"Lust in Space"

Written by Lieutenant Sean J. Young

It all started out so innocently. Everyone was minding their own business... literally. It was one those sometimes boring, always necessary, weekly meetings of the Senior Staff.

After discussing several important topics, the officers sitting around the large oval table currently gave their full attention to the schematics of Dr. Keir's new "Medical Runabout" which were on the view screen. Malice, the Chief Engineer, had just finished enthusiastically praising the experimental ship's features which included "Persephone", the AI computer, and its modified shields and warp drive.

"Well" V'Pier said "Hopefully with this new runabout we will hear less of 'he won't make it unless we get him to sickbay' from our good doctor."

"Nope" Trai, the Trill Science Officer, chimed in "Now we only have to hear 'he won't make it unless we get him to the runabout!"

Trai grinned. Admiral V'Pier and Admiral Cian did not. The Trill realized his quirky sense of humour was not always appreciated.

"Wait a minute" Dr. Keir, the CMO, blurted out "The Styx? The USS Styx? They named MY medical runabout after the mythological river that surrounds Hades... land of the DEAD?"

Admiral Cian, aka Counselor Cian, replied "Doctor, you need not look only at the death aspect of the river Styx. Am I not mistaken in believing that mortals who were submerged in its waters would gain invulnerability, such as the hero Achilles? I would think that invulnerability could be seen as a sign of good health."

"You misunderstand... as usual... Cian." retorts the doctor. "I'm not complaining about the ship's name. I like it. I like morbidness. Why do you think I went into medicine?" he grinned.

"Well, now that the Styx has met our CMO's approval" V'Pier says with a hint of nonmalicious sarcasm "We can move on to the next order of business. Regarding DS9...."

"Admiral..." Admiral Cian, aka Counselor Cian, suddenly exclaims with a sense of urgency "there is an unknown presence here."

"What? Are you telling me there is someone else in this room with us?" V'Pier asks as the new Security Chief, Lt. Riak, sprang to her feet, grabbing the phaser that was attached under the meeting table where she sat, ready for action. All those present visually scanned the room, but found nothing.

"I can not explain it" Cian continued. "The presence is near... very near. Yet at the same time not here."

V'Pier's intelligence agents had heard unconfirmed rumors that the Romulan Tal'Shiar had developed personal cloaking devices. However, not even they would be gutsy enough to walk into a Senior Staff meeting on Starbase 51. Would they?

V'Pier turned to Dr. Keir. Like Cian, Keir was a telepath, maybe he could confirm Cian's claim. Though the Changeling had every faith in his fellow Admiral's abilities, a "second opinion" was always welcome. V'Pier noticed that Keir was already deep in concentration, his brow knit and his eyes closed.

"Admiral Cian is right" Keir said "There is a strange presence near us. I'm concentrating as much as I can under the circumstances and I still barely can sense it. I'm sure I wouldn't have noticed it at all if I hadn't specifically looked for it. I can't pin point it... it's like the air, all around us, not in one given place."

"I can't even tell if it's one entity or several" Cian chimes in. "I wish I could tell you more, but I can not."

"Can you tell what its intentions are? Do you sense malice?" V'Pier asks Cian.

"I'm sorry... I can not say" he replies.

V'Pier turns to Lt. Trai, the Trill Science Officer "Return to your station at once. I want you and your crew to conduct both internal and external scans. I want this 'presence' pin pointed immediately!"

He then turns to Lt. Kyla, the Operations Officer "I want a list of every single craft that has come and left this station in the past 48 hours. I want to know who is new here, what visitors we have and why they're here. Have that on my desk in one hour!"

Finally he addresses Lt. Riak "Go to Yellow alert. Arrange for your officers to comb every deck of this Starbase with Tricorders".

"Gentlemen" V'Pier says, addressing everyone present "intruders in the headquarters of Federation Intelligence WILL NOT and CAN NOT be tolerated. I want to know what this presence is and what it wants. I want answers... and I want them fast!"

All those present give their versions of "yes sir" and head for turbolifts to their appropriate stations.

Cian, who remained, rises from the meeting table and walks to V'Pier's side.

