Stardate 48319.3
Part Thirteen: Battle Begins
AN: This chapter comes to us thanks to my muse being tickled by reading Delwin's stories. If you haven't perused them, I suggest you do. Thank you, for the ideas. I love your characterisation of Tom and B'Elanna.
I'm sure most ST:Voyager fans have seen the rank inconsistencies during the first season. Tuvok is referred to as Lieutenant but has Lt. Commander insignia. The same is true of Lt. Paris. The second pip only becomes black in Episode 12. I'm going with full Lieutenant in my AU. In this timeline, Tom is five years older than B'Elanna. She exited the academy at 19, in her second year. Tom's been promoted to Lieutenant (jg) when they meet. Initially he lies about the crash and remained in Starfleet. So by the time he's cashiered out of Starfleet, I assume he'd made full Lieutenant. More of that in another story, if their's enough interest.
"Voyager to Chakotay," Janeway had her operations officer open a channel between the ships. There were less than an hour away from their rendezvous point with Paris and Torres at their present speed. Current intelligence suggested they increase velocity.
"Put it on screen, Seska," Chakotay commanded. As soon as the visual came through , he acknowledged, "go ahead, Captain."
Seska and Ayala had taken over bridge duties while Chakotay spoke with Janeway after rescuing Kes and Neelix from the Kazon. The pair didn't match Torres and Paris in skills, but they'd have to do for the time being. The remainder of his crew had made enough repairs to fend off any unwanted attention. Which was just as well with the news about to be delivered from Voyagers long range sensors.
"We have detected two Kazon vessels approaching the Array," Janeway offered the information easily, taking in the three individuals seated in the smaller ships cockpit. "They appear to be small raiders, about the same size as Val Jean. We estimate they will reach the Caretaker's station twenty minutes prior to our arrival."
"Have Tuvok send over an analysis of their capabilities," Chakotay requested. "Our sensors are still being repaired."
"I don't want to engage them, if at all possible, Mr. Chakotay," Janeway stated, one eyebrow rising. "My intention is to beam an away team to the array and bring our people home. Once we have Paris and Torres safely on board, I hope to open a dialogue with the Caretaker."
Seska couldn't help snort at the idea. Rolling her eyes, she muttered, "lets just ask him to send us home!"
A look from Chakotay silenced her. Returning his attention to the screen, Val Jean's Captain couldn't help approach this from a Maquis perspective where little turned out to be so simple. So far the old man with the banjo hadn't been all that helpful. In more diplomatic terms, Chakotay communicated his doubts. Voyager, by venture of its size and capacity, had to be the commanding ship in this minuscule convoy. Beside, he'd given his word they would work together until Torres and Paris were safe.
They played it by the Starfleet book, for as much good as it did. Janeway, along with Tuvok and two security personnel beamed over to the array. They found Paris and Torres waiting on the porch of Aunt Adah's house, seemingly whiling away the afternoon.
"Took you long enough," Tom wore is trademark nothings going to annoy me mask that hid his true feelings. Beside him a holosphere of the space surrounding the array demonstrated four vessels currently in orbit, friend and foe clearly demarcated. Beyond that, B'Elanna Torres watched proceedings with narrowed eyes. It seemed the couple had been patiently awaiting their rescue.
Kathryn Janeway could see the fatigue covering both faces. In Tom Paris's case, his expression disguised his wariness, and emotional unease that permeated the atmosphere surrounding him. Not knowing B'Elanna Torres, her expression was inscrutable to the captain, yet gave off a distinctly suspicious aura. Instinct played a part in choosing to handle them very carefully. It seemed their time alone and together made the bond stronger and yet pulled them apart.
Perhaps, she considered, that's the type of relationship they share. It couldn't be easy, married a month, separated for a year, only to be thrown together again under the current circumstances. I don't envy their future, or the repercussions they know nothing about.
"I'm glad to see you arrived to the array in one piece, Mr. Paris, Ms. Torres," Janeway offered with her own mocking smile. It was appreciated by Paris but not his companion. Somehow, Kathryn couldn't bring herself to say wife. That secret was for Paris and Torres to share as they wished. "Mr. Jarvis will transport back to Voyager with you."
