By the time Tom, B'Elanna, and the doctor got down to the lab, several colonists were already there, crowded around a body that lay prone on the floor. The doctor immediately dispersed them and knelt down to run a tricorder scan.

Tom stood beside him and studied the intruder with interest. The man was thin from possible malnourishment and dark from exposure to the sun, which made Tom believe that the man had been living on Aristarchus for quite some time. His nondescript clothing of rugged brown was torn at the knees as if he had worn them for several weeks. There was no way to judge from his outward appearance, what race he was since there were so many human and humanoid settlers in this sector of space. "Is this man typical of the raiders that have been stealing from you?" he asked.

"Pretty much," answered Martin, who stood nearby. "This is the first time any of them has tried to break into the main facilities. In the past they've only gotten to our outer buildings. They're probably messing with our field sensors too."

"No doubt," said Joaquin, who sat in a chair next to him pressing a bloodied cloth to his forearm. "At least we have one of them now, he can tell us plenty about why they're here and what their plans are."

"You're not going to get any answers from him anytime soon," said the doctor glancing up. "You fractured his skull."

Joaquin looked up with brows raised. "Didn't think I hit him that hard, but it was the only way to get him off me."

"What'd you hit him with?" Martin asked with a laugh. "A desk?"

"Well, I had him by the neck, and he was thrashing so much that he sort of crashed into the desk. And it was a lucky thing. That tenacious bastard was biting the hell out of me." Joaquin extended his arm showing three bite marks now swollen and oozing blood.

Miral hissed and took his arm, carefully dabbing at the wounds with the cloth. "The doctor needs to look at this. Who knows what kind of diseases that guy's carrying."

"So he came in through there?" Tom said, stepping over to the broken panel, where Chakotay was already peering in with a flashlight.

"Yes, sir. I think there were at least two intruders, but the other took off when he heard the scuffle."

"Take a look," Chakotay said.

Tom knelt beside him. The passage was only large enough for one man and it was a tight squeeze. The other fellow must have been close behind and decided not to risk coming in when his comrade got into the tussle.

"Aristarchus is covered with these passages," Chakotay said. "All they had to do here was dig a little more to get to the wall. We'll have to seal this up tonight."

"We're already on it," Joaquin said. "I'm staying till it's done."

"We'll have to study the surveys and see if there are any more passages like this one nearby," Chakotay said. "And we'll have to extend the alarm system to the lower passages as well."

"First things first, Commander," said the doctor who now stood. "I have a patient to attend to. We must get this man to a proper location so I can see to his recovery."

"Commander?" Chakotay said and he glanced at Tom with one raised brow.

"It's a long story," said Tom.

"And that's one I'd like to hear." Chakotay replied. "Martin, see if you can locate a stretcher and get it down here."

"Will do."


Within a few minutes, a small crew was busily working on sealing the tunnel, and the injured intruder had been cleared away to quarters where the doctor could monitor him. Tom leaned against the doorway and watched the activity at a distance. It had been an eventful first night on Aristarchus, causing Tom great concern over the safety of the colonists. He was the only Federation representative present in the colony. They would look to him for answers and he was determined to help them, even if it meant exploring non-Federation channels to do so.

"Dad," Miral said. She had been so quiet that he didn't know she had walked up to him. "You okay?"

"I'm okay," he said, "Just a little tired, that's all." He read disbelief in her eyes.

"You looked a little angry, too. I hope it wasn't at me."

"I did?" He smiled. "Miral. Just because I look angry it doesn't mean I'm angry with you. I love you, and you don't need to worry about me so much."

"I was down here when this happened. I thought that—I mean, it looks like I can't keep out of trouble."

"I was worried when I found out you were down here, but I didn't blame you. You couldn't have known this would happen. You called for help, and you stayed with Erin when she was frightened. You did everything right, Honey, and I'm proud of you."

She gently hugged him. "Thanks Dad."

"There's nothing more we can do down here," B'Elanna said. "We all should go to our quarters and get some rest."

"I think I'll stay down here for a little bit," Miral said. "I'll be up soon."

"Well, I'm going to get back. I've got a lot to do before I can get some sleep myself."

"I'm with you." B'Elanna said. "Don't stay too long Miral.

"I won't."