"I believe that I could be most helpful if I return to my quarters and try to meditate more deeply. Maybe I can discern who or what this presence is and what its intentions are" Cian says.

"Yes, you do that" V'Pier replies. "No one or nothing is going to compromise Starbase 51... at least not on MY watch."

Cian could not "read" V'Pier very easily, but there was no denying by the serious tone of his voice that the Changeling was deadly serious. Without another word Admiral Cian left the meeting room to head for his quarters... he had his work cut out for him. As he entered a turbolift he was greeted by a curious sight: a male Vulcan Engineer "necking" with a female Human/Cardassian Operations Officer.

"Ah-hum" Cian clears his throat "The Starbase is on yellow alert, is there not work to be done?"

"Sorry, Admiral" the Vulcan says. Cian could swear the Vulcan was blushing. Both he and the female exit the turbolift on a floor that housed only personal quarters... holding hands. Curious, Cian thought to himself, several things about the episode did not "add up". However, he had no time to think about that now, he had to get to his quarters to begin his telepathic search.

Lt. Trai was at his science station scanning both internally and externally for tachyon emissions when it hit him. It was not like a sledgehammer, but more like a snowball that got larger and larger as it rolled down a hillside. First he found himself thinking of past lovers, of past trips to Risa. Salacious ideas and fantasies began to overtake him, soon he could not keep his eyes off of Asst. Chief Moira Gulliani who stood next to him conducting scans of her own.

She sensed that she was being watched and looked up to meet Trai's gaze. She was flushed, and beads of sweat dotted her forehead. Neither she nor Trai were telepaths, yet their gazes spoke volumes, each knew what the other was thinking.

"We... we can't... there's a yellow alert." she stammers as she slowly backs away "we shouldn't...but... but your spots... I never noticed how.... how alluring they are... how they frame your face."

Trai gently puts his arm around the small of her back and pulls her to him. "Don't fight it... it would hurt my feelings if you didn't want me as much as I want you." She didn't fight it... she cut loose with a wet kiss that made her seem as if she were trained by an Orion slave girl.

Trai called out for Lt. Madota to handle his station as he and Lt. Guiliani exited Ops... he would replicate satin sheets for this occasion he thought to himself. Madota did not hear Trai's order... he was too busy hungrily eyeing the backside of the beautiful Ensign who stood next to him.

Dr. Keir walked the corridors leading to his infirmary in haste. Usually during yellow alerts he could feel the anxiety of those around him, however this time was very different. As he walked past personal quarters and work stations, he felt no such anxiety. In fact, the emotional emissions of those around him were downright...

WHAT THE HELL?!? He had just entered the infirmary and "shocked" was not a strong enough word for how he felt. His sickbay resembled "Bacchus Night" at "Fatima's Pleasure Place" back on Risa. Several of his doctors and nurses were in various stages of undress and... copulating, making love, having sex... whatever you wanted to call it. They were on the floor, on the desks, and, of course, on the med-beds. Males and females of various races, moaning and twisting on his delicate medical equipment in various combinations. Dr. Xyeta'Tazt with Dr. Kim. Nurse Tai'Shara with both Dr. Quinn and Dr. Strangelove. Dr. DoMuch and Ensign Peters with Nurse McKoy. Dr. Ka-plack with some woman with a transparent skull.

He wanted to shout "What the *#@$& is going on!?" but he could not. He found his six senses glued to the scene in front of him. The tangled mass of limbs. The smell of sweat. He found his mind hungry to take in the emissions of their pleasure, to bask in them and join in them physically. He slowly began to undress himself, it all made perfect sense.

"I've been waiting for you... get in here... NOW." a stern voice said inside his head. Keir knew that it was his Imzadi, Dr. LuWel... Teal... talking to him telepathically. He also instinctively knew that Teal had been waiting for him in the office of the Chief Medical Officer... his office. Keir grinned, and ignoring the group scene in front of him, continued to undress as he walked towards the direction of the telepathic beckoning. Nothing else mattered now, his Imzadi needed him.

