Disclaimer: not mine

Chapter 18

Seven worked with Lieutenant Torres, for once both of them mostly getting along. In every bit of free time they could scrape from their schedules, they were working on finding a way for Sora to Regenerate without using the alcove. Seven was unsure how she felt about the idea of Sora leaving, he was part of the Voyager collective, the crew, and yet…if he had the chance to go home and be with those he loved, then did he not deserve to do so? She was unsure if a permanent method could be found, but if they could give him something that would suffice for some time, then he could have some freedom from the ship.

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Riku followed Sora into an office, the Captain sitting behind the desk. He'd found his brief look at the bridge interesting and would like to look around more.

"Thank you for coming," she stood and walked to a raised section with a couch, motioning for them to follow and sit. "I apologise for how isolated you have been," she told him, and Riku shrugged.

"I understand your reasoning Captain, and the accommodations are far nicer than many I've had," he assured her. Yeah, it could be nerve wracking be stuck in a room with no real idea what was going on, but it beat being trapped in the Realm of Darkness by a very large amount.

"Still, I believe you do not deserve to be locked up. I've decided to give you the same kind of access that Sora had, in that doors will open if you have permission to be in the room they lead to. You'll be able to go to the mess, Sickbay, Sora' quarters, and a few other places without needing an escort."

"Thank you," he hadn't expected that at all.

"Now, I was wondering if you two have discussed what will happen going forward?"

Riku glanced at Sora who shifted slightly, glancing back at him. "We've talked about Sora coming back to the Land of Departure with me for a visit to start. Sora said the Doctor was talking with Lieutenant Torres about coming up with a way for him to Regenerate without his alcove."

"I see. And if they can't?"

"Riku said he'll stay, if you give permission," Sora spoke up.

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Kathryn was surprised by Sora's words, looking to his companion for confirmation.

"If Sora can't, or doesn't want to come back permanently, then yes, I would like to remain with him. And when Sora is comfortable, Kairi too would wish to come."

That was…true friendship, to leave their home behind to remain with Sora. Even if they could travel between Voyager and their home, they would be giving up much to remain with him. That would mean two more mouths to feed, more quarters, unless the three would perhaps wish to share a larger set?

"We would expect to pull our own weight Captain," Riku told her. "We're both Keyblade Masters. Kairi is a very skilled healer, although our methods are very different to yours, but that could be a good thing. We've talked about it and we want to try and help you make it home. There are a few options."

These people seemed too good to be true and yet if Sora was a good example now that he had his memories back and had changed very little from the helpful person he'd been without them, then maybe this was an alliance that wouldn't end badly. She listened as Riku explained the several options there were for giving aid, depending on what Voyager could withstand….and if it couldn't then if they were willing to abandon ship in order to get home sooner or to have a lot more of Riku and Sora's people aboard to try and speed the trip up. There was a lot to think about and discuss with the command crew.

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Aqua was surprised to find a call from Riku, unable to help worrying as she answered, and his expression did nothing to relieve that worry. "What's wrong?" she asked, and he grimaced.

"We've had two sessions, trying to help Sora use his magic. He remembers what to do but…nothing happens. He still has magic, I can feel it, but it's so weak… I'm not really sure what else to try," he admitted.

She nodded and they began to discuss possible methods for helping Sora re-learn how to actually cast spells.

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Kairi wandered around Riku's room in the castle, she'd been keeping it aired and ready for his return but now she'd moved some of Sora's things in to, not too much, but hopefully enough to make the place feel homey to him. The rest of his things were stored nearby for him to through at his leisure. She hoped that having his old things would help him in some way.

She just…she wanted to see him so badly, to talk to him, to be able to see for herself that he was alive, that he knew her. She hated it, but she knew she couldn't push him, couldn't rush things, they had to move on his terms. Patience wasn't her strong point, but she was a lot better now then she had been back when Sora first vanished. She would do whatever she had to in order to help him accept her in his life, in any form.

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"Hello."

Riku looked down, surprised by the presence of a child, he hadn't seen any in his time on the ship. "Hello," he offered in return. The girl almost looked human…except for small…horns?...running down her forehead.

"Are you Sora's friend?" she asked as she sat down at the table.

"Yeah, I'm Riku. And you are?"

"Naomi Wildman. Sora's my friend too, he helps me with my lessons," she told him happily, and Riku was glad that Sora had a friend on board who wasn't any kind of staff. He could feel her Light and he knew that being around her would help Sora, even if he wasn't consciously sensing such things. "Are you going to take Sora away?" she asked softly, and Riku winced internally.

