"Quadality"
A Star Trek: Voyager Novelette By Lal Soong
Part 1:
"Captain, I'm receiving a distress signal," Ensign Harry Kim reported from his station at Ops. "It's coming from a small craft approximately two light years away. Both their weapons and shields are inoperable." They're like the proverbial sitting duck, Harry thought. I hope they're not a decoy.
"Survivors?" Captain Janeway asked, standing from her center seat.
"I'm picking up twenty-seven life forms. Several are weak and unstable."
Turning toward her helms officer, Janeway asked, "Mr. Paris, how quickly can you get us there?"
"With current maximum warp speed...about six hours," the lieutenant replied as he verified this with engineering.
"Good. Set a course. Mr. Kim, send a subspace message to the craft." Janeway leaned back into her chair. "Tell them help is on the way."
"Aye Captain." Harry agreed with his captain's orders, but could not shake the feeling that they were flying into a trap. As he sent the message, he wondered if it would provide the survivors with the comfort of knowing help was on the way or serve as a warning to an undetected battle fleet.
Janeway shared a glance with her first officer and although he didn't speak, his expression clearly relayed his concern. They'd suffered at the hands of deceitful aliens too many times already.
"Tuvok, scan the area for any other spacecrafts," the captain ordered. "Let's prepare for all surprises, shall we?" Again glancing at Chakotay, Janeway accepted his nod of approval.
Kim let out an audible sigh of relief. Some times he felt as though the captain could read his mind. Shifting slightly in his seat, Paris turned to smirk in agreement with his friend. Everyone was relieved for the precaution. They were frequently encountering new species and since they'd ventured outside space familiar to their Telaxian guest, they had no way of gaining foreknowledge of anyone or any area.
I guess we can only wait, Harry thought, staring at the viewscreen. He felt like the scared child slowly opening the closet to the unknown monster.
"Aye Captain," the Vulcan security officer replied. "I am detecting no other crafts in the area. However, I will maintain a constant vigilance."
"Good." Janeway opened a commlink to engineering. "Janeway, to Lieutenant. Torres. We're heading toward a small craft sending out a distress signal. It's probably a legitimate cry for help, but we can never be too prepared. Conduct a level-one diagnostic. You have six hours to complete it."
"Understood," B'Elanna replied and immediately began delegating responsibilities. "Seven of Nine, I need you to calibrate the field generators."
"Aye Lieutenant," the former Borg responded and after grabbing the proper tools, she hastily begun the task. Watching her newest subordinate, B'Elanna remembered the doubts she had when Captain Janeway first assigned Seven of Nine to her engineering team. She felt nothing but confidence in Seven now.
With a smirk, B'Elanna secretly hoped that this detour wouldn't interfere with her plans this evening with Tom Paris. She didn't spend nearly as much time with him as she wanted. Although they had only recently begun a romantic involvement, B'Elanna felt ready to take their relationship further.
Nearing the small alien craft, Voyager cautiously continued to scan the area. " I'm picking up a transmission from the craft." Harry informed the captain. "Audio only."
"On speaker," Janeway ordered.
A choppy audio transmission came over the speakers. "To apparently-ching alien craft: We - dire need of your assistance. We have lost all engine pow- and -not contact - homeworld."
"Send a reply. Tell them that we will beam over two members of our crew to assist them."
"Aye Captain," Harry responded.
"Then I want you to join Lieutenant. Torres in transporter room one." Harry could barely suppress a smile. The opportunity to spend an away mission with B'Elanna- without any other crew members- He would cherish this. He remained ever the professional around her, afraid to tell her how he truly felt. I'm an idiot, he thought if I don't tell her soon, I'm going to lose her to someone like Tom Paris-if I'm not already too late.
Materializing inside the small engine room, Harry and B'Elanna were greeted by two short aliens with smooth angular facial features. "Thank you for coming." One said. "I am Captain Jarrek of the star cruiser Immibi 6, and this is my first officer, Barin. We've been stuck out here for three days after encountering some type of black cluster. Our sensors picked up nothing. It took us by surprise! If you help us, I assure you that the reward from our homeworld will be great."
Harry shared a nervous glance with B'Elanna and suspected she was thinking the same thing as him. Voyager could be vulnerable to this phenomenon. B'Elanna whipped out her tricorder to more accurately assess the nature of the damage.
"Where is your chief engineer?" she asked.
"Sadly, he and a few others did not survive the accident," Barin replied.
"Are there any other engineers on board?"
"His assistant is unconscious in sickbay."
Frustrated, B'Elanna said, "Can you at least show me the schematics of your engines?"
