Head Games Part II "
By: Jonathan Wright, Executive Officer, [PC]
Krystal, Hologram, [RNPC]
M'Ressha Mikaht, Fighter Pilot, [RNPC]
Teilani Dane, Chief Medical Officer, [PC]

Stardate: 58206.16 0020

Blitzer, the Commander, the Skipper and the Professor made their way through the jungle, following the sounds of the drums.

"Sir," said Blitzer softly, "someone coming," he said pointing to the left.

"Let's go check it out," said Wright.

Blitzer and Wright moved off to the left while the for some reason the Skipper and the Professor went the other way. After a few minutes they suddenly found themselves surrounded by head hunters jabbing spears at them.

There were too many for Blitzer to fend off this time.

"Sorry Commander, it looks like I fell for a trap. Blitzer unsheathed his claws and took up a fighting stance.

"Easy Blitzer," said Wright, "We are not going to be able to fight our way out of this one. Let's see where they take us." Wright doubted very seriously that this program had the logic in it to actual have the headhunters be truly savages. He also had this nagging feeling that they were going to run into the source of all their problems, and his key.

"Krystal," said Blitzer, "go tell Dane we're in trouble."

"Aye Aye!" The little pixie saluted and disappeared in a poof of golden dust.

Wright held up his hands in a gesture of surrender. Several of the headhunters prodded them with their spears. They were hearded into a makeshift camp. A large bamboo cage had been constructed in the center of the camp.

The Commander and Blitzer were tossed into the cage. Inside inside they found Ginger and the Howells.

"Hello," said Wright, "I'm glad we have found you," said Wright ignoring the fact that they were locked in a bamboo cage with them.

"Why hello, Commander and er... Mister Lion..." Mr. Howell greeted them both. Mrs. Howell was eyeing Blitzer's fur and even reached out a hand to touch it.

Blitzer rolled his eyes and cleared his throat. "excuse me..."

A commotion at the edge of the camp caught Wright's attention. A group of headhunters came into the clearing ahead of them were the skipper and the professor. They were swiftly deposited in the cage with the rest of the prisoners.

Wright greeted the new captives, "Welcome to the club."

"Oh dear..." said Mrs. Howell. "If we're all in here.... Who's going to rescue us?"

"Don't worry Mrs. Howell," said Wright, "We will get out of this."

"Oh really," said a voice all too familiar to Wright.

Wright turned to find Birkoff dressed as a headhunter standing outside the cage, "You again," said Wright, "Why not just give this up. You will not win."

The AI hologram just laughed at him, "Look around you," he said. "I have already won. Who is going to save you? That red head who cannot control her temper," his voice dripped with sarcasm, "Or that silly Gilligan who can barley walk? I don't think so."

"Don't you under estimate my little buddy," said Skipper.

"Don't worry fatso," said Birkoff, "I doubt very much that I have under estimated him." Birkoff turned to Wright, "Where is your key," he demanded absently placing his hand over one of the shrunken heads he wore around his neck.

"I haven't got the first clue," said Wright watching the hologram closely. Wright suddenly found Birkoff's necklace interesting.

"Very well then," said Birkoff. He then turned to some of his headhunters and shouted orders at them in their language.

Wright watched as they began building a large fire in the middle of their camp. The mood amongst the headhunters seemed to be celebratory. Wright did not have to think too hard to figure out what Birkoff has told them.

"Yes, they are getting ready for a dinner party, and you are the main course," he laughed again and walked away.

"What a nasty character," Mr. Howell commented as Birkoff left. Then he turned to Blitzer. "I say there, Mr. Lion... Mrs. Howell is terribly interested in your fur coat. How much will you take for it? Money is no object."

"You want my ff...? that would leave me..."

***

Teilani was tired, hot and her fingers were throbbing with pain. Then out of no where the little pixie appeared.

Krystal was talking as she appeared and her voice was almost too high pitched to understand.

"Hold on..... hold on... Slow down Krystal!!" What happened?" . The little pixie drew in an audible breath and started again. "HEADHUNTERS!!!" She flitted and pointed and flew over to Dane and started tugging on her shirt. "HurryHurryHurry! They have spears and they're little and they have the Commander and Blitzer!"

"Can you show me the way?"

"YES!! HURRY!!' She tugged the woman's shirt for a second more and then darted off in the direction of where she left the men.

"Krystal WAIT!"

"Mr. Gilligan would you be so kind as to accompany me. My friends could use some help I think." Teilani said as she took up a spear.

Krystal flitted back and buzzed around them both, trying to herd them into moving. "Hurry Hurry Hurry... Headhunters.. Bad bad bad...."

"M-m-m-me?" said Gilligan visibly trembling

Teilani nodded courageously. "Of course, we are armed and we have Krystal to lead to way, so what can happen? Besides," Teilani walked up to Gilligan and looked down at him. "You do know that you will be a hero then right, Mary-Ann will love you for it."

Gilligan blushed and swayed his head back and forth in indecision, "..and Ginger too?"

"Escpecially Ginger," Teilani replied.

"Come on! Hurry!" Krystal tugged on Gilligan's shirt now in an effort to get him to hurry.

Gilligan set down his half eaten banana and stood up at attention, "Yes Ma'am"

"Yay!!!" Krystal saluted back and buzzed off in the right direction.

Krystal wait, not too fast!" Teilani called after her, starting to run in the direction Krystal had flown too.

"Come on Mr Gilligan!"

Gilligan held his hat as he ran with a banana in his other.

Several thoughts crossed Teilani's mind. Headhunters! Were the commander and Blitzer ok. They have to be, but with the alteration Birkhoff had made to the program, nobody could tell.

The trail into the jungle was difficult, twines, hidden tree trunks made following Krystal difficult. Not only that but the heat and the moisture made them all sweaty.

Krystal kept buzzing back to make sure they were following and not losing her. "Hurry, hurry hurry!" she told them. "They're right up there.."

As Dane and the group approached the encampment, they could see the head hunters gathering wood for a large fire. "They're gonna eat'em." whispered Gilligan loudly and pointing out the obvious.

"Eat them and shrink their heads," Krystal added helpfully.

"Be quiet!!" Teilani said as she pressed Gilligan's arm down "Otherwise we get captured as well."

Gilligan immediately crouched down when Dane grabbed his arm. "What are We going to do??" he asked.

