by Alys Landale
Disclaimer: Paramount owns Star Trek Voyager and all characters pertaining to the show. I am merely borrowing them for this story and will not be using them for profit. This is a purely fun and entertaining endeavor. However, I do lay claim to Aria, Xara, Takma, Kail, Danag, Satira, Sargon, and the rest of the characters that I have created.
Alys Landale
The Fates Series
A Gambit Set
Events were beginning to turn, plans were beginning to take shape, and Voyager was the axis on which all of this revolved.
Only two days had passed, yet it seemed that decades worth of work had been achieved in that short amount of time. As Tom Paris walked to his quarters, he reflected upon what had taken place.
The Federation had agreed to prepare for battle. It seemed the Admiral carried an extremely large amount of influence. If it hadn’t been for him, the Resistance might still be alone in this war.
B’Elanna had spent almost the entire amount of time coordinating engineers on installing new warp cores into their vessels. Sargon had participated in the effort as well, but he seemed to be less than up to his usual standards. Tom had promised to talk to him, but the Parvanian seemed to be ignoring him for some reason.
Now, little was left to do. Tomorrow three groups of Federation vessels would enter the rift and travel to the Empire. Janeway and the crew of Voyager would lead the second team through, and then the Enterprise would lead the third. Tom was prepared to lead the first group. Consul Maris had put him in charge of the Trelin, the Resistance vessel. Of course, Paris had refused at first and said that the consul was the highest-ranking officer, but Maris had persisted. Despite his earlier protests, Tom couldn’t help but be glad to be back in the captain’s seat. After spending over a month as an ensign on Voyager, it was good to be in charge again.
He keyed in the access code to his cabin. As he walked inside, a small rustle came to his right. He smiled as he turned to face his guest.
“It’s about time you got back.” came a small voice.
He smiled and shook his head. “Well, Squeaker, I have been kind of busy you know.”
She smiled as well and ran over to him. He quickly picked her up in his arms as she jumped into an embrace. “Are you going to be ready soon?” she asked.
“Yep. We’ll be back in the Delta Quadrant by this time tomorrow.” He sat down on a nearby couch. Xara snuggled closer to him as he sat her on his lap.
It didn’t take long before he noticed that she seemed strangely preoccupied today, as if there was something troubling her. “Is something wrong, Squeaker?”
She looked up into his eyes. Her bottom lip trembled for a second as she struggled to control her emotions. She didn’t know what to tell Rune, so as usual, she decided to just tell him what she was thinking. It was almost a whisper as she said. “I...I’m scared.”
His brow furrowed as he took in her words. “Why?”
She looked to the floor for support. “I don’t know. I just have this funny feeling. Like something bad is going to happen.
Maybe it’s just my imagination or something, but... it just won’t go away.”
Her green eyes reflected the fear she was feeling inside. Tom paused for a moment as he tried to formulate a response.
Shifting slightly, he took one of the little girl’s hands in his own. “I know what you mean. I’m worried too, but believe me, we’re all going to be extra careful. We know what we’re up against, and hopefully, we’ll be able to solve this problem in a pretty short time. Don’t worry. Whatever happens, it’ll all work out.”
He gave her his best Paris smile as he said this, but he could tell that the child still held her doubts. He had the same doubts as well. The only thing that prevented them from surfacing was his preoccupation with the mission at hand. But Xara didn’t have a distraction that she could retreat to. So fear and worry had soon sought her out and gnawed at her soul as she sat alone in their quarters. He cursed himself for not finding some way to spend more time with her, but there was so much to do.
Xara was quiet as she kept her gaze focused on the floor. She knew that what Rune had told her made perfect sense. As
Tuvok would say, it was the logical conclusion. But neither Tuvok nor Rune had any idea as to what she was feeling. She was alone now, not for the first time in her life. Alone to face the demons that plagued her every night and the voices of strangers who told her unknown stories about not so far away lands.
B’Elanna finished inspecting the last of the subspacial warp cores. It seemed as if time had revolved solely around engineering for the past two days. She hadn’t seen or felt a bed for that duration. All her time had been summoned to her work. She stretched out a tired muscle in her back as she waited outside Paris’s door. The only thing that occupied her thoughts more than sleep was Tom.
She leaned up against the doorframe and chimed the door. Her head soon rested on her shoulder as she waited for Tom to get the door. *I* a deep yawn interrupted her thoughts. *I’ll just close my eyes for a second.*
As it does with many people, that second ended up lasting much longer than its designated amount of time. No sooner had she closed her eyes than had the stealthy arm of sleep wrapped its cloak around her and sealed her eyes with a strong hand.
Tom opened the door to his quarters to find a sleeping half-Klingon leaning against his doorframe. He stood there and smiled. After taking in every detail of her, he carefully lifted B’Elanna up from her position. She gave a muffled groan as he moved her but made no protest at all. With B’Elanna filling up both his arms, he gently carried her to his sleeping quarters. Placing her in his bed, he removed her shoes and jacket as he had done many times for Xara when she had stayed up past her bedtime. B’Elanna let out another sigh, but did not stir.
