"Let be be finale of seem."
Stevens, The Emperor of Ice Cream
Part IXHe walked through the winding, darkened streets of the capital making sure that he wasn't followed. The information that he'd gathered that afternoon and downloaded into the tiny PADD that he was carrying was damning, and the actions that he was about to take would count as treason if Kairon's men caught up to him before he delivered the information to Gepek.
The weather was violent that night. The winds were gusting at gale force. Wrapping his coat around his large frame, he continued down the sidewalk, careful to melt into the shadows provided by the streetlights. In the distance, the Industrial Order's main complex loomed. He could only vaugely recall what the building looked like. He knew he had been created here, programmed here, but the only time that he had been permitted to see the exterior was when he was being delivered to The Yard. There, he had served for the last seven years, never leaving the grounds he'd been created to work on, never questioning any orders he'd been given... until the Voyager Project was started.
"G'tan Tumeric?"
"What's it to you?" He asked turning towards the sound of the gruff voice.
"I understand that you have some information for me," the man said, stepping from the darkened doorway of the complex's security gate.
"Gepek?"
"No..." the voice said, softly. The sentence was never completed. A single shot echoed through the narrow alley despite the silencer that had been attached to the barrel.
"Your timing is impeccable, Kenoshia," G'tan said, chuckling. "A moment later and I would have been food for the ovens."
The two of them drug the man's body into the light cast from the street lamp.
"Well...well... would you look at this? Kairon sent his lap dog to play fetch," Kenoshia said, emptying the dead man's pockets. To the local authorities, it would look like a simple robbery gone wrong. To Kairon, the DNA traces left would be enough to identify who had done the deed and send a clear message-- Tumeric wasn't the simpleton that his creators had thought that he was.
A siren blared in the distance. "The authorities are coming. Time to get to the complex, sir."
"In a moment, Kenoshia, I want to capture this moment."
The elder man stood, gazing down at the body. It was a valiant moment for him knowing that he had killed a man- a superior- without being told to do so, and knowing that he would not be cancelled for his transgression filled him with a euphoria he had never experienced before.
"But, sir..." Kenoshia protested. They were standing in direct line of sight from several of the surrounding buildings. Anyone with a window facing this street could clearly make out their faces in the street lamps. Murder was still a punishable offense in the private sector. The Industrial Order would deny all knowledge of their status as members. It had happened before. They'd both been called in from time to time to deal with the accused.
Giving a sidelong gaze to his commanding officer, Kenoshia sighed. They would not be leaving immediately. He took a single step backward and blended into the shadows, scanning the rooflines for any snipers the Industrial Order may have dispatched.
"You and I were once no one. Both easily replaceable. Not much better than the man that served under us. We were just given slightly more training. Something like this... what Kairon did and is doing... it would be enough for us to be cancelled," he said, rising to his feet, meeting Kenoshia's gaze evenly. "Don't you see? We killed a superior, and no one will ever know. We have power over all of them, and I think that it's time for a change.
§Ø§
Tom sat with the small child in his arms so long he had lost all sense of time. Never in his life had he been at such a loss of what to do. Watching her tiny chest rise and fall, her eyes move rapidly in REM sleep just beneath the delicate eyelids, he felt a lump rise in his throat. A child...his child...lay in his arms, and the experience was horribly tainted.
In the distance, the nursery door opened, hesitant footsteps approached the far end of the room where he sat. Even without looking up Tom knew who it was- the same person that sought out lost souls on Voyager.
"Is there anything I can get you, Tom?" The voice said so softly.
"No, Neelix. I'm..." he said, looking down at the child in his arms, "we're both okay," he amended.
"Why don't I believe that?"
Tom's eyebrow shot up at the comment, but he didn't say anything. He acknowledged that everyone had changed since they had first arrived. Neelix was no exception. The Talaxian had fallen into a familiar pattern- do what is necessary to survive. At least he made the attempt to keep friendships alive.
