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By Root 301 0

slipped hastily into his seat next to the chief engineer. Lieutenant B'Elanna Torres gave him a look-no smile, but no overt hostility-and returned her attention to the datapadd in front of her. Kim slanted a glance at it, but couldn't make out the lines of text and didn't dare look too closely. He looked around the room instead. Everyone was there whom he'd expected to see Tuvok and Paris, of course; the first officer Commander Chako-tay; Torres; the alien Neelix, perched between discomfort and eagerness on the very edge of his chair- everyone, Kim realized abruptly, except the holographic doctor. Even as he thought it, however, a wallscreen lit, and the doctor's image peered out of it. Seeing him, Janeway nodded and leaned forward, drawing everyone's attention with the simple movement.

"I'm sure the news of our present crisis has spread throughout the ship by now," she said, "but, to summarize, to date over thirty crew members are suffering from some form of ascorbic acid deficiency-scurvy to those of you with a historical bent-while analysis of our stores shows that there is an ample supply of vitamin C in the food we have on board. Naturally-" She gave a small, austere smile. "Naturally, I'm concerned. Doctor, let's begin with your conclusions."

"Certainly."

Kim shifted in his chair to face the hologram, uncomfortably aware that he had left a message from the doctor unread and unanswered in his personal files. At the time, he'd thought it had to do with his annual physical-the ship's computer was still keeping its records up to date despite their unscheduled

trip to the Delta Quadrant-but now he wondered if it had had to do with the discovery of scurvy on board.

"So far," the doctor went on, "I have examined a little more than ninety percent of the crew, and have made firm appointments with most of the remainder. As the captain said, I have found thirty cases of actual clinical deficiency, and another forty-two crew members show signs that they are not getting enough vitamin C. I have been treating the deficiency cases with supplemental doses, but so far only Lieutenant Imbro has responded positively to the treatment, and I had to give him dosages that bordered on toxicity before he responded. In other words, Captain, I think we've got a problem."

"Not responding-?" Chakotay began, and broke off abruptly, glancing at Janeway.

The captain nodded. "Could you be more specific, Doctor?"

"I'm not sure how," the hologram answered. "I have given each of the affected crew members enough vitamin C to reverse the condition, but it hasn't worked. I'm running tests now, but right now my best guess-and it is only a guess-is that something is impeding the absorption of the ascorbic acid."

"It's not my fault," Neelix said hastily. "I've followed your protocols, I've done everything exactly the way you told me to-"

"I'm sure, Mr. Neelix," Janeway said firmly. "We'll get to you in a moment."

Neelix started to protest further, met her steely look, and shut his mouth again without making a sound.

"I take it you don't have any idea what's causing the problem?" Chakotay asked, after a moment, and the hologram shook his head.

"Not yet. I'm investigating, of course, but I haven't found anything untoward in the affected crew members' systems. This suggests that, if a contaminant is impeding absorption, it, too, is broken down fairly rapidly by the body." The doctor paused, seeming to consider something only he could see. "It may or may not be significant that only human crew members have been affected so far."

"Unsurprising," Tuvok said. "Not all species make use of ascorbic acid. Vulcans, for example, do not metabolize it at all."

How very helpful, Kim thought, and heard a soft noise from P aris. Janeway glanced in his direction, but apparently decided to ignore him.

"Very well, Doctor, continue with your tests, and let me know as soon as you find anything."

"Of course."

Janeway nodded again, still with that slight smile. "In the meantime, gentlemen, I'm open to further suggestions."