After pulling the sheet over her, he stepped back and stood watching her from the side of the bed. He shook his head and laughed silently to himself. “Even the mighty Klingon needs her rest.” he whispered.
He walked out of the room after that. B’Elanna needed her rest and he wasn’t about to disturb her. He could sleep on the couch tonight. After all, it was better to face a stiff neck than the wrath of a half-Klingon who hadn’t received enough sleep.
One shot. That’s all it would take. Just one shot and his pain would be erased. Sargon held the phaser in his hand. It seemed calmly refreshing to hold such power. He aimed his weapon at the wall. One shot and someone died. That was all it took.
As he sat alone in his quarters, he smiled to himself. It seemed that the most powerful elements in life were also the simplest. Just aim and fire. Anyone could harness this skill; it took very little training. And so Sargon turned the gun over in his hand once more. He would bide his time for now; then he would make his move. Soon others would pay.
His entire life had been one of unending pain. At an age younger than Xara, he had been placed in an Imperial concentration camp due to his parents’ beliefs. They spoke up against the Empire’s actions, and they paid the price. As his mind fell back on that day years ago, he recalled seeing their faces covered with the mask of pain, their bodies dyed with the dark stain of death, and their eyes forever reposed with the eternal sleep that would soon claim him.
Sargon had seen hundreds, perhaps even thousands die during his time. He was still fairly young for his species, not even middle age had yet to claim him, but he had seen more than even the Fates could hope to witness.
Meylin had been the only one who had ever been able to help him. She treated him with compassion even though he was a Parvanian. She had never pitied or mocked him. Even though they had kept their relationship secret up to the past year, he knew that she loved him, and there
was no question as to his feelings for her.
But now that she was gone, there was little left for him. The only thing he had left was the phaser in his hand and the resolution in his soul. He would carry his plan out, but not now. Placing the gun in a secure place, he saved it for later. Soon it would come in very, very useful.
*
Aria watched and waited. She could sense the battle growing nearer. She felt thrill and anxiety at the same time. The time had come, but there was still other things left to do. She stared off at the dark horizon. It seemed to punctuate her overall mood. Flowing with fear and trepidation, yet coursing with excitement and adventure at the same time.
She laughed at herself for these thoughts. The warrior really was coming out in her. She had spent her entire life preparing for these duties, now it would all soon be over. She sighed.
*I’ll miss it here.* she thought.
At that moment, the person she had been waiting on finally entered. She turned to face the one she had been waiting on.
*Hello,* she said.
Her visitor approached her. They had met here many times, although no one had ever been told of it. They had come to an understanding that perhaps it was better if no one knew that they were meeting together. After all, what would the Federation or
Resistance members think if they found out about these meetings. No one would ever believe it anyway.
*Hey* replied the visitor.
Aria smiled. She took her companion’s hand. *Are you ready?*
Aria’s companion seemed a little reluctant. The older woman knelt down. *Don’t worry, Xara* she told her visitor. *Nothing bad is going to happen. There are just a few people that I would like you to meet.*
The little girl nodded. Aria then took Xara’s hand once again and led her away. There was much they needed to discuss.
*
Tom awoke the next morning covered in sweat. His eyes were glazed over as he stared off into space and tried to take control of his breathing once more. After a few moments, he was finally able to take his bearings.
Running a hand over his face, he leaned farther back onto the couch he had fallen asleep on. He couldn’t take much more of this.
The voices still lingered in his mind. They were so loud....
For the past two days, he had put up with them. But once he had gone to sleep, they had grown even stronger.
He ran a hand over his eyes in an attempt to clear them. He tried to sort through what he had just heard, but the voices were so distant. He had no idea what they were.
His thoughts ran back to Aria for a moment. Hadn’t she told him that soon all would be revealed to him about the Final Battle. He shook his head. He still had no idea what this ‘Final Battle’ was, and if these voices were supposed to explain it to him, well, they weren’t doing a very good job about it.
His attention was diverted as B’Elanna walked out of his sleeping quarters.
“Good morning,” she said.
He smiled as he got out of his seat. “Good morning.”
The half-Klingon walked over to Paris and pulled him close to her. Her lips quickly sought out his. Tom’s eyes widened for a brief second but then closed again as he deepened the kiss.
*I don’t know what this is for, but as far as I’m concerned I don’t need to.* he thought.
He ran a hand through her hair as they locked into a firmer embrace. Finally, the need for oxygen tore the two apart. B’Elanna stepped back slightly and took in Paris’s surprised expression.
She knew what he was wondering so she told him before he could ask. “I was planning on giving you that last night, but it seems I fell asleep before I had the chance,” she said.
Putting an arm around her waist, he said. “Well, it seems it was worth the wait.”
The two smiled. Neither had seen one another for more than a few moments in the past few days. B’Elanna had gotten extremely restless without having Paris around her. The same could be said for Tom as well.
