Previously……

"Commander I think you should see this." Dukal announced, from the console he had been working at.

Chu stepped over to look at what had caught the Cardassian's attention.

"What is it ?" Chu asked.

"It's a rogue signal.." Dukal replied. "This console controls all the sensors, internal and external. I've got our five lifesigns, but I'm picking up another signal, but this one's energy."

"Where ?" Chu asked.

"Corridor two, heading this way." Dukal announced. "It appears to be a concentrated energy pattern, possibly a holographic projection."

"Barker to Truman." Chu stated. "We are not alone on the ship, come to the Bridge immediately."

[We're on our way.] Truman replied.

Now…..

Chu looked over towards the Cardassian from the mirror universe. Chu had wondered whether he would ever get to face this scenario. He had made an educated guess that given the amount of damage caused to ASHER, there had to have been a duplicate ASHER on the mirror vessel. No one could have such intricate knowledge of ASHER's systems, not even Chu himself. However he had not anticipated that he would be meeting the mirror version of ASHER on this ship.

"Entering the forward corridor." Dukal announced as he watched the console.

Suddenly the image of ASHER appeared on the Bridge of the Maru, walking straight through the Bridge door as if it wasn't there. Although he looked very much like the ASHER Chu knew so well, there were obvious differences. For a start his uniform was much more decorative and his torso looked far more muscular than the Ensign. He also had the blackest eyes Chu had ever seen. Chu immediately noticed the armband that the hologram worn on his left upper arm and surmised that it must have been the mobile emitter that was sustaining the hologram.

"So this is where you got to, you Cardassian filth." ASHER announced in a deep and menacing voice.
Dukal immediately reached for his phaser, but ASHER was too fast. He moved like lightning and reached inside the EVA suit, causing damage to the large Cardassian, who fell to the floor. ASHER then turned to look at the second person on the Bridge. ASHER gazed at Chu for some moments before speaking again. Chu having seen how quick the hologram had been with his attack on the Cardassian decided not to reach for his own phaser.

"The likeness is uncanny." ASHER remarked. "You look identical to Commander Barker."

"So you're the one responsible for the destruction of Ensign ASHER." Chu suggested.

"So my little holo-virus finally destroyed my counterpart in this universe, I was wondering why we had lost contact with it." ASHER replied. "The virus worked much faster that was expected, but he did prove of some use to us."

"He fought your virus all the way." Chu stated. "He was on to you from the start and battled until the end."

"True, we did hope that we could use him to gain valuable information about this universe and your Federation." ASHER said. "But we were never able to take control, at least we knew where you and your vessel were. We managed to evade you for so long, long enough to make our own repairs."

"So how much of your programming is Protector ?" Chu enquired.

"Eighty percent of my core programming is Protector." ASHER confirmed. "Only the basic matrix is of Terran design. My matrix contains all the information about the Protectors, including hundreds of devices that will make the Terran Empire the rulers of our own and all other universes. It was Protector that was developed to punch a hole into other universes and Protector technology that allows me to move without the aid of holo-emitters."

Suddenly there was a noise from the rear of the Bridge and ASHER reacted, turning to see the door opening and the Marine Truman aiming his phaser rifle directly at him. This was just the distraction that Chu needed, he grabbed his phaser and aimed it at the holo-band on ASHER's arm. The hologram faded for a few moments, then turned once more to Chu.

Before Chu could fire again, ASHER had swiped the phaser away from his hand and was about to do to Chu what he had already done to Dukal. Just as the hologram penetrated the EVA suit, ASHER faded into nothing as Truman fired his phaser rifle at the holo-band, which dropped to the floor.

"Thank you Jack." Chu said. "Try and get the dampening field around this ship down and we can contact the ship and get some medical help for Dukal.

Truman moved towards the operations console where Dukal was slumped on the floor. Truman checked the EVA suits systems and said. "He's still alive, but I think he's got internal injuries."
"Just get that field down and I'll take care of our holographic friend." Chu replied.

"The field is down." Truman reported after a few moments working at the console.

"Barker to Leviathan." Chu announced. "Medical emergency."

[Leviathan here.] The familiar voice of Captain Taybar came back. [What's your situation ?"

"We've run into a little trouble down here, we need to transport Dukal back to sickbay." Chu reported. "He's suffered internal injuries."

[What's the status of the rest of the away team ?] Aki enquired.

"We're all fine." Chu replied. "But I could use an empty anti-matter containment canister down here. We should have the ship up and running within an hour or so."

[We'll get you your canister.] Aki stated. [I want a full report when you get back. Leviathan out.]

There was a familiar sound as the transporter locked onto the body of Dukal who disappeared into thin air. Moments later an antimatter containment canister appeared on the console in front of Chu. Chu opened the canister and reached down, picking up the holo-band and placing it in the canister. He then closed and sealed the lid, then activated the magnetic seals.

"That should hold him secure." Chu stated, placing the canister back down. "Now let's get the ship flying and back to the Leviathan."

"What do you want with the hologram ?" Truman asked. "Why not just destroy it here and now ?"

"You heard him." Chu replied. "He holds an entire Protector database. He also created the holo-virus that almost destroyed Ensign ASHER. We should be able to extract that information and maybe repair ASHER."

An hour later, the Par Maru rose from the surface of the planetoid and headed back towards the Leviathan.