The next few weeks were tense for all of Voyager, and especially for Captain Janeway, as the enemy that had murdered thousands of Klingons remained uncaught and unidentified.
Kh'thoh had been correct, they had passed no other Klingon space stations, planets, or ships. After 6 and a half long years, Voyager had finally made it to allied space, and had found it just as dangerous and lonely as the far reaches of the Delta Quadrant.
Gretchen at least, seemed to be more positive, but there was no telling how long it would last. When Kathryn saw her in the Mess Hall, it was not uncommon to see her sitting with their Klingon guest, laughing loudly at a rowdy story. After the initial few days, Kh'thoh had caused no problems on Voyager, beyond a few bawdy jokes and cutting glares at crew members. She had not even heard about any run-ins with B'Elanna, which was a blessing she had not expected. The Klingon hybrid was furious at every encounter with Janeway herself lately. The woman had expected to get her vision back the moment the men returned, and Kathryn feared what she would do if the wait went on much longer.
Hack the Doctor's programming probably, and then I'll have to put her in the Brig until she's repentant, which will be never, the women thought, as she placed her elbows on her desk and held her head in her hands. Why can't my crew just let me take care of them sometimes?
Harry was doing some better, which was more than could be said for Tom. There was something still weak about the pilot's smile, something underneath his normal easy going demeanor that worried her.
Why couldn't you have just written your son Owen?
Why couldn't you ever have told him he was valuable? Not as a pilot, or your legacy, but as Tom?
Her headache was starting again.
Why couldn't I have told Gretchen that in her timeline?
Why did I have a child on a hopeless ship?
Why did I strand us here? Where we were next to doomed?
She sagged on her desk, feeling weak and light headed.
It's only a day or so until we reach Ascelpius, the mythical planet.
Which can heal us, or help us get home.
If it exists.
Just as she was ruminating, again, on the likelihood, a voice from her combadge ended the debate.
"Captain," came Seven's voice, "Long range sensors have located a hidden space station. It hovers over a planet which matches the data we have on Asclepius."
"When will we be in communications range, Seven?"
"We will be within communication range in 10.54 hours, Captain."
"Good," said Kathryn, straightening up, "Be prepared."
At the estimated time, Kathryn was in her command chair, her full bridge crew at their places.
Harry opened the channel to the tiny space station, which they could now see on viewscreen. It was old, and in an unusual design.
"This is Captain Kathryn Janeway of the Federation Starship Voyager," said Janeway's official tones, "We're seeking the Klingon world Ascelpius. Starfleet Command has informed us you can help us return home."
"This is Ascelpius," came a curt voice, "What in the Empire is a Federation vessel doing out here?"
"It's a long story," said Janeway, "We got lost. We were told you were expecting us."
"No." came another, even curter voice, "We are not expecting you."
"We're looking for a scientist," said Janeway insistently, "Perhaps a specialist in transwarp or astrometrics."
"No. There's no one like that on Asclepius," came the second curt voice.
"An inventor perhaps," said Janeway, giving Chakotay a look, "Could you direct us to a scientific center?"
"There are no scientific centers on Ascelpius," came the second voice, with derision.
Captain Janeway held her face in one hand and stared at the empty monitor in disgust for a brief moment, thinking furiously, "What about medical centers?" she asked.
"You're here for healing?" asked the first voice.
"Yes," said Janeway.
"Why didn't you say so," came the first voice again, more eager, "We'll send you our requirements. You'll have to follow our policies to the letter. It's a holy site you know."
"We'll be sure to respect your culture and procedures," answered Janeway.
The communication ended and Kathryn looked at Chakotay again, raising her eyebrow.
This is going to be a long day.
Captain Janeway held a staff meeting in her Briefing Room an hour later.
"Obviously we're all very disappointed, and a bit mystified at the fact that no one was here to greet us," said Captain Janeway, opening the meeting, "We can't be sure what this means, perhaps they wish to remain anonymous for some reason or another."
"Perhaps dear old dad was wrong," said Tom, looking sour.
Kathryn nodded, not wanting to argue with him, "Unlikely, but not impossible."
"Maybe they're just not here yet," said B'Elanna, being the optimist for once.
"That would be the best possibility," said Kathryn, "Maybe they were delayed for whatever reason."
"Or destroyed," said Harry, uncharacteristically despondent.
"We can't know," said Kathryn, "And directly asking has gotten us nowhere. I propose we spend our time doing two things. We've already started on the first, informing the Klingon government about the attack on Kh'thoh's space station. I think we should spend our remaining time taking advantage of the healing facilities on Asclepius. Perhaps we'll learn more on the surface, incognito."
"There is no guarantee it is safe," said Tuvok impassively, "However, the Klingon Empire is a Federation ally."
"I don't think we have much choice," said Kathryn, nodding, "Which means we trust their procedures, as far as we can."
She looked around the table and saw nods in response. She continued, holding up a datapad, "I believe most of you have already read the policies sent to us by the Klingons, but I'll summarize. Only those of us seeking healing may visit the planet. Technology is forbidden on the surface. That means no phasers, however non-technological weapons are allowed and encouraged."
"It is a Klingon planet," inserted B'Elanna.
