St. Claire - June 23rd, 1945, 2000 hours
B'Elanna hurried down the busy streets of St. Claire as fast as she could. She had just been with her 'boyfriend' and felt the profound need for a shower. He was a slimly, disgusting man, who thought the world of himself. He didn't feel the need to marry "Brigitte" even though she was pregnant, because it would lower his chances for promotion. When she had asked for a tour of the Head Quarters he had obliged, merely for the chance to make some else as impressed with Hitler, Germany and his position as he was. He was born for the manipulating. Unfortunately after the tour, he wanted sex, something that was not easy to do in her condition and that he wasn't very good at. It had been boring, and at times highly uncomfortable. She had to do many difficult things in her career in the Maquis and then Starfleet but this was definitely on her list of top ten most unpleasant. And what was worse was due to the stupid constraints on in the program she couldn't take her anger out on some unsuspecting person. But she had got the information and now all she wanted to was to go back to the club and take a shower. A LONG shower. Her back, feet and legs were all killing her and the holo-pregnancy was making her famished for the strangest things.
She entered the club from the back entrance, where Neelix was hovering over some sort of soup, "Bonjour, Brigitte! Had a good visit?"
"I don't want to talk about it."
"Okay, then how about some soup?"
"Let me just write down these details first, Mme de Neuvre will need them." It was so strange referring to her crewmates by different names.
"It does look like she will have a long night ahead of her doesn't she?" Neelix seemed to be really enjoying his role of messenger and baker.
Suddenly the kitchen door swung open and the Captain rushed in. "I need more wine Nealen, Tomas is almost out of the red. Good to see you are back Brigitte. The new German officers are just arriving and I must speak with them." Grabbing the wine the captain rushed out
as quickly as she had rushed in.
Kathryn had had an unbelievably busy day. She was used to running covert missions and organising people and supplies but running a business was far more complicated that she had ever imagined, especially during war time. But she had to focus on her mission, and getting her crew out of this deadly game alive. She walked into the main room of her club where several German officers waited uncomfortably, "Bonjour! Welcome to my club. Feel free to take a seat and enjoy the lovely voice of Mme. De Neuvre but remember to 'Leave the War at the Door'!"
"Merci Madame," the Hirogen officer replied sharply, taking a seat.
"Would you like a drink? Some red wine perhaps?"
"Yes."
Quickly Kathryn walked over to Tuvok and whispered, "The Red, 1883 and four glasses."
"An expensive wine but not a particularly good quality."
"That is the point."
Passing the bottle Tuvok lifted his eyebrows as he always did when the Captain confused him. Returning to the table, Kathryn passed around the glasses and uncorked the wine. Lifting his glass, the officer motioned towards the stage where Seven was singing, "You singer has a lovely voice."
"We are very proud of her." With any luck Seven's voice would lull this Hirogen officer into telling her where their explosives were kept. Trying to flatter the Hirogen, Kathryn took on the personae of a boot licker, fluttered her eyelashes and mentally preparing herself for a long night.
Hours latter Seven was still singing. She had stopped only once but the Captain had insisted she kept on going. Once a song entirely for the German Officers. She was hungry and needed to regenerate. This program was inefficient and a waste time, but the Captain had ordered her to comply. Finally out of the corner of her eye, she saw the Captain flick her hand. The signal that the desired information had been obtained. She finished her song, and like the doctor had instructed her to do thanked the audience and her musician and made a beeline for the kitchen. When she arrived, the Captain, Neelix and B'Elanna were already huddled around a map.
"The explosives are located here and here," The Captain informed the crew pointing out warehouses near the wharves in St. Claire, "I have already sent others from the resistance to steal us some dynamite. Mme de Neuvre, if we wish to plant the bombs at dusk tomorrow, will you be ready?"
"The bombs will be ready. I will not need to..regen...rest for another 16 hours." Seven responded with a slight incline of her head, "Where do you wish them located?"
"I recommend this guard post." B'Elanna pointed to a post in an empty part of the city, "There are no citizens there in the late part of the day and it far away from the HQ, it will take the Germans longer to get there and come back. Plus the guards in the post always take a 5 minute coffee break at 6 o'clock ."
"Prefect," The Captain was confusing Seven again. Her words suggested pleasure at this plan but her body responded as if there was something wrong. Pacing the floor the Captain continued talking, "I like this plan, but everything is working too well. I can't shake the feeling that we are walking to a trap. The 'officers' gave me the information altogether too easily."
"The officers may be good hunters but they are not used to alcohol, nor all this hiding and sneaking. They may be confused." Neelix answered while absently cleaning the kitchen, "Now Captain, our lovely Mademoiselle here hasn't eaten and has a long night ahead of her, so will every one let her sit down and eat?"
