An Injured Inmate

Josh stepped into sickbay followed by his security team, all carrying rifles. The EMH was working on the prisoner while Dr. Bindo looked on from the other side of the force field.

"Dr. Bindo," Josh said as he walked towards the doctor, "I will be securing the prisoner here until it is stable enough to be beamed to the brig. Please inform me when he is stable."

"Lieutenant, the patient is behind a level 5 force field," replied Dr. Bindo, "and he is in no shape to threaten anyone. I will not have an armed security team in my sickbay. Please remove yourselves to the corridor. As for the patient, it should be stable within the next hour."

"Fine Doctor, my team will wait just outside the door, but I am staying," Josh said firmly. "And please make that a level 7 force field, just to be safe."

With that, Josh signaled his team to move into the corridor and wait, then contacted Captain Gould to report.

"Captain, Doctor Bindo says the Undine should be ready for transfer in under an hour," he reported. "My team and I will remain here until then."

As Dr. Bindo went into an adjoining room the EMH walked in still working on a data PADD. "It might interest you to know Lieutenant that I ran another full DNA code check on our patient and do you know what I found? She's an Undine"

Vincent looked at him questioningly "Yes, we already knew that.."

The EMH held up a finger "Yes, we know that now, but my point is my scan detected that she is indeed a Undine. This raises the obvious question.. how did she get past my initial check? I see no indication that she ever had anything.. biologically in any case, that would allow her to do so."

"That is an interesting question Doctor," Josh responded. "Is it possible that you malfunctioned? Or that your program has been tampered with?"

"I beg your pardon?" the EMH actually looked insulted by the question. "I can assure you lieutenant my operating system undergoes a routine check everyday and a complete check twice a week." It then went back to the readout "And my program has the same security access as the ships main computer, only the captain can authorize any change to my program" then raised an eyebrow at him "Perhaps you should go see if he's malfunctioning."

"I didn't mean any offense, Doctor," Josh replied somewhat defensively, "but programs have been known to malfunction in the past, even advanced programs such as yourself."

I didn't know the captain before the mission started, so I don't know if he's had any sudden changes, Josh thought to himself, I wonder if the doctor may be on to something here.

"Last time I checked, human malfunction was your area of expertise, "Josh said. "So you tell me: is there any medical reason to believe that the captain, or any other officers, are involved?"

The doctor looked surprised "I really didn't mean for you to take me so literally.. but it is a valid question." and looked at Vincent thoughtfully for a second.

"Well, captain Gould has managed to successfully avoid his physical since returning to the ship although that's hardly surprising. Captains have always been the worst patients after all. Commander Tomah seems to be going through some personal issues at home with his wife and I'm sure that's effecting his stress levels, even if he's not showing any sign's of it."

"Our science officer has been extremely tight lipped even for a Vulcan, or so I'm told. And has been subtly complaining about being around humans all the time.."

He pointed a finger to his forehead "And oh yes.. we have a new chief of security that is trying vary hard to prove himself to his new captain, witch sometimes makes them jump at shadows." then smiled at him. "I think that's about it.."

"Point taken Doctor," Josh said with a slight laugh. "Please, let me know when the prisoner is ready to be transferred."

Just then Tomah entered the room with the two security officers flanking him. "Ah good, your still here Vincent." and nodded too the two officers who then stood on either side of the doorway.

"The captain wants all senior staff officers to undergo a second screening an' seeing as you were already here.. he figured you should go first." and smiled warmly.

Strange that the captain would make a security decision like this without even notifying me, Josh thought. Unless he thinks I can't be trusted...It couldn't hurt for all the staff to be tested again.

"I think that sounds like a good idea, considering the situation that we're in," Josh replied. "I assume, since you're also here, that you'll be screened after me?"

Tomah's eyes looked away as if the thought hadn't crossed his mind, but shot back to Vincent quickly. "Well of course I am, the sooner we get this over with the better don't you think?"

The Doctor looked back and forth at the two men who suddenly seemed uncomfortable with each other. "Well then.. just hop up on this bio bed Lieutenant and we'll have this settled in just a few minuets." He patted the foot of the bed in an attempt of levity.

Tomah held his hand out to Vincent "I'll need to hold your weapon lad, standard procedure you know."

