The Donor

Lieutenant Commander Tyra was walking down the corridor to work. She had been feeling woozy lately and she had no idea why. She had been taking the formula that Doctor Katts had been giving her, but for some reason she would feel hungry again, almost has if she were eating that Chinese food she had heard about. She shook her head. It couldn't be the formula. It had to be something else. She would just have to figure it out later. Right now, she was needed to continue work on the slip stream. They were making progress and she didn't want to ruin the second chance she had been given. She just hoped that she wouldn't pass out on the job before she could figure out what was causing her to be so woozy.

"It can't be the formula." She told herself as she entered the turbolift. "Doctor Katts wouldn't give me something unless she was sure it would work."

Tyra shook her head and felt the hunger pangs start up again. She fought them back as she gave her destination and the lift moved. She closed her eyes and leaned against the wall. She had to get it under control. It had been two hours since her last meal and to have another break this soon would be asking for trouble. She would work to take her mind off the pangs and then take the formula again. If she lasted that long without biting someone.

The lift doors opened and Tyra stepped out into the corridor. Tyra shook her head and felt the hunger pangs start up again. She fought them back as she gave her destination and the lift moved. She closed her eyes and leaned against the wall. She had to get it under control. It had been two hours since her last meal and to have another break this soon would be asking for trouble. She would work to take her mind off the pangs and then take the formula again. If she lasted that long without biting someone.

The lift doors opened and Tyra stepped out into the corridor. The pains continued, coursing throughout her body. It began in the pit of her stomach and then continued to climb up her chest. Clutching her side, Tyra dropped to the floor in agony. Her fangs began to enlarge, and drop away from the other teeth. She would have to feed soon. Staggering to her feet, she moved along the corridor wall. She then tapped her combadge. "Lieutenant Commander Tyra to Sickbay. I need an emergency beam to Sickbay." With that, she collapsed.

Sickbay

Lieutenant Katts ran out of her office to the figure materialising in Sickbay. Tyra was now shaking on the biobed uncontrollably. A medical team was now assembled and was treating her. "Give her four milligrams of tetrozene quickly!" Katts yelled out. She opened up her medical tricorder and began waving the scanner up and down Tyra's body. "Replicate another batch of serum Tyra Gamma, high potency." She tapped her communicator. "Doctor Katts to Captain Devore."

[Yes Doctor ?] Devore replied.

"Commander Tyra has gone in to withdrawal. I need you in Sickbay immediately."

[I'm on my way now.] The channel closed.

A nurse injected Tyra with a hypospray and her body calmed down. Tyra's eyes opened briefly only to see Katts standing over her with a tricorder. Then, all went black.

Holodeck Six

"Fourteen Left! Fourteen Left! GO!" The line broke, with a squad of four pushing forward quickly. Three runners, two to Jack's left and one to his right. The sprinted forward about ten yards and broke going in different directions. Jack checked the line. Nothing had broken through yet. Then, with the eyes of a hawk, he spotted one of his runners in the open. Launching his projectile, he watched as the second runner that was on the left caught it, and ran in to the end zone. "YES !"

<Touchdown Yellow.> The computer announced.

Two squads from Alpha Platoon were engaged in a football game. The others watched on as the time was running down. The score was now 28 - 14 and Jack was in the clear. Jon watched from the sidelines as the game ensued. He grinned as Sharpe walked back with the ball in hand from the end zone. He and Truman butted helmets and made their way to the opposite end of the field.

[Devore to Phanan.] Jon tapped his combadge.

"Yes Captain. How can I help you ?"

[I need you to come to Sickbay. I need to talk to you about something.]

"Yes sir. I'm on my way. Phanan out." Jon called for the arch. The door to the holodeck appeared in the opposite end zone. Jon jogged in his BDUs across the field and then out the doorway. It soon vanished, replaced by an upright.

Sickbay

Lieutenant Commander Tyra slowly opened her eyes to find herself starting at a dull white ceiling. It was also bright and she closed her eyes once again then groaned softly. Her eyes opened again and she saw Doctor Katts hovering over her.

"What happened ?" She asked, suddenly feeling that she was here before, saying the same thing before.

"You feel unconscious due to withdrawal." The Doctor answered. "We had to inject you with a good dose of the formula. You had us worried there for a moment."

Tyra closed her eyes again. She did feel better, but she was worried as well.

"Withdrawal ?" She asked as she opened her eyes again. "I'm going through withdrawal ? How ?"

Doctor Katts sighed, "We're looking into that. I don't see why you should be going through withdrawal. You're taking the formula daily like you should. I've taken some blood samples from you as well and we're running some tests. We should know in a day or two what's going on."

"In the meantime ?" Tyra asked, hoping she could leave.

"In the meantime, you're staying here. Just in case another spell comes over you."

Tyra groaned, but only got a smile from the Doctor.

Major Jon Phanan entered Sickbay wondering what he was needed for. He knew it was urgent by the sound of the Captain's voice. His curiosity grew as he saw Captain Devore and Doctor Katts hovering over a biobed, obviously occupied by a crewmember.

"Major Phanan reporting." He said as he looked at the two strangely. "You wanted to see me about something, Captain ?"

