Chapter Twelve

Tuvok confirmed the change in Frela's planetary government, and he'd found that once Sach took power, it became marginally easier to gain assistance in finding his commanding officers. He greeted them in the transporter room, taking note that though they appeared dishevelled and slightly battered, the pair didn't seem to be too bad off. "Welcome back."

The captain stepped down from the platform. "Report, Mister Tuvok."

"The new Frelan government has honored the agreements you made with President Tia prior to his demise," her security officer reported. "All foodstuffs and materials are now being transported aboard, and the government's offer of shore leave within the green zone is still in effect."

She shook her head. "After seeing what the rest of the planet is like, I think we'll be better off to cut our losses and grant the crew additional holodeck and recreational time instead. It will have to be enough until we find someplace a little less volatile."

Tuvok clasped his hands behind his back. "Understood."

"The commander and I are meeting with the president in two hours, once we've had a chance to clean up," she told him, "and after we break orbit, Chakotay and I will be taking the next three days off in order to recuperate. For now, I will leave the bridge in your capable hands."

"Aye, Captain."

Sensing Chakotay at her side, Kathryn led the way out into the corridor. They walked in silence until she heard him start to chuckle. "What?"

With a wink, he told her, "I was just wondering how not-sterile these corridors actually are."

Bursting with laughter, she shook her head as they continued to make their way toward Sickbay.

President Sach correctly guessed the captain's intention of safeguarding her people by passing up shore leave within the restricted zone. "I am not at all offended," the old woman told them. "To be honest, if I could take a vacation right now, it would be anywhere but here."

The captain couldn't help but agree. "I hope that rebuilding will be easier than you anticipate."

"Yes, we all do. But routing out the Pillicks and sending them back to Cosamia will help a great deal." She got up from the table in order to pour her guests another cup of choula. "I am truly sorry that you were caught up in such dramas, Captain, but I am glad to hear that you survived. It is quite rare for anyone to survive one maladak siege, never mind two." She turned to Chakotay. "And your wound is healed now?"

"It is."

Sach smiled as she set down the pitcher. "I am very glad to hear that as well."

"If I may," Chakotay began as the president returned to her seat. She indicated for him to continue, so he explained, "As we made our way out of the forest, the captain and I discovered a site that contained the remnants of buildings and a large, underwater stone seating area. I was wondering if you might know what that would be."

Their host's eyes seemed to light up. "You found a kercha!" she exclaimed joyfully.

Kathryn exchanged glances with Chakotay. "What is a kercha?"

Realizing her guests would have no idea, Sach explained, "Kerchas are ancient community centres, remnants from when the Frela still lived in the forests. People met there to eat and bathe, and sometimes mate, especially when the lovers were from different tribes. But because we no longer venture into the forests, and our historical records from that time were verbal, we no longer know their locations." She sat back in her chair, lifting her cup high to her face to inhale the choula's aroma in much the same way the captain smelled coffee. "You are very lucky indeed. I hope you were able to take some time to enjoy it before moving on."

They looked at one another again, and he was amused to see his lover's cheeks turning pink. "It was a very enlightening experience," he told Sach, hoping that Kathryn wouldn't snort in laughter.