See chapter one for Disclaimer.
Chapter 2A blast of cold snow laden air blew around the people, causing them to grumble as candlelight and fire flickered alarmingly, as two strangers entered the tavern. Before the grumbles were raised in complaint the two closed the door firmly, thus shutting out the icy air outside once more. Rowena stared at the two males, when they'd pushed their silver hoods off.
"No more than youths," Phelan commented quietly beside her. Brandon spoke with the fair-haired male, whose bright blue eyes took in everything around them. The second male was much the same age as his companion with an angry scowl across his features. She wondered at whom it could be directed, when her husband called her over, telling her these men required lodgings for a short stay.
"My wife will see to your needs," the ginger-haired gruff said. The young male smiled warmly at them both. Brandon moved off; spoke to his mates Jabez and Magan and then the three of them left the tavern, wrapped up warm against the cold. Rowena watched them go with worried eyes and then turned to her guests with a sad smile.
"This way please," leading the two to the guest rooms at the rear of the main bar.
Neither male said anything as they checked the room over. The one with the blue eyes smiled and spoke:
"This will do just fine. Thank you. Name's Paris. Tom Paris. My…companion is Dalby. And you?" his tone pleasant.
"Rowena; Brandon's woman," feeling strangely shy with this male called Tom Paris.
"The big ginger gruff; who left?" She nodded. "You appear worried. May I ask why?" his tone genuinely interested.
"He's off hunting. I just wish he wouldn't."
"It is what men do," the male Dalby said, stressing the word men, as if he was implying his companion wasn't.
"You don't understand," she snapped frustration coming through her voice. "You men never do. I…I…." suddenly the tears just spilled over. Paris gently guided her to the comfort chair and sat her down and then knelt beside her.
"You're pregnant. Aren't you?" his tone confident. Dalby sat on the bed, as she nodded, looking into Paris' blue/grey eyes. Something she saw there told her she could trust this stranger.
"We arrived here, a year ago. It has always been winter, never spring. Now the men talk of hunting the N'de; as if that will solve our problems. We lost so much when we came here. I just wish we could go someplace else," playing with her apron hem. A shout from the main bar called her; so apologising she left hurriedly. Dalby and Tom looked at each other.
"N'de? Who or what are they?"
"It's an old name, it simply means the people," his voice soft, standing to his full height. "It is native American." Dalby stared at him astonished and looked about to say something, yet closed his mouth without a word; as the long howl of a wolf sounded on the wind.
/\/\
Tatiana looked up from her berry gathering on hearing the long howl, her pale face creased with worry. She moved closer to the N'de – Chakotay – who stood very still ears erect and alert, nose questing.
"The hunt," his tone scornful.
"What will you do?"
"Nothing," he snapped a little angry. Sensing her unease he softened his expression and tone. "At least for now," he amended. The female child smiled and returned to her berry gathering reassured. Warm breath and a cold nose nuzzled into her silver hair.
"Hey! Cut that out!" trying to sound cross, yet her giggles belied her words, and rose as he continued to huff into her hair. She quietly captured his muzzled between her small hands. Light hazel eyes gazed into his dark ones with pleasure. Something special passed between them. It was Chakotay who broke the contact with a deep sigh, moving a few steps backwards.
"We've a long trek ahead, Tatiana. You eaten good?" his tone off-beat, making her smile.
"Yes, Chakotay," moving to stand next to him. "I eaten good," placing her hand on his shoulder. Thus they set off together in a westerly direction toward the dark rock canyon, which lay close to the upright alien beings settlement.
/\/\
She strode onto the bridge from her ready-room, in a very controlled manner. Acknowledging Tuvok, who stood up out of her command chair.
"Any news from the Away Team?" she asked as calmly as her nerves would permit.
"Negative, Captain. Apart from a brief call to confirm their safe arrival on the planet surface," the dark Vulcan said. Silence prevailed; everyone waiting. The burst of static heralding Paris' call, made them jump.
"Away Team to Voyager."
"Go ahead, Mr. Paris," turning to the main view screen and taking in his worried features; which instantly put her on guard. "Problems?"
