Countermand: Loyalties
By Voyager Queen
Before you read this you should really read…
1. Three Sisters: First Encounter
2. Three Sisters: Gathering
3. Around Every Corner
If you don't… you'll probably be a little confused because this story takes place in an A.U.
* * Where we left off… * *
"McAllister…" Kina breathed, Tom echoing her with a soft "grandfather."
McAllister stared at the two as though he didn't really believe they were there.
Stepping forward Tom tried again, "Grandfather?"
"Tom?" he chocked uncertainly. Standing he stared into the eyes of the grandson he had thought lost to him forever.
"It can't be…" he muttered.
"It is," Kida assured. "Now we've got to all get out of here."
The three turned but a shadow fell across the doorway. The fourth guard, the missing Cardassian stood armed before them, blocking their only way out. The Cardassian raised his phaser and shot the closest one to him… Tom.
Acting quickly Kida had raised her own gun and killed, not stunned him before he could fire off another shot.
To add insult to injury, Tom's flawless plan acquired another kink. The red klaxons began to blare through the facility as Tom dropped to his knees.
Tom had been shot with many different kinds of phasers. He'd always hated Cardassian blasters the most.
Collapsed in his grandfather's arms with Kida hovering over him he made another attempt at heroism, "You two need to get to The Flawless, you can still make it."
"That phaser must have done a lot of damage if you think I'd leave you," Kida quipped.
Tom laughed and to his company's dismay blood began to speckle his lips, "I'll never make it and there's no point in us all dying here."
Ignoring him Kida turned to McAllister, "I don't suppose there is any way to convince you to head to our ship?"
"And leave my grandson?"
"Right. I didn't think so."
* * The Flawless * *
Susie carefully watched the marquis called B'Elanna. So this was Tom's girlfriend, she thought bitterly.
The girls he fell for were just getting more and more interesting. Megan Delaney, some betazoid tramp named Tikil, that positively evil Starfleet Lieutenant Mariot Clacer, and most likely quite a few others she didn't know about.
Now, B'Elanna Torres, an outlaw, beautiful, mysterious and exactly the kind of girl Tom would usually fall for.
The kind of girl she would usually have been there to protect him from. At least he'd been a galaxy away from Kida.
The half Klingon had to be better than that stuck up Vulcan super agent, right?
Putting aside her musings Susie looked around the cargo bay nervously. All the teams were back aboard. All the teams but Tom's and time was running out.
When she heard the unmistakable sound of Cardassian klaxons she realized, it already had.
Hardening her heart she ran to the bridge, she knew what had to be done.
Too many lives hung in the balance to wait around for two fleeters… even if one did have her heart.
She jumped into the pilots seat and Janeway looked at her in surprise. "What are you doing?"
"Getting us out of here."
"Tom's back?"
"Tom didn't make it but it's time for the backup plan."
"Backup plan?"
"If one of the teams don't make it back we leave with out them."
"We can't leave them!" Janeway exclaimed.
"We stay and we risk the lives of all those we came to save. A Cardassian fleet will be here any moment. We need to leave."
Without waiting for Janeway to respond Susie took off. Tears slide silently down her cheeks and they all remained silent.
* * Maximum Security: Sulok * *
Kida and McAllister helped Tom to stand, each of them pulling one of his arms around their shoulders. Slowly the three made their way out of the facility.
"They'll be gone," Tom said between coughs.
Kida shook her head, "Susie still loves you, she won't leave without you."
"It's because she still loves me that she will."
Kida sighed, knowing he was right. For all the quarrels she and Susie had, had Kida had learned Susie always kept good on her word.
Especially if it was given to Tom.
"Then we'll head for the desert, hide until they come back for us and you know they will."
"That sounds like a good idea," McAllister agreed. "The Cardassians will be here soon and if we aren't gone…"
"When hell freezes over I'll let us become their prisoners," Kida hissed.
"Well we better get out of here," Tom gasped. "We all know how Vulcans hate the cold."
With a smile in her eyes and a frown on her lips she replied, "The only thing Vulcans hate are smart mouth hotshot pilots."
