As exhausted as Vylisa felt while getting ready for bed, she couldn't help allow the memories of the evening to flow over her. The dinner had been delicious, a mixture of Netcket and Alpha Quadrant cuisine with the help of Neelix. All of the dignitaries vied for a chance to visit with those from Voyager. The chancellor told her in the course of the evening that she wished they could have arranged for a dinner such as this earlier since their honored guests were winning many new friends.
Vylisa pulled her nightgown over her head as she admitted to herself the truth of why she enjoyed the evening so much. The reason had a name, Enca. Her heart had pounded so loudly at the sight of him in his dress uniform that she was certain that everyone in the house could hear it. The satiny-gray uniform accented by the blue stripe along the top of his broad shoulders, down the full length of the sleeves and the side of the trouser legs brought out the brilliance of the color of his eyes. The three slashes of silver braid across his forearms proclaimed his rank and matched the fringe trimming his cuffs and the edge of his coat. Again the word *beautiful*floated through her mind and on its heels, *he's mine* filled her with joy.
Try as she might, Vylisa was unable to put her thoughts and feelings into words. She wanted to tell him how wonderful he looked, but when she opened her mouth, he interrupted her with, "You look lovely tonight, little one," and escorted her to the waiting mobile unit.
Her pale blue gown was simple and of classic Netcket design. Gathered at the shoulders with a high round neckline, it flowed to her ankles with only a single gold cord cinching the waist. Her sandals matched the color of the belting.
Both Kathryn and Chakotay wore Starfleet dress uniforms. Vylisa marveled at how the same style could be so flattering to both of them. She did, however, wonder if the captain always wore a uniform to formal occasions or if she ever enjoyed wearing a gown.
All during the evening, Vylisa kept her mind attuned to her charges because she still had the hope that they might surrender to the feelings she knew they both felt for each other. Although Chakotay allowed himself to admire his captain, Kathryn seldom gave herself the same privilege.
Vylisa refused to let discouragement dwell in her thoughts. She lifted her prayers to the Gifter, begging for help with her charges and reminding the Gifter how short their time left on the planet was. *Maybe things are going to fail because I am promised to Enca.*
Slipping into her bed, Vylisa sighed. Along with the discouraging thoughts about her charges, she couldn't push away the fear that she would lose Enca as well. Although he had been attentive to her all night, she couldn't shake the feeling that he was doing so out of duty, not affection or love. Toward the end of the evening, she reached out with her mind to listen to his emotions. She found them to be warm and cordial but only in a general way.
Vylisa fluffed her pillow and closed her eyes. She hoped that she would be able to sleep but she feared her troubled mind wouldn't allow it. She whispered into and darkness, "Loving Gifter, forgive me if I have run ahead of your plans. I love Enca more than I thought possible. How will I find the strength to release him?" Determined to rest, she tried force the sad thoughts out of her mind. Eventually she fell into a fitful sleep.
Waking early in the morning after a troubled night and unable to sleep any longer, Vylisa went to the dining room and replicated a cup of the captain's favorite drink. She sat, sipping the coffee while looking over the day's schedule on the CI tablet in front of her. The plans included spending most of the time in the planet's archive of antiquities.
Vylisa was glad that today wasn't a work day. Her lack of sleep and anxious thoughts would have combined to keep her from doing her job well. Later they would visit the archive of antiquities, but for now she could relax.
"May the Gifter bless your day, Maiden Vylisa," Nwad greeted her from the kitchen door. "You are up early after being so late at the banquet."
"May the Gifter bless your day as well, Nwad," Vylisa returned the greeting without answering the older woman's remark.
After a few moments, Nwad nodded and asked, "Would you are like to eat now or wait for the others?"
"I'll wait." She stood, holding her now-empty cup and her tablet and walked to the replicator. "I think I'll have another cup of coffee while sitting on the porch. I don't often get the chance to leisurely enjoy the early morning."
Stretching out on the reclining chaise, Vylisa sipped from her cup and allowed her mind to wander. The song of the birds soothed her troubled heart as the hot liquid warmed her body.
"Did you sleep well, Enca?" Vylisa felt rather than heard his approach.
