August 16th, 2154, 0900 hours.
Malcolm strolled casually down a corridor, his head bent over a padd. He was heading towards the armoury, and was reading over some torpedo upgrades. He entered the armoury, and saw that there was only an ensign or two on duty. It wasn't Malcolm's shift yet, he rarely had night shift. But he wanted to make sure that the torpedoes were upgraded properly.
The British tactical officer had barely stepped into the armoury when he noticed a small, golden cloud of smoke hanging in one corner near the armoury ceiling. The smoke, noticing Malcolm step into the armoury, quickly dived down toward him, slicing through the air like a knife. Startled, Malcolm stumbled backward, and tripped over the bottom of the door frame, crashing to the floor. The cloud didn't seem to care, and came closer and closer to Malcolm, before finally brushing against his face. It punctured Malcolm's skin, and disappeared within the Brit's head.
Malcolm began to spasm violently. He kicked his legs, flailed his arms. He clenched his fingers into a tight fist, trying to fight whatever had entered him. He winced, when suddenly he noticed that whatever had entered him was trying to take control of his body. It felt like… Trip. He didn't know how or why or what was going on, but he knew the thing was Trip and was trying to take control of his body. 'Malcolm,' he seemed to say, 'stop fighting, I need you, just for a little while.' But Malcolm wouldn't have it.
The ensign that was in the armoury ran to Malcolm's screaming body, placing her hand on his shoulder, trying to calm him down. "Sir, calm down, please be quiet, shhh." She had barely finished soothing him when… 'Trip' left Malcolm and floated away, back into the armoury and through the ceiling. Malcolm stopped, and shivered as he lay on the floor. "Sir, are you alright?" There was no answer from Malcolm. "We'd better get you down to sickbay."
* * * *
"I'm absolutely positive it was Trip, sir." Malcolm, being scanned by Phlox on a bio-bed, told Archer. The ensign had gone back to the armoury, and Malcolm was in sickbay with Phlox and Archer.
"How could it have been Trip? What makes you think that?" Archer pressed.
"The thing, the smoke that entered my body was trying to get take control of me. I heard it… communicate with me, saying that it needed my body for just a short time. It sounded like Trip. I could recognize that accent anywhere." Malcolm informed him.
"Well, 'Trip' has done no physical harm to you." Phlox added. "This is very interesting; tell me what did this smoke look like?"
"It looked like smoke, and it was gold and small."
"Smoke, like a wisp?" Phlox asked again.
"Yes, a wis—" Malcolm whipped his head toward Archer, looking him straight in the eye.
"No!" Archer doubted. "You don't think it was a wisp has taken control of Trip's body, and… 'Trip' is just wandering around the ship?"
"I wouldn't be surprised if that were the case." Phlox said, his voice jolly as always.
Archer muttered under his breath and marched over to the comm. panel. "Archer to Ensign Sato." He said, pressing one of the buttons.
"Sato here." Came her response.
"Hoshi, remember that time, before the Xindi, when the wisp things took control of Trip?"
"Yes sir, I remember. Believe or not sir, I think that's what's happening to him now. He's obsessed with bread!" Hoshi told him.
"You knew and didn't tell me before?"
"No sir, I had my suspicions, but not enough proof."
Archer nodded. "Good work, Ensign. Try and get him to the catwalk."
"Aye sir."
"Archer out." He turned back to Malcolm, just in time to see the yellow wisp come through the sickbay wall and race toward Malcolm. The poor tactical officer had no time to react or fight Trip. He fell off the bio-bed and lay on the floor for a moment, before standing up slowly and blinking a few times. Archer and Phlox stood gawking at him, jaws dropped slightly. Reed inspected his hands and his uniform.
"Sir?" He asked.
"Malcolm?" Archer answered.
"No, Trip."
"You're Trip?" Phlox asked. "How do you feel?"
Reed… Trip… looked down at his hands again. "A little tingly. It's been a while since I existed in physical form, but I guess I'm alright."
"What about Malcolm? Is he OK?" Archer asked worriedly.
"He's alright, although he must feel a little awkward about not being in control of his own body." Trip chuckled.
"Trip, how come you couldn't have gone back to your own body?"
"Those wisp things are strong. I don't stand a chance against it." Trip sighed. "I don't know where it came from. It must have survived from when we destroyed the ship about a year ago. It must have found its way back here, and found me again. I –" Trip paused, the expression on Reed's face becoming blank.
"Commander?" Archer asked, stepping forward. Phlox took his place beside Reed, scanner in hand. After a moment, Phlox smiled.
"Looks like Reed is fighting Trip." He chuckled. Archer rolled his eyes.
Suddenly Trip, the golden wisp, burst from Malcolm's body. Malcolm stumbled backward against the bio-bed.
"Lieutenant?" Archer asked. Trip hovered in the air.
"I'm alright sir." He said.
"He's alright, sir." Phlox repeated, the smile never leaving his face.
"Alright," Archer began, "we have a catwalk to visit." He, Malcolm and Trip exited sick bay and marched purposefully to the catwalk…