Disclaimer - Remains same as it was for the Chapter 1.
The Slaves of Tempus
By - Macqui's Queen
'Tempus' is the Latin word for 'time'.
A request- Please, read the Explanatory note before starting Chapter 3.
Codes- J/C and J/P, Doctor, Torres, Seven and rest of the crew.
Explanatory Note for Chapter three - Here are some notes to elucidate some of the terms used this chapter which will also prove helpful while reading the rest of the story. There is difference between ' Alternate Universe" and ' Parallel Universe'. Alternate universe is the one in which the incidents and sometimes even the history differ completely from the original one. Thus, an incident that is taking place in Universe 1 may not happen in Universe 2. 'Parallel universe' is the one in which the same incidents are happening as in the original one and vice- versa. However, there can be a phase difference (difference of some hours) or even the temporal difference (of some days, months, and years) between them. That is two universes can be 'parallel' but they may be having a difference of one or two years between them. In that case, the universe lagging behind will undergo through same events and experiences as its counterpart ahead.
Something in*…* means that person is thinking. "….", Naturally shows the conversation.
Chapter Three- All the Vital Links- 2
On ' Alternate Voyager'
Stardate: ********Time: 0100 hours
Both the Chief Engineer and the Chief Medical Officer of intrepid ship U.S.S Voyager were getting little uneasy and were doubtlessly fuming. Mainly because they had been sitting in dark sickbay for almost an hour with only each other for the company and the person who had ordered them to be there, was one hour late for his appointment. Lt. B'Elanna Torres had spoken in Human language for only about half an hour past his designated time, which she had spent mostly in arguing, with maladroit and irritating Doctor, after that she has just shifted to Klingon and the Doctor concluded that those were not very meaningful words. He was also wondering whether it was possible for a hologram to have a headache, unaware of the fact, that at that very moment, his companion was already having headache.
Now, there was also a third occupant in sickbay waiting for the same person with the same purpose. But that inhabitant was fast asleep on the biobed, with all the golden hairs fallen over her face. Seven of Nine had undergone the operation to remove all her Borg implants about three months ago. It was really a great achievement for Doctor, who considered himself as " expert in Borg physiology." With all her implants removed, Seven had become a complete human, at least in physical terms. She no longer needed to regenerate. Nevertheless, it was not easy for her to get adjusted to sleep. Besides, she was still weak and she hated it. However, Doctor kept her under strict surveillance, monitoring her progress and he recognized that she was recovering and slowly getting adjusted. That's why, unlike Lt. Torres, at the present moment " Seven was using her precious time to gain some energy" rather than wasting it in irreverent arguments.
B'Elanna was angrier with herself than anything else and was wondering how she got involved in all this. Moreover, when she got involved in it to such an extent that the turning back became impossible and why she was still so much involved in all this, to an extent of risking her career, her trust, and her very life itself, but above all, her honor. Now, more B'Elanna asked herself these questions, more number of reasons and explanations came to her mind. But above all there was only one reason. Somehow, somewhere, her best friend, NO, her dead best friend, Chakotay, was going to get another chance. B'Elanna headache was getting worse and she decided to lie down on the other biobed.
Tom entered sickbay to find B'Elanna lying on one biobed and Seven on other, the latter one definitely asleep. The Doctor was nowhere to be seen.
" Computers, light, illumination 30 %."
Dim light spread across sickbay and Tom glanced at B'Elanna. She looked so tired, yet so relaxed. Tom felt a pang of guilt. His long ago lover, now fiancée' of his long time friend Harry Kim, and another vital link of his plan. No, that would be an understatement. She was not just another link. She was half mastermind of this plan. Tom was aware of the risk she was taking. When he had initially approached her, he was not at all sure whether she would agree or not. On the contrary, he was afraid that she would blow up everything if he told her. Her initial reaction was anger, so typical of her. But to his relief, she didn't reject it immediately as he had thought. Instead, she just took some time and finally agreed to help him. When he had asked her whether she really wants to risk everything, she just replied that given chance, she could have died for Chakotay. Tom never doubted the reason. Now, Seven had proved more difficult to convince and she would not have agreed to the plan but Doctor had explained everything to her in his 'way'. Whatever, even Seven was taking risk with her career, her friendship with Kathryn and her self-respect. * For Chakotay, this is all for Chakotay. And for Kathryn. Just for Chakotay and Kathryn. * Tom sighed deeply.