"I bet they can't stand you then, huh."
* * Telis Six on Bajor * *
B'Elanna felt the ship land and couldn't keep the smile off her face. Running from the cargo bay she jumped down from the ship.
She saw Janeway and her other rescuers standing solemn in the corner of the docking bay. Running to her Captain she immediately called out, "Where's Tom? Working on this beautiful ship, I suppose?"
The young redhead next to Janeway looked up with tears in her eyes and B'Elanna's hear lurched. "Where is he?" she demanded.
A tear finally sliding down her cheek, Susie answered, "He's still on Sulok."
* * Outside of Sulok: Somewhere in the desert * *
McAllister and Kida laid the now unconscious Tom on the floor of a cavern. They'd covered a couple miles but eventually had to stop to rest. With Tom as dead weight they just couldn't force themselves to go on.
"What's going on McAllister?" Kida asked, speaking for the first time since Tom had lost consciousness.
"I was abducted months ago, Kida. Held in that cell completely secluded. Surely you've heard news of it."
"No, I haven't. No one has because apparently you're still in San Francisco."
"What?"
"There appears to be two of you and you're evil twin has been wreaking havoc all over the Federation. Signing a treaty with Cardassia forfeiting all Marquis to their discretion. Hiding out, no public speaking."
"You mean to tell me all this time I've been her someone has been impersonating me?"
"It appears that way."
"What are you two doing here? I thought you'd come to rescue me. And Tom? Voyager? They've returned?"
"It's a long story but it seems we have the time so sit back and relax…"
* * Telis Six on Bajor * *
"What do you mean, 'he's still on Sulok'? You left without him!" B'Elanna cried angrily.
"We had no choice," Janeway defended but B'Elanna wasn't listening.
"I've got to go back."
"None of you are going anywhere," rang a familiar authoritive voice. "You are all under arrest."
The outlaws turned and saw the demanding presence of none other than James McAllister, Admiral Owen Paris in manacles beside him.
"Congratulations on a remarkable prison break," he said sweetly, a smile plastered on his usually genial face, "but I'm afraid I can't allow you to stay free. All of you Marquis and your traitorous rescuers will be imprisoned and returned to Sulok and this time, no one will be coming to save you."
* * Somewhere outside of Sulok * *
"That's a remarkable story," McAllister said looking at his grandson with admiration. "I always knew in my heart that Tom was alive, that nothing could keep him down… but I'd forgotten one thing."
"What?"
"Men like Tom… boys like Tom, they never get older. Boys like my grandson, they always die young."
"Not this young," Kida said determinedly. "Not this man."
"There is nothing we can do for him Kida. It's the end of the line. Only a matter of time before the Cardassians find us and then it's over."
"It's never over till it's over," Kida contradicted, pulling the power source from Tom's gun and adding it to her own she cocked it and allowed it to fall limply at her side. "At the very least, we'll die fighting."
"Fighting can't solve everything."
"No, but in this situation, it's all we've got. Trust me, diplomacy is a lost cause."
"And fighting will do nothing but cause undue death."
With a rueful smile, Kida replied, "Oh, I assure you, any deaths I cause will be over due."
"Can you be sure? They're only lackies, those men are only doing what they've been told."
"And I'm a soldier, I'll fight to the end like I was trained."
McAllister sighed, "Then I'll fight by your side."
"I've got about six shots," she told him. "I should be able to take out twenty guards."
McAllister laughed, "I knew there was a reason why I always liked you. You're just like Tom. Cockier than hell but always coming through. You know, I used to think one day you two kids would get together."
With a heavy sigh and a rueful look at Tom she responded, "So did I. I guess it wasn't in the cards."
The two looked up as they heard yelling voices in the distance. "This is it," Kida whispered raising her phaser.
The group of Cardassians that entered were numbered well over twenty. They were all in full body armor. Standing staring at them she prepared to pull the trigger, McAllister's words 'fighting can't solve everything' rang in her ears. She wasn't sure if she could fire, luckily she never had the chance to decide, feeling the familiar tingle of the transporters she appeared on some rickety trade vessel.
