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Mirage
Mirage

Author: Nemesis


Setting: The captain and Seven of Nine are in the dining hall eating together, when over the calm link Chakotay says:

Chakotay: Captain Janeway to the bridge. Sensors have picked up something which may be of interest to you.

The Captain heads for the bridge followed by Seven of Nine.

Captain enters the bridge and says: "What is it, Commander?"

Chakotay: Sensors have detected a worm hole, and it appears to be stable.

Captain: How far away is it?

Paris: According to the readings, it should take us no more than one day to reach it.

Captain: Do we know where the other end is?

Paris: No, but if it is the Alpha Quadrant, this worm hole signifies the end of our journey.

Captain: Very well set the heading for the worm hole. Let's see it.

Paris: Aye Captain.

Paris displays the worm hole on screen. The Crew's hopes are high, and they are marveled at the site of the stable worm hole. They view it in silence, until Seven of Nine breaks the silence by saying.

Seven of Nine: Where's the worm hole?

Captain: It is in the center of the screen, Seven.

Seven of Nine: All I see is a planet in the center of the screen.

Captain: A planet? Are you feeling alright, Seven? Perhaps you should report to sick bay.

Seven of Nine: I understand.

Seven of Nine exits the bridge. Later in sick bay, Captain Janeway enters, and finds the doctor scanning Seven of Nine. She asks the doctor "What is wrong with her?"

Doctor: I cannot find anything wrong with her. All her implants are working fine, and she is in perfect health.

Captain: Why is she unable to see the worm hole we are headed for? She sees a planet instead.

Doctor: I am not certain. Perhaps I will be able to detect the problem if we induce the hallucination by showing her the worm hole again.

Captain: Very well, let's go to the bridge.

The Captain heads for the bridge followed by Seven of Nine, and finally the doctor.

As they enter the bridge, Captain Janeway waves her hand at the screen, and the doctor says, "May we see the worm hole?"

Captain: It's on screen now.

Doctor: I beg to differ Captain, but I agree with Seven, that's a planet.

The captain steps over to Ensign Kim's console, and shows Seven of Nine and the doctor that the ship's sensors indicate that what is on the screen is in fact a worm hole. Seven steps to take a look at the sensors and says: "I interpret these readings to be of an M-class planet. The surface has the remains of several dismantled vessels."

Doctor: Yes, that is how I interpret these readings as well.

The doctor starts to scan the captain.

Doctor: Curious. I detect nothing wrong with you either.

Captain: Well, we can't all be right. I guess we'll see who is right when we arrive.

Later, as Voyager approaches the worm hole, the captain orders all stop.

Captain: Tom, Tuvok, you're with me.

Paris, Tuvok, and the Captain exit the bridge. They head for the shuttle bay, and take a shuttle to the worm hole. The shuttle goes into the worm hole, and comes out just above the surface of a planet. Paris lands the shuttle, and the three exit to take a look. When they step outside, they see a lavish planet covered with plants. Tuvok takes his tricorder.

Tuvok: Captain, according to this tricorder, we are in the Alpha quadrant.

Captain: So it was a worm hole...

At this time, the three are joined by two members of another race.

Stranger: Welcome to our humble planet. We are the Alaq, and we traced your shuttle to this location, so we thought we would come greet you. My name is Khorjha, and this is Mhahare. May we assist you in any way?

Captain: Perhaps you can. Would you mind telling us what part of the galaxy we are in?

The two Alaq look at each other, then Mhahare pulls out an instrument, and tells the captain: "According to our instruments, these are this planets coordinates."

Captain: Thanks you, you have been most helpful.

The Captain taps her calm badge and says: "Janeway to Voyager."

Chakotay: Voyager here. Captain, where are you?

Captain: This end of the worm hole is following the surface of a planet in the Alpha quadrant. We have met a race called the Alaq, and they have confirmed our location. Bring Voyager through the worm hole, Commander Chakotay: Aye Captain.

Chakotay says to Ensign Kim, "Take us through the worm hole, Ensign." Kim, in anticipation of what is in the other side smiles, and enthusiastically responds: "Yes sir!"

Voyager goes through the worm hole, and the next thing they know, they are inside the planets atmosphere.

Chakotay: Ensign, put us in an orbit around the planet.

Kim : Yes, sir.

Seven of Nine: Commander, request permission to join Captain Janeway on the surface of the planet.

Chakotay: Granted. More of us will be joining you down there shortly.

Seven of Nine exits. Seven of Nine arrives in the transporter room, and she is beamed down to the surface. She looks around, and she sees a most desolate planet with little shrubbery. On one side she sees the remnants of several vessels, which have been manually torn apart, and on her other side, she sees a small colony. Beneath the colony she sees a mine, and in the mine, she sees Captain Janeway. Seven of Nine approaches the mine, and says: "Captain, what are you doing?"

Captain: The Alaq have requested that we help them assemble a large scale transmitter so that they may contact the rest of their species. They are explorers too. They travel in small groups, and when they find a welcoming planet such as this one, they call they relay the message to the other Alaq, so that they may come, and help populate the planet. Because the Alaq are short on hands, we agreed to lend them ours.

