B4FV 3.12 - The Coming of Time

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Go to Parts -- 1 & 2

Disclaimer
The basic concept of this episode isn't exactly original, a lot of good sci-fi/fantasy series (and bad) have a timeloop episode. There's been Next Generation, Buffy (well it had a timeloop scene), X-Files.. Of course there's the series Tru Calling.
In a way this episode is a prequel to a mid Season Five episode.

Please Note
This episode's recap includes scenes/dialogue from the previous episode as usual, but it also has scenes and stuff from the first main season episode, Aggressions. See Q and the Grey's note for more info. To make it easier for you to know which bit is from which episode, recap is colour coded (B4FV white, Aggressions blue).

Episode Synopsis
James, Tom and Chakotay are taken back to the beginning of their day, over and over again.

Guest Stars
Adam Blaustein
Jake Wood

Written By
Marill

Written
25th - 27th, 29th & 30th May 2005

Episode Based In
July 2372 (early season 3)

Previously on Fifth Voyager
Jessie shrugged her shoulders, "black's slimming." She closed her eyes and clenched her fists, Kes took a step backwards. "Good god, if this song doesn't end soon I'm going to put one of those lei things around someone's neck and pull."

"Uh huh, still getting those mood swings?" Kes questioned.

"You were right, I thought about it and maybe I was being a bit over the top," Danny replied.

"There's a but isn't there?" Jessie questioned.

"No I didn't mean.." Danny stuttered, she glanced briefly at James. "What I meant was, well you know about that incident in the Mess Hall when you made up. If you're still trying to keep this a secret, you've got to be less public about it."

"Probably not but it doesn't matter. While I was saying all that stuff, I just forgot who you even were.. I know you would never hurt her, you seem to care about her more than anybody else does," Danny replied. "You're a great guy James, there's not another one of you out there that's for sure."

Danny shook her head, "you're wrong, there should be more like you. There's too many vain, rude, piggish guys out there.. I should know, I dated a lot of them. You were the only guy in the entire school that I thought was good enough to be my friend. And probably the only one that I liked in the first meeting, and never asked out."

Danny frowned, she looked down at James then back up at Jessie. "What phony excuse?"

"You told me to be careful because you still think he's going to hurt me or something. The whole public kissing thing was a lie," Jessie replied.

"You don't think I was a bit harsh with her, do you?"

"I really don't know, I wasn't even around while you two were talking," he replied.

Jessie looked around as she walked around the resort. She turned the corner and stopped dead, her eyes widening.

"Now remember, we were drunk," Danny giggled as Ian played with her hair. He leaned in to kiss her, she wrapped an arm around his neck and kissed him back.

Tom reached over and stole Craig's PADD. "No, don't look at that!" Craig exclaimed.

"Hey, watch it! B'Elanna's on the list, so you'd better keep away from my B'E," Tom said loudly in a slurry voice as he collapsed into a chair.

"You're too distracting," Kathryn laughed.

"In what way?" Chakotay asked.

"You know what I mean," Kathryn said.

"I'm afraid I don't," Chakotay said.

Kathryn kissed him briefly on the lips. "Sorry," she said and she got up and left the holodeck. Chakotay got up and followed her.

Chakotay shook his head as he walked over to him. "Oh Tom, I've got something for you."

"Can I sit with you?" Jessie asked. Danny nodded her head. She sat down opposite her. "Look um, I'm sorry. You apologised and I was a real b**ch about it.."

"No it's ok Jess, it probably did sound like I was going to say what you thought," Danny said.

"I decided to go and find you so I could apologise last night, but I saw you and Ian. You were telling him the drunk excuse, then you started kissing," Jessie said.

"All right, it's been over two months," Danny replied.

Craig and Lee stepped into the room. Tom groaned as he glanced at them, "don't tell me you guys are on the team."

The doors opened again, Johnny and Tim stepped through them. "Reporting for the awayteam," Johnny cheerfully said.

"Well you do keep getting irritated, that is the hormones hopefully," Kes replied looked uncomfortably. "Jess I don't think it's the hormones that's making you feel this way. Your moods keep switching, but that one seems to stick around constantly."

"You said that my feelings for him have increased, well they haven't.. I know that much," Jessie said.

"Oh but you two are more at ease, and comfortable with your relationship now. You don't care about people like me or Danny seeing anything. You both seem happier together than before.." Kes said.

"Nah, it's just easier to talk to him than before," Jessie said as she got off the biobed. "I just mean that we were always uncomfortable talking about 'us', now it's simpler. I also feel less restrained, I'd usually hold back just in case I'd get embarrassed or something. I just thought a while ago, why am I like that?"

"Paris to Voyager.. we've ran into a local storm, I'm going to attempt an emergency landing. You know how badly those go by now, right? Ok to cut that short, we're so screwed. Paris out."

Harry worked at his station, "the storm is blocking all of my scans. Once it's cleared I might be able to get their location."

"Those FDA guys are gone," Craig said.

Tom turned back to the direction of the shuttle, "hey you're right, we only just opened the doors." He walked back into it, he had a quick glance at one of the consoles. "Mystery solved, they did an emergency transport."

About ten men wearing tattered old clothes, holding big bits of wood, charged out of the trees and quickly surrounded the team.

"Yes Commander, and you're not going to like it," Harry replied. "I think I know what's causing the storms. There's two advanced colonies on the northern continent."

Danny turned her chair around, "ok, what has the colonies got to do with the storms?"

"There's only one lifesign near one colony, both colonies are however empty. Each one shows signs of nuclear type blasts, most of the storms are located above these spots," Harry replied.

"The missiles themselves were at an unmanned launch bay outside each colony, both were sent on the same day. Nobody had time to evacuate as there wouldn't of been much time between the launch and the explosion," Thy replied.

"So how did you survive?" Chakotay asked.

"I was visiting my family on the homeworld when it must of happened, I returned in my shuttle but one of the storms made me crash land," Thy replied.

