Untitled and destined to be a long Course:Oblivion coda by Kat

Works on the premise that the Demon Clones were able to send out the beacon. Any help with techno-babble would be appreciated as well as any comments to [email protected]

Spoilers for Season 5 episode Course:Oblivion BTW it's a little late because the episode was only aired last week in the UK.

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"Captain?"

She shook herself and swallowed hard, not quite able to shake the look of disbelief from her face.

Slowly she put a hand to her head and closed her eyes. Chakotay stood and began to come toward her. A raised hand was enough to make him turn and return to his seat.

She sighed and turned back to the view screen. It sat there almost innocently. Its familiarity was taunting her.

"Tractor it in, Mr Kim." She returned to her chair, running a hand through her hair.

"Aye, Captain." Harry tapped a few commands into his console.

There was another anxious pause.

Voyager's bridge was very rarely a quiet place. Janeway didn't like the silence. Unlike many other Starfleet captains she preferred some light banter. She looked to Tom. Surely he wouldn't let the silence go unchecked. He didn't speak though, he didn't even move.

Strangely, it was Tuvok who broke the silence.

"Captain, it would be advisable to send a security detail to the Cargo Bay as well as a science team."

"Yes, you're right Tuvok. Report to the Cargo Bay as soon as we have it."

Another long silence.

Janeway tried to remember the last few hours. It had been a normal morning as far as she could recall. An EPS conduit had blown yesterday in a jeffries tube. B'elanna had spent the morning fixing it. Seven had compiled a report regarding the species that inhabited the Xanor system. The morning briefing had been reassuringly uneventful. She'd hoped on a quiet day, an early night.

"The capsule is in Cargo Bay 1, Captain." Harry said the words with apprehension. You could almost feel the tension on the bridge, perhaps because it was so out of place in the cold white light.

"Mr Tuvok, Mr Kim."

They left without ceremony. Janeway could swear Harry almost ran to the Turbo-lift.

Tuvok's replacement took up her place at tactical and possibly unwisely spoke up.

"Captain it would be unwise to remain here for a length of time. We are close to a Dolaris border and they have been more adventurous with their movements into neutral territory of late."

"I know that Ensign." Janeway almost snapped her reply. "Get a science team up here." The Ensign nodded but avoided eye-contact.

Janeway stood for the benefit of her crew and pointed to the silvery blob that shimmered on the screen. "I want to know exactly what the hell that is and what it?s doing with a Federation beacon."

There, Janeway decided, now I feel better.

The science team was on the bridge in minutes. The silence remained but at least it was an active silence.

Still, it didn't look like Janeway would get that early night.

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Engineering was the polar opposite of the bridge. It was a hive of bustling activity and not all of it was work related.

B'elanna strolled into engineering her tool kit in hand. She nodded greetings to the engineers who welcomed her and walked briskly to the centre of Engineering.

"Hey Chief!" It was Carey, there was something that looked black and greasy on his cheek and he smelled distinctly of something rather unpleasant. Despite all this, the smile on his face was wide and seemingly unshakeable.

"Carey," she smiled. "Do I even dare ask what happened?"

"Fixed it." He replied and then turned his back to her and began to pull up the schematics on his station.

"Oh, really Lieutenant? And exactly how did you do that?"

"Ah, you know Chief." He said pointing to the screen, "Diverted here, relayed there, kicked it once or twice and then voila, the waste disposal system on Deck 8 is now fully operational."

"And how long did it take you?"

"Oh, only 3 hours but it's worth it."

"Why?" B'elanna asked, amused by the look of boyish achievement on his face.

"Because," he paused to add to the jovial tension, "I don't have to share a bathroom with Stevens anymore. I mean has this guy even heard of hygiene?"

"I heard that," came the muffled call from inside an open hatch. Only the lower half of Stevens' body was visible. "Can someone get me a laser spanner?"

"So," Carey continued. "How was your morning?"

"Cramped." B'elanna said as she opened her tool kit. "But that's it. All that stupid Varro mess is now finished. The warp drive is fully recovered from transwarp, the waste unit on Deck 8 is operational, the EPS conduit in jeffries tube 32 is fixed and I can finally go eat some lunch."

She picked out her laser spanner and handed it to Stevens who mumbled something that sounded like thanks.

