Chapter 9
The Alien
The lights were dim. The only light in the corridor was supplied by the light on the phaser rifles and the red alert beacon flashing along the wall. Tuvok was on full alert. He had a strapped to his back for Counselor Troi as well as one in his hands. Stopping at a three-way junction in the corridor he rounded the left corner ready to fire. He saw the shape of a woman and realized it was Troi.
"Commander," said Tuvok. "You should be more careful."
"I can feel the alien."
Tuvok took the rifle off his back and handed it to Troi. "Is it nearby?"
"Yes. It's also afraid. It knows we are aware of it."
"In that case we should find it quickly." said Tuvok. "Do you know what direction it is in."
Troi motioned down the corridor. "That way." Troi, Tuvok, and the five security guards walked down the corridor, shining their lights down every connecting junction they encountered. "It's close," said Troi. "And very afraid."
"I too can now sense the alien nearby."
A sound was emanating from the corridor around the corner. As they rounded the corner their fingers were ready to fire. The shape of the alien surprised them even though they were expecting it. The alien turned at them, ready to attack. The skin looked almost reptilian. On both sides of its neck were what looked like external tendons. The eyes were one of its oddest features. The pupils were shaped like crosses, surrounded by a dirty yellow iris. It had two very powerful looking legs at its side. And coming out of its lower back was a third leg, also very powerful looking. It was the strangest creature Troi had ever seen. Far from humanoid.
"We don't want to hurt you," said Troi. "We only want to know why you're here."
A deep, sinister growl emanated from the creature's throat, it was about to attack when Troi tried to contact it telepathically.
We don't want to hurt you.
The creature stopped in its tracks and looked at her, seemingly unsure what to think of her. Cautiously it backed off a few steps.
Who are you?
My name is Deanna.
Where are the Borg?
The ship that was chasing Voyager has been destroyed.
As Troi was communicating with the alien, Seven Of Nine was working her way down the corridor towards their position. When she rounded the corner, the alien saw her Borg implants and lunged ahead angrily.
No! Don't!
Tuvok took aim with his phaser rifle and fired at the alien. 8472 fell to the deck stunned, at the same time Troi screamed and fell to the deck as well, dematerializing soon.
The alien was laying on a biobed. It's large muscular legs and head hanging off the ends. Standing at the end of the table were Janeway and Tuvok. The Doctor was walking around sickbay holding a P.A.D.D..
"What is the alien's condition?" asked Tuvok.
"It is unconscious," replied the Doctor. "No permanent damage. Luckily Mr. Tuvok you didn't hit it in a vital area."
"When will it regain consciousness?" asked Janeway.
"Should be a matter of minutes." The Doctor approached the alien and held a small scanning device to its head. "Tell me Captain, how did you become aware of the alien?"
"The Enterprises' sensors are seven years more advanced than ours. They can obviously detect things that we can't."
Riker held Troi's hand as she lay unconscious on a biobed. Picard was standing at the foot of the biobed with Dr. Crusher. "Will she be okay?" asked Riker.
"She's going to be fine Will." replied Crusher. "She's only stunned because the alien was."
"What do you mean?" asked Picard.
"Physically there's nothing wrong with her. She was still in telepathic contact with the alien when it was shot." said Crusher. "When the alien was shot, its mind said it was stunned and it fell to the deck in response. The same thing happened with Troi. Her mind told her she was stunned so she too fell to the floor."
"It was almost like a psychosomatic response." said Picard.
"Exactly."
"Will she be able to communicate with the alien again?" asked Picard.
"If the alien doesn't get stunned again she should be fine." said Crusher. "Why?"
"The alien is in Voyager's sickbay. We need it to answer a few questions, and she seems to be the only one able to ask them."
"She should wake up in a few minutes."
The Doctor was holding his tricorder at the alien's head. The readings began to change, there was a chemical increase in the alien's system. "Captain," said the Doctor. "The alien is regaining consciousness." He put the tricorder down in the instrument tray and walked through the protective force field around the surgical bay, the field becoming visible for the split second the Doctor was in contact with it.
"Picard to Janeway."
"Janeway here, go ahead Captain."
"Counselor Troi has regained consciousness and is ready to communicate with the alien."
"The alien has just regained consciousness." said Janeway. "You may beam her directly to our sickbay if you wish."
"Very well. Commander Riker has also informed me that he will be joining Counselor Troi."
"Understood. Awaiting transport."
"Picard out."
The alien was understandably upset and was lunging itself against the containment field, and it was only angered more when two figures began to materialize into existence near the Doctor's office. It was Troi and Riker. When the alien saw Troi it calmed down.
"Curious," said Tuvok. "it seems to a have some type of rapport with the Counselor."
"I'm probably the first humanoid life-form that's communicated with it so directly." said Troi as she stepped slowly towards the force field. "It doesn't seem to consider me a threat."
