*ON THE BRIDGE*
"Aaaarrrrgggghhhh!" came the sound from the Captain's private washroom.
"Who's in there?" asked Captain Crusher, sitting in the command chair.
"I... er... eh.... um..." mumbled Lwaxy as she emerged from the water closet.
"I'm going to have to charge you for that TM violation, and I don't want to catch you in my washroom ag-"
Suddenly, the Red Alert siren sounded.
"What happened?" asked Captain Crusher as he hopped into his command chair.
"There's an unidentified object approaching Kedanya" said Kurn who had just emerged from the turbolift and taken Conn.
"It's sending out a message on a strange frequency... compensating..."
A loud EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE filled the room.
"Turn the damn thing off!" said Lwaxy. A moment later the sound died down.
"What the devil is it?" asked R'Mor.
"I think that's what we're supposed to find out." said Captain Crusher.

*ONBOARD A TURBOLIFT*
Lazarus studied the green sides of the turbolift as he rode it up to the bridge. Idly tapping the Romulan PADD he had found in the cargo bay. Laz waited for the doors to open, his thoughts drifting back over the past week.

*A FLASHBACK (in black and white, of course)*
Having arrived back at Kedanya, the crew had begun to unwind from their first successful mission. The fiasco involving the Ferengi didn't exactly count because Q had interrupted it. Gathered in Ten-Forward was practically everybody. Puff was serving up the drinks and giving live demonstrations of his skills as a fire sculptor. It was then that Laz had approached the captain.
"Umm, Captain." Laz tried to attract Wesley Crusher's attention.
"Yes?", Wesley turned around to face Laz.
"Oh, excuse me Nyosi.", he apologised to the Bajoran liaison. Laz echoed his regrets. "What did you want?" he asked politely.
"Well, sir, It seems that when Q transported me here, he also took all that was in my ship that I was supposed to give you, and all my personal stuff. Is it possible that he wanted me to join your crew?"
Wes looked thoughtful. "Yes, but what can you do to warrant your staying on this ship?"
It was Laz's turn to be thoughtful, he began, "I do have contacts in various parts of the Government, and even on the shady side of the galaxy. Have you heard of Jaglom Shrek, the information broker?"
Wes shook his head "No".
Laz continued, "Well, I can be an inside informant, possibly like Elim Garak on Deep Space 9. Or, I could be in charge of the requisition of the supplies in the main cargo bay."
Wes looked like he didn't believe Laz. "I will think about it."

*BACK ONBOARD A TURBOLIFT*
Returning to the present, Laz had been assigned to some guest quarters and had been put in charge of the supplies. Now he was headed to the bridge with the latest reports on the distribution of the supplies. The doors wooshed open and Laz looked out onto a bridge that was busy. He overheard snatches of conversation.
"How fast?"
"No Identifying marks"
"Can't get a good reading, except it looks to be travelling at Warp 2.3"
Laz stayed out of the way as the professionals did their work.
"SIR! There is an energy overload from that ship! It appears that they will explode!" Dr. R'mor cried from the science station.

*BACK ON THE BRIDGE*
"You've got to get me more speed, RoToRa." complained the Captain.
"I'm trying sir."
"R'Mor can you get a reading on what kind of ship that is?"
"Yes sir, but I don't think you want to know what it is."
"What could it be?" pondered Wesley.
"It's a Borg Sphere, sir! It's on a course for Kedanya, out of control, and there's nothing we can do!" exclaimed R'Mor.
"Kurn, how long to intercept?"
"3 min 46 seconds, sir."
"How long until collision with Kedanya?"
"4 min 28 seconds."
"That doesn't give us much time. Anyone have any ideas on how to stop it?"
A resounding NO came from the crew.
"RoToRa, can we get phasers on line."
"No sir, there is no way to do that. The Borg Sphere's energy overload is affecting our weapon systems."
"Well, come hell or high water, there is no way that thing is going to hit Kedanya." says the Captain.
"Well if its not going to hit Kedanya, and we can't stop it, what are we going to do." said Kurn.
"It is going to hit us!" said the Captain.
"All hands, this is the Captain, proceed to escape pods. Kurn, set an intercept course, ramming speed and go to your escape pod."
"What about you sir?"
"Just do it." The Captain ordered.
"Well, Reunion you're a great ship, it's sad to see you go. Computer, launch all escape pods. Computer, time to intercept."
"55 seconds."
It was then that he noticed the other approaching ship. The NCC-1701-E.
"Bless you Enterprise. All stop. I have got to get us some of those quantum torpedoes."
"Captain Crusher, how has life been?"
"Good Captain Picard, but I would prefer to mince words on the station. How about dinner tonight?"
"Sounds good. I'll see you there."