A petite blonde ran passed her and kneeled over Tom. Twirling around the phaser dropped from Kida's hands, "What are you doing?" Kida demanded. "Where have you brought us?"
"I'm treating him, and *we* have brought you on our ship."
Looking up she saw another strange alien. He had polka dots on his face and whiskers.
"Why are you helping us?" McAllister asked the strange alien.
"We're friends of Tom," he answered. "The others have been apprehended by Starfleet. When we heard Tom was missing we came to get him."
Kida nodded and turned back to Tom and the young girl.
"This is pretty bad," she said pressing a hypospray to Tom's neck, "but I have him stabilized for now."
Slowly opening his eyes Tom blinked twice, "Kes?" he murmured before slipping unconscious.
"Yes, it's me, Tom. I'm here… How much longer, Neelix?"
"We'll be to Vulcan within the hour."
"Vulcan?" McAllister echoed.
"It's the only place we'll be safe, we will be able to stay with a Vulcan master in the temple of Serelous until Tom is well," Kes explained.
Kida nodded, "When we get to Vulcan, McAllister and I will need to leave immeadiatly. Will you watch over Tom?"
"McAllister?" Kes cried remembering the name as the man who imprisoned her other friends.
"It's a long story. Can I trust you to stay with Tom?"
"Yes, of course," Kes replied honestly, "but where will you be going?"
"We'll be going to San Francisco to clear up a massive misunderstanding that has caused the entire Federation to go up in arms."
* * Penal Transport Station: Holding Cells * *
B'Elanna paced the cell like a caged tiger as the others sat with nothing else to do but watch her.
"He could be dead," she said suddenly. "This is my fault! I never should have gotten him involved in this."
"You didn't, he involved himself," Janeway spoke up.
"Janeway's right," Admiral Paris said with undistinguishable pride. "Nobody could have stopped him form helping his friends. If anyone is to blame it's me… McAllister had my office bugged, the whole rescue was doomed from the start."
"Ah… A-Admiral," B'Elanna stuttered. "It's good to meet you, I don't think we've been properly introduced, yet."
"I know who you are," Paris smiled. "You're the young lady who finally stole my son's heart and I'm delighted to meet you."
B'Elanna reached for his outstretched hand, "The rumors don't do you justice. You're supposed to be a demanding ogre," B'Elanna said lightly, remembering the rumors she'd heard.
With only a slight bit of bitterness he asked, "Did my son tell you that?"
"No, no he didn't. Tom doesn't much talk about himself or his family, his friends. He keeps much of himself hidden."
The Admiral nodded, "He'll survive, you know. Tom can beat anything."
B'Elanna nodded, "Anything but not everything."
They all understood the statement. Tom always comes out of situations at the last minute, sliding through and no one can live like that forever.
* * Temple of Serelous: Vulcan * *
Tom woke up in a soft bed, weighted down by heavy robes. Grabbing his side, he winced. The pain was better but a far cry from bearable. With blurry eyes he put aside the pain and surveyed his surroundings, he was in a Vulcan temple. He could see the red desert through the window and all Vulcan buildings were decorated the same.
He was about to get up and go looking for someone when he heard a familiar voice humming nearby. In his experience getting up while injured -anywhere- near Kes was just asking for trouble.
"Kes," he called and she was immediately by his side.
"What's going on?"
Smiling sweetly she told him, "Neelix and I came and got you, Kida and McAllister."
"Thanks," he murmured. "Where are they now?"
"They went back to San Francisco,"
This time, despite Kes's presence Tom sat up bolt straight in the bed. "What?" he cried.
Kes immediately pushed him back down and in his weakened condition he couldn't fight her.
"Stay down," she scolded.
The throbbing pain in his back and side made him realize that maybe he should listen to her.
"Why would they go there?"
"Someone has been impersonating McAllister, they didn't tell me much about it though. From what I can gather they went back to Earth to clear things up."
"Alone?"
"Yes."
"I need to get to San Francisco."
Shaking her head, Kes responded. "You aren't going anywhere. I'll make sure of that."
"But Kes…"
"Tom, if you go you could cause permanent damage and you may never recover."
