by Alys Landale
He looked over to the box at the side of his room. The phaser was still hidden safely within it. Sargon smiled to himself. If the Fates wouldn’t help him, then he would help himself. His last vision was of the box as he fell asleep. It only took a few moments before sleep claimed his tired body. As darkness engulfed him, dreams of the battle to come, filled his sleep.
Paris shook his head as he walked back to his quarters. He needed to go check on Xara, and he really wasn’t feeling up to going back to check on Janeway and her crew. They could take care of themselves for a few minutes. After all, they knew the basic layout of the base now. If they needed any directions, Gerek was there to give them.
The corridor was empty as Tom made his way back to his quarters. His head pounded. It felt massively heavy. He stopped and leaned against a wall for support.
*This can’t be happening again.* he told himself. Memories of a month ago washed over him. He remembered all the pain he had gone through when he had first begun to regain some of his memories. He couldn’t handle that now.
As he began to slide down to one knee, he silently cursed his luck once more.
B’Elanna was wondering just what Sargon was going through right now. She had gone through something all too similar when she had learned of the Maquis. She knew Tom was angry, that was apparent. But she didn’t know how far he would go with this.
Her eyes focused on the door where he had left a few minutes ago. She felt the need to go check on him. Janeway and the others could return to Voyager or where ever they wished. At this point, she didn’t really care about them.
She was just about to excuse herself when Gerek interrupted her. “Well, Lieutenant, perhaps we can ‘talk’ now.”
B’Elanna turned her nose up in disgust. “No thanks,” she said flatly and left.
The trader wasn’t dissuaded so easily. He quickly fell into step behind her. “Mind if I ask where you’re going?”
Torres rolled her eyes. “I’m going to find Tom. I’m sure you wouldn’t be interested in coming along.”
Gerek smiled. “Oh, I believe I’ll tag along. You’re going my way and I’d enjoy the company.”
B’Elanna cursed under her breath. She quickened her pace in an attempt to get away from the troll following her. However, her short legs were no match for his long ones.
“If I didn’t know any better, I would think that you were trying to lose me.”
Torres didn’t even turn around as she said. “Now what would give you that idea?”
Gerek brought himself up to her side. They walked in silence for five minutes before B’Elanna began to pay attention to where she was going. Immediately, she realized she had no idea where she was.
Gerek noticed a wave of indecisiveness pass over her face. He smiled. “You’re lost.”
Torres stopped in her tracks and turned to face him. That was it. She couldn’t take him anymore. “I don’t have the patience to put up with you today so just leave me the Hell alone.”
The trader remained unfazed by her words. He stood there for a few seconds just staring at her. Her anger ignited the fire in her eyes. This definitely was the one he had been looking for. He stared into her fiery orbs and finally said. “Paris’s room is three corridors down to your left.”
She gave a low growl but followed his directions. His footsteps began to tred on her last nerves as he continued to follow her. “I can make it there myself,” she said.
“Oh, I don’t doubt that, but like I said, I was looking for some company. Tell me, what do you hope to find after this?”
Her patience was really beginning to wear thin. “What?” she asked.
“I heard you were off to attack the Empire,” he explained. “Many have tried to do the same before, what makes you think this time will be any different?”
“Well, for one thing, we have Tom. He knows more about the Empire than anyone else could hope to. And the fact that the
Federation is backing us up doesn’t hurt to much either.”
He took in her words. After a few more steps, he said. “So you think one simple battle and you can take Takma out and be done with it?”
She rolled her eyes. “I’m not that stupid. But I believe we can get rid of Takma.”
He laughed. That was it. He had stepped on her nerves for the last time. She stopped to face him. What was his problem anyway? The man stood there shaking his head as if she was a two-year-old telling about how she would one day rule the world.
“What?” she asked. “You don’t share my optimism?”
He finally stopped his laughter. “You’re not ready yet,” he told her. “Paris is close, but he’s not ready either.”
She narrowed her eyes. “It’s not just us fighting this battle you know.”
He seemed to look her over for a moment. “No, I don’t suppose you are. But you are a key figure in it,” he paused. “You know you won’t win if you attack the Empire now. You’re not ready.”
She began to walk off. “Thankfully not everyone shares your pessimism.”
Torres continued on her trip to Tom’s quarters. Gerek had finally stopped following her, but his words continued to beseech her ears as she went down the corridor.
“Be careful, B’Elanna. You’re too valuable to be lost now.”
*
*The final results have come in. We’re ready to further the assimilations.*
As the man said this, there was no trepidation in his manner of speaking. The others around him seemed to feel only excitement as he said his words.
Paris looked around at his surroundings. He was in some kind of research facility. The man that had been speaking was of a species Paris had never seen before. His hair was a light blue, which paralleled the cerulean of his eyes.
Tom watched as a crew of other workers began to busy themselves at their work. Excitement pulsed through their bodies as they hurried about testing and retesting their research.
