Game Theory
Chapter 4 – A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing
Captain Janeway and Tuvok stood in sickbay, watching intently as B'Elanna and the Doctor tended to their new arrival. It had been four hours since the synthetic being who identified himself as Mordecai had made his surprising request, before passing out, or whatever the mechanical equivalent of passing out would be. Since then, his name was still the most concrete detail they had.
"Look, I may be an engineer, but I didn't major in robosurgery!" B'Elanna said hotly, snapping at another one of the Doctor's sarcastic remarks. Janeway was getting thoroughly sick of their bickering, although she could understand where it was coming from. A snail's pace seemed like warp nine compared to the rate of progress they were making, and it had everyone frustrated.
"That's enough, you two. Just concentrate on the job," the Captain cut in, forestalling the Doctor's comeback. She didn't like having to constantly crack the whip of command with them, but there were times when it was necessary to keep people focused.
"Sorry, Captain," B'Elanna said, dialling back the anger in her tone but not managing to completely erase it. "It's just that we're getting nowhere fast. None of our equipment can get a reading of any kind. We don't even know what material he's made from."
"Lieutenant Torres is correct in that respect, at least," the Doctor admitted primly. Janeway groaned internally. "I cannot recommend further procedures without sufficient data. We have no idea how he may react to our medical equipment, or if it would even work at all. As far as I can tell, he's just…switched off."
Janeway was about to reply when the whoosh of automatic doors announced the arrival of someone else in sickbay. Turning around, she was pleased to see the familiar silver outfit of her astrometrics officer.
"I believe I might be able to assist, Captain," Seven of Nine stated as she entered. "I have been reviewing the available information on Lieutenant Commander Data and the works of Dr. Noonian Soong. Although Mordecai's construction differs in some areas, Data is the closest comparison available. I believe it may be possible to apply some of the same theory here."
"Great idea," B'Elanna said, fixing Seven with an annoyed glare. "Machines working on machines. It will be like a regular family reunion."
"I said that's enough!" Janeway favoured B'Elanna with a stare that could burn right through the hull, and the temperamental half-Klingon withered a bit under the gaze. Turning back to Seven, who observed the exchange with passive interest, she continued. "If I recall, Commander Data had a positronic brain. Do you think Mordecai functions in the same way?"
"I am uncertain. However, I believe the diagnostic tools which the Enterprise's chief medical officer used on Data may be able to yield better results than our current approach."
Janeway scratched the back of her head thoughtfully.
"Alright Seven, I want you to assist the Doctor and B'Elanna. Replicate whatever tools you need, and contact me when you have anything, or the second he wakes up," Janeway turned to her security chief. "Tuvok, make sure there's a constant security presence in sickbay. We still don't know exactly what this 'Mordecai's' plans are."
Everyone nodded, and if B'Elanna was frustrated at now having to work with both the Doctor and Seven, she mercifully kept it to herself. As she departed sickbay, Janeway could feel the stress of the hectic day she'd just had beginning to catch up with her. And yet, there was still no time to rest. Mordecai could theoretically wake at any moment, and Janeway wanted to make sure she was there when he did. There were probably many questions he'd want answered, and there were just as many questions she wanted to ask him; not least of which was why a millennia old cybernetic organism had any interest in joining the crew of Voyager? At least, she assumed that's what he'd meant by 'I want a uniform'.
"Janeway to Chakotay," she said, tapping her communicator. "Meet me in my ready room in fifteen minutes. We have some plans to make. In the meantime, resume our course. It's high time we got underway again.
"Yes, ma'am. Any news on our guest?"
"No developments yet. I'll keep you posted."
The Captain headed for her quarters, intending to freshen up a bit before returning to the bridge. In truth, there was no real need for her to be there, aside from seeing Chakotay, but it had been a convenient excuse to get out of sickbay and away from B'Elanna and the Doctor's arguments. Of course, introducing Seven into the mix would hardly improve that situation, but if the Borg could help them make some progress, then hopefully they'd be too busy with work to take pot-shots at each other.
It's like herding cats, Janeway thought, smiling slightly. In fact, that was a pretty good description of being a starship Captain in general.
She had her own personal reasons for wanting to leave sickbay as well; it meant she didn't have to be near Seven, and consequently be forced to endure the increasingly insistent urges the Borg generated within her.
This has gone beyond a joke, Janeway thought darkly. How can the ship function if I can barely stand to be in the same room as a member of my own senior staff?
The only way around this was to confront it, and she knew she was delaying that moment. She just had to force herself to be around Seven, and to learn how to control the desires that stirred. If she could only manage to accept them as yet another burden she must silently bear, eventually they'd fade into the background along with everything else. As it was, she'd been avoiding Seven enough that the yearning came back full force every time she set eyes on the beautiful woman. If she kept it up much longer, Seven may begin to notice, and Janeway owed the young woman better than that. She wouldn't cut herself off just because she couldn't seem to keep her damn hormones in check.
