Star Trek: Voyager (ReBoot) - 1.03 - Parallax

[Bry_Sinclair]

Star Trek: Voyager

1.03

“Parallax”​

[Sickbay]
It’s rather busy in the medical facility, the DOCTOR is seeing to a patient on the main biobed, whilst Lieutenant Commander RO LAREN (her arms crossed tightly across her chest) and Lieutenant TUVOK (his hands clasped behind his back) watch on. When the DOCTOR moves to an equipment tray—obviously annoyed at both having to get his own instruments as well as the meeting taking place in his sickbay—the patient is revealed to be Lieutenant JOE CAREY, who is holding a very bloody nose.​

CAREY: (though his voice is muffled due to his injury, it is clear he is very angry) She’s not just out of control! She’s out of her mind!​

TUVOK: (calmly) If you would explain what happened, Lieutenant.​

CAREY: (scrutinises TUVOK) She hit me is what happened!​

The DOCTOR returns to the biobed with a tool.​

DOCTOR: Your nose is broken in three places. I’ll need to reset the ethmoid fossa. Try not to move.​

The DOCTOR begins applying the medical device to the engineer’s broken nose.​

CAREY: We were finishing up repairs to the power distribution grid. She wanted to realign the lateral plasma conduit. I told her that would cause an overload. She wouldn't listen—she’s been aboard for five days, and she already thinks she knows better than I do. I told her to step aside and let me handle it. She pushed me away from the console. I pushed back. (he becomes a little more animated to emphasis his point, which annoys the DOCTOR, who turns CAREY back to face him) Next thing I knew, I was lying on the deck with blood pouring down my face.​

RO: (agitated and a little annoyed) Then what happened?​

CAREY: (scoffs) She said, “Sorry. Maybe you should go to Sickbay.” (he moves again, annoying the DOCTOR yet again)​

DOCTOR: At least she gave you some good advice. Now—​

The DOCTOR grips his face firmly and applies the medical tool once again, a little more vigorously than before.​

CAREY: (yelps) Ow!​

DOCTOR: (forcefully) Hold still!​

RO: Don’t worry, Lieutenant. I’ll take care of this.​

RO and TUVOK head for the exit. CAREY pushes the DOCTOR out the way.​

CAREY: (calling after them) You keep that woman out of my Engine Room and everything will be fine!​

The DOCTOR grips him tightly and with more force than is really needed applies the tool.​

CAREY: (yelps) Ow!​

DOCTOR: I did tell you to remain still, Lieutenant.​

[Corridor]
RO and TUVOK head away from Sickbay. RO’s body language is tense and she looks uncomfortable in her uniform, TUVOK on the other hand is a beacon of calm.​

TUVOK: Where is Crewman Torres?​

RO: I confined her to quarters, to let her cool off.​

TUVOK: I would like her moved to the brig until formal charges can be filed.​

RO: (in disbelief) Formal charges? Come on, Tuvok. We're seventy-five years away from the nearest court. Are you really going to hold her in the brig for that long?​

TUVOK: The Captain has the authority to try Ms Torres here on the ship, considering the extenuating circumstances.​

RO: Well, I'd like to settle this on my own without filing charges or involving the Captain.​

TUVOK: That is not standard procedure. She struck an officer, her immediate superior no less. That is a court martial offence.​

RO: (stops and turns to face TUVOK, who likewise stops) She's a Maquis! In the Maquis, sometimes you have to push people out of your way to get things done—you should know that, Lieutenant.​

TUVOK: Crewman Torres is no longer a member of the Maquis. And with all due respect, Lieutenant Commander, neither are you. Allowing Ms Torres to get away with a clear violation of regulations sets a bad example for the rest of the crew. It makes it appear as though you were showing favouritism toward the Maquis.​

RO: (getting irritated) Look, Lieutenant, I don't have to explain myself to you. I'll deal with B'Elanna personally, and then I'll inform the Captain. You're to drop this matter, now. That's an order.​

TUVOK: I will yield my authority in this case to you, sir. However, I will make a full report in my security log.​

RO: You do that.​

With that, RO heads away from TUVOK, who watches her leave for a moment before proceeding in the opposite direction. As RO heads through the corridors, she starts trying to massage her neck and shoulders. Rounding another corner, TAKODA (now in security gold) and SESKA EINA, a dark-haired Bajoran woman also in gold, fall into step with her.​

TAKODA: Ro, we heard what happened. What are they going to do with B'Elanna?​

RO: I don't know yet, but I'll handle it.​

SESKA: We heard that Riker is going to put her in the brig for two months, and that all the Maquis are going to be restricted to quarters when they're not on duty.​

RO: (shaking her head) Not true.​

TAKODA: (grips RO’s arm and turns her to face them, lowers his voice) We just want you to know that if things do get out of hand, we're ready to back you.​

RO: Meaning?​

SESKA: In case you want to take control of the ship. We can organise the rest of the Maquis, get into the systems and take over from within. It would be fairly simple.​

RO: (looks between TAKODA and SESKA, her face ranging from shock to disbelief to anger) If I ever hear the pair of you talk that way again, I’ll personally throw you into the brig for mutiny!​

With that she stalks off, leaving TAKODA and SEKSA dumbfounded behind her.​

[Torres’s Quarters]
Inside the shared quarters, B’ELANNA TORRES is pacing back and forth like a caged animal, her hackles raised, fists clenched. Rage emanates for her every pore. Behind her the door swishes open. RO stands in the entryway. TORRES grabs a small metal bowls on the table next to her and hurtles it at the door.​

TORRES: (roars) Argh!​

RO ducks out the way in time. She then bends down and picks up the bowl and steps into the room. TORRES stands facing her, chest heaving. RO puts the bowl down then pulls a P.A.D.D. from her pocket and hands it to TORRES.​

RO: Here.​

TORRES: (looks at the P.A.D.D.) What’s this?​

RO: The medical report on Lieutenant Carey.​

TORRES: (anger building again) Carey is an idiot petaQ! When I tell you what ha—​

RO: (rising her voice over TORRES) I don't want to hear it, B’Elanna! You might be interested to know that the impact fractures along his cranium were pretty severe. If you'd hit him just a little harder, you could have driven some of those bones into his cerebellum.​

TORRES: (steps away from RO, her anger ebbing slightly) I didn’t even come close to hitting him that hard.​

RO: (exasperated) So on the one side, I'm facing a Vulcan who wants court martial you. And on the other, I'm facing all the Maquis who are ready to seize this ship over this. You've turned this into one lousy day for me, Torres.​

TORRES, her anger all but used up, flops into a seat facing RO.​

TORRES: (looking around the room) So how long do I have to stay in here?​

RO: (deadpan) Rest of the trip, seventy five years.​

TORRES: (with a humourless smile) I've never found your twisted sense of humour very funny, Laren.​

RO: Or I could send you back to work, with the understanding that you'll apologise to Mr—​

TORRES: (back on her feet, fuming once again) Apologise?! He was the one who—​

RO: (rising her voice once again) Not just a simple apology. A personal one, over a steam hot mug of raktajino. Bond with the man.​

TORRES: (appalled) I am not going to bond with him!​

RO: You're going to need support from people like Carey.​

TORRES: (defiantly) I don't need support from anybody.​

RO: You are if you're going to be Chief Engineer of this ship.​

This statement brings TORRES up short. She stands staring at RO in disbelief for a moment.​

