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Dreamers
Chapter One
Bright lights... Blue blur...
These were the first things Kathryn became aware of when she woke up. Then the haze cleared and she found herself looking into the face of an alien woman with blue skin and white hair.
"Welcome back," the alien said warmly.
Kathryn looked around and she saw that she was in some kind of sickbay. There were about four beds, all occupied, and a team of blue faced medics were attending to the occupants.
"Where am I?" Kathryn asked.
"On board our ship," the woman replied. "But don't be alarmed, you're safe. I'm Captain Kelika and my people and I are from a planet in this quadrant called Rayzin. While passing through this space a few weeks ago, we found you and your crew in a state of artificial hibernation on what you call The Caretaker's Array. It's taken us a long time and a lot of work to find a way to wake you safely. All your minds were linked in some kind of collective dream and we couldn't find a way to wake you without killing you."
Feeling as though she was dreaming now, Kathryn sat up and put her hand to her aching head. "What do you mean you found us on the array? We destroyed the array seven years ago."
"In your dream you did, but in reality you were still on it. You're not the first person we've woken up. We've already woken up most of your crew and they've all filled us in on the dream. In this dream you destroyed The Caretaker's Array to save the Ocampa from the Kazon. This action stranded you 75,000 light years from your homeworld and for the past seven years you've been trying to get back there."
"That's right," Kathryn said. "Except that we did. We got home. The last thing I remember is being at our return party."
"The dream is ongoing and ends differently for everyone. Once we severed you from the collective dream, you kept on dreaming until we woke you up. We could not wake you up right away as that would have resulted in brain damage. We had to let your body return to normal sleep before we could. For some this takes only minutes but for others hours. Most of your crew have reported getting home before waking but in different ways. We can only conclude that as your bodies returned to normal sleep, your unconscious mind responded by bringing the dream to its natural conclusion."
Kathryn tried hard to absorb these words, to make sense of what she was hearing. How could all this be true? How could everything she had experienced over the passed seven years be nothing more than a dream?
"Something else is going on here," she said. "There's no way everything I've experienced over the passed seven years was part of a collective dream. If anything is a dream, this is a dream. I can remember the passed seven years clearly, can remember my thoughts and feelings. There are no collective voices, no collective memories."
"By collective dream," the woman replied, "I don't mean collective consciousness. What I mean is that you all shared the same dream but as individuals. The setting was the same, and you all interacted with each other in it, but your thoughts were your own. Think of it as a kind of virtual reality where..."
"I get the picture," Kathryn interrupted. "But before I can accept it, I need proof."
"I understand. We will do the same for you as we have for the others. We will return you to the array so you can see for yourself. But first take a look at yourself." She picked up a mirror and handed it to Kathryn. "You will see that you have not aged."
Kathryn looked at herself in the mirror and sure enough she saw the woman she was seven years ago. For a long moment she looked at yesteryear's face, then she put the mirror down.
"This means nothing. With mind control you can easily make me see myself as you want me to see myself."
"True. But I assure you we are not manipulating or controlling your thoughts in any way. All we want is to help you. At the moment the dream is still very fresh in your mind but like all dreams it will begin to fade. When that happens, your sense of reality will return and you'll recognize the dream for what it was. Several of your crew members have already reached that stage. You may talk to them if you wish."
"For all I know they could be holograms or imposters. What I want is answers. If what you say is true, that we've all been dreaming for the passed seven years, tell me why. Tell me why The Caretaker would want to put us all into a collective dream. What would be the point of it?"
"We don't know. We found the array abandoned. From our studies of it we guess that The Caretaker, or whoever was responsible for abducting you, was using you for biometric examinations, but we don't know why. In your dream The Caretaker died and that may well be the case. He may well have interfaced with you to tell you that he was dying."
"Considerate of him. Why not unplug us and then give up the ghost?"
