Out Of Time: A Star Trek Voyager Fanfiction Story
Episode 9:
On Day Sixty…
After part of a certain message is retrieved from a certain Hirogen relay station….
Captain's log, Stardate 51501.4. Thankfully, thanks to Kes, we have temporal shielding and transporters at one hundred percent. After almost two months, Seven seems to be adjusting well to crew privileges again…but can either of us forgive each other? After four days at high warp, we're close enough to the relay station to see it on long range visual sensors. Since Species 8472 is still spiraling around the relay station, that relay station could still turn into a way to bring oblivion to the galaxy. And that's a little more important than the Krenim time ship."
While Harry Kim is uneasily still waiting for his letter…
Captain Janeway suggests, "come in."
Seven reports, "captain, I'm beginning to have trouble accessing the data stream. The longer it remains lodged in the relay station…the more it degrades."
Captain Janeway figures, "if we could get near enough, we could try to stabilize the containment field…but I can't risk taking the ship in any closer."
Seven deduces, "a shuttle could withstand the gravimetric eddies more easily than Voyager. I'd like to try it."
Captain Janeway urges, "I'd want Commander Tuvok to go with you."
Seven suggests, "to ensure that I give in to your blind assimilation?"
Captain Janeway sighs a little, "I admit that I've also crossed the line…but that doesn't mean I don't feel guilty."
Seven insists coldly, "you will not assimilate me…like you've done with the rest of your crew units. You can not…and will not."
Captain Janeway mutters coldly, "as you were." Seven leaves the ready room. Captain Janeway mutters, "some things don't change."
Minutes later…
Harry Kim comes into the Astrometrics Lab. B'Elanna says as she tries to remain calm from Chakotay's news, "hi."
Harry Kim responds, "hi. I…thought Seven was working in here."
B'Elanna reveals, "she's gone with Tuvok to shore up the station's confinement field. I've taken over for her. Disappointed?"
Harry Kim sighs a little, "a little."
B'Elanna assures him, "I'm sure that when Seven gets back, she'll still be attracted to you. Remember in the turbolift…when I said that you could be in love with…?"
Harry Kim chuckles uneasily, "yeah."
B'Elanna figures, "the truth is that I already knew. Harry, you might as well have worn a big sign that says you're in love. Everyone saw it."
Harry Kim concludes, "I guess I was scared at first."
B'Elanna points out, "but you've gotten over it. And that's good."
Harry Kim responds, "thanks. I also wanted to know if I'd gotten a letter yet."
B'Elanna deduces, "sorry…I haven't seen anything so far."
Harry Kim wonders, "do you think there's going to be one for everybody?"
B'Elanna assures him, "I'm sure that Starfleet contacted the families and friends of everyone on the ship. They know how important it would be."
Harry Kim uneasily says, "I hope so."
B'Elanna insists, "Harry…you'll get one. Try to be patient."
At the same time, on a certain away mission…
Seven asks, "lieutenant…am I correct in assuming that Vulcans are incapable of lying?"
Tuvok implies, "we are capable of telling lies. However, I haven't recently found it prudent or necessary to do so."
Seven wonders, "you have never lied?"
Tuvok recalls, "only under orders from a superior officer."
Seven figures, "then I must ask you something. Is it the Captain's custom to send at least two people on an away mission?"
Tuvok points out, "it's not only her custom: It's recommended Starfleet protocol."
Seven responds, "I see."
Tuvok implies, "is there a purpose to your question?"
Seven uneasily reveals, "I am…afraid. Afraid that the captain will soon let her emotions overload her logic to the point of damaging the crew beyond repair."
Tuvok holds back a sigh, "I am not certain how the captain is going to act in the near future…but her decision to have me accompany you on this mission shouldn't be taken as evidence of any malevolent intentions."
Seven remarks, "but there's still some evidence of personal intentions…isn't there?" There's a brief silence. Then, Seven reports, "I believe we are close enough to emit a polaron pulse."
Tuvok orders, "bring the main deflector online."
Seven adds, "ready."
Tuvok reports, "the variance in the containment field is now at point two nine."
Seven adds, "that should prevent further degradation of the signal."
Tuvok suggests, "let me ask you a question, Seven. If you were the captain, facing the threat of a Krenim time ship…what would you do?"
Seven suggests, "if the time ship was threatening Voyager, then I would have the crew fight for our survival. If not, it would be irrelevant."
Tuvok comments, "and if someone that you deeply care for was in the path of the time ship's next time incursion, would you not risk the crew for that individual?" Before Seven can answer, the shuttle's systems start fluctuating.
