They had successfully evaded patrolling aliens several times, backtracking, waiting and dodging back into the Jeffries tubes, but were almost discovered when they detected an unconscious crewmate and were about the render assistance.
Just as Ayala was about to exit a tube, six of the aliens arrived, picked up the crewman, entered a turbo lift and disappeared.
"We should have done something." said Gerron sadly as they exited. Ayala seemed to ignore him as he was peering at a computer terminal. Celes was glancing around nervously.
"It looks like they've got the crew in the cargo bay. Engineering is still our best bet for helping all the crew. From there we can see how many aliens we're up against. We may even be able to spot some of their vulnerabilities. Agreed?" he looked intently at Gerron.
"Agreed. Sorry, you're right."
"Good. All these detours have wasted too much time. And we don't know how much time we've got."
They entered the Jeffries tubes again and made their way to Engineering, exiting after determining there was no one present.
"Celes, we need to know how many of the aliens are on board. Try to get some sensors working. Be alert both of you, I can't help but think they'd be interested in the technology here." His eyes swept the area.
"Maybe they've already been here." suggested Gerron as he checked some of the displays.
"Maybe. But we shouldn't take any chances. Gerron, you take that console," pointing and moving further inside Engineering, "I'll work over here." He looked at Celes. "I want you closer to the doorway, listening. Both of you, leave the closest hatch open in case we have visitors. We've wasted too much time already."
Ayala and Gerron both started to work at their stations. Sometime later Celes heard a noise outside the doors.
"Someone's coming and they're close!" hissed Celes. Ayala and Gerron both dived into their closest hatch. Celes tripped as she turned and finally only had time to hide behind her console.
Two aliens entered Engineering with their phasers drawn.
"I'm telling you Faran, there are more crew still free." he looked around. "and someone has been here since we left."
"You're sure? I don't want to waste any time looking for things that don't exist. I want to get my share."
"Yes, I think the chairs have been moved. We must have missed some."
"Alright, I'll call for some extras to assist us. If we can get them away from the inventory." At that moment a scraping sound was heard from where Tal was hiding distracted them.
"Come out. Now."
Tal emerged from her hiding spot.
"Please don't hurt me." she raised her hands to show she was unarmed. "Please don't hurt me." She repeated.
"Who else is with you?"
"No one. Everyone else is gone. I don't know where they are. They left me." There were tears in her eyes. It wasn't hard to act terrified.
"There is no one with you?" the one called Faran leaned over her and put his face close to hers.
"I c-can't find anyone. Please don't hurt me." She said in a small voice. She cowered when Faran grabbed her arm.
His companion meanwhile was taking a look around.
"There is no one else here Faran. They are a weak lot anyway, a few strays don't matter. We should take this one back to the containment area and get back to keeping the others honest with the register of spoils."
"Agreed."
Faran dragged Celes out through the main doors and the three headed to a turbo lift.
"And keep the pathetic coward quiet."
She didn't even see the blow coming that knocked her out cold.
Something was happening. The invaders seemed quite perturbed and had been murmuring to themselves since they had dragged in an unconscious Tal Celes. Two of them seemed to be deep in conversation with someone outside the cargo bay. When the both turned and looked straight at Chakotay, all the crew tensed.
One of the aliens approached where Chakotay and Tuvok were sitting. As the alien motioned to Chakotay to stand, it seemed the whole crew held their breath.
Chakotay stood and walked towards two of the guards until they indicated for him to stop. He was approached by the alien that had beaten the Captain. It was all he could do not to launch himself at the alien, but he had to think of the crew and had to do all he could to get them free.
"Tell me how many of your crew are not here." demanded the alien.
Chakotay looked steadily at him, but didn't answer.
"Why has the ship stopped moving?" he glared at Chakotay "You will tell me, or you will join your leader." The alien growled and without warning he punched Chakotay's midsection, just as he had done to the Captain on the bridge. Chakotay fell to the ground and a strong hand pushed on his shoulders and forced him face down to the floor. He felt his arms pulled behind his back and his hands were tied securely.
"The next in command remains silent Leader," Chakotay could feel the aliens phaser rifle at the back of his neck. "Should I kill him?"
