Disclaimers apply. My notes on the end.
Star Trek: Voyager The Not So Good Guest "by Nicol Leoraine"
Third part
Someone was shaking him, hard. Tom groaned and tried to shrug off the offending hands, but they just returned, more urgently. Grunting, he opened his eyes and looked into the black pair of the Salvorian´s. L´shtar didn´t seem very happy.
"Paris, wake up!" he was actually yelling at him, and Tom was surprised, that he didn´t heard him sooner. Must be one hell of a sleep.
"Yeah, yeah, I´m up. Stop shaking me," he groaned, then sat up, wearily rubbing at his eyes.
"About time," snarled at him L´shtar.
"What´s up?"
"If you happened to forgot, we are in the ship, which is flying. You better take the helm, I think, we are approaching the planet.
"Nothing new?" asked Tom and stood, squeezing his eyes shut, as a wave of dizzines hit him. The Salvorian eyed him worriedly, and touched his arm. Tom blinked and headed for the control room. He was worried himself, knowing, that if the illness comes back in the wrong time, it could cost him his life - and while they´re on the ship, also the two Salvorians. He didn´t want it happen, but could feel the beginning of fever. Standing at the helm and controlling the course, he hardly contained his uneasiness.
"Can you bring me some water?" asked Tom and greadily accepted the cool liquid.
"So... what you think? They knew about us or not?"
"No, oh, yes. The hologram activated himself about a hour ago, so I think, that about now, they´re searching for us. But it will take time. How long, till we land on the planet?"
"Not long, maybe half hour. I will need coordinates - if you want to land on some special place."
"Sure. Here they are." L´shtar gave him a padd with map. Tom transferred the data to computer and adjusted the course of the ship. They began the descent.
"How´s your colleague?" asked Tom, don´t taking his eyes from the helm controls.
"I-I think, that she will be all right. But you will need to give her something, once we land."
"Yeah, I thought that. You better tell her, that we´re going to land... it could get a little harsh at times."
L´shtar trotted away, but soon returned. By then, they were already on the orbit of Jurlik VII.
Through the screen was opening a view of continents, wrapped in clouds and shadows. They could see one of the moons, blue like an ocean, shining on the land. The part of planet, where they wanted to land, was dark, because it was night. Tom admired the canyons, which from the height looked really fascinating. Shortly, the Delta Flyer begun to shake, but this time it wasn´t so bad and even L´shtar seemed calm. Whilst Tom payed attention only to the piloting, L´shtar took to his hands the little masking device , controlling the progress of Voyager. They were now trying to scan the surface of Jurlik VI., but there was too much interferences from the raging magnetic storm.
Tom could now see that the coordinates leaded them to one of the rocky mountains. It wasn´t easy to land there, because the rocks and rangy surface, but with little luck, Tom managed. The Delta Flyer jerked twice, then stiffened, as they came down.
L´shtar sighed in relief, when the motors calmed and the whole Delta Flyer lapsed into silence. Tom just stood before the helm, stiff and tense from the near future. He eyed the Salvorian, then a little device called Tro´clan, which was embeded in his arm. The pounding headache and the flush of warm, that he felt just a seconds ago, wasn´t really encouraging.
L´shtar looked at Tom, then at the cabin behind himself.
"You should give something to Shril," asked him in quiet voice the Salvorian. "We need to go, as soon, as she´ll be able."
"Right," muttered Tom and walked to the cabin. He thought about asking L´shtar right there, what he wants to do with him, but though better of it. The Salvorian woman looked a little more apprehensive, not talking about her disapproval with L´shtar´s method. Maybe she can convice him.
Kneeling next to her bed, he ran a tricoder scan. Nodding at the results, Tom inserted one hypo and waited for her awakening. L´shtar behind him nervously coughed.
"How´s she?"
"She needs rest. But you know it."
"What the poison?"
"The antidote was effective. There is no trace of the poison."
"Good," grinned the Salvorian, just as the woman´s eyes fluttered.
"Hey," asked Tom. "How you doing?" Shril B´glar blinked, to clear her sight, then smiled a little, trying to sit up.
"Better. Little sleepy, that´s all."
"You can sleep, once we are at the base," told her L´shtar and she looked up at him.
"We landed?"
"Yes. Once you feel to it, we can go."
"How far?"
"Not much," assured her L´shtar and nervously looked at the display of the masking device, which was now sitting in his palm.
"Give me a minute," yawned Shril, "then we can go."
"Good."
"One question, though," asked the woman. "What will be with him?" she looked at Tom.
L´shtar eyed him suspiciously.
"He´ll come with us," he told and Tom let out a sigh.
"Why? I can stay here. I will wait few hours, then I return to my ship. Once I tell the captain, what was that all about, she will not pursue you anymore."
"No," barked L´shtar. "We can´t believe you, human. You will come with us. If your people find us, you will be our assurance."
"You mean hostage," corrected Tom and leaned to bed, when the cabin spinned. He hardly supressed the creeping nausea.
"L´shtar, he can´t go with us," said the woman frowning at him.
"He is sick."
"So, we have a problem. Because I will not leave him here. It´s too dangerous for us."
"And what do you want to do with me, once we arrive at your base?" asked Tom angrilly. "Kill me? You can do it right now, at least, I will not feel so lousy anymore." He wasn´t really wanting to die, and he knew, that talking like that will not do him any good, but he felt like shit, and didn´t have a mood for a tour, if it can be avoided.
"You´re medic. Help yourself. I don´t want to kill you, Paris, but if you can´t go with us, I will just do it, rather then risk our safety. You have five minutes. Then I will just push the button." With that, L´shtar helped the woman stand, and led her out of the cabin. Tom stayed alone.
It was ludicrous. Here he was, left alone in the cabin. He could try something... free himself or take Shril as a hostage, but he knew, that it can´t work. L´shtar wasn´t playing around and he wasn´t in the condition, to try his patience. And besides, the Troc´lan was still holding him down. No, he will try, only if he know, that the others are on the way. Which reminded him of something.
He found a padd, and left a note. He still had a few minutes, and heard, that Shril and L´shtar are arguing. Good, he thought, maybe she will help me. But the argument didn´t seem to change L´shtar´s plan, so Tom grabbed the tricoder and scanned himself.
"Great," he muttered, noticing that his fever is once again elevated and that the doctor´s calculations or his medicine didn´t work. He sighed and aministered something for the headache and the nausea. At least, he could supress the symptoms. Indeed feeling a little better, he stood and joined the two now quiet Salvorians.
"So, what did you choose?"
"A little walk will not do any harm," replied Tom annoyed, but smiled at Shril B´glar. She bowed her head, then glared at L´shtar.
"Good. Take what you need besides guns."
"Hey, and how can I defend myself, if your government will come? Bite them?"
"No, just use your sense of humor. It will do the job," barked L´shtar and pointed at the doors. "Now, go!"
Tom took one breath and stepped out of the relative safety of the shuttle.
After a hour long walk on the rocky terrain, all three of them was equally glad to arrive at the small entrance in the root of the mountain. Tom looked a little sceptical, when L´shtar pointed to the small entry, but accomplished his silent order and creeped in. Even on the knees, they was moving through low tunnel, every step raising dust and dirt. At least, the tunnel began to broaden and Tom´s breathing calmed down. He wasn´t really claustrophobic, but didn´t quite like small tunnels, particularly, when he don´t know them. At least they was somehow lightened - the walls was shining greenly, causing the tunnels look like immersed in water. Soon there was enough room to stand and L´shtar took the head, for the moment not considering Paris as a threat. Tom didn´t take his chance, because, frankly, there wasn´t a place to go. Sure, he could turn around and run for the Delta Flyer, but L´shtar can in the meantime push the button hundred times, and he will be dead before even reaching the exit. So he walked, keeping a cautious eye on both Salvorians, even if the woman looked at him apologizing.
"Shril, I need your code," asked L´shtar, when they stood before black wall, seemingly at the end of their tour. But Shril B´glar just said a sentence in her mother language. Tom assumed, that it was encrypted, because even his universal translator couldn´t manage it. After L´shtar said something similar, the wall flickered. Shril was first to go trough, and Tom stumbled, when L´shtar pointed at him.
"What´s that? Hologram?" he asked and touched the image, but jerked back, when his hand hit the solid matter. L´shtar smirked.
"Something like that," he said and grabbed Tom´s hand. Before he could protest, L´shtar pushed him through the wall, emerging next to him. Tom´s sight wasn´t adjusted to the light that greeted them, and he had to blink a few times, to clear his vision.
They was in the cave, a big, technologically equipped room with everything, that a rebell could need, when hiding. One room, maybe fifteen meters wide and ten meters long. There was at least five other exits leading deeper into the mountain or out of it. When Tom turned around, the wall through which they came in, was transparent, so Tom assumed, that the other exits will too be secured with a force field.
"Make yourself comfortable," announced L´shtar and walked to the near console, grabbing something similar to PADD. Then he looked at Shril, and sat at the far end of the room. Tom sighed and watched as the Salvorian woman eased herself on the couch in the middle of the room. After a thought, he sat down next her.
"How are you feeling?" he asked her, and the woman appeared surprised.
"Better, thanks. And you?"
"Was worse," admitted Tom and ran a hand through his hair. "I don´t really get all this rebell stuff."
"What exactly?"
"That hate for a planet. I mean... most wars are going on because someone want´s some planet. But your race had willingly abbandoned the really thought of a homeworld. Why?"
"Not all of us want to live on ships or stations, Tom. At first... it was a necessity to learn how to live in space. When our homeworld was destroyed, Salvorians were searching for one very long. So long, that our childrens didn´t know, how to live on the earth, when they found it. But there were groups, whose dream was to live in freedom of planet, not in custody of ship. You know, our policy soon became one of power and control. The government control everything - from science, to a simple agriculture. If someone doesn´t accept their conditions , it´s like a treachery. So we have a penalty colonies, where Salvorians are forced to work for government. No payment, no care. It´s inhuman."
"You mean - slavery?" asked Tom in dismay.
"Not exactly... they´re prisoners, convicted criminals. But the problem is, that for the government a criminal mean anyone, who somehow break the law, even if it´s a scientist, saying, that our food have ill efects on our childrens."
"I see. So your CLAN want´s a planet, right?"
"Not exactly. We just want the chance, to make a choice. For our childrens. Our farmstead - or if you rather, food processing - is in the hands of a monopol. Only our governemnt have a right to produce nutritions. So it´s on the rebell fractions to gave the Salvorians a chance, to eat harmless food. Until we won´t paralyse the monopol, the black market will bloom."
"What will you do now?" asked her Tom and stiffled a yawn. L´shtar was quietly talking with someone, but he was too far and Tom didn´t understand him.
"I don´t know," conceded Shril B´glar with a frown. "I don´t have the exact results of the test, nor a protocol. But... now, that I know, what to look for, we will conduct these tests again, in our own laboratories."
"And then?"
She shrugged and looked at L´shtar.
"Then we will act. But that´ll not be your concern, Mr. Paris," she told him with a slight smile.
"Yeah, I assumed so much," sighed Tom, frustrated. The woman frowned at him and shook her head in protest.
"We will not harm you, Tom," she tried to affirm him and Tom grinned, pointing at the small device in his right hand.
"So, that´s just a last fashion style?"
For a moment, Shril looked almost sorry for him.
"I must apologize for L´shtars methods, Tom. I don´t agree with them, but you must understand our objectives and priorities."
"Sure, I understand. But I have nowhere to go, so why don´t take it out?" he pleaded her and glanced at her with sincere look, that could move even the half-Klingon. He spotted something mirroring on her face, but just as she was ready to talk, L´shtar emerged next to them.
