Warning: Mind Control, ship take-over. Vorik...
Disclaimer: Paramount owns Star Trek. I have no clue who holds the copyright to Gigapets (a creature worthy of being smashed) and the inspiration for this story. I guess there are a couple of TNG episodes too, though I wasn't consciously thinking of them when I started this one.
Chakotay smiled as he made his way to transporter room one, nodding quickly to those he passed. The quiet, familiar background hum of Voyager barely audible above the other sounds of people talking and working.
"Commander." Tuvok didn't relax his vigil at the sight of Voyager's first officer walking toward him.
"Is there a problem?" Chakotay asked with a hint of alarm in his voice.
"No sir. Captain Loic is waiting for you." He inclined his head slightly toward the closed door.
"Ahhh. B'Elanna just reported that the repairs to their ship have been completed."
"I am sure that the Inegians will be happy to hear that," Tuvok replied in a dry monotone.
Chakotay had to smile. Since rescuing the Inegian ship sixteen hours earlier, the aliens had simpered their way around the ship--irritating everybody--including Tuvok. Not that the Vulcan would admit to it.
"I look forward to having them off our ship," Chakotay said quietly as the doors slid opened. He smiled politely at the waiting Inegians. "Captain Loic?"
"We are ready to depart." The alien wiped his heavy brow. "I look forward to the cooler temperatures of my own ship...Not that I'm complaining." Voyager's standard temperature was too warm for the aliens.
"I understand completely." Chakotay nodded as he shook the Inegian Captain's hand. "I'm glad we could help."
The Inegian nodded, his smile showing his toothless mouth. "I'm just glad you heard our distress call and were able to help. I wish we could convince you to come to our planet..." He looked around Voyager's transporter room. "Your ship and story are fascinating." He ran his webbed hand over the transporter controls.
The female Inegian aide approached the pair and whispered something in her Captain's ear. He nodded and gave her a brief order. He turned back to Chakotay. "I've been informed that our computers have been rebooted and have passed inspection. Thank you again Commander Chakotay." He stopped and gave the Vulcan a disdainful stare. "And Commander Tuvok. Now, we must be on our way."
Chakotay tapped his comm-badge and ordered that all away-team personnel still on the alien ship be transported back to Voyager.
#
#
Tuvok looked up from his report when the ship slowed. He hadn't been notified of a speed reduction. "Most curious," he thought as he started to check the computer.
Voyager had been traveling a warp 8.2 to make up for time lost helping the Inegians. They were scheduled to rendezvous with the Captain and Lieutenant Paris in 12.35 hours.
He started to reach for his comm-badge.
"Commander Tuvok, please report to engineering," Seven's voice said with an air of authority.
Tuvok quirked an eyebrow, but left anyway. Seven had sounded concerned.
He was feeling uneasy--uncertain by the time he'd reached the turbo-lift. The ship didn't sound right.
The Vulcan paused near a terminal. It beckoned him closer with a plaintive sound, that turned to a low growl as he calmly walked away.
#
#
Janeway placed her hands on her hips and looked at the shuttle's viewscreen. "Still no response from Voyager?"
"No Captain." Tom answered as he tapped a few commands. "Nothing on the short range sensors, widening scan."
"Scan for a warp signature." She started to sit down in the co-pilot's chair, but stopped: she was too restless and worried for that.
And where the hell was her ship!
She leaned over the console without even looking at her pilot. "Any sign?"
"No Captain." Tom no longer bothered to keep the concern out of his voice. "Hang on. Captain." He flicked a few switches. "This is strange."
Janeway closed her eyes confused by what he had found. "Set a course, red alert. Warp five." She reopened them and looked at the data. "Anything else on the sensors?"
"Negative Captain."
She sighed as she sat down. Her ship was drifting. "Captain Janeway to Voyager." There was only a hiss in response.
"Temperature scans indicate that the warp engines have been offline for half-a-day." He looked over at her. "Captain..."
"Lieutenant. Tom. Any life signs..." Her voice faded away as she contemplated the awful significance of her darkest thoughts.
"Too far away to tell. I should be able to do a scan in an hour," he said very quietly.
#
#
Tuvok studied Vorik as the younger Vulcan stood rigidly at attention. Both Vulcans ignored the other crewmembers who were wordlessly staring at their screens. "I was able to restart the thrusters. Ensign T'Pul and Seven are working on preventing further damage."
"Very good ensign..."
An ear-splitting scream reverberated through engineering. Both men jumped then focused their attention on the source of the yell. Tuvok walked over to B'Elanna. "Lieutenant? Is everything all right?"
