Chapter 46.
Macrocosm.
(Scott POV)
"Good health, Strong body, Clear mind," He said.
"And you your hospitality, your generosity, your patience, Many thanks, My Colleague's behaviour our apologies," Neelix said.
"Consul I assure you I intended," I said.
"Please make him quiet," He said.
"Captain Please," Neelix said.
"I understand, all yours," I said.
"Good health Strong body, clear mind," Neelix said.
"And you, your journey home short and safe," he said.
Then He lefted as we headed up.
"Captain's log Stardate 50425.1, Neelix and I have completed out 3 day trade mission with the Tak Tak, one of the more unusual species we've encountered in the Delta Quadrant, We are en route back to Voyager, End log," I said.
"Here, Captain," Neelix said.
"Thanks," I said as I took the coffee off him. "I've always been taught to be tolerant of other culture and points of view, No matter how alien But I have to say that the Tak Tak, are the most unforgiving people I've ever met,"
"They are a little impatient," Neelix said.
"A little, Neelix, they make the Klingons look sedate, I may never put my hands on my hips again," I said.
"You had no way of knowing you were making one of the worst insults possible," Neelix said.
"Obviously they've never heard of forgive and forget," I said. "It's a good thing you were there Neelix, I might have been shot at dawn, I have studied chromolinguistics, Sign language the Gestural Idioms of the Leyron, But I couldn't get the hand of the Tak Tak," I said.
"It seemed like more than just a language to me, Captain," Neelix said. "A Lot of their gestures, from what I could tell were ritualistic, You might even say superstitious,"
"You have a genuine fair for diplomacy Neelix," I said. "I may have to promote you from Morale officer to Ambassador, With all the species we're bound to meet, I could use a man like you at the front door,"
"Ambassador Neelix, I like the sound of that," Neelix said. "We're approaching the rendezvous Coordinates,"
"Dropping to 1/4 impulse, Wait what, They're not here, And they're not responding to hails," I said. I'm running a long range scan, got them, they're holding position in Sector 3-8, Coordinates 121 mark 6," I said.
"That's over a light year away from here," Neelix said.
"Voyager looks to be adrift, They could be in trouble, Going to Maximum warp," I said.
As we reached them.
"McCall to Voyager, Chakotay respond, Kat," I said. But nothing.
"The ship looks perfectly fine." Neelix said. "There's no sign of any external damage, Is there any sign of the crew,"
"There's some kind of Bioelectric interference I can't get clear Life sign readings, the Escape pods are all in place, And there's no indication of any recent Transporter activity, Grab a Phaser Neelix, We're going to get some answer," I said.
As We got into the shuttle bay and sealed it and repressurized it. As I got my Phaser and we headed out into the corridor but nothing.
"Still no sign of the crew, But these sensor reading are highly erratic The bioelectric field is permeating the ship," I said.
"Where's it coming from," Neelix said.
"I can't localize it, Wait Voyager is at Red Alert, Let's try accessing the ships internal sensors, See if we can get a better reading," I said. "Damn Same problem, The Main computer's offline, So is the Com system, This is strange One of the Bio neural gel packs in the mess hall ruptured, But most of the systems in there seem to be functioning normally, let get to the Bridge,"
As we started moving. And we found equipment still on.
"Someone was doing maintenance work on this power relay," I said. "All the equipment is still active, and the works on completely,"
"It's almost as if they dropped what they were doing and ran," Neelix said.
"Yeah, Come on," I said.
"This certainly isn't the welcome home I was expecting," Neelix said.
"Me neither, I was expecting Clara and Chloe being there as we landed, But if there was an attack of some kind why didn't Chakotay or Kat try to contact us or send out a warning buoy," I said. "Wait, I'm picking up a com signal about 10 meters ahead, It's coming form inside this room. Wait that's Sam rooms,"
"Is she in there," Neelix said.
"Can't tell, Let's take a look ready," I said as I opened it and we went in.
But nothing.
"Here's our com signal our good morning Voyager program," I said.