"I have to perform the ancient death ceremony. It allows any of my people's spirits that get trapped in the sky after their bodies die, to go on into the after life. As you can tell I'm not much of a firm believer of it," Thy replied. "However the ceremony needs two different subjects to perform the three rites on the day and during the time the ceremony is done."

The awayteam groaned. "Oh brother, it can't be," Tom muttered.

Johnny was pushed into sight by an arm. "Hey, don't push your god," he muttered. He blushed as he glanced at the people in front of him. They quickly got back down on their knees to continue bowing.

Tim stepped out to stand beside him, "remember young one, Thar is the more powerful and wise one, that's me."

"They are the um.. Voyeurs, they do nothing but cause trouble wherever they go," Johnny replied.

"Execute them," Tim replied. Johnny stared at him with wide eyes.

"Well we rematerialised nearby a hunting party, because they saw it they think we have magical powers," Johnny replied.

"Great, there shouldn't even be anybody here. The sensors picked up no sentient life," Craig said.

In: "Mr Siln and I have determined that most of the crew are compatible for the rite mentioned. The only ones who are not are Kes, Tuvok, Vorik and the other Vulcan woman."

"Ok, so what else do we need for a suitable candidate?" Chakotay asked.

In: "If it's possible, I'd like to get the couple who is closer, has a future.. any ones in love would be perfect. The ritual can only be done that way."

Chakotay glanced briefly at Kathryn, "interesting. The ceremony that allows souls to pass onto the afterlife, can only be done by people who have the highest chances of creating new life, am I right?"

"Yes of course I am. I barely know you, you don't even like me and well because of that incident on New Earth, I don't like you," Jessie said. "Though you were nice in the Continuum, but that's not the point."

"You shouldn't be embarrassed I've always seen you as someone who always lost her temper, was rude to people and I did think you were a little crazy at first. That conversation made me see another side of you, a selfless and caring side, a side that I didn't not like," Kathryn said.

"What, what is it?" Jessie asked.

"Relax, the baby is just kicking. Obviously this is the first time," Kathryn replied.

Chakotay walked over to stand nearby Kathryn, "do you think they are the right ones?"

"You said that the perfect ones to do this are ones that will create life, they already have," Kathryn whispered. "Anyway I don't know any couples that are closer than they are."

"The three rites must be done by a couple that shares a lot of respect, trust, friendship.." Thy replied. "In order for us to put the dead to rest we need to prove that life goes on, that's what the ceremony is about."

"Ok," Jessie said with a pout. She sat down in the nearest chair. "Would our child be harmed though?"

"No I've heard that every pregnant woman that takes part, the child would be blessed by the gods with good health. A lot of couples decided to volunteer because of that," Thy replied.

"Ones that didn't succeed either quit, or they weren't good enough. By that I mean they were in an unstable relationship, weren't meant to be anyway, was in love with someone else and or didn't have strong enough feelings for each other at the time."

Thy developed a little smirk on his face, "no. The first rite purifies the water in the area of the ritual. The second rite purifies the air. The third I'm not entirely sure of, it's the one that doesn't have any scientific value in it, the other two kinda do. It unleashes the spirits, we can't do that until the air and water are purified."

"Right, if the first two rites have um.. scientific value then I feel better," Jessie said. "The third one has me worried."

Johnny pulled a face as he backed away, "oh my god, hide your wrinkle cream? How old are you really?"

Tim stepped out from behind the statue, pointing a finger. He looked a lot older than he did before, everyone gasped in shock. "Johnny, in my day youth listened to their elders."

Most of the natives started to surround Johnny and Tim. "He can't be our god, our gods do not age," one grumbled.

Thy sighed, "ok I'm not explaining this right so I'll just say it. You both have to consummate the ceremony. I'll stay out here, you can use the cabin."

James and Jessie's eyes were now wider than usual, they glanced at each other. "Um, right now or.." James muttered.

"At midnight, just before would be preferable," Thy replied.

"I don't care about what everyone else thinks," Jessie said. "I'm sick to death of hiding us from everyone, wondering what everyone who knows thinks about it.." She turned to face him, "I'm also tired of holding back, I wasted too many years of my life doing that and I'm still doing it."

"It's probably because we were close friends, I used to hold back too.. I guess I still do sometimes," James said.

"Fine then why are you using the incident last month as an excuse not do this?" Jessie questioned. "It sounds to me like holding back. Look I don't know if this ceremony does a damn thing, but if it does we'll be helping at least a few thousand people. That incident is just another thing that makes us hold back for no real reason, you know like the pretend and practise relationship excuse and other little things we've made up. If we're going to be a real couple, we're going to have to stop doing this to ourselves or this wont last much longer."

James sighed, "I say if we can't help those people, nobody else has a chance."

"But don't you find it a little weird that you've slept with people, and I haven't?" Ian questioned.

"No, but it wasn't people it was just someone," Danny replied. "I only went with Terry, after him I got put off."

Ian smiled as went over to sit down next to her. "You're the best Dan."

"Aaw, I'm not really.. I just don't see what the big deal is. It means that I might have you all to myself, and I like that idea," Danny said.

"Might? I'm really hoping that you will, I mean you're the only girl I've ever loved," Ian said.

Danny woke up, she turned over onto her side. Ian lay beside her just watching her. "Oh you're still here," she said quietly.

"Where else would I go?" he asked.

Jessie was lying on her left side, with her elbow resting on the pillow, her head resting in that hand. James was lying next to her, also on his side but was facing her.

He opened his eyes, "Jess.. you're awake?"

"Yep, for quite a while now," Jessie said. She rested her left arm on the pillow, she used her right hand to fiddle with strands of his hair. "So, do you think we did it?"

"I think we did," James replied.

Jessie appeared behind James, she slipped her arms around him. "Hey Thy.. how did it go?"

"Well thanks to you the ceremony was a success," Thy replied. "I don't know how to thank you, I'm really grateful."

