"Are you up for a breakfast meeting today?" Diana asked Patti. They were in Sick Bay. Doctor Phlox was nearby, feeding the animals while Nan Myers stood guard. Will got up from a stool where he'd been sitting all night and yawned and stretched.

"Yeah, I am," said Patti, "I don't, well, no one, has the time for me to hang around and recover from this. Those guys have to be caught."

"You'll have to deal with it at some point," Phlox reminded her, "I will be here to help, of course."

"Thanks," she sighed.

"I can take you to any appointments you need," Will glanced over at Nan.

"I, uh, I kinda have a bodyguard," Patti said.

"I'm no bodyguard," Will said, "It's, um, that's not the way I mean it."

"Oh."

As she thought it over, he checked the time. "The meeting's going to start soon. We'd better not be late. Let's go," Will said.

=/\=

Lili and Brian wheeled a cart into the Observation Lounge, where the senior staff already was. Patti sat between Hoshi and Diana. Susie Money Lattimer followed behind Lili and Brian and remained on the alert. She made quick eye contact with Nan and Jay and they both looked back for a moment.

"We have a Mexican frittata today," Lili said, "with toast and jam and avocado slices for a garnish. There's lots of fruit and a bowl of Scottish steel-cut oats for Commander T'Pol of course. The frittata has cheese in it, so I also made some regular scrambled eggs for anyone who doesn't want cheese."

Malcolm glanced at her briefly, at her impossibly light blue eyes as she said that. He nodded, very, very slightly. She hadn't forgotten, and he knew that she was communicating to him that she wasn't angry with him and did not suspect him.

"Ensign O'Day," Captain Archer said, "you're a part of this meeting, too. Maybe let Crewman Delacroix do all of the serving this morning."

"Well, sir, this is a rather large group," she said. And it was – it was Captain Archer, T'Pol, Tripp, Malcolm, Will, Jay, Shelby, Travis , Phlox and Hoshi, with Diana, Patti, Lili and the two bodyguards, Nan and Susie – fifteen in all.

"I can manage," Brian said.

She found a seat between T'Pol and Jay. Jay watched as Brian put out the jams for toast and Lili switched the jam jars so that the blueberry was right in front of the Major, as always. He nodded slightly at her, knowing that she hadn't forgotten. He figured that meant that maybe, just maybe, she didn't suspect him of the attack or the graffiti. He swallowed, nervous again, particularly because of her proximity to him, but at least he was more hopeful.

"We all know why we're here. There have been two incidents. And they may or may not be related. We need to get to the bottom of these things, and also agree on a suitable punishment. I'm also open to hearing about any ideas for preventing any similar incidents in the future," said the captain.

"Well," Lili said, "what happened to me, sir, it's hardly noteworthy, versus what happened to Patti."

"Ensign," T'Pol said, "it is a symptom of a lack of order."

"I can post MACOs on every deck," Jay offered, "and restore order."

"Who's to say the MACOs aren't responsible?" asked Malcolm sharply. "I can post Security teams wherever you like, Captain."

"Who's to say Security isn't to blame?" Jay shot back.

"It could even be Engineering," Will said, "Why the hell were those lights out, anyway?"

"If Engineering hadn't been there," Tripp said, his own temper rising, "Crewman Socorro here'd still be in that room!"

"Rosen only got in," Will shot back, "because I overrode the lock!"

"Simmer down," Jonathan said angrily.

"But –" Will began anew.

"Lieutenant!" called out T'Pol.

"Listen," Jonathan said, his own temper flaring up and refusing to back down, "this is not the time for finger-pointing! It's for fact-gathering. Let's do that first." The men were still glaring at each other, so he added, "And that's an order."

"Why don't we just work on piecing together what happened?" Travis suggested.

"I can record a timeline," Hoshi said.

"That's a good idea," Jonathan said, considerably more calmly, "Crewman, we'll start with you." He turned to listen to Patti.

"Well, sir, I went to shift as usual but I had forgotten my PADD. I went through the morning but it wasn't easy. So after lunch I decided to retrieve it from my quarters."

"I knew about this," Travis confirmed, "Patti asked for permission."

"Do you know when?" Hoshi asked.

Travis tapped on his PADD. "Uh, it was thirteen fifty-two hours."

