Disclaimer: Paramount owns the ship, the humans...But Charlie and friends are all mine.
To read parts 1-5 click here.
Kathryn glared at the alarm clock, then ordered it to shut-up. She sat up and looked at everybody she was sharing her bed with. Chakotay, Charlie, and Chakotay's three Tavians. "We really ought to give you names," she muttered as she poked her First Officer in the ribs. "Wake-up." He just grunted, so she started tickling him. He grabbed her hands and pulled her to him.
Charlie and his harem started twittering. He walked up and put an end to the horseplay firmly. The trio joined in the frenzy of playfulness that overtook the group. Finally, she and Chakotay were laughing so hard they accidentally knocked the smallest female Tavian off the bed. She sat there and scolded them. Everybody within hearing distance received a thorough reprimand.
#
#
Later, as Kathryn was reading yet another report, she stopped to think about Chakotay's trio. How had he gotten three, while she had only one...It was obvious that Charlie was the clan's leader. Well that made sense that he would seek out the leader of Voyager...
She laughed quietly. It had been discovered that Jenny and Megan Delaney had been adopted by 10 Tavians. The largest single group...
Kathryn smiled, considered the reputation of the sisters, it was no surprise that they had been adopted by that particular gregarious group. Family, harem...The social structure of the Tavians was still a bit of a mystery.
She looked back down at the report...She stopped only at the sound of her ready-room doorchimes. "Enter."
"Good-morning Captain," Neelix said with a smile.
"Neelix, how may I help you?"
"Its about Satryl."
"Satryl?"
Neelix grinned. "I've been adopted by a Tavian. She showed up last night. Satryl is a heroine from a Talaxian legend..."
Janeway smiled. "Well congratulations Neelix. What do you need?"
"I can't keep her out of the kitchen. She's taken to greeting the diners and she's such a flirt. She talks to everybody."
Kathryn laughed. "They're all like that. Charlie has taken to bossing the crew around..." She had to laugh at how he had twittered at Tom through-out the staff meeting that morning. Tom hadn't confessed to anything--but he sure had looked guilty of something.
Neelix didn't look very comforted by that thought, but what else could she say. Tavians chatted with everybody. And somehow they could get around even a locked door.
"Yes, Captain. He was studying star charts in stellar. I passed Sam Wildman on my way here."
"Star charts?" She glanced at Neelix with an incredulous look.
"I'm just repeating what Sam said." Neelix laughed.
She shook her head. "Is there anything else?"
"No Captain. I suppose I'll just have to adjust to the extra help." He turned and left. As the doors closed behind him, she thought she heard laughter coming from the bridge. Curious she stood and walked out to the bridge.
As soon as the crew saw her, there was an air of conspiratorial silence. She looked around, her eyes resting of Tom. He was trying very hard to not laugh. She turned and looked at Tuvok. If she had ever seen an amused look on any Vulcan he was definitely wearing one. She walked over to her chair and started to sit down.
"Captain!" Tom said loudly. She stopped and looked in her seat.
She stood and pinched her nose, doing a very poor job not to show the amusement on her face.
Charlie barely lifted his head to glance at her, before laying his tail over his nose. He was curled up in her chair.
There were a few chuckles from around the bridge. She stood there, contemplating what would happen if she just picked him up and tossed him on the floor.
Shaking her head she turned to go back to her ready room.
"Captain," I'm picking up a ship on long range scanner," Harry announced.
"On screen." She moved to stand behind her chair, a hand resting on the back. A medium-sized cigar-shaped ship appeared. "Analysis."
Tuvok responded. "It's a lightly armed ship. There are several others just on the edge of our sensors. It is on an intercept course."
"Yellow alert. Shields up. Hail them."
"No response, Captain." Harry answered.
"Keep trying. Tom, plot a course away from them."
"Yes ma'am."
"Captain," Harry said. "They are hailing us."
"On screen." Janeway moved slightly, so she was now standing by the side of her chair. Charlie was now awake and sitting up.
