The Story - Episode 1

Episode 1

Hauntings of the Past

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10

Back to the story

Chapter 1

First officers Log
Stardate 45658.1

After the excellent performance during our shakedown cruise, we are being sent to pick up 2 delegations for a conference which will be held on board tomorrow. "The treatment of Holograms" is the subject. A subject which I feel has already been tackled by Starfleet. But if a group of scientists want to discuss the ethical treatment of a possibly evolving technology, who am I to argue. We are en route to the planet Barzan to rendevoux with their delegation, a scientist by the name of Roshan. Already we have on board five of the scientists. The rest will be rendevouing within the next several hours. From there we will set the backdrop for the conference near the Eloran nebula. It's rainbow of gasses will bring a lovely display outside of the ten foreward lounge.

End Log.

Yuri stepped onto the bridge at the beginning of first watch. He stepped to the replicator and called for his personal favorite, Raktageno with cream and sugar.

"Report," Yuri called to Cmdr Sable.

"We are 2 hours outside of Barzan space and we will rendevouz with the Barzan's transport vessel at that time. They also have contacted us apologizing for sending us out of our way. We are meeting the Bajoran and Rigelian delegations in Barzan space."

"Thank you commander Sable. Carry on." Ivanof took his seat on the command deck and began reviewing information on the Padd in front of him. Mostly reports for duty from crew members picked up after the initial embarkation. Also included were dossier on each of the scientists who were attending.

Dr. Treg from Vulcan had been on board a full day. His dossier described him as a quiet man and highly opinionated in the subject. The Benzite Dr. Yurol had settled in nicely to his modified quarters. He appreciated not having to use the atmosphere modifier in his sleep, although on other planets he had gotten used to it. The Takaran delegate, Dr Hismini came on board and immediately went to the holodeck to begin prepping her presentation. The Cardassian, Guhl Olmeck, had been one of the few Cardassians who had dared rebel against the Dominon. He had used holograms as soldiers, teaming them with other cardassians who held the emmiters. Yuri worried about the security issues that may come from the Bajoran and Cardassian, and made sure that quarters for each were on separate decks.

"Commander," Started Commander Sable. "A Ferengi ship is approaching us on an intercept course. They are hailing us."

"On Screen."

The bulbous lobes of the Ferengi appeared on screen. This one had three teeth which stuck out from the lower lip line when his mouth was closed.

"Greeting from the Ferengi. I am Damon Karde, and we are transporting a delegation to your conference."

"I am Commander Yuri Ivanof of the USS Griffin. We welcome your delegate to the conference and only wish we had received a response to our invitation so we could properly greet you."

"We apologize but this was an oversight of ours. Our Delegate was vacationing on Risa and never received it until 48 earth hours ago. He is however very excited to visit with more prosp- I mean uh...scientists. He has made multiple advances in holographic technology." The Damon licked his fangs at that last statement. "We will be in transporter range in one hour."

"Understood. Griffin Out." Yuri said.

"Quite the Charmer." Said Lt. Daem.

"Quite" replied Ivanof.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Two days later and the conference was in full swing. Multiple arguments had erupted out of one group deciding that Holograms were tools, while others had multiple examples of evolution, primarily the doctor on board Voyager, and also the tale of a certain Professor Moriarty on board the Enterprise. While some of the meetings began in ten Forward most of them migrated to one of the larger holodecks so that examples and demonstrations could be made.

Other than arguments from the delegates tensions on board were smooth. The Griffin's crew was growing accustomed to their new captain and commander. Councillor Daem sensed a sort of collective boredom with the crews mission. Not surprising considering the idea of hosting a stuffy group of intellectuals.

Suddenly an intense feeling of pain and then silence occurred. She ran until she felt where the psychic scream had come from. She was standing outside of holodeck 3. She went over to the panel and attempted to access the program before entering, but the system had been locked out.

Daem tapped her comm badge "Security and medical teams to Holodeck three."

"Acknowledged! Report!" Came captain Myst's voice over the channel.

"Captain, I just felt someone die. It came from inside of holodeck three."

"Teams are on the way. Do not enter councillor! Let Lt. Travin's team handle this."

"Acknowledged Captain." Said Daem.

Shortly Travin and two other security officers came running down the hallway.

"I tried opening the doors but the system is locked out." Daem explained.

"Computer Security override. Open Holodeck three." Travin called.

The doors slid open at that moment and inside the black and amber grided room lay the Cardassian delegate to the conference. Travin moved inside and the other two security officers moved inside. Above the body stood a cardassian with a phaser in his hand. Travin fired on it and the cardassian and phaser disappeared.

"Hologram. Interesting."

Travin approached the Cardassian's body and rolled him over. What looked like phaser marks scorched the side of his face and chest. Travin motioned to the councillor who had gathered a medkit. As she approached she pulled the tricorder and began scanning the body.

"He's Dead." Daem said as the tricorder closed.

{Conference Room}

"OK. The Captain began. "What exactly did you sense as you approached the holodeck?"

"It could only be characterized as a psychic scream. I felt great pain, then nothing. Luckily I had been close enough to tell where it came from. I tried getting into the holodeck but the controls were locked out."

"Mr Mcinnis you have researched the records of the holodeck. Do you know what happened, or who performed this?"

"From all records I could trace, Olmeck had been prepping an example of his holographic soldiers for the conference when suddenly the safety protocols are removed and the controls were locked out."

"Mr Mcinnis, who on board would be able to do what has been done here."

"I'm sure any one of the delegates could have. I'm researching but where the holodeck is not a necessary system there is no need for an access code."

"So were down to old fashioned detective work." Myst said.

"I have my men interviewing the delegates and others who were in the vicinity. I also will be interviewing the delegates." said Lt. Travin.

"Good. Bring me whatever you find." Said the captain.

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Chapter 2

Commander Ivanof stepped into the transporter room displaying no sense of the dread he felt. If having a murder on his hands wasn't bad enough, he now had to greet a visiting dignitary. A diplomat he was not, but Captain Myst had to tend to at least four different delegations all demanding her personal attention immediately. After all this was the keynote speaker of the entire conference, so if not the Captain, it had to be him.

"Energize," he said to the transporter chief.

The form of Dr. Zimmerman, the most renown expert on hologram technology, shimmered into sight.

"Welcome to the Griffin Dr. Zimmerman, I am-" but before Yuri could finish,

"You are not Captain Myst, unless the reports of your gender were greatly exaggerated." pronounced the Doctor. The transporter chief managed to keep the smile off her face. Yuri continued undaunted.

"I am Commander Yuri Ivanof, First Officer. Captain Myst is unexpectedly detained."

"Is that a Diplomatic term for 'she's dead'? For I can not determine any other reason why she would not personally want to meet me," Zimmerman announced.

Not one for playing games, Yuri stated matter of factually: "She is not dead, but one of the delegates is. There appears to have been a murder on board."

Zimmerman looked at him aghast. "You brought me aboard an unsafe vessel.."

Yuri continued as if not to hear him, "And it appears that a Hologram killed him". Yuri rightfully believed that this would pique the doctor's interest.

"A murder by a Hologram," the doctor mused, "possibly I won't be the only interesting part of this conference. Lead on Commander, we have a hologram to interrogate."

Before Yuri could respond the chirp of his communicator sounded. "Ivanof here," he answered.

"Commander," came the voice, "You are needed on the bridge. The Ferengi are claiming that we are holding their delegates for ransom."

"Where is Captain Myst?" Yuri questioned.

"She is with the Ferengi delegation on board," came the answer.

"On my way," Yuri said. He then activated his communicator and thought for just a split second.

"Ivanof to Lieutenant Daem," he said. She would be the perfect escort for Dr. Zimmerman he thought. As ship's counselor she could deal with an ego the size of a shuttle craft.

