MAQUIS Act 13

Scene 1

Tom opened one eye then shut it again to avoid the bright light shining above him. He turned onto his side to avoid the glare. Captain Janeway was lying unconscious on the adjacent bed. Was he back on Voyager? The last thing he could remember was his new owner beating him. At the time he hoped it would kill him and put him out of his misery.

His kazon owner had been brutal but at least he had to have a reason to punish him. The farmer struck him whenever he was in a bad mood which seemed to be all the time. The day before his owner had been drinking all day which hadn't improved his temper. Tom had forgotten to feed the cattle because he was tired and weak due to starvation. When the farmer found out, he went to the barn to find his whip. Then he pulled Tom from his nest and started to flog him. He stopped when he didn't have the energy to lift his arm. Tom knew he should 'play dead' but he couldn't stop his smart mouth getting him into trouble again. The comment, is that all you've got, earned him a beating until he couldn't say another word.

"Hello, it's nice of you to join us Mr Paris. Try not to move. You have extensive injuries which I am still working on."

Doc, where am I? I can't be on board Voyager because I watched it explode."

"This is the Val Jean Mr Paris."

"Oh great, I'm sure my former crew will be pleased to see me again. There will be a queue of volunteers to finish the job my former owner started."

The Doctor loaded a hypospray, "Just relax nobody is going to hurt you in my sickbay. This should help you to sleep while I try to repair some more of the damage inflicted on your body."

Tom closed his eyes and drifted off. The Doctor had to use high levels of morphine to spare Tom Paris some of the pain of his injuries. Without painkillers he would go into shock. He was determined not to lose his patient after everything he'd been through.

The Doctor finished sterilising his instruments for the operation. He turned around when he heard Captain Janeway start to regain consciousness.

"You had a busy day yesterday. The Captain told me to alert him as soon as you were awake. I think I'll delay the news for a few more minutes so you can compose yourself."

"Did Tom survive? I wasn't sure whether the journey was going to save him or put him out of his misery."

"I can answer most of your questions Captain but you'll have to slow down."

"Mr Paris is right next to you, I'm afraid he is going to need treatment for months not days."

"Did my rescue make things worse? "Should I have left him where he was?"

"Definitely not, he would have died from his injuries if you hadn't managed to get him back to the ship."

She stood up and looked down at her her dress which in tatters and filthy.

"Has Chakotay calmed down yet?"

The Doctor shook his head, "I don't think so Captain."

"I'll wash and change my clothes first then I'll take the bull by the horns and ask to see him now."

Scene 2

Kathryn knocked at Chakotay's door, she was hoping that he wasn't in.

"Don't stand on ceremony, come in." shouted Chakotay.

Kathryn stuck her head in the door, "If you're busy I can come back later."

"I don't think so, take a seat and I'll be with you in a few minutes."

Kathryn stifled a smile, he was employing psychological techniques to control the situation.

Chakotay put the computer pad down, "You disobeyed my direct order. Added to that you encouraged another member of my crew to follow your lead. When you rescued Tom Paris you failed to ask me if he could join the crew. I should have been given the option to refuse your request."

"He would have died if we had left him where he was. Even the Doctor believes that he wouldn't have survived."

"I understand your decision only it wasn't yours to make."

Kathryn knew what was coming, she hadn't left him any other option. She would have done exactly the same if their roles were reversed

"A week in the Brig will give you time to think about your change in status. I need to be able to rely on my Second to support my decisions not race off on hair-brained rescues. Bendera is waiting outside to take you to your new accommodation.

Scene 3

The Brig only had one cell which was quite cramped. Bendera escorted her there and raised the forcefield. Then he marched off without saying a word.

She lay on the bed, angry with herself. She knew that she should have returned to the ship to discuss the situation with Chakotay. She wasn't sure that he would have rescued Tom because the Maquis crew believed that he was a traitor. She knew that she'd have to force his hand.

Kathryn heard footsteps and hoped that it wasn't Seska or B'Elanna coming to gloat.

Ann walked in carrying some of Kathryn's books; a change of clothes and some writing pads. Kathryn breathed a sigh of relief.

"I thought you would need some distractions during your week."

"You are a life saver, I've only been here for an hour and I'm already stir crazy."

Ann laughed, "I thought that Seska or B'Elanna would be the first one in the Brig not you!"

"I'd like to say that Chakotay was being unfair but I deserved this punishment. In fact he's been quite lenient I should have served longer."

"What made you do it? You didn't know who it was Tom Paris before you visited the farm."

"Chakotay could have abandoned me on a planet all by myself. I could have been enslaved, at the mercy of whoever paid the highest price. I couldn't leave another human to starve and get beaten without trying to help them."

