All disclaimers apply from the first part. I want to remind you, I´m not english, so there will be mistakes. Tell me about them and review...
Star Trek: Voyager The Not So Good Guest "by Nicol Leoraine"
Second Part
It was a quiet night. The calmness was disrupted just once, when Ensign Caldrey, from maintenance rushed in with a bloody face, escorted by security. It appeared, that the Ensign didn´t quit understood the meaning of the words shut up, so someone silenced him with a fist. Apparrently, nobody from the thirty people in the Messhall seemed to notice, who did it, even the jovial Talaxian Neelix wasn´t able to offer a good description. Tom, who was dozing at the time, wasn´t very surprised, whereas ensign Caldrey, a former Starfleet, was a pretty annoying man. He himself found hard not to whack him sometimes, but right now could feel just a slight satisfaction, as he wasn´t in any better state. On the end, he was glad, that Caldrey wasn´t seriously injured, because spend with the man time at sickbay could´ve been worse, than the illness alone.
When the complaints and curses died, as Caldrey walked away, Tom drifted into sleep, slightly thinking about what security measures did Tuvok take.
His mind reeled on concepts for a new holoprogram, that he was planning, he dreamed about flying, which quickly changed into a hard journey through the scorched, heat emanating desert. He saw B´Elanna, with the glass of cool water in one hand, standing just few meters from him, but as he walked, she backed away from him. He tried to cry out, tell her, that she´s not to be afraid, but his throat was so dry, he couldn´t. So he just walked... one step after other. The image changed, B´Elanna vanished and now he was trapped in his nightmare. Sitting at the helm, and trying to save them, but all his efforts was in vain. Caldik Prime. The wreck of the ship changed, and he now stood at the court, saying, that all was just a lie. Looking at his father and seeing sorrow and something much worse... disappointment. The few weeks at Auckland, then an offer from Starfleet. Again at the helm... God, he was afraid. Not wanting to be a failure, yet knowing, that find the Maquis is impossible. But there was the caretaker, and he got a chance...
The heat was unbearable. He felt trapped in his own body, like in stasis. Trying to free himself, but the only thing he achieved was that his skin seemed to be burning. Looking at his hands, he cried out, when small sparks running through his uniform raised into all consuming flames.
"Mr.Paris," sounded in his mind. "Tom! Wake up! It´s just a dream," assured him the voice. Tom opened his eyes, vision blurred, but he could make out the bald head, and next to him the beautiful woman with brown skin and ridges on her forehead. B´Elanna was here, she will stop the fire.
"He´s delirious, but I found something, that should reduce the fever," the Doc was practical as always, but Tom wished, that he could just once do something really effective. Maybe the shower he took before wasn´t such a bad idea.
"Water," croaked Tom and at instant he was given a drink. Not precisely what he thought, but the cool liquid was really good. Now just convice them to let him take a cool shower and he will feel just like new. The problem was, he couldn´t convice them. They didn´t listen to him, as he asked for more water, instead the Doc pushed to his neck another hypospray. Tom moaned in frustration; when something wonderful touched his forehead. B´Elanna was wiping his face with a wet cloth. Tom turned closer to her touch and mumbled something as so cool. B´Elanna smiled, seeing, that he calmed down.
"See? Better then your medicine," she told the Doc, who just snorted, but otherwise satisfied left the patient in the capable hands of chief engineer. In the next half hour, his fever dropped about two degrees, and B´Elanna left to her quarters, catch some sleep herself.
"We want to see her," exclaimed L´shtar vehemently. It was late morning, and the Salvorians couldn´t wait to talk with the woman. But the hologram shook his head, and in low voice talked to them.
"Her condition is worse,"
"What are you talking about? Just yesterday you said, that she will be fine," protested L´shtar, while his colleague Parc´r silently watched the discussion. The Salvorian´s eyes turned to Tom, so he quickly pretended sleep. But he could sense the alien´s scrutiny, and felt, that his suspicions could be right.
"How bad is she?" asked L´shtar and Tom was all ears, so he can get to know, what´s going on. Tom was sure, that the Doc wouldn´t tell them about Shril B´glar´s poisoning, and noway he could spill, that she´s coming around. Sometime between B´Elanna´s presence and the time, when Tom woke up, the Doc found the antidote. Now it was just a question of time, when Shril B´glar will wake up herself and tell them, who´s trying to kill her. Tom had the feeling, that she knew, otherwise, the killer wouldn´t take the risk of being caught in sickbay.
"As I said to you the last night," They was there last night? How that Tom didn´t hear them? "... her fever is not coming down, and she had some seizures. Hopefully, none of them caused a brain damage, but it´s a close call. She need´s rest and special care, and I could provide her both." Ever the self-confident hologram, sighed Tom.
"Can we see her?" asked the other men, and Tom heard his voice for the first time. It was rough, but straight.
"Maybe later, Mr. Parc´r. My assistent is just doing some tests..."
"How can we know, that she´s allright, Doctor? She could be dead, and you´re just trying to hide it," smeared him L´shtar. The EMH looked at them clearly annoyed himself.
"I´m in no need to hide anything, Mr. I´m a hologram, after all. But till Shril B´glar is my patient, I will do, what´s in the best interrest of my patient. If you want to complain, go after Captain Janeway." And it was the end of discussion. The two Salvorians left the sickbay and Tom could hear the Doctor sigh in relief.
"Seems like your manners are improving, Doc," joked Tom and was surprised by the smile from hologram.
"Yeah, I´m spending too much time in your company, Mr. Paris. Now... have you been up long?"
"Nah, just to the end. They´re really nice, this Salvorians."
"Humpf," snorted Doc and came to Tom´s bed.
"You know, if it was the other way... that someone from Voyager was on their ship... we would be just as impatient."
"Yeah," admitted the EMH, frowning in the way, " but we wouldn´t have tried to poison him. That´s a difference."
"So, the captain thinks, that it´s best not to tell them anything?" scouted Tom, curious.
"She want´s to talk with the woman, first."
"When will she wake up?"
"Maybe at night, or tomorrow. The poison combined with her previous injuries, has some side-effects. She´s still unconscious."
"That´s bad. But she will make it?"
"If nothing happens, yes." The Doc wasn´t very comforable with the subject of the dialogue, so he changed it.
"Now, tell me, how you feel?" Tom groaned.
"That good?"
"No, it´s really better, Doc," hurriedly answered Tom, not wanting the hologram think otherwise.
"I see. You temperature is down, which is good. The protozoa´s are at the moment in recess..."
"That´s good," exclaimed Tom, glad to hear something positive.
"... but I wouldn´t be very optimistic," continued the Doc. Tom frowned.
"Why not?" he asked, angry now.
"Because that is just one stage. Like you said, it´s a ride on roller-coaster. The "virus" is reproducing itself in high number. The rate of this reproduction is at maximum when your fever is up, then it´s subsiding. That´s a cyclus. Now is the time, when the medication could take effect. If it can´t destroy it now, we will have to wait another 48 hours cyclus, and try another cure."
"How long will be this... virus, in this "calm" state?" asked nervously Tom.
"I can´t be sure, but my guess is twenty four to fourty-eight hours."
"So, I can return to my quarters? When it´s inactive..."
"I didn´t say, that it´s inactive. Just that the number of protozoa´s in your blood is lower. No, you can´t return to your quarters. First, I don´t really know, if my theories are true. Secondly, I said you, that this time is the best to start a treatment."
Tom plaintively moaned, wishing, that Pharbos II. did never exist. He wished more, looking at the hypospray, that the Doc prepared on the nightstand.
"What´s that wonder drug, you are giving me?"
"The combination of AQR and quinine. It was used on Earth in the 21th century. Doctor Willesbrone improved it, so the side effects are now minimal. Every twelve hour, for a week, but if it fails in the next two days, I will continue with Maltrop."
"Great," sighed Tom.
"Now, don´t be so bleak, Lieutenant. If you caught this somewhere with less developed medical knowledge, you would be surely dead, by now. You´re lucky to be here."
"Yeah, I thought that, Doc," answered in sombre voice Tom. The hologram was about to object, when the doors opened and Harry Kim walked in.
"Ah, ensign Kim, I´m glad, that you´re here!" announced the hologram.
Harry was more than surprised by the cheery welcome and looked suspiciously at Tom, who just sniffed.
"Maybe your company can raise Mr. Paris´s spirit. I´m somehow unsuccesful in that task."
"I wonder why," muttered Harry, far enough, that the hologram didn´t hear him, but Tom smirked, seeing his friend´s perplexed face.
"Talk with him," muttered the Doc, passing Harry and tried to blink in plotting manner, failing miserably. Harry walked next to Tom, and when the hologram disappeared in his office, asked:
"What the hell´s with him?" Tom smiled at his friend, then wearily sighed.
"Too much time in sickbay, Har. I´m beginning to hate this all."
"You´re better now?"
"Oh, yeah. The prognosis is great - next two days idillic, then comes the hell again. Or not, if I am lucky. Maybe this "wonder drug" can stop it."
"So... you don´t know, when you can get back to the land of living?"
"Don´t have a clue." Neither one spoke a while, but when the silence was getting unbearable, they both spoke at once.
"What´s going on the ship?"
"Did you see Caldrey?"
Tom laughed as did Harry too.
"Yeah, Caldrey. He came all bloody. Who smacked him like that? I would like to congratulate..."
"Uhm... I don´t really know. Unfortunatelly, I wasn´t in the messhall at the time. But Delaney´s sisters was, and Jenny said, that it looked like Harper..."
"Shaila Harper? That little girl?!"
"Hey, she isn´t a girl, you know. She´s older then me..."
"Yeah, I know," Tom grinned and Harry turned his eyes disgusted, that he couldn´t even hit him.
"I will return this, Tom. Just as you´re out of this place."
"Ooh... I´m shaking," joked Tom, as his spirit was climbing up. "So... what did Caldrey do to this little woman, that she hit him so hard?"
"You know, he has some similar comments about her height and age. Something about who let the kids work on this ship? type of note. You know, she may be little, but I will bet, that her right hook is pretty hard."
"Yeah. What´s new on the bridge?"
"Not much. We are on the orbit of this tiny little stony planet named Jurlik VI. Yesterday we was trying to find some deuterium, which the sensors indicated. We had to walk through half the planet," exagerated Harry, "to find the deposit, because the readings was fluctuating for the desert storm. Even now I´m trying to get rid of the sand."
"No aliens here?"
"Nope. Not a bug, oh, sorry,"
"You know, I am planning a new holoprogram."
"Yeah?" asked Harry interested. "What about?"
"Uhm, don´t know for sure. But I have a name for it," announced Tom proudly.
"What?" Harry had some suspicion.
"Kill the bug! Simple enough, don´t you think?" Both grinned, as the Doc returned.
"Ah, I see, that you was succesful," acclaimed Doc, and Tom´s grin disappeared.
"But..." he thought, silently waiting,
"But, he could use some rest, so if you will please go, Mr. Kim," said the hologram, just as Tom waited. Harry looked first at Tom, whose eyes pleaded him to stay, then at the Doc, who certainly wasn´t know by his kindness to guests.
"Sorry, buddy, I must go," apologized Harry and left Tom in the "gentle" care of the EMH. At least, when Sam Wildman appeared, a little flushed from the run, apologizing, he had someone to talk to.
The day was passing slowly, and Tom could be grateful just for the relatively good state. He was weary and tired, true, but the pains were gone, all but the slight headache, which he quitly tolerated, rather then take some drug. The worst thing was, he was totally bored. He asked B´Elanna, when she stopped by the lunch for a while, to bring him some padds, so he could at least read, but that was long hours ago and now he could only stare at the ceiling, or risk a talk with Doc. Sam Wildman was free to leave, as Doc didn´t need time to work on the antidote for Shril B´glar. He now tried something, which could help Tom, but he doubted, that he will succeed. Not that he needed something now. Tom was really restless and wanted to return to his quarters, not accepting the EMH´s suggestions.
