Ch 4: The Routal
Somewhere, very far away a chime was sounding. Kathryn could hear it, could hear it drawing slowly closer, and wished to Hell someone would turn the damned thing off.
“Doctor to Captain Janeway.”
The hologram’s voice pulled her closer to consciousness, and she realised the chime wasn’t kilometres away, but rather coming from her door.
“Doctor to Captain Janeway.”
Another voice followed this second request, though it was muffled and indistinct.
His second summons impelled her to respond. Unfortunately, “Unghggh,” was all she managed.
“Captain Janeway, respond please.”
This time she managed to co-ordinate her efforts, rising up in bed and calling out, “come in”. It was as the doors to her bedroom started to slide open that she remembered her state of undress and grabbed quickly for the sheet.
In walked the Doctor, Chakotay following close at his heels. Both bore expressions of concern, which changed to confusion at the sight of their normally fastidious captain sitting in a state of relative undress, with a trail of clothing leading to her bed.
Doctor spoke first, “I’m sorry, Captain, when you didn’t respond to our second hail, we overrode the door…”
Janeway nodded graciously, “quite understandable, Doctor. Now if you and the Commander will give me a moment…?”
The Doctor turned and pulled Chakotay out of the room. With a sigh of relief, Janeway realised her first officer hadn’t seen the edges of her bandage. The last thing she needed was an over-protective Executive Officer clucking after her like a mother hen.
Dressing quickly, she walked into her living room to deal with her officers. “So what brings the two of you to my quarters?”
Exchanging glances, Chakotay spoke, “When you missed your appointment with the Doctor, we were concerned.”
Janeway permitted herself a quick glance at the chronometer on the wall. 1000 hours. She’d slept for over 24 hours. “The ceremony with the An’Anaki was quite taxing.”
Chakotay wasn’t convinced, but knew a lost battle when he saw one. “Captain Rochek is requesting to speak with you.”
Janeway had no desire to speak to the man at this point. “Tell him I’m unavailable for the next few hours.”
“We tried. He’s quite insistent.”
Janeway frowned. “Fine, route his transmission here.”
“Very well, Captain.” Chakotay answered, but neither man made a move to leave.
“And I’ll be in to see the Doctor in Sickbay as soon as I’ve dealt with Rochek.
This time both men inclined their heads in satisfaction. “Very good, Captain.”
Janeway threw mental daggers at both men as they left. Unfortunately, neither seemed to notice.
*
At 1900 hours, Janeway disappeared from Voyager, materializing onboard the Running Night a few moments later. She wore a standard duty uniform and clutched a bottle of Chateau Picard from her private diplomatic stock under her arm. A young aide escorted her to the Captain’s quarters, where she got her first look at Captain Rochek.
He was an older man, though more human looking than any of the other An’Anaki they’d yet encountered. Of about average height, his dark skin was showing lines and signs of age. His wiry brown hair was shot through with grey, giving him a distinguished look.
He stepped forward, offering his hand. “Greetings, Captain Janeway, I am Captain Rochek.”
Instinctually she responded to the motion. It wasn’t until she’d taken hold that she realised no An’Anaki had yet offered her a hand.
Catching her eye, Rochek smiled. “I understand this gesture is two-fold; it is a greeting, and it assures the other that no weapon will be drawn.”
It was Janeway’s turn to smile. “You’re a quick study of our culture.”
Rochek gestured for her to take a seat. “I’m afraid I can’t take the credit. Every Captain at your Right of Captaincy yesterday explored some of the information you sent us. They passed onto me what they thought most useful.”
Janeway nodded. “That’s why I felt such a sense of familiarity.”
Rochek inclined his head; “We find that if we familiarize ourselves with the path of the other, the Right of Captaincy is a much smoother process.”
Janeway realised she was still holding the bottle of wine, and extended it toward Rochek. “It’s traditional among my people to offer a gift when enjoying another’s hospitality. This is wine from Earth, made by the family of a Captain in my fleet.”
Rochek took the bottle carefully. “Thank you, Captain.” Turning, he set the bottle on a low table before reaching for another and a pair of wooden cups.
Janeway recognized the absona immediately.
“Captain, I ask you to share paths, if only for a moment.”
She accepted the offered glass, murmuring the benediction along with him, “In absona, the truth lives.”
“May I be the first to share with you, Captain?” Rochek seemed hesitant to ask.
Janeway nodded, happy to have him take the lead.
Smiling widely, the other Captain moved his chair toward hers. Reaching out, he laid his hand over the brand. After a moment’s hesitation, she followed suit, placing her hand on his shoulder blade.
The connection formed slowly, and was much fainter than the evening before.
*Can you hear me, Captain Janeway?*
Once again her first words were a struggle *Yes, I can*
*Good*
Suddenly, she found herself sitting on an old porch. A few feet away rain was pouring, pelting the lush forest just beyond the building. The air around her was hot and humid, though she got the feeling the rain and dampness provided a kind of relief. For a few moments she listened to the rain beating the wooden roof and the leaves around her.
Slowly she noticed another sound, a soft, rambling whistle. Turning her head from the forest, she laid eyes upon an old woman. She was sitting on cross-legged on a woven mat, whistling quietly. Janeway’s attention was drawn to the movement of her hands, and she could see a small knife clutched carefully in her left hand. Her right hand held a small piece of wood, and the slow loving rhythm, between the two was captivating. Wiry muscles flexed with confidence and precision, taking small pieces of wood with each move.
Finally, the whistling stopped and the old woman gave a small sigh. She placed her knife on the wooden floorboards and held up her creation for inspection.
“Well, boy, you said you wanted a Starship. What do you think?”
Gingerly she reached out a hand to accept the offering. It was a carving of incredible detail, light and sleek compared to the heavier An’Anaki ships she was familiar with. The hard wood shone in the dull light, making her wonder if it weren’t able to take flight.
Aware of the old woman’s scrutiny, Janeway looked into her eyes, smiling. “Grandmother, it’s wonderful.”
And once again Janeway found herself in the rooms of Captain Rochek. Unsure before of what to share, she now knew. “Close your eyes.”
Kathryn shared with this stranger a deeply personal memory. Captain Rochek got a taste of Gretchen Janeway’s caramel brownies, and in the sharing, so did Kathryn.
