Nintendo Trek: Voyager
Chapter 2
Caretaker Part 2
Captain's log, supplemental: We've discovered a debris field near the Array, with one intact ship and one humanoid life-form. We and the Maquis Arwing are changing course to investigate.
Nabooru strode onto the bridge. Link was at the conn, and the ship was on the view screen. "Hail them." she ordered. The ship vanished, and was replaced by a view of its interior. Not an altogether pleasing view, it resembled the debris field outside. Slowly but surely, the junk began to fall away, revealing the lone occupant of the vessel, who looked like nothing so much as a blue, humanoid hedgehog dressed in ragtag clothing and a pair of red sneakers. He wasn't much to look at. And he was rather ill-tempered as well. "Whoever you are, I found this waste zone first!" Nabooru clears her throat. "We're not interested in this.debris, Mister." The ill-attired hedgehog was surprised. "Sonic. And since you're not interested in my junk, I'm delighted to meet you." "Captain Kathryn Nabooru of the Nintendo Federation vessel Voyager. "An impressive title." Sonic replied with an ingratiating, toothy grin. "I have no idea what it means, but it sounds impressive." Nabooru asked the hedgehog if he knew the area well. "I am famous for knowing it well." he replied. "Do you know anything about the Array?" "Well enough to stay far away from it." Sonic replied. He paused then asked a question. "Were you brought here from another part of the galaxy, whisked over here against your will?" Nabooru nodded. "I take it you've heard this story before." "Oh, millions of times. Well, maybe hundreds. Well, fifty. Would you believe." Sonic trailed off and started over. "The Deku Tree has been bringing ships here for months and." Nabooru interrupted him. "The 'Deku Tree?'" Sonic nodded. "It's what the Kokiri call him. They live on the fifth planet. Did he kidnap any members of your crew?" Nabooru nodded, fully interested now. "It's not the first time." Sonic said, shaking his head. Nabooru considered a moment. "I'd appreciate any help you could give us in finding these Kokiri. They might know where we could find our crewmen." Sonic feigned disinterest. Nabooru realized what he was after. "I assure you, your assistance would not go uncompensated." "There's nothing you could offer me." Sonic replied coyly. "Unless.you wouldn't happen to have any water to spare?" Nabooru grinned. As long as the replicators were online. "Mr. Sonic, if you help us find our missing crewmembers, you can have all the water you want." The hedgehog sputtered and coughed, finally managing to eke out that the proposal sounded reasonable. Nabooru smiled and turned to Zelda. "Go to Transporter Room 2 and beam our new friend aboard. And have his ship tractored into the shuttle bay." "Beam?" Sonic queried, unfamiliar with the term. "We have the technology to transport people or objects from ship to ship instantly, by disassembling your molecules and putting them back together. It's perfectly safe" Nabooru explained, then added, "Is it all right to beam you over?" Sonic held up his hands. One had to admire his willingness to try something so revolutionary. Despite the captain's explanation, he was amazed to find himself standing aboard Voyager. He checked himself to make sure all his body parts were still there. He looked at Zelda, standing at the transporter controls. "Astonishing! You Federations must be an advanced culture." "The Federation contains many cultures." Zelda explained. "I am Shiekah." "Sonic! Good to meet you!" The amiable hedgehog wrapped the Shiekah in a big bear hug. Amazed at all the shiny stuff around him, Sonic began asking question after question about there functions. "It would take to long to explain right now. We should be getting you to your quarters. And perhaps a bath." "A what?" asked Sonic
In the green, sterile-looking room, Ensign Luigi sat on his bio-bed, head in his hands. As another energy burst from the array struck the surface, the Maquis next to him stirred. She looked a little less postal than last time, but she still had a caged animal look on her face. "It's okay." Luigi said, placing a restraining hand on her shoulder. "Who are you?" she demanded. "Kim. Luigi Kim. I'm an ensign aboard the Federation ship Voyager. I was kidnapped from the Array, just like you were." "And what was Nintendo Fleet doing near the Array?" "Looking for you, actually." Luigi admitted "You were trying to capture us!" "Yeah, consider yourself captured. Must have left my phaser in my other pants, though." "Not funny." The half-Kremling paced the floor, impatience and anger on her face. Snarling, she started pounding on the door. "Do you want to be sedated again?" Luigi asked. She growled, and clenched her fists. "You're right, Federation. It's my Kremling side. Its hard to control sometimes." "What's your name, Maquis?" Luigi asked, cautiously and kindly. "Malon. Malon Torres" Now properly introduced, the two sat down to wallow in their individual misery. They didn't have much time though. The door opened, and one of the green-suited men appeared, carrying two sets of clothing, and two pairs of sensible shoes. "Why are we being held here?" Malon growled. Luigi put his hand on her shoulder, but she was holding herself back well enough. "You aren't prisoners. You're honored guests. We're just worried about your medical condition." the blonde man replied. "Our caretaker, the Great Deku Tree sent you here. As long as you aren't violent, you're free to move around as you please." "What are these lumps on my arms and chest?" Luigi demanded, pointing to one of the disfiguring marks as a case-in-point. "We don't know." And as far as Malon and Luigi could tell, he was sincere.
As they moved through the tall corridors, Luigi was the first to notice. "We're underground!" he exclaimed "Indeed." replied their guide. "We Kokiri have been living underground for 500 generations, ever since the Warming began. Before then we lived on the surface, but the Warming turned it into a desert. The Deku Tree opened a path that led us into this natural underground forest, and has provided generously for us ever since." As they walked along, Luigi and Malon noticed that they were drawing a crowd. The Kokiri were dressed plainly and sparsely. Green dresses and tunics mostly. Their guide asked them to forgive the gawking. "We have never seen the Great Deku Tree. When he sends people to us, it is a cause for curiosity." He brought them to a food processor. Two bowls of something resembling soup appeared and he handed them to Luigi and Malon. "Does the Deku Tree provide your meals as well?" Luigi inquired. "Yes. He designed and built this forest city for us after the Warming. The food processors provide nutritional supplements every 4.1 intervals. Its not the more exotic stuff the young folks crave these days, but it keeps you healthy." Luigi and Malon sat down and started eating. The guide then gave them the bad news. "You aren't the first to be sent here. I think the Deku Tree sent you for the protection of your crews, to prevent the spread of the disease. Of all those brought here.none have survived."
As Voyager and the Maquis Arwing approached the fifth planet, Zelda stopped at Sonic's room and hit the controls to open the door. The room had been trashed up pretty well. Sonic's patched-together clothing was strewn across the floor, and Zelda noted with particular distaste the pile of mostly eaten food in the corner. Hearing a strain of off-key singing from behind another door, she opened it...to find Sonic happily burbling in the bathtub. Zelda turned her head away, as much for her own comfort as Sonic's privacy. For his part, Sonic was loving every minute. He couldn't say enough about the freely-available food and water. "All we had for hygiene was a good sand scrub." he said, tossing a glass full of water at his face. He didn't care that only a fraction of it reached his mouth. Zelda reminded him that they needed his help. The hedgehog nodded, and stepped out of the bath, wrapping a towel around himself quickly. He suggested bringing vats of water for barter. Zelda nodded. Sonic had more questions though. "Will the replicators make clothing too? "Yes." Zelda replied. "Would they make me a uniform like yours?" "They most certainly will not."
