MAQUIS - Act 20
Scene 1
Tom Paris ran onto the Bridge followed by an angry Chell screaming blue murder.
"Look what he's done to me"
Kathryn looked up at him at his face which was black and not its normal blue. She turned her attention to Tom with a raised eyebrow.
Tom confessed immediately, "It was a small prank Captain, nothing malicious."
"I suggest you provide Mr Chell with another bar of soap Mr Paris. Then report to the Mess where there is a pile of dishes for you to wash from dinner. It will give you some time to reflect on how we all manage to live in a small space without killing each other."
Tom tried to wipe the smirk off his face as he left the Bridge. Chell went to wash his face again and plot his revenge.
Chakotay was waiting outside to start his shift, "Anything I should know about?"
"I've dealt with it. Could I have a word with you before handover, please?"
They went to the Brig as it was the nearest private space.
"You have to find a job for Tom Paris or risk open warfare among the crew."
"I don't particularly want him on my ship. Why should I let him join the crew?"
"He is intelligent and bored. This is not a good mix. Even Starfleet had to admit that he's an excellent pilot, with a high level of skill."
"He can't take orders if I remember correctly. If he had followed my orders he wouldn't have ended up in that prison settlement."
"Could you give him a second chance, please?"
Chakotay didn't like Paris but he did trust Kathryn Janeway's judgement.
"I'll give him a trial. If he manages to behave himself for a month then I will let him join the crew. You are responsible for mentoring him during the trial period,"
"Thank you Chakotay, you won't regret it.'
Kathryn went to the Mess to tell Tom the good news.
"Chakotay has agreed to accept you as relief pilot on the night shift."
"Thank you Captain, I'm sure that I have you to thank for my new role."
"I am responsible for your good conduct so don't let me down. The rest of your voyage will be hellish if you disappoint me - do you understand?"
"Yes Ma'am."
Scene 2
Tom's first shift passed without incident. He was heading for his bunk when Chakotay asked the crew to assemble in the Mess.
"We advertised for work on all the local inhabited planets. The government of the planet Zenia have asked us to apprehend a local bandit leader. Then return him to the authorities for trial."
"How much are they willing to pay?" asked Seska.
"They are willing to provide six months of basic supplies for the ship. Only available when we finish the job," answered Kathryn.
Chakotay added, "I should have refused this type of work on moral grounds. The reality is that we'll run out of supplies this week."
"I have volunteered to lead the away team but I need three more people" asked Kathryn.
B'Elanna put her hand up because she was feeling claustrophobic. Her Klingon half didn't enjoy living in a confined space with a lot of people. Seska volunteered because she saw an opportunity to get rid of a thorn in her side. Tom didn't trust Seska so he agreed to go so he could look out for Kathryn Janeway. She had risked everything to rescue him from slavery. She took the punishment for disobeying orders without a complaint. He owed her more than he could possibly repay.
"Thank you, the authorities on the planet won't allow us to land the ship or transport to the surface. They will send a shuttle to collect us, so make sure you are ready for their arrival."
Everybody left to carry on with their duties or pack. Chakotay cornered Kathryn before she disappeared.
"Are you okay with your away team? You know that Seska isn't your greatest fan,"
"It would be tedious If I only worked with people who like me. Variety is the spice of life."
He squeezed her shoulder, "Stay safe, I would hate to have to train another Second."
She smiled at him, "I'm here to stay Chakotay. Anyway you owe me dinner when I get back!"
Scene 3
The transfer to the alien shuttle was smooth and passed without a hitch. The inhabitants of the planet possessed humanoid features. Their most striking difference was the colour of their skin - it was an iridescent pale blue. With an average height of around two meters. everyone on the shuttle towered over them.
When they reached the surface there was a buggy waiting to transport them to the Militia store. The government had offered to provide the kit for their mission.
Tom tried to start a conversation with their hosts to no avail. They sat in stony silence until they pulled into the base. Either they didn't have a universal translator or they were just ill-mannered.
Their driver pointed at a building and indicated that they needed to go in there. When they entered the store there were a table with four piles of clothes. Further down there were weapons laid out in groups with personal handheld computer equipment. The females went into a side room to dress leaving Tom to change outside.