" Computer, activate the emergency medical hologram."
The Doctor appeared at some distance.
" Please state the nature of------ ha, Commander Paris, I must say, you are too early", He glanced over to biobeds, "And I can also see that my sickbay in turning into sleeping bunker."
Tom smiled. Now-a- days, he felt so good around the Doctor.
" I am sorry Doctor. But I just couldn't leave Kathryn alone until she fell asleep."
The Doctor turned away. Tom knew that he and Kathryn was not talking for last eight months except for the emergency situations and after Kathryn had decided to take away his mobile emitter and restrict him to the sickbay for one year. Not that was a bit harsh. Tom remembered the severe argument with his wife over her irrational decision. In the end, she decided to take back her decision. But she decided not to include the Doctor in any of the senior staffs meetings. He was to tell his opinion only when he is asked and in that cases, he was to approach First Officer and not the Captain. Doctor was so hurt by it. Tom, however, was very friendly to the Doctor, and that kept him somewhat confident that one day ----
" Tom, at least sit down."
B'Elanna was standing in front of him now, her face an expression of concern. Tom sat down, desolate.
" I am sorry B'Elanna for keep you three waiting."
*For One complete hour. Not to mention I had to give Harry an excuse for canceling our dinner tonight and if he finds that I am not in my quarter----*
" She again wanted to take sedatives. I have finally given her one just half an hour ago." Tom buried his head in his hand.
As the Doctor and B'Elanna watched him, one of them wanted to throw arms around him and comfort him, offer him the compassion of a best friend, while other was thinking whether a holographic heart can experience the same pain as human heart. B'Elanna was first to break to silence.
" Uh… Tom, look, I know this is hard for you but we are almost done. We have to finalize everything."
She was right. It was almost the time. Doctor repeated the thoughts as if reading his mind.
" B'Elanna is right, Mr. Paris. It is almost the time. I will wake her up." Doctor motioned towards biobed one. He faced some difficulty in waking Seven up from her deep slumber. It took her about one minute to get oriented properly.
" Commander, you are late."
" Yes, Seven. I am sorry."
" Apology accepted."
* Now, Seven, there again, you are too polite even for a human. Just too prompt to accept an apology from someone who has kept you waiting for one hour. *
" So this is our final meeting. We are going to go over each and every thing. O.K., What is the status B'Elanna?" Tom asked as he ended his thoughts about Seven's humanity.
B'Elanna opened the Doctor's communication console and entered her bio-energy signatures. Immediately about hundred of data files were displayed. She opened one of them.
" According to my predictions and our theory, the " other Voyager" must be somewhere at these coordinates. Grid 45, Sector 39 in Borg terms. That is a coordinate Mark Three Nine One Seven Alpha. Spatially, 'they' are 50,000 light years away form the Alpha Quadrant. On the other hand, these are our present coordinates. Grid 57, Section 66. Mark Six Twenty Seven One Four Beta. We are about 35,000 light-years away from the Alpha Quadrant. Accordingly, they are about 15,000 light years behind us. Now, temporally, they are at a time exactly two weeks after we emerged from that "long night'', specifically that 'void' after our fights with Melans. Therefore, according to this data, they would be crossing the timeline at about 1200 hours tomorrow. We will have to launch our plan exactly one hour before that. " B'Elanna paused to let the knowledge sink in.
"O.K., that means I will have to take out the Delta Flyer at about 1000 hours. " Tom said.
