Chapter Ten
Location: Deep Space
Romulan Controlled Vessel Bortias
Medical Staff ran around the burnt form of Lieutenant Steele as he drifted in and out of consciousness, his injuries where severe as he suffered burns too 95% of his body, his clothes melted too his body from the intense heat and the detonator of the device was almost fused into his artificial arm as the flesh had almost burnt off, revealing the mechanical components of his arm. Stood over the charred body, Tom Paris looked on in shock as he attempted too comfort his friend in anyway he could.
"Jack, Jack… listen too me. Voyager has been alerted… The EMH is standing by. The hostages are getting help… Jack, I'm sorry. It should've been me not you. You have a wife and child on the way… Jesus Jack, stay with us"
"I'm sorry Lieutenant Paris, he can't hear you…" Called out a Doctor. "… We have a channel too DS9 Standing by, you must alert his wife"
"No, not yet. Jack… we're doing all we can. You'll be okay, I promise!"
"Sorry Lieutenant, we have get him into…"
"GO NOW!" Paris yelled.
Screaming through space, the two Romulan controlled vessels exited warp along the USS Voyager and transported the badly injured Lieutenant directly too Sickbay as the EMH and Captain looked on in shock.
"Report?" The EMH said firmly.
"95% burns, this device is fused too his hand, we've managed too heal what we can, unfortunately Human physiology was not a required course for us" A Romulan doctor said quickly.
Paris materialised beside Captain Janeway as she spoke quickly.
"Tom, Report!"
"Mission success Captain. The Bortias had only power for one beam out at a time. He told me too go first, the next ting, we heard weapons fire and an explosion… he beamed in on fire…"
"Doctor, will he survive?" She said quickly.
"I will do what I can!" the EMH called out.
"Red Alert! Captain Janeway too the bridge!"
"What is Tuvok?" She said abruptly.
"Captain, detecting several Reman ships on an intercept course, their weapons and shields are activated"
"On my way. Tom, we need you at the helm"
"Yes Captain" He said slowly. "Sorry Jack, it should've been me!"
The message of the injuries too Lieutenant Steele had been received by Deep Space Nine as the USS Churchill screamed though space at above maximum warp, her overpowered engines began too shake the ship under the stress called upon them by the officer in command.
"In range?" She yelled.
"Not yet Ma'am…"
"Faster!" Alison screamed.
"Ma'am, she'll fly apart!" Cried out the Helm officer.
"I don't care. Fly this thing apart then, we have got too reach him" She said close too tears.
He was dropping in and out of consciousness picking up only fragments of the conversations around him which seemed to be concerned with burns and some other damage he could never pick up on before darkness. His mind raced as he looked around the darkened room more as pain shot through his body.
"Hello? I'm here… where are you, you bastard?" He screamed.
"Right here. Ohh, I'll never leave you… after all, you need me"
The vision of himself almost mocked him as he sat in what appeared to be a command chair from a Starship.
"What are you doing?" Steele called out.
"Ohh, this is where it all began for you, isn't it?" He reflection called out.
Looking around quickly, a bridge appeared around him as weapons blasts slammed into what could only be called the reflections of those he once served with.
"Eldridge, why am I here?" He demanded.
"You have always been here Jackson, you exist here…"
"I don't understand"
"You lost more then your arm here Jackson, you where a good officer with a promising future, but you threw it all away. You bounced around from ship too ship for a year or two before you landed on the Enterprise… you thought you didn't belong there, so you shut yourself down from everything and everyone…"
The images around him changed from the bridge of the Achilles too the bridge of the USS Enterprise NCC-300-E as he looked around in shock at the people gathered around him going about their daily business.
"It was your fault wasn't it Jack? You saw the trap, but you never spoke out. Look at them, Beverly Crusher, Ensign Tyler, Lieutenant Stone… all dead because you did not report what you saw. You where concentrating on something else…"
"Liar!" He called out.
