*****

That is the one thing I can't stand about Starfleet. Sure I understand the command structure and its significance. After all, somebody has to lead, right? Somebody with a superiority complex made up fraternization regs, or should I say inferiority complex. He's the one who got all touchy-feely with my hair and all. Granted, he wasn't quite himself. There's no telling what he's been through.

Hoshi shuddered and looked at his Starfleet photo on the terminal in her quarters. Malcolm did look mean. Well if he was mean, surely they would offload him to the nearest Starfleet ship or base to make his way back to Earth. There had to be somebody who missed him. Either way, he wasn't her problem anymore. She switched her terminal off and lay down, punching her pillow and settling down for the night.

--

Dr. Phlox was a talkative person, Malcolm discovered as he sat patiently listening to the physician with his mouth open. He couldn't sleep and apparently, the doctor didn't sleep. So they decided to pursue the treatment on his teeth. Malcolm stared at the ceiling and listened to the doctor and ignored the blue light coming out of his mouth.

"Once we get more of your record, things will start coming back to you. My youngest daughter was in a speeder accident when she was ten cycles old and for several days after that insisted she was a famous politician … I can't remember the politician's name though. He was quite popular on Denobula and was reelected several times until his death." The blue light clicked off and the doctor removed the instrument from Malcolm's mouth. "All the cavities have been filled and a sealant has been administered. Don't drink or eat anything for at least an hour," Phlox smiled.

Malcolm's churned unhappily at the thought of food. It would seem that the difference in his diet had not agreed with him.

Phlox watched Mr. Reed hold his stomach and grimace. "Perhaps I should have started you out on a liquids only diet and worked you up to solids. Either way, your system will adjust in a few days."

Malcolm nodded his acknowledgement of the information and looked over at the bed. He wasn't tired and he wasn't in the mood for conversation either.

Always astute, Phlox backed away and informed his patient where he would be if he needed him. He watched the man grab the PADD and retire behind the privacy curtain.

Malcolm glared at the picture as though it would start talking and telling him what he wanted to know. He pressed some commands into the PADD, inherently knowing how to work it, and soon Lieutenant Hoshi Sato's picture smiled back at him. Her hair was pulled back in the sensible ponytail she still wore, and her face glowed in the picture. Overall, it was a good likeness.

He felt vulnerable and he hated it. He hated her seeing him vulnerable. He hated for anyone to see him vulnerable. Malcolm knew that much. Turning off the PADD, he reclined, his thoughts carrying over into his dreams.

--

His tormentor was female, her long dark hair caressing his skin as she brought him to the crescendo of release. He loved her, the feeling could not be contained and he spoke the words out loud.

She laughed her response and a searing pain consumed his head. Betrayal and lies pierced his soul and the pounding in his head continued.

"Did you really think I would wait for you to discover my activities, lover?" the woman taunted, as he lay there bleeding, unable to speak or defend himself. "I doubt you even realize how close you were to exposing me," she whispered cruelly and hit her dying lover again.

Moaning in pain, his breath hitched in his throat and he clutched his head, the nightmare a distant phantom. In its wake, it left only one emotion, only one memory – betrayal by the dark-haired woman.

--

No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't get to sleep and she contemplated that she should ask Phlox if she could just move the bats in with her. Yawning, Hoshi walked into sickbay and made her way to the cage. The mother bat watched the human's hand wearily, yet acceptingly, as Hoshi slid her hand into the cage and grasped the bat's pup. As customary, she left the cage open and left the mother bat the option to fly out of her cage.

Standing on the cusp of sleep and surrounded by the instinctual nature to defend himself, he rose from his bed silently.

A low growl caught her attention and she twisted from her seat on the floor and saw him coming toward her. He was clad only in his boxers and he staggered toward her. Standing quickly, concerned for him, Hoshi asked, "Are you okay?"

Moaning incoherently, he held his head like it hurt.

She asked again and touched his shoulder lightly. It happened so quickly, a twist of her wrist and a yank of her hair and she fell to her knees in pain, crying out.

"Traitor!" he called out and moved to slap her, but blackness engulfed him and he fell on top of her.

Hoshi trembled underneath him and sighed as his weight was lifted off of her. "Lieutenant, are you okay?"

"Yes … yes," she answered shakily, finding herself in the familiar position of having the doctor help her dislodge her hair from the man's grasp. The mother bat and her pup were flying wildly around sickbay, stirred to flight by the attack of their caretaker.

Neither wanted to ask the obvious questions. What happened? Why? Was he a danger to the crew? Phlox merely stared at the sleeping man before them. The sooner his Starfleet records were released the better.

*****

Bat Research obtained at: