Out of the Box
Author: Rocky

Act IV

"You wished to speak with me, Seven?" Tuvok paused at the entrance to Astrometrics. He had met with her two days earlier about the possibility of adjusting the sensors to detect any enemy vessels that might be concealed within nearby nebulae or otherwise masked by various astrometric phenomena. He had also sought a means of improving long range sensors designed to pick up unusual energy signatures. He hoped her summons meant she was making progress in those areas.

Seven touched a few controls and the image of an inversion nebula, populated by highly unstable strands of plasma, appeared on the large viewscreen. "Based on Voyager's own experiences, it is known that this type of nebula may mask the energy signatures of several vessels, or a large facility. I have as yet been unsuccessful in finding a way of detecting such concealed constructs, unless from a distance of less than half a million kilometers."

Tuvok nodded, concealing the brief stab of disappointment he felt. "Do any such nebulae lie along Voyager's current course?"

"Not for the next 70.3 light years, which is why I have not expended a great deal of time attempting to solve this particular problem." Seven manipulated another set of controls. "Allow me instead to show you what I have spent the majority of my time working on." An image of a Cardassian vessel appeared. "I believe I have determined the reason why we were unable to detect that the Cardassian systems on Gul Datik's vessel were on stand-by rather than off-line."

Tuvok leaned forward, eager to have an answer to a puzzle that had eluded him for weeks. At that moment a small 'blip' appeared across the screen. "What was that?"

"That's odd," Seven said thoughtfully. After a few moments, she added, "It appears to have been a signal of some kind. It was transmitted in a single burst, possibly on a seldom-used frequency."

"Can you identify its point of origin?"

"Negative. It was too brief in duration."

In their current situation, anything unusual was grounds for concern. "Can you isolate the signal?"

"Not at present. However, if I realign our main deflector array, I may be more successful."

Tuvok turned toward the door. "Proceed to Engineering, Seven. I will join you shortly."

Seven made no move to go, instead continued to work at her console. Tuvok halted in surprise. "What are you doing?"

"Attempting to isolate the signal," she said, without looking up.

"How are you able to access the deflector from Astrometrics?" Tuvok asked curiously. "That should be a restricted function."

Seven allowed a brief smile to pass over her features. "As Mr. Paris would say, I 'went in through the back door.'"

"Fascinating. I would not have believed it possible for that lockout to be overridden," Tuvok said more calmly than he felt. "I would like you to show me exactly how you accomplished that maneuver."

"So you can prevent similar incursions in the future."

"Yes."

Seven paused for a moment. "I will be happy to show you, Commander. However," she cautioned, "what you are attempting to do is come up with 'perfect' protective measures to guard against all threats. Be advised that despite millennia of effort, not even the Borg have not been able to achieve perfection."

The red alert klaxon heralded the appearance of the captain and first officer on the Bridge in short order. Before the doors of the turbolift had even closed behind them, Janeway was halfway to the center seat. "Report."

"We brought the modified sensors on line 38 minutes ago," reported Tuvok. "This is what appeared within the past three minutes."

Onscreen, several glowing dots glittered like fireflies, weaving back and forth. A faint golden thread trailed from the back of each. As the bridge crew watched in silence, two of the threads intersected. There was a brief flash, and an entire section of the screen lit up. Then all went dark once more, except for the fireflies and their trails.

"What is it?" asked Janeway.

Tuvok consulted his board. "These appear to be ships of unknown design and origin. It is impossible to determine if there are any lifesigns aboard. The diminutive size-each vessel is only 4 meters long-makes it highly probable that if manned, there is only a single individual on board."

"Try hailing them." The captain settled back into her seat and called up the sensor logs of the past hour.

"No response."

"What about the trails?" Chakotay wanted to know, frowning at his own readouts.

"Highly concentrated energy beams, with signatures like nothing I've ever seen before," answered Kim from the Ops station. "Without our increased sensor capability, we wouldn't even be aware that any of this was out there."

Janeway rose and walked over to the center screen. "Distance?"

Tuvok answered, "The area in which they're operating appears to comprise less than one million kilometers. However, our sensor capability is still very limited; we don't know how far back they truly extend."

"Do you mean to say they could have been trailing us for some time?" Janeway asked.

"Unknown, although that is a plausible theory," Tuvok said. Almost apologetically, he added, "Sensors are not entirely reliable, as they have not been tested previously."

Chakotay smiled humorlessly. "In other words, you weren't expecting to strike gold the first time out."

"Precisely," said the Vulcan.

Janeway sat back down again. "Well, I don't like the looks of this. Mr. Paris, back us away, nice and easy."

"Aye, Captain." Slowly, the starship retreated from the glittering fireflies ahead. Suddenly, the ship shuddered, and then a moment later shuddered again, this time more strongly. A shock wave went through the entire ship, tossing them around.

With difficulty Janeway was able to maintain her seat, although she banged her knee painfully against the side. When the shaking motion appeared to have halted, she did a quick scan to make sure none of the Bridge crew had been unduly injured. "What was that?"

Tuvok sported a small cut over his eye which was bleeding freely. His voice betrayed none of his physical discomfort as he answered, "It would appear we have come up against a barrier."

"Play back the visual record from the moment just before we made contact with it," Janeway ordered. "Onscreen." They watched in silence as the shock wave hit once more, and noticed something else as well.

"Did you see that?" asked Chakotay. "Right at the moment of impact."

"The enclosure-those lines had faded and become invisible shortly after they intersected, but lit up again as soon as we hit it," said Janeway.

A beep from the Ops console drew their attention. "Something else you should know," Kim said. "The inertial dampeners have been affected. We can't afford too many more hits like that."

"How can we avoid something we can't see until we hit it?" wondered Paris.

"We have more immediate concerns," Janeway said grimly. "We're being systematically boxed in."

"Maybe we can disrupt the barrier with phaser fire, or at least cause it to light up enough so we can map the grid," suggested Chakotay.

"Photon torpedoes, used as depth charges, may be more suitable for the task," put in Tuvok.

Janeway looked over at her tactical officer. "All right, do it."

Using the coordinates of the boundary they had just collided with as a starting point, a spread of photon torpedoes was released. A moment later, Kim said, "It's no good. Not only is it having no discernible negative effect on the barrier, but the energy is being absorbed. All we're doing is strengthening it."

"How about mapping?" Chakotay said, "Did we at least gain something from this?"

Kim shook his head. "Just a very small area. At this rate it's going to take a very long time to try to find an opening." Left unsaid was the thought that one might not exist.

"All stop," ordered the captain. "There's got to be a better way of going about this and we're going to find it."

/Captain's log. It's been five hours since we first encountered the spatial grid and we've had only limited success in mapping it. Working together, Lieutenant Torres and Seven of Nine have come up with a method of using sensor pulses for these purposes, without strengthening the barrier in turn or weakening our shields any further. It's not a perfect solution, but after much hard work we now have a faint ghostly image of a roughly dome-shaped enclosure. With Voyager at the center./

Tuvok stared intently at the image on the viewscreen. "This looks somewhat familiar."

"You've seen something like this before?" asked Janeway in surprise. "Or have you found something in the Starfleet database?"

Tuvok shook his head. "Negative, Captain. There are vague similarities to an energy field 4employed by the Tholians against the U.S.S. Enterprise one hundred years ago , but the actual composition is quite different. As is the circumference of the area of confinement. " He abruptly turned to the Ops officer. "Mr. Kim, what do you see?"

Kim looked bewildered but turned his attention to the screen as well. After a long moment, he suddenly exclaimed, "Kal-toh!"

"Excuse me?" said Janeway.

"It's not a dome, Captain," replied Kim. "It's an imperfect sphere, not a dome."

"Only partially formed," agreed Tuvok.

Janeway caught on. "And all we have to do is determine where is the line or lines that will cause it to achieve its completed form?"

"Precisely. That way lies our escape route."

"Can you figure it out?" Chakotay asked. "We don't have a lot of time."

