Into the Night
A Below Decks Story
By Christina

Act 1

Space
Three days after leaving New Hope

Jenny handed the morning astrometrics report to Commander Chakotay, then turned to leave the noted that Captain Laral sat at the helm, with a patient-sounding-Tom stood behind her..

"I'll have to do that," Jenny heard Tom say.

"I expect you still don't understand," Laral answered. "Vordai Space Defense regulations are quite specific about this. I must have complete helm control at all times within five kilometers of the dock until we are moored. Piramontoy Station is a military base. Voyager may have been granted special status, but you still must follow all regulations. Including an authorized member of VSD in command of the ship. So, I'll need access to those controls."

Jenny watched as Janeway seemingly reluctantly nodded her head, then Tom assigned Laral the necessary access codes. Her shift was over, and it was time to eat.

"Hello, Jenny," Megan said as Jenny entered the mess hall. "Has he killed her yet?"

"Tom? No. Give him time, we've only been in space for two days."

"I heard that Laral called him a sprolak, whatever that is."

"I heard. Harry said it was a jellyfish like organism found in the Minenne seas."

"Ouch. Try the bristle pastry." Megan said as she finished ladling the gruel into her bowl.

Jenny smiled. The bristle pastry resembled apple strudel. She hoped it tasted as good. She picked a medium sized piece to go along with her sandwich. "You babysitting Miral tonight?"

Megan nodded. "Yep, it's my turn. I'm going to read 'The Hobbit' to her."

Jenny laughed. "Meg, she won't understand a word."

"Yes she will, She just won't know that she does. Anyway, ever since Harry gave a copy to the Pozjan I've wanted to reread it." The two sisters laughed. "And it beats, 'Rivers of Blood.'"

"It wasn't my copy. I swear. I returned it to Naomi." Jenny raised her right hand to show she was telling the truth. "The story was too predictable. By the way, Jamie was in astrometrics earlier. She's still riding a horse in the Olympics." Jenny had to laugh at how frustrated Jamie McMinn was with that horse.

"I thought she'd deleted that program?"

"Not well enough. Tom recovered it. She's threatened to make her mount a goat."

"Jamie and the goat." Megan cocked her head. "Have they set a date yet for the games?"

"I haven't heard a specific date. Probably after we settle into a routine. We're definitely going to miss our brother's graduation, again." Jenny smiled at the thought of their baby brother who would be receiving his PhD this summer.

"We can't break with tradition-he might not recover." Megan waved. "Ayala, over here!"

Ayala smiled as stopped at their table. "Morning. I'm on my way to the bridge."

"I thought you had the morning off?" Megan asked.

"So did I. But Commander Tuvok wants me to reassess computer security. It seems the Vordai Captain is to be given access to some critical areas."

"Ahhh. I know she's supposed to take us into the space dock, but isn't this getting ridiculous?" Megan asked.

"The Vordai didn't have to let us use their military facilities. It was the best way to get us off the planet. We can live with three weeks of stricter military rules. They did send us their best port-captain..."

"And who told you that?" Jenny asked, even though she had a pretty good idea of the answer.

"Why, Captain Laral, of course." He took a quick sip from his cup. "And then we have to coordinate with the Vordai Base Patrol on security. You should see the stack of rules and regs we're going to have to follow. I need to be going."

"I've seen some of them," Jenny said to her sister. "Astrometrics and all external scanning equipment are to be shut down." Jenny picked up the bristle pastry and took a bite. She grimaced, and managed not to spit it out. "Megan," her voice carried a threat.

Megan laughed. "Jenny. It's a Vordai delicacy. Neelix is fascinated with their cuisine."

"How many replicator rations do I have?" She took several sips of water and swished it around in her mouth. "After this, I'll never complain about leola root again."

"Fortunately there is no more of that, but we need to get going. Hugh will be furious if we are late for rehearsal."

Jenny glanced away quickly. "I'm going to skip the rehearsal. I can do the costumes without being there."

"Jen, you can't avoid him forever."

"I can during my off-time. You'd better get going."

"Perhaps some day you'll tell me just what you did to Hugh," Megan said as she stood.

"Nothing, absolutely nothing. All we had was one lousy date. And I do mean lousy," Jenny whispered for herself. Megan was already gone.


Hugh Murphy thumbed through his script as his actors started to gather. Kashimuro and Megan's laughter brought his attention back to the stage. "We'll start with act-four scene-three. I'd like everyone to have their lines memorized by Monday. Kashi?"

"Hey," Kashimuro said. "I have act one done."

Hugh laughed. "Excellent, considering your first appearance is in act two." He clapped his hands. "Places everyone. I'd like to get through act five this morning." He smiled as the players stumbled their way through the scene. It had been years since he'd been involved in a theater production. He'd forgotten just how impossible the first few rehearsals could be. And frustrating. This was just the third time they'd rehearsed this scene. But he wasn't worried, it would come together eventually.

