Maquis Act 46
Scene 1
Chakotay opened his eyes and couldn't see his hands in front of him. There was a total absence of light. He went to move and felt a soreness in his arm that wasn't there before. He surmised that the Alpha Guards had injected him with a sedative.
Then he remembered that Kathryn was with him. He couldn't stand so he crawled forward then stopped and waved his arm around in front of him. He bumped into a solid shape quite hard.
"Ow!" said Kathryn, "First they assault me then you. Where are we and how do we get some light in here?"
"I didn't assault you - I bumped into you in the dark. Don't you think you're being a little overdramatic?" commented Chakotay,
"My mouth is dry and my head is pounding," complained Kathryn. The Alphas drugged me then threw my inert body into a black pit. I was abused after ten hours of back-breaking work in the fields.
"I can see your point!" Chakotay hoped that Kathryn would be able to identify the Alpha who drugged her so he could teach him a lesson."
"What are they going to do with the Beta tribe?" asked Kathryn.
Chakotay felt sick! "The last thing I remember is the Boss announcing that the cull would start early in the morning."
"We have to warn them! The children and older members of their tribe will be too slow for an immediate evacuation," said Kathryn.
"We need to get out of here soon. If we hide the tribe in a safe location, we can come up with a plan to save them."
Chakotay knew they were facing impossible odds but he couldn't live with himself if he didn't try to save the tribe. He knew Kathryn would agree with him.
"Well, at least they didn't tie our hands or feet. We need some light or we are never going to escape," said Chakotay.
Kathryn was glad that she had made an emergency medical pouch. Before their arrival, she collected useful items from the ship to treat any flesh wounds. Harvesting is a dangerous occupation for the novice.
She reached into the pouch and pulled out a tricorder with a small torch attached to it. "I came prepared!" said Kathryn.
Chakotay grinned, "I bet you were a girl scout."
"I spent my teenage years improving my tennis game. I never had time for anything else," confessed Kathryn.
"I challenge you to a tennis game on the next planet we visit with grass. My backhand is legendary" boasted Chakotay.
Kathryn was aware that he was trying to keep her spirits up. During her time on the farm, she'd admired the Alphas as they were intelligent and cultured. Now she knew they hid their brutality and cruelty behind beautiful faces. She wanted to leave this Planet as soon as possible.
Scene 2
They were about to use the torch to explore where they were being held when Chakotay heard a jangling of keys. He motioned to Kathryn to lie down in the same place and pretend to be asleep.
Two Alphas entered their cell. They were carrying torches to light their way. One of them bent down and shook Kathryn roughly. When there was no response they did the same to Chakotay.
"They will be unconscious for a few more hours. I hope Aven didn't give them too much. We need them to continue with the harvest or there won't be any bread this winter," said the smaller guard.
The older guard asked,"When does the fun start. My orders are to make sure my troops have the necessary weapons to attack the largest Beta village. I have to give the command, 'shoot to kill', which won't be a problem for me."
The guards left joking about whether to award favours to the troops who killed the most Betas.
Scene 3
Kathryn sat up feeling sick to her stomach. They were going to slaughter the Beta tribe like animals. When she looked over at Chakotay she could tell that he was also horrified by what they heard.
"At least we know where the door is. I am sure that they locked it with a barricade. I can pick some locks but this one has two distinct stages," explained Chakotay.
"What tools do you need to complete the second stage. We need to hurry up," stated Kathryn.
"We have to raise the bar so it drops to the floor but I don't know how well it's wedged in," replied Chakotay.
Kathryn knew that their mission to save the Betas was hanging on a thread.
"What about a distraction? Lie on the floor and start groaning. I'll call the guard and tell him that you're sick. When he comes into the cellar - I will hit him hard."
"We don't know how far away they are? Will they hear us screaming and shouting or take any notice?" asked Chakotay.
As Kathryn was pacing around she kept stepping on something squishy. She sat down on a box to clean her shoes. Whatever she had trodden in had a distinctive smell.
"This is a storeroom for root vegetables. They have vegetables that look like carrots and turnips."
"Don't they usually have an external opening?" enquired Chakotay.
"On my Grandfather's farm, there is a hatch at ground level. They offload their roots straight from the farm transport," explained Kathryn.
"How are we going to reach the roof without a ladder or something to climb on?" asked Chakotay.
"Let's try to estimate how large the space is and find something strong enough to build a platform to climb on."
Scene 4
Chakotay heard the jangling keys again and warned Kathryn. They dropped to the floor and closed their eyes before the door opened.
It was the same Guards who visited them earlier.
"I hope Aven didn't give them an overdose. The farmer wants them returned unharmed even though he had them arrested."