Tuvok was already entering a series of commands into his console. "As in an actual game of Kal-toh, Commander, patience and logic are the key to solving the puzzle."

After a careful study, Tuvok selected a set of coordinates and transmitted them to the helm. "Are you sure about this?" Janeway asked.

"Not with complete certainty, Captain. However, I estimate that there is an 78% chance that this is the correct route."

"Not the best odds, but we don't have any other options," she said.

"Shields are at 49%," reported Kim. "We're going to have only one chance at punching our way out."

Janeway nodded. "Tom, I guess it's time for implementing some of those flashy tactical maneuvers you've been practicing in recent drills."

"Aye, Captain. Standing by."

"One quarter impulse. Prepare to go to warp as soon as the 'window' appears," Janeway said quietly. "Tuvok, are you ready with the graviton pulse?"

Tuvok studied his controls. "The pulse will be released in exactly four seconds, and should hit its target in two...one...now!"

A dazzling display of light surrounded the ship from all sides as the energy threads around them sprang to life. All except for a dark area off to the side, and it was there that Voyager was aiming for. The ship began shaking ominously.

"What's happening?" called out the first officer.

Kim raised his voice to be heard. "Too strong-the pulse was too strong! Another shock wave is forming!"

"All hands, brace yourselves!" shouted Janeway. An instant later, the wave was upon them.

"Shields are down to 10%!" reported Tuvok, struggling to remain upright at his station.

*Warning: Hull integrity down to 25%*

At the helm, Paris could be seen wrestling with the controls as he struggled to maintain his seat. The ship veered and pitched as if in a storm, but somehow managed to stay on course. Janeway could have sworn they executed some impossible turns, but somehow they were able to break free.

When the shaking stopped, the captain said in a stunned voice, "We did it."

"Sensors confirm space is clear," reported Kim. At tactical, Tuvok was silent.

Janeway let out a shuddering sigh. "Well done, people. Tuvok, you especially-if it hadn't been for the modified sensors, we would literally not have known what hit us until it was too late." She noticed he was frowning. "Tuvok, are you all right?"

"I am fine, Captain."

"Then what's the matter?"

Instead of answering her, Tuvok turned to the helm. "Mr. Paris, that last maneuver you performed was not part of the new tactical subroutines."

Paris flashed him an irreverent grin. "Why am I the only one who can't improvise?"

Epilogue

Chakotay paused at the entrance of the holodeck, watching the scene playing out before him. Janeway, clad in a sweaty tank top that showed off the muscles of her slender arms, was fighting a large Nausicaan.

The tendons of her neck standing out, she angled her head, looking for an opening, and then pivoted sharply. Chakotay watched as she landed a blow to the vulnerable area on the side of her opponent's head, then took a swift uppercut at his nasal cartilage. The Nausicaan howled in rage, and deflected her follow-up blows to his arms, catching them on the hard muscle. As Janeway tried but missed a blow to his more sensitive parts below the waist, he let fly with a leg kick that tripped her up, causing her to lose her balance. Janeway hit the mat, but managed to turn her fall into a roll. She sprang up again and this time hit her target. The Nausicaan fell with a resounding thud and did not rise again.

"I see you've taken Tuvok's warnings about physical preparedness to heart," called out Chakotay, as he made his way toward her.

Janeway looked up sharply. "Computer, freeze program." She paused, hunched over, to catch her breath, and then straightened up and wiped her face on a towel. "I've included combat routines in my exercise regimen in the past. Though I will admit I'd been neglecting it of late. Tuvok just gave me a good excuse to get back into it on a regular basis."

"In light of recent events, it's not a bad idea to make sure that every member of the crew, including the captain, is capable of defending themselves," Chakotay acknowledged. Especially the captain, he added silently. Unspoken between them lay the Cardassian incident, and what had happened to her. He found himself staring at her bare arms, as if he could still see the bruises.

"Not that it does any good in a situation when weapons are involved," she said, "But still..." Obviously feeling uncomfortable under his scrutiny, Janeway turned away and let her towel drop to the floor. "Did you come by to pick up some pointers, Commander, or was there something else you wanted?"