Admiral Cian dare not move. He sat on the floor of his personal quarters amongst the over-stuffed pillows, lit candles, and the scent of a mild incense filling the air. He had been pushing his telepathic powers to their outer-most limit to get an exact fix on the "presence", however he did not expect them to issue a counter attack on him. The hunter was coming close to getting captured by the prey. "They" were forcing themselves into his mind... and they were strong. Very strong. He had to give his full attention to his mental defenses lest they gained control of his greatest asset... his thoughts. He could not stand. He could not speak out loud to the computer. He could not mentally summon Dr. Keir or any other telepath. All those actions would take the slightest amount of thought away from the task of defending his mind. He knew deep down inside his resistance was futile, he would tire long before they did, yet he resisted none the less.

His resistance may have lasted another 15 or 20 minutes if it were not for the distraction. Dr. Sijar, Dr. Keir's assistant CMO, had entered his quarters without requesting entrance. She wore the silken, flimsy lingerie favored by Romulan concubines. It was black, sheer and fit her surprisingly curvaceous Vulcan body to perfection. Shocked, Cian literally forgot to breathe for 2 seconds.

"Do you like it?" she asked... her voice far more sultry than her usual Vulcan mannerism should allow. "I did a quick search on the computer and replicated it just for you."

"Dr. Sijar" Cian responded "what are you doing here? The station is on yellow alert and surely Dr. Keir has need of you." Had she always had such long, well formed legs?

"Dr. Keir has no need for me" she says as she enters further into his quarters. "He only has need for his chosen one, Dr. LuWel. It is I who has a need for you."

It was too late... they were in his mind. The surprise appearance of Dr. Sijar gave them the distraction they needed to break through his mental wall. They "latched" onto a certain part of his brain and sent it into overdrive against his will.

"Dr. Sijar" Cian said as he stood up, trying not to take notice of the fullness of her breasts, the curve of her hips "I am your superior officer, I am ordering you to report to Dr. Keir and submit to a full medical examination."

By the sands of Romulus, he thought. The woman was beautiful. Her skin was flawless, her eyes clear and deep. Her raven black hair, usually worn in a bun, flowed freely down her shoulders.

"I am sorry, Admiral. It is logic that brings me here, for you are the only one on this station who is my equal. You are the only one on this station that I want... have always wanted. It is logical that we be together... here.... now." She placed her left hand to the left side of his face and slowly, gently began forcing a mind meld as her right hand fumbled to undo the robes he wore.

"Sijar..." Cian stammers and gulps "we...we must fight this. This... this is not right. I believe we are being influenced...." so beautiful "by an outside force. I DO find you attractive... but... but this is not the time... not the place." It took all his will to speak that bit of logic and not pounce upon her.

"I don't care about them" she says "let them feed... I don't care. What matters is us. I want to be in your mind... I want to be in your arms... I NEED you..."

Feed? Let them feed? Cian managed to think through the haze of his desire. Did Sijar figure something out that he hadn't? Did she have some insight into what was going on?

If so... what did it matter anyway? He could ponder that later... the fact that Sijar, having slipped off her lingerie, was now naked, bathed in gentle candle light, was all that mattered now. He gently lowered her down onto the soft pillows, taking in the scent of her flesh at the nape of her neck all the while covering her shoulders in soft kisses. He opened up his mind to her... and she opened up everything to him.

Admiral V'Pier sat at the desk of his ready room and checked the chronometer. It had been 1 1/2 hours since the meeting of the Senior Staff came to a sudden end and he had not heard from any of his crew. Did Cian's telepathic search discern anything? Had Dr. Keir received any strange reports of injuries? What did Security have to report? This was a yellow alert... and things seemed unusually silent.

He tapped his com-badge "Admiral V'Pier to Lt. Kyla" No response.

The Chief of Operations should have had the report he requested on his desk 1/2 hour ago and he had yet to receive it. This was not behavior he tolerated from anyone on Starbase 51, let alone a Senior Staff member.

"V'Pier to Lt. Kyla!" he repeated, this time with his dissatisfaction obvious in his voice. Still no reply.

"Computer...locate Lt. Kyla"

"Lt. Kyla is in the personal quarters of Commander Malice" came the reply.

What was she doing there? What was HE, the Chief Engineer, doing in his personal quarters during a yellow alert? "V'Pier to Commander Malice". No reply. Had the presence they were trying to locate somehow overtaken the both of them?