"Sam is one of my most dedicated viewers," Neelix said. "According to the time index, she activated this program approximately 11 hours ago,"
"She must of had it on repeat," I said as Neelix turned it off. "Wait Clara and Chloe would have been watching Naomi, she where are they,"
"They missing too," Neelix said.
"According to the protein decay, Same replicated this 11 hours ago," I said. "When we get to the Bridge, We'll check the communications logs, and," As I heard something.
As I stop and headed out with my phaser up.
"There," Neelix said.
"I can't tell if it's humanoid, but it's emanating a bioelectric field," I said.
"Whatever it is it just ran into a dead end," Neelix said.
"Yeah," I said then there was clanking. "Come on," As we got to where it went was a transporter room and went in only to find a hole in the transporter pad. "Over here, Something just punched right through this floor panel into the Jefferies tubes,"
"What is it," Neelix said.
"Not humanoid that's for sure, Hold on, Some sort of mucilaginous compound, High concentrations of amino acids, proteins, and fragments of non humanoid DNA, Well Neelix I say we've got an uninvited Guest," I said.
"I don't think he's the diplomatic type," Neelix said.
"If it is a he. No wondering we are at red alert, it's an intruder alert," I said. Then the console beeped. "Shit our problems just got worse, Main power is failing and the environmental controls are going offline, Systems are crashing one by one, Let's get to the Bridge,"
As We left and got to the Turbolift and got in.
"Good. we've still got auxiliary power, Bridge," I said.
"It's so hot," Neelix said.
When environmental control fails, heat from the warp plasma conduit can't be vented, Expect a heat wave, before long," I said.
"No Problem I'm used to it," Neelix said. "I grew up near the Rinax Marshlands, Our summers were the hottest in the sector, 50 degrees Celsius 90 percent humidity And the most vicious Lavaflies you've ever seen,"
"Summers in Beacon Hills were pretty similar, When I was growing up," I said.
"Except that we had 3 suns, and the lavaflies grew to be 6 cm long," Neelix said.
"6cm," I said.
"Insect repellent was a booming business," Neelix said then the turbolift stopped.
"There' a lifeform in the Turboshaft," I said. "I'm engaging the manual override,"
"Captain, It sounds like our guest has brought a few friends," Neelix said.
"No shit, Damn, I can't the pneumatic conduit to," I said as the was a load thud as something got through and sprayed something at Neelix as I shot it.
"That was no Lava fly," Neelix said.
"There's no life form in the tube about us, Let's get out of here," I said as we got into the Jeffries tube.
"Are you all right," I said.
"Yes, Disgusting but all right," Neelix said.
"That's the same compound we saw in the Transporter room," I said. "Come on,"
Then I scan again.
"What is it?" Neelix said.
"Human life signs, very faint, 30 or more," I said.
"Where are they coming from?" Neelix said.
"Several decks about us, I can't pin point the location," I said.
"Maybe the crew is hiding from the aliens and they set up a defense perimeter," Neelix said.
"Maybe one things for sure, they're alive, Once we get the main computer on line, We'll be able to get a fix on their location," I said.
As we kept.
"So hot, my head is spinning," Neelix said.
"You've got a high fever, Fluid in your lungs," I said.
"Lung," Neelix said.
"That Alien compound is acting quickly, try to hang on just 3 more decks," I said.
"Aye, aye captain," Neelix said nearly falling. "Captain, go on without me,"
"I'm not leaving you here, Neelix," I said.
"I can't so dizzy," Neelix said.
"There should a medkit up that tube, I'll bring back something to get you back on your feet, Don't go away and hang on," I said. As I headed up and found the medkit.
"Help Captain," Neelix shouted.
"Hold on Neelix, I'm coming," I said. As I headed down.
Then I heard him Scream.
"Neelix! Neelix," I said. As I got there but he wasn't there.
And not sign of whatever it was. but some compound on the floor.
"Screw this," I said.