Everybody looked at the screen as a heavy-set coppery-skinned alien with graying hair appeared. "I'm Second-Artsch Neriool. You are about to enter Vlostikian space I wish to speak to whomever is in charge."
Charlie looked up at the Captain and with a shrug curled up to go back to sleep.
"I'm Captain Kathryn Janeway of the Starship Voyager. Whom do we ask permission to cross your space?"
The alien lifted his eyebrows in a brief show of surprise. "I can grant you permission. What is your purpose in crossing our space?"
"To get to the other side." Kathryn ignored the snicker from Tom's direction. "We're traveling home."
"Permission granted. You might want to stop at Vlostik Prime to visit our markets."
"Thank-you."
"Neriool out." The screen returned to the star field.
Janeway looked down at Charlie. "Stand-down from yellow-alert, but keep the shields up. Charlie..." She didn't finish her sentence as Tom was giggling again. "Charlie, out of my chair." He ignored her completely. By now the only two who weren't laughing were Tuvok and Janeway. And she was about to. "Whatever...At least you didn't try to negotiate with the Second-Artsch."
#
#
Tom sat down by B'Elanna and took a bite of his dessert before he started laughing again. "It was priceless. To bad you weren't there." He looked around the dining hall, by now everybody had heard what had happened. "The alien wanted to speak to whomever was in charge. Charlie just gave Janeway a *you handle it* look, and went back to sleep.
#
#
Kathryn looked at Chakotay who was sitting on her couch holding the smallest of his Tavians. The others were about somewhere.
"It was a simple case of mutiny," she laughed. "Refusing a direct order. I swear, there are times when Charlie..." At the mention of his name, Charlie leaped off the table and ran over, chirping excitedly. "Charlie, has anybody told you, you are a pill." She reached down and picked him up, only Charlie didn't want to be held. He leapt out her arms and ran over to the computer. He was twittering, beseeching her to follow. She did. She looked at the display and started to laugh.
Chakotay moved to stand behind her and read what was so funny. "Well, no wonder Paris looked guilty. He is. I think we can safely assume everybody now knows about us." He looked at her and wrapped his arms around her. Charlie climbed up on them--balancing himself on both their shoulders.
They were looking at the results of Tom's betting pool on when the Captain and Commander would finally...
Charlie leapt down and landed on the keyboard, causing the display to disappear.
The Vlostik marketplace was incredible, Harry thought as he looked around. Baffled by the incredible number of merchants and stuff for sale. And the noise. The vendors were calling out, selling their wares in song and chant. He found himself caught up in the whirl of activity as he continued walking along the streets.
Maybe two blocks later he found himself admiring a medium sized brightly colored bird. He then looked at some other items the vendor had, but his attention was brought back to the bird.
"You like the Watopjia?" Harry turned quickly and found himself staring at a huge alien.
He gulped, "Yes. It's very pretty."
The alien merchant smiled. "The Watopjia is also very smart. Say something to it."
Harry looked at the bird. "Hello there."
"Hello there," the bird squawked.
Harry laughed, surprised. "Clever bird."
"Clever bird."
Harry laughed again, the alien smiled, "The Watopjia is an ideal pet. Clever, easy to care for. Ideal for one who travels..."
"What does it eat?"
"Seeds. He's yours for 32 Enos and I'll throw in a two-month seed supply."
Harry looked at the bird. "Twenty-five and a three month supply."
The alien grinned, showing his purple teeth. "Twenty seven and a two month supply of seeds."
"Done." Harry smiled as he took the bird cage and the three bags of seed. No way would he be able to carry all this. Looking around quickly, he requested a beam-up.
#
#
Kathryn sat in her ready-room drinking an exotic herbal tea blend she had found in the market the other day. The crew were thoroughly enjoying themselves. She laughed. Most of them had gone to the main market and indulged themselves. Probably by tomorrow evening, most of the quarters would be non regulation. She had announced earlier, as long as the decorations were properly secured and not dangerous. Tuvok had quirked an eyebrow, but hadn't said anything.
