章節 25: Cathexis: Part One
Chapter 27: Cathexis: Part One.
(Five days after the State of Flux. Voyager. Time: 7 am.)
Sarah Janeway's POV
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(Captain's log, stardate 48734.2. Sometimes it's a good idea to get away from being a Captain for a while. Chakotay convinced me a few days ago that I needed a break. I have decided to take the mourning off since this seems to be a quiet part of space as Chakotay and Tuvok scan the approaching space and are due to return tomorrow.)
I skipped down the corridor while following Micheal and Mollie down deck three. I happily waved at the passing crewmembers and they waved back or gave me a high five in response. Micheal happily hummed down the corridor.
"Micheal?" I called out and ran up next to him.
"Hmm?" He replied and looked towards me with a raised eyebrow.
"Why are you so happy today? Normally, you are angry because of what happened to Bini." I commented he shrugged and ignored me. Suddenly, it came to me why. Chakotay was on a mission and wouldn't be back for another day or two. Micheal doesn't like him...
"Is it because of Chakotay?" I asked with suspicion as I struggled to keep up his pace. He halted and looked at me with frustration.
"Of course. I don't want him near Mommy." Micheal argued as Mollie ran ahead scanning the corridor with her eyes.
"But they are friends-"
"He wants to be more then friends. He wants to be our daddy and there is no way that I am going to allow him to do that. I am the man of the house now!" Micheal argued.
I listened to his last statement carefully. Man of the house? That is what Mommy told Micheal after Daddy passed away. I don't know what that means. Is it because he is the only guy in the house? I have to look it up later.
"Alright then," I said. Closing the argument as we started down the corridor again.
"Come on. It is lunchtime. Let's go find Mommy. I think she took the morning off in the holodeck, that is what she told me during breakfast." Micheal suggested. "Computer, where is Captain Janeway?"
"Captain Janeway is on holodeck two." The mechanical voice replied and Micheal looked back at me smugly.
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Captain Kathryn Janeway's POV
I quietly sipped my coffee and continued to read a story on my padd. I relaxed against the holographic sofa in my childhood home. Yes, I know it is the holodeck. But every once in a while I needed the feel of home even if it was fake. Not that Voyager wasn't home.
I heard the familiar sound of the holodeck doors opening. I looked over to the kitchen to watch Micheal and Sarah (With Mollie.) stumble into the living room with confusion as they walked through their grandmother's house.
"Mommy? Is this grandma's house?" Micheal asked as he picked up a family photo from when Pheobe and I were in high school.
"Yes, it is Micheal. I created it a few weeks before Voyager left." I explained.
"Oh, well can we play it later?" Sarah asked,
"Of course you can. What are you two doing here?" I asked.
"We wanted to go to lunch with you."Micheal stated as I got up from the sofa and walked over to them. I was about to respond when my combadge suddenly chirped.
"Bridge to Captain Janeway." Harry said over the line. I sighed and gave my kids an apologetic look as they clearly showed me their annoyance to being pushed aside, I need to be able to make it up to them soon.
"Go ahead, Mister Kim." I replied over the channel.
"I've got Commander Chakotay and Mister Tuvok's shuttlecraft on long-range sensors, but they're not responding to our hails. The shuttle's been badly damaged. I'm reading multiple hull fractures." He reported.
"Life signs?" I repeated.
"Two, but they're very faint." He said.
"Beam them to Sickbay as soon as they're in range. I'm on my way." I ordered.
"Aye, Captain. Bridge out." Harry said and closed the channel. I looked down again at the scowling faces of my children as they knew my next action.
"I am sorry. I promise I will make it up to you. I swear." I pleaded and kissed both of them on the cheeks as I ended the program and rushed off to sickbay.
--10 minutes later--
I swiftly entered sickbay and saw Tuvok and Chakotay unconscious on two biobeds as the Doctor scanned Tuvok.
"Doctor?" I called out. Causing the Doctor to look towards me.
"They've each taken a blast to the head by some kind of energy discharge. Cardiostimulator. Mister Tuvok has a serious concussion, but it's nothing I can't handle." He boosted but sadly pointed towards Chakotay on the other biobed in the surgical area. "As for Commander Chakotay, all of the bioneural energy has been extracted from his brain."
"Extracted?" I repeated and kept my eyes on Chakotay's still form.
"Yes. From the looks of it, someone drained the energy from every single axon and dendrite right down to the synapses. I can keep his heart beating and I can keep him breathing, but other than that there's nothing I can do. He's brain dead." He bluntly explained. I pulled over a chair and sat next to Chakotay and carefully took his hand. Which was chillingly cold. I gave a small gasp in surprise which caused the doctor to looked at me strangely for a moment before going back to work.
