When the silence comes
A Star Trek Voyager fanfic
By Beki Smith
Chapter 1: Prisoners of war
Allya turned over in her cell. She had counted the cracks in the dull gray ceiling a dozen times now, and each time made her sentence seem longer. Her once shining reddish-brown hair fell limply around her jaw line. They were feeding her - she knew now, it was only a matter of time before they assimilated her and she became one of them. They had told her what she would be called - six of seven. What a name. She'd much rather stay as Captain Allya Stevens of the Maquis starship Joker, thank you very much.
"Captain, we're detecting a Borg cube on the long range scanners." The voice of Ensign Winters ran through Kathryn Janeway's head and she looked up.
"Is it hostile?"
"We don't know, Captain - hang on, we're receiving a message. Harry?" Ensign Kim looked up as he pressed the 'on screen' button. A tall, lanky Borg appeared on the screen.
"We will take over your ship. Fear us, we have a Maquis captive already. Resistance is futile." The face disappeared from the screen, and the crew looked at their Captain, each face asking for an answer.
"Janeway to Seven of Nine," the voice of her captain rang through the speaker of Seven's com badge.
"Seven of Nine here, Captain." The next sentence she heard hit Seven like a ton of bricks. They were coming back. For her?
"We've detected a Borg cube on the long range scanners, they appear hostile - report to the bridge immediately." The next minutes flashed by, for Seven, Janeway and the rest of the crew, except for the few in sickbay - Lieutenant Tom Paris and Lieutenant Commander Tuvok. Seven of Nine was sent to try and infiltrate the Borg system - a dangerous attempt left her captured by the Borg and sentenced to re-entry into the 'community'. Janeway, Chakotay, Kim and Winters - all captured by the Borg. Only the rest of the crew escaped, B'Elanna Torres risking the crew to steer the ship away. Janeway watched through the screen of her captive ship as Voyager went to warp and blasted away from them. Chakotay rested a hand on her shoulder - they both knew there was nothing they could do now.
Back on Voyager, Tom Paris awakened, having recovered from the effects of the sedative.
Allya sat up, suddenly, her hair flying haphazardly around her face. Four people had just been thrown - literally - into the cell, and were now lying splayed out on the floor, one of them writhing in pain. A brown haired woman, with a stern look on her face, stood up and turned towards the guard, One of Five.
"You will not take us, Borg. We will stand our ground, and fight for our humanity." Allya let out a small gasp, as One of Five laughed hoarsely and smirked; no one had ever talked back to the guard before. Could it be? No, Voyager was long lost. Why did she torture herself with thoughts of Tom? Two of the other Federation officers were sitting huddled in a corner, him with his arm cradling her, her clutching her broken arm. The one remaining man, with a tattoo on his forehead, turned towards Allya and studied her from leather tank top to shining boots.
"You're Maquis," he said, curiously. Allya tried to speak, but no sound came out, she hadn't spoken for some time. The second time, a voice came from her mouth, croaking and hoarse.
"I am now, I used to be Federation, like them."
"What do they call you?" he sat down on the edge of the metal bed and looked into her soft green eyes.
"Captain Allya Stevens, of the Maquis starship Joker. Formerly Commander Stevens of the Federation starship Prosper." The woman who had yelled at the guard turned and looked at Allya.
"Why did you..." The woman broke off, suddenly, extended her hand, and introduced herself.
"Captain Kathryn Janeway of the Federation starship Voyager." Allya stood up, suddenly, making the man on the end of the bed jump, and the two in the corner look up, suddenly.
"Say that again?" She walked towards Janeway, and stared at her. Janeway repeated herself, slowly, utterly confused by it all. Allya sat down on the bed again, head in hands. "Voyager... he's on Voyager... Tom..." Allya spoke to no one in particular, but they heard. The man leaned in towards her, and asked another question.
"Tom who?" Allya turned her face towards the two officers, now sitting side by side. A tear ran softly down her cheek, and she shook her head to get rid of it, her hair once again whirling around her head. She looked to the ground, and whispered the name of the man she had loved... and lost.
"Tom Paris."
Back on Voyager, Paris ran into the turbo lift and jammed his thumb onto the button that read 'bridge'.