"Five heavily armed scout class ships," Harry Kim reported from his station, ducking when a console exploded next to him and showering him with sparks. "Coverient shielding on a modulating rotation, they're armed with phaser cannons and electromagnetic torpedoes that are ripping through our shields. I cant match the modulation of their shields." He finished shooting her an apologetic look.

Another sudden volley rocked the ship heavily to starboard and everyone was suddenly fighting to maintain their positions while the inertial dampers fluctuated sporadically before finally reestablishing. "Shields down to 67%," Tuvok calmly reported from the tactical station.

"Tom, get us out of here," Janeway ordered through gritted teeth as Voyager lurched again like a drunk staggering from a bar.

"I'm trying, Captain," he returned, fingers flying over his navigational board. "Initiating evasive maneuver Gamma Epsilon Four,"

Gamma Epsilon Four wasn't recommended for a ship flying at warp speed, since the maneuver had the potential of peeling the outer hull plating right off, but there really was no other choice. From warp four, Voyager came to a dead stop in space and the shuttles that had been pursuing flew right past, unprepared for the tactic.

"Hull breech on decks two, six and seven," Harry reported even as the explosion from the deck below the command center shook the bridge.

A section of hull plating from deck six drifted harmlessly into space as the ship came to a stop. Then without waiting for orders from his captain, Tuvok activated the weapons console and fired phasers at the vessels attempting to come around for another pass. The strain of attempting to turn while at warp overloaded one of the ships warp cores and it exploded impressively taking one of its companion vessels with it. Tuvok's fire impacted directly with two of the other small ships, disabling their weapons but not daunting their determination. Hell-bent on the destruction of the larger vessel, the two shuttles set a direct course intent on ramming Voyager.

"Torpedoes, Tuvok," Janeway ordered, adrenaline surging through her veins as the attackers grew larger in the forward viewer.

Immediately, the missiles were launched, and had only traveled about two hundred kilometers before impacting the smaller ships. The resulting explosion as the dual shuttle disintegrated caused more relays aboard Voyager to overload, even as the remaining vessel shot away into the blackness of space. For a moment, stillness reigned on the bridge before Kathryn realized that their attackers were truly gone.

"Report," she ordered huskily, turning to survey the damage.

"Multiple hull breaches, force fields are holding," Harry answered dutifully. "A lot of blown power conduits, warp and impulse engines are off-line. Repair crews are responding."

Tuvok picked up the narration from a tactical standpoint. "No sign of the other shuttle. Shields are holding at 28%. Weapons systems are at nominal."

Kathryn turned to her exec, awaiting the casualty report and fearing the worst. "Sickbay is reporting multiple injuries, two were life-threatening but he has them stabilized and anticipates a full recovery."

"Who were the two most seriously injured?"

"Ensign Forbes sustained serious plasma burns when a conduit exploded in engineering, and Lieutenant Murphy had severe internal injuries when he fell from a catwalk."

Letting out a breath, she felt only a little guilty that she had been worried most for Seven of Nine. "Keep me informed of repairs. Our main priority is getting those engines back on-line and shoring up our shields. I think maybe Seven and B'Elanna will have to reschedule their time off, don't you?" she asked rhetorically with a grin as she tilted her head to access the main computers voice interface system.

"Janeway to Seven of Nine," she began, realizing that she hadn't personally called on the other woman in almost two weeks. A beat later, she frowned when there was no response.

"Janeway to Lieutenant Torres,"

Again there was no response to her hail, forcing her to ask the computer for the women's location. The female sounding computer voice responded that both women were currently on holodeck one. Janeway turned to Ensign Kim, ordering him with her eyes to find out what was wrong. The dark-haired man worked intently for a moment before looking at his captain and his look said the news was not good.

"All holodeck controls are locked-out. It looks like the weapons fire fused all the magnetic relays in those systems. We don't even have communications."

Not overly worried, Kathryn knew that the holodecks were designed to shut down in the event of an emergency. The first volley of phasers from those attacking ships should have initiated that shut down. "So they're locked behind closed doors," she speculated. "I guess we'll just have to get a crew down there to open them up."

"I suggest we do it fast, Captain," the Asian man said in a tone that caused the hair to stand up on the back of Kathryn's neck. "The program didn't shut down like it should have, and scans indicate that the safety protocols are off-line."

Seven of Nine was on the holodeck with B'Elanna Torres, and if Kathryn knew one thing it was that one did not want to be on the holodeck without safety protocols if B'Elanna Torres was responsible for the programming.

"Get a crew down there," Kathryn said succinctly. "Get them down there now!"

