Disclaimer: See Chapter One.
Rainbows
Chapter Four – Pot of Gold.
B'Elanna Torres was busily going over her list of jobs to do and what they required to keep Voyager's engines running smoothly and other general maintenance, that she didn't register the male's presence until he spoke:
"Anything I can help with?"
"Chakotay?!" she snapped startled. Not giving him a chance to apologise she thrust her PADD at him. "Not unless you can conjure up these?" It contained a list of all the spare parts and other things she felt they needed to keep the ship flying.
"I thought Janeway was doing business on the station for these," he said puzzled.
"Only for those general items we need, Chakotay," she sighed softly. "These will have to come from another source," watching him read the list again. "I don't think these people would know a stem bolt from a spindle bearing," her voice sounding exasperated.
"Just one question though; I thought we replicated most of these things," he said puzzled, having noted that instead of deuterium they required many physical items to keep the ship in smooth working order.
"Normally we do, Chakotay. But there are just something's you can't replicate, or no starship would need to put into Space dock for supplies and maintenance," she explained with a soft sigh. "Even in the Maquis we had to replace our environmental systems with any newish ones we could salvage from other sources," she reminded him.
"So that's what took you and Ayala so long in that scrap yard?!"
"I was very surprised that the ship we discovered still had the amount of Chrysotile we needed at the time. Voyager has been in grey-mode one too many times for my peace of mind over the last few months; so spare parts will come in handy. Plus the fact Janeway doesn't want these people to know what we really need," sighing again, looking pensive.
"So what you're really saying is, that we need a scrap yard?" grinning at her.
"Yeah! Know of one near-by?" she asked, not expecting a positive reply.
"I might!" a mischievous twinkle in his dark eyes; He urged her to join him on a little jaunt to find their own pot of gold. He also advised her to change out of uniform. It was the first thing she'd noticed about him, when he'd arrived into her domain, his casual yet smart and practical attire, which possibly attributed to his relaxed manner. Thus they went via her quarters where she changed into a similar casual and practical outfit, ready for any rough terrain.
"Thinking of going planet side?" she teased quietly as they made their way to the transporter.
"Yes," was his monosyllabic reply startling her. "You are excused Ensign Campbell," he said on entering the area to the young woman on duty there. She nodded to him and left. "Ayala will be joining us on the planet surface," he informed her as he worked the console.
"You're serious!" she noted puzzled by his attitude, stepping up onto the transporter platform.
"Very," he acknowledged and joined her.
=/\=
Three people materialised together close to the co-ordinates of the underground settlement they'd detected whilst searching for their First Officer, when he'd disappeared with their alien guest. The third person was Ayala who like his former Maquis was dressed casually rather than in his usual gold uniform.
"Chakotay sent me a message to dress this way and where and when to meet you both," he told her in answer to her puzzled expression. "The shuttle Cochrane is sealed with my special code, that only Tuvok can unlock," he added with a grin, handing her a wrist light one of three he'd brought with him.
"All will be revealed soon, B'Elanna. Patience," he said with an amused smile. Torres looked from one male to the other frustrated. "You'll do," Chakotay said and led the way forward.
The tunnel that they followed was almost natural looking, yet as they ventured further in it became more apparent that it was man made. Torres watched Chakotay as he led the way in a confident manner, his wrist light steady and clear cutting into the dark gloom of the dusty unused passageway. It made her wonder if he was 'her' Chakotay.
It wasn't long before they came to a familiar looking part of the underground settlement; it could have been any Federation installation if it weren't for the fact that they were in the Delta Quadrant.
"Got your shopping list?" Chakotay asked the Chief Engineer casually. The look she shot him had him grinning at her, as he knew full well that she did. "Then I suggest you start shopping!"
"You idioms are getting as bad as Tom's," she quipped sourly, moving towards a likely looking storage area.
"Must be the company I've been keeping all these years!" he bantered back. Ayala laughed, as he too checked the area, still feeling on edge, especially by the fact that the lighting was still working and flicked on as they entered the different areas.
