Commander Ford's voice had the odd 'filtered' sound that voices aquired when being piped through the Communications System but Captain Bridger listened intently. He had been sitting here on the bridge trying to mask his excitement over this find. He had fooled everyone except Wendy Smith, who stood by his side also waiting to get a closer look at the thing.
"The artifact is safely on board, sir," Ford reported.
"Thank you, Commander. We'll be right there. Mr. Ortiz, since your Sensors made this discovery, would you like to accompany us?"
"Thank you, Captain, but Henderson was monitoring my station at the time, maybe she'd like to go," Ortiz stated.
"Really?!" Henderson's eyes were alight with enthusiasm.
"Sure," he smiled. This was not his first tour. Discoveries that had nothing to do with electronics or pirates' gold did not hold the fascination for him that they did for her. This was her first tour. Everything was new and exciting for her.
"Come along, Ensign, " the Captain said as he and Wendy headed for the clamshell doors that led off the bridge.
"Thanks, Miguel." She threw her arms around him for a minute.
The move startled him and he hoped the Captain didn't catch it. He knew little got by the man. "Get out of here." He readjusted the headset she'd all but knocked off of him.
O'Neill switched to frequency four and signaled Ortiz to do the same. "That was nice."
Ortiz shrugged. "You seen one three thousand year old artifact, you seen 'um all."
"You're such an historian," O'Neill laughed.
"Never claimed to be. You find out what I asked you to find out?"
"Have I ever failed you? Her name is Micheala McBride. She's single and seemingly unattached. She outranks you but you've never let that stand in your way before. I'm going to start charging for this service, you know."
"If I wanted to pay, I'd go through Lucas. He'd even tell me all the parts you have decided I was better off not knowing."
"I'm just trying to save you from yourself."
"That's what friends are for, I suppose. That's why you do it for free."
"You're getting to be as big a con artist as Piccolo," O'Neill complained but Ortiz just grinned. He was already planning his approach for the cute new red head who'd just transferred to the seaQuest.
***
Down on Sea Deck the artifact was secured in a clean room. It had been checked for radiation and all other contaminants for which they could scan. There was no sign of anything dangerous about the large box. Captain Bridger, Commander Ford, Lt. Brody, Dr. Smith, Ensign Henderson and two technicians entered the room with care. They were now more concerned that they would in some way damage it.
"How old do you think it is?" Lonnie asked, trying to act as sophisticated about such things as the others were.
"Hard to tell. If we can get some samples I can carbon date it," Wendy said.
Brody carefully removed some of the last vestiges of seaweed. "Looks like there's some kind of writing on it. Might be hieroglyphics. It's nothing I recognize."
"We'll get O'Neill to take a look at it later," Bridger said. "Right now, what say we open it up."
Brody and the technicians were looking for a way to do that without smashing the ancient thing opened when Henderson stepped forward with a tool. "This will probably work."
"Be my guest." Brody tried to hide his frustration at his own inability to get into the box. He was not particularly successful.
Henderson knelt by what looked like some kind of lock and worked her tool into the slot. After a few minutes they heard a click and what sounded like old springs and the lid to the box popped opened about three inches. It was heavy and Brody and the two techs shoved it opened the rest of the way. It took all three of them and they had to really strain at that.
They all gathered around the box and looked inside. All they could see was some kind of gossamer material that was spun as fine as cobwebs. Something appeared to be shrouded inside.
"Is it a mummy?" Henderson's voice was a harsh whisper.
"Let's find out." Wendy took a pair of surgical scissors and carefully began to cut away at the many layers of gossamer.
Before any of them knew what was happening they were overpowered by a horrendous stench. They each automatically took a step back. That was the last conscious thought any of them had. They each collapsed where they stood. None of them saw the foglike, shape that rose from the box. Henderson was the closest to it. It descended over her prone body and hovered there for a few minutes. It then rose up to a ventilation shaft and disappeared into it.
***
Later that night in the mess hall Henderson was telling her friends about her harrowing adventure. "It was absolutely the WORST smell you can imagine!"
"I don't know," Lucas said seriously. "Have you ever smelled Tony's locker?"
"Very funny!" Tony was insulted.
"Then the next thing I remember I was waking up in Medbay," she concluded.
"I guess you didn't do her any favors, after all, Miguel," O'Neill started to say but noticed that Ortiz' attention was not on the conversation at their table. He was making eye contact with the beautiful Lt. McBride who sat across the room.
"Miguel?" Tim tried to regain his attention. He was unsuccessful.
"Hey, have you heard the latest?" Tony asked mischievously. "The Captain has decided to let each one of us be captain for a day. On my day, it will be clothing optional. Whad'ya think about that?"
Ortiz nodded. He was used to tuning them out when he had bigger fish to fry. This only encouraged the others to continue to tease him.
"On my day, we'll all be painted blue - no pink," said Henderson. "Won't that be great, Miguel?"
"Yeah great," he agreed. His eyes never left Lt. McBride, nor did his attention.
Lucas got caught up in the spirit of it. He knew how to really get to Ortiz. "On my day, I'm changing the WSKRS designations to Floppsy, Mopsy, and Cottontail." They all broke up at that and Ortiz looked at them stupidly.
"What did you say?"
Again they all laughed. He knew he was the brunt of the joke he just didn't know what the joke was.
"Why don't you just go over there?" Tony asked.
"That would be rude to you guys," Miguel explained.
Tony, Lucas and Henderson laughed at him once more but O'Neill just shoved him a little. "Go. Let me get up. I promised the Captain I'd go look at the lettering on the mystery box."
"You'd better be careful," Lonnie warned.
"Careful is my middle name. I'll be in the next room using a remote camera."
"I thought Tim was your middle name," Ortiz commented.
"You'd better go swoop down on your target. Here comes Brody," O'Neill told him quietly.
"Well, if you guys don't mind."
"Mind? We're glad to be rid of you. Maybe for once we'll be able to eat what's on our trays ourselves without you snatchin' half of it away," Tony said sardonically.
Ortiz was about to object but he did see Brody heading their way. He turned around and smiled at the red head and walked toward her.
"What's with him?" Brody asked, noting Ortiz' odd behavior.
"He's in love," O'Neill explained.
"Again?" Brody asked with a touch of disbelief.
"Well, he's due. It's been almost a week now since the last time," Tony pointed out. "Looks like he won't be showin' at the poker game tonight. You want in, Lieutenant?"
"Tony," Brody pretended to act shocked, "as an officer, you know I can't condone gambling."
"That don't stop ya if ya win," Tony said.
"And without Ortiz there I might just do that," Brody thought outloud.
"Don't count Henderson out. She beat us all last night."
"Just a lucky night," Henderson shrugged.
"I'm in," Brody decided. "After this afternoon I could use a little diversion. That thing was creepy."
"You weren't scared were you, Lieutenant?" Tony teased.
"Next time we'll make the guy with the gills deal with the thing outside the boat where nobody important is in danger," Brody threatened.
***
They were not the only ones discussing the strange events of the day. Wendy, Commander Ford and Captain Bridger were still in Medbay.
"Well whatever that was the air purifiers have taken care of it. Still, we're going to have to be very careful about exposure until we know exactly what we're dealing with," Bridger stated.
"Had to be some sort of gas formed from the ancient embalming fluids," Wendy said but she still looked puzzled.
"What are you not saying, Wendy?" Bridger wanted to know.
"It's strange. I'm getting weight fluctuations on the artifact. It's slightly lighter now than when it was brought onboard."
"We know it released some kind of gas," Ford pointed out.
"I suppose that could be it. I'm going to need to conduct a lot more tests."
"Remember full haz mat suits for anybody going near that thing till we get more answers," Bridger warned.
"It's the only way we'll get more answers," Wendy put in.
"You're awfully quiet, " Bridger said to Ford.
"Maybe it's just that I don't have your scientific curiosity but I was wondering if we shouldn't just - put it back," Ford said quietly.
"Where's your sense of adventure, Jonathan?" Bridger laughed.
"It's my sense of self preservation that's kicking in now," Ford admitted.
"We'll take the proper precautions from now on. Think what we could learn from something like this," Bridger tried to be encouraging but Ford had the distinct feeling that there were some things they were better off not knowing.
"Are you alright?" Bridger asked him with concern.
"His blood sugar is probably low. Why don't you go and get some dinner?" Wendy suggested.
"I think I will. If you'll excuse me," Ford agreed.
"I always considered him completely unflappable," Bridger commented when he had left. "But I'd swear he was almost afraid of this thing."
"I'd say caution was advisable in light of what happened earlier," Wendy said.