Seven of Nine: But why are you mining this Polonium?

Captain: We are not mining Polonium, we are simply sorting some parts, and helping the Alaq assemble them. I am rather busy at the moment, Seven, see if anyone else on our crew would be willing to help.

Seven of Nine: I understand, Captain. Seven of Nine taps her calm badge, and says: "Seven of Nine to Voyager, one to beam up."

After arriving back on Voyager, Seven of Nine heads directly to sick bay. In sick bay, she tells the doctor: "Doctor, the captain, Lieutenant Paris, and Lieutenant Commander Tuvok are mining Polonium. However, they are under the impression that they are helping the Alaq build a large scale transmitter" The doctor then scans Seven of Nine, and says: "I am picking up traces of radiation. Perhaps this will convince Commander Chakotay that things are not what they appear to be." The doctor then taps his calm badge, and says: "Commander Chakotay, please report to sick bay as soon as possible."

Chakotay: Can it wait? Some members of the crew and I are beaming down to the surface to help the Alaq.

Doctor: I am afraid it can't ...

Chakotay: I am sorry doctor, but it will have to wait. Chakotay out.

The doctor looks at Seven of Nine, and says: "I thought it was curious that neither you, nor the captain had any abnormalities, and yet you both perceived the same thing as being something very different. Because my perception is the same as yours, I assumed something was infecting the crew, but this proved to be a dead end. The crew is not infected. The only thing I had left out was the planet. I scanned it for any form of energy that does not usually emanate from a planet, and I detected rather strange energy signal that is aimed directly at Voyager. I then realized that the purpose of this signal is precisely to control the brain's perception, and since I found it, it has been changing, apparently to control, not only perception, but also desires."

Seven of Nine: Why are we not affected by it?

Doctor: This wave is specifically geared to control a biological brain. Your brain is cybernetic, and evidently, that protects you from it. My brain is electronic, so it too is unaffected by the Alaq energy wave.

Seven of Nine: We should destroy the wave emitter then.

Doctor: Don't think that I have not thought of that already. Unfortunately, the wave emitter is heavily shielded.

Seven of Nine: Then how do we disable it?

Doctor: I am not sure. My idea is to produce a similar wave to the Alaq wave, and hopefully the combination of the two waves will not be understood by the brains of the members of the crew. This should release them from the Alaq's control.

Seven of Nine: Is there anything on board capable of producing the necessary wave?

Doctor: I am afraid not. We need Lieutenant Torres to build an emitter.

Seven of Nine: But she is under the Alaq's influence. She is not capable of helping us at this time.

Doctor: Fortunately, that is something I can remedy. Your implants have proven to be an immunity against the Alaq's energy wave. If we link your brain to hers, using these neural transceivers, then your two brains will be as one. Because your brain is cybernetic, B'Elanna should be free of the Alaq's influence. In essence, we will be using your implants to filter out the Alaq's control wave.

Seven of Nine: Can we use more transceivers to release more crewmembers from the Alaq's influence?

Doctor: Unfortunately, no. The more people we link to you, the more we tax your implants. Should they be damaged, then I will be unable to free anyone at all. We should just get B'Elanna, and see if she can help.

Seven of Nine: I understand.

The doctor decides to call B'Elanna, he taps his calm badge and says: "Lieutenant Torres, please report to sick bay.", but there is no response. "Computer, locate Lieutenant Torres." The computer replies: "Lieutenant Torres is not on board Voyager."

Doctor: She must have beamed down to the planet. I wonder how many crew members remain on board.

Doctor: Computer, how many crew members remain on board Voyager?

Computer: There are two crew members currently on board Voyager.

Doctor: The Alaq have taken control of the entire crew, except for us. I suppose we will have to bring B'Elanna here. Beam down to the surface, and use this hypospray on her. I will then beam the two of you back here.

Seven of Nine beams down to the surface, and then proceeds to find B'Elanna. After she finds B'Elanna, Seven of Nine sedates her, and then calls the doctor.

Seven of Nine: Seven of Nine to Voyager. I am ready to return.

Later, on Voyager, B'Elanna regains contiousness, and she is in a restraining field in sick bay.

B'Elanna: Why am I back on board?

Doctor: The Alaq have a mind control wave, and they have made the crew beam down to the planet to mine polonium for them. We have freed you from their control by linking you to Seven's mind.

B'Elanna: How dare you do that to me...

Doctor: Lieutenant, it was either link the two of you, or let the Alaq have complete control of your mind, and let them use you to mine Polonium until you died of radiation poisoning. Now, until we think of a way to disable the Alaq's mind control wave emitter, there really is no other alternative. Because I think that you are the only one in the crew with the skill to construct something that will disrupt the Alaq's wave, you are the one we chose to link to Seven.

B'Elanna: I understand. Now, would you please get this restraining field off of me?

Doctor: I am sorry, I wanted to make sure you did not remove your transceiver when you woke up.