I pressed my warm hands against his in a fruitless and silly attempt to keep at least his hand warm. I am not sure why. So I back off and stood next to Tuvok. I could really use his advice.
--10 minutes later. Tuvok has awaken.---
"The attack lasted no more than a few seconds, but it was highly effective. I feel Commander Chakotay and I are fortunate to be alive." Tuvok stated as the Doctor ran some tests on him as he began to get around to his surroundings.
"What happened, Lieutenant?" I asked to clarify.
"We had completed our trade mission with the Ilidarians and were on course to the rendezvous point when we encountered a dark matter nebula. As we began a routine analysis, an unidentified ship emerged and attacked our shuttle." He explained.
"Any idea why?" I pressed.
"No. They would not respond to our hails. We were hit by an energy discharge that penetrated our shields and filled the cabin. Commander Chakotay lost consciousness immediately, and I was barely able to activate the autopilot before I was overcome as well."
"And the alien ship?"
"The last image I saw was the ship flying back into the nebula, but the details are difficult to remember."
"Can you tell me anything about the energy discharge? Its modulation or phase distribution?" I pleaded.
"No. There was no time for a detailed analysis. However, the shuttle's sensors may have recorded information that could be helpful. I will download the sensor logs."
"Why would someone want to extract his bioneural energy?" I questioned and looked to the Doctor. He shrugged.
"I don't know, but if I'm to have any hope of reviving him, I must know precisely how his neurons were depleted. It would be a great help if I could examine the weapon." The Doctor said.
"We're going back to that nebula to try to find the ship that attacked you." Then I tapped my combadge. "Janeway to Bridge. Prepare to lay in a new course. Mister Tuvok will provide you with the coordinates." I ordered.
"Aye, Captain." Tom replied to the channel. "Bridge out."
"We'll keep you posted, Doctor." I said and gestured Tuvok to follow me to the bridge.
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Harry Kim's POV
I peeked over to the security console where Tuvok and the Captain stood as Tuvok tried to access the shuttles database to get more info on what had happened. Tom kept looking back at me and signalling that Tuvok seemed just a little off. I am not sure how but then again I don't know him well.
"The energy discharge overloaded the shuttlecraft's central computer core. All sensor data have been erased." He said. Now that was strange. It just seemed too convent for me. Maybe I am just becoming paranoid.
"Lieutenant Torres is in Sickbay now. When she reports, tell her to go over those damaged sensor logs with a fine-tooth comb to see if she can reconstruct any of the data." The Captain informed Tuvok. She looked away from him but I swear I saw him flinch.
"Aye, Captain."
"Well, this is going to make things a little more difficult. I've been using the long-range sensors to analyze the nebula you discovered. It's sending out strong electromagnetic radiation. We won't be able to scan inside it. You know, it sounds to me like a perfect hiding place." She told Tuvok with irritation as she looked at the streaking stars on the viewscreen.
"I agree."
"I don't like the idea of going in there blind. Let me see if I can reconfigure the sensors to a multiphasic bandwidth."
"Is there a problem?" Tuvok asked. Janeway cast him a suspicious look but then turned her attention to her console again between the command chairs as she sat down.
"I've lost all sensor contact with the nebula. I don't understand." She muttered. "Wait a minute, we've altered course. Mister Paris?"
"Our new heading is one twenty one mark six. We've completely come about, Captain, but it wasn't me." Tom insisted as he snapped to attention and began to try and put the ship back on course again.
"Mister Kim, check the navigational computer. Who ordered the course change?" Janeway ordered.
"According to my readings, the command was issued from the conn." I said in surprise and everyone looked to Tom for an answer. He went pale and rigged.
"I'm telling you, it wasn't me, and the helm controls are working perfectly. No sign of a malfunction." Tom frantically snapped out.
"Ensign, transfer helm control to your station and reset our original course." Janeway ordered to me. I quickly accessed the navigational system and changed the course back.
"Course laid in." I reported.
"Mister Paris, I want you to run a full diagnostic on the conn station. See if you can isolate the problem." Janeway suggested. Tom nodded and got up, then headed towards the turbo lift.
"Aye, Captain."
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Lieutenant B'Elanna Torres's POV
I held a craved stone to Chakotay's head and then carefully placed it to a skin held in a frame that represented an eight-pointed star and various Mesoamerican pictograms. The stone stuck to the leather flawlessly. I looked back at Chakotay. I think my "crush" on him has severely died down. This means I am in the perfect position to help him accept the fact that he might like the Captain. The Captain. Captain Janeway.
