Chapter 9.
Emanations.
(Scott POV)
I got up and went for a shower and got into my Uniform and then went to the mess hall to get something to eat along with some coffee. From what I could seethe crew members in the mess hall were in good spirits. Then I noticed that we dropped out of Warp and I finished eating heading up to the bridge where Chakotay told me that we were another 20 minutes from the Class D system. So I headed into my ready room.
Where I was working on some survival things in case the Kazon got their wish one day and kicked my whole crew off ship. Then Started to do my log thing.
"Captain Log, Stardate 48623.5. There are 246 Elements known to Federation Science. We believe we have just discovered the 247th inside the Ring system of a Class D Planet. On other subjects, The crew are still working on coming together. But we need that if we are to survive out here and get back home, End Log," I said.
"Captain to the Bridge," Chakotay said.
I headed out and over to the science station just to the left of Helm console, Where Harry and Torres was.
"The element has an unusually large atomic mass over 550 Nucleons, and the rating are constant, The Element appears to be stable," Harry said.
"A stable Transuranic element inside a natural environment, This is a first," I said.
"Can you imagine what we could make with this stuff?" Torres said. "Probe casings that could go into the core of a sun, Ultrathin Reactor shielding,"
"That's assuming we can mine it," I said. "Harry, try and locate the highest concentration of the Element,"
"The element is present in most of the asteroids that comprise the rings, I can isolate a simple and beam it aboard," Kim said.
"Or better yet, maybe we could get a first hand look at this element in it's natural environment, It looks like most of these asteroids support Class M atmospheres," Torres said.
"Good Call. Chakotay, You're in charge," I said.
"Aye Captain," Chakotay said. As Him and Torres headed. "Mr. Kim would you like to join us?"
"I wouldn't miss it, Sir," Kim said.
Then sat down on my chair.
Then Tuvok showed up.
"Morning Tuvok," I said.
"Morning Captain. can I have a word," Tuvok said.
"Of Course, Mr. Paris you have bridge," I said.
"Aye Captain," Paris said as Tuvok and I headed into my ready room.
"What would you like to talk about Tuvok," I said.
"I have completed the weapons, However. I'm keeping the Ammo separate," Tuvok said.
"About that, Intent of keeping on replicating the Ammo. Can we not install the kind of Ammo replicator inside the Mag to replicate the ammo when it is needed instead of swapping the Mag for a fresh clip," I said.
"I have been thinking about that, But I was going to ask permission of doing that," Tuvok said.
"You have it, Tuvok, Anything else," I said.
"None at the moment," Tuvok said.
"Good. Now how do you think the crew holding," I said.
"From what I can See, They are well. But not what we were wanting," Tuvok said.
"We are still getting there," I said. "We just need to give them time,"
"Agreed," Tuvok said.
"How goes the Hull plating," I said.
"We are ready to bring it online when we need it. As for the Phase cannons, we are having a bit of problems getting them tied into the same power source as our main Phaser array," Tuvok said.
"Do what you can Tuvok," I said.
"Aye Captain," Tuvok said.
"Dismissed," I said. Then Tuvok left.
Then we headed back to the bridge.
"Chakotay to Voyager," Chakotay said.
"Go ahead, Commander," I said.
"Captain, There are 18 bodies here all humanoid. 11 Male, 7 Female, From what we can tell, They're in various stages of decomposition, Some have been here for years, Others no longer than a few days," Chakotay said. "In fact one body arrived less than 12 hours ago,"
"Arrived form where?" I said.
"I don't know, Captain, But from the position of the arms I'd say we're looking at some kind of burial site," Chakotay said.
"What about the Element we discovered?" I said.
"It's emanating from their bodies, Captain," Torres said. "We think it's some kind of byproduct of their decomposition process,"
"I recommend we leave these bodies in peace, Captain," Chakotay said. "However Mr. Kim has a different opinion,"
"With all due respect, Captain, I have to disagree with the Commander This is our first contact with this race, and I think we should be learning all we can about them, It's a unique anthropological opportunity," Kim said.
