The Challenge (from Voybabe):-
The crew develops a mysterious virus that appears incurable. The Doctor determines that they only have 24 hours to live. What do J & 7 do with their last day together? Or you can assume that they become intimately involved thinking it's their last chance and the Doc finds a cure and saves everyone....how do they handle the situation now?
I'm not gonna tell you which one I did.. hope you enjoy.
The Disclaimers:-
Voyager and Star Trek aren't mine.
This story may contain some slightly naughty words, same-sex relationships and adult themes.
But i'm not promising anything...
***
Another day without you... by MoJoR. mojor@kooee.com.au
***
Captain Kathryn Janeway sat at her ready room desk, her elbows resting on the smooth surface. Her head was dipped, her eyes closed. She rubbed at her temples, grimacing at the throbbing ache behind her eyes. A mug of coffee sat untouched in front of her, even the smell making her nauseous.
Never one to readily admit to physical weakness, Kathryn had secluded herself in her ready room two hours ago with a word to her Commander that she was not to be disturbed. In that time the originally dull ache had progressed to a level ten migraine.
Her face was cold and clammy against her hands and her insides felt as though they were quivering. Janeway knew this was more than a simple headache bought on by stress.
Voyager had spent the last three days orbiting Pestis IV as Neelix and she conducted negotiations with the local residents. The negotiations had been gruelling; they had however managed to secure some desperately needed supplies, and not before time. Relations between the two ruling parties on the planet were strained with several skirmishes having broken out during the time they were there. Her security officer had informed her that the military presence in the area was increasing and Janeway was relieved when the heads of state requested the discussions come to an end and Voyager be on its way.
They were direct enough to admit that Voyagers presence had acerbated internal problems and that if they remained they could not guarantee their safety. Ships from both leaders escorted them the two days to the edge of the Pestis system where they once again resumed their course for the Alpha quadrant, their pantries stocked to overflowing.
Neelix had arranged a party to celebrate and it was scheduled to begin in three hours. The last thing Kathryn felt like doing was socialising. She wanted nothing more than to curl up in bed and sleep. Except for maybe a bath: a nice, long, warm bath. She would contact the Doctor and ask him to meet her in her quarters.
Kathryn took a deep breath, preparing to stand. Pressing up off the desk she stood for a moment to gain her balance. Carefully restoring her command mask she crossed the space to her door. Nodding to her first officer she continued past him to the turbolift, not trusting herself to speak. As the door shut behind her she eased back on the wall beginning to doubt her ability to reach her quarters.
"Deck 3," she croaked to the computer and grimaced as the slight jerking motion caused her stomach to lurch. A short moment later the doors whooshed open and Janeway made a decision.
"Deck 5," she requested, and the lift continued towards sickbay.
She walked blindly along the corridor, black splotches marring her vision. The short walk seemed to take forever and as Janeway entered sickbay she realized immediately that she was not alone. Each of the three biobeds were already occupied and two crewmembers currently sat on the primary bed in front of her, leaning against each other for support.
The holographic doctor fluttered around the room, his face lined with concern. He turned to her as he heard the doors open, his expression upon seeing his Captain a mixture of relief and concern.
"What's going on, Doctor?" Janeway asked, and she was relieved to hear the steady tone of her voice.
"Captain! I was just about to contact you. I have had a dozen calls in the past hour of crewmembers complaining of severe headaches, and now this!" he gestured expansively around sickbay.
"What's wrong with everyone?" Janeway asked, having a pretty good idea of their symptoms. She wished for an empty bed where she could lay down before her feet refused to carry her any longer.
"I don't know!" The Doctors voice raised an octave, revealing his concern.
Spying an empty chair, Janeway headed towards the Doctors private office. The balding gentleman, thinking she wanted to discuss the situation in private, trailed one step behind her.
"Captain! You're ill." he stated suddenly.
"I know that, Doctor," Kathryn fought to compose herself. "Tell me what you have discovered so far." She was worried; in such confined quarters it was difficult to prevent a virus from spreading once it got a firm hold. If they didn't identify the problem immediately then things could get serious.
"Very little," he started, already running a diagnostic tool over the Captain. "Each of my patients is exhibiting a dangerous drop in blood pressure and an increase in aldosterone. Neither of which is serious enough to be causing the symptoms they are displaying." He made a few enquiries of the medical tricorder he was holding and continued with his scans.
"Do you think we may have contracted something from Pestis IV?" she asked thinking it the most likely answer.
"I'm not entirely sure, Captain. I have been unable to locate any traces of a viral agent, but I'm not ruling anything out at this stage... this is unusual," he said in a tone that immediately made the Captain nervous.
