By Alex Voy
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer:
Paramount owns the characters, Voyager and the images. No infringement of copyright is intended. I make no profit from them, just enjoy writing about them.
Chapter 2
Janeway was on the bridge when Chakotay tried to talk to her about Torres' concerns over the warp drive. He decided to avoid a confrontation and deliberately chose to speak in front of the other crew members.
"B'Elanna is worried about the strain we're imposing on the warp drive." He said casually, while entering data into his console.
Janeway looked at him sharply. "I've already explained why we need maximum speed."
"I appreciate the need for speed, Captain. But if the warp drive fails before we arrive at the Bindorp system, it could take days or even weeks to repair. Do you think the aliens have that much time to spare?"
"Repeat your calculations, Mr. Kim." Janeway's gaze remained fixed on Chakotay with that unfamiliar cold stare, while she spoke.
"The warp drive is capable of sustaining maximum speed for five point six two days before output begins to decrease. The slow decline in power after that time will still ensure that we reach the Bindorp system before the drive fails completely." Kim looked up from his console. "Voyager can get there at maximum speed, Captain."
"You talk of a 'decline in power', Mr. Kim. What you really mean is irreversible damage to the engines." Chakotay's calm was beginning to desert him. "Captain, you can't risk damaging the engines this way."
"Any damage we might sustain can be repaired once we are in orbit around Bindorp. The planet has any raw materials we may need."
"How can you be sure of that?"
"Hath Mindar has assured me they can supply anything we want."
"I find it difficult to believe that old man knows what is needed to repair a starship's warp drive. Can't you see, Captain? He's just stringing you along, to get you to take him home?"
Before Janeway could reply, the doctor's voice interrupted over the comm system.
"Sickbay to Captain Janeway. I think you had better come down here, Captain. One of the aliens has been brought here. He appears to be delirious."
"On my way Doctor." Janeway's alarm was evident in the speed with which she left the bridge. Chakotay made to follow her, but was forestalled by the curt order: "You have the bridge, Commander."
Janeway arrived in the sickbay, breathing heavily and accompanied by two armed crewmen. The doctor was trying to calm a feebly struggling figure on one of the couches.
"How did he get here?" Janeway immediately realised it was the alien who had been in her quarters the previous night.
"The security team on duty outside the diplomatic quarters brought him here." The alien's struggles were becoming weaker even as the doctor spoke. "Apparently he staggered into the corridor and begged to be brought here."
"It could be a ruse to let the others escape." Janeway turned to her escort and the two crewmen left the room at a run.
The alien was speaking incoherently as he struggled with the doctor.
"Please, you must stop exhausting yourself." The doctor pushed the old man's shoulders firmly down on the couch.
" ...not Captain Janeway." The alien gasped, "I'm not ..."
The doctor looked over his shoulder apologetically at Janeway. "He has been like this ever since he was brought in. I'll have to sedate him and keep him here under observation."
"No, I'm not .... " The alien suddenly ceased struggling and spoke in a low, urgent tone that Janeway interrupted.
"Give him the sedative quickly, while he's calm."
"No!" The old man's eyes opened wide, and he grasped the doctor's wrist with unexpected strength, even as the hypospray touched his neck. "I'm ... " His grip slackened and his eyes closed as the sedative took effect.
The two crewmen returned and shook their heads at Janeway's enquiring look.
"We'll take the old man back to his companions, Doctor." Janeway said firmly.
"It would be advisable to leave him here under observation, at least until tomorrow, Captain." The doctor frowned his displeasure at being overruled by the Captain on a medical issue.
"He's not ill is he, Doctor?"
"Well, not exactly, but ... "
"I'm sorry, but for security reasons, I want these people kept in their quarters. This is the man who was in my quarters last night. I don't want to risk having him roaming the ship again tonight. Please arrange to transport him back to the diplomatic suite."
"Very well; as you wish, Captain." The doctor was not a graceful loser, and scowled at Janeway's back as she left hurriedly, accompanied by the two crewmen and heading for the aliens' quarters.