Does he think that they will forgive him and go back to work as though nothing had changed?" replied his friend.
"It seems that you don't need to be a genius to manage a farm," commented his colleague.
One of the guards knelt down to check Kathryn's pulse then did the same to Chakotay.
"They are stable for now. We will check them in another hour and call the Doc if they're still out of it."
As soon as they closed the door Kathryn and Chakotay started to search the cellar to no avail.
Kathryn slumped to the floor, "We aren't going to be able to warn them in time. They've won Chakotay!"
"I refuse to admit defeat. I was the most feared Captain in the Maquis and you are the cream of Starfleet. Giving up isn't in our training or nature!"
Kathryn shook her head, "You're right of course - let's get on with it."
"We have to hurry. We won't be able to convince a doctor that we are still unconscious, warned Chakotay.
Kathryn lay down flat on the floor.
"This isn't the time for a nap," joked Chakotay.
"I'm trying to see the room from a different perspective. From a different angle, I may be able to see something we've missed?"
Chakotay lay down beside her. She could feel his warm body. They were lying so close that his body was wedged against her right side. Her physical reaction to him was normal but not while they were trying to save the whole Beta species.
"Chakotay, you are distracting me," said Kathryn.
"I haven't said a word!" claimed Chakotay.
Kathryn sat up and stared at him accusingly.
He smiled, "Fair enough I will move to a safe distance. But we will continue this conversation after we have saved the Betas
As Kathryn laid down again she noticed a glimmer of light. She stood up and went towards it.
"What's wrong?" asked Chakotay.
"There Is a glimmer of light in the corner. If you could lift me up so I can see if it's a viable escape route."
Chakotay cupped his hands and waited to lift Kathryn. He steadied himself then moved her closer to the ceiling. She jumped down, grinning like a Cheshire Cat.
"I can see the suns. The wood is rotten so it's not too strong. We should be able to make a big enough hole to climb through,"
She reached into her pouch and drew out a small scalpel."
Chakotay explored the rest of the cellar with the torch. He found some boxes to make steps. They were fragile so Kathryn volunteered to shape the hole while Chakotay acted as a lookout. As the hole got bigger the light increased in the cellar. Chakotay found some hessian sacks. He gave Kathryn one to stuff in the hole if the guards interrupted them.
It wasn't long before the hole was big enough for Kathryn to squeeze through. She poked her head and one arm through the opening. She found a bush to grab onto and pulled herself through the ceiling. It was doubtful that the boxes would take Chakotay's weight. Kathryn's task was to locate the cellar hatch so he could escape as well.
She looked at the ground for signs of the cellar doors. When she was about to give up - she noticed the metal handles glinting in the sunlight. She knelt down in the grass and pulled with all her strength but it didn't move an inch. Kathryn hit the door in frustration then she spotted a shovel. She decided to use it as a crowbar to open the hatch. She managed to prise the door enough to wedge the handle underneath so she could stand on the other end.
The wood groaned then it split like a log. It wasn't long before Chakotay climbed through.
The wood groaned then it split like a log. It wasn't long before Chakotay climbed through.
"Let's find the Beta compound then we can start to evacuate them," whispered Chakotay.
They kept low and used the bushes around the field as cover. When Chakotay raised his hand Kathryn stopped so they didn't give away their position to the Alpha. They knew that the Alphas would discover their escape soon so they had to get a move on.
They hid when they found the compound Chakotay had visited earlier. After checking there was nobody around - they walked up to the door and knocked. The door swung open! Kathryn looked down to find a dead Beta with a hole where his head should be. She put a hand over her mouth and rushed to the side of the cabin to throw up.
Chakotay checked that she was okay then he inspected every building in the Compound. He was desperate to find a survivor.
He returned to find Kathryn leaning against the first cabin sobbing. "They didn't even try to fight back. The Betas trusted them. They co-existed for centuries - what changed?"
"Let's go and get the others. The thought of staying here any longer turns my stomach," murmured Chakotay.
They walked back to the bunkhouses in silence. They didn't need to hide because the Cull was over. Kathryn looked at the peaceful scenery around her. It reminded her of her Grandparent's farm at home. Now all she could see was the mutilated body of the Beta child stuck in the door.
They separated to collect the crew. Outside they recounted everything that had happened during the night. Everyone had worked with the Betas in the fields so they knew how gentle they were.
Astra needed to talk to Chakotay. She could sense that some of the Betas had survived and were in hiding. She didn't know how to explain her senses without revealing her origins. Kathryn was too upset to help her with this problem.
As they walked back to the ship Astra fell in step with Chakotay.
