Act Four: "An Unwelcome Welcome"

Captain Chakotay joined the bridge crew that morning. Tom Paris was at Navigation, Harry Kim was at Ops, Tuvok was at Security, and Kathryn Janeway was in the Captain's chair.

"Chakotay," she greeted.

"Hello Admiral."

"We're approaching Kelvan Space. We entered into the galaxy late last night. We should be at New Kelva by tomorrow afternoon," Janeway reported.

"Good, I - "

Out of nowhere, Voyager began to shake and shimmy. Lights and power began to fade out. "Report!" Janeway shouted.

"We're accelerating! Some sort of energy surge!" exclaimed Paris, his fingers racing across the navigational controls. "I can't slow us down."

"Janeway to Engineering!" Janeway attempted. "What's going on down there?"

"It's the Kelvan Engine, Admiral!" returned B'Elanna. "There's some sort of system error with its core matrix. We've been trying to re-route it, but it seems impossible!"

"Keep on it, Commander," Janeway answered. "Bridge out."

"What's our course read-out?" asked Chakotay.

"I can't tell. Navigational charts aren't matching up. We're going so fast, even the computer can't tell where we - "

Suddenly, there was a blaze of light. Everything suddenly stopped and seemed to reverse itself.

"- ew erehw llet t'nac retupmoc eht neve ,tsaf os gniog er'eW. pu gnihcta t'neram strahc lanoitagivaN. llet t'nac I."

"?tuo-daer esruoc ruo s'tahW"

Then, there was a second blaring, blazing flash and everything returned to normal. "What's our course read-out?" asked Chakotay.

"I can't tell. Navigational charts aren't matching up. We're going so fast, even the computer can't tell where we - "

As soon as the words escaped Tom Paris' lips, there was a strange feeling of déjà vu, and then every single computer, turbo-lift, viewscreen, hologram and the like on Voyager went completely and totally dead. The entire ship went pitch black and everyone and everything that was not strapped down began to float.

"We've lost all power!" exclaimed Kim, hanging onto his control panel for dear life.

"I suppose that includes gravity and internal communications."

Janeway tapped her comm-badge. Luckily, they were still working. "Janeway to Engineering, what the hell is going on down there?"

"We're not sure, Captain. The Engine burned out the entire power network. It even reached into separately powered systems like turbolift, life-support, and gravity," Torres reported.

"Try and get it back on-line."

"Yes ma'am. Engineering out."

Janeway floated towards Kim and Tuvok. "Work finding a way to get through to the rest of the crew. We need them to be careful so that when we get power to the artificial gravity again, we don't have a lot of injuries."

"Admiral, if it's alright with you, I would like to find a way to get off the bridge. We may need to open up the ship a bit more so people don't get panicked," Tom offered.

"Agreed."

Paris floated over to a nearby access panel and opened it up. He flew into the Jefferies Tube. "Captain Proton to the rescue . . ." he muttered.

***

Scotty opened up a panel on the Engine Core and poked his finger in. "Hmmmm," he hummed. "This is a wee bit of a mess, isn't it?"

"Yes," answered Seven of Nine. "And what do you intend to do about it?"

Scotty felt around the inside of the Engine, then pulled his hand back. He paused, sighed, then proceeded to pound on it.

"WORK YOU DAMN PIECE OF ALIEN GARBAGE! WORK FOR ME! COME ON!"

Much to Scotty's surprise, the Engine Core let out a slight moan and small puff of smoke. Scotty sighed again and floated down to the first level, where Torres was floating next to the Warp Core.

"There's nothing wrong with it," she reported, studying the dark tube. "Nothing."

Just then, the twin doors of Engineering were ripped open. Torres and the other Engineers shined their lights forward. In floated the two Kelvans - Rojan and Kalinda - in their natural forms.

"We're here to help," spoke Rojan through a device in one of his tentacles.

"Right this way," Scotty led, bringing them up to the Engine Core.

"We will require your assistance," they told Scotty and Seven.

"Of course."

"Aye."

***

Tom Paris swam through the corridors, young Miral in his one arm and flashlight in his other. As he passed officers, he told them to get somewhere safe and secure and to float low to the ground, just as they were trained.

Soon enough, Paris arrived in the room where the treaty was being negotiated. They were all looking out their windows.

"Well, am I glad I found . . . wait . . . what is that?" asked Tom.

He joined them all as the entire group starred at a huge, crescent-shaped space station sitting a nearly 100 kilometers away from Voyager. Paris gulped and tapped his comm-badge.

***

"Try it now," said Rojan. Seven of Nine interfaced with the Engine Core and recalled her Borg memories as to how to do it. At the same time, Scotty replaced an isolinear chip and turned around an information nodule.

Seven of Nine snapped her eyes open and pulled out. The Engine Core rumbled to live. It sparked and spat until the entire ship reactivated. Gravity, life-support, weapons, Warp Drive . . . all was restored.

***

"Good job down there," Janeway complimented from the Bridge.

"Captain, I'm reading a very station about 100 kilometers away," Kim reported. "It doesn't match up with anything Kelvan that we've seen."

"Mr. Rojan, if you will please report to the bridge," Janeway ordered.

About ten minutes later, Rojan arrived in his humanoid form. His eyes widened when he saw the station.

"Captain, you must take us away from here!"

"What? Why?" questioned the Admiral.

"Trust me. They call themselves the Musaka. They've already scanned us and know that you have Kelvans on board. They're at war with my people!"

Chakotay, who was the helm, looked to the Admiral. Janeway sighed. "We don't have a choice, do we? Mr. Chakotay, get us out of here. Warp eight."

"Aye Captain."

As Voyager sped through the cosmos of the Andromeda Galaxy, Rojan began to relax a bit. He was a bit anxious to see his home. He had never been to Kelva, but always remembered what his grandfather used to tell him of it. It was tall and isolated, filled with buildings and complexes.

While Rojan was happy to be out in the open, his natural Kelvan reflexes made wanted him to be inside as often as possible. And on Kelva, there was no such thing as 'outdoors.'

"Admiral," addressed Tuvok. "The station it seems . . . to be following us. Matching our speed and course."

Rojan and Janeway stepped quickly over to Tuvok's tactical panel. Just as they did, an explosion rumbled through Voyager. They were opening fire!

"Shields?" asked Janeway.

"They are up, Admiral, but it does not seem to be having much effect."

Rojan studied the sensor read-outs. "There's a nebula some fifteen light-years from here. We should be safe in there. There are high levels of plasma. The Musaka's ships can't handle it."

"No offense, Mr. Rojan, but that was nearly 300 years ago," Janeway responded.

"No. In my time of communication with the Kelvans after Tomar was able to contact them, I received an up-date on this conflict. It remains the same. I recommend you take us in."

Another shot hit Voyager. Janeway, growing frustrated, nodded. "Alright. Chakotay, take us into the nebula."