Maquis Act 48
Scene 1
Every member of the crew was standing on the Bridge holding their breath. B'Elanna was at the helm swearing in Klingon.
"If this pile of rust reaches the surface, I will put it out of its misery and blow it into small pieces."
Chakotay suppressed a grin, "You could try sweet talking it to the landing site."
"That was sweet talk, you forget that Klingons make war not love."
"Everyone find something to hold onto - this is going to be a bumpy ride," ordered the Captain.
B'Elanna glanced at the coordinates and the scanner, "We aren't going to make it Chakotay. I will have to make a crash landing. I'll try to avoid the trees."
The ship started to shake as they entered the atmosphere.
Chakotay shouted, "Astra find Lam and make sure he's safe. We don't want to lose our cook!"
"Aye Captain!" replied Astra.
Astra found Lam in the galley. He had tied himself to the large metal range oven. It was obvious that he had never experienced a crash landing. She sat down beside him and braced herself for impact.
There was a terrible groaning sound then the ship started to shake. It sounded like the planet was trying to tear it apart. There was an earth-shattering bump, followed by more shuddering. Astra started to prepare herself for death, which would be a new experience for her. Then the ship ground to a halt. Astra hugged Lam, who was crying because he was thankful that he wasn't dead. Chakotay came to check on both of them.
"We will assess the damage then try to establish contact with the native species. There are seven large compounds on the surface connected by a circular hub. Do you know anything about this star system or planet?"
"I know there is a prison here with a novel approach to the rehabilitation of offenders. That is all I can remember," replied Astra.
"Take Tom with you to check out the local area. We need to know if the locals aren't friendly."
Astra rushed off to find Tom as she was eager to explore their new temporary home. Chakotay helped Lam to his feet. He produced a bottle of alien alcohol and poured him a drink. Chakotay drank his in one and indicated that Lam should do the same. As soon as he drank the liquid Lam started coughing - even Chakotay's eyes were watering.
"Believe it or not, that is the best medicine for a shock. Still, it is definitely a nasty drink" complained Chakotay.
"That may be right but I prefer hot sweet tea, Captain," said Lam.
Kathryn applauded, "I agree with you Lam but you haven't tried a drink called whiskey from my planet."
"How much damage was there?" asked Chakotay.
"I will find out when B'Elanna has stopped swearing. I made her promise that she wouldn't destroy what's left of our home."
"Don't worry, B'Elanna is a genius at adapting alien technology to fit our engine."
Chakotay could hear Astra's voice calling him, "Captain, we have a problem that you need to deal with."
Chakotay went to the hatch and looked outside. Armed guards surrounded the ship. Astra and Tom were lying face down on the floor with a gun pointed at their heads
The Captain of the soldiers shouted at Chakotay, "Where are your escorts prisoner? Did you kill them when you crash landed?"
"We aren't prisoners. We are trying to return to our home planet. The computer on our ship developed a fault which resulted in engine failure. If you release my crew we will repair the ship and leave immediately," pleaded Chakotay.
"We will search your ship to find evidence for your claim. You will be in serious trouble if we discover that you have lied to us," shouted the Captain.
Two soldiers disappeared into the ship and forced the other members of the crew out except one! B'Elanna was still fighting and the soldiers couldn't get near her. They called for reinforcements. The Captain shook his head in disgust. He grabbed Lam and frogmarched him onto the ship with a gun pointing at his head. He went onto the bridge and forced Lam to his knees.
"Prisoner you will surrender or I will decorate this ship with his brain matter."
B'Elanna stood still and lowered her bat'leth to the floor. Blood was dripping off the blades, which didn't help matters. The Captain could see that she still had bloodlust in her eyes.
He dismissed his men, "Help your fellow cowards to stand and wait outside."
One of the soldiers picked up two of his fingers which were lying on the floor.
The Captain knocked them out of his hand, "You don't deserve those digits! You couldn't subdue a single female - I am disgusted!"
The young soldiers filed out of the ship with their heads bowed in shame.
The Captain was assessing B'Elanna's state of mind to decide whether she showed any signs of calming down."
