Ongoing Path – The Star Trek Voyager Universe
By Stargatesg1fan1
Disclaimer: I own nothing of any recognized characters or universes within. If I did own these rights Tom Paris would have had a harem.
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Stardate 52619.2…
When Voyager flew by a smaller Borg scout ship under cloak Kathryn was struck with an idea. She asked Harry, Magnus, and Seven to scan for any other smaller Borg ship in the area. It just so happened that there was a heavily damaged scout ship limping its way back to the Collective. She called a briefing.
"What we have here is Fort Knox," Kathryn announced while showing a schematic of the heavily damaged scout ship.
"What does that mean, Captain?" Tuvok queried.
Kathryn glanced at her boyfriend since she knew he was a history buff.
"Fort Knox was the largest repository of gold bullion in Earth's history," Harry explained. "Nobody ever managed to breach Fort Knox and some Ferengi tried. Are you thinking of stealing a transwarp coil from that ship?"
"I knew you would catch on quickly," Kathryn said.
"Captain, do you truly believe the Borg's defenses are damaged enough on that sphere for such an action to succeed?" Tuvok queried.
"Yes, long enough to get what we want," Kathryn confirmed. "We can create a diversion to occupy their attention and send in an away team to get what we want. Perhaps Magnus could go too."
"I do not believe his presence will be required on this mission," Seven declared, not wishing Magnus to be involved with the Borg yet.
Magnus had looked eager for a moment but when Seven had spoken he looked resigned. Magnus had learned that what his parents decided was what he would do.
"We could create a holo-deck simulation of the sphere and rehearse the extraction," Chakotay suggested.
"Sounds good," Kathryn said. "The sphere is three days away at maximum warp. Set a course, Tom. Chakotay, I want an outline of our heist by tomorrow morning. Dismissed."
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Kathryn later asked Seven in private to look through the research notes left by Seven's parents. The Hansons were exo-biologists studying the Borg and had managed to track a cube for several years before they were assimilated. Kathryn wanted to know how the Hansons had gotten so close for so long before they had been assimilated. Seven still held some residual anger at her parents for getting her assimilated.
"Hello beautiful," Harry greeted his mate as he entered the lab where Seven was working with Magnus to examine the research notes. "How goes the research?"
"The study of this research has been bringing back memories to my conscious mind that I had thought forgotten," Seven admitted.
"But they were quite ingenious individuals," Magnus added.
"I would expect that is where Seven gets her brilliance," Harry told his son. "What memories?"
"I just recalled my father telling me of our search for the Borg beginning. This was right after Starfleet had finally approved the research. So little was known about the Borg back then," Seven explained. "My father was very misguided about the true nature of the Borg. Then I remembered the next 8 months before my parents found their first Borg vessel. They defied Starfleet's orders to return as they searched in places they were not allowed to go such as the neutral zone."
"Seven of Nine and Lieutenant Paris to the Bridge," Tuvok requested.
"On our way," Harry answered after tapping his com badge.
Harry and Seven entered the bridge just as the sphere was put on screen.
"Tom, match this course and speed and keep a distance of ten million kilometers. Seven, scan the vessel and tell me their status," Kathryn ordered.
"Their weapons array is regenerating. But their shields and transwarp drive are still offline," Seven announced after analyzing the scan results. "Their transwarp capabilities will be repaired in approximately 72 hours."
"I want round the clock simulations in order to be ready to take one of their coils," Kathryn ordered.
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Harry followed Kathryn and Seven through the halls of the simulation Borg vessel.
"Bridge to away teams…you are five seconds behind schedule," Chakotay informed the away teams.
"We are at the shield matrix. Standby," Tuvok called moments later.
The trio meanwhile reached one of the transwarp coil rooms. Seven initiated the cover to rise off of the coil. Kathryn began setting up a pattern enhancer.
"You've got fifty-six seconds," Chakotay announced.
A short while later Tuvok said, "Tuvok to Janeway. Charges are set. We are returning to the transporter coordinates."
"The transwarp coil is offline," Seven informed her companions a moment later.
"Tuvok, now," Kathryn ordered as she finished with the pattern enhancer. The ship shuddered under the force of an explosion. "Bridge, their shields are down. Energize."
The transwarp coil was transported away. The trio left the coil room. The time ran out too soon and the away team was detected. Two drones approached and Kathryn fired but the other team must have already hit other drones. The two drones shrugged off the phaser rifle fire and kept coming. Harry drew his sword and leapt forward. His blade ignored the Borg personal shields and severed life and limb. The trio moved on and reached the transporter coordinates. They were soon transported away.
"Chakotay to holo-deck two…we got the transwarp coil. The Borg tried hacking into our transporter beam but Tom's protection protocols held," Chakotay explained. "You took two minutes twelve seconds."