"Agreed. I don't want to go through that again," Bridger agreed.
***
Later that evening Ortiz was walking Lt. McBride back to her quarters. He had tried everything but sharing the rest of the supper break with her and walking the long way back to the crew's quarters was about all the time he was going to get to spend with her tonight. Still, it was a start. He was smiling to himself as he walked away from her quarters.
Henderson was waiting at the end of the hall. She was leaning against the wall with her arms crossed over her chest. She had a smug look on her face. "Struck out, huh?" she said snidely.
"What?" Ortiz was startled.
"She blew you off."
"She had to wash her hair." Ortiz was somewhat angry. None of this was any of Lonnie's business.
Henderson laughed cruelly, "Miguel, that's the oldest excuse in the book."
"What's it to you anyway?" He started to walk away.
She caught up to him and slid her arm through his. "Well, don't get mad. The night doesn't have to be a total loss."
"What are you talking about?" He was suspicious.
"Come on, do I have to draw you a picture?" She leaned her body against his suggestively.
"Lonnie!"
She put her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately. He was shocked and pushed her away.
"Hey! Cut it out. What about Tim?"
"He's working tonight. Forget about him." Her kisses were becoming more aggressive. By this time she had him up against the wall and he could not push her away. This was not like Lonnie at all. He remembered that Lucas had once admitted having fantasies about her when she first came on board before anyone knew her. This was the wanton nympho that Lucas had dreamed of. This was not the behavior he found attractive in a woman. He almost wondered if he was falling victim to some kind of prank, although she certainly seemed like she meant business.
Before he could really decide what to do the true object of his affections came out into the hallway. She actually was on her way to wash her hair when her eyes fell on them. She stopped dead in her tracks. A few minutes ago this guy was proclaiming his undying devotion to her now he was in the arms of another girl. Her Irish temper got the best of her. She stormed up to him smacking him good with the towel she carried. "I'm the only girl for you, am I?"
"Michaela, let me explain..." Ortiz begged desperately.
"You don't have to explain. I have two eyes, don't I? You can just drop dead!" She stormed off to the ladies' showers.
"No, Michaela, WAIT."
"Go to the devil!"
Ortiz angrily turned back to Henderson. "Are you happy now?"
Henderson was still smiling. "Not as happy as I'm going to be," she said seductively. She started kissing him again.
His anger gave him the added strength to successfully push her off this time. "Don't you get it? I'm NOT interested."
He fought to control the rage he felt. He thought it best to just walk away and pretend none of this had actually happened.
His back was to Henderson so he did not see her face. It changed. She suddenly appeared furious. Her features distorted and did not even look human for a minute. Her skin flushed red. She threw back her head and roared.
The sound he heard was so strange he had to turn around. One minute Henderson was at the far end of the hall the next she seemed to slide up to him very fast. In less than a heartbeat she was right in front of him. She grabbed him and shoved him hard into the wall. She was incredibly strong. She had him pinned to the wall. She picked him up by his lapels till he was a good four inches off the floor. She had a strange, evil look on her face. It scared the hell out of him. "Lonnie?" he gasped plaintively. Suddenly a horrible smell overcame him and he passed out.
She continued to hold him up by the collar. She looked around and spotted a janitor's closet. She dragged him up to it, yanked the door opened and shoved him onto the floor inside. She followed and closed the door behind her.
He hit the floor with enough force to bring him around but he was stunned and could see nothing in the dark. Before he could do anything an incredibly heavy weight fell on him forcing nearly all the air out of his lungs. He tried to gasp for breath. He tried to call for help but a hand was clapped firmly over his mouth. The skin on the hand felt old, and dry and brittle. Incredibly long fingernails dug into his chin and cheek and drew blood.
The sight and smell of the blood excited the creature and it leaned closer to his face.
It was pitch dark. He swore he could feel hot breath on his face. He was almost sure he could see two red eyes drawing closer to him. He tried to struggle and throw it off or, at least, make enough commotion that someone would investigate. Suddenly the red eyes locked on to his and he could no longer move. It yanked his head to one side and tore his collar away.
"No no," he whimpered. It was all he could do. Once his neck was exposed something tore into it. It hurt for just a minute and then went numb. He began to feel numb all over. He could hear slurping sounds and he knew that someone was drinking his blood. He had no control over anything any more. He might have thrown up if he had had that option. He could no longer fight. His mind could not process what was happening to him. Why was Lonnie doing this? How was Lonnie doing this? Maybe he was trapped inside one of Lucas' famous nightmares. He couldn't think. He was feeling too weak. He vaguely remembered feeling cold and then all he could do was surrender to sleep.
***
Henderson came out of the closet after checking to make sure that no one was around. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. Her eyes were darting everywhere and there was something wild about her for a few minutes then she seemed to regain control. She looked and moved more like her old self as she walked on down the corridor in a casual manner. She ran into McBride returning from the showers. McBride eyed her icily but Henderson was suddenly warm and friendly. "Look, it's just as well you found out when you did. You were just a conquest to him. You're better off without him. Take it from me, I've known him longer than you."
"That didn't seem to bother you earlier." McBride was standoffish.
"Hey, it's just a physical thing with us. I mean, let's face it the guy is hot. But, if you want a real relationship - any kind of emotional commitment, then Ortiz is not the guy for you."
McBride looked at her suspiciously trying to read her motives.
"Look," Henderson said kindly, "us girls have got to stick together when it comes to his type." They walked off down the corridor. They did not notice Tony Piccolo in a side corridor or know that he'd heard the last of the conversation. He'd left the poker game early because Henderson was winning again. He had come to spy on Ortiz and see how he was doing with the lovely Lt. McBride. He never stopped to wonder how Henderson had beaten him here. He continued to eavesdrop on the two women.
"You were right to dump him," Henderson was saying kindly. "Don't worry. You'll find someone else. There's lots of guys on this boat and they are not all like Ortiz."
So Ortiz had struck out and struck out badly by the sounds of things. This poor girl was going to need comforting and Tony knew just the guy to do it. He headed back to his own quarters to make his own game plan.
He didn't see Henderson walk McBride to her door. Once McBride was safely on the inside Henderson transformed into McBride and walked down to the end of the corridor and left the crew's quarters.
***
Early the next morning Dagwood opened up the closet in which he kept his cleaning supplies. He was startled to find Ortiz laying on the floor. He thought it an odd place to sleep. "Why are you sleeping here?" he had to ask. Ortiz just groaned so Dagwood shook his shoulder. "Ortiz, wake up."
"Ahhhhhh," Ortiz startled awake. "Dags, is that you?"
"Yes."
"Is she gone?"
"Who?"
"Never mind. What time is it?"
"It is 05:55 hours," Dagwood said proudly. He'd finally mastered the military clock. The captain had told him to be happy that they no longer used bells. He could not imagine how you could tell time from a bell.
"Oh God!" Ortiz gasped. "I can't believe this."
"It is true. Do you want to see my watch?"
"No. No, that's not what I meant. Ahhh," Ortiz felt suddenly dizzy.
"What's wrong?' Dagwood looked closer at him even though it was still fairly dark in the closet. "Ortiz, you are bleeding."
"I guess I'm lucky to have any blood left to bleed." Ortiz shivered.
"Are you cold?"
"No I .....I gotta go get ready for duty."
Dagwood helped him up. Ortiz seemed weak and his clothes were wrinkled and torn in places as if he had been in a fight. "Ortiz, what happened to you?" he asked seriously.
"I don't know," Ortiz said quietly.
Dagwood could tell he was frightened even though he tried to pretend he wasn't.
"Well, I'd better go." Ortiz looked around nervously. He took a step and stumbled. Dagwood caught him.
"Maybe you should go to Medbay," Dagwood suggested.
"I can't do that!" Ortiz' eyes were wide with fright. He looked for a minute like he was going to panic but then he got ahold of himself. "I'm O K. Really. Just a little stiff is all."
"Why did you sleep here?"
"It's a long story. I'd better go grab a shower or I'll be late for duty," Ortiz smiled but Dagwood could sense there was something he did not want to tell. "Look, ah, Dags, I'd really appreciate it if you didn't say anything to anybody about this."
"About what, Romeo?" Tony laughed.
This was the worst thing that could have happened. Both Tony and Lucas stood there. "Nothing," Ortiz vowed angrily.
"What's that on your neck? Whoa! Major hickey!" Tony pulled at Ortiz' torn collar. His whole neck was discolored.
"Shut up, Seaman! I can see that you have extra kitchen duty for the next six months!!" Ortiz flared. He was really angry. He'd never pulled rank on them before.
