A Family Defined in History

Collective

Weeks after they established contact with their home, the Delta Flyer was on its way to return to Voyager.

The four crewmembers were playing a card game... for money.

The Talaxian was mumbling. "Heart, heart, heart. Just one more heart."

Lieutenant Paris sighed while shaking his head. "You might as well be showing us your hand, Neelix. This is a game of strategy, deception."

"Never let the opponents know your hand." Ensign Kim pointed out.

Neelix grumbled. "Right."

The helmsman, who is the dealer in this game, gave Neelix his one card.

"Bah."

The Commander looked at the others. "Ten."

The Japanese nodded. "I see your ten, and raise you twenty."

Paris turned to the Talaxian. "Neelix?"

"I'm thinking. Twenty. Another twenty. Ha."

Kim laughed. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say we're being hustled."

"Ensign?" the chef frowned.

Harry shook his head. "Oh, I'm not buying the innocent Talaxian routine."

"I don't know what you're talking about. I've, I've, this is the first time I've played. What is it called?"

"Poker." all of them said.

Then, Tom had an idea. "Look, why don't we make things a little more interesting. Forget the chips. Let's bet on tomorrow's work detail, all right? Whoever wins this hand gets the morning off."

Chakotay considered it. "I'm in."

"I'm in." the Ensign complied.

"Sounds good to me."

The native American looked at his cards. "What have you got?"

"Two pair." the Japanese said, placing his cards down on the floor they were sitting on.

"Does that beat a flush?"

"I knew you were bluffing." Kim commented.

The Commander shook his head. "That beats me. Tom?"

But Paris was staring at a Borg Cube coming straight at them.

"Battle stations!"

The helmsman sighed. "And I had a full house."

The Borg Cube began firing at the Flyer.

"I can't shake them." the blonde said.

"Return fire." Chakotay commanded.

The Talaxian huffed. "Why didn't our sensors detect them?"

"Looks like they used a dispersal field to mask their approach." the Ops officer said.

"Warp drive?"

Paris shook his head. "No luck. Too much damage to the plasma injectors."

"Harry, get down there and see what you can do." and the Ensign went to the Jeffries tube inside the Delta Flyer.

The small ship was hit again. "Shields down eighteen percent."

The Commander pressed the comm button. "Harry, status?"

"I need time to clear the injectors."

"Sir, the Cube's power output is fluctuating." Neelix reported.