"I don't know whether to use you to train my worthless soldiers or execute you now," mused the Officer.
"Kill me now if I have to listen to any more of your drivel," snarled B'Elanna.
Without any emotion, the Captain punched Lam in the face, "I understand prisoners like you. You don't care about the pain and punishment inflicted on you. Yet hurting the weaker members of the crew will ensure your obedience."
"Don't hurt him again - I have learnt my lesson," said B'Elanna.
"Walk in front so I don't have to worry about you sinking a knife into my back," ordered the Captain.
One of the soldiers, who was searching the ship, walked out holding the rope Lam used to tie himself to the range.
Chakotay knew what was coming, "That isn't what you're thinking!"
Lam was distraught, "The rope that he'd used to secure himself was going to get the crew thrown into prison.
"Line up prisoners. We are taking you to the Holding centre. A presiding Magistrate will listen to the evidence and assign you to a compound."
Chakotay was in the line behind Kathryn. He whispered, "When everything settles down I will get word to you about an escape."
"No talking Prisoners," shouted the Guard.
Kathryn nodded so Chakotay knew that she heard his message.
Scene 2 - The Judgements
The crew of the Javert joined a long line of prisoners waiting outside a huge metal door to the central hub. Around the hub were seven buildings which resembled petals. They reached the end of the queue and entered the round building. They discovered a circular room with seven doors around the outside. Each door had a large number painted on it. After the mock trial, the Judge gave them a number. That door opened to admit the guilty party to their compound.
B'Elanna was the first member of the crew to stand before the Magistrate. The Judge listened to the Captain of the guards' report. It took a few minutes then she received a six, Wrath.
The Captain smiled, it wasn't hard to apply a deadly sin to that prisoner.
Chakotay was the next one in front of the Magistrate. The Captain couldn't believe that the women were active members of the crew. So they must be there for the comfort of the males on board.
They handed Chakotay an envious three, Lust.
Tom Paris didn't show any fear. He loved the way they couldn't subdue B'Elanna until they threatened Lam. If she could act with such courage then so could he. The Judge watched Tom for a few minutes before he allocated a number. He was definitely a man who drifted through life taking the easy way out. He was definitely number five, Sloth.
Ayala had spent some time in a Cardassian Prison so he knew what to expect. When the guard pushed him he turned around and knocked him out. The next guard ended up on the floor next to him. The Captain sighed and ordered reinforcements. Finally, it took six guards to drag Ayala in front of the Judge. Everyone knew that it would be number six, Wrath. He grinned at Astra as he went to the door. Then she realised that he wanted to stay with B'Elanna. It would be easier to escape if they weren't spread out between the prisons.
The next prisoner was Kathryn - she presented the Judge with a real problem. Kathryn looked exactly like his lady wife. She even had the same open, confident stare. He couldn't stop fantasising about seeing her in number 3, Lust. The problem was it was his sin, not hers.
After Kathryn left the room Astra marched straight up to the Judge before he could react.
"You have made a huge mistake. We aren't prisoners, we are travellers who crashed here by accident."
The Judge turned to the Captain of the Guards. "Your report stated that they killed their guards after they crash-landed on the planet."
"We found evidence of restraints after we searched the ship. They did not behave like innocent people. One of their females injured four soldiers before she surrendered. You saw one of their males attempt to evade justice today," reported the Captain.
"I order you to check with everyone who sends prisoners to our facility. I will release them if there are no transports missing. You need to bring me proof that these prisoners aren't registered for any of our facilities. Failure to do so will result in their release. You will also serve one of their sentences for your negligence"
Astra groaned, now the Captain didn't have any incentive to prove their innocence.
"Sir, may I go with the Captain and observe his enquiries. I know that he will be scrupulous in his investigations. Yet my crew are the ones who will suffer if he makes another error."
"Granted - young lady, I will release you to prove your innocence. If you attempt to escape, they will have orders to shoot you on sight. Do you understand me?"
Astra was glad that she was wearing her throwing knives when they arrested her. She knew the Captain would not have her safety at heart when they left the prison.
