Chapter 74.
Vis a Vis.
(Scott POV)
I was on the Bridge as something was happening.
"Lt Paris, Report to the Bridge Immediately," I said.
"I'm on my way," Tom said. As He got here. "Someone call for a driver,"
"Take your Station, Tom," I said. As Tom did. "Anything on scans, Harry,"
"I'm picking up another spatial distortion 2,000 kilometers away," Harry said.
"Source," Chakotay said.
"I have no idea," Harry said. "It looks like space is folding in on itself,"
"Shields to Full," I said. As a Ship showed up.
"It's an alien Vessel, One occupant aboard," Harry said.
"Captain It looks like that ship is being powered by a Coaxial Warp Drive," Tom said.
"Coaxial What?" Chakotay said.
"It's a hypothetical Propulsion system, Starfleet Engineers have been Dreaming about it for years," Tom said. "In Theory, It can literally fold the fabric of Space allowing a ship to travel instantaneously across huge distances,"
As we got Rumbled.
"The Alien Warp drive is overloading," Tuvok said.
"In theory, A coaxial Drive Explosion Could collapse Space within a radius of a billion Kilometers, In theory," Tom said.
"Then Let's stop Theory from Coming a Reality," I said. "Red Alert," As the Klaxons went red.
"Scan the Vessel, Can we beam the pilot out," Chakotay said.
"Too much interference," Harry said.
"The ship's about had it, Captain, The Coaxial Core is Breaching," Tom said.
"We should vacate this area of space at once," Tuvok said.
"We can't just leave him like this," Tom said.
"Try one more hail," I said.
"Nothing," Harry said. "Maybe he's ignoring us,"
"Or maybe he's unconscious, We've got to do something," Tom said.
"Do what," I said.
"A symmetric warp field," Tom said. "That should contain any instabilities in his space folding core,"
"How can you be sure?" Chakotay said.
"Advanced subspace geometry, It's the one course at the academy Where I actually paid attention," Tom said. "We'll tractor him in to kill his momentum, and generate a warp field around his ship,"
"His flight plan is erratic, We'd be risking collision," Tuvok said.
"Captain, I can make this work," Tom said.
"Tom, Do it," I said.
As we started rumbled.
"Passing through the residual folds in space, Steady, Got him," Tom said. As the Rumbling stopped.
"I've extended our warp field around his vessel, His core is powering down," Tuvok said.
"Nice Flying, Tom," I said.
"My pleasure," Tom said.
"We're finally receiving a hail," Harry said.
"On Screen," I said. "Captain McCall of the Federation starship Voyager, Do you need medical attention?"
"I'm fine Captain, Unfortunately my ship is not," Steth said.
"If you need to make repairs we might be able to help," I said.
"That's very generous," Steth said.
"We'll beam you aboard in a few minutes. Stand by," I said.
"Thank you," Steth said.
"Tuvok," I said as we heading down there.
Once we got there.
"Energize," I said.
As Steth was beam aboard.
"Welcome," I said.
"Captain," Steth said. "I know you put yourselves in danger to rescue me, I want to thank you,"
"I'm glad we could help," I said.
"I was so eager to teat my new engine, I pushed it beyond its limits," Steth said.
"Coaxial warp doesn't seem to be the smoothest way to travel," I said.
"It's a violent procedure but it allows a ship to travel through space at incredible speeds," Steth said.
"Considering the dangers this method of travel hardly seems logical," Tuvok said.
"That's probably true, But if I were worrying about danger, I wouldn't have become a test pilot," Steth said.
"Where are you from?" I said.
"The 4th planet in the Benthan system, That's about 20 lightyears from here," Steth said.
"I'll speak to my engineers about helping you with repairs, Without your Coaxial drive, it's a long way home," I said.
XXX
"Tom is back on Voyager," Harry said.
"Good let's get ready to resume course," I said.
As Tom got to the bridge.
"Sorry, I'm late," Tom said.
"We were beginning to wonder if you were ever coming back," I said.
"His ship is powering engines," Harry said.
As the ship vanished.
"Something wrong Tom?" I said.
"It's nothing, I'm just really going to miss that guy," Tom said.
XXX
We started to work it on a shuttle to do that too to see if we can use it to get a few years off this trip home.
But I just got a report from B'Elanna telling me that we got a Hyperdrive from the outpost. But it was a Asgard Hyperdrive. Just not all together. So now B'Elanna has to get the Blueprints for it to find a way to safely put the Hyperdrive in. Then the next thing I know is my Doorbell Rang.
"Come in," I said.
As 7 walked in.
"7, What is it?" I said.
"Captain, I just had a run in with Lt Paris in the Mess hall," 7 said.
"What was he doing," I said.
"He was drinking," 7 said.
"He should of been on Duty still," I said.
"Captain, Have you noticed something going on with Lt Paris after Steth Vessel went," 7 said.
"Yeah, It was weird. But now there is something wrong. Something must of happened to Tom on Steth's ship," I said. "Try and find out what you can,"
"Aye Captain," 7 said as she left.
XXX
The Next morning, I called Tom up to my ready room to see if I can make a jackpot on what is going on.
As my Doorbell Rang.
"Come on," I said.
As Tom came in.
"You wanted to see me, Captain," Tom said.
"Yes, I received a rather disturbing report from 7 regarding your conduct last night, She claims you were drinking on duty," I said.
"She's mistaken, Captain," Tom said.
"Don't lie to me, Tom, I checked the computers, You replicated 5 alcoholic beverages in the mess hall, She also you threatened her," I said.
