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.
* * The McAllister Mansion: San Francisco * *
McAllister looked around the basement of his mansion in surprise. Wondering who this was that was helping them and why he'd choose to transport them here.
Giving voice to his thoughts Kida stepped up behind the man and asked with curiosity and squinted eyes, "Who are you?"
Turning around, pulling off the hood of his cloak as he did so, Tom Paris smiled at them, "Who else could have pulled that off?"
"Tom!" Kida gasped staring at the pale lieutenant in disbelief. "What are you doing here?"
"Yes," McAllister nodded. "I'd like to know the answer to that myself."
With a smug smile Tom replied flippantly, "Well, last time I checked I was here saving the two of you."
Kida and McAllister quickly pushed Tom in to a nearby chair. Moving aside his cloak Kida began to quickly unbutton his shirt. "Kes was supposed to be watching you."
"It's kind of hard to watch someone in the dark," Tom responded seriously.
"I don't want to know," Kida decided as she pushed the sides of his shirt out of the way. Both Kida and McAllister let in a sharp intake of breath as they saw his still healing wound. Starting below his left ribcage and down past his belly button was a huge multicolored bruise.
"This is bad, Tom," Kida said. 'What were you thinking?"
Tom smiled, "I don't know but you'd think you two would be glad I was thinking it,"
"This is no time for jokes," McAllister reminded.
"You're right," Tom nodded. "It's time for planning. We need to find a way to expose your Cardassian look alike and get you back into power."
"You can't be worrying about that now, Tom," McAllister said firmly. "Let Kida and I handle this."
Tom rolled his eyes, "I-am-so-sick of people telling me not to get involved! I am involved in this! As deeply as any of the rest of you. And if you think for one second I'll sit by while someone else 'handles it'! Then you don't know me at all."
Kida sighed, "We do know you Tom, all too well. And you're right that you're involved. I don't know why any of us bother to try and protect you when you just keep running back into the burning building."
"I happen to like burning buildings."
"Yea, well, that's part of the problem."
McAllister grinned, "You're going to rest, Tom," he said mischievously.
Tom began to protest but his eyelids became extremely heavy, "No, we, we hav… need… to…"
"It'll have to wait," McAllister said. "I just gave you a sedative."
Tom quickly drifted off to sleep and Kida smiled, "You gave him a sedative?"
With a very familiar smug smile he responded, "I know how to handle my grandson."
* * Penal Transport Station: Holding Cells * *
B'Elanna looked around the cells, at all her friends and a few strangers. Harry was across from her in a different cell and Janeway and Admiral Paris were asleep beside her. That left only Steven and Susie for company and she couldn't help but notice how they both kept casting her strange looks.
"Yes?" she finally queried, drawing out the word.
Susie and Steven exchanged a glance until Steven turned away rolling his eyes, "Susie's jealous," Steven told her.
Susie turned to him in shock and hit him on his arm, ignoring her Steven continued to talk to B'Elanna, "I, however am glad Tom found someone so he won't fall back into her claws," he said motioning to the woman beside him, who was turning a lovely shade of red… and not from embarrassment.
"You little weasel!" Susie cried. "I thought we had become friends but you are exactly the same juvenile asshole you've always been!"
Steven gave her a glare, "Look, you've broke Tom's heart one too many times for my liking and I'm sorry but I don't believe we'll ever be friends. B'Elanna seems like a lovely person and you should be glad for Tom, too."
B'Elanna watched them amused. She had no doubt this was Tom's influence at work.
"Hey, calm down," B'Elanna said for once being the voice of reason. "Why don't you both wait until we are out of here and we can all sit down and have a nice long discussion with Tom."
The two stared at her blankly for a moment until they both nodded simultaneously.
"Good," B'Elanna nodded. "Now that you're done fighting we can decide what we're going to do to get out of here."
* * Starfleet Headquarters: McAllister's office * *
McAllister the imposter sat angrily behind 'his' desk and glared heatedly at his officers. "What do you mean 'you can't find them'?" he spat.
"Well, sir, t-they…" one of the men stuttered. "I'm sorry, Jurat."
Jurat waved his hand, "Never mind, just find them. We can't have that damn McAllister come along and ruin everything. Not when we've already come so far."
"I know, sir but we have no idea where they have gone and if they…"
"I know very well what will happen if they uncover us!" Jurat cried menacingly. "Find them so that it won't happen."
"Y-yes, sir."
"Go!" Jurat roared.
* * McAllister's Mansion * *
Kida pulled the blanket up over Tom. They had moved him to an old mattress and Kida had checked to make sure he hadn't made his injuries worse. He hadn't but part of her was still furious with him, never mind that he saved their lives, he'd once again endangered his own.
McAllister was asleep on a nearby couch but she couldn't sleep. Tom was sedated now but when he woke up again she knew he'd be off to save the world once more. She had to protect him. She needed to save it first.
Standing up she grabbed Tom's cloak off of a chair and put it on. With one last wistful look at Tom she headed to the library. Once about five years ago Tom had shown her a hidden transporter room behind one of the shelves. It would come in handy now.
