Countermand: Illusions
By Voyager Queen
Before you read this you should really read…
1. Three Sisters: First Encounter
2. Three Sisters: Gathering
3. Around Every Corner
4. Countermand: Loyalties
If you don't… you'll probably be a little confused because this story takes place in an A.U.
* * Neelix's Ship * *
B'Elanna Torres was very frustrated and it took all her self control not to punch her hand through the nearest console.
She'd finally increased the warp output on Neelix's rust bucket and they were following Tom's already fading trail but it just seemed so hopeless. Tom's ship was faster than theirs with a head start of almost 10 hours. And she knew if he hadn't run into any unforeseen complications he would find Jurat soon.
Part of her knew that a rescue mission was unneeded, that Tom could take care of himself. The other part kept remembering him lying pale in the hospitable bed not so long ago and wanted to do whatever she could to bring him safely home.
She was also wondering why he hadn't told her what he was planning. If she had been in his place she would have asked him and he'd of helped her in a second. There was the small detail however that Tom wouldn't have tried to talk her out of it. He'd of been supportive, like always. She'd of tied him to the bed.
Sighing, she looked out the viewport. Tom was out there. For all the time she'd spent on Voyager looking at the uncharted stars, she'd never felt as lost as she did now, looking at the familiar Alpha Quadrant constellations.
* * Mars * *
A pair of brightly shined boots dropped down into the red dust. Vera's blond hair flying behind her as she backed away from the ship lifting off in front of her.
It hadn't been hard to find a ride to Mars. Valstany might not be equipped with Federation transports but it was full of mercenaries willing to do anything for a price.
As the ship broke orbit she turned and began to walk to the city. She knew that Tom and his little friend had probably already escaped the cellar. She hadn't expected it to hold them.
She was enjoying the prospect of running in an old fashioned rat race. As long as she wins, anyway. It hadn't been hard to locate Jurat.
There were only two Cardassians on Mars, and only one of them was male. He was shielding his lifesigns, but poorly. Granted a Starfleet ship coldn't have detected him. To her, it was child's play and she knew Tom could have done it just as easily. But then Tom was not your usual Starfleeter.
He knew things a good boy in gray shouldn't He knew tricks they don't teach at the Academy and she never was able to figure out where he'd learned them.
Sighing, she transformed herself into the Cardassian she had killed on Valstany and concealed her blaster. This was personal for her, too. She had no intention of returning Jurat to Bromia. She was going to kill him. Just as he had, had Kida killed.
Kida and Tom had been good friends to her. Despite how she'd treated Tom by locking him up she'd be out for revenge just as vigilantly if he had been the one killed. The Amnesty really did assign this mission to her. Giving her, her license to kill. T
But they wanted Jurat alive. And Vera wanted him dead.
Stepping into the borders of the city most every patron turned to glare at her. For a moment she wondered why. She'd forgotten she'd warped into a Cardassian. Ignoring the blaring eyes she made her way to her destination. It was time for Jurat to pay for his crimes.
With his life.
* * Valstany: The Bandit * *
Things were not going well for Tom and Harry. They had just reached The Bandit and were preparing for lift off when four plasma conduits burst. Simultaneously.
It didn't take a genius to figure out Vera most likely had something to do with their misfortune. 'Well that was fine. They could handle a few burst conduits. At least she hadn't destroyed the ship,' Harry thought.
"This is really bad, Har," Tom said dropping to one knee in front of one of the conduits.
"This is nothing, we can fix it in no time."
"That's the problem, Harry!" Tom shouted irritated.
"Am I missing something?"
"Vera is a highly trained spy. If this is all she did to stop us that means she didn't need much time, she's probably already reached Mars."
"Oh," Harry said. "What should we do, then?"
"Work as fast as we can and pray she makes a mistake."
* * Mars * *
Vera walked up to the rusty old door and knocked. Unsurprisingly, no one answered. Taking out the Bromian equivalent of a tricorder she used it to unlock the door. With one scaly finger she pushed it open.
Instantly she felt a phaser press against her chest and saw two glowing green eyes narrowed at her from the darkness.
"I want more money," she demanded without hesitation. Fully in character.
Jurat grabbed her by the collar and pulled her in slamming the door and switching on the light, he never let his phaser waver from it's aim on her.