"Your people are searching for us, on Jurlik VI. I hope, that will take them at least few hours."
"B´arn?" asked Shril hesitantly.
"He will come, but it can take few hours."
"Voyager will find the Delta Flyer," said Tom. "Why don´t you let me go? I can distract their attention,"
"Yeah, and I believe in your Gods," remarked L´shtar scornfuly.
"You will stay here, till B´arn´s arrival. Just if Shril would be secure, you can go, whenever you want."
"Great," muttered Tom. "But it´s a bullshit, you know. How far is this B´arn? I think, that somewhere in Freyan territory, or at least a few planets away. How long will it take for him to come? Hours? Days? And what Parc´r? You said, that he will call for a help. How do you want to deal with so much people, alone?"
"They can´t find us here!" shouted L´shtar. "And Parc´r wouldn´t call the army. He sent here one group of soldiers, that´s all."
"Soldiers?" asked Shril surprised.
"And you think, that it´s easier to deal with a group of trained soldiers, than fly away in Delta Flyer?"
"My cloaking device have limited radius. The sensors of your ship would find us."
"So what? I´ll tell them, what I know. The captain is fair, she will hear you out. And the government can´t send soldiers after you to Voyager. Shril B´glar will be safe."
"No! They tried to kill her once, they will try again! We are safe here, as long, as nobody tries to run away."
"Tell me, what you want to do?" asked Tom pressing hard at L´shtars confidence. "Wait here till what?"
"B´arn will came."
"Yes, and? Even if he comes at time, there will be Voyager on the orbit and at least one another group, both trying to find us or kill us. How will B´arn help you?"
"He have his methods," defended the man L´shtar, although, his voice wasn´t much more convincing, than Tom´s. He pressed again.
"Return to Voyager, L´shtar. Just here you will be safe. It´s still time... no harm happened. The captain will hear you out."
"No, it´s late! Parc´r now knew, that I´m with rebells. He will declare me as a traitor! Your captain then will have no other choice, just to pass me to our government. And you don´t have a clue, what is to be declared as a traitor, Mr. Paris!"
"Maybe I have," commented dryly Tom, remembering his early days on Voyager, among the Maquis and Starfleet crew. He didn´t know, who hated him more, then.
"We will wait," replied silently L´shtar, and returned to the console. Tom sighed and nodded in acceptance. He couldn´t do more. While Shril B´glar stood and walked after L´shtar, Tom rolled down to his side, stretching his long legs on the couch. He closed his eyes and urged himself to sleep, trying to conserve as much energy, as he can. Something told him, that he will need it soon.
"Captain, I found traces from the shuttle," stated Harry Kim proudly.
"Where?"
"From Jurlik VI. to Jurlik VII. It seem´s like they´ve tried to escape our sensors."
"You´re positive, that it´s a signature of Delta Flyer?"
"Yes, captain."
"Very well. Ensing Baytart, head for Jurlik VII.," commanded Janeway and looked at Chakotay.
"Captain, the sensors located another ship approaching the planet."
"Who are they?"
"Unknown, captain," replied Harry Kim a little stressed.
"Hail them, ensign,"
"They´re not responding."
"Can you detect any life signs, commander?" she asked Tuvok.
"Five life signs, captain. They´re Salvorians," he added and slightly raised his eyebrow.
"Very well," muttered Janeway. "When will they reach the planet?"
"About two hours."
"And we?"
"Estimated time is one hour twenty minutes," announced Baytart.
"Good. I want to be there first."
"Captain, there is a trace of another ship on the orbit... they´re landing."
"Identification?"
"Nothing."
"Captain," asked Chakotay quietly, "Should I call Parc´r?"
"No. I have a feeling, that maybe he has something with it, Chakotay. I don´t care, who is in that shuttle, so far as we will find them sooner."
"We will bring him back," told her the commander and turned away.
"I hope so," sighed the captain.
The first sign of forthcoming problems was the beeping of warning controls, which Tom sensed as a roaring of sirens. He grabbed at his head, trying to stop the cacophony and almost tumbled down from the couch. When someone grabbed him and helped to sit up, he opened his eyes and looked around. The howling of the sirens stopped and was replaced by a heavy cursing. Tom blinked with relief and eased himself into the more comfortable position. Next him was the Salvorian woman, her eyes anxiously shifting between Tom and L´shtar, who was now running from one console to next, cursing.
"What happened?" asked Tom and rubbed his temples. The woman before him looked as if ready to jump at the lightest touch, but surprisingly, she shed him a smile, then frowned.
"Someone is coming," she told him and took a step toward L´shtar, then stopped herself. "You must help us," said the woman pleadingly and Tom was taken by surprise.
"How can I?" he asked, even if he rather heard, why should he.
"Come. I... I will give you a gun..." she pulled him from the couch, to the nearest tunnel, when L´shtar spotted her.
"Wait!" he shouted and was instantly next to Tom, his right hand treaming the control device, his face a mask of anger and fear. The blue tone of his skin was replaced by an imposant purple, so the alien looked as if his head should any second explode. Tom would´ve laughed, if it was different situation. But as he was at the receiving end of that anger, he just cringed and unconsciously touched the device on his arm.
"You! Running away?" asked L´shtar icily.
"No, L´shtar," objected Shril B´glar and glared at him with such venom, that L´shtar took a step back. "He is with me. I´m going to give him a gun, and you!" she pointed at him, "will neutralize Troc´lan."
"You´re crazy, Shril!" yelped L´shtar.
"No! You are, if you want to poison him. Think, L´shtar. If you kill him, we don´t stand a chance. Not only Parc´r would want to kill us, but his friends too. That would be a suicide."
"Okay, I neutralize it, but why are you giving him a gun?" asked L´shtar densely.
"Because he can help us fight, L´shtar,"
"But..."
"I will not harm you," said Tom seeing, that the debate is just stealing their time. "Look, the crew of Voyager would try to negotiate. They´ll not harm you, unless you do something unwise. But if the intruders are from your government, they´ll not ask who is who. I will be equally a threat for them. So, please... disarm this device and give me something to fight with." Tom tryed to sound as unthreating, as he could and the alien slowly nodded, pushing some buttons on the control device in his hand. The Troc´lan on Tom´s arm beeped, but didn´t break away.
"Take it down," asked Tom, but L´shtar shook his head.
"Don´t have time. It´s inactive. Shril," the woman nodded and grabbed Tom´s arm, pulling him through one of the force fields. L´shtar returned to the console and fascinated watched, as one screen after other went black. Not long and he couldn´t see anything outside the cave. He cursed once again and followed them to one of the tunnels.
The short but loud explosion pretty much disabled the forcefield at the entering. Tom and Shril were both momentarily stunned, and just the warning hiss coming from behind, jerked them to reality. They must move, and quickly. Tom didn´t know, what safety measures took the Salvorian rebels when building this complex, but L´shtar´s fear conviced him, that they wasn´t sufficient. The short and thight tunnel was diverging and soon all three of them stood in the storage room, at least, Tom thought that. Shril looked around, perhaps seeing this room for the first time herself, but L´shtar immediately headed for one of the built-in cabinet. The doors hissed when he garbled something, and L´shtar grabbed the first thing inside. Tom fascinated looked at the collection of weapons - from special combat knives, to blowtorch from Entanau 5. Even the starship phasers was there, and Tom quickly grabbed two of them. He setted them to heavy stun, not wanting to kill, but at least incapacitate the assailants. Shril B´glar was next to him looking at the sortiment - lastly, she grabbed one obscure "wristlet" from white metal. It was thin and Tom remembered the photos of snakes on Earth, precisely the one called Cobra. The bracelet was embracing the woman´s wrist, but in her palm was hidden a metal circle with red eye.
"That´s your technology?" asked Tom, while looking at another weapon.
"Partly. We found this on Saltra Pou, and our technicians adjusted it to our physiology. It´s working on the sonic waves."
"Ah," sighed Tom and taking one of the knives from the cabinet, he turned at L´shtar.
"What do you want to do now?" he asked quietly. The alien raised his head from the computer and Tom could see his despair. He silently cursed, it´s just his luck to be kidnapped by someone so... unexperienced.
"Can you see, who they are and how much?" asked Tom walking to the console.
"I saw one of the soldiers, before he disabled the scanning camera system. It picked up three Salvorian lifeforms at the entry and two at the spare exit."
"How many exits there are?"
"Three," answered L´shtar grimly. "But one is accessible only from the control room."
"The second?"
"We must go through the soldiers to reach that," added L´shtar.
"Okay," sighed Tom and rubbed his temple, when another explosion shook the tunnels.
"They must shoot off every forcefield? Couldn´t they take it off from control room?"
"Yeah, but they would need my DNA for that and the code from at least one other rebell. I think they don´t want to lose time."
"I don´t think either," muttered Tom and looked at the scheme of tunnels on the screen.
"So, there´s another two forcefields separating them from us. Can you control them from here?"
"Yes," answered L´shtar, confused. "But I can only shut them down or disable."
"These tunnels... couldn´t we bury the tunnels? I mean... can the directed explosion originate a cave-in?"
"Explosion not," thought loudly L´shtar.
"And what about sonic waves? I think, they could do enough damage," suggested Tom and L´shtars face lit up.
"That´s it! We will seal them in the tunnels."
"But... wouldn´t we be equally trapped?" asked Shril B´glar walking toward the men. L´shtar frowned.
"That´s true. But we don´t have to block all the exits. Just stop the men here."
Another detonation remainded them, that if they want to act, they must do it now.
"You can control this thing?" asked Tom and pointed to the Cobra (he named the thing on Shril´s hand so).
"Yes," answered the woman.
"Good. Come with me. L´shtar... you will guard our backs from the other two, alright?" L´shtar just nodded, not fiery that the human took over the command, but glad, that at least someone knew, what to do.
Tom and Shril ran to the only forcefield separating them from the three soldiers. Tom could se one of them insert something to the wall, few centimeters from the force field and quickly pushed Shril to the side.
"What?" she whispered with dry mouth.
"We must wait, till it explodes."
"Why?"
"It will be easier, because the tunnel will be weakened."
Shril looked at him hesitantly, then nodded. The soldier inserted the little package and was backing away, to the shelter. Tom pulled Shril farther from the force field.
"Be ready," he warned her. Shril B´glar eyed the force field, her hand raised, aiming at the ceiling. The explosion was stronger, than Tom thought, and he could barely keep Shril on her feets, but somehow managed, even if his head felt like exploding itself. The force field flickered and dust covered them all. Both Tom and Shril blinked hard to see the approaching shadows.
"Do it, now!" shouted Tom and Shril focused her aim on the slightly damaged spot few meters in front of them. Tom fascinated looked at her hand, which was trembling slightly, then flickered like a hot air above the fire. One second he thought, that all the blue colour drained from the woman and concentrated itself in her hand, then he saw a movement as the shadows came closer.
"Do it!" he cried out, just as the device on the woman´s hand fulgurated and sent a blast of invisible force to the ceiling. A milisecond nothing happened - as if time itself stopped to take a look. The shadows was unmoving and Tom thought, that it didn´t work. Just as he gripped one phaser, the ground shook. The ceiling cracked open with a powerful peal and the shock wave send them both sprawling at the floor few meters away, while the ceiling above the forcefield collapsed, burying two of the soldiers and separating the third. The crash with the floor took away the breath from Tom, but he nevertheless crawled to his knees and dragged the unresponding Salvorian away from the cave-in, hoping, that it won´t fall on them. Ten meters... then five... L´shtar was there, frantically trying to ensure they safety by pointing at the tunnel on one side, and trying to find out, if Shril B´glar was allright on the other.
