Horror Days- Chapter 11

Day 8 (Petrin)

Tom was still walking towards the relief center that Phil had claimed was straight ahead. He had lain down on a roof the night before, but didn't sleep. Too much was on his mind. From his wife and daughter to Wen and Riken to the death of Phil. He probably should have messed around with his commbadge to strengthen his signal, but still, Tom had hope of finding others around.

There was no one, still. In the time Tom had been on the planet, he had seen no rescue workers, no military, no reporters except for Phil, and barely any people. It all seemed too…odd. So out of place.

But then faith was restored. After walking for almost five days, Tom saw a line off in the distance. After stopping for a second to make sure he wasn't crazy, he began to run. A line could signal one of many things: food, water, a place to sleep, or help all around. Once he reached the line, he realized about ten maybe twelve people were in line.

"What's this a line for?" Tom asked a woman at the end of the line. The woman looked at Tom oddly; obviously she had never met an alien before.

"The relief center of course." She answered.

Tom smiled at her and stood behind her. He had finally found it! What Phil, he, Wen, and Riken had been walking towards for the longest time. Finally, Tom thought. And that's all he needed to think, he had found rescue. He could finally get back to Voyager, his friends, his family, everyone!

The line went rather slow, but once Tom reached the inside, he watched people get taken into rooms and then they walked out several minutes later. Then those people would go through some big doors towards food and water. Soon it was Tom's turn and he was more than delighted to sit in the uncomfortable chair talking to a woman sitting a computer.

"What is your name?" The woman asked.

"My name is Lieutenant Thomas Eugene Paris." Tom answered.

"And where are you from?"

"I'm from Voyager, the ship that's orbiting the planet now." Tom replied enthusiastically.

The woman looked Tom over head to toe. "Please stand up, I need your height." She said in a monotone voice.

Tom did as she asked and stood up. The woman again looked Tom over. "Can I contact my ship from here?" Tom asked.

"We will contact them soon." The woman replied pushing buttons on the computer.

"I was wondering if I could contact them." Tom said sitting down.

"That would be unfair to the others who have come here." The woman answered.

"But I'm from Voyager, I'm sure you can make an exception for me, right?" Tom asked.

"No." The woman responded. After finishing up her report on Tom, she stood up and motioned for Tom to also stand up. Tom stood up and was given a badge of some sort with the number 815 on it. "Please put that somewhere in plain sight. If you follow the man outside, he will lead you to free food and water. You can eat as much as you want. Then you will be taken to a resting area where you will sleep. Thank you for coming."

Tom looked at the woman oddly while he put the badge he was given around the collar of his neck. He was then led out of the room into another where there was food, water, and people everywhere. Tom walked over to the buffet table and grabbed a lot of food and then a big jug of water. He looked around for a place to sit and saw someone he recognized. Tom walked over and sat down across from the person.

"Riken, where's your grandmother?" Tom asked the little boy. The same little boy Tom had met several days ago.

"I don't know, they took her to another room and said she would be back later." The boy answered. But he jumped from his chair and hugged Tom. Then after hugging Tom, Riken got up onto Tom's lap and sat there.

"Don't worry; I'm sure she'll be back." Tom said.

Tom had a gut feeling that something wasn't right. Just little things were off about this place. He couldn't pinpoint what it was, but something was definitely off about this place.

Voyager

Captain Janeway was in the Briefing Room talking to Tuvok, Chakotay, and the four Petrinnens that had come aboard. Two were diplomats, one was also a diplomat and a pilot, and the fourth was Rinkala Pinso, the pilot that got the away team off the surface seven or six days ago.

They were all talking about ways to locate Mr. Paris when Harry walked in. He was very pale and was carrying a padd.

"Captain, I'm sorry to interrupt, but I have news on Tom's whereabouts." Harry said.

Janeway was happy for a split second, but noticed Harry wasn't smiling. And that wasn't a good sign.

"Well?" Janeway asked. Harry handed her the padd.

"Some officers found him…he's dead." Harry answered. It was silent.

"Are you sure?" Janeway questioned.

"Yes, the description fits Tom to a t." Harry replied.

"Contact the person who wrote the report and tell them to keep his body for us so we can come get it." Janeway said as she looked over the padd. It had the location of a building that was apparently being used as a morgue.

"Captain," Ambassador Nils Orin, one of the diplomats, interrupted standing up. "it is customary of our people to burn the bodies of the dead. It is probable that all that remains of your pilot is ashes."

"Then I want them to keep his ashes there so we can come get them." Janeway told Harry. "I want Tom back…even if he isn't alive."

Harry nodded and left the Briefing room. All were silent.

"Captain, we are all very sorry for your loss." Orin said. "I'm sorry he was another victim of our deadly storms. But thanks to your help, he and others will be the last."

"I hope so, Ambassador." Janeway replied silently. "I hope so…"