Paris walked around the room. He studied a few consoles. The information illustrated plans for assimilation; however, as Paris looked at it more carefully, he realized that this wasn’t the same as what the Borg did. This assimilation process merely modified a being’s anatomy to incorporate both biological and cybernetic components into their systems. It lacked any planning for incorporating a mind into the collective consciousness. Tom then let his attention return to the people around him.
As the first speaker walked around the room, his eyes seemed to lift up for a moment. Both Paris and the other man’s eyes met for that brief period. Tom squinted in concentration. None of the others even seemed to notice him, but this man regarded him with confusion.
Before Paris could say anything, his surroundings melted away. He looked around in confusion and realized that he was back on the same plane that Aria usually visited him on.
As if on cue, she approached him. *I see you’ve made it back.*
He looked bewildered. *What was that?*
She smiled sadly. *That was the beginning.* At his confusion, she chose to explain. *Don’t worry. You will know more very soon, but for now, that’s all I can show you.*
Tom was getting impatient. *Aria, I don’t have time for this now. We are preparing to attack the Empire. I can’t allow this to happen when I’m in the middle of battle.*
She walked closer to him. *I’m sorry, but the only way you can win is if you know what you are up against. You will only have to endure this for a little while longer. I promise.*
*
“Aria, I can’t....” Tom’s protests were heard by no one. He looked around to take in his surroundings. He was back in the corridor he had begun. The pounding in his head was beginning to lessen. After a few seconds, he finally realized he was still knelt on the floor.
Shaking his head, he brought himself back to a standing position. “I can’t take this Aria,” he muttered to himself.
Just as he began to walk back to his quarters, B’Elanna came up behind him. “Tom, wait up.”
He turned around at the sound of her voice.
“Hey,” she said. “I thought I’d never find you. Were you able to talk to Sargon?”
“Yeah,” he said. “Sargon... he has a lot of things to work out. I just hope he’ll be able to sort through it all soon.”
She took his hand. There was something in his voice that made her wonder if something was wrong. He didn’t seem to be able to concentrate like he normally could. His mind seemed to be thousands of light years away.
“Is something wrong?” she asked.
He smiled somewhat and shook his head. “I’m fine.”
She shot him an unbelieving look. “Don’t give me that Paris. The last time you said you were fine, you ended up in sickbay for almost a week.”
Tom laughed slightly. “I suppose you have a point.”
“I always do, Paris. Now tell me what’s wrong.”
Tom’s eyes fell on something down the hall. A man was making his way towards them. He was the same man that Tom had seen only a few seconds ago in the lab.
Just as he was about to call out to the man, he was gone. Tom shook his head; he could have sworn he saw someone down there.
B’Elanna watched all of this pass over Tom’s face. She looked behind her to see what he was staring at. Nothing was there.
“Tom?” she asked.
Paris snapped out of it. *Aria, I can’t put up with this.* he thought again.
At B’Elanna’s worried gaze, he said. “Nothing’s wrong. I just really need to get some sleep.”
She decided to accept his excuse. He rarely slept, so this would be a good way to get him to do so.
“Alright,” she said. “Let’s get you to your quarters.”
He nodded and allowed her to lead him away. A smile then filled his face. “Umm, B’Elanna.”
“What?” she asked.
“We’re going the wrong way.”
She stopped and let out a low growl. She was really getting tired of this. “Okay, why don’t you take the lead then?”
He took her hand in his and bowed slightly. “It would be my pleasure.”
She smiled as he led her away. “You know what Paris.”
“What?”
“You’re full of it.”
He laughed. “I suppose I am.”
Satira straightened out her medical supplies. Voyager’s EMH had come to help her update her medicine array for the upcoming battle. After a few seconds, he began to hear whispering behind him.
“Honestly, what shall I say to them? I have not spoken to them for over an entire year.” She muttered to herself.
Doc listened to her prattle on. She didn’t seem to acknowledge his presence anymore. *As if anyone ever does.* he thought to himself.
“Might I ask, to whom you are talking?” he asked.
Satira looked up suddenly. The woman’s mask had fallen and now her youth showed more than ever. Embarrassment caused a swift red to brush over her bronze skin. “I apologize. It is just that...” she paused for a few moments. In that amount of time, she was able to replace her mask. “I have not been in contact with my people in over a year. I am... hesitant about meeting them again.”
Doc walked over to her. He wasn’t used to such youth being in these kinds of positions. She wasn’t even as old as Ensign
Kim, yet she had seen no telling how much more. And throughout all of her missions, she had never thought about returning to the world she had left behind.
The EMH placed a hand on her shoulder. “I’m sure you will be fine. I haven’t known you very long, but I can already tell that you are an honorable person. Anyone could see that. I’m sure your people will understand your reasons.”
She looked up at him and smiled. “I suppose you are correct. Now the only problem I face is discovering a way to keep
Danag sober during his stay there.”
Doc smiled back to her. As she walked away, he shook his head. What did intoxication have to do with anything?
Paris boarded Voyager early the next morning. The countdown to their attack was now set at three days. He had helped to devise a solid plan of action; however, most of his planning rested on the aid of the Dezorisians.
