Captain's log: It's been a week since the flooding has started. The crew is still split between the front and back of the ship because the Doctor has made himself a forcefield to block the is tilted at a 45 degree angle, making it an adventure just to move around. Tuvok is still frozen in stasis on the bridge and Seven has been there since to monitor his progress. We still haven't found or heard word from Chakotay, as well as a handful of others on board. The crew has been using the one space suit we have available to travel around the ship with supplies and much needed comfort. I've managed to take the suit myself and travel to the shuttle bay to see the condition of our shuttles. Shuttles will be a vital piece should Voyager completely fail.
The Captain and some crewmen arrive at in Shuttle Bay. They observe the two remaining shuttles. "I hope we can get these shuttles running", she comments.
One of the crewman manage to turn on one of the shuttles, "I've got this one working".
"Great, take it outside for a test drive to see she handles".
The crewman takes the shuttle out to test it. Later on, he returns.
"How did she fly", the Captain asks.
"For the most part, fine. But there's noticeable resistance when I try to turn left or right."
"I'll have B'Elanna look into it." The Captain taps her communications, "Captain to B'Elanna"
"Yes, Captain", B'Elanna responds.
"We've investigated the two shuttles here. One is completely down, and the other one is having a hard time rotating. Tomorrow I want you to work with Tom to see if you can get the steering repaired on the working one."
"Aye captain. Look forward to it." B'Elanna replied. "You still don't want us using the Maquis shuttle?"
"The Maquis shuttle? ", Captain asked, puzzled. "I don't see a Maquis shuttle here. Which one are you referring to."
"It's the shuttle that the Maquis arrived in on Voyager's first mission in the Alpha quadrant."
"Oh that shuttle. I don't see it here." The Captain replied. She asked the nearby crewman if they know where it was, but they didn't know either. "What happened to it?"
"Beats me. I doubt that it was ejected into space if the other ones are still there. That's the most advanced shuttle we have."
"Maybe someone took off with it", the Captain suggested. "Is there a way that you can check the departure logs for a possible take off?"
"I can try." B'Elanna replied, "But whoever it was, they we're definitely Maquis. Only they would have the encryption protocols to pilot the thing."
"Maquis?" The captain thought for a moment, then whispered, "Chakotay…."
"Captain?"
"Last week ..he mentioned that he was talking to his old Maquis friends about finding a better way home."
"Captain you don't think he would abandon us."
"I don't think he would", the Captain replied, "and maybe that's been the problem all along. I've been underestimating him, thinking that he won't take matters into his own hands.
"Now that you mention it, a lot of the key members of the Maquis haven't been accounted for on board either." B'Elanna noted.
The Captain continued, "This flood was his tipping point, his last straw. He's left us to find his own way.
"We still have the other shuttles", B'Elanna mention "It's possible that we could use the warp signature to track him down."
"No", said the Captain, "Let him go. Once he understands whats really out there, he'll be back. …I want you and Tom to repair this shuttle first thing tomorrow morning."
"Yes, Captain".
Janeway stared out into space, and whispered Chakotay's name to herself.
B'Elanna returned to her station in Engineering. Harry came to her with a report.
"B'Elanna, we have a problem", Harry reported.
"Why am I not surprised", B'Elanna remarked..
"I've been monitoring the thrusters", Harry continued. "They are being filled with water from outside the ship.
"Water from outside the ship?" B'Elanna asked. "Explain?"
"Well, as we drain water into space, the water is being attracted to the external thrusters due to the electrostatic charge. The thrusters are almost filled with water, which will make them ususable, not to mention causing the flood to reenter the ship from the other end."
"Got it. We should probably turn on the thrusters then. That shouldn't be a problem."
"Yeah", Harry confirmed. "But we can't turn on the thrusters with out moving forward. Where would we be going."
"Good point.", B'Elanna remarked, "Quite frankly, I don't even know where Voyager is facing right now."