"Er," Carey grimaced. "Not so fast Chief."

"Can it wait?" B?elanna had had to skip breakfast thanks to an unintentional lie in. What she really wanted was something substantial to eat, not an odd salad or bowl of stew here or there.

"Well, as always, details are sketchy at best but Kaufman was in here earlier."

"And?" B'elanna knew that Kaufman was a science officer, normally conducting some kind of biochemistry experiment that she rarely explained fully to anyone. She wasn't one of the most patient people B'elanna had met.

"Something about a blob of goo."

"Goo? I don?t really know the lieutenant but she's normally a touch more specific."

Carey shrugged. "Vorik, Nicoletti? You talked to her." He shouted to where Nicoletti and Vorik were leaning over a station. They turned to stare at Joe.

"Oh, what Kaufman?" Nicoletti inquired looking up from her work. "That was more Vorik than me. Vorik you tell Joe." Nicoletti ducked and began to look at a panel and pull at parts of the circuitry.

Vorik made his way slowly and calmly over to B'elanna and Joe.

"Will somebody please tell me what Kaufman said about this mysterious goo." B'elanna said slight exasperation in her voice.

She just wanted to go get some lunch. She didn't want to be playing detective with Carey and Vorik.

"Lieutenant Kaufman came into Engineering 8 minutes ago." He started with his definite monotone. "She required some tools for a project she and Ensign Kim are working on. Apparently, there is a large anamalous and I quote 'blob of goo' 60,000 km off Voyager's port bow. It had Lieutenant Kaufman excited because it was of a biological nature. She is working down in Cargo Bay 1. This 'creature' seemed to be in possession of a Starfleet beacon."

Vorik nodded to B'elanna and then began to walk back to where Nicoletti was working.

"Oh, she didn't tell me that." Carey said looking slightly downcast.

"So, has this got anything to do with me, or engineering in general?" B'elanna sighed. It was a pointless question that she knew the answer to.

"Well you know how we tend to 'hear' things so to speak before we?re 'told' things. I think that this..."

Carey smiled smugly and B?elanna just grimaced. She looked pleadingly at Joe.

"Sorry Chief, I've been working since 0200 and it's currently 1300 hours or thereabouts. My shift finished about an hour ago and I've got a sanitary system to test."

He scurried away towards the engineering doors. "Remember the first rule of management," he called over his shoulder, "delegate." He then left, sadly, not taking his odour with him.

"Janeway to Engineering. " The voice repeated, with a hint of annoyance.

Who could she call on? Nicoletti and Vorik looked busy. Stevens was still inside the wall. Alaine was no where to be seen. Funnily enough all the other engineers who had been cluttering engineering a moment earlier had disappeared.

B'elanna realised that lunch was beginning to look like a no go.

B'elanna hit her comm-badge. "Torres here, Captain."

"What took you so long, Lieutenant?" The Captain sounded more than annoyed, she sounded...tired.

"Erm, nothing, just a small briefing on the current Warp status Captain. I apologise for the delay."

2^nd rule of management, B?elanna mused, beautify the truth.

"Very well, Lieutenant." The comm-line cackled from some interference. "Your presence is required in Cargo Bay 1. Janeway out."

B'elanna shut her tool kit and sighed. It had looked like such a promising day three minutes ago.

As B'elanna headed towards the door she met Alaine on her way in.

"Alaine." She acknowledged her.

"Chief," Alaine smiled back and then looked away from her superior and headed to her post.

"Oh," Alaine stopped in her tracks and B'elanna turned to face her and waited expectantly. "Observation lounge, Chief. There is the biggest lump of grey goo I have ever seen. Just floating out there in space. What is it?"

"Alaine grab your kit you're with me."

Alaine opened her mouth to protest and then caught the adamant look in B'elanna's eyes.

She walked slowly to her kit and picked it up. To look on the bright side, it'd make a change from fixing the holo-deck.

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"From as far as I can tell Commander it is one of ours. It has been made to Starfleet specifications from local metals. It's even got the name of the team that made it right here." Harry pointed to where four names were scratched into the casing.

An engineering team from as far a Tuvok could tell.

"The only thing is that we code each of our beacons with their own unique signature. This beacon has a signature that is totally foreign to us, we've never used this one sir." Harry looked up to Tuvok who was also bent over the beacon, inspecting it.

