Chapter 63.
Scientific Method.
(Scott POV)
While Clara and Chloe was with Naomi in Sam's Quarters, The Doc was with me since I was having these goddamn headaches and couldn't relax.
"Your Trapezius is hard as a rock, You haven't been following the relaxation Regimen I prescribed for you," Doc said.
"Been Busy," I said.
"The Usual story, You sure this couldn't be because of your other side," Doc said.
"No, I've never had this ever. Doubt anyone I know of that had this had it too," I said.
"So it isn't that? Have you been getting enough sleep?" Doc said.
"No it isn't that, And More or less mostly less than usual," I said.
"Mm Hmm and have your headaches been getting any worse?" Doc said.
"No. But they aren't getting better either," I said. "They're like hot needles driving into my skull,"
"These symptoms are hardly surprising, Captain, You work absurdly long hours under constant stress, Eating on the run, Without sufficient Exercise or Rest," Doc said. "Your Body is crying out for mercy,"
"It Certainly is right now," I said as my spine pops. "There must be some easier way to do this Doc, A hypospray maybe,"
"Always looking for the simple fix," Doc said. "Sometimes there's no substitute for intensive osteopathic pressure therapy, You're fortunate to have a masseur who can work all day without tiring,"
"Bridge to the Captain," Chakotay said.
"Commander unless this is an emergency, My patient is unavailable," Doc said.
"Get off. What is it Chakotay," I said.
"We've reached the source of those energy readings, And I thought you'd like to see what we've found," Chakotay said.
"On my way," I said. As I got up.
"Captain," Doc said.
"I know what you're going to say doc, But I'm not going to Neglect my job," I said.
"Actually, I was going to suggest a change of outfit," Doc said.
"Not a word to anyone got it," I said Heading into my room and got changed as I then headed for the Bridge. Once I got there. "Chakotay,"
"Binary pulsars, The Gravitational forces between them are so intense that everything within 50 million kilometeres is getting pulled in," Chakotay said.
"Don't worry, We're well out of range," Tom said.
"Gamma Radiation levels are high but as long as we're careful, I think we can collect some invaluable data," Chakotay said. "Captain Am I boring you,"
"No, These god damn headaches won't just go away and I'm a little too tired to concentrate on stellar phenomena right now, I'll leave this project in your capable hands," I said. "I'll be in my ready room," As I headed in.
XXX
We were in the conference room.
"Here's the plan. We'll circle the 2 pulsars at a minimum distance of 80 million kilometers," Chakotay said.
"That might bot be far enough, We've been detecting some random proton bursts, A strong one could knock out our shields," Harry said.
"Tom, got to 90," Chakotay said. "Keep it a safe distance,"
"Yes sir," Tom said.
"Tuvok, Keep our shields at maximum strength, Divert auxiliary power if you need it," Chakotay said.
"Even use a ZPM if you need to," I said.
"I want to take every precaution on this survey, report any problems immediately, no matter how small," Chakotay said.
"Dismissed," I said. As they started to leave. "Lt Paris and Torres, I'd like to speak with you for a moment,"
"Thanks," Tom said to Tuvok. As He Passed by.
"I don't usually pry into the personal lives of my crew, but in this case, I have to question your recent conduct," I said.
"I guess Tuvok," Tom said.
"Tuvok, I haven't heard a word from Tuvok, But you 2 have been making enough of a public display that half the ship is gossiping about it," I said.
"Believe me, That wasn't our intention," B'Elanna said.
"You are senior officers, I don't care what the hell you get up to in private, But you maintain the standard for the rest of the crew in public, But this adolescent behaviour makes me question my faith in you both, If you choose to pursue a relationship, That's your business, But consider yourselves under orders to use better judgement about it, Clear," I said.
"Yes Sir," Tom said.
"Yes Captain," B'Elanna said.
"Dismissed," I said. As they left.
XXX
"Sickbay to Captain McCall," Doc said.
"Go ahead," I said.
"I need to see you down in Sickbay. It is urgent," Doc said.
"On my way," I said. As I headed down and found Chakotay there. "The Hell,"
"Commander Chakotay is suffering bone decalcification, Tissue necrosis, Decreased visual acuity All classic signs of aging," Doc said. "But they've developed within hours," Doc said.
"Any theories," Chakotay said.