Hoshi recorded the information. "Go on."

"The lights of C deck were going on and off. I was, well, I was grabbed from behind. Someone put a hand over my face, covering my nose and mouth. It was hard to breathe. They dragged me into the waste recycling room."

"Did you see anyone in there?" asked T'Pol.

"It was pitch black in there. And I didn't even see anyone or anything before, either," Patti said.

"So not even the color of the skin of the hand on your mouth?" Jay asked.

"Not even that," Patti admitted, "the hallway lights were kind of blue when they were on. I couldn't make out anything."

"Could you gather any other clues?" asked Malcolm.

"When I was, uh, well, they put me on a table," Patti said, "and someone held each of my extremities."

"One hand per extremity, or two?" asked Jay.

"One, I think," Patti said.

"What direction was everything facing?" he asked.

"Huh?"

"The thumbs and the heels of the hands," Jay explained, "where were they, if you could tell at all."

"Huh," Patti thought for a moment. "I can't say when it comes to my ankles. For my wrists, the, uh, the thumbs were on the insides of both wrists. And the heels of the hands were more toward the outsides. At least, that's how I remember it."

Jay nodded. "I am attempting to establish," Jay explained, "whether it was one person or more than one per extremity, as that would give us an idea of how many people were in the room. It looks like it was just one guy holding Crewman Socorro's wrists, and he was standing behind her, probably with his belly facing the back of her head."

"What else happened?" Jonathan asked.

"They, well, someone pulled my uniform down."

"Crewman, if it's too difficult to go on, we can talk later," Jonathan said, "or we can reduce the number of people in the meeting."

"No, uh, that's okay," Patti said, "everyone here needs to know, right? And none of you were there. That part is obvious. I know that, that most of you were on the Bridge, and, and Major Hayes and Private Myers and Corporal Money Lattimer were all in the gym. Doctor Phlox and Diana were in Sick Bay. Commander Tucker was in Engineering; Ensign Pike, uh, Miller, was in the Botany Lab. And Will and Lili and Brian were all in the galley, right?"

"Actually, that's not true," Lili said, "I was on C deck. Will went to Botany. And Brian went to Sick Bay."

"I saw Will in Botany," Shelby confirmed.

"And Crewman Delacroix arrived in Sick Bay as expected," Phlox reported.

"But the times might be off," Jay muttered quietly to himself.

"Let's talk about the specific times later," Jonathan suggested, "please, let's just get through this part, Crewman?"

"Yes," Patti said, "well, I was lying there, and they just, well, they kissed me and touched me. They were; I think they were trying to stimulate me a lot more than they were trying to stimulate themselves. They did offer me, well; I guess offer is the wrong word. But they did, um, they would force open my mouth and, God, do I have to get really specific about that?"

"No, uh, that's all right," Jonathan said.

"We, er, I took scans," Diana stated, "and we didn't find any DNA at all. Except, of course, for Patti's own DNA. But there was nothing from the assailants."

"And that makes sense," Patti said, "because they didn't, well, they didn't hang around that long. It almost makes me wonder why they were bothering."

"It was, I think," Lili said, "to fuel fantasies."

"Really?" asked Travis.

"Well, yeah," Lili explained, "I mean, if you were one of those guys, you probably, well, you have to take care of yourself all the time. To even have the memory of what, what it all feels like, I gotta figure that was what was really going on. At least, I'd like to think that, as the alternative is a lot scarier."

Jay said, "Maybe so, but they didn't have to, you know, this was too much."

"This method also eliminated DNA evidence," T'Pol pointed out, "so it is far more difficult to implicate anyone."

"We'll question everybody," Jonathan said, "even the women and the attached men, even people with alibis. There are pieces to these, these incidents. It goes from the lights being out to the graffiti to the Crewman being assaulted. Someone had to have seen something."

"Actually, sir," said Brian, hesitantly, "there's more."

"More?" asked Jonathan, getting exasperated.

"Y-yes, sir." Brian retrieved his PADD. "There's a file, sir."

"A file?" asked Malcolm, incredulous.

"Yes. It's, uh, I'm not proud of this, sir. I'm not proud of participating in it," Brian handed the PADD to Captain Archer.

Jonathan read off, "The Crewman or the Ensign?"