Tom, tired like never before, lay on the floor, gasping for breath and coughing up the dust and dirt. For a moment nothing mattered, just the need for oxygen and the cool surface of the floor. His eyes closed and he didn´t even try to stay awake. Just to sleep and wake up in his own bed... preferably with B´Elanna next to him. But that was just a plain wish. Someone was shaking him - again. He began to hate the method, with which anybody decided to arouse him, particularly this not so gentle Salvorian kidnapper.
"I´m up," he groaned and opened his eyes. "Stop shaking me!" Tom snarled at the man and tried to sit up. Not an easy task, he realized, as his head swimmed and for the first time he felt the burning in his left shoulder. Must´ve bumped it into the wall, when flying, he thought grimmly and looked at the Salvorian.
"Come," said L´shtar and Tom was surprised, when the man helped him to his feet. He looked around, realizing, that someone is missing.
"Where is she?" he asked panicked.
"Safe. For now. Hurry, or they will find us here." L´shtar was leading him to another tunnel, but Tom was hardly prepared, when the Salvorian took the step to left and disappeared in the wall. Another hologram, realized the pilot and stumbled after him. There was just a hole in the wall. Tom scrambled through the opening, feeling like four year old, when he creeped into the ventilation shaft of their house and tried to hide from his father, knowing that he will be angry for the shattered lamp in his library. Only then he was much smaller and the only danger present, was the long lecture about running in the house. Now it was far worse.
Tom emerged in a little room, not bigger then the cockpit of Delta Flyer. Shril B´glar was resting in one of the chairs, and Tom just now realized, that he must´ve dozed off for a while, if L´shtar managed to lead her here. The woman looked exhausted and a little battered, but nothing to fear from, he thought, when she sent him a little smile.
L´shtar pointed at the chair and seated himself, looking awkwardly from Shril to Tom.
"So?" asked Tom unceremoniously and stiffled a yawn. It was far more stressful evening, that his body was prepared for.
"The cave-in will delay them for a time, at least the first group."
"Three out, two to go," mumbled Tom and looked at his fingernails. Yeah, it was definitely a long night.
"Where are they now?" he asked and waited for the answer, which didn´t come. Tom looked up and met L´shtars uncomfortable look. He frowned.
"What?"
"I can´t tell, where they are. The sensors was destroyed, and they side-tracked the spare safety system."
"So we are blind?"
"Yes. Worse... we can´t return to the storage room. They´re probably already there."
"Oh. What the force field? Didn´t they have to go through them?"
"Just one, and they disabled it after the cave-in. You didn´t hear?"
"Uhm... probably not. What the force field in the storage room?"
"Oh... I forgot to activate it, after our departure."
"Great. So they now have some extra weapons too, and if they can restore the system, they will know, where we are, right?"
"I must say yes," answered L´shtar.
"Can you reactivate the forcefield in the storage room?" asked Shril suddenly and both men jerked at her voice. Tom´s brow went up, while L´shtar frowned, thinking.
"It could be... if I put in the code to deactivation, and it´s inactive, it will set up the safety sequence and lock up all the force fields, which will react only to another code... like yours, Shril." L´shtars face lit up in a smile, when something ocurred to him.
"But... I don´t see, how I can do it. They will probably shoot first, then ask."
"You leave it to me, L´shtar," said Tom and stood up, controlling his phaser. "I will divert them. How long do you need?"
"Fifteen seconds,"
"Good. That I can manage," Tom smirked and secretly thought - at least, I hope.
"Stay here, Shril," ordered L´shtar to the woman, who just glowered at him and wiped the dirt from her face with her sleeve.
"If anything, wait for Voyager," he said her a little more gently.
"Be careful," she answered to the retreating backs.
"How many lifeforms?" asked Captain Janeway and patiently waited for the answer.
"None, captain," replied Chakotay looking at the tricoder and assessing the situation. Before him lay the Delta Flyer, seemingly undamaged and empty. The tricoder didn´t detect any lifeforms, which wasn´t very surprising, because even Voyager´s sensors couldn´t penetrate the planet´s atmosphere. They were literally blind. But the rescue team was resolute to find Voyager´s missing pilot and go home, so Chakotay nodded and with Tuvok, B´Elanna, Parc´r and three other men from the security, they entered the shuttle.
It was indeed empty. Chakotay controlled the console - maybe Tom left some message - it was evident, that he was taken away as a hostage, at least, Chakotay hoped. They could´ve smoothly kill him on the Flyer, so why take him, unless there is something else?
Maybe they´re not so fond of killing, admitted to himself Chakotay and grunted, when the computer didn´t give him the informations, he wanted.
"They left the shuttle two hours ago, commander," declared Tuvok. "Three life forms leaving. It´s only logical to assume, that if they didn´t kill him here, they may have other plans."
"Yeah, it ocurred to me as well," sighed Chakotay and turned, when B´Elanna bursted into the cockpit, her face lit up and in hand treaming a PADD.
"He left a message!" she whispered and handed the PADD to Chakotay, indicating, that he should read it silently.
To anyone from Voyager
My abductor L´shtar is a member of rebell fraction called CLAN. The woman is a healer, and she found out something about their government. Salvorians are not what they seems - much more advanced, but their policy sucks more than ours. Shril B´glar was poisoned by Parc´r. DON´T believe him! Now, my situation. I had a choice - leave with them, or die. I choose the first. Don´t know the destination, but it will be not so far from the shuttle - because the woman couldn´t walk that much.
L´shtar is threatening me with some poisoning device called Troc´lan, so I can try to escape only when it´s deactivated. I´m trying to persuade the woman.
They´re not the real enemies, captain. Just trying to save their kids. Don´t harm them. And be aware of the Salvorian government and Parc´r.
Tom Paris
"Hm," murmured Chakotay. "How can we know, that he wrote this on his own?" he handed it to Tuvok.
"The PADD was hidden in one secret panel. Just Tom and I knew about that," revealed B´Elanna frowning. Chakotay looked at her and he could swore, that she´s blushing, even if the dark Klingon skin wouldn´t show it. Then something hit him and he looked at Tuvok.
"Where is Parc´r?"
"I will find him," reacted Tuvok and walked out.
"You read this, we will find Tom," assured her Chakotay.
"Better for them, if he´ll be allright," grunted B´Elanna.
"What could he mean by the policy thing?" she shrugged.
"After the Monean incident? Anything." B´Elanna had a feeling, that Tom was once again drawed into the middle of the conflict. She didn´t like this idea, but Tom´s message was enough sententious. She caught the underlaying plea for not hurting the Salvorians, just like the clear warning regarding Parc´r.
"He don´t want any shoot-out," noted Chakotay grimmly. "He´s probably already sympathizing with they goals."
B´Elanna scowled at him and Chakotay had a wits to leave the subject. He wanted something to say, when one of the security officers ran straight into him, nearly knocking them both down. Chakotay snarled and B´Elanna grunted. The officier just blushed, stumbling out a hastle sorry.
"Ensign," asked the commander crossly.
"Commander Tuvok sent me... Parc´r is missing."
"What!?"
"Someone was supposed to be with him the whole time!"
"Yes, commander. Uhm... Lieutenant Tarras was knocked out."
"Is he all right?"
"Unconscious."
"Where is Tuvok?"
"I´m here, commander," answered Tuvok from the door.
"Report,"
"Parc´r is gone. Tarras need medical attention."
"Chakotay to Captain," he contacted Voyager.
"Captain, here. Have you some news?"
"Yeah. Not good. We need an emergency beam out - lock on Lieutenant Tarras commbadge."
After few seconds of silence, captain´s voice returned.
"He was transported to sickbay. What happened?"
"We believe, that he was attacked be Parc´r, who is now missing."
"Couldn´t he been kidnapped, just as Paris?"
"Not likely," answered Chakotay grimmly. "Tom left a message, warning us before Parc´r and the Salvorian government. Aparrently, Paris believes, that his captors are just rebells, trying to save some... kids. But they´re threatening him with a device called Troc´lan, so..."
"I see. Your priority is to find Paris. I have enough of government plays, if the Salvorians don´t want to be rescued, fine. But we need our pilot to return to Alpha Quadrant. Be careful."
"Chakotay - out."
"So?" asked B´Elanna. "How can we find them?"
"The sensors won´t pick up the track of Lieutenant Paris or his captors, but Parc´r surely left some trails," told Tuvok and walked out of te shuttle, closely followed by two ex-maquist.
"Down!" Tom cried out and launched at L´shtar, sending them both to the ground. Not one second after, few energy shots missed them by mere inches. He should´ve know, that it wouldn´t be so easy, thought Tom, shooting blindly at the place, from where one of the soldiers was trying to change their heads into a pile of dust. They was just nearing the storage room entry, when Tom spotted some movement and only with luck evaded the shot at his chest. Now laying on the floor, his breath coming out in shallow gasps, L´shtar panickly shook his head. They was in relative safety of the wall protrusion. Tom once in a while fired from his phaser, not really aiming, just trying to keep the man at distance.
"Shit!" mumbled Tom, when one of the shots hit the wall and sent a shower of fragments at his head. They´ve got to think up some plan, otherwise, they are all dead.
"Can´t you activate the field from here?" asked Tom whispering. L´shtar just shook his head.
"I must be in three meter´s perimeter close the field. We are now at least six."
"Great. So... we just have to get closer."
"How?"
Tom fired once again and dared to take a look. He spotted just one of the men, so he assumed, that the other is inside, trying to gain control of the system. The man was ducking at the junction of two different tunnels, using one of them as a protection. It will be hard, if not impossible, to get to him, because there was the entry to storage room, which was on the way. They would need to activate the field first, just then disarm the shooter.
"Okay, here is the plan. I will cover you with fire, and you will crawl, as near, as you need."
"But..." stumbled L´shtar, "what if he hit me?"
"Then you will not have to bother more. I will cover you, don´t be afraid. You just crawl. It´s dark, he wouldn´t see you anyway. Be quick. Once the field is activated, I will accompany you. Okay?"
L´shtar just nodded and Tom let him ahead. L´shtar lay down on the cold floor and prayed to any god which he could think of, to save his poor soul. Tom took a deep breath, then nudged L´shtar to move. He fired, covering his move and hoped, that L´shtar will keep moving, even if some of the shots nearly missed his head. Tom kept firing, and prepared the second phaser, because that one was going to be without energy too soon. The soldier on the other side must´ve realized, that it´s some kind of diversion, because he now begun to shoot at L´shtar, who was just nearing the storage room. When one of the shots found its target, L´shtar yelped out in pain and stayed put in place, so Tom didn´t know, if he is dead or not. The soldier stopped firing, and Tom debated, if it´s a trap, or if his weapon just need a change of cartridge.
He didn´t have much of an option - he could return to Shril, or try and save L´shtar, if there was something to save. Groaning, Tom knelt and began to crawl out, when his eyes spotted a movement. L´shtar wasn´t dead, and Tom could now beside the moaning hear also the codes. In the moment, something beeped and the forcefield activated, so now there was just the corridor, the entry to storage room sealed.
"Yes!" hissed Tom and continued towards L´shtar´s now shaking body. The soldier was quiet for the moment, perhaps trying to find out, what happened.
"You hurt bad?" asked Tom and looked at L´shtar, whose color was in the dimly lit coridor a scary shade of green.
"Just a shoulder," whispered L´shtar, pressing one hand at the wound, seeping purple blood.
"Return to Shril," said Tom silently and was grateful, when the alien obeyed. Now, there was just a matter of one soldier, who somewhere disappeared...