WRATH
As soon as the door shut behind her B'Elanna started to panic. She had suffered from crippling claustrophobia since she was a child. One of her human cousins locked her in a cupboard as a prank. She remembered their laughter as the key turned in the lock. At the end of the day, her father found her. She was sobbing and hyperventilating when he unlocked the door. Her Cousins had to apologise to her but none of them meant it.
A guard pointed to a shower and threw some clothes at her. B'Elanna started to growl at the female guard as she picked them up.
"You're not going to survive here if you react like that to provocation," stated the guard.
"I can fight my own battles," warned B'Elanna.
"You are here because you can't control your temper. During your incarceration, every guard and prisoner will try to goad you. If you lose your temper and attack anyone, the nearest guard will shoot you on the spot."
"Are you telling me that I will die if I lose my temper? " asked B'Elanna.
"Affirmative, the guard has to kill the prisoner within fifteen minutes of the offence."
As B'Elanna showered she wished her Klingon half would disappear. Klingons were angry all the time. It was time to prepare for her death. B'Elanna would die in battle to earn her place in Sto-Vo-Kor. She would send as many guards as she could to hell.
As soon as she was ready the guard released her into the general population. A trustee came to meet her to show B'Elanna where to sleep and keep clean.
"Where do we eat?" asked B'Elanna.
"The guards throw food through the door. They want the prisoners to fight for it like animals so they can execute some of us. They collect a bonus every furlough for killing the most prisoners. If the prisoner numbers are low down then the prison is cheaper to run," explained the trustee.
B'Elanna found a quiet place and sat down on the floor. She pulled her knees up to her chest trying to make herself a smaller target. The trustee sat down beside her.
"Don't worry, I've survived longer than any other prisoner. I'll show you the tricks and places to hide it there is a fight," offered the trustee.
B'Elanna knew that she would want something in return.
LUST
Chakotay finished his shower and spent the next five minutes staring at his new uniform. It consisted of a pair of micro shorts and a vest.
He shouted to the guard, "Have you given me everything? I only have the underwear."
"Get dressed prisoner or I will shoot you now - it will save time," ordered the guard.
Chakotay decided to obey his captors until he could escape. His new uniform didn't leave a lot to the imagination. The saving grace was that none of the crew would see him dressed like that.
The door opened to release Chakotay into the general population. He stood against the wall to assess his new situation. Everyone wore the same clothes, micro shorts and a vest. There were some beautiful females that he couldn't help looking at. The shorts emphasised their long legs and the vests left little to the imagination. He was getting a similar appraisal from the females.
A male prisoner stood next to him and introduced himself.
"It is hard, at first, ignoring all these beautiful women but if you want to stay alive then you'd the better practice."
"What happens if I don't ignore them? " asked Chakotay.
The trustee smiled, "Then you will die, friend!"
"Sometimes it's not easy to control your reactions," admitted Chakotay.
The cheerful trustee grinned, "You need to practice your self-control or you will die today."
There was a loud siren to announce the arrival of a new prisoner. Chakotay swore when he saw Kathryn enter the compound. He asked the trustee to show him where the sleeping quarters and showers were. He needed a cold shower before he talked to Kathryn. The only way to survive, until he could escape, was to live in the shower. It was hard enough to ignore Kathryn on the Ship but dressed in these clothes it was impossible.
"Do you know the new arrival?" asked the trustee.
"Yes, she is a member of my crew." Chakotay felt uncomfortable discussing her with this stranger.
"She is attracting the attention of quite a few males," warned the trustee.
"Kathryn, over here! We are going to explore our new home." Chakotay was trying to claim her in front of the others. He would warn them to stay away from her.
Anyone could tell she was uncomfortable wearing the uniform. She kept trying to adjust her micro shorts. All she succeeded in doing was displaying her toned stomach.
Chakotay groaned, If he was going to survive this experience then he had to beat the Vulcans at mind control.
"Who's your new friend?" asked Kathryn.
