12 Hours Later

Delta, South America

Shouting and sounds of gunfire filled the jungle as the light of dawn permeated the sky, but Neelix continued to load the canoe with essential items while continually looking at Tom, who lay on an army cot in the middle of the boat with his eyes closed and a hand on his abdomen.

They had been fine for 12 hours before the fighting had started again, so Neelix had made the call that they needed to take what they could and move down the river to where the soldiers and slavers wouldn't go because of snakes and other dangers. Tom simply agreed to come because he had no idea where he was, but he knew that Neelix wouldn't hurt him wherever they went and he would die or be recaptured if he stayed alone in the area. He was terrified, but hiding it well.

With a sad sigh, Neelix loaded the last of the essentials into the boat before getting in and picking up the paddles, "Can I help?" Tom asked weakly even though he wasn't feeling well.

Neelix looked at him curiously, "Please," Tom asked in a weak voice as he slowly sat up using his right arm because he couldn't even feel, let alone use the left one. "You've been so kind…"

Suddenly, Tom vomited into the river and the vomit caused several fish to jump into the open fish trap Neelix kept in the boat, "Seeing as you can only one use arm and you're puking, I wouldn't advise you to do anything but rest and drink the leola tea in your canister," Neelix replied in a calm, but concerned voice as he shut the fish in the trap. "Besides, I've lived in these parts for years, so I know where to go. There are deeper parts of this jungle where we can hide."

As Neelix pushed off from the shore, Tom remained seated where he was and forced himself to drink some leola tea even though he felt sick, "There's a village about 20 miles downstream that is called Ocampa," Neelix explained in a cheerful voice. "My girlfriend, Kes, and her people live there and it's a good place to hide because the fighters are scared of the Ocampa due to their spiritual beliefs. Kes will welcome us, I am sure, and you'll be able to get some proper rest."

Voyager Military Base, Hawaii

"Lieutenant Stadi, it's nice to see you," Captain Janeway said in a calm voice as she stepped off of the plane that was parked on the base airstrip and saw that Stadi was there. "Where's Cavit?"

Stadi sighed, "Commander Cavit's at the offices on the phone with Deep Space Nine Base, Captain," she replied in a calm, but slightly annoyed voice. "Apparently, one of the new Ensigns that is supposed to be here is aviaphobic and took a train down to Deep Space Nine Base…"

"We don't have time to waste on an Ensign who hates flying," Captain Janeway replied in an annoyed voice as she and Stadi got into the parked Jeep that was near the plane. "What…?"

Stadi smiled as Captain Janeway started the Jeep and drove off towards the buildings, "Apparently, the guy was top of his class in training, but the aviaphobia put the Air Force off from wanting him and he was offered to the Navy," Stadi explained. "I read his record."

"What's his name?" Captain Janeway asked, parking the Jeep outside the Command building.

Shrugging, Stadi waited until her captain had turned the Jeep off and got out before following him into the building. Commander Cavit, a grey haired man wearing military greens with the Voyager Base insignia on the sleeves, was sitting at his desk with a phone to his ear.

"…Ensign Kim was just in basic training when Paris went missing, so I understand his anxieties," Commander Cavit was saying into the phone. "Thank you. Goodbye."

With a sigh, Commander Cavit hung up the phone, "Ensign Harry Kim is aviaphobic, but he's a master of organization and skill when it comes to ship operations, Captain," he said quietly.

Captain Janeway sighed, "Ensign Kim's waiting for us at the Deep Space Nine Base in Bajor, Mexico and that's on the route we need to take to get to the Delta," Commander Cavit continued in a worried voice. "Ensign Kim developed aviaphobia around the time Lieutenant Paris…"

"It's affected everyone," Captain Janeway cut in gently. "How long til we can get underway?"

Commander Cavit sighed, "I've spent every waking moment overseeing the U.S.S. Voyager for launch and everything's waiting your final inspection, Captain," he replied in a formal tone.

"Excellent," Captain Janeway replied, a smile on her face. "Let's go look at my new ship."

Ocampa, Delta

"Mister Paris, please wake up," Tom heard Neelix say in an anxious voice. "Please don't die."

Tom sighed weakly, but did as he was told and immediately noticed that they were on an unfamiliar shoreline surrounded by jungle, "We're not far from Ocampa, but this is the closest beach," Neelix said as he came into view. "I'm going to figure out some way to signal the…"

"Please, Neelix, I'm used to being left behind," Tom replied weakly, his voice tired and hoarse.

Neelix frowned, "That may be how the Maquis operate, but I don't leave people behind," he replied in a firm, almost angry voice. "You passed out while we were on the river, so just rest."

There was rustling in the bushes and Neelix immediately pulled out a knife, frowning when a dark haired man and a dark-skinned woman with brown hair came out wearing khakis, combat jackets, and boots, "What did you say about us?!" the man snapped, pulling out a sharp knife.

"The Maquis only care about creating chaos!" Neelix snapped. "I do know how to use this."

Just then, Tom started coughing uncontrollably and threw up leola tea all over himself and the area of the boat he was sitting in, "If you're going to capture us, just leave me for dead again like the last bunch did," he said in a weak, shaky voice. "I can barely walk and I'm in so much pain."

The woman looked at him quizzically, but Neelix hurried over to the boat, "What is a sick, injured man doing in this part of Delta?" she asked in a cross voice. "Only the strong…"

"Oh, I'll just hobble on back to the prison camp I've spent the last year in if my presence here is too much of an inconvenience for you," Tom replied in a faint voice. "Mind helping me up?"

The man frowned, "Torres, we need to take them to Ocampa," he said anxiously. "We must."

"Why not just shove me there in the canoe?" Tom suggested weakly. "I can't get up."

Neelix silently began to push the canoe forward and the man and woman both reluctantly helped him, as they both knew that the blonde man probably couldn't walk. The village was just on the other side of the trees and there was a community square with rustic benches and a massive firepit while clay houses sat on either side of them and a street leading to a tiny market.

Pain shot through Tom and he slowly keeled over. The Ocampans who were outside suddenly stopped and looked at the two outsiders, "Stooop," Tom moaned. "The motion's making me…"

Without warning, Tom threw up again and started coughing uncontrollably. The villagers began to speak in a language he didn't understand and his eyes widened as several of them came over, gently lifted him from the canoe, and deposited him on the grass as if to study him completely.

"You're the first injured one they've seen in a while," Torres said. "They're studying you."

As Tom lay on the grass, he suddenly felt himself being scooped on to a stretcher and carried deep into the village. His eyes widened as he suddenly heard the sound of running water.

Footsteps filled the air, "Get his clothes off if you can," a deeper voice said. "I can help."

"He's got a brand," Tom heard another voice say. "Chakotay, he's from a prison camp."

It was then that Tom realized he was naked, but he was so weak that he had given up all hope of actually making it out of the Delta alive. Cold water suddenly hit his body and he tensed up.

"Ayala, go get some clothes and go get Kes," Chakotay was saying. "She's a trained nurse."

Tom suddenly found himself immersed in the water and just as quickly lifted out of it again by unknown hands after being gently washed, "What's your name?" a man with a tattoo on his face asked, eyeing Tom as he began to gently pat his battered body dry. "You look awfully young."

"Tom," Tom replied weakly as he slowly succumbed to unconsciousness, too weak to keep fighting any longer despite his desire to get out of South America and back to the States alive.

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