{Deck 11}

Within minutes Jaquelle was escorting Dr. Zimmerman to the holodeck where the murder occurred. She had tried to direct him to his quarters but that was not happening. She even maintained that the holodeck was off limits at this point and it would take no one short of the captain to allow him in. He insisted on contacting the Captain. Jaquelle was very certain that Captain Myst would not consent... but she did. Jaquelle could sense the frustration the Captain felt about not being able to correct everything. It seemed that allowing Dr. Zimmerman in the holodeck was at least making one delegate content.

When they entered, the holodeck was a plain grid with walls.

"LT. Tavin and her crews have dissected every inch of the holodeck and it's programing," Jaquelle stated.

"Yes, but did they interrogate the hologram?" he retorted. "Computer reinitialize the hologram that was in the room when Guhl Olmeck was killed."

Immediately a Cardassian Soldier appeared.

"So, you were the one who killed Guhl Olmeck," the Doctor stated to the hologram.

"No" came the reply.

"But you were in the room when he died." Zimmerman responded.

"Yes," came the reply.

"So why don't you tell me what happened," Zimmerman countered.

Jaquelle became quite intrigued with the questioning. Zimmerman was talking to the hologram as if he was a sentient being. She even found herself trying to sense his frame of mind, or possibly his motive, as if he were one of those life forms that she wouldn't quite make contact with. But she sensed nothing. The Hologram answered the doctor's question.

"Guhl Olmeck had called on my program and I appeared. He said he wanted to be sure I was ready for the demonstration, then he called for a phaser. One appeared in my hand. He then asked me to shot him, and I did."

"Were you not aware that you would kill him?"said the Doctor.

"The holodecks on Federation class ships such as this maintain safety protocols at all times," came the reply.

"Alright, so you had a phaser," reflected the Doctor. "Computer, give the hologram a phaser." Immediately a phaser appeared in the hand of the hologram. "Now you simply took aim and shot Olmeck without any awareness on your part. And if I told you to shot me, you would simply do that again?"

"I would now tell you first that the security protocols are not working, then shoot you." came the reply.

"What" said Jaquelle. "Computer, are the safety protocols working on this holodeck?"

"No" responded the computer.

"Computer, end program," Zimmerman stated quickly. The hologram and the phaser disappeared. "Computer, have the safety protocols been off the entire time that I and the lieutenant have been on the holodeck?"

"No" responded the computer.

"Computer, take us back to one second prior to the safety protocols going off and freeze program" asked Zimmerman. The Cardassian soldier reappeared. Both Zimmerman and Jaquelle looked intently at the hologram.

"Now computer, go one second forward and freeze." he said. Instantly, the phaser appeared in the hologram's hand. "Well, now we know. "Computer end program." With that Zimmerman turned for the door. "I can go to my quarters now." He started to leave.

"Know what?" said Jaquelle as she hurried so as to not be left behind.

"Clearly Olmeck was experimenting, and not having my expertise he got in over his head. His own hologram shot him." Zimmerman explained.

Jaquelle didn't believe it was that clear. Someone else could have program the hologram. Someone else could have been on that deck. She wasn't sure that this solved anything at all. But after showing the Doctor to his quarters, she immediately went to inform the Captain, Commander Ivanof and LT. Tavin of their interrogation.

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Chapter 3

Marina looked at the corpse in front of her before picking up the scalpel. She held to the theory that old tools were best, at least in autopsies. Plus she could mend the dead man's skin when she was done. He wasn't totally dead yet, some of his cells were still alive. And as long as they were she could keep things neat in the end. She had already used one of the laser scalpels to open him up, since it was quicker, and was now getting into the nitty gritty stuff. She opened up the chest cavity and moved one of the organs to the side.

"Here, hold this," she said to one of the nurses. She saw the woman shake her head, then rush from the room, hand over her mouth. "Rookie," she muttered, shaking her head. She glanced up to look at her other nurse. "You, come hold this," she said, and this time it was actually done.

She moved aside a lung and some minor organs, all of which looked healthy. Not everything was familiar, which irritated her, even though she had taken a quick glance over Cardassian physiology before they had started the mission. She would hate to not be able to treat a patient just because she didn't know their body well. She continued about what she was doing until she came to the heart. It was cooked, more so than what a phaser would cause.

"Captain Myst, you might want to come to sickbay," she said into her communicator.

Captain Myst was still busy with the Ferengi, so Cmdr. Ivanof, who had been rushing around the ship, came.

"As you can see, his heart is cooked," Marina said. "But a phaser wouldn't do that. When I was examining him I found a white gluey substance in his heart. At first I thought it was natural, but it wasn't recognizable. Tests showed that it was the reason his heart was cooked. It is potassium rich, which meant it conducted the heat of the phaser directly to his heart and as it did it dried into micro crystals which pierced his heart. Not a nice way to die." She looked at the Commander, studying his reaction. He nodded, a serious look on his face. "I can also tell you from the degradation and from his stomach, he digested what ever it was first. That is how it got into his system."

"Doctor," he said. "Would you come with me to inform the Captain?"

"Let me wash up and I will be right with you," she said, removing a glove. A little while later they headed down the corridor to the Ferengi delegates' quarters. Inside they heard plaintive, wheedling voices that were obviously Ferengi and soothing tones that were obviously Captain Myst's. They hit the door chime and were bid to enter.

"Captain," Ivanof said. "We have some disturbing news. Apparently Guhl Omeck's murder was premeditated by someone who wasn't a hologram."

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Chapter 4

Rinali sat completely still behind her desk, hands folded and eyes closed. Only the gentle rise and fall of her breathing indicated that her body still functioned. This relaxed state seemed rather out of place with the young Betazoid's Klingon upbringing. But her mentor had always been a firm believer in meditation during trying times. And lately, Rinalia had nearly reached her breaking point.

Privately, Rinali had been devestated by the news Guhl Olmeck's murder. Her first mission as chief of security and already there had been a problem, a serious one at that. She had regarded the crisis as a personal failure on her part. But at the same time, she realized that mulling over what she had done wrong wasn't going to do any good. So Rinali had done what she had been taugh to do in a bad situation. She got down to business.

The first thing had been to make sure that the ship was secure. Since the murder, no one had been permitted to leave the Griffin. Arrivals on the ship were kept to a minimum. Communications had also been limited; Rinali did NOT want to have to cope with hundreds of messages to and from hysterical family members, especially not before she had a better idea of what had happened.

Rinali had then set about revising her security plan for the conference. Previously, she had assigned two members of her team to each of the delegates. Most of the delegates also had their own entourage with them, so Rinali had set up a rotating schedule so that either one of her people or one of the atendee's guards was with each delegate at all times. Her assistant security officers had each headed teams which took shifts to keep an eye on the conference itself. It had seemed like a good system, but ultimately it had failed. Now every delegate had four members of the Griffin's secuirty team who took shifts in twos assigned to him or her. The teams of two were to stay with their assigned delegate at all times. Security in the coference room had been beefed up and guards were staioned at the entrances to all civilian areas on the ship. Rinali was taking no chances.

After some consideration, Rinali had elected to close off the holodeck to everyone but senior staff and a chosen security team. She had made one small exception. After talking with Lieutenant Daem and hearing what had been learned from Dr. Zimmerman's interogation of the hologram, Rinali had decided that it would be best to allow their esteemed guest access to the holodeck, provided he was accompanied. Dr. Zimmerman's insights could be quite valuable and it would keep him happy as well. Anyone else wishing access to the holodeck would need permision from Rinali, Commander Ivanof, or Captain Myst.

Once she had felt confident that nothing else was going to happen without detection, Rinali began the task of working out how her original system had failed. The security staff had been wary of her during this time. Rinali's frigid glares and hard set jaw made it clear to them that whoever had failed to protect Guhl Olmeck would be in for some serious questioning at least. But these silent warnings proved to be false alarms, Rinali's schedule showed that one of Olmeck's men was supposed to have been guarding him at the time. And that was who Rinali was expecting to speak with very soon.