Of all people, he likes the one person he can't woo into a relationship on the ship. Then again he dated Seska so I can't say he has a good taste in people he likes.
"You might have asked before adorning my Sickbay with animal remains." The Doctor snapped at me as he exited his office bitterly.
"It's a medicine wheel, a talisman used by Chakotay's tribe. He once showed me how it works. He said if anything ever happened to him, that I should perform a special healing ritual." I explained, dragging my thoughts to the present.
"Ah."
The wheel represents both the universe outside and the universe inside our minds as well." I continued, sensing the Doctor did not understand what I meant. "They believe each is a reflection of the other. When a person is sleeping, or on a vision quest, it's said that his soul is walking the wheel. But if he's in a coma or near death, it means that he's gotten lost. These stones are signposts to help point the way back. Not exactly standard medical procedure, I know, but-"
"You've placed the Coyote Stone at the crossroads of the fifth and sixth realms, which would divert Commander Chakotay's soul, that is his consciousness, into the Mountains of the Antelope Women. According to his tradition, an extremely attractive locale. He might not want to leave." The Doctor interrupted me.
"How do you know about the medicine wheel?" I asked accusingly.
"It's my business to know about a variety of medical treatments, including those based on psycho-spiritual beliefs. Unfortunately, in this case, the medicine wheel won't be much help. There's just not enough of his mind left to work with." He replied and reentered his office, sitting down at his computer and completing a few more scans. I carefully placed the stone in a different spot. A spot that made more sense.
"Find your way home, Commander." I muttered, hoping to actually have that chat. I am not stupid. He is always looking at her. Maybe he just hasn't noticed it yet.
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Kes's POV
I sat in my quarters reading a nice earth book about planets, hoping that I could learn some new skills to help the crew more. Suddenly, I had a horrible feeling pass over me as if someone was watching me.
"Hello? Is someone here?" I called out. No answer, not that I really expected one. Yet I know someone was in the room. Suddenly I felt it pass through me. I can't stay here. Who should I tell? Neelix? Yes.
--10 minutes later--
"It's like sensing some kind of presence as if someone else were here." I exclaimed and struggled to make sense of it.
"Your telepathic senses again. Is this like last week, when you went into Sickbay and you knew Lieutenant Hargrove had been there, only he'd left hours before?" Neelix asked as he chopped up some Leola Root and poured it into the pot from his cutting board.
"It's not the same. That was like, like hearing faint music from a faraway place. When I was in my quarters just now." I said.
"Mmm-hmm?" he said absentmindedly.
"It was almost tangible. I felt like there was someone in the room with me." I concluded. He went stiff and looked at me with Jealously and concern.
"Who was it?" He asked, trying to keep his tone steady.
"I don't know. A presence, that's all I can say." I said and tried to ignore Neelix's suspicious glances. I looked over to the front container to see Micheal and Sarah arguing over rations.
I walked over and stood at the container. Ready to break it up until I heard what it was about.
"Micheal! Please! Can we please ask Mommy again?" Sarah pleaded. Micheal shook his head adamantly.
"No! I say no! Mommy is too busy to hang around us. Let's just get a snack, come on." Micheal said and grabbed Sarah's arm. She yanked it back from him harshly.
"She would say yes!" Sarah snapped. Micheal rolled his eyes and threw up his hands in defeat.
"Fine then. If you are so delusional about this than I will ask. Just to prove you wrong." Micheal barked and tapped his combadge. "Janeway to Janeway."
"Janeway here. Is something wrong, Micheal?" Captain Janeway replied with worry laced in her tone.
"No, Sarah and I were just wondering if you wanted to have a snack with us?"
"Oh...Sorry, Micheal. I am busy right now. We can have dinner together in our quarters tonight. OK?" She replied on the channel. Micheal shot Sarah an "I told you" look and Sarah looked away ashamed.
"OK. Janeway out." Micheal said and closed the channel.
"OK. OK, you were right." Sarah admitted and dragged her feet over to the replicator.
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Ensign Harry Kim's POV
Ensign Durst handed the Captain a report as she sat in her command chair after Micheal ended the channel, she grabbed it and nodded towards him were Durst gave her an overview of the report. He said, "Warp engines still within normal parameters, Captain."
Suddenly, the ship lurches forward with an abrupt course change, sending some people to lose their balance.
"We just changed course again. Mister Kim?" The Captain + others looked towards me for answers since now I was who was in control of the conn.
"Our new heading is one twenty one mark six." I reported.