The surface of the Kokiri home world was blistering hot, and in dire need of some sort of moisturizer. The air shimmered, and the away team appeared: Three Nintendo Fleet, (Nabooru, Zelda, and Link.) one Maquis, (Fox.) and Sonic, back in his leisure suit. As they surveyed their surroundings, they noticed a camp-like settlement nearby. It was a dirty, squalid place, and none too inviting. Link wondered aloud why anyone would want to live here. "Good ore deposits for mining." Sonic explained. "Do the Kokiri do much trading?" asked Nabooru. "These are the Moblins-Ogla." Sonic corrected. Nabooru spun on the hedgehog. She wasn't in the mood for surprises. "The Moblins are the dominant force in this area, divided into sects across various worlds. Some have ore, some have food, some have water. They trade- and kill-for what they need." "You said the Kokiri had our people!" Nabooru hissed. But they had reached the first of the Moblin settlers. Sonic waved his arms and greeted them warmly. The Moblins pulled the hedgehog off his feet and started carrying him to the settlement. It didn't look like a hero's welcome. "I'd like to speak to your Maje, Ingo!" Sonic chirped, as though he was a guest of honor. The Moblins ignored him and slammed him against the wall, weapons trained on the hedgehogs furry blue chest. Looking off to the side, he noticed Maje Ingo, a Moblin bigger, stronger, and with a crazier hairdo than the rest. He stood impassively, letting the fire squad work its will. Until, that is, Sonic said the magic word. "Water! I've got water! Enough to pay my debt and more!" Suddenly intrigued, Ingo called off the lynching. Sonic indicated the Nintendo Fleet officers. "These people have technology that can create water." Ingo strode over to them. Link produced a canteen and handed it to the Maje, who uncorked it, smelled it, tasted it, then drunk the whole thing in one big gulp. "More?" he half-asked, half-demanded. Nabooru smiled and tapped her combadge. "Energize." Two vats of water, each about as big as a dorm room, materialized in front of the Moblins, who were awed by this wizardry. "We need your help." Nabooru explained. "We're trying to find the Kokiri." At her words, a young Kokiri girl appeared in the shadows. Her elfish ears and close cropped green hair did not conceal her black eye and split lip. She looked sad. The Moblins had not treated her kindly. Ingo scoffed at Nabooru. "You can make water from thin air, and you need our help? They only live nine years and they make lousy servants. Look at her. We caught her when she wandered to the surface. Fragile as glass." "The surface?" Nabooru queried. "The 'Deku Tree' gave them access to the only water on the planet-two miles below the surface." explained the Moblin Maje. "The Deku Tree kidnapped two of our crewmen. We're trying to get them back." "Perhaps we could question the girl about how to reach the underground settlement?" Sonic interjected. "I've tried every method I know to persuade her to talk. It's a waste of time." Ingo replied. Sonic suggested that he trade the Kokiri for some more water. Ingo was no fool. He knew water was cheap compared to a technology that could make it. He demanded it. Nabooru explained that it was integrated into her ship's systems, and could not be removed. Ingo snarled and stepped forward, ready to take what he wanted by force. Then Sonic put a weapon to his head. He pulled the Kokiri girl to him. He fired on the water containers, distracting the Moblins, who busied themselves trying to save the precious fluid. Sonic turned to Nabooru, and suggested they get the hell out of there. She wasted no time, though she was seething. Imagine her surprise when they stepped off the transporter platform and heard Sonic cooing to the Kokiri. "My dear Saria, didn't I tell you I'd rescue you?"
In the Kokiri settlement, Luigi and Malon leaned against the wall of a darkened corridor. Though Luigi tried to assure Malon that Nabooru would find them, she wasn't in an optimistic mood. She felt a twinge in her neck, but she was too proud to accept either pity or assistance. A young Kokiri woman approached from the shadows. "Are you in pain?" Malon leaped into an attack position. "Are we still being followed? Are we prisoners after all?" she demanded. The Kokiri assured her that they were not prisoners. She had just brought something that might help Malon. She handed the half-Kremling woman a vial containing a mossy substance. From this young Kokiri, Luigi and Malon learned that not everyone agreed with the Kokiri leaders. A break-off colony existed that wanted to be more self-sufficient. They grew their own food, and had found the medical properties of some plants. The breakaways were worried about the Deku Tree's strange behavior-in addition to abducting people and sending them to the Kokiri, he had sent them far more energy then they needed; they had a surplus that would last them another five years at least. While the Kokiri leaders were too enamored of the Deku Tree to question his motives, the breakaways believed the time was coming when they would have to make it on their own. She also mentioned that they had found the 500 year old tunnels that had brought the Kokiri from the surface to the underground. They weren't safe, and they had plenty of technological barriers, but some had made it out. She was not inclined to tell Luigi and Malon where these tunnels were, though. "Conserve your strength for now." she urged, then left, leaving them with a renewed sense of hope.
On Voyager the Holodoc tended to Saria's wounds while Zelda, Fox, and Nabooru glared at Sonic. "If you had been more forthcoming," Zelda was saying, "We could have anticipated your irrational behavior." "Hey, we got out of there, didn't we?" Sonic shot back. He was used to making alliances just long enough to get what he wanted or needed. On the biobed, Saria sat up and begged them not to be too hard on Sonic. The Doctor seconded that. "This is a sickbay, not a conference room. Everyone except the patient will leave. Now." Nabooru looked past him. "Computer, deactivate the Emergency Medical Hologram." The Doctor didn't have time to protest before he disappeared. Saria continued her apology. "I should never have gone to the surface. I'm too curious. I'm told it's my worst failing." Sonic grinned at her. "I think it's a wonderful quality." Nabooru's anger drained a bit and she asked if Saria would help them find their missing crewmembers. "Ingo was right. There's no way down there." Saria replied. "The tunnel I came up in was sealed." "We don't have to use tunnels." Nabooru explained. "We can beam right into the city. We just need directional assistance." Zelda picked up there, explaining that their sub-surface scans had not been successful so far. The Deku Tree, he believed, had taken measures to prevent them from finding the city. Saria suggested that there might be security breaches where the tunnels had decayed. Nabooru nodded to Zelda, and ordered her to scan for such breaches as a first step. Sonic spoke up. "Well, it seems Saria's given you the help you need. We'll be going now" "No, we won't." replied Saria. "These people saved me. We owe it to them to help them." "I saved you!" Sonic explained. "With their help." Saria clarified. "It would be wrong not to help them." His concern for her giving way for his eagerness to please, Sonic nodded grudgingly.
Saria led Nabooru, Zelda, Link, and Fox into a small Kokiri village, probably one of the Kokiri colonies. One of them rushed over and embraced her-much to Sonic's anger. It was most likely a platonic relationship though. "How did you make it back?" he asked Saria indicated the away team, and explained that they had rescued her from the Moblins. "We're looking for two of their crewmembers." she continued. "They were sent here by the Deku Tree. Do you know where they're being kept?" "The Central Clinic." "Can you take us there?" Saria asked. {NO!} The voice spoke in their heads. Two new figures stepped from the shadows-by the looks of their bearings, they were probably Kokiri elders. "They're not telepathic, Mido. Speak aloud." Saria chided. "We don't mean to be rude." said Mido. "But they cannot go." A brief philosophical argument ensued. Mido complained of Saria's heretical views and actions-case-in-point, going to the surface. "The Kokiri have become sheep." Saria replied. "Domesticated, and dependent on the Deku Tree's attention. Our ancestors had their full mental faculties- our telepathy is but a fraction of that power." "You are speaking of apocryphal legends." responded Mido. "The tales of our ancestor's powers are greatly exaggerated." "I have seen the sun, basked in it. The Deku Tree's generosity is not worth its denial." Mido tried one more time, but Saria blew him off. "I'm going." she said. "Who's with me?" Not a few volunteered. Nabooru was impressed. She felt she was in good hands.