...or is just trying to make us think that, thought Tom, as something rolled on the floor, straight toward him. Tom didn´t have a time... he just closed his eyes and tried to shirk from the thing. He managed to get himself to the wall, when the world exploded. Something just ripped his brain out of his skull, straight through his eyeballs. The mad ringing in his ears reminded him of the shrieking metal, when the shuttle he piloted, crashed to the ground.
It was amazing, how quickly can a body recover from a stunning grenade. First thing, he felt, was his body coming back. The pins and needles running through his flesh was an agonizing relief reminding him of the reality. The pain in his head wasn´t so welcomed, but at least, it forced him to open his eyes.
"Oh crap," was the first sentence coming from his mouth, when with half-blinded eyes he found himself looking at the wrong end of some weird energy weapon. The man treaming it at the good end dazzled him with one triumphant smile.
Tom will never forget that smile, because just in the second, when he spotted the brightly white teeth, the man´s head exploded into thousand pieces , most of them covering Tom´s torso and face. Tom´s head turned to the right, and he saw L´shtar, leaning to the wall, but nevertheless aiming his gun to the air. The soldier´s body (or what was left of it), crumpled to the floor with a sickening splash. Tom tiredly and in shock shut his eyes. When he opened them again, L´shtar was making his way toward him, slowly and painfully. It´s time to pull myself together, thought Tom and stood up, trying to wipe his face cleen with the sleeve of his shirt, only succeding in smearing the blood and brain matter to the parts, which were till now relatively clean.
"Are you all right?" asked the Salvorian with thin voice, clearly worried.
"Yeah," answered Tom and grinned, rendering the struggle with dirt. "Thanks, for that," he pointed at the body on the floor.
"Well... if you´ve died, your ship wouldn´t have help us a bit." confessed L´shtar.
"So you want our help?"
"I don´t see, how we could survive another two or three hours, till B´arn´s arrival."
"Why? If this was the only group..."
"No, the government would send others. They´ve a secret base on Jurlik VI. If this guys wouldn´t report in time, another group will come. We must go, quickly, to your flyer. We can wait somewhere else on the planet..."
"Or contact Voyager," suggested Paris, even if the answer was no.
"Allright. I will go for Shrill-"
"No, wait here. You´re injured," L´shtar was about to protest, but then his face grimaced in pain, and he plainly nodded.
"Just watch the force field," adressed him Tom and turned away. Finding the entry wasn´t the problem, but how to get through? Sure, if the safety system was activated, why should be this field down? Tom was ready to return, when the field shimmered, and Shril B´glar stepped out, worried frown on her face.
"L´shtar?" she asked and furrowed her brows, when she get a clear look at Tom. "Khar´lash! What happened?"
"What? Oh... this isn´t mine," he said and threw her an assuring smile. "L´shtar was hurt... but he´s okay," he added, seeing the look of horror on her face.
"Come, we must go." She let him lead her ahead, when the screaming tore through air. They both stopped and listened. Tom could hear curses and gasping - clear signs of a fight.
"Stay here!" he ordered and not waiting for answer, ran towards the sounds.
It was an impressive view, for someone, who didn´t see a Salvorian fight. It was a bundle of blue color, black coats and white hairs, constantiously screaming in rage and cursing. Tom thought the Salvorians to be cold blooded, but this was just like to watch the fight of Kernan dogs, which were trained to kill and maim. Tom could just look, because the two aliens never separated enough for him to aim and fire.
L´shtar was loosing, he could see that. The wound in his shoulder was profusely bleeding and every move caused pain. The other man had the odds, but only for a while, when L´shtar throwed them both to the wall, breaking the man´s right hand in the process. They both stumbled on the ground, separating and Tom aimed.
"Stop it, right now!" he told the two men, who were trying to continue in the fight. L´shtar looked at him and breathed out in relief, clutching at his shoulder and trying hard to supress the pain. The other man however, had other plans. Grinning from ear to ear, he held up a little device and pointed at Tom.
"Put down that weapon, otherwise... I will press this button. I shall tell you, that the death from Troc´lan is far worse, then you can imagine." Tom shook his head, recognizing the man.
"Ah... you´re Parc´r," he smiled, but didn´t level the phaser. "I´m sorry, I didn´t recognize you the first time we met... you remember, the sickbay? Perhaps not. It was late night, and you was too preoccupied."
"K´lum! You will die!" he growled and pressed the button. Tom was stunned, when the thing on his arm slightly vibrated, but otherwise felt fine. Parc´r watched him and frowned more, than Paris imagined possible.
"I don´t think so,"
"What...!" he mumbled, when Tom didn´t collapse nor show symptoms of pain. Parc´r wanted to press again, but Tom didn´t give him a chance. He fired.
"You... it was in time," sighed L´shtar, trembling. Tom looked at him confused. "He activated it first. If he pushed the button again... you would be dead."
"Oh," said Tom and nodded. "Christ!" he murmured, when the meaning of words hit him. He didn´t know, when his legs gave away and he slumped to the floor. He neither sensed the presence of the woman. There was just the thought of what if and the lightheaded feeling, creeping through his body.
Shril B´glar walked to the impassive form of Parc´r and assured herself, that he is dead. She than picked up the control device and deactivated it, for good. After that, all her attention was pointed at L´shtar, who was now only half-conscious.
"L´shtar, stay with me," she pleaded. "I need your help! The force-fields wouldn´t hold long and I can´t protect you alone. Please..." she tried to stop the bleading, but was unsuccesfull. Paris wasn´t any help now, because he was either asleep, or unconscious.
"What do I do?" she asked and nearly jumped out of her skin, when someone answered her.
"Let us help." It was a man, with weird tattoo on his face. Shrill retreated with fear, but was stopped by a wall.
"Don´t harm us," she pleaded, scared.
"We are from Voyager," said the man and pointed at someone behind him. The half-Klingon emerged and growling all the way, rushed to Paris´ side.
"This is our chief engineer, B´Elanna Torres. I´m Chakotay. Commander Tuvok," he introduced the half Vulcan, who was controlling Parc´r.
"He´s dead," announced Tuvok and began to check L´shtar.
"We... we didn´t wanted to harm him," explained Shril B´glar. "Really... just... it was a bad plan."
"Yes, it was," said B´Elanna, scowling at the woman, holding Tom in her arms.
"How is he?" asked Chakotay.
"Burning up and unconscious. And... I don´t know, what´s on his face?" she asked, clearly confused.
"I think it´s brain matter," stated Tuvok, looking at the pilot. "Not his, I believe."
B´Elanna´s eyes went wide for a moment, then she sighed.
"He need a visit in sickbay," she told Chakotay.
"Yeah, but not from here. We will carry him outside the tunnels, then transport to Voyager."
"What´ll be with us?" asked Shril B´glar sheepishly.
"I believe, that your partner need medical attention too," stated Tuvok.
"Are we... arrested?"
"It´s on the captain," told her Chakotay, "but I think, that we could make a deal."
The Salvorian woman nodded and helped them stood L´shtar up, when something ocurred to her.
"Wait! There are others..."
"Yeah, we came across one of your man..."
"It is not! They´re soldiers, send here to kill us!"
"They? We just found alive one,"
"In the storage room is the other."
"And that is?"
"Oh... the field. I-I must tell the code, then it deactivates."
"Where it is? Show us. B´Elanna... stay with them," ordered her Chakotay and with Tuvok and Shril B´glar, they headed towards the wall.
It didn´t take much time, realized B´Elanna later. When the field dropped, the soldier was trying to get away. He used one stunning grenade, but when he was passing by, Tuvok had stopped him with a Vulcan nerve pinch to the neck. The men fell to the ground with grunt, unconscious. It was just a matter of time then, to get them all out of the caves and transport at Voyager. The two soldiers was transported straight to the brig, while L´shtar and Tom appeared in the sickbay. Shril B´glar along with Chakotay headed for captain´s office.
He wasn´t in the cave anymore. He was lying on something soft and was covered by blankets. Even if he was shivering slightly, it was due to fever. Hm... comfortable, but not quite. Not his own bed, which was pity. He could think of only one place, where he could possibly be - at least, the place, where he would be rather then in cave.
Yeah, it was sickbay, thought Tom in relief, opening his eyes to the dimly lit room. And it was night, otherwise there would be much more movement. He blinked, trying to break through the fog in his brain, and couldn´t supress a smile, as he caught a sight of dark forehead with ridges, laying next to his hand.
"´Lanna," he whispered, not wanting to draw the Doc´s attention. The half-Klingon mumbled something in her mother language, than turned her head on the other side, sleeping. Tom smirked and nudged the woman´s arm. B´Elanna shot upside, nearly falling from the chair, and Tom was now openly laughing.
"Tom! You´re awake!" she exclaimed, than frowned. "What are you laughing at?"
"Oh... nothing. Just glad to see your lovely face," he answered quickly and groaned, as the hologram appeared next his bed.
"Ah, Mr. Paris. It was time... I thought, that you want to sleep till our return to Alpha Quadrant." Tom grimaced at the hologram.
"I love you too," he said sarcastically.
"Well, it´s just a result of fever, don´t bother, Mr. Paris. It will go away," assured him the Doc. B´Elanna was contemplating, whether to look amused or offended. She choose the first.
"I have some good news for you, Mr. Paris," began the Doc.
"I can return to my quarters?" he asked hopefully.
"No," stated resolutly the doctor. "But in a day or two... The Maltrop is effective, so just as your fever is gone, you are free to go."
"Can´t I go now?" he tried once again.
"No," replied the doctor and turned to B´Elanna. "Don´t tire him out. You have ten minutes, then I wan´t you to go to sleep - in your quarters." With one last look at his restless patient, he walked away. Once alone, Tom half-satisfied looked at B´Elanna.
"What - you aren´t mad?" she asked wondering.
"Why? Believe me, sickbay is better than cave. And even if not, I´m not feeling to a runaway. Maybe tomorrow... How long am I here, by the way? And how did you find us?"
"It´s almost a day, now. We just followed Parc´r to the cave. He led us straight to you. But we were a little late..."
"Yeah, you can say that. Is he dead?"
"Yes."
"What the others?"
"They´re all right. Well... L´shtar was there few hours, but the Doc patched him up. The woman wasn´t injured."
"Good. Where are they now?"
"Gone." said B´Elanna and Tom blinked.
"As if... not on Voyager?"
"Yeah," she smiled. "They returned to the planet and waited for their friends."
"The captain let them go?" Tom was relieved, even if a little surprised.
"After the little chat she had with them? Yes, she let them go and bid them farewell. It seems, that our alliance with Salvorians will have to wait a while. Anyway... we landed the two soldiers on Freya III with the polite message to K´lau explaining the situation."
"He will be pissed,"
"I don´t think so. Even if, we are out of Freyan territory, so don´t bother." She turned to see the approaching EMH, and quickly put some PADD to his hand, then leaned close, kissing him on the lips. The Doctor coughed and Tom groaned, not wanting to spoil this moment.
"By the way... L´shtar something left for you."
"What is it?" he asked, equally whispering.
"He mentioned some program to distract the EMH and the schemes of the cloaking device used on Delta Flyer. To the second I will look at later. Enjoy it." she said, then gave him one final kiss and left without another word. The doctor just glared after her retreating form, suspecting something, but not quite knowing what.
Tom just smiled, hiding the PADD under the blanket. He will see, maybe he would find tonight a strength to make a short visit, at the quarters of one half-Klingon.