" I think we have to decide it afterwards, Tom. First have a look at this", B'Elanna turned the console screen towards Tom, on which the various coordinates were displayed, " This point here, these are the exact coordinates where we are going to open that spatial and temporal rift. Look, according to our calculations the timeline crossover will take place somewhere between the time when you or rather your counterpart and Neelix will be on that M- class planet and the time when you return back to Voyager. We are going to open the rift between this time and you two will cross it, along with Seven, taking Delta Flyer with you. You will bring the cloak online, as soon as you cross the rift. Now, you will be monitoring their coordinates. And 'other Voyager' will be at this position. You will have to fool their sensors. That won't be hard. They are still about two years behind us" Once again B'Elanna indicated a point on screen before continuing, " Now comes the hardest part. You will fire that modified photonic beam at their shuttle and, please keep in mind, it won't be the Delta Flyer. They have not yet build it or say your counterpart has not. Instead, it would be that old " Sacajewea."
" Oh how can I forget Sacajewea. It is still there on ' our Voyager' also, although I don't remember anymore when was the last time I have flown it." Tom said. It was childish, but Tom somehow hated that shuttle, mainly because it was having so many terrible memories associated with it, one of them which had changed their life a long time ago.
" You may not flown it for a long time Commander, but as far as my knowledge goes, but many of the other lower staff still uses it for small away missions." Seven sounded as a lawyer of the old shuttlecraft itself.
"Please let me continue, people. Remember that you will target their communications systems in first shot, and believe me, Tom, you have to, at any cost. You won't be getting another chance. One shot, and cut them off from the other Voyager. One shot .You cannot take risk second time. Before they can respond you will beam your counterpart out and transfer yourself. But don't forget, you have to give extra energy burst to that transporter beam. He should be unconscious when he materializes on our Delta Flyer. Seven you will then send that secret signal and cross the rift. I will have to close the rift before somebody suspects anything. After that, you will send distress signal that you are having the emergency. I have already sabotaged some of the controls. They won't give trouble during the whole operation. All you will need is to direct power to thrusters and minor systems will blow off. You will then drop the cloak and you will do an emergency landing on this D-Class planet, here, '' B'Elanna pointed the location to Seven on the console," Then you will administer Tom's countourpart with the first sample of Doctor's neuro- suppressing agent. You will keep the communications open all the time. Remember that you have to pass about an hour before you can come back here. You will ask for a direct transport from shuttle bay to Sick -bay. From there you know what to do Doc." B'Elanna finished her picture.
" How dramatic or shall I say how ' novelistic'? Doctor threw his hands in air and B'Elanna glared at him.
" Sounds almost perfect to me." Tom replied.
" Almost perfect, now Tom, how can you even say that? We can't afford to be almost perfect. We have to be perfect." B'Elanna voice was getting higher.
" I know, B'Elanna, I know. Don't you think I am not afraid?"
" You don't have to that afraid. I mean you will have to immediately answer only to Neelix. You will have at least one hour before the other Voyager reaches you. Me and Doctor on other hand……."
" B'Elanna, stop it. We all are going to gamble for our life and you know that." Tom reminded her calmly yet in wounded voice.
Doctor chose to intervene between.
" Please, let us not get at each others throat tonight. We have already gone through all sorts of arguments thousands of time. Now, this is our final meeting. Let us review everything once. It may be long night afterwards."
B'Elanna thought that over last eight months, Doctor's capacity to understand strained situations had increased at surprising rate and his lousiness of time intervention had decreased dramatically. Maybe, Chakotay's loss must have been too much to bear for the holographic doctor. After all, there was no other reason he should have agreed to this plan. Risking his matrix, his dignity, his loyalty once again.
" You are right Doc. Let's just see if everything is ready," Tom said ' What about Tuvok, Doc?"
" Uh…. I have told him that he needs rest. I have ordered him to take a day off tomorrow and meditate. Not that he needs it and not that he won't run to bridge after he comes to know that something is wrong. But at least, he won't be at tactical tomorrow at time of opening and closing of rift. And by the time he starts investing anything that he might find worth suspecting, B'Elanna would have taken care to everything." Doctor finished the last sentence with some hesitation.
" Besides we have Ayala and Lt. Batik. " B'Elanna reminded Tom of the two other conspirators.
"Ah, yes, the new 'Chief Helmsman' now." Tom replied a little sarcastically and then asked himself what was his intention.
" And what about Lt. Harry Kim?" Doctor queried.