Neelix arrived in the sickbay only moments after the captain's departure. His left hand was wrapped in a kitchen cloth and he held it tenderly against his abdomen. His woebegone expression did nothing to sweeten the doctor's humour.
"Yes?" He barked. Neelix smiled nervously and removed the cloth from his injured hand. "Hmm." The Doctor examined it carefully and selected a healing instrument from a rack. "Minor burns. A typical result of scalding with hot liquid."
"I was draining some vegetables, when the pan slipped." Neelix watched the healing process with fascination. "I was wondering, Doctor; whether you noticed anything unusual about that alien who died in here the other night?"
"Unusual? In what way, Mr. Neelix?"
"Well, I don't really know. I just think something strange is going on and I believe it has something to do with the aliens."
"They certainly seem to be prone to nocturnal wandering and delirium. I've just had another one in here, claiming to be Captain Janeway." The Doctor put away his instrument and turned back to his startled patient. "There, the skin may feel a little tight for a few hours, but that will soon return to normal."
"What do you mean, one of them was claiming to be Captain Janeway?"
"Oh, he was rambling on, refusing treatment and insisting that he, not Captain Janeway was Captain Janeway; if you see what I mean."
"I think I'm beginning to see something, Doctor. And I'm not at all sure that I like what I see,"
Neelix left the sickbay in a state of agitation and made his way quickly to Tom Paris' quarters.
"Let me get this right, Neelix. You think Captain Janeway is an alien? And one of the aliens is really Captain Janeway?"
"Yes! It's the only explanation that fits in with everything that's happened. Captain Janeway was perfectly alright until that alien got into her quarters last night. And then look at what's happened since then: she changed course and decided to go to a planet that will take us away from our course for three weeks. She refuses to listen to any advice from you or me or even Commander Chakotay. She made B'Elanna sustain a warp speed that will almost certainly cause major damage to the engines, and now she has doubled the security guard on the aliens' quarters. She doesn't want them wandering around the ship, because somebody just might decide to listen to what they have to say. Look at how she overruled the Doctor and sent the sedated alien back to his quarters."
"Neelix, don't you think you might be putting the wrong interpretation on what's happening? Maybe the Captain does have some hidden agenda; maybe something is going on that she has to keep from the rest of us for security reasons. After all, it wouldn't be the first time she's had to do that."
"That's right, and who was it who found the traitor when that happened? Why, it was you and me! And I guess it's up to us again this time too." Neelix said firmly.
"Oh, no." Paris held up his hands. "You're not going to involve me in this."
Half an hour later, Paris was crawling along a Jeffries tube behind Neelix, wondering how in space he'd been talked into this crazy stunt. The little Talaxian turned in the cramped space and whispered:
"The next turning should take us into the tube that runs under the diplomatic suite. If we can get into the life support shaft, we should be able to hear what's going on in there through the ventilation grille."
Paris grunted and followed Neelix into the next tube. The vertical shaft leading up to the diplomatic suite looked uninvitingly narrow, but Neelix wriggled rapidly upwards and out of sight. With an exaggerated sigh, Paris wedged his shoulders in the base of the shaft and began his own more clumsy ascent. He arrived, sweating heavily in a cramped space already occupied by Neelix, who put a finger to his lips and pointed through the grille.
Paris could hear muffled voices, but was unable to distinguish individual words. He craned forwards, but could only see the corner of a couch with an alien's leg on it. He strained to get a wider field of vision and saw the restraining strap around the man's legs. Then Harry Kim appeared in his line of sight and stopped beside the couch. He appeared to examine the alien and then spoke to someone else before moving away again. Startled, Paris looked around at Neelix who gestured excitedly back at the grille. Below him, Paris saw Captain Janeway had replaced Kim at the couch. She too bent over the alien, then stood up and nodded. She said something to her companion and then moved out of sight. The murmur of voices faded and Neelix and Paris felt the slight change in air pressure as the doors to the room opened and then closed again.
