Evil Among Us
Rated NC-17
The Conclusion
Chapter Ten
“Commander, there they are!” The doctor exclaimed as he pointed in Vladimir and Janeway’s direction.
“We have more company,” Tuvok stated as screeching banshees jumped out of nowhere and encircled the three of them. Their white-washed skin and canine teeth were just as disturbing as the others they had encountered.
“I don’t know how much more I can take of this,” Chakotay stated as he and Tuvok fired at the encroaching group of monsters.
“Well, there is some advantage to being a hologram,” the doctor stated as he quickly lit one of the stakes he had replicated. “We don’t catch fire as easily.”
As fast as the flame appeared, Vladimir’s followers backed away. They were obviously afraid of the torch the doctor had made.
Chakotay was amazed but offered to take the torch from the doctor. He held the creatures at bay while the doctor lit another as fast as he could and handed it to Tuvok.
“Maybe we’ll get out of this yet,” Chakotay said as the doctor lit a final torch.
A couple of the monstrous beings tried to attack even with the torches, but quickly backed away when they felt the heat. Then others tried to assault the three men, but soon began to regroup after little success.
“Doctor, if we get out of this, remind me not to doubt your theories again, no matter how far fetched they may be,” Chakotay stated as the three of them stood in a triangle trying to get through the group of vampires, careful not to take their eyes off them.
“Soon we will be at our new home and you will live eternally with me, Katerina.”
‘Eternity?’ The thought of eternity floated through Janeway’s head but her clouded mind had difficulty pondering what he was saying.
“Let her go, Vladimir!” Chakotay commanded as he pointed a phaser at him, thankful that they had escaped the others.
“I need a mate to carry on my line. Why should I release her?”
“Do not make me use force to get her back,” Chakotay stated angrily.
Vladimir gave a soft growl in response.
Chakotay nodded to Tuvok as a signal to draw his weapon, but Vladimir’s only response was a chuckle.
“Do you really believe your weapons will have any affect on me?”
“No, but we will get her back one way or the other,” Chakotay replied as Vladimir put Janeway down gently.
“Your weapons are useless against me and besides, I don’t think she will be so willing to allow you to harm me.”
“Only because you have her in a hypnotic state,” the doctor stated.
“Let my crew go and I’ll stay with you, Vladimir,” Janeway softly informed him.
“See, she’s not willing to go anywhere with you!” Vladimir growled.
“Kathryn, you can’t mean that!” Chakotay panicked. He had to find a way to break the spell Vladimir had on her.
“I do,” she said flatly.
“I don’t believe that!” Chakotay exclaimed. “Kathryn, he has you under some sort of mind control. Come back with us.”
Kathryn shook her head in an attempt to clear her mind. She heard Chakotay clearly but she could not register what he was saying. His words eluded her.
“She said she is staying with me!” Vladimir exclaimed as he rapidly changed into a gruesome sight that looked like something out of Tom Paris’s twentieth century horror movie collection. The mucky, grey, withered, sharp-fanged creature attacked Chakotay, knocking him to the ground, and then pounced on top of him, causing him to grunt loudly. Just as he dug his caustic teeth into Chakotay, Tuvok used his Vulcan strength to push Vladimir off his commanding officer, only to be at the receiving end of Vladimir’s wrath.
Vladimir countered Tuvok’s force with a sharp blow to his head, knocking the Vulcan unconscious. Then he quickly turned his attention toward the angry warrior in time to keep the stake Chakotay held from stabbing him.
“No! She stays with me!” Vladimir insisted.
The force of Vladimir’s blow sent Chakotay flying through the air, making him land with a hard thud and a sound of bones cracking. Chakotay let out a loud groan, as he lay on the ground unmoving.
Satisfied that Chakotay could not attempt another attack, Vladimir moved to face the doctor. Like an evil force he stalked the hologram.
“I hear a good dose of plasma can do something for your irritability. I could get you some if you like,” the doctor stated as he trembled from the thought of what the creature could do to his mobile emitter if he decided to strike him next.
Kathryn rushed over to check on Chakotay. He was alive but dazed and unable to move. His wound was bleeding profusely, but she realized there was no time to tend to his wounds, not if they were going to get out alive.
“Kathryn,” he asked weakly, “Remember those old vampire stories?”
She nodded.
“They could come in handy about now.”
Kathryn understood what Chakotay was saying as she turned and glared at Vladimir. In her best command voice she shouted, “Stop!”
“I must protect my new bride,” Vladimir insisted. “I will protect you.”
