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

State of Flux-Chapter 31

[Sickbay]

Janeway and Tuvok enter with Culluh and his escort. "Ah, Captain. I'm glad you're here. I was just about to call you both." said the Doctor. "Doctor, this is First Maje Culluh of the Kazon-Nistrim. Could you give us the latest condition report on your Kazon patient?" asked Janeway. "Well, the good news is, we've been able to stabilise him. We had to completely replace his blood." said the Doctor. "Replace his blood? With what?" asked Culluh.

"The blood of volunteers from our crew. They saved his life." said Janeway. "His own blood cells were killing him. They were changed by the accident on his ship." said the Doctor. "Changed in what manner?" asked Culluh. "We haven't been able to determine that yet." replied the Doctor. "We've been working on a plan to access the source of the explosion, which should answer a lot of the questions." said Janeway.

"That will no longer be necessary. We will take the damaged vessel to our port for inspection." said Culluh. "I'm afraid I can't allow you to do that just yet." said Janeway. "And what gives you the right to interfere in our affairs?" asked Culluh. "There was a trace of a Federation compound in the remains of the explosion. We have reason to believe that someone on board this ship gave technology to your people. Until we have a better explanation of what occurred, I can't release that ship to you." said Janeway.

"That is not acceptable." snapped Culluh. "It will have to be." said Janeway not backing down, the Delta Quadrant from what she'd seen was very misogynistic, but Culluh knew he couldn't do anything to her. "Your unique technologies make you brave, Captain, but you have only one ship. In less than a day there will be four Kazon vessels off your bow." said Culluh. "Perhaps by then we'll have the answers we need." snarked Janeway. "You will leave us with him." said Culluh.

Janeway and the EMH move away from the biobed. "I assume they'll want to take him back to their ship. I'd rather not let them do it just yet in case he regains consciousness. There are a lot of questions he can answer. Can I tell them it's not safe to move him?" she asked. "It will be the truth." said the Doctor. "Good." said Janeway.

A needle comes from Culluh's ring and he injects the injured Kazon. Tuvok spots in and leaps forward to grab him. "He's dead." said the Doctor. "Get off this ship." said Janeway. Tuvok escorts the Kazon out. "There was some kind of nerve toxin in that needle. He died instantly. Captain, may we talk to you in my office?" the Doctor asked.

[Doctor's office]

"It's about Seska." said the Doctor. "Complications?" asked Janeway. "I was analysing her blood chemistry to try to locate a compatible donor. But when I got the results, her blood was lacking all the common Bajoran blood factors." said Kes.

"Meaning?" asked Janeway slightly confused. "The only conclusion we can reach is that she is not, in fact, Bajoran. It appears Seska has been genetically altered. My suspicion is she was born Cardassian." said the Doctor.

[Ready room]

"You're making me to believe she's a Cardassian agent who infiltrated the Maquis?" Chakotay was getting pissed off now, Amanda was in the room with them, she might not like Seska but that doesn't mean she's a Cardassian, although with what's just been heard, Seska sounds like she is Cardassian. 

"Starfleet Security has documented several incidents in which Cardassian have used cosmetic alterations for the purpose of infiltrating an enemy." said Tuvok. "This is crazy. This is just impossible." said Chakotay.

"The Doctor has informed us that there's no other plausible explanation for the medical anomalies, Commander." said Tuvok. "If you don't mind, I'd like to hear her explanation before we dismiss it. Has she been told?" asked Chakotay. "No." said Janeway. "I'd like to be the one who questions her." said Chakotay. "I suggest we wait until we retrieve the console. Janeway to Torres." said Janeway.