Angela's perspective

The weeks that followed were pretty quite and undramatic. Commander Chakotay handed my copy of the duty roster to me, showing that I had shift all over the ship. I worked a couple of shift at the helm and Conn, as well as lending a hand in engineering, where I was happy being led around by the ensigns and crewmen, who obviously knew what they were doing more that I was. I even did a few shifts in sickbay, helping with the diagnostics of specimens and generally cleaning. It was at my very first shift in sick-bay, where the Captain came to join us and she explained the connection between her and me to him, so he wouldn't be surprised at the results of check-up's. He did say that he noticed some similarities between us, but didn't want to say anything until the results of my first scan were complete.

I enjoyed my work, spending time all over the ship in different places at different time. I got to know more people, and by the end of the 2nd week, I was able to find my way to engineering without having to stop and ask directions.

One day though, was when everything came crashing down around me. It all started when the replicator burnt my toast. I know, not a big thing, but it was like an omen to me. Burning your toast is the worst thing that can happen to someone of a morning. Anyway, I wandered my way down to the Mess Hall, hoping Neelix could find me something for breakfast that didn't include ash. Harry, Tom and B'Elanna, the people I had grown closest to since we arrived, were all either on duty or resting up from the night shift, so I sat on my own. But just as Neelix put down a plate of last night's left over's, an Ensign walked up to me. She wore a engineers uniform, and wore the pin of a marquee, which was slightly different to that of a Starfleet pin.

"May I sit here?" she asked politely. I nodded, embarrassed that I had my mouth full of food.

"I, umm…."she paused for a second, "I heard that you have counselling experience." She fidgeted with her fingernails, an obvious sign of nerves or anxiety.

"Yes. Is there something you would like to talk to me about?" I asked. I wasn't fazed about strangers doing this. It had happened a couple of times over the weeks. People finding out, especially females who weren't confident in talking to Neelix, would come to me for help. I found it reassuring that these people, who hardly knew me, were willing to let me into their lives. The Ensign nodded, as I took another bite at what tasted like chicken, but looked nothing like it. I set myself a mental note to ask Neelix what this was.

"Well, I was at the Conn, the day after your party. I know this is a long time ago, but I didn't want to say anything until now."

"Understandable" I commented, once I swallowed.

"Well, when I got to my post, a looked down at all the buttons on the pad, but suddenly I couldn't remember how to work it."

I coughed on my food, as I rushed to get it down. "What do you mean you forgot how to work it?"

"I sat down, and everything looked meaningless. It was like I was a first year Cadet, sitting at the post for my very first time. I hadn't a clue what to do. The Captain was asking if anything was wrong, and I didn't want it to sound like I was crazy. So I told her I wasn't feeling well and went to sickbay.

"Did he find anything?" I asked, seriously interested now. This was the first time any anomalies had appeared on the ship since my arrival. She shook m head.

"No. he said everything was fine, and he sent me on my way without another glace. I guess he thought I was making it up"

"Well, leave it with me." I said, standing up with my finished plate. "I will look into it for you. I actually do have a shift on the bridge now, I'll….." but that's where I stopped. I noticed a small pendant around the neck of the woman that I vaguely remembered, someone else wearing. It looked like a small princess-cut Ruby.

"Nice necklace" I said, whish startled her. For her, this was quite a large topic change. Nevertheless, she took the compliment with a smile.

"Thanks. Some of the fellow officers in engineering pass it around. I was lucky enough to get it today. It goes around one person every day."

"I like it" I replied. "Well, I best be off, Ensign…"

"Jamerson" she finished for me. I nodded and left the Mess hall, leaving the plate on the Gallery counter.

I made it to the ridge without a problem and stepped down, ready to take my place at the Conn. However, no one was there. Why was no one flying the Conn? I stared at t for a while, before Commander Chakotay realised my unasked question, and answered it.

"The Lt. Scheduled to be here has fallen ill. I didn't want to strain you on your first weeks here, so I took the post for a while, whenever I needed to."

"You could have gotten me, sir," I said. He smiled.

"That's ok; Lt. We had it under control." I smiled and went to my post, and sat down. However, as I did so, a shooting pain went through my head, causing me to double over in pain, I couldn't see where I was, or where I was going, but next thing I knew I was lying down, with the feeling of people surrounding me.

"Give her space" a male voice commanded, and a felt people backing away. Then I lost it again, as another bolt of mind splitting pain rushed through my head, this time allowing a squeal to force it's way out of my lips/

"What's going on?" Said a woman who had just come through a set of doors I heard open.

"We don't know, Captain. She just…fell" The male voice explained.

Next thing I knew, I was waking up, with two sets of eyes looking at me; The Doctor's black eyes and the Captain's blue ones. I gasped and made to sit up, but both officers put a hand on me to stop me.

"You've had quite a trauma to your cerebrum, more specifically, your temporal lobe." The doctor explained.

"My memory?" I exclaimed, my voice filled with disbelief.

"Very good" he encouraged, before loading a hypospray and injecting it into my neck.

"What caused this?" the Captain demanded to know. The Doctor gave a half shrug.

"I might know something" I said, before explaining, everything Ensign Jamerson had told me this morning. The Captain nodded, obviously remembering that specific time. The doctor, however, looked deeply concerned.

"I didn't find anything to support what happened with you, though. It's like you got ten times the force than she did.

"But still something wrth investigating. Lt, I want you to stay here with the doctor until he can find out why this happened to you. Make yourself useful if you have to" the Captain said, obviously trying to form some kind of plan.

"ay, Captain" I replied, sliding off the bed. "Doc, do whatever it takes. I want to know what's stopping people from driving the ship. Right now, we're sitting ducks."

THANK YOU FOR YOUR REVIEWS, AND PLEASE KEEP THEM COMING. CONSTRUCTIVE CRITISISM GOES A LONG WAY. A little praise might be nice too, heeheehee. Ps; sorry this chapter rather short, but I had to leave it kinda suspenseful! Won't be writing until Thursday 'cause I have exams, but after that, it's at full impulse!