"Sir, wait!" said Daramere, just before he entered the turbolift.
"Yes?" responded the Captain, wondering why there were still so many people on the Bridge.
"I think whatever it is out there, it is interfering with our readings. I'm not getting any life signs from the Sphere or the Enterprise."
"Is it a sensor trick?" asked Kurn.
"I think so." said Daramere.
"What is it then?" asked Lwaxy.
"Well, from what I can tell..." started R'Mor, "It's not a ship full of pregnant Ferengi, and it's not Q, Trelane, or a rip in the Universal constant. Sorry, but I'm limited to comparing to things that we have encountered." said the good Doctor.
"Thanks for nothing." responded the Captain.
"35 seconds until intercept." stated Kurn.
"Lwaxy, any feelings? Do you sense anything?" asked The Captain.
"There are always feelings." said Lwaxy, "It's blocking me. Whatever it is."
"Again, no help." said Kurn "15 seconds to intercept."
"Dara, any last readings?" asked the Captain.
"It's nothing we've ever encountered. Ever." he responded.
"On screen." said the Captain.
"Oh my..." said Lwaxy.
"It's not a Ship." said the Doctor.
"That's stating the obvious." said Kurn.
The entire crew stared at the viewscreen, with confusion evident on their faces. It was a ... a ... a cloud? They were worried about a cloud hitting the station? Suddenly the cloud slowed down and came to a stop in front of the Reunion. A mysterious voice was heard over the Com system.

"Greetings friends. My name is Dan! I come from an area of space far, far away. I'm an explorer. I'm sorry about the little scare. This is the first time that I've encountered your people, and I wanted to test your reactions. So I used an image that I felt you would see as a threat. You reacted well. You are a brave man, Captain. Will you be my friend?"
The crew could do nothing but stare at each other in silence.
"Sure..." said the Captain cautiously. "I'd like to be your friend, Dan."
"That's great!" Said Dan. "And you, Lwaxana? And Kurn? And Daramere? And Telek? RoToRa? Kes? Bob? Scot?" he named everyone on the bridge.
"How do you know our names?" asked Lwaxana.
"I know all." said Dan.
"What's the last digit of Pi?" asked Daramere.
"It's a 2." replied Dan.
"What is the meaning of life?" asked the Geezer.
"42." replied Dan.
"He's got it." replied Kurn.
"So, Dan, tell us about yourself." said Captain Crusher.
"I'd rather do that in person? Can I use one of your bodies?" asked Dan.
"Our bodies?" asked everyone in unison.
"Yes of course, your bodies. I need to take control of one of them to talk to you in person, of course. Hmmmm... I'll take... Lwaxy!"
And before she could object, Dan was in complete control of the body that belonged to Lwaxana Troi.

"Dan, what are you doing to Lawxy?" Wes demanded.
"I need a body." Dan/Lwaxy replied.
"I don't care, get out of there!" Wes demanded once again.
"No!"
"If you don't, I will do it myself!" said the Captain.
Everyone echoed their agreement with the Captain.
"You can't hurt me. You won't hurt me. If you do anything to me it will effect Lawxy too!" Dan said, "So if you hit me with a phaser, you hit Lwaxana too."
"What do you want from us?"
"Our race is in shambles from an attack by the Borg. We need a place to live. We have been watching your outpost for a long time. We want to live there by ourselves."
"You think I'm going to agree with that Dan? I thought you knew everything?" The Captain replied.
"I do. I know you will if I beam the rest of our crew over and infest everyone in your crew."
"They are bluffing!" said Kurn.
"I think you are going to regret saying that." said Dan, and then a beam went into Kurn's body and then Kurn said.
"I will serve Dan."
"My servants, Captain. And if you don't give us the station, I will infest everyone. Kurn and I are going to our ship. You have 1 hour to comply with us. Don't try anything, because we can easily destroy you. If you don't make a decison by then we will infest everyone on your crew. We will contact you then....

As soon as Dan and his servant were gone, everyone gathered around Lwaxy as Kurn seemed to recover more quickly, probably due to his shorter time of possession. As from the time when Dan left her body, she was still unconscious.
"Lwaxy? Lwaxy? Are you alright?" asked Captain Crusher.
"I think she's unconscious" said Bob.
"Really?" said RoToRa, "Is that a Medical observation?"
"Yes." responded Bob, impervious to sarcasm.
"Well, get her down to sickbay. We need a plan." said the Captain.
After a long silence, Daramere asked, "Anyone got a plan?"
"Not me." responded Maelwys.
"Ditto." said the Captain.
"I'm fresh out." said RoToRa.
"I do..." said the Romulan Doctor...