"I would prefer to get it down under the two minutes it takes their sensor grid to regenerate but with Tom's help that might do," Kathryn mused. "That is a pretty useful sword you have there."
"Yes…but it takes a great deal of skill to wield it. This isn't any normal matter the blade is made out of," Harry assured but said nothing further.
"I'll bet," Kathryn agreed when she realized her mate wasn't going to elaborate.
"I am still investigating the method but the Hansons were able to remain inside of a Borg cube for several hours without being detected," Seven announced.
"That would be useful. Let me know when you have something," Kathryn said. "But if you don't find something soon we will proceed without that extra edge."
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"This device is called a bio-dampener. It prevented the Borg from detecting the Hansons," Seven showed Tuvok, Harry, Kathryn, and the Doctor in sick bay. "The device generates a field around the body which simulates the physiometric conditions within a Borg vessel."
"Ingenious," Tuvok commented. "We need five of these devices. How soon can you replicate them?"
"I'll have to tailor each unit to its user's physiology," the Doctor explained. "I will need at least a few hours. I will begin immediately."
The Captain and Tuvok left.
"This is an important stage in your development," the Doctor informed Seven. "This project shows you how you were raised."
"My parents underestimated the Collective and were destroyed for it," Seven stated. "Because of their arrogance I was raised by Borg."
Seven turned and left sick bay. She was angry. Harry followed her. She ended up in their bedroom.
"Seven, talk to me. What is going on?" Harry asked. "And don't tell me nothing."
Seven looked at her mate intently for a moment before admitting, "The Borg queen contacted me on my neural transceiver. She wishes me to surrender myself on the away mission in exchange for not destroying Voyager."
"Ok. You know I am far more powerful than I let others believe right," Harry said.
"I have suspected that for some time," Seven confirmed.
"Then trust me when I say I can get to you anywhere in this universe and there is nothing in this universe that can keep me from you," Harry promised. Seven was thoughtful about his statement. A growing suspicion began to form about her mate. She thought he may be from another universe. "Wear this personal shield device and no Borg can harm you."
Harry handed Seven a personal shield generator that took the form of a small wrist band. She slipped it on.
"You wish me to surrender to the Borg," Seven clarified.
"If you do it we can figure out the queen's plan," Harry answered.
"I will do so," Seven agreed.
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The away team transported onto the sphere with active bio-dampeners. The Borg were assimilating a stripped down class two shuttle which Harry and B'Elanna had made look like an enticing target. Harry, Seven, and Kathryn swiftly reached the transwarp coil room and began their practiced task.
"Tuvok to Janeway…charges are set and we are returning to the transport coordinates," Tuvok announced over the com.
"The transwarp coil is offline," Seven stated.
"Tuvok, now," Kathryn instructed.
The ship shuddered as the sphere's shield generator went down with detonation of the charges.
"Target obtained," Chakotay announced as the coil transported away.
The pattern enhancers enhanced the transporter signal enough for non-living matter even through all of the shielding in the transwarp coil room. But that transport shouldn't be tried with living matter. The trio headed back towards the transporter coordinates. Partway back Seven stopped.
"Seven, keep moving," Kathryn barked.
"No. I wish to stay," Seven stated. "I intend to rejoin the Collective."
"I can't let you do that," Kathryn declared.
"Let her go. I'm protecting her. But put up a struggle," Harry projected at Kathryn. Aloud he added, "Seven why?"
"It is my choice," Seven replied.
Just then a shield flickered into existence between Seven and her lovers.
"Chakotay to away team. The sphere has somehow detected Voyager even through our cloak. We need to get you out of there now," Chakotay urged.
More drones started to show up. Harry grabbed Kathryn's arm and they ran. He knocked one drone aside and she drilled another with her phaser rifle. Harry and Kathryn quickly rejoined Tuvok and HK.
"Bridge, four to beam up," Kathryn instructed.
"What about Seven?" Chakotay replied.
"Energize. I'll explain later," Kathryn answered.
Almost immediately after the away team returned to Voyager the sphere used its remaining transwarp coils to jump into transwarp.
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"What the hell was that?" Kathryn demanded of her lover the moment they were alone.
"Seven came to me to tell me that the current Borg Queen was aware of your plan. The Queen would spare the members of Voyager's crew in exchange for Seven rejoining the Collective," Harry explained.
"And you just let her go…without telling me?" Kathryn asked.
"Seven was going to do it no matter what. At least she told me. I have given her technology which will protect her. Even now I am monitoring her status," Harry assured.
"What do we do about Seven?" Kathryn asked. "I am assuming you have a plan."
"Yes. Request a transwarp shuttle from Earth. My son is going on an away mission," Harry stated.
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"You asked to see me, father," Magnus said as he entered his father's quarters.
"Yes, Magnus," Harry confirmed. "Magnus, I am far more powerful than I let everyone believe."