"No," the sighs of relief from the crew were loud enough for him to hear "we are having issues controlling the vessel still. A number of the units haven't reported in. I will join you when I can. Wait for my arrival before killing him. It shouldn't take long to track down the resistance. I am sending a contingent to the engine room. Keep the assets subdued. We need to find out how many more of the crew are roaming the ship."
"Yes, Leader." And with that, he swung his foot at Chakotay's exposed side.
After a couple of minutes, Gerron and Ayala emerged from the Jeffries tubes.
"Where's Celes?" asked Gerron, looking around.
"She let herself be captured. They were going to bring more people to search for us, so she let herself be found. I hope she's OK," he stared at the doors "but we've got to make the best of the opportunity she's given us. Let's get these engines finished and get the shields ready to deploy."
They worked steadily for some time and realized that another member of the crew had also been working on the shields and the engines.
"Must have been the Borg Babe or Kim," remarked Gerron "these are pretty sophisticated calcs but there's some kind of encryption on the engines. I can't modify them. Hang on, must've been Kim or maybe Paris, the filename is 'Bride of Chaotica'."
"Hopefully, they're still working somewhere, we've still got a fair way to go."
This time they heard the voices of the Avori troops as they approached Engineering and Gerron and Ayala were ready for them.
As the five Avori entered the doors, Gerron opened fire. Ayala took out another alien as it tried to take aim at Gerron. The firefight was brief and the Avori quickly realized that they were in trouble. As the fourth one fell, the remaining soldier ran out the main doors into the corridor.
Gerron glanced at Ayala as he started to pursue the alien. Ayala was clutching his leg and leaning against a console and sliding to the floor.
"Go, we can't afford him to bring back reinforcements before we get this all working."
And with that, Gerron nodded to his companion and ran swiftly out after the alien.
As he dragged himself to his feet, Ayala wondered what he should do. He needed to finish the work they'd started if they were to get away from these damn aliens. At least he'd finished the physical repairs and only needed to do adjustments through the engineering consoles.
He leant heavily against the wall and his eyes went to the upper level. The adjustments could be done just as easily up there and it was easier to defend.
Ayala struggled up the ladder to the upper level. Once he made it to the landing he turned and stopped in his tracks.
He was horrified to see the Captain propped up against the wall behind a console in a sort of sitting position. It looked as if she had just leaned against the wall and slid down until she hit the floor. She looked so lifeless, he was almost afraid to touch her.
The relief he experienced when he felt her neck and could detect a pulse, albeit a weak one, was so profound, he was surprised.
"Captain. Captain, can you hear me?"
God, she looked like a train wreck. Her face was bruised and swollen. Even unconscious she looked like she was favoring one side of her body and it looked very much like she'd been phasered in the chest and arm.
She groaned and opened her eyes. "Mike?" her voice was barely audible.
"Yes, Captain. I'll just get the transporters operational and I'll get you to sick bay." He made to move to the console.
"No. Weapons..shields first. Voyager … get away…" her eyes closed.
"But, Captain.."
"Order." She managed to get out as her head tilted to the side.
"Aye, Captain."
After what seemed an eternity, Ayala prepared to restore the weapons and shields. He didn't activate them so as not to alert the invaders.
Just as he was about to start on the transporters, he heard the main doors below open and peered over the side in time to see another three Avori enter Engineering.
As he was pondering whether to start shooting one of the three noticed him, swinging his weapon in Ayala's direction. His position gave him a distinct advantage and he'd picked off two of the three when the final alien managed to hit him in the shoulder, throwing him backwards and flat on his back.
He didn't hear the doors open again and the short exchange of fire that ensued.
"Mr Paris." Tuvok whispered. He gestured down to the ground between them.
Tom gave him a quizzical look.
"They just appeared in the middle of the group behind us."
"The Doctor?"
"Whoever it was, the timing is fortuitous. Spread the other three among the group so we can get maximum range. Wait for my command"
"They're all dead." said Tom a few minutes later.
Their actions had been swift and the four soldiers guarding the crew didn't even fire a shot before they were overpowered.
"It is unfortunate," said Tuvok mildly "the phasers were set to 'stun'."
Chakotay really wasn't that sorry. Nobody else seemed to care either.
"Different physiology is all that occurs to me..." Tom added as he helped Chakotay to his feet and untied his hands.
