Captains log Stardate: 43545.29390
We continue our voyage home through the Delta Quadrant. The days have been quiet lately and we see no signs of trouble. Due to the harsh relations between two star systems, the Kayori and the Maltrin, we have been temporarily harnessed as a trade vessel in order to be able to move freely between and through the two star systems. Ambassador Tal from the Kayori and Delegate Naku of the Maltrin have assured us that as long as we perform this task and show no hostilities to either side we may proceed through both systems without hindrance to go home and at the moment I see no reason to doubt them.
Captain Janeway picked up the corner of her dress as she stepped out of the carriage, the doorman gently holding her hand to steady her. She used her left hand to adjust her blue mask as a man in a loose white shirt with a brown vest and matching pants walked up to her from the entrance to the door. He wore a sparrow mask. "Ah. M'lady. You look absolutely ravishing tonight." He said giving a low bow.
Janeway pulled her dress out and curtseyed. "Thank you my lord." They stood and the man turned to Janeway's left side and held out his right arm. "I notice you do not have an escort tonight. Would it be presumptuous if I offered to escort you to the party, M'lady?"
Janeway shook her head. "Of course not, my lord." She said taking his hand. They walked slowly up the stairs and into the grand ballroom of the palace. They stood as the man standing beside the door called out to the room of gathering people. "Presenting Lord John Clamor and Lady Katharine."
Lord Clamor led Janeway to the floor where there were people dancing. "Might I have the honor of this dance?" he asked turning in front of her and offering her his arm. "Of course." She said and they began to twirl with the other dancers. After a moment a man walked up to them and tapped Clamor on the shoulder. They both stood back and bowed. "Your majesty." They said together as King Louis the IV nodded to them. "Would it pain you to have me cut in?" Lord Clamour smiled at Janeway, "No you Majesty." He said and gestured for him to take Janeway. He walked behind the king and winked.
Janeway moved with him and they began to dance. They were in the middle of the dance when Janeway's communicator beeped.
"Captain." The male voice said on it. "Yes Chakotay?" she asked. "We've found a strange signal. We are checking up on it but we believe it to be a distress beacon." Chakotay replied. "On the way Commander. Computer end program." The ball and the King disappeared from view and she was alone again in the holoroom. She walked out through the door and headed to the bridge.
"Captain" A man with a tattoo over his left eye said as he stood. Janeway looked at him. "Chakotay. What did we find?" She asked as she gestured for them to show her.
A Caucasian man with brown hair pressed a few buttons. The screen showed a small vessel, it was oblong and almost cylindrical with a small hatch on the side. Four cylinders that were most likely some sort of thruster clustered together on one of the smaller ends.
"I believe it to be an escape pod Captain." A dark skinned man with pointed ears said as he looked up from his panel. "And a badly beat up one at that, the helmsman replied.
"What do we do Captain?" Chakotay asked.
"Any attempt at hailing them?" she asked. The pointed eared man shook his head. "Negative. There is no answer. The design is unfamiliar to us. It may not be able to pick up a signal or give off one. The distress signal is still going however.
Janeway nodded. She had seen the escape pods of both the Maltrin and the Kayori. It fit neither description. "Any life signs?"
"One. Human. No other life forms are on board captain." The man said.
Nodding she turned, "Use the tractor beam to bring it aboard. Tell the Doctor he may be having a visitor in Sick Bay. Tuvok, Lead a security team down there to meet the med team. I don't think we will be having too many problems but just in case. Mr. Price. Join them with a stretcher."
"Yes Captain." The Vulcan and human said at the same time as they turned and walked out of the room. Chakotay glanced at the Captain, nodded and followed suit.
Tuvok led the security team into Docking Bay 1 where they stood behind a stasis field as they watched the escape pod be brought aboard. "The pod's aboard Tuvok. Be careful." A voice said over the communicator. "We see it."