"I suspected as much," Magnus admitted. "You do not seem to want others to know. I have been studying my own DNA and while I cannot determine its true potential I suspect I can see more than the Federation technology of this time can. I suspected you were something similar to a Q."
"I am and more," Harry answered. "I appreciate you keeping this to yourself."
"How can I help?" Magnus asked.
"Your mother has been taken by the Collective to a Borg Queen. I will be going with you on an away mission but only you will be able to see me. We are going to take an unshielded transwarp shuttle from Earth to Seven's location and retrieve her. The crew of Voyager will be told that you can survive unshielded transwarp because of your advanced nature and that you can temporarily enhance Seven's Borg implants to allow her to do the same," Harry explained.
"When they ask why I couldn't do this all the time?" Magnus queried.
"You will say such an enhancement is bad for the organic physiology long-term unless that physiology was engineered from the start to handle the stresses," Harry answered.
"When do we leave?" Magnus asked.
"Very soon. Meet me in the shuttle-bay in two hours," Harry directed.
Magnus nodded and left.
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Seven woke up from her regeneration to find a drone had attached something behind her ear. Her vision looked different.
"Relax. They only believe they have installed this implant. I have fooled their systems into believing they were successful but they weren't," Harry's voice played through Seven's mind.
"Good morning," the Queen told Seven.
"My visual cortex has been altered," Seven stated.
"We have enhanced it with Borg technology," the Queen replied. "You have viewed the universe through human eyes long enough." Seven touched the node behind her ear. "That is a neural processing adjunct which is designed to increase your synaptic efficiency."
"There will be no more modifications to me without my permission," Seven ordered.
"Don't be afraid," the Queen said. "We won't turn you into a drone. You are much too valuable to us with your individuality intact. But without being part of humanity you need to abandon their petty emotions like fear, anger, and vanity. The damage they have done to you can be repaired."
"Why have you expended such resources to capture me?" Seven asked.
"You are the perfect assistance we need to assimilate humanity," the Queen explained. "Our first attempt failed and therefore we must understand the nature of their resistance. Let us see humanity."
"You have my memories from when I regenerated," Seven pointed out.
"Not very much of your real memories," Harry added.
"Knowledge alone does not always provide adequate interpretation. We want to keep you the way you are to interpret for us," the Queen answered.
The ship shuddered at that moment and Seven asked, "What is going on?"
"Our vessel is disengaging from the uni-complex and we are setting a course for Grid 532. We are going to be assimilating in that region," the Queen announced. "Of course our presence is not required but I thought the experience would be rewarding for you." A planet was displayed on the holo-monitor the Queen turned to. "Species 10026."
"How many life-forms are present on this world?" Seven queried.
"392,000 life-forms," the Queen answered. Seven was alarmed and the Queen knew it. "You are experiencing compassion which is a human impulse. You are Borg. Those lives will be added to our own. It will not be long until we arrive at the target planet. Prepare yourself."
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Harry took the transwarp shuttle into transwarp velocity while Magnus sat beside him. It was time to get Seven back.
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"We have arrived," the Queen announced. "Are you ready?"
A dozen cubes orbited the planet in question. Utilizing so many vessels was overkill Seven thought but she supposed the Queen didn't go anywhere unprotected.
"I have familiarized myself with the target species," Seven answered.
"Tactical weakness," the Queen prompted.
"Their vessels lack maneuverability," Seven answered.
"Tactical strength," the Queen prompted.
"They have developed a modulating phaser pulse that can penetrate our shields," Seven replied.
"How do you propose we adapt?" The Queen inquired. The ship shuddered as weapons fire hit the Queen's ship. "39 of their vessels are closing on our position. Our shields are failing. We will be destroyed."
"No you won't," Harry assured. "Activate your shield and tell her you won't be destroyed."
Seven activated her personal shield and announced, "You may die but I will not. Do as you wish."
One of the drones stepped forward and attempted to touch the shield emitter on Seven's waist. The shield flared brilliantly and the drone fell back completely frozen in time unable to move.
"Where did you get that technology?" The Queen demanded.
"From a being far more powerful than you can ever comprehend," Seven answered.
"We have adapted to the threat of our target species," the Queen announced as the weapons fire stopped having effect. "I will find out where that shield comes from and you will do what I want."
At that moment dozens of warships began appearing in front of the target planet. These warships were not from the target species.
"Those vessels match no known configuration," the Queen stated.
Suddenly one of the new vessels opened fire on a cube and seemed to completely ignore the cube's shield. The cube's weapons systems had been targeted and nothing else. Other cubes began returning fire on the attacking vessels…with absolutely no effect. The energy streams from the cubes simply passed through the foreign vessels. An image of a beautiful blonde female appeared on the bridge holographically projected.
"All Borg vessels…cease hostilities immediately and leave this region of space," Sam-R ordered. "You cannot win against our Replicator vessels."
