ok i know it's been ages since i updated but its cause i totally forgot to post it on here and only put it on my website. sorry! but anyway heres the last few parts. comments welcome and appreciated. thanks.xxx
It had been five days since they had been taken from Voyager. Five whirlwind, confusing and dangerous day's. They had faced both physical and emotional hardship and their reason for being there had only just begun. Tom and Kathryn had been woken early by a guard, served a breakfast of fruits and bread in their rooms, and then taken down to the labs within an hour. The labs were just as empty as yesterday with all scientists out in the field or dead apart from Yall and the odd technician. Quickly they had been separated and taken to their working areas to study the data of what they had. After about three hours they had come to a conclusion as to a way of curing the virus. The only problem they had was how to transfer the anti-virus into the bloodstream of the infected. By dinner they worked out a way and were now discussing ways with Yall of how to change the anti-virus to be deployed by gas rather than liquid. Both were feeling the stirrings of headaches and also the harshness of the sterile white rooms they had seemed to have been in for days rather than hours. Professor Yall hadn't seemed to notice their restlessness until Tom's stomach announced its unhappiness of not being fed loudly for all to hear. They quickly broke for lunch then.
Lunch was served to them in the gardens surrounding the house. Tom and Kathryn were surprised at the array of flowers they could see even in the small part they had walked through and in the centre where they sat. As ever the guards were stood watching near but despite that it was quite relaxing. The air was cool underneath the shade provided by the surrounding trees, blocking out the harsh rays of the sun. A slight breeze flitted through. Not too strong that everything fluttered but just enough to give the plants a gentle sway for them to release there sweet smells. It was all very tempting to be swept away in the niceness but neither could forget the treatment they had suffered the previous days. They couldn't wait to leave this planet behind for good. Dinner was much the same of breakfast, with the same strange varieties of fruits but this time served with what they presumed was fish. It had the same slippery texture and look but it was a bit tougher like chicken. When Tom had announced that similarity it had made them both laugh. Professor Yall didn't understand so they had had to explain for him Toms obsession about everything tasting like chicken that he had quickly passed on to the rest of the crew. They had been later informed that it was in fact a type of lizard. After lunch Yall had insisted on a stroll round the gardens. Kathryn agreed readily but Tom wasn't so enthusiastic. He had never been someone who strolls. He liked to do things. Kathryn quickly realised though that Tom was probably benefiting the most from the walk or else he'd be like a caged animal in the lab all afternoon. They were half way round the gardens when Tom spotted something alight in the flowers to his left. Making sure Yall and Kathryn were still in deep conversation he leisurely moved over to look under the pretence of investigating a flower much like he'd seen Kathryn do. Gently feeling a leaf or a small blue flowered plane Tom lift it back slightly to reveal a power generator of some kind below. Trying to get a closer look, Tom crotched down to block the view from the guards. It looked a very complicated system. It had many buttons and functions by the look of its panel. Pressing one Tom saw a access code entering screen come up. Knowing he'd be unable to break it and seeing the shadow of the guards approaching on his left he rearranged the flowers and got up following after Kathryn.
Although Chakotay had nothing to do he had become a quick study in helping B'Elanna find all the equipment she would need. They had been instructed by Tom and Kathryn on the kind instrument they would need to build but details had not been given. That had been for them to come up with. They had discussed it, made models, tested, made more models, tested some more and they thought they had finally came up with an answer. All they had to do now was build the damn thing! During walking around collecting and ordering materials they would need form the terminals in the station, Chakotay had come across a map of the building. It must have been left over from when Professor Yall had built the labs but it showed where the power, water and energy were supplied through the whole estate. What Chakotay was most interested in though was that it showed where fuel for the shuttles were supplied. After all, it would only be logical to have the fuel supplied to somewhere the shuttles are kept. He didn't want to look at it for to long as it would raise suspicion. So he quickly wrote down quick instructions on how to get their on his padd and resumed the job he had came to do. He also had a quick look over the defences. Signalling he had finished to the guard he was escorted back down to the engineering bay in the labs. Although they could move around quite freely, there was always the unsettling feeling of being watched by the guards escorted to them. They were never more than five metres away. After lunch, Chakotay was sat behind a large piece of piping helping B'Elanna to mould the metal into the correct shape. Taking the chance of being covered Chakotay told B'Elanna what he had found. She waited for him to finish speaking before quietly asking questions.