"Get us back on course." She barked at me as she got increasingly more agitated. I attempted to enter a new course but was flatly denied as a lockout beep emitted from my console.
"The helm's not responding. I'm locked out." I reported with confusion as I attempted to send my security code to open it but was still blocked. Tuvok left his station and came over to mine. He entered his own code but that was also blocked.
"This command station has been blocked." Tuvok said.
"From where?" Janeway demanded.
"The lockout originated on deck twelve, section B seven, navigational control." Tuvok said as the location appeared.
"See if you can re-establish control." Janeway ordered as she got up and began to pace in thought, as Tom entered the bridge and started towards his station again.
I've checked every ODN junction in the helm control network, and I still can't find the problem.
"It seems we've developed a new problem while you were gone." The Captain informed him.
"Helm control re-established." Tuvok reported as he finally broke through the lockout at my station.
"Get us back on course for the nebula." Janeway ordered and she tapped her combadge. "Janeway to Torres."
"Torres here." B'Elanna replied with annoyance over the channel.
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Lieutenant B'Elanna Torres POV
"Who's in the navigational control?" The Captain asked over the channel. I raised an eyebrow and looked over to the navigational control section of engineering.
I stopped Carey short and pointed towards that section.
"Carey, was anyone in Navigation just now?" I asked. He took a quick glance to where I was pointing to.
"Um, no. But Paris was there less than five minutes ago." Carey informed me. I nodded and gestured him to continue on his way.
"No one right now. I was there this morning, and Lieutenant Paris was in there just a few minutes ago." I replied on the channel.
"That's not true!" Tom exclaimed in the background.
"Are you certain about that, B'Elanna?" Janeway pressed.
"Positive. Carey just saw him leave about five minutes ago." I confirmed.
"Thank you. Janeway out." She said and the channel abruptly ended.
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Captain Kathryn Janeway's POV
"Explanation, Mister Paris?" I growled towards Tom. Getting very upset at the situation that was spinning out of control.
"I passed by the navigational control on my way back from the Jefferies tube, but that's all. Am I being accused of something here?" Tom demanded.
"We are merely following a line of deductive reasoning, Lieutenant. Both deviations from our course were apparently issued from locations where you were working." Tuvok concluded as he returned to his station.
"I'm telling you, I didn't do it." Tom insisted.
"Well, I'm willing to rule out mutiny for time being. I believe you, Mister Paris, but we have to consider the possibility that you might be having a problem with your memory. I want you to go down to Sickbay. Have the doctor check you out." I demanded. He hesitantly nodded and started towards the turbo lift again.
"All right." He muttered as he passed me.
"Lieutenant Durst." I called out and gestured him to escort Paris as he left the bridge.
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Lieutenant Tom Paris's POV
"Neurotransmitters at normal. Synaptic functions stable." The Doctor carefully readout on the medical tricorder. I shifted on my feet impatiently. "Hold still. This is an extremely sensitive scan."
"What I wouldn't give to see good old Doc Brown right now." I blurted out and brought back happy memories of a thin man with a medical Starfleet uniform treating me in a small doctor's office with my mother watching.
"What?" The Doctor snapped at me as he circled me.
"Doc Brown. Lollipops in the waiting room, no holocomic books more than six months old, house calls. I caught a bad cold one time when I was nine years old. The doctor whipped up a pot of garlic soup and brought it over himself." I explained. The Sickbay doors opened to reveal Tuvok.
"Your report, Doctor?" Tuvok asked as he stopped in front of us.
"I still have a series of tests to perform, but other than his irritating lapses into nostalgia, I see nothing wrong with him." The Doctor replied and shut the tricorder shut and put it down on the nearest table.
"I guess you're going to have to round up another suspect, Tuvok." I half-joked with a grin.
"On the contrary, Lieutenant. I ran a forensic sweep of the navigational control. I found traces of your DNA on the console." Tuvok countered, my grin immediately vanished and I slumped in defeat.
"That's impossible." I muttered.
"The cellular residue you left behind is less than twelve hours old. Do you still wish to maintain your innocence?" Tuvok asked. I shrugged.
"To be honest, I don't know what to think."
"Perhaps my biomolecular scan will reveal something." The Doctor suggested.
"Keep me informed, Doctor." Tuvok ordered and swiftly left sickbay as the Doctor led me to the nearest biobed.
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(Time: One hour later.)