"Captain, I have certain abilities which I can use to find people. My senses have evolved to be able to detect life signs over a long distance. I know that some of the Betas survived the massacre and have gone into hiding."
"How reliable are your senses?" asked Chakotay.
"One hundred percent, I have never failed to retrieve the target," replied Astra"I know that most people don't trust extra-sensory perception because it is unscientific. I find wisdom in vision quests to guide my decisions in life. I know there are things we can't explain and I am happy with that."
Astra smiled, "Your ancestors were very wise. We can reach the first survivors on foot. They in a cave accessed by a tunnel near the mountains. One of them is very weak so we don't have much time."
Chakotay went to find Kathryn.
"Astra thinks there are survivors hiding in the caves underneath that mountain. I will go with her to check it out."
"How does she know?"
"She heard one of the Alphas talking about it to a friend." lied Chakotay.
Kathryn knew he wasn't telling her everything. "I will get everything ready to go and wait for your orders.?"
She gave him her pouch and a canteen of water, "Take care, I don't want to lose either of you."
Scene 5
When they were out of sight, Astra took Chakotay's hand and clicked her fingers. When his eyes opened they were standing in front of the tunnel.
"You can teleport! Are you a Q?" asked Chakotay, who realised that she hadn't been entirely straight with him."
"I am not a Q! We were the original inhabitants of the Continuum. When the Q ascended we offered them guidance and help. They repaid us by making my people extinct. I am the only Ancient left in the universe."
"Does Q know what you are?" asked Chakotay.
"Yes he does but the Q thought we were extinct - I surprised him!
"How did you persuade him to keep your secret?" asked Chakotay.
"I can be very persuasive. She didn't want to tell him that Kathryn was part of the agreement.
"I am not sure that the Beta will trust us. How are we going to convince them that we mean them no harm?" asked Chakotay.
"I have that covered," Astra clicked her fingers and changed herself into a female Beta."
Chakotay was envious, "Now that is a talent I would like to have."
"It has its moments," said Astra, who didn't want to elaborate.
"Let's find these poor creatures then we'll get them to a safe place and decide what to do."
Chakotay followed Astra as she knew where she was going. They followed a narrow, dank tunnel until it split into two passages. Astra closed her eyes and pointed to the right one. They walked for about two kilometres where they encountered a cave in.
"The Betas are behind this debris. We have to hurry because their life signs are getting weaker," explained Astra.
They set to work, clearing the debris but their efforts weren't quick enough.
"Stand back," ordered Astra.
She put one hand on the rock and closed her eyes. Chakotay could feel the heat starting to build, from where he was standing. When the rocks started to glow, there was a rumble and the rocks blew apart. Astra kept them in a bubble of air to protect them.
When the dust cleared they saw the Betas huddling together, frightened to death. They looked up when they saw Astra. She spoke to them in their language.
"We are here to help you. We have friends who will use their ship to take you wherever you want to go."
They talked to each other then stood up and collected their sacks.
"Follow me!" said Astra.
The group consisted of five Betas. Astra discovered that they were a family: Mom, Dad and three offspring - two females and a male.
The Journey back to the ship took a long time because the Betas walked at a slow pace. While they walked they told Astra what had happened to them.
They had a warning from the first Compound that they were under attack. They managed to light a signal fire before they Alphas caught them. The children had played in the tunnels and found the small cave at the end of the right-hand path. They escaped before the Alpha soldiers finished killing their family and friends. They managed to take a small amount of food and water with them so they couldn't survive for very long by themselves.
The male child Lam, was so excited when Astra told him they would be escaping in a spaceship. He told her that he dreamed of travelling to the stars.
Kathryn, Tom, B'Elanna and Ayala were waiting outside the ship.
"I'll get some food for everyone. Then you can tell us where you want to go," offered Kathryn.
"Can you detect any more life signs?" asked Chakotay.
Astra changed back to her usual form: "I can't sense any of the others now - they're all gone."
The tears started to fall and she wasn't the only one who was crying.
Chakotay spoke to the father, "We can take you wherever you want to go."
Astra translated, "Some of Our family travelled to Sanctuary. The planet is in the next star system."
He took a star chart from his pack and pointed to the planet. Astra gave Tom the coordinates.
The Father asked Astra if he could speak to her in private.
"My son Lam has never settled to the caring or cleaning work that was our duty. He always had his head in the Stars. Would your Captain be agreeable to taking Lam with you? He will make himself useful by cooking, cleaning and caring for the Crew. He is a good boy and we will be sad to lose him but this is his destiny."
Astra had a quick word with Chakotay who agreed to allow Lam to join the crew.
The Mother hugged Astra when she heard the good news.