Neelix looked at Paris, who shrugged resignedly and took hold of the grille in both hands. He pushed firmly and the grille clicked out of its frame; Paris pulled it into the shaft beside him and Neelix wriggled forwards, flopping awkwardly out into the room. Paris followed with a little more agility and glanced quickly around. The only occupants of the room were four sleeping aliens, all strapped firmly to their couches.
"Captain Janeway would never allow this." Neelix whispered indignantly, pointing to the restraints.
"Maybe she's just making sure they don't go wandering around the ship again." Even as he spoke, Paris knew Neelix was right. Janeway might put a forcefield around the diplomatic suite, or even confine real troublemakers in the brig, but she would never forcibly restrain old men in their beds. He looked around the room at the four prone figures. "How do you know which one was in the Captain's quarters last night?"
"The Doctor said it was the Talese." Neelix bent over the alien that Janeway and Kim had been discussing. "Captain! Captain Janeway, wake up!" He shook the old man's shoulder gently, but there was no response.
Paris stepped forward and firmly pushed Neelix to one side.
"If you really want to wake someone up, there's only one way to do it." He looked down at the alien's face. "I can't believe I'm doing this. Sorry old man, but we have to talk to you." He took hold of the alien's ear and pinched it hard. The alien grunted and his eyes flickered open. He looked around the room, disorientated and then focussed on the two faces peering down at him.
"Tom, Neelix." The voice was weak and hoarse.
"We've come to get you out of here, Captain." Neelix was unclipping the restraining straps as he spoke.
Paris hesitated, then moved to the foot of the couch to free the alien's legs.
"The others ... " The old man waved his free arm towards the neighbouring couches. "Harry, Marino and Fraser: you must help them too."
Paris finally accepted that it was Janeway speaking from the old man's body.
"I'll get them, Captain." He moved to the nearest couch, but before he could touch the first strap, the door opened. Harry Kim and Crewman Fraser launched themselves across the floor and Paris had no time to prepare for the impact as Kim's body hit him squarely, and a vicious fist pounded up beneath his ribcage. He caught a fleeting glimpse of Neelix going down beneath Marino, and then he was fighting for his life, with his best friend's hands clamped around his neck in a choking vice. He kneed Kim and gave a violent twist that loosened the agonising grip on his throat.
Harry Kim was heavier and stronger, but his StarFleet combat training had never prepared him for the tricks learned by Paris in many a bar room brawl. Paris used all parts of his body as a weapon and Kim went down heavily to an elbow under his jaw, when Crewman Fraser suddenly arrived and clamped his arms around Paris from behind. Paris used Fraser as a pivot and lashed at Kim's abdomen with his feet. Kim staggered backwards, to be felled by a piece of ornamental sculpture, wielded by the alien Janeway.
Paris had a brief impression of the old man turning his attention to Neelix' assailant, and then he crashed backwards, crushing Fraser hard against the wall. The crewman relaxed his grip and Paris turned quickly, stamping hard on Fraser's instep, before following up with a chop to the throat. Fraser fell, gasping and clutching at his neck.
Paris breathed deeply and turned to see Hath Mindar wresting the heavy ornament from the old Talese, while Neelix still struggled convulsively beneath Marino's superior weight. Hath Mindar was surprisingly strong, but Paris wrenched him away from the other alien and threw him to the floor, then used the ornament on Marino. The crewman collapsed soundlessly on top of Neelix, amidst a shower of shattered sculpture. Neelix crawled out painfully from beneath the limp body and he and Paris looked at the old Talese.
"That was a valuable Bajoran work of art, Mr. Paris." The old man said.
Paris grinned.
"I guess StarFleet will cancel my credit for a few years to pay for it."
"Call the security team outside and have them put our peoples' bodies in the brig." The Janeway alien ordered Paris. "You too Hath Mindar."
The security team showed surprise at Paris' order to confine Kim and the others, but obeyed without actually questioning the decision, while Neelix and Janeway freed the other alien bodies.
"Mr. Neelix, arrange an emergency medical transport to sickbay for them. Mr. Paris, you're with me."
