Disclaimer the usual. See chapter one.
Chapter 9
The remains of their hearty breakfast sat on the table in front of the Command team as they chatted easily together in the warming sunshine. Janeway laughed at something Chakotay had said to her as the EMH and Ensign Kim approached their table.
"Goodness. Why the long faces? Especially on such a beautiful day?" she asked the pair good-naturedly.
"Sorry, Captain. We have some disturbing news about Seven of Nine," the EMH said. Both males were sorry to have spoken; especially at seeing the happy expression suddenly leave the Captain's relaxed face, even the Commander's changed abruptly.
"What sort of disturbing news?" he asked carefully. For an answer the Doctor just gave him his medical tricorder. The male studied it thoroughly and then handed it to his female companion. "How long?" he asked, noting the quiet around them from the rest of the crew.
"I'd say no more than 48hrs maximum. 36 would be better," the Doctor said.
Captain Janeway looked at her male friend and first officer, the look in her eyes was resigned yet hopeful. He smiled in response to her unspoken acknowledgement of his friendship and support.
"We'd better call a staff meeting," she said, her blue eyes not leaving his face.
"Agreed," he said and tapped his comm-badge. "All senior staff report to Chell's kitchen for Staff briefing in one hour. Chakotay out." He closed the channel, gave Janeway a soft nod of his head, stood and left the table, just as Ayala arrived with Naomi and Little Blue.
"Problems, Chakotay?" he asked, bringing the hover bike to a full stop.
"Could be, Lieutenant," he sighed. "Better get all that equipment stowed on board and report to Tuvok," he said. Ayala nodded sadly, realising their time on Double Earth had just been curtailed. "The history file I promised you, Little Blue," handing the female Pedtra the PADD.
"Thank you. Something wrong?" she asked looking at his sad expression.
"I think we'll be leaving sooner rather than later. Now I'd better check some reports," he said and left for his quarters and office on the ship. Naomi watched him go, puzzled by his sad demeanour. The young Ktarian girl-child shared a look with Lt. Ayala.
"We'll know soon enough, Naomi," he responded. Little Blue asked Naomi to help her understand the information on the PADD, thus to two young child females settled down together, whilst Ayala asked for an extra helping hand from the crew to get his camping equipment and the hover bike stowed back on board the ship.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Torres and Paris were in their quarters when the Commander's call came through about the staff meeting. They had been enjoying one of Tom's cartoons on the old TV set alone with some popcorn, curled up together on the sofa – or as curled up as they could manage due to B'Elanna's current condition.
"I wonder what that will be about?" said Tom puzzled, for something in the male's tone had put them both on edge.
"Well we won't find out lazing here," she noted, trying to get to her feet, but her husband prevented her. "Tom," she growled.
"We've got time," he said, trying to keep his arms around her large bulk, but she managed to slip from his grasp using a trick that she'd learnt over their time courting together. "That's not fair," he said pouting.
"That expression doesn't do anything for you. And who said life was fair," Torres said standing and looking at him with a soft expression of tenderness in her eyes. "You'll do," she smiled, causing him to grin in response. Sighing dramatically he left the sofa, turned the TV off. They exited their quarters together, yet going to their respective departments to gather up reports and data for the up-coming meeting; at least it would be outside, in the fresh air, rather than in the stuffy air conditioned conference lounge.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
One hour later all but two of the senior staff sat around a table that now sat a little apart from the main area around Chell's serving/cooking counter arrangement; the rest of the sprawled trestle tables having been returned to storage and then recycled through the larger replicator, thus returning the energy to the ship. Chell's kitchen equipment would very soon follow; therefore the talk that bubbled among the working crew was subdued but not overly sad.
The Doctor along with Tuvok was the last of the senior staff to join those already seated.
"How is Seven?" Janeway asked of the frowning EMH.
"Stable at present, Captain," he informed her, taking a seat next to Chakotay, whom he informed that the male was to report to sickbay for a full medical.
"We've all been through one! It's to up-date his records," Tom Paris informed him with a cheeky grin, holding his wife's hand in plain view and gave it a gentle squeeze.
"All the crew are present and accounted for, Captain," the dark Vulcan said in his usual calm manner.
"Maintenance repairs are all complete and up to spec standard. We also have a good supply of deuterium and dilithium crystals aboard," Torres reported quietly.
