[STV: J/P Fic] Modulation XII
Modulation
Sydney Alexis
XII [Twelve]
There is the empty chapel, only the wind’s home.
It has no windows, and the door swings,
Dry bones can harm no one.
T.S. Eliot
"We only have a few minutes," B'Elanna ventured, hoping to prod her into getting dressed.
Kathryn's deep, haunted, tear-filled eyes turned, seeking answers. "And what if I want to stay here?"
B'Elanna searched her captain's face seeking any sort of false meaning behind what was said, seeing none, she replied bluntly, "If you stay here, they'll kill you. If you try to escape with us, you stand a chance."
She paused briefly trying to divine any sort of response. "Look, I don't know what happened between you and Tom, but you have a crew left that needs you to get them the hell out of here. Either you go willingly or I'll knock you out and drag you behind me. Either way, you're coming with us." A broad smile crossed her lips at the end, letting Kathryn know she meant it as a joke.
"How many are left?" The scrubbing continued.
"Forty seven. All of the senior staff."
"Less than half."
"We only have a few more minutes before the guard change." B'Elanna said, reaching into the closet to pull out her captain's boots and a pair of pants.
Kathryn set the sponge down and stepped back to survey her work. "You can still see it. Must be a porous material. Will probably always be pink," she said, reaching out her hand to trace the outline.
"We can scan the walls from the ship. We can blow the whole damned compound up if you want. Just get dressed so we can get out of here."
B'Elanna thrust the clothing bundle into Kathryn's hands. The latter looked down at the fabric then back at the wall. "Did you manage to release everyone from The Yard?"
Blowing out a puff of air, B'Elanna nodded. "Yeah. Didn't take much convincing. Now hurry. I'll wait in the living room."
§ Ø §
The inky blackness of his office was only broken by the screen's light. It filtered through various pictures of The Yard, The Farm, and the generals behind their creation. Somehow, his guards had failed him. The information had been leaked. His attention was not drawn by the sound of the door opening behind him nor from the throat being cleared.
"Doctor," he voice, evenly. "You'll forgive my lack of a surprise at your appearance."
"You seemed to have missed your weekly injection, G'Tol Kairon, sir."
"Laying it on a bit thick, aren't you?" He said, swerving around in his chair. "I suppose you've entered just enough of your witch's brew to make me ill but not kill me."
The doctor's stunned expression rose to meet Kairon.
"You and I aren't that much different."
"With all due respect..."
"We're both killers. Both created for the sole purpose of serving those that society deemed as better than us. Both reprogrammed and recreated if either of us steps out of line by our keepers. Both forced to do work that we may or may not agree with fundamentally. And, in the end, when we have outlived our usefulness or have proved ourselves to be too much of a hassle, they will terminate us."
"Quite a beautiful monologue. Did you make it up on the spur of the moment, or have you been planning it awhile now?"
A cruel smile twisted as Kairon's lips. "I didn't expect you to feel sorry for me, Doctor. I was merely putting my life and death into perspective for you."
"And while I don't agree with your methods, you are only doing what your superiors ordered you to do," the Doctor supplied with faux sincererity.
Kairon nodded his head. "You recreate the act and fail to see it. We killed to protect and provide for our people just as you have killed us for the same."
The Doctor opened his mouth to speak but was stopped by Kairon's raised hand. "Within your computer's core, you will find all the information that my people have gathered about cloning. While you might disagree with the methods in which it was perfected, it might prove to be of use to you someday. Don't let the information be lost," Kairon said, swerving in his chair again, looking at the monitors.
The doctor touched the base of his hypospray, increasing the dosage before approaching Kairon. The soldier made no effort to stop him.
"It will take approximately fifteen hours to overtake your system. Until then, you will be a carrier. All those you come in contact with stand the chance of becoming ill."
Kairon nodded his understanding.
"If you don't mind me asking, how did you figure it out?" the Doctor ventured.
Their eyes met. Kairon smiled briefly at the Doctor.
"It's what I would have done."
§ Ø §
There was no warning klaxons. No shouts to halt. Nor was their phaser fire as Tom and Neelix exited the nursery with Hope in tow. The tiny baby was nestled against the Talaxian's brightly colored tunic, giggling happily as the three of them walked quickly down the hallway.
"We're to meet the others at the science lab. Harry is going to guide us to the transport shuttles," Neelix whispered.