"But it is a Starfleet code?"

"Yes." Harry frowned. He'd gone over this once. Why did Tuvok insist on looking at all the dead ends with such detail?

Tuvok noticed Harry's discomfort. "It is possible, Ensign, that an undetermined alien race commandeered the beacon to use it for their own needs and changed the signature."

"But they haven't."

"That appears to be the case." Tuvok conceded. Harry sighed. Back to running in circles.

"Have you summoned these engineers?" Tuvok pointed to the names.

"No."

"Wouldn?t that be a prudent course of action, Ensign?"

Harry huffed slightly. He'd have thought it obvious why he didn't call them out to the Bay. He'd just have to say it out loud he supposed.

"Well for a start Jenkins died five months ago."

Tuvok raised an eyebrow. "The stardate reads..."

"I know what the stardate reads." Harry stepped back. Tuvok was being impossible.

"Got it." Kaufman walked towards the two senior-staff officers.

Harry smiled at her as she neared.

"What have you found Lieutenant?" Tuvok asked, she held a padd in one hand and some science equipment in the other.

"Traces of the same biological component that we found in the grey mass outside the ship are on the beacon. There are also minute traces of the same radiation, harmless radiation. Basically, somehow this beacon came from that...goo."

"Lieutenant can you not find a more suitable name for it?" Tuvok asked.

She paused and her brow furrowed for a few seconds. "How about Fred?" The Lieutenant smiled and Harry stifled a laugh. "Commander, if you're enquiring if I can find a more scientific term for it then no, it'll have to stay as goo for the time being."

"Goo it is then." Harry said.

"So, what do we do now? Are we going to open it?" Kaufman asked. She circled the beacon her hands on her hips. Then she bent over and poked it.

Both Harry and Tuvok looked quizzically at her. She smiled again and was the only person in the room who looked even vaguely excited by the conundrum they were faced with.

"Are we going to open it?" She repeated.

"It could be hostile." Tuvok stated

"It doesn't look hostile." Harry said and then to validate his claim added. "I've run every test possible. It's a beacon stacked to the brim with information. The best way to go about this would be a direct data-link with the computer."

"Nope, we're dealing with something that has definite trace biological patterns. I wouldn't like to see what it'd do to the gel-packs. I say we open it up and have a look inside."

"Yes, but we could loose all the data stored inside it." Harry said. At least he could reply upon Kaufman to listen. Anyway he was sure she'd be even more intrigued when she learned that the data wasn't just the one message.

"Mr Kim, I think the real issue here is the safety of Voyager and her crew. The data stored is superfluous to our goal of determining the risk factors that the beacon presents."

"Commander..."

Tuvok stared Harry into submission.

Kaufman sighed from her position the other side of the beacon. It was becoming petty.

"The cavalry's here." A voice called from the doors to the Bay. Alaine and Torres stood at the far end of the room both looking less than pleased.

"What's up then?" Alaine called as she walked into the Bay, swinging her kit by her side.

"This," Kaufman stepped back from the beacon.

"We have a team for beacon and probe repairs Tuvok, it has nothing to do with main Engineering." B'elanna said as she came to stand next to Alaine. "Look, in fact their names should be right here."

B'elanna looked at the names and then the star-date and then to Harry and Alaine for recognition that food deprivation wasn't affecting her eyesight. "Erm..."

"Quite, Lieutenant," was Tuvok's dry reply. B'elanna needn't role her eyes, Harry already had.

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"Good afternoon Seven."

"Doctor, Commander, Lieutenant." Seven said as she walked into sickbay.

B'elanna mumbled something from where she was standing. It was indecipherable even to Seven's advanced hearing. She could assume the sentiment.

"The Captain informs me that you would like my assistance." Seven explained and waited patiently to be filled in.

"Have you finished your work in Astrometrics on the dynamics of the mass, Seven?" Chakotay asked.

"It is of unstable mass and density. Sensors as they are calibrated currently are unable to give us anything that would be of use. In layman's terms Commander, no, my work in Astrometrics is far from finished and I would like to return there as soon as possible."

"It really is quite intriguing." The Doctor came out of his office holding aloft a container. Inside was a tiny piece of the grey goo. It pulsed and stretched.

"It looks almost alive." Chakotay commented, his eyes following the strange dance of the goo.

