Chakotay's eyes flew open as a gentle hand touched him. His eyes locked on startled brown ones. "Aukiyana?" 

The young woman nodded mutely, running a hand along his arm and over his forehead. "This place is real, isn't it? And you're not dead." There was residual confusion in her eyes, and, Chakotay thought, a touch of fear. 

 "Yes, it's real," he said, smiling his best reassuring smile. "And so am I. After you disappeared, your father contacted me and asked us to find you. You're onboard Voyager." 

The girl nodded, relief flowing into her gaze. "Okay. I wasn't sure, everyone feels so faint." Delicately, she touched the sea green of her sick bay gown, then allowed her gaze to drift around the room.  "These are your things. This is your ship. It's all so wonderful. Can I look around? I want to see everything!" 

Chakotay sat up with a grin, allowing his legs to dangle over the side of the bio-bed as he watched the excited girl. She was far too busy flitting around the room to notice when the Captain and the Doctor entered the room. 

"Not just yet," Kathryn said, answering the young woman's questions. "The Doctor needs to take another look at you and then we'll see what we can do." There was a hint of a smile at her lips. 

The girl immediately stopped her excited movements and focused on the Captain. Recognition shone in her eyes. "I remember you," she said softly, putting a finger to her temple as she remembered. "You were here before. I'm sorry I couldn't help you then." 

"It's quite all right," Kathryn said, moving further into the room. "You'd just found yourself in a very unusual situation. It's understandable. If you'll go with the Doctor, he'll take care of you." 

"Thank you." Aukiyana smiled impishly and turned toward Chakotay. She didn't speak aloud, but something about the way she looked at him, he caught her meaning. *She's the one, isn't she?* 

He was shocked, and responded with a bemused smile and a slight nod. 

*I approve.* The girl turned, satisfied and followed the doctor out of the room. 

Kathryn approached in her wake, watching as the girl exited. "What was that all about?" she asked, turning a curious gaze on her first officer. 

Chakotay shook his head in astonishment. "She's a very perceptive young lady," he said. "And it seems she's given us her blessing." 

Kathryn looked astonished. "You were...communicating with her?" she asked. "Telepathically?" 

"No, not really. Or at least I don't think so." Chakotay thought for a moment. "I never heard a voice or words, but I knew what she meant. It was as if I automatically understood her meaning." He watched her for a moment. "Does it bother you?" 

"Honestly, I don't know." Kathryn replied. "But I'd like to know what type of long term effect this "key" is going to have on you." 

"I don't feel any different," Chakotay shrugged as a thought occurred to him. "How's Tuvok?" His last sight had been of the Vulcan being thrown against a wall in the shuttle. 

"He's fine," Kathryn assured him. "He's examining some of the sand particles we took from the shuttle. Seems it has some rather interesting properties. He believes them to be tiny solar collectors and that their collected energy is being diverted elsewhere, perhaps beneath the surface of Telora Minor. The sensor readings from the shuttle have been -- " 

Chakotay felt as though a jolt had run through him. "You mean you haven't downloaded the data from my tricorder?" His voice was sharp. He relaxed only slightly at Kathryn's startled look. Standard protocol was that all away data was uploaded to the ship's main computer for analysis as soon as missions were complete. Under those circumstances, it could be hours before the data was retrieved. 
 
"No, should we have? Tuvok requested that it be routed to his personal station. My guess is that it's still in his queue." She paused a moment and took a closer, almost wary, look at him. "What did you find?" 

"I'd much rather show you." 
-- -- 

Kathryn sat, still mildly stunned, before the computer image as Chakotay completed his presentation. He smiled gently as he settled in his usual seat to her right. She'd seen the data the twice, all ready. Once when they'd first retrieved it from his tricorder. And then again just to reassure herself. Now it was being shown for the benefit of the rest of the senior staff. 

"You mean that's it?" B'Elanna asked from the opposite end of the table. "Click our heels three times, and we could be home again?" 

"Not precisely," Tuvok spoke dryly, drawing all eyes in his direction. "But it is a fitting analogy." 

"When are we going to make an attempt?" Harry spoke up. Kathryn couldn't help but notice the new hope that shown in his eyes. Though many of the crew had left spouses and family behind, Harry seemed to have felt his losses more acutely. 

"Not so fast, Harry," Chakotay warned. "There are still a few bugs to work out. We have to gain permission from the Telorans, figure out a way to operate it from orbit, not to mention determining whether or not it's actually large enough to move a ship the size of Voyager." 