Armed with flashlights and digging tool, Luigi and Malon hiked up to one of the caverns that would take them to the surface. It was a daunting prospect- two miles straight up, and the ladder's weren't in the best of repair. Seeing what was ahead of them, Malon inhaled sharply. "Let's go." she said after a brief pause. They scaled the steps for a while before Luigi collapsed. Malon tried to shame him back onto his feet, but it didn't work. Finally, she sat down herself, a little relieved despite her eagerness for freedom. "Perhaps I'd be doing better with Kremling blood." Luigi joked with a half- smile. "Believe me, it's more trouble than it's worth." Luigi laughed bitterly. "You know, I've spent my whole life training for Nintendo fleet. And on my first mission, I'm going to die." "We're not dead yet." Malon replied. "I know a few things Old Sneezy never taught in his survival class." "Old Sneezy?" "Commander Falcon. I think he was allergic to everything." Luigi was amazed. "You went to the Academy?" "I made it to my second year before a.mutual.decision was made that I should leave." explained Malon, a hint of embarrassment in her voice. Luigi grinned weakly. "I never liked Commander Falcon." They got moving again.
As Nabooru and the rest of the away team rode down an escalator to the clinic, they noted that the sounds of energy arriving were becoming much more rapidly. Then it stopped altogether. A crewman contacted them, explaining that the Deku Tree had stopped sending energy, and was now realigning for something. "Keep me informed. Nabooru out." They reached the clinic, to find that the doctors had not seen Luigi or Malon for hours. "If they want to escape to the surface, they'll try the same thing I did.going out through a tunnel." "Right. You, Sonic, and Link go check out the tunnels. I'll talk with the doctors and see if they know anything." The ground shook. Nabooru tapped her combadge and asked for an explanation. "The Array is firing on the surface. I think it's trying to seal off the energy conduits." Zelda spoke up. "I believe I have enough information for a hypothesis, Captain. The Deku Tree is dying." Nabooru started. Zelda continued, explaining her reasoning. "The Array has sent the Kokiri enough energy to survive five years on their own. Now he is sealing the conduits so the Moblins cannot use them to access the underground. He's been caring for these people for a thousand years, and kept referring to a 'debt that can never be repaid.' Also, he referred specifically and repeatedly to running out of time. It's a logical assumption." It was also a disconcerting one. "If he dies, how the hell are we supposed to get home?" Nabooru wondered aloud.
Link, Sonic, and Saria arrived at one of the tunnels. Link checked his tricorder. "They're in this one." He hailed Nabooru with the news. She told him to call for transport once they found the missing crewmembers. She then called for the immediate beam- out of herself, Zelda, and Fox. "Sorry, we can't. The Deku Tree's fire has irradiated the security breaches. You'll have to get to the surface before we can beam you up." Nabooru cut the channel. "We'll have to follow Link into the tunnels and get out the old-fashioned way. Let's go." Meanwhile, Link, Sonic, and Saria had found Luigi and Malon. They didn't look well. "Took you long enough." Luigi coughed. "Hey, you think I'm going to let down the only friend I've got?" Link replied. "What makes you think I'm your friend?" Luigi replied, but it was a weak protest. Link shook his head and pulled Luigi up. Saria assured them she knew how to breach the barrier and they started climbing with all speed. Finally they reached the barrier, a golden shower of electroforce. Saria went through first, explaining "Whatever you do, don't touch it-it'll burn your skin right off." They nodded and followed her through. Nabooru and the rest followed not so far behind, managing to keep their footing despite the hammering the planet was taking. Past the barrier, Link believed he had found the closest to the surface they would get. With Sonic's assistance, he blew a hole in the roof and the two of them, Saria, Luigi, and Malon climbed onto the surface. Hailing Voyager he asked if they could lock onto them. "We can.but we're only getting five signals." "The rest are still below the barrier." Link explained He noticed a blast coming in, not close, but big enough not to matter. "Get down!" he yelled. Below the surface, the ladders began to shake and collapse. Heavy things start falling. Link tried to hail Nabooru, but failed. Hailing Voyager, he told them to beam up everybody except himself. Sonic, knowing Link's intentions inquired, "What the hell are you thinking?" Link said nothing. Sonic sighed. "Well, if a fool needs company." he turned to Saria, putting on his best brave face. "Take care of them. I'll be back soon." "Make that three to beam up. Lock on and beam them up now." Saria, Luigi, and Malon disappeared.
Below the surface, the brief avalanche had ended. Fox howled in pain. Nabooru seemed all right, but Zelda looked dazed. "My leg is broken." Fox told Nabooru. "Hold on." she told him. They didn't have long to wait. Link and Sonic arrived. Link ordered the hedgehog to help Nabooru with Zelda while he got Fox. Fox was in no mood to be got, least of all by Link. "Get out of here." he barked. "If you try to save me, most likely we'll both die." "Maybe so," Link replied with a twinkle in his eyes. "But if I save you, your life belongs to me. Isn't that an Indian custom?" "Wrong tribe." Fox grunted. "I don't believe you." Link replied. He scrambled down and pulled the Maquis up. Fox still didn't seem to be helping much. Link stated the obvious. "You'd rather die than have me rescue you." Fox finally gave in to the reality of the situation. "Fine, be a fool. At least I'll have the satisfaction of watching you go with me." He wrapped his arms around Link's neck and they started stumbling towards the exit. "Don't you have some Indian trick where you can turn into a bird and fly us to the exit?" Link asked. "You're too heavy." The two of them stumbled out the exit a millisecond before the entire section collapsed behind them.
Voyager and the Maquis Arwing were ducking weapons fire from the Array. All were safely aboard. Fox's leg had been healed, and the resourceful Light Holodoc had cured Luigi and Malon of the disease. The bridge hailed sickbay, reporting two Moblin ships closing on the Array. Nabooru ordered an intercept course and headed to the bridge. Fox and Malon, still technically to weak to be discharged, left anyway, much to the Doctor's annoyance. "Is the crew always this difficult?" he asked to no one in particular. "I don't know, Doc." Luigi replied. "It's my first mission." He left for the bridge, leaving the Holodoc alone in sickbay. "Doesn't anyone know to turn me off when they leave?" he asked dejectedly.
The bridge was hopping when Nabooru, Link, and Luigi arrived. The Moblins hailed them. Ingo appeared on screen, asking what they were doing near the Array. "We're trying to get home. We were about to transport aboard to see if it could be arranged." Nabooru replied. "I can't allow you to do that." Ingo said. "We have no dispute with you." "We have a dispute with anyone who dares to challenge us." "We have no intention of challenging you." responded Nabooru. "And I have no intention of letting you aboard the Array." Nabooru tried to be reasonable, but the Maje cut her off in mid-sentence. She growled. "That's how you want to play it? Fine. Welcome to my playground." A firefight ensued. The Moblin's less advanced weaponry didn't seem to be doing much damage, but they were persistent, and might yet pierce Voyager's shields. Nabooru hailed the Maquis Arwing. "Can you keep them busy for a while?" Fox barked his affirmative. "Good. Zelda and I are going over to the Array. Link, you have the conn." Link gulped, stuttered 'Yes ma'am' and took his station.