"Chell says the food stores are holding up well, but we could do with a restock soon." Chakotay informed in that quiet way of his. Janeway realised that they were all giving their reports without having to be asked, which pleased her yet it also left her feeling despondent about having to leave this pleasant planet.
"Could we gather food supplies from here?" Kim asked.
"No; at least not unless it is given," he amended his statement.
"Question is do we really want it from here. Considering how much this planet reminds us of home and what we'll be leaving behind," noted Paris quietly; his tone expressing something of how they all felt about leaving.
"Perhaps some seeds to replenish the airponics," Kathryn said thoughtfully, remembering her own forays into the flora of the planet. She sighed echoing the feelings of everyone around their table. "To business," squaring her shoulders and put her next question to the Doctor. "How long will you require to bring Seven up to speed?"
"At least 8 to 10 hours, possibly 12 to be on the safe side. I'll also need to add to her memory centres to account for the lapse of time. I'd also advise that we keep this planet and everything that has happened here, out of her reach," he added sadly.
"Explain."
"Well, Commander; the rings are full of Borg nano-probes, yet they're giving out a warning signal to the Borg rather than the usual assimilation directive," he said, giving the male the PADD with the data that he and Paris had down loaded from Astrometrics.
"Looks from this, that she was going to re-instate that Borg directive," he noted quietly having read the PADD carefully. He exchanged a soft meaningful look with Janeway who sat the other side of him.
"Indeed," agreed Tuvok. The rest of the senior staff felt they'd missed something here, but didn't pursue it. Harry Kim gently cleared his throat and the expression he saw on Janeway's face encouraged him to say his piece.
"We could create a holo-program of this planet, rather than add the data collected so far to the main memory of the computer core. Well apart from the extensive scans - via the ship's sensors and probes - we took of the planet on our approach, all other scans have been passive, tricorders, personal logs or journals, electronic or written," he said, noting the dawning comprehension on the faces of his fellow crew-mates. "Therefore why not put all our data into the holo-matrix."
"You mean a full holo-programme?!" Paris asked his face lighting up at the thought.
"Interesting idea; but Seven can still access all the holo-programs," Janeway said.
"Not necessarily, Captain," his voice eager. "This place is a lot like Earth to pass her usual Borg scrutiny."
"Chell mentioned that there was a part that reminded him of Bolaris IV," noted Torres.
"Vorik and I discovered a red sand desert much like that of Vulcan."
"Complete with live Sand Eels, I understand," Chakotay quipped with a soft smile.
"Indeed," responded the dark Vulcan eyebrow rising.
"Home form home," said the Doctor.
"Double Earth."
"Pardon, Commander?" Janeway asked startled.
"Tlalli – Erde is how the Pedtra know this planet. Tlalli is Aztec for earth and Erde is the Germanic or Anglo-Saxon word for earth. Hence Double Earth," he informed them, his grin relaxed.
"I see," she said her voice and expression thoughtful. "We'd better ask the crew to give all their data and notes to you, Mr. Kim for this holo-programme. Chakotay and the archive head - Lieutenant Alan Sims - can assist you. Not you Tom," she added ignoring his now crestfallen look. "I suggest you lock the program down so it can only be used for research purposes, rather than general interaction with. That way it will hopefully keep it out of Seven's reach." The senior staff around the table looked sad at that prospect, but understood the reasoning behind it.
"We've a lot to do so I suggest we get started," she said decisively getting to her feet. "Dismissed," she added as an afterthought.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Chakotay left with the Doctor, to sickbay whilst the others dispersed to finish their duties in their respective departments. The Commander had a strange feeling the Doctor would be doing more than a full medical with him. Once all the checks had been completed to the EMH's satisfaction, the male medic seemed hesitant and uneasy.
"Doctor; something else?" he asked quietly as the pair stood in the Doctor's office. For an answer the EMH ordered the computer to initiate security protocols thus locking them in the small area.
"Take a seat please, Commander," he said indicating the chair on one side of the main desk, yet he did not sit himself but continued to stand frowning uncertainly and silently worrying.
"Doctor. Sit," Chakotay commanded firmly, which effectively had the male sitting down abruptly into his chair. "Now take a deep breath and start at the beginning," he suggested softly; although he knew the male opposite him was a hologram he saw no reason to treat him as anything other than what he appeared to be, a very worried individual.