Kida reached the transporter room fairly quickly and then picked her transport destination: Starfleet Headquarters.
* * Starfleet Headquarters * *
Kida walked straight up to the door and raced across the lobby ignoring the frantic cries of the desk clerk.
Jumping into the turbolift she called for the 39th floor. She went immediately to Admiral Rice's office. She remembered him from a party she'd once attended with Tom.
She only hoped that he remembered her, too.
Running down the hall, Kida entered without announcing herself.
"Admiral Rice," she said with labored breathing.
The Admiral immediately stood, "Agent Kida?" he asked uncertainly.
Kida nodded, "Boy, have I got a story for you."
* * Starfleet Headquarters: McAllister's office * *
Admiral Rice marched to McAllister's office leading an armada of security officers. All of which were non-cardassians by decree of the resident doctor.
Despite that Kida's story had seemed farfetched Admiral Rice hadn't hesitated in believing her. Everyone had known something was wrong with McAllister for weeks and this -in a strange way- made perfect since.
Admiral Rice charged into the office and gave a celebratory smile. McAllister was having a meeting with around seven of his guards. It looked like they'd caught them all at once.
"Unarm yourselves and raise your hands," Rice ordered.
Jurat raised one hand but only for show, the other he covertly placed on the underside of the desk. Rice's men reacted too late and Jurat disappeared.
It was an emergency transport in case McAllister was ever in trouble. It's coordinates are relatively random and it never goes to the same place twice in a row. There was no way to track him.
* * Penal Transport Station: Holding Cells * *
Kida proudly handed the release form for all of the Marquis to the warden. McAllister had insisted on filling it out before he and the still unconscious Tom were carted off to Starfleet Medical.
When Voyager's EMH had entered McAllister's basement with Kida and a security detail (The Doctor had been adamant about coming) he had been appalled at Tom's condition, ordering him to be taken to Starfleet Medical ASAP and McAllister too, for a normal checkup and a few tests (Mainly to confirm he was indeed James McAllister and not a Cardassian).
All of Jurat's guards they had captured had been Cardassian's but refused to talk to Starfleet authorities. As for Jurat's whereabouts, they were listed as unknown. Starfleet did aquire some information, however when one of the guards let the name of his boss slip. General Jurat had been assigned to the invasion of Bajor and many other colony worlds. Ruthless, heartless, and unfortunately… brilliant.
Kida pushed this all out of her mind as she walked down the hall, flanked by two guards. Finally Tom's friends and some of her own would be released.
Kida stood in front of the first cell and Admiral Paris and Janeway stood. It looked as though she had been captured but she swiftly smiled and held up the padd which would give them back their freedom.
"Are you all ready to get out of here!" Kida cried.
At the chorus of 'yes's and shouts of joy Kida's smile grew wider, "Well," she said impatiently to the guard on her right. "Let them out."
* * Starfleet Medical * *
Kida stared at Tom nervously not sure if she wanted him to wake up. B'Elanna was holding his hand and Janeway, Admiral Paris, Susie and Steven were all standing beside her.
Kida wasn't sure how Tom would react when he found out what had happened. Her plan had been simple, Tom rarely approved of 'simple'. Not to mention Jurat had got away, she was positive if Tom had been there he wouldn't have. McAllister walked through the door and stood next to Kida.
"I've got a clean bill of health," he told her. "How about Tom?"
"Tom will be fine with a couple days rest. Good as new."
Kida and the rest of Tom's visitors looked up surprised as someone cleared their throat… loudly. The Doctor was standing in the doorway with his mobile emitter firmly in place on his sleeve. "What are you all doing here?" he demanded. "How am I to work with everyone jammed in here like this? I said one visitor. One!"
Everyone slowly filed out except B'Elanna who was still tightly gripping Tom's hand. The Doctor went to Tom's bed and checked his bio readings.
"Why hasn't he woken up yet?" B'Elanna asked.
"I've been keeping him sedated. He was suffering from sleep deprivation and I knew it was the only way to get him to rest."
B'Elanna nodded vaguely, "When will he wake?"
Looking again at the bio readings the Doctor responded, "Very shortly. I'll be back to check on you soon."
B'Elanna nodded again but her eyes were on Tom. He was pale and she was worried. It was hard having a loved one injured, harder still when you were partly responsible for that injury. She knew she would have done the same for Tom and her other friends as he had for her and she knew if he'd been the one hauled off, he'd of told her not to.
Seeing Tom move B'Elanna returned her focus to him, "Tom? Tom, are you alright?"
Mumbling something inaudible and moving his head restlessly he didn't give her a direct answer.
"Tom, open your eyes," taking his head in her hands to still the movement she waited for him to respond.
Slowly but surely his eyes fluttered open, "B'Elanna?" he chocked. "What… where are we?"
Smiling at his coherency and assured he would be fine she answered, "Starfleet Medical. The Marquis have been released by McAllister. The real one. He's back in office."
Tom nodded, "How?"
"Your friend, Kida, she went to see Rice."