That was where Voyager was heading. Paris was the only one who held any authority over the other race and he had requested that Voyager be the ship to take them. There were relatively few Imperial ships in the sector, so he had little to worry about from the Empire. He also knew that he needed to be able to get there fast. By using a few short wormholes, he could cut his travel time down from two days to less than an hour. And out of all the ships at his disposal, Voyager would be placed in the least amount of danger by this course of action. One of the other Resistance vessels might be torn apart if it entered this type of irregularity, but the worst-case scenario with Voyager would be a few damage hull platings.
“Well, it’s about time we left.” Paris told Satira.
She nodded. Danag put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. Tom knew that she was having trouble facing her clan, but he needed her. She was the only one he had that he could truly rely on during these proceedings.
Danag was tagging along as a companion to Satira, for the most, but Tom also needed someone to help him out with the technical details of everything. As long as the shape shifter didn’t get near a drink, he should be fine.
The three boarded Voyager’s bridge. Both Danag and Satira kept to the background as Tom took the Helm. Admiral
Paris and Captain Janeway stood watch over the bridge.
The captain looked around at her crew. Everything seemed to be in order. The only thing that seemed different now was the attitudes of most of the crewmen on the bridge. Usually so enthusiastic, they seemed somewhat reserved today.
*They don’t want to be here anymore than I do.* she realized. After finally getting home, her entire crew was forced to return to the very place they had been trying to get away from.
She took her seat. They needed to get underway. “Take us out Mr. Paris.”
An hour later, and two wormholes away, Voyager was finally approaching the Dezorisian home base. The knot in Satira’s stomach began to twist as she watched the ship grow closer to her old home.
“May the Spirit be kind,” she muttered.
Harry looked back at her from his console, but she didn’t seem to register his gaze. She merely walked to the front of the bridge and laid a hand on Tom’s shoulder.
He took her meaning. “Captain, I believe I should hail them.” he told Janeway.
Janeway nodded. “Harry, put a signal through to the Dezorisians.”
The ensign nodded and after a few seconds a large Dezorisian male appeared on the screen.
“State your reasons for entering our territory.” he commanded.
Tom stepped forward. A slight smile played on his face as he said. “Really, Karnus, I had thought your manners had improved some since our last meeting.”
The Dezorisian stared at Paris for quite a few moments before replying. “I apologize, sir. I shall have a docking port prepared for your vessel immediately.”
Tom nodded and ended the transmission.
Chakotay looked at the viewscreen. “Somehow I thought they would be a little less receptive of our entry.”
Satira looked up. “Karnus may not possess the same honor of Rune, but he will respect his leader.”
The Admiral looked up. “Leader?”
Satira shot him a look. “Rune is our clan leader. Did you not know that?”
The Admiral turned to his son. Would surprises never cease?
Tom just gave Owen a small smile. “After last time, I wasn’t quite sure what our reception would be like.” He then changed the subject. “We had better get ready to leave. One thing Dezorisians lack is patience.”
Satira gave a slight growl but said nothing. She had enough honor not to object to the truth.
Owen Paris walked around the station in the presence of giants. He considered himself a relatively tall
man, but not even his height was comparable to the seven-foot-tall Dezorisians.
Janeway seemed to be thinking the same thing. She felt like a dwarf around these people. What story was it that a man suddenly finds himself in a land of giants? It finally dawned on her.
“Gulliver’s Travels,” she muttered to herself.
Satira turned to the captain. She raised a questioning eyebrow.
Janeway blushed slightly. “Excuse me. I was just talking to myself.”
The Dezorisian nodded. Then a question popped up in her mind. “Do you also know Rune as ‘Gulliver?’”
Janeway shook her head and laughed slightly. “Remind me to introduce you to some of earth’s literature. I’m sure you would find some of it interesting.”
The Dezorisian woman was still confused but said nothing. It was best not to make a fool of oneself. Later she could ask Rune about it.
B’Elanna stood at Tom’s side. The two walked ahead of Janeway and Owen, despite their status of rank. Danag and Satira followed further behind. The group made its way to meet Karnus in one of the station’s briefing rooms.
A few Dezorisians stopped to stare in Owen’s direction. The Admiral stiffened his back as he walked along. “I had no idea these people were this massive.” he whispered. “I believe the Klingon’s have finally found a formidable opponent.”
“Yes, I’d say they could teach the Klingon’s quite a few new moves.” Tom replied. “Just make sure to be polite and whatever you do don’t be bullied into a drinking match with them.” Tom turned his eyes toward Danag as he said this.
The man cast his gaze to the floor. “No, I wouldn’t suggest you do that either.”
Owen was about to ask what they were referring to when Paris stopped walking. A tall, male Dezorisian approached Paris.
Owen immediately recognized him as the man on the comm signal.
“I see you have finally returned,” stated the man.
“Yes, I’ve come to talk business with you.” Tom said.
Karnus cast him a strange look. “You are the leader of this clan. I do not see why you would want to confer with me.”
