"Damn this is frustrating!" shouted Janeway.
Tuvok, Paris and Janeway had been discussing the events they had been witnessing as best they could under their circumstances. Janeway's outburst occurred while Chakotay was going over escape plan options with Seven and Neelix. She desperately wanted to be there helping Chakotay discover who was behind this elaborate setup.
Janeway wanted scream at Sisko for accusing her staff of mutiny. Despite the missing memories she instinctively knew they would never willingly be a part of such action and agreed with Chakotay's conclusions.
Forced to witness as a helpless observer, Janeway used some simple meditation techniques Tuvok had taught her to try to calm the surging sea of emotions before they overwhelmed her. Feeling slightly better she breathed deeply. As she regained control another thought came to mind, one she had not considered before.
"Tuvok, how do we know what we are seeing is real?"
"We do not. And even if the events are real, we also cannot determine if they are in real time or a recording of events which have already taken place."
"Well if it is a type of Holo-Novel,' said Paris, "they know an awful lot about us and Starfleet for that matter.
"True," agreed Tuvok, "but if indeed there is a 'they' then 'they' could extrapolate all this information from Voyager's computer."
Janeway was concentrating on two sets of conversations. From what she could gleam from Chakotay's coded words the plan they were forming had possibilities. This gave her hope, a slim chance was better than none. Focusing back on Tuvok and Paris she realised their conversation was devolving into a bickering match.
"Gentlemen, we could all go quite mad thinking about all the possibilities. I suggest we carry on treating these events as if they were real and occurring as we see them, while keeping an open mind to other possibilities."
"A most logical course of action Captain. In the meantime, if you will excuse me, I will be meditating. If I can attain a state of Somm-Narr I may be able to access the missing memories, or at least determine if any have been removed."
"What's a Somm-Narr?" asked Paris
"As I understand it is somewhat like mind melding with yourself." answered Janeway.
"A most apt description." agreed Tuvok.
"You mind meld with your own mind?" said Paris.
"Mr Paris, before one can mind meld with others, one must first master their own." said Tuvok, quoting from the Book of Sarek.
"Fair enough I suppose. It sounds weird to me though." replied Paris.
Tuvok immersed himself in the trance necessary for the first stage of Somm-Narr. Paris and Janeway focused their attention back on the proceedings in the conference room just as a Ferengi entered bearing trays of food.
Prior to the arrival of the Ferengi, Chakotay had been discussing various options with Seven and Neelix. He knew if he could get on board Voyager without being detected, even for just a few minutes, they would have a good chance of escaping. What they would do next, well he would cross that particular bridge when he got to it. For now though, he thought their best chance of escape was through Seven.
"Seven, do they have you in crew quarters like the rest of us?" asked Chakotay.
"Negative," replied Seven. "They have converted a cargo bay into a temporary Borg regeneration chamber."
Cargo bays usually have their own transporter system, thought Chakotay. As if reading his thoughts Seven added, "They have cut power to the transporter systems. I have checked."
"Could you reactivate it?"
"I have already investigated this possibility. While I am certain I could reactivate the transporter, I have discovered that there is a shield around the cargo bay."
Chakotay had hoped for better but it was obvious the Deep Space Nine crew knew were not taking any chances with a Borg. He was fairly certain his quarters were not shielded however the doors were locked and he knew security was posted outside. This meant breaking out and trying to fight a whole squad of security officers single-handed was not an option.
"Could you disrupt the shield?" queried Chakotay.
Seven thought for a few moments before replying.
"Yes, but only for a few moments. Certainly not long enough to transport myself or anyone else off the station."
Chakotay felt he was running out of options as well as time. He was about to ask Seven if she had any ideas when the door opened to the conference room opened. Outside stood Quark with the food he had requested. The security guards were checking the food; no doubt they distrusted the Ferengi as much as every other race in the Alpha Quadrant did. Suddenly Chakotay saw his chance.
"Neelix," Chakotay whispered, "intercept that Ferengi and keep him busy for a few moments. I have an idea."
Neelix smiled, happy to be able to finally help out. "You can count on me Commander!"
As Quark entered the room, Neelix marched over to greet him. Neelix was no stranger to Ferengi as Voyager had encountered two of their kind before. They had travelled to the Delta Quadrant through the unstable Barzan Wormhole. Having spent some time with Arridor and Kol he had learned exactly what motivated their race; greed.