"Sora…disappeared very suddenly and for a long time we all thought he was dead," he told her, and she nodded.

"Because he was Assimilated."

Close enough without going into Keyblades and Dream Eaters, so he nodded. "There are a lot of people back home who miss him, who've never gotten over his loss. Especially his…I suppose you could call them siblings, although it's a bit more complicated than that. They know he's alive now, and that he remembers them, but that's not the same as seeing him, talking to him."

"Oh," she looked down at the table.

"But," Riku said, and she looked up again, "Sora is reliant on technology to live now, especially with his need to Regenerate. Many of the Worlds back home aren't advanced enough to work with that. Work has begun on attempting to find a way to help him without needing an alcove and if that can be done, then we will be leaving for a while. If it can't, then the Captain has agreed that I can stay, and another friend will be joining us too. We're also going to be working to see if we can help you get home quicker, or at least help with supplies."

That seemed to cheer her up a bit but not as much as he expected. "Isn't getting home quicker good?" he asked gently, and she shrugged.

"Voyager is my home, I was born here. The first baby on board," she grinned, and he got it.

"You're nervous about what it will mean when the ship makes it home, that your family could be split up," he offered, and she nodded. "They'll always be with you, here," he taped where her Heart was. "I should know, that's how I found Sora. Even if you're Worlds apart, the people you love are always with you. Sora will always be your friend."

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Sora didn't even have to announce his presence, the doors sliding open for him. Obviously someone had shown Riku how to set them to give him automatic entry. He stepped inside and found the lights low…and the bathroom door just opening, Riku emerging dressed only in a loose pair of trousers. He quickly averted his gaze and considered leaving but Riku looked up and smiled at him.

"Hey," he greeted before sobering. "Everything okay?"

He nodded and watched as Riku flopped down onto the couch, somehow he made the move look elegant…something Sora had once envied him for. He held his arm up in offering and Sora found himself moving before he could think about it. it felt different, warmer, without the extra layer of cloth between them, and he worried that his slightly cooler temperature would make it uncomfortable for Riku after a while. He felt Riku run his fingers gently through his hair, pressing into the touch, relaxing. It should be strange how quickly Riku's touch had become something to look forward to rather than cringe from or just put up with. But was it really when the majority of their lives had been spent together? Should he tell Riku about the Doctor's research and the test results?

"Sora?" Riku whispered, obviously not wanting to disturb the peaceful atmosphere.

"I had the Doctor run tests," he admitted softly, "the results came back today."

"Tests? Are you sick?" Riku asked in alarm, arm moving from his shoulders to around his waist, gently pulling him even closer to rest against his chest and Sora felt Riku's magic surge, the green glow of a cure spell flickering around Riku's fingers.

"No, I'm fine," Sora quickly assured him, relaxing against him. "I just…I wanted to know."

"Know what?" Riku asked, more relaxed now that he knew he wasn't ill.

Sora hesitated, medical data was personal, but with Riku…and Kairi's feelings for him, maybe they should know? But he had not agreed to be with them and he was not sure he ever would. He was so confused. He shifted, turning slightly in Riku's embrace, his head resting over his chest, hearing his steady heartbeat. It was…soothing. Maybe knowing the risks and work it would take, they would decide it was better not to try? "I had tests…to find out if I can...if I could ever be with someone…physically. The Doctor never bothered looking into that in my previous exams since it wasn't necessary."

He felt Riku tense slightly. "Sora?" the pitch of his voice had gone up a little.

"I just wanted to know. I don't know if I ever could…but with what you said, I wanted to know if it was physically possible, if I ever wanted that one day."

"And?"

"The nanoprobes are in every system of my body, every system," he stressed.

"Oh," Riku murmured.

"It is not impossible but it will be difficult and safety measures would need to be taken. He said, well…" was he blushing? He had not blushed since his Assimilation that he was aware of.

"What is it?" Riku asked, gently nudging his head up. "You're blushing," he blinked in surprise.

"He determined that being with another male would be less risky than a female," he whispered. He'd never really heard of that until he'd left the Islands' but now he had everything the Collective knew about physical relations between every gender and species they had assimilated…why had they disseminated that?! At least he knew what would be involved but still what use was that information to drones? It wasn't like they had those urges or the ability to act on them even if they did with all the exo-plating.

"Ah, I've never actually," Riku was the one blushing now, and Sora stared at him.

"You don't how two human males?" he asked to be sure, and Riku nodded. Sora bit back a groan, he was not giving Riku that talk!

"You were the only one I wanted to be with who's male, once you were gone there was no point trying to find out. They didn't exactly cover that in sex ed back home."

