Chapter 52.
Darkling.
(Scott POV)
"Captain's Log Stardate 50693.2 We've been in orbit about an outpost of the Mikhal Travelers, This loosely governed race of explorers has extensive knowledge of the Territory ahead of us, Which they are willing to share, End Log," I said as I was down on the planet.
"I landed my ship to the nearest of those 21 moons, My Navigator and I disembarked to start repairs. Damage was extensive, more than we'd anticipated, the hours passed the air grew cold and with our weapons started a fire to keep warm, Later in the night, We awoke with a shudder, the ground was shaking, A moonquake," He said. "What could have been worse? We leapt into the ship, hoping the tremor would pass, But it was no tremor, And it did not pass, For it was no moon we had landed on,"
"What was it," I said.
"A creature, A living being so massive, it generated its own gravitation field, so immense it supported its own ecosystem," He said.
"Captain," Kes said.
"How long had it been lying there, Dormant, slumbering, until wakened by our fire? Years? Centuries?" He said.
"Perhaps even millennia," Someone with Kes said.
"Perhaps," He said.
"Zahir is the pilot I've been working with on the medical supply transfer," Kes said.
"A pleasure," I said.
"Returned, Curious," Zahir said. "I was just visiting the system you spoke of only a few months ago, my ships sensors picked up no such monster,"
"Perhaps your sensors were faulty," He said. "Or too busy gazing at your own reflection to bother looking out the window,"
"Our guests are offering us supplies we need, In exchange, we travellers are giving them a look at what lies ahead of them, We should keep that view as clear as possible," Zahir said.
"This is my lodge, I say what I want," He said. "And you can go elsewhere,"
"I've journeyed to the corners of known space and beyond. I've earned the right to come and go as I please, Where and when and how I please, Do you challenge that right," Zahir said.
"No," He said. As he left.
"Forgive my display, Captain," Zahir said. "But my people consider outpost such as this to be necessary evils, places to refuel, repair, exchange information and leave as quickly as possible, If I've observed anything working with Kes, it's her great tolerance, A quality you all seem to share, I regret not being able to demonstrate the same,"
"Don't worry about it. Our time here has been very well spent, Although I could use your help is sifting through that last colourful saga," I said as Kes got a seat and sit down next to me.
"Moon sized creatures or not, the asteroid of that particular system are rick in vorilium," Zahir said.
"That might be worth a short detour, Engineering us usually short on Vorilium," I said. "Thank you Zahir,"
As Kes and I returned to Voyager.
"Dinner my place later," I said.
"Maybe got to Meet Neelix and the Doctor in the Holodeck," Kes said.
"See you later then," I said.
"Sure," Kes said as we headed off. As I went for my room where I ran into by both Chloe and Clara.
"Hey Kiddo, how's my girls?" I said.
"Missed you Dad," Clara said.
"Missed my girls too, good thing I always come back here, Seeing my girls," I said. As we went and sat down on the sofa as we just sat there. As my girls snuggled into my sides.
We ended up staying like that the rest of the night. Even fell asleep.
XXX
The Next morning I was still snuggled into by my girls. Which I managed to get free of Chloe and I gently shifted Clara then gentle placed her back down as Chloe Snuggled into Clara. I love seeing my girls together. As I went and got freshen up and then headed up to my ready room as I was going over everything which we got from the planet so far. As My door bell rang.
"Come on," I said.
The Kes walked in.
"Hey Scott," Kes said.
"Hey, an all nighter," I said.
"Scott," Kes said.
"The fine art of putting off an important task to the very last minute then rushing through it, I did that for the last 6 years. Still do every now and again," I said. "What happened?"
"Zahir took me and saw a few things down on the planet, He wants to explore the Sylleran Rift, His ship travels at high warp. We could rendezvous with Voyager afterwards. Before you're too far away," Kes said.
"Gives you a chance to get to know him better," I said.
"Scott, I've spent the third of my life. Now I'm starting to wonder if I want to spent the rest of it on Voyager," Kes said.
"That's certainly a good question," I said.
"Everyone her has been so good to me, Even you, I just thinking that maybe there's more, I don't know what that means, but I know I'm changing, and I know that there are things that I'm not satisfied with. I want complication in my life," Kes said.
"And you think Zahir might be the way to do that?" I said.
"Maybe so," Kes said.
"I get what you're going through Kes, I had crossroads in life and not to know which way is best, I could easily help you weigh the consequences, the possibilities, the decision itself has to be yours alone," I said. "And no matter what it is, Just make sure it's right for you, Don't worry me,"
"I understand," Kes said.
"We'll be in orbit for several more days, take your time," I said. "My door's open if you need me,"
"Thank you, Scott," Kes said. As Kes headed out.
Even if I do lose Kes. I would miss her.
As I spent the rest of the day going over the reports we had gotten. Then Headed off duty for the night. As I went to my room as Chloe and Clara were in bed sleeping since it was late. As I went and got a glass and my bottle of 12 Whiskey heading into my room have a drink to 3 of them. Then Went to bed.
