Disclaimer: Sadly we do not own any of the Voyager characters, ships, plots or universe. They belong to Paramount.

Summary: After a year of being home, Voyager's scattered crew gathers together for one last battle~ but it's not the jolly reunion one might expect… Janeway, Chakotay, Tuvok, Tom, B'Elanna, Harry, Seven, Celes…and some new characters. Enjoy!

Past Re-Visited

By Erin and Rebecca

Chapter 25:

Kairi's Gift

"Kray!" a pounding startled Harry from his sleep. "Kray! Wake up! We know you're in there!" He scooted out of bed, still dressed from having just collapsed from exhaustion 3 hours ago, and emerged into the main room.

            Minister Kray stood already near his front door with some sort of lantern, his finger to his lips. "Shh."

            "Come on! We know what you're hiding!"

            "What's going on?" Harry whispered.

            "They're Nyks," he said bitterly.

            "Nyks? What's that, another species?"

            Kray sighed. "No, they're our own kind. They're extremists. Ever since-"

            "We'll break it down! You know we will!"

            Kray looked scathingly at the door. "After the war ended with the Numiri, my people became resistant to any outsides. And the…incident with your crewmate, Paris, was simply the last straw." He tightened a few bolts on the door as he continued. It's a wonder you ever ended up here Lieutenant. This…caretaker must possess some highly advanced technology. Had you come by ship, you would have been detected immediately and turned away."

            Kray's explanation was so hurried and shocking, he had trouble processing it at first. But Harry got the jist of it. Voyager had degraded a once peaceful and open race… to militant isolationists. There was no point in arguing that Tom had in fact been cleared and that the murder was an internal affair. Politics weren't driven by facts here anymore than they were on Earth. A high pitched wailing interrupted his thoughts.

            "What's going on?" Harry turned to see Celes, wide-eyed and frightened, holding a crying Miral.

            "We have to get you three out of here!" Kray hissed as he led Harry, begging Celes to follow, down a narrow corridor that Harry swore wasn't there two seconds ago. "Lieutenant, I detest having to send you away with the child still recovering from the effects of the poison-"

            "We understand senator," Harry cut him off with a wave of his hand as he disappeared for a second into one of the rooms grabbing his tricorder, "you've done more than enough for us already."

            Just then, the woman who had helped nurse Miral back to health, Lia, appeared already alert holding an odd silvery cloth and handed it to Celes. "Here, wrap the infant in this. It will protect her from any other dangerous fumes. And do be careful child," she finished as she cupped Celes's face with motherly care and then hurried to stall the Nyks at the front door.

            "H-harry?" Celes stuttered as she watched Lia flee. But Harry was now focused on Kray.

            "Come quickly!" he cried, and he released a hidden door that opened into a dark stairwell leading down to a dimly lit chamber. "You'll find supplies down there and some food. Take only what you can carry, and then make your way north through the passageways. You'll emerge some 60 kilometers away from here so we'll be no more good to you. Be careful. There are very few of us left here who have…an open mind."

            Harry nodded without answering. Kray continued, "After about half a day's walk, you'll find a bunker. It's been abandoned since the war, but I believe there may still be a few vessels stored there. It's your best chance."

            The Starfleet Lieutenant stood positively baffled for a moment with nothing to say. What could he say to this man who he was fortunate to run across on this planet of otherwise hostile beings? How could he have been so blind during the past few days to his anxiety and worry over their finding a way to return home. And now…he had given them their only hope of survival. "I'm…sorry for c-causing you so much trouble," he mumbled feebly, "We didn't mean-"

            "Nonsense," he waved his hand, "No need for that. Now hurry!"

            Harry ushered Celes and the baby down the stairway and then stepped inside himself. "Thank you for everything, Kray. Really-"

            "Lieutenant," he hissed, taking a hurried glance toward the banging voices that were now noticeably louder. The Nyks were inside. "I can't stress how important it is for you and your friend to get off this planet!"

            Harry gave a final nod and the wall closed behind him.

