I know it's been a long time since I updated. But I was waiting for a tenth reviewer before I continued this story. But I don't have that kind of patience.

Anyways, I don't own Star Trek: Voyager or Wolverine.

Chapter 3

The Ocampa

"If you had told us what you had planned we might have anticipated your irrational behavior" Tuvok stated once they had all reached sickbay.

"Irrational? We got out of there didn't we?" replied a frustrated Neelix.

Logan looked at the conversation and rolled his eyes. If he would have told us his plan to save his "beloved" we would have helped them anyways. Of course there would have been less fighting… maybe it was a good thing he told us. I enjoyed beating up a real person. It's been a while since I went on a rampage. Logan smirked at the thought.

"Excuse me." Said Kes commandingly as she got up from the medical bed, "Don't blame Neelix."

"That's enough," stated the Doctor as he barged into the conversation, "this is a sick bay not a conference room. Visiting hours are over. Everyone except my patient is to leave immediately."

"Computer. End Medical Holographic Program" stated Janeway calmly.

I wish I could have done that to Beast when he tried to study me.

The Doctor looked livid as he faded away.

"I never should have gone to the surface. I'm too curious. I'm told it's my worst failing" Kes said sadly.

"No. No, it's a wonderful quality. Your most endearing" Neelix said with his voice full of emotion.

"Would you be willing to take us underground to help us look for our missing crew?" Janeway interrupted carefully.

"I'm afraid Jabin was right. There's no way to get down. The tunnel I came out has been sealed."

"We don't need a tunnel. We have the ability to transport there directly "stated Janeway confidently.

Tuvok interrupted, "Captain, our sensors did not pick up any indication of an underground civilization. The subterranean barrier Jabin described may be responsible. It might also block our transporter. "

"There are breaches in the security barrier where it's begun to decay. That's how I got out." Kes supplied helpfully.

"Have the transporter room begin a sweep for any breaches we might be able to beam through."

Tuvok turns and leaves briskly to follow Janeway's command.

"Kes can tell you where to go. But now that she's free, we're leaving this system together" stated Neelix calmly.

"Neelix, these people rescued me."

Neelix was frustrated, "I rescued you."

"With their help" she pointed out. "It would be wrong not to help them now."

With that Neelix reluctantly agreed and they all headed towards the transporter room.

Twenty minutes later they found a breach in the barrier and beamed down to the Ocampa gardens where saxifrages and other water-retentive plants grew in rows. Kes lead the way as Janeway, Tuvok, Chakotay, Logan and Neelix followed behind.

Many Ocampa workers stopped and stared at the intruders in shock as they continued on their way.

Tuvok pulled out his tri-corder and said "Captain, the pulses from the array continue to accelerate. The intervals between them have decreased another point eight seconds.

"Kes" one of them called.

"Hello, Daggin."

"We thought we'd never see you again. How did you get back?"

"These people rescued me from the Kazon. I'm trying to help them find two of their crewmen. Does anyone know where the aliens are kept? The ones the Caretaker sends here?"

"I think they're at the central clinic."

Janeway interrupted, "Can you take us there?"

No, she cannot.

Oh no, not another telepath thought Logan. I can't take another Chuck.

"They can't speak telepathically, Toscat. Please talk aloud." Kes responded.

"I didn't mean to be rude but you should not be here" replied Toscat.

Geez, this guy is almost as bad as old one eye.

"We'll be glad to leave once we find our crewmen" Janeway shot right back.

"That won't be possible. We cannot interfere with the Caretaker's wishes."

"Maybe you can't Bub, but we can" growled Logan.

"You don't understand" he whined.

"That's right. They don't understand." Kes insisted, "They have no way of knowing that the Ocampa have been dependent on the Caretaker for so long, we can't even think for ourselves any more. They don't understand we were once a people who had full command of our mind's abilities."

Thank goodness. I don't need anyone else poking around in my head. Especially not this guy. Tuvok was hard enough to keep off of my back.