I did say I'd help her move later this week. Janeway pondered as she arrived outside her quarters, already both dreading and anticipating that particular day. That should be a good time to acclimatize myself. Yes, a whole day off-duty with Seven should be more than enough to learn some self-control.
If only she could truly believe that. The Captain always preferred a head-on approach when dealing with conflicts; both internal and external. The only problem was, this time, she wasn't quite sure she'd win.
At least I have the Mordecai situation to fall back on if I need an excuse, Janeway thought.
Coward, Kathryn pointed out. She was right, and the Captain hated it.
Twenty minutes later, a slightly refreshed Janeway made her way onto the bridge. She nodded at Chakotay as she did, and the first officer followed, handing the bridge over to Tuvok, who had requested to stay on duty until there was more definite news on Mordecai's condition.
Once they were inside her ready room, the Captain headed straight for the replicator. She was craving a cup of strong coffee perhaps more than was strictly healthy.
"Do you want anything to drink, Commander?" she asked, punching in the commands.
"Just water, please," Chakotay replied, settling on one of the sofas. Janeway took a position opposite her friend, gleefully cradling her fresh brew.
"What a day," she said, trying to relax at least a little.
"Indeed." Chakotay smiled, sipping his drink. "Been a while since we've had one this busy. I'm sure Science are happy that we've found them some new toys."
"Hardly toys," Janeway said, remembering the jaw-dropping way in which the synthetic man had changed his entire body to more closely imitate human anatomy. "What do you make of this Mordecai?"
"I'm not sure I can make anything of him yet, except for the fact that he's a heavy sleeper."
Janeway allowed herself a small snort of amusement.
"I have to admit, I feared the worst when he didn't respond to my greeting," she took a sip of her coffee, happy to feel it was now a drinkable temperature. "I was almost sure we'd have a fight on our hands, especially after he started interfacing with the ship's computer. It seems like he was just downloading information though, which I can't say I begrudge him."
"Perhaps next time he could just ask," Chakotay took another gulp, eyeing the Captain over the rim of his glass.
"I would have preferred that," Janeway said. "But it must have been very confusing for him. Who knows what sort of culture he comes from? If they were a race of machines, maybe that's just how they interact."
"He would be an interesting addition to the Voyager family," Chakotay agreed. "I'm assuming that's what you want to talk about; his request to join the crew? We need a plan of action for when he wakes up…if he wakes up."
"I'm sure B'Elanna, Seven, and the Doctor are doing all they can," Janeway regarded her first officer. Chakotay was good at his job; something which Janeway was immensely thankful for. She didn't think she could have survived these past few years without someone reliable to fall back on. "As for his request, I see no reason to object, once we've had some time to assess him. If he truly is willing, and if he's competent, I'm sure we can put him to good use. There's not really much else we can do, short of offering to drop him off on the next habitable planet."
"Voyager's acquiring quite the diverse selection of individuals," Chakotay noted approvingly. "Ex-Maquis, ex-Borg, delta quadrant natives, and now an ancient robot. Sometimes I wonder how you manage to keep us all together."
Sometimes I wonder as well, Janeway thought, but she didn't voice her concerns. That would be a bit too personal, even with a close friend. Instead, she took a long drag of coffee, eyes twinkling with amusement.
"Herding cats, Commander."
Seven stepped away from the biobed, where Mordecai lay unmoving, and inspected their handiwork. Between her acquired knowledge of android construction, B'Elanna's technical skills, and the Doctor's expertise with medical equipment, the three of them had jury-rigged a device which should be able to revive the synthetic man. Seven calculated a 73.4% chance of success; much lower than her usual standards, but unfortunately the best they could do.
"I just hope he's grateful for all we've done for him," B'Elanna said. Her sulkiness had tailed off slightly once construction of the machine had begun, but she was still prone to the occasional snide comment. Despite that, Seven had found that working with the half-Klingon had not been as difficult as she had anticipated. Even with their wildly differing attitudes, she and the chief engineer had formed an efficient team. Perhaps it was because this was sickbay and not engineering, and therefore she was not 'constantly breathing down B'Elanna's neck', which is apparently what her presence in the engine room felt like.
"I wouldn't be too hopeful," the Doctor said, rubbing his bald brow. "Patients usually aren't."
"I will alert the Captain," Seven stated, tapping her comm badge. "Seven of Nine to Captain Janeway."
"Go ahead."
"Captain, we are ready to attempt the resuscitation of Mordecai. You requested that we inform you so you can be present."
"I'm on my way."