Doctor Katts and Captain Devore turned upon hearing Jon's voice. The two looked at each other then Doctor Katts walked up to him and led him into her office. She closed the door then handed him a datapadd.

"Commander Tyra is having withdrawal." She said as she sat down at her desk. "We're giving her a formula to help her adjust to the lack of the substance she needs. It was produced by a man named Teryek, but he was murdered a few days ago. With him gone, Tyra has no way of getting the substance she needs, except by replicator or by the formula I'm giving her. She's been taking the formula for a couple of days now, but something's wrong. She passed out a few hours ago. I have given her a large dosage of the formula, but I'm running some tests on her blood."

Jon read through the report then looked at the Doctor.

"What do you need me for ?" He asked, confused.

"I believe that you might have that substance she needs, Major. It's in the blood and for centuries her kind have been taking it from another race. I will give you the information on the two races, so that you can study it. I think it will help you get a better grip on what we're asking of you."

"Which is ?"

"We want you to give her blood."

Jon looked up from the PADD and at the two of them. "You're joking." The two looked back at him with a very serious look in their eyes. "You're not joking..." Jon looked down at the PADD again, and then at the two. "Why me though ?"

"Your blood contains certain enzymes that Teryek's contained." Doctor Katts walked over to a wall display. She then activated and began pointing out different strands of enzymes in his blood. "Your blood contains enzymes groups Theta Tau, Omega Omicron, and Beta Bravo." She highlighted a few particular enzymes. "These are the ideal enzymes that Tyra's species look for. They have a 'sixth sense' if you may for people that one or more of these particular enzymes. In your case, Major, you have all three."

Jon looked at the data on the screen. "That's all find and dandy, but you want me to become a blood bank for a vampire ? Where does that leave me ?" Jon looked between the two.

"Jon...." Devore started. ".....for Tyra's sake, we'd like you to donate a small percentage of your blood once every two weeks. Doctor Katts can then extract the enzymes to help out Commander Tyra. Since your blood contains all three of these enzymes, she can go for a month without having to feed on blood."

Jon looked at the two, and then at Commander Tyra. He walked past the two, and over to Tyra's biobed. "Tyra," Jon said, softly.

Tyra stirred slowly and looked at him. Her fangs were at full length, and Jon mentally pictured these puncturing his neck to get to the blood that would save her. It would be a small sacrifice to help a crewmate. He unbuttoned his shirt collar and the rest of the buttons down the front of his shirt. He took off the camouflage uniform shirt revealing his black undershirt. Jon then picked up Tyra. "Have at it Commander."

Lieutenant Commander Tyra could smell the blood from the Major. She ignored the strong arms around her for a minute as she sank her teeth into Jon's neck. She nearly moaned as the blood flowed into her mouth and down her throat. She felt herself growing stronger and the wooziness leave her. After a few moments, she released him and lied back down on the biobed. She then opened her eyes to look at the man that had saved her.

"Thank you..." She whispered as she felt herself growing stronger. "......I feel better."

"Good.Doctor Katts said as she came around to check on Tyra. She opened her medical tricorder and scanned her. She smiled and closed it. "She's doing much better." Jon smiled and nodded. Glad that he could help out a fellow crewmember. He looked at the Doctor.

"Can I go now ?" He asked, his hands behind his back.

Doctor Katts looked at him then at Captain Devore as if to confirm an answer.

"If the Doctor says that Tyra is fine, then you can go. But first I think we should go ahead and take a sample of your blood to give to the Commander. Sort of as a back-up." "Very well." Jon began to walk towards another biobed when he began to feel woozy. His face turned white as he quickly sat and lay down on a biobed. "What's happening ?"

"Have you ever given blood Major ?" Doctor Katts asked.

"Once, a long time ago."

"Mmm...." Katts gave a small grin. "You must remember Major that you're not supposed to make any fast movements or major actions after giving blood. Your body must manufacture more. I suggest you stay off your feet Major."

Jon looked over at Captain Devore who had a large smile on his face. "What are you smirkin' at ?"

"Oh nothing Major." Devore replied, raising his hands mockingly in defence. He made his way out of Sickbay.

Jon shook his head. *Nothing worse then showing weakness in front of a Fleety,* Jon thought. He sighed as he felt the blood come back to his head. Tyra made her way over towards Jon's bed.

"Guess you shouldn't have picked me up." Tyra said, with a soft smile.

"Yeah." Jon replied. "I'll remember not to lift any heavy objects after doing so." Jon grinned at her.

Tyra's smile changed to a mock look of anger. She gave him a playful shot to the arm. "I don't forget easily Mister Phanan."

"Neither do I," Jon replied. He lazily smiled. He took a deep breath and went back to regaining his sense of balance.

Doctor Katts finished scanning Jon then turned to Tyra.

"You need to get back to that biobed, Commander," she said, pushing Tyra backwards. "You have just had a blood transfusion of sorts and will need rest to recover."

"But I feel fine," she said even as she hopped up on the biobed and was forced to lie down.

"I haven't reported that you are fit for duty," Dr. Katts said firmly. "Until then you should stay on this biobed."

Tyra grumbled under her breath, but Katts only smiled.