*
Janeway returned to Voyager, managing to avoid Chakotay, she once again stripped off her clothes on the way to bed. This is getting to be an ugly habit, she mussed as she curled up under the covers. With a sigh, she bemoaned the state of her life. She was consciously avoiding her First Officer and Rochek had just informed her that a respected Skoudrid had requested the honour of performing some ancient rite or other with her when they reached Tuaro. In short, she would be spending her shore leave in a jungle doing heaven knows what while her crew enjoyed a tropical paradise. She was also sure the Doctor would raise a hell of a stink when she told him she was planning on taking her injured back into a jungle full of microbes and bacteria. Sighing, she tried to put it out of her mind and get some sleep.
If she’d known what unconsciousness held, she wouldn’t have been so eager for slumber. She had the dream again. The one where Chakotay took on Dr’ouk’s stripes and plunged the knife into her belly. It was the same as the first one; vivid and terrifying. This time, however, she had no alarm to wake her, and she seemed to be caught in the nightmare’s embrace. Finally, panting and exhausted, she broke through into consciousness.
For long moments she sat, gulping air and trying to slow her racing pulse. Finally giving up on the idea of sleep, she found Chakotay’s report on Tuaro and started reading.
*
For fourteen days Janeway ate dinner with Rochek, sometimes on the Running Night, sometimes on Voyager. For fourteen days they shared memories, and for fourteen days Janeway woke every night in a cold sweat from the nightmare of Chakotay’s betrayal.
On the fifteenth night, as they approached Tuaro, something changed.
Exhausted since her Right of Captaincy, Janeway lay in bed reading a report, hoping desperately that she could tire herself out enough to sleep dreamlessly. Once again, however, her unconsciousness took over when her eyes closed.
In her mind’s eye she was back on Aourea, back in the dawn before her Judgement. Tom and Tuvok were at her sides, their stripes and manes faint in the dim light. This time she didn’t hesitate when they moved towards the ziggurat. As they drew near the altar, Kathryn became aware of a change before her. A man occupied the slab this time. He seemed to be waiting patiently, and as she stepped into the torchlight, she saw a faint blue mark on the man’s forehead. Chakotay. A sense of purpose filled her, and she moved confidently toward him. Standing before him, she could see his lazy smile before hard metal pressed into her palm, and she knew what to do. Raising the knife over her head, she gripped the handle carefully in both hands before plunging it into her First Officer’s belly.
Her hands followed the blade into his body; searching through the mass of warm, wet flesh for the right piece. She could see the expression of agony on his face, but it didn’t slow her search. Finally she found it, and with a deft flick of the knife, she severed the connections between her prize and her First Officer. Holding his bloody liver aloft in triumph, she smiled down at now semi-conscious Chakotay, waiting for his –
Janeway woke drenched in sweat, gasping for air. As she focused on her surroundings, relief poured over her. She wept, painful body shaking sobs at the memory of what she’d done. The betrayal of Chakotay’s imagined actions against her were nothing compared to the shame and sorrow she felt now. Though only a dream, the intensity of her vision wouldn’t let her leave it alone.
Slowly she composed herself. Though several hours before her shift started, Kathryn dressed and left her quarters. She needed some time to relax before facing the Skoudrid on Tuaro.
*
Astrometrics was blessedly empty when she arrived. A flick of a button brought the dark screen to life. Carefully she entered her commands into the console, walking to the replicator while the computer processed her request. A few moments later, coffee in hand, she surveyed her handiwork.
Laid out before her was the night sky of the Earth’s northern hemisphere. With a sigh, she let her eyes drift over the different constellations, relaxing into the familiar patterns of stars. At first she just took it all in, but eventually she sought something more. Entering another command, she took a sip of her coffee, waiting for the computer to carry out her commands. A moment later a red dot appeared on the screen. Tuaro. The unfamiliar system sat right in the middle of the kite-shaped constellation Boötes. Comforted, she entered a few more commands into the computer. This time there was a noticeable pause while the computer worked, but Janeway didn’t care; she was in no hurry.
The image the screen bore this time changed completely. The familiar patterns were replaced by the chaos of Tuaro’s disorderly sky. In the mess she found a small blue dot: the Sol system. Carefully she searched the surrounding areas, mapping out bright stars so she could find her home from the planet’s surface. Finally settling on a rough pentagon, she took another sip of her coffee before reaching to turn off the display. No sooner had the image vanished than her communicator beeped.
“Tuvok to Captain Janeway.”
She took one final deep breath before responding, “Janeway here.”
“Captain, we are approaching the planet Tuaro.”
“Understood. I’m on my way.”
*
Janeway strode onto the bridge, ready for Tuvok’s report on the planet, only to find Chakotay occupying the command dais. She hesitated for the barest instant before nodding to him and taking her seat, but the damage had been done. He’d noticed her discomfort and his eyes had changed slightly, becoming withdrawn and distant. Worst of all, he said nothing as she took her seat; didn’t ask if something was wrong, didn’t check to see how she’d slept. He simply looked forward, watching the viewscreen as they made their final approach to Tuaro.
Janeway struggled, trying to think of something to say, some way of bridging the gap that seemed to have sprung up so suddenly between them. But as she searched her feelings, she knew there was nothing sudden about their distance. It had started with the Right of Captaincy. Since her time on Aourea, she’d cancelled their meals together, spending her free time instead with Captain Rochek. Then she’d spent her duty hours sequestered in her ready room, pouring over the information Yerivat had provided. And there had been the effect of her nightmares. Though intellectually she knew the violence was all in her mind, part of her knew she was shying away from Chakotay. So now when she wanted more than anything to reach out and just touch his arm to make sure he was okay, that she hadn’t killed him, she held back. Something in his eyes kept her restrained.
“Commander, what’s our status?”
“We should be entering orbit in a few minutes.”
Harry interrupted, “We’re being hailed by the surface.”
“Put them on screen.”
A woman in a grey Captain’s uniform appeared before them. Her thick green hair was tied loosely at her neck. Darker eyes looked out from a rough-skinned, pale green face.
“I am gratified your path brings you to Tuaro, Captain. I’m sending coordinates for your journey with Skoudrid Nmtaru. Our tourism minister will be contacting your second to confirm shore leave arrangements. Tuaro out.”
The woman disappeared as quickly as she’d appeared, leaving Janeway a little taken aback.
“Captain,” Chakotay was leaning over his console, reading. “The coordinates include a time signature as well. They expect you on the planet in 20 minutes.”
With a sigh, Janeway stood again. “I guess it’s a good thing I packed last night.” Turning, she made eye contact with her first officer. “Enjoy your shore leave, Commander. I’ll contact Voyager this evening.”
Chakotay returned her gaze, his expression neutral, “Have a good trip, Captain. We’ll be here if you need us.”
Janeway gave him a quick smile before leaving the bridge.