He handed her the PADD he was holding. "I didn't want to disturb you, but you did say you wanted to see the latest tactical data."

"It's all right; I was nearly finished with my workout anyway." She quickly perused the report.

"That Nausicaan definitely is," he joked. "Can I ask what level this is set to?"

"No, you can't." Janeway hastily added, "Don't worry-the holodeck safeties are engaged."

"I'm glad to hear that-you could do a lot of damage with this program."

"Not as much as your 'sport' of boxing," she shot back. "Of course, it's just my opinion, but...watching people beat each other senseless...frankly, I hadn't thought you were the type."

He smiled faintly. "Don't let this peaceful exterior fool you." He thought briefly about his time in the Maquis, and the acts of violence he'd been forced to commit. From the look on her face, she was also remembering some of the things he'd once told her. He attempted to lighten the moment. "But in all honesty, I began boxing as part of a weight training program and to increase my coordination and quickness." He added, "I wasn't the most graceful first year cadet at the Academy."

She laughed, then hastily schooled her features into a more neutral expression. "Thank you, Commander." She tapped the PADD reflectively. "I'll go over this more in-depth later, but I must say these results are promising."

"And no further sign of those alien ships, or their enclosure," added Chakotay. "So we can breathe easier for a while."

"Until the next crisis, at any rate," Janeway said wryly. She bent down, picked up her towel from where it had fallen and flung it over her shoulder. "I'm going to go take a shower."

"Would you be interested in grabbing some dinner later?" he asked, following her to the entrance of the holodeck.

Janeway shook her head regretfully. "Sorry, but I've already got a date."

Chakotay stopped short, unable to mask his surprise. "You do?" He barely managed to refrain from blurting out, "With whom?"

She smiled, as if she'd heard the second half of his question. "With a very old and dear friend." She gave him a playful flick with her towel, and then went on her way.

Chakotay watched her go and then glanced around once more at the program she'd left running. He reflectively tapped his waist. It wouldn't be a bad idea for him to start some serious training once more as well, he thought. Remembering how Janeway took out the Nausicaan, though, he decided he wouldn't be asking her to be his sparring partner.

Tuvok lifted the teapot and raised an inquiring brow. "Would you care for some more spice tea, Captain?" Despite the informal setting of his quarters, despite their long acquaintance, he did not feel comfortable acceding to her oft-voiced request that he call her by her first name.

"Yes, please." Janeway held out her cup. "A perfect end to a wonderful meal."

"I am pleased that you enjoyed our repast. Vulcan cuisine is often an acquired taste." He thought, but did not add that he referred to the authentic dishes-not the bland imitations often found on Earth or in standard replicator codes, nor the equally alien versions Mr. Neelix insisted on preparing for him from time to time.

The corners of her mouth quirked up, as if she guessed what he was thinking. "It's a taste I acquired years ago while working toward my doctorate at the Vulcan Science Academy."

Tuvok poured himself a second cup as well. "You have mentioned that period of your life to me before, but you did not indicate if you found it a pleasant experience." He knew that as with other Humans, it must have required a lengthy transition in which she acclimated herself to the planet and its inhabitants, both vastly different from Earth.

"It was there that I began to gain my first appreciation of Vulcans," she said. "A process which only intensified after I got to know one Vulcan in particular."

Tuvok inclined his head to acknowledge the compliment. "As you pointed out several days ago, we have known each other a long time."

"And we certainly had our rough spots at the beginning." She leaned forward, her eyes intent on his. " I don't think I express this often enough, but I want you to know how much I value you-and not just as an officer." He opened his mouth, but she wasn't finished yet. "I know that I can always count on you to give me your very best efforts and that's all a captain-or a friend-can ask for."

She settled back on the couch, sipping her tea and looking at him expectantly.

Several possible responses came to mind-to contradict her statement about his always delivering his best, to apologize for his inadequacies in the past, to affirm that he would certainly try to do better in the future-but he discarded all of them. Instead, he simply said, "Thank you-Kathryn."

End