Both B'Elanna and Harry begin to speak simultaneously, bubbling forth with ideas. Kathryn waved her hand, stemming the animated flow. "Our first order of business is to contact the Telorans. Since we need to return our guest to her people, we have our foot in the door. Meanwhile, I want this data gone over with a fine-tooth comb. Top priority. B'Elanna, Harry, Seven, you're on it. Take anyone you need." Shifting forward, she leaned across the table and made contact with each member of her staff. "This could be it. Dismissed." 

"Commander Chakotay, a moment please," she added as the rest of the group dissipated. 
-- -- 

Chakotay landed Sacajawea easily on a level plane of green grass beneath the light of a fading sun. Intermittent energy spikes caused the scanners to behave erraticly over any distances beyond several kilometer. They'd had to locate the village largely based on landmarks. Judging by the small group gathered nearby, they were expected. 

"Ready?" he asked the young Teloran woman, who'd become very solemn as the shuttle had descended toward her world. She looked up and nodded minutely. "I'm going to be in a *lot* of trouble." 

Kathryn reached across and placed a hand on the young woman's arm. "I think they'll be happy to have you back," she said, reassuringly. "Everything else will take care of itself." The girl seemed slightly less solemn, but still did not smile. 

Chakotay frowned slightly, and asked the same question of Kathryn with his eyes. Was *she* ready? They'd agreed that as the Telorans were likely to be a patriarchal society, Chakotay would take the lead in the conversation. If there were any chance that the Telorans would allow them access to their machines, they did not want to upset any cultural taboos. 

Kathryn nodded once and moved toward the slowly opening rear hatch, allowing Aukiyana to exit first. A silver-haired gentleman that Chakotay immediately recognized as Dredek stepped forward as the trio came to a stop at the bottom of the ramp. He raised a hand solemnly. "Greetings, Chakotay of Voyager. I am indebted to you for rescuing my daughter from her folly." 

Chakotay returned the greeting and assured the man that there was no debt. "You, no doubt, would have done the same were our positions reversed." 

"Perhaps." The old man nodded, and after a moment of silent communication with his daughter, gestured her to leave. Chakotay noted the way she'd kept her head bowed during the whole of the conversation. There were no words of good-bye, neither mental nor physical, as she departed without a backward glance, disappearing among a grove of shadowy trees. He wondered at the complete change in her disposition. 

Glancing around the gathered group of men, he realized that all were solemn. Had they upset some planetary taboo by arriving at what was nighttime in Aukiyana's village? He felt that answers might be forthcoming when Dredek gestured that he and Kathryn walk with him. The remainder of the men made gestures similar to the greeting and headed off in separate directions. 

Dredek led them toward the same copse of trees that Aukiyana had disappeared among. "What of your journeys, Chakotay? I have no recollection of your people." 

Chakotay shared a startled look with Kathryn. All of the shuttle's scans had indicated that the technological level of the Teloran's was roughly equivalent to the preindustrial age on Earth. Despite the unexplained spots of power fluctuation all over the planet, non were located near the more populated areas. Those items coupled with the fact that there was no evidence that any ships had passed through their area of space, it seemed unlikely that the Teloran's could have knowledge of which races should and should not be in the sector. 

"No recollection --" Chakotay began, but Dredek suddenly stopped walking. 

"Do not think that because we appear primitive, that we know little. We have memories from our before-parents of many aliens species, in fact, all of them in this area of space. You were not among them. There is no memory of you at all." 

Chakotay knew the moment Kathryn decided to act. There was a slight shift to her shoulders as she stood  straighter and introduced herself as the captain of Voyager. 

Dredek smiled knowingly. "Thank you for sharing that important piece of information with me." He walked on, explaining at length the best time of the year to harvest the fruit of the Hefa trees. As he talked, Chakotay felt sure that his mind was elsewhere.  Then suddenly, he stopped again. "You must remain in my abode tonight. In the morning you may ask that which you wish of us." 
-- -- 

"That should be a bit better," Chakotay said feeding another piece of wood onto the fire. 

Kathryn nodded her agreement as she glanced around. The room that Dredek's mate had led them to was small, containing only a bed, a side table and a few woven rugs. Thick coverings hung at the windows, but the cool night air seemed to have seeped in nonetheless. The only illumination was that of the fire. Kathryn noted the way it played against one side of Chakotay's face as he remained stooped thoughtfully before the fireplace. 

"What do you think?" she asked, pulling him out of his reverie. 