James smiled, "yeah, you kinda helped us too. We're even, ok."

"I still feel I owe you though," Thy said. "I mean your Captain has said that Voyager is going in the homeworld's direction, and she is letting me come aboard."

Danny narrowed her eyes as she stared at her. Her eyes quickly widened again, her mouth dropped in shock. "Oh god, you guys did it didn't you."

Jessie sighed, "all right, all right.. yes we did. It was part of the ritual."

Danny's face quickly lit up, "oh wow, really? You must tell me everything."

"Yeah here and now," James muttered. He sat down on the station. "Why did you tell Danny about last night?" he asked quietly.

"I said I was sick of hiding us and holding back, I just thought it was about time she knew," Jessie replied just as quiet.

"You told her a few details of last nights and the first time.. that's what the matter. What were you thinking?" James questioned.

"And you," Tom said, pointing at James. "For the love of god. When she's not too busy mouthing off at everyone and making people cry, she's a great girl. If you're just her friend then fine, just stop moping around for whatever it is and talk it over with her. If you are dating her, get a grip.. she's gorgeous and everything, you've got nothing to whine or angst about."

He moved his finger back to Jessie, "and you again, surely you should of talked to him by now. He's been all moody and everything, and a lot of stuff's happened. For crying out loud talk to him and sort it out. You obviously haven't. Geeze you two just.. you're hopeless lately. Work it out, I don't like talking this way!"

Jessie smiled and took a hold of his hand, "ok we were both wrong then, deal?"

"Deal," James said.

Tom glanced over at them briefly, he smiled to himself. "Damn I'm good, I should be a counsellor."

"Oh.." Kathryn said. She looked around the room, "Harry, you really should see someone about that. It looks like somebody stuck your head in one of Neelix's pans."

"Yeah, kinda like Jessie mean when she's in one of those moods," Tom said.

Chakotay's eyes widened in horror, "oh god." He glanced to his left and then the right, he sighed in relief, "oh wait, that's impossible."

"Kathryn, can I ask you something?" Chakotay asked finally. She nodded.

"Why did you apologise for what happened on the holodeck?" he asked.

"Because I don't know what came over me," Kathryn muttered.

"We took another lightning hit, altitude control is out," Chakotay said.

The shuttle swerved backwards and forwards, out of control until it finally hit the surface.

"Kathryn?" he said, he checked her pulse, it was very faint. His headache grew worse but he didn't care. "Kathryn!" He tried to get her to wake up, but she wouldn't even move. He quickly went over to the Med Kit and he opened it. He took a tri-corder out and scanned her.

"Commander, are you all right?" Tuvok asked, noting the scar on Chakotay's head. The Doctor scanned Kathryn.

"I'm fine, but Kathryn's not," Chakotay said. Tuvok raised his eye brow at Chakotay's use of the Captains first name.

"This is strange, I'm detecting an alien parasite in her cerebral cortex," the Doctor said.

"Kathryn?" Chakotay said.

"I'm no longer detecting the alien presence, vital signs are responding, blood pressure 110 over 65," the Doctor said. Kathryn woke up.

"Commander, may I see you in my office?" the Doctor asked. Chakotay gave Kathryn a puzzled look.

"Kes, do you have any idea what that was all about?" Kathryn asked.

Chakotay and the Doctor walked out of the office.

"I don't know how to tell you this, Kathryn but.. you're pregnant... with my child," Chakotay muttered.

"But. .how?" Kathryn stuttered. The Doctor gave her a puzzled look.

"I think she means how could it of happened when we haven't.. er.. you know," Chakotay said quietly.

"Oh, I get it! Well if that's the situation then I don't know how it could of happened," the Doctor said.

"Yes I do, I'll have to put up with you complaining about not having enough coffee," Chakotay said.

"Huh?"

"The Doctor said that you'll have to cut down to one cup of coffee a day," Chakotay said as he got ready to duck.

The doors opened again and a strange old man walked in.

"Hello everybody, I'm the Old Man, I remember when I first came into other peoples stories. I woke up in the morning and I made a piece of toast, which in those days..." the Old Man blabbered on.

And now the conclusion
Captains Log Stardate 50 um During Aggressions episode two.. point one: I'm trying my best to cut down on coffee like the Doctor suggested, but no matter what I do I just can't stop going to the replicator for more. I asked the Doctor to use a patch but he just said something about being crazy and suicidal, so I've instructed B'Elanna to check to see if he's added depression to his program.

In other news Damien has been acting like a bigger a** than usual, and has been picking a fight with the writers on occasion. If we end up with any annoying episodes where people die or get badly injured, or short completely pointless episodes I'm blaming him for it. Also the crew have reported seeing a menacing intruder onboard recently, the Doctor reports that the amount of people hitting their heads against the wall and being knocked unconscious has increased. Chakotay believes it may be related, but I'm not going to believe everything that son of a b**ch keeps saying.. I didn't get pregnant just by sitting next to him with a few 'harmless' drinks, did I?

Oh.. wait this isn't the personal log.

The Bridge:
"This is confusing," Harry said.

Tuvok glanced over at him, "what is?"

"If this episode is based between events in the first ever episode, how come this is still referred to as the third Before Fifth Voyager season?" Harry questioned.

"Because Season Three would of only been ten episodes long, and having three incarnations of Fifth Voyager instead of two is just crazy talk," Danny replied from the helm.

Jessie coughed briefly, "yeah that would be crazy." She looked around nervously as she rubbed her stomach.

"One more thing until we go back to talking like characters?" Harry said.

Tuvok sighed, "I suppose."

"Do you think any of the readers who haven't read Aggressions will look at the recaps of it? If they don't, will they get confused?" Harry questioned.

"Maybe, but it's not like Aggressions was filled with lots of revelations and important stuff. Right?" Danny replied.

Jessie shrugged, "I highly doubt it, most of us weren't even in it."

"Yeah.. you're right, nothing to worry about," Harry grinned.

