Part 6: Desperate Measures
By:Jeff Belter

Tom

......* Now what Paris? * Tom was frozen in place, his mind racing. Tom pulled his phaser up and decided on the only course of action he could think of..... He leveled it with the corner, and waited........ The seconds passed slowly...... He tensed as the footsteps grew closer, he could hear the loose gravel crunch under the guard's boot. *Make every shot count,* he thought as his grip on the phaser tightened. The guard didn't know what hit him, as he rounded the corner the phaser blast struck him in the chest, dropping him in a heap on the floor.

Bronn saw the guard drop just after exiting the room. He moved backward putting more distance between himself and the hallway passage.

"Hold this position" Tom yelled, his voice echoed back down the empty corridor. Trying to bluff Bronn into releasing B'Elanna was all he could think of in the moments following the guard's collapse. "Bronn, as leader of this Voyager away team, I must insist that you release Lt. Torres." Tom waited patiently for the reply......

B'Elanna had seen the first guard fall, then heard the man's voice...... *Tom *..... she thought it sounded like him. She listened intently as he delivered the away teams demand. "Tom!" B'Elanna called out. She couldn't believe he was actually here, her heart leapt at the thought of seeing him...... She felt a flood of emotions washing over her, and fought back tears... *No Torres, save it for later. You're not out of here yet. * She couldn't help wondering why they just didn't rush in and get her out of here.......

Bronn had listened when Tom stated his position. Things didn't add up in his mind. *If he was with a group of people, he would have rounded the corner and taken me and the remaining guard out. There are only the two of us. Also, since the computer center incident I nearly tripled the guard and activated the defense grid. No, I surely would have known about a whole Voyager away team. *

Bronn turned to the guard next to him, "Take care of him." The guard nodded once silently acknowledging Bronn's order. Bronn whirled, almost as an afterthought, to face B'Elanna. "I'll be back for your fitting later" he said as he raised the collar to eye level once more. B'Elanna, eyes focused on the collar, never saw Bronn raise the weapon in his other hand. The blast hit her, knocking her to the ground. She wished that had been the last thing she saw, but as her vision failed her she saw the guard, weapon drawn heading towards the corner......heading towards Tom.....

Voyager

Janeway sat on the bridge. Her arms were crossed and she was waiting, waiting for news that hadn't come. Voyager had been scanning the surface constantly, looking for any sign of Tom or B'Elanna. After repeated responses from Harry that consisted of nothing more than shaking his head from side to side, she had quit asking him if he had found anything. *Come on Tom, B'Elanna where are you? *

Tom

At the moment Tom wished he were anywhere but here. He moved slowly down from his perch on the rocks, powering his phaser. *Make every shot count. * Tom reminded himself. He paused as he reached the corner, taking a deep breath, Tom rushed forward following his phaser's lead. He was startled to see he was face to face with a guard. Both had weapons drawn and locked onto their respective targets only an arm length away.

Tom didn't hesitate, he fired his phaser........ nothing happened. Tom realized in an instant that he had badly misjudged the damage to his phaser. Without waiting he knocked the guards raised arm away from his face, the weapon discharged...... Tom felt the searing blast hit the rocks next to his face. He kicked the guard in the knee. As the guard's knee buckled and he fell to the rocky floor, Tom wrenched the weapon from his hand. The guard swung his good leg in a sweeping motion that re-opened Tom's leg wound and knocked him from his feet, sending the weapon across the floor where it came to rest next to the cell.

Tom's gaze followed the weapon, but all he could see was B'Elanna lying on the cell floor. "B'Elanna!" Tom called out then realized, lost in his concern, he hadn't been watching the guard who was now crawling towards the cell and the weapon. He grabbed the guard's leg making him scream out with pain. He pulled him backward then launched himself on top of the guard drawing blood with his first blow. The guard, much bigger and stronger, threw Tom to the floor gaining leverage and the upper hand. Tom struggled to break the hold...... The guard closed a hand on his throat choking the air out of him..... and with it the last of his strength.... The guard drew a knife from his belt, wrestling with Tom, trying to get an opening to deliver the final blow....

Voyager

"Captain!"

"Yes, Mr. Kim." Janeway turned toward Harry expectantly.

"I'm picking up a number of ships heading this way. Their Aconden!"

The klaxon alarm sounded and the bridge became a flurry of action as Janeway's "Red Alert!" command prepared the ship for battle.

Denkar who had been observing the search quickly ran to Janeway's side. "Captain, let me take a shuttle and get you some help... if I can."

Janeway didn't think long... "Hurry, we will only be able to drop the shields for a few more minutes before the Aconden ships are in range."

Denkar turned and sprinted for the turbolift and waiting shuttle.

"Good luck, Janeway called after him..."

Once the shuttle was away, Voyager braced for a fight, knowing this time there would be no sudden retreat......