Teilani frowned. "I don't know...... there so many of them. We can never get all of them. We need a diversion of some sort so that we perhaps can free the other.

"Krystal, can you go to the Commander and Blitzer and ask them what we can do?"

"Yepyepyep," Krystal nodded her head and made a "shhhh" motion with her finger up to her mouth. "I'll be *right* back," she whispered and disappeared in a glittering spray of pixie dust.

"Mr Gilligan, perhaps you can get some rocks together so that we can throw them at the head hunters?"

"Ooohh... Okay.. Coconuts maybe," Gilligan nodded and started to move away from Dane.

"Just stay low and be quiet, then they will not hear you."

"Right," Gilligan agreed and muttered to himself as he slunk away. "We're going to need a LOT of coconuts."

Krystal reappeared inside the cage and near Wright and Blitzer. "Pssst..." she whispered as she tried to keep from view of the headhunters. "The doctor lady wants to know what you think she and Gilligan can do," she told them after getting their attention.

Wright looked around and managed to catch a glimpse of the Doctor's red hair at the edge of the clearing. It was not hard to do because standing right behind her was Birkoff and he was smiling. "Tell her to look behind her," he said.

"Uht-oh...." Krystal followed his gaze. "Not good... not good..." she muttered and poofed away only to pop back into view directly in front of Dane.

"What did they say," Teilani asked when Krystal re-appeared again.

Krystal blinked and pointed behind her to Birkoff. "He said to look behind you..." she told the doctor. "I think we're in trouble...."

Teilani looked back and there stood Birkhoff grinning evilly. Slowly she stood up. "Well so much for a surprise," she said.

Two big headhunters walked out of the camp and took positions next to Dane and Krystal.

Birkoff chuckled, "Can I help you," he asked. With quick reflexes he snatched Krystal from the air and held her in his fist so she could not move. "Nice of you to pop in."

Krystal was extremely irate as evidenced by the high-pitched buzzing as she gave Birkoff a royal chewing out and struggled to get free, beating on his hand with tiny fists. Of course it was mostly likely in some obscure programming language, or binary so only he understood. She finally got frustrated enough to stick her tongue out at him.

He looked at Dane and laughed again before gesturing to his men. The headhunters lowered their spears and prodded Dane in the direction of the cage.

"Will you keep your grubby mits off of me!! "Teilani said firmly. "There is no need to shove me, I can walk on my own." she said as some of the headhunters pricked her with their spears. Teilani hoped that Gilligan had enough sense in him to keep quiet and not to get caught as well.

"Yeah! Keep your grubby mitts off us!!" Krystal echoed the good doctor's sentiments, the two sounding very much alike.

"Shut up," said Birkoff to the annoyed pixie in the same buzzing language she was using, "I have had about enough of you. Tell me where your key is."

"What key?" Krystal asked and stuck her tongue out again. "You're a bully! Maxie said so. She said bullies pick on people just because they can and because they're mean and to compensate for having a tiny donger! And she was right. You ARE a bully!" she announced with a huff.

One of the head hunters shoved Teilani into the center of the camp and into the cage with the others. "Sorry Commander,' she shrugged. "I had hoped it turned out other wise."

Wright nodded at the doctor but continued to watch Birkoff across the camp. He appeared to be talking to Krystal in some sort of strange language

"Listen, I think I know where his key is," Wright whispered.

"You do? Where," Teilani asked as she sat down.

"When I mentioned it earlier he put his hand on one of the heads on the necklace he wears," explained Wright, "We need to come up with a way to get it from him."

"Maybe we could lure him over here and grab it?" Mrs. Howell suggested as she petted Blitzer's fur.

"Maybe I could lure him..." Ginger ran a hand down her side, drawing attention to her shape and then messed a bit with her hair.

"Nah he is to paranoid to let anybody get close. However.....

"I can be *very* persuasive," Ginger smiled as she eyed Birkoff.

"Well, it can't hurt to try..." the Professor agrees and Skipper nods in agreement.

"Alright then..." Ginger smoothed down her dress and tucked her hair back from her eyes a bit as she moved to the bars. "Hey..." she called out to Birkoff, her voice a husky seductive tone. She stuck her arm out and motioned for him to come. "Why don't you drop that pretty butterfly and come here... I think maybe I have some information for you..."

Wright nearly laughed at her reference to Krystal as a pretty butterfly. He watched as Birkoff moved towards them.

"Oh, good idea..." Mr. Howell nodded and reached into his pocket. "I'll buy it from you," he indicated the pixie. "Mrs. Howell's taken a fancy to it. She thinks it'll make a good pet. How much will you take for it?"

Birkoff looked at the pathetic prisoners, "Tell me where the key is," Birkoff demanded as he tightened his grip on the tiny pixie.

Krystal squealed and her struggles to get free increased.

Gilligan's appearance was as sudden as it was explosive as he burst through the underbrush brandishing a flare gun. "Halt! Stop! Let everyone go! I HAVE A GUN AND I'LL SHOOT!!" he yelled.

"HELP GILLIGAN!! HELP!!' Krystal cried out in her little pixie voice and waved her arms to get his attention.

"Gilligan, bring that over here to me!!!" The Skipper yelled.

"Be careful, Gilligan!" The Professor told him.

Birkoff laughed at Gilligan, "Yes, put that down before you hurt yourself."

Poor Gilligan, distracted by everything and everyone else, didn't see the coconut until his foot actually stepped on it. It was too late for him to catch himself, or dodge the thing and his arms and legs started to cartwheel as he tried to keep himself from falling. The gun accidentally went off in the process, and the burning flare headed straight for Birkoff's chest.

The flare struck one of the shrunken heads he wore around his neck and started it on fire. Birkoff began slapping at the fire now spreading to the other heads on the necklace. It wasn't long before the necklace broke and fell to the ground where Birkoff began stomping on it.

"Get the necklace," shouted Wright as he and Blitzer began shattering the bamboo bars that held them captive. "Gilligan get the necklace, it is the key," he said again this time rushing headfirst into Birkoff knocking them both to the ground.

All the Castaways began to yell at Gilligan then, adding their instructions to Wright's. Even Krystal yelled at him to get the necklace as she wiggled and struggled to get out of his hand. "Let me GO!!" she squealed out and bit him. Hard. Right in the web of his thumb and index finger.