Kathryn stumbled out of the Ready Room holding a cup of coffee. "Life sucks.. you all suck, I hate you all!" she cried. She made her way over to her chair.

"Morning," Jessie said politely.

Kathryn glared at her, "oh very funny, ah ha ha ha." She collapsed into her chair, while doing so her cup fell out of her hands and spilt the contents all over Chakotay. He literally leapt out of his chair.

"Oh my god, what are you doing!?" he yelled.

"Oh chill it was an accident," Kathryn grumbled. "You'd know all about that wouldn't you!"

Chakotay wiped himself down, "that was hot coffee, I'll have to go to Sickbay. Wait, coffee.. why aren't you freaking?"

"Because it's decaf. I just found out that somebody reprogrammed my replicator to give me decaf after one real coffee," Kathryn muttered. She narrowed her eyes, "was it you?"

"No.. but I did tell you to cut down," Chakotay replied. "Now if you'll excuse me." He walked into the turbolift nearest to Harry.

Tom stepped out of the other turbolift sporting a black left eye. "Hi guys," he muttered. Everyone but Kathryn turned to glance at him, all but Tuvok started smirking at him.

"Tom, what happened to you?" Jessie giggled. "This is the first I've seen you today after all."

Tom tried to raise his left eyebrow, but cringed in pain. "Don't ask ok," he grumbled, making his way over to the helm.

Danny got out of his chair and replaced somebody at the Science station. Tom sat down in his chair.

"All right, who wants to investigate the decaf mystery for me?" Kathryn asked. Everyone looked uncomfortable.

That afternoon
Sickbay:
Kes walked over to the biobed Jessie was lying on. "Don't worry, the door is passworded and the Doctor is offline during his 'upgrade'," Kes said.

"I'm not worried, I'm just confused," Jessie said. "This is the first time and James said he'd be here. I'd get mad at him but he always has this cute pout on his face and or the sad eyes, it makes it hard to lose my temper with him."

Kes raised an eyebrow, "now it's my turn to be confused. You get mad at him over the slightest thing, what are you talking about?"

"All right, it's hard to stay mad at him," Jessie muttered with a pout.

Kes nodded her head, "better. Why don't we get this started."

Engineering:
An unknown crewmember walked up to B'Elanna, "Lieutenant, here is the report you asked for."

She snatched it out of his hands, "whatever."

"Is something wrong?" he asked.

B'Elanna sighed, "I'm sorry, it's Paris.. he's getting on my last nerve."

"It's ok, I'm sure he'll move on sometime soon like he usually does," the crewmember said. An unknown girl walked up to him. He looked at B'Elanna nervously, "Lieutenant, permission to be relieved for ten minutes."

B'Elanna looked up from her PADD, she took one glance at the girl before nodding her head. "Go ahead, take your time." She walked away. The two crewmembers stepped out of the room.

One hour later
The Security Office:
A pair of girls were sitting opposite James, crying their eyes out.. he was busy looking uncomfortable.

"Um ok.. that's been happening a lot lately," he said.

"He called me a whore, that in his day girls like me were burned at the stake," one girl cried.

"Ok you mentioned that already," James groaned. "What did he look like?"

The two girls looked at each other. "His face was horribly scarred and he was old."

"Yeah yeah, scarred. He was tall and wide, but walked very feebily," the second girl replied.

"Uh huh.. how old would you say?" James asked.

Tuvok stepped through the doors, "Ensign, can I have a moment of your time?"

"In a sec," James replied. "Well?"

"Oh.. in his eighties, maybe older," the girl replied.

"There isn't anybody on board that looks that old but.." James said, he looked over at Tuvok. "But we do have something that is in that age range but doesn't fit the other descriptions."

Tuvok raised an eyebrow, "I am not the intruder, Mr Taylor."

"I know, I was joking," James said. He turned back to the girls, "can you tell me anything else?"

"I don't think so. I hope you catch him," the second girl replied. "He's really creepy."

"Yeah, after what he said I just wanted to bash my whorish brains out," the first girl muttered. They both got up, the second girl put her arm around her, they both walked out.

"More victims?" Tuvok questioned.

James nodded, "yeah, this guy whoever it is, is not a member of the crew."

"That's why we're calling him an intruder," Tuvok said.

"All right but he may not have been," James said.

"Indeed, have you anymore leads?" Tuvok asked.

"No. He just appears out of nowhere, rambles on to the people nearby and disappears again," James replied. "It all started two days ago."

"I'll do some research to see what happened two days ago, it may give us the evidence we've been looking for," Tuvok said. He headed back out.

"Maybe," James muttered.

Deck Three:
Sid, Foster and Thompson stepped off the turbolift and made their way down the corridor.

"The idea of a creepy old man appearing out of nowhere sounds very horror movie-ey," Foster commented.

"Horror movie?" Thompson said with a smirk.

"Yeah, it's probably a ghost of an old guy," Foster replied.

"Eugh, I don't believe in ghosts," Sid shuddered. "The thought of becoming a ghost when I die sounds horrible, no pain and no feeling."

"Bet you believe in hell then," Johnny said with a smirk. "Or should I say heaven."

They turned the corner, Thompson tripped over something on the floor. "Woah what was.." he muttered as he looked down at his feet. His eyes widened, "oh god.. why does this keep happening to me?"

Foster sighed as he tapped his commbadge, "Foster to Tuvok.."

Later
The Morgue:
Tuvok and Chakotay walked in. "Team One found the body on Deck Three, he was strangled," Tuvok said.

"Do you have any suspects?" Chakotay asked.

"Not yet. We need someone different to do the autopsy," Tuvok replied.

"Why?" Chakotay questioned.

Tuvok walked over to stand next to a body covered with a sheet. "Because Mr Matthews is the only morgue worker we have left."

"I'll call the Doctor," Chakotay said.

"There is no need, I already sent for someone. Mr Taylor is on his way to start the investigation. I'd better start on my end," Tuvok said. He turned back to walk out of the room.