Before Seven had time to protest, Neelix had made her sit and pushed a bowl of soup in front of her. "Not really my best, you know, but the Club has limited resources due to rationing." The Talaxian seems to share Mr. Paris' obsession with make believe, thought Seven. He seems to actually be enjoying this ridiculous game. But with no other options immediately available Seven ate her soup.
June 23rd, 1945, 2100 hours - The American Camp
The Doctor was having the time of his life. Surrounded by wounded soldiers in the (what did they call it?) the first aid tent, he was finally getting a chance to show off his real medical skill. He couldn't say that he actually enjoyed cutting patients up and the methods used by the doctors was absolutely primitive, but it was strangely compelling to actually see the procedures being done. Of course everyone in the tent talked about how this was a light day and when the real battle started that things would get very bad, very fast but he wasn't worried. As he set a broken bone, he thought absently that "Real Experience: Medicine in the 1940's" would make an excellent topic for a lecture when they got back to Voyager. He had just finished setting the soldier's bone when a hand came up and taped him on the back. "Hey Doc," Mr Paris was almost unrecognisable in his army uniform, "I got some wounded for you."
"What happened?" The Doctor began to examine the patient on the stretcher, severe bullet wounds to the chest and limbs. It would be a miracle if he survived, 24th century technology could handle it, but not 20th. Not bothering to look up from his patient he asked Tom, "And how did this solider become a pin cushion?"
"Surprise attack. Some Germans snuck up on the guard post. Killed the other guard."
" Great. Well, if you excuse me this man needs immediate medical attention."
"Not a problem Doc. I was on my way to bed when I got called to the help this guy, I am beat after today. " Suddenly from over head a whistle of a bomb could be heard. Tom had the quick thinking to cover the patient's body with his own before the bomb hit. The whole tent shock and glass could be heard breaking somewhere. Then was silence. Still in shock the Doctor sat up slowly.
A nurse came running in, "IT HIT THE MESS TENT! Wounded coming in!" Tom grabbed his first aid pack and ran of the tent. For a moment the Doctor froze trying to figure out what to do.
"Wake up Doc!" The Head Nurse's nose was smudged with dirt and her sleeve was ripped. Looking down at the wounded guard she said, "We can't save this one. Lt. Baird, Smith, get this him comfortable and then prepare pre-op! Let's go, Let's go, LET'S GO!"
Suddenly the Doctor's programmed adrenaline kicked in. And so began one of the worst nights of his life. Since his activation on Voyager he had been faced with many new and unusual medical anomalies, he had even had patients die. But this went on forever. He was brought horribly wounded and brunt men. Many beyond the resources at his disposal. They died as he examined at them, died on the operating tables, died after he was done operating. Those that survived could be mutilated for life. He saw Tom and Chakotay several times, carrying wounded, digging through the rubble. Tom didn't seem like the same man he was on Voyager. He turned into a brilliant medic and who didn't seem to be brothered when the men he pulled from the bomb site died. He held their hands and tried to comfort them as they faded away. As yet another patient died the Doctor thought irrationally that even though these soldiers were holograms, their screams where just as real a real human.
This didn't feel like a game any more. This was war.
June 24th, 1945, 0700 hours - American Camp
Chakotay stood at the table drinking coffee in the tent he used as an office. Tom sat a wooden chair looking dead. God when was that last time he slept? The last of the dead and wounded from the bomb had been cleared up half an hour ago and he had called an emergency meeting for the Senior Staff. Tom had just arrived and the Doctor should be here any minute.
He smiled at the thought, frankly seeing the hologram in army skivvies made him laugh. He had Tom could pull off the uniform still look good. Something just didn't fit when the Doctor wore clothes other then a Starfleet uniform.
Starfleet. Voyager. All of that seemed a life time away. It was hard to believe that they had only been in simulation less then 48 hours.
The tent flap parted and the Doctor entered looking more tried then Chakotay had ever seen him. Tom shook his head as if trying to wake himself up and turned to Chakotay, "So Captain, why the emergency meeting?"
"This German attack wasn't normal. It was very targeted." He hoped that Tom was getting the message.
"You mean that perhaps the Germans are targeting the soldiers instead of the resistance?"
"Two different attacks in less then 6 hours? Sounds fishy to me," Chakotay took another sip of his coffee and turned towards the Doctor, "But I am worried now. The bomb killed lots of soldiers. Are we still going to be able to make the attack?"
"The good news is that we were lucky. Most soldiers who were in the Mess Tent were part of a battalion that was stopping for coffee, not our battalion. We did take causalities but over all we are still okay."
"Good." All Chakotay could think though was all the bodies that he had handled in the last 6 hours. In his days as a Maquis he had seen worse. But not by much.
"There is another thing I don't get," Tom said, "Why the Mess Tent? Why not the ammunitions stock pile? If they enough about our camp to know exactly where our Mess Tent was then why not hit something that would do more damage?"
"Simple," replied Chakotay, "This wasn't about tactics, this was personal." The three men mulled over that for a minute before Chakotay said, "Private Davis?"