Chakotay turned slightly on the toe of one foot, but remained stooped. "I think they're feeling us out," he said. "Determining whether or not they can trust us." 

"I agree," Kathryn admitted, then smiled. "And here I thought we had the inside track." 

Chakotay smiled in return and moved to sit on the bed alongside her. "You mean there's one of those in the Delta Quadrant?" 

"Aren't you supposed to be my voice of optimism?" Kathryn taunted, feeling her pulse increase as the intimacy of their surroundings hit home. 

"I can be anything you want me to be, Kathryn." He whispered, running his hands methodically up her arms.  His eyes had become very serious. 

Whatever reply Kathryn would have made stuck in her throat as his lips slowly lowered to hers, gently molding, igniting fiery waves. She moaned involuntarily at the delicious sensations his lips were evoking. Wanting only to continue the contact, she ran her hands up along his chest, feeling the ragged pounding of his heart and up around his neck. 

Chakotay's hands ran up her arms, and when it seemed he would have wrapped them tightly around her, he paused. Drawing slowly away, he dropped a reluctant kiss on her confused lips. Kathryn couldn't fathom what had happened, and felt more than a little hurt. 

"What is it, Chakotay?" 

Chakotay closed his eyes briefly, then focused on her. "We're not alone." 

Kathryn's eyes flew wide, and she gave the room a quick once-over. There was no one there that she could see. She shook her head in confusion. "I don't ..." 

"I can *hear* them," Chakotay explained. "Like I heard Aukiyana in sickbay. They don't wish to embarrass us, but they're watching. It's customary when entertaining strangers. I thought you should know." 

Kathryn scooted slightly away, her face flushed with embarrassment. "Thank you for telling me. What do they mean by 'watching'? Are they reading our thoughts?" 

"No," Chakotay assured her. "Dredek says that they only want to know if your emotions are true. I'm afraid mine are out of the bag," he offered a wry smile before continuing. "Because of the...confusion on our arrival concerning your position, he would like to proceed in the traditional manner with strangers. According to Dredek, no species can hide evil intent at the brink of sleep. After you've fallen asleep, they will have all they need and will turn away. We'll be alone again." 

Kathryn sighed. Was nothing ever easy? "I suppose we should get some sleep then." 

-- -- 

*Chakotay, you must make the formal request. I will accompany you.* 

Chakotay's eyes opened slowly. Had he heard  something? He lifted his head and gazed around the room. Rivulets of sunlight peeped beneath the edges of the window covering. One particularly ambitious stream peeped through a small tear, glinting against the golden pips of his rank bar. Both he and Kathryn's uniforms lay over the straight back of the rooms only chair, side by side, hers slightly in shadow. He wondered at the irony of that; she was the Captain and would always be the brightest light in his eyes. 

He came up to his elbows so he could complete his circuit of the room. His eyes rested last on the woman beside him. Her eyes were open and focused intently on him. 

"What is it?" she asked in a hushed tone. 

"I thought ..." Chakotay started to shake his head but suddenly recalled what had awakened him. "Dredek." He finished. "We have to make an official request, or rather, I have to. Dredek said that he would accompany me." 

Kathryn rose up to an elbow as well and ran a hand through her tangled hair. "Any idea when? Or where?" 

Chakotay shook his head, his eyes dropping briefly to her regulation gray tank top. The memory of the way she'd removed her brassiere the night before flashed through his mind. 

She'd worn it to bed beneath the tank top. After several minutes of uncomfortable shifting, he'd wordlessly reached beneath the back of her shirt and undone the fastening. He remembered the warm softness of her skin   and the way that she'd gone utterly still at the brush of his fingers. 

"Instruments of torture from way back," he'd said to relieve the tension. "You should be able to rest better now." 

She'd rolled over and smiled at him in the darkness. "Thank you. You know, it continues to amaze me that someone hadn't snatched you up long ago." 

"It's called older sisters," he'd laughed. "Besides, I was holding out for something better." She laughed again and swatted at him before reaching beneath the top and removing the offending undergarment. Though he hadn't really seen a thing, by the time she slipped the garment beneath the long roll that passed as a pillow, his imagination was working overtime. 

"Chakotay." Kathryn reached out and touched his hand, her voice drew him back to the present. 

"Sorry," he apologized sheepishly. "I was distracted." 

Kathryn smiled warmly, running a hand along his arm and over his bare chest. "Are we alone?" 

"Yes." Chakotay felt sure that his heart was stumbling around his chest as well as rushing blood to more parts of his body than he cared to discuss. 