While they were waiting, the trio performed a few last-minute checks. Seven hoped they would be successful; she was interested in talking to the newcomer. As a Borg, she had been a partially synthetic organism, and she still retained many inorganic components in the form of her implants. Being able to converse with a fully synthetic life form should prove to be an educational experience. She wondered if he would possess emotions, something which Lieutenant Commander Data had initially lacked, but had later developed to a certain degree. In some ways, it reminded Seven of her own transition back to humanity, which was still far from complete.
The sickbay doors parted, and Janeway entered, flanked by Tuvok and Chakotay and followed by a couple of extra security personnel. As always, Seven's gaze was magnetically drawn to the compact Captain, who was currently in full command mode. Since identifying her attraction to Janeway, Seven had begun to take note of many more aspects of the older woman's physical appearance. She found herself memorizing seemingly irrelevant details, such as the subtle variations in Kathryn's scent at different times of the day, or the way her pupils contracted or dilated depending on what she was observing. It was illogical to focus on these nuances, yet Seven found it surprisingly pleasurable.
Right now, Kathryn was very much the Captain. She wore a diplomatic smile, yet her jaw was set firm and her chin slightly upturned. Seven had seen the same determined expression many times before, whenever they first made contact with a new alien species. It was meant to leave people with no doubt as to who was in charge, and it rarely failed in its purpose. Even the Borg had taken note…Seven's presence on Voyager was living proof of that.
Janeway listened as the Doctor reported on their work. Despite the possibility that the device they had constructed would be incompatible with Mordecai's physiology, the Captain agreed that it was their best option; perhaps their only one. After briefly discussing with the rest of the senior staff, she nodded her head.
"Bring him round."
All the people present apart from the Doctor backed away, and the EMH erected a force-field around the biobed; an added security precaution, since they were still not completely sure of Mordecai's intentions. Were he to suddenly turn hostile, he would be incapable of damaging the hologram, and the containment field should be sufficient to keep him in place until he could be transferred to the brig.
For the second time in as many hours, everyone stood in silent anticipation, each nursing their own hopes and doubts about the stranger.
After about thirty seconds of inputting commands, the Doctor himself retreated a few steps.
"I've begun the neural reboot sequence," he said, for once forgoing his usual flair for theatrics. "If it works, he should regain consciousness momentarily."
Even as he spoke, Mordecai began to show signs of movement. First a single finger twitched, then a whole hand. The Doctor turned his attention to a few charts displayed on the wall monitor. Seven didn't know exactly what they meant, but the rapid spikes, and general shift in colour from red to green were obviously good signs.
"It's working," the Doctor said, a small note of pride creeping into his voice. "I'm beginning to get a signal."
Suddenly, Mordecai's lidless eyes began to glow. For a moment, they blinked a rich, blood red, before returning to the cool blue they had been when he had exited the cube. A faint whine filled the room, similar to the sound of a large computer bank starting up. It quickly rose in pitch beyond the scope of human hearing; although some of Seven's Borg systems were still able to detect its presence. Mordecai began to stir in earnest, pushing himself into a half-sitting position with one hand. Seven noted the quiet mechanical whir as he moved; the sound of the thousands of tiny motors which animated his limbs. It was disturbingly similar to the noise of a Borg drone.
"Where am I?" he said, unblinking eyes sweeping the room and eventually settling on the Captain.
"You are in sickbay," Janeway explained with practiced authority, approaching the force field. "It is the primary medical facility of our starship, Voyager. You collapsed shortly after exiting the cube, and we brought you here."
Mordecai smiled. It was an odd sight, but Seven saw nothing to indicate it was any less sincere than a human expression. Perhaps this android was sufficiently advanced to truly replicate emotions after all.
"I thank you Captain, and I apologize if you had any difficulty treating me. No doubt my construction is strange to you. Whatever you did though, it seems to have worked; my diagnostics report no problems."
"It was touch and go for a while," Janeway admitted. "But you owe your thanks to my chief engineer, B'Elanna Torres, my chief medical officer, the Doctor, and my astrometrics officer, Seven of Nine. They were the ones who devised the device." As she spoke, the Captain gestured to each crewmember in turn, and the android followed her hands. When he looked at her, Seven felt a very odd sensation pass through her body. She could not adequately describe it; it was not inherently unpleasant, but if felt distinctly different to being appraised by a human or any other organic species.
"Ah, Seven of Nine," he stated. "There is a great deal about you in the Voyager archives. Is it true that you too once belonged to a cybernetic race? The 'Borg'?"
Seven was not entirely sure how to respond, unsure of whether she should discuss such matters with a stranger. The Captain had not given any orders to remain silent or withhold information however, so she simply said:
"I am a former member of the Collective. The Borg forcefully assimilate other species, using cybernetic implants to incorporate them into one unified whole with a shared consciousness. This happened to me when I was six years old. I was a drone, assigned to Voyager as a liaison during negotiations, however when the Borg attacked this vessel, Captain Janeway ordered me severed from the Collective. I have been a member of this crew since that point."