Tom nodded absentmindedly, ear attuned to the sound of the approaching guard. He could feel his heart pounding in his ears as the thunk of boots against the flooring grew near. A hand's breath from the edge of the hall, Tom raced around the corner, smashing his fist into the guard's neck. A deep gurgling sound and the sputtering of blood from his mouth followed as the guard fell to his knees, eyes locking on his attacker.
Neelix rounded the corner, holding Hope closer to his chest to block her view.
"H-how did you..." he stuttered.
"New Zealand. Sometimes it pays to tap into your roots," Tom explained as he reached down to take the guard's weapons-- a dagger, a phaser rifle, and a hand gun-- before they resumed their course.
Two left turns and one right found them a few meters from the science lab and a brawl that had broken out between B'Elanna, Kathryn, and the guards assigned to this sector. B'Elanna was holding her own, matching her attacker hit for hit. Kathryn, on the other hand was pressed against the wall. One guard's beefy hands were wrapped around her neck, her feet dangling helplessly off the ground as her nails clawed at his face in an attempt to free herself. In the space of time it took for Tom to react, she had managed to gore one of the guard's eyes out. He howled in pain and tightened his grip on her throat all but cutting off the flow of oxygen and blood through her system. Light headedness turned into bouts of blackness.
She watched from over the guard's shoulder as Tom raised his rifle and fired at the guard that held her against the wall. An unidentifiable look passed between them, and she couldn't help but feel the irony in the situation; he'd had her pinned to a wall not more than half an hour before.
Her eyes darted from him to the child in Neelix's arms and back again. Any further interaction was cut short by the scream the guard released. It, coupled with the sound of the weapon's discharge made the other four guards turn toward the shooter. All advanced on Tom, Neelix, and Hope. Tom began firing rounds, noting that these were Royal guards--built to protect Kairon alone, and were taking a lot more fire to slow them. Ten steps saw them surrounded and a meaty fist connecting with Tom's side. His pilfered weapon went clambering across the ground.
Neelix took a step back as one of the guards came toward him. Hope began wailing in his arms, sensing the fear and danger around her. Neelix did the only thing that he could do, set the baby down and began fighting for their lives. The first blow the guard gave sent him flying against the wall so hard it left an indentation. The second left a gash in his forehead that let blood seep into his left eye. Undaunted, he rose, adrenalin giving strength and blocking out sanity as he advanced on the guard, striking him hard in the knee cap. The guard howled in pain as the joint folded in on itself.
Repeating the move he had seen Tom commit only a few moments before, Neelix pulled back his fist and allowed it to fly at the guards neck, missing the voice box and landing at the cordid artery. The guard fell backwards with a loud thud. Unsure of if he was dead or unconscious, Neelix grabbed his hand phaser from the guard's belt and fired at his chest. The wound expanded, burning through flesh, muscle, sinew, and bone until the floor beneath was clearly visible. He turned then, firing on the two guards Tom and B'Elanna were struggling to dispatch.
A weary eye turned on Neelix. "I told you to take her and I'd clear the way," Tom spat angrily, scooping his daughter up into his arms. His eyes drawn to the blood that speckled across her face.
"A baby?" B'Elanna breathed beside him. "You and the Captain had a baby while you were here?" Not even trying to suppress the hurt sound.
Tom's eyes darted toward Kathryn who was leaning heavily against a doorframe, trying to catch her breath.
"In a matter of speaking, yeah."
§ Ø §
"I had hoped I would never live to see this day, but as surely as your men failed to find the information Kenoshia was carrying so shall we all die." Gepek, the Chief Liaison to the Industrial Order stated, folding his hands in front of him.
"What does the Order intend to do?" One of the board's two military advisors inquired, taking a long sip of the iced water in front of him.
"What they always planned to do," Gepek said, shrugging his shoulders. His eyes turned from the empty seat once filled by Talken to Kairon. "We are canceling the project and removing all proof of its existence. Your sacrifice is for the glory of our empire."
"End of Days." Kairon spat out bitterly.
"It was only a matter of time before it was enacted. You might be physically more advanced, but your mental capacity is scrambled by all that genetic engineering. After all...you did allow this to happen to yourself."
"I did nothing of the sort," Kairon thundered, standing a bit too quickly, grabbing the edge of the table to right himself.
"A likely story. You are already showing the signs of the weariness caused by the stress of your command. You cannot even keep control over your guards and prisoners."
"Having you encouraging his men to go against him did not help, Gepek," the elder military leader spoke.
"Oh really? And how do you propose we keep our checks and balances in one place, hmmm? He can't even keep this illness from spreading out. It's just further example that this entire project was a bad idea from the start. That's why your services are no longer need..."