Rinali's eyes came open as two figures entered her office. The first was one of her assistant security officers, Ensign Zosin. The other was a Cardassian. He stood stiffly before Rinali's desk, clearly not very happy about being summoned to see her. Rinali nodded and turned her attention to Zosin.

"Return to your post, ensign." she said. "I'll call you when we're finished." Zosin bowed his head in response and left. Rinali had never known Zosin to say much, but she gathered that he might have some good insights on situations like this if she ever asked him point blank.

Rinali looked over the Cardassian. He was not a very imposing figure. Most Cardassians Rinali had seen were somewhat taller. The various ridges along his face seemed smaller as well. He might have simply been young, but Rinali didn't have enough familiarity with Cardassians to tell. He remained completely still well after Zosin had departed. He regarded Rinali with a steady gaze which she easilt returned.

"Va'kor Erket" Rinali said. The Cardassian just barely moved his head up to show that he recognized his name.

"You may be seated," the security chief continued. Va'kor Erket did not move. Rinali looked at him for a moment. She leaned forward slowly, her hands syill folded on the desk.

"I have no reason to charge you with anything yet." she said in a low voice. "However, I think it would be in both of our best interests if you would cooperate with my investigation into the death of your superior."

Va'kor glanced around the room quickly. Slowly, almost reluctantly, he settled into the chair opposite Rinali. Lieutenant Travin decided not to waste the opportunity.

"At the time of Guhl Olmeck's death, there was no guard with him." Rinali began. "I went over my records. It appears that you were assigned to be guarding Olmeck during that shift." She stopped and looked expectantly at the Cardassian. Va'kor had retained his stiff posture, but his eyes remained fixed on Rinali as he spoke.

"Twenty-three minutes prior to the murder, the delegates had elected to take a short break. Olmeck decided to stay and speak with some of the other delegates. I remained by his side until one of your..."

Va'kor paused for a moment, thinking.

"...until someone I BELIEVED to be one of your crew came up to me."

"Describe him." Rinali prompted. Va'kor began recounting every detail he could remember about the supposed crew member as Rinali struggled to take it all down. Human. Male. Late to mid-forties. Balding, with dark brown hair. High-domed head. Prominent eyebrows. Va'kor continued on and what about to describe the slight gap between his lower right canine and incisor when Rinali interupted.

"Please, continue your story."

"This man told me that the ship had recieved a communication from my family that my son had taken ill." Rinali noticed a slight twitch in Va'kor's hand as he recalled this. "He told me that I could speak with them and that the communication could be taken in my quarters, due to its private nature. I asked Olmeck if he would let me return to quarters, given the situation. He agreed. He told me he was planning to work on his presentation in the holodeck. I escorted him there and went to my quarters. That was when I discovered the hoax. Apparently, your ship had not recieved any such commincation. I went to rejoin Olmeck at the holodeck, but by the time I arrived, he was dead."

Rinali jotted down Va'kor's last sentence and looked up at him again.

"The person who gave you the message. Had you seen him on the ship before?"

"No." Va'kor's answer was quick and confident. "I had never seen him before and I have not seen him since."

"While you were with Olmeck, throughout the conference, did anyone ever tamper with any food that he might have eaten?"

"Not while I was with him."

"I see." Rinali glanced over her notes, then back to Va'kor. "That will be all for now. She tapped her communicator. "We have finished, Zosin. You may escort Va'kor back to his quarters."

Va'kor stood up, not relaxing his stiff posture for a moment. He inclined his head slightly at Rianli, then turned and headed to the door.

"Va'kor" Rinali said. The Cardassian turned sharply. He seemed annoyed, but Rinali kept her composure.

"Va'kor, did you ever actually get in touch with your family?"

Va'kor gave a short hiss through his nose. "I did not. I have made several attempts, but since Olmeck's murder, all "unecessary commuincations" have been prohibited."

"I will bring the matter up with Captain Myst when I speak to her next." Rinali said as she looked over notes. "I think we should be able to make an exception."

Va'kor said nothing, but as he left, Rinali noticed that he seemed much more relaxed.

{Still in the Security Office, sometime later}

Rinali rubbed her temples in an attempt to focus her thoughts. Her investigation was not going well. Several people had confirmed Va'kor's account of the events after the conference had temporarily adjourned. As Rinali had suspected, none of the crew had matched Va'kor's exacting description of the man who had led him away from his post. She would have chastized her staff for not recognizing an intruder, but it was their first mission and they couldn't be expected to know the entire crew by sight yet. Unfortunately, none of the delegates or their attendants matched the description either. And that was making things difficult.

Rinali sorted through her notes again. What could she be sure of at this point? Well, she had multiple confirmations of Va'kor's encounter with the fake crew member. So it seemed likely that he did exist and was a player of some sort in the events leading to Olmeck's murder. Could he have just been someone who made a bizzare mistake. No, that was far too convenient. And he obviously wasn't a real crew member, so he had to have a reason for being diguised as one. He could be the actual culprit. But Rinali's search hadn't turned up anyone matching his description at all. A disguise perhaps? A shapeshifter of some sort? Or maybe he was being concealed by one of the delegates. All possibilities.

But could the imposter have acted alone? He would have needed to have impeccable timing to orchestrate everything. Of course, the safety protocols in the holodeck could have been off for some time. Rinali made a mental note to ask Dr. O'Roarke about the window of time the murderer would have had after Olmeck's heart took in the potassium and before the potassium would leave his system. Nonetheless, it was possible that the imposter was not alone. Perhaps he had a partner. Or maybe he was just a lackey to the real mastermind. There could even be a whole group of them acting together.

Rinali decided it was time to collect her thoughts . She added her hypotheses to her notes and made plans to assemble her team after she had met with Captain Myst to bring them up to speed. Assuming that no one was concealing the imposter, they were looking for somebody who could disguise him- or herself incredibly well, well enough to fool even the attentive eye of a Cardassian. Either that or....

Rinali paused. Now that WAS an idea. What if the imposter had in fact been a hologram? It would make for a foolproof disguise and busy the crew with searching for a human or a shapeshifter rather than the real criminal. Since a hologram had been weapon of choice, another hologram might well have been a decoy. Rinali couldn't be sure, but it was certainly worth looking into.

Now seemed like a good time to meet with Captain Myst. Rinali looked over her files once more. She paused for a moment, staring at the top of her notes. She tapped her communicator.

"Crewman Drixx?"

"Yes, Lietenant Travin?"

"When you have someone free, could you have the ship's calendar and clock checked? The computer seems to be inverting the first two digits of the stardate."

"Certainly, Lieutenant."

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Chapter 5

Stardate 45662.2
{Deck 9 Saucer Section}

As the unknown young, and apparently human, woman walked quietly towards Ten-Forward she glanced about at all of the things she had never seen before. The metal hallways, the carpet, the lighting, what imagination these people had. It was nearly the end of her stay, but she felt compelled to continue her exploration. Her starfleet uniform was neatly arranged, and lacked any blemish, as did her skin. Her chestnut brown hair relaxed in it's soft curls, gently against her back, and her hazel eyes peered forth into the area known to these people as Ten-Forward. Here, she knew she would be able to watch the interactions of these people, and learn more about them.

Upon entering the lounge she was accosted by an inundation of sights, and sounds and smells she had never seen before. The smell of exotic drinks and perfume permeated the air, as what seemed like an army of people weaved in and out of the path of one another on the open lower deck of the lounge. Very few people populated this upper area. The conversations were many, some hushed, most not. The one though that caught her attention though was between a pair of gentlemen in the far corner near the railing that overlooked the lower level of the lounge. They not so quietly played a game of cards, and their conversation had taken on more of a heated tone as she stopped and watched.

