EPISODE LXVII - "XALER", YAS EIKNARF
(FRANKIE SAY RELAX)
Reed lay on the floor, jittering with the electricity that coursed through his body.
"Nice shot, Mr. Proteau.", Jeffy said, coming to his side. "How did you know he was lying?"
Proteau shot the engineering officer a curious glance. "Well, you tipped me off", he explained, "but the clincher was his voice. You see, I have an affinity with numerous species of extra-terrestrial
beings, humans being one of them, I..." His lengthy explanation was cut short by the appearance of Commander Reed turning the corner.
"Another one!", Jeffy exclaimed, launching himself at the presumed new threat.
Jeffy and Reed went down in a heap. Reed threw the engineering officer to the side and scrambled to his feet.
"What is the meaning of this, Mr. Jeffy!", Reed demanded.
Jeffy rose slowly. "Oh, don't play coy with me, shape shifter.", Jeffy replied darkly, "I see through your little disguise."
Reed cast a helpless glance at Proteau who simply shrugged. Jeffy drew his Splazer, and pointed it at Reed, just as Nurse Yahbo stepped around the corner to stand behind the commander.
"What's going on?", she asked, eyeing Jeffy quizzically.
"Move away from him slowly, Snooker Doodie", Jeffy instructed her, motioning with the weapon, "he's dangerous."
"What are you talking about, Love Chops?", Nurse Yahbo asked, trying in vain to understand the situation.
"He's a fake", Jeffy said, advancing with his weapon, "a phony, an imposter. He's probably been sabotaging the ship from within."
He reached around the commander to grab hold of Nurse Yahbo. Reed clasped his hand around the weapon, stepped forward, and twisted, pulling the weapon from the bewildered engineering officer's hands.
He held the weapon loosely, but pointed it in the general direction of Mr. Jeffy.
"Now", he said calmly, "can someone please explain to me what is going on?"
Proteau stepped forward, "I think I may be able to, sir. Mr. Jeffy believes that you are a
doppelganger of sorts."
"Well, why the hell would he think that?", he demanded, his gaze shifting from Proteau to Jeffy.
"Because of this.", Proteau said dramatically, indicating the unconscious form on the deck with a sweep of his hand.
Reed stepped forward, keeping an eye on the engineering officer who held Nurse Yahbo protectively in his arms. He knelt over the body, gripped its shoulder, and turned it so that it was face up. Looking
at its face, he still did not find the answer he was seeking.
"How is this supposed to explain anything?"
Proteau came over, obviously perplexed, and peered over the commander's shoulder. "Well, I'll be..", he uttered with astonishment.
The rest of the crowd gathered around, to view the body. Numerous sounds of surprise came from the shocked expressions of the assembled group.
Horger simply stared at the face for a moment. "Well", he muttered, "that explains a lot."