"Hello Mr Ferengi. My name is Neelix, and I must say that's a very interesting assortment of food you have there. I was the ship's cook on board Voyager you know and..."
Quark was only half listening to Neelix. While he was nodding and smiling at Neelix's comments, he was thinking of the potential profit margins he could gain if he could set up some sort business deal with these people. As soon as he had received the communication from Sisko he announced he was going to serve the food personally. His business instincts told him anyone who had spent time in the Delta Quadrant were bound to have items and knowledge worth his weight in latinum. He was just waiting for Neelix to finally shut up so he could make his first move, when he realised the alien was actually proposing a deal!
"... and as I will be providing the culinary knowledge," Neelix continued, "I'll expect an 80% cut of the profits."
Quark couldn't believe his lobes. "Wait a minute, you're offering to sell Delta Quadrant cuisine through me?"
"Of course," replied Neelix. "Who better to provide the distribution network and market these rare products but a Ferengi!"
Quark smiled a tooth-filled smile as he put down the trays, the food now forgotten.
"
Well, in that case Nee-lix, step in to my office. Let the negotiations begin!"
While Neelix had Quark's attention, Chakotay turned to Seven. "You think you could restore power to the transporter and disrupt the shield for long enough to transport a small item?"
"State the size of the item." said Seven, who made it sound more like an order then a request as usual.
"Say, the size of a neural transmitter?"
Seven paused while she calculated the amount of time needed to transport the item. At the same time concluding Chakotay could have only one possible use for a neural transmitter under their present circumstances. It was a plan with some chance of success, if they actually had a neural transmitter.
"It is possible. But I fail to see how you could acquire such an item."
Chakotay nodded over at the Ferengi.
"From him."
"Why would he provide us with a neural transmitter?"
"He's a Ferengi!" said Chakotay, as if that was all he needed to say to explain.
Seven examined the Ferengi more closely. Comparing the humanoid against the vast array of species she had come across while serving as a Borg drone she found a match.
"Species One Seven Two Three. One of the few races the Borg did not assimilate. Their whole race is dedicated to the point of obsession with acquiring personal wealth; a trait the Borg felt would not add to the collective in any positive fashion."
"Exactly! So we utilise those traits the Borg find so distasteful to our advantage."
Choktay nodded to Neelix to signal he was ready to speak to Quark. Neelix interrupted Quark who had been busy trying to negotiate a better commission rate, which he claimed was due to the amount of risk he would be taking if a customer developed an allergic reaction to the food.
"I'm sorry Mr Quark, but if you want to increase your commission then I'm afraid you will have to speak to Mr Chakotay. He's Voyager's equivalent of the Grand Nagus so it would be best if you speak to him anyway."
Neelix introduced Quark to Chakotay and Seven. Quark shook Chakotay's hand vigorously.
"Mr Chakotay, may I say it's an honour to meet you."
He finally let go of Chakotay's hand.
"Actually it's an honour to meet all of you. Members of the Voyager crew who have spent years in the delta quadrant, gathering data and collecting items no-one in the alpha quadrant has ever seen!"
Quark was practically beaming with delight.
"I happen to own the station's bar and, once this little misunderstanding with Starfleet is all worked out I'd like to invite you over for a drink, which will be on the house of course. Then afterwards we could, maybe discuss a little business?"
"I'd like to discuss a little business now, if that's all right with you?" asked Chakotay.
Warning bells began to go off in Quark's head. People were not normally so eager to do business with him. Usually he had to chase them, not the other way around. Plus he did not like how serious Chakotay looked.
"What do you have in mind?" he asked cautiously.
"Could you get your hands on a neural transmitter?"
Quark's smiled dropped quicker than his average customer's latinum disappeared while playing at one of his Dabo tables.
"I wouldn't know anything about that!" he stated while glancing left to right cautiously.
"Quark!" Chakotay said sharply. "We don't have time for this. Can you get your hands on one quickly, or can't you?"
"Of course I can!" Quark replied, offended anyone would even suggest such a thing.
"But you never can be too careful, especially with Odo back on the station."
"Odo left the room with the others." pointed out Neelix.
