Out Of Time: A Star Trek Voyager Fanfiction Story

Episode 21:

On the time ship, hours earlier…

Tom Paris comments, "well, you've been awfully quiet lately."

Chakotay points out, "so have you. It's been weeks since the last time you tried to convince me not to listen to Annorax."

Tom Paris adds, "well, you can keep playing along with Annorax's calculations…because I don't know yet how we can stop him."

Kellin urges, "please, Chakotay…Tom. Don't be alarmed. I came to rescue you."

Tom Paris wonders uneasily, "do we know you?"

Kellin sighs a little, "it's a complicated story. I'm not… I'm not sure quite how to begin. Other than that my name is Kellin. But either way, I don't want to go without you two."

Tom Paris urges, "but you say that you were on Voyager before this."

Chakotay adds, "months ago. Kellin says she's a Tracer…a kind of bounty hunter who tracks down people who try to leave their world. She found a runaway hiding on Voyager."

Tom Paris points out with a sigh, "I sure do miss them. What more proof do you need? This is just getting ridiculous!"

Chakotay adds with a sigh, "I guess I've been suspicious of Annorax for so long…that I've become more suspicious in general."

Kellin concludes with a hand on one of his, "it's ok, Chakotay: We can get through this."

Annorax concludes, "so you come from Ramura…a planet even this time ship couldn't detect. I certainly find that hard to believe."

Chakotay points out, "it used to be a closed society that wouldn't tolerate anybody trying to leave."

Kellin points out, "until it was destroyed by what you call Species 8472, any memories considered bad by the Ramuran government were wiped on a daily basis."

Annorax turns to Chakotay, "I know what it's like to love someone. You sometimes have to step back and wonder if this is what you really want."

Chakotay responds, "sounds like you've been through love yourself. I still find it hard to believe that I couldn't remember being in a relationship with someone. You think I would write down something like that."

Annorax remarks, "isn't love taken for granted?"

Kellin suggests, "if you hadn't returned the feelings, do you really think I would have taken such a risk to get back to you?"

Obrist reports, "that last volley damaged propulsion. It'll take us until tomorrow to get to the nearest portal to fluidic space."

Annorax sighs a little, "can we fully repair our ship by then?"

Obrist reveals, "we can get shields by then. That's the best we can do."

Chakotay asks, "is something wrong?"

Kellin sighs a little, "even though Krenim technology may have a cure for my pheromones blocking memory engrams, I can't seem to relax lately. Ever since Ramura was destroyed by its own ignorance, I can't help but feel like the Ramuran government could have changed for the better."

Chakotay points out, "look at it this way: If we stop Species 8472 from destroying your homeworld, the Ramurans will get a second chance."

Kellin inquires, "and what about us? I'm not one to hold back…as you may have noticed…so I'll get to the point. If Tom wasn't here, I would have still come here because of you."

Chakotay sighs a little, "well, after what I've been through…I'm willing to give us a try."

Kellin points out, "I'm sure Voyager's crew is still out there…wherever they are."

Chakotay assures her, "we'll have all the time we need to save your people."

Kellin figures a little uneasily, "I guess you're right…but it still hurts."

Chakotay sighs a little, "I can sympathize. My people were wiped out by an organization called the Dominion."

Kellin comments, "maybe we can change that back too."

Chakotay comments, "I wish I could…but stopping the Krenim from erasing races from existence is a higher priority."

At the present time, on Day One Hundred Ninety Six…

Chakotay notes down in a datapad given to him by one of Annorax's crew members, "personal log, Stardate 51813.4. Maybe Tom is right. Maybe I should relax. But, I don't want to do that. The thing is…that I want to do more than remember. I wish I could take back the mistakes I made this year with a single time incursion. Hell, I wish I could restore the Maquis. But, some mistakes are worth remembering. And I certainly don't want to lose Kellin again. If I have to, I'll help erase this time ship from existence. If I don't have to though, so much the better."

An hour or so later…

In Kellin's quarters, Kellin and Obrist are standing near each other. Kellin hands Obrist a datapad. Obrist realizes, "I see that you're done with our data test…and answering questions not covered by our data test as well."

