#so she waits up until B'Elanna gets home

[isagrimorie]

One of the interesting consequences of the Voyager writers forgetting that they didn't kill Joe Carey in seasons 2 or 3 is that every time B'Elanna's incapacitated, Seven takes over from B'Elanna.

It starts with Extreme Risk in season 5 and continues straight to season 7 until Friendship One when the writers realized, oh wait, the didn't kill Carey yet-- so they did.

Technically, it should have been Carey or Vorik who would be in charge of Engineering while B'Elanna was away. But while B'Elanna might not have been keen on Seven earlier on, she recognized Seven's talent in engineering and might have added Seven into the rotation.

And it tells me so much more about how B'Elanna thought about Carey and Vorik's performance.

On the other hand... for a Doylist reason, it might mean scheduling conflicts with Vorik's actor.

In Nothing Human B'Elanna couldn't communicate that she wanted Seven in charge of Engineering in her absence so Janeway did it but as we saw in Extreme Risk B'Elanna already thought about putting Seven in charge if she's not around. She must have communicated this to Janeway if she cannot do so.

In Course Oblivion the Demon copies might be copies but they are also to quote Farscape equal and original.

B'Elanna getting Seven up to speed and briefing her about Engineering is so good, also how moody the warp core engine could be. (Which explains why after B'Elanna was gone Voyager post Endgame kind of became hard to manage.)

So I guess the reason we don't see much of Seven during the events of Muse was because Seven had her hands full managing Voyager's very moody engine drive.

In Flesh and Blood when the holograms kidnap B'Elanna when the EMH Doctor betrayed the whole crew of Voyager*, Seven was the one leading Engineering. By this point B'Elanna and Seven have mutual respect for each other's strengths and competencies.

I love their hand-off and how smoothly it goes from B'Elanna to Seven in a crisis when B'Elanna's incapacitated.

Sorry Carey, the writers thought you were dead up to this season 7 two-parter. In-universe it just really means... you're a competent Engineer but nothing to write home about and that's more damning.

Once again, while I appreciate that Seven was a warrior badass in Picard, a warrior badass is not all Seven was. (Picard s3 nodded to it a bit with Seven and Shaw double teaming the nacelle engines but I hope a Seven-led show would incorporate all of Seven's parts since there would be more runway to do so).

*am i still angry that the EMH got away with betraying and legit putting the crew in danger with just a light slap on the wrist? YES.

[no-side-us]

In the unlikely scenario that I had to redo at least the first season of Voyager, I'm going to go through the ideas I have and what changes I would make. This is just a fun theoretical cause I've been thinking about it for a bit, so this isn't going to be that serious, though it is kind of long.

Beginning:

First some changes for "Caretaker." Everything will be mostly the same, but there would be more emphasis on Janeway and Chakotay making the decision to destroy the array together, setting up their relationship and eventual friendship and whatnot. Doing this means that being stranded in the Delta Quadrant is something the Starfleet and Maquis crew can both agree and resent together. There ought to be negative and positive sentiment towards it from both crews to facilitate their eventual joining together.

Val Jean (the Maquis ship) would also be intact throughout the first season until the finale, as a physical representation of the division between the two groups. Both Val Jean and Voyager would be heavily damaged in the transition to the Delta Quadrant, with many of both crews dead, resulting in the two ships having no choice but to work together if they're going to survive. Maybe the Val Jean needs Voyager's medical facilities, while Voyager needs Val Jean's weapons as its own are too damaged. I'm imagining that with the episode openings, the Val Jean starts off flying near to Voyager, before becoming permanently docked onto it to represent this, culminating in the finale which I'll talk about later.

Characters:

As to the main cast, Janeway and Chakotay's arcs will be mostly comprised of learning to trust and work with the other side. As leaders of the "opposing" factions, they both share a sense of responsibility to keep everybody alive. They're also very aware of how essential it is for both crews to work together if they're going to do that, meaning they know any disagreements they might have will quickly spread among their respective crews, crews who they also both know are just waiting to go at each other's throats. I think something fun would be for each of them to sort of act as the other's first officer, in a practical sense since they're both still captains. They'd question each other, bring up other possibilities, etc., and eventually realize they actually make the other better leaders.

Chakotay would also have an established real indigenous identity instead of a weird made up one. I haven't seen Prodigy yet, but I know they've finally made him a descendant of the Nicarao people, which is cool.

B'Elanna and Harry will represent the Starfleet/Maquis conflict to a more involved degree. It's easy for Janeway and Chakotay to be more separated from the crew due to their positions as captains, but B'Elanna and Harry are the ones who have to administrate and talk and interact with everybody from both sides, while also dealing with their own personal issues. B'Elanna has to once more learn to become part of Starfleet in a way, while her interactions with the Starfleet crew's biases bring her Klingon heritage to the forefront, as it's been something she's avoided for a while now. In turn however, Harry will represent for her the best of Starfleet.

This of course does lead to Harry's issues, that being the fresh top-of-the-class cadet thrust into the impossible situation, forced to learn and mature quicker than he ought to have been. I'll get it out of the way now, Janeway's going to emergency promote Harry to Lieutenant or Lieutenant Commander very quickly. It's going to become something of a sore spot for him as, while it's something he's always dreamed of earning at some point, he doesn't think he really deserves it due to the circumstances he's earning it in.

Moving on, Tuvok is basically still the same, except being a bit more sympathetic towards the Maquis, for logical reasons obviously. He recognizes that the Maquis are justifiably upset at Starfleet giving away their homes, so while he hasn't switched sides or betrayed the Federation or anything, the fact he understands their logic means he'll be an important reason Janeway learns to trust them. His big moment is going to be actively apologizing to the Maquis crew for spying on them.

Tom is going to be the opposite of Tuvok (figuratively and literally). If Tuvok is the one who is sympathetic to both sides, then Tom is the one who doesn't care about either. His daddy issues with Starfleet and his being kicked out of the Maquis means his allegiance is to himself, for all intents and purposes. That being said, something I do like in the original show was how much he better he thought his life was on Voyager compared to back home, even before prison. So he does start growing attached to everybody, especially Harry. He wouldn't be an official officer here, but he will have more to say about Starfleet and the Maquis, pointing out to them their own hypocrisies.

Neelix and Kes will basically be the same as well. Neelix will be their guide through the Delta Quadrant with all his same quirks and behaviors. Kes, instead of just being the Doctor and Tuvok's mentee, will sort of be everybody's mentee, though her relationships with the Doctor and Tuvok will still be very central. She'll have more of a hunger to learn and explore the universe due to her short lifespan. For the both of them though, as neutral parties they're going to have an outsider's perspective on the Starfleet/Maquis conflict, being good ways for both sides to voice their frustrations and eventually join together.

I'm not going to change anything about the Doctor, he's fine as is and his development kind of comes throughout all the seasons.

Story/Setting:

This may seem odd, but I'm going to make the first season focus more on the Kazon, except with a purpose in mind instead of as general conflict-instigators. The crews interactions with the Kazon will start off the same, with both Starfleet and the Maquis seeing them as a divided, backwards, resource-stealing species who fire on the crews any chance they get. This view quickly falls away however as the real villains of the season are revealed: the Trabe.

When Janeway, Chakotay, and crew first meet the Trabe, they at first assume they're good guys due to the aesthetics of advancement they give off. They have advanced technology and seemingly an "advanced" society. The Trabe say that the Kazon have been attacking them for a long time now and are out to steal their technology, and asks for help. Basically, it's sort of the same plot as the one episode they were featured in. However, after some suspicious details come to light (maybe Tuvok discovers the Trabe fired first or something), the truth is revealed.

The backstory between the Trabe and the Kazons is the same, i.e., the Trabe were a more technologically advanced species who used to enslave the Kazon. The Kazon then eventually joined together to escape enslavement. However, we learn this hasn't stopped the Trabe from continuing to interfere in Kazon affairs. It turns out they have been spreading rumors about the Kazon to other species, stealing resources from the Kazon, sowing division among them so they can't unite again, and this is important, refusing to share their technology with them. This is especially evil considering Kazon slave labor is what contributed to the many current technological advancements made by the Trabe. It turns out that the Kazon have been simply asking for resources and technology which could help their species survive. And the Trabe have been refusing to give it to them.

Eventually, Janeway asks why the Trabe don't help the Kazon, and their answer is simply that the Kazon are too "primitive" by their standards and don't deserve the technology they have. This becomes a critique of the Prime Directive and the Federation, and helps push Janeway to reflect on her own ideals as a Starfleet captain.

This culminates in both Starfleet and Maquis crews helping the Kazon against the Trabe. At first, both sides assume the other won't help. The Starfleet crew assume the Maquis are going to try to save themselves and leave Trabe/Kazon space as soon as possible, while the Maquis crew assume the Starfleet officers will either do the same or side with the Trabe who they see as being a bit too similar to the Federation. Regardless, their unity for the Kazon against the Trabe is what gets them to finally trust each other.

Finale:

Some episodes would deal with Voyager and Val Jean helping unite the Kazon once again and be mediators for them to other species. The Trabe would eventually find out about this, and realize it'd be better to wipe out the Kazon now before they unite. This culminates in a final battle against the Trabe, with the Kazon sects, Voyager, Val Jean, and some other species who realized their mistake joining in and working together.

They win, etc., and the Trabe agree to give back territory and technology to the Kazon. In the battle however, the Val Jean becomes too damaged to be salvageable, and with Voyager also needing repairs, parts of the Val Jean are used to do so. Thus the physical representation of the divide between the two ships is now a physical representation of their unity, and they are all now one crew.

Janeway and Chakotay also agree that a ship run under strict Starfleet regulations and a ship run under the looseness of the Maquis would be too much for either crew, so it becomes more of a middle ground. There is still a hierarchy of sorts, but many regulations no longer need to be followed, including the dress code. I just want to see more casual wear on Voyager even if they do have my favorite Starfleet uniforms.

Other/Notes:

Even though this post is about the first season, it could also work for two seasons. I think it might be more focused with just one. That being said, I do think there would be episodes where they encounter just some random stuff throughout a la classic Trek.

I thought about making a connection between the Trabe and the Haakonians (from "Jetrel," the species who space nuked the Talaxian moon), but I don't know if that would make the Delta Quadrant seem a bit too small, so I'll just note it here.

I always thought it was odd that the idea of the Maquis, though being created for Voyager, is centered around a specific region of space and being stranded so far away from it kind of defeats the purpose, cause then what exactly are the Maquis fighting for now? But I do think it's possible that without the context of the Federation, Cardassia, etc., the Maquis and Starfleet crews can talk openly about what the Federation did.

After the season finale, I think Janeway, Tuvok, and Harry would be the ones wearing their uniforms the longest. Chakotay would wear his Maquis clothes. Tom would wear Federation casual. B'Elanna would wear that Starfleet uniform jacket she wore when her actor was pregnant over her Maquis clothes. Everybody else is the same.

And that's it. Thanks for reading!

[marvel-wlw]

Banana Pancakes

B'Elanna Torres x Reader

Requested by no one

Summary: B’Elanna has told you how she loves banana pancakes. When you find out that she feels a little homesick so you decided to make her some.