Chakotay paused for a moment and disabled the field. Moving to the pod the security team paused momentarily. "Paris was right Commander; this pod is damaged quite extensively." Tuvok said
Another team member walked around carefully. "I have found some identification markings but they aren't comprehensible. I don't recognize the language and I can't make out most of it anyway."
Chakotay nodded and walked up to the hatch. "It's okay. We are not your enemy. You are safe, go ahead and open the door." He called in a clear and loud voice that offered authority and reassurance.
There was a pause but the door did not open and they did not hear any signs that someone may be attempting to open the door. Chakotay nodded to Tuvok who held the phazor ready. Moving slowly he reached up to the hatch and after some difficulty, managed to open it.
"Med!" Tuvok ordered as he stepped back. Inside the pod was a single human occupant. His slightly long reddish brown hair fell over his face. He wore clothes that were either a size or two too large or they were just naturally loose. A brown cloth jacket covered the clothes. He was slumped over unconscious. The harness around his chest prevented him from falling completely over.
Tom moved the stretcher closer to the pod. With Chakotay's help he gently maneuvered the man out of the harness and onto the stretcher. "I'll take him to Med-bay. He doesn't look to good." Tom said. "I will join you just in case." Tuvok added with Chakotay nodding his agreement. "Check out the pod, see if you can't find anything that might help us identify who our mysterious visitor is." One of the cadet officers nodded, "Sir."
Tuvok and Chakotay walked on either side of the streatcher as Paris pushed it down the hall. The man did not stir from his position and looked rather pale. "Wonder what happened." Paris thought aloud. Neither Chakotay nor Tuvok could give any guess. "We will have to wait until he regains consciousness for that answer lieutenant." Tuvok replied.
They walked into the Sick bay to find the Doctor already waiting.
"Please state the nature of the medical emergency." He smiled then saw the man. "What do we have?" he asked again. "Not sure Doctor. We picked him up from an escape pod. We feel a pulse but that is about as much as we know." Tom said as he pushed the stretcher in. Chakotay followed with Tuvok standing next to the door.
The Doctor nodded and Tom once again with Chakotay's help put the man on the table. The Doctor and Tom swiftly went to work examining their patient and became even grimmer by the moment.
"What's wrong?" Chakotay asked as the Doctor and Tom finished up and stood in front of them.
"The patient's status is difficult to describe. His vital signs seem to be exhibiting some level of fatigue but are otherwise normal, as if he fainted from exhaustion or is sleeping. However, his brain waves are completely erratic. Not normal at all. I'd hate to say it but I think he's brain dead." The doctor replied.
Tom shook his head. "I have a really weird feeling Doc. I don't think it's brain dead but I don't know what it would be instead. My best guess at the moment would be an a coma."
Tuvok looked at his commander. "With your permission sir I would like to report back to my station." Chakotay nodded. "Granted. Tom. You go ahead as well." Paris nodded. "Sir."
As the two left Chakotay tapped his communicator. "Captain."
Janeway's voice replied. "Yes Chakotay."
The Doctor nodded as Chakotay began to explain the situation. "There was a single human in the pod. Male. He appears to be brain dead or rather close to it. We aren't certain what happened to him."
Janeway addressed the Doctor. "Is there some way you can help him?" she asked.
"I'm not sure. But with the level of deprivation his body is currently in I can't quite tell what happened. However I believe that it isn't likely that he will be going anywhere anytime…" The doctor turned to the examination table and both their faces dropped.
It was empty…
"Soon." The Doctor finished as he and Chakotay blinked.
"What is happening?" Janeway asked hearing the change in their voice.
"Well Captain. The ship's visitor is now wandering around."
"What?"
Chakotay broke in. "Somehow he disappeared from Sick bay Captain."
On the bridge Janeway turned to Tuvok. The Vulcan was already halfway to the door. He turned to Janeway who just nodded. Orders were already known.
"Security. Do an immediate sweep of the ship. You are looking for a male Human, light skin, red-brown hair, wearing brown and tan clothing." He ordered.