A Star Trek: Voyager Short Story
By Adrian Hilton
Marla and Celes were in the closing stages of a particularly closely-fought kadis-kot game when Captain Janeway returned. They were engrossed enough that they missed the sound of opening doors, but couldn't help but notice Commander Chakotay returning the Captain to her bed.
Kathryn smiled at the "deer in headlights" expression on their faces. "No need to mention this to Mr. Paris," she informed them.
"No, ma'am." "No, ma'am."
Chakotay nodded at them. "Good to see you on the mend, Celes." He turned to go.
Marla made a quick decision. "Excuse me, Commander, is there any chance that I could see you to talk something over?"
Conscious of the amount that his future health depended on the two crewmen keeping quiet, Chakotay was left with little option but to be agreeable. "Certainly. Stop by the Captain's ready room next shift." He gave a final smile at Kathryn and left.
Celes made eyes at Marla the best that she could without eyebrows. "Where'd you get to, Captain?" she asked innocently.
Kathryn had a very arch expression on her face. "Resupply expedition."
"Oh, okay." Celes briefly turned her attention back to the board and set down a final piece. "Kadis-kot."
"Damn!" Marla shook her head. "Okay, I'm going to quit while I've still got some rations left." She rose to leave. "See you tomorrow. You take care, now."
"You bet." Celes smiled shyly. "Thank you."
"Captain." "Crewman." Kathryn waited for the doors to shut behind Marla before turning back to Celes.
"How's Marla doing?"
Celes sighed. "She needs a change. Captain, I know what she and the rest of the Equinox crew did was wrong, but hasn't she paid enough for it? She's a good person, really, and she'd be far better at my job than I am."
Kathryn thought for a while about the best way to answer.
"Celes, you're a good friend to Marla; you look out for her. That's what friends do. Marla and her crew tried very hard to kill every person on Voyager. I'm the captain; I have to look out for my whole crew. Marla and the others from Equinox put all our lives in danger, and they have to deal with the consequences."
"But wouldn't it be better for the crew if Marla was allowed to do a job that made better use of what she's good at?" Celes persisted.
"It's my decision, Celes." Kathryn's voice had a tone of finality.
The silence was broken by the Doctor shimmering into view. He took a critical look around him.
"I see Mr. Paris hasn't been over-exerting himself in keeping Sickbay in order while I've been under Lt. Torres's screwdriver." He picked up a regenerator and walked over to Celes. "Let's work on those burns while we wait for him to get back."
Next shift, Chakotay was back in the ready room and working through a stack of PADDs. He'd managed to avoid Tom Paris so far, though felt sure that the Lieutenant would catch up with him in short order.
When he heard the door chime go, he prepared to face the music. If he was really lucky, it was Tom rather than B'Elanna...
In fact it was Marla Gilmore, immaculately turned out. She stood at attention in front of the desk.
"At ease, Crewman." Chakotay went to the replicator. "Tea?"
Marla was taken a little off guard. "Thank you, no."
Chakotay ordered himself a cup anyway. "I feel I need to let this replicator have a go at making something other than coffee. Still, whatever it produces seems to have a slight taste of coffee grounds in it." He sipped at the cup. "Mmm. Herbal tea with a hint of Blue Mountain rich roasted. Different. Anyway, please sit down. What's on your mind?"
Marla sat cautiously. "Commander, would it be possible for me to transfer to a different job?"
Chakotay's eyes narrowed. "What did you have in mind?"
Marla shrugged, and her voice had a note of hysteria in it. "I don't really know -- just something else? Preferably not in Security?"
"Ah." Chakotay sat back. "How do you and Commander Tuvok get along?"
"He's... very efficient," said Marla cautiously. "We're always clear on what we've got to do. But I'm sure that I can do more for the ship in a different job. I'm not exactly stretched, checking phaser rifles."
"There may be a good reason that you're not doing something more... imaginative," said Chakotay neutrally.
"Sure, we did something terrible in Equinox. We deserve to be punished. We have been, and when we get back to the Alpha Quadrant we will be again. But, Commander, while we're on Voyager and trying to get home, wouldn't it be better for everyone if we did what we were best at?"
She felt the Commander's eyes boring into her. She tried to meet his gaze squarely. The seconds dragged like hours.
"I'll have to discuss this with the senior staff."
"Understood, sir."
"Don't get your hopes up."
"No, sir."
"Dismissed."
"Aye, sir." Marla rose, saluted and marched swiftly out of the door. As she crossed the bridge she felt Tuvok's eyes on the back of her neck.
Tuvok meditated on the proposal for a few moments.
"I recommend that you deny the request."
"On what grounds?" The question was reasonable, not combative.
"The Equinox crew members present a significant security risk to Voyager. Placing them in positions with greater access to ships' systems increases that risk to an unacceptable level."
"True. But we're short of skilled staff as it is. I think that the extra risk is offset by what we'd gain in crew efficiency."