"Good," she murmured, moving closer. But they got no further than that as a soft knock sounded at the door, followed by a soft thud and retreating footsteps. Chakotay pulled back regretfully, but not before placing a lingering kiss on her lips. 

As Kathryn threw back the covers and moved into sitting position, he could see the rounded outline of one breast straining against the soft material. He wondered at the odds of being allowed to help her back into the aforementioned instrument of torture. 
 
Kathryn and Chakotay found a tray containing fruit and some type of gray mush outside their door. The tricorder ranked it not only edible, but high on the protein scale as well. Neither fact swayed either of their opinions of its appearance. Not wanting to offend their hosts, however, both dug in. 

"How is it?" Kathryn asked after Chakotay had taken an initial bite. 

"I think Neelix is going to love it," Chakotay remarked and managed another bite. "Although I must admit, it is having some sort of effect on me." 

Kathryn frowned and consulted her tricorder once more. "It does appear to have fair stimulant properties. Useful I suppose. Must be an acquired taste." 

"Not at all unlike coffee," Chakotay teased. 

"You got me," Kathryn grinned, moving her mostly-empty bowl aside. "I suppose we've kept our hosts waiting long enough." 

When they exited the bedroom it was to find the abode empty. The sun streamed in through the many opened window coverings, giving the house a cheery air. It barely resembled the shadowy enclosure Kathryn remembered from the night before. 

"Perhaps they're outside," Chakotay offered. 

Kathryn agreed and turned toward the entry point they'd used the night before. They found Dredek and Aukiyana on the front stoop. Both Teloran's turned at their approach. 

Aukiyana stood and bowed deeply. "I apologize greatly for the trouble I brought to your ship and for the risk to your lives." 

"There's no need..." Kathryn began, but Dredek cut her off. 

"Yes there is a need, Captain Janeway of Voyager. It is our way. She has apologized to her tribe, and now must apologize to you before she is truly welcomed back among her people." 

Kathryn nodded. "We accept your apology." She spoke formally. 

The girl's face spread into a wide smile and her usual sparkle began to return. "Thank you," she bowed again and turned toward her beaming father. 

"Welcome back, daughter," Dredek drew her into a gentle hug. "Please do not frighten an old man likewise again." 

"I won't," Aukiyana smiled with a respectful and happy bow. The old man laughed and turned toward Chakotay. 

"Shall we begin?" 

Chakotay looked momentarily confused. "I...yes." 

"Good," Dredek placed an arm around his shoulder and led him off toward a path. "The others are waiting." 
 
Kathryn stood beside Aukiyana fighting the urge to interrupt, not wanting to make another mistake with these people. As first contacts went, this one had been a little shaky. If the Telorans were to allow them to use the technology they'd found on the Minor world, she was going to have try not to step on any more toes. But that didn't mean she could simply allow her first officer to go off alone amid an alien race that they barely knew. 

"Aukiyana," she turned to the girl. "Is it allowed for us to follow?" 

The young woman smiled. "Yes. But we are not allowed to enter the chamber. We can watch from a distance." Gesturing that Kathryn follow, Aukiyana set off on the same path Chakotay and Dredek had taken. 

*** 

"We have to do what?" Kathryn asked, looking at a particularly dusty portion of ground as they approached a large ten-sided dome. It bore an overlapping roof which drooped to within two feet of the ground. Beneath the roof, low windows appeared at intervals. 

"We're to lay here." The girl demonstrated, lowering herself to her belly beneath the overhanging roof. She was just able to peer into one of the wide windows. Kathryn sighed, but followed suit. She hated to think what her black uniform was going to look like combined with pale Teloran soil. Aukiyana's brownish garments would be much more forgiving. 

As she propped herself up on her elbows beside the girl, she found that the overhanging roof shaded them from the already warm sun, as well as preventing glare. And if she weren't mistaken, several other windows around the dome were occupied. 

Completing her inspection of the outer perimeter, she looked down into the room itself. It was sunken, having half a dozen steps which led to the floor level. Around a central area, ten groupings of tables were arranged. All of the groupings were occupied with the exception of three, which remained darkened. Chakotay and Dredek were seated at one table and the central area was empty. As she watched, Dredek and Chakotay rose and approached the center. 

"Father is formally introducing Chakotay as adopted into our family. If he is accepted by the Council, he will become an honorary Elder." Aukiyana explained what was happening. 