She looked down at the pile of PADDS and sighed. "Charlie, which of these do I really have to read."
The Tavian looked away from the will-of-a-wisp he was stalking and twittered. Then returned to his adversary. Carefully stalking the imaginary creature. Body even lower to the ground than normal, his ears pulled tight to his head, his tail twitching madly. Then he growled and sprang. At the sound of her laughter, he stopped and sat up and scratched his head with a hind foot.
"Well, I don't have the luxury of playing." She reached out and blindly grabbed a PADD. "Morale report." Neelix's reports usually were funny. She'd never figured out if he did it on purpose, nor was she going to. She settled back in her chair and started to read.
#
#
Tuvok stood at his station. The Tavians were an interesting security problem. They had access to everywhere. Somehow they found their way into high security areas on regular basis. They were obviously intelligent. And he sometimes wondered if perhaps they had learned how to access...That was an illogical thought...or was it...He looked down at the light gray Tavian that was asleep at his feet. He did nothing to promote the attachment. He did feed it and tolerate its presence. Unlike the others, he did not pet it or otherwise encourage it.
He looked back at his console. In the three weeks since the Tavians had come on board, there had twenty two reports of petty theft. The five comm badges had been found quickly. The stolen items were usually small and minor items. Lieutenant Paris's rank pip, Ensign Wildman's hair clip...
Tuvok was convinced the thief was one of the Tavians.
#
#
Chakotay looked at his trio, sitting on the floor by the replicator and chuckled. "Patience." He ordered their evening meal and stood there and watched them eat, before turning back to his guest.
"So, are you going to let him keep it?" He asked Kathryn.
"I can't say no, not with 182 Tavians running about. But considering the way Charlie was looking at it, I suggested Harry keep that bird in the cage."
Charlie stretched in her lap, and fell back asleep. "We need to talk," she said quietly, her right hand stroking Charlie's head.
Chakotay looked at her. "About?"
"Us." She smiled. "B'Elanna left this amongst her reports." She held up a PADD, he walked over and took it.
He looked at the PADD, then the wall. "Everybody knows..."
#
#
B'Elanna glared at her Tavian...*No, just that Tavian...* "You really are a pest," she growled. The Tavian sat on his haunches and cocked his head. She controlled the urge to laugh.
"Come on, you must be hungry." The Tavian followed her over to her replicator and watched patiently as she ordered the Tavian Diet Chow. "I should give you a name. I can't keep calling you it." She bent down to scratch it's head as she placed the bowl on the floor.
"My, my. This is quite the domestic scene.
She turned and glared at Tom. "Didn't you learn what a door chime is for?
"Of course. But it is so much more interesting to use my access codes."
"You're a pig. I wonder why I even put up with you."
The stunned hurt look that crossed his face was too much. She started to laugh. After a couple of seconds he joined in. They were joined by the joyful twittering of Cassandra and B'Elanna's unnamed Tavian...
The gossip at dinner was about three subjects: Harry's bird--no one could pronounce the name--so it had been nicknamed Wati; the ongoing romance/affair between the Captain and First Officer; and why was Tuvok's Tavian prowling the corridors of the ship...
"I saw her in engineering this morning. She cornered Joe's and the Delaney's Tavians." B'Elanna grinned. Hers had quietly slipped out without being noticed.
Tom laughed at the image. "You should have seen her last night at Sandrine's. And I thought being chewed out by the Captain was bad." This time Harry joined in with the laughter.
"I wonder if she is helping Tuvok look for our petty thief..." Harry looked a little embarrassed. He had not been adopted by a Tavian--that was the reason he had chosen the bird a week earlier. Both Tom and B'Elanna laughed.
Neelix looked out of the kitchen and briefly wondered what was going on. The sound of loud twittering filled the kitchen as the light gray Tavian communicated with several Tavians, including Neelix's. The mess hall quieted as all the diners looked toward the source of the noise.
Kathryn entered the mess hall and grinned. Charlie had been walking beside her, immediately ran over to find out what was going on. The group of Tavians silenced.
