Part 2
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~*~
N'DANGA: I heard that; are you all right? JANEWAY: (Quickly running some diagnostics) Seems that that pulse caused some damage to several of the port warp coils. I'm calling up the repair programs right now. N'DANGA: Keep us posted. JANEWAY: I'm leaving the channel open. (N'Danga hears her breathing as her fingers slide over the panels. ) JANEWAY: (Sighs) All right; looks like it's patched for now. (There is a loud 'whump' noise; N'Danga doesn't see Janeway but hears a slight groan. ) N'DANGA: Admiral? Admiral Janeway? JANEWAY: (Sounds of her grunting and shuffling about; finally, her image appears on screen. She looks 'ruffled' but quickly assumes her helm position. ) It's okay; another surge just hit and I was thrown from the helm; I'll be more careful and alert. N'DANGA: Do want us to try to come and get you? JANEWAY: Negative. I'll be through this is just a little while; I've been in worse situations. The ship is handling just fine. N'DANGA: That's good to hear… but I'm concerned… JANEWAY: No need; I think I'm through the worst of it. The long-range sensors show only about another ninety kilometers and then it should be a smooth trip. N'DANGA: (Sighing) Yes, Admiral; it's your decision. (A loud explosion is heard; visuals are lost on the monitors. ) N'DANGA: (Quite agitated now) Admiral? What happened? (There is a pause before a response. ) JANEWAY: That pulse was a strong one - 5k mega joules. Seems to have thrown visuals and the warp core off line; I'm going to have to go to impulse. N'DANGA: (Trying to remain calm) We're going to get a lock on you; we're coming after you. JANEWAY: (Now agreeing) Understood. Let me send you my coordinates. (He hears her keying in the information. ) JANEWAY: Transmitting n… (A thunderous explosion is heard from the shuttlecraft, and then all communication disappears. ) N'DANGA: (Anxious but in control. ) Ens. T'Mak, do we have incoming from the SC-02? ENS. T'MAK: Negative. I'm trying alternate subspace channels now. N'DANGA: Do that! Lt. Kropke, scanners show… LT. KROPKE: Nothing, sir. I had her, and then there was… nothing. N'DANGA: (Getting upset) What do you mean… you had her… and then 'nothing'? LT. KROPKE: (Bewildered) Just that, sir - I was honing in on her signal. I thought for a moment that she had sent out something on her emergency channel, but then there was nothing. No signal, no static… just… nothing. N'DANGA: There has to be something! How about tacheon particle residuals? LT. KROPKE: I'm working on it, sir; there's an awful lot of electromagnetic interference. This plasma storm is the biggest one I've ever seen… N'DANGA: (Calming down somewhat, but in full 'command' mode. ) Keep trying. LT. KROPKE: Aye, Captain. N'DANGA: Status, T'Mak? ENS. T'MAK: Sorry, sir; all I'm getting is static. In fact, our systems are being interfered with now; I've lost all channels but two. (N'Danga sighs. Commander K'Pal, Nautilus's first officer comes over to the distraught captain and whispers into his ear. ) CMDR. K'PAL: We could send out another one of the Flyers, sir. We do have the last known coordinates for the Admiral, and I'm certain if we could get into the general area, we could lock onto some sort of information. N'DANGA: And risk losing another pilot and ship? CMDR. K'PAL: (Straightening her shoulders) I could try, Captain. I've flown through some pretty nasty storms before… N'DANGA: (Thinking and realizing that he probably should make some effort) I appreciate the offer, K'Pal. But, until we can at least stabilize our own systems, I don't want anyone going out. Understood? CMDR. K'PAL: Yes, of course. But… Admiral Janeway has always been a hero of mine. I could not bear to think of losing her without even trying to find her. N'DANGA: I'm sure all of us feel the same way. (Looks K'Pal in the eye. ) WHEN we begin our search… and that's what I mean… "when" - you'll lead the mission, K'Pal. (The woman brightens) CMDR. K'PAL: Aye, sir; we'll find her, sir - I promise you. She's familiar with the Flyer, and the version she's in is the best there is. N'DANGA: (Trying to remain optimistic) I certainly hope so. And… I hope we find her alive. (Looks around at his bridge crew) Now - let's get ourselves patched up so that I can put through a message to Starfleet. ~*~ (Back at the rehearsal dinner, all are seated around the large dinner table. Tom