Chapter 6
Neelix drummed his fingers on the table as he listened, trying to contain his impatience. After receiving news of the rumored path of the "Wave of darkness" of legends, Dexa had called in a council meeting to discuss the settlement's options. Should they evacuate? Stay? Find some way to resist or to deflect it? Neelix had yet to disclose his own thoughts and ideas – or the fact that he had already contacted the Federation. The odds that Admiral Janeway and B'Elanna would be able to help were too low to get anyone's hopes up just yet.
First, they had to convince the meeting attendees to take the threat seriously. They had been sitting here for over an hour already, yet Dexa was still trying to do just that. And it wasn't going well.
"It's like I said at the beginning of this so-called meeting," a grumpy old man called Xar was complaining, "this is pure nonsense! An old tale told by Talaxians to make themselves look important!" He added with a nasty look in Neelix's direction. Even though most of the asteroid's population had known Talax in their lifetime, many viewed themselves as a separate social entity altogether. It had taken a while for Neelix to understand, but he now realized that it often was at the heart of tensions among the asteroid inhabitants.
Even though his insides were boiling with annoyance at Xar's narrow-mindedness, Neelix's expression softened in empathy when he saw Dexa heave a long sigh. This was going nowhere.
"Maybe," Dexa conceded. "But what if you're wrong? What if the threat is real? Maybe we should at least prepare for the eventuality! My cousin Nirax has taken his ship to gather some more information on what is going on, he should be back so-"
"This is a waste of my time-" Xar interrupted. "It's enough that you two have had us rebuild starships and opened up trade with outsiders, now you're-"
Another attendee shushed him. "Just listen to what Dexa has to say, Xar!"
"You all can stay if you want, but I'm not going to waste another second listening to this…" Xar stated as he rose to his feet and threw Dexa and Neelix a disgusted look. To Neelix's dismay, after Xar rose, two others followed, and then two more, and then five, until there were only a handful of people left.
Dexa dropped into her seat in discouragement and Neelix reached out to touch her hand. It was but a small reassurance.
"Look," Neelix started as he stood and rocked on the balls of his feet while he searched for the right words, "I know I'm still kind of an outsider here, and I understand your reluctance to hear me, to hear us, but… I've come to know each and everyone of you over the last few months, and you've come to know me too. You know that, like you, this place is my home now. I've come to know it, cherish it. And I don't want to leave. But we need to consider the possibility-"
"Mother! Neelix!"
Neelix startled when Brax's voice echoed through the chamber. A moment later, the boy appeared through the doorway, panting as though he'd been running.
Dexa jumped to her feet. "Brax, you should be in bed, what are you-"
"They've replied, Mother! Neelix, Starfleet has sent a reply! Everyone, come and listen!"
Neelix shared a stunned look with Dexa before he joined Brax, ignoring the looks he was getting from those who had stayed as he started running towards his communication room. He was vaguely aware that several of the meeting attendees followed.
Once in the communications room, Neelix licked his lips nervously as his fingers hesitated over the playback command. Brax approached to take his hand and smiled up at him.
"Go on, it's good news. I was here when it came through," he admitted with a guilty look at his mother.
Squeezing his hand and sharing a nervous look with Dexa, Neelix pushed the button.
There was a little bit of static, but then… "Neelix, this is Admiral Janeway." Neelix chuckled in relief at the sound of the familiar voice and grabbed Dexa's hand. "We've just received your transmission. I hope you and your people are still safe. Rest assured that we take your concerns very seriously. I'm gathering the fleet, and B'Elanna is readying her latest Entraptor instructions for you, she should transmit them to you shortly."
"They came through right after this message!" Brax told them before Neelix returned his attention to the message.
"We hope to be able to start testing it soon. However the 12-hour delay in communication will be problematic for coordinating our efforts. We're trying to come up with a way to speed up the transmissions, we'll keep you posted." There was a brief pause, and Janeway's voice took on a softer, concerned tone. "You must be aware, though, that all of this is very theoretical at the moment, and will likely be extremely risky. I have every confidence in B'Elanna and her team, but I thought I should point that out anyway. Until we have more for you, please tell us more about this 'Wave of Darkness' you described. What do you know about it aside from the story you told us? I hope to hear back from you soon. In the meantime, be safe."
