SEASON ONE
CARETAKER
Part
2
Deep
Space Nine
A shuttle
flew towards the large space station. Tom and a young lieutenant were
inside the shuttle.
"Stadi,
you're changing my mind about Betazoids," Tom said.
"Good,"
the lieutenant said.
"Oh that
wasn't a compliment. Until now I always thought your people were warm
and sensual," Tom said.
"I can
be warn and sensual," Stadi muttered.
"Just
not to me," Tom said.
"Do you
always fly women at warp speed, Mr Paris?" Stadi asked.
"Only
when they're in visual range," Tom replied.
"That's
our ship, that's Voyager," Stadi said as she was looking at
Voyager through the window. She started talking about the ship, but
Tom wasn't listening, he couldn't take his eyes off the ship in dock.
Quark's Bar
"If I
may so, it's been my special pleasure to see many young officers like
yourself, come through these portals. You parents must be very proud,
my boy. You know on an occasion like this," Quark said as he
walked over to a young Asian boy at the bar.
"I'm
really not interested," he said, interrupting the Ferengi.
"Interested?"
Quark said questioningly.
"You
were about to try and sell me something, right?" the boy asked.
"I was
merely going to suggest that your parents might appreciate a memento
for your mission," Quark said.
"And you
happen to have some to choose from," the boy said.
"I do
carry a select line of unique artifacts and gem stones indigenous to
this region. Quite recently I acquired these Lobi crystals from a
strange creature, called a Morn," Quark said.
"We were
warned about the Ferengi at the Academy," the boy said.
"Warned
about Ferengi, were you?" Quark muttered.
"That's
right," the boy said.
"Slurs
about my people at Starfleet Academy," Quark muttered.
"What I
meant was," the boy said.
"Here I
am trying to be a cordial host, knowing how much a young officer's
parents would appreciate a token of his love on the eve of a
dangerous mission, and what do I get? Insults," Quark exclaimed.
The boy started to look really uncomfortable as a lot of people were
looking at him. "Well, someone's going to hear about this.
What's your name son?" Quark asked.
"My
name?" the boy said questionably.
"You
have one, I presume?" Quark said.
"Kim,
Harry Kim, but.." the boy stuttered.
"And who
was it at the Academy who warned you about Ferengi!" Quark exclaimed.
"You
know, a memento for my parents would be a great idea," Harry stuttered.
"Oh, no,
no, no, no, no!" Quark exclaimed. Harry picked up one of the crystals.
"Really,
one of these would make a great pendant for my mother," Harry said.
"Or
couplings for your father," Quark said.
"Couplings,
great idea," Harry said.
"They're
not for sale. Now inform your commanding officer that the Federation
council should expect an official query," Quark said.
"How
much for the entire tray?" Harry asked.
"Cash or
credit?" Quark asked. Tom walked over and he picked up one of
the crystals.
"Dazzling
aren't they? As bright as Koladan diamonds," Tom said. Quark
took the crystal off him.
"Brighter,"
Quark muttered.
"Hard to
believe that you can find them on any planet in this system,"
Tom said.
"That's
an exaggeration," Quark said.
"You
know there's a shop at the Volnar colony, who sell a dozen assorted
shapes for one Cardassian lek. How much are you selling these
for?" Tom asked.
"We were
just about to negotiate the price," Quark muttered. Harry closed
the box and he stood up.
"Come
on," Tom said. He and Harry headed out. "Didn't they warn
you about Ferengi at the Academy?" Tom asked. Harry just laughed.
Meanwhile
on a strange alien array
The entire
area was set up like a farm. People were dancing around to some guy's
attempt at playing a banjo. Lots of people in Marquis uniforms were
looking incredibly irritated. One young girl strode over to the man
with the banjo, a boy the same age followed her. The girl snatched
the banjo off the old man, and she smashed it against the steps. She
then handed it back to the old man.
"Next
time, get some banjo lessons," the girl said and she walked
away, the boy who was with her just shook his head and he followed
her away. A large woman holding a tray of sweetcorn was walking
around showing them her tray. She walked up to a girl the same age as
the other girl.
"Corn on
the cob?" the woman asked. The girl picked up one cob and she
forced it into the woman's mouth. Everyone just stared at her.
"What? I
thought she said corn in the gob," the girl protested. All the
Marquis crewmembers sighed in relief when the woman walked back into
the farm house.
The old man
got out another banjo and he started playing it. The girl that
smashed the original one growled like a lion and she stormed back
over to the old man. The boy who was with her grabbed her arm to hold
her back. Other Marquis crewmembers headed over too.