B'Elanna: Thank you. Now, what can you tell me about this wave?

Doctor: It is adaptive. The Alaq appear to be able to change the wave to get more and more control over their victims.

B'Elanna: So, if I am going to construct something to override its effects, it must adapt with the wave.

Doctor: I imagine so.

B'Elanna: I admire your confidence in me, but you overestimate my skills. Why don't we just blast the emitter?

Doctor: That would not be a bad idea, if the emitter were not as heavily shielded as it is.

B'Elanna: You do not know what you are asking. You are asking me to create a device that will disable the effects of an alien device, which is probably the pinnacle of their technology. I don't think I can do that, but I do have an idea for disabling their emitter.

Doctor: Well, we better come up with something soon, because the crew is being poisoned by radiation as we speak, and the sooner we get them out of that mine, the better.

B'Elanna: We have to plan this carefully, because I doubt we will get a practice run, so we have to do it right the first time. The emitter is shielded, but my guess is that the Polonium we are mining has to find its way to the emitter. So, if we could get inside the colony to where the emitter is, we should be able to destroy it from there.

Doctor: What about the crew?

B'Elanna: We cannot beam them here too soon, because the Alaq will know that something is wrong. We have to start beaming them up after Seven and I are discovered.

Seven of Nine: They will want to return to the planet once they are on board.

B'Elanna: We need to set a force field at the entrance of all the transporter rooms.

Doctor: The Captain, and Chakotay can override any of our instructions.

B'Elanna: You are able to declare them unfit to lead this crew. We should take away their command while they are under the Alaq's influence.

Doctor: Very well. Computer, as of this moment, I am declaring Captain Janeway, and Commander Chakotay unfit to lead command the ship. Transfer all command functions to Lieutenant Torres. Authorization, EMH Lambda Chi Omicron. The computer acknowledges the request.

B'Elanna: Now, once we are inside the colony, do you know which way we should take?

Doctor: This tricorder is programmed to detect the direction of the source of the mind control waves. It will be able to guide you. You should also take these radiation suits.

B'Elanna: Okay, when Seven and I are discovered, we will signal you to start beaming the crew up. Beam them straight to their quarters, or the brig, or anywhere except the bridge, or the transporter rooms. Seven and I will proceed to the emitter, and we will disable it.

Doctor: Understood. Take care Lieutenant. Remember, if anything happens to Seven, the Alaq will regain control of your mind, and all hope will be lost.

B'Elanna: I understand. Let's go.

B'Elanna and Seven of Nine arm themselves before returning to the planet's surface. On the planet, Seven of Nine hides inside one of the mine wagons, and B'Elanna pushes the wagon towards the colony of Alaq. At the entrance of the colony, an Alaq tells

B'Elanna: "I'll take it from here." B'Elanna then pulls the cover off of the wagon, and Seven of nine shoots the Alaq.

B'Elanna then hits her calm link, and says: "Doctor, start beaming up the crew now!"

Then she takes out the tricorder given to her by the doctor, and she and Seven of nine proceed towards the mind control wave emitter. Once they arrive to the emitter's room, Seven of Nine shoots the two guards, and B'Elanna shoots the emitter itself. After shooting the emitter, the two realize that it is protected by yet another shield, and so their phasers are useless.

B'Elanna: What do you think?

Seven of Nine: If we cannot get through its shield, then we will destroy its source of power. Follow me.

Seven of Nine starts to lead the way back to the entrance, but on their way to the entrance, Seven of Nine stops at one of the polonium wagons, puts her phaser on overload drops it into the wagon, and yells: "Let's go!"

The two start running out of the colony. As they run away from the wagon, B'Elanna yells at Seven of Nine: "You are going to cause an atomic blast!"

Seven of Nine responds: "It is the only way to save the crew!"

B'Elanna hits her calm badge, and yells: "Doctor, you have to beam us out of here the second we set foot out of this colony!"

Doctor: Understood.

All of a sudden, a phaser blast hits Seven of Nine on the back of her shoulder.

B'Elanna yells: "Seven!" Seven of Nine stands up, and tells B'Elanna to keep going. Seven of Nine assumes a position just behind B'Elanna, as the phaser blasts continue. By now, Seven of Nine has adapted her Borg shields to the Alaq's phasers, and so because of her position behind B'Elanna, they neither one of them get hurt. Suddenly, from Voyager a bright light is seen on the surface of the planet, as B'Elanna and Seven of nine materialize on board Voyager.

B'Elanna smiles at Seven of Nine, and tells with her thoughts: "Thank you. You saved us all." as she gives Seven of Nine a hug.

Later, in sick bay the captain asks the doctor what happened.

Doctor: The Alaq are a race that lures others to their planets by controlling the perception of their victims. They show their victims something they desire to see, and once their victims arrive, they adapt their mind control emitter to the brains of their victims. They force others to build their cities for them, and once the cities are ready, more Alaq can come to populate the planet. They had you mining polonium, because Polonium drives their mind control emitter.

Captain: I guess the next time we find something that looks too good to be true, we should stop to consider that it probably is.

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