Disclaimer: yes, all these people belong to Paramount - except the alien, he`s mine and is suppossedly played by a dear friend of mine (it`s his fault I`m hooked on this series, damnit!) I`m just meesing around with them.... For those of you who thinks this is very similar to Coda - I KNOW! But I wrote this story way before I had heard of that episode (We don`t have ST: V on TV in Norway) so no ripping of ideas is intended! No one offended? Right, then, let`s move on. Comments, e-mails and reflections are appreciated.

DEATH SONGS
BY CAMILLA SANDMAN

A DARK ROOM, LOCATION UNKNOWN

Two human figures are lying unconsious on the floor. A crack of light from some kind of door reveals it`s Chakotay and Janeway. They`re not dressed in Starfleet uniforms, but in some kind of dark clothing, somewhat bloody and bruised, but breathing. The door opens and a Cardassian appears, staring down at the two.

CARDASSIAN: Welcome back to the Alpha Quadrant, �Captain�.

INTRO

A DARK ROOM, LOCATION UNKNOWN

The door is once more shut as Chakotay begins to stir, moaning slightly.

CHAKOTAY: What... What?

He discovers his hands are handcuffed in some way before he sees Janeway, a few feet away, still unconsious.

CHAKOTAY: Kathryn, are you alright?

He moves to her, checking her pulse and is seemingly relieved to find se is still alive. The door opens, entering are the same Cardassian as in the beginning.

CARDASSIAN: So, one of you are awake? Good. Execution will be in one hour.

CHAKOTAY: Execution?

CARDASSIAN: For your crimes against my people. For what you have done, you will pay. Pay with your life.

CHAKOTAY: Crimes? I don`t understand. Where are we? Is this the Delta Quadrant?

CARDASSIAN: No, of course not. This is the Alpha Quadrant. You`re in Cardassian space, trespassing. It`s war. Don`t you know? You must know, you were after all spying on us!

CHAKOTAY: Spying? No. We were on a planet... I...

CARDASSIAN: Save it. The sentence is already set.

He leaves and the door closes behind him. Chakotay stares after him a few second, confused, but turns to Janeway again, who is starting to move and open her eyes.

CHAKOTAY: Captain?

JANEWAY: Commander? What... Where are we?

She tries to get up, but stops as she moans in pain. Chakotay helps her to sit up.

JANEWAY: Where are we?

CHAKOTAY: The Alpha Quadrant, as far as I can tell.

JANEWAY: The Alpha Quadrant? But how...

CHAKOTAY: In Cardassian space, about to be executed.

JANEWAY: What??

CHAKOTAY: So it seems.

JANEWAY: But how did we get here? The last thing I remember was....

FLASHBACK TO VOYAGER

TUVOK: The wormhole is collapsing, Captain.

JANEWAY (VOICE-OVER): We had found a wormhole to the Alpha Quadrant. But it was collapsing before we could enter and...

KIM: Shock wave heading our way, Captain.

The ship is shaking as everyone hang on to whatever is closest.

JANEWAY (VOICE-OVER): ...the ship was doomed. We were to close. The shock wave would destroy us.

JANEWAY: Lietuenant, get us out of here!

An explotion in one of the consoles start a small fire and Janeway falls to the ground as the ship leaps forward, Chakotay covering her as another explotion goes off nearby.

JANEWAY (VOICE-OVER): We`re suppossed to be dead.

The ship is on fire as the flashback ends.

CHAKOTAY: Could that shock wave somehow had the ability to transport us like the wormhole would have?

JANEWAY: Maybe. I don`t have any other explanations. But the shock wave should have killed us.

She rubs her cheek and discover her hands, handcuffed.

JANEWAY: We might not be dead now, but we obviously will be soon.

VOYAGER

THE BRIDGE

The elevator door opens, only to allow the entry of Janeway and Chakotay, exchanging glances before the captain moves to her chair.

JANEWAY: Lietunant Paris, take us away from the wormhole.

PARIS: Aye, Captain. Plotting new course away from the wormhole.

VOYAGER IN SPACE

The ship is leaving the wormhole.

DARK ROOM, LOCATION UNKNOWN

Janeway and Chakotay are sitting on the floor, he is trying to get out of the handcuffs. She is staring into the wall, a sad look on her face.