"No, you! Are the liar… you can't lie too me Jack, I'm you… remember? You are responsible for the destruction of the Enterprise-E and now Voyager will suffer the same fate… all because you are onboard"
"Voyager?" He said slowly.
"Ohh yes, did you really think that the Remans would let you get away with destroying their capital city?" His reflection laughed. "All you have to do, is give in Jack… let go, do not fight it. Everyone will be safe"
"NO!" He cried out loud.
Pain ran through his body as he felt hands and a cooling sensation on his body while the ship rocked hard in all directions.
"Lieutenant, can you hear me?"
"I… No!" He called out.
On the bridge of the USS Voyager, consoles exploded as several large vessels fired their weapons into the weakening shields of the ship they surrounded while the bridge crew attempted to stay in their seats as they where thrown in all directions from the weapons fire.
"Shields are at 45% and falling" Tuvok called out.
"Tom, pattern Sigma twelve, correction… Kirk Alpha Nine" Janeway yelled.
"K-A-9..." Paris yelled.
"Captain, picking up something… unusual above us…"
The ship began too shake violently as consoles exploded all over the bridge while above the ship a large unknown vessel appeared seemingly out of nowhere as weapons fire exploded from the vessel into the many surrounding enemy ships. Jumping too her feet, Janeway look in shock as she spoke quickly.
"I don't care who they are, lets help them out!"
"Targeting the closest ship" Tuvok said quickly.
"Captain, receiving a text message from that ship, it says simply 'Voyager… RUN'" Kim said quickly.
"Tom?"
"On it Captain!" Paris said.
"Wait, picking up a ship closing fast… the Reman ship's are being hailed, patching it through"
"The is the Federation Starship Churchill too Reman vessels, halt your attack and return too your own space with immediate effect, you have entered Federation Space and are attacking a Federation vessel. Withdraw now, or be destroyed!"
"Who is this?" A Reman laughed.
"My name is not important, that I currently have 45 Quantum torpedoes armed and ready and all Phaser banks fully charged. Leave now, I have the authorisation too fire upon you if you are still around when this vessel arrives!"
"Harry, patch me in too the Romulan ships…"
"Yes Captain! Ready"
"This is Captain Kathryn Janeway of the Starship Voyager… or records indicate that the Churchill is a Defiant class Starship, with Voyager, the ship above me… you are out gunned! Leave NOW!"
"Well said Captain!" The woman said over the speakers. "Have you ever known a Defiant Class ship too work alone? As I speak, eight heavily armed vessels are minutes behind me. You are outnumbered and out gunned. Get out of Federation space before they arrive, or I will instruct them too come in firing you have one minute too comply!"
"The day is yours Voyager… but we will meet again, I give you my word!"
On the main viewscreen before them, the large Reman ships cloaked and disappeared into warp as Janeway sighed with relief. On the main screen, the large unknown vessel came into view as she slowly stood and looked at her chief of security.
"Tuvok?"
"Sensors can not penetrate the hull Captain, it appears to be reflecting all sensors away from the ship itself…"
"A stealth bomber" Paris said with a smile.
"What?" Janeway said quickly.
"In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, aircraft used a stealth technology that would deflect radar away from the aircraft, rendering it almost invisible too radar. What ever that ship is, it appears to be working on the same principle"
"A highly effective stealth technology… very impressive" Tuvok said, almost with a smile.
Dropping out of warp along side Voyager, the tiny Defiant class vessel took up position next too the large ship as her commanding officer beamed directly too the bridge seemingly through their shields which shocked everyone on the bridge. Quickly looking up at the woman stood before the viewscreen, Tom Paris stood and spoke too the security teams as they drew their weapons instantly.
"Lower your weapons… Alison? I'm Tom Paris"
"Paris?" She said with a look of concern on her face.
"Mister Paris, who is this woman?" Janeway said quickly.
"This is Alison Crusher, Jack Steele's wife. We met briefly Alison, although you wouldn't recognise me… I had a bag on my head" Paris said with a smile.