The Captain walked over to Tom's table. "What's going on?"
"We have no idea. Though I think Lieutenant Tuvok's Tavian has been investigating..." Harry stopped talking with a grunt, when B'Elanna kicked him in the knee.
Kathryn watched the light gray Tavian chirp madly and lash her tail. Finally the little creature turned and looked at her human audience. Kathryn looked at B'Elanna. She would have sworn the creature had bowed.
#
#
The Watopjia, Harry had decided, hated the cage. It would squawk furiously, until he let it out. So he only caged it when he wasn't in his quarters.
He stood there and admired his bird. The merchant had said he...but Harry really wasn't sure what sex it was.
It was clever and an excellent mimic. Wati could say, 'Harry, Harry' just like Tom. In fact the first time it had, Harry had jumped and looked around his quarters before realizing it had been the bird. It also did a reasonable Captain. Somehow it had learned her voice two days earlier when it had escaped from his quarters. He hadn't told anybody about either event...
The bird winged over and landed on Harry's shoulder. "Wonderful..." This time it sounded just like Jenny Delaney. Harry grinned as he remembered how Wati had learned her voice.
#
#
Kathryn looked at her dinner companion and smiled. A soft, suggestive smile. He grinned back at her and handed her a bouquet of flowers.
"They're lovely." She stood on tip-toe and kissed her First Officer.
He looked around. "Where's Charlie?"
"He disappeared about an hour ago. Your entourage is missing too."
"Maybe they realize we want to be alone." He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her. She responded in kind. One or both of them muttered something about 'a late dinner,' before they made their way to her bedroom.
#
#
Tom sat at the nav-console and grinned. It had been a very enjoyable night. Stifling a yawn, he amended that thought by tacking on *but exhausting.* He looked up when the turbo-lift doors opened and the Captain stepped out. He made a mental note, that Janeway had the same *contented* look B'Elanna had been wearing when he'd left her quarters an hour ago. "Good morning, Captain."
"Tom." She held back a grin at the silly expression the pilot was wearing. "I'll be in my ready-room." She looked around the bridge.
#
#
Kathryn stepped through the doors and stopped. Her ready-room was a mess. Quickly she tapped her comm-badge and summoned Tuvok. He entered about five seconds later.
Together they started sifting through the several small piles of *stuff.* Several spoons Neelix had reported missing, several rank pips, some rank bars, a wrench...
"My missing brooch," Kathryn exclaimed picking up a small flower pin her mother had given her years ago. It had disappeared one evening in Chakotay's quarters.
"Captain, it looks like the petty-thief has returned the missing items.
She agreed. "Compare the items to the missing-item reports and return everything..."
"Captain, we should analyze the items, do a DNA residue scan. We need to find out who stole the items..."
There was a quiet twittering from a corner. Both officers glanced at the three Tavians. "Hello Charlie...Cassandra..." Tuvok hadn't given his a name.
Cassandra tentatively stepped forward, her tail under her legs, her head practically dragging on the floor. Kathryn looked at Tuvok. He was wearing a very puzzled expression. "I would say that we know who the guilty party is." Kathryn looked sternly at Cassandra...*How does one punish a Tavian anyway,* she thought. Charlie wrapped himself around her legs, then leapt up on her desk. He twittered quietly. "I think the Tavian's have taken care of her...I don't think we need to make this general knowledge..." Though if Cassandra continued to look so miserable, everybody would know in fifteen minutes.
Tuvok quirked an eyebrow and looked at the light-gray female. "Most interesting." His Tavian quirked an eyebrow in return, then proceeded to give herself a bath.
Janeway controlled her impulse to laugh. "Use my ready-room to return the items, Lieutenant." She grabbed the PADDS containing the morning reports. "I'll work in your office."
#
#
Tom was mortified. He stared at Cassandra who had spent the entire day in a corner in his quarters. "Cassandra." He felt like a disappointed parent. "Cassandra, how could you..."
She just sat there--she didn't even turn to look at him.