JANEWAY: Paris, Kim, Tuvok.. They`re all dead. Because of my decision to move closer to the wormhole than safety requieres since our scanners couldn`t read anything from the wormhole because of interference. My decision. My fault.

CHAKOTAY (still struggling with the handcuffs): You didn`t know.

JANEWAY: But I should have. It`s my responsebility. They`re all dead because of me.

CHAKOTAY (finally able to remove the handcuffs): That is no reason we should be.

She turns to face him and he smiles slightly, showing her his freed hands.

CHAKOTAY: An old Indian trick.

He helps to free her hands and then there are noises by the door. Both moving slowly toward the door, standing by the side and out of sight as the door opens and in enters the Cardassian again. He is carrying a phaser and fires into the room. Chakotay throws himself at the Cardassian, and following a brief fight, the commander is able to knock the Cardassian unconsious. Taking the phaser, he and Janeway leaves the room.

CORRIDOR, UNKNOWN LOCATION

Janeway and Chakotay enters the corridor through a door in the far end. The corridor is empty, except for two closed doors in the other end.

JANEWAY: Strange that there are no guards here.

They move closer to the doors, carefully.

CHAKOTAY: I say we take the right door.

JANEWAY: Why?

They are interrupted as steps are heard from the left door.

JANEWAY: I agree.

VOYAGER IN SPACE

An unknown alien ship is following them.

THE BRIDGE

PARIS: Ready to go to warp, captain.

Janeway is staring at nothing, her face expressionless.

PARIS: Captain?

JANEWAY: Wait. Something is wrong. Something is... Missing. Someone....

She turns to Chakotay, who nods.

TUVOK: Missing? Captain, to my knowledge everyone is abord the ship.

JANEWAY: Hold position.

SUPPLY ROOM, LOCATION UNKNOWN

Janeway and Chakotay enters the room through a door on the left side and close it carefully behind them. The room is empty, except for a few boxes in the right corner. The boxes almost resembles coffins.

JANEWAY: What is this place?

She and Chakotay moves to the boxes, exchanging glances before the captain puts a hand on the lid.

JANEWAY: Maybe this will tell us something

Zoom to her face as she opens the box and show an expression of surprise, shock and disbelief.

CHAKOTAY: That can`t be.

VOYAGER IN SPACE

The ship is still in mid-air as well as their unknown follower. As the picture slowly moves, we can see the wormhole in the background. Only - a slight movement suggests that this may not be a wormhole after all...

SICKBAY

The doctor comes on-line as Tuvok stands in the middle of the room.

DOCTOR: Mr. Tuvok. You seem as joyfull as ever.

TUVOK: Doctor, we may be facing a serious problem. The captain and the commander.. Are not well.

DOCTOR: You mean they are ill?

TUVOK: No. But they seem to be lacking.

DOCTOR: Lacking? Lacking what?

JANEWAY (THROUGH COM-SYSTEM): Janeway to Tuvok..

TUVOK: Yes, Captain.

JANEWAY: You are needed on the bridge. We are going back to the wormhole.

SUPPLY ROOM, LOCATION UNKNOWN

Janeway and Chakotay are standing over the box containing two dead bodies. Their dead bodies. Badly burned, they are barely regonizeable.

JANEWAY: None of this makes any sense. How can we be dead and alive at the same time?

CHAKOTAY: Maybe it`s not our bodies, but someone made to look like us in case Starfleet demanded our bodies turned over.

JANEWAY: But that would mean they have different plans than death for us. But he used a phaser on us in that room.

CHAKOTAY: It could have been set on stun.

JANEWAY: I supposse.

She rubs her cheek, seemingly tired. Chakotay looks at her, worried.

CHAKOTAY: Are you alright, Captain?

JANEWAY: I don`t know. I keep feeling there`s something wrong about this. I just can`t figure out what exactly.

CHAKOTAY: I got the same feeling.

They look at each other, as voices are heard outside one of the doors.

ALIEN VOICE #1: Have they begun the Death Song?

ALIEN VOICE #2: Yes.

CHAKOTAY & JANEWAY: Death Song??

VOYAGER, NEAR THE WORMHOLE

The alien ship is still nearby.

THE BRIDGE

KIM: Captain, we keep having interferences this time.

CHAKOTAY: I thought the wormhole didn`t lead anywhere.

TUVOK: It didn`t. But now it does.