"Aye sir." Tony saluted. "I see nothing, I see nothing." He did his best imitation of Sgt. Schultz but it was lost on Ortiz. He turned and stormed away.
"Whew! Someone got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning," Lucas commented when Ortiz was out of earshot.
"I doubt very much he's been to bed yet, Lucas," Tony said trying to sound very wise. "At least not to sleep."
Lucas laughed but Tony turned to Dagwood. "So what didn't he want you to tell, Big Guy?"
"He asked me not to say and I'm not saying," Dagwood vowed.
There was no way they could cajole Ortiz' secret out of Dagwood so they went on to breakfast. Tony had felt no compulsion to share the fact that it had not worked out between Ortiz and McBride. Ortiz had managed to find a replacement evidently. That left McBride wide opened in his book.
***
Ortiz was almost dozing on the Maglev when it stopped at the Officers' Quarters and Tim O'Neill got on and sat down beside him.
"Rough night?" Tim asked.
"No! I didn't do anything!" Ortiz felt panicked. Tim and Lonnie were sort of dating and he was Tim's best friend. How could he ever explain what happened?
"Well, you look like death warmed over --"
"I'm not dead. Nothing happened, Tim. Nothing!"
"Alright. Anything you say." Tim was puzzled by his friend's bizarre behavior but bizarre behavior was not unheard of with Ortiz. He almost envied Miguel his wild ways. Almost.
When the Maglev stopped they both stood up but Ortiz seemed to stumble and Tim caught his elbow. "Miguel, what's wrong?"
"Nothing. I - I'm just feeling a little lightheaded. I was running late and didn't have time for breakfast."
"You were running late because you were so tired from doing nothing last night?" Tim was dubious.
"Get off my back, will ya?" Ortiz flared and shook Tim's hand off his arm.
The Maglev doors had just opened and Commander Ford witnessed the last part of the conversation.
"Everything alright here?" he asked.
"Fine," Ortiz muttered. His tone was not one in which you addressed an officer.
"Mr. Ortiz?"
"I'm gonna be late, sir." Ortiz had reined in his anger and there was now a pleading sound to his voice. He looked longingly over Ford's shoulder to the bridge.
"Go ahead," Ford dismissed him. After he'd left he looked to O'Neill for some explanation.
"Everything is fine, sir."
"Didn't sound that way."
"It is, sir."
"Well, go ahead. Don't be late."
"Aye, sir." O'Neill stepped by the Commander and made his way onto the bridge. He knew that his friend had a short fuse when he was hungry but somehow this seemed like more than that. He intended to keep an eye on him whether he liked it or not.
The fact that he missed breakfast was the farthest thing from Ortiz' mind. He had to work right next to Lonnie. How could he just act like nothing had happened? Even though he tried to pretend that was the case. He wasn't even sure exactly what did happen or how to deal with it. After he'd left Dagwood and the others this morning he'd gone and taken a long shower. He'd used up his water allotment for the whole month but he didn't care. Then he had dug out the regulation turtle neck sweaters from their old uniforms. Bridger had told them they could drop them now that they were based in Florida but no one had said they couldn't wear them and he was cold. It had nothing to do with wanting to hide his neck. He'd finally forced himself to look at it. It didn't look nearly as bad as Tony had said. Trust that jerk to exaggerate but he didn't want to answer any questions. The remnants of the marks on his chin and cheek could be explained away as shaving mishaps.
He steeled himself then took his position. He barely heard the report that the man he was relieving gave him. His attention was on Lonnie who was busy on her own position. Though, it had never bothered him before the two positions seemed uncomfortably close together. He scooted his chair away as far as he dared. The noise made her look up from her work. She smiled at him.
"Have fun last night?" she teased.
"No!" he snapped a little too loud and drew some unwanted attention.
"Come on," Lonnie continued to tease him. "No one could look that bad unless they'd had a really good time."
"Why don't you mind your own business, Ensign?" he snarled.
She was completely surprised by this and drew back from him instinctively.
Tim had been watching and found an excuse to approach them. "Don't mind him, Lonnie. He missed breakfast."
"That explains it," Lonnie laughed. "We all know he's a little grouchy when he's hungry."
"Will you both leave me alone. I'm trying to work here." Miguel tried to calm himself. He did not want to tip Tim off in anyway.
Brody approached. "Problem, folks?"
"No," Ortiz said flatly.
"Glad to hear it." Brody was unduly pleasant. He had spoken to Tony and Lucas earlier. "Say, Miguel, why are you wearing that turtleneck?" he asked "innocently"
"I'm cold. Is that a crime?!" his voice carried farther than he intended.
It drew Ford's attention from the center of the bridge. Ortiz was normally a very easy going guy. This morning he was snapping at everyone. Ford decided to go investigate.
"Cold? The temperature in here hasn't deviated one degree from the optimum." Brody tried not to smirk
"Well, I'm cold," Ortiz argued. It was the truth.
"Miguel, " Lonnie was concerned, "maybe you're coming down with something. You look awfully pale." Lonnie was cross trained as a medic. She knew you could tell a lot about a person's condition by the way the skin felt. She reached her hand up to his forehead.
For a moment he was frozen with fear as her hand reached toward him. He remembered last night clearly - every little detail - even though he had been trying to forget. He remembered the feel of the skin on her hand. He remembered the claws that had raked him. But he saw no claws now. Lonnie was a nail biter. She did not even have long fingernails which could have scratched him. He didn't have time to worry about incongruities - he just knew he couldn't let her touch him again. "LEAVE ME ALONE!!" he screamed. His voice was full of terror and carried across the whole bridge. He could no longer think logically. He just knew he did not want to go through what he went through last night ever again. He got up and bolted out of his chair before any one could stop him. He didn't hear them calling him. He only heard the sound of his blood pounding in his ears. He had to escape. He ran full tilt right into Commander Ford.
Ford wasn't sure how he'd managed to keep his feet when Ortiz ran into him. He only knew that he'd never seen such a look of abject fear on anyone's face before. It matched the nagging fear he, himself, had felt since yesterday. Ford's fear was deeply buried but Ortiz was a prisoner of his. Ortiz looked at him. Ford wasn't sure he even recognized him. The Sensor Chief struggled to break free for a few minutes then his strength failed him and he passed out. "What the hell's going on here?!" Ford demanded. "Call a med team." He lowered Ortiz to the deck.
"I think he's sick, sir." Lonnie was a little rattled but went to Ortiz to try and revive him.
"Sick? He looked scared to death. What in the world scared him?"
"I think he was afraid of me, sir," Lonnie admitted nervously. "I don't know why."
Lonnie could not revive him nor could the med team so they whisked him off to Medbay.
***
If anyone onboard seaQuest knew where all the hiding places were, it was Tony Piccolo. He was sure he knew of some that no one else knew about at all. He was in one of these secluded places daydreaming about the lovely Lt. McBride. He was very startled to see her. He couldn't imagine why she was down here in the service area between Sea Deck and the cargo bays but there she was. He was not the kind of guy to let an opportunity like that slip away.
"Ah, Lieutenant, hello. My name is Tony. That is Seaman Piccolo if you want to get formal. I was just wondering if I could give you a hand. If you don't mind my saying so - you might be a little lost. It's perfectly understandable, you being new on the boat and all."
She had smiled at him when he spoke to her and walked right up to him. She didn't appear to be a stickler for the separation of officers and enlisted like some female officers on this boat. This was a pleasant surprise but nothing like what happened when she got right up to him. She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. This was not a peck on the cheek for finding her when she was lost. This kiss meant business. He was still too startled to do more than enjoy this turn of events when she backed him up to the bulkhead and pinned him there. Her kisses were getting hotter and she was unbuttoning his shirt. He was trying to figure out if there was actually enough room in this tiny space for what she had in mind. He decided to just relax and enjoy it. Relax? He was relaxed even where he shouldn't have been relaxed. In fact, he couldn't move at all. He felt like strong hands were on his shoulders but her hands were busy undoing his shirt. Why couldn't he move? This thought overrode her kisses and the way she leaned her body into him.
"Ah, Lieutenant?" he tried to say. Suddenly his head turned to one side of its own accord. She pushed his shirt down onto his shoulders.
A cold fear overtook him. Something was very wrong here. He tried to struggle - to cry out - but he was paralyzed. He couldn't turn his head but he could move his eyes. Her face looked strange. Her teeth looked sharp and pointed. She was going for his throat. He tried to find the strength to push her off. How was she so strong? What was she? Suddenly she jerked back as if she'd been burned. A strange sound issued from her throat and then she growled at him. A horrible smell engulfed him and that was the last thing he remembered.