"I remember. The computer has information on it if you want to look, just stick to information on humans, there are a lot of species with…odd habits."

"Right," Riku nodded.

"Riku…I, I was curious… it does not…"

"I know," Riku hugged him.

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Riku turned off the computer, eyes a bit wide still. Sora could have warned him there'd be diagrams and even recordings! That was…well… No wonder Sora had been blushing. It was nice to know he still could. And…he could see how that would be safer than what they'd been taught in school. Still…did Kairi know? He shook his head and stood, stretching. Well, his curiosity had been dealt with, now he could move on. He knew that Sora getting the tests wasn't him deciding to be with them, he'd wanted his own questions about his body answered. He thought it was a good sign for Sora's healing that he had been curious enough to undergo the tests.

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Terra grinned as he watched Kairi and Ventus sparring. They'd both come a long way from when they were kids. Kairi was so much stronger and confident in her abilities, if Xehanort was to grab her today to try and use to 'motivate' them, well he'd be in for a world of pain.

They were all waiting, waiting to hear from Riku and whether there was a way for Sora to at least come and visit. He knew Kairi had fixed up Riku's room with some of Sora's things as well, assuming the two would share. He hoped that Riku had managed to begin helping Sora deal with everything he had gone through, he only hoped that their experiences would allow them to help him. His memories of that decade were fragmented and he knew he had spent much of it unaware, otherwise he would have fought more against attacking Sora when he was acting as Xehanort's Heartless' 'Guardian'. From the sound of it, despite no longer being himself, Sora remembered everything that he had done under their control. That had to be so much worse.

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Sora pondered the puzzle before him, the transwarp technology that continued to best them all in any attempts to integrate it in a way that would work and not cause the ship to explode on using it. He really wanted to crack it, especially when he knew B'Elanna and Seven were working to find a way for him to at least visit the Worlds he came from. Yes, those Worlds were going to try and get Voyager home or at least find a way to keep the supplied and repaired but he still wanted to do something personally as a thank you. His transporter modifications were a help but not enough for everything they had done for him.

He knew something was going on, but he was not command crew, and unless his skills were needed, there was no reason for him to know. Yes, he was curious, but it was also nice not having the added stress.

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"I felt an attraction right away, but I couldn't afford to get distracted. I had work to do. And I didn't know if you felt it, too," the woman said as Sora and Riku entered the mess together, seeing her with the Commander.

"What happened next?" the Commander asked the stranger. She wasn't human, but he was unsure of her species, and…there was something….familiar?

He shook it off and lined up to get his food, explaining those dishes on offer that Riku didn't recognise. Neelix had an eclectic menu thanks to the varying availability of ingredients. They were soon headed for a table to eat, walking passed the Commander and his companion.

"Sora?"

"Yes Commander?" he paused, Riku staying at his side.

"This is Kellin, from a planet called Ramura. Have you heard of them?"

Sora blinked, running through the Collective data he had stored. "I…do not believe so, however she does seem familiar."

"We weren't introduced last time I was here," Kellin told him, and Sora frowned, she'd been on Voyager before?

"Apparently Ramurans produce a sort of pheromone which blocks the long term memory engrams of others," the Commander explained and Sora's frown deepened.

"Neither mine nor Seven's memories are entirely organic Commander," he reminded him.

"A computer virus was introduced to the ship to erase all data on my people when I left," she told him.

"I see… sorry I cannot help Commander. Is that all?" he asked, and the Commander waved them on.

"Sora?" Riku asked as they sat, but he shook his head slightly, listening in on their conversation.

Once they were in Riku's quarters they sat down and he sighed. "A computer virus to erase data should not have affected either of us," he told him before he could ask again. "Even without being connected to the Collective, our implants retain all of the protections against those things, and even when Regenerating we aren't connected to the ships computer in a way that would allow a virus to be transmitted."

"I don't know a lot about computers or implants but…that doesn't sound good."

"And I don't like people playing with my memory," Sora shuddered. He may have caused the amnesia himself but he knew Naminé had rewritten his memories once, even if he didn't really remember it.

"Is there anything you can do to keep it from happening again?"

"Maybe…" he stood again and Riku stood with him.

"What? Someone should watch your back in case that lady tries something," Riku smirked.

Sora smiled but then they headed for the cargo bay where Sora access the Regeneration controls, studying the logs going back two months since she hadn't said exactly when she'd been aboard.

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"Commander?" Sora looked up at him as he approached the young man's station in Engineering, passing over the neurolytic emitter that had been used on Kellin.

