"So how're they treating you here?" asked Tom.
"They've been good to me Tom. They tell me I still have a few days of recovery ahead of me but the truth is, I'm not too certain of how I can handle the rest of it. So far, my body has had a mind of its own as you can see because of that nular gun of theirs. Believe me when I say it certainly carries quite a punch," Harry quietly explained.
Both gave a small laugh, even though the butterflies still coursed through Tom's stomach. With the information he was recently offered from Salvert over Harry's condition and prognosis. In the end, he wasn't too certain how he could break it to Harry without it turning his world upside down again.
"I'm just glad you're alive and I know the captain and the others will be too once we get the chance to tell them. There's too much interference where we are to contact them. By what I've seen of them so far their shields are quite sophisticated," Tom told him.
"I've been waiting the last few days to get in touch with you guys, I think I can wait a few more hours. Besides, at least you know I'm alright. It's not like I'm in any immediate danger from this, even though I have to deal with it a little longer," Harry laughed.
Tom slightly lowered his head, uncertain how he should tell his friend about what he learned. Not knowing what would become of his friend now scared him more than what he would care to admit, especially to Harry's face. He glanced down to the ground, taking a deep gulp before deciding to divert the conversation with something else.
"So Harry...what do you think the kids are going to be? Are you hoping for boys or girls?"
Harry couldn't help but laugh at the sudden inquiry of his soon to be born children. After a moment, he managed to calm himself down and had to think about it.
"I just hope they're born healthy for Ekaterina's sake but if I really had a choice, I'd hope for at least one daughter so I could spoil her rotten. I've been hoping for a daughter a while now," he replied.
"You'd better be careful if you did that. She could lose a few teeth since she's so rotten," Tom poked at him.
Harry gave him an odd stare, creating a small chuckle from Tom. After a few seconds, the ensign couldn't help but smile at the thought of his soon to be born children back on Rysaria. He knew there were going to be three now, and most likely more in the future with the several sperm samples he had left behind for Ekaterina to use. Part of him wondered what features they would have between her heritage and his own. For some reason he could not fathom, part of Harry knew that any girls born would have their mother's looks.
"I wish we had the time to stay back on Rysaria to at least stay until the kids were born but that would've taken a few months time out of our trip home," he whispered. "I can't tell you how much I want to see them Tom for who knows if I'll be able to sleep in the same bed as someone else ever again let alone have any more children."
Tom's heart dropped for this scenario never crossed his mind. He failed to think it through that his best friend could be able to get as close to anyone as he did with Ekaterina. He knew that she could not sleep with anyone else, her body rejecting any other seed that would try and impregnate her but Harry? According to Salvert, it was an unprecedented circumstance that the two were separated at all so the outcome was a complete unknown. The possibility that Harry could pass on the mereflow genes to other offspring was there and then Earth and the entire Alpha Quadrant could have a riot on their hands in the coming generations if that happened.
"Same here Harry, same here," he quietly replied. "I just know you would've been a perfect dad."
It was at that moment that Harry closed his eyes, a groan escaping his lips. His legs began to move underneath the blanket, indicating the discomfort that had decided to make itself known again. Tom climbed to his feet and placed a gentle hand on his friend's shoulder.
"I don't suppose there's anything I can do to help is there?" inquired Tom.
"N-not really but t-thanks anyway. J-just have to let it come on its own and then worry when the next one's coming," stammered Harry, a cringe crossing his face.
Tom gulped, feeling absolutely helpless as he watched his best friend deal with this very intimate problem. Harry tightly closed his eyes, the corners of his mouth quivering to show his distress. After a few long moments, a blush crossed his cheeks, indicating that the episode was over.
"Tom I-I-I..." he started.
"You don't say anything Harry. You don't need to apologize or explain anything. We'll get you cleaned up again and then soon enough, you'll be back on Voyager and heading towards the Alpha Quadrant again," Tom told him. "You'll see."