"Perhaps he couldn't. Or perhaps he hoped someone else would take over. What I can tell you is that you weren't brought here for the reasons he told you. The Ocampa do exist, and they do live in a subterranean world because of an environmental disaster, but it isn't a world controlled by The Caretaker. Kes, your Ocampan crew-member, was abducted with Neelix about the same time as you and they became a part of your collective dream." She paused. "I'm sorry to have to tell you that not all your crew members have survived. In your dream you will recall that several crewmembers died. This is because their hibernation unit failed. When they died, their consciousness left the dream, so they died in the dream too. We found several dead bodies when we arrived. However, not all who died in the dream did actually die. Some merely became disconnected from the dream. One was Kes and another was Joseph Carey."
Kathryn said nothing, just desperately tried to get her aching head around all this.
"Like in all dreams," the woman went on, "the dream had a time of its own. While seven years passed in it, in reality only five have." Kindly, she reached out and put her hand on Kathryn's shoulder. "I know all this is hard to take in. Everyone we've awoken has found it hard. But, like them, you'll soon come to see that what I say is true. But, for now, try to relax. You are among friends and whatever we can do to help you we will. As soon as Dr Melin says you're fit enough to leave our sickbay, I'll take you to the array. Until then, try to relax and eat. We can provide you with whatever you desire from Voyager's replicators."
Voyager. In trying to make sense of everything, Kathryn had completely forgotten about her ship.
"We found your ship adrift in nearby space," the woman continued. "It is exactly as you left it, or rather as it was before you were abducted. Very few ships pass through this region of space so it has not been stolen or looted. The Maquis ship, however, has not survived. It was programmed to self-destruct if abandoned for more than six months and it did just that. Luckily, neither Voyager or the array was caught up in the explosion." The woman smiled. "We found your holographic doctor on board. He was singing on a stage in the holodeck. After running continuously for five years, his program has expanded so he's developed his own personality, just like in your dream." She paused. "But like I said, all this is a lot to take in and you're going to need time to adjust back to reality. There'll be plenty of time later to fill you in on everything. So, what can I get you? I hear you're very fond of a beverage called black coffee. Can I get you that with something to eat? How about Maple syrup pancakes? They're very popular with your crew."
"Just a coffee," Kathryn replied. "Then I want to visit the array and see for myself what's going on."
"As I said, Dr Melin must discharge you before you may leave sickbay, but he should be here soon. He's currently on the array helping to sever you remaining crewmembers from the collective dream. Are you sure you won't have something to eat? Your body needs nourishment after five years in hibernation."
"I'm sure," Kathryn said. "Just the coffee."
Dr Melin, a friendly alien man of the same species as Zelika, discharged Kathryn after a series of scans, and she was taken by a nurse to Zelika's office. This was big, stylish, and through a round window Kathryn could see The Caretaker's Array.
"How are you feeling now?" Zelika asked. "Is your sense of reality beginning to return?"
"If you mean am I convinced yet that the passed seven years of my life were nothing more than a dream, then the answer is no. But I am more open to the possibility. I admit that with every passing moment, my memories of the passed seven years are feeling more dreamlike than real. However, this does not automatically mean you are telling the truth. You may have surgically or otherwise altered my perception of reality to make me believe that I have been dreaming."
"Then perhaps a tour of the array will convince you. Shall we proceed?"
Kathryn nodded. "Let's proceed."
The woman pressed a button on her wristband and immediately a green beam engulfed them. Then Kathryn felt the familiar tingle of transportation and they disappeared.
When they re-appeared, Kathryn found herself looking at a sight she had seen once before...seven years ago when Voyager was first stranded. It was the sight of semi-naked bodies on biobeds with a needle puncturing their chests.
"This is where and how we found you," Zelika said. "At first we thought you were dead, and this place some kind of burial chamber, but then we realized you were alive but in some kind of stasis. We were going to leave you be, as we never interfere in the customs and rituals of other races, but when we found Voyager and your doctor told us you'd been abducted, we resolved to do all we could to help you."
Kathryn walked slowly amongst the sleeping bodies and recognized them all: Harry Kim, Marcus Draye, the Delaney sisters, Samantha Wildman, Richard Lark, and Vimar.
"B'Elanna Torres, Chief Engineer in your dream, is of the opinion that the array can be configured to send you home, and I have assigned a group of my best engineers to work with her on it. She was one of the first we severed from the dream. We wanted to sever you first, but we were unable to determine which plug controlled your unit. The units are controlled remotely and we could not determine the frequency. So who we woke and when was pure chance."