"Once your creations are all destroyed, your people will no longer be living in the comforts they once enjoyed."
"We shall see," Gepek said, pausing to read over the orders he had been handed that morning. "You are to see to the project, of course."
"No need for the Order to get themselves entangled with such a mess."
"Precisely," Gepek said, standing. "I will assume you will remember the order of events, but, in case there is any question in your mind, this PADD has all of the details." With that, he stood and began walking toward the large double doors. He was halted by Kairon's parting words.
"Funny thing about the illness spreading across The Farm; it seems to have become airborne. All those with Kamien blood have become infected. I wonder how quickly it will spread among those that are full blood."
§ Ø §
The quarantine section was relatively easy to get to considering few guards were willing to keep watch of prisoners that may or may not be at fault for the illness sweeping the compound. With only a handful of words, Tuvok had managed to heard all of the surrounding guards into an adjacent hallway and give them a lethal dosage of the serum.
With a silent motion, Chakotay signaled for Seven to step forward and override the door latch. With practiced precision, she flipped open the tricorder, glad to feel the familiar weight in her hand. Assimilation tubules inserted themselves into the device and a blue beam emanated from the front of it. The door's answering green beam scanned her. The two colors met, swirled and formed a purplish mixture.
"Recognize G'tol Kairon. Welcome to the Quarantine Holding Center A. Current count-- 13. All humanoid. Voyager Alphas."
Chell was the first to speak. The first to stand. His eyes blinked once, twice, and his fist came up to rub his eyes. "Seven?"
"Come. Quickly. We are escaping."
§ Ø §
"Are you sure this order is correct, sir?"
The Yard's forth in command nodded his head slowly. "Information has been leaked to the private sector. All proof must be erased..."
"Up to and including all clones," the first guard interjected, climbing into the oven after setting the time release knob.
"If non-compliance means death, and they have ordered us to 'erase all evidence' why are we simply following orders still?"
§ Ø §
Harry stood at his post, entering the final codes that would break the captain's security lock out and allow Tuvok to beam the guards on the ship into the mountains.
His consul blinked once...twice. Finally the light came on. He signaled Tuvok with a silent nod. They waited in silence until they heard the sound of the turbolift. It clicked into place, and, with a swish of the doors, B'Elanna stepped out, phaser raised.
Tuvok used that moment of confusion to lock onto and beam the guards off the ship.
B'Elanna stepped out followed closely by Kathryn.
"Captain on the bridge," Harry said, with a sense of pride.
She cast a glance at Tuvok, offering him a warm smile. "Are all the crew that's alive accounted for?"
"43. We lost a few trying to get aboard, Captain."
The lift doors opened again. Seven, Chakotay, Tom, Neelix, and Hope exited this time. Kathryn's eyes fell on the child briefly. She watched curious grey eyes turn and meet hers. Chubby arms reaching for the fuzzy object in the distance that Hope understood was somehow connected to her. Kathryn's eyes left the child to turn on the person holding her. An unspoken question passed between them--why bring her on the bridge-- before turning back to the view screen. Behind her, she heard the sound of the turbolift doors open and close again.
"Those with major injures are in sickbay. The rest are at their posts."
Captain Janeway nodded. "Mr. Paris, take the con. Mr. Tuvok, as soon as Harry gets the shield around the ship down, I want you to lock onto The Farm, Yard and fire at will."
"Yes, Captain."
She slipped onto the end of her chair, suppressing a scream as her body made contact. The long walk to the bridge had been enough to reopen barely sealed wounds and blood was still seeping through her shirt though those on the bridge pretended not to notice. In days past, they would have at least made the subtle suggestion to visit the Doctor.
§ Ø §
Kairon sat at his desk reading over the PADD he had been given hours before. Gepek had intentionally used the same one that Kenoshia had delivered to him; the soldier's DNA was still fresh as was the infection. His eyes were drawn to the screens on the far side of his office.
His guards were gathered for their evening meal.
Tanari was hard a work in the greenhouse trying to find a cure.
The Beta Voyager clones were gathered in clumps talking.
The quarters of the originals were all empty.
The hallways leading to them and the transport vehicles were filled with dead soldiers.
All of Voyager's shuttles were missing from the Kamien bay that had held them for over a year, and a long disabled ship that had mysteriously powered up.
Hand resting limply on his consul, his fingers twitched over the warning klaxon. It was his duty to warn the Industrial Order's fleet of any escape attempt. It would mean his death and the death of all of his men if he didn't report it. But he was already ordered to put them to death. His fingers moved to the panel on the left, coming to rest on his communications array instead.
