Chakotay opened his eyes, and immediately squeezed them shut, squinting against the harsh brilliance of sunlight. The gleaming sands of the desert stretched out before him. The wall was no more, having scattered in many pieces over the surface of the sand. Only tiny, glittering specks remained, causing a rainbow effect to radiate off into the distance. He stared about in confusion, wondering how it was that he came to be in this place. 

A sudden sound greeted his ears... It was as the sound of many voices heard from a great distance, but growing rapidly closer. He turned sharply in an attempt to locate its source, but there was nothing but empty desert. 

"Who's there?" he called, and the sound faded away. He immediately reached for the Starfleet tools to which he'd grown accustomed, but found only an empty leather pouch. The rest of his body was covered in what appeared to be animal skins. "Is there anyone there?" he repeated. No answer. 

The fine hairs on the back of his neck prickled; someone was watching. Suddenly feeling very much alone, and acutely vulnerable, he sought something with which to protect himself. The only items that looked even remotely promising was a stand of rocks a dozen meters away.  He began to move briskly in that direction. 

Again the voices. Much closer this time, seemingly on his heels. They coalesced into a single voice as he ducked toward the rocks, getting a firm grip around one of the larger ones. 

 "... oo are you?" It was young and feminine, and it emanated from directly behind him. 

Chakotay spun and caught a glimpse of a delicately beautiful face. Her small stature took him by surprise and he didn't catch himself in time, instead landing in the sand on his backside. 

The young woman stood over him, dark hair blowing in the breeze. She tossed her head, exposing an intricately styled tattoo above her slightly slanted right brow. Chakotay gaped at the gently pointed ear that peeked from among the stands. He was even more surprised when the girl began to giggle. 

"Where am I?" he asked, dropping the rock and moving to his feet. Most enemies didn't giggle charmingly before disemboweling their victims. But then again, this was the Delta Quadrant...wasn't it? He hoped his reclamation of the rock went unnoticed. 

"You are like us," the girl said. "But you are not one of us. I won't harm you. Promise. And I'm not exactly sure what you mean by disem...bowel --Oh! " She gasped and paled, backing slowly, shakily away. 

Chakotay immediately dropped the rock and moved to assist her. "Are you all right?" he asked, helping her to settle on a large boulder. "Is there something I can do to help?" 

She blinked several times, breathing deep, forced breaths, as if trying to clear her head. "The image you projected was very...vivid. I've never... I mean, I shouldn't have..." 

Chakotay frowned at her obvious agitation. Could something that he thought have affected her so? 

"It's not your fault," she was quick to say, her color was beginning to return to its previous gently burnished tone. "It is impolite to read someone thus, but your thoughts are so near the surface that they are difficult to ignore. I apologize. I will not look at them any further." 

Chakotay nodded his thanks. Next for some answers. The last thing he'd remembered was being in his quarters with Kathryn. He might have convinced himself that this was a dream, but it felt too real... He could feel the heat emanating from the sand beneath his knee, and the smooth warmth of the girl's skin. The breeze ruffled his hair slightly, and a sharp, but not unpleasant, alien odor assaulted his nostrils. Wherever here was, it was very real. 

"Can you tell me where I am," he glanced around. "And where my ship is?" 

The girl looked confused. "Your ship? It is where you left it. This is the dream place. It was the only way I could find you again. Don't you remember our first meeting?" 

It was Chakotay's turn to look confused. "We've never met before..." He was certain he would have remembered. Very few races wore facial tattoos. 

"Yes," the girl insisted, undaunted.  "That is how I found you - standing over there by the wall. But now its gone. Did you tear it down? You were very worried about it. You thought it was keeping you from a treasure you desperately wanted. I couldn't see what your treasure was, but you valued it so greatly that I told you that you were rich beyond measure just for the having of it..." 

The rest of her words faded into the background as Chakotay remembered his last vision quest. That had been days earlier, after Tuvok had made his startling yes vote on a relationship between Voyager's two most senior officers. He'd been disappointed at Kathryn's reaction, and was mildly ashamed that someone had been able to tap into his thoughts and see him that way. 

"Is this a...dream then?" he asked, realizing only after he'd spoken that he'd cut her off. 

"Yes," she answered, not seeming to mind the interruption. "Your vision quest is very similar to our dream state. That's how I was able to find you again. Your mind is adjusted to the pattern.  I take it from your peace that you've found your treasure?" The girl was rambling on, her words seemed to come very fast to Chakotay's ears. "You know, you never did tell me your name. I can't understand your marking... it's not a script I am familiar with." 

"What?" Chakotay asked. His mind was still processing the sentence prior. 

"Your name," the girl pointed to his tattoo. "It's unclear. What is your name?" 

"I'm Chakotay. My tattoo doesn't designate my name. It's a symbol of my people." 

The girl seemed to digest that. "Mine says: Aukiyana Tu'kou Sa," She pointed to each of the distinctive designs within the tattoo. "Aukiyana for short. It means Obedient Daughter of the Sunshine. I guess my parents were still hoping." She dimpled at him, before explaining.  "I am not so appreciative of the ancient ways of my people. They are not going to be pleased if they discover that I've sought out the mind of an off-worlder. I was just so curious when you appeared. I was certain you were one of the ones who'd dared to leave our world. I wanted to know how you did it." 

She laughed at his look of confusion and continued on. "Oh, I know you're not one of us now. Like the other one. I felt him, too. But he was very different." 

Chakotay found himself both amused and confused by the babbling woman-child, but it was time to leave. "Well, Aukiyana, it's been a pleasure to meet you. But I don't know that it's wise for me to remain here in this dream place, especially if your parents do not wish it." 

Aukiyana sighed. "You're right." She gazed morosely at the sands for a moment before her expression brightened. "Will you come back again?" 

"But your parents..." Chakotay began. 

"Oh, they won't know! Come on, just once more. My life is one ridiculous ritual after the other. Please say you'll come. I've been here alone for 3 days for the purification rites. I'm supposed to be meditating, but I'm bored out of my mind! Please Chakotay?" 

Her wide eyes implored him. Chakotay marveled at the trusting nature of the young woman, and wondered what crime he stood guilty of by remaining. He certainly understood her plight. His father had insisted he learn the many rituals of his people, and he'd hated it. But still, her parents would not approve, and he would do nothing to go against their will. 

"I'm sorry, Aukiyana, I can't. Besides, I don't even know how I got here in the first place. Speaking of which, how do I get out of here?" 

"One isn't told how to leave the dream place," she said. "One just does it." 

"This is all new to me, remember?" 

"Right." Aukiyana thought for a moment. Her eyes brightened. "I know!" She quickly moved him to a standing position with his arms at his sides. She then stepped up onto the flat top of the rock. "Hold still." 