Tom walked into the room, "did somebody call for a morgue assistant?"

"No, a morgue attendant," Chakotay replied. He beckoned his head towards the body, "Tuvok needs you to do an autopsy."

"On my own?" Tom stuttered. "Oh great, I don't know how to do that."

"Then why did either the Doctor or Tuvok send for you?" Chakotay questioned.

"Tuvok said I'd have help," Tom replied.

James walked in, "ok.. who died this time?"

Chakotay raised an eyebrow, "Matthews, he was the morgue attendant."

"Oh, that can't be good. What are you two doing here?" James asked as he made his way over to the body.

"Actually I'm just leaving," Chakotay replied, he headed for the door.

"But.. I don't know what to do," Tom stuttered.

"I've been in here loads of times so I can give you a few tips," James said.

Tom frowned, "you're a little morbid aren't you? Or are you just saying that you've been brought in here, you know dead before?"

"Yes I came in here when I was dead, while I was a ghost I watched Matthews do an autopsy on me," James muttered. Tom's eyes widened in horror. "God you're gullable. Tuvok always assigns me to come here to get the first lot of evidence from the autopsy's."

"Oh thank god," Tom sighed in relief. "Don't creep me out in a place like this."

Chakotay stepped back in, "on second thoughts I'll stick around for a second." Tom and James stared blankly at him. "Janeway was going down the corridor cursing my name."

"Why, what have you done to her recently?" Tom asked.

Somebody grabbed a hold of James' left arm, he jumped, "Tom.. don't do that!"

"Do what?" Tom questioned, looking confused.

James turned a shade paler, "uh if that's not you then who.." He turned around slowly and looked down at his arm, a pale white hand was there. He found it was attached to the body under the cover. "Guys.. do you.."

Tom and Chakotay both glanced in his direction, their eyes went alarmingly wide. The body lifted the sheet off with his other hand, he looked in their direction. In a croaky voice he just managed to spit out, "help me." Tom and Chakotay backed off a few metres, James managed to pull away his arm and backed off too.

The Security Office:
James opened his eyes to find Danny's face right in front of him. He quickly lifted his head off the desk and bolted upright, "Danny.. why, what are you doing!"

"What?" Danny innocently sighed. She lifted her own head off the desk, "did somebody forget to stay awake during the night shift?"

"I wish I had," James groaned into his hand. "Weird dream."

Danny pouted, "aaw, poor baby." She folded her arms on the desk, "now as I seem to have gotten everything I can out of Jess, I'm going to move onto you."

"Huh?" James muttered as he rubbed his forehead.

"You know, you're little rendezvous with Jessie," Danny said, winking. "In the bedroom."

"All right Danny. If I'm starting to get deja vu, whilst I'm listening to something you say that's even the slightest bit dirty, be afraid," James said.

"Oh come on, I barely got a chance to say a full two sentences the last time we spoke about this," Danny moaned. "And you remember, that was the first time we did."

"Sorry, I'm sure I heard that before," James said.

Danny smiled, "ah I see what you're doing, you're trying to get out of this. Nice try mister."

"I'm not really," James groaned, he leaned his elbow on the desk and rested his head in his hand. "Ugh, you and relationship prying in general must give me deja vu."

"Uh huh, so tell me.. how was it?" Danny asked with a grin.

James stared blankly at her, "you can't.. Jess is a girl, it's easier to talk about that with another girl. You can't ask the guy that."

"Why not?" Danny asked, tilting her head a little to the right in a vain attempt to look cute.

"Were you even listening?" James asked.

"Unless you're giving me dirt, I ain't listening, no," Danny replied.

James groaned, "someone help me." He covered his face with his hand.

Meanwhile, Tom's Quarters:
Tom tossed and turned in his bed, he suddenly bolted upright.. now wide awake. "Oh god.. what a dream," he stuttered. After a yawn and quick stretch, he pulled himself out of the bed.

The door chimed in the next room. His body froze then started trembling slightly. He made his way over to the main door, once he had reached it he had calmed down. "Oh don't be silly, it was just a dream."

He pressed a button on the panel next to the door, again he froze when the door opened. A fist flew through the door way and made quick contact with his face. The next thing that flew in was a bunch of roses.

"How many times should I knock some sense into you Paris?" B'Elanna grumbled from the door way. "It's not going to happen!" She stormed off.

Tom groaned from the floor, "must be a re-occurring kind.."

Not long later
The Bridge:
Kathryn glared at Jessie, "oh very funny, ah ha ha ha." She collapsed into her chair, while doing so her cup fell out of her hands and spilt the contents all over Chakotay. He literally leapt out of his chair.

"Oh my god, what are you.." he yelled, pausing mid sentence. He pulled a confused face, "that's weird.. no that's hot." He started to wipe himself down.

"Oh chill it was an accident," Kathryn grumbled. "You'd know all about that wouldn't you!"

"No I wouldn't, it was hot coffee.. you should be more careful," Chakotay muttered. He headed for the turbolift nearest to Harry. He stopped midway to turn and glance at her, "decaf right?"

"Duh.. if it were proper coffee, she'd be all over you," Harry sniggered.

Danny burst out laughing, Jessie groaned. "Don't even think about it Dan, I've had enough images in my head."

"Hey it's not my head," Danny giggled.

Kathryn put both of her hands on her hips, "I'm not in the mood for this today! Somebody reprogrammed my replicator to give me decaf, I only got one proper coffee!"

Tom stepped out of the turbolift next to Tuvok's station, again sporting a black left eye. "Ok is that dream come reality thing that James and Kes, I think.. has an illness, cos I think I caught it." Everyone but Kathryn looked at him, all but Tuvok started sniggering.

"Tom, what happened to you?" Jessie giggled. "This is the first I've seen.."

Tom quickly butted in, "aaah aah, this is getting way too creepy for my taste!"