"What are you doing here? I told you it was to dangerous to come."
Vera resisted the urge to smile, at least it seemed Jurat still needed the Cardassian she had warped into or she'd already be dead.
"I'm not afraid of a little danger, so long as I make a profit."
"Well did you complete you mission?"
"I destroyed the Canta Bell."
"So you aren't finished yet?"
Taking a risk, Vera continued the conversation, "No and I don't intend to be until I get more money."
"You're in no position to be making demands," Jurat growled. Keeping the phaser raised.
"Well, I make my own positions," Vera replied with a smile.
"I can easily acquire myself a new man," Jurat said.
"Can you?" Vera asked on a hunch. "You're pretty secluded here. We are the only Cardassians on the planet. Communications to Cardassia are monitored. Why don't you put away your phaser and we'll discuss my terms."
Jurat grudgingly put his phaser back in his holster, "Fine, what are these terms."
"I want 300,000 lairs for my toubles."
"We already agreed on 400,000," Jurat said suspiciously.
"Yes, and now I want 300,000 more."
"700,000 Cardassian lairs! Are you crazy!"
Seeing her chance Vera pulled out her blaster lightening fast, "Maybe I am crazy."
Jurat looked surprised, "If you kill me you won't get any of your money."
"I don't care about the money," Vera said before firing off a shot.
Jurat ducked and grabbed a chair from his small table, he launched it at her. The chair connected with her arm and sent the blaster across the room. Before she could recover Jurat had picked up the table and slammed it over her head.
Vera fell to the ground and Jurat ran out, not staying long enough to see Vera revert back to her true form.
* * The Bandit: On course for Mars * *
Tom and Harry had fixed the conduits and set out in record time. Tom still feared they'd be too late, the alternative to Vera killing Jurat wasn't appealing either, it meant Jurat could have killed Vera or she could be hurt.
He didn't blame her for leaving him and Harry in the dust, he'd of done the same to her, to protect her. And though he knew she'd never admit it, Vera had only been protecting him.
He sighed and leaned back in the pilots seat. He really didn't care if she killed the bastard, he had wanted to reserve the pleasure for himself but better Jurat than Vera. He'd already lost enough friends for a lifetime, he really didn't need to lose one more.
"Deep thoughts?" Harry asked casually.
Tom smiled, "Me? Deep? What do you think?"
Harry was smiling now, too. "Sorry, I never should have asked."
"Look Har, I was just thinking about Vera."
Harry winced, "Oh yes, the lovely Vera."
"You don't like her," Tom surmised.
"Like her! She killed that Cardassian and locked us up!"
"She is famous for her first impressions."
"She's a maniac!"
"She isn't so bad, Har. She was only doing her job. Bromians aren't part of the Federation, they play by a different set of rules."
Harry snorted, "That's for sure."
"You need to be more open minded about the ways of other species, Harry, you are in Starfleet."
"I am open minded!" Harry cried. "She killed a man!"
"A dangerous Cardassian criminal! A hit man! In her culture that's acceptable. Hell, James Bond killed men for lesser crimes."
"Whose James Bond?" Harry asked impatiently.
"Never mind, the point is Vera is an officer, just like us only she uses a blaster instead of a phaser set on stun."
"And you think that's alright?"
"Personally, I don't agree with it but I understand that Vera was raised to believer that was 'alright'."
Harry nodded, "I suppose but that doesn't mean I have to like her."
With a laugh Tom replied, "God Harry, you sound five years old! I'm not telling you that you have to like her. Just giver her a chance, huh?"
"Yea, alright."
"Good, we're almost to Mars so sit back tight. I'm going to land us manually."
"Manually?" Harry exclaimed.
"Don't worry, it's easier this way."
Rolling his eyes Harry quipped, "Only Tom Paris would say it's easier to fly on manual."
* * Mars * *
As predicted, Tom landed the Bandit onto the surface of the red planet flawlessly, and quickly began to search for Cardassian lifesigns. When he found none he furrowed his brow and ran a second check, this time for Bromian lifesigns.
It wasn't long before he found Vera, she was in a small motel on the outskirts of Mindayo, a popular city on Mars.
He quickly threw a phaser to Harry and grabbed one for himself before transporting them down to the coordinates.