"Seven should know, she's been looking at the stars for the past week, on the Bridge"
They asked Seven and she told them that they are intact facing in the opposite direction of Earth. By turning on the thrusters they would be moving further into the Delta quadrant.
They informed the Captain of this, and despite the travel in the wrong direction, they decided it was the best option to take. Turning the thrusters online would also cause for a turbulent, uncomfortable ride. After making a ship wide announcement of their decision, the Captain order Neelix to tour his side of the ship to see how he could help the crew prepare for their travel.
Neelix began walking around his side of the ship. He began to personally prepare the crew for the bumpy ride ahead. "Is there anything that I can do for anyone here to prepare them for take off?", he asked some crewman in a room.
Some of the crewman began to murmur, "Take off? Why do we have to go any where, doesn't the Captain know we'll be thrashed around?"
Neelix decided to ignore the complaints and move on to the next area. He began to asked a crewman if he needed help with anything, but then recognized him particularly.
"Hey, you're he Ensign that usually gets my 2nd Meal Option. A good choice by the way. Is there anything you need help with before we take off?"
"No…, Yes.. Ah whats the point." The crewman stammers.
"I beg your pardon", Neelix replies,
"Why did I even sign up for this. You don't even know my name. No one here hardly does." the crewman complains, "I'm going to die out here."
"Now that's not the attitude we need around here, ensign 2nd Meal Option…" Neelix stopped himself as realized that he still didn't call him by name, making the situation worse for the crewman. Embarrassed, Neelix decided to move on.
A crewman called from the hallway, "Hey Neelix. Janeway has the space suit now right? When am I going to get a chance to use it? I need to retrieve my personal medical kit from my locker."
"I don't know that", Neelix replied, "but how are your preparations for our departure going? Need any help?"
Another crewman spoke up, "I heard we were headed in the wrong direction. Is that true?"
"Well," Neelix replied "that's technically true", the surrounding crew began to groan. "However its only a temporary measure until we vent out the thrusters."
"We need to stop at an M Class planet for some proper rest." The crewman spoke up, "I'm getting tired of sharing a room with my insufferable roommates."
"You're not exactly Mr. Sunshine yourself buddy" another crewman reacted.
The crew began to quarrel with themselves, then Neelix talked above them "Everyone calm down! I'll admit. Things haven't been easy for me either. But the senior staff are looking into every available option to end this crisis. This will all work out so long as we all —"
Suddenly the ship jolted very hard. Throughout the ship people and objects were thrown forward, some suffered damages and injuries.
Neelix, trying to regain composure, "We're on the way …as bumpy as it is."
On the Bridge, Seven is alone in the dark, shivering in the cold and at the front of the bridge.
Tom wades in, "How are you doing Seven?"
"Doing well given the circumstances." Seven answered.
Tom stated, "So I realize how long you've been in here and I've made a couple of deals and finally got the coveted space suit to you. Now you can swim to less cold area of the ship while I monitor my buddy Tuvok here."
"Thank you Mr Paris" Seven replied, "but that will not be necessary."
"Really?" Seven answered surprised, "It took a lot for me to get this suit. Infact there's a crewman who's going to take it from me in the next 5 minutes if he doesn't see you swimming out of here."
"That is acceptable." Seven answers. She begins to cough and sneeze in the dark coldness.
"Cmon, I know you're freezing up here, and Tuvok will be fine."
"I have other matters I must attend to here."
"Like what?", Tom asked
"Producing bubbles", Seven replied.
Tom giggled, "Heh, did you say producing bubbles?"
"Yes Mr Paris."
Through the darkness, Tom could see seven dipping a device in the water, lifting it up, and blowing air into it, producing a synchronized set of bubbles.
Seven explained, "I've equipped a sample of this water with some of my own borg implants. When I produce bubbles form this sample, they contain their cohesion in space and can travel several light years in their original form."
"Hah, I think some of this cold has gone to your head. What can these 'bubbles in space' do exactly?" Tom sarcastically asked.