As the trustee walked away, Chakotay whispered, "The happiest man on the planet. Most of his conversation consisted of ways to get yourself killed."
"How do you get yourself killed?" asked Kathryn.
Chakotay explained, "All the prisons deal with one of the Seven Deadly Sins. Guess which one our prison deals with? If you give into temptation then they will kill you."
Kathryn looked around at the prisoners in micro shorts and vests.
"They're not subtle are they?" Kathryn realised that they were in danger. She made herself stop staring at Chakotay's perfect ass. She knew that her wayward thoughts wouldn't help both of them survive in this environment.
Chakotay noticed that some of her hair was loose. Without thinking he tucked it behind her ear. It was such a small gesture but it was sexually charged. He wanted to take the pins out of her hair and let it down.
Kathryn deliberately moved away from him which interrupted the moment.
"Not here Chakotay! We can explore these feelings when we have escaped from this trap."
Chakotay shook his head and focused on an escape attempt. As soon as Kathryn entered the compound he knew that he would die soon.
SLOTH
Tom was familiar with a prison routine. He showered and dressed in his uniform. He stood by the door waiting for his orders.
"You have been in prison before. You didn't learn your lesson the first time but you will find this prison is unique. Work hard and you will survive the first day. If you start to idle then the nearest guard has orders to shoot you."
"Understood!" said Tom. He knew it was better not to argue because they didn't care if he lived or died.
As soon as he entered the compound, a trustee ordered Tom to start work. There was a conveyor belt moving rock pieces. The prisoners stood either side of the belt holding a hessian sack. They picked out the small pieces of rock and dropped into the sack. The larger stones dropped into a large bucket at the end. Tom's job was to collect the bucket and drop the rocks into a silo. Nobody talked because they didn't want to die. The Federation Penal Settlement in New Zealand was a holiday camp compared to this one.
He knew that he should work steadily but not at breakneck speed. He looked around to see whether there were any potential allies. He needed to learn the unwritten rules of his new prison before it killed him. He noticed that one of the workers on the conveyor belt was starting to flag. The prisoners next to him were trying to hide him from the guards. His legs gave way before his friends could prop him up. A guard walked up to him, put a gun to his head then pulled the trigger. It was a deadly weapon because the other prisoners had to scrape his remains off the floor.
Now Tom knew the only rule he had to remember: if you can't work then you die. There was a siren which signalled a change of prisoners. Tom joined the long line waiting to leave the work area. They marched into a large room with bunks around the outside.
The prisoner went to sit at a long table down the centre of the dormitory. As they sat down, the trustees handed out metal dishes. When they were all ready, two servers walked out carrying huge saucepans. For dinner, there was a thin brown gruel slopped into each bowl. The guards ensured that nobody started eating until everyone had their food. There was a bell which signalled that it was time to eat. After the signal, they shovelled the food into their mouths. Tom knew that he had to eat so he put it in his mouth and forced it down, ignoring his gag reflex.
The inmates had an hour free after dinner to mix before the lights out. When they had enjoyed five hours of exhausted sleep then the routine repeated itself. Nobody talked to Tom but he knew that wouldn't last long. He had a way with people.
ASTRA
Astra knew that her life was in danger. The Captain did not care that the crew was innocent. He was going to get his revenge for humiliating him in front of the magistrate. She didn't need her powers to sense that danger.
"You will stay on the ship until I give you permission to leave," ordered the Captain.
"The Magistrate wanted me to watch your investigation," explained Astra, trying to sound respectful.
The Captain knew she was correct. He had to arrange an accident for her without letting his guards know. Too many of them were looking for a promotion and he wasn't a popular leader.
"You can come with me but don't try to escape or I will execute your sentence."
Astra knew that she'd proved her point but was also wise enough to shut up.
She strapped herself into her seat and waited for the pre-flight checks. She intended to stay alive until she could prove that the crew weren't escaped, prisoners. One of the guards explained the prison system to her. B'Elanna was half Klingon so she was angry all the time. She had known for a long time that the Captain was in love with Kathryn. In the compound, they had to walk around in revealing clothing in a managed environment. The temptation would prove too much if she left them there for too long. Ayala didn't talk about his imprisonment in Cardassia. He swore that he would kill himself rather than face imprisonment again. Her friends were in immediate danger so she had to move quickly.