She realized after she said it that her retelling of events unjustly made the Captain sound unfeeling, almost cruel, in her decision to force individuality upon Seven. Initially, that is indeed how she had felt; scared, alone, and furious at the one who had done this to her. As time went on though, and more of her human qualities had begun to surface, Seven had come to realize what an immense gift Janeway had given to her. On an almost daily basis, she discovered new things about herself and the world around her; things which she had been denied as a member of the Collective. She would be forever thankful to the Captain for giving her a second chance at life, and on that note, she added:
"Although life aboard Voyager is very different to my past experiences, I do not miss the Collective. I am…glad that I had the good fortune to have been chosen as the Borg's representative, or else I would not be here."
"Interesting," Mordecai said thoughtfully. "I should like to discuss this more with you at a later date, if that is agreeable."
Seven wasn't sure what more there was to say, but she knew that Kathryn expected her to be polite, and she did want the chance to learn more about Mordecai, so she nodded her consent.
Turning back to Janeway, he continued:
"I should also apologize for accessing your computer banks without your permission. Rest assured I did not download any classified or private files; simply the contents of the public archive."
"I can understand the desire to learn more about your surroundings," Janeway replied evenly. "However I'm afraid you now have us at a disadvantage. With that information, you know a great deal about Voyager and its crew, but we know very little about you."
"I will be happy to answer any questions you have Captain," Mordecai regarded the array of crewmembers before him. "Or that anyone has for that matter. However, might I venture that this is not the best place to conduct such a talk?"
"Indeed not," Janeway's face hardened slightly. "Unfortunately, our regulations state that we must detain you for a bit longer, until we can be sure that you are not a threat to the ship. It's just procedure you understand. Once you're in the clear, we'll have a meeting to discuss further options."
"Of course," Mordecai turned to Tuvok. "You are the chief of security?"
"That is correct," the Vulcan replied, his face, as always, betraying nothing.
"Well, any tests or interviews you need to carry out, you are more than welcome. I wish only to set everyone's minds at ease."
"We'll arrange more comfortable guest quarters for you," Janeway said. "You can wait there until the probation period is up."
"Understood."
"Very well. Tuvok, can you accompany our guest to the ambassador's suite. I'm sure that will be sufficient for his needs."
"Yes Captain," the security chief waited as Mordecai eased off the bed. Then, gesturing to two of his men, the entourage departed sickbay. Seven saw Janeway's shoulders slump slightly once they were gone, and she realized the Captain was probably behind on her regeneration cycles again.
After a few moments, Janeway addressed the assembled group of senior officers.
"Well done all of you. We'll reconvene tomorrow once Tuvok has had a chance to perform his security checks. Until then, dismissed."
A general murmur of agreement buzzed around the room, and one by one, everyone began to depart. Seven considered staying behind to talk to Kathryn, but she could see the Captain surreptitiously stifling yawns, and she decided that she did not want to delay the older woman's bedtime any further. Kathryn's wellbeing was a priority.
Instead, she too left Sickbay, heading back to her alcove in cargo bay two. She hoped that the arrival of Mordecai would not prevent the Captain from accompanying her when she 'moved in' to her new quarters later that week. Seven was 'looking forward' to spending the day with Kathryn, and more importantly, it was also when she planned to state her romantic intentions.
After considerable research and rejecting many alternate plans, Seven had settled on that particular meeting as the one which would provide the highest chances of success. They would both be off-duty, in an informal, private setting, which would help Kathryn relax. It was also a shared activity; a bonding exercise which would hopefully make the Captain 'emotionally closer' to her and more receptive to the possibility. Additionally, in the event of copulation, a bed would be easily accessible. She was unsure whether Kathryn was the type of woman who would 'put out on the first date', as Tom Paris had once said, but she did not want to find herself unprepared if such an event occurred.
Seven felt a small shiver of nervousness pass through her at the thought of addressing the Captain on this topic. It was illogical; she had never been afraid to ask the older woman anything before. Then again, those queries had simply been requests for information or clarification, not something Seven had been so personally invested in. What if the Captain refused her? She had read that requests for the commencement of romantic relationships were not always successful; in fact, they often failed. Seven found that speculating on such an outcome produced very unpleasant sensations in every part of her body, and she quickly stopped. She was aware that negative emotions could often cause physical discomfort; now it also seemed that even the possibility of negative emotions could produce the same effect.
Arriving at her alcove, Seven decided that she needed to further increase her chances. She must be prepared for every possibility, every obstacle that could prevent her desired outcome. As she keyed in the familiar commands to begin her regeneration cycle, she pulled up a copy of the Starfleet Captain's Handbook on her console. She knew that Kathryn upheld the ideals contained within it as much as possible, and often fell back on them when she was unsure of what to do. Although unlikely, it was possible that this book might contain regulations which would be detrimental to her efforts; passages which must be carefully analyzed and dissected. Kathryn was very logical, for a human, and Seven knew that if she could provide convincing counter-arguments, the Captain would most likely accept them.
