Mr. Kim's Wild Ride

by
Darrel W. Beach
Jan, 1997


Chapter 7

        Quickly checking that his supplies were securely fastened to his
belt, Harry set off once again in the direction of Boltec.  After Q's
appearance, he debated whether or not he should actually continue his journey
to the city.  After all, he had no intention of being Q's "puppet-du-jour".
However, recalling their conversation, he realized that he was destined to
become involved in some kind of adventure, regardless of his intention to
cooperate.  /Might as well enjoy the scenery while I can/ he concluded.
        Freeing the blade at his side, Harry trudged through the thick growth
of weeds and shrubs of the forest's interior, taking a few experimental hacks
to clear away the foliage in his path.  The sword was at first awkward to
handle, forcing the ensign to wield it with both hands to steady the blade
and prevent injuring his wrists.  It took him about fifteen minutes to get a
feel for the weight and balance of his weapon before he felt comfortable
using it in just his right hand.
        The hours passed slowly, the sun creeping toward the tree line like a
spider descending from its web.  Harry felt like he had been walking for
miles when he heard the sounds of a horse-drawn cart on the road approaching
from whence he came.  Hoping to requisition passage to the city, he started
making his way back to the thoroughfare.  He quickened his pace considerably,
however, the moment he heard the sudden development of a confrontation.

        The wheels rattled and groaned as the wooden cart made its way alone
the weathered and travel-worn road, pulled by the cloven hooved rh'vasi with
apparent effortlessness.  The old wagon made more than its fair share of
trips to the marketplace over the many cycles, but it managed to hold
together and do its job all the same. The driver played idly with the reins,
pausing a moment to wipe the perspiration from his brow with the cuff of his
sleeve.  Although the day was approaching dusk, the sun's punishing effects
still hung heavily in the air, and it would remain a while yet before the
earth would cool off.
        Stefik glanced behind him to survey the health of his transport.  It
was always a challenge with produce, especially during the warmer season, but
thankfully he could not yet discern any signs of spoilage.  With any luck the
total complement of his fare would still be fresh enough to sell when he set
up his booth the next day.
        "Good thing we started off before sunrise this time, eh, Casha?"
commented the driver to his steer, not expecting an answer.
        Hoping to dispel a growing thirst, Stefik reached back and picked up
a canteen by its leather strap.  Parting his lips around the nozzle, he
leaned back and let the water wash the stickiness from the walls of his
mouth.  He smiled in contentment as the cool sensation of the liquid crept
down his chest and into his stomach, then he replaced the stopper in the
canteen and set it back in the cart.
        In a sudden explosion of noise and motion, Stefik just barely noticed
a mount and rider before Casha reared on her hind legs, almost knocking him
off his seat.  He pulled back hard on the reins to get the animal under
control, trying to keep his own rising panic at bay.
        Once Casha had calmed down, Stefik found the road impeded by two men,
each one atop a v'shil.  The lead man was rotund but well-muscled, obviously
an experienced warrior who knew how to handle a pint of stout as well as a
blade.  The other man appeared to be less familiar with either of his
companion's habits: rangy and slight.  Both, however, looked like they had
not seen water for quite some time; Stefik swore he could almost smell their
foul odor from where he sat.
        "Well, what have we got here, Weq?" remarked the big man, scowling at
the lone traveler.  "Looks like someone's trying to cross our road without
paying the toll."
        Weq grinned darkly, staring directly at Stefik.  "Not a wise move, my
friend."
        The big man pulled up a few paces in front of Casha, who nervously
tried to back away but could not escape the confinement of her harness.
Stefik knew how the animal felt: he desperately wanted to flee in panic, but
knew he'd have no chance of eluding the two muggers.
        "Hand over your purse, and I'll consider your passage."
        Stefik fumbled about with the tie-strings of his money bag, trying to
loosen it from his belt.  The big man sidled up to the driver's bench the
moment it came free and snatched it away from the farmer's trembling hand.
Immediately the man's sour visage grew worse as he tested the weight of the
pouch, then inspected its contents.
        "What is this?  Do you mock me with this pitiful sum?" he bellowed
angrily, making Stefik cower in fright.  He shrieked as the big man grabbed
him by the collar and yanked him up out his seat.  The pirate's rank smell
stung his eyes and nose, but it didn't concern him much at the moment.
        "Please don't hurt me!  That is all I have to give," the young farmer
whimpered.  "The crops were poor this year and -"
        "LET HIM GO!!"
        Startled, the big man lost his grip on Stefik's shirt and turned to
look in the direction of the voice.  Stefik fell back onto the bench, but
also looked around for the owner of the voice.
        There, on the other side of the road about twenty metres away, stood
a peculiar-looking man wielding a sword in front of him.  The stranger had
long stringy hair on his head and face (his face - so featureless!), and wore
strange clothing.  /Definitely not from this area/ Stefik thought.
        "Get lost, stranger," the big man growled, moving his v'shil between
his victim and the interloper.  "This is no business of yours."
        It was clear to see that the stranger was at a disadvantage
physically, yet surprisingly he appeared to bear down even more, his hands
gripped firmly to the hilt of his sword.  His gaze scarcely wandered from the
bandit's large figure, only glancing once or twice at Weq to assess his role
in a potential conflict.  "When someone tries to take advantage of a helpless
individual, it becomes my business," the stranger replied, his voice as
steely as his gaze.
        He was not going to back down, Stefik could see it in the man's
stare. There was a single-mindedness and propensity in helping those in need
there, blazing fiercely like a torch.  Stefik prayed to the Great Power for
some miracle to assist this man in turning these foul ruffians away.

