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Warning: Rated M Violence, angst, and adult situations included but nothing overly graphic.

Under My Skin: Chapter 6

Tom Paris

"Tuvok to the Doctor, report to astrometrics."

"Kim to Paris, report to astrometrics."

"Paris to Torres, report to astrometrics."

"Doctor to Neelix, report to astrometrics."

We've reconvened to share information that we've managed to gather. Anyone that has seen the captain knows how dire the situation has become. We can only imagine where Chakotay is at the moment, but even I'm floored when the doctor reports the results from his medical scans.

"It's the Cardassians."

Usually the Doc is one for grandstanding and showing off how much trouble he went to in order to produce his latest miracle. His simple statement attests to the urgency of our current predicament.

"What?!" Belanna asks incredulous.

"The scans I made of the Captain and the Commander both showed that a subdermal device has been implanted in their necks. The device is the same as ones used by Cardassians to inflict pain on their captives. Several of the devices have been retrieved over the years and Starfleet has done extensive research on them. Granted the one currently being used has some improvements and modifications, but it's essentially the same device. Mr. Paris' father could attest to its being Cardassian."

I swallow. The Captain was with my father when that all went down. He refused to talk about it at home, but he was never the same after that mission. Seven turns back to her console without commenting. Belanna looks like she's gone a shade of grey. I clear my throat. "What else, Doc? I mean, I got a good look at the Captain this morning and that little device can't be the only thing wrong with her. And what about Chakotay?"

"The Commander showed recently healed breaks in his left arm, right leg, and nose. He had internal bruising and evidence of a healed internal injury that had caused some bleeding. The Captain," he clears his throat stalling for a moment, "had definite signs of a recent physical assault. She didn't have any broken bone injuries, but the internal injuries were of a more severe and personal nature than the Commander's."

He looks down not saying anything more. He doesn't need to. Tuvok's calm voice breaks the silence. "Is there anything else doctor?"

"Neither of them has slept in the past forty eight hours. The device seems to have been working in their system for at least the past thirty eight. I couldn't tell much about their muscular and nervous systems with the limited scans I was able to perform, but their readings were elevated across the board indicating their bodies are experiencing severe distress."

"Can the device be removed?" Harry asks.

"There are two possibilities for its removal. The first would be a very controlled surgery. It's a lengthy procedure because of the insinuation of the device within their nervous system."

"And the other." I ask not liking the sound of that option.

"While it is active, the signal is stronger and it's possible to use the medical transporter."

"While it's active!" Belanna interrupts him. "I've seen these devices in action doctor. Active; means intense excruciating pain."

"I'm well aware of that."

"If the device is removed while active, wouldn't that be a shock to their system?" I ask him.

"Both solutions have risks involved. I don't want to see any more pain caused to either of them, but a lengthy procedure may not be wise either. Both of their bodies have been under immense strain lately." He pauses. "If the opportunity arises, a quick removal of the device by transporter is a viable option."

"Lt. Torres, your assistance." Seven calls from the console at which she is working. Belanna jumps up and crosses to her. Any other time, any other mission, and Belanna might have taken Seven's head off, but not this day. We all stare as the two women began working almost as one on the console. Harry joins in as he figures out what they are trying to achieve. Finally, with one last adjustment the image of Voyager on the large viewscreen clears and another vessel's signal shows up next to it. I let out a low whistle. It's a Cardassian design alright. Tuvok raises a questioning eyebrow at Seven and she answers the question we are all thinking.

"One year prior to my leaving the Collective, the Borg assimilated knowledge from a Cardassian ship. It was an experimental ship working on a cloaking mechanism. The Borg have no use for cloaking." Seven continues. "Once the doctor reported that we were looking for Cardassians, I now had another way to scan for their ship. I began looking for an improvement on the design from four years ago."

"Well, we know who and where the problem is," Belanna starts. "Now we just have to figure out what to do about it."

"The answer to that is simple, Lt." Tuvok states calmly. "We defeat them."

