Chapter 4: Stories
The cavern was not very hard to find because Janeway had inconspicuously marked all of the passageways she had traveled down so that she would not retry old trails. Setting up camp consisted of everyone getting a long, cool drink from the creek and pulling up a circle of rocks to sit on.
All they had with them were two alien percussion rifles. No phasers, no gear, no food. They were all hungry but happy to be safe and together.
Janeway asked the away team for their report first. She was very curious about how they had escaped and how they had gotten down into the caverns.
Chakotay started off. He reminded the Captain that when they all beamed down, she was separated from the team and was taken to meet with the Prime. The rest of the team was supposed to be shown the minerals and supplies that the Runarians had promised to give to them. However, when the six of them entered the storage hanger, they were immediately overcome by gas that rendered them unconscious. When they came to, they were in a room with two guards and an officer who started questioning them about Voyager and threatening to kill them if they didn't cooperate. It seemed that they had done this before to other ships and had found it was a good way to steal technology.
They refused to answer the Runarian's questions even when they were told all of the ghastly things the officer and guards were going to do to them. At first Chakotay and the rest of the team thought they were bluffing, but things turned serious when they were told that Janeway had been brutally executed. Upon requiring proof, the officer showed them a picture of a mauled body in a Starfleet uniform. Since they had taken Chakotay's uniform before they had recovered from the gas, they still weren't sure the picture was real. But when they were shown a hank of reddish, brown hair, covered with blood, they were convinced that Janeway had indeed been killed.
At this point, Chakotay voice was so full of tears that he couldn't go on, so Tom Paris, Voyager's pilot, took up the tale.
Tom told Janeway that as soon as this reality sunk in, Chakotay went berserk. He charged the officer and brought him to the ground and started pounding his head on the floor. The guards were so startled that they didn't raise their weapons until too late. B'Elanna and the two ensigns jumped the guards and easily subdued them. Meanwhile, Tom and Neelix had gone to help Chakotay, but by that time, the officer was unconscious. After tying up the guards and confiscating their weapons, the crew carefully opened the door and found a flight of stairs. They quickly started down. The stairway seemed to descend forever until, at last, they reached the bottom. Ducking through a crumbling archway, they found themselves in a passage carved out of the surrounding stone. They immediately started looking for a way to the surface and had been walking several hours when they met up with Janeway.
Janeway nodded her head at their story. She was amazed that both of their escapes had been so similar. Before she could ask too many more questions, B'Elanna asked to hear her story. Everyone sat forward as she started in on her narration.
Telling the part about seeing Chakotay's body on the viewscreen was difficult, but a wink from Chakotay and a rueful rub of his head where his hair had been pulled out, soon got her past it.
When Janeway finished, everyone was quiet, thinking about what had happened. Finally Janeway shook herself and said, "All right, everyone, let's go over what we know. Obviously, the Runarians were bluffing. They didn't kill any of us. I'm sorry those two officers were injured, but they pushed us too far. We thought we were fighting for our lives. Voyager may still be in danger. We need a plan."
Tom spoke up, "We have to get to the surface. They left us our combadges so from there we can contact Voyager."
Chakotay leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees and steepling his fingers together.
"We don't know how far underground we are, but we do know that these caverns aren't safe. Getting out won't be easy. Also, the closer to the surface we get, the better chance we have of running into the Runarians. The most promising way up we have found so far is that passage up ahead that is partially blocked. The trail seems to be widening out at that point and looks to be a main thoroughfare. I say that we go back there and clear away the blockage." The big man of Native American descent leaned back again and waited patiently for someone else to speak.
B'Elanna, the volatile half-human, half-Klingon chief engineer of Voyager, jumped up and started to pace. "The way I see it," she said, her forehead ridges drawing together in a fierce frown, "they'll come after us when they find out we've escaped. They're probably looking for us now. We almost killed two of their people, so I don't think they'll be "bluffing" anymore. It may take us days to get to the surface. Voyager may have left by then or been captured. We can't count on any of the Runarians to help us; they may all be as crazy as their government! We don't even know where on the planet the exit to the surface will put us, so we have to be prepared to fight to the death to win our way back to Voyager!"
Tom stood up and put his arm around B'Elanna. "Voyager won't leave us and I don't think the Runarians have enough power to capture her. In fact, I think they are very weak defensively or they wouldn't have needed to capture us to get Voyager." Tom pulled B'Elanna's rock closer to his and they both sat down with his arm still around her.
