EXTREME RISK
Episode 97
Part C

 

Torres walks along the corridor to the Holodeck. She makes sure a passing crewmember has gone before she steps up to the Holodeck controls which are located on a wall interface next to the Holodeck entrance. Torres: "Computer, activate holodeck program Torres two-one-six." Computer: "The program is active." Torres: "Disengage safety protocols." Computer: "Warning. Disengaging safety protocols presents extreme risk of injury." Torres: "Override." Computer: "Acknowledged. Safety protocols have been disengaged." She looks round again to make sure she is not observed.

She enters the Holodeck

She takes off her jacket.

She takes up a combat stance. Her first opponent appears.

Torres fights hand-to-hand with Cardassian holograms.

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USS Voyager arrives at the gas giant where the multi-spatial probe is trapped.

Voyager's Bridge. Janeway: "Ensign, put us into a high orbit. I want to stay well above that ionospheric turbulence." Ensign at the conn: "Aye, ma'am."

Janeway calls up a schematic and scan.

Janeway: "There's the probe - 10,000 kilometres beneath all that methane but still intact."

Chakotay: "We're not alone. I'm reading massive theta radiation. It's being dumped by a Malon freighter approaching from the far side of the planet. They're hailing." Janeway: "They're more talkative than the last ones. Open a channel." Kim: "Aye, sir."

Malon commander, on viewscreen, peremptorily: "Leave orbit of this planet now."

Janeway: "I don't believe we've been introduced. I'm Captain Janeway." Vrelk, on viewscreen: "I know exactly who you are. You are the person responsible for the destruction of one of our freighters and the deaths of nine Malon citizens." Janeway: "I'm very sorry that lives were lost but you're leaving out an important detail. Your people were trying to steal a probe from us. We warned them to stay away from the gas giant but they didn't listen."

Vrelk, on viewscreen: "I'm taking your probe as compensation for our losses." Chakotay: "That's going to be a little difficult. It's stuck beneath the atmosphere of the same gas giant that crushed your other ship." Vrelk, on viewscreen: "My people are expert at salvage operations."

Janeway: "Well, Mr....?" Vrelk, on viewscreen: "Vrelk. Controller Vrelk." Janeway: "Vrelk, " pronouncing the name with distinct distaste, "we have a little expertise of our own. We're a very determined crew. So my suggestion is that you leave orbit and in the future, if you come across anything that bears the insignia of the USS Voyager, head in the other direction."

Vrelk, on viewscreen: "You are making a serious error." Janeway: "End transmission."

She turns to Chakotay: "Why would people in the business of toxic waste disposal be so anxious to get hold of a probe?"

Chakotay: "It's not just any probe. It's multi-spatial technology. Maybe they think it'll help them find new places to dump their garbage."

Following her combat with Cardassians on the Holodeck, a weary Torres enters her quarters. She goes into the bathroom, picks up a medical tool hidden underneath a pile of towels and uses it to deal with an arm injury. She notices her reflection, gets up and goes over to the mirror. She reaches out a hand to "touch" herself.

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Late at night, Torres enters the Messhall. Neelix: "B'Elanna! What a nice surprise. I was just getting ready to close. Business has been slow with so many people busy on the new shuttle."

Torres: "Oh. I-I was just hoping we could catch up." Neelix: "You want to catch up? With me?" Torres: "If you have the time." Neelix: "Are you kidding? Can I get you something? Name your poison." Torres: "Oh. Erm-" Neelix: "Come on, B'Elanna! I handed that one to you on a silver platter." Torres: "Huh?" Neelix: "'Name your poison'? I was expecting one of those scathing but affectionate insults you always make about my cooking." Torres: "Sorry." Neelix: "You'll feel wittier on a full stomach. So, what'll it be?" Torres: "Actually I was hoping for banana pancakes. Neelix: "Er, I don't think I ever heard of banana pancakes before." Torres: "My grandmother used to make them for me when I was a kid. It's always put a smile on my face."

Neelix: "Well then, one smile coming right up." To the port-side replicator: "Computer, one stack of banana pancakes."

He takes out the replicated plate of pancakes and sniffs them. "Smells delicious."

He places the plate in front of her. Torres: "Thanks." He sits down at the same table.

Torres is unusually quiet.

She makes an effort: "So how have you been?"

Neelix: "Oh, just great. My security training is going really well. Tuvok told me the other day that I'm, er," clearing his throat and imitating Tuvok's voice, "not completely inept."

Seeing that she has not touched the pancakes: "Aren't you going to try them?" Torres: "Oh, sure." She takes a mouthful. Neelix: "Well?" Torres: "Delicious." But they do not put a smile on her face. She lays down the spoon and gets up. "I have to get back to work." Neelix is thoughtful - he knows something is wrong to make her this introspective.

Voyager's Bridge. Janeway: "What are they still doing here?"

Chakotay: "Apparently they're not willing to give up on the probe so easily."

Janeway: "The question is, how do they expect to get their hands on it?" Tuvok: "It's reasonable to assume they're waiting for us to retrieve the probe, at which time they'll attempt to steal it again." Janeway: "Maybe, but they have to know we're prepared for that. If they were planning to fight you'd think they'd call in reinforcements, try to out-gun us." Chakotay: "Sensors don't show any other Malon ships in the area."

The com. signal sounds. Seven, via comms: "Seven of Nine to the Captain." Janeway, via comms: "Janeway here." Seven, via comms, in the Astrometrics Lab: "Report to the Astrometrics Lab. I have important information regarding the Malon vessel." Janeway: "Tuvok." They head for the turbolift.