"It is alive, Commander." Seven said, seemingly unimpressed with the goo. She knew it was ridiculous to harbour such feelings but she almost resented this goo. There were far more important things she could be doing than wasting her time calibrating sensors to understand further a lump of radioactive gel.

"I meant sentient, Seven." Chakotay said, as usual his tone level and soft.

"It may well be sentient." The Doctor added.

"Oh great. First it's, let's all look at the goo, then it's, let's all look at the moving goo and now it's, let's all look at the thinking goo. Spare me please." B'elanna said as she tapped in the last few commands. "There you go Doc. This should now purge our wonderful goo of all its radiation."

"Thank you, Lieutenant." B'elanna smiled and turned towards the door.

"Wait a minute B'elanna. We'll need you to try again if this doesn't work." Chakotay called.

It was 1500 hours and B'elanna still hadn't eaten. She was hoping on a late lunch. Now it looked like she was just going to have to replicate something for the afternoon. Her mood brightened for a minute as she tried to decide exactly what.

"Okay," The Doc smiled at Seven. "Seven, can you monitor what happens to the sample?"

Seven nodded and took her place by the diagnostic display although she didn't look particularly pleased at the request.

The medical arms raised over the sample container and the Doctor tapped in a few commands. Blue rays spread out from the arms onto the container, around it, through it.

"The purge is having no affect." Seven reported.

"Give it time." The Doctor said.

The beams darted around it randomly. The goo continued to pulse and writhe in its container but now it bubbled as well.

"Something is happening. Radiation levels are decreasing, the sample is stabilising." Seven reported.

"Thank-you Lieutenant." The Doctor said to B'elanna. "But if you want to stay, there are a few things I wish to discuss with you about..."

B'elanna cut him off. "Yep, okay Doc, tomorrow?"

She didn't wait for his reply and was out of the door before anyone else could hold her there. That had been her mistake in the Cargo Bay. Her curious streak had a lot to answer for.

"So, Doctor can you tell what it is?" Chakotay asked. The random rays had stopped now and the goo was inert. "It is still alive isn't it?"

"We have no way of knowing. It doesn't have life signs." The Doctor smiled condescendingly at the Commander.

Commander Chakotay was having trouble understanding why everyone wanted to be rid of this strange gloop. He found it quietly fascinating.

The Doctor walked over to where Seven was analysing the results and Chakotay bent to study the now still sample further.

Chakotay couldn't quite believe it at first.

It was a slow process yet it easily defied the gravity in the room. It turned from a strange grey liquid to a cylindrical container with the greatest of ease. Before he'd realised what had happened there were two identical containers sitting on the bio-bed. No sign of the grey gloop. Chakotay's eyes went wide with wonder like a child at a primitive Earth circus.

It took him a moment to remember his obligation to report his finding and overcome the urge to touch the replica container.

"Doctor?" He called behind him.

"Yes Commander." The Doctor said slowly, the irritation, as always, audible in his voice.

"I think you should have a look at this."

The Doctor's brow knitted as he walked towards the Commander.

"Oh no," he started. "I had my suspicions." The doctor ran the medical tri-corder up and down the container.

"What Doctor?"

"This, Commander Chakotay, isn't normal goo, this" he paused for effect, "is Demon planet bio-mimetic gel."

The Doctor sighed, he'd thought he was rid of that particular headache forever. No such luck.

"So, the large mass outside the ship could be..." Chakotay stopped himself, that was purely speculation at this time, as he was sure the Doctor would tell him.

"Doctor?" Seven called.

"Seven can you get me that molecular scanner over there?" The Doctor replied. Seven tried not to look angry, but they could at least inform her why they needed it. She had competent medical knowledge and could be of value. She was not used to playing 'nurse'.

Seven neared the bio-bed with the scanner in her hand. It took her no time at all to realise what had happened.

"I will inform the Captain." She stated as she placed the scanner on the biobed. She then turned on her heel and left Sickbay.

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"What do we know?" Harry couldn't remember how many times he'd been asked that question. He was also sick of his repetitive answer.

"Not a great deal, Captain."