"Creepy!" he muttered, sensing the silence around him. "I almost feel this place should be bustling with people," he said quietly, looking up at his friends who were still within visual range.
"I agree," Chakotay sighed, his expression pensive. Torres echoed their concerns silently.
"Then I suggest we stay close," she muttered reaching out to activate an obvious door opening panel. The blue triangle lit up at her touch and the door swished aside, lights flickered on inside.
At first all three stood there and then shrugging her shoulders B'Elanna went inside disappearing from view. The two boys waited in the deep silence in the open corridor; a moment later she reappeared and asked a pointed question.
"You coming or not?" her tone so familiar that they grinned, feeling the tension ease as they followed her into the room.
=/\=
Meanwhile on the 'Orbitor' Janeway was rapidly coming to the conclusion that El-sa and Rana the Tigress were stalling as their negotiations for the items on Neelix's list had run into a solid wall of indifference and it bothered her; for the longer they stayed close to this station the more vulnerable she felt for her ship and crew. She also felt a pressing need to contact Voyager, but how to do so without being rude, watching the females discussing each item on the PADD huddled together over it. Most of the items were food stuffs and general cooking items, things that should not be hard to find anywhere, but these two, seemed almost puzzled by the list.
"Neelix keep them distracted," she said sharply, having come to a decision.
"About what?" he lamented, feeling at a loss of to how to deal with these animal-like females.
"I think I know how," piped up Paris softly and stood up, which immediately gained a sharp and wary response from the two females, their eyes narrowing. It silently confirmed to Janeway her thoughts that Voyager was their prize and they were stalling for some reason.
"Nice place you have here," he said pleasantly, pulling Neelix to his feet as he passed the Talaxian to join the Lioness and Tigress at another part of the room.
"Yes indeed. You must have a very interesting existence here," Neelix added catching on to what Paris was saying. Thus the pilot and chef kept the two female's attention away from the Captain and Kim.
"I didn't think I'd see the day Neelix would be lost for words!" Kim commented, yet his expression did not match his words, for he – like Janeway – was worried, his tricorder telling him something was not right. Janeway sighed and tapped her com-badge.
=/\=Voyager here Captain=/\= came a male voice that almost sounded like Tuvok, in response to her hail.
"How are things?" she asked cautiously her defences up.
"Reasonable." That confirmed her nagging suspicions, for if Tuvok had been human this reply would have been understandable, but in a Vulcan – never; even Kim shot her an alarmed look, before fiddling with his tricorder, checking the com-line was clear to Voyager.
"I need you to use the Heisenberg compensators," she said carefully.
"Please repeat," said the voice puzzled.
"Tuvok wouldn't need to ask that!" Kim whispered, stating the obvious and still working his tricorder to keep a clear signal to Voyager.
"The Heisenberg compensators; I require you to use it, Now!" she said strongly.
=/\=Understood=/\= came the one word response from a voice they knew very well. First Janeway and Kim vanished and then Tom, Neelix and Rana followed, leaving El-sa roaring in frustration.
=/\=
"Heisenberg compensators!" the Vulcan queried mildly once they'd all fully materialised.
"They worked didn't they?" Paris said, grateful to be back on Voyager. Rana – Tigress stared around her stunned, held between the pilot and Talaxian.
"Where...where am I?" she stammered, eyes wide in fright.
"Take her to sickbay, Mr. Paris," her tone very pointed. He nodded understanding what she required of the Doctor with their 'guest'. She waited until the group of three had left before turning to her Security Chief, her expression demanding a full report from him.
"It appeared that the Station was blocking all transmissions out from the station, but not to it. Seven managed to lock onto Mr. Kim's tricorder and through their co-ordinated efforts we picked up about the Heisenberg compensators!" he said, his eyebrow lifting on the last two words. Janeway relaxed and smiled.
"Computer location of Cmdr. Chakotay?" she asked.
#Cmdr. Chakotay is not aboard this vessel#
"What? Where is he?" she demanded.
