April 2015
Disclaimer: See Chapters One & Two.
Chapter Eleven
Amber Delight
Strange whistling rang around the ship as it sped through Rigellian territory. Torres and her engineering team had been battling hard trying to find the source of the noise, ever since it had manifested itself four days previously; although they'd tweaked and re-tuned the engines the annoying whistles persisted. If anything it had seemed to get worse; thus Voyager was only travelling at warp two. Torres wondered if they should drop out of warp all together until they found the cause of the problem, because the whistles were driving her nuts and thus she vented her temper often.
The engineering personnel were not the only ones experiencing problems with the whistles. All areas of the ship were under duress, tempers flared, nerves frayed, even normally placid persons were feeling the pinch. Seven tried to ignore them in her usual Borg-ivied fashion, but it wasn't easy as the whistles penetrated her regeneration cycle, disturbing her sleep pattern; Icheb's also. The only person who appeared unaffected was Chakotay as he went about ships business and yet there was something not quite right with him either; he avoided the Captain if he could and she didn't seem all that put out or inquire as to his whereabouts if he was not on Bridge duty at the same time as her.
Conn report in hand Tom Paris stood outside Chakotay's office waiting for the man to give him clearance to enter, but instead of a voice he heard a dull thud. He called the man's name twice and rang the bell again, on getting no replies; he called for a medical security over-ride instead. Entering the room urgently he found Chakotay flaked out on the floor, unconscious. Checking for a pulse he found it weak and erratic, the man's coppery skin pale and shallow, and thus he called for 'Medical Emergency' transport to sickbay, where he assisted the Doctor in his diagnosis and treatment of the Commander.
"Thank you, Mr. Paris; I'll handle things from here. You should return to your duty shift on the Bridge," pausing in his task of making his patient comfortable and re-checking the clam-shell monitors. "Please ask Lt. Cmdr. Tuvok to report here, discreetly." The pilot acknowledged him with a swift nod and left Sickbay. "I agree, Little one! It is time he acknowledged you," he said softly in response to the urgent whistles.
=/\=
On the Bridge ignoring the whistles was as impossible as anywhere else on the ship. Tuvok left his station once Paris had spoken to him; not that Janeway noticed as Torres called from Engineering:
=/\= Captain. We still can not find the cause. I recommend we drop out of warp =/\= her voice rising above the increased volume of the whistles. Janeway nodded silent agreement to Tom Paris as he took the helm.
"We're at impulse, Captain."
Everyone strained to listen as silence greeted them. Nothing! Janeway turned to OP's.
"Ensign?" she questioned. The young Asian man shook his head, the silence unnerving. "Engineering? Torres?"
"Well it's stopped for the moment, that's all, I'm going to say for now," noted Torres grudgingly. "Who's whistling?" she snapped a moment later. Softly at first the semi-musical whistles penetrated through the com-system from engineering to the Bridge. Torres' irate tone could be heard along with some very colourful Klingon curses.
"Computer, close the channel to engineering," she ordered. "I can do without that sort of language," she added taking her seat, once the noises from deck eleven ceased, although the soft whistles remained. Paris said nothing, knowing he would later get a colourful earful from his wonderful wife, when they'd both retired for the night. He knew better than anyone just how B'Elanna felt about the current situation with these whistles that had manifested themselves after they'd passed the last of the Rigellian outer colony planets. It was if Janeway wanted to put as much distance between Voyager and the Rigellians as quickly as possible, which was strange as the Aliens had been welcomed with open arms the first time round - as if he could ever forget that purple eyed coyote A'Gerin. After the race, the Royal House had done all they could to assist them with supplies and substantial repairs. That notwithstanding he knew these whistles and his wife's temper were not good for his continued good health. That thought caused him to remember how he'd discovered Chakotay an hour earlier; all his medical training told him that the man was suffering from the onset of malnutrition, yet how was that possible? Neelix certainly fed them as well as their supplies allowed and replicator rations were certainly nutritious. He'd have to do some discreet checking of the Commander's replicator usage as soon as his shift was over. Paris looked round at Janeway with a puzzled frown as to why she'd not asked as to Cmdr. Chakotay's whereabouts, yet again. Her face asked him a question, when she noted him looking at her, but he just smiled and turned back to his console, the soft whistles an ever present background noise once more.
