Ensign ASHER had been working exhaustively on finding a way to get the probe off the tail of the Hellcat.

One thing he had managed to discover was that the probe was not sending out a constant data stream. He'd discovered this when he'd managed to pick-up part of an encrypted datapacket sent by the probe. Six hours later, he'd detected another packet. He'd checked the aft sensor array records and found evidence of at least another three, all at six-hour intervals.

If ASHER's predictions were correct, then the probe would make another transmission in another hour. This was the first piece of good news ASHER had, because in one hour the probe would be vulnerable.

To enable the probe to transmit the datapacket, all the sensor systems were shut down so that the transmission could be routed through the probes deflector. Which meant that the probe would be blind for about ten seconds whilst it sent the packet. All ASHER had to do now was figure out a way to disable the probe.

ASHER had realised that the probe could be more valuable to the Hellcat intact than destroyed. When he'd analysed the last datapacket and deciphered it, he'd realised that the mirror vessel was sending a response, plus co-ordinates for the next transmission. Which meant that if they could disable the probe, but keep sending the datapackets, the ISS Leviathan would send back their next location.

ASHER had spent the past hour working with Lieutenant Redburn the Engineer aboard the Hellcat. They'd been attempting to modify the aft sensor array to send out tachyon pulses and fine-tune the targeting scanners so they could accurately destroy the probes plasma drive. The pulses should disable the probe long enough for the Hellcat crew to retrieve the probe.

Lieutenant Commander Barker and Ensign Oakenshield were in the Hellcat's cargo bay attempting to set-up a dampening field system. ASHER knew enough about the probe's drive system to disable it, but it had been Julia who had programmed the probes tactical system. She'd put in place a number of counter-measures, which was why the Hellcat couldn't just shoot the probe.

The tachyon pulses would confuse the probe's sensors for about thirty seconds, but once they re-aligned then the probe would realise that it had been captured and attempt to send out a distress signal. The crew needed to disable the probe's defences and the dampening field would give them about five minutes.

Fifty minutes passed and all the crew counted the seconds until the probe went into transmit mode. ASHER was at the tactical station ready to target the probe, Shale was at the helm preparing to slow the Hellcat down and Dukal was at the operations console ready to transport the probe once it was disabled. Ensign Oakenshield was down in the cargo bay ready to receive the probe and activate the dampening field. Lt. Commander Barker was sat in the command chair watching the crew.

"Transmission in five, four, three, two, one…" ASHER announced.

"The probe is transmitting the datapacket." Dukal reported. "….Eight, nine, ten."

The aft sensor array started to send out the tachyon pulses, as Shale slowed the Hellcat's velocity down just slightly so the blinded probe would come into range and then ASHER fired the phasers.

"The probe's velocity is decreasing." Dukal announced. "It will be in transporter range in ten seconds."

"As soon as it's in range, transport it to the cargo bay." Barker ordered. "Bridge to Ensign Oakenshield. Prepare to receive the probe."

[Understood.] Julia replied.

"Transport in progress." Dukal reported. "We've got it."

"ASHER, get down to the cargo bay and help Oakenshield." Chu ordered.

"Affirmative Commander." ASHER replied, rising from the tactical station.

A minute later ASHER came into the cargo bay. Julia had already opened the probes access ports and was beginning to detach the drive system of the probe from the sensor package.

"Shit." Julia exclaimed.

"What is it Ensign ?" ASHER asked.

"I think I've just activated the probe's self-destruct." Julia replied.

ASHER quickly pushed Julia out of the way. "You're right, the plasma drive is beginning to overload. Get out of here and erect a forcefield around the cargo bay. I will attempt to detach the drive unit, maybe we can transport the drive before it explodes."

"What about you ?" Julia replied. "If the drive explodes then you'll be killed."

"Ensign, I am a hologram, I cannot be killed. If I can't detach the drive and it detonates, I will deactivate myself. My mobile emitter should survive the blast." ASHER replied. "So long as the forcefield activates, get going I estimate you have three minutes twelve seconds left."

Julia left the cargo bay, sealed the cargo bay doors and erected the forcefield.

