Janeway and her team of amateur trackers traced Chakotay's rescue party to what looked to be a camp for the native people, and then the footsteps moved away, followed by several bare footprints. They followed this trail to a cave in the mountainside. The tunnel entrance was filled with burning brush and guarded by a crowd of the native inhabitants who seemed to be waiting impatiently.
"Do you really think Commander Chakotay would go in there after what happened to Hogan?" Kim asked.
"He may have had no other choice," Janeway said.
"How do we get them away from the tunnels?" Torres asked.
"A couple of phaser blasts would do the trick," Kim pointed out.
"Who are the fastest runners here?" An idea was forming in Janeway's mind.
"I was on the decathlon team before I quit the Academy," Torres offered. "The track and field coach was furious with me."
"Anyone else here who can run?"
Two other crewmembers nodded affirmingly.
"Okay. You three will be the sprint team. Once you reach our camp, you should be safe." She stood and motioned the others to follow her directions. They got into position and Janeway gave the signal.
The three designated 'sprint team' began to throw rocks at the natives outside the tunnel entrance and hurled taunts at them. The natives took the bait and gave chase. Janeway and her team took that opportunity to run down to the brush fire to clear the entrance, calling out to the people inside.
I'm coming, Chakotay, she thought as she pulled down burning straw. Be safe.
"Chakotay! Tuvok!" she began to yell as soon as they cleared the entrance.
"The tunnel is clear!" Kim hollered to them.
They waited for a long minute until people began emerging from the darkness.
"Move! Let's go!" Janeway shouted as they ran out and away. "Go! Go! Go, go! Come on, come on. GO!"
Finally, at the rear of the group, Chakotay appeared. She grabbed his hand and ran with him away from the cave. An unholy scream echoed from the depths and she glanced back, but nothing was following them.
Yet.
They made their way quickly back to the camp, keeping an eye out for any of the natives approaching.
"This damn planet," Janeway muttered under her breath as she ran. "Those damn Kazon. My damn lack of judgement. That damn cave monster. Those damn hostile natives. Our gods damned luck."
Chakotay squeezed her hand tighter. "We'll make it," he murmured. "We always do."
"Stop being so gods damned encouraging. I'm trying to be miserable."
They made it back to the camp with no further trouble. Several of the crewmembers had gotten a water still working and offered them drinks when they arrived, hot and sweaty from running the whole way back.
Later, Janeway, Chakotay, and Tuvok were sitting outside the camp, discussing their situation.
"After what transpired, I believe we have to prepare ourselves for an alien attack, Captain," Tuvok said, sharpening a wooden spear. "Our priority should be to increase the weapons arsenal and to begin training everyone in the use of these weapons."
"I don't like the sound of that, Lieutenant," Janeway said. "We may have to coexist with these aliens a long time."
"Nevertheless…"
"I agree with the Captain," Chakotay interrupted. "We have to find a way to share this world with them."
"You may find nobility in the savage, Commander," Tuvok pointed out, "but he is only interested in killing you."
"I don't believe that."
At that moment, Kes ran over to them. "Captain! The baby is very sick. She's having trouble breathing. She has a high fever. There's nothing more I can do for her."
"Captain!" came a shout from outside.
They ran outside to see fountains of molten lava spewing from a nearby volcano.
"I think our top priority has just been dictated," Janeway said. "Break camp. We've got to get out of here before it blows."
A murmur broke out throughout the camp as crewmembers gathered what they could in their arms and began to evacuate the camp. A chill ran down Janeway's spine as she watched the approaching rivers of lava.
"Do you think we'll make it?" Kim asked her, worry creasing his brow.
"We'll make it," she replied. She clasped a hand on his shoulder and looked him in the eye with all the sincerity she could muster. "We have to."