"What about the others? B'Elanna? Where's B'Elanna?"
"They've been captured again, Janeway, Harry, all of them," Kes sighed.
"No, not after all we did," he groaned.
"I'm sorry, Tom. But once the real James McAllister is back in office he should be able to clear everything up."
"What if by then, it's too late? What if it already is?"
"Tom, I don't know what will happen but this time you can't help. You'll have to sit this one out."
Kes kissed Tom on the cheek and left, immeadiatly afterwards Neelix came to stand in the doorway blocking his only way out. Kes meant business.
Good. His mind had already gotten to work. If he wanted out, he'd get out.
No one would stop him. No one could.
* * Starfleet Headquarters: McAllister's Office * *
Kida and McAllister entered his office. "Let's see what your counterpart has been up to," Kida said sitting behind McAllister's desk. He came behind her and leaned over her shoulder. "It looks like the only major thing he has done so far is the treaty, but he has also been meeting with Mistaq, a Cardassian General on numerous occasions for secret rendezvous."
McAllister nodded distractedly. How had this happened? He knew Cardassians were advanced in manipulating genetics but he hadn't realized they were this good.
That they could replace a Federation official with one of their agents and no one would be the wiser.
It was disquieting to say the least. To think anyone of his Admirals or officers could actually be Cardassians instead…
He needed to be careful who he decided to trust. Who he chose to confide in.
* * Temple of Serelous: Vulcan * *
Tom suppressed a groan. Neelix was a subdued as Tom had ever seen him. Standing guard at the door with an unwavering expression that would have done Tuvok proud.
He knew in his condition he wouldn't be able to push past Neelix, he wasn't even sure he could stand. But Tom was never one to give up when confronted with a challenge.
Carefully so as not to be seen he removed the Tar Ki necklace that the Vulcan master had placed around his neck to ensure his recovery.
Cynical as he was he doubted the necklace was the reason he had woken up but he was counting on it helping him now.
The necklace was Tangara metal and can interfere with power conduits in introduced to a circuit. Rolling over, making it look like nothing more than an attempt to get comfortable, Tom examined the conduit beside him. Grinning he opened the small hatch and studied the circuits. Making an educated guess and counting on his infamous luck he decided which circuit most be the one he was looking for and jammed the necklace into it.
When the lights shut off he knew he'd found the right circuit. Neelix rushed to the bed to check on Tom and found it empty. A light streamed across the bed and Neelix looked up to see Kes in the doorway with a wrist light. Running the light over the entire room, Kes realized her fears… Tom was gone.
* * Starfleet Headquarters: San Francisco * *
A mysterious figure (sorry, for the cliché line but it was the best I could do ;)) pushed himself against the wall as McAllister and his security paraded past him and into Starfleet headquarters.
Clutching his side, the man in a black cloak followed.
James McAllister and his security stopped halfway through the lobby as his double and a young Vulcan woman almost ran into him.
The eyes of both McAllisters' widened as they stared at each other.
"Seize him," the 'evil' McAllister ordered to which his Starfleet goons promptly did. "Who are you?"
"You know damn well who I am," McAllister spat. "The question is 'who are you' some Cardassian spy?"
He smiled, "You're quick but what you've failed to realize is that I'm not the only one."
The guards grip tightened around Kida and McAllister with a very Cardassian like grip.
"Take them out of site and have them immediately vaporized."
The guards just nodded and the man in the cloak showed himself. Pulling two small phaser pistols form a hidden holster he began firing. Grabbing Kida by the arm he yelled, "Come on!" The three of them raced from the building and turned down a back ally beside it. Exhausted they leaned against the wall.
"It's no use," Kida gasped. "There are too many of them."
The nameless man didn't seem to be listening.
"Hey, did you hear me?" Kida shouted impatiently.
He didn't answer but instead pulled another device from his holster. It appeared to look somewhat like a tricorder and at the touch of a button the three disappeared.
Milliseconds later an armada of armed guards stormed the empty ally.