It was a dank room. The chairs were overthrown and the small table was split in two on the floor. Two leather clad legs were visible from beneath it. Tom and Harry dropped to their knees and removed the table from atop her. As Tom placed his hands to her face to examine her head wound she began to come to.
Blurrily looking around Vera's eyes met Tom, "You again," she mumbled.
"What happened?" Tom asked.
"Oh, I messed up," Vera groaned.
"Come now, V, it couldn't have been that bad."
Sitting up with a pout Vera replied, "You can't even imagine."
Harry gawked at the two, bantering like longtime friends while Tom healed the cut on her head. Only a couple of hours ago she had aimed a gun on them and left them locked in a cellar with a corpse. Now what? They were all chummy again? Best friends. Sometimes he just didn't understand Tom Paris.
Tom helped pull Vera to her feet, she swayed slightly but quickly regained her balance, "I'm fine," she snapped pulling her arm out of Tom's grasp.
"Back to rivals again, are we?" Tom quipped.
"Sorry but we can't be buddy's right now, Tom. We have jobs to do."
"Why don't we team up?"
"We have different objectives," Vera said with a crooked smile, "We wouldn't want Starfleet's golden boy to be involved in a murder."
"Murder? I thought you were supposed to capture him alive."
"Well, he's going to run from me, he's going to try and escape and I'll have no choice but to use deadly force to stop him."
"So you are going to just kill him," Tom said.
Vera threw back her hair and stared at him defiantly, "My people will execute him anyway. I'll be doing him a favor. I'll make it quick."
"You sure you'll be able to get him at all, V? It seems the last round he turned the tables on you, pardon the pun."
Annoyed at their bickering, Harry finally spoke up, "Enough!" he yelled. Pulling out his phaser he aimed it at Vera. "We've talked enough, now if you don't mind, Tom and I will be leaving now."
Tom gave Harry an amused look, "I believe my partner is correct," Tom smiled as he followed Harry out the door. After he slammed the door he scrambled the lock expertly and transported Harry and himself back to their ship.
"Where do you think Jurat has gone?" Harry asked as he went into the cockpit behind Tom.
"I don't think he's gone anywhere."
"You think he's still on Mars!" Harry exclaimed.
"Think about it," Tom said as he did just that. "None of his men can get to him here and who would help a Cardassian? He's completely secluded."
"Then why didn't we detect him? I thought you could find anything."
"I noticed something when we were with Vera, the spot on her belt that holds her tricorder, it was empty. I didn't see it anywhere on the floor, if Jurat got a hold of it…"
"He could be using it to mask his lifesigns!" Harry cried triumphantly.
"Exactly," Tom agreed. "I ran all the Cardassian and Federation codes to uncover Cardassian lifesigns but I never thought to use Bromian codes."
"Do you know any Bromian codes?"
"Who do you think you're talking to?"
"Right. Of course you know them."
"Got him!" Tom shouted the second Harry finished his sentence.
"Right." Harry said again. "Let's go."
* * Jurat's motel room * *
"Arrggh!" Vera screamed. "Those idiots!" Tom had locked the door and she couldn't find her tricorder anywhere to unlock it.
She supposed this is how Tom and his friend had felt when she had locked they up, only worse. The small room had no windows or vents and the door was steel, but the walls…
Vera picked up a half of the table and swung it into the wall as hard as she could. The whole wall came crashing down with a thump and the crowd outside stared at Vera in shock.
She just smiled and stepped outside.
* * Neelix's ship * *
B'Elanna stared at the dreary planet in disgust. This is where Tom had been, a planet called Valstany. But they were too late, he'd been here and gone and now their ion trail was leading them back the way they'd come from.
She was beginning to get discouraged. By her nature, she was persistent but being involved with Tom Paris had put that persistence to the test time and again.
Her resolve to continue this so-called rescue mission was dwindling. If anyone could take care of himself it was Tom, which was weird since everyone who knew him got the urge to protect him. As it happens it usually works out the other way around.
Disheartened she almost told Neelix to set a course back to Earth. But B'Elanna was never one to give up…
"Follow the trail," B'Elanna shouted to the cockpit. She and Tom were soul mates. She didn't care if he could take care of himself. He was her life and she was going to protect him.