JANEWAY: What?

TUVOK: Our readings indicate that the wormhole has changed.

JANEWAY: Can you determine where it leads?

TUVOK: There is too much interference. The probe is not getting its signals through.

JANEWAY: Move us closer.

TUVOK: Captain, that will bring us too close for safety. It would be wiser...

JANEWAY: Now.

PARIS: As you wish, Captain.

SICKBAY

The doctor beeps his signal.

DOCTOR: This is the emergency medical hologram. Captain, may I see you and Commander Chakotay in sickbay imediately?

JANEWAY (THROUGH COM-LINK): We are very busy right now, doctor.

DOCTOR: It`s rather urgent.

JANEWAY (ON-SCREEN): Very well.

SUPPLY ROOM, LOCATION UNKNOWN

Janeway and Chakotay are both leaning against the wall, the room seems darker.

JANEWAY: Is this making any sense to you?

CHAKOTAY: No.

She smiles a bit.

JANEWAY: At least we agree on something.

He returns the smile.

CHAKOTAY: We may have had some differenses in the past. But you know you`re not alone.

JANEWAY: I know, I just...

The door right in front of them opens and interupt. An alien of unknown species appear. Similar to humans, only darker in skin, and with huge, black eyes.

ALIEN: I`m sorry. But you have entered the Death Song. You will never leave.

CHAKOTAY: Death Song? What is it?

ALIEN: I will tell. You have all the time in the world to listen. This is your Death Song. Time does not matter here.

JANEWAY: What do you mean?

ALIEN: This is not a dream, nor is it reality. Time does not pass, but you will never escape. The Song never ends. You die over and over again.

CHAKOTAY: You mean it`s a kind of illiusion?

ALIEN: No. It`s real.

CHAKOTAY: But you just said...

ALIEN: I said it was not reality.

Janeway suddenly makes a strange noise and falls over. Chakotay catch her in the fall and looks at the alien questionatly.

ALIEN: This is how she will die.

CHAKOTAY: No! I won`t let her! Who is killing her?!

ALIEN: The Death Song. It will kill you, too. Once, twice, ten times, a thousand. All the deaths possible.

CHAKOTAY: No! I`m getting us out of here.

He tenderly strokes her face.

CHAKOTAY: So, the Cardassians, the ship exploding by the wormhole... It hasn`t happened?

ALIEN: Time does not matter. It happened, and will happen again.

CHAKOTAY: Not if I can stop it.

THE SICKBAY

The doctor is examining the Captain and the Commander.

DOCTOR: Strange. Your lifesigns are all there, except...

JANEWAY: Except what?

DOCTOR: There is no brain activity. But there must be some malfunction...

TUVOK (OVER COM-LINK): Bridge to Captain Janeway.

JANEWAY: Go ahead.

TUVOK: We have found where the wormhole leads to.

JANEWAY: Yes.

TUVOK: It seems... It leads to the Alpha Quadrant, Captain.

CORRIDOR, LOCATION UNKNOWN

Chakotay is carrying Janeway and is followed by the alien. Suddenly several Cardassians appear in front of them.

ALIEN: This is how you die.

The Cardassians fire phaser-alike weapons and Chakotay collapse, Janeway still in his arms.

SOME KIND OF SHELTER, LOCATION UNKNOWN

The house seems to be on a M-class planet. It`s appearantly night, a wind is blowing in the trees. The house is dark, no light are on.

INSIDE

The house resembles the one in �Resolutions�, but not quite. In the bed, Janeway is starting to wake and is starteled to find herself in Chakotay`s arms, wearing less cloths than she seems to like. When looking into the corner, she sees the alien from earlier.

JANEWAY: Chakotay!

CHAKOTAY: (Muttering, still asleep) Kathryn...

He pulls her closer and bury his head in her hair.

JANEWAY: Chakotay, wake up!!

He wakes and looks just as surprised as she was.

CHAKOTAY: What...

JANEWAY: (Interrupting) He has the answers. (Pointing at the alien)

ALIEN: I have only the questions.

CHAKOTAY: Earlier, you said this is real, but then you said it wasn`t reality. What do you mean?

ALIEN: It is real. But it is not reality.

JANEWAY: You`re not exactly being helpfull.

ALIEN: Remember....

Chakotay and Janeway look at each other as...

