Disclaimer: Star Trek Voyager is property of Paramount Pictures and all respective cast, crew, and employees. I am not making a profit off this. This is simply for fanfiction enjoyment.

Summary: The Doctor is not the only one who suffered from his decision when Harry Kim and Jetal are attacked. Set after the events of Latent Image. Harry Kim struggles with being the one the Doctor chose.

Rating: PG-13

Timeline: Takes place after the shuttle attack in Latent Image.

The Chosen One

The shuttle rocked as it was hit with a sudden blast. Ensign Harry Kim tapped at the controls, trying to bring the shields online. But before the shuttle could respond, he could hear the sound of a beam-in behind him. He whirled around just in time to see an alien aiming a weapon at him and Ensign Jetal.

One moment, Harry and Jetal were taking pictures for the camera-happy Doctor as they embarked on a routine mission, the next they were being attacked. By whom, neither had time to figure out.

Another blast hit she shuttle with such force, it knocked the alien off its feet. The next few moments seemed to happen in slow motion. As Harry's hand moved to the phaser stored in a compartment to his left, the alien quickly recovered and shot its weapon directly at the humans and hologram.

Suddenly, Harry's body was wracked with searing, white-hot pain. His entire body pulsated in pain and he could feel his skin begin to burn. He collapsed to the deck, his breathing shallow and his body screaming in agony. Though all this, however, he managed to remain conscious. He stared at the bottom of the shuttle's starboard wall, lying on the shuttle floor, unable to move. He blinked and struggled to breathe. He had to stay conscious.

He heard the Doctor call for emergency assistance as the shuttle was again attacked. Even through all his pain, his Starfleet training stuck with him. He tried to get up; he had to help the Doctor pilot the shuttle out of here and back to Voyager. But even moving slightly caused the pain to augment tenfold.

The Doctor rolled the ensign onto his back.

"Doctor….," Harry said weakly.

"Remain calm," the Doctor admonished, "that weapon packed quite a punch."

"No kidding," Harry thought.

Harry looked to the side. Ensign Jetal was also lying on the floor. Severe burns covered her face and her eyes were closed.

"She okay?" Harry asked. His throat felt as it had also been burned and he struggled with every breath.

"She's unconscious," the Doctor explained.

The shuttle rocked yet again as another of the enemy's blast slammed the shuttle. The Doctor was scanning Harry with his medical tricorder, but he was forced to divert his attention to the shuttle's controls.

"I sent that alien back to his ship, you'd think they'd be grateful," the Doctor said through grit teeth.

"You should've…" Harry took in a shaky, painful breath, "beamed him into space."

"I'm a Doctor Mr. Kim," the Doctor responded, his programming unable to detect the ensign's sarcasm, "I'm not in the business of killing people."

Finally, Harry's body could take it no longer. The pain is his body erupted into even more pain. Harry gasped, but he could not take a breath. He tried to call out, but his voice could not surface without oxygen. It wasn't long before darkness closed in around him.

"Doctor?" Harry said, his voice raspy and weak. He snapped his eyes open, but closed them immediately from the bright light. He heard the sound of footsteps coming towards him and he slowly opened his eyes.

The room around him swayed, but after a few seconds, it stabilized. He looked around and realized he was in Sickbay.

"Hey Hare," Tom Paris, the medical assistant/pilot of Voyager greeted. He looked at his friend lying on the biobed.

Harry looked around and turned his head to the side.

"Where's Jetal?" Harry asked, "Is she okay?"

The biobed next to him was empty. He tried to get up so he could see all of Sickbay, but the pain in his head and face forced him back down.

"Easy," Tom said, "you've been through a lot. Just relax."

"Tom, where's Ensign Jetal?"

"Umm…" Tom said, avoiding Harry's eyes, "… she didn't make it."

"Oh God," Harry said, a lump forming in his throat, "… no."

As a fellow engineer, Ensign Jetal had worked with Harry. Several times, the two had worked late into the night, intent on completing the captain's latest assignment at or before her deadline. Their combined efforts often resulted in vast improvements and repairs originally thought impossible; something that thoroughly pleased and impressed the captain.

"No," Harry repeated, his voice barely above a whisper, "… please, no."

Tears started to well in his eyes and one ran down his right cheek, leaving a burning, stinging streak in its wake. Harry gently touched his cheek and recoiled when it stung in protest.

"That weapon you were hit with was an electrical energy pulse," Tom explained, "it left second and third degree burns on your face. It'll take several successive treatments with the dermal regenerator for you to heal. In the meantime, your skin will be very sensitive."

"There was nothing the Doctor could do?" Harry asked, having a feeling he already knew the answer. If there was anything he could do, the Doctor would have done it; and Ensign Jetal would have survived.

Before Tom could answer, the doors to Sickbay opened and Tuvok and a security team walked in. Tuvok had something in his hand that he placed on the Doctor's office desk. As soon as he did so, the Doctor appeared and strode towards the team out of his office and into the bay of biobeds.

