Child of Night (Kind der Nacht): Part 3

Author: Christy Anderson

You can contact me at kittyunlimited@go.com.

Disclaimer: All characters belong to Paramount minus Ensign Christy Anderson and a few selected insignificant characters

Here goes part three… Enjoy!

Child of Night (Kind der Nacht): Part 3

The Bridge was brightly lit, and the smile on the Captain's face perfectly complemented the ridiculous smile on Tom's. A note of unmistakable mystery hung suspended in the air. "Take your station, Ensign," Captain Janeway said with a sweeping gesture. Perplexed, I walked across the Bridge and stood behind the ensign that was seated at the science console.

"You are relieved, Ensign," I said softly.

She turned around to show me an elated face full of happiness. "Good Luck," she whispered as she walked away.

I sat down and glanced over my shoulder back at the Captain, who was still smiling. I felt increasingly uncomfortable by the minute as I sat there not knowing what to do. Etwas hat nicht Recht… something is not right…

"Take a look at your console, Christy," she gently prodded.

I tapped a few controls and studied the screen. The Bridge was deathly silent as if they were all waiting for my next move. "There is a large spiral galaxy 20 parsecs off our starboard bow," I informed everyone uncertainly.

Suddenly there was an eruption of stifled chuckles behind me. I turned around unsure of who looked more ludicrous- Tom or Harry. Their attempts to control their reactions to an obviously hilarious situation had infested itself in twisted smiles. However, I still could not see what was so entertaining. The Captain, obviously suffering from a similar milder case of giggles, tried again.

"Look again, Christy," she urged.

I sat in silence, unsure of what she wanted. Ich verstehe nicht… I do not understand… A more detailed analysis of the galaxy showed over 300 globular clusters and the large composites of neutron stars indicating the rare presence of hundreds of singularities, wormholes. I struggled to comprehend how many of those existed. "Wormholes, Captain?" I questioned nervously.

The tense quiet briefly deepened. Suddenly, I had the entire bridge staff roaring in uncontrollable laughter, minus Tuvok, of course. As I swung around to look at everybody, it was not difficult to notice the tears that were rolling down Tom's cheeks as he laughed harder. The Captain and the Commander laughed together in chorus. Even Harry and B'Elanna were inseparably involved in the overwhelming glee.

Watching that awkward scene, I could feel the inevitable heat rising in my cheeks, becoming more embarrassed as time went on. In my perspective, there was no obvious source to their delightment, and I remained clueless to any factor that had set off such a domino chain reaction.

"You might try looking a little higher," the Captain hinted between gasps for air. In a last attempt to find out what had amused everyone around me so much, I heaved a heavy sigh and shrugged my shoulders.

I turned back to look at the console. I studied the scene molecule by molecule until I discovered an overlooked object beside me. Sitting in plain sight was a PADD that I had missed when I had first taken my seat. I picked it up and scrolled the first few lines. On it were the very detailed schematics of a science away mission to the near galaxy in order to obtain all new scientific data, to develop protective shield modulations, and to acquire the status, condition, and destinations of the singularities within the globular clusters.

I furrowed my eyebrows as I concentrated; every variable was not adding up. The PADD completely threw me for a loop. And perhaps it was the humiliating chain of events, but I still remained unaware of the motives behind everyone's strange actions. "An away mission, Captain?" I questioned hesitantly.

By now Captain Janeway had regained her normal composure. Her eyes vibrantly shone as if she were tremendously proud in the fact that she was about to do something momentous. "Yes," she said matter-of-factly, "An important away mission that I would like you to head up. If there is anyone aboard Voyager that could get us home, it's you."

Harry turned to face me. "Think about it, Christy. This is a chance to finally get home," he said with excitement.

Haupt erhalten? Vater… To get home? To see Father?

Ich dachte nie, daß ich diese Phrase hören würde, ' um nach Hause zu gehen '. Ich wünsche stark, nach Hause zu gehen. Sie würde so wundervoll sein, schließlich Haupt zu erhalten… I never thought that I would hear that phrase, 'to go home'. I ardently wish to go home. It would be so wonderful to get home at last.

Yet I snapped out of my reverie and I raised my eyebrows, still completely confused. "Captain, you believe that one of those wormholes in the spiral galaxy might lead to the Alpha Quadrant?"

She nodded her head, "Possibly, after all, the number of singularities that exist in this galaxy is phenomenal. Check your console- there are hundreds of them. I do not think that Starfleet has ever seen anything like this!" she exclaimed.

"The possibility defies astronomical odds," I admitted as I tapped on the console a few more times. "However, I am reading massive amounts of quantum foam and hydronium ions. If sensors are correct, the p.H. of that foam is 2. The foam is so acidic that it will eat the plating right off our hull!" I exclaimed.