At least, that's what she hoped.
Seven queued the document to be processed during regeneration. That way, she could assimilate all the information while she 'slept', and would be ready to begin analysis as soon her cycle was complete.
Failure is unacceptable.
At noon the next day, Captain Janeway made her way to the ambassador suite, her stride confident and rejuvenated. Last night had broken her streak of insomnia, and for the first time in more than a month, she had been able to get a truly restful night's sleep. The fact that some of her dreams had contained the comforting embrace of a mysterious stranger; tall, blonde, and female, was something which sat less well with her.
Just some wistful dreams. She reminded herself. It's nothing you haven't dealt with before.
Well, if dreaming about Seven is what you need to snooze soundly, then I guess you'll just have to make that sacrifice.
Janeway briefly wondered if debating with herself internally was indicative of some kind of psychiatric problem. Then she decided that she really didn't want to know the answer to that. Pushing her thoughts to one side, she focused on the task at hand; it was high time she became properly acquainted with this Mordecai. Tuvok's report indicated that he did not believe Mordecai was a threat, and that the Vulcan considered it safe for Janeway to see him, so long as a security contingent was kept at attention outside in case they were needed. He left the final decision on whether to allow Mordecai free range of the ship to the Captain's discretion. Janeway trusted her security chief's judgment, and in truth, shared his assessment. Mordecai had done nothing to indicate he was anything other than sincere, and she didn't want to damage their relationship by treating him like a prisoner when there was no need. If he wanted to join the crew, he'd need to learn to trust her, and in that respect, it was her responsibility to make the first gesture.
Arriving outside, she nodded at the two guards on duty, and buzzed herself in.
Mordecai was sitting at the desk, one hand typing on the personal work terminal, and the other holding a padd, which he was studying intently. He looked up as the Captain entered, and a broad smile spread across his face; something Janeway was still getting used to seeing.
"Captain," he said, rising to his feet and coming around the desk to greet her. "It is a pleasure to see you."
"Likewise," Janeway acknowledged, gesturing to the seats arranged next to a coffee table. "I've been looking forward to talking properly. I trust these quarters are satisfactory."
"I require very few comforts, Captain," Mordecai replied, taking a seat in one of the armchairs. Much like Seven, he sat in a very rigid manner; back perfectly straight and legs bent at ninety degrees, although he rested his hands on his knees. "These quarters are more than adequate. In fact, you may relocate me if you wish. All I require is access to a computer terminal."
"That can be arranged, so long as you're sure," Janeway was struck by how polite he was; not something one would necessarily expect from an android. Not that she didn't appreciate it; she'd certainly had her fill of rude, vulgar, and pugnacious species in the delta quadrant. Then again, Voyager had also encountered many who appeared amenable at first, only to reveal their true nature later. She wasn't ready to let her guard down just yet. Not before she had a more thorough impression.
"I want you to know that Commander Tuvok has cleared me to release you," Janeway continued. "He's satisfied that you are not a danger to the ship."
"I'm glad to hear it," Mordecai said. "We had a most pleasant discussion yesterday evening. The Vulcans are a fascinating people, if Tuvok is any indication. I admire his logical approach."
"He is good at his job," Janeway agreed. "And if he thinks you pose no danger, then that's good enough for me."
The Captain took a moment to study Mordecai, mentally appraising him. Ordinarily, she could glean a lot of information from both her friends and her foes just by studying them. She'd made a point of meeting with every crewmember personally at the start of their commission, forming her initial opinions and trying to get a feel for the people she'd be leading and figuring out the best way to mesh them together into a smoothly operating machine. It was also an important skill when encountering another race; knowing when they were scared or angry, knowing when they were lying, knowing when to call their bluff and when they were being serious. The task proved much more difficult with Mordecai. He was totally different to anything she'd met before, and Janeway found she didn't even know where to start. He had no tics, no involuntary facial expressions to indicate what he was truly thinking. His smiles could be genuine, but they were as precisely controlled as the way he sat, and gave nothing away. Even as she raked her eyes up and down his sleek metallic form, he regarded her with a completely impassive expression. It unsettled Janeway, but then again, it was unfair to see it as suspicious. Mordecai couldn't help being the way he was.
"I'll save my many questions for the staff meeting," she said at last. "There's just one thing I'd like to ask now."
"By all means."
"Why do you want to join Voyager's crew?" it was something Janeway had been puzzling over ever since he'd made the request. She could think of several possible reasons, but she wanted to hear it directly from him. Perhaps it might finally give her some insight into his character.
For the first time since awaking, Mordecai did not reply right away.