*
Janeway materialized in a small clearing. In the distance she could see the jungle canopy. Above grey storm clouds were gathering, threatening an afternoon shower. The birds circling overhead didn’t seem to mind though, as they dove into the trees in search of food before climbing back into the air.
A yellow clad woman approached her.
“Captain Janeway, the Skoudrid is anxious to find the path beneath the trees before the rains start again. Please make your path with mine, so I may provide you with what you need for your journey.”
She followed her escort into the small building, emerging twenty minutes later in full jungle gear; boots, pants, shirt, hat, and pack. All were a rough spun white similar to the clothing provided for her on Aourea. She couldn’t help wonder at the practicality of it, taking light coloured clothing into a jungle.
The Skoudrid emerged from the building, clad in a deep red. As she approached, Janeway was struck by her short stature. The woman’s head was barely at Janeway’s shoulder.
“Captain Janeway. I am Skoudrid Nmtaru. Are you prepared for the path that lies ahead?”
“I am.”
“Excellent.” Without another word, the older woman started walk toward the jungle. Janeway followed quickly, happy to get the inconvenient rite started quickly, so it might be finished quickly.
*
A few hours later Nmtaru called a halt to their march. They’d been battling dense jungle all day, and as predicted, the rain had started almost as soon as they’d reached the trees. Soaked to the bone, and exhausted from the rough terrain, Janeway was only too happy to stop for the day. Throughout the day they’d maintained a sort of tense silence, speaking only when absolutely necessary. Though it was Nmtaru who’d set the tone, Janeway had been only too happy to oblige, angered as she was over loosing her shore leave and worried about Chakotay.
Keeping to the same silence, they set up the sleeping hammocks, ate a meal of cold meat and bread and secured the food before settling in to sleep. Exhausted, Janeway slept quickly. A few hours later the nightmare struck, and Janeway awoke with the fresh stain of murder on her conscience. For long minutes she sat upright in her hammock, gulping air and trying to slow her heart. Eventually, physical exhaustion took over once again and she went back to sleep, lulled by the natural sounds around her. When she woke at dawn, she was rested for the first time since entering An’Anaki space.
*
Four days they travelled through the jungle, exchanging sparse words and pushing harder with each step. As the journey wore on, Janeway found that she was mentally relaxing. Knowing her crew was enjoying well-deserved shore leave, knowing her ship was in a safe harbour, and knowing she had safe passage when they started home again all combined to relieve her ever-present tension.
On the fifth day Nmtaru stopped them to hunt. She assembled an atlatl from her pack and gave Janeway a long spear. Quietly the two set off into the woods, Janeway following the older woman’s lead. After what seemed like an eternity, Nmtaru tensed. Janeway froze, waiting to see what it was going to happen. Suddenly Nmtaru loosened the dart. A cry from deeper in the trees told her the hunter had hit her mark. The green woman rushed through the trees, drawing her machete as she ran. Janeway followed after a moment’s hesitation, and came upon Nmtaru holding a large, grey rodent aloft.
“Tonight we eat well!”
*
Nmtaru was right; the animal was the best thing Janeway had ever tasted. Though she suspected after eating nothing but nuts and dried meat for two days, anything would taste good. They ate in silence again, but somewhere along the way, they’d developed a sort of camaraderie. Janeway wondered how two people who hardly spoke to each other could form a rapport as she drifted off to sleep, her hammock swaying gently in the night.
*
Once again Janeway entered the dreamscape that had been plaguing her. As she was escorted across the square, she realised that this time she would be on the slab again. A strange sense of relief filled her, knowing she wouldn’t slaughter her first officer tonight. Willingly she lay down, awaiting the knife’s bite. She saw Chakotay’s arms raise up, preparing for the stroke. With a smile, he plunged the dagger downward. She closed her eyes, waiting for the pain.
It never came. Instead she felt something warm and wet splatter her. Horrified, she opened her eyes to find the Chakotay’s body open, his hands searching his own belly. Finally they seized on the right piece. Pulling out the mass, he offered it to Janeway.
*
She woke with a start, panting, a hand touched her leg and she jumped.
“Janeway, are you unwell?”
Gulping she tried to control her voice. “Yes. Yes, I’m fine.” It sounded forced, even to her ears.
“Did you have the dream again?”
Janeway’s head snapped around. “How do you know about that?”
“Each night you wake suddenly. That is the sign of an evil dream for your race, is it not?”
“Yes.”
“This one was worse, wasn’t it?”
She never thought it could be more horrifying than killing Chakotay, but somehow watching him vivisect himself for her benefit was worse. “Yes, it was.”
“Come out here. I’ll rekindle the fire.”
Nmtaru added wood to their coals, coaxing life out of the warm embers. Silently Janeway sat, trying to banish the dream from her mind.
The Skoudrid seemed content with the silence. She didn’t ask any more questions, and for that Janeway was grateful. Slowly she relaxed, tilting her head back to watch the rising embers. It was then that she remembered her time in astrometrics and began her search for the little patch of sky the held her home world.
“Your species names the shapes the stars make, doesn’t it?”
Janeway was startled by the voice in the quiet night. “Yes. We do.”
“Then do you know where Tuaro is in your sky?”
“It’s in a constellation called Boötes.”
“What is this ‘Boötes’?”
Janeway sighed, “There’s many legends about Boötes. Some say he was a hunter, some an ox driver. The most famous story is that he was a shepherd.”
Nmtaru seemed unhappy with this last piece of information. “A shepherd? That is most unfortunate.”
Janeway was puzzled. “Why?”
“In our myths, those who work the herds are not to be trusted. They prefer the company of animals to men. Even the animals they protect are eventually betrayed. No agreement should ever be made with a shepherd.”
Janeway was surprised by the strength of her reaction. “In our culture, shepherds play an important role. They are seen as protectors. In many stories they seem to possess a kind of natural knowledge. They protect not only the herds, but also the villages they surround. They are known to search out lost sheep, returning them to the flock.”
Nmtaru seemed to consider this for a moment. “Then perhaps our meeting is auspicious for you. Perhaps we can help be your shepherd.”
Janeway thought through the analogy. Meeting the An’Anaki had certainly helped heal the wounded spirit of her crew. Contact, even with aliens had proved to be a balm for their lonely souls. If only her own heart weren’t so disturbed, she might actually be enjoying this passage.
She sighed again. “Perhaps you are, Nmtaru.”
Eventually Janeway broke the mounting silence. “Do you name the constellations?”
Nmtaru smiled. “Of course.”
Janeway pointed up at the pentagram holding Earth. “Do you know the name of that group?”
