From:        Derek Sherman, doppleganger@usa.pipeline.com

Sorry this has taken so long to get written, but it's undergone no less
than seven major re-writes. Hopefully the rest of the story won't take
quite as long to complete  ^_^ 

Windir: Yes.

Lyra: So now we do the follow-up?

 However, the same force that had attempted to block her scans of 
the warp was at it again, returning false echoes, ghost images, and 
generally making a pest of itself. There was a definite intelligence 
behind the blocks, and Washu was beginning to suspect the identity 
of her opponent. 

Lyra: Hmmm. The plot thickens. Conclusive proof, at least, that it was 
*not* Washu.

 "I'll let you know in a moment, Commander." LaForge turned to the 
Engineering station. "Computer, transfer Engineering controls to this 
station." He sat down and began working. "There was a brief surge of 
energy in the transporter field right before she was supposed to 
re-materialize. I'm attempting to determine the cause of the energy 
surge now." 

Frito: Awww. No more Treknobabble!

Windir: Eh?

Frito: It all makes sense!

Lyra: Oh.

 The glowering face of a Romulan woman filled the main screen. 
"Attention Federation vessel. I am Captain Kila of the Romulan Warship 
Yev'ash. You have entered the Neutral Zone in violation of treaty. We  
demand that you withdraw immediately." 

Windir: I still think this is a little too convenient...

 "Is that a threat, Captain?" Kila asked warily. 
 "An observation." Picard replied. 
 Captain Kila paused for a moment, thinking. Before she could say 
more, an aide stepped up beside her and hurridly whispered in her 
ear. Kila's eyes widened slightly and she nodded. "Captain Picard, 
I shall.... consider what you have said. Now I have pressing matters 
to attend to." 
 With that, the screen went blank. 
 Picard turned. "What was that all about?" 
 "Something's wrong." Troi answered. "Whatever it was that she was 
told, it surprised her. Surprised her so badly that she doesn't  
consider us to be much of a threat right now." 
 "That would have to be some surprise." Riker commented. Then he 
frowned, turning the pink cube over in his hands. "You don't think..." 

Lyra: Uh-oh... 

Frito: Huh.

Windir: I believe I am beginning to suspect the reason *why* the author 
brought the Romulans into the story.

Frito: Yeah, since da Klingons ain't enemies no more. Ain't dat a waste 
of a good enemy?

"I'll ask you one last time." the Romulan officer spat, "What are you 
doing aboard this vessel?" 
 "I don't know!" Mihoshi whined, her voice raising in pitch with 
each word. "I was on my ship, and Yukinojo said that another ship had 
arrived, so I decided to try and call up a cup of coffee, but my cube 
wasn't working right, and then the Enterprise said that they were going 
to beam me back - which is a really strange feeling, I might add. Kinda 
like sitting in a fizzy soda, not that I've ever actually *done* some- 
thing like that, but I bet that that's what it would feel like if I  
actually-" 

Lyra: Another nice Mihoshi bit. :)

 "Yes, Captain. She was found in the aft cargo hold." He shot a 
withering glance at Mihoshi. "So far she hasn't been very cooperative." 

Frito: Aw, but she was *tryin'*!

 "Liar! Centurians!" Kila shouted. Two glowering Centurians entered 
the room. "Take this spy to the brig!" 

Lyra: Um, I believe you mean Centurions. Centurians would be from Alpha 
Centuari. :)

 "I see." Picard mused, looking at Sasami. "Sasami, we have a small 
mystery on our hands, and we're hoping that you can shed some light 
on the situation." He motioned towards his command chair. "Would you 
like to sit down?" 

Frito: Don't look like he's no better with children!

Lyra: And a rather... interesting... target of condescension in Sasami. :)

"Hello? Hello!" Mihoshi's shrill cry rang out from the brig. "I need to 
use the toilet! Please, let me out of here!" 
 Looking out from behind the force field, Mihoshi chewed her lower 
lip. "Where did everyone go?" she wondered aloud. "Why haven't they 
come to let me use the toilet?" Her eyes wandered around the cell 
she found herself in, then focused on a small panel mounted on the 
far wall. It was covered with symbols she couldn't understand. 
 Walking over to the panel, she leaned forward slightly and pressed 
on it. She yelped as the panel swung open with a loud *CLACK*, then 
broke off of its mountings and fell to the floor. "Oh dear." she 
muttered to herself, peering inside the exposed cavity. There were 
numerous cables and conduits and small colored cubes, as well as 
four objects that looked like buttons. 
 "I know what this is!" Mihoshi announced happily. "Just like the 
utility controls back at the Academy!" She frowned, slightly. "But 
which one opens the door to the bathroom?" She closed her eyes, 
concentrating. "Oh, I never was good at multiple-choice tests!" Eyes 
still closed, Mihoshi began chanting. "Eeeny, meeny, miney, Moe!"  
She stabbed the third button. Nothing.  
 "Meeny!" she said, stabbing the first button. Nothing. 
 "Miney?" The second button. Still nothing. 
 "Eeeny?" she sobbed, pressing the fourth - and last - button. 
 There was a muffled sizzle, then the force field sealing the cell  
flashed and went dark. 
 All too aware of the growing pressure in her abdomen, Mihoshi 
walked out of the cell, into the hallway beyond, and looked around.  
"Hello? Hello? Is there anyone out here?" There was no answer.  
"Guess I'm going to have to find the toilet all by myself." 
 With that, she began walking. 

[Editor's note: Ghu, this was too good to cut. :)]

Lyra: <Wiping tears from her eyes> L-love it! <Breaks into chuckles again.

Windir: <Coughing a bit> Truly *classic* Mihoshi. 

Frito: Bwa-ha-ha....

-------------------------------------------------------- 

And thus, Chapter 6 comes to a close - and Mihoshi is turned 
loose on an unsuspecting Romulan crew  ^_^ 

Lyra: Well, *now* do you admit this was justified?

Windir: <Looking as if he'd bit into a very large lemon> <<Yes, pun 
*intended.*>> Very well. I am forced to admit that it may indeed have 
been justified. Perhaps.

Frito: Aw, don't be such a sore loser!

Windir: I *still* believe that the introduction needs to flow more 
naturally from the story.

Lyra & Frito: <Sigh>

[Editor's note: Sigh is right. Another one-paragraph quick comment turns 
into a C&C.] 



Travis Butler
(The Professor, formerly of Myth and Magick!, Lawrence, KS;
 tbutler@tfs.net, now from the Wandering Powerbook;
 <http://www.tfs.net/personal/tbutler/>;
 Mac page <http://www.tfs.net/business/tbutler/>)

...Cats are the proof of a higher purpose to the universe.