"There's a rare genetic disorder called Progeria, Which causes children to age prematurely, But there's never been an adult case, And it was supposed eradicated 2 centuries ago," Doc said. "Even so, I took a close look at your DNA, These segment's regulate your body's metabolism, My scans indicate that they've been hyperstimulated somehow,"
"What's the prognosis," I said.
"I can't speculate on that until I've identified the cause, There's not sign of an infectious agent," Doc said.
"We spent several hours near a binary pulsar that was emitting intense gamma Radiation," I said.
"Our shields were operating, I don't see how I could have been exposed to it," Chakotay said.
"At this point we can't rule out anything, I'm going to take a closer look at the data we collected," I said.
"We should also run scans of my quarters, As well as my office and the bridge," Chakotay said. "Everywhere I've been today,"
"I'm not prepared to send you back to duty yet, commander," Doc said.
"I may look pretty strange, But my mind is perfectly clear, I'd rather stay busy, than just sit here," Chakotay said.
"I have no idea how your symptoms will progress, You should remain in Sickbay for observation," Doc said.
"He's right, Chakotay, I'll keep you updated," I said.
"Whatever's affecting the Commander's DNA Is working at a submolecular level, I'd like to set up an electron resonance scanner in the science lab to get a closer look," Doc said.
"Use whatever you need," I said. "And Ask B'Elanna to give you a hand,"
"Still having headaches Captain," Doc said.
"Ever since I've had this other side I've never had these headaches and I don't need any more lectures about working to hard, Doc, Chakotay's the one who needs your attention right now," I said.
"I'll get to work on the scanner right away," Doc said.
As I left sickbay.
"McCall to Cornwell," I said.
"Go ahead," Kat said.
"Kat, I need you on the Bridge, Chakotay isn't going to be there for some time something strange is happening to him," I said.
"And you need me to take over for him," Kat said.
"Yes," I said.
"I'll meet you on the Bridge," Kat said.
"Acknowledged," I said.
XXX
"Chakotay to the Captain," Chakotay said.
"Chakotay you're meant to be relaxing," I said.
"I'm but thought you should know, There are more instances, Of this happening," Chakotay said.
"Acknowledged," I said.
XXX
"Science lab to the Bridge, This is the Doctor," Doc said.
"Doc, Doc, Respond," I said. "Bridge to Sickbay,"
"Go ahead, Captain," Tom said.
"Get to the Science Lab, B'Elanna and the Doc may be in Trouble," I said.
"On my way," Tom said.
An hour later, I headed down there.
"Tom," I said.
"In the last hour 3 more patients have come in With Genetic Mutations, The Effects are starting to become life threatening," Tom said.
"What happened to B'Elanna?" I said.
"The Alveoli in her lungs, stopped processing oxygen, I've got her on respiratory support, She almost died," Tom said.
"What about the Doc," I said.
"The Computer logs in the Science lab show that he was trying to transfer himself to Sickbay. Something must have gone wrong while he was in Transit," Harry said.
"Could the Doctor's Program still be in the mobile emitter?" Tom said.
"I don't know, Seven was checking that," Harry said.
"7, 7," I said.
"About the Doctor's research," Harry said.
"Yes, I examined their work area, There was no record of any findings," 7 said. "The Electron resonance scanner appeared to be malfunctioning, I could return to the Science lab and attempt to repair it,"
"Keep me updated," I said. "Until then we continue as normal, Tom Try and slow down what ever it was doing,"
"Got it," Tom said.
As I headed for the Ready room.
XXX
Not too much longer. My Door Bell rang.
"Yes," I said. "Come in,"
As Tuvok came in.
"Good Morning captain," Tuvok said.
"That's a matter of opinion, what is it?" I said.
"Internal scans haven't revealed anything about the genetic mutations," Tuvok said.
"The Doc," I said.
"Still offline," Tuvok said. "We are investigating the possibility,"
"Inform me of any progress," I said.
"Understood," Tuvok said.
"One more thing, This incident with Tom and B'Elanna started me thinking about ship's protocol, Or lack thereof," I said.
"Captain," Tuvok said.
"It seems to me that people have been getting a little too comfortable around here lately, They're late for their duty shifts, taking Mess hall privileges during non-designed hours, and a lot of people are spending more time on the holodeck than they are at their posts, Don't 13 department heads report to you every day," I said.
"Yes," Tuvok said.
"Well, straighten them out," I said.
"Should I flog them as well," Tuvok said.
"Maybe the Doc is right, I do need a vacation," I said.
"You do seem unsettled," Tuvok said.