***
Captain Bridger had gotten word that his Sensor Chief had collapsed on the bridge and was rushed to Medbay. He got to Medbay just as Wendy was explaining to O'Neill and Henderson that she was still running tests but that Mr. Ortiz was very run down and steps were being taken to correct the situation. It sounded like a pat medical statement and they did not look terribly satisfied with it. He could tell it was all Wendy wanted to tell them so he sent them back to the bridge. He followed Wendy into her office and closed the door. "What's wrong with Ortiz?"
Wendy sighed. "Like I told them he's run down. He's bordering on exhaustion, the reason being that his blood count is desperately low."
"Anemia or something worse?" Bridger asked
"I'm running every test I can think of. Three weeks ago I gave Ortiz a routinely scheduled physical. He was in perfect health. Now his blood supply is down by nearly one third. I can find no wound that would account for the loss. We are transfusing him but I'm afraid this is something serious."
"Leukemia?" Bridger hardly dared say the word.
"No. I've ruled out all common blood diseases. It's not just his white cells that are gone. He's been partially exsanguinated."
"He seemed fine yesterday."
"So his friends tell me. He seemed fine until this morning. At which time he complained of being cold and light headed. He also seemed very agitated, all of those symptoms are in line with blood loss. What could have happened between yesterday and today to cause this?"
"He wasn't with us down on Sea Deck so I guess we can rule that out."
"I'll tell you, Nathan, that was the first thing I thought of. It's the only unusual thing that's happened on the boat. As you say though, he wasn't there. But about the artifact, remember that I told you there was a weight variation?"
"Yes."
"The weight continues to vary. It now weighs more than it did when it came on board."
"Curiouser and curiouser. Well, you just worry about Ortiz. We'll let the lab boys at the UEO skull out the other thing."
"I have other people running tests on it. Did O'Neill discover anything from the markings on the outside of the box?"
"I'll put him on that full time. Get his mind off his friend in there."
***
Tony woke up slowly. At first, he assumed he had fallen asleep while hiding out on the duty officer. He'd done it lots of times before. His hand brushed against his chest. He was surprised to touch bare skin. Why was his shirt opened? Then it started coming back to him. He was beginning to panic when his hand felt something hard. It was his crucifix. His mother had given it to him when he first went to sea. He wore it as more of a reminder of her than an actual religious article. Still he knew exactly what had happened and that the silver crucifix had driven the vampire away. Vampire. The word made his blood run cold. But he knew that that was exactly what McBride was. He knew no one would believe him. Not without more proof than he had but he also knew he had to protect himself. He struggled to his feet and made his way to the galley. He was going to grab every clove of garlic he could lay his hands on.
***
Lucas walked into his quarters. The first thing he was aware of was the pungent smell that assaulted his nostrils. "Tony. What the hell...?" he choked. Garlic was strewn everywhere.
"Don't say a word, Brain Boy. I'm just keeping us safe is all. You're not going to believe what's loose on this boat."
"Tony," Lucas said seriously. Too seriously. "I guess you haven't heard. Something's wrong with Ortiz. Something serious. He collapsed on the bridge today. They won't say what's wrong with him but I've never seen Wendy or the Captain look this worried."
"Ortiz? Of course! That proves it."
"Proves what?" Lucas was in no mood for any of Tony's foolishness. He remembered what a hard time they had given Ortiz that morning. He was probably sick then and they had just made fun of him. Now if anything really bad happened that would be what he'd always remember - that they had taunted a dying man. It made him shudder.
"Remember Ortiz this morning?"
"How could I forget?"
"It all ties together."
"What does?"
"Ortiz. The vampire."
"The WHAT?!! Tony, haven't you heard a word I said? This isn't some stupid game. He might die. They don't know what's wrong with him."
"I do. Look, I know it's hard to believe. You need proof. Get into the medical files."
"NO!"
"I know what you'll find. He's had some blood sucked out. Remember that hickey? It wasn't a hickey.........."
"You're just plain sick!" Lucas yelled and left their quarters. He couldn't deal with Tony now.
"Lucas, I'm serious," Tony called after him but he was gone. He looked longingly at Lucas' computer but he was kidding himself to think he could ever hack into the medical records. Who else could? O'Neill maybe. He armed himself with some garlic and set out to find him.
***
O'Neill was outside the clean room on Sea Deck. He was studying a monitor screen while a remote camera photographed the markings on the outside of the artifact. The sea had worn much of it away and he could make no sense of what he saw. It was frustrating. He tried to keep his mind on his work but it kept wandering back to what was wrong with Ortiz. He knew there was a lot that Wendy was not telling them. He was deep in thought and did not hear Tony come up behind him. He did smell him though. He spun around toward the offensive odor fearing, for a minute that is was what had overcome the others. "God, Tony, is that your breath?"
"Ha Ha. This is garlic." He showed him the string of it he had under his shirt. "Know why I'm wearing it?"
"No. I don't care about the latest fashion among deviants such as yourself."
"Well, you'd better care. It's a lot more important than that stupid box."
"This is what the Captain assigned me to do so, to me, nothing is more important than this box."
"Even Ortiz?"
"Is he worse? What have you heard?" O'Neill demanded forcefully.
"I know what's wrong with him."
"What?"
"You may not believe this but I swear it's the truth. He was attacked by a vampire."
"Oh, Tony, how can you kid around about this?"
"I'm not. I'm deadly serious. I know because...because she almost got me too."
"She?"
"Yes. Lt McBride. She's a vampire. She got Ortiz last night and she went for me this morning. The only thing that stopped her was this." He brought the crucifix out from under his shirt.
"Tony..."
"You want proof. Hack into the medical records and check on Ortiz."
"Your asking me to spy on my best friend."
"No one will believe me. You, they might believe. We gotta get the word out. The whole boat is in danger. Check the med files."
"Isn't this a little more up Lucas' alley?"
"Lucas won't do it. Lucas doesn't have -- you know ---faith. He doesn't believe in anything supernatural. Science has made him blind. You're not like that. You're religious. You'll be more open minded. Just check. Prove me wrong. I'd kinda like it if you did."
"I'm probably going to regret this." O'Neill went over to the terminal and hacked into the med files. Tony looked eagerly over his shoulder. The medical terminology was Greek to him but he could see that O'Neill was reading them with some understanding. Suddenly he gasped and shut the terminal down.
"What? What is it?" Tony demanded. O'Neill was sweating and his hands shook.
"He has been partially exsanguinated."
"What's that in English?"
"Part of his blood supply is -- ah gone."
"I KNEW it! She went after me too. We have to hunt her down and ......"
"Tony, this could be a coincidence."
"Like hell!"
"We need more proof."
"NO! We have to act before someone is killed or worse -- before we have more than one of them to deal with."
"I need to think. To do more research."
"Lieutenant?!" Tony was incredulous.
"Look, even if you're right and that is a very long shot. What are we going to do --- start a panic on the boat? Knowledge is power, Tony." He picked up the printout of the photos he'd taken of the artifact. "I have some books in my quarters that might help."
"I'm not too big on books. What can I do?"
"Keep your eyes opened and your mouth shut. If this becomes some kind of groundless rumor and the Captain hears about if before we are ready with the facts, he'll never believe us no matter how much proof we have."
"Gotcha." Tony was glad to have passed the responsibility onto O'Neill. He was an officer and much better equipped to deal with such things.
***
Once he got to his quarters Tim O'Neill set to work doing research. He felt that the assignment the captain had given him should take precedent but he was at a loss with that. He knew that the lettering was an ancient Greek dialect but it was such an old one that much of it had been lost, that added to the fact that not all of the markings were intact made deciphering it next to impossible. So he put it aside and went on to the research he was going to do for Tony. He couldn't believe he allowed himself to be sucked into one of Tony's harebrained schemes. He'd always avoided that until now. If there was some way he could help Miguel he'd have to take it. He'd always considered vampires something that were relegated to B movies. At least, he'd always hoped that was the case. The idea of being stuck at the bottom of the ocean in a confined space with a vampire was very unsettling. He involuntarily shuddered then forced himself to concentrate on what he was doing.
He was so deeply ensconced in his study that he was startled when Lonnie put her hand on his arm. He yelped with surprise.
"What's wrong?" she laughed.
"Nothing," he gulped. "I just didn't hear you come in."
"You'd prefer I have a brass band announce my arrival?"
"You really shouldn't be here in my quarters," Tim stated flatly and eyed the door. "If somebody saw you come in here they might get the wrong idea."