Chakotay watched curiously as she placed the palm of one hand over her tattoo and closed her eyes. She pulled the hand from her brow in a swift  movement and jabbed him in the center of his forehead. His head snapped back slightly at the blow, but he was unharmed. He opened his eyes and looked at her, a brow raised slightly. Was she serious? 

"Hmmm," she murmured with a sheepish grin. "Perhaps I should have listened more carefully to my father's lessons. I'll try again." 

This time there was an air of importance attached to her motions. Chakotay felt the air around him literally buzzing. And then she hit him. His head snapped back with incredible force, and an involuntary cry escaped his lips. The last thing he heard was a softly spoken, "Oops." 
-- -- 

Kathryn's eyes flew open in shock. She shared a stunned, disoriented look with her First Officer for half a second before they both came to their senses. 

"Oh, Kathryn," Chakotay gasped, and drew her tightly into his arms. His sudden cry had certainly given her a fright, and waking up in his lap hadn't helped. But her heart rate was calming, she couldn't say the same for Chakotay. His body was drenched and his heart pounded as if he'd just run a marathon. 

"Now that I can breathe again, are you okay?" she asked. 

His grip tightened and he began to laugh, his chest vibrated gently against her. 

"Chakotay?" she pushed away from him, curious. She couldn't hold back the smile that played at her lips; his mirth was contagious. 

"I'm sorry, Kathryn," he gathered himself, bringing his hands to rest lightly against her waist. "I just had the most interesting dream." 

"Oh, really?" Kathryn asked, even more curious. "What, pray tell, did you dream about?" 

"There was this girl.." 

"Stop." Kathryn put up a hand. "Before you go any further, Commander. Do you have any idea what that sounds like?" 

Chakotay feigned confusion. "That the captain is jealous?" 

Kathryn swatted his shoulder. "And don't you forget it, buster." 

Chakotay grinned goofily at her. "Why, I'll have you know that you'll always be the Captain of my heart, and the Nor'easter of my sailing ship." 

Kathryn laughed at him. "That's incredibly sappy, but sweet. Now, tell me about this other woman." 

"Girl," Chakotay corrected. "She couldn't have been more than 15 Terran years old. She insisted that we'd met before in this 'dream place'. It all started during my vision quest..." he fell silent for a few seconds. "Now that I think about it, that dream I've been having... it all started with that vision quest..." 

Kathryn cut him off, suddenly serious. "You've been having a recurring dream? It didn't happen to involve a desert did it?" 

Chakotay frowned. "Essentially, yes. How could you...?" 

"Tuvok's been having a similar one. He informed me yesterday because he was worried that it could affect the safety of the ship. I think he should be involved in this conversation." Kathryn quickly disentangled herself from Chakotay's reluctant arms. 

"Kathryn, it's 0225 hours." He protested, but grudgingly moved to his feet. 

"We're talking about Tuvok," she reminded him. 

"Good point." 
-- -- 
 
To his credit Tuvok barely raised a brow when his two superior officers appeared in his quarters in what amounted to the middle of night, looking as if they'd both just awakened. "Captain. Commander. May I offer you a beverage?" 
 
"No thanks." Kathryn answered, and immediately plunged in, explaining that he and Chakotay had had similar dreams. Tuvok remained silently contemplative as Chakotay recited the most recent event. 

"Do you believe, Commander, that this young woman may have been in some manner...Vulcan?" 

"Well, I didn't check to see if she had green blood, but yes," Chakotay answered. "The usual features were there." 

"It is strange, then, that she was not able to establish full contact with me, especially since you possess no telepathic abilities." Tuvok looked decidedly miffed, for a Vulcan. 

Kathryn carefully hid a smile as she interrupted. "If it's true that these people hailed from the Alpha Quadrant, even in the distant past, they may have information on a way back home. Has there been anything in the scans to suggest what planet these people may inhabit?" 

Tuvok responded. "Long range scans have detected only two inhabited systems within 24 light years of our position. The nearer world is pre-warp, and appears to be an agricultural society. The other, judging from information we've received from the inhabitants of the entertainment facility, is the home world of the Craw. There are no other possibilities within sensor range." 

"Hmmm." Kathryn thought. "That could pose a problem then. I'd like for both of you to try to regain contact, just to determine who and precisely where these people are. Hopefully her parents won't mind. I'll ask the Veiliens if they know anything. Although I'm not holding out too much hope, I believe that we should test every option that presents itself." 

She paused and looked from one man to the other. Tuvok remained mildly uncomfortable, and Chakotay downright amused. Her lips quirked as she spoke again. "Well gentlemen, I'll leave you to it. We'll meet to discuss your progress after the staff meeting." 

She really didn't think Tuvok noticed when she winked at Chakotay on her way out. 
-- -- 

"Commander Chakotay, could you remain for a moment please?" Chakotay paused in motion and waited as Tuvok exited the Captain's ready room. They'd been unsuccessful in reestablishing contact. 

"How's Tuvok taking this?" Kathryn asked, as she gestured him to a seat. 

Chakotay grinned. "He mentioned the lack of logic in believing that any of his distant relatives might be gentle farmers in the middle of the Delta Quadrant. His money is on the Craw, if not someone more distant. But I think the thing that is really getting to him is that he was unable to establish contact." 

Kathryn shared his smile, and nodded agreement with his conclusions. "Can you think of anything else you'd like to try?" 

Chakotay shrugged. "Short of asking Tuvok to join me on a mind meld/vision quest, no." Not exactly something that he would have thought likely, or desirable, but he offered it any way. 

"I don't think that'll become necessary," Kathryn assured him. She watched him for a moment. "We need to talk, you know." 

Chakotay smiled softly. "Yes, we do. Dinner? My place?" 

"I'd love it," Kathryn responded. "But make it dessert." At his wicked look, she rushed on. "We have the reception dinner with the Veiliens, remember?" 

"Dessert it is," Chakotay agreed. "In the meantime, I need to make arrangements with the medical facility for transporting the remainder of the serum. And I should check on B'Elanna and Seven's progress with the purification facility, and then there's the mining site..." 

"Your Captain keeps you very busy," Kathryn teased. "I'm going to have to talk to her about that." Her eyes touched all that places that she wouldn't...at the moment. Chakotay's answering look energized her. "I'll see you before the reception then, Commander. Dismissed." 
-- -- 

"Commander Chakotay, take a look at this." Iroho whispered. Her voice echoed across the deep cavern in which they were mining, seeming deceptively loud in the oddly formed space. 

Chakotay glanced up from the ice-covered rock he'd been examining and approached the younger woman. She'd been searching for the next probable location of Geridium. Judging from the manner in which her tricorder beeped, she'd found it and then some. "What have you found there, Ensign?" 

"This is the richest vein I've seen so far," she said, offering the tricorder so that he could see for himself. "A thin vein extends beneath these caverns and arcs out in a southerly direction for miles. Unfortunately, it's covered by a layer of Malciumite. The transporters won't be able to penetrate it without pattern enhancers and a two-stage focusing filter." 