"This was used on Kellin, it's designed to remove the subject's memories of anything beyond their own world," it was a struggle not to let his anger show.

"I see," the young man looked at the device. "I assume you are hoping for a way to reverse the effects?"

"Yes."

"I will do my best," Sora nodded.

"Thank you." He knew Sora had made no promises, but he hoped Borg skill with technology would let him find something before Kellin left. In the meantime, he returned to his quarters to use some of his replicator rations on something he hoped would work. Then he would be paying the brig a visit, to see if their 'guest' knew of a way. He'd prefer to trust anything Sora came up with though.

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It was an interesting piece of technology, even if it made him feel sick to think of it being used. He'd checked the ships records on what information this Kellin had given them on her world. Never allowing people to leave their world, hunting down those who did….it was so wrong. And yet World Order said it wasn't their place to interfere. They were a warp capable society so the Prime Directive allowed for interaction, for Kellin to have been given asylum, but they couldn't try to impose their beliefs on freedom on the planet.

He was working to a time limit, once she left the ship there was nothing they could do. He honestly…didn't think he had enough time but he would try…he would also need the Doctor's help since it affected the brain.

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"Your ship's ready," Chakotay told them.

"Thank you, Commander," she said, staring at him with no recognition.

"I've implanted a computer virus to eliminate any reference to our being here. By tomorrow afternoon, you'll have forgotten everything. It will be as though we never existed. It's better that way," Curneth told him and he fought down the impulse to do something rather rash.

"You're such a kind person. I won't forget that," Kellin smiled at him.

"I wish you both the best," he handed the neurolytic emitter back to Curneth, if the data and their memories were going to be gone, there was no point keeping it. "Energise."

First Officer's personal log, Stardate 51813.4. Maybe it would be best, as the Tracer said, to forget about Kellin and the time she spent here. But I don't want to do that. I want to remember.

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Sora carefully copied all of his data on the neurolytic emitter ensuring it was stored within the memory of his own implants, initiating a full memory backup as well. The idea that Riku was going to forget anything to do with their guest worried him, he'd warned him but there was nothing else that could be done.

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"More coffee, Commander?" Neelix asked, holding up the pot.

"No, thanks. I'm almost done."

"Strange to see you using those ancient writing implements," he motioned to the bound book of paper and pen.

"It's the only way I could get a permanent record of what's happened in the last few days. I want to get it down before I forget it all."

"I'm sorry things didn't work out for you," he offered. He understood what losing the one you loved was like….he still missed Kes and thought of her often, hoping she was okay out there somewhere.

"I've been trying to make sense of it. I fell in love with her twice. I thought she could do the same. We were the same two people on the same ship. Why didn't it happen again? I keep going over and over our last conversation, trying to think if there was something I could have said, could have done, but nothing comes to mind."

"Commander, I don't think you can analyse love. It's the greatest mystery of all. No one knows why it happens or doesn't. Love is a chance combination of elements. Any one thing might be enough to keep it from igniting. A mood, a glance, a remark. And if we could define love, predict it, it would probably lose its power," he sighed but then smiled, stepping back. "I'll let you finish."

"Good night."

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Sora watched the crew, they made no mention of the events of the last several days, which meant they had forgotten, the records erased. He glanced at Seven, seeing the look in her eyes, good, his work on their systems had worked. He'd told her, not wanting her to say anything to the crew, and she had agreed that it was good for security purposes to ensure further separation from the ships systems, for just these kinds of situations.

He went to Riku's rooms and let himself in, finding him asleep so he settled down on the couch. It was only a few minutes before Riku was sitting beside him, having woken at sensing his presence. "Sorry."

"It's fine," Riku told him. "So is it true, everyone forgot them?"

Sora spun, eyes wide. "You remember?" he asked in shock, and Riku grinned.

"Keyblade Master and Dream Eater, remember?" he teased softly.

"Seven and I remember, the alterations to the Regeneration systems worked."

"Good."

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The Doctor smiled as Sora entered Sickbay, the young man looking between the three of them. "We have a gift for you Sora," the stepped apart to reveal the machine on the biobed, and Sora frowned in confusion before beginning to understand.

"A portable regenerator. You will also need this adapted neural transceiver," Seven explained.

"We'd like to test it before you leave but all simulations show it should work," Lieutenant Torres actually smiled at Sora.

"I…I do not know what to say," he whispered, moving closer to look closer.

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Riku watched as Sora lay on the biobed, unable to help being nervous. What if it didn't work?