Kathryn looked back toward the proceeding in amazement. She didn't know a lot about Teloran familial connections, but she was touched just the same. A candle-like object was being lit in each of the seven sections, and Dredek bowed deeply, then turned to Chakotay. He said something that Kathryn had no way of making out. 

"What's happening now?" she asked. 

"They've accepted him," Aukiyana announced gleefully. "Now he must make the request in his language and in ours." 

"Yours?" Kathryn asked. "He doesn't speak your language. We use a universal translator in order to understand each other." 

Aukiyana looked at her curiously for a moment, then her expression cleared. "Oh, you do not understand. He will speak the language of the mind. Our father will help him." 

Mildly stunned, Kathryn nodded slightly and turned back to the proceedings. Chakotay was still speaking, making small facial and hand gestures as he spoke. She smiled proudly as she watched him. He was a far cry from the angry man who'd beamed onto her bridge nearly six years earlier. He'd mellowed and shown himself to be an exceptional first officer. And so very dear. So so very dear. 

At length he stopped talking and looked toward Dredek. The old man nodded his head and Chakotay allowed his eyes to close. Dredek reached for one of his hands and for that of the man nearest him. All of the men joined hands. 

"Is this...?" Kathryn asked as she watched. 

"Yes." Aukiyana confirmed her suspicion. 

Kathryn found it a little eerie to see them all sitting so still, holding hands. At length her eyes wandered again to the empty sections of the room. "Why are those areas dark?" 

"Those are no more," Aukiyana explained. "A long time ago, before the Change, there were Ten Keepers-of-Knowledge among the Teloran Clans. But the Great Explosion happened and three were lost. The Keepers-of-the-Knowledge-of-the-Machine were lost as well as the Keepers-of-the-Knowledge-of-Where and the Keepers-of-the-Knowledge-of-Why. My father and I and now Chakotay are of the clan of the Keepers-of-the-Knowledge-of-Who." 

Kathryn was amazed. "All of your knowledge is divided into ten portions which are each maintained by a different tribe? Are there books?" 

Aukiyana laughed. "My father tells me the story all the time. It would take many books to contain the Knowledge. The Knowledge becomes are part of us and we live it. But one must have the key. Males hold the knowledge, females hold the key - thus both are needed. And in order to use the knowledge, all must act in unity. That is the way it was meant to be. Or so my father tells me." 

"You don't believe him?" Kathryn asked, surprised. She knew there was some truth to what the young woman had said as Chakotay's 'key' had allowed them to gain entry to places that only a Teloran should have been able to enter. It was scientific, even logical. All sorts of information was passed on genetically - why not history? 

"Its not that I don't believe him," Aukiyana said. "It's just that I think he oversimplifies things for me. I'm not a child, and I don't need childish stories to understand things." 

A movement in the room below caught Kathryn's attention before she could respond. Chakotay'd wavered slightly, his knees bucking. But two men on either side of him moved in closer, helping him to stay on his feet. 

"What's going on?" she demanded of the girl. 

Aukiyana tried to reassure her. "It's all right," she said. "Our language is very difficult for him. It is nearly over." 

Kathryn hoped so; she could see the strain plainly etched on her first officer's flushed face. He'd reddened as he had on the previous occasion when he'd been in communication with Dredek on Veilia. She willed her strength to him as he began to sway. 

The circle broke up. All hands were released. Dredek and the Teloran to Chakotay's right caught him when he fell. "Where's the front?" Kathryn asked as she scrambled from beneath the low roof. 

"This way," Aukiyana gestured to the right. "I will show you." The young woman wasn't going fast enough for Kathryn's taste, so by the time the door of the meeting place slid open, Aukiyana had fallen behind. Kathryn slowed her pace a bit when she saw that Chakotay was back on his feet - although he still looked shaky. 

Dredek turned at her approach, and a bright smile flitted over his face. Kathryn noticed the way he turned toward Chakotay and murmured something before backing away and re-entering the chamber. She hoped she hadn't overstepped yet another planetary tradition. The smile in Chakotay's eyes convinced her otherwise. 

"We did it, Kathryn," he said softly, moving closer to him. 

Kathryn was busy looking him over, wanting to be sure he was all right. "Did it?" She looked up and caught his eyes. "You mean...they told you how to...?" 

"Not exactly," Chakotay shook his head. "They don't remember. That information was...lost..." He swayed slightly forward. 

"We're getting you back to Voyager to let the Doctor have a look at you," Kathryn decided. "Here, lean on me." 

Chakotay chuckled tiredly. "Am I sure I want to do that?" 