§ Ø §
"Captain, we're receiving a message from Kairon. It's text only."
Janeway turned in her seat.
"What does it say, Mr. Kim?"
"It's addressed to the Doctor. It says "Even killers can show some compassion."
The screen before the ship blinked twice and then the green shroud in front of the view screen disappeared. Kathryn turned toward Tuvok asking wordlessly if she was seeing things clearly. His eyebrow raised marginally higher.
"It would appear that Kairon has lowered the shield holding Voyager in place."
"Yellow alert. Begin the assent, Mr. Paris."
"Aye, Captain."
The ship rolled and lurched as Tom manually went through the ship's take off procedures. "We're climbing, retracting landing struts. Fifteen seconds until we clear the upper atmosphere."
"No resistance detected," Tuvok intoned, not raising his eyes from his read-outs.
"Now in standard orbit, Captain."
"Targeting all cloning facilities."
"Fire at will."
The assembled crew watched the image called up through the main view screen as several sprays of orange torpedoes blazed their way through the atmosphere making contact with the surface of The Farm and Yard. Billowing grey towers of smoke and craters remained. Builds on the outreaching areas were consumed with bright orange flames that leapt high into the air, occassionally biting their way through the hazy fog.
"The Yard has been destroyed, The Farm has taken heavy damage."
She nodded absently. A year in the making and yet if felt empty. It went too simply. Without problem. It was an anti-climatic victory at best.
"Captain, we have three Kamien vessels approaching from the aft."
"Tuvok."
"Targeting. Direct hit to their lead vessel. Shields are down 34%. They are returning fire."
"Evasive maneuvers, Tom. Try and put some distance between us."
"On it."
"Tuvok, target their resource hold, weaponry and ship farms."
"Captain..."
"Do it!"
"Aye. Targeting."
"Kamien vessels are thirteen seconds from weapons range."
"Slip stream charged and ready," B'Elanna called from her station.
Janeway's eyes darted towards her in confusion then back to the view screen.
"Holds destroyed. Ten percent of civilian population was hit as well."
"Engaging slip stream," Tom replied, not waiting for the further orders. The ship lurked again as it had during take off.
Kathryn sat, feeling the deck plates vibrating beneath her feet, watching the stars swirl horribly out of control until all there remained were a host deep blue tendrils that surrounded the ship and held it like a vice as they were hurled toward their escape.
"Kamiens are pursuing. They've entered the slip stream."
"Reverse view."
Turning in her seat, she cast her gaze upon Tuvok. "Target the area around their shield emitters."
"That area is only crew quarters, Captain. Non-essential." Harry replied, dutifully scanning the area.
"Kathryn?" Chakotay questioned quietly in that syrupy-sweet voice he reserved for her. The icy stare made shrink back slightly.
"I've had a full year to rethink our attack. I spent months rebuilding their shuttles, repairing damage done by other vessels, pouring over reports and schematics of their ships. I know where their weaknesses are and I know how to use them against the Kamiens."
"Direct hit to the second ship. It's shields are down."
"It's exiting the steam," Harry replied.
"Firing on the lead ship. Shields down to sixty-seven point three percent. They're still pursuing."
"The third ship is taking up a flanking position and is firing."
"Shields down 73%"
"Tuvok, vent hydrogen from the Bussard collectors."
"Hydrogen vented."
"Wait for it. Wait for it."
"They are closing in fast."
"Fire!"
"Tom..."
"I'm on it."
"Slip stream is losing cohesion," B'Elanna called out from her station. "We won't be able to hold it much longer."
"The first ship's shields are down to 3%. The third are down to 56.3%. Neither ship is breaking off their attack."
"Fire at will."
Janeway watched the screen as the swirling blue of the stream was interrupted by a volley of orange fire shooting through the field toward the first vessel. It broke apart at impact, debris flying in all directions.
"The final ship's shields are down 23.5%. They are breaking off their attack."
Kathryn nodded, standing on shaky legs and walked with uneven steps toward her ready room. Stopping on impulse to stand behind Tom, she placed her hand on her shoulder.
Darkened eyes turned to meet hers. The smirk usually associated with such action a year before was missing.
"Lay in a course for home, Mr. Paris."
He nodded and turned from her. Recoiling, she turned and walked wearily into her old sanctuary to find her coffee cup still resting on her desk where she had left it, the liquid long since evaporated. With a sigh, she slumped into her sofa and buried her face in her hands.
