Chapter 87.
Nothing Human.
(Scott POV)
Stuck in god damn Holo deck With the Doc.
"And since I was the only crew member who could survive the corrosive atmosphere, it was up to me to retrieve the data module and save the day, Ah here I am, Mission accomplished," Doc said. "Then of course there was the perilous mission to La'voti 5 You remember that one, don't you, Mr. Paris,"
"How could I forget," Tom said.
"Here you are after your unfortunate slip into the fetid mud pits of Pala Mar," Doc said.
"Hey I was pushed," Tom said.
"Of course you were," Doc said.
"Thank you doc, We've all enjoyed your holo images enormously," I said.
"Oh But I haven't finished yet," Doc said.
"There's more," B'Elanna said.
"The Best is yet to come, Lt," Doc said. "I've created a fascinating 12 part holographic essay which I call under the skin, Humanoid anatomy as art,"
Then I tuned out.
XXX
Finally, As we got out.
"What happened to going to yellow alert after half an hour," B'Elanna said.
"Commander Chakotay appears to have disobeyed a direct order," Tuvok said.
"Definitely grounds for a court Martial, But I'm glad that's over, One thing I will want to forget in a hurry," I said.
As soon as we got to the bridge As we started rumbled in.
"What is that?" I said.
"Some kind of shockwave," Harry said "Heading right for us,"
"Red Alert," I said As the Klaxons went Red.
"I'm reading a massive energy wave 900,000 kilometer off the starboard bow, Heading right for us," Harry said.
"Source," Chakotay said.
"Unknown," Tuvok said.
"Shields up Evasive maneuvers," I said.
"The Wave just changed course, It seems to be tracking us," Harry said.
"Go to Warp 8," I said.
"Too late, Engines are down," Chakotay said.
"Everybody hang on," I said.
As we hit us.
Then It went.
"All stop, Report," I said.
"Shields are holding, Minor damage to the hull plating, on Deck 15," Tuvok said.
"No Injuries," Chakotay said.
"Stand down Red Alert," I said. As the Klaxons went normal.
"Captain when the wave hit, our communications array received a download," Harry said.
"What sort of Download," Chakotay said.
"I'm not sure, Lots of information, I can't decipher it, But there's an audio component," Harry said.
"Let's hear it," I said as some screeching and whistling came on.
"Harry, try all the standard decryption algorithm," Chakotay said.
"It's strange, the wave followed us, but it didn't cause any serious damage, Instead, we get a download to our database, I'd said it's a pretty good bet, somebody's trying to tell us something," I said.
"The Wave left a residual ion trail, We might be able to locate its point of Origin," Tom said.
"Set a course," I said.
XXX
"Looks like it's taken quite a beating," I said.
"Life signs," Chakotay said.
"One, Nonhumanoid, It's very faint, Probably injured," Harry said.
"Beam it to Sickbay," I said.
"Are you sure that's wise captain," Tuvok said.
"I'm betting that message we received was some sort of distress call and if we're going to help, I'd rather do it on Voyager," I said.
As I got there.
"The physiology is so unusual, the tricorder can't make heads of tails of it, The creature's obviously injured, But I haven't a clue how to treat it, or even diagnose it," Doc said.
"My scan came up with something interesting, Captain," B'Elanna said. "The Interfaces on the aliens vessel can only be activated chemically,"
"Like the ATA Gene," I said.
"Yes, I guessing this lifeform somehow interfaces directly with the ships systems using Biochemical secretions to give commands," B'Elanna said.
"That would explain how it can fly a ship," I said.
"I'm hoping this can also help us figure out," B'Elanna said.
As it jumped.
"B'Elanna Move," I said.
"No You'll hurt B'Elanna," Doc said.
"Get it off of me," B'Elanna said.
"McCall to Kim beam the alien lifeform back to it's vessel Right Now," I said.
"I'm having trouble getting a lock," Harry said.
"It's piercing her neck," Doc said.
XXX
"Her heart and lungs are seriously compromised and her kidney's are failing, The creatures also secreting some kind of Paralyzing agent into her bloodstream," Doc said.
"How do we get it off her?" Tom said.
"I can't remove it surgically, Not without doing irreparable harm to B'Elanna's internal organs," Doc said.
"Can we get a lock on the creature," I said.
"Not unless we want to beam B'Elanna's Cardiopulmonary systems along with it," Doc said.
"We have to do something," Tom said.
"No one is disputing that, Mr. Paris, The question is what? If I'm to have any hope of devising a treatment, I'll need to brush up on my exobiology," Doc said.
"What do you mean, Brush up," Tom said. "Don't you have all this information in your database,"
"I may be a walking medical encyclopaedia, But even I don't know everything My Matrix simply isn't large enough," Doc said.
"Maybe we can do better than giving you a crash course in exobiology, Maybe we can provide you with a consultant," I said.
"I'd be delighted but how?" Doc said.
"By Isolating the computer's exobiology data files and merging them into an interactive matrix," I said.
"A hologram," Tom said.
"Exactly," I said.
"That may not be as simply as it sounds, It would need to be nearly as sophisticated as I am Tactile interfaces, Personally, Subroutines," Doc said.