THE END
That´s it. I know, it was perhaps full of mistakes, but as I said above, I don´t have anyone who could´ve beta read me in english. If it was worth your time, mail me. If not, well... just don´t send flames (I´m not a best fireman:-)
Feedback appreciated
For more, look at my webpage :
Star Trek: Voyager The Not So Good Guest "by Nicol Leoraine"
Third part
Someone was shaking him, hard. Tom groaned and tried to shrug off the offending hands, but they just returned, more urgently. Grunting, he opened his eyes and looked into the black pair of the Salvorian´s. L´shtar didn´t seem very happy.
"Paris, wake up!" he was actually yelling at him, and Tom was surprised, that he didn´t heard him sooner. Must be one hell of a sleep.
"Yeah, yeah, I´m up. Stop shaking me," he groaned, then sat up, wearily rubbing at his eyes.
"About time," snarled at him L´shtar.
"What´s up?"
"If you happened to forgot, we are in the ship, which is flying. You better take the helm, I think, we are approaching the planet.
"Nothing new?" asked Tom and stood, squeezing his eyes shut, as a wave of dizzines hit him. The Salvorian eyed him worriedly, and touched his arm. Tom blinked and headed for the control room. He was worried himself, knowing, that if the illness comes back in the wrong time, it could cost him his life - and while they´re on the ship, also the two Salvorians. He didn´t want it happen, but could feel the beginning of fever. Standing at the helm and controlling the course, he hardly contained his uneasiness.
"Can you bring me some water?" asked Tom and greadily accepted the cool liquid.
"So... what you think? They knew about us or not?"
"No, oh, yes. The hologram activated himself about a hour ago, so I think, that about now, they´re searching for us. But it will take time. How long, till we land on the planet?"
"Not long, maybe half hour. I will need coordinates - if you want to land on some special place."
"Sure. Here they are." L´shtar gave him a padd with map. Tom transferred the data to computer and adjusted the course of the ship. They began the descent.
"How´s your colleague?" asked Tom, don´t taking his eyes from the helm controls.
"I-I think, that she will be all right. But you will need to give her something, once we land."
"Yeah, I thought that. You better tell her, that we´re going to land... it could get a little harsh at times."
L´shtar trotted away, but soon returned. By then, they were already on the orbit of Jurlik VII.
Through the screen was opening a view of continents, wrapped in clouds and shadows. They could see one of the moons, blue like an ocean, shining on the land. The part of planet, where they wanted to land, was dark, because it was night. Tom admired the canyons, which from the height looked really fascinating. Shortly, the Delta Flyer begun to shake, but this time it wasn´t so bad and even L´shtar seemed calm. Whilst Tom payed attention only to the piloting, L´shtar took to his hands the little masking device , controlling the progress of Voyager. They were now trying to scan the surface of Jurlik VI., but there was too much interferences from the raging magnetic storm.
Tom could now see that the coordinates leaded them to one of the rocky mountains. It wasn´t easy to land there, because the rocks and rangy surface, but with little luck, Tom managed. The Delta Flyer jerked twice, then stiffened, as they came down.
L´shtar sighed in relief, when the motors calmed and the whole Delta Flyer lapsed into silence. Tom just stood before the helm, stiff and tense from the near future. He eyed the Salvorian, then a little device called Tro´clan, which was embeded in his arm. The pounding headache and the flush of warm, that he felt just a seconds ago, wasn´t really encouraging.
L´shtar looked at Tom, then at the cabin behind himself.
"You should give something to Shril," asked him in quiet voice the Salvorian. "We need to go, as soon, as she´ll be able."
"Right," muttered Tom and walked to the cabin. He thought about asking L´shtar right there, what he wants to do with him, but though better of it. The Salvorian woman looked a little more apprehensive, not talking about her disapproval with L´shtar´s method. Maybe she can convice him.
Kneeling next to her bed, he ran a tricoder scan. Nodding at the results, Tom inserted one hypo and waited for her awakening. L´shtar behind him nervously coughed.
"How´s she?"
"She needs rest. But you know it."
"What the poison?"
"The antidote was effective. There is no trace of the poison."
"Good," grinned the Salvorian, just as the woman´s eyes fluttered.
"Hey," asked Tom. "How you doing?" Shril B´glar blinked, to clear her sight, then smiled a little, trying to sit up.
"Better. Little sleepy, that´s all."
"You can sleep, once we are at the base," told her L´shtar and she looked up at him.
"We landed?"
"Yes. Once you feel to it, we can go."
"How far?"
"Not much," assured her L´shtar and nervously looked at the display of the masking device, which was now sitting in his palm.
"Give me a minute," yawned Shril, "then we can go."
"Good."
"One question, though," asked the woman. "What will be with him?" she looked at Tom.
L´shtar eyed him suspiciously.
"He´ll come with us," he told and Tom let out a sigh.
"Why? I can stay here. I will wait few hours, then I return to my ship. Once I tell the captain, what was that all about, she will not pursue you anymore."
"No," barked L´shtar. "We can´t believe you, human. You will come with us. If your people find us, you will be our assurance."
"You mean hostage," corrected Tom and leaned to bed, when the cabin spinned. He hardly supressed the creeping nausea.
"L´shtar, he can´t go with us," said the woman frowning at him.
"He is sick."
"So, we have a problem. Because I will not leave him here. It´s too dangerous for us."
"And what do you want to do with me, once we arrive at your base?" asked Tom angrilly. "Kill me? You can do it right now, at least, I will not feel so lousy anymore." He wasn´t really wanting to die, and he knew, that talking like that will not do him any good, but he felt like shit, and didn´t have a mood for a tour, if it can be avoided.
"You´re medic. Help yourself. I don´t want to kill you, Paris, but if you can´t go with us, I will just do it, rather then risk our safety. You have five minutes. Then I will just push the button." With that, L´shtar helped the woman stand, and led her out of the cabin. Tom stayed alone.
It was ludicrous. Here he was, left alone in the cabin. He could try something... free himself or take Shril as a hostage, but he knew, that it can´t work. L´shtar wasn´t playing around and he wasn´t in the condition, to try his patience. And besides, the Troc´lan was still holding him down. No, he will try, only if he know, that the others are on the way. Which reminded him of something.
He found a padd, and left a note. He still had a few minutes, and heard, that Shril and L´shtar are arguing. Good, he thought, maybe she will help me. But the argument didn´t seem to change L´shtar´s plan, so Tom grabbed the tricoder and scanned himself.
"Great," he muttered, noticing that his fever is once again elevated and that the doctor´s calculations or his medicine didn´t work. He sighed and aministered something for the headache and the nausea. At least, he could supress the symptoms. Indeed feeling a little better, he stood and joined the two now quiet Salvorians.
"So, what did you choose?"
"A little walk will not do any harm," replied Tom annoyed, but smiled at Shril B´glar. She bowed her head, then glared at L´shtar.
"Good. Take what you need besides guns."
"Hey, and how can I defend myself, if your government will come? Bite them?"
"No, just use your sense of humor. It will do the job," barked L´shtar and pointed at the doors. "Now, go!"
Tom took one breath and stepped out of the relative safety of the shuttle.
After a hour long walk on the rocky terrain, all three of them was equally glad to arrive at the small entrance in the root of the mountain. Tom looked a little sceptical, when L´shtar pointed to the small entry, but accomplished his silent order and creeped in. Even on the knees, they was moving through low tunnel, every step raising dust and dirt. At least, the tunnel began to broaden and Tom´s breathing calmed down. He wasn´t really claustrophobic, but didn´t quite like small tunnels, particularly, when he don´t know them. At least they was somehow lightened - the walls was shining greenly, causing the tunnels look like immersed in water. Soon there was enough room to stand and L´shtar took the head, for the moment not considering Paris as a threat. Tom didn´t take his chance, because, frankly, there wasn´t a place to go. Sure, he could turn around and run for the Delta Flyer, but L´shtar can in the meantime push the button hundred times, and he will be dead before even reaching the exit. So he walked, keeping a cautious eye on both Salvorians, even if the woman looked at him apologizing.
"Shril, I need your code," asked L´shtar, when they stood before black wall, seemingly at the end of their tour. But Shril B´glar just said a sentence in her mother language. Tom assumed, that it was encrypted, because even his universal translator couldn´t manage it. After L´shtar said something similar, the wall flickered. Shril was first to go trough, and Tom stumbled, when L´shtar pointed at him.
"What´s that? Hologram?" he asked and touched the image, but jerked back, when his hand hit the solid matter. L´shtar smirked.
"Something like that," he said and grabbed Tom´s hand. Before he could protest, L´shtar pushed him through the wall, emerging next to him. Tom´s sight wasn´t adjusted to the light that greeted them, and he had to blink a few times, to clear his vision.
They was in the cave, a big, technologically equipped room with everything, that a rebell could need, when hiding. One room, maybe fifteen meters wide and ten meters long. There was at least five other exits leading deeper into the mountain or out of it. When Tom turned around, the wall through which they came in, was transparent, so Tom assumed, that the other exits will too be secured with a force field.
"Make yourself comfortable," announced L´shtar and walked to the near console, grabbing something similar to PADD. Then he looked at Shril, and sat at the far end of the room. Tom sighed and watched as the Salvorian woman eased herself on the couch in the middle of the room. After a thought, he sat down next her.
"How are you feeling?" he asked her, and the woman appeared surprised.
"Better, thanks. And you?"
"Was worse," admitted Tom and ran a hand through his hair. "I don´t really get all this rebell stuff."
"What exactly?"
"That hate for a planet. I mean... most wars are going on because someone want´s some planet. But your race had willingly abbandoned the really thought of a homeworld. Why?"
"Not all of us want to live on ships or stations, Tom. At first... it was a necessity to learn how to live in space. When our homeworld was destroyed, Salvorians were searching for one very long. So long, that our childrens didn´t know, how to live on the earth, when they found it. But there were groups, whose dream was to live in freedom of planet, not in custody of ship. You know, our policy soon became one of power and control. The government control everything - from science, to a simple agriculture. If someone doesn´t accept their conditions , it´s like a treachery. So we have a penalty colonies, where Salvorians are forced to work for government. No payment, no care. It´s inhuman."
"You mean - slavery?" asked Tom in dismay.
"Not exactly... they´re prisoners, convicted criminals. But the problem is, that for the government a criminal mean anyone, who somehow break the law, even if it´s a scientist, saying, that our food have ill efects on our childrens."
"I see. So your CLAN want´s a planet, right?"
"Not exactly. We just want the chance, to make a choice. For our childrens. Our farmstead - or if you rather, food processing - is in the hands of a monopol. Only our governemnt have a right to produce nutritions. So it´s on the rebell fractions to gave the Salvorians a chance, to eat harmless food. Until we won´t paralyse the monopol, the black market will bloom."
"What will you do now?" asked her Tom and stiffled a yawn. L´shtar was quietly talking with someone, but he was too far and Tom didn´t understand him.
"I don´t know," conceded Shril B´glar with a frown. "I don´t have the exact results of the test, nor a protocol. But... now, that I know, what to look for, we will conduct these tests again, in our own laboratories."
"And then?"
She shrugged and looked at L´shtar.
"Then we will act. But that´ll not be your concern, Mr. Paris," she told him with a slight smile.
"Yeah, I assumed so much," sighed Tom, frustrated. The woman frowned at him and shook her head in protest.
"We will not harm you, Tom," she tried to affirm him and Tom grinned, pointing at the small device in his right hand.
"So, that´s just a last fashion style?"
For a moment, Shril looked almost sorry for him.
"I must apologize for L´shtars methods, Tom. I don´t agree with them, but you must understand our objectives and priorities."
"Sure, I understand. But I have nowhere to go, so why don´t take it out?" he pleaded her and glanced at her with sincere look, that could move even the half-Klingon. He spotted something mirroring on her face, but just as she was ready to talk, L´shtar emerged next to them.