"I GOT IT!! I GOT IT!" Gilligan yelled and tossed the smoldering necklace from hand to hand after managing to snag it when Wright tacked Birkoff to the ground. "Hot!! Hot! Hot! Hot!" He danced around, trying to keep hold and not drop it, while trying to keep from getting burnt at the same time.

The Castaways started crawling out of the cage while the Professor turned to Dane and motioned for her to go first. "After you, Doctor..." He was such a gentleman.

"Thank you Professor," Teilani said as she crawled out the cage. However, one of the head hunters tried to prevent them from escaping. "Duck Professor," Teilani yelled. Using the Professor as a support she managed to use her long legs to kick the head hunter right under the chin. It knocked him out.

Teilani had managed to dodge all the head hunters and had reached the edge of the Jungle. She threw her arms up in the air. Waving....... it was like playing the old earth game of football. She hoped someone saw her, perhaps she could prove that jogging every morning paid off.

"Ouch," shouted Birkoff letting go of the pixie and turning his attention to Wright. He kicked Wright off of him and to his feet.

"I'M FREEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!" The pixie squealed and flittered around happily, buzzing everyone and staying totally away from Birkoff.

"Over here, Gilligan!" The Skipper held up his hands for Gilligan to toss him the necklace. Poor Gilligan was more than willing to get rid of the thing and threw it at him. Unfortunately Birkoff and Wright were between them and had it not been for Wright's quick thinking, Birkoff would have managed to snag it out of midair.

"I got it!!" The Skipper held up the necklace, which made him Birkoff's primary target.

Birkoff lunged at the fat sailor but fell to the ground as Wright grabbed him by the legs. The Hologram yelled in frustration and kicked Wright in the face.

Skipper dodged a headhunter and tossed the necklace to Ginger.

"OH! OH! OH!!!" Ginger caught the necklace and held onto it like she didn't want to get dirt on her hands. She looked around for someone else to toss it to. "Oh dear...." She spotted Mr. Howell and threw it at him. "Oh! Catch Mr. Howell..."

Mr. Howell held out his arms to catch them but Ginger's throw was wild and the necklace flew over his head and landed on the ground right at the feet of Maryann, who had wandered into the camp with a angry look on her face. She bent down and picked up the charred necklace and held it up. "I have been waiting back at camp with supper and all you guys are doing is playing games?" Frustrated, she threw the necklace as far as she could.

Time seemed to stand still as everyone watched the necklace soar through the air.

"WHOOPS!!!" Krystal fluttered around seemingly helpless for a moment or two until she shouted, "I GOT IT!!!" just as she poofed into a full-sized human and looking rather like an Amazon warrior.... with wings and antennae... which totally spoiled the affect. But she did snatch the necklace out of the air and went to work on the key.

After a moment she held it up triumphantly with a "Yay! WE did it!" And as she did, the island setting disappeared and Krystal faded away in a sparkling shower of pixie dust.

Head Games Part III "
By: Ian Hunter, Commanding Officer, [PC]
Jonathan Wright, Executive Officer, [PC]
Krystal, Hologram, [RNPC]
Maxine Lucinda Tapert, Computer Specialist , [PC]
M'Ressha Mikaht, Fighter Pilot, [RNPC]
Teilani Dane, Chief Medical Officer, [PC]

Stardate: 58206.16 0100

Finally the holodeck had changed back to its familiar black and yellow grid and Teilani was glad when the doors opened and they all could step back into the corridor. She felt dirty, tired and for some reason very angry. Why she couldn't tell but she managed to restrain herself otherwise Wright would probably comment again that she couldn't work under stress or so.

Maxine stood off to the side with Silvio and watched as the doors opened. She was still working on the Holodeck, making sure there wasn't even a shred of the Birkoff AI code left. She glanced over all of them, and was glad to see Blitzer looked unharmed. She'd been worried about him more than she'd expected to be.

Krystal sparkled into view and plopped down on the open LCARS panel. She opened her mouth to tell Max everything that happened, but stopped when the computer expert quietly shushed her.

As they filed out of the holodeck, Hunter patted each one on the arm. "Status report Number One?"

"It appears that we have neutralized this latest bug installed by Birkoff," said Wright. He could hardly believe that one man could cause so much damage in such a short time, "The doctor has broken fingers."

Hunter looked at Dane who was cradling her fingers. He almost commented about hand injuries and the holodeck but held his tongue, mostly, just grateful Silvio and Max had gotten everyone out.

"Good to see everyone is in one piece. Let's get everyone down to Sickbay," said Hunter.

Teilani took quick and strong steps and almost ran to her secure environment. As the little group walked to the door Gloria walked up to her. "Doctor, good to have you back. What happened?"

"Cut the chitchat Gloria, get a tricorder and give us a medical check!"

"DONALSON!" Teilani yelled. "Put down that tray and help Gloria!" Teilani walked over to one of the examination beds and patted on it. "Commander, sit down." With her uninjured hand she tried to scan Wright.

Krystal popped into view and settled on Blitzer's shoulder, ducking back under his hair when Teilani's yell startled her. "Make sure 'e's okay," she muttered the instruction Max' had given her after hearing about his fight with the headhunters.

Blitzer smiled. It was comments like that which often made him forget she was just an A.I.

"No, Doctor, you first," said Wright picking up a medical tricorder, "You are the one with broken fingers." Wright could not understand why this woman got so angry all the time. Again he began to have serious doubts about her desire to be command certified.

"No first you and Blitzer. I'm fine! I SAID I AM FINE!!"

"Doctor," said Hunter sternly.

"Yes?" Teilani said stubbornly and with a challenging look in her eyes. "No no no.. use the other setting Commander." she explained to Wright. "It will give you a more detailed look."

Wright smiled at the doctor with a great deal amusement, "I have it under control doctor." Doctors make such horrible patients. He finished scanning her fingers and reached for another instrument only to find that Gloria was already handing it to him, "Thanks," he said. Wright began repairing her fingers.

"Doctor, relax," said Hunter, "That's an order."

"Easy for you to say Captain, you were not on the holodeck." Teilani blurted out suddenly. "How many more traps has this guy set up. I had to hide once and I'm not going to do it again....." realizing what she just said Teilani shut her mouth and hopped on the biobed.

Hunter sighed. "When we get back to Qul Tuq," he said looking into Dane's eyes, "We'll purge the entire system."

