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'Let me get this straight,' Paris said. 'She just came up to you and asked you to take her with you? I guess things aren't as ordered down there as Toscat would like us to think...'

'Thank you, Mr Paris,' Janeway said, narrowing her eyes at him, before glancing around the briefing room. 'Either way, I'm considering this as a genuine request for asylum, so I'd like to hear your opinions...'

'Captain, the Prime Directive is very clear,' Tuvok said and Chakotay nodded.

'We can't know how this will affect their culture if we intervene...'

'Who cares?' Torres said. 'It's an oppressive regime. She has a right to her freedom and maybe it will show other Ocampa that they can have it, too...'

'Besides, we've already affected their culture just by being here,' Dr Fitzgerald said. 'After that, isn't it just a matter of degrees...?'

'Doesn't the Prime Directive forbid us from getting involved?' Harry said and Tom shook his head.

'The Prime Directive says that we can't interfere with a planet's natural development,' he said. 'But, she's clearly been thinking about leaving before we arrived...'

'Alright' Janeway said, holding up her hands. 'Thank you. Before I make any decisions, I need to inform Toscat of her request...'

####################

'We're being hailed by Ocampa,' Harry said.

'Onscreen,' Janeway said, Toscat's image appearing on the viewer.

'Captain Janeway...'

'Toscat,' Janeway said. 'I've received an asylum request from one of your people...'

'I am already aware of her actions,' Toscat said and Janeway frowned.

'I will need to speak to her...'

'That will not be possible,' Toscat said. 'She has been isolated so that her rebellious nature will not cause any further harm...'

'I understand,' Janeway said, keeping her voice level with an effort. 'However, once I have received an asylum request, I need to make certain that she is not being mistreated...'

'Captain...'

'It is a simple request,' Janeway said. 'And not one that is worth causing a diplomatic incident over...'

'Very well,' Toscat said. 'We will provide transporter co-ordinates...'

####################

As the transporter effect faded, Janeway found herself in a crisp white octagonal room, Toscat standing in front of her with his hands clasped behind his back.

'Follow me,' He said, turning on his heel and striding out of the room, Janeway and Tuvok following him along sterile-looking corridors until they reached a door that looked identical to all the others they had passed.

'You may speak to her for five minutes,' Toscat said, pressing the control next to the door and it hissed open to reveal the girl, who was sitting on the hard bench against the back wall.

'Wait here, please, Tuvok,' Janeway said, the girl rising from the bench as she stepped inside, the door hissing shut behind her.

'Are you alright?' Janeway said, taking a seat on the bench that she had vacated, gesturing for her to sit down . 'Have they hurt you...?'

'No,' she said and Janeway nodded.

'What's your name...?'

'...Kes...'

'Kes. How did Toscat know about...what you asked me...?'

'He...knows what we are thinking...'

'How...?'

'He has...telepathic powers. All the Elders do...'

'...alright. What will happen to you, now...?'

'The Elders will use their powers to remove any thoughts of wanting to leave from my mind,' Kes said, looking down and Janeway took her hand.

'Do you still want to leave...?'

'Yes...'

####################

'Welcome back, Captain,' Chakotay said, as Janeway and Tuvok stepped of the transporter pad.

'Thank you, Commander,' Janeway said. 'Assemble everyone in the briefing room. We have work to do...'

####################

'Toscat is going to telepathically lobotomise Kes,' Janeway said, resting her knuckles on the table. 'I won't let that happen...'

'Captain, the Prime Directive...'Tuvok began.

'I'm aware of the consequences of this decision,' Janeway said. 'But, I can't stand by while an innocent woman has her freedom stripped away. Mr Tuvok, Ensign Kim, find a way to gain access to that medical centre. Dismissed...'

####################

'Come,' Janeway said and the door to her ready room hissed open to admit Tuvok and Kim.

'Captain,' Tuvok said. 'We have discovered a way to access the medical centre...'

'They've erected an energy shield around the city,' Kim said. 'However, there is a brief window when it cycles modulation that should provide an opportunity to beam one person down...'

'Thank you,' Janeway said. 'Make your preparations, Ensign...'