"None to speak of," his pause stretched in the tense silence as he looked at his two companions on the flyer beside him. "It appears the humanoid settlers arrived at the same time as winter, over a year ago, but it's never spring." Janeway waited wondering what they'd hear next, but it wasn't what they next did hear: A long wolf howl, faint yet discernable echoed round the bridge. "The settlers call them, N'de." Her eyes went wide in shocked surprise.
"N'de?" queried the Vulcan.
"The people; its native American," she said rather quickly, realising the import of that news.
"We may need the Doc's services soon. The headman's wife is pregnant. I got the feeling though, that he is not aware of that fact," taking a deep breath added. "The men here are organising a large hunt," his tone carefully measured. Janeway didn't need to ask what they'd be hunting, hearing another wolf howl; closer this time.
"Anything else?" calming herself. What they had so far was enough, she thought to herself.
"No, Captain. We'll call in again; say just after sun-up, local time."
"Acknowledged, Mr. Paris. Voyager out."
No-one spoke as the screen blanked out and returned to the orbital view of the planet; yet it didn't wholly cut off another echo of a wolf howl, sending shivers down not to few spines.
"Tuvok; I want you to find every scrape of information we have about Native Amerindian's, past and present, earth-bound or else-where, no matter how small," she ordered, her voice strong. "Mr. Kim, you and Seven continue your efforts in finding out all you can about this star system. See if any of the other planets are inhabited or show signs of such, past or present." Both males nodded acknowledgement and left. Janeway stared at the forward view of the winter bound planet and then looked at the empty command chair beside hers with troubled eyes.
/\/\
Paris felt his hackles rise, whilst checking the PADD's information again; hearing the howls getting ever closer. Dalby was tense and Markham was very wary.
"Do they have to do that?" his voice betraying his nervousness.
"Wolves do tend to howl when on the hunting trail," noted Tom; only half paying attention to what he'd just said. Kenneth Dalby though nudged him.
"What did you say?"
"They only howl when…" he stopped and stared at his companion, whose expression replied 'exactly'. "Rowena said their men folk were to hunt the N'de," his face blanching. "Markham, check out that static and E-band interference, Voyager encountered. See if you can isolate it. Dalby and I will be back at the tavern; to see what information we can discover there."
"Why the hurry?" tone mocking.
"If you know anything at all about Chakotay; you'll know why. Now let's go!" pulling up his hood and striding determinedly from the flyer's flight deck. Markham shrugged his shoulders, frowning puzzled; yet when Tom shouted Dalby's name he set to work on his assigned tasks, hearing his crew mate leave at a run.
/\/\
At the tavern, Rowena was nervous as she worked in the near empty barroom; with only Phelan and Kitto for company; most of the others had left to join the hunt. The howls made her jumpy as she tried to clear the few small tables. Quietly the cloth was removed from her trembling hands and she was gently gathered into the warmth of a male embrace, like that of a father comforting a frightened child.
"Kitto," holding out the cloth to the boy. "Clear the tables, there's a good lad," his voice calm. The boy solemnly nodded and set to work, whilst his grandfather guided the softly sobbing woman to the bench beside the glowing fire. The door flew open and then quickly closed again, before the cold air could really blow around the tavern's occupants. Fair hair and blue/grey eyes swam into watery focus; responding to his calling her name, in a soft concerned voice.
"How did your people arrive here; and from where; exactly?" he asked; expression intent.
"Why do you want to know that?" the old man asked, voice guarded.
"Phelan; Please tell him."
"You're upset, my dear," tone persuasive.
"Damn it, Phelan!" angrily getting to her feet. "Yes. I'm upset. I have a right to be. We weren't meant to come here. I won't hide anymore." The old man's voice snapping out her name halted her tirade. "Please. Tell him," she pleaded and then left at a shambling run. Paris waited until the distraught woman had disappeared from sight, before standing up straight.
"Hide?!" queried Dalby. "Who do you need to hide from?"
Tom and Phelan just looked at each other; a howl sighed on the wind.
"Rowena feels she can trust you, young man," giving the fair-haired male a knowing smile and sighed. "She's a good woman. Brandon would do better to listen to her more often; instead of Magan," his features darkening with his thoughts about the latter male.