"What I'm about to tell you will be breaching doctor-patient confidentiality…" he said looking at the male who nodded his understanding. "Seven called me whilst on the holodeck some months ago having collapsed. I won't go into all the medical details," he paused a moment wondering how to proceed; coming to a decision he sat straighter in his chair and told Cmdr. Chakotay just what program the female ex-Borg had been running and why she had been doing so; to recreate her experiences in Unimatrix zero. The tattooed male listened quietly as the tale of 'his' romance with Seven unfolded and how she'd decided to end it.
They sat in silence each taking time to digest what had been said and even what had been left unsaid.
"In view of my own fantasies on the holodeck…." he left the sentence unfinished.
"I'm not sure whether to feel flattered or angry," he said softly, still trying to get his head round the idea of him and Seven. "In this case you're not breaking any rules with doctor-patient confidentiality, but there are rules about making complete holographic facsimile of one's crew-mates, as I don't need to remind you." The Doctor had the grace to look shame faced. Chakotay sighed. "I'm assuming you're thinking of suggesting to her to pursue this idea with me in reality," he said carefully.
"The thought had occurred to me and it would provide a distraction….not that I'm saying you should pursue it, that is if you don't want to," he added quickly seeing the angry look that the Commander shot in his direction.
"Why me? Is what I can't fathom. I would have said Harry Kim was more her type. In fact I believe he had a crush on her at one time," smiling at the memory.
"She said you were the logical choice," the EMH said quietly.
"That sounds like a typical Seven response," he murmured; he noted the EMH's expression and realised something. "You're in love with her yourself. Aren't you?" Chakotay noted gently.
The Doctor tried to bluff it, but the man opposite him wasn't buying it. "Nothing to be ashamed of, Doctor; Seven is a very beautiful woman and I've known many a mentor fall head over heels in love with their charges," he smiled and sighed. "Sometime though, we don't always get what we think we need in this life," his words for them both.
"You and the Captain…"
"Don't, Doctor," he snapped. "I've been down that road to many times myself. Captain Kathryn Janeway and I are just very good friends; nothing more. Understood?"
"You'd like it to be," the medic ventured softly, now that his own unrequited love interest was out in the open. Chakotay stood and sighed sadly, turning away from the EMH.
"Perhaps," he admitted very softly. He turned back and looked at the seated medic his gaze intent and business-like. "I suggest that you make this idea of yours to Seven verbally, if you really think it's necessary. Whether I decide to pursue it, is between me and Seven."
"Naturally, Commander," the medic responded in like manner, standing.
"And we never had this conversation; Right?"
"What conversation, Commander." The two men looked at each other both feeling trapped by circumstances beyond their control, knowing neither could have what they really wanted and in that sense there was a kinship between them. The EMH cancelled the security protocols and watched the dark haired male leave his office and sickbay to return to his duties; both official and unofficial. For the Doctor had noted in the Commander's medical data file his role as ship's counsellor in his report to Starfleet Medical.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Dusk was settling in as the Voyager crew enjoyed a small meal under the resting ship, when they noticed a massive dark cloud winging its way towards them across the sunset red sky. Some crew looked anxiously at the security personnel, who started to form a defensive barrier around the crew, phasers drawn.
"It's the Pedtra!" a child voice exclaimed, joyfully; causing most of the assembled crew to relax. Janeway and Chakotay stood at the bow of the ship as the first of the Pedtra landed. Elder Newaton bustled up to them and bowed formally.
"My apologies if we startled you," he began, as his kind ranged themselves around the flat area that had contained part of Chell's kitchen until a few hours ago. "My people and I would be gratified to share a final meal with you all, before you return to your travels," he stated, his voice carrying so all could hear him. Captain Janeway stepped forward and squatted down to Newaton's level, so he didn't have to crane his neck to look up at her towering above him.
"My crew and I would be delighted to have your company, Elder Newaton," she responded formally and smiled. The elder Pedtra grinned at her and his people let out a kind of collective sigh of relief. Then his people gently moved placing blue/white glowing lamps around the area to banish the shadows from under the ship. The Voyagers watched at first, and then some went to the stores and retrieved some thick blankets that they spread on the damping ground and sat in small groups, where the Pedtra laid out many food dishes filled with all that the planet had to offer. The commander team and main bridge crew had a single blanket, with Torres occupying a lounger chair to accommodate her pregnant bulk. Naomi and Sam sat with them, along with Elder Newaton and his family. Soon everyone was enjoying the food, drink and company that the Pedtra people had supplied for their guests to Tlalli – Erde.