"I understand the chance for scientific discovery, Captain. But whatever belief this race has, They clearly meant for their dead to be left alone and I think we should respect that," Chakotay said.
"I'm afraid I agree with Commander Chakotay, set your tricorders for a passive scans," I said. "I don't want to disturb anything,"
"Captain, The sanctity of these bodies should be respected, I recommend we make visual observations only," Chakotay said."No Tricorders,"
"Sorry, Commander, I disagree, Tricorders only in Passive scanning only," I said.
"Captain," Chakotay said.
"That's an order, Commander," I said. "McCall out,"
"Captain, There's something happening in the Commander's location," Ops said.
"Any idea what," I said.
"None, Captain," Ops said.
"Chakotay to Voyager, Emergency beam out," Chakotay said.
"We having trouble locking into your signals, Stand by," I said.
Captain. Have everyone stand closer together, I'm going to try a blind beam out centered on your com signal," Seska said.
"Acknowledged, Commander," I said.
"We heard, Captain," Chakotay said. "Energize,"
"Bridge to transporter room 3. Do you have them?" I said.
"Subspace distortions from the vacuole are interfering with the transporter lock, I'm attempting to compensate,"Seska said. "Okay I think I've got them, Chakotay and Lt, Torres are board, So is one of the humanoid bodies but there's no sign of Ensign Kim,"
"Scan the asteroid," I said.
"No lifesigns Captain," Tuvok said. "I'm broadening the scan. Nothing. He is nowhere in the entire asteroid field,"
"Seska, Initiate Emergency Transport procedure 21 Alpha," I said.
"I'm already on it, Captain, It's no use, his pattern's gone," Seska said. "And the subspace vacuole has disappeared, I'm looking at the Transporter logs, My only guess is he was pulled into the vacuole,"
"Captain, This isn't one of the bodies we found in the cavern," Torres said "It's someone else,"
"This body might have come out of the vacuole at the same time Kim was taken in," Chakotay said.
"B'Elanna is there anything," I said.
"I'm showing sign of electrical activity in the brain, It looks like she died just a few minutes ago," Torres said "We might be able to revive her,"
"Captain," Chakotay said.
"I know what you are going to say, Chakotay. But she may have the answers we need to find Harry," I said.
"Seska Beam us directly to sickbay," Chakotay said.
"I will meet you down there," I said closing the channel. "Tuvok you got the bridge," Then got into the Turbo lift and went down.
Once there I saw her there.
"Captain," Chakotay said.
"What happened?" I said.
"Some kind of Subspace vacuole came out of no where," Chakotay said.
"What about Tricorders," I said.
"Nothing yet, B'Elanna is looking over the logs now, Captain, I must express my anger to your decision back there," Chakotay said.
"You want to know why. This is why. There is always something happens when which we didn't inspect it. Only thing I'm hoping now is either. She can tell us what happened to Harry or that data can," I said.
"Understood, But I didn't," Chakotay said.
"Stop. I know you would never expect this, I don't blame you for reacting the way you did, Commander. In normal circumstances. I would have agreed with you. But out here in a sector of space we know completely nothing about," I said.
"I understand, Captain," Chakotay said.
"Good. Let's just hope right now is that Harry is still alive," I said.
"Captain," Doctor said.
"Yes, Doctor," I said.
"We have her Captain, She's alive," Doctor said.
"How were you able to revive her?" I said.
"It's a simple process, really, She died of a cancerous growth on the brain stem I removed the tumor. Replicated new neural tissue and used the standard starfleet postmortem resuscitation technique for a class 5 lifeform," Doctor said.
"Why was she covered with this biopolymer?" I said.
"She wasn't covered with it exactly, the Biopolymer is a byproduct of her own tissues," Doctor said.
"Explain," I said.