Disclaimer: I don’t own any of the characters, they belong to Star Trek.

Tag list: @casey-anne-j​​​​ @pharaoh-of-time-and-space​ @morbid-gaymer​​​​@geekycatlover​​​​ @rainydaysrnevergrey​​​​ @natalia-helena-alianova-romanov @alphalesbianwolf​​​​ @dancurse @autumnjackson4​​​​ @1-danid​

A/N: I hope you guys like it! :)

You sighed in content as you turned around in B'Elanna’s arms. You had just woken up and normally you were the first one to wake up but not this time.

B’Elanna smiled before kissing your forehead. “Morning.”

“Morning.” You smiled and leaned forward, capturing her lips in a sweet kiss. 

You knew something was going on, you knew her long enough to tell when something was bothering her. With anyone else she would act like nothing was wrong but with you she could be herself, she knew that with you she didn’t have to hide how she felt.

You sat up. “What’s wrong babe?” But you already had a feeling what was wrong. The look on her face you’ve seen it on the other members of the crew, you even had that look on your face a few times.

B’Elanna sat up as well, she looked away from you. “I just feel a little homesick, but I’ll be fine.”

“Sweetheart,” You wrap your arms around her, pulling her into you. “There’s nothing wrong with feeling a little homesick.”

She wraps her arms around you, snuggling into your embrace. “I know but my home now is with you.”

You kissed the top of her head. “And my home is with you too but it’s okay to miss being with your family, even if you didn’t always get along with them.”

A few minutes later the two of you began to get ready, before you both left the quarters you two shared you and B’Elanna shared a loving kiss. You watched as she left to go to engineering, as you watched her leave you were already coming up with a plan to help your girlfriend feel better.

xxxxx

You walked into the mess hall looking for Neelix. Once you saw him you quickly walked over to him. “Neelix can I ask you something?”

He looked up at you, he smiled. “Anything.” He brought you over to an empty table so you could sit down. “What’s on your mind?”

You cleared your throat. “I wanted to do something for B’Elanna and I have an idea but I was wondering if it would be okay if I used your kitchen.”

“Of course!” His smile widened. “When do you think you’ll need it?”

“Not until later tonight after dinner.” You smiled and stood up. “Thanks Neelix.” You gave him a quick hug before leaving the mess hall to get back to work.

xxxxx

Later that night you and B’Elanna were walking around Voyager, hand in hand. Once you got to the mess hall you brought your girlfriend inside. 

She looked at you with a raised eyebrow. “(Y/N) why are we in the mess hall?”

You chuckled before bringing her over to a table, you pulled out a chair. “My lady.”

B’Elanna couldn’t help but chuckle as she sat down. You kissed her temple before quickly going into the kitchen. She watched what you were doing, trying to figure what you were planning. 

As soon as you were done you smiled and looked up at her. “No peeking.” 

You waited for her to turn around and for her eyes to be closed. Once her eyes were closed you walked over with two plates. You set one in front of B’Elanna before sitting across from her.

“Okay open your eyes.” 

She opened her eyes and what she saw in front of her brought tears to her eyes. She looked up at you to find you smiling at her. “Baby...”

“I remember you telling me how much you loved banana pancakes when you were growing up.” You reached across the table to take her hand in yours. “I wanted to make you some, I wanted to try and cheer you up.” You bit your lip.

B’Elanna didn’t say anything, she just stood up and went over to you. She gently pulled you up and pulled you into a kiss. “You’re amazing.” She smiled.

You blushed. “Not as amazing as you.” You wrapped your arms around her neck. “We should eat these pancakes before they get cold.” 

She gave you another kiss. “I love you.”

“I love you too baby.”

[summahsunlight]

This Way Became My Journey, Ch. 23

While the computer was running its diagnostic on the alien device, B'Elanna Torres had snuck away to the mess hall to grab a ration pack for lunch. Well maybe she hadn't really snuck away; Captain Janeway had after all given her permission to take a small break. But it sure felt like sneaking away, with Michael breathing down her neck wanting to know every little thing that came up about the device. Snatching a ration pack up she went to join a Bajoran, by the name of Seska, who was sitting at a table in the middle of the room.

"I didn't think Janeway was ever going to let you leave the bridge," Seska drawled with that sly grin of hers as B'Elanna took a seat.

B'Elanna shrugged her shoulders. "I think she felt bad that her kid was watching over everything I did. Anyways I don't have a lot of time. I need to get back up there to finish working on that device that Chakotay brought back from the planetoid."

"If you ask me this is a waste of time," Seska replied, pushing her empty ration pack to the side. "We shouldn't be chasing after any aliens that like to harvest organs. It could end up getting us all killed."

"Neelix could die if we don't track them down," B'Elanna said, slightly shocked by her friend's cold tone.

It was Seska's turn to shrug her tiny shoulders. "The Doctor has kept him alive this long; that's better than most people can say if they had just had their lungs stolen."

"And what if it was Chakotay that had been attacked? Or Harry? Would you feel the same way?"

"Of course. Neelix should be counting his blessings while the rest of us get to the real work of finding dilithium to help the power shortage," Seska answered, her dark eyes studying B'Elanna's face. "You don't actually agree with Janeway's decision to go chasing after these aliens do you?"

B'Elanna averted her eyes. "To tell you the truth, I think it's rather noble."

Seska scoffed. "One noble deed doesn't make up for her selfish decision to strand us here."

The hatred for Janeway that was laced in Seska's voice was not lost on B'Elanna and the young Klingon woman suddenly found that she was not hungry anymore. Pushing the tray away from her, she looked her friend, or someone she had once regarded as a friend, in the eye. "Seska, I know it hasn't been easy the past month, adjusting to life on a Starfleet ship, but believe me when I say that Captain Janeway has the best intentions of this entire crew at heart."

"You didn't think that way a month ago," Seska pointed out.

B'Elanna shook her head. "No, I didn't. But the past few weeks I've worked closely with her and my opinion has changed. If we had used the array to get home, there would have been people back in the Alpha Quadrant who thought her decision to sacrifice the Ocampa selfish. Either way, she couldn't win."

Seska got up from the table angrily. "You're starting to sound like all those delusional Starfleet idiots."

The Chief Engineer watched as the Bajoran left the table and stalked out of the mess hall. B'Elanna wasn't sure why Seska was having the hardest adjustment out of them all. Perhaps she felt like she had been slighted by Janeway when she wasn't given a higher rank, after all, she was Chakotay's former lover. And then there was B'Elanna's promotion to chief engineer. It was never spoken between the two, but B'Elanna knew that Seska was jealous of her friend's promotion and the trust that Janeway put in her. She also knew that Seska wasn't too keen on all time the B'Elanna had taken to hanging out with Harry Kim in the mess hall or for a stroll on the holodeck. But Harry had been the only one nice to her, on the Starfleet side that is, for their first few days, and she was grateful for that.

It wasn't her fault that she was sliding into fit with the crew and Seska was struggling. She just needs to make friends outside of the Maquis, that's all. 

B'Elanna decided that the next time Harry joined her for dinner she was going to ask Seska to join them. She was sure that Harry would be friendly and make an attempt to befriend Seska no matter how unreceptive Seska seemed.

Speaking of Harry, B'Elanna was sure that Janeway had given him a fifteen minute break to eat something as well. Maybe she had missed him when she had first come in the room. Glancing around she soon found that it had been easy to miss him. He was seated at a corner table with Sarah Barrett. B'Elanna instantly felt…jealousy.

She was shocked by this, at first. There was nothing romantically going on between her and Harry so she shouldn't be bothered if there was something between him and the counselor. But then she remembered Elle Platt, back from her Academy days. Elle had the same dark, coffee brown hair as Sarah, same enticing sapphire eyes. B'Elanna had thought Elle had been her friend and had told her about her crush on one of their classmates. They never spoke of it again, until B'Elanna had seen Elle with her crush, cuddling on the lawn one warm afternoon. Elle later told her some story about wanting to keep B'Elanna safe because she only would have been hurt, that her crush never would have dated a half Klingon.

B'Elanna, who had always resented human girls, with their silky locks of hair, and smooth foreheads, had shortly left the Academy after that. So was it this fact that Sarah looked so much like Elle that she was jealous of the time she spent with Harry? And if she ever did want to be more than Harry's friend, how could she compete with the perfection that Sarah was?

She was shocked at this realization. Being more than Harry's friend? He was Starfleet, a nice guy, but still Starfleet. Well what's so wrong with that? They had been through so much together on the Ocampa home world, she had connected with him in a way that she had yet to connect to anyone else on the ship, with maybe the exception of Chakotay. And that's when her emotions switched to jealousy to downright anger.

Sarah could have any man she wanted on this ship, with the bat of her pretty little eyelashes, why was she with Harry? Good, even Tom Paris was eating out of the palm of her hand and she had taken the one guy that B'Elanna actually felt…feelings towards. It figures the one nice guy on this ship— 

"Seat taken?"

B'Elanna glanced up to see Tom Paris. She shook her head. "No."

He sat down and dropped his ration pack tray in front of him. His grayish eyes looked up to see what she was looking at and he frowned.

This peaked her curiosity even more. Was Tom's feelings about Sarah more than just wanting a date? B'Elanna suddenly didn't feel so bad that she was not the only one who was jealous on this ship. "Something wrong with the view?" she teased.

Tom only frowned more as Harry and Sarah got up and left the mess hall together, laughing about something. "No, nothing's wrong with the view."

"If I didn't know you any better Paris, I'd say you were jealous," she continued teasing getting up from the table and going to recycle her tray. It was time to get back to working on the alien device and the diagnostic. She would have to push thoughts of Harry aside until further notice.

However, the thoughts of Harry and Sarah eating lunch together, sharing a laugh, just would not escape her no matter how hard she tried to get her work done. Michael Janeway was still standing over her shoulder, soaking in every last bit of information that the computer was coming up with. If that kept up he could his mother the report and B'Elanna could return to engineering where her real work was.

Mindlessly drumming her fingers on the console she noticed Tuvok raise an eyebrow. "Does that form of activity make the computer scan faster?" the Vulcan questioned her.

"No, but it keeps me occupied while we wait." The doors of the bridge swishing open brought her attention about and Paris strode back onto the bridge, no trace of the frown he had worn in the mess hall. How can he let it go so easily? Oh, that's right, he's a pig. He probably has another love interest lined up behind Sarah and the Delaney sisters.

The computer beeping brought her attention about. "Captain," she called out, getting Janeway's attention. "We've completed our diagnostic on the alien device."

Janeway strode over to join the group, which was an odd mix when you really thought about it; a Vulcan, a five year old human boy, and a half Klingon. "What have you got?"

"It appears to be more than a weapon," B'Elanna reported. "It's also a very sophisticated medical scanner and surgical instrument."

"From what we can tell," Tuvok said, handing the device to Janeway, "it uses a neural resonator to stun the victim while a quantum imaging scanner begins a microcellular analysis of the entire body.