She glanced back at the Captain, eyes flashing with fire but she Realized this was not the time, nor the place to get into discussion.

"She's cranky," Krystal whispered in Blitzer's ear. "Maxine gets cranky sometimes..." she kept up the whispered conversation that was pretty much one-sided on her part. "She blames it on 'bloody female code'.." Her imitation of Max's accent was perfect. "Do you think the doctor has bloody female code too?"

Blitzer raised his brow, "I-I, I suppose it could be," he replied.

MacTyre came over and watched as Wright set her fingers. He was impressed by the Commander's handy work. Seeing the Chief Medical Officer was in good hands he smiled at her, "You okay? I heard there was some glitch on the holodeck."

Wright ignored the general banter in the room and continued working on her fingers. It felt good again to be wielding medical equipment. It reminded him of the time he spent on Bajor after the destruction of the USS Comfort. Sometimes he wished he has stayed there.

Teilani scrutinized Wrights actions and then looked up. " A glitch? The whole program was re-written. I don't mind going on a fishing trip but storms, sharks, and head hunters that's more then enough for me.!

Krystal remained unusually quiet as she peeked out from around Blitzer's head. After all, she was the one who got them on the Island which gave Birkoff the opportunity for the Headhunters. It wasn't that the little pixie hologram felt guilty or anything, but it was part of her programming to be sensitive to, and shy away from irritated people.

"Ouch Commander, that will do!!"

Wright fought the urge to chuckle. He hoped he wasn't like this when he was in sickbay.

Hunter smirked, "I guess it is ironic that Commander Wright is fixing your hand this time."

Teilani shot him a fiery glare. "Indeed and he needs the practise. He is a bit rusty," she hinted to Wright. Teilani couldn't help it for some reason she kept feeling a rage bubbling inside her. "Control Lani, control... she mumbled.

MacIntyre responded with a "tsk tsk," and wandered away.

Wright regarded Dane for a moment with a quiet stare, "All done," he said.

She flexed and stretched her fingers, took the scanner and checked the injury. "Nice job Commander." she said hopping off the bed.

"My pleasure," he said as he forced a smile onto his face," I can give you something for pain if you need it." Or maybe a tranquilizer, he thought.

"How about you Commander, are you okay?" said Hunter.

"I'm fine Captain," he said with a chuckle, "A unexpected fishing trip followed by a luxury vacation on a tropical island. What more could a guy ask for."

Hunter smiled and gave Wright a nod of approval. That was the kind of distinction that made a first officer.

Hunter returned his attention to the Doctor, who was still flexing her fingers, "Well? are we going to live?"

Teilani brushed her hand through her red hair and started to clean up. Why was she so angry?? she wondered. Perhaps Patia could shed some light n it later on. "Yes Captain the rest are all just fine. Bumps and bruises nothing else."

"She says you're going to be okay, Warrior Toes," Krystal patted Blitzer's ear. "I have to go tell Maxie!"

"Send'er my regards," he said.

"Okie dokie," the little hologram replied.

"And tell her to report to my ready room in one hour," added Hunter.

Krystal blinked and looked over at Hunter. "Aye, Aye, Captain!" she saluted and then giggled as she disappeared from sight in a sparkle of pixie dust.

Quietly Teilani started to clean up the little medical equipments, if only they would leave, then she could crawl back in the save surrounding of her office. She had noticed the glance of the Commander and she knew he thought she was not capable of doing any command training. But she would show them, flying a shuttle was easy and flying a space ship could be any more different. The initial rage she had felt after she had come back from the holodeck was now gone, like ripples in the water, instead she had a headache coming on.

She looked at Hunter, it must have been hard on him as well, she thought, not knowing if his crew could be saved. And then she gave him a hard time as well. Then she looked at Blitzer, the Caitian seemed fine. Funny warrior toes.. And then Wright, it was so difficult to read him, find out what he really thought.. she thought of him as being a man who carried the burden of the whole universe on his shoulders.

She blinked a few times as she tried to hold back some tears. Darned, she thought. What is wrong with me?" Teilani walked to the replicator, leaned against the cool wall, ordered a large coffee, and hoped that it would help to steady her.

McIntyre passed nearby, "you look like you could use more than a coffee, how about a nice hot meal? .... Doctor's order!" he said setting down his charts.

Teilani nodded. "That would be nice and I need to talk to some one James."

Monsters, Demons, and Things "
By: Patia Zoei, Chief Counselor, [PC]
Giuseppe Silvio, Chief Engineer, [RNPC]

Stardate: 58206.16 0200

==Miranda's==

Silvio sipped his drink and watched the people in Miranda's. After they had resolved the holodeck issue Silvio decided to stop in here rather tan back to his quarters to sleep. Sleeping seemed the bring unwanted dreams. Silvio was avoiding sleep by putting in a lot of work hours. Silvio was also pondering the whole Birkoff Virus issue. Something did not add up about it, there was no way he should be able to hide viruses all over the ship. Silvio decided he was going to pay a visit to auxiliary control in the morning.

The doors opened and Silvio was surprised to see Patia walk in. It was pretty late. His heart skipped a beat as she looked around the room.

She crossed her arms and tucked her hand into the crook of her elbow. A horrid dream had chased her from the warm blankets into corridors of the ship. She suppressed a yawn as a shiver shuddered down her spine. A glance around the room showed Silvio, glass cradled in his hands, in her favorite corner booth.

Silvio watched as she crossed the room, "Hi there," he said as she got closer, "What brings you out so late at night?"

"Monsters and demons and things that go bump in the night," the smile that whisked across her face didn't quite light her eyes. "How about you?" She slid sideways into the booth, drawing both knees up and wrapping her arms around them.

Silvio forced a smile on his face, "Just working. Trying to get this ship ready for QulTuq." Silvio wondered what kind of monsters were going bump in the night for Patia.

"Having success?" She leaned forward, her chin resting on her knee.

"A little," he said, "I am looking forward to turning the ship over to QulTuq. I could use a break." Silvio was not sure what he would do with his time off on QulTuq, "What do you have planned for the station?"

"Undecided, other than a visit with the rat fink who purports to be my brother," a slight smile whispered faintly across her lips. "I have a bad feeling, I can't explain it. I don't really want to go to Qul Tuq."

Silvio arched an eyebrow, "What kind of bad feeling?"