"So there are no more perimeters to cross after the first force field just around the house?"
"No" Answered Chakotay not looking at her but intently at the pretend calculations he made on his Padd. "Once we cross the border at the end of the maintained gardens, there is nothing but dense jungle for over 2 miles. It's all Thagtu's land. Beyond that I have no knowledge"
"It doesn't matter what's beyond, as long as we can get a shuttle through, we can leave" Explained B'Elanna. "You said this map showed the power sources?"
"Yes, that's the problem" Continued Chakotay interpreting her question. "Although there is only a single force field it is very intricate and runs off numerous power grids. To knock them all out at once is gonna take some precise calculations"
"Did you write down where they were?"
"Yeah, on here, there's twelve in total" He handed B'Elanna the padd, the guard looked on and B'Elanna pointed as if reviewing his calculations.
"There spread out far along the gardens" Said B'Elanna scanning further down the information "Were they connected?"
"No each one was separately run" Answered Chakotay with a firm shake of his head.
"So there's no way we could charge one and overload them all" sighed B'Elanna. "Each one would have to be individually destroyed"
"Couldn't we charge them all?" Asked Chakotay now pretending to measure the width of the changes B'Elanna had made on the metal tube whilst they were speaking.
"No. To much power would be needed and the increase would certainly be detected by sensors." Explained B'Elanna. "Let me talk to Harry and see if he can come up with anything. In the mean time see if you can talk to Tom or the Captain on finding where the shuttles are. That could be a big help. If the shuttle's can be launched with the force field still in place we could use the shuttle weapons to knock out the force field."
"If not?" Asked Chakotay, noticing the guard was now becoming intrigued by their weird behaviour and moving closer.
"Then we'll have to do it a different way" Finished B'Elanna walking off with the padd to Harry to explain what they'd found to him. Chakotay sighed heavily, happy with the progress but unpleased that it was so small.
The day continued like this. Working out calculations, finding equipment, building equipment they needed but didn't have, ordering materials. Before they knew it they were being signalled by the guards that it was time for them to return to their rooms. Walking tiredly back up, rubbing at the knotted muscles in his shoulders Chakotay was surprised when he walked into Tom coming from another corridor.
"Where've you been?" Asked Chakotay.
"In the gardens" answered Tom, walking beside him. They could see the two guards following B'Elanna and Harry in front and could hear the footsteps of there own behind them.
"At least someone's been getting some slack!" Joked Chakotay. He knew that Tom had been up much earlier than they had and the dark circles under his eyes told him that. "Where's the Captain?"
"In the labs with Yall" informed Tom. He saw the panic rise in Chakotay.
"You left her on her own?"
"She's fine. Actually I think Professor Yall has got his first crush" Smiled Tom. Seeing that this didn't make Chakotay any more relaxed but in fact put him more on edge Tom explained more. "He's harmless really. Like a big kid. I've spent the whole day with him, wouldn't you think I'd have noticed if he wasn't"
"You better be right" Warned Chakotay.
"Anyway I need to tell you about what I found in the gardens" Said Tom changing the subject.
"Was it brown and had weird green spiking things growing off it?" Asked Chakotay teasingly.
"Ha, very funny! No seriously. We were looking round before when under a flower I saw a power generator of some kind. I tried to get a closer look but couldn't properly with my new shadow here with me"
"It'll be one of the Power grids for the force field. How many did you see?" Asked Chakotay.
"Just the one" Tom remarked. "You knew about these?"