The Skoudrid seemed wistful. “That’s Gmtatrid. The Outcast.”
“Oh.” Janeway was disappointed.
“I’d have never imagined such an auspicious placement. Janeway, perhaps our meeting really is promising.”
“The outcast?”
“In our culture there are many myths of strangers who lead a town to greatness, or guide a person on the right path. Perhaps you are such a person.”
Janeway smiled, “perhaps we can guide each other.”
*
The next night, Janeway found herself again sitting in silence by a fire with Nmtaru. They had eaten some more of the rodent meat, and then spent an hour in near silence watching the stars move across the sky. Despite the day’s exertions, Janeway was awake, and aware of her surroundings. She’d enjoyed a good night’s sleep after her conversation with Nmtaru the night previous, and as she sat in the alien forest, she felt a curious sense of anticipation.
A few moments later, Nmtaru broke the silence. “Kathryn Janeway, you have been judged by the Skoudra, and been named Captain of the An’Anaki Oligarchy. I, Nmtaru, asked to have the honour of sharing the memory of First Captaincy with you. We have now travelled through the forest six days. It is time for me to share the memory.
“Once, over four thousand years ago, an Empire spanned this region of space. They called themselves the Argonians, the Enlightened. We, however, called them the Routal, the Tyrants. The Routal conquered planet after planet, settling without care for those they displaced. Every sentient species you have encountered as part of the An’Anaki, and dozens more were subjugated by the technologically superior Routal. My species, the Brak’a was playing with stone tools for the first time when the Routal came here.
“For hundreds of years the Routal were powerful. But slowly the Routal Empire eroded under its own weight. Corruption plagued them, as did bureaucracy. Social pressures from within slowed the Routal expansion. Eventually, a series of revolts on the colony worlds forced the Routal to pull back, and a loose coalition formed among the former subjects. They called themselves the Ichai and they sowed seeds of dissent among the other colony worlds. Finally a critical mass was reached and the Ichai declared war on the Routal. At first it was a loosing battle, but the tide turned, and the Ichai started winning. Gradually the Ichai lost interest in the battle, and rebuilding the damaged worlds took precedence over punishing the Routal.
“Only a few skirmishes remained of the great war, until a rumour came from Routal territory, speaking of a weapon of unimaginable power that had been developed on the Routal homeworld, Ju’Trip. Immediately, the Ichai launched an assault. General Dumo of the Ichai ordered every Routal slaughtered. Never again were they to have power.
“A man named Bouro was in the trenches on Ju’Trip. He was a medic, opposed to the fighting, but pressed into service nonetheless. He was trying to sleep one night, when a Routal in filthy robes sought refuge in the trench. Bouro agreed to hide the man. After 3 days, the Routal realised that he would eventually be captured. That night he told Bouro that he was actually a priest of a small religious order. He shared a memory with Bouro. Now I will share that memory with you, Kathryn.”
Janeway was surprised that a memory could last so long, but she couldn’t deny her curiosity as she waited for the Absona to take effect. A few moments later, Nmtaru’s hands on her back, she found herself standing on a pier at dawn. Two moons hung overhead as a large, lazy, red sun broke the horizon. Behind her high, childish voices pierced the morning stillness. Out on the water, a flock of birds took startled flight.
The voices grew nearer, and suddenly a group of sliver-skinned children darted past her and dashed toward the still water. Without hesitation, they ran into the water, diving effortlessly when it grew too deep, and tangled their legs. An instant later, she watched as the children propelled themselves clear over the surface. They leapt out again and again, racing toward the sunrise. With regret, she pulled her eyes from the marvellous children, and looked down at her own body. A thick layer of grey fur covered the silver skin she had once inhabited. She raised her eyes again, hoping for one last glimpse of the children. But they had gone to play with the fish, leaving her land-locked and alone.
Slowly, Janeway opened her eyes, drawing a breath before focusing on Nmtaru again.
“That is the only memory of the Routal that remains. There was no weapon being developed on Ju’Trip, only a legend from a long dead civilization that was seized upon by the frightened Ichai. All that remained of the Routal, their buildings, and monuments and history has been erased from time. Bouro saw that this would happen. He was on Ju’Trip when the last Routal was executed, and saw the armies of Ichai soldiers turn their weapons on what was left of the civilization. Bouro realised the mistakes that were being made, and believed that it was irrational fear that led the Ichai to behave so foolishly. Carefully, he began sharing what he’d learned from the priest with other officers in the military and educated civilians. Gradually the movement grew until they staged a coupe less than a century after the Routal were destroyed. There was a short civil war, and the Ichai splintered. The Cratau were mainly the old leadership of the Ichai. They were responsible for creating the atmosphere in which genocide became possible for the Ichai. They rejected Bouro’s new ideas and refused to admit the terrible mistakes that had been made. Bouro’s faction drove them to the outskirts of known space and formed a new government. It was that group that became the basis for the An’Anaki Oligarchy. Our modern government has its roots in that revolution.”
Janeway was amazed, both at the longevity of the An’Anaki civilization, but also at its violent beginnings. “What of the Cratau?”
Nmtaru sighed. “They still exist at the fringe of An’Anaki territory. There is a stretch of space through which you must pass, that has become a no man’s land. We call it the desert, now. The Cratau raids are infrequent, but can be devastating to a ship travelling alone. When you leave Tuaro Voyager and the Running Night will be joined by other ships also making the crossing.
So, thought Janeway, not everything in An’Anaki space is as pacific as it seems.
*
When Janeway rejoined Voyager, she was physically exhausted, but her time in the jungle had energized her emotionally, and she now counted Nmtaru as a friend. Her crew seemed rested and ready to continue the journey home. She was in her ready room a few hours after returning when Rochek hailed her.
“Captain Janeway, I greet you again. I trust the path you shared with Skoudrid Nmtaru was clear.”
Janeway smiled at the Captain, “It was. My Chief Engineer tells me that our ship is now ready to continue our journey. When can we depart?”
“The Running Night is ready to depart, however our escorts will not rendezvous for four more hours. Is this acceptable?”
“Yes, Captain. How many ships will we be travelling with?”
“The Bright Star is also travelling across the desert. We will have four ships the Knight’s Shield, Warrior’s Honour, Vigilant Protector, and Gtaru’s Talons with us as escorts.”
“Are so many ships really necessary?”
“The Cratau are formidable opponents.” Rochek cautioned, “It is not wise to underestimate them.”