"Of course sir," Josh said as he handed over his phaser and hopped onto the doctor's bed. "Let's do this Doctor."

"Ah, nothing like a willing victim.. so to speak. And I should point out commander that you too are here for an screening, regulations you know." The doctor eyed him skeptically.

Tomah frowned then removed his phaser as well, handing both to one of the other guards. "I was think'in of waiting till my turn.. but I guess fair is fair." then smiled at the guard "Lets hope he's not one of em, he's got three of the four weapons now."

As the doctor worked Tomah came over and stood next to him. "Don't worry about it son, the captain has reason to worry. But I don't think for a second your one of them devils, and I told him as much."

"Thank you for that sir," Josh said as the doctor continued the exam.

After a few minuets Vincent wondered over to watch the doctor, looked at the display and pointed "What's that odd looking thing in his DNA?"

The two guards at the door looked tense, one actually moved his hand closer to his phaser.

"It's a deformity in the strand, quite normal I assure you. Everyone has them, your just looking at a program designed to seek them out and highlight them." The EMH said quite plainly. I fact it's the absence of such genetic 'dead ends' that has proven helpful in uncovering Undine infiltrators. Put simply.. they don't have enough of them."

Tomah said "Huh" and walked away again. "Hear that Chef? the more 'imperfect we are, the better." And smiled "I' must be one of the most 'human' people alive then."

The doctor raised an eye brow at him "I'll be the judge of that commander." then looked over at Vincent. "All clear lieutenant, you can get up now." and looked at Tomah "One hundred percent 'not-undine' commander but of course.. It's possible I might be malfunctioning.." He said sarcastically in Vincents direction.

"I'm sure you're functioning perfectly doctor," Josh replied with a smile. He then turned to Mr. Tomah and said, "Sir, if you're satisfied here, I'd like to get this prisoner into a cell as soon as possible."

Tomah gave him a mock surprised look "Not going to stick around to see how imperfect a human your superior officer is then? But your right of course, duty before pleasure." and jumped up on the bed.

"If the doc here says your you, that's good enough for me.. your clear to transfer the prisoner Vincent." and looked over at the EMH. "Now Doctor, would ya kindly tell these folk that I'm pure human with this test?" he indicated the other two security officers. "I'd like to get back ta work."

The EMH intoned quite blandly "Yes sir" and went about it's work.

"Now that you mention it sir," Josh began, "the prisoner is unconscious; it can wait for a few more minutes. You had the patience to wait for my test; it would be rude of me not to say for yours."

Josh moved to stand between the security officers as he took his phaser back and watched the doctor begin Mr. Tomah's screening.

Minuets passed as the screening was under way, no one seemed to have anything else to say.

Finally the EMH looked up "Test complete, showing pure human DNA strains, you may return to work sir."

Tomah smiled and got up. "There we go, it seems were all who we say we are after all." and retrieved his phaser. "But the captain is right to be careful in this situation, buggers could be anywhere."

He turned to address the two men "Right then, when I arrived I found you two outside, I don't care who ordered that but I'm going to assume it wasn't your idea. From now on you stay in here with Vincent until he dismisses you, is that clear?"

Both men said in unison "Aye sir." standing at attention.

"Carry on Mr. Vincent." and left sick bay.

When Mr. Tomah had left sick bay, Josh turned to the doctor to finish up his business.

"Your prisoner is stable Lieutenant," the Doctor said as Josh turned.

"Thank you Doctor, we'll be out of your way momentarily," Josh replied. He then spoke into his communicator, "Vincent to T'Pala, are you ready to receive the prisoner?"

"Aye sir," the Vulcan brig officer replied, "The cell is prepared and guards have been posted. I will activate the force field immediately after transport."

"Very good," Josh replied, "Transporter Chief, transport the prisoner from sickbay to cell two on my mark. Mark"

As soon as the Undine had disappeared from his bed, Josh turned and left the room, followed closely by his security officers. He tapped his combadge as he walked.

"Chief Park, I want you to oversee the interrogation of the prisoner," Lt. Vincent ordered. "Find out what its mission was, and find out if it has any help on board."

"Aye sir," replied the investigations officer, "I'll find out what it's doing here."

Josh and his security team boarded the turbolift and headed to the bridge.