Prologue to Chapter 6
Hello all,
Yes when I said I was back, I also meant I was back writing. :) Actually some of you might remember this story from way back when I misposted to the list and I asked ya'll not to read. Well, now you can read it. I thought that considering today is Halloween and as I did last year with my very first story I posted a Halloween story, I shall post a Halloween story this year. Wow, almost an entire year that I've been writing. Hmm, anyways, onto the story.Pairing: T/7 (eventually)
Rating: let's say R
Summary: Voyager discovers a ship that brings the past back to haunt the future.
Disclaimers: I do not own any of the characters, except thee ones you do not see on the television show, otherwise Paramount owns all and I am only borrowing. There is lesbian content within the story, so if its not you're cup of tea, sorry but Janeway's the one that drinks coffee, not me. There's some violence, but not too much to send people running to the bathrooms. Um, geez its been a while since I wrote one of these, if I misses any then feel free to make some up for me. No monetary gain, blah blah blah.
Feedback: Only send some if you want more of the story. If not, I can always go back to writing my term papers :)And with that done, enjoy the show.
Comments to letterx
Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6
NightWalkerAnother World
Another time
In the age of wonder
Another world
Another time
This land was green and good
Until the crystal cracked
Once more they will replenish themselves
Cheat death again
The power of their source
The crystal, the crystal
- Crystal Method; Trip Like I Do
Prologue
2092 - The return of the Dark Ages. Following the end of World War III, the human race, as we knew it, was almost completely obliterated off the face of the Earth. Multiple nuclear strikes nearly destroyed all of Earth leaving behind crushed civilizations and sending the modern world back to the state it once was during the Middle Ages in Europe. Yet unlike the Middle Ages, the technology and know how of the modern world was still there. But despite that fact, many of the populous opted to forgo the use of such materials, either due to the fact that it was unavailable for most people, or the fact that it was feared by most. Yet there were those who would eventually find need to once again use such technologies. Big cities were nothing more then ruins, small villages offered little safety against roaming groups of raiders, and the goal of everyday life became survival of the fittest. Governments no longer existed, money became worthless paper, and luxuries such as electricity, indoor plumbing, and heat became things to remember once upon a time for most of the populous, though few still used such things. The world once again plummeted into chaos, religion became the "be all", and no one expected to live to an old age. The Dark Ages had returned those who had not learned from past mistakes now faced re-living that same past.
And as there once was before, there now is again. What once was a myth, no longer can be denied as truth. Along with the darkness it brings the dark creatures, the Nightwalkers. Evil souls not willing to let go of this life, feeding off of the life blood of innocents in order to retain their immortality, walking amidst the shelter of night, burned by the light of day, tortured by religion, these creatures, these vampires, prey amongst the living to feed their blood lust and fulfill their desires. Until one day when order is restored, when the living begin to live, when the innocents fight back, pushing the vampires back into the dark depths in which they came from, when the war is waged between light and darkness.
Journal Excerpt
Vampire Hunter Mark CainesMay 2146
I can now say for certain that there are only a few vampires left among the living now, as we have nearly wiped their entire race from the face of this Earth. It has taken decades of searching and hunting, but many Generations later, we have come close to ridding us all of those bloodsuckers. It is unfortunate, but I believe I have discovered that this vampirism may actually be a controllable force, if the innocent taken is strong enough to fight back the evil within and control it's lure. I have met many strange vampires since I first became a hunter several years ago, ones who were reluctant to take human blood, ones who would refuse to turn any other innocent into what they themselves have become, ones who refused to fight back against the living even though we hunt them down to extinction. I have recently been on the hunt of one such vampire. A young woman who I believe, though I can not prove, has helped the hunters in the past by giving us information on other more sinister vampires in the area. We have been hunting her for weeks now, she is very evasive and hard to track, but the few times we have managed to corner her, though she has escaped, she did so without injuring or taking any of the hunters. But she is the last of her kind, perhaps one of the 'first born' of the new order for she is strong and powerful, perhaps she is 'good' for I have seen with my own eyes someone who is to be evil perform good acts. But whatever the case may be, she must be eliminated, we can not risk allowing her to survive for fear that the nightwalkers will return and spread their evil once again. However, being that she is strong, we fear that we may not be able to completely eliminate her, therefore we have another plan, we will banish her body from Earth, she will never return.
End of Journal Excerpt
June 2146 - The Summer Equinox
The longest day of the year.Though the night had just begun, the hunt was nearing its end. A young woman dressed in black and silk red robes, fled through the forest knowing that they were gaining on her. If it wasn't for the day, the time of the year in which all vampires were at their weakest, this woman would have been able to leave her trackers behind, then lead them astray and hide out to regain her strength. Instead they kept coming, one right after the other. She had already been burned by blessed oil and speared through the right shoulder by a wooden spear but she could not stop to drink and take the time to heal herself, she could not seem to get away from the hunters. A clearing seemed to appear out of no where and suddenly, the vampire found herself falling into a pit dug deep into the ground in the middle of this opening. Torches were brought near as hunters shone the light on their prey, making sure that she indeed was captured. "Dump it." The young vampire heard one of the hunters say, right before liquid cryogenic fluid was poured on top of her, freezing her in mid-scream never to move again. It was the end of her time on Earth and the end of her species time of roaming among the living. Unlike the first Dark Ages, this time the inhabitants of Earth made sure that the vampire threat was completely eliminated.
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Chapter 1
Delta Quadrant - 2377
"Captain," Harry called from his ops station.
"What is it Ensign?" Janeway stood up on the command deck to turn and face the man who had just got her attention.
"I'm picking up some strange audio signal. The computer can't make heads or tails of it. But I do believe that it's coming from some floating space debris a few light years off our starboard."
"Is it some sort of distress signal?" Chakotay asked, now also caught up in this new development.
"I can't really tell Commander, not until I can decode it and maybe clear it up a bit. It seems sort of gargled but that also might have to do with our distance from the debris."
"What about the debris? Can you tell us anything about that?"
"Nope, nothing, Captain. I can't seem to get any clear readings."
"Alright, things have been a bit slow this past week, what do you say we take a look at our new mystery?" Janeway asked but obviously didn't expect an answer as she went on from there. "Tom, get us closer to that debris, warp 4."
"Aye ma'am." Tom replied already inputting the data into his console.
"Harry, you keep trying to make 'heads or tails' of the signal you seem to be getting. Janeway to Seven of Nine." The captain called as soon as she tapped her combadge.
"Seven here, go ahead Captain." Seven's voice came embodied over the comm. system.
"We've discovered an audio signal that seems to becoming from some debris nearby. I need you to scan that debris and tell me anything and everything there is to know about it."
"Yes Captain, Seven out."
Janeway sighed just as Chakotay chuckled under his breath.
"Doesn't she know that since I'm the captain I am suppose to be the one who ends the transmission?" Janeway whispered to her first officer.
"Hey, don't look at me, she's your prot�g�. Lead by example I always say." Chakotay smiled his retort back at the Captain letting her know that she was being royally teased.
"Humph." Janeway puffed out as she sat back into her command chair. Her thoughts almost immediately turning back to this mysterious signal coming from this strange debris field.
2 hours later
"Mr. Paris, bring us to within 1500 kilometers of that field but be prepared to get us out of here at the first sign of any danger."
"Aye Captain."
"Harry, any luck with that translation?"
"Not significantly, Captain. Now that we're closer to the signal it's stronger and clearer but the computer still can't translate it for us."
"Can you play it for us?
"Sure, give me a second." Shortly thereafter the entire bridge crew was listing to an automated message.
"Harry! That's English. I understand some of it but not all. But I'm pretty sure that's the English language." Janeway nearly yelled out as she spun around on the command deck to meet eye to eye with the Ensign in question, trying to understand why Harry nor the computer could translate a message sent in a language native to Earth.
"Actually Captain, that's a very old version of English, one that's not in use any more." Tom chimed in from his seat at the helm.
"Lt. Paris is correct." Seven added while working from the aft science station. "That particular dialect is estimated to be about 200-300 years old. Most of the words associated with that language, at that time, have become extinct and are no longer recognizable. The computer would not have a translation program on file for such a dialect since it is no longer in use. However, I am attempting to create such a program as we speak."
"But I don't get it. If it's English, shouldn't the computer have recognized something, anything in that transmission? English is after all one of the first languages the translators can decipher." Harry couldn't help but ask.
"You're right Harry." Janeway tried to explain to the young man. "But the computer recognizes 'modern' English. Let me see if I can explain this. During your Historical Lit classes at the academy, you read Shakespeare didn't you? Well, the stories that you read were translated versions of those stories. Even though they were written in the English language. They had dialect or words that 800 years later would have become unrecognizable because languages change as people and their communities change."
"Yeah, it's like when you don't understand some of the 20th century slang I use. Those are words that are, well, almost extinct." Tom added.
"I believe I have it Captain."
"Then let's hear it, Seven."