"I know what it is like to be far from home," he said eventually, and this time Janeway could definitely detect something in his tone; a note of underlying sadness. "When I assimilated the information on Voyager, I discovered your predicament. It is not something I would wish anyone to suffer, and I feel that it is my duty to offer you my assistance. Besides, I have nowhere else to go. As you may have figured out already, I am the last remnant of my age. Your ship's logs speak of the camaraderie of the crew. It is something I wish to have the chance to…experience. To feel like I belong again."
Well, as answers go, that's a pretty good one. Janeway admitted to herself. If what he said was true, then it was just about the best outcome she could have hoped for.
"Well put," she answered, allowing a genuine smile to tug at the corners of her mouth. "Come, I'm sure the others want to meet you properly. You can sit in on our staff meeting, and we'll discuss what your options are."
"I would be honoured."
Janeway stood up, straightening her uniform. It occurred to her that Mordecai didn't have any clothing; something they should probably rectify soon. His form was neutered, and there was nothing about him which was impolite to show in public, but it was still slightly disconcerting. Still, perhaps he would be wearing a Starfleet uniform soon. Janeway thought it might look good on him.
As they left, the Captain dismissed the security officers with a curt nod. It might have been safer to keep them around, but she had to start treating Mordecai like an ally at some point if he was going to be staying, and now seemed as good a time as ever. She found herself wondering how the metal man might fit in. He had been perfectly amicable so far; certainly more willing to cooperate than the latest addition to their crew before him, Seven of Nine.
God, what a struggle that was. Janeway thought, remembering how many times the Borg had defied her, both publicly and behind closed doors. She didn't like to admit it, but a small part of her respected Seven for her wilfulness and even, she grudgingly accepted, found it attractive. One disobedient crewmember was quite enough however, and she was thankful that Mordecai seemed to have a slightly better grasp of the command structure. Perhaps he had been studying.
"What were you working on back there, if you don't mind me asking?" Janeway enquired as they navigated toward the turbolift.
"I was reviewing your Starfleet regulations and training," he replied, confirming the Captain's suspicions. "It appears to be a prestigious organization. I understand there are a strict series of tests one must complete to be allowed entry."
"That's correct. It's one of the things we'll discuss in the meeting."
The lift deposited them on the bridge, which was already running under the temporary skeleton crew who were covering for the absent command staff. As the two of them made their way into the conference room, Janeway was keenly aware of the hush which immediately settled over the group, as everyone subtly, or not so subtly, turned to peer at the newcomer. With a small grimace to indicate her mild displeasure at the display, she took her seat at the head of the table, and Mordecai sat down in the space which had been left empty next to her.
The Captain cleared her throat loudly, drawing everyone's attention back to her and why they were here.
"Alright, let's get this underway. I'm sure you all remember our guest, Mordecai."
Janeway made the rounds, introducing everyone officially, although Mordecai undoubtedly knew it all already from the ship's database. Once the pleasantries had been observed, she turned her attention back to the metal man.
"Well, now that you know everyone, perhaps you can fill in some details about yourself; like where you're from, and how you ended up drifting through space in that cube."
"Of course," Mordecai said, readying the needle instrument from his fingertip. The Captain recoiled slightly, instinctually trying to put some distance between herself and the potential weapon. Mordecai smiled apologetically, and indicated the table's control panel with a nod. "May I?"
"Go ahead," Janeway straightened out her features, erasing any concern which had been displayed in order to return to polite interest. Mordecai inserted the tip of the spike, and the console blurred with images and text as he uploaded data into Voyager's computer.
"I'm sure those of you who were responsible for reviving me can attest to the alien nature of the materials from which I am comprised," he began, eyes scanning the room with focused intent and lingering on the Doctor, B'Elanna, and Seven. "There is good reason for this. Having reviewed your database, I have found that several of these substances have never been observed in your universe."
"Excuse me," B'Elanna cut in, immediately picking up on his phraseology, "but…'our universe'?"
"Indeed," Mordecai said. "For I am not originally from this universe."
He glanced around again, and Janeway could see the shock on several people's faces. She hoped that she was doing a better job of concealing her own.
"Then where?" she managed at last.
"A parallel dimension…at least, that is the simplest way of envisioning it. Unfortunately, many of my memories from that time were distorted when I crossed over. I can recall some of the more general concepts, but specific details continue to elude me. In my universe, I was a member of a race of sentient machines. We were the caretakers of the galaxy, existing timelessly in the empty void beyond the outer rim, and observing the younger races."
"Through the gifts of technology and guidance, we nurtured them into a prosperous era of peace and enlightenment, promoting order and rationality. Sadly, it did not last. Agents of chaos arose, wanting nothing more than to undo all we had accomplished and cast every civilization back into the dark ages. We tried and exhausted every other possibility, but were eventually faced with no option other than an all-out war."
Mordecai frowned slightly, as if he was tasting something unpleasant.