Micheal Janeway's POV
Sarah and I walked Mollie down the corridor as we looked over Tuvok's investigation report into Seska and Bini's beam out five days ago. We meant to find out more info before but everything got really crazy. We miss Bini. We want to help her or at least talk to her to help Mommy and the crew. Unforntantly we had to take this from Mommy but as long as she doesn't go looking for it, then she doesn't have to know we took it.
"I don't understand. How did Bini get beamed out? It says right there that she woke up only a minute before transport and she was paralyzed from the toxin." Sarah pointed out and pointed to the paragraph dealing with Bini's life sign scans during the minutes before she left.
"Obviously Bini was transported out by Seska. Bini isn't the type of person to suddenly betray people with setting obvious clues. She is bad at lying." I argued and scrolled down to the next.
("Ensign Filters have had increasingly strange behaviour towards the weeks following to her beam out. Records show that she downloaded information regarding the ship's info the days before the toxin was implanted into her system by Ensign Seska.
I have not been able to locate the padd that had the information. I suspect that she gave it to Ensign Seska.
Yet, Ensign Seska has had access to Ensign's medical file. Yet, those files have been deleted by Filters herself three days before she left. I have been unable to get the deleted files.")
"Strange behaviour?" I questioned and we stopped abruptly and reread the paragraph.
"What strange behaviour? Bini wasn't acting strange." Sarah insisted.
"Maybe we missed something. Seska worked in engineering and Bini used to work there also. Maybe B'Elanna noticed something was off." I suggested. She nodded in agreement and we continued down the corridor towards the nearest turbo-lift.
--Ten minutes later--
We nervously entered Engineering. The engineering staff were running around frantically trying to figure out something. I don't know what it was.
We saw B'Elanna slam her fist against a console attached to the warp core railing in anger and swore some Klingon insults before slowly tapping in more commands.
"B'Elanna?" I called out. B'Elanna spun around and looked at us in shock.
"Wh-What are you two doing here?" She demanded.
"We have some questions for you." I replied as we got closer.
"Not right now, kids. Everyone is sorta busy right now." B'Elanna objected. I opened my mouth to protest when she suddenly straightened up like a plank of wood and her eyes glazed over. Sarah and I shared a worried look as Mollie started to bark at B'Elanna.
"B'Elanna?" Sarah said nervously.
There was no reaction. In stiff movements, she turned back around and tapped in a few more commands. The ship jolted harshly and the lights flickered. Sending the entire engineering department into another frantic event as they all ran around trying to figure out what happened this time. B'Elanna suddenly sagged against the console and pushed herself up, confused and disoriented.
"What the hell just happened?" She muttered and pressed the bridge of her nose. She looked up as the lights failed completely and the only thing providing light was the consoles.
She looked at us in shock through the faint light, barely recognizing us.
"Micheal, Sarah? What-What just happened?" She asked. We couldn't answer or make any gesture to help her because we don't know what happened.
"You look like you just got possessed." I concluded as I mentally relived the situation.
She groggily nodded and didn't seem to notice that Mommy had called her. We didn't know what to do. Should we answer Mommy for her? No, we aren't qualified.
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Captain Kathryn Janeway's POV
"I believe I have found the ion trail of the ship that attacked us. It leads directly into the dark matter nebula. This is the nebula, and this is the ion trail. As you can see, their flight path is highly erratic." Tuvok explained to me and showed me the path on the security console.
"These planetoids inside the nebula," I said, pointing to the planets on screen. "They may be generating a dangerous gravitational effect, like storm currents. Chances are they've mapped those currents and they're taking the only safe way through."
"A reasonable assumption. I recommend we follow their exact flight path." Tuvok said.
"Agreed. Lay in a course to the-"
The ship lights suddenly flickered and went out. Bathing the bridge in darkness.
"Captain, we're dropping to impulse power. I'm reading a massive energy drain all over the ship, and the warp core is shutting down." Harry frantically reported as the consoles started to flickered but not completely shut off. I tapped my combadge.
"Bridge to Engineering. Report." I demanded. No response. So I pressed for an answer further. "Lieutenant Torres, please respond."
I started towards the turbo lift. Signalling Tuvok and Harry to follow after me. "Mister Kim, take the Bridge. Tuvok, you're with me."
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Random Crewmember's POV
The Warp Core shut down!? The bloody warp core has been shut down?! How the hell did that happen? As I crossed the main engineering I noticed the Captain storming into engineering, clearly pissed off as a calm Tuvok followed her because Vulcan are just always like that and Harry struggling to keep up as he passed through the chaos that is now main engineering. I scrambled to get out of her warpath like many others around the area.