"Your people are searching for us, on Jurlik VI. I hope, that will take them at least few hours."
"B´arn?" asked Shril hesitantly.
"He will come, but it can take few hours."
"Voyager will find the Delta Flyer," said Tom. "Why don´t you let me go? I can distract their attention,"
"Yeah, and I believe in your Gods," remarked L´shtar scornfuly.
"You will stay here, till B´arn´s arrival. Just if Shril would be secure, you can go, whenever you want."
"Great," muttered Tom. "But it´s a bullshit, you know. How far is this B´arn? I think, that somewhere in Freyan territory, or at least a few planets away. How long will it take for him to come? Hours? Days? And what Parc´r? You said, that he will call for a help. How do you want to deal with so much people, alone?"
"They can´t find us here!" shouted L´shtar. "And Parc´r wouldn´t call the army. He sent here one group of soldiers, that´s all."
"Soldiers?" asked Shril surprised.
"And you think, that it´s easier to deal with a group of trained soldiers, than fly away in Delta Flyer?"
"My cloaking device have limited radius. The sensors of your ship would find us."
"So what? I´ll tell them, what I know. The captain is fair, she will hear you out. And the government can´t send soldiers after you to Voyager. Shril B´glar will be safe."
"No! They tried to kill her once, they will try again! We are safe here, as long, as nobody tries to run away."
"Tell me, what you want to do?" asked Tom pressing hard at L´shtars confidence. "Wait here till what?"
"B´arn will came."
"Yes, and? Even if he comes at time, there will be Voyager on the orbit and at least one another group, both trying to find us or kill us. How will B´arn help you?"
"He have his methods," defended the man L´shtar, although, his voice wasn´t much more convincing, than Tom´s. He pressed again.
"Return to Voyager, L´shtar. Just here you will be safe. It´s still time... no harm happened. The captain will hear you out."
"No, it´s late! Parc´r now knew, that I´m with rebells. He will declare me as a traitor! Your captain then will have no other choice, just to pass me to our government. And you don´t have a clue, what is to be declared as a traitor, Mr. Paris!"
"Maybe I have," commented dryly Tom, remembering his early days on Voyager, among the Maquis and Starfleet crew. He didn´t know, who hated him more, then.
"We will wait," replied silently L´shtar, and returned to the console. Tom sighed and nodded in acceptance. He couldn´t do more. While Shril B´glar stood and walked after L´shtar, Tom rolled down to his side, stretching his long legs on the couch. He closed his eyes and urged himself to sleep, trying to conserve as much energy, as he can. Something told him, that he will need it soon.
"Captain, I found traces from the shuttle," stated Harry Kim proudly.
"Where?"
"From Jurlik VI. to Jurlik VII. It seem´s like they´ve tried to escape our sensors."
"You´re positive, that it´s a signature of Delta Flyer?"
"Yes, captain."
"Very well. Ensing Baytart, head for Jurlik VII.," commanded Janeway and looked at Chakotay.
"Captain, the sensors located another ship approaching the planet."
"Who are they?"
"Unknown, captain," replied Harry Kim a little stressed.
"Hail them, ensign,"
"They´re not responding."
"Can you detect any life signs, commander?" she asked Tuvok.
"Five life signs, captain. They´re Salvorians," he added and slightly raised his eyebrow.
"Very well," muttered Janeway. "When will they reach the planet?"
"About two hours."
"And we?"
"Estimated time is one hour twenty minutes," announced Baytart.
"Good. I want to be there first."
"Captain, there is a trace of another ship on the orbit... they´re landing."
"Identification?"
"Nothing."
"Captain," asked Chakotay quietly, "Should I call Parc´r?"
"No. I have a feeling, that maybe he has something with it, Chakotay. I don´t care, who is in that shuttle, so far as we will find them sooner."
"We will bring him back," told her the commander and turned away.
"I hope so," sighed the captain.
The first sign of forthcoming problems was the beeping of warning controls, which Tom sensed as a roaring of sirens. He grabbed at his head, trying to stop the cacophony and almost tumbled down from the couch. When someone grabbed him and helped to sit up, he opened his eyes and looked around. The howling of the sirens stopped and was replaced by a heavy cursing. Tom blinked with relief and eased himself into the more comfortable position. Next him was the Salvorian woman, her eyes anxiously shifting between Tom and L´shtar, who was now running from one console to next, cursing.
"What happened?" asked Tom and rubbed his temples. The woman before him looked as if ready to jump at the lightest touch, but surprisingly, she shed him a smile, then frowned.
"Someone is coming," she told him and took a step toward L´shtar, then stopped herself. "You must help us," said the woman pleadingly and Tom was taken by surprise.
"How can I?" he asked, even if he rather heard, why should he.
"Come. I... I will give you a gun..." she pulled him from the couch, to the nearest tunnel, when L´shtar spotted her.
"Wait!" he shouted and was instantly next to Tom, his right hand treaming the control device, his face a mask of anger and fear. The blue tone of his skin was replaced by an imposant purple, so the alien looked as if his head should any second explode. Tom would´ve laughed, if it was different situation. But as he was at the receiving end of that anger, he just cringed and unconsciously touched the device on his arm.
"You! Running away?" asked L´shtar icily.
"No, L´shtar," objected Shril B´glar and glared at him with such venom, that L´shtar took a step back. "He is with me. I´m going to give him a gun, and you!" she pointed at him, "will neutralize Troc´lan."
"You´re crazy, Shril!" yelped L´shtar.
"No! You are, if you want to poison him. Think, L´shtar. If you kill him, we don´t stand a chance. Not only Parc´r would want to kill us, but his friends too. That would be a suicide."
"Okay, I neutralize it, but why are you giving him a gun?" asked L´shtar densely.
"Because he can help us fight, L´shtar,"
"But..."
"I will not harm you," said Tom seeing, that the debate is just stealing their time. "Look, the crew of Voyager would try to negotiate. They´ll not harm you, unless you do something unwise. But if the intruders are from your government, they´ll not ask who is who. I will be equally a threat for them. So, please... disarm this device and give me something to fight with." Tom tryed to sound as unthreating, as he could and the alien slowly nodded, pushing some buttons on the control device in his hand. The Troc´lan on Tom´s arm beeped, but didn´t break away.
"Take it down," asked Tom, but L´shtar shook his head.
"Don´t have time. It´s inactive. Shril," the woman nodded and grabbed Tom´s arm, pulling him through one of the force fields. L´shtar returned to the console and fascinated watched, as one screen after other went black. Not long and he couldn´t see anything outside the cave. He cursed once again and followed them to one of the tunnels.
The short but loud explosion pretty much disabled the forcefield at the entering. Tom and Shril were both momentarily stunned, and just the warning hiss coming from behind, jerked them to reality. They must move, and quickly. Tom didn´t know, what safety measures took the Salvorian rebels when building this complex, but L´shtar´s fear conviced him, that they wasn´t sufficient. The short and thight tunnel was diverging and soon all three of them stood in the storage room, at least, Tom thought that. Shril looked around, perhaps seeing this room for the first time herself, but L´shtar immediately headed for one of the built-in cabinet. The doors hissed when he garbled something, and L´shtar grabbed the first thing inside. Tom fascinated looked at the collection of weapons - from special combat knives, to blowtorch from Entanau 5. Even the starship phasers was there, and Tom quickly grabbed two of them. He setted them to heavy stun, not wanting to kill, but at least incapacitate the assailants. Shril B´glar was next to him looking at the sortiment - lastly, she grabbed one obscure "wristlet" from white metal. It was thin and Tom remembered the photos of snakes on Earth, precisely the one called Cobra. The bracelet was embracing the woman´s wrist, but in her palm was hidden a metal circle with red eye.
"That´s your technology?" asked Tom, while looking at another weapon.
"Partly. We found this on Saltra Pou, and our technicians adjusted it to our physiology. It´s working on the sonic waves."
"Ah," sighed Tom and taking one of the knives from the cabinet, he turned at L´shtar.
"What do you want to do now?" he asked quietly. The alien raised his head from the computer and Tom could see his despair. He silently cursed, it´s just his luck to be kidnapped by someone so... unexperienced.
"Can you see, who they are and how much?" asked Tom walking to the console.
"I saw one of the soldiers, before he disabled the scanning camera system. It picked up three Salvorian lifeforms at the entry and two at the spare exit."
"How many exits there are?"
"Three," answered L´shtar grimly. "But one is accessible only from the control room."
"The second?"
"We must go through the soldiers to reach that," added L´shtar.
"Okay," sighed Tom and rubbed his temple, when another explosion shook the tunnels.
"They must shoot off every forcefield? Couldn´t they take it off from control room?"
"Yeah, but they would need my DNA for that and the code from at least one other rebell. I think they don´t want to lose time."
"I don´t think either," muttered Tom and looked at the scheme of tunnels on the screen.
"So, there´s another two forcefields separating them from us. Can you control them from here?"
"Yes," answered L´shtar, confused. "But I can only shut them down or disable."
"These tunnels... couldn´t we bury the tunnels? I mean... can the directed explosion originate a cave-in?"
"Explosion not," thought loudly L´shtar.
"And what about sonic waves? I think, they could do enough damage," suggested Tom and L´shtars face lit up.
"That´s it! We will seal them in the tunnels."
"But... wouldn´t we be equally trapped?" asked Shril B´glar walking toward the men. L´shtar frowned.
"That´s true. But we don´t have to block all the exits. Just stop the men here."
Another detonation remainded them, that if they want to act, they must do it now.
"You can control this thing?" asked Tom and pointed to the Cobra (he named the thing on Shril´s hand so).
"Yes," answered the woman.
"Good. Come with me. L´shtar... you will guard our backs from the other two, alright?" L´shtar just nodded, not fiery that the human took over the command, but glad, that at least someone knew, what to do.
Tom and Shril ran to the only forcefield separating them from the three soldiers. Tom could se one of them insert something to the wall, few centimeters from the force field and quickly pushed Shril to the side.
"What?" she whispered with dry mouth.
"We must wait, till it explodes."
"Why?"
"It will be easier, because the tunnel will be weakened."
Shril looked at him hesitantly, then nodded. The soldier inserted the little package and was backing away, to the shelter. Tom pulled Shril farther from the force field.
"Be ready," he warned her. Shril B´glar eyed the force field, her hand raised, aiming at the ceiling. The explosion was stronger, than Tom thought, and he could barely keep Shril on her feets, but somehow managed, even if his head felt like exploding itself. The force field flickered and dust covered them all. Both Tom and Shril blinked hard to see the approaching shadows.
"Do it, now!" shouted Tom and Shril focused her aim on the slightly damaged spot few meters in front of them. Tom fascinated looked at her hand, which was trembling slightly, then flickered like a hot air above the fire. One second he thought, that all the blue colour drained from the woman and concentrated itself in her hand, then he saw a movement as the shadows came closer.
"Do it!" he cried out, just as the device on the woman´s hand fulgurated and sent a blast of invisible force to the ceiling. A milisecond nothing happened - as if time itself stopped to take a look. The shadows was unmoving and Tom thought, that it didn´t work. Just as he gripped one phaser, the ground shook. The ceiling cracked open with a powerful peal and the shock wave send them both sprawling at the floor few meters away, while the ceiling above the forcefield collapsed, burying two of the soldiers and separating the third. The crash with the floor took away the breath from Tom, but he nevertheless crawled to his knees and dragged the unresponding Salvorian away from the cave-in, hoping, that it won´t fall on them. Ten meters... then five... L´shtar was there, frantically trying to ensure they safety by pointing at the tunnel on one side, and trying to find out, if Shril B´glar was allright on the other.