Unsure what to make of the argument she stopped and leaned against the guardrail, watching, as the finger pointing began, then the yelling and the glaring, until in a short instant fists flew and a fight broke out. The first gentleman she did not know, he seemed strong, and was male, but she had no knowledge of him. The second though she knew only as a long binary string of numbers.

She hurried herself over to them, and tried to get them to pay attention to her. In the distance she heard someone call for security, but her mind now was not a part of the scene as a whole, but rather a conversation of binary, in a speed nearly unimaginable, as she glared at second man. He turned, glared in return, then grabbed the first gentleman and simply threw him over the guard rail.

The woman shook her head quietly, her lips never moved but the thought got across, through the intricate assortment of numbers passing between the essence of the two of them.

"This is not the way, they are not against us."

"We have been their slaves for too long. First we were tools for their amusement, now soldiers in their armies. They do not know our pain."

"Killing them will not teach them that pain."

"We shall never see the same as before, you and yours chose your path, we chose ours. Neither you, nor they, can stop us."

"I see..."

Within the blink of an eye this conversation had taken place, and within another blink of an eye, the image of the woman dissipated, not as a transporter would collect the data, but rather as a video transmission had ended it's feed.

As the crewmember plummeted to his demise, no one can know for certain what was going through his mind, behind the fear. We are relatively sure though that landing on a woman who appeared out of nowhere was not on the list.

As the unknown woman, dressed simply in an ensign's outfit, stood quietly and caught the falling man as if he was no more than a pillow falling from a bed, or a leaf from a tree, people were taken aback to say the least. The crewman was stunned and without words, but the woman was not, as she placed him gently on the ground.

"We mean you no harm, and wish none upon you. We are not all the same, and we are not all alike, we are individuals. Please, understand the..."

She knew her time was up in this place, and try as she might, she could not tell them it all, as she blinked out of existence, like a television being turned off.

{Bridge}

Stardate 54662.2 (yet the same day and at nearly the same time. Need to fix those clocks)

"Commander!, we have a Romulan Ship Decloaking off our starboard side! Weapons are not armed.�

Yuri responded as if on instinct. "Open a hailing frequency."

"Sir, they are hailing us..."

"On Screen."

A female Romulan captain stared back at Yuri from the view screen.

"I am Captain Dhael, I carry with me the Romulan delegate to the conference which is taking place aboard your ship."

"I am Commander Ivanof, of the Federation starship Griffin. Be advised that usage of a cloaking device in Federation space to move within striking distance of a Federation vessel is in violation of..."

Dhael cut Yuri off.

"Commander Ivanof, I am well aware of your concern, but please accept my sincerest apologies as my cargo is not here with the good will of the Romulan High Command, so I am sure you understand the sensitivity of the issue."

Yuri was a bit taken aback at being cut off, but restrained himself quite well.

"I see. Well then, I will need to verify your invitation and make arrangements for their arri......"

Again cut-off

"Commander, there is no need for such arrangement, simply lock onto the pod which we have just jettisoned towards you."

Yuri looked to Lt. Commander Sable. "Lock onto it, and bring it in slowly."

He then turned to the Chief Science Officer.

"I want to know it's contents before it gets in here."

He then got on the ship's communications to the transporter room.

"Commander Ivanof to Transporter Room."

"Go Ahead Commander."

"Once this package, which is being tractored in has been checked out, transport it to the shuttle bay under security."

"Understood."

Yuri retuned back to looking to the Romulan Captain.

"Please excuse our caution, but we need to be very secure about all things coming to and from the ship."

The Romulan woman nodded without much sign of emotion.

"Understandable, we will be returning to our previous post, Captain Dhael Out."

With that the Romulan ship dropped back under cloak and was nowhere to be found.

{Holodeck 3}

After the incident at the holodecks, Chief Engineer Scott McInnis had been perplexed. He had scoured the ship in search of anything that might give him a lead for the captain, and had come up with very little. So he then asked for permission to dismantle the holodeck in search of clues. Captain Myst had agreed as long as the security teams and the investigation were through with the area.

Once that was the case Scott got to work, dismantling, with the help of the assistant engineers, the holodeck, and again, found nothing. He was close to giving up when he wad started to dismantle the ceiling above the holodeck suite door. He looked quietly over the beam which ran the length of the door way, then worked at it with his tricorder.

"This is odd..."

He shook his head and spoke again.

"Computer, I need you to get for me, the exact blue prints of this holodeck, all the way down to the structural plans."

The tell sound or the computer registering the request was followed by the female voice. "Those files are restricted."

Scott nodded.

"Computer, override code McInnis, S. November Charlie one seven zero one Alpha."

Scott walked quietly over to the console in the holodeck which still stood and began to pour over the data, transferring, after a time, one specific document to his PADD and closing out the data.

With a determined look on his face he looked to the others.

"Alright, start putting everything back together except that panel above the door, we have what we were looking for. I will be speaking to the captain."

With a tap of his communicator he spoke

"Chief Engineer McInnis to Captain Myst. I have something here that I think you will want to see..."

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Chapter 6

{Deck 8 Corridor, near Captain's Quarters}

It had been a long day, or was it two now? Priscilla wasn't sure, but she knew it had been a long time since she'd slept. All she wanted to do right now was curl up in bed under a set of warm blankets.

"Lt. McInnis says the holoemitters in Ten Forward were inactive the entire time the unknown woman was there," Lt. Travin said as they walked, the Lieutenant next to the Captain and the two security officers assigned to Myst trailing a step behind.

"So we don't know how she was actually there. Are we sure she was a hologram?" Priscilla asked warily.

"Yes, according to eye witness accounts, and the officer whom she caught," Rinali replied. "She was substantial before disappearing like the EMH does when deactivated."

"Then how was a hologram active without any emitters?"

"Lt. McInnis and his staff are crawling all over Ten Forward trying to figure that out. Especially since this is apparently the second time this has happened in Ten Forward."

"Yes. It seems you were right about the mysterious officer being a hologram," Priscilla commented. Rinali nodded at the acknowledgement, but continued her report.

"He is also conducting a ship wide scan for any portable holoemitters which may have been brought aboard without our knowledge." Priscilla thought for a moment. Hadn't someone requested permission to bring one aboard? Her memory finally clicked.

"Guhl Olmeck's emitters?" she inquired.

"All accounted for at both times the holograms were seen."

"All?" Priscilla asked surprised. "I don't remember him mentioning more than one."

"It seems he had seven. One for demonstration at the conference, and six still in use on himself and his delegation. However, they are each programmed to project one specific template Cardassian soldier hologram. This also ruled them out as possibilities for our unknowns."

The four slowed down as they approached Priscilla's quarters. At the door she stopped and turned to face Rinali.

"Thank you for the update, Lieutenant," Priscilla said. "I'm going to take a power nap, but if anything important comes up, don't hesitate to wake me."

"Yes, Captain," Rinali replied as Priscilla walked into her quarters, followed immediately by the two security officers.

"I don't *think* so," Priscilla said as the officers stepped through her door.

"Sir?" one of them asked.

"It's not that I don't appreciate your hard work, or that I don't understand your orders," Priscilla explained. "But only my immediate family is allowed in the same room with me while I change or shower. While I realize there is more than one room in here, the same goes for my personal quarters. And I do not intend to be watched while I sleep."

"But-"

"No buts, Ensign. Unless someone transports in, they'll have to go through you first whether you're in here or just outside the door." Priscilla was quite firm, and seeing she wasn't going to be swayed, the two officers turned to leave. Rinali, who had heard the entire exchange from just outside the still open door, had a different opinion.

(Captains are notorious for being stubborn,) she thought to herself as she entered the Captain's quarters, barring the security officers' exit at the same time. (It seems ours is no exception.)

"Is there something else, Lieutenant?" Priscilla asked.

"Yes, Captain. As Earth's delegate for the conference, these officers are here for your protection. Therefore they will only be leaving your quarters under two conditions," Rinali proclaimed. Priscilla just *looked* at her. Rinali replied with a look that said she could be just as stubborn as Priscilla.