Paris rises to give a toast. His voice is uncharacteristically emotional as he holds his glass up and begins to speak. ) TOM PARIS: Uh… Chakotay asked me to give a few words, so I guess a toast would in order. (He glimpses at Chakotay and Seven but quickly looks at B'Elanna) I've spent most of the last year trying to figure out why things happen the way they do. (Nervous laughter all the way around. ) But… I do know that eight years ago, I met the person who would make my life complete. Oh, yeah; we had our rocky moments (honest laughter now), but… once she 'convinced' me that the fates of the universe meant for us to be together, I knew that life could only get better with her in my life. Chakotay… Seven… may your union, too, prove itself to be a thing of destiny. ( "Hear, hear" rings out all around. Tom looks at B'Elanna, who has a look of thanks and love for him for all he has said again about their relationship. But, the look is also one of questioning - on both their parts - by a more than a shadow of a doubt regarding the Chakotay/Seven marriage. Waiters begin to bring in food and animated conversations resume all around the table, all overlapping each other. Suddenly, Admiral Paris turns in his seat, as he answers a summons from his communicator badge. He leans over to Chakotay, excusing himself and slips out of the room, a worried look in his eyes. Chakotay's eyes follow him until he hears Seven speak his name. ) SEVEN: Is there a problem? Why has the Admiral been summoned? CHAKOTAY: I don't know; he didn't say. SEVEN: He seemed concerned. CHAKOTAY: I know. (Admiral Paris comes back in; his face is dark with apprehension. ) CHAKOTAY: (Sensing something is wrong): What is it, Admiral? (All the voices around the table become still as the Admiral clears his voice, trying to rid himself of the very large lump that is rapidly forming in his throat. ) ADMIRAL PARIS: Uh… I was just patched through to Captain N'Danga on the Nautilus. He informs me that Admiral Janeway left on the DF SC-02 to return to Earth and she ran into a rather nasty plasma storm. They received a sub-space distress call, but now the Nautilus has lost all contact with her. (Gasps from all around the table as the implication of his words sink in. ) CHAKOTAY: (Almost swallowing his words) Did they know of the storm? Why did she leave? ADMIRAL PARIS: (Looking Chakotay straight in the eye) Yes, they knew of the storm; but she insisted on leaving. She said that she would take her chances - that she wanted to be back for this wedding. CHAKOTAY: (Trying to control his emotions) They are going to keep looking for her, aren't they? ADMIRAL PARIS: Yes, but they have to hold off. The electromagnetic fluxes produced by the storm have interrupted all their communication systems. Even their astrophysics observations have been affected. They're just going to have to wait and see. CHAKOTAY: (With tight anguish) And how long will that be? ADMIRAL PARIS: (Sternly) As long as it takes, Commander. Admiral Janeway knew the dangers when she made her decision to attempt such a trip. (The sudden silence around the table now becomes a cacophony of concern; everyone is talking. Seven looks at Chakotay, her eyes filled with a mixture of question and unease. He looks at her but does not find the answer he is looking for. With her typical reserve, she does not even reach out to him, to comfort him. She nervously begins to look around, trying to understand the reactions of the others. Chakotay slips away from the group as they continue their anxious discussions. He exits through the door leading into the room and wanders down the darkened hall, looking out into the night skies, as if searching for something… some glimmer of something. ) CHAKOTAY: (Banging his hand against the wall, then muttering under his breath) Kathryn… why? (He's breathing rapidly, still trying to hold his emotions - and some suddenly-surfacing tears - under control. He closes his eyes, forcing the tears back, biting his lower lip. He turns as he hears footsteps coming down the hall - Seven has come looking for him. ) SEVEN: Are you all right? CHAKOTAY: (With a very tight voice) Yes, I'll be fine. SEVEN: (attempting to find comforting words) I am sure that they will find Admiral Janeway; she is a most efficient and resourceful pilot. CHAKOTAY: (Grasping onto the rail along the wall, underneath the window through which he's been