* * *

            By most standard Starfleet calculations, they had been banished to these God-forsaken caves no more than 36 hours ago. But Tom felt like it had been 36 decades. Zethe had woken his party, which now included Tom and B'Elanna by default, after just 4 hours of sleep, and marched them down a path which seemed to go in circles. In fact, he mused, I could've sworn I've seen that rat skeleton before. Of course rodent carcasses was really not a subject that had commandeered his mind. He glanced down at his wife, whom he now had to hold firmly by the shoulder in order to get her to move. B'Elanna was getting weaker. He nearly shot himself with a phaser when he realized all at once that for B'Elanna, this ordeal had lasted much longer. Tom wasn't even sure anymore how long the caretaker held her hostage, but given their current circumstances, he didn't suppose Suspiria cared enough to keep her well fed. And the fact that she was with child…with child. Tom halted at that thought again. Ever time he called it up, it seemed not to want to sink in. Another child? Miral was barely a toddler. And they couldn't even find her!

            "Move it along!" Zethe grunted from the head of the party. But Tom had had enough.

            "Move it along to where, Zethe?" he cried, coming to a halt as he eased B'Elanna down to rest on a nearby rock. "Do you even know where we're going? Can't you tell we're tired? B'Elanna needs a break-"

            Zethe turned on him with a ferocity that might have frightened the young pilot…if he wasn't so pissed off. He stalked over to the couple slowly, uttering each word with every step. "I…have been…navigating through dungeons and caves my entire life. I gave you my word…that if you stuck with me, we'd reach higher grounds. And now you question my abilities?"

            Tom's eyes locked with his and for a moment, he was ready to fight. But a hand tightened over his forearm.

            "Tom…" came a whisper from below. He looked down into his wife's pleading eyes. "Don't." Tom was stunned. For hours now, B'Elanna had been dazed, even delusional as Zethe led them down hundreds of passageways. Malnourished, exhausted, worried sick about her daughter, Tom had feared her mind was almost gone. But there she was, her grip iron-clad on his wrist, knowing exactly what he'd been thinking…willing to do to get her a little rest. Tom faced the leader once more. "Sorry," was all he could manage through gritted teeth.

            Zethe stared him down a moment more and then grunted at them all to continue. But Tom remained behind for a moment as he helped B'Elanna back to her feet. As he did so, he felt another hand on his shoulder. Tom turned and faced the woman, Kairi.

            "May I be of some assistance to your mate?"

            The question startled him, as B'Elanna used him as a crutch. "What ah….what kind of assistance?"

            Kairi offered no reply, except a small grin as she looked passed him to his wife. "You are with child," she said. It was a statement. Not a question.

            B'Elanna's eyes widened a bit, "How did you-"

            But Kairi pressed a finger to her lips and reached out to touch her middle.

            "Hey what are you-" Tom moved to stop her, but B'Elanna shook her head.

            "Tom, no." She said for the second time, her eyes locked with Kairi's. Kairi ran her sky blue hand over her stomach and closed her eyes. A moment later, she reached up and placed a hand over B'Elanna's forehead…and all at once, Tom felt her weight lift off of his arms. He looked cautiously between the two, both pairs of eyes shut now as he watched the alien ritual at work. When B'Elanna opened her eyes they were wide…and alert…and refreshed.

            Kairi awoke too and swayed a bit, but caught her balance and then smiled. "The child in your womb is fine and healthy…as is Miral. She misses you, but for the moment, she is safe."

            A tear streaked down B'Elanna's cheek as she nodded, seemingly unsurprised by the news. "Thank you."

            Kairi gave a slight bow and then retreated back to where Zethe and the others were waiting…and watching as well. B'Elanna looked up through bleary eyes and hugged her husband, "Oh Tom," she whispered.

            Tom's own tears begun to spill as he held her close, still unsure of what had just taken place. But some feeling…that odd sinking feeling that had been pulling so long at his stomach he'd stopped noticing it…had just lifted…and somehow, he knew that Kairi was right.

* * *