"Harry could do it," Tom said.
"Search the database for a leading exobiology, If you want to add a personality, It may as well be based on a real person," I said. "I'll have Harry meet you on Holodeck 2, Do what ever it takes Doc, I want that thing off B'Elanna," As I left.
XXX
"I've instructed the computer to assign symbols to all the tones received in the transmission," I said.
"Looks like there were over 10,000 separate sounds used in this section of the message," Chakotay said.
"It's going to be a tough code to crack, Maybe we can get a little help from the aliens vessel's databanks," Chakotay said.
"Good idea," I said. "McCall to 7,"
"Yes," 7 said.
"Any chances of Downloading the alien's databanks, We're looking for anything that might help us understand their language, We don't know how much time B'Elanna has left," I said.
"We must move quickly, The vessel is on the verge of complete systems failure," 7 said.
Then the Klaxons went Red, as We got to the Bridge.
"Engineering to Bridge," 7 said. "The Alien Vessel is destabilizing, It's destruction is imminent,"
"Can you download the information first," I said.
"We're trying," 7 said.
"Captain, It's going to explode," Harry said.
"Helm back us off," I said.
XXX
"Captain's log Supplemental, While the doctor seems to be making progress, Command Chakotay and I have hit a wall, In our attempt to decipher the alien message, End log," I said.
"It was a distress call, right, So maybe if we retransmitted that message, others of the species would realize we need their help," I said.
"We don't know where they are," Chakotay said.
"We'll send it on all subspace bands, If they're out there they'll hear it," I said.
"They might turn out to be unfriendly" Chakotay said.
"The Doc's pretty sure the alien is simply trying to survive, I agree, It'll be difficult first contact, But we might find a way to communicate," I said.
"It's worth a shot," Chakotay said.
"Tuvok reroute auxiliary power to the Deflector dish, Retransmit the alien's message on all subspace bands," I said. As we got to the Bridge.
"Aye Captain," Tuvok said. "Deflector at full capacity,"
"Chakotay," I said.
"Done," Chakotay said.
XXX
"I can still remember the sounds his instruments made The Scream of his patients, The smell of chemicals and dead flesh," Tabor said. "He operated on my Grandfather, Exposed his internal organs to nadion radiation, It took 6 days for him to die, He blinded people so he could study how they adapted, exposed them to polytrinic acid just to see how long it would take for their skin to heal,"
"Ensign, The Man you're accusing cured the Fostossa virus, He stopped an epidemic that killed thousands of Bajorans," Doc said.
"By infecting hundreds of People, So that could experiment with different treatments, Old, helpless people, Like my Grandfather, because he considered their lives worthless," Tabor said.
"How do you know this," I said.
"Everybody knew," Tabor said.
"I remember some of the Maquis under my command talking about an infamous Cardassian Doctor," Chakotay said.
"Could these simply have been rumours spread by Bajorans who hated the Cardassians," Doc said.
"I was there," Tabor said.
"Enough," I said. "Look Tabor I can understand how much you hate this guy,"
"That program should be destroyed, Captain," Tabor said. "Every trace of that man's research Should be deleted from the database,"
"We can deal with that this Guy has done later, Right now is If he can help Save B'Elanna," I said.
"I think he can Captain," Doc said.
"Captain," Tabor said.
"Enough," I said. "Once B'Elanna is safe and sound we can deal with this. Is that Clear,"
"Yes sir," Tabor said.
"Dismissed," I said. "Doc," as Tabor and the Doc was about to walk out. Once Tabor was gone. "I want you to go over everything, on him once this thing with B'Elanna is over, I want a report on your results and what you have decided to do,"
"Aye Captain," Doc said.
"Dismissed," I said.
XXX
"If I had weeks of even days, Maybe I could come up with an alternative, But this is of the essence and Moset's idea will work," Doc said.
"Then you've got to use it," Tom said.
"Even if the Doctor could perform the surgery without Moset's help, He'd still be using the Man's research, That would be going against B'Elanna's Wishes," Chakotay said.
"We're talking about a woman who has alien tendrils sapping the life out of her, She's obviously not thinking straight," Tom said.
"On the Contrary, Her concerns are based in logic," Tuvok said.
"Logic," Tom said scoffing.
"If the Doctor uses knowledge that Moset gained through his experiments, we would be validating His methods, Inviting further unethical research," Tuvok said.
"We'd be setting a terrible precedent," Chakotay said.
"We're in the middle of the Delta Quadrant, Who would know," Tom said.
"We would know," Tuvok said.
"Fine, Let's just deactivate the evil hologram and let B'Elanna die," Tom said. "At least, we'd have our morals intact,"
"Tom," Chakotay said.
"And you Chakotay, Since when do you care what Starfleet thinks," Tom said.
"This isn't about rules and regulations, This is about doing what's right," Chakotay said.
"Spoken like a true Maquis," Tom said. "Well if you'd just set aside your hatred of the Cardassian for one second,"
"Enough, Lt," Chakotay said.
