by Alys Landale
He turned to the captain of the ship. “Report.” he said.
The man came up to where Portus stood. “Pretor, we have detected the presence of a Resistance ship near the location of the destroyed Freighter. We believe it to be the Jihaid.”
Portus kept his calm demeanor while his mind processed the information. The Jihaid would be a great prize if they could capture it. A win over that vessel would also be detrimental to the spirits of others in the Resistance. But Landis was a powerful foe...
“Plot a course for the Jihaid,” he ordered.
He would either take that ship or destroy it. Either way, it didn’t matter to him.
*
Raken sat aboard his vessel. He hated the fact that he had to help Landis. The man irritated him more than anything else in existence. Raken sighed. There wasn’t much choice in the matter. Aria had asked him for assistance. How could he say no?
It had been close to an hour since they had saved the people in the Empire’s brig. Now most of them were aboard his ship.
Those on the Jihaid had been transferred to his care since he would be on the safest course away from here. Landis still had some business to take care of in this area.
Raken sighed. It looked like he would be having a pretty boring evening.
Janeway and B’Elanna had been sent back to Voyager. B’Elanna had been called to Engineering and had reluctantly left Tom’s presence. The captain had returned to inform her crew of what they had seen.
Now only Chakotay was on the Jihaid. He stood with Paris in Engineering. There had been a systems failure for some of the lower systems on the ship and Paris had come to see what was wrong.
“What’s going on?” he asked Sargon.
The Parvanian looked up from his work. “I don’t know sir. From these readings, it looks like something is hacking into our systems.”
Paris was about to ask more when an explosion sounded to the left of him. He turned to see a series of consoles begin to explode as well. Through the holes caused by the explosion, emerged a cybernetic creature. It was roughly about two feet long with cable-like appendages. And it was still growing. It latched onto one of the walls and a series of wires emerged from its side and drilled through the metal to the interior of the panel on which it was attached.
Then another of its systems came into operation. Metal plating slid back to reveal small holes on the back of the creature gunshots emanated forth from these holes. They targeted their shots on any biological life form in the room. Paris began to push his crew out the door. “Everyone get out of here now!” he yelled.
More of the parasites began to come through the walls. Some were larger, but they all produced the same effect. They fired their weapons on the crew unmercifully.
Tom was the last one out of Engineering. Chakotay tried to stay behind with him but the pilot pushed him out. “Get the Hell out of here.” he ordered.
Once everyone was out, Tom turned his attention on one of the few remaining consoles. He had to stop this now. At this rate, the ship would be infested by these things in a matter of minutes.
He linked to the console. If there was one system he couldn’t lose, that was the transporters. He could feel the invader taking control of all the systems. Navigation, weapons, communications, they were all lost now. But he still could secure the transporters. He concentrated as much as he could. Within a few minutes he had the transporters secured and encoded on a different frequency than the other systems.
Tom disconnected his link. He looked around Engineering. Whatever this thing was, it was growing. Where the two-foot long device had attached itself onto the wall, there was now an eight-foot long Borg-like creature. It looked like a Borg slug latched onto the wall.
He hated to admit it but he had to leave now. Running away was one thing he never did, but the safety of his crew rested on his shoulders. He couldn’t let anything happen to them. He would evacuate the ship first then he’d take care of this infestation.
Chakotay was waiting for him outside Engineering with Sargon. It was apparent that the Borg creatures would soon move out from engineering and begin claiming other parts of the ship.
Paris turned to Sargon. “Start an emergency evacuation. I want everyone off this ship now.”
Danag checked his console again. It was the same thing. “Commander, this parasite has taken complete control of all our systems spare transporters and door locks. The captain has issued an emergency evacuation.”
Aria nodded reluctantly. How had this attack come? “Start locking onto crewmembers Danag and transport them to Raken’s ship or Voyager.”
He began to do as he was told.
“Captain, the Jihaid is beginning to transport members of its crew over here.” said the man at Ops.
Raken’s brow furrowed. “What’s going on?”
Chakotay wondered just what the Hell was going on. The parasites had begun to spread around the ship instead of staying isolated in Engineering. Now they were erupting from vents at random.
Paris tapped his communicator. “How many more people are there left to evacuate?” he asked.
“About twenty sir.” said Danag. There was then a pause and Danag’s voice changed to one full of distress. “Sir I’ve lost the ability to transport site to site. You’ll have to get all the rest of the crew to the transporter room.”
Paris nodded. He took his phaser and shot at another of the parasites that had surfaced near his group. “I have twelve here with me. How many are with you?”
Danag took a moment and then said. “There are six of us still on the bridge. And the other is...”
Tom knew what he was about to say. The other was still in his quarters. “Get everyone on the bridge down to the transporter room now. I’ll take care of the rest.”
“Aye sir.” said Danag before the comm line ended.
Paris then ordered Sargon. “Get these people down to the transporter room. I’ll meet you there later.”
Sargon nodded. “Good luck sir.”