End.
Sydney Alexis
XII [Twelve]
There is the empty chapel, only the wind’s home.
It has no windows, and the door swings,
Dry bones can harm no one.
T.S. Eliot
"We only have a few minutes," B'Elanna ventured, hoping to prod her into getting dressed.
Kathryn's deep, haunted, tear-filled eyes turned, seeking answers. "And what if I want to stay here?"
B'Elanna searched her captain's face seeking any sort of false meaning behind what was said, seeing none, she replied bluntly, "If you stay here, they'll kill you. If you try to escape with us, you stand a chance."
She paused briefly trying to divine any sort of response. "Look, I don't know what happened between you and Tom, but you have a crew left that needs you to get them the hell out of here. Either you go willingly or I'll knock you out and drag you behind me. Either way, you're coming with us." A broad smile crossed her lips at the end, letting Kathryn know she meant it as a joke.
"How many are left?" The scrubbing continued.
"Forty seven. All of the senior staff."
"Less than half."
"We only have a few more minutes before the guard change." B'Elanna said, reaching into the closet to pull out her captain's boots and a pair of pants.
Kathryn set the sponge down and stepped back to survey her work. "You can still see it. Must be a porous material. Will probably always be pink," she said, reaching out her hand to trace the outline.
"We can scan the walls from the ship. We can blow the whole damned compound up if you want. Just get dressed so we can get out of here."
B'Elanna thrust the clothing bundle into Kathryn's hands. The latter looked down at the fabric then back at the wall. "Did you manage to release everyone from The Yard?"
Blowing out a puff of air, B'Elanna nodded. "Yeah. Didn't take much convincing. Now hurry. I'll wait in the living room."
§ Ø §
The inky blackness of his office was only broken by the screen's light. It filtered through various pictures of The Yard, The Farm, and the generals behind their creation. Somehow, his guards had failed him. The information had been leaked. His attention was not drawn by the sound of the door opening behind him nor from the throat being cleared.
"Doctor," he voice, evenly. "You'll forgive my lack of a surprise at your appearance."
"You seemed to have missed your weekly injection, G'Tol Kairon, sir."
"Laying it on a bit thick, aren't you?" He said, swerving around in his chair. "I suppose you've entered just enough of your witch's brew to make me ill but not kill me."
The doctor's stunned expression rose to meet Kairon.
"You and I aren't that much different."
"With all due respect..."
"We're both killers. Both created for the sole purpose of serving those that society deemed as better than us. Both reprogrammed and recreated if either of us steps out of line by our keepers. Both forced to do work that we may or may not agree with fundamentally. And, in the end, when we have outlived our usefulness or have proved ourselves to be too much of a hassle, they will terminate us."
"Quite a beautiful monologue. Did you make it up on the spur of the moment, or have you been planning it awhile now?"
A cruel smile twisted as Kairon's lips. "I didn't expect you to feel sorry for me, Doctor. I was merely putting my life and death into perspective for you."
"And while I don't agree with your methods, you are only doing what your superiors ordered you to do," the Doctor supplied with faux sincererity.
Kairon nodded his head. "You recreate the act and fail to see it. We killed to protect and provide for our people just as you have killed us for the same."
The Doctor opened his mouth to speak but was stopped by Kairon's raised hand. "Within your computer's core, you will find all the information that my people have gathered about cloning. While you might disagree with the methods in which it was perfected, it might prove to be of use to you someday. Don't let the information be lost," Kairon said, swerving in his chair again, looking at the monitors.
The doctor touched the base of his hypospray, increasing the dosage before approaching Kairon. The soldier made no effort to stop him.
"It will take approximately fifteen hours to overtake your system. Until then, you will be a carrier. All those you come in contact with stand the chance of becoming ill."
Kairon nodded his understanding.
"If you don't mind me asking, how did you figure it out?" the Doctor ventured.
Their eyes met. Kairon smiled briefly at the Doctor.
"It's what I would have done."
§ Ø §
There was no warning klaxons. No shouts to halt. Nor was their phaser fire as Tom and Neelix exited the nursery with Hope in tow. The tiny baby was nestled against the Talaxian's brightly colored tunic, giggling happily as the three of them walked quickly down the hallway.
"We're to meet the others at the science lab. Harry is going to guide us to the transport shuttles," Neelix whispered.
