Ley Lines

By: Gargress

Created on 01/26/00 10:25 PM

Finished on 01/28/00 7:52 PM

***

Added 01.12.00 @ 11:52 pm: As ironic and made up as this may sound, I began writing this story a day before "Fair Haven" aired and then I saw the ep and what it was about. I was just staring at the screen for so long thinking, "How in the world could they have chosen the same county that I did, and the same country for that matter?" It was weird, but just remember that this story is from my own noggin and originally was before "Fair Haven" no matter how much some of the references here resemble that episode. Seeing the effects and issues that "Fair Haven" brought out in the characters I’ve decided to place this after the ep "Fair Haven" so I can reek some more havoc than I originally planned. ;-} You could say that ep was the little push to get my story really rolling.

I now know that creativity demons love cookie dough ice cream and bounce off the walls whenever they get into the stuff. I’ll remember to let them pick what they want to kill munchies with from now on. ;-D

Enjoy!

***

The sky was a blustery gray, it was getting ready to pour and it was just like Noreen to be caught out in the storm. Not that she was in any particular hurry because she wasn’t. Clad in a warm but comfortable pair of jeans and short sleeved v-necked blouse, she couldn’t think of anywhere else she wanted to be during a storm. The rolling green hills of County Clare were good for a peaceful walk to make sense of one’s thoughts, and God knew Noreen had enough of those.

The dreams were somehow more tangible, more real. But that was impossible of course, Noreen scoffed. It was the stress she was trying to get rid of that gave her these incomprehensible dreams. So many things that she couldn’t make sense of if she tried. She’d tried to get as far away as she could from that sort of stuff by coming to the ‘Emerald Isle,’ which was thousands of miles away from her little antique shop and modern world of computers. Noreen didn’t feel up to going almost another year without a good long vacation away from pixels, megabytes and the occasionally wandering tourist. Oddly enough her Great Aunt Edilea had sent a plane ticket for first class on British Air with a note clear as summer’s day saying:

Noreen smiled to herself as she watched a flock of geese calmly waddle towards a nearby pond, goslings close behind. Aunt Edilea had a quaint country cottage in the Irish countryside, away from almost all civilization except for the nearby little town of Glenndale. This part of Ireland was one of those places where everyone knew everyone else, and that meant word got around. Noreen knew that people wanted to get to know Eldilea’s sweet little great niece, and that didn’t really mix well with the fact that Noreen hated being the center of attention.

The All-American young woman perked up when she suddenly felt something wet fall on her head. Immediately afterwards thunder sounded up above making Noreen McAllen yelp and begin running for her aunt’s cottage as rain began to pour. She laughed aloud at the absurdity of it all. Every time she denied herself the fact that it was going to rain cats and dogs, it poured. Even when she was a little girl, it never failed. There couldn’t be a cloud in the sky in the early afternoon, but when Noreen said it was going to rain it always did. Maybe she was destined to be a meteorologist, or maybe she should start taking a hint and acknowledge the fact that Lady Luck had blacklisted her before she was even born.

***

***

"How is your Vulcan integrity holding out Tuvok?" a highly amused Tom Paris off-handedly commented as he took it upon himself to sit across from the less than pleased Vulcan. Lt. Tuvok, Chief of Security, did not by any means falter or show any signs of weakness. Although, that wave that hit the ship several weeks before had played havoc with his Vulcan physiology.

"Lt. Paris, I trust you have made considerable time in your repair of Fair Haven, said Tuvok while still reading the security reports on the PADD he held.

"Yeah, it’s just blind luck really. Let’s just say I’ve had a little inspiration." Paris sipped his Tamarin frost and then decided to smile at a pretty ensign, who grinned back while passing by.

"Lt., I suggest you clean the Tamarin frost off your upper lip before attempting to call the attention of anymore ensigns." Even though always unemotional, Tuvok always managed to get his one-liners in. "Also, where is Ensign Kim? He mentioned he wished to speak with me earlier today."

After wiping his mouth Tom replied, "Oh Harry, he’s probably still on the holodeck trying to salvage more of Fair Haven. Especially a little lady name Maggie O’Hollarin."

The Vulcan replied with no more but a distracted, "I see," as he read further into his security report. Apparently finished with his Hlaka soup and report, Tuvok stood. "I am going to hand this report to the captain, excuse me."