When the hologram was in the lab, and the sickbay was clear, Tom hesitantly sat up. His head throbbed a little more, but that was all. He let his feets touch the ground, then, leaning to the bed, tried to stand. Not bad, he thought, as he was standing straight. Now, take some steps, Tom advised himself. There, it could be. His legs was a little woobly and the room spinned, but otherwise, it was good. He took another three steps, when a voice from behind questioned:
"What are you doing, Mr. Paris?"
Tom quickly turned and his vision flickered, but he looked straight at the hologram.
"Going to bathroom," lied Tom.
"Ah, I see, that your coordination is slightly off, Mr. Paris. You was heading out of the sickbay," retorted the Doctor sarcastically.
"Oh, right. The bathroom is to the left..."
"Yes, Mr. Paris."
Tom turned, silently cursing his luck. Surely, the Doc can stay in the lab hours, but must emerge just as he´s trying to escape. Now he didn´t have a choice, and headed for the bathroom, praying, that the Doc wouldn´t follow him. No such luck.
"You know, Doc, I can do it myself," said Tom annoyed.
"I know, Mr. Paris. But it´s my job to see, that you don´t get hurt. You know, how slippery this floor could be. I don´t want to patch you up with broken bones."
"Like you care," muttered Tom and closed the door, leaving the hologram out. He was breathing deeply, trying to fight off the nausea and increasing anger. As he was here, he did what he have to. Washing his face, he heard voices from sickbay and hoped, that it´s some new patient. Peering through the door, he smiled. The Doc was shuffling around a security guard, with broken leg. Tom quietly walked to his bed and wearily lay down. Just the walk from the bathroom tired him, but he wouldn´t admit it to anyone. When the Doc treated the officer, telling him, that he should stay in sickbay for an hour, then came to Tom, he was pretending to be asleep. When the officer left the sickbay after a hour, he fell asleep for real.
Sweet dreams, would´ve said Tom, if he wasn´t disturbed. First, the Doc woke him up, giving him his medicine, then someone hardly shook his shoulder, and interrupted the image of B´Elanna in shower, which wasn´t very tactful. Tom muttered something, and tried to shake off the disturber, but was rewarded by a loud hiss and a smack in the ribs. Bolting upright, disoriented, he looked at the blue skinned Salvorian, with resolution written in eyes.
"Hey!" protested Tom at the rough awakening.
"Shut up!" ordered the man and Tom was tempted to hit him. "I will say this just once, so you better listen, Mr. Paris."
"What do you think you are doing?!" asked Tom angrily, when the Salvorian throwed at him a pack of clothes.
"Dress yourself."
"Why the hell...?"
"I don´t have time, Paris," hissed the Salvorian and reached to Tom´s forearm. There, as Tom looked, was a small object attached to his skin. Tom touched it, only to yelp out, as small electrical shock hit him. "You fucking bastard, what´s this?" he asked, pointing to the orbicular object the colour of sand, which was embeded to his skin. He didn´t know, how it got here, but this blue bastard has clearly something with it.
"You couldn´t take it off. Now, dress, while I tell you, what I want."
Tom sat unmoving and glared at the intruder. The Salvorian sighed, not very happy, and retrieved from his pocket small control device.
"You want to energize me?" commented sarcastically Tom.
"No. I have two ways to do, what I need. First, you will cooperate and help me. Second, you will not cooperate. Then I press this button, and you will be injected by a strong poison. It´s unknown to your doctor, and even if you could tell him, the poison act quickly. One minute, and you´re dead, Mr. Paris. Believe me." And by his look, Tom didn´t have a reason not to. The Salvorian´s eyes were frantic and his lips twitched, even as the man didn´t realize it.
"What do you want from me?"
"Help. Nothing more, Mr. Paris. Believe me, I don´t want to be your enemy. Just don´t have a choice. Now, please, dress. We have something to do." Tom hesitantly complied, not knowing himself, why. Sure, the threat was very alarming, but there was a chance. He could surprise the man and take the control device from him. How he can do it? Right now, it wasn´t possible. But if the man would think, that he is cooperating, there will be a chance. So, he dressed and was surprised himself to see, that the uniform fitted him accurately. The Salvorian meanwhile looked nervously around, as if waiting for a rescue party. One hand in his pocket surely clenched the control device. Once Tom was dressed, he silently waited, not wanting to talk first. The Salvorian cleared his throat and nodded.
"Now, you will wake up Shril B´glar."
The request left Tom with open mouth.
"You are crazy. She´s unconscious,"
"The last I checked, your medicine could arouse her."
"Yeah, so you should check with Doc, first. I don´t know, what to do..."
"Bullshit! You´re a medic! Wake her up, or I will let you sleep, forever!" The man´s hand shaked and Tom raised his hands, surrendering.
"Move," snarled the Salvorian and Tom obeyed, moving carefully.
"You´ve searched our database?" he asked, walking to the room with the Salvorian woman. She lay quitly, oblivious to this world. He wished to see the doctor. Where the hell was the Doc, anyway?
"We have much more advanced technology, then your race, Paris. Don´t hope, that someone will rescue you. The hologram is shut down, and the sensors from security was adapted. Lieutenant Tuvok, nor the captain will come here."
"And if someone breaks a leg?" asked Tom and applied some hypospray to Shril B´glar´s neck. The Salvorian watched every his move, but smiled at his question.
"Do you know, what time is?"
"No,"
"Three quarter four, morning. Who will break bones at this time?"
"Nobody knows,"
"Yeah," muttered the Salvorian and harshly looked at him. "Hey, why isn´t she awake?"
"I don´t know. She was poisoned... you know about it, don´t you?"
"Yeah, I thought that," admitted the man nervously. "But your doctor cured her..."
"If so, she would be aw..."
At this point, Shril B´glar opened her eyes and softly moaned. Tom stepped back and put to her neck another hypospray. The woman looked round herself, first disoriented, but then she spotted the man.
"L´shtar," came a soft voice from her lips.
"Shril," gently said L´shtar and smiled.
"What...?" asked the woman, then looked at Tom, confused. "Where I am?"
"It´s a long story, Shril. We have to go. Can you walk?" Tom helped her sit up, and L´shtar gave her some clothes.
"Here, dress this, Shril. We will be near. Please, hurry." The woman nodded, and altough confused, she began to dress. L´shtar turned to Tom and they both walked out.
"So, is that all?" asked Tom hopefully, but knowing otherwise.
"No. You... must help. Retrieve the medication, that she will need, possibly that you will need too."
"What?!" shrieked Tom. "You´re planning a trip? Do you know, that kidnapping is a hard delict?"
"Yes, I know. In our world it´s punished by death, Mr. Paris. I don´t want to hurt you, but I need your assistance. So, pack the things Shril B´glar and you will need, and quickly." Tom groaned.
"How long trip are you planning, by the way?"
"Few days, possibly. Look, Paris, I said it straight. I need to take Shril to secure place. There is one, not so far. When we´ll be here, and I contact my friends, you can return to Voyager. If you´ll cooperate, no harm will happen to anyone. Do you understand?"
"Yeah," muttered Tom, not happy at all. "And what warrant have I, that you will not kill me in the moment, we leave Voyager?"
"Just my word."
"Oh, that´s fine. People can always believe someone, who have his finger on the trigger, right."
"No more wisdoms, Mr. Paris. Pack. Or you can stay right here," and the man squeezed the controller with such anger, that Tom believed him.
"L´shtar?" asked the thin woman, walking from her room and looking around curiously. L´shtar came to her and smiled.
"What happened?"
"You were injured, Shril. K´lau send you here, to Voyager. You remember the humans?"
"Oh, yeah. That woman with white skin..." she looked at Tom, who was wearing a mask of tiredness.
"Who´s he?"
"Friend. He will help us." Tom grinned at the words.
"What´s your name?" asked him Shril B´glar, and Tom looked at her, their eyes, one pair of blue, the other black like night, meet.
"Tom Paris. And this man is just threatening me with this," he raised his hand and showed the little object. The woman´s eyes enlarged and she angrilly looked at the man next to her.
"You used on him Tro´clan?! L´shtar, how could you?!"
"I... it´s necessary. He wouldn´t cooperate..."
"So what?"
"Shril... Parc´r tried to kill you, here. We must go, and he can take us away. He´s a pilot, Shril,"
"Hey, and you expect me to fly?" Tom looked at him incredulously. "Man, if you didn´t notice, I wasn´t in sickbay for an excursion. Just this morning I didn´t even know, what´s my name, and you´re expecting, that I will take you to a trip? You´re crazy!"
"L´shtar!" the woman eyed him angrilly. "What were you thinking?"
"Enough! I don´t have to listen to you. I have my job to do, so please, don´t fuss around it. Shril, I did, what was needed for your security. I didn´t have a choice, as don´t have you, in this matter. Paris, one more time, and I will end all this. Don´t be stupid, and no one will get hurt. Is that clear?"
"Yes, sir," Tom almost saluted.
"Now, take what you need and come. We must go."
Tom put several hyposprays to his pocket, the other handed to Shril, along with a tricoder and dermal regenerator. L´shtar nodded to the doors, and silently the trio walked out.
Tom thought, that perhaps Tuvok is somewhere hiding, waiting for the best time to attack. Walking trough the abandoned corridors, his hope was quickly detoriating, as his pace was brisked. They meet someone twice, both times it was some Ensign or officer, but no one from security. Tom was tempted to take a chance, when Ensign Lopez from enviromentals was passing them, but he let him pass too, as the young man was barely awake, tired from the night shift. Tom sighed, the weariness catching at him, as well as some fatigue. Three times he stumbled and the Salvorian woman looked at him worriedly. He didn´t know, what she was worrying about more, if about him, or herself, knowing, that he would fly the ship.
Once they was in the dock, Tom shook himself from dark thoughts, and tried to think, but nothing came to him. There was some technicians, working on one of the flyers. Tom and two Salvorians passed them, when one of them walked to Tom, and eyed the trio suspiciously.
"Lieutenant Paris," said the man and smirked. "What brings you here at this time?"
"I´m escorting this two guests to Jurlik VI."
"Now?" asked the man, clearly unbelieving.
"Well, yeah. You know, Salvorians are different from humans, Ensign. They are awake, when we sleep, so the captain thought, that some excursion in late hours will be good."
"And you was the lucky one, right?" the man now smirked and Tom supressed the urge to shout at him, that he´s an idiot, when he can fall to something like that. L´shtar grinned, as the man walked away.
"Don´t try anything, Lieutenant. Believe me, you can lose more than I." whispered him the Salvorian, one hand supporting Shril B´glar, the other deep in his pocket. Tom swallowed bitter words and instead of them nodded.
"Now what?"
"Your ship."
"Delta Flyer?" asked Tom a little surprised.
"I studied your plans, Paris. It´s good shuttle. Now, move."
Tom almost tripped, but obeyed, not feeling to much rebelion. The trio walked to the Delta Flyer and Tom was quickly seated at the helm, looking through controls. L´shtar helped Shril lay down in one of the cabins, and now stood next to Tom.
"Start up the engines," ordered the Salvorian.
"Now, just a moment, sir. I have to ask someone, probably captain or commander, for permittion to start. I don´t see, how I can get it. So, we are at the end."
"You really think, that I would make all this and not thought about that?" sneered the Salvorian. "Human, you can be naive sometimes..."
"Yeah. If we were not naive, your "partner" would be probably dead," quipped Tom adversely. L´shtar´s face was a shade of purple blue, and his hand was shaking.
"Start the engines, Lieutenant. Don´t bother with other." L´shtar turned, retrieving from his pocket another unknown object, just this time it was bigger, like a dogged fist. The Salvorian picked it up and with gentle touch activated the mechanism.
"What is it?"
"Masking device and something more."
Tom started the Delta Flyer. The communication was quiet. He was waiting for someone to notice, but nothing happened. As if everything was all right. The Delta Flyer fluttered, then quitly flyied out of the Dock. Nobody asked them, where they are going. Tom manoeuvred with surprise, not believing how easy it was.
