there bridge," The one who had Hoshi's face thought smugly. 'Hoshi was easy to deal with, but this is ridiculous; even her own Captain couldn't tell the difference. Not that it's surprising- the physician who had altered her body and face was one of the best. They didn't even monitor the communications leaving the ship. She was the only one who had that knowledge. This is going to be a slumber job and over before they knew what hit them.'

Captain Archer looked back at his tactical officer with compassion; he knew that Hoshi had been the one person able to make him come out of his shell, and here she was, acting as if he wasn't even on the bridge.

He didn't envy Malcolm, and he wished that he had someone to talk to, but the only one he had ever talked to was Hoshi. So he was going to make himself face this alone.

Mess Hall

After shift he went to the mess hall and got a sandwich and some juice. He really wasn't hungry, but he knew better than to go without eating. When he saw her sitting at a table by the door, he didn't give it a second thought. He walked over and sat across from her.

She looked up when she saw someone out of the corner of her eye, Lieutenant Malcolm Reed was sitting down. She recalled from her files that he was classified as a loner among the crew, but sometimes ate with others to discuss the ship.

She said, "Hello Lieutenant, how are you?"

It stung, more than he cared to admit, that she used that title. "I'm good. How was the three musketeers?" He figured it would be good to start with a neutral topic before asking her why she didn't show last night.

She thought about it for a moment, then remembered they had a movie night every week, and The Three Musketeers was one of the movies they had in their data base. "The movie was okay, but I didn't watch all of it."

He swallowed some of his juice then said, "No, I meant the book."

"Oh, that. I just started it." That book had been in Hoshi's quarters, so she assumed that she was reading now.

Malcolm was starting to get a sinking feeling that something was very wrong, "Have you ever read Lord of the Rings?"

"No, I haven't. Is it any good?"

"Yes, it is. I recommend you try it." That settled it- something was very wrong. He had to get to the Captain. "I have to get going. Good evening, Hoshi."

He got up and put his dishes in the recycler, and left for the Captain's quarters. They needed to find out what happened to Hoshi- if that was even her.

Captains Quarters

Jon heard a chime and closed his logs. He walked to his door and opened it to see Malcolm was standing there, very obviously upset.

"Good evening Malcolm, what can I do for you?"

"Captain, how long were you and Hoshi separated on that freighter?"

"Not long. Why"

"I don't think Hoshi came back from that freighter."

"What are you talking about, Malcolm?"

"I was talking with Hoshi in the mess hall just now, and she said something that totally contradicts something she said yesterday. Said she has never read a book she said was her favorite the other day, and she wasn't sitting at her favorite table in the mess hall tonight."

Jon just stared at Malcolm in disbelief, but the more he talked about it the more it made sense. She was acting strangely, and it explained why he was poisoned, and why she wasn't. "All right. Lets say I believe you. How would we go about checking if in fact this wasn't the real Hoshi?"

"She wasn't checked by Phlox. Lets have him call her in."

"Okay Malcolm. But I have a question first. What happened last night with this Hoshi? I know something happened."

Malcolm looked at his Captain, "She didn't show up for dinner and I had something I wanted to give her. Now I just hope I'll get the chance to."

End Chapter Seven