"Yessir?"
"Go get some sleep. We have got a city to liberate tomorrow. And the faster we get the city liberated that faster we can go home." Chakotay continued that train of thoughts in his head thinking; and the faster we go home, the sooner we had return to modern technology. COMM systems, modern medicine and more importantly getting Voyager out of the Delta quadrant.
When Chakotay looked up from his thoughts the Doctor and Tom were gone.
June 24th, 1945, 1600 hours - St. Claire:
The Captain removed the last part of her white suit. Who would have thought that an outfit could have so many different parts? It had taken her hours to put the whole thing together. In a private part of her mind she admitted that she did look stunning the white suit, something that she would normally never were on Voyager. Pulling on black pants and turtleneck, she thought that maybe she and her replicator could have a good conversation when they got back about formal wear.
She was in her room above the Club, were her character lived. According to Tom's research it looked like a normal bedroom to the 1940's. Brass bed, dressers, wooden chair and mirror. Kathryn had noticed that Katrine character's tended to be a bit more of a seductress then she was and the room's decoration gave off the slightest vibe of a minx.
She had just finished giving Neelix the messages he would take to her first Officer and the rest of the crew in the American Camp and was now getting ready for her part of the mission. Rumours had been flittering into the city all day that there had been a bomb attack on the soldier's camp. She had tried not to think about whether Chakotay, Tom or the Doctor were dead or dying but now her mind wandered. This whole crazy plan that the resistance had organised was good but there was a lot of luck involved. And Kathryn Janeway was far too much of a scientist to believe in luck.
Straightening her shoulders she grabbed a black bag that contained cameras and other spy equipment that she would need for the mission and left her rooms. If things went well tonight, she and her crew could possibly be back on Voyager in a few days but if things went badly Voyager and her crew would be forfeit to the Hirogen. They would loose their lives as well as any chance of getting home.
Downstairs the rest of the Senior staff had gathered and were making preparations for tonight's coup. Tuvok was wearing an outfit of the time, brown pants and a long black jacket that his character seemed to favour. He was working behind the bar, preparing rifles. B'Elanna sat next to him, working on the radio. It was still a shock to see her in her maternity clothes and her hair is tight curls, she looked so feminine. At the end of the bar Seven of Nine was working with her normally efficiency although she was dressed in a black outfit and her hair was in a style much looser then she normally wore. Her delicate hands were busily doing fine tuning on the bomb and doing last minute checks.
Kathryn checked her watch one last time and then cleared her throat. "I know we have gone over this before but once again here is the plan. Tomas, Mme de Neuvre, that bomb needs to go off at exactly 5 o'clock. It will take the Germans about 10 minutes to leave HQ and head for the bombsite. In the confusion I will enter by an upper window from the back that Brigitte found. De Neuvre will follow me in a few minutes. We will get the radio, find the vacuum tubes and take pictures. Once we have them we will exit the building to a car that Tomas has obtained and high tail it to the Club. The point is for the Germans never to know we were there or tip them off to our existence. M. Nealen has already left to rendezvous with the Americans. Any questions?"
The Captain could see B'Elanna tighten. She and B'Elanna had harsh words about her role in the mission. B'Elanna was not a complacent person and liked to be in the middle of the action even if that was the most dangerous place. As chief of the resistance and as Captain of the crew, she couldn't let B'Elanna participate in tonight's little escapade, it was simply too dangerous, both for B'Elanna and for everyone else. B'Elanna understood this logically but had a hard time accepting that her main role was complete.
Walking over to B'Elanna, Kathryn put a hand on her shoulder, "I know this is the hardest thing I can ask of you to do right now Brigitte, but if you go with us you will only hinder us more then help. We need you here."
B'Elanna didn't answer, but merely returned to her task at the bar, shoulders slumped. Kathryn began to worry about exactly had gone on between her and her holo-boyfriend. But that was another issue. Turning away from B'Elanna, Kathryn looked at her crew. Tuvok passed her and Seven several different guns. Seven packed the bomb into a suitcase. Nodding to B'Elanna the three of them walked to the car. Operation Liberation had commenced.
The building was completely dark. Kathryn felt along the walls, trying to focus on where she was. According to B'Elanna's map this hallway would take her right into the main office. Creeping up, she listened to the door before she turning the handle. Most of the officers, Hirogen and hologram, had left the building or where guarding the main entrances but all there needed to be was one. Hearing nothing she swung the door open. Nothing. Reaching into her bag she turned on her flashlight.
