by Alys Landale
He hit his comm badge as he continued to fire against the drones. “B’Elanna are you alright?!”
There was silence for a while but then the greatest word he had ever heard filled his ears. “I’m fine, but these bastards won’t let me get out.”
Janeway waited as the torpedoes grew closer and closer. She was about to close her eyes when a bright flash illuminated the space around her.
“What the Hell.” She said.
All of the torpedoes had just been intercepted by another ship. She turned to Harry. “Who just....”
A voice crackled over the comm line. It was not at all one that she had expected or ever thought she wished to hear again. “Why hello Captain. I ran into a few friends and thought I’d join in on the fun.”
A team of Dezorisian fighter ships sailed past Voyager and began to attack one of the nearby Imperial vessels. Despite all that was going on around her she smiled. “I never thought I’d say this, but it’s damn good to see you again, Gerek.”
Gerek watched as the Dezorisian fleet moved in to attack the Imperial vessels. Despite the image he conveyed to his ‘clients,’ he had to admit that he loved the game. He chuckled. Few people would call a battle a game, but in his mind, it was. The ultimate test of his abilities.
Of course, he did have to say that hand-to-hand combat wasn’t exactly his style. Arial battles best suited him. He had enough enemies around the galaxy; he found it best to face them with a ship and a few torpedoes than a mere phaser.
He was now the only one manning his ship. He had spent years designing this vessel so that he could do just that. Maneuvering through a pair of battle cruisers, he began firing on the two vessels. Balls of fire erupted from where he had hit his mark. A shrill buzz emanated from his console. Another ship had gotten a lock on him.
He flipped the vessel onto its side and watched as the torpedo flew past, missing his ship by not more than a few feet.
He smiled. He still had it. His piloting skills were just as good as the last time he had been in battle. He was just as good as ever.
A few other Dezorisian fighters were picking away at a large battle cruiser. He couldn’t resist this one last fight, so he decided to join in.
The cruisers could easily hit the large starships but when it came to the small fighters, none could seem to find a mark. The
Dezorisians flew around them like flies, picking away at them slowly.
Gerek watched as the cruiser prepared to launch another torpedo. Taking his own weapon arsenal, he took aim at the unlaunched torpedo. Just as it was about to be unleashed, he fired.
His shot made contact with the warhead and lit the cruiser up in a spray of light. Another series of explosions followed that one. His smile broadened as he watched the ship explode upon itself. That was another ship down.
His smile vanished as he caught a glimpse of the station. He had business to do now; the fun was over. Guiding his ship through the enemy lines, he made his way to the Imperial base.
B’Elanna crawled under a nearby console to evade the drones’ shots. The vast network of wires were beginning to be hacked through by the drones’ constant fire.
*How did they get in?* she wondered. As another bright flash of light sparked next to her, she turned her face away. That was when she found her answer. A six-foot hole stood in the wall to her side. It looked as if something had melted the metal away to form it. She cursed herself. Why hadn’t she paid better attention?
There was no time to think about that now though. She had to try and get back to the group. As she crawled through the cables, she headed in the opposite direction from where she had come. The drones had cut off her route back that way, that meant she had to find another path.
She hit her comm badge. “Tom, I can’t get back to you right now. There’s a door farther down. I’ll take it and meet you at the shuttle.”
“Okay,” Tom said. “Be careful.”
She smiled for a moment, “Aren’t I always.”
Paris fired another shot at the drones. He thanked the Spirit yet again that they weren’t able to adapt to his weapons.
He turned to where Chakotay, Maris, and Danag were crouched behind a set of paneling. “B’Elanna’s taking another way out,” he told them, “Come on. We’ll meet her once we get out.”
The others nodded. Now the only problem would be getting out. The door was at least ten feet away. If someone created a diversion....
“Xara, when I tell you, run.”
Xara looked up at Rune. She had no idea what he was about to do, but she nodded anyway.
Tom motioned for the others to get ready as well. He then counted down from three slowly. *Three...Two...One...Now or never.*
He jumped from behind the console and began firing his weapon full charge at the drones. Each one of them took aim on him instead of the other hidden targets.
“Now!” he told Xara.
The little girl gulped but did as she was told. She ducked her head down and ran to the door. Chakotay had no idea that Paris would do what he had done, but the Commander forced himself to the door anyway. He took Xara in his arms when she made it over to him as well.
Paris could feel one of the bullets sinking into his shoulder as he began to make his way towards the doorway. He gritted his teeth and pushed the pain behind him. Another shot of fire erupted down his left arm before he finally pushed himself through the open doorway.
Xara leapt down from Chakotay’s arms and ran over to Rune. “Rune,” she asked. “Are you alright?!”
Blood was beginning to collect around Tom’s shoulder and drip down his arm. He gave her a weak smile. “Just a flesh wound. I’m fine.”
She seemed a bit relieved, but she knew he had never been known to tell the entire truth about his injuries. She decided to let Doc lecture him on his ‘carelessness’ later.