Janeway's voice faded out, leaving Neelix and the others standing still as the words sank in.
"Neelix, what does this mean? What is this device they're talking about?" One of the meeting attendees, a woman named Graxia, asked.
Neelix inhaled. This was just what he needed to give him the strength to keep working on convincing the asteroid's population that the threat could be real. "Yes, I have a lot to tell you all. Let's go back to the meeting chamber."
"Can I stay and send the reply, Neelix?" Brax asked excitedly and Neelix couldn't help but share a smile with Dexa.
"Go on," she told Neelix, "I'll stay with Brax and help with the message."
"Thank you. Oh, and try to hail your cousin Nirax again," he said in a lower voice, "we're going to need his telemetry. The sooner the better."
"We'll call him back," Brax stated, with an air of someone who took his responsibilities very seriously.
Neelix's smile widened tenderly before he nodded and touched Brax's cheek. Then he turned on his heels and headed back the way they'd come.
Brax's voice drifted to his ears even as his feet took him down the stairs. "Hello, my name is Brax, I'm Neelix's son. We're all fine. Thank you for replying to our message."
Confident that his family had things under control, Neelix started telling the others what he'd been working on these last few months.
ooo0ooo
"No, if we increase the strength of the energy burst, the gallium will revert back to its liquid form and the containment field will fail within a nanosecond of the test!" B'Elanna argued as she stared at the monitor.
Icheb recoiled a little from the tone, and B'Elanna softened when she saw his distressed expression. She was putting an awful lot of pressure on him. "Look, it's not a bad idea, but I just don't think it will work. Tom has been running simulations from his Hololab on Earth, he should have the results soon. But for now, we need to consider another solution to stabilize the containment field."
"What about changing the casing materials to ensure that there isn't any leak of energy within the main transcapacitor?" Harry suggested.
They were silent for a moment as they all considered it.
"That will only delay the inevitable," Seven's voice suddenly chimed in as she made her entrance into Engineering.
B'Elanna threw her a glance. "Thanks for joining us," she said sarcastically. "What took you so long?" They'd been at it for hours already!
Seven appeared unaffected by B'Elanna's flippant tone. "I had to teach Ensign Lik how to operate the Astrometrics search engines. With my impending transfer to the Delta Quadrant Unit, Voyager will require someone to take over from me, and I won't be able to train a suitable replacement while I work with you on the Neutrino Entraptor."
Oh. Wait. "What?" B'Elanna blurted out at this news. Seven transferring to the DQU? When had that happened?
"Show me what you have so far," Seven commanded, oblivious to the others' surprise at her announcement, as she reached out and Icheb handed her his PADD. B'Elanna exchanged a look with Harry, who shrugged, admitting his ignorance about any transfer.
"You're transferring to the DQU?" B'Elanna repeated.
"As soon as we have accomplished this mission."
"In what capacity?" She asked, her voice sounding a little more hostile than she intended. B'Elanna's lack of affinity with Seven notwithstanding, she could definitely use her help with some of her research.
Seven took her eyes away from the PADD just long enough to briefly glance at B'Elanna. "That has not yet been determined. Admiral Janeway will assign me where she believes my expertise will be best used."
"Huh." B'Elanna returned her attention to the core of the device, fiddling with its internal sensor. "What did Chakotay say when you told him you wanted to leave Voyager?"
Seven didn't so much as blink at B'Elanna's very personal question. Strange woman. "Very little. But I believe he is pleased with my decision."
B'Elanna's brows furrowed in confusion even as she kept on working. "Pleased? But aren't you two-"
She stopped when she spotted Harry behind Seven shaking his head, his thumb slicing across his throat – clearly telling her to stop talking, as if this was a dangerous or forbidden topic.
B'Elanna replied with a defensive shrug.
Seven ignored them. "If you mean to ask whether we are involved in a romantic relationship, the answer is no. Although we were, for a short while. Several months ago."