The office was ornate and over done. Great works of art and sculptures lined the walls, pillaged from museums and galleries in Paris. However, all she was interested in was the radio. Tucked away in the corner, it was the best and most advanced in the region. Quickly she walked over to it and took out her screwdriver. Her ears perked up when she heard footsteps behind her. Checking her watch, she tried to remain calm, Seven wasn't due for another 5 minutes! Grabbing the gun she went over to the door. The walker paused a few times before he/she made it to the office. Finger on the trigger Kathryn got ready to shoot. A form stepped out of the shadows. And a gun was pointed at her face just as she pointed her gun at the intruder. Slowly she raised her eyes to the face to the owner of the gun aimed at her head.
"You are 5 minutes early!" Seven's nose was smudged and her hair was messed up.
"The bombing went better then expected and I discovered a more efficient route to this building."
Sighing Kathryn put away her gun. Sometime there was just no point in arguing with Seven. She passed her the screwdriver, "Take apart the radio and get the vacuum tubes, we don't have much time left."
Kathryn took a camera out of her bag and began to take picture of the documents on the Commandant's table. Maps, plans, codes, she felt like a bank robber who hit the jackpot unexpectedly. It took Seven only minutes to steal the vacuum parts and put everything back together. Kathryn checked her watch, they had only 2 minutes before they were scheduled to meet Tuvok at the car. The Germans would be back any minute. They could not afford tipping of the guards below, now.
Motioning to Seven, Kathryn pointed towards the exit. Together the women crept down the corridor heading toward the exit. Down the long hallway they went, careful of every noise. Kathryn almost heaved a sigh of relief when the made it to the exit safely. Suddenly soldiers surrounded the lights flashed on they. Damn! This whole thing had been a set up!
Grabbing her gun, Seven began to fire and Kathryn wasn't far behind her. The Germans had let them get to close to the exit and they managed to fight their way out of the building. There was gun fighting outside too but it was dark and the soldiers were confused so somehow the two women managed to make it to the car, where Tuvok was firing his sub-machine gun. Once they were in the car, Tuvok started the car and drove out of the mess, while Seven took over the machine gun. St. Claire may have been occupied before, but now it was a war zone now. The Americans had arrived and there was battle going on in the south sector of the city from what Janeway could see. They had to duck for over more the once on their way back to the club. As they were getting out the car, Tuvok winced ever so slightly. Keenly tuned to her officer's reactions Kathryn went right over to him, "What is the matter?"
"It appears that I have been shot, Katrine."
"Mme, get Brigitte, Tomas will need our help. Quickly!"
Support her Security Officer, Kathryn tried to examine the bullet wound. She hadn't seen very many in her time, but this one didn't look good. It had hit his right shoulder and his jacket and clothes were soaked with blood. Trying to apply pressure, Kathryn hopped that her Neelix and her First Officer were faring better than her group.
10 Kilometres outside of St. Claire - June 24th 1700 hours
Neelix had discovered many things on this little adventure. And one of them was that he didn't like 20th century sewers. Exiting the city had not been a fun task and he smelt absolutely disgusting. Plus he had nearly run security guards several times before making it to this abandoned farmhouse.
According to all the radio transmissions the resistance had received the Allies were planning on passing through here, and all he could hope was the Commander Chakotay didn't decide to go and do something different again. Checking his watch in his moonlight, he sighed. They were late. What he wouldn't give for his kitchen on Voyager right now. He would make some Letoa Root Stew and settle down with some Ensigns for some good gossip.
The quiet of the night was suddenly filled with rustling. It was faint but he could hear soft voices around the house. Was it them? Grabbing his coat he exited the house. With any luck this whole mission might go off with out a hitch.
"Hands in the air!" A gun was pointed at his head.
"I mean no harm! I just want to talk to Captain Miller. Now if you please take me to him. This whole problem can be resolved rather quickly."
"Silence!" The gun was jabbed more painfully into Neelix's skull, "Walk!"
"If you insist but really this is just a whole huge misunderstanding."
They walked and walked and walked. Apparently his captor was not part of the main group but a scout, looking for spies. Finally they made it to a little campsite that was a one-point farm where the Americans had set up HQ. What appeared to be a captured German Military watch had been put in the remains of a pigpen surrounded by guards. They did not look happy. "We are going to put you with your little friends now," the angry Private said, shoving him towards the pen.
Neelix took a glance at the men in the pen. "You know really I don't think that is such a good idea. I never really got along with that watch."
"Too bad." He captor replied pushing him into the pen. Suddenly Neelix was surrounded by German officers. "Hey guys! Long time no see. So how is life?" A punch hit his face. Apparently these officers could see what the dumb American couldn't. He was a Frenchman. Well sort of. Backing away slowly he tried to get a grip on how to get out of here. The Germans started to look like they were getting ready to hit again.
"You guys I think we have a lot in common here. There is no reason to fight, be friends. Common that sounds like fun! Fun! Fun is good!" They kept walking closer.
"Hey! Get that man out of there!" Neelix turned to see the Commander Chakotay walking towards the pen. "Break it up!" The guards looked shocked at first but did as their Captain ordered. The pen door was opened and Neelix was pushed out. "Private Lewis, find Private Bobby Davis and the new First Aid Doctor and bring them to my office." He turned back to Neelix, "If you would please follow me."