Paris dispassionately watched Tuvok head out of the Mess Hall, while sipping more of his frozen dessert. Almost immediately Chakotay slowly walked in, his smile hesitant as he greeted Neelix, who smiled back but kept his eye on the ship’s first officer while he stirred something in a bowl. The Maquis leader sat down beside one of the Hall’s ports looking out into unknown space. Tom could almost see his commanding officer’s mind wander a million light years away. Against his better judgment, the Voyager’s pilot picked up his beverage and strode over to Chakotay’s table.

***

In his native culture he was taught by his father to question every image, every smell, every feeling and every aspect of a dream. "Dreams," Kolopak used to say, "are like windows into the soul. They are visions that, however incomprehensible, should be heeded." Weeks ago, when the dreams began, Chakotay dismissed them for what they were. Now, he wasn’t so sure.

"Hey Commander, visiting the Alpha Quadrant?" a voice yanked Chakotay’s wandering mind back to Voyager and the Mess Hall.

"Oh-uh Lt. how does project Fair Haven go?" the First Officer lamely asked, getting a frown from Paris in return.

"You all right Commander? Getting enough sleep?" Tom sat down across from Chakotay, Tamarin in hand but forgotten in his concern. The Commander does look a little ‘under the weather,’ Paris thought, remembering what his grandmother used to say.

"Too much it seems," Chakotay commented, mind wandering again as his gaze drifted from Paris to nowhere in particular. "I think I’ll be going." The Commander forced a weak smile as he got up from the table.

"Hey Commander, try out the holodeck. It might help you relax!" Paris called back after Chakotay as he watched his commanding officer stride out of the Mess Hall. Geez, talk about needing your shuteye.

Paris gulped down his Tamarin frost, tangy flavor making his taste buds tingle.

***

"Child," began Great Aunt Edilea in a motherly tone, handing a robed Noreen warm Herbal tea. "You must learn to trust yourself more. The Gift—"

"Aunt Edda don’t start with that again. We’ve been through this and there are no such things as The Gift, or whatever you call it." The dark-haired young woman sighed deeply into her tea. She sipped a bit and felt the warm liquid go down her throat and warm her stomach. Reclining back in the over-stuffed wing backed chair she sat in, Norie wondered if her great aunt was really as eccentric as her mother used to say.

The elder woman’s gray eyes darkened with impatience as she sat down across from her great niece with a hard expression. "Norie you must understand that this gift has been in your mother’s family for generations, and damn the stubborn streak you inherited from your Yank of a da, you must hone your gift otherwise it will grow dormant… just as it did in your mother and hers before her."

Norie’s eyebrows rose in surprise, her aunt never swore. Although Aunt Edda never did like dad, Noreen thought with an inward smile. God rest his soul.

"Dear child, what you have is precious and older than the ley lines themselves. It would be a grand shame for it to fade away, as if it never existed."

"Edda, please let’s not get into this." Norie sighed as she closed her eyes in attempts to try and not loose her cool. Opening her eyes and glaring, Edilea’s great niece glared at her. "There is no such thing as being some kind of fortune teller Aunt Edda. Get that through your head and you’ll be ready to rejoin the rest of the normal world."

"What is normal child? Is it someone’s idea of what should be? Then, if that is true; what really should be?" Edilea said cryptically, and Norie knew that at this point there was no reason to even bother arguing with her great aunt.

"I’m going to bed. Good night," the dark-haired young woman said shortly, leaving her tea on a nearby coffee table on her way out of the den.

Edilea deeply sighed. Was there no way in this world or the next to convince her great niece of the power that was within her grasp?

***

Chakotay discreetly looked around the corridor, and seeing no one he slipped into the Holographic Research Lab. As soon as the door shut him he commanded the ship’s computer to secure it, certain that would prevent any unwanted personnel from popping in.

Stepping onto the platform in front of the control counsel he orders, "Computer, activate Holographic Cerebral Interface program, command code Chakotay 198810 Alpha-Gamma."

Secretly hoping that Kim and Paris had this program properly working the last time it was accessed, Chakotay stilled as he following the computer’s instructions.

"Please do not move until the cortical scans are complete." The commander did as he was instructed, again wondering why he hadn’t paid more attention when Paris and Kim had given him a full lecture on how this worked. Something about cortical theta readings combined with a holographic data stream—

Three lasers began rapidly running over the Commander’s face, assimilating his very thoughts and mental images that he was consciously thinking at that moment. "Cortical scan complete."

Chakotay walked over to the computer counsel to have a look at its view screen. Several images from his conscious mind were shown there. He eliminated the unwanted images originating from his randomly passing thought patterns, leaving the clearest image from his reoccurring dream on the display.