"What? You look like you've seen a ghost and it beat you up," Harry said.

"Ok I dreamt that B'Elanna hit me, you guys laughed at me, Jessie said that.." Tom muttered.

Chakotay raised an eyebrow, "I had a dream about Janeway spilling coffee on me, and it happened. Now I really should get treated, again." He continued on his way to the turbolift.

"See, it's an illness.. it's spreading," Tom muttered.

"Then keep the hell away from me, I don't want to keep dreaming about being forced to drink decaf," Kathryn grumbled.

"Uh.. that's not how it works," Tom said.

"Ok still, stay away from me.. your aftershave stinks," Kathryn said.

Tom pouted, "ok you didn't say that in my dream, I wasn't prepared." He made his way over to the helm.

Sickbay:
The Doctor opened up a tricorder and began scanning Chakotay.

"Doc, I haven't by any chance been burned by coffee before?" he questioned.

"Yes you did, after the Cherry Coke virus incident," the Doctor replied. "That was different, she threw it at you while she was high."

"Yeah sorry doc, I'm just having a strange case of deja vu this morning. It should pass," Chakotay said.

The Doctor smiled, "it usually does."

The Security Office:
The same pair of girls were sitting opposite James, he was looking even more uncomfortable than he was the last time.

"He called me a whore, that in his day girls like me were burned at the stake," the first girl cried.

"Fourth time's the charm," James muttered to himself.

"Sorry?" the first girl said.

"No, it's ok.." James said.

The first girl smirked briefly at the other girl, "I said sorry, the politer version of what."

"Ok whatever, I'll deal with it," James muttered.

"Don't you want a description?" the second girl asked.

"No I remember it," James replied. The two girls looked confused. "You're not the only ones ok.. I'll deal with it."

Tuvok stepped through the doors, "Ensign, can I have a moment of your time?"

James groaned, "oh great.."

"Ookay, lets go Charlotte," the first girl sighed, standing up. They both made their way towards the door.

"These Security guys are getting ruder," the second girl whispered to her.

Tuvok raised an eyebrow, "is there a problem?"

"I'm not sure right now. I either had a mostly accurate dream of what happens today, my chip's messing with me again or.." James replied.

"Or?" Tuvok said.

"Or.. some third reason I haven't figured out," James replied.

"Interesting. Do you have any leads on the man who keeps appearing around the ship?" Tuvok questioned.

"No I really don't. He's old and not a crewmember. He appears, rambles and goes again," James groaned. "Oh and two days ago."

"What was?" Tuvok asked.

"When it started," James replied.

"I'll do some research to see what happened two days ago, it may give us the evidence we've been looking for," Tuvok said. He headed back out.

James sighed, "maybe." He pulled himself out of the chair and followed him out.

Deck Three:
Tom turned the corner, he almost crashed into the male crewmember from Engineering. "Sorry," he mumbled. They went their separate ways. "This is ridiculous," he muttered to himself.

He passed the turbolift just as it's door opened, James stepped out of it and started going in the same direction as Tom.

Tom glanced back briefly, "don't tell me, murder one?"

James picked up speed to catch up and walk beside him, "what are you talking about?"

"Well I heard somebody was murdered here.." Tom replied.

James passed him a strange look, "I haven't heard anything, yet." He picked up speed again to get ahead of him.

"You know it's weird. I wake up this morning from a bad dream, soon I realise that my dream was just today.. I don't suppose you recognise that, do you?" Tom questioned.

James stopped, and turned back around. Tom stopped just as he caught up with him. "Oddly enough I do."

"Yeah thought so. You saw what happened to that crew who faced the Leda, and there was another incident I can't remember," Tom said.

"No.. this is different," James said.

Chakotay walked up to them, "what are you two doing here?"

"Oh nothing, just casually hanging out," Tom replied.

"Yeah like he'd believe that," James said.

"Doesn't matter, what are you doing here?" Tom asked.

"I just wanted to find something out," Chakotay replied. He walked around them and continued on, he turned the corner.

"Interesting," Tom muttered. He followed him. James sighed, and did the same. Both of them stopped as Chakotay was just standing still near the corner. Lying in front of him was the same body that was in the morgue.

Chakotay sighed, "this can't be good."

"You don't need to tell me twice," Tom muttered.

The body opened it's eyes, startling the three of them. "Please, save me," it said in the same croaky voice.

The Security Office:
James opened his eyes to find Danny's face right in front of him, yet again. He quickly sat right back up, "oh god.."

"What?" Danny innocently sighed. She lifted her own head off the desk, "did somebody forget to stay awake during the night shift?"

"No.. I'm just having a nightmare," James muttered.

Tom's Quarters:
Tom bolted up right in his bed, he looked around the room with his eyes wide open. "Oh boy.." he stuttered.

The door chimed in the next room. His eyes widened in horror, his body trembled. Slowly he edged his way into the living area. "Come in," his voice squeaked.

B'Elanna barged into the room carrying a bunch of roses. She chucked them at him, he ducked like he was expecting a punch. He straightened back up just in time to get her fist in his face.

"How many times should I knock some sense into you Paris?" she snapped. "It's not going to happen!" She stormed off.

"Damn, so close," Tom groaned.

The Bridge:
Kathryn glared at Jessie, "oh very funny, ah ha ha ha." She collapsed into her chair, while doing so her cup fell out of her hands and spilt the contents all over Chakotay. He literally leapt out of his chair.

"Not again!" he yelled out.

"It was an accident this time, you'd know about accidents wouldn't you?" Kathryn grumbled.

Chakotay looked around the room, "oh.. this can't be." He tapped his commbadge, "Chakotay to Paris and Taylor, meet me in my office in ten minutes." He made his way towards the turbolift near Harry.

In: "Oh thank god, something different."

"Getting deja vu, are you Tom?" Chakotay questioned as he stepped into the turbolift.

In: "Not now, no."

"Actually guys, lets meet in Sickbay," Chakotay said.