Chakotay's office was apparently an old bedroom in the farmhouse. The room was covered in maps of the area with arrows and pins marking where units were posted. Neelix thought the Commander looked ridiculous in his army outfit, his hair was slicked back and he appeared to be wearing several guns. "You can explain everything when Bobby and the Doc get here. You look like a man who needs some coffee."
"Yes sir. My very bones feel frozen." Neelix huddled against the warm tin coffee cup, trying warming up.
"I know the feeling, Monsieur." From behind him a very dirty Tom Paris entered. He was carrying a medic's kit and a gun, "Pass the coffee Captain."
Within minutes the Doctor entered. He appeared to have just left the medical tent and Neelix sincerely hoped that the reddish stains on his uniform weren't blood, "Captain, you asked for me?"
"Yes," Chakotay moved his eyebrow towards Neelix, "The resistance has contacted us".
"Well that is good news!"
"Katrine, wanted me to pass on some messages." Neelix spoke finally finding his voice. Immediately all attention was focussed on him. "We have distraction planned to make you entrance to the city easier. A bomb has been planted to distract their attention and manpower away from the gates. We are also taking advantage to get into the HQ to intercept plan and codes."
Chakotay went over to a detailed map and began to examine it closely, "When and where will the bomb go off?"
"At 6 o'clock exactly in the east neighbourhood."
"Then we don't have much time left. Private Davis, get the men moving as fast as possible, we don't have much time. Doc, I will need you to follow us. We don't want to be late for the date Katrine set up for us."
The USS Voyager - Stardate:
Harry stood the cargo bay, counting heads. 140, 141, 142. Good, they were all there. Most of the crew seemed to be taking this well, but that was to be expected since this wasn't the first time Voyager had been taken over.
The attack had been faster then anyone had expected. The Hirogen's technology might have been older but Voyager's was more advanced in some aspects such as sensors. They couldn't pick up the vessel of 8472 and it had taken Harry the better part of half an hour to convince them that the ship was even there. And by then it was too late. Even with Borg technology the species 8427 hadn't encountered much resistance. The crew had done well but the best were in the simulation and without Seven the Borg technology was hard to manage. The aliens had forced the crew into the Cargo Bay and that is they had been for the last hour or two.
Something, or rather some one, was pulling on his pant leg, "Harry, I want Neelix." He looked down to a little red- haired girl. Harry was not as close to Naomi as others member of the crew, but right now he felt very protective of her. He bent down and lifted her up, "Neelix is fighting the Hirogen right now. But don't worry, he and the Captain will win and then they will come and help us fight the aliens that have taken over the ship."
"Promise?" Her little voice was breaking Harry's heart. But before he could answer the aliens entered the cargo bay with Vorik. Almost right away the had separated the Vulcans from the rest of the crew and at first Harry was worried that they were yet another race that believed that tele-paths should be killed. Yet he was soon corrected, the species 8472 were apparently tele-paths too and communicated to the crew through the Vulcans.
Vorik seemed to drift for a moment before speaking, "Ensign Kim."
Putting Naomi down, he turned to face the aliens, "Yes."
"You are to come with us. They with to speak with you."
Faced with no other choice, Harry followed the aliens, walking down the now silent corridors of Voyager to what was the Captain's Ready Room. Vorik drifted again before saying, "They wish for you to sit."
Harry sat down and faced them, his features unemotional. Vorik began talking again, "They wish to know if you are in charge."
"Yes."
"They want to know why the senior staffs are all in the holodeck instead of at their posts.'
"To prevent much bloodshed with the Hirogen, our senior staff and their entered in a Game you could call in the Holo-decks."
"You are not Allies with the Hirogen?"
"No"
Vorik squinted again and paused before talking, "This game fascinates them. They have many questions. They have read pieces of background material and Mr. Paris left around. They wish to know all the details."
Harry shifted in the chair and began to explain all he knew. He eventually asked for permission to use the consoles and hacked into Tom's files to access more information. The integration went on for hours. Finally the questions stopped and Vorik made some last comments on the aliens' behalf, "They wish to enter this simulation."
"As who? All the roles are taken."
"As the Russians."
"The Russians weren't even in this battle. They can't!"
The aliens seemed to dismiss his last comment as if they hadn't heard it, "They wish for you to tell them how to access holo-controls."
Harry might have told them all they ever wanted to now about WWII but he wouldn't give them access to the holo-controls willingly, "I will not."
All of a sudden Vorik began to shake violently and then started scream. Harry stood up. "What are you doing stop! Stop!"
The screams merely grew louder. Another Vulcan who had been in the room started to scream. Harry knew that giving the controls over to the aliens potentially meant handing over the lives of the Senior staff but he couldn't watch what they were doing to Vorik , and on top of that if he didn't talk now and control what information they received, they would get it from someone else, who would tell them everything. "Okay! Okay! I'll talk."