"Take a seat, both of you. I'll tell you what you need to know." The boy gasped astonished. "Go keep the lady company, Kitto," Phelan quietly ordered, taking a seat himself.
"Yes, Grandpa," he said and dutifully trotted off; taking the loaded tray of washing up he'd collected, with him.
/\/\
Light hazel and brown/amber eyes watched through the falling snow, the amber glow in the large tavern building, which stood out from the others around the rough open square. Only one other building showed a light, yet not much sound, thus they ignored it. The young hazel eyed female shivered and drew closer to her companion, the N'de; whose furry ears were pricked forward listening intently. He was sure he'd heard a familiar voice among the dark shaped buildings, now he was not so confident.
"Look," the female child said softly, pointing at the tavern's open door. The adult males stood there framed in the amber light spilling out into the darkness; voices low until a shout of alarm called them back inside. "Kitto," she whispered.
"We'll go closer," he said cautiously, quietly standing and then padded away from their hiding place close to the town, toward the tavern.
/\/\
Inside, Rowena groaned in agony on the kitchen floor, whilst Paris gently used his hands to determine the lie of her child. Sitting back on his heels, he tapped his com-badge.
"Away Team to Voyager. Medical Emergency," he said. "Lock onto my com-badge and beam directly to sickbay. Immediately," tone urgent, but controlled; removing the delta shaped badge and gave it to the woman. "The Doctor will look after you," he smiled. The blue light of Voyager's transporter beam surrounded her and then she was whisked away. Dalby's badge beeped at him and a voice confirmed a successful transport, yet there was a static build-up, so therefore further transports might not be possible. Suddenly the com-signal went dead. Dalby tried to raise the ship again and again, yet to no avail; it remain deadly silent.
"This obelisk, you spoke of," tone measured. "Could you take us there, now?" Paris asked of Phelan.
"Where's Aunt Rowena?!"
"Safe, Kitto," he said, reassuring the boy; not taking his eyes off Tom Paris. "Yes, I can. We'll go now. Kitto get some provisions," he ordered the startled young boy, getting stiffly to his own feet. "Move lad. You'll be coming too. So wrap-up warm."
"Yes, Grandpa," and duly scampered across the largish kitchen to the food stores.
"Well. I can't leave him here." Paris nodded his understanding, having got to his feet also.
/\/\
Outside, Tatiana and Chakotay made their way closer to the tavern. Suddenly the door opened and the two were caught in mid-movement in the amber light that spilled out over the snow-covered ground. Both froze; to shaken to move or hide. A voice speaks, telling someone inside to put out the lights, so isn't looking outwards.
"Paris," he whispered, slowly moving into the darker shadows, gently pushing the startled female ahead of him with his hard head. She knelt beside him, arms around his neck; their hammering hearts slowly returned to normal, at their near miss of being seen. They sat in the deep shadows to watch and listen. A second silver clad person joined the first, within the open doorway.
"Tom. What has all this got to do with the Commander?" he asked.
"Everything and nothing," sighing. "I'm not really sure. The fact that these people do not belong here. The N'de's connection to the Commander's native Indian heritage," he paused gazing out into the snow laden air. The light behind them went out. "Let's hope Voyager can re-establish contact again soon," his tone positive as Phelan and the boy – Kitto – joined them, closing the door securely. They then set off toward the dark canyon cliffs to the north of the settlement; lanterns lighting their path.
/\/\
Two pairs of wary eyes watched them go and then followed, keeping to the shadows once more. The female softly stroked his thick white furred neck ruff, whilst they stood in the dense pinewood, to get their bearings, having lost their quarry in the shifting darkness.
"You worried, Chakotay?" she asked, tone quiet, not wanting to intrude on the silence around them.
"Yes, Tatiana," it was all he said; his mind still trying to make sense of all the things he'd heard. "This way," moving forward, following the soft scent that was carried on the cold air from the four upright beings ahead of them.
/\/\
Aboard the star ship Voyager, the female waited tensely as her staff worked around her; standing near the empty chair of her First officer. Chell, who was working at Kim's usual station, sighed:
"I'm sorry, Captain. I've tried everything I can thing of. I cannot raise them."
