Federation No More: Civil War Chapter Seventy-Two

    Harry Kim was now alone, save for his thoughts and his unconscious companion. That, however, was about to change. Once again she rose quickly, and was thankful there was no one there to hold her down this time. Instead, she shot Kim an icy stare. For a moment it looked as if she was about to attack him.

"Whoa there!", Kim said, trying to calm her down. "I'm in this thing as deep as you!"

This seemed to calm her down, but only slightly.

"Why don't we start by finding out who we are? I'm Ensign Harry Kim, of the U.S.S. Voyager. You must be B'Elanna Torres, the Maquis engineer, right?"

This annoyed Torres.

"How did you know my name? Did Starfleet send you here after me?"

"Starfleet sent the Voyager here after you and your comrades, but only because you went missing."

"What does Starfleet want with us?"

Getting off the bed, she walked over to the door, and tried to open it. It was locked, so she decided to take her frustration out on the door. Kim was thankful that she wasn't doing the same to him.

"Calm down!", he said. "Smashing things won't get us anywhere!"

"You're right!", said Torres. "It's the Klingon half of me. It's difficult to control sometimes."

Then, the door opened, and one of their 'hosts' stepped into the room.

"Good. I see you are both well."

He handed them both new clothes, to replace the white tunics they were wearing.

"Who are you?", asked Kim. "Where are we?"

"You are on the Ocampa homeworld. You were sent here by the Caretaker."

"The Caretaker?", Torres asked.

"He means the array.", Kim replied.

Kim then pulled back his sleeve, and showed him the growth in his arm.

"What are these things in us? How did they get there?"

"That I cannot explain. The Caretaker has sent many sick people to us recently."

"So why are you keeping us here like prisoners?", asked Torres.

"Prisoners? You are not prisoners! You are free to come and go as you please. Here, put the clothes on and I will show you more of our world."

 

With their new clothes on, the Ocampa led Kim and Torres from the hospital into one of the Ocampa cities. Kim was surprised when he saw where they were. It was not what he expected.

"We're underground!"

"Yes. The surface of our planet is much too barren to support our life. After the Warming, the Caretaker led us here to go underground. Come, let us eat."

He led them both to what appeared to be some sort of mess hall. Huge screens lined one wall. As they entered, they found they were being watched by many more Ocampa.

"Please excuse them. They are curious. They haven't seen anyone like you before."

He led them to what seemed to be a replicator, and took out two dishes. Each had some sort of paste in them.

"Please, eat this. It may not have the exotic taste some of our younger people crave for, but it serves us."

They seated themselves at one of the tables. Kim began to look up at the screens.

"Is this how the Caretaker speaks to you?", he asked, pointing toward the screens.

"He sends us images, but we have to interpret them ourselves."

"And what about the others?", asked Torres. "You said there had been others like us. Were they sick also?"

"They were."

"Where are they?", Kim asked.

"They...did not survive the sickness. I'm afraid there is no cure for your ailment."

"You're kidding!", said Torres. "Your Caretaker did this to us! Surely he gave you a cure!"

"If it is the Caretaker's wish that you die, then we can do nothing to help. I'm very sorry."

 

Now that he was in a clean uniform, Commander Sisko took the chance to walk along the Promenade. Why, he did not know. Perhaps he wanted to try and gauge the reaction to the possible treaty with the Dominion. He himself was skeptical, perhaps he wanted to know how many others were.

Whilst walking along, past the Security office and the Infirmary, he thought he saw a familiar face in the distance. It was the face of a man, tall, with grey hair, clad in black. This man was talking to another, a young ensign in a Starfleet uniform.

When he saw Sisko approach him, he made his farewells to the ensign, and walked toward Sisko.

"Commander Sisko, I believe. I must speak with you."

Sisko was surprised by this.

"Do I know you?", he asked.

"Not here. We must speak alone."

Seeing that the Security office was empty, Sisko led him in there.

"In response to your question, Commander, you may know me, although it has been a long time since I was in the public gaze."

Sisko smiled, and snapped his fingers.

"President Zarkoff! I thought I knew your face! What are you doing here?"

"In time, Commander. First, answer this question for me. Did you receive a transmission asking you to go to Nimbus III?"

"No, I didn't."

"Then it probably arrived after you left for the Gamma Quadrant."

"What did it say?"

"It was asking you to travel to Nimbus III to attend a conference, hosted by Doctor Magus. Many were there. Picard, Tarrant, Koenig, Delenn, Kosh, and many more. At this conference Magus put forward evidence against our esteemed President Servalan, damning evidence that would see her hung, drawn and quartered, if she didn't hold such a high office."

"I.S.N. says that Picard, Koenig and the others have gone missing. Do you know where they are?"

"The Enterprise and the Tempest are currently docked with the Pegasus station, along with the Lohengrin, Flying Scotsman and an alien vessel called the Liberator. Together they... we are part of the Free Federation. If you and your senior officers had attended the talks there, you also would have been asked to join."

"There is still a chance for you and your friends, however."

"Out of the question at the moment. Major Kira and Constable Odo are missing in the Gamma Quadrant, and the rest of us can't leave because of these talks."

"That is the other reason I'm here. Magus believes that no good will come of a possible Federation/Dominion alliance."

"The Doctor is not alone in that. Something doesn't seem right with any of this."

"Then, perhaps, you will join us, after the talks are completed?"

"I cannot say. I have a family to consider."

"Those aboard the Enterprise, Tempest and Lohengrin also have families. We are trying to come up with a way of contacting them without raising suspicion."

Zarkoff then stopped when a guard walked past the office.

"If you cannot join us on the Pegasus station, then can you at least lend us your support as commander of this station? Perhaps if the evidence against Servalan was placed before the Bajoran government then they would support us!"

"Perhaps, but I would have to see the evidence first."

Zarkoff handed Sisko a small data chip.

"All the evidence is on here. Make sure that no one else gets their hands on this."

And with that, Zarkoff left the office. But before Sisko could also leave and follow Zarkoff, Zarkoff was gone, out of sight.