"I understand why you did it now. Unfortunately the Captain had to look at your actions from his perspective."

"Are you going to get into trouble for bringing me my stuff?"

"Chakotay told me to do it. He said that you needed something to occupy yourself. He wanted me to tell you that the devil makes work for idle hands."

Kathryn laughed, "Poor man, he must be regretting his decision to save me."

Scene 4

Tom opened his eyes again and managed to keep them open despite the light.

"I see that you're in the land of the living Mr Paris. Your operation was successful but don't move around too much because I have more work to do."

Chakotay stood in the doorway staring at Tom Paris.

"You're creeping me out Chakotay. Either punch me or give me a kiss."

"We'll have a conversation when you've recovered. The Doctor has informed me that you are suffering from malnutrition. You will need to gain weight before he can perform the remaining surgeries you need."

"I hear you sent Captain Janeway to the Brig for saving me - nice work!"

"I don't need to take advice on how to manage my crew from a traitor and convict. Make sure that you stay in sick bay, I don't want you wandering around the ship."

"Don't worry I'll leave the ship as soon as I recover. I wouldn't want to outstay my welcome."

Scene 5

It was day six of her incarceration. Kathryn was trying to concentrate on her book but her mind was elsewhere. She wanted to know how Tom was doing but there was no way to contact the Doctor from the Brig.

"How the mighty have fallen. I didn't think that Chakotay would lose interest in you so quickly."

Kathryn groaned, it was bad enough to be locked up in the Brig without having to listen to Seska's nonsense.

"I told him to leave you on the next inhabited planet but he wouldn't listen. You surpassed yourself bringing Tom Paris back on board. They were at each others throat for the whole time Paris was on the ship."

"I disobeyed orders so I deserved to be punished. I would have done exactly the same thing."

"You thought you would get away with it because he likes you. Chakotay is fickle he changes his favourite quite often."

"I've told you before, I'm not interested in him in that way - he's the boss."

Seska laughed, "I've heard that before. Enjoy your remaining stay here, at least you are safe until you leave."

Then she left, still laughing at her own wit. The fact that Chakotay had tired of Janeway already was excellent news.

Scene 6

Kathryn was getting ready to sleep when she heard footsteps in the corridor outside the Brig. she hoped that Seska hadn't returned. Ayala walked in carrying a bottle of whiskey and two glasses.

"I thought we could drink to your last night in the Brig."

"What a marvellous idea, could you lower the forcefield?"

"Sorry Kathryn, Chakotay has warned all the crew not to release you until tomorrow."

You will have to pass my glass through the food hatch."

They sat side by side on the floor with only the force field between them.

"Thank you Mike, I've had enough time on my own to last a lifetime."

"When Tom Paris was part of the crew, his attitude upset a lot of people. Most of us were fighting to force the Cardassians to leave our planets. He signed on for whoever would pay his bar bill."

"My first meeting with Tom was at the penal colony in New Zealand. He surprised me. I thought he would be brash and unapologetic about his checkered past. I found an intelligent thoughtful man who used humour to cover his insecurity."

"He wasn't on board long enough for any of us to get to know him properly. Just after his first mission he was captured. Starfleet raided our base of operations forty-eight hour after that. That was too much of a coincidence."

"Tuvok, my chief of security, infiltrated your cell to spy on you. He sent us information about all your operations including the location of your base."

Kathryn felt her heart ache thinking about Tuvok. He was her closest and dearest friend and his loss affected her deeply. She had to give the news to his wife and children personally - she owed him that.

"Are you going to behave yourself or continue to give Chakotay a giant headache?"

"It's hard to switch from the Captain of a Starfleet vessel to a member of the crew. I hadn't realised that my rank prevented me from being impetuous. If I had tried the same stunt on Voyager I would have been court-martialled."

"Let's make a toast to your last night in the Brig!"

They pretended to touch glasses then started to giggle at the ludicrous situation.

Chakotay was standing outside the Brig, hidden from view. He had intended to talk to Kathryn and make sure there was no hard feelings. Obviously Mike had the same idea. He couldn't help feeling envious of their easy relationship. He really liked her but he couldn't take advantage of his position. Look how well it had turned out with Seska. She was still trying to kill anybody he smiled at. He returned to his bunk to get an early night.

Scene 7

Kathryn was released from the Brig the following morning. She went straight to the Bridge for her shift. When Chakotay appeared she walked over to him and shook his hand to show there was no hard feelings. B'Elanna was impressed with the gesture, it showed a lot of class.