Beware this vessel. For inside evil rests. It sleeps, but make no mistake, it is death. We, of Earth, have banished this evil to the ends of the universe in hopes that it shall not appear again. You have been warned. The night sleeps only when daylight reigns.
"That's it?" Janeway asked Seven, perplexed by such a cryptic message, especially one that mentions Earth.
"You are correct, Captain. There was an encoded file that was sent along with the transmission, however, I suspect that over many centuries it has become corrupted and unreadable. I can not translate that file using the computer, however, I would like the chance to examine the file in astrometrics in hopes that I may still be able to translate it word for word."
"Alright, alright. I think we certainly have a mystery here on our hands, but before we go about trying to solve such a mystery I think we need to have a senior staff meeting. Chakotay assemble everyone in conference room 1 in five minutes time."
"Aye Captain."
*****
"Okay, settle down everyone. Let's go over what we know so far." Janeway nodded over to Tuvok, informing him silently that he got that privilege.
"As some of you may already know, we have come across what seems to be an ancient transmission coming from a cluster of space debris. We now know that this transmission is human in origin and is approximately 200-300 years old. We know that at some point, this transmission has come from a space vessel of some type but as of yet we have not been able to locate where this message is currently originating from, whether that be from an actual, intact vessel or if it too is a piece of space debris. On your pads is a copy of the transmission we received. That is the entire 'warning' message as it plays on a continuous loop. We have also received a corrupted file in which Seven of Nine has offered to try and translate for us. However, at this time, that is all that we know."
Janeway gave the other members of the senior staff who were not present on the bridge a chance to read over the translated message before continuing on.
"Now as you all can see, this is obviously a warning of some kind. We know very little of what is out there sending such a warning. Therefore, I wanted to call you all here to ask if this is something we should investigate further. To be quite frank, I am damned curious to know who would send such a message and why, especially considering the origin is Earth. Any comments so far?"
"I'm with you on this Captain. You know I'm an archeologist at heart. I love studying ancient civilizations, especially those of Earth. And this seems to be a mystery ripped from the pages of time. I have to admit that I'm more then just intrigued here, as Earth history has never mentioned anything that I could identify with having to send such a message. 'The night sleeps only when daylight reigns'?"
"Well, that's one vote for further investigation from the Commander. Anyone else?"
"So this vessel, or transmission, really came from Earth, say 300 years ago? Count me in. I'd like to find out what kind of technology they used to build such a vessel considering that's before Cochran's time. And how in the world is that message still able to play after so long? What could possibly be powering it? My interest is definitely peaked." Torres added her own thoughts on such an investigation.
"Yeah, and boy would I love to get my hands on that ship. What an ancient treasure that would be. And besides, what's the chance that this warning is still real? Maybe it's just a bunch of exaggerations in order to keep pirates from stealing stuff."
"I agree with Mr. Paris." Tuvok declared, shocking everyone in the room with that statement. However, ignoring the wide eyes, the Vulcan continued on with his reasoning. "After 300 years, it is very likely that the threat in which would cause such a warning to be contrived is now over. The possibility that an actual threat may still exist after such a distance and time is remote. There may have been many instances in which this ship, if one exists, had already been 'plundered' by pirates as Mr. Paris would say."
"I also agree." The Doctor began. "If this 'threat' were some kind of biological threat such as a virus or other contaminant, the danger to us would be negligible. The likelihood that the virus would still be virulent is very slim. And even if it was virulent, not only would our transporters filter it out but also any inoculations you have received over the years would protect you from any known virus that was on Earth, at any time, as well as a few other planets. So, if there was a virus that the people of Earth deemed as evil, I'd say that we are all well protected from such a threat."
Kim smiled that boyish smile that made him seem like the green Ensign he once was so many years ago, naive, innocent, and overconfident when it came to Voyager surviving anything the universe threw at it. "Yeah, like the Doc said, we've come a long way with our technology and understanding. If really there was this 'evil' that the people of Earth couldn't handle back then, I'm sure we could handle it today. Besides, we've faced plenty of evils in the Delta Quadrant, what's one more?"
So far, all votes were to go and explore this new mystery but not everyone had had a say. Janeway looked over at Neelix prompting him to add his thoughts to the mix.
"I don't know Captain. In my experience, it's always wise to heed a warning. Sometimes the rewards are not worth the risk. Though this message seems vague and may appear to some as misleading, I have a feeling that the creators wanted it to be so. Sometimes giving so much information in a message could be more intriguing and dangerous than a vague message. But then again, if this was a message that originally oriented from Talax, I would be very curious to find out more."
"Thank you Mr. Neelix for your words of advice. We will be careful." Janeway sincerely acknowledged the words of caution, and perhaps warning, from a friend whose instincts she had come to trust. Looking over to the last person who had yet to speak, Janeway received a slight nod of affirmation, more a tilt of the head but from Seven that was all she needed.
"Alright, so I guess this mission is a go. Seven, I want you down in astrometrics trying to locate our wayward ship and working on that translation of that file we got in the transmission. Tom, take us in as close as you can get us to that debris field. Tuvok, analyze the field, let me know what's in there other then our message in a bottle and keep an eye on the surrounding area, I don't want to be caught unawares. B'Elanna go down to engineering and see if you can determine anything from the telemetry we have gathered so far from that transmission. Harry will keep scanning and will send you any other readings he gathers. Doctor, I want you to make sure that the crew is up to date on their inoculations and prepare a general inoculation for a possible five member away team if we do find this vessel intact. Chakotay, put together that away team of about five members and be prepared to board a vessel of unknown origin. I want every precaution taken. Neelix, you keep me apprised of any more bad feelings you get. Dismissed."
A round of ayes made their way around the table as everyone got up to leave the conference room. Neelix even threw in a big smile and nod of his head, letting the Captain know that he appreciated being kept in the loop.
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Chapter 2
Five bodies locked inside environmental suits sparkled into existence aboard the vessel, Night. Two aimed their phasers shortly after gaining their bearings, while three others opened and examined their tricorders, all trying to adjust to the dimly lit vessel.
After about a day of meticulously scanning the debris field, Seven had finally located the origin of the transmission and thereby discovering that there was indeed an intact ship floating near the center of this field. Through her scanning, Seven had also theorized that the debris field was made up of 'space junk'. Bits and pieces of ships, space stations, garbage, that managed to coalesce in this one area of space. It seemed that located within this region of space was a slight gravimetric eddy, a spatial anomaly that seemed to pull in free floating objects traveling near it. Due to the small size of the gravimetric eddy, there was little danger to Voyager other then the slight interference with the sensors this debris field caused. The reason she suspected that there was interference to begin with was due to all of the still operational 'junk' inside this cloud of floating debris. However, once Seven had discovered the origin of the ship, it was slightly easier to get readings of that particular debris and not much more difficult to later transport onto the vessel.
"Well Seven, I guess you're readings were right, there is absolutely no atmospheric control on this ship. Oxygen is down to zero, no gravimetric pressure, nor any heat." B'Elanna commented, hoping to rub it in that there was some doubt on Seven's findings.
"Doctor? Anything?" Chakotay tried to steer the conversation back on track before he had more to deal with then a mysterious ship.
"Nothing Commander. Wait, I'm picking up elevated levels of childish behavior. Oh, sorry, that's coming from our team members." The Doctor's sarcastic barb caused a growl to escape from B'Elanna's throat, one the Doctor wisely took as a warning. Clearing his throat he hurried on with his readings. "I'm not picking up any viral agents or contaminants."
"Good, B'Elanna, were there any environmental controls on this ship at any time?"
"I can't be sure, Commander. This may be old technology but it's all new to me. Besides, even if there were, I doubt they'd work after such a long time."
"Okay fine, this ship is pretty small and I doubt we'll be here for any length of time. Find the engine room and take the Doctor and Mr. Ayala with you. Seven and I will explore the rest of the ship; see if we can't find the bridge or control center. Keep the comm. link open. Any sign of trouble and I want us all off this ship. Understood?"
"Aye, sir." B'Elanna, the Doctor, and Lt. Ayala, a security officer, all headed off to what they believed was the aft section of the ship. Seven and Chakotay headed off into the opposite direction.
*****
"Commander?" Seven questioned as she had seen Chakotay stop and examine one side of the corridor.
"Looks like this is where the hull breach occurred."
"Indeed. We would most likely be able to see out into space at this moment if there were not debris pulled flush against the tear."
"What do you make of it?"
"I believe that this breach was caused by a collision with a meteor. The meteor was no more then a few inches in length, however, this ship had no shielding to protect from such occurrences." Seven announced once she consulted her tricorder for any relevant readings.
"Torres to Chakotay."
"Go ahead, Lieutenant."