"What wrong idea is that?" she asked, literally draping herself over his shoulder making it impossible for him to continue his work.
"Ah, Lonnie. I do have work to do," he hesitated. "The Captain has assigned me----"
"To hell with the Captain," she leaned down and kissed him.
"Lonnie----"
She kissed him again. This time she took his breath away.
Tim was very surprised. Lonnie had never been this aggressive before. He'd never been with a women this aggressive before. He wasn't sure how to react but suddenly his work seemed less important as the prospect of getting lucky filled his thoughts. Practical thoughts about rules and regulations and the very real possibility of getting caught tried to reach his conscious mind but they were having little luck competing with Lonnie's ministrations. She was kissing him in a way she never had before. He was vaguely aware of her sitting on his lap and taking his glasses off and tossing them onto the desk but he wasn't at all sure how the two of them had ended up on the bunk. He was on his back with her on top of him and she was unzipping his jumpsuit. He knew he wanted to do more than just kiss this time and she obviously did too. He decided to let her take the lead. He'd go along with anything at this point.
She had his jumpsuit unzipped to his waist and then she stopped. She smiled in a teasing fashion then she straddled his chest. He didn't know what she was up to. He didn't really care as long as sex was eventually going to be involved. She took both his hands in one of hers and held them above his head all the while kissing him passionately. With one fingernail she slit the neck of his T-shirt. The nail traveled down his chest ripping the shirt opened and exposing his chest. Then her hand went up to his head and tousled his hair for a few minutes. This teasing was driving him crazy and he wasn't sure he could take a passive role in this for much longer.
Then she turned his head sideways and began kissing her way down his cheek to his ear.
"Are you ready to be ravaged?" she asked in a husky voice that didn't sound a bit like her.
"YES!!" He hadn't meant to scream it.
She laughed. Her voice had a hoarse quality about it but it's strangeness merely made him madder with desire. She continued to kiss her way to his neck. With her free hand she pushed what was left of his undershirt and his uniform down off his shoulders.
"Lonnie.." he gasped.
"In a hurry?"
"Yes!"
"Relax - we have over 10 hours before we're due back on the bridge. I know how I'd like to spend that time. How about you? You up for it?"
"In every way possible," he agreed.
"That's a good boy," she purred and leaned down to him.
He silently prayed for patience and endurance. Her lips brushed against his neck suddenly she yanked her head back and made a noise that sounded like a scream of agony.
"What's wrong?"
She spoke in a voice that was little more than a growl. Her fury was obvious. She swore at him in an ancient Greek dialect he'd never heard spoken. A horrible smell engulfed him as she backhanded him into unconsciousness.
***
It was another horrid smell that awakened him. It was the smell of garlic. Tony Piccolo's face came into focus. For a minute he was afraid he was going to be sick. "Agh, Tony." He put one hand over his mouth and pushed him away with the other.
"I'm sorry, Lieutenant," Tony apologized. "When you didn't answer my knock I got worried and sort of let myself in. Are you alright?"
"Of course I'm alright I...." Suddenly he began remembering what had happened and he broke out into a cold sweat.
"You sure? You look lousy."
"No, I ----wait a minute." He remembered the ancient dialect that Lonnie had spoken. It was one she couldn't possibly know - in fact, no one knew how to speak it anymore. He got up and tore over to his desk. The current information on the screen was not the markings he'd photographed but the information on vampires. He had searched for all information not just that of the folklore of Transylvania. Nearly every culture had its version of a vampire which had given the legend a little more credence in his book. The Greek myth was on his screen. Greeks had vampires. The markings on the artifact were Greek. Lonnie had spoken to him in Greek. It was too much to be a coincidence.
"What did you find out?" Tony asked impatiently. "I'm right, aren't I?"
"Partially." Tim was preoccupied as he intensified his search of the computer's files.
"What do you mean -- hey, look at you. Your shirt's opened like mine was after --- she's been here. She got to you, too. You have a silver medal. I'll bet it's blessed isn't it? It's what saved you just like my crucifix saved me. See, I knew it! Lt McBride is a vampire!"
"It wasn't Lt. McBride," Tim gulped suddenly feeling sick again. "It..it was Lonnie."
"It couldn't be. She hasn't left rec room 3 all night. She's cleaning Lucas, Brody, Phillips and a few others out. Did you know what a card sharp she was?"
"Tony, I think I know Lonnie when I see her," Tim said stiffly.
"I did see them together," Tony remembered. "You suppose McBride made Lonnie into a vampire?"
"No. I can't believe that. There must be some other explanation." He searched the records even more fervently. But he remembered the look of terror on Miguel's face. It was Lonnie he was afraid of. Something had drained a good percentage of his blood out of his body. "It can't be Lonnie."
"It isn't. We know her. All this started since Lt. McBride came on board - and she was the one that tried to put the bite on me."
"NO! It started when that artifact came on board. It's Greek. Very old. Lonnie or who ever it was spoke to me in Greek. In that same dialect. One that hasn't been spoken anywhere on this planet in over 3,000 years."
"Now do we tell the Captain?"
"No. Not yet. I need more time. There's a lot of facts to gather. We have to present this in a logical fashion or we'll be the laughing stocks of the boat."
"We may not have a lot of time, Lieutenant. This babe is hungry."
"I know. I know." Tim was sure there was a logical explanation. He was sure he could find it. He knew he had to clear Lonnie's name somehow before he went to the Captain.
"What do you want me to do?"
"Get out of here with that garlic smell before I throw up."
"I'm gettin', sir, but hurry. O K?"
***
Lt. Brody was disgusted. He had been sure he'd be able to win back all he'd lost but now he was down almost a month's salary. He decided to quit before he ended up having to try and float a loan from Ford. He'd never hear the end of that! Besides, for a rich guy, Ford was as tight as the paper on the wall. Maybe that was how the rich stayed rich. He went to his quarters and went to bed. It was better to sleep than have to think about this sorry state of affairs. Taken to the cleaners in poker - his game. And by a woman too! He rolled over and went to sleep.
As a Navy SEAL and as head of security on the seaQuest he'd trained himself to be a very light sleeper. He was taken completely by surprise when he felt someone else crawl into his bunk. He hadn't heard anyone enter and no one else had been there when he got back from the poker game. He was about to spring into action when a woman's breast brushed against his shoulder. A naked woman's breast. He was so startled that he allowed himself to be rolled over onto his back. By the time she started kissing him he'd forgotten all about taking a defensive posture. He'd forgotten all about all the questions that had filed his head just a minute before. It was too dark to even see who this willing lady was. He decided he wasn't the kind of guy to be rude enough to question a naked woman in his bed. It would be inhospitable to not give her what she obviously wanted.
The next morning he woke up alone. He was stiff and exhausted. He wished he remembered more. Even though he had not been drinking he felt slightly hung over as he made his way to the shower. He wondered if any one would believe him if he told them. No. A gentlemen doesn't tell. Especially if he had any hopes of a return visit.
The shower did not refresh him much. He collapsed into the Maglev seat on his way to breakfast. Somehow he didn't feel as hungry as he usually did. He played with his breakfast and let his mind wander.
Suddenly Ford sat down at his table. To his surprise Ford looked to be in about the same shape as he did. "You look like I feel," he remarked.
"I'm fine," Ford said. "Just a little tired."
"Tell me about it," Brody muttered.
"You haven't been having - ah - strange dreams have you?" Ford asked miserably.
"Dream?!" Maybe it had been a dream. Then it might make some kind of sense. "I haven't had dreams like that since jr. high."
"Me either," Ford agreed.
Brody hadn't intended to make that last remark out loud. But it was obvious Ford had dreamed a similar thing.
"We been on this damn boat too long," Brody commented.
"Yeah," Ford agreed. "And things are a little too weird this time."
He hadn't meant to laugh but he did. Ford got up and moved. Now his back was up and there would be no getting details out of him. Brody couldn't believe it had been a dream. It had seemed so real. He guessed his stiff neck must have been from sleeping wrong. Unless he was coming down with something. Maybe it was a fever dream. Maybe he'd go down to Medbay. Maybe, but not very likely. He wasn't about to explain all this to Wendy. Even if he only told parts, she could get into his mind and find out the rest. He was way too old for wet dreams. No, the doctor wasn't going to hear about this.
Suddenly he and Captain Bridger were being paged to Engineering. Well, this would take his mind off of his strange dream. He dumped his mostly uneaten breakfast into the trash and headed for Engineering.
