Chapter 8 - Revelations

My name isn't Roddenberry or any of those 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.

Medical Bay

The Captain explained the situation to the Doctor while Malcolm paced, a restless pattern of back and forth. He felt responsible. Not only did the Captain get poisoned, but also Hoshi was kidnapped- all due to his negligence. He was so afraid that she was hurt or worse that he wanted to go find the impostor right now.

"MALCOLM!!" He heard the Captain's shout and snapped out of his little moment of self-loathing to look at him. "I asked if you wanted to be here for this?"

"Yes, Captain. I need to know."

"Okay. Will you be all right?"

"I'll be better once I know that Hoshi is safe, and back on Enterprise."

"Okay. Ready whenever you are, doc."

"Doctor Phlox to Ensign Sato."

It took only a moment for the reply, 'Yes Doctor, how may I help you?'

"I would like to run some tests to make sure you were not similarly poisoned, like the Captain."

'I feel fine Doctor. That really isn't necessary.'

"Still, just to be sure, I would appreciate it if you would come to sick bay for a few minutes."

'Very well Doctor. I'm on my way.'

Ten Minutes Later....

She walked into sickbay to find the Doctor doing some scans on the Captain, while Malcolm asked him questions. "Do you remember if Hoshi was served out of a different bottle of juice, do you remember the servers name?"

When the Doctor began to approach her, she said, "Good evening Doctor."

He came up next to her and said in that over cheery voice of his, "Thank you Ensign, for being prompt," he gestured her towards a bed and began again. "Please lie down. Have you experienced any dizziness, headache, feeling of extreme hot or cold?" While he asked her questions, he ran one of his scanners over her. As she recalled, that tool only took temperature, blood pressure, and showed scans of internal organs unless recalibrated to check more. Since she was human, she had nothing to fear, as long as he didn't find her vocal re-sequencer.

"No Doctor. I feel fine. How has the Captain been?"

"Ohhh, he is recovering quite nicely. He should be fit for full duty by tomorrow."

Malcolm then came over and joined them. "I would like to ask you a few questions."

"Of course Lieutenant. I would be happy to help." The Doctor walked away with that same grin on his face. He must not have noticed.

'This woman is a good actress,' Malcolm thought. "Do you remember anyone over on the ship that seemed suspicious?"

"No, I don't believe so." The fake Hoshi replied.

'Lying scamp.' "Do you remember if the Captain was served out of a different bottle?"

"No, he wasn't as far as I saw."

"Do you remember the server who gave you your meals?"

"I remember a face, no name."

"Thank you. I'll call you if I need any more information."

"Your welcome, Lieutenant." She stood. "Am I free to go, Doctor?"

"Yes, if you have any symptoms please notify me immediately."

After she left Malcolm and the Captain turned to the Doctor expectantly. "Well, Doctor?" the Captain asked.

"According to my scans, she is human, female, and in the right age range."

"That's very good Doctor, but is it Hoshi?"

"I don't know yet. That is what this is for," he replied as he walked over to the table and picked up a strand of hair left behind.

He walked it over to a small scanner on the wall, placed it on the tray, and began pushing buttons with functions Malcolm wouldn't even pretend to understand.

He was nervous. 'On the one hand, I hope I am right. Because that would mean that this isn't my Hoshi, and that I wasn't left alone on purpose.'

'On the other hand I want to be wrong, because if I am right it means that my Hoshi could be hurt or suffering or. I am NOT going to finish that thought. She is going to be fine, and if she isn't this impostor will pay.'

As soon as the machine stopped making noise, both the Captain and the Lieutenant looked to the physician for confirmation or denial.

He turned and gravely told them, "It's not Hoshi, the hair is not a genetic match."

"But if it's not her, how did they make the switch? And how does she look and sound exactly like Hoshi?"

"She shows signs of recently having facial constructive surgery, and I found evidence of a device above her vocal cords that probably alters her voice patterns."

The Captain examined his friend carefully. He looked relieved, grieved, and angry all at once. And once again he wondered how much of that anger was detected at this impostor where it belonged, and how much was directed at himself.

End chapter 8