"We've found the engine room. I think that despite the warning, we weren't the first ones to board this ship. There's evidence of some plundering, some systems are missing from this room but not much. The equipment here is all pretty much antiquated stuff, nothing functional or even compatible with our systems. The only thing that seems to be operational would be that message that's been playing and these emergency lights that light up the ship. They seem to be running on a battery that gets recharged by solar light. My guess is that this ship recently passed by a sun for a long time and was able to recharge the battery to last for a while longer. So far, that's all I've found. This place is pretty much in disarray so it'll take me a bit longer to sift through some of this junk and find out what it's all used for."
"Keep me informed Torres. Chakotay out. After you Seven." The Commander swung his arm out allowing Seven to lead the way to a nearby room.
That room appeared to be just as they had thought, a control center of some sort. There were a few control panels but everything looked pretty much designed for automation, not for a human to pilot. In fact, this ship looked to be all automated, not at all designed for space travel by a human. The ship was very small; one could run from the control room, which was at the very front of the ship, all the way to the end of the ship, which was the engine room, in a matter of seconds. There seemed to be no sleeping quarters, no messhall, no sickbay, and no supplies of any kind to sustain life. Odd. There were not even any portholes to look out of and into the space you were suppose to be exploring.
The Commander looked over towards a central control panel near the center of the room in which Seven was busy downloading information from.
"Anything of interest?"
"I am unsure Commander. Like the corrupted file we had received before I am unable to read most of this information."
"Most? Meaning you can understand some of it?" Chakotay asked as he leaned over Seven's shoulder to see what she was looking at. He rarely got to work with the younger woman but on rare occasions such as this, he couldn't help but be intrigued and in awe of the ex-drone's talent, skill, and knowledge. She was smart, witty, if you knew what to look for, and extremely beautiful. He couldn't help but feel attracted to her despite that only a few years ago he had distrusted her completely and was willing to give her back to the Borg that created her. As time went on, Seven did manage to adapt and become more human than Borg and the Commander could very well believe that it was only a matter of a little more time before Seven fully regained her lost humanity. Learning to smile, being happy, crying, enjoying simple pleasures, loving someone...
The Commander's thoughts were broken off as Seven continued on to answer his previous question.
"Yes, Commander. I have been able to use the portable power generator to power up this console, however, I am only able to keep the power on low, otherwise we would risk a power overload. Due to that, I am only able to retrieve a limited amount of information. I am able to bring up the ship's history, when it was built and where. However, I am unable to determine who built it and why. I am also able to bring up the ship's schematics. There appears to be another small storage room over in that area..." Seven was interrupted by a call over the comm. from the Doctor.
"Go ahead Doctor." Chakotay called out.
"Commander, going over some of this equipment and readouts of other equipment onboard, I think that this ship might have been carrying a cryogenic freezer. What was being stored in the freezer, I have no idea. There's no ship's manifest, nor any indication that the freezer is still onboard."
"A cryogenic freezer? Doctor back when this ship was built, did they even have that sort of technology?"
"I believe, they did have the cryogenic liquid used to freeze animals, however, I don't think that the technology progressed much passed the development of that liquid. They never could devise a safe way to freeze an animal and then revive it, alive that its."
"Anything else you can tell me Doctor?"
"Sure, I can tell you lots of stuff, like who created cryogenic fluid or where it was first discovered, the properties involved in the fluid, or I can tell you that cryogenic fluid tends to have a slight bluish glow to it when completely shrouded in darkness, but all of that would really be irrelevant data at this point."
"Right. Well, keep looking Doctor and keep me apprized. Chakotay out." As soon as the Commander cut the comm. link he noticed that something was missing, or rather someone. "Seven?" No answer.
*****
While the Commander was occupied by talking with the Doctor, Seven opted to go and investigate that separate storage room. 'It is illogical to have a storage room on a ship that seems to be designed to hold nothing but essentials.' Walking over to the area in which the door to this storage room was suppose to be located, Seven couldn't find the entrance. There was nothing but wall. Going on...intuition? Seven adjusted her ocular implant in order to use her night vision, hoping that the shadows would offer up hints that the light did not. Sure enough, they did. It appeared that the light, along with some well-placed mirrors, managed to fool the eye into thinking that a wall was actually in front of you rather then an open doorway leading into the storage room. 'A primitive, but clever cloaking device. It appears that this ship does indeed have something to hide.'
Without preamble, Seven strode into the hidden room and took a quick survey of its contents. Nothing of any real importance to note. More of the same 'junk' that has been found throughout the ship. But something was still 'bothering' Seven. Something she felt she was missing, overlooking. 'If this room was hidden from plain sight, then it is logical to assume that the object these people were attempting to hide is also hidden from plain sight.' Taking a slower survey of the room, Seven realized that she had left her night vision on after turning and facing a small but obviously bright light emanating from her left. Wincing from the pain the bright light caused her eyes, Seven immediately turned from her night vision back to her normal vision.
The room was now bathed in darkness for no lights other then the small light coming from a small console shone inside, or into the room. Using her flashlight attached to her arm, Seven examined the small light. It was nothing remarkable, but she could assume that the same battery that powered the message too was powering it and the emergency lights within the ship. What did fascinate the young woman was the fact that the doorway to this room could only been seen in darkness, yet when you entered this room this bright light prevented you from seeing anything else within that darkness. 'Perhaps...' Seven didn't even finish her thought as she tapped a few buttons on the console in front of her trying to find a way to shut down this light.
Nothing worked. The console was completely powerless and Seven could not find a way to override the light. Suddenly her eyebrow shot up as an idea entered her head. 'I must remember to apologize to B'Elanna Torres later. Her ways CAN be productive.' Seven thought right before she took her gloved Borg-enhanced hand and smashed the light, effectively shutting it down.
*****
Chakotay waited several seconds for an answer but none came. He was just about to call out Seven's name again when he heard the sound of something breaking. Following that sound he eventually ended up tripping right through the doorway Seven had only moments ago discovered.
Gaining his balance again, the Commander looked up and in front of him not only saw his wayward astrometrics officer but also a tank of some kind. It was lifted off of the floor and placed atop a console, but at this elevated height it reached the ceiling of the vessel. It was round and circular and gave off this bluish tint. Looking back towards the blonde, Chakotay noticed that she seemed mesmerized by this tank. So much so that unconsciously her hand had raised up to caress this casing.
"Seven." It was a harsh whisper but one that served to finally catch the young woman's attention. She gave the Commander a quick glance but soon went back to studying the tank.
That's when Chakotay moved in to get a closer look. From afar, you couldn't see much other then the blue glow but closer you could tell something or rather someone was frozen inside.
"Chakotay to the Doctor. I need you in the control center ASAP. And bring B'Elanna and Ayala with you. We found something."
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Chapter 3
Back onboard Voyager...
"You found a cryogenically frozen girl?!" Janeway asked incredulously. After getting the request for beam out and an emergency transport to sickbay for two, Captain Janeway had decided to meet her first officer down in transporter room 3. Now as they were walking to sickbay, the redheaded Captain more then ever wanted a full report. "So is she what we were being warned about? I thought that cryogenics never advanced far enough to be able to freeze a human subject? And what about the rest of the ship?..."
"Whoa, Kathryn, one question at a time. The ship was pretty much a flying piece of junk. It looked as if it was designed purely for transport of items. There was no way a human could manually fly that thing. Like the message said, this ship was used to send some evil as far away from Earth as possible. No flight plan, no way to sustain or repair the engine after the initial burst into space." Chakotay began as he pulled off his gloves and adjusted the weight of the environmental suit he still wore.
"And what kind of engine was it? I mean this was before the discovery of the warp core."
"As far as B'Elanna could tell, it was a rocket propelled by fossil fuel. The same type of engine that NASA, Earth's old space program used when launching rockets into Earth's orbit. And considering that, I'm surprised that the ship managed to find it's way this far into the Delta Quadrant."
"Well, Commander, considering all things, that ship has been floating around in space for more then 2 centuries now."
"I suppose so. And as far as the ability to freeze this girl in cryogenic fluid, the Doctor has assured me that although the technology lacked the ability to unfreeze a frozen subject, humans still had the ability to freeze something or someone in suspended animation. My guess is that this girl was frozen with the intent not to be unfrozen."
"So what you are saying is that she is the 'evil'?" Kathryn asked, still unable to wrap her mind around the fact that humans would fear another human being so much so to take such extreme measures in banishing her from Earth.
"Yes and no. The Doctor and I were speaking earlier. We believe that at the time this was suppose to happen, the people of Earth were very superstitious and fearful of things they could not understand or of things that dealt with advanced technology. We therefore think that this girl may have been infected with some sort of disease or virus. Fearful of contamination and spread of this disease, perhaps they felt such extreme cautionary measures should be undertaken. Then again this girl could be a criminal who had committed such heinous crimes that the only fit punishment was this sort of banishment."
"So now she rests in sickbay. Was Seven able to find out any new information aboard that ship?"
"Not much, just some miscellaneous information here and there. Quite frankly I doubt that the creators of this ship let much information in the computer core to begin with. Why would they leave information about a great evil just lying around for anyone to find? I'd say her best bet would be to examine and decode that first transmission file we received."
