It is recommended that one least seen the VOY episode "Timeless" to understand this story, as I am lousy at summarising plots. I don't Own Voyager, Harry Kim or Chakotay.

Lost and Found

2390

Zach POV

"Papers." The Klingon standing in front of me repeats. I continued to dig in my bag, cursing my mother. Why did she insist that I would need an extra sweater? Undo all my hard and careful packing, for a sweater that I neither liked, nor was likely to wear?

The Klingon is regarding me suspiciously. She seems huge, but is by Klingon standards only average size. The right side of her head is disfigured with a scar that looks like half her face has melted. The only piece of that side that is alive is her eyes. They're green, unusual in a Klingon.

"What's wrong K'Rene?" a woman walked down the gangplank. I recognise her, Dr. Michaela Hallman, the forensic anthropologist who I'm to work with. She recognises me as well.

"Hello Zach." I smile, while still rooting though the bag. "K'Rene let him in."
The Klingon's eyes flash dangerously. "Doctor, I have to see his papers before I can..."
"Got them!" I say, finding the pad, along with the declaration of no contraband from the customs' guys. I hand both over. She scrutinises the papers, then hands the customer declaration back.

"I think had there been any contraband in your bag, I would have seen it."

With what I think might have been a smile, she hands them back.

"Welcome to the Penelope, Mr Addy."

Pppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp



The Penelope was smaller than most ships in the fleet. She was, as I was informed by Dr. Hallman, the fastest and the most advanced in the fleet. She was apparently notable as having the best sensors in the fleet, which I was shown before I'd even got to my quarters.

My quarters were small, as was to be expected, but bigger than my rooms at the academy. It was positioned between two officers, who were I was informed about my own age, called Nog and Jake Sisko. I made mutters to the effect that I would be delighted to meet them, later.

"You'll see them in the mess hall. Dinners at 1800 hrs." Dr. Hallman paused, as though uncertain. "I'll see you there?" I nodded, feeling that if I could I would avoid it. However there were no replicators in my quarters. So I unpacked and tried to relax, but it was useless. The images of what I'd seen kept playing before my eyes. Therefore I was relieved when six o'clock came.

sssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

"This is supposed to be an excellent vintage."
"I thought Starfleet regulations forbade the consumption of alcohol on deep space missions"

Chakotay smiled, as he finished pouring the wine. "Captain's privileges. Just don't tell K'Rene."

Tessa smiled, twisting her legs to sit on them.

"She'd be more critical of Starfleet than of you." She said, accepting a glass. This was a good day. When his attention was fully on her, on this ship, on the present, rather than stuck in the past with Voyager.

While she was thankful that unlike Harry Kim, the bad days were few and far between, so were the good days. So she was determined to make the most of it.

"You had a chance to talk to the new A&A officer?"

She shook her head. "I've booked him in tomorrow."



She sighed, and admitted surprising herself.

"It's good to be back in space."

Chakotay smiled.

"It gets in your blood." He agreed. Her heart skipped. He was deliberately avoiding the unspoken issue between them. They might actually have a nice romantic evening together.

"Lieutenant K'Rene to Counsellor Omond."

Sighing she touched her comm. badge.

"Omond here." Behind her she heard Chakotay recorking the bottle, accepting as much as she did that their evening together was ruined.

"Would you please report to Security Office? There is an incident requiring your attention."
"Captain Chakotay is with me, K'Rene. Should he also come?"

There was slight pause, before K'Rene replied.

"I think it would be better if he did not."
There was another pause, before the Klingon added. "There is nothing wrong with Commander Harry."

Tessa got to her feet, fighting the desire to smile at the Klingon's grammar.

"On my way." She turned back to Chakotay.

"I'm sorry."
"Don't be." He said, kissing her. "I'll be waiting when you get back."

Vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv

Tessa made her way along the corridors, her mind racing. What could it be?



It could, if she was honest be anything from a suicide attempt to cabin fever. That was one of the disadvantages of serving on the Penelope. So far from home and port for so long, problems already present tended to get worse.

"Counsellor."

She jumped. She had been so caught up in her thoughts that she had reached security without realising it. The speaker was Lieutenant Romanus, a Security officer, who K'Rene had once said had a "Klingon heart."

"I was instructed to take you to the bridge. And to stop the captain from accompanying you,"
"he isn't here." She replied, more confused than ever. He nodded and led the way to a turbo lift. She considered asking him what had happened, but changed her mind. She wasn't sure she wanted to know.

They reached bridge.

"I can't be sure!"
"Well run it again!" K'Rene's voice was full of frustration as she addressed the Adorain Operation Officer. Keran's eyes flashed at her.

"SPS confirms location of USS Challenger." Nog's voice was full of fear, as though the Fergeni feared the Huge Klingon would strike him.

K'Rene swore, causing Tessa's heart to beat faster. This was serious.

"K'Rene what's going on?"
K'Rene spun around and spotted her.

"Counsellor. You may wish to take a"



"K'Rene tell me what on earth is going on!" she was aware of her own voice rising, and as a good physiologist recognised the warning sounds of hysteria in her own voice. The Klingon drew in her breath and regarded Tessa with her Green eyes that spoke of some off world ancestry.

"We have found Voyager."

TBC