"It died. It died." She said in a monotonic sob. Her fingers ran over the keyboard, as her sobs subsided. She ignored Tuvok.
"Lieutenant Torres, you need to concentrate on my voice..."
She was completely oblivious to her surroundings.
"Commander, this is the sixth time in the past seven hours that the Lieutenant has shouted out like that..."
Tuvok nodded. "She is part Klingon, her reactions would be...overly emotional." Both men turned their attention away from the half-Klingon engineer.
"Commander, the Captain? Their shuttle should be returning soon," Vorik said with a bit more concern than normal for a Vulcan.
"We have no evidence that they have not been infected. Until evidence suggests otherwise, we must assume the worst." He tapped his comm-badge. "Tuvok to Seven."
"Seven here. We are almost finished isolating the thrusters."
"Very good. Inform me when you are ready. I will be in the computer core."
#
#
"Captain, we're in sensor range." Tom nervously flicked a few switches. "There are life signs..." There was a long silence as they sought to find out how many.
Kathryn smiled slightly at the incoming data. "They're all alive...But why the hell is Voyager drifting?" She opened communications. "Captain Janeway to Voyager..."
Just static.
"Scan the ship for signs of an intruder. In phase, out of phase, that macrovirus..." Janeway stood there with her hands on her hips, staring.
"Nothing."
"Let me see..."
"Tuvok to shuttle..." His voice was barely audible through the static.
"Commander, what is going on?"
"It is {static} if {static} explain when you come aboard. I am opening docking bay two. Whatever you do, do not {static} computer."
"Commander?" There was just static for an answer. Janeway looked at Tom and nodded.
#
#
Janeway stepped off the shuttle and headed toward the computer. Tuvok had mentioned something about the computer...And she needed to know what was happening.
"Captain," Vorik said. "It would be advisable for you not to use the computer."
Janeway turned around quickly. Tom stood in the shuttle, also watching the young ensign.
"Ensign, report!" She said, her concern marked by the snap in her voice.
"Sir. It appears that most of the crew have been mesmerized by the computer."
Both returning officers stared at Vorik for a second before Janeway asked, "Mesmerized? What happened?"
"A computer algorithm has apparently attached itself to various subroutines. We..."
"We?" Tom asked.
"Commander Tuvok, Ensign T'Pul, Seven, and myself..."
"And the Doctor?" Janeway asked.
"We have not been able to access his program. Ensign T'Pul and Seven are working in sick-bay. Commander Tuvok is working on the computer core."
She stared hard at the ensign. "What is this algorithm?"
"A pet."
"A pet?" Paris and Janeway said simultaneously.
"Please explain." Janeway continued.
"The algorithm behaves like a virtual pet. It is very dependent on crew interaction. The crew must devote one-hundred-percent of their concentration to keeping it alive. Lieutenant Torres has the highest mortality rate." He said with a quick glance at Tom.
Janeway looked quickly at Tom, then back at Vorik. "And Commander Chakotay?"
"He is on the bridge. He too was affected." Vorik continued to stand stiffly at attention.
"Ensign, relax," Janeway said. "Has there been any attempt to try to free the crew?"
"We made several attempts when this condition was first identified. Before we lost the Doctor, he suggested we might be able to free members with a sensory overload."
Vorik actually looked uncomfortable Tom thought. "What kind of overload?" The pilot asked.
"The Doctor did not specify."
Tom smirked as he looked at Janeway, "Captain, permission to try to free B'Elanna."
"Not just yet. I want to know more about this *pet.*" She looked around the large cavernous room before refocusing on Vorik. "Are any of the computer-systems safely accessible?"
"No, sir...Captain." This time Vorik corrected himself. "Even the PADDs are affected..."
She acknowledged his information and effort, then motioned for Tom to join her. "We'll start my tour on the bridge. Tom."
#
#
It was strange walking the empty corridors and listening to the echoes of their own footsteps, Janeway thought as they entered the turbo-lift...No one was talking or moving. There was a quite noise coming from the computer; she didn't dare look but figured it was the pet...Or whatever. She decided the place was too quiet. "Tom?"
Paris smiled slightly, it seemed strange to be glad to hear a familiar voice amongst the incredible lack of voices. "Captain." The 'lift doors swished open.
At first glance, the bridge looked normal. Chakotay in her chair, reading something. Harry at his station. The others all looked hard at work. But as she studied them, she noticed that their eyes were focused on their terminals, they didn't blink...the only movement was their fingers on their consoles. She walked over to the First Officer. "Chakotay?"