"Crazed is more like it, I haven't felt this way since my first day of command," I said. As the door bell goes again. "Remind me to lower the volume on that door, Come in,"
As 7 came in.
"Captain, I wish to speak with you," 7 said.
"What's wrong?" I said.
"My attempts to repair the resonance scanner have failed, I require assistance," 7 said.
"Ask harry to lend you a hand," I said.
"Yes Captain," 7 said.
"Is that everything," I said.
As 7 nods and headed out.
"When this mutation crisis is over I think I'll spend a few days in my Red Dead program," I said.
"I will join you," Tuvok said.
"I don't think it would your thing Tuvok, But thanks anyway," I said.
XXX
As I heard about what happened. As I went to the Brig with 7 and Tuvok.
"Keep on trying to disable the Tags, Let me know when you're ready," I said.
"Understood," 7 said.
"I'll attempt to modify the internal sensors to detect the aliens," Tuvok said.
"Good, Keep me informed, Both of you," I said. As I went in. "Who are you and what the fuck are you doing to my crew?"
"My team have been observing you and conducting tests," She said.
"Tests, I'd call them mutilations," I said.
"I can understand why you're angry, I don't like causing people to suffer, But sometimes it's a necessary part of my work," She said.
"Bullshit. And what kind of work is that," I said.
"Medical research," She said. "We're scientists, like you,"
"From where I stand, You're a hostile invasion force, I want to know how long you've been here and exactly what you've been doing to us," I said.
"I can't answer those questions," She said. "It's a breach of protocol for me to be speaking to you at all,"
"Oh I don't Care how convenient, That way you never have to face your victims," I said.
"Captain, please," She said. "You're exaggerating the situation, Our techniques are as benign as we can make them,"
"What I have been through for the last few days certainly hasn't felt benign," I said.
"Please understand that there's a purpose for our actions, The data we gather from you may help us cure physical and psychological disorders that afflict millions, Isn't that worth some discomfort," She said.
"I'm sure you'd see things differently if your people were the ones being subjected to these experiments," I said.
"Just as your perspective would change if your people were the ones to live longer and healthier lives as a result," she said. "Don't forget, We've been observing you, Captain, I know the most important thing to you is the welfare of your crew and kids, You'd even kill to protect them,"
"If necessary," I said.
"Of course you would," She said. "You take care of your own just as we do, We're really more similar than you care to admit,"
"That's where you're wrong, What you're doing isn't self defense," I said shutting down the forcefield. "It's the exploitation of another species for your own benefit, My people decided a long time ago that was unacceptable, Even in the name of Scientific Progress,"
"You're a remarkable strong-willed individual," She said. "I've been very impressed by your self control over the past several weeks, We've been increasing your dopamine levels, stimulating various aggressive impulses to test your behavioural restraints, There's been a great different of opinion about how much more strain you can bear," As I pushed her up against the wall.
"Not much," I said then backed off.
"I had hoped you might be more cooperative once you realized the important of our work," She said.
"Sorry, These Lab Rats are fighting back," I said.
"I'm afraid that will be pointless, We're monitoring your attempts to break our control over you," She said. "You won't succeed,"
"Well you may find that you've underestimated us," I said.
"Consider what's in the best interests of your crew," she said. "We will be continuing our research, If you make no further attempts to interfere, I assure you that the fatality rate will be minimal, Though there may be some deformities and I would be willing to share our final data with you,"
"You can't possible expect me to accept that," I said.
"If you don't, Then the entire experiment and it's subjects will be terminated," She said.
XXX
I was in my Ready room with the Doc, Tuvok and 7.
"Are you telling me there is no way to disable the Tags," I said.
"My attempt to use the EPS relays to induce neuroleptic shock have failed, The aliens may be responsible," 7 said.
"I've encounters similar difficulties in my efforts to modify the internal sensors, They appear to have gained access to our key systems," Tuvok said.
"They can't be everywhere all the time," I said. "We have got to find an advantage,"
"We'd better find one soon, Sickbay is being filled with new patients with increasingly severe symptoms," Doc said.
"We have the ability to make them visible," 7 said. "If we could modify enough sensors, we could resist them,"
"They are still capable of manipulating our DNA," Tuvok said. "A direct conflict would be inadvisable,"
"Bridge to Doctor, Medical emergency," He said. As we went out. As I grabbed a medkit.
"She's in hypertensive shock, 20 milligrams Lectrazine," Doc said. As I did and put it in. "Her blood pressure is 360 over 125,"
"How is that possible," I said.