Aboard the Array, Nabooru and Zelda split up. Nabooru headed for the barn where she could hear the Banjo Man/Deku Tree's music. As she entered, he looked up with a weak grin. "Thou art nothing if not persistent." "We need you to send us back." "I cannot. I hath barely enough strength to finish my work." "Sealing the energy conduits?" asked Nabooru. "If I don't the Moblins wilt steal the water. It matters not. In five years, they wilt run out of water and be forced unto the surface. They wilt not be able to survive." "Is that the debt that can never be repaid? Turning the planet into a desert?" The Deku Tree nodded weakly. "We art explorers from another galaxy. We had no idea our technology would be so destructive unto their atmosphere. Two of us were chosen to stay here and take care of them." "There's another here like you?" "Not anymore. She went off to seek more exciting things." "Why have you been kidnapping people and infecting them with fatal diseases?" Nabooru asked. "It was not a disease!" the Deku Tree protested. "I was looking for a compatible bio-molecular structure." Realization dawned on Nabooru. "You were trying to procreate!" "Yes. I needed someone to replace me, to continue caring for the Kokiri." Nabooru leaned over to the Deku Tree. "Did you ever consider letting them care for themselves?" "They art children!" the Deku Tree scoffed. "Children have to grow up sometime." Nabooru pointed out, then lectured him on something he should already know-explorers got that way by treading through difficulties, overcoming adversities. "They have a better shot at survival than you think." Luigi hailed her. "We've got problems here."
The Moblins didn't just have the tiny ships that had been attacking Voyager initially. They had brought in a behemoth ship, launching volleys at the Federation starship. "The Moblins got backup." Luigi explained in a classic understatement. "Just give me a few minutes here." replied Nabooru. On the Arwing, Fox reads off Voyager's damage report. Their weapons array is down. Malon told him that neither ship had enough firepower to stop the colossal Moblin vessel. Fox had his own plan to defeat it, but it involved evacuating the crew to Voyager and driving the Arwing right into the Moblin monstrosity. Malon didn't like it, but she agreed without argument. Fox hailed Voyager and explained his plan. Link acknowledged, but made note that this didn't make them even. "Your butt is still mine, Tonto." "Bite me, kemosabe." Fox whispered, and aimed for the big vessel. Malon and the other Maquis arrived aboard Voyager, and watched as both ships began getting the hell pounded out of each other. Link started to order a beamout, but McCloud refused. And he dove closer as blast after blast hit his ship, until he was too close for comfort. "NOW!" he yelled, and dematerialized seconds before the Arwing collided with the Moblin ship. Explosions rocked the behemoth, and it fell towards the Array.
Zelda returned with a report. She had found the system that could take them home. But it would take several hours to perform. "Unless you help us." Nabooru told the Deku Tree. He refused. "I cannot let the Moblins have this installation. I hath activated a self-destruct. Get back to thy vessel." The Moblin vessel slammed into the Array, knocking out the self destruct-as well as the holo-generator. The barn flashed out of existence, as did the illusion of the Banjo Man. As the real look of Array appeared, the Deku Tree's true form was also revealed-a tall, treelike entity. Its leaves were wilting, and it looked generally unhealthy. Nabooru hailed Link and asked for an explanation. He noted the destruction of the Moblin ship and its collision with the Array. The Deku Tree, his voice fading, pleaded with Nabooru not to let the Moblins have the Array. As he talked, he withered and shrunk, until he was nothing but a piece of petrified wood. Nabooru hesitated, then picked it up, wondering what she should do. Zelda argued that to destroy the Array or assist the Kokiri further would violate the Prime Directive, and alter the balance of power in the sector. "We didn't ask to be involved." Nabooru replied. "But we are, and we can't just walk away."
Zelda and Nabooru exited the turbolift onto the bridge. She ordered Zelda to power up the tricobalt Power Bombs, then hailed Ingo, warning him to get away from the Array, as she intended to nuke it out of existence. "You can't do that!" he protested. "Watch me." she replied, cutting off the transmission. Malon did not like the idea. "You have no right to destroy that thing! We need it to get home!" Nabooru leveled her gaze on the half-Kremling. "I'm aware you have families and loved ones back home. So do I. But we'll have to find another way home. I will not trade the lives of the Kokiri away for our convenience." Malon wasn't satisfied. "Who do you think you are to make this decision for us?" Fox grabbed her and whirled her around. Malon repeated the question. "She's the captain." he replied softly. Zelda reported the Power Bombs were online. Link reported they were in position. Nabooru took a deep breath. "Fire." Three Power Bombs tumbled through space and struck the Array. By the time the fireworks subsided, there wasn't enough of the Array to gather for souvenirs. The bridge crew watched in silence. Their best hope for getting back to the Alpha Quadrant had just gone up in a blaze of glory. Luigi spoke first. "Incoming message from the lead Moblin vessel." Ingo appeared on screen. "You have made an enemy today." he said simply, then ended the call. Zelda reported the Moblin ships were retreating. They had declared their enmity, but they knew better then to challenge Nabooru right at the moment.
In her quarters, Nabooru stared out into the new stars. A picture of her husband and her dog sat on her desk. The door chimed, and Link entered. "You asked to see me, Captain?" Nabooru sat down. "You've got a problem, Mr. Link." "Oh really?" "I'm making the Maquis part of the crew. They sacrificed their ship to save us. It seemed the reasonable thing to do." "Will I be assigned a bodyguard?" Link asked, half-smirking. "You've already got one. Mr. McCloud seems to think his life is in your hands. He'll be taking responsibility for your safety." Link grinned. "I'm going to enjoy this." "Don't be so sure." replied Nabooru. "I'm making Fox my first officer. Everybody on board will be answerable to him. Including the Lieutenant assigned to the conn." Link was confused until he let her tone sink in. "Me?" Nabooru switched to her official voice. "I have entered into the ships log that on this gamedate, I'm awarding a field commission of Lieutenant to Mr. Link Paris." She stood and extended her hand. "Congratulations." Link's mouth worked furiously, but nothing came out. Finally he composed himself and said, "For the first time in my life, I don't know what to say." "You've earned this, Link. I just wish your father were here to hear the good news." "He will. When we get back." Link replied, beaming from ear to ear. Link was hardly out the door when Sonic and Saria entered. They're eager to speak with her. "We've supplied your ship with water, Sonic. You're ready to go." Sonic thanked her, but he had a request. "We'd like to stay." "We aren't a passenger ship, Mr. Sonic." "We wouldn't be passengers." Saria replied. "We'd be colleagues." "You're new here. We're natives." Sonic added, picking up the ball. "It'll be our job to provide you with what you need. You need a guide? I'm a guide. You need supplies? I know where to get them and who to talk to. You need a cook? I can whip up a batch of brownies that will make you change your religion. It's my job to think of answers to questions you don't even know you have yet, and the first thing you need is me." "We want to be part of your journey, Captain." Saria chimed in. Nabooru paused. They had both proved their worth in their short association. She nodded her approval.
The bridge was crowded. Everyone was at their stations. Nabooru strode up to the captain's chair, and announced the purpose of the adventure ahead. "We're alone. In an uncharted part of the galaxy. We've already made some friends here, and some enemies. We have no idea of the dangers we're going to face. But one thing is clear. Both crews are going to have to work together if we're to survive. That's why Commander Fox and I have agreed that this should be one crew...a Nintendo fleet crew. And as the only Nintendo Fleet vessel assigned to the Delta Quadrant, we'll continue to follow our directive, to seek out new worlds and explore space. But our primary goal is clear. Even at maximum speeds, it would take 75 years to reach the Federation. But I'm not willing to settle for that. There's another entity like the Deku Tree out there somewhere who has the ability to get us there a lot faster. We'll be looking for her. And we'll be looking for wormholes, spatial rifts, or new technologies to help us. Somewhere, along this journey, we'll find a way back." She turned to Link. "Mr. Link. Set a course.for home."