Then I headed for main Engineering and Headed in Checking every part of it as I headed up top and over to the Weapon case there. Then Got the Top of my uniform off so I was in my T-shirt and got a Backpack with medkit. Phaser, Knife Tricorder and put it on as I got my combadge on and Grabbed a Phaser compression rifle on Burst After I put my knife in and Grenade. Then Headed back down and switch on the light then I headed for the Bridge that compound was everywhere but the Science console as I headed over and started to get the system back online so I could scan for my crew. Then I got it working and Sent out a distress call.
"This is Captain Scott McCall of the Federation starship Voyager to anyone within range my ship has been seized by unknown life forms, Require any and all assistance, repeat any ship in range We required any and all assistance," I said then sent it out as I start to scan for my crew then something bit me in the Left arm as I killed it. Then got out the Regenerator and tried to heal it but it wasn't working. Then the console went and it found lifesign in the Cargo bays and Mess hall. Mess Hall was the closest so that was where I was heading. As I got back to the Turbolift and got down there.
Once I was there the Mess Hall doors were open and I slowly went in as they was a faint coughing. Then I found Harry.
"Harry, Harry, Talk to me," I said as I saw something come out of Harry's neck As well as Chakotay's when I found him and he didn't answer like Harry. Then I heard the buzzing again and got up then turned around as it was there knocking the Phaser out of my hands and then I managed to kick it off and got for the Phaser and turned as it was coming at me and I shot it.
Then I headed out and I got hit bad so I went for Sickbay. But once I got there the Door denied me access so I head to pull the doors apart and then there was a phaser in my neck.
"Captain, Needless to say, I thought you were something else," Doc said. As he took it away and I got in and sealed the door again.
"It's good to see you too, Doc," I said.
"It won't be long before the other aliens sense you here and try to invade Sickbay, We don't have much time to treat you," Doc said.
"Where are," I said.
"They are safe, Clara, Chloe and Naomi got into Jumper 1 when all this started, They safe in there," Doc said.
"What's going on, What are those things," I said.
"You've ruptured your dorsal extensor muscle and bruised 2 ribs, I'm going have to perform minor surgery, Lie on your side and try to remain perfectly still," Doc said.
"Tell me what's happened," I said.
"Voyager has been infected by a macrovirus," Doc said.
"A Macrovirus," I said.
"A form of life I've never encounter or even imagined," Doc said.
"What about the crew," I said.
"Captain, I promise I will tell you exactly what happened just lie still," Doc said.
"Okay," I said.
"Shortly after you'd left for the Tak Tak Homeworld, We received a distress call from a nearby mining colony, A race called the Garans, They were experiencing what appeared to be a minor viral outbreak, Commander Chakotay got us there to see if we could help them and Once I got down there, Since I was the only member of the crew who can successfully enter a contaminated environment without risk. Once we got there, the situation became worse. they didn't answer to hails, So I beamed down using the open com channel as I beamed down. But when I got there no sign of anyone then I found someone He wasn't doing so well, Then I found a thing on his neck using the glandular tissue to create more of them which came out next and it thought I was a real person as it tried to bite me. I tried to bring a sample back on board and lucky Commander Chakotay stopped my doing so lucky, But Once I beamed back and went to purge the Bio filters But by the time I purged them some of the organisms had migrated into the transporter buffer," Doc said. "Then We were on way to pick you and Neelix up. Wait where is Neelix,"
"I don't know, He got hit by that compound and I had to left him to get the Medkit in the Jeffries tube but then it must of came back but by the time I got down there Neelix was gone," I said. "How did it start here on Voyager,"
"It all started when I got called down to the Mess Hall, Mr. Paris was looking at the kitchen when Neelix was away. He called Lt Torres there to fix a replicator which the gel pack ruptured, When I was scanning Lt. Torres I knew I had got to purging them fast enough. Then Called the Bridge, Commander Chakotay put us onto Red alert, and Sealed off the Mess Hall and all adjoining sections," Doc said.
"Were any other gel packs infected," I said.