"What?" Tom demanded. "Alone?"
"I think so," B'Elanna answered slowly, confused by his reaction. "Why?"
Tom was laughing now, "Of all the nerve," he said sardonically. "All those lectures she gave me."
"Tom," B'Elanna said, getting his attention back. "I want to thank you for rescuing me. I love you, ya know."
Tom's anger at Kida faded, just as B'Elanna had planned and he smiled at her, "I know, I love you, too. I'm glad you're safe."
B'Elanna smiled back, "We are. All of us."
"So, who was the Cardassian posing as McAllister?"
B'Elanna squinted her eyes, trying to remember, "A General, I think. Jurat, maybe."
"What are they going to do with him?"
"Well, they haven't apprehended him yet…"
"He got away!" Tom cried incredulously. "How?"
B'Elanna sighed, "I'm not sure. Do we have to talk about this now?"
"Yes. Do you know what Starfleet's doing about this? Do they have any leads?"
"Tom," B'Elanna said bitingly. "You have to rest. Let someone else deal with this."
Tom pressed his eyes shut… the next person that said that…
"Look, why don't I give someone else a chance to see you, huh? I know you're father's waiting outside and that McAllister seems anxious to see you as well."
Tom nodded and B'Elanna kissed him on the forehead and left the room, moments later McAllister and Admiral Paris entered.
"How are you, son?" Owen asked.
Tom smiled painfully, "I'm fine. How is the search for Jurat going?"
Admiral Paris sighed, "Don't you ever quit?"
"Quit? I'm a Paris."
McAllister chuckled, "You're also a McAllister, you never stood a chance."
"The search is going well, actually, Kida and her special forces team have been assigned to find him."
"Special Forces team?" Tom echoed.
"Susie and Steven," the Admiral clarified.
Tom chocked, "Those two? Together! Without me to play referee? I've got to get to them."
"Tom…" McAllister said warningly.
"I know, I know. I'm not going anywhere."
"Actually," Owen contradicted. "You will be going back to the mansion for a couple of days. B'Elanna will be coming as well, to keep an eye on you."
Tom nodded, at least B'Elanna would be with him.
McAllister was smiling, "After that you can chose whether you'd like to return to Voyager or the Flawless."
"What about the Marquis?" Tom asked.
"They have all been told they may retain their commissions and if they wish, return to Voyager."
"What's B'Elanna doing?"
"Like most all the others, B'Elanna will be staying on Voyager."
Beginning to fall asleep Tom smiled widely, "I'm staying on Voyager, too."
* * McAllister Mansion: Tom's Room * *
B'Elanna looked around the luxurious room in awe. There was no poverty in the Federation but it was obvious to her now that being President had it's extras.
Tom's room was gorgeous and she could tell form the model starships, warp theory equations and the posters of 20th century break through pilots that it was uniquely Tom.
Fleetingly she wondered why Tom had a room in the McAllister Mansion but seeing Tom still recovering she didn't dwell on it.
She felt bad for Tom's other friends that they couldn't be here. Janeway was on a special assignment with Tom's other three friends Kida, Susie, and Steven, she was working on the Jurat case from San Francisco but was still unable to get away. Neelix and Kes were looking for a place to live while Harry had went to Newport to stay with his parents and t o reunite with Libby.
Regardless, nothing in the universe would be able to tear B'Elanna from the man she loved. Sitting on the edge of the bed she brushed the hair form his forehead.
She knew that Tom wanted to search for Jurat himself but the Doctor had insisted Tom needed at least two days rest before getting back to what he called Tom's 'overactive and ridiculously dangerous' life.
And B'Elanna would make sure he rested. She knew Tom had risked everything for her and she knew she loved him more than ever.
She looked up as she heard a knock at the door. She could hear voices and she smiled. Tom's mother and sisters had finally been able to catch up with him. With one last look at the still sleeping Tom she went and opened the door.
Without bothering with introductions the three women ran past her and to Tom's side. B'Elanna sighed and decided to give them some privacy. She saw Tom wake just as she was closing the door.
"You didn't have to leave," a kind voice said.
B'Elanna looked up and smiled, "I thought they'd want to be alone, Admiral Paris."
"Only my son calls me Admiral Paris, you can call me Owen."
B'Elanna smiled slightly, "Alright, Owen it is."
"You, know," Owen said suddenly. "You're the last person I thought my son would end up with."
B'Elanna clenched her fists. This was it. He was going to ask her to leave Tom.
"Opposites in every way," he continued. "I thought he'd end up with someone more like him. Take Susie, for instance. But I'm glad he found you."
B'Elanna looked up in surprise, "You are?"
The Admiral nodded and said one last thing before leaving B'Elanna to contemplate his words, "My son always did like a challenge."
* * The Canta Bell * *
Kida looked up from the helm of her ship and turned to face her two subordinates, "Will you two just shut up!" she cried addressing Steven and Susie.
The red faced Ensigns quickly turned their attention back to the mission. They'd been fighting, again. Kida wasn't even sure what about. The objective of their debate had been blurred only ten minutes into it.
