“What are you doing here?”McReidy snapped.
“Taking my ship back,” Johnanswered defiantly, tucking his phaser inside his jacket. “Doorway, MisterNorth.”
“Sir,” North acknowledged.
McReidy took in her loyal crew,all with weapons pointed at them, then turned back to John. “No.”
He was wary about turning hisback on Giacomo even though Tan had him well covered. He grabbed the arms ofhis chair, turning it to face him and leaning over and glaring down atMcReidy. “Get out of my chair!” he threatened.
Dark eyes burned up at him, herchin jutted out and she folded her arms across her chest. “Make me.”
The immaturity of the answerinfuriated him. It was like being a kid and having someone dare him to dosomething that went against the very grain. The temptation to grab her andthrow her out was overwhelming. Instead, he backed off and straightened up. One hand went on his hip, the other rubbed his brow and he began slowly pacing,trying to ease the frustration he felt.
McReidy ventured to her feet.
“Face it, Commander,” shecouldn’t help but sink the boots in. “You’re history. This ship is mine andyou are not getting her back.”
He stopped pacing and turnedsharply. “Before this goes any further…” His voice was calm, needing all hisself control to keep it that way. “I am ordering you to hand over this ship.”
“You don’t give the orders anymore. I do.”
He moved to grab her.
“Here you are.”
John stilled at Soghra’s voice,his hands inches from McReidy’s jacket. He turned sharply to the bridge door. North was there, phaser in hand, looking down the corridor and unaware asSoghra stepped past him.
McReidy shrank away from Soghra’sinterest, recoiling back a step as though she was scared of him and using Johnto block him.
John’s attention flitted betweenthe two of them, confusion screwing his face slightly, his hands in the motionof grasping something that was no longer there.
Soghra took a few steps inMcReidy’s direction – she took a few away – speaking to her as though she weresomeone else.
“It didn’t take me long to findyou, once I realised you were on board.” He saw something in her that no oneelse knew. “You have upset quite a few people. Now leave the lieutenantcommander alone.”
John settled on McReidy. Hishands flopped to his sides and he moved out of the way, clear enough to havethem both in view.
McReidy spoke, straightening toher full height with bluffing confidence. The voice was hers; the words werenot. “I will not. This female interests me. She has power and influence overthe others.”
“They will not play your games.”
“They already are.”
“Not any more. They have moreimportant things to attend to. Go home.”
McReidy sulked. Soghra’s wordsappeared to have the desired effect. Her hands rose to her head and her eyesscrewed shut in pain. She swayed uncertainly. A misty pink cloud emerged fromher body as she dropped to the floor.
John lunged forward and caughtMcReidy as she dropped, but his attention was on the cloud floating abovethem. It hesitated for a few seconds then disappeared through a wall of theship and into space.
“Your crew will return to normalalmost immediately. Its influence is strong, but only temporary.” Soghraturned to leave.
“Soghra,” John called.
Soghra turned back.
“Thank you.”
Soghra shrugged. “It would havebecome bored… eventually.”
John scooped up McReidy. One armaround her shoulders, her head resting against his chest; the other arm behindher knees. “I suggest we all get back to work.”
There was no sense of blame inhis words.
“Take your console, MisterGillespie.”
“Sir.” Gillespie moved slowly,Humphries’ phaser following his every movement.
“Giacomo.”
“Sir?” Giacomo blinked strongly,his eyes glassy as he turned his head slowly to John.
“Get us back on our originalcourse. Humphries, navigation. North –”
North was still standing in thebridge doorway, watching down the corridor. “Sir,” he acknowledged, turning acautious eye to John.
It was obvious to John the manhadn’t been aware of anything that had just happened on the bridge or even thatSoghra had walked past him twice. That alien had more explaining to do.
“Take communications, MisterNorth.”
“Yes, sir,” North acknowledged,moving clear of the doorway. He frowned at the unconscious McReidy in John’sarms.
“Mister Tan, you’re in charge. If you need me, I’ll be in sick bay.”
*
Sick bay was overrun withcasualties.
“Doc,” John called as he pushedhis way through and carefully placed McReidy on the first available bed.
“In a minute,” Dunlop answered.
“Now.”
“Andrews.”
“I’m on it,” Andrews called back,leaving Wanda to disinfect a cut lip and edging his way to the doctor.
A few brief words, a nod fromAndrews and Dunlop was at John’s side.
“What happened?” he asked, as hebegan checking McReidy’s vitals.
“Long story. Is she all right?”John asked anxiously.
“Give me a minute to examineher. Blood pressure, heart rate… slightly high. Pupils,” he lifted an eyelidand shone a penlight into it, then repeated the procedure with her othereyelid, “normal… Massive increase in brain activity, rapidly dropping. Kat,come here.”
“I can’t. I’ve got a haematomaon the back of the head, unconscious, pupils dilated.”
“Brenda.”
“Coming.”
“You worry too much,” Dunlop rana scanner over McReidy’s body. The soft beeping of the machine remainedconstant. “She’ll be fine.”
“You say that like it’s habit notassessment.”
The doctor looked up. “I guess Ido.”
“What happened here?” John lookedaround. “I thought it had settled down.”
“It had. Until about ten minutesago. Then this lot,” he inclined his head to the room full of patients,“started again. And then dropped like flies as though something had sucked thelife out of them.”
John nodded.
“And since you’re not asking meif I know why, I’m assuming you know more than I do.”
John didn’t answer.
“Get out, Commander, I don’t needyou in my way. Brenda!”
“Here, Doctor.” Brenda arrived,her usually bright face showing signs of stress.
John headed to the door.
“Keep an eye on the lieutenantcommander,” he overheard Dunlop tell the nurse. “If her brain activity dropsbelow normal, call me.”
“Yes, Doctor.”
John was reassured a little; alot less than he let on. He left McReidy to the care of the medical staff andreturned to the bridge. He had to find out how ‘normal’ the ship was.
Habit had him reaching for hiscommunicator, only to realise he was still locked out. He’d fix that when hegot back to the bridge, and contact all departments from there.
“Sir –” Giacomo bailed him up assoon as