"I am unsure that the probabilities and risks match your assessment, Commander." Tuvok pushed a PADD over to Chakotay. "I suggest that you study the following scenarios."
Chakotay did. The considerable detail of each one surprised him. "You've been developing these over the past year? To what end?"
"I was concerned that the Equinox crew members would attempt to inveigle themselves into more senior posts, and asked my staff to study the possible consequences." Tuvok's tone was neutral. "As you can see, there is a significant risk to Voyager from some of the outcomes."
Chakotay speed-read the scenarios. They were impressively detailed, and disturbingly plausible. He remembered dinner-time sparring with Kathryn, speculating on how he could take over the ship and throw her in the brig. Suddenly those conversations seemed far less amusing.
"There is an underlying assumption to all this, Tuvok."
"I am open to suggestions about possibilities that I have missed, Commander."
"You assume that the Equinox crew wish to cause harm to Voyager."
"Strictly speaking, Commander, the assumption is that they wish to avoid the court martial and imprisonment which would result from a return to the Alpha Quadrant, and consider their own circumstances more important than avoiding harm to Voyager."
Chakotay acknowledged the point. "Still, in the past year they have each formed friendships which tie them to Voyager. In my mind, ties like this are not lightly broken. Isn't this sufficient guarantee of their future actions?"
"Yet it is my judgement that such ties are easily formed and just as easily broken. You and I have no way of distinguishing true friendship from a friendship of convenience."
Chakotay sighed. "Allow me to explain something about human friendships, Tuvok..."
Kathryn covered her face with her hand. "You let it go into an argument? Oh, Chakotay, what were you thinking?"
"I'm not allowed rational debate with my officers? Anyway, I was
thinking: Hey, why don't I try intellectual leadership as suggested
by Kathryn, rather than the Maquis pugilistic leadership?
" said
Chakotay defensively.
"No, no, no..." Kathryn gathered her thoughts for a moment. "Chakotay, when was the last time that you told me that I was flat-out wrong?"
"That incident with Noah Lessing." Chakotay was still uncomfortable talking about those mad minutes in the cargo bay.
"And what did I do when you told me that what I was doing was wrong?"
"You said: I'll note your objection in my log."
"And when I told you that I wasn't going to let you do it?"
"You relieved me of duty and confined me to quarters."
"Right. And why do you think I did that?"
This was starting to remind Chakotay of an Academy classroom.
"Apart from you being in a homicidal rage?" This was clearly a rhetorical question. "You couldn't tolerate a direct challenge to your leadership decisions."
"Exactly." Kathryn sipped her coffee. "When you and I differ in opinion, Chakotay, we don't argue. You tell me what you think, which I always respect and sometimes ignore. In the end I do what I choose, whether or not you're convinced."
Chakotay was starting to see the light. "And I was trying to convince Tuvok to see things my way..."
"Are things becoming clearer?" Kathryn smiled. "Make your decision, Chakotay. Make it based on the best advice, but make it yourself."
Chakotay got to his feet. "Thank you, Kathryn. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a ship to command."
The soft smile which he got in reply was worth more than a thousand words of the best advice.
The former Equinox crew members were lined up in front of Chakotay in the ready room, standing stiffly at attention. The occasional furtive sideways glance flew between them. The Commander had not announced his reason for bringing them here: only Marla had any idea what might be happening.
"A year ago you joined this ship from Equinox after breaking nearly every Starfleet regulation in existence." Chakotay was in front of his desk, slowly pacing up and down the line. "You were demoted and assigned to positions where you were to work under close supervision. You will all face court martial when we return to the Alpha Quadrant."
The Equinox crew shifted uncomfortably. They had almost managed to forget about their courts-martial during the past year. The prospect of having the exploits of the Equinox described in court was not appealing.
"Nevertheless, I've decided to allow you to take up positions with more responsibility." Restrained smiles started to break out along the line. "The choice of position will be up to your senior officer." Marla's smile vanished. "If any of you step one inch out of line, this privilege will be withdrawn. Is that clear?"
"Yes sir." "Yes Commander." "Yes sir."
"Don't let me regret this. Dismissed."
The crew members started to file out. Marla hung back.
"Something on your mind, Crewman?" Chakotay returned to the desk.
"Sir, will Commander Tuvok allow me to take up a more relevant position?"
"That's up to the Commander."
Marla bounced on her feet as she searched for the right words. "Did you speak to him?"
"I can't discuss conversations between the senior officers, Crewman."
"Understood, sir, but do you think that he will be at least open to allowing me to move?"
Chakotay looked up at Marla with something akin to sympathy on his face. "I can't tell Tuvok how to run his department, Marla. I've done what I can -- the door is now open. Whether you can come through is something to decide between yourself and Tuvok."
"I understand, sir. Thank you anyway."
Marla strode out onto the bridge and hit the elevator button with more force than required. It seemed to take an eternity for the elevator to arrive; she strove to maintain an impassive face. She managed to bottle it up long enough to get in the elevator and wait for the doors to close.
