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 3 – Discovering the Challenge

"Hey, wait a minute!" Tom argued, getting unsteadily to his feet "There must be some other way to resolve this!"

"Maybe" Loc'torin responded, unconvinced. The officers behind him looked rather annoyed at his possible compromise. They wanted to have a fight "That is only if you agree to take part in the 'Maclarin Challenge System'"

"What's that?" asked Harry, walking down to help Tom and eyeing the aliens suspiciously. "What do we have to do for it?"

"We will show you, but first you must tell ALL of your crew of our…agreement" Loc'torin answered, falsely honest.

"Allow me to get to the communications console, tell all the crew to gather in…the cargo bay for example and tell us where the Captain is and we will have an agreement" Chakotay bargained, doing his best to negotiate the situation.

'It's the Captain who is good at this sort of thing' Chakotay thought hopelessly. 'We have to find her'

"We agree, but do not try anything" Loc'torin warned. He quickly got out what appeared to be a communicator "Loc'torin contacting Border Control Ship Executor. Drop the dampening field and lock a tractor beam onto Voyager"

"Yes Warrior" another alien voice replied. A small jolt indicated that the order had been followed and Loc'torin rounded angrily on Chakotay. "Well" he demanded.

Chakotay sighed reluctantly – it had not gone as well as he had hoped. One look at Loc'torin's angry face made him comply and tap his commbadge. "Chakotay to all hands. Leave your stations and report to cargo bay 1 immediately"

"Right" Loc'torin gestured towards the turbolift "All of you, Move!"

Harry, Tom and Chakotay walked slowly up the steps and into the turbolift, surrounded by weapon-bearing Pirans. As the door closed, a voice was heard ordering 'Cargo bay 1'.

When the bridge crew walked into the cargo bay, they saw that most of the crew was already assembled. There were conversations coming from all corners of the room, and emotions were running high. Some were surprised or confused, others apprehensive and outright scared. Even among this chaos, several higher ranking officers were trying, and failing, to explain their current situation. A sense of collective relief rang through the room as people saw the bridge crew entering.

Chakotay cleared his voice. "Thank you for assembling here so quickly. And as I am sure many of you are wondering, we have made an agreement with the Pirans" signalled the aliens behind him "to take part in some king of Challenge…"

"We will now give you the rules" Loc'torin interrupted, clicking his fingers as a signal to one of his own crew "Clarin?"

One of the smallest aliens moved forward form the back and handed Loc'torin a data pad. This 'Clarin', going by their size, appeared to be female. Loc'torin quickly started reading from the pad –

"The rules of the Maclarin Challenge System are:

§ Only primary/command crewmembers may participate.

§ At least one trained Challenge Official must be present at all times.

§ Only the specified crewmembers can complete each puzzle.

§ The Mactake is an object stolen from and of value to this crew.

§ If you do not succeed at the Maclarin Challenge System in the allotted time the Mactake will be destroyed.

§ The Challenge Official has the right…"

"Hey!" B'Elanna called to get his attention. Loc'torin glared at her for the interruption, yet tried to continue with the list of rules.

"The Challenge Official…"

"What is it that you have taken from this ship?!"  B'Elanna shouted, ignoring his attempt.

Loc'torin still looked very annoyed, but this time he gave up and answered her. "An object of great value to this crew. An object which this ship cannot continue without!"

TO BE CONTINUED…