"Security to Commander Malice's quarters!" V'Pier ordered. Yet again... no reply.

V'Pier stood up from his desk and bounded out of his ready room. Something was not right... and he wanted answers. His first impulse was to go to the Ops workstations, but he decided to personally go to Commander Malice's quarters instead. As he walked past a maintenance closet, he thought he heard a soft moan, but decided it was his imagination. He was approaching Malice's quarters when he heard from behind him "There he is!"

V'Pier turned to face Security Chief Riak. The Romulan/Klingon was accompanied by two more female Security officers, Crewmen Jalanin and Rassette. He knew both the females from being from Angel One, the planet where the females were dominant and aggressive. Though all three were beautiful and feminine, he had no doubt of their effectiveness in combat.

"Lt. Riak" he said. "It's obvious you got my orders for security to report to Commander Malice's quarters. Next time I would appreciate a response."

"We are not here because of your orders, Admiral" Riak responded. "We are here for you!" With that she delivered a powerful, back-handed slap to his jaw. If he were a "solid" it would have drawn blood, however his Changeling jawline merely quivered as a semi-liquid for a brief second and quickly returned to its solid appearance.

V'Pier was briefly shocked, he had not expected that. Crewman Jalanin quickly executed a Judo hold on the Admiral as Crewman Rassette attempted to rip his uniform off of him.

"That's right, Rassette, get him out of that damn uniform". Lt. Riak said, her eyes filled with what Klingons would call "blood lust".

V'Pier did not react, he could easily get away when he wanted to, however he wanted insight into what was going on and allowed them to go about their business. He wanted to see how this would play out.

Lt. Riak addressed him "We are sick and tired of you walking around in your tight pants... teasing us... flaunting your body in front of us... today we TAKE what we want!"

"Sir!" Rassette says, with desperation in her voice "I can't seem to get his uniform off! It seems to be an actual part of him!"

"Can't you do anything? You hold him... let me try" Crewman Jalanin said.

V'Pier couldn't believe it, these three women were attempting to rape him! Lt. Riak's powerful slap to his face was the beginning of a Klingon mating ritual! He had seen enough... he had to get to the bottom of this... had to know what the rest of the crew of the Starbase was up to. He allowed himself to go completely liquid and flowed like water out of the grip of Crewman Jalanin.

Lt. Riak spit out a Klingon curse. "You fools! You let him get away!"

V'Pier, now a shimmering bronze colored river, quickly flowed in the direction of Commander Malice's quarters. He needed to confirm his suspicions. Even in this form he was aware of the cries of the women he escaped from.

"You get back here this instant" "Don't leave us!" "Let me bathe in you!"

Lt. Riak spat out another Klingon curse. "Damn it! He was my first choice. Now I have to go track down that Nurse Chambers. You two are on your own, I wasn't in the mood to share anyway". She storms off... leaving Crewman Jalanin and Rassette alone in the corridor. The two women from Angel One looked at each other. Since there were no men around...

V'Pier resumed his humanoid form outside the door of Malice's chambers. Using his security codes, he gained access in spite of the locking mechanism being activated. If he had the need to breathe... his breath would have been taken away by the sight of what he saw. Commander Malice, Lt. Kyla, Captain Vosno, and a purple skinned Ranatian female on Malice's bed engaging in an intimacy that was so primal it seemed violent. None of those involved even bothered to look up and acknowledge V'Pier's entrance. V'Pier walked to the bed and grabbed Captain Vosno off of the Ranatian female.

"What the...? V'Pier! You come to join us?" The Bajoran said, his eyes crazed with a bizarre, unnatural lust.

V'Pier stared at his fellow officer...his friend. He had to somehow snap him out of it. "Valarchi, you have to try to fight it. Snap out of it!" he said as he shook him by his shoulders. The Ranatian female had risen from the bed and was now hugging Vosno from behind, kissing his neck and ears.

"There's nothing to snap out of V'Pier. Now if you don't want to join us... leave us the hell alone!" The Bajoran said as he violently shook out of V'Pier's hold.

V'Pier backed out of the quarters. Whatever control they were under, it was powerful. Yet again he tapped his com-badge. "V'Pier to Admiral Cian" and yet again came no reply. He was about to ask the computer for Cian's location when he was interrupted by a voice on his own com-badge.