“No, this has to end!” Kathryn Janeway insisted.
The doctor held up a crucifix but it had no effect on Vladimir. “So much for stories,” the doctor grumbled as he backed away from the hideous looking creature. “Captain, now would be a good time to do something.”
Now that Vladimir’s focus was on the doctor, Janeway’s mind was becoming clearer. She scrambled to grab the stake that Chakotay had dropped when he went flying.
She regarded it cautiously. ‘When all else fails, there are always primitive weapons.’
“Captain!” The doctor shouted as Vladimir tried to strike him.
Suddenly Vladimir stiffened and fell to the ground with a stake through his back.
“Don’t ever mess with my crew!” Janeway said ominously.
The doctor scanned the man, “Well captain, you hit his heart. That was all that was necessary according to my sources. Good job!”
“Unfortunately, it’s not enough,” she said sadly as she recalled there was one more thing that had to be done to be sure the creature never returned to the living again.
“You’re right!” The doctor was befuddled. “You should be cured, but you still have the virus!”
“If I remember correctly, there’s one more thing that has to be done before that happens.”
“What did I miss?” The doctor asked with confusion, as he tried to remember what it was she was referring to concerning the dead nemesis before him.
“I’d rather not say.”
“Whatever it is, do it!” The doctor insisted.
“I… I can’t.”
Suddenly phaser fire blazed past them, putting an end to Vladimir’s existence. The doctor and Janeway turned to see where it came from.
“Highest setting,” Chakotay stated with a smile before saying, “Nobody messes with my captain.”
Epilogue
Doctor’s log
Star Date: 53833.7
Thanks to the ability of our command team to work well together, the crew is back to normal. There are no signs of the virus that caused unusual behaviour in the crew. However, no one would believe the cure for their illness if I stated it, so I will leave that to my memory banks to save for future review if necessary.
As for Captain Janeway, I have order her to take a few days R & R. I believe, given the circumstances, she could very well benefit from it. She is fine physically, but I want to observe her for the next few days to be certain there are no delayed repercussions from the alien contact.
End Doctor’s log
Captain’s log:
No one would believe the last few days if I gave a detailed report, in the end Vladimir’s people were not to be trusted. They knowingly infected us with a very unusual virus that had a very unusual cure. Everyone is well and back to their duties now, except for Ensign Craig, who was lost in the line of duty.
End Captain’s log
Janeway paused before continuing with her own personal log. She was wondering how she could have allowed Vladimir to control her as he did and berated herself for putting the ship and her crew in danger.
Feelings of guilt swept over her, as she wondered why she had not listened to Chakotay, why she had not considered Tuvok’s findings before making first contact. If she had listened to them, Vladimir would not have taken over her mind and tried to control her as he did. None of it would have happened if she had only listened. Instead, she had been too eager to seek out new life and a new civilization- the very thing Starfleet had taught her do, the one thing that Chakotay cautioned her from doing.
A single tear rolled down her cheek as recalled how Chakotay tried to warn her about Vladimir. ‘He wasn’t just doing it because he was my first officer, but because he really cares.’
Finally, she added an entry, noting the events of the last few days.
Janeway’s personal log:
It’s amazing what love can do. I don’t know what I would do without Chakotay, but I’m glad I have him. He’s an amazing man. When I thought Vladimir had seriously harmed my ‘Angry Warrior’, it broke whatever influence he had on me. Chakotay came to rescue me, but I think we rescued each other in the end. I know he realizes I was not acting under my own volition, but I fear he won’t be able to forgive me for the things I did while under Vladimir’s mind control. I did things I would not have normally done and my only hope is he does know. The question is can I forgive myself?
End Personal log.
Chakotay’s personal log:
I went to rescue Kathryn, but in the end she was the one who rescued her crew. She’s a strong woman, even under unusual conditions, and truly amazing. I’m glad I have her. I don’t know what I would have done if I had lost her. Hopefully, one day I can tell her just how much I care about her.
My only regret is that I couldn’t protect her from Vladimir. He was a force more powerful than I ever realized could exist and one I don’t think Kathryn even dreamed possible. I wish she had listened to me, but she didn’t. I just hope she doesn’t go into her usual seclusion, where she blames herself for everything that happens to the crew and this ship. It wasn’t her fault.
Maybe she’ll allow me to accompany her to dinner tonight, so we can talk. I think that is the biggest thing she needs right now. That is, if she’ll let me help her through what has happened over the past few days and not push me away.
End personal log.
© Copyright 2004, Mriana