Kida wished desperately Tom was here. He was the only one who could keep them in line. However at the same time she dreaded reuniting with the pilot. He was sure to be angry at her for handling their situation alone and so badly and it was because of that that she was determined to make it right without him.
No matter how much she longed for his presence. Fighting off her personal thoughts Kida forced her self to refocus on the mission as well. They were meeting with one of Jurat's former officers.
Apparently he was an angry Cardassain looking for revenge who just happened to have information on Jurat's whereabouts.
He was also their only lead. Their only anything.
"Any sign of his vessel?" Kida asked. She didn't like that he was late. Something may have happened.
"I'm detecting no vessels," Steven responded.
"Wait!" Susie cried. "A vessel has just decloaked off our starboard bow!"
It was too late for any of them to react.
In an instant the Canta Bell was torn apart.
* * McAllister Mansion: Tom's Room * *
Tom placed his last shirt into his favorite duffle bag and collapsed on his bed, placing his head in his hands.
It had been two days and he had been declared physically fit but he'd yet to break it to his father and grandfather that he was leaving.
He loved them both dearly but he knew what would happen if he moved back home. They would take over his life again. He couldn't let that happen. But the little boy in him still dreaded telling that to his family.
They'd been great to him and accepting of B'Elanna but he needed to live his own life and Jurat was still on the loose. He needed to track down his friends and help them out.
Tom stood up as the door swung open. Owen stood in the doorway with tears in his eyes he only looked at Tom's packed bags for a moment before turning to Tom.
"Son," he chocked.
Tom was nervous now, nothing ever fazed his father, "What? What's happened?"
"Kida… Steven… Susie… they're dead, Tom. Starfleet found the remains of the Canta Bell this morning. It was completely torn apart."
Tom paled, "Dead?" he echoed in disbelief. "JUrat?"
"We believe he is responsible, yes."
Tom nodded all his training and expierence telling him to push aside the pain and focus on something more productive… like revenge.
Tom sighed and swung his duffle bag over his shoulder. "Do you know where B'Elanna is?" he asked. "I'm leaving."
"What?" Owen cried in disbelief. "You're leaving now? After this?"
"I can't stay here. I'm sorry about my friends but I still need to leave."
"I don't think you should. Maybe I can get Deanna to come talk to you."
Tom sighed. Deanna Troi was a close friend of his mother's and she'd always been convinced
Tom was in need of counseling that he was reckless and that he had an unhealthy habit of suppressing his emotions. Yea, right.
Tom pushed past his father, "Goodbye, Dad."
Owen grabbed his arm as he headed for the turbolift. "I really don't think you should leave."
Ripping his arm from his father's grip and calling for the lift he snapped, "I'm going. I'm not a child anymore."
The lift opened to reveal B'Elanna. She looked startled to see Owen and Tom, "What's going on?"
Tom pushed into the lift and closed the door, "We're leaving," he said as the door closed on his father.
As soon as the lift began to travel downwards B'Elanna turned to Tom, "I heard about your friends. Do you really think you should be leaving?"
"B'Elanna I was planning to leave before I found out and now I'm convinced I have to get out of here more than ever. You don't know my family. If I ever let any vulnerability show through they use it to try and control me."
"What are you saying? I thought you loved your family."
"I do, you just don't know them the way I do."
As they exited the lift and walked out the door Tom told her, "Trust me, we need to leave while we still can."
* * Masayo Apartments: San Francisco * *
With both Tom and B'Elanna Lieutenants on the famed ship Voyager it hadn't been hard to find a place to stay. They'd just settled into a lovely little apartment overlooking the bay but Tom didn't plan on staying put.
As he pulled B'Elanna closer he savored the moment. He knew what leaving would do to B'Elanna and he also knew what B'Elanna would do to him when and if he returned. That wouldn't stop him though. He had to go find Jurat.
For Kida, Steven and Susie he needed to find Jurat and provide retribution. They'd of done the same for him.
Kissing B'Elanna he murmured 'I love you' before tip toeing out the door. Voyager wouldn't be back into commission for a couple of months and that was more than enough time for what Kida would have called one of his 'one man missions'.
He'd hunt down Jurat if it was the last thing he did, which he also knew it very well could be.
Jurat had made his first mistake when he imprisoned and impersonated his grandfather but now he'd gone too far. Tom wasn't usually one for revenge but he'd just lost three people he considered his closest friends.
The three people he'd been spending a year waiting to see and hoping one day he wouldn't. If he didn't have B'Elanna he was sure he'd have gone crazy. But he did have B'Elanna and a focus. Revenge.
Using his trust fund he purchased a little ship. It was top of the line and only needed a pilot.
Sitting at the helm he left Earth once again on a renegade mission and this time he was alone and didn't have to worry about anyone but himself.
With a devil-may-care smile he engaged the thrusters.
If nothing else… it should be fun.
The End… but it's far from over…
One issue has been resolved but the aftermath has created more problems. Tom won't leave it like this… again he will set out on a seemingly impossible mission in the sequel Countermand: Illusions
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.