"Uh, Captain?" Ensign Patricia Harlow spoke hesitatingly. "John, I mean Ensign Parsons, and I have been studying these rifles and I, uh, think that we have them figured out. We have only five rounds of ammunition for each one. Each shot will have to count. Also, John, I, uh, mean Ensign Parsons, has found several sharp stones that he believes can be fashioned into knife-like weapons." She looked over at Ensign Parsons for support and then continued. "Well, uh, we just want you to know that you can count on us."
Janeway looked down, rubbed her hand over her mouth to hide her smile. Looking back up, she gave each of the young security officers a nod and said, "I'm sure we can, Ensigns. Commander Tuvok will be pleased to hear of your initiative."
"Now," she said turning her gaze on Neelix. "Let's hear from our resident Ambassador, chef and moral officer."
Neelix puffed his chest up with pride. The spots on his yellowish face took on an orange glow as his grin split his face almost in half.
"Well, Captain. I'll try not to let you down but," here his face lost its glow and his smile faded away, "I have been looking around and I can't seem to find a thing to eat. There is a little moss growing beside the stream but, well. its gray color and unsavory smell makes me think it isn't fit to eat. However," his eager grin sprang back in place, "I'll be glad to try it, if you think it will help."
Janeway and Chakotay both smiled at the Talaxian's eagerness.
"No, Mr. Neelix," Janeway reassured him. "I don't think you should eat any of that moss...yet. We can live on water for a few days. But, I'll tell you when I will need your services. If we do have an opportunity to negotiate with the Runarians I want you there beside me. And, in the mean time I want you to be sure everyone on the team drinks plenty of water and gets adequate rest."
At that, Neelix jumped up and clapped his hands. "Now, everyone, listen up," he said in an important voice. "The Captain has given me a very vital assignment and I intend to carry it out to the best of my ability. I want all of you to go and get a drink of water, a long refreshing drink, mind you, and then go and, uh, relieve yourselves and then off to sleep. Pair up for warmth. Don't be shy. I, of course, will be cozy and warm in my Talaxian-made garments. So, please don't worry yourselves about my comfort. Ensigns, you two first. Find a nice, soft bit of ground if you can, ha, ha. Tom, B'Elanna, oh, I see I don't have to tell you two to cuddle up. Fine, fine. Captain, that just leaves you and Commander Chakotay. I'm sure you both will set a good example for the rest of the crew, eh? Cuddle up, now. Adequate sleep is extremely important, especially for the senior-most officers. Good, good, good. We'll sleep for four hours and then be up and on our way."
Rubbing his hands together one more time, Neelix went off to follow his own directions.
Chakotay looked over at Kathryn and said. "You've created a monster, you know. If we don't "cuddle up" he'll be breathing down our necks for the next four hours. We have no choice, I'm afraid."
"Don't be afraid, Commander. We're Starfleet trained. We can do this." Laughing, Janeway and Chakotay wandered off to follow "orders." They joined up again and looked around for a "soft bit" of ground.
Finding a fairly level spot, Chakotay spread out his cloak and sat down on it. He patted the space next to him and offered Kathryn his hand to help her down.
As she sat down very close to him, he asked in a Neelix voice. "Did you, uh, relieve yourself, Captain."
"Thank God I don't have to answer that question, Commander. Captain's Prerogative!
Laughing, he lay down, pulling her with him. When she was settled with her head on his chest, he flipped both sides of the cloak over them and wrapped his arms securely around her.
"Cuddling up with the Captain. First Officer's Prerogative!"
"Not bad for the Captain, either." She sighed as she snuggled down against him.
Kathryn felt Chakotay's hands moving up and down her back in a soothing, yet exciting, massage. When his hand slid down past her waist, she tapped him on the chest. "You better cut that out, Commander. Didn't you hear Neelix? We're supposed to be setting an example for the crew."
"From all the giggling that's going on with the Ensigns, I'd rather be following their example."
Stifling her own giggle, Kathryn said, "Sleep well, Chakotay."
"You, too, Kathryn." He pulled her a little bit closer, closed his eyes and was soon asleep.
Kathryn was thinking too hard to fall asleep easily. Sleeping was not one of her talents. She was wondering how their relationship had changed so quickly. They had always been friends and a little more. But, the ease and open affection that they felt with one another now, and, especially in front of the crew, was something new. She didn't know if they could continue it or build on it once they were back aboard Voyager. But, she did know this.right now, his presence gave her strength and hope and courage.
Snuggling her head more firmly against Chakotay's chest, listening to the comforting sound of his heartbeat, Captain Kathryn Janeway dozed off.