"Vorik, Seven. Get some engineering people, take the alien weapons and see if you can get power back for shields and propulsion. Weapons if you can. Alright B'Elanna, you can go too, but don't put yourself in harm's way." His eyes swept the group. "Tuvok, Tom, Harry, Andrews. You're with me. We're going to the bridge. The rest of you stay put until you hear from me. Lock the doors behind us. Let's go."
Samantha Wildman was already rushing over to embrace Naomi, who was sobbing quietly and seemed dazed.
B'Elanna allowed Seven, Vorik and Jenkins to precede her into Engineering after arguing about it all the way from the cargo bay.
Vorik had pointed out with irritating Vulcan logic that her 'condition' would impede their efficiency.
But she was staggered by Seven's entreaties that she should stay behind them as the former drone had explained that if anything happened to her or the baby that Commander Chakotay would "probably blow them out an airlock".
B'Elanna gave Seven a sideways glance. After three years she still couldn't tell when Seven was making a joke.
"OK, but if any of you gets hurt, I'll kill you."
As it turned out, she had stayed slightly behind to check the condition of Gerron who they had found not far from Engineering. He wasn't too badly hurt and remained sitting in the corridor. "They took Celes, but Ayala should be still inside somewhere."
"Celes should be fine. She's in the cargo bay."
"I'll be OK here. Go."
As they approached Engineering they could hear a phaser discharges and as they entered an alien swung his weapon in the their direction. Jenkins shot him. A battle had obviously taken place inside but it was over now. Apart from the alien Jenkins had just killed there were six other aliens dead. There was no sign of Ayala.
"Let's get working people. Vorik you're on shields, Jenkins weapons. Seven, you and I will do the engines."
The four men stormed onto the bridge from the turbo lift, surprising the alien leader and another Avori, who swung around with weapons drawn. Chakotay felt a surge of satisfaction as he fired his phaser, hitting the leader in the middle of his chest. Harry phasered the other alien without a second thought.
Tom walked over and checked the crumpled forms. "They're dead too." Chakotay was glad and he hadn't taken pleasure in killing anyone since he was Maquis. Everyone rushed to their stations.
"Report, Harry."
"We have shields at sixty percent and it looks like impulse engines are off line."
"Tuvok?"
"No weapons as yet, Commander."
"Can we tell how many aliens are still on board?"
"There are some twelve aliens scattered throughout the ship, it appears mainly in the crew quarters. A group of aliens are alive and in holodeck one, perhaps more than ten, surrounded by a level ten forcefield. One alien is in the shuttle bay. There appear to be quite a few dead scattered throughout the ship."
"He's probably at their shuttle or whatever they used to get over here, but what the hell are the others doing in the holodeck?" said Tom.
"Commander, I've found a file that seems to be related to engines configuration titled 'Bride of Chaotica'. It's password protected."
"Well, the bride's name was 'Arachnia', try that, Harry." Nobody smiled at the memory.
"They've got a craft in our shuttle bay?"
"Yes, Commander."
"Do we have transporters? Any sign of the other ship?"
"Systems are all coming on line. We'll have them in about five minutes, sir." Harry replied. "No sign of other ships."
"Harry, lock off the shuttle bay so he can't get back into the rest of Deck Ten, then beam the aliens in the holodeck and the others, plus the dead ones if there's enough power, into their shuttle as soon as you can. Tom, as soon as we've got propulsion and weapons, let's get as far away as possible and jettison their shuttle. Hopefully, if they've got limited personnel and will have their hands full on the ship to figure out what's going on."
"Do we have communications yet Harry?"
"I'm just re-.. yes! We've got comms back sir!"
"Bridge to Engineering. Fast work B'Elanna but we need weapons then the warp drive as soon as possible."
"We've only just got here Chakotay, thank Gerron and Ayala. We're on to weapons now, we're only a couple of minutes away. We found Gerron outside. There's been quite a fire fight here. He's alive, but hurt. I'll get him to Sick Bay when I can."
"Sir, there are also some calcs that should make the shields more effective, I think."
"Good work, Harry. Bridge to Sick Bay. Doctor?" Chakotay looked to Harry.