Then the hologram vanished.
"They are employing some kind of dimensional phasing technology," the Queen announced. "Attempting to compensate." A few moments later she said, "Attempt failed. We cannot reach the energy level of the dimension they are using."
Seven watched stunned as the Borg were forced to withdraw as more and more cubes were rendered to a weaponless state. It was obvious that the replicator vessels could destroy the cubes but instead chose not to. She had never witnessed this phenomenon before.
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The shuttle came out of transwarp to see hundreds of different types of Borg ships collected together in a massive configuration. The shuttle was under cloak and Harry further enhanced the basic cloak with his own powers. Harry piloted the shuttle unerringly into the center of the Borg configuration to where he sensed Seven was.
As he did so he also listened to what was going on between Seven and the Queen. The Queen's ship had returned to this home for the Borg.
"You will interface with the central alcove and program the nano-probes on a biogenic warhead to gradually infect humanity," the Queen demanded. "Make sure to enhance the viral sequencers."
"I will not assist in this," Seven rebutted. "You still do not understand that you hold no influence over me."
"Comply," the Queen demanded.
"No," Seven insisted.
The Queen glanced behind her and half a dozen drones stepped forward towards Seven.
"Let us see if you will allow that shield to damage your father," the Queen suggested as Seven's father stepped forward as a Borg drone.
"Papa," Seven said in surprise.
At that moment Magnus transported into the chamber. The Queen showed genuine surprise when she laid eyes on Magnus.
"Magnus, take him too," Seven instructed while pointing towards the drone that was her father.
Several drones attempted to stop Magnus but his shield flared up and disabled them. The drones were not dead but they were inactive for some time. Magnus II stepped over to Seven's father Magnus I and shut down Magnus I. Magnus the first then hoisted his grandfather onto his shoulder before stepping closer to Seven. Seven laid her hand on her son's arm.
"I will find you," the Queen promised.
"No you will not," Magnus I assured as he raised the arm Seven was holding enough to fire a blast of focused plasma at the Queen.
The Queen screamed as she was disintegrated. The Collective would replace her but the new Queen would not have a personal vendetta against Seven like the now dead Queen had. As far as Harry was concerned the Queens were the only Borg entities accountable for their actions. Once the Queens were elevated to the level of Queen they had enough influence over the Collective that they could change the Collective's mandate of assimilation at all costs. After all it had been the first Queen of the Collective that had set that mandate.
Both Magnus I, Magnus II, and Seven transported out to the transwarp shuttle. As soon as he returned Magnus I was given new coordinates telepathically by his father and then vanished again.
"Where did Magnus go?" Seven asked. Magnus was back moments later with another disabled drone. "Mama," Seven whispered as she recognized her mother Erin Hansen.
The shuttle immediately jumped back to transwarp velocity. The Collective was in such disorder over the loss of a Queen that no Borg vessels followed.
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Main Engineering…
"That is it. Shut her down," Harry instructed as he monitored the transwarp coil from a station at the engineering console.
B'Elanna deactivated the transwarp coil from her nearby console.
"So you think if we stop now you will be able to repair the damage done to the coil?" Kathryn asked.
"Yes," Harry confirmed. "Though I can't give you a timeline on how long that will take," Harry answered. "It could be very slow going on the repair. And the repeated damage and repair will make future repairs erratic. This technology just wasn't made to work well with ours. Magnus, Seven, B'Elanna, and I will study the technology and see if we can't design one better suited to our systems."
"Twenty-thousand light-years and 15 years closer to home is a good start," Kathryn said with a grateful tone. "Are you going to keep calling him Magnus now that his namesake is back?"
"We haven't thought about it," Harry admitted. "Seven and the Doctor should be waking up the Hansens right about now."
"Maybe you could give him a middle name and have him go by that name," B'Elanna suggested.
"That actually isn't a bad idea," Harry mused. "Now we just need to think up a middle name."
"Let's go greet the Hansens," Kathryn suggested.
B'Elanna decided to come along as well because she was part of the relationship that Seven partook in with Harry just as much as Kathryn was. The trio entered sick bay to find a much more human appearing Magnus and Erin Hansen tearfully reuniting with their daughter while Magnus II stood nearby. Harry could tell Erin had already hugged Magnus II and he was rather uncomfortable. At the entrance of the three new arrivals the Hansens turned to greet them. Denara and the Doctor had retreated to their office.
"Mother, Father, this is my boyfriend Tom Paris, Captain Kathryn Janeway, and Lieutenant B'Elanna Torres," Seven introduced.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Hansen," Harry greeted while he shook Magnus I's hand and then returned Erin's hug.
"Call us Magnus and Erin," Magnus I invited all of those present. "Though I understand that could get a bit confusing because of there already being a Magnus here."