Tom nodded absentmindedly, ear attuned to the sound of the approaching guard. He could feel his heart pounding in his ears as the thunk of boots against the flooring grew near. A hand's breath from the edge of the hall, Tom raced around the corner, smashing his fist into the guard's neck. A deep gurgling sound and the sputtering of blood from his mouth followed as the guard fell to his knees, eyes locking on his attacker.
Neelix rounded the corner, holding Hope closer to his chest to block her view.
"H-how did you..." he stuttered.
"New Zealand. Sometimes it pays to tap into your roots," Tom explained as he reached down to take the guard's weapons-- a dagger, a phaser rifle, and a hand gun-- before they resumed their course.
Two left turns and one right found them a few meters from the science lab and a brawl that had broken out between B'Elanna, Kathryn, and the guards assigned to this sector. B'Elanna was holding her own, matching her attacker hit for hit. Kathryn, on the other hand was pressed against the wall. One guard's beefy hands were wrapped around her neck, her feet dangling helplessly off the ground as her nails clawed at his face in an attempt to free herself. In the space of time it took for Tom to react, she had managed to gore one of the guard's eyes out. He howled in pain and tightened his grip on her throat all but cutting off the flow of oxygen and blood through her system. Light headedness turned into bouts of blackness.
She watched from over the guard's shoulder as Tom raised his rifle and fired at the guard that held her against the wall. An unidentifiable look passed between them, and she couldn't help but feel the irony in the situation; he'd had her pinned to a wall not more than half an hour before.
Her eyes darted from him to the child in Neelix's arms and back again. Any further interaction was cut short by the scream the guard released. It, coupled with the sound of the weapon's discharge made the other four guards turn toward the shooter. All advanced on Tom, Neelix, and Hope. Tom began firing rounds, noting that these were Royal guards--built to protect Kairon alone, and were taking a lot more fire to slow them. Ten steps saw them surrounded and a meaty fist connecting with Tom's side. His pilfered weapon went clambering across the ground.
Neelix took a step back as one of the guards came toward him. Hope began wailing in his arms, sensing the fear and danger around her. Neelix did the only thing that he could do, set the baby down and began fighting for their lives. The first blow the guard gave sent him flying against the wall so hard it left an indentation. The second left a gash in his forehead that let blood seep into his left eye. Undaunted, he rose, adrenalin giving strength and blocking out sanity as he advanced on the guard, striking him hard in the knee cap. The guard howled in pain as the joint folded in on itself.
Repeating the move he had seen Tom commit only a few moments before, Neelix pulled back his fist and allowed it to fly at the guards neck, missing the voice box and landing at the cordid artery. The guard fell backwards with a loud thud. Unsure of if he was dead or unconscious, Neelix grabbed his hand phaser from the guard's belt and fired at his chest. The wound expanded, burning through flesh, muscle, sinew, and bone until the floor beneath was clearly visible. He turned then, firing on the two guards Tom and B'Elanna were struggling to dispatch.
A weary eye turned on Neelix. "I told you to take her and I'd clear the way," Tom spat angrily, scooping his daughter up into his arms. His eyes drawn to the blood that speckled across her face.
"A baby?" B'Elanna breathed beside him. "You and the Captain had a baby while you were here?" Not even trying to suppress the hurt sound.
Tom's eyes darted toward Kathryn who was leaning heavily against a doorframe, trying to catch her breath.
"In a matter of speaking, yeah."
§ Ø §
"I had hoped I would never live to see this day, but as surely as your men failed to find the information Kenoshia was carrying so shall we all die." Gepek, the Chief Liaison to the Industrial Order stated, folding his hands in front of him.
"What does the Order intend to do?" One of the board's two military advisors inquired, taking a long sip of the iced water in front of him.
"What they always planned to do," Gepek said, shrugging his shoulders. His eyes turned from the empty seat once filled by Talken to Kairon. "We are canceling the project and removing all proof of its existence. Your sacrifice is for the glory of our empire."
"End of Days." Kairon spat out bitterly.
"It was only a matter of time before it was enacted. You might be physically more advanced, but your mental capacity is scrambled by all that genetic engineering. After all...you did allow this to happen to yourself."
"I did nothing of the sort," Kairon thundered, standing a bit too quickly, grabbing the edge of the table to right himself.
"A likely story. You are already showing the signs of the weariness caused by the stress of your command. You cannot even keep control over your guards and prisoners."
"Having you encouraging his men to go against him did not help, Gepek," the elder military leader spoke.
"Oh really? And how do you propose we keep our checks and balances in one place, hmmm? He can't even keep this illness from spreading out. It's just further example that this entire project was a bad idea from the start. That's why your services are no longer need..."