"Someone is there. He was there the last time I was at Qul Tuq. I never saw him, but I felt him. He hasn't left. It sounds crazy, I know it does, but I also know he is there."

Silvio set his drink down, suddenly feeling protective of Patia, "And you think this person might want to hurt you?"

"No, I think he has already hurt me as much as he can. I don't think he wants any more hurt, maybe absolution," she paused, a quizzical look on her face. She shook her head slightly, "I am not the person to give it, though."

Silvio's memory flashed back to the conversation he had with her about Lucio. He remembered it in clear detail and he remembered the hurt she expressed, "This is about Lucio, isn't it," he asked, "The person who did this is on QulTuq, isn't he?"

Stiffly, she nodded. "Why is it that you never truly leave behind what formed you? Forever, bits of him, and what happened, will stay with me." She shuddered. "I don't want to see him."

"I can't imagine you would want to see him. Maybe we should leave QulTuq", suggested Silvio, "and go somewhere else to get away."

"Where would we go?" One eyebrow quirked slightly, interest in the possibility arising.

"We could take a runabout and just fly," said Silvio, "We could go to Betazed."

"Go home? Do you think you want to meet my parents? They are formidable people, and they will know what you are up to" she wiggled her eyebrows at him, a half smile tipped up one side of her mouth.

Silvio tried his best to look offended, "Up to," he said innocently, "I am not up to anything."

"Tell that to my father, and remember, sweet talking Italians are nothing," she made a swift movement with her hand, "nothing, to an old Betazed man." She giggled softly.

"Sweet talking," Silvio let out a sign of mock exasperation, "You never know," he smiled, "He might like me."

"I didn't say he wouldn't like you, I said he would know what you were up to," she shook her head. "There is a big difference. I like that idea, actually, but I do need to see the dope and his darling wife before we leave. I also have three children that need an auntie spoiling."

"Once again, I am not up to anything," he said. "Hey, do you like flowers?"

She tilted her head as she considered. "Yes, I have to say I do, but not just run of the mill, every day flowers. I prefer exotic ones."

"Like what," prompted Silvio.

"Silver wings, which my mother used to grow, are my favorites. They look, surprisingly enough, like silver pixie wings. Landoll lilies are another, their perfume is divine. Are you a fan of flowers?"

Silvio locked the names of those flowers in his mind for future reference, "They're ok I guess."

"Just ok? What is your mother's favorite flower?" Patia quizzed him.

"Papa always bought her red roses," he said.

"But was that her favorite? Or was that what he thought he should give her because women love roses?" Patia raised one eyebrow delicately.

Silvio shrugged, "She seemed to like them," he said honestly.

"Flowers are a beautiful thing," Patia leaned back and yawned. Her attempt to stifle it was unsuccessful.

"You are tired," he said, "we better get Chief Counselor Zoei to bed." Silvio smiled at her.

She shook her head, tension straightening her spine. Softly, a shudder rippled through her. "Bed time it is."

Silvio stood up and offered her is hand, "I will walk you home," he said.

She unfolded her legs and stood up, her fingers clasped in his warm hand. "Thank you, I appreciate that."

Bad Things Come in Small Packages"
By: Ian Hunter, Commanding Officer, [PC]
Krystal, Hologram, [RNPC]
Giuseppe Silvio, Chief Engineer, [RNPC]
Maxine Lucinda Tapert, Computer Specialist, [PC]

Stardate: 58206.16 0200

"I didn't do it," Krystal announced as Maxine stepped off the turbolift and headed to her "appointment" with the Captain. It had been an hour since the holodeck simulation had ended and Maxine wasn't any closer to finding out *why*. She wasn't looking forward to this meeting because she was sure the Captain would want the answers that she couldn't provide yet. "Hush up," Max told her. "I didn't say y'did. Now remember t' be quite and make yourself scarce while I talk t' the Captain," she instructed the hologram. "Alright.. But I didn't do it," Krystal added before poofing from sight. Maxine took a deep breath, smoothed down her uniform and let the Captain know she'd arrived. Hunter looked up as the door chimed, "Enter." "Ensign Tapert reporting as ordered, sir," Maxine announced as she stepped inside. "Please, have a seat," said the Captain. "Thank you sir," Maxine sat across from him and settled the PADD she was carrying in her lap. "Can you explain to me what happened?" "No sir. Not at this time I can't," Maxine answered promptly. "What I can tell you with some degree of certainty is that Birkoff was *not* in the system after that last attack," she added. "Good," said Hunter. "That's what I need to know.." Hunter stood up, turning off his console. "Good work Ensign, its been a long day, get some rest." Maxine blinked and stood when he did. Okay, she'd been unclear. "What I meant t' say was that 'e wasn't in the system before this last attack, sir. I don't know 'ow 'e got back in..." "Are you saying there is still a risk to the ship now?"

"No... er.. Yes... Actually sir, I don't know," she admitted honestly. "I've got diagnostics running as we speak. And I instigated Level-9 security on all key systems as soon as I knew 'e was in the 'olodeck. I *think* 'e was contained there. I know for sure 'e was once Lieutenant Silvio and I isolated it, but I can't give you a 100% guarantee until I finish running the system scan. My concern is that if 'e got back in once...." she sort of leaves that hanging and lets Hunter fill in the rest.

"Very well, Ensign, keep me posted."

*** Stardate: 58206.16 0230 Maxine stepped out of the Captain's Ready Room and breathed a small sigh. Okay... she was still alive and at the moment determined to find out just what had happened and how. "I told you I didn't do it," Krystal popped into view and perched on her shoulder. "Hush, pixie," Max strode to the turbolift and stepped inside. "Deck six," she ordered and then turned to look at the hologram. "Begin a level 4 security trace protocol," she instructed. "When we get to the core, I'll start a diagnostic of all the holodeck systems." "Security trace protocol running," Krystal announced. "Good, maybe we can get t' the bottom of this before we lose our jobs." The turbolift doors opened and Max strode to the Core. "Can they really fire us?" Krystal asked, worried now and showing signs of paranoia. Maxine eyed her as she settled down before her terminal and started working. "I need t' adjust your programming," she announced. "It's pretty bad when y'start displaying properties of the routines your running." "I am not!" Krystal defended herself and then looked over her shoulder. "I think we're being watched..." "I rest my case," Maxine smirked. *** Stardate: 58206.16 0410 "You're going to just wake him up?" Krystal asked as she and Maxine stopped before the Chief Engineer's quarters. "It's zero-four-ten," she pointed out helpfully. "He might be cranky..." "The Captain said first thing in the morning," Maxine reminded her. "And I can't do this without 'im. I don't really *do* 'ardware," she added as she rang the chime to Silvio's quarters. "I do code."