"The amount of information this thing can gather puts a tricorder to shame," B'Elanna continued. "You fire this at someone you learn everything about their anatomy, right down to their DNA sequencing."

Janeway turned the device over in her hands. "So we're dealing with aliens who've developed a technology specifically designed for extracting organs from other beings. The question is…why?" Chakotay demanded her attention and she mindlessly put the device down onto the science console.

"The alien ship has dropped out of warp," the first officer reported. "It's approaching a large asteroid."

The captain went to stand on the command station next to Lieutenant Barrett while Tuvok took his own station. "On screen."

"It's entered the asteroid captain," Paris reported.

"Hold position."

There were very little options that Janeway had at this moment. She could either take the ship into the asteroid if it was wide enough or she could try to flush the aliens out some how. But that could take hours, and Neelix didn't have hours. Even though the Doctor had come up with a solution for the time being, no one really knew how long he could survive using holographic lungs, not to mention that if ship's system ever went down and the emitters went off line, Neelix would die.

"MICHAEL!"

The shear volume of Lieutenant Barrett's voice startled everyone on that bridge and all eyes snapped about looking for the child.

The boy was standing at the door to the ready room and immediately Janeway could see that he had the alien device clutched in his little hands. The captain had moved the baby into the ready room so she could comfortably nap and she had no doubt that her son was about to test the device out on his baby sister. How could I be so careless with something that dangerous around? She hadn't even seen Michael move from his spot near the science station, for that matter, neither had B'Elanna. Michael was terribly clever, a trait that Janeway knew had been inherited from her; he could easily slip away from baby sitters, his mother, etc.

So how had Sarah seen it?

Michael looked sheepishly up at his mother. "I just wanted to see Ava's DNA."

His mother gestured that he give her the device back and he complied.

"Sit there," Janeway instructed, pointing to her chair.

Chakotay cleared his throat while the boy did as he was told. "Uh, Captain, we've determined the asteroid is man made."

Fascinating. What's even more fascinating that Sarah knew Michael had that device; another question for another time, perhaps. 

"I think I've located where the alien ship entered the asteroid, Captain," Paris was saying bringing their attention about to the situation at hand. "There's an open crater on the limb of the asteroid."

"Let's see it," Chakotay ordered and the viewscreen changed from the image of the asteroid to the opening that Paris had found.

Janeway crossed her arms over her chest. "How large is that crater, Mister Paris?"

"Two hundred meters in diameter."

"Captain," Tuvok cautioned. "May I suggest that you consider carefully what you're about to do?"

"How do you know what I'm about to do?" Janeway asked, raising an eyebrow and glancing at Tuvok.

"I could describe you in detail the psychological observations I have made of you over the past four years," Tuvok answered, calmly. "Which lead me to conclude that you are about to take this ship into the asteroid, but suffice it to say, I know you quite well."

"One of these days, I'm going to surprise you Tuvok," she replied, with a wry grin. "But not today."

Janeway moved back into the command station and briefly looked at her counselor. "I've already consider other options. If Neelix has any chance of surviving, we have to act fast. Red Alert. Mister Paris lay in a course. Mister Tuvok maximum shields, phasers at the ready."

The Captain turned about in the command station and looked hotly at Michael, "And you stay right there and don't touch anything."

"Yes ma'am."

Voyager glided into the asteroid while Janeway made her way down the command steps to stand next to Chakotay and behind Paris. Her eyes watched the screen intently as the cavern's walls began to narrow.

"Captain," Paris said. "I'm reducing power to the aft-thrusters only. This passageway is getting a little too narrow for my taste."

"Use your discretion Mister Paris," Janeway replied, turning towards Tuvok. "Any sign of the alien ship, Commander?"

"We're still following the ion trail," Tuvok answered, "but electromagnetic interference is limiting our sensor range. I'm only able to scan five hundred meters a head of us."

Chakotay asked the next question. "Are there any indications we're being scanned or probed Mister Kim."

"Not yet."

"Sick bay to Bridge. May I enlist the services of Counselor Barrett please?"

Janeway glanced up at the lieutenant. Was it her imagination or did the Doctor sound anxious? "Certainly Doctor, she's on her way, Janeway out." For a moment the women made eye contact. "You heard the Doctor, he needs your help, we're just going to have to handle first contact without you."

[joyful-voyager]

Kiss #19: For Luck

@jhelenoftrek​ asked for this one. I had some time on my lunch break so I gave it a whirl. Enjoy.

Kiss # 19 – For Luck

I don't know how I let myself get talked into these things.

Actually, that's not true. I know exactly how I let myself get talked into these things, or at least this particular thing. Phoebe is family, after all. So when my only sibling called this morning in a panic because she has a gallery opening in Greenwich Village this evening and no one to watch the kids, I agreed to replace the babysitter in a heartbeat.

“Are you sure?" she asked, but I could see the gratitude in eyes and hear it in her voice. “Liam's almost old enough to take care of it, but it would be the first time for him and —"

“No worries, Pheebs,” I said. “I'll beam to Bloomington at 1700 hours. Five o'clock. It'll take me about ten minutes to walk up from the kiosk. Just leave something for me to feed them."

She sighed in relief. “Okay. That's perfect. Thanks, Kathryn. We'll be home as soon as we can."

I waved my hand vaguely at the screen. “No problem. Tomorrow is Saturday. I can stay over if you need me to."

“We'll try to be home early so you don't need to."

“It's not a problem either way. Anything I should know?"

My sister cocked her head to one side, thinking. “Liam's got basketball until 6:30 but he can walk home on his own. He eats like a horse these days so I'll leave an extra pizza just for him. Katie and Finn will probably drop on you by 8:00. Just put them to bed and then you and Liam can spend the rest of the night talking shop."

I smiled. The fourteen-year-old son of Phoebe's husband Seamus, Liam O'Leary had been bitten at a young age by the Starfleet bug – at about the same time, in fact, that his bachelor father had met and married Phoebe Janeway, sister of the infamous Captain who'd stranded her ship and crew halfway across the galaxy.

“That sounds just fine, Pheebs,” I said. “Any rules for the babysitter?"

She narrowed her eyes at me. “No booze and no boys."

I sat back in my chair and howled.

And that's how I got myself talked into beaming from San Francisco to Bloomington, Indiana, on a fine Friday night…after ten straight hours of meetings about the Brolelia refugee situation, each one more contentious than the last.

By the time I finally got back to my office after the last meeting, I was tired, hungry, and already on the verge of being late. I'd hoped to go home to change clothes and grab a cup of coffee at least, but there was no time to spare. I dashed across the quad, through the lobby of my building, and into the lift. “Fourth floor,” I ordered. “And make it quick!"

The lift ride took twice as long as usual, or at least it seemed that way. When the doors finally parted I sprang through –

And collided with someone tall and solid and very familiar.

“Oof!" he gasped and steadied me on my feet. “Slow down, Admiral!"

“Chakotay?" I looked up and caught his delighted smile, which was contagious. I gave him a brief hug. I hadn’t seen him in three months, but it felt much longer. “What are you doing here? I thought you were still on leave!"

He shrugged. “I was. But then I got bored and anxious for my next assignment, so I came back."

“Next assignment?" I stepped back and took him in, all six feet of him, clad in a brand-new gray-and-maroon Captain's uniform. He looked good. Very good.

He nodded. “I met with Admirals Paris and Senek this morning. We worked out a few possibilities. But I wanted to talk to you first." He gestured back down the hall toward my office. “I was afraid I'd missed you. Do you have some time for me? I really need your opinion on something. We could go back to your office, or…” He took a deep breath. “I was wondering if you’d like to have dinner with me, Kathryn.”

My shoulders slumped. Suddenly I wanted nothing more than to spend the evening with this man, my best friend and closest confidant, whom I hadn't seen since he'd broken up with his much-younger girlfriend after the debriefings and simply left the planet, and who looked damn good in his new uniform. But I had a prior commitment.

“I'm afraid now is not a good time," I said.

He took a hasty step away from me, the smile fading from his face. “I'm sorry, Kathryn, I had hoped -- ”

I placed a hand in the middle of his chest to stop whatever he was about to say. “No, you misunderstand. I have to be in Bloomington in about two minutes to babysit my niece and nephews. But I'm free all weekend if you want to stop over and talk."

His smile was back in a heartbeat. “I'd like that. Call me in the morning?"

“Of course." I headed down the hall toward my office to grab a PADD and a few other things I needed. He followed along in my wake, as I'd known he would. “Where are you staying?"

“With Harry for the weekend. Then I'm going to start looking for something more permanent here."

I nearly bumped into the doorframe of my own office, I was so surprised. “Here?"

He nodded happily. “All the assignments Paris and Senek and I came up with are based right here on Earth."

I stared up at him. “I assumed you'd go back into space, now that you've gotten your promotion. You could have a ship!"

“Why would I want to go back out? I've seen enough of the galaxy for several lifetimes, Kathryn. I'm sure I'll get the itch again eventually, but for now?" He gave me a look I hadn't seen since long before Seven and Jaffen ever entered our lives. “I don't need a ship when everything I want is right here."

I am not ashamed to say that my knees went weak, just for a second.

“Okay, then,” I blustered, ducked his gaze, and darted into my office. “I'll just call you at Harry's, then, shall I?"

He leaned against the doorframe. “First thing in the morning. I'll be waiting."

I grabbed a few random items from my desk and shoved them in a bag. “First thing. Excuse me."

With a gallant gesture, he ushered me from my office. He had taken the bag from me and shepherded me into the lift before I realized he meant to walk me all the way to the transporter kiosk. “Chakotay, I can manage this myself. I'm sure you have somewhere to be.”

“Not really."

“Don't you have plans with Harry?"

“He has a date. Actually, he told me to make myself scarce this evening. I was hoping that I would…” He cleared his throat. “But it’s not a problem. I'll find something to do."

I frowned. “You could call Tom and B'Elanna."

“I could." He shifted my bag higher on his shoulder. “How old are Phoebe's kids, again?" he asked as we crossed the quad, a little too nonchalantly.

“The twins are almost four. Holy terrors, both of them. And Seamus's son Liam is fourteen now. Taller than I am. Thinking about Starfleet Academy!"

Chakotay chuckled. “I can't imagine why."

I smacked him playfully on the arm. When he caught my fingers and folded my hand in his, I didn't know what to say.

When we got to the transporter kiosk, he handed over my bag. I gave the coordinates to the transporter tech and started to step up to the pad, but Chakotay stopped me with a gentle hand on my elbow. I turned back to him and, to my utter surprise, he leaned down and kissed my cheek.

It was all I could do not to raise my fingertips and press them to the place his lips had touched. “What was that for?" I asked.

“For…for luck,” he said, smiling. “I've seen those kids, you know. They're quite a handful. You'll need all the luck you can get."

“Well, thank you. I think,” I said, and stepped up to the pad.

Something made me stop the tech before she could send me to Bloomington, though. “Chakotay? Why don't you come with me tonight?"

He grinned and leapt up beside me. “I thought you'd never ask."