(TO BE CONTINUED) Chapter 5 up soon
The cavern was not very hard to find because Janeway had inconspicuously marked all of the passageways she had traveled down so that she would not retry old trails. Setting up camp consisted of everyone getting a long, cool drink from the creek and pulling up a circle of rocks to sit on.
All they had with them were two alien percussion rifles. No phasers, no gear, no food. They were all hungry but happy to be safe and together.
Janeway asked the away team for their report first. She was very curious about how they had escaped and how they had gotten down into the caverns.
Chakotay started off. He reminded the Captain that when they all beamed down, she was separated from the team and was taken to meet with the Prime. The rest of the team was supposed to be shown the minerals and supplies that the Runarians had promised to give to them. However, when the six of them entered the storage hanger, they were immediately overcome by gas that rendered them unconscious. When they came to, they were in a room with two guards and an officer who started questioning them about Voyager and threatening to kill them if they didn't cooperate. It seemed that they had done this before to other ships and had found it was a good way to steal technology.
They refused to answer the Runarian's questions even when they were told all of the ghastly things the officer and guards were going to do to them. At first Chakotay and the rest of the team thought they were bluffing, but things turned serious when they were told that Janeway had been brutally executed. Upon requiring proof, the officer showed them a picture of a mauled body in a Starfleet uniform. Since they had taken Chakotay's uniform before they had recovered from the gas, they still weren't sure the picture was real. But when they were shown a hank of reddish, brown hair, covered with blood, they were convinced that Janeway had indeed been killed.
At this point, Chakotay voice was so full of tears that he couldn't go on, so Tom Paris, Voyager's pilot, took up the tale.
Tom told Janeway that as soon as this reality sunk in, Chakotay went berserk. He charged the officer and brought him to the ground and started pounding his head on the floor. The guards were so startled that they didn't raise their weapons until too late. B'Elanna and the two ensigns jumped the guards and easily subdued them. Meanwhile, Tom and Neelix had gone to help Chakotay, but by that time, the officer was unconscious. After tying up the guards and confiscating their weapons, the crew carefully opened the door and found a flight of stairs. They quickly started down. The stairway seemed to descend forever until, at last, they reached the bottom. Ducking through a crumbling archway, they found themselves in a passage carved out of the surrounding stone. They immediately started looking for a way to the surface and had been walking several hours when they met up with Janeway.
Janeway nodded her head at their story. She was amazed that both of their escapes had been so similar. Before she could ask too many more questions, B'Elanna asked to hear her story. Everyone sat forward as she started in on her narration.
Telling the part about seeing Chakotay's body on the viewscreen was difficult, but a wink from Chakotay and a rueful rub of his head where his hair had been pulled out, soon got her past it.
When Janeway finished, everyone was quiet, thinking about what had happened. Finally Janeway shook herself and said, "All right, everyone, let's go over what we know. Obviously, the Runarians were bluffing. They didn't kill any of us. I'm sorry those two officers were injured, but they pushed us too far. We thought we were fighting for our lives. Voyager may still be in danger. We need a plan."
Tom spoke up, "We have to get to the surface. They left us our combadges so from there we can contact Voyager."
Chakotay leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees and steepling his fingers together.
"We don't know how far underground we are, but we do know that these caverns aren't safe. Getting out won't be easy. Also, the closer to the surface we get, the better chance we have of running into the Runarians. The most promising way up we have found so far is that passage up ahead that is partially blocked. The trail seems to be widening out at that point and looks to be a main thoroughfare. I say that we go back there and clear away the blockage." The big man of Native American descent leaned back again and waited patiently for someone else to speak.
B'Elanna, the volatile half-human, half-Klingon chief engineer of Voyager, jumped up and started to pace. "The way I see it," she said, her forehead ridges drawing together in a fierce frown, "they'll come after us when they find out we've escaped. They're probably looking for us now. We almost killed two of their people, so I don't think they'll be "bluffing" anymore. It may take us days to get to the surface. Voyager may have left by then or been captured. We can't count on any of the Runarians to help us; they may all be as crazy as their government! We don't even know where on the planet the exit to the surface will put us, so we have to be prepared to fight to the death to win our way back to Voyager!"
Tom stood up and put his arm around B'Elanna. "Voyager won't leave us and I don't think the Runarians have enough power to capture her. In fact, I think they are very weak defensively or they wouldn't have needed to capture us to get Voyager." Tom pulled B'Elanna's rock closer to his and they both sat down with his arm still around her.
