• Choose a category
• All
• Classic-Fiction

By Root 554 0

seeking you. You have been exposed to a powerful burst of dark matter as it emerges from each wormhole. Think of it, Ensign Kim-how many wormholes have opened and closed over the last few days?"

Harry looked unwell "Hundreds."

"Yes. And all with the sole purpose of finding you and your ship. I deeply regret it, but it seems that I am indirectly responsible for your present situation."

Janeway turned to the Doctor. "You've been studying mis, Doctor. What do you think? Is Telek's theory valid?"

The Doctor hesitated before replying. "My findings are preliminary, but I have enough information to worry me. Whatever these particles are, they're in the cells of every crew member and inside the ship itself and all its programs." He paused, huffed a little, and added, "Including myself."

"Do you believe this is what caused Neelix to attack Telek?" asked Chakotay.

"At this juncture, I'd say yes," the Doctor said. "There were several particles of the matter clustered together in his hypothalamus, which is the area of the brain that directs emotions. You, Captain, have several clusters in the capillaries that supply blood to your brain."

"That explains the headaches," sighed Janeway.

'To a greater or lesser extent, we are all affected," said the Doctor, glancing around at the senior staff.

"It's inside us," said Paris softly. "It's inside us all." One hand reached up to his chest and scratched at his heart. His blue eyes regarded Telek with fear and hatred commingled. "And you brought it here, you son of a bitch."

'Tom!" snapped Janeway.

"Captain, how do we know he's not a Romulan spy, sent here to destroy us?" Paris leaped to his feet The chair rolled away with the motion. "Maybe he brought this... this mutant dark matter here deliberately. You know Romulans, always trying to conquer the universe-"

"Ensign!" Chakotay shouted. "Sit down or I'll have you thrown in the brig! Hell, I'll throw you hi there myself!"

Tom stared at the commander defiantly before finally sitting. It was clear that he was being affected by the dark matter presently hi his system, but something about what he said made sense to Janeway. Paranoia rose hi her, but she quelled it with an effort

"Of course you are suspicious," said Telek. "But I imagine that by now I, too, have been... infected. Doctor, if you would scan me, please?"

The Doctor brought out his medical tricorder and quickly ran the instrument over the Romulan. "It's true, Captain. There is mutated dark matter present in Telek's system as well-not nearly as much as we have, but it's there."

Telek narrowed his eyes. "I have told you, Captain. It is dark matter, corrupted by being inside the wormhole."

Janeway rose and stretched, trying to distract herself from the agony in her head. She went over everything she knew about dark matter and could find no flaw in Telek's theory. No flaw, that is, except the obvious one-it hadn't been proved. Still, he was right. A dark-matter nebula never occurred separately from a subspace distortion. But what was it about subspace, or wormhole space, that turned harmless dark matter into dangerous particles?

"So. We've got dark matter-excuse me, mutated dark matter-in our bodies and in our ship. It's giving me a headache, making Tom paranoid and Neelix homicidal. What else is it going to do?"

Telek was silent. "I fear the worst. It will not get better on its own, Captain, that much I know."

"He's right," confirmed the Doctor. "Neelix's condition is worsening, not improving."

"And my headache isn't going away either," said Janeway. It was an understatement. "Now, gentle-

men and ladies, the question of the hour: How do we stop it?"

All eyes turned to the Romulan. For the first time since Janeway had seen him, he looked helpless. His ignorance was written on his face, and she felt her gut clench. He had no idea what to do.

She glanced at the Doctor. "Do you have any suggestions?"

The Doctor looked thoughtful. "The dark matter is behaving much like