“Come on,” he told them. “I’m ready to get the hell out of here.”
Takma was fuming by now. “What do you mean they haven’t killed them yet?!”
The young officer began entering more commands into his console. Beads of sweat now lined his features. “I’m sorry, Pretor, but the drones were unable to apprehend any of them.”
“Idiots,” she said to herself. “Can’t anyone do their job around here?!”
Her anger was still raging as she grabbed the young man by his collar. “This base has never been penetrated before. I want these intruders taken care of NOW!”
The man nodded. Takma slowly let go of his uniform and allowed him to get back to work. She watched for a few seconds as he quickly began inputting orders into his console. She then turned to Kail.
“General, come with me.”
Kail could see in her eyes that she was about to explode. He followed her silently as they left the room. Once they were in the corridor, she began her conversation.
“It is clear that this attack has been placed in order to stop us from reaching Borg Space. This station might have been impenetrable in the past, but with the imbeciles working here now, I don’t know. Whatever happens, we’re continuing our mission.
Have the ship ready to leave in five minutes. If this base gets taken, then we can reclaim it later once we have secured the Borg. But
I’m going ahead with plans to take Borg space.”
He nodded. “The ship should have enough power to make the jump into subspace now. I’ll have the crew prepare for departure. Since these idiots don’t seem to be able to do their jobs, I’ll go down to the decks below and disconnect the power converters myself. I’ll meet you back at the ship.”
“Good,” said Takma. She suddenly felt a sickening feeling crawling over her. “Somehow, I don’t think that we’re facing any ordinary Resistance party. I have a feeling that it will be a lot harder to depart than we had first anticipated.”
Gerek made his way down one of the base’s corridors. He had docked his ship onto one side of the station and was now making his way towards the away team inside. Or more i
mportantly, one specific member of the away team.
He took out his tricorder and set it to the specific DNA pattern he was looking for. *Let’s see, she should be just one level down and to the right.*
He took out his rifle and made his way farther down the station. He knew that Rune could take care of himself. He hadn’t been sent to look after Rune anyway, that’s what Aria was for. His job was to find Torres.
There were warning sirens sounding throughout the corridors. The entire hallway was lit up in a bright red as he made his way towards Voyager’s half Klingon, but he paid it no attention. The majority of the drones would be more concerned about capturing Paris’s group than they would about searching for another intruder.
He crossed over and entered a turbolift. He needed to make his way down two floors, and then he could find his query.
B’Elanna ran through the halls as fast as she could. The entire place was lit up in crimson as she tried to outrun the drones.
Shots rang out around her head as they kept a continuous fire on her.
She took one look behind her. They didn’t even appear to be struggling to keep up. Their long efficient strides paralleled her quick movement down the hall. She cursed herself yet again for not having longer legs.
She looked around at her surroundings. She knew where the general area of the shuttle was located, but she hadn’t yet been down the exact location. She just hoped she could find it on her own, otherwise she might be spending a prolonged vacation on the station.
In spite of her Klingon heritage, her side was beginning to throb from the constant running. She was in extremely good shape, but even these efforts were taking their toll on her body.
*A month ago, I could have done this no problem. I’m really getting out of shape,* she told herself.
Turning the corner, she felt a slight singe as one of the bullets whizzed past her ear. Pushing herself harder, she forced herself to go on.
Gerek could hear the shots up ahead. Gripping his rifle tighter, he made his way towards the weapons fire.
He felt his heartbeat quicken. He knew that there wasn’t much time left. Hell, he had known that for a while now, but still the dark cloud loomed over him. He pushed his thoughts away.
*This is your job. Just shut up and do it.* he told himself, but that didn’t push away the fear gnawing at his gut.
It would all be over soon. That was all he kept thinking. It would all be over soon. For him at least...
Paris used his good arm to hold Xara as they ran down the passageways. The security alarm had been turned on after their last fight. Now red lights and warning sirens sounded around them. The amber light cast strange shadows over all of their faces. They resembled crimson specters as they tried to outrun the constant entourage of drones that besought them.
He turned to make sure that everyone in his group was still with them. Chakotay and Danag were only a couple of feet behind
Tom. Maris was pulling up the end.
Tom turned his attention ahead of him. They needed to find B’Elanna and get back to the shuttle. The shuttle. He hoped that it would still be there; otherwise this trip would be for nothing.
He felt the familiar tingle of vertigo begin to wash over him. *Not now,* he pleaded. He kept running even as his surroundings began to shift.
B’Elanna’s breath was beginning to come in harsh gasps now. She forced herself on.
*What’s wrong with me?* she wondered as her body protested to each movement she made.
She turned her gaze behind her as she rounded the corner. The drones were getting closer. She had to go faster.
Facing ahead once more, she was caught off guard as she found herself staring down the barrel of a rifle aimed directly at her head.
Gerek could hear the footsteps approaching him. He stood there waiting for the figures to come running around the corner.
He waited....
In a flash of dark hair, B’Elanna sprinted towards him. Her face was turned behind her, so she was unable to see him until he
finally turned around. He brought the rifle up to eye level and aimed down the corridor to where the drones would come.