The rows of beds seemed to stretch on forever, but all were empty after Lieutenant Vimar. Or so Kathryn thought. In the corner of her eye she saw red lights flash and she turned towards them. Her heart almost stopped when she saw several borg drones lying in the shadows.
"Borg..." she exclaimed.
"That's right," Zelika replied. "There are four altogether. Two males and two females. Only one appears to be still alive. We don't know how exactly they ended up here but we have a theory. Not far from here we found a field of Borg cube debris and in another sector of this array we found a Borg escape pod. We theorize that the Borg drones were damaged and severed from the collective in whatever catastrophe caused the destruction of their cube. They flew to this array to take refuge and found you here when they arrived. As they were unable to re-connect to the collective, they attempted to connect to your collective dream as a substitute for the Hive Mind. However, only one drone appears to have been able to make and sustain that connection."
Kathryn walked over to the only living drone and tears filled her eyes when she recognized its familiar face.
"Seven," she whispered.
"We have not disturbed the drones," Zelika went on, "as we don't want to reactivate them if they are not really dead. We know little about the Borg and fear them greatly. But if you wish it, we will attempt to disconnect this drone from the dream interface after we have disconnected your remaining crewmembers. We know which connection is hers because the drones used Borg technology to do it."
Kathryn reached out and brushed her fingers against Seven's cheek. It was cold, rough. "I do wish it," she said. "If what you say is true, that we've all shared a collective interactive dream, then in that dream I've got to know the woman beneath the cybernetics. Her name is Anneka Hanson and she was assimilated as a child." Kathryn looked up at Zelika. "But in my gut I no longer believe that this is a case of if. You're telling the truth, aren't you? We really have been in a dream state for the passed seven years?"
"Yes," Zelika replied.
"My crew. Where are they?"
"On Voyager. If you have seen all you wish to see here, I can beam you there."
"For now," Kathryn replied. "I've seen all I wish to for now."
"Then standby for transport."
The woman fiddled with her wristband, pressed a button, and then a green beam engulfed Kathryn.
Kathryn rematerialized in Voyager's Mess Hall and the place was teeming with people. She recognized them immediately as her crewmembers, both Starfleet and Maquis, and found their familiarity comforting.
"Captain! Oh Captain, you're finally here!"
The voice was B'Elanna's and Kathryn turned to face her. The half-Klingon was standing next to Tom and Chakotay.
"Welcome back to reality, Captain," Tom said. "How are you finding it?"
"Mind spinning," Kathryn confessed, "but I'm getting less dizzy. How are you all doing?"
"Good. It's not every day you get to grow seven years younger," he teased.
"I couldn't believe it at first," Chakotay said. "I thought I was hallucinating or in some kind of holo-simulation, but after visiting the array and coming here I had no choice but to accept it."
"I couldn't believe it either," B'Elanna declared. "The dream felt so real, like everything had really happened. When I woke up I still felt like I was pregnant."
"With baby Paris," Tom grinned. "But of course, you must know that, Captain. Everyone knows that B'Elanna had I were an item in this dream."
"For reasons I can't even begin to understand," B'Elanna teased.
"Oh I can," Tom smiled. "My charm, good looks, great sense of humor..."
"You'll find yourself remembering less and less of the dream as time passes," Chakotay said. "I've been awake for three days and what I can remember now is a lot less than what I could then. Like all dreams, the essence of it will probably always stay with us, but most of it we will forget."
Neelix stopped at a nearby table to serve coffee to a group of ensigns and his face lit up when he saw Kathryn.
"Captain!" he cried. "You're here at last! Kes! Come quick! The captain's here!"
Kes appeared from behind a crowd and Kathryn's heart filled with joy at the sight of her.
"Oh Kes," she said. "It's so good to see you!"
"So says everyone," Kes smiled, "but in my dream I never left Voyager."
"Neither did I," Neelix said. "And neither did Tuvok."
"Tuvok?" Kathryn asked in surprise. "He didn't leave in my dream."
"He did in mine," Neelix answered. "He got swallowed by a giant whale while on an away mission and got carried away to a sea of no-return."