***
Once in Engineering he was faced with a very stern looking Captain Bridger and Commander Terrell, who was the head engineer. A quick glance around revealed a tarp on the deck under which was the obvious shape of a body. Engineer's mate Higgins was pouring coffee into another mate. A man by the name of Jenkins if Brody's memory served him correctly and it usually did.
"What happened?" he asked Bridger and Terrell.
"Jenkins was first on this morning. He's the one that found him - Samuels - he was dead," Terrell explained in a forced voice. "Samuels of all people. Biggest health and exercise nut I ever met. Doesn't make a bit of sense."
"Commander, Do you suspect foul play?" Brody thought this was more a matter for Medbay then security. Samuels wouldn't be the first sailor to die on duty.
"I'm not sure. There were some signs of a struggle. The deck's real scuffed up and his clothes are torn but there's no blood. I guess he could have had a seizure of some kind but like I said he was in perfect health. Looks like they have Jenkins calmed down a little. Maybe you should talk to him."
Brody walked over to Higgins and Jenkins. He had a passing acquaintance with Higgins as he was Ortiz' bunkmate. He nodded to him.
"Just tell Lt. Brody what you told us," Higgins told Jenkins
Jenkins took a deep breath. "Well, I come on this morning, same as always, and I thought Samuels had fallen asleep."
"On duty? Has he done that before?"
"No. No, of course not but well... It sounds silly but he's been telling me about these dreams he's been having," Jenkins confided and Brody stiffened.
"What kind of dreams?"
"You know," Jenkins lowered his voice so that the captain and engineer could not hear him. "Sexy dreams about this girl he knows back home. She finds him alone and she, well, she jumps his bones. They musta really been somethin' cause he's been draggin' around here like he wasn't hittin' on all cylinders. Didn't even do his usual 3 hour workouts in the gym."
"Maybe he was sick - like Miguel," Higgins suggested quietly.
"Did Miguel mention any odd dreams to you?" Brody asked Higgins.
"Miguel doesn't need to dream, if you get my drift, Lieutenant. He didn't even make it back to our quarters at all the night before he got sick."
"Is that unusual?"
"He's a big boy. I don't wait up for him," Higgins stated. After all, Brody was an officer. Sometimes the less information officers had the better it was for enlisted guys.
"I don't care about Ortiz' social life I'm looking for patterns."
"I don't think Miguel and Samuels knew each other. Do you think they have something contagious?"
"You'd have to ask Dr. Smith about the medical end of it. I'm trying to establish the facts to determine if some crime has been committed."
"CRIME?!" Jenkins sprang to his feet. "You mean somebody killed Samuels?"
"I'm trying to rule that out," Brody said firmly. "This is just routine."
Jenkins raised voice had attracted Terrell's attention. "Go ahead and take this watch off, Jenkins."
"But, sir..."
"That wasn't a suggestion, Mr. Jenkins," Terrell said firmly. "That is, if the Lieutenant's done with you."
Brody nodded and Jenkins left Engineering. "They were friends," Terrell explained to Brody. "He needs a little time to get himself together."
"I understand," Brody said and went over to join the Captain and Wendy who knelt by the body.
"I'll have to do an autopsy," she was saying to the Captain. She looked very worried. "Young men who are perfectly healthy one day and the next they are collapsing," she shook her head.
"You mean like Ortiz?" Brody said.
"Ortiz and three others. Now this. And I have no explanation at all. At least, nothing that makes any sense."
Bridger helped her up and the med team removed the body to Medbay. "Do you have a theory that doesn't make sense?" he asked.
"No!" she was frustrated. "I still have a gut feeling that it has something to do with that artifact but I have no proof. None of the patients had anything to do with that. I've been too busy to devote my personal attention to it but the team I have assigned has come up with some very irregular readings."
"Besides the weight variations?"
"Yes and it is continuing to gain weight. Not only weight - it also appears to be gaining substance. There are changes in both x-rays and cat scan results."
"You stay on top of this, Lieutenant. I have an appointment with Piccolo and O'Neill that they claim is most urgent. I wanted to talk to O'Neill about how he's coming with his deciphering anyway."
"Piccolo and O'Neill?" Brody would have never put those two together. They were as opposite as two men could be.
"Let me know if you come up with anything," Bridger told him and left.
Brody nodded. He was going to have to start asking around about the dreams. It was going to have to be handled delicately. If this was happening to him and to Ford and apparently to Samuels - who was now dead - it constituted a real threat to the safety of the crew - himself included. He felt as tired and dragged out as Jenkins described Samuels. He might have to go to Medbay and get Wendy's take on things but he put it off as long as he could.
***
Bridger entered his quarters and found Tony and O'Neill still sitting there as they had been when he was called to Engineering. He almost hopped Tony had given up and gone away. He knew that he and Lucas had had some kind of fight. Lucas was furious at him but he wouldn't say why. He really was in no mood for any shenanigans. He had a letter to write to Samuels' parents.
"What is it? Make it quick." He hoped his abrasiveness would put them off.
"Sir, we need to talk to you," O'Neill said. O'Neill looked like hell. He'd never seen the young man look so tired. Maybe this was one linguistic code the Lieutenant had been unable to crack.
"Is this about the artifact?"
"In a manner of speaking," O'Neill began diplomatically.
"To hell with the artifact. This is far more important than that!" Tony yelled with frustration. He jumped up from the chair he'd been fidgeting in and leaned on Bridger's desk. "This is about what's going on on this boat. We're all in a hell of a lot of danger. Lives could be at stake."
"Calm down, Tony. This isn't helping," O'Neill cautioned.
"Neither is all this sitting around talking. I say we should do something. Go after it!"
"Go after what?" Bridger demanded.
"Sir, Tony is of the opinion that there is a vampire on board," O'Neill cringed expecting to be laughed out of the captain's office. This was not the way he had intended to present their case.
Bridger did not laugh. He sat back in his chair and looked at them thoughtfully. "What is your opinion, Lieutenant?"
"Well, ah, I do think there is something strange going on but not a vampire exactly."
"Go ahead."
"Vampires, like you see in the movies are loosely based on Bram Stoker's Dracula."
"That is a work of fiction, Lieutenant."
"Aye, sir, it is. It is, however, based on Transylvanian legend but they were not the only culture to have vampiric creatures in their folktales. In fact, I was hard pressed to find any long-standing culture that did not have something similar."
"People have long loved ghost and horror stories. Mostly they were used by parents to make children behave," Bridger pointed out.
"You're probably right, sir," O'Neill began. He did not miss the fact that Bridger had looked pointedly at them when he used the word children. "However, don't you find it odd that so many diverse cultures so far removed from one another would come up with a similar tale just to frighten children?"
"You think there's something to it?"
"I never did before," O'Neill admitted.
"What happened to change your thinking?" Bridger asked with more patience than he felt.
"He was attacked by it! So was I! That's how we know, sir." Tony took over. "We're sure that's what happened to Ortiz, too. His blood was drained, you know. Some of it, at least."
"That was not common knowledge," Bridger was suspicious.
"We guessed," Tony assured him.
He didn't buy it. "Tell me about these attacks. Where did they take place?"
"I was - ah - down by Sea Deck and the Lieutenant was in his quarters."
"So was it in the shape of a bat or what?" Bridger pressed on.
"Sir, it ain't a he vampire. It's a she vampire. She's a member of the crew it's...."
"Wait a minute, Tony, that's where you're wrong," O'Neill objected.
"Lieutenant, I swear it was Lt. McBride that went after me. None of this happened till she came on board, remember?"
"It wasn't Lt. McBride or Lonnie or even actually a vampire."
"You AGREED with me before!"
"I agreed to look into it and I have. The ancient Greeks had a creature in their culture called a lamiai. They were not undead things like the vampires we commonly hear about, they were actually demons. They had the power to transform themselves into beautiful young women and seduce young men. They were also known to drink blood but, more importantly, they drained the life force from their victims."
"This has something to do with the artifact?"
"I'm afraid so, sir. It is also ancient Greek. So ancient that all of their writings have not been deciphered by modern lingustical experts. I was able to translate very little but I'm afraid what I did get seems to constitute some kind of warning about disturbing the - ah - contents."
"It's not an idle threat to scare off would be grave robbers?"
"Sir, it wasn't buried in a grave. It was buried in the ocean. It is widely believed that demons and spirits can not pass through water. The bottom of the ocean would be the safest place to dispose of such a thing. They couldn't know that in the future man would possess the ability to travel along the sea floor ----"
"Or that anyone would be stupid enough to pick it up," Tony surmised.
"I realize it sounds preposterous," O'Neill tried to save the situation.
"Who have you two told about this theory of yours?"
"No one," O'Neill said.
"I tried to tell Lucas but he wouldn't believe it."