"Look, I say we start a data-transfer. We've done every test possible to make sure the beacon is safe. It's about time we utilised the sensor data at least, that could be the most useful. So, if we start the data-transfer and we monitor it every step of the way we could just see how it went and at the first sign of trouble we stop." Alaine said. She wasn't exactly sure how one went about addressing the Captain. But, as soon as she'd finished and judging by the reactions of Kim and Kaufman, that wasn't the way to go about it.

"Thank-you Crewman." Alaine flinched slightly, even after five years she didn't like any reference to her rank. It made her feel like her opinion wasn't valid.

Janeway watched the woman carefully as she considered her proposal. There were only so many precautions she could take. They'd at least identified the biological mass as the same species as they had encountered on the Demon Planet. It was about time they just dived in and took advantage of this mysterious...gift? From what Ensign Kim had said there was a lot of information on that beacon.

"Miss Kaufman what do you suggest we do?" Janeway asked.

Jenna Kaufman was one of the few crewmembers that Janeway talked to on a regular basis. Although she was isolated from the rest of the crew, normally locked up doing some kind of experiment in the lab, she would always explain fully and eloquently to Janeway what she was working on. Normally the ship didn't require a biochemist of Kaufman?s quality and the Doctor's skills would suffice, so, for the last five years Kaufman had been working on her thesis. Over late night chats Janeway had come to respect the woman's opinion very highly. Perhaps, because she reminded Janeway of herself some time ago.

"I say we go with what Crewman Alaine is suggesting. I want to get my hands on what is inside." The lieutenant smiled at Alaine who returned the gesture.

"Mr Kim?"

"Yeah, that's what I'd do." He tried to suppress a yawn. It looked like he?d be pulling another all-nighter. But at least they were about to do something.

"Alaine, Kaufman, Kim I want you to stay here and prepare for the transfer. I'll assign another science and engineering officer to help." Janeway patted Kim on the shoulder and made her way out of the Cargo Bay.

They were scheduled to leave the next morning. To head off into Xanor space and rendezvous with a friendly transport that was going to offer them food stuffs and medical supplies. Both much needed resources. They had informed Janeway two hours ago by sub-space transmission that they would not wait long. Grudgingly, Janeway had agreed to meet them at 1300 hours tomorrow and to leave the mass floating in space. They had taken as many samples as they could. Sending shuttles out to collect containers full of the stuff. It was strange. The Doctor informed her that the viscose liquid was a true marvel of evolution, it could clone anything it touched but yet seemingly harmless radiation had been its downfall.

She'd reviewed her logs of the Demon planet encounter. The clones that she had encountered had seemed perfectly happy to stay where they were. She still couldn't shake the...fear that the seething mass had once been something very familiar.

Janeway left the cargo Bay with one thought on her mind.

It was going to be a long night.

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As always the Mess Hall was a bustle with movement at 2200 hours. This was normally the time that those on the day shift took their down time. Whether it be a meeting before a night on the holodeck or just a quick bite to eat before bed the place was full of people.

Those on the night shift normally took their break at around 1800 hours, just before their shifts began. That was a far more sombre time.

Neelix was busily talking to crewmembers and serving them their food almost simultaneously.

"Really? So, it's from the Demon Planet. I never would have guessed." Neelix was having this conversation for the fiftieth time. Still, he didn't let Crewman Denez know that.

"But it got me thinking. I mean there is someone who looks just like me, a twin if you will, sitting out there on a planet. Gets you thinking what his life is like." Denez seemed to wish to engage Neelix in a philosophical debate at the same time, Neelix noticed, as he was holding the queue up.

A pot boiled over in the back of the kitchen. As he moved to turn the heat down he dropped his ladle on the floor. There was a large clutter as it fell. It seemed to Neelix that the whole Mess Hall turned to look at him.

Neelix ducked to pick the ladle up and expected the sound to return to the Mess Hall, it didn't. He stood and said, "It was just the ladle. No harm done, dinner will be served as planned." A crewman giggled in the background and Denez smiled widely as the hint of a blush reddened Neelix's cheeks.

As quickly as it had gone sound returned to the room.

"So anyway what do you think Neelix?" Denez asked. He was still unwilling to take a place at a table.

"Oh, the Demon clones? I don't know really. Be interesting to swap recipes." Neelix said as he put some of the casserole and rice on Ensign Rowan's tray. Rowan worked with Denez in security.

"Come on Denez you're holding the whole queue up and there are at least two senior officers behind me who look less than happy." Rowan tapped Denez on the shoulder, which broke him away from his thoughts.