Vorik's screams suddenly stopped.
Harry stepped up to a control panel. "The holo-deck controls are here, here and here, " He said tapping the flashing cannels.
Vorik was still lying on the ground but managed to murmur, "They want to now where the holo-decks are."
Looking the creatures straight in the eye he said, "Follow me."
As they walked down the halls Harry felt a new sense of purpose. Captain Janeway had made him, Harry Kim, acting Captain and it was time he started acting like it. "The holodeck is here, to enter the simulation you must enter the command codes." They ordered him to them the codes. He did, trying to keep his mind as blank as possible to avoid them picking up any plans he might hatch.
Not even trying to communicate through the shaking Vorik they pushed the two men back to the Cargo Bay and closed the door. Obviously not used to keeping prisoners thought Harry, or else them would have posted guards just outside but inside too. But he couldn't consider that now there were more important things at stake. "Lt. Carrey and Nicoletti, we need to get access to a control panel NOW!"
Quickly the Lt.s from engineering responded to him, removing metal panel to reveal a maze of wires. They worked to silence for a few minutes before, Nicoletti announced, "This will let you see what is going on, but you can't access anything, Their technology is blocking all of our efforts."
One glance at the screen gave Harry all the information he needed. The species 8472 had accessed the holo-deck controls and were going to enter the holo-deck. Harry paced the floor, thinking. The aliens had written themselves into the program, but they had done it crudely, not writing any rules or restrictions. And the Captain and the rest of the Senior staff had no idea what was going on or how to fight back against this new force. He knew that he couldn't modify the rules from the outside. Harry was a good programmer and he had made sure of that when he wrote the security protocols. There was only one way to change the program...
"All replacement senior staff report to me now!" Quickly a group Ensigns and Lt.s huddled around him, "Species 8472 is accessing the holo-deck. They are trying to go in and enter the game. They will not obey the rules. They can act of character, shoot with modern technology. The only way to modify the program so that the Captain and the rest of the crew can fight back is to give the program a big power shock from the inside, thus confusing the security protocols for long enough to rewrite the program."
"But how are we going to get it?" Lt. Carrey frowned, "None of us have characters in the program."
" Lt. Paris wrote an emergency character for me to use if for exactly this kind of emergency. What I need to know is how we orchestrate a power surge without the aliens if figuring it out."
The members of engineering held a mini meeting, speaking very quickly in technical terms. Turning back to the group Lt. Carry cleared his throat, "I think that we can arrange for that power surge but only for a short while. We would have to have precise time to send the power to the holo-decks."
"Good. That still leaves one problem. How to get me out of here."
They debated that problem for a long while. Every plan involved overpowering the aliens at some point, something they just didn't have the strength to do. The obvious solution was the Jeffories tubes in the cargo bay but after much inspection they gave up that plan. There were only two, one was jammed with a computerised lock and the other too small for anyone to climb through. At one point, Naomi Wildmen came over to the group and stood near her mother, suddenly she began to tug on her mother's pants vigorously. Looking down at her daughter she asked, "What's up honey?"
"I could climb through the Tubes, mommy. I am the Captain's assistant after all."
"Thanks for the offer honey. But this is a job for adults."
"But I could Mommy! I had to climb through that tube before when my ball got stuck there. All I would have to do is to go over to the bigger tube and press the release button."
All of sudden the other members looked up from the little red-haired girl. She was just the right size, and her plan could work. Naomi had never lived a normal childhood, being the first child ever born on a Starship and Neelix was always saying how bright and courageous she was. The species 8472 had entered the holo-deck hours ago. Harry need to get in there as soon as possible.
Bending down so that he was eye level with Naomi Harry spoke earnestly to the little girl, "If we let you do this you can't get scared or stop, we need you to keep going. Your mommy and I will talk you through the whole thing and you will need to listen to our instructions. It will be dark up there and we can't give you any light. But do you still want to do this?"
"Yessir!"
Lt. Carrey opened the hatch and they lifted Naomi into the black whole. They heard her crawling around.
"You okay honey?" called Sam.
"Fine Mommy."
"Okay then just keep crawling till you find a different sort of metal, instead of rough all smooth." Harry tried not to think of what could happen to her if the aliens decided to do a spot check right now.
From above them they could hear a little voice all out, "Found it!"
"Good, now turn the lever, slowly." The big hatch popped open. From up above they could see Naomi's little face peering over. Suddenly Vorik sat up from where he had been lying, his eyes began to roll of all over, "They are coming!" Then they heard to footsteps of the aliens.
"They are coming!" whispered Sam.