"Fair enough, Mr. Chell. Keep monitoring." He nodded his bald blue head, face creased with worry. "Janeway to Astrometrics. Anything, Mr. Kim?"
"Negative, Captain. The interference has blanked out all communications. The E-band emissions have remained constant, though," noted the Ensign's slightly worried voice. Seven spoke, telling her that the interference appeared to be concentrated in one small area.
"If we could isolate it; we may be able to neutralise its effects." Before Janeway could respond, another voice spoke from behind her.
"I feel that would be very unwise."
"Explain," Janeway said, turning to face the calm figure of her Security Chief; who'd entered the bridge from the turbo-lift.
"Computer; Display on main view screen, visual logs. Stardate 4842.6, USS Enterprise NCC 1701," moved to join her in the command centre.
The screen cleared of the external view of the planet they were orbiting, to reveal a pastoral scene that could have come straight out of a holo-novel of 18th century Earth; North America before the first European settlers arrived. The group of people were going about their daily business, around their humble dwellings at the edge of a pine forested lake. The scene shifted to an alien obelisk with strange markings; the view moved in closer to the alien script. Tuvok narrates:
"The USS Enterprise under the command of Captain James.T. Kirk; encountered this planet in a region of space where no such M-class planet could have evolved. The obelisk confirmed this to be the handiwork of the alien race, known as The Preservers. Which in turn also solved the mystery of why Starfleet had encountered so many other humanoid civilizations scattered throughout the Alpha Quadrant," pausing as the scene returned to the people on the lake shore. "These people were descendants of Delaware, Navajo and Mohican tribes from the eastern board of North America. The more peaceful of the Native Amerindian tribes."
"Chakotay's people," her voice no more than a whisper.
"The obelisk was a highly advanced asteroid deflector shield. It allowed their planet and themselves, to survive in relative safety; within the dangerous region of an active asteroid belt. Although when the Enterprise arrived, they had forgotten how to operate the device. I believe Mr. Spock was able to reactivate the device correctly." She smiled a little at the slight smugness in the Vulcan's bearing; nothing in his voice though. She frowned at the alien script now on the screen; was it her imagination or did one of the symbols change?
"The connection?" she asked, looking at him.
"You, yourself suggested the connection, Captain," pausing a moment as if to add weight to his next words. "Cmdr Chakotay." Janeway stared at him and then at the strange alien obelisk on the screen.
The obelisk stood tall and totally alien to the landscape in which it rested, upon its square pedestal base, within the part bowl shaped area. It's whole structure free of snow. A soft hum – just audible to human ears – emanated from its metal sides. The cliff face behind it was broken by loose scree material in places, so wasn't as sheer faced as it first appeared; the snow softening the hardness of the rocks, whilst the bare trees covered the opposite side, almost completing the bowl shaped affect. The cliff face wandered off into the darkness behind and to the east of the metal structure. The humans stared at it, moving up and around it. Other eyes also took in its unusual shape.
/\/\
"Strange," the young female whispered; as if the obelisk was familiar to her. The N'de asked the obvious question of her. "I'm not sure, Chakotay. I do feel drawn to it," her voice a hushed whisper. A deep long howl broke into everyone's contemplation of the alien obelisk. Whilst the humans sort to locate the source, for it echoed off the surrounding cliff face; the N'de knew where and who – Hakan. He growled deep in his throat, feeling that the young warrior could prove a threat to all here.
Suddenly the pack appeared from the forested area side of the obelisk, blocking the human's only apparent escape route. Slowly the pack moved forward, snarling, legs bent, ready to spring at the slightest moment from the upright beings; pushing them back up against the jagged cliff face. Paris – who'd been examining the alien script – got the strangest feeling that if anyone so much as fired any weapon the obelisk would harm the humans, leaving them defenceless; yet he didn't want to hurt these creatures. Slowly he and the others backed away from them, yet kept them firmly in his line of sight. They were certainly beautiful – in a strange savage sort of way – he thought; noting the varying shades of light grey to pure white. Amber eyes, long clean strong limbs with lithe bodies, teeth bared in an angry snarl. White wolves.
