After beaming down to the planet, Chakotay, Tuvok, and Seven of Nine encounter… nothing. The truth is soon revealed and of course, Q is at the heart of the mystery, ready to accuse Kes of employing her powers to help the Voyager crew despite his warning.
Need to catch up? Click here for Part One. Click here for Part Two.
“Star Trek: Voyager – Q Meets Girl” – Part III
Phil Giunta
Chapter Five
Desperate times called for desperate measures.
In Voyager’s conference room, such measures were being turned into strategies. From their seats at the table, Janeway, Chakotay, and Seven watched as Tuvok presented a computer generated blueprint of the Gavvar compound extracted from the ship’s sensor logs.
“The capital consists of three buildings all interconnected by bridges.” The active display panned from one area to the next as the Vulcan indicated different sections of the map. “The largest is the administrative center. It is heavily guarded at all times.
“Behind it on either side are two smaller facilities. The one on the right has been converted by the Gavvar into their military headquarters and prison while the other is their medical facility.”
“Where the vaccine is being manufactured,” Janeway deduced.
“That is correct,” the security chief confirmed before returning their attention to the schematic. “Six Gavvar shield generators power a force field that encloses the entire complex. In addition to those located on the roof atop each structure, there are three ground units spaced evenly around the perimeter.
“Theoretically, if an away team were to disable the generator nearest the medical facility, it would allow a site to site transport from there directly to anywhere inside the building. However, I have estimated that such a task will need to be completed in five point three seconds before the other generators automatically compensate.”
“Presuming that we retrieve the vaccine, how would we get the away team out?” Chakotay asked.
“This operation will consist of two contingents, our own away team and a small Xadavian army led by the governor. Once inside the medical facility, Targus and his militia will locate the laboratory and confiscate the vaccine while we make our way to the roof to disable the shield generator.
“Once we have secured a brychlidoride sample for the doctor, the away team will be beamed aboard Voyager while the Xadavians are transported back to the original rendezvous point far beyond the capital grounds.”
“I’m assuming you’ve taken into account Gavvar troop positions and response time,” the captain interjected.
“Indeed,” Tuvok nodded. “According to our scans, there are typically no patrols near the designated rendezvous point or on the roof of the medical facility. We will be prepared for a confrontation once we are inside the building itself and in the event that troops are dispatched from their military headquarters.”
Janeway stared at the computer display silently balking at the idea of sending her crew against an unknown, possibly overwhelming number of enemy soldiers. Ironically, the unknown is exactly what Starfleet trains its officers for—even when lives are at stake. Beyond that, they were involved now and as always, would follow through to the end.
“Let’s put the Gavvar out of business.”
***
“In my entire career as an emergency medical hologram, I have never experienced this kind of failure! This is intolerable!”
While his omnipotent assistants looked on, the Doctor jammed his twenty-third vial into a hypospray and peered down into the golden eyes of the Kimeve hologram.
I feel as if you’ve died a thousand deaths, he thought with deep remorse. I am so sorry.
With a sigh born of frustration and disappointment, he pressed the instrument against the side of her neck. Hands clasped behind his back, the young Q closed his eyes momentarily as the familiar hiss of the hypospray drew everyone’s attention to the biobed console covering Kimeve’s midsection. There, a computer display showed the vaccine’s initial effects on the woman’s immune system.
And once more, all three merely watched and waited.
***
Their midnight journey through the burned, blacked Elptier Forest leading to the capital went without incident. Upon reaching the shield generator twenty meters behind the medical building, Chakotay and Targus each dispatched two men to keep watch for Gavvar soldiers while Tuvok and Seven set about disabling the force field.
“Did you figure out exactly how to take down one of these things?” Targus inquired.
“We’re going to do it the old fashioned way,” Chakotay answered cryptically.
From their satchels, Tuvok and Seven each produced a hand phaser with a magnetic device attached to their grips. In unison, they affixed the weapons to the metallic surface of the generator and set them to overload.