"What is, Doctor?"
"Your cell membranes are deteriorating." He walked to the wall monitor in front of her and entered his findings, displaying a twirling... something on the screen. Human biology had never been her strong point and she looked to the Doctor to explain.
"Here, and here," he pointed. "The membrane is breaking away from the nucleus at an alarming rate." He looked up at the other occupants and dashed back into sickbay. Running a scan over Ensign Sathai from security he shook his head at the findings. Janeway watched as he repeated the procedure again and again.
The Doctor headed back towards his office, his face grim. As he passed the doors to sickbay, they opened with a hiss admitting Samantha Wildman and a barely conscious Neelix draped partly over her shoulder. The EMH rushed to assist her. Having nowhere else to put his new patient he lowered him carefully to the floor.
Ensign Wildman looked around her clearly flustered by the number of people present. Turning her attention to Neelix and the Doctor she spoke quietly placing her hand reassuringly on the moral officers' shoulder. Kathryn considered approaching the group to offer what support she could, but she doubted very much that she could find the energy to move that far, despite her growing concern.
The roar of her blood travelling through her veins made it impossible for her to think clearly and she knew there was something she should be doing… something she had forgotten. She fought desperately to grab the elusive thought, her eyes squinting in concentration. Just as she thought she had it, the world went blank.
***
The voice of her first officer boomed through her skull, making every inch of her brain echo and vibrate. She couldn't make out the words, just the noise, and she wished she could tell him to be quiet.
Something cool brushed against her forehead and she tried to identify it. It was firm but not as solid as metal. A second point of pressure joined the first leaving a cool trail behind them as they travelled, disappearing into her hair just above her ear.
Gradually convincing her eyes to open, Kathryn saw Seven of Nine standing beside her bed, the Doctor and Commander Chakotay engaged in a discussion behind her. Despite the fact that she felt like she had been caught in a meteor shower, Kathryn smiled at the look of concern on Seven's face.
"Morning," she tried to say, the word coming out as little more than a wheeze.
"Good morning, Captain. I am glad to see you are awake," Seven spoke softly as if aware that her Captain's senses were overly acute at the moment.
"Ahhh, our Captain has returned." The Doctor approached the biobed, motioning for Seven to step out of the way. Kathryn felt the gentle massaging of her temple stop as the young woman stepped to one side and she wondered if she had been imagining it.
"How are you feeling, Captain?"
"Never better, Doctor," she rasped thinking the question ridiculous.
"Yes, well, you'll let me be the judge of that," the Doctor continued somewhat piqued.
"How is my crew?" she asked, concern for her ship and her people outweighing any she had for herself.
The Doctor's tone turned serious as he spoke "More than half the crew have come down with the initial symptoms. I have confined all nonessential crew to their quarters but... I'll be honest with you, Captain, I can't determine how this infection is spread and I haven't been able to develop a treatment."
"I see," she thought for moment going over what he had told her. "Prognosis?"
"The virus seems to target living matter at the cellular level. Eating away at the cell membrane until the nucleus just dissipates," as he spoke he gradually opened his fist before wiggling his fingers in demonstration.
"Thank you, Doctor for that visual description." Janeway propped her elbows under her, attempting to sit up. A pair of hands pressed against her back, assisting her upwards.
"Captain, you really should remain lying down." The hands paused in their upward motion as Seven of Nine considered the Doctor's words.
"I don't have that luxury, Doctor. How long?" she asked. Everyone knew to what she was referring.
"I'm not sure. A day, maybe less." The Doctor refused to make eye contact as he spoke.
"Then I have work to do. Help me up."
Seven complied, assisting her Captain into a sitting position with her legs draped over the side of the biobed.
Looking over at her first officer, Kathryn realized that he too was sick. His face was a pasty white, making the tattoo on his forehead stand out in contrast. He stepped closer under her scrutiny.
"We're doing everything we can, Captain," he spoke, both officers recognising the futility in that statement.
"How many of the senior staff are sick?" she asked, fearing the answer.
"Seven of Nine, Tuvok, and myself are the only ones not affected so far."
"Seven of Nine and Tuvok are the only ones not affected so far," the Doctor corrected from across the room. Chakotay almost smiled.
"Return to your quarters, Commander. Tell Tuvok he has command until further notice."
"Yes Ma'am." Chakotay replied.
Kathryn wondered if it was crunch time already.
A brief nod to the EMH and Chakotay departed, his steps measured until he rounded the corner. Leaning heavily against the bulkhead for support, he took several deep breaths before continuing along the corridor.