"Yeah I found out today" answered Chakotay. He then went on to quietly tell him what he had found out. He also told him the directions to where they suspected the shuttles to be.
"So there should be eleven more of these power grids?"
"Yeah, try and find them on your way round tomorrow. That should help us when we come up with a way to turn them off." Chakotay instructed. They were now in their corridor upstairs, about to enter their rooms when the guards stopped them.
"Dinner will be brought to you in your rooms. You are not to leave them till we come to collect you tomorrow or unless you are instructed otherwise" Said an older one who Chakotay suspected was the butler kind of guy. They then entered and were left by themselves for the rest of the night.
The next morning they were all woken early. They had a quick breakfast alone in their rooms before being escorted down to the labs. They again worked continuously under guard till lunch. Totally exhausted Tom only wanted to sit and eat in the peace of the gardens with Kathryn and Professor Yall but he knew he had to look for the shuttles and the power grids to help with their escape. He had tried to tell Kathryn the plans during their time working that morning but had been unable to with out being over heard. Although it would have been easier with her help to keep the guards and Yall distracted from him, he knew he'd just have to go on without it. After a slow dinner Yall again took them to tour the other side of the gardens. Half way round Tom spied the unoccupied side building that Chakotay had suspected the shuttles to be housed. Hoping that his companion's conversation would keep him unnoticed he began to drop back. Away from the professor and away from the guard's. Finally out of hearing range he began to pick up his pace on the gravel flooring running cautiously through the garden paths. He sprinted round a wall of thick trees and saw a metal plated door. He reached out and twisted the handle and to his luck it popped open with a slight pang. Looking round for signs of anyone one last time he slipped inside quietly. Inside it was dark, the only light came from the soft glow of the flashing buttons and panels of the walls and counters. If it wasn't for the glow from the edges of the door he'd just entered he suspected he wouldn't have even seen the lights built into the high walls. Running his hand swiftly along the walls beside the door he scrambled for a switch. He flicked it and the lights came alive flickering once before staying on brightly. Blinking slightly at the intensity of metal and shine around the room he moved forward to the centre panel. Reading it quickly he tried to interpret what they meant and at pure guess he pressed the odd button. A sudden grind from behind made him spin round quickly. He saw the wall on the opposite side of him falling away into the floor. Ever so slowly, rows of shuttles came into view starting at their finned tops down to the grazing stripes along the bottom. Directly in front of each was a door ready to open at the shuttles command. Pacing forward with a clap he explored the perimeter of the first shuttle.
"And he does it again!" Tom cheered to himself. Not seeing any danger or alarms he stepped forward and the door slid open for him to board. Inside the shuttle was a spacious two man craft. The design was both slick and efficient but lacked the feeling of being owned. Sitting in the helm seat he brought up the systematic and gradually gathered the information he would need constantly aware of what little time he had before he got discovered. He attempted to bring on the engines but a message immediately displayed telling him to disengage the force field. Trying the mass of encryption codes he knew he tried to override the protocol but nothing worked. Disembarking the shuttle e returned to the centre panel and tried to shut the force field off but it would work without a security clearance, which he didn't have. He reinstated the wall and left turning off the light as he went. Quickly moving back up the path he had last seen Kathryn he followed it up innocently falling into step sauntering behind them. One guard appeared to check on the just minutes after he returned. Wiping a hand over his eyes in relief that he hadn't been caught he set off to inconspicuously riffle through the flowers for the rest of the power grids.
Halfway through the afternoon Tom was escorted to the engineering lab to discuss progress made by them on the weapon and visa versa. As B'Elanna and Harry set off making the precise corrections to their plans and the work they had already done with the new data. Tom hung back in the equipment chamber with Chakotay pretending to compare metals to line the inside tubing. Out of earshot over B'Elanna's orders to technicians they managed to talk.
"There all there. About six or seven of them, they don't even have the door locked." Tom explained what he saw.