"There's more, sir." Brian took the PADD back and fiddled around until he had the votes and the trend line up.

T'Pol took the PADD and read it. "It appears that there is a certain poll being taken every day about Crewman Socorro and Ensign O'Day."

"Yes, that's what's happening," confirmed Brian.

"And the votes are tallied and recorded, with a graph showing how both are doing," continued the Vulcan.

Lili looked at Brian, "You voted on me?"

"I'm sorry, Lili. I, I always voted for you. So did Craig."

"That's not the point," she said, "it's like we were, I dunno, like you were betting on us. Are we racing fillies?"

"Actually," T'Pol clarified, "there is also betting. The wager is whether the Ensign or the Crewman will become attached first."

"Did anyone here, other than Crewman Delacroix, receive a copy of this file?" Jonathan asked.

The others shook their heads. "I imagine, sir," said Malcolm, "they knew that any of us would reveal the file's existence."

"Who sent the file and the messages?" asked Phlox.

"The file was anonymously sent," T'Pol revealed.

"Hoshi," Jonathan asked, "who can do this, other than yourself?"

She thought for a moment. "Chip, definitely. But not just him. You can have a computers background and do this. It could also be some combined skills."

"Craig said he needed to do something yesterday," Lili offered, "and he needed to go to Engineering because it wouldn't be traceable from there."

"I did call him in," Tripp said, "it, uh, Malcolm, it was a prank. You know, when your PADD played God Save the Queen? That was the prank."

"Oh," Malcolm was frowning.

"We didn't mean any harm," said Tripp, "and it wasn't just Willets who knew how to do that. I just called on him on account that he would know what to do, and it would deflect attention away from anyone in Engineering."

"Who else knows to do that in Engineering?" asked the captain.

"Most of 'em, I'm thinkin'," Tripp said. "There's Torres, Rostov, Rosen, just to start. Crossman MacKenzie would know, but she's got no motivation to do that."

"Anyone else?" asked Jonathan.

"Possibly some in Navigation or even Stellar Cartography," said Travis, "at least, they'd be talented enough. So there's Harris, Chalfont, Hutchinson and Constantine."

"Constantine doesn't have a motive, either," said Jay, "seeing as he's shacking up with Frank Todd."

"There's also the question of who was there," Will said, "it was C deck. We know that the following men live there – you, Major Hayes, and Mister Hamboyan, right? Del and Willets live there, too."

"So does Gary Hodgkins," Jay confirmed, "His roommate is Curtis. And Donnelly and Jennings moved there when things got too loud on D deck."

"But there was the gym," Travis asked, "who was in the gym?"

"Julie and I were there," Jay said, "and the MACOs – all of them – came. But they didn't all stay. It wasn't required, so I didn't really pay attention."

"Who did you see, Private Myers?" asked Jonathan.

"Private Chang – he came and went. So did Hodgkins and Azar. I only saw Brown and Hamboyan at the very end, but I wasn't looking for them, sir."

"And you, Corporal Money Lattimer?" asked the captain.

"I saw the same people," she said, "and Parsons, Todd and Tiburón were there at the beginning, but they all left. I also saw – I think – Forbes. Oh, and Amanda Cole Phlox ran one of the smaller sessions of calisthenics."

"Anyone else?" asked Captain Archer.

"I think I saw Woods and Kemper, but they were not participating," said Jay. "And Ryan and Moreno were on exercise bikes, with Greer and Haynem."

"Anyone else from, from Security?" Malcolm asked.

"I saw Ketchum and Lattimer," said Susie, "now that I think about it. People were just coming and going. Curtis might've been one of them, but I'm not sure."

"Hamidi was on the Bridge," Travis said, "so that leaves a bunch of others who we don't really know where they were."

"Like I said, we'll question everyone," Jonathan said, "And we'll sweep that room for any DNA, anything at all. Hoshi, you're in charge of the investigation into the PADD message."

"Yes, sir," she confirmed.

"Hayes, you're in charge of investigating the assault."

"Understood, sir."

"Commander Reed, you're in charge of investigating the graffiti."

"Very well, sir."

"And uh, we'll continue with bodyguards until this is resolved," said Jonathan.

"Sir," Patti said, "I'd feel a lot more comfortable keeping female bodyguards. I hope that's okay."