"No just the one in the mess hall," Doc said. "The ship is healthy, it's the crew we have to worry about, Your bones have healed but the surrounding tissue will be sensitive for a few days,"
"Thanks, Wow, It's getting warmer in here," I said.
"I'm afraid it's not just the ship, Captain, It's also you, you've been infected with the Macrovirus, You're experiencing a high fever," Doc said.
"I got hit on the bridge, when I tried to find where the crew was and send out a distress call. Little bastard bit me on my arm there," I said.
"Your glandular system is just starting to being affected, Strange," Doc said. "If I don't treat you now, You'll end up like the rest of the crew, I've spent the past few hours perfecting the antigen, But I haven't tested it on a live subject yet,"
"Then Do it doc, At least we will know if it works or not," I said as He did. "The crew, Why are they all in the Mess Hall, Cargo bays," I said.
"I believe the larger Macroviruses are driven by some sort of instinct to assemble their host population," Doc said.
"What happen after Chakotay Put Voyager on Red Alert," I said.
"Clara, Chloe, Naomi got to the shuttlebay and into Jumper 1, They have been there ever since I came back here to work on the Antigen," Doc said. "Commander Chakotay put in place quarantine of Deck 2, Kes and I worked on the Antigen here We managed to prevent a ship wide outbreak but every crew member on deck 2 had been contaminated,"
"What happened to Kes," I said.
"She head for the shuttlebay once we finished it. but everytime I got the Mass hall to administer it, I get attacked," Doc said. "That was went Mr. Paris called me as he saw 2 Macroviruses come out of B'Elanna neck, It work on the virus itself, Within minutes dozens of the larger organisms forced their way beyond deck 2 and overwhelmed the ship, it wasn't long before the crew was incapacitated,"
"How many of the larger Macroviruses are there," I said. As I started to gear up again.
"I have no way of knowing, dozens perhaps hundreds, they're replicating at an exponential rate, By this time tomorrow there could be thousands," Doc said as I changed to Setting on my weapons to Max kill.
Then there was a buzzing and thumping on the door.
"Speak of the pissing devil," I said.
"It worked Captain you're cured," Doc said.
"The question is how do we cure the rest of the crew," I said. "This antigen of yours can it be distributed in a gaseous form,"
"For absorption via the respiratory system, I've already considered dispensing it through environmental controls, But they're offline," Doc said.
"Let me worry about that," I said. "All we got to do is get down the Deck 12,"
"Easier said than done," Doc said. "We'll run into the same problem I faced when I tried to get to the Mess hall,"
"Not if I can help it, Get 2 canisters of antigen," I said. "We'll split up and take different routes to environmental control It'll double our chances, If you get there first call me and I'll walk you through the repairs,"
"The Macroviruses are Attracted to Infrared Radiation, Set your Tricorder to emit a thermal scattering signal, It will make it more difficult to target you," Doc said.
"Done," I said.
"Ready when you are," Doc said.
"We'll be right with you, Assholes," I said as we got into the Jeffries tubes and started headed there when we reached where we were going to split up. "Take Jeffries tube 11, What's wrong,"
"I've been studying the ships infrastructure and I'm familiar with most of it, but how do I get there from here," Doc said.
"Tube 11, take a left at section 31, head straight down past the Tractor beam emitter until you hit deck 10 get out at section 3 and follow the corridor all the way around," I said.
"Until I hit the shuttle bay, Then I crawl through access port 9, go past 3 airlocks and then 2 decks down, Environmental controls at the end of the hall Now I remember," Doc said. "Who designed this ship anyway,"
"Good luck, See you down there," I said.
As I got 2/3 of the way then when I saw 3 coming at me and I shot to kill. Once they were dead.
"Doctor to Captain McCall," Doc said.
"Go ahead, Doc," I said.
"I won't be joining you as soon as I'd hoped, The Macroviruses overwhelmed me on Deck 10, And My portable emitter was nearly destroyed, I've taken refuge inside the shuttlebay in a shuttlecraft," Doc said.