"Counselor, ask it how long it's been on board."
"Deanna," said Riker. "Be careful."
"I'll be fine Will."
Troi approached the force field. Even though she knew what she was doing, she was still nervous. The alien was easily seven feet tall and although it was no longer lunging against the forcefield it still emitted a low growl.
We aren't going to hurt you.
Your people shot me.
They were acting in self-defense. They didn't know what you were going to do. I tried to warn you.
There is a Borg among your people.
She's been separated from the Collective. She's no longer a Borg.
You are not like other humans.
No, I'm half-Betazoid, because of that I'm partially telepathic.
Why did you come back?
I need to ask you some questions.
Ask.
Are your people at war with the Borg again?
I don't know.
"It doesn't know if its people are at war again."
"How long has it been on board?"
How long have you been on board?
Ever since you left our Earth simulation.
"It says it's been on board ever since you left their Earth simulation."
Janeway was shocked. She never would have suspected there was an intruder on board had Alec not said anything. "Why is it here?" Janeway's intention was not to be rude, but she just wanted some answers.
Why are you here?
I was told to board your ship and report your actions for as long as we were in communications range of the habitat. I lost contact a long time ago.
"It was told to stay on board and report your actions as long as it was in communications range of its habitat."
"We went out of communications range of that habitat quite some time ago." said Janeway. "Why is it still on board?"
Why have you stayed on board?
On several occasions Voyager has encountered some of my people. I stayed on board in case another situation occurred.
"The alien says that it stayed on board in case you encountered any more of its people."
Janeway was silent. She didn't think that being this far away from the previous encounters that they would come upon another bioship. She came to a decision. "I think we should figure out a way to return it to its people. Janeway to Picard."
"Picard here. Go ahead Captain."
"We have some of the answers we were looking for, I think our two staffs should meet."
"Shall we meet aboard the Enterprise?"
"If you don't mind, I'd like to meet on Voyager," said Janeway. "You've been hospitable to us with your ship, I'd like to return the favor."
"Very well. I'll inform my staff."
Riker looked around Voyager's briefing room. It was larger than the observation lounge on board the Enterprise, and it provided a far better view of the stars outside. He was somewhat impressed. For a ship that was seven years old Voyager was one of the finest examples of a Federation ship that he had ever seen. The crew had faced numerous life threatening situations and survived. Before Voyager only the two most recent starships Enterprise had survived face-to-face encounters with the Borg. Though he knew he had never been to Voyager before he couldn't drop the feeling of deja vu.
"So what's the situation?" asked Alec.
"Apparently the alien has been on board since we left an Earth simulation we discovered." said Janeway. "And it was told to stay on board and report our actions for as long as we were in communications range of the habitat."
"Would you mind explaining this habitat to us please?" asked Picard.
"Certainly." said Janeway. "Seven?"
"The habitat is an exact duplication of Starfleet Headquarters and some of the surrounding San Francisco. It is powered by 13 thermionic generators beneath the surface." Seven activated the wall monitor. It showed a sensor cross section of the habitat in question. The top was dome shaped, inside was San Francisco just as Seven of Nine had said, the Golden Gate Bridge was unmistakable. "Species 8472 used it as a training center for a reconnaissance mission to Earth. The aliens assumed the forms of several Alpha Quadrant species and proceeded to act like those species. There are several such terraspheres located throughout this quadrant."
Alec was still looking at the habitat, it looked like a giant ice cream cone. He laughed to himself, the first time he'd found something funny since they had arrived.
"There was even an alien that assumed the form of Mr. Boothby." said Janeway.
"Boothby?" asked Picard. He remembered the old groundskeeper from Starfleet Academy, Boothby was one of the major influences in Picard's life. If it wasn't for Boothby, Picard would have most likely dropped out of the academy.
"Yes. In fact if I didn't know better I would have sworn he was the real thing."
"How did they get such detailed information on Starfleet?" asked Riker.
"We believe they obtained it from the Borg." replied Janeway. "But right now that's not the issue. We have to figure out what we're going to do with the alien."
"I suggest we research all the information you have on the Borg and Species 8472," said Riker. "Perhaps we can come up with something."
"Agreed." said Janeway. "B'Elanna, please access the main computer and transfer all available information on Species 8472 to the Enterprise."
"Yes Captain." said Torres as she arose from her chair. "Excuse me."
"During our encounters with Species 8472 we found that they have one major physical weakness." said Janeway.
"The nanoprobes you were talking about." said Alec. "You modified them to attack them at the cellular level instead of assimilating them."
"You've done you're homework Commander, that's right." said Janeway. "This proved to be a very effective weapon against the aliens."
"I thought that you bridged the gap between our two peoples." said Picard.
"Not as much I would have liked to." said Janeway. "The alien that took the form of Boothby said he would talk to his superiors, but that was a long time ago. We have no way of knowing what happened."