We stared at each other for a moment, then we both started to laugh. Something had been decided, something settled at last.

We were sprawled on the sofa with a bottle of wine when Phoebe and Seamus got home from New York, and I realized I’d obliterated the rules about booze and boys with a tricobalt device.

It was worth it.

###

[fardell24b]

22nd November 2020 Writing

22nd

 Excerpt from: Voyager and the Convergence

“So, it causes, what exactly?” B'Elanna asked.

 “Overlaps between one universe and another,” the Doctor explained. “When Voyager enters we will find ourselves occasionally overlapping with other Voyagers.”

 “That reminds me of something,” Harry Kim said.

 Words: 36

  Excerpt from: Changes in Time and Space – Chapter 69

“Rose and I met Charles Dickens, while fighting gas aliens who were possessing corpses,” the Doctor explained.

 Words: 17

Excerpt from: Dragons: Risks out of the Archipelago

It was a quiet day at Dragons Edge. But it wouldn’t be for much longer. Hiccup and Toothless were out on patrol when they saw a Terror mail approaching from the direction of Berk. “Back to the Club House, bud,” Hiccup said.

 Toothless gave a rumble as he acknowledged his rider’s command. They then sped back to the Club House.

  “Hiccup?” Astrid asked when she saw him enter the Club House.

 “A Terror mail, from Berk. It could be anything,” he said in a slightly worried tone.

 But what could be worrying him? “Berk is fine, Hiccup,” she said reassuringly.

 “I know, Astrid, but Viggo could make another move against Berk at any time.”

 Words: 114

  Excerpt from: Changes in Time and Space – Eleventh’s involvement

Felicia shot back. “I have been travelling with her for five months.”

 “I have run out of regenerations!”

 Felicia thought for a moment. “Maybe you obtained some more?” she asked.

 “Unlikely, the Time Lords are gone!” The Doctor thought for a moment. “Or maybe, River did more than save my life. Either that. Or the Sisterhood broke the rules and gave me extra.”

 “There’s your answer,” Felicia suggested. ‘Whoever this Sisterhood is,’ she wondered.

 “Probably,” the Doctor said in a dubious tone.

 “So, you believe me?”

 “Yes. It means that I’ll survive whatever is coming,” the Doctor said sardonically.

 Felicia wasn’t sure to what the Doctor was referring to.

 Words: 109

Excerpt from: Daria – Brittany

“So, it will be on Saturday night?” Daria asked.

 “Yes. Ashley-Amber will still be home on Friday night,” Brittany answered.

 “Oh, so you don’t want them to know?” Daria asked.

 “In case it does get out of control,” Brittany added.

 “Of course.”

  They talked more about the party before just talking as the friends they were, with Daria slowly coming out of her shell more. This camaraderie was interrupted by Daria’s mother coming into the kitchen, having come home half an hour after Andrea had come over. “Oh, you must be Andrea, Brittany and Donna,” she said.

 “Yes, I’m Brittany.” She indicated both Donna and Andrea in turn introducing them to Mrs. Morgendorffer.

 “I’m happy Daria has made friends,” Mrs. Morgendorffer said. There was something about her expression that made Brittany think that there was more to the statement than she let on. She looked to Daria, but she had her usual neutral expression.

 “Yes. I think she has found Lawndale to be better than she expected it to be,” Andrea said guardedly.

 “She has said that,” Mrs. Morgendorffer said whilst glancing at her daughter.

 “Although your husband was a little surprised that we were her friends. He thought we were Quinn’s,” Donna said.

 “He did?” Mrs. Morgendorffer asked.

 Brittany nodded.

 “Well, consider that Daria hasn’t really had friends until now. And Quinn is rather outgoing.”

 “That’s understandable,” Andrea said.

 “In any case, it’s time to begin preparing for dinner.”

 “Don’t we usually just have frozen lasagne?” Daria asked.

 “We’ll be having that, but there will be frozen vegetables too,” her mother said.

 “Of course.”

 Quinn then entered the kitchen. “Mom. Sandi says there’s a party on this Saturday night.”

“Word is already spreading,” Donna whispered.

 Mrs. Morgendorffer perked up on hearing both Quinn and Donna. “What was that?” she asked both of them, although she was mostly looking at Quinn.

 ‘She didn’t miss that,’ Brittany noted to herself. ‘Certainly more on the ball than Ashley-Amber is.’ That wasn’t to say that Ashley-Amber was just a dimbo of course.

 “A party this Saturday night. In Crewe Neck,” Quinn answered.

 “I see,” Mrs. Morgendorffer responded. She turned back to Donna. “What do you know about this?”

 “Actually, Mrs. Morgendorffer, it’s Brittany’s party,” Donna clarified.

 “Is it?” Quinn asked.

 “So, Daria is going to this party?” Mrs. Morgendorffer asked, glancing between Daria and Brittany.

 Words: 392

  Excerpt from: Emily and the Doctor

“So, you don’t know what the threat will be, exactly?” the President asked.

 “Not yet, but it will become apparent.”

  National Security Advisor Aaron Shore was annoyed. UNIT was giving him the run-around. “You misunderstand. The Doctor is here, in the White House. The TARDIS landed here.”

 “Do you have proof?” the UNIT person asked.

 “Of course, I have proof. There is photographic, audio and video evidence that the TARDIS is presently in the White House,” Aaron answered.

 “Then we’ll wait for you to send the files over.”

  Chuck Russink accessed the files. “So, the Doctor didn’t specify what the threat is going to be?”

 “No,” Aaron answered.

 Words: 108

 Total: 746

[ricepips-blog]

Harry's Trauma

(Ok, a bit saucy towards the end, you have been warned!) Tom decides to spice up life on Voyager with a series of games for the crew to take part in. He suggests it during a particularly arduous staff meeting, once Tuvok finally stops yapping on about security or some other such nonsense. They are in a quiet area of space and the whole crew are bored. There's only so many times you can run a diagnostic. Interestingly, the Captain agrees with his ideas and quickly quietens Tuvok's concerns. She says it will lighten the mood and improve morale. Tom literally beams with barely contained giddiness. His first game suggestion is, "The floor is lava." Quite simple in rules, basically at any point anyone can address another person, tell them the floor is lava and that person has 5 seconds to get their whole body off the ground. Everyone (except Tuvok) joins in and much hilarity ensues. Tom actually has to lie down after approaching Chakotay, whispering the words, and watching as the great bulk of a man dances about frantically looking for somewhere high, before launching himself onto the top of Neelix's work surface, knocking over a large pot of Leola root stew in the process. Harry plays dirty on the bridge and the whole bridge crew fall about in hysterics as Harry addresses Tom with the words and watches as he frantically clambers onto his own workstation, the controls beeping furiously at him in protest. Chakotay manages to catch out B'Elanna, addressing her during a routine engineering meeting. B'Elanna is forced to leap up onto the railings surrounding the warp core whilst the rest of her team howl with laughter. The Captain, however, pulls the best one yet, at the end of the senior staff meeting, she addresses them all with the words and laughs hysterically as everyone, (except Tuvok), dance about, eyes wild, shrieking until they all find a space. Chakotay is stood on her chair. B'Elanna is on the table, Harry is dangling from a service hatch above his head and Tom is curled onto the surface of the replicator. The game continues in a similar fashion. Tom hears Chakotay caught the Captain out, forcing her to admit defeat when she failed to find a space off the ground in the allocated 5 seconds. He hears, she launched herself into a Jeffries Tube and gave the 2 crewman working there the fright of their lives. Even the Doctor takes part. He launches himself onto a Biobed, hypospray in hand when Kes whispers the words to him. He huffs afterwards that lava really would not affect him but secretly he enjoys being part of the game. Tom decides to introduce a new game. Hide and Seek. This time the Captain and Chakotay decide not to take part this time, explaining they are running behind on some essential reports. The Captain, however, makes Tuvok take part this time, ordering it a good way for him to bond with the crew. She also stipulates that the crew must not use tricorders to hunt others down, and for the duration of the game, internal sensors will be offline, so nobody can cheat. She looks pointedly at Tom at that point. She then adds a final clause. No hiding on deck 13. She reasons that there is too much technical equipment on that deck that could cause injury. Tom sets aside a time for everyone to take part. He puts himself as chief seeker and the rest of the crew spread out to hide. Harry thinks he has the perfect place. He squashes himself inside a service hatch right above the emergency control room on deck 13. He reasons that the hatch is technically on deck 12 and therefore he's not breaking any rules. He smiles to himself, he thinks he's been spending too much time with Tom if he can so blatantly bend the rules. He settles down for a long wait. He's busy humming a song to himself, when he hears the doors to the emergency control room open and voices float upwards. There's no mistaking the throaty voice of the Captain and the softer tone of Commander Chakotay. He holds himself dead still, straining to hear. "In here, they'll not find us," Janeway says. They must have decided to take part after all? But, she said no hiding on that deck? "A clever ploy, Kathryn, banning them from this deck!" Chakotay chuckles. "Well, I fancied a bit of adventure. We've exhausted everywhere else!" Janeway's response is filled with humour. In his hiding place, Harry frowns. "Know what I fancy?" Chakotay murmurs. Janeway's throaty laugh floats up to Harry's ears. "A little game of Hide and Seek?" "I know what I intend to hide and where," Chakotay suggestively replies. Harry's eyes boggle in his head. "Oh, yes..." Janeway practically growls. "I intend to hide it well!" Harry wonders whether he should risk a look or maybe make his presence known. He has a feeling he's parry to something more than ship reports. He's about to lean towards the hatch opening, when the sound of lips meeting assaults his ears, followed by groans and moans. Harry slumps back stunned. He hears his captain groan the name of her first officer and the sound of clothing being tugged and pulled. He squeezes his eyes shut (though his inner thoughts reason that is not going to help) and curls up into a ball. He hears a growl, followed by a saucy laugh, which quickly turns into a definitely aroused moan. He sticks his fingers in his ears, but it doesn't stop him hearing Janeway make a very intimate command. He tries to take his mind off what is happening right below him. His mind offers the suggestion it's like hearing your parents have sex and feels nausea bubble in his stomach. The sound of flesh slapping against flesh bleeds into his ears and he stuffs his fingers in harder, wincing at the discomfort. He starts trying to think of other things. Nice things. The sea. Music. Ice cream. Sex....argh! He starts running through all the technical details of Voyager, speed, weight, area.....size, Chakotay's size, which is obviously pretty good considering Janeway's appreciative words that continue to assault poor Harry. He thinks of home, his family, his mum, his mum having sex....argh! Another growl enters the hatch and Harry swallows an anguished cry as he hears his captain whimper with undiluted pleasure. He's horrified to find himself being ever so slightly turned on. He curses Tom Paris and pulls his arms up over his head. How long can this torture go on for? He has to concede in the treacherous depths of his brain, that Chakotay has some serious stamina, he's literally going hard at it down there....he makes a silent plea to any deity listening to make it end quickly. The rhythmic thumping and frantic groans reach a crescendo and Harry finds himself disappearing inside himself where he is safe and he can't be harmed by the trauma he is enduring. He's 8 again, hiding under the covers of his vintage Buzz Lightyear bedding in the hope that the monsters in his wardrobe won't get him. Even the sound of his command team coming apart below him can't hurt him now. No, he's safe here inside his head. Safe. Harry loses track of time. He doesn't hear his commanding officers laughing softly as they gather to their clothes. He doesn't hear them leave. He lays there in the silence of his head. The next thing he knows is a hand on his arm, he leaps away in fright and sees the shocked look on Tom Paris' face. "Hey, you won, Harry!" Tom says. "Leave me alone! Don't touch me!" Harry cries. "Dude! You won! What's wrong?" Tom asks, concern flooding his features. "Keep your tokens! I don't want them!" Harry cries, scrambling out of the hatch. "I don't want to ever remember this game! Ever! Never speak of it again!" Tom watches his friend leave. There could only be one thing that would send his friend into such a frenzy. He grins and calls out, "OK, who did you hear having sex?"