Most of the missing items had been found in the ready-room and quietly returned. It hadn't taken long for everybody to know that Tom's Tavian had been responsible.
She looked so miserable he finally relented. "Cassie," he said softly. "Come here. I'll be the first to forgive you." He walked over and picked her up. She twittered happily.
#
#
Chakotay looked at his trio. "I really should name you." He had been searching for the past month for suitable names. Somebody had suggested the Three Musketeers...Except there actually had been four.
The names he'd tried had been ignored by his three females. He would say the names, they would give him a dirty look and go back to sleep.
He smiled. "Okay girls, how about Rikki, Tikki, and Tavi?"
The threesome looked up at him and chirped. The littlest one flew off the couch and ran about the room and leapt into his arms. "But who is who?"
#
#
Tuvok sat meditating in his darkened quarters, fully aware that his gray Tavian was quietly sitting behind him. "It is illogical for you to continue without a name. T'Psu was a famous judge."
B'Elanna sat on her couch petting her black Tavian. She smiled and leaned back. She was completely relaxed and unaware that Tom was not asleep.
Tom had been observing her for several minutes. He smiled, B'Elanna would take a Bat'leth to him if she suspected that he was watching. He had suspected that--despite her protestations to the contrary--that she was now willing to be adopted by...He wondered if she had finally given it a name. Even Tuvok had finally named his.
Cassandra sat at his feet, still sulking. She had become a recluse in the 2 days since being unmasked as Voyager's thief...
The lights started to blink as the announcement came over the intercomm system for all senior staff to report to the bridge. As the message ended the ship shuddered and rolled. Tom ran back into the bedroom and grabbed his shoes, while B'Elanna stood, leaving an unhappy Tavian chirping angrily on the floor.
The Captain glanced quickly at Tom as he entered the bridge. She then looked at the view screen. "Target the engines," she ordered, as Hargrove brought the ship in for another pass.
Tom studied the ship and data as he waited for an opportunity to relieve the Ensign at the conn. The alien ship wasn't particularly big--just half the size of Voyager, but it was heavily armored. Tom quickly read what had happened as Voyager shuddered from another blast.
The unknown alien had appeared suddenly--apparently it had been cloaked--ignored Voyager's hails; then, without warning, had attacked.
"Shields are at sixty-seven percent." Tuvok called out as the aliens fired again.
"Ensign," she called out to Hargrove, "Plot a course out of here..."
Seven more ships decloaked, effectively pinning Voyager. One of the new ships fired at Voyager.
"Captain, shields are down," Tuvok said. "We are being boarded."
Janeway nodded. It would be hand to hand combat as they fought to regain their ship. "Implement Operation Nag." Then lights dimmed completely. She tapped thhe comm-badge. Nothing.
There was a loud twittering at her feet, "I don't have time now Charlie..." She looked down at the Tavian, then at Chakotay. She looked at her Tavian, his fur was erect and his tail held straight up. He bared his teeth and growled. "Go for it Charlie..." He sprang into action, chirping madly. "Tuvok, what systems are on-line..."
"Just the environmental control, and primary computer functions."
"Prepare to defend the bridge." She glanced at Tuvok who began assigning the bridge crew to key points. She pulled her compression-phaser-rifle out from under her chair and did a quick check. She moved to where she had a direct line of fire on the turbo-lift doors.
#
#
B'Elanna was fussing in engineering. Most systems were down except environmental and some others. She had assigned half her crew on restoring key systems and the others to defending engineering.
Engineering would be one of the areas to be targeted first, she thought as she looked at her warp core. She felt something move between her feet and nearly jumped. "Qu'vatlh. What do you want now!" Her black Tavian looked extremely agitated, but then so was she...
He chirped and growled at her. She looked around quickly, the other engineers were busy with their tasks. "Do you want to help???" She grinned evilly. "Just don't stink the place up...Please." The black Tavian chirped (in acknowledgement, B'Elanna wondered) and ran off. She noticed five other Tavians follow after him. "All right everybody." She announced. "Remember we are three-hundred-and-thirty-one against who knows how many. And I don't think these invaders realize we have the extra help.