They had broken up? It was both surprising and not surprising. B'Elanna had known it wouldn't last! She'd even told Janeway a few months back.
How in the world had this particular piece of gossip not reached the DQU before then? It explained Seven and Chakotay's purely professional interactions, though. She briefly wondered if Janeway now knew what she clearly hadn't three months ago. She looked at Seven curiously. "What happened?"
"We deemed the relationship unviable. It was terminated."
B'Elanna scoffed at the bland stating of the obvious. Didn't that woman ever feel anything? "So you said. You don't seem upset." The sensor seemed to work perfectly, so there was no need to recalibrate it.
"In what way should I be "upset"?"
"I don't know, most people when they end a relationship usually feel something!"
Seven's brows furrowed together as she considered it, but then her expression cleared. "Such feelings are irrelevant."
"But you must be hurt, or angry, or something!" B'Elanna insisted, for some reason incredulous of Seven's alleged ability not to feel anything – not when B'Elanna usually felt so damn much.
"Bridge to Lieutenant Torres," a disembodied voice interrupted through B'Elanna's combadge, and B'Elanna thought she spied a relieved expression cross Seven's face. Though it had come and gone so fast she might have dreamt it. She felt a twinge of guilt for pushing creep up her spine.
"Torres here," she responded.
"You have an incoming transmission from Tom Paris. He has the results of his latest simulation."
"Thanks, patch him through to Engineering."
B'Elanna couldn't help but smile when Tom's face appeared on the monitor. It had only been a few hours but her heart swelled at the sight of him. This feeling, this pull, she felt towards him suddenly reminded her why she had chosen to stay on Earth in the first place. Standing here in Engineering aboard Voyager and missing Tom and Miral, it was all too easy to forget her struggles of the last few months. She fought the urge to ask him about Miral, and how her baby was doing, but this was a conversation better held in private.
"Hey guys, miss me?" Tom greeted with his typical boyish grin, and they replied in kind. Tom's face turned serious. "I don't suppose you've heard anything more from Neelix?"
"Even if we can improve the speed of the transmission, it'll still be a few hours before we can expect a reply," B'Elanna replied. "What have you got for us?"
He nodded, acknowledging the change of subject. "I just finished the latest simulation based on the parameters you provided me. You're getting so close to a working prototype, but…"
"It failed," B'Elanna finished for him. "What went wrong this time?"
"The containment field destabilized 2.3 nanoseconds after the wormhole was established."
B'Elanna sighed as she exchanged a look with Icheb. "But the wormhole connected?" She asked, searching for a little shred of good news.
Tom grinned proudly. "It did. For 2.3 nanoseconds."
"That is no small accomplishment, however, based on my calculations, the devices will need to remain connected for 3.5 seconds for the wormhole to remain stable enough to send matter through," Seven informed.
"3.5 seconds!" Icheb repeated with more emotion than B'Elanna had ever heard from him. "To make it stable for so long will require an extraordinary amount of energy!"
"I know, but we have to make it work," B'Elanna retorted. In fact, it was exactly this problem that had kept Reg Barclay from attempting a full-size wormhole the year before. But the Entraptors should be able to circumvent this problem.
"I believe the problem is not in the strength of the containment field, but in the amount of energy generated by the trapped neutrinos inside the device," Seven replied. "Instead of generating an overwhelming outward burst of neutrinos, I suggest releasing a steady flow until it builds up enough to sustain a wormhole. Free of the stress of a burst of energy, the containment field should hold. And we can compensate as the energy released by the trapped leptons builds up."
B'Elanna slowly turned back to Tom's face on the monitor. "It could work."
Tom nodded. "I'll alter the parameters for my next simulation. Stay tuned," he said before he cut the transmission.
"In the meantime," Seven continued, "we should focus our attention on improving the rate of neutrino capture within the core of the device, and coming up with an adequate launching sequence for when the device is ready to be activated."
"Well, now that Seven's here, I need to get back to the bridge," Harry said, looking altogether too happy to be leaving. "Good luck."