TORRES: Ha! Right.​

RO: This is not another example of my ‘twisted’ sense of humour.​

TORRES: (still not believing what she’s hearing) But Carey is next in line—​

RO: (with a friendly smile) You're a better engineer than he is.​

TORRES: (cautiously) What does the Captain have to say about this?​

RO: He hasn't said a word…because I haven't told him yet.​

RO leaves TORRES alone in her quarters once again.​

[Tigan’s Quarters]
Inside TIGAN’s quarters, she has begun to settle in a little more, a few personal mementos and items are now on display. Lieutenant J.G. EZRI TIGAN is seated on a small couch under a viewport, and she is looking out at the stars, lost in thought. The chime of the door snaps her back to reality. She studies the door for a moment.​

TIGAN: Yes?​

The doors part to reveal Captain WILLIAM RIKER standing in the corridor; he holds a tray that has several items placed on it, and wears an easy smile.​

TIGAN: (puzzled) Captain?​

RIKER: Can I come in?​

TIGAN: Oh! Yes, of course.​

RIKER enters and goes over to the small dining table, where he sets the tray down. TIGAN stands up and joins him as he is off-loading the tray. There are a couple of mugs, a pot of tea, two plates, cutlery and three silvery foil packs.​

TIGAN: What’s all this?​

RIKER: Breakfast. I managed to liberate ration packs two, five and nine, what do you fancy?​

TIGAN: Captain, you really don’t need to do this. I’m capable of getting my own meals.​

RIKER: (not stopping in his setting the table) I know you can, but every meal you’ve had has been alone in your quarters. I thought you might like some company this morning. Besides, eating alone in the Captain’s Mess is a little tedious I find. I quite fancy the meat and cheese platter, what about you?​

TIGAN: (she manages to stop him and look him in the eye) I know why you’re doing this, Captain. I’m fine. Really. I have a clean bill of health from Sickbay, and women in almost every culture have been having babies for eons. You don’t need to check up on me.​

RIKER: (giving her a serious look) Ezri, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t worried about you. But that’s not why I’m here. (he gives her a slight smile) I made a promise to an old friend to see you safely home, so that is exactly what I am going to do.​

TIGAN is taken aback by his commitment and reasoning. RIKER finishes setting the table.​

RIKER: So what’ll it be? Oatmeal or eggs? Or would you prefer the platter?​

TIGAN: (smiles slightly) I’ll have the eggs please.​

RIKER hands her one of the foil packs and she sits down as he pours them both a mug of tea. He takes his seat and together they settle in for breakfast.​

[Space]
The U.S.S. Voyager travels effortlessly through space at warp. The hull breaches on decks five and fourteen have been patched, though they are far for being fully repaired.​

RIKER: Captain’s Log. Stardate: 48379.4. If has been five days since the Caretaker’s Array was destroyed. We are on course back to the Alpha Quadrant and continuing repairs following our transit to Delta Quadrant, as well as our run in with the Kazon. So far our sensors are clear of any other ships or planetary systems, and I hope it stays that way for the time being—the crew still has a lot to adjust too.​

[Conference Room]
The Bridge level conference room is smaller than on the Enterprise-D, but it is perfectly former, with a large table and seating for all those assembled: RIKER (at the head of the table), RO (on his right), TUVOK (on his left), Lieutenant AIVA STADI (next to TUVOK), Lieutenant J.G. Sean Hawk (sits next to her), and Ensign SAM LAVELLE (is beside RO). There are various datapads on the table, as well as a mug or two of steaming drinks.​

HAWK: (looking at his P.A.D.D.) Engine efficiency's down another ten percent. If we don't get more power to the warp drive, we're all going to have to get out and push.​

RIKER: Any idea as to cause?​

HAWK: (shakes his head) Carey said he was still trying to track down the problem, but with the amount of damage we took I’m surprised the core didn’t rupture midway here.​

RIKER: What about alternative energy sources? Ensign Lavelle, have you had any luck getting power from the holodeck reactors?​

LAVELLE: Not yet. We tried hooking them to the power grid and we ended up blowing out half the relays. The holodeck's energy matrix, it just isn't compatible with the other power systems.​

RO: What if we were to relocate everyone from deck nine and reroute that power to propulsion—until the cause can be tracked down and rectified?​

TUVOK: That would be inconvenient, but acceptable given the alternatives.​

RIKER: (nodding) Sounds like an idea. (looks at STADI) Aiva, can you lend a hand in tracking down the problem?​

STADI: Sure thing.​

RIKER: Good. Now let's move on to the personnel situation. We still have—​

The aft door opens and both NEELIX and KES enter, looking a little bit rushed. Everyone turns to face them, a little perplexed.​

NEELIX: Sorry we're late, but I wasn't informed there was a meeting. (looks around the room) Oh, there don't seem to be enough chairs.​

RIKER: Neelix, this is a briefing for the senior officers.​

NEELIX: Oh, I see. Well, I would have thought that you might like the opinions of those who know a great deal about this region of space.​

KES: We do have some excellent suggestions, Captain.​

RIKER: (a little grudgingly) Very well. You're welcome to join us, this time.​

LAVELLE stands up and offers his seat to KES.​

LAVELLE: Here you are.​

KES: (softly as she sits down) Thank you.​

RIKER: To be honest, we could use some excellent suggestions right now.​

KES: I've been thinking that you might be able to convert one of you lower decks into a hydroponics bay to grow your own food. I understand that the replicators are down and that the emergency rations won't hold out for long.​

LAVELLE: What about Cargo Bay three? It was designed for organic storage and it already has adjustable environmental controls.​

RIKER: (with an encouraging smile) When can you start?​

KES: (a little surprised) Me?​

RIKER: It's your idea. It's your project.​

KES: (smiling widely) Right away.​

NEELIX: (looking around the room) Do any of you Federation types know how to cook for almost one hundred and fifty people? (there is a pause as they look around the room) I figured as much. You’re in luck then, I worked as assistant chef on a Driliak freighter a few years back.​

RIKER: (with a grin) Well it’s a good thing we have you onboard then, Mr Neelix. (turning his attention back to his P.A.D.D.) Now, the personnel situation. We've managed to find a replacement for the Transporter Chief, but we still need an Astrogation Plotter, a Chief Engineer, medical support personnel.​

RO: Several members of my crew were in Starfleet before joining the Maquis. I've made a list of them and where they could be of most use.​

RO hands RIKER a datapad. He starts to scroll through it for a few seconds, but quickly stops. He looks back at RO, his look questioning.​

RIKER: B'Elanna Torres? She was the one involved in that incident with Lieutenant Carey.​

RO: That’s right.​

RIKER: Just what job do you think she's suited for?​

RO: (deadpan) Chief Engineer.​

RIKER: (questioningly) You're serious.​

RO: Very.​

There is a moment of tension between RIKER and RO, in which nothing needs to be said—they both know this isn’t the place for this battle. He sets the P.A.D.D. to one side.​

RIKER: Regarding Sickbay, we still need a Chief Medical Officer.​

NEELIX: What about that electronic man down in Sickbay?​

STADI: The EMH was designed for short-term usage, to complement the existing medical staff—not become the sole medic onboard. It’s still relatively untested in the real world and its abilities are limited, for example, it can’t operate outside Sickbay.​

HAWK: Not to mention its lousy bedside manner.​

RO: Perhaps we should have the hologram give additional training to the crew who are already rated as emergency medtechs.​

RIKER: Good idea. (looks around the officers) See which of your staff fit the bill and we’ll draw up a training schedule. (his eyes come to rest on HAWK) Lieutenant, if I remember correctly, your service jacket says that you qualified as a field medtech.​

HAWK: Er, that was a while ago, sir, and I never did keep up with the refresher courses.​

RIKER: (with a sly smile) Well you’re about to be refreshed, Lieutenant. Report to Sickbay once we’re done here.​

