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"All right, then. Let's try it one more time," Trip shouted from atop the platform in front of the warp engine. He took a couple of steps to look out, trying to see behind the right-hand corner of the engine. "You ready, Mike?" he asked.

"Ready, Commander," Ensign Rostov answered.

"Check those levels carefully," he called out, as he took position again in front of the impressive machine. "Initiatin' simulation now."

Trip took a deep breath and began to tap into his controls, one-hundred percent concentrated on his job. "How's it goin'?" he shouted, after a moment.

"Rising fast, Commander," Rostov's voice replied.

"Damn," Trip muttered under his breath. He punched a few commands in. "How 'bout now?"

"Still rising. Almost reaching danger level."

Trip let out a frustrated grunt. "Cutting off," he called out in an exasperated voice. He turned to climb down from his elevated station and saw Malcolm standing at the foot of the platform, looking up at the warp engine.

"I'm a little busy now, Malcolm," he said flatly, as he quickly climbed down the rungs. He was pretty sure the lieutenant was there to complain about the power he'd diverted from the Armoury and he wasn't looking forward to an argument with him right now; especially having seen the fine mood in which Malcolm seemed to be that morning. In fact, he was still kind of pissed off at him from earlier.

Malcolm didn't reply, and Trip turned to see his friend now looking at him, his brow knitted in a frown.

"Look, I know what you have come here for," Trip said in a quiet but determined voice as he faced him squarely. "But, trust me, you might as well turn around and go back to your Armoury, because these tests have been approved by the Capt'n. You'll get all the power you want in a few hours, after they're finished," he concluded firmly, moving off to check on Rostov.

"Trip…"

"Everythin' ok, Mike?" Trip called out from a few steps away, ignoring Malcolm. He really didn't have time for a confrontation with Reed now.

"Yes, Commander," Rostov's voice replied. "Levels are slowly coming down again."

"Trip…"

Malcolm could be a real pain when he wanted to. "I thought I'd made myself clear, Lieutenant," Trip snapped, turning to him sharply.

A few heads turned at the harsh tone of his voice, but only for a moment. Trip's people were quite accustomed to these sorts of skirmishes between their boss and Lieutenant Reed. They knew they were like fireworks, loud but not meant to hurt, and short-lived.

Malcolm just stood there looking lost and the rest of Trip's tirade died in his throat. This wasn't the belligerent Reed he'd thought he'd be facing.

The use of rank, however, had its usual immediate effect. Malcolm straightened his shoulders and pursed his lips. He mumbled, "Yes, Sir," and turned to leave.

What the hell? Trip ran after him and grabbed him by an arm.

"Hold on a moment, Malcolm," he said a lot more gently, turning him around. Malcolm's body felt tense and his eyes seemed… frightened? Trip was not sure. Fear was an emotion that he couldn't remember ever seeing clearly in Malcolm's eyes.

The engineer scratched his neck. "What is it you wanted?" he asked mildly. "I just realised I haven't even asked you," he added sheepishly.

Malcolm just looked at him without speaking, so Trip sighed and said, "Hell, Malcolm, I'm sorry. You know I get all worked up when I'm tryin' things to make my baby go faster."

Malcolm smirked. "That's all right," he said quietly. "I… I don't really know what I've come here for." He turned to leave.

Trip reached out and grabbed him again. "What do you mean?" he asked perplexedly. "Are you alright? What did Phlox say?"

"Commander," Rostov's voice floated out from behind the warp engine. "Levels are down to zero. Are we going to try one more time?" Trip looked up briefly but didn't acknowledge him.

"Clean bill of health," Malcolm replied with a small smile that didn't reach his eyes. He glanced in the direction from where Rostov's voice had come. "I believe Rostov is waiting for an answer," he said, shifting his gaze to Trip's hand on his arm. "I'll see you later."

Trip let go of him and watched him leave, frowning. Something strange was definitely going on with Malcolm.

Reed closed the hatch of Engineering behind him and paused for a moment, wondering where he should go next. What had he come to Engineering for, anyway? Trip must be right, he probably wanted to complain about the power cuts; but for the life of him he could not remember. He swallowed hard; this had never happened to him. He had walked to Engineering without knowing why.

Lovely! His brain was in mothballs and his innards were in an iron grip. He briefly considered going back to sickbay, but he didn't have to think long before dismissing the thought: a clean bill of health was a clean bill of health. Sodding nightmares, he cursed.

This was going to be a long day, he mulled grimly. He was hardly half way through it and was already tired. His stomach grumbled, reminding him that he had skipped breakfast. The mess hall it is, then, he decided, starting along the corridor.

Hoshi was sitting all alone at a table and Malcolm headed for it. He felt uncharacteristically eager to be in someone's company. "Is this seat taken, Ensign?" he asked the young linguist.

"Please, Lieutenant," Hoshi replied with a smile.

Malcolm sat down and didn't waste any time digging into his lunch. He was outright famished. Half way through his meal he raised his eyes to see Hoshi staring at him, and realised he'd been eating quite voraciously. Very un-Reed-like. He swallowed his morsel and consciously slowed down, somewhat embarrassed.

"You look hungry," Hoshi said, without hiding her amusement.

"I didn't have breakfast," Malcolm self-consciously replied as a way of explanation. "Besides, this chicken is lovely," he added.

Hoshi chuckled. "You must be hungry. We've been eating chicken marsala for two years now. You can't find it that delicious," she commented.

Malcolm looked at his plate. Hoshi may have a point, but as far as he was concerned, it felt as if he'd never eaten chicken marsala before. Nothing like a little hunger to make you appreciate food, he thought.

A few more minutes went by in silence, as Malcolm finished his lunch. Putting down his fork and knife, he leaned back in his chair and looked up at Hoshi, who was sipping some kind of beverage and smiling at him.

His hunger had been appeased, but that disturbing feeling of anxiety still lingered. He wondered if he should… He hesitated a moment, then put his qualms aside and spoke.

"Hoshi…"

Hoshi put down her cup and tilted her head questioningly.

"That time when you had that strange experience with the transporter…" Malcolm's voice faltered. He suddenly realised he didn't know how to formulate his question. The whole thing was ridiculous.

Hoshi's brow knitted in a small frown.

"What… was it like?" he finally enquired, narrowing his eyes.

"Disturbing," Hoshi answered after a moment, shooting him a puzzled glance. "I really thought you people couldn't see me any more."

"I meant before you thought you had disappeared. Right after you thought you had been transported back to Enterprise," Malcolm specified.

Hoshi studied him for a moment. "It was very strange. I just didn't feel like my own self," she replied uneasily. She looked away for a brief moment. "Why are you asking me this, Lieutenant?" There was veiled curiosity in her voice.

Malcolm was at a loss as to what to say. He felt stupid for having brought up the subject. Hoshi saw his hesitation and anticipated him.

"I heard Commander Tucker had a hard time transporting you back from the planet yesterday…" she said, leaving the question unspoken.

"Ah, well… not really," Reed replied, feeling another surge of anxiety and striving to keep it out of his voice. "I'm back in one piece," he added with what he hoped would come across as a genuine smile. Seeing Hoshi's perplexed gaze on him, he quickly rose to his feet. "Back to work," he said, grabbing his tray.

"See you at eighteen-hundred hours," Hoshi said as he was leaving.

Malcolm stopped in his tracks and turned to her.

"The senior staff's weekly combat training session..." Hoshi hinted, lifting her eyebrows.

Malcolm quickly recovered. "Be ready for a tough one," he said, hoping Hoshi had missed his blank. "See you then, Ensign."

TBC