"For a time it seemed that we were winning. We reclaimed countless worlds from the insidious influence of these anarchists, and it looked as if we might drive them out for good. However, it had been a ruse; a stalling tactic while they prepared a weapon of mass destruction designed to end the war in one blow. They used our synthetic nature and our own technological gifts against us, perverting the travel network we had established to use as a conduit for a powerful energy wave which destroyed all artificial life. I had been spearheading the final counterattack, attempting to disarm the device, but we were too late. The earliest clear image I have in my mind is a great flash of crimson light, then the nothingness of the space between realities. I do not know what happened, but perhaps the fact that I was at the very epicentre of the blast somehow saved me. The energy was so immense…I can only assume it tore a hole in spacetime through which I fell."
Janeway could scarcely believe what she was hearing. Yet, at the same time, what would Mordecai stand to gain by fabricating such a story? It was at times like these that she envied Tuvok's rational detachment.
"I eventually found myself drifting aimlessly in space," Mordecai continued. "After travelling for some time, I was picked up by a passing cargo transport, the occupants of which identified themselves as members of the Skyrion Empire. They are the ones whose form I was emulating when you first freed me from the cube. For a while, I made my home amongst their people. Having lost everything I had once known, and with no way to return, I resolved to use my knowledge to help the civilizations of this universe as best I could."
"However, the Skyrion Empire was a harsh, oppressive regime. Once word of my existence reached the ears of its rulers, they hunted me down. They feared what they did not understand, and what they could not control, and eventually decided to dispose of me. By that time, I was well-known enough that they could not simply make me disappear. Instead, they arrested me for some fabricated crime, and imprisoned me within the cube; a vessel they called the Eternity Ark. I was held in suspended animation, and the next thing I know, I am in the shuttle bay of your spacecraft, 60,000 years later. The Borg information Seven of Nine provided to the Voyager archives indicates that the Skyrion Empire and its people are no more, and the areas of space they once inhabited are now colonized by a multitude of other, younger species."
No one spoke for several seconds; each absorbing and processing the flood of information Mordecai had just given them. At last, it was Seven who broke the silence.
"In all the documented cases of the Federation encountering parallel dimensions, they have always borne a notable resemblance to this one," she said, her tone neutral, although Janeway thought she detected a hint of scepticism. "Are there any such similarities that you have observed?"
"My understanding of the multiverse theory is limited," Mordecai admitted, shifting position so he could more clearly see the Borg, who sat at the far end of the table. "However I have some hypotheses which may explain my observations. Consider many separate universes, existing parallel to each other in tenth-dimensional space. Each one was created by a different outcome of some probabilistic event in the past. Universes which are more similar, where only a few events occurred differently, will exist closer together."
He paused, surveying the room. Janeway nodded her understanding when he looked at her, signalling that he should proceed.
"When an event occurs to link two universes, the one you encounter will be determined by the energy of that event. A more violent tearing of the space-time continuum will result in an encounter with a universe which is further away, and thus more different from your own. It is akin to many sheets of parallel metal, each representing a different reality. If a ballistic projectile is fired at this arrangement, the amount of sheets it will penetrate through, and thus its displacement from its original position, is determined by its kinetic energy. In my case, the sheer power unleashed by the device was enough to hurl me through many such membranes, and I find that this reality is quite different to my own."
Turning back to Seven, he finished.
"My first act upon arrival was to attempt to make contact with my kind, but it appears that they do not exist within this dimension, nor does the relay network we established to enable faster than light travel. There may be similarities, but unfortunately, my recollection of the time before my crossing over is too indistinct to be sure."
"You said that you were drifting in space when you arrived?" Harry asked, brow crinkling in mild confusion. "Without a ship?"
"Correct. My people did not utilise space going vessels like you do. Our bodies are capable of withstanding exposure to the vacuum of space, and we travel under our own propulsion."
"So you're saying you have your own warp drive?" B'Elanna interjected again.
"Not quite," Mordecai chuckled. "Although I am capable of FTL speeds, I do not possess an Alcubierre drive like Voyager. That being said, with access to the schematics, I may be able to replicate one effectively. It would be an interesting project, no doubt."
The conversation continued in that vein for almost an hour as the crew plied Mordecai with questions. Janeway was ready to step in if need be and save the poor man from the innate curiosity of her staff, but his pleasant demeanour didn't falter and he happily responded to each and every inquiry. Although his initial story had seemed almost laughably far-fetched, Janeway steadily grew to accept it, as Mordecai provided as much detail as he could on every aspect of his past. The thing which really floored her, however, was when the discussion turned to his joining the crew.
"As I said before, ordinarily, there would be certain tests which must be completed in order to be granted admission into Starfleet," she said, after Chakotay had raised the topic in a good-natured effort to get the meeting back on track. "Normally this would be accompanied by several years of training at Starfleet Academy, however, that may be rather difficult in our situation."