*
Five hours later, Janeway beamed onboard the Vigilant Protector. An’Anaki regulations required Captains to remain on their ships at all times while in hostile territory. However tradition required Captain’s travelling together to share meals, so as to be better understand each other. As a compromise, Captain Mali of the Vigilant Protector had invited the other four captains to her ship for a single feast before the group entered the desert. The Bright Star, it turned out, was a diplomatic ship, carrying Skoudra and Captains from Aourea back to the An’Anaki capital. As she materialized, an old friend greeted her.
“Yerivat, how have you been?”
The old Skoudrid smiled, “My path has been clear and easy. I trust you’ve brought a memory to share with me?”
Janeway grinned back. “I know just the one.”
*
The initial crossing into the desert proved uneventful. There were a few outposts past Tuaro, and then there weren’t. Janeway spent her time reading from the library Yerivat had given her. Though she remained on her ship, she found it helpful to contact him and the other Captains for clarification on some point or another. With her evenings free, she invited Chakotay to dine with her, easing the tensions between them, and benefiting from his anthropological background. At his suggestion, she made the library available to the crew so they could dip into and explore An’Anaki culture at their leisure. The new information and the excitement from shore leave on Tuaro helped contain some of the tension brought on by their travel through contested territory with four warships along as escorts.
The peace lasted three days. On the fourth, the group dropped out of warp briefly so the Vigilant Protector could make repairs to a faulty warp stabilizer. As the group was preparing to return to warp, two Cratau ships appeared at the edge of the system. They attacked quickly, strafing the group with fire before disappearing back into warp. One of the Knight’s Shield’s phaserbanks was destroyed by the attack, and the convoy jumped back to warp with a new urgency.
It was two days after the initial attack that the Cratau again appeared. This time, the convoy was more prepared, and the four heavy An’Anaki cruisers took the brunt of the assault, allowing Voyager, the Bright Star and the Running Night to find refuge within their protective perimeter. As the Cratau increased their attacks, Voyager continued to enjoy their superior defences. Janeway quickly realized, however, that while the ship had been spared the fight, the crew’s moral was taking a beating. During the fourth battle, Voyager hid behind the Gtaru’s Talons, while the larger ship suffered a hull breach. Still Janeway held back her ship, knowing that An’Anaki military strategy required the larger ships to bare the burden of defence.
When the battle was over, Janeway walked the ship from stem to stern, talking to her crew, making her presence known, and encouraging their efforts to be sure their ship was ready should the Cratau test them. After giving advice to B’Elanna on shield modifications, listening to Seven’s suggestions for improved targeting in a battle, and watching Tuvok drill beta shift through intruder procedures, she was sure that her ship was ready.
It was well past midnight when she finished her tour, but she stopped by the holodeck quickly. She knew Tom Paris was inside, and from what B’Elanna and Harry had said, he could use a moral boost.
When she walked through the doors, the first thing she noticed was the temperature change. Voyager’s corridors were kept to 21c, a reasonably comfortable temperature for most humanoids. The holodeck, however, was only a few degrees above zero, and in her thin uniform, she felt an immediate chill. “Computer, give me coat appropriate to the program.”
Immediately she found herself wearing a thick blue parka. While the designer had dubious fashion sense, the warmth couldn’t be denied. Having solved her first problem, she took a good look at her surroundings. She was in a hallway deep inside a building. Concrete brick construction and exposed overhead pipes emphasised the utility of the space. A rubber mat and a blue and orange stripe along the wall led her forward, to where a number of men seemed to be yelling to each other. Curious, Janeway took a few steps forward until she could see a short staircase leading up toward a brighter space. As she climbed the stairs, she got her first real look at the action taking place.
She was standing at the edge of an old ice rink. Before her, groups of men wearing coloured jerseys were taking place in what seemed to be a set of complicated drills. An older man stood to one side without protective equipment. He watched the play intently, and called out encouragement and correction to the players every few moments. As she watched, she started to understand the way the players were moving. Three players wearing the same colour jersey would start at the centre red line, passing the puck back and forth. Two men wearing a different colour would defend the goaltender. Sometimes the offensive team was successful, sometimes the defenders. What struck her most, however, was the sense of camaraderie between the players. They were all willing to offer advice and suggestions, laughingly strategising against their opponents. Even men wearing different colours exchanged tips.
Tom Paris startled her a moment later, by skating over. He loomed over her in his skates and bulky equipment, but his smile positively beamed. She couldn’t remember seeing him so happy.
“Hello, Captain. What brings you here?”
“I’m just checking out the ship.”
“Ah. Making sure everything’s ship-shape before our friends show up again?”
Janeway smiled, “Something like that.”
“And making sure morale’s okay?”
“Of course. An unhappy crew isn’t one to take into a fire-fight.”
Tom snorted, “Not that we’ve been doing much of the fighting.”
Janeway nodded. “It’s been bugging you, too, hasn’t it?”
“Hell yes, it’s bugging me. Our ‘friends’ are patting us gently on the head and telling us that we’re not good enough to be playing in the big leagues.”
“I don’t think that’s quite what the An’Anaki are getting at, Tom.”
“Isn’t it, Captain? The Gtaru’s Talons suffered a hull breach. We could have at least done something to give them a hand. We could have fired a few shots while they got their shields back up, maybe bought them some time.”
“Tom, the An’Anaki consider us honoured guests. They are bound as hosts to protect us. Besides, Voyager wouldn’t last long against those Cratau cruisers.”
Tom shook his head. “Maybe not, but even the weakest player on that team has something to contribute.” As if to punctuate his point, a small, thin player skated in on two larger defenders, skirting the edge of the crease. He held his shot, waiting for the goalie to commit, before flipping the puck over the out-stretched blocker.
Tom turned back to the Captain, “We may not be big and bulky, but we can out manoeuvre any of those ships.”
“Fair enough, Tom. If Voyager’s needed, we’ll be ready.”
*
The convoy enjoyed four days of peace, before being ambushed again by the Cratau. The group dropped out of warp briefly to avoid several tightly packed stars. As they swung around the outer edge of one star system, Seven Cratau warships emerged from the comet belt. They focused their attack on the Gtaru’s Talons, disabling her warp drive in the first pass.
On Voyager’s bridge, alpha shift settled into their places on the bridge. Janeway emerged from her ready room just as a stray shot rocked the ship.
“Report!”
Chakotay consulted his consol quickly, “There’s seven of them this time, Captain. They’re concentrating on the Gtaru’s Talons, driving her deeper into the system.”
“What are the other An’Anaki doing?”