"Well don't tell any one else --is that garlic I smell?"
"Yes sir, I ain't giving that lamiwhatsit another crack at me."
"Tony, garlic is supposed to ward off vampires not--"
"Well, it must work for these things too. Just like our medals did. Holy things scare them off."
"Tony, these creatures predate Christianity. Unless it was the silver?"
"You two care to explain?"
"Gladly sir, she - it was going for my throat but this crucifix my mom gave me stopped it. Lt. O'Neill also wears a blessed medal and it didn't get his blood either. Vampire, demon whatever it is, it doesn't like holy things," Tony declared.
"Is that possible, O'Neill?"
"I'll have to do further research."
"Get on it."
"What should I do, sir?"
"Return the missing garlic to the galley. Chief McGill is having a fit."
"How am I going to explain what I'm doing with it if I can't tell her about the vampire?"
"You'll think of something now, if you two don't mind I have some work to do."
***
Out in the corridor Tony remarked, "He took that pretty well."
"Unless he's just humoring us."
"Don't worry about that, sir, he never humors me at all."
"Well, we'd better do what he told us."
"Easy for you to say - you'd don't have to face Magilla Gorilla," Tony muttered miserably.
***
In Medbay the four patients had been placed in separate cubicles and put in isolation. Ortiz had been there the longest. The transfusions and the medications were having a positive effect. He was feeling better but he was bored out of his mind in the little cubicle by himself. Isolation meant no visitors. Lucas had sent him a handheld video game via Wendy but he'd beaten it four times in a row and he was losing interest in it. He wanted to keep his mind busy. They wouldn't say what was wrong with him only that he was run down. He'd had mono once in high school but this didn't feel like that at all. He wasn't really worried about his health, especially since he was feeling better. He was worried about what had happened with Lonnie. How could she just act like everything was the same as it always had been? He couldn't. He'd tried but he couldn't. He was so deep in thought that he hadn't heard any one come into his cubicle. He was startled when he saw someone there, then pleasantly surprised to find out it was Lt. McBride.
"Ah - Lieutenant?"
"So formal? What happened to Micheala?" she smiled.
"I wasn't sure, that is - I thought you were mad at me."
"Don't worry about that. Ensign Henderson explained everything to me about what you two were doing."
"Everything?"
"Don't you worry about it, Miguel." She leaned down and kissed him lightly on the forehead. "You just worry about getting well. Now, what can I do to make you feel better?" She sat on the side of the bed and took his hand. "You poor thing, you look so pale and sad. I wish I could just kiss your troubles away."
"Me too."
"Want me to try? They're all busy out there. They think you are asleep. No one will be in to check on you for hours." She leaned down even closer and began to kiss him without waiting for his reply.
"You like it this way better?" she purred after kissing almost every other thought out of his mind.
"Better than what?" he asked, returning her kisses and finding it difficult to concentrate on conversation.
She never answered and soon he forgotten he'd asked. She was soon lying on the bed with him. She'd had no trouble untying his hospital gown and sliding it off his shoulders. He was equally proficient at getting into the top of her jumpsuit. His hands were exploring while they kissed and their passion was increasing.
***
Dr. Wendy Smith was not looking forward to conducting on autopsy on Engineer's Mate Samuels. He appeared to be a perfectly healthy young man just as the others were. Only Samuels was dead. Hopefully this would give her a clue to what this was and give her a weapon to fight it with so she could, at least, help the others. While one of her assistants prepped the body she went to check on her other four patients. She automatically triaged her visits going from the one who was in the worst shape to the one who'd been her patient the longest and who was showing some improvement.
When she walked into Ortiz' cubicle she screamed at what she saw going on there. She did not see a young couple in the throes of passion. That was not what was happening. Her patient was once more unconscious and was being fed upon by a hideous creature. The evil in the room was all pervasive to someone as sensitive as Wendy.
Her scream brought nurses and med techs running into the cubicle but only Wendy saw the thing transform into a gaseous state and waft into the ventilation duct. The overwhelming smell, however, was noticed by each of them. They crowded around Wendy.
"No. No," she choked, "check on Ortiz. Get him out of here."
A med tech wheeled Ortiz' bed out of the cubicle and two nurses helped Wendy. Both were given oxygen. Wendy came around immediately and supervised Ortiz' treatment. The effect of the transfusions was completely negated and Ortiz was worse off than he had been when they brought him in the first time. It took nearly 30 minutes to stabilize him. When he was out of immediate danger she went to her office and called the captain. She asked him to call a senior staff meeting in an hour's time. She hoped to have some vital information for everyone in that time. It was all she would say. She got to the autopsy and found what she expected to find. The body was completely exsanguinated and all the vital organs were in a dried, nearly petrified state. She asked for a security contingent to guard her patients as they were the most vulnerable to attack. She declared Medbay a Code One Security Situation which meant all ids including retinal scans would be in place. Then she made her way to the meeting and wondered how she would convince the Captain of this. She brought with her what concrete information she had but she knew she was in for a battle.
***
All eyes fell on her as she entered the ward room. It was a very somber group indeed.
"Have you found out what happened to Samuels?" Commander Terrell demanded.
"Yes I have," Wendy said seriously. "And I'm afraid you're not going to like or maybe even accept what I have to say but I assure you it's the truth," she said firmly.
"Was Mr. Samuels, by any chance - exsanguinated?" Bridger asked patiently.
"How did you know?" she gasped.
"I think Mr. O'Neill can fill us in better than I. Is everyone here?"
"Everyone but Lucas, sir," Ford reported. "He was out swimming with Darwin. I'm not sure he got the word about the meeting. Do you want me to have him called back?"
"No. Let him enjoy himself. Let's get the facts sorted out ourselves before we make them public," Bridger decided. "Mr. O'Neill, would you like to give us your findings?"
"Um. Yes sir. Well I couldn't find out too much about the markings on the outside of the box because they are so archaic...."
"Begging your pardon, Captain," Terrell interrupted "but what the hell does this have to do with Samuels and what exactly is exsanguinated?"
"It means drained of all blood, Terry, and I'm afraid that artifact has everything to do with Samuel's death, if Lt. O'Neill's theory is correct."
"Are you talking about a vampire?" Brody couldn't believe it.
"Not a vampire, Jim. More like a demon. I think that when we brought that artifact onboard it was unleashed and it or she has been, ah, feeding on the crew ever since."
"She?!!"
"These creatures, they are called lamiai, by the way, have the power to transform themselves into beautiful young women with the express purpose of - er - seducing young men and drinking their blood."
He expected a roomful of laughter but only Terrell laughed.
"Sounds like the pipe dream of a lonely sailor," he declared.
"I'm afraid not, Commander," Wendy said quietly. "I'm afraid that's exactly what has befallen Mr. Samuels and four other young men. I have just witness an attack myself."
"That's why you wanted all that security in Medbay?" Brody asked.
"In Medbay? What happened?" Bridger demanded.
"I'm afraid it went after Mr. Ortiz again. It took a while but he's once more stable and under guard."
"Is he alright?" Tim asked.
"I think he will be but you see this thing is a real threat to the crew. It's already attacked five men."
"Actually, at least seven," Tim admitted miserably.
"That's right you and Piccolo were attacked but you both were wearing religious objects that scared it off."
"I'm not certain that that is the case. I don't see how a creature that predates Christianity would know to fear Christian religious objects," Tim said honestly.
"It wouldn't have to," Wendy told him. "The protection afforded by religious objects comes from the faith of the wearer. Faith is a very powerful psychic weapon."
"I'm not sure I'd exactly call Tony a pillar of the church," Tim stated.
"No one can judge another person's faith, Tim. And faith doesn't always have anything to do with any set church. The point is - seven men have been attacked. Did you find anything in your research regarding getting rid of this thing?"
"It was originally gotten rid of by dumping it into the ocean."
"Then all we have to do is lure it back to its original case and shoot it out a torpedo tube?" Bridger asked.
"That could work," Wendy admitted, "but we'll have to do it fairly quickly. The object in the box is taking shape. Gaining substance. Remember, Captain, I told you it was gaining weight. Well, cat scans and x-rays we've taken since bringing the artifact on board have a tale to tell. These are the ones we first took." She used the captain's terminal to call images up onto the vidscreen.
"Doesn't look like anything," Ford commented for them all.
"Exactly. At best it shows the box containing dust, not a mummy as we first thought, but look at the more recent images - the ones since the attacks on the crew began." With each successive image an object was taking shape.
"The life-force of the men is allowing it to regain corporeality. Once it does, I believe it will be invulnerable. We have to stop it before that happens," Wendy stated.