Seven of Nine had not wanted to accompany Lieutenant Torres to the holodeck. She considered them a waste of time, but her new friend had convinced her that the program would help distract her from the pain of Kathryn's withdrawal. The only stipulation the blonde had made was no Klingon warrior programs, to which B'Elanna had readily assented but by the glint in her eye, Seven knew she was planning something. When the feisty half-Klingon initiated the program, the taller woman was dismayed to see that she had been correct.

The two were dressed in blue and silver protective suits complete with helmets and were aboard a shuttle hurtling through the simulated atmosphere of an M-class planet. Orbital skydiving wasn't exactly what the younger woman had in mind by agreeing to this recreational time off. But leaping from a spacecraft at exospheric altitudes was something the Klingon would enjoy, and she hadn't broken her promise of no battle simulations. Resigning herself to the experience, Seven prepared to exit the shuttle by locking her helmet in place and standing next to the hatch. B'Elanna joined her a moment later, and even through the glass faceplate, her companion could see the grin of slightly pointed teeth.

"Lets do it, Borg," B'Elanna said excitedly.

Seven refrained from sighing only by the thinnest of margins before she opened the doorway. The two leapt almost simultaneously from the craft, falling like stones through the atmosphere. Even though Seven knew the sense of falling was a holographic representation, her senses were effectively fooled and adrenaline pumped through her body. The women faced each other joining hands and splaying their bodies to catch the air and prolong the sensation.

"Woo hoo!" B'Elanna yelled happily. "Isn't this great!" she shouted through her helmet, Seven barely managing to catch the words with her Borg enhanced hearing. Seven let go of her companion and both of them prepared to activate their chutes. A sudden explosion rocked the ship, and the holoprogram flickered revealing the black and yellow of the grid while Seven and B'Elanna came to a halt in mid-fall. The program reestablished a second later and they were plummeting again. Having experienced the sensation many times in the past, both of them knew the ship had been hit by weapons fire so when the simulation ended a moment later and the grid-lines reappeared, they assumed the computer had shut down the program.

Their bodies were suspended about ten meters above the deck, and they waited for the safety program to gently lower them. An explosion blew out panel next to the computer interface and they fell the last few meters, impacting heavily with the floor. For a moment, they simply lay where they fell attempting to draw air. Seven was the first on her feet, pulling off her helmet and dropping it negligently to the ground before attempting to tap into the computer console.

The holodeck continued to pitch and yaw as explosions caused by weapons fire battered the ship and it was several minutes before Seven could attempt to tap into the computer, fighting just to maintain her standing position next to the computer by holding on with her mesh-encased left hand by the door jam. Then the shaking stopped abruptly, and the two were coughing into the acrid air.

The M-class simulation they had skydived into had turned into a swamp forcing the ex-drone to slog through heavy mud and grass to reach the interface. B'Elanna simply sat where she had landed, waiting for the efficient young woman to report.

"The holodeck systems have fused. I cannot access the controls."

Climbing to her feet, the frustrated Klingon stomped across to her companion. "It figures," she asserted angrily. "The first chance to have time off in a week, and we get fired on. Can you figure out what happened?"

Punching in more commands to the damaged console Seven responded momentarily, "No, the systems are too severely affected."

"Well I guess that means its time to get back to work." B'Elanna growled. "Open the doors," she said walking toward the exit. When they didn't open, she turned back to her companion curiously. "What's wrong?"

"The computer has initiated a program and I cannot access the controls to shut it down. Additionally, the safety protocols appear to be malfunctioning."

Rubbing her bruised ribs B'Elanna retorted, "I guess that explains why we hit the ground so hard."

"Well, there's no help for it," the discouraged half-Klingon said. "I suggest we sit here and stay out of trouble until the repair crews can get the doors open."

"I concur," Seven responded shortly as she removed her gloves and parachute. The two sat for a moment, swiping at the gnats that permeated the moist air. A moment later the blonde realized her companion was staring at something in the distance. Turning her head, Seven spied the roofline of a distant building.

"Hey," B'Elanna said, "Does that look like a hotel to you?"

Shrugging disinterestedly, Seven responded. "I do not know, however, I do not understand why that would be of significant interest."

"Humor me," B'Elanna said shortly before standing and holding out a hand to her companion.

Trudging through the much toward the distant structure, Seven finally asked, "B'Elanna, should we not be trying to exit the holodeck? Voyager is undoubtedly damaged and in need of having each crewmember at their post."

"I agree," B'Elanna returned amicably, "But we can't do anything until they get the doors open, so we might as well enjoy ourselves."

Comprehension flooded the younger woman's being and her eyes widened in realization. "B'Elanna Torres, you are expecting to find a bar at this establishment. Are you not?"

