The senior staff was arranged in the conference room. It was a basic meeting to give the captain an idea of the ship's status. It was normal procedure, unless in an emergency situation, for the captain to simply read reports given to him by his staff, but he had found in his personal history and in the history of the Federation that many minor problems experienced by different departments added up to one big problem. And, to be honest, Maruu didn't want to be in charge of doing all the adding. His roommate at the Academy had told him an old Earth proverb: "Two heads (or, in this particular case, nine) are better than one."
"Well, not to bore you but," said the Helmsman, "nothing is happening. We haven't even encountered a Class M planet in a few days. I've been keeping a standard survey course plotted. I wish I had something to report on that subject."
"How's the shuttle doing?"
K'Lara's eyes lit up with that question. "Well, that's a different story. We've got most of the main hull components ready. I think we'll be able to begin assembly in a day or two." The captain had decided to go ahead with Loran's suggestion. With the loss of the Cochrane and the LaForge, Virgo had no top notch shuttles. They were in need anyhow.
"I've got the cloaking device for it nearly built as well," the Chief Engineer mentioned.
"That's right, you think you can build us one now," Maruu said.
"I know I can. I've got most of the final testing done. I've been having a few energy problems still though. I can't seem to get the power usage small enough but I've got a promising theory that I'll work on today in my free time."
Lataro laughed a bit. "I didn't think you had 'free time'."
"Well, you know, that span of time between going to the bathroom and leaving the bathroom." They all joked about the man's busy schedule, but they also knew that it was an exaggeration. He had plenty of free time. He could always be found in the holodeck with Valdago. The two of them had come up with a number a holographic stories that were quite advanced. "I plan to test it today in Holodeck One before I put it on the new shuttle."
The Captain smiled. He really liked this engineer. "Well, it's your project and your shuttle. You've got full jurisdiction. Just keep me informed. How are our engines doing Mr. Ek'Ra?"
Torias Ek'Ra had been given the job of making sure the engines and major systems were in good condition while Loran worked on the cloaking device and new shuttle. He had been doing a fine job.
"The engines are working fine. The only thing I could say is that we are only running at 94% efficiency in the fusion reactor." It was customary for Ek'Ra to fuss over the ship. He had become one of the most picky engineers Maruu had ever worked with. He was making sure that he did a perfect job while he was running engineering. The captain loved it. He had never met an engineer who was so concentrated. He knew that the ship was always running at the best possible performance. Of course, he had to control the man a bit, otherwise he would spend days working on minor power fluctuations without sleep. The man had to set some priorities.
"But, Ensign, I thought this ships fusion reactor was only 93% efficient by design?" the captain asked.
"That is true, Sir, but it's a little known fact that, in order to be considered a genius miracle worker, designers purposely put ship expectations an average of 1% below what their plans are possible of so that after it is built and tested they can say, 'I guess I'm better than I thought.' So, it's up to the engineers to push is up one more percent. It standard procedure."
"Of course, you have to push it up to 95% efficiency in order to be considered a genius miracle worker yourself, right?" suggested Lataro.
"Exactly, Sir."
"Lt. Valdago," the captain turned to the Senior Operations Officer, "have there been any strange use of the replicators and holodecks to account for a one percent loss?" he asked have jokingly. But, he got no answer. Valdago just seemed to keep starring at the stars. "Lieutenant!"
Suddenly Valdago jumped as if awoken from a dream. "Oh, sorry, Sir. No, there hasn't been any unusual crew activity lately." He was extremely tired. The captain and First Officer had noticed this pattern over the last few days. It used to be expected, but ever since he had undergone the metamorphosis, he had been very prompt and a model officer. Of course, his tiredness had not interfered with his work, which he had been doing a lot of lately, but all the same, they wanted to make sure he would be on the top of his game should an emergency arrive.
"Well, I think we're all a bit tired. Everyone, head to bed. I know that's where I'm going."
The senior staff all left the conference room and went to bed.
Valdago woke up sick. Again. He was constantly sick lately. Usually it was just a mild case of the flu or a cold, but it was starting to get annoying. This time he had a rashes on his arms and chest. But, he only had an hour until his shift began and he wasn't going to be late anymore. And, he had his own way to deal with sickness. He took his sonic shower and ordered two helpings of his breakfast number two.
Valdago entered the bridge at 0748. Twelve minutes early? thought Lataro. This is gonna take some getting used to. "Morning, John." Valdago just nodded. He looked very pale. Then he noticed a huge red patch on the back of his neck. "John, it's been two months since you last saw the doctor. Maybe it's time for a checkup?"
"No, I'll be fine."
"John, I want all the officers in peak condition. You go see Dr. Nori." My God! he thought. I just ORDERED Valdago off the bridge! This is gonna take a lot of getting used to. "Don't make me have you sedated."
"Yes, Sir," said Valdago as he walked over to the turbolift.
After a small asthma like attack, Dr. Nori sedated Valdago to help keep his breathing normal. She was using her tricorder and reading the information off of a nearby wall panel.
"I can't believe this. I've never seen anything like this before." The Chief Medical Officer was looking at a virus that was attacking Valdago's system. "Computer, identify the virus in Valdago's blood stream."
