Sorry it took so long to update, computer got a virus, everything crashed...etc you don't really want to know anyway. i'll try to update quicker from now on. pls R&R xxx
Chapter 4
That night none of them slept well. Huddled together under the moth eaten blankets to keep warm they discussed their situation. Not coming to any conclusions they finally tried to sleep. They took turns to sit up on watch and also to keep a check on Tom. He had come round after about half an hour but Chakotay wanted to make sure there was no concussion. With Tom out cold, Chakotay had become their temporary medical officer. He had cleaned there cuts and bound a few of the more serious ones with the extra material on B'Elanna's and Kathryn's clothes. It couldn't have been much more than eight hours later when a shrilling screech of a bell went off from the canteen. They watched a drizzle of prisoner's pass their door. It must have been morning service of food. Grabbing their canteens they started out the door.
"Wait" said Chakotay. They all turned and looked back at him. "I don't want you two walking round here on your own." He stated looking at B'Elanna and Kathryn. B'Elanna sighed and rolled her eyes dramatically.
"We'll be perfectly fine. I'm sure they won't bother us again" dismissed Kathryn beginning to go again. Chakotay gently grabbed her elbow stopping her.
"I mean it. You heard what he said. You make sure your always with one of us." Reinforced Chakotay.
"I agree" said Tom. "It's not worth the chance"
"Fine!" sighed B'Elanna. "But I tell you, your not coming in the bathroom with me!"
"Can we go now I'm starving here?" moaned Harry rubbing his stomach.
"Of course."
The canteen was almost full now. Sleepy eyed prisoners stood in a line opposite the wall with the basins. Two guards were at the front dishing out bowls of food. They joined the back of the queue and waited in turn. Tom stepped to the side to allow a prisoner pass; instead the man scurried past avoiding looking at him at all.
"What was that about?" Asked Tom raising an eyebrow in confusion.
"You've never looked good in the morning" Remarked B'Elanna. Harry laughed. As they continued up the lined they noticed people were staring. Differently to the day before. Yesterday they stared with hostile eyes, daring them to say something or protest to being ignored. Today they were questioning eyes praying to stay invisible.
"What they all staring at?" asked Harry becoming paranoid and turning his back to them.
"I think they've heard about last night" said Kathryn hearing the whispers of a man just behind them in the line. It was then that all eyes shifted from them and too the new man that had walked in the room. It was Beentok. His eye was still deeply swollen and he looked like he'd been run over by a bull. All movement stopped in the room. He sneered at the ones who dared to look him in the eye, till his gaze fell upon Chakotay and the tension exploded in the room.
"Next!" hurried the guard pushing Harry forward. The break was over and everyone continued with their loud chatter and eating. Beentok sat down with his men in the corner but never took his eyes off them. Once they all had food they sat down at an unoccupied bench in the opposite corner to Beentok and his gang. Upon there bench was a group of four men whose skin was a strange hue of yellow. Their skin was smooth and almost aluminous. When they sat the group went quiet. The private joke they had been laughing at ceased and the only sound was of their clatter of spoons. They tried their best to ignore the others.
"What is this stuff?" Asked B'Elanna pushing the purple sludge around her bowl with the rusted spoon she'd been given. Physically repulsed she pushed the bowl away from her and just sipped her water.
"You should try to eat some, its not that bad" Said Harry shovelling a large spoonful down his throat.
"You'd eat anything your that hungry" assumed B'Elanna. "It's not even in your mouth long enough to taste it"
"It's one way to get it down" Agreed Chakotay, he too was using a similar technique but not really succeeding. B'Elanna cringed and pretended to be sick.
"Lets just eat and get back to the room as quick as possible, I don't want another fight with Beentok and he doesn't look happy" Instructed Kathryn. Twenty minutes later they had finished their 'food', visited the bathroom and had a quick wash and sat back in their room. Once they got there they sat in silence wondering what to do next.
"Commander Chakotay?" Asked the guard who had been serving breakfast. He had just appeared in the dim light of the door way, Chakotay stood up. "You are Commander Chakotay?"
"Yes?"
"And this is the rest of your group?"
"Yes" The others stood up too.
"Then you are to follow me?"
"What? Where? What's happening?" Inquired Harry Hastily following the guard out the door with the others.
"You will find out on the way" answered the guard.
"Do these guy's ever answer question?" whispered Kathryn under her breath to Chakotay.
"We'll get some answers soon, I'm sure" reassured Chakotay running a hand up her arm. The guard unlocked the lift and allowed them entry. As the lift doors closed the last thing they saw was Beentok staring from down the corridor at them.
Tuvok sifted through the information intensely, looking for any change or erratic reading upon the sensors. Anything to let them know how the ship had approach them un-seen and any indication to what they would find when they arrived at the plant. It would take them six more days before they would reach there and Tuvok wanted to be ready and alert to pull them out immediately. The information supplied by Neelix had depicted scenes of a terrible poverty stricken planet with at least ¾ of the money circulated between rich and evil men of power. They described the methods of torture used to punish slaves and the innocent, holding back neither for age, sex or strength. The Recorni were a cruel and angry race unwilling to be kept in weakness any longer. Their only hope now would be luck.