peering, but still not venturing to look at Seven) Yes. She'll be fine. SEVEN: (Moves closer to him, and reaching out hesitatingly to touch his arm) Come; it is not right for you to be alone. Come back to the other room - with your friends… and with me. (Chakotay turns and looks at her. Without a word being spoken, even with her limited knowledge of human emotions, Seven sees the entire story in his eyes - the one he really loves is lost, a light year from Earth, somewhere in the eye of a plasma storm. She takes a small gasp as the reality of the situation sinks in. Her eyes send back a message of hurt confusion and she turns to go back to the dinner room. Chakotay doesn't seem to have the strength - or the inclination - to follow her. ) ~*~ (The dinner breaks up. Chakotay, Seven, Adm. and Tom Paris, Tuvok go to Starfleet headquarters to be available for any news from the Nautilus. Seven seems to be left out of the proceedings as Admiral Paris and Chakotay stay on top of communications. Tom has convinced folks he should be there because the Delta Flyer was 'his' baby; Seven insists that she knows just as much about it as he does and says that she will work with him regarding any questions about how to best handle the DF SC-02, hunt for signals, direct repairs. Tom has pulled up schematics for the DF SC-02, attempting to pinpoint the known areas that have been damaged. The wait is maddening. ) TOM PARIS: If the admiral is okay, she should be able to hold things together. The Flyer works well just on impulse, and she should be able to repair the communications array enough to put out a homing signal. (He looks at the visuals on the monitor screen. ) See - all the main stations are within reach of her in the main compartment. SEVEN: Even if the vessel is beyond repair, one of the additions made in this newer version is the availability of an escape pod in each of the three sections. (She shows this to Tom. ) TOM PARIS: Right! And those pods all have emergency communication systems. (He brightens. ) In fact, it would not surprise me if the Admiral makes her way to one of the pods just to use one of those systems. SEVEN: (Nodding in agreement. ) Unless they, too, have been damaged in the storm - or if she has been seriously injured. TOM PARIS: (Becomes sullen again; is unhappy with Seven's response) Always the optimist, aren't you, Seven? SEVEN: (Looking at him sternly) If you are attempting some of your sarcastic humor, Mr. Paris, I can assure you that I am merely being realistic about the situation. TOM PARIS: (Realizing that the stress is starting to get to him, too) I'm sorry, Seven; it's just that with all she's been through over these past years - and this last one in particular - I find it ironic that she should be lost in such a foolish way. SEVEN: Why do you say this last year in particular? We have been back in the Alpha Quadrant - on Earth - for almost a year. I would think that her entire journey in the Delta Quadrant would be the most harrowing experience for her. TOM PARIS: (Reddening as he realizes what he's said) Uh… I mean, with all the stuff she's had to face with the debriefings and reports and her promotion. SEVEN: Oh. Yes, I understand. Perhaps that's why she has not communicated very much with me in recent months. TOM PARIS: Yeah, I'm sure that's it. (They both become silent; Tom attempts to study the schematics but, between the tension of Janeway's loss, the lateness of the hour and the realization of Janeway's reason for wanting to return, he becomes more and more agitated. Seven notices the change. ) SEVEN: It has now been two hours since Chakotay and Admiral Paris went into the Admiral's ready room; he has not come out to check on our progress at all. TOM PARIS: I'm sure they will when the time comes. It's… it's probably best for Chakotay to be there for any communication. SEVEN: I would think that in this time of anxiety - for him - that he would want to be with me. (She looks at Tom and asks him pointedly. ) Surely, if Lt. Torres did not have to go back to your home to be with the baby, she would want to be with you. TOM PARIS: Well, yeah. As a matter of fact, you've noticed that she's already contacted me three times. SEVEN: My point precisely. Yet Chakotay - my future husband - has not sought me out once. TOM PARIS: (Suddenly realizing that he's treading on thin ice) Seven, uh… we both know that Chakotay would never