The moon-white rings shone above the festivities as the night drew on. When the rings stood at their apex, Newaton presented Captain Janeway with a very ornate craved box. On opening it she discovered it contained every type of food producing seed that would more than replenish their airponics and hydroponic bays plant stocks.
"Elder Newaton you and your people are too kind," she said, startled and pleased at the gift, giving it to Chakotay to have a look at.
"Not at all, my dear Captain. We are only returning to your kind what was brought here, many centuries ago," he informed her with a beaming smile.
"How can you be so sure?" she asked looking bewildered at her friend.
"Because the Pedtra have very long memories," he responded, closing the box and smiling his thanks to the elder male Pedtra.
"Thank you, Chakotay. Little Blue will be passing on what you taught her at the pole ring, as it was designed as such."
"A classroom," he acknowledged, leaving Kathryn mystified. "I'll show you later on the holodeck, say tomorrow after late shift," he whispered into her ear.
"You have a date," she responded quietly as they watched their 'family' and Pedtra enjoying themselves. People danced, sang, played music and games as well as eating, drinking and swapping humours stories.
Soon Alpha shift quietly took their leave of their unusual hosts and their fellow crew-mates and retired to their beds happy and refreshed. Gradually the rest of the crew said goodbye to the Pedtra, taking with them many happy memories to sustain them in the long months ahead in their continuing journey. Thus that left only the senior staff along with the main Pedtra family, that of Elder Newaton and his immediate relations; two sons and a daughter-in-law.
Chakotay settled the young female Pedtra into her mother's arms; for Little Blue had fallen asleep on his lap; having earlier assured everyone that she was not in the least bit tired. He gently touched her sleeping face, causing her to smile softly.
"Thank you Inheritor," her mother said, giving him a gentle smile of her own. Her husband – the elder of Newaton's two sons – put an arm around his wife.
"She has talked non-stop about you, Chakotay," he told the tattooed male, looking softly down at his sleeping daughter. "I do not think any of us will be allowed to forget you people in a hurry," he noted with an amused smile.
"Nor I you," Chakotay responded quietly, taking a last look at the sleeping child who'd fallen so trustingly asleep with him some hours ago. Her parents moved a little away from his seated form and thus took to the skies to return to their underground home.
"You'll be gone in the full morning?"
"Yes, Elder Newaton. Many thanks again for your hospitality," Janeway said formally.
"Pleasure, dear Captain, a pleasure," he assured her and taking her hand he kissed the back of it. Stepping back he gave them all a gentlemanly bow and then he and his youngest son also took to the sky, lit by the waning moon-white rings. They all stood and watched until they could no longer see the shadows winging away from them. Someone sighed dramatically.
"I'm going to miss this place."
"Likewise," noted a stoic voice. Janeway and Chakotay exchanged soft amused looks and then she quietly suggested they all retire for what was left of the night, for an early start in the morning. No one argued with her, as they gathered up their blankets and each other. Soon only the deep shadows moved beneath and around the silent sleeping Star-ship; except for the two sentinel figures of white - hunter and prey.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Voyager's bridge was a hive of quiet efficient and eager activity as the Alpha shift brought their consoles up to full power. It had been decided to bring the ship out of grey mode on the decks required, to take the ship off the planet surface; thus only the bridge, deck one, the Mess hall, sickbay and engineering had full power at that moment and would remain so until they'd cleared the planetary rings and were making for deep space.
Janeway entered the bridge from her Ready Room, having had a last minute check-over with Chief Engineer, B'Elanna Torres, down in her domain. She sighed as she took her command chair feeling the contentment - not just from those around her - but from the ship also.
"Captain," his tone of voice a question and a statement at the same time. Kathryn smiled confidently at him, thus he relaxed back into his chair and waited.
"Mr. Paris. Time to resume our journey for home."
"Aye, aye, Captain," he acknowledged, turning to his console.