HAWK: (looking mortified) But Captain—​

Before he can finish, the ship suddenly bucks and throws everyone from their seats. A second later the Red Alert klaxons sound. The officers quickly right themselves.​

RIKER: Stations!​

The senior officers quickly head for the Bridge exit, as the violent shaking continues.​

 

[Bry_Sinclair]

[Bridge]
The senior officers stumbled out onto the Bridge and quickly head to their customary places. Alert panels flash and the relief crews hang on as the ship is buffeted about.​

RIKER: (calls out, his voice rises above the din) Report!​

SESKA: (manning the Engineering console) We’ve run into some kind of spatial distortion.​

RIKER moves down to the Science console, where STADI is gripping the console as she furtively works.​

RIKER: Aiva?​

STADI: The distortions are emanating from a highly localized disturbance in the space-time continuum. Distance, twenty thousand kilometres off the port bow.​

RIKER: All stop!​

After his command, the violent rocking subsides. The shaken crew quickly begin to take stock of the situation.​

RIKER: On screen.​

The viewscreen comes to life and displays a massive swirling mass of energy. It is strikingly beautiful, though also menacing.​

STADI: Gravimetric flux density is over two thousand percent. I’d say we're looking at a type-four quantum singularity.​

RO: Damage?​

LAVELLE: Negligible, Commander. No casualties reported either.​

TUVOK: Captain, I am receiving an audio transmission from within the singularity.​

RIKER: (looks from TUVOK to the viewscreen) On speakers.​

There is a sudden burst of static, followed by a very garbled message. It is so bad that it is impossible to tell the gender of the sender, let alone the language they are speaking, and nothing of the actual message.​

LAVELLE: I think I've found the source of the transmission.​

On the viewscreen, the image shifts and tightens in on a distorted vessel. Aside from a vague outline, little else can be made of it. RIKER looks up at NEELIX, who is standing by the railing on the upper level with KES.​

RIKER: Does it look like any ship you're familiar with?​

NEELIX: (squinting and straining to get a better look at the ship) No. Nothing I recognize. But then it’s, it’s hard to make out.​

RIKER: They may be trapped in the event horizon. (to LAVELLE) Open a channel. (he gets a nod from LAVELLE) This is Captain William Riker of the Federation starship Voyager to the vessel near the quantum singularity. Do you need help?​

KES: (quietly to NEELIX) Event horizon?​

NEELIX: A quantum singularity is a star that has collapsed in on itself—on Talax we call them dark stars. The event horizon is a very powerful energy field surrounding it. After a near miss with a singularity in the Keloda System, I’ve tried to stay as far away from them as possible.​

LAVELLE: No response to our hail, sir.​

RIKER: Can we tractor the vessel out?​

LAVELLE: No. The subspace interference is too heavy.​

NEELIX: (stepping round the banister and approaching RIKER) Captain, we're less than two light-years from Ilidaria. They have sophisticated technology. They might be able to help and they're quite friendly, most of the time.​

RIKER: (thinks about it for a moment, but shakes his head) No. It looks like they’re being pulled in toward the singularity. We have to get them out of the event horizon, now.​

RO: Bridge to Torres. We need a way to get that ship out of there. Any ideas?​

TORRES: (=/\=) I was thinking we could re-modulate a tractor beam to match the subspace interference.​

[Engineering]
In the Engine Room, TORRES sits at a console, looking over the readouts and displays. Just behind her, CAREY is talking with Ensign TAURIK, though he is watching TORRES suspiciously.​

TORRES: It might be enough to cut through the event horizon.​

[Bridge]
RIKER moves closer to RO, who is standing in the middle of the Bridge. He is listening intently to what is being said, but his eyes are burrowing into RO.​

RO: A subspace tractor beam?​

TORRES: (=/\=) Exactly!​

RO: When can you have it ready?​

TORRES: (=/\=) Two hours, maybe three.​

RO: Get right on it. Use as many people as you need.​

RIKER: (trying to keep the annoyance out of his voice) Mr Carey, what do you think?​

[Engineering]
CAREY finishes with TAURIK and moves to lean over TORRES’ console, where he looks over her initial figures and schematics. TORRES obviously doesn’t like his close proximity.​

CAREY: With the right field modulation it might work but we'll need more power to the emitter array.​

[Bridge]
RIKER now stands beside RO, looking at the vessel in distress on the viewscreen.​

RIKER: Very well, Lieutenant. Get it done. Report to me when the tractor beam is ready.​

CAREY: (=/\=) Aye sir.​

RIKER: Mr Hawk, hold our position here. (he steps up close and personal with RO) I’d like to see you in private.​

He leads the way towards the Ready Room, RO following close behind.​

[Ready Room]
RIKER moves into his office and remains standing in front of his desk; his body language shows that he is annoyed and irritated. RO follows him in. The doors close silently.​

RIKER: We have a problem and I think it's time we discussed it.​

RO: Captain, I appreciate your concerns about Torres, but I promise you—​

RIKER: You don't understand, Lieutenant Commander. This isn't about Torres. My problem is with you.​

RO: (surprised) Me?​

RIKER: Let me be blunt. What you did just now was out of line.​

RO: (crossing her arms) In what way?​

RIKER: When you decided to call Torres in Engineering.​

RO: I've worked with her for almost a year. I know what she's capable of. We needed an answer right away and I knew she could give us one.​

RIKER: Carey is the senior officer in Engineering.​

RO: If you look at it that way, none of my people will ever have seniority.​

RIKER: That’s the problem, right there. (he steps up closer to her, but she doesn’t flinch) They're not your people. You're treating the Maquis on this ship like they're still your crew!​

RO: I'm doing everything I can to integrate them into your crew, but frankly, you're not making it easy for me, Captain.​

RIKER: I can't make it easy, Lieutenant Commander. Surely you can understand that! They don't have the training. They don't have the discipline!​

RO: Six members of my crew were in Starfleet, four of them were officers. But here they’ve been demoted to able crewmen. And then there are some of them, like B’Elanna, that have the ability!​

RIKER: The Starfleet officers on this ship have worked for years to earn their commissions. How am I supposed to ask them to accept a Maquis as their superior officer just because circumstances have forced us together?​

RO: (pointedly) You're asking them to accept me.​

RIKER: You're a graduate of the Academy, with a considerable amount of tactical and command experience behind you. Granted your career may not have been stellar, but Jean-Luc Picard vouched for you—and he isn’t an easy man to impress.​

RO: (barely containing herself) Permission to speak freely.​

RIKER: Go ahead.​

RO: (squaring up to RIKER) I have no intention of being your token Maquis officer!​

RIKER: Show me another qualified Maquis candidate and I'll consider them.​

RO: (immediately) B'Elanna Torres.​

RIKER: Who cannot control herself and who couldn’t make it through the Academy!​

RO: She's the best damn engineer I've ever known! She could teach at the Academy. (she finally moves away from him, to pace a little) You're right, Captain. I do consider these my people, because nobody else on this ship will look out for them like I will. And I'm telling you, you're going to have to give them more authority if you want their loyalty.​

RIKER: Theirs or yours, Lieutenant Commander?​

RO: (her anger gone now) I'm trying to help you. I'm sorry you don't see that. I strongly recommend you get to know Torres before you choose a new Chief Engineer. (she heads for the door, after it opens and she stands on the threshold, she looks back at him) Permission to leave.​

RIKER: Dismissed.​

RO leaves and the doors close once again. RIKER sits on the edge of his desk and sighs warily. He then gets up and goes round to sit in his chair. He activates his computer and then brings up TORRES’ record and starts to read through it.​