"All right, All right, The Arguments have been made and we're running out of time, The fact is you're both right, But when it comes down to it, the only issue I'm concerned about is the well being of that crew member Lying in Sickbay," I said. "We'll wrestle with the Morality if this situation later after B'Elanna is back on her feet, Doc, You have my authorization to proceed with Moset's assistance,"
"Yes Captain," Doc said.
"Any Consequences of this decision will be my responsibility, Dismissed," I said.
"Thanks," Tom said leaving.
XXX
I was on the Bridge.
"Ensign Kim do you hear something," Tuvok said.
"Hear what?" Harry said.
"A series of high frequencies, They are getting louder," Tuvok said.
"Must be those Vulcan ears of yours," Harry said.
"I hear it, Anything on sensors," I said.
"It appears to be an alien com signal, Triaxilating wave lengths," Tuvok said
"Origins," Chakotay said.
"Unknown," Tuvok said.
"Captain A vessel just dropped out of warp, Approaching fast off the port bow," Harry said.
"On screen," I said.
"Can we dampen it a little," Chakotay said.
"Negative," Tuvok said.
As it stops.
"Harry tell me that was just their way of saying Hello," I said.
"I wish I could," Harry said. "The Universal Translator doesn't have a clue,"
"Perhaps they are waiting for our response," Tuvok said.
"Well then, let's give them one, open a channel all subspace bands," I said. "This is Captain McCall of the Federation Starship Voyager, We cannot interpret your message, But please try to understand, We are on a peaceful mission and we intend you no harm, We have one of your kind on board our ship, It's injured and we're attempting to provide treatment, If you can understand"
As a loud screeching.
"I'm reading an energy surge in their forward sections," Tuvok said.
"Shields," I said.
"Doctor to Bridge the holodecks going offline," Doc said. "What's happening up there?"
"Standby Doc," I said. "Red Alert," As the Klaxons went red.
"They've locked on to us with some sort of Tractor beam, It's draining our power," Tuvok said.
"Reroute Emergency power to the Holodeck," Chakotay said. "Send an antimatter surge through the shield matrix, See if that'll loosen their grip,"
"No effect," Tuvok said. "We do have weapons,"
"No if they wanted to destroy us, that wouldn't be a tractor beam, They're trying to rescue their crew member," Tuvok said.
"Captain," Tuvok said.
"This isn't about logic, Tuvok, It's about instinct, Now I may now speak their language, But I have a gut feeling they don't want an armed conflict any more than we do, Harry ZPM 1 & 2 to the power grid. Bridge to Doc, What's your status," I said.
"Almost there, Captain," Doc said.
"We've lost power on Deck 7 through 12," Chakotay said.
"Shields are failing Captain," Tuvok said.
"ZPM 3 to Shields," I said. "Doc,"
"Standby Captain," Doc said. "Bridge Beam the lifeform to it's ship,"
"Harry," I said.
"Transport complete, It's safe there," Harry said.
"The alien ship is withdrawing Captain," Tuvok said.
"Cancel Red Alert," I said as the Klaxon went normal.
Then an alien signal.
"You're welcome," I said. "Tom get us back on course for home,"
"Aye Captain," Tom said.
XXX
"I've released B'Elanna to her quarters," Doc said.
"Her condition?" I said.
"Stable, But her nervous system has suffered extreme trauma, She'll need time to recover several days at least," Doc said.
"Nice work," I said.
"I should caution you, captain, When I told her that we'd used Moset's Program, She was unhappy to put it mildly," Doc said. "I nearly had to sedate her,"
"It sounds like her Klingon temper has fully recovered," I said.
"It practically qualifies as a chronic condition," Doc said.
"I'll speak to her," I said.
"There's one more topic of Concern," Doc said.
"What," I said.
"Should we delete the Program or Keep Moset in our database for future Emergencies," Doc said.
"I'm inclined that leave that decision to you Doc, You are the Chief Medical officer on this ship, As far as I'm concerned there's no one more qualified than you to make that call," I said.
"Thank you Captain," Doc said.
"But please make it quickly, I'm eager to resolve this matter, There's been enough moral controversy on this ship for one day," I said.
XXX
Then I headed for B'Elanna Quarter and rang the Door bell.
"Come in," B'Elanna said.
"Stay down, Interesting fragrance I'm surprised it hasn't set off the Environmental alarms," I said.
"It's a combination of mental relaxant and expeller of demons, It's an ancient Klingon remedy," B'Elanna said.
"Feeling any better," I said.
"I'm alive," B'Elanna said.
"I hope you can understand Why I went against your Wishes, B'Elanna, Losing you was unacceptable, I know you're angry, But we need to put this behind us," I said.
"Is that an order," B'Elanna said.
"Does it have to be," I said.
"You can't order someone to get rid of an emotion Captain," B'Elanna said.
"And what emotion is that," I said.
"You have no right to make that decision for me," B'Elanna said.
"I'm the Captain, You're my crewman, I did what I thought best, I get the feeling there are still a few demons in the air, Let's hope this does the trick," I said before heading out.
That's all for this chapter.
More to follow.
Stay tuned and safe.
Love Y'all
PEACE!