"I'm hoping that an observer will see these 'bubbles in space' and observe the pattern that they are set in. Perhaps they will be naturally curious and maybe their curiosity will lead them here."
Tom thought then asked, "Why not just send a distress beacon on one of your Borg frequencies?"
"Frequencies, signals, radiation — these are all typical emissions that the average species would ignore or decipher to use against us. I'm hoping these bubbles will attract a curios and benevolent species." Seven answered then began to cough and sneeze from the cold.
"Ok, thats a little beyond me. But don't you need a break."
"I'll admit, I am growing weary and cold. But.."
"Yes, but?" Tom implored.
"But I'm, I'm scared", Seven admitted
"Scared? Of this water? Trust me Seven, the suit is air tight."
Seven continued, "Seeing Tuvok wash up like this is a hard image to shake. Also, I've always hated trips to any large body of water even as a child.
The ship began to shake and the two of them were moved about. A crewman also stumbles in.
"Tom, you in here?", the crewman asks. "You still have the space suit, its time someone else uses it."
"Hold on ensign. Seven, this is your last chance."
"Its fine," she says, "let the crewman have it."
"Have it your way." Tom walks over to the ensign and gives him the space suit. Later on he returns to the bridge with a blanket and other supplies to keep Seven warm.
"You can't be comfortable up here. At least let me help you warm you up." Tom dries off.
"Here, lie down." Tom puts blanket around Seven. He begins to rub her with the towel.
Eventually, the ship shakes again, bringing the two even closer. They remain close in cold darkness only accompanied by the sound of the rumbling ship.
"The company of another human is a warming, comforting, and healing benefit" Seven admits.
"In that case," Tom says, "as the practicing medical chief aboard the ship, I'll stay here as long as you'd like."
B'Elanna gets up the next morning and prepares to head over to the shuttle bay. She has the space suit, and puts it on. The Doctor temporarily deactivates himself as a force field, so that B'Elanna can swim to the other side of the ship.
On her way to the shuttle bay, she decides to visit Tom. She turns in the middle of the flood and heads toward the Mess Hall. She arrives to the smell of Neelix cooking.
"Hey Neelix. have you seen Tom?" B'Elanna asks through the suit.
"B'Elanna is that you? I haven't seen you in a long time!" Neelix exclaimed. "I haven't seen Tom since yesterday."
"Thanks Neelix, I'll keep looking." B'Elanna said. Neelix tried to offer her something to eat, but she refused.
B'Elanna looked in a couple of other rooms, and called out for Tom, but did not see him.
She decides to ask Seven on the Bridge. She enters the cold, dark bridge. Turning on her flash light, she sees Tuvok frozen and wishes him well.
She turns to leave, assuming no one is there. Upon leaving she hears a cough. She turns toward the sound, "Hello? Seven?".
As she approaches, she sees Seven and Tom, laying down in close proximity together. B'Elannana shines the light directly on them.
"Tom?!"
Seven and Tom eventually awake to the sound and the flashlight shining on them. Tom peers his eyes open. Disoriented and unsure of who's in the suit, he asks, "Who's that? What's the problem"
B'Elanna, offended then responds, "i don't believe it."
Tom recognizes her voice, "B'Elanna?"
Offended and embarrassed, B'Elanna storms out.
Tom finally realizes its her and sees his predicament. "B'Elanna! Wait!". He shamefully gets himself away from Seven and goes after B'Elanna
"B'Elanna, wait! I can explain!"
"Save it!" B'Elanna quips back.
She gets to the corridor to head toward the Shuttle Bay. The ship begins to shake again, and she looses her footing and trips. Tom goes to grab her and help her up.
"Don't touch me!" B'Elanna shouts back as she pulls away. She dives into the water and swims towards the Shuttle Bay. Tom slowly wades in her direction and watches her swim away. As Tom stands there reflecting on what happened and how he can fix it, the ships jolts hard again, causing Tom to unexpectedly plunge into the water, making the situation all the more discomforting for him.