[delwin47]

Fanfic (ST:VOY) Flight Dynamics

Summary: Three misadventures of our favorite Delta Quadrant pilot and engineer...

For @pg1890. An embarrassingly long time ago, I asked her for three prompts. She sent back,

"Well that should make the rest of the trip back home more interesting."

"It was a planetary survey mission. I didn't realize you were expecting a souvenir." And,

"So, do you think it has potential?"

At long last, here are the resulting fics.

Thanks is also due to @pg1890 since she has patiently and generously beta-read these pieces over the course of their slow creation. And thanks as well to @mollybecameanengineer for her helpful feedback on Proton universe technobabble.

Also posted at AO3 and FFN

Flight Dynamics: Yaw, Pitch and Roll    

"Every flying machine has four basic controls: power, pitch, yaw, and roll. Where are yours?" Starbuck, Battlestar Galactica

  i. Yaw

"And how did I know I'd find you here?"

"B'Elanna!" Dropping the drink in his hand - the extra liquid will never be noticed on the permanently sticky tables and floor - Tom pushes through the press of bodies separating him from the chief engineer. "You shouldn't be here." Unthinking, he puts a hand to her elbow to guide her to the exit, scanning the crowd with growing apprehension.

"I shouldn't be here?" She shakes off his hand and stops dead, turning to glare at him. "What about you, Paris? I wasn't aware that enjoying the questionable pleasures of the local dive bar was one of the objectives for this away mission."

"Look, it's not what you think. We need to get you out of here." Tom tries his best imploring look. "Just trust me, okay?"

"Trust you? You? Really, Paris?"

Not that she doesn't have a point, but this is a bad time for such technicalities. Tom opens his mouth to respond when a pair of arms close around his waist from behind.

"Is this where you've been hiding from me, Tommy boy?"

He spins around in alarm that does not abate at the sight of his voluptuous captor. "Vala!"

Vala gazes at him in adoration as she loosens one hand to wag a finger, her Renuit phalanges glowing a soft blue in the dim lighting. "I thought you might be trying to run out on me early."

Torres, meanwhile, has stepped around to get a clear view of the proceedings. "Not what I thought, huh, 'Tommy boy'?"

Damn...

"Look, Torres, really..."

A roar from across the room swallows his words.

Vala turns toward the source of the roar and gives a satisfied smile. Reaching up on her tiptoes, she passes her lips across Tom's cheek before whispering, "As promised," in his ear and pressing a vial into his hand.

In the time it takes him to look down and verify the contents of the tube, she has slipped into the crowd.

"What the hell is that?" Torres snaps, eying the vial.

But Tom's attention has turned back to the commotion across the room which centers on a very large, very angry Renuit male.

A very large, very angry male whose eyes lock on Tom at the same moment Tom spots him.

"Paris!" The roar takes definite form and even Torres's eyes widen.

"Right. Time to leave," the engineer murmurs, and it's her turn to pull on Tom's arm as she backs towards the bar's exit.

Bull-like, roaring alien notwithstanding, Tom can't help his delight that she isn't instead securing a front row seat to watch him get pummeled. "Why, Torres – I didn't know you cared."

To which she gives an eloquent reply with her free hand while continuing to pull him to the door.

Pushing their way through an assortment of Delta Quadrant species that any Federation exobiologist would give his or her eye teeth – or whatever anatomical equivalent might be available – to view, they stumble through the exit and out into the clean and silent corridors of the Atarean space station.

Clean, silent and unmarked corridors.

Taking a fifty-fifty shot, Tom turns left, eager to put distance between them and the door that is likely going to reopen all too soon. A sharp yank on his arm spins him around.

"This way, Paris," B'Elanna hisses and sets off down the corridor without waiting to see if he will follow.

He considers arguing but fifty-fifty is still fifty-fifty, and, after all, a space station is more or less a huge, floating machine. If anyone has an edge navigating through a machine, it's Torres.

They turn two corners before Tom hears a tell-tale commotion from behind confirming that their pursuer (pursuers? It sounds like bull-man has friends...) have arrived in the corridor. Torres skids to a halt in front of one of the station's lifts expectantly.

The doors to the lift remain firmly closed.

"Hells..." The engineer attacks the panel at the lift's side. "We need to get down five levels to the docking ring," she explains without looking away from the panel. "The lifts have been stopped by some sort of override code." She frowns as she glances briefly at a second screen. "It looks like there is a waste chute there," she shrugs towards a slotted vent, "if we wanted to try our luck with that."

Tom grimaces at the vent. "Bad idea. I saw that in a movie once. Very bad results."

"'Movie'?" Torres queries, still working furiously.

"Old entertainment form…" An energy blast hits the wall at the end of the corridor, interrupting Tom's words. "You know what: not important."

"Right." The engineer taps out one final command with something that might almost be a flourish and the lift doors open. "In we go, flyboy."

A second energy blast adds emphasis to her words as the lift doors close them in. Which should be a relief. Except for the less-than-happy chief engineer who is giving Tom a look that could melt titanium.

"Now why, exactly, am I being shot at?"

Guessing it's his best chance at surviving until the lift doors reopen, Tom extracts Vala's vial from his pocket. "This," he says, tossing it to Torres.

She catches it with a frown. After a brief examination, her expression shifts. "Is this...?"

The doors open to reveal the docking ring. In tandem, they sprint for the airlock where the Drake is waiting.

"Get us moving," Torres directs unnecessarily as Tom slides into the pilot's seat.

"Thirty seconds," he calls over, cutting to a fourth the by-the-book Starfleet emergency shuttle flight prep time. A flashing light catches his attention. "B'Elanna, the station landing struts aren't retracting."

:Shuttle Drake, this is Atarean control tower. Your approved departure is not until the next cycle. If you wish to depart at an earlier window, please apply for the necessary variance:

A glance at Torres's less than diplomatic reaction has Tom jumping in to reply: "We're in a bit of a hurry. Would it be possible..."

"Weapons fire!" interrupts Torres a millisecond before the Drake rocks from the impact.

"Control tower, we need to depart now. We're under attack!"

:The Renuit vessels have authorization to use force in this facility's space. The shuttle Drake does not have authorization to depart at this time:

"You've got to be kidding me," Torres snaps. Diving under the co-pilot console, she tears off a panel and yanks out a series of isolinear chips. "Hands off the controls!" She yells to Tom, who pulls his fingers away from his panel as an electromagnetic surge dances over the screen and out onto the Drake's hull. The distinct pop of the landing struts disengaging follows.

"Go!" Torres shouts, as the shuttle jumps forward at Tom's command.

Jumps forward and nearly collides with the station's main docking pylon.

"B'Elanna?" Tom calls as he struggles to control the vessel.

The engineer pulls back up to the control panels. "Their first shot took out our starboard thrusters."

"Well that should make the rest of the trip back home more interesting," Tom mutters as he burns the port thrusters hard to spin the shuttle around and avoid more station infrastructure. "And 'they' are…?"

"Three ships," Torres confirms. "Closing fast." A pause and then, "I'm working on getting some more power to the shields."

Another jarring spin to clear the last of the station.

"So did you steal it?"

"What?" They're in open space now – except for those three Renuit ships which are continuing to fire with abandon.

"The tellerium. Did you steal it?"

Dive and then roll.

"No. Would it matter?" Were he not so distracted keeping them in one piece, Tom might give some more thought to the nuances of the sometime-Maquis-now-Starfleet engineer's ethical code.

"It might explain why we're being shot at."

Which is fair enough. "I traded for it." A well-timed acceleration leads to one of the Renuit vessels finding itself on the unfortunate end of friendly fire.

"Traded? With Vala? Paris, you didn't..."

Interestingly, the engineer's tone suggests that that would matter.

"Shocking though it might be, no, I did not." The Drake shudders and spins as another shot hits home.

Half-flung from her seat, Torres glares over at him. "Then who's shooting at us and why?"

Another dive and again a hard burn on the port thrusters. "Vala's husband. She says he's the jealous type."

"But you said you didn't..."

"No, I didn't." They are ahead of the Renuit now. "Are we good to go to warp?"

"Whenever you're ready."

"Getting us the hell out of here – now!"

Star trails replace alien ships on the viewscreen; Tom slumps back into his seat in relief.

"No sign of pursuit."

"Setting a course for our rendezvous point with Voyager – though we're going to be a few hours early."

A minute passes as they each work at their respective stations.

"So you didn't sleep with her?"

Tom glances up, but the engineer's eyes are on the panels in front of her. "No, I didn't sleep with her," he confirms.

"And you didn't steal the tellerium?"

"Nope."

"So why the hell were we being shot at?"

Entering a last command, Tom swings around in his seat. "Vala's family runs the tellerium refinery and, like I said, Vala's husband is the jealous sort." At Torres's impatiently raised brows, he continues, "And their relationship evidently thrives on a certain amount of…well…drama. I offered to provide some...drama...in return for some tellerium." Tom shrugs, oddly uncomfortable under the engineer's unreadable stare.

Not responding immediately, Torres pulls the vial of tellerium back out of her pocket and considers it. She looks over at Tom, her expression still indecipherable. "So without stealing or trading Federation technology and while even keeping your pants on, you managed to get us enough tellerium to keep my engines running for the next year?"

Again, Tom shrugs.

One corner of the engineer's mouth lifts into a half-smile as she shakes her head and looks back down at her panel. She neither glances back up nor utters another word, but the smile remains as she continues her work.

And damn if she doesn't have a nice smile.

This might make the rest of the trip back home more interesting indeed.

  ii. Pitch

"It was a planetary survey mission. I didn't realize you were expecting a souvenir."

"Shut up and fly, Tom."

"That's what I'm attempting to do."

"Attempt harder – that mountain range is getting close in a hurry."

This is true and, to be honest, Tom isn't sure what to do about it.

.

.

 …the day had started off so well. Off on a survey mission – alone with B'Elanna. Time by themselves, even if that time was to be spent investigating possible mineral deposits on the less than hospitable surfaces of a twin planetary system. Fiji it was not – but, as…interesting…as things had become between him and the chief engineer since their adventures on the Sakari home world, Tom hadn't been feeling particularly picky.