"Oh, ok I was waiting for you anyway." Denez smiled and led Rowan to a nearby table.

"Crewman Stewart," Neelix greeted the man.

"Casserole thanks Neelix." Neelix always went out of his way to talk to this particular crewmember. He needed bringing out of his shell.

"So, how was your day? Any plans for the evening?" Neelix asked.

"Just the usual Neelix. I was going to spend the evening with Sara." He said, about the only person who wasn't talking about goo or beacons.

"Well have a nice evening Cameron." Neelix patted him on the shoulder as he handed him back his tray.

Tuvok pointed to the stew and then looked at Neelix with a raised eyebrow.

"Ah Mr Vulcan." Neelix greeted him with his standard cheer and then noticed his expression. "What have I done this time?" Neelix quickly scooped up some stew and placed it on another tray.

"Mr Neelix this process would be far more efficient if you did not insist upon engaging all the crew in idle chatter." Tuvok said as deadpan as usual.

"Well that would just take the fun out of it." Neelix smiled and handed Tuvok his tray.

And so it would go on.

Things had begun to settle by around 2300 hours. Most had left for their holo-deck time or just gone to bed. But there was still a queue.

"Tom, B'elanna." Neelix smiled although his cheeks ached. Tonight had been busier than most for some reason.

They both smiled and returned to their own conversation. Neelix was glad.

"So, you haven't eaten all day?" Tom asked.

"Been too busy." B?elanna put her hand to her mouth as she yawned.

"Don't tell me, the beacon." Tom said and smiled as Neelix handed him his tray.

"You guessed it. I've had Harry itching to get at the information, Tuvok droning on about security and Kaufman cooing over the smallest piece of biological read-out."

"Could have been worse." Tom said.

"Oh?" B'elanna said, prompting him to continue.

"The ship hasn't moved since about midday right?"

"I am the Chief Engineer, those sort of things don't escape my attention." She said, smiling.

"For the last 6 hours of my shift I just sat in my chair. I didn't do one thing. I just got a good view of a big grey blob."

"Yeah but you got to eat lunch." B'elanna said and smiled warmly at Neelix as she accepted her food.

"True but I had to eat it alone." Tom said.

"And you got to eat breakfast." She said pointedly. They made their way over to their usual table.

"I know, I know. I should have woken you." He said as they both sat.

"No it's okay, you are officially forgiven. I just want to put this hellish day behind me. What have you got planned for tonight?" The prospect of eating had put B'elanna in a considerably better mood than she had been in when she'd entered the Mess Hall.

"Oh well I was thinking a quiet night in." Tom said, looking B?elanna straight in the eyes.

"Quiet? Well that's a shame." B?elanna said back in a quiet almost husky tone. Her eyes danced suggestively.

Tom sighed and then smiled at her. "You'd better answer."

"Why me?" B?elanna mouthed.

She reluctantly hit her com-badge. "Torres here, Captain."

Tom laughed at the pained look in her eyes as she answered. Janeway must have heard.

"Sorry to interrupt your dinner plans." She said, but the amusement that should have been in her voice was lacking. "You're needed in Cargo Bay 1. They are going to start the data-transfer."

A hint of a frown crept over B'elanna's lips. "On my way. Torres out."

"Got to go." She said apologetically.

He just smiled reassuringly. Trying to mask his disappointment.

"Later." She said as she headed for the doors.

"Yeah later." Tom said to himself more than anyone else. He sighed dejectedly and began to move his casserole about his plate.

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B'elanna and Mulchaey arrived at the Cargo Bay at almost the same time. Neither looked happy about their late night assignment.

Kim smiled warily at B'elanna and began to brief the two newly arrived officers on what they were about to do. "We're just going to do it like we'd normally get information from a beacon that had say, stopped sending out data on its own. I've set up a failsafe device in the computer so that at the first sign of trouble the link will be aborted. That should save the computer too much damage." Harry smiled again. Kaufman's excitement was now getting to him. But after a whole 11 and a half hours with her that seemed only natural.

Ensign Mulchaey went over to talk to his superior. B?elanna just sat down on a nearby container and breathed out heavily.

"Tired huh?" Harry asked.

"Tired and hungry. Did this have to be done now? Couldn't it have been done tomorrow?"

