At Any Cost- Ch.8- The Bargaining Chip
After Q stopped hugging me, it was one of those, awkward moments. I was still leaning against the wall, and Q was still pacing the corridor. Why do the Asgard's have such big ships when they're so small? I mean, we have small compared to theirs, with three times as many times people on board than them.
"Q, I need to save them. How am I gonna save them?" I asked, sounding almost as desperate as I was.
"I don't know Tommyboy, if I knew, I would tell you." Q said, I think genuinely. "But, you know the Asgard, they probably thought of every possible way you could get around dying and prevented it. They're superior; it's obvious that you're done for."
Then, everything clicked. They're superior! And we're dumb!!!
"Q!" I practically screamed standing up. I went over and stopped Q from pacing. "They're superior!"
"Yes." Q said, looking at me like I was crazy. "They are superior, and you just realized that?"
"Q, do you remember what Tameth did?" I asked it was obvious of what he had done, because there was still music playing in the background.
"No, I stayed away from Tameth, he scared me." Q said a little embarrassed.
"Scared, of the idiot?" I asked. "Anyway, listen." Q listened for a second and looked a little puzzled. "The punk rock music, do you hear it?" Q looked at me and nodded yes. "Tameth did that like two hundred years ago! All because the Asgard is too smart and we're too dumb!"
"Okay, so we have to blackmail them with music?"
"No, we find a way to turn off the music and tell the Asgard!" I was smiling.
"Okay, do you think that would be enough?" Q asked.
"They've been trying to find a way to turn off the music for years. If I come along with the answer, because we're too dumb, then the Asgard will probably let the other species know they exist along with the Tok'ra! It's so simple!" I said celebrating.
"How do you turn off the music?" I froze, forgot about that.
I walked over to Q and opened my mouth. Then I closed it. "That's the problem." I said. I started pacing.
Maybe I should ask Tameth, I thought. He created the thing, maybe he can destroy it.
'No way!' Tameth screamed from the back of my head. 'I programmed it so that it will stay around forever, and I'll make sure it does!'
I'll let you have control of the body for a day, I replied.
'What one reason do I have to save you?'
I'll give you two reasons. One, you won't just be saving me; you'll be saving your memory from dying. The second reason, Janeway.
There was a pause, not long, but not quick.
'Make it two days.'
One day, and that day will be when I'm back on board Voyager.
'And not in the Brig.'
Okay, not in the Brig, I promise.
'Fine, but I'm the only one that knows how to turn the virus off.'
Okay, wait until I get the decision, and then you can have the body. But, the time you take turning the music off will take time away from your one day on Voyager.
'Fine, fine, let me guess a punishment for even making this?'
Actually, forget what I just said about taking that time away. Your little virus is the bargaining chip we need. Your saving Voyager's and mine's life by making it and keeping it stupid, yet smarter than me.
'Finally! There's someone that sees me as a genius among us humanoids!'
If you shut up now, I'll start listening to what you say more often.
"Tommyboy, you okay?" Q asked shaking me really hard. I looked at him questionably. "You were staring off into space."
"Q, we just got our bargaining chip." I smiled. As soon as I said that, Q was about to say something, but above my head, there was a light that was flashing red. It was making a sound, announcing that it was time to go back to court.
I saw Thor come around the corner.
"Lieutenant Paris, it's time to find out what they say. If you please follow me." Thor said not even acknowledging Q.
"Thor, I think I might have a way to save Voyager and myself." I said. "Is it still possible for me to change their minds?"
"It will be difficult." Thor replied, me following him into the dark room. Obviously it would be difficult, the Asgard rarely change their minds! "If it were of interest to the High Council, they would consider a different punishment, or might not even have one at all." The trial was about to begin again. Perfect, I thought. I might not die!
After Q stopped hugging me, it was one of those, awkward moments. I was still leaning against the wall, and Q was still pacing the corridor. Why do the Asgard's have such big ships when they're so small? I mean, we have small compared to theirs, with three times as many times people on board than them.
"Q, I need to save them. How am I gonna save them?" I asked, sounding almost as desperate as I was.
"I don't know Tommyboy, if I knew, I would tell you." Q said, I think genuinely. "But, you know the Asgard, they probably thought of every possible way you could get around dying and prevented it. They're superior; it's obvious that you're done for."
Then, everything clicked. They're superior! And we're dumb!!!
"Q!" I practically screamed standing up. I went over and stopped Q from pacing. "They're superior!"
"Yes." Q said, looking at me like I was crazy. "They are superior, and you just realized that?"
"Q, do you remember what Tameth did?" I asked it was obvious of what he had done, because there was still music playing in the background.
"No, I stayed away from Tameth, he scared me." Q said a little embarrassed.
"Scared, of the idiot?" I asked. "Anyway, listen." Q listened for a second and looked a little puzzled. "The punk rock music, do you hear it?" Q looked at me and nodded yes. "Tameth did that like two hundred years ago! All because the Asgard is too smart and we're too dumb!"
"Okay, so we have to blackmail them with music?"
"No, we find a way to turn off the music and tell the Asgard!" I was smiling.
"Okay, do you think that would be enough?" Q asked.
"They've been trying to find a way to turn off the music for years. If I come along with the answer, because we're too dumb, then the Asgard will probably let the other species know they exist along with the Tok'ra! It's so simple!" I said celebrating.
"How do you turn off the music?" I froze, forgot about that.
I walked over to Q and opened my mouth. Then I closed it. "That's the problem." I said. I started pacing.
Maybe I should ask Tameth, I thought. He created the thing, maybe he can destroy it.
'No way!' Tameth screamed from the back of my head. 'I programmed it so that it will stay around forever, and I'll make sure it does!'
I'll let you have control of the body for a day, I replied.
'What one reason do I have to save you?'
I'll give you two reasons. One, you won't just be saving me; you'll be saving your memory from dying. The second reason, Janeway.
There was a pause, not long, but not quick.
'Make it two days.'
One day, and that day will be when I'm back on board Voyager.
'And not in the Brig.'
Okay, not in the Brig, I promise.
'Fine, but I'm the only one that knows how to turn the virus off.'
Okay, wait until I get the decision, and then you can have the body. But, the time you take turning the music off will take time away from your one day on Voyager.
'Fine, fine, let me guess a punishment for even making this?'
Actually, forget what I just said about taking that time away. Your little virus is the bargaining chip we need. Your saving Voyager's and mine's life by making it and keeping it stupid, yet smarter than me.
'Finally! There's someone that sees me as a genius among us humanoids!'
If you shut up now, I'll start listening to what you say more often.
"Tommyboy, you okay?" Q asked shaking me really hard. I looked at him questionably. "You were staring off into space."
"Q, we just got our bargaining chip." I smiled. As soon as I said that, Q was about to say something, but above my head, there was a light that was flashing red. It was making a sound, announcing that it was time to go back to court.
I saw Thor come around the corner.
"Lieutenant Paris, it's time to find out what they say. If you please follow me." Thor said not even acknowledging Q.
"Thor, I think I might have a way to save Voyager and myself." I said. "Is it still possible for me to change their minds?"
"It will be difficult." Thor replied, me following him into the dark room. Obviously it would be difficult, the Asgard rarely change their minds! "If it were of interest to the High Council, they would consider a different punishment, or might not even have one at all." The trial was about to begin again. Perfect, I thought. I might not die!