“The Knight’s Shield is staying by the Bright Star and the Running Night. One of the Cratau vessels has left the Gtaru’s Talons for them. The Vigilant Protector and the Warrior’s Honour are moving to help the Gtaru’s Talons. The Knight’s Shield has signalled us to move toward them.”
Janeway mentally calculated the odds. Six Cratau to three An’Anaki. Not promising. She was about to order Voyager to the aid of the Gtaru’s Talons, when she saw two Cratau vessels do a sudden about face, heading for the Bright Star at full speed. The Vigilant Protector and Warrior’s Honour had been caught by the remaining four ships, leaving them out of the battle.
“Tom, get us to the Bright Star now! Tuvok, target those two Cratau ships, try and disable their engines.” Janeway had a sinking feeling in her stomach. She knew how important some of the people on the Bright Star were, and it seemed so too did the Cratau.
Unfortunately, the Cratau had the same idea as Voyager. As they raced toward the Bright Star, She saw the Knight’s Shield take a major hit in her aft section. A moment later, the Running Night also lost power.
“The Knight’s Shield has been disabled.” Tuvok’s report only deepened Janeway’s sense of dread. “The Bright Star is initiating evasive manoeuvres. It is driving further into the system.”
“Follow that ship. Tuvok, what about their engines?”
“One Cratau vessel has been disabled.” True to his word, the ship’s lights started to flicker, as it lost main power. Unfortunately, the lead ships were still bearing down in the Bright Star, forcing it farther into the system.
“Captain, the Bright Star is entering the fourth planet’s atmosphere.” This from Harry Kim.
“Harry, is she designed for that sort of flight?”
“No Captain, she’s losing attitude control.” A beat, “She’s crash landed!”
“Survivors?” The thought of Yerivat dying made her sick at heart.
“Captain, I’m getting numerous life-signs from the crash site. I can’t tell you how many, but there are definitely survivors.”
Before she could deal with this latest news, Chakotay called out his own update: “The lead Cratau ship is launching a landing craft.”
“Fire on it!”
“No effect, Captain.” Tuvok sounded almost frustrated. “The atmosphere is dispersing our phaser fire.”
“Tom, prepare to take Voyager into the atmosphere.”
“Captain?” Chakotay didn’t understand her reasoning.
“Chakotay, none of the An’Anaki are capable of helping right now. Voyager should be safe in the atmosphere. I’m going to lead a recovery team to the surface. Take Voyager back into space, and see what you can do to help the An’Anaki.”
Chakotay leaned close to her, whispering, “Captain, your place is on the bridge. Let me go instead.”
Janeway recognized her First Officer’s concern, and knew that this time she had to go after the Skoudrid on the Bright Star herself. Leaning toward him, she locked eyes with him. “Chakotay, Yerivat is on that ship. I can’t let him be captured.”
“At least take Tuvok.”
Quickly she shook her head, “you need him up here. Give me ten security officers, we can manage this.”
Somehow, Chakotay saw the fire in her eyes, and new she was determined to do this thing. “Spirits be with you. I’ll have Tuvok’s security squadron meet you in transporter room one.”
Instinctively, she reached across to his arm, giving it a quick squeeze, “Thank you Chakotay. Good hunting.” And without another word she was out the door.
Chakotay sighed, “Chakotay to Ayala.”
“Ayala, here,” came the disembodied response.
“Captain Janeway’s leading an assault on the Cratau landing party. I need ten personnel in transporter room one armed for ground combat. If you can’t spare people from security, round up some Maquis.”
“Understood, Commander.”
“And Ayala?”
“Yes sir?”
“She’s your responsibility.”
There was a pause before Ayala’s voice responded firmly, “Yes, Sir.”
*
Janeway materialized in a thick forest at dusk. Beside her, Ayala consulted his tricorder quickly before silently indicating a direction almost directly in front of the ten officers around her. They’d chosen to beam down a few hundred meters from the Cratau landing craft so their arrival would go unnoticed by the enemy.
At Ayala’s indication, the group adjusted their gear and started to pick their way carefully through the underbrush. Janeway made sure her phaser rifle was on safety. She was glad she’d taken the extra minute to change out of her heels and into a set of combat boots. While her ego prevented her from wearing flats on the bridge, and subsequently suffering neck strain from trying to look her tall, male staff in the eye, she was happy to sacrifice height for mobility on the rough ground.
After several minutes of tension, Ayala held up a hand to stop the group splayed out behind him. Janeway came up on his shoulder.
“What is it?” she asked, her voice barely a murmur.
“The Cratau ship is right there.”
She followed his outstretched arm, and could just make out the silhouette in the failing light. “How many Cratau on board?”
“Two lifesigns. The Bright Star is another 200 meters further.”
“Can you tell how many survived the crash?”
Ayala shook his head, “The Cratau seem to be a multi species group, too. There’s no way for the tricorder to distinguish one group from the other.”
Janeway didn’t bother telling him that the Cratau and An’Anaki were actually the same group of species. Instead she focused on their task. “Can you destroy the shuttle?”
Ayala nodded. “Yes, but not quietly.”
“Good. Send half the force to the northwest to form and firing squad. I don’t want the Cratau leaving. They come back to investigate, I want to catch them in the cross-fire.”
Ayala nodded his agreement, and then gestured to three of his people. Quickly the three indicated stepped forward. After some quiet instructions, they crept off toward the shuttle. The rest of the team split in half, four officers heading into the woods to set up the trap, the other three hunkering down to wait for the Cratau. Janeway took up position behind a large tree with Ayala.
They didn’t wait long. A few minutes later, the three missing security officers came barrelling through the woods, taking cover behind a large rock just before an explosion rocked the ground. A massive plume of fire erupted from the Cratau vessel. Moments later, a hail of shrapnel followed.
Ayala, head down over his tricorder, announced: “there’s twelve lifesigns moving this way. They’ll reach the kill zone in 20 seconds.”
Janeway nodded. “Make sure our people have visual confirmation before opening fire. I don’t want to get sucked into a trap.”
Ayala issued a muted command. A few seconds later, the whine of phaser fire ripped through the trees. On Ayala’s screen, six Cratau indicators disappeared, and the rest scattered, diving for cover. A few seconds later, all indicators dropped from the screen.
“What happened?” Janeway asked.
“They’ve set up a dampening field. We’re going to have to do this the old fashioned way.”
Carefully, the Voyagers crept forward, covering each other, and rooting out the Cratau counterattack force. A few minutes later, they regrouped and moved toward the Bright Star.