"We are delighted that there is already a Magnus here," Erin added. "After all, we understand it is him we have to thank for our rescue."
Magnus II looked uncomfortable at this praise.
"We were talking about that and B'Elanna suggested giving him a middle name which we can refer to him by," Harry explained.
"A good suggestion," Seven agreed. "What should we call him?"
"My maternal great-grandfather was called David," Magnus II spoke up to say.
Erin smiled at her grandson and said, "He is correct. And my father died when I was younger in an accident so there is no chance of the same confusion happening."
"David it is," Harry said.
"We can show you to your quarters now," Kathryn suggested. "There is a suitable living environment near our own quarters."
"We would like that," Erin said.
As the group left sickbay Magnus I and Erin were watching how the group interacted. When Seven had told her parents about the unusual relationship she shared her boyfriend in with other women they had at first been alarmed. Such pairings were not unheard of throughout the Federation but rarely did they ever work out among humans. But then when Seven had explained that she, B'Elanna, and Kathryn suspected that their boyfriend wasn't entirely human the Hansens had become intrigued. It was apparent from the observations of the Hansens that the members of the quartet got along very well. The Hansens decided just to reserve their judgment for now and get to know Tom Paris as they settled into life on Voyager.
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Stardate 52632.3…
Harry was at his duty shift on the bridge and glanced behind him as Kathryn and Seven walked onto the bridge. Each woman threw him a fond smile when they noticed his gaze. Seven's smile was more reserved than Kathryn's but still discernible by the god's keen eyesight.
"Got it," HK cried excitedly. The game HK was trying to figure out was like a puzzle. It was in the shape of an irregular geometric shape with buttons on many of the sides which lit up when pressed. The person had to press the right sequence to solve the puzzle. Harry had come across the design for the game in one of the databases he had acquired in the Delta Quadrant. It had taken him seconds to solve it but in that time B'Elanna had been visiting him in his lab and had tried it. From there the game had caught up most of the crewmembers onboard Voyager. "False alarm," HK said when the lights shut off.
Every single one of Harry's mates had solved the puzzle in less than an hour. Some were faster than others but their enhanced physiology made their minds far more powerful than base-line human minds. David had likewise solved the puzzle quickly.
"Something just destabilized our Warp field," Harry announced as Voyager shuddered and dropped out of Warp. A moment later he added, "It was a Metrion Gas mine buried in subspace."
"A vessel just dropped a cloak," HK called. "It is heavily armed."
"I recognize the vessel," Seven informed her crewmates. "The vessel is Hazari. The Borg call them Species 4228. They are technologically advanced and extremely violent. They make excellent tactical drones. The Hazari are often hired to capture and deliver alien vessels to whoever will pay the Hazari's price."
"Bounty hunters," Harry clarified.
"The Hazari are hailing us," HK informed Kathryn.
"On screen," Kathryn instructed.
A scaled humanoid male with small pieces of armored plating on his face appeared.
"Surrender," the Hazari said without preamble. "No one needs to be hurt. My client would prefer an intact vessel."
"Who hired you?" Kathryn questioned.
"That is none of your concern," the Hazari answered.
"Bullshit if it isn't," Kathryn stated. "If you attack us you will not like the consequences."
"You cannot attack me because you will ignite the gas cloud around you the moment you fire your weapons," the Hazari warned.
"We can take it. Can you?" Kathryn said. "End the transmission."
"They are moving closer," Tuvok warned.
"Fire the phaser banks," Kathryn ordered.
"The Promethium field will take it," Harry assured.
Tuvok fired the phaser banks and immediately the gas cloud ignited. Voyager experienced more than the usual minor rumbling as the gas cloud exploded and the Promethium field was forced to absorb a whole lot of energy. Harry set off the spatial disruptor to discharge some of the energy hitting the shields and engaged the Warp drive at Warp 1.
"We are out of the mine's gas cloud," HK stated.
Harry took Voyager to higher Warp.
"There is no sign of pursuit," Tuvok informed Kathryn.
"Let's go to Astrometrics and run some scans," Kathryn said. "The Hazari should be coming after us but they aren't. I want to know why."
Chakotay, Kathryn, Seven, and Harry went to Astrometrics and Seven quickly performed the scan.
"They have reinforcements throughout the sector," Chakotay observed. "Good call, Kathryn."
"The hunch made sense," Kathryn said. "Alright…let's see if we can't get through them all with our cloak on. Their single ship we just encountered showed no signs of finding Voyager."
"Will do," Harry agreed.
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Harry followed his bond with his red haired wife to the mess hall where he found her staring at her personal terminal.
"Why are you still up staring at that data?" Harry asked.
Kathryn looked up surprised.
"Just because we got past several Hazari undetected since we turned on our cloak doesn't mean we always will," Kathryn rebutted. "I'm trying to figure out a route through this space which the Hazari won't anticipate."
