"I don't understand, Mr. Kim." Neelix hurried to keep pace with the ensign as they made their way down the hall. "If the Captain wanted a function in the banquet hall, she could have told me at the briefing this morning. I can handle all the arrangements for her. Have the Vizi officials finally agreed to come aboard?"

"I don't think that's what she has in mind, Mr. Neelix."

Neelix noticed the grin that hadn't left Harry's face. "Intriguing. Now why would the Captain summon me to the banquet hall if she wasn't planning on having a formal event?"

Harry stopped in front of the door. "Here we are."

Neelix put his hands on his chest. "Well, the event specialist has arrived. I'm sure I could whip up something fabulous for the Vizians. I have been playing around with a couple of recipes. The Captain will need my input for whatever menu she is planning. The Vizians will have a welcome like none other! People will talk about this for years to come!"

The door swished open and Harry let Neelix walk into the darkened room. He followed behind just as light illuminated the large group of Voyager crew members who yelled. "Surprise!"

Neelix jumped back as confetti, streamers, and balloons rained down from the ceiling. Harry clapped him on the back. "Welcome to your party, Neelix!"

"My, my party? A party for me?" He looked up at the bright red banner that read "Thank You Neelix". "But it's not my birthday." Guests descended upon long tables filled with food and drinks. The crew had decorated the room and themselves with party hats, boas, and the array of favors that had just blown through the crowd. They laughed and joked as they dusted each other off.

"Maestro!" Tom called. The Doctor, designated bartender, snapped his fingers and said, 'Computer, play program Party 12." Dance music quickly filled the room.

Kes ran up and hugged Neelix as Janeway and Chakotay followed. "It's a thank you party, Neelix. Thank you for all you've done for us. The crew is so grateful and they wanted to show you how much."

Neelix looked around the room as crew members waved and shouted their welcomes and thanks. His eyes grew damp as he said, "How nice of all of you. A thank you party. I had no idea there was such a thing."

"There is now," Chakotay said. "Kes planned it for you."

"With a lot of help," Kes said. She looked back at Tom who bowed and made a point to grab Belanna closer to him when Neelix's jealous gaze fell upon him.

Janeway grabbed Neelix and said, "Mr. Neelix, I can't tell you how fortunate this crew has been to have you along with us. You've made our days very special and only an extraordinary and unique person like you could accomplish that. I don't know that we could have come this far without you."

"Captain, I think for the first time in my life, I don't know what to say."

"Maybe we should capture this moment for posterity." Tuvok entered and acknowledged them with a nod.

"Tuvok, you made it!" Tom stepped up and placed a party hat on the Vulcan's head. "Glad you could celebrate with us."

The others stifled their giggles. "Is this decoration necessary for my participation in this event?"

"Yes, Tuvok it is," Tom said. "And I think we have one more party guest out of uniform." He stepped up to Seven who quickly grabbed Tom's hand in mid-air.

"Captain, is this also an order?" she asked.

Janeway swallowed her laughter and said, "I think you can skip this part, Seven, unless, of course, Mr. Neelix has an objection?"

"Objection? Oh no!" Neelix said. "Everyone should be as comfortable as I am right now. Your presence at this celebration of me is quite enough. Let's just see who has come to celebrate me. If you'll excuse us." Neelix stepped away with Kes and out into the crowd. "Crewman Christie, how nice of you to come to my party!"

Chakotay leaned over to Janeway. "I think he's gotten the hang of it."

Janeway watched Neelix mingle like a pro. "Indeed." Her eyes drifted to the view window where a small ship was passing. "Who's that?'

The room quieted a bit as everyone watched the small ship not much larger than a shuttle disappear and then reappear right next to Voyager's hull.

"I didn't realize the Vizi Alliance had cloaking capabilities," Chakotay said.

"I didn't realize we were expecting visitors." Janeway slapped her combadge but, before she could speak, Ayala's panicked voice came through.

"Bridge to Captain Janeway! Captain Janeway, respond!"

"Report, Mr. Ayala."

"We've got trouble, Captain! And company!"

The ship outside exploded and Voyager pitched sharply. Red alert sounded and "Intruder alert" warnings repeated on the comm.

Janeway nodded at Chakotay and the rest of her command team. "Let's go!"

Everyone stepped up to the door but it did not open. Janeway glanced at Chakotay who called, "Computer, release door." There was no response. "Computer!" Chakotay and Belanna went to the wall for the manual override controls. Weapons fire sounded and Chakotay jumped back with a cry as the discharge hit his hands.

The crew scattered and ducked as more weapons fire shot through the room. Only the Doctor remained standing, charges passing through his holographic body, as he took note of the injuries as they happened noting which ones he would need to attend to first.

Janeway dove and rolled to the wall to see if she could spot who was attacking. She put a hand against Chakotay who was cradling his burned wrist. "I'm okay," he said.

"I think it's coming from the back…," her voice faded as the charges suddenly ceased.

The room was quiet save for the moans and whispers of injured crew members scattered around the hall floor. Footsteps sounded and Janeway watched a pair of brown leather boots walk towards her. She looked up and into the face of an average size man dressed in casual pants and a loose shirt. He carried a rifle with an ammunition belt wound tight against his solid frame. A long knife hung from a second belt around his waist and Janeway saw a smaller one tucked in his boot. A scar marked his left cheek but his face was otherwise unblemished surrounded by thick wavy brown hair.

He loomed over her and kicked at her shoulder with the toe of his boot. Janeway grabbed it and took the knife. She held it up as she glared at him. He smiled as she tried to stand but he kicked her back. Chakotay lunged for him but stopped as soon as the rifle was placed against his chest.

"I wouldn't touch me if I were you." The man's ice blue eyes stared Chakotay down until he backed off and settled next to Janeway.