"Uh, Captain?" Ensign Patricia Harlow spoke hesitatingly. "John, I mean Ensign Parsons, and I have been studying these rifles and I, uh, think that we have them figured out. We have only five rounds of ammunition for each one. Each shot will have to count. Also, John, I, uh, mean Ensign Parsons, has found several sharp stones that he believes can be fashioned into knife-like weapons." She looked over at Ensign Parsons for support and then continued. "Well, uh, we just want you to know that you can count on us."
Janeway looked down, rubbed her hand over her mouth to hide her smile. Looking back up, she gave each of the young security officers a nod and said, "I'm sure we can, Ensigns. Commander Tuvok will be pleased to hear of your initiative."
"Now," she said turning her gaze on Neelix. "Let's hear from our resident Ambassador, chef and moral officer."
Neelix puffed his chest up with pride. The spots on his yellowish face took on an orange glow as his grin split his face almost in half.
"Well, Captain. I'll try not to let you down but," here his face lost its glow and his smile faded away, "I have been looking around and I can't seem to find a thing to eat. There is a little moss growing beside the stream but, well. its gray color and unsavory smell makes me think it isn't fit to eat. However," his eager grin sprang back in place, "I'll be glad to try it, if you think it will help."
Janeway and Chakotay both smiled at the Talaxian's eagerness.
"No, Mr. Neelix," Janeway reassured him. "I don't think you should eat any of that moss...yet. We can live on water for a few days. But, I'll tell you when I will need your services. If we do have an opportunity to negotiate with the Runarians I want you there beside me. And, in the mean time I want you to be sure everyone on the team drinks plenty of water and gets adequate rest."
At that, Neelix jumped up and clapped his hands. "Now, everyone, listen up," he said in an important voice. "The Captain has given me a very vital assignment and I intend to carry it out to the best of my ability. I want all of you to go and get a drink of water, a long refreshing drink, mind you, and then go and, uh, relieve yourselves and then off to sleep. Pair up for warmth. Don't be shy. I, of course, will be cozy and warm in my Talaxian-made garments. So, please don't worry yourselves about my comfort. Ensigns, you two first. Find a nice, soft bit of ground if you can, ha, ha. Tom, B'Elanna, oh, I see I don't have to tell you two to cuddle up. Fine, fine. Captain, that just leaves you and Commander Chakotay. I'm sure you both will set a good example for the rest of the crew, eh? Cuddle up, now. Adequate sleep is extremely important, especially for the senior-most officers. Good, good, good. We'll sleep for four hours and then be up and on our way."
Rubbing his hands together one more time, Neelix went off to follow his own directions.
Chakotay looked over at Kathryn and said. "You've created a monster, you know. If we don't "cuddle up" he'll be breathing down our necks for the next four hours. We have no choice, I'm afraid."
"Don't be afraid, Commander. We're Starfleet trained. We can do this." Laughing, Janeway and Chakotay wandered off to follow "orders." They joined up again and looked around for a "soft bit" of ground.
Finding a fairly level spot, Chakotay spread out his cloak and sat down on it. He patted the space next to him and offered Kathryn his hand to help her down.
As she sat down very close to him, he asked in a Neelix voice. "Did you, uh, relieve yourself, Captain."
"Thank God I don't have to answer that question, Commander. Captain's Prerogative!
Laughing, he lay down, pulling her with him. When she was settled with her head on his chest, he flipped both sides of the cloak over them and wrapped his arms securely around her.
"Cuddling up with the Captain. First Officer's Prerogative!"
"Not bad for the Captain, either." She sighed as she snuggled down against him.
Kathryn felt Chakotay's hands moving up and down her back in a soothing, yet exciting, massage. When his hand slid down past her waist, she tapped him on the chest. "You better cut that out, Commander. Didn't you hear Neelix? We're supposed to be setting an example for the crew."
"From all the giggling that's going on with the Ensigns, I'd rather be following their example."
Stifling her own giggle, Kathryn said, "Sleep well, Chakotay."
"You, too, Kathryn." He pulled her a little bit closer, closed his eyes and was soon asleep.
Kathryn was thinking too hard to fall asleep easily. Sleeping was not one of her talents. She was wondering how their relationship had changed so quickly. They had always been friends and a little more. But, the ease and open affection that they felt with one another now, and, especially in front of the crew, was something new. She didn't know if they could continue it or build on it once they were back aboard Voyager. But, she did know this.right now, his presence gave her strength and hope and courage.
Snuggling her head more firmly against Chakotay's chest, listening to the comforting sound of his heartbeat, Captain Kathryn Janeway dozed off.
(TO BE CONTINUED) Chapter 5 up soon