"The Promethium Drive will hold them off," Harry assured.
"But at what cost?" Kathryn asked. "If the drive takes on too much power we'll be forced to use our spatial disruptor destroying Hazari vessels. I would like to avoid that."
Before anymore discussion could take place an alien male appeared via a silent teleportation beam. Harry had his phaser on the foreign alien before the stranger could blink.
"I mean you no harm," Kurros said while holding up his hands to show he was unarmed.
"Who are you and what do you want?" Kathryn questioned.
"You have a problem, Captain," Kurros replied. "I am the solution."
"You're an isomorphic projection," Harry noted. "He isn't really here."
"I'm listening," Kathryn said. "What do you want in exchange for helping with my problem?"
"I am a member of a small group. We are explorers like you. We seek out challenges…problems to be solved," Kurros explained. "My name is Kurros. These problems can take many forms such as technological, biological, and social."
"You're a think tank," Kathryn summarized.
"I like that," Kurros said with a smile. "It is a very apt description. Our think tank is nearby onboard a modest vessel. I am here to offer our help with your Hazari paradox. You are uncertain if the avenues that seem to be open to you are escape routes or traps. This puzzle is pure tactics and psychology."
"I'm pretty sure he is the one who paid the Hazari in the first place to detain us. He wants something from us," Harry sent to Kathryn.
"What is the price tag for this help?" Kathryn probed.
"We desire whatever your culture has which is unique. This may be technology or something which you do not even think to value," Kurros explained.
"You could very likely be a Hazari trick," Kathryn suggested to see how Kurros would respond.
"You are justified in your suspicion," Kurros replied. "Our preliminary analysis has suggested some more likely Hazari routes which are traps. I have downloaded the data to your computer as a show of good faith."
"You have my attention," Kathryn said. "But I want to meet you and the rest of your crew face-to-face."
"Our coordinates are in your computer as well," Kurros replied. "Due to our own security concerns we ask that you bring only two crewmen and no scanning equipment."
"Agreed," Kathryn said.
"I look forward to meeting you," Kurros said with a smile before he disappeared.
On the way to the coordinates Voyager passed by another Hazari vessel. This Hazari vessel was apparently equipped with better scanners which were able to penetrate Voyager's cloak. The short ensuing battle saw the Hazari vessel crippled and disabled and Voyager left the area immediately. The Hazari craft likely needed to get close to detect Voyager.
"We have reached the coordinates Kurros gave us," Harry announced from his position at the helm.
"I detect no ship," HK announced.
"I am reading a subspace flux," Seven said.
An alien vessel as large as Voyager appeared.
"The vessel's hull is composed of a neutronium based alloy," Tuvok observed.
"Starfleet has theorized about such materials but we have never come close to producing them," Kathryn replied.
"Neither have the Borg," Seven said. "The Think Tank's technology is indeed very advanced."
"You, Tom, and I will have a chance to evaluate this technology first hand," Kathryn said. "Mr. Kim, you have the transport coordinates."
Harry followed his two wives from the bridge towards the transporter rooms. A short while later the trio materialized on the bridge of the Think Tank ship. A jelly-fish-like creature was suspended in a tank before them and another humanoid yet very different looking alien soon walked up behind the trio. The alien on two legs reminded Harry sort of like a bat but not quite. It came up and started making a series of noises that even Harry's translators took a moment to adapt to. Starfleet's translators didn't stand a chance.
"The universal translator must be inoperative," Seven noted.
"No. His language is too complex for the translator," Harry corrected. "He is asking us to follow him."
Kathryn paused at the jelly-fish creature and said, "They must be studying it."
"Nope," Harry corrected. "That creature is very much sentient and highly intelligent."
"Very good, Tom Paris," Kurros said. "Your intelligence is renowned in this quadrant even though you have not been here all that long relatively speaking." While gesturing to the creature in the water tank he explained, "She is our resident expert on temporal physics and is perhaps the most gifted member of our group."
"How do you communicate?" Seven inquired.
"This is one of my most gifted crewmen, Seven of Nine. And you've already met, Tom," Kathryn introduced.
"Bionetic implants and neural transceivers," Kurros noted. "A Borg," he said, feigning surprise. "I have never seen one outside of the Collective."
In fact Kurros' Think Tank had been monitoring Borg activity for some time and had learned of the Queen's interest in Seven. That made Seven interesting to the Think Tank.
"As an individual now I am capable of receiving your discourse. You may address me directly," Seven corrected.
"Forgive me," Kurros said. "I am Kurros and this is Fennim," he said while gesturing towards the bat-like alien. Fennim took his leave from the group to continue pursuing his interests. "To answer your earlier question this device allows the members of our group to communicate telepathically," Kurros explained while gesturing towards a half-sphere shaped device which glowed with a rainbow of colored lights in the center of the room.
