Chapter 7
Jean-Luc sat in his command chair trying to stay focused. He tried to keep his attentions on the bridge but his mind kept wandering to another place. A place that was nearby. His mind carried him to a dark chamber with green electric lights. A figure stood there, waiting for his arrival. Jean-Luc closed his eyes as the figure spoke to him.
==// Locutus, come to me. //==
Jean-Luc's eyes flicked open in terror. His whole body jerked with fright. Commander Data turned to the Captain and eyed his curiously. The Captain felt Data's gaze upon him, which made him ever more uncomfortable. Picard realized that he had been acting rather odd lately. He needed to get his act together. His crew needed him now more than ever. Picard had to push the frightening feelings aside. Data was about to speak to Picard but thought about it for a moment, then changed his mind. If the incidents continue, I will press the matter, thought Data to himself. The android returned his attention to the Operations Consol and was content on letting the matter go. Picard was thankful for Data's lack of questions. He did not feel like coming up with some lame excuse as to why he had be acting strangely. For Picard, silence was golden.
=====/////=====
Lieutenant Commander Andrew Jellico exited the turbolift and stepped onto the Enterprise's Engineering section. He had shield adjustments that needed to be given to Geordi LaForge, the ship's Chief Engineer. Engineering was packed with busy officers who trying to do their jobs as quick as possible. The Chief of Security scanned the room looking for Commander LaForge, but the crowd of people blocked his vision. Andrew stopped an ensign passing by and asked for LaForge's location. The young officer directed Jellico down the hall, then returned to his duty. Jellico tried to thank the ensign but the officer had already left the area. It was crunch time and everyone was making sure the Enterprise was up to speed in every function. Jellico strolled down the main hall of Engineering and nodded to officers as they past. He kept running into large masses of people. When Andrew finally reached the main engine room, he discovered that it was just as crowd as the first room. The security officer peered through the bunch of officers and noticed Commander LaForge. Geordi was giving orders and studying PADDs that his subordinates gave him. Jellico grinned with satisfaction and approached the Chief Engineer. LaForge did not notice Jellico at first. The engineer continued to study specifications of the ship and blocked out the outside world. Jellico stood quietly for a moment, not wanting to disturb the commander from his reading. Moments past and Geordi had still not looked up from his PADD. Jellico realized that Geordi was not going to give him his attention, so he coughed loudly. Geordi looked up from his PADD and smiled. Andrew returned the smile but has a little agitated that some much time was lost.
"Sorry Commander. I didn't realize you were standing there. As you can see, I'm quite busy. What can I do for you?" asked LaForge.
"It's alright Geordi. I just wanted to give you some Shield Modifications, informed Jellico as he handed the Chief Engineer more PADDs, these modifications will rotated the shield's frequency every time we're hit my a phaser blast. It will make it harder for the Borg to adapt."
LaForge quickly looked over the PADDs and handed them to one of his workers who happened to be passing by. Geordi gave the worker the immediate orders to set in the modifications. The Chief Engineer returned his attention to Jellico.
"Thank you Commander. They should prove to be quite useful but if you'll excuse me, I have a lot of work to do."
Andrew nodded to the Commander in compliance and turned back down the hall. He had intended to head back up to the bridge but engineering appeared to become even more crowded than before. Jellico sighed to himself. This could take a while, he thought.
=====/////=====
"You did what?!" shouted B'Elanna in a complete rage of anger.
"Calm down B'Elanna. It's for the best." replied Tom, trying to dodge the projectiles being thrown at him.
"How can you say that?! You're leaving me and Miral!"
Tom sighed and weaved to his right, dodging a knick-knack that whizzed past his head. The object smashed into the wall and shattered into tiny pieces. He had just about all he could stand with B'Elanna breaking things.
"Listen B'Elanna, I'm a pilot! I have to help Starfleet in this time of crisis. Don't you understand?"