Torres finally caught a glimpse of him. She didn’t exactly take Gerek into the picture though. All she saw was the rifle aimed directly at her. Her eyes widened in shock as she stared down its barrel.
Gerek’s face remained stern as he took in her look of surprise. Other thoughts began to run through his mind, but he pushed them away. An army of drones were at the woman’s heels; he didn’t have time to let his mind wander.
The first of the drones emerged. Gerek shot it down and then the next one that came and the next. Finally after the fourth one was lying on the ground, he aimed his conversation at Torres.
“You know, I might be good, but I think it would be best if we leave now.”
B’Elanna finally shook off her startled expression and returned to the plane of consciousness. “Yeah... yeah, the shuttle should be nearby. We just need to go....”
“Up a level and to the left,” he finished for her. “I parked my shuttle on the level right above yours.”
She finally turned her eyes back to where Gerek was firing. Drones were coming faster now. They had to leave.
Gerek sensed her thoughts. “You lead the way,” he said. “I’ll try and hold them off a little longer.”
She nodded. Firing a few last shots at the drones with her phaser, she sprinted down the corridor. She looked back to see Gerek slowly backpedaling as well.
Each corridor had a door in the middle of it. She concentrated on one of the doors next to her. She needed to get it closed. Entering a large string of commands into the wall panel next to her, she soon had the key configuration solved.
“Come on,” she said. “I think I can hold them back for a few seconds.”
Gerek needed no more persuading. Firing as many shots as he could, he turned and ran to where B’Elanna was working.
Once he was on the other side with her, the door slammed shut behind him.
She smiled. “After living in an Imperial base for a year, you learn a few tricks.” Her thoughts then turned to him. “What are you doing here anyway?”
A devilish smile spread across his face. “I told you I’d see you again.”
*
Vestin paced up and down the length of his lab. Now was the moment he had been waiting for. All of his dreams would soon be realized as he finally concluded his last calculations.
Evae walked into the room. Her face was a counterpoint to Vestin’s. She was scared to death about what he was about to do, but she said nothing. He was her husband and she loved him. Despite all of his good intentions though, she had this feeling that things wouldn’t turn out exactly as he had planned.
She walked over to where he was pacing. A small bundle was wrapped up in her arms. She carried it gently over to him.
“Vestin,” she whispered. “Isn’t it time you came home?”
He turned to her. His hair was beginning to turn gray at the temples but he still had a youthful face. He looked down at the bundle in his wife’s arms. Pulling back the blanket, he stared at the tiny face of his daughter.
Her eyes were closed, as she remained asleep. He smiled at the tiny little fists she had balled up at her sides. She was the most perfect thing he had ever seen in his life.
Evae watched as he took one of the tiny hands in his own. The baby was no more than a few months old, but she was already beginning to act just like her father. Her curiosity always seemed to get the better of her, and despite her good intentions, she always had to face the consequences.
“Well, Vestin, are you coming home with us?” Evae asked again.
Vestin gently rested the tiny hand down again. “I’m sorry Evae but I have so much work to do. I just...” His words melted away as he looked up at his wife. Her face was covered in a worried expression. He hated to have to do this to her, but he had work to do after all. He couldn’t just abandon it, coul
d he?
“Vestin you have spent the last four nights here. Can’t you just come home with me tonight?”
He looked away. “I’m sorry Evae, but soon I’ll be finished. I’ve finally found a way to link all of the neural transceivers together. All we’ll have to do is route the signals through this machine. I haven’t quite figured out a name for it yet, but it will be able to allow everyone to work together in harmony. No more disagreements, no more wars. Evae, soon the world will be a better place because of this.”
Her eyes narrowed. “You’re telling me that a machine that thinks for you is going to revolutionize society? Because that’s exactly what you’re making. If we all weave our minds together, there will be no more individual thought, no more creativity. Vestin, this...this ‘think-you-lum’ you’re trying to build is going to be the end of us.”
He had never heard her speak of his work in such a way. It hurt him deeply to hear her accuse him of such... atrocities. “I’m just trying to make a better world for our people, for us, for our baby. If you can’t see that then I don’t even know why you married me in the first place.”
Evae’s breath caught in her throat. “How dare you.” she ground out. “You know I love you, but you don’t even know what love is. All you ever do is slave over your work. Well let me tell you something, there are more important things to do than work.”
Vestin didn’t even have time to respond as Evae stormed out of the room. He watched after her as she left. Perhaps he should have tried to stop her. Perhaps he should have run after her. But he did neither of these things.
Instead he just placed his head in his hands and went back to work.
*
The flashing red lights greeted Tom as he was pulled from the lab back to the present time. He felt Xara in his arms and the pain in his shoulder. Yes, he was back.
He tried to shake his head as he continued running. His feet didn’t even register ever slowing down. At least that was one good thing. If he would have fallen unconscious during their escape, then that would have been an immediate death sentence to them all.