"Of course it is," Jonathan said, "Malcolm, you and Jay work out a schedule for Haddon-Masterson, Money Lattimer and Myers, so they can cover both."

"That's not necessary, sir," said Lili, "I don't really mind if a guy who's cleared is guarding me."

"Then that's Hamidi, at least to start," Jonathan said, "call him down here. We'll work on the rest of it. And as other men are cleared, he can be relieved."

"I can relieve him myself," Malcolm said.

"As can I," offered Jay. "I mean, I live on C deck anyway."

"Work it out amongst yourselves," Jonathan said, "dismissed."

=/\=

After everyone else had left, Will said to Patti, "I, uh, I was coming to your quarters yesterday, you know that."

"Yeah," she glanced over at Nan, who was pretending not to listen in. "And that's how you found me. Thanks, Will. I don't know what I would have done. I was just lying there afterwards, wondering what the hell to do."

"Patricia," he said.

"No, it's just Patti," she said.

"Oh, sorry, Patti, then," he was a tad nonplussed, as if he'd lost his place, "I just want to say, well, I was coming in order to tell you that I hoped that love wouldn't matter so much. And that, you know, people used to marry all the time and it wasn't for love. It was for survival or because it was a good idea. And a lot of them, they learned to love each other, particularly when they treated each other well."

"Will ...."

"I was going to propose," He said, "and, and ask you to be patient and to learn to, to fall in love. Because I knew that it was possible, and that if we treated one another well, that it would happen. I, I figured that it was tough to decide because you were trying to decide on love. And if I took that out of the equation, if would be easier for you."

"I ..."

"But, but, Patti, there was one thing I didn't count on. See, today, I think anyone else would have been shattered. But you, you didn't take it in stride or anything, but you set it all aside in order to get the work done. And to get those men caught and punished."

"Well, I compartmentalized it," she admitted, "I'll probably fall apart later."

"Cara," he said.

"Who's Cara?"

He smiled. "It's Italian for dear. My mother was Italian. Your surname is Socorro and you don't know that?"

"That's because I'm not Italian," Patti said, "I'm Portuguese."

"Oh, then paella, then," he said.

"Paella? Did you just refer to me as a seafood dish?"

"No, uh, I'm doing this all wrong," he said. "Patti, what I was not counting on, you see, it was that today I would see you, how practical you are, and how intelligent, and, and, well, it threw my practical and intelligent marriage plan out the window. And, and, do you know what it was replaced with?"

She shook her head.

"It was replaced with me admiring you, and maybe even loving you," he said, "I want to protect you. I am; it's obvious. I'm no Security guard. I'm no MACO. I passed the firearms test, but just barely. But that doesn't mean that my words are hollow, or that my, my offer is insincere or, or, that it's worthless. Please, Patti, will you do me the honor? Will you be my wife?"

"All right," she said, "and like you said, I can learn to feel for you. Right?"

"Yes," he said, "we'll have an intimate wedding, if that is all right with you?"

"Something low key," she said, "I've had enough drama to last me for a while."

=/\=

In his Ready Room, Jonathan thought over what had happened. He got up and opened the door, addressing the Bridge. "Hoshi," he said, "get Maryam Hamidi and Chip Masterson up here."

"Yes, sir."

=/\=

When the two junior Communications officers had arrived, Jonathan first beckoned Maryam in, with Hoshi accompanying her. Maryam didn't have any real information to provide. "I am just glad, sir," she said at the end of the interview, "that Azar is exonerated. He will do his best to guard Ensign O'Day."

"I'm sure he will," Jonathan said, "stay on the Bridge and take Communications. I need to talk to Hoshi and Chip together."

"Yes, sir."

=/\=

Captain Archer closed the door behind them once Hoshi and Chip were inside his Ready Room. "Do you know why you're here, Ensign?"

"Yes, sir."

"Where were you?" asked the captain.

"I was in my quarters, sir. I don't have anyone to verify that," Chip admitted.

"Do you know about this?" Jonathan showed him the anonymous PADD message.

Chip studied it for a moment. "I've never seen this file before."

Jonathan glanced at Hoshi and then said, "Who knows how to anonymize a PADD message?"

