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THE HAUNTING OF DECK TWELVE
Episode 145
Part B

Events in Neelix's story which are depicted as happening on the tv screen are denoted in this style.

 

In Cargo Bay 2, the children are curious.
Icheb: "Why did they shut down main power?"
Neelix: "It's simply a precaution. We've entered a class J nebula and the Captain wants to make sure that we don't attract any, er, residual EM radiation."
Icheb: "Our shields provide sufficient protection against nebula discharge."
Neelix: "Is that so?" He makes light of it. "I'm afraid that gaseous anomalies were never really my specialty. Come on, gather round! I brought toys and stories and games, and I thought that later we might even have a little sing-along."
Icheb: "I should go to Astrometrics. Seven may need my help."
Neelix: "I'm afraid that Astrometrics is shut down too."
Mezoti: "If we're not analysing the nebula, why did we enter it?"
Neelix: "Oh, that is a long and dull story and not nearly as interesting as 'Flotter Meets the Invincible Invertebrates'."
Mezoti: "Is Voyager in danger?"
Neelix: "Mezoti, there's really no need to leap to those kinds of conclusions."
Icheb: "Maybe if you explained what's happening in more detail we wouldn't have to guess."
Mezoti: "This has something to do with Deck 12, doesn't it?"
Neelix: "Well, what makes you say that?"
Icheb: "Deck 12 section 42 is off-limits to everyone but senior officers with a level 6 security clearance."
Mezoti: "That's because it's haunted, isn't it?"
Neelix: "Who told you that?"
Mezoti: "Naomi."
Icheb: "She was just trying to frighten you."
Neelix: "I'll have to have a talk with that girl."
Azan: "Is it true? Does a ghost live there?"
Neelix: "You're really too old to believe in such silly things."
Mezoti: "If it's not a ghost, what is it?"
Icheb: "We deserve an explanation."
Neelix: "I don't think that Seven would be too happy if you all started waking up with nightmares."
Rebi: "Tell us."
Azan: "Please?"
Neelix: "Alright, gather round but I'm warning you, this is not a tale for the faint of heart."
Mezoti: "We're not faint of heart."
Icheb: "Our cardiopulmonary systems are reinforced."
Mezoti: "So don't leave anything out."
Neelix: "Alright, but remember, I warned you. It all began several months ago, before you joined Voyager. We were exploring a dark nebula, just gathering deuterium. We had no idea what was in store for us, but when the turbulence started getting rough, we should have seen that as an omen."

Voyager in the nebula.

The turbulence inside the nebula causes kitchen utensils to sway and rattle. Neelix tries to still them.

Neelix, quite glad of some company, approaches Tuvok who has entered the Messhall.

Neelix: "How goes the particle collecting, Commander?"
Tuvok: "We've gotten enough deuterium to power the warp engines for another thousand light years."
Neelix: "Excellent."
Tuvok detects Neelix's nervousness: "Is something wrong?"
Neelix: "Er, now that you mention it, there is something that I feel compelled to share with you in my capacity as morale officer: the crew seem a little on edge."
Tuvok: "Oh?" He takes a quick look round. "They don't appear particularly anxious to me."
Neelix: "They're very good at hiding their fears - Starfleet training. Erm, I was wondering how soon we might be leaving this nebula. Knowing could help reassure them."
Tuvok: "Well, it's difficult to say. The Bussard collectors are running at maximum, but it's a slow process. We could be here for several more days."
Neelix is unhappy about that. The ship jolts slightly due to the turbulence. He is jumpy. "Days?"
Tuvok: "Mr Neelix, are you certain it's not you who is on edge?"
Neelix concedes: "You know me too well, Mr Vulcan."
Tuvok: "I can assure you, a J class nebula is no cause for alarm."
Neelix, trying to muster courage: "I know it's illogical, but staring into this murky cloud for hours on end can be a little unsettling!" His raised and panicky voice causes several crewmembers to look in their direction. He continues, more quietly: "When I was a child, an immense plasma drift passed through the Talaxian system. The stars and the moons were blotted out for months. From horizon to horizon, all you could see was, was this enormous, menacing cloud. Ever since then I've found it a little disturbing to be in nebulas."
Tuvok: "Perhaps the Captain might give you permission to install curtains."
Neelix: "That's an excellent idea." He cheers up. "And I have just the right material."

Voyager's bridge. Audio alerts are sounding.
Janeway: "Report!"

Kim: "The nebula's beginning to destabilise."
Janeway: "Cause?"
Kim: "I'm not sure. It could have something to do with the nadion emissions being produced by the Bussard collectors."

Icheb: "You're not remembering correctly."
Neelix: "I beg your pardon?"
Icheb: "The Bussard collectors don't produce nadion emissions."
Neelix: "Well, the technical details don't matter. What's important is that Voyager's presence was destabilising the nebula and the crew wasn't interested in taking any chances."

Chakotay: "We've got 80% of the deuterium we wanted. Maybe we shouldn't push our luck."
Janeway: "Agreed." Via comms: "Bridge to Engineering."
Torres, via comms: "Go ahead." There is a little interference on the com. channel.
Janeway: "We're suspending the deuterium intake."
Torres, via comms: "Acknowledged."

Janeway: "Tom, take us out."
Paris: "Aye."

Neelix, telling his story.

Neelix: "But at that exact moment, in the fraction of a second before Tom could engage the engines.....ZAP! - we were hit."
In the Messhall, there is an EM strike, lightning-style, against the hull.
Neelix, holding potential curtain material, turns to look

Mezoti: "What was it?"

Azan: "The ghost?"
Rebi: "Shh! Let him finish."

Neelix: "Whatever it was, it shook the ship hard."

Some systems on the Bridge suffer damage.

Chakotay: "An EM discharge penetrated the hull. Deck 7 section 10."
Kim: "Increasing power to structural integrity."

Paris: "We're clear."
Janeway: "Damage?"
Chakotay: "Power outages on three decks, auxiliary subprocessors are offline, no injuries reported."

Janeway: "Assign repair teams. Resume course."
Paris does so.

Neelix: "We'd taken some minor damage, but for the most part everything was fine, or so we thought. What none of us knew was that a mysterious stowaway had come aboard Voyager."
Mysterious EM (electromagnetic) tendrils of energy remain active on Voyager's hull.

Mezoti: "What kind of stowaway?"
Icheb: "It was obviously a space-dwelling lifeform."
Neelix: "Yes, but we didn't know that, not at that point."
Mezoti: "Was it non-corporeal?"
Neelix: "In a manner of speaking."
Rebi: "Hostile?
Neelix: "Well, I'm getting to that."
Azan: "Species 5973?"
Neelix: "Who are they?"
Icheb: "The Borg encountered them in galactic cluster 8: they're multi-spectrum particle lifeforms."
Neelix: "No, that's not what this was."
Mezoti: "Maybe it was an interphasic species."

Neelix decides to take control of the conversation. Firmly: "We can either debate comparative xenobiology or I can continue with the story. Now it's up to you."
Icheb: "Continue the story."
Neelix: "Somehow I thought you'd say that. Now, where was I? Oh, er, yes. Life aboard Voyager would have been more or less back to normal if it weren't for a few strange malfunctions."


 

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