Not long later
Sickbay:
"Nope, apart from the burns and the bruise that was on your eye, nothing else is wrong," the Doctor said.

"It can't be," Chakotay muttered.

The Doctor shrugged, "I'm telling you there is nothing else wrong."

"Then how come this day so far is a basic repeat of two dreams?" Tom asked.

"I do not know," the Doctor replied.

James walked in, he joined the others at the first biobed. "So, what's going on?"

"Do you remember going into the morgue and a body coming to life? And then the whole day happening again, and then the body coming back to life again?" Tom questioned.

"That's a poorly constructed sentence," Chakotay commented.

James raised an eyebrow, "after four and a half years of Fifth Voyager, you're just complaining now."

Tom grew annoyed, "that's not my fault, now do you?"

"Actually I do, you guys remember that too?" James replied.

"Ah, and now we're rhyming," Chakotay commented. Tom and James stared at him. "Yes we both remember that."

The Doctor frowned, "interesting." He started to scan James with a worried look on his face. "Good news is he didn't freak out again, bad news is.. I don't see anything that'll explain this."

"I'm not going to freak out everytime you scan me you know," James muttered.

"Ok so if it's not medical, what can it be?" Tom asked.

"Well we've had a spell that made us all sing, an awful lot.. so there's that. Doc, why don't you scan another crewmember.. maybe something's been messing with everyone elses memories," Chakotay replied.

Tom clicked his fingers, "of course. If no one else remembers the day, they'll be doomed to repeat themselves until they do. B'Elanna wont remember hitting me, so she'll keep doing it. You see what I mean?"

"There's one problem with that theory," James said.

Tom groaned, "what, it's a very good theory."

"Yes it would be if you could explain a few things for me," James said. "One, you didn't get your eye treated.. how come it was ok in the morning? Two, why did Chakotay and I both wake up after falling asleep in the same place after a night shift, when we only do one every now and then? Three, do you actually remember going to bed at the end of either of those days?"

"Ok point taken," Tom pouted.

Chakotay nodded, "we're forgetting the most important one. Our memory of the day seems to end when that crewmember dies and comes back to life. Furthermore, how come he died twice, in the same place?"

The Doctor sighed, "well, let me know when you solve this mystery." He rushed off.

"Ok, so we're on our own," Tom said.

"Did anyone do a class in school or college that tested you on more recent events in Starfleet?" James questioned.

"I did, why?" Tom replied.

"In my second year of the prep college for the Academy, we did coursework on an Enterprise incident in 2367. Supposably a lot of the members of the crew were experiencing deja vu, they eventually figured out the cause. A temporal loop," James replied.

Tom nodded, "oh yeah I remember hearing something about that. They nearly collided with a Starfleet vessel from the past.. This is different though."

"How?" Chakotay asked.

James shrugged, "they didn't remember things exactly, it was just deja vu and they kept getting the number three everywhere."

"Yeah, they found out that it was a message from the previous loop," Tom said.

"Ok so you think we're in a time loop, how does that help us?" Chakotay asked.

"Well the Enterprise only got out of it because they reverted what was causing it. What's the last thing we remember before the day restarts?" Tom said.

"Matthews asking for help," Chakotay replied.

"So it's simple, all we have to do is stop him being murdered," James said.

"Great," Chakotay said. "Computer locate Ensign Matthews."

The morgue:
"Ok, something very strange is going on here," Tom muttered.

"Really, what gave you that idea?" James said sarcastically.

He, Tom and Chakotay were standing in the office, the same body was lying in front of them with stab wounds.

"Ok to save a little time, we should.." Chakotay said.

The body turned onto his back, "save me."

"Son of a.." Chakotay grumbled.

The Security Office:
James opened his eyes to find Danny's face right in front of him. He just sighed, "you've got to be kidding me."

"I haven't said anything yet," Danny said as she lifted her head off the table.

"Ok I'll give you that," James muttered as he pulled himself out of the chair. He walked straight out leaving Danny looking bewildered. As soon as he was outside he tapped his commbadge.

Tom's Quarters:
In: "Tom.. can't you hear me?"

Tom was lying on his back in his bed, snoring his head off. He started to toss and turn a little.

In: "Tom!"

He sat up quickly, "ok ok." He reached over to pick the commbadge off the bedside table. "Yes, it happened again."

In: "This is great, how did the murderer know we were going to save him?"

Tom yawned into his other hand, "I don't know."

In: "Look just, um.. tell Chakotay to look up any suspects. You should do some research on time loops."

"Ok I outrank you so no.. I want to swap, I'm crap at temporal physics," Tom said.

In: "Ok fine, I'll keep an eye on Matthews. We should keep each other up to date. Taylor out."

Tom sighed, "ok, the day's getting better already." The door chimed, making his eyes go wide. "Crap."

The Bridge:
Jessie shrugged, "I highly doubt it.."

Tom dematerialised in the middle of the bridge, still wearing his night wear. He quickly went over to a sleeping Chakotay, and started shaking him. "Chak, wake up." Everyone turned their attention to Tom, all but Tuvok started sniggering.

"Tom, did you forget something this morning?" Jessie sniggered.

"Actually I didn't," Tom said. He continued to shake Chakotay, he started to wake up.

"What are you doing?" he groaned.

"Saving you from the coffee spilling," Tom replied. "Now hurry up before.."

Kathryn stumbled out of the Ready Room holding a cup of coffee. "Life sucks.. you all suck, I hate you all!" she cried.

"Oh crap," Tom and Chakotay muttered in unison. They both scrambled away from the command chairs.

Kathryn made her way over. "Morning," Jessie said politely.

Kathryn glared at her, "oh very funny, ah ha ha ha." She collapsed into her chair, while doing so her cup fell out of her hands.. the contents spilt all over Chakotay's chair.

Chakotay sighed in relief, "thanks Tom."

"Anytime, just next time we loop.. save me from B'Elanna," Tom said.