Well, I've done it again… sorry I have a thing about cliffhangers but at least this time you should be able to guess who the mystery person is… I made it kinda obvious…
By Voyager Queen
Before you read this you should really read…
1. Three Sisters: First Encounter
2. Three Sisters: Gathering
3. Around Every Corner
If you don't… you'll probably be a little confused because this story takes place in an A.U.
* * Where we left off… * *
"McAllister…" Kina breathed, Tom echoing her with a soft "grandfather."
McAllister stared at the two as though he didn't really believe they were there.
Stepping forward Tom tried again, "Grandfather?"
"Tom?" he chocked uncertainly. Standing he stared into the eyes of the grandson he had thought lost to him forever.
"It can't be…" he muttered.
"It is," Kida assured. "Now we've got to all get out of here."
The three turned but a shadow fell across the doorway. The fourth guard, the missing Cardassian stood armed before them, blocking their only way out. The Cardassian raised his phaser and shot the closest one to him… Tom.
Acting quickly Kida had raised her own gun and killed, not stunned him before he could fire off another shot.
To add insult to injury, Tom's flawless plan acquired another kink. The red klaxons began to blare through the facility as Tom dropped to his knees.
Tom had been shot with many different kinds of phasers. He'd always hated Cardassian blasters the most.
Collapsed in his grandfather's arms with Kida hovering over him he made another attempt at heroism, "You two need to get to The Flawless, you can still make it."
"That phaser must have done a lot of damage if you think I'd leave you," Kida quipped.
Tom laughed and to his company's dismay blood began to speckle his lips, "I'll never make it and there's no point in us all dying here."
Ignoring him Kida turned to McAllister, "I don't suppose there is any way to convince you to head to our ship?"
"And leave my grandson?"
"Right. I didn't think so."
* * The Flawless * *
Susie carefully watched the marquis called B'Elanna. So this was Tom's girlfriend, she thought bitterly.
The girls he fell for were just getting more and more interesting. Megan Delaney, some betazoid tramp named Tikil, that positively evil Starfleet Lieutenant Mariot Clacer, and most likely quite a few others she didn't know about.
Now, B'Elanna Torres, an outlaw, beautiful, mysterious and exactly the kind of girl Tom would usually fall for.
The kind of girl she would usually have been there to protect him from. At least he'd been a galaxy away from Kida.
The half Klingon had to be better than that stuck up Vulcan super agent, right?
Putting aside her musings Susie looked around the cargo bay nervously. All the teams were back aboard. All the teams but Tom's and time was running out.
When she heard the unmistakable sound of Cardassian klaxons she realized, it already had.
Hardening her heart she ran to the bridge, she knew what had to be done.
Too many lives hung in the balance to wait around for two fleeters… even if one did have her heart.
She jumped into the pilots seat and Janeway looked at her in surprise. "What are you doing?"
"Getting us out of here."
"Tom's back?"
"Tom didn't make it but it's time for the backup plan."
"Backup plan?"
"If one of the teams don't make it back we leave with out them."
"We can't leave them!" Janeway exclaimed.
"We stay and we risk the lives of all those we came to save. A Cardassian fleet will be here any moment. We need to leave."
Without waiting for Janeway to respond Susie took off. Tears slide silently down her cheeks and they all remained silent.
* * Maximum Security: Sulok * *
Kida and McAllister helped Tom to stand, each of them pulling one of his arms around their shoulders. Slowly the three made their way out of the facility.
"They'll be gone," Tom said between coughs.
Kida shook her head, "Susie still loves you, she won't leave without you."
"It's because she still loves me that she will."
Kida sighed, knowing he was right. For all the quarrels she and Susie had, had Kida had learned Susie always kept good on her word.
Especially if it was given to Tom.
"Then we'll head for the desert, hide until they come back for us and you know they will."
"That sounds like a good idea," McAllister agreed. "The Cardassians will be here soon and if we aren't gone…"
"When hell freezes over I'll let us become their prisoners," Kida hissed.
"Well we better get out of here," Tom gasped. "We all know how Vulcans hate the cold."
With a smile in her eyes and a frown on her lips she replied, "The only thing Vulcans hate are smart mouth hotshot pilots."
"I bet they can't stand you then, huh."