"Torres, what's going on?" Janeway barked at B'Elanna and gave a startled look at her children (+ dog) who were standing in front of her and took and few startled steps back. Her surprise was pushed away as she got back to the matter at hand. Even B'Elanna seemed a little scared and definitely confused.
"Captain?" She questioned.
"You've initiated an emergency warp core shutdown." The Captain barked again at her with seething anger.
"What?!" B'Elanna blurted out in alarm as she looked back at the warp core as the usually bright swirling colours slowed down and came to a faded stop.
"Too late. The warp core is offline. It'll take at least two hours to regenerate the dilithium matrix. Ensign, get the rest of the systems back online. Apparently, you've just crashed the main computer, locked out the Bridge and stopped this ship cold. Do you want to tell me why?" The Captain demanded.
"Captain, I don't know what you're talking about." B'Elanna argued. The Captain covered her mouth and took a quick look around with a deep breath.
"What the hell is going on here?" She muttered in frustration. Micheal stepped forward, away from a nervous and almost frantic as she had a death grip on Mollie's collar.
"She looked possessed!" Micheal blurted out to his mother who looked at him in alarm.
"What do you mean possessed?" Janeway asked and knelt down to Micheal and Sarah.
"She went...rigged. Like a plank of wood. And then she went over to the console and entered in something, then the ship went weird." Micheal explained.
"I think we need to get you to sickbay. Kids, I think you should try close to me until this...situation had ended. Alright?" Captain Janeway Gentilly told them. Micheal excitedly agreed as Sarah whimpered and ran forwards and tightly hugged her Mother.
"Mommy, I am scared!" She whimpered into her Mother's should. The Captain rubbed her back as she held her in a tight hug.
"Shhuussshhh. It is going to be OK." She insisted and held Sarah's face, smiling softly as she carefully whipped away Sarah's tears. "It is going to be alright. OK? I will keep you two safe. I promise. Do you believe me?"
Micheal and Sarah nodded without hesitating. Micheal looked down at a padd in his hands and looked up with a gulity expression before pressing a few commands and whatever was on the padd was deleted. He carefully put it back on the console without anyone else's but my own knowledge.
He ran over and also hugged his mother as his eyes watered and he let out a sob as Sarah started to shake with sadness. She kept on trying to calm them as she stood up and began the journey out of engineering to sickbay with Tuvok, Harry (Who returned to the bridge on the way.) and wobbly B'Elanna.
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Kes's POV
I felt sympathy for the family is sickbay with B'Elanna, Tom, and Tuvok as the Doctor scanned B'Elanna and Tom. Sarah and Micheal held onto their mother for what looked like dear life and their dog sat quietly at their feet. Uncertainty in her dark brown eyes.
"I found something, and you're not going to like it." The Doctor started and downloaded the information into the medical console as I stood near his office watching. He put brain scans on the console and compared the two. "This is Mister Paris' memory engram for the last twenty-four hours. As you can see, it has a very consistent and distinctive modulation, except at thirteen fifty hours. For one minute forty-seven seconds, a different memory pattern appeared. Thirteen fifty hours is also the exact moment when Mister Paris presumably tampered with navigational control. It gets worse. In addition to that, there is another disruption at twelve oh two hours, the moment when he allegedly entered the new course at the helm. I also found there's an identical disruption in Lieutenant Torres's pattern at the moment she shut down warp power. I should point out that this is a neuroelectrical signature, what I believe to be another brain wave that was superimposed on their own."
"Another brain wave? Whose?" Tom demanded.
"I don't know. It has an unusual energy signature, one I've never seen before." The Doctor said.
"Doctor, what are you saying?" The Captain asked.
"One possible explanation and the only one I can think of at the moment is that an unknown alien entity momentarily took control of their minds." The Doctor bluntly said. Tuvok snapped his hand against his combadge.
"Intruder alert. Security to all security personnel, go to Condition Four." He ordered. "Captain, it is possible the intruder returned with us in the shuttlecraft."
"If we're right and there is an alien here, it seems intent on preventing us from going back to the nebula. What's more, it seems to have the ability to jump from person to person. If that's true, it could be in any one of us, controlling our actions without us realizing it." The Captain concluded and the children looked up to her in horror.
"Well, except for me." The Doctor happily boosted. Everyone ignored his comment.
"That's true. So far it's only affected organic beings. If it could control the computer and navigational systems directly, it probably would've done it already." Tom said.
"Which means the doctor is the only person on board we can trust at this moment. Doctor, until we have eliminated this alien presence, I can't take the risk that it could take over any of the senior officers. I'd like to transfer all command codes to you until further notice."
"What would that mean? That I am in command?" The Doctor asked with a spark of excitement in his eyes.