"I'm listening," said Captain Crusher.
"OK," said R'Mor, "here it is..."
"It won't work," interrupted Dan.
"Great!" complained Daramere. "How are we supposed to beat this guy if he knows what we're thinking?"
"42?" suggested Dan.
"So," the Captain intervened. "What was your plan?"
"Oh, it was just a simple one," said R'Mor. "Um... err, why don't we fire phasers at it?"
"Hey, good idea!" said Maelwys. "Why didn't I think of that?"
"It was too obvious," replied RoToRa.
"Ok, fire phasers!" ordered the Captain. "And while you're at it, some torpedoes!"
Kurn fired phasers (and some torpedoes, too), and much to the surprise of the crew, it was working.
"Sir!" said Kurn. "Small portions of him have vaporised.
He now has only 98.47% of his original mass!"
"Where'd he go?" asked Lwaxy as Dan suddenly disappeared from the viewscreen.
Just then the ship shook, violently throwing everyone from their stations.

*IN SICKBAY*
Lwaxana woke up on the medical bed. "What happened, Doctor Bashir?" I was standing on the bridge, when this... this..."
Suddenly she remembered. "This person is an idiot... wanting to be our friend and then doing something like this! I'll go and get him for that!"
"You need to stay in bed." Bashir tried to remind her. "We do not really know what happened to you..."
"But I will tell you what will happen to you if you do not get out of my way!" shouted Lwaxy, obviously still under shock. "You'll find out about being unconscious..."
Scared by now, the doc stepped out of her way. "But promise me you'll be back here when you are done with.. whatever you are going to do." He called behind her, but Troi didn't hear him anymore...

*ON THE BRIDGE*
"Report," ordered Captain Crusher as he entered the bridge.
"We've been sitting here for over an hour sir," replied Kurn.
RoToRa added, "Nothing has happened yet."
"Any ideas how to beat this thing?" asked Wesley.
No one answered.
"Okay," said Wesley. "I guess we just sit here."
Just then the whole ship shook and everyone was thrown hard against the front wall.

*OUTSIDE SICKBAY*
Lwaxy ran out of the turbolift and bumped into Tomek, who had a strange look on his face.
"Tomek?" she asked. "What's wrong..?"
Tomek didn't answer, and the thoughts coming from him were very strange. He must have been taken over by one of those strangers. Now, Lwaxana got really angry!
"You said you wanted to be our friend! Friends don't behave like that. You lied to us!"
The being inside Tomek didn't respond, obviously not having complete control of the body.
"Nnghhh... nghhh," was all Lwaxy heard. It seemed like Tomek had found a way to fight this thing.
"Come." Lwaxana pushed the body of Tomek towards the bridge. "The captain must know this..."

*NEAR THE BRIDGE*
When Lwaxana neared the bridge, she sensed that something was not right. When the turbolift doors opened, she immediately called for Wes. She heard a muffled reply that sounded strangely like the words of Tomek.
"Nnghhh...nghhh".
As Lwaxy heard the muffled cries of everyone on the bridge, Lwaxy realised something. Dan was spreading himself too thin, controlling too many people. If she could manage to attract more people to this location, she might be able to make Dan so weak from controlling people that she could destroy him. She though to herself, "How could I get more people here?". She then had the answer! A Hail, on all frequencies, saying they'd be giving out free Alcohol to the first ships to arrive.
As her fingers flew over the keypad, she could feel Dan trying to take her over, again. As she pressed the send key, she felt herself slip out of conciousness...

*5 MINUTES LATER*
As the entire crew of the Reunion lay unconcius, the Computer noted to no one in particular that a Bajoran Frieghter commanded by Kassidy Yates, a Romulan War Bird commanded by Taris, a Bird of Prey commanded by Kargan, Gowron's personal Vor'cha class ship, and The Enterprise-E were in range of the Reunion.

*5 MINUTES LATER ON THE REUNION BRIDGE*
Almost at the same time, Kargan, Taris, Jean-Luc Picard, Gowron, and Kassidy Yates materialised on the Reunion Bridge.
"Where's the Booze?" asked Kargan.
"They said there'd be beer!" said Captain Picard.
"I feel strange..." said Kassidy .
Inside all of their heads, Dan was trying to take control. "I am Dan. You will serve me. You will have no will of your own."
But Dan spread himself to thin. As the Away Teams fell to the floor, everyone regained conciousness.
And Dan was no more. They all cheered, and went to 10-Forward for the promised Alcohol.

*THE NEXT MORNING...*
Captain Crusher made an inspection tour of the U.S.S. Reunion. When he reached the bar, he found all his secretly stocked Romulan Ale and Saurian Brandy gone. The ship's walls resounded for over a minute...
 

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from...

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the...

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inevitable...

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AAARRRGGGHHH!!!