A/N: I do not own Star Trek or Star Trek: Voyager. Constructive criticism is welcome.
Acts Chapter 2, verses 19-20.
I will show wonders in the heavens above
and signs in the earth below
blood and fire and billows of smoke.
The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
Captain's log, supplemental. We've been exchanging information with the alien for a few days now. But I'm starting to get nervous about this. We've done our best to accommodate our guest, as he is providing us with a great deal of important information-but I'm finding it harder and harder to trust him.
Most fascinating, exclaimed the alien. And you consider such reproductive practices…normal?
The Doctor's answer was cut off by the intercom. "Bridge to sickbay. Sorry to cut off your conversation, but we need to go to warp."
Understood, replied the alien. I hope we can continue this conversation soon. He relinquished control; Tom was back again.
"Send Mr. Paris to my ready room when he's able," continued Captain Janeway.
"On my way," Tom confirmed.
Within a few minutes, Tom was in the ready room. "You wanted to see me, Captain?"
Janeway turned to face him. "Are you familiar with the story of the Trojan Horse?"
"Very," replied Tom. "Greek Mythology's a required course at the Academy." He realized where the conversation was headed. "And you think this alien is like the Trojan Horse-that he's trying to undermine us in some way?"
"Sort of. You see, he's been asking some very…sensitive questions."
"Such as…?" It had been confirmed that the alien could only control Tom-he couldn't read his mind, and Tom was unaware of events as they happened on the outside.
"Such as standard shield frequencies, communication frequencies, whether a warp field can be collapsed remotely-and knowing his species, that's an especially touchy area."
Tom frowned. "Can a warp field be collapsed?"
"Yes," admitted Janeway. "Using an inverse graviton pulse. But we're not about to tell him that. We're lucky, though, that he doesn't have too much tact. He clumped most of those questions together-if he hadn't, we wouldn't have caught on." She picked up a padd from her desk and handed it to Tom. "This is the short list of sensitive questions he's asked."
Tom took the padd and scrolled through it. "This is a short list? I'd hate to see the long version."
"The worst part is we're not sure how long it is yet. Seven's compiling a list." She sighed, massaging her temples. "I'm really beginning to wonder if we should be giving this information away. On one hand, he could be planning a takeover of Voyager. On the other, he could be planning to give this technology away to a primitive species. Either possibility is something I simply can't allow."
"All right," agreed Tom. "So what do we do about it?"
"The Doctor thinks that activating the warp drive when he's in control could eject him from your body, provided you're as close to the warp core as we can manage." She paused. "It might be best to simply ask him to leave. If he doesn't, we'll do what we can. It's your choice, Tom."
Tom thought about it.
He didn't have to think for very long.
Voyager dropped out of warp.
In Engineering, the Doctor and a Security team were preparing for the alien's return. They weren't leaving much to chance-a level-10 force field was erected around Tom, and the security guards were armed with type-3 phaser rifles.
Not long after they were finished, the alien took control again. The Doctor stepped through the force field and greeted him.
He knew something was wrong immediately. Why have I been confined? he demanded.
"We've decided we can't exchange any more information with you," explained the Doctor. "Specifically, we're no longer sure we can trust you. You've asked a lot of questions about our technology-far too many."
The alien sounded angry. I will not leave. I do not know everything I need! I must have more knowledge!
The Doctor sighed. "I was afraid of that." He nodded to B'Elanna, who began working at a console.
What is she doing?
"She's initiating a new warp field," said the Doctor. "As you so helpfully explained, you won't be able to control Mr. Paris within one-and I'm certain that being so close to its origin will expel you from the Lieutenant."
What? No! The alien angrily swung at the Doctor, but he'd disabled his magnetic containment fields-the blow passed right through. He then lunged toward where B'Elanna was working-but the force field stopped him easily.
Then he stopped…and closed his eyes as if concentrating…
An alarm sounded. "Warning," the computer intoned. "Warp core breach in one minute."
B'Elanna worked at her console. "Antimatter containment's breaking down! I can't stop it!" She moved to another console. "I'm going to have to eject the core!"
The alien laughed…and then a security guard shot him.