"I'm open to suggestion here. Do we take every 'young' man on the boat into protective custody? And at what age does a man cease to be of interest to it?"
"Well, what they really like is children," Tim noted.
"Lucas!" Bridger gasped, his eyes falling on the empty seat usually occupied by the computer specialist. "I want him found and protected. It's attacked seven times already."
"Maybe ah more than that," Ford said miserably.
"You too?"
"Brody too," Ford reported.
"And you didn't tell anyone?" Bridger couldn't believe such unprofessional behavior.
"We thought it was a bad dream. Well, actually a pretty good dream. Owwww. " Brody reacted to the rough shove the embarrassed Ford gave him.
"I think these three and Tony should have physicals right away," Wendy said.
"I agree but I want Lucas found first," Bridger stated. "And I don't want any man under 40 even going to the bathroom by himself until this thing is contained. It's going to be the buddy system. Do you understand? If it can't feed as usual then it will have to show itself on our terms. And also women are strictly off limits. All of them." All eyes fell on Wendy.
"This thing can take the shape of any women," O'Neill agreed.
***
It took Tony a while but he finally convinced Mess Chief McGill that the garlic had merely been misplaced. She didn't buy it but she didn't have time to argue. Tony had kept enough to line the doorway of their quarters and the string he wore around his neck under his shirt. When he got out of the galley he headed for the chapel. He had secreted his and Lucas' supersoaking uzi-type water pistols outside the galley. He'd been doing vampire research of his own in his own way. He'd watched every vampire movie in the ship's library and he had a plan. The officers would talk and plan till the cows came home. This situation called for action. He went to the Holy Water founts and filled the barrels of both guns. He slung one over his shoulder by the strap and held the other ready for action. Since he'd been around the garlic for so long he no longer smelled it. He wanted the vampire to be sure he had it so he took it out of his shirt and slung it over the other shoulder like a bandoleer. He caught sight of himself in the stainless steel fitting of a hatch. He approved of what he saw. As an added effect he tied a bandanna around his head. "Rambo Van Helsing," he said to his reflection. "OK, lami - lam- lamb chops, I'm your worst night mare and I'm coming for you."
After a few more minute of posing and postulating he got down to the business of vampire hunting.
***
Lucas was down on Sea Deck. Darwin had not wanted to come onto the boat. He said it smelled bad. Probably Tony and his damn garlic, Lucas thought. He had to come back though because his air supply was low. Darwin could shoot back and forth to the surface at this depth but he couldn't. He put his tank and equipment away and just stared at the moon pool absently.
"You look like you've lost your best friend."
He turned around to see Lonnie standing there. "He isn't lost he just doesn't want to come on the boat. He says it stinks," Lucas laughed.
"Tony?"
"No, Darwin. I'm not speaking to Tony."
"You two aren't having a fight?"
"No, but well sometimes he's just such a .. a.."
"Insensitive jerk?" Lonnie supplied.
"Yeah," he agreed.
"Well, it's a guy thing. Even Tim is like that sometimes. I swear there are times when I could just pop him. He gets so lost in his books and his studies that I might as well not even exist at all. There's more to life than just intellect. People need a physical relationship, too. Don't you agree?"
"Ah, yes." Lucas tried to sound very cool even though he was beginning to feel very warm.
"You know," Lonnie smiled slipping her arm through his. "Somehow I knew you'd feel that way. I mean here you are 18 years old at the absolute peak of your sexual performance. I bet you don't spend all your time with your nose buried in a book, do you?"
"No." His voice raised a whole octave but she didn't seem to notice.
"I bet you know how to show a girl a good time."
This time he felt it was safer just to nod. He wished his quarters didn't reek of garlic just in case he wasn't imagining what she seemed to be suggesting.
"Do you like to kiss?" she asked conversationally.
Again he nodded. This was every fantasy he'd ever had about Lonnie - and there were quite a few of them - all rolled into one.
"I bet you're good at it. Don't just nod. Prove it," she teased. She stopped walking forcing him to do the same. She turned him toward the bulkhead then leaned into him and gave him a first kiss unlike any other first kiss he'd ever gotten.
"You are good at it," she whispered in his ear. "What else can you do?"
The kisses got even hotter. He was aware of little else. He wasn't sure how they'd slid down the wall to the floor. He only knew that he was going to have sex right here in this little alcove on Sea Deck. She was all but tearing his shirt off. He'd never been with a woman this hot before. His blood was pounding so loud in his ears that he couldn't hear anything else. He didn't hear the Captain, Wendy, Brody, Ford and O'Neill coming down the corridor. He hadn't heard them calling him. Neither had Lonnie so intent was she on this her most prized victim. She had the child in a complete state of acceptance and she was preparing to drink every drop of blood coursing through his veins. She was lowering her opened mouth to the tender young neck when suddenly something threw itself against her knocking her off the half naked child.
She howled in fury and frustration and turned to meet her foe. This one had power, she realized. She would have to be outwitted but humans were such dull creatures. She transformed into the one thing this fool human could not attack - herself! The human was confused as she knew she would be. She lunged forward to make a quick kill but the human rose to meet the attack and soon they were struggling on the ground.
"DO something!" Ford shoved Brody.
"What can I do? I don't know which one is which. I can't just shoot them both!"
"I can." Tony stepped forward armed with his holy water pistols. He blasted both combatants. One Wendy was merely annoyed but the other acted as though she'd been burned. It turned on him but the pistols made her keep her distance. She growled and sent forth her protective 'smell'. Brody was ready and tossed air breathers to everyone.
"Drive her to the clean room, Tony. Let's put her back into her cage!" Wendy got to her feet. She began a psychic attack. The creature didn't know which one of them to fight and was slowly driven in the direction they wanted her to go. Brody and Ford helped Lucas to his feet. The skin on his neck was broken. He was bleeding slightly. He was seemed groggy and confused but not seriously injured. They all followed along to the clean room.
After a long stand-off the thing became gaseous but Tony continued to drive it into its former prison. Once it was inside, Brody and Ford slammed the lid shut. O'Neill read what he could of the sealing spell. Then the room became very quiet.
"Get this thing off my boat," Bridger ordered and Ford and Brody complied.
"You alright? " he asked Wendy. She nodded. "How about you?" He turned to Lucas.
"Apart from feeling like a complete idiot, I'm fine," Lucas admitted miserably.
"You weren't the only one it fooled," Bridger said kindly.
"Man," O'Neill didn't hide the admiration in his voice. "You got rid of that thing with a water pistol."
"Not just any water - this is holy water. I did some research of my own. I saw this in a vampire movie."
"Tony," Lucas gasped. "It didn't work in the LOST BOYS."
"What?"
"The holy water in the pistols didn't work."
"It didn't?! Well I didn't have time to watch the whole movie," he admitted.
"You see," Wendy smiled. "I told you it was the Faith in these things that gave them their power."
Just then Ford and Brody returned. "She's away, sir. We took the liberty of setting up a torpedo barrage around the parcel. It's buried under half a mile of silt."
"Good. Then it's finally over." Bridger relaxed.
"I hope this means you can take that damn garlic down. Darwin won't even come on the boat it smells so bad," Lucas grouched.
"You're just mad because I was right, for once."
"It's a fluke," Lucas assured him as they moved off down the corridor.
EPILOG
The first day Ortiz was allowed visitors his friends gathered in his cubicle while he was trying to eat breakfast.
"Come on, Miguel, eat up," Lonnie urged. "Don't tell us you're not hungry."
"It's not that," Miguel wore a puzzled look. "I'm just not hungry for this." He pushed the tray away.
Just then Tim came in carrying a glass of tomato juice.
"That's what I want. So rich, so red. Yes, that's just what I've been longing for." Miguel snatched it away from Tim.
"You're welcome," Tim grouched. "That stuff is getting hard to come by. There's a real run on it. Seems every guy on the boat has a craving for this stuff. It's as precious as blood."
"That's what it looks like. Wonder if that's what we're all really craving?" Ortiz suggested lazily.
"Most every guy on this boat was bitten by that vampire!" Tony suddenly realized. "Do you know what that means?" he asked Tim.
"No, Tony. What does it mean?"
"They could all turn into them."
"No, Tony that's werewolves," Ortiz smiled. His smile revealed two white fangs.
Tony's eyes widened and he ran out of there nearly knocking down two nurses. He never heard the others laughing or saw Ortiz take the fake fangs out of his mouth.
"Thanks a lot," Lucas complained. "I just got all the garlic smell out of my quarters."
It was good to have things back to normal again.