To be continued…
Who will find Jurat first, Vera or Tom and Harry? Will B'Elanna catch up to Tom? Or will she reach Mars too late…
By Voyager Queen
Before you read this you should really read…
1. Three Sisters: First Encounter
2. Three Sisters: Gathering
3. Around Every Corner
4. Countermand: Loyalties
If you don't… you'll probably be a little confused because this story takes place in an A.U.
* * Neelix's Ship * *
B'Elanna Torres was very frustrated and it took all her self control not to punch her hand through the nearest console.
She'd finally increased the warp output on Neelix's rust bucket and they were following Tom's already fading trail but it just seemed so hopeless. Tom's ship was faster than theirs with a head start of almost 10 hours. And she knew if he hadn't run into any unforeseen complications he would find Jurat soon.
Part of her knew that a rescue mission was unneeded, that Tom could take care of himself. The other part kept remembering him lying pale in the hospitable bed not so long ago and wanted to do whatever she could to bring him safely home.
She was also wondering why he hadn't told her what he was planning. If she had been in his place she would have asked him and he'd of helped her in a second. There was the small detail however that Tom wouldn't have tried to talk her out of it. He'd of been supportive, like always. She'd of tied him to the bed.
Sighing, she looked out the viewport. Tom was out there. For all the time she'd spent on Voyager looking at the uncharted stars, she'd never felt as lost as she did now, looking at the familiar Alpha Quadrant constellations.
* * Mars * *
A pair of brightly shined boots dropped down into the red dust. Vera's blond hair flying behind her as she backed away from the ship lifting off in front of her.
It hadn't been hard to find a ride to Mars. Valstany might not be equipped with Federation transports but it was full of mercenaries willing to do anything for a price.
As the ship broke orbit she turned and began to walk to the city. She knew that Tom and his little friend had probably already escaped the cellar. She hadn't expected it to hold them.
She was enjoying the prospect of running in an old fashioned rat race. As long as she wins, anyway. It hadn't been hard to locate Jurat.
There were only two Cardassians on Mars, and only one of them was male. He was shielding his lifesigns, but poorly. Granted a Starfleet ship coldn't have detected him. To her, it was child's play and she knew Tom could have done it just as easily. But then Tom was not your usual Starfleeter.
He knew things a good boy in gray shouldn't He knew tricks they don't teach at the Academy and she never was able to figure out where he'd learned them.
Sighing, she transformed herself into the Cardassian she had killed on Valstany and concealed her blaster. This was personal for her, too. She had no intention of returning Jurat to Bromia. She was going to kill him. Just as he had, had Kida killed.
Kida and Tom had been good friends to her. Despite how she'd treated Tom by locking him up she'd be out for revenge just as vigilantly if he had been the one killed. The Amnesty really did assign this mission to her. Giving her, her license to kill. T
But they wanted Jurat alive. And Vera wanted him dead.
Stepping into the borders of the city most every patron turned to glare at her. For a moment she wondered why. She'd forgotten she'd warped into a Cardassian. Ignoring the blaring eyes she made her way to her destination. It was time for Jurat to pay for his crimes.
With his life.
* * Valstany: The Bandit * *
Things were not going well for Tom and Harry. They had just reached The Bandit and were preparing for lift off when four plasma conduits burst. Simultaneously.
It didn't take a genius to figure out Vera most likely had something to do with their misfortune. 'Well that was fine. They could handle a few burst conduits. At least she hadn't destroyed the ship,' Harry thought.
"This is really bad, Har," Tom said dropping to one knee in front of one of the conduits.
"This is nothing, we can fix it in no time."
"That's the problem, Harry!" Tom shouted irritated.
"Am I missing something?"
"Vera is a highly trained spy. If this is all she did to stop us that means she didn't need much time, she's probably already reached Mars."
"Oh," Harry said. "What should we do, then?"
"Work as fast as we can and pray she makes a mistake."
* * Mars * *
Vera walked up to the rusty old door and knocked. Unsurprisingly, no one answered. Taking out the Bromian equivalent of a tricorder she used it to unlock the door. With one scaly finger she pushed it open.
Instantly she felt a phaser press against her chest and saw two glowing green eyes narrowed at her from the darkness.
"I want more money," she demanded without hesitation. Fully in character.
Jurat grabbed her by the collar and pulled her in slamming the door and switching on the light, he never let his phaser waver from it's aim on her.
"What are you doing here? I told you it was to dangerous to come."