Another object flew across the room and missed Tom by mere millimeters. It too hit the wall and smashed. Tom turned to see the damage. Almost every breakable thing in their quarters had been broken. Miral was screaming on top of her lunges and Tom was getting one of his infamous headaches. B'Elanna was angry. She wanted to punch Tom right in the nose. How can he do this, she thought, doesn't he realize I need him here? B'Elanna sighed loudly and slumped onto the couch. Tom realized that B'Elanna had calmed down so he rushed into the baby's room, to quiet Miral. After a few minutes, Miral was silent and Tom came back into the living room. B'Elanna was still on the couch but her brow was furled. She shot ice daggers at Tom with her powerful stare.
"You should let me explain." stated Tom with a sigh.
"Alright, go ahead." replied B'Elanna angrily.
"Starfleet needs good helm officers. I'm one of the best out there. I spoke with Admiral Janeway and she said that the Farragut could use a good helm officer and could probably use my expertise. It's only going to be temporary. As soon as the threat has been neutralized, I'll be coming home."
"You mean IF you come home. Tom, this is an extremely dangerous situation! I don't want Miral to grow up without a father!"
"I know honey but I have to do this. I already told Janeway I would take the position. I'm sure she's speaking with the Captain of the Farragut at this very moment. B'Elanna don't be angry. It's my duty to help the Federation."
"Damn the Federation! Damn the Klingons Council! I've had it up to here with the both of them." replied B'Elanna as she lifted her hand over her head.
"You don't mean that. You still have to convince Martok to help Starfleet. I have my duty and you have yours." stated Tom as he went up to B'Elanna.
B'Elanna went silent. She knew he was right. This situation had to be averted and both of them had to fulfill their duties. Tom smiled at B'Elanna and held out his hand. The half-Klingon woman was reluctant at first but she put her hand in Tom's. He pulled her from the couch and kissed her gently on the lips.
"I have to get ready. My ship leaves in forty minutes." informed Tom as he rushed into their bedroom.
B'Elanna nodded to her husband and plopped back onto the couch. She could not believe that Tom was leaving. She was afraid she may never see him again. The Borg have already taken so many lives and she did not want her husband to be one of the many. Gods helps us all, she pleaded to herself.
Jean-Luc sat in his command chair trying to stay focused. He tried to keep his attentions on the bridge but his mind kept wandering to another place. A place that was nearby. His mind carried him to a dark chamber with green electric lights. A figure stood there, waiting for his arrival. Jean-Luc closed his eyes as the figure spoke to him.
==// Locutus, come to me. //==
Jean-Luc's eyes flicked open in terror. His whole body jerked with fright. Commander Data turned to the Captain and eyed his curiously. The Captain felt Data's gaze upon him, which made him ever more uncomfortable. Picard realized that he had been acting rather odd lately. He needed to get his act together. His crew needed him now more than ever. Picard had to push the frightening feelings aside. Data was about to speak to Picard but thought about it for a moment, then changed his mind. If the incidents continue, I will press the matter, thought Data to himself. The android returned his attention to the Operations Consol and was content on letting the matter go. Picard was thankful for Data's lack of questions. He did not feel like coming up with some lame excuse as to why he had be acting strangely. For Picard, silence was golden.
=====/////=====
Lieutenant Commander Andrew Jellico exited the turbolift and stepped onto the Enterprise's Engineering section. He had shield adjustments that needed to be given to Geordi LaForge, the ship's Chief Engineer. Engineering was packed with busy officers who trying to do their jobs as quick as possible. The Chief of Security scanned the room looking for Commander LaForge, but the crowd of people blocked his vision. Andrew stopped an ensign passing by and asked for LaForge's location. The young officer directed Jellico down the hall, then returned to his duty. Jellico tried to thank the ensign but the officer had already left the area. It was crunch time and everyone was making sure the Enterprise was up to speed in every function. Jellico strolled down the main hall of Engineering and nodded to officers as they past. He kept running into large masses of people. When Andrew finally reached the main engine room, he discovered that it was just as crowd as the first room. The security officer peered through the bunch of officers and noticed Commander LaForge. Geordi was giving orders and studying PADDs that his subordinates gave him. Jellico grinned with satisfaction and approached the Chief Engineer. LaForge did not notice Jellico at first. The engineer continued to study specifications of the ship and blocked out the outside world. Jellico stood quietly for a moment, not wanting to disturb the commander from his reading. Moments past and Geordi had still not looked up from his PADD. Jellico realized that Geordi was not going to give him his attention, so he coughed loudly. Geordi looked up from his PADD and smiled. Andrew returned the smile but has a little agitated that some much time was lost.