"If its all the same to you," B'Elanna issued the request in a barely civil tone, "I'd prefer to beam back to Val Jean."
"Mr. Chakotay though you might disagree with my plan, Ms. Torres. We spoke of your previous," pausing, Janeway trapped the young engineer's gaze, challengingly, "acquaintance and what might have occurred, confined together in that city."
"Captain," Tom interrupted the battle of wills between the two women. B'Elanna's stubbornness matched Janeway's. There wouldn't be any winners.
"You have no right," B'Elanna stated, hurt, horrified and furious that someone other than Tom was digging around in her private life, "nor does Chakotay."
"That's where you're wrong," emphasised the Captain. "The wellbeing of my crew gives me every right, Ms. Torres. Your extensive association to my observer is of the utmost significance in how we proceed. You're both to report to sickbay and have the doctor look you over. Then," Janeway's expression softened as her eyes flicked to her very obviously apprehensive observer, "your free to choose your future. I'm sure Mr. Paris has filled you in. Tom?"
"I have, Captain," he answered. All his hard won composure almost crumbled. "We'll discuss it on Voyager."
"Very good," she nodded. "Janeway to Voyager."
"Captain," Rollins voice came over the com sounding relieved. "The Kazon are powering up their weapons and hailing us. So far they don't know an away team is on the array."
"Lock on to my signal and beam myself and Lt. Tuvok directly to the bridge," she ordered.
The tingle of the transporter encompassed everyone in the party. Tom and B'Elanna found themselves in sick bay with an entourage of two security officers guarding the exit. Without a word the couple allowed the Emergency Medical Hologram to look them over. Once he'd finished, Tom asked for a moment alone with B'Elanna. It seemed they'd been briefed to allow the request.
"I have to get back to Val Jean," B'Elanna stated before her husband could speak.
"I'm not going to stand in your way, B'El," Tom responded carefully, his eyes watching as she jumped from the bio bed and paced like a caged animal. "I'm not sure how your actions will be seen by the Federation. Returning to a Maquis ship of your own accord after being granted a full pardon."
"That's what this is about," she exploded, turning on her husband, enraged beyond the ability to control a litany of Klingon profanities even the universal translator refused to touch. "You traded your freedom for mine. Of all the stupid… Tom, look at me. I know what you told me on the Ocampan World. I guess it just didn't really sink in. What made you think I'd accept such an offer? I may not have taken up the fight for the same reasons as Chakotay and the others, but they need me and my skills in a way the Federation would never approve of. I've seen too much, not to be swayed by their cause."
"Go, B'El," he hung his head. Tom Paris was defenceless in the face of such overwhelming odds. "I've asked you to stay before and accepted the consequences for being a romantic."
"What the hell is that suppose to mean?" B'Elanna demanded, coming to stand face to face with the man she thought would put up more of a fight. It seemed he'd followed her to the array but hadn't believe her declaration of facing the future together.
"I know you'll do what you thinks best for you," the sad smile encompassed his face, "and you should."
Watching as she stalked to the exit cursing in Klingon the entire way, Tom wondered if his life could become any more painfully complicated. Shaking his head, he knew one thing. Nothing like Caldik Prime could possibly occur again. His mind could be as far away as he pleased because there wasn't a chance in the universe that he be piloting anything any time soon. Thomas Eugene Paris could let his thoughts slip back to his wife and those few precious moments of happiness they shared whenever he chose, without causing a major incident and killing three innocent people with his inattention.
"Bring the weapons systems online," Janeway had hit the bridge running, the couple in sickbay forgotten. "Red alert."
"The lead Kazon ship is still hailing us, Captain," Tuvok reported.
"On screen," she ordered. What followed was posturing of the worst kind. Analysing the situation, Janeway knew they needed to go back to the array and locate the Caretaker if they were to have a remote possibility of returning to the Alpha quadrant. So far only Chakotay and Tuvok knew of their secondary objective. Given the animosity between Tom Paris and B'Elanna Torres, she didn't know if, or when the married couple would be ready to hear the news.