"Fortunately," the Immibi captain said, "our main computer did not sustain any damage. Follow me." He led them several meters across the room to a terminal. He accessed the needed files with his security code, then stepped aside to allow B'Elanna the chance to view them.
After a quick study of the layout, B'Elanna opened a passageway that led to the damaged area. The width and height allowed barely enough room for her and Harry to crawl through. "I'm right behind you, Maquis," Harry said, unable to stop the thought of how thrilling it was to follow the half-Klingon's behind.
The diagnosis did not take long. "The good news is that the repairs will not require more than two hours," B'Elanna said. "The bad news, Starfleet, is that Voyager only has one spare power transfer conduit."
"Is it even compatible with their technology?"
"With a few modifications, I believe so."
"Well, if we use ours, then we should be able to pick up another in trade when we reach their homeworld. Jarrek did say we would be rewarded."
"However, I am not entirely certain that the reverse is true." Harry fixed her with disbelief. "It may take quite some doing to manipulate one of their PTCs onto Voyager."
"If anybody could do it...you're the person for the job." Smooth talker, Harry, his inner voice chided him. "Besides, what are the odds that Voyager will ever suffer the same damage?" Even as he asked, he thought about the Ketodi and how Tom and B'Elanna had nearly died floating out in space a few weeks ago thanks to their helping a race in need.
"Slim. PTCs are designed to hold up, under normal circumstances, for a couple hundred years." She pressed her commbadge. "Torres to Voyager." She proceeded to explain her findings to the captain. After a long debate between the away team, Chakotay, and Tuvok, the captain handed down her decision. They were placing Voyager in minimal danger by aiding these aliens.
Though Harry still had some doubts, he followed the captain's orders without protest and enjoyed watching how easily B'Elanna made the configurations that enabled Federation technology to work with Immibi.
"We appreciate your help," Jarrek said after B'Elanna informed him of the repair's completion. "And to show you how much, we'd like to ask you to follow us to our homeworld where we may properly shower you with our appreciation."
"We'll have to discuss it with our captain first," B'Elanna replied. "But she seldom passes up the opportunity to gain additional resources."
A sly grin formed on the Immibi captain. What type of reward are they planning? Harry wondered. He'd seen Voyager fall prey to too many traps not to be suspicious.
B'Elanna tapped her commbadge. "Torres to Voyager. Two to beam over."
"Mr. Kim, tell the Immibi that we'd love to visit their homeworld," Janeway said once she'd listened to Harry and B'Elanna's story. They were inside the conference room with Tom, Tuvok, Chakotay, Neelix and Seven also present. She studied the looks of puzzlement around her. "We cannot just assume an ulterior motive here based on our past experiences."
"Exactly," B'Elanna agreed. "I did not perceive any hostility from them. They seemed genuinely grateful." Although the half-Klingon did not know why she felt so sure about the aliens' intent when she had so much trouble understanding her own motivation, she refused to show any doubts in front of the crew.
"Mr. Kim, do you concur?"
The ensign hesitated, sharing a nervous glance with B'Elanna. Holding her breath, B'Elanna asked herself why she felt anxious right now. Why does this matter so much to me? I've never expected more than a "thank you" as a reward before now.
"While I don't feel quite as certain as B'Elanna," Kim finally responded, "I have no reason to suspect the Immibi of trickery."
"Captain," Chakotay said, concerned, "are you suggesting we risk walking into a trap?"
"If they had wanted to trap us," Seven began, "they would have sent a fleet. Immibi 6 would have served only as a decoy." No one had to be reminded of her expert knowledge in sneak attacks.
Janeway steepled her fingers and favored her first officer with a wry smile "The Immibi are offering us much needed supplies. I don't believe we can afford to refuse their gesture."
"I think we can handle whatever surprises they spring at us," Paris said in his usual cocky, but loveable manner. B'Elanna smiled at him, unable to stop fathoming a surprise or two of her own for Mr. Paris. You're in a conference, lieutenant! she scolded herself. Concentrate on the problem!
"I do not share your blind optimism, Mr. Paris," Tuvok responded. "We must continually maintain our guard no matter how benign the situation may appear."
"Agreed," the captain said. "But I'm not going to change my mind. Match course with the Immibi. Let's see what rich resources they have available for us."
"I must confess my knowledge of the crews need for new dishes to sample," Neelix added with a nervous smile. "I appreciate everyone's attempts to spare my feelings, but-"
"Yes, Neelix," Janeway interjected, "I'm sure crew will enjoy new recipes. For now, everyone to their stations. Let's inform the Immibi that we have accepted their offer."