"White! Winter!" he exclaimed, coming to his senses. Another voice spoke, which halted most of the pack's steady advance. The tall dark eared leader halted and lifted his head in answer.
"Why, Kindred Spirit?"
"Who cares why? They are the enemy. We attack," Hakan snarled.
"You are too impatient, Fiery," noted Melvern, seeing the one who'd called a halt to the packs hunt.
"They can help all of us," was the reply.
"HELP! Why should they?" still edging closer to the silver clad male who had half stood up out of his defensive position.
"Do not attack," was the commanding call. Most of the pack – behind Melvern halted – heeding the call and yet still unsure. The Great chief motioned the others to stand down. Hakan snapped angrily: "You obey that stranger?"
A weapon spoke; hitting the ground in front of the lead wolf, who backed away snarling. A man's voice boomed noisily above them.
"Give me clearance, Phelan."
"Brandon!" the old man said under his breath with a soft curse, knowing the burly gruff was a good marksman. Another voice called; getting his attention, it was Paris.
"These N'de belong here. This winter weather is a defence mechanism to protect them," his voice urgent. The older man stared at him, but Paris' words made sense, hearing Brandon bellow at him again.
"And what if I do? You'll kill them, won't you?" he shouted back. "No, Brandon. I believe this is their home. Not ours," he added. Dalby noted that the N'de/wolves were listening; ears twitching taking in what was being said. Some stood, others sat in the snow, watching and waiting. He whispered as much to Paris. "Stalemate!" Somewhere out of sight Chakotay and Tatiana watched also. They were a little above and behind the humans and could clearly see Brandon and his two mates, huddled not far from them, among the dry bracken undergrowth.
"Only the big one has a fire-stick," the female said quietly. Her companion said nothing. 'Stalemate', indeed, he thought.
/\/\
Janeway had left Tuvok in charge on the bridge, whilst she made her way to sickbay to check on their two unexpected guests. First she spoke with the Doctor in his office.
"Mother and daughter are doing just fine. It would have been a rather different story had she given birth on the planet," he told her in his usual brisk manner. "The Lady has asked to speak with you, Captain. Her name's Rowena." Having acknowledged him, she approached the woman who softly cooed to her new-born child. Dark chestnut hair fell about her shoulders, obscuring her face from view. She smiled at the female who'd spoken her name.
"I'll take care of your child," the Doctor said, gently taking the newborn. "You must rest," he chided moving to place the child in a near-by cot.
"Is he always so attentive?"
"It is what he's programmed to do."
"Programmed?! You make him sound like a robot or something," her tone light and teasing.
"I'm a hologram. Programmed to meet the medical needs of all my patients," the EMH said, having returned to her side. "Not too long, Captain. Please," he reminded the woman, before going to his office.
"He's one very life-like hologram!"
"You're not unfamiliar with such things?"
"Captain; It is a real relief to be here, in this well equipped medical establishment and not on the planet below," frowning puzzled by the redhead's silence. "Captain! Something wrong?"
"No. Not really," she smiled and then politely introduced herself.
"Federation!? Not an organisation from these parts. But then neither am I."
"Where do you come from?"
"I don't think it will help, Captain Janeway. Although I can tell you why we came," pausing to invite Kathryn to sit beside her. "Our people viewed this system and felt it was far enough away from our enemies for them to ignore us. Natural ion storms frequent the outer gas giants, thus giving us added protection. A massive ion storm ran through the entire system as we reached the outer limits. The after-shocks affected our ship's computers throwing us off course," breathing deeply, to steady her nerve. "We were making for the third planet in a six planet system, or so we thought."
"Six? Seven and has been since our sensors first encountered it four days ago," looking sadly at the sleeping male on the primary bio-bed. Rowena followed her gaze.
"Who is he?"
"My First Officer," she informed briskly; hiding emotions of deep pain. "You were saying?"
"Oh, yes! As we got closer to our pre-programmed destination, our ship was hit by an unknown force. It disrupted computers, sensors and the cryogenic systems all of us were travelling in. Of the fifty members on board, only twenty of us survived the rather bumpy landing," pausing to fight back her tears. Janeway squeezed her hand sympathetically. "The gene banks were depleted, but were salvageable; along with food supplies and seeds, etc. everything else that was electronic based; including distress beacons, was just one infused mess. We've managed to repair some of it; otherwise I wouldn't be able to explain all this."
