A/N: This story is for Cheile. She provided a prompt that I veered from when my muse delivered a truckload of chroniton particles, but I hope it still satisfies. Title/plot is in subtle homage to the X-files. I take no responsibility for temporal-plot induced headaches. In the words of K. Beyer, "just go with it."


"How did they get those huge blocks up so high?" Naomi asked with her wide eyes fixed upwards. In front of her was a gigantic assembly of carved granite which had been blanketed in sand and warmed by a blistering, though only holographic, sun. She was standing slightly above Commander Chakotay on the first course of masonry at the bottom of the Great Pyramid of Giza.

"Well, that's still the subject of much debate," Chakotay said, shielding his eyes from the brightness as he regarded her. "How would you build this if you were in charge?"

"I'd use a transporter. Or a tractor beam."

"That's a good idea for today, but they didn't have that kind of technology five thousand years ago. So how would you do it if you only had your hands and your brains to use?"

Naomi thought and then shrugged. "I guess I'd get a lot of really strong people to pick them up. Or maybe, I'd build a ramp." Ideas began to flood her mind and she got excited. "Or I'd use some animals! Or maybe I'd build a catapult and throw them up there or I'd flood the whole valley and float them up, or…. Uh. I think that's all the ideas I've got."

Chakotay broke a grin at the girl's exuberance. "Your first idea - about using a lot of people and animals with a ramp - is pretty close to what archeologists think that they did. But it would have taken a long, long time and a lot of resources."

"So, this is archeology?" Naomi asked. She sat down on the granite slab and swung her feet out below while absentmindedly pushing some sand around with her fingers.

Chakotay leaned on the stone that was her seat. "This is part of archeology," he replied. "Archeologists study not just how structures were built, but why. They investigate how those buildings, artifacts, tools and everything else were part of the culture of the people that lived in that time. This pyramid was built to be a tomb for the most powerful leader of the region. He was called the Pharaoh."

"This is a tomb?" she asked incredulously. "Why would anyone want to study a tomb and a bunch of dead people? It's kind of…."

"Kind of what?"

"Gross. And what's the point? They're already dead."

"When we study the past Naomi, we can better understand where we came from. And where we're going."

Naomi nodded and wiped her watery eyes. The dry sand and bright light was beginning to sting.

"Speaking of where we are going," Chakotay continued, "I was thinking of taking you on a little field trip. That is, if you're not afraid it will be too boring." He took the girl's hand and helped her down off the stone.

Naomi broke into a wide grin. "Let's go!"