No response.
"Chakotay," she said louder, shaking his shoulders.
Again nothing.
She controlled her curiosity to see what had entranced him and her crew...Whatever it was she wanted it eliminated...Torn from the computer and removed...living or dead. She felt her anger grow as she glanced around the bridge before heading back to the lift. Tom made one attempt to shake Harry to his senses before following the Captain.
He spoke only after the doors closed. "Spirits. It's so...peculiar." He couldn't quite put his confused thoughts into words, so settled on that simple phrase. Janeway just nodded.
She knew there was no point visiting every deck. The sickening silence and dead stares would be the same. They would meet with the others and find out more
"Peculiar," she echoed in a flat voice.
#
#
Seven studied the computer output, completely oblivious to the voracious pet that kept dying before her eyes. "Captain," she said without looking up. The echo of the sick-bay doors sliding closed reverberated in the otherwise quiet room.
"Anything?" Janeway asked not very hopefully.
"The quantities of virtual pets are increasing. I have noticed that some crew members are now maintaining three or more pets simultaneously. At the rate they are multiplying, I calculate the ship's computer will be completely overrun within twenty-one hours."
"Have you found a way to eliminate it?" Janeway said as she carefully avoided looking at the display.
"I have made several attempts. Presently we are working on minimizing access. We have built a fence around the systems that control the thrusters. We now have limited maneuverability."
"Limited indeed..." Tom said with a touch of bitterness. "Can you build a fence around other systems?"
"Indeed, Lieutenant, I am now trying to isolate environmental controls." She managed to sound insulted that he would think she wasn't trying.
"Of course," Janeway said quickly. "Can we poison them or something?"
"Captain?" Seven didn't even look up.
"Introduce a poison into the environment..." Janeway added. It was sometimes difficult to work with the newest member of the crew. Actually it was almost always impossible...
"Poison. A substance that kills or harms..."
"Is there some way we can kill or harm them?"
Seven thought for a second before responding. "Perhaps we can interrupt the feeding cycle...Unfortunately I do not understand the nuances of the program completely. Let me complete the fence and try."
"Very good, keep me informed." She looked at the young female Vulcan working at another terminal. "T'Pul."
"Captain?" The young Vulcan female turned her head to look at the Captain.
"Is it possible to adapt this fence to keep the computers in the shuttlecraft free?"
T'Pul glanced at Seven--who was busy--then back at the Captain. "I can attempt to do so, Captain."
"Very good, Tom... We seem to be useless..." Janeway was sorely tempted to look over Seven's shoulder...This not being able to do anything was driving her crazy.
"Captain," Seven said in her irascible monotone. "I find this situation interesting. The Inegian ship..." Both senior officers stared at her.
"What Inegian ship?"
"The one we assisted. They were having computer problems."
Tom asked, "What kind of problems?"
"Their system overloaded and went into an automatic shutdown." She continued her multitasking. "I have completed a fence around the environmental controls. We rebooted their computers. We were very precise in our protocols. We did not detect this virtual pet until five hours after they had left."
Tom shook his head as he processed the two bits of information, then looked at the Captain. "A trap?"
She nodded, "It's a possibility, and considering our present state, we'd be helpless." Janeway looked at Seven. "Isolate weapon systems, shields, and targeting."
"Captain, it is..." Seven stopped speaking at the Captain's icy glare. "Yes, Captain." She would continue with her attempts to study the creature.
T'pul turned to face the group as Vorik entered. "Captain," she said. "I have been able to isolate your shuttlecraft's computer. The other shuttle computers have already been infected."
The Captain frowned, then her face brightened slightly. "We can experiment with them. Use the contaminated shuttles to experiment with ways to destroy the virus. Ensign Vorik, work with Seven to bring the sensors on line. I want continuous scans as soon as possible."
"Very good Captain," Seven said without looking up. "I would recommend that Ensign T'pul work on isolating the feeding subroutines. When I finish here, I will proceed to the bridge."
Janeway rolled her eyes slightly, but didn't say anything. Now was not the time to discuss chain-of-command with the young woman, again. She glared slightly at Tom, who quickly wiped the smirk off his face.
Tuvok entered. "Captain."
"What happened?" she asked.
"We are not sure. It started after the Inegians left."
"So Seven says. She's working on building a fence around critical systems. The Doctor?"
"He disappeared several hours into the emergency. His program was damaged by the virus." Tuvok stood at parade rest.
"He said a distraction might break the *spell.* What kind of distraction?" Janeway asked--half fearing the answer.