"Yes, Sir ...uh, Ma'am?" Paris was finding his Captain's gender change a little difficult to deal with.
"I'm not sure that even I know the answer to that question." The Janeway alien gave a wry grin.
The sudden appearance of Paris and the ancient Talese on Voyager's bridge caused a surprised silence amongst the crewmen on duty there. Chakotay was standing beside Tuvok at the tactical station, while Janeway was in her chair, studying her console screen. She looked up, alerted by the sudden silence and stood up in alarm when she saw the two figures standing just inside the doorway.
"Mr. Paris, the aliens are ordered confined to the diplomatic suite." She said sharply, but her eyes were fixed on Paris' companion.
"I just thought you should hear what this one has to say." Paris replied mildly. "Oh, I forgot; you already know everything about this particular alien. Well, perhaps Chakotay and Tuvok would like to be in on the secret too?"
"Captain?" Chakotay looked at Janeway.
"I think Mr. Paris has been a little gullible, Commander."
"Mr. Paris understands the situation perfectly." The old Talese stepped forward and spoke directly to Janeway. "Perhaps you would care to tell the crew what fate awaits them when they reach Bindorp?"
All eyes turned curiously to Janeway, who glared angrily at the alien.
"This is ridiculous." She snapped. "Mr. Tuvok, arrest Lieutenant Paris and confine both of them in the brig."
"On what charge must I arrest Lieutenant Paris, Captain?"
"Disobeying a direct order. I ordered the aliens to be confined to their quarters. He has chosen to ignore that order."
"Tuvok, you might like to know that Neelix and Tom's actions have saved the lives of most of this crew." The old Talese still stared directly at Janeway, who was beginning to look uneasy as she realised the initiative was slipping from her grasp.
"Tuvok, take them to the brig. Now!" Janeway's anger had an edge of panic that caused Chakotay and Tuvok to exchange a thoughtful glance.
"Captain, I will do as you wish, but I am curious to know what the alien meant by 'the fate that awaits us' at Bindorp." Tuvok turned from Janeway to the Talese.
"Arrest them now, Tuvok !" Janeway's voice had taken on a hysterical edge.
Chakotay stepped forward. "Captain, I think for everyone's peace of mind, we should hear what they have to say."
Janeway looked slowly around the bridge and made a visible effort to regain her composure. "Very well. Let them tell their fairy tale, and then perhaps we can get back to the business of running a starship." She sat down in her chair and casually crossed her legs. The old alien nodded to Tom Paris, who took a deep breath and looked directly at Tuvok and Chakotay.
"Well, I guess the first thing you should know is that she," he indicated Janeway, "isn't Captain Janeway." Chakotay and Tuvok looked at Janeway in silence. "He is." Paris nodded towards the Talese.
Janeway gave an audible derisive snort, but all eyes were on the alien. He looked around the bridge and smiled.
"I know this will be difficult for you to believe, but these alien bodies were never what they seemed. When we rescued them from their shuttle craft, they were already occupied by a parasitic lifeform that prolongs its own existence by exchanging old, worn out bodies for new, younger versions to inhabit. Five of us have already been exchanged in this way. I believe the shuttle craft was just bait to ensnare a passing ship. The parasites' main goal is to get the entire crew of Voyager to Bindorp, where you will all be exchanged by the inhabitants of the planet."
"Now that you've heard this ludicrous story, Mr. Tuvok, perhaps you would carry out my order?" Janeway stood up.
The Talese smiled. "That's alright, Tuvok. I'll willingly go to the brig with you. You see, this 'Captain' now has a real problem. Except for Hath Mindar, the other 'aliens' are at this moment in the sickbay. They will all confirm my story, but more importantly, they will tell you they have no desire at all to go to Bindorp. So if we don't want to go there, what possible reason can there be to take Voyager there at maximum speed?"
"Damn you!" Janeway looked desperately around the bridge for a way out and at that moment, the turbolift opened and Salazar emerged. He took in the situation at a glance and drew his phaser. Janeway charged into Paris, who was half turned towards the lift. She was almost clear, when the old Talese stuck out a foot and she went down.