Both teams retreated back into the forest as the telltale whine of unstoppable power ended in a blinding explosion that illuminated the landscape for kilometers and knocked several surprised Xadavians to the ground.
Seven raised her tricorder in the direction of their target. “Shield rupture confirmed.”
The commander tapped his comm badge. “Chakotay to Voyager. Energize!”
***
The doctor was ecstatic.
The surreal nightmare of the past three days seemed to wash away as the computer finally confirmed his success. After a brief congratulations all around, Kes and the Q began manufacturing vials of the drug using the replicator in his office, giving the CMO time alone with his patient.
“How do you feel?” he asked, holding Kimeve’s hand.
“Strong enough for another thirteen hour shift,” she smiled. “You wouldn’t happen to need a nurse around here, would you?”
The Doctor returned her grin but not without a tinge of sadness for the truth he had yet to reveal. However, now was not the time. There were over a million lives, real lives, that needed him to administer the vaccine as quickly as possible and with the Gavvar in their way, it could become a daunting task.
“Computer, deactivate program Kimeve One-A.”
The Doctor remained still even after the image atop the biobed faded. Taking a deep breath, he made his way to his office to contact the captain.
***
The first thing that struck Chakotay as the ground teams materialized in the corridor was the temperature. The air was so frigid that their breath was visible.
The building was also strangely deserted. The silence reminded him of a morgue.
“My tricorder is detecting no lifesigns anywhere in this complex,” Seven moved the device in various directions only to come up with the same result.
With caution, the group proceeded forward to what they hoped was the lab. The passage ended in a three-way intersection before a frosted, diamond shaped door that suddenly parted the moment Tuvok’s security team approached. They stormed in, phaser rifles raised.
The room was as cold as the corridor and equally as empty.
Quickly, they split up and explored the rest of the building. Fifteen minutes later, they regrouped in front of the doors.
Targus was obviously flustered as he approached. “I’ve lost contact with my soldiers! They’ve all disappeared! This can only be a trap.”
Chakotay was not entirely convinced of that. His instincts sensed no danger here. Still, it was possible that the shield was interfering with their tricorders and that scores of Gavvar soldiers had surrounded the building by now. Though he still could not explain how over a dozen people could suddenly vanish.
Either way, there was nothing to be gained by staying here. It was time to abort the mission. He tapped his comm badge.
“Chakotay to Voyager.”
There was no reply. He tried once more, as did Tuvok and Seven, but the only sound was the echo of their voices from the cold, sterile walls.
Chapter Six
“Hail them again.”
Even before Ensign Kim shook his head after their third attempt to contact the away team, Janeway somehow knew it would be futile. It was what he said next that nearly made her stomach sink to the deckplates.
“Captain,” he began, disbelief evident on his face as he looked up from his console. “All lifesigns on the planet just… vanished from sensors.”
Every head on the bridge turned toward their commanding officer as she bolted from the center seat and hastened to the Ops panel.
“Run a level one diagnostic,” she ordered.
Seconds later, even that hope was dashed as the results proved inconclusive. Could the Gavvar have a device that is interfering with their sensors? Possibilities began running through her mind. And where were their ships? When Voyager first arrived, there were no other vessels in orbit or detected on the surface nor have any arrived since then. She meant to question Targus about this before becoming embroiled with his peoples’ plight. Nonetheless, with the doctor’s hard earned breakthrough, she had hoped that they were making progress.
Progress? You? You can’t even find your way back to your own pathetic part of the galaxy! Recalling the Q’s snide, pompous remark only steeled her determination. She stepped back down to the command center.
“Tom, take a security team and prepare the Delta Flyer for launch on my mark. We’re going down there.”
***
Chakotay was about to elicit suggestions when Seven’s tricorder interrupted, emitting a low pitched beep that increased in intensity as she raised the device toward the ceiling.
“There is an energy discharge of the same wave pattern as the anomaly we encountered three days ago. It appears to be emanating from the administration center but several levels above us.”
“The nearest bridge leading there is four floors above us,” Targus said. “Follow me.”