Tom woke.
He opened his eyes, mostly to make sure he wasn't dead. "Am I in Sto-vo-kor?" he wondered aloud.
The Doctor appeared over him. "I'm afraid not." The Doctor helped him sit up. "How do you feel?"
Tom hesitated. "Not too bad, actually. What happened?"
"Your friend didn't take too kindly to being kicked out," he explained. "So, he tried to cause a warp core breach. Luckily, one of the security personnel shut down the force field and shot him before we had to eject the core. B'Elanna stopped it easily after that."
"But…we didn't get rid of him, did we?"
"No," admitted the Doctor. He planted a device on Tom's neck. "But this neural inhibitor should keep him from popping up again, should we have to drop out of warp."
Then, Voyager dropped out of warp. Tom could tell; the normal vibrations of the ship ceased. He tapped his commbadge. "Paris to Bridge. Why did we drop out of warp?"
"We've detected another transwarp signature," explained Janeway. "It's identical in every way to the one we picked up earlier. We might be able to get some help from them, even if they're not the same species as our guest. In the meantime, report to the bridge."
"On my way," replied Tom. In a few moments, he stepped from the turbolift…
Just in time to see another beam-this one much faster-seem to pierce the view screen and strike Captain Janeway.
The force of the impact drove her against the back of her chair. Chakotay jumped from his chair; then recovered and checked her vitals.
Suddenly, Janeway stood. She turned to face Chakotay, fixing him with an eerie, piercing stare.
Something spoke.
But this time, the Universal Translator picked up the language easily.
I greet you, spoke a very deep, but distinctly female, voice. I am seeking a criminal of my own species, who may be on this vessel.
Chakotay was taken aback, but only briefly. "He is," he said. "He took over that crewmember over there." He indicated Tom, who was still standing in front of the turbolift doors.
The alien walked over to Tom. You will come with me. We shall purge ourselves from these bodies and return to our home world, where you will atone for the crimes you have committed.
"Wait, wait!" he protested. "He's not in control right now." He gestured toward the neural inhibitor on his neck. "This is keeping him from controlling me."
She paused, staring at the device…
Then unceremoniously tore it from his neck.
Tom yelped. That hurt! His hand automatically leapt to the spot where the device had been. "You're supposed to turn it off first!" He pulled his hand away; there was no blood.
Chakotay jumped from his chair. "What are doing?" he demanded.
The alien turned and struck him across the face with her-or, rather, Janeway's-arm.
He fell to the floor, clutching his nose. It was broken. "Intruder alert!" he managed to order through the pain. "Sound general quarters!" The pain faded a little; he managed to look up.
The two were gone.
"Commander, they took the turbolift to Deck 10," reported Kim. "They're going for the main shuttle hangar." He waited a beat. "At least the translator's working." Nobody found that funny.
Chakotay stood up, stemming a nosebleed with the back of his hand. "Send a security team, armed with type-3 phasers."
"Too late," the ensign at the helm reported. "Unauthorized launch from main shuttle hangar…It's the Delta Flyer."
Chakotay turned to Tuvok. "Lock a tractor beam on them. Put the Flyer on screen." He watched as the craft was pulled inexorably towards Voyager.
Suddenly, the Flyer turned in the beam, and fired two torpedoes. Chakotay had seen that trick many times before. The tractor beam would speed the projectiles up, impeding the target's ability to respond. "Disengage the tractor beam!" he ordered. The damage was guaranteed…but… "Tuvok, disable their weapons and propulsion systems, then reengage the beam." The bridge rocked.
Tuvok followed Chakotay's order well. "Direct hit. Their weapons systems have been disabled." A beat. "I have successfully re-engaged the tractor beam."
"Open a channel." Tom's face appeared on the view screen. "I'm afraid you're out of options. Stand down."
The alien stared defiantly back, but did not resist.
A/N: Constructive criticism is welcome. Fake reviews from "new" users are not. To my second period class: If you're gonna leave a stupid, hateful, and completely random review, at least do it anonymously so I can delete it.
Also: I am having trouble deciding how Part Three will end. In fact, I have no idea how to start it properly. Suggestions are welcome.
