by Alys Landale
*
Kail sat on the bridge of his own ship. He had been awarded an Imperial battle-cruiser due to his allegiance with Takma. And now his ship not only had standard Imperial class weaponry, but a few added surprises courtesy of Takma and Rosin.
Now it was time to finally take Voyager and its crew. They had outlived their usefulness, now they would either be killed or perhaps used as test subjects.
“How much longer until we reach Voyager’s coordinates?” He asked the man at the helm.
“A little over an hour sir.”
Kail nodded. *Right on course* he thought. He was still bitter over not being able to find Landis but that could wait. Once they took Voyager’s prisoner, perhaps she could be of use to them.
He smiled. With any luck he would have both Landis and Voyager. Then all the thorns in his side would be eradicated.
Janeway met with her senior staff in her Ready Room.
“I called you all together due to something I just found out from our prisoner.” She looked around at the expectant faces. “If what she said is true, then we’re due for some company.”
Chakotay was the first one to ask. “Who do you think is going to try and break her out?”
The captain turned to him. “It seems her Captain, Rune Landis, will be attempting a rescue.” Janeway watched as shock took over the features of all present, spare Tuvok and Seven. “I’m not sure if this information is accurate or not but I would like to be prepared for any kind of attack possible. I don’t intend to let this ship be damaged again from the same man who did it in the first place. B’Elanna, Harry, Seven, I want the two of you to work on the ship’s shielding.” The two nodded. “Raise it as much as possible. Especially try and modify shields surrounding the brig. I don’t intend to lose this prisoner. That is all dismissed.”
Those present filed out of her Ready Room. All except Chakotay.
He walked up to her. “You think he might be able to destroy us?”
She turned to him. “He attacked us once before; I just want to be prepared.”
He sensed some deeper reason in her words. “It’s not your fault about what happened. We didn’t know what was going to happen.”
She looked into his eyes and sighed. “I just don’t want to waste anymore time on our journey home than I have to. It’s not fair to us or the crew.”
He took her hand in his. He knew she was having doubts, but she shouldn’t berate herself over something that couldn’t have been prevented. “Kathryn, you are the best Captain I have ever served under. If anyone can get this crew home it’s you.”
She looked down to the floor. She had already lost so many crewmembers. At this rate, how could she hope to get an empty ship home? But she nodded none the less.
She turned her gaze back up to Chakotay. “What would I do without you?”
He just smiled and pulled her close to him. They could wait a few more minutes before returning to the bridge.
Seven, Kim, and Torres walked down the corridors towards the brig. B’Elanna noticed that Harry and Seven seemed to walk a little closer to one another than two friends would. She sighed and
shook her head. When would the two just get together. She had to admit that she still didn’t hold a great friendship with the ex-Borg, but if it made Harry happy...
Her thoughts were interrupted as a crewman ran into her.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “Here let me help you. Are you alright?”
She regained her balance and looked the Ensign in the eye. He worked in astrometrics. Ensign McNoutem, she thought was his name.
“Yeah, I’m fine.” she brushed him off, but he didn’t seem to leave.
“I’d just like to apologize again B’Elanna. I don’t know what I was..”
“It’s okay. If you’ll excuse me, I have work to do.”
B’Elanna walked brusquely away, leaving a deflated ensign in her wake. Harry and Seven then increased their pace to catch up with her.
“What was that about?” asked Harry. “He was just being nice.”
She rolled her eyes.
Harry then jumped onto the topic he had been discussing with her for the past month. “Look B’Elanna, he likes you. You ought to give him a chance.”
She gave a snort before replying. “No thanks. If I even thought about going out with him, he’d spend the entire evening thanking me.”
“Well there are plenty of others. B’Elanna you need to at least go on a few dates. It can’t hurt anything.”
She shot him an incredulous look. He had been trying to set her up for the past month but she refused every time. He seemed to think that the only way she could fully get over Tom was if she got a new boy friend. Didn’t he realize that Klingons mate for life, despite whether or not their mate dies?
“No Harry. End of discussion.” She replied heatedly.
He backed away this time but promised to broach the topic again.
They opened a wall panel in silence. If they were going to increase power to the brig’s shielding, then they would have to manually reconfigure the circuitry running through this terminal. After a careful look, Torres turned to Seven.
“Seven go down to Astrometrics and bring back some of the Polymurite chips you’ve been working on. If we install them here, we should be able to increase power thirty percent through this area without taking it from any other systems.”
Seven then left to gather the chips she and Harry had spent months working on. They proved to be greater power conductors while recycling excess energy at the same time.
After she left, Harry jumped back into his conversation. “So, we were talking about Ensign McNoutem.”
The Jihaid moved in closer to Voyager. So far the other ship hadn’t seen them due to their cloaking, but soon Tom would remedy that.
He stepped onto the bridge. He was wearing his usual long brown coat and gloves, however two phasers hung on his belt and a sonic rifle was draped over his shoulder.
He sat down at his chair and linked himself to the console by his side via his Borg appendages. Tom then turned to Danag. “Well, there’s no time like the present. Hail them.”