Chakotay and Paris grabbed at Janeway and Salazar fired his phaser at the same moment as Tuvok put a hand on his shoulder. Salazar dropped soundlessly to the Vulcan nerve pinch and the Talese was hurled backwards by the phaser blast. For a few moments, there was chaos as Janeway struggled furiously against the restraining hands. At last, she was overwhelmed by sheer numbers as the rest of the bridge crew surged into the fray.
Tuvok knelt beside the prone body of the old Talese and calmly called for an emergency medical transport. Chakotay left Janeway when he saw what had happened and knelt beside Tuvok.
"How is he?"
"The phaser was set to 'stun'." Tuvok replied. "However, the alien is old and frail. I believe his condition is serious."
Later, in the sickbay, Chakotay and Tuvok were discussing their problems with the doctor.
"I have confirmed that the aliens are giving off the brain emanations patterns of Captain Janeway, Ensign Kim, Crewman Fraser and Crewman Marino. There is no doubt that they are who they claim to be. Apparently, the mind transfers occurred while they were asleep. In fact, I believe the process can only take place while the donor is sleeping."
"So can you reverse the process?" Chakotay asked anxiously.
"Once the parasitic minds are asleep, I believe I can use a modified cortical scanner to reverse the exchange process." The doctor's voice had a satisfied tone.
"How long will it take you to modify the scanner?"
"About an hour or so. But I doubt if your prisoners will be willing to cooperate in the procedure."
"Could you sedate them for the exchange?" Tuvok asked.
"No. The brains would not be in a true state of sleep. We have to wait until they are genuinely asleep."
"That might take some time." Chakotay mused.
"How are the alien bodies, Doctor?" Tuvok asked.
"Three of them are stable for the moment. However, I am concerned about Captain Janeway. She has placed a considerable strain on the body, culminating in the phaser injury sustained on the bridge. Her condition is not stabilized and the heart has been dangerously weakened."
"You have to give us some time, Doctor." Chakotay's anxiety was very apparent. "Maybe we can persuade the parasitic life forms to give up our peoples' bodies."
"I will do what I can, Commander. But I must warn you that time is not on our side in this matter."
In the brig, Chakotay stood outside the restraining forcefield and looked at his prisoners. Kim and the three crewmen were sitting silently around the walls, while Janeway paced the floor. She looked up and smiled when she saw Chakotay.
"I believe this is what you would call a stalemate situation, Commander."
"It doesn't have to be that way."
"Oh? I hope you're not going to appeal to our better natures? Because I must tell you: we don't have any."
"It's over: you've been found out. You have nothing to gain by holding out. Give our people back their lives."
"I'm sorry to disappoint you Commander, but we have fifty or sixty years to gain."
Chakotay stared at her. "I make you a promise, now. If Captain Janeway dies, your time will be a lot shorter than you think."
"I doubt that." Janeway mocked. "The Federation doesn't allow the death penalty."
"Perhaps you've forgotten: I'm a Maquis, not part of the Federation."
"I don't forget anything." She advanced to the very limit of the forcefield and her voice sank to little more than a whisper. "And I know that your Captain Janeway would not sanction our deaths, however great the provocation. Besides, Chakotay: would you really be prepared to kill me, Kathryn Janeway? I don't think so." She laughed. "We're keeping these bodies, and there is nothing you can do about it."
"I wouldn't be so sure about that if I were you." Chakotay's jaw clenched and he turned away in disgust.
Back in sickbay, Chakotay looked down at the sleeping body of the old Talese. "How's he doing, Doctor?"
"His heart is still giving cause for concern. I don't know how much longer I can keep him alive. All of the aliens have suffered a marked deterioration in their physical condition since they arrived on board. I believe the mind transfer process places a great strain upon the original host. It's probable that the discarded bodies usually die shortly after the exchange; being too old to withstand the physical stresses placed upon them."