"Damn! Damn and blast it!" She pounded on the elevator wall with her fists, feeling the tears start in her eyes.
"Specify deck," chided the computer.
"Deck six." She checked her chronometer. Her slot on Holodeck Two was about to start.
Celes had been prepared for pain, boredom, discomfort, and more Italian opera than she could shake a stick at while she was in Sickbay. What she hadn't been prepared for was a commando assignment direct from her Captain.
Now she limped along the quieter corridors of Voyager, covered in Tom Paris's spare jacket but feeling the chill of the metal deck on her bare feet. The Captain had assured her that her burns had almost vanished after the latest regeneration by the Doctor, but she still felt self-conscious. The new skin on the front of her legs pained her as it stretched. Not far to go to the Captain's quarters, though.
The door was just around the corner when she heard rapid footsteps coming towards her. She glanced around -- nowhere to hide. Then the person rounded the corner and saw her. It was Chief Torres.
"Kill me now," Celes muttered. "Make it quick."
"Crewman? What are you doing out of Sickbay?" B'Elanna noticed the jacket. "And is there a good reason why you're wearing Tom's spare clothes?"
Celes opened and shut her mouth like a goldfish. "Ah..."
A rare smile appeared on B'Elanna's face. "You're not going to the Captain's quarters by any chance?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"I should have guessed that my sneaky, devious commanding officer would have a hand in this." B'Elanna shook her head, still smiling. "Forcing a sick crew member to run her errands -- she's quite evil. You ought not to listen to her, Crewman, she can be real bad for your health. Take it from me."
"Yes, ma'am."
B'Elanna sighed. "You can drop protocol for the moment, Celes. Otherwise I'd be forced to notice that you and the Captain are directly disobeying the Doctor's orders -- again -- and report you both to Chakotay." She rolled her eyes. "Like he'd do anything about it. Are you here for the emergency coffee supply, by any chance?"
"Yes ma'am -- Chief." B'Elanna rolled her eyes again but let Celes continue. "How do you know about it?"
"I built the cryogenic box for her as her last birthday present." B'Elanna tilted her head, clearly checking out Celes's injuries. Her voice softened. "How are you doing?"
"I'm all right, thank you Chief." Celes shuffled on her feet, embarrassed. Her experiences of the Chief Engineer to this point had been brief but traumatic affairs, and she was all for keeping this experience brief as well. B'Elanna, however, clearly had other thoughts.
"Sorry I had to take the Doctor offline. Is Tom treating you okay?"
Celes nodded, praying for this to be over soon.
"Good. Tell him I'll break his fingers if he hurts you." B'Elanna paused and shifted uncomfortably. "Celes -- I'm really sorry about what happened. You shouldn't have been down there."
"It was just a work party," protested Celes. "There was no reason you shouldn't have co-opted me."
B'Elanna looked even more uncomfortable. "You'd been on my hit list since that episode with the Astrometrics power couplings. That was why you got co-opted. I shouldn't have sent you into a hazardous area like that."
"Because I'm no good with electrical systems," mumbled Celes unhappily.
B'Elanna shrugged. "Right. But we all do what we're good at. Chakotay doesn't tell me how to look after the warp core, for instance, and I don't tell him how to fly shuttles. Oops, bad example." Despite herself, Celes giggled.
B'Elanna continued. "One of these days you need to come down to Engineering after I've been in a bad mood, and help put my crew back together. That's something you can do that I can't." She gave a slightly wolfish smile. "Ashmore wouldn't mind seeing you in Engineering more often, that I know."
Celes blushed. B'Elanna laughed and smacked her lightly on the shoulder. Celes just about managed not to fall over. "Anyway, let an old fugitive give you a hand with this blockade-running."
B'Elanna hit the door lock for the Captain's quarters. "Override, code Torres Two Rho." She darted into the room and returned a few seconds later with a briefcase-sized storage box labelled 'BIOHAZARD'.
"Thank you!" Celes took the case from B'Elanna and nearly dropped it as she felt the weight. "Prophets! What's she got in this -- latinum bricks?"
"You try building a self-contained cooling system that small and keep it under ten kilos," growled B'Elanna in good humour. "Tell you what. I've got to go past Sickbay anyway; I'll stash it in the vent to the left of the door, and you can pick it up when you get back there. Sorry I can't help you walk back, but I've got to catch Seven before she tries something dumb with my engines."
"No problem. Thank you, Chief."
"Welcome." A final smile and B'Elanna was halfway down the corridor, hefting the case like it was made of paper.
Celes checked the time on a nearby control panel. Still twenty minutes before the Doctor got back from his rounds. "Computer, where is Marla Gilmore?"
"Crewman Gilmore is in Holodeck Two."
Celes smiled. Almost directly on the way back to Sickbay.
The strong give up and move away, while the weak give up and stay.