“You know, Xara’s still asleep and we still have over an hour before we have to report in for duty.” Tom said.
B’Elanna let a soft growl escape her throat. “Then what are we waiting for.”
The two then returned to Tom’s sleeping quarters. With all that was happening around them, they vowed they would make the most of their time together now. As the door slid shut behind them, that’s just what they did.
Janeway finally found her target. She eyed it as a predator would and in one quick move snatched it up in her hands.
Chakotay watched bemusedly as Kathryn did this. “Try not to drown in that coffee.”
Janeway gave him a sharp look but continued to down the contents of her mug. After a second, she put the cup down.
“There’s no telling when I’ll see another good cup of coffee. I intend to make the most of it now.”
He laughed slightly. He then noticed her serious expression and said, “I can see you’re thinking the same thing I am.”
The captain raised an eyebrow. “And just what are you thinking, Commander?”
He paused for a moment to collect his thoughts. “Just how we finally made it back to the Alpha Quadrant and are now about to make another journey back to the Delta Quadrant.”
She sat down in a seat next to him. “I know what you mean Chakotay. I’ve spent the past six years trying to get this crew home, and now that I have, I’m forced to tell them that we have to go back.” She looked down into her half empty cup as if she might find the words to describe her feelings down there. She gave a low sigh. “But if we don’t then this and possibly every other Quadrant will be at extreme risk from the Borg. We can’t let that happen.”
He nodded slowly. Everyone knew what was at stake. But that didn’t make the feelings go away. Chakotay had to admit that he was slightly ashamed of the way he was feeling. He felt that it was so unfair that this had to happen now. Now, of all times.
He pushed these thoughts away though. These were the thoughts a child would be thinking. The Maquis had certainly shown him that very little in life was ever fair, but still, that couldn’t erase the feelings he was experiencing now.
Janeway laid a hand on his arm. As if reading his thoughts, she said. “I know how you feel Commander.”
He said nothing. Sometimes, words are not needed. The two had been there for one another for the past six years, nothing could ever change that. And they would still be there for one another through all that was yet to come. The bond that held them together was deeper than anything they had ever experienced before. Not quite friendship and not quite lust. It was somewhere in between.
In this room, sat a strong Maquis, ground in his ways. In this room, sat a loyal Starfleet officer, equally ground in her ways as well. And in this room, sat a half-empty coffee cup, long since forgotten.
There was one last meeting later that morning. Picard, Paris, Janeway, Maris, and the Admiral met together just before they prepared to embark on their journey.
“I believe everyone knows the drill,” Tom said. “I’ll take in the first group of ships. After five minutes, Janeway will follow and the Picard will take the last through.”
They all nodded. For the past two days, they had done nothing but prepare for this. They had to work quickly, otherwise
Takma would end up in the Empire before they did.
After a few more last minutes plans, the group left the room and went to their designated ships. Paris took one last look around the station. This was his first trip to Deep Space Nine, and for some reason, he had this strange feeling that it would be his last.
The Federation vessels were beginning to take position in their groups. Paris sat on the bridge of the Trelin. Consul Maris sat in the seat next to him. There was only one crewmember that had still not made it to his post.
Paris turned to Danag. “Do you have any idea where Sargon is?”
Danag shook his head. “I’ve tried to raise him on the communicator, but he’s not responding.”<
br />
Tom cursed under his breath. Sargon was one of the best Engineers the Resistance had to offer but he lacked quite a bit in the dependability department.
“Try getting him again.” Paris said.
Danag entered the commands onto his console. He really wished Sargon would get his priorities together. He knew that the
Parvanian had just lost Meylin, but still, he had responsibilities.
Danag then realized what he was thinking. He laughed at himself. *Since when did I become Satira?*
He had to admit that the Dezorisian woman was really beginning to rub off on him. A few more months and he’d probably be lecturing her on honor. No, he thought, that would never happen.
Finally, Danag received word from Sargon. The Ops officer spoke up. “Captain, I’ve found Sargon. He’s at his post.”
Tom nodded. They were already behind schedule. He didn’t have time to reprimand Sargon on his tardiness. Tom turned to his helmsman, “Prepare to open the corridor.”
Janeway sat on the bridge of Voyager. She hoped that this trip through the corridor would be easier than the last. This time she didn’t have Tom to rely on.
She watched as the Trelin prepared to enter the rift. Paris had told her that it would only take eight and a half minutes to reach the Empire. By normal standards, that was an extremely short amount of time, but to the crew of Voyager, that was eight minutes too long and too far away. They had just gotten back to the Alpha Quadrant. Now the past six years of their journey would be for nothing.
Janeway pushed these thoughts from her mind. She didn’t need to think of such things. Everything would be fine. But still, she wondered just how many times she had told herself that before.
B’Elanna was ordering her crew around much faster than usual. She hated not being on the same ship as Tom, but her duties lay on Voyager. She walked over to the Warp Core and began checking over everything one last time. They only had a few minutes before they would enter the rift as well. She needed to make sure everything was fine.