Chakotay glanced over the readings and immediately agreed with her assessment. "Looks like we'll have to put the ship in synchronous orbit for the duration of the mining. What do you say, twenty-four hours?" 

"Give or take a minute or two, Sir," Iroho laughed. 

"Good work, " Chakotay commended her. "I'll talk to the Captain. Meantime, do what you can with the Ceridite." 
-- -- 

"Come in." 

Kathryn frowned as her visitor stepped through the door. "Yes? What is it, Seven?" This couldn't be good. Seven and B'Elanna were supposed to be in the Veilien Sciences Center helping to develop a new purification facility for the Number 3 Moon. 

"Captain. I require your assistance. Lt. Torres-Paris is behaving irrationally and making it difficult to complete our task with the Veilien scientists." 

"This sounds like a personnel matter, Seven. Have you spoken with Commander Chakotay?" Of course, Kathryn knew of the frequent disagreements between her resident ex-Borg and half-Klingon, but it was normally B'Elanna who was driven to file a complaint.  She was curious as to what B'Elanna could have done to cause the normally unflappable Seven to be the one to complain, and to the Captain, no less. 

"I have not spoken with him," Seven admitted stiffly. "He would have chosen her side." 

Kathryn blinked. "Excuse me?" 

Seven looked at her oddly. "I said that Commander Chakotay would have chosen Lt. Torres-Paris's side. Am I not speaking loudly enough, Captain?" 

"Yes. You're speaking plenty loud enough, Seven. I was just surprised to hear you say that Commander Chakotay would take B'Elanna's side. You don't believe he'd be fair in his handling of this situation?" 

"It has nothing to do with his fairness Captain. In my study of Commander Chakotay, I have determined that he prefers surroundings that contain items that are outdated, and not entirely functional. There is no efficiency in such a choice. That is why I came to you." 

Kathryn's mouth dropped open. Before she began to formulate a reply, her door chimed again.  "Come in." 

B'Elanna and Chakotay filed into the room. B'Elanna's countenance was one of barely contained impatience, Chakotay's one of long-suffering. When he met her gaze over B'Elanna's head, one corner of his mouth quirked. 

There were several moments of silence before both women began speaking at the same time. B'Elanna's "she abandoned me on the planet!" was half-drowned out by Seven's "she is impeding our progress". 

"Just a moment ladies," Kathryn raised her hands in a gesture of surrender. "I'm sure that whatever Commander Chakotay decides in this matter will be just fine with me." With that, she shot Seven and B'Elanna pointed looks and Chakotay a sweet smile before pushing away from her desk and entering the bridge. Tom broke off from what she could only imagine was his usual brand of humor. 

"Carry on," she laughed and continued on to the turbo-lift. Obviously marriage hadn't changed him completely. 
-- -- 
 
"You're glowing," Chakotay whispered near Kathryn's ear as they stood in the entryway of the Royal Veilien Reception Hall. 

Kathryn shot him a quick glance. "Behave yourself." But her heart rate quickened nonetheless, an unexpected feeling of euphoria had come with her decision to follow her heart. Standing there beside Chakotay felt right on all it's many levels, companion, commanding officer, friend... Something she hadn't known was awry fell suddenly in place. 

Chakotay's reaction to her chiding remark was one of his patently devious grins that suggested that misbehaving would certainly be worth her while. 

She returned his smile happily, barely catching the knowing look that passed between the couple behind them. Tom and B'Elanna had become hopeless matchmakers after their relationship had become more serious.  Singles all over the ship had hoped that the two of them would tone down in marriage, but judging from the latest scuttlebutt, no marriageable humanoid was safe. 

The guard who'd led them along the corridor moved suddenly, nodding ascent to some command given through his ear piece. He turned and gestured that the Voyager contingent follow him. They were led along a plushly carpeted ramp-way that seemed to wind halfway around the building. There were security check points every so often until they reached a lift. They all filed in with yet another guard - Tuvok would have been appreciative of the apparent seriousness with which the Veilien security officers took their jobs. The lift opened into a wide hall, elegantly decorated and full of servants attending to numerous tasks. Glass doors were opened wide, allowing the sounds of music, laughter and night air to filter into the hall. The guard led them forward and they emerged on the roof. 

Kathryn was awed. During her previous visits she simply beamed into the palace. Today they'd taken a shuttle just as the sun was setting. It had set fully during the time in the entry hall and now the full beauty of the 'Veil' was clearly visible. The guard paused to allow them to enjoy the view before directing them toward their table. 

Kathryn thanked him when he nodded and took his leave. The room was brimming with people, adults and children alike, all dressed in fancy attire. A line of buffet tables sat to one side of the room staffed by more servants, a group of Veilien's played oddly shaped cone instruments that emitted an amazing variety of sounds and another group performed intricate dance motions on another platform opposite the musicians. The energy level was incredible. Tom and B'Elanna decided to test the local cuisine, Neelix bounded along behind them like a happy puppy. Lieutenant Tanner and Ensign Bluelock remained nearby. 

Kathryn was about to suggest that they enjoy the buffet as well when she heard a small voice calling from one side of the room. She turned just as a small body was launched in Chakotay's general direction. Bluelock and Tanner immediately changed stance, moving into a more protective position. Chakotay quickly gestured that everything was okay before going to one knee to greet the small child.  "Hello Ta'ina, you look beautiful."  Her red hair had been cut into a short curly mop. 

The little girl, completely oblivious to the security incident she'd nearly caused threw her arms around his neck. "I knew you could help us, Chakotay. I just knew it." 

Chakotay pulled the girl away from his neck and looked her in the eyes. "Thank you, but I can't take the credit. It belongs to our Doctor. But I'll be sure to tell him what you said." 

"Okay," she smiled at him, then turned her eyes up toward Kathryn. "Is this your honor-bound one?" she asked. 

Chakotay glanced quickly up at Kathryn, devilment in his gaze and winked conspiratorially toward Ta'ina.  "Oh yes, definitely, if she'll have me." 

Kathryn's heart lurched, and she gaped at her first officer for several moments until her brain managed to convince her feet to move forward so she could introduce herself. "Hello, Ta'ina, my name is Kathryn Janeway, and I'm very happy to meet you." She shared another stunned look with Chakotay. 

Rushing feet and an admonishing word interrupted. "Tai, come back here." Both Kathryn and Chakotay glanced up at the frazzled woman muttering apologies. "She's a very curious child," the woman was saying. 

"It's quite all right," Chakotay said as he came to his feet. "We met a couple of days ago at the medical facility. I'm Commander Chakotay of ... " His voice trailed off as the woman looked at him strangely. 

"Oh, I'm sorry," she apologized, quickly glancing away, then bowed her head distractedly. "Thank you for the honor of your name." With that she grabbed her daughter's hand, "Come, Ta'ina." And was gone. Kathryn and Chakotay were left to stare curiously in her wake. 