"I would hardly call that leaving," Tuvok said, having approached unnoticed. "Leaving suggests a voluntary departure. Being swallowed by a giant whale and carried off to a sea of no return is hardly a voluntary departure."
"Oh, you know what I mean," Neelix replied. "No need to get hung up on detail!"
"So, Captain," B'Elanna said. "How did you get home in your dream? In mine, Seven and I perfected the slip-stream technology. It was a hell of a bumpy ride but we got to the alpha quadrant in one piece."
"Let's just say we had a little help from an older me from the future," Kathryn smiled.
"In my dream," Chakotay said, "I found an old alien ship capable of making wormholes while surveying an abandoned planet. We used it to create a wormhole to Earth."
"In my dream," Tuvok announced, "I discovered a wormhole leading to the alpha quadrant while performing a routine scan of nearby space."
"Interesting," Tom mused. "In all your dreams, you were each the hero who got us home."
"You're no one to talk," B'Elanna retorted. "In your dream you designed a time-machine that could get us to Earth in the blink of a transport."
"True," Tom smiled. "I'm clearly as vainglorious as the rest of you."
"Oh, I wouldn't put it quite like that, Mr Paris," Neelix said. "I think you were all the hero in your dreams because you all wanted to get your friends home. That isn't vainglory, it's comradeship."
"How did your dream end, Neelix?" Kathryn asked.
"Very abruptly," he replied. "I was just about to serve Kes a bowl of Leola Root soup when a bright light flashed before me and I woke up."
"The strange thing is," Kes said, "I was just about to take the soup when Neelix disappeared right before my eyes. It might be just coincidence, but I like to think that when we got separated from the main dream we found each other somehow."
"I'm sure that's the case," Kathryn replied. "It sounds a little too coincidental for my liking."
The Doctor approached now and smiled at Kathryn. "Captain, I'm delighted to finally make your acquaintance."
"My acquaintance?" Kathryn said in surprise. Then she realized what he meant. "Of course, you weren't a part of the dream so we've never actually met. How strange, because I feel like we're old acquaintances."
"I hope some day we are," he smiled. "I have yet to reach the sophistication of your dream doctor, but I have advanced significantly beyond my program and am more like him than I am not." He pointed to a round silver device on his left shoulder. "Look, Captain. The Rayzin have provided me with a mobile emitor. I can now roam this ship as freely as your dream EMH could. I'm sure that after a couple of years in this quadrant I'll be every bit as brilliant as him."
"Hopefully we won't need to be in this quadrant for a couple of years," B'Elanna said. "The Caretaker's Array brought us here and I'm pretty sure it can send us back. I'm working on it with the Rayzin. Which reminds me, Captain. I've already worked out a way to send a data-stream to Earth. If you want to send Starfleet a message...like to let them know what's happened to us...then just give it to me and I'll send it."
"I will," Kathryn said. "Right away. Good work, B'Elanna."
"But what about the array?" The Doctor said. "In your dream you destroyed it to stop it falling into wrong hands. Are you not going to do that now? Are you going to put your needs above the greater good?"
B'Elanna answered. "The Rayzin say they will destroy the array as soon as we're home and I believe them. They are good people who have really put themselves out to help us."
"Agreed," Neeliz said. "The Rayzin are well known for their integrity, kindness, and love of justice. If they say they will destroy the array, then they will."
"That's right, Doctor," Kes said. "The Rayzin are completely trustworthy."
"But what if these aliens are only pretending to be the Rayzin because of their reputation?" The Doctor argued. "What if they're a wicked species in disguise? Who knows what ends they'll use the array for."
"I admit that thought has crossed my mind," Kathryn said, "but there's a time to be suspicious and a time to trust. So far, everything the Rayzin has told us has proved to be true and we have no reason to doubt them. In our dream we destroyed the array to save the lives of the Ocampa. Had the Ocampa not needed protecting, we would not have destroyed the array but used it to get home. Well, it turns out that the Ocampan homeworld is 200 light years away and is under no threat from the Kazon or anyone else. The reason for our destruction of the array in our dream does not exist in real life. As it does not exist, neither does our need to destroy the array. That means we can, in all good conscience, use the array to get home and let the Rayzin decide its fate."
End of Chapter One