"Impressive," Seven noted.
Just then the ship shuddered and a sound similar to a blue whale singing was heard.
"That would be another member of our crew anxious to meet you," Kurros said.
Kurros led the trio over to a view-port into a much larger holding tank. The trio looked at the creature within.
"That would be a bio-plasmic life-form," Seven noted.
"His name is Bevox," Kurros explained. "He prefers a variable gravity environment."
"What is his specialty?" Kathryn asked.
"At the moment exo-sociology and quantum mechanics," Kurros answered. "But his interests vary from time to time. Bevox founded our group more than one hundred years ago after wandering the galaxy on his own for a few millennia."
"How old is this creature?" Seven queried.
Bevox let out a call in his voice with a not so nice response.
"That is a sensitive topic with him," Kurros replied. "Please come this way. There is one other individual who rounds out our group."
Kurros led the trio over to an artificial intelligence life-form.
"An artificial intelligence," Seven noted right away.
"He has the mind of a mathematician and the soul of an artist," Kurros explained. "He would much rather be modeling a fractal sculpture than analyzing the data of our latest astronomical scan. And now you have met the entirety of the small group of minds who have helped hundreds of clients. We turned the tide in the war between the Bari Plenum and the Multali Empire. We reunited the red giants of the Xi Cluster. Just recently we found a cure for the Viddian Phage."
"A disease that was all but wiped out of late," Harry pointed out.
"Never-the-less…we found a cure," Kurros answered. "When we helped the citizens of Rivos 5 resist the Borg all we asked for was the recipe for their famous Zathnot soup."
"Is there any job which you won't undertake?" Kathryn asked.
"What do you mean?" Kurros questioned.
"Our Federation has a non-interference protocol which we call the Prime Directive," Kathryn explained. "I am curious where you draw the line."
"As you know there is no shortage of strife in what you call the Delta Quadrant," Kurros replied. "Many of our clients are at war. To be frank, we will assist in the neutralization of fleets, starbases, even planets. But we will not participate in the decimation of an entire species. Nor will we design weapons of mass destruction." Just then the AI being spoke up in a fast series of audible pulses. "My colleague here wishes to speak to Seven of Nine about her bio-technology. May he interface with you?"
Seven stepped closer to the AI's physical form.
Several moments passed and she announced for the benefit of Kathryn, "I am in direct telepathic communication with this…individual." While Seven interfaced with the AI being telepathically she unknowingly allowed her husband to absorb everything the AI being knew as well as everything it was connected to onboard the Think Tank's vessel. "It wishes to learn more about integrating organic components into its technology."
"Feel free to give him some advice," Kathryn suggested. "I will leave it to your discretion, Seven."
"To business, Captain," Kurros said as Seven finished up with the AI being quickly. "I believe our Think Tank can solve your Hazari situation without requiring you to fire a single weapon."
"I am listening. What do you require as payment?" Kathryn questioned. "Here is Voyager's schematics and an overview of its database. We expect to hear from you about what you want."
Kathryn had handed Kurros a data pad. Kurros nodded and the trio left.
OP – Star Trek Voyager – OP – Star Trek Voyager – OP – Star Trek Voyager – OP
"Was first contact a success?" Chakotay asked as the trio entered the bridge.
"It would seem that way based solely off of the meeting we just had," Kathryn replied. "But we'll know more once Tom finishes assessing everything he observed while there."
"I should have known you wouldn't have gone without some type of scanning technology," Chakotay said to Tom.
Harry grinned unrepentantly.
"While you have been gone the Hazari have been executing search patterns and tightening the net," Tuvok informed the Captain.
"If it comes down to it use the spatial disruptor on them," Kathryn ordered. "Our people come first."
OP – Star Trek Voyager – OP – Star Trek Voyager – OP – Star Trek Voyager – OP
Harry and Seven entered Kathryn's ready room after having been asked there by the redhead.
"Kurros just made his pitch. Among other things he wants both of you to join his crew," Kathryn said without preamble.
"Well I have confirmed it was the Think Tank who sent the Hazari after us in the first place to make us desperate for their help. They have used similar tactics in the past to get what they want," Harry explained.
"He has made things even more interesting," Kathryn replied. "Kurros wants Promethium Drive technology. In exchange for all of this he is willing to sweeten the deal. He will deliver Voyager back to Earth using technology at his disposal. Does he have that technology available to him?"
"Yes," Harry confirmed. "But the calibrations for that technology are so stringent and complex that without the Think Tank it won't work. For security reasons the Think Tank has the calibrations memorized and has no copy digitized."
"Well now…that does make things interesting," Kathryn mused. "I want both of you to stay. I will say that straight off. But I won't make decisions for you."
"We are staying," Seven assured feeling confident she knew her lover's thoughts on the matter.