"What about the alien in sickbay?" asked Alec. "Maybe it knows something."
"That is unlikely." said Data. "Since the alien lost contact with its people several months ago, it is doubtful that it knows anything about the current situation."
"It still may know something." said Moore. "It might be worth it to ask."
"Counselor," said Picard. "Are you up to it?"
"I'll try." said Troi.
"Geordi, how is the analysis of the wormhole data proceeding."
"Not good sir. We haven't been able to detect any traces of the wormhole."
Picard sighed with grim acceptance. "I want you to forego the wormhole project for now and look over what we have on Species 8472 and the Borg."
"Aye Captain."
"Mr. Kim," said Janeway. "Would you be willing to assist Commander La Forge?"
"Yes ma'am."
Captain's log, stardate 55095.9. Counselor Troi has attempted another telepathic link with the alien in Voyager's sickbay. As Commander Data suspected the alien has no knowledge of the current situation between its people and the Borg. We are left with a question that may never be answered.
Voyager's mess hall reminded La Forge of the Ten-Forward lounge on the Enterprise-D. It was smaller, but it was enough to bring back some fond memories. He and Kim were actually having a bit of fun as they worked. Both had several stories to tell the other. Kim was more than eager to hear La Forge reminisce because he had gone to the academy hearing about all the adventures the Enterprise had. Of course Kim had some stories of his own as well, some that frequently shocked La Forge.
Neelix was working in the kitchen and could not help but overhear their storytelling. He had not yet had a chance to meet anyone from the Enterprise so he took the opportunity to talk to La Forge. Walking over to the table he carried two mugs and a decanter of coffee. "Coffee gentlemen?"
"Yes please." said Kim.
Neelix placed down the two mugs and poured the steaming coffee. He handed the first one to La Forge. "Excuse me, I don't believe I've had the pleasure."
"Neelix," said Kim. "This is Lieutenant Commander Geordi La Forge, chief engineer of the Enterprise." He said every word with a smile, he felt honored just to be in the same room as La Forge.
"Pleasure to meet you Mr. La Forge."
"Pleasure to meet you too Neelix." said La Forge, nodding his head. "Call me Geordi."
"Tell me," said Neelix as he poured coffee into the mug he placed in front of Kim. "Does the Enterprise have a kitchen?"
"Yes it does." La Forge sipped his coffee and held it up in a salute to show his appreciation. "It's used mainly for diplomatic functions."
"Excellent." said Neelix excitedly. "I'd love to teach some of my culinary trades to people on other Federation starships."
"The first one you should talk to is Commander Riker. He's been known to cook a thing or two."
"I just might do that." Neelix was about to start on something else when he sniffed the air. "Oh! I left something cooking on the stove." He quickly went back to the kitchen and stirred a pot that was on the burner.
La Forge's attention was diverted from his work by the exchange with Neelix, and diverted more when Seven of Nine entered the mess hall. She approached their table carrying a P.A.D.D. in her right hand. "Commander La Forge," said Seven as she handed La Forge the P.A.D.D. "I have completed analyzing the data on the wormhole."
"I thought that we were going to finish working on that together."
"You were busy working with Ensign Kim. I took this opportunity to complete the analysis."
"And what have you discovered?" asked La Forge as he looked at the screen. He had a pretty good idea what the answer would be.
"As I stated before it is impossible to reopen the wormhole. Your ship's arrival was nothing more than a freak occurrence."
"Not exactly what I wanted to hear, but it's better to know either way. Thank you."
"Your welcome." said Seven. "Excuse me."
As Seven turned and headed for the doors La Forge and Kim resumed their work. They continued telling stories to each other. It helped pass the time. One of La Forge's favorites was when the Enterprise-D came across the U.S.S. Jenolan which had crash landed on the surface of a Dyson Sphere. Upon boarding the ship they found there was a pattern still in the transporter buffer. When they rematerialized the pattern they discovered it was Montgomery Scott, chief engineer of the original Enterprise and her successor the Enterprise-A. When the Enterprise-D was trapped inside the Dyson Sphere, La Forge and Scotty worked together to get her free, but at the price of the Jenolan's destruction.
"One of my most exhilarating missions was probably my most dangerous." said Kim. "After we were attacked by a Borg ship we found a transwarp coil in its debris. Unfortunately it was too badly damaged. Captain Janeway decided to-"
"Wait a minute, wait a minute!" said La Forge. "What was that first part?"
"We found a transwarp coil in the deb... Of course!" Kim had just caught on to what La Forge was suggesting. And it just might work.
"My thoughts exactly."
"There's more alloy shielding in a cube than the ship that attacked us, so there's a chance some coils survived. And there's more coils on a cube so that just increases our chances further."
"Looks to me like we have a plan. La Forge to Captain Picard, I believe we've got something."