=/\=
In Sickbay the Vulcan Security Chief listened calmly to the EMH's diagnosis of his current unconscious patient and the possible cause.
"Much as I hate to admit this I can see only one course of action." The dark skinned male nodded his understanding to the holographic medic, troubled by the whistles but for very different reasons to the rest of the crew.
"I have been preparing for this event and yet hoping it wouldn't be necessary," he admitted softly. "Computer secure Sickbay code Tuvok alpha 447," he said with quiet patience. Taking a few deep breaths to prepare mentally he approached the bio-bed and the comatose male. Speaking telepathically, the whistles immediately became more muted in response, and then he leaned forward and placed his hands in the required position for a mind-meld. "Your mind to my mind, your thoughts to my thoughts, Commander Chakotay,"
The Vulcan suddenly found himself in a dark place, yet it was not cold or foreboding; carefully he studied the area without moving. Trees stood tall and silent around him, no creature or sound stirred in that darkness, yet it wasn't night-time for no stars shone in the inky black sky above the autumn bare branches. The place felt warm with a soft scent that tickled the senses and yet reminded Tuvok of the man he sort, earthy.
/Go away!/ spoke an angry voice.
"I cannot," he responded calmly, feeling a strong mind trying to push him away.
/Why come?/ the question sounded more like a challenge, than an acknowledgement of his presence. Now he could see a huddled figure seated on the ground in the rough clearing just ahead of him, within a soft pool of silver light, although no moon lit the sky. /NO!/
"If you did not want me to find you; you would not have become visible to me," he reasoned quietly as he moved to kneel down beside the huddled figure. Fear, relief, pain and confusion all vied for attention across the tattooed and expressive face before him. "Come," offering his hand.
/Why?/ dark eyes wide and black; He was holding on tight to what appeared to be a large silver/white dog, or so Tuvok thought at first, until it turned its yellow/amber eyes on him.
/You must go/ it said, the voice feminine. /You know why, my friend/ she softly admonished him. /Jewels of such worth are hard to find/ she said, licking his face, wiping away his silent tears. /Don't lose them now/ she urged. He buried his face in her fur, tightening his hug a moment, and then reached out and took Tuvok's offered hand. The Vulcan helped them both to their feet and then the next moment they found themselves in Sickbay. Loud jubilant whistles greeted them, causing Chakotay some alarm.
"I think you'd better answer her," Tuvok said calmly standing beside the bio-bed, hands behind his back. "All of Voyager can hear her."
"I wouldn't go anywhere near engineering for a while. Or B'Elanna will probably have your head," the Doctor quipped, scanning his reluctant and prone patient. Still hesitant he stayed silent. "Commander Chakotay," the Doctor's tone firm. "You are not going mad or crazy, even if the rest of the crew are. Answer her," he commanded.
"But Janeway made it clear,"
"You let Lt. Cmdr. Tuvok and I deal with that problem," he said reassuringly, stalling the male from saying more. "You concentrate on bringing Rozene home," he added softly.
Tuvok watched the exchange whilst mentally re-centring himself; he heard the male call the little dragon's name and the tone of the whistles changed in response. Chakotay smiled weakly and relaxed.
"I had better return to my station. I shall meditate later," he informed quietly as if a little distracted. He cancelled the security protocols and left. The Doctors expression said a lot, but tactfully did not voice it; instead he gave his patient his medical diagnosis and subsequent instructions.