        Like anyone else who was a member of Starfleet, Harry was well
instructed in tactical exercises.  He also knew how to stay rational during
tense situations such as the one he had just put himself.  Nevertheless, he
wished he wasn't about to engage in a sword fight with an opponent of unknown
skill.  Sure, he had spent years practicing swordsmanship - thanks to his
interest in Medieval History - but always in a holodeck environment, usually
against holographic combatants: there was no risk of getting hurt.  While he
didn't doubt his own skill, one lucky strike was all that would be needed to
take him out of the fight.  No safeties this time, no computer programs to
interrupt.
        Harry glanced briefly over at the second interloper to keep tabs on
his position.  At least it appeared he'd only have to face the bigger man: he
looked like he'd have trouble putting up a fight against Kes, let alone the
ensign.
        The marauder sneered maliciously at him and pulled out an equally
pernicious weapon from his side.  "Then prepare to suffer at my hand, fool!"
        Harry readied himself as the man's steed reared and abruptly bolted
directly at him.

Chapter 8

        Chakotay walked into the observation room, a bit anxious to hear what
the captain had dug up from the Xausan Hall of Records.  Whatever information
they found, it was of enough consequence for Janeway to call a senior
officer's meeting even before beaming back to the ship.  He didn't know if
that was meant to be a good sign or not, but he hoped so.
        B'Elanna had nearly jumped out of her chair the moment he entered the
room, but the resigned look on her face when she saw who it was indicated
that she too was anticipating the captain's arrival.  Tuvok, in his typical
Vulcan manner, probably couldn't have appeared less disinterested in the
meeting, sitting at his usual position scanning a PADD - security reports,
most likely. And Tom Paris, he noticed, looked rather sullen and distant,
which was unusual considering how he'd spent his shore leave so far.  Well,
maybe not so unusual, the commander reconsidered. /Harry was probably Tom's
closest friend on the ship.  Still, didn't think he'd take Harry's
disappearance quite so hard./
        The doors to the lounge slid open, drawing B'Elanna's attention
again. Chakotay turned and saw Neelix enter the room, craning his neck like a
chicken looking for grain.  The commander could almost sense his friend slump
back into her seat with disappointment.
        "Commander," petitioned the Talaxian, "I rushed right up here as soon
as I could.  Have Kes and the captain returned from the surface yet?  I was
just down in the kitchen preparing dinner when you called - and incidentally,
did I tell you what Ensign Chell did to my kitchen yet?  None of my pots and
pans are where they're supposed to be stored.  Why, it took me almost half an
hour to -"
        "Neelix," Chakotay interrupted, almost a little too impatiently.  Now
didn't seem like the best time to be discussing the galley's ergonomics.
"They should be here any moment now.  Perhaps we can discuss this later."
        Just then the doors opened up once again, this time with Captain
Janeway striding purposefully into the room, Kes following two steps behind.
Neelix hastily convened with his companion and escorted her to her seat.
Chakotay fell into step behind his commanding officer as she passed by him to
her own chair.
        "Good, you're all here; we can start," she stated, settling in for
the meeting.  "Commander, have you received any problems from Prince Gaav
yet?"
        "Not exactly, Captain," Chakotay hesitated.  "I was contacted by
Ambassador Tolis this afternoon - it seems Lady Celin is getting concerned
with Ensign Kim's sudden and unexplained absence from the palace.  I told him
the shore leave rotation schedule was responsible, and that Ensign Kim
probably just forgot to mention it to the duchess."
        "Clever," remarked the captain.
        The commander sighed.  "I thought so, too.  Unfortunately, Lady Celin
contacted the ship herself a few hours ago and asked to speak with Harry.  I
had to tell her that he was currently on duty and couldn't be disturbed, and
that he'd return her call as soon as he was able.  She didn't seemed too
pleased with that idea, but she accepted it nonetheless.  With any luck that
will buy us at least until tomorrow morning before anything else happens."
        Janeway nodded once in approval despite the grim information and
turned her attention to the other side of the table.  "Lieutenant Torres,
have you been able to uncover any information that might suggest a cause to
Ensign Kim's disappearance?"
        "Yes -" the engineer blurted out.  "- I mean, I believe so, Captain,
although you may not like what I have to say."