"Crewman Paal to Admiral V'Pier" came the voice.

"V'Pier here" now what? he thought to himself.

"Thank you thank you thank you!" Crewman Paal said. "I have been trying to get through to Lt. Ferel but he is not responding. NONE of my superior officers have been responding with the exception of you. Sir, I don't know how to put this... but things are not right up here in Operations..."

"What exactly do you mean by 'not right', Crewman?" V'Pier asked... though he had an idea.

"Well... Sir... everyone is... they are..." Paal searched for the words.

"They are engaged in intimate activities?" V'Pier offered.

"Yes, Sir. That's it. Right here in front of me! Everyone is ignoring their workstations... it's like they are possessed. There are subspace messages coming in from Starfleet going unanswered, ships requesting to dock... nothing is getting done!"

"Crewman Paal, remain calm. I will get to the bottom of this... in the mean time cover Operations as best as you can. Do not, I repeat, do not allow ANY ships to dock. I will keep you apprised. V'Pier out."

V'Pier again began to request the location of Admiral Cian when yet again another voice came through over his com-badge.

"Junior Lt. Crollann to Admiral V'Pier"

"V'Pier here" The Admiral already knew what the Engineering officer had to say.

"Sir, I have been trying to reach Commander Malice, but he is not responding. A situation has arisen amongst the reaction chamber's maintenance crew..."

"Let me guess" V'Pier said. "They are... mating?"

"Yes, Sir!" the Junior Lt. replied, his voice making it obvious he was surprised that the Admiral had guessed.

"Crollann... under no circumstance are you to leave your post. Continue to perform your duties as best you can under the circumstances. I believe that most of Starbase 51 is under the influence of some outside force and it is up to those who don't seem to be affected to keep this station from falling apart at the seams. V'Pier out."

V'Pier was beginning to see a pattern. He was not affected by this influencing presence for he had no humanoid mind. Crewman Paal was a Medusian, a small energy being who relied on a humanoid-shaped robotic suit to perform his duties, and Junior Lt. Crollann was Trowaysian. That race was asexual and in a sense was born pregnant and always gave birth on their 25th year. Trowaysians had no need for sex.

V'Pier's mind whirled with a multitude of thoughts. He had no doubt that a vast majority of his crew were in the midst of sexual activity... ignoring everything else. He had to do something, but he didn't know what. Even though he was Admiral, even though he had lived for several centuries, his main forte had always been the field of engineering... not medical or science and he was sure those skills would prove very useful. Yet, it was up to him to somehow discover the exact problem and attempt to remedy it. Contacting Federation Headquarters or even Space Station Kessle was only a last resort, this Starbase was his responsibility and it was his duty to try to remedy the situation on his own first.

What he needed now was a Senior Staff meeting, the best of everything Starbase 51 had to offer. However, at the moment that was impossible.

V'Pier suddenly snapped his fingers, a habit he picked up centuries ago from a fellow CIA officer. An idea had suddenly occurred to him. He could not have his Senior Staff at hand, however, thanks to his engineering skills, he still could have a meeting with two very knowledgeable "persons". He quickly headed to the docking bay that housed the station's runabouts.

One hour later he stood outside the doors of holodeck #8. A minute ago he had poked his head into one of the station's botany labs and sure enough the staff was still engaged in its own "personal pursuits" amongst the Terran Ferns, Andorian Quawba Trees, and Orion Blue-leaf Palms. It seems the influencing force was still in full effect. Hopefully, V'Pier thought, the "consultation" he was about to take part in would shed some light on the subject.

"Computer, run program V'Pier NX-Alpha" he said out loud.

"Program complete. You may enter." the emotionless voice responded.

V'Pier entered the holodeck. The interior was an exact duplicate of the station's Senior Staff meeting room. There was one noticeable difference, instead of his Senior Staff there sat only two attractive women, one wearing a standard red Starfleet uniform and the other the standard blue uniform. Neither wore any rank pips on their collars.

"Cleopatra" he said, acknowledging the woman in red. He then turned slightly to say "Persephone" to the woman in blue.