<The virus has been identified as Bahr 242.>
"Computer, show detail on Bahr 242."
The computer brought up schematics. <Bahr 242 was first identified by Frances Bahr in 2338 at the Pasteur Institute of Mars Colony. Symptoms of the disease caused by the virus are redness of the skin, difficult breathing, and some loss of hair. The virus effects only sheep, goats, and other closely related species. It can also be carried by certain bacterial and insects. While Humans may carry the virus as well, it will not create symptoms under normal circumstances.>
Normal circumstances? "Computer, what would cause those symptoms to occur in a Human?"
<Immune system deficiency.>
"Computer," the doctor asked as she ran the tricorder of Valdago's chest, "run a level three blood examination of the patient and give me current status of white blood cells."
<White blood cell count is down by 25%.>
"Could that be a result of his DNA restructuring on August 21, 2359."
<Negative. The results were compared to reading taken on August 30, 2359.>
"Computer, is the patient's immune system working at all?"
<Negative.>
"Captain Maruu, will you please come to sickbay. We have an emergency on our hands."
"What can we do about this?" the captain asked his fellow Bajoran. Valdago, who was awake now, listened to the possibilities.
Dr. Nori answered, "I see two options. I think that I could create a mutagen like the one in Valdago's system. It would change the DNA of the white blood cells. But, instead of producing more mutagen and RNA strands, it would create the same cell wall in the rest of his system and then multiply. Those would then work on the other diseases and the mutagen in his body may even disappear. The problem is that, until all the infected white blood cells died, he would still be a little susceptible to opportunistic diseases. And, the new white blood cells may be inactive or somehow not work. That would leave him totally open to infection."
"What are the chances of that?" asked Maruu.
"Not very high. It's based a little on the process that eliminated the HIV virus in the early 21st century. So, theoretically it is sound. I'd have to run some simulations to be more accurate than that though."
"You said there was another option?" Valdago said.
Dr. Nori looked at the floor for a moment and then looked into his eyes. "I've been working on a way to reverse the assimilation process as you know. I think it's possible to create an anti-mutagen that will do the opposite of the original one."
"How do you mean," asked her patient.
"When the mutagen entered you system, it was able to infest the white blood cells, make a new RNA strand that attached itself to your DNA. Then the cell divided and the old, human cell died and the new, Kirusan cell remained. I think I can synthesize a mutagen that will remove the RNA strand and divide. This would, in theory, return all of your cells, including your white blood cells to normal. I think it has a better chance of success than the first option because that is based on 300 year old data and this is based on a mutagen that we have in large quantities."
It was silent for a while. Then Valdago spoke up. "I heard the word theory a lot in your discussion. Do you mind if I think about this for a while?"
"Not too long, who knows what it'll will be next. In this state, a case of the flu could kill you. I've been able to neutralize Bahr 242 but it's only going to get worse."
"It's already been worse," he said. The doctor gave a quizzical look. "I've had the flu about three times in the past two weeks."
"How did you survive? You haven't been down here?"
"I used...well, to be honest I've been using Rendex Geor." The look of astonishment on the faces of the captain and the doctor were all they could manage. "I know it's illegal, but it's the only way I could keep up with my duties."
"Where did you get it? Not from a crewmember?" asked the captain.
"No, I synthesized it myself."
The doctor didn't believe it. "Where did you get that kind of knowledge? The computer sure as hell doesn't hold that kind of information!"
"Well, I may as well let it all come out." Valdago took a deep breath. "I learned to make it from a few members of Red Squad back in my Academy days. It was rumored that some of them were using it to achieve more physically and I was sent in by...well a special agency to uncover them. I learned how to make it, how to use it, who used it, it's exact effects, and I even gained a small tolerance for it. You'd be surprised what your body gets used to after a few months. With help from the agency I was able to only loose 2% of my brain cells."
"You've got to be lying," the captain said. "No Federation agency would force a cadet to kill off his brain for months just to expose some cadets they knew about all ready. That isn't the way Starfleet works!"
"That's where you're wrong. They needed more than proof. I thought at the time I was chosen it was because I was the most qualified. I realized when they threatened to erase my memories and...remove some specific people from my life, that I was chosen because I was failing classes, I would be easy to convince, I would never be suspected as a spy by Red Squad, and I was the perfect guinea pig to test their antidote. Either way, I know how to make it and did. I never knew the formula for the antidote though."
"This has to be a holodeck simulation. They actually threatened murder? I want to know who it was, what organization, and the names of those Red Squad cadets."
"It won't make a difference. They didn't give me any real names, those Red Squaders probably aren't anywhere to be found, at least not with a memory of their lives intact, and I've all ready practically signed a death warrant by telling you this much. Just because we're a year away from the nearest Starbase doesn't mean they don't have a tag on us. I bet there are members in this crew." No one spoke.
"Captain to Anya Zano. Lt. Valdago will be coming to your office for a session. You will take a statement from him then report to me in person."
[Understood,] answered the Betazoid.
"Doctor. Keep Valdago in medical isolation until he chooses what to do. And get some readings," he said as he walked out the door. "Get me something to prove his story."
Two hours later the reports were in. As far as anyone could tell, Valdago's story was 100% true.