Tom, tired like never before, lay on the floor, gasping for breath and coughing up the dust and dirt. For a moment nothing mattered, just the need for oxygen and the cool surface of the floor. His eyes closed and he didn´t even try to stay awake. Just to sleep and wake up in his own bed... preferably with B´Elanna next to him. But that was just a plain wish. Someone was shaking him - again. He began to hate the method, with which anybody decided to arouse him, particularly this not so gentle Salvorian kidnapper.
"I´m up," he groaned and opened his eyes. "Stop shaking me!" Tom snarled at the man and tried to sit up. Not an easy task, he realized, as his head swimmed and for the first time he felt the burning in his left shoulder. Must´ve bumped it into the wall, when flying, he thought grimmly and looked at the Salvorian.
"Come," said L´shtar and Tom was surprised, when the man helped him to his feet. He looked around, realizing, that someone is missing.
"Where is she?" he asked panicked.
"Safe. For now. Hurry, or they will find us here." L´shtar was leading him to another tunnel, but Tom was hardly prepared, when the Salvorian took the step to left and disappeared in the wall. Another hologram, realized the pilot and stumbled after him. There was just a hole in the wall. Tom scrambled through the opening, feeling like four year old, when he creeped into the ventilation shaft of their house and tried to hide from his father, knowing that he will be angry for the shattered lamp in his library. Only then he was much smaller and the only danger present, was the long lecture about running in the house. Now it was far worse.
Tom emerged in a little room, not bigger then the cockpit of Delta Flyer. Shril B´glar was resting in one of the chairs, and Tom just now realized, that he must´ve dozed off for a while, if L´shtar managed to lead her here. The woman looked exhausted and a little battered, but nothing to fear from, he thought, when she sent him a little smile.
L´shtar pointed at the chair and seated himself, looking awkwardly from Shril to Tom.
"So?" asked Tom unceremoniously and stiffled a yawn. It was far more stressful evening, that his body was prepared for.
"The cave-in will delay them for a time, at least the first group."
"Three out, two to go," mumbled Tom and looked at his fingernails. Yeah, it was definitely a long night.
"Where are they now?" he asked and waited for the answer, which didn´t come. Tom looked up and met L´shtars uncomfortable look. He frowned.
"What?"
"I can´t tell, where they are. The sensors was destroyed, and they side-tracked the spare safety system."
"So we are blind?"
"Yes. Worse... we can´t return to the storage room. They´re probably already there."
"Oh. What the force field? Didn´t they have to go through them?"
"Just one, and they disabled it after the cave-in. You didn´t hear?"
"Uhm... probably not. What the force field in the storage room?"
"Oh... I forgot to activate it, after our departure."
"Great. So they now have some extra weapons too, and if they can restore the system, they will know, where we are, right?"
"I must say yes," answered L´shtar.
"Can you reactivate the forcefield in the storage room?" asked Shril suddenly and both men jerked at her voice. Tom´s brow went up, while L´shtar frowned, thinking.
"It could be... if I put in the code to deactivation, and it´s inactive, it will set up the safety sequence and lock up all the force fields, which will react only to another code... like yours, Shril." L´shtars face lit up in a smile, when something ocurred to him.
"But... I don´t see, how I can do it. They will probably shoot first, then ask."
"You leave it to me, L´shtar," said Tom and stood up, controlling his phaser. "I will divert them. How long do you need?"
"Fifteen seconds,"
"Good. That I can manage," Tom smirked and secretly thought - at least, I hope.
"Stay here, Shril," ordered L´shtar to the woman, who just glowered at him and wiped the dirt from her face with her sleeve.
"If anything, wait for Voyager," he said her a little more gently.
"Be careful," she answered to the retreating backs.
"How many lifeforms?" asked Captain Janeway and patiently waited for the answer.
"None, captain," replied Chakotay looking at the tricoder and assessing the situation. Before him lay the Delta Flyer, seemingly undamaged and empty. The tricoder didn´t detect any lifeforms, which wasn´t very surprising, because even Voyager´s sensors couldn´t penetrate the planet´s atmosphere. They were literally blind. But the rescue team was resolute to find Voyager´s missing pilot and go home, so Chakotay nodded and with Tuvok, B´Elanna, Parc´r and three other men from the security, they entered the shuttle.
It was indeed empty. Chakotay controlled the console - maybe Tom left some message - it was evident, that he was taken away as a hostage, at least, Chakotay hoped. They could´ve smoothly kill him on the Flyer, so why take him, unless there is something else?
Maybe they´re not so fond of killing, admitted to himself Chakotay and grunted, when the computer didn´t give him the informations, he wanted.
"They left the shuttle two hours ago, commander," declared Tuvok. "Three life forms leaving. It´s only logical to assume, that if they didn´t kill him here, they may have other plans."
"Yeah, it ocurred to me as well," sighed Chakotay and turned, when B´Elanna bursted into the cockpit, her face lit up and in hand treaming a PADD.
"He left a message!" she whispered and handed the PADD to Chakotay, indicating, that he should read it silently.
To anyone from Voyager
My abductor L´shtar is a member of rebell fraction called CLAN. The woman is a healer, and she found out something about their government. Salvorians are not what they seems - much more advanced, but their policy sucks more than ours. Shril B´glar was poisoned by Parc´r. DON´T believe him! Now, my situation. I had a choice - leave with them, or die. I choose the first. Don´t know the destination, but it will be not so far from the shuttle - because the woman couldn´t walk that much.
L´shtar is threatening me with some poisoning device called Troc´lan, so I can try to escape only when it´s deactivated. I´m trying to persuade the woman.
They´re not the real enemies, captain. Just trying to save their kids. Don´t harm them. And be aware of the Salvorian government and Parc´r.
Tom Paris
"Hm," murmured Chakotay. "How can we know, that he wrote this on his own?" he handed it to Tuvok.
"The PADD was hidden in one secret panel. Just Tom and I knew about that," revealed B´Elanna frowning. Chakotay looked at her and he could swore, that she´s blushing, even if the dark Klingon skin wouldn´t show it. Then something hit him and he looked at Tuvok.
"Where is Parc´r?"
"I will find him," reacted Tuvok and walked out.
"You read this, we will find Tom," assured her Chakotay.
"Better for them, if he´ll be allright," grunted B´Elanna.
"What could he mean by the policy thing?" she shrugged.
"After the Monean incident? Anything." B´Elanna had a feeling, that Tom was once again drawed into the middle of the conflict. She didn´t like this idea, but Tom´s message was enough sententious. She caught the underlaying plea for not hurting the Salvorians, just like the clear warning regarding Parc´r.
"He don´t want any shoot-out," noted Chakotay grimmly. "He´s probably already sympathizing with they goals."
B´Elanna scowled at him and Chakotay had a wits to leave the subject. He wanted something to say, when one of the security officers ran straight into him, nearly knocking them both down. Chakotay snarled and B´Elanna grunted. The officier just blushed, stumbling out a hastle sorry.
"Ensign," asked the commander crossly.
"Commander Tuvok sent me... Parc´r is missing."
"What!?"
"Someone was supposed to be with him the whole time!"
"Yes, commander. Uhm... Lieutenant Tarras was knocked out."
"Is he all right?"
"Unconscious."
"Where is Tuvok?"
"I´m here, commander," answered Tuvok from the door.
"Report,"
"Parc´r is gone. Tarras need medical attention."
"Chakotay to Captain," he contacted Voyager.
"Captain, here. Have you some news?"
"Yeah. Not good. We need an emergency beam out - lock on Lieutenant Tarras commbadge."
After few seconds of silence, captain´s voice returned.
"He was transported to sickbay. What happened?"
"We believe, that he was attacked be Parc´r, who is now missing."
"Couldn´t he been kidnapped, just as Paris?"
"Not likely," answered Chakotay grimmly. "Tom left a message, warning us before Parc´r and the Salvorian government. Aparrently, Paris believes, that his captors are just rebells, trying to save some... kids. But they´re threatening him with a device called Troc´lan, so..."
"I see. Your priority is to find Paris. I have enough of government plays, if the Salvorians don´t want to be rescued, fine. But we need our pilot to return to Alpha Quadrant. Be careful."
"Chakotay - out."
"So?" asked B´Elanna. "How can we find them?"
"The sensors won´t pick up the track of Lieutenant Paris or his captors, but Parc´r surely left some trails," told Tuvok and walked out of te shuttle, closely followed by two ex-maquist.
"Down!" Tom cried out and launched at L´shtar, sending them both to the ground. Not one second after, few energy shots missed them by mere inches. He should´ve know, that it wouldn´t be so easy, thought Tom, shooting blindly at the place, from where one of the soldiers was trying to change their heads into a pile of dust. They was just nearing the storage room entry, when Tom spotted some movement and only with luck evaded the shot at his chest. Now laying on the floor, his breath coming out in shallow gasps, L´shtar panickly shook his head. They was in relative safety of the wall protrusion. Tom once in a while fired from his phaser, not really aiming, just trying to keep the man at distance.
"Shit!" mumbled Tom, when one of the shots hit the wall and sent a shower of fragments at his head. They´ve got to think up some plan, otherwise, they are all dead.
"Can´t you activate the field from here?" asked Tom whispering. L´shtar just shook his head.
"I must be in three meter´s perimeter close the field. We are now at least six."
"Great. So... we just have to get closer."
"How?"
Tom fired once again and dared to take a look. He spotted just one of the men, so he assumed, that the other is inside, trying to gain control of the system. The man was ducking at the junction of two different tunnels, using one of them as a protection. It will be hard, if not impossible, to get to him, because there was the entry to storage room, which was on the way. They would need to activate the field first, just then disarm the shooter.
"Okay, here is the plan. I will cover you with fire, and you will crawl, as near, as you need."
"But..." stumbled L´shtar, "what if he hit me?"
"Then you will not have to bother more. I will cover you, don´t be afraid. You just crawl. It´s dark, he wouldn´t see you anyway. Be quick. Once the field is activated, I will accompany you. Okay?"
L´shtar just nodded and Tom let him ahead. L´shtar lay down on the cold floor and prayed to any god which he could think of, to save his poor soul. Tom took a deep breath, then nudged L´shtar to move. He fired, covering his move and hoped, that L´shtar will keep moving, even if some of the shots nearly missed his head. Tom kept firing, and prepared the second phaser, because that one was going to be without energy too soon. The soldier on the other side must´ve realized, that it´s some kind of diversion, because he now begun to shoot at L´shtar, who was just nearing the storage room. When one of the shots found its target, L´shtar yelped out in pain and stayed put in place, so Tom didn´t know, if he is dead or not. The soldier stopped firing, and Tom debated, if it´s a trap, or if his weapon just need a change of cartridge.
He didn´t have much of an option - he could return to Shril, or try and save L´shtar, if there was something to save. Groaning, Tom knelt and began to crawl out, when his eyes spotted a movement. L´shtar wasn´t dead, and Tom could now beside the moaning hear also the codes. In the moment, something beeped and the forcefield activated, so now there was just the corridor, the entry to storage room sealed.
"Yes!" hissed Tom and continued towards L´shtar´s now shaking body. The soldier was quiet for the moment, perhaps trying to find out, what happened.
"You hurt bad?" asked Tom and looked at L´shtar, whose color was in the dimly lit coridor a scary shade of green.
"Just a shoulder," whispered L´shtar, pressing one hand at the wound, seeping purple blood.
"Return to Shril," said Tom silently and was grateful, when the alien obeyed. Now, there was just a matter of one soldier, who somewhere disappeared...