Seven inquires, "what's happened?"
Tuvok deduces, "we have just been scanned by a sub-neucleonic beam of some kind."
Seven reports, "the navigational sensors have been disrupted."
Tuvok realizes, "we must get Voyager to send out a directional beacon to guide us back. Tuvok to Voyager. Voyager, please respond."
Seven adds, "lieutenant…we've lost other systems as well. We have no communications, no warp engines…and no weapons."
Tuvok reasons, "I suspect this was done intentionally by the ship that's approaching rapidly off our port stern."
Seven realizes, "they're at fifty thousand kilometers and closing."
Tuvok reports, "Our shields are losing integrity."
Seven deduces, "I'll try to get at least one phaser array back online. Lieutenant…one more hit and we'll be susceptible to a hull breach."
Tuvok figures, "that ship is larger than ours. If we lure it closer to the station, it will be far more vulnerable to the gravitational eddies than we are. A tractor beam. We are being pulled toward the ship." A Hirogen ship starts to pull the shuttle towards it.
Seven concludes, "I'll try to disrupt it. Unsuccessful."
Tuvok adds, "launching a distress beacon." They easily fall unconscious under a wide red beam.
Soon after Tuvok and Seven awaken on a certain Hirogen ship…
The Hirogen captain urges, "you were pathetic prey: Easily taken. The hunt was not satisfying! I want tactical information. Where are the three legged ones? I could snap your puny neck with one twist…hardly worth taking. Answer me!"
A Tuvok bound in black leather bonds answers, "across Krenim space. We came to protect the relay station against the three legged ones. Return us to our ship…and we'll help you hunt them."
The Hirogen captain chuckles a little, "you expect us not to hunt you…after you tried to help our latest prey hunt your own people? You are treacherous prey. I took you in a fair hunt. I claim the relics of the chase. Are the others on your ship able to put up more of a fight?"
Seven challenges, "you will find our Captain a formidable opponent and our ship heavily armed."
The Hirogen captain remarks, "good. Strong prey makes for a better hunt."
Tuvok tries to reason, "release us now and you'll be safe. Otherwise, we will destroy you."
The second in command Hirogen mutters, "pitiful relics."
The Hirogen captain insists, "they're the first of their kind. I will be envied."
The second in command Hirogen reports, "I've located their ship. It's four thousand kedriks from the module."
The Hirogen captain deduces, "we'll be there within the hour. Go to stalking mode."
An hour or so later…
On the Bridge, Captain Janeway asks, "how are you coming?"
Harry Kim reports, "the ship has some kind of monotanium armor plating. It's scattering the targeting beam."
Chakotay reports, "the other three ships are closing. They're within six thousand kilometers."
Tom Paris points out, "captain…those ships have massive weapons. They're a match for our chroniton torpedoes."
Captain Janeway comments, "what about our temporal shielding?"
A random crew member at Tuvok's station reports, "still unmatched."
Chakotay concludes, "good…except for one thing: We won't be able to beam Tuvok and Seven out with our shields up."
Captain Janeway sighs, "and it'll be hard to detect where to fire. Lieutenant, target the relay station. Tom, bring us forty degrees to the left."
Tom Paris responds, "ma'am?"
Captain Janeway explains, "if we can get the Hirogen to tail us into a gravitational eddie and pull out at the last second, this should be made easy."
Tom Paris warns, "if we're not careful, we could lose structural integrity."
Captain Janeway assures him, "don't worry. We're going to be ready for it. Harry, create a low level warp field around Voyager. Sub-light energy level. That should help counteract the gravitational pull."
Chakotay points out, "if the field is too strong, we won't be able to beam Tuvok and Seven aboard."
Captain Janeway points out, "then you'll have to find the right balance…won't you, Harry?"
Harry Kim tries to hide his uneasiness, "yes, ma'am." Voyager flies towards a gravitational eddy, with the four Hirogen ships chasing the curving ship around the ancient Hirogen relay station.
Captain Janeway suggests, "try the transporter lock again, Harry."
In the ten seconds that Voyager stays in the gravitational eddy, Harry Kim points out, "I have Tuvok and Seven targeted. But, if we try to transport them now, the gravitational eddy could scatter their patterns."
Captain Janeway insists, "do it! It's our only chance to guarantee their safety."
Tom Paris reports, "captain…they're firing." The Hirogen ships start firing torpedoes at Voyager, with the gravitational eddy they're in turning the torpedoes into a mine field. The Hirogen ships start buckling under gravitational forces as Voyager accidentally hits some of the torpedoes.