"As her tissues decayed, the cell membranes broke down into a biopolymer resin, which was then excreted by her epidermal layer. My guess is it's a natural decomposition process for this species," Doctor said.
"So the other biopolymer fibers we found in the cavern," Chakotay said.
"Were probably the result of other bodies that had decomposed and left a residual membrane," Doctor said. "In essence Commander, You were strolling through dead bodies,"
"Can you wake her?" I said.
"Yes of course. Kes. 2cc's of Netinaline," Doctor said.
Then the woman started to wake up.
"Hello," Doctor said.
"I know this must be very confusing for you, But you are all right. My name is Scott McCall," I said.
"I'm Ptera," Ptera said. "Where 's my brother?"
"Your brother," I said. "I'm afraid he's not here,"
"But he's supposed to be here," Ptera said. "They're all supposed to be here,"
"Ptera, we were able to remove the Tumor from your brain, You're going to be alright," I said. "We revived you,"
"This is the next Emanation?" Ptera said. "This is the afterlife?"
"No, It's not," I said. "You're on a Starship,"
"This can't be right," Ptera said. "My brother's supposed to be here, Something's wrong,"
"Let me explain," I said.
"No!" Ptera said. "No get away from me,This isn't right. It can't be right," Then the Doctor put her under again.
"Get to the bridge get an analysis on those Rings. Call me when it's done," I said.
"Aye Captain," Chakotay said heading for the bridge.
"I'll be on the bridge," I said.
XXX
"Captain," Chakotay said.
"Yes, Commander," I said moving over to the science station.
"We've completed our analysis on the ring system. Our systems have detected over 200000 alien bodies on various asteroid in the rings," Chakotay said. "From what we can tell a subspace vacuole appears about every 2 hours deposits a body and then disappears,"
"We need to focus on those vacuoles," I said. "Concentrate on trying to probe them with a high resolution scan, See if you can find any sign of Mr. Kim,"
"Sickbay to Captain McCall," Doctor said.
"Go ahead," I said.
"Our guest has regained consciousness, and she's a little calmer this time," Doctor said.
"I'm my way," I said. "You have the bridge,"
Then I headed down to sickbay find out she only knows what happened to her before showing up here. Nothing about Harry.
"That's all I know," Ptera said.
"You've told me quite a bit," I said. At least Now I have an idea of what might have happened to Mr. Kim. Is there anything I can do for you?"
"Well, I'd like some answers," Ptera said.
"About that?" I said.
"About what happens to my people when we die," Ptera said.
"We're not sure, exactly," I said. "But from what we do know, the vacuole deposit the bodies on the asteroids in this ring system,"
"And then what?" Ptera said.
"I'm not sure what you mean," I said.
"We're supposed to evolve into a higher level of consciousness when we die. We're supposed to gain a greater understanding of the universe," Ptera said. "All of our questions are supposed to be answered,"
"Ptera, I know this must be frightening for you, You've been through a very traumatic experience," I said. "It would frighten me, But Please try to understand, Just because I don't have the answers to your questions doesn't mean there aren't any,"
"My brother. I always thought I'd see him again," Ptera said. "I had so many things to tell him about his children, the people he left behind, But he isn't here, Is he. So what am I supposed to do now? spend the rest of my life on this starship,"
"Ptera, I am going to do everything in my power to figure out just how you got here and as soon as I know anything. I will tell you," I said. "All right?"
"All right," Ptera said. Kes called and got her to go for something to eat. Then the ship shook.
"What was that?" Ptera said.
"McCall to Bridge, Report," I said.
"There's some kind of dimensional distortion forming near main engineering. Captain," Paris said. "It looks like a subspace vacuole,"
"McCall to Engineering. B'Elanna, What's going on?" I said.
"I've pinpointed the location, Captain, It's right here in engineering," Torres said. "Stand by. Captain, maybe you should get down here,"
"On my way," I said then headed down to Engineering to find another body. "Is it human,"
"No," Torres said.
"Beam it to the asteroid field," I said.
"Aye captain," Torres said.