FLASHBACK

The two being stranded on the planet, talking, laughing, kissing...

BACK TO THE ROOM

JANEWAY: Bu that never happened.

ALIEN: It could have.

Janeway and Chakotay exchange glances. CHAKOTAY: So you mean this is one way...

ALIEN: You will die, yes.

JANEWAY: How do you know all this?

ALIEN: I know Death Song.

CHAKOTAY: How can you... Wait a minute. If this is a song, as you keep insisting it is, who`s the singer?

JANEWAY: Right. A song must be sung by someone.

They both look at the alien, who looks down, confirming their suspection.

JANEWAY: If you really is the singer... (The alien nods) Then you must know a way to let us out of this. I cannot let the crew die.

ALIEN: I cannot let you out.

CHAKOTAY: But you are behind all this?

ALIEN: Yes.

JANEWAY: That means the wormhole wasn`t really a wormhole.

ALIEN: No.

JANEWAY: Was there a shock wave?

ALIEN: Yes.

CHAKOTAY: And everyone died?

ALIEN: Not you.

JANEWAY: Why?

ALIEN: By letting you enter the song, I hoped you could end it for me.

CHAKOTAY: Why can`t you stop it yourself?

ALIEN: A singer sing by the notes.

A crashing sound interrupt him.

JANEWAY: What was that?

ALIEN: Your death. After the Viidians destroyed Voyager, they came after you.

Sound of someone sneaking outside.

Chakotay and Janeway look at each other as someone seems to enter the shelter...

VOYAGER OUTSIDE THE WORMHOLE

More movements in the wormhole.

THE BRIDGE

Janeway and Chakotay enters.

TUVOK: Captain, the fact that the wormhole seemed to lead nowhere minuts ago and now it offers a way home bothers me. Logic dictats that we should handle this with procotion.

JANEWAY: Maybe the wormhole is unstabile. In that case, we need to move fast, before the opportunity is lost. We will enter the wormhole in ten minuts.

THE SHELTER

JANEWAY: (Whispering) Can`t you end this?

ALIEN: No. I am sorry. But I am Death, the Singer of the Song.

CHAKOTAY: (Whispering) Kathryn, I can distract them and allowing you to escape.

JANEWAY: (Whispering) No way. We do this together.

CHAKOTAY: (Whispering) If you insist, Captain. (Smiles while grasping her hand)

ALIEN: And so the death comes again.

THE WORMHOLE

The wormhole is moving again, briefly exposing some kind of black hole.

THE SHELTER

Sounds of phaser fireing inside.

INSIDE

Chakotay and Janeway are seeking cover behind a table, he`s protecting her with his own body.
The alien is standing over them. Several dead Viidians are lying by the door.

CHAKOTAY: They seem to have retreated.

JANEWAY: Only to get help, I suspect.

She turns to the alien.

JANEWAY: So, how do we end this?

ALIEN: That you must discover.

CHAKOTAY: How... How did you become this?

ALIEN: How? (He looks sad) Years ago my rase came here, colonized one of the planets and buildt a home. But the planet... Death came to it. The death we brought with us. Our death destroyed it, as well as the sun. The sky turned black. And the Song started. Everywhere the last of my rase came, we brought death. So they called us the Death Singers. One by one, we died. I am the last, as I was the first, trapped in Death, forever singing the Song.

JANEWAY: You mean there was a whole rase of you?

ALIEN: Yes. But whene our number was many, one did not do as much damage. As our number decreased, the powers of each became greater until I was Death, forever doomed by my people to bring Death to everyone hearing my song.

CHAKOTAY: But you say we can end it?

ALIEN: Yes. You must end the Song by killing the Singer.

JANEWAY: Are there others here?

ALIEN: Others, yes, trapped in the Song like you.

CHAKOTAY: Why can`t they do something?

ALIEN: I cannot be killed here, for this is only real to you. But your ship... It can destroy the black hole that is me.

CHAKOTAY: Our readings clearly identified it as a wormhole.

ALIEN: I did that to get you here. To get you close enough to hear my Song. But that also trapped you. Now you can never leave, except by destroying me.

JANEWAY: How can we, if we are indeed, as you say, trapped here?

ALIEN: Time does not matter here. You will be trapped, and now you are trapped, but before you enter what you think is a wormhole, you can fire torpedo that will cause it to collapse.