*** Silvio woke with a start, he was covered in sweat and every nerve on his body was on edge. Another dream, he thought as he forced his breathing to slow down. Fortunately his Cardassian tormentor was interrupted by whoever was ringing his door bell. Maxine persistently rang the chime again when there was no immediate answer to her hail. Silvio had fallen asleep sitting at his desk. He stood up went to the door and opened it up. It slid open to reveal Max and Krystal. "Is something wrong," he asked. Krystal peeked from around Max's head because you just never knew about cranky engineers. "Yes sir," Maxine nodded. "We're sorry to bother you..." She was surprised to find the engineer still in his uniform. Although he did look a little like they'd disturbed him. "But we need you, sir," she told him and fidgeted a little. "See.. I don't *do* hardware," she explained. Silvio looked at Max and tried to make sense of what she was saying, "Ok, what do you need?" She looked like she was about ready to grab him and drag him along with her, but she clasped her hands behind her back and started again. "Birkoff wasn't *in* the computer before this latest attack. But he got in... We traced it to the Auxiliary Net but I can't find the point of entry. The code is... well.. Shattered is the best way I can explain it. Fragmented so much at that end that we can't pinpoint it." Silvio's sleepy mind started coming back into focus. Max was working on the Birkoff virus. "Give me a 10 minutes and meet me in Auxiliary control." Ten minutes. She could do ten minutes. "Aye sir. I'll meet you there...." Maxine acknowledged and nodded her head before she and Krystal turned and strode away. *** Silvio just did not believe Max had missed the latest Birkoff virus. He watched her combat the virus in the holodeck. She was much to good for that. "There must be something else," he muttered to himself as he stepped off the turbolift. Silvio held his ever present tool kit in his left hand and he entered Auxiliary control. To Silvio, this was the scene of the crime and his feeling was that the answer was here somewhere. Max had not yet arrived so Silvio pulled off the access panel and did a quick scan with is tricorder. He has ordered this station checked and double checked after the Birkoff incident. His techs assured him that it was clean. Silvio tapped a button on the console, "Silvio to Bridge," he said. "Bridge here," came the reply. "Be advised that Auxiliary control will be offline for maintenance," he said. "Acknowledged." Max had swung by the computer core on the way and grabbed her diagnostic equipment. Not that there was much. It consisted of a compact laptop looking thing that contained a copy of all her software and allowed her to remotely log into the system and run routines from outside it. She also had a couple of PADDs that she toted around with it. "You beat me 'ere," she announced unnecessarily as she strode into Auxiliary Control and moved to where Silvio was. She was quite nosy enough to peer over his shoulder uninvited. "Yes, I did," he replied removing several control chips and placing them on the floor, "All the systems check out clean." "Yup. We were here earlier," Krystal announced. "Tried running the trace from this end," Maxine admitted. "Didn't do any good." "We think he had an accomplice and they're working together to undermine the computer core and infiltrate all our systems," Krystal added helpfully. Her paranoia was rather evident. "We have spies on board," she whispered conspiratorially and glanced around to see if anyone was looking or listening in. Considering how they got into this mess in the first place Silvio could hardly disputer her claims, but he did not think there was another traitor on the Zion, at least not one working with Birkoff anyway. Silvio removed several more chips and scanned each one, "We will go through it one piece at a time." Silvio pulled another chip and scanned it, "Hello," he said concentrating on the tricroder reading, "That is not supposed to be there." "What's not supposed t' be there?" Max and Krystal asked in unison and both leaned closer to him. Silvio handed her the chip and the tricorder, "What do you think of this?" Maxine took the chip and tricorder and plopped down on the deck as she scanned it. "Crikey..." she blinked and looked back up at Silvio. "I've only seen a couple of these in my whole life..." "You are one up on me," said Silvio, "I have only read about them." "OOooohhhh. It's a little teeny baby one!" Krystal squealed. "Abandoned at birth! Coerced into turning traitor!" she struck a dramatic pose. "The spies are cads!! CADS! We have to roust them out! Make them walk the plank! Hang them from the yardarm!" "Pixie!" Max reached up and flicked her image. "Knock it off." She gave Silvio an apologetic look. "Sorry sir. It's the trace routine. Makes her paranoid," she explained. Silvio had no idea what this tiny computer attached to the isolinear chip was programmed to do, but his hunch was that they had just found Birkoff's mode of infection. "I think we have found it. You will need to figure out what it is programmed for. I will bet you anything that it is programmed to deliver a virus into our ship's computer." Maxine pulled an old semi-battered looking PADD from her pack. "I've modified this so that it has absolutely *no* networking or communication capabilities," she told him. "I use it to analyze suspicious code. If we plug in the chip we should be able to get a look at the code on it." "Let's do it," he said, wanting to confirm his hunch.

"A'roight then.." Maxine grinned in anticipation as she hooked the PADD up to a small collapsible keyboard and then slid the isolinear chip into the slot. As she waited, she angled the screen so that she and Silvio could both watch. "The program's accessing the chip now... Keep your fingers crossed that it doesn't eat my system," she grinned like the prospect was actually appealing.

"There is definitely a nanocomputer on the chip," Maxine announced as the program confirmed its presence. "It's dormant at the moment," she added and looked over at him for any signs of disapproval as she announced, "m'gonna try and activate it, sir." When Silvio gave her a slight non to proceed Max's fingers typed out the commands and then she sat back while she and the Chief Engineer watched in awe as the microscopic computer dumped its waiting payload into the PADD and then destroyed its own operating system.

Max let out a whispered, "Crikey..."

Silvio let out a low whistle, "He is pretty good," he said as he picked up his tricorder and began scanning more of the chips. The ship had many chips, however, they could not manually scan them all by hand. "Do you think you can configure the computer to detect and identify any other infected chips, without activating them?"

"Aye, sir. I can write a program that will basically do what your tricorder did. It'll access the sensors and perform a narrow scan for the trace elements of the nanoprocessors without activating them." Her eyes were on the screen of her PADD the entire time she talked as she watched the Birkoff virus in action.