V'Pier had used his knowledge in engineering to link the artificial intelligence computers of both the USS Nile and the new USS Styx to the Starbase's mainframe. He then channeled both holograms to holodeck #8. That task was more difficult than it sounded, for AI computers were very delicate devices and the fact that people copulated right in full view of him did not make it any easier. However, now that he succeeded and had the two holographic entities linked to the Starbase's mainframe, there was little he couldn't do from the holodeck.

"Admiral V'Pier, it is good to see you again. How can I be of assistance?" Cleopatra said. The Admiral had dealt with the holographic entity on several occasions while utilizing the Nile, however he had to keep reminding himself that she was not truly alive.

"I TOO am at your service, Admiral V'Pier." said Persephone. The beautiful hologram gave a quick side glance at Cleopatra and emphasized the "I too" part of her sentence.

V'Pier realized these computers were so advanced that they could actually develop "personalities". Could it be that these two did not "like" each other? Cleopatra was once unique, now she was no longer that and surely the new Persephone AI would not like being thought of as a "rookie". No matter, he had no time for the silly infighting of two artificial women.

He quickly informed the two AIs of what was taking place in great detail, giving as many time frames and actual data as possible. After his story was told, the Persephone computer quickly spoke up.

"Admiral. I have taken the liberty to activate all 30 of the emergency medical holograms in the infirmary. I am sure Dr. Keir would not want to lose any of his patients."

By the great link! V'Pier thought. In the confusion and his concern for ships docking and sub-space messages getting answered, he had forgotten about the patients who might have been in critical care in the infirmary.

"Good work, Persephone" V'Pier said. "Now, let's find out what we are up against."

Cleopatra continued the scans that Lt. Ferel and his crew never got around to finishing before they were overcome by "desires". She did not need access to any equipment or computer terminals, she simply closed her eyes as she tapped into the mainframe, thousands of gigabytes of information flowing through her. Meanwhile, Persephone, the AI of Dr. Keir's medical runabout, performed detailed medical scans on random Starbase crew members. She too only needed to close her eyes to perform the task at hand. All the while both AIs shared their findings with each other.

Finally both AIs spoke up simultaneously. "I know what is occurring" they both said in stereo. Each looked at the other in mild annoyance.

"Well, would you please explain it to me!" V'Pier said. He had his own ideas of what was happening but he needed it scientifically confirmed.

"It seems that..." both AIs began, again in stereo, and again stopping to give each other annoyed looks.

"One at a time!" V'Pier snapped. He was getting annoyed by their silly cattiness. His station was in danger. "Cleo... please explain".

The holographic woman grinned and gave the other a smug smile. "It seems that Starbase 51 has become the target of a large amount of non-corporeal entities who exist in hyperspace."

Hyperspace? V'Pier thought. He knew that it existed, but Starfleet, thus far, never put much attention in that area of study. The concept of warp drive, even their means of communication all dealt with sub-space. Hyperspace was truly a new area to be explored.

Cleo continued "These entities are feeding off of the crew of Starbase 51. It is the nebula that the Starbase is in that attracted them. It seems to have qualities that lure them."

"Feeding off of us? How and why?" V'Pier asked, turning to the Persephone hologram. He wanted to give them equal time.

Persephone explained "When humanoids indulge in sexual acts, their brains release certain hormones, even larger quantities of them during orgasms. They are different from race to race, but essentially the same thing. Think of them as different flavors of ice cream if you will. In any case, it is these chemicals that they have need of for some reason. Maybe to survive. Maybe to mate. It's hard to say. What is important is that they seem to have the ability to induce an overpowering lust in humanoid beings, thus feeding off of the hormones that are produced."

Cleopatra cut in "This is why certain races are not affected. They do not have the necessary ability to produce such hormones. Exactly 4% of the Starbase's staff has remained unaffected."

"Besides the obvious... work being ignored and the social aspects... are there any other dangerous ramifications to these 'feedings'?" V'Pier asked.

Persephone spoke up, medical was her area of expertise. "Yes, Admiral. I believe that those affected will not stop to eat or drink, they will starve themselves. However, long before that occurs they will suffer severe brain damage. The humanoid brain is not meant to continuously release any given hormone without rest. It will in a sense, burn itself out. If the time frames you have given us are correct, in some races minor brain damage may begin to occur within the next 2 hours if their hormonal output continues to be over taxed."