[Sickbay]
All is quiet now. The lights are low, but as soon as the doors open they come up to full level just as KES enters. She pauses and looks around the ward for a moment and then steps into the office.​

KES: Computer, activate the Emergency Medical Holographic system.​

The DOCTOR ripples into existence a short distance away from KES, standing straight and stiff.​

DOCTOR: Please state the nature of the medical emergency.​

KES: Actually, there is no emergency. I'm creating a hydroponics bay. I was told you could provide me with some nitrogenated soil samples.​

DOCTOR: (annoyed) That's it?​

KES: (sympathetically) I'm sorry. If—​

DOCTOR: (sighs heavily) So it begins. (he moves into the medlab and retrieves two samples that KES is looking for, she follows him) The trivia of medicine is my domain now. Every runny nose, stubbed toe, pimple on a cheek becomes my responsibility.​

He sets the samples into a device and activates it. It hums softly with a soft blue glow.​

KES: You are the only doctor we have.​

DOCTOR: I am not just a doctor. I've been designed with the information from two thousand medical reference sources and the experience of fifty individual medical officers. I am the embodiment of modern medicine. How much dirt do you need?​

KES: Four samples will be enough.​

The DOCTOR retrieves another two samples and gives the same treatment as the first two.​

DOCTOR: (self-pityingly) Now I know how Hippocrates felt when the king needed him to trim a hangnail.​

KES: You're very sensitive, aren't you?​

DOCTOR: (her observation surprises him) As a medical practitioner, I require a certain sensitivity to properly address a patient.​

KES: I'm talking about you as a person.​

DOCTOR: (turning back to face her) I’m not a person, I’m a hologram.​

KES suddenly looks a little perplexed and moves towards him, studying him intently, which makes the DOCTOR a little wary.​

KES: Doctor, has your programme altered your appearance since I came to Sickbay?​

DOCTOR: (puzzled) No. Why?​

KES: When I first came in, your head was at the same height as this cabinet. (she gestures to a tall cabinet next to them) But now you look at least ten centimetres shorter.​

The DOCTOR looks worried and goes to the nearest console. He sits down and begins working the console. After a short moment he looks up, puzzled and more worried than before.​

DOCTOR: I've just run a diagnostic on my imaging processor. It shows that I've been reduced in height by ten point four centimetres. (tapping his combadge) Sickbay to Operations.​

[Bridge]
At his station, LAVELLE is hard at work, seemingly doing half a dozen different things at the same time.​

LAVELLE: (briskly) This is Lavelle.​

DOCTOR: (=/\=) The holographic projector in here is malfunctioning. Would you send a diagnostic and repair crew down right away?​

LAVELLE: (not stopping what he’s doing) We're little busy right now. I'll get someone on it as soon as I can.​

[Sickbay – Medlab]
In the lab the DOCTOR looks a little despondent, as KES watches him with sympathy.​

DOCTOR: It’s just that I—​

LAVELLE: (=/\=) Lavelle out.​

There is a moment of silence after the comlink closes. The DOCTOR seems lost for a moment and all KES can do is look on.​

DOCTOR: Well. It seems like a very busy day for Operations.​

KES: I'm sorry I bothered you with this.​

The DOCTOR leaves the console and retrieves the samples, which he then hands to KES, all professional once again.​

DOCTOR: No trouble at all. Just turn off the programme before you leave.​

KES gives him a warm smile as she heads for the exit. She pauses just before the door and looks back at him, a questioning expression on her face.​

KES: What’s your name?​

DOCTOR: (bewildered) What purpose would a name serve a hologram?​

KES: I'd just like to know what to call you besides Doctor.​

DOCTOR: I guess my designers never thought I'd be around long enough to need one. What's your name?​

KES: Kes.​

DOCTOR: Kes. I'm glad I could help you today.​

KES: (smiles warmly at him) Computer, end programme.​

[Bridge]
The Bridge is once again buzzing with activity. RIKER is at Tactical speaking with TUVOK, he is keeping his distance from RO, who is standing down at the Conn next to HAWK.​

CAREY: (=/\=) Carey to Bridge. The subspace tractor beam is on-line and ready to go, Captain.​

RIKER: Acknowledged, Lieutenant. Mr Tuvok, lock onto that ship.​

RIKER steps down from Tactical to the Command Area, where he can watch the rescue.​

TUVOK: Engaging tractor beam. It's working. Beam is penetrating the event horizon.​

An alert sounds from Operations.​

LAVELLE: Engineering, check your power levels. I'm showing massive fluctuations.​

[Space]
The tractor beam that spans an incredible distance begins to flicker and distort.​

[Engineering]
CAREY and TORRES are hunched over a console as various alarms and alerts sound; most panels are showing red or orange than green.​

TORRES: Damn it! The new relays on the power grid aren't holding.​

[Bridge]
The ship lurches forward, the crew maintain their positions however.​

HAWK: We're being pulled toward the singularity.​

RO: What's going on?​

LAVELLE: Power to the tractor beam is down eighty percent. The gravimetric force of the singularity is pulling us in!​

RIKER: Impulse engines, full reverse!​

[Space]
Voyager slips forward, as the engines struggle to keep them in position. The tractor beam continues to flicker and fade.​

[Engineering]
The shaking is getting worse. CAREY moves to a different console as both he and TORRES work furiously to stabilise the ship.​

RIKER: (=/\=) Disengage the tractor beam.​

TORRES inputs a control and the computer doesn’t comply. She tries again. CAREY moves back over to her console.​

TORRES: I can't shut it down. The emitter relays are locked.​

Red Alert klaxons sound again.​

[Bridge]
Another hard jolt causing people to stumble, no one falls however.​

LAVELLE: I'm picking up hull stress all over the ship. If we keep engines at full reverse while the tractor beam is engaged we'll pull the ship apart!​

RIKER: Cut the engines.​

The ship jolts forward.​

HAWK: We're moving forward again.​

RIKER: Engineering, get that tractor beam off-line.​

[Engineering]
CAREY and TORRES are working together again, though this time neither one seems bothered by the others proximity.​

CAREY: Sir, I can shut it down but I'll have to get in there and physically cut the main power feed.​

[Bridge]
RIKER grips the railing, looking towards the viewscreen.​

RIKER: Do it!​

There is a tense moment as the crew are powerless to do anything to stop the ship. After another few moments there is another forceful lurch.​

TUVOK: Tractor beam disengaged.​

RIKER: Mr Hawk, move us out to a safe distance.​

RO looks up from where she stands, a questioning look on her face.​

RO: Are we abandoning the rescue attempt?​

RIKER: (shakes his head) No, but we are going to need some help. Lay in a course for the Ilidaria system, best possible speed. Have Mr Neelix get together all the information he has on the Ilidarians. It looks like we're going to follow his suggestion after all. I’ll be in my Ready Room.​

With that, RIKER heads off the Bridge. RO watches him leave and then turns back to HAWK and gives him a nod to carry out his new orders.​

 

[Bry_Sinclair]

[Corridor]
TIGAN is taking a stroll through the ship, her pace is easy and she is just looking around, trying to get to know the ship better. She rounds a corridor to find Ensign AHNI JETAL (an attractive human-looking woman) braced against the bulkhead, one hand pressed against her head. TIGAN frowns a little and hurries to the other woman’s side.

TIGAN: (concerned) Are you alright, Ensign?

JETAL: (tries to nod, but that makes her wobble, wincing) My head. I was heading to the Computer Centre, when I suddenly became dizzy. Now my head is pounding.

TIGAN: (concerned) I’d better get you to Sickbay.

TIGAN helps JETAL off the bulkhead and together they head through the corridors.