"That means nothing to him. He's a shape shifter! He could have slipped under the door and hey, did that chair just move?"
Quark grabbed a nearby chair and bit one of the legs. Seven moved closer to Quark and quickly examined the chair.
"It is simply a chair. You appear agitated. Allow me to assist."
Seven grabbed Quark's ear. He yelped with pain, dropped the chair and slapped her hand away.
"Ouch! What are you doing?"
"Your species has pleasure centres in the ear lobes. I was attempting to seduce you."
"Well you nearly ripped my ear off!" said Quark as he rubbed his sore ear and backed away from Seven towards the exit.
"It's been nice meeting you folks but I'm just supposed to serve you the food and clean up when you've finished, so if it's all the same to you..."
Chakotay had to act fast. He knew that Quark would leave if he did not do something.
"I'm rich!" he suddenly blurted out.
Quark stopped in his tracks.
"If you were to help us out" Chakotay continued, "the reward would be..."
"What?" asked Quark.
"Well, more latinum than you could imagine!"
Quark was not totally convinced but the thought of all that latinum made him stay to hear Chakotay out.
"I don't know, I can imagine a lot."
"You'll get it."
"I'd better," replied Quark, but then he suddenly had a thought, "Where are you going to get the latinum from?"
"From the Maquis." replied Chakotay.
Quark smiled wryly, "Well, I don't see how, seeing as though the Dominion wiped them all out."
Even though Chakotay learned nearly two years ago about the eradication of the Maquis, it still pained him to hear Quark mention it. He quickly pushed this aside as he knew he was close to getting Quark's co-operation.
"Yes, they were. But the Maquis had funds hidden in multiple locations. As I'm probably the only high-ranking Maquis officer still alive, the fact that I know where these locations are and have the access codes makes me a very rich man. If you've ever dealt with any of the Maquis before then you'll know we pay our debts."
True, thought Quark. He had dealt with the Maquis several times. There is nothing like desperate terrorists to help put his prices up.
Chakotay could sense Quark softening up.
"And of course, there's no risk to you."
Quark moved away from the door and back towards Chakotay. There was nothing better to interest Quark than a lot of latinum combined with no consequences in obtaining it.
"How so?"
"You must know the station pretty well," Chakotay explained, "so let's just say you provide us now with two sets of co-ordinates. One from a safe, concealed location in your bar where you will place the transmitter in say two hours, the other inside my quarters.
"And?" asked Quark, waiting for the catch.
"And nothing. We will take care of the rest."
Excellent, thought Quark. Even if Odo found out he had obtained a neural transmitter, he could not prove anything!
Quarks smile slowly returned as he thought of all that latinum, as well of getting one past his old adversary.
"All right, I must be getting sentimental in my old age but I'll help out. I really did have a soft spot for the Maquis so I'll only charge half of all the latnium I can imagine!"
Chakotay smiled back at Quark, feeling for the first time since arriving in the Alpha Quadrant he was finally starting to take control again.
Meanwhile in sickbay, Bashir was hooking Torres up to a Bio monitor so he could monitor her life signs during the hypnotherapy session. In addition to the personnel from the de-briefing, Sisko had asked Garek to attend. The official reason was his experience in the Obsidian Order could prove helpful. As part of his interrogation skills Garek was trained in multiple techniques, including hypnotherapy and identifying implanted memories
Unofficially Sisko felt the need to surround himself with his Deep Space Nine colleagues. He was afraid of slipping back into the detached state of mind he had acquired whilst spending so much time with the wormhole aliens.
There was no real reason for most of the people in sickbay to be present during this procedure. Under normal circumstances Bashir would insisted most of them to leave but it seemed that Sisko was not the only one who wanted to be with old friends.
"I'm ready." announced Bashir. He glanced at Garek. "Unless you have any equipment you would like to set up?"
"I'm afraid the type of equipment I would usually utilize is deemed illegal by Starfleet and would have, well just let's say unpleasant side effects on the young lady."
Torres was not easily disturbed but the gleeful smile combined with a cold, penetrating stare made her feel more nervous than any Cardassian she had ever encountered before.
"Besides," Garak continued, "I rarely used hypnotherapy during my sessions. It's an unreliable technique in my line of work for several reasons, not least because the person has to be willing for the hypnotherapy to work. For some strange reason people who entered my interrogation chamber were rarely in a willing mood."