"How... how did you do it?" he asked incredulous. The Salvorian let out a small laugh, before easing himself to the chair next the helm.
"I´d said, that our technology is more advanced. They will not see us, and if the men on the Dock don´t start to ask, I think, we have thirty minutes, maybe more."
"Where are we going?"
"If they start to look, our traces will be noticeable, so first, head for Jurlik VI."
"You want to land?"
"No. We will go trought to strathospere, then emerge on the other side of planet. From here, we go to Jurlik VII."
"That will be rough," sighed Tom.
"Yes. And that´s why I have to bring you with me. I´m not very good pilot."
"Perfect. So if I happen to collapse, we can all go to hell, right?"
"It shall be better, if you stay conscious all the ride, Mr. Paris." The Voyager left behind, Tom wanted to know as much, as he can.
"Well, if I have to safely land on Jurlik VII., perhaps you could tell me, what was all that mess about. You know, like why playing the show about you not being more developed. It wasn´t as if you needed our help, at first."
"Our government has some rules. Amongs them is something similar to your Prime directive."
"Wait a moment... it´s not like we aren´t developed," Tom get exited. "We are highly technically developed, you could see that."
"Yeah, and brake to your computers was a matter of minutes, Lieutenant," reacted L´shtar amused. Tom frowned and nodded.
"So, what you wanted to do about our encounter? I mean... would you try to establish some political alliance, or was it just a game?"
"Not entirely, Mr. Paris. Surely, we would´ve analised the facts retrieved in that short while. Maybe our government would´ve save some contacts with you, but nothing else."
"So... we are too primitive for you?"
"No, in some matters, not," sighed the Salvorian. "I believe, that your race get through few rough years of war."
"Yeah, you can say that," quipped Tom.
"But... you´ve established some really respectable alliances. And this Federation thing... "
"Was anything about your race true?" asked Tom and looked at L´shtar.
"Unfortunately, yes. We don´t live on planets. At least major part of Salvorians live in the space. We have constructed some really monumental and highly developed spacestations, which could take each few million Salvorians and ride through the space, as if it was nothing. Sometime it´s incredible, what our scientist could do."
"If it is so, why are you here, threatening me with poison, L´shtar? I don´t undrestand. Who are you running from?"
"Yes, L´shtar, please, tell me," asked the light voice from behind and both men turned around. Shril B´glar was standing few feet behind Tom, one hand clutching her chin, the other leaning to wall for support. She was so pale, that if she was human, Tom would´ve thought, that she´s dead. But the Salvorians wasn´t humans, reminded himself Tom and squeezed his jaw, as his head began the usual throbbing. He just hoped, that Doc´s calculations was right, and he have at least thirty more hours.
"Shril, you should have stayed in bed," reclaimed L´shtar and walked to her.
"Yeah, I was in one, L´shtar. On that ship. Could you please explain me, why have I been at Voyager or why are we now running away? And what the hell did you think, to abduct one of them?"
"Perhaps you can explain it to me, also," intervened Tom. The Salvorian apparently slumped his shoulders and indicated the woman to sit at his chair, while he began to pace through the small room.
"Shril, what you remember last?" he asked, looking to her eyes. Shril frowned, contemplating her answer.
"I was going after you, L´shtar. Gro´lac found something in the sample of chromoblast from...." she looked at Tom, nervously. "Well, you know from what."
"What was it?" asked L´shtar exitedly.
"Degeneration. The cells of our offsprings... at least those in the incubation, are genetically damaged. He found it, L´shtar. The plants for food from our gravygardens are... bad. I don´t know why. But sure as hell I know, that the government had something with it."
"What happened, after you found out?" asked Tom, captured with the story.
"I... I went for you, L´shtar. The CLAN must know about it, and I didn´t trust K´lau. I ran out, but when the doors closed after me, something caught my sight. I saw Le´roy comm someone, and heard him say:
"They found out."
"So end it."
"It can damage the ship," he protested, but the voice on the other side told him, to blow it up. He didn´t see me, so I think, that we just had a bug in lab. I ran back and tried to open the door... I was so nervous, that I totally forgot the code and key. So I just beated on the door and cried at them to get out, but they didn´t hear me and then... then it just blowed up, I suppose." Her eyes were shine from tears, hands clenched in fists and face contorted in pain and anger.
"So, Le´roy works with them. We should´ve know it."
"How could we?" protested Shril B´glar and leaned her head into her hands, looking tired.
"You should lay down, Shril," said silently L´shtar.
"Like I´m the only one," sarcastically replied the woman, then looked at Tom with smile. Just then the Delta Flyer rocked, sending them all forward. Tom focused on the controls, frowning all the while.
"We´re going through the Termosphere. It can be rough, so my advice is, sit down and fasten your seatbelts.
"There isn´t any,"protested L´shtar, as another jolt sent him sprawling at the floor.
"Yeah, then hold to something. And, please, don´t touch that small Troc´lan, otherwise we would all die," retorted Tom, not once looking up from the helm.
After few really hard minutes, the ship stabilized, and Tom sighed in relief. It would be pretty awkward in times, when he´s in top condition, but now it was a challenge. He silently thanked, that Doc´s medicine keeped him on his feets, but when the Delta Flyer smoothly made his way through the red sky, Tom tumbled to the chair and wearily rubbed his eyes. The two Salvorians were whiter then the newly fallen snow.
"You two are in one piece?" asked Tom, because he didn´t keep them attention, while flying.
"Y-yeah," stuttered Shril, still holding the hand rest, as if it was her anchor. L´shtar was rubbing his left shoulder, where he was sporting a red bruise, from his conflict with the console.
"Great. I thought, you was the best pilot," he muttered annoyed.
"Yeah, well, I can anytime just faint, so you can try it yourself," angrilly replied Tom. "You know, I didn´t ask you for this ride. It´s good to be out of sickbay, but I rather have a talk with our Doc, then with you, Mister. Now, if you don´t mind, I´ll close my eyes, and you can tell Miss Shril B´glar, why are you kidnapping us from Voyager. Maybe I will understand this time." Tom covered his eyes with left hand, leaning deeply to the chair, while L´shtar growled and muttered something in his language.
Shril B´glar glared at him, angry herself.
"L´shtar," she hissed at him, breaking his attention.
"Shril?" he asked somewhat surprised at the sound.
"Talk, L´shtar. I want to hear everything, what happened, after the explosion. And don´t threaten our pilot anymore." Tom looked at her and little smile touched just the corner of his mouths. L´shtar blinked, as if just receiving a blow to the face.
"Shril," his voice took on pleading quality. "Wait, till we arrive at the place..."
"No, L´shtar. Talk now."
So he told them, how K´lau didn´t know, what to do. How Parc´r suggested, that Shril can be taken to Voyager.
"You don´t have sickbay?" asked Tom.
"No, not really," answered Shril.
"Then how... what you do, when someone´s get injured?" wondered Tom.
"Our medicine is more based on the flow of our energy..." the woman was trying to explain him. "On every ship is one doctor - a healer. He or she, is chosen at the age of three rotations, Mr. Paris. Then he is taken to the center, where he´s going through the training to become a healer. We don´t need technology in this field. Our healers can cure almost everything. Sure, there are some substances, that they use, but... that´s all."
"I will guess. Your healer was Gur´lac. Right?" L´shtar nodded.
"But... if you use healers, why are you so developed in that gene technology?"
"That´s something else," objected Shril B´glar. "We study our genes and cells, to understand, what´s wrong with our childrens. They´re dying, Tom. Now, we can tell, that the food, our government is producing and giving us, is damaged, and is slowly killing our future."
"So you´re some sort of resistance called CLAN?" asked Tom, looking at her. She nodded.
"Now, you know, why we must go, Paris. Parc´r was working for government, maybe even under K´lau´s supervision. When they sent Shril to Voyager, I accompanied her, pretending to be just a clumsy assistent, that´s easy to handle, maybe even convict from murder. But they was wrong. When Shril was poisoned, I knew, that we must leave the ship. So I just waited for time, when Shril will be able to travel."
"Why didn´t you tell this to captain Janeway?" asked Tom.
"So she could send as back and give out to government? Or have us killed?"
"No, she will never do that."
"She maybe not. But I can´t risk. Shril must be in safety, and just then the CLAN will intervene. With her statement and knowledge... she´s in grave danger. As are you, Paris."
"What are you talking about?" asked Tom with a growing sensation of ice in stomach.
"Oh, you surely understand, Paris. What you think will happen, once your people find out, that we are gone?"
"They will search for us, of course."
"Yes. But what will they think?" Tom tried to understand, but the growing headache was making it hard.
"Don´t play with me, I have enough problems with the ship as it is. If you don´t want to crash, just tell me."
L´shtar eyed him suspiciously, but seeing the human´s worn out features, he told him straight away.
"They will think, that I was the one, who tried to poison Shril. Parc´r will just support this suspicion. Maybe he can even find some "evidences". He will navigate them after us, and it´s unimportant, that they will search for us on Jurlik VI., because Parc´r´s technology will find our traces."
"So why all this camouflage?"
"Even him it will take some time, and besides, he couldn´t just tell the captain, where we are. He will "contact" some friends, who will tell him about CLAN, or at least, that will be his story for your captain. We have maybe ten hours, maybe less, till they begin to search the other planets. Once on the planet, I can hide us before the sensors, but that will just buy as another few hours, till Parc´r can persuade your captain to a search mission on the planet. But at that time, Jurlik VII. will be crowded with people from the government, who will be trying to "find us" first, just to be sure, that we are dead. Now, if Parc´r realize, that you was with us almost a day, he will come to a conclusion. Not a good one, I dare to say. You understand now, Paris?"
"Yeah, very clearly," answered Tom in low voice, thoughtlessly rubbing his right temple. Before he could say more, Tom stiffened and both his hands was again on the console.
"Hold on, we are going out," he warned, as the Delta flyer once again rocked. This time it lasted longer to get the plane from thermosphere, through exosphere, the outer region of atmosphere, where the air is extremely thin. It begins about 300 miles above the surface and gradually merges with the interplanetary space. Once here, the Delta flyer steadied it´s voyage. At the time, L´shtar gripped at one of the console, while Shril B´glar ghostly frowned in the chair. Tom blinked, hardly keeping his eyes open.
"Well, that´s it. We´re at the other side of Jurlik VI. I think, that a little break will not do any harm," Tom stated and half leaning on the console, he took a step away.
"Were are you going?" asked L´shtar panicked and came into his way, restraining him from rest.
"Look," replied Tom, annoyance clearly notable in his voice, "I´m going to lay down for a hour or two. The ship is programmed, so if you don´t touch anything, it will fly to the planet."
"Yeah, but you will be piloting," uttered the Salvorian vehemently and Tom groaned, restraining his urge to throttle this guy.
"You think, what you want. I´m gonna sleep. Try to prevent it, and I will just crash this ship to first meteorit, that will come around." L´shtar wanted to say something, but Tom continued, "I assume, that you don´t want to land this ship straight before your hiding place. So we will possibly take a tour. Now, I know that Jurlik VII. don´t have the best surface. If you simply don´t kill me there, I will come with you. And tell me, you want to drag me or rather your partner? Because, both of us you wouldn´t manage, I can assure you about that." Tom looked meaningly at Shril, who seemed just like him, on the verge of collapse. L´shtar frowned at her, then improvingly nodded. Tom walked around him straight into one of the cabins and lay down. He heard whispers then moves in the next cabin. He wearily closed his eyes and drifted into fitful sleep.
"Sickbay to Captain!" announced her commbadge, laying on the bedside table. She grabbed at it, frustrated to be waken up in this early hours, but eager to know, what could possibly upset the hologram.
"Yeah, Doctor. What´s... what´s going on?"
"They´re gone!" shouted the hologram distressed and the captain sat up.
"What? Who?"
"My patients!" Exclaimed the Doc angrilly. "Paris and Shril B´glar," he added, when there was no answer.
"Shi-" wanted to say the captain, instead of it she climbed from her bed and one hand clutching at the commbadge, the other grabbing some clothes.