"Take her up, Mr. Paris," she ordered, the bridge now coloured blue and the crew working with their practised precision. The grey Star-ship responded eagerly to the crew's demands of her and lifted smoothly off the planet 'Tlalli – Erde' and up into the morning blue sky. She nosed up and over the rings that encircled the blue/green orb; engaging her impulse engines to take her out of the system and then vanished in the blue/white flash of warp drive, leaving the Earth-like planet far behind. A smiling elfin face was briefly visibly, within the orb, before it too vanished.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Full power was now restored on all decks throughout the ship, thus the Doctor stood in front of the Borg alcove that held the sleeping form of Seven of Nine. Tom Paris and Kathryn Janeway were monitoring the procedure to awaken the human/Borg female at Seven's usual work station.
Unbeknown to them all the elfin female watched as they brought the alcove out of hibernation mode to a normal eight hour sleep regeneration cycle, checking each stage carefully so the woman would feel no lasting effects.
"Hold on," the EMH said, checking his medical tricorder. The Captain and Medical Assistant waited anxiously, still monitoring the telemetry of the working alcove.
"Doctor; we need to proceed," Janeway said urgently. "This current status won't hold indefinitely," she informed him, reading again the figures before her.
"Yes…yes of course, Captain. Please proceed to the next level," he affirmed. The human pair breathed relieved. Slowly stage by stage, they brought Seven of Nine out of hibernation and into full regeneration sleep cycle.
//There is nothing to fear// whispered the elfin female softly into the EMH's ear.
"Kes?" he muttered quietly, still looking at his medical tricorder, yet not really seeing it.
//Keep your thoughts on your patient// she teased softly. //She'll be fine under your tender care, My Friend. You will not fail her or Voyager. There is a thank you gift; look at your medical files; it contains all you need to help Seven. Be safe, My Friend// her breath tickling his ear and her presence fading from the scene.
"Doctor; Are you alright?" Janeway asked her voice and face concerned her hand on his arm; even Tom Paris looked genuinely worried.
"Yes, Captain. I'm fine," he smiled.
"You sure, Doc? You looked a million light years away there for a moment," Tom noted, but without his usual cheekiness.
"I'm fine; nothing to be concerned about. Your readings please," he asked returning to the business at hand. The information was given steadily, as they checked over their patient.
"Good, very good," he commented softly. "We can let the computer oversee the rest of the sleep cycle. I've scheduled a medical check-up for her when she wakes up; so she'll be added to my final report to Starfleet Medical."
"Ok, Doctor; we'll leave her in you care," Janeway said; then she and Paris left the area. The Doctor sighed as he stood in front of Seven's still sleeping figure, his face troubled and filled with his love for this young woman, a young woman who knew nothing of how he felt about her and more than likely never would; but it wasn't that, that worried him, it was if she could or even would return his feelings and love him as a man and woman should. Again, he sighed rather despondently and then he too left.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Three males worked steadily together, PADD's, written journals and tricorders scattered around them on the currently inactive holodeck floor as they collated all the information. The larger and highest ranking male got up, opened the command panel and plugged in the data chip that they'd primed for this research programme. The data chip already housed all the long range scans that the ship had taken on their approach to the planet and now formed the bases on which to build the research program.
"Computer run new programme," the commanding officer said. Immediately the holodeck altered around them, thus they found themselves hanging in space above the blue-green jewel encircled by the soft white rings.
"COMMANDER!" snapped the Lieutenant.
"Sorry," he said, still standing by the open panel.
"That was a bit disconcerting," noted the Ensign.
"You're telling me!" snapped the Lieutenant, glaring at the tattooed male.
"Looks a bit like Saturn, from this angle; Except for the size and colour of the planet."
"You're right about that, Sir," noted the Asian male with a smile as he gazed at the planet.
"I thought we came to work?" snapped Lieutenant Alan Sims. The other two looked suitably chastened and settled down to adding all the data into the new programme. They took all of the morning and went on into the late afternoon; thus Chell provided them with his version of a light lunch – 'to keep their strength up' he'd said.
"Come back Neelix. All is forgiven," commented the Ensign softly, after the Bolian male had departed. His Commanding officer grinned, but Lt. Sims only scowled, before returning his attention back to the data and the research programme.
By early evening they had finally completed their assigned task.
"Well that's that done," Sims noted, dusting down his uniform having got up from the blank floor. "I'll leave the coding and saving to you, Commander," he said and then took his leave, without waiting to be dismissed.
"Anyone would think we'd added to his woes," noted the Ensign, looking at the closed doors.
"Maybe we have, Harry," the tattooed man acknowledged quietly.
