Mr. Jeffy walked distractedly through the corridors, probing his mind for an answer. Something with his chance encounter in the hallway earlier kept tugging at his senses.
He was so caught up in his thoughts that he didn't notice the presence of another officer moving in the other direction until they collided. Jeffy fell to the floor, dazed. He looked up to see a hand
extended down in assistance. Behind the hand was the face of Mr. Proteau, the security officer.
"Excuse me, Mr. Jeffy", he said amiably, "I didn't see you there. I was a little distracted."
Jeffy just sat there on the floor staring up at him, mouth agape.
"Mr. Jeffy", Proteau prompted quizzically, "are you alright?"
"Hamma....bah...", Jeffy stammered, still staring at the security officer.
Proteau considered his statement for a moment before replying, "I don't quite follow you."
"You...you can't be here.", Jeffy blurted out.
Proteau eyed the engineering officer with some concern. "Why not, Mr. Jeffy?", he queried in soothing tones, suspecting that Jeffy might be suffering from shock.
"Be-because...you were...were just...", he broke off, evidently troubled.
Proteau helped the engineering officer to his feet as he mumbled inarticulately. "Perhaps, I should take you to sick bay."
Jeffy shook his head violently and began pointing back the way he'd come. "You...he...down there.", he said, pulling the security officer in that direction.
Proteau grasped him more firmly, fearing that Jeffy would try to break his grip and flee down the hallway. "I must insist, Mr. Jeffy.", Proteau said calmly, but forcefully.
"You were down there.", Jeffy said, exclamating his statement by stabbing a finger down the hall.
Proteau shook his head. "No, Mr. Jeffy", he said slowly and deliberately, "I was right here."
"Right", Jeffy exclaimed excitedly, "that's just my point."
Proteau just stood there looking at him, struggling with the jumble of information that had been thrust upon him. When it was apparent that Proteau wasn't getting it, Jeffy assumed the same reasonable tones
that had previously been utilized on him. "You, Mr. Proteau", Jeffy explained, "you were right here, but a few minutes ago, I had a conversation with you near Mr. Schultz's quarters."
Though Jeffy sounded normal now, Proteau was still having trouble with his story. "How can I be in two places at once?", he asked, desperately trying to understand.
"You can't.", Jeffy said triumphantly.
Proteau cocked an eyebrow, finally digesting everything. He opened his com-link. "This is Proteau.", he said, "Send a security detachment to officer's quarters. I'll meet them there."
He and Mr. Jeffy began to run in the direction from which Jeffy had come.