"Quick!" said somebody else forcing Harry up into the larger hatch. Soon everything went dark again. He heard the whisper of what he thought was Naomi going down. Quietly he tried to remember where the holodecks were in relation to the Cargo Bay. Twice he made wrong turns but he eventually made it there. It was creepy the whole time he felt like he was being followed. Please, please he thought, don't let any of the aliens know our plan. Getting really unnerved, he turned around and called, "Stop following me!"
From out of the darkness a little voice called, "Sorry Ensign Kim."
"Naomi?" Harry was confused, "What are you doing here?"
"They closed the hatch before I could get out. I was scared but I promised you I wouldn't be so I didn't say anything and followed you."
In his mind he was cursing up a blue streak! He couldn't take Naomi back, not if the aliens were doing spot checks, and he couldn't leave her here. Damn! She was going to have to go with him. Crawling closer to her Harry tried to figure what to do, "Naomi, we can't go back now, so you are going to have to go into the simulation with me. Okay? Things are going to be different there, they holo people won't understand tricorders or COMM systems so we can't talk about them. While we are there we are going to have to pretend we are someone else so that we can go find Neelix and the Captain. You are being a good girl so far and I need you to keep being a good girl."
"I will, Acting Captain sir!" Her little voice already sounded brighter.
"Okay, I need to access this panel over here and then we can go right into the simulation."
"Yessir."
"Ready to go?"
"Yes" the little voice pipped up. Harry opened the hatch, grabbed hold of Naomi and slid into 1945 France.
B'Elanna sat in the corner of the bar , watching the door out of the corner of her eyes. From outside she could hear the fighting getting closer and closer. The Germans had been putting up a better resistance then anticipated and shops were being turned into barracks and markets into war zones. It was only a matter of time before someone, from either side, entered the club. Sweat trickled down her forehead as the voices and whistles of shots could be heard just on the street, she cocked the gun she held in her right hand, ready to fire if she had to. The only light in the club was from the kitchen where the Captain and Seven over Tuvok. He was losing a lot of blood, and the kitchen table where he lay was drenched in his green blood. If Neelix didn't bring the Doctor, Tom and Chakotay here soon, Tuvok was going to die. That is, if Tom, Doc and Chakotay weren't dead already. But all those thoughts were pushed out of her head as yet another wave of nausea washed over her. God she hated being pregnant! As much as she hated to admit it to the Captain, she had really been unfit to go on the mission tonight. But still, it had been pure hell, sitting here waiting for them to come back.
Crunch, crunch. B'Elanna could hear footsteps outside. They paused and then the door burst open and a darkened form entered the club. Prepared, she aimed her gun, "Hands in the air!"
From out of the darkness a voice asked, "B'E..Briggitte?"
"Bobby?"
Leaning out of the door, the form called out, "It is okay guys, we found them." From outside the window B'Elanna could see crouched shadows running across street and into the Club.
"Doctor!" B'Elanna hoped an prayed it wasn't too late, "Tuvok has been shot." Before she could finish the Doctor raced over to the kitchen. Chakotay, Tom and Neelix all followed. By the time B'Elanna had managed to waddle over there, the Doc was already peering over Tuvok's wound.
"This is good, this is good." Glancing up at the Captain's doubtful expression he clarified, "Well at least as far as bullet wounds go. But we don't have much time. Tom do you feel like performing some surgery with 'modern' technology?"
"You have no idea how great that sounds Doc!"
"Well then please, have someone guard the windows, we really can't have any one seeing what we are doing." Suddenly the smells of the kitchen, the sight of the Tuvok's blood, the stress and pressure got to B'Elanna. All day she had tried to fight the urge to throw up. But she couldn't do it anymore and before she had time to explain she raced to the bathroom, opened the door and emptied the contents of both her stomachs in the sink. She barely had time to come up for air before the nausea hit her again. Around the fifth time she was puking her guts out, she realised that there were an arm around shoulders and a hand smoothing her hair. When she finally could open her eyes and breathe at the same time, she turned to see a very dirty Tom Paris standing beside her. He looked up at her with his bright blue eyes, "Better now?"
Too tried to lie, she closed her eyes and braced herself against the counter top, "No." She paused and then continued, " I thought you were operating with the Doctor."
"Well, he doesn't really need me and I got worried about you."
"I am fine." She didn't need his worry, she could look after herself.
"Yes, well I could see that when you threw up everything that you ate in the last 2 years."
A bruising response was on the tip of her tongue when yet another wave hit her. She turned just in time to the sink. Gasping for air she felt Tom pull her close again and whisper and say softly, "Shh...shhh. It is okay babydoll, it is okay." Under normal situation she would have killed him for calling her 'babydoll' instead she started to cry. She was tried and upset and this holo-pregnancy was doing horrible things to her hormones. Somehow, Tom seemed to understand all of this. In between sobs she said, "I just feel so weak and helpless. I can't work the radio, I can't shot a gun and all I get to do is pealing potatoes, where I cut my hands!"