Chapter 2
Caretaker Part 2
Captain's log, supplemental: We've discovered a debris field near the Array, with one intact ship and one humanoid life-form. We and the Maquis Arwing are changing course to investigate.
Nabooru strode onto the bridge. Link was at the conn, and the ship was on the view screen. "Hail them." she ordered. The ship vanished, and was replaced by a view of its interior. Not an altogether pleasing view, it resembled the debris field outside. Slowly but surely, the junk began to fall away, revealing the lone occupant of the vessel, who looked like nothing so much as a blue, humanoid hedgehog dressed in ragtag clothing and a pair of red sneakers. He wasn't much to look at. And he was rather ill-tempered as well. "Whoever you are, I found this waste zone first!" Nabooru clears her throat. "We're not interested in this.debris, Mister." The ill-attired hedgehog was surprised. "Sonic. And since you're not interested in my junk, I'm delighted to meet you." "Captain Kathryn Nabooru of the Nintendo Federation vessel Voyager. "An impressive title." Sonic replied with an ingratiating, toothy grin. "I have no idea what it means, but it sounds impressive." Nabooru asked the hedgehog if he knew the area well. "I am famous for knowing it well." he replied. "Do you know anything about the Array?" "Well enough to stay far away from it." Sonic replied. He paused then asked a question. "Were you brought here from another part of the galaxy, whisked over here against your will?" Nabooru nodded. "I take it you've heard this story before." "Oh, millions of times. Well, maybe hundreds. Well, fifty. Would you believe." Sonic trailed off and started over. "The Deku Tree has been bringing ships here for months and." Nabooru interrupted him. "The 'Deku Tree?'" Sonic nodded. "It's what the Kokiri call him. They live on the fifth planet. Did he kidnap any members of your crew?" Nabooru nodded, fully interested now. "It's not the first time." Sonic said, shaking his head. Nabooru considered a moment. "I'd appreciate any help you could give us in finding these Kokiri. They might know where we could find our crewmen." Sonic feigned disinterest. Nabooru realized what he was after. "I assure you, your assistance would not go uncompensated." "There's nothing you could offer me." Sonic replied coyly. "Unless.you wouldn't happen to have any water to spare?" Nabooru grinned. As long as the replicators were online. "Mr. Sonic, if you help us find our missing crewmembers, you can have all the water you want." The hedgehog sputtered and coughed, finally managing to eke out that the proposal sounded reasonable. Nabooru smiled and turned to Zelda. "Go to Transporter Room 2 and beam our new friend aboard. And have his ship tractored into the shuttle bay." "Beam?" Sonic queried, unfamiliar with the term. "We have the technology to transport people or objects from ship to ship instantly, by disassembling your molecules and putting them back together. It's perfectly safe" Nabooru explained, then added, "Is it all right to beam you over?" Sonic held up his hands. One had to admire his willingness to try something so revolutionary. Despite the captain's explanation, he was amazed to find himself standing aboard Voyager. He checked himself to make sure all his body parts were still there. He looked at Zelda, standing at the transporter controls. "Astonishing! You Federations must be an advanced culture." "The Federation contains many cultures." Zelda explained. "I am Shiekah." "Sonic! Good to meet you!" The amiable hedgehog wrapped the Shiekah in a big bear hug. Amazed at all the shiny stuff around him, Sonic began asking question after question about there functions. "It would take to long to explain right now. We should be getting you to your quarters. And perhaps a bath." "A what?" asked Sonic
In the green, sterile-looking room, Ensign Luigi sat on his bio-bed, head in his hands. As another energy burst from the array struck the surface, the Maquis next to him stirred. She looked a little less postal than last time, but she still had a caged animal look on her face. "It's okay." Luigi said, placing a restraining hand on her shoulder. "Who are you?" she demanded. "Kim. Luigi Kim. I'm an ensign aboard the Federation ship Voyager. I was kidnapped from the Array, just like you were." "And what was Nintendo Fleet doing near the Array?" "Looking for you, actually." Luigi admitted "You were trying to capture us!" "Yeah, consider yourself captured. Must have left my phaser in my other pants, though." "Not funny." The half-Kremling paced the floor, impatience and anger on her face. Snarling, she started pounding on the door. "Do you want to be sedated again?" Luigi asked. She growled, and clenched her fists. "You're right, Federation. It's my Kremling side. Its hard to control sometimes." "What's your name, Maquis?" Luigi asked, cautiously and kindly. "Malon. Malon Torres" Now properly introduced, the two sat down to wallow in their individual misery. They didn't have much time though. The door opened, and one of the green-suited men appeared, carrying two sets of clothing, and two pairs of sensible shoes. "Why are we being held here?" Malon growled. Luigi put his hand on her shoulder, but she was holding herself back well enough. "You aren't prisoners. You're honored guests. We're just worried about your medical condition." the blonde man replied. "Our caretaker, the Great Deku Tree sent you here. As long as you aren't violent, you're free to move around as you please." "What are these lumps on my arms and chest?" Luigi demanded, pointing to one of the disfiguring marks as a case-in-point. "We don't know." And as far as Malon and Luigi could tell, he was sincere.
As they moved through the tall corridors, Luigi was the first to notice. "We're underground!" he exclaimed "Indeed." replied their guide. "We Kokiri have been living underground for 500 generations, ever since the Warming began. Before then we lived on the surface, but the Warming turned it into a desert. The Deku Tree opened a path that led us into this natural underground forest, and has provided generously for us ever since." As they walked along, Luigi and Malon noticed that they were drawing a crowd. The Kokiri were dressed plainly and sparsely. Green dresses and tunics mostly. Their guide asked them to forgive the gawking. "We have never seen the Great Deku Tree. When he sends people to us, it is a cause for curiosity." He brought them to a food processor. Two bowls of something resembling soup appeared and he handed them to Luigi and Malon. "Does the Deku Tree provide your meals as well?" Luigi inquired. "Yes. He designed and built this forest city for us after the Warming. The food processors provide nutritional supplements every 4.1 intervals. Its not the more exotic stuff the young folks crave these days, but it keeps you healthy." Luigi and Malon sat down and started eating. The guide then gave them the bad news. "You aren't the first to be sent here. I think the Deku Tree sent you for the protection of your crews, to prevent the spread of the disease. Of all those brought here.none have survived."
As Voyager and the Maquis Arwing approached the fifth planet, Zelda stopped at Sonic's room and hit the controls to open the door. The room had been trashed up pretty well. Sonic's patched-together clothing was strewn across the floor, and Zelda noted with particular distaste the pile of mostly eaten food in the corner. Hearing a strain of off-key singing from behind another door, she opened it...to find Sonic happily burbling in the bathtub. Zelda turned her head away, as much for her own comfort as Sonic's privacy. For his part, Sonic was loving every minute. He couldn't say enough about the freely-available food and water. "All we had for hygiene was a good sand scrub." he said, tossing a glass full of water at his face. He didn't care that only a fraction of it reached his mouth. Zelda reminded him that they needed his help. The hedgehog nodded, and stepped out of the bath, wrapping a towel around himself quickly. He suggested bringing vats of water for barter. Zelda nodded. Sonic had more questions though. "Will the replicators make clothing too? "Yes." Zelda replied. "Would they make me a uniform like yours?" "They most certainly will not."