"Agreed. And after our little visit with the Doctor and company I want to meet up with you so that we can see about planning a burial ceremony for this young girl." Janeway managed to add to the conversation right before both her and Chakotay entered into sickbay.
*****
Inside sickbay two bodies moved about the room in what appeared to be chaos, while the Doctor was in his office going over his readings on his computer console. Looking up at the sound of the doors hissing open, the EMH noticed his Captain and first officer entering the room.
"Captain, Commander, in here." The Doc waved them over needing to update both on the current situation.
"Doctor." Janeway acknowledged in greeting before being waved into a seat by an overly excited holographic physician.
"As you both can see," The Doctor spun around the console he was working on moments ago for the two senior officers to view. "I have been very busy. I've been conducting every test imaginable to see if I can detect any viruses or other contaminants within the stasis tube. Each of which has come back negative. If there was a virus or disease that caused this young woman to be feared, it has long since been virulent. I can tell you that this young woman must have put up a fight before being captured and frozen."
"How is that, Doctor?" Chakotay asked for both himself and now his silently seething captain. He knew that Janeway must have been reeling from hearing news that this girl had possibly been tortured and hurt all because of a fearful and biased mob of people.
"Well, my preliminary examination showed that there was a wound caused by a sharp object of some sort puncturing a hole through 'her' right shoulder. And also there were several burn marks scattered about her body. All of which I can easily heal if we figure out a way to safely 'defrost' our mystery gal."
"Wait a minute. I thought that 'she' was dead. No one who had been frozen in cryogenic fluid had lived to be unfrozen." Janeway asked, surprise obviously evident on her face.
"Actually, Captain, those who were frozen were still alive while in animated suspension. It was when that subject was in the process of being brought out of suspension did that person or animal actually died. There was no way for the scientists of that time to devise a way in which brought a body out of a frozen state. Though they were able to restart the heart, it was usually too late and the brain and body lacked enough oxygenated blood to function. The subject was declared brain dead, most of the limbs suffered from frostbite, and the lungs, which were filled with cryogenic fluid, were unable to be pumped clean in time to begin resuscitation. However, given my ability to devise new medical procedures and the technology I have available to me, I should be able to awaken our friend from her long sleep. Given your permission, of course."
"Doctor...I don't know. I mean I had thought that our new guest had been dead already and now you tell me she's not and that you might be able to awaken her. I have to seriously think about this. Despite the fact that I totally disagree with what people had done to her, I can't just give the go-ahead to wake her. We still are unsure of what we are dealing with and she just as yet may turn out to be a real danger. I will give you permission to devise a procedure to wake her but you will have to wait on a final decision to actually go-ahead with the procedure."
"Yes Captain."
"I think right now I want to take a look at who we had just brought back onboard Voyager and then have a chat with Tuvok and Seven." Captain Janeway declared as she got up from her seat and headed into the main area of sickbay, all the while followed by Chakotay.
Behind a level ten forcefield, in an area of sickbay usually used for major surgeries because of its isolation, sat the tall 'tank'. It no longer glowed blue but rather sparkled like clear glass and looking just as fragile. It was round and smooth on all sides; it's top and bottom being flat. The was no apparent opening, nor any cracks in the structure yet floating motionless inside this container was indeed a young woman frozen in shock, or was she screaming.
Still moving about the room, though no longer in frenzied movement, was Lieutenant Torres and Seven of Nine. Both women examining and reexamining their new find. Neither of which paid more then a glance to the Captain as she approached the 'tank'.
Getting as close as possible to the forcefield, Kathryn could indeed see the burn marks the Doctor had mentioned, obvious by the holes in the garments she wore. She could also see a blood stain where the wound in her right shoulder would be. Closer still and she could make out the color of the young woman's eyes. The irises were so dark that Kathryn could only assume that they were pure black. Never in her life had she heard of any human being born with black eyes. 'Maybe they're contact lens. Those were popular items back before a simple eye surgery could change the colors of the eyes.' Janeway's rationale side piped up. After all, they were so in contrast with the reddish blond hair and pale complexion of the woman. 'She looks so young too. No more than 20 years of age. I wonder what her name is and what her story is. Why would someone so young, so innocent looking, so beautiful be described as evil? No wonder Seven felt so mesmerized by this image. So much mystery. 'Speaking of which...'
"Seven, may I have a few words with you?"
"Of course, Captain."
"Let's take a walk. Oh, and B'Elanna, leave all that prodding to the Doctor. Clean up those environmental suits you and Seven just dumped in that corner and then go home and get some rest. You're off for the rest of the day, as well as you, Chakotay. Both of you enjoy your evening because tomorrow, either way, will be chaotic."
Janeway got a round of 'aye Captain's' though one particular one sounded very disgruntled.
*****
Seven and Captain Janeway strolled through the corridors, no real destination in mind, enjoying a comfortable silence while Kathryn thought about what exactly she had wanted to ask the young woman next to her.
"I assume that the Doctor has informed you of our guest's status?" Janeway began to edge her way into the conversation.
"Yes."
"Good. I know that shortly you'll be writing up your away mission report but I need to know if there was anything on that ship or anything in your previous and subsequent examinations that would suggest a reason for this girl to be seen as 'evil'. The Doctor has already asked for permission to revive our friend in sickbay and I need to know who or what exactly it is that I'm reviving. Any theories?"
"Nothing substantial, Captain. The computer core aboard the derelict ship offered up little information and I have yet been able to conduct a full examination of the corrupted transmission." Seven stated in her normal fashion, but Janeway heard something hesitant in her voice.
"But???" Janeway prodded, hoping to get Seven to reveal more than the simple facts.
"However, I believe that there must be a cause for this woman's banishment from Earth, other than what we have already considered. The Doctor has sufficiently ruled out viral contamination. The Commander has suggested a criminal record however, that theory is not logical. During the estimated time period in which 'she' came from there was no significant governmental control over the people, there was no order. Criminals would have been commonplace. Logically if she was indeed a criminal and was apprehended, she would have been placed in jail or some other form of custody or she would have been summarily executed for her crimes, regardless of the severity of the crimes. It would have been a waste of resources and an excessive punishment during a time when both were limited."
"I agree, makes total sense. But why banish her then? What makes her so feared and so evil? I doubt she can be the devil incarnate." Janeway half joked coming up at a complete loss for any reason this girl had gone through such a fate as she had.
"Perhaps not the 'devil incarnate'." Seven replied, hinting that she may have meant someone else. At the Captain's wide eyes, the blonde decided to explain about what information she really did find on that ship. "As I have said, I did not uncover much information however, there was some information there. I was reluctant to mention this before, disregarding it as superstitious and illogical as well as irrelevant. But given the lack of other information with regards to 'our guest', perhaps it is a 'clue'. The files I had been able to access contained several mentions of...vampires."
"Vampires?!" Janeway managed to choke out as she came to a complete halt in the hall.
"Yes, vampires. During 'her' time on Earth, humans became very religious and superstitious after the third World War. Death was imminent and humans tend to grasp onto religion as a form of hope, hope that they will be saved and if not that they will be saved in the 'afterlife'. Along with strong religious belief in a higher power that is benevolent in nature comes with it the fear of a higher power that is malevolent."
"God versus the devil."
"Indeed. During this time, a belief and fear of 'nightwalkers' began to resurface in popular culture. Stories were told of such creatures, more commonly referred to as vampires and a mass hysteria began to form. Not much else is known of such occurrences due to the fact that such beliefs soon became thought of as myths again but perhaps..." Janeway interrupted Seven.
"Are you saying that who ever 'she' is, is a vampire?"
"No, I am merely saying that it is possible that humans of that time 'thought' her to be a vampire. And as such, banished her from Earth. In that case, such extreme measures might not be considered extreme. Perhaps they thought death would be ineffective against such a being."
"But Seven, then why wasn't all those 'thought' to be vampires banished from Earth in the same way? What makes her so special?"
"I do not know Captain. It is merely a theory based on the available data. I never stated it was plausible."
"No I guess you didn't." A laugh bubbled up and out of Kathryn's lips, leave it to Seven to make sense out of jumbled facts, state a logical theory, sound convincing, and then tell you that unfortunately it's not plausible. "So what are you trying to tell me?"
"That perhaps the only way to achieve the answers we wish to know would be to get them from the 'horse's mouth'." The addition of the colloquialism brought a smirk to the usually calm and collected features of the Captain's face.
Janeway sighed as she and the tall blonde stepped into a turbolift.
"Bridge." Janeway announced as Seven followed up with "Deck 9". "I guess you're right though. The only way we'll know for sure what had happened so long ago would be to ask the one person who was there at the time. Do you think she is a danger to the ship?"
"No." Seven said with the raise of her eyebrow, showing off that famous Borg arrogance of hers. "If she does indeed turn out to be a threat, I believe that we are well suited to handle whatever that threat may be."
"Just checking. Don't spend too long in astrometrics Seven, I did order the away team a good night's rest tonight." Janeway called out to the now departing ex-drone.