* * Telis Six on Bajor * *
B'Elanna felt the ship land and couldn't keep the smile off her face. Running from the cargo bay she jumped down from the ship.
She saw Janeway and her other rescuers standing solemn in the corner of the docking bay. Running to her Captain she immediately called out, "Where's Tom? Working on this beautiful ship, I suppose?"
The young redhead next to Janeway looked up with tears in her eyes and B'Elanna's hear lurched. "Where is he?" she demanded.
A tear finally sliding down her cheek, Susie answered, "He's still on Sulok."
* * Outside of Sulok: Somewhere in the desert * *
McAllister and Kida laid the now unconscious Tom on the floor of a cavern. They'd covered a couple miles but eventually had to stop to rest. With Tom as dead weight they just couldn't force themselves to go on.
"What's going on McAllister?" Kida asked, speaking for the first time since Tom had lost consciousness.
"I was abducted months ago, Kida. Held in that cell completely secluded. Surely you've heard news of it."
"No, I haven't. No one has because apparently you're still in San Francisco."
"What?"
"There appears to be two of you and you're evil twin has been wreaking havoc all over the Federation. Signing a treaty with Cardassia forfeiting all Marquis to their discretion. Hiding out, no public speaking."
"You mean to tell me all this time I've been her someone has been impersonating me?"
"It appears that way."
"What are you two doing here? I thought you'd come to rescue me. And Tom? Voyager? They've returned?"
"It's a long story but it seems we have the time so sit back and relax…"
* * Telis Six on Bajor * *
"What do you mean, 'he's still on Sulok'? You left without him!" B'Elanna cried angrily.
"We had no choice," Janeway defended but B'Elanna wasn't listening.
"I've got to go back."
"None of you are going anywhere," rang a familiar authoritive voice. "You are all under arrest."
The outlaws turned and saw the demanding presence of none other than James McAllister, Admiral Owen Paris in manacles beside him.
"Congratulations on a remarkable prison break," he said sweetly, a smile plastered on his usually genial face, "but I'm afraid I can't allow you to stay free. All of you Marquis and your traitorous rescuers will be imprisoned and returned to Sulok and this time, no one will be coming to save you."
* * Somewhere outside of Sulok * *
"That's a remarkable story," McAllister said looking at his grandson with admiration. "I always knew in my heart that Tom was alive, that nothing could keep him down… but I'd forgotten one thing."
"What?"
"Men like Tom… boys like Tom, they never get older. Boys like my grandson, they always die young."
"Not this young," Kida said determinedly. "Not this man."
"There is nothing we can do for him Kida. It's the end of the line. Only a matter of time before the Cardassians find us and then it's over."
"It's never over till it's over," Kida contradicted, pulling the power source from Tom's gun and adding it to her own she cocked it and allowed it to fall limply at her side. "At the very least, we'll die fighting."
"Fighting can't solve everything."
"No, but in this situation, it's all we've got. Trust me, diplomacy is a lost cause."
"And fighting will do nothing but cause undue death."
With a rueful smile, Kida replied, "Oh, I assure you, any deaths I cause will be over due."
"Can you be sure? They're only lackies, those men are only doing what they've been told."
"And I'm a soldier, I'll fight to the end like I was trained."
McAllister sighed, "Then I'll fight by your side."
"I've got about six shots," she told him. "I should be able to take out twenty guards."
McAllister laughed, "I knew there was a reason why I always liked you. You're just like Tom. Cockier than hell but always coming through. You know, I used to think one day you two kids would get together."
With a heavy sigh and a rueful look at Tom she responded, "So did I. I guess it wasn't in the cards."
The two looked up as they heard yelling voices in the distance. "This is it," Kida whispered raising her phaser.
The group of Cardassians that entered were numbered well over twenty. They were all in full body armor. Standing staring at them she prepared to pull the trigger, McAllister's words 'fighting can't solve everything' rang in her ears. She wasn't sure if she could fire, luckily she never had the chance to decide, feeling the familiar tingle of the transporters she appeared on some rickety trade vessel.