"Then why be in charge of the archives, if you don't like that branch of the sciences?" puzzled by the Lieutenant's snappy and abrasive nature.
"Alan Sims is an office man, Harry. Everything in its place and a place for everything, so anything new upsets his neat filing system," he informed grinning softly.
"And you upset it for him!" The other's smile was very telling. Harry Kim smiled in response, gathered up the PADD's and written journals – except for the Commander's own - saying he'd return them to their owners in the morning; he said goodnight and left also.
With the holodeck currently on stand-by it looked empty. He activated the computer control panel and selected the time index he required from the new program. He was just finishing when the main holodeck doors opened and admitted the female Captain.
"Chakotay?" she said quietly, as he closed the panel and then led her to the centre of the area, stood her in front of him and turned her round.
The next thing she was aware of – besides feeling him against her back, his hands on her waist – was hovering in the air above a massive waterfall in which three bright rainbows arched through the sunlit airborne water spray. She tried to speak but her voice was drowned out by the roar of the falling water. White knuckled hands clung onto his arms as she sat dingily onto the seat of the hover bike situated between her legs, whilst his strong arms held the hover bike handle controls and her securely caged in front of him. They watched the play of light in the fast moving water hovering close to the top edge of the falls, but not close enough to get drowned or wetted by the spray. Slowly the bike lifted taking her up into the summer blue sky, revealing the full extent of the Triple Tempest Falls. Up to four major rivers flowed across the high plateau, before they all tumbled over the precipice of the double three shaped falls and the huge deep lake at its base, where it then flowed to the nearest coastline and the sea, at a more sedate pace.
Carefully her male companion/pilot turned to follow the Mirror River at tree top level and then descended slowly down to the camp area of six tepees. Kathryn was grateful for the silence as her ears were still ringing with the sound of the mighty waterfall. He helped her to dismount the grounded hover bike.
"That was quite a sight," she murmured, smiling at him. "You could have asked the computer to turn down the volume of sound though," she teased, extracting her hand from his and gazing around her.
"And lessen its impact?" he teased in return, hiding his inner pain and disappointment at her actions as he propped up the bike.
"You stayed in one of these tents?" she asked, still gazing about rather than look at him, feeling a little defensive now they were back on Voyager and en-route to the Alpha Quadrant. He called her name and held out his hand as an invite; she failed to respond and took the wrong route, thus he had to catch her arm. She glared at him.
"I don't bite, Kathryn," he said his tone hard. "Sorry. Alan Sims isn't the easiest of people to work with," he said.
"And you've had his company all day," she noted kindly. "It is me who should apologise, Chakotay," she said, then took some deep steadying breaths to calm her taunt nerves and relax her defensives; after all this was her friend, not a total stranger. Kathryn Janeway visibly relaxed as he waited; when she opened her blue eyes they smiled and she placed her hand in his. He gently led her to the pole ring.
Her first reaction was one of disappointment, although she wasn't quite sure what to expect, but as she stood at the rings entrance and the sun shone down on the naked wood coloured poles the magic of the place filled her with awe.
"How were these made?" she asked stepping into the sunlight.
"The central pole was carved into a living tree. The seven smaller poles were put up, having been carved lying horizontally on a trestle arrangement," he informed her as he guided her round. On seeing the little carving on the back of the wolf head, she gasped. Chakotay looked at her sharply reading her open expression and then looked up at the lizard and then back at Janeway and he understood, but said nothing.
"When were these poles carved?" she asked moving round with him, her hand still in his as he led her to the log ring and they sat down together; yet the closeness they'd shared briefly on the real Tlalli-Erde was missing somehow and that saddened him. He had thought to tell her about what the Doctor had suggested about Seven but now he held his tongue and just answered her questions about the pole ring. The sun slowly moved across the sky lengthening the shadows around them as he spoke about the 'Pearls of Wisdom' on the smaller poles and what they meant. It surprised her that they could be tied into Voyager's situation and their journey through the Delta Quadrant, including how the heads of the totem linked with the main bridge crew; Olmec – Vulcan, the Aztec eagle – Voyager and Tom Paris, the Mayan Panther – their journey, The Wolf – himself and the Hart – Captain Janeway. Although when she asked, whether it was him or her, he said:
"Probably both, I suppose," he acknowledged quietly. Soon after the moon-white rings had appeared in the night soft sky she had left the holodeck and him alone.
TBC-