"Thank you for sharing such endearing memories." commented Bashir dryly.
With Garak's easygoing and friendly manner, it was sometimes easy to forget he used to be a ruthless Cardassian agent.
"My pleasure!" beamed Garak.
Bashir focused his attention back on Torres. "Right, let's begin."
Bashir explained the techniques he would be using to Torres. Meanwhile Torres was wondering what Chakotay was up to and if he had managed to turn his idea into a workable plan. She had little reason to think anything would come out of this session. She had volunteered purely to allow Chakotay and the others time to formalise their ideas. The gamble appeared to have paid off. However now she was here undergoing hypnosis Torres began to have feelings of apprehension.
What if they find something, she thought, and what if it is not pleasant?
She realized that Bashir was holding an object which glowed with multi-coloured sparkling lights. She thought the sparkle was a nice sparkle and her eyes followed it wherever Bashir moved it. While watching the pretty sparkling thing, she listened to Bashir's voice which was smooth and comforting. Her Klingon side tried to fight the suggestion she should sleep; allowing herself to be hypnotised would be a sign of weakness. But the human part of her knew if she fought against Bashir's suggestion, then this session would be over and Chakotay may not have had the time he needed.
With a final surge of will she quietened her Klingon nature and allowed herself to fall asleep.
"Is she?" asked Sisko
"Asleep? Oh yes." replied Bashir. "Okay, we'll start off with something simple. B'Elanna, where are you?"
Bashir found his patients responded better under hypnosis if he referred to them by their first name.
"In a sickbay." replied Torres. Her eyes were closed and she seemed totally relaxed.
Bashir quickly scanned the readings on the monitor before continuing. "In a sickbay where?" he prompted.
"Deep Space Nine." Torres's eyelids fluttered slightly.
"Good. Now I want you to go back, back to when you were on board Voyager in the Delta Quadrant."
Bashir paused for a few seconds before continuing, "Are you there?"
"Yes."
"Where are you?"
"I'm in the Holodeck."
"What are you doing on the holodeck?"
"I'm Mistress Volatara. I'm helping Captain Proton. We only have 14 minutes to save the Earth."
A few smiles broke out amongst the staff as they were reminded of some of the holosuite adventures they had experienced over the years.
Bashir became serious again as he continued. "B'Elanna, I want you try to concentrate on Captain Janeway.."
Bashir noted that her heart rate went up slightly when he asked this question. "I want you to remember what happened to her and how you returned to the Alpha Quadrant."
Bashir grew concerned as Torres breathing stopped suddenly, her heart rate and blood pressure increased. He reached for a hypospray but stopped as Torres exhaled sharply and resumed normal breathing. Her readings returned to normal.
Breathing a sigh of relief he carefully continued. "B'Elanna, where are you now?
"Back..."
"Back where?" Bashir prompted.
"Back ... to where it all began." answered Torres.
Bashir noted with some alarm her heart rate was decreasing
"That's odd." Bashir said as he picked up a medical tricorder to confirm the monitor readings.
"Back ... to where it all started," said Torres with a whisper. Her heart rate was still dropping.
"Doctor," said Garak with a tone of urgency in his voice. "I think it might be a good idea if you brought her out of this trance now!"
"I think you are right," agreed Bashir.
He picked up a hypospray and injected it into Torres' neck but her heart rate was still going down; warning klaxons from the bio-monitor indicated they were reaching dangerous levels.
"B'Elanna," Bashir said, trying to keep his voice calm.
"I want you to listen very carefully. When I count to three you will be back in the sickbay on Deep Space Nine. You will wake up feeling refreshed and healthy."
After a slight pause Bashir counted.
"One, Two, Three!"
Torres did not respond.
Bashir realised he was in danger of losing his patient.
"Code blue, get me a.."
He was interrupted by Garak.
"B'Elanna Torres," his voice booming out, strong and commanding, "We will not ask you any further questions whatsoever regarding Captain Janeway, the missing Starlfeet crew or how you returned to the Alpha quadrant."
Torres's heart rate immediately began to stabilise.
Garak continued, "Starlfeet command has ordered us to cease all investigations into this matter, which is now officially closed. You are to come back to the sickbay in Deep Space Nine and I order you to wake up, now!"