"Data storage!"
"Yes. And it's always been winter." The two women sat in companionable silence; each lost in their respective thoughts. Janeway looked again at the sleeping form; almost hidden by the clam-shell arched over his prone body, remembering Tuvok's words:
"You, yourself suggested the connection."
Seven's voice broke into these disquieting thoughts; she answered the com-call. Rowena watched and listened with interest.
"The fourth planet shows signs that it's been visited from afar. There are several different probes at five different locations across the planet. Most are still operational; yet none are transmitting their data."
"Are there any signs of ion storm damage?"
"Checking," the pause wasn't long, but it felt like a life time to the waiting females. "Yes. The density of the planet's atmosphere has deflected most of the storm's intensity." The female voice informed them.
"Captain; according to our own surveys of this system, massive ion storms are not uncommon," noted Kim's voice. "But most of the inner planets are usually on the far side of the sun, when the storms pass through. For some reason this particular storm was late. So all the M-class inner planets were within its destructive path," his young voice explained.
"Could such an ion storm have affected that obelisk?" Rowena frowned puzzled at the female Captain, as she stood.
"It is very possible."
"Thank you. Janeway out," tapping her badge closing the com-link.
"Obelisk? I know it's there. But what has that got to do with things?"
"I've no idea at this moment. Doctor," she called. He briskly came toward her, a question on his face. "Would it be possible to wake the Commander?" she asked her tone decisive.
"I've no idea, Captain. I'll see what I can do."
"How long will you need?" anxious now.
"Forty-five minutes," he conceded.
"Fine; Let me know when you're ready," she said, already striding from the area. Rowena and the Doctor watched her go.
"You're not happy about it. Are you?"
"No," his voice flat. He added, "You lie down and rest," helping her to lie back on the bio-bed. Once she was comfortable, he left her side and stood quietly contemplating his male patient. Then he set to work accessing the readouts once more, thoroughly checking everything. Although he worked with his usual efficiency a worried frown remained across his brow.
/\/\
The people she'd contacted on her way to transporter room one, arrived at the same time she did, thus she wasted no time in telling Torres and Kim what she wanted; to punch a hole through the interference and pull their people off planet.
"Do you think you could pull off that skeletal lock again?" the question was casual, yet there was no disguising the intent behind it. Torres quietly nodded and set to work with Harry Kim, knowing they had to deal with the E-band emissions also.
Suddenly a voice stopped them in their tracks:
"Delta-flyer to Voyager," it was Markham's voice, clear as a bell.
"Janeway here, Crewman. Report."
"Captain; I've discovered a narrow frequency that's not affected by the obelisk. Transmitting to you now." Torres eyes opened wide, as at first an image or symbol she knew well appeared on the screen and then the incoming data over-rode it.
"We have it, Markham. Good work," she said, about to sign off, when he called her by rank, hesitantly. It effectively halted her next order.
"There is a large cavern not far from the obelisk with a very faint power signature. I cannot pin-point it exactly though. Plus there's a wretched ship of some kind. Hard to tell, there is still a lot of interference and a symbol," before he could say more, although both B'Elanna and Harry's ears had pricked up at his words about the symbol, she cut him off with a question:
"Do you think you can get the flyer airborne?"
"Negative, Captain. I can scan, communicate and possibly transport nothing more. The interference from the obelisk could down the flyer permanently, if I try to take-off," his voice sounding rather worried. "This symbol…" Again she cut him short.
"Understood, Crewman; keep monitoring. We'll see if we can't use this frequency to get our people back on board." He acknowledged her, anxious yet firm. All the while Torres and Kim had been working the transporter console and listening to the information coming from Markham. It was the Captain's curtailing the crewman's talk about the symbol that worried the pair.
"I think we can do it, Captain."
"Good to hear, Lieutenant. Janeway to Sickbay. Are you ready Doctor?" her stance determined. A very reluctant 'yes' came through the com-link, thus she nodded to Torres to begin.