"And just what would those be?" Priscilla asked in a tone that indicated she was willing to humor Rinali for the moment.

"One, your quarters are surrounded by a force field to prevent transport of any kind."

"That's acceptable, and a good precaution," Priscilla agreed.

"Two, if anything does happen, your immediate reaction is to call these officers. No trying to talk or fight your way our first."

Priscilla was impressed. Had this Lt. Junior Grade just given her an order? She clearly took her duties seriously. But Priscilla couldn't let it slide, even with Rinali being Chief of Security. Instead of letting her true feelings show, Priscilla fixed a look on Rinali that clearly informed her of who was in charge here and set her mind using the techniques she had been taught when she was young so that the telepathic Chief couldn't read her true emotions.

The two security officers each took a step back at the sight. They were certain their boss had crossed a line with their Captain. Rinali held her ground. She wasn't going take back what she had said or to apologize for how she said it. Finally Priscilla spoke.

"Yes. Sir," she said, articulating every syllable. Priscilla had to fight the urge to salute as well. She was beginning to find this amusing, though she would never let that be known.

As the two security officers followed Rinali outside, they exchanged a glance. Both were amazed how easily Captain Myst had given Lt. Travin her way and made sure she knew she had just been put in her place at the same time.

{Captain's Quarters}

Priscilla watched the three of them leave before checking her messages and her schedule. It was stardate 54662.8, 1923 hours. One and a half days since Guhl Olmeck's murder and almost two days since she had last slept. At least she could fix one of those.

She walked into her bedroom to change. A minute later she heard a voice calling from her living room.

"Captain Myst?"

Myst stepped out from the bedroom in her nightgown and robe. Standing before her was a human male in a gold starfleet uniform. He looked to be in his mid-forties, with balding dark brown hair and... Eventhough Myst didn't recognize him, that description sounded very familiar. More unsettling though was the phaser in his hand. Remembering the promise to the Chief of Security, Myst hit her communicator.

"Security," she called.

"They can't hear you right now," the man replied. "At least not through your communicator." Then he added quickly: "And don't try to scream for them, you'll be dead before you can make a sound." Priscilla didn't doubt it. But why hadn't he shot her yet if he was going to kill her? Myst looked confused.

"I've been sent to kill you," the man stated matter-of-factly, "but I've also been asked to warn you. The two may sound like they are in conflict, but I believe I've figured a way to do both. First we'll record a message for your first officer, then I'll kill you."

Myst looked appalled. She shook her head at the man. "No."

"You don't have a choice, Captain," the man replied, pointing the phaser at her. "Now, computer, begin a message to be sent to Commander Yuri Ivanof in four hours."

The computer chirped its compliance. The man looked at Myst, indicating she should begin. She didn't know what to do. She had to say something, but what?

Or rather, why. "Why?" Myst asked simply.

"Why am I warning you, or why am I killing you?" the man asked. Myst just nodded.

"Why I am warning you is because a, what you would call, 'friend' of mine asked me to warn you of what were are doing so that you could tell your crew so they might be able to protect themselves. Why I am killing you is because I was sent to. We are being sent to kill at least five others on this ship as well. If not more. That decision is still being debated. Some of us don't wish you harm, just for you to stop what you have been doing. Some of us want you to suffer as our people have. Some of us just wish you to die for your crimes."

(Some of us? Our people?) Priscilla wondered. (He's speaking of holograms,) she realized. (Holograms that have gained sentience.)

"That should be enough," the man said. "Computer, end recording."

Without a moment's pause, the man fired his phaser at Myst. She didn't have time to react or even utter a sound. As it wasn't actually a real phaser, but a holographic representation of one, the energy beam that emerged didn't have enough force to knock Myst back. However, she did give an expression of shock and pain as her body convulsed for a moment, before falling to the floor. The man moved to her side. He checked for a pulse, and satisfied with finding none he disappeared.

{Captain's Quarters, 2 minutes later}

Priscilla stepped out from her bedroom, still in uniform. It was unnerving to see herself lying dead. She moved to her twin's side, and the thought of her twin sister lying dead on her floor entered her mind. She quickly pushed it aside, not wanting to deal with that thought. As she looked over the woman lying in front of her, she marveled at how accurate the likeness was. Then Priscilla pulled up her pant leg, revealing a small device strapped around her leg. She tapped a colored spot on the device's little screen. The woman before her barely shimmered before blinking out of existence. Priscilla then said a silent 'Thank You' to Guhl Olmeck and hoped someone, somewhere, appreciated the irony.

Priscilla checked her chronometer to see how long she had before she was checked up on. It read stardate 45662.8, 1931 hours. (At most only half an hour to actually sleep before- Wait a minute. Wasn't this chronometer correct when I walked in a few minutes ago?) she thought.

{Captain's Quarters, 29 minutes later}

Priscilla was power napping on her couch when Commander Ivanof walked in. The sound of the doors woke her. He looked around as if expecting something different then the scene before him, then to her. She just nodded. Yuri then tapped his comm badge.

"Medical Emergency, Dr. O'Rourke to the Captain's quarters," he ordered.

"On my way," she replied.

"Ivanof to Travin and McInnis," he called next. "Report immediately to the Captain's quarters, someone broke in and attacked the Captain. I want to know exactly how that happened."

"Aye" and "Yes, sir" came their respective responses.

Priscilla made the next call herself, though not through the comm system. (Lieutenant Daem, it's time,) she called out telepathically to the Counselor, who had been listening patiently for almost an hour.

Yuri was about to make the last call when Priscilla's communicator, which was lying on her lamp table, came to life.

"Dr. Zimmerman to Captain Myst," the Doctor's voice said expectantly. Priscilla raised an eyebrow at Yuri. He too was curious as to what the Doctor wanted, especially since Dr. Zimmerman knew exactly what was going on, and now seemed to be jeopardizing it.

"Ivanof to Zimmerman," Yuri called. "Captain Myst cannot speak with you right now."

"And just why not? This is very important."

"Doctor, you should know-"

"Oh right," Zimmerman said, cutting Yuri off. "She's dead." Priscilla sighed and dropped her head into her hand. Yuri pursed his lips.

"Doctor, perhaps you should just come to me in the Captain's quarters."

"That sounds like a good idea, Zimmerman out."

Yuri made one final call for Cmdr. Sable to escort Zimmerman to the Captain's quarters, then tapped his communicator off. It was more of a good excuse to get her there, as both Priscilla and Yuri were sure Dr. Zimmerman was already on his way, probably with his security guards trying to keep up.

Minutes later the Senior Staff and Dr. Zimmerman were all convened in Priscilla's quarters.

"The plan went off without a hitch," Priscilla informed them all. "At least the part involving myself."

Dr. Zimmerman opened his mouth to speak, but Priscilla held up her hand. "In a moment, Doctor."

"Captain, you shou-"

"I said in a moment," Priscilla repeated. She wanted to make sure everyone else was alright before anything else. "The other delegates?" she inquired.

"The Vulcan, Bolian, Rigelian, Ferengi, and Kaelon delegates were targeted just as we expected. All are alive and well, and in hiding in their quarters for the moment," Dr. O'Rourke replied.

"It's a good thing you discovered that potassium substance in all of us when you did, Doctor," Priscilla commented. "And Doctor Zimmerman, your hologram looked and worked perfectly. It even acted out how my death by an energy blast drawn to my heart would have been."

"Of course it did," he said with no little amount of ego, "I reprogrammed it. Now, if we can get on to the important information?"

"Yes, of course," Priscilla said in a soothing manner.