"Computer, project holographic image of remaining cortical scan results." As soon as the command was spoken a life size holographic projection of a young woman appeared on the platform in front of the counsel. Dark red, almost black, hair was loosely pulled back from her fair skinned face. Her features were strong but softened by her oddly green flecked hazel eyes. She had a down to Earth look about her, the sparse sprinkling of freckles on her face. The Commander recognized her casual attire to be from late 20^th century Earth, thanks to Lt. Paris’ several attempts at a holo-novel program from that era.

Chakotay stood at the computer counsel while wondering why, in the name of the Spirits, was he dreaming of places from Old Earth with this person being the common factor in all of them. He had tried to have his questions answered in a vision quest but had no luck. The ex-Maquis leader also remembered that in all his vivid dreams he and this woman had held perfectly normal conversations. Of course she had found him strange because of his lack of knowledge from what she knew as the ‘present,’ but other than that they merely enjoyed each other’s company.

"Who are you?" he whispered to himself, wistfully wondering if he was going mad.

***

This time it was some sort of small village, not of his making that’s for certain. It must be something from her life, Chakotay thought curiously. He looked about at the passers by who merely went along with the menial tasks of another day at market. Even in his Starfleet uniform he was treated as just another person taking a walk through town.

With amusement reflected in her eyes she repeated to herself, "Cha-ko-tay hmm?" she rolled the unfamiliar name off her tongue, sounding it slowly at first but then normally. "Chakotay... I like it. Well kind sir, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Noreen McAllen, late of North America."

He had to let out a short laugh. She was astute. "Well I guess you could call it the air force..."

County Clare? Wasn’t that the place the Captain-- "Hey Chakotay, spacing out on me?" Noreen teased as they walked. The Commander looked at her, with a completely lost look on his face. She chuckled then said, "Thinking of something important? Contemplating the meaning of life maybe?"

***

Chakotay awoke with a small start, realizing he was in his quarters and no longer in Glenndale. Shortly laughing at himself for his sudden knee-jerk reaction, he let himself fall back on his pillows with his smile of amusement becoming one of deep thought. Why is this--

"Janeway to Chakotay. Acknowledge."

The Commander quickly picked up his com badge from the nearby table and replied. "Chakotay here. Anything wrong?"

"Sorry to interrupt your beauty sleep but I think you should come take a look at this for yourself," the Captain said cryptically, the com badge growing silent.

"Acknowledged." Never a dull moment.

***

Walking onto the Bridge, Chakotay strode down the walkway towards the Captain. "Captain, what was so important that you had to wake me up before my shift?" the Captain’s second smiled faintly, feigning irritation.

"Paris, care to elaborate?"

"Uh, sure Captain. Look at the view screen and prepare to be amazed," said Voyager’s pilot, and then the view screen immediately shifted to a fantastic display of colors in a sort of roundish formation.

"A star forming, right?" Chakotay said, dead pan.

"That’s what Seven first thought but now after further investigation it seems to be a swirling mass of... something," Paris concluded, zooming in the visual to better the resolution. While Ensign Kim continued with a more scientific speculation Chakotay inwardly marveled at the bright yellows, lavenders and pinks.

"Radiation levels are off the charts and it registers as a subspace anomaly. It appears to be some kind of spatial distortion, more than that I can’t tell you. But it warrants our investigation," Janeway explained in her official captain tone that could always pinpoint her as the one in command no matter what the situation.

"Shields are at full strength?" Chakotay inquired, and Tuvok from Tactical answered.

"Aye sir. We are in no danger from the radiation levels as of yet."

"But the Doctor has been informed of the so-called star and wants everyone to report to Sick Bay for inoculation," the Captain continued with an ironic twist to her voice.

Chakotay almost grinned at Paris’ telltale groan.

***

"Putting yourselves in danger again I see," The Doctor commented as he administered a hypospray to Ensign Taylor. To his patient, "All done."

"Mind not going on about this Doc?" Paris whined as he sat himself on a biobed for inoculation.

"I wouldn’t go on about it if I thought it would be a good idea for the crew to put their health at risk just for the sake of exploration," the Doctor dead panned as he readied the correct dosage for Paris.

"Lighten up Doc, exploration’s what we’re here to do," Paris cajoled the hologram as the Doc gave him the hypo.

"Curiosity killed the cat," the Doctor replied as Chakotay walked into Sick Bay.

"Hey Commander, in for inoculation?" Paris greeted on his way out.

