by Alys Landale
“Captain, I was asking you where you came in contact with this sample.” the EMH said once again.
Janeway dismissed it however. She couldn’t tell anyone of her findings. Not just yet anyway.
“That’s all doctor,” she said. He was about to protest but her Comm Badge bleeped to life.
“Chakotay to Janeway,” came the voice.
“Janeway here.”
“Captain, Rune Landis is preparing to beam over.”
She silently took a deep breath to regain her strength. Soon her secret would be out. “Have all the senior staff meet in the transporter room. Clear all corridors around that area. I don’t want anyone present there, understood?”
“Aye Captain. Chakotay out.”
She sighed to herself. The excitement that this might actually be Tom bubbled to the surface once more, but she quickly pushed it back down. She had to remain objective. After all, odds were this was just some clever ruse set up to bring down their guard. She couldn’t allow herself to build up her hopes only to have them dashed once again. No, she couldn’t go through the pain of losing her friend again.
Paris, Aria, Danag, Sargon, and Satira beamed aboard Voyager. As they traveled from one ship to another there was no way they could have seen the small cybernetic formation growing on the outside of the Jihaid’s hull. They were blind to the growing appendages of the object until it finally broke in two to create two of the cybernetic forms. These then began on the same course as the one before it. The metallic parasite went unseen by crew or sensors. It entered into the Jihaid’s computer base and silently waited. As a predator, it would wait until it had the greatest advantage before it made its move, but that was only a short amount of time.
Harry stood at the console in the transporter room. The captain and the rest of the senior staff, including Seven were there as well. All crew members aside from them had been shunned away from this area. Most had heard that Landis was coming aboard and the rumors were that Janeway feared one of her crew members might attack him out of hatred for what he had done. No one tried to disprove the rumor, so it was generally held to be true.
As the five members began to appear on the platform, both Tuvok’s and Seven’s eyebrows rose as they recognized the figure at the head of the group.
“Ensign Paris?” questioned Seven.
Tom turned his gaze in her direction. “I believe I’ve already gone through this once with your captain. The name’s Captain Rune Landis.” he then turned to Janeway. “I’ve brought part of my senior staff along with me. They’ll be searching parts of your ship for any Imperial devices you might have on board.”
Janeway nodded. “Yes, I understand.”
Paris took another look at Seven. “I see you harbor Borg aboard your vessel as well as the Empire.”
Harry stood up for Seven. “She was separated from the Collective. She’s no longer a part of it.”
Paris flashed him a smile. “Of course. It’s not all that uncommon anyway.” He turned his grin towards Aria as he said this. She shot her own smile at him as well.
His attention was then redirected at Janeway. “So let’s get down to business.”
A few minutes later, the group had disbanded across the ship. Harry was escorting Danag to the Ops, Seven was in charge of taking Sargon to Engineering, and Tuvok had the pleasure of showing Satira the way to sickbay. Paris and Aria went on a tour with Janeway, Chakotay, and B’Elanna.
B’Elanna had made Janeway allow her to come along with Paris. There was nothing the captain could say. If this really was Tom then B’Elanna had the right to be here.
Janeway ushered the group down empty corridor after empty corridor until it became apparent that no one would find them. She still hadn’t decided how she could broach this topic with the crew. And for that reason, she didn’t know how Rune would react to the crew. If he was Tom, and Tom had somehow lost his memory, then it wouldn’t be the best measure to expose him to so much of his past at once. But then again, wasn’t that what she was doing right now?
Harry was showing Danag parts of the ship. Somehow the two had ended up in mess-hall due to all the course changed Danag had placed.
As the doors to Mess-hall slid open, all occupants of the room turned their attention to Danag. Harry looked a bit uncomfortable from where he stood next to him. Danag just let it go though.
He turned to Harry. “So, let’s see what kind of cuisine you people dine on, shall we?”