"How long?"
"What?"
"How long are they missing?"
"Possibly fifty five minutes, if the readings are correct."
"Where were you?"
"Deactivated," murmured the hologram.
"Again?" exclaimed the captain, then shook her head. "Can they even walk?"
"Uhm... yeah. I believe, that someone stoled few hyposprays. If the Salvorian woman received a right drug, she can walk by herself. Not much, but fairly."
"And Tom?"
"Yes, he tried to sneek out few hours ago."
"Why am I not surprised," muttered the captain to herself.
"Ship... locate Lieutenant Tom Paris," she adressed the communicator and waited for answer.
"Lieutenant Tom Paris is not present at Voyager."
"Then locate Shril B´glar."
"Shril B´glar is not on board Voyager," stated the computer and the Captain swore.
"Captain to Tuvok!" the security chief answered almost immediately.
"Tuvok, here."
"Can you locate Lieutenant Paris?"
Seconds later.
"He is not on Voyager," answered Tuvok, his voice hiding any surprise, he might feel.
"How much Salvorians are onboard?"
"Only one."
"Who?"
"Parc´r."
"Meeting at my office in five minutes. Inform Chakotay and Lieutenant Torres. Captain out." The walk to the bridge didn´t take full five minutes, but when she opened the door to her office, Chakotay and Tuvok was here. Just after her arrived B´Elanna Torres, disturbed by the morning call. Seeing the officers, her brow furrowed more.
"Now, sorry for the disturbing, but, we have a situation." She didn´t offer anyone to take a seat, so they stood, listening. Not waiting for their questions, she continued.
"Mr. Paris and two Salvorians are missing."
"What?" gasped B´Elanna. Chakotay frowned, only Tuvok didn´t express anything.
"Doctor?" the hologram appeared on the screen.
"Can you tell us exactly what happened?"
"As I said, captain, I was deactivated between 03:40 to 04:40. When I was able to activate myself, I found out, that both my patients are gone."
"Do you know, when they disappeared?"
"From the readings of biobed. Normally, I would be activated, when the patient take a walk. But my protocols was somehow changed."
"But the readings remained?"
"Yes. I was able to assess the information. Mr. Paris left his biobed at 03:50. The Salvorian woman did so ten minutes later."
"So Tom was aroused first..." speculated B´Elanna grimly. "Why?"
"Shril B´glar wasn´t in the state to walk away, Lieutenant," intervened Tuvok. "We can assume, that Mr. Paris was forced to help her."
"Yes, I believe so," added the hologram. "I find that some hyposprays are missing."
"That will be logical," quipped Tuvok.
"But why Tom?" asked B´Elanna.
"He has medical experience, as well as piloting."
"That´s ridiculous. I wouldn´t take a fly with someone who´s feverous. It´s a suicide."
"Maybe not. Mr. Paris is quite a good pilot."
"And his fever just broke down," added the doctor.
"Captain, you said, that there´s two missing Salvorians. Who´s the other?" asked Chakotay.
"L´shtar."
"Is anyone else missing?" the captain looked at Tuvok.
"No, captain. Just them."
"How did they got from Voyager?" That was a million credits question.
"There is just two ways to leave Voyager," said Captain Janeway. "Transporter or ship."
"Nobody was transported in the last five hours," announced Tuvok. "I talked with sergeant Dillon, who had a duty, but he didn´t see anyone."
"Computer... I want a list of ships leaving from Voyager in the last twentyfour hours." The screen changed and there appeared two names. Both of them left to the surface of Jurlik VI., but that was, when Tom and the Salvorians was still onboard.
"Try something else," advised Chakotay. "Computer, state the number of flyers in the dock."
"Twelve."
"One´s missing," observed B´Elanna.
"Yeah. But why don´t we know it?" asked the captain scowling.
"Tuvok," she turned to the security chief. "Your men had watched the sickbay, not?"
"I´m sorry, captain. I have informations, that it was Parc´r, who tried to kill Shril B´glar. My men were following his quarters, as well as him."
"What with L´shtar?"
"Indeed, I have two men who watched him also. But it seems, that he tricked them. He was walking from the simulator, when they lost him for a minute. Then he appeared walking to his quarters."
"How did he go away?"
"They found ensign Durdoff on the floor of his quarters, seemingly drunk. There was some sort of holoemitter on his clothes. I believe, that Salvorians are much more developed in technology, that we was able to detect."
"So it seems," sighed captain Janeway.
"But... why run away? And take a hostage?" asked B´Elanna furious.
"Tuvok, you said, that Parc´r was responsible for that poisoning..."
"What poisoning?" asked B´Elanna nervously.
"Shril B´glar was poisoned. But Tom saw it, and the Doctor found a cure." answered her Captain and looked back at Tuvok.
"I should told you that, captain," apologizing told Tuvok. "Sergeant Justis saw someone near sickbay that night. He identified him as Parc´r."
"Great," muttered the captain and looked at her crew.
"B´Elanna... I want you to look at our system. I have a feeling, that someone was messing with it."
"Capt..." protested B´Elanna.
"Take Mr. Kim, if necessary, but I wouldn´t be happy, if too much people knew. Also, send someone to take a look at the Doctor. I don´t like, that someone tampered with his protocols." Janeway stiffly looked at the half-Klingon, and Torres nodded.
"Fine. Tuvok... I want a complete check of a security systems. When Durdoff will be sober enough to talk, debrief him." The Vulcan nodded and left in an instant. Remained only Chakotay and the captain let out a sigh.
"Someone needs to talk with Parc´r, captain," he told her.
"I know. Firstly, I want a preliminary report. I´m not very fond of this "technology", that must´ve been used for they escape. I think, that Salvorians have more advanced methods, than they would admit. Meanwhile, we can take a trip to the Dock, what are you saying, Commander?" she asked and was rewarded by a warm smile.
"Can I accompany you, captain?"
"I just waited for this question. Come."
After a talk with the sergeant on duty, the captain and commander slowly walked to the guests apartment. The corridors were mostly empty, so they could talk about the situation.
"At least, Paris was okay," said Chakotay. "If they need him for piloting, they´ll keep him all right."
"Yeah, but what happens, if they land, Chakotay?" asked the captain nervously. "If Tom would get worse, do you think, that they will keep with him?"
The question was disturbing and Chakotay shook his head, not knowing, how to respond.
"We can only hope, that they are civilized enough to let him return."
"Yeah," sighed the captain. "But they was on my ship, Chakotay. Disturbed the security system and kidnapped one of my officer. I don´t like it a bit."
The doors to Parc´r´s quarters was watched by guards. They recognized the captain and commander and one of them quietly walked towards them.
"Captain," the man saluted.
"Report."
"The Salvorian was in his quarters from eleven p.m., when he came from the messhall. There wasn´t any disturbance."
"Nothing strange?"
"No, captain. It´s quiet."
"Thanks, sergeant." The guard saluted and returned to his post. Janeway and Chakotay stood before the door.
"Parc´r, here´s captain Janeway and commander Chakotay. We need to talk with you. It´s concerning your associates." A minute of silence, then the door chirmed and opened, revealing the fully clothed Salvorian.
"Yes, captain... what is so important?" he asked with low voice, then looked at the guards.
"Could we come in?"
"Oh, yes. Sure." He stepped aside, when the captain and commander walked in. The doors closed with a hiss.
"Please, take a seat," offered Parc´r, openly glaring at Chakotay.
"So, what was so important that you woke me up in the middle of the night? Or is it a custom in your race?"
"No, I´m sorry, that we disturbed you. But something happened, and we felt the need to inform you."
"Is Shril B´glar worse?" asked the Salvorian with anxiety.
"We can´t say that, but it´s concerning her, as well as your associate L´shtar and one of my officer."
"I don´t quite understood, captain."
"L´shtar and Shril B´glar left the Voyager, about half an hour ago, with Lieutenant Paris, who was at the time in sickbay. I believe, that L´shtar kidnapped him, as well, as Shril B´glar."
"How did they get away?" asked surprised Parc´r.
"We don´t know. There´s some things, that should be explained to us, Parc´r. The technology, that L´shtar used to escape, must´ve been something more advanced, that we´re aware of. That offer a question - is everything, that K´lau told us truth or a lie?"
"I believe, that emissar K´lau was telling you the truth," bitterly answered Parc´r and frowned. "At least, the part about our technology," his eyes shined and Parc´r enthusiastically paced through the room, something muttering under his nose.
"Excuse me, what you said?"
"Clan. The rebel group. It must be them. So, L´shtar is working for them," he said and his eyes angrilly sparked. "I should´ve know! That Kr´plon´toc!" The universal translator wasn´t able to interpret the word, but Chakotay was sure that it´s meaning wasn´t very praiseful.
"What is the purpose of this "rebel group?" asked the captain and Parc´r quitted with cursing.
"They´re fanatics. They want to live on planet, not even knowing, how hazarduous that is!"
"Aren´t your people free to choose, where they want to live?" questioned Chakotay and Parc´r frowned.
"Yes, surely. But it´s for they own safety... Don´t get me wrong, captain. Or people could freely go, wherever they want. But this group," he practically spitted out, "is luring our childrens to the world, where it´s impossible to live. They´re like a cult... when someone come to them, he or she will be positioned in some poor ubications, where the only thing is work. Like slaves, they´re building this unrealistic town on the planet."
"What´s so wrong about it?"
"It can´t exist, commander!" shouted at him Parc´r, then apologizing returned to pace. "Our race is old, captain. We travel the space hundred years, and our bodies changed. It´s possible to live on the planet, but not very long. And the childrens that was born there, are... deformed. Mostly they die."
"Tell this to your people, and they will not go away," suggested the captain.
"We tried, captain Janeway. But the rebells have their own propagand."
"All right. I don´t know much about your policy. But right now, it´s important to find your associates, and my crewman. Do you have a clue, as to why they escaped?"
Parc´r shortly thought about it, then nodded.
"I think, that L´shtar kidnapped Shril B´glar, and is now on the way to the rebell´s secret base."
"Base?" spoke Chakotay.
"Our government believe, that somewhere in this territory is their base, commander. It was my secret mission to find out, where."
"Just a moment. You aren´t here as a scientist?"
"No, captain. I´m an agent of our government. Of course, it´s secret, if anyone ask you."
"Indeed. "
"So, you were on K´lau´s ship as agent. Why?"
"We had informations, that some of his crew are members of the CLAN. K´lau´s ship was one, which frequently passed the Freyan territory, thus having the chance for spying and coupling with our enemies."
"That explosion on your ship..."
"I believe, that it was a sabotage. The main target was our doctor, who worked on some research. He was on the verge of a discovery, which could´ve helped our people."
"You knew, that Shril B´glar would be the next target?"
"Yes, we presummed it."
"So why did you bring her there?"
"Because, like K´lau said, she was in medical need. Our healer - doctor, as you say, was killed. We don´t have holograms, and don´t use advanced technology. Our health is strictly in the hands of a schooled doctor, with healing skills. At the time, it was safer to bring her to Voyager, than let her suffer long days."
"Why didn´t K´lau stay here?"
"Like he said - our government needed the reports."
It was clear, that Parc´r won´t add anything more to this subject, and Janeway wasn´t really concerned about Salvorians, so much as about her pilot.
"Do you know, where they can head?"
"To the base," said instantly Parc´r, then frowned and shook his head. "No, that´s not right. The base had to be farther. I think... perhaps... to one of the near planet. They have a little hiding places almost everywhere in this galaxy. Yeah, if I have to say... they are somewhere near, hiding. Perhaps waiting till we end our search, or to the rescue from rebells."
"You think, that Shril B´glar was kidnapped, or walked on her own will?"
"I... don´t know," admitted the Salvorian grimly.
"You know this people... what can we wait from them? Would they return our pilot?"
"Don´t think so, captain. I would be surprised, if he survive longer than landing."
Captain Janeway looked deeply in the black eyes, and saw something, that made her inside shudder. She stood up and nodded to Chakotay.