"You need to get some rest." Hearing the little dragon call; Chakotay sighed deeply and closed his eyes answering the call telepathically. It wasn't long before he was naturally asleep.
=/\=
Paris got quite a shook on checking Chakotay's replicator rations and usage, although he knew the man was prudent in how he used his allocation, the figures appeared to indicate that he hadn't used them at all recently and yet he'd seen Chakotay with a non-Talaxian meal in front of him in the Mess Hall every day. On digging a little deeper, using his protocols as Assistant Medic, he soon discovered the reason. He'd been ordering a meal and then recycling it back into energy about fifteen minutes later, so apart from the energy to replicate and recycle it was as if the meal had never been made, so therefore had not been eaten. Paris downloaded his findings and went to see the EMH.
"Hi! Doc; how's Chakotay?"
"Asleep, and I'd like him to stay that way for the next couple of hours." Tom looked contrite and handed him his PADD. "Well this explains a lot," scanning the data. "Thank you, Mr. Paris."
"Glad to help," he said. "Now I'd better face and sort out another problem, one I wish was as easy to solve," sighing dramatically.
"I'm sure you'll manage, Lieutenant," the Doctor said. Paris grinned and then commented with a frown.
"Is it me or are these whistles more muted here?"
"Not that I'd noticed!" Paris shrugged and then left without further comment. "Careful Little one," he said quietly. "Hmm, let's get something done about my patient's health problems," he mused softly, going to his office he made a call.
When Chakotay awoke later, he felt rested for the first time in days, smiling in response to the soft whistles. The EMH told him that he was under a Medical Supervision order:
"So no Bridge duty," he commanded. Just then Neelix's voice came over the com-system requesting that he come to the Mess Hall; acknowledging him and cutting the call, he looked a question at the Medic.
"Mr. Neelix will be keeping an eye on your eating habits from now on. I've told him no more than he needs to know. Only you, Tuvok and I know the real cause. Better run along," he chided gently. Chakotay nodded and slide off the bio-bed and then made his steady way out of Sickbay and on into the Mess Hall.
The area was empty save for the Talaxian, who sat him down at a near-by table with a small bowl of hot mushroom soup.
"You get that inside you," returning to his kitchen. "I'll be keeping my eye on you though," he admonished with a friendly smile. Picking up the spoon he tucked in realising just how hungry he was and that he would be giving strength to Rozene also, aiding her flight toward Voyager.
"Neelix; those trading vouchers you were given, have you used them yet?" he asked casually between mouthfuls. Hearing Rozene remind him mentally of when they had been issued by the Full Council to them.
"No! Why do you ask?" puzzled whilst stirring a bowl of apple puree.
"No reason really," finishing his soup. "It's just that I'm sure they were dated," his expression an innocent smile. "Thanks for the soup, delicious," handing over the empty bowl to the now concerned alien.
"You're sure about that?" he asked carefully. Chakotay nodded solemnly. "I'd better check," he said disappearing under his counter. "I think we passed some trading posts a while back. I'll have to see the Captain about stopping at the next one," coming up with the vouchers, only to find himself alone. "Well I never! Nothing like talking to oneself!" he muttered, but pleased to have seen the tattooed male looking a little happier. He decided to see Seven first to ascertain where the next large trading post would be on their route out of Rigellian space.
=/\=
The large space station wasn't called the Trading Ring for nothing; it was just that a huge hulk of mismatched metals in the form of an oval shaped ring, with spokes of a wheel radiating out from the central control hub. For all intents and purposes it really did look like a mis-laid or discarded cart wheel floating in space – a giant sized cart wheel. It sat geo-centred within the gravitational pull of a triad of class four stars on the outer edge of a Pleiades-like open cluster of stars. This was the outer limits of the Rigellian system this is where the Free Traders really plied their trade with the surrounding nations and wanderers, like Voyager. As the sleek Federation Starship slowly approached the station guided in by the central control hub to one of the many docking ports, it was clear The Ring – as it was known locally – was well used and prosperous. Soon Voyager's bow was attached to a docking port in the main ring of the wheel.