"No, but you will act as a failsafe." Janeway countered, bring the doctor ego back down. "If you feel at any time that any one of us is under the influence of the alien, you can countermand our orders and take control of the ship. Do you feel up to it?"
"Well, of course. I make life and death decisions every day." The Doctor boosted again to make him feel better.
"I feel better already." Tom sarcastically muttered.
"Computer, transfer all command codes to the holographic doctor. Authorization Janeway eight four one alpha six-five." The Captain ordered.
"Command code transfer complete." The dull voice of the computer replied.
"Let's see if we can get the warp core back online ahead of schedule." Janeway said.
"Aye, Captain." B'Elanna said.
"Dismissed." She ordered and everyone scattered. B'Elanna and Tom quickly left to go to their stations as the Doctor turned back to his scans hoping to find something he missed to stop it. Sarah tugged on her Mother's uniform for attention.
"What is it, Sarah?" The Captain asked gently.
"Are you going to get possessed too?" She hesitantly asked. Janeway looked down at her with sad eyes.
"I am sorry. I honestly don't know. Let's hope I won't be." She softly replied as Tuvok stood next to her. Sarah nodded in agreement and looked at Micheal in worry.
Tuvok and the Captain shared some brief words and continued to discuss the puzzling events as they exited sickbay with her children and Mollie following closely behind. I made a final decision to tell them. They were right. I had to tell them.
I ran after them before the Doctor could stop me. I entered into the corridor as they continued.
"Captain," I called out. They all turned towards me. "I heard what's happened. I think you're right. There is an alien presence here, I've been sensing something unusual all day. I don't know how to describe it, but I know there's something here."
"Do you know where?" Captain Janeway pleaded.
"No, just that it's on the ship." I said.
"Captain, Kes's telepathic abilities are undisciplined. If I could initiate a Vulcan mind-meld with her, I may be able to help her focus those abilities to detect the alien more accurately." Tuvok suggested.
"I'm willing to do that." I said.
"Very well. Proceed, Mister Tuvok." The Captain granted, then we started to walk off towards the turbo lift. Suddenly, I felt the presence. It felt very close. I looked over to Tuvok and he seemed more...rigged, I suppose then before. I abruptly stopped and began to wonder if I should follow him. He might be possessed right now.
He stopped and looked over to me with a raised eyebrow.
"Is something wrong?" He asked with that usual Vulcan tone but something...sounded off in his tone. Maybe I was just becoming paranoid. I looked back at the retreating family then back to Tuvok.
"Um, no. No. Nothing is wrong." I insisted with a smile. Then we started down the corridor again. That bad feeling remained.
-----
Ensign Harry Kim's POV
"The captain wants to seal off all critical areas of the ship. Make sure the access hatch of Jefferies tube A-seventeen is secured." I explained to Ensign Durst. He took the padd with the orders from my hands.
"So what exactly are we securing against?" He asked with a raised eyebrow. I shrugged with a lack of information.
"We're not sure yet, but we think it's some kind of noncorporeal alien." I replied. His expression changed from confusion to alarm as he continued towards Tuvok.
"Noncorporeal?" He repeated. "That means it can probably move through a bulk."
"Yeah. I guess." I replied as we reached the turbo lift and it swiftly opened and reveal Tuvok and Kes unconscious. We quickly snapped to action and each checked their pulse. Durst nodded towards me signalling that Tuvok was still alive but Kes had a weak pulse. I tapped my combadge.
"Medical emergency. Deck seven, section thirteen alpha."
-----
(Time: 8 pm. A few hours later.)
("Captain's log, supplemental. It appears that Mister Tuvok and Kes were both hit by an unidentified energy discharge. Tuvok was not badly hurt, but Kes is in a coma. This information has caused my children to get more nervous. I hope, not just for my crew's sake, but my own children that this mystery is solved as soon as possible.
Captain's Personal Log, I have just finished a second entry for my official Log. I am worried. It is 8 pm. My children usually go to sleep at this time but when I attempted to put them to bed. They refused and said they needed us to keep each other safe. How they wouldn't allow me to get possessed. They didn't give up. So I am allowing them to stay with me. Right now, I am in the ready room as they are taking a nap on the sofa with Mollie as a pillow. I am worried. I need to keep them safe but how do I keep them safe from something I can't see? Computer, end...log.")
I quietly finished my log. I looked over to the sleeping faces from my children in the dark ready room. The room was illuminated by the still stars outside and the computer emanating across the room. We were low on energy and couldn't risk using it anymore. Most of the lights on the ship were turned off with only light beacons, and consoles for light.