The eight member away team beamed onto the planet inside a large coliseum. The elegant muriels stained on the glass reminded Harry of one of the ancient Catholic churches back on Earth. However, this illusion was immediately dispelled by the numerous shelves throughout the hall, each containing stone figures setting on plaques. He wondered what they represented and whether the next plaque would belong to Voyager.
Swiftly, the hall filled with the natives. Harry recognized Jarrek and Barin leading the crowd. Their smiles seemed genuine, welcoming. Gently pushing them aside, a third Immibi asserted himself at the front of the crowd.
"I am Rahja," he said. I oversee this sect and wish to present your crew with gifts to show our gratitude." He walked up to Janeway, stared at her for a moment as though sizing her up and then moved on to Chakotay. One by one, he did this with each crew member until reaching Seven at the end. "You were once Borg." He brought his hand up to the implant above her eye, the one remaining reminder of her previous life.
Seven of Nine did not even flinch at the gesture. "Correct," she replied, "but I am now Human and fully capable of embracing my individuality."
Standing next to her, Harry fought against a lump in his throat. As he thought about her time so far reintegrating with a mostly Human crew, he realized how true her words were. He wasn't blind. He saw how she looked at him! Keep it together, Harry, he chided himself.
Rahja slowly made his way back toward the captain still studying each crew member intently along the way, and Harry couldn't help but feel as though they were being tested for something. Why is he behaving as though we're on trial? This time, he stopped in front of Paris. "Name your favorite activity."
"Off duty?" Tom asked, surprised. "A good game of pool... inside a holodeck recreation of a favorite bar back home...Sandrines."
"And do you play alone?"
Tom glanced at B'Elanna before answering. Harry saw how Tom smiled at her. He wasn't blind! "No, I have a few friends who join me."
Rahja nodded with approval. "Remember who your friends are in troubled times," he said enigmatically, then gestured to one of his followers. "We offer you seeds, so that you may have a great harvest. Who may we present these to?"
"I will accept them," Neelix replied, taking a step forward. He received the basket from the Immibi, glowing at the prospect of filling the hydroponics bay with new plant life. "And I will make the most delectable dishes from them."
Lifting his arm to gesture toward another of his people, Rahja announced, "Our second gift to you: a detailed map that will aid you in your next two years' journey. Who may we present this to?"
"As captain, I will graciously receive it," Janeway responded, and held her hand out for the small data padd. Keying it, she studied the layout with fascination.
Rahja brought his hands together. "As our third gift, we offer you a cargo of dilithium." The collective relief from the Voyager crew members was evident in their smiles. "We will have it beamed directly to your cargo bay. We also wish to replace the power transfer conduit you installed on Immibi 6 along with several other pieces of hardware you may find useful."
The captain fixed her first officer with a look that seemed to say, "See, I told you they were sincere." Harry was also relieved that he had been wrong to be suspicious. Janeway then turned back to Rahja. "Thank you so much for your generous gifts. We will use them wisely."
"But wait," Rahja replied with a smile. "We have not yet presented the most important gift of all."
"There's more?"
The click of a door opening and closing on the far end of the hall cued the crowd to part, making way for two young female Immibi wearing skimpy two-piece loin clothes. At first, Harry was sure the Immibi were going to offer these girls over as servants for the Voyager crew. Then he felt ridiculous in that assumption when he noticed they were each carrying a glimmering stone fastened to a gold chain. How could he not have immediately noticed it?
"This gift we present with gratitude to the two away team members who repaired Immibi 6," Rahja said. "They are phasing stones." The girls walked up to Harry and B'Elanna and the two bowed their heads to allow the girls to slip the chains around their necks.
"Phasing stones. What does that mean?" the captain asked, concern in her voice.
"These phasing stones offer the bearers the privilege of choosing their own reward."
"You mean they can just make a wish and it will come true," Paris said incredulous. "Hey Harry, now's your chance to be a hero. Wish Voyager back home."
"I'm afraid the stones don't work that way," the Immibi leader said. Funny, he didn't sound afraid, not even the least bit apologetic for this limitation, Harry thought. Or was he imagining this? "You see, there are certain rules that the natural laws of the stones dictate," Rahja continued.. "You cannot, for instance, wish yourself to a different location."
"My people believe that every stone, every object, has a story to tell," Chakotay interjected. "If we accept these stones, what history will they speak of?"
"They will not speak to you, commander." Rahja's tone sounded a bit acerbated. Harry fingered the stone around his neck as he listened and wondered if the stone would only speak to him. "The stones have the ability to shift the phase of reality." The Immibi leader had turned his back toward Chakotay, directing his speech at the captain. "In one phase a fruit may be red while in another... it is orange."
