Kes stopped just ahead of the group and waited for them there. She was standing next to some kind of strange column that seemed to glow in the dim light.
"[This is it. This crystal responds to simple thought commands," said Kes. "It will send us wherever I tell it. I don't think we can teleport directly into the Lower City with a group this big. We could try for the Upper Village and head down.]"
"[Sounds like a plan,]" said Janeway.
"[All right then. Everyone join hands. I'll do the rest.]" There was a pause and then Janeway's cool hand slipped into Kes's elfin one. She laid her free hand on the crystal and thought, very clearly, Upper Village.
Janeway felt as though she was sinking into cool water as the magic took effect. The coolness sank deeper and deeper into her skin until it was soaking her bones. There came a strange pulling sensation that made her feel as if she was being stretched from head to toe like an elastic band. Suddenly, everything snapped back together and they were standing in an enormous cave. It was brighter than the one they had left and every part of the walls was covered with plants and flowers. Sunlight, or something almost exactly like it came from more crystals in the ceiling.
"That was a little strange," said Chakotay, just to have something to say.
"Indeed," Tuvok answered. Janeway looked around, trying to get a better sense of where they were, but plants and planters blocked her view. A dart of movement caught her attention nearby. She moved for her sword, but suddenly a voice shouted, "[Kes! You're back!]"
Kes grinned, and suddenly a dozen Ocampa surrounded them. A trait of their tribe must have youthfulness, Janeway concluded, as she saw that not one of them seemed over the Human age of twenty. Their shouts of laughter and excitement were so childlike and exuberant that the crew felt their spirits lifting a little.
"[Where have you been?]" they asked. "[Why are you hurt? Who are they?]"
"[It will take a while to explain,]" she answered, still returning friendly embraces and grinning at them.
-Then you should begin explaining,- came a voice that was not so much a voice as an idea shaped like a voice. It simply appeared in their heads without any kind of warning. The Humans twisted and spun around, looking for the source.
Kes turned and faced the open side of the large cave, occupied by a silhouette.
"[These people can't thought-send,]" Kes said in a voice of iron. "[Please talk aloud.]"
-I respect the traditions of the elders,- the voice answered. -The same can't be said of you, it seems.-
Janeway suppressed a gasp. Psions!
"[I have nothing to hide, Toscat. Why not come out where we can see you? Or do you have something to hide?]"
A tall man, about thirty but moving as though he were much older, stepped into view. His face was prideful, but turned to contempt as he saw the newcomers.
-What right do you have to bring them here? This is surely against all wishes of the Caretaker!-
"[They only want to find their people,]" said Kes, striding up to him. "[They needed my help and I gave it to them. Surely helping others is the will of the Caretaker.]"
Toscat eyed her warily. -Perhaps. But there are ways to help others without defying him in this way.-
Kes all but glared at him, then spoke loud enough to address the other Ocampa.
"[Does anyone know where the strangers the Caretaker sends are kept?]"
It was quiet for a moment, and the captain wondered if anyone was even going to answer. Finally, a voice near the open side of the cave spoke up.
"[They might be at the hospital in the Lower City,]" a woman said.
"[Let's go,]" said Kes, leading the way. Toscat, angry and nearly dumbfounded with Kes's actions, moved to block them all.
"[No outsiders in the Lower City,]" he said, speaking awkwardly and louder than necessary. Janeway guessed it had been quite some time since he had used his actual voice. "[If you won't obey the Caretaker, you will obey our rules.]"
"[But the Caretaker has been sending strangers into the Lower City for weeks,]" said Kes, trying to punch a hole in his logic. Toscat floundered at this, but before he could protest, someone actually walked out of the tunnel. The new Ocampa woman wore something official-looking and was followed by two indistinct figures. Janeway rubbed her eyes, trying to bring them into focus before she realized this was how they actually appeared. She didn't recognize the blurry female, but the male waved at her.
"Captain!" he called, voice echoing as if from a deep well and with a mixture of wonder and fear, she saw it was Harry Kim.
"B'Elanna!" said Chakotay, rushing over to the female. She didn't wave at him, but seemed relieved all the same. Janeway strode over to Kim and tried to place a reassuring hand on his shoulder, but it slipped through with almost no resistance.
"[What's happening to them?]" Janeway demanded of the woman. She shrugged. "[The strangers appear like this. Nothing we do helps – the doctors have tried everything they could think of.]"
Janeway swallowed back a wave of fear. She had never seen or heard of anything like this. It had to be a spell of some kind – what disease could make someone appear as if they were made from fog?
"[Have you tried counter spells?]" asked Tuvok, seeming to read Janeway's mind.
"[Of course. The only spell that might have worked was Force Link, but none of us were compatible.]"
"[When did you try that?]" said Torres.