"I wish Kes was here. She'd know what to do...say in this situation."
"Not to mention blow a hole right through the complex," Tom said, chuckling. Neelix joined him.
"She would probably say that I was being selfish. That I should consider Hope before myself because she's a totally helpless innocent in all of this."
"And she would be right."
"But good intentions aren't enough to raise a child. Believe me; I know," Tom said, rising from the rocking chair and returning the child to her crib, amazed that she didn't start crying. He returned to his seat, leaned forward, and raked his hands through his hair.
Anger, boarding on rage, and sadness marred Tom's features as he paused long enough to reign in the emotions coloring his voice. "I grew up in a household where my parents would fight constantly- mostly about me. That was when they were actually home. Most of the time it was just my sisters and I and the housekeeper.
"I'd go over to friend's houses and see how in love their parents were. How proud they were of the awards that they'd won, and I would be so jealous. I wasn't stupid; I knew my parents only stayed together for appearance's sake. That the expected me to make top marks, win all the awards, graduate from Starfleet..." Tom started, burying his face in his hands as tears began to well in his eyes. This was yet another thing he had picked up from his father-- grown men don't cry. They don't reveal any emotion. Emotions are weaknesses that can be used to your enemy's advantage.
"And be exactly like your father-- straight up the ranks, not stopping until you were an admiral." Neelix finished.
"The whole time that I was in that house I promised myself my children wouldn't be raised in a household like that. "
"And you're afraid that you and the Captain would have that sort of relationship?"
Tom paused to smile at Neelix. It was so rare to hear anyone say 'the Captain' anymore. It was even rarer to be in contact with anyone from his old life. To him, Voyager was a distant memory. Experience had taught him to live in the now, not in the past.
"No, Neelix, I know we would. I'm not stupid. I know that she's convinced herself that she loves me."
Tom turned his head towards the Talaxian at his side. "You want to know how I presume to know her mind better than her, right? Simple really. When you spend the better half of your life being thrown in and out of jail, you learn to read people pretty well; it keeps you alive. Another trick I learned from a lifer is to create illusions in your mind, fill it with things that make you happy. Makes the time pass more quickly."
"And you think that she's used that to convince herself that she loves you?" Tom nodded slowly.
"Let's say that this was created by some fantasy. So what? It's only a question of time before we all go. You might as well make sure that you both enjoy the time you have left."
Tom opened his mouth to speak, but was cut off by Neelix. "You are not your father, Tom. There is no doubt in my mind that, if you accept Hope, she will never want for love. You might not give her the perfect life here, but at least there can be some happiness."
"What about Kathryn? She's not going to take this well."
Neelix cleared his throat, wondering how to broach the next gap. "She'll handle it in her own way, but you have to keep all of the other attachments free."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"You have this image in your mind of the perfect family. Maybe you do need to think of what is best for Hope. You and the Captain are close friends..."
"And for her sake we should just keep it at that?"
"You said it yourself-- the Captain is only in love with you because of this illusion. Kairon is right, this would cement it or shatter it. I know you feel something for this child, but is it as strong if not stronger than what you feel for her? Because, if you really love both of them as much as you say you do..."
"Than I have to be willing to love Kathryn enough to just be her friend if that's what she wants," Tom said, his chest tightening at the thought.
"Tell her about Hope with no strings and no pressure attached. The sooner the better."
"And if I don't get the ending that I want...I'll just follow an old lifer's advice."
§Ø§
"Aren't you tired yet, Tanari? We've been at this nearly sixteen hours straight."
The short, slender man turned toward the hologram and offered a weak smile. "I am use to lengthy hours. If I don't keep the time table that my superiors want, I will be killed. Then who would help you?"
"Still...some rest might help. A few hours will clear up your mind. I can keep working."
Tanari shook his head. "You know, I do envy you; you never grow tired. You will never die. The freedoms that you had and have now are those that I have never known."
"How so?"