/\/\
The alien silver-haired child watched the big burly settler intently, as he scanned the scene below them. One of his two companions softly talked as if urging the male to shoot.
Near the obelisk a young grey animal crouched low, legs bent eyes fixed on the fair-haired male dressed in silver.
A whining noise emanating from the alien obelisk startled everyone; especially the N'de into moving back into the trees, with the exception of Hakan, who continued to slink closer to the human male. It also gave Brandon the opportunity to sight the animal more clearly, raising his weapon. Tension mounted. Then someone yelled and ran at the big man, grabbing the fire-stick, which fired off-mark and caused the two to tumble down the rugged snow covered cliff face. Kitto shouted, looking at the tumbling snow and beings. Hakan lay flat, waiting his chance. The large male slid down on his back, hands fraying; whilst the smaller one was seen one minute and then lost in the snow and shifting scree rubble.
Chakotay watched with worried-wary eyes, fearing the worse for 'Little Silver'; whilst also keeping a close eye on Hakan, as the four males ran over to the fallen duo.
"Grandpa! It's Tatti!" the boy said, using his bare hands to dig the young unconscious female out of the resulting snow drift. Paris joined him.
"I wouldn't move her just yet. Easy," he cautioned, halting the boy's mad, frantic efforts. He leaned forward and searched for a pulse; whilst the other two dragged the semi-conscious Brandon out of the rubble. "She's alive," giving the boy a grin as the youngster sighed with visible relief. Then another sound caught their attention, Dalby's com-badge chirped at him.
"I think you'd better answer that," Phelan commented with a companionable smile, which was returned in like manner. Torres voice informed them of the situation and the frequency they were now using; so Paris quickly reset his tricorder and scanned the inert child.
"Cuts and bruises. Nothing really serious. Heart rate is a bit unsteady. She'll be alright once we're back on Voyager," ruffling the lad's hair; grinning at the scowl he received in return. "B'Elanna. We've two injured people down here, plus two others. Can you bring us all up?" he asked calmly, ignoring the wolves.
"Negative. Possibly three of you at a time. As long as it includes either yourself or Dalby."
"Dalby will be first with the injured." She acknowledged him and started to count. Tom gently lifted the injured female and gently placed her limp form in Dalby's embrace. He smiled wanly at Paris. A whine came and a blue/white light soon obscured the three and then they were gone.
"Look out!" Phelan shouted, wondering if he'd been quick enough. As Paris had stepped away from the party of three, the young wolf had sprung. Now a second larger white furred body slammed into the young grey, knocking him away from his intended target and into the fresh snow drift. The younger animal growled angrily and snapped at the white's throat, yet his upright victim moving closer caused Hakan to back down; lying flat on his belly, ears flat against his head, lying on the snow.
Breathing heavily, head down, eyes half closed; he stood on four trembling legs, the leap had taken more out of him than he'd realised. Sensing movement he brought his head up and round, to look square into the young pilot's startled face.
"Chakotay?" he whispered softly, hesitantly reaching out a hand to touch the noble, savage marked head. The tricorder bleeped at him and an angry shout halted his movement. "Go!" he said urgently. The white wolf stared at him. "Go! Chakotay. Go with the N'de. Please," he added anxiously. He got to his feet and joined the other two uprights. The large animal nipped the youngster to his feet and they loped off into the forest after the other N'de. Paris smiled as the transporter beam hid the planet from view, to be replaced by the welcoming faces of Torres and Kim. The latter's words caused the pilot grave alarm.
"Welcome, strangers. Captain Janeway would have been here to greet you, but she's gone to sickbay to supervise the awakening of a friend."
"NO!" He shouted and ran from the area, leaving behind puzzled and startled faces; with Harry Kim's asking if he'd said something wrong.
/\/\
The Doctor stood poised and worried as Janeway watched; hiding the sleep male's face from the area's only other occupant. A scuffle at the door caused the Medic to pause and note Dalby's entrance with the small unconscious female in his arms. About to see to the new arrivals; but Janeway's voice halted him.
"Doctor! Wake him." It was a command, one he couldn't ignore; reluctantly he re-checked the hypo-spray. "Doctor!" she said, as a second scuffled caught his attention. Then a slightly out of breathe voice ordered:
"Computer. Deactivate EMH. Now!"