"Severe adrenal stress," Doc said "No effect, Her Arterial pathways are rupturing, She's in cardiac arrest we're losing her," As I was trying CPR on her. "Captain, I'm afraid that won't help, There's too much internal Bleeding,"
"Then we try something else we transport her to Sickbay," I said.
"Her entire circulatory system has collapsed, There's no way to repair that kind of damage, Brain Death has occurred, I'm sorry, there is nothing more we could have done," Doc said as I stopped.
"This Ends now," I said as I headed for Helm "You're relived," As I got to the Helm.
"Captain, What are you doing," Tuvok said.
"I'm running a little experiment of my Own. Red Alert," I said As the Klaxon's went Red as I took us straight for the Pulsars,
"Captain one of the aliens has just entered the Bridge," 7 said.
"Understood," I said locking out the Helm to me only.
"We're less than a million kilometers from the pulsars, we must change course immediately to avoid being caught in their Gravity," Tuvok said.
"No, Keep going," I said.
"This is a far more reckless course of action than I've come to expect from you, Captain," Tuvok said.
"Damn Straight," I said.
"Hull stress is at 30 Teradynes and rising," Tuvok said.
"I'm transferring more power to the structural integrity field, Including you know what, But I don't know how long it can hold," Harry said.
"What do you hope to accomplish by this," She said as we reappeared.
"Flying into a binary pulsar, It seems like I'm trying to crush this ship like a tin can," I said.
"It's more likely you are trying to intimidate us," She said.
"You are welcome to stick around and find out," I said.
"Hull stress is at 45 Teradynes," Tuvok said.
As she tried to pull us away.
"Our course is locked in, only my authorization can release it," I said.
"You're not behaving very rationally," she said.
"That's what you were trying to accomplish wasn't it, Hmm? Pumping my dopamine levels to push me to the edge, Keep me awake for 4 days straight with the constant pain of your devices drilling into my skull, Well this is the culmination of your work and guess what, you're going to be right here to collect the final data, And in case this didn't sink in already. Don't Fuck with an Alpha," I said.
"Shields have failed, Structural integrity is down to 20%" Harry said.
"Enter the authorization code and change course immediately," She said.
"I don't think you realize that you are not in control here anymore," I said.
"I could kill you and your crew in an instant," She said.
"Go ahead, I'll make sure you lot go down with us," I said. " Without us, you won't be able to prevent this ship from being torn apart by the pulsars, Even with my crew and I working together, I'd say the odds of us getting through this are what 1 in 10,"
"1 in 20 at best Captain," Tuvok said.
"I'll take those odds any day, would you," I said. As she vanished.
"Outer hull temperature has reached 9,000 degrees," Tuvok said.
"The Hull is beginning to Buckle, ZPM 1 is failing, Engaging ZPM 2," Harry said.
"2 aliens ship are attempting to disengage from Voyager," 7 said.
"Magnetise the hull lock them down," I said.
"Both of the ships are gone," 7 said.
As I tried to get us out of this.
"I can't break us free of the Gravitational forces," I said.
"Then let's divert all the power to the shields," Harry said.
"No, If we go in, We going in full throttle," I said.
"Captain," Harry said.
"Assuming we make it, we're going to need all the speed we can get to reach escape velocity on the other side, ZPM 3 to engines," I said. "Everyone Hang on. I hope you were exaggerating about those odds, Tuvok,"
"I was not," Tuvok said. "Hull stress has exceeded maximum tolerance,"
"There are Breaches on Deck 4, 7, 8 and 12," 7 said.
"Emergency forcefield are holding," Harry said.
"Helm gone," I said.
"Main power is offline," Tuvok said.
"Well let's hope we've got enough speed," I said.
As we managed to clear it and got free of the Gravity too.
"I don't believe it, We're alive," Harry said.
"I never realized you thought of me as reckless, Tuvok," I said.
"A poor choice of words, It was clearly an understatement," Tuvok said.
XXX
"Captain's log stardate 51244.3, With the aliens gone, The Doc has been able to remove their device from the crew and neutralize the Genetic tags, Now things can get back to normal around here, End log," I said.
Then I headed down to my Quarters as Clara and Chloe were there. But I was ready to hit the Bed. So I told them goodnight and went into my room and got showered and changed into my PJ's and got into my bed and managed to get some much needed sleep.
That's all for this chapter.
More to follow.
Stay tuned and safe.
Love Y'all
PEACE!