As Jake passed through the bulkhead on his way back to his rack, he was surprised to see a team of marines setting up a checkpoint in the corridor. "What's going on?" the young ensign asked them as they let the officer in front of him through with a wave.

"We are responding to reports of unauthorized contraband being smuggled onto the ship. We've been ordered to search all personnel to see if they are transporting any on their person. Could you come with us, sir?" Jake was irritated and exhausted after a long shift, and was not in any mood to deal with the men.

Jake groaned with exasperation. "Look, corporal. I'm wiped and just want to get to my rack and sleep. I don't know where you're getting your information, but I was just in the bridge for the last four hours and if there was some sort of security breach, they would have briefed us on it. And why are you stopping me and not that Lieutenant you just let pass?" he said with increasing irritation.

"Yes, sir. This breach was just discovered in the hangar bay and I'm sure the bridge will be briefed on it very soon. We waved the lieutenant through because he's been part of our response to this breach. I apologize for the inconvenience, but my orders are crystal clear: Only crew who have been screened for the contraband can pass through. So if you wouldn't mind, could you step into the wardroom with these two marines so they can privately conduct a search of your person?"

Jake massaged his forehead as he considered his options. Eventually he sighed and said wearily, "Make it quick. I'm exhausted and am barely able to stand on my own two feet."

As the two marines escorted him into the empty wardroom, Jake noticed a third marine standing next to a metal drum. "Could you pull up your shirt, ensign?" one of the marines stiffly flanking him asked.

Jake groaned and started untucking his shirt from his waistband. As he pulled it up and over his head, he said brusquely, "This is a waste of time. I told you there's no contraband on me."

Jake was startled as the two marines flanking him suddenly transitioned from frisking him to forcefully grabbing him. As Jake struggled in vain to break their firm grips, he felt the third marine approach him from behind and press something against his back. "We understand," the marine said quietly in his ear. "...but our screening is to find crew members who have not been exposed to the contraband. And then we correct that."

Jake's panic rose as he felt something squirming around on his spine. He tried twisting his body and wrenching his limbs from the marines, but failed miserably to free himself. Suddenly, he felt a series of sharp stings across his back and lost control of his legs as they went numb. The marines seemed to anticipate this and steadied his body, then lowered him to a crouching position. Jake looked at the marines in confusion and was shocked when their eyes began to glow bright blue. "What, what..." he said in weak, exhausted confusion.

Suddenly, he felt a pulse of bright energy flow through his body and push his tired, confused mind to the side. As his eyes flashed bright blue at the marines, Jake lowered his shirt, and began to tuck it in.

Jake stood up, smiled at the marines and said, "Good work. Now I will escort your team back to the bridge and personally ensure the command staff fully understands the significance of the breach." As the team prepared to move out, Jake took great satisfaction in knowing he and his fellow slaves would ensure that all the crew would soon join them in servitude to their alien masters.