        B'Elanna uploaded the passive sensor log and explained the readings
to the rest of the staff, pointing out the exact moment when Harry blinked
out of existence.  Everyone seemed intrigued by the event, except for Tom,
who merely stared at his clenched fists resting on the table.
        "For a long while the readings made absolutely no sense: aside from
Harry, none of the conditions in his room changed even in the slightest.  In
other words, Harry's vanishing act was physically impossible.  Then it
occurred to me: whatever was responsible for making Harry disappear has the
ability to defy the normal principles of physics.  And what's more, this
wasn't a natural phenomenon; I really don't have any proof, but I'd say that
what happened to Harry was deliberate."
        Throughout B'Elanna's presentation, Janeway intently studied the logs
until at last she caught on to her implication. "You think Q is responsible
for this, don't you?" she asked flatly.
        Torres anxiously shifted her weight from one foot to the other.
"It's the only conclusion I came up with that could explain what happened and
make sense."
        The countenances around the table were grave: the events of their
first encounter with the Q were still fresh in everyone's memory.
Surprisingly, however, Janeway seemed to relax back into her chair.  "Well,
that would probably explain what Kes and I found in the Hall of Records," she
remarked.  To the puzzled looks directed at her, she continued, "While
searching for the data on Xausan marriage customs, we quite accidentally
stumbled upon this."
        With the press of a few buttons, the captain produced the image of
Harry filed by her tricorder.  Everyone in the room was completely
thunderstruck by the black and white figure.  She glanced over to Kes, her
cue to begin the explication of their unusual discovery.
        "The book we recovered this from is apparently just a small part of
an anthology on Xausan history and legend.  I couldn't find a specific date
linked to this entry, but the book itself describes dates back to an era
approximately twenty-seven to twenty-eight hundred years ago."
        "Pardon me for asking," Lt. Paris interjected bitterly, "but why
would Q just zap Harry onto an alien planet three thousand years ago?"
        Janeway glared at the lieutenant, clearly displeased with his
undisciplined behavior.  "I believe we've gained enough knowledge - even
personal experience - to know that Q may have no rational motive behind the
actions he commits."
        "So, Kes, what exactly does this book say about Harry?" Chakotay
asked, hoping to get the conversation back into neutral territory.  The
captain looked ready to scrap with her Conn officer, and vice versa.
        Kes wasted no time.  "The book contains passages describing an
intrepid wanderer named Genghis Kim and the adventures of his band of warrior
comrades.  They really aren't considered to be much more than folk tales, but
`The Tale Of The Voyagers' does have a lot of references connoting the
incidents with the Caretaker and the Kazon upon your arrival here in the
Delta Quadrant.  Plus, there are similar stories describing other events
we've experienced, although they are somewhat obfuscated: for example, one
passage makes recount of altercations with a tribe of cannibals which Genghis
termed `The Soul-Stealers'."
        Chakotay gave a sidelong glance to the captain.  "The Vidiians?"
Janeway nodded in agreement.
        Everyone in the room was intently interested in what Kes had to say -
well, except Neelix, who simply looked baffled by the conversation.  "Genghis
Kim?" he muttered to himself.
        "Well," posed B'Elanna, "now that we know where Harry is, I guess the
next question is, how do we bring him back?"
        The chirp of her communicator answered before the captain could
speak.  "Bridge to Captain."
        She tapped her badge.  "Janeway here."
        "Captain, we're being hailed by the royal office, by Prince Gaav
himself; he want to talk with you in private."
        That was unexpected and unwelcome news; obviously the duchess wasn't
willing to wait until morning to cause further problems.
        "Understood, Ensign.  I'll be right out."  Janeway looked back up at
the table.  "I guess we'll have to finish this discussion later.  Dismissed."
        As the officers filed out of the lounge, Neelix tugged at Chakotay's
sleeve.  "Commander."
        "Neelix, I won't be able to look at your kitchen just now," the first
officer started.
        "It's not that, Commander.  Actually, I have a different favor to ask
of you right now."
        Chakotay groaned on the inside.  "What is it, Neelix?" he asked
evenly.  "Well, I don't want you to think I wasn't following the conversation
- I know we were talking about Harry and all, but - " he replied hesitantly,
"who is this `Genghis' person?"

