Everyone had gone crazy. Engineering was a nuthouse, with people fighting, bickering, flirting, the whole works. Not a single damn thing was getting done, and that annoyed the hell out of him. He tended to be a perfectionist when it came to his engines, and this madhouse couldn't repair a doghouse right now, let alone take care of the ship!

He kept racing back between stations, pushing past people and yelling constantly. He couldn't take it, and that's when he decided to leave and go back to his quarters.

He yelled out to his people that they were all dismissed, and left Engineering. The hallways outside were also filled with emotionally unstable personnel, so Trip made it a priority to get to his quarters ASAP.

He turned a corner quite quickly and ran right into Malcolm Reed.

"Malcolm! What the hell are you doing!?"

The armory officer was holding a phase pistol in his hands and camouflage clothing.

"She's after me Trip... I've got to protect myself!"

"Gimme that!" Trip said, wrestling the pistol out of Malcolm's hands. "I swear, this just gets crazier and crazier. Now, you get back to your quarters and stay there!"

"Yes sir..." Malcolm mumbled meekly. "But what if she comes back! I'll be at her mercy!"

Trip shook his head and started to walk off. "All the better."

***************

He finally reached his quarters. Malcolm was not the only paranoid crewman he saw. He found several others creeping about, hiding from some other person.

But now he was safe, back at his own quarters. He punched in the security code and stepped inside.

"What the hell...!" he said.

Candles lined the shelves and small desk in his room. The room was dimly lit, and flower petals covered the floor.

"Ok, this isn't funny!"

Someone stepped out of the washroom. "It is not a joke, Charles."

"T-T'Pol?!!"

Yes, it was T'Pol, at least it looked like T'Pol! The reason Trip doubted this was because she was dressed in only a short, white dress.

Trip backed up, embarrassed and slightly frightened. "Um, yes, well, I'll be leavin' now..." He slowly made his way back towards the door.

T'Pol slinked over to him. "No Charles, stay here... with me..." She smiled at him seductively.

"Um, well, I can't, ya see there's a problem... somewhere... and they need me... nice talkin' to ya..." He turned and bolted into the hall, the door swiftly closing behind him. He ran down the corridor, heading for nowhere, just far away from his quarters.

//Now I know how Malcolm feels!// he thought to himself as he ran.