STAR TREK VOYAGER : HOLO-FEAR

by Gator

Chapter One

  Voyager plowed on through space.

  Time was still measured in years to get out of the Delta Quadrant.

  They were still very far from home. Once they reached Federation space, if they reached Federation space, they were still far from Earth. Captain Janeway looked out her quarter's window as she usually did.

  The ship was holding up well. It was never designed to last so long and travel so far with so many aboard. She'd wished over and over for a bigger ship. But alot of the scrapes they'd gotten out of were credited to their small agile little Voyager. Such a fitting name she thought putting down her replicated coffee.

  Most of their success was attributed specifically on the excellent crew.

  There were NO rookies aboard Voyager. Each saw the Borg and countless other perils in the last couple of years.

  The lights of her den were dimmed as usual. She was supposed to be going over reports again.

  And again, and again, and again.

  The idea of rotating roles so that people wouldn't get so bored with their duties had worked with some posts. Unfortunately there was no replacement for a Captain position yet.

  She wondered about bringing a holographic version of a famous Captain to the bridge to let them handle things for a while. That James T. Kirk fellow might fit the bill.

  She shrugged it off. There was only one mobile emitter on board, the Doctor's. He'd be needed in sick bay if anything happened. Reading logs from other Captains to keep her keen on the dangers of space travel was taking up most of her time. If for no other reason that to thank her lucky stars they HADN'T encountered some of the things.

  The things she could tell them though!

  She picked up the little report roster and began scrolling through the screens looking for something interesting.

  As usual, a bunch of things were happening, the fact that none of it was interesting was making her want to cry.

  Harry Kim was doing something to further boost their maximum warp speed. They'd already worked miracles, yet there was nothing else for him and B'ellana to do.

  Seven had taken it upon herself to further modify the holodeck so that each deck could have multiple "rooms" running at once in people's quarters. That way they could spread around the holodeck to the crew to further relieve some of the stress in waiting for holodeck time.

  "Good idea," was all she could say to the formerly enemy Borg woman. How nice it was to have powerful allies.

  Janeway finished off her coffee and went to get another cup. It was going to be another long watch in a sea of long watches.

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  "Captain."

  Chakotay's voice came over her comm badge. Janeway was on the toilet, but she took it anyway.

  "Go ahead."

  "Seven of Nine is requesting permission to activate the ship wide holodeck system." Her number one executive officer sounded tense, as usual.

  Janeway was more interested in getting done with her current "business" she tapped her badge again.

  "On my way."

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  They were in deck two mess hall with a semi formal ceremony. The Borg inspired console that Seven had built would interface with the ship's computer and allow the transporter to work as a mobile emitter of sorts. Janeway was impressed, but skeptical about power loss. It was all explained in short that the holodeck didn't take much energy, and neither would the shipwide holodeck. She granted Seven a trial run and then they would compile data about it's effectiveness.

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  Tom Paris was in his quarters. He was to be the first guinea pig.

  Seven came over his comm badge with the melodic and thought inspiring words of encouragement that he needed. "Proceed," she said tersely.

  He began to activate the system and run the program he liked most. Of course it was Captain Proton. His quarters melded and spun and became the set of his black and white classic thriller. He was awed. The system had worked in his very own quarters! Now he could absolutely eat sleep and breathe in black and white!

  He reported back that everything went as planned.

  Seven was pleased as she got several pats on the back, even by the Captain, but tried not to let it show. Only her eyebrow raised every few moments as more favorable comments came her way. The work had paid off.

  More people were given the go ahead, meanwhile Seven and Tuvok were monitoring the whole event through the Borg inspired station. The ship was using minimal energy once the emitter properties were used in conjunction with the transporter.

  Janeway asked if she could activate the system in her quarters, and the answer was a wholehearted yes. She spun at the idea giving Seven another pat on the back. The fact that she'd relinquished most of her holodeck time in lieu of letting the overworked crew have it was a strain on her as well. Now she'd be able to be in a holodeck without anyone knowing any wiser.

  She wouldn't have to be afraid of looking like a holodeck "escapist" or "junkie".

  The inner smile in Janeway was spreading around the room. "Seven, you've really outdone yourself." Janeway commended. She turned to Chakotay. "Inform the crew that their quarters is now a functioning holodeck. Call everyone and have them activate to test the whole ship. I want to make sure the capacity is available under testing."

  Janeway was the kind that liked to push it to the max to make sure it wouldn't be a short lived idea. Like revving up a car when you buy it to make sure the engine doesn't explode the first time it's pushed. Chakotay informed the crew and soon everyone was flocking to their quarters to try out their new private holodecks.

  It was a smash success.

  After a few hours of running Janeway allowed herself to go back to her own quarters to activate and test her own private "world" where she could really relax.

  It appeared that Voyager would be alot more livable from now on.

-     -     -

Chapter 2

   The usual skirmishes still arose. People late for their REAL duties, people accusing each other of breaking private engagements. She'd overheard B'ellana pecking at Tom relentlessly about him always preferring Captain Proton to their "dates". Of course it was happening everywhere. The crew had been looking at each other for so long, they were escaping to new worlds of new people. Janeway herself was sitting in a jungle looking over the troubles. A long cascading waterfall was splashing nearby making pleasant sounds as other colorful birds sung in the air.

  Soon Janeway was ready for another change and put her deck on an elegant restaurant. It didn't matter which one, just something large so that she wouldn't feel as if she was in her little room. There were many new people, she wanted to chat with each and every one. But alas, they weren't very conversational.

  With a sudden idea, she wanted to bring up some of the famous Captains now.

  With the mass of information about these people, they could be rendered alot better than some of the simulated people that the holodeck seemed to have an unending supply of. She was about to suggest one of her earlier Captains that had explored unknowns much the same as she. What was his name? Kirk. That was it!

  Then, her comm badge rang.

  "Captain, there's been..." It was Seven's voice.

  "Seven?" Janeway's eyebrows immediately knitted.

  "Captain, you are requested in Astrometrics." Her voice was shaken.

  Janeway gulped. It was difficult to shake Seven. She wondered if it was a personal problem, or if the ship was under Borg attack. Those were the only two events that could shake the ex-Borg Commando. She cut off her private simulation and began out the door.

  "Captain! Medical emergency in sickbay." The Doctor's voice reported.

  "ON my way!"

  Janeway was taking a short cut through the bridge to the turbo lift when she saw Ensign Valla staring at the floor.

  "What is it?" Janeway asked, but she saw at the same time.

  There was no one else on the bridge.

  Odd.

  It was the middle of the second watch. But there was a little toy action figure on the floor. It was moving. Janeway stopped dead in her tracks. She wasn't the best eagle eye at the academy, but she could see features. She got on her knees to verify.

  It was Tuvok. About one fortieth his normal size.

  She couldn't believe it. Her comm badge was going nuts wanting to report to her.

  Janeway suddenly had an idea of what was happening.

  She had to pat Ensign Valla on the cheek to snap her out of her trance. She was afraid it was going to happen to her.

  "Ensign! Collect up the crew. Get as many as you can find and report back to sick bay."

  "Aye, Captain..." the young Ensign reported weakly. She'd just been assigned to the bridge, and now this. She'd much rather be doing low level systems scan back in the safety of level six if this is what it was like on the bridge.

  Valla bit her lip as she picked up the tiny Vulcan in her fingers. Tuvok was yelling up to her, but she was already spotting more moving "dolls" on their seats and on the floor. She was very careful where she stepped.

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