"We have a work to do, Commander."
Review, reviews please...
Go to the third and last chapter.
Star Trek: Voyager The Not So Good Guest "by Nicol Leoraine"
Second Part
It was a quiet night. The calmness was disrupted just once, when Ensign Caldrey, from maintenance rushed in with a bloody face, escorted by security. It appeared, that the Ensign didn´t quit understood the meaning of the words shut up, so someone silenced him with a fist. Apparrently, nobody from the thirty people in the Messhall seemed to notice, who did it, even the jovial Talaxian Neelix wasn´t able to offer a good description. Tom, who was dozing at the time, wasn´t very surprised, whereas ensign Caldrey, a former Starfleet, was a pretty annoying man. He himself found hard not to whack him sometimes, but right now could feel just a slight satisfaction, as he wasn´t in any better state. On the end, he was glad, that Caldrey wasn´t seriously injured, because spend with the man time at sickbay could´ve been worse, than the illness alone.
When the complaints and curses died, as Caldrey walked away, Tom drifted into sleep, slightly thinking about what security measures did Tuvok take.
His mind reeled on concepts for a new holoprogram, that he was planning, he dreamed about flying, which quickly changed into a hard journey through the scorched, heat emanating desert. He saw B´Elanna, with the glass of cool water in one hand, standing just few meters from him, but as he walked, she backed away from him. He tried to cry out, tell her, that she´s not to be afraid, but his throat was so dry, he couldn´t. So he just walked... one step after other. The image changed, B´Elanna vanished and now he was trapped in his nightmare. Sitting at the helm, and trying to save them, but all his efforts was in vain. Caldik Prime. The wreck of the ship changed, and he now stood at the court, saying, that all was just a lie. Looking at his father and seeing sorrow and something much worse... disappointment. The few weeks at Auckland, then an offer from Starfleet. Again at the helm... God, he was afraid. Not wanting to be a failure, yet knowing, that find the Maquis is impossible. But there was the caretaker, and he got a chance...
The heat was unbearable. He felt trapped in his own body, like in stasis. Trying to free himself, but the only thing he achieved was that his skin seemed to be burning. Looking at his hands, he cried out, when small sparks running through his uniform raised into all consuming flames.
"Mr.Paris," sounded in his mind. "Tom! Wake up! It´s just a dream," assured him the voice. Tom opened his eyes, vision blurred, but he could make out the bald head, and next to him the beautiful woman with brown skin and ridges on her forehead. B´Elanna was here, she will stop the fire.
"He´s delirious, but I found something, that should reduce the fever," the Doc was practical as always, but Tom wished, that he could just once do something really effective. Maybe the shower he took before wasn´t such a bad idea.
"Water," croaked Tom and at instant he was given a drink. Not precisely what he thought, but the cool liquid was really good. Now just convice them to let him take a cool shower and he will feel just like new. The problem was, he couldn´t convice them. They didn´t listen to him, as he asked for more water, instead the Doc pushed to his neck another hypospray. Tom moaned in frustration; when something wonderful touched his forehead. B´Elanna was wiping his face with a wet cloth. Tom turned closer to her touch and mumbled something as so cool. B´Elanna smiled, seeing, that he calmed down.
"See? Better then your medicine," she told the Doc, who just snorted, but otherwise satisfied left the patient in the capable hands of chief engineer. In the next half hour, his fever dropped about two degrees, and B´Elanna left to her quarters, catch some sleep herself.
"We want to see her," exclaimed L´shtar vehemently. It was late morning, and the Salvorians couldn´t wait to talk with the woman. But the hologram shook his head, and in low voice talked to them.
"Her condition is worse,"
"What are you talking about? Just yesterday you said, that she will be fine," protested L´shtar, while his colleague Parc´r silently watched the discussion. The Salvorian´s eyes turned to Tom, so he quickly pretended sleep. But he could sense the alien´s scrutiny, and felt, that his suspicions could be right.
"How bad is she?" asked L´shtar and Tom was all ears, so he can get to know, what´s going on. Tom was sure, that the Doc wouldn´t tell them about Shril B´glar´s poisoning, and noway he could spill, that she´s coming around. Sometime between B´Elanna´s presence and the time, when Tom woke up, the Doc found the antidote. Now it was just a question of time, when Shril B´glar will wake up herself and tell them, who´s trying to kill her. Tom had the feeling, that she knew, otherwise, the killer wouldn´t take the risk of being caught in sickbay.
"As I said to you the last night," They was there last night? How that Tom didn´t hear them? "... her fever is not coming down, and she had some seizures. Hopefully, none of them caused a brain damage, but it´s a close call. She need´s rest and special care, and I could provide her both." Ever the self-confident hologram, sighed Tom.
"Can we see her?" asked the other men, and Tom heard his voice for the first time. It was rough, but straight.
"Maybe later, Mr. Parc´r. My assistent is just doing some tests..."
"How can we know, that she´s allright, Doctor? She could be dead, and you´re just trying to hide it," smeared him L´shtar. The EMH looked at them clearly annoyed himself.
"I´m in no need to hide anything, Mr. I´m a hologram, after all. But till Shril B´glar is my patient, I will do, what´s in the best interrest of my patient. If you want to complain, go after Captain Janeway." And it was the end of discussion. The two Salvorians left the sickbay and Tom could hear the Doctor sigh in relief.
"Seems like your manners are improving, Doc," joked Tom and was surprised by the smile from hologram.
"Yeah, I´m spending too much time in your company, Mr. Paris. Now... have you been up long?"
"Nah, just to the end. They´re really nice, this Salvorians."
"Humpf," snorted Doc and came to Tom´s bed.
"You know, if it was the other way... that someone from Voyager was on their ship... we would be just as impatient."
"Yeah," admitted the EMH, frowning in the way, " but we wouldn´t have tried to poison him. That´s a difference."
"So, the captain thinks, that it´s best not to tell them anything?" scouted Tom, curious.
"She want´s to talk with the woman, first."
"When will she wake up?"
"Maybe at night, or tomorrow. The poison combined with her previous injuries, has some side-effects. She´s still unconscious."
"That´s bad. But she will make it?"
"If nothing happens, yes." The Doc wasn´t very comforable with the subject of the dialogue, so he changed it.
"Now, tell me, how you feel?" Tom groaned.
"That good?"
"No, it´s really better, Doc," hurriedly answered Tom, not wanting the hologram think otherwise.
"I see. You temperature is down, which is good. The protozoa´s are at the moment in recess..."
"That´s good," exclaimed Tom, glad to hear something positive.
"... but I wouldn´t be very optimistic," continued the Doc. Tom frowned.
"Why not?" he asked, angry now.
"Because that is just one stage. Like you said, it´s a ride on roller-coaster. The "virus" is reproducing itself in high number. The rate of this reproduction is at maximum when your fever is up, then it´s subsiding. That´s a cyclus. Now is the time, when the medication could take effect. If it can´t destroy it now, we will have to wait another 48 hours cyclus, and try another cure."
"How long will be this... virus, in this "calm" state?" asked nervously Tom.
"I can´t be sure, but my guess is twenty four to fourty-eight hours."
"So, I can return to my quarters? When it´s inactive..."
"I didn´t say, that it´s inactive. Just that the number of protozoa´s in your blood is lower. No, you can´t return to your quarters. First, I don´t really know, if my theories are true. Secondly, I said you, that this time is the best to start a treatment."
Tom plaintively moaned, wishing, that Pharbos II. did never exist. He wished more, looking at the hypospray, that the Doc prepared on the nightstand.
"What´s that wonder drug, you are giving me?"
"The combination of AQR and quinine. It was used on Earth in the 21th century. Doctor Willesbrone improved it, so the side effects are now minimal. Every twelve hour, for a week, but if it fails in the next two days, I will continue with Maltrop."
"Great," sighed Tom.
"Now, don´t be so bleak, Lieutenant. If you caught this somewhere with less developed medical knowledge, you would be surely dead, by now. You´re lucky to be here."
"Yeah, I thought that, Doc," answered in sombre voice Tom. The hologram was about to object, when the doors opened and Harry Kim walked in.
"Ah, ensign Kim, I´m glad, that you´re here!" announced the hologram.
Harry was more than surprised by the cheery welcome and looked suspiciously at Tom, who just sniffed.
"Maybe your company can raise Mr. Paris´s spirit. I´m somehow unsuccesful in that task."
"I wonder why," muttered Harry, far enough, that the hologram didn´t hear him, but Tom smirked, seeing his friend´s perplexed face.
"Talk with him," muttered the Doc, passing Harry and tried to blink in plotting manner, failing miserably. Harry walked next to Tom, and when the hologram disappeared in his office, asked:
"What the hell´s with him?" Tom smiled at his friend, then wearily sighed.
"Too much time in sickbay, Har. I´m beginning to hate this all."
"You´re better now?"
"Oh, yeah. The prognosis is great - next two days idillic, then comes the hell again. Or not, if I am lucky. Maybe this "wonder drug" can stop it."
"So... you don´t know, when you can get back to the land of living?"
"Don´t have a clue." Neither one spoke a while, but when the silence was getting unbearable, they both spoke at once.
"What´s going on the ship?"
"Did you see Caldrey?"
Tom laughed as did Harry too.
"Yeah, Caldrey. He came all bloody. Who smacked him like that? I would like to congratulate..."
"Uhm... I don´t really know. Unfortunatelly, I wasn´t in the messhall at the time. But Delaney´s sisters was, and Jenny said, that it looked like Harper..."
"Shaila Harper? That little girl?!"
"Hey, she isn´t a girl, you know. She´s older then me..."
"Yeah, I know," Tom grinned and Harry turned his eyes disgusted, that he couldn´t even hit him.
"I will return this, Tom. Just as you´re out of this place."
"Ooh... I´m shaking," joked Tom, as his spirit was climbing up. "So... what did Caldrey do to this little woman, that she hit him so hard?"
"You know, he has some similar comments about her height and age. Something about who let the kids work on this ship? type of note. You know, she may be little, but I will bet, that her right hook is pretty hard."
"Yeah. What´s new on the bridge?"
"Not much. We are on the orbit of this tiny little stony planet named Jurlik VI. Yesterday we was trying to find some deuterium, which the sensors indicated. We had to walk through half the planet," exagerated Harry, "to find the deposit, because the readings was fluctuating for the desert storm. Even now I´m trying to get rid of the sand."
"No aliens here?"
"Nope. Not a bug, oh, sorry,"
"You know, I am planning a new holoprogram."
"Yeah?" asked Harry interested. "What about?"
"Uhm, don´t know for sure. But I have a name for it," announced Tom proudly.
"What?" Harry had some suspicion.
"Kill the bug! Simple enough, don´t you think?" Both grinned, as the Doc returned.
"Ah, I see, that you was succesful," acclaimed Doc, and Tom´s grin disappeared.
"But..." he thought, silently waiting,
"But, he could use some rest, so if you will please go, Mr. Kim," said the hologram, just as Tom waited. Harry looked first at Tom, whose eyes pleaded him to stay, then at the Doc, who certainly wasn´t know by his kindness to guests.
"Sorry, buddy, I must go," apologized Harry and left Tom in the "gentle" care of the EMH. At least, when Sam Wildman appeared, a little flushed from the run, apologizing, he had someone to talk to.
The day was passing slowly, and Tom could be grateful just for the relatively good state. He was weary and tired, true, but the pains were gone, all but the slight headache, which he quitly tolerated, rather then take some drug. The worst thing was, he was totally bored. He asked B´Elanna, when she stopped by the lunch for a while, to bring him some padds, so he could at least read, but that was long hours ago and now he could only stare at the ceiling, or risk a talk with Doc. Sam Wildman was free to leave, as Doc didn´t need time to work on the antidote for Shril B´glar. He now tried something, which could help Tom, but he doubted, that he will succeed. Not that he needed something now. Tom was really restless and wanted to return to his quarters, not accepting the EMH´s suggestions.