"Now let's see how they react when you relay our turning down their offer," Harry stated. "I will make ready to continue on our course towards the Alpha Quadrant under cloak."
OP – Star Trek Voyager – OP – Star Trek Voyager – OP – Star Trek Voyager – OP
"Well it looks like we have the Think Tank's reaction pretty well figured out," Harry noted as five Hazari ships closed in on Voyager's position despite the Federation vessel's cloaking field.
"They are opening fire together," Tuvok announced. Voyager shuddered considerably. "The enemies' weaponry seems to be greatly enhanced compared to when we first scanned one of their vessels."
"The Promethium Drive is actually taking a lot of strain from that bombardment," Harry said as the Hazari craft continued to fire repeatedly.
"Start using the spatial disruptor," Kathryn instructed.
Tuvok began firing with the weapon. After three Hazari craft were destroyed with ease the remaining two fled.
"You cannot survive them all," Kurros said as his projection appeared on the bridge.
"You would be surprised," Kathryn replied. "It's time to drop the pretenses. We know you sent the Hazari after us to get our technology, Tom, and Seven."
"I do not know what you are talking about," Kurros said.
"You picked a fight with the wrong vessel," Kathryn said while nodding at Tuvok.
A spatial disruptor blast lashed out from Voyager into the side of the Think Tank's vessel. The Think Tank ship shuddered as its shields struggled to compensate. Kurros' image winked out.
"They are trying to escape back under their subspace cloak," HK announced.
"Let them go," Kathryn ordered.
"Won't they just bother us later," Chakotay pointed out.
"No. I will take care of them," Harry assured.
"How will you do that?" Chakotay asked.
"I transmuted a section of their neutronium hull into a highly unstable isotope of that element which will destabilize and explode in approximately thirty minutes. The chances of them detecting my modification are very small," Harry explained.
"That is…effective," Chakotay said. "How did you do that without them noticing?"
"I did it when Tuvok fired the spatial disruptor. They were rather distracted at that point and our attack destabilized their shield matrix long enough for me to slip the necessary energy beam through," Harry explained.
"Take us back on course towards home," Kathryn instructed.
Harry nodded. Kathryn and Harry's other wives knew what he had had just told Chakotay was a lie. They knew him well enough to sense it. But he made no effort to conceal it from those who knew him. They didn't bother asking what he really did with the Think Tank. No Hazari vessel bothered Voyager before the Federation presence passed out of that region of space. The Hazari had learned their lesson.
OP – Star Trek Voyager – OP – Star Trek Voyager – OP – Star Trek Voyager – OP
"Hello, Kurros," Harry said.
Kurros spun and found one of the Think Tank's targets on Voyager floating above their telepathic interface unit.
"How did you get in here?" Kurros demanded while edging towards the weapons control console nearest him.
"Don't even think about it," Harry said while gesturing towards Kurros and causing the alien to float into the air away from the control console.
There was the sound of a loud energy discharge and a bolt of what looked like black lightning struck Harry. The energy discharge was so brilliant Kurros was forced to look away. When he looked back the smirk which had momentarily appeared on his lips vanished. The smirk gave way to terror.
"What are you? Nothing short of a Q could have survived that," Kurros said.
"Nothing from this universe," Harry corrected. "I did not expect the bio-plasmic life form to be able to operate the weapons control. I didn't notice his interface to that particular system. But it matters not. What I am is your new master. Your group will serve the people of this galaxy solving problems they cannot solve themselves, problems which would otherwise end their races. You will do it free of charge. And you will not help those who are in the wrong by my moral standards. This is a replicat." A replicat appeared on the deck of the bridge. "His name is Turos. He will lead you. Do not disobey him or he will punish you. He will know if you plan rebellion. He is smarter than all of you. I will enjoy watching your initial attempts to disobey."
Kurros returned to the deck and watched as his target disappeared. One of Kurros crewmates beat Kurros to testing their weapons systems out on the replicat. They did not like the result. That was the first lesson on disobedience. Eventually the lessons would have an impact and the Think Tank would learn to obey.
OP – Star Trek Voyager – OP – Star Trek Voyager – OP – Star Trek Voyager – OP
Rev 0 Posted 2/27/2016
Rev 1 Posted 3/10/2016 (Thanks to Maddsloth for catching the error: "Their single ship we just encountered showed no signs of finding Voyager." Previously Voyager read Equinox.)
Author's Note:
Check out my Facebook group Stargatesg1fan1's Fanfiction Works and Favorites.
For those of you who ask me questions about specific Path verses I am no longer answering these in individual PMs. Instead when someone asks me about a potential Path verse I will go categorize it in a document on my Facebook group called Planned Path Verses & Other Verses. I'm simply tired of answering questions where nobody but the person who asked them can read them. Lol! I'm trying to save myself time. Multiple people are curious about the same verses.
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