Vera resisted the urge to smile, at least it seemed Jurat still needed the Cardassian she had warped into or she'd already be dead.
"I'm not afraid of a little danger, so long as I make a profit."
"Well did you complete you mission?"
"I destroyed the Canta Bell."
"So you aren't finished yet?"
Taking a risk, Vera continued the conversation, "No and I don't intend to be until I get more money."
"You're in no position to be making demands," Jurat growled. Keeping the phaser raised.
"Well, I make my own positions," Vera replied with a smile.
"I can easily acquire myself a new man," Jurat said.
"Can you?" Vera asked on a hunch. "You're pretty secluded here. We are the only Cardassians on the planet. Communications to Cardassia are monitored. Why don't you put away your phaser and we'll discuss my terms."
Jurat grudgingly put his phaser back in his holster, "Fine, what are these terms."
"I want 300,000 lairs for my toubles."
"We already agreed on 400,000," Jurat said suspiciously.
"Yes, and now I want 300,000 more."
"700,000 Cardassian lairs! Are you crazy!"
Seeing her chance Vera pulled out her blaster lightening fast, "Maybe I am crazy."
Jurat looked surprised, "If you kill me you won't get any of your money."
"I don't care about the money," Vera said before firing off a shot.
Jurat ducked and grabbed a chair from his small table, he launched it at her. The chair connected with her arm and sent the blaster across the room. Before she could recover Jurat had picked up the table and slammed it over her head.
Vera fell to the ground and Jurat ran out, not staying long enough to see Vera revert back to her true form.
* * The Bandit: On course for Mars * *
Tom and Harry had fixed the conduits and set out in record time. Tom still feared they'd be too late, the alternative to Vera killing Jurat wasn't appealing either, it meant Jurat could have killed Vera or she could be hurt.
He didn't blame her for leaving him and Harry in the dust, he'd of done the same to her, to protect her. And though he knew she'd never admit it, Vera had only been protecting him.
He sighed and leaned back in the pilots seat. He really didn't care if she killed the bastard, he had wanted to reserve the pleasure for himself but better Jurat than Vera. He'd already lost enough friends for a lifetime, he really didn't need to lose one more.
"Deep thoughts?" Harry asked casually.
Tom smiled, "Me? Deep? What do you think?"
Harry was smiling now, too. "Sorry, I never should have asked."
"Look Har, I was just thinking about Vera."
Harry winced, "Oh yes, the lovely Vera."
"You don't like her," Tom surmised.
"Like her! She killed that Cardassian and locked us up!"
"She is famous for her first impressions."
"She's a maniac!"
"She isn't so bad, Har. She was only doing her job. Bromians aren't part of the Federation, they play by a different set of rules."
Harry snorted, "That's for sure."
"You need to be more open minded about the ways of other species, Harry, you are in Starfleet."
"I am open minded!" Harry cried. "She killed a man!"
"A dangerous Cardassian criminal! A hit man! In her culture that's acceptable. Hell, James Bond killed men for lesser crimes."
"Whose James Bond?" Harry asked impatiently.
"Never mind, the point is Vera is an officer, just like us only she uses a blaster instead of a phaser set on stun."
"And you think that's alright?"
"Personally, I don't agree with it but I understand that Vera was raised to believer that was 'alright'."
Harry nodded, "I suppose but that doesn't mean I have to like her."
With a laugh Tom replied, "God Harry, you sound five years old! I'm not telling you that you have to like her. Just giver her a chance, huh?"
"Yea, alright."
"Good, we're almost to Mars so sit back tight. I'm going to land us manually."
"Manually?" Harry exclaimed.
"Don't worry, it's easier this way."
Rolling his eyes Harry quipped, "Only Tom Paris would say it's easier to fly on manual."
* * Mars * *
As predicted, Tom landed the Bandit onto the surface of the red planet flawlessly, and quickly began to search for Cardassian lifesigns. When he found none he furrowed his brow and ran a second check, this time for Bromian lifesigns.
It wasn't long before he found Vera, she was in a small motel on the outskirts of Mindayo, a popular city on Mars.
He quickly threw a phaser to Harry and grabbed one for himself before transporting them down to the coordinates.