"Once your creations are all destroyed, your people will no longer be living in the comforts they once enjoyed."
"We shall see," Gepek said, pausing to read over the orders he had been handed that morning. "You are to see to the project, of course."
"No need for the Order to get themselves entangled with such a mess."
"Precisely," Gepek said, standing. "I will assume you will remember the order of events, but, in case there is any question in your mind, this PADD has all of the details." With that, he stood and began walking toward the large double doors. He was halted by Kairon's parting words.
"Funny thing about the illness spreading across The Farm; it seems to have become airborne. All those with Kamien blood have become infected. I wonder how quickly it will spread among those that are full blood."
§ Ø §
The quarantine section was relatively easy to get to considering few guards were willing to keep watch of prisoners that may or may not be at fault for the illness sweeping the compound. With only a handful of words, Tuvok had managed to heard all of the surrounding guards into an adjacent hallway and give them a lethal dosage of the serum.
With a silent motion, Chakotay signaled for Seven to step forward and override the door latch. With practiced precision, she flipped open the tricorder, glad to feel the familiar weight in her hand. Assimilation tubules inserted themselves into the device and a blue beam emanated from the front of it. The door's answering green beam scanned her. The two colors met, swirled and formed a purplish mixture.
"Recognize G'tol Kairon. Welcome to the Quarantine Holding Center A. Current count-- 13. All humanoid. Voyager Alphas."
Chell was the first to speak. The first to stand. His eyes blinked once, twice, and his fist came up to rub his eyes. "Seven?"
"Come. Quickly. We are escaping."
§ Ø §
"Are you sure this order is correct, sir?"
The Yard's forth in command nodded his head slowly. "Information has been leaked to the private sector. All proof must be erased..."
"Up to and including all clones," the first guard interjected, climbing into the oven after setting the time release knob.
"If non-compliance means death, and they have ordered us to 'erase all evidence' why are we simply following orders still?"
§ Ø §
Harry stood at his post, entering the final codes that would break the captain's security lock out and allow Tuvok to beam the guards on the ship into the mountains.
His consul blinked once...twice. Finally the light came on. He signaled Tuvok with a silent nod. They waited in silence until they heard the sound of the turbolift. It clicked into place, and, with a swish of the doors, B'Elanna stepped out, phaser raised.
Tuvok used that moment of confusion to lock onto and beam the guards off the ship.
B'Elanna stepped out followed closely by Kathryn.
"Captain on the bridge," Harry said, with a sense of pride.
She cast a glance at Tuvok, offering him a warm smile. "Are all the crew that's alive accounted for?"
"43. We lost a few trying to get aboard, Captain."
The lift doors opened again. Seven, Chakotay, Tom, Neelix, and Hope exited this time. Kathryn's eyes fell on the child briefly. She watched curious grey eyes turn and meet hers. Chubby arms reaching for the fuzzy object in the distance that Hope understood was somehow connected to her. Kathryn's eyes left the child to turn on the person holding her. An unspoken question passed between them--why bring her on the bridge-- before turning back to the view screen. Behind her, she heard the sound of the turbolift doors open and close again.
"Those with major injures are in sickbay. The rest are at their posts."
Captain Janeway nodded. "Mr. Paris, take the con. Mr. Tuvok, as soon as Harry gets the shield around the ship down, I want you to lock onto The Farm, Yard and fire at will."
"Yes, Captain."
She slipped onto the end of her chair, suppressing a scream as her body made contact. The long walk to the bridge had been enough to reopen barely sealed wounds and blood was still seeping through her shirt though those on the bridge pretended not to notice. In days past, they would have at least made the subtle suggestion to visit the Doctor.
§ Ø §
Kairon sat at his desk reading over the PADD he had been given hours before. Gepek had intentionally used the same one that Kenoshia had delivered to him; the soldier's DNA was still fresh as was the infection. His eyes were drawn to the screens on the far side of his office.
His guards were gathered for their evening meal.
Tanari was hard a work in the greenhouse trying to find a cure.
The Beta Voyager clones were gathered in clumps talking.
The quarters of the originals were all empty.
The hallways leading to them and the transport vehicles were filled with dead soldiers.
All of Voyager's shuttles were missing from the Kamien bay that had held them for over a year, and a long disabled ship that had mysteriously powered up.
Hand resting limply on his consul, his fingers twitched over the warning klaxon. It was his duty to warn the Industrial Order's fleet of any escape attempt. It would mean his death and the death of all of his men if he didn't report it. But he was already ordered to put them to death. His fingers moved to the panel on the left, coming to rest on his communications array instead.