Chakotay was shocked. He knew he couldn’t let Paris get himself killed now, not when they just found him. He had to dissuade the man.
“There’s no time. You have to leave now.” Chakotay told him.
Paris looked the man in the eye for a split second. “I’m not leaving anyone behind,” he said and then took off down the corridor.
Chakotay had no choice. He ran after Paris. He ran back through the hell from which they had just come.
Danag left his console. “Okay, you heard the captain.” he said. “Everyone stay together. We’re heading towards the transporter room.”
All left the bridge except for Aria. Danag waited on her at the door. “Come on Commander, we have to leave.”
She shook her head. “These things have control of our weapons systems. I have to break their control on it before they destroy the ships we’re transporting to.”
He walked over to her but she pushed him away. “Get your ass out of here Danag. I’ve got work to do.”
He looked at her sadly but made no effort to move.
She threw him towards the door. “Go now Danag. That’s an order!”
He got up off the floor. Casting her one last look, he left saying a prayer to the Fates to keep her safe.
Paris rounded another corner. He was getting closer to his quarters. Just a few more minutes and he’d be there.
Chakotay struggled to keep up with Tom. The man was proving to be a lot faster than the commander had thought.
Tom opened the door to his quarters. He prayed that she was still safe. Chakotay stood in the doorway trying to get his breath. “Who are you looking for?” he asked. “We have to leave now.”
Tom however, paid no attention to the other man’s complaints. He had only one thing on his mind at the time. He entered her sleeping area to see if she was there.
“Xara,” he called. She had to be here. She just had to.
A fluff of pink hair appeared from the corner. “Rune?” s
he asked.
He ran over to her. “Are you alright?” he asked as he picked the little girl up.
She nodded. “I heard people screaming,” she said. “What’s happening?”
He pulled her tighter to him. “Don’t worry. Just keep quiet. I’m going to get you out of here.”
He exited her room. Chakotay was caught by surprise to see Paris with the little girl in his arms. “Come on,” he said.
The trio then left his quarters. Once they entered the hall they were assaulted by the sight of the Borg-parasites clinging all over the walls. Xara hugged on tighter to his chest.
“Just hold on,” he told her. He then turned to Chakotay. “Time to run.” he whispered.
Sargon had finished transporting his group to Raken’s ship and waited until Danag brought his group around before he was to leave as well. Danag came around the corner with his group. All were there that he was supposed to bring except one.
Sargon ushered the crew onto the platform and then beamed them away. He then turned to Danag. “Where’s Aria?”
Danag didn’t have the chance to answer before he felt the light hum resonating through the floor. Few ever noticed this but both Sargon and Danag realized what had happened. The ship had jumped to warp.
Janeway sat on the bridge of Voyager. She had been pondering upon what to do for what seemed like forever. She was pulled from her thoughts by Harry’s voice.
“Captain, the Jihaid has just jumped to warp.”
She was on her feet at once. “What?!”
“They’re leaving here at warp six captain, but I don’t know where they’re going.”
“Follow them.” she ordered. Both Chakotay and Tom were aboard that ship. She wasn’t going to lose two officers this time.
Aria entered Engineering. She was armed solely with a plasma rifle. She could feel that they had jumped to warp. She had to bring the weapons and warp drive off line now before anything else happened. She made her way through the jungle of cybernetic wires and appendages.
*Spirit, I’ll need your help with this one.* she prayed.
She approached the main propulsion unit. Now all that she had to do was find a way to destroy it without destroying half the ship with her.
Paris and Chakotay finally reached the transporter room. Somehow they had made it down all the corridors without being attacked. Now all they had to do was beam off the ship. Tom scanned the ship for any other crewmember present. His breath almost caught in his throat as he felt Aria in Engineering. He then turned his attention to Xara.
“I want you to do what this man says.” he told Xara.
She looked up at him. “You’re not coming?”
He shook his head. “There’s still another crewman on the ship. I have to go get her.”
She hugged him tightly but let go once he handed her to Chakotay. The commander looked dumb-founded but took the little girl.
“You know what your chances are.” he said but he knew that there was no dissuading Tom, or Rune, whoever the Hell he was.
Paris nodded. He looked at Xara and then addressed Chakotay again. “I’m trusting you with her.” he said. It sounded more like a threat than a good bye. “Don’t let me down.”
Chakotay looked him in the eye. “I promise nothing will happen to her.”
Tom gave Xara a quick kiss on the cheek and then turned to the console. He issued the commands and the two disappeared.
They would be safe on Voyager. Now he just needed to find Aria.
Chakotay and Xara rematerialized on Voyager’s bridge. All eyes focused on the pair. Janeway walked over to him.
“Chakotay what’s going on?” she asked.
Xara peered at the captain and the others on the bridge from where Chakotay held her. He then answered the captain. “Some kind of Borg-like parasite is attacking the Jihaid. They’ve already lost all systems except transporters. Everyone except Tom and one other crewmember have already been evacuated.”
Harry then interrupted him. “Captain, the Jihaid is powering weapons.”