***
The crew develops a mysterious virus that appears incurable. The Doctor determines that they only have 24 hours to live. What do J & 7 do with their last day together? Or you can assume that they become intimately involved thinking it's their last chance and the Doc finds a cure and saves everyone....how do they handle the situation now?
I'm not gonna tell you which one I did.. hope you enjoy.
The Disclaimers:-
Voyager and Star Trek aren't mine.
This story may contain some slightly naughty words, same-sex relationships and adult themes.
But i'm not promising anything...
***
Another day without you... by MoJoR. mojor@kooee.com.au
***
Captain Kathryn Janeway sat at her ready room desk, her elbows resting on the smooth surface. Her head was dipped, her eyes closed. She rubbed at her temples, grimacing at the throbbing ache behind her eyes. A mug of coffee sat untouched in front of her, even the smell making her nauseous.
Never one to readily admit to physical weakness, Kathryn had secluded herself in her ready room two hours ago with a word to her Commander that she was not to be disturbed. In that time the originally dull ache had progressed to a level ten migraine.
Her face was cold and clammy against her hands and her insides felt as though they were quivering. Janeway knew this was more than a simple headache bought on by stress.
Voyager had spent the last three days orbiting Pestis IV as Neelix and she conducted negotiations with the local residents. The negotiations had been gruelling; they had however managed to secure some desperately needed supplies, and not before time. Relations between the two ruling parties on the planet were strained with several skirmishes having broken out during the time they were there. Her security officer had informed her that the military presence in the area was increasing and Janeway was relieved when the heads of state requested the discussions come to an end and Voyager be on its way.
They were direct enough to admit that Voyagers presence had acerbated internal problems and that if they remained they could not guarantee their safety. Ships from both leaders escorted them the two days to the edge of the Pestis system where they once again resumed their course for the Alpha quadrant, their pantries stocked to overflowing.
Neelix had arranged a party to celebrate and it was scheduled to begin in three hours. The last thing Kathryn felt like doing was socialising. She wanted nothing more than to curl up in bed and sleep. Except for maybe a bath: a nice, long, warm bath. She would contact the Doctor and ask him to meet her in her quarters.
Kathryn took a deep breath, preparing to stand. Pressing up off the desk she stood for a moment to gain her balance. Carefully restoring her command mask she crossed the space to her door. Nodding to her first officer she continued past him to the turbolift, not trusting herself to speak. As the door shut behind her she eased back on the wall beginning to doubt her ability to reach her quarters.
"Deck 3," she croaked to the computer and grimaced as the slight jerking motion caused her stomach to lurch. A short moment later the doors whooshed open and Janeway made a decision.
"Deck 5," she requested, and the lift continued towards sickbay.
She walked blindly along the corridor, black splotches marring her vision. The short walk seemed to take forever and as Janeway entered sickbay she realized immediately that she was not alone. Each of the three biobeds were already occupied and two crewmembers currently sat on the primary bed in front of her, leaning against each other for support.
The holographic doctor fluttered around the room, his face lined with concern. He turned to her as he heard the doors open, his expression upon seeing his Captain a mixture of relief and concern.
"What's going on, Doctor?" Janeway asked, and she was relieved to hear the steady tone of her voice.
"Captain! I was just about to contact you. I have had a dozen calls in the past hour of crewmembers complaining of severe headaches, and now this!" he gestured expansively around sickbay.
"What's wrong with everyone?" Janeway asked, having a pretty good idea of their symptoms. She wished for an empty bed where she could lay down before her feet refused to carry her any longer.
"I don't know!" The Doctors voice raised an octave, revealing his concern.
Spying an empty chair, Janeway headed towards the Doctors private office. The balding gentleman, thinking she wanted to discuss the situation in private, trailed one step behind her.
"Captain! You're ill." he stated suddenly.
"I know that, Doctor," Kathryn fought to compose herself. "Tell me what you have discovered so far." She was worried; in such confined quarters it was difficult to prevent a virus from spreading once it got a firm hold. If they didn't identify the problem immediately then things could get serious.
"Very little," he started, already running a diagnostic tool over the Captain. "Each of my patients is exhibiting a dangerous drop in blood pressure and an increase in aldosterone. Neither of which is serious enough to be causing the symptoms they are displaying." He made a few enquiries of the medical tricorder he was holding and continued with his scans.
"Do you think we may have contracted something from Pestis IV?" she asked thinking it the most likely answer.
"I'm not entirely sure, Captain. I have been unable to locate any traces of a viral agent, but I'm not ruling anything out at this stage... this is unusual," he said in a tone that immediately made the Captain nervous.
