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 8 – Fellow Prisoner

"Hello, is anyone there?" Clarin's voice sounded louder than usual from the echoing, confined space "I'm stuck in the same position as you so you've got nothing to loose."

"Really. I heard your screams earlier"

Yeah, they'll be in big trouble for that. My name is Clarin by the way, former Lead Commander of this fleet."

"Pleased to…hear you. I am Captain Katheryn Janeway of the Federation Starship Voyager. Do you have any idea what has happened to my ship?"

"When I was, er, forced to leave the ship, they seemed to be doing perfectly well in the 'Maclarin Challenge System'."

 "The what?"

"Oh, of course, you wouldn't know. It is a series of that have to be completed in a time limit. My late father invented it."

"Then it would make sense that you know all of the rules. Can you tell me what happens if the puzzles aren't completed within the time" Janeway was very quickly trying to get to the bottom of this situation.

"An…object of value to the crew will, er…be destroyed" Clarin was very hesitant to answer the Captain's latest question.

"What's the object?"

"Er…the lives of the command crew"

-----

Seven was the first person in the group awake. She sat bolt upright, then winced involuntarily from the sudden movement. Around her, the others were stirring gradually. Neither the doctor nor his mobile emitter could be seen.

"Commander, are you alright?" Seven asked Chakotay as he sat up behind her

"Where are we Seven? The last thing I remember was the stranger in sickbay."

"It appears that we were knocked unconscious, I have no memories of where we are. But it does feel like we are on a ship."

"Might have something to do with these Pirans, maybe they…hey, where's the doctor?" Chakotay had gotten up while he was talking and had started to look around. He had just noticed to doctor's absence.

"He has not been here while I have been conscious." Seven informed him, also standing up. She then looked to her left suddenly "Someone is coming."

The footsteps grew louder just as a concealed door on one wall swung open. A furious Loc'torin stormed into the 'cell', followed by several others.

"Good, you're conscious. Tell me what has happened here!"

"We would ask you the same thing. We don't know why we are stuck in here." Chakotay was not convinced that Loc'torin didn't to know, but quickly did his best to hide his suspicions.

"The little I know I have been ordered not to reveal to you, I want to know why" there was a hint of threat in his voice, causing Chakotay to almost shout in response to get his point across.

"I have already said – I don't know"

Loc'torin turned without responding and indicated to the others to leave. He followed them out, slamming the heavy door behind him.

"Great, that's all we need" Chakotay mumbled

Seven looked at him amazed, not understanding his sarcasm. "I see nothing 'great' about this situation"

"Exactly"

-----

"You mean they are going to kill members of my crew!" Janeway stated "Why?"

"I assure you, if it was still up to me, this would not happen but they have changed the rules."

"There must be something that we can do" Janeway pressed, doing her best to move towards Clarin through the darkness "But we would have to get out of this 'prison' first"

"That shouldn't be too difficult" Clarin said proudly "I'll just order the warrior at the door to let us out. By chain of command, he can't refuse"

"How high a rank do you have?"

"High warrior Ki-Clarin, Lead Commander of the Kiran System Fleet. Both the Executor and the Confuser belong to that fleet"

"I suppose that would be equivalent to a Starfleet Fleet Admiral. No offence, but you don't seem like someone with that high a position."

"Don't worry, everyone says that. I'm sure we'll be out of here in no time" Janeway saw her vague shadow get up in the darkness and 'march' towards one of the walls. She hit her hand hard on the wall 3 times and shouted something unrecognizable.

"What?!" shouted back the guard, voice muffled by the thick door

"Do you know who I am Warrior?!" Clarin yelled back

"No, just doin' my job"

"I am Ki-Clarin, Lead Commander of this fleet. I am ordering you to open this door and let us free!"

There was a long pause, before the warrior spoke again "Uh…Yes ma'am. I'm very sorry for this." The door creaked open and the young warrior stood respectfully to attention, letting them pass.

"Nice going" Janeway said simply as she walked out into the corridor "Let's do something about that challenge"

TO BE CONTINUED…