Janeway turned to the helmsman. “Evasive maneuvers Mr. Baytart,” and then she turned to Harry. “Can we beam them out of there?”
“I doubt it. Their shields allow them to transport out of their ship, but I can’t get our transporter beam through them.”
Chakotay put Xara on the floor. “Can we use a shuttle to go and get them?”
Harry looked up. “I think so. I don’t see why not. Their shuttlebay is unshielded. If we could get inside…”
Chakotay turned to the captain. “Permission to take a shuttle to the Jihaid.”
Janeway nodded. “Permission granted.”
Harry stepped from behind his console. “I’d like to go too captain.” he said.
She nodded as well. “Good luck.”
The two left the bridge at practically a run. Janeway then turned to her newest guest. Xara looked right back at the captain.
“So,” said Janeway. “Why don’t you have a seat in my chair right here.”
Another shot sailed past Raken’s ship. So far the Jihaid was having a little trouble locking onto them but it would be long before one of their shots finally penetrated their defenses. Raken had finally been informed about the situation from one of the
Jihaid’s crewmen. It answered a lot of his questions, but that still didn’t help the fact that his ship was in danger due to one of his own allies. Another torpedo was released from the Jihaid. This time it found its mark.
“Damage report!” he ordered.
“Sir, we’re losing propulsion. We’ll have to drop out of warp or the engines will blow.”
Raken cursed under his breath. “Do it.” he said.
The captain cared nothing for Rune and very little for the Jihaid, but Aria had never transported over to his vessel. He prayed to the Spirit that she would be alright. And if she wasn’t, then Rune Landis would pay dearly, he swore to it.
Aria knew she had to find a way to shut down the ship, but right now that answer was getting harder and harder to find.
Everything in engineering was covered by these parasites by now. And each time she shot at one, there was no effect. They were proving to be more and more Borg-like each time they adapted to her weapon’s fire.
She was still debating over what to do when one of the larger parasites began to disattach from the main propulsion system.
It was still hanging on partly but now there was a great hole in their defenses of the engines. She had wondered briefly why they had stopped firing at her, but there was no time to worry about that any longer. Her chance had come. She had to take it while it resented itself.
She locked her weapon on the exposed generator. *Now or never* she thought.
Paris ran down the corridors at break-neck speed. The parasites began to fire on him but he disregarded it. After the first couple of shots, he had adapted to the weapons. He thanked the Spirit that whoever had designed them used energy weapons and not projectile.
He rounded the corner to Engineering. He was getting close. Just a few more steps and he would be there. As quickly as possible, he opened the door to Engineering. There, in the center of the room, stood Aria. She had her weapon trained on the exposed engine and was just about to fire. He looked ahead of her. Something was wrong. One of the parasites had removed half of its body from the engine. The wires and cables that had linked it to the engines had now begun to twine around themselves. They formed a spear like appendage coming from the parasite. Tom finally realized what was happening.
He began to run towards Aria. “Get down!” he yelled.
She heard him yell his warning from behind her and only then did she realize what was happening. *How could I be so stupid?* she thought, but quickly pushed that aside. Her chance was open. If she lost this shot now then they might not get another. She re-aimed her weapon on its target and fired just as the parasite plunged its newly formed appendage towards her.
Through the corner of his eye, he saw her
shot hit its mark. He saw the engines erupt in a brilliant explosion of electrical and chemical components. But what he really saw was the spear of cables plunge through Aria’s midsection and hold her levitated off the ground in that position.
He felt it too. He felt the agonizing pain that was coursing through her body. But he didn’t let this distract him.
He pulled the weapon out of her and caught her in his arms as she fell limply to the ground. Her head slumped against his shoulder but he could still feel the slight warmth of her breath through his coat. She was alive, that was all that mattered.
Another explosion shot forth from the engines. He paid that no attention but took her in his arms as gently as possible. With her head resting on his right shoulder and her legs draped over his left arm, he began to make his way out of Engineering.
From behind him, he sensed movement. Turning around sharply, he saw the parasite’s appendage prepare to attack again.
He only had time to make a quick side step before the weapon sunk through his left shoulder. Not being able to pull it from where it was lodged in his shoulder, he began to step backwards until the cables had no more length to spare and slowly began to pull out of his flesh.
Pain radiated down his left arm but he disregarded it. The spike had penetrated his shoulder in such a way that it had not even torn the thick lining of his coat. He began his run out of Engineering. The explosions had damaged enough equipment that transporters were no out of the question. He then chose shuttlebay as the best choice in destination. Taking one more glance to make sure Aria was still holding up he began his journey there.
Chakotay piloted the Delta Flyer as the made their way to the Jihaid. The ship was beginning to slow down considerably.
Where it had once been going at warp 6, it was now barely making full propulsion.
The commander guided the shuttle through shuttlebay. So far, they had been lucky, none of the parasites had staked their domain in this region of the ship just yet. He landed the Flyer, and its two occupants quickly jumped out.