* * The McAllister Mansion: San Francisco * *
McAllister looked around the basement of his mansion in surprise. Wondering who this was that was helping them and why he'd choose to transport them here.
Giving voice to his thoughts Kida stepped up behind the man and asked with curiosity and squinted eyes, "Who are you?"
Turning around, pulling off the hood of his cloak as he did so, Tom Paris smiled at them, "Who else could have pulled that off?"
"Tom!" Kida gasped staring at the pale lieutenant in disbelief. "What are you doing here?"
"Yes," McAllister nodded. "I'd like to know the answer to that myself."
With a smug smile Tom replied flippantly, "Well, last time I checked I was here saving the two of you."
Kida and McAllister quickly pushed Tom in to a nearby chair. Moving aside his cloak Kida began to quickly unbutton his shirt. "Kes was supposed to be watching you."
"It's kind of hard to watch someone in the dark," Tom responded seriously.
"I don't want to know," Kida decided as she pushed the sides of his shirt out of the way. Both Kida and McAllister let in a sharp intake of breath as they saw his still healing wound. Starting below his left ribcage and down past his belly button was a huge multicolored bruise.
"This is bad, Tom," Kida said. 'What were you thinking?"
Tom smiled, "I don't know but you'd think you two would be glad I was thinking it,"
"This is no time for jokes," McAllister reminded.
"You're right," Tom nodded. "It's time for planning. We need to find a way to expose your Cardassian look alike and get you back into power."
"You can't be worrying about that now, Tom," McAllister said firmly. "Let Kida and I handle this."
Tom rolled his eyes, "I-am-so-sick of people telling me not to get involved! I am involved in this! As deeply as any of the rest of you. And if you think for one second I'll sit by while someone else 'handles it'! Then you don't know me at all."
Kida sighed, "We do know you Tom, all too well. And you're right that you're involved. I don't know why any of us bother to try and protect you when you just keep running back into the burning building."
"I happen to like burning buildings."
"Yea, well, that's part of the problem."
McAllister grinned, "You're going to rest, Tom," he said mischievously.
Tom began to protest but his eyelids became extremely heavy, "No, we, we hav… need… to…"
"It'll have to wait," McAllister said. "I just gave you a sedative."
Tom quickly drifted off to sleep and Kida smiled, "You gave him a sedative?"
With a very familiar smug smile he responded, "I know how to handle my grandson."
* * Penal Transport Station: Holding Cells * *
B'Elanna looked around the cells, at all her friends and a few strangers. Harry was across from her in a different cell and Janeway and Admiral Paris were asleep beside her. That left only Steven and Susie for company and she couldn't help but notice how they both kept casting her strange looks.
"Yes?" she finally queried, drawing out the word.
Susie and Steven exchanged a glance until Steven turned away rolling his eyes, "Susie's jealous," Steven told her.
Susie turned to him in shock and hit him on his arm, ignoring her Steven continued to talk to B'Elanna, "I, however am glad Tom found someone so he won't fall back into her claws," he said motioning to the woman beside him, who was turning a lovely shade of red… and not from embarrassment.
"You little weasel!" Susie cried. "I thought we had become friends but you are exactly the same juvenile asshole you've always been!"
Steven gave her a glare, "Look, you've broke Tom's heart one too many times for my liking and I'm sorry but I don't believe we'll ever be friends. B'Elanna seems like a lovely person and you should be glad for Tom, too."
B'Elanna watched them amused. She had no doubt this was Tom's influence at work.
"Hey, calm down," B'Elanna said for once being the voice of reason. "Why don't you both wait until we are out of here and we can all sit down and have a nice long discussion with Tom."
The two stared at her blankly for a moment until they both nodded simultaneously.
"Good," B'Elanna nodded. "Now that you're done fighting we can decide what we're going to do to get out of here."
* * Starfleet Headquarters: McAllister's office * *
McAllister the imposter sat angrily behind 'his' desk and glared heatedly at his officers. "What do you mean 'you can't find them'?" he spat.
"Well, sir, t-they…" one of the men stuttered. "I'm sorry, Jurat."
Jurat waved his hand, "Never mind, just find them. We can't have that damn McAllister come along and ruin everything. Not when we've already come so far."
"I know, sir but we have no idea where they have gone and if they…"
"I know very well what will happen if they uncover us!" Jurat cried menacingly. "Find them so that it won't happen."
"Y-yes, sir."
"Go!" Jurat roared.
* * McAllister's Mansion * *
Kida pulled the blanket up over Tom. They had moved him to an old mattress and Kida had checked to make sure he hadn't made his injuries worse. He hadn't but part of her was still furious with him, never mind that he saved their lives, he'd once again endangered his own.
McAllister was asleep on a nearby couch but she couldn't sleep. Tom was sedated now but when he woke up again she knew he'd be off to save the world once more. She had to protect him. She needed to save it first.
Standing up she grabbed Tom's cloak off of a chair and put it on. With one last wistful look at Tom she headed to the library. Once about five years ago Tom had shown her a hidden transporter room behind one of the shelves. It would come in handy now.