"I'm sorry, Captain, B'Elanna and I had an argument, I was upset," Tom said.
"And is that why you were reading my Personal logs," I said.
"I wasn't," Tom said.
"7 recited a passage I'd written word for word," I said.
"She probably accessed those files herself, Captain, you can't take the word of a Borg over mine," Tom said. Something was wrong. When did Tom ever think of 7 as just a Borg.
"This has to stop, Tom," I said. "Your conduct lately has been bizarre, and I've heard far too many complaints from far too many people to dismiss it, Chakotay, The Doc, 7, They're all worried about you, and so am I,"
"You're right, Captain, I need some rest," Tom said. "I'll go right to my quarters,"
"Tom, As you Captain and As your friend, I want you to report to sickbay for some tests, We have to find out if there's something physical that's causing this behaviour," I said.
"This is Crazy," Tom said. "I don't need any help,"
"Like the Delta Quadrant hasn't been crazy enough. That's an order," I said.
Then Tom just Came at me.
"Security, I need you in the ready room now," I said. As Tom grabbed my throat and Then I was out cold.
XXX
Eventually. I finally woke up.
"Doc," I said.
"Mr. Paris," Doc said.
"Doc what the hell are you calling me Tom for," I said.
"Tom, I can tell you," Doc said.
"Doc, It's me, Scott McCall," I said.
"How can you be the Captain," Doc said.
"Doc, Back when the Hirogen took over the ship. I destroyed that console with TNT," I said. "You called them Holographic explosives. I told you, With the safety protocols offline, they were as good as the Real thing."
"The Captain, Could have told you that," Doc said.
"Okay, What about the time when you, Chakotay, Tuvok and Clara saw my eyes flashed Red. Back on that planet where an Alien tired to get me to get with her," I said.
"Captain, But how," Doc said.
"I don't know," I said. "Where is my body,"
"Captain you just went to the Bridge," Doc said. " A ship with a Coaxial Warp,"
"Steth. Get Chakotay down here Now," I said.
"Doctor to Commander Chakotay, Please Report to Sickbay," Doc said.
"On my way, Doctor," Chakotay said.
We waited till Chakotay get into Sickbay.
"Computer seal the Doors to this room, Authorization McCall Alpha 9 Charlie 6," I said.
"Access Granted," Computer said.
"What the Hell," Chakotay said.
"Chakotay, Look long story short, Tom attacked me in the my Ready room, Right when I order him to get to sickbay. But the thing is I don't think Tom was Tom," I said.
"What do you mean," Chakotay said.
"Chakotay, this has to be Steth, All this started right after he was here," I said.
"He's Back, and Claims to be Tom Paris," Chakotay said.
"Chakotay where my Body," I said.
"Whoever is in your body said that you were coming here," Chakotay said.
"Bridge to Chakotay, Commander I'm reading an unauthorized shuttle launch," Harry said.
"Computer, locate Captain McCall," I said.
"Captain McCall is in Shuttlebay 2," Computer said.
"Let's get to the Bridge," I said. "Computer unseal the door Authorization McCall Alpha 9 Charlie 6. And Reroute all command codes to that access code till fur notice,"
"Access Granted," Computer said.
As Chakotay and I headed for the Bridge.
"Hail Steth's Ship now," I said.
"Lt," Tuvok said.
"Tuvok, I don't have time to explain, Harry Do it," I said.
"What the hell, Steth," Tom said.
"Tom, It's not Steth in here, What the hell is going on?" I said.
"Who's on that shuttle," Tom said.
"Steth," I said.
"Steth switched my body with yours," Tom said.
"Looks like it," I said. "Harry Disengage the Tractor beam,"
"Yes Sir," Harry said.
"Tom Stop that son of a bitch," I said.
"With Pleasure," Tom said.
"The Shuttle is firing on Tom," Harry said.
"Red alert," I said. "Helm get us over there now," As the Klaxons went red. "Tuvok Target the Engines on that shuttle, Don't destroy it Disabled his engines he is not getting away,"
"He is charging the Coaxial Drive," Harry said.
"Tuvok," I said.
"I can't get a target lock, I risk hitting the entire shuttle," Tuvok said.
"Tom, we can't get a lock on that shuttle, Got any ideas," I said.
"The Carburetor, We added a polaric modulator to the coaxial drive," Tom said.
"Can you target that," I said.
"With an Chromo electric pulse, That'll disrupt those engines," Tom said.
"Do it," I said.
"Direct hit, Tom Did it," Harry said.
XXX
Captain's log Stardate 51775.2 While the Alien intruder remains trapped in the body of his last victim, The Doc has found a way to return Tom, Steth and me to our own bodies. End log," I said.
"Doctor, Can't thank you enough, You've given my life back," Steth said.
"All in a days work," Doc said.
"There were times when I thought I would be stuck in that body forever," Steth said.
"And believe me I'm just as happy to be back to the old Tom Paris," Tom said.
"What do you plan to do now," I said.
"I'm going to take her back to Bentha, I hope to find the person who belongs to that body," Steth said.
"But who knows if that's the end of it," Doc said. "We have no idea how long she or he has been switching identities,"
"It may take a while, But I will do whatever I can to find everyone you've violated," Steth said.
"A security team will escort her to your ship, and erect a forcefield to contain her," I said.
As Steth and her left.
"I'm glad to be back to me again," I said.
"Not the only one Captain," Tom said.
"Let's get back to work on getting home," I said.
"With pleasure, Captain," Tom said.
That's all for this chapter.
More to follow.
Stay tuned and safe.
Love Y'all
PEACE!