"He suggested a physical interaction might work best. Early attempts were not successful..." Tuvok looked slightly uncomfortable.
Tom grinned, "Captain?"
She nodded, catching the drift of his plan. "We aren't much use here. Tom, just be careful..."
His grin broadened. "Always Captain." He paused and looked around. "But I think I'll find a tissue regenerator..."
"Lieutenant," Tuvok said. "Until the victim is free from the computer, their visual contact with the creature cannot be broken." He quirked an eyebrow. "It seemed a logical action at the time. Unfortunately the victim went into convulsions that disappeared once visual contact was restored."
Tom nodded, then with a great deal of bravado waved a tissue regenerator, "Wish me luck."
Janeway almost laughed.
"Captain, it might be best if you are stationed outside engineering in case Lieutenant Torres over-reacts," Tuvok said with a straight face.
"Yes it might be," she said as the two of them followed the eager pilot. "Unfortunately this is not a method we can use with every member of the crew. I don't see Seven being successful at this kind of distraction. We could use Harry's knowledge of the computer."
"Ensign Kim is a logical choice, but I agree with your assessment. There is, however, Commander Chakotay," Tuvok said without looking at her as they stepped into the turbo-lift.
She stopped suddenly with a slight gasp. "I...umm..." She looked at him.
He quirked an eyebrow as he calmly said, "It is logical to believe that this method will work best for..." He didn't finish the sentence.
She glared at him as the turbo-lift door closed behind them.
#
#
Tom smiled slightly as he studied the object of his mission. He carefully noted her pursed lips, her furrowed brow, her tongue partially sticking out in perfect concentration.
Well, almost perfect concentration. He almost laughed when B'Elanna screamed, "It died!"
"Timing's everything." He stood behind her and wrapped his arms around her shoulders and leaned down to nibble at her neck. Very carefully avoiding looking at the computer, he started caressing her and whispering to her.
#
#
Kathryn stood silently just outside of engineering. What if this didn't work...What if it did?
A shriek followed by a thud interrupted her thoughts, and she dashed into engineering.
Tom was lying on the floor, holding his hand over his bleeding ear. B'Elanna was kneeling beside him, trying to treat the wound.
"Tom, I'm sorry. Here..." She blushed at the sight of the Captain.
"Tom, let her treat your ear," Janeway ordered.
Tom rolled his eyes in mock horror. "Well, it's the least she can do after biting it..."
"Really! It's just a scratch." B'Elanna said as she forced his hand away. "Now lie still." She quickly ran the regenerator over the wound.
Kathryn watched, trying not to laugh. "I see it works."
Tom stood while rubbing his ear. "I'd say." He took B'Elanna's hand. "Am I forgiven?"
"I'll have to think about it." She looked around as her head cleared. "I'm just a little confused...And hungry." Her stomach growled.
"Tom will fill you in, while you find something to eat. Then report to Sick-bay. Considering everything, you're going to have to work with Seven...She'll be in charge..."
B'Elanna closed her eyes and gritted her teeth to avoid saying something.
"And Tom...We'll need to feed everybody..."
"Aye Captain, I'll see what I can scrounge up in the dining hall."
#
#
Seven looked up quickly when B'Elanna entered sick-bay. "Lieutenant, I want you to go over these subroutines." She handed B'Elanna a PADD. "I have constructed a fence around it. No pets can enter."
B'Elanna clamped her mouth close as she grabbed the PADD. She looked at the data for several minutes before she allowed herself to speak. "What exactly am I looking for?
Seven didn't acknowledge the hostility in the Klingon's voice as she continued working. "You are looking for a way of killing them; to poison them somehow."
B'Elanna rolled her eyes and moved to the doctor's desk. A half dozen Klingon expletives passed through her mind. "Good poisons...Strychnine or ariasanite is slow and cruel..." The engineer whispered to the microscope as she sat down. # ###
Tom studied the mess in the kitchen--a day's worth of dirty dishes. "Gees Neelix..." He looked at the hapless Talaxian frozen in front of the replicator staring hopelessly at his gluttonous pet.
Tom sighed. There was no avoiding the fact that the pots needed to be washed before he could even consider feeding almost 150 very hungry people. He quickly finished the sandwich he'd made and grabbed the gloves.
He started singing as he reached for the first pot. Trying to block the peculiar odor that came from the interior, he took a deep breath and started to scrub.
#
#
Kathryn looked around the bridge and shook her head. She was just postponing her mission again. She let herself wonder at the strangeness of seeing familiar faces staring at their monitors oblivious to their surroundings. She closed her eyes to regain her determination to carry through with her plan. "It isn't as if they would even realize what is happening," she muttered.