"Jessie,
he's not worth it," he said as he held the girl back.
"Yeah,
but our hearing is," a boy their age said. The old man stopped
playing his banjo and he looked at the crewmembers. The people also
stopped dancing and they stared at the crew as well. The woman came
back out of the farm house and she walked up to the crewmembers. A
man in his 40's stepped in front of Jessie and the others.
"Jessie,
calm down," the man said in a calm and soft voice.
"Very
well, if nobody wants any corn then we can start ahead of
schedule," the woman said evilly. Suddenly the farm disappeared
and the area turned into a strange room, with over a hundred surgery
beds. All of the Marquis crewmembers felt themselves being beamed away.
10
minutes later
All
of the Marquis crewmembers were lying on the surgery beds. Needles
were coming out of nowhere and they all went into some of the
crewmember's stomach's. Some needles were still coming down for the
others though.
Jessie had
woken up, she saw the needle coming down towards her. She screamed
when it went into her stomach. The boy, who was with her before, was
on the neighbouring surgery bed. He was awake when the needle went
into him, he screamed too, but not half as loud as Jessie did.
Voyager (Sickbay)
Tom and Harry
walked through the main doors. The doctor came into the main room at
the same time.
"Can I
help you?" he asked as he walked over to his patient.
"Tom
Paris, reporting on board," Tom replied.
"Oh yes,
thee observer," the doctor said.
"That's
me," Tom muttered. He looked at the patient. "As a matter
of fact I seem to be observing some sort of problem right now,
Doctor," Tom said.
"I was a
surgeon at the hospital at Caldik Prime, the same time you were
stationed there. We never actually met," the doctor said and he
walked over to Tom. "Your medical records from your last posting
have come in, everything seems to be in order. The Captain asked if
you were on board, you should check in with her," the doctor said.
"Er, I
haven't paid my respects to the Captain yet either," Harry said.
The doctor turned to him.
"Well Mr
Kim, that would be a good thing for a new operations officer to
do," the doctor said and he walked away. Tom and Harry walked
out of Sickbay.
"What
was all that about?" Harry asked.
"It's a
long story, Harry, and I'm tired of telling it. I'm sure somebody
will tell you before long," Tom replied.
The
Ready Room
Kathryn
walked over to a small computer near the couch, she sat down. A man
in his 60's was on the screen.
"The
doctor called and I was right," the man said.
"She's
pregnant?" Kathryn asked.
"The
puppies are due in 7 weeks," the man replied.
"Oh Mark
you're going to have to take her home with you," Kathryn said.
"Me?
I've just got the house cleaned," Mark said.
"She's
with child, I can't just leave her in a kennel while I.."
Kathryn said.
"Is this
another love me, love my dog demand?" Mark asked.
"Yes,"
Kathryn replied.
"How can
I ever refuse you," Mark replied.
"Thanks,
honey," Kathryn said. Just then all the J/Cers throw up, or
throw cushions at the TV, well in this case at the computer.
"When
are you leaving?" Mark asked.
"As soon
as I approve these system status reports," Kathryn replied.
"Then I
won't bother you anymore," Mark said. Kathryn pulled herself off
the couch and she knelt down in front of the computer screen.
"Hey,
you never bother me. Except the way I love to be bothered,
understand?" Kathryn said quietly.
"I'll
remember that," Mark said.
"See you
in a couple of weeks... oh Mark, go to my place and pick up the doggy
bed, she'll be more comfortable," Kathryn said.
"I
already did, an hour ago," Mark said. Kathryn stared at him
lovingly for a few seconds (ugh, I'm going to be sick), she blew a
kiss at him (that's it where's the bathroom?) and switched the
viewscreen off. She stood up and she walked over to her desk. The
door chimed.
"Come
in," Kathryn said cheerfully. Harry and Tom walked in and they
stood at attention in front of the desk. "Gentlemen, welcome
aboard Voyager," Kathryn said.
"Thank
you, sir," Harry said. Kathryn sighed and she walked over to him.
"Mr Kim.
At ease before you sprain something. Ensign, despite Starfleet
protocol I don't like being addressed as sir," Kathryn said. Tom
tried to keep a straight face.
"I'm
sorry, ma'am?" Harry said.
"Ma'am
is a suitable crunch, but I prefer Captain. We're getting ready to
leave, let me show you to the Bridge," Kathryn said and she
walked out. Tom and Harry followed her. "Did you have any
problems getting here Mr Paris?" Kathryn asked as they walked to
the centre of the Bridge.