Kim just nodded. He had already found out that there was no use in arguing with this man. “Sure, but we should be leaving pretty soon. Rune did tell you to look over our Ops controls.”
Danag nodded. “Of course, I just wanted to take a look around here first.”
Harry followed Danag as he went up to the counter. Neelix approached his new guest although he did so with only half his usual spark of congeniality.
“May I help you?” he asked tentatively. If this was one of the Resistance officers that kidnapped the captain and the others, then he didn’t know how he could put on a false face for this man.
Danag looked up and smiled mischievously. “Oh I was just looking around at your cuisine. Is this leola root here?”
Neelix’s interest was sparked. “You’re familiar with it.”
Danag looked at him with the most incredulous of looks. “Know it?! I was practically raised on the stuff. My parents were traders so we got to try a lot of different things.”
“You were raised by traders. I myself used to be one before joining this crew.” Neelix was beginning to warm up to the man now. He wasn’t at all what he had expected. Even those who had been listening in on the two’s conversation were a little puzzled over his personality. Danag didn’t seem at all like one of the murderous cut-throats described by those in the Empire.
Danag’s interest was now caught as well. “You’re a trader? So where are you from?”
Seven escorted Sargon to Engineering. He began to tinker with devices here and there. He passed his instruments over almost everything in sight before Joe Carrey finally walked up to him.
“Just what do you think you’re doing?!” he asked.
Sargon looked up at the angry little man before him. “I think I’m inspecting your equipment.” he said and then resumed what he had been doing.
Joe looked to Seven for assistance. “What gives him the right to do this?”
“The captain has allowed Captain Landis and his crew to inspect Voyager for Imperial devices planted aboard the ship.” Seven stated.
Carrey turned his nose up in disgust. “Captain Landis.” he stated. “Now there’s someone I’d like to get my hands on. Why if it wasn’t for that bas..”
Joe was cut off by Sargon pulling him off the ground and slamming him into the console beside them. Ensigns around them stared in shock as they watched Sargon lean over Joe’s form.
“I don’t appreciate you talking in such a manner about my commanding officer. If you can’t even take me on what makes you think you actually stand a chance against Rune?” Sargon’s voice was only a few decibels above a whisper, but it conveyed his meaning none the less.
Carrey gulped. From his position of laying across the console, he had a superb view of the man’s eyes. They were cold; eyes that had probably killed a great number of men. This was one guy he didn’t want to mess with.
“Now why don’t you apologize.” Sargon said.
Carrey could see Seven and another Ensign trying to pull the above man off him. He struggled to get his voice. “I apologize.”
Sargon then released his grasp on Carrey’s shirt and helped the other man up as if nothing had happened. “There now, that wasn’t so hard was it?” he asked.
Carrey just stared at the other man in bewilderment. He had gone from being at the edge of killing him one second to behaving as if they were old acquaintances the next.
Seven regarded his shift of attitudes as well. This man was highly unpredictable.
“Well now,” said
Sargon. “How about you show me around.”
Tuvok led the Dezorisian into sickbay. Naomi was listening to Doc teach her about aerobic respiration in mammals when the two entered. Doc immediately got up to greet the pair but Naomi merely slunk away towards a corner. She couldn’t help but think how much this woman looked like one of the monsters in stories she had heard.
“May I help you?” Doc asked.
Tuvok responded. “This is Satira. She is here to inspect your sickbay. The captain has agreed to let Captain Landis and his staff investigate the ship.”
Doc looked miffed. “Well I’m glad she told me.” he said with his usual sarcasm. He then turned to his new guest. She was giving him a strange look as if she was looking at a ghost. “Is something wrong?” he asked.
She approached him and tilted her head back. After a few moments she replied. “You have no scent.”
Tuvok answered her statement. “The doctor is an Emergency Medical Hologram. He is a photonic life form, therefore has no ‘scent’.”