§ Ø §
"Captain, we're receiving a message from Kairon. It's text only."
Janeway turned in her seat.
"What does it say, Mr. Kim?"
"It's addressed to the Doctor. It says "Even killers can show some compassion."
The screen before the ship blinked twice and then the green shroud in front of the view screen disappeared. Kathryn turned toward Tuvok asking wordlessly if she was seeing things clearly. His eyebrow raised marginally higher.
"It would appear that Kairon has lowered the shield holding Voyager in place."
"Yellow alert. Begin the assent, Mr. Paris."
"Aye, Captain."
The ship rolled and lurched as Tom manually went through the ship's take off procedures. "We're climbing, retracting landing struts. Fifteen seconds until we clear the upper atmosphere."
"No resistance detected," Tuvok intoned, not raising his eyes from his read-outs.
"Now in standard orbit, Captain."
"Targeting all cloning facilities."
"Fire at will."
The assembled crew watched the image called up through the main view screen as several sprays of orange torpedoes blazed their way through the atmosphere making contact with the surface of The Farm and Yard. Billowing grey towers of smoke and craters remained. Builds on the outreaching areas were consumed with bright orange flames that leapt high into the air, occassionally biting their way through the hazy fog.
"The Yard has been destroyed, The Farm has taken heavy damage."
She nodded absently. A year in the making and yet if felt empty. It went too simply. Without problem. It was an anti-climatic victory at best.
"Captain, we have three Kamien vessels approaching from the aft."
"Tuvok."
"Targeting. Direct hit to their lead vessel. Shields are down 34%. They are returning fire."
"Evasive maneuvers, Tom. Try and put some distance between us."
"On it."
"Tuvok, target their resource hold, weaponry and ship farms."
"Captain..."
"Do it!"
"Aye. Targeting."
"Kamien vessels are thirteen seconds from weapons range."
"Slip stream charged and ready," B'Elanna called from her station.
Janeway's eyes darted towards her in confusion then back to the view screen.
"Holds destroyed. Ten percent of civilian population was hit as well."
"Engaging slip stream," Tom replied, not waiting for the further orders. The ship lurked again as it had during take off.
Kathryn sat, feeling the deck plates vibrating beneath her feet, watching the stars swirl horribly out of control until all there remained were a host deep blue tendrils that surrounded the ship and held it like a vice as they were hurled toward their escape.
"Kamiens are pursuing. They've entered the slip stream."
"Reverse view."
Turning in her seat, she cast her gaze upon Tuvok. "Target the area around their shield emitters."
"That area is only crew quarters, Captain. Non-essential." Harry replied, dutifully scanning the area.
"Kathryn?" Chakotay questioned quietly in that syrupy-sweet voice he reserved for her. The icy stare made shrink back slightly.
"I've had a full year to rethink our attack. I spent months rebuilding their shuttles, repairing damage done by other vessels, pouring over reports and schematics of their ships. I know where their weaknesses are and I know how to use them against the Kamiens."
"Direct hit to the second ship. It's shields are down."
"It's exiting the steam," Harry replied.
"Firing on the lead ship. Shields down to sixty-seven point three percent. They're still pursuing."
"The third ship is taking up a flanking position and is firing."
"Shields down 73%"
"Tuvok, vent hydrogen from the Bussard collectors."
"Hydrogen vented."
"Wait for it. Wait for it."
"They are closing in fast."
"Fire!"
"Tom..."
"I'm on it."
"Slip stream is losing cohesion," B'Elanna called out from her station. "We won't be able to hold it much longer."
"The first ship's shields are down to 3%. The third are down to 56.3%. Neither ship is breaking off their attack."
"Fire at will."
Janeway watched the screen as the swirling blue of the stream was interrupted by a volley of orange fire shooting through the field toward the first vessel. It broke apart at impact, debris flying in all directions.
"The final ship's shields are down 23.5%. They are breaking off their attack."
Kathryn nodded, standing on shaky legs and walked with uneven steps toward her ready room. Stopping on impulse to stand behind Tom, she placed her hand on her shoulder.
Darkened eyes turned to meet hers. The smirk usually associated with such action a year before was missing.
"Lay in a course for home, Mr. Paris."
He nodded and turned from her. Recoiling, she turned and walked wearily into her old sanctuary to find her coffee cup still resting on her desk where she had left it, the liquid long since evaporated. With a sigh, she slumped into her sofa and buried her face in her hands.
End.