$#@$ themselves to death is what Dr. Keir would say in one of his very casual moods, V'Pier thought. The concept sounded funny, however the Admiral knew otherwise. The situation was deadly serious.

"Is there some way we can communicate with these people... these things?" V'Pier asked.

"None that I am aware of, Admiral." Cleo said. "The study of hyperspace is not very advanced. We can not even be sure they are intelligent. They could simply be a form of low intelligence animal. Like a herd of Terran sheep devouring all the grass as they move along."

"Yes... yes I understand" the Admiral said, his mind quickly going through calculations and theories. His entire crew was in trouble and needed help... fast.

"What about simply 'shooing them away'? What would the effects of a hypersonic pulse be on them?" he asked the AIs.

Both Persephone and Cleopatra closed their eyes as a multitude of mathematic and medical calculations flowed through them.

Persephone spoke up first. "A hypersonic pulse at its lowest pitch would instantly render all humanoids unconscious, though do no lasting physical damage."

Cleo continued "The sudden 'slamming shut' of all the minds should prove to be enough to stun the entities. The hypersonic pulse in of itself may even stun them on its own, since it reaches into hyperspace. No matter if the entities are of high intelligence or animal intelligence they should understand the general message and move on."

"Leaving our Starbase alone." V'Pier said, thinking aloud. "Well, 'ladies', there is work to be done and I have no intentions of letting my staff down."

Flooding the entire Space Station with such a pulse would require more engineering work as well as several security codes. The station was developed NOT to allow for such things, for taking over the entire station would prove to be much too easy. Security protocols had to be deactivated and several mechanical procedures had to be done. Unfortunately, Persephone and Cleopatra could not leave the holodeck. V'Pier contacted the remaining 4% of his crew that were not affected and enlisted their assistance. They worked feverishly for the next 90 minutes until the necessary changes were made.

The Admiral stood outside of the quarters of Admiral Cian before he engaged the hypersonic pulse. He wanted his fellow Admiral to be immediately informed of what had taken place once he regained consciousness. He over-rode Cian's security lock and entered his quarters.

Though he knew what to expect, he was still slightly taken aback at the sight of Cian and Dr. Sijar, their naked bodies covered with sweat as if it had rained upon them. How long had they been at it, V'Pier thought?

Cian noticed the entrance of V'Pier and looked up from among the plush pillows and the flawless flesh of Dr. Sijar.

"V'Pier" he said, his eyes filled with desperation. Even now he still struggled to fight against the mental manipulation. Struggled to gain control of his own mind, his own body. "I... I..." he tried to speak but his desires wouldn't let him, and neither would Dr. Sijar who continuously covered his mouth in wet kisses.

"Don't worry my friend". V'Pier said as he tapped his com-badge "Cleo... Persephone, initiate program Hyper-Alphan.... NOW!"

Throughout the entire Starbase a sound that could not be heard echoed through every corridor. Both Cian and Dr. Sijar quickly covered their ears instinctively and let out a wail of pain before they fell upon the pillows, completely unconscious.

"Cleo... Persephone, status?" he asked out loud.

"All life forms aboard Starbase 51 are now unconscious. Only the 1% who are immune to hypersonic pulses still stand. Consciousness for the others should begin to return in approximately two minutes" Persephone said.

"And those 'feeding' creatures?" V'Pier inquired.

"My scans show the hyperspace entities have left the corresponding space that is Starbase 51. They are gone, Admiral." Cleopatra said.

Admiral V'Pier knew that he should be happy that he "saved the day" and to a degree he was. Vast amounts of people were not killed and hopefully no one suffered any lasting brain damage. However, the Admiral knew that the ramifications of this day would be far reaching. Relationships had changed, bridges had been crossed that would affect many a person. Admiral Cian's counselors would be very busy in the days ahead, but who would counsel them? And would Dr. Keir's staff have to contend with numerous unwanted pregnancies?

V'Pier looked down at the unconscious Cian and Sijar. He grabbed two sheets from the bed and covered them both.

All hell would break loose in about two minutes and he was not looking forward to it.