She seemed amazed at this. A photonic life form. A hologram. This could prove useful. She would have to inform Rune of her findings right away. Her attention was then diverged to a pair of eyes staring at her from the corner.
“You have children aboard your vessel?” she asked. If one thing was for sure. No Imperial ship would ever harbor children.
Doc looked to Naomi. The little girl was staring at Satira like she was a monster. “Naomi, come over here for a second.”
The little girl came forward although reluctantly. She stared at Satira’s tail and horns. This was the strangest woman she had ever seen.
Satira knelt down to the little girl’s level. The child appeared scared to death of her. “I assure you I am not going to hurt you.” she told Naomi. “I am a doctor, not a soldier.”
Naomi’s courage was inflated a bit. “But you serve Captain Landis. Everyone says he’s a murderer. He even tried to destroy our ship before.”
Satira’s brow furrowed. This girl had been told so many lies. “I do not know where you have heard such lies but I can swear to you that Rune is not a murderer. There are thousands of people that owe their lives to him and even more that would give their life to save his.”
“But he tried to kill us.” Naomi protested.
Satira sighed. “I was aboard the Jihaid when Voyager attacked us. We were acting in self defense against your vessel as well as Takma’s. We had no choice but to fire upon you. At the time we considered you an enemy and while many of us thought it would be wiser to destroy your vessel, Rune prevented us from doing so. He is a very honorable man.”
Naomi let the information sink in, as did those around her. They had never heard this side of the story before. Satira then stood up again. She turned to the EMH.
“I would be grateful if you would show me your facilities now. I am always in search of new medical procedures.”
Doc turned his attention back to the woman. “Well, let’s see where we can begin.”
Paris walked down yet another empty corridor. B’Elanna was on one side of him and Aria on the other. So far he had seen nothing of any merit and had been assaulted by an unending series of questions from the three Starfleeters.
This had gone on long enough. He finally just stopped walking. Janeway turned to him. “Is something wrong?”
“I was just wondering how many empty corridors you have on this ship.” He said.
Janeway looked at him head on. She had been dreading this. So far, by her questioning, it sounded like this might actually be Tom after all. But all his answers had been extremely vague; she still couldn’t be sure.
She decided to tell him the truth. “Tom, I mean Rune, you already know how we think you’re one of our lost crewmen, Tom Paris. I thought it best if we were left in private for part of your stay. I hope you understand.”
Tom nodded. “You’re concerned about how your crew would react to seeing me. Captain, I am not Tom Paris. If you think my being here would upset your crew then I can leave. Otherwise there’s no point for me wandering around desolate hallways.”
“You don’t have to leave.” B’Elanna said. She looked to the captain for support.
“No, you came here to see Voyager. It’s time you saw her.” Janeway said.
At that moment Tom’s communicator activated. “Satira to Rune.”
“Rune here,” he answered.
“There is something here in sickbay that I believe you should see. It would be best if Sargon and Danag came as well.”
“I’ll be there shortly. I’ll contact the others as well. Rune out.” he ended his connection with Satira and hailed Sargon. “Landis to Sargon.” he said.
“Sargon here.”
“I need you to meet me in sickbay. Satira’s found something she wants to show us.”
“Aye, sir.” he said. “I have already located three Imperial tracking devices hidden within Engineering. By their placement, I would say that this crew was unaware of their presence.”
Tom gave Janeway a glance and then addressed Sargon once more. “Has Danag found any?”
Sargon cleared his throat a few times to stall. “Umm, sir, the last I heard, Danag was still in the mess hall.”
Paris’s eyebrows rose. “Oh he was. Sargon report to sickbay. I’ll go get Danag myself. Landis out.”
Tom then turned to Janeway. “I hope you don’t mind if I make a stop by the mess hall. There’s someone I need to pick up there.”
“That’s fine.” said Janeway.
Aria cast Tom a glance. “You know how he can get side tracked.” she said in defense of Danag.
