It's up to you - A Star Trek: Voyager Fanfiction

The Caretaker (part 4)

[Ocampa hospital]

„He's regaining consciousness.", a nurse stated.

„How do you feel?", a doctor asked Harry.

„What am I doing here? Where am I?", Harry wanted to know.

„Please don't try to move yet. You are very ill.", the nurse said.

„Ill? No, no. There's some mistake. I'm not-", he started and saw down on himself. There were growths on his forearm and chest. He then saw Thalia sitting on another bed. She was awfully calm for the situation they were in.

Suddenly B'Elanna woke up and shouted: „No!"

She leaped off the bed, pushed the doctor away and tried to force open the door. The nurse summoned help as B'Elanna beat up the doctor. Two medics entered and held her, as the doctor gave her a hypo to knock her out again.

-

„Captain's log, stardate 48315.6. We've traced the energy pulses from the array to the fifth planet of the neighbouring system and believe they may have been used in some fashion to transport Kim, Thalia and Torres to the planet's surface."

[USS Voyager]

The doorbell to Kathryn's readyroom rang.

„Come in.", she said.

Tuvok came in the room.

„Captain, I've observed something peculiar about the pulses. They're getting faster.", he told her.

„Faster.", Kathryn repeated.

„The interval between each pulse has decreased by point four seven seconds since we arrived. I can offer no explanation.", Tuvok said.

„That's only one of the mysteries we're dealing with, Mister Tuvok. Take a look at this.", Kathryn said and showed Tuvok a scan of the planet on her desk monitor.

„It's virtually a desert. Not one ocean, not one river. It has all the basic characteristics of an M-class planet except there are no nucleogenic particles in the atmosphere.a, she explained her foundings.

„That would mean the planet is incapable of producing rain.", Tuvok stated.

„I've studied thousands of M-class planets. I've never seen an atmosphere without nucleogenics. There must have been some kind of extraordinary environmental disaster. As soon as repairs are complete, we'll set a course for the fifth planet.", Kathryn said.

„Captain, you require sleep.", Tuvok stated.

„Kim's mother called me just after he left her. Delightful woman. He's her only son. He'd left his clarinet behind. She wanted to know if she had time to send it. I had to tell her no. Did you know he played clarinet in the Julliard Youth Symphony? And Thalia. I've been friends with her family since I was a teenager. I watched her grow up. She means a lot to me you know.", Kathryn told Tuvok.

„I did not have the opportunity to meet Mister Kim or Lieutenant Zat.", Tuvok said.

„I barely knew him. I never seem to have the chance to get to know any of them. I have to, I have to take more time to do that. It's a fine crew and I've got to get them home.", Kathryn stated.

„The crew will not benefit from the leadership of an exhausted captain.", Tuvok said.

„You're right as usual. I've missed your counsel, Tuvok.", Kathryn replied.

„I am gratified that you came after me so I can offer it once again.", Tuvok stated.

„I spoke to your family before I left.", Kathryn said.