Chapter 4—Unexpected Emotions
(A/N: Sorry for the incredibly long wait, we've been having computer issues and so don't have access as often as we would like hence the long wait. However that has changed now and we're back! We hope that this chapter was worth the wait.)
(Disclaimer: We don't own Voyager but the original character of Miley is MysticFireBlood's)
Janeway nodded and looked over at Tuvok, "Let's go greet our guests," she said, "Chakotay you have the bridge."
"Aye, captain," Chakotay replied. About 5 minutes later, Voyager's captain and security chief arrived at sickbay where the Doctor was beginning to treat the injured Vidiian while his companion looked on helplessly.
"Please don't stand so close, I need room to work," the Doctor said to the conscious Vidiian.
"Of course," he said backing off, "Unlike what most people believe, not all of us are doctors and know how to treat others' injuries."
Janeway looked at the Doctor, "Can he be treated?"
"I don't know. Considering the hodgepodge of alien organs in his body, it's difficult," The Doctor replied, "I need some time and quiet to figure this one out since his companion isn't a doctor himself."
"I am Captain Janeway," she introduced, "and this is my chief of security Lieutenant Tuvok. Can you tell us why you were attacked?"
"My name is Dextro. My partner is called Marx and we are in the business of dilithium gathering," the Vidiian explained, "Our technology as advanced as it is, still needs a power source and since most races probably wouldn't trade with us since they treat us like the plague we've contracted...we need to find suitable dilithium sources and horde them before anyone else claims them. Apparently I was found by some raiders who saw my cluster as easy pickings."
"If our Doctor can not treat your partner, what will you do?" Tuvok asked.
"Contact my people for help of course," Dextro replied.
"That could be problematic. We've run into them before," Janeway said, "And they see us as 'easy pickings' too."
"I see..." Dextro said, "We'll then, as an alternative, how about your Doctor does what he can, then returns him and me to my ship and we can call for help without endangering you. I'll still let you have one of the asteroids of course. You should begin work now and take what you can in the time we stay here."
"A most logical and reasonable decision," Tuvok replied.
"Your ship is small enough to fit in our shuttle bay, I'll have it brought aboard and have an engineering crew take a look at it if you wish."
"Thank you captain...may I remain here to watch over Marx?"
"Of course," Janeway said and she nodded to Tuvok and they both left the room, once they were outside Janeway and Tuvok ordered two security guards to stand watch outside of sickbay during the Vidiians' stay then they returned to the bridge.
"How did it go?" Chakotay asked.
"They seem to be miners, not doctors, or what the Vidiians consider doctors," Janeway said, "We're going to let the Doctor treat them as best he can and then let them go back to their own people. But we only have as long as we can provide help to stay here and work on one of the asteroids so we better move fast. That's both medical and technical." Then Janeway touched a control on her console, "Bridge to engineering. B'Elanna I've got two big projects for you."
"Okay captain, just let me know what you need."
"We're going to bring the Vidiian ship in the shuttle bay. I need an engineering crew to work on repairs on it. Plus I need another crew to mine one of the dilithium asteroids. We're on a limited time so I'm going to have to ask you to push your staff to the limit. I'm sending Harry to help on the Vidiian ship."
"Understood captain, we'll get right on it," B'Elanna replied, "Engineering out," the chief engineer turned to her people, "Okay you heard the captain. Carey I want you to lead the mining team and I'll lead the team working on the ship. Miley you're with me and Kim. It's a small ship so I think the three of us can handle that job. Carey, take whoever you need except Vorik and leave him a skeleton crew," then she turned to the Vulcan, "You'll be in charge of engineering until we're done with these jobs. Any questions?" When no one spoke up she nodded, "Okay let's get to work."
A few minutes later, B'Elanna, Harry, and Miley were in Voyager's shuttle bay and saw the small Vidiian ship that had been brought on board.
"So Starfleet," B'Elanna began as they pulled out the tool kits, "I heard you and Ensign Fitzpatrick had a fun time after Tom and I left," she smiled as she grabbed what she needed and pried a panel off to begin work.
Harry blushed, "Well we didn't do much, just talked and went for a walk, but yeah it was a lot of fun." At that Miley blushed as well.
"So when's the second date?" B'Elanna asked.
"Umm…we haven't made plans for that yet," Miley replied, also starting to work on the Vidiian systems, "but I would like to," she whispered to Harry.
"So would I," Harry replied. B'Elanna just smiled and continued to work, but then began to grunt.
"This piece of junk isn't working!" she shouted all of a sudden causing Harry and Miley to flinch and stop what they were doing. The chief engineer took out a tricorder and began to scan, "Ah here's the problem…Miley, Harry I need you to reroute those power sources over there. It's got a failsafe that kicked in. I swear these systems are worse than on the Val Jean..." when she noticed her subordinates were ready on their end, she nodded, "On three…one…two…three…" suddenly they heard the systems coming on inside the ship and the door to the cockpit opened, "Okay now we can actually do something." Over the next half hour, the trio worked their best and had the Vidiian ship almost completely functional. One system, however, was giving Miley a hard time.
"This conduit just refuses to have the power run through it," Miley said, "And it leads to life support and I don't see any way to reroute it."
"Let me see," B'Elanna said approaching her but as soon as she got up, the conduit exploded and sent sparks at the young ensign and sent her to the other side of the ship, knocking her out.
"Miley!" Harry was at her side in a second.
"Get her to sickbay!" B'Elanna ordered.
Harry tapped his commbadge, "Kim to sickbay. Medical emergency. Ensign Fitzpatrick was hit with an explosion. She's burned and unconscious."
"Acknowledged. Transporting now," the Doctor replied calmly and the transporter effect appeared over Miley's body and she was soon in sickbay.
"What is it with this ship and delayed reactions!" B'Elanna hit the side of the small craft, "This is what happens with bad craftsmanship! It's going to take a bit longer to repair this thing. I don't feel right sending those miners back in this thing if it's going to blow up in their faces. Harry, get to engineering and bring back some more equipment. We'll make this ship run safely if it kills me."
Harry had a blank look on his face at first, but B'Elanna shook him, "Harry. I need you to do this," she said sternly.
"Sorry lieutenant," Harry said, "I'll get right on it," then he took off, running towards engineering. On the way he tapped his commbadge, "Kim to sickbay, how is Miley doing?"
"I informed the bridge of her injury, but she's going to be fine. I'm having Kes take care of her, the Vidiian needs my full attention. You can visit when your shift is over. Sickbay out," the Doctor replied.
"That's a relief," Harry breathed as he continued to engineering. He felt even better than he thought. Nothing's ever distracted him from his work before this and ever since he's gotten to know Miley even a little, the thought of working with her was wonderful, but seeing her injured almost caused a real panic and then he almost missed B'Elanna's instructions. Now that he knew she was going to be alright, he could concentrate on his work better. He hoped that this sort of thing won't happen again anytime soon though. He couldn't stand the thought of anything worse happening to her…
(A/N: Well we hope you enjoyed this chapter. Sorry for the long wait, but the wait won't be as long for the next chapter we promise. Please leave us some reviews and let us know what you think.)