Chapter 7

Chakotay and Sébas barely said a word the whole journey to the Scavengers' planet. It was known as the Doldrums – though no one seemed to know what the indigenous peoples called it. The silence suited Chakotay just fine, he wasn't in the mood to talk anyway. He was too busy keeping his hope and dread in check. He had no idea what he would find on that planet. What if Sébas was wrong and Kathryn, Seven and the other missing crewmembers weren't there? The dread was so overwhelming, Chakotay actually felt nauseous.

Sébas kept looking over his shoulder at where Calypso lay sleeping on the floor, as if wondering what the hell kind of man he was dealing with, to bring a dog on a spaceship. But Calypso had stuck to Chakotay's heels like glue as he'd prepared to leave, as if she were afraid that if he left he'd never return. Or, more likely, sensing Chakotay's fear and unease. So Chakotay had relented and let the dog follow them. She wouldn't bother them anyway.

When they lowered the raider into the planet's atmosphere, Sébas updated him on what he knew about the location of the Scavenger compounds, so Chakotay headed there. The area they flew over appeared to be entirely covered by a vast, sand-dune desert – which was probably where the name had originated. Of course it made sense that scavengers who were illegally selling starship parts on the black market would choose hard-to-access locations. After a few minutes, the life signs sensors beeped, and Chakotay zoomed in on those areas. The data showed several isolated large compounds, so well camouflaged that it would have been near impossible to spot them without the sensors.

"I was Starfleet before, too, you know," Sébas suddenly said, his eyes on his consoles. "My partner was too, actually."

Chakotay's eyes flickered to his copilot while he worked on narrowing down the parameters into the computer to look specifically for Starfleet combadges or traces of Federation technology within those compounds. It was a gamble, since combadges were often removed when they were discovered to be communication devices. But with any luck, if the Voyager crew was down there, at least one of them would still have their combadge.

"What happened?" Chakotay asked, distractedly wondering what was making Sébas telling him this now.

"The Borg showed up in the quadrant. I tried to mutiny to take control of the ship and convince the crew we should take our chances far away from the Borg. I failed, but... I managed to escape. I deserted just before Worf 359. My husband," he smiled at the memory of him, though his smile was wan, "he was Starfleet through and through. He wouldn't abandon his crew and his captain. His ship was destroyed during the massacre. There were no survivors."

Chakotay looked at him for a moment. Suddenly all of Sébas's actions over the last couple of days were starting to make sense. As well as his overall, withdrawn personality. Loss and grief had probably turned him into that man. "I'm sorry."

Sébas merely gave a terse nod. Then he shook his head derisively, clearing his throat. "I don't know why I'm telling you this." He shifted uncomfortably. "I'd almost managed to convince myself that it didn't bother me anymore. But I guess this… mission… brought up a lot of bad memories."

Chakotay nodded slightly, still studying him. "I get it."

Beep, beep. Beep, beep.

"Here we go." Chakotay anxiously returned his attention to the scanners. Three signals matched his parameters for Federation-based technology. Still cloaked, they circled over the compound the signals originated from while Chakotay adjusted the sensors to look for signals combining both human life signs and Starfleet technology. From above, the compound was shaped like a squared 'O', composed of four guard towers at each corner. To the naked eye there didn't seem to be a wall connecting the guard towers, however the sensors indicated a kind of see-through energy barrier. There was only one gate, which led to a vast and open inner space that seemed to be brimming with activity.

"I see guards patrolling on the guard towers and by the gate," Sébas described as he took in the video images coming from the ship's sensors, back to his more typical, military-type self. "There's actually quite a lot of activity in and outside the energy walls. It looks like a shanty town sprang up just outside, with lots of activity. It should be easy for us to go down there, blend in, and gather some intel about the layout."

Chakotay nodded. A moment later the sensors beeped again and he let out an anxious breath as he zoomed in on the area. There were three life signs matching Chakotay's parameters of humans with Federation technology, clustered together in one area of the compound. "What do those locations correspond to?" He asked Sébas.

Sébas squinted at the data on his screen. "That's part of the large central court within the energy walls. These sections appear to be divided by fences, almost like pens," he added, shaking his head in disgust. "The central court isn't covered, but it's surrounded by covered walkways, almost like an old cloister. According to the sensors, a lot of people appear to be clustering both in the open courtyard and the surrounding walkways. And beyond the wall, in the shanty town." He pursed his lips. "Given the fact that the energy barrier allows us to see inside, we have a chance of finding your people without going inside, but if we want to make contact, we'll probably have to go through the main gate and get access to those covered walkways that surround the pens."

Chakotay nodded. "Transporters?"

Sébas shook his head dubiously. "These compounds are generally protected by a shield. To avoid beaming in. Or out."