Chakotay frowned, "how will I do that, you obviously wake up before me."

Kathryn passed them a funny look, "Tom, why are you wearing that ridiculous outfit?"

"Oh yeah," Tom blushed as he glanced down at himself. "We'd better go." He rushed towards the turbolift. Chakotay shook his head and followed him.

Danny giggled, "I didn't know those two were going out." Everyone groaned.

"So.. you're researching timeloops and I'm searching for suspects," Tom said once the turbolift doors closed.

"I am? Oh never mind, we have no time to argue. Just do it quickly," Chakotay said.

"Not to worry, James is watching Matthews.. I have a feeling my job's going to be a breeze," Tom said.

Meanwhile, the morgue:
James walked in slowly, he looked around the empty room. The door to the office opened, an alive version of Matthews stepped out reading a PADD.

"Can I help you with something?" he asked.

"Yeah um.. I'm going around the crew, asking around about the um guy who keeps appearing," James replied.

"Oh yes, the anonymous old guy. I haven't seen him, sorry," Matthews said.

"Oh well, if you do seem him," James said.

"I'll tell Security," Matthews said, nodding his head. "Now if you'll excuse me," he headed for the door. James waited a while before following him.

The Mess Hall:
Matthews walked in fiddling with the PADD, he sat down at a table. Moments later James walked in, he stood next to the kitchen.

"Ah.. would you like some of my hot chocolate?" Neelix asked.

"I'm allergic," James blurted out.

"To what? You don't even know what's in it," Neelix said.

"I don't need to," James muttered.

Neelix shrugged, "would you like some hot chocolate?" James looked confused, he glanced behind him.

"Yeah right," Jessie said.

Neelix pouted, "oh all right." He left the kitchen area to start bothering other crewmembers.

"There's something I've been trying to figure out, maybe you can help me with it," Jessie said.

James turned around to face her, "ok I'll try."

"When the father of your child says he'll come to your next appointment, where you'd both get to see the baby for the first time, you'd expect it would be top priority to actually turn up," Jessie muttered. "I figured you'd be held up by a murder mystery or something, but no here you are.. standing around the Mess Hall doing nothing."

"Oh god, your appointment.. I totally lost track of time," James said.

Jessie folded her arms, "it's not your best."

"It's not an excuse, I really did. I'm having a really long day," James said. "And I am working on a murder mystery, kinda."

"Tuvok told me you were working on that other mystery, the guy who keeps appearing," Jessie muttered. She shook her head, and put one hand on her hip. "I don't believe you, first you don't turn up to something important and now you're lying to me."

"I'm not.. Tuvok doesn't know about this, somebody's in trouble and I have to protect him," James stuttered.

"Uh huh.. and who would that be?" Jessie asked.

James turned to scan the room, Matthews was not apart of it. "Uhoh.. he's gone."

"If you're protecting him, the least he could do was tell you he was leaving," Jessie said.

"He doesn't know. Listen, I have to.." James muttered.

"Sure, whatever," Jessie grumbled.

James turned back to her, "I'm really sorry, I'll make it up to you ok." He rushed out of the room, then down the corridor. He turned the corner and stopped dead. Matthews was lying next to the turbolift door just a few metres away. His head was turned to the side, eyes wide open.. it looked like he was looking right at him.

"Oh god," James said quietly. He slowly headed over to the body while tapping his commbadge. "Taylor to Chakotay and Paris. He's dead."

In: "But I thought you were watching him."

"He must of slipped out when I was talking to Jessie," James said.

In: "Ah ha, maybe she had something to do with it. What? All right, maybe not."

James sighed as he knelt down next to the body. "How are you doing this?" he asked quietly. Matthews then blinked a few times, his hand grabbed a hold of James' arm.

"Help me," he whispered.

End of Part I

Part II

The Security Office:
James opened his eyes and like he expected to, found Danny's face right in front of him. He lifted his head up, "is that all he can say?"

"What?" Danny sighed. She lifted her own head off the desk, "did somebody forget to stay awake during the night shift?"

James groaned into his hand.

Later
The Mess Hall:
Neelix stepped out of the kitchen holding a tray of mugs. He started handing them out to unsuspecting crewmembers.

James was sitting at a table nearby the window on his own, holding a cup of coffee in his hand.

Tom ran into the room still wearing his night wear. After a quick scan he spotted James and ran up to him. "Oh god, you have to protect me."

"From what?" James asked.

B'Elanna charged into the room holding a bunch of roses. "Tom Paris! Where are you?"

"Eeek," Tom squeaked. He leapt under James' table.

"I figured you'd be used to it by now," James commented.

"Shh.. I'm not here," Tom whispered.

B'Elanna scanned the room for a little while, she turned around and marched back out.

Tom sighed in relief, he crawled back into view. "Was that a knife attached to your boot, or some nifty fashion accessory?"

"First one, it's best to hide them than wave them around while running," James replied.

Tom pulled himself back onto his feet. "For your information, no I'm not used to it. You don't get used to painful punches in the face."

"So did you loop again?" James asked.

"Yeah, I wasn't even there.. I don't get it," Tom groaned. He collapsed into the chair opposite him.

Neelix walked over to them, "hot chocolate?"

"For the second time, no," James replied.

"Second? Oh I'm sorry, I lost track of which tables I went to," Neelix said. He walked away.

"Second time.. what was in it?" Tom asked.

"I decided to be ignorant, if you want to know go and get one," James replied.

Tom shuddered, "no way." He folded his arms on the table. "You know I was thinking, nobody really remembers anything we do during these loops. Maybe during one we can have a little fun."

"Tom, a guy keeps getting murdered and each time he asks us for help, and all you can come up with is an off loop," James said.

"Well why not, it'll get our minds off this.. I find that the best way to solve something is to stop thinking about it," Tom said.

James raised an eyebrow, "actually Tom, I was already on your side about that.. I just wanted to repeat it."

Tom smiled sneakily, "I knew you