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Chapter 20

Chakotay had risen out of his command chair at the Keepers suggestion of abandonment. "No!" he said emphatically.

"Captain Chakotay," the Keeper said mildly, "I appreciate the sentiment you display in not desiring to leave me here, but I assure you that I shall be quite alright."

"Nevertheless Magistrate, I refuse to leave you here without protection," Chakotay told him in no uncertain terms.'

Spock had stepped quietly forward while they were discussing things, and inserted himself, not quite in between the two, facing Voyager's captain. "If I may, Captain," he said thoughtfully. At Chakotay's nod, the Vulcan ambassador turned to the Talosian, and addressed him very carefully. "Magistrate. I believe I understand what you are doing, but I'm not certain it will work. We don't know if the intelligence in charge of the 'Rock' will see it as abandonment or not."

The Keeper nodded at Spock and said. "This is true, Mr. Spock. However, if there is a chance it will allow you to go free if you give the appearance of abandoning me here, it is one we should take." The Keeper now looked grave. "Besides, Mr. Spock. I am just one man, and I stand in the way of my race being revived. Seven said that the 'Rock' saw only me as an enemy. If it destroys me, my death is a small price to pay for the people patterned in its memory to be revived. I would gladly die for my people. Even though they are the 'adversary' of my people, they are not my adversary." He turned and walked towards the viewscreen. Normally, he carried himself very straight, almost with a regal bearing. Now, however, there was a noticeable slump to his shoulders, and his head hung. He stopped a few steps away from the viewscreen, and somehow he seemed very small and vulnerable as he looked up and gazed at it. It was focused on the mountains in the distance, and in the foreground was the spot where the illusion of a camp had been seen by Captain Pike and the Enterprise landing party, many years before. The Keeper had not been physically present at that time, but he could still see the excitement on Tyler's face as he explained how the Enterprise could travel faster than light.

Now, the Keeper stood on a ship made by those same people, which was capable of making the Enterprise that Tyler was so excited about seem like a snail in comparison. These people would, in time, find a way of shielding against the thoughts of his people. Even the artificially augmented thoughts of his former adversaries were no match for what these humans would be able to do. If they left here and the 'Rock' didn't let them go, they could blast it out of the heavens and free themselves, and they would be justified in doing so. He didn't want that to happen, but he wouldn't blame them if it did. No, he needed to somehow get through to the 'Rock' so it didn't consign itself to destruction.

In his mind, the Keeper heard a thought that wasn't his own. He tuned into that thought and understood it. Suddenly, his bearing changed. His head went up, and he was once more the Keeper of the menagerie, proud and regal.

He turned and looked back at the two captains, the ambassador, and the admiral. "I must stay here while you leave."

Janeway shook her head. "No. We can't leave you here defenseless. I'm sorry, Magistrate."

The Keeper shook his head. "You have no authority over me. This is my planet. You must leave now."

Picard had been looking down, but at the Keeper's words, he snapped his head up. "Are you ordering us to leave your world?"

The keeper nodded his head. "Yes. I'm withdrawing my invitation for you to come here. As the only living Talosian, I am the head of this world. I order you to leave."

Janeway's expression was one of stone and all she could manage was a nod at the Talosian's words. Chakotay, too, could say little. He did manage to direct Seven of Nine to come to the bridge. When she arrived, he ordered her to escort the Keeper to the planet's surface. She started to argue, but something in his eyes told her it wouldn't be a productive argument, and she held her tongue. Barely.

When she arrived back on the bridge, the screen was focused on the last Talosian as he slowly walked away from Voyager. Tom carefully lifted the vessel off the surface, and the Keeper turned his head from where he had been admiring the musical leaves, to watch the ship hover for a moment, turn, and accelerate into the sky.

As Voyager disappeared, a thought came to him. It wasn't his own, but neither did it originate from one of the two Katra's held inside his mind. You ordered them away. Why?

The Keeper turned and stared at a spot in the sky. He knew that he was looking directly at the 'Rock' although there was no way he could see it. The thought was from it. He answered: They needed to leave. They are no longer subject to our weapons, either yours or mine. I wanted them gone so you would let them go. They could destroy you easily. You need to release them so they are not forced to come back and destroy you. They have that ability.

The Rock considered this. Why would you care if they destroyed me? I am your adversary.

The Keeper was shocked at this question. You knew I ordered them away. So you were clearly reading my thoughts. You know that I don't consider you my adversary. You are the only hope for my people... Our people... to continue.

A few moments passed before the Rock answered. You have the ability to partition your mind in a way that allows you to function even though I am suppressing your wakefulness. How do I know that you don't have the ability to hide your true thoughts from me?

The Keeper considered a moment, the he turned mentally to the two Katras. Chris... Vina... I must allow it to come in fully. It is the only way to convince it. It will be invasive, but if you will allow it, it may save your people and mine.

Certainly, came the instant reply from the two.

The Keeper looked back up at the Rock. This may not convince you. If I have the ability you suggest, I could conceivably keep that from you even in a deep meld, but you may come in and look anywhere you wish. I will not resist you.

There was a hesitation for a few moments, then a rush into his mind that felt as though it would split his head in two. He perceived the Rock searching through every corner of his mind. It picked up every thought, turned them over, and examined every side. Then it went on to the next thought. Several times, it came back to areas it had left before, and searched them again. He sensed it hesitate for a moment before rushing in and giving Chris and Vina the same treatment. After what seemed to be hours, it left his mind and he could almost hear Pike and Vina gasping for breath.

Tentatively, he asked the two, Are you alright? They answered in the affirmative, but it was a moment before they did.

The Keeper looked up, and thought to the Rock. Well? Have you decided if I'm telling the truth or not?

There was no answer. The Talosian walked over to the spot that had played host to the 'survivor's camp' years before. He sat down on a rock and looked up again. There was still no answer. He waited.