"I suppose they don't really have many visitors who should be kept out" answered Chakotay. "Did you manage to get on one?"
"Yeah, it just opened up for me. I could access all systems but engines because for them you need the force field off to start them" he turned slightly to block the view of an inquisitive guard. "We will have to turn the force field off first then launch the shuttle but how do we do that?"
"I'll speak to B'Elanna. Her and Harry have been doing a bit of work for it." Chakotay informed. "Have you managed to speak to Kathryn about the power grids?"
"No I haven't been able to get her on her own all morning so she still doesn't have a clue. I think she knows I slipped off this morning at lunch though but she hasn't said anything. I've found five more and I'll try to speak to Kathryn later. Yall says we're finishing a bit earlier today."
"There's the information you need to update" said Harry who'd just walked up the guard following him. He passed Tom a Padd with the data.
"Bye" The guard took him back to his claustrophobic workplace.
Not long after Tom had left Chakotay managed to speak to Harry about what Tom had found out. It turned out that Harry had already being working on a way to turn off the power grids manually. Failing to come up with a way to bypass it he had designed and started to construct some timed bombs. So far he had made two but would hopefully have some more done by the end of the day. Chakotay's much improved mood stayed with him the rest of the afternoon. They were making progress and actually had a proper plan beginning to form. The bombs would have to be attached to the power grids and times set to what they needed. They would then have to board the shuttle somehow taking the information and weapon with vaccine with them and leave as the bombs deployed. How they would do that he didn't know but everything was looking good so far. Tom had been telling the truth and at seven they were escorted up to their rooms and told to dress for dinner. That's where his mood fell. He didn't particularly enjoy the last dinner with Professor Thagtu and his friends and he knew this one would be just as bad. Sighing heavily he miserably shaved his face and got dressed.
Dinner was again served in the large dining room. Thagtu sat smugly at the top of the table but instead of having one of the science officers either side of him like last time, he had made sure Kathryn was sat beside him. Tom had tried to sit their instead at first but Thagtu harshly objected and ordered Kathryn to. He spent the whole evening sat closer than was polite. Fuming at being ordered around and fuming that he made her feel so vulnerable Kathryn sat stiffly not making eye contact with anything but her plate. The meal was simple and none offensive to the palette but didn't leave you yearning for more. The desert was the same but nobody ate it after the disturbance of what happened next.
The large colourful ice deserts were just being laid on the table when Thagtu leaned even further over into Kathryn's seat so that their noses were almost touching. Kathryn slinked back as far as she could go in her seat, which wasn't very far, ignoring him and spooned up some of her desert with their version of a spoon. She began to pull the object up to her mouth when he cut in front taking the treat for him self and at the same time brushing the surface of her lips with his.
"Sweet" smiled Thagtu a grin pulling the corners of his mouth before a tongue appeared to slowly lick his lips. Kathryn stared at him in total shock at his actions. Right there in front of a room full of people, friend and enemy, he was trying it on with her. At the corner of her eye she saw Chakotay hands turn into fist and his face into fury bending the spoon in his own large hands. Kathryn thought he couldn't get any angrier than he already was but Thagtu's next move made him prove her wrong. Thagtu's hand that was hidden under table landed upon her thigh, before she could even realise his intentions he had swept it up her inner thigh aiming for her private core. The next few moments happened all at once in the rioting room. Kathryn leapt to her feet trapping his hand last second before he reached his goal, sending her chair hurtling backwards in her haste to distance herself. Two guards were knocked over by the object crashing into the side board with a smash of a glass vase. In the commotion she stormed out. Chakotay and Tom jumped up Tom launching him self forward across the table and Chakotay moving to sprint round the edge towards Thagtu, fist ready made to kill. Six guards swept forward pinning Tom down upon the table painfully bringing his arm close to popping between his shoulder blades. Chakotay was cessed from the sides each grabbing an arm and leaving him standing trying to charge forth at Thagtu. More guards filed in taking over for the science officers keeping Harry and B'Elanna sat in their seats. Suddenly it went quiet as all stared at Thagtu who still sat relaxed as ever at the head of the table laughing, gradually getting louder.