=/\=
The man in question was busy helping Torres and Ayala move some tetraburnium panels that would assist in future repairs to the Delta Flyer, to an area marked by three transporter markers so that Campbell could transport the items within aboard via the larger cargo transporters and store them in that area of the ship.
=/\=Commander Voyager will be out of the sensor shadow in a few minutes=/\=
"Acknowledged, Ensign; Call us again when the two stations can't detect you."
=/\=Aye, Commander=/\= signing off.
"You've been planning this!" B'Elanna accused him.
"In a manner of speaking," he assented. "Anything else you require for our continued up-keep?"
Torres didn't respond for something in his manner bothered her, yet for the moment she said nothing as they continued exploring the deserted underground city, whilst waiting for Campbell to contact them. The pile of spare parts for the ship and even Neelix's galley grew within the transport defined area.
"Something wrong, B'Elanna?" Ayala asked half an hour later, alerting their friend and commander to her wary and searching gaze. His expression repeated the vocal question.
"Yes; You, Chakotay. Are you who I see?" she asked pointedly.
"Of course he is," Ayala said firmly, frowning puzzled at the female.
"I want to hear that from him!"
"You think I'm a Shadra, don't you?" he said carefully, having gleaned the alien's name and something about them from the information Ayala had given them from the conversation that Janeway had had with El-sa on the 'Orbitor'. Torres nodded silent under his dark eyed gaze.
"Why do you ask, B'Elanna?" his tone mild, it stalled Ayala from saying anything as he'd heard that quiet tone before, the tattooed male's dark eyes still fixed on the half-Klingon woman.
"Your knowledge and ease in this place," she told him, her own eyes challenging him.
"Yes, I know this place," he said softly. "During my spirit walk here, I learnt what they knew."
"You communicated with them?"
"No, Ayala, because that would imply two way conversing and that's what you – B'Elanna Torres believe," he said mildly, still only looking at the female. She nodded feeling suddenly shy under his intense gaze. Quietly he smiled as if sensing her unease with him. "My thoughts were and are my own. In fact I kept my mind blank of important and personal information in my surface thoughts, I just focused on the immediate task. They on the other hand were not so careful with their information. That is how I know about some of what we'd find here," he explained gently.
"Like a Vulcan mind-meld?" Ayala queried.
"Not quite," looking at the male and thus giving Torres a breather from his dark gaze. "It is the nearest analogy of what happened," he conceded. "Satisfied?" Chakotay asked softly, turning again to the young woman.
"Maybe!" giving him a quiet smile.
=/\=Voyager to Away Team. Ready when you are, Sir=/\=
"Acknowledged; Next batch is ready to go."
"Aye, Sir." The pile of goods within the markers vanished with the usual blue transporter effect. Campbell's voice stopped them a moment later. "Captain is looking for you, Sir."
"Understood, Ensign; we've one more thing to do here. Keep us informed."
=/\=Aye, Sir=/\=
"Chakotay, what other thing do we have to do?" her tone sharp. "Surely we should report in to Janeway."
"Maybe, B'Elanna," he said turning away and making for the computer room they'd discovered in their exploration of the city. "Don't you want to know about these Shadra?" he asked his tone a challenge, looking over his shoulder at the pair. Quickly they followed his lead.
=/\=
Said Captain was striding towards Sickbay, following a request from the EMH to meet with him. She had set Seven and Kim the task of evaluating his tricorder readings from the 'Orbitor' so they had some idea of what was going on. Tuvok had returned to the Bridge to look for Chakotay and to instruct Ayala to return with the shuttle, without arousing too much suspicion. It had struck her as odd that for a Space station it had been rather short of any specific space traffic, especially shuttles for transport to and from the planet below. She was hoping they'd get some positive answers from their accidental guest.
"Doctor," Janeway said on entering Sickbay.
"Leave me alone!" Rana growled at the EMH, her hands clawing out towards him, yet he managed to dodge her. Paris watched from outside the main surgical bay, whilst the two literally prowled round the secure area.
"Tom?" she asked coming up beside him at the monitor console.