"Captain." Seven called back over her shoulder while the turbolift doors shut, leaving Kathryn with the unmistakable feeling that Seven really didn't intend on honoring the order.
*****
"Captain on Bridge." Tuvok called out as soon as he had turned to identify who had entered the bridge.
"As you were. Tuvok, may I see you in my ready room?" It wasn't a question so the Lt. Commander didn't even bother to reply other then a nod of the head. Instead he ordered Lt. Paris who was seated at the helm to take the bridge as he followed the Captain into her private sanctuary.
*****
"Coffee, black." Kathryn asked of her replicator. She no longer ordered anything from it, recently realizing that for some odd reason replicators all over the universe had it in for her. Instead, she realized that if she politely requested an item it would appear as requested. Not like her many famous cooking attempts, which ended in, burned this and charcoaled that or worse yet, coffee that looked, felt, and tasted more like mud then coffee. "Have a seat Tuvok."
"I presume this is about our newest guest?" The Vulcan raised his eyebrow and politely waited for an answer until the Captain was comfortably seated behind her desk.
"Yes it is. Have you been keeping up to date?"
Tuvok merely inclined his head.
"Good. I need to know if you have any theories on why this girl would be considered evil."
"I have already read the recent reports filed by some of the away team members. In each report there is a speculation as to why this 'girl' would be considered evil. I believe that I cannot add another theory other then what has already been stated. Each of which I believe is currently being disproved. However, I would like to call your attention to the possibility that this girl may not be the evil that we believe the humans to be warning us about. There may have been another 'evil' aboard that ship, either one we have yet to find, or one that has already been unleashed by previous boarders. Or as Mr. Kim has pointed out, the message can be an exaggeration or perhaps the message is misleading as Mr. Neelix stated. The humans may have wanted us to believe this girl was evil for other reasons we as of yet can not comprehend."
Janeway looked about ready to interrupt with an argument or question in which case Tuvok hurried on.
"My point is, Captain, that at this stage we are left with more questions then answers. It is likely that she is the evil that the humans spoke of but that way of thinking may prove to be untrue. I cannot give you the answers in which you seek. Perhaps only 'she' can."
"Should I wake her Tuvok?" Kathryn whispered truly torn between the choice of waking a possible innocent or keeping asleep a great evil.
"I think that your curiosity and sense of morality are telling you yes. Where as the fear of the unknown and your protectiveness of your crew tell you no. Pushing aside these feelings, what is the logical choice?" As usual, the Vulcan man was not going to give Kathryn the easy answer. Instead he was going to make her sort through her own thoughts and feelings and come up with the right answer on her own.
"Logically speaking..." Janeway grinned an evil grin at the dark-skinned man sitting opposite her, hating the fact that she had to figure this out for herself. "We should take into consideration the worst case scenario. If we were able to handle that then the answer would be to wake her. Any doubts, and the answer would be not to wake her. So what is the worse case scenario?"
"She does indeed turn out to be a great evil." Tuvok helpfully supplied his commanding officer.
"Right, but rationally speaking I doubt 'evil' is referring to a monster of some sort. Monsters just don't exist. So that would mean that she has to be human, just like us. It would be futile to try and figure out what kind of evil she really is then but I think we can handle anything that is not a monster."
"Agreed. If she is infected with a disease the Doctor should be able to cure it. If she is a criminal, the security force should be able to contain her. If she has some sort of psychosis that might have made her appear evil, again the Doctor and the Security team should be able to contain and possible help her if not cure her."
"So following this line of thought, we should be able to waken her without causing Voyager to be put into mortal danger. Of course there will be precautions put in place to further guarantee everyone's safety and then maybe we can finally get some answers to all these damned questions. Thank you old friend for the much needed clarity and guidance. I think I'll let everyone sleep on it tonight and then inform the Doctor of my decision to wake up our mystery guest."
"You are welcome Captain. Good night." Tuvok said to the petite captain as he stood from his seat and turned to leave the room.
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Chapter 4
The following morning found Captain Janeway once again in sickbay. This was why the Captain was always postponing her physical, she spent enough time here as is.
"Good morning Doctor." Kathryn said as politely and chipper she could manage being that she only got about 4 hours sleep last night. Having a big, possibly life altering, decision to make never really meshed well with a good night's sleep.
"Captain, please have a seat." The Doctor offered as the redhead stepped into his office.
"Have you been able to devise a way to safely 'defrost' our friend?" Janeway had to ask, though she highly doubted the Doctor could come up with a 'cure' overnight.
"As a matter of fact I have. Since I don't need sleep..." The mention of sleep caused the Captain to unconsciously growl at the balding, irritable, ungracious, ill-mannered, bad comedian, terribly boring singer, god forsaken holographic doctor. But being the brilliant doctor he was, the Doctor opted not to comment on the noise, only slightly afraid for his holo-matrix. "As I was saying, I was able to come up with a relatively safe way of waking 'her' up. And may I suggest that one of our top priority questions for this girl be to ask her her name."
"Suggestion noted Doctor. Now, how long will this 'awakening' take and will you need any resources or any aid in the matter?" Janeway asked, hoping to steer the Doctor back on track. The sooner she got her explanation, the sooner she could go get her fix. 'Coffee, now that is just what the doctor ordered.'
"Oh, it won't take but a few minutes. No surgery, just prep time. And as for resources, I have everything here. However, I would like to request the assistance of Ms. Torres and Seven of Nine. Bringing her body back online will be fairly simple for me. All I would have to do would be to inject her with several stimulants then..."
"Doctor, I have a feeling that any explanation you try to give me would only cause a headache that rivals my usual headaches whenever speaking about temporal mechanics. Just why would you need B'Elanna's and Seven's help instead of Tom's?"
"Well, as I said, reviving her body won't be too difficult of a task, however, getting her out of the frozen cryogenic fluid may pose a problem for me. I'd rather have Lt. Torres and Seven see to removing her body from suspended animation since they are the most knowledgeable about anything involving technology. If something should go wrong with her removal from suspended animation I'd rather have them handle the technological problems."
"Agreed. And as a precautionary measure I am also giving you Paris to work with as well as posting two security officers in sickbay. Of course they will stay out of the way."
"Of course, but Captain, does this mean that you've decided to allow this girl to be woken up?" Though try as he might, the Doctor could not keep the excitement from his voice at the prospect of actually being able to awaken sleeping beauty."
"Yes it does. You have my permission to awaken this young woman. When would you like to do this?"
"Well, as soon as possible. But I would also like some more time to go over my data. It would also be nice to give my assistants some warning of the procedure and a chance to rest before hand. I think tomorrow morning should be fine. With your permission I'd like to inform Lt. Torres and Seven of the impending procedure and give them the rest of today off from duty."
"Granted. And I guess that leaves me to informing Mr. Paris. Keep me up to date Doctor." Janeway said as she stood up to leave.
"Yes Captain."
*****
It was late into the beta shift. Simulated night aboard Voyager had begun a couple of hours ago. This was the time in which most of the ship was either on duty or home sleeping in their quarters. And as B'Elanna Torres would tell you, it was the best time to sneak around on the starship. It was after Neelix and even the Doc called it quits for the day but before Tuvok and the Captain made their rounds about the ship. The Human-Klingon hybrid estimated she had about two hours before she had to find her way back to her quarters before being discovered by the 'investigators'.
Now normally it wasn't Captain Janeway's or Lt. Tuvok's policy to bust someone for walking the corridors late at night but paying a visit to a certain sickbay when ordered to stay out of the Doc's hair just might warrant a bust after all.
B'Elanna smirked. 'Only if they catch me.' However, that smirk turned into a frown once she did enter sickbay. The reason for this forbidden stop over was an unfulfilled curiosity about Voyager's newest passenger and more so about the technology involved in this mystery case. She wanted a chance to really examine the cryogenic freezer they had found alone and undisturbed. Now more then ever, after being told by the Doc earlier that she and Seven would be participating in reviving this young stranger from her sleep. Unfortunately for her, it now seemed that B'Elanna wasn't the only one who had that line of thought.
Sitting on a biobed, Indian style, facing the freezer, was Seven of Nine. B'Elanna had to smile at the unlikely position Seven was currently in. The ex-drone was always declaring how she preferred to stand and the few times that she did sit, her posture was always still painfully erect as she sat on the edge of a seat missing the entire concept of comfort, of relaxing. Yet here was that same woman, sitting atop a biobed with her legs crossed over the other and a small data pad resting in her lap. Her shoulders were slouched and her elbows rested on her knees. 'Where's a holovid when you need one?' Torres asked herself, sure in the fact that no one would believe this if she ever did try to tell anyone.
Though Seven had not turned around yet, rather continuing to study the freezer, the chief engineer was pretty sure that the statuesque blonde knew she was in the room. Seven had this uncanny ability to know when and who entered a room. Of course, the Borg-enhanced hearing would explain Seven knowing when a door hissed open to allow someone to enter but how Seven knew who that someone was, was still a bit of a mystery, the ex-drone refusing to tell despite how many times B'Elanna had pestered her over it.