CHAKOTAY: And create a shock wave...

JANEWAY: But that has already happened!

ALIEN: No.

JANEWAY: I remember it...

ALIEN: You also remember living life here for years, do you not?

JANEWAY: Yes... (She looks at Chakotay) I remember us...uh...

ALIEN: Time does not matter. For a Song is sung over and over again.

VOYAGER

THE BRIDGE

Janeway suddenly looks surprised and turns to Tuvok.

TUVOK: We are ready to enter the wormhole, Captain.

JANEWAY: Yes... I....

TUVOK: Is something wrong?

CHAKOTAY: Yes.

THE SHELTER

JANEWAY: So you can let us out of here?

ALIEN: No. But I can sing that part of the Song once more.

CHAKOTAY: But we die of the shock wave.

ALIEN: Perhaps. Do you remember dying?

CHAKOTAY: No, just waking up in that room as the shock wave hit us. And... I remember.. You fireing that torpedo... (Confused) But I didn`t remember that earlier... How...?

JANEWAY: It seems clear to me what we must do, Commander.

CHAKOTAY: Yes.He takes her hand.

JANEWAY: I guess... We could die, couldn`t we?

ALIEN: Yes. But you will not die alone.

JANEWAY: Chakotay...

CHAKOTAY: I`m here.

She holds on to his hand as the surrondings start to fade...

THE BRIDGE OF VOYAGER

Chakotay takes Janeway`s hand as she suddenly looks determined.

JANEWAY: Fire torpedo!

PARIS: What???!?

JANEWAY: I said: Fire torpedo. At the wormhole.

PARIS: With all due respect, Captain...

JANEWAY: Do you have a problem with that order?

TUVOK: Captain, I fail to see the point of this.

CHAKOTAY: Do as she says. It`s not a wormhole.

KIM: All our readings indicate...

JANEWAY: They are wrong. Fire the torpedo, now!

VOYAGER IN SPACE

The torpedo is fired. The wormhole start collapsing, and it is clearly a black hole.

THE BRIDGE

TUVOK: The wormhole is collapsing, Captain.

SPACE

A shock wave is rapidly heading toward Voyager.

THE BRIDGE

KIM: Shock wave heading our way, Captain.

Everyone hangs on to whatever is closest as the ship is shaking terribly.

JANEWAY: Lituenant, get us out of here!

SPACE

Voyager start to move, but is closely followed by the shock wave and finally hit...

THE BRIDGE

A console explodes and a small fire starts. Janeway falls to the ground as the ship makes a leap forward, Chakotay covers her from falling debris as more explotions go off nearby.

VOYAGER IN SPACE

The ship is on fire, but is still in one piece.

THE BRIDGE

Janeway and Chakotay get up, a bit bruised and bloody, but alive.

JANEWAY: Damage report.

KIM: We have taken a lot of damage, but all importent systems are still intact. Minor casualties. The warp core is undamaged. We survived.

CAPTAIN`S QUATERS

Janeway is sitting by the window as the door beeps.

JANEWAY: Come in...

Chakotay enters.

CHAKOTAY: All repairs are on scedule, Captain. B`Elenna says we will have warp power in a few hours.

JANEWAY: Good. Notify me when that happens.

CHAKOTAY: I will.

He turns to leave, but...

JANEWAY: Chakotay....

Turning back, he looks at her questingly.

JANEWAY: Do you think....

CHAKOTAY: Yes, I do.

JANEWAY: You don`t even know my question!

CHAKOTAY: (Smiling) Yes, I do.

She smiles back at him, offering him a place beside her.

VOYAGER IN SPACE

JANEWAY: (VOICE-OVER) Captain`s log, supplemental. Our reading confirmed that the wormhole was in fact a black hole, but of unknown configuration. However, the experience has left me with several unanswered questions, and I`m not sure I am ready to get those answers just yet.

THE END ????

********* Death gives life, and life gives death. All things go in circles *********

Return to my J/C fanfic

Awards Won/Babylon 5/ Buffy/World of Dreams Awards /Forgotten Realms/
HL:The Raven/ Links/Mail/ Main/Miss Sandman's Stories/New/Red Dwarf/RPG/
Touching Evil/ Voyager/Water Rats/Wheel of Time/Webrings/X-Files/The Lady of Dreams/