Chakotay nodded. "Alright. Let's land and try to get a visual." He whipped his head around. "Let's find something we could trade, in case we need it to make it past the main gate."

oooOooo

Kathryn sat with Seven in one corner of the large, roofless inner court they had found themselves in when they'd awoken, lying on the earthen floor and surrounded by dozens of people sitting or standing idly, penned in by high metal fences. The last thing Kathryn had remembered was getting into the escape pod. She had felt the pod rock and Kathryn had known then, that Voyager was gone. But her memories got hazy after that.

After discussing it with Seven, they came to the conclusion that whoever had "rescued" them from their pods had kept them purposefully unconscious during their capture and transport here, in this oversized cage. Upon waking up, the two of them had managed to find a spot in the shade, away from the sun beating down on the central, open area of the compound, but the heat was almost unbearable, and so was the thirst. Kathryn had long removed her jacket and was using it to sit on. She glanced at Seven's profile – though locks of her hair had escaped her usually perfect twist, she looked fresh as a rose, barely sweating. Kathryn reined in her snort of envy – she was hot, sweaty and irritable.

The two of them had run out of ideas for an escape plan an hour ago, and now they were just sitting there, lost in thought, trying not to get dehydrated. They didn't even know if anyone else from the crew had been 'rescued' by these peoples, or if the two of them had been the only lucky ones. With their combadges missing, they'd had to search by walking among the hundred-or-so captives cooped up with them, but they had found no familiar faces. The prisoners appeared to be separated along gender lines, with each group penned into adjacent areas of the open inner court, the two areas separated by a metal fence. So it made sense that if any male crewmembers were here as well, they would be on the other side of the fence. There were people bustling around and walking freely beyond the cage all around them, but none spoke to the captives. Kathryn couldn't tell if any of them might be in charge or in a position to help. It didn't look like it.

By the looks and smell of some of the people enclosed in the inner court with them, they had been here for a while. Kathryn had stopped asking questions once she had realized that the others were terrified of getting caught speaking to another. They had witnessed guards coming in to choose specific prisoners to take them away, but when Kathryn had stepped up to ask, demand to know, what was going on – or just do something – Seven had stopped her with a hand on her arm and a warning glare. At the time Kathryn had been angry at Seven, but in retrospect, after seeing the fear in the other prisoners' eyes, Kathryn was grateful. Seven had probably stopped her from doing something stupid, or from drawing too much attention to them. So eventually Kathryn and Seven had opted for laying low for a while, at least until they figured out a plan to get out of this hell.

The determination and mental exercise to find a way to get out provided a welcome distraction from her thoughts and the gaping hollowness she felt in her chest. She had lost Voyager, she knew she had. And she might have lost her crew. And for what? It had been such a stupid incident… After everything the ship had survived, to be destroyed by phaser fire when two inconsequential thieves had boarded was just… so meaningless. She'd always imagined that if she lost her ship, it would be in an epic battle between good and evil, not because of random crossfire. She hoped with all her heart that those who'd escaped in the first waves of evacuations had made it to safety, and that they would send a search party soon. But until then, she and Seven had to figure out a way to survive and stick together. No matter what happened.

"Psst. Captain! Captain!"

Kathryn frowned, craning her neck to search for the owner of the voice. Her face lit up with relief when her gaze settled on Harry, Commander Hale, and another one of Hale's security officers, all three of them clustered together by the fence. They had removed their jackets too, which also made them stand out a bit less among the other prisoners. Kathryn and Seven quickly made their way to them. Kathryn squeezed their hands through the fence, so relieved to find them well. Harry was sporting a split lip, but seemed otherwise unharmed. Kathryn noticed that contrary to she and Seven, they had their combadges still pinned to their clothing. They quickly assured each other that they were fine, then Harry told them what he'd found out so far.

"Apparently our pods got salvaged by whoever runs this place. From what we've been told, they're a kind of scavenger group who sell abandoned or wrecked ship parts on the black market."

"And dare I ask about these people?" Kathryn said as she motioned to the other prisoners with her chin.

Kim and Hale exchanged a look. "Rumors talk about a humanoid trafficking market, mostly for forced labor. You see these people walking around, outside the fence?" Kathryn hadn't really paid attention to them after realizing that they wouldn't be able to help, but she noticed now, how they were staring at the captives within the fence like animals in zoos of old. And beyond them, busy streets with hurriedly-built dwellings and vending booths, as if an actual market had been built around the compound itself. The smoke from nearby fires and cooking food wafted to Kathryn's nose and though she knew she must be hungry, the smell made her feel nauseous. "They're buyers looking for cheap laborers. Captain, whatever we do, we can't stay here. We need to get out of here, or stall until Starfleet mounts a rescue. Because if we get separated…" He shook his head.