"Hello Hugh," Susan said as she approached. "Harry and I were wondering-" she continued in a whisper, "-when you wanted the music?"

"Thursday's rehearsal. How's it going?"

Susan laughed. "Well, Harry learned the recorder well enough, but he really isn't fond of crumhorns."

"You heard about the performance for the Vordai military brass in three weeks? The night before our departure, it's going to be tight."

"Cutting it close, but we'll be ready. I just hope the Vordai aren't expecting a religious drama."

Hugh closed his eyes. "I'm not going to live that down."

"No, Hugh, you are not." Susan smiled. "Thursday it is then. By the way, what happened with you and Jenny? I heard you two broke up."

Hugh shook his head in exasperation at the 'efficiency' of the ship's rumor mill. "We didn't break up. We never-"

"Oh, you're still together?" interrupted Susan. "That's good to hear." She patted him on the shoulder and left.

Hugh watched her go. "Because we never were a couple," he finished to himself. "It was just one date. One." He took a moment to regain his composure before turning his attention back to his actors. He hoped he could get through the rest of this production without any more questions about Jenny, or their 'relationship.'


Joe glanced around the mess hall. Another full house. He debated taking the tray back to his quarters, but decided against it. He wanted a break from the numbers he'd been studying. He looked around again. There were a couple of empty seats. He picked the closest.

"Hello Joe," Lora Jenkins said as he sat. "I hope your day went better than mine." Jamie McMinn grinned at her comment.

"Let me guess, you are both getting off from a long, tough bridge duty?"

"Oh, yeah," Lora replied. "It was too long. *Captain Laral* flew the ship."

"I didn't notice. She must've done okay."

"She's not bad-as a pilot. She decided to ignore Harry and made some interesting course corrections. And..." Lora shook her head. "It's only been three days, and...and..."

Jamie laughed. "I think what Lora is trying not to say, is she hopes the Vordai Captain remains with alpha shift for the rest of the trip."

"I see," Joe said. "It's just another three more days..."

Both Jamie and Lora sighed. "I can't wait-but she'll be back when we leave," Lora said.

"Only for two days, the test flight and our actual departure...She can't afford to waste any more time with us," Jamie added. "We're delaying her rotation back to Vordai Prime."

"Look who just walked in," Jamie remarked as she pointed toward the door.

Lora closed her eyes. "And she's with Janeway. I'd better leave." She started to stand. "I don't think I can remain polite if Laral says anything but good afternoon to me."

Jamie shook her head. "Don't be so harsh, that Grevel-Ash woman with us during Prixin turned out to be okay."

Joe smiled. "She at least tried to understand us. All Laral does is criticize us. Plus having Laral on board makes it difficult for us to do the simulation runs.""

"I'm sorry, she was with us all shift," Lora said.

"I understand, believe me. I'll see if they can try to get in some of the simulation runs during alpha shift. She must sleep sometime."

Jamie gritted her teeth, and a quick jerk of her head warned Joe that it was time to change the subject. "The warp core was vibrating again."

"So I heard. We'll be able to repair it in dock. Good morning Captain Janeway."

"Lieutenant, Ensign. The mess hall is crowded today," Janeway said.

"Aye, Captain," Joe replied. "Neelix and Sarexa are doing an excellent job." He glanced at Jamie who nodded. "We're just about finished here, Captain. If you would like our seats..." They both stood, picking up their trays. "Please excuse us."

"Thank you, lieutenant." Janeway motioned for Laral to sit.

"She didn't say anything," Jamie whispered as they dumped their trays in the recyclers.

Joe chuckled, "What's she going to say? Chide us for our decadent eating facilities, or tell us that replicators are an unnecessary luxury? Did you notice what she is eating?" He calculated that at the rate she was going, Laral would run out of replicator rations very soon.

"I tried not to. Fortunately for us, however, Sarexa suggested Neelix stop experimenting with Vordai food."


Act 2:

Piramontoy Station
6 days after leaving New Hope

Jenny glanced around the bridge, wondering just how she'd managed to draw this duty on this day. She may have volunteered to be cross-trained in tactical, but right now she wished she was elsewhere. Tom sat down at the helm with a shrug.

Janeway whispered something to Chakotay. Then faced the rear of the bridge. "Tactical?"

Jenny glanced down at the console, even though she already knew what to say. "All systems standing by. Lieutenant Kim is in engineering, prepared to shut down external sensors and weapons on your command."

"That would be at my command," Captain Laral said as she entered. Tom stood quickly. "Captain Janeway, I need command of Voyager," Laral said as she sat at the helm. Jenny cringed at the Vordai Captain's tone.

"Computer," Janeway said. "Authorization Janeway pi-zero two three omega. Command of Voyager is temporarily turned over to Captain Laral." She nodded toward Chakotay, who seconded the order. The computer beeped, and acknowledged.