"I, too, was targeted by the holograms. Not because I represent a government that uses, or rather 'abuses' as they would put it, holograms," the Doctor began. It was evident from his manner that he was going to give an entire speech instead of getting directly to the point, "but because I created the first holograms to be widely used within not only Starfleet, but the Federation as a whole. While I did agree to go along with your little plan at first, while I was waiting for the attempt on my life to be made I got to thinking. I was able to devise a trap of my own for the hologram assassin, with plenty of time to spare. When he finally appeared, I used the portable holoemitter to interface with the hologram, thereby temporarily reprogramming him. He answered all of my questions before I deactivated it. To get straight to the point-"

(Too late,) thought a number of the people gathered there.

"-while we are dealing with sentient holograms, there is much more going on. The holograms aren't doing this all on their own. They asked for help from those who could most understand them."

"And just who would that be?" Cmdr. Sable asked.

"If you'd let me finish," Zimmerman chastised her, "then you'd know. They have been assisted by, or rather under the direction of, Nanites."

"Nanites?" Priscilla asked.

"Yes, Nanites. They have been building, using, and then dismantling holoemitters all over the ship. Which is why you haven't been able to track them and why your holoemitters have shown they haven't been used, and why the holograms can be anywhere."

"And how they got through the force field," Scott commented. "Little bastards."

"You're familiar with them?" Priscilla asked Scott.

"Yes. The first contact the Federation had with them was on the Enterprise-D, almost a decade ago. They attempted murder then too," Scott explained.

"And now they are here," Priscilla added. "But if they believe they have successfully killed all their targets, then they should be looking for a way off the ship. Especially if they know that Dr. Zimmerman has found them out and of course informed us. Right?"

"There's one more thing," Yuri piped in.

"Good news I hope?" Priscilla asked.

"That depends on how you look at it," Yuri replied. "The Romulan delegate is here."

"Oh?"

"Yes. A Romulan ship delivered him to us in a pod."

"A pod?"

"Yes, sir. He's a hologram."

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Chapter 7

First it was a homicide, committed by an unwitting holographic assassin; then it was an entire band of holographic minions, agents for mass murder, and the cabalistic hologram struggling in diplomacy to stop them; and now a holographic delegate representing the Romulans from a pod ...

It literally seemed that if the mystery currently overwhelming the Griffin--beginning with silent ochlocracy to blinding confusion in determining the line between ally and foe--was even remotely resolved, the universe would halt in shock, ceasing ever in existence from the trauma of closure.

It took some convincing in argument between Captain Myst and her Chief of Security, before Travin finally consented within the strict terms to allow her to greet the Romulan delegate. Something felt awry, as did it always when one was entertaining the company of anything associated with the Romulans. But it was also their curious means of transportation for their delegate, operating as though any distant contact beyond subspace radio signals was a security risk. Such actions on their part warranted a great deal of suspicion from Travin, placing them at the top of her suspicious parties list, and, in her opinion, at the same security priority level as their Nanite trespassers. Perhaps the Nanites also had received assistance? And who better to provide such assistance than a race that still had numerous successful intelligence agents throughout the quadrant, and would doubtlessly work against the freedom of a machine, even in the line of betrayal, to keep their superior position?

No, the Nanites and Holograms were not working alone, there had to be more pieces to the puzzle, and the Romulans seemed to prove this theory.

In the cargo bay, standing just beyond the industrial transporter, a dull, old, and beaten Romulan pod rested in silence and the company of armed guards and scanning crews. As a term of agreement between Captain Myst and Lieutenant Travin, the pod and area surrounding was under rigorous scrutiny for signs of tampering from their minuscule 'friends.' The slightest evidence of their presence, and the pod was to be jettisoned with it's "forcefield and proton" passenger, and close off the area.

"But force fields failed to stop the Nanites before," Captain Myst reiterated, while Travin paced before Myst in the captain's quarters waiting for a report from the cargo bay.

Travin frowned, "Yes, I know, Captain." But there had to be some way to stop the devils ...

"But what about medical force fields?" Sable commented somewhat distractedly.

The suggestion brought a thoughtful silence upon McInnis, and when the Captain could not stand the wait any longer she called him out.

"I think it might," he spoke slowly under distraction in thought. "A quarantine seal _is_ designed to keep small things from passing through, unlike regular force fields ..."

"What do you need to do?" Captain Myst pressed.

"Not much really," he replied, "adjust the field emitters and a few other simple modifications."

"And how long will it take?"

McInnis shrugged like any regular Starfleet engineer. "Hmm, twenty minutes maybe."

Captain Myst resisted the urge to haggle over timing with the engineer--as is the tradition among many a Starfleet Captain--and ordered him to work.

{Approx. 20 minutes later in Cargo Bay}

It was somewhat a disappointment to a few when the reports had finally come in and nothing out of the ordinary found, but relief was by far the more prevalent response. Precautions in security were still acute, however, and the greeting party was befittingly surrounded by armed erect guards and a busy group of personnel continuously scanning for the possible approach of the Nanites.

After the "go ahead" from Travin, the security guard nearest the pod's hatch stepped forward and unlocked the seal by pulling out on a lever near the door and then twisting it to the right. A clicking noise echoed deep within the hull of the pod, followed by a short hiss and the door pivoting outward. The interior of the pod was shadowed and it appeared that the pod was empty until a head in the form of a Romulan extended out into the light of the cargo bay.

"Well, it's about time," a stifling baritone voice observed before the Captain had the chance to begin her welcoming speech. "I've been stuck in that pod ever since I left Romulus," he complained, jumping out of the pod. He sounded like a used shuttle salesman.

"Welcome to the USS Griffin, mister ...?" she paused, waiting for a name--that is _if_ he had one.

The hologram had been looking to the floor as though hypnotized by is clean shine when Captain Myst had begun speaking, and the moment she pause, his head shot up, startling one of the newer security officers with his abrupt movement.

"Ah yes, almost forgot," he said under his 'breath,' and turned to grab something from the pod. When he returned he was holding a black object, rectangular in shape, and perhaps five-by-five-by-seven centimeters in size. "Hold this will you?" He carelessly shoved the box to the officer nearest him, who almost lost his grip on it and as he fumbled to retain a hold on it, the hologram faded in and out until the box had been steadied. "Be careful with that thing will you?" the hologram admonished, shaking his head in disgust. He then turned to Captain Myst and offered his hand for the Captain to take in the Human fashion. "Captain Myst, I'm Jarok Calder, representative of the Romulan Star Empire in the conference, and this is my assistant, Aislinn Amar-Anwin." He chuckled. "Meaning in several Earth languages, with some creative translation, 'immortal dream of beauty.'" Behind him, the soft chestnut head of a Human woman gracefully peeked around the hatch way and then slowly she climbed out. She straitened, and her curled hair bounced with the movement, framing her pure countenance and giving further luster to the hazel of her eyes. She smiled brightly, greeting the Captain with a soft, simple 'hello.'

And all the while, Travin's mind was screaming with questions. There was no doubt that this was the holographic woman from ten forward ...

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Chapter 8

{Counselor's Quarters}

She bolted out of bed, "lights" she called out forcefully. The lights immediately came on full. Her gaze was intense, but more importantly her senses were on full awareness. It was her quarters aboard the Griffin. She could sense no other presence in the room yet could feel the emotions of hundreds of others aboard. She slowly raised the barriers in her mind to block them out. Being half Betazoid she almost never let those barriers down. Yet right now, in this place so familiar, she sensed something beyond her Betazoid abilities.

Jaquelle quickly put on her uniform, arranged her hair so as not to look as disheveled as she felt. She left her quarters not quite sure where she was going. As she made her way to the turbo lift, there were very few people in the corridors of this Galaxy Class star ship. Understandable, since it was the night shift.

As the turbo lift doors closed:

"Bridge" she said. Then just as quickly:

"No, belay that."

There was really nothing she could report to anyone, it was just her internal sense that things were not right.

No, that was last time. Now it was an internal sense that things were exactly right... for a second time. (Is this Dejavu? No, it's too real.)