Kathryn nodded, looking around and distractedly scanning the 'buyers' strolling on the other side of the fence. "I know. I'm working on it." But inside, her heart sank. Maybe she could try to negotiate with whomever was in charge, maybe she could use her Starfleet influence to-

Kathryn did a double take when something in the crowd caught her eye. It had been just a flash of recognition, barely long enough to process what she'd seen. So she scanned the crowd again, squinting to better see in the distance, search-

Her heart skipped a beat, and then raced in her chest.

The dark hair was slightly longer and by the looks of it he hadn't shaved in several days but she could almost swear that-

The man she'd spotted across the crowd turned his head in her direction to talk to another man and Kathryn stopped breathing, recognizing the tattoo at once, even from the distance. Her stomach dropped, her breath still caught in her throat. Chakotay! Kathryn resisted the urge to call out his name. But it wasn't necessary. As if he had felt the weight of her gaze on him, his brown eyes scanned the crowd. When they crossed hers, he jerked to a stop so sudden that the other man slammed into his back. His face brightened in recognition and relief and dozens of other things that she was too far to identify. She vaguely remembered being mad at him, but her heart leapt at the sight of him anyway, too relieved to care. She stood transfixed as she took him in, wishing he were closer so she could read the expression in his eyes. The connection locking their gazes was interrupted when someone shouldered him to get past and he looked away. Kathryn felt the loss of his gaze like it had actually severed a physical bond between them. But then his eyes returned to her for a brief, meaningful and warning glance, before he started walking again, subtly motioning his companion to look in their direction. Now that she paid closer attention, that second man looked familiar. In fact, she was certain she'd seen him before. And then it dawned on her: he was one of the men who had raided Voyager. What the hell was going on? What was Chakotay doing with that man? And what were they doing here?

But then they were gone, disappearing through the crowd. Kathryn looked around frantically, trying to catch another glimpse of Chakotay, mentally cursing at the people who blocked her line of sight.

"Captain?" Seven's voice startled her out of her thoughts.

Kathryn frowned, shaken to her core. "Hmm?"

"Captain you look like you've seen a ghost," Harry commented. "Maybe we should step out of the sunshine."

A ghost? Maybe. A mirage? Possibly. For Chakotay to be on this planet at this moment was too good to be true. Too much of a coincidence. Her frown deepened as she scanned the crowd again. But there was no sign of Chakotay, or that man. She shook her head. "You were saying?"

Commander Hale started repeating what he'd been saying, but once again Kathryn got distracted, this time by the frowning, curious look on Harry's face as he narrowed his eyes to look in the distance. "Harry?" She asked, following his gaze, hopeful that she'd see Chakotay again. But he was nowhere in sight.

Harry's frown deepened. "What in the world… Hey is it me, or does that dog have Chakotay's tattoo design drawn on its face?"

Kathryn followed his gaze again. And grinned when her eyes found the dog in question, a young blue-merle Australian Sheppard who was trotting among the buyers. The dog suddenly turned its head in their direction. Harry was right: the dog had Chakotay's tattoo drawn on its face. A wave of relief and hope swept through her. She grabbed the first thing she could reach, out of pure excitement – it happened to be Seven's arm.

"So I wasn't hallucinating – just a moment ago, I could have sworn I saw Chakotay walk along with the buyers. I'm going to try to catch that dog's attention." Kathryn crouched down, ignoring the stunned and increasingly hopeful looks of her officers, and started calling out to the dog in a low but high-pitched voice, then whistling a couple of high notes. Luckily no one paid them attention, too focused were they on conducting their own business and deliberately ignoring what was going on inside the pens. The dog turned its head in their direction, ears perked up, tongue rolling out. "That's it," Kathryn encouraged, extending her hand in her direction as if she were offering food. And then the dog was running towards them, the promise of a treat impossible to resist. When it got close enough to touch, Kathryn reached through the fence to pet the soft head and grab the loose rope tied around the dog's neck. The dog only tried sniffing and licking her hands. "Lieutenant, Commander, give me your combadges."

They complied and Kathryn quickly pinned one combadge to the makeshift collar. Then Kathryn gently pushed the dog away. "Go on now, find Chakotay!" She extended her arm, as if throwing a ball or a treat, and the dog scurried away.

Now all Kathryn could do was wait.

oooOooo

From his spot by the gate, Chakotay was pretending to be listening to Sébas as he bartered with a local merchant for some kind of food item, while in fact he was watching as Kathryn called Calypso to her, and then pinned her combadge to the makeshift collar.