When the hologram was in the lab, and the sickbay was clear, Tom hesitantly sat up. His head throbbed a little more, but that was all. He let his feets touch the ground, then, leaning to the bed, tried to stand. Not bad, he thought, as he was standing straight. Now, take some steps, Tom advised himself. There, it could be. His legs was a little woobly and the room spinned, but otherwise, it was good. He took another three steps, when a voice from behind questioned:
"What are you doing, Mr. Paris?"
Tom quickly turned and his vision flickered, but he looked straight at the hologram.
"Going to bathroom," lied Tom.
"Ah, I see, that your coordination is slightly off, Mr. Paris. You was heading out of the sickbay," retorted the Doctor sarcastically.
"Oh, right. The bathroom is to the left..."
"Yes, Mr. Paris."
Tom turned, silently cursing his luck. Surely, the Doc can stay in the lab hours, but must emerge just as he´s trying to escape. Now he didn´t have a choice, and headed for the bathroom, praying, that the Doc wouldn´t follow him. No such luck.
"You know, Doc, I can do it myself," said Tom annoyed.
"I know, Mr. Paris. But it´s my job to see, that you don´t get hurt. You know, how slippery this floor could be. I don´t want to patch you up with broken bones."
"Like you care," muttered Tom and closed the door, leaving the hologram out. He was breathing deeply, trying to fight off the nausea and increasing anger. As he was here, he did what he have to. Washing his face, he heard voices from sickbay and hoped, that it´s some new patient. Peering through the door, he smiled. The Doc was shuffling around a security guard, with broken leg. Tom quietly walked to his bed and wearily lay down. Just the walk from the bathroom tired him, but he wouldn´t admit it to anyone. When the Doc treated the officer, telling him, that he should stay in sickbay for an hour, then came to Tom, he was pretending to be asleep. When the officer left the sickbay after a hour, he fell asleep for real.
Sweet dreams, would´ve said Tom, if he wasn´t disturbed. First, the Doc woke him up, giving him his medicine, then someone hardly shook his shoulder, and interrupted the image of B´Elanna in shower, which wasn´t very tactful. Tom muttered something, and tried to shake off the disturber, but was rewarded by a loud hiss and a smack in the ribs. Bolting upright, disoriented, he looked at the blue skinned Salvorian, with resolution written in eyes.
"Hey!" protested Tom at the rough awakening.
"Shut up!" ordered the man and Tom was tempted to hit him. "I will say this just once, so you better listen, Mr. Paris."
"What do you think you are doing?!" asked Tom angrily, when the Salvorian throwed at him a pack of clothes.
"Dress yourself."
"Why the hell...?"
"I don´t have time, Paris," hissed the Salvorian and reached to Tom´s forearm. There, as Tom looked, was a small object attached to his skin. Tom touched it, only to yelp out, as small electrical shock hit him. "You fucking bastard, what´s this?" he asked, pointing to the orbicular object the colour of sand, which was embeded to his skin. He didn´t know, how it got here, but this blue bastard has clearly something with it.
"You couldn´t take it off. Now, dress, while I tell you, what I want."
Tom sat unmoving and glared at the intruder. The Salvorian sighed, not very happy, and retrieved from his pocket small control device.
"You want to energize me?" commented sarcastically Tom.
"No. I have two ways to do, what I need. First, you will cooperate and help me. Second, you will not cooperate. Then I press this button, and you will be injected by a strong poison. It´s unknown to your doctor, and even if you could tell him, the poison act quickly. One minute, and you´re dead, Mr. Paris. Believe me." And by his look, Tom didn´t have a reason not to. The Salvorian´s eyes were frantic and his lips twitched, even as the man didn´t realize it.
"What do you want from me?"
"Help. Nothing more, Mr. Paris. Believe me, I don´t want to be your enemy. Just don´t have a choice. Now, please, dress. We have something to do." Tom hesitantly complied, not knowing himself, why. Sure, the threat was very alarming, but there was a chance. He could surprise the man and take the control device from him. How he can do it? Right now, it wasn´t possible. But if the man would think, that he is cooperating, there will be a chance. So, he dressed and was surprised himself to see, that the uniform fitted him accurately. The Salvorian meanwhile looked nervously around, as if waiting for a rescue party. One hand in his pocket surely clenched the control device. Once Tom was dressed, he silently waited, not wanting to talk first. The Salvorian cleared his throat and nodded.
"Now, you will wake up Shril B´glar."
The request left Tom with open mouth.
"You are crazy. She´s unconscious,"
"The last I checked, your medicine could arouse her."
"Yeah, so you should check with Doc, first. I don´t know, what to do..."
"Bullshit! You´re a medic! Wake her up, or I will let you sleep, forever!" The man´s hand shaked and Tom raised his hands, surrendering.
"Move," snarled the Salvorian and Tom obeyed, moving carefully.
"You´ve searched our database?" he asked, walking to the room with the Salvorian woman. She lay quitly, oblivious to this world. He wished to see the doctor. Where the hell was the Doc, anyway?
"We have much more advanced technology, then your race, Paris. Don´t hope, that someone will rescue you. The hologram is shut down, and the sensors from security was adapted. Lieutenant Tuvok, nor the captain will come here."
"And if someone breaks a leg?" asked Tom and applied some hypospray to Shril B´glar´s neck. The Salvorian watched every his move, but smiled at his question.
"Do you know, what time is?"
"No,"
"Three quarter four, morning. Who will break bones at this time?"
"Nobody knows,"
"Yeah," muttered the Salvorian and harshly looked at him. "Hey, why isn´t she awake?"
"I don´t know. She was poisoned... you know about it, don´t you?"
"Yeah, I thought that," admitted the man nervously. "But your doctor cured her..."
"If so, she would be aw..."
At this point, Shril B´glar opened her eyes and softly moaned. Tom stepped back and put to her neck another hypospray. The woman looked round herself, first disoriented, but then she spotted the man.
"L´shtar," came a soft voice from her lips.
"Shril," gently said L´shtar and smiled.
"What...?" asked the woman, then looked at Tom, confused. "Where I am?"
"It´s a long story, Shril. We have to go. Can you walk?" Tom helped her sit up, and L´shtar gave her some clothes.
"Here, dress this, Shril. We will be near. Please, hurry." The woman nodded, and altough confused, she began to dress. L´shtar turned to Tom and they both walked out.
"So, is that all?" asked Tom hopefully, but knowing otherwise.
"No. You... must help. Retrieve the medication, that she will need, possibly that you will need too."
"What?!" shrieked Tom. "You´re planning a trip? Do you know, that kidnapping is a hard delict?"
"Yes, I know. In our world it´s punished by death, Mr. Paris. I don´t want to hurt you, but I need your assistance. So, pack the things Shril B´glar and you will need, and quickly." Tom groaned.
"How long trip are you planning, by the way?"
"Few days, possibly. Look, Paris, I said it straight. I need to take Shril to secure place. There is one, not so far. When we´ll be here, and I contact my friends, you can return to Voyager. If you´ll cooperate, no harm will happen to anyone. Do you understand?"
"Yeah," muttered Tom, not happy at all. "And what warrant have I, that you will not kill me in the moment, we leave Voyager?"
"Just my word."
"Oh, that´s fine. People can always believe someone, who have his finger on the trigger, right."
"No more wisdoms, Mr. Paris. Pack. Or you can stay right here," and the man squeezed the controller with such anger, that Tom believed him.
"L´shtar?" asked the thin woman, walking from her room and looking around curiously. L´shtar came to her and smiled.
"What happened?"
"You were injured, Shril. K´lau send you here, to Voyager. You remember the humans?"
"Oh, yeah. That woman with white skin..." she looked at Tom, who was wearing a mask of tiredness.
"Who´s he?"
"Friend. He will help us." Tom grinned at the words.
"What´s your name?" asked him Shril B´glar, and Tom looked at her, their eyes, one pair of blue, the other black like night, meet.
"Tom Paris. And this man is just threatening me with this," he raised his hand and showed the little object. The woman´s eyes enlarged and she angrilly looked at the man next to her.
"You used on him Tro´clan?! L´shtar, how could you?!"
"I... it´s necessary. He wouldn´t cooperate..."
"So what?"
"Shril... Parc´r tried to kill you, here. We must go, and he can take us away. He´s a pilot, Shril,"
"Hey, and you expect me to fly?" Tom looked at him incredulously. "Man, if you didn´t notice, I wasn´t in sickbay for an excursion. Just this morning I didn´t even know, what´s my name, and you´re expecting, that I will take you to a trip? You´re crazy!"
"L´shtar!" the woman eyed him angrilly. "What were you thinking?"
"Enough! I don´t have to listen to you. I have my job to do, so please, don´t fuss around it. Shril, I did, what was needed for your security. I didn´t have a choice, as don´t have you, in this matter. Paris, one more time, and I will end all this. Don´t be stupid, and no one will get hurt. Is that clear?"
"Yes, sir," Tom almost saluted.
"Now, take what you need and come. We must go."
Tom put several hyposprays to his pocket, the other handed to Shril, along with a tricoder and dermal regenerator. L´shtar nodded to the doors, and silently the trio walked out.
Tom thought, that perhaps Tuvok is somewhere hiding, waiting for the best time to attack. Walking trough the abandoned corridors, his hope was quickly detoriating, as his pace was brisked. They meet someone twice, both times it was some Ensign or officer, but no one from security. Tom was tempted to take a chance, when Ensign Lopez from enviromentals was passing them, but he let him pass too, as the young man was barely awake, tired from the night shift. Tom sighed, the weariness catching at him, as well as some fatigue. Three times he stumbled and the Salvorian woman looked at him worriedly. He didn´t know, what she was worrying about more, if about him, or herself, knowing, that he would fly the ship.
Once they was in the dock, Tom shook himself from dark thoughts, and tried to think, but nothing came to him. There was some technicians, working on one of the flyers. Tom and two Salvorians passed them, when one of them walked to Tom, and eyed the trio suspiciously.
"Lieutenant Paris," said the man and smirked. "What brings you here at this time?"
"I´m escorting this two guests to Jurlik VI."
"Now?" asked the man, clearly unbelieving.
"Well, yeah. You know, Salvorians are different from humans, Ensign. They are awake, when we sleep, so the captain thought, that some excursion in late hours will be good."
"And you was the lucky one, right?" the man now smirked and Tom supressed the urge to shout at him, that he´s an idiot, when he can fall to something like that. L´shtar grinned, as the man walked away.
"Don´t try anything, Lieutenant. Believe me, you can lose more than I." whispered him the Salvorian, one hand supporting Shril B´glar, the other deep in his pocket. Tom swallowed bitter words and instead of them nodded.
"Now what?"
"Your ship."
"Delta Flyer?" asked Tom a little surprised.
"I studied your plans, Paris. It´s good shuttle. Now, move."
Tom almost tripped, but obeyed, not feeling to much rebelion. The trio walked to the Delta Flyer and Tom was quickly seated at the helm, looking through controls. L´shtar helped Shril lay down in one of the cabins, and now stood next to Tom.
"Start up the engines," ordered the Salvorian.
"Now, just a moment, sir. I have to ask someone, probably captain or commander, for permittion to start. I don´t see, how I can get it. So, we are at the end."
"You really think, that I would make all this and not thought about that?" sneered the Salvorian. "Human, you can be naive sometimes..."
"Yeah. If we were not naive, your "partner" would be probably dead," quipped Tom adversely. L´shtar´s face was a shade of purple blue, and his hand was shaking.
"Start the engines, Lieutenant. Don´t bother with other." L´shtar turned, retrieving from his pocket another unknown object, just this time it was bigger, like a dogged fist. The Salvorian picked it up and with gentle touch activated the mechanism.
"What is it?"
"Masking device and something more."
Tom started the Delta Flyer. The communication was quiet. He was waiting for someone to notice, but nothing happened. As if everything was all right. The Delta Flyer fluttered, then quitly flyied out of the Dock. Nobody asked them, where they are going. Tom manoeuvred with surprise, not believing how easy it was.