"Wha--?" Kathryn followed the direction of his tired gaze. She looked as if she'd been rolling around in the dirt; which of course she had. Laughing, she shot him a threatening look and wrapped an arm about his waist. She was extra careful to transfer as much dirt and dust as possible. 

-- -- 

"How is he, Doctor?" Kathryn asked, looking down at the man lying on the biobed. 

"He's going to be fine," the Doctor sounded mildly surprised. "There is a substance in his body that prevented his system from being ravaged as it had been during his earlier...er mental conversation. He is, of course, exhausted. I suspect he'll simply sleep for several hours." 

Kathryn released a breath in relief. Chakotay had fallen into a deep sleep moments after they'd arrived on the shuttle. When after docking, she'd been unable to awaken him, she'd began to worry. 

"These episodes with the Teloran's, Do you think they'll have any residual effects on Commander Chakotay?" 

A pleased smile appeared on the Doctor's face. "It's interesting that you ask that question, Captain, as it is the very item I've been investigating. After the Commander returned from the away mission to rescue the young girl, I detected minor changes in his neural peptides, which then subsided. There have been additional changes with this communication, and they have not subsided as quickly as they did previously." 

Kathryn looked toward her first officer in worried silence. There was definitely a lot more to the Telorans than met the eye. "Will it cause any ill affects?" 

"The sections of the brain affected involve telepathic receptivity. It certainly won't be harmful... It could possibly prove useful...were he surrounded by telepaths. He should be fine. I'd actually be interested in examining this phenomenon more closely. I've examined numerous texts on the subject. With my superior ..." 

"Thank you, Doctor," Kathryn said with a gracious smile, already heading for the door. "Keep me informed." She  made a quick exit, surprised to find Tuvok on the other side of the door. 

"May I have a word with you, Captain?" Kathryn pushed thoughts concerning Chakotay aside and turned to her friend, offering a smile that she knew he'd never return. 

"Of course, Mr. Tuvok." She said, then noting something in his lack of expression, she continued. "Ready Room?" 

"That would be ideal," Tuvok replied. 
-- -- 

"May I inquire as to the outcome of our request to the Telorans?" Tuvok asked, after he'd accepted a cup of Imirian Tea. 

Kathryn smiled and shrugged. "The jury is still out until Commander Chakotay awakens. I wasn't a part of the council's decision, but I believe that it was favorable." 

Tuvok accepted her reply thoughtfully. "You believe then that the Telorans will help us?" 

"I don't know how much they can help, Tuvok." She shook her head as she tried to find the right words. "They're primitive, by any standard, but the knowledge and technology that they posses is staggering. I spoke with Aukiyana today about her people's history. Their knowledge is passed on genetically. Yet...they don't seem to have the ability to use it." Kathryn stopped and thought for a minute. 

"Although, Aukiyana did say that thirty percent of their knowledge was lost during an accident. Perhaps that broken link is what left them stranded where they are. I wonder..." 

"Perhaps they do not chose to use it." Tuvok replied, interrupting her ruminations. 

"Perhaps," she allowed. "Is there something specific you wanted to talk to me about, Tuvok?" 

"I asked the Doctor to compare my Vulcan DNA and that of the young Teloran woman." 

"And?" Kathryn sat a little forward in her chair. Considering the fact that one of the destinations of the synthetic wormholes was in Vulcan space, it seemed very likely that Tuvok and the Telorans were distant cousins. But something else seemed to be bothering her Vulcan friend. 

"The similarities were too many to be coincidence, Captain. However, there are a number of mutations that the Doctor could not account for. All of the mutations involved the neural center and areas of the brain thought to be linked to motivation and telepathy. The only hypothesis that we are able to form is that some time in Vulcan's distant past, a group of citizens were taken, altered and deposited here. The force or forces that accomplished this are unknown. So, you see, Captain, the Telorans seem to be something of a genetic mystery as well. 

"They've not done anything that leads me to believe them to be hostile or controlled by some outside force," Kathryn countered. "Quite the contrary, actually. They have a strong sense of self, not to mention something of a knack for getting at the truth. Perhaps whomever left them here are gone forever. Considering that some of their customs are patently Native American, perhaps Commander Chakotay's 'sky spirits' had something to do with it." 

Tuvok made a non-expression that could only be defined as distaste. "The ability to determine truth can be a potent weapon." He made no comment on her other statement. She was hard pressed to stifle a smile. 

"Yes, but, we've nothing to hide, Mr. Tuvok. And as they have the wormhole and we don't, it appears that we are going to have to trust them until they give us reason to do otherwise." 