"The stories of our ancestor's cognitive abilities are apocryphal. At the very least exaggerated" Toscat continued.

"We lost those abilities because we stopped using them."

"We should not dwell on what's been lost but on all that's been gained."

"We've gained a talent for dependence, for simply taking what we're given. I'm going to help them, Toscat, whether you like it or not, and I think my friends will join me."

Toscat pulled Kes to the side forcefully, "You defied the Caretaker by going to the surface, Kes. Learn from the experience. Follow the path he has set for us."

Logan was about to spring on the man when she shoved his arm off of her forcefully. Then she whispered in a low voice.

"I've learned very well, Toscat. I saw the sunlight. I can't believe that our Caretaker would forbid us to open our eyes and see the sky." Turning she said, "Come with me. We'll find your people."

As the group was going up an escalator the pulses stopped.

"Janeway, to Voyager."

"Voyager here."

"What's going on with the array?"

Rollins who was on the bridge replied, "It's no longer sending out pulses, Captain, and it appears to be realigning its position."

"Keep me informed. Janeway out."

When they finally reached the main clinic Kes went to talk to one of the doctors there to find out where B'Elanna and Kim might be.

"They haven't been at the clinic for hours." Kes said as she returned to the away team with Daggin.

"We can search the city. Ask if anyone's seen them" suggested Daggin.

"If they were trying to get to the surface, how would they go?" questioned Janeway.

"Probably the same way I did. Up one of the ancient tunnels."

"Mister Paris and Mister Logan go with Neelix and Kes and start checking them out. We need to talk to every doctor and nurse at this hospital, see what they can tell about Torres and Kim."

Suddenly a huge crash shakes the settlement. As they walk away Logan hears above the crowd of people in the clinic Janeway being contacted by Voyager.

"Voyager to Janeway."

"Go ahead."

"Captain, the array is firing some kind of weapon at the surface. It seems to be trying to seal the energy conduits."

"Understood. Keep a channel open."

Growling Logan followed after Paris, Neelix and Kes.

This fella up there in the sky is really starting to tick me off. Another one of these do gooders that make things worse than they started. At least Chuck didn't make things worse. I need a good mauling…

Within the third shaft Paris finally got a lock on the two missing crew members.

"They're in this one. Harry!" he cried. "Paris to Janeway."

"Go ahead."

"They're in one of the tunnels, Captain. I can't see them, but they're up there. We're going after them."

"Call for transport when you have them, Paris. We'll meet you on the ship. "

A few seconds later Janeway called back to Paris.

"Janeway to Paris."

"Go ahead."

"The transporters aren't working. You're going to have to find a breach in the security barrier when you get to the top."

"Understood."

"We're a few minutes behind you. Janeway out."

"I see them." Stated Logan carefully from the bottom of the shaft. "They are eight flights up on a landing exhausted."

"What?" exclaimed Neelix and Kes.

"Wait, how can you even see them from here? They are barely in range of our scanners?" questioned Paris.

"I've got good eyes. Now come on" with that Logan started up the stairs towards the surface. I should have kept my ugly mug shut.

Just like Logan said Torres and Kim were on the eighth landing, exhausted. The weapons fire from the array made the staircase rattle.

"Took you long enough" said Kim weakly.

"How could I let down the only friend I've got?" quipped back Paris.

"Friend? What makes you think I'm your friend?" Tom ignored that and called to Janeway on his comm. badge.

"Paris to Janeway."

"Go ahead."

"We found them, Captain."

"We are starting up the stairs. Don't wait for us. Get them to safety."

Kes started to help up B'Elanna but Logan got there first. "I've got her. You lead the way with your boyfriend. You know the way out?" he questioned harshly. I am getting tired of all this pussyfooting around.

"Don't worry. I know we can get through the barrier." Kes replied confidently.

Someone asked about having Wolverine pop his claws.

He might in the next chapter.

You know how these stories go. He will get discovered eventually. lol