"Hey." B'Elanna said as casually as she could once she had ended up standing directly next to where Seven was sitting.
"Lieutenant." Seven greeted in her normal fashion.
"Sooo... Indian style?" There was that sideways smirk again.
"Naomi has assured me that this is a very effective way to 'think'. She has informed that when she wishes to be reflective on her thoughts she will 'sit on her bed Indian style'."
"Riiight." B'Elanna tried to control her impending laughter but wasn't able to contain all of it.
It was odd. B'Elanna's relationship with Seven that is. For almost three years now, the half-Klingon could not stand to be around the tall blonde. Hating the way she looked, the way she acted, the way she became the Captain's pet and all had to bow down to her superiority. She swore to herself that she would never let up on giving the ice queen trouble. But somewhere along the line that way of thinking began to change. Maybe Seven changed, became more human, or maybe it was Torres herself who had changed and was able to see things that she didn't see before or saw in a different light. Whatever it was, it had started on that fateful day in engineering, when Seven had come to hide from the Doc, when she was sick and dying. Torres had been given a glimpse into the woman under the Borg shielding, under the cool exterior she fronted. The engineer had realized then that Seven did have feelings, obvious in the fact that she was afraid to die, afraid she would have been forgotten, afraid that she had proven to be useless. As the two women had talked, B'Elanna also realized just how much the two women had in common. Well, she may have known before that they shared similarities but now she had been able to admit it to herself. And once she was able to move past all the things that Seven did to annoy her, realizing that they were just apart of who she was and not in spite of the Klingon hybrid, she was able to learn more about who Seven really was.
And from there a tentative friendship formed, each learning more about the other, each learning to accept the other for who they were, and connecting on a level that spoke of deep understanding and identifying with the other. But they still fought. Like cats and dogs as Janeway would sometimes compare. They still argued, each knowing what was best for Voyager, and at times coming near to blows. Only difference now in their relationship was perhaps a shorter lag time to being able to work with each other civilly again. Their relationship was like a malfunctioning shower, never knowing when it was going to be cold or hot or just right. They could like each other one minute, being totally comfortable in each other's presence, yet at other times, hating each other, ready and willing to cause some bodily harm to the other. It was odd.
Seven smirked at B'Elanna failed attempt to contain her laughter. It seemed that B'Elanna was finally beginning to catch onto Seven's odd humor. Though Seven may have sought and taken Naomi's advice, she was also well aware of human customs, only acting more innocent then she really was.
"Did you get a call from the Doc yet?" B'Elanna asked once she got her giggles under control.
"Yes I did. We are to assist him in the wakening of this human. Our responsibility will be to find the most effective and efficient way to release her from the cryogenic fluid."
"Mmhmm. Any ideas on how to do that yet?"
"Of course." Seven replied back in short causing B'Elanna to shoot a look of annoyance her way. But Seven didn't take it all that seriously by now knowing when the half Klingon was truly upset and when she wasn't. She too noticed the change in their relationship and could only describe it as odd. Though for the most part it was a good change, it now left the ex-Borg wondering what exactly their relationship classified as. It wasn't as enemies, yet were they really friends? Could it just be a relationship that constitutes as co-workers, or was it more? Whatever it was, she wasn't about to try and classify something she herself barely understood. Though others have put descriptions on their relationship. Some calling it passionate, some calling it complimentary, others still volatile. Yet each member of the crew said that they certainly made a pair.
"I believe the correct course of action is this." Seven elaborated as she handed Torres the pad that had been sitting on her lap. On it was a very complicated explanation that basically said they would cut the young woman out of the 'tank' and then poor on a specific chemical to melt away the rest of the frozen fluid from her body.
"Looks good to me. If you want, I'll send a copy to the Doc and Janeway." Seven nodded her head in affirmation while Torres sighed. Of course that caused Seven to raise her eyebrow in silent question. "I came down here to examine this tank to see how best to get this girl out but I guess you already did that."
"Indeed I have, but I also believe that you wished to study this technology regardless of finding a way to open it or not. Finding a way to revive this girl was an excuse to 'play' with a new 'toy'."
"Since when did you get to know me so well?"
"Perhaps when I realized we are alike in many ways."
"Oh, so why did you come down here then, if not to figure out a way to safe this girl?" Torres said in a light tone, not really thinking that Seven may have been using the same excuse she was for coming down to sickbay in the middle of the night.
"To observe."
"Observe what?"
"Her." At B'Elanna's confused look, Seven continued on to further explain why she was here. "I could have discovered the way to free her from the Cargo Bay, however, I wished to come to sickbay in order to observe her. She is intriguing and I feel... drawn to her. I believe Captain Janeway would attribute these feelings and thoughts to my insatiable Borg curiosity."
"Absolutely, but you go to admit, she is intriguing." B'Elanna's smirk returned.
"Are you mocking me, Lieutenant?"
"Absolutely, don't stay up too late now, even Borgs need their beauty sleep." The engineer said while leaving sickbay, no longer feeling the need to examine the freezer. 'After all, tomorrow is another day.'
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Chapter 5
The night came and went, as did the following morning, and before anyone knew it, it was time. Time to awaken the mysterious sleeping beauty. Standing in sickbay were Seven, the Doctor, B'Elanna Torres, Captain Janeway, Tuvok, and two security guards placed off to the side, but armed and ready none the less. Now they just waited for the late appearance of Tom Paris, the EMH's nurse in most surgeries.
"Just another day in the Delta Quadrant, eh Captain?" Torres asked as she stood leaning against a biobed next to the formidable redhead, causing said redhead to burst out in controllable laughter. Not only was sickbay packed seeming much like a circus rather then a place of healing, just like any other day on Voyager during a crisis, but Torres never could do a proper old English accent. However, considering their guest and the occasion, somehow it seemed fitting that she would attempt to try the accent yet again. Too bad it still didn't quite sound right.
"Quite so, Lieutenant, quite so." Janeway answered in her, much, improved version of the English accent.
"So, is it time to get this party started or what?" Tom Paris asked as he swept into the room. Some rolled their eyes, other's huffed out in indignation, yet other's still raised their eyebrow while other's stood there impassive. And then one other whispered close to the Lieutenant's ear something about having a little chat later about punctuality and something else about demotion.
But as Mr. Paris had stated, it was time to get this 'party started', so the Doc began to organize his temporary assistants.
"Captain, if you would be so kind as to step over to that far console. I'll need you to monitor any environmental readings that might change or fluctuate within sickbay as well as disengage the forcefield and be prepared to bring up the forcefield in a moments notice."
"Right. I'm on it." Janeway said, oddly feeling a giddiness from being given orders and for once not being the one in control and ultimately responsible for the situation at the moment.
"Tom, I'll need you over to my right and back a bits. That console there is set to read the patient's vital signs. Once she is unfrozen, the console will most likely report many flatlines, which will be normal given the circumstances, however, if the vitals do not change after a specified time period the computer will let you know of the immanent danger, which you are then to report back to me. I'll be busy repairing the damage her body has sustained and trying to revive each of her organs one at a time so I won't have time to see which of her organs are in immediate danger of falling beyond revival times. Understand?"
"Got it, Doc." Tom replied back as he went to stand at his station.
"Good. Now for you, Ms. Torres, and you Seven of Nine. I believe you already know your jobs and what needs to take place. Let me remind you that once you have begun the defrostation period, time will be of the essence. The more time you take to hand her over to my care, the less time I will have to fully revive her systems."
"We understand Doc, let's just get this show on the road." Torres bristled not at all liking the fact that the Doctor was treating her like a five year old child who needed to be told things over and over again.
"Alright, then give me a few minutes to prepare my instruments and then you may begin."
"You mean to tell us Doctor," Seven began with a raise of her eyebrow. "That you are not prepared yet though we waited 7.9 minutes for Lt. Paris to arrive?"
"Alright, Seven." B'Elanna whispered while standing next to ex-drone, congratulating the blonde woman on sticking it real good to the Doc.
"Um, well, you see..." The Doctor was literally saved from further embarrassment when Ensign Kim called in over the comm.
"Go ahead Harry." The Captain answered the hail since it was addressed to her, while the EMH scurried off to prepare for the upcoming surgery.
"Captain, I just wanted to let you know that I adjusted the comm. badges and the computer to translate the old English language as well, so that when our guest awakens she'll be able to understand us and we her."
"Good work, Harry. Now you and Chakotay mind the store and keep me informed of anything new. Janeway out."
"Okay, B'Elanna, Seven, anytime you're ready." The Doctor said once he emerged from his office carrying a few vials and several hyposprays. The less formal use of names not going unnoticed by the other crewmembers. Apparently, the Doctor finally figured out that his higher than thou attitude was not cutting it this time around.