"[While you were asleep. At least, that's what the healers said when I asked them.]"
"[So, why didn't it work?]"
"[Our tribes are too different. No Ocampa can share their life force with a Human.]" The woman looked down at the floor. "[I wish there was something I could do, but…
"[Their tribesmen are here now,]" said Kes. "[Could you create the Force Link between two people?]"
The woman straightened up, a ghost of a smile on her face. "[Yes. But this is only a temporary solution. It will buy them time, nothing more.]"
"[Time is what we need,]" said Janeway. "[The only person who can reverse this spell is the Caretaker, so that's where we need to go next.]"
"[All right. I'll need a volunteer for each of them.]"
"[I'll link with Harry,]" said Tom.
"[And I'll take B'Elanna,]" said Chakotay. The woman nodded, then motioned them over. The gathering watched as she placed one hand on Kim's chest and the other in the same place on Paris. She concentrated for a moment, then Paris seemed grow dim. A light passed from him, through the woman and into Kim, who became nearly solid. She repeated the process for Chakotay and Torres. The four of them stood there a moment, blinking slowly. Then they came out of their reverie; Kim and Torres looking quite relieved. Janeway nodded at them, then turned to Kes.
"[Do you know how to reach the Caretaker from here?]"
Kes began to reply, but Toscat cut her off, livid. "[You can't actually be considering this! Nobody is to look upon the Caretaker, ever!]"
"[Why not?]" asked Kes, curious, but with growing anger. "[Why are we not allowed to question him? Is it because we might find out that his word is actually the word of the elders?]" She turned to look at the other Ocampa who stood listening. "[They're telling us what they want, not what the Caretaker wants.]"
"[Enough!]" shouted Toscat. "[I will hear no more of this! How dare you dishonor the teachings of the Caretaker?]"
"[What have we learned?]" she demanded. "[Dependency, how to stop thinking for ourselves, how to accept whatever we're told, do what we're told? No. We've lost more than we've gained. I'm through quietly listening. I want to see the world for myself.]" She turned away and headed back to the transport crystal, the crew following behind her.
"[STOP!]" cried Toscat, sounding more desperate than angry now. "[Kes, if you leave, you won't be allowed back! Place a single hand on that crystal and I'll banish you for good!]"
"[I was never planning on coming back,]" she said, touching the crystal. The entire group vanished in a flash of light, leaving Toscat alone with the bewildered Ocampa.
Again, the cool darkness snapped back together and Janeway found herself standing in the watery light of the cave. Torres and Kim let out painful moans as they rematerialized, clutching their sides. The captain darted over to them, fearful there had been some kind of disastrous side effect.
"Are you all right, Ensign?" she asked. He nodded, pain clouding his eyes.
"[I don't think they can do that again,]" said Kes. "[We'll have to find another way to the Caretaker's hideout.]"
Chakotay frowned. "[We don't have time for-]" he started, but a shuddering thud cut him off.
"[What was that?]" asked Paris.
"[I think it came from outside the tower,]" said Neelix. Another thud came, followed by a faint vibration.
"[Tuvok, I need you to find out what's happening,]" said the captain. Tuvok nodded, folding his hands and closing his eyes. He concentrated for a moment, then a glowing shape drifted out of him and through the cave wall. Janeway counted five thuds before Tuvok opened his eyes and turned to face her.
"[The Kazon are detonating charges against the tower's outer wall. It will not maintain its structural integrity for much longer. However, I have discovered an ancient staircase leading to the top, along with another teleportation crystal close to the entrance of the hideout.]"
"How did he do that?" whispered Kim.
"It's a Vulcan spell for remote viewing," answered Paris. At Kim's frown, he added, "I know, but you can usually trust a Vulcan not to spy on you for fun. After all, they don't believe in fun."
"[Kes,]" said Janeway. "[Can you send Tuvok and I to the top alone?]"
"[I think so.]"
"[All right, we'll go that way and the rest of you take the stairs and catch us up at the top.]" She plucked a long dead torch from a rusted bracket and met each of their eyes in turn. "[We're getting out of here, right now.]"
They joined hands and the spell took effect. When reality snapped back together, they stood in inky blackness. The darkness was cool and musty; it seemed to cling to their skin. Janeway drew the Dragon's Stone from her pocket and breathed gently on it. A swirling flame cut through the darkness and instantly lit the torch. Kes watched it for a moment, then said, "[I should go back. They might need my help.]"
Janeway smiled at her. Kes had barely met the crew and was already willing to help and protect them. She laid a hand on the Ocampa's shoulder and spoke again.
"[Go. We can take care of ourselves.]"
Kes nodded, then laid her hand on the crystal. She vanished in a flash of light and then they were alone. Janeway turned to face her second officer and gestured into the darkness.
"Shall we?"