There was a scream outside the doors, followed by another. Then the faint, but pungent odor of angry Tavian seeped into engineering. "Vorik, work on re-establishing air-filtration systems." She returned to trying to re-establish communication...
#
#
Tuvok looked up from the tricorder. "I'm detecting two squads of ten each approaching. The first are in the turbo-lifts. The second are in the corridor on the port side." He shifted the placement of personnel to account for the threat.
"And the Tavians..." Tom asked from the conn. He'd been assigned there and given carte-blanche in maneuvering the ship. A little difficult at the moment--with no control. He fingered his phaser.
"I'm not able to detect them. Hmm this is curious. The aliens in the corridor are firing..."
The faint smell of angry Tavian oozed into the bridge. "Not too much now, Charlie." Janeway whispered. The only person who heard her was Chakotay who smiled quickly.
There was a small twang as the viewscreen activated. Startled everybody turned to look at it. It was from sick-bay. The alien standing there was humanoid--with a large nose and a pair of deep purple eyes--staring out from a gray face. He was dressed in a silver and teal uniform.
"We exist. Ackemar Rarians. Proffer your vessel in homage."
"I'm Captain Kathryn Janeway..."
"Femine-gender of species not sanctioned to communicate."
"What the..." She looked at Chakotay then back at the screen. "I am..."
"Femine-gender of species not sanctioned to communicate," the alien repeated. "Raria necessitate vessel in homage."
Kathryn looked at Chakotay. "I think they want our ship." He nodded. She angrily looked at the screen. "We will not..."
"Femine-gender of species not sanctioned to communicate."
Chakotay looked at Kathryn and put his finger to his lips as he turned and spoke to the screen. "I am Commander Chakotay of the Starship Voyager..."
The alien motioned with his hand. "Vessel is reparation for encroaching on Raria."
"We didn't know. We will leave immediately." Chakotay looked quickly at Janeway, who nodded.
"Not affirmative. Vessel in homage."
There was a sound from the science station as Wati squawked and flew to Harry. The young ensign groaned as he removed the bird from his shoulder and placed it on the ops console. His attention returned to the lifts which were just starting to open.
"I should warn you, if you do not leave this ship immediately...You will never leave." Chakotay spoke quietly.
The alien laughed. The screen went dark as the aliens exited the lifts. Firing around the bridge. Four others joined in the fight--the remnants of the group in the corridor.
Janeway looked at Chakotay who nodded. She looked around quickly..."Computer activate self destruct. Set for one minute authorization, Janeway omega two sigma." There was chirp as the computer acknowledged and started counting down.
The leader of the alien squad looked around, then held up his hand. Both sides stopped firing The translator didn't pick-up what he said, but a couple of seconds later, the screen flickered and the alien leader re-appeared on the screen.
"Raria disengage. Vessel never-the-less homage." The screen darkened and the aliens left the bridge.
Janeway sighed with relief as she ordered the self-destruct countdown halted. "Mr. Tuvok, let me know when they have left." Without communication and most other functions, it would be difficult.
"Yes, Captain."
She looked at Harry, who was trying to move his bird off the console. Wati kept flying back. "Ensign Kim, confine that bird to your quarters, then I want a complete analysis of...the *Raria* vessels and cloaking device. *This vessel* is not homage to anybody." She wasn't sure if the aliens were Rarians, or if that was the ship's name, but right now she didn't care. "Enter these aliens as Rarians, until we learn otherwise." She smiled at her First Officer and walked back to her chair. "Mr. Paris, as soon as we have warp drive, get us out of here."
"Yes, ma'am." Tom sat at the console tapping his fingers.
There was a chirp and the lights came back on. Everybody blinked their eyes several times to adjust.
"All the Rarians have left the ship," Tuvok said a second later. "Two minor injuries. All the Tavians are fine."
"Good. Stand-down from red-alert. Maintain yellow for the next two hours. Senior staff meeting in two hours. And vent the ship..."