"We have to get off this ship," said Beckett.
"How? Communication is down. No one has any idea we're in trouble," said Haakon.
"Sooner or later they'll get us out of here," said Beckett in an optimistic way.
"There may not be a later," said Haakon.
"Then we may not have a choice," said Beckett. Beckett reached toward his belt and grabbed his phaser.
"You can't be serious. If there is something here, we have no way of knowing if phaser fire can hurt it," said Haakon.
"If you've got a better idea, I'd like to hear it," said Beckett.
"As a matter of fact I do. I say we try and get the computer operational. Then we contact the Knight," said Haakon.
"You do that," said Becket, "I'll try and stop whatever is out there."
Beckett walked over toward the door and cleared out the stuff in the way. He opened the door and walked out into the hallway.
"Be careful," said Haakon.
"You too," said Beckett.
Meanwhile, on the USS Knight, the crew was trying to find out what was going on.
"We can't get all of the message. It is too corrupted," said Lieutenant Harris.
"Is there anything you can get from it?" asked Pike.
"Wait. I think we have something. It's a little hard to make out but it sounds like 'Priority One Alert'," said Harris.
"I've heard enough. Bridge to transporter room one. Beam them out," said Pike.
[We can't sir. Something is bouncing off transporter beams. We can't get them,] said the transporter chief.
"Now what?" asked Harris.
Back on the alien ship, Beckett continued to look around. He walked onto the bridge and found nothing. As he left, he saw the same shadow he saw in the science lab.
"Hold it!" shouted Beckett.
The shadow appeared to not move and Beckett walked closer to it.
"What are you?" Beckett asked the creature.
The shadow then vanished in front of his eyes. Then, a hole at the center of the bridge started to form. Beckett ran to nearest door but couldn't open it. The hole continued to grow until Beckett fell through it. He fell into what looked like a crew member's quarters. As he got up, he saw the hole shrinking up and disappearing. Beckett walked toward the door.
"I've gotta get off this ship," said Beckett.
Meanwhile, back in the mess hall, Haakon continued trying to access the computer.
"Computer," she started off saying, "Activate communication systems."
<Comm... Comm... Comm... Communications off-line.>
"Boost power to communication systems," she said.
<Communication systems at 10% and rising. Operational in five minutes.>
"Finally some good news," said Haakon.
Then, Beckett walked in.
"Beckett. Did you find it?" she asked.
"I saw it. But it ran off," he said.
"Well we might not have to worry. Communication systems are almost ready. We'll be back on the Knight in no time," said Haakon.
"Good. Very good," he said.
Beckett put his hand on Haakon's shoulder.
"Do you want something?" asked Haakon.
At that moment, Beckett walked in.
"Linn, you would not believe what I went through," said Beckett.
"Beckett?" asked Haakon.
Haakon looks up at the person standing over her. The person's arm grew larger and circled around her neck.
Beckett grabbed his phaser and pointed it at the creature.
"A Changeling?" asked Beckett.
"Very observant human," said the Changeling.
"You killed the crew and scared us all didn't you," said Beckett.
"Yes. The crew of this ship found me in space and performed horrible experiments on me. Once I had the strength, I killed them all. But the ship was too damaged to take me to the Gamma Quadrant. Thankfully, a Federation Starship came here. I knew they would send some people over so I planned to kill one of you and take that person's place," said the Changeling.
"Why bother scaring us all like this? Why didn't you just kill one of us right away?" asked Beckett.
"At first I would have. But when I learned that the gas in the air would cause some 'mirages' I decided to have some fun. I knew the Jem'Hadar wouldn't be affected by the gas, so that is why he is down and out," it said.
"That was your first and last mistake," Beckett said.
Beckett fired his phaser at it. The Changeling let go of Haakon and staggered in pain. Beckett blasted it again and it started to die.
"Haakon," said Beckett," Are you all right?"
"Fine. I'm fine," she said.
"None of you will be fine. Computer, activate program 001," said the Changeling.
The Changeling died after he gave the computer the order.
<Auto destruct sequence activated. Forty-five seconds remaining.>
"What?" asked Beckett.
"Oh no," said Haakon.
"Quick. Call the Knight," said Beckett.
"Communication aren't at full power. It might not work," she said.
"Just do it!" shouted Beckett.
"Away team to Knight. Get us out of here!" shouted Haakon.
[Away team. This Captain Neil. We're going to try and beam you out] said Neil.
"Try?" asked Beckett.
<10 seconds remaining.>
Haakon, Beckett and MacLeod started to beam away back to the Knight. Some interference slowed down the process but they were soon gone.
<5... 4... 3... 2... 1...>
The alien ship then exploded.
Back on the Knight's bridge, Commodore Pike talked to Beckett and Haakon.
"So there was a Changeling on board," said Pike.
"Yes sir," said Beckett.
"Did you salvage anything from the ship?" asked Pike.
"No sir," said Haakon.
"I am not very pleased," said Pike.
"We kind of figured that," said Beckett.
"We couldn't help it sir. The Changeling tried to kill us," said Haakon.
"I understand. Ensign Haakon, go see how Ensign MacLeod is doing. Ensign Beckett, prepare a report for Starfleet Command," said Pike.
"Yes sir," they both said.