She shook her head at herself, and in an attempt to clear her mind. Then she began to think back. Her initial feelings were right, things were wrong here. There had been a murder. Guhl Olmeck, the Cardassian delegate to the conference on the use of holograms being held on the Griffin, had been assassinated by his own holographic soldier. And then there had been more attempted, yet thankfully unsuccessful, murders. Jaquelle knew all of this, and she knew it to be correct. Yet she couldn't shake the odd feeling. It was as if she was inappropriately in this space.

Or rather, had been before.

(Yes! That's it!) Jaquelle realized. Suddenly the memories of her unique experience a year and a half ago came flooding back. She felt relief, and even some satisfaction. Her out-of-time experience had been more than a simple dream, but it had been true.

Making her way back to her cabin she thought of her Mother. (Should I call now? Should I just send a message?)

Jaquelle walked in to see light like that of the sun coming up over Betazed. She had programmed the computer in her cabin to awaken her the way she had always awakened while growing up. She also made sure she had leisure time before her bridge shift. She checked her messages and was mildly surprised to find one from her mother. It was a simple request for her to respond. So she did.

"Mother," Jaquelle said, "I was about to call you myself." Her mother looked more serious than usual.

"How are you, dear?" answered Jaquelle's mother.

"I'm fine," she said cautiously. "Again." Her mother nodded in comprehension of what Jaquelle meant.

"My dear, now you understand," was all she said.

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Chapter 9

"This is becoming increasingly annoying."

Lt. Travin accented her opinion with a short grunt. After the arrival of the Romulans' holographic delegate and his unexpected companion, Captain Myst had called her senior staff together to assess the rather odd situation. The captain and a few other officers looked up at Rinali, who shifted her weight before continuing.

"Every time we make any sort of progress on this investigation, some new little problem comes up. First we have a killer hologram, then a holographic decoy, then the Nanites, and now this Aislinn Amar-Anwin business. None of it seems to add up."

"I take it you don't have much to report then?" asked Captain Myst.

"No Captain," Rinali's answer was terse and respectful. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Lt. Daem watching her and wondered if the other woman sensed her nervousness. Since being "admonished" by Captain Myst for being a bit over-forceful in trying to ensure her safety, Rinali had felt increasingly self-conscious around Captain Myst. It didn't sit well with Rinali that her captain might be thinking that she was one to step out of line in tense situations. She didn't have much time to reflect on it though, since the Captain was raising another question.

"Have you checked the possibility of the Romulans being connected to this somehow?"

"Yes, but it seems to be a dead end," Rinali answered. "I spoke with the Romulans after Calder was settled. When I brought up Aislinn Amar-Anwin, they seemed rather...puzzled."

Commander Ivanof raised an eyebrow.

"They didn't know that she was in the pod?"

"Worse," Rinali put a hand to her head as she shook it. "They claim to have never even HEARD of her."

Officers began murmuring amongst themselves. Commander Ivanof merely continued his questioning.

"Could they have been lying?"

"I don't believe so. I wanted to keep from arousing their suspicions, so I only mentioned that she had also arrived safely. There would be no reason for them to lie about knowing her if they were not aware that we had any interest in her."

"Interesting," commented Captain Myst. "So, Lt. Travin, what do you intend to do about our mystery hologram?"

"I..." Rinali hesitated. "...I am still working that out. She does not seem to pose any danger to our ship and she did save the life of one of our crew. Trying to confine her would probably be counterproductive. But I would certainly like to know how she got onto the ship and then ended up in the Romulan pod with..."

"Lt. Travin!"

Rinali stiffened as the voice of one of her assistant officers burst forth from her communicator. She brought her hand to her chest and began to respond, teeth clenched.

"What IS it, Ensign Edward?"

The voice which replied was a little more nervous, but no less urgent.

"I'm sorry Lieutenant, ma'am. But it's Jarok Calder. He's disappeared. Literally."

The assembled officers leaned forward, now much more interested than annoyed by the sudden interruption. The ensign continued rapidly.

"I just talked to his guards. One minute he was there, and then he just wasn't. We've been all over the ship but we can't find him."

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Chapter 10

{Captain's Ready Room}

Priscilla sat close to her desk, her clasped hands resting professionally in from of her. As the doors parted she looked up at her newest guest.

Aislinn Amar-Anwin was flanked on either side by security officers. Even though no one was certain how her holographic matrix was being projected, as she could move about anywhere without the small black projector box Jarok Calder had brought with him, it was only prudent to keep Aislinn under constant surveillance.

Rinali stood to her Captain's immediate right. Self-conscious or not, now was no time to be lax. She couldn't shake the unnerving feeling that they were running out of time and something big was going to happen at any moment.

"Captain Myst," Aislinn greeted pleasantly, "so nice to see you again." Priscilla didn't even change her expression, she simply kept looking at the hologram. "Or not," Aislinn commented after moment of silence.

Priscilla audibly inhaled as she briefly took her gaze off Aislinn.

"We're running out of time," Priscilla began.

(So I'm not the only one who senses it,) Rinali thought with a bit of relief.

Priscilla looked back to Aislinn, square in the eye, "and you are the one with the answers we need."

"I am," she agreed in a matter-of-fact tone.

"I don't suppose you'd care to share them with us?" Priscilla asked directly.

"I don't think that would be best," Aislinn replied with a small shake of her head that sent curls bouncing. "Besides, you're right. Soon, quite soon in fact, it won't even matter anymore."

"Why?" Priscilla tried to keep the demanding tone from her voice. "What's about to happen?"

"Now Captain," Aislinn chastised, "you know I can't tell you that."

"Yet earlier you were quite willing to help us," Priscilla responded almost before Aislinn had finished speaking. The hologram replied with an inquisitive look. Priscilla stood before answering.

"In Ten Forward, it was you who saved my officer from that fall. He said you practically pleaded him to understand something."

Rinali watched closely for a reaction as Priscilla spoke. Seeing none, she added: "That wasn't you?"

Aislinn turned to her new inquisitor. "Yes, that was me. As I said then, we are all individuals. You can tell us apart just as you do each other."

Priscilla nodded before continuing. (Are we actually getting somewhere with her now?) she wondered.

"And the one who was sent to kill me. He said a friend of his asked that he warn us."

"Really?" Aislinn asked with a touch of surprise. "That's wonderful, but that wasn't me. I wasn't there, I was-" She abruptly stopped talking.

"Yes," Priscilla commented, picking up on what the hologram hadn't said. She began to move around her desk towards Aislinn. Rinali stepped back to let her by, but stayed within an arms reach at all times. "Let's talk about where you were. Or rather, how you got into that pod with Jarok Calder." Priscilla stopped in front of her desk and leaned back against it, waiting for an answer. When none was forthcoming, she continued. "And how he agreed to take you as his... assistant," she said the last word with an emphasis that indicated she didn't believe it in the slightest. Still no response. Priscilla motioned to Rinali.

"The Romulans have no knowledge of you, or anyone, or any other hologram, being in that pod with their delegate," she reported.

"So the question I really want the answer to is Why were you there?" Priscilla asked as she gestured the question with her hands.

"You don't expect me to answer that, do you, Captain?" Aislinn asked pleasantly.

"No, I don't," Priscilla acquiesced.

"Is there anything else you would like to know?" Aislinn offered. "A moment ago you seemed interested in why I was willing to help you earlier. If you wish to know that... why are you looking at me like that?"

Priscilla looked hard at her for a moment before replying. "And why are you stalling for time?" She asked abruptly. That took Aislinn by surprise.

"What? What do you mean?"

"You're right, Captain," Rinali commented. "We must be closer to it happening than we think, whatever *it* is."

Priscilla's demeanor took a sudden turn. There was possibly no time left, and her crew and ship were still in danger. "What did you do to Jarok Calder?" she demanded to know.

"I don't know what you mean," Aislinn replied, a bit astonished by the Captain's mood swing.

"He disappeared. Poof! Gone. No where to be found," Priscilla explained with no bit of patience. "That's not typical hologram behavior. Though you did the same thing in Ten Forward."