"Huge! Doesn't cover it," noted Sam Wildman sitting with her daughter in the Mess Hall with Neelix having been watching their approach to the massive station through the hall's viewports. "It makes DS9 look miniature by comparison," she added softly her eyes sad a moment, remembering who'd she'd left behind there. Naomi eyes were wide and round with open wonder as they felt the ship's docking port click into place with the station.
"It certainly doesn't," the alien male agreed softly responding to her first comment. "It must cover the same surface area as a small colony planet," his tone awed.
On the Bridge Tuvok had just finished giving out the correct size of area and mass to the stunned Bridge crew in his usual factual manner.
"Fascinating!" he added, making a few smile at his gross understatement.
"Indeed," noted the Captain softly. "Tuvok have a security team placed at the docking port. I don't want any unexpected guests coming on board," she ordered briskly. "The crew can have shore-leave, on the station, but to keep in contact with the ship at half hourly intervals," she instructed. "And not to travel alone," she added, her tone firm.
"Understood," the Vulcan acknowledged.
"Inform Mr. Neelix he has twenty-four hours to use those vouchers," she said and disappeared into her Ready Room.
"What's up with the Captain and the Rigellian's?" someone asked, voicing for the first time what everyone was thinking over their CO's attitude towards their hosts.
"Maybe that Da'Kin has something to do with it," noted Kim quietly puzzled.
"Intriguing hypothesis, Ensign," Tuvok responded and then gave quiet orders and instructions to the crew.
=/\=
Chakotay found himself once more at the rear lounge under the shuttlebay platform his thoughts not on the station, but back toward Rigel Prime and all that had happened there. Looking out the viewports he smiled quietly pulling the native designed blanket over his shoulders tighter around him, as a small red dot appeared in the inky blackness of space between the stars. His mind called a name encouragingly, feeling elated and concerned at the same time. The dot vanished a moment only to appear again closer this time. He stepped closer to the view ports anxious for he could sense her exhaustion.
"I know you can do it," he whispered softly, dark eyes black and worried. Soon he could make out her shape against the brightness of the near-by stars as she winged her way towards the shuttlebay platform struggling to keep her wings beating. "Almost there," he encouraged his thoughts urging her onwards. The new shielding sparked as she reached it causing the little dragon to back wing her jewelled eyes whirling a mixture of rainbow colours. She tried again and this time passed through and sat on the platform edge.
/Rozene?/ he questioned concerned, calling to her and giving her a mental picture of his current location. Suddenly she appeared above him and dropped into his waiting arms, her rumbling purr reverberating right through him. "I've missed you too!" he assured her, pulling the blanket around them both, hiding her from casual eyes as he held her using it and his body to keep her warm. "Let's get to Sickbay," shaking away the tears of relief in his eyes; walking steadily from the lounge, taking care to avoid being seen by any of the crew.
On his arrival the EMH secured Sickbay and gave the little dragon a booster shot. Her rumbling purr reverberated around them as the Doctor checked her over, whilst the tattooed male hovered anxiously.
"She'll be fine," he said once he'd completed his scans. "Exhausted, but that's to be expected. Rest and frequent small nourishing meals will be all she needs, plus a comforting warm bath, I think," he explained quietly, watching the anxious care in the man's face. "Take her home, Commander."
Chakotay looked at the medic startled. He smiled with relief as the EMH repeated his last comment.
"Thank you," he whispered hoarsely still choked with emotions not all of them his own and gathered the little dragon and the blanket together.
"Commander," the Doctor called as he strode away to leave. "Let me know when you're ready." Chakotay nodded his understanding, holding the blanket close with Rozene tucked within, he left.
=/\=
NB: from Author One more chapter to go! Thanks to all the reviews, followers and favourites, much appreciated, Thank you.