Janeway and Chakotay were just walking onto the bridge when the replacement at the Ops station said. “We’re being hailed.”
The captain looked puzzled. “Sensors aren’t picking any ships up out there.” She then paused. “Put them through.” she concluded.
The screen remained black but a voice came over the Comm. “This is Captain Rune Landis of the Jihaid. You have one of my crewmen. I want her back.”
Janeway looked to Chakotay. The voice seemed familiar. “Yes we have your crewman but she will be sent to the Empire to stand trial. I would suggest you leave now.”
“Captain...” Landis probed for her name.
“I am Captain Janeway of the Federation Starship Voyager, Captain Landis. You can see me, why don’t you let us see what you look like.” Janeway was getting sick of his games. *He must not be too brave if he has to hide behind a blank screen* she thought.
“I prefer to have the advantage, Janeway.” he said in response for her request. “As for your prisoner, you can either hand her over now or I’ll take her. One way or the other, I win.”
*A little cocky isn’t he* thought Janeway. “We aren’t handing over the prisoner and that’s final,” she said.
At this the communication was cut off and the screen turned back to a view of the stars outside. The captain was just about to request a modified sensor scan of the area for the enemy vessel, when the Jihaid appeared onscreen. It was only a bit smaller than Voyager but looked even more advanced.
“Target their weapons Tuvok, but don’t fire yet.” she said.
Tuvok punched in a set of commands. He then looked up and said. “I am unable to do so. It appears that a virus has been unleashed into the computer system. I cannot raise weaponry at this moment.”
Janeway’s mouth went dry. How could she have fallen for this?
Pa
ris released his link with the console. They had fallen for it. He then turned to Danag. I couldn’t disable their shielding but I did manage to take weapons off-line. I can do more once I’m inside.” He took his attention from Danag and turned to Meylin. “We’ll be taking a shuttle. Drop shielding so we can leave. You have the bridge.” He then walked away with shuttlebay as his destination.
Paris met Sargon at shuttlebay. He was equipped with similar weaponry.
“Preflight’s done. We can finally leave.” Sargon informed him. The Parvanian had an excited look on his face, one littered with anticipation.
“You like this too much, Sargon.” Paris told him as they stepped inside the shuttle.
“They are releasing a shuttle.” replied Tuvok stoically.
Janeway cursed herself again. At least they hadn’t lost their shielding though.
“Are they powering weapons?” she asked.
“Negative. It appears that they are approaching our aft hull on deck 18. The shuttle is latching onto our hull and drilling a way through.”
Janeway’s hopes were dashed. Shields did no good if the enemy could still get in. It appeared that Captain Landis was right in his assessment. He was on the same deck as the brig.
“I’m going to see our guest for myself. Perhaps a little hospitality is in order.” she said.
“I’m going with you.” replied Chakotay.
Janeway nodded. “Tuvok you have the bridge.”
Torres looked at the fluctuations in the panels computer. Something was reducing hull integrity on this deck and she wanted to know what it was.
“What could be the cause of these fluctuations?” asked Harry.
“I don’t know but I intend to find out.” replied B’Elanna.
Paris had already latched the shuttle onto the side of Voyager. These new shuttle craft had the ability to latch onto other ships and burn holes into the sides of their hull, thus creating a hatch to get inside the ship.
The hole was finally completed. Now they opened the seal on their shuttle and entered through the hole they had created. He stepped out first, followed closely by Sargon. After making sure that no one was around. He walked over to a console. The tentacles on his hands slid through the holes in his gloves and linked themselves to the console. Within seconds he had disengaged their shielding as well as locked off all doors leading to this level.
He turned to Sargon. “Okay, all we have to worry about are those present on this level. Put your weapons on stun. I don’t want anyone killed today.”
His comment seemed to deflate Sargon’s attitude. “You’re just bent on taking the fun out of everything.”
Paris smiled. Sargon was the one of the few officers aboard his ship who would actually stand up to him. “That’s an order.” he said but then added. “I couldn’t let you massacre this ship otherwise everyone else would think you were my favorite. Now come on, let’s get the Commander and let’s get out.”
Janeway and Chakotay stepped out of the turbolift and onto deck 18 just as the doors slammed locked behind them. Each of them looked around as more doors were automatically closed and locked as well.
Janeway hit her comm badge. “Tuvok what’s going on?”
“Our intruder has broken into the computer base. All passages onto deck 18 have been sealed and locked.”
“Work on getting these doors open. We’re on our way to get this ‘intruder.’ Janeway out.”
She turned to Chakotay. Each was armed with a phaser. “Well Commander, are you ready to play security?”
Aria sat on the floor of her cell. She had remained this way throughout her entire stay. It was calming and helped her to concentrate on a higher level. Right now that concentration was able to tell her that Rune was on his way. He let her know of his presence but didn’t carry on their usual conversation.
She stretched her legs. Soon she would be out of here. Might as well get up and start moving.