"Now, tell me Tuvok, what is the first thing you're going to do when we get home?" she asked allowing a bit of the smile to peep through. After all, it had been over six years since he'd been home... 
-- -- 

"Computer, disengage Auto-return circuits." 

"Auto-return circuits disengaged." 

Chakotay looked over his team with a wide grin. They were returning to Telora Minor to find more about the Machine. The information he'd gathered from the Elders would be very helpful in attempting to program the worm hole - or at least he hoped so. The Teloran's limited knowledge allowed them to enter portals that were scattered all over the Major world and be transferred to the Machine - or minor world, but the knowledge of how to use it was lost. No one traveled there anymore. Those who had, had never returned. 

"Remember to stick close." Chakotay reminded an eager Ensign Kim. The young man was standing near the hatch, practically dancing as he waited for the Commander to exit the shuttle. 

"Yeah, Starfleet," Chakotay heard B'Elanna murmur. "I don't want to have to pick up your pieces over all that sand." He didn't catch Harry's response as he activated the door latch, although he was sure it would be difficult to glare while wearing Starfleet issue eye protection. 

"Right this way," he gestured them out into the brilliant sunlight. 

"Wow." Harry whispered as he gazed around the area, taking in the dazzling spectacle. The sands seemed to be shimmering beneath the glassy yellow field above. Closer had shown that they were each perfect tetrahedrons, each side equipped with small solar receptors. 

"Wow is right," B'Elanna adjusted her tricorder. "The amount of energy this placing is putting out is absolutely amazing. Not only are those grains of sand collecting energy, they're protecting us from the effects of the massive energy source," she tapped several keys, "Two kilometers beneath our feet. If this sand were ever removed... no one could ever come here again - they'd be incinerated." 

"My kind of place," Kim quipped. 

Chakotay glanced between his two team members, and then quickly scanned the bright horizon. It was as hot and as beautiful as he remembered. "Let's get started," he said. As The Doctor had suggested that they spend no more than thirty minutes in the planets hostile environment, there wasn't much time for sight-seeing. 

The control panel was as remembered. Calling up the program took a few minutes as he had to try to duplicate the series of buttons that he'd used prior. Reviewing the key strokes he'd made with his tri-corder, he was able to find the correct combination. The console's keyboard shimmered and changed. The tunneling key reappeared. 

Kim was making sounds of ecstasy in the background at the technology that was brimming all around them, B'Elanna was monitoring the energy output from beneath the planet's surface. 

"There, that was something," she called shortly after Chakotay had pressed the tunneling button. 

"What happened?" Chakotay asked over his shoulder. 

"There was a surge," B'Elanna explained. "It spiked for a moment, then settled in at a higher level - almost like it's in a stand-by mode or something." 

Chakotay pressed the demo button. Immediately an image of a tunneling wormhole sprang to life. A small beam was shut toward it and then it closed. "Notice anything different?" Chakotay asked. 

"No, no change," B'Elanna announced, double-checking her readings. "What sort of options do you have?" She moved in closer and peered down at the console. 

"I think this is the demo mode," Chakotay demonstrated. The tunneling image again appeared on the monitor. After several seconds the demo played out and the small screen again returned to a blank with a series of dots running along it's edge. 

"Do that again," B'Elanna suggested. Kim broke off from his inspection of the other panels, opting to see what had caught B'Elanna's attention. Chakotay noticed that the young man was beginning to look a little wilted despite his enthusiasm. 

Chakotay tapped the key and the image began to play again. B'Elanna pointed to an item in the bottom corner of the screen. "What's that?" 

"I don't know," Chakotay murmured as he scrutinized the image carefully. It looked like nothing so much as a number of overlapping squiggly lines. He carefully searched the keypad in search of a similar icon. "It doesn't seem to be here," he concluded. 

"Wait a minute," Kim spoke thoughtfully. "Do that one more time, Commander and then just touch the screen near the symbol." 

"All right." Chakotay followed Kim's suggestion. Immediately, the tunneling effect faded to the background, and was replaced by a flashing green hand. Chakotay hesitated minutely, before raising his hand and pressing it against the screen. The opposing image flashed several times before turning red. Chakotay withdrew his hand. 

A brilliant light flashed from the top of the console and then quickly extinguished. If it weren't for the residual spots that danced before Chakotay's eyes he would have thought he'd imagined it. 

"We were all just scanned," B'Elanna announced a moment later. Chakotay acknowledged her with a nod as he blinked away the spots and refocused on the screen. A different display had appeared. 