Kellin points out, "Ramuran weapons are proton based particle beams…very tightly focused." Obrist skims the information on the datapad given to him.

Obrist realizes, "you're suggesting temporarily tying in a time incursion beam into our energy pulses?"

Kellin adds, "yes. Even with Species 8472's telepathy, those pulses will be very hard to stop." Obrist slightly lowers the datapad in his hand.

He points out, "but they aren't even the same kind of energy. It may result in canceling itself out."

Kellin insists, "I have another theory: That such pulses can be launched to a time before we were even fighting Species 8472…and before they would cancel themselves out."

Obrist concludes, "that would be very clever…but I should first read the rest of your calculations and check with Annorax about it. The data test can wait."

Kellin says, "thank you."

Obrist reminds her, "we'll be near fluidic space in six hours. You're also getting check ups and updated data tests every two weeks to see how Ramuran components affect our calculations. If you need anything, you know where I'll be." Obrist turns to leave.

Kellin adds, "of course. They won't be any personal questions though?"

Obrist turns to Kellin, "of course there won't. We just need scientific data." And with that, Obrist leaves Kellin's quarters.

Kellin sighs with partial relief, "maybe sometimes I'm too suspicious myself."

A half hour later…

Tom Paris, Chakotay, and Kellin are gathered together in Chakotay's quarters, with Kellin sitting on Chakotay's bed. Kellin suggests, "I wonder what adventures Voyager was on…before this time ship came along."

Tom Paris remarks, "mostly nasty aliens in the Delta Quadrant to clean up after…but sometimes our own crew members."

Chakotay coldly mutters, "Tom. Why can't you just let it go?"

Tom Paris sighs, "try telling that to B'Elanna!"

Kellin uneasily wonders, "did I miss something?"

Chakotay summarizes, "since the time ship had been detected by Voyager, there had been a strong disagreement among the crew as to which people to protect. As conditions on Voyager got worse, blame on Captain Janeway's growing recklessness grew…until Captain Janeway stepped down and handed command over to me. Even then, there were fights and attempted mutinies."

Kellin adds, "I'm sorry. But after what Voyager has been through, you'd think your crew would stay together."

Tom sighs a little, "if only it was that simple. I was put in the Brig for so many days…that I lost count. I know I lost my temper, but not without good reason. And what does Commander Janeway do? She keeps me in the Brig for countless days...using broken time as an excuse to keep me there!"

Kellin realizes, "that sounds bad…but at least now you have better accommodations."

Tom Paris points out, "even the most comfortable prison is still a prison. The fact that I'm away from Voyager…from friends…makes it harder to bear. But, I'm hopeful that Voyager's crew will know what the right thing to do is."

Kellin concludes, "I know how that feels."

Chakotay sighs a little, "it's partly my fault…for letting Commander Janeway be in charge of your charge. I didn't even realize that you were starting to not get along…until I realized how long Commander Janeway kept you in the Brig for. If it wasn't for our abduction, I would've released you and demoted Commander Janeway months ago."

Tom Paris chuckles a little, "thanks. I almost owed you one."

Kellin and Chakotay chuckle a little at the comment.

Two hours and fifteen minutes later…

Kellin, Chakotay, Tom Paris, Obrist, and Annorax are on the Bridge of the time ship. Obrist reports, "fifty incoming bioships…fifty six degrees to the center right." Twenty Species 8472 bioships appear near the time ship, warping space as they transport from fluidic space.

Annorax orders, "fire chroniton pulses!"

Tom Paris asks, "chroniton pulses?"

Kellin adds, "just a nice little surprise I helped make."

Chakotay realizes, "so that's why you were talking to Annorax…and why you aren't on your shuttle." The bright blue energy beams accompanied by small time incursions fired upon the incoming bioships start multiplying into many energy beams in a grid like formation. Before Species 8472 can react, the bioships are taken out easily by this field of energy beams.

Kellin points out, "it wouldn't be a surprise if I told you earlier."

Tom Paris comments, "I sure wouldn't want to double cross you."

Kellin figures, "in a way…that sounds like a compliment."

Annorax figures, "if this works, the Krenim Imperium will be back...with a new hope."

Chakotay sighs a little, "here's hoping."