"You bastard!" roared Chakotay. "You ever, ever try to lay a hand on her again and it'll be the last thing you do!" still struggling against the guards. Thagtu just smiled back and saw the confused faces of everyone.
"Let him go" Thagtu ordered waving off the two guards with a flick of his wrist.
"What?!" said Chakotay.
"You want to know she alright then go…or I could" finished Thagtu raising an eyebrow suggestively. Chakotay roughly wrenched his arms from his holders and for a slight second wavered forward ready to attack Thagtu but realised that Kathryn needed him more at that moment and run from the room. Just as he left he could hear the others being ordered to be escorted back to their rooms.
Chakotay moved quickly up the corridor he had seen Kathryn take and found it leading to the gardens. Stepping out he heard a heart wrenching whimpering from around a tree and striding forward he found her curled up in a ball on a stone bench. Slowly stepping forward he softly whispered her name so not to startle her. She looked up and he was met with wet sparkled eyes surrounded by smudged make up. Tear tracks washed down her cheeks and the shine of her pale blue dress in the moonlight made her skin glow even paler than it was. Sitting beside her she allowed him to wrap her into a tight hug upon his lap. He rocked her slowly for what seemed forever till the crying stopped and he only felt the odd heave of her chest.
"He had no right to do that Chakotay! He had no right at all!" sniffed Kathryn. Her voice was soft but still held conviction.
"I know, I know. It's going to be fine, I promise" he soothed gently kissing her hair where his chin wrested upon her head.
"You don't know that. No one knows that. I certainly don't trust a word he says anymore!" dictated Kathryn pulling her head from in the crook of his neck to face him. "For all he knows he's got the knowledge he needs and we have no power over him any more. He could kill us! It won't make any difference now. Worse! He could throw's back into that god awful prison!" gestured Kathryn getting more and more hysterical as she continued. "So much for breaking out of here! I messed that up didn't I! Like always! Like I messed up with the caretaker and look where that got…"
"Hey, Hey! Shhh, shhh" quietened Chakotay placing a finger against her lips to silence her. He spoke again almost in a whisper. "Now's not the time for blaming yourself. We've talked about the caretaker before so I'm not even getting into that again. As for getting out of here, you haven't messed up. Your plan was fine, the best option we had."
"Well I was wrong! It doesn't seem to be going like I said!" scoffed Kathryn not believing what she heard.
"Actually it is. We have a plan to get out of here" smiled Chakotay.
"What? When? How? Why didn't you tell me?" fired Kathryn confused stumbling over her questions in a rush to get information.
"We tried to but you've been busy and we can't ever seem to get you on your own. Professor Yall is always around or a guard." He explained. Kathryn wiped her eyes regaining some of her composer now knowing she hadn't completely failed them. he then went on to explain the plan and how they had fond out. By the time he'd finished Kathryn seemed to have a completely new hope in that they were going to survive.
"Here you need to take these and give them to Tom he's going to place them on the power grids tomorrow at lunch. You'll have to find someway of distracting the professor whilst he does it." He reached into his inside jacket pocket and pulled out some of the small devices Harry had turned into bombs during the day. "It's not them all but he should be able to finish the rest in time tomorrow" She took them from his hands and placed them into a fold in the material on the inside of her dress so they were hidden. The dress she wore didn't have pockets.
"I couldn't ask for a better crew!" smiled Kathryn for the first time that night.
– The crew members have now been missing for seven days. We are only a day or two away now depending on the amount of resistance we meet. We have been in contact with other ships in this sector and some have even traded materials in return for information on tactical data. It will help us to track their shield frequencies and it will also help us to hide our selves from their scanners. They also gave us more information on the planet and it seems that most of it agrees and continues the stories we have been told by Neelix. I only hope we arrive there in time.