[Ready Room]
RIKER sits at his desk looking over various P.A.D.D.s. Out the viewports the stars streak by as the ship heads to get help. The door chime sounds and he looks up at the Bridge entrance.

RIKER: Come in.

The doors open and TORRES enters briskly.

TORRES: You asked to see me, sir?

RIKER: (gesturing to one of the seats opposite him) Have a seat.

TORRES approaches the desk but remains standing.

TORRES: (adamantly) I just want you to know that I have personally gone over every emitter relay again and refitted four of them myself.

RIKER: (with a faint smile) No one blames you for what happened. (he gestures to the seat again, this time she takes it) Commander Ro thinks very highly of you. She's recommended you for Chief Engineer.

TORRES: (nonchalantly) Yeah, well, we’ve been through a few scrapes together.

RIKER: Do you think you’re ready?

TORRES: (suspiciously) Ready?

RIKER: (becoming very serious) Ready to be Chief Engineer of a starship.

TORRES: (with a big dash of sarcasm) Well, I think I know my way around an engine room if that's what you mean.

RIKER: That's part of what I mean. There's also the matter of your ability to command others. I'm not sure I'd be doing you a favour by putting you in charge down there. There'd be a lot of hard feelings toward you from many of the Starfleet people.

TORRES: (defiantly) I'm not bothered by what people think of me.

RIKER: (nodding) I didn’t think you would be. The job also requires knowledge of Starfleet procedures and protocol. Experience with Starfleet methodologies. Adherence to Starfleet safety regulations.

TORRES: (interrupting) Listen, Captain, if you don't think I'm right for this job, just say so.

RIKER: (sits back and looks at her) I'll be honest. I'm not sure whether you are or not. That's why I wanted to meet, try to get to know you a little better. (he turns to his console and looks at the screen) I've been studying your Academy record—

TORRES: Where did you get that?

RIKER: (looks at her) Thanks to Lieutenant Tuvok, we had the names of your entire crew by the time we left DS9. (glances at the screen again) Four disciplinary hearings, one suspension. You had quite a turbulent couple of years, didn't you?

TORRES: (crosses her arms like a sulky child) Yeah, I guess you could say that.

RIKER: What do you think the problem was?

TORRES: (lurches forward in her chair) The problem? The problem was a system that didn't give anyone a chance to breathe!

RIKER: (leans forward on his desk, eyes locked on hers) We work under that same system on this ship.

TORRES: (suddenly on her feet) Well, then, I guess maybe this is just a bad idea.

RIKER: (remains seated, watching her) Why did you quit the Academy, B'Elanna?

TORRES: I didn't want to have anything to do with Starfleet then, and I'm sorry that I have to now.

With that, she turns and leaves promptly, not even waiting to be dismissed. RIKER slouches back in his seat watching after her, long after she has left. He then looks at her service record on his screen, stroking his beard.

DOCTOR: (=/\=) Sickbay to Captain Riker.

RIKER: Yes Doctor?

DOCTOR: (=/\=) May I request you activate monitor input forty-seven, your Emergency Medical Holograph channel?

RIKER taps on his console. TORRES’ record is replaced with a distorted image of the DOCTOR. A scowl crosses his brow.

RIKER: Eh, Doctor, I’m getting a distorted transmission.

DOCTOR: (on monitor) No. In fact, that is how I appear at present. (a little embarrassed) I'm shrinking.

RIKER: (surprised) Shrinking?

DOCTOR: (on monitor) There appears to be a malfunction in my imaging system. It's been reducing my height by five centimetres every hour. I've been waiting all day for a diagnostic crew, but they all seem to be busy. That is not what I'm calling you about however. Over the past three hours, nine crew members have reported unusual symptoms, severe headaches, muscle spasms and sudden waves of dizziness.

RIKER: (thinking aloud) All of this could be related to the quantum singularity.

DOCTOR: (on monitor) Quantum singularity?

RIKER: It was sending out strong spatial distortions. They might have affected the crew and your systems as well.

DOCTOR: (on monitor, annoyed) You know, Captain, if we were in the vicinity of a quantum singularity I should have been informed.

RIKER: You're right. I'll look into linking your programme into the ship's data.

There is a sudden jolt that rattles items on the selves. RIKER looks around, then out the viewport, before quickly standing and heading for the exit.

DOCTOR: (on monitor) Hello? Captain? Hello?


[Bridge]
RIKER steps out of the Ready Room as the crew are already busy. RO is standing down next to HAWK, looking at his monitor.

RIKER: Report.

RO: It looks like we’re running into more spatial distortions.

LAVELLE: I'm picking up a highly localized disturbance off the port bow.

RIKER: On screen.

The viewscreen comes to life and displays a massive swirling mass of energy. It is strikingly beautiful, though also menacing and very familiar.

RIKER: (looking at STADI) Lieutenant?

STADI: It is another type four quantum singularity. Physical and temporal dimensions are identical to the one we encountered earlier.

HAWK: Captain, according to these readings, we've returned to our previous co-ordinates. (turns to face RIKER) This isn't another singularity. It's the same one.

RIKER: (looks from HAWK to LAVELLE) Check the navigational logs. Confirm our position.

LAVELLE: They show we've travelled one-point-four light-years away from the anomaly but I've confirmed our position against the star chart. We're definitely back where we started. This doesn't make any sense.

HAWK: They can't both be right. We're either still at the singularity or we're not.

RIKER: Well, we can see the singularity so I’m going to side with the external sensors.

TUVOK: That would imply there was something wrong with the warp drive and the navigational logs.

RIKER: Mr Hawk, lay in a course away from the singularity. Maximum warp. Sam, I want you to keep a sensor lock on the singularity. Verify that we're moving away from it.

HAWK: Course and speed laid in.

LAVELLE: Sensor lock established.

RIKER: Engage.


[Space]
Voyager’s nacelles pitch upwards, there is a flash and the ship leaps to warp, the singularity recedes quickly into the distance.


[Bridge]
There is an uneasy stillness on the Bridge, as everyone watches either HAWK or LAVELLE.

LAVELLE: Distance from the singularity is ten million kilometres and increasing.

HAWK: Warp engines holding steady. All systems report normal.

LAVELLE: Eleven million. Twelve million. (his console chirps and sensors show their trajectory changing) I don't get it. (in an accusatory tone) Hawk, did you alter course?

HAWK: (ignoring LAVELLE’s tone) No. We're still steady on three one zero mark two one five.

LAVELLE: Then something's really wrong here. It's ahead of us again.

STADI: Confirmed. We're back at the same co-ordinates.

RIKER: (exasperated) All stop. (he moves over to Science) Aiva, compile all the data on spatial distortions we’ve encountered. I want you to conduct a full analysis.

STADI: Aye sir.

RIKER: (turning back to RO) Commander, have all departments run complete system diagnostics. I'll expect a full report from all senior officers at fifteen hundred hours.

RO steps closer to her and drops her voice.

RO: Who will represent Engineering?

RIKER: (firmly) Lieutenant Carey.

RO: You should invite B'Elanna as well, unless you've removed her from consideration.

RIKER: (getting annoyed) Fine.


[Engineering]
TORRES stands at the warp core console as CAREY approaches, SESKA loiters in the background. CAREY obviously doesn’t look happy at his latest duty.

CAREY: The Captain says he wants you to attend the staff meeting this afternoon.

TORRES: Oh. (turns to face him, with a smirk) Well, I'll give you a full report on what happens.

CAREY: (leans in closer, drops his voice) I'll be there too. Just remember Torres, I'm the senior officer and I speak for Engineering. Try not to say anything unless someone asks you a question. (he turns and begins to walk off, pauses and looks back) Fifteen hundred hours, deck one. Don't be late.