The surface of the Kokiri home world was blistering hot, and in dire need of some sort of moisturizer. The air shimmered, and the away team appeared: Three Nintendo Fleet, (Nabooru, Zelda, and Link.) one Maquis, (Fox.) and Sonic, back in his leisure suit. As they surveyed their surroundings, they noticed a camp-like settlement nearby. It was a dirty, squalid place, and none too inviting. Link wondered aloud why anyone would want to live here. "Good ore deposits for mining." Sonic explained. "Do the Kokiri do much trading?" asked Nabooru. "These are the Moblins-Ogla." Sonic corrected. Nabooru spun on the hedgehog. She wasn't in the mood for surprises. "The Moblins are the dominant force in this area, divided into sects across various worlds. Some have ore, some have food, some have water. They trade- and kill-for what they need." "You said the Kokiri had our people!" Nabooru hissed. But they had reached the first of the Moblin settlers. Sonic waved his arms and greeted them warmly. The Moblins pulled the hedgehog off his feet and started carrying him to the settlement. It didn't look like a hero's welcome. "I'd like to speak to your Maje, Ingo!" Sonic chirped, as though he was a guest of honor. The Moblins ignored him and slammed him against the wall, weapons trained on the hedgehogs furry blue chest. Looking off to the side, he noticed Maje Ingo, a Moblin bigger, stronger, and with a crazier hairdo than the rest. He stood impassively, letting the fire squad work its will. Until, that is, Sonic said the magic word. "Water! I've got water! Enough to pay my debt and more!" Suddenly intrigued, Ingo called off the lynching. Sonic indicated the Nintendo Fleet officers. "These people have technology that can create water." Ingo strode over to them. Link produced a canteen and handed it to the Maje, who uncorked it, smelled it, tasted it, then drunk the whole thing in one big gulp. "More?" he half-asked, half-demanded. Nabooru smiled and tapped her combadge. "Energize." Two vats of water, each about as big as a dorm room, materialized in front of the Moblins, who were awed by this wizardry. "We need your help." Nabooru explained. "We're trying to find the Kokiri." At her words, a young Kokiri girl appeared in the shadows. Her elfish ears and close cropped green hair did not conceal her black eye and split lip. She looked sad. The Moblins had not treated her kindly. Ingo scoffed at Nabooru. "You can make water from thin air, and you need our help? They only live nine years and they make lousy servants. Look at her. We caught her when she wandered to the surface. Fragile as glass." "The surface?" Nabooru queried. "The 'Deku Tree' gave them access to the only water on the planet-two miles below the surface." explained the Moblin Maje. "The Deku Tree kidnapped two of our crewmen. We're trying to get them back." "Perhaps we could question the girl about how to reach the underground settlement?" Sonic interjected. "I've tried every method I know to persuade her to talk. It's a waste of time." Ingo replied. Sonic suggested that he trade the Kokiri for some more water. Ingo was no fool. He knew water was cheap compared to a technology that could make it. He demanded it. Nabooru explained that it was integrated into her ship's systems, and could not be removed. Ingo snarled and stepped forward, ready to take what he wanted by force. Then Sonic put a weapon to his head. He pulled the Kokiri girl to him. He fired on the water containers, distracting the Moblins, who busied themselves trying to save the precious fluid. Sonic turned to Nabooru, and suggested they get the hell out of there. She wasted no time, though she was seething. Imagine her surprise when they stepped off the transporter platform and heard Sonic cooing to the Kokiri. "My dear Saria, didn't I tell you I'd rescue you?"
In the Kokiri settlement, Luigi and Malon leaned against the wall of a darkened corridor. Though Luigi tried to assure Malon that Nabooru would find them, she wasn't in an optimistic mood. She felt a twinge in her neck, but she was too proud to accept either pity or assistance. A young Kokiri woman approached from the shadows. "Are you in pain?" Malon leaped into an attack position. "Are we still being followed? Are we prisoners after all?" she demanded. The Kokiri assured her that they were not prisoners. She had just brought something that might help Malon. She handed the half-Kremling woman a vial containing a mossy substance. From this young Kokiri, Luigi and Malon learned that not everyone agreed with the Kokiri leaders. A break-off colony existed that wanted to be more self-sufficient. They grew their own food, and had found the medical properties of some plants. The breakaways were worried about the Deku Tree's strange behavior-in addition to abducting people and sending them to the Kokiri, he had sent them far more energy then they needed; they had a surplus that would last them another five years at least. While the Kokiri leaders were too enamored of the Deku Tree to question his motives, the breakaways believed the time was coming when they would have to make it on their own. She also mentioned that they had found the 500 year old tunnels that had brought the Kokiri from the surface to the underground. They weren't safe, and they had plenty of technological barriers, but some had made it out. She was not inclined to tell Luigi and Malon where these tunnels were, though. "Conserve your strength for now." she urged, then left, leaving them with a renewed sense of hope.
On Voyager the Holodoc tended to Saria's wounds while Zelda, Fox, and Nabooru glared at Sonic. "If you had been more forthcoming," Zelda was saying, "We could have anticipated your irrational behavior." "Hey, we got out of there, didn't we?" Sonic shot back. He was used to making alliances just long enough to get what he wanted or needed. On the biobed, Saria sat up and begged them not to be too hard on Sonic. The Doctor seconded that. "This is a sickbay, not a conference room. Everyone except the patient will leave. Now." Nabooru looked past him. "Computer, deactivate the Emergency Medical Hologram." The Doctor didn't have time to protest before he disappeared. Saria continued her apology. "I should never have gone to the surface. I'm too curious. I'm told it's my worst failing." Sonic grinned at her. "I think it's a wonderful quality." Nabooru's anger drained a bit and she asked if Saria would help them find their missing crewmembers. "Ingo was right. There's no way down there." Saria replied. "The tunnel I came up in was sealed." "We don't have to use tunnels." Nabooru explained. "We can beam right into the city. We just need directional assistance." Zelda picked up there, explaining that their sub-surface scans had not been successful so far. The Deku Tree, he believed, had taken measures to prevent them from finding the city. Saria suggested that there might be security breaches where the tunnels had decayed. Nabooru nodded to Zelda, and ordered her to scan for such breaches as a first step. Sonic spoke up. "Well, it seems Saria's given you the help you need. We'll be going now" "No, we won't." replied Saria. "These people saved me. We owe it to them to help them." "I saved you!" Sonic explained. "With their help." Saria clarified. "It would be wrong not to help them." His concern for her giving way for his eagerness to please, Sonic nodded grudgingly.
Saria led Nabooru, Zelda, Link, and Fox into a small Kokiri village, probably one of the Kokiri colonies. One of them rushed over and embraced her-much to Sonic's anger. It was most likely a platonic relationship though. "How did you make it back?" he asked Saria indicated the away team, and explained that they had rescued her from the Moblins. "We're looking for two of their crewmembers." she continued. "They were sent here by the Deku Tree. Do you know where they're being kept?" "The Central Clinic." "Can you take us there?" Saria asked. {NO!} The voice spoke in their heads. Two new figures stepped from the shadows-by the looks of their bearings, they were probably Kokiri elders. "They're not telepathic, Mido. Speak aloud." Saria chided. "We don't mean to be rude." said Mido. "But they cannot go." A brief philosophical argument ensued. Mido complained of Saria's heretical views and actions-case-in-point, going to the surface. "The Kokiri have become sheep." Saria replied. "Domesticated, and dependent on the Deku Tree's attention. Our ancestors had their full mental faculties- our telepathy is but a fraction of that power." "You are speaking of apocryphal legends." responded Mido. "The tales of our ancestor's powers are greatly exaggerated." "I have seen the sun, basked in it. The Deku Tree's generosity is not worth its denial." Mido tried one more time, but Saria blew him off. "I'm going." she said. "Who's with me?" Not a few volunteered. Nabooru was impressed. She felt she was in good hands.