00000
"How soon are Fadru and Catar going to be ready in the southeast tunnel Tatiana?"
"Their troops are readying as we speak and I figure they'll storm the tunnel anytime now. When we sent the word out, several people dropped everything and came as quickly as they could to help. They're all getting jumpy with this for they've never gotten this close before to finding a camp What is the plan?"
"Despite the fact they can't get through the barriers, we should get as much as we can ready and evacuate and that includes our two guests. Knowing Fadru, they'll be able to find a way around the barriers."
"Shouldn't we get them back to their ship now? Harry is going to be nothing except dead weight the entire way because of his injuries. He'll slow us down too much. As for his friend, he could potentially give us away."
"Harry is still one of us and you know we never leave anyone behind, even him and his friend. The one may not be a kayart like us but I can tell you that he is extremely dedicated to the wellbeing of his friend. Tom greatly cares for Harry and I can see that. Otherwise, he wouldn't be here, complying with our rules," Salvert sternly told her. "Whatever happens, I'll take responsibility for them and we'll get them back to their ship once we know that we can do so safely. "
"He may have experiences because of his friend but he'll never truly understand what it feels like to be hunted your entire life or how our bodies function. We could simply transform him and then he'll truly know what it feels like to be us, to have our feelings of despair."
"I know how you feel about him but just remember we're in the middle of a slight dilemma here. We'll deal with that after we're relocated."
Tatiana lowered her head slightly before heading off to help with the others. Salver glanced around the camp, hoping to find Menais but couldn't see him in the commotion. The absence of the kayart greatly worried him. It had been long since Salvert suspected that something was different about Menais. He had known the man long before he was transformed and was quite irritable when it happened. The man had rejected the notion that he was no longer a normal Tanaschi since the very beginning and was exceptionally jealous that Salvert was a natural born kayart and could still have children. It had even gotten to the point that Menais caused more than enough mayhem within the pack with what little time he had actually spent at the camp.
'If we only knew that man would never fit among us, we never would have changed him,' he thought. 'Instead, we wound up having an instigator in our midst. It's almost a good thing he hardly spends any time here at all.'
Giving a sigh, he headed back to the cave to find Carbline had long since returned with the basin and cloths. He could see that she was long since finished with her task while Tom sat beside Harry, who appeared to be in a deep slumber. The solemn look on his face seemed to alert Tom to the nature of the situation as he climbed to his feet and made his way over to the kayart leader.
"What's wrong?" the pilot quietly asked.
"Our position has been compromised. Fadru and Catar are on the verge of locating the tunnel Carbline escorted you through in order to get here. Even though they have no way in, we have to move quickly to a neighbouring camp. Your friend will have to be moved despite his injuries and I'm hoping you'll be able to help until we can get back in contact with your people," he explained.
"Of course. It's the least I can do after all that you've done for Harry," replied Tom. "What can I do?"
"There isn't much you can do until we reach the camp with what little we can take. The best thing you can do at the moment is help get your friend to his feet and take him there. Carbline will prepare everything we need for his injuries and then show you which tunnel we're using to escape."
Tom nodded. He glanced over at Carbline, who was bustled around the room preparing everything that she could before he hurried over to Harry and gently prodded his shoulder. The ensign stirred and soon cracked his eyes open. He gave a sigh as his eyes soon found Tom's face.
"What's going on? I was having such a wonderful dream about Ekaterina," he said.
"I'm afraid it's not good. Fadru and Catar are about to storm this place and everyone has to get moving to another camp, including you. Now we have to get you up and going," Tom explained.
Blinking his eyes a few times, it took Harry a few moments before processing what Tom was telling him. He soon nodded in comprehension before trying to move his sore body, a cringe quickly crossing his face. Tom reached to help his friend off the slab that was once his friend's bed. Gingerly, Harry's feet made contact with the ground and he almost collapsed if Tom hadn't been there to catch him. With Harry's left arm slung around his shoulder and his right arm around Harry's waist, Tom began to follow Carbline out of the cave. As they left, Tom could tell that Harry was trying not to cry out in pain with each step.