"It looks like some of the systems in Sick Bay were affected in the attack," added Harry
"We'll worry about the Doctor later. B'Elanna how are we going? It won't be long until our visitors notice something's wrong."
"Another thirty seconds. A minute at the most."
Seconds ticked by.
"Commander, the alien vessel is powering weapons!" Harry shouted.
"B'Elanna, now is a good time. Tuvok, maximum shields!"
"Weapons on line. Just phasers. Warp in about five minutes."
"Good enough! Tuvok target their weapons and propulsion and fire! Tom let's go!"
"They're firing!" yelled Harry.
The bridge rocked from the blast. Getting himself and then Tom to their feet, Chakotay put a hand to his temple.
"Status."
"It seemed to be some kind of concussive charge similar to the one which rendered us unconscious earlier. However, distance and shield modifications seemed to have negated most of the impact on this occasion." reported Tuvok.
"Explains my headache." murmured Tom
"We have disabled the vessel's propulsion and weapons. And it seems, their shields. It appears that the Mister Ayala has also identified the pulse frequencies they used to cause our mechanical difficulties. I have further adjusted our shield harmonics in accordance with the results. They should not be able to repeat the damage."
"Do we have transporters yet?"
"Yes sir."
"Then beam all the bastards into their shuttle and get rid of it. I don't want them on Voyager for another second. Tom, get us away from here at our best speed."
Chakotay waited until Harry confirmed that all the aliens and their were off the ship.
"Bridge to Cargo Bay Two."
"Wildman here, Commander."
"It's all over Sam. All personnel return to duty stations, please send the beta shift bridge crew up here to give us a hand. Any problems down there?"
"Apart from headaches, we're all fine. Naomi is still... pretty distressed sir."
"Better take her to your quarters rather than sick bay, Sam. I'll send someone down to meet you as soon as I can. Chakotay out."
Silence enveloped the bridge.
"OK, let's get the hell out of here. Harry can you get us through the interference or whatever they were using to disable the ship?"
"Yes sir. The Arachnia file has identified the frequencies they were using enough to negotiate a course out of this mess. Actually, I think we're almost at the edge of the affected area."
"How soon until we're clear."
"I'd estimate about another ten minutes at present speed."
Tom turned around to face the others.
"You mean we were only a couple of hours away from safety when we were boarded?"
The thought seemed to upset him enormously. He turned back to his console without further comment.
"Harry can you locate our missing crewmembers?"
"Yes sir, I've got them all. I'll beam them all to sickbay." He studied the readout on the console. "Oh, no I won't. Sorry sir, the transporters have overloaded when I beamed out the aliens."
"Are the Avori following Tuvok?"
"No Commander. They have not changed position since we have retaken the ship."
There was no further talk until Harry broke the silence.
"We're clear, Commander."
"Right. Tom, best possible speed. I want to get as far away from this part of space as we can." They were joined by the extra crew. "Tom, get down to engineering and check on Gerron and then get to sickbay. Get whoever you need to help.
"Tuvok, prepare a message buoy to send back to the Virn. Let's share what we've discovered. There should be something positive come out of all this. Andrews, organize teams to find Chell and the others and get them to sickbay if necessary."
"Aye sir."
Tom was already on his way when his replacement took the seat at the conn.
Chakotay slowly rose from his chair and glanced at the one next to his.
"Tuvok, you have the bridge. I'll go down to sick bay to..."
"Aye sir."
Chakotay stood outside sick bay. Images of the last few hours assaulted him until he finally shook himself and he entered the room, preparing himself to look at her one more time.
Except she wasn't here. He looked at the body of Noah Lessing on one of the bio-beds. He checked the room again.
"Computer, activate EMH." There was a confirming chirp from the computer, but the Doctor didn't make an appearance. But where was the Captain?
"Computer, locate Captain Janeway."
"Captain Janeway is in Engineering, Upper Level."
He couldn't move, wouldn't allow hope to enter his mind.
"Chakotay to Torres."
"Torres here."
"B'Elanna, have you been to the upper level of Engineering yet?"
"No, we've been a bit busy here..."
"Get Tom up there now. I'm on my way." He was already running out the door.
He could hear B'Elanna before he saw her.
"I don't want to hear that, get the Doctor on line now, Vorik!"
She spotted Chakotay bounding up the ladder.