The first planet they landed on was a mining colony. They marched into the control centre to check their convict records. The Captain sat in front of a terminal searching for their names.
He exclaimed in disgust, "Nothing!"
Astra suppressed a smile. One down and four more to go.
The Captain was in a foul mood when they returned to their transport ship.
"I should have executed your crew on the spot. I could have excused my actions as a fatal error. I could have avoided this pointless mission," complained the Captain.
"Aren't you concerned about justice? There are five people in prison who haven't committed a crime on your planets," asked Astra.
"According to our prisoners, none of them have committed a crime. All felons lie - it must be something to do with their deviant nature," explained the Captain.
Astra was suppressing enough violent thoughts to earn her a life sentence in the prison. While they were talking, the ship landed on the next planet. It was a world dedicated to pleasure. It was like Risa in the Alpha Quadrant.
"Watch yourself here. The men aren't fussy about who satisfies their sexual urges." Astra didn't expect him to warn her.
"Don't worry - I know how to look after myself."
The Captain grabbed her to prove a point. Within two moves he was flat on his back with Astra's knife at his throat.
"You have proved your point," said the Captain, signalling two of the guards to help him up.
Their party walked through the beach bar area into a small office situated in a beach hut.
The soldiers weren't paying any attention to Astra as females in bikinis walked past them. The Captain ordered the staff to look into their manifests.
'We don't have any prisoners matching your descriptions," said the Manager.
The Captain walked back to the ship in a sullen silence. Astra knew that the Captain would falsify records if he drew a blank on the next planet. He would kill her rather than serve a prison sentence on their behalf.
WRATH
B'Elanna was glad to see Ayala walk through the door. With his help she might survive until they managed to escape. They were the original members of Chakotay's crew so they had been through a lot together.
Ayala looked around until he spotted her.
She grinned at him when she noticed the bruising on his face and his grazed knuckles.
"What did you do?" asked B'Elanna.
"I couldn't let you have all the fun. I thought we could stir things up together," replied Ayala.
"Thanks Mike, I was struggling," admitted B'Elanna.
They turned around to see what was happening when they heard loud voices. All the guards converged on the prisoners who were fighting. There were two gunshots then the guards walked past them dragging the prisoners' bodies.
"How many prisoners have they killed since your arrival," asked Ayala.
"That would be the sixth execution. You don't get a chance to appeal. Even the Klingons allow their prisoners some dignity and respect."
B'Elanna was starting to panic. Even with Ayala's help, she was going to struggle to control her temper. Her father always said that her temper would cause her death. Now she was going to fulfil his premonition.
"Let's find somewhere quiet. We will survive - we cannot allow them to win," swore Ayala.
"If I lose my temper then I will kill as many guards as I can before I'm executed," swore B'Elanna.
"Don't worry B. I won't be far behind you. I can already feel the walls starting to close in around me. He didn't tell her that he was already experiencing flashbacks from his time in prison on Cardassia. He was starting to remember the torture he experienced.
LUST
Chakotay was lying on his bunk sweating. The temperature in the compound was climbing. Kathryn was lying in the bunk next to him and he needed her to move for his safety. Chakotay watched a bead of sweat trickle down her chest. He held his breath as it got lower. He started to imagine kissing her neck and the top of her breasts. His erotic experience stopped when he felt a sharp pain in his arm where Kathryn had punched him hard.
"Stop it Chakotay! You aren't helping either of us."
"I'm sorry Kathryn. The conditions are set to encourage passion. We need to sleep on opposite sides of the compound."
"I agree, we need to keep away from each other," agreed Kathryn.
Kathryn stumbled because they were in a hurry to separate. Chakotay put his arm around her to prevent her from falling. They didn't move an inch. Kathryn's flesh burned where he touched her. Chakotay was desperate to kiss her sensuous lips before they were executed.
There was a loud shout!