Obrist calls out, "a hundred bioships…forty seven degrees to the lower left! They're charging weapons." The grid of remaining energy beams had mostly faded away, but some of the remaining energy beams hit some of the most recently warped parts of space nearby. A tear into the space-time continuum opens up into fluidic space. Hundreds of bioships there turn towards the time ship and start to charge up in formations of five.

Chakotay reminds Annorax, "remember: We don't need to erase them from existence."

Annorax urges, "you don't think I know that? Reconnect the time incursion beam fragments." Obrist and several Engineer crew members press a somewhat long sequence of buttons as efficient as possible.

Obrist reports, "time incursion beam fragments have been reconnected."

Annorax orders, "target a random section of the tear's rim. Prepare for a temporal incursion." After a long thirty seconds, he adds, "fire!" A temporal incursion beam hits the left side of the tear, destabilizing the space between fluidic space and the known universe. Annorax checks, "trace elements?"

Obrist reports, "diminishing…all too well."

Chakotay turns to Obrist, "what?!" The people on the Bridge see on the main viewscreen Species 8472 beginning to be wiped out from existence…along with fluidic space. Many planets and civilizations are rebuilding themselves in the temporal shockwave that follows.

Tom wonders, "how is that possible? I thought your calculations…"

Annorax turns to Obrist, "can we stop the temporal incursion?"

Obrist sighs a little, "if we stay here long enough to do that, we risk a temporal core breach just by staying near the tear." The tear itself is becoming a quantum singularity, which starts to pull in the time ship and several other passing by vessels.

Annorax concludes with a sigh, "very well. Take us out of orbit. Full reverse!"

Obrist responds, "yes, sir." Chakotay and Tom Paris turn uneasily to Annorax. Kellin is reasonably unsure whether to be happy or sad about Species 8472 and remains mostly quiet...until Chakotay says something.

He insists, "you can't do this! They may seem alien to us…but they are people too!"

Tom Paris comments, "you sure? Because last time we checked, they have most likely destroyed most of the galaxy. And now you're defending them?!"

Kellin points out, "Chakotay, I hate to have to argue with you…but he's right! I know your crew back on Voyager tried to convince Species 8472 to see reason…but why should we defend an enemy that won't see reason?"

Chakotay says as he tries to remain calm, "because maybe that's the only way they will see reason!" Chakotay almost strangles Annorax, but is physically held back by Tom Paris and Kellin.

Annorax insists, "even if we didn't want Species 8472 nonexistent, we'd still need this time ship to bring two hundred years worth of nonexistent races back into the timestream. Now, Obrist!"

Chakotay calls out, "this is wrong!"

Kellin tries to assure him, "calm down, Chakotay! You're not thinking logically." The time ship moves out of range of the destruction the quantum singularity unintentionally causes…just in time to avoid being caught in it. Several vessels explode into pieces behind the time ship. By the time Chakotay breaks free, he is too late to do anything about it. Chakotay sadly walks back to his quarters, sitting on the black couch with his back to his friends. Kellin and Tom Paris walk over to him anyway.

Chakotay sighs teary eyed into his hands, "I thought…that we were going to make a difference. And despite my best efforts, I didn't get through to Annorax."

Kellin tries to assure him, "it was no one's fault. We just… Can we be alone for a few minutes?"

Tom Paris uneasily says, "sure. I'll be in my quarters." And with that, he leaves Kellin and Chakotay alone to talk on the couch.

Chakotay points out, "everyone but me wants Species 8472 gone. Isn't that a lot like letting many other species become nonexistent, like letting Voyager's crew tear itself apart…because of not caring enough?!"

Kellin insists uneasily, "Annorax did care…a lot. There's just a lot more time incursions to reverse. And I hate to break this to you, but it's not because we don't care. You just care a little too much for your own good."

Chakotay mutters as he starts to calm down, "I didn't think there could be…but I respect your opinion. I almost blew off Annorax's opinion."

Kellin adds with a hand on one of Chakotay's hands, "I know...but we can get through this. I may not have been aboard Voyager for long, but I'm here now. Is there anything I can do to cheer you up?"

Chakotay sighs, "you can stay with me."

Kellin assures him, "then I will." And for some hours, it is like that.