Kida reached the transporter room fairly quickly and then picked her transport destination: Starfleet Headquarters.
* * Starfleet Headquarters * *
Kida walked straight up to the door and raced across the lobby ignoring the frantic cries of the desk clerk.
Jumping into the turbolift she called for the 39th floor. She went immediately to Admiral Rice's office. She remembered him from a party she'd once attended with Tom.
She only hoped that he remembered her, too.
Running down the hall, Kida entered without announcing herself.
"Admiral Rice," she said with labored breathing.
The Admiral immediately stood, "Agent Kida?" he asked uncertainly.
Kida nodded, "Boy, have I got a story for you."
* * Starfleet Headquarters: McAllister's office * *
Admiral Rice marched to McAllister's office leading an armada of security officers. All of which were non-cardassians by decree of the resident doctor.
Despite that Kida's story had seemed farfetched Admiral Rice hadn't hesitated in believing her. Everyone had known something was wrong with McAllister for weeks and this -in a strange way- made perfect since.
Admiral Rice charged into the office and gave a celebratory smile. McAllister was having a meeting with around seven of his guards. It looked like they'd caught them all at once.
"Unarm yourselves and raise your hands," Rice ordered.
Jurat raised one hand but only for show, the other he covertly placed on the underside of the desk. Rice's men reacted too late and Jurat disappeared.
It was an emergency transport in case McAllister was ever in trouble. It's coordinates are relatively random and it never goes to the same place twice in a row. There was no way to track him.
* * Penal Transport Station: Holding Cells * *
Kida proudly handed the release form for all of the Marquis to the warden. McAllister had insisted on filling it out before he and the still unconscious Tom were carted off to Starfleet Medical.
When Voyager's EMH had entered McAllister's basement with Kida and a security detail (The Doctor had been adamant about coming) he had been appalled at Tom's condition, ordering him to be taken to Starfleet Medical ASAP and McAllister too, for a normal checkup and a few tests (Mainly to confirm he was indeed James McAllister and not a Cardassian).
All of Jurat's guards they had captured had been Cardassian's but refused to talk to Starfleet authorities. As for Jurat's whereabouts, they were listed as unknown. Starfleet did aquire some information, however when one of the guards let the name of his boss slip. General Jurat had been assigned to the invasion of Bajor and many other colony worlds. Ruthless, heartless, and unfortunately… brilliant.
Kida pushed this all out of her mind as she walked down the hall, flanked by two guards. Finally Tom's friends and some of her own would be released.
Kida stood in front of the first cell and Admiral Paris and Janeway stood. It looked as though she had been captured but she swiftly smiled and held up the padd which would give them back their freedom.
"Are you all ready to get out of here!" Kida cried.
At the chorus of 'yes's and shouts of joy Kida's smile grew wider, "Well," she said impatiently to the guard on her right. "Let them out."
* * Starfleet Medical * *
Kida stared at Tom nervously not sure if she wanted him to wake up. B'Elanna was holding his hand and Janeway, Admiral Paris, Susie and Steven were all standing beside her.
Kida wasn't sure how Tom would react when he found out what had happened. Her plan had been simple, Tom rarely approved of 'simple'. Not to mention Jurat had got away, she was positive if Tom had been there he wouldn't have. McAllister walked through the door and stood next to Kida.
"I've got a clean bill of health," he told her. "How about Tom?"
"Tom will be fine with a couple days rest. Good as new."
Kida and the rest of Tom's visitors looked up surprised as someone cleared their throat… loudly. The Doctor was standing in the doorway with his mobile emitter firmly in place on his sleeve. "What are you all doing here?" he demanded. "How am I to work with everyone jammed in here like this? I said one visitor. One!"
Everyone slowly filed out except B'Elanna who was still tightly gripping Tom's hand. The Doctor went to Tom's bed and checked his bio readings.
"Why hasn't he woken up yet?" B'Elanna asked.
"I've been keeping him sedated. He was suffering from sleep deprivation and I knew it was the only way to get him to rest."
B'Elanna nodded vaguely, "When will he wake?"
Looking again at the bio readings the Doctor responded, "Very shortly. I'll be back to check on you soon."
B'Elanna nodded again but her eyes were on Tom. He was pale and she was worried. It was hard having a loved one injured, harder still when you were partly responsible for that injury. She knew she would have done the same for Tom and her other friends as he had for her and she knew if he'd been the one hauled off, he'd of told her not to.
Seeing Tom move B'Elanna returned her focus to him, "Tom? Tom, are you alright?"
Mumbling something inaudible and moving his head restlessly he didn't give her a direct answer.
"Tom, open your eyes," taking his head in her hands to still the movement she waited for him to respond.
Slowly but surely his eyes fluttered open, "B'Elanna?" he chocked. "What… where are we?"
Smiling at his coherency and assured he would be fine she answered, "Starfleet Medical. The Marquis have been released by McAllister. The real one. He's back in office."
Tom nodded, "How?"
"Your friend, Kida, she went to see Rice."