" I will call him in engineering just five minutes before the distress call. Two minutes delay will be enough to remove the traces to tachyon particles associated with the temporal rift. He won't suspect anything. And even if he does, then… then, I will just tell him everything and…
" NO, B'Elanna, you will never do that," Tom shouted, " You and I both know, that if there are three persons who should never suspect anything then they are Tuvok, Harry and Kathryn. GOD, this will kill them. This all, what we are doing. Or rather what I am going to do."
"I believe, Commander Paris, you are hyper reacting. Lt. Kim won't suspect anything." Seven put firmly.
" I just hope that." Tom whispered.
" Besides let me remind you that we are having assistance of twenty more proficient crew members from various departments. If something goes slightly wrong, it is my opinion that those individuals are efficient of dealing with the situation." Seven continued on her exceedingly optimistic speech.
A silence fell over sickbay for few minutes before B'Elanna again got the courage to speak.
" So Tom, from there onwards you would be on your own. This is just the beginning. "
" Please, B'Elanna I would like to continue this discussion."
" Fine, by the time we close the rift the time crossover would have completed. That means 'their alternate universe' would be no longer an ' alternate one.' It would be a parallel universe, only two years behind us. From that point onwards, history will start repeating. In short, they will start experiencing the same incidents as we had. They will live every moment, which we had.
" Or die every moment." Doctor commented and all of them looked at him with sad eyes.
" You can say whatever you want Doc, but that is how it is going to be."
" When will they encounter ' The Nepheritinus?" Tom was looking at the table as he asked the question of supreme importance.
B'Elanna took a deep breath. She was waiting for this question. ' The Nepheritinus', dangerous and deadly, the one single thing that had changed their lives forever, taking away everything they had achieved during the four years of journey before they encountered it and the very reason of Tom's insane plan.
" At the same time we had encountered it about two years ago. Exactly two weeks and two days after we came out of that void. Accordingly, day after tomorrow will be the day when the sensors would pick it up. That means," she hesitated, unsure whether to continue or not but when the silence continued she took it as sign to continue, " That means that you will come face to face with ' The Nepheritinus' exactly fourty eight hours from 1200 hours tomorrow. That is fourty -eight hours according from 'zero time' as we have decided to call 1200 tommorow. "
" They' will B'Elanna, they will." Tom corrected her use of term ' you'.
" And you would be there with them, Commander." The ever practical ex- borg was not in mood of any emotional displays.
" Fine, the other Voyager will encounter ' The Nepheritinus' thirty nine hours from zero time and you and Janeway will be leaving the for the away mission in about fourty two hours, and then you will reach its coordinates in exactly forty eight hours. You know that will be the day of fate." B'Elanna completed with almost a whisper.
" Yes, B'Elanna, that would be the day of fate." Tom repeated her sentence rather sarcastically.
" I think we are wasting our time in irreverent altercation. We should review every aspect of our plan instead of provoking our emotions and tormenting ourselves. According to chronometer, it is rather late. "
" Make use of Borg advice." Doctor added, supporting his friend.
" O.K, O.K, so now I know when to go for the change in timeline. One more thing, B'Elanna, are you absolutely sure that there won't be any phase difference between our and their universe."
" I am sure and besides Seven has also done calculations many times."
" That's true Commander. There will be only temporal and spatial difference. The seconds, minutes and hours of the other Voyager completely corresponds to ours, until they encounter ' The Nepheritinus.'
"Fine, Fine. So 1100 hours 'here' will be 1100' there' also.
" Precisely."
" Tom, there is one more thing I want to tell you. The other Voyager is going to go through the same incidents as us. So, you already know what is going to happen there. But at the second, you set your first step on ' the other Voyager' the time line will start changing. Every word you will say, every sentence you speak will change the timeline to some extent. But not enough to keep the change permanently. Unless you change ' The Nepheritinus' incident and… and"
" And make Kathryn realize the truth before it is too late." Tom finished for her.
" Yes."
Again, Seven broke the discomforting stillness.
" I believe we should now discuss about the situation arising here, the ' Doctor's modified neuro- suppressing agent and above all ' deadline' of our mission."