Unfortunately the replicators on board had malfunctioned due to overuse. Chakotay's order was to look for a planet where they could barter for their food supplies.

At the end of the shift B'Elanna found a planet which appeared to be suitable. "Chakotay, I can't break through the upper atmosphere to scan this planet effectively."

"I'll try to boost the signal. If that's not enough you can put us into orbit around the planet and we'll investigate."

They approached the planet and went into synchronous orbit. B'Elanna still couldn't scan the planet due to the interference. Although she could confirm that there were faint life signs and it had a similar atmosphere to Earth.

"We can't transport anybody through the electromagnetic interference or use the shuttle safely. We'll have to land the ship in the morning to scan from the ground."

Scene 8

As soon as her shift finished Kathryn went straight to Sick Bay to see how Tom was getting on. He was asleep when she arrived.

"How is he recovering Doctor?"

"As well as can be expected Captain. He is in extremely poor health due to abuse and starvation. I have repaired the worst injuries but he will have to gain weight before I can complete his treatment."

Tom woke up and smiled at the Captain. He was the ghost of the man she visited at the Federation Penal Colony in New Zealand. His emaciation was obvious when he didn't have the strength to stand up. She helped him back into bed.

"Lie down Tom or you'll undo the Doctor's good work."

"I am sorry to have caused you all this trouble Captain Janeway. I understand you've just spent a week in the Brig on my behalf."

"Don't worry Tom, I can get into trouble all by myself." Tom grinned, he liked the rebellious side of Captain Janeway.

She reached across him to change his water jug and he flinched. She didn't say a word and pretended that she hadn't seen it. Kathryn felt heart sick. She realised the mental scars would take longer to heal than the physical injuries.

"I'll have to leave now as the Doctor is giving me subtle hints. I'll visit you tomorrow if our away mission has finished."

He smiled at her and for a moment she could see the old Tom Paris.

"Good night Tom."

Scene 10

At the start of the day shift Chakotay took the helm to land the ship. He told the crew to brace themselves because it was going to be a bumpy ride. The ship started to shudder as they started to descend. As they continued the shuddering turned to violent shaking

"It's going to get worse. If we don't break through the atmosphere soon we will be torn apart. Everyone brace for impact."

The crew were holding onto anything that was bolted to the ship. The walls began to groan loudly. It was deafening just before they broke through. Chakotay managed to land then gave them a few minutes to compose themselves.

"Ayala, Bendara, B'Elanna and Kathryn you're with me. Hogan take over the scanner and warn us if someone is approaching us on the ground"

The transported to an enclosed field. They fanned out using the scanners to look for life signs or evidence of a settlement.

It was a beautiful day on the planet. There was a blue, cloudless sky with bright, warm sunshine.

Kathryn turned her face up to the sun and basked in the sunshine. Chakotay smiled at her obvious enjoyment of the clement weather. He took a big, deep breath of fresh air. They knew that they wouldn't reach the Alpha quadrant for many years and not all of them would make it.

B'Elanna was at the other end of the field, She started waving excitedly. When they caught up with her it was obvious that she had found something special.

"My tricorder has detected traces of a metal used on Earth for manufacture. I can't get an exact reading because this metal is extremely old,

Chakotay could understand her excitement however they had a job to do.

"I'm afraid we're not archaeologists, we need to find essential supplies"

"If we have any time left, can we look for it?"

B'Elanna hardly ever made personal requests and she was really excited about her discovery.

"If we have the time you can look for your mysterious metal."

Kathryn called him over, "Chakotay I think I've found a settlement. There are multiple life signs in this direction."

"Chakotay there are twelve life signs heading in your direction," reported Hogan

"Thank you, get ready for our return under fire," ordered Chakotay.

Chakotay spoke to the others, "We could retreat or meet the natives and try to explain our presence here?

"We could put our weapons away and hold up our hands to show them that we mean no harm. Perhaps they will allow us to trade for our supplies," suggested Kathryn.

"I hope that putting your hands in the air is a gesture of surrender not a challenge here," joked Chakotay. "We'll try it your way."

The landing party walked in the direction of the life signs. Twelve humanoids shapes were walking across the field in front of them. All of them were wearing suits of white armour and helmets which obscured their features. Their weapons resembled Romulan disruptor rifles.

"I'm glad we decided not to challenge them. Their weapons would have destroyed us easily. How did they get hold of Romulan weapons in the Delta Quadrant?"

As the natives entered the field the Val Jean crew placed their weapons on the ground then took one step back.

The leading alien figure took off his helmet, "You're human not Briori!"

My next chapter tells the story of the 37 Rebellion and it will be completed soon.

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to read my stories. I love reading the reviews.