As the trees thinned around the crash site, Janeway saw a collection of An’Anaki held at blaster-point around the mangled wreck of the Bright Star. Among them she could see both Yerivat, and the emissary that had attended her Right of Captaincy. Watching, she noticed the way Yerivat moved, the way he oriented his body so that he could always see her. Janeway knew that the striped woman was Yerivat’s main concern.
Ayala crept up beside her, and reported, “Our people are in position. There’s 25 Cratau out there, though.”
Janeway nodded. It would take more than one round of fire to kill the Cratau, and there could well be more in hiding. “Start assigning targets. We’ll attack as soon as we’re ready. I don’t want reinforcements coming for them.”
Ayala nodded, and left to divvy up the Cratau. He returned a few minutes later. “Everyone’s in position, Captain.”
“Good.” Setting her sights on the target Ayala had assigned her, Janeway nodded for him to continue.
“On my mark, open fire. Three, two, one, fire!”
A hail of phaser fire burst from the woods, striking the Cratau, and compounding the chaotic scene. Janeway felled both her primary and secondary targets, but she watched in horror as one of the helmeted Cratau picked up the slight emissary and bolted into the woods. Without hesitation, Janeway cut back into the woods to gain a clear path for pursuit.
It was a few moments before Ayala, still mopping up the Cratau, realised what had happened and started after Janeway. As he ran through the underbrush, Chakotay’s words echoed in his head: She’s your responsibility.
*
Kathryn had never thought that she would spend part of her day running through the woods when she’d woken up five hours earlier. Still, that was exactly what she found herself doing. The Cratau she was chasing wasn’t being careful about covering his trail, but she suspected that he spent more time exercising than she did. Tuvok’s carefully regulated thrice weekly cardiovascular exertions could not be reasonably expected to let her keep up with a professional soldier. Still, he was carrying the emissary on his shoulder, and that was certainly slowing him down. Janeway knew she was gaining on him and would eventually be in phaser range. If she could just keep up her pace through the woods.
The swath of broken branches and trampled brush led to an animal path of some sort. She was thankful that the summer weather hadn’t completely dried out the ground. She was able to see her prey’s boot prints in some drying mud. The rest of the path, however, was dry, making her run easier. She took a moment to try her communicator again. The Cratau dampening field still blocked her signal. There would be no reinforcements.
Abruptly, the path veered left, curling around an outcropping of rock on the side of a steep hill. Cautiously, she followed the trail. Over the steepest part of the track, she noticed a metallic glint from further ahead. Unfortunately, she didn’t get a chance to react, before the Cratau soldier rose from behind the rock and opened fire. Instinctively, Janeway leapt for cover. None was to be found on the narrow ledge, however and soon she felt the ground drop out from underneath her feet.
As she fell, Janeway tried desperately to get her feet below her. She landed, mostly foot first on uneven ground. Both her legs buckled under the impact with a pair of cracks, and she pitched forward, unable to slow her forward momentum. Her last thought before blacking was out to wonder idly what had become of the thin hockey player she’d watched: Had the two defenders come and clobbered him after practice? She was sure they had.
*
While Captain Janeway was making her spectacular dive, her ship, Voyager, was in the skies overhead, searching for cover of her own.
“Shields down to 40 percent!” Harry’s voice took on a desperate note.
Since beaming down the away team, Voyager had been kept inside the planet’s atmosphere by the Cratau. Every time they tried to establish an exit vector, their attackers had opened fire at full strength. After they’d registered the Cratau shuttle’s destruction, the ships above them had started dropping photon torpedoes like depth charges. They’d yet to sustain a direct hit, but with the atmosphere weakening their shields, even near misses were taking their toll.
“Tom, head for the moons. See if you can use them to block our attackers and get us the hell out of here!” Chakotay hoped his pilot could use his finesse to their advantage one more time.
Tom didn’t acknowledge the order verbally, instead nodding quickly while he worked the controls feverishly. He brought the ship to a virtual standstill, before spinning it like a top and firing thrusters to maximum and shooting between the twin moons and into clear space.
“Nice flying, Tom. Now, see if you can’t pin a Cratau ship against the atmosphere.”
“With pleasure, Commander.” Happily, Tom brought Voyager into weapons range of the nearest Cratau vessel. He knew well the lesson that in a fight with a gravity well, altitude is life. Having narrowly escaped, he was determined that the slower, bulkier Cratau vessel wouldn’t get the same opportunity.
“Commander, the Cratau vessel has been disabled. It is being pulled into the atmosphere. I detect escape pods being launched.”
Chakotay nodded. He didn’t like destroying other ships, but the Cratau hadn’t given him many options. “Tom, break off attack. Tuvok, what’s the status of the rest of the fleet?”
“The Knight’s Sword and one Cratau vessel are still disabled. Both ships seem to be carrying out repairs. The other four ships are engaged against three remaining Cratau vessels.”
“Where’s the other ship that was attacking us?”
“It is in pursuit from the far side of the planet.”
“Tuvok, fire two torpedoes at the disabled Cratau vessel. I want to be sure the Knight’s Shield is back in action first.”
“Yes Sir.”
“Tom, take us back over the planet. I don’t want our people getting surprised by more Cratau on the surface.”
*
Chakotay was ordering Voyager back to the planet when the call came in.
“Ayala to Voyager, Captain Janeway’s been hurt.”
Voyager had moved off, leaving a probe in orbit to boost communications from the away team. Six of seven Cratau ships had been destroyed. The last had turned tail and left at maximum warp. The Bright Star was unsalvageable, and the Gtaru’s Talons and Knight’s Shield had taken heavy damage. Both ships, however, could limp back to An’Anaki space under their own power.
Chakotay gritted his teeth and willed his voice to stay even as he answered, “Give me details, Ayala.”
“I’m sorry Commander; she took off after a Cratau soldier and his hostage. I think he fired at her. She rolled over the edge of a hill, and she’s in pretty bad shape right now. The An’Anaki doctor took a look at her, but he doesn’t know anything about human physiology.”
“Do your best, Ayala. We’ll be there in a few minutes.”
“Aye Sir.”
“Chakotay to the Doctor. Prepare for emergency deployment. The Captain’s been hurt.”
For once the Doctor didn’t waste time with questions. “Yes, Commander,” was his only response.
Chakotay pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to fight the headache that had suddenly hit. The ship would be in transporter range in two minutes. He expected a report from the Doctor two minutes after that. Giving the hologram and extra minute, Chakotay set the chronometer in his consol for five minutes. When the countdown stopped, he’d better have heard something, or he was going to beam down himself.
*
“Doctor, how is she?” Chakotay strode into Sickbay three minutes after receiving Ayala’s initial call. He found the Doctor hunched over the unconscious form of his Captain.