"What is, Doctor?"
"Your cell membranes are deteriorating." He walked to the wall monitor in front of her and entered his findings, displaying a twirling... something on the screen. Human biology had never been her strong point and she looked to the Doctor to explain.
"Here, and here," he pointed. "The membrane is breaking away from the nucleus at an alarming rate." He looked up at the other occupants and dashed back into sickbay. Running a scan over Ensign Sathai from security he shook his head at the findings. Janeway watched as he repeated the procedure again and again.
The Doctor headed back towards his office, his face grim. As he passed the doors to sickbay, they opened with a hiss admitting Samantha Wildman and a barely conscious Neelix draped partly over her shoulder. The EMH rushed to assist her. Having nowhere else to put his new patient he lowered him carefully to the floor.
Ensign Wildman looked around her clearly flustered by the number of people present. Turning her attention to Neelix and the Doctor she spoke quietly placing her hand reassuringly on the moral officers' shoulder. Kathryn considered approaching the group to offer what support she could, but she doubted very much that she could find the energy to move that far, despite her growing concern.
The roar of her blood travelling through her veins made it impossible for her to think clearly and she knew there was something she should be doing… something she had forgotten. She fought desperately to grab the elusive thought, her eyes squinting in concentration. Just as she thought she had it, the world went blank.
***
The voice of her first officer boomed through her skull, making every inch of her brain echo and vibrate. She couldn't make out the words, just the noise, and she wished she could tell him to be quiet.
Something cool brushed against her forehead and she tried to identify it. It was firm but not as solid as metal. A second point of pressure joined the first leaving a cool trail behind them as they travelled, disappearing into her hair just above her ear.
Gradually convincing her eyes to open, Kathryn saw Seven of Nine standing beside her bed, the Doctor and Commander Chakotay engaged in a discussion behind her. Despite the fact that she felt like she had been caught in a meteor shower, Kathryn smiled at the look of concern on Seven's face.
"Morning," she tried to say, the word coming out as little more than a wheeze.
"Good morning, Captain. I am glad to see you are awake," Seven spoke softly as if aware that her Captain's senses were overly acute at the moment.
"Ahhh, our Captain has returned." The Doctor approached the biobed, motioning for Seven to step out of the way. Kathryn felt the gentle massaging of her temple stop as the young woman stepped to one side and she wondered if she had been imagining it.
"How are you feeling, Captain?"
"Never better, Doctor," she rasped thinking the question ridiculous.
"Yes, well, you'll let me be the judge of that," the Doctor continued somewhat piqued.
"How is my crew?" she asked, concern for her ship and her people outweighing any she had for herself.
The Doctor's tone turned serious as he spoke "More than half the crew have come down with the initial symptoms. I have confined all nonessential crew to their quarters but... I'll be honest with you, Captain, I can't determine how this infection is spread and I haven't been able to develop a treatment."
"I see," she thought for moment going over what he had told her. "Prognosis?"
"The virus seems to target living matter at the cellular level. Eating away at the cell membrane until the nucleus just dissipates," as he spoke he gradually opened his fist before wiggling his fingers in demonstration.
"Thank you, Doctor for that visual description." Janeway propped her elbows under her, attempting to sit up. A pair of hands pressed against her back, assisting her upwards.
"Captain, you really should remain lying down." The hands paused in their upward motion as Seven of Nine considered the Doctor's words.
"I don't have that luxury, Doctor. How long?" she asked. Everyone knew to what she was referring.
"I'm not sure. A day, maybe less." The Doctor refused to make eye contact as he spoke.
"Then I have work to do. Help me up."
Seven complied, assisting her Captain into a sitting position with her legs draped over the side of the biobed.
Looking over at her first officer, Kathryn realized that he too was sick. His face was a pasty white, making the tattoo on his forehead stand out in contrast. He stepped closer under her scrutiny.
"We're doing everything we can, Captain," he spoke, both officers recognising the futility in that statement.
"How many of the senior staff are sick?" she asked, fearing the answer.
"Seven of Nine, Tuvok, and myself are the only ones not affected so far."
"Seven of Nine and Tuvok are the only ones not affected so far," the Doctor corrected from across the room. Chakotay almost smiled.
"Return to your quarters, Commander. Tell Tuvok he has command until further notice."
"Yes Ma'am." Chakotay replied.
Kathryn wondered if it was crunch time already.
A brief nod to the EMH and Chakotay departed, his steps measured until he rounded the corner. Leaning heavily against the bulkhead for support, he took several deep breaths before continuing along the corridor.
***