"When she saw all this medical equipment she yowled fiercely and tried to run. Instead of going out the way we came in she made for this bay, so the Doc set up the force-field," he explained whilst taking note of the readings in front of him. "We've set the bay's sensors for deep scans so we can assess her nature; but we have as yet to get close to her," he said watching the EMH avoid her lunging at him.
"What have the scans revealed so far?" she asked, her eyes watching the two dance around each other.
"Only that she's humanoid, very fit, extremely agile and very vocal. But it's her initial responses to certain medical instruments that have been interesting."
"Oh!" turning to look at the young male pilot-cum-medic.
"That she's undergone some sort of genetic enhancement, or so the Doctor thinks."
A yowl of protest from Rana stalled her asking any questions about this new information. The Tiger-woman slumped to the floor at the EMH's feet, a hypo-spray in his hand, yet there was no triumphant expression on his face.
"Computer, cancel security force-field," he ordered. The field sparked a moment, showing that it was no longer active. "Mr. Paris, let's get her on the bio-bed," sounding resigned. Tom silently nodded, joining the Chief Medic within the surgical bay. Janeway stayed and assisted also.
=/\=
"Slave traders?" queried Torres. They had managed to access some of the settlement's computer archives about the planet, the underground city and its people – The Shadra. The information was extensive and very revealing, once they'd translated it into their language.
"They were more than that, B'Elanna. They created their own slaves," Chakotay pointed out and showed her the visual files of the genetic results.
"Animal people!" noted Ayala, recognising two types, Zebras and Leopards. "Those two were on the 'Orbitor'," he said quietly, having seen a group of them enter the area of the station where the shuttle was docked, after Janeway and her entourage had left.
"How many did they produce?" she asked quietly, finding it hard to form her words.
"According to these files, zebras, leopards, lions, hawks, peacocks, tigers and even oxen. Numbers aren't recorded only the types," he said reading from the file displayed in front of him on the active computer monitor.
"But why?" turning puzzled eyes to him.
"I think I may have found something," Ayala said from a second console; thus his friends joined him, where his screen showed a current visual of part of the planet just over the hills from the settlement.
"That looks like an open cast mine."
"It is and they're still working it," Chakotay informed them, having noted the movement of humanoids and equipment.
"What are they mining?"
"According to these readings," he paused to check what the data revealed. "Tritanium ore."
"Our pot of gold!" whispered Torres.
=/\=
Their accidental guest had been transferred via internal transport and whilst under sedation, from Sickbay to secure quarters. The Doctor poured over the results of his thorough examination of the Tigress in his lab, with both Janeway and Paris assisting him.
"These readings can't be right, can they?" Paris asked.
"I'm afraid they are, Mr. Paris," said the EMH, firmly.
"But why? To create a hybrid of animal and humanoid! For what reason?"
"Maybe we should ask Rana."
"I doubt she'll give you any constructive answers, Captain. She is a produce of her genetic engineering. She can reason on her immediate needs for her day to day survival, but as to contemplating her future or past she can no more tell you or herself than a domestic cat could talk," he explained. "Genetic engineering is a risky field; it is why Starfleet has outlawed it."
"People still try though as Rana and her contemporaries on the 'Orbitor' prove," Janeway said.
"As Hybrids could they re-produce?" Tom asked tentively.
"No," was the sharp reply from the EMH. "They would revert back to either parent. I wouldn't like to hazard a guess as to the outcome as to which is the stronger parent," he said carefully; although his tone had been neutral his expression was very telling.
=/\=Bridge to Captain. We're receiving a call from the Commander=/\=
"Put it through here, Tuvok," she said urgently, making for the Doctor's office com-link. "Commander."
=/\=Captain. We've discovered some very telling evidence here=/\= he began carefully.
"Same here," she acknowledged him. "Want to explain?"
"Not over an open com-line, Captain," he paused a moment as if weighing his next words. "Tritanium ore."
Silence greeted those two words. Janeway stared at him via the video link-up.
=/\=We'll see you soon. Out=/\= and cut the link.