  And their work had even taken an unexpectedly intriguing turn when B'Elanna had literally tripped over evidence of an alien civilization…

.

.

"Did you try that lever on the right?"

"Yes, I tried that one – and every other lever on the panel as well. As well as the pedals on the floor. No dice."

"baQa'…"

"You really need to teach me Klingon sometime. At least the interesting parts."

"Tom..."

"I know: shut up and fly."

.

.

…the hatch that B'Elanna had stumbled upon had opened to reveal a subterranean silo housing a contraption that looked only about two steps further advanced than something out of a Jules Verne story. Tom and B'Elanna had both scrambled eagerly down into the bunker, B'Elanna heading for what looked like primitive computers lining the circular walls while Tom approached the…craft…in the silo's center. d s"Tom? Come take a look at this." Having discovered what appeared to be the vessel's access point, it had been with more than a little reluctance that Tom had torn himself away and moved to join B'Elanna. "Did you find something?"

.

.

"What's that thing to the side of you?"

"What?"

"By the back of your…chair? On the floor?"

A quick twist away from their impending mountainous doom allows Tom to locate the object of B'Elanna's interest – and a matching device on his opposite side.

"Uh, B'Elanna?"

"What?"

"I think we may have a problem."

.

.

 "…it just started flashing a second ago."

  Flashing red lights were rarely a good thing – no matter what alien technology they were embedded in. "Did you touch anything?"

  B'Elanna had shaken her head. "I didn't even get a chance to do a tricorder scan. Maybe we triggered something when we came in?"

  Tom had swept his wrist light across the dirt encrusted console to the left and right of the single, steadily pulsing light. "I'd bet this equipment hasn't been touched in at least a century. Where is it even drawing power from?"

  Which was when the ground had begun to move beneath them…

.

.

"What do you mean they weren't bipedal?"

"That device is another pedal, identical to the two in front of me – and to the one on the other side behind me. And I'm betting the four of them together control the pitch."

"tojo'Qa'!"

"You really need to…"

"Shut up, Paris."

Which Tom did, though his mouth remained open in slack-jawed surprise as B'Elanna swung out of her seat and straddled his – and him.

.

.

  "Well that can't be good."     B'Elanna had flicked on her tricorder. "There is a buildup of geothermal energy directly below us." Tom had watched her eyes widen. "A significant buildup." Frowning at her reading, she had looked toward the center of the silo. "Tom…"     Tom had followed her gaze to see that the exterior lights of the alien craft were now glowing brightly – and he could hear a steadily building whirling noise emanating from within the hull. "It must be powered by the geothermal energy." He had moved back to the vessel, running his hands over its hull, grinning, he was well aware, like a kid on Christmas morning.     Following him while still looking down at the tricorder, B'Elanna had nodded in agreement. "I think that's the idea, yes, but the system is malfunctioning."

"Malfunctioning how?" "It's overloading, big time." Tom's grin had died as B'Elanna's frown deepened. "This whole structure is going to blow and take us with it." .

. Just fly the ship. Just fly the ship. "OK, let's try this: I'm going to press both rear pedals while you hit both front pedals. Got it?" Tom nods, not entirely trusting his voice as B'Elanna shifts more tightly against him in order to reach both pedals. "Now!" Tom stomps on both of his pedals as B'Elanna does the same – and the nose of the vessel responds by beginning to nudge up from its deadly descent. Unfortunately, the craft isn't the only thing pulling up.

 Shit.

.

.

"You're sure this is a good idea?"

 Tom hadn't answered, instead shining his wrist light around the circular space into which they had just crawled – a space that he assumed to be the cockpit of the alien craft. The low ceiling left him almost doubled over; he had shuffled towards a squat, backless stool that was orientated towards a bank of controls and a viewport: the pilot's chair, he presumed.

"Can you even fly this thing?" B'Elanna had moved to a second 'chair', but her eyes were on the controls in front of Tom. Suddenly the craft had shuddered as the silo floor began to move more violently. Another distinct whirling sound and the vessel had begun to tilt back until the silo's open hatch came into sight through the viewport. Above Tom's head – very close above Tom's head – the vessel's ceiling had begun to glow an insistent shade of neon green. "I think we're about to find out – hold on to something!"

Trusting a lifetime of piloting instincts, Tom had gripped a conveniently located bar tightly with one hand and then, with the other hand, pulled down hard on the largest of the control bank's levers… .

.

"B'Elanna, I'm so sor…"

"Tom?"

"Yeah?"

"Shut up and fly."

"Right. Shutting up and flying." Easier to say than do, but they do still need to figure out how to safely land their little souvenir. "Can you try easing up on both of your pedals just a touch? I want to see if I can get us leveled out."

"Sure." Tom can feel all too distinctly the subtle shift in her weight as she complies with his request – when did the uniform fabric become so thin anyway? .

.

 …the first minute of their ascent had seen them both intensely occupied with holding on for dear life to prevent being thrown off their stools and against cockpit's back wall by the g forces created by the rocketing craft. As the clouds in front of them began to give way to stars, Tom had finally been able to ease his grip and assess their situation.

"We seem to have some sort of life support, so that's good. We should be able to hang out in orbit until Voyager returns to the system."

 B'Elanna, having pulled out a tricorder, had frowned. "Maybe…"

 "'Maybe'? 'Maybe' why?"

 "'Maybe' because of that."

 Which was when the second planet of the binary planetary system had swung into view and their craft had again begun to pick up speed – this time downward, towards the second planet's surface…

.

.

"Now ease up altogether – and we're down."

Tom's eyes close in relief as the vessel settles lightly onto the second planet's surface. Lightly – but whether or not safely remains to be seen. Because he still has a certain half-Klingon chief engineer nestled snuggly on his lap.

Wait, still?

Tom opens his eyes in confusion to see that, yes, B'Elanna is still in fact astride him. Not only that, she is grinning – in relief and amusement… and maybe something else?

"Um, I think we made it." Tom offers, just in case she's waiting for the announcement to, well, disembark.

"I think we did, yes."

She's still not moving and that tone – Tom isn't sure what to do with that tone.

He tries again, "Well, that was more exciting that we were expecting."

B'Elanna chuckles – a low, throaty chuckle that does nothing to help Tom's physical predicament. "Exciting? Yes, at least for one of us, that's fairly apparent." Tom can feel his pale skin turning a hot scarlet. "B'Elanna, I'm so sorry. If I had any…" "Tom?"

"Yeah?"

"Shut up."

Then she's leaning in, her chest pressing against his and he can feel her breath against his lips…

:Voyager to Lieutenants Paris and Torres. Tom and B'Elanna, can you read us?:

In a single lithe movement B'Elanna is off his lap and busily examining…something… on the other wall of the cockpit.

Tom takes an extra moment to ensure that his voice will register at the correct octave before responding, "We're here – though not quite where you left us." Which, just maybe, Tom considers as he steals a glance over at his still very busy companion, is true in more ways than one.

iii. Roll

"So, do you think it has potential?"

Tom raps his knuckles against the outer hull of the…rocket ship? Is that what he calls it?...and gives a wag of his eyebrows that he probably thinks is encouraging – or endearing. B'Elanna's lips tighten along with the cross of her arms at her chest. She considers asking Tom to raise the ambient temperature in the holodeck but she isn't really cold. Just…out of her element.

Instead, she taps one foot with exaggerated impatience.

Tom shrugs, his optimism undaunted. "OK, let's head inside; you're going to love the hydropump activator."

"The 'hydropump activator'? What the hell is a 'hydropump activator'?"

"You'll see-" Tom presses a button with what can only be described as gusto. "Voilà!"

He moves to the side, inviting B'Elanna to enter first. She takes a long breath and then moves to the now open hatch, arms still crossed. With one final marked sigh, she ducks slightly and enters. Tom bends to follow her in, pulling the hatch closed behind them.

B'Elanna stops at the top of the two-step drop that marks the entrance, chewing on the inside of her cheek. She can feel Tom's interested gaze on her – can see out of the corner of her eye the undampened enthusiasm of his expression. She scans the bridge of the ship, eyes moving past the consoles with their ridiculous number of knobs and levers, pausing at a periscope-like device hanging perilously close to skull height mid-bridge and what looks like a giant viewscreen on its own raised dais before finally coming to rest on an unlikely contraption made up of fluid filled cylindrical tubes with conduits of some sort coiled around them.

Against her will, one of B'Elanna's eyebrows crawls up.

"I thought you would like that."

"I wouldn't say 'like'." She shrugs then, her arms loosening ever so slightly: "Your 'hydraulic activator', I presume?"

"Hydropump activator." Tom corrects, motioning for her to follow him to the back of the bridge where the reactor sits. She grudgingly does so, squinting at the bubbling liquid within the cylinders.

"What's the fluid?"

"Liquid unobtanium."

"'Unobtanium'." Both eyebrows are now up. "And the power source?" She glances towards the center of the machine where something appears to be glowing softly.

"An adamantine crystal."

"An adamantine crystal?"

Tom nods. "From the Mines of Mercury."

"The Mines of Mercury. Of course." She throws up her hands. "Tom, this is absurd."

"Maybe in your universe." Her hands land on her hips. Undeterred, Tom explains, "Proton's world is a fictional universe – the invention of those who could only guess at the realities of space travel. It has its own rules, and its own internal consistency."

"'Internal consistency'?"

Tom nods, his expression all sincerity.

B'Elanna snorts but she squats down to get a closer look at the piston-like devices near the base of the activator's structure. The concept is certainly…inventive.

"Want to join me on her maiden flight?"

She looks up, sitting back on her heels. "You haven't flown this thing yet?" she asks in disbelief. "You and Harry have spent hours in this program."

Tom gives a half-shrug. "These old shows were pretty low budget; special effects were time consuming. It was cheaper to keep the big ships on the ground most of the time." Tom squints, mind running back through the chapters he and Harry have played out. "Chaotica flew her once, but I've mostly traveled around with the rocket pack."

"The what?"

Tom indicates a Scuba tank-like device propped against the port bulkhead.

"Is there an EVA suit that goes with that thing?"

"Well, no…"

"Internal consistency?"

Tom grins. "Now you're catching on."

"Right…" B'Elanna lets her tone dismiss the topic. "So maiden…ish flight?"

"You'll do it?"

She bites back a grin at his too obvious delight and turns back to the activator. "I'm here, aren't I?" Then, keeping her voice carefully disinterested, "Aren't you supposed to have a coat or jacket or something?" Her eyes are on the machinery.

"Usually, sure. But I'd assumed you wouldn't be interested in costumes…?" There is an unseemly amount of hope in his trailing statement.

B'Elanna's harrumphs. "I am not." She's fiddling with one of the omnipresent control levers now. "But if you want to, go ahead."

"You're sure?"

"Sure. Fine. Whatever you want."

He hesitates, likely trying to decide about her tone. She carefully avoids his eyes. After another moment of deliberation, he heads over to retrieve the flight suit from its hook on the bulkhead near the hatch. B'Elanna crosses the bridge as well, ostensibly to check out the forward consoles. She gives half her attention to deciphering the configuration of the ungainly controls while watching Tom shrug on the dark leather jacket.