"Not at
all, Captain," Tom replied. They walked up to a man in his 50's.
"My
first officer, Lieutenant Commander Cavit. Tom Paris, Ensign
Kim," Kathryn said to introduce the 3 men. The man shook hands
with Harry.
"Welcome
aboard," he said. He looked at Tom the same way that doctor did
and he walked away. Kathryn and Harry walked up to the ops station.
"Ensign
Kim, this is your station. Would you like to take over?" Kathryn said.
"Yes
ma'am," Harry replied.
"It's
not crunch time, Mr Kim, I'll let you know when," Kathryn said
and she headed back over to the centre of the Bridge.
"Lieutenant
Stadi set a course for the bad lands, half impulse," Cavit ordered.
"Aye
sir," Stadi replied. Kathryn sat down in her chair.
"Engage,"
she ordered.
Voyager
departed from Deep Space Nine and headed off into deep space.
10
minutes later
Tom &
Harry walked onto the Bridge. Tom headed over to the Tactical
station. Kathryn and Cavit were there already.
"The
Cardassians gave us the last known heading of the Marquis ship, and
we have charted the plasma storm activity when they disappeared. With
a little help we might be able to approximate it's course,"
Kathryn said.
"I guess
they were trying to get to one of the m-class planetoids in the
Terikof belt," Tom said.
"That's
beyond the Arias system," Cavit said.
"The
plasma storms would have forced them in, this direction," the
tactical guy said as he pointed at the console showing a map of the region.
"Adjust
our course to follow it," Kathryn ordered, she, Cavit and Tom
walked away from Tactical. "The Cardassians claim that they
forced the Marquis into a plasma storm where it was destroyed, but
our sensors haven't picked up any debris," Kathryn said and she
sat down on her chair.
"The
plasma storm may not leave any debris," Tom said.
"We
would still be able to pick up a resinous trace from the warp
core," Kathryn said.
"Captain,
there appears to be a coherent tetryon beam scanning us," Harry said.
"Origin,
Mr Kim?" Kathryn asked.
"I'm not
sure. There's also a displacement wave moving towards us," Harry said.
"On
screen," Kathryn ordered. The viewscreen activated, a strange
wave like thing was coming towards them. "Analysis,"
Kathryn ordered.
"Some
kind of polarised magnetic variation," Harry replied.
"We
might be able to disperse it with a graviton particle field,"
Cavit said.
"Do it,
Red Alert. Move us away from it, Lieutenant," Kathryn ordered.
Cavit rushed over to Tactical as the Red Alert siren came on.
"New
heading 41-180," Stadi said.
"Initiating
graviton field," Cavit said.
"The
graviton field had no effect," Harry said.
"Full
impulse," Kathryn ordered.
"The
wave will intercept us in 10 seconds," Harry said.
"Can we
go to warp?" Kathryn asked.
"Not
until we've cleared the plasma field, Captain," Stadi replied.
"Five
seconds," Harry said.
"Brace
for impact!" Kathryn ordered. Everyone did as they were told,
but Cavit decided to run across the Bridge. There was a huge flash of
white light as the ship was hit by the wave.
4
minutes later
The Bridge
was in shambles. Consoles were exploding, or on fire. Dead or injured
people were scattered throughout the Bridge. Tom made his way over to
the comm. Kathryn stood up and she headed over to Cavit. She checked
his pulse, he was dead.
"Report!"
Kathryn ordered.
"Hull
breach deck 14, comm lines to engineering are down," Harry replied.
"Repair
crews, seal off hull breach on deck 14," Kathryn ordered.
In: "Aye Captain."
"Casualty
report coming in, Sickbay is not responding," the Tactical guy said.
"Bridge
to Sickbay, Doctor can you hear me?" Kathryn said, there was no
reply. She looked down at Tom who was checking Stadi's pulse.
"Paris, how's Stadi?" Kathryn asked.
"She's
dead," Tom replied.
"Captain,
there's something out there," Harry said.
"I need
a better description than that, Mr Kim," Kathryn said harshly.
"I don't
know. I'm reading, I'm not sure what I'm reading," Harry said.
"Can you
get the viewscreen operational?" Kathryn asked.
"I'm
trying," Harry said. The viewscreen slowly came on. It showed a
strange array which was firing what looked like torpedo's into the
distance. "Captain, if these sensors are working, we're over 70,
000 light-years from where we were. We're on the other side of the
galaxy," Harry said.
END
OF PART 2
PART
3