"Yes," said Kathryn, reading again from her datapad, "We aren't allowed combadges, however transporter beams are allowed to focus on crew members, so that isn't an issue. We can send homing crystals to let Voyager know when to transport us. However once transported off a person cannot return to the surface."
"Seems fair enough," said Tom, "So who's seeking healing?"
"I'll put a call out to the crew," said Kathryn, "But I'm going. I want to see the surface. However, I forbid anyone else from doing the same. There's no way of knowing how they'll test us, or determine our intentions, and I do not want any incidents."
She looked around the table, "I'm sure we could all use some healing, but I forbid anyone to join this mission unless they have an in good faith intention of seeking it on this planet. B'Elanna, I assume you're…"
"Yes," snapped B'Elanna, suddenly in a bad mood, "I'll go and see what they can do for my eyes. I'll probably have to say some stupid prayers or give an offering to Kahless or drink blood worms, but I'll go."
Well, at least they won't mind her Klingon temper on Ascelpius.
"Well," Captain Janeway finished, "Anyone else can let me know in private. We'll leave in 24 hours."
She dismissed the meeting and they began to file out.
"Gretchen?" she asked.
The young woman moved closer to her, as the doors closed shut behind the last of her crew.
"Yes. Yes I'll go," said Gretchen, "I at least had better learn something about Klingon culture. If I mean to leave the ship this is my opportunity to try it without the commitment. I ought to see what Asclepius can offer."
"You don't seem too excited about it."
"I'm tired of healing," said Gretchen, "I'm just…..tired. But yes, I'll go."
"It may not be all bad," said Kathryn, rising and clenching Gretchen's arm in camaraderie, "Think of the blood worms,"she added humoroulsy.
As Gretchen left, Captain Janeway's mind ruminated again.
It seems worth a try. It should be safe.
But is it?
She had tried, multiple times, to interogate Kh'thoh, but he refused to speak more on the subject. Something about the way he talked about the planet worried her.
If Owen hadn't insisted we visit, I might almost skip the planet entirely.
But I have my orders. And no real proof. We'll just have to be on our guard.
I hope it really is a place of healing.
Captain Janeway was rather surprised, as the final count for the mission came in, that Kh'thoh was the only addition to the team.
Maybe I oversold the caution, she chastised herself, not wanting to have cheated her crew out of an opportunity.
She internally shook her head.
They'll be more if this goes well, a smaller group is better at the beginning.
Or perhaps…..we won't need it at all. Perhaps we'll be going home.
She metaphorically shook her head again.
Let's not hope too much. We'll face whatever comes.
With those words in her mind, they were transported to the surface."This way," came an arrogant male voice.
They were in a enclosed space, which was made of a dark brown metal and poorly lit, giving the feeling of an underground bunker. There were four figures in white robes with their faces covered standing by four doors.
Another figure, also in white robes stood in the center, hood halfway down, clearly the one that had spoken.
In the strange atmosphere Kathryn answered cautiously, "I'm responsible for all these people. Explain what's going on."
The Klingon man sighed, and looked at her impatiently, "It's only an evaluation. The real danger comes later."
She stared at him.
"We'll return them all to you first. Alright, Captain?" he huffed.
"Fine," said Janeway, staring intently still, but nodding at her crew, as they wandered towards the doors. One of the white robed figures came out to grasp B'Elanna's hand.
Kathryn entered her doorway first, and followed her figure down a very dark hallway.
"Why are you here, Captain?", came the female voice in front of her, "Other than to accompany your crew. And spy on us."
Do they know? Or just guessing?
"Tell the truth now. You're in the presence of the great god."
"I don't believe in god."
"Why did you come here Captain?" the voice insisted.
What should I say?
"Didn't you warn your crew to tell the truth?" came the voice, as they continued walking down the long hallway.
Presently the metal walls were turning into those of a dark cave.
"Didn't you warn them to seek in good faith healing?"
Damn. How could she know that?
Telepaths?
Spies?
She felt herself becoming paranoid, as the cave became even darker. The white robed figure seemed to become even brighter, a ghostly, eerie light.
"You're giving me your answers even now. But it will do you no good to keep them in your mind."
"Guilt," said Kathryn frankly, her own strong voice giving her some comfort, "I seek to heal from the mistakes I've made."
"You wish to pay for your mistakes," said the figure, hovering in front of her now, turning to her, face still covered.
"You seek atonement," the voice said, "You wish to die."
No.
Thought Kathryn, but she did not say it. She did not utter it out loud as the figure stared at her, with unseen eyes.
Kathryn held the eerie gaze as the figure seemed to hover, and walk through her.
Everything was cold for a moment as she stood in front of a barely visible, metal door.
Her hand burned as she touched the doorknob, but she pulled it as hard as she could.
It opened, and she found herself in the same room she had started in.
It took a moment for Kathryn's eyes to adjust, and then she looked in horror as she realized that Kh'thoh was the only one in the room.
Gretchen…she thought desperately…she's not strong enough to survive that on her own.
There's no way of telling how they'll test us, her own words haunted her.
She gasped out loud, and turned to the doors, only to find that all four of them were gone.