Very seriously Tom looked up at the ceiling and said, "I almost shot off my foot today, if that makes you feel any better." She couldn't help it. She giggled.
Pausing Tom brushed some sweat soaked hair out of her face, "You look dead, how about you and I go up to bed? I have been dying to sleep on something that isn't the ground for days."
"We may have a pretty loose sense of protocol but do you think that this is appropriate? We are still on technically on duty. Are you sure you should even be in my bedroom?"
"Yes," Tom flashed her a grin, "It is part of the story line." He leaned in closer, "Reunited lovers, remember? And don't worry about anyone coming looking for us. The two commanders are comparing notes, the Doc is checking up on his patient and everyone else already went to bed."
She remembered the storyline, but she never thought he would seriously want to get near her when she looked like this. Vainly she tried to lead the way to her room but in the end Tom had to support her. She tried to bat him away half-heartily, she hated being at weak like this. Normally she was so capable and fit that it felt like she couldn't do anything anymore. She opened the door and showed Tom her tiny little room.
It was plain and simple. A wooden bed, a clothes trunk and a mirror. One window that faced the back of the building. With both her and Tom in the room, it seemed even smaller. For the first time since he stormed into the club B'Elanna got a chance to take a really good look at him. He was wearing the standard green military uniform, but it was streaked with mud and dirt and even ripped in some places. He had cuts all over his face and hands and his hair was slicked back in the popular style. He was still wearing his heavy army boots and his pistol. Dropping his gun on the floor he sat down on her trunk and began to remove his boots. "So, these last few days have been pretty hard on you haven't they?"
"It hasn't been fun watching everything I say, every move I make, suppressing every that is me." She put a hand over her stomach, "Plus this little thing had just made everything so much more fun."
Tom looked down, "Sorry about that." Clearly remembering the discussion they had when the profiles had been passed out.
"Oh, you'll pay. You'll pay." Grinning at him, she began to ready for bed herself. Her nightgown was already laid out on the bed and she lifted her arms in vain to try to undo the buttons at the back of her maternity blouse. From behind Tom rose, 'Let me help you with that."
It was strangely nice to have Tom here to look after her. Normally she resented that kind of thing but tonight she was too tried to fight it. One by one the buttons and then the blouse fell away and she didn't have to rip any of them. Suddenly she heard a gasp from behind her, "Oh my god," Tom pulled her around to face him, "Who did this to you?" The fury in his voice was barely contained.
Not understanding B'Elanna looked down to where her blouse had fallen away. Her torso and arms were covered in bruises where her "boyfriend" had grabbed her. Trying to shrug the whole thing off she joked, "Hazard of duty."
"Does the Captain know about this?"
"What would it matter if she did? We had to get the information out of HQ and he was the best source. What did you want me to do? Your manly pride hurt or something that someone else was with your woman?" She came down on him too hard but his anger had provoked her.
"No, of course not! I already knew that it was part of your mission, but... but this is wrong."
Her anger cooled almost as fast as it had rose, "Well it doesn't matter now."
"Yes it does. He hurt you," Tom looked still as angry, "If I ever see him.."
Trying to avoid further conflict B'Elanna pulled on her night-gown and crawled into bed. "Are you going to stay the night?"
"Of course," he paused, "Except if you don't want me too..." Tom was being careful, sometimes you didn't want to push to many of B'Elanna's buttons at the same time.
"I do but..." She tried to figure out how to explain, "I just...I thought...I assumed that you wouldn't want to sleep with me when I am like this." She explained gesturing to her large belly.
Leaning over Tom kissed her nose, "You are always beautiful to me," She smiled and curled into the cover. From behind her, she could hear Tom undressing and then crawling into bed, "You have no idea how great it is too be able to hold you in my arms again." She tried to control it but as he reached out to hold her, she flinched. Jerking back Tom sat up, "He really did hurt you didn't he?"
Turning away from him, B'Elanna ignored the question. "Answer me! What happened?"
For the second time today, her floodgates opened. All of sudden Tom was quiet again, "Sorry, babe, sorry. I didn't mean it that way, it is just you never react that way, ever."
Turning so that her face was buried into his shirt she mumbled, "It not like it hasn't happened before, when I was a Maquis. I don't know why this is upsetting me so much. It is nothing, really. It didn't even really hurt. It was just that this time I couldn't protect myself, I was so incapacitated, I couldn't do anything!"
Tom stiffened up against her, "Nobody has the right to hurt you like that. If I ever do see him I WILL kill him."
Looking up from his now soaked shirt he replied, "Not if I get to him first."
"Good point." Very, very slowly Tom leaned down and gave her a extremely gentle kiss. Slowly he moved he hand up to her side. "This okay?" He whispered. She nodded, but tonight she just needed Tom to hold her. And some how he understood that and instead of continuing, moved so that she was held loosely in his arms. "Good night Babydoll."
"You call me that again and I break your arm."
"Love you too."