It was a dank room. The chairs were overthrown and the small table was split in two on the floor. Two leather clad legs were visible from beneath it. Tom and Harry dropped to their knees and removed the table from atop her. As Tom placed his hands to her face to examine her head wound she began to come to.
Blurrily looking around Vera's eyes met Tom, "You again," she mumbled.
"What happened?" Tom asked.
"Oh, I messed up," Vera groaned.
"Come now, V, it couldn't have been that bad."
Sitting up with a pout Vera replied, "You can't even imagine."
Harry gawked at the two, bantering like longtime friends while Tom healed the cut on her head. Only a couple of hours ago she had aimed a gun on them and left them locked in a cellar with a corpse. Now what? They were all chummy again? Best friends. Sometimes he just didn't understand Tom Paris.
Tom helped pull Vera to her feet, she swayed slightly but quickly regained her balance, "I'm fine," she snapped pulling her arm out of Tom's grasp.
"Back to rivals again, are we?" Tom quipped.
"Sorry but we can't be buddy's right now, Tom. We have jobs to do."
"Why don't we team up?"
"We have different objectives," Vera said with a crooked smile, "We wouldn't want Starfleet's golden boy to be involved in a murder."
"Murder? I thought you were supposed to capture him alive."
"Well, he's going to run from me, he's going to try and escape and I'll have no choice but to use deadly force to stop him."
"So you are going to just kill him," Tom said.
Vera threw back her hair and stared at him defiantly, "My people will execute him anyway. I'll be doing him a favor. I'll make it quick."
"You sure you'll be able to get him at all, V? It seems the last round he turned the tables on you, pardon the pun."
Annoyed at their bickering, Harry finally spoke up, "Enough!" he yelled. Pulling out his phaser he aimed it at Vera. "We've talked enough, now if you don't mind, Tom and I will be leaving now."
Tom gave Harry an amused look, "I believe my partner is correct," Tom smiled as he followed Harry out the door. After he slammed the door he scrambled the lock expertly and transported Harry and himself back to their ship.
"Where do you think Jurat has gone?" Harry asked as he went into the cockpit behind Tom.
"I don't think he's gone anywhere."
"You think he's still on Mars!" Harry exclaimed.
"Think about it," Tom said as he did just that. "None of his men can get to him here and who would help a Cardassian? He's completely secluded."
"Then why didn't we detect him? I thought you could find anything."
"I noticed something when we were with Vera, the spot on her belt that holds her tricorder, it was empty. I didn't see it anywhere on the floor, if Jurat got a hold of it…"
"He could be using it to mask his lifesigns!" Harry cried triumphantly.
"Exactly," Tom agreed. "I ran all the Cardassian and Federation codes to uncover Cardassian lifesigns but I never thought to use Bromian codes."
"Do you know any Bromian codes?"
"Who do you think you're talking to?"
"Right. Of course you know them."
"Got him!" Tom shouted the second Harry finished his sentence.
"Right." Harry said again. "Let's go."
* * Jurat's motel room * *
"Arrggh!" Vera screamed. "Those idiots!" Tom had locked the door and she couldn't find her tricorder anywhere to unlock it.
She supposed this is how Tom and his friend had felt when she had locked they up, only worse. The small room had no windows or vents and the door was steel, but the walls…
Vera picked up a half of the table and swung it into the wall as hard as she could. The whole wall came crashing down with a thump and the crowd outside stared at Vera in shock.
She just smiled and stepped outside.
* * Neelix's ship * *
B'Elanna stared at the dreary planet in disgust. This is where Tom had been, a planet called Valstany. But they were too late, he'd been here and gone and now their ion trail was leading them back the way they'd come from.
She was beginning to get discouraged. By her nature, she was persistent but being involved with Tom Paris had put that persistence to the test time and again.
Her resolve to continue this so-called rescue mission was dwindling. If anyone could take care of himself it was Tom, which was weird since everyone who knew him got the urge to protect him. As it happens it usually works out the other way around.
Disheartened she almost told Neelix to set a course back to Earth. But B'Elanna was never one to give up…
"Follow the trail," B'Elanna shouted to the cockpit. She and Tom were soul mates. She didn't care if he could take care of himself. He was her life and she was going to protect him.
To be continued…
Who will find Jurat first, Vera or Tom and Harry? Will B'Elanna catch up to Tom? Or will she reach Mars too late…