"Let's try and find a way to shield us from these vacuoles," I said.
XXX
"We got another vacuole forming on the ship," I said. "Tuvok remodulating the shield harmonics,"
"It's no use, Captain," Tuvok said. "The Vacuole is still forming,"
Then It showed up on the next level in engineering near the Warp core.
"Take the body to the ship's morgue," Tuvok said.
"This is odd, 3 bodies have appeared on Voyager so far and each one of them has released some kind of neural energy," I said. "In every case, the energy has passed through the hull and out into the rings. The energy frequency is Identical to the ambient radiation in the asteroid field,"
Then we got hit again.
"The vacuoles are disrupting the warps core's magnetic interlocks," Torres said. "It won't be long before we lose antimatter containment,"
"The Vacuoles have all formed within 20 meters of the Warp core," I said. "They might be attracted to it. McCall to Bridge, Paris lay in a course I want to get at least a half a light year away, Warp 7,"
"Aye Captain," Paris said. "Paris to McCall,"
"Go ahead," I said.
"I've brought us out of warp, We're point 6 lightyears from the ring system," Paris said.
"Any other subspace vacuoles forming?" I said.
"No, the Magnetic interlocks have stabilized," Torres said. "I think we're safe out here,"
"Begin working on a way to protect the Warp core from these Vacuoles. I want that safety net so we can get back and keep looking for Harry," I said.
"Aye,Captain," Torres said.
Then we headed back up to the Bridge, Waiting for B'Elanna to get that safety net for it.
XXX
An hour later we were in the Conference room.
"We're doing everything we can to get you back home, Ptera, Once we locate out missing officer we're hoping he might be able to tell us enough to," I said.
"Wait a minute, Captain. There is a way," Torres said. "To send Ptera home and find Ensign Kim at the same time,"
"How," I said.
"What if we recreated the transporter accident?" Torres said. "If it's true that Harry was pulled through the vacuole during transport, We might be able to reproduce those circumstances and send Ptera home,"
"We could send Ptera through with a subspace transponder, and hope the signal with penetrate the dimensional barrier and allow us to lock onto Him with a transporter beam," Chakotay said.
"So I can get home?" Ptera said.
"Ptera, You should know that there's no guarantee. This is going to work," I said.
"I understand the risk," Ptera said. "But I've already been dead once and I'm prepared to die again if necessary, So if there's a chance I can get home I'm willing to take the risk,"
"All right," I said. "Commander prepare a subspace transporter and teach Ptera how to use it,"
"Aye, Captain," Chakotay said.
Then I went to my ready room till we were ready.
XXX
We were on the way back to the Ring system.
"Captain's log Supplemental, We've returned to the Ring system and we're preparing to send Ptera back to her dimension. Lt Torres has found a way to temporarily Protect the warp core against the Vacuoles. But she is uncertain how long her measures will be effective,"
Then I met up with Kes and Ptera taking her to transporter room 3.
"You understand the instructions for Mr. Kim if you find him?" I said.
"Yes," Ptera said.
"Engineering to Transporter room 3, there'a vacuole forming on deck 13,"Chakotay said. "Magnetic interlocks are stable,"
"Acknowledged," I said. "Seska, you see it,"
"Yes, Captain I see it. Locking on," Seska said.
"Good luck, Ptera," I said.
"I have a transporter lock," Seska said.
"Energizing," Seska said. "Matching her pattern to the subspace distortions, Wait a minutes the Vacuoles is shutting down, I can't get her pattern through,"
"Bring her back," I said.
"I'm trying. I'm losing her pattern," Seska said.
"Shunt emergency power into buffer tank 4," I said.
"That's it, I've got her," Seska said but she came back the way she came into Voyager.
"Kes," I said.
"She's Dead," Kes said.
"Is there any brain activity, Can we revive her," I said.
"No," Kes said.
"McCall to Lt Torres how long until we have to leave?" I said.
"I'd say we're safe for another 2 hours," Torres said.