"So, we have to get the human bodies to sleep as quickly as possible. What's the best way to go about that?"
"I would suggest isolation. If they are alone, they will be unable to keep each other awake and we can then process them individually as they fall asleep. A large meal and soft music might also be beneficial."
"We don't have room in the brig to isolate them all. We'll have to scatter them around the ship. Be ready with your modified scanner and portable holo-emitter. We'll call you to them when they're ready."
It was a very long night for Chakotay and the prisoners, but late the following morning, he received word that Fraser had at last fallen asleep in his quarters. Chakotay and Tuvok supported the frail alien while the doctor placed the modified cortical scanner on Fraser's forehead. He looked up for confirmation, and at a nod from the alien, switched on the device. Fraser's eyes opened wide in an expression of surprise and alarm, then became blank for a few seconds before he blinked violently and let out a deep exhalation of breath. The alien body sagged in Chakotay and Tuvok's arms and they carried him to a nearby couch.
The doctor ran a tricorder over Fraser. "How do you feel?"
"Tired ... very tired." His eyes closed and the doctor gave a satisfied smile.
"Hmm. Most satisfactory."
"Doctor, I think you'd better get over here." Chakotay looked up from his place beside the alien's couch.
The doctor ran his tricorder over the alien and frowned. "His vital signs are weakening rapidly. I'm afraid it's too late for an emergency transport to sickbay . The strain of a second transfer was too much for him." The doctor closed his medical tricorder and faced Chakotay. "He's dead."
"Will they all die as a result of the transfers?" Much as he wanted the transfers to take place, Chakotay was feeling distinctly uneasy at the thought of killing the aliens in the process.
"Eventually, yes." The doctor replied. "I believe the ageing process undergoes a massive acceleration in the original host body as a result of the transfer. They might live for a few days after it has taken place, but these aliens are going to die very soon, no matter which mind inhabits them."
"Then we'd better get on and save our people." Chakotay sighed. "I think Harry Kim is next."
Kim and Marino were both successfully exchanged during the course of the afternoon. Both alien bodies survived in a severely weakened condition and were under sedation within a containment forcefield in the sickbay. Janeway however, was still holding out, pacing her cell in the brig and refusing to give in to sleep. Chakotay left orders that he was to be called immediately if there was any change in the condition of either Janeway's host body or the prisoner in the brig. He went to Janeway's ready room and fell into an exhausted sleep on a day bed.
He remained undisturbed and woke refreshed in the early hours of the following morning. He called security for an update, to be told that Janeway was still awake. His face was drawn and grim when he entered the sickbay a short time later.
"Doctor?" He enquired as he looked down at the old Talese.
"The news is not good, Commander. The deterioration has continued. Frankly, I don't know what has kept him alive this long."
"Her will power, I'd guess." A muscle jerked in Chakotay's jaw. "Dammit! How much longer can that parasite hold out? It's been more than forty eight hours since she slept. Are you sure there's nothing you can do?"
"We will only have one chance, Commander. If I do anything to try to speed up the process, it would almost certainly result in the premature death of this body."
Chakotay stood outside the forcefield in the brig and watched Janeway pause for a moment in her slow pacing and lean against the wall. Her face was pale and haggard, her eyes bright within deep, dark shadows. She gave a twisted smile when she saw him.
"It won't be long now, Chakotay. Don't you find it fascinating to see which is the stronger, Kathryn Janeway's mind or her body? I know she's still alive, you see." She left the wall and walked forward to the limit of the forcefield. "I can feel her life force: but it's weakening, Chakotay. It's getting weaker every minute." Chakotay stared at her in silence. She gave a low laugh. "Every minute." She repeated and leaned towards him. "But don't look so worried. I'll still be here for you when she's gone."
Chakotay turned abruptly and left without having spoken a word, Janeway's defiant laughter following him until cut off by the closing of the main door to Security. He returned to the bridge and shook his head silently at Tuvok's questioning glance. The bridge crew too was working in unaccustomed silence, even Tom Paris, who for once was too subdued to utter any irreverent remarks. Chakotay made a halfhearted check on some scanner readings on his console and looked up when Tuvok appeared by his chair.