Jenny entered a few commands into her console and changed her mind about wanting to be elsewhere. The approaching station was definitely intriguing.

"Coordinates set," Laral said. "Open communications."

"Hailing frequency open," Jenny said.

"Piramontoy Station, this Captain Laral, authorization felor-toe-kay-fumf, requesting permission to enter Piramontoy space."

There was a huge crackle, then a high pitched voice answered, "Permission granted. Proceed on heading one-two four point five, entry gate three. Piramontoy Station out."

Jenny watched her console as Laral entered the data into the computer. She nodded quickly when Tuvok looked at her. So far, there was nothing suspicious. The coordinates did take them toward the large space station.

"Course laid in. Proceeding at impulse," Laral said. "ETA in five minutes."

Jenny had seen the image in astrometrics, but Piramontoy Station was even more impressive on screen. Huge, spherical, and pale blue. It could swallow a hundred Voyagers and still have room for a couple of Galaxy Class ships. She noted that everyone on the bridge was studying the structure. "Impressive," Janeway said.

"It's the finest facility in the system," Laral said with pride. "As well as the oldest."

"The only nice thing-" Tom whispered as he moved to stand by Jenny. "-she says, and it's about that."

Jenny smiled. "She did like Neelix's dessert last night."

"I missed that," Tom answered. "Miral and I spent the evening reading and watching TV."

"I've never figured out what's so great with TV. I prefer the holodeck."

"So do I, actually."

Jenny shrugged. "Tom, have you tried talking to her?"

He shook his head. "She's always busy on the bridge or in her quarters."

"You might give it a try. You're both pilots. Wow." The incoming data was fascinating. "I'm getting some interesting readings from the sphere." She sent the information to Janeway's console. Once they entered the sphere, all external scanners were to be shut off. Tom also found the data interesting.

"She needs a special license fly into that?" Tom asked. Despite the flippant tone, Jenny heard a certain amount of awe.

"Curious, it looks like the station consists of several layers."

"That is correct, Lieutenant Paris," Laral said. "And that is why it requires a specially trained and experienced pilot to fly a craft in or out of the station. In just a minute, it will become even more obvious."

"Oops," Jenny said with a laugh. Despite whispering, Laral had overheard their conversation. Voyager had come to a stop and great doors were opening. She could see inside. What there was to see anyway-was what looked to be a second sphere.

"Scanners and weapons are now off line," Laral said. Jenny's console flashed, then went blank. "Piramontoy Station, this is Voyager. We have entered the first shell. Prepare to engage automatic beacons."

"Automatic beacons are online. Welcome home Captain Laral. Please advise Voyager's captain that form 437 needs to be filled out and entered into our system before we can begin tie-down."

Jenny watched the screen fascinated at the maze of openings and tunnels. Tom whistled softly as the made a particularly tight turn.

"I'll have to design a holoprogram so I can try this," he whispered.

"You admitting she's good?" Jenny asked as they entered the central space.

"I never denied that. Look at this place." She did. They were surrounded by a well lit interior: six ships of about Voyager's size and a number of smaller ones were moored.

Laral glanced behind her. "Captain, if you would transmit the necessary clearances."

Janeway nodded. Jenny returned her attention to the screen and the large bay they were heading for.

"This is Docking bay three to Voyager, please begin docking procedures. Tractor beams are ready at your signal."

"Understood," Laral said. "Cutting all engines. Engage tractor beams."

"That's cheating," Tom whispered, then whistled as Voyager began moving toward the mooring. The fit was tight, and Jenny gritted her teeth, waiting for the sound of Voyager scraping the sides.

"Welcome to Piramontoy. Once we initiate the airlock connections, we need to meet with your security staff. Colonel Staraop out."

Laral stood. ""I shall see you again shortly before you are due to depart, in three of your weeks. Until then, Captain Janeway, enjoy your stay."

Tom took a deep breath when the lift doors had shut behind her. "So, we do each get two days of R&R?"

"I can't wait," Harry replied.

"Captain," Chakotay said as he slapped his forehead. "I forgot all about the crew shoreleave. The paperwork is sitting on my desk." At this point, Jenny laughed when she saw the Commander wink. "I need to fill out form 1724 for each crewmember."

Tom chuckled. "Very funny, Commander, except B'Elanna told me you submitted them yesterday."

"See, Chakotay," Janeway said. "It's a small ship. It's impossible to keep a secret around here."

Tom winced. "Understood, Captain."

"What was that about," Jenny asked as she filed her log. The last sensor readings were the most they would get of this station.

"Oh nothing..."

"Nothing?"

"Nothing," Tom responded with some finality. Jenny decided not to press the issue, but she wondered if it had something to do with the exchanges of replicator rations a few months back. She smiled as she watched Chakotay grasp and quickly let go of the Janeway's hand.