CAREY heads to the other side of the Engine Room. SESKA slinks down to join TORRES.

SESKA: You should have broken more than his nose.

She moves off. TORRES smiles to herself.


[Corridor]
TUVOK and LAVELLE exit a turbolift and walk through the corridors together.

LAVELLE: I've taken a look at every major subsystem and there's no sign of any trouble.

TUVOK: What about the sensor arrays?

LAVELLE: I'm heading to sensor maintenance to check on the results. (he drops his formal, professional tone) So, I hear there's been some trouble down in Engineering.

TUVOK: There was an altercation, but it has been resolved.

LAVELLE: (quietly, so as to not be overheard) That's not what I hear. I hear that the whole department's up in arms, that the Maquis and Starfleet people are almost at each other's throats.

TUVOK: (eyebrow raised) I will never cease to be amazed by the human capacity for hyperbole. The situation may be characterised as tense but one could hardly say that they're about to become violent.

LAVELLE: I just hope you're right. Things are bad enough around here without—

LAVELLE stumbles and bumps into the bulkhead. He grips the sides of his head, groaning.

TUVOK: Are you alright, Mr Lavelle?

LAVELLE: (slurring slightly) Dizzy. Can’t…can’t focus.

TUVOK grips him firmly by the shoulders.

TUVOK: I'd better get you to Sickbay.


[Conference Room]
The officers are assembled around the table; once again there are a few datapads, no mugs this time. Those at the table: RIKER, RO, TUVOK, STADI, CAREY, HAWK, LAVELLE and TORRES. The very-distorted DOCTOR is watching from the monitor.

DOCTOR: (on monitor) Twenty-seven other crew members have now reported the symptoms. And yet, when I examined each of them, I couldn't find anything wrong. I have no diagnosis, no prognosis, no recommended treatment. I'll contact you when I have something more to contribute. And by the way, I am now sixty-eight centimetres shorter. I'd appreciated it if someone would repair my holographic projectors before I have trouble reaching my patients.

His part said the DOCTOR deactivates the monitor. RIKER looks from the screen to STADI.

RIKER: Lieutenant?

STADI: (nods and looks at her P.A.D.D.) I’ve gone over everything we have on the spatial distortions coming from the singularity. I can give you a long, boring analysis. Suffice it to say, I don't know what's going on. The readings are confused, the data is contradictory. None of it makes any sense. This singularity is unlike anything I’ve seen or recorded in the database.

RIKER gives her a small smile, then looks at TUVOK.

TUVOK: Ship-wide diagnostics have revealed nothing out of the ordinary.

CAREY: I tried sending out a tachyon signal to scan the singularity, but all I got back was static.

RO: B'Elanna, do you think you can work with Mr Carey to clean up that signal?

TORRES looks from RO to CAREY then around the table.

TORRES: (hesitantly) Yes.

RIKER: Good—

TORRES: But it won't work. (she looks at CAREY then back at RIKER) I mean, it was a good idea to try it but it won't work.

RIKER: (uncertain) You have another idea?

TORRES: I was just thinking about the problem with the Doctor's holographic projectors. It seems like the spatial distortions might be interfering with the projectors' phase alignment.

RIKER: (perks up a bit) That was my guess too.

TORRES: If that's the case, I could screen out those distortions by setting up a localised dampening field around the projectors.

CAREY: (somewhat baffled) Is our priority here really the E.M.H. system?

TORRES: (shoots CAREY an annoyed look) My point is, that if the spatial distortions are also interfering with the transmission we received from the other ship—

RIKER: We could set up a similar field around transceiver array and communicate with them.

TORRES: Exactly, and they may know more about what's going on than we do.

RIKER: (enthusiastic) Let's give it a try.

RIKER is on his feet and heading towards the door, TORRES close behind, then followed by the rest of the senior staff.


[Bridge]
RIKER takes his place in the centre of the Bridge, whilst TORRES goes straight for the Engineering console. CAREY joins her but hangs back a bit. The rest assume their stations. RO stands next to HAWK.

TORRES: Emitters online. I'm rerouting the damping field through the deflector grid.

RIKER: Open a channel to the other ship.

There is a burst of static, the garbled message replays.

TORRES: Ramping up field intensity.

LAVELLE: It's working. We're cutting through the distortions.

The garbled message replays, this time however, it isn’t quite so distorted.

VOICE: (=/\=) …to the vess…near…

RIKER: Remodulate the EM band. See if we can clear it up a little more.

LAVELLE: Compensating for amplitude distortion.

VOICE: (=/\=) This is Ca…William Riker of the Feder…ship Voyager to the vessel near…quantum singular…Do you need help?

RO: (looks up at RIKER) That’s your hail.

TORRES: I'm applying the damping field to our visual scanners. I'll see if I can clarify the image.

On the viewscreen the small distorted ship enlarges and clears up. It has the sleek elegant lines of a Starship ship.

HAWK: It’s Voyager! It’s us.

STADI: Sensors confirm it's definitely U.S.S. Voyager.

TUVOK: I've been hailing the ship on all frequencies. No response.

RIKER: I doubt you'll get a response, Lieutenant. That message we unscrambled is the same message I sent out nine hours ago.

LAVELLE: Could we have travelled back in time and met ourselves?

TORRES: No, that's not it! (she steps up to RIKER) I think I have an explanation.
​

 

[Bry_Sinclair]

[Conference Room]
Back in the Conference Room, RIKER, RO, TUVOK, STADI, CAREY, HAWK, and LAVELLE are all seated around the table. TORRES stands opposite RIKER as she addresses the assembly. All of them are watching her intently.

TORRES: (after a moment’s thought) Think of it like this. You're sitting at the bottom of a pond, which is frozen over, and you look up at the surface and you see a reflection of yourself. Now you might think you're looking at another person sitting at the bottom of another pond, looking back at you.

RIKER: (intrigued) And in this case, we'd be staring up at the surface of the event horizon and seeing a time-delayed reflection of ourselves.

RO: (a hint of concern) Are you saying we're the ones trapped in the singularity?

TORRES: Unfortunately, yes.

STADI: (understanding) You're right. (looks at RIKER) It's the only theory that explains everything that's happened to us.

RIKER: We've probably been in this singularity since we felt the first jolt.

HAWK: (obviously confused) Wait a minute. Wait. Wait a minute. Let me get this straight. (looking from RIKER to STADI to TORRES) We were cruising along at warp seven, then we get hit by a shockwave, drop out of warp and pick up a distress call—which may as well be gibberish. But now you're saying that the other ship is actually just a reflection of us and that the distress call is actually just the Captain's opening hail. (continues to look around the room, confused) But we picked up the distress call before he sent the hail. How could we have been seeing a reflection of something we hadn't even done yet? Am I making any sense here?

RIKER: (sympathetically) No, but that's okay. One of the more difficult concepts to grasp in temporal mechanics is that sometimes effect can precede cause—it took me a full semester to get my head around it. A reaction can be observed before the action which initiated it.

LAVELLE: So what do we do to get out?

TORRES: (honestly) I'm not sure. (she picks up a datapad and begins tapping on it) But I do know one thing; as we slide deeper into the singularity, the spatial distortions are increasing. According to my calculations, within nine hours, they'll crush the ship.

RIKER: (standing and approaching TORRES) If your analogy’s correct, how do we get through that sheet of ice?

TORRES: Look for a crack.

RIKER now stands beside her and they focus on each other as they talk, the rest in the meeting room all but forgotten about.

RIKER: (fervent) Or make a crack. Take something and smack it into the ice until it buckles.

TORRES: Wait a minute. What if we've already made a crack in the ice?