Chakotay resisted the urge to chuckle in relief and pride. Instead he exchanged a quick look with Sébas, and they moved on. He whistled for Calypso – he saw her ears perk up again and then dashed toward them. Chakotay gave her a good long petting as a reward when she reached them, and quickly unpinned the combadge from her collar. She followed them past the gate and into the shanty town. When they were away from any prying eyes, Chakotay brought the combadge to his mouth.

oooOooo

Kathryn waited anxiously for a few interminable minutes, exchanging hopeful and impatient looks with the others. Until suddenly there were two clicks coming from the combadge in her hand.

Kathryn grinned in relief. She imitated the signal, clicking her own combadge twice, before bringing it closer to her mouth so she could whisper. The others surrounded her to hide her from outside view. She turned around to look outside, beyond the strollers and the town, wondering where he was. Wondering if he could see her. "You know, when you resigned you could have told me you meant to become a dog trainer," she drawled, "I'd have given you a reference." She was joking about it now, but they both knew that Kathryn had been in no frame of mind to accept any explanations he might have offered that day, even if he had tried. Perhaps this was her way of apologizing for her reaction that day.

Luckily, Chakotay seemed to only focus on the teasing because when he turned on his combadge, it was to chuckle, the sound as soothing to her ears as the sound of a breeze through the trees. "What, you mean you didn't learn that strategy at the Academy?" He quipped and Kathryn could hear the smile in his voice. That voice! She hadn't realized how much she'd missed it until then. For a delicious second, she forgot about the anguish and anger of the last several weeks and let herself relish their banter.

"I must have missed that class."

Chakotay chuckled again, but then his voice sobered. "Sorry about that, I couldn't approach the fence without drawing attention, so I had to get creative. Is everyone alright?"

Kathryn glanced at the others and, seeing their nodding faces, she passed along the sentiment. "Yes. We're fine. What are you doing here?"

"That's a long story," he replied on a sigh.

"Chakotay, do you know what happened to the rest of the crew?" She asked, anxiously waiting for his answer.

It came a second later. "They're fine." They all shared a sigh of relief. "Tuvok said a Starfleet rescue party picked them up from the pods."

She blinked in surprise. Even Seven's eyebrows rose so high they almost reached her hairline. "Did you say Tuvok?"

"That's another long story," he replied.

"So you know about Voyager," Kathryn said, her voice dipping lower, the grief tightening her throat. She avoided meeting the others' gazes.

"Yes. Yes. Kathryn, I was there." His voice was full of sorrow, but Kathryn frowned again. He had been there? He seemed to shake himself. "Listen, as much as I'd love to stay and chat, the longer we stand here, the longer it's going to take to get you out of there. I just wanted to tell you to get ready. I need to go for a while, but I'll be back as soon as I can – might be a few hours. When you get my signal, gather together as close as you can and stand ready."

"What's the signal?"

"I don't want to reveal too much on this frequency. You'll know it when you see it, trust me."

Kathryn nodded, and when she looked around at the others, saw that they were nodding too, stern determination hardening their expression. "We'll be ready."

"Just hang in there. I'll see you all soon. Chakotay out."

oooOooo

Chakotay couldn't quite contain his excitement and anxiety as he and Sébas flew back to Neathina to report their findings to the Wraiths. While on route, he took a moment to step into the back to contact Tuvok, doing so secretly just in case Sébas's allegiances changed again. He updated the lieutenant commander on the situation and confirmed making contact with Captain Janeway, Seven, Harry Kim, as well as two additional crewmembers that Chakotay didn't know. He had a plan, so he told Tuvok about it. For it to work, he needed to involve Starfleet and find a way to coordinate their efforts.

Once back at the hideout, it was surprisingly easy to convince the Wraiths to go back to raid the scavengers' compound. They had brought with them the telemetry they had recorded when the ship had picked up the Starfleet-issued combadges. The image showed the basic layout of the compound, and the ship's analysis of the technology, identifying it as Federation. The telemetry didn't say anything about what the technology was exactly, only that it had a Federation signature. This seemed enough to convince Katan of Chakotay's lie: that the generators were in fact at the compound. In actuality, Chakotay doubted that the generators would have survived the explosion, but so long as Katan believed it, his plan had a chance to work.

With the "evidence" from the scanners, and the element of surprise that a cloaked ship would afford them, the gang was quick to jump in on the action, eager at the prospect of both getting their dues, and sticking one to the Scavengers at the same time. Sébas actually said very little while Chakotay reported to Katan, but what he did say was convincing, if only because of the categorical tone and stern determination in his expression as he confirmed Chakotay's version.

Katan then came up with a simple plan of how they would raid the compound, and Chakotay agreed to it. All was going as planned. So far.

oooOooo