"Who are you and how did you get aboard my ship?" Janeway said. She tried to stand again until the rifle shifted in her direction.

"Sit, please, and make yourself comfortable. I'll answer all your questions. But first, I'll take that." He took the knife away from Janeway's hand. "I see you don't arm yourselves while you are safe and secure aboard ship. Maybe you should rethink that." He smiled at Janeway's cold stare. "My name is Ronan. I'm aboard your ship because I needed a change of scenery. That explosion you heard was my ship detonating as my friends and I left so we're going to need some new transport now. You'll do."

"This is not a passenger vessel, Mr. Ronan. How did you get here?"

"Cargo bays. Cargo bays and Vizian technology. You see the Vizi don't like outsiders. They are marvels at taking things they don't want seen out of the line of vision like places, things, people. It helps protect their sacred solitary privacy. I like my privacy too so I borrowed a few masquerade tricks from them and made sure when I move around that no one is really bothered by it."

"You're bothering me."

"Am I?" He looked around the room. "It looks like you were having a party. I didn't get my invitation." He turned back to her. "I don't like being ignored. How about you?"

"I didn't know the Vizi people were the partying type." Janeway watched as several other similarly dressed men entered and walked around the room. "We've invited your officials to come aboard. They have refused our attempts at any sort of cultural exchange. Have you changed their minds?"

Ronan flashed a quick grin. "I've changed mine. The others? Probably not. Most Vizians do not celebrate each other like you do. They prefer torture, exclusion, and banishment all in the name of propriety, appropriateness, and conformity."

"May I assume you're part of an organization that is looking to rectify that?"

Ronan pointed a finger at her. "You're a very smart woman and a very pretty one at that. What's your name?"

"Captain Kathryn Janeway and my ship has no quarrel with any Vizi organization. We are a neutral party only passing through your space on our way home. So, Mr. Ronan, I need you to apologize and leave my ship at once."

Ronan's laugh echoed through the large room. "You are not being very hospitable, Captain."

"Neither were you when you boarded my ship and shot my crew! Now get off! Go address your concerns with the appropriate Vizian channels. You'll find them more sympathetic to your cause. As a policy, we don't involve ourselves in outside affairs."

Ronan's face darkened. "You will. Your non-interference policy means nothing to me. You're not showing much respect towards me, Captain Kathryn Janeway. I don't like it."

"And I don't like my ship and crew being fired upon without just cause. Leave now and I'll forgo the apology."

Ronan studied her. "You like to negotiate. A real diplomat. You could be very useful to me. Yes, I like you. You're tough." His icy eyes met her darker ones. "You are not in control here anymore but you want to be. I like that. You've got guts, spirit, determination..." He knelt down and put his face in hers. "All the qualities I really like in a woman."

Chakotay's eyes flashed fire as he moved up to Ronan. "What exactly do you want from us?"

Ronan kept his eyes on Janeway who stared back, unflinching. "You and I could be good together." He ran a hand down her lower leg. "Maybe later, we'll find out."

"I think not," Janeway said. She kicked up between his legs but Ronan's hand shot out, blocking their kick. Holding her leg, he twisted it and watched pain spread across her face. She tried to pull back but he held tight.

Chakotay grabbed his arm but Ronan had enough leverage to let go and flip the rifle. He caught the butt against the side of Chakotay's head. Chakotay cried out as the gun connected with his temple and blood ran from the large gash in his skin.

Janeway pushed the rifle away as she demanded, "Stop it! We have no fight with you! Now what do you want from us?"

"You want me to promise to stop injuring your crew in exchange for something, Captain." He flicked a finger under her chin and said, "Be nice to me and I may give that idea some thought." He stood up and looked at the Doctor who was busy attending to the fallen crew members. Nodding his head, he said, "What is he?"

Janeway glanced over at him and took in the room fully for the first time. Her crew was spread out in groups around the floor. Mobile personnel surrounded their more severely injured mates. She noticed Tom next to her apparently uninjured sitting beside Belanna who looked ready to pounce on Ronan. Belanna looked at her for permission but Janeway gave her a frown and slight shake of the head.

She saw legs poking out behind them and spatters of green blood. "Tuvok," she murmured. Tom followed her gaze and immediately jumped back to attend to the Vulcan.

"Friend of yours?" Ronan said.

Janeway whirled around. "Yes, not that it matters!"

"Oh, we have an all life is precious kind of girl. My odds of survival just went way up, didn't they? My admiration of you grows ever stronger, Captain."

Janeway exhaled and looked at the other side. Neelix lay with a group of crew members trying to assist but appeared hampered by a leg wound. Kes was busy helping the Doctor who scurried from patient to patient trying to work as best he could with his limited supplies. As she observed the scene before her, there were two people she could not locate. Seven and Harry were nowhere to be found.

"Missing somebody?"

Janeway stared at Ronan again. "I won't know that until the Doctor examines everyone and reports on my casualties thanks to you. Allow me to take my wounded to sick bay."

"No." Ronan started to walk away.

"Excuse me?" Janeway called.

Ronan turned back. "I'm not going to repeat myself, Captain, so pay attention."

Janeway slowly stood up. She motioned Chakotay to stay down. "You have my attention, Ronan. You've had it ever since you and your friends started shooting. What do you want with it?"

Ronan caught her gesture toward Chakotay and smirked. "Looks like the lady doesn't want your protection. She can take care of herself?"

"You bet she can," Chakotay replied.

"Good. I like a challenge. You try and protect her again and that will be strike two against your life."

Janeway stepped up and said, "Don't threaten my crew. You speak to me. Now what do you want from us?"

Ronan hesitated. "Well, as pretty as you are, I'm afraid I may need you to die for me."