        Janeway paced straight through the bridge, taking no time to
acknowledge the current crew on duty.  "Have Prince Gaav's call patched
through to my ready room, Ensign," she directed brusquely toward the Ops
station.  She barely heard the "Yes, ma'am" before the doors to her office
closed.  Sitting down at her desk, she stopped and took in a deep, slow
breath, preparing for the face-off with Gaav, and activated the terminal.
"Your Majesty, what a delightful surprise; to what do I owe this call?"  she
asked winsomely.
        The prince's expression appeared somewhat grave and reluctant.  "My
apologies, Captain, for being unable to contact you under more agreeable
circumstances, but it has been brought to my attention that the Lady Celin
has encountered considerable difficulty in communicating with one of your
staff - a Mr. Kim, I believe.  I was wondering if there might be something
you could do to facilitate some resolution to this problem."
        Janeway maintained the pretense of geniality while she spoke.  "Your
Majesty, I can tell you that, unequivocally, my people are duty-bound to
follow my orders.  However, what my crewmen do during their free time is
strictly their business.  I may be their commanding officer, but that does
not give me absolute power over them - the Federation does not work that way.
 I can certainly discuss this situation with Ensign Kim, but I'm afraid that
whatever course of action he chooses to take will ultimately be his decision."
        "That is most unfortunate," Prince Gaav replied disconsolately.  "Are
you aware of the relationship that has been established between your Ensign
Kim and the Lady Celin?"
        "If you are referring to their engagement, yes, I am well aware of
it. I am also quite aware that this engagement was construed under a verbal
misunderstanding , and that Ensign Kim had not purposefully intended to court
Lady Celin."
        "Oh dear, that would explain why your Ensign Kim has been refusing
communication, wouldn't it?"  Obviously, the prince had not been divulged of
this particular piece of information, by the distressed tone in his voice.
"I am truly sorry for this, Captain; had I known, I might have been able to
avert this calamitous circumstance.  However, Lady Celin has already formally
announced her intentions to marry.  By our law, it must be so now - not even
the Queen herself can proscribe the ceremony."
        "That may be, Your Majesty, but that still won't stop us from trying
to find some precedent to stop it.  I hope that won't be a problem for you."
        The prince held up his hands in concession.  "I assure you, Captain,
in light of the situation, you won't get an argument from me.  Lady Celin,
however, probably won't be as cooperative.  I should inform you, though, that
you'll only have until the day after tomorrow to resolve this dilemma: the
Queen will be arriving at that time to attend the ceremonies.  I won't have
any other choice but to insist that you deliver your Ensign Kim to us."
        The turn of the conversation surprised Janeway: rarely had she
encountered a leading planetary official advocating the obstruction of a
relative's wedding.  "Thank you, Your Majesty.  Your assistance is greatly
appreciated."
        Prince Gaav smiled and nodded.  "May the Great Power guide you to
success, Captain.  Be well."  The screen snapped off immediately thereafter.
        Janeway reclined into her chair, basking in a small euphoria.  Their
predicament seemed not as dire as it once was.  Of course, the predicament
still had to be resolved....
        "Commander Chakotay, to my ready room, please.  Kes, please join me
in my ready room.  We have work to do."