"Yes Lt.," the Commander replied and waited for Paris to leave to approach the Doctor, whom was preparing another hypo.

"I’ve already done most of the crew, with the exception of--" The Doctor paused when he saw the grave expression on Chakotay’s face. Something was wrong. "Is there something else I can do for you Commander?"

"As a matter of fact yes. Would you know anything useful about... lucid dreaming?"

The Doctor frowned but answered truthfully. "Why yes, I have been programmed with extensive information on the subject. Why would you wish to know? Want to finally beat Paris at a game of pool in Sandrine’s?" the Doc said flippantly, earning a frown from his commanding officer.

"I’d like to know if it’s possible for someone to contact someone else telepathically over a long distance during REM sleep."

The Doc’s eyebrows rose but he answered. "Yes, research shows that may be possible although highly improbable." The hologram checked the dosage and inoculated Chakotay while talking. "Planning on reaching out and touching someone in the near future Commander?"

"Not exactly. Let’s just say it’s been happening in reverse." Despite the Doctor’s curious gaze Chakotay continued. "I’ve been having these very vivid lucid dreams ever since Voyager encountered that wave front. In every one of them everything is different except for one thing that never changes, this woman. She seems to show up as casually as she would while meeting an old friend, and I admit I do the same. The question as to why I’m still not sure of."

At this revelation the Doctor acquired a contemplative look as he thought this over. "Well I suppose something in the wave front affected you in particular but that would be illogical, seeing as someone else in the crew hasn’t been affected as well. I haven’t the slightest as to what is happening to you Commander. Maybe this is a product of lack of sleep. Get a good night’s rest and that might solve your problem."

Chakotay sighed and gave up consulting the EMH on anything else. He mumbled a thank you on his way out of Sick Bay as he heard the Doctor call out after him.

"Pleasant dreams Commander!"

***

"Computer, access Dreamscape holo-character Noreen McAllen command code Chakotay 198810 Alpha-Gamma," the First Officer of Voyager said crisply and the computer immediately obliged. On the holographic platform feet away from him a 3D projection of Noreen McAllen fade into existence. "Computer, access interpersonal subroutines of holo-character and adjust perimeters to the following specifications…"

Chakotay considered everything he’d learned so far about this intriguing person, or figment of his imagination, he wasn’t quite sure yet. Inquisitive, intelligent, astute, relaxed and layback sort of personality, extremely thoughtful…

***

Something wasn’t right. Noreen put down her hardcover copy of "A Midsummer Night’s Dream" when a gut feeling churned her insides. Something was definitely not right. She hated these stupid things. They always showed up like the messenger from hell with bad news, and left leaving sharp stomach pains in its wake. The same thing happened the night of her parents’ deaths…

***

…he was certain he’d gotten all the specifics. "Computer, access interpersonal subroutines with myself and adjust them to the following specifications." Now for the long-winded part of this. The Commander began to verbally input all the knowledge he had shared of himself with this Ms. McAllen, which was several weeks worth of lucid dreams.

***

All right, maybe if I just lay down it’ll go away, Noreen assured herself as she slipped deeper under the covers and reached over to click off the bedside lamp. "A Midsummer Night’s Dream" left on the nightstand for future reading, the dark-haired woman settled under the heavy woolen covers of her bed and forced herself to sleep. She hoped the bad feeling would leave if she would dream like she had been for a while now…

***

Chakotay rubbed his tired eyes and quickly told the computer to save the changes to his holo-character’s programming before asking what time it was. Ugh, 2:33 in the morning, he inwardly groaned. He knew that he wasn’t going to wake up too easily for his shift later on. "Computer, are all holo-character Noreen McAllen’s subroutines and programming in tact?" The machine answered in the affirmative. Good. "Deactivate Dreamscape holo-character."

"Unable to comply." That made Chakotay perk up.

"Computer, deactivate Dreamscape holo-character Noreen McAllen."

"Unable to comply. Insufficient security clearance."

What? "Computer, deactivate Dreamscape holo-character Noreen McAllen command code Chakotay 198810 Alpha-Gamma."

"Unable to comply. Access denied."

"Computer, deactivate Dreamscape holo-charcter Noreen McAllen command code Chakotay 198810 Alpha-Gamma." If that machine denied him access one more time—

"Access denied." All right, deep breaths are the key. Chakotay resisted the urge to throttle the computer counsel out the nearest porthole as he thought out the problem. Okay, first it says it can’t comply. Then, it goes and tells me I have insufficient security clearance—

The yellow alert lights suddenly begin to flash. "Janeway to Chakotay. Report to the Bridge immediately."

