Title – Game of Life

Author – Puzzler

Disclaimer – Star Trek is the property of Paramount Pictures and I am only borrowing the idea for fun. The Pirans are my own creation.

Summary – Voyager is attacked by a race called the Pirans who force the bridge crew into completing a set of puzzles to stop 'an item they will not want destroyed' from being destroyed.

Set – Just after the episode 'The Killing Game' in Voyager's season 4. There will be references to this episode.

Stardate – 51734.5 I have done my best to think of a stardate that fits in with the Voyager series 4. I'm sorry if you don't agree.

Chapter 2 – Defiance

"Who are you? Where is Captain Janeway?" Chakotay demanded as an unknown, and rather ugly, alien walked onto the bridge. The alien had pale green skin and deep red eyes, his hands were almost claw-like and everyone was sure that he could do a lot of physical damage to anything if he chose to. He was closely followed by several others of the same species wearing similar body armour.

"What are you doing on this ship?!" he added.

"Calm down, Commander. Please" the 'man' replied, being careful to keep a safe distance between himself and the Voyager crewmembers. "As long as you co-operate with us, we will not use any unnecessary force against you"

"You still didn't answer the Commander's questions" Tom shot at him angrily, earning him an annoyed glare from Chakotay. He was only just getting up off the floor after his dive away from the overloaded helm console. A slightly singed uniform indicated that he had not escaped the blast unscathed.

"Very observant, Lieutenant Paris" the lead alien said sarcastically "Very well. If you really wish to know. I am Mid-warrior Loc'torin, Second Commander of the Puzzleship Confuser"

"'Puzzleship Confuser'? I thought that the ship that attacked us was called the 'Border Control Ship Executor'" blurted a rather puzzled Harry.

"There are several other ships in the area, Ensign" Loc'torin snapped, obviously thinking that he was stating the obvious "Our ships deploy unique shield technology that make them undetectable to your sensors"

"OK, I have two thing that I want to say" Chakotay announced, cutting in before anyone else could answer "Firstly, how do you know all of our names? ...and secondly, even if you mean that your ships have some kind of cloaking shield, you needn't have bothered using it. The dampening field emitted by the Executor blocked all of our external sensors anyway"

"You are making a very big deal out of nothing Commander, but I will tell you what you wish to know. For the first question, we have simply done our research. For the second, we could not risk you detecting the ships if the dampening field did not work…and you may well have been able to find some way around it" Loc'torin explained. "Oh, and do not expect me to be so open in future" Loc'torin added suspiciously "You will find yourselves dangerously mistaken" He sneered causing the Piran crewmembers behind him, who were looking rather bored and restless with all the talking, lit up, hoping for some action.

'Well' Chakotay thought hopefully 'I only have to keep them distracted for a few minutes longer'

Chakotay's thoughts were cut short by the sound of a phaser blast and a body falling to the ground behind the Pirans. The sudden sound caused all of the Pirans still standing to jump in surprise and quickly draw their weapons.

"What is this? What are you playing at?!" Loc'torin yelled at Chakotay, pointing his weapon threateningly at his chest when his officers found the rigged phasers. "I'm ordering you to answer me!"

Even with this obvious threat, none of the Starfleet officers on the bridge even flinched. Harry was standing by the back rail behind the command seats while Tom was sitting at his unresponsive helm console, right hand covering protectively a large burn on his left forearm. Both were looking directly at Chakotay who stood defiantly, fists clenched, looking straight into Loc'torin's eyes. None of them were armed.

"You will pay for this" Loc'torin threatened quietly, but still making sure they heard his every word "You and your Vulcan Security friend"

TO BE CONTINUED…