"You're the hostage?"
"A bag, Tom what's going on?" Kim said laughing.
"Where is he?" She demanded.
"Sickbay…" Janeway said quickly. "Tom, take her…"
"Yes Ma'am"
"Mrs Steele, you should prepare yourself, the Lieutenant's injuries are…"
"From what I heard, he's been in an explosion?" She said as she walked towards the captain.
"Yes, we don't know the whole story… Tom will fill you in on the way"
"Thank you Captain"
Walking towards the closest turbolift, she stepped inside as Janeway turned and spoke once more.
"Mrs Steele, that vessel out there…"
"I've never seen it before Ma'am" She said slowly.
Walking through the vessel with Tom Paris at her side, he explained everything that had happened since they both left Deep Space Nine, stopping at the door to the sickbay she turned quickly as she spoke.
"Wait… are you sure?"
"Perfectly, the two Romulan ships transferred the hostages over too us, after recent events, the EMH performed a full scan on him. It is Jean-Luc Picard"
A slight smile cracked over her worried face as she nodded with relief slightly, although her worry for her husband and the father of her unborn child was great, the relief that her father could be alive, even though injured was a great relief too her.
As the doors slide open, the sickbay was covered with injured officers on bio-beds and sat on the floor as medical staff tended too them with great care. In the centre of the room was the isolation section, a large forcefeild surrounded the area as the EMH exited passing through the forcefeild as if it was not active while a nurse closed the curtains which covered the isolated bio-bed.
"Lieutenant Commander Crusher? I am the ship's EMH. May I have a word with you in private?"
"Of course, how is he?"
"Not here. Please wait for me in the office, I will follow shortly. Mister Paris, now that you have finished shaking the ship, we need an extra pair of hands"
"Of course" He nodded.
Stood awaiting for the EMH in the chief medical officer's office, she shook slightly with fear of what he would say as her hands clenched into fists uncontrollably as he entered.
"Please, take a seat Commander"
"I'll stand" She said softly.
"Very well. The prognosis is good, however your husband will require intensive medical attention, more then I can give him here. With your permission, I would like too have him transferred too Deep Space Nine, their medical facilities are far greater then the ones on this vessel"
"Of course. What happened?"
"It's still unclear at this point. However, we believe that before he transported too the Romulan vessel, he activated the explosives that Lieutenant Paris had placed too cover their escape. Unfortunately, he was stood close too one of the explosives, judging by the injuries he sustained"
"My god! What injuries Doctor?"
"He suffered burns too over 90% of his body, his clothes had melted too his skin and the artificial flesh on his cybernetic arms had burned off. A small device had fused itself too his hand, possibly the trigger device itself" The Doctor said bluntly.
"Can I see him?" She replied as she sat down in shock.
"Not at this time. We have too keep the room clean for fear of infections too the wounds… I had too specifically create a holographic nurse as a copy of my own matrix in order too assist me"
"Of course. How long before I can see him?" She wept.
"I will know more soon, I will contact you the instant I know anything. However there is something you should be made aware of… the Romulan Doctors missed it, he has a large amount of Stimulants in his system, far more then he should have…"
"What? No that's not possible, he never took anything like…"
"Commander, Mister Paris reported that he observed the Lieutenant taking Stimulants in order too stay awake…"
"W-What are you saying?" She said past her tears.
"Judging by the amount of Stimulants in his system, his body will go into shock if I remove it, in his current condition, it would be dangerous but it is also slowing down his recovery"
"Then remove it!" She barked.
"This is where I need your permission Commander, before your arrival I spoke too Captain Janeway. As the senior officer onboard, it was her choice. If I do not give him the right dosage, he will go into withdrawal… in his current condition, I could kill him. It is your choice Mrs Steele"
"I see… Give him what he needs Doctor" She nodded firmly.
"Of course, you will have too sign…"
"I'll sign anything, just keep him alive… please?"
"We'll do what we can" He nodded.