As soon as they changed a Zenian soldier appeared to give them their weapons. The weapons were standard phasers so they didn't need any help with them. The scanners were primitive but effective. The soldier gave Tom a wanted poster and pointed at the picture. When they left the store there was a buggy waiting for them. The maps and information were downloaded on to a computer in the vehicle.
"It looks as though we've had our orders then," laughed Tom.
Kathryn smiled, "Put your bags in the back and I'll try to bring the map up on the display."
"Why do you think they wanted us to change our clothes?" asked B'Elanna.
"Perhaps they thought their clothes would be more suitable. It is humid today," she commented, wiping the sweat off her face.
Seska was the only one who was enjoying the heat. The planet had a tropical rainforest climate. There were large jungles covering most of the planet surface.
Their problems started when the road ended. Kathryn tried to continue driving the buggy but there was a loud bang then they came to an abrupt halt.
Tom had a talent for stating the obvious, "I think we'll have to continue on foot."
"Can't B'Elanna take a look at the engine to see if she can get it started?" snapped Seska, who was not looking forward to a trek through the jungle.
Kathryn was adamant, "We have a week to complete this mission or we won't get paid, so speed is vital."
Scene 4
Everyone loaded up their backpacks and set off into the unknown. They had been walking for about an hour when they heard an explosion and the sound of laser fire. They took cover so they avoided stumbling into a battle.
"Perhaps they're friendly? We should tell them we're fighting on the same side," whispered Tom.
"Unfortunately our mission hasn't been officially sanctioned. If they catch us we're on our own."
"You kept that information quiet bitch," said Seska under her breath.
Tom heard her, "We can return to the ship and starve if you'd like."
Seska gave him a filthy look and ignored him.
Kathryn checked her scanner, "They're moving away, we're clear to proceed."
They continued in silence. If their mission hadn't been approved by the authorities nobody wanted to attract attention.
As it started to get dark Kathryn began to look for an ideal spot to make camp. Finally she found a dry secluded area, near water with adequate cover.
She held up her hand and pointed to the spot, "That's where we'll sleep for the night."
B'Elanna and Seska erected the shelters while Kathryn and Tom went to fetch water. This was a priority for Kathryn because she couldn't make coffee without it. It didn't take long to set up camp. Soon the coffee was ready with a pack of emergency rations for dinner. B'Elanna struggled to finish hers but she knew that she needed the energy. She wondered why they couldn't go hunting for fresh meat instead of eating cardboard.
Scene 5
Seska and Kathryn fell asleep quickly leaving Tom and B'Elanna by themselves. She kept sneaking a glance at him when she thought he wasn't looking.
He smiled at her, "I know that we've met before. I wasn't on the ship long enough to have a proper conversation with you before."
"I know who you are fly boy, disgraced son of an admiral, kicked out of Starfleet for lying about an accident. Why did you own up?"
"I discovered that I had a conscience! It surprised me as well as everyone else."
"Why did you volunteer, you don't seem like the self-sacrificing type."
He pointed at Kathryn, "She's rescued me twice and I don't trust your friend."
"She does seem to inspire men to become heroic. I think you're going to have to fight Chakotay for her."
Tom tried to change the subject, "Why does an engineer with your skill set sign up with a Maquis Rebel ship?"
"Chakotay saved my life. I'd just dropped out of the Academy and was looking for a fight. He taught me to use relaxation techniques and other devices to control my temper. In addition the war gave me an outlet for my aggression."
"Chakotay doesn't like me. He only let me join the crew because Captain Janeway asked him. She stood up for me again."
"Chakotay values honesty and integrity. If you work hard and don't make waves then he'll give you some respect."
"You get to sleep, I'll take first watch - good night," said Tom.
"Thank you fly boy, I'm exhausted," Yawned B'Elanna. She stood up unsteadily and headed for her shelter."
Tom made himself comfortable. He wouldn't be going to sleep while Seska was so close to the Captain. He was almost asleep when Kathryn shook his shoulder,
"Tom, get some rest and I'll wake you in a couple of hours."
Scene 6
In the morning when everything was packed away, they all joined in to erase any signs that they'd been there.