Torres suddenly sat up, her eyes flew open. She screamed.
In the conference room Quark had left to obtain the Neural Transmitter, leaving Chakotay waiting for the return of Torres.
He was finalising their plans with Seven and Neelix when they all abruptly fell silent; each one of them experiencing a moment of strange mental awareness. An image appeared suddenly inside their minds and then only a few moments later it disappeared.
"What on Talax was that?" exclaimed Neelix
"You saw it too?" asked Chakotay. Neelix nodded
"I experienced a vision of a vast nebula, comprised mainly of plasma energy." stated Seven, "I have never encountered a nebula of that magnitude before."
"I have," pointed out Chakotay. "It was the Badlands."
Well, thought Chakotay, if we do manage to escape at least we know where we are supposed to start looking.
In the sickbay, Torres was recovering from her ordeal. Bashir ran some scans, concluding she had suffered no permanent damage. He surmised her scream had simply been a shock reaction to the abrupt ending of the hypnosis.
Sisko asked her if she remembered anything. Lying, she replied that she had no memory of the session. The truth was she clearly remembered one thing; witnessing an image of the Badlands. However she was not going to disclose this information to anyone but Chakotay. Torres did not know want the vision meant but it may be the clue they were looking for.
"What exactly happened Doctor?" asked Sisko.
"I'm not entirely sure, but I bet Garak has an idea."
All attention focused on Garak who presented his most innocent look. "Well, I'm also not entirely sure but I have had experience of a similar situation."
"Explain." promted Sisko.
"As I mentioned earlier, it was rare a person was a willing participant in an interrogation, but there was one occasion when a fellow agent had been accused of being a double agent for the Romulans. He passionately denied the accusation of course, but actually volunteered to be interrogated so he could clear his name. As he seemed willing I tried hypnosis and discovered he had been brain washed by the Romulans. He was passing over top-secret information but then forgetting the event ever took place. The poor sap had no idea he was a secret agent."
"That's not unheard of especially with the Romulans." interjected Bashir.
"So what happened?" asked Kira
"I decided to try and discover the identity of those who had brainwashed him in the hopes I could somehow turn this to my, I mean Cardassia's advantage. I was pressing him for more information when he became agitated. Believing I was on the brink of a breakthrough I continued until he suddenly fell silent and died. Just like that!"
Garak clicked his fingers.
"The autopsy showed he simply died of a heart attack. My superiors blamed me of course, claiming I had put him under too much pressure. What do they think I am some sort of amateur? How dare they imply…"
"Can we get back on topic Mr Garak?" said Sisko, interrupting Garek's rant.
"Oh, yes, of course." Garek continued. "However I suspected he had been programmed with a mental failsafe. One which would subconsciously cause his heart to slow down and eventually stop if asked to remember certain details while under hypnosis."
"So when you observed Torres's reaction to Bashir's questions, you assumed she had been programmed in a similar fashion?" asked Siko
"Exactly. I thought if I could reassure her subconscious we were not going to ask any more questions on the matter, I could deactivate the failsafe long enough for me to wake her up."
"A theory which, thankfully proved correct," said Bashir.
"It was my pleasure." answered Garek. "Although I cannot truthfully take all the credit. I have had some degree of success in recreating this scenario while experimenting on my uncle."
Ignoring Gareks last remark Sisko pondered the implications of what they had just witnessed. If Torres had been programmed in such a way it was a good bet the others had as well. If so, he concluded, then they were back at square one with this investigation.
Back on Voyager, Picard was on the bridge. He had been trying to help Riker and Data activate the main computer when he had a sudden vision of the Badlands. The mental image lasted several seconds before disappearing. He questioned Riker and Data but neither had shared his vision. He was about to contact Troi when she contacted him.
"Captain, I've just had a strange vision..."
"Of the Badlands?" Picard guessed.
"Yes, did you experience it as well?"
"Affirmative, any ideas?"
"Not really, I can't sense anything or locate a source. However I have a feeling something is definitely amiss."
"Agreed. Let's see if we can track down any other strange headaches or unexplained visions and see if a pattern emerges. Speak to the crew and find out if they have anything to report, no matter how insignificant it may seem."
"Aye, Sir."