Armed with flashlights and digging tool, Luigi and Malon hiked up to one of the caverns that would take them to the surface. It was a daunting prospect- two miles straight up, and the ladder's weren't in the best of repair. Seeing what was ahead of them, Malon inhaled sharply. "Let's go." she said after a brief pause. They scaled the steps for a while before Luigi collapsed. Malon tried to shame him back onto his feet, but it didn't work. Finally, she sat down herself, a little relieved despite her eagerness for freedom. "Perhaps I'd be doing better with Kremling blood." Luigi joked with a half- smile. "Believe me, it's more trouble than it's worth." Luigi laughed bitterly. "You know, I've spent my whole life training for Nintendo fleet. And on my first mission, I'm going to die." "We're not dead yet." Malon replied. "I know a few things Old Sneezy never taught in his survival class." "Old Sneezy?" "Commander Falcon. I think he was allergic to everything." Luigi was amazed. "You went to the Academy?" "I made it to my second year before a.mutual.decision was made that I should leave." explained Malon, a hint of embarrassment in her voice. Luigi grinned weakly. "I never liked Commander Falcon." They got moving again.
As Nabooru and the rest of the away team rode down an escalator to the clinic, they noted that the sounds of energy arriving were becoming much more rapidly. Then it stopped altogether. A crewman contacted them, explaining that the Deku Tree had stopped sending energy, and was now realigning for something. "Keep me informed. Nabooru out." They reached the clinic, to find that the doctors had not seen Luigi or Malon for hours. "If they want to escape to the surface, they'll try the same thing I did.going out through a tunnel." "Right. You, Sonic, and Link go check out the tunnels. I'll talk with the doctors and see if they know anything." The ground shook. Nabooru tapped her combadge and asked for an explanation. "The Array is firing on the surface. I think it's trying to seal off the energy conduits." Zelda spoke up. "I believe I have enough information for a hypothesis, Captain. The Deku Tree is dying." Nabooru started. Zelda continued, explaining her reasoning. "The Array has sent the Kokiri enough energy to survive five years on their own. Now he is sealing the conduits so the Moblins cannot use them to access the underground. He's been caring for these people for a thousand years, and kept referring to a 'debt that can never be repaid.' Also, he referred specifically and repeatedly to running out of time. It's a logical assumption." It was also a disconcerting one. "If he dies, how the hell are we supposed to get home?" Nabooru wondered aloud.
Link, Sonic, and Saria arrived at one of the tunnels. Link checked his tricorder. "They're in this one." He hailed Nabooru with the news. She told him to call for transport once they found the missing crewmembers. She then called for the immediate beam- out of herself, Zelda, and Fox. "Sorry, we can't. The Deku Tree's fire has irradiated the security breaches. You'll have to get to the surface before we can beam you up." Nabooru cut the channel. "We'll have to follow Link into the tunnels and get out the old-fashioned way. Let's go." Meanwhile, Link, Sonic, and Saria had found Luigi and Malon. They didn't look well. "Took you long enough." Luigi coughed. "Hey, you think I'm going to let down the only friend I've got?" Link replied. "What makes you think I'm your friend?" Luigi replied, but it was a weak protest. Link shook his head and pulled Luigi up. Saria assured them she knew how to breach the barrier and they started climbing with all speed. Finally they reached the barrier, a golden shower of electroforce. Saria went through first, explaining "Whatever you do, don't touch it-it'll burn your skin right off." They nodded and followed her through. Nabooru and the rest followed not so far behind, managing to keep their footing despite the hammering the planet was taking. Past the barrier, Link believed he had found the closest to the surface they would get. With Sonic's assistance, he blew a hole in the roof and the two of them, Saria, Luigi, and Malon climbed onto the surface. Hailing Voyager he asked if they could lock onto them. "We can.but we're only getting five signals." "The rest are still below the barrier." Link explained He noticed a blast coming in, not close, but big enough not to matter. "Get down!" he yelled. Below the surface, the ladders began to shake and collapse. Heavy things start falling. Link tried to hail Nabooru, but failed. Hailing Voyager, he told them to beam up everybody except himself. Sonic, knowing Link's intentions inquired, "What the hell are you thinking?" Link said nothing. Sonic sighed. "Well, if a fool needs company." he turned to Saria, putting on his best brave face. "Take care of them. I'll be back soon." "Make that three to beam up. Lock on and beam them up now." Saria, Luigi, and Malon disappeared.
Below the surface, the brief avalanche had ended. Fox howled in pain. Nabooru seemed all right, but Zelda looked dazed. "My leg is broken." Fox told Nabooru. "Hold on." she told him. They didn't have long to wait. Link and Sonic arrived. Link ordered the hedgehog to help Nabooru with Zelda while he got Fox. Fox was in no mood to be got, least of all by Link. "Get out of here." he barked. "If you try to save me, most likely we'll both die." "Maybe so," Link replied with a twinkle in his eyes. "But if I save you, your life belongs to me. Isn't that an Indian custom?" "Wrong tribe." Fox grunted. "I don't believe you." Link replied. He scrambled down and pulled the Maquis up. Fox still didn't seem to be helping much. Link stated the obvious. "You'd rather die than have me rescue you." Fox finally gave in to the reality of the situation. "Fine, be a fool. At least I'll have the satisfaction of watching you go with me." He wrapped his arms around Link's neck and they started stumbling towards the exit. "Don't you have some Indian trick where you can turn into a bird and fly us to the exit?" Link asked. "You're too heavy." The two of them stumbled out the exit a millisecond before the entire section collapsed behind them.
Voyager and the Maquis Arwing were ducking weapons fire from the Array. All were safely aboard. Fox's leg had been healed, and the resourceful Light Holodoc had cured Luigi and Malon of the disease. The bridge hailed sickbay, reporting two Moblin ships closing on the Array. Nabooru ordered an intercept course and headed to the bridge. Fox and Malon, still technically to weak to be discharged, left anyway, much to the Doctor's annoyance. "Is the crew always this difficult?" he asked to no one in particular. "I don't know, Doc." Luigi replied. "It's my first mission." He left for the bridge, leaving the Holodoc alone in sickbay. "Doesn't anyone know to turn me off when they leave?" he asked dejectedly.
The bridge was hopping when Nabooru, Link, and Luigi arrived. The Moblins hailed them. Ingo appeared on screen, asking what they were doing near the Array. "We're trying to get home. We were about to transport aboard to see if it could be arranged." Nabooru replied. "I can't allow you to do that." Ingo said. "We have no dispute with you." "We have a dispute with anyone who dares to challenge us." "We have no intention of challenging you." responded Nabooru. "And I have no intention of letting you aboard the Array." Nabooru tried to be reasonable, but the Maje cut her off in mid-sentence. She growled. "That's how you want to play it? Fine. Welcome to my playground." A firefight ensued. The Moblin's less advanced weaponry didn't seem to be doing much damage, but they were persistent, and might yet pierce Voyager's shields. Nabooru hailed the Maquis Arwing. "Can you keep them busy for a while?" Fox barked his affirmative. "Good. Zelda and I are going over to the Array. Link, you have the conn." Link gulped, stuttered 'Yes ma'am' and took his station.