"Mr. Kim," Janeway called to her operations officer, "hail Val Jean."
"Aye, Captain," Harry responded.
"Janeway to Chakotay," she didn't have time for pleasantries. Two events entered the periphery of her awareness. Tom Paris entered the bridge and came to stand at her right shoulder, dressed in Starfleet red. On the Maquis ship, B'Elanna Torres relieved the Bajoran woman at the engineering station. "I see you have your Chief Engineer back. Tuvok and I are beaming back to the Array. Can you hold off the Kazon?"
Chakotay watched the screen, his gaze arrowed in on Paris standing behind his Captain. The man did not look happy. If the emotion rolling of his second officer were any indication, Torres wasn't overjoyed either. Intrigued, he wondered what had happened during their incarceration.
"I think so, Captain," he offered in a soft tone.
"Good," Janeway turned her attention to the person standing beside her. "Mr. Paris, take the conn."
Before the screen flicked off, Chakotay saw the rapid expressions crossing Tom's face. He almost felt sorry for him, until his sarcastic smile settled over the young mans features. That was the Paris the Maquis Captain knew intimately. At his side, B'Elanna made a noise half way between a sob and a grunt, as if she'd just lost something intangible.
"Yes, ma'am," Paris responded automatically. His anxiety shuttered behind a forced façade of nonchalance, Tom moved toward the forward console. Taking in a soft but deep breath, he knew the Captain had given him an opportunity to prove himself. He understood why. All his sacrifice had been for nothing. His wife had chosen the Maquis over him.
The attack continued as the Captain and Acting First Officer beamed off the bridge. Val Jean and Voyager took one raider apiece. Chakotay's ship, smaller and more manoeuvrable, chased their target around the array. Voyagers larger size limited her ability to firing phasers from a greater range.
Before either vessel could claim victory, the Kazon mother ship approached with all weapons trained on Voyager. The smaller craft retreated to a safe distance, waiting for the kill. Jabin took exception to these aliens intruding on his territory. Chakotay watched on his forward screen as his target moved out of weapons range. Analysing the damage to Voyager, he had to conclude the battle was hardly fair.
"Their weapons array has been hit," Chakotay stated. "They're in trouble."
"Neither of us has enough fire power to stop that ship," B'Elanna added.
If her thoughts went to Paris, she didn't display her anxiety. Chakotay understood they had more chance of surviving only if Voyager remained operational. He couldn't even fit the complement of the Federation starship on his vessel, let alone outrun the Kazon mother ship if Janeway's vessel were destroyed.
Making a decision, the Captain of Val Jean opened a channel to Voyager's bridge. What he saw surprised him. Knowing Paris had been a full Lieutenant prior to leaving Starfleet, the man was the most experienced and qualified officer on the bridge.
"I'm setting a collision course, but the guidance system is disabled. I'll have to pilot the ship manually. Get the crew ready to beam to Voyager. And drop shields for transport," Chakotay ordered his second officer. B'Elanna obeyed without a word. She knew the tactics required to win against insurmountable odds.
Looking up in to the ice blue eyes of Voyager's commanding officer, Chakotay smirked. "Paris," he accepted the young man's authority, "my crew's coming over. Tell one of your crackerjack Starfleet transporter chiefs to keep a lock on me. I'm going to try and take some heat off your tail."
"Acknowledged," Paris responded in a clipped tone. He knew the strategies the Maquis used in their cat and mouse game with the Cardassian's. It seemed Chakotay was prepared to sacrifice his ship to save them all. "Paris out."
Just how it occurred, Tom Paris would never know. Somehow the other officers on the bridge had been looking to him for direction since the Captain ordered him to the con. He might be a Starfleet washout, but he was the best option they had. Until that moment, Tom hadn't realised just how inexperienced the bridge crew were.
Then again, he considered, this was supposed to be a short shakedown cruise. Even Cavit was newly promoted. Hell, I've got more experience in my little finger than that brown noser. Only the Captain and Tuvok have more seasoning. I hate to admit it, but I'd even give my back teeth for Chakotay's wisdom right now.