Shrugging the incident off, they headed for the food tables. According to the schedules they'd been given, the official portion of the reception would take place after dinner. They had nearly an hour remaining. The menu samples had revealed that most of the vegetable dishes would be suitable for consumption with little difficulty. Kathryn was ready to test that theory. 

As they approached the line, Tom, B'Elanna and Neelix passed on the way back to their table. Neelix's was literally brimming with items of every consistency, texture and color. He was babbling on about something called Ke'la Gelatin. Kathryn's guess was that he meant the brownish green blob in the center of his plate. She decided that she'd just chosen the first item on her avoid list. Chakotay seconded the motion. 

"Excuse me, Sir," a group of males approached. The first made a motion in which he touched his brow, his shoulder and his heart. The rest followed suit. "My name is Beeden, would you honor us with your name?" 

Chakotay shared a look with Kathryn. "I am Commander Chakotay, and this is Captain Kathryn Janeway of the Federation Starship Voyager." 

"You honor us," Beeden spoke, and made the gesture again. 

"What does that gesture represent?" Kathryn asked. 

Beeden frowned slightly and glanced among his companions. "It means 'in mind, equal, at heart, equal'. Do you not know this? You walk with one who has visited." 

"One who has visited?" Kathryn questioned. "Visited when?" 

"Before," was Beeden's answer. "Please excuse us." 

"I don't like this," Kathryn said as the group walked away. "Yes, he could be talking about earlier when you came to the clinic, but I don't think so. There is something going on here." 

"I agree," Chakotay said. "And now that I think about it, I've been getting odd looks since the very first time I arrived here with Tom. Perhaps I resemble someone." 

"Possibly," Kathryn was thinking. "But you'd be hard pressed to be mistaken for a Veilien, their skin is more gray than any thing else. I'll ask Tuvok to look into it." 

They continued on to the food tables without further interruption. Chakotay seemed very thoughtful as they ate and took in the many sights around the room. Several more times during the course of the meal others approached. Chakotay treated each one kindly and told them his and Kathryn's name, as well as whomever was seated at the table at the time. He was very careful not to elevate himself in any way, but it didn't seem to matter. Many in the room had begun to notice. Before long, another familiar face appeared from among the crowd. 

"Captain Janeway, how pleasant. And Mr. Neelix. I see that you have made yourselves comfortable." Garaden gestured expansively. "But I am afraid that I have not met the other members of your party." 

Kathryn obligingly introduced the rest of her team. She didn't miss the way Garaden's eyes lingered over Chakotay. He made a slight bowing gesture to her first officer. "So you are the one, Sir, who found the young child? My father would be very pleased to meet your acquaintance. Captain?" 

Chakotay glanced at Kathryn and lightly touched her hand beneath the table. At her slight nod, he turned back to the Veilien prince. "I would be honored." 

Kathryn watched as the two men crossed the room and approached a curtained platform. Several guards were stationed on either side of the wide steps that led to the curtained area. The upper guard opened the curtain as Chakotay and Garaden vanished inside. Kathryn sat staring at the curtain, an uneasy feeling settling in her stomach. 

"Tuvok to Captain Janeway." 

Kathryn tapped her combadge, still eyeing the curtained area.  "Go ahead, Commander." 

"Captain, we have detected an unidentifiable energy surge across several subspace bands. " 

Everyone around the table was immediately alert. "Can you tell where it came from?" Kathryn asked. 

"Not as yet, Captain. It does not appear to emanate from the Veilien system. We are currently scanning nearby objects and systems." 

"Thank you, Mr. Tuvok." Her voice dropped slightly. "How are you doing on our other matter?" 

"I have not found any references in the data which we received." 

"All right, Tuvok. Keep me apprised. Janeway out." 

Turning toward the two security officers, Bluelock and Tanner, "Stay here." Kathryn's unease had gone up several notches. Pushing back her chair, she made her way toward the raised platform. Despite the motions of the elite guard to halt her approach, she was determined to find out why the monark had been so interested in Chakotay, and whether that interest was related to the energy surge. 

As she opened her mouth to argue, there was a movement at the top of the steps. The curtains parted, revealing a very pale Garaden. His quickly scanned the room, then noticing her moved hastily toward the bottom of the steps. 

"Captain Janeway," he began in a breathless rush, grabbing her arm. "Does Commander Chakotay have any food allergies?" 

Kathryn's eyes widened in alarm as she hurried up the stairs alongside him. "What happened?" 

"One moment he was fine," Garaden mumbled. "And then..." His voice trailed off as they entered the curtain. 

The only details Kathryn caught was that the king's dining suite was a miniature version of the outer room. She made a bee-line for the area before the throne around which a group of people were huddled. A sinking feeling settled in the pit of her stomach. 

The group parted to let her through. Chakotay lay at its center, eyes closed, his features flushed as if with fever. She ran to his side doing a cursory examination for injuries. His skin was hot to the touch. "What happened?" she called to the group around her. 

Garaden spoke from her side. "We were conversing, when he began to change color as you see here. And then he closed his eyes and fell to the floor. " 

"I have to get him back to the ship," Kathryn said. "Quickly. I don't know what is wrong with him, but our Doctor may." 

Garaden immediately understood her request. He clapped quickly and all of the servants exited the area, only him, the king and his counselors remained. "Go ahead, Captain. Please keep us informed of his condition." 

Kathryn nodded. "Janeway to Voyager. Two to beam directly to sickbay." 
-- -- 

"The others are on their way back to the ship," Tuvok spoke as he entered sickbay.  Both stood and watched the Doctor examine Chakotay for several moments. His tunic had been removed, leaving his chest bare. Only his trousers and boots stuck out of the opposite end of the diagnostic arm. Every bit of exposed skin was reddened and dry. 

Tuvok spoke softly. "I have felt the presence again, Captain. This time much stronger, and different somehow. Here in this room, it is stronger still." 

Kathryn turned sharply. "When did this began? Do you think it is related somehow to Commander Chakotay's condition?" 

"It began shortly after we detected the surge in subspace." Tuvok's brow raised as he turned again to Chakotay.  "I do not think it is a coincidence." 

Kathryn was more concerned than ever. "Have you found anything, Doctor?" 

The Doctor shot her a long-suffering look. "His body temperature is  102 degrees and holding, his heart rate, breathing, almost every systems is operated at twice normal. I've administered temperature altering drugs to prevent his temperature from rising any further. As of yet, I have not been able to determine what is causing this reaction." 

The Doctor moved back toward the head of the bed and sighed as he ran the tricorder over the commander's skull. "His brain wave patterns indicate, of all things, that he's dreaming. But there is no REM activity. I'll need to run more tests if I'm to provide any more answers than that." 

"Captain might I make a suggestion?" Tuvok spoke from her side. 

"Go ahead." 