RIKER: When we first entered the event horizon.

TORRES: If we could find our entry point, we might be able to slip out the way we came in.

RIKER: So we'd be looking for a subspace instability in the event horizon. (thinking) What would make it show up on our sensors?

TORRES / RIKER: (with sudden understanding) Warp particles!

RIKER: If we saturate the event horizon with warp particles, we might be able to see the escaping through the rupture we made when we entered.

Once again RIKER leads the charge out onto the Bridge, TORRES in hot pursuit, as the others quickly follow.


[Bridge]
The others quickly take their stations. RIKER, RO and TORRES all move to the Command Area at watch what happens.

RIKER: Tuvok, take the main deflector offline. Mr Lavelle, reroute the port and starboard plasma flow to the main deflector. We can use it to generate a warp field.

TUVOK: Main deflector is offline.

LAVELLE: Initialising plasma flow.

RIKER: Release the warp particles.


[Space]
A bright yellow beam streaks out from the ship, which quickly illuminates the event horizon.


[Bridge]
The glow is reflected onto the Bridge as the crew work hard.

LAVELLE: Scanning the singularity.

TORRES: (looks up at LAVELLE expectantly) Anything?

LAVELLE: Not yet. Warp particles now at full intensity.

A chirp sounds from Science.

STADI: I'm picking up something. A slight irregularity. It could be a rupture in the event horizon.

RIKER: Put it on screen.

On the viewscreen the image shifts to show the event horizon with a small crack in it.

HAWK: It is a rupture, Captain. Its fifteen metres by ten metres.

TORRES: (with a burst of anger) Oh! It's too small! It must have collapsed since we first passed through it.

RIKER: (with a soothing tone) We found the crack. That's the important thing. Now, how do we make it bigger?

TORRES: Put a wedge in it and force it open. We could try a dekyon beam.

RIKER: Alright, a dekyon beam. Mr Hawk, bring us closer.

HAWK: Aye sir.

After only a few seconds the ship starts to shake again. An alarm sounds from Science this time.

STADI: The ruptures collapsing!

TORRES: Our warp engines could be having an effect on it.

RIKER: (urgently) Back us off.

HAWK: Aye sir. (checks his monitor) It’s shrunk to ten by seven meters.

RIKER: Can we emit a beam from here?

LAVELLE: The rupture's over fifty million kilometres away. We don't have enough power to project a dekyon beam that far.

RIKER: We'll have to take a shuttlecraft.

HAWK: (stepping up to RIKER) You'll needing a good pilot for an assignment like this, sir.

RIKER: That’ll be my job, Mr Hawk. Besides, getting there is the easy part. We need someone who's familiar with the finer points of temporal mechanics, and unless you've been hiding your credentials, I don't think that's you. (looks from HAWK to TORRES) B'Elanna, you're with me. (to RO) The Bridge is yours, Commander.

RIKER leads TORRES away from the Command Area and up to the turbolift, the two of them are almost in step with each other. After they depart, RO turns back to the viewscreen and HAWK resumes his post.


[Space]
At the rear of Voyager the shuttlebay doors open and the Type-8 shuttle Sacagawea emerges. The little ship sweeps up and around Voyager, then quickly accelerates.

RIKER: We've cleared Voyager.

TORRES: Routing all power to shields.

RIKER: We'll reach the rupture in approximately four and a half minutes. Let's get that dekyon beam online.

TORRES: (nods and sets to work) Remodulating emitters.

There is a moment of silence as they both work.

TORRES: (a little hesitantly) Captain, I want to apologize for losing my temper in your Ready Room. I think maybe you were hitting a little bit too close to home, you know? (she looks at him and her holds her look) I respect Ro but she's wrong. I'm not officer material and we both know it. (turns back to her console) The truth is; I quit the Academy because I realised that I couldn't make it in Starfleet, and believe me, no one was sorry to see me go.

RIKER: (focuses forward again, with a smile) Professor Chapman was.

TORRES: (she shoots him a serious but confused look) What?

RIKER: He put a letter in your permanent file saying that should you ever reapply, he would support you. (he looks back at her) He thought you were one of the most promising cadets he'd ever taught.

TORRES: (dumbfounded) I fought with him almost every day! I was always questioning his, his methods, his assumptions, and he was always slapping me down like some upstart kid. (the vaguest hint of hurt) I, I was surprised he didn't help me pack my bags.

RIKER: Some professors like students who challenge their assumptions, B'Elanna. (with a knowing smile) And so do some captains. Professor Chapman wasn't alone. Many of your teachers thought you had the potential to be an outstanding officer. You had more friends at the Academy than you realised.

There is another moment of silence, as TORRES tries to take onboard what RIKER has told her. She is interrupted by a chirp of RIKER’s console.

RIKER: We're on hundred kilometres from the rupture. Start charging the dekyon beam.

TORRES: Dekyon beam on-line. (the shuttle jolts harshly) Shields down to seventy-two percent.

RIKER: I’m increasing speed. We have to get to that rupture before these spatial distortions tear us apart.


[Space]
The little shuttle shakes and rocks as it gets closer to the opening. When they are just a few kilometres away they come to a stop.


[Shuttlecraft]
The shaking has eased a little.

RIKER: We’re in position. Let's open this hole in the ice a little wider. (to TORRES) Initiate the dekyon beam.

The moment TORRES taps the control the shuttle lurches hard again and begins shaking violently.


[Bridge]
The ship rocks slightly, nowhere near as bad as the shuttle. RO stands in the Command Area, watching the viewscreen, which has a distorted image of the Sacagawea on it.

LAVELLE: They've widened the rupture by almost forty percent.

HAWK: They'll have to widen it twice that much before Voyager can make it through.

The ship suddenly pitches hard to starboard. RO stumbles but manages to hold onto the banister behind HAWK, the rest of the crew grip their consoles.

RO: (calls to HAWK) Hold our position! (moves closer to Tactical and grips the railing) Tuvok, report.

TUVOK: The spatial distortions are increasing.

LAVELLE: Hull integrity has dropped eighteen percent.

RO looks back at the viewscreen intently.


[Shuttlecraft]
The small ship is shaking violently. RIKER and TORRES have to hold on tightly as various alerts and alarms sound.

RIKER: We've widened the opening by over seventy percent. I'd like another five for safety.

TORRES: We're losing power. I don't think we're going to get any more, Captain.

RIKER looks over the instruments and nods.

RIKER: (resigns himself) It’ll have to do. Let's get back to Voyager.


[Space]
The shuttle slowly pulls away from the expanded opening, before turning and heading back the way it came.


[Bridge]
The shaking is constant. RO has now moved to her customary chair and grips the armrests.

TUVOK: The shuttle is returning, Commander. It appears as though they've been damaged. Their comm system is down. I am unable to raise them.

STADI: The rupture is now at one hundred twenty metres in diameter.

LAVELLE: (alarmed) That only leaves us with less than two metres clearance on either side!

RO: (confidently) Hawk, as soon as we've recovered the shuttlecraft, lay in a course toward the rupture and take us out.

HAWK: Aye, sir.


[Space]
The shuttlecraft eases back. Ahead of them are two Voyager[/]s’. The port one is nearer and is moving slowly towards the rupture, whilst the starboard one is facing away from the shuttle.


[Shuttlecraft]
Looking out the viewport, RIKER and TORRES stare at the two ships.

TORRES: (looks at RIKER) Well, this is a problem.

RIKER: One of them is a temporal reflection, but which one? (glances at his console) I'm getting identical readings from both ships.

An alarm sounds on TORRES’ console. She quickly looks at the readouts.

TORRES: Captain, the rupture is starting to collapse again! If Voyager doesn't get through it within the next five minutes, they'll never get out.

