Jordan had been asleep for about two hours when she awoke suddenly. Sitting bolt upright in bed, she reached for the light. "Of course!" she exclaimed. Pulling on a robe, she ran from her quarters to the nearest lift. Bursting into sickbay, she called to Phlox.
"What is it?" he asked, emerging sleepily from somewhere in the rear of sickbay.
"I've got it! We should have thought of this sooner. God, what an idiot I am!"
"Slow down," Phlox said. "What have you discovered?"
Jordan took a deep breath to organize her thoughts. "You said the captain's DNA had been altered. Name an organism that exchanges its DNA with the host cell," she said excitedly.
"There are several unusual," Phlox began.
"No, think!" she interrupted. "What the most common organism that fits my description?"
"Why, a virus, of course."
"Precisely!"
Phlox paused for a moment. "Are you suggesting that we infect Captain Archer with a virus to counteract the neurotoxin?"
"Exactly! We use the record of his DNA from prior to infection to code the virus. We then introduce it in his system, where it will then spread, replacing his damaged DNA."
"In order to be successful, we will have to completely suppress his immune system."
"Yes, of course," she replied impatiently. "But can it work?"
"We don't appear to have many options. Let's begin the genetic coding."
They worked through the rest of the night, carefully decoding Archer's DNA sequence from the information stored in his medical record.
"It would be a lot simpler if we had a direct sample to work with," Jordan commented after several hours' work. "Can't we just collect some hair he left in the sink or something?"
"We have no way of knowing which version of the DNA we would be working with," Phlox replied. "Better to be safe."
Work continued.
"You realize that suppressing his immune system is going to be very dangerous," Jordan said much later.
"Yes, but I've had a lot of experience in that area," Phlox replied calmly. "There's no need to worry. I'm sure my Roxillan Blueworms will be very helpful in restoring his immune system when we are finished. Their bile contains a very useful compound for strengthening antibodies."
"Yuck!"
"Don't underestimate the power of natural substances, Doctor Mallory."
"I don't. I just don't have to like the idea."
After fourteen hours of intense labor, Phlox finally looked up from his screen. "I've got it," he sighed.
"Then let's go."
They had anesthetized Jonathan while they worked. His condition had deteriorated greatly since Jordan had left him, responding to their presence with little more than animal growls, and they were afraid he'd injure himself. He awoke, however, after they had placed him in isolation.
"Where am I?" he asked, momentarily lucid and startled by the sight of Jordan in a full isolation suit.
"In isolation in sickbay," Jordan replied.
"Why am I here?"
"We've found what we think is a cure. There are risks involved, however."
He fought to hold onto control a little longer. "What are you going to do?"
"We're going to give you a virus that will reprogram your DNA. We need to suppress your immune system to do it, which is why you're in isolation." She smiled at him. "We don't want you catching any nasty germs, do we?"
He snorted, "That'd be all I need."
"Might serve you right," she retorted, yet her banter did little to hide her concern.
"What happens if this doesn't work?"
She looked at him solemnly for a long moment.
"I see," he said.
"I wouldn't worry about it," she said briskly. "After all, I worked on this myself."
"I feel better already."
"Are you ready, Doctor," she spoke into her helmet's communit.
"Proceed," Phlox replied.
Jordan picked up a hypo. "Out you go," she said as she injected him. "Sweet dreams" were the last words Jonathan heard as he sunk into unconsciousness.
"Now the virus, Doctor," Phlox said.
Hesitating just a moment, Jordan picked up the second hypo and injected Archer with it. Then she went through the airlock and joined Phlox at the monitoring station. "How long?" she asked, removing her helmet.
"Shouldn't be too long. Relax, Jordan, I have performed similar procedures before."
"On humans?"
"No. But the procedure is very similar. Ah, there, his temperature is rising just as predicted. Now, we wait and monitor his condition."
Time drug by. T'Pol came into sickbay carrying two cups of coffee. "I thought you might need some refreshment," she said.
"Ah, thank you, Sub-commander," Phlox replied, taking the cups from her and giving one to Jordan.
"What is the captain's condition?"
"He is suffering from a predictable bout of hyperthermia, induced by the virus working in his system," Phlox replied. "His body is undergoing a massive change, side effects are to be expected. However, his genetic code is mutating. We will need a little more time to see if the treatment is successful."
"Judging from the brain scan," Jordan broke in, "the damage has been halted. If the DNA treatment is successful, we should be able to correct the damage. It looks very hopeful."
"I will leave you to your work," T'Pol replied. "Please keep me informed." With that she left the sickbay.
Jordan sipped her coffee and moodily watched the monitors. Suddenly she stiffened. "Phlox, look."
Phlox examined the readings carefully. "His DNA is completely restored. Time for the Roxillan Blueworms to do their job. Would you like to do the honors?"
Mallory hurried into her isolation suit and entered the chamber. Then she injected Archer with the hypo. "Doctor?"
"His immune system has stabilized. Now the final injection should restore complete brain function, and then we can awaken him." Phlox regarded her quietly for a moment as he slid the next hypo into the chamber. "After he awakens, he will be free to leave the isolation chamber, however I would like to have him stay in sickbay for observation. I imagine that he would rather see you before anyone else. I'll be in the lab if you need anything."
"Thank you, Doctor," Mallory replied as Phlox left the room.
Jordan picked up the final hypo and injected Jonathan with it. At first there was no response, then he began to stir. Groaning, he opened his eyes.
"Jonathan?"
"Jordan?" he asked groggily, rubbing his eyes. "Where am I? Why are you wearing an isolation suit?"
"You're in sickbay. You've been very ill. Do you remember anything?"
He sat up. "A little. I --- Oh my God!" he covered his face with his hands.
"You remember."
"Yeah. Oooh"
"Don't worry. You can honestly blame the illness this time." She pulled herself together. "Well, you seem to have responded to treatment well. You can leave the isolation unit now, and frankly I can't wait to get out of this suit. C'mon, I'll set you up in a bunk in sickbay for the night."
"Jordan," he began, "the things I said."
"Oh, I never pay any attention to what delirious patients say. Come along now," she interrupted, taking his arm, her defensive walls back in place. "You've kept me up long enough. You've been through hell, I haven't slept in two days, and frankly I'm too tired to listen to your self flagellation." She guided him into the main chamber and settled him on a bunk. "Now, be a good boy and settle down, and Dr. Phlox might let Porthos come and see you." With that, she swept out of the room, leaving Jonathan to stare bemusedly after her.