Chakotay was still in her chair...a prisoner of their visitor. She knew her plan would work--the damage to Tom proved that...She smiled at the thought of the pilot's torn ear.
"Hello Commander," she whispered into his ear. "You there?" She leaned over him from behind. How often had she dreamed of doing this...Self-consciously she looked around. No one was paying any attention.
Continuing, she ran her hands along his broad, muscular shoulders down his arms. Still no response. "Chakotay, it's me...Kathryn. Please come back to me...I mean us." She slid her hands back up his arms and started caressing his face. She gently traced the pattern of his tattoo...
"Damn, it Commander. Acknowledge my presence would you." She shook her head. She moved to his side and slid into his lap. "Chakotay, please..." There was no response. She leaned over carefully--trying not to block his view--and kissed him. "This would be much easier with you conscious..." She closed her eyes for several seconds. Easier yes...but not easier...She broke the kiss. It would also be easier if she could straddle him and not have to worry about that *pet.*
"There are a lot of things we've never talked about," she whispered. She stopped. He might remember what she said...She again carefully leaned in and kissed him, this time with greater intensity.
She pulled back quickly when he shifted. "Chakotay?"
No response, except for a muted gargle from the terminal. She didn't dare look--but hoped it was his *pet* dying. That meant his concentration was wavering. This time she didn't worry about the creature, she wrapped her arms around him pulled herself tight to him. "Come back," she whispered as she kissed him. Her whole body was aware of him--even if he wasn't aware of her. She started to pull away as she realized that in the process of distracting him, she'd become very aroused herself.
This time he did respond--just not the way she had hoped. He was still quiet, but his body was very conscious of her position. She hesitated a milli-second before kissing him again. This time she was positive the spell was breaking.
"Hello?" He didn't say anything--but she saw a flicker of recognition in his eyes. She decided with one last kiss he would be free. She again placed her lips on his.
She jumped when she felt his hands on her waist.
He was looking at her, a wisp of a smile on his face.
"Welcome back, Commander."
He shook his head as if to clear the fogginess of his mind before he spoke. "Captain...Kathryn?" He didn't remove his hands and she didn't move. They sat staring at each other for several seconds before she brought her head down to meet his.
This kiss lasted until both needed air. They broke apart but kept their faces only a few inches apart. He had wrapped his hand around her shoulders and started to pull her closer.
Kathryn would have willing surrendered to her own desires, but..."Chakotay, we can't...not here...not now..."
"Later..." Puzzled he looked around as he released her. They were on the bridge...He started to look at his computer, but she grabbed his head and turned it away.
"No. Come. I'll explain on our way to sick-bay." She climbed off his lap and held out her hand. "Whatever you do, don't look at the computers..." He took her hand and followed her toward the lift. Janeway controlled the urge to laugh at the confusion she saw on his face.
"No..." He rubbed his eyes. "Computers?" He asked as they stepped into the turbolift.
#
#
Tom controlled his urge to grin when he noticed Chakotay enter the mess hall. "Ah a volunteer. You can dry."
Chakotay leaned over the counter and said with a smirk. "In your dreams, Lieutenant."
Tom smiled as he turned back to the sink. "My guess is yours will be pretty good."
Chakotay shook his head then quirked an eyebrow. "How's your ear?"
Tom blushed, then laughed as his hand rubbed the now healed wound. He grunted as he made a dramatic show of washing.
Chakotay smiled. "I'll see what there is in the fridge. Keep up the good work Lieutenant."
Tom growled slightly as he tossed the soaking wet towel over the cupboard door to dry. He was sorely tempted to just turn on the automatic cleaner--pet be damned. Instead he plunged his hands back into the luke-warm water.
#
#
B'Elanna grumbled as she rubbed her eyes. The numbers were starting to swim before her eyes. She stood and started to walk.
Seven looked up quickly before looking back at the terminal. "Is there a problem Lieutenant?"
"No problem, I just have to take a break." B'Elanna headed toward the doors.
"That is inefficient."
B'Elanna turned to face the young woman. Her brow furrowed in anger. "I'm tired...The data is starting to blur. I've been working on this for over three hours--and before that I was a victim of the damn things. And you want to talk about inefficient. I am going to take a walk. I am going to go to the mess-hall to get something to eat. I am then going to take a shower and change. Then I will return and continue with this." She looked challenging at Seven, who wasn't even looking at her.
"That is unacceptable..."
"Deal with it." B'Elanna walked out the door.
Seven frowned but didn't lose her concentration as she continued her work.