"How... how did you do it?" he asked incredulous. The Salvorian let out a small laugh, before easing himself to the chair next the helm.
"I´d said, that our technology is more advanced. They will not see us, and if the men on the Dock don´t start to ask, I think, we have thirty minutes, maybe more."
"Where are we going?"
"If they start to look, our traces will be noticeable, so first, head for Jurlik VI."
"You want to land?"
"No. We will go trought to strathospere, then emerge on the other side of planet. From here, we go to Jurlik VII."
"That will be rough," sighed Tom.
"Yes. And that´s why I have to bring you with me. I´m not very good pilot."
"Perfect. So if I happen to collapse, we can all go to hell, right?"
"It shall be better, if you stay conscious all the ride, Mr. Paris." The Voyager left behind, Tom wanted to know as much, as he can.
"Well, if I have to safely land on Jurlik VII., perhaps you could tell me, what was all that mess about. You know, like why playing the show about you not being more developed. It wasn´t as if you needed our help, at first."
"Our government has some rules. Amongs them is something similar to your Prime directive."
"Wait a moment... it´s not like we aren´t developed," Tom get exited. "We are highly technically developed, you could see that."
"Yeah, and brake to your computers was a matter of minutes, Lieutenant," reacted L´shtar amused. Tom frowned and nodded.
"So, what you wanted to do about our encounter? I mean... would you try to establish some political alliance, or was it just a game?"
"Not entirely, Mr. Paris. Surely, we would´ve analised the facts retrieved in that short while. Maybe our government would´ve save some contacts with you, but nothing else."
"So... we are too primitive for you?"
"No, in some matters, not," sighed the Salvorian. "I believe, that your race get through few rough years of war."
"Yeah, you can say that," quipped Tom.
"But... you´ve established some really respectable alliances. And this Federation thing... "
"Was anything about your race true?" asked Tom and looked at L´shtar.
"Unfortunately, yes. We don´t live on planets. At least major part of Salvorians live in the space. We have constructed some really monumental and highly developed spacestations, which could take each few million Salvorians and ride through the space, as if it was nothing. Sometime it´s incredible, what our scientist could do."
"If it is so, why are you here, threatening me with poison, L´shtar? I don´t undrestand. Who are you running from?"
"Yes, L´shtar, please, tell me," asked the light voice from behind and both men turned around. Shril B´glar was standing few feet behind Tom, one hand clutching her chin, the other leaning to wall for support. She was so pale, that if she was human, Tom would´ve thought, that she´s dead. But the Salvorians wasn´t humans, reminded himself Tom and squeezed his jaw, as his head began the usual throbbing. He just hoped, that Doc´s calculations was right, and he have at least thirty more hours.
"Shril, you should have stayed in bed," reclaimed L´shtar and walked to her.
"Yeah, I was in one, L´shtar. On that ship. Could you please explain me, why have I been at Voyager or why are we now running away? And what the hell did you think, to abduct one of them?"
"Perhaps you can explain it to me, also," intervened Tom. The Salvorian apparently slumped his shoulders and indicated the woman to sit at his chair, while he began to pace through the small room.
"Shril, what you remember last?" he asked, looking to her eyes. Shril frowned, contemplating her answer.
"I was going after you, L´shtar. Gro´lac found something in the sample of chromoblast from...." she looked at Tom, nervously. "Well, you know from what."
"What was it?" asked L´shtar exitedly.
"Degeneration. The cells of our offsprings... at least those in the incubation, are genetically damaged. He found it, L´shtar. The plants for food from our gravygardens are... bad. I don´t know why. But sure as hell I know, that the government had something with it."
"What happened, after you found out?" asked Tom, captured with the story.
"I... I went for you, L´shtar. The CLAN must know about it, and I didn´t trust K´lau. I ran out, but when the doors closed after me, something caught my sight. I saw Le´roy comm someone, and heard him say:
"They found out."
"So end it."
"It can damage the ship," he protested, but the voice on the other side told him, to blow it up. He didn´t see me, so I think, that we just had a bug in lab. I ran back and tried to open the door... I was so nervous, that I totally forgot the code and key. So I just beated on the door and cried at them to get out, but they didn´t hear me and then... then it just blowed up, I suppose." Her eyes were shine from tears, hands clenched in fists and face contorted in pain and anger.
"So, Le´roy works with them. We should´ve know it."
"How could we?" protested Shril B´glar and leaned her head into her hands, looking tired.
"You should lay down, Shril," said silently L´shtar.
"Like I´m the only one," sarcastically replied the woman, then looked at Tom with smile. Just then the Delta Flyer rocked, sending them all forward. Tom focused on the controls, frowning all the while.
"We´re going through the Termosphere. It can be rough, so my advice is, sit down and fasten your seatbelts.
"There isn´t any,"protested L´shtar, as another jolt sent him sprawling at the floor.
"Yeah, then hold to something. And, please, don´t touch that small Troc´lan, otherwise we would all die," retorted Tom, not once looking up from the helm.
After few really hard minutes, the ship stabilized, and Tom sighed in relief. It would be pretty awkward in times, when he´s in top condition, but now it was a challenge. He silently thanked, that Doc´s medicine keeped him on his feets, but when the Delta Flyer smoothly made his way through the red sky, Tom tumbled to the chair and wearily rubbed his eyes. The two Salvorians were whiter then the newly fallen snow.
"You two are in one piece?" asked Tom, because he didn´t keep them attention, while flying.
"Y-yeah," stuttered Shril, still holding the hand rest, as if it was her anchor. L´shtar was rubbing his left shoulder, where he was sporting a red bruise, from his conflict with the console.
"Great. I thought, you was the best pilot," he muttered annoyed.
"Yeah, well, I can anytime just faint, so you can try it yourself," angrilly replied Tom. "You know, I didn´t ask you for this ride. It´s good to be out of sickbay, but I rather have a talk with our Doc, then with you, Mister. Now, if you don´t mind, I´ll close my eyes, and you can tell Miss Shril B´glar, why are you kidnapping us from Voyager. Maybe I will understand this time." Tom covered his eyes with left hand, leaning deeply to the chair, while L´shtar growled and muttered something in his language.
Shril B´glar glared at him, angry herself.
"L´shtar," she hissed at him, breaking his attention.
"Shril?" he asked somewhat surprised at the sound.
"Talk, L´shtar. I want to hear everything, what happened, after the explosion. And don´t threaten our pilot anymore." Tom looked at her and little smile touched just the corner of his mouths. L´shtar blinked, as if just receiving a blow to the face.
"Shril," his voice took on pleading quality. "Wait, till we arrive at the place..."
"No, L´shtar. Talk now."
So he told them, how K´lau didn´t know, what to do. How Parc´r suggested, that Shril can be taken to Voyager.
"You don´t have sickbay?" asked Tom.
"No, not really," answered Shril.
"Then how... what you do, when someone´s get injured?" wondered Tom.
"Our medicine is more based on the flow of our energy..." the woman was trying to explain him. "On every ship is one doctor - a healer. He or she, is chosen at the age of three rotations, Mr. Paris. Then he is taken to the center, where he´s going through the training to become a healer. We don´t need technology in this field. Our healers can cure almost everything. Sure, there are some substances, that they use, but... that´s all."
"I will guess. Your healer was Gur´lac. Right?" L´shtar nodded.
"But... if you use healers, why are you so developed in that gene technology?"
"That´s something else," objected Shril B´glar. "We study our genes and cells, to understand, what´s wrong with our childrens. They´re dying, Tom. Now, we can tell, that the food, our government is producing and giving us, is damaged, and is slowly killing our future."
"So you´re some sort of resistance called CLAN?" asked Tom, looking at her. She nodded.
"Now, you know, why we must go, Paris. Parc´r was working for government, maybe even under K´lau´s supervision. When they sent Shril to Voyager, I accompanied her, pretending to be just a clumsy assistent, that´s easy to handle, maybe even convict from murder. But they was wrong. When Shril was poisoned, I knew, that we must leave the ship. So I just waited for time, when Shril will be able to travel."
"Why didn´t you tell this to captain Janeway?" asked Tom.
"So she could send as back and give out to government? Or have us killed?"
"No, she will never do that."
"She maybe not. But I can´t risk. Shril must be in safety, and just then the CLAN will intervene. With her statement and knowledge... she´s in grave danger. As are you, Paris."
"What are you talking about?" asked Tom with a growing sensation of ice in stomach.
"Oh, you surely understand, Paris. What you think will happen, once your people find out, that we are gone?"
"They will search for us, of course."
"Yes. But what will they think?" Tom tried to understand, but the growing headache was making it hard.
"Don´t play with me, I have enough problems with the ship as it is. If you don´t want to crash, just tell me."
L´shtar eyed him suspiciously, but seeing the human´s worn out features, he told him straight away.
"They will think, that I was the one, who tried to poison Shril. Parc´r will just support this suspicion. Maybe he can even find some "evidences". He will navigate them after us, and it´s unimportant, that they will search for us on Jurlik VI., because Parc´r´s technology will find our traces."
"So why all this camouflage?"
"Even him it will take some time, and besides, he couldn´t just tell the captain, where we are. He will "contact" some friends, who will tell him about CLAN, or at least, that will be his story for your captain. We have maybe ten hours, maybe less, till they begin to search the other planets. Once on the planet, I can hide us before the sensors, but that will just buy as another few hours, till Parc´r can persuade your captain to a search mission on the planet. But at that time, Jurlik VII. will be crowded with people from the government, who will be trying to "find us" first, just to be sure, that we are dead. Now, if Parc´r realize, that you was with us almost a day, he will come to a conclusion. Not a good one, I dare to say. You understand now, Paris?"
"Yeah, very clearly," answered Tom in low voice, thoughtlessly rubbing his right temple. Before he could say more, Tom stiffened and both his hands was again on the console.
"Hold on, we are going out," he warned, as the Delta flyer once again rocked. This time it lasted longer to get the plane from thermosphere, through exosphere, the outer region of atmosphere, where the air is extremely thin. It begins about 300 miles above the surface and gradually merges with the interplanetary space. Once here, the Delta flyer steadied it´s voyage. At the time, L´shtar gripped at one of the console, while Shril B´glar ghostly frowned in the chair. Tom blinked, hardly keeping his eyes open.
"Well, that´s it. We´re at the other side of Jurlik VI. I think, that a little break will not do any harm," Tom stated and half leaning on the console, he took a step away.
"Were are you going?" asked L´shtar panicked and came into his way, restraining him from rest.
"Look," replied Tom, annoyance clearly notable in his voice, "I´m going to lay down for a hour or two. The ship is programmed, so if you don´t touch anything, it will fly to the planet."
"Yeah, but you will be piloting," uttered the Salvorian vehemently and Tom groaned, restraining his urge to throttle this guy.
"You think, what you want. I´m gonna sleep. Try to prevent it, and I will just crash this ship to first meteorit, that will come around." L´shtar wanted to say something, but Tom continued, "I assume, that you don´t want to land this ship straight before your hiding place. So we will possibly take a tour. Now, I know that Jurlik VII. don´t have the best surface. If you simply don´t kill me there, I will come with you. And tell me, you want to drag me or rather your partner? Because, both of us you wouldn´t manage, I can assure you about that." Tom looked meaningly at Shril, who seemed just like him, on the verge of collapse. L´shtar frowned at her, then improvingly nodded. Tom walked around him straight into one of the cabins and lay down. He heard whispers then moves in the next cabin. He wearily closed his eyes and drifted into fitful sleep.
"Sickbay to Captain!" announced her commbadge, laying on the bedside table. She grabbed at it, frustrated to be waken up in this early hours, but eager to know, what could possibly upset the hologram.
"Yeah, Doctor. What´s... what´s going on?"
"They´re gone!" shouted the hologram distressed and the captain sat up.
"What? Who?"
"My patients!" Exclaimed the Doc angrilly. "Paris and Shril B´glar," he added, when there was no answer.
"Shi-" wanted to say the captain, instead of it she climbed from her bed and one hand clutching at the commbadge, the other grabbing some clothes.