She flips a couple of switches and the deck beneath them begins to vibrate.

"I see you figured out how to power her up."

"I just followed the 'internal consistency'."

Tom chuckles as he passes behind her - passes closely enough for her to ascertain that the replicated leather holds an enticingly authentic scent - and moves to the second control console.

"Hover thrusters engaged. Landing gear retracting in 5, 4, 3, 2…" There is thud below them and the ship shudders momentarily before steadying. Tom looks down at a series of lights. "And…we're aloft." B'Elanna snorts at the more than slight relief mixed with the excitement in Tom's voice. Then she checks the indicators on her own console.

"Propulsion…"

"Space drive."

"Space drive is online and navigation…"

"Steering jets."

"…steering jets are active." Consciously relaxing her gritted teeth, she turns in Tom's direction, one hand moving back down to her hip. "Take us out -" and then with her intonation just so, "- Captain."

The effect of those two syllables on Tom's expression is worth a dictionary full of ridiculous technobabble. "Space drive engaged," he confirms, a little too quickly, but his palm is steady on the acceleration lever as he pushes the craft into a smooth ascent. B'Elanna keeps her eyes on him, unable to resist a wicked grin.

"What?"

"Nothing…Captain."

The rocket ship jumps forward. B'Elanna smirks; Tom visibly swallows.

An alarm sounds as lights that B'Elanna assumes would be red in a non-monochromatic universe begin flashing. Tom's attention jumps back to his controls.

"Shit."

"What?"

"Hold on!"

B'Elanna grips her console as Tom does the same and, below them, the deck begins to roll upward. Centrifugal force vies with the rocket ship's primitive artificial gravity and the holodeck's safeties. The result is probably not at all internally consistent…not to mention highly disorientating. On the positive side, both Tom's and B'Elanna's feet remain on the deck.

B'Elanna gulps to avoid a resurgence of Neelix's Ailis paté consumed an hour before and tries to make sense of the indicators on the panel before her. Next to her, Tom barks, "Computer, end –"

"No, wait."

Sounding frustrated and more than a little nauseated, Tom insists, "B'Elanna, it's a program glitch. I'll pull up the coding and…"

"No. I mean, yes." She flips a couple of switches, presses a button, checks the result. "It's a program glitch, but we can still fix it."

"Maybe, but…"

"Damn." Another indicator light flashes on. "There's feedback loop – we can't reset the engines remotely." She looks over at Tom. "You said that the adamant crystal…"

"Adamantine crystal."

"…adamantine crystal is the power source for the…hydropump activator, right?" Tom nods. "So if I pull the crystal it stops the engine?" Another, more hesitant nod. "Good. I'll pull the crystal to stop the acceleration, you get us leveled off and then I'll reinsert the crystal and we'll reinitialize the engines."

"B'Elanna…"

She re-crosses her arms, this time in deliberate challenge. "I assume you can level us off?"

As desired, Tom bristles. "Yes, of course, but that's not the…"

"You wanted me to play along, didn't you?"

He considers that for a moment and then grins, turning back to the flight controls. "Well, when you put it that way…awaiting your word, Chief."

Crossing back to the activator while the ship continues to roll is more difficult than B'Elanna had anticipated: she never had been very good at finding her sea legs. Arriving at last, however, she spots the glowing crystal in the center of the contraption. Reaching for it, she yells back to Tom, "Ready?"

"Whenever you are."

"Now!"

She pulls hard on the crystal which dislodges with a pop sending her sprawling across the deck.

"B'Elanna!?"

"I'm fine – level off the ship!"

If the rolling of the rocket ship had made moving across the bridge disorientating, Tom's fight to control the vessel makes it damn near impossible. B'Elanna finds herself crawling across the deck plates, crystal still in hand.

"Got it!" Tom calls as she reaches the activator once more. "Holding her steady whenever you're ready with that crystal."

Reaching back into the center of the activator she reinserts the crystal. In response, the unobtanium once again begins to bubble.

"Engines reinitialized," B'Elanna calls back and then slumps back down on the deck plates, leaning against a cylinder. Closing her eyes, she wills her stomachs to settle as she assesses whether any of the bumps or bruises she had received skidding across the bridge are in need of attention.

"B'Elanna?"

She opens her eyes to see Tom squatting at her side.

"We made it?"

"We did," he assures. "We just broke atmosphere and I initiated the autopilot." He eyes her with concern. "You okay?"

"Sure," she replies, swallowing a little. "Still trying to keep down lunch." She reaches out a hand. "Help me up?"

Tom grins and stands, reaching down to clasp her hand and pull her up as well.

"Are Captain Proton's adventures always that interesting?"

"Well, usually they're a bit more…scripted," Tom admits.

B'Elanna catches the scent of Tom's jacket again – gods, that man can program when he puts his mind to it – and edges closer.

"Too bad."

Tom's eyebrows rise. "Why? Did you want me to write you in as a recurring character?"

B'Elanna snorts. "Not likely. I think this is pretty much a one time cameo appearance," and she leans just a touch further in, "Captain."

Tom lets out a not entirely even breath. "Can I ask you just one question?"

"If you must."

"Why did you agree to come in here with me at all?"

"Because this," and she watches in not little amusement as Tom's mouth flies closed, his tongue darting out to wet his lips as her hands stroke across the supple leather covering his chest, "most definitely has potential."

[summahsunlight]

This Way Became My Journey, Ch. 7

Word count: 3506

Pairings: Janeway/Chakotay, Paris/OC

The Val Jean and Voyager had entered a stranded orbit around the fifth planet where their new friend had informed them that they would find the Ocampa. Captain Janeway had made preparations for an away team to beam down to the surface to search for Torres and Kim and had ordered Sarah Barrett, who had been given the pleasure of being their guest's escort, to retrieve their guest and bring him to the transporter room. For the most part she had spent it running him around the ship to see absolutely everything. He talked nonstop and constantly was asking questions about how the ship worked. Sarah's best skills were not in engineering but she managed to answer them to the best of her limited abilities. The whole ordeal had been utterly exhausting and it wasn't even past noon yet.

She tapped at the panel outside their guest's quarters to let him know she was there, but there was no response. Using her security clearance she opened the door.

"Hello?" Sarah called out as she stepped into the quarters that had been assigned to Neelix. "Mister Neelix?"

She glanced around the room and caught sight of the dinning table. There were several vases of water stacked on top of each other like children's blocks and plates of half eaten food every where. Glancing astonished at the sight, she leaned down to get a better look, allowing her sapphire eyes to study each vase. Mister Neelix must not have seen a replicator before today.

From the bathroom she could hear singing, although it wasn't words, just sounds, and she could hear the splashing of water. Straightening up, she turned about and stepped inside the bathroom, and immediately shut her eyes. Neelix was in the bathtub, soaking in a mountain of bubbles, and had no qualms about her walking in on him. "Sir?" she asked, nervously.

"Ah, Miss Barrett! Come in! Please, come in! I can hardly see your pretty face!" Neelix said happily from the tub. Sarah stepped into the room further but did not open her eyes. "I want to thank you for your hospitality, Miss Barrett. I must admit, I've never had access to a food… repmala...replicator before."

Sarah swallowed hard. "Really? I would never have guessed that."

"And to immerse my self in water, do you know what joy this is?" Neelix grabbed for another large vase of water and poured it down his throat, not caring if he wasted any. "No one around here wastes water in this manner," he told her, "a good sand scrub, that's the best we can hope for."

"I'm happy that you're having a grand time, but we've just arrived at the fifth planet. Captain Janeway needs your assistance," Sarah replied. She heard some splashing about in the water and assumed that the sounds were caused because Neelix stood up.

"Oh, could you hand me the towel," he asked her.

If it wasn't so hot in that room her face probably would have paled. "What?"

"The towel, Miss Barrett, oh don't be shy! I don't bite!"

"It's not you biting me that I'm worried about," Sarah said, reaching out with her hands and feeling for the towel. When she found it she grasped it tightly and held it out to her side. She heard Neelix move about as he snatched the towel from her hand.

The alien began wrapping the towel about his body and drying off, not bothered at all that he was wearing only a towel in the presence of a stranger. "On the large southern continent you'll find a range of extinct volcanoes. Follow the foothills north until you discover a dry riverbed. You'll find an encampment there."

For some reason she got the feeling that Neelix was leading them in a different direction for his own purposes, but she did not speak up about it, not yet anyways. "Do you think that's where our people are?"

"It's not impossible," Neelix replied. Again there was a rippling of a feeling that he was lying to her. "Maybe… perhaps not, but we will find them. We'll need several containers of water to bring, for barter of course." He eyed her science blue uniform for a moment and his finger traced her combadge in midair. "Do these replicators make clothing as well?"

"Yes," she said simply, finally feeling safe to open her eyes.

"Well it make me a uniform like yours?"

"No, it will not," She lied, " However I suggest that you dress quickly. I'll inform Captain Janeway of what you just told me."

Neelix went off to get dressed and Sarah nearly ran out of the quarters. Once out in the safe confines of the corridor she tapped her combadge. "Barrett to Janeway."

"Janeway here."

"I've just spoken to Mister Neelix. He says that we should travel to the southern continent, apparently there is an encampment near a dried up river bed," Sarah told her commanding officer. "He also recommended that we have several containers of water to use for barter. Captain, I get the feeling that he is not being entirely truthful with us, but perhaps we'll get more answers when we beam down to the surface."

"Understood; I want you and Mister Neelix to meet us in Transporter Room Two."

"Yes ma'am," Sarah replied as the doors to Neelix's quarters swished open. The alien stepped out wearing a colorful patterned suit. "Mister Neelix and I are ready. We'll meet you in Transporter Room Two, Barrett out." She tapped her combadge and then remembered she had something to give their guest. She held her hand out, in it was another silver and gold combadge, the same one that she had on her uniform.

"This if for you Neelix. It's so we can keep track of you, just in case anything goes wrong down there. It also allows you to communicate with Voyager directly," Sarah placed it in his palm. "Don't lose it, it could mean your life," she told him as she turned away and began to make for the turbo lift.

"My life?" Neelix sputtered. "What kind of missions do you Federation go on anyways?"

She chuckled as they stepped inside the lift. "Deck Four," she told the computer.

Neelix was nervously placing the combadge onto his suit jacket. "This is just a safety precaution right? I mean, you were joking when you said that this could mean my life?"

"No, I wasn't," Sarah replied as the lift came to a halt and the doors opened. "This is so we will have the ability to transport you off the planet at a moment's notice. Sometimes that moment could be just before the room you're in explodes. The chances of that happening though are slim, I wouldn't worry about it."

He didn't look entirely convinced as they stepped into the transporter room. Janeway was waiting there with Chakotay, Paris, and Tuvok. Neelix looked even more nervous when Janeway instructed Sarah to arm her self. These people were not taking the situation lightly, and they shouldn't, not for where Neelix was about to take them. The phasers were probably a good thing to be carrying. But the presences of their weapons might complicate his plan.