Again she didn't look up when the doors opened and the Captain spoke. "Report."
"I have made progress isolating the defensive systems. Lieutenant Torres was working on a way of killing the virtual pets."
Janeway looked around. "Good, where is she?"
Seven spoke in a clipped monotone, "She is taking a...break."
Janeway smiled slightly. "Sensible. I'll speak to her when she gets back."
"Captain, a break is ineffective..."
Janeway almost laughed. "Even you need to regenerate."
"Yes, but not until we complete the task." She looked up, the confusion and irritation clearly written on her face.
Kathryn closed her eyes briefly before speaking. "We can make mistakes when we are tired."
"Have you taken a break?" Seven asked curiously.
"Yes, I had something to eat and changed."
"And now you will not make a mistake?"
"I'm human."
Seven cocked her head slightly. "You are a curious species. So many defects, yet you have survived."
"We do and will survive," the Captain said with a laugh.
#
#
B'Elanna smiled as Tom brought out a bowl of the soup he and Chakotay had created. Gods she was tired. Her attempts to stifle a yawn did not go unnoticed by Tom as he sat down beside her. "How you doing?"
"Wonderful," she said in a voice laced with sarcasm. "Is it any good?" She asked cautiously as she lifted a spoonful to her mouth.
Tom shrugged. "The Commander made it. I just cut things up."
"Then I'm sure it is edible." She smiled slightly as she put the spoon in her mouth, then swallowed the savory liquid. "Not bad. I'd say you have a career as chief vegetable peeler..."
Tom grinned, as he raised his hands in mock surrender. "I just imagined I was chopping up the little virtual pets." He laughed. "How's it going?"
She yawned. "Slow. I have a couple of ideas. But the timing is critical...We need to distract the crew at the same time we start killing the pests. They are quite adaptable."
"It's so damn frustrating...doing nothing but the dishes and dinner."
"It's not much better having to work with...Seven. She's so bloody arrogant..."
"Be..."
She smiled. "I know, she tries--it's just most of the time I'd rather strangle her than work with her." She closed her eyes in a combination of frustration and exhaustion. She opened them when she felt Tom's hands on her shoulders. "The soup was good. Thanks...I'd better return to work..."
"If you need anything..." Tom offered with a seductive smile.
B'Elanna rolled her eyes. "Perhaps later ." She stretched sensuously, smiling evilly at his eager look, then carried her tray to the sink. "Helm-boy, there are dirty dishes...Clean them." She only laughed at Tom's single word response.
#
#
B'Elanna glanced at Seven, but didn't say anything as she sat down at her station.
"A half hour was a sufficient break?" Seven asked without watching B'Elanna pick up a PADD.
"No."
Seven cocked her head slightly, "Perhaps you would like a longer one. We would not like for you to make a mistake."
B'Elanna rolled her eyes and swore quietly. "I've had several ideas," she said changing the subject. "If the Inegian computers were infected...After they were rebooted they showed no sign of the virtual pet?"
"That is correct." Seven walked over to the door to the Doctor's office.
B'Elanna glanced at her before looking back at the PADD. "I was thinking that shutting the computer off might rid of us the creatures."
The Borg-woman shook her head. "You might wish to experiment with a shuttlecraft computer before trying it on..."
"Of course I would..." B'Elanna grumbled something to herself, not caring if Seven's enhanced ears picked up the words. "I have no idea how this will effect the crew."
Seven cocked her head in thought. "A distraction might help break the link. Perhaps an auditory overload?"
B'Elanna nodded, she had to admit Seven's idea had possibility. "Can we make the necessary adjustments?"
"I can work with Commander Tuvok to adapt the communication systems to emit a high pitched sound. I will notify the Captain of our intentions."
"Good, I'll be in the shuttle bay."
#
#
"Good afternoon, Lieutenant Torres," T'Pul said. "We have isolated the computer in the shuttlecraft.
"I want to see what happens if we shut the computer off," B'Elanna said. "Are there any pets still in the computer?"
"Yes, Lieutenant. They are in a dormant state."
B'Elanna glanced at him curiously. "Dormant?"
"They are without crew interaction..."
"Of course," B'Elanna glanced at T'Pul. "Shut this shuttlecraft's computer off and monitor the creatures."
#
#
Janeway leaned over the counter and smiled. "How's it going?"
"We've done all right," Tom said. "If I never see another pot it will be too soon."
She chuckled, "We're holding a staff meeting here in five minutes."
"And you would like food served." Tom growled. "Please remember I'm a pilot..."