"You're talking about more than just a color change here," the captain inferred. "What are these stones capable of?"
Stepping closer to Janeway, Rahja responded, "They are only capable of interpreting and granting the bearer's wishes. There are three phases to the stones and they will only work together. In the first phase, the stones abide by the wishes of one; in the second phase, the other. However, the final phase requires complete accord between the bearers."
"That is a little too much like playing God for my taste," Janeway observed. "At the risk of sounding ungrateful, we'd rather not accept this particular gift."
"I'm afraid you already have."
Before Janeway could further argue, a beam enveloped the entire away team and a moment later, they found themselves back on the bridge of Voyager. Quickly regaining her composure, the captain ordered. "Hail them!"
"No response," Harry said as he keyed in the sequence. "There's some type of ionization interference."
"How many votes that it's artificial?" The captain swivelled, hands on hips, to address her chief of security. "Mr. Tuvok, do you perceive any threat?"
"None," the Vulcan replied after a moment. "There are no weapons aimed at us. The Immibi's gifts were beamed to our cargo bay as promised and our shields are still fully operational. In effect, they have kicked us out. They wish to have no more to do with us."
"Suggestions?"
"They haven't harmed us," Chakotay reminded her. "I think it would be best if we just graciously move on."
"I agree with the commander's assessment," Tuvok said.
After studying each of her subordinates carefully, Janeway said, "Very well. Let's proceed homeward. Mr. Paris, redirect our course toward home."
"Aye, Captain."
"Ensign Kim, Lieutenant Torres, I want to see you in my ready room."
Following the captain into her private room off the bridge, Harry anticipated the lecture he was about to receive. He and the chief engineer stood at attention before the captain's desk, while Janeway went around to sit in her chair.
"I want to make it perfectly clear to both of you that although we can't refuse this gift, neither of you are to attempt to use them. That is a direct order."
Harry brought his hand up to the stone still around his neck. Why did he feel as though it were choking him? When I return to my quarters, the first thing I'm going to do is remove the chain and put it somewhere I can forget about it, he decided.
"If you were to use the stones, the potential for a disastrous consequence is far too great. Have either of you ever heard the tale about the Monkey's Paw?"
"No," B'Elanna admitted. "There wasn't much time for fairy tales while I was growing up."
"It was supposed to grant the owner three wishes," Harry responded, "but it turned out to be a curse." A gruesome image of a dead son brought back to life after a mangling death made him shiver.
"Exactly. That's why I want both of you to abandon any thoughts of using the stones to better your lives. It could backfire on you."
"Be careful what you wish for," Harry agreed. "Don't worry, Captain. The last thing I want to do is turn my life upside down."
Eighteen hundred hours did not arrive soon enough for B'Elanna Torres. It had been a strange day, and she was determined not to let it spoil her evening. Returning to her quarters, she took a quick sonic shower and slipped into a casual blue dress. Before closing her closet, she removed the phasing stone from the top shelf and marveled at how quickly it shifted color to match her dress. She had removed it after the captain's little speech about how dangerous the stone's power could be. What would I have to wish for anyway? She asked herself. I have everything I want. She returned the stone to the top shelf. And I'm missing out on it just standing here contemplating what that damn stone has to offer!
She slipped on a comfortable pair of shoes and stepped out of her quarters. Holodeck Two was waiting for her and so was her date. When she entered the holodeck a couple minutes later, she found Sandrines already running and Tom Paris standing at the pool table, stick in hand.
"Well, hello," he said with a smirk. "Care for a game of pool?"
"Oh, I'd like to play pool!" she responded. "Computer, initiate entrance lock, authorization Torres beta-0-0-9.
Tom opened his mouth in surprise, but before he could speak, B'Elanna pounced on him, not afraid to show him her wilder side. The stick slipped out of his hand, clattering onto the floor. As they fell back onto the table, they sent balls rolling into the pockets. Clawing and biting at each other, their lips connecting and their hands exploring, neither stopped to question their propriety. Tom helped her out of the dress so he could play with her supple breasts. Moaning with pleasure, she grappled to return the gesture. Her fingers found the zipper of his uniform and he wiggled out of it as she unzipped. Their pleasure escalated as their fingers roamed bare skin, seeking out erogenous zones. "Oh Tom!" she gasped as she helped him slide his member inside her.
Harry was tired. He was ready for a quiet relaxing evening inside his quarters. Maybe he would practice his clarinet for a bit and then settle in for the night. That's why you're still alone, Harry, he chided himself. You don't earn the repetition of being a lady's man by spending all your free time in your quarters. But he didn't just want any lady. He wanted B'Elanna...