"Alright, let's get moving," Janeway ordered the group. They all got on the transporter pad swiftly and once they were all in place, Janeway gave the transporter chief the order to energize.

They rematerialized in what would be the equivalent of no where on Earth. There was no plant life to speak of, it was dry and hot, the sun beating down on their backs. It was a desert just like all their scans had told them, yet it was more desolate than any of them could have imagined. Turning about, Janeway and her away team saw the encampment that Neelix had told them about. Several alien ships were parked near by, and she could see beings crying out in shock at their sudden appearance and run back towards the settlement.

Janeway looked over her shoulder at Neelix, who stepped up to her side. They began walking towards the settlement while Tom Paris remarked, "Why would anyone want to live in a place like this?"

"The rich cormaline deposits are very much in demand," Neelix answered him, his orange eyes scanning the settlement, as if he was looking for someone particular.

"Do the Ocampa use it for barter?" Chakotay asked.

"Not the Ocampa, the Kazon-Ogla," Neelix said.

"The Kazon-Ogla, who are the Kazon-Ogla?" Janeway asked, confused.

Neelix gestured towards the settlement that they were walking towards. "They are." A group of Kazon had gathered at the entrance of the settlement, some were brandishing weapons, cautiously watching as the group of Starfleet officers, a Maquis commander, and a Talaxian trader came closer to their home. They resembled klingons in appearance, with cranial ridges and darker pigmented skin, the most common appearing to be a copper tone. They had dark hair that grew in chunks or was specifically parted in several places, perhaps, Janeway thought, as some form of hierarchy.

"I thought you were taking us to the Ocampa?" Barrett asked, walking alongside Janeway. She had known Neelix was lying to them and even though she had told the Captain she had such feelings, she had not insisted that they wait until they knew of Neelix's true motives. Now they could be walking into a dangerous situation that had very little to do with Harry Kim and B'Elanna Torres. "When we asked that you take us to the Ocampa, we meant we wanted to be taken to the Ocampa, not on a detour."

"The Kazon sects control this part of the quadrant," Neelix informed Janeway, ignoring Barrett. "Some have food some have water, they all trade and they all kill each other for it."

They had made it to the gathering of Kazon. Janeway, like Barrett, wasn't too pleased that she had been misled. "I thought you said the Ocampa had our people?"

The Kazon closed in around them, the group was pressed tightly together as Neelix cried out, "My friends! It's good to see you again!" The aliens weren't too happy to see him however, scooping him up and carrying him away while the others took the away team's weapons, pushing them all to the ground. Neelix was thrown against a wall, the group that had grabbed him snarling at him.

"I must speak with your Maje," Neelix said, "the ever wise Jabin!" The Kazon cocked their weapons at him as another Kazon made their way across a balcony above them, stirred by the noise of the mob. Neelix spotted him and cried out, "Jabin!"

The newcomer didn't look pleased to see Neelix as he made his way down towards the group. The away team began to feel nervous, more so than they already were. Things were not going quite as they had planned they were going to go. Neelix was still sputtering away, hoping that the Kazon whose guns were trained on him wouldn't fire. "Water Jabin! I have water! To replace all that I borrowed! Show them Mister Paris," he cried desperately.

Tom reached into the knapsack that he was carrying and produced a small canteen of water, holding it out to Jabin. The Kazon snatched the canteen up as Neelix told them that the ship they came on could make water out of thin air. Jabin opened the canteen and sniffed its contents before taking a large sip of the precious liquid. He handed the canteen off to the person nearest him, dark eyes looking at Paris, the closest male to him, and asked, "You have more?"

Janeway tapped her combadge. "Janeway to Voyager. Energize." Two large containers appeared out of nowhere to the Kazon and they quickly grabbed whatever they could to go and gather the water up, completely forgetting about Neelix. Jabin watched astounded as his people moved towards the large containers. "There's more where that came from, if you can help us." Even though Neelix had led them to the Kazon and not the Ocampa, Janeway was going to make best of the situation.

Jabin looked at her. "How can we help someone so powerful that they can create water out of thin air?"

Janeway eyed Neelix for a moment. "This man lead us here suggesting that we might find a people called the Ocampa," she noticed that a girl, with short cropped blonde hair, and pointed ears, had appeared near by where Neelix was standing. She looked like she had been beaten and it made Janeway's skin crawl. "Do you know where they are?"

The Kazon leader looked at Janeway curiously. "Ocampa?" he repeated before turning about and pointing towards the girl that was standing a ways behind Neelix. "She is Ocampa! Why would you be interested in such worthless creatures? They only live nine years. They make poor servants; we caught her when she wandered to the surface."

"To the surface? You mean they live underground?" Janeway questioned.

"The entity in space that gives them food and power, also gives them sole access to this planet's only source of water, two miles below the surface," Jabin answered, pointing towards the energy pulses that were going towards the mountains.

"This same entity has abducted two of our people," Janeway replied. "We believe that they might be with the Ocampa."

"There's no way to get to them, we've tried," Jabin answered, lowering his body down to be at eye level with Janeway. "The entity has established some kind of subterranean barrier, we cannot penetrate."

Barrett and Chakotay were thinking the same thing, but Chakotay voiced it first, "But she got out."

"Occassionally some of them do find their way to the surface. We don't know how, but the Ocampa seal the tunnels afterwards," Jabin said, stuffing all of their weapons onto his own belt.

"Maybe she can help these good people find a way down," Neelix offered a bit too slyly for the likes of Janeway or Barrett. He was up to something and they both hoped that it wasn't going to cost them.

Jabin laughed, and then snarled, "You'd be wasting your time. I've used ever method of persuasion I know to get her to help us. She won't!"

"She's worthless to you! Let us trade you water for this scrawny little thing," Neelix replied.

"I'd be more interested in obtaining this technology that allows you to create water out of thin air," Jabin said.

Janeway made eye contact with Barrett. Protocol didn't exactly forbid Janeway to share technologly, if it was in fair trade and a benefit to the people receiving it, however, the Captain didn't know much about the Kazon, and therefore felt uncomfortable about giving them access to Federation technology. "That would be difficult," Janeway answered, truthfully. "It's integrated into our ship's systems."

No sooner had the words left her mouth, than did Neelix suddenly run forward and grab Jabin. He was holding a small phaser that could be concealed in the palm of your hand and the away team was shocked when it was produced. "Tell them to drop their weapons!" Neelix ordered Jabin, jabbing the phaser in the fleshy part of the Kazon's neck.

"Do it!" Jabin cried. The Kazon who had rushed to his rescue put their weapons down.

The away team jumped to their feet, Chakotay retrieving all of their weapons from Jabin's belt. Each member pointed the phaser at the group of Kazon, but kept the setting on stun. Janeway only hoped that they could get out of there without any weapons firing.

There was going to be no such luck. Neelix pushed Jabin away from him and pointed his own weapon right at the containers of water, warning the Kazon to get out of the way. He then fired the weapon, puncturing the water containers. The liquid came gushing out and the Kazon rushed to get what they could before it all emptied out and was sucked up by the dry ground.

The Ocampa girl was joining them now, as instructed by Neelix. "I strongly suggest that you get us out of here," he implored to Janeway, who tapped her combadge and told Voyager to beam them all up.

Once on the safety of the transporter pad, Janeway and the rest of the away team put their weapons away, making their way off the transporter pad. No one was really paying attention to Neelix and the Ocampa, until they heard Neelix say, "My dearest, didn't I promise I'd save you."

Tuvok frowned, Paris and Chakotay looked amused, while Janeway looked at the couple,shocked. Barrett, on the other hand, wasn't too surprised, she had a feeling before that Neelix had another plan other than leading them to the Ocampa, but rescuing a lover was not what had been at the top of her list of things he could possibly be doing.

"Perhaps we should get our new guest to sickbay," Tuvok suggested, leading Neelix and the Ocampa girl off of the transporter pad.

When they were gone Janeway looked at Barrett. "Do you believe his sole purpose for helping us was to help her?"

Barrett nodded her head. "Yes, he was probably looking for ways to help her escape the Kazon and were were plopped in his lap, needing to get to the the fifth planet and with far superior technology than anyone in this sector of space."

Janeway shook her head. She wasn't about to let Neelix's little deception of them slid; he was going to help them now whether he liked it or not. "Let's prepare another away mission to the planet, only this time we're going to the Ocampa and no detours. Maybe the girl we just helped rescue will feel slightly inclined to help us in return. Let's go join our guests in sickbay."

Paris, Chakotay, and Barrett followed the Captain out of the transporter room and made their way to the turbo lift. When they arrived in sickbay they found the Doctor cleaning the young Ocampa up, healing the cuts and bruises on her face, and Tuvok scolding Neelix, like he was one of the Vulcan's children.

"If you had told us what you had planned, we might have anticipated your irrational behavior," the Vulcan was saying, in a crisp even tone.

"Irrational? We got out of there didn't we?" Neelix snapped.

"Barely," Barrett muttered under her breath as the young Ocampa sat up on the biobed. Janeway flashed her a warning glare. She knew enough about her new commanding officer that the look meant it was time to keep her mouth shut. Pressing her lips together, she moved back a little, allowing Janeway to take the lead.

"Excuse me," the Ocampa said. "Don't blame Neelix."

The Doctor looked annoyed as the group closed in around the surgical biobed. "That's enough; this is a sick bay not a conference room. Everyone except my patient is to leave immediately."

Janeway voiced the words that both Barrett and Paris wanted too. "Computer, end medical holographic program." The Doctor gave her a surprised look before he disappeared, dropping an instrument on the floor. Janeway inched her way closer to the biobed, her arms crossed firmly over her chest.

"I never should have gone to the surface, I'm too curious," the Ocampa said as the Captain put the palms of her hands on the biobed. "I'm told it's my worst failing."

Neelix shook his head. "No no, it's a wonderful quality, you're most endearing."

"Would you be willing to take us underground to look for our missing crew?" Janeway asked her hopefully.

"I'm afraid that Jabin was right, there's no way to get down. The tunnel I came out has been sealed."

"We don't need a tunnel. We have the ability to transport there directly," Janeway told her. The girl looked genuinely curious at this statement.

"Captain," Tuvok's voice came from somewhere behind Janeway, "our sensors didn't pick up any indication of an underground civilization, the subterranean barrier that Jabin described maybe responsible. It might also block our transporter."

"There are breaches in the security barrier where it's begun to decay. That's how I got out."

Janeway mulled over her next course of action and turned to look at Tuvok. "Have the transporter room began a sweep for any breaches that we might be able to transport through." The Vulcan nodded his head and left the room, the door hissing shut behind him.

"Kes can tell you where to go, but now that she's free, we're leaving this system together," Neelix told Janeway. The Captain realized that was the first time she had ever heard the girl's name.

"Neelix," Kes said, forcefully. "These people rescued me."

"I rescued you!" Neelix replied, hotly.

"With their help; it would be wrong not to help them now."

Janeway smiled and ordered everyone, including Neelix and Kes back to the transporter room, and to prepare for another journey down to the planet, this time, however, they would be going underground.