"Not really. We?re leaving at 0900 for the Xanor system."

Three weeks ago Harry would have made some kind of joke about her missing Tom and their big date. He didn't quite know why he didn't now. Was it because it would have been so easy for her to retort? He knew what had happened with Tal had been right around the ship already. He needn't help the gossip. Or was it because B'elanna was feeling a small part of the pain he'd been feeling over the last week? But then Tom was never more than a few decks away. Tal was light-years away.

"Voyager to Harry." B'elanna commented dryly. She was referring to the way that Harry seemed to be ignoring Kaufman's frantic waves to catch his attention.

"We're ready over here." Kaufman shouted.

Harry nodded. "Ok, let's get started." Harry began to run the program. Tapped in a few commands, stretched a muscle in his neck.

"Computer establish a data link with beacon."

A pause.

::::::::Link has been established::::::::

"Begin data transfer. Starting with sensor logs."

::::::::Transfer complete:::::::::::

"Okay computer can you determine the type of information stored in the beacon?"

:::::68% personal, official and mission logs. 14% tactical data. 10% star charts. 6% sensor data.:::::

A console bleeped.

The entire team walked over to where a communications display had come to life. It cackled and fizzed but as B'elanna ran a quick diagnostic on the console there was no problem with Voyager?s equipment.

It cleared and Alaine gasped. Staring at them was Harry or rather wasn't Harry. He was sitting on what appeared to be Voyager?s bridge, in the captain's chair no less. B'elanna thought she could see what looked like Seven of Nine behind him.

Harry smiled to spite his amazement. This Harry Kim was not looking his best. His features were masked by a pulsating green goo. If this was some kind of trick they hadn't done their research. "Computer freeze download."

:::::::::Unable to comply.:::::::::::

Before Harry could ask why, the man claiming to be Harry Kim on the screen continued.

"We are suffering from severe radiation poisoning that is not only affecting our crew but our ship as well. We estimate that Voyager will loose structural integrity in a matter of minutes. If you have found this beacon it is likely that you have also found the remains of Voyager and her crew." The man on the screen swallowed hard.

The screen returned to a fuzzy blur and then went dark.

::::::::::::87, 512 log entries ready to be downloaded::::::::::::::::

Kaufman spoke up to break the stunned silence. "I think we can safely assume what our goo is or more accurately used to be."

"I have to admit it crossed my mind." Alaine added. The rest of the group turned to stare at her. "Well it was Demon Planet goo with a Federation beacon. I thought everybody had their suspicions."

B'elanna shrugged. "I suppose I didn't really want to consider all the possibilities."

Kaufman nodded. "First thing's first I think we should get a security team down here."

"Why?" B'elanna asked. It was an unwritten rule that engineers and scientists didn't call security until it was absolutely necessary. Security teams had the habit of blundering straight in and ruining hours of careful work. There was more than a little animosity between the science and security departments especially.

"We have to consider that it may be an elaborate hoax." Kaufman said. That was probably the scepticism in her. But she'd been told once that the best scientists were at their best sceptical.

"It doesn't feel like a trap." Alaine said.

"Yeah, but its a definite possibility that those logs are not just logs. If you think about it this would be a pretty neat way of getting a virus into our systems." Mulchaey added.

"Whoever it is they had a pretty good knowledge of Starfleet systems. The inaugural message tapped straight into this communications panel. It almost anticipated what we'd do." Harry remarked.

"Besides, which species in this sector would know about what happened on the Demon Planet?" It was beginning to fall into place for B'elanna now.

"Yes but we can't rule out temporal anomalies, transmission echoes, mind altering drugs or diseases, omnipotent beings...." The glares that Mulchaey received from his colleagues stopped him. "So maybe they aren't the obvious reasons but you can't rule them out. Come on, weirder things have happened."

"Torres to Janeway." Torres took some satisfaction out of that.

"We've found something."

"What we do now ladies and gentlemen, is wait." B'elanna said as she back towards the beacon, resisting the desire to kick it as she passed.

***************************************************************************

"That's it."

::::::::::::::::::Logs download complete::::::::::::::::::

"So what do we do with them?" B'elanna asked Tuvok and Janeway who had stood deep in conversation for the last few minutes.

"I suppose I will have to view them all." Tuvok said.