***
Twenty minutes later, they found themselves walking quite alone down a dimly lit, carpeted hallway. Despite the more inviting décor, which, Targus informed them resentfully, was almost completely stripped of everything Xadavian in favor of Gavvari design, the climate continued to flirt with the freezing mark. Finally, they came to a door behind which Seven’s tricorder indicated was the source of the energy.
“The Naestron’s office,” Targus whispered in awe.
“How do you know that?” Tuvok inquired. “If you have not been in here since the Gavvar deposed you?”
Targus hesitated before spinning on the Vulcan. “Because it used to be my office before they dragged me out.”
With that, the door, a smaller version than the one that had led into the empty lab, parted to reveal a space perhaps twice the size of Captain Janeway’s ready room and more ornately decorated. Against the far wall, a tall chair faced the window, its back to the newcomers.
“The source of the energy is near that chair,” Seven announced.
The seat spun around and its occupant smiled. “Actually, its in the chair!”
Chakotay tensed. Impossibly, Tuvok adopted an even more severe expression than normal while Seven merely stared apathetically.
Targus grinned. “How’s that boy of yours, Q?”
“Typical teenager is his rebellious stage,” the omnipotent being in the Starfleet uniform replied. “Reminds me of myself at that age. I’m trying to deal with his current infatuation which I hope to cure him of very shortly.”
“Then I’ll leave you to it.”
“Thank you, Q.”
“My pleasure.” Targus turned to the Voyager crew, who were speechless. “Nice meeting you all, hope you had as much fun as I did!” And in a flash of light, he was gone.
“Do you know he’s been one of my best friends for so many centuries I lost count?” Q remarked.
Chakotay was seething, the heat of his anger nearly compensating for the temperature. “You better have a good explanation for this. We’ve had enough of your petty games.”
“So court-martial me,” Q taunted. He rose from his seat and leaned over the desk between them. “To be fair, though, I suppose an explanation would be in order but let’s go someplace warmer shall we?”
Chapter Seven
Truth be known, Ensign Paris welcomed unexpected visits from beautiful women regardless of the circumstances.
But this was getting ridiculous.
“Excuse me,” was all that Seven could think to mutter as she leaped from his lap and moved across the bridge to stand beside the turbolift. Speechless, Paris only hoped that B’Elanna didn’t catch news of this. A quick glance at the expression on Harry’s face told him that his fears were well founded.
The remainder of the away team reappeared at their respective posts on the bridge. Janeway turned to Chakotay. “What happened?”
The answer came not from the commander but from the front of the bridge where Q’s smirking visage almost completely filled the main screen. “Nothing happened here, Captain. There was no virus, no terrorists, no dying civilization. In fact, this planet’s sun collapsed into a black hole over a century ago, turning it into little more than a ball of ice spiraling ever closer to oblivion.”
“Your point, Q,” Janeway demanded.
The entire bridge became awash in blinding white light, forcing the bridge crew to protect their eyes until it faded. When their sight returned, it took them a moment longer to realize that Voyager’s command chairs were no longer occupied and Q was nowhere in sight.
***
Captain Janeway felt an overwhelming sense of dè-já vu as she unexpectedly found herself seated behind her ready room desk confronted by Q and his wife.
“Everything you experienced over the past three days of your minuscule lives was merely a test,” Q explained.
“Testing us for what?” Chakotay asked, keeping his growing agitation in check.
“Get over yourselves,” the female Q remarked. “This was not about you.”
The couple moved apart to reveal Kes whose own abrupt appearance clearly caught her unawares, leaving her standing wide-eyed and diminutive against sudden, unprompted fury.
“You deliberately disobeyed us,” Q charged. “Did you really think we weren’t watching?”
In shocked silence, Kes retreated fearfully but her accusers pressed on.
“It was obvious from the outset that you were hardly more than an abhorrent, disrespectful wench,” the woman growled. “I’m going to savor every moment of your punishment.”
“What is this about?” Janeway demanded, her own ire climbing as rapidly as her patience was dwindling. In one swift motion, she side stepped her desk and placed herself between Kes and her accusers.