"Sorry Commander. I didn't realize you were standing there. As you can see, I'm quite busy. What can I do for you?" asked LaForge.
"It's alright Geordi. I just wanted to give you some Shield Modifications, informed Jellico as he handed the Chief Engineer more PADDs, these modifications will rotated the shield's frequency every time we're hit my a phaser blast. It will make it harder for the Borg to adapt."
LaForge quickly looked over the PADDs and handed them to one of his workers who happened to be passing by. Geordi gave the worker the immediate orders to set in the modifications. The Chief Engineer returned his attention to Jellico.
"Thank you Commander. They should prove to be quite useful but if you'll excuse me, I have a lot of work to do."
Andrew nodded to the Commander in compliance and turned back down the hall. He had intended to head back up to the bridge but engineering appeared to become even more crowded than before. Jellico sighed to himself. This could take a while, he thought.
=====/////=====
"You did what?!" shouted B'Elanna in a complete rage of anger.
"Calm down B'Elanna. It's for the best." replied Tom, trying to dodge the projectiles being thrown at him.
"How can you say that?! You're leaving me and Miral!"
Tom sighed and weaved to his right, dodging a knick-knack that whizzed past his head. The object smashed into the wall and shattered into tiny pieces. He had just about all he could stand with B'Elanna breaking things.
"Listen B'Elanna, I'm a pilot! I have to help Starfleet in this time of crisis. Don't you understand?"
Another object flew across the room and missed Tom by mere millimeters. It too hit the wall and smashed. Tom turned to see the damage. Almost every breakable thing in their quarters had been broken. Miral was screaming on top of her lunges and Tom was getting one of his infamous headaches. B'Elanna was angry. She wanted to punch Tom right in the nose. How can he do this, she thought, doesn't he realize I need him here? B'Elanna sighed loudly and slumped onto the couch. Tom realized that B'Elanna had calmed down so he rushed into the baby's room, to quiet Miral. After a few minutes, Miral was silent and Tom came back into the living room. B'Elanna was still on the couch but her brow was furled. She shot ice daggers at Tom with her powerful stare.
"You should let me explain." stated Tom with a sigh.
"Alright, go ahead." replied B'Elanna angrily.
"Starfleet needs good helm officers. I'm one of the best out there. I spoke with Admiral Janeway and she said that the Farragut could use a good helm officer and could probably use my expertise. It's only going to be temporary. As soon as the threat has been neutralized, I'll be coming home."
"You mean IF you come home. Tom, this is an extremely dangerous situation! I don't want Miral to grow up without a father!"
"I know honey but I have to do this. I already told Janeway I would take the position. I'm sure she's speaking with the Captain of the Farragut at this very moment. B'Elanna don't be angry. It's my duty to help the Federation."
"Damn the Federation! Damn the Klingons Council! I've had it up to here with the both of them." replied B'Elanna as she lifted her hand over her head.
"You don't mean that. You still have to convince Martok to help Starfleet. I have my duty and you have yours." stated Tom as he went up to B'Elanna.
B'Elanna went silent. She knew he was right. This situation had to be averted and both of them had to fulfill their duties. Tom smiled at B'Elanna and held out his hand. The half-Klingon woman was reluctant at first but she put her hand in Tom's. He pulled her from the couch and kissed her gently on the lips.
"I have to get ready. My ship leaves in forty minutes." informed Tom as he rushed into their bedroom.
B'Elanna nodded to her husband and plopped back onto the couch. She could not believe that Tom was leaving. She was afraid she may never see him again. The Borg have already taken so many lives and she did not want her husband to be one of the many. Gods helps us all, she pleaded to herself.