"And a damn fine one. And you should have a ship to fly soon."
"I'll tell the commander..."
"Tell me what?" Chakotay said from inside the walk-in freezer.
"Staff meeting," the Captain answered.
Chakotay poked his head out of the kitchen. "Does this mean you've found a solution?"
"B'Elanna and Seven think so."
"Great." Chakotay nodded toward Neelix. "I look forward to being First Officer again not chief cook." He grinned as he pulled some bowls from the cupboard. "And of course, later..."
She looked at him curiously, then shrugged. "They've successfully killed the virtual pets in the shuttlecraft..."
"Great." Tom's smile brightened when B'Elanna entered.
"Ah, if it isn't the bottle-washer." The engineer smiled at him. "The others are coming. Here, you will need these." She handed everybody a pair of ear-plugs. "We're all set."
"Good." Janeway said.
Vorik's voice interrupted. "Captain Janeway, I have been able to bring long-range sensors on line. I am detecting two Inegian ships at ten-thousand kilometers."
"I'm on my way." She looked at Tom and Chakotay. "We'll have to be ready to take control of the ship." She tapped her comm-badge on their way out to summon everyone to battle stations.
#
#
Seven was waiting on the bridge when they arrived. "Captain. We are ready to begin."
Janeway glanced at Chakotay, the back at Seven. While the computer was down, they would be vulnerable. But right now even with the computer on-line they were vulnerable. She tapped her comm-badge. "Bridge to engineering. Are you ready?"
"Aye Captain," B'Elanna's voice responded.
Janeway inserted her earplugs and switched on her wrist light, "Begin." She watched as Seven entered the final commands, then the lights went out. They had two hours before life-support became critical--she hoped that it wouldn't take that long.
Then the wail began. Even with the ear-plugs, it was annoying. The high pitched sound would definitely cause a lot of headaches, Janeway thought. She had one already. She glanced at Seven. The young woman was concentrating on her task, and didn't see the Captain's questioning look. It was still difficult doing nothing. She couldn't even scan for the Inegians or contact engineering for a progress report.
Instead she sat down in her chair and tried to get comfortable. Instinctively she looked at Chakotay. He smiled at her, then eyed her suggestively.
And worse, actually had the gall to laugh at her blush. Janeway tried to frown at him...Her mock glare of reprimand had no effect on her First Officer...But it did work on Voyager's curious pilot who had been studying them. She watched Tom turn around and stare at the dead console. Janeway almost laughed at the pilot's wicked grin. She didn't waste time on sympathy as she turned to look at Seven.
Chakotay leaned over and touched her arm. His eyes offered her reassurance. She nodded, but it wasn't reassuring. There were two Inegian ships--possibly more--out there...
She saw Tom stand up and move to the ops station. He knelt down beside the prone figure of Harry. He was talking, but the whine drowned out his words.
Harry sat up, a bizarre combination of pain and confusion on his face. He winced at the noise, then clasped his hands over his ears. Chakotay tapped her shoulder as he stood and pointed toward the tactical station.
She nodded. It was working. She stood and went to help Lieutenant Rollins at the conn.
He looked around and tried to talk, she motioned for him to be quiet. With the incredible whine in the background and now in her head, she just handed him a pair of earplugs.
She smiled in relief, everybody on the bridge was now conscious. She motioned for the six de-mesmerized crewmembers to come to the center of the room. They had prepared for this, by printing quick instructions on paper. Each of the six were given a bag of earplugs and sent to help the others understand what was happening.
She, Chakotay, Tom and Seven would remain on the bridge as they waited to restart the computer and quickly bring the ship back on line.
Five minutes later the piercing whine disappeared. Slowly Janeway removed the earplugs. The sound was still there...She closed her eyes...
"Captain?"
"Huh? What?" She turned quickly and tried to see who had spoken.
"Captain," Seven repeated. "We have thirty-five minutes left. I have scanned the computer. There has been a forty-five percent reduction in the number of virtual pets."
"Good job, Seven."
"It was Lieutenant Torres who suggested this method of killing the virtual pets." Seven said before returning to her work.
Janeway quirked an eyebrow, then strode over to her chair. "I hate this," she whispered as she sat down. Chakotay just nodded.
#
#
B'Elanna tapped her console, its blank screen teasing her. She turned quickly at the sound of a grate falling on the floor. "Welcome back to reality Harry."
Harry gave her an evil glare. "I've just crawled through half the Jeffries tubes."
She shrugged. "I need you to monitor the warp-core with Joe. We're going to bring it back on-line quickly."
"Very good. No rest for the weary..."