"I did," he replied as he bent down to kiss her quickly. "How did you sleep?" He lowered his body into the chair beside her.
Vylisa's heart seemed ready to burst for the delight that filled it. Maybe he did feel more for her than obligation or duty. They were alone and he'd kissed her.
"Here is your tea and breakfast, Escort Alocty."
Nwad's announcement and arrival startled Vylisa and crushed her hopeful thoughts. Enca must have known the housekeeper would be following him. He played his part well. Jumping up, he helped the old woman with the heavy tray she carried. Even though Nwad was flustered by the attention, Vylisa could see that she was pleased by his assistance.
"I must go to the embassy this morning," Enca explained as he lifted a plate of rolls and offered one to Vylisa "My assistant and Mr. Tuvok have worked through the night again. Apparently Vulcans are able to go for long periods without sleep, but I intend to relieve them both so that they can get some rest."
She shook her head, declining the proffered food.
Catching her eye, Enca searched her face. "You didn't answer me when I asked how you slept."
Vylisa broke eye contact and stared into her cup before she took a swallow to erase her mouth's dryness. "Not well, I'm afraid," she told him truthfully.
His concern, deep and full of alarm, washed over her before she closed her mind to his feelings as they threatened to overwhelm her. What could it mean? She wouldn't allow herself to speculate; instead she reached for his hand. "I'm fine. The Gifter knows I tend to fret and that doesn't help me sleep."
"But you have been so exhausted lately. . ." His words trailed off, his concern still written on his face.
"Please don't worry." Vylisa squeezed his hand before she let go and took a piece of fruit from his tray. As she ate the tangy tidbit, she decided to steer the conversation in a different direction. Checking to see if the door between the house and the porch was closed so they wouldn't be overheard, she asked, "Has there been any new discoveries with regards to the computer break in?"
"They were able to track the tapping." He rubbed his chin, frustration obvious in his expression. "The records had been altered to look as if the trespassing was older than it was. After they made that discovery, they traced it Ambassador Neelix's first transport to Netcket. We now know the station used and Neen Pella was the guard assigned there."
"Pella?" Vylisa exclaimed. "Has she been located?"
Enca frowned and shook his head. "It's as if she has vanished, although the search for her continues. Maybe once we solve the computer puzzle, we will be able to find her."
As soon as he finished his breakfast, Enca left, promising to join the group at the archive as soon as he could.
Later that morning, they arrived at the museum. Vylisa felt uneasy without Enca beside her. Despite the four attentive escorts assigned to their party, she longed for her promised one's presence. How silly she was! Forcing the worry from her mind, she smiled at her Voyager friends. "I hope you will enjoy our antiquities archive," she said as she entered the lobby. Just beyond, she saw the large arched opening to the caves that housed the museum.
Another escort met them as he came out. He assured them that the museum was secure. Their small group had the whole place to themselves with only the few pre-screened guides waiting to answer questions.
Kathryn paused as she saw the entrance to the caves. "I thought we were going to a museum."
"We are," Chakotay spoke up before Vylisa could explain. "I've been reading about it. This vast cave system has the perfect climate for storing the many items of Netcket history and the minerals in the system form a natural shield against transporter theft. That kind of robbery was a problem in the early days of the technology. The museum was moved here almost a century ago."
Vylisa couldn't help but chuckle. "You could be an archive guide, if you ever tire of your duties as Voyager's first officer."
"Thanks, but I'll stay where I am," he answered with a dimpled grin.
At first, Kathryn seemed bored as they moved through the displays of prehistoric items. Vylisa could tell that she wanted to be helping those working on the computers. Chakotay tried to keep his captain engaged in conversation as if he too understood Kathryn's preoccupation.
Once they reached the exhibit featuring the early scientific history that Kathryn's interest was finally piqued. She asked the guide a myriad of questions and the delighted older man answered in great detail.
Vylisa and Chakotay sat on some benches leaving the other two in deep conversation.
"I'm glad she found something to take her mind off the computer problems," Chakotay admitted. "Kathryn usually isn't happy unless she's a part of the solution, and on Voyager she's helped to solve many a problem."