'Aye, Captain,' Kim said, turning and marching out, the door hissing shut as Janeway glanced over at Tuvok.

'I know that you have your reservations, Tuvok,' Janeway said, moving to stand by the viewport, staring out at the stars. 'This is my decision and I won't ask anyone else to put themselves at risk...'

'I understand, Captain...'

####################

As the transporter effect faded, Janeway once again found herself standing in the cool, sterile corridors of the Ocampan medical centre. According to her tricorder, she was only a few metres from Kes' cell.

Good work, Mr Kim...

Checking her phaser, she set off down the corridor, until she reached the door to Kes' cell. Not to her surprise, the door was sealed. With a sigh, she drew her phaser and shot the lock, the door hissing open.

'Kes?' Janeway said, as she stepped inside, the young woman standing up when she saw her.

'Captain Janeway...?

'Come on,' Janeway said. 'We're getting out of here...'

'Voyager to Janeway...'

'Go ahead, Commander...'

'Captain, the transporter beam was detected. Security forces are on their way to the medical centre. We also have two Ocampan warships on an intercept course...'

####################

'Commander,' Tuvok said, from the tactical station. 'I'm detecting two Ocampan vessels approach from the surface. At present speed, they will reach our position in approximately 3 minutes...'

'Do you think they detected the transporter beam?' Chakotay asked.

'I would say that was a logical assumption,' Tuvok said. 'An Ocampan security detail has been dispatched to the medical centre...'

'Voyager to Janeway...'

'Go ahead, Commander...'

'Captain, the transporter beam was detected. Security forces are on their way to the medical centre. We also have two Ocampan warships on an intercept course...'

'Understood, Commander. I've located Kes and we're ready for beam out...'

'Acknowledged, Captain. Stand by...'

'Commander,' Harry said. 'They changed the modulation on their energy shield. I'm attempting to compensate...'

'Ocampan vessels are entering weapons range, Commander,' Tuvok said, looking up from his console.

'Any communications...?' Chakotay asked, just as the bridge was rocked by a disruptor blast.

'Never mind,' Chakotay muttered. 'Damage report...'

'Shields are down to 92%...'

'Evasive manoeuvres,' Chakotay ordered, turning to Kim.

'Status report, Mr Kim...'

'I'm still trying to isolate the modulation of the energy screen. I need a few minutes...'

####################

Janeway snapped off a shot from her phaser, the stun blast catching an Ocampan in the chest and slamming him back against the wall, ducking back into the cell as a disruptor blast struck the door. She risked a glance at the back of the room where Kes was crouching in the corner, wisely keeping her head down.

'Voyager to Janeway,' Chakotay said, just as her commbadge beeped. 'Stand by for beam out...'

'Come on,' Janeway said, moving to kneel next to Kes, wrapping her arm around her shoulders, tapping her commbadge.

'Janeway to Voyager. Two to beam up...'

####################

Janeway and Kes appeared on the transporter pad, just as Voyager was rocked by a disruptor blast.

'Janeway to Chakotay,' Janeway said, tapping her commbadge. 'Report, Commander...'

'We're under attack by two Ocampan warships...'

'I'm on my way,' Janeway said, turning to Kes. 'Come on. We're not out of this, yet...'

####################

'Report,' Janeway said, as she and Kes stepped out of the turbolift onto the bridge, Chakotay looking up from his chair.

'We're two minutes from the edge of the system, Captain...'

'Our shields are down to 42%...' Tuvok added.

'Steady as she goes, Mr Paris,' Janeway said, as she moved to the command chair, gesturing for Kes to take the seat next to her as another disruptor blast rocked the deck.

'Shields at 38%...' Tuvok reported and Janeway turned to Kes.

'Will Toscat follow us, once we leave...?'

'No Ocampan vessel has ever gone beyond our system,' Kes said and Janeway nodded.

'Maintain your course, Mr Paris...'

'Aye, Captain...we've cleared the system. Ocampan vessels are pulling back...'

'Acknowledged, Mr Paris. Lay in Course Alpha and engage...'

'Aye, Captain...'

To be continued in New Horizons...

Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed it. Any reviews, comments or constructive criticisms are very welcome