"She's alive. Barely. Ayala looks serious as well." was all she could manage to say.
B'Elanna had already started to initiate the transport for them to sickbay as Chakotay grabbed his Captain's hand.
Chakotay lifted the Captain onto a biobed. Tom was moving towards them with a tricorder.
They weren't even aware of other crewmembers placing Ayala and Gerron on other beds and beginning treatment.
Tom activated the tricorder and began to take readings. Suddenly, an alarm rang out, causing both men to jump.
"Damn. I need the Doctor, I don't think I can do this." He administered hypospray after hypospray. "Cortical stimulator! Now!" Chakotay placed the instrument on Janeway's forehead and looked back to Paris, who activated it.
"A weak pulse." said a relieved Paris. He again started examining the readings. "I don't know where to start. She's got so many injuries." Paris was frantic.
Chakotay activated his comm badge. "B'Elanna, how long until we've got the Doctor. We're in trouble here."
"Nearly there. A couple of minutes. Could be less."
Chakotay watched Tom as he kept working on Janeway. He had cut away her remaining jacket and turtleneck and was obviously struggling to keep himself calm. He was trying to watch the monitors, administer treatments and diagnose her injuries. Chakotay had never seen the young man so distressed.
To their relief, the Doctor shimmered into view only minutes later.
"Status?" he queried, moving to Janeway's bedside without further comment.
Chakotay couldn't understand what the Doctor and Paris were talking about but he understood their tone. They didn't have their Captain back yet.
More alarms, more frenzied activity. It seemed to be going on forever.
He stood there watching and praying harder than he had for a very long time. Finally, he looked around sickbay and saw Ayala, Gerron, Golwat and Chell being taken care of by other crewmembers. He hadn't even noticed them coming in. Ensign Parsons, who seemed to be taking care of Golwat, consulted the Doctor a number of times.
"Tuvok to Commander Chakotay." The voice startled him.
"Go ahead."
"The ship is secured sir. We are traveling at warp seven. I have launched a communications buoy back to the Virn with the appropriate information."
"Good work Commander." Even over the comm, he sounded distracted.
"Sir, Engineering reported that the Captain…"
"She's alive Tuvok, but still critical. They're working on her now…I don't know..."
"Understood Commander, thank you." Tuvok's tone was subdued.
"Tuvok, please arrange a senior staff meeting in three hours. I'll join you then, unless you call me."
"Aye, Commander. Tuvok out."
Just over an hour later, the activity around Janeway had relaxed and Chakotay could tell from the demeanor of Paris that, although her condition was still serious, it appeared that the worst was over.
He felt for a split second that he was going to cry. He had never been on such an emotional rollercoaster as, what, the last six hours? God, it seemed like a month.
His reverie was disturbed by Paris, who had been ordered to rest by the Doctor, who was still with Janeway.
"How is she Tom?"
The younger man gave a weak smile but his eyes looked haunted.
"The Doc says she'll be fine." He rubbed his hands over his face and sat heavily in the chair in the Doctor's office where he had dragged Chakotay.
Paris picked up his tricorder again and started scanning Chakotay whose eyes were still on the biobed outside. "Are you OK where you got hit?"
"When will she be awake?" Chakotay felt an absurd need to talk to her. He ignored Tom's question, if he even heard it.
"Not for at least twenty four hours." This from the Doctor who was standing at the doorway where he had just joined them. "But it'll be a couple of days until she's really with us. I'm letting her body recover a little before I begin surgery again." The Doctor's voice held none of the usual acerbic tone. "Please rest, Mr Paris, I will scan the Commander."
"But she'll be OK?" Chakotay needed reassurance.
"Oh yes, but she requires considerable surgery over the next twenty four hours and she'll probably take at least a couple of weeks to fully recover." For the first time, Chakotay noticed that the Doctor was in command red. "To be frank, I didn't think I'd see her alive again after she left Sick Bay this afternoon. The wound to her thoracic area should have killed her, but in combination with the beating – well, let's just say that Starfleet must ensure their captains are crossed with cats, they have so many lives." He explained the severity of her injuries and her determination to free the crew and get Voyager away from the Avori. "I'm so happy to be wrong. Not to mention not having the blow up the ship. Which reminds me, we should disable the ship's self destruct."