"If the commander is experiencing a similar episode as he did last night, his present condition may be related. This may be an opportunity for us to acquire the information we need, as well as more information about Commander Chakotay's condition. I propose a mind meld." 

Kathryn hesitated. She knew that she could trust Tuvok not to delve into Chakotay's private matters, but still a mind meld was an intrusion. She looked thoughtfully toward her first officer and suddenly remembered the words he'd spoken earlier in her ready room. He'd offered to submit to a mind meld, although she was sure it wasn't something he'd have wanted to do. 

"What's your prognosis at the moment, Doctor?" she asked. 

"Notwithstanding that I wasn't made aware of any earlier episodes," the Doctor began. "It's dangerous to administer the temperature altering drugs in this quantity for longer than twenty-four hours. And if his temperature is allowed to rise, brain damage may occur. " 

Kathryn glanced toward Tuvok and nodded. "I'm sure you'll want to monitor, Doctor." 

"Of course." 
-- -- 

~~Chakotay was again in the desert. But there was no warm, comforting sunshine, only blustering winds that blew up painful torrents of biting sand. Despite his attempts to block them, they still penetrated his clothing, tearing at his skin. Eerie sounds echoed out of the heated darkness. 

"You are Chakotay," a voice said, and the winds seemed to calm in the area around him as if some invisible field now separated them from the deserts fury. A face appeared from the darkness. 

"I am Jey'Dredek. Aukiyana Tu'kou Sa is my daughter." 

A sense of dread washed over Chakotay. He could see the family resemblance. Dredek's tattoo was similar to that of his daughters with some subtle change that Chakotay was sure he wouldn't be able to make out unless he saw them side by side. "Is she all right?" he asked. 

Dredek bowed his head low. "She is not, and I fear for her safety. That is why I have contacted you in this way. I need you to find her, and bring her home." 

Chakotay looked at the man in amazement. "How could I find your daughter, I don't even know where this place is." 

 "This is the dream place. You will not find her there." 

Chakotay sighed, and began to feel a little lightheaded. "I don't understand what it is that I can do." 

 Dredek frowned as well. "After I discovered that my daughter had contacted an off worlder, we...had a disagreement. She ran away. She said that she wanted to get as far away from her people as possible. I know that she finds our rituals unbearable, but I want her to know something of her heritage. She activated the machine in her efforts to leave, and now she is trapped on the minor world." Dredek paused, remorse clear in his features. "I can no longer feel her presence." 

Chakotay was feeling worse by the moment. "I don't know where your world is," he said, regretfully. "And I think I need to get back to my ship." 

"Your ship is where you left it," Dredek said. He reached up and touched his hand to his brow and then to Chakotay's. "Remember," he said. The old man suddenly straightened. "There is another here." 

Chakotay barely had the strength to turn. "There is," Tuvok spoke and stepped out of the storm that surrounded them. "Who are you, sir?" Tuvok asked. 

"You are performing the Touch," Dredek said with amazement. "But you do not bear the mark" He pondered this situation for a moment, before introducing himself. "I am Jey'Dredek, an elder of my people. I have enlisted the aid of Chakotay in finding my daughter. Are you aware of the information I have given him?" 

Tuvok concentrated for a moment. "I am. But you must release Commander Chakotay. His body is not able to function adequately in this state. We fear for his life." 

Dredek looked immediately horrified; and Chakotay, too tired even to speak, understood why he was feeling so badly. "I apologize greatly. The machine must have strengthened our communication. You must hurry. Will you help find her?" 

"I will consult with our captain. I believe that she will allow it. But Commander Chakotay will need to recuperate from this ordeal, perhaps another member of our crew will undertake the mission." 

"No!" Dredek was adamant. "I cannot guarantee the safety of another. He has the key of one who may enter. Only those who accompany him will be allowed to land." 

"Could you not give the key to me?" Tuvok suggested. 

"Only the female of our species have the ability to pass on the key." 

"What is this key?" Tuvok asked, but Dredek began to blur. 

"He is the key," Dredek said. "Stay close to him at..." 

Everything faded to black.~~ 
-- -- 

Kathryn caught Tuvok as his legs went out from under him. The Doctor was otherwise occupied, as Chakotay had gone into convulsions. Tuvok struggled to pull himself together. When he had sufficient strength, he straightened his back and took in the scene around him. 

Kathryn was torn between worry over her two officers, and a desire to learn what Tuvok had found out. She made her decision and moved quickly to Chakotay's bedside. The Doctor had administered yet another drug, the convulsions stopped and the redness of his skin began to fade to a more normal brownish tone. 

If Kathryn didn't know any better, she'd have thought that the Doctor had released a sigh of relief - she certainly had. She looked to him for his report. 

The Doctor met her gaze with a smile. "I think he's going to be fine, Captain. Whatever you did, Commander Tuvok, it worked. Eventually. The convulsions were in reaction to the high temperature. All of his levels are returning to normal. With rest, he should make a full recovery.  He's sleeping now - I'm going to administer a sedative to make sure he remains that way." 

"You may want to hold off for a moment, Doctor." Tuvok turned toward the Captain. "I have the information we sought earlier." In typical Vulcan fashion, Tuvok revealed what he had learned during the mind meld as well as the star charts and other information that Jey'Dredek had planted in Chakotay's mind. 

"They are located on a binary world 1.2 light years from our current position. Our scans have previously indicated that these are dead worlds, no life forms. It appears that we were mistaken. Jey'Dredek does not believe the girl can survive on the minor world alone." 

"Do you think this is a trap of some kind?" Kathryn asked. They'd been caught often enough before. 

"No, Captain, I do not. These Teloran's are a telepathic race, I sensed no falsehood from him. I believe that he will honor his promise of safe passage." 

"B'Elanna and Seven are at least a day away from completing the refinery, and Voyager needs to remain in synchronous orbit for another 14 in order to complete the mining. You'd have to take a shuttle." 

"Understood Captain." 

The Doctor interrupted. "I object! Surely you're not suggesting sending this man off on a mission in his current condition?" 

"Keep it down, Doctor," Chakotay cut in weakly from the biobed. "You're disturbing your patients." He turned his head with some effort and focused on Kathryn. "I want to do this. She could die out there if I don't." 

Kathryn stepped closer and took his hand. "I know. It's nearly a ten hour journey, I want you sleeping eight of them. If you don't, Tuvok will be taking names. Got it?" 

"Yes Ma'am," Chakotay smiled up at her. 

"Good." She stared at him a moment longer before backing away. "Okay. Tuvok, prepare the shuttle, let me know when you're ready. Voyager will be 18 hours behind you." 

"Aye." Tuvok exited sickbay. 

"You on the other hand," she turned back to the commander. "Will be beamed onto the shuttle." 

Chakotay smiled. "Some people with do anything for special treatment." 

"Indeed they will." Kathryn agreed. 