"Please come here Riku, best you know how to do this in case Sora is unable to," the Doctor waved him over. He watched as a silver disk was pressed to the bare skin of Sora's neck, just below his hairline and then the machine was activated, Sora's eyes closing, body still. He listened to everything the Doctor told him, not wanting to risk getting anything wrong if he ever had to use the device.

Six hours later he came out of the Regenerative state as normal and Riku grinned. It worked!

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Sora fingered the piece of armour that Riku had given him, he remembered seeing Ven, Aqua, and Terra wearing them before and Riku wore one now too. He just hoped they were right that he didn't need to be able to cast magic to use it. he heard the chime and looked up, surprised someone had come to his quarters. "Enter." The door opened and he blinked. "Commander Tuvok, can I help you?"

"I wished to give you this, for your journey," Tuvok held out a package, and Sora accepted it.

He opened it and was shocked to find a To-pen within. He carefully lifted the black short cape up, finding it had some weight to it, the traditional phrase of Rata Tafar Tapan embroidered down one side of it. It had a hood and wide lapels which extended below the lower edge in front. "Tuvok…"

"A gift of friendship and a reminder that no matter, what you are one of us. You have been an excellent student Sora, and while you will never undergo Kolinahr, the phrase seemed appropriate."

Concept, Discipline, and Process, yes they did describe what he'd been going through since his severing from the Collective. And the idea of the hood, of being able to hide his face, was somewhat appealing. "Thank you."

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Kathryn watched as Riku paced the shuttlebay, she understood her nerves. Part of her wanted to keep Sora onboard permanently, to keep him close where they could protect him, but that was silly. He wasn't the lost, memoryless, boy they had saved from the wreck anymore. He had truly regained his individuality and identity and he deserved the chance to go be with his loved ones, just as they were striving to.

Sora was carrying the plans and technical specifications of the ship to give to their ship builders, to see if Voyager would make it travelling their way. She really did hope their people could help, even if only with supplies.

The doors opened and Sora walked in, dressed in his usual bodysuit but wearing a To-pen over it, the hood down thankfully. On his left shoulder he wore a pauldron like Riku's as well. He seemed surprised to find them all gathered and waiting, but they were hardly going to let him leave without wishing him a safe journey.

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Tom laughed at the shocked look on Sora's face when he hugged him. "Stay safe, okay?" he whispered, and Sora nodded, hugging him back slowly. "Good, B'Elanna would get really cranky if you got hurt. "Good luck." He then gently pushed him towards B'Elanna who gave him a more awkward farewell.

Harry then stepped up for his. It hurt to say goodbye to the kid too. It wasn't goodbye forever, but with the portable device, he could be gone for months, even years if he wanted, so long as it didn't need repairs that were beyond his friends.

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Sora moved to Riku's side once the goodbyes were done, feeling very nervous. He'd never travelled by Keyblade Glider before, had never even seen one…he'd ridden a wave of Keyblades in the graveyard though, maybe that was similar? He watched as Riku struck his pauldron, armour forming around him, and his eyes widened as he saw the crown symbol…like his necklace…a necklace that was long gone. He knew he'd been wearing it when he saved Kairi which meant the Borg had taken it off…or had it been Assimilated into his implants since it was metal?

"Ready?" Riku asked gently.

Sora nodded and then hit his own pauldron, feeling magic surge around him, tapping into his own despite his failure at casting. He felt the light fade and lifted his hands, forcing himself to breath normally when he saw then encased in silvery metal. It was just armour, he could take it off whenever he wanted, he wasn't trapped in it.

"okay?" Riku asked, head tilted slightly in concern. The helmets made reading expression impossible but he knew Riku.

"Yeah," he agreed.

Riku studied him before nodding and summoning his Keyblade before tossing it into the air, summoning the Glider. He stepped on and then held his hand out. Sora stepped up and Riku immediately secured an arm around his waist, his other hand on a rail that rose up out of the flat surface they were standing on. Sora reached up and gripped it too, making sure he was steady and then they were moving. He fought the urge to hold his breath as they left the bay, the armour would protect him from vacuum…even though all the data in his head said it wouldn't. He tried to look back and Riku brought the Glider around, letting Sora see Voyager from space for the first time.

"Whenever you're ready," Riku told him, and Sora nodded, slowly relaxing back against him as he got used to being in space, the ship remaining stationary.

"Ready," he finally told him, watching as a portal opened and then they were zooming away, back to wherever Riku had left the ship.

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Kairi ran into the dining room, startling them all. Aqua stood, watching her in concern. "Kairi?"

"They're coming!" She smiled, tears running down her face.

TBC….