Harry Kim

We have four hours. Four hours before they try to take the Captain again. After seeing her on the bridge this morning, I know if she gets taken again she won't be back.

Tuvok outlined the priorities before we left astrometrics. We find a way to block transport off this ship. The doctor also relayed what the Captain said during her visit to sick bay. She's not going to be too happy with us that we are putting her safety before Chakotay's, but as Belanna said, that's the way Chakotay would want it. I know, though, if we lose Chakotay during this, we'll lose the captain as well.

Tom and I return to the bridge. Tuvok is meeting with his security team in his office. Belanna and Seven are continuing to work on a way to penetrate the shields of that ship. We've got to block that transport and find Chakotay. I stay at my station and look for a way to locate the Commander. Tom's sitting at the helm, but I know all of his senses are directed at the woman sitting behind him. He has instructions from the doctor to not let her out of his sight. I hope for his sake she doesn't try to go to her ready room.

I hope she knows we are working on a solution. I hope she continues to hold on for just a little while longer. I hope the Commander is still alive. Four hours.

Kathryn

Two hours left. Can I keep awake sitting here in this chair for another two hours? Can I allow myself to be returned to hell? What about you Chakotay, are you still alive? Have you been able to hear me? Have you been able to see how our crew is acting?

I roll my shoulders. I rub the back of my neck. I shift in my seat. Nothing helps for long. I can't seem to push the pain to the back of my mind anymore. It is ever present now. It's a low continuous thrum, and it's been there since the initial attack this morning from that damned device. The problem is I can't tell if the device is active or if my body is simply reacting to what it's been through.

Tom keeps turning around to check on me. He pretends to be talking with Sam or Ayala, but his blue eyes flicker in my direction. The crew is definitely up to something, and it goes beyond the senior staff. Even Sam and Ayala are acting differently now. They banter back and forth with Tom so he has a reason to turn in his seat, but the bantering is stilted. Forced.

Everyone is tense. I can feel it across the bridge. It's the same energy that's usually present during a red alert. I hope they don't try anything foolish. I roll my shoulders. I feel Tom's eyes on me again.

Belanna Torres

"We've got it, but it's going to be tight." I hand him a padd. I know he would prefer to be briefed by Seven's calm analytical tones, but I rush on not caring. "When they try to beam the captain off the ship, we can block the transport. We can also load a feedback onto the signal so that when it bounces back to their ship, it'll give us their exact location and cloaking modulation. Their shields will be down for the transport, and we'll be able to pinpoint Chakotay's location and beam him out of there."

"We have, however, been unsuccessful in finding a way to block the signal being transmitted to the device implanted in the Captain." Seven states in her infuriatingly condescending manner.

Tuvok considers both reports before nodding. "Lt. Torres, you will monitor the captain and block her transport. Seven, you and Mr. Kim will work together on bringing the commander back. There will also be a security team standing by. If you cannot beam the commander back, I expect you to beam the security team to his location."

Seven nods and turns on her heel to join Harry on the bridge. I head for engineering. The captain is not leaving this ship again. Not if I have anything to say about it.

Tuvok

It is close to time. The energy building on the bridge is almost palpable. I do not let it affect me, but I have spent enough time around humans to know that they will all be reacting to it. Their adrenalin will see them through this situation. My logic will dictate my actions, but I must admit that sometimes when it comes to her, my logic fails me.

I watch her. She pushes herself to her feet. She steadies herself with an indrawn breath before turning to me. "Tuvok, you have the bridge."

I nod and make my way to her side. She swallows and places her hand on my chest. "Maintain a course for home."

She knows she is leaving. She thinks she is going to her death. She believes this is the last time she will speak to me. She squares her shoulders and sets her chin. Her hand drops and she moves past me towards her ready room.

"Aye, Captain." I follow her progress across the bridge. She pauses before entering her ready room, but she does not look back. The doors close behind her. I nod to Mr. Paris as I take the command chair. I send a message to all those involved. It's time.