Paris scanned the area for any other personnel. So far he only picked up eight, four of which were in the brig guarding Aria. The other four were to his left and not near enough to pose a threat at the time being.
He and Sargon approached the brig. From Aria, he knew where the guards were posted. He signaled to Sargon to get ready.
With one hand he opened the door and with the other he readied his phaser. Sargon jumped forward and shot the two guards on the left side of the room while Paris took out the ones on the right.
“Get back to the shuttle,” he told the Parvanian. “We’ll be right behind you.” Paris then walked into the brig as Sargon left.
Aria stood up when she saw him. Security personnel lay all over the floor. Tom didn’t even stop to check them. He had hit them with stun shot, nothing should be wrong. He turned his attention to Aria.
“About time you showed up.” she said.
He smiled, “You know me. I like to keep a girl waiting.” Approaching the console he keyed in the commands to lower the force field.
Once it was down, she walked over to him. “Maybe I should keep you waiting as well.”
He wrapped an arm around her and pulled her to him for an embrace. It soon turned to a kiss which rapidly intensified to smoldering passion. Both new they should be leaving, but that also seemed the farthest thing from their mind. Reluctantly the two separated.
“I suppose we should be leaving.” he said. They were both still extremely close and his breath tickled her lips as he spoke.
“Yes I guess you’re right.” she said.
The two then broke apart and headed out of the brig. Paris led the way with Aria close behind. Tom continued to scan the area for personnel. The four he had sensed earlier would intercept him soon. Unlike Sargon, he didn’t relish a fight at the moment.
*We’ve got company* he told Aria. *Hurry up.*
Their fast walk quickly escalated to a medium jog. Soon they would be gone.
They only needed to turn one more corner before they were back to the shuttle. But just as he turned the corner his senses went wild, as he finally realized they weren’t fast enough.
Janeway and Chakotay met up with B’Elanna and Harry. The two couples relayed what they knew and then continued on their procession towards the intruders.
“By the fluctuations in the consoles, they should be down this corridor.” B’Elanna said. Due to the fact that she and Harry were lacking weapons, they allowed Chakotay and the Captain to lead the way.
It wasn’t long before they found their targets. The prisoner was following a taller man who had just slipped behind a corner. Janeway made sure her weapon was on stun before she brought it up to aim and fired.
Aria felt a presence behind her. She didn’t realize until it was too late, what was about to happen. She heard the whiz of the phaser as its beam sliced through the air and came in contact with her side.
Paris felt Aria being hit, falling to the floor, laying there semi-conscious. She lay at the intersection of the two corridors. Through the corner of his eye, he saw Sargon leap up from his position outside the shuttle and run in their direction. But Paris had only one thing in mind at the moment. And that was putting himself between Aria and her captors.
He took the rifle off his shoulder and with one quick turn he was staring down the corridor from whence they came. The corridor where Aria partly lay. The corridor where four of Voyager’s crew stood staring at him.
B’Elanna watched the woman fall to the ground. She saw Janeway raise her phaser again in wait of her companion to return around the corner. She saw the man in the long coat turn back around the corner in one swift move and target his weapon on Janeway. But all this was a blur now, because what she really saw was the man’s blond hair, his blue eyes, his handsome features. What she saw was her mate, Tom Paris.
Janeway’s eyes grew three sizes as she saw the man before her. Tom was dead, this couldn’t be him. It just couldn’t, could it? But now, standing with one leg protectively over the woman on the floor, stood Tom Paris.
/> Chakotay and Harry were in a stupor as well. Neither could believe what they saw. This had to be a trick. Paris had been dead for a year. And despite his many close brushes with death, not even he could come back from the dead. It couldn’t possible be this man who at that moment was looking over the barrel of a rifle pointed at them.
Janeway and Chakotay were in such a daze that neither even lowered their weapons. Tom of course noticed this foremost because his next statement was directed at all of them.
He pointed his rifle at the captain’s chest and said. “Throw down your weapons now or she dies.”
Paris could feel the others’ emotions. Even if he wasn’t a telepath he could see it in their eyes. The way they looked at him, like they had seen him before.
Sargon was immediately be his side and held his gun raised at Commander Chakotay.
The Voyager crew were partly released from their trance as they saw the Parvanian come up beside Paris. Of all the words they had envisioned Tom of saying, a threat on the captain’s life had not been one of them.
Tom repeated his phrase once he received no response from the others. “I said throw down your weapons.” He repeated more emphatically.
Sargon then joined in with him. “No, let them keep their weapons. Then we can kill them.”
Janeway and Chakotay threw their weapons at Paris’s feet once they heard the other man’s words. All four of them seemed at a loss for words.
Paris as usual was the first to speak up. He kept his gaze directed at the quartet before him as he said. “Commander are you hurt.”
Chakotay looked up at this and was about to say something when he realized he wasn’t the one being addressed. The woman on the floor shook her head to clear it, before replying. “Just my pride.”
His eyes never left his hostages as he bent down and gave a hand to help Aria up. She then extracted one of the phasers from Tom’s belt and held it up to the group.