"That gives us 2 hours to find Mr. Kim," I said. "We;ll have to stay within high range scanner range, Perform another subspace scan, this time extend the scan radius to 10au, I'm on my way down there, McCall out,"
"Aye captain," Torres said.
"Seska Beam her onto one of the asteroids," I said.
"Aye captain," Seska said.
"That's where she was meant to be," I said.
Then headed out to Engineering.
XXX
I was on the Bridge and we kept getting more Vacuoles.
Then another hit.
"Another Vacuoles Deck 15," Torres said.
"The body of an alien female has been left behind," Tuvok said.
"Chakotay to Transporter room 3. Lock onto the body on Deck 15 and transport it to one of the asteroid,"
"Aye sir," Seska said.
"Status on the Warp Core, B'Elanna," I said.
"The dampening field's down to 21%" Torres said. "The interlocks won't hold much longer, We need to leave Captain,"
"Tom bring us about, Prepare to resume our," I said.
Then we got hit.
"Captain, I'm picking up a vacuole, Forming on deck 12," Chakotay said. "It deposited a human body,"
"Human," I said.
"But It's dead," Chakotay said.
"McCall to Seska, lock onto the body on Deck 12 and transport it to sickbay," I said.
"Yes, Captain," Seska said.
"Tom get us out of here," I said.
"Yes, Sir," Tom said.
Then I headed down to Sickbay. With Tuvok and found Harry on the bio-bed.
"2cc's Cordrazine," Doctor said.
Then Harry woke up.
"Relax Mr. Kim everything's fine," Doctor said. "You're alive,"
XXX
A Day later, Harry was released from sickbay.
Which I found him in the mess hall.
"Mind if I join you," I said.
"No not at all. Please," Harry said.
"How you feeling?" I said.
"Better. I'll be ready for duty tomorrow morning," Harry said.
"You're off duty for the next 2 days," I said.
"Captain, I'm fine," Harry said.
"It's not a reflection on your capabilities, Harry, I just want to give you a chance to reflect on what's happened, this may not make much sense to you now. Just young at the beginning of his career but one of the things you learn as you move up the ranks an get a little older is that you wish you had more time in your youth to really absorb all the things that happen to you," I said. "Trust me when I say this if that was me just kicking back from what you have. I be scared shitless,"
"Even through you made Captain in 3 years," Kim said.
"I really put everything into it. When I finished the academy. I came here next," I said.
"I heard that Captain Janeway pulled a lot of strings to get you here," Kim said.
"She did," I said. "I was just surprised to be the same rank as her. I though went I got here. I was just going to be a Commander. Then I found out just before we launch from DS9. I was the same rank as her. Kathryn. She trusted me with this ship. If anything happened to her. Only thing I hate is that it happened on her first trip out,"
"Me too, But when I saw you with being a captain. It was kinda of weird someone so young as you being a Starfleet captain," Kim said.
"Harry. I have been through things you would never believe. Even lost people I cared about. But being a captain is nothing really different as what I have been used to back home. Only thing which is different is it being in space," I said. "There are thing about me which I keep to myself because I have to. One of those experiences which you have been through. Even I had been through that just not the way you have. So take those 2 days and work through it. The Bridge will still be there in 2 days," I said.
"Thank you, Captain," Harry said. "Those people think that they know what happens after death. They look forward to it. They're prepared for it, But the truth is none of it's real,"
"Maybe. Maybe not. We kept see the neural energy being released from those bodies into the rings becomes part of the ambient radiation electromagnetic field surrounding the planet, The energy is also unusually dynamic," I said.
"Are you saying that you think they do have a afterlife," Harry said. "That the energy field is where they exist at a higher level of consciousness,"
"Maybe. But not certain. See you in 2 days," I said.
"Thank you Captain," Harry said.
Then I left headed to my quarters.
That's all for this chapter.
More to follow.
Stay Tuned and safe.
Love Y'all
PEACE!