"Or the wicked." She turned and looked at her crew. "Fifteen minutes," she said unnecessarily. Everybody had been studying their chronometers. "And don't worry about food. Once we're clear, Lieutenant Paris has prepared a lovely meal."
"Don't scare us Lieutenant," an unknown voice said. "I'm hungry."
She laughed. "I won't." It was very comforting to hear voices, even in jest. She contemplated the blank screen as her chronometer showed only ten minutes left.
#
#
Seven flicked a switch. "Bringing the computer back on-line, Captain."
"Very good." It would be about seven minutes before they could do anything more.
Seven studied her tricorder, then her screen. "I am showing that the virtual pets have been eliminated."
"Excellent," Chakotay said. "Sensors?"
"Bringing them on-line now."
Janeway tapped her comm-badge. "Bridge to engineering. Status?"
"Captain," B'Elanna's voice said. "We have started the re-initialization process of the warp-core. We should have warp-capability in fourteen minutes. Impulse engines are on-line now."
Tom agreed. "Impulse engines are responding. Captain?"
"Maintain present location. Seven?" Janeway said as she stood.
"Sensors are on-line. I am showing two Inegian ships still at ten-thousand kilometers."
"Open hailing frequencies."
Chakotay worked furiously to establish the necessary links. "System is sluggish."
"There is damage in secondary communication processor. Rerouting now," Seven with an air of confidence. "Try again Commander."
He shook his head, but retried. "Hailing frequencies are open, Captain."
She nodded forcefully, "Inegian ships, this is Captain Kathryn Janeway of the Federation Starship Voyager. May we be of assistance?" *Again?* She mouthed. She heard Chakotay chuckle behind her.
The screen was blurry, but there was a definite shape of a humanoid. "Captain Janeway?"
"Yes. You are?"
"I am Captain Loic. I don't think we met." There was a lot of static.
Janeway glanced at Chakotay, who nodded. "No we wouldn't have. I was negotiating with the Whirerians. I presume there are no problems? Everything is still all right with your ship?"
"Fine..." The Inegian Captain looked confused. "And you...Is your ship all right?"
Janeway bit her lip. "We're fine. If everything is all right with your ship, we'll be continuing with our mission. Janeway out." When the screen went blank she did laugh slightly. "Terrible poker face."
"He did look disappointed."
"All this lovely technology just flying by. Seven, weapons and shields status?"
"Shields are on-line. Weapons will be in three minutes."
"Maintain yellow alert."
The screen flickered, and a clearer picture of their surroundings appeared. The two Inegian ships were still sitting there.
"I don't think they believed us," Janeway said. "Tom, set a course two-four-zero-point-three full impulse."
"Aye Captain."
#
#
Janeway leaned her head back against the lift wall and sighed. It had been a long 12 hours, but it finally looked like it was over. The Inegian ships had stopped shadowing them an hour ago.
She looked at the PADD Seven had handed her a few minutes earlier and sighed again. She'd always liked how Tuvok wrote his reports. Concise, precise, accurate, detailed. Yet they were never dull. Seven's...read like she functioned. Arrogant, concise, and so...There was no polite way of putting it...and so boring.
Yet they were informative. She had listened to Seven's report on the virtual pet. How it functioned, what it was. Seven was fascinated by the vicious creature...and had a typical Seven reaction when Janeway had nixed her idea to adapt the program to be used in diagnostic...
She was tired and half asleep and didn't notice when the lift stopped and Chakotay got on.
"Captain?"
She grunted. "I'm asleep, go away."
"It's not later?"
She opened one eye and glanced at him. "Later?" She closed her eye, then opened both of them in shock. "You are impossible."
He laughed. "But I was just sitting there..."
She grimaced. "And I should have left you sitting there."
His grin was positively wicked. "But that wouldn't have been as much fun."
She stared at him, then shook her head in disbelief. "Commander..." Any other thoughts were cut off when he kissed her. Or did she kiss him?. When they separated she wasn't sure.
He took her hand and guided her out of the lift when they reached deck three. With his free hand he took the PADD and glanced at it. "You weren't planning on reading this tonight..." He said in mock disapproval.
"Actually..." She shook her head. "I was planning on slipping into something comfortable, getting a cup of coffee..." They reached her quarters.
"A cup of coffee sounds good." He grinned.
"You're pushing," she said softly as they entered her quarters.
He stood still. "I'm sorry. Shall I go?"
She smiled. "No." She held out her hand. "Stay?"
He took the offered hand and pulled her into his arms. The End
Use your imagination for the rest