do anything to purposefully hurt anyone, especially you. It's just that… uh… he's been so close to the Admiral for so long… why, they've risked themselves for each other so many times I've lost count! SEVEN: And that's why knowledge of her condition should take priority over our consoling each other? That is not logical. TOM PARIS: Well, who ever said there was anything logical about love? (He suddenly realizes his faux pas and tries to cover himself. ) I mean… they… they love each other like a brother and a sister! They… they've just been so close for so long… SEVEN: (Looks at him strangely) I see; like a brother and a sister. TOM PARIS: Yeah, that's right. (Trying to lighten it up some) Hell, sometimes on the bridge, we thought they could almost read each other's minds! It got to the point where they could almost finish each other's sentences! SEVEN: Just like some married couples. TOM PARIS: Aw, Seven, that's not what I meant. (Leaning in to her. ) And if you want some 'brotherly' advice from me, here's my suggestion - don't ever try to second-guess those two. The relationship is unique and I don't think anyone will totally understand it. If you let it get to you, it will certainly mess up everything that you and Chakotay have going for you. SEVEN: So you are telling me that there are different kinds of love? TOM PARIS: (somewhat relieved, but still knowing that his original out-of-place statement was probably true) Yes, there are several types of love; that's the wonderful thing about being human, that you can experience each of these types at its own level, in its own place. Don't jeopardize what the two of you have by adding jealousy to the formula; jealousy doesn't look good on you. SEVEN: (Seriously considering what Tom has said. ) Very well. I shall try to understand. TOM PARIS: (Further relieved) Good! Now, let's see what we can figure out that will help Capt. N'Danga when they find Admiral Janeway and the Flyer. SEVEN: Yes, of course. (Tom watches her as they resume their studies, but can tell that she still has not been convinced as she glances at the closed ready room door with great frequency. He shakes his head, knowing that whatever the outcome, there will be some soul-searching aftermath of the situation. ) ~*~ (Four hours have passed since the Nautilus lost communications with the DF SC-02. The bridge crew is silent but intent in their jobs as they search for any indication of the lost ship. Suddenly Lt. Kropke, the tactical officer lets out a whoop. ) LT. KROPKE: (Face bright and eyes wide) Captain! I think I've got something! N'DANGA: (Turning, wanting to be hopeful) It better be more than 'I think', mister! LT. KROPKE: Oh, yes, sir! It's a definite now… I've got a lock on a vessel with the DF SC-02 signatures… at 043.8, sir… about 400, 000 kilometers from us. N'DANGA: What's the state of the storm? LT. KROPKE: It's still there, sir. But it's dissipated enough for us to try a communications lock. And the EM surges have diminished by ninety-seven point three percent. And sir… I have life signs for one human female. They aren't strong, but… N'DANGA: T'Mak… ENS. T'MAK: I'm on it already, sir; give me a couple more minutes. N'DANGA: (Keying in information) Lt. Hudson, set course for these coordinates. LT. HUDSON: Aye, sir! N'DANGA: (Half under his breath) Hold on, Admiral; we won't leave one of our own. (Turns to K'Pal) Commander, contact Lt. Hrjak and a medic; you three are going on a little search and rescue mission. CMDR. K'PAL: (Up and running almost before N'Danga finishes. ) Yes, sir! (Hitting communicator as she leaves bridge.) Hrjak, we've got a chore to perform… ~*~ (At 0200, San Francisco time on Earth, Admiral Paris receives the message from the Nautilus - they have gotten a lock on the signal from the missing DF SC-02, but it's very weak and there are no responses to hails. They can't pinpoint an exact location, but the storms have subsided enough to send out a search team. ) CHAKOTAY: Admiral - life signs… ADMIRAL PARIS: Yes, they've got a positive on that. They're weak, but it seems that Admiral Janeway is still alive. CHAKOTAY: (Closing eyes in relief but still not completely at ease) Kathryn… hang in there; we're coming. (The two men go out into the main room and make the announcement to the others. Shouts of joy and thanks ring out with the news.) ADMIRAL PARIS: Folks, while this news is far better than we