“Yes, that’s one thing he’s got to learn to fix.” Paris then followed Janeway to the turbolift. Within a few minutes they were on the same floor as the mess hall.
The corridor was populated with people of different species going here and there. Once Tom stepped out, all traffic stopped. Those around him turned their eyes on him and stared in shock.
Their fear and confusion swept over him like a wave.
He cast a glance to Aria. “This is worse than when I first came to Kuran.”
She looked back at him. “At least there, they didn’t think you were a ghost.”
He had to agree with her. “You have a point Commander.”
The five of them made their way to their destination. Almost all those who saw him would stop and stare in shock. Some dropped Padds they were carrying, others whispered amongst themselves. Finally the group reached the mess hall doors.
Janeway was the first to enter, followed by Chakotay and B’Elanna then finally Tom and Aria. If he had thought that the hallway was bad, this was even worse. Before he had entered, there had been a comfortable flow of conversation mingling throughout the area. Now there was only silence.
Tom spotted his target immediately. Danag stood by a spotted man in bright clothing. Paris walked towards the two.
Neelix thought for sure he was seeing a ghost. Tom Paris was dead, yet here he was. And the captain had brought him in. That meant it had to be Tom. Perhaps he had been rescued just before the station blew up, or maybe he had escaped and been captured. That must be it. The captain had just returned from the Jihaid, perhaps he had been a prisoner aboard the ship. After all, Neelix had only talked to this one man, and he never ventured into matters concerning the Resistance or his captain. Neelix didn’t know what to think so he did the only thing he knew to do.
Tom was assaulted by a big bear hug from the Talaxian. Immediately Tom stiffened as he felt the man’s arms wrap around him.
Neelix squeezed Tom tightly. He never noticed that Paris wasn’t returning his embrace or that the man’s back had grown stiffer than even the solid posture of a Vulcan. He just knew that his old friend had returned.
“Tom we had thought you were dead.” he said. Tom shot a glance at Danag for assistance but the Talaxian let go of his hug and just kept jabbering away. “Tom what happened to you. Were you held prisoner by that awful Rune Land
is that caught the Captain?”
Tom cast an amused look at the Talaxian. Neelix wondered now why Tom had still not said anything. “Tom is something wrong?” he asked.
He looked to Danag for an introduction and an explanation. “Danag?” he asked.
Danag looked at his captain with a bemused expression and then answered his unasked question. “Sir this is Neelix the ship’s Morale officer and cook.” he introduced Neelix to Tom. Neelix however was confused as to why his friend wouldn’t know him. Danag then introduced Neelix to his captain. “Neelix this is Captain Rune Landis.”
If it was possible, the atmosphere in the mess hall became even more silent. Tom then bowed his head down slightly in greeting to the man.
“Pleased to meet you.” he told the Talaxian and then turned his attention back to Danag. “So Danag, I thought I told you to check out the ship’s Ops systems. Mind telling me why you’re here.”
Danag shifted uncomfortably. Neelix just stood staring at Tom, no Rune. He was so confused; he didn’t know what to think. Danag on the other hand was praying for divine inspiration to get him out of this one.
“Well, sir I met Neelix here and we began talking...”
Tom stopped Danag before he began rambling. “Enough said. I came here to get you because Satira has something she wants to show us in Sickbay. Now if you think you can be in her presence without requiring a security team to guard you, perhaps you could join us.” Paris’s face remained impassive as he said this. Everyone’s eyes still rested on him. It seemed strange that a man with Tom Paris’s face could remain so serious for so long.
Danag looked to the ground. “I believe I can manage sir.”
“Good, and once we’re done I’m sure you could manage searching the rest of this ship for Imperial tracking devices.” Tom’s face then shifted to his usual Paris smile when he saw Danag’s surprised expression. But the sparkle was no longer in his eyes as it once had been. “You didn’t think I’d let you get off that easy did you?” he asked.
Neelix then stepped forward again. “Tom?” he asked.