"No," Janeway said. "That would put my tactical officer out of service for God-knows-how-long."

"Well they specifically ask that we watch them Captain. It'd be like ignoring their final wishes." Harry chimed in.

"Do you have logs for every member of the crew?" Janeway asked almost cryptically.

"Not exactly. We have logs for crewmembers who've been dead on this Voyager and then we have crewmembers on our Voyager whose counterparts died."

"I will view the logs of the deceased crew members." Janeway said solemnly. "As for the other logs distribute them to the relevant crew-members even if they end abruptly. Any relevant information is to be reported at once to Mr Tuvok. Make sure the whole crew understands that."

"What about the other data?"

"Deliver the star-charts to Astrometrics and route the relevant tactical information to Tuvok?s station."

Janeway turned to leave. It was 0400 hours and the whole Cargo Bay was full of people. Most of them were off duty engineers and scientists, there was also a security detail. Neelix busied himself in the background. Tom Paris tried to make it look as though he was doing something useful and not just visiting B'elanna. Notable exceptions were Chakotay and Seven of Nine. Chakotay was on the bridge and Seven of Nine was regenerating. Janeway had decided to let her rest as she would have a lot of work to do tomorrow in light of the new data.

She left the Bay with Kaufman not far behind.

Janeway turned. "Not staying Lieutenant?"

"There's not too much for a biochemist to do, Captain. I've got goo to go look at."

"You should go and pick up your logs." Janeway said, she always expected her officers to understand an order when it was given and to act in accordance. But then, her relationship with Kaufman had never fit very snugly into the command chain.

"Mine's rather short Captain." Kaufman smiled sadly.

"Well, it gives you more time to complete your work." Janeway said. Obviously Kaufman's clone had not fared too well. Janeway turned away and headed down the corridor. She considered the matter closed.

"I don't know." Kaufman began. Janeway turned, it was only ten minutes of her time, she thought, she owed the woman a friendly ear. "I was just expecting...it's hard to think about someone making a mistake. No, I mean I've always been so careful and now I get this...you just loose confidence."

"Jenna get some sleep." was Janeway's only advice. She placed a hand on her shoulder in a friendly gesture.

"It's trust I suppose. With the level of danger that is involved with biochemistry you need to be able to trust your team. I don't think I can anymore. Knowing what I do now." Kaufman looked down.

"Not meaning to sound cold Lieutenant but you're going to have to learn to re-trust your colleagues. You can't let this stop you doing your work, getting on with the job."

"It's not as simple as that, Captain." Kaufman said staring Janeway in the eyes. What was that look? Defiance?

"It's going to have to be." Janeway left then, walking purposefully down the corridor. Kaufman considered her Captain's advice. She'd been right on one count. Jenna needed some sleep.

***************************************************************************

"Neelix." B'elanna called from where she was standing.

Neelix slowly walked in. Astrometrics was far from his favourite place in the ship. It was so very clinical, even more so than Sick Bay.

"Mr. Neelix. It seems that we require your services." Seven asserted. She walked to Neelix and handed him a crate full of data chips.

"Uh-oh I've been here before." Neelix said. "I don't want this assignment. It was hard enough last time. Can you please get someone else to do it?" Neelix walked away.

"Neelix!" B'elanna called after him, he stopped and turned. "I thought you enjoyed handing out the letters?"

"Appearances, B'elanna, appearances." He said with half a smile. "It wouldn't do if the postman looked unhappy."

"Point taken." B'elanna turned and was prepared to let him go. Then she changed her mind. "Neelix, this time everyone's got mail."

"Everyone?" B'elanna could have sworn she could almost see the excitement light up in his face.

"Yep everyone. And that there," she pointed to the crate. "Is for everyone on decks 1 and 2."

"I've changed my mind."

"Good." Neelix picked up the crate and headed out of Astrometrics.

Neelix was right, B'elanna mused. She had been here before. Working in Astrometrics with Seven, Neelix as a post-man, the laughter and the pain. It was all so reminiscent of a week almost a year ago now. The week they made contact with the Alpha Quadrant. The week a lot of things changed. Married crewmembers ceased to be married, others became grandparents, one gained a parent, many lost a comrade. It had been a hard time for all.

Still, this time around it would be different. Wouldn't it?

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To be continued...

Index