Tom

Tom saw the blackness creeping in from the corners of his eyes. *Oxygen deprivation. * He hadn't the strength to keep this fight up much longer. He knew it was only a matter of time before the guard won this battle and plunged the knife into him. Tom felt his arms starting to buckle..... the knife moving closer....... He could barely see, his vision failing him.... His arms slipped again.... He could feel the blade just touching his skin....... *I'm sorry B'Elanna..... I tried...... * Tom slipped into unconsciousness, his arms collapsing..... The finishing blow..... Never came......

Voyager

The dim red battle lighting was all that lit the bridge as the first ships came into weapons range. Janeway just hoped that somehow Denkar could find some help....

"Mr. Kim continue scanning for Tom and B'Elanna. We won't want to remain in this fight any longer than necessary."

"Mr. Tuvok, lock phasers and fire when ready." Janeway hadn't even finished the sentence before the first plasma beam hit Voyager shaking it slightly.

"No damage... shields are holding..." Tuvok announced as he punched in weapon firing commands.

The phaser banks around the saucer section came to life as energy built up and journeyed around the hull of the ship, tracking its target. Then jumping from the hull, quickly attacking the ship as it passed, blowing part of it's cruise wing off.

Tuvok calmly delivered the results, "We have disabled one of their ships Captain."

"How many ships do they have?"

A second blast shook Voyager.... "Shields are holding....."

"I'm picking up fifteen ships...." Harry said, looking up from his console.

Another blast hit Voyager.... "Shields still holding...."

The hull of Voyager's saucer section lit up again, phaser fire tracking and firing first from one side then swinging around and firing from the other, hitting Aconden ships as they flew past on their attack runs.

"Initiate evasive pattern Janeway Beta Two."

Tuvok acknowledged the orders, "Captain...initiating evasive pattern...."

Minor shots hit and ricocheted off Voyager's shields...

"Shields are holding.... Two Aconden ships have been disabled."

Harry, not looking up from his station called out, "All fourteen ships remaining are now entering weapons range."

As if on cue two blasts hit Voyager at the same time sending some of the crew to the floor.

"Shields down to 96%.... and holding..."

"Mr. Tuvok, fire phasers!"

Tapping the weapons console the ship's phaser banks jumped to life again with plenty of available targets. Phaser fire erupted from both left and right, hitting the nearest ships.

"Another ship has been disabled" Tuvok yelled as two more explosions rattled the bridge.

"Shields down to 90%.... And holding..."

Tuvok spoke up, "Captain, If we can not get help from Denkar.... We will not survive this attack...."

"Your suggestions Mr. Tuvok?" she asked as the bridge shook with more weapons fire.

"We may need to consider that Lt. Paris and Lt. Torres are unable to escape their captors or may be dead... In which case it serves no logical purpose that we remain here to be destroyed as well."

Janeway clearly didn't like what she was hearing, but knew that Tuvok may be right.

"Engine room place warp drive on standby."

"Warp drive on standby..."

"Let's give Denkar and Tom a bit more time....." She knew it was the one thing they didn't have much of .....

Tom

As he came around Tom saw what he thought was the most beautiful creature in the world running over to him. In seconds B'Elanna was at his side pushing the dead guard off him and helping him to stand. She hugged him tightly...."Tom, I thought I'd never see you again.... I'm so glad you're here..." Tom looked into her eyes, "How do you think I felt? I saw you die!!" He couldn't help smiling now seeing her alive and in his arms. He hated to break the embrace, but knew they had to get moving. "We've got to go, Voyager is in orbit waiting..." They quickly moved picking up the guard's guns.... "B'Elanna what happened with the guard?" Tom paused not remembering how he had survived. "When I came to in the cell, and I saw him choking you, I looked for some way to help you. I was able to reach his weapon outside the cell, and used it to shoot him."

For the first time B'Elanna realized looking at Tom that he was covered from head to toe in blood, Some of it the guards, a lot of it his. "Are you O.K.?" She asked pointing to the gash on his head, and his torn pant leg.

Tom looked down at himself then back at her, "The things I go through to get a date with you!"

B'Elanna smiled....... So did Tom......

Minutes later Tom and B'Elanna were running up the tunnel towards the surface, weapons in hand. When they finally saw daylight, they realized their problems were just beginning. They were in the middle of some sort of Aconden base, and they saw Bronn headed their way with a group of soldiers...........

Voyager

The attack was continuing..... Voyager shaking with another blast of weapons fire... sparks momentarily shooting from one of the consoles....

"Shields at 65% .... " Tuvok shouted over the commotion.

"Captain, I suggest we make a decision soon...."

Janeway sighed heavily, "Engine room prepare for warp at my command."

"Captain!! " Harry almost screaming, yelled from his station.

"Yes, Harry...."Janeway replied.

"I've located Tom and B'Elanna!!"

Everyone on the bridge looked over at Harry... Knowing instantly both the good news and the bad. With Aconden ships outside they couldn't lower their shields, and with the Aconden defense systems up they couldn't beam them even if they did... And they couldn't remain here without being destroyed........

To Be Continued in Part 7

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