"How long?"
"What?"
"How long are they missing?"
"Possibly fifty five minutes, if the readings are correct."
"Where were you?"
"Deactivated," murmured the hologram.
"Again?" exclaimed the captain, then shook her head. "Can they even walk?"
"Uhm... yeah. I believe, that someone stoled few hyposprays. If the Salvorian woman received a right drug, she can walk by herself. Not much, but fairly."
"And Tom?"
"Yes, he tried to sneek out few hours ago."
"Why am I not surprised," muttered the captain to herself.
"Ship... locate Lieutenant Tom Paris," she adressed the communicator and waited for answer.
"Lieutenant Tom Paris is not present at Voyager."
"Then locate Shril B´glar."
"Shril B´glar is not on board Voyager," stated the computer and the Captain swore.
"Captain to Tuvok!" the security chief answered almost immediately.
"Tuvok, here."
"Can you locate Lieutenant Paris?"
Seconds later.
"He is not on Voyager," answered Tuvok, his voice hiding any surprise, he might feel.
"How much Salvorians are onboard?"
"Only one."
"Who?"
"Parc´r."
"Meeting at my office in five minutes. Inform Chakotay and Lieutenant Torres. Captain out." The walk to the bridge didn´t take full five minutes, but when she opened the door to her office, Chakotay and Tuvok was here. Just after her arrived B´Elanna Torres, disturbed by the morning call. Seeing the officers, her brow furrowed more.
"Now, sorry for the disturbing, but, we have a situation." She didn´t offer anyone to take a seat, so they stood, listening. Not waiting for their questions, she continued.
"Mr. Paris and two Salvorians are missing."
"What?" gasped B´Elanna. Chakotay frowned, only Tuvok didn´t express anything.
"Doctor?" the hologram appeared on the screen.
"Can you tell us exactly what happened?"
"As I said, captain, I was deactivated between 03:40 to 04:40. When I was able to activate myself, I found out, that both my patients are gone."
"Do you know, when they disappeared?"
"From the readings of biobed. Normally, I would be activated, when the patient take a walk. But my protocols was somehow changed."
"But the readings remained?"
"Yes. I was able to assess the information. Mr. Paris left his biobed at 03:50. The Salvorian woman did so ten minutes later."
"So Tom was aroused first..." speculated B´Elanna grimly. "Why?"
"Shril B´glar wasn´t in the state to walk away, Lieutenant," intervened Tuvok. "We can assume, that Mr. Paris was forced to help her."
"Yes, I believe so," added the hologram. "I find that some hyposprays are missing."
"That will be logical," quipped Tuvok.
"But why Tom?" asked B´Elanna.
"He has medical experience, as well as piloting."
"That´s ridiculous. I wouldn´t take a fly with someone who´s feverous. It´s a suicide."
"Maybe not. Mr. Paris is quite a good pilot."
"And his fever just broke down," added the doctor.
"Captain, you said, that there´s two missing Salvorians. Who´s the other?" asked Chakotay.
"L´shtar."
"Is anyone else missing?" the captain looked at Tuvok.
"No, captain. Just them."
"How did they got from Voyager?" That was a million credits question.
"There is just two ways to leave Voyager," said Captain Janeway. "Transporter or ship."
"Nobody was transported in the last five hours," announced Tuvok. "I talked with sergeant Dillon, who had a duty, but he didn´t see anyone."
"Computer... I want a list of ships leaving from Voyager in the last twentyfour hours." The screen changed and there appeared two names. Both of them left to the surface of Jurlik VI., but that was, when Tom and the Salvorians was still onboard.
"Try something else," advised Chakotay. "Computer, state the number of flyers in the dock."
"Twelve."
"One´s missing," observed B´Elanna.
"Yeah. But why don´t we know it?" asked the captain scowling.
"Tuvok," she turned to the security chief. "Your men had watched the sickbay, not?"
"I´m sorry, captain. I have informations, that it was Parc´r, who tried to kill Shril B´glar. My men were following his quarters, as well as him."
"What with L´shtar?"
"Indeed, I have two men who watched him also. But it seems, that he tricked them. He was walking from the simulator, when they lost him for a minute. Then he appeared walking to his quarters."
"How did he go away?"
"They found ensign Durdoff on the floor of his quarters, seemingly drunk. There was some sort of holoemitter on his clothes. I believe, that Salvorians are much more developed in technology, that we was able to detect."
"So it seems," sighed captain Janeway.
"But... why run away? And take a hostage?" asked B´Elanna furious.
"Tuvok, you said, that Parc´r was responsible for that poisoning..."
"What poisoning?" asked B´Elanna nervously.
"Shril B´glar was poisoned. But Tom saw it, and the Doctor found a cure." answered her Captain and looked back at Tuvok.
"I should told you that, captain," apologizing told Tuvok. "Sergeant Justis saw someone near sickbay that night. He identified him as Parc´r."
"Great," muttered the captain and looked at her crew.
"B´Elanna... I want you to look at our system. I have a feeling, that someone was messing with it."
"Capt..." protested B´Elanna.
"Take Mr. Kim, if necessary, but I wouldn´t be happy, if too much people knew. Also, send someone to take a look at the Doctor. I don´t like, that someone tampered with his protocols." Janeway stiffly looked at the half-Klingon, and Torres nodded.
"Fine. Tuvok... I want a complete check of a security systems. When Durdoff will be sober enough to talk, debrief him." The Vulcan nodded and left in an instant. Remained only Chakotay and the captain let out a sigh.
"Someone needs to talk with Parc´r, captain," he told her.
"I know. Firstly, I want a preliminary report. I´m not very fond of this "technology", that must´ve been used for they escape. I think, that Salvorians have more advanced methods, than they would admit. Meanwhile, we can take a trip to the Dock, what are you saying, Commander?" she asked and was rewarded by a warm smile.
"Can I accompany you, captain?"
"I just waited for this question. Come."
After a talk with the sergeant on duty, the captain and commander slowly walked to the guests apartment. The corridors were mostly empty, so they could talk about the situation.
"At least, Paris was okay," said Chakotay. "If they need him for piloting, they´ll keep him all right."
"Yeah, but what happens, if they land, Chakotay?" asked the captain nervously. "If Tom would get worse, do you think, that they will keep with him?"
The question was disturbing and Chakotay shook his head, not knowing, how to respond.
"We can only hope, that they are civilized enough to let him return."
"Yeah," sighed the captain. "But they was on my ship, Chakotay. Disturbed the security system and kidnapped one of my officer. I don´t like it a bit."
The doors to Parc´r´s quarters was watched by guards. They recognized the captain and commander and one of them quietly walked towards them.
"Captain," the man saluted.
"Report."
"The Salvorian was in his quarters from eleven p.m., when he came from the messhall. There wasn´t any disturbance."
"Nothing strange?"
"No, captain. It´s quiet."
"Thanks, sergeant." The guard saluted and returned to his post. Janeway and Chakotay stood before the door.
"Parc´r, here´s captain Janeway and commander Chakotay. We need to talk with you. It´s concerning your associates." A minute of silence, then the door chirmed and opened, revealing the fully clothed Salvorian.
"Yes, captain... what is so important?" he asked with low voice, then looked at the guards.
"Could we come in?"
"Oh, yes. Sure." He stepped aside, when the captain and commander walked in. The doors closed with a hiss.
"Please, take a seat," offered Parc´r, openly glaring at Chakotay.
"So, what was so important that you woke me up in the middle of the night? Or is it a custom in your race?"
"No, I´m sorry, that we disturbed you. But something happened, and we felt the need to inform you."
"Is Shril B´glar worse?" asked the Salvorian with anxiety.
"We can´t say that, but it´s concerning her, as well as your associate L´shtar and one of my officer."
"I don´t quite understood, captain."
"L´shtar and Shril B´glar left the Voyager, about half an hour ago, with Lieutenant Paris, who was at the time in sickbay. I believe, that L´shtar kidnapped him, as well, as Shril B´glar."
"How did they get away?" asked surprised Parc´r.
"We don´t know. There´s some things, that should be explained to us, Parc´r. The technology, that L´shtar used to escape, must´ve been something more advanced, that we´re aware of. That offer a question - is everything, that K´lau told us truth or a lie?"
"I believe, that emissar K´lau was telling you the truth," bitterly answered Parc´r and frowned. "At least, the part about our technology," his eyes shined and Parc´r enthusiastically paced through the room, something muttering under his nose.
"Excuse me, what you said?"
"Clan. The rebel group. It must be them. So, L´shtar is working for them," he said and his eyes angrilly sparked. "I should´ve know! That Kr´plon´toc!" The universal translator wasn´t able to interpret the word, but Chakotay was sure that it´s meaning wasn´t very praiseful.
"What is the purpose of this "rebel group?" asked the captain and Parc´r quitted with cursing.
"They´re fanatics. They want to live on planet, not even knowing, how hazarduous that is!"
"Aren´t your people free to choose, where they want to live?" questioned Chakotay and Parc´r frowned.
"Yes, surely. But it´s for they own safety... Don´t get me wrong, captain. Or people could freely go, wherever they want. But this group," he practically spitted out, "is luring our childrens to the world, where it´s impossible to live. They´re like a cult... when someone come to them, he or she will be positioned in some poor ubications, where the only thing is work. Like slaves, they´re building this unrealistic town on the planet."
"What´s so wrong about it?"
"It can´t exist, commander!" shouted at him Parc´r, then apologizing returned to pace. "Our race is old, captain. We travel the space hundred years, and our bodies changed. It´s possible to live on the planet, but not very long. And the childrens that was born there, are... deformed. Mostly they die."
"Tell this to your people, and they will not go away," suggested the captain.
"We tried, captain Janeway. But the rebells have their own propagand."
"All right. I don´t know much about your policy. But right now, it´s important to find your associates, and my crewman. Do you have a clue, as to why they escaped?"
Parc´r shortly thought about it, then nodded.
"I think, that L´shtar kidnapped Shril B´glar, and is now on the way to the rebell´s secret base."
"Base?" spoke Chakotay.
"Our government believe, that somewhere in this territory is their base, commander. It was my secret mission to find out, where."
"Just a moment. You aren´t here as a scientist?"
"No, captain. I´m an agent of our government. Of course, it´s secret, if anyone ask you."
"Indeed. "
"So, you were on K´lau´s ship as agent. Why?"
"We had informations, that some of his crew are members of the CLAN. K´lau´s ship was one, which frequently passed the Freyan territory, thus having the chance for spying and coupling with our enemies."
"That explosion on your ship..."
"I believe, that it was a sabotage. The main target was our doctor, who worked on some research. He was on the verge of a discovery, which could´ve helped our people."
"You knew, that Shril B´glar would be the next target?"
"Yes, we presummed it."
"So why did you bring her there?"
"Because, like K´lau said, she was in medical need. Our healer - doctor, as you say, was killed. We don´t have holograms, and don´t use advanced technology. Our health is strictly in the hands of a schooled doctor, with healing skills. At the time, it was safer to bring her to Voyager, than let her suffer long days."
"Why didn´t K´lau stay here?"
"Like he said - our government needed the reports."
It was clear, that Parc´r won´t add anything more to this subject, and Janeway wasn´t really concerned about Salvorians, so much as about her pilot.
"Do you know, where they can head?"
"To the base," said instantly Parc´r, then frowned and shook his head. "No, that´s not right. The base had to be farther. I think... perhaps... to one of the near planet. They have a little hiding places almost everywhere in this galaxy. Yeah, if I have to say... they are somewhere near, hiding. Perhaps waiting till we end our search, or to the rescue from rebells."
"You think, that Shril B´glar was kidnapped, or walked on her own will?"
"I... don´t know," admitted the Salvorian grimly.
"You know this people... what can we wait from them? Would they return our pilot?"
"Don´t think so, captain. I would be surprised, if he survive longer than landing."
Captain Janeway looked deeply in the black eyes, and saw something, that made her inside shudder. She stood up and nodded to Chakotay.
"We have a work to do, Commander."
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