"What?" Tom demanded. "Alone?"
"I think so," B'Elanna answered slowly, confused by his reaction. "Why?"
Tom was laughing now, "Of all the nerve," he said sardonically. "All those lectures she gave me."
"Tom," B'Elanna said, getting his attention back. "I want to thank you for rescuing me. I love you, ya know."
Tom's anger at Kida faded, just as B'Elanna had planned and he smiled at her, "I know, I love you, too. I'm glad you're safe."
B'Elanna smiled back, "We are. All of us."
"So, who was the Cardassian posing as McAllister?"
B'Elanna squinted her eyes, trying to remember, "A General, I think. Jurat, maybe."
"What are they going to do with him?"
"Well, they haven't apprehended him yet…"
"He got away!" Tom cried incredulously. "How?"
B'Elanna sighed, "I'm not sure. Do we have to talk about this now?"
"Yes. Do you know what Starfleet's doing about this? Do they have any leads?"
"Tom," B'Elanna said bitingly. "You have to rest. Let someone else deal with this."
Tom pressed his eyes shut… the next person that said that…
"Look, why don't I give someone else a chance to see you, huh? I know you're father's waiting outside and that McAllister seems anxious to see you as well."
Tom nodded and B'Elanna kissed him on the forehead and left the room, moments later McAllister and Admiral Paris entered.
"How are you, son?" Owen asked.
Tom smiled painfully, "I'm fine. How is the search for Jurat going?"
Admiral Paris sighed, "Don't you ever quit?"
"Quit? I'm a Paris."
McAllister chuckled, "You're also a McAllister, you never stood a chance."
"The search is going well, actually, Kida and her special forces team have been assigned to find him."
"Special Forces team?" Tom echoed.
"Susie and Steven," the Admiral clarified.
Tom chocked, "Those two? Together! Without me to play referee? I've got to get to them."
"Tom…" McAllister said warningly.
"I know, I know. I'm not going anywhere."
"Actually," Owen contradicted. "You will be going back to the mansion for a couple of days. B'Elanna will be coming as well, to keep an eye on you."
Tom nodded, at least B'Elanna would be with him.
McAllister was smiling, "After that you can chose whether you'd like to return to Voyager or the Flawless."
"What about the Marquis?" Tom asked.
"They have all been told they may retain their commissions and if they wish, return to Voyager."
"What's B'Elanna doing?"
"Like most all the others, B'Elanna will be staying on Voyager."
Beginning to fall asleep Tom smiled widely, "I'm staying on Voyager, too."
* * McAllister Mansion: Tom's Room * *
B'Elanna looked around the luxurious room in awe. There was no poverty in the Federation but it was obvious to her now that being President had it's extras.
Tom's room was gorgeous and she could tell form the model starships, warp theory equations and the posters of 20th century break through pilots that it was uniquely Tom.
Fleetingly she wondered why Tom had a room in the McAllister Mansion but seeing Tom still recovering she didn't dwell on it.
She felt bad for Tom's other friends that they couldn't be here. Janeway was on a special assignment with Tom's other three friends Kida, Susie, and Steven, she was working on the Jurat case from San Francisco but was still unable to get away. Neelix and Kes were looking for a place to live while Harry had went to Newport to stay with his parents and t o reunite with Libby.
Regardless, nothing in the universe would be able to tear B'Elanna from the man she loved. Sitting on the edge of the bed she brushed the hair form his forehead.
She knew that Tom wanted to search for Jurat himself but the Doctor had insisted Tom needed at least two days rest before getting back to what he called Tom's 'overactive and ridiculously dangerous' life.
And B'Elanna would make sure he rested. She knew Tom had risked everything for her and she knew she loved him more than ever.
She looked up as she heard a knock at the door. She could hear voices and she smiled. Tom's mother and sisters had finally been able to catch up with him. With one last look at the still sleeping Tom she went and opened the door.
Without bothering with introductions the three women ran past her and to Tom's side. B'Elanna sighed and decided to give them some privacy. She saw Tom wake just as she was closing the door.
"You didn't have to leave," a kind voice said.
B'Elanna looked up and smiled, "I thought they'd want to be alone, Admiral Paris."
"Only my son calls me Admiral Paris, you can call me Owen."
B'Elanna smiled slightly, "Alright, Owen it is."
"You, know," Owen said suddenly. "You're the last person I thought my son would end up with."
B'Elanna clenched her fists. This was it. He was going to ask her to leave Tom.
"Opposites in every way," he continued. "I thought he'd end up with someone more like him. Take Susie, for instance. But I'm glad he found you."
B'Elanna looked up in surprise, "You are?"
The Admiral nodded and said one last thing before leaving B'Elanna to contemplate his words, "My son always did like a challenge."
* * The Canta Bell * *
Kida looked up from the helm of her ship and turned to face her two subordinates, "Will you two just shut up!" she cried addressing Steven and Susie.
The red faced Ensigns quickly turned their attention back to the mission. They'd been fighting, again. Kida wasn't even sure what about. The objective of their debate had been blurred only ten minutes into it.