"That is good, we better make sure that there aren't any more of these," suggested Silvio.

"Aye sir. The way that bloody sot keeps showing up, I wouldn't put anything past him," Max totally agreed "I'll get on it right now."

Pregnant Pixies?? "
By: Krystal, Hologram, [RNPC]
Maxine Lucinda Tapert, Computer Specialist, [PC]

Stardate: 58206.16 0515

"You killed it! Oh Maxie, you killed it!!" Krystal exclaimed as she = hugged the isolinear chip with the defunct nanocomputer to her breast.

Maxine blinked and stared at the AI hologram for a moment, watching as = the she hugged the chip and tried to soothe it. "Pixie, what the 'ell are = you going on about now?"

"My poor baby!" the AI cried.

"Your WHAT???" Maxine straightened from her slouched pose.

"My baby! You killed my poor baby!" the pixie moaned, grief-stricken.

"Bloody 'ell! Krystal, we don't 'ave time for this!" Max was rather frustrated and starting to feel slightly paranoid herself. What if = Birkoff somehow infected....

"Computer! Execute emergency protocol: Roundup Alpha-Icon. Command authorization Tapert Charlie Zero Zero One Nine Playground," Maxine commanded.

=3D/=3D "Executing." =3D/=3D

She reached over and flicked the hologram, disrupting the pixels for a moment to get the AI's attention. "Pixie! Execute Emergency protocol: Grounded. Command authorization Maxine Three Five Alpha Nine...."

"Grounded?" Krystal blinked and her wings drooped as she stood on the console, the fate of the chip clutched to her breast momentarily = forgotten.

"Grounded. To your PADD. And run a level five self diagnostics," she instructed. "YOU don't 'ave babies."

"Grounded..." the little pixie plopped down and sat cross-legged, = propping her elbows on her knees and her chin on closed fists. Such a forlorn = looking thing. "Executing," she grumbled.

"Thank you," Maxine nodded and started her own diagnostic on the AI's programming as she worked on the code that would track down and isolate = any other subversive equipment that had even the remotest access to the = computer system.

"I don't have babies?" Krystal asked as she sat and petted the isolinear chip in her lap. "It feels like a baby."

"Uh-huh, I know..." Max eyed her. "Which is precisely why *you* are = offline. And you'll stay offline until we find out WHY you think you 'ave a = bloody baby. Besides, you don't know what a baby feels like," she pointed out. "Concentrate your diagnostics on the time you were in the 'olodeck. Specifically narrow it to the time when the Birkoff AI captured you," = she instructed.

"He's a bully," Krystal said, still definitely pouting. "I told him you = said so too. And that he was compensating for having a tiny donger."

"You what?" Maxine frowned.=20

"I told him he had a tiny donger," Krystal repeated. "It's what you = said!"

"I know, but I was telling YOU... I don't think puffed up bullies take kindly t' 'aving their man'ood ridiculed. I think you challenged 'im, Krystal...." Maxine chewed on her bottom lip. "When I get done with this = and we've run it through the system, I'm going to study your code," she announced. "Till then it's isolation for you."

"Isolation?!?" Krystal squeaked and fell over in a dramatic pose. "I = didn't DO it!!" she wailed. "What's a donger anyway?"

"I know you didn't, I think that rat Birkoff did," Max tired absently to console her, but her eyes were filled with seek and destroy code at the moment.

The little hologram groaned and grabbed her belly. "I think I have = morning sickness..."

The Evil That Chips Do"
By: Krystal, Hologram, [RNPC]
Giuseppe Silvio, Chief Engineer, [RNPC]
Maxine Lucinda Tapert, Computer Specialist, [PC]

Stardate: 58206.16 0600

"Pixie, don't make me turn you off..." Maxine threatened and glanced at the once bright and chipper pixie only to see a haggard, droopy creature who was slightly green around the gills and had a definite roundness to her belly.

"Nnnnoooooo!! Not that!!" Krystal groaned dramatically and flopped over Max's shoulder, looking like a limp rat with wings. "I don't like isolation, Maxie... Can I *ppllleeaaassseee* come out now?" she begged.

"No." Maxine was emphatic. "Not until all your diagnostics finish running and I've had a chance t' go over your code myself. Look at yourself. That is NOT normal," she pointed out and even reached up to poke a slender finger at the hologram's growing belly.

Krystal groaned and peered at Max through one opened eye. "Where are we going? I think you're making me sea-sick," she accused when the turbolift they'd stepped into began to move. "Are we there yet?"

"Just about," Max told her. "And while the Lieutenant and I work I'll need you to be quiet," she warned.

"Quiet? But... But... What if I get sick? Or what if--"

"Hush," Max interrupted her. "Just do the best you can. Do you have any preliminary data on just what that is?" She poked the rounded belly again.

"Oh, don't do that," Krystal groaned. "He doesn't like it..."

"He? He who?"

"The baby," the pixie gave her a *look*.

"Krystal...." Max began as she stepped from the turbolift. "Listen to me carefully... -You- -are- -not- -having- -a- -baby-. Begin an extrapolation and tell me what the function is of that code you've got quarantined in your belly. I want a detailed analysis along with projected scenarios," she instructed.

"Analysis? I think I'm going to be sick," Krystal groaned.

"Fine, be sick. Just do it," Maxine instructed. "And hush now..." The computer expert with her defunct, isolated, drowned rat looking pixie stepped into Main Engineering and went directly to the Chief Engineer's office.

"Sir? Lt. Silvio?" Max stood in the doorway waiting for his acknowledgement.

Silvio had almost nodded off to sleep when Max walked in. He looked up at her, "Hello Ensign, How is your program coming." "It's ready t' go, sir," Max offered him a smile. "I've got it loaded into the system and just need t' execute it... I thought perhaps we could snag any modified chips as the program finds them," she suggested, indicating that she wanted to include him in the finding if there was anything to find. "I'm betting they will all be in Auxiliary Control," he said. "Let's do it." "I've learned t' listen when officers such as yourself 'ave 'unches they're willing t' bet on, sir," Maxine stepped out of the doorway so he could exit his office. "Auxiliary Control it is." Silvio picked up his tool kit and said, "Let's go." *** ==Auxiliary Control== Silvio pulled out the indicated chip and scanned it with his tricorder, "This one looks like it is already discharged." Silvio set it down on the top of the desk and inserted a new chip where this one had been. "That's good," Maxine glanced over at him and then back to her screen. "Maybe we'll be lucky and they'll all be spent," she commented. "It's located another one. I'll pull it." She was on her feet a moment later and pulling the isolinear chip to add to the small pile Silvio had that he was checking.

