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

The Cloud (part 3)

[USS Voyager]

B'Elanna had put a sample into a centrifuge in Engineering and found the results interesting.

„Computer, activate Emergency Medical Holographic Programme.", she said.

„Please state the nature of the medical emergency.", the doctor said as he appeared in front of her.

„Why do you always have to say that?", B'Elanna asked.

„I can only speculate about my programmer's motives. Perhaps he thought I might be summoned for important reasons.", the doctor replied.

„Under the circumstances, don't you think you really ought to change your programme?", B'Elanna asked.

„Now there's an interesting concept. A hologram that programs himself. What would I do with that ability? Create a family? Raise an army?", the doctor asked.

„I know a little about holographic programming. I could probably reprogram you.", B'Elanna proposed.

„That makes me feel particularly confident.", the doctor said sarcastically.

„Has anyone ever told you, you have a lousy attitude?", B'Elanna wanted to know.

„If you don't like the doctor's attitude, there's a man sitting in a console in the Jupiter Station Holoprogramming Centre you can write to. His name is Zimmerman. He looks a lot like me, actually. Now, not that I don't enjoy the repartee, but was there a reason you stopped in?", the doctor asked.

„I need a second opinion on this.", B'Elanna said.

„Who gave you the first opinion?", the doctor wanted to know.

„I gave it to myself. It's a sample of residue we picked up in a nebula.", B'Elanna stated.

„A nebula? What were we doing in a nebula? No, wait, don't tell me. We were investigating. That's all we do around here. Why pretend we're going home at all? All we're going to do is investigate every cubic millimetre of this quadrant, aren't we?", the doctor asked.

„The molecules are isolinear. No polycyclic structures, but-", B'Elanna started but was interrupted by the doctor.

„But this is what brought you to me, isn't it? The nucleogenic peptide bonds.", he said.

„Is it some kind of phosopholipid fibre?", B'Elanna asked.

„And you were doing so well. No, I suspect it's something far more interesting than that.", the doctor said.

-

Chakotay entered Kathryn's ready room, carrying a skin.

„Come in.", Kathryn said.

„Repair crews have degaussed the hull, Captain.", Chakotay told her.

„Good. Let's plan an oh seven hundred departure. What's this?", Kathryn wanted to know.

„My medicine bundle. I've never showed it to anyone before. After what you said this morning, I thought it was important to let you see.", Chakotay explained.

„Will it help me find my animal guide?", Kathryn asked.

„Eventually you'll have to assemble your own medicine bundle, but this will allow me to assist you in your quest for a guide.", Chakotay explained.

„Now?", Kathryn asked.

„Now.", she realized.

Chakotay went up the step to the informal area by the window, put his bundle on the low table and sat down on the floor. It took a moment for Janeway to take the hint and join him.