As her parents went up the hall toward their quarters, Miral stepped back into the lab and watched the men move another desk out of the way, Joaquin using one hand because his other arm was too sore to do the lifting. When they set the desk down, she went up to him. "Joaquin," she said. "Can I talk to you alone for a minute?"

"Sure."

He followed her to the quieter side of the room.

"I want you to see the doctor as soon as you can about your arm. I was serious when I said I was worried about infection. Your arm is already red and swollen."

"I'll take care of it soon. I know where the doctor is, besides I think we cleaned it up pretty well. Don't you?"

"Well, we can only do so much," she remarked. "You know, I was worried about you taking that guy on alone. And you said I was the insane one," she accused, thumping his chest with her knuckles. "Don't do that again without proper backup. I don't want anything to happen to you."

He took her hand and kissed those offending knuckles. "I won't," he promised.


B'Elanna suddenly stopped walking. "I have to go back for a minute."

"Why?" Tom asked.

"I need to make sure that Miral knows the combination to unlock her quarters," B'Elanna said. "You and I might be busy when she gets back."

"Busy? Hmm…I like the sound of that," he remarked. "I am tired, but after all that's happened, a good romp in the sack would do me a world of good."

"I meant that you would be doing your exercises!" B'Elanna exclaimed in exasperation. "You never finished them, and by Kahless we will get you through your therapy or so help me I'll tie you up and force you onto that transport myself and get you back to Earth where you belong!"

B'Elanna's sudden tirade surprised him, but he understood that it was stress causing her to react this way. "I was only teasing, B'Elanna," he said with a laugh. "I thought we needed some humor. I guess I was wrong. I promise I'll do the exercises as soon as I get back to the room. I know how important they are."

"Good," B'Elanna said a little calmer. She ran a finger under the twisted strap on his sling, straightening it. "I don't want to lose you."

"You won't." He kissed her and his smile came back. "Would you really tie me up?"

"Oh, I give up," She blurted, throwing her hands up. "Go on," she said gently nudging him. "I'll catch up to you."


B'Elanna got back to the lab just in time to witness Joaquin take Miral's hand and bend down for an intimate kiss. She backed out of the room and pretended she hadn't seen the exchange, but it didn't take away the truth of what she saw. So, her daughter and Chakotay's son were an item. She should have seen that one coming after all the time they had spent together in recent weeks.

Miral stepped out of the lab. "Mom," she said, startled. "I was just leaving."

"Good, then we can walk back together," B'Elanna replied. They started their long walk down the hall. "Miral, there's something you need to be aware of, and we've already told you. There's a transport coming that will take some of the colonist's from Aristarchus and get them to a safe haven. Your father and I want you to be on it."

"I know you talked about it," Miral said. "But it was still being decided, right? It's not a sure thing that I'm going is it?"

"You have to go back. You have to finish up your semester at the Academy."

Miral was silent and she bit her bottom lip.

"And there's the issue of your stowing away on the Prospect. Have you thought about that?" B'Elanna said. "You'll have to go before the board and Admiral Janeway. We're hoping you still have a slot at the academy to return to."

Miral sighed. "I know. I've been trying not to think about it."

"It's time you did think about it. You've got a lot of preparation to do before you get back."

"I want you and Dad to consider letting me stay until we can all go back together," Miral said. "I'll need you to be there with me, don't you think? To counsel me?"

B'Elanna nodded. "I want that too, but your father is determined to stay here, and we both want you to be safe."

"Mom, listen. I came a long way to be with you, and I don't take it lightly. I understand the consequences of what I did, and I don't want my coming all this way to be for nothing. I want to stay. If I go and leave you here I—well I just can't do it. I won't do it, and that's that."

"And your semester at the academy?"

"Can wait another year if it has to. I'm young, I've got time, and you know that once I start something I always finish it."

That was true. Miral was not a quitter; it wasn't in her nature to give up on something just because it was difficult. It was an admirable trait that her daughter possessed but it was a point of concern as well. If she fell into a relationship with Joaquin she may never want to leave Aristarchus.

"I just want to make sure you understand what you're getting into," B'Elanna said, "and the choices you'll have to make because of it."

"Don't worry Mom. You're daughter has a good head on her shoulders. She will make the right choices."