had anticipated earlier, let's not get carried away; we still don't know exactly where the Admiral is, nor do we know her condition. TOM PARIS: But we at least know she's alive; that's a start! ADMIRAL PARIS: Yes, I guess it is. (Seven goes over to Chakotay, who appears tired and in shock. ) SEVEN: Chakotay, I think we should go now. It is obvious that there is not anything more for us to do here; the Nautilus can handle the situation. CHAKOTAY: (Turns to her, almost surprised to see her. ) Seven! You're still here! SEVEN: (Equally surprised) Yes, why shouldn't I be? CHAKOTAY: Uh… well, I thought that… um… that you had gone home. SEVEN: (Pointedly) Without you? CHAKOTAY: Unh… no, I guess not. (Pulls her into a quick embrace and kisses her on the cheek. ) But why don't you go on? I'll follow shortly. SEVEN: When? CHAKOTAY: (Losing his 'cool' with her persistence) When they've found Kathryn! SEVEN: (Icily) And then you will come to me. CHAKOTAY: Yes, of course! Now… please; I'll be there. (Seven roughly pulls away from him and turns to leave without looking back. Chakotay's eyes are aflame, not with anticipation that this is his wedding day, but that Kathryn is alive and they are looking for her. Tom and Tuvok look at Chakotay and then each other, realizing that Chakotay's actions are not looking good for his relationship with Seven. Another hour passes. The Nautilus search team has found the general area where Janeway's position had been identified, but the storm's residual ionization is still interfering with their instrumentation. N'Danga reports this back to the group on Earth, perturbed that there's nothing more to report. With resolve, Tuvok approaches Admiral Paris. ) TUVOK: Admiral, if might be so bold… I have a suggestion to make on how to locate Admiral Janeway. ADMIRAL PARIS: By all means - let's hear it! TUVOK: It… it's rather unorthodox, based on Starfleet protocols… ADMIRAL PARIS: At this point, I'm up to try anything. What is it? TUVOK: (Looks at Chakotay) Commander, in the past, on Voyager, there were times when you and the captain… I mean, Admiral Janeway, seemed to be able to communicate almost telepathically. Sometimes this occurred even when you were separated by large distances. CHAKOTAY: (Nodding in agreement) Yes, there were a few times. I had even instructed her a couple of times in the use of my medicine bundle. ADMIRAL PARIS: (Completely lost in the conversation) What's this all about? CHAKOTAY: As Tuvok said, something that… um… isn't found in the textbooks, sir. I… I don't know if it's because the Admiral and I worked so closely for so long… but yes, at times it was if we could reach out to one another's minds and sort of 'read' each other. TUVOK: This is my suggestion. Commander, what if you attempted one of these mind-to-mind communications with Admiral Janeway… to find out if you can 'see' where she is… and lead the Nautilus team to her. CHAKOTAY: (Shaking head sadly) I would need my medicine bundle… at least my akoonah… in order to do that. TUVOK: Not necessarily. Perhaps I could help you by integrating some of my relaxation techniques into your thoughts - similar to your lucid dreaming state. CHAKOTAY: (Brightening up) Yes, yes… that just might work! (He looks at the Admiral who has an incredulous expression on his face.) Admiral, please; let us try. ADMIRAL PARIS: What is this - spirit craft? Hocus-pocus? That's what you're going to do? TOM PARIS: Dad… Admiral… I've seen this before; trust me, there's more to it than you would think possible! It's worth a shot, don't you think? What have we to lose? ADMIRAL PARIS: (Still confused) I thought we had gotten past such stuff. TOM PARIS: (Pleading) Trust me - it works! ADMIRAL PARIS: (Giving in) All right. But only because we're out of other options. CHAKOTAY: Thanks, Admiral. Come on, Tuvok; we've got work to do. (The two men leave in search of a room that will suit their needs. Admiral Paris goes to communications monitor and contacts the Nautilus. ) ADMIRAL PARIS: Captain N'Danga, we're working on a way to help you pinpoint the coordinates for Admiral Janeway. N'DANGA: From Earth? How can you do it from there? ADMIRAL PARIS: (Laughing nervously) N'Danga, you wouldn't believe me in a million years! Ah… we'll be getting back to you shortly. (The screen goes blank on N'Danga's face, full of unasked questions. ) ~*~
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