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WHAT MAKES THE BEST PILOT

Chapter THREE

by YANNIK

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"Black hole?" Chakotay asked. Now, finally, he started believing pilot's senses. Especially that the answer came from both – tactical, and operations – officers.

"I do not think so" Tuvok explained. "It's some kind of gravitational disturbance, but there seems to be visible matter there. We're still to far from the source of it, to determine anything for sure. Nonetheless, Mr. Paris was right. We are being pulled."

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Next few days brought complete answer – they approached enormous star cluster.

Neelix chastised himself for not remembering that routs through this region of the Quadrant were usually longer, than could be predicted from simple astral cartography. That was so obvious for all the travelers, that not many people even remembered the reason. And now it stood in front of them shimmering with hundreds of stars, pulling them, even though engines were at a dead stop.

"We have several options" Tovok reported. "None of them likable. One – we go back, find dilithium in more populated space, and then continue our journey, by a different route."

Captain shook her head and looked at her officers. None of them seemed pleased with this idea.

"Option Two, Mr. Tuvok?"

"We may go around the cluster. But it might take us even up to a year, given our dilithium supplies. Of course we receive many dilithium signs from the stars on the border of the cluster, but whether they are accessible or not, is not determined yet. So it would be safe not to exceed over warp 2."

Captain flounced inarticulate sound.

"That's a bit slow, Tuvok" Chakotay commented.

"But that's all we can manage" B'Elanna backed up tactical officer. "And we would still have to enter the cluster in order to get some dilithium sooner or later. Unless we take all replicator rations from the crew, and start replicating only dilithium, but then we'd run out of Neelix's food in matter of weeks, and that's doom as well. We don't have much choice."

"That's all my fault" Neelix whimpered.

"Mr. Neelix, please. It's all right" Captain scolded him lightly. "That's not the problem anymore."

"But I was supposed to guide you through…"

"Neelix, it's really okay. What we need to think about right now, is how to get through it. Mt. Tuvok, you said about 'several' options, and you named two so far."

"Another option is to go through the cluster. But at warp speed it's extremely dangerous. Gravitational fields are unstable, and we'd have to carefully plan the route. Straight route to Alpha Quadrant leads about five degrees above the very center of the cluster, given our current position, and bearing, but that road is impossible to surpass. Density of stars in the area would have us either torn apart, or smashed into one of them. We'd have to go around in more or less tight arc."

"Let's plan the route then. What is the problem with that option?"

"That I wouldn't trust the conn to anyone besides Mr. Paris on this one."

The room fell silent for a moment. All eyes turned to Chief Pilot.

Tom shrugged.

"I can take it. What's the big deal?"

"That the fastest eventually possible route, would have you piloting for approximately five straight days. Without any rest" Tuvok added to be fully comprehended.

Tom blinked. And swallowed hard.

"That's impossible" B'Elanna Torres was the first to shake off the blow. "We could go faster" her mind stared racing over the ideas. "We'd have to replicate dilithium it this case – that's just a matter of days, hours maybe. We could try to launch warp 9 for a short period of time, couldn't we? It's pos…"

"Unfortunately no, Lieutenant" Tuvok interrupted. "The fastest I would recommend is warp 5, and even that may be too much. The variable gravitational field of the stars in the cluster interferes with out subspace bubble, and makes piloting the more difficult, the faster we go. Actually the only way to make it safe, would be to go at impulse speed, but it might take us up to ten years, so… that option is out of the question."

Nobody answered. The silence in the room got so heavy, it was hard to breathe.

"Well actually…" Tom was the first to break it. And he hesitated. There was a way, but would he dare?… "Captain may I speak with you in private?" He needed help in making up his mind.

Janeway nodded and the two transferred to her ready room.

"Well?" she asked after waiting a while for Tom to begin. He stood in front of the viewport, and watched myriads of stars in front of them. She understood he was deliberating on something, but she needed options and she needed them fast. She hated to rush him, so she tried to be gentle. "Tom?" she stroked his arm.

Tom exhaled, and turned to her. For a while she cought a glimpse of so much hesitation in his eyes, that it almost hurt. But then it was gone, and all that was left – was pure determination.

"There is that… thing. Neural activator. It's often used by the cadets at the Academy. When they need to endure long tests, flights, anything that requires a lot of concentration without getting tired."

"Is it legal?" Captain frowned.

"Yes. It's absolutely legal, but must be carefully supervised." He didn't have to admit that many of his fellow students took it without doctor's permission. "And it's not really hurtful."

"Not really?"

"Well… there were cases of… But any medication has some side effects, right?"

"Tom I must know everything about this medicine before I let you take it. I think I know the one you're talking about, but we need to discuss it with the Doctor. You agree? Now tell me – have you been using that?"

Tom nodded. Why bother with details?…

"Side effects?"

"None" the answer came fast. Too fast. Captain eyed him scepticaly. And of course she was right. "They weren't exactly side effect" Tom grimaced. "It was simillar to what I told you about feeling 'Voyager' – her speed, bearing and so on. Except that now I feel that way all the time, not just… I mean – before 'Voyager' I felt that way only when I took activator, with her it's just… normalcy. Maybe because of that bio-gel ram-jam we have here" he joked, but Janeway remained stern.

"It doesn't…" she hesitated. "I don't know… make you dizzy or whatever?"

That reminded him of those headaches he'd experienced recently, but they had nothing to do with the issue on topic – or so Tom thought. There was no need to bother Captain with that.

"It never did."

"Okay" Janeway heaved a sigh. "We'll see what the Doctor says about it."

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To be continued

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