" Well, Gentleman. We certainly have a deadline, remember. Tom you have only 96 hours to change the timeline. That means exactly four days and Doctor, we have to keep this from blowing up for ninety-six hours. And… And…"
" And you have to get me back after 96 hours. You will have to open that rift again and you will have to do it covertly for a second time. And you will have to lie and cheat… and" Tom trailed off.
" There you two go again, I said please, earlier. Besides why two of you are running away from it. Let's face it. Our biggest problem will be your counterpart."
"I thought we have already decided his fate. Speaking of which why don't we have the look at your ' wonder neuro- suppressing agent."
" It is ready. I will get it."
As Doctor stood and went to into the backside of his office, Tom let his mind wander about ' the so called-wonderful neuro-suppressing agent ' that Doctor had invented for their mission. He had been working day and night for last 5 months. The drug was highly illegal. If unluckily any of them was to get caught in this mission, then there was slightest that they may get away with all, but Tom was positive, that they will never get away with use of illegal drug which they have especially invented for their mission. * God forbid, but if Kathryn comes to know about this, she will certainly delete Doctor's matrix. No I can't let it happen. * With that, he touched the glass box inside his uniform jacket to make sure it was still there. If this all fails, he would be dead and the letter would be only thing to save all these people who were helping him.
Doctor came back with a med. kit. He opened it and there 'they' were. Ten samples of carefully prepared and measured ' neuro- suppressing agent'; capable of causing a complete memory loss for twenty-four hours without any side effects, in a stable environment. Their own EMH's most brilliant invention, unfortunately, also illegal.
" Here it is. All the ten samples."
" Doctor are you sure it won't cause any side effects or brain damage?"
" Lt. Torres, I am a Doctor. I would never break the Hippocratic oath. I would never do anything to harm anyone even if I am participating in somewhat demented mission."
" Doctor, there is no need to get angry. Anyway, you will not need all of those. Three of them would be with be me." Tom intervened quickly.
" However, you will use it only in emergency and I must warn you Mr. Paris, it has to administered only in stable environment. Otherwise….
"Otherwise what? It will cause the brain damage!"
"No", Doctor was getting irritated "It won't effect properly."
" The hardest part of all this how we are going to keep all this from blowing up. I mean, at least, there is certainly going to be lot of panic and chaos here."
" Panic, yes maybe to some extent. Chaos, not a chance if you three play your part properly." Tom pointed out.
" Why not say ' if you lie all those lies properly'?" B'Elanna shot back and for the first time, Doctor found that he wanted to do the same.
"Our 'parts' will be quite effective, Commander Paris. We can assure you about that. I would rather suggest you to watch out every time you converse with someone on the ' other Voyager."
" I would again say, take up Borg's advice."
" I am not a Borg anymore. I am an individual now."
" Therefore, I will take your advice." Tom said bringing the end to any potential argument between Seven and the Doctor.
Doctor then carefully transferred three of the samples from his med. kit to another med. Kit and handed the med. Kit to Seven.
" You will take this with you before you hail Commander Paris to join you tomorrow. Remember, you will hail the Commander when he is on the bridge so as to not raise any suspicions."
"Understood."
"Is there anything else anyone wants to discuss?" B'Elanna asked.
" Just one thing, what about all those ' secret holoprogammes which we have been running all these months."
" All of them are deleted Commander. Even with the help of Command codes it won't be possible to retrieve them."
"Thanks to you two for that."
"Don't forget Lt. Carey. We had his help."
"Yes, Yes, him too." Tom paused and then took a deep breath as he stood," So……I guess we are prepared."
" I wish I could say the that Commander. But no matter how much We discuss, I have a feeling that we are overlooking something." Seven sounded uneasy as she stated this fact.
" Look, no matter how many times we go through all this we will always be afraid. Look at us. We have been preparing for this for last six months. We have gone thorough every calculation, every possibility. We have checked and rechecked every variable thousands of times. We have complete loyalty of those who are in this with us. We are doing this for Chakotay and for Kathr….." B'Elanna just choked and dropped her head down. She disliked vulnerability.
Tom slowly placed his hand on her shoulder and she faced them again.