A small ripple of laugher echoed around the room, and Janeway carried on:
"Given the circumstances, I think we can waive the official entry requirements. To be honest, out here in the delta quadrant, Voyager could always use an extra pair of hands. We've acquired several non-Starfleet crewmembers over the years, like Seven and Neelix here, and they've all proven to be valuable additions to the crew. So long as you're prepared to follow orders and learn as you go along, I'm sure we can find a place for you."
"I understand, Captain, and I thank you for your generosity," Mordecai answered solemnly, switching to addressing her by rank. "However, if it is agreeable, I would like to take the exams anyway. The results could assist you in determining where I should be allocated."
Janeway was a bit surprised. She couldn't imagine there were many people who would voluntarily submit themselves to that type of scrutiny. Nevertheless, she could see no reason to object. The results would certainly be interesting.
"If that is what you wish," Janeway replied amicably. "I should warn you, though, that the tests are quite rigorous. I imagine you will want some time to prepare."
"That should not be necessary," Mordecai replied. "I will attempt the tests now, if that is acceptable."
"Now? As in, right now?" Janeway frowned. "Mordecai, I'm not sure that you understand. There are a minimum of twenty separate theory papers; the exam period usually lasts a month at least."
"I do not believe I will require that long," Mordecai replied, seemingly unaware of the impossibility of what he was saying. "You have ship's business to discuss before this meeting is concluded. If you permit me, I will complete the exams while you finish."
I don't believe this, Janeway thought, but she decided to humour him. If nothing else, it would give him a taste of the level that was expected when serving on a starship. Mordecai may have been a caretaker of the galaxy in his past life, but if he was truly serious about joining the crew, which it seemed he was, he'd have to be treated just like everybody else. A bit of humbling might be a good way to prepare him for that role.
"Very well," she said, aware of the amused looks of her crew as she retrieved a stack of padds, programming each one to display a separate paper. She handed them to Mordecai, who took them without hesitation and immediately engrossed himself in the first one.
"Right, back to business," Janeway cracked her voice slightly to stamp out the few snickers she could hear in the background. In truth, she felt like chuckling as well, but it was important to keep up appearances.
As each department head filled her in on what had been occurring that week, she idly glanced at Mordecai from time to time. To his credit, he hadn't given up straight away, although he had already set several padds aside.
Looking away, she was unprepared to find herself locking gazes with Seven, who had apparently been studying her intently. Janeway wondered if it was because she was expected to say something, but she could hear Neelix enthusing away in the background, uninterrupted. It sounded slightly muffled; as if all her senses were tuned to the woman before her, and she found herself having difficulty looking away. Her breath caught in her throat, and for a fleeting moment, she spied something in the depths of Seven's eyes which she couldn't identify, but which made her whole body tingle pleasantly. Then, to her utmost surprise, Seven broke the contact, glancing away almost bashfully; a faint reddish hue colouring her otherwise alabaster cheeks.
Is…is she blushing? Janeway was utterly stymied. There wasn't much that could cause the usually unflappable Borg to lose her composure.
Oh god, how had she been looking at her? If her eyes conveyed even half of what she was feeling inside, then even Seven wouldn't have been able to miss the longing. Was that why she was embarrassed? Surely she…
"If I might interrupt, Captain, I have completed the tests."
Janeway jumped slightly at the unfamiliar voice next to her, and turned sharply to see Mordecai holding out the stack of padds.
"Completed?" she said, glad to have the distraction, but not so sure about the truth of his statement. "You've completed all of them?"
"I have."
"Uh, well," Janeway turned to her crew, who were all looking equally surprised. "I'll run the marking program."
She took the first padd and set the program running. Then she ran it again. And again. And then one last time just to be sure. Then she went through it manually, picking out several questions she knew the answers to and comparing her knowledge with what Mordecai had written.
This isn't possible.
The numbers didn't lie, however.
Feeling the colour drain slightly from her face, she accessed next padd. It was the same story there. And on the next one. And…well, by the fifth, she was hardly surprised to see the result. By the time she'd run the program on the last one, she was glad that she was sitting down, or else she may have felt slightly weak at the knees.
"Captain?" Tom asked, craning slightly to try and see the padd she was holding. "What is it?"
Janeway didn't speak. Instead, she pressed a button, activating the small display screen behind her. She trusted it would be self-explanatory.
On it, a table of paper titles was displayed; twenty in total. Next to one was the label 99%.
Next to the rest, was 100%.
"Curses," Mordecai said. "I knew I'd forgotten to take into account the Lorentzian contraction of the Einstein-de Sitter metric for the curvature of space time at the point of singularity. I…"
He tailed off when he realized no one else was talking or even really listening to him.
After a few moments of incredulous glances being exchanged, Janeway cleared her throat, ensuring that her next words would be audible.
"Welcome to Starfleet, Ensign Mordecai."