"Yes, Tuvok?"
"Commander, it is possible I may be able to help Captain Janeway."
"How?"
"I need to confer with the doctor before I can explain."
"Then what are we waiting for?" Chakotay was heading for the turbolift even as he spoke.
"A mind meld!" The doctor exploded.
"It would not be the usual joining of two minds, Doctor. I would simply act as the conduit between Captain Janeway and the alien parasite."
"But the parasite is awake, Lieutenant. The transfer can only take place while she is sleeping." The doctor had uncomfortable memories of one of Tuvok's previous experiments with the Vulcan mind meld and did not look upon the process with any favour.
"I believe the meld can overcome that problem."
"If the parasite is awake, surely it can resist the Captain's attempt to transfer back to her own body?" Chakotay didn't like the sound of the idea at all.
"That is inevitable. However, my mind will be linked with Captain Janeway's. It is logical to assume that the power of our combined minds will be able to overcome the parasite."
"Logical it may be, but medically, it's fraught with dangers to both you and the captain." The Doctor glared at Tuvok.
"As I understand the situation Doctor, there can be no greater danger to the captain than that which she is already facing. As for myself, I believe the risk is justified in the circumstances."
"Commander, as a doctor I cannot approve of this."
"But you'll do it just the same." Chakotay said quietly.
The Doctor looked back at the prone figure on the couch and nodded. "Yes, I'll do it."
While Tuvok and the doctor remained in the sickbay to discuss their roles in the transfer process, Chakotay took a security detail to the brig. Janeway's pacing had slowed to an exhausted shuffle, but her eyes were still alert when she saw the drawn phasers. Chakotay saw the sudden gleam of expectation and turned quickly to the escort.
"No! No phasers. Put them back in the rack." He turned back to Janeway with a smile. "I'm sorry, but I can't afford to let you get yourself stunned right now." He turned off the forcefield and nodded to the two security men. He had deliberately picked the strongest men in the crew and Janeway stepped back in alarm when they entered her cell.
"What are you going to do?" She demanded, struggling ineffectually against their hold on her arms. "Where are you taking me?"
"We're taking you to see Captain Janeway." Chakotay replied.
Janeway was still struggling against her captors when they entered the sickbay and marched her over to where Tuvok and the doctor stood next to the alien's couch. Janeway saw a modified cortical scanner on the old alien's forehead and another in the doctor's hand and relaxed in the escorts' grip. Her face wore a faint smile of triumph when the doctor attached the scanner to her own head.
The doctor carefully examined the old Talese with a tricorder and frowned unhappily at the result. He looked at Chakotay's inscrutable face and sighed, then nodded sharply to Tuvok. The Vulcan placed the fingers and thumb of one hand on the side of the alien's face, and the other hand on Janeway, who bucked violently as she realized what he was doing.
"No!" She fought wildly against the restraining hands, but was helpless against their strength. Tuvok closed his eyes and the only sound in the room was Janeway's ragged panting. Her eyes closed and her face set in determined concentration as she began the mental battle with Tuvok.
Chakotay watched for what seemed an age as the silent three way struggle took place invisibly before him. At last Tuvok spoke.
"Now, Doctor." His voice was low and strained and the doctor glanced at Chakotay before activating the modified scanners. The effect was instantaneous. Both Janeway and the alien's eyes opened wide, their bodies rigid for breathless, countless seconds; and then they slumped, Janeway held upright only by the two security guards, the alien shrunken and still on the couch. Tuvok swayed on his feet, but remained upright with a steadying hand from Chakotay.
The doctor looked up from the alien's couch. "He's dead, Commander."
"Did you complete the transfer, Tuvok?" Chakotay asked urgently.
Tuvok shook his head wearily. "I don't know. There was much resistance and the Captain had little strength remaining. The alien died before I could tell if the process was complete."
Chakotay turned to where Janeway had been laid on a couch by her guards. "Doctor?"