“Entrapment, Captain Janeway.”
All heads turned toward the windows and the infuriated young man seated beneath them.
“First of all, it wasn’t Kes who helped the Doctor discover his vaccine,” he pointed to his chest. “I did that and do you know why? I thought about your ‘ominous warning’ as I watched what I thought was legitimate suffering.
“Then I recalled your story about how you spent years antagonizing Captain Picard, using him as a specimen for testing humanity’s capacity for enlightened thinking. Each time, they exceeded your standards, displaying an unexpected aptitude for mercy, humility and reasoning.
“And now when it’s to your advantage, you stand there ready to punish someone else for showing those very same traits. My parents the hypocrites! I wonder what the Continuum would think.”
He thrust a finger at his father. “And I suppose you didn’t learn your lesson the first time you were ostracized!”
For the first time since Janeway had known him, Q had no witty rebuttal. His wife on the other hand was another matter. “You have no right—”
“Oh, shut up,” Q snarled in annoyance. “He is right. You and I were both blinded by our resentment of Kes. I’m big enough to admit that I… may have erred in my judgment.”
“Speak for yourself.” His wife departed in a flash of light.
Q shook his head. “I’ll deal with her later. Kathryn, always a pleasure seeing your shining face. I had been meaning to congratulate you on your victorious survival in the Delta Quadrant. You always were a formidable woman.”
“Thank you,” Janeway nodded. “Now get off my ship.”
Q chuckled. “And so deliciously charming.” He turned, regarding Kes and his son with a soft expression. “You know, you two actually do make a cute couple.”
And with a final snap of his fingers, he left them.
“Well, Captain, I apologize for everything my parents put you through.”
“It wasn’t entirely your fault. Just be careful the next time you’re ‘joy-riding’ through an inhabited solar system.”
The boy smiled sheepishly. “Please thank the Doctor and Seven for their hospitality.” He raised his hand only to have it seized by Kes.
“Remember the warning!” she said harshly.
“What warning?”
“The one that says you can’t leave without me… or else,” she exclaimed with a beaming smile. “Good-bye, Captain, Commander. Safe journey home.”
Misty eyed, Janeway watched with an almost maternal pride as the young couple embraced one another into infinity.
Epilogue
“It seems our little girl is all grown up.”
Janeway could not help but to smile at Chakotay’s comment. Images and memories of Kes’s time aboard Voyager from years past flashed through her mind, fresh and lucid as if they happened just days ago.
Days ago. Little girl.
Anica!
With a sudden urgency, the captain tapped her comm badge. “Janeway to Ensign Kim.”
“Kim here.”
“You may proceed,” she instructed. “I don’t care how you two manage it, just get her there.”
“Yes, ma’am. Kim out.”
Activating her desktop terminal, Janeway contacted Neelix in the mess hall. “I thought you should know, Kes just left.”
On the small viewscreen, the Talaxian nodded. “Thank you, Captain. We spoke earlier. It was nice to see her again, of course.”
He seemed to brighten up as he changed the subject to the task at hand. “This has to be the largest coconut and vanilla sheet cake in the Delta Quadrant. Good decision, Captain. I’m just putting the final touches on the Andorian Tjalberry icing.”
“Good, because Harry and Tom are bringing her down now and we’re on our way.”
“I’ll be ready,” he assured her. “Neelix out.”
***
Back on the bridge, Janeway invited Tuvok to the surprise party but he respectfully declined, preferring instead to take the conn.
“We’ll save you a piece of cake,” Janeway promised.
“That will not be necessary,” the security chief said. “The Vulcan circulatory system does not react well to high concentrations of sugar. However, please extend my wishes to Seven for a happy birthday.”
“Will do,” Chakotay said, heading for the turbolift.
“Actually, Commander, I have a faster way,” Janeway tapped her comm badge. “Bridge to transporter room, two to beam directly to the mess hall.”
And with a playful snap of her fingers, the commanding officers disappeared in a shimmer of light.