I went out of the turbolift and looked around. Everything appeared as usual - Trent and Monika at the helm and ops, Commander Ruslan in the centre seat. 'Report!' I demanded. And then I heard it for the first time. It was like a second voice in my head. I heard Ruslan giving me the account of his rather uneventful shift and, at the same time, I heard this other voice of his. I had no idea what it was saying but I had a distant impression that I somehow understood it. It sounded more like squeaking, kind of shrilling, high-pitched sounds. I looked at the others. No one seemed to have noticed anything unusual, they were just going on about their duties. Ruslan was standing in front of me, waiting to be relieved. I dismissed him and took my seat. I decided not to dwell on the incident for now. It might have been that I hadn't got enough sleep at night. At least that was what I hoped. Later that day I heard the strange voice again. In the mess hall, while ordering my dinner. I thought I said something else to the chef but I didn't know what it was. He understood and replied in kind. 'Counsellor,' I tapped my commbadge. 'Report to my ready room.' 'Aye, sir,' I heard and went there myself. I felt I needed to talk to someone before I announced the intruder alert. Our counsellor was already waiting when I entered the room. I wanted to say hello but before I could open my mouth, I heard her. She was speaking to me in this other language, without opening her mouth. She wasn't a telepath and neither was I. This was impossible. 'Red alert!' I went. 'All hands to battle stations! We have an intruder aboard!' A few hours later my whole crew was as puzzled as I had been. The internal scans showed nothing. The medical check-ups revealed no unusual phenomena. We were perfectly clear. And yet, it gave me creeps to hear our medical chief screeching to me while she gave me her report. 'Are you aware of that?' I finally found the courage to ask. She glanced at me. 'Aware of what?' She asked. I looked at her carefully. She was genuinely surprised. I didn't want to frighten her. What's even more important, I probably was afraid of making a fool of myself. It was enough to have the crew casting me curious looks when I ordered the meticulous ship - wide search with no apparent reason. They didn't know. They were unaware of this alien language they were using. I was the only one who heard it. Yet, I have also undergone medical scans. They revealed nothing out of the ordinary. I decided to talk openly to her. I told her about the inner voice. She ran some additional scans both of me and herself and said I had to be overworked. She recommended I get some rest. I did. The next day we were still on yellow alert. The crew had no idea what it was about but I decided to abandon our current mission and return to the nearest starbase. I couldn't risk the crew's safety no matter the cause. It might have been an intruder or it might have been my insanity. Either one was a sufficient reason for concern. Ruslan demanded to know more. I was about to tell him but I heard him squeak that alien language again. I couldn't explain it but I was sure I had understood him, albeit subconsciously. I replied, involuntarily. I couldn't help myself and it scared the hell out of me. 'What is it?' Ruslan insisted. As my first officer, he had the right to know. I told him. 'And I am saying what?' He asked. 'I don't know,' I answered sincerely. 'All I know is that, on some level, we understand each other.' Ruslan looked dubious. 'Have you talked to the doctor about it?' I sighed. 'Of course I have. And to the counsellor as well. There is nothing wrong with me. At least nothing that would show up on our scans.' 'Keeeh ka chee!' I heard Ruslan. I replied: 'Kiiit kee!' It was getting spooky. He looked at me: 'Is that why you ordered us back to the base?' I nodded. 'Whatever is happening to me or to us, I don't deem it safe to continue our mission, Commander,' I explained and he nodded. I wished he was gone before I would hear him again. He complied. The next day we were still far away from the Federation space. Our ETA was three days. I ordered maximum warp. The whole situation was really unnerving. Now I could hear almost everyone squeak and chirp freely and I found myself replying to them unwillingly. We apparently communicated although I had no idea as to the subject of our communication. And the others weren't even aware of it occurring. I went down to the mess hall. I surely preferred the privacy of my own quarters but I felt I needed to solve the mystery, eventually. I concentrated on the sounds around me, trying to infer some meaning. I was alerted to the chirping sound of my commbadge: 'Captain to the bridge!' I almost ran all the way to the turbolift. 'What is it?' I snapped through the half opened door. 'Have you ordered a change of course, sir?' Ruslan asked nervously. 'No, I certainly haven't,' I replied. 'What happened?' 'Well, we have changed the course, Captain,' said Monika from the helm. 'I don't recall doing it but it has been done from my console, sir. We're now headed 6 point 5 mark 8.' 'Scan the area,' I ordered immediately. 'There is nothing out there, Captain,' Trent reported almost instantly. 'Only a small nebula dead ahead.' 'Shouldn't we go back to our original course, captain?' Ruslan was eager to order reverse course but I stopped him. "No, let's go ahead and see what's out there,' I said. Trent was surprised but he complied immediately. 'Captain?' Asked Ruslan. I had to explain. 'It seems we are under some influence after all, Commander,' I began. 'I think we should play along for now to see what happens. Otherwise we may never be able to solve this.' Ruslan shot me a quizzical look but said nothing. At least not in English. I heard him squeak to me and suddenly I understood the message. He was happy. Happy. to be getting home. I smiled at him: 'Everything's gonna be all right now,' I said. Captain's log, stardate 44477.2 We have departed the nebula after being contacted by a new species. They apologized for using our bodies as nests for their young. They explained it was necessary for their survival and that they had meant no harm. We delivered their energy patterns and now they are able to grow on their own. The experience was unsettling but it helped in emergency. Everything is back to normal and we're on course again. Keeh ChaK!