B'Elanna shot her a pointed grin and waggled her ridged brows at her, "You're catching on, Borg. Maybe there's hope for you yet."

Heaving a resigned sigh as she had seen Kathryn do on occasion, Seven followed behind her friend. She would prefer to wait for the repair crews by the computer console, but knew she would have to keep the feisty woman out of trouble. Sometime later, they were entering the lobby of the 20th century hotel. The concierge greeted them cordially and when asked by the impatient hybrid, directed them to the bar. While they were waiting at a table for a waitress to take their order, Seven abruptly lost patience.

"Lieutenant Torres, I realize your affinity for drinking establishments, but I have no such interest. I demand that we leave this venue immediately."

Blinking owlishly at her friend, B'Elanna said, "Gee, Seven, Lieutenant Torres? You sure know how to hurt someone's feelings," she sulked. When the tactic didn't work, she relented. "Fine, well get a room. We might as well wait in comfort, and with the safeties off what better place to wait?"

"Agreed," Seven returned eagerly, standing up immediately and preparing to walk out of the bar.

"Wait a minute," B'Elanna interjected huffily. "Do you mind if I at least get something to go?"

Seven fought the urge to roll her eyes and waited for her companion to order and retrieve her beverage. Her eyes widened significantly as the expected drink turned out to be a pitcher of ale. A large pitcher.

"Ready," B'Elanna said cheerfully and followed Seven back into the lobby. A few moments later they had obtained a room, and the Klingon was sitting happily on one of the beds imbibing in liquid refreshment. Seven loosened the top of her environmental suit and sat morosely on her own bed. Her thoughts were on Kathryn, and unhappily she realized that all this excursion had done was further her worry for her partner. Ex-partner, she corrected herself. Was Kathryn all right? Had she been injured? What was the condition of the ship? From the amount of explosions that had occurred and the rocking of the vessel, she knew the damage must be extreme. All she could do was hope the repair crews would arrive soon.

The archaic telephone on the table rang suddenly, catching both women by surprise. For a moment they both simply stared at it while it continued to ring insistently.

"What is this device?" Seven questioned in confusion.

"I think its a telephone," B'Elanna answered. "I saw one once on one of Tom's television shows. Its an ancient Earth device used for communication."

"Crude," Seven determined, and B'Elanna could only nod at her assessment.

"I guess I better answer it," the Klingon said but made no attempt to do so.

"Answer it?" the former drone questioned.

Sighing heavily, B'Elanna shifted her glass to her left hand and reached for the phone. "Hello," she said shortly into the mouthpiece. Dead air answered the curious woman, and for a moment she listened to the static at the other end before replacing the phone onto the cradle.

"No one there," she said with a shrug. "Probably just another malfunction,"

The room was growing dark, and Seven realized that night was coming in the holographic setting. Unaccountably, the hair on the back of her neck stood on end. B'Elanna finished her beverage, and reached for the phone again. She placed another order for ale and asked room service to deliver it to room 3124.

Seven didn't care how much alcohol her friend imbibed. The liquor was holographic and would not affect the engineer once they left the holodeck. A few moments later a sound at the door caught Seven's attention. She watched as the knob turned, but the door didn't open. Then she heard a ticking sound near the top lock.

"There's someone at the door," B'Elanna said frowning.

"It is probably room service," Seven supplied arching her brow.

"Maybe," the Klingon admitted, "but then why don't they just knock?"

She placed her glass on the table and walked over to the door. The hotel door was locked from the outside, but disengaged easily when the feisty woman turned the knob. She opened it to find no one standing there.

"Weird," she said turning back around. Just before she closed the door room service did arrive. B'Elanna asked the young man if he had seen anyone lurking in the hallways; he saw nothing.

Shaking her head, she walked back into the room and continued her solitary drinking, forgetting about the mysterious sounds at the door almost immediately. She kicked off her boots and buried her toes in the prickly nubs of the carpet.

Wary, not actually expecting trouble but prepared for it, he parked his car across the street from the hotel building. When he switched off the engine, he heard a siren wail in the street behind him. They're coming for me, he thought. Somehow they've found out I'm the one. He smiled. He wouldn't let them put the handcuffs on him. He wouldn't go easily. That wasn't his style. As the siren grew louder, he glanced at the rear-view mirror. A bit more than a block away, a revolving red light pulsed in the night.

He took the .38 revolver out of his shoulder holster, put one hand on the door and waited for the right moment to throw it open. The squad care bore down on him then swept past. It turned the corner two blocks away. They weren't on his trail after all.

He was slightly disappointed.