“She’s unconscious for the moment with a rather nasty concussion. Her brain functions are stable, though, so I suspect she’ll regain consciousness on her own sometime in the next twelve to twenty-four hours. Unfortunately, her legs aren’t in the same condition.”
For the first time, Chakotay looked beyond the gash on Janeway’s forehead. The mangled wreckage of her lower legs made his stomach roll. “Can you repair the damage?” He couldn’t help but imagine what could have happened if she hadn’t landed foot first.
“If I perform surgery immediately, there’s a good chance she’ll regain full mobility.”
“Do it. Inform me as soon as you’re finished.”
“Of course, Commander.”
Turning on his heel, Chakotay left the Doctor to heal his friend.
*
No sooner had Chakotay returned to the bridge than the An’Anaki hailed.
“I am Captain Mali of the Vigilant Protector. I must speak to Captain Janeway immediately.” The grey clad Captain had grease streaked down the side of her face and onto her crisp uniform, but otherwise seemed to be in full command of the situation.
“I’m sorry, Captain Mali, but Captain Janeway is undergoing emergency surgery for injuries she sustained in battle. I’m in command of Voyager until she recovers.”
Mali’s head drew back, and a thick wing of skin lifted from her neck. Even Chakotay could tell the An’Anaki wasn’t happy with the news. “That is unacceptable! No vessel may operate in An’Anaki territory without an An’Anaki Captain onboard. You will turn control of your vessel over to us. Prepare to be boarded.”
“That’s not possible, Captain Mali. Captain Janeway underwent the Right of Captaincy in order to stay in command of Voyager. Taking control of this ship in a potentially hostile situation does not make sense.” Chakotay could see that Mali was not impressed with his argument, so he tried one final concession, “If you wish, I’ll undergo the Right myself.”
“Impossible! Janeway was only allowed because your people had already named her a Captain. A second cannot simply undergo the Right and be named Captain. Years of training are required.”
Chakotay smiled, “Mali, I was once a Captain.” He knew dropping her title would inflame her anger, but his own frustration was starting to get the better of him. He had repairs to see to, and this miserable woman was wasting his time.
“Liar! What kind of Captain becomes a second?” Mali’s raving was cut off by the arrival of a Skoudrid. Though he’d never met him, Chakotay decided the man must be Yerivat.
“Mali, prepare the Vigilant Protector for a Right of Captaincy. Chakotay was indeed once a Captain, and lost his ship through honourable sacrifice. We will see if he is fit to stand again as a Captain.”
*
Kathryn Janeway woke slowly, struggling against the anaesthetic that still coursed through her body.
“Captain?”
Blinking, she cleared her eyes, and saw the Doctor hovering over her. “Doctor? What happened?”
“You had an accident on an away mission. You shattered both your ankles.”
“The Emissary?” Things were starting to become clearer, and she remembered the chasing through the forest.
“I’ve been told that Ayala and his team recovered her unhurt. The rest of the Cratau were either killed or captured.”
“Voyager?”
“We sustained minor damage, but no major injuries, aside from yours, of course. Chakotay’s transported to the Vigilant Protector to undergo the Right of Captaincy while you recover.”
“What? No!” Janeway forgot about her own pain for a moment, wondering how for the ceremony had progressed, and whether or not she could still stop it.
The Doctor was surprised by the intensity of her reaction. Though he didn’t condone the sort of mutilations the An’Anaki used in their rituals, from a medical stand point, the damage was reasonably easy to repair. Knowing that she was still heavily drugged, he calmed her as best he could before she fell asleep.
It was not a restful slumber.
Without the benefit of drugs to numb her mind, her unconscious once again took over, placing her back on Aourea. This time Chakotay was again in the position of victim. Now, however, a cadre of Cratau waited eagerly behind her. When the knife was pressed into her hand, she knew there was no way she could kill him, no way would she again participate in his death.
Instead, she raised the knife and plunged it into her own belly, determined, she sawed into her own flesh, biting back bile, and ignoring the hot tears pouring from her clenched eyes. At last she had the part she needed. The knife hit the ground with a dull clatter. With a final breath she removed the organ and placed it on her first officer’s stomach before crumpling to the ground.
Still she lived; looking up in agony at the dark sky she noted dumbly the constellation Boötes. Somehow she was back on Earth. Then the looming form of her first officer blocked her view. In his left hand he held her liver. With his right, he stooped to pick up the fallen knife and quickly plunged it into his own stomach. She wanted to scream, to tell him to stop, but she hadn’t the strength. His blood poured over her, mixing with her own to turn her white Captain’s robes red. Finally, he held aloft his own liver, smiling as he held the two in his hands. Then he bent down and placed his liver into the wound in her gut. She felt a searing heat, and closed her eyes against the agony. A moment later it dissipated, leaving warm comfort in its place. Blinking, she opened her eyes and found Chakotay smiling down at her. The hole in his abdomen had also healed. Now it glowed faintly.
Gently, he reached down and drew her to her feet. Slowly he reached his hand out to her belly, splaying his fingers across the warm flesh. “Now we can never be separated.”
She laughed when he drew her into his arms, and the sun pierced the horizon, filling the world with light.
*
Yerivat looked up as the guest stepped into his quarters. The Emissary walked in, limping slightly. Her make-up had been fixed, smoothing out the imperfections in her disguise.
“Emissary, I trust your path is clear?”
“It is indeed, Yerivat.” Carefully, she lowered herself beside him on the mat.
“What brings you here this evening?” They’d been particularly careful to keep their distance during the journey. Though Kaliphts and Skoudra were not encouraged to spend time together, a Skoudrid and an Emissary together was bordering on heretical.
“I’ve just been in contact with the Council of Kaliphts on Garou. I’ve recommended Voyager for use of the device.”
“And?” Yerivat couldn’t believe the risk she’d taken. The last Kalipht to suggest using the device had been excommunicated for his audacity. That was over two hundred years ago.
“Janeway and Chakotay must stand before the High Council of the An’Anaki. If one of the sects will agree to judge them, than we can go forward.”
Yerivat could hear the unsteadiness in her voice. He reached out and laid a hand on her shoulder. “You really believe in them, don’t you?”
She reached out her own hand, cupping his face tenderly. “I attended both their Rights. She saved my life in a display of courage that I’ve not seen in a long time.” She sighed, dropping her hand and turning to leave. “I think these people can be our salvation. Shouldn’t we try to be theirs?”
Yerivat watched her leave, taking a last breath of her scent. What she’d told him gave him hope for the first time in years.