Vylisa watched Kathryn waved her arms in the air as if to explain something. The guide grinned as he moved his hands to show her how to correct her minor angle error. The captain laughed, patted the man's shoulder, and bid him good bye. When she spied where they waited for her, Kathryn joined them. "Mr. Setsik is a fountain of information and old tales. I would love to come back to see this part of the museum again. He told me that the next section of the archive might have more of interest to me."
Kathryn's bearing was relaxed for the first time that day. She gave them her half smile and asked, "Are you rested enough, or should I go on by myself?"
Chakotay grinned as he rose quickly to his feet. He stood at mock attention. "At your service, Captain. I'm ready if you are."
As she followed a few steps behind, Vylisa opened her mind to the thoughts of the other two. A gentle touch of companionship flowed between them. Kathryn's feelings, though still more guarded than Chakotay's, held a wistful longing for more than she would ever allow to happen. His admiration for the woman beside him was almost painful for Vylisa to observe. Now that she loved Enca, her empathy seemed to be heightened. *To think that I was so eager for this ability when there can be so much sadness involved.*
They walked through low-ceilinged tunnel to the next large area, something caught Vylisa's eye. She looked up to see a tiny light flash as Kathryn and Chakotay passed. Almost without thought, she rushed forward and intent on pushing them out of the closed-in space.
The ground began to rumble and sounds like booms of thunder assaulted her ears before the rocks of the cave began to fall around them. Vylisa felt a rock ram into her side while another hit her head. She fought to bring air into her lungs as well as the dizziness caused by the blow to her head while she moved to where Kathryn had been thrown by the blast.
The air was thick with dust nearly blocking the glow of the few emergency lights, as small pieces of rock still rained down on them occasionally from above. Vylisa pulled her shirt neck up over her nose and mouth, in an attempt to filter the air she breathed. Assessing her own injuries as her parents had taught her, she knew she had a couple cracked or broken ribs and a possible concussion. Calling on the Gifter, she summoned her mental strength to block the pain until help arrived. Her charges needed her.
Kathryn groaned and pushed herself up as Vylisa examined her. Blood oozed from a gash on the captain's arm and a cut on her temple. Vylisa used her mind to absorb some of her pain as she tore the hem of her shirt for a compress to stop the bleeding on Kathryn's arm.
"Chakotay, where is he?" Kathryn's voice cracked with fear.
"Let me tie this first," Vylisa soothed. "You can't help him if you lose much blood."
A few second later, Vylisa finished her task and Kathryn stood, holding a cloth to her temple. She grabbed Vylisa's hand as she fought dizziness. "He was right beside me."
Both women saw Chakotay at the same time. He was nearly covered with debris from the blast. Fine dust and small stones covered his face and upper body while large chunks of rock hid his legs from view. Kathryn dropped to her knees next to him and felt for a pulse. Her brief look of relief would have been enough to tell Vylisa that he was alive although Vylisa already knew, having probed his mind to find out for herself.
"His pulse is weak," Kathryn reached up to slap her commbadge. "Janeway to Voyager."
"Go ahead, Captain," was the static filled response.
Vylisa felt Kathryn tightening her resolve to be strong. "There's been an explosion and Chakotay has been badly hurt. We're trapped."
"Understood, we'll contact the embassy after we beam you to the ship."
"Transporters won't work in these caves. Contact Tuvok right away." Kathryn closed her eyes against the pain in her head. "Get us out of here."
"Aye Capta. . ." The young officer's answer was cut off in a burst of renewed static.
Kathryn tried several times to reestablish contact with the ship but failed. She slumped back against a rock near Chakotay's head and picked up one of his hands and gently caressed it. "Please Chakotay, hold on. I can't do this without you." Her choked whisper showed her stress.
The desperation that Kathryn felt pulled at Vylisa. Finally the captain allowed her feelings for her first officer to surface and to run freely through her awareness, and it might be too late.
What if it is too late for us all? Vylisa thought, her heart torn between her charges and her own wish that Enca was with her. After she lifted another silent entreaty to the Gifter, she was able to put aside her selfish needs to focus on what she needed to do. Kneeing next to Chakotay's side opposite Kathryn, Vylisa worked to lift as many of the fallen rocks from his legs as possible. With Kathryn's help, they removed all but one boulder.