"Don't worry Harry. You'll be fine."
00000
"Salvert, I'd like to talk to you."
Salvert managed to take the time to glance to his side to see who it was and couldn't help but give an inward sigh to who it was. Part of him wanted Menais out of the way but they could still use the help.
"What is it Menais? Can't you see I'm busy?" he flatly asked.
"I know. I was hoping to help. Maybe help evacuate people to the new location?" Menais explained. "Which tunnels are we using? Where are they coming from?"
The questions spilled out of the kayart and Salvert couldn't help but stare at the man with a curious look. The man standing before him, one who was once so eager to have nothing to do with them and despised them like so many others was offering his help with their current predicament. Part of him wondered what was going through Menais' mind and why he was doing it. The leader tried to shake it off but found it lingered and tried to explain the situation anyway.
"Fadru and Catar are about to find the southeast tunnel leading from Carbline's flower shop. Everyone's currently heading down the northwest tunnel. While we're there, I plan to escort our two guests to a place where they can be picked up by their crewmates. When I get back, we move on from there," Salvert explained.
"What about taking a few through the northeast passage? Splitting up could mean a better chance at escape."
"I hate to split up the pack and you know it. Unless you have a valid reason for it, I'm afraid I cannot allow that. We're heading down the northwest tunnel. I don't have time for your games and even though Fadru has no way to get in here, we still should evacuate since they are very resourceful. They'll probably find a way around them or deactivate them somehow. Either way, we'll be long gone when they arrive."
Menais remained silent as he watched his superior move around the camp. Out of the corner of his eye, he watched as Carbline and the newcomer slowly moving along with someone he did not recognize. He inhaled sharply once he realized that it was a fellow crewmember from the ship that was now in orbit, most likely to take away his friend at their earliest convenience.
"I didn't realize that we started allowing everyone in here. I've never understood any one of you nor have I liked anyone here or what you've done to me," he muttered.
"Menais...," started Salvert.
Without another word, he remained staring in the direction of the trio heading towards to cave before a grin crossed his face. He heard shouts behind him of his fellow kayarts and the sound of trampling feet as people tried to move out of the way. The sounds of guns mixed in with the screams and shouts filling the air.
"They're here!" Salvert cried out. "I don't know how but they're here! Everyone get to the nearest tunnel!"
Tom frantically glanced around the camp to see Fadru, Catar and a few other men trying to shoot anyone they could. He glanced over in Salvert's direction only to find he was brought to his knees, grasping his side. Stealing a quick look, he could see they were only a few more feet away from the tunnel entrance. Quickly, he tried to drag Harry that few extra feet despite the hisses of pain emitting from his friend's lips before a blast landed on the ground before them and a figure stepped before them, his arms crossed and a huge grin sitting on his face.
"You are not going anywhere. I have been waiting several days in order to get my chance at you two. Neither one of you will not escape me this time," Fadru told them.
Tom gulped and a sense of dread settled in his stomach as he gazed across the camp to find Salvert, Carbline and several other kayarts being escorted to the center of the clearing. A poke of metal on his arm brought his attention back to Fadru, who motioned with his gun to move to the small gathering growing nearby.
"Things keep getting better and better, don't they Tom?" Harry gritted through his teeth. "Now how are we going to get out of this?"
Tom didn't say anything and gave a deep sigh, wondering how he was going to alert the captain and the others to their predicament or even tell them they were still alive - at least for the moment. As everyone was gathered, Carbline steeped forward, the anger apparent all over her face.
"How did you even get in here Fadru? We have safeties in place in order to prevent outsiders like you from getting in," wondered Carbline.
"Do you really want to know how we managed to get in here? Why, we did it with these," Fadru coyly replied. "Amazing devices these things are. If only I had access to them before."
He held up a small device and the colour drained from everyone's face for they all knew what it was: one of the disks for non-kayart to pass through the shields.
TBC...