Their soft breathing and Mollie's snoring filled the quiet silence of the ready room. I had to find out who was doing this. I have to.
I let out a yawn and reviewed the brain scans again. Not exactly sure what I was supposed to be looking for but hoped to find something.
Suddenly, the door chimed loudly. Startling me from my thoughts and my children and Mollie from their sleep. They rubbed their eyes and groaned from waking up as Mollie let out a big yawn and stood up and had shaken herself awake.
I mentally reminded myself to lower the volume of the chime as I granted whoever was their access to come in. Tuvok stepped through with a calm demeanour as always.
"Tuvok? I am happy to see you up and about again. How are you feeling." I asked. My children were almost fully awake as they stretched and stood from the sofa.
"I am doing...well, Captain. I am here to inform you that there is a senior staff meeting in progress Captain. The one you ordered 30 minutes and 14 seconds ago." He reported. Damn, I had forgotten!
"Oh, I am sorry, Tuvok. I got distracted and had forgotten." I apologized and shut down my computer. Sarah and Micheal (+ Mollie.) jumped to attention and rushed over to join me as I moved away from my desk.
"It is logical given the circumstances." He replied as my family followed me. I turned around and crossed my arms over my chest.
"Kids. This is a senior staff meeting. You can't follow me." I said. They looked at each other hesitantly than nodded to each other and copied her commanding presence.
"You might get possessed in there, or someone else. We won't let that happen. Mommy." Micheal said defiantly. I sighed.
"Yep." Sarah chirped.
"Come on, Micheal. I don't have the command codes anymore. I am not in a lot of danger anymore." I argued.
"But you still are in danger. Please let us come!" Micheal begged and used their puppy dog eyes against me.
"You are not going to let this go, are you?" I asked. They both grinned and nodded. I don't have time to argue with them.
"Alright. Fine. I don't have time to argue with you two." I said in defeat. Tuvok looked at me accusingly with that classic Vulcan eyebrow raise.
I ignored him as I reentered the bridge and crossed it to the meeting room. I swiftly entered as the rest of the available senior staff looked at me in surprise as we all walked in. I sat down at the head of the table as the staff exchanged surprised and confused glances by the fact that my children were in the room.
"Alright. Let's cut to the chase. Tuvok, what can you tell us about what happened in the turbo lift with Kes?" I asked.
"It was similar to the attack on the shuttlecraft. An energy discharge came through the bulkhead, filled the turbolift and hit both of us." Tuvok explained.
"We didn't pick up a discharge of any kind on the internal sensors." B'Elanna countered and Sarah, Micheal (Who were beside me.) and B'Elanna looked towards him suspiciously.
"Perhaps this type of energy is beyond our sensor bandwidth." Tuvok suggested.
"Perhaps, but that discharge had to come from somewhere." I said.
"The most thorough scanning device we have onboard is a magneton scanner. We could search the ship centimetre by centimetre, but that wouldn't do much good. This alien could be anywhere at any time." Tom insisted.
"But what if we could perform a magneton scan on the entire ship all at once?" B'Elanna suggested.
"What do you suggest?" I asked.
"A magneton flash scan. We could reconfigure every sensor array on the ship to emit a single burst. It might be enough to illuminate any anomalous energy." B'Elanna explained. "Harry, what do you think?"
Everyone looked at Harry who was at the end of the table. He was staring at well...nothing. Sarah gasped and my children both went to either side of me and Mollie started to growl. Tuvok drew his phaser out and pointed it at Harry and B'Elanna took out a tricorder and began to scan him.
Harry came back to reality and looked startled when he saw the scene.
"Whoa. What did I do?" He asked in surprise and a hint of fear showing in his eyes.
"Stay where you are, Mister Kim." Tuvok ordered.
"I don't see anything unusual, but that doesn't mean anything." B'Elanna reported and shut her tricorder and placed it back on her belt.
"Mister Kim, what were you doing just now?" I asked and slowly stood up and leaned against the table. Narrowing my eyes towards him.
"I was just thinking. I was remembering an old study I saw about magneton scanners. I guess my mind started to wander a bit." He explained.
"I'm very disturbed by what just happened here. We don't have any idea what occurs when someone is occupied by this alien presence. If we start pointing a finger every time someone gets distracted, it won't be long before outright paranoia starts sweeping the ship. Tuvok, B'Elanna, I want you to get started on that magneton flash scan. It's worth a try. Dismissed." I ordered. Everyone went straight to work and left the room.
---End of Chapter 27. Next: Cathexis: Part Two.---
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