B'Elanna waved him off and rubbed her face. "I'm going to need more coffee."
oooOooo
After the long-distance briefing with the captains, and while B'Elanna's team worked on the Entraptor, Kathryn retired to her assigned quarters to catch some sleep before they reached the rendezvous point at Deep Space 12. But, she had so much on her mind that it took her a long time to fall asleep. And when she finally did fall asleep, it was for a fitful rest, disturbed by strange dreams of infinite voids and failing wormholes.
As she made her way to the mess hall now, fresh out of a sonic shower, Kathryn tried to rub sleep out of her eyes.
Her mind was still filled with the disturbing images of her dreams – of Neelix's twisted grin when he told her: "Glad you could make it to the end of all things, Captain!" Or of watching helplessly as Chakotay was slowly swallowed by that wave of darkness. In her nightmare, Chakotay had seemed oblivious, awed even, by what was happening to him. At one point, his features half devoured by shadows, he'd turned to her and said: "what's taking you so long?" It didn't take a degree in psychology to decipher that one, Kathryn thought wryly.
The mess hall was crowded by the time she reached it, and Mr. Chell was busy cooking breakfast behind the counter. The enticing aromas made Kathryn's mouth water. But first, coffee. She absentmindedly filled up her cup and grabbed what she needed for a quick breakfast.
She was distracted from her meal when Seven walked in and, seeing Kathryn, walked over to her table.
"Seven! How are the simulations going?"
"As efficiently as possible under the circumstances," she said as she stood by the table. "I volunteered to gather some sustenance for Lieutenant Torres."
Kathryn could only stare at her. "You volunteered?" A few months ago she would have delegated such trivial errand to someone else. Harry Kim, most likely.
"Yes. I sensed that she needed some time to process the news of my impending transfer to the Delta Quadrant Unit."
"Ah." Kathryn smiled wryly. She could only imagine B'Elanna's reaction. Kathryn hadn't thought to warn her. She stood and gathered her empty tray and coffee. "Speaking of your transfer, we should discuss your assignment when we have a chance. I'd like to hear your thoughts about your future position there. Walk with me?"
Seven went to retrieve coffee and fruit for the others and the two of them started to walk towards the turbolift.
"I confess I'm curious Seven, why did you request the transfer?" Kathryn asked, hoping her tone came across as conversational, and not outrageously nosy. "The last time we spoke about it, you were quite adamant to remain on Voyager for a while."
Seven sighed almost imperceptibly. "Circumstances have changed. And I believe my expertise would be put to better use in the Delta Quadrant Unit, especially considering Lieutenant Torres' s new research. Had I known sooner that artificial singularities were the object of her work, I probably would not have waited this long to make the request. And hopefully the Federation has grown used to my being here, and will value whatever contribution I can make."
Kathryn sighed. "I hope so too." They reached the turbolift and Kathryn stopped. This was where they parted ways. "Well, we'll discuss the rest when this is over."
Seven gave a curt nod.
"Just in time," Chakotay said when he spotted Kathryn stepping out of the turbolift and onto the bridge, "we're almost at Deep Space 12."
Kathryn took a sip of her coffee as she walked around the consoles and down the stairs to join him, nodding to the bridge officers in greeting on her way. Chakotay gestured for her to take the captain's chair, but as much as she appreciated the gesture, it wouldn't be right. She shook her head. She'd rather stand anyway.
"I've been wondering," Chakotay started, hands on his hips as he stood next to her, "assuming that we succeed in opening up a wormhole and getting Neelix and his people out of the anomaly's path by bringing him here, what's the next step? What are you planning to do if it really does head our way?"
He was speaking softly enough that none of the bridge officers could hear his words and Kathryn instinctively leaned closer. She nodded, understanding his eagerness to be ready. Unfortunately she hadn't planned this far ahead yet.
"The plan is to have a plan by then," she whispered back. "In truth, Chakotay, right now I'm just hoping that once Neelix and his friends are out of danger, we'll have plenty of time to figure out what it is and how to stop it if need be. As much as I'd love to have a perfect solution right now, we just don't have enough information to-"
"Forgive me, Captain?" Lieutenant Harris, the helmsman, interrupted. "We've arrived at the coordinates."