"So that's why!" whispered Tom Paris.
Janeway looked at him her expression agreeing with him and yet she couldn't quite feel that confident that they had all the pieces to the puzzle of what was going on at Arrabri.
=/\=
Chakotay looked at his companions a moment once he'd closed the com-line and then took out his tricorder and set it to download all the data from the computer memory core. Ayala did the same with his at another console within the area, whilst Torres rechecked the information of what was going on at the open cast mine.
"Where are they sending it?" she asked softly.
"I don't think they're sending it anywhere, B'Elanna," Chakotay said having joined her.
"Oh?" looking at him intently.
"In the Koori language from New South Wales, Australia, Arrabri means 'a meeting place at the base of a mountain.'"
"And that's the mountain?" Ayala queried, pointing to the mining area on the monitor screen.
"Maybe. How many shuttles or transport ships did you see at the 'Orbitor'?" the tattooed male asked quickly.
"None. Which I thought was strange at the time," he admitted.
"You're saying someone collects it?" she asked carefully, realising the implications of that thought.
"Yes. The other thing missing here is an ore processing plant."
"Unless that's on another part of the planet!" both of his friends shook their heads. "When's the next pick-up due?" Ayala asked dreading the reply.
"Considering your easy access to the space station, I'd say soon."
"Something tells me it's time to pack up shop and leave!"
"And you say my idioms are bad?" he said, lightening the tension, Torres grinned at him. They shutdown all the consoles, picked up all their own equipment and made for the main entrance to the underground complex.
"How do we get back to Voyager?" Torres asked, once they were back on the planet surface, realising the ship would be close to the two stations again by now.
"I set the shuttle's computer to scan for my com-badge, it should..." he halted as the transporter effect surrounded the three and finished his sentence with a grin once they'd fully materialised on the shuttle.
"Good thinking," Chakotay said making for the pilot's chair. He looked up at the main forward view ports and saw the animal people first hand. The Zebra man stared at him surprised and backed away from the space vehicle, calling to his mate. Ayala and Torres joined their friend up front, causing more of the people to move away from the shuttle.
"As hybrids' they can't reproduce, can they?"
"No," he said sharply. The three got down to the business of prepping the shuttle for the flight back to Voyager. The problem could be with the Station's Admin control, but they were allowed to leave with no questions asked or fuss.
"Strange!" said Ayala having settled himself next to Chakotay.
"Not so strange if they're expecting visitors," noted B'Elanna. Chakotay said nothing feeling that there was a missing piece of the puzzle to find, as he piloted the shuttle out of the 'Orbitor' and across the short distance of open space to Voyager's shuttlebay.
=/\=
The next morning Janeway called a meeting for the senior staff; she watched as her staff filed in some like Paris still chewing his breakfast or drinking a mug of coffee. Chakotay was the last to arrive; he looked as if he'd slept in his outfit, as it appeared a little crumpled in places. He sat beside and whispered softly.
"I fell asleep in the chair," he informed her with a soft smile; she smiled at him in return.
"Breakfast?" she queried quietly. He just shrugged his shoulders in a non-committed way, as the room had grown quiet around them. "Right, let's get started," she said turning her attention forward to face the others. "What have we discovered here at Arrabri?"
"Our guest is in secure quarters at present and prowling around. She should be returned to the 'Orbitor'," Tuvok informed in his usual manner.
"I'd like to talk to her before you do," a soft quiet male voice said. His words startled her, yet she kept her surprise hidden and just looked at him with a silent question.
"She might not want to talk to you, Commander," said the EMH.
"I think she might," he responded calmly.
"Is there something you're not telling us, Chakotay?"
"No, B'Elanna," his dark gaze telling her they'd been over that thought.
"If you think she'll talk to you, Commander, you may," Janeway said, her tone stalling anymore talk about their guest. "You said something about Tritanium ore."
"There's an open cast mine on the planet surface not far from the underground city of the Shadra," he informed them.
"Tritanium! Is there a processing plant?" Kim asked.