"Oakenshield to Bridge." She announced. "I need you to divert all available power to the forcefield I've erected around the cargo bay."

[What's going on Ensign ?] Barker enquired.

"The probe is going to self-destruct. ASHER is attempting to detach the drive unit from the sensor array. If he achieves it, then we can transport the drive unit back out into space." Julia explained.

[Understood.]

Inside the cargo bay, ASHER was feverishly attempting to detach the probes drive unit from the rest of the probe. Finally, the two parts separated and ASHER picked up the drive unit and placed it on the floor.

"ASHER to Bridge. Deactivate the forcefield and transport the drive unit." He ordered.

[Transport in progress.] Dukal replied.

The drive unit 'vanished' off the floor and seconds later, the Hellcat was rocked by the explosion.

[Well done ASHER.] The voice of Chu praised the Ensign. [But you kept that close.]

"Commander, I'm going to continue working on the probe." ASHER replied.

[I'll send Julia back down to assist.] Chu replied.

ASHER returned to the probe and realised that the only way he was going to disable the probe in time was to interface directly with it. ASHER placed his mobile emitter on the casing of the probe and deactivating his projection sub-routines, dissolving into thin air as he interfaced with the probes main processor.

The disabling of the probe went quickly for ASHER and the probe's 'defences' were soon deactivated. ASHER reactivated his projection sub-routines and re-appeared in the cargo bay.

As ASHER reached for his mobile emitter, an image appeared in front of him.

"Hello ASHER." The image said. "I thought you'd try this, so I've left you a little 'gift'".

The image disappeared and suddenly ASHER began to feel strange. His matrix started to shimmer and then he realised that his entire matrix was being infected.

"Initiate security protocol Zimmermann zero, zero one." ASHER announced.

ASHER's image disappeared.

He had no idea how long his systems had been shut down, but when he was re-activated, he realised that something wasn't right.

"Welcome back ASHER." The voice of Lt. Commander Barker could be heard. ASHER couldn't see anyone around. *Had he gone blind.*

"Relax. Ensign Oakenshield found your mobile emitter attached to the probe." Chu explained. "When she couldn't re-activate you, she realised that something was wrong. She discovered some kind of download taking place and deactivated the probe. Lucky she did, because that download was re-programming your matrix."

"Why do I feel funny ?" ASHER asked.

"We're attempting to replace the programming that was damaged or lost during the download." Chu replied. "You've 'lost' about a third of your primary sub-routines, at the moment you're just a holoprogram in the Hellcat's computer. We've recovered your memory files, but we've had to 'graft' new mobility, sensor and interface sub-routines. We've just re-activated your aural and oral sensor sub-routines. It's far easier to talk to you and have you talk back that typing and reading off a console."

"What about the probe ?" ASHER enquired.

"We've not had any luck re-activating it, it's dead for now." Chu replied. "I guess whoever re-programmed the probe did a good job."

"I did it." ASHER remarked. "Or more precisely my mirror self. I should have been more careful, anticipated the mirror ASHER's moves."

"Don't worry about that now." Chu replied. "No harm done."

*But we know that's not true.* The voice inside ASHER's head remarked. *You're mine now.*

"We're ready to transfer your matrix back into the emitter." Chu remarked.

ASHER suddenly appeared. He was in the infirmary\science lab, he'd not realised exactly where he was until now.

"I'll run a full diagnostic on my matrix and then I'll go back to the probe." ASHER stated.

"Be careful, don't go attempting anything alone." Chu ordered. "Make sure either Ensign Oakenshield or myself are with you, just in case anything else should happen."

"Understood Commander." ASHER replied.

"We'll be approaching Earth in about thirty hours. We can pass the probe onto the experts when we arrive." Chu remarked as he headed out of the door.

"Thirty hours." ASHER remarked.

"You've been off-line nearly two days." Chu replied as he left the lab.

"Initiate computer interface and start a level five diagnostic." ASHER announced, as he froze on the spot.

Five hours later, ASHER unfroze.

<Diagnostic complete.> The computer announced.

ASHER looked at the diagnostic log and didn't like what he saw. Damage had been done, damage that could make ASHER dangerous to the rest of the crew.