As he stepped into his quarters, someone said, "Hello Harry," before he could call for the lights. "I hope you don't mind my just stopping by."
"Computer, lights!" he exclaimed. The lights came up full to reveal Seven of Nine lying on his couch wearing a very revealing evening gown. She stood to saunter toward him. "Seven, how did you get in here? I had my security locks activated."
"While I may be embracing my humanity, Harry, I haven't forgotten my Borg technology. Overriding your lock..." she ran her hand gently across his chin. "...was easy."
Swallowing the lump forming in his throat, Harry tried to find his voice. "Seven, I find you very attractive, but-"
"But what, Harry?" She brought her mouth close to his and ran the tip of her tongue across her bottom lip. "You trying to say you don't want me? I don't believe you! I can see how you react when I draw close to you. Your heart is pounding...your temperature rising..."
"I just think we should get to know each other a little better first."
"I don't know how to know a person," she said, turning abruptly on him. "All I know-all I've ever known-is how to survive as one with the collective."
Harry was momentarily taken aback by Seven's abrupt mood swing until he realized she was reaching out to him the only way she knew how. Why me? He wondered. What does she find so appealing about me? Does she see me as safe? Safe, yes. Plain, dull, unimaginative Harry. Completely safe.
"I understand how you feel. Maybe if you talked with someone about this. I hear that Commander Chakotay is pretty good in the counselor capacity."
"I don't feel comfortable talking with Chakotay! I want you!"
"I'm sorry. Not in that way, Seven. Perhaps, you should leave now."
"Fine!" She brushed past him, aggressively knocking him off balance.
Harry no longer felt like playing his clarinet. He felt like having a stiff drink. Fortunately, he hadn't lost this week's replicator rations to Tom. As he ordered the glass of wine from his personal unit, he thought about his friend Tom and how he'd wanted to be more like Tom. Tom would have handled that situation better, he told himself. You're never going to get anywhere always turning them down! Face it, B'Elanna's out of your reach, Harry. So why not Seven? She's attractive, intelligent. So what if she was once Borg?
"I wish it were that simple," he said aloud and walked over to his dresser. Opening his top drawer, Harry pushed his clothing aside to uncover the stone. "Computer, locate Lieutenant Torres."
"Lieutenant Torres is in Holodeck Two."
"Is she alone?"
"Negative. Lieutenant Torres is with Lieutenant Paris."
Removing the phasing stone, Harry clutched it firmly in his hand.
"Well, that was an exciting game of pool," Tom said, his arm wrapped around B'Elanna's waist. They were still atop the pool table, sans clothing.
B'Elanna giggled. "I know how much you enjoy hot dates!" A long silence fell between them, and she glanced at him. "Tom?"
"Hmm?"
"I've been thinking a lot about the phasing stones. Do they really work as the Immibi claimed? I know the captain ordered Harry and I not to use them-"
"But that makes them all the more tempting?"
"Why is that? I have everything I need...everything I want." She turned on her side to gently run her finger across Tom's chin.
Suddenly, Tom pulled away from her and stepped off the pool table. "Get dressed," he said as he retrieved his discarded uniform. "There's only one way to settle this dilemma."
B'Elanna gasped. He wasn't implying that they attempt to use the stone! "Tom, I won't disobey the captain's direct order!"
"I'm not asking you to," he responded enigmatically.
Once inside her quarters, Tom said, "Get the stone for me."
"All right," she agreed, though reluctantly. She walked over to her closet.
Harry sat down on his sofa. Unclenching his hand, he stared at the stone. It nearly matched the color of his skin. Hadn't it been more of a gold color when he'd had it around his neck? "Do you have the power to save me from this miserable existence?" he asked of it.
Tom took the stone from B'Elanna. "Let's test whether the Immibi were lying or not," he said. "Take us home!" Nothing happened. "Guess they were telling the truth about that."
"Tom, stop!"
"What's it going to hurt? Do you really believe this rock has the power to alter reality?"
"I don't think we should take that chance!" She held her hand out to him. "Please, give it back to me."
"Why is B'Elanna so interested in Tom Paris?" Harry wondered aloud. "What is it about him that attracts women? If only I could be more like him. I only wish there were some way that B'Elanna could be mine."
"All right, maybe you're right," Tom relented and handed the stone back to B'Elanna.
Suddenly, the stone began to glow brightly. B'Elanna gasped as an unexpected pain rose up her abdomen. Clutching her waist, she toppled to the floor.
"B'Elanna!" Tom exclaimed, bending down to offer his support. "What's happening?"
"Pain! It hurts!"
As Tom helped her to her feet, they were both shocked by her distended belly.