Kida wished desperately Tom was here. He was the only one who could keep them in line. However at the same time she dreaded reuniting with the pilot. He was sure to be angry at her for handling their situation alone and so badly and it was because of that that she was determined to make it right without him.
No matter how much she longed for his presence. Fighting off her personal thoughts Kida forced her self to refocus on the mission as well. They were meeting with one of Jurat's former officers.
Apparently he was an angry Cardassain looking for revenge who just happened to have information on Jurat's whereabouts.
He was also their only lead. Their only anything.
"Any sign of his vessel?" Kida asked. She didn't like that he was late. Something may have happened.
"I'm detecting no vessels," Steven responded.
"Wait!" Susie cried. "A vessel has just decloaked off our starboard bow!"
It was too late for any of them to react.
In an instant the Canta Bell was torn apart.
* * McAllister Mansion: Tom's Room * *
Tom placed his last shirt into his favorite duffle bag and collapsed on his bed, placing his head in his hands.
It had been two days and he had been declared physically fit but he'd yet to break it to his father and grandfather that he was leaving.
He loved them both dearly but he knew what would happen if he moved back home. They would take over his life again. He couldn't let that happen. But the little boy in him still dreaded telling that to his family.
They'd been great to him and accepting of B'Elanna but he needed to live his own life and Jurat was still on the loose. He needed to track down his friends and help them out.
Tom stood up as the door swung open. Owen stood in the doorway with tears in his eyes he only looked at Tom's packed bags for a moment before turning to Tom.
"Son," he chocked.
Tom was nervous now, nothing ever fazed his father, "What? What's happened?"
"Kida… Steven… Susie… they're dead, Tom. Starfleet found the remains of the Canta Bell this morning. It was completely torn apart."
Tom paled, "Dead?" he echoed in disbelief. "JUrat?"
"We believe he is responsible, yes."
Tom nodded all his training and expierence telling him to push aside the pain and focus on something more productive… like revenge.
Tom sighed and swung his duffle bag over his shoulder. "Do you know where B'Elanna is?" he asked. "I'm leaving."
"What?" Owen cried in disbelief. "You're leaving now? After this?"
"I can't stay here. I'm sorry about my friends but I still need to leave."
"I don't think you should. Maybe I can get Deanna to come talk to you."
Tom sighed. Deanna Troi was a close friend of his mother's and she'd always been convinced
Tom was in need of counseling that he was reckless and that he had an unhealthy habit of suppressing his emotions. Yea, right.
Tom pushed past his father, "Goodbye, Dad."
Owen grabbed his arm as he headed for the turbolift. "I really don't think you should leave."
Ripping his arm from his father's grip and calling for the lift he snapped, "I'm going. I'm not a child anymore."
The lift opened to reveal B'Elanna. She looked startled to see Owen and Tom, "What's going on?"
Tom pushed into the lift and closed the door, "We're leaving," he said as the door closed on his father.
As soon as the lift began to travel downwards B'Elanna turned to Tom, "I heard about your friends. Do you really think you should be leaving?"
"B'Elanna I was planning to leave before I found out and now I'm convinced I have to get out of here more than ever. You don't know my family. If I ever let any vulnerability show through they use it to try and control me."
"What are you saying? I thought you loved your family."
"I do, you just don't know them the way I do."
As they exited the lift and walked out the door Tom told her, "Trust me, we need to leave while we still can."
* * Masayo Apartments: San Francisco * *
With both Tom and B'Elanna Lieutenants on the famed ship Voyager it hadn't been hard to find a place to stay. They'd just settled into a lovely little apartment overlooking the bay but Tom didn't plan on staying put.
As he pulled B'Elanna closer he savored the moment. He knew what leaving would do to B'Elanna and he also knew what B'Elanna would do to him when and if he returned. That wouldn't stop him though. He had to go find Jurat.
For Kida, Steven and Susie he needed to find Jurat and provide retribution. They'd of done the same for him.
Kissing B'Elanna he murmured 'I love you' before tip toeing out the door. Voyager wouldn't be back into commission for a couple of months and that was more than enough time for what Kida would have called one of his 'one man missions'.
He'd hunt down Jurat if it was the last thing he did, which he also knew it very well could be.
Jurat had made his first mistake when he imprisoned and impersonated his grandfather but now he'd gone too far. Tom wasn't usually one for revenge but he'd just lost three people he considered his closest friends.
The three people he'd been spending a year waiting to see and hoping one day he wouldn't. If he didn't have B'Elanna he was sure he'd have gone crazy. But he did have B'Elanna and a focus. Revenge.
Using his trust fund he purchased a little ship. It was top of the line and only needed a pilot.
Sitting at the helm he left Earth once again on a renegade mission and this time he was alone and didn't have to worry about anyone but himself.
With a devil-may-care smile he engaged the thrusters.
If nothing else… it should be fun.
The End… but it's far from over…
One issue has been resolved but the aftermath has created more problems. Tom won't leave it like this… again he will set out on a seemingly impossible mission in the sequel Countermand: Illusions