"I've checked the scanner. I estimate that we're about three hours march away from the compound where the rebel leader is in hiding. We'll stop at the perimeter and plan our extraction."
Kathryn was glad that they had found plenty of water because the weather was even hotter than the day before. As they moved through the jungles everyone started to strip off until they were all wearing vests.
Kathryn called a halt, "Take a break and make sure you rehydrate. You will be no use to me if you're weak with dehydration."
She checked everyone to make sure they had enough water.
They were close to the compound when disaster struck. Kathryn cried out when she was stung by an insect which resembled a mosquito. Tom found the first aid kit and treated the bite mark then they continued. Kathryn started to feel light-headed and dizzy.
"Could we have a break please, I'm not feeling well."
She collapsed onto the floor. Tom rushed to her side and opened the medical kit to find the tetanus hypospray which wasn't there. He gently pushed her hair out of the way to discover that the bite mark was now a large angry swelling.
"B'Elanna, take a look at this."
B'Elanna winced when she saw the lump, "What are we going to do? If we return to the ship now we won't get the supplies. If we stay then Kathryn may not survive. We'll take a vote."
"Who wants to stay here and capture the rebel leader then return to the ship as soon as possible? We are almost there."
Seska raised her hand, "Sometimes you have to think of the common good."
Tom looked at her in disgust, "It wouldn't bother you if Captain Janeway died on this mission."
"I'm offended by your suggestion Tom. I was about to offer to nurse poor Kathryn while you and B'Elanna find a good place to hide her."
Even B'Elanna was suspicious about her friend's motives.
"After we find a place to hide Kathryn, we'll make her as comfortable as possible. Then all we have to do is break into the compound and abduct the leader." said B'Elanna taking charge.
Scene 7
Tom and B'Elanna went to find a suitable place to hide Kathryn so they could complete the mission. Seska was alone with the unconscious Kathryn Janeway. She sat down beside her and stared at her enemy.
"I could end your life now and blame the insect. You are the only one on the ship who could identify me as a Cardassian spy. I wonder what he sees in you?"
Kathryn turned over groaning as she moved.
"Which method of killing you would be the quickest. I could pinch your nose and deny you oxygen, which would take too long to complete. Cutting your arteries and letting you bleed out would also be difficult to explain. I haven't seen any creatures so I can't feed you to them - you'd probably make them sick anyway. She spied a pillow out of the corner of her eye, "Perfect!"
Seska grabbed the pillow and returned to remove the thorn from her side.
She bent over Kathryn's defenceless body to suffocate her with the pillow. She needed to be quick before the others returned.
"I'd put that down if I were you and move away to a safe distance."
Seska was so shocked that she stumbled and dropped the pillow. Kathryn sat up with a phaser in her hand aimed at Seska.
"How long have you been awake?"
"Long enough to hear you confirm what I've suspected for a long time."
"What gave me away?"
"The doctor told me that you wouldn't give him a blood sample. There were rumours in Starfleet the the Cardassians had infiltrated the Maquis."
"What are you going to do? I'm certain that Chakotay will confine to the brig for the rest of the journey."
"I'm not going to tell anybody!"
"What do you want from me?" asked Seska, who was certain Janeway would tell everyone.
"We are out here alone with a small crew. You have skills that we will need to get everyone home alive. As long as you do your job to the best of your abilities and never attempt to harm any of the crew, I will keep my mouth shut."
"Is that all? I thought you would make me confess to the crew."
"That wouldn't be in their best interests. No doubt you are a highly trained operative with the Obsidian Order. We need your skill set and hand to hand combat training. When we return to the ship offer to run a martial arts training class."
"Chakotay will be suspicious about my motives?"
"That's fine, you will prove him wrong!"
Scene 8
Tom and B'Elanna returned to find Kathryn sitting up eating a pack of emergency rations. Seska was making coffee using her phaser.
"See I told you they wouldn't try to kill each other!"
Tom laughed, "Thanks to you two I've lost my replicator privileges for the next month"
Kathryn stood up to let Tom examine her insect bite.
"The swelling has gone down leaving an inflamed puncture wound. I think you'll live."
"Let's complete our mission and leave this humid, bug infested rock as soon as possible.