The doctor examined her with his tricorder. "I'm sorry, Commander. I'll have to run a full cortical scan before I can tell you whether Captain Janeway's mind is in this body."
Chakotay studied Janeway's face intently as though trying to see through to the mind behind by sheer strength of will. Her eyelids fluttered and opened, meeting his intense gaze. She gave a faint smile.
"Chakotay."
"Captain." His tone was neutral, waiting for a clue.
Janeway turned her head slightly to look at Tuvok on her other side. They stared at each other in silence, and then:
"You must go to the messhall at nineteen hundred hours, Tuvok." Her eyes closed and her voice faded away as she added: "That's an order, Lieutenant."
Chakotay looked enquiringly at Tuvok, who raised an eyebrow.
"I believe Captain Janeway was referring to the surprise birthday party Mr. Neelix had arranged for me this evening."
"You know about your surprise party?"
"As Voyager's Chief of Security, Commander, it is my duty to know what is happening on the ship."
Chakotay smiled and looked down at the sleeping Janeway. "Welcome back, Kathryn."
Janeway was in her ready room the following evening, discussing the day's events with Chakotay.
"The second alien died a few minutes ago, Captain"
"Is there any news of Salazar and Hath Mindar?"
"Not since they stole the shuttle craft."
"Strictly speaking, it was their craft anyway." Janeway left her desk and strolled to look out at the streaking stars outside the window. "The aliens arrived here in it. I'm just sorry we weren't able to save Salazar: if you'd seen how afraid he was, Chakotay. He begged me to help him, and I thought he was delirious."
"You went through it too."
Janeway shook her head.
"No. Don't you see, it was different for me. No one knew Salazar had been exchanged. He wasn't just afraid of dying, he was afraid of being alone and unrecognised when he died. I had the whole crew supporting me; Salazar was completely alone in that dying body."
"You were there with him at the time, that must have been some comfort to him."
"I wish I could believe that, Chakotay." Janeway turned back to her desk and picked up a padd. "Did you put out the warning signal?"
"On all the regular subspace frequencies. Hath Mindar's shuttle craft will be treated as a plague carrier by every ship in the quadrant, and Bindorp won't be receiving many visitors, either."
"Good. I know we could have brought them back with a tractor beam, but frankly, I don't know what we could have done with them if they hadn't escaped: kept them isolated in the brig for the rest of the mission, or left them to a local justice system? Neither alternative a satisfactory solution. At least this way they have to face the consequences of their actions and they might just be able to get back to their home planet." Janeway had her suspicions about why the brig's forcefield had developed a fault while she slept, enabling Salazar to escape and rescue Hath Mindar. Chakotay met her gaze evenly.
When Chakotay had left, Janeway called Tuvok to the room.
"You wanted to see me, Captain?"
"Yes. It's come to my attention that you have taken to disobeying my orders." She stood close in front and looked sternly at him.
"Captain?"
"You promised me some time ago, you would not initiate any more mind melds without my permission." She put a hand on his arm and smiled. "Thank you Tuvok. See that it doesn't happen again." They exchanged a look of total accord and Tuvok nodded assent. No words were needed to confirm the bond of friendship between them. Janeway turned away and casually picked up a padd from her desk. "There is also the matter of your surprise birthday party."
"Mr. Neelix cancelled the party, Captain."
"Because of my ... condition. I know. Well Lieutenant, I have to tell you, that I need my Chief of Security to accompany me to the messhall to deal with a serious security matter; right now."
"But ... my birthday was yesterday."
"You didn't really think Neelix would give up on the idea, did you?"
"I believe you have a saying on Earth, concerning weather patterns. I had hoped that the cancellation of Mr. Neelix' party was the silver lining to the cloud of your confrontation with the parasites."
Janeway laughed.
"It may not be as bad as you think. I have the distinct impression that Neelix has turned it into a joint celebration, for your birthday and my deliverance from the parasite. Come on Tuvok, it's bad manners for the guests of honour to be late for their own party."
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