The Other Torres | A Star Trek Fanfiction *Book 1*

Eye of the Needle-Chapter 22

Janeway is asleep in her bed under the stars. "Kim to Captain Janeway." said Harry over the comm. "Janeway here." said Janeway waking up, "Captain, we've got him back. The Romulan." said Harry. "Good work. Put him through to my quarters." said Janeway. She gets up and goes into the main room. "This is Kathryn Janeway." said Janeway. "This is the cargo vessel Talvath." replied Telek. "Thank you for answering our hail, Captain. What is your name? How may I address you?" Janeway asked politely. "I'd prefer not to give my name." replied Telek. "Very well, I understand that you must have been sceptical when I told you where we are. I hope you've been able to verify our position." said Janeway. "My analysis of your hailing frequency seems to indicate that it originates in the Delta quadrant, but I am not precluding the possibility that you've been able to create that illusion somehow." replied Telek. "To what end?" asked Janeway. "I'm not sure. That doesn't negate the possibility." states Telek. "How can I assure you of my truthfulness?" asked Janeway, a little bit desperate. "You say you are a Federation ship. Are you a Starfleet vessel?" asked Telek. "Yes, we are." responds Janeway. "And your mission in the Delta quadrant?" asked Telek. "Our mission was originally in the Alpha quadrant. We were pulled against our will to our present location. Now we're trying to get home." responds Janeway. "Aren't you in fact Starfleet spies on a surveillance mission?" asked Telek still not trusting them, which Janeway understood. "Captain, I understand your concern. Naturally the Romulan Empire doesn't want Starfleet spying on it's science vessels, but since we're seventy thousand light years from Romulan space and a subspace message to Starfleet would take years, I think you have to admit that we can't be much of a threat to you. You have nothing to fear from us." said Janeway. "Soothing words, Captain, but they are only words." says Telek. "If we were spies, we wouldn't be asking what I'm going to ask you now. We have no way of communicating with Starfleet, with our friends and families. We're hoping you might be able to relay a message for us. Our crew is not large. Each of them could write a short personal message. You'd be welcome to read them all before passing them on. I think you'd be convinced that they're nothing more than the heartfelt words of some very lonely people." replies Janeway. "Captain, it would ease my apprehension if I could see that you are who you say you are. I have a signal amplifier on board. I've been working to reconfigure the protocols to penetrate the radiation stream of the wormhole. I think it might be possible to establish a visual link between us." said Telek. "I have no objection. When that's done, will you help us?" asked Janeway. "I make no promises. Let us proceed one step at a time. Have your officers contact me in order to attempt the visual link. Goodnight." said Telek. "Goodnight." replies Janeway.

On the Bridge, Amanda didn't like the idea of working with the Romulan, in fact she opposed it and made no attempt to hide her anger, Amanda being half Klingon had been told of all the Romulan's did to the Klingons from her maternal grandmother L'Naan who always tried to visit her as much as possible, so now Amanda was sulking quietly in her chair. "We're ready to try a visual link with the Romulan ship, Captain." said Tuvok. "Good work." commented Janeway. "We didn't have any trouble configuring the protocols, but that phase variance in the radiation stream gave us a few problems. Torres is going to balance it manually from Engineering." said Harry. "Okay, we've got the communications frequency locked in." said Tom. "On screen." said Janeway. The static eventually resolves itself into the head and shoulders of a Romulan man, Amanda looks up at the screen, the Romulan actually looked a little sad, as if he was missing a family of his own, she relaxes a little and is less angry looking. "I presume you are Captain Janeway." said Telek on the viewscreen. "Yes. I want to thank you, Captain, for maintaining contact with us. It means a great deal to me and to my crew." said Janeway. "I am not familiar with this class of ship." responds Telek. "It's new, but it isn't classified. I'm a little surprised your intelligence hasn't provided you with the information." said Amanda standing up. "I've been in space for over a year, and am not privy to the latest intelligence, but I'm sure that our operatives provided the government with detailed information about your new ship." said Telek. "No doubt. Captain, have you been able to communicate with your government about sending on our messages?" asked Janeway. "I have. They've promised to take the matter under advisement." responds Telek. "I see. And when do you think they will have an answer?" asked Amanda a little dejected at that. "It is impossible to predict the time table of the Romulan Senate. When they've made their decision I will hear from them." responds Telek. "We don't have the luxury of a great deal of time. My officers are predicting that the probe will become inoperable in the next forty eight hours." said Janeway. "Captain, I am a low ranking scientist, a minor functionary. It is not my place to tell the Romulan Senate to speed up their decision making process." replies Telek. "You said you've been in space for over a year. Have you any family?" asked Amanda, thinking on her feet, something she was very good at. "Yes." responds Telek. "I assume they're not with you in space." replied Amanda. "My wife and my daughter are on Romulus." said Telek. "A daughter. How old is she?" asked Amanda. "She is seven months." said Telek. "Then you've never seen her." remarks Amanda. "To my sorrow, no. She'll be two years old before I get back." said Telek, looking sadder. "You must miss your family very much." said Amanda sympathetically, she missed her father and her stepsiblings but at least she had her sister with her. "I knew when I accepted this assignment there would be a price to pay. Perhaps I didn't realise how high that price would be." said Telek. "Captain. Everyone of us on this ship has left behind friends, family, loved ones. We may not see them again for years, maybe never, so we can all understand how lonely you must be. Surely you must understand our feelings as well. We would be deeply grateful for any efforts you might make to persuade your government to send our messages." replied Amanda. "I cannot guarantee success, but I will try to persuade my superiors to make their decision quickly and positively." said Telek. "Thank you." said Amanda. "I will contact you again." responds Telek. Transmission ends. "Nice job, Mandy" comments Harry. "Commander, let's assume he's going to be successful. Tell the crew to prepare personal messages and have them ready within the hour." said Janeway. "With pleasure, Captain." replies Chakotay, when B'Elanna runs in. "Captain, I have to talk to you." she said. "Go ahead, Torres." said Janeway. "No. I mean, in private." said B'Elanna.