This screen contained an image identical to Chakotay's tattoo marking. Alongside it was an oscillating wave. Riding atop the wave was a smaller set of waves. Beneath Chakotay's marking was a listing of other markings, with corresponding wave images. Beside each of the other markings were star configurations and another set of numerals. 

"It's a carrier!" B'Elanna exclaimed. "I'll bet that if we emit a tone matching this frequency, the wormhole will open for us and take us to the coordinates you selected!" 

Shoving a bit closer to the console, Harry scanned the output with his tricorder. "And these other markings...this is a record of others who have gone through. If we could decipher the symbols, I'm sure we could figure out when and where." 

Chakotay stood stunned as the image of his tattoo marking continued to flash green. Harry and B'Elanna chattered excitedly as they downloaded the listing into their tricorders. Chakotay's softly spoken question brought them both to a standstill. "I wonder if it'll open from the other side." 
-- -- 

Kathryn leaned forward in her command chair, silently studying the planet that spun serenely below them. The faint yellow flicker of its force-field blocked all communications and scanning equipment. Yet, it absorbed and converted every bit of energy that touched its surface - be it the light emitted by the Teloran sun or the energy emitted by the ships scanners. It was all immediately absorbed, as if by a giant photo-electric sponge. She found it fascinating, almost as fascinating as what Chakotay had told her about Telora Major. 

As it turned out, the information Aukiyana had given her was correct. While a clan had been charged with the information concerning the machines, it wasn't the machine on the minor world that they maintained. During his linking with the rest of the elders, Chakotay had learned of the consoles that dotted the planets surface. There were several located on the outskirts of each village. As the maintainers were lost in a tragedy that sounded very much like an experiment gone horribly wrong, the knowledge of their use had been lost. Over the centuries they had become overgrown and many no longer functioned properly. The elders had declared them off limits. 

There had been a look of longing in his eyes when he'd talked about the ruins on the northern continent. She had tried to offer him hope that he would have an oppurtunity to survey the area, but they both knew it wouldn't be possible. 

Kathryn was pulled out of thoughts by the sound of the turbo-lift's doors sliding open. Chakotay and his team strode in, all wearing broad smiles. 

"I take it you have good news?" she said as he stood near her chair. 

He turned his grin on full strength. "Yes Ma'am." 

There was a movement near the back of the bridge, and B'Elanna and Harry couldn't seem to stop smiling. Even Tuvok noticed, turning away from his study of the field surrounding the two worlds. Tom simply spun in his chair and crossed his arms, obviously wanting in on the joke. 

Kathryn turned back to Chakotay with a raised brow. She had no idea of the significance of his standing practically at attention. Before she could ask, he handed her a PADD. 

 She accepted it with slight suspicion and began reading. She didn't complete the first paragraph. "Does this mean what I think it means?" 

"Yes Ma'am." 

She stared at him for a moment, then glanced quickly around the bridge. All eyes were focused on her, although several looked hurriedly back to consoles. She pushed out of her command chair and walked into her ready room without another word. Chakotay followed on her heels, grinning all the way. . 

"That's it?" she rounded on him as soon as the doors had slid shut. 

"That's it," he echoed, obviously enjoying the moment. 

"After over five years wandering around this quadrant, I'd almost expected our exodus to happen with a bang, or some great deal of fanfare. And warning... I'd expected some warning." 

Chakotay smiled with infuriating calm as she began to pace around the room. 

"Chakotay," she continued. "Do you realize that I could walk through that door and give the order and we'd be home." 

"I believe the term was 'click your heels three times'," he murmured. 

Kathryn had to smile. "I'd like to address the crew first. As soon as we activate that wormhole, a whole heck of a lot of alarms are going to go off all over Vulcan space. We'll probably have company within ten minutes. That's not a lot of time to make a decision about turning back." 

"Agreed," Chakotay said, sobering slightly. 

"This raises a lot of issues." 

"Yes." 

"The Maquis --" 

"Trust you, implicitly. I took the liberty of speaking with them." 

That surprised Kathryn. "When?" 

"This morning. I managed to fit it in between breakfast and mission prep." 

Kathryn nodded. "Have I told you lately what a wonderful XO you are?" 

Chakotay simply smiled. 

-- -- 

"This is the Captain speaking. As I'm sure all of you have heard, we've found a way home. Near the planet we are currently orbiting there is what we believe to be a synthetic wormhole. The alien race on the planet's surface has given us permission to