"You know, I'd like an answer to my question some time before we reach the Alpha Quadrant." Chakotay teased. Kathryn had hoped he'd forgotten about that. She'd thought that they'd be able to take their relationship more slowly - this was a little more like warp speed. 

Kathryn glanced toward the still hovering Doctor - the rumor mill was going to be booming.  "We have plenty of time." 

Chakotay smiled and his eyes begin to drift closed. She patted his hand and began to move away, but he tightened his grip.  "My butterfly," he said, struggling to stay awake. "I didn't take it to the surface. It's on my table." 

"I'll make sure you have it," Kathryn smiled at him. She'd made a habit of keeping hers with her, too. 
-- -- 

Kathryn watched as the shuttle went to warp. The night-shift bridge crew hadn't seen so much action in quite a while, she knew. Turning the bridge back over to Lieutenant Wilson, she made her way to her ready room. There was still the question of the strange behavior of some of the Veilien citizens, and she knew just the person to ask. 

She configured the computer to make the connection from her ready room. Within several minutes, she had Prince Garaden on the link. He seemed genuinely concerned about Chakotay's well-being. She assured him that Chakotay would be okay, and that the Veilien people were not to blame for his condition. 

"If there is anything I can do to assist, Captain. We are already so greatly in your debt." 

"There is a question of concern that you may be able to help us with," Kathryn said with a smile. "Many of the Veilien people were especially friendly. Several used the phrase 'he who has visited'. Do you know what that means?" 

Garaden's smile faded and he glanced away for a moment. "There is a very old myth among our people. There are some who  revere those who visited our planet many centuries ago. They simply appeared out of nowhere, and all bore tattoos as does Commander Chakotay.  It was considered a great honor for a visitor to tell his or her name. It is partially due to this myth that we requested that you not use your transporters among the common people." 

Kathryn nodded as she tried to digest what Garaden had revealed. "So these ancient 'visitors' didn't actually exist?" 

"From the number of accounts from all over our planet, it seems likely that something must have occurred. During those times we had very little technology, and it took weeks or months to travel to distant areas. It would not have been possible to correlate such distant accounts." 

"Were there ever any writings or documents about these beings?" Kathryn asked. 

Garaden shrugged. "I'm sure there are, but they'd probably be stored by older methods than are used today." 

"Would it be possible for us to have access to that information?" 

Garaden smiled. "I'll put my assistant on it tomorrow morning." 
-- -- 

Chakotay opened his eyes. Beige. For a moment confusion swept over him, and then he remembered where he was. Rolling over carefully, he maneuvered himself out of the emergency bunk. He saw Tuvok appear in the doorway as he grasped the bottom of the emergency bunk and swung it upward. The compartment closed with a soft click. 

"I see you are awake, Commander. You have slept for 9.3 hours. We shall arrive at the planet designated Telora Minor in seventeen minutes and 32 seconds. I presume you have personal matters to attend." 

Chakotay stifled a smile. Tuvok spoke as if he never had 'personal matters to attend'. Well, Chakotay had it on good authority that they did. "Thank you, Tuvok," he said instead. "I'll be ready in about ten minutes." 

"Very well, Sir. You will find that some of your personal items are stored in locker 2A." With that the Vulcan disappeared toward the front of the shuttle. 

Chakotay allowed his smile to shine through as he opened the locker. A clean uniform, as well as a small case containing his personal shaving accessories and butterfly disk were stored inside. He took the items and entered the small lavatory. He reached the command area of the shuttle with a minute to spare. 

Tuvok immediately began to fill him in on the particulars. The Teloran system was made up of only two planets, the larger was orbited by one moon. Telora Major had an elliptical orbit and made it's way around the sun in 400.2 days. Telora Minor was much smaller and had a perfectly circular orbit, an oddity rarely found in nature. At four times during the year, the planets' orbits actually crossed. Both planets were surrounded by an energy field completely unlike anything in Starfleet's database. The shielding surrounding Telora Minor was several times stronger than that of the Major world. 

Tuvok had also discovered an additional oddity. Telora Minor was the source of the subspace pulse that Voyager had picked up the night before. It maintained a steady background thrum that barely registered on the shuttle's sensors. 

"I have not detected any life signs," Tuvok commented. 

"It's possible that the shielding is blocking our scanners somehow, or maybe that subspace pulse is really a jamming device..." 

"Possible." Tuvok responded. "It is also possible that the girl did not survive. We do not know what type of environment exists on the opposite side of this shielding. And judging from her father's worry, it seems within the realm of possibility that it may be hostile." 

"I'm going to have to see that first," Chakotay replied grimly. "If I were her father, I'd at least want that much." 

"As would I," Tuvok said in solemn agreement which drew Chakotay's attention. But the Vulcan's facade was solidly in place. 

"How do you propose we penetrate the shielding?" Tuvok asked. 

"Dredek promised safe passage," Chakotay said. "I'm taking us in." 

Aside from a subtle shimmering as the shuttle drew close, not much happened. The shuttle glided effortlessly through the barrier with no problem. Tuvok raised a brow, but made no comment. 
 
As they passed into the atmosphere, a vast desert spread out beneath them. Small golden pyramid-like structures were visible every so often as were rocky structures. In the distance a golden mountain range gleamed brilliantly, causing the automatic diffusers to kick in. 

"Curious," Tuvok murmured at he tapped at the console. 

"What is it?" Chakotay asked, switching over to ascertain what the Vulcan had found. 

Readings were beginning to come in. "I'm reading massive power stores beneath the planet surface." Tuvok tapped a few more commands. "I would like to collect a sample of the sand. It appears to be emitting an energy signal of its own." 

Chakotay was amazed at the amount of energy that was radiating from the surface, there was a lot more to Telora Minor than met the eye. He watched as Tuvok attempted to beam a portion of sand into a collector vessel, but the pattern would not remain cohesive. "I think we should definitely look further into this Tuvok, but our first goal should be to find the girl." 

"Of course, Commander." Tuvok toggled his console, and continued to scan for signs of life. Silence settled over the shuttle as they flew a standard search and rescue grid pattern. 

"You know, there is something I don't understand," Chakotay began to speak after nearly two hours. "There are no signs that any ship has traveled this area of space in quite some time. How did a young girl manage to get lost on a deserted planet?" 

"That is something of a mystery," Tuvok agreed. "Unfortunately, there was no time to ask that question of Jey'Dredek. Perhaps the machine to which he referred played a part." 

"I'm getting something," Chakotay's console pinged. There was a faint flashing blip on his console, indicating life signs. Flying the shuttle in a wide arc, he circled one of the small golden pyramids and landed the shuttle. They both grabbed Starfleet issue eye protection before stepping out into the glaring rays. 

A sweet cloying smell constituted their first breath outside the shuttle, and the still air was quite a bit more dense than shipboard norm. The heat was oppressive. 
 