"Other than, uh, other than Lieutenant Sato Khan and Ensign Haroun Hamidi and me, uh, there are computers people, like, uh, Craig Willets. And I think Hodgkins on the MACOs had a computers background, but don't hold me to that. There's also, the Navigational computers are kinda complex, so some of those people might know how to do this. Engineering might be able to hack it out, too."

"Masterson," Jonathan said, "do you want to help us?"

"Of course I do, sir," Chip said, "my wife and I, we want to start a family. And she doesn't want to be Patti Socorro's bodyguard forever, yanno? I mean, she'll do it, of course. It's more that it's such a pity that she has to. Yanno?"

"Understood," said the captain.

"So tell me what I can do," Chip volunteered.

"We know from the number of votes," Hoshi said, "that there were attached guys getting this file."

Chip looked over the file. "Yeah, I mean, there's less than thirty single guys, but there are, what, thirty-four, thirty-five votes at most?"

"Exactly," Jonathan said, "and since the senior staff was kept out of the loop, there are more attached men getting this file than it may appear at first glance. So here's my proposal to you."

"I'm listening, sir."

"Get on the list, however you can. Just, just chat up the single guys. Someone is bound to know how to get your name on that list."

"How should I do that?"

"Pretend you and Deb are having problems," Hoshi suggested.

"I'll need to, uh, let her know about that, sir."

"Of course," Jonathan smiled another one of his tight little smiles. "But no one else, okay? You get on that list, and you work with us – we'll start to figure out who gets the file and, hopefully, we can trace back to who originally set it up."

"That doesn't necessarily mean we've pinpointed the assailants," Hoshi said, "but we figure it's a step."

"I'm a few hours until I start shift," Chip said, "I can probably get started now."

When he and Hoshi had left, Jonathan saw his PADD was flashing. He picked up the message. It said, "Patti and I are getting married – can we make it as soon as possible? Thank you, William Slocum."

"Man oh man, we're down to one," he said softly. "And I'm not so sure this is the best idea you've ever had, Chef. But we'll celebrate it just the same. And, well, I know what I need to do."

=/\=

Jonathan Archer's Personal log, September third, 2039

I think things are progressing as they need to. I can't stand that it's come to this, but so far, so good. I'll stay closely involved in the investigations. These women cannot be bothered again.

Since there is but one choice left, I am going to pull rank. Once the investigations are underway, I'll approach Ensign O'Day.

=/\=

Malcolm Reed's Personal log, September third, 2039

My investigation into the graffiti incident is, so far, proceeding smoothly. I have located what is most likely the perpetrator's instrument, a small can of blue spray paint in Cargo Bay Two. It appears to have been recently used.

Since the paint was wet when Ensign O'Day touched it, I believe that the incident had not occurred too long before that. And so I am concentrating my efforts on the denizens of C deck. I also suspect that anyone who painted did not assault, and vice versa.

As for Lili, she is calmer than I would have expected. I shall work on exonerating someone to watch her, so as to give Hamidi a breather. I would watch her myself – and I would prefer that – but I also need to keep her safe, and catch whomever did this.

=/\=

Jay Hayes's Personal log, September third, 2039

So far, all of the MACOs are denying they had anything to do with the attack on Patti Socorro. That's to be expected. The truth will out, soon enough.

Lili is okay, far as I can tell. When I saw her this evening, I suggested that she lock herself in so that Hamidi could get some sleep. And then in the morning, someone could take her to the galley. I volunteered, but Hamidi says he can do it. I don't want anyone to hurt her.

=/\=

William Slocum's Personal log, September third, 2039

I won, I suppose. I think Patti and I will learn to really care for each other. I already do – it's not so much hearts and flowers as it is admiration. Hearts and flowers are overrated anyway.

=/\=

Patti Socorro's Personal log, September third, 2039

I guess I never thought of Chef that way before. I think he'll make a decent husband. I'm glad to be out of that rat race. And I suspect it'll protect me better than any MACO.

I feel a little sorry for Lili, the last one, out in the cold.

=/\=

Charlotte Lilienne O'Day's Personal log, September third, 2039

Malcolm has been here a lot, investigating the graffiti. It hasn't been wiped off yet, as he's still running tests. It's like a bruise, a slap in the face whenever I look outside my door.

Jay came over this evening and suggested I lock myself in. What'll I do if there's an emergency? Patti, I understand, will be with Will. Good for them.