The certain random crew member points out, "shields are holding."
Harry Kim urges, "the signal's weakening. We're going to lose them!"
Captain Janeway insists, "Harry! We have to risk it."
Harry Kim sighs a little to relax, "activating the transporter."
Chakotay reports, "structural integrity is failing! The hull is starting to buckle."
Tom Paris calls out, "I need more power! We're being pulled in."
Captain Janeway orders, "transfer all available power to the engines! On my mark, fire two chroniton torpedoes towards Voyager. Have thrusters ready for full reverse, Tom."
Tom Paris urges, "understood."
The mentioned random crew member reports, "on your mark."
Tom Paris reports, "I'm ready with thrusters."
Harry Kim adds, "realigning the pattern buffer. I've got one more shot at it."
Captain Janeway orders, "fire! Full reverse!" As the Hirogen ships try to pull out in time, the two exploding chroniton torpedoes from Voyager knock the Hirogen ships against each other. As they try to fire again, they end up destroying themselves instead in a huge explosion. Voyager pulls out just in time.
Harry Kim exclaims, "I got them! They're in transporter room two."
Chakotay sighs a little with relief, "it worked."
Tom Paris points out, "we're free."
Captain Janeway figures as she gets up, "resume orbit. I'll be in Astrometrics." She heads to Astrometrics.
After B'Elanna gets some more letters to deliver…
On the Bridge, B'Elanna says, "good news, Harry. I got this for you."
Harry Kim realizes, "it's from my folks. Thanks." B'Elanna then goes over to Tom Paris.
She tells him, "I was able to download yours."
Tom Paris figures, "all right…I'll look at it." He starts to head back to his quarters.
B'Elanna offers, "mind one more?"
Tom Paris figures, "I sure don't mind having you around."
B'Elanna concludes, "sounds good." She accompanies Tom Paris to his quarters.
Not long after…
Captain's Log, Supplemental. Seven of Nine and Commander Tuvok suffered no serious physical damage after their encounter on the alien ship. I've been eager to hear Tuvok's impressions of the species who took them hostage. And with more letters expected to come, crew morale has gone up significantly.
Minutes later…
Tuvok reports, "I learned very little about them, but I believe we should consider them extremely dangerous. They seem to lack any moral centre."
Captain Janeway checks, "do you know why the relay station was so important to them?"
Tuvok deduces, "no. I assume they used it for communications as we did."
Captain Janeway remarks, "and they don't share with other races?"
Tuvok concludes, "I doubt we've seen the last of them."
Captain Janeway urges, "come in."
Tuvok implies as he leaves, "if you'll excuse me. Commander."
Chakotay reports, "repair teams have inspected the ship from stem to stern. With help from the temporal shielding, everything seems fine."
Captain Janeway figures, "thank Kes."
Chakotay chuckles a little as he sits down, "but how are you doing?"
Captain Janeway insists, "me? I'm fine."
Chakotay remarks, "you'd say that if you'd just had your legs torn off by a Trakan Beast. Look what we've been through in the last fifty six days. We finally make a connection with home that we shouldn't even have started in this time of war. We manage to make another enemy who's going to try and hunt us down and destroy us…and on top of that…"
Captain Janeway remarks, "it's all right. You can say it. On top of all that, I got a Dear John letter. It wasn't really a surprise. I guess I didn't really expect him to wait for me considering the circumstances. It made me realize that I was using him as a safety net…you know…as a way to avoid becoming involved with someone else."
Chakotay points out, "you don't have that safety net anymore."
Captain Janeway figures, "that's right. Then again, my life is far from uneventful here in the Delta quadrant. It's not like I would have had a chance to pursue a relationship…even if I had realized I was alone."
Chakotay assures her, "you're hardly alone…and to my way of thinking…there's still plenty of time."
Captain Janeway adds, "plenty of time. Least there's still Voyager."
Meanwhile…
In Tom Paris's quarters' sofa, Tom Paris was reading out loud to B'Elanna the last part of his letter, "for once in your life, you seem to be heading in the right direction. I don't know what the Delta Quadrant has done to you, but you sound more together now. You're reformed for the better…and I couldn't be more proud. Signed, Admiral Owen Paris."
B'Elanna chuckles a little, "reformed?"
Tom Paris comments, "you thought I was kidding. He didn't even apologize for all the times he pushed me…or miss me."
B'Elanna points out, "or maybe he doesn't know how."
Tom Paris figures with a sigh, "maybe. Least there's always you."
B'Elanna points out bittersweetly, "least I have you."