Oh great. "Acknowledged sir. What’s the problem?" he asked, already charging out of the research lab.

"The anomaly has reached dangerous levels of—I don’t know what. It looks to be fluctuating and it’s subatomic particles are multiplying at an extraordinary rate."

"Aye sir. Chakotay out."

***

All right, this is getting out of hand. No more pineapple supreme pizza before bed time. Noreen felt her stomach flip-flop and lay there in her bed staring at the ceiling. In a minute or two it settled only to start tightening like a fist. God is this what pain really is? She groaned while trying to lie still as the pain slowly ebbed. Noreen sighed, a thin layer of perspiration on her forehead.

***

"The mass is fluctuating again Captain, this time more violently," Ensign Kim said aloud, his eyes never leaving his console.

Janeway’s expression was grim, and Chakotay’s was unreadable. The ship suddenly shuddered violently threatening to pull everyone to the ground. "Sir, shields are holding and all systems are at peek efficiency but we seem to be caught in some kind of gravitational hold."

Despite that the Captain immediately ordered, "Go to Red Alert. Janeway to all personnel. Standby and be ready for anything. Paris, get us out of here."

"I can’t Captain, warp engines seem to be malfunctioning and impulse can’t help us anymore than warp."

"Tuvok, I thought you said everything was working at peek efficiency," Janeway inquired in a tone that was not to be questioned.

"Everything was sir."

Voyager shook violently this time, almost bringing Kim over his console. "Shields are at 43% and holding. Rerouting phaser power to shield generators." As the Starfleet ship shook once more Kim continued reading off the main shield’s power percentages. Janeway’s expression was grim and Chakotay’s unreadable.

"Janeway to Engineering. B’ellanna get the warp core working!"

"Already on it sir!" came the hurried reply as the ship shook once more. The "ship-quakes" became more frequent.

"Janeway to personnel, everyone brace yourselves!" The Bridge crew still worked diligently at their consoles, handling whatever complications with hull breaches, power cuplings exploding or anything else that was gong wrong. Suddenly the shaking became violent, too violent and then there was a sudden bright flash of light. At that very moment the ship ceased all movement.

"Janeway to Engineering. Status." It was a command not a request.

"We were minutes away from imminent warp core breach but systems are stable now."

"Thank you B’ellanna. Keep me posted." To Kim, "Casualties?"

"Minimal Captain. A few broken bones but nothing that can’t be fixed," replied Kim.

To Paris, "What’s our status?"

"All systems seem to be back online Captain," he replied with uncertainty while checking over the display of his console. "Warp engines are back online. Impulse is in working order but..."

"But? That isn’t good," muttered Janeway, resting her chin on her fist.

"Well for one thing everything’s back online, but the "but" comes in at the fact that we’re dead in the water," Paris replied, still busilly working away at his console.

"How is that Lt.?" the Captain asked evenly.

"I dunno. That mass of something seemed to have burned out a few conduits but nothing serious. I don’t understand."

"Captain, there is an intruder in the Holographic Research Laboratory," Tuvok announced making the Captain turn and look athim strangely.

"Ensign Kim, shield status," Janeway asked, looking at Tuvok all the while.

"Shields are up to 83% and climbing, sir."

"How do you explain an intruder on the ship Tuvok?"

"Sensors are in working order Captain," the Vulcan replied, knowing what the Captain’s doubts were on.

"Good enough for me. Send a security team to the Resear--"

"Captain," Chakotay suddenly spoke. Mildly surprised that her second would interrupt a command, Janeway turned to him to see he wore a very forelorn expression.

"What is it Chakotay?"

"I left a program running in the Holographic Research Lab before reporting to the Bridge. I had no time to deactivate it." This made Janeway’s eyebrows slowly rise towards her hairline.

"Get a security team there now. Chakotay, go with them and report back once this mess is cleared up."

"Aye sir."

***

Stalking towards the Lab, Chakotay’s mind went through hundreds, maybe thousands of scenarios all circling around what they were going to find in there. Or whom, he thought with a grimace.

Rounding a corner and walking into the hallway of the Lab, Chakotay and his team of two armed officers stopped outside the closed Lab door. It refused to open.

"Computer, open Holographic Research Lab door, command code Chakotay 198810 Alpha-Gamma." Using the code he had for all his activities in the Lab, Chakotay entered with his team steps behind him to something he had expected but dreaded.

Noreen McAllen.