Although his legs lay at odd angles, Chakotay had no visible open wounds aside from a small cut on his forehead. While they removed the stones, even that gash had stopped bleeding. Vylisa instructed Kathryn to lie down next to the unconscious first officer to help keep him warm while she searched the rest of the cave room for a medical kit or even some sort of covering for him.
Vylisa had never experienced such discouragement as she finished her short tour of the room. She found nothing that would help her treat Chakotay. Her own injuries caused her great pain anytime she bent to move a stone or lift a broken piece of a display.
"Kathryn," Vylisa spoke quietly as she returned to Kathryn and Chakotay.
She watched as Kathryn struggled to focus. "What is it?"
"There is only one thing I know to do, but I'm not sure if we can do it." Vylisa searched through mind for all the memories of her parents working their art of healing. One stood out as the best to draw from to help Chakotay.
"We have to do something to help him, Vylisa, please," Kathryn begged. "I can hardly feel his pulse and his breathing is even shallower than before."
"As you know, my parents are healers although they aren't physicians." Vylisa coughed to clear the dust from her throat. The pain in her side made her gasp as she knelt beside the injured commander. "I suffered a compound fracture of my arm once, and while my parents waited for the medical unit to arrive, they fused their minds with mine to keep me from going into shock. Even though I'm not trained in the technique, I think that you and I can stabilize Chakotay until help comes."
"What can I do to help you?" Kathryn voice filled with fear and confusion. "I'm not empathic."
"True but you do love him," Vylisa explained simply as she gently lifted Chakotay's hand.
When Kathryn nodded, as if consciously admitting her feelings for him for the first time, Vylisa asked, "Are you able to sit up?"
Voyager's captain slowly pushed herself into a seated position. It was then that Vylisa realized that she would have to help Kathryn with her pain before they could help Chakotay.
"Keep a hold on Chakotay's hand while you take my free hand." Vylisa shivered as Kathryn clasped hers with an icy grip. "First, let me take your pain. Watch it leave through your finger tips to me. I will lock it away so you will only be vaguely aware of it."
Vylisa felt the fear and doubt, and she pulled those emotions away from Kathryn. Narrowing her focus so that she didn't experience but only channeled them, the awareness of Kathryn's pain flowed freely to that remote part of Vylisa's mind reserved for it.
"That's so much better," Kathryn sighed.
"Now, Kathryn, listen carefully to me," Vylisa commanded in a soothing tone. "Let yourself feel your love for Chakotay. Open every door to every part of your emotions, to every place you've forced that love to hide. This is not a time for denial. Chakotay needs that love to live."
"Okay," Kathryn answered, in trust she resigned herself to do as Vylisa said.
As Kathryn's raw and uninhibited emotions began to rupture forth from their previous confinement, Vylisa's eyes stung for the beauty and strength of those feelings. Knowing she didn't have the time or the permission to view what she was channeling, Vylisa garnered her strength and focused everything on Chakotay.
Even in his unconscious state, his mind was full of feelings for Kathryn. One by one Vylisa pulled away the pain, fear, and confusion and replaced them with Kathryn's love. Nothing prepared her for the beauty of his response. Joy and enraptured delight rushed back toward Kathryn in seemingly endless waves.
Vylisa pulled her conscious awareness further from the emotions as they moved back and forth between the two humans. Now she could observe and monitor the flow of feeling without taking part as if she watched traffic rush by from the vantage point of the sidewalk. She wanted to see if Chakotay's condition had improved, so Vylisa forced her eyes to see her surroundings again. The first thing she saw was the faint smile and hint of color on his dust-covered face. His breathing seemed deeper and more controlled. If she could only hold out until help arrived.
When Vylisa glanced at Kathryn, she was shocked to see the joy that had transformed the captain's face. Unblinking, the captain focused on Chakotay, holding onto his hand as if it were her lifeline.
Closing her eyes as her own pain increased, Vylisa shut out the things around her and moved back to monitoring Kathryn and Chakotay. She wished again for the rescuers as concentration as the channeling became more difficult to maintain. *Please merciful Gifter, help us.* Her faith began to weaken as her body reached it limit of endurance. *I can't do this much longer.*
Tears coursed down her cheeks as failure seem inevitable. Faintness and pain worked their way out of confinement. Vylisa recognized and almost welcomed the symptoms of shock as they wrapped around her when sudden strength infused into her being, both emotional and physical. The cold weakness faded and the throbbing in her head and side subsided.