"How dare you deactivate me!" the Doctor shouted. Before the Vulcan could issue a command he knew was coming, the Doctor countered it.

"Computer, only activate and deactivate the EMH under instructions from the Doctor."

The computer beeped in affirmation.

"Doctor…" Tuvok warned, his security team standing firm.

"What? What're you going to do?" the Doctor challenged, "fire at me? You can't harm me. I'm a hologram. Phaser shots won't work."

"But I can fire at your holoemitters," the Vulcan said.

"You wouldn't do that," the Doctor said his voice deep and controlled, "because that would equate to killing me. Just like I did to Ensign Jetal!"

The Doctor looked to his left and saw Harry Kim.

"Ah!" he said lightheartedly, but the Doctor's tone was anything but lighthearted, "Mr. Kim. The one I didn't choose to die. How are you feeling?"

"Computer," Tuvok said, his voice his usual calm, "deactivate the EMH. Security override Tuvok Zeta Two Alpha."

The holographic Doctor deactivated and disappeared. Sickbay returned to its original silence, but the air of tension that erupted when the Doctor entered did not dissipate.

"Ensign Kim," Tuvok said, turning towards the injured engineer, "how are you feeling?"

"… I've been better," Harry replied after hesitation, still trying to make sense of what just happened.

"I hope that you feel better soon," the Vulcan replied, "I will inform the captain that you have regained consciousness."

Tom gestured in the direction of the Doctor's desk.

"He's malfunctioning," Tom explained, turning to an instrument tray so he could avoid his friend's eyes.

"You mean that energy pulse affected the Doctor too?"

"… yeah," Tom said after some hesitation, "we can't figure out what's wrong with him." He hated lying to Harry, but he feared Harry knowing the truth even more.

"I better find out what's wrong," Harry replied, moving up and out of the biobed. He succeeded in stepping off, but the room began to swim uncontrollably. Tom turned around to find his friend swaying and rushed over to catch him before he collapsed to the deck.

"You're not going anywhere," Tom admonished. He gently guided his friend back to the biobed.

"But we need a functioning doctor," Harry protested.

"B'Elanna can do that," Tom said

Tom's combadge chirped.

"Janeway to Paris."

"Yes, captain?"

"How is Ensign Kim?"

"I'm okay, captain," Harry replied, "I think I can get back to work tomorrow."

Tom gave a rueful sigh.

"Ensign Kim has deep burns on his face and has a concussion," Tom explained, "he's also recovering from surgery. Despite what he says, I believe Mr. Kim won't be fully recovered and fit for duty for a week. From which we will start him on light duty."

At the word surgery, Harry turned towards Tom.

"Understood," the captain replied, "Mr. Kim, I appreciate your eagerness to return to work, but you need to take care of yourself first.

"I'll be down there in a minute to check on the Doctor's program."

"Aye, captain."

Harry looked at Tom who was busy fiddling with medical instruments, none of which were needed to treat him.

"Tom, what was that about surgery and why is the captain coming to inspect the Doctor's program?" Harry asked suspiciously.

Tom froze, knowing he couldn't avoid it much longer. He fiddled some more with the instruments in his hands.

"Tom… what is going on?" Harry asked pointedly.

Finally, Tom turned back towards his friend. He ran his hand through his hair and swallowed hard, hesitating as long as possible.

"When you and Jetal were brought back on board to Sickbay," Tom finally explained, "you were both critically injured. The weapon that was fired on you and her caused an electrical charge to run up your spines. You both required immediate surgery that only the Doctor could perform or you neither of you would survive much longer."

Tom took a deep breath before continuing.

"There was only time to perform the surgery on one of you, and the Doctor chose you. The Doctor's programming has run into an ethical feedback loop and we don't know how to stop it."

The Doctor chose you. Tom's words hit Harry like an intense phaser shot. He looked up at the ceiling, lying on the biobed. His head was spinning, but it wasn't from his injuries.

Captain Kathryn Janeway entered Sickbay, Lieutenant Tuvok and his security team close by. Janeway nodded to Lieutenant Paris. She gave a small, relieved smile when she saw Ensign Kim. The right side of his face was pale from the first treatment of the dermal regenerator, his hair was a mess, and he looked exhausted. But this was a vast improvement from the condition he was in when he was brought back on board.

"It's good to have you back, Mr. Kim," she greeted warmly. The fact that he nearly died never escaped her mind.

"Thank you, captain," he said softly. His gaze was distant, but the captain assumed it was from surgical recovery.

She walked to the Doctor's desk.

"Computer, activate the EMH."

"Please state the nature of the medical emergency."

The Doctor turned to find Janeway and a security team facing him.

"Ah, the welcoming party has arrived," he said, "What is it captain? Are you afraid I'm going to attack you?"

The captain opened her mouth to respond, but the Doctor spoke first. His voice carried the same tone of anger and regret as it had when he lashed out in the Mess Hall.

"I wouldn't do that, because then you'd require medical treatment. Something I'm no longer qualified to administer!"