Chakotay nodded. "Slow down to quarter impulse for our final approach toward the Deep Space station. Put it on screen."
"Aye Captain."
Kathryn turned her attention to the viewscreen as Deep Space 12 came into view. It was sleek-looking station, even in its unfinished state, though it was smaller than other Federation similar constructions. Kathryn noted that both the Solstice and Aspire had arrived already, each starship anchored at its respective dock.
Seeing that his pilot had the docking under control, Chakotay returned his attention to Kathryn, his hesitant glance studying her face for a moment. Kathryn raised an expectant eyebrow in response and he cleared his throat. "I know this is not the time, but…when this is over, there's something I'd like to discuss with you."
"What is it?"
"It's of a… personal nature."
Kathryn had only had time to throw him a curious glance before her combadge came to life. "Astrometrics to Admiral Janeway."
Kathryn pressed her badge, sending Chakotay an apologetic glance. "Go ahead Ensign."
"I've completed charting the course for the wormhole."
"Thank you Ensign Lik, I'll be there shortly." Kathryn met Chakotay's gaze. "So it begins."
He nodded, but held her gaze for a moment longer. "Finish this conversation later?"
She considered him for a long second, then gave a nod.
Just as she was about to leave, her badge came to life again, stopping her in her tracks. "Tuvok to Admiral Janeway."
"Go ahead, Tuvok."
"The team working on accelerating the transmissions have devised a way to cut the transmission lag by half."
Kathryn met Chakotay's eyes in surprise, the concerned frown that had been darkening his features since she'd come on board brightening with the news. "That's great, Tuvok. Send an update to Neelix as soon as you get the chance, letting him know of the new time delays between transmissions. And let B'Elanna know as well."
"Understood."
Kathryn returned her attention to Chakotay. "I'll meet you back here after I'm done in Astrometrics."
He gave a formal nod before returning his attention to the docking procedures.
When she arrived in Astrometrics, Ensign Lik was still at the console and he straightened nervously when he saw her.
"As you were, Ensign," Kathryn told him as she joined him at the console. "Show me what you have so far."
"Yes, Admiral."
They went over Lik's findings for projected trajectories for the wormhole, and a location where to launch the Neutrino Entraptor from and discussed them for a while, debating certain choices for the originating burst, or from where exactly they were to launch the device once it was ready. The best spot appeared to be thousands of kilometers outside the range of the station, a short distance by Delta Flyer.
She was about to double back to the bridge, when her combadge crackled once again. "Chakotay to Admiral Janeway, we're receiving a transmission from Neelix."
"I'm on my way."
When she reached the bridge again, Tuvok was there as well, and Kathryn acknowledged him with a nod.
"Let's hear it."
Tuvok pressed the console and the message started. "Hello, my name is Brax, I'm Neelix's son. We're all fine. Thank you for replying to our message." Kathryn exchanged a surprised smile with Harry, then a female voice, Dexa, took over. "Neelix has charged us to tell you that he has received your transmission, and is working on gathering information as we speak. He and our son Brax have been assembling the device you call Neutrino Entraptor, and he hopes that you can coordinate your efforts to open a portal before the Darkness gets here." There was a pause, and then, "We will contact you again soon."
"The process to accelerate the transmission appears to function properly," Tuvok informed, filling the silence that Dexa's voice had left hanging and heavy on the bridge. "The timecode seems to suggest that they sent it about six hours ago, half of the time it took before."
"Good. Have you alerted them of the shorter transmission delays?"
"I have."
"Good, let's prepare our response. Let them know that we-"
"Engineering to the bridge."
Kathryn stopped mid-sentence at the sound of B'Elanna's voice over the comms and shared a look with Chakotay.
"Go ahead," he said. "We have Admiral Janeway with us."
"Good, she'll want to hear this too. We just finished reviewing the latest simulations results – we checked them over and over and… we think the Neutrino Entraptor is ready for testing."