*Praise the Gifter!* Vylisa shouted in her mind as she was able to continue her channeling with the renewed strength. Time no longer existed as she ministered to Chakotay and Kathryn. Vylisa did wonder how long they had been trapped, but she no longer worried about it. Help was on its way.
Vylisa slowly became aware of a vibration and a crumbling sound. Opening her eyes, she turned toward the mass of rubble from the first explosion. Streams of light shone from between the rocks as other stones fell into the room. She could hear voices calling to her, but it took her several tries to respond. "We're here," Vylisa managed to croak out.
Kathryn seemed unaware of the rescuers until they crawled through the opening they had shored up. Before long, the tunnel was secured so that Chakotay could be lifted to a stretcher and carried out. The captain refused to let go of her XO's hand until a medic insisted that she be examined. With the connection broken and her awareness of pain heightened, Kathryn welcomed the injection he gave her.
At a gentle touch to the shoulder, Vylisa turned her attention from her charges.
"You need to let a medic examine you, too," Enca's gentle voice insisted. He helped her recline on the stretcher that been put on the ground next to her.
"I'll get on that thing, but only because I can't bend enough to get through that opening," she maintained.
When they arrived at the emergency vehicles, Vylisa sat up and looked around. She realized that others, likely the guides, had been injured in the blast. The person responsible had to be caught. She watched as Tuvok walked toward her with a few embassy escorts. Maybe she could help by telling them what she knew.
The orderlies pushed the last gurney into the last emergency vehicle. Enca stood as close as he could without touching Vylisa. While she bravely explained to the security officer what had happened before and after the explosion, he shored her up with his emotions of calm and determination. When Vylisa finished telling Tuvok her account of the events in the museum, she glanced up at Enca. "Could you help me get to the hospital?" Vylisa chuckled and then grimaced at the pain the simple laugh caused. "I seem to have missed the last unit."
"Of course," Enca agreed at once. "If you will excuse us, Mr. Tuvok, Vylisa needs medical care."
Tuvok nodded his head as Enca cautiously laid his hand between Vylisa's shoulder blades and led her to his waiting mobile-unit.
"I should've insisted that you go to the hospital first. Are you sure I shouldn't call another emergency unit?" he asked as he watched her gingerly get into the front seat.
"I'm in and it will take less time if you just take me there." She leaned back against the seat. Now that her friends were safe, Vylisa began to actually feel other bruises and scrapes she hadn't been aware of before. The very act of breathing now made her broken ribs scream in protest.
However, when she looked over at Enca, his eyes reflected her pain. He gently touched her hand, the same strength and well-being that assisted her in the cave flowed over her again. He had somehow helped her and she knew in that moment that he did love her, nothing would change that. Sighing, she closed her eyes and dozed.
When they arrived at the small hospital, Enca pulled close to the entrance and hurried to find a wheelchair and helped her into it. The guard at the door didn't even blink when they left the unit parked in a restricted zone. He called out as they passed, "I'll watch it for you. Take care of our ambassador."
Inside the atmosphere was one of near chaos. The staff hurried back and forth from the tiny emergency room. Enca tried to get someone's attention since no one was at the front desk. Finally he turned to Vylisa. "I'll find someone. I'll just move you out of the way so this crowd doesn't bump you." As he turned to go, Enca reached out his hand and tenderly caressed her cheek.
"I'll be all right, Enca, just hurry." She relaxed in the chair and prepared to wait as she watched him head down the hallway. The farther away he went the more the pain assaulted her. *I hope he finds someone soon although I could call my parents. I'm sure I'd be would be fine at home.*
Closing her eyes against the throbbing of her injuries, Vylisa felt a soft touch to her neck before she heard a faint hiss. She opened her eyes and tried to turn her head to see what had happened, but she couldn't move. She was paralyzed.
"You can't call for help now." A low growl sounded from behind, close to Vylisa's ear. "We'll go where we can have a nice, undisturbed chat."