"I've only been permitted to go outside the building when I was running errands. The last time that I saw the suns... felt them on my skin was six winters ago. I spend most of my time going from one lab to the next, working on one problem and then another."
The Doctor paused and put his scanner down. "When did all of this start? The Farm, The Yard?"
"I am not to speak of such things. No outsiders may know."
"Tanari, in all likelihood I will spend the rest of my days in this lab just as you have. I would like to know...to understand why."
The Kamien nodded and sat on one of the stools near the Doctor's table. By the time his tale was over, the Doctor had wished he had never asked.
§Ø§
It was nearly dawn by the time that Tom left the nursery. He had gained Kairon's permission to take the following day off as the Doctor had explained to him that 'being overly distracted by distressing news lowers productivity rate and raises the likelihood of injury' and that the Doctor had 'spent enough valuable time tending to his wounds.'
His head was down as he rounded yet another corner. For the better part of an hour, he had paced the corridors, delaying his return home. Telling himself he was merely taking time to think things over, he had made the rounds of the living quarters several times, passing by his own and continuing on. It was on one of those trips that he bumped into someone. Muttering an excuse, he started on his path again. He'd only gotten a few feet when a distinct voice called his name.
Disbelieving eyes met. "But you're dead. You both are. We saw them bury you alive."
"Heard the same rumor about you too. Guess it didn't stick," Harry said, laughing. Tom took in the differences in both his friend and the woman beside him. They were both thinner than the last time he had seen them, and their eyes had deep black marks beneath them belying a lack of sleep.
"God, it's good to see you, Tom," B'Elanna said, stepping toward him, trapping him in a tight hug. Tentatively returning it, he felt his chest tighten. Before this place, they had been dating. Now she was a reminder of a life he had all but left behind. In the course of his year on Kamien, he had fallen in love with someone else... someone with whom he now had a child. A family that he was duty bound to protect. How many more surprises was the day going to hold?
"Who else?" He managed. His voice sounded strained to his own ears.
"Tuvok, Neelix, Chakotay, Seven, and a handful of others. Mostly science officers. What about the Captain?" Harry's voice at the last was colored with a little too much hope and emphasis. A sick feeling entered Tom as he forced himself to answer.
"Kathryn's alive. Barely. Nearly lost her a few weeks back when the sewing factory burned down," Tom answered, trying to hide the emotion in his voice and failing. Both of his friends picked up on the hitch in his tone as he recalled the events and the fact that he had used her first name. Swallowing hard, he ventured, "She's not the person you knew. I don't think that anyone is."
"Do you think she'd still be able to act as Captain?" Harry asked. Tom's eyes flew from inspecting his hands to lock on him. His stomach lurched. Oh god. Oh god no. His mind kept repeating the same phrase over hand over.
"She's still Kathryn. Just a little different. Can't say any of us are the same." He explained. The two nodded.
"B'El and I've come up with an escape plan. We've already set it in motion. Just need you to tell her to be ready when the time comes."
The walls were suddenly moving in on him. He was having trouble breathing, concentrating as he felt his life totally and utterly slipping out of control. It was happening too fast. Realizing that they were waiting for an acknowledgement, he nodded slowly wondering if he had kept the look of disbelief off of his face.
B'Elanna looked nervously around them. "We had better be going or we'll be late. We'll find a way to get word to you." After murmuring a quick goodbye, the pair took off in the opposite direction of they came, and Tom continued down the hall to his quarters.
When he arrived home, he found that Kathryn was still asleep. Not wanting to wake her, he silently padded across the living room straight to the sofa. He sank down onto the inviting cushions, untied the laces of his boots, kicked them off beside the coffee table, and pulled the afghan off the back of the sofa to cover himself.
He'd intended on telling her about Hope tonight, but couldn't bring himself to do it. Circumstances had changed drastically. B'Elanna and Harry's newest escape attempt would either get all of them killed, get Hope killed as 'punishment,' or would be successful which would mean loosing Kathryn permanently.