...or is just trying to make us think that, thought Tom, as something rolled on the floor, straight toward him. Tom didn´t have a time... he just closed his eyes and tried to shirk from the thing. He managed to get himself to the wall, when the world exploded. Something just ripped his brain out of his skull, straight through his eyeballs. The mad ringing in his ears reminded him of the shrieking metal, when the shuttle he piloted, crashed to the ground.
It was amazing, how quickly can a body recover from a stunning grenade. First thing, he felt, was his body coming back. The pins and needles running through his flesh was an agonizing relief reminding him of the reality. The pain in his head wasn´t so welcomed, but at least, it forced him to open his eyes.
"Oh crap," was the first sentence coming from his mouth, when with half-blinded eyes he found himself looking at the wrong end of some weird energy weapon. The man treaming it at the good end dazzled him with one triumphant smile.
Tom will never forget that smile, because just in the second, when he spotted the brightly white teeth, the man´s head exploded into thousand pieces , most of them covering Tom´s torso and face. Tom´s head turned to the right, and he saw L´shtar, leaning to the wall, but nevertheless aiming his gun to the air. The soldier´s body (or what was left of it), crumpled to the floor with a sickening splash. Tom tiredly and in shock shut his eyes. When he opened them again, L´shtar was making his way toward him, slowly and painfully. It´s time to pull myself together, thought Tom and stood up, trying to wipe his face cleen with the sleeve of his shirt, only succeding in smearing the blood and brain matter to the parts, which were till now relatively clean.
"Are you all right?" asked the Salvorian with thin voice, clearly worried.
"Yeah," answered Tom and grinned, rendering the struggle with dirt. "Thanks, for that," he pointed at the body on the floor.
"Well... if you´ve died, your ship wouldn´t have help us a bit." confessed L´shtar.
"So you want our help?"
"I don´t see, how we could survive another two or three hours, till B´arn´s arrival."
"Why? If this was the only group..."
"No, the government would send others. They´ve a secret base on Jurlik VI. If this guys wouldn´t report in time, another group will come. We must go, quickly, to your flyer. We can wait somewhere else on the planet..."
"Or contact Voyager," suggested Paris, even if the answer was no.
"Allright. I will go for Shrill-"
"No, wait here. You´re injured," L´shtar was about to protest, but then his face grimaced in pain, and he plainly nodded.
"Just watch the force field," adressed him Tom and turned away. Finding the entry wasn´t the problem, but how to get through? Sure, if the safety system was activated, why should be this field down? Tom was ready to return, when the field shimmered, and Shril B´glar stepped out, worried frown on her face.
"L´shtar?" she asked and furrowed her brows, when she get a clear look at Tom. "Khar´lash! What happened?"
"What? Oh... this isn´t mine," he said and threw her an assuring smile. "L´shtar was hurt... but he´s okay," he added, seeing the look of horror on her face.
"Come, we must go." She let him lead her ahead, when the screaming tore through air. They both stopped and listened. Tom could hear curses and gasping - clear signs of a fight.
"Stay here!" he ordered and not waiting for answer, ran towards the sounds.
It was an impressive view, for someone, who didn´t see a Salvorian fight. It was a bundle of blue color, black coats and white hairs, constantiously screaming in rage and cursing. Tom thought the Salvorians to be cold blooded, but this was just like to watch the fight of Kernan dogs, which were trained to kill and maim. Tom could just look, because the two aliens never separated enough for him to aim and fire.
L´shtar was loosing, he could see that. The wound in his shoulder was profusely bleeding and every move caused pain. The other man had the odds, but only for a while, when L´shtar throwed them both to the wall, breaking the man´s right hand in the process. They both stumbled on the ground, separating and Tom aimed.
"Stop it, right now!" he told the two men, who were trying to continue in the fight. L´shtar looked at him and breathed out in relief, clutching at his shoulder and trying hard to supress the pain. The other man however, had other plans. Grinning from ear to ear, he held up a little device and pointed at Tom.
"Put down that weapon, otherwise... I will press this button. I shall tell you, that the death from Troc´lan is far worse, then you can imagine." Tom shook his head, recognizing the man.
"Ah... you´re Parc´r," he smiled, but didn´t level the phaser. "I´m sorry, I didn´t recognize you the first time we met... you remember, the sickbay? Perhaps not. It was late night, and you was too preoccupied."
"K´lum! You will die!" he growled and pressed the button. Tom was stunned, when the thing on his arm slightly vibrated, but otherwise felt fine. Parc´r watched him and frowned more, than Paris imagined possible.
"I don´t think so,"
"What...!" he mumbled, when Tom didn´t collapse nor show symptoms of pain. Parc´r wanted to press again, but Tom didn´t give him a chance. He fired.
"You... it was in time," sighed L´shtar, trembling. Tom looked at him confused. "He activated it first. If he pushed the button again... you would be dead."
"Oh," said Tom and nodded. "Christ!" he murmured, when the meaning of words hit him. He didn´t know, when his legs gave away and he slumped to the floor. He neither sensed the presence of the woman. There was just the thought of what if and the lightheaded feeling, creeping through his body.
Shril B´glar walked to the impassive form of Parc´r and assured herself, that he is dead. She than picked up the control device and deactivated it, for good. After that, all her attention was pointed at L´shtar, who was now only half-conscious.
"L´shtar, stay with me," she pleaded. "I need your help! The force-fields wouldn´t hold long and I can´t protect you alone. Please..." she tried to stop the bleading, but was unsuccesfull. Paris wasn´t any help now, because he was either asleep, or unconscious.
"What do I do?" she asked and nearly jumped out of her skin, when someone answered her.
"Let us help." It was a man, with weird tattoo on his face. Shrill retreated with fear, but was stopped by a wall.
"Don´t harm us," she pleaded, scared.
"We are from Voyager," said the man and pointed at someone behind him. The half-Klingon emerged and growling all the way, rushed to Paris´ side.
"This is our chief engineer, B´Elanna Torres. I´m Chakotay. Commander Tuvok," he introduced the half Vulcan, who was controlling Parc´r.
"He´s dead," announced Tuvok and began to check L´shtar.
"We... we didn´t wanted to harm him," explained Shril B´glar. "Really... just... it was a bad plan."
"Yes, it was," said B´Elanna, scowling at the woman, holding Tom in her arms.
"How is he?" asked Chakotay.
"Burning up and unconscious. And... I don´t know, what´s on his face?" she asked, clearly confused.
"I think it´s brain matter," stated Tuvok, looking at the pilot. "Not his, I believe."
B´Elanna´s eyes went wide for a moment, then she sighed.
"He need a visit in sickbay," she told Chakotay.
"Yeah, but not from here. We will carry him outside the tunnels, then transport to Voyager."
"What´ll be with us?" asked Shril B´glar sheepishly.
"I believe, that your partner need medical attention too," stated Tuvok.
"Are we... arrested?"
"It´s on the captain," told her Chakotay, "but I think, that we could make a deal."
The Salvorian woman nodded and helped them stood L´shtar up, when something ocurred to her.
"Wait! There are others..."
"Yeah, we came across one of your man..."
"It is not! They´re soldiers, send here to kill us!"
"They? We just found alive one,"
"In the storage room is the other."
"And that is?"
"Oh... the field. I-I must tell the code, then it deactivates."
"Where it is? Show us. B´Elanna... stay with them," ordered her Chakotay and with Tuvok and Shril B´glar, they headed towards the wall.
It didn´t take much time, realized B´Elanna later. When the field dropped, the soldier was trying to get away. He used one stunning grenade, but when he was passing by, Tuvok had stopped him with a Vulcan nerve pinch to the neck. The men fell to the ground with grunt, unconscious. It was just a matter of time then, to get them all out of the caves and transport at Voyager. The two soldiers was transported straight to the brig, while L´shtar and Tom appeared in the sickbay. Shril B´glar along with Chakotay headed for captain´s office.
He wasn´t in the cave anymore. He was lying on something soft and was covered by blankets. Even if he was shivering slightly, it was due to fever. Hm... comfortable, but not quite. Not his own bed, which was pity. He could think of only one place, where he could possibly be - at least, the place, where he would be rather then in cave.
Yeah, it was sickbay, thought Tom in relief, opening his eyes to the dimly lit room. And it was night, otherwise there would be much more movement. He blinked, trying to break through the fog in his brain, and couldn´t supress a smile, as he caught a sight of dark forehead with ridges, laying next to his hand.
"´Lanna," he whispered, not wanting to draw the Doc´s attention. The half-Klingon mumbled something in her mother language, than turned her head on the other side, sleeping. Tom smirked and nudged the woman´s arm. B´Elanna shot upside, nearly falling from the chair, and Tom was now openly laughing.
"Tom! You´re awake!" she exclaimed, than frowned. "What are you laughing at?"
"Oh... nothing. Just glad to see your lovely face," he answered quickly and groaned, as the hologram appeared next his bed.
"Ah, Mr. Paris. It was time... I thought, that you want to sleep till our return to Alpha Quadrant." Tom grimaced at the hologram.
"I love you too," he said sarcastically.
"Well, it´s just a result of fever, don´t bother, Mr. Paris. It will go away," assured him the Doc. B´Elanna was contemplating, whether to look amused or offended. She choose the first.
"I have some good news for you, Mr. Paris," began the Doc.
"I can return to my quarters?" he asked hopefully.
"No," stated resolutly the doctor. "But in a day or two... The Maltrop is effective, so just as your fever is gone, you are free to go."
"Can´t I go now?" he tried once again.
"No," replied the doctor and turned to B´Elanna. "Don´t tire him out. You have ten minutes, then I wan´t you to go to sleep - in your quarters." With one last look at his restless patient, he walked away. Once alone, Tom half-satisfied looked at B´Elanna.
"What - you aren´t mad?" she asked wondering.
"Why? Believe me, sickbay is better than cave. And even if not, I´m not feeling to a runaway. Maybe tomorrow... How long am I here, by the way? And how did you find us?"
"It´s almost a day, now. We just followed Parc´r to the cave. He led us straight to you. But we were a little late..."
"Yeah, you can say that. Is he dead?"
"Yes."
"What the others?"
"They´re all right. Well... L´shtar was there few hours, but the Doc patched him up. The woman wasn´t injured."
"Good. Where are they now?"
"Gone." said B´Elanna and Tom blinked.
"As if... not on Voyager?"
"Yeah," she smiled. "They returned to the planet and waited for their friends."
"The captain let them go?" Tom was relieved, even if a little surprised.
"After the little chat she had with them? Yes, she let them go and bid them farewell. It seems, that our alliance with Salvorians will have to wait a while. Anyway... we landed the two soldiers on Freya III with the polite message to K´lau explaining the situation."
"He will be pissed,"
"I don´t think so. Even if, we are out of Freyan territory, so don´t bother." She turned to see the approaching EMH, and quickly put some PADD to his hand, then leaned close, kissing him on the lips. The Doctor coughed and Tom groaned, not wanting to spoil this moment.
"By the way... L´shtar something left for you."
"What is it?" he asked, equally whispering.
"He mentioned some program to distract the EMH and the schemes of the cloaking device used on Delta Flyer. To the second I will look at later. Enjoy it." she said, then gave him one final kiss and left without another word. The doctor just glared after her retreating form, suspecting something, but not quite knowing what.
Tom just smiled, hiding the PADD under the blanket. He will see, maybe he would find tonight a strength to make a short visit, at the quarters of one half-Klingon.
THE END
That´s it. I know, it was perhaps full of mistakes, but as I said above, I don´t have anyone who could´ve beta read me in english. If it was worth your time, mail me. If not, well... just don´t send flames (I´m not a best fireman:-)
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