Pella! Pella had found her. Vylisa could do nothing as the former station guard turned the chair around. She tried but failed to cry out for help. In fact, she found it difficult to even swallow. What was going to happen now? Gifter, help me. At least, her mind still worked. She had refused to let fear control her back in the caves. She wouldn't allow it now. Vylisa closed her eyes again and tried to pull her emotional barriers around her mind, but it wasn't as easy as usual this time. Although she could think clearly, command of her inner defenses was sluggish and slow amidst the agony of her injuries. As Vylisa worked to fortify herself against the anxiety that feverishly battered her mind, she realized that the chair wasn't moving any longer. Opening her eyes, she found they were in a darkened room with Pella staring down at her.
"Interesting experience, isn't it, Maiden Ambassador?" Pella sneered, a humorless smile on her face. "And don't think that you have a hope of someone else hearing your emotions. I know how to block out all intrusion. Soon you won't even notice that your limbs and vocal cords don't work. Soon you will experience real pain, the pain of fear and loss, of knowing that your mind will never be the same. That man, Enca Alocty will never want you after I'm through with you. Just like Mot didn't want me after he lost Ennah."
Finally Vylisa understood that Pella had done all of this for Mot, to try to win him. It was so tragic that so much trouble came from ill-directed desire for another, she thought as she watched as the other woman pulled a chair in front of her own.
"Shall we begin?" Pella's eyes gleamed with unnatural brightness as she took both Vylisa's limp hands in her own.
Emotions, strong and virulently dark, battered the protective barriers Vylisa had tried to erect moments before. Piece by piece the walls crumbled as feelings as powerful as gale-force winds struck them. Slowly her own sense-of-personhood and the peace-of-mind that had helped her through the past few weeks began to be washed away by hatred and rage, her strength slipped away like sand through her fingers.
Fear like she'd never known ripped at the fabric of her being. The pain of her wounds increased with each barrage of malevolence that struck her weakening awareness. In her mind, she screamed out her desperation, still clinging to the hope that someone might be close enough to feel her cry.
Buffeted and bruised by the pounding of frenzied wrath, Vylisa felt herself begin to surrender to the attack. Weakened and alone, she had no reserves, nothing with which to fight such a strong enemy. Just as she was ready to give in and welcome the frigid blackness that beckoned, she felt a tiny shaft of warm light and heard a whispered word. "Love."
*Holy Gifter,* her heart whispered back. It was then that she remembered her mother's words. "Everything that is required will come to you at the proper time. . ."
In her mind, a bit of calm like the eye of a hurricane surrounded the wounded fragment of what was left of her personhood. Vylisa yielded her weakness and impotence to the Gifter. She felt something flow into her heart and mind. Love, pure and unadulterated, pushed against the hate. Love squelched the fire of the hate, subdued the flood of the rage, stilled the onslaught of the dreadful fear, and erased the pain of the loneliness.
Soon the tiny isle of serenity became a continent; the storm that had raged against her became only the smallest of breezes. Vylisa opened her eyes to see Pella slumped to her knees, her hands covering her face, weeping. Vylisa's own throat felt thick with gratitude. How would she ever be able to thank the Gifter enough?
A loud bang sounded as the door crashed open and a bright light startled both of the women. Vylisa tried to find the source of the noise, but the drug-induced paralysis prevented her. Suddenly she felt her chair move and roll gently into the hall. She heard Enca behind her giving orders to take Pella into custody.
Enca! He'd found her. His love wrapped her tightly as if he couldn't help himself. Vylisa let the relief he felt rain over her and answered with her own love and gratitude. In front of her, he dropped to his knees and carefully took her hands. She was safe now, with her beloved. All of the pain of the day and all of the hate and rage, would soon be a distant faded memory.
"Forgive me for leaving you," Enca pleaded his voice thick with emotion. "I'll make sure that you're safe now. Your parents are on their way here. You're going to be fine."
"Please sir, we should get the ambassador into a treatment room." Vylisa heard another voice as if from a distance.
A great heavy sleepiness washed over Vylisa as she was wheeled into a room and lifted gently onto a bed. She fought to stay awake but the soft cloud of fatigue beckoned her. After sending one more emotional caress toward Enca, she relaxed into unconsciousness.
