The Other Torres | A Star Trek Fanfiction *Book 1*

Cathexis-Chapter 35

[Corridor]

"Captain, I heard what's happened. I think you're right. There is an alien presence here, I've been sensing something unusual all day. I don't know how to describe it, but I know there's something here." Kes states. 

The thing flies along the corridor. "Do you know where?" Janeway asked. "No, just that it's on the ship." said Kes. "Captain, Kes's telepathic abilities are undisciplined. If I could initiate a Vulcan mind-meld with her, I may be able to help her focus those abilities to detect the alien more accurately." Tuvok said. "I'm willing to do that." Kes said. "Very well. Proceed, Mister Tuvok." said Janeway.

Elsewhere. "The Captain wants to seal off all critical areas of the ship. Make sure the access hatch of Jefferies tube A-seventeen is secured." said Harry. "So what exactly are we securing against?" asked Durst. "We're not sure yet, but we think it's some kind of noncorporeal alien." Harry replied. "Noncorporeal? That means it can probably move through a bulk--" Durst is interrupted by a turbolift door opens to reveal Tuvok and Kes unconscious. "Medical emergency. Deck seven, section thirteen alpha." said Harry.

"Captain's log, supplemental. It appears that Mister Tuvok and Kes were both hit by an unidentified energy discharge. Tuvok was not badly hurt, but Kes is in a coma."

[Briefing room]

"It was similar to the attack on the shuttlecraft. An energy discharge came through the bulkhead, filled the turbolift and hit both of us." said Tuvok. "We didn't pick up a discharge of any kind on the internal sensors." said B'Elanna. "Perhaps this type of energy is beyond our sensor bandwidth." said Tuvok. 

"Perhaps, but that discharge had to come from somewhere." said Amanda. "The most thorough scanning device we have on board is a magneton scanner. We could search the ship centimetre by centimetre, but that wouldn't do much good. This alien could be anywhere at any time." said Tom.

"But what if we could perform a magneton scan on the entire ship all at once?" B'Elanna asked, hypothetically. "What do you suggest?" Janeway asked, while Amanda connected the dots. "A magneton flash scan. We could reconfigure every sensor array on the ship to emit a single burst. It might be enough to illuminate any anomalous energy. Harry, what do you think?" Amanda asked turning to her best friend.

Harry is staring at nothing, so Tuvok draws his phaser and B'Elanna gets out a tricorder, Amanda stands up making sure to carefully position herself in front of the phaser.

"Whoa. What did I do?" Harry asked confused. "Stay where you are, Mister Kim." said Tuvok. "I don't see anything unusual, but that doesn't mean anything." said B'Elanna. "Mister Kim, what were you doing just now?" Janeway asked.

"I was just thinking. I was remembering an old study I saw about magneton scanners, Mandy knows which one I'm talking about. I guess my mind started to wander a bit." said Harry. "I'm very disturbed by what just happened here. We don't have any idea what occurs when someone is occupied by this alien presence. If we start pointing a finger every time someone gets distracted, it won't be long before outright paranoia starts sweeping the ship. Tuvok, B'Elanna, I want you to get started on that magneton flash scan. It's worth a try. Dismissed." said Janeway.

[Sickbay]

The EMH is checking on Kes. "And that's not all. Ensign Parsons ordered his pejuta cold." said Neelix. "So?" the Doctor asked confused as to what this had to do with anything. "He always drinks it hot. Hot! With lemon. But not today. Today it's cold pejuta, hold the lemon." said Neelix. "Mister Neelix, just because a man changes his drink order doesn't mean he's possessed by an alien." said the Doctor. "Nevertheless, don't you think you should scan him or dissect him or something, just to make sure?" Neelix asked. "I could examine every crew member you've mentioned so far, every person on board, for that matter and it wouldn't do any good. From what we can tell, the alien can jump from person to person at will." said the Doctor.