Danni looked down at the softly bleeping console. It looked like it was about to go out of power. Danni banged it with her fist. Nothing could be worse. They needed the console not only because they had to do research on Harry, but because they had also rerouted the bridge controls there. If they lost that console, they would lose control over the communications, what little maneuverability the impulse engines still had, and life support on all decks. Danni broadcasted one last distress call.

"This is the star ship Voyager. If you are receiving this, please help us. Our entire crew, except for Ensign Harry Kim and myself has fallen deathly sick. Our power systems are failing. If anyone is out there- anyone at all- please respond."

The console sighed and sent out the distress call. But Danni knew it would only be a matter of time until life support failed and they would die not because of the illness, but because of lack of oxygen. Still, she continued to tend to the sick. She had made three trips down to the mess hall, and had discovered that a few of the sick had been walking in their sleep. Mr. Neelix had collapsed, and was no longer able to move.

When she had returned to sickbay, Tuvok was walking around, peering closely at all the faces and whispering unintelligible words. She had sent him back to bed, but the most terrifying part was hearing him laugh to himself. Vulcan's didn't laugh. Danni was sure he was going mad from the pain he was experiencing.

Harry finally jerked awake in the corner when he heard Danni setting up the distress call. He wanted to go back to sleep, but he couldn't. Instead, he pulled himself out of the blanket and stood up, rubbing his eyes.

"Harry, I didn't wake you," Danni said when she turned around to see him standing there.

"I can't sleep anymore," Harry replied. "I heard the distress call you sent out."

"I don't know that there's anyone around to pick it up, but I had to send it out," Danni said, shrugging. "I mean, we've got to keep trying. What other choice do we have?"

"Well, it's your turn to rest, anyway," Harry said, motioning toward the quilt. "I can take the watch for a few hours."

Danni didn't argue. She was too worn out to argue even if she had wanted to. Instead, she simply crawled under the quilt in the corner.

"Danni, Danni! You've gotta wake up, someone's hailing us!"

Danni opened her eyes groggily. Harry excited face hung over her, and he was shaking her arm with more vigor than she thought he had left. She jerked it away, frustrated at being woken up.

"Stop that, I want to go to sleep," Danni snapped.

"Danni, we're being hailed!" Harry told her, emphasizing the word "hailed".

Danni threw the blanket off of he legs. "Well, what are you waiting for? Answer it!"

Harry rushed back to the doctor's office where the console they had repaired still bleeped softly. Harry quickly turned to viewer on. "This is Ensign Harry Kim of the star- you!"

The image on the screen was of the alien who had likely started all the trouble for them. He waved his hand. "Yes, yes, and you know who I am. I picked up your distress call, and I had to come back to express my gratitude."

"Gratitude?" Harry asked, his expression changing from one of anger to one of puzzlement. "I don't understand, why would you express ycaour gratitude?"

"No, of course you don't understand," K'Vosh said, rolling his eyes. "How would you guess that you're part of an elaborate experiment?"

"What?" Harry's dark eyes glared at the screen. "You had us preforming for you like guinea pigs?"

"I am not familiar with the- thing of which you speak, and you were not exactly 'preforming' for us," K'Vosh said slowly, a glint in his eye mocking them. "You see, we have been at war with our enemies for ten of your years. They have an enormous army, and we have been greatly outnumbered for the major part of the war. Their old men still live and their young men are growing up to join the war. We needed a weapon that would wipe at least half of their army out. And now I think we have it."

"You've infected us with this... disease," Danni realized, her eyes sparking. "It infected everyone so quickly and had it not been for Harry and I, they would have died."

"Yes, that was exactly our intention," The alien said, inclining his head slightly. "In fact, we've tested out the disease on several different species. We led all of them here, and the gaseous formation disabled their sensors. We shot at their ships to keep them in one place and left them to die. All of them were dead within five days. You have lasted longer only because your Ensign seems to have a natural immunity to the disease. Likely it is he who has kept your spirits up and helped you continue on."

Danni was silent, sending bolts of fury through her eyes.

"And you will die soon enough," K'Vosh continued. "We will leave you here and return to our home base. We must get this processed and release it on our enemies. Thank you, my dear, you were the perfect person to infect."

"Why me?" Danni demanded. "Why did you choose me?"

"Because Fairies resond the same way to a number of different diseases," K'Vosh explained patiently. "And they spread the disease quite easily to other species, you know."

"How do you know that?" Danni cried. "There are no Fairies in the Delta Quadrant!"

"Of course not," the alien replied with an impatient sigh. "But Fairies used to be more supernatural, did they not? They used to possess powers greater than any you could imagine. There are Fairies not far from here, you know. On a planet more beautiful than any I have ever seen. We tested our disease on one of their ships. They all died from the convulsions. You are lucky that you had friends to keep your fever down and help with your convulsions."

"I don't suppose there is any way we can come to an agreement," Danni suggested hastily, not wanting to hear about the horrific death of the Fairies. "We can pay you, give you technology, if you help us and give us the cure to this disease."

"No, I'm afraid I can't do that," K'Vosh replied. "I think you technology is too damaged to be of any use to us. Farewell, Fairie. Have a good death."

The view screen went black and Danni slammed her palm down on the table.

"Where are you going?" Harry asked as she stalked out of the office, following her with his eyes.

"If he won't help us, then there's only one thing left to do," Danni replied, grabbing a tricorder.

"What's that?"

Danni began scanning him. "To start that research."