"Right, okay Seven, you grab the chemical and do your pouring thing while I'll see about cutting this girl out." B'Elanna ordered as she headed over to her tools, only to be stopped by a hand on her shoulder. One, which was removed after a deathly glare into ice colored eyes.
"On the contrary, Lt. I believe you should 'grab the chemical' and I will operate the tools necessary to remove the girl from her stasis tube." Seven contradicted. "I am more apt to handle these tools with the precision required to remove the frozen cryogenic fluid from her body and have superior strength which will aid in supporting this girl once she is freed from her confines."
'Uhoh, them's is fighten words.' Tom thought to himself, preparing himself to flea the scene if worse came to worse.
"On the contrary Seven," Torres nearly spat out as she got into the Borg's face. "I think we are equally matched when it comes to strength and any time you doubt that I'd be happy to correct your faulty assumption." Though the words were conversational in the way they were enunciated, Janeway knew that barely concealed anger and disgust were the emotions fueling the extremely sarcastic and heated remarks.
"That's enough ladies. Seven you take the chemical and B'Elanna the tools. Now let's get to work people." Janeway ordered and each woman complied, though there was an evil glint in each woman's eyes, letting the other know that this was not over. Seven absolutely hated it when B'Elanna tried to order her around. As the younger woman said earlier they were equal, in every respect, they complimented each other. Yet Seven was not treated as so. She was not listened to when requests were made nor when she gave her advice, instead she resorted to her superior attitude to get her thoughts and ideas across, knowing that it indeed pissed Torres off to appear smug, but it was the only way to garner her true attention and show that she was indeed equal, not superior yet not inferior either.
Seven grabbed the so-called chemical spray they were to use to melt the 'ice' while Torres grabbed hold of a large density laser torch to use to break away the more difficult piece of the frozen fluid and to expedite the time it took to defrost their guest. And so the arduous process of pouring and cutting and cutting and pouring began.
As each layer of the cryogenic fluid was peeled away, the face and body of the human girl could be made out more clearly. The scratches and bruises garnered from the fight she put up right before being frozen, were now evident on her arms and legs. And soon a hand was freed from the encasement and then more of the arm. The layers of frozen fluid became thinner and thinner till soon almost the entire body was open to the air. The face had been cleared of cryogenic fluid and now the legs and upper body only remained in case in a fine coating of the 'ice'. With time being of the essence, the Doctor hurried on. While Torres and Seven still struggled to free the girl from her imprisonment, he began administering the first of the hyposprays he had prepared. Each of which was a stimulant of some kind, used to awaken various organs within the body.
That's when one of the girl's hands twitched, nearly scaring B'Elanna out of her wits, and causing the rest of the crew present in the room to twitch as well watching the erratic movement.
"What's going on Doctor?" The Captain called out harshly from behind her console. She was not one for surprises, especially in an unknown and potentially dangerous situation.
"I gave her a muscle relaxant. Her muscles are twitching because they were pulled taut for so long and then suddenly relaxed. Nothing to worry about, it's normal. So far so good."
"Yeah, well, next time warn us, you dumber then dumb targ." B'Elanna cursed at the Doctor. Though she could handle surprises better then the Captain, that didn't mean that she liked it when suddenly a 'dead' hand began to twitch right next to where she was standing.
The Doctor nodded, while B'Elanna and Seven went back to work freeing her from the rest of the frozen liquid. The Doctor in the mean while picked up a vial from a nearby tray and began to force the girl's mouth open while explaining what he was doing.
"Now I'm administering a watered down liquid made up of some of the same components that Seven is using in her chemical to melt the liquid outside the body. There is also some of cryogenic fluid in 'her' lungs and I have to remove that before I can begin resuscitation. In a few minutes, I'll be administering another hypospray, which should start her heart pumping again and her breathing. This second vial I am now administering contains alcohol. The alcohol will help to get her blood flowing faster and also help to warm the inside of her body up while we do the same for the outside. Computer, raise ambient room temperature by 10 degrees." The computer beeped its acknowledgement of the completion of the order.
"Mr. Paris, what are her vitals?" The Doctor asked.
"Flat lines across the board, Doc. She's not breathing, her heart's stopped, and there are no brainwaves."
"Are her lungs clear yet?"
"Not yet, another 30 seconds." Paris answered the Doc's second question.
Looking back at his patient, the Doctor knew he only had but seconds before the brain damage and lack of oxygen proved too much to repair.
"Lt. Torres.."
"I know, almost have her free." Torres cut the Doctor's question off, knowing that time was running out. Now that her body was not being kept frozen by the 'ice' surrounding her the young girl only had but a few minutes at the most to be brought back to life. The raise in temperature was speeding the defrosting process up even more. Just a bit more laser cutting at the feet and she'd be fully free. But the Doctor couldn't wait any longer as the beeps in Tom Paris' console were making themselves heard above the commotion of the laser torch and frantic movement. He administered the stimulant.
Suddenly the body, which was standing upright only thanks to the hold that Seven had on her from behind, took in a staggering deep and wheezing breathe, eyes went wider still, as the young woman fought to breath her first breath in almost 200 years. And just as suddenly as the movement occurred, did the movement stop. The young girl slumped forward in Seven's arms, her head lulling to the side as her legs gave out weak from the muscle relaxant, no longer supporting any type of upright position. More beeps alerted everyone in the room that as soon as the young girl had taken her first breath did she once again stop breathing.
"Seven lay her on the biobed, quickly." The Doctor called, noticing that B'Elanna had finally freed her from her encasement. Now, she was to be encased in something else, namely the arms of the biobed as they swung up and around her torso to help regulate and keep her body alive. The Doctor worked frantically trying to revive the patient's brainwave activity and hopefully soon enough being able to get her breathing on her own again.
Several minutes passed by, as the shrill voice of the computer alarms informed them that they still were unsuccessful at saving this girl's life. No one in the room knew what the Doctor was doing, only seeing a flurry of movement on his part, and no one cared to interrupt him to ask.
Finally, the shrill constant beep of the computer, changed. Now it kept a rhythm, a rhythm that matched the beating of one very strong and willful heart. The EMH took a moment to turn around, a smile beaming from his lips, and nod to the rest of the crew present. It had worked, the girl was alive, breathing on her own, and Tom's computer console even detected brainwaves. But the Doc didn't take the time to explain anything to anyone. Though the girl was still alive, she was still in critical danger, not out of the woods yet, and would probably be that way for a few days to come.
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Chapter 6
It was the following day. One day, less than 24 hours had passed, since this girl without a name had been freed from her frozen imprisonment. The Doctor had called Captain Janeway down just before the alpha shift began in order to give her a brief update on the patient's current condition. Everything was fine. There was nothing but good news, which had surprised the Doctor some. The girl's recovery was going better then he had anticipated, her body and her body's systems were adapting to their normal function rather quickly and at this rate, she might just be walking out and about in two to three days max. Her healing ability was rather remarkable. But of course, that was expedited only by the Doctor's watchful and expert care.
"Thank you, Doctor for the update. Keep me informed." Kathryn Janeway said as she walked out of his office.
"Of course, Captain. But right now, I'll be running a few 'check-ups' on my systems while things are relatively quiet, and will be off-line for about 10 minutes." Janeway stopped just outside the office door when the Doc had mentioned going off-line.
"Do you want me to watch over your patient while you're off-line?" Kathryn asked as the Doctor sighed and rolled his holographic eyes, neither gesture necessary for a projection of light.
"Actually, I was trying to hint at, that even I, and subsequently you, need check-ups to keep ourselves healthy and in working order. No, the computer will monitor my patient and if any emergency shall occur while I am off-line, then the computer will alert me and stop my diagnostics. Good day, Captain." That's when the Doctor shut down his program before Janeway had a chance to set things straight. Taking a few calming breaths, Kathryn turned to leave but stopped abruptly when she noticed that the stranger's eyes were opened, dazedly looking around the room.
Janeway looked back to where the Doctor once stood and saw that he had not reappeared, which only meant that this might not be considered an emergency. So, she walked over to where the girl laid on a biobed. Pulling up a stool that the Doctor had left out for potential visitors, Kathryn sat down next to the still-out-of-it girl. Looking at the girl's deep even breathing and heavy eyelids, the Captain easily assumed that this girl was very much tired and probably only awake for the moment. But those dark eyes held some understanding in them, realizing that something was different, showing fear for not knowing when or where or even with whom, showing panic, pain, and weariness. All of which, Kathryn Janeway felt an immediate need to wash away, to comfort this human girl who had probably been more then her fair share of torment. But she knew that this girl would not fully understand what she was saying, not because of the difference in languages but rather because this girl was not yet fully cognizant, so instead of trying to relax, to comfort this girl using words, she reassured her through touch.
Kathryn took this stranger's hand in hers and just held it. Offering warmth, safety, comfort, through that one contact, which lasted only a few moments before the girl slipped back into sleep, she being content to rest and recover and trust this woman with the auburn hair and gray-blue eyes. Janeway stayed there for a few moments longer, wondering and contemplating what mysteries this girl held, until finally duty called and she had to return to the bridge for the beginning of her shift.