A petite blonde ran passed her and kneeled over Tom. Twirling around the phaser dropped from Kida's hands, "What are you doing?" Kida demanded. "Where have you brought us?"
"I'm treating him, and *we* have brought you on our ship."
Looking up she saw another strange alien. He had polka dots on his face and whiskers.
"Why are you helping us?" McAllister asked the strange alien.
"We're friends of Tom," he answered. "The others have been apprehended by Starfleet. When we heard Tom was missing we came to get him."
Kida nodded and turned back to Tom and the young girl.
"This is pretty bad," she said pressing a hypospray to Tom's neck, "but I have him stabilized for now."
Slowly opening his eyes Tom blinked twice, "Kes?" he murmured before slipping unconscious.
"Yes, it's me, Tom. I'm here… How much longer, Neelix?"
"We'll be to Vulcan within the hour."
"Vulcan?" McAllister echoed.
"It's the only place we'll be safe, we will be able to stay with a Vulcan master in the temple of Serelous until Tom is well," Kes explained.
Kida nodded, "When we get to Vulcan, McAllister and I will need to leave immeadiatly. Will you watch over Tom?"
"McAllister?" Kes cried remembering the name as the man who imprisoned her other friends.
"It's a long story. Can I trust you to stay with Tom?"
"Yes, of course," Kes replied honestly, "but where will you be going?"
"We'll be going to San Francisco to clear up a massive misunderstanding that has caused the entire Federation to go up in arms."
* * Penal Transport Station: Holding Cells * *
B'Elanna paced the cell like a caged tiger as the others sat with nothing else to do but watch her.
"He could be dead," she said suddenly. "This is my fault! I never should have gotten him involved in this."
"You didn't, he involved himself," Janeway spoke up.
"Janeway's right," Admiral Paris said with undistinguishable pride. "Nobody could have stopped him form helping his friends. If anyone is to blame it's me… McAllister had my office bugged, the whole rescue was doomed from the start."
"Ah… A-Admiral," B'Elanna stuttered. "It's good to meet you, I don't think we've been properly introduced, yet."
"I know who you are," Paris smiled. "You're the young lady who finally stole my son's heart and I'm delighted to meet you."
B'Elanna reached for his outstretched hand, "The rumors don't do you justice. You're supposed to be a demanding ogre," B'Elanna said lightly, remembering the rumors she'd heard.
With only a slight bit of bitterness he asked, "Did my son tell you that?"
"No, no he didn't. Tom doesn't much talk about himself or his family, his friends. He keeps much of himself hidden."
The Admiral nodded, "He'll survive, you know. Tom can beat anything."
B'Elanna nodded, "Anything but not everything."
They all understood the statement. Tom always comes out of situations at the last minute, sliding through and no one can live like that forever.
* * Temple of Serelous: Vulcan * *
Tom woke up in a soft bed, weighted down by heavy robes. Grabbing his side, he winced. The pain was better but a far cry from bearable. With blurry eyes he put aside the pain and surveyed his surroundings, he was in a Vulcan temple. He could see the red desert through the window and all Vulcan buildings were decorated the same.
He was about to get up and go looking for someone when he heard a familiar voice humming nearby. In his experience getting up while injured -anywhere- near Kes was just asking for trouble.
"Kes," he called and she was immediately by his side.
"What's going on?"
Smiling sweetly she told him, "Neelix and I came and got you, Kida and McAllister."
"Thanks," he murmured. "Where are they now?"
"They went back to San Francisco,"
This time, despite Kes's presence Tom sat up bolt straight in the bed. "What?" he cried.
Kes immediately pushed him back down and in his weakened condition he couldn't fight her.
"Stay down," she scolded.
The throbbing pain in his back and side made him realize that maybe he should listen to her.
"Why would they go there?"
"Someone has been impersonating McAllister, they didn't tell me much about it though. From what I can gather they went back to Earth to clear things up."
"Alone?"
"Yes."
"I need to get to San Francisco."
Shaking her head, Kes responded. "You aren't going anywhere. I'll make sure of that."
"But Kes…"
"Tom, if you go you could cause permanent damage and you may never recover."