" It's Ok, B'Elanna. Every thing will be all right. We won't fail. I know we will be able to do it. Besides we can't just sit here and see that' alternate universe' getting changed to parallel universe and see all those people going through the same thing as we had. It is too late for all of us now, but not too late for them. They should never encounter ' The Nephritinus' even if I have to die, again and again."
" Tom, do you know what you are talking?"
" Enough, enough, no more discussions, no more arguments. We will launch the plan tomorrow. That is final. I think we should disperse now. Everything is prepared."
" Yes, except just one thing perhaps." B'Elanna said standing to leave.
" What is it?" Tom asked annoyed.
" I have one personal request."
" Yes." Tom was surprised.
" Give our ' old big man' a hug from me, and don't forgot that damm ' Temporal Prime Directive', O.K., good night and Good luck." She never waited for his reply and quickly walked out of the Sickbay, leaving all the three of them staring at doors closing behind her.
It was Doctor who spoke first
"Mr. Paris, you should get some rest. You also Seven. Go back to your own quarters."
Tom hugged Doctor in friendly embrace and tried do draw to some comfort from the photon and forcefields.
Tom and Seven exited the Sickbay together. Seven was now having own quarter. However, it was not on same deck as senior staffs quarters but near Cargo bay two. Seven wanted a familiar surroundings and so Captain had given permission clear some area of Cargo bay two into a quarters and Joe Carey had used his special ' interior designers skills' to convert the space into nice quarters. In fact, in Tom's opinion, after the Captain's quarters, Seven's new quarters was second best on the ship he knew that many people still visit Seven just to have a look at that 'much heard of' quarters of hers. Anyway, in Tom's belief, Seven deserved it. After all, all she had for eighteen years was a regeneration alcove.
" Computer, keep the lift doors secure." Tom ordered as he saw that Seven was about to step out.
Seven arched her eyebrow as she turned to address him," Commander, is something wrong?"
" No, there is nothing wrong actually."
" Then way did you order computer to secure the lift doors?"
" Seven, listen carefully. There is something I would like you keep for me." With that he took out the small glass box and extended it to her. Seven took it with a puzzled look on her face.
" What is purpose of this?"
" There is a letter inside it."
" That is obvious. However, I still don't understand."
" Listen carefully. We all know what we are bargaining here. I want you to give this to Kathryn immediately, if anyone is gets caught."
" You want me to give this to your wife. Why don't you leave it at some secret place in your quarters?"
" No, I can't. It is too much risk. You should keep it. If anyone gets caught, including Doctor, just give it to Kathryn."
"May I ask, why you chose me?"
" Because I trust you." Tom knew that he has replied truthfully.
Seven stared him for few seconds and Tom could tell that she was touched by the trust he was showing in her.
" Thank You Commander. I can assure you will not be disappointed because I know that ' breaking a friends trust is like cutting off a piece of your conscience."
" Now, who told you such a wise thing, Seven?"
" Commander Chakotay," She said as she turned away from him," Computer open the lift doors." The lift opened and Seven stepped out. "Goodnight, Commander Paris." She said without turning to look at Tom.
" Goodnight Seven." Tom replied knowing that she was on verge of breaking down. The lift door closed and he ordered the lift to take him to Deck Two.
After ten minutes Tom was lying in the bed, with his arms wrapped tightly around a sound asleep Kathryn, knowing that he had at last, secured all the vital links of his plan.
To be continued…
A line or two about what is going to happen in Chapter 4
In the next Chapter ' The Basic Principle- 1', Commander Paris exchanges himself with his counterpart and lands himself on the ' Normal Voyager' and starts to play his cards and prepare himself for the encounter with' The Nepheritinus.' On the 'Alternate Voyager' Tuvok grows terribly suspicious of Lt. Batik and Kathryn just can't understand what is wrong with her husband. Meanwhile, emotions run high as Lt. Tom Paris finds out that despite his 'some sort of memory loss', he is finding Kathryn Janeway, his supposed wife, very attractive.
This all and much more as ' The Slaves of Tempus' continues.
Read and review or mail me at macquisqueen@yahoo.co.in.