*****
Later that day B'Elanna Torres found Seven right where she knew she'd be, Astrometrics.
"Hey Seven." B'Elanna said as she walked into the cavernous room. The room highlighted by the monitors sitting on the dias by the front of the room, reaching from floor to ceiling.
"Lt. Torres." Seven calmly greeted back as she continued on with her work.
"Seven, say the word B'Elanna." Torres instructed as she came to lean against the console Seven was indeed busy working on.
"B'Elanna." The ex-Borg said with the most quizzical look on her face. 'Quite adorable', B'Elanna couldn't help but think. 'It takes away all that arrogance she's so used to sporting.'
"Just wanted to make sure you knew how to say it. I don't know how many times I've told you to call me B'Elanna and still you call me Lt."
"We are on duty, Lieutenant. That is proper protocol is it not?" Seven raised her eyebrow in a customary fashion, while trying to comprehend why B'Elanna wanted her to call her by her first name during their respective duty shifts.
"True but I'm also not the Captain, nor am I known for being a stickler for protocols. So, when we're alone like this, even though we are still on duty, you can still call me B'Elanna. Okay? I'd like it if you would." Torres nearly whispered that last sentence, surprised that she really would like it if Seven would call her B'Elanna instead of her rank. But what really shocked her was the brilliant smile that burst onto Seven's lips as a result of that last sentence. It was a smile that made her knees wobbly and her stomach flip flop. 'Gods she looks so beautiful when she smiles. She really needs to do that more often. 'I' need to make her do that more often.'
"Agreed, B'Elanna. However, I do believe that you had some reason for coming here to see me other then to see if I was able to properly pronounce your first name."
"Yep, sure did. Harry had done some of the computations you had given him and asked me to give them to you." Torres began but Seven's raised eyebrow showed that the lanky blonde doubted that reason. "Okay, okay, so I had asked Harry if I could deliver this to you. Here. I, uh, figured, since I'm handing this pad to you, that I could also come here and well sort of apologize for what I said or implied yesterday in sickbay. Sorry, I didn't mean to be so bossy." Though the last bit of that monologue was rushed and mumbled, Seven heard every word.
"You may tell the Captain that I accept your apology." And that statement had the odd effect of causing the half-Klingon to burst out in laughter.
"Damn it Borg, since when did standard Borg enhancements include telepathy? But seriously, the Captain may have suggested that I come down here and apologize for being bossy and hurting your feelings, she was after all, right. I did... do need to apologize for how I acted yesterday."
"Your apology is accepted." Seven simply stated, once again shocking the other woman. It still amazed the Klingon hybrid just how easily it was for Seven to accept an apology and offer forgiveness, not one for holding a grudge. It was a quality about the ex-drone that Torres really admired. "However," Seven continued. "May I ask why you are suddenly apologizing for a behavior you constantly engaged in with me prior to this occasion, when previously you have never apologized?"
"Well, I had a little chat with Janeway last night. I guess you could relate it to one of your philosophical discussions you so like to have with her. Anyway, we really got to talking and you seemed to be the topic of the night. The Captain made me realize that some of the things you do or say that really annoy me are caused by some of the things that I say or do that really hurt you. Ha! She had asked me how I like it when she bosses me around, not making a suggestion on how to work on a project but rather an order on how to do it. I told her that I honestly hated that and felt like all my expertise and knowledge was being doubted and discounted. Then she said, that that's exactly what I do with you sometimes. Perfect example was yesterday in sickbay when I told you to grab the chemical. It's just that sometimes, I feel like I have so much to prove when faced with your brilliance." B'Elanna hung her head at that last statement, voicing more of her deeper emotions then she had planned on.
"You have nothing to prove, Lieutenant. You, yourself, are a brilliant engineer. There are times I find that I.... envy your leaps of intuition. At times you are able to solve problems that my logic and vast amount of knowledge cannot. The Captain had at one time compared us as geniuses yet we are vastly different in how we think. I more logical and factual while you rely on your instincts and intuitions. However, despite that difference we are still 'geniuses'. And as we have come to see, we can complement each other very well in the work environment."
"Wow, thanks Seven for the compliment, I know you don't give those away like candy. It's a phrase, don't ask. But, while we're talking civilly and discussing our relationship, can I ask you why you pick fights with me? I gave you my reason and don't dare go and say that you do not pick fights, you do. There are times when you'll go behind my back or over my head and implement your procedures on Voyager without checking with me first, even though you know the policies. Or there were times when you would be so uncompromising, unwilling to see if we can work together, absolutely convinced that you were right. Why?"
"It is hard for me to talk about how I feel and what I think, I am still unaccustomed to my human emotions. As you know from what the Captain has told you, I feel... discarded when I am ignored and my suggestions discounted. It is then more efficient to implement procedures on my own. Also, I am convinced I am right simply because I am right. Various crewmembers view this as arrogance but it is not, I merely am correct in my data and understanding. There is no other way I know how to express this. However, there are other reasons I may provoke you into a fight. I find that I enjoy watching the various emotions play across your face. You are very expressive and can feel a variety of emotions that I may only experience on a smaller scale. I find that I envy that as well."
"You mean to tell me that you want to have aggressive tendencies that you can't control, a temper that gets you into more trouble then it's worth, and an unapproachable disposition that frightens almost everyone away?"
"No. Though I already have an 'unapproachable disposition' as you have said, I do not wish to have aggressive tendencies nor a temper but I wish to feel the strength of anger, sorrow, happiness, love, loyalty, accomplishment that you express so readily, so fiercely."
"And would you believe that sometimes I envy your coldness, your control over your emotions? Sometimes, I find myself wishing I had control over my temper instead of saying the first hot-tempered thing that comes to mind. I wish I had the same emotional control you have so that when things don't go right I won't get as frustrated or angered by the situation. I just wish I had your control."
"And I wish I had your lack of emotional control. But perhaps there is a medium we can find together."
"Perhaps we can help each other." Torres smiled at that last thought. It was true, she and Seven really did complement each other in everyway. Enough similarities to bring them together but more then enough differences to keep things fiery and interesting.
But this time it was Seven's turn to have her knees almost buckle from underneath her. For the first time she had known the half-Klingon, B'Elanna had graced her with a beautiful smile that not only touched her lips but also her eyes, causing them to shine brightly. Seven had the immediate urge to reach out and caress the caramel-colored skin in front of her, to rub the back of her hand across a soft, smooth cheek. But she squashed that desire, not sure of where it came from and not sure if it would be welcomed due to the tenuous friendship between her and B'Elanna. Little did she know that B'Elanna was also having some of the same feelings, wishing to reach out her hand and take Seven's hand in her own. A physical statement of the bond that seemed to be growing between the two women ever since the day they had decided to stop fighting and get to know the other.
"So, now that that's settled, what in the world did you have Harry working on? I tried to sneak a peek at the pad he had given me but it seemed like all gibberish to me." B'Elanna asked while trying to look over the blonde's shoulder and see what she was working on. Seven only smiled an indulgent smile, one a mother would give to her curious child, as she went back to work.
"It is the decoding algorhythms for translating the text file that derelict ship had sent Voyager. I am in the process of translating the text myself, since the computer was unable to due to degradation."
"Right, I remember you saying as much in the staff meeting. So how far have you gotten?"
"I have been able to decode minor pieces of the text but nothing substantial as of yet. Some of the text is too badly damaged to read, however, given a 96 hour time period I should be able to decode most of the text and the Captain can 'fill in the blanks' later on."
"Oh, sounds good. But maybe you should make that a 97 hour time period. I'm taking you to dinner tonight." B'Elanna said and got the expected raised eyebrow in return.
"Did you not just apologize for being 'bossy', Lieutenant?" Seven asked with the slightest of smirks letting Torres know that she was just teasing and didn't take offense to the 'order' to report for dinner.
"Yeah, but I have a thick head, takes a while for things to sink in."
"I see. Perhaps we should report to sickbay and have the Doctor remove some of those layers using the laser torch you would not allow me to use yesterday." And that made B'Elanna laugh.
"Oh, Seven, I had no idea you could be so deliciously evil." 'Oh Kahless, did I just say deliciously?'
"I am Borg." And B'Elanna was beginning to find out that that answered everything. 'Well at least she didn't catch on my slip.' Little did the chief engineer know, that the comment had sent chills up and down Seven's spine and that her retort was the only thing Seven could think to say in response, a common Seven phrase.
"1900 hours in the messhall?"
"Agreed."
"Good, see you then." And B'Elanna was gone, leaving Seven to her work and her constant thoughts of what was now happening between her and the chief of engineering.
Suddenly, Seven's head snapped up from her console. "She was flirting with me." Seven stated to the empty room. It was a thought that Seven found made her abdomen tingle and her lips smile. It was an odd feeling and one that would need to be researched, after the dinner.
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