Both men pulled out their tricorders and moved toward the pyramid from which they'd detected the signal. Up close it looked more like a golden tent than a pyramid, rising ten meters into the sky. They found a triangular opening on one side. 

"Aukiyana?" Chakotay called the girl's name. "Are you in there?" Tuvok joined in. "This is Chakotay and Tuvok, we're here to help you. Your father sent us." Only silence greeted them. 

Chakotay stepped into the tent first and came to a sudden halt. The entire inside wall was covered with flashing controls and monitoring screens. One of the screens showed very clearly the shuttle as it sat several dozen yards away. A readout scrolled beneath it in a picturesque script. Lying in the center of the floor was a young girl with flowing black hair. As Chakotay went to examine her, Tuvok began to scan the area. 

"I think she's suffering from heat stroke," Chakotay said, touching a hand to her hot, dry skin. "I think if we get her back to the shuttle and get some fluids in her she'll be okay." He quickly opened one of the medical cases and administered a hypo-spray. She stirred slightly, but did not awaken. 

"I believe her father will be pleased," Tuvok nodded his agreement from the opposite side of the room. "This appears to be a control center." He reached out to touch one of the controls. "The function of each switch is indicated by an image inscribed on its surface." Immediately the lights flickered to dim and the opening slide seamlessly shut. 

"Interesting." Tuvok commented in the ensuing silence. Chakotay felt that that was as close to an "oops" as he was ever likely to get. 

"Can you tell what happened?" 

"While this switch clearly indicates that it should open the door, the device is not responding to my command." Tuvok glanced toward the area where the door had previously existed. "Strange." 

Chakotay ran a hand over Aukiyana's brow double-checking the action of the hypo-spray. The clamminess seemed to be subsiding. Surer now that she would be all right, he made his way toward the console. As he reached a hand over the console, the room came alive. New readouts appeared and the light level increased. 

Tuvok's brow was getting a workout. "It likes me," Chakotay said with a grin. 

"I do not think like and dislike enters into it, Commander. Jey'Dredek said that you were the key, perhaps the console is somehow in tune to you." 

Chakotay's smile deepened. "You're just jealous." 

Tuvok all but rolled his eyes as he moved toward Aukiyana. "If you will open the door,  I will place this young woman on the shuttle where she will be more comfortable." 

Chakotay touched the appropriate button and the doors shimmered into existence and slid open. 

"Thank you," Tuvok murmured as he exited the tent. 

Chakotay decided that the least he could do after ribbing the Vulcan was to collect a sand sample. The tricorder began to sort through the components of which the sand was made, while it was still compiling the information he was surprised to hear a sound from behind him. 

Turning, he discovered that the tent's console was picking up the sound from inside the shuttle. Tuvok had placed Aukiyana in the emergency bed's restraints. He must have carried the medical kits as well, because he double-checked her condition before stowing the kit. The console must have tapped into the shuttle's audio-visual systems. 

Tuvok had moved away from the storage lockers and was headed forward toward the shuttle's exit ramp. Just as he cleared the doorway, something happened. Chakotay felt a thrumming vibration beginning beneath his feet. The door again slid shut and disappeared seamlessly in the tent's walls. The reverberations suddenly ceased and an arcing beam shot out of the side of the tent. It's gray-green beam caught Tuvok in the shoulder, throwing him back into the shuttle. He landed limply against the wall and did not move. 
 
The next sounds made Chakotay's blood run cold. "Accessing Auto-Return Parameters." 

"Chakotay to Tuvok," Chakotay tapped at his combadge, only silence greeted his ears. 

He turned his eyes toward the console, searching frantically for the button he'd used to activate the door - all the images had shifted, nothing was as it had been before. 

"Lifesigns, unknown life form: Unconscious." The shuttle's computer continued down its checklist. "Lifesigns, Commander Tuvok: Unconscious. Location and Lifesigns: Commander Chakotay, unknown and unavailable - 
presumed missing in action.  Shuttlecraft situation and location: Unstable and Unsafe. Last known location of USS Voyager: 768.21 by 88.47. Auto-Return initiated and confirmed." 

"Door open!" Chakotay spoke to the air around him, giving up on finding the desired switch. "Release. Unlock." The doors remained stubbornly closed as the shuttle's door began to slowly close and the engines powered.  Chakotay remained helplessly enclosed within the tent as the shuttle disappeared into the sky. As it passed through the shielding, the monitor switched off and the control panel returned to its previous configuration. The door slid obediently open. 
-- -- 

Kathryn sat on the edge of her bed pretending to concentrate on reports, but it was a useless endeavor. She couldn't train her mind on anything beyond the thought of what it would be like if she and Chakotay did marry. That she was actually considering it, was amazing in and of itself, aside from the inevitable problems. But they'd faced worse, hadn't they? 

"Bridge to Captain Janeway." 

"Janeway here. What is it Lt. Downey?" She pulled her mind back from her musings, wondering what new disaster could possibly be occurring. It was just after 7:30 p.m., and the area of space in which they were traveling wasn't' exactly over populated. 

"Captain," the Lieutenant seemed slightly nervous. "The shuttle Sacajawea has appeared on our scanners. Its Auto-Return Program has been initiated." 

Kathryn's heart lurched. "How long before it reaches us?" 

"At current speeds, 15 minutes." 

"I'm on my way." Kathryn was already entering the turbo-lift. 
-- -- 

"Report!" she barked immediately upon entering the bridge. 

"We've detected two life forms aboard. The Auto-Return log is being transmitted now." 

"Send it to my console," she ordered and settled into her command chair. She read the entire log twice before her brain accepted it. Location and Lifesigns, Commander Chakotay: Unknown... unavailable...missing in action.... Squaring her shoulders, she pushed her feelings aside and concentrated on the other two who occupied the shuttle. If she was to have any hope of recovering Chakotay, she'd need Tuvok's help. 

"As soon as they are within transporter range, have them beamed directly to sick-bay. Downey, you have the bridge. Inform the Doctor of incoming casualties and tractor the shuttle into the bay." 
-- -- 

Two bodies materialized on bio-bed's just as Kathryn stepped into sickbay. The Doctor was on them immediately. While he tended to a very pale Tuvok, Kathryn took a moment to glance at the young woman who was beginning to stir. Her simple robes were dusty and torn, and her hair lay in tangles. 

Her eyes flickered and she focused confused brown eyes on Kathryn, then over her shoulder and beyond. She gasped and tried to sit up, but Kathryn placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Are you Aukiyana?" she asked. 

The girl's eyes widened, and she settled back against the surface. "How do you know who I am? Where am I? What is this place?" 

"I'm Captain Kathryn Janeway of the Federation Starship Voyager, and Commander Chakotay told me your name.  Your father asked him to help find you after you ran away. But something went wrong, and now Chakotay is missing and you are on Voyager." 

"Oh no..." Aukiyana murmured, her eyes suddenly tearing. "This is all my fault." 