Suddenly the male medic winked out of existence; the hypo-spray clattering to the floor. She whirled round to see who, in effect had countermanded her orders; in so doing she revealed the sleeping man's face.
"That mark! I've seen it before," the alien female said, staring at the tattoo, wide eyed, causing Janeway some alarm. Paris joined his Captain and whispered:
"So have I. On an N'de," he breathed deep. "To wake him might very possibly kill him." Her head snapped round to look at him, but before she could question or say anything more, a gruff male voice demanded:
"Rowena! What are you doing here?"
"Oh! Nothing special," the woman's tone casual and offbeat. "Just having our baby." An older man clapped the stunned gruff on the back.
"Now you're a fully fledged father," he teased, grinning.
"Will Tatti be alright?" the boy asked.
"Computer; Re-activate the EMH," she said; gently halting the medic; once he'd reappeared, from harming his comatose patient. "You have a more pressing case of need, Doctor," indicating the unconscious young girl. With a look of positive relief he attended her.
"Are you real?" the boy asked, astonished at the man's sudden disappearance and re-appearance.
"As real as you are," he snapped. "Now this is a medical bay, not a conference room," voice indignant; making Janeway smile, tapping her com-badge.
"Ambassador; please report to sickbay. There are some 'guests' that require your tender care." Paris joined the medic in attending the young silver-haired girl's injuries and then check Brandon; who stood at his wife's bedside, staring rather bemused at the bundle nestled in her arms; as the child suckled from her mother.
"You sent for me?" asked a cheerful voice from the doorway; Janeway nodded and asked him to take their uninjured guests to the Mess hall; but the gruff wasn't having any of her.
"Who are you to order me about?" he demanded coldly. Rowena thought better of saying anything; having noted the hard expression on the uniformed female's face.
"Security; Report to sickbay. Now! I have an undesirable that needs removing immediately," her own tone equally as cold. Her crew hid amused smiles, except for the EMH, because his sickbay was getting very crowded. "Dalby go with Neelix. I'll need a full report from you soon. In fact I think we will need to compare notes." Both Dalby and the older male nodded and steered the boy out of the area, behind Neelix's comic figure.
"What are you?" the lad asked.
"The name is Neelix. I'm from a planet called Talax," taking the boy's hand. "In fact there is someone I think you should meet," his voice fading up the corridor. The Medic looked very pained as the security detail arrived in the form of two strong males in gold and black uniforms and the dark skinned, pointed eared Vulcan.
"You required the removal of an undesirable, Captain," his voice flat, one eyebrow raised.
"Yes, Lieutenant Commander," using his full title. "This one," she said pointing to the startled Brandon. "Take him to the Brig. I don't like bullies and especially not on my ship." The three quietly escorted the astonished male from the area, much to the EMH's visible relief, as he worked on the injured child. Kathryn Janeway sighed. "I won't leave him there, Rowena," she assured the alien woman with a soft smile. "How's your young patient, Doctor?"
"Fine; she has taken quite a battering. There were also one or two old injuries, which I have reset. Other than getting some much needed rest, she'll be fine," turning to his other female patient he said. "You may leave sickbay, if you wish. Please report to me any problems. Either with yourself or your newborn," he said and then made for his office. Janeway and Paris helped her off the bio-bed.
"I'll take you to the Mess hall. Mr. Paris you had better rest up. I'll call a meeting within the next hour or two, in the Mess hall. I don't think the briefing room will accommodate everyone." He acknowledged her, gave the sleeping male a sad glance and then left.
"He's special. Isn't he?"
"Yes, I suppose he is," looking sadly at the main bio-bed occupant. "Let's see what Ambassador Neelix is cooking up," she said brightly, giving Rowena a helping hand to walk.
Soon everything was quiet again, with only the machines softly humming. The Doctor stood in the doorway of his office a moment to survey the quietness and then returned to writing up his report on his latest patient. The screen monitoring the Commander filled with static, only to clear moments later to reveal a symbol. It matched the one over the man's left eye. For a second or two it flashed in a soft musical rhythm and then it was gone, replaced by the medical data once more.
/\/\