"Wait here for the Professor" Instructed the guard. From the lift they had once again been boarded into a shuttle. After another long journey they had been unloaded again and released at a large impressive looking building. It was made of a chestnut red brick, intricately designed to create a variety of shapes and angles to the building without the waste of space. It was three stories high and had large white windows every two or three metres displaying nothing but the reflection of the imposing gardens they looked out upon. They had entered through a double story front door where once again they had been searched and released into the hands of the houses guards. The new guards led them through to an office with a large, steady desk dominating the right of the room and four plush sofas's domineering the left. Book cases lined all walls and a painting of a portly man hung above a stone fireplace. To say it was a contrast to the prison would be an understatement. Slightly disconcerted by the change of scene they sat in silence observing their surroundings ever aware of the presence of the two guards by the door. Soon they were joined by the man who's painting hung above the fire. He was slightly older looking now and despite the comfortable surroundings his hair had greyed immensely and his flabby skin began to drupe.
"Which one of you is Commander Chakotay?" he asked fiercely. Despite his almost frail appearance he was not a force to be messed with. The way he walked signalled the strength that lay beneath the fatty skin. Chakotay began to stand but was pushed roughly down by a guard. "I am Professor Thagtu. I am the reason you have been brought here and I hope that what I tell you today will be considered carefully and the trouble I have gone too appreciated." He pressed a button upon his desk and almost simultaneously a maid entered and poured six drinks on the table centred in the sofa's, handed one to each of them and left without a word. "Blumbering little idiot. Can never trust a woman to do anything" he smiled sneering sweetly at Kathryn.
"What do you want with us?" interjected Kathryn feeling the anger flare up in her stomach. Thagtu got up from where he had been perched on the edge of his desk and crossed to stand looming over Kathryn from behind. Kathryn remained ram-rod straight refusing to be intimidated by his actions.
"Fiery hair. Commanding stance. Captain Kathryn Janeway I presume? I have to say you reputation doesn't do you justice. Your much prettier than I'd imagined" Kathryn steeled him with an icey glare as he moved on an circled the chairs. "Oh and Ms Torres too. Klingon origin, they seemed such beastly creatures, you make them seem almost perfectly sculptured beings" he brushed a hand along her left cheek with his free hand. "So firm" B'Elanna snapped turning her head and bracing her teeth into his hand. He dodged quickly though and instead got a quick lock on her jaw bringing his face mere inches from hers. "That temper is certainly what I expected though. You reputation was partly right" he laughed and walked back round to sit at his desk. Tom face had gone a violent shade of red and he sat angrily biting his bottom lip to stop the words he wanted to say.
"Why are we here Thagtu?" asked Chakotay irritated with the constant dodging and changing of topic.
"We are a race called the Recorni, until about 350 years ago we were the leading race in this sector of space. Then a terrible illness began to spread and spread from one of our colonies to the next. We were becoming weak and unable to stop the further spread of the disease. Whilst this happened our neighbouring race the Harru, who's brutal antics and traditions we had managed to contain for so many years decided to take power. They are now slaughtering our animals, steeling our young and breaking our trade deals with other planets. We have become trapped on our own doorstep."
"What does this have to do with us?" questioned Tom. Thagtu looked at him carefully for a moment in silence, there was a firm nod to the guard behind him and a weapon was slammed down painfully on his neck. Tom silently winced, and Thagtu continued as if he'd never been interupted.
"When I was told of your accomplishments by a friend, I realised you'd be able to help. Your defeat of the kazon, the borg, the hirogen…all large races we once stood among, you defeated alone, light years from your home. I knew you could help…" Explained Thagtu.
"If you know so much about us then you should also know that our prime directive prevents us from becoming involved with your war against the Harru." Interrupted Kathryn. Thagtu laughed patronizingly.
"Oh yes, don't worry, I'm not after help with the war. I want you to create me a vaccine against the disease." Instructed Thagtu.
"That would be becoming involved, sorry we can't help you" told Kathryn. Thagtu prickled slightly as if controlling his anger. He walked over and sat on the coffee table leaning in to Kathryn.
"I was told your race had great compassion and understanding. Is curing an illness that is tearing a race apart really so terrible?" Almost pouted Thagtu.
"As much as we would like to, I'm sorry but it's against our rules. We can be of no help to you, release us" informed Kathryn firmly. Thagtu fixed his eyes steely on hers. Silent for a moment before slamming his fist into her jaw sending her flying back on the seat. "Women never give instructions! You understand?" roared Thagtu spitting. Kathryn righted her self tasting the blood pool in her mouth. "I said do you understand?" Thagtu's voice was low and dangerous. The two guards a the door had moved forward to either side of them.
"Yes" answered Kathryn. Thagtu smiled smugly and walked back to his desk.
"Now, I will leave you to talk it out amongst your selves over some food and make a decision" he began to leave.
"A decision about what?" Asked Tom standing up before Thagtu left the room.
"Whether you willing help and stay here living in my home. Or…you can be returned to the prison each night, work here unwillingly at day and then when the vaccine is done sent back to the prison to live the end of your days. It's up to you." He began closing the doors smirking. "Oh, I've heard women don't last more than a few days in them prisons. Such a shame isn't it" With that he finally left.
tell me what you think, i do try and do the things people tell me to xxx