"What about the others? B'Elanna? Where's B'Elanna?"
"They've been captured again, Janeway, Harry, all of them," Kes sighed.
"No, not after all we did," he groaned.
"I'm sorry, Tom. But once the real James McAllister is back in office he should be able to clear everything up."
"What if by then, it's too late? What if it already is?"
"Tom, I don't know what will happen but this time you can't help. You'll have to sit this one out."
Kes kissed Tom on the cheek and left, immeadiatly afterwards Neelix came to stand in the doorway blocking his only way out. Kes meant business.
Good. His mind had already gotten to work. If he wanted out, he'd get out.
No one would stop him. No one could.
* * Starfleet Headquarters: McAllister's Office * *
Kida and McAllister entered his office. "Let's see what your counterpart has been up to," Kida said sitting behind McAllister's desk. He came behind her and leaned over her shoulder. "It looks like the only major thing he has done so far is the treaty, but he has also been meeting with Mistaq, a Cardassian General on numerous occasions for secret rendezvous."
McAllister nodded distractedly. How had this happened? He knew Cardassians were advanced in manipulating genetics but he hadn't realized they were this good.
That they could replace a Federation official with one of their agents and no one would be the wiser.
It was disquieting to say the least. To think anyone of his Admirals or officers could actually be Cardassians instead…
He needed to be careful who he decided to trust. Who he chose to confide in.
* * Temple of Serelous: Vulcan * *
Tom suppressed a groan. Neelix was a subdued as Tom had ever seen him. Standing guard at the door with an unwavering expression that would have done Tuvok proud.
He knew in his condition he wouldn't be able to push past Neelix, he wasn't even sure he could stand. But Tom was never one to give up when confronted with a challenge.
Carefully so as not to be seen he removed the Tar Ki necklace that the Vulcan master had placed around his neck to ensure his recovery.
Cynical as he was he doubted the necklace was the reason he had woken up but he was counting on it helping him now.
The necklace was Tangara metal and can interfere with power conduits in introduced to a circuit. Rolling over, making it look like nothing more than an attempt to get comfortable, Tom examined the conduit beside him. Grinning he opened the small hatch and studied the circuits. Making an educated guess and counting on his infamous luck he decided which circuit most be the one he was looking for and jammed the necklace into it.
When the lights shut off he knew he'd found the right circuit. Neelix rushed to the bed to check on Tom and found it empty. A light streamed across the bed and Neelix looked up to see Kes in the doorway with a wrist light. Running the light over the entire room, Kes realized her fears… Tom was gone.
* * Starfleet Headquarters: San Francisco * *
A mysterious figure (sorry, for the cliché line but it was the best I could do ;)) pushed himself against the wall as McAllister and his security paraded past him and into Starfleet headquarters.
Clutching his side, the man in a black cloak followed.
James McAllister and his security stopped halfway through the lobby as his double and a young Vulcan woman almost ran into him.
The eyes of both McAllisters' widened as they stared at each other.
"Seize him," the 'evil' McAllister ordered to which his Starfleet goons promptly did. "Who are you?"
"You know damn well who I am," McAllister spat. "The question is 'who are you' some Cardassian spy?"
He smiled, "You're quick but what you've failed to realize is that I'm not the only one."
The guards grip tightened around Kida and McAllister with a very Cardassian like grip.
"Take them out of site and have them immediately vaporized."
The guards just nodded and the man in the cloak showed himself. Pulling two small phaser pistols form a hidden holster he began firing. Grabbing Kida by the arm he yelled, "Come on!" The three of them raced from the building and turned down a back ally beside it. Exhausted they leaned against the wall.
"It's no use," Kida gasped. "There are too many of them."
The nameless man didn't seem to be listening.
"Hey, did you hear me?" Kida shouted impatiently.
He didn't answer but instead pulled another device from his holster. It appeared to look somewhat like a tricorder and at the touch of a button the three disappeared.
Milliseconds later an armada of armed guards stormed the empty ally.
Well, I've done it again… sorry I have a thing about cliffhangers but at least this time you should be able to guess who the mystery person is… I made it kinda obvious…