"No!" Chakotay responded. "Since there are no transport space ships or shuttles at the 'Orbitor'; we can only assume someone comes to collect it."
"Question is who and when?" noted Paris.
"How about the Borg? Don't they use Tritanium?" asked Neelix, looking at Seven.
"Yes, Neelix; The Borg assimilate what they require, they do not make it." The Talaxian shrugged apologetically, as if saying it was just a thought. Janeway smiled with him, for she'd been thinking along the same lines.
"Tritanium can be used for other things besides building space faring vessels," noted Kim. "Body armour is one use I could think of. Borg or Hirogen uses body armour," he added carefully.
"That's true, Mr. Kim, but something tells me we'll be meeting someone new." Her words fell into the heavy silence within the room, all of them thinking this is one scenario they didn't need to meet just now, if at all.
=/\=
Chakotay was making his way with Ayala to see Rana the Tigress. Earlier the meeting with the senior staff had broken up after Janeway's open revelations about a new threat and he'd had breakfast with Neelix, leaving the Captain to deal with ship business in her Ready Room.
"Do you really believe this Tiger will talk to you?" Ayala asked as they came up to their destination.
"I hope so," Chakotay said quietly, nodding to the security detail on duty, who opened the door for the pair.
"Tiger in more than just looks!" whispered Ayala, as the female growled at their presence. Chakotay stepped further into the room allowing the light to reveal his face fully. He had decided not to change into his uniform, thus he was still attired in his casual outfit that is some way almost matched the Tigress' form of dress.
"Rana," his voice commanding; the female stopped and whirled round to face him. Her eyes went wide in startled surprise and shock; she meekly walked towards him.
"Master," she said standing at a respectful distance from him, her golden eyes gazing at him with admiration and not fear.
"What can you tell me?" he asked his tone of voice quiet. Ayala was surprised to here that tone from his commander and friend once more, yet he stayed still and quiet keeping his face neutral.
"Ohanzee comes when the ore is released," Rana informed him.
"Ohanzee casts a long shadow does he not?" he asked carefully, Rana nodded her head quietly, yet her tail tip flicked from side to side, revealing her true feelings about the matter. "Does he fill your needs?"
"Sometimes if the ore is good; most times Ohanzee takes but does not give," her tail twitched wildly as if getting ready to spring at her prey.
"I see and the Shadra?" keeping direct eye contact with this tiger-woman.
"They gave us life, but now they are gone," her tone matter-of-fact rather than regretful.
"The Shadra provided your daily needs; from where?" Rana pointed out the replicator within the room. The fact that she knew what it was and used for did not surprise him as much as it did Ayala. She watched as Chakotay walked over to it and produced a large plate of his favourite fungi along with ribbon pasta, the whole dish steaming with a mouth watering smell. "You like?" he queried softly. Rana smiled, but shook her head. "What would you like?"
"Meat stew please," adding the last word almost as an after-thought.
"Fine; Computer recycle current dish for Beef stew standard Earth recipe," he ordered, returning the pasta dish to the replicator slot. Rana's eyes lit-up as the new dish appeared, the rich gravy smell making her lick her lips several times as the plate was handed to her, along with a spoon.
"You may partake," he informed her.
"Thank you," her tone sincere. She sat down on the room's floor, to eat the stew in a polite manner.
"Strange," whispered Ayala to Chakotay. "I would have thought she'd eat it raw."
"She's a pussy cat, Ayala. Not a wild beast who is required to catch her own prey." He had read the Doctor's report on Rana and although the Medic was correct in some aspects of her mental abilities as to how much she'd know about the world outside of her immediate sphere; as to who and what she was, the Tigress had a better grasp of that than the EMH believed, and who was possibly responsible for her existence, if not her continued existence.
Suddenly the warning klaxon's sounded and the Vulcan's voice called the crew to 'Yellow Alert'.
"Ohanzee!" Rana said her golden eyes wide in true fear.
=/\=
Continued in Shadows.
Lizzy74656: I hadn't planned for the story to go any further, but I fear the Shadra haven't finished with Voyager and her crew just yet.