"No one is relieving you of duty," the captain said calmly.

"Well, they should," the Doctor spat, "who knows when my ethical programming might run into another error."

The captain glanced to the side. Tom Paris and Harry Kim were looking at one another, but it was clear that they were listening to the voices that drifted into Sickbay from the Doctor's desk.

"Why don't we take a walk?" the captain asked. It was more an order than a suggestion.

Captain's Log Stardate 50907.7: It has been over a week since the Doctor's ethical programming ran into a feedback loop. Despite our attempts to fix the problem, the Doctor continues to be combative and struggle with his decision. It is becoming clear what must be done.

We have also continued a pursuit course of the alien ship that attacked Ensign Kim and Ensign Jetal's shuttle. However, their ion signature has run cold for three days and I am forced to make two decisions; neither of which are desirable.

"All stop," Captain Kathryn Janeway ordered.

Voyager coasted to a stop, the ship hovering steady in one place.

"Anything on long range scanners?"

"Nothing out of the ordinary," Tuvok explained from his station, "there is no sign of the shuttle."

The captain sighed. Three days of pursuing the ion trail and nothing. She hesitated just slightly before making her next command.

"Alter course," she addressed the lieutenant at the helm, "resume a course for the Alpha Quadrant."

"Aye, captain," Tom Paris replied.

The captain turned to the ensign stationed at ops at the back of the Bridge.

"I'm sorry, Harry," she said softly, her eyes looked sympathetically at him, "but it's time we start heading back home."

Harry returned his captain's saddened stare. A lump formed in his throat. So this was it. Ensign Jetal had died for nothing. Both he and her were attacked for no apparent reason. So far as they knew, they were not flying in any claimed territory; nor were they firing weapons. They were simply on a survey mission, yet a completely unprovoked attacked was launched on them. A devastating weapon was fired upon them, leaving Ensign Jetal dead and he barely survived. A week later, an eternity for medical recovery with 24th century technology, Harry had finally returned to duty, though he tired easily and was forced to work light shifts until his body could recover.

When he finally returned to his station, Harry was eager to find the enemy that attacked them, but just days later, his hopes were demolished. They would never confront the enemy or at the very least, know why they were attacked. No! Harry wanted to yell. We have to find those bastards that killed Ensign Jetal. We are not going to let her die in vain. Harry swallowed hard, deep anger seething inside him.

"Understood," he replied simply and calmly.

Harry walked down the halls of Voyager towards his quarters. He had only worked a four-hour shift, but his body felt as if it had worked ten. He stared at the floor as he traveled through the halls, his mind light years away. He should have done something, reacted quicker, rerouted power to raise the malfunctioning shields. What if the space they were traveling in was hostile territory? But deep inside, he knew nothing could be done. The alien had launched a surprise attack and they had researched that space thoroughly just as they had always done when traveling in the Delta Quadrant. It was not enemy territory; at least not ones that belonged to any aliens they had encountered thus far.

What if the alien returned to attack them? If the one weapon he was armed with did so much damage, what could their ships be capable of?

Suddenly, something to Harry's left hissed. He jumped, only to discover that it was the turbolift doors opening.

"Hey Harry," Tom said, looking concerned as his friend jolted away from the doors, "you okay?"

"I-I'm fine," Harry stammered, "You just startled me."

Tom looked at his friend. Since the attack, his usually upbeat, energetic friend had become quiet and reserved. His eyes had dark circles under them and he was visibly tense.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Tom asked again, knowing what the true answer should be.

"Yeah," Harry said quickly, "I just need some rest, that's all."

He quickened his pace down the hall. Tom let him go, but not without a saddened gaze.

"Voyager, mayday!" the Doctor cried.

Harry only caught a glimpse of the alien that attacked them, but its image would be seared in his memory forever. He watched helplessly as the cold, calculating attacker fired its weapon at them.

A whistle resounded and Harry found himself back on Voyager, looking out its large windows to see the casket containing Ensign Jetal's body being launched into space.

"He chose you," Tom's voice echoed throughout.

He took a long look at Ensign Jetal's burned face before her casket was closed.

He was back on the shuttle, lying in pain, looking up at the Doctor.

"Is she okay?" he heard his own voice ask as he looked at the unconscious Ensign Jetal.

"She's-" the Doctor started to reply, but Harry interrupted him.

"You have to save her. Please! Don't operate on me. Save her!"

Beeeeep.

Though he did not witness her death, Harry had a pretty good guess at what it must have looked and sounded like as Ensign Jetal took her final breath on the biobed.

"Save her!"

'The Doctor chose you."

Again, he was back on the shuttle… again he watched as the alien aimed its rifle at him and Ensign Jetal.

"NO!!!!"

He watched as the white energy beam shot towards him.

Suddenly, Harry jolted awake. His heavy breathing was the only sound that could be heard in his darkened quarters. He felt to cold sweat on his forehead and his hands couldn't stop shaking.

To be continued...

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