Though he felt bone tired, he couldn't find sleep easily. Torn between telling her about Hope and about possible freedom, he took the night to digest the news before telling her. At least this way one of them would have a decent night's sleep.
§Ø§
Kairon stood behind the wall of monitors in his office. He'd been staring at the main view for so long that his eyes had unfocused. The muted newscast was filled with a special broadcast about the murder victim found just blocks from the Industrial Order's Complex. Without seeing the body, he knew that it was his favored assistant. Although protocol dictated he put in the order for Talken's replacement as well as a sweeper team, he was having trouble making the call. Ten years they had worked together, and, in all that time, Talken had never failed him. He had even gone so far as to worry about his master's health.
Sighing, he raked a hand through his hair. It was a mannerism that he had picked up from watching Alpha Voyager 04--one that his assistant had pointed out on several occasions.
The door to his office slid open, revealing a weary looking Tanari.
"You asked for me, sir?"
He was shaking, and rightly so. Word had spread around the compound that Kairon had locked himself away in his office that morning, refusing all calls. When he was brooding as he was now, he was a dangerous man to be around.
"Talken's clone is in the cryo chamber still?"
"Yes, sir. It just needs a few uploads of data before it is sent to you. It should only take a week or so," the worker said, pausing. "Does this mean that he is no more?"
Kairon motioned from Tanari to come in. Walking with great trepidation, he approached and slid into the seat across from his master.
"It was an intentional move, Talken. Tumeric killed him and is probably planning on releasing information about the compound to the general public."
"But if the private sector finds out how the government has been supplying their needs..."
"They'll be public outrage. The government will be overthrown...blah blah blah....I've seen the scenarios. I even wrote some of the damned things. So much irony in the situation, isn't there, Tanari? They know that we have few resources left and yet they never question where we acquire them. We were created to serve them. To keep them all comfortable without letting them know how. We've done this for years..."
"And if any information was leaked to the public, Project Farm will be cancelled. All documents destroyed. As well as all prototypes."
Kairon nodded, returning his glare to the TV screen behind him. His hand went to the console in front of him where he entered the orders to send out the sweeper team. They would discard of the body and erase all evidence linking him to the Industrial Order as well as take out the two rouge clones.
"Suppose this means that you'll want to step up the Voyager project."
"You have four weeks. No more. Use them wisely."
§Ø§
"Are you sure this is going to work?" B'Elanna asked, looking over the PADD the Doctor had provided her. He nodded gravely at her.
"They all contain a small amount of Kamien DNA. It was necessary for them to use donor eggs in the beginning to create human life. By creating hybrids, they were able to ensure that their replicas were capable of surviving the tougher climate here."
Nodding her understanding, B'Elanna sighed. "I'm going to start embedding the coding into the program tonight. It should only take me a day or so per alogrhythm to hide this. Harry'll back me up laying false trails. I'll need you to cover the camera; put them on a loop like I showed you."
"And what makes you think that they won't notice?"
"Guards are all jumpy. I've heard that they're worried about what Kairon might do now that his favorite muscle got himself killed."
She paused, hiding the PADD in her boot before turning her gaze on the Doctor again.
"Remember to tell Tom about the timetable," B'Elanna started, then off the Doctor's sunken expression added. "What's with him? He seems...off. Least he did when Harry and I ran into him last night."
"Seems that this place has left him with his own demons to deal with."
"You told him about The Replicas, didn't you?"
"In a way, yes."
"Don't tell me he got attached to his other self." B'Elanna said, laughing at her own joke, but stopped abruptly at the Doctor's serious expression.
"There is more going on than you know about, Lieutenant. Tom and Captain Janeway stand to loose the most in this arrangement, and I'm not totally sure they'll survive your little scheme."
B'Elanna opened her mouth to speak, but was cut off when the Doctor raised his hand. "It's not my place to tell you. I will relay the message."
§Ø§