Signing a release form on a Medical Padd, she took one more look at the isolated section of the sickbay as the doctor passed through the forcefeild and disappeared behind the curtain. As it opened slightly, she caught a glimpse of her husband and the horrific injuries too his face and chest. Shaking with fear, her legs gave way form under her as her emotions took over and she collapsed only too be caught by Tom Paris.
"He'll be okay, he's the most stubborn asshole that I know. I'm sure he's part Vulcan!" He said softly.
"He looks…"
"I know, we're doing everything we can. Come on, come with me… I think you should see someone else"
Standing slowly, Paris wrapped his arm around her shoulder as she wept freely while he walked her out of sickbay and into a private room as an elderly man lay on a bed in a private room. A large smile ran over her face as she looked at his face and walked towards him.
"Is it really you?" She smiled.
"Who, who is it?" He said with fear.
"It's me dad, it's Alison… remember me?"
Sitting up, he looked around the room as his eyes adjusted too the dim light and he looked directly into her eyes as a slow smile echoed over his face.
"Alison? My god, look at you… you've grown" He said with tears.
"Dad!"
Quickly, she ran towards the bio-bed and wrapped her arms around her father as she let loose of her tears as his thin arms wrapped around her in a frail hug.
"He's malnourished, he suffered from dehydration and a few illnesses… he should be fine in a few days" Paris said slowly.
"Thank you Tom! Thank you…"
"Not a problem, I'll leave you two alone. Call me if you need anything, both of you. I'll let you know the instant I hear anything, I promise"
Leaving the room, Tom re-entered the main sickbay as she sat on the side of her father's bad and brushed his long hair from his face as he slowly sat up and looked at her.
"What's wrong?" He said with a frail voice.
"We thought you where dead… everyone"
"That doctor told me everything, the clone… the troubles with the Federation… is it really that bad?"
"Worse. I don't care right now, what happened too your hand?" She said as she took his injured hand in hers softly.
"When I… got used too the beatings, the changed their minds and took pieces of me. I stayed strong, I told them nothing" He said proudly.
"I know. I'm sorry, I'm so very sorry… we should've known. We should've come for you!"
"You're shaking. What's wrong Alison?" He said with concern.
"Everything dad. Mom's dead… do you remember that man who freed you?"
"Vaguely!"
"He's injured dad, badly injured… I can't do anything for him" She wept.
"Why? Who is he?" Picard said with concern for his daughter.
"His name is Jack. He was a helm officer onboard the Enterprise, he's my husband dad"
"What?" He said with a smile "You're… How long?"
"A little over a year. He's a good man dad… a very good man. He's been framed for a murder of an Admiral, if he survives he'll be…"
"That won't happen!" Picard said firmly.
"You don't understand dad, there's more going on then you know"
"I know one thing, that man saved me, and I was made aware of others by that Doctor who just left" Picard growled.
"That's Tom Paris, he's a helm officer"
"I don't care. I will not let anyone take him away from you, you've lost far too much…"
"More dad, I'm pregnant…"
For the first time in over four years, a large smile ripped across his face as he hugged his daughter softly and spoke with pure joy in his voice.
"That's great… when is… how far?"
"I found out not long ago… can you help us? Please dad!"
"What ever you need, I'm going to be a grandfather!" He yelled with joy.
The horrific experiences of the past four years melted away in seconds as he looked deep into her eyes and nodded with pride in himself. With a smile, he looked at her as for the first time, he caught a glimpse of her rank pips and smiled with great pride in her.
"Lieutenant Commander?"
"First Officer… of the Enterprise"
"Impressive, good too see the old ship is still around" He smiled. "I was told it was destroyed"
"That's a long story, for another time. It's good too have you back…" She said with a forced smile.
The two Federation Starships hung in space for what seemed like hours as they both attempted too make contact with the so far unknown vessel hanging above them. Too the shock of both Starships and without contact, it disappeared into whatever form of propulsion it used as the two ships leapt into warp towards Deep Space Nine.