"No, it's not, " Kathryn tried to console her, but the girl was quickly become hysterical. Kathryn threw the Doctor a quick glance. He was already on it, having loaded a hypo-spray and headed her way. He did a quick compatibility scan, injected her and moved back to his other patient. 

"Can you tell what happened to him?" Kathryn asked. 

"He's received a sizable stun, and suffered a concussion from contact with what I gather to have been the wall of the shuttle, judging from the fragments of course." Kathryn grimaced at the Doctor's detail. "He should be completely recovered by morning." 

"I'd like to speak to Commander Tuvok as soon as he awakens." Kathryn gazed worriedly down at her security officer, and then over her shoulder at the frightened girl. "How long will she be out?" 

"At least 8 hours," was the Doctor's reply. "I'd like to take the time to do a thorough examination of her." 

"All right. Keep me apprised." 
-- -- 

Chakotay was growing weaker. The hot, thick atmosphere wasn't conducive to comfortable breathing, and whatever odor wasn't helping. After the shuttle had left, he'd examined the sand and a bit of the surrounding area. He didn't wander too far from the golden tent, though. First rule of being lost: Stay where you are. 

He hadn't had to go far to make some amazing discoveries. The sand that made up the tent, and covered the surface of the ground appeared to be mini solar receptors. The energy from the sun was absorbed and stored deep beneath the surface. The readings were off the scale. As best as he could tell from the console was that the shield around the planet altered the sunlight in some way, making it more usable by whatever this planet was designed to power. He suspected, judging from the sheer immensity of the operation, that it was more than a simple transporter. 

After almost seven hours, his mouth felt like it was filled with dust and the console was beginning to swim before his eyes. Uncapping his canteen, he took a small sip, but it wasn't nearly enough. He replaced the top and pressed on. He wanted to learn as many of the console's secrets as he could. He'd been recording a log in his tricorder, but he'd long since lost most of his voice. He hoped that Voyager would be able to decipher his raspy whispers. 

He'd completed another analysis, when something shocking appeared on the console. It swirled briefly as he accessed the   file. He'd discovered that whomever had designed the system had included a demo of each function, almost as if they'd expected their users to be rusty, or unfamiliar with the console. A star chart appeared and a menu of coordinates scrolled before him. One of them caught his eye, as it looked vaguely familiar. 

He selected it and the scenario played out. The swirl tunneled ... his mind made the connection. He gasped. "Oh my..." He had to get this message to Kathryn. Infused with renewed strength, he looked for a way. There had to be a way. 
-- -- 

Kathryn had just run yet another unsuccessful scenario on her bridge console. Voyager had reached Telora Minor forty minutes earlier, and they as yet had no means of penetrating the shields. Tuvok was still unconscious in sickbay, and their guest would not awaken for five more hours, according to the Doctor's prediction.  She was toying absently with her butterfly disk as she rethought the model. She felt a slight tingle and glanced sharply at the device. 

"Sickbay to Janeway." 

"Yes Doctor?" 

"Despite the fact that it is 0300 and you should be sleeping, I am calling to inform you that Commander Tuvok has awakened." 

"Thank you, Doctor," Kathryn was out of her seat and on her way. 
-- -- 

Tuvok moved slowly as he described all that they had discovered on the surface of Telora Minor.  Tuvok did not believe that a human could survive on the surface for any extended period of time. 

"We need to get down there and get Chakotay back. Do you know how to get past the shields?" 

"We simply flew the shuttle through. Commander Chakotay said that Jey'Dredek had promised safe passage and so it occurred." 

"What was it you said, Tuvok? That he was 'the key'. What does that mean?" 

"I am uncertain. But, Jey'Dredek said that only females could pass on the key. And all of the command center controls within  the structure we found responded to the Commander's touch." 

Kathryn paced for several moments, and pinched her nose. "What would the females have that the males don't have?" 

Tuvok thought for a moment. "Physiologically speaking, they would have different reproductive organs, as well as..." 

"Exactly!" Kathryn said. "That's it. The key has to be DNA. Think about it. To a low tech society, it would appear as if the females passed on this key. It would be a birth right. Only those who were born of Telora could come and go. " 

"But how would Commander Chakotay's DNA become acceptable to their systems." Tuvok asked. 

"It still works. And especially since everything responded to Chakotay's touch. All that we know about these people suggests that there is an underlying level of technology of which we don't begin to understand. Perhaps something in the way Aukiyana touched Chakotay allowed his DNA to be scanned and added to the collective memory or security system of their machinery." 

Tuvok thought for a moment. "That is possible. I was not attacked until I was no longer in the immediate vicinity of either Aukiyana or Commander Chakotay. And Jey'Dredek's last words before Commander Chakotay went into convulsions may well have been 'stay close to him at all times'." 

"Right!" Kathryn made a bee-line for the door. 

"Where are you going, Captain?" Tuvok was off the bio-bed and right behind her. 

"I'm going to get Chakotay." 

"How do you propose to do that? What if we are incorrect? I do not think hair or any other such thing will suffice as all of those items were available on the shuttle." 

"If we're incorrect, I'll never get passed the shielding. And I have an ace in the hole." Kathryn reached into her pocket and pulled out her butterfly disk. "It's imprinted with mine and Chakotay's DNA." 

"Then I should be the one to go," Tuvok said. 

"Sorry, Tuvok, it won't work for you." With that she left her security officer and headed for the shuttle bay. 
-- -- 

 Kathryn found Chakotay on the floor of the golden tent, propped against the console. His tricorder was rigged to keep his butterfly disk continuously active. 

"Chakotay!" She rushed to his side, touching a gentle hand to his neck. The skin felt cool and damp. She unzipped the neck of his uniform to give his body more air, and pressed a hypospray against his neck. 

His head lolled as the medication entered his system. "Kath...tunnel," he murmured weakly as his eyes attempted to focus on her. "Kath...ryn," he tried again, his voice was almost nonexistent. Removing her canteen from her utility belt, she touched it to his lips, allowing him a small sip of water. 

He swallowed convulsively and reached again for the container. She allowed him to move it toward his mouth, but steadied it as he drank thirstily, choking. He bent double, engulfed in a fit of coughs before she had his back again against the console. He began to laugh softly. "Thought you were...mirage," he rasped. "Did you see...tunnel?" 

"No, I didn't," Kathryn replied, throwing one of his arms over her shoulder. The electrolyte enhancer that she'd injected him with should stabilyze his levels until she could get him to sickbay. She just hoped he could make it to the shuttle. 

"Oh," Chakotay slurred. He was leaning heavily against her, but still on his feet. "Say yes," he demanded suddenly. 

"Yes," Kathryn murmured, chalking his comments up to delirium. She was far too preoccupied trying to keep them both upright to sort out what his meaning might have been. Chakotay was no small man. 

"Good." Chakotay seemed to smile to himself. They made all the way to the outer door of the shuttle before he passed out.