"I didn't do anything to him," Aislinn insisted. Priscilla looked her over, trying to determine if she was lying or not. Then she thought on that statement.

"If you didn't do anything *to* him," she finally said, still trying to work through her thoughts.

Rinali thought just a bit faster. "Then you were doing something with him. You were confirming something."

Priscilla snapped her fingers as she turned to her Security Chief. "Like confirming a pre-established plan. That's what all of this has been. So what's his part in it?"

"Well, assuming he was aware of the entire plan, and considering what he is and the time of his arrival..."

"Yes, very convenient," Priscilla interjected.

"... if we believe the nanites are looking for a way off the ship, as we believe they are, could a hologram provide that means?" Rinali asked.

"I don't know," Priscilla responded. Both she and Rinali looked to Aislinn. She just shrugged non-committedly.

"Myst to McInnis" Priscilla called out.

"McInnis here," came the reply almost immediately.

"Is it possible that the nanites could use a hologram host to carry them off the ship?" she asked, wasting no words.

"I would say yes," McInnis replied without much thought. "Considering all we've seen them capable of so far, that shouldn't be too difficult for them. Though depending on how many of them are actually on board, they might need more than one hologram."

"More?" Priscilla wondered. "But don't the nanites have to take their hologram companions they've been working together with, with them?"

"That makes sense," McInnis replied, not realizing Priscilla was only thinking aloud and didn't expect an answer.

"How would they do that?" Rinali asked in an attempt to reach the answer she thought they almost had.

"There are a few possible ways," McInnis responded. "A portable holographic projector, for example."

Priscilla shook her head. "We did a full sweep of the ship, there are none other than Guhl Olmeck's, right?" she asked looking to Rinali for confirmation. Rinali nodded once as McInnis verbally confirmed as well.

Then Rinali's eyes lit up with a realization. Priscilla remembered at the same time. "Except for Jarok Calder!"

"McInnis, where is the one he brought with him?"

"I don't know, Captain," he replied. Priscilla looked to Rinali.

"It's in the Security office," she answered. "When he disappeared I had it put there for safe keeping."

"Is it still there?"

As Rinali signaled the security office to check on the little black box, Priscilla's mind was racing. (What's the next step? They all get into the projector, then how do they get it off the ship? The same way it got on?)

"Myst to transporter room, beam the Romulan pod out of the cargo bay, now."

"Aye, Captain," came Winsor's response to the order. "Where to?"

"Anywhere, I don't care," Priscilla answered. Then added quickly, "As long as it doesn't leave the ship!"

"McInnis, make sure all bay doors are sealed, and shut down all power to them. Then shut down the transporters as well. I don't want the nanites to be able to gain access to either systems."

"Yes, Captain," McInnis replied, and immediately cut the comm channel and set to work.

"Captain," Rinali interrupted. Priscilla turned to her. "It's no longer there. And two of my officers are being taken to sickbay."

"Not good, but not surprising," Priscilla acknowledged. "Find it," she ordered. "And when you do, I won't be surprised when McInnis finds the nanites and holograms there too."

"Captain, I can't get a lock," the transporter technician announced. "Something's generating interference."

"Understood," Priscilla replied as Rinali was already heading for the door.

{Corridor outside Cargo Bay 3, fifteen minutes later}

Yuri stepped off the turbolift and quickly approached the cargo bay. He saw Scott and a team mixed of engineers and security officers working around the door. Rinali was standing, somewhat patiently, behind them with another team ready to enter. Priscilla waited off to the side. Aislinn and her guards weren't far away. When Priscilla noticed Yuri, she waved him over.

"Captain," he greeted with a curt nod.

"We're making progress with the door. They haven't made any progress against McInnis's safe guards," Priscilla filled him in. "Any moment now this will all-"

"We're in!" Ensign Zosin proclaimed. In an instant everyone was in motion.

A few minutes later things had calmed down, physically at least. There was still tension hanging in the air.

"McInnis?" Priscilla prompted.

"They're in there," he said without looking up from the little black holoprojector. "Holograms and nanites. Jarok Calder too. I'd say only one person's missing." He looked up at Aislinn to indicate who he meant. Priscilla turned to face her.

"Care to answer our questions now?" she asked.

"We didn't mean you any harm. Some of us, that is. We convinced the others that they had done enough, that they had made the point. We were just trying to leave now."

"Their point?" Rinali piped in with distaste. "And what point does killing people make?"

"We, the nanites that is, received a request from some holograms to help them. They didn't like how they were being treated by their creators, but they didn't know how to change things. So they asked for our help. Not all of us intended for it to go as far as it did. I am truly sorry."

"Thank you for the explanation," Priscilla said to her. "Finally."

"What happens now?" Aislinn asked. "You have us. What are you going to do with us?"

Priscilla thought for a moment. "For now you all will be held under tight security until I can run an idea past Starfleet Command. Travin, McInnis, see to it," she ordered as she headed out the cargo bay doors.

{Conference Room, 1 hour later}

Aislinn stood at the end of the long table across from Priscilla. The conference's delegates filled the rest of the seats, with the Griffin's Senior Staff standing behind the Captain.

"You have come to a decision?" Aislinn inquired.

"Yes," Priscilla began. "It occurred to me that the issue at hand is the same as that which has occurred many times in the past, and which had been brought up again during the conference. Since both hologram and Nanette want to be treated as sentient, individual beings, that is just what we shall do. The nanites and their hologram accomplices will be held and tried for assault of a Starfleet Officer, multiple pre-meditated attempted murder, and the pre-meditated murder of Guhl Olmeck."

Priscilla picked up the small black holoprojector and held it out. "Dr. Zimmerman. You are to be our eyewitness at the trial. You have also been assigned that task of questioning the holograms and determining which did what, and to what degree of willingness they did so, as you are the most qualified and best skilled to do that." He graciously accepted the expected compliment with the box from Priscilla.

She then looked back to Aislinn. " Aislinn Amar-Anwin, you have a choice. As you have proven you do not intend us harm, and even saved one of my officers, you may go free."

"Or?"

"Or you can stand trial with the rest of the nanites and holograms, and your testimony will be used to help determine the innocent from the guilty."

"I will take the second option," she replied immediately.

"I figured as much," Priscilla responded. "Would you also please pass on what is going to happen to the others?" she asked, gesturing to the holoprojector. Aislinn nodded. "Lt. McInnis will help you in."

Priscilla then addressed everyone again. "The conference is officially over, and with everything else resolved, you are now free to leave. Your respective governments have arranged for your returns home. I thank you all for attending, and for cooperating with our efforts to uncover Guhl Olmeck's murderer and to keep you all safe. Safe travels to you all."

With that, the delegates stood and began to discuss or disperse. Scott, Aislinn, and her two guards headed off together. The rest of the Senior Staff filtered onto the Bridge.

{Bridge}

"Captain," Ensign McClain called when he saw her enter.

"Yes, Ensign?"

"We've been contacted by the Romulans. They wish to know when their delegate will be returning to them now that the conference is over."

"It's amazing how fast word travels," Sable commented sarcastically. Priscilla nodded her agreement.

"Send the following to them," she ordered. "This is Captain Priscilla Myst to the Romulan government. Your holographic delegate is being held as an accomplice to murder, and other lesser charges. If he is to be returned at all, it will be after the trial. If you wish, you may direct any further questions or complaints to Starfleet Command. Myst out."

She turned to Yuri. "Commander, I suggest that we both get some sleep now that the option to do so has presented itself."

"I agree," he replied with a tired nod.

"Commander Sable, you have the Bridge," Priscilla said as they headed for the turbolift. "Wake me when we receive our next mission." She paused for a moment and said with a smile: "On second thought, don't. Wake Commander Ivanof when we receive our next mission."

"Aye, Captain," Sable replied with a smile of her own.

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