RIKER: That means we have one chance to pick the correct ship.

TORRES: Simple choice. Port or starboard?

RIKER: (at the same time as TORRES) Starboard.

TORRES: (at the same time as RIKER) Port.

RIKER and TORRES look at each other for a moment, neither one showing signs of backing down.

TORRES: The port ship is more likely to be the real one. It's closer to the rupture. That means—(the shuttle starts shaking hard again)—that means they're holding position as close as they can to the rupture, waiting for us to dock before they head out.

RIKER: (adamantly) No. It may be closer to the rupture, but it's facing the wrong direction. The Starboard ship is facing away from us. That means they're trying to give us easy access to the shuttlebay.

TORRES: There has to be some way to tell them apart besides which direction they're facing!

RIKER: (checks the sensors) The starboard ship's thrusters are at standby. They're holding position. But the port ship is moving toward the rupture.

TORRES: Then I was right. It's the port ship. (she reaches for the engine controls) They're heading out.

RIKER: (stops her) Don't you see? Voyager did move toward the rupture twenty minutes ago when we first discovered it. That's why the port ship is moving toward it now. It's a time-delayed reflection of what we did before. The starboard ship's the real one. They're waiting for us.

RIKER powers the engines and they start to move forward, towards the starboard ship.

TORRES: If you're wrong, we're going to have a long time to debate it.


[Space]
The shuttle moves past the port ship, approaching the starboard ship’s open shuttlebay.


[Shuttlecraft]
In the shuttle RIKER and TORRES watch the ship and their readings.

TORRES: We're ready to dock.

RIKER: Alright. (takes a breath) Cut the thrusters. Let's see what happens.

The shuttle passes through the environmental forcefield. Once inside it slowly touches down on the deck. There is a reassuring thud as the ship lands.

RIKER: (relieved) Feels like a real ship to me. (looks at TORRES) Let's get back to the Bridge.


[Bridge]
The ship continue to shake. Tension is still high as RIKER and TORRES enter. RO remains seated. She glances back at them as they enter. RIKER steps down to the Command Area as TORRES stands at the Auxiliary console behind the area.

RIKER: Commander Ro, report.

RO: We're almost to the rupture. Mr Hawk is about to impress us with his piloting skills.

An alarm sounds from Science.

STADI: The rupture's collapsing. It's down to one hundred ten meters wide.

TORRES: (a flash of anger and annoyance) That's too narrow. We're not going to make it.

RIKER: (steps forward, studying the rupture on the viewscreen) In command school, they taught us to always remember that manoeuvring a starship is a very delicate process. But I've learned from experience, sometimes you just have to punch your way through. (looks down at HAWK) Lieutenant Hawk, full impulse power.


[Space]
Voyager’s impulse engines glow brighter and the ship accelerates forward. Ahead of them the rupture is closing at a steady pace. The starship ploughs straight into the too-small opening.


[Bridge]
The ship lurches hard in every direction. The crew hold onto whatever they can. The klaxons blare again. The ship continually shakes and rocks hard.

TUVOK: Shields are down.

HAWK: I'm losing power to the port impulse engine.

LAVELLE: Switching to auxiliary power.

TUVOK: Hull integrity failing.

RIKER: Hold our course, Mr Hawk.


[Space]
Voyager emerges from the singularity and continues onwards.


[Bridge]
The shaking and jolting suddenly stops. A sense of calm descends. Everyone looks around expectantly.

TUVOK: We have cleared the event horizon, Captain. We've returned to normal space.

HAWK: (looks over his shoulder at RIKER) Sometimes you just have to punch your way through. I'll have to remember that one.

RIKER: (give HAWK a grin) Set a course away from the singularity. I want to be at least one hundred million kilometres away before we begin repairs. (looks over at STADI) Monitor sensors closely, make sure we’re heading away from it this time.

STADI: Aye sir.


[Engineering – Lower Level]
RO leads TORRES into the middle of the Engine Room. TORRES now has the provisional rank pip of a Lieutenant Junior Grade. She looks around the room for a moment before focusing on RO after she stops. Ahead of them, just in front of the warp core is CAREY, TAURIK and two other engineers, all—aside from CAREY, who is watching TORRES—are talking amongst themselves.

RO: There they are. Your staff.

TORRES: (looks at them and then back at RO) I'll try not to break any of their noses.

RO: (smiles faintly, then becomes all-business once again) First order of the day. The Captain wants the warp drive back online by thirteen hours.

TORRES: (surprised) Thirteen hundred? That's impossible.

RO: (the smile returns) Then maybe you need to go break a few noses, or at least bend a few. Lieutenant.

RO and TORRES share a look for a moment, before RO nods and heads off. TORRES faces her crew once again, then moves towards the warp core console.

TORRES: Alright. (points at TAURIK) Get that isolinear bank up and running. (she then motions to the other two) And lock down those plasma relays. (no one moves, they look at her expectantly) Please.

The engineers head off to carry out their orders, leaving just TORRES and CAREY. They look at each other for a moment. It is TORRES who steps towards him.

TORRES: (keeping her voice low, honestly) I'm going to be counting on you, Lieutenant. I'm not up to date on the latest Starfleet protocols and I know that you're probably more familiar with the quirks of this warp engine than I am right now. I hope that I can depend on you.

CAREY: (looks her straight in the eyes) I assure you, you'll never get less than my best. (he extends his hand) Lieutenant, congratulations. (she grips it) Welcome aboard.

When their handshakes ends, they both head over to one of the consoles and get to work.


[Engineering – Upper Level]
RO climbs up the ladder and moves over to RIKER, who is leaning on the barrier, looking down on TORRES and CAREY. A small smile on his face. He doesn’t look up as she approaches. She stops by his side leans forward.

RO: Are you checking up on your new Chief Engineer?

RIKER: Observing.

RO: And?

RIKER: Two crew members have already filed complaints about her promotion and she may be in for a tough period of adjustment, but I think B'Elanna's going to make a fine addition to this crew. (looks at RO, with a smile) Our crew.

RIKER pushes off from the barrier and RO straightens up. Together they head for the small lift.

RO: Can I ask you a question, off the record? (RIKER nods) If things had happened differently, and we were on the Li Nalas now instead of Voyager, would you have served under me?

RIKER: (stops and gives her a big grin) One of the nice things about being Captain is that you can keep some things to yourself.

DOCTOR: (=/\=) Sickbay to Captain Riker.

RIKER: Go ahead.

DOCTOR: (=/\=) Is someone ever going to come down here and fix my holographic projectors?

RIKER: We're a little busy right now, Doctor.


[Sickbay – Doctor’s Office]
In the office, the DOCTOR is standing on the chair behind the desk and can barely look over the desktop monitor. He looks very irritated.

RIKER: (=/\=) But I'll send a crew down as soon as I can.

DOCTOR: I would appreciate a certain expediency in the matter.

RIKER: (=/\=) Acknowledged. Riker out.

After the channel closes the doors to the ward open and HAWK enters, holding his hand, which is bleeding. He looks around and after spotting the DOCTOR he steps into the office.

DOCTOR: I'm sorry, Lieutenant, but whatever it is you're going to have to take care of it yourself.

HAWK: (with a smirk) Oh, it's all right. It's just a scratch, really. You know, I like you better this way.

The DOCTOR scowls at him, then rolls his eyes and drums his fingers on the armrest of the chair.


[END]
​

 

[Bry_Sinclair]

Next "week" on Star Trek Voyager (ReBoot):

"Loss"

Ezri Tigan must face up to her situation and decide what to do, after she discovers that a member of the crew is is dire need of her help.