She nodded. "We know. We have been studying this since 03:00 hours this morning. B'Elanna has ascertained that Voyager cannot get any closer without being harmed. Long-range sensors are unable to show us anything beyond the foam. We've already tried to launch a probe, but it disintegrated within seconds. We need to launch a shuttle."

"Captain," I started, "I still do not understand…" I informed her as I held up the PADD. "Taking a shuttle into that galaxy is dangerous as well."

She nodded her head again. Tuvok sidestepped his console and walked up behind the Captain. "Permission to speak," he requested.

"Granted," the Captain said without hesitation.

"Ensign Anderson, it is established that this is a risk. However, Voyager is much more susceptible to that foam, though, than a shuttle will be. You will have more time to develop a shield modulation to protect you from the acidic environment."

"That is a large risk to take, Captain," I persisted. "We would only have an hour or two at the most- hardly enough time to do anything." It seemed like a dream, the goal was there- it was unreachable.

Ich darf nicht meinen Wunsch lassen, Vorhang nach Hause zu erreichen ich. Diese Gefahr ist gefährlich. Wir könnten gegessenes lebendiges sein… I must not let my desire to reach home blind me. This risk is dangerous. We could be eaten alive…

The Captain rubbed the spot between her eyes that signaled an oncoming headache. "I know, Ensign, but I have no choice. This galaxy extends for lightyears upon lightyears- it will take three extra years to go around it, but only a few short months to go through it. I am not willing to accept that, not when there is a possibility that one of those wormholes could lead to the Alpha Quadrant." She sighed and ducked her head.

Siren blared in my mind. Diese Gefahr ist nicht wert das Nehmen … This risk is not worth taking. "Captain, there has to be another option. Risking a shuttle crew should not be one of them," I protested.

The Captain glowered as I challenged her authority. "I've already made my decision, Christy," she continued, "and I would like for you to be with me on this. I have assigned Tom and B'Elanna to this mission as well, and they will fully be able to brief you on everything. The away mission is scheduled for launch at 09:00 hours tomorrow, so you will have until then to gather any of the materials you might need. You have my permission to replicate any other resources that Voyager lacks. I hope that I have made myself quite clear, and I request your presence in my Ready Room at 22:00 hours. Make sure that you are fully acquainted with this mission at that time. Understood?" she asked as she glared.

I gave a slight nod. Warum kann sie nicht sie sehen? Warum schließt sie ihre Augen auf dieser Aufsicht? … Why can she not see it? Why does she shut her eyes on this situation?

"Good, you three are dismissed. You have the Bridge, Commander," she said hotly as she retreated towards her Ready Room. Simultaneously Tom and B'Elanna stood up from their stations and proceeded towards the turbolift. I turned my head and looked at Chakotay who could only stare at the scene that had erupted before his eyes. With one angry glance he pushed his way past me.

"Tuvok, you have the Bridge," he hollered as he chased after the Captain.

I slowly backed away to join Tom and B'Elanna as they entered the turbolift. As the doors shut behind there was an uncomfortable silence, and no one made a move.

Tom cleared his throat. "Where to?" he asked to break the spell.

"Well, we can't stay here all day," B'Elanna impatiently announced. The silence was irritating; nerves were frayed. Still, no one moved a muscle.

"Engineering," she commanded fiercely. "I have work to do before we leave. Vorik needs to be briefed on monitoring and maintaining the core," she added after awhile to rationalize her decision. The turbolift came to a jolting halt and B'Elanna hesitantly stepped out. "I'll meet with you in three hours in the Mess Hall," she announced after an uneasy pause. Angrily she stormed away and the turbolift doors shut behind her.

Yet B'Elanna had not taken the cumbersome silence with her, and both of us stood there in the turbolift without any direction. I pondered the direct effects of the Captain's heated actions on the Bridge. As a result, we were all irritable, on edge, stunned to see her loss of control on her emotions. "So what just happened here?" I asked slowly in amazment.

Tom shrugged. "I suppose we have all been under a great deal of stress," he answered, avoiding my gaze.

I shook my head. "Der Kapitän ist falsch. Sie glaubt, daß wir nach Hause um jeden Preis gehen müssen… The Captain is wrong. She believes that we must get home at all costs," I said softly, then sighed. "Holodeck," I commanded without another moment to think.

Tom raised his eyebrows questioningly.

"We are going to retrieve some instruments," I explained. Tom nodded his head, but still remained quiet. "So you should start explaining about our away mission…" I seriously urged.

"Well we are hoping to get home…," he started.

To be continued…