Troi arrived in sickbay to ask Crusher if she had noticed anything, just in time to see her slam her hand down on the computer console in frustration.
"Damn!"
Counsellor Troi did not need any counselling skills or the powers of an empath to work out was wrong with her fellow officer and close friend. She knew from earlier conversations no matter what approach Crusher applied, the holo-matrix would de-compile into a mess of corruption the moment she tried to initialise it.
"Maybe you should try a different approach?" said Troi, trying to calm Crusher down.
"What different approach? I've tried every single method in the book, and then some, but the EMH program is too far gone; it's irretrievable!"
Crusher ran her hand through her hair while trying to think of new options.
"It would be easier if we just programmed a new one, although that wouldn't help us find out what happened to the crew."
"Isn't there some sort of backup system?" asked Troi.
"If only there were, but there is only enough room in the computer for one EMH... but wait a minute."
Crusher seemed like a light had just gone on in her head as she grabbed a tricorder. She went back to the Doctor's desk and scanned the portable emitter she had placed there earlier then promptly forgotten about.
Crusher slapped herself on the forehead, "Oh, I've been such an idiot!"
"What?" asked Troi.
"This emitter holds a copy of the Doctor's personal sub-routines and memory algorithms, basically the part of the EMH that makes this one unique. Now we know the original in the computer is far too corrupted to recover, so all we have to do is remove all traces of the corrupt one, install a fresh clean holo-matrix and then download the data held in the emitter. He'll be annoying patients again in no time!"
"But where are you going to get a new holo-matrix from?"
"From the Enterprise of course!"
"You have an EMH Mark I on the Enterprise?" Troi said.
Troi was surprised at this information; not only was she aware of Crusher's aversion to EMH programs but the EMH Mark I had been deemed obsolete years ago.
"I like to keep one around." Crusher said with a mischievous grin. "I find they can make good decoys in an emergency!"
Crusher decided she would leave her friend in the dark for now and save the story for another day.
"Crusher to Enterprise, one to beam up."
Crusher waved to a confused looking Troi as she dissolved into atoms ... only to reappear in transporter room one on board the Enterprise moments later.
As she walked through the corridors towards sickbay, she thought back to the time when the Borg had been trying to break into sickbay and the EMH had distracted them long enough for her to escape through a Jeffries tube.
As soon as she arrived in sickbay, she instructed the computer to activate the EMH program.
"Please state the nature of the medical emergency," said the EMH as soon as he appeared. He glanced around and saw Dr Crusher.
"Oh, it's you," he said distastefully.
He glanced uneasily at the door. "What is it this time, more Borg? Or is it an ex-lover, who you want me to distract while you attempt to squeeze your substantial behind into a Jeffries tube?"
When Crusher had heard the news about Voyager on the other side of the galaxy with only an EMH Mark I as the ship's doctor, she immediately felt sorry for them. Not only where they so far from home but they had to put up with the worst bedside manner in Starfleet history.
"No," replied Crusher curtly, "I have a sick patient and you are the only one who can fix him."
The EMH immediately brightened up, "My what a pleasant change from professional decoy and floor scrubber. Where is this poor fellow, what are his symptoms? Hey, what's that?"
The EMH backed away from Crusher who was attempting to attach the portable emitter onto his arm.
"It won't harm you," she explained. "But I need you to travel with me to another ship to have a look at this patient. This device will allow you to leave the room."
The EMH did not entirely trust Crusher's motives but he allowed her to attach the device anyway.
"Well it's about time Starfleet invented something like this." The EMH twisted his arm to have a look at the device as Crusher left the room.
"Come on." Crusher shouted as she walked through the exit. The EMH tentatively followed. He finally stepped into the corridor after sticking his arm in and out of the doorway several times.
As they made their way to the transporter room the EMH grew in confidence. He chatted aimlessly about his first away mission and made several comments about holograms replacing all Starfleet personal in the near future. Crusher hoped if they did manage to reactivate Voyager's EMH, he would not turn out to be as annoying as this one.
Back on Deep Space Nine, Chakotay, Neelix and Seven had been returned to their quarters while Sisko, Worf and Kira conferred with the Enterprise crew to exchange their latest findings.
After a brief regeneration cycle, Seven emerged from her sleep. Within minutes she had dismantled her chamber for the parts she needed.
The escape plan was underway!