XXX
The Next morning I woke up and I went and got showered and was heading for the Bridge when.
"Tuvok to McCall," Tuvok said.
"Go ahead," I said.
"Captain, there has been an attack on the planet, It would seem to be Zahir. Who has been attacked," Tuvok said.
"Go down there and help with the investigation Tuvok, Found out what happened to him," I said.
"Aye Captain," Tuvok said cutting the link as I went for my ready room. Until Tuvok returned.
"Chakotay to McCall," Chakotay said.
"Go ahead, Commander," I said.
"Tuvok has returned and is asking to speak with you," Chakotay said.
"I'll meet him in the Transporter room," I said as I headed out and down there where Tuvok was waiting by the turbolift as we got in and headed down to Sickbay. "What you find,"
"The most curious aspect of the attack on Zahir was the apparent lack of evidence," Tuvok said.
"What do you mean," I said.
"Even the quickest, most violently delivered blow leaves behind some sort of molecular evidence," Tuvok said.
"Cell fragments from the skin of the attacker, Residual protein DNA," I said.
In this instance there was nothing," Tuvok said. "Not a single molecular,"
"So We could start counting out anyone of Voyager of doing this," I said.
"For now," Tuvok said.
"Is Zahir conscious," I said.
"Yes but he can recall nothing of the attack except a sudden blur of motion," Tuvok said.
"How is he?" I said.
"Responding well to treatment," Tuvok said.
"Kes," I said.
"Concerned and at his side," Tuvok said. As we went in and found B'Elanna on the ground.
"B'Elanna," I said.
"Computer, Activate Emergency Medical holographic program," Tuvok said.
"Please state the nature of the Medical Emergency," Doc said showing up.
"B'Elanna is hurt," I said.
"I deactivated myself so she could work on my program, she must have collapsed at the console," Doc said. "Delayed anaphylactic shock from something she ate yesterday, let's get her onto a bed," As We got her on it. "Don't eat the vegetables I said. But does anyone listen to me, this is the 5th time in as many weeks, that an away team member has ignored my preparatory Report," As I went and grabbed something for B'Elanna. "I might as well stop issuing them, I'll need,"
"10cc of Alazine," I said.
"That's exactly right, how did you know," Doc said.
"My Klingon Physiology course at the academy," I said. "That was 5 years ago,"
"Excellent Recall," Doc said.
"I had a visiting professor H'ohk, He permitted nothing else, Even got him to spar with me now and again," I said.
"She's stabilized, but I'll need to monitor her condition for a few hours," Doc said.
"Doctor, I have the raw data from the forensic investigation of the attack on Zahir," Tuvok said. "Your instruments are more precise then those on the outpost,"
"As if I weren't busy enough," Doc said. "Very well,"
"Thanks, Doc," I said as Tuvok and I left.
"You and Professor H'ohk spared," Tuvok said.
"Every now and again," I said. "He liked it when I brought a new move on him,"
"Surely he must of wonder what you had," Tuvok said.
"If you mean knowing about my wolf side. No. Then I know he noticed it being a wolf moving. I just told him I have a wolf animal spirit," I said.
"And he brought it," Tuvok said.
"Back then he knew some people had animal spirits in them. Guess he though I was one of them," I said.
XXX
After I was on the Bridge when.
"Captain, there's an unscheduled Transport taking place in transporter room 3, Harry said.
"Find out what's going on," I said.
"The operator's not responding," Harry said.
"Computer, Who just left Voyager," I said.
"Kes and the Doctor," Computer said.
"Try to hail them," I said.
"No response, And I can't get a fix on their positions," Harry said. "There's some kind of scattering field,"
"McCall to Chakotay," I said.
"Chakotay here, Captain," Chakotay said.
"Kes and the Doc have left the ship," I said.
"Captain, Tuvok here, My tricorder scans of the area where Zahir was assaulted have revealed disturbing evidence," Tuvok said.
"Let me guess, The Doc," I said.
"Yes, Residual Holographic signatures, that could only come from the Doctor," Tuvok said.
"That means the Doc attacked Zahir," I said.
"That's what it looks like Captain," Chakotay said.
"Then Kes could be in danger, And B'Elanna, Get someone from security down to Sickbay, Check on B'Elanna, Try and find them Chakotay, I'll see what I can do about the scattering field," I said.
As I was trying to get through it.
"McCall to Chakotay," I said.
"Go ahead, Captain," Chakotay said.
"I've gotten through the Doc's scattering field, Not enough to beam them up yet, But I've got a fix on their position, I'm sending the coordinates straight to Tuvok's Tricorder, I'll keep working on the scattering field," I said.
"Acknowledged," Chakotay said.
I got through the scattering field.
"Harry Locked onto them and beam them back," I said.
"Got a lock, Energizing," Harry said. "Got them, and the Doctor seems to be back to normal,"
"Acknowledged," I said.
After a few hours we well back on route for home. The Doctor was back to normal fully and Kes is staying onboard.
That's all for this chapter.
More to follow.
Stay tuned and sae.
Love Y'all
PEACE!