"Stay there, Doc, I'm almost there," I said.
Once I got there and checked the area It was clear and got the Environmental controls back online.
"McCall to Doctor," I said. "I've got the environmental controls back online,"
"Set the dispersal nodes to 1 part per thousand," Doc said.
Then we got hit.
"What's going on," Doc said.
"I'm not sure, But I think someone is firing at Voyager, Doc use the shuttle sensors and patch it down here," I said.
"Aye Captain," Doc said as it came.
"The Tak Tak," I said. "Doc hail them now,"
"Stand by," Doc said.
"Consul this is captain McCall, Why are you firing at us," I said.
"The Garan mining colony infected, We purified them, your distress call received Voyager infected, We're purifying you," He said.
"Purifying you trying to destroy us," I said.
"No choice no cure for the virus, Voyager's existence a threat, Your illness our apologies," He said.
"Wait listen to me, We've developed a cure, but you last shot just took out what we were going to get to the rest of our crew and ending this," I said.
"Cure," he said.
"Yes, An Antigen and it works I'll prove it to you but you got to stop firing at us, I'd be willing to share you it too along with your people" I said. "Give me a chance to save my crew,"
"A chance, 1 hour," He said. Cutting it.
"McCall to Doctor, We got a problem that last shot destroyed the secondary power couplings, I can't get it back online," I said.
"We appear to be low on options," Doc said.
"Only system we still have access to are independent power sources, Shuttle craft, life support, holodecks. Wait, Doc, you said they were attracted to infrared signatures," I said.
"That's right," Doc said.
"Right now, Me and you are the only targets left, What if gave them something new to sink their teeth into," I said.
"What are you suggesting," Doc said.
"Use the holodeck character to attract them and they will respond to the virus attacking them drawing them all there, then I bomb then to hell," I said
"I said it is worry a shot," Doc said.
"Good," I said as I did it. "Doc it working, As planned, We don't have much time, grab your hypo spray and get to the crew, you have access to Mess hall and both Cargo bays,"
"What about you," Doc said.
"Oh I made an antigen bomb now I just have to drop it," I said.
As I lefted and headed there. Where I saw nothing then I went to threw it after activating it only for one to knock me down and tried to impale me but I got clear and used my knife to killed it then I picked it up and threw it into the holodeck and Ran like hell and found a spot and took cover as it went.
"Doctor to Captain McCall, Captain you read me," Doc said.
"I'm here Doc," I said.
"It worked, The Macroviruses have been destroyed," Doc said.
"Damage," I said.
"There was heavy damage suffered on holodeck 2, but there are no hull breaches in evidence," Doc said.
"Then Let's get to work," I said as I headed back and hail the Consul.
"Captain," He said.
"It worked, Voyager is cured," I said.
"Astonishment, your vessel purified," He said.
"Yes and We'd be more than willing to share the cure with you, if you'd be kind enough to forego destroying our ship," I said.
"Yes, Of course, Of course, purification will cease, My word, Many thanks Captain of Voyager, Good health," He said cutting the channel.
"Good Health," I said.
XXX
I was in my ready room as the crew was on repairs and I was listening to Chandler Kinney. I'm the Alpha.
As my door bell rang.
"Come in," I said.
"Good morning Captain," Chakotay said. " Here's an update on repairs,"
"How's the crew holding up," I said.
"They're fine, although the doctor tells me a few people are still reporting post viral queasiness," Chakotay said.
"I'm not surprised, Inform the Crew I'm granting extended R&R for all Personnel and work out the shift rotations," I said.
"Aye Captain, Speaking of R&R, A few of us are going skiing on the holodeck the Ktarian glaciers, Fresh air, good workout, Care to join us," Chakotay said.
"No, Thanks, But have fun" I said.
"Not your cup of tea," Chakotay said.
"Oh no, Let's say I've had enough of a workout for the time being," I said.
"Understood," Chakotay said. as he lefted.
That's all for this chapter.
More to follow.
Stay tuned and safe.
Love Y'All
PEACE!