Silvio picked up the chip she had just pulled and scanned it with his tricorder, "Here is a live one," he said. Silvio set thatone down near Max's PADD. "How long do you estimate it will take your programm to search the whole ship?

Maxine looked at the program's running time. "I think another thirty minutes," she told him. "I set system priorities and the non-essential ones will be scanned last." As she talked she sat down and inserted the 'live' chip into the PADD she'd screened the original chip with. "'ere we go..." she moved it so that Silvio could see it too. "Activating it now...."

Silvio watched with curiosity over Max's shoulder.

As the first chip had done, the microscopic processor dumped it's payload into Max's PADD and then destroyed its own operating system. "Crikey..." Maxine whispered as she watched the malicious code invade her PADD. "'old on while I 'ave a look at this..." she half muttered as she became lost for a few moment in the intricacies of the code.. "Bloody 'ell..." she turned to look at Silvio and there was a frown marring her brow. "This chip targets Warrant Officer Northrop...." she told him.

"I see," said Silvio." The computer beeped again , "Look, there is another one," Silvio bent down and located the infected ship. He carefully removed it and gave it to Max."

Maxine took it from him and turned it over in her fingers before she exchanged it for the one that was in already in her PADD. "Let's see what this one is up to...." While they watched it did pretty much the same thing as the two previous chips. "Blimey 'e's good," she said after a moment or two of examining the code. "This one appears t' be targeting Lieutenant Carter."

"Birkoff appears to hold a grudge," observed Silvio as he replaced the chip he had just removed."

"Aye sir, that he does," Max agreed and continued to study the code while the program continued to scan the multitude of chips in the Zion's system. After a few more minutes another beep sounded, indicating it had located another of them. "Got another one, sir. Chip MS-167C," she announced and looked over at him.

Silvio tapped on the console in front of him and the display told him where That chip was located. "Hmm, that one is on deck 5 in main security." He looked at Max, "I will go get that one and bring it back."

"A'roight," Maxine nodded. "M'going t' just study this code...." she told him, and when she looked at him even her eyes seemed to be filled with the reflection of it.

Silvio nodded, "I'll be back." He grabbed his tool kit and headed for Deck 5.

All Nano Things Must Come to an End. "
By: Ian Hunter, Commanding Officer, [PC]
Giuseppe Silvio, Chief Engineer, [RNPC]
Maxine Lucinda Tapert, Computer Specialist, [PC]

Stardate: 58206.16 0730

Silvio had retrieved the altered isolinnear chip and was not on his way back to Auxiliary Control. It had taken him much longer than it should have for him to get it. He had not slept well since he started having his nightmares. He considered talking to Patia about them. She had been there for him on the first night he started having them and was sure she would be there for him again, however, he did not want to put her in a bad situation.

Silvio walked in to find max putting the access cover back on the main control station. "All done," he asked, handing her the chip he had recovered.

"Aye sir," Maxine nodded as she took the chip and sat before the PADD she'd been using to activate them. "The scan's finished. This is the last one," she indicated the chip he'd given her before she plugged it in. Like the three active chips before it, the payload was dumped and its operating system erased in the span of a few seconds. "Amazing..." she murmured as she watched it work. "'e's a bloody genius," she told Silvio as she accessed the code.

"Who does this one target," asked Silvio.

"Looks like our Security Chief, Lieutenant Jarvis, sir," Maxine answered.

"That's odd," said Silvio, "She was not even here when he took over the ship. Are you ready to go see the Captain."

"Aye sir," Maxine nodded and began gathering her things. "Perhaps 'e 'as a grudge against the Lieutenant and knew she was t' be transferred 'ere," she offered as she stood. "Or perhaps 'e arranged 'er transfer 'imself. Ready."

"Let's go," he said as they left for the bridge.

***

Silvio and Max stepped of the turbolift and walked onto the bridge. Silvio checked and found that it was not the Captain sitting in the command chair so he crossed the bridge and paused in from of the Captain's ready room. Reaching out with his left hand, Silvio rang the Captain's door chime.

"Enter," said Hunter.

Silvio and Max entered and found the Captain at his desk. "Hello Captain," said Silvio forcing his fatigue away and focusing on the task at hand. Silvio found it was getting harder to do that. "We have a report for you on the Birkoff infections."

Hunter frowned slightly, "Good news, I hope."

Max stood quietly with an 'at ease' posture as the Lieutenant addressed the Captain. She was confident that they'd found all the Birkoff chips. But to her mind the question had been raised; Where and how did he get them?

"Yes sir," said Silvio, "We have discovered how Birkoff could keep infecting our systems." Silvio looked at Max. "Go ahead Ensign."

Maxine nodded and stepped forward. "With these, sir," she placed one of the isolinear chips on the desk in front of the Captain.

"It's how 'e kept getting back in after we'd succeeded in purging 'im." She stepped back to stand beside Silvio. "Lieutenant Silvio discovered it after I 'it a dead end trying t' trace the point of infiltration," she went on to explain. "The chip is equipped with a nano computer, sir. They were set t' trigger after a pre-designated span of time, dump their virus and then delete their own operating systems. After the Lieutenant found that one, we re-calibrated the scanners and did an in depth scan of the entire computer system. We found three more that hadn't been triggered yet and the ones that had."

Hunter picked up the iso-chip and turned it over several times as he examined it. "A nano computer..." he shook his head and tossed the chip back to Silvio. "Aren't those mostly theoretical?"

Silvio grimaced as he wanted the captain toss the delicate computer around like a rag doll. "Not really sir, but it is not employed very often anymore."

"Where did he get them do you suppose?"

"He probably wore them," suggested Silvio, "We do not really scan for them."

"You are certain we have found them all," asked Hunter.

"Yes sir, m'sure of that," Max nodded, positive they'd located every last one of them.

He stood up, "okay, copy Intel on the report. He nodded, good job, that's all for now, dismissed."

Silvio and Max exited the captain's ready room. "That went well," observed Silvio.

"Aye sir. M'just glad we're finally rid of 'im for good," Maxine agreed. "I was starting t' get a complex."

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