Aboard the Array, Nabooru and Zelda split up. Nabooru headed for the barn where she could hear the Banjo Man/Deku Tree's music. As she entered, he looked up with a weak grin. "Thou art nothing if not persistent." "We need you to send us back." "I cannot. I hath barely enough strength to finish my work." "Sealing the energy conduits?" asked Nabooru. "If I don't the Moblins wilt steal the water. It matters not. In five years, they wilt run out of water and be forced unto the surface. They wilt not be able to survive." "Is that the debt that can never be repaid? Turning the planet into a desert?" The Deku Tree nodded weakly. "We art explorers from another galaxy. We had no idea our technology would be so destructive unto their atmosphere. Two of us were chosen to stay here and take care of them." "There's another here like you?" "Not anymore. She went off to seek more exciting things." "Why have you been kidnapping people and infecting them with fatal diseases?" Nabooru asked. "It was not a disease!" the Deku Tree protested. "I was looking for a compatible bio-molecular structure." Realization dawned on Nabooru. "You were trying to procreate!" "Yes. I needed someone to replace me, to continue caring for the Kokiri." Nabooru leaned over to the Deku Tree. "Did you ever consider letting them care for themselves?" "They art children!" the Deku Tree scoffed. "Children have to grow up sometime." Nabooru pointed out, then lectured him on something he should already know-explorers got that way by treading through difficulties, overcoming adversities. "They have a better shot at survival than you think." Luigi hailed her. "We've got problems here."
The Moblins didn't just have the tiny ships that had been attacking Voyager initially. They had brought in a behemoth ship, launching volleys at the Federation starship. "The Moblins got backup." Luigi explained in a classic understatement. "Just give me a few minutes here." replied Nabooru. On the Arwing, Fox reads off Voyager's damage report. Their weapons array is down. Malon told him that neither ship had enough firepower to stop the colossal Moblin vessel. Fox had his own plan to defeat it, but it involved evacuating the crew to Voyager and driving the Arwing right into the Moblin monstrosity. Malon didn't like it, but she agreed without argument. Fox hailed Voyager and explained his plan. Link acknowledged, but made note that this didn't make them even. "Your butt is still mine, Tonto." "Bite me, kemosabe." Fox whispered, and aimed for the big vessel. Malon and the other Maquis arrived aboard Voyager, and watched as both ships began getting the hell pounded out of each other. Link started to order a beamout, but McCloud refused. And he dove closer as blast after blast hit his ship, until he was too close for comfort. "NOW!" he yelled, and dematerialized seconds before the Arwing collided with the Moblin ship. Explosions rocked the behemoth, and it fell towards the Array.
Zelda returned with a report. She had found the system that could take them home. But it would take several hours to perform. "Unless you help us." Nabooru told the Deku Tree. He refused. "I cannot let the Moblins have this installation. I hath activated a self-destruct. Get back to thy vessel." The Moblin vessel slammed into the Array, knocking out the self destruct-as well as the holo-generator. The barn flashed out of existence, as did the illusion of the Banjo Man. As the real look of Array appeared, the Deku Tree's true form was also revealed-a tall, treelike entity. Its leaves were wilting, and it looked generally unhealthy. Nabooru hailed Link and asked for an explanation. He noted the destruction of the Moblin ship and its collision with the Array. The Deku Tree, his voice fading, pleaded with Nabooru not to let the Moblins have the Array. As he talked, he withered and shrunk, until he was nothing but a piece of petrified wood. Nabooru hesitated, then picked it up, wondering what she should do. Zelda argued that to destroy the Array or assist the Kokiri further would violate the Prime Directive, and alter the balance of power in the sector. "We didn't ask to be involved." Nabooru replied. "But we are, and we can't just walk away."
Zelda and Nabooru exited the turbolift onto the bridge. She ordered Zelda to power up the tricobalt Power Bombs, then hailed Ingo, warning him to get away from the Array, as she intended to nuke it out of existence. "You can't do that!" he protested. "Watch me." she replied, cutting off the transmission. Malon did not like the idea. "You have no right to destroy that thing! We need it to get home!" Nabooru leveled her gaze on the half-Kremling. "I'm aware you have families and loved ones back home. So do I. But we'll have to find another way home. I will not trade the lives of the Kokiri away for our convenience." Malon wasn't satisfied. "Who do you think you are to make this decision for us?" Fox grabbed her and whirled her around. Malon repeated the question. "She's the captain." he replied softly. Zelda reported the Power Bombs were online. Link reported they were in position. Nabooru took a deep breath. "Fire." Three Power Bombs tumbled through space and struck the Array. By the time the fireworks subsided, there wasn't enough of the Array to gather for souvenirs. The bridge crew watched in silence. Their best hope for getting back to the Alpha Quadrant had just gone up in a blaze of glory. Luigi spoke first. "Incoming message from the lead Moblin vessel." Ingo appeared on screen. "You have made an enemy today." he said simply, then ended the call. Zelda reported the Moblin ships were retreating. They had declared their enmity, but they knew better then to challenge Nabooru right at the moment.
In her quarters, Nabooru stared out into the new stars. A picture of her husband and her dog sat on her desk. The door chimed, and Link entered. "You asked to see me, Captain?" Nabooru sat down. "You've got a problem, Mr. Link." "Oh really?" "I'm making the Maquis part of the crew. They sacrificed their ship to save us. It seemed the reasonable thing to do." "Will I be assigned a bodyguard?" Link asked, half-smirking. "You've already got one. Mr. McCloud seems to think his life is in your hands. He'll be taking responsibility for your safety." Link grinned. "I'm going to enjoy this." "Don't be so sure." replied Nabooru. "I'm making Fox my first officer. Everybody on board will be answerable to him. Including the Lieutenant assigned to the conn." Link was confused until he let her tone sink in. "Me?" Nabooru switched to her official voice. "I have entered into the ships log that on this gamedate, I'm awarding a field commission of Lieutenant to Mr. Link Paris." She stood and extended her hand. "Congratulations." Link's mouth worked furiously, but nothing came out. Finally he composed himself and said, "For the first time in my life, I don't know what to say." "You've earned this, Link. I just wish your father were here to hear the good news." "He will. When we get back." Link replied, beaming from ear to ear. Link was hardly out the door when Sonic and Saria entered. They're eager to speak with her. "We've supplied your ship with water, Sonic. You're ready to go." Sonic thanked her, but he had a request. "We'd like to stay." "We aren't a passenger ship, Mr. Sonic." "We wouldn't be passengers." Saria replied. "We'd be colleagues." "You're new here. We're natives." Sonic added, picking up the ball. "It'll be our job to provide you with what you need. You need a guide? I'm a guide. You need supplies? I know where to get them and who to talk to. You need a cook? I can whip up a batch of brownies that will make you change your religion. It's my job to think of answers to questions you don't even know you have yet, and the first thing you need is me." "We want to be part of your journey, Captain." Saria chimed in. Nabooru paused. They had both proved their worth in their short association. She nodded her approval.
The bridge was crowded. Everyone was at their stations. Nabooru strode up to the captain's chair, and announced the purpose of the adventure ahead. "We're alone. In an uncharted part of the galaxy. We've already made some friends here, and some enemies. We have no idea of the dangers we're going to face. But one thing is clear. Both crews are going to have to work together if we're to survive. That's why Commander Fox and I have agreed that this should be one crew...a Nintendo fleet crew. And as the only Nintendo Fleet vessel assigned to the Delta Quadrant, we'll continue to follow our directive, to seek out new worlds and explore space. But our primary goal is clear. Even at maximum speeds, it would take 75 years to reach the Federation. But I'm not willing to settle for that. There's another entity like the Deku Tree out there somewhere who has the ability to get us there a lot faster. We'll be looking for her. And we'll be looking for wormholes, spatial rifts, or new technologies to help us. Somewhere, along this journey, we'll find a way back." She turned to Link. "Mr. Link. Set a course.for home."