Category: Star Trek Voyager
Rating: PG-13 (mature subject matter, some explicit language)
Disclaimer: Star Trek: Voyager and all things contained therein are the property of Paramount and Viacom. I will receive no profit from this story.
Author: Raven
Background: Set during the seventh season, Voyager is still in the Delta Quadrant. Captain Janeway and her crew must face their most dangerous challenge ever.
Title: The Dance
ACT FOUR
Janeway: "Captain's log Star Date 47...69...yada...yada...yada... We've found a vessel with an ample supply of "Coffee". Our agenda is to obtain an abundant amount for our survival. Any resistance from our new friends will be considered an act of aggression and will be dealt with extreme measures. In the meantime the Doctor has informed me that several crewmen including myself have reached the maximum dosage for his temporary cure. As a result, I've become a bit more short tempered. Computer...End log."
INT. BRIDGE
Janeway: Tom...warp nine!
Paris: Umm...Captain? We're already here.
Janeway: (furious) Watch it Mister Paris or you'll be cleaning deuterium tanks with a toothbrush for the next forty years!
Tom cowers in his pilot's seat.
Kim: Captain, they're hailing us.
Janeway: (veins popping out of her head) Well, what are you waiting for? Open a channel! Geez, do I have to do everything myself?!
Kim: (cowering behind his console) Y...Y...Yes ma'am. Ch...Ch...Channel open.
Janeway: This is Captain Janeway of the Starship Voyager. We need "Coffee"!
Chakotay: (whispering) Kathryn...don't you think we should find out about these people first?
Janeway: (setting her jaw) Excuse me...was I talking to you?!
Chakotay: No but...
The Captain silences the Commander with a gesture resembling a zipper being drawn across
her lips. Chakotay turns away in disbelief.
Suddenly the main view screen changes and displays a race of greenish toned beings crossed
between humans and chickens with antennas sticking out of their ears.
Paris: They're stupid looking too.
Janeway: (eyes bulging out of her sockets) Mister Paris...you're on thin ice! One more word out of you and I'll demote you back to Ensign!
Paris: (sarcastic) Again?
Janeway: What was that Lieutenant?
Paris: (clearing his throat) I said, Yes ma'am.
A voice is heard over the comm. system.
Alien: (on screen) I am Alpha Centuri. We have what you desire. Would you consider a trade?
Janeway: Hell yah! (clearing her throat) I mean, that will be acceptable. Please send us your coordinates and we'll beam you onboard our ship.
Alien: (on screen) Agreed!
INT. TRANSPORTER ROOM
Fifteen minutes later Janeway, Chakotay, Tuvok and Seven meet with the alien.
Janeway: Welcome to Voyager. I'm Captain Janeway. We need "Coffee"!
Chakotay: Kathryn!
Janeway: Oh...all right! (unenthusiastic) We come from a planet on the other side of the galaxy. We've spent the last seven years trying to get back home and now we're out of "Coffee". Can you help us?
Alien: I think so. We're a little short on supplies ourselves.
Tuvok: What kind of supplies do you require?
Alien: The usual.
Seven: Elaborate.
Alien: We need replicators, weapons and your warp core in exchange for as much "Coffee" as you desire.
Janeway: Done!
Chakotay: Kathryn!
Janeway: (pleading) But...they have "Coffee"!
Chakotay: Get a hold of yourself!
The caffeine deprived Captain flips out.
Janeway: "Coffee!"..."Coffee!"..."Coffee"!
Chakotay: Tuvok, I suggest we escort the Captain to sickbay.
Janeway: The hell you will...!
In mid-sentence, Tuvok reaches over and gives Janeway another nerve pinch. Slowly, she
slithers to the floor.
Chakotay: That's two I owe you.
Tuvok: (smirking) Indeed.
Chakotay: Umm...Mister Alpha, I'm sorry, but we have Federation guidelines that forbid us from giving technology to other cultures. How about a compromise?
Alien: What did you have in mind?
Chakotay: We may be able to assist you in improving your systems.
Alien: We're listening.
Chakotay: Seven, take our guest to engineering and work with B'Elanna. There's got to be something we can do for them.
Seven: Yes Commander.
Chakotay: In the meantime, lets get the Captain to sickbay...again.
INT. TURBOLIFT
Seven: Computer...deck eleven...engineering.
Alien: Your Captain doesn't seem well. She keeps talking about this "Coffee". What is this...substance?
Seven: Your observations are correct. Our Captain and several of the crew are addicted to a substance you have an abundance of.
Alien: You're talking about our Tricaffeinium Crystals?
Seven: Correct. Your crystals bare a striking resemblance to a substance found on earth used to create a stimulant consumed by billions called "Coffee".
Alien: What is this "Coffee" used for?
Seven: Mainly after one's self-regeneration is complete. "Coffee" is consumed to, as Lieutenant Paris would say, "jumpstart your heart".
Alien: ...and what happens when this "Coffee" is no longer available.
Seven: According to our Doctor, prolonged withdrawal could result in heightened aggression with periods of schizophrenia but more extreme symptoms could lead to homicidal tendencies.
Alien: Sounds serious.
Seven: It is.
After a couple of minutes, they arrive in Engineering. Seven escorts the alien to B'Elanna.
INT. ENGINEERING
Seven: This is Voyager's Chief Engineer, Lieutenant Torres. Lieutenant, this is Alpha Centuri.
Alien: It's a pleasure to meet you Lieuten...
Torres: (interrupting, furious) P'Taq! So you're the one hording the caffeine. What's wrong, too good to share?! Listen Borg, get this animal out of my engine room before I rip his head off!
Seven pulls B'Elanna away from their visitor.
Seven: Excuse us Alpha Centuri, I believe our Engineer is exhibiting similar symptoms as our Captain.
Alien: Please, take as much time as you need.
Seven: Lieutenant! In exchange for the Tricaffeinium Crystals, we are to assist the Alpha in improving their systems.
Torres: What am I...a service station? Tell Janeway to get her ass down here, pull up her sleeves and help "Chicken-Dude" out herself. I'm outta here.
Seven: Captain Janeway is currently incapacitated. She's in sickbay. The order came from Commander Chakotay. We're here to assist you.
Torres: (sarcastic) Well...lucky me!
The enraged, "Coffee" deprived half Klingon resigns to the fact that she doesn't have any choice and
agrees to help the Alien.
Torres: All right, what's wrong with your ship?
Alien: It might be better if we brought you on board.
Seven: That won't be necessary, we can scan your ship's specifications from here.
Alien: (tantalizing) We have "Coffee".
Torres: Well, why the hell didn't you say so! Lets go!
In a matter of minutes B'Elanna, Seven and the Alien transport to the other ship.
*
*
*
*
*
To be continued...
Rating: PG-13 (mature subject matter, some explicit language)
Disclaimer: Star Trek: Voyager and all things contained therein are the property of Paramount and Viacom. I will receive no profit from this story.
Author: Raven
Background: Set during the seventh season, Voyager is still in the Delta Quadrant. Captain Janeway and her crew must face their most dangerous challenge ever.
Title: The Dance
ACT FOUR
Janeway: "Captain's log Star Date 47...69...yada...yada...yada... We've found a vessel with an ample supply of "Coffee". Our agenda is to obtain an abundant amount for our survival. Any resistance from our new friends will be considered an act of aggression and will be dealt with extreme measures. In the meantime the Doctor has informed me that several crewmen including myself have reached the maximum dosage for his temporary cure. As a result, I've become a bit more short tempered. Computer...End log."
INT. BRIDGE
Janeway: Tom...warp nine!
Paris: Umm...Captain? We're already here.
Janeway: (furious) Watch it Mister Paris or you'll be cleaning deuterium tanks with a toothbrush for the next forty years!
Tom cowers in his pilot's seat.
Kim: Captain, they're hailing us.
Janeway: (veins popping out of her head) Well, what are you waiting for? Open a channel! Geez, do I have to do everything myself?!
Kim: (cowering behind his console) Y...Y...Yes ma'am. Ch...Ch...Channel open.
Janeway: This is Captain Janeway of the Starship Voyager. We need "Coffee"!
Chakotay: (whispering) Kathryn...don't you think we should find out about these people first?
Janeway: (setting her jaw) Excuse me...was I talking to you?!
Chakotay: No but...
The Captain silences the Commander with a gesture resembling a zipper being drawn across
her lips. Chakotay turns away in disbelief.
Suddenly the main view screen changes and displays a race of greenish toned beings crossed
between humans and chickens with antennas sticking out of their ears.
Paris: They're stupid looking too.
Janeway: (eyes bulging out of her sockets) Mister Paris...you're on thin ice! One more word out of you and I'll demote you back to Ensign!
Paris: (sarcastic) Again?
Janeway: What was that Lieutenant?
Paris: (clearing his throat) I said, Yes ma'am.
A voice is heard over the comm. system.
Alien: (on screen) I am Alpha Centuri. We have what you desire. Would you consider a trade?
Janeway: Hell yah! (clearing her throat) I mean, that will be acceptable. Please send us your coordinates and we'll beam you onboard our ship.
Alien: (on screen) Agreed!
INT. TRANSPORTER ROOM
Fifteen minutes later Janeway, Chakotay, Tuvok and Seven meet with the alien.
Janeway: Welcome to Voyager. I'm Captain Janeway. We need "Coffee"!
Chakotay: Kathryn!
Janeway: Oh...all right! (unenthusiastic) We come from a planet on the other side of the galaxy. We've spent the last seven years trying to get back home and now we're out of "Coffee". Can you help us?
Alien: I think so. We're a little short on supplies ourselves.
Tuvok: What kind of supplies do you require?
Alien: The usual.
Seven: Elaborate.
Alien: We need replicators, weapons and your warp core in exchange for as much "Coffee" as you desire.
Janeway: Done!
Chakotay: Kathryn!
Janeway: (pleading) But...they have "Coffee"!
Chakotay: Get a hold of yourself!
The caffeine deprived Captain flips out.
Janeway: "Coffee!"..."Coffee!"..."Coffee"!
Chakotay: Tuvok, I suggest we escort the Captain to sickbay.
Janeway: The hell you will...!
In mid-sentence, Tuvok reaches over and gives Janeway another nerve pinch. Slowly, she
slithers to the floor.
Chakotay: That's two I owe you.
Tuvok: (smirking) Indeed.
Chakotay: Umm...Mister Alpha, I'm sorry, but we have Federation guidelines that forbid us from giving technology to other cultures. How about a compromise?
Alien: What did you have in mind?
Chakotay: We may be able to assist you in improving your systems.
Alien: We're listening.
Chakotay: Seven, take our guest to engineering and work with B'Elanna. There's got to be something we can do for them.
Seven: Yes Commander.
Chakotay: In the meantime, lets get the Captain to sickbay...again.
INT. TURBOLIFT
Seven: Computer...deck eleven...engineering.
Alien: Your Captain doesn't seem well. She keeps talking about this "Coffee". What is this...substance?
Seven: Your observations are correct. Our Captain and several of the crew are addicted to a substance you have an abundance of.
Alien: You're talking about our Tricaffeinium Crystals?
Seven: Correct. Your crystals bare a striking resemblance to a substance found on earth used to create a stimulant consumed by billions called "Coffee".
Alien: What is this "Coffee" used for?
Seven: Mainly after one's self-regeneration is complete. "Coffee" is consumed to, as Lieutenant Paris would say, "jumpstart your heart".
Alien: ...and what happens when this "Coffee" is no longer available.
Seven: According to our Doctor, prolonged withdrawal could result in heightened aggression with periods of schizophrenia but more extreme symptoms could lead to homicidal tendencies.
Alien: Sounds serious.
Seven: It is.
After a couple of minutes, they arrive in Engineering. Seven escorts the alien to B'Elanna.
INT. ENGINEERING
Seven: This is Voyager's Chief Engineer, Lieutenant Torres. Lieutenant, this is Alpha Centuri.
Alien: It's a pleasure to meet you Lieuten...
Torres: (interrupting, furious) P'Taq! So you're the one hording the caffeine. What's wrong, too good to share?! Listen Borg, get this animal out of my engine room before I rip his head off!
Seven pulls B'Elanna away from their visitor.
Seven: Excuse us Alpha Centuri, I believe our Engineer is exhibiting similar symptoms as our Captain.
Alien: Please, take as much time as you need.
Seven: Lieutenant! In exchange for the Tricaffeinium Crystals, we are to assist the Alpha in improving their systems.
Torres: What am I...a service station? Tell Janeway to get her ass down here, pull up her sleeves and help "Chicken-Dude" out herself. I'm outta here.
Seven: Captain Janeway is currently incapacitated. She's in sickbay. The order came from Commander Chakotay. We're here to assist you.
Torres: (sarcastic) Well...lucky me!
The enraged, "Coffee" deprived half Klingon resigns to the fact that she doesn't have any choice and
agrees to help the Alien.
Torres: All right, what's wrong with your ship?
Alien: It might be better if we brought you on board.
Seven: That won't be necessary, we can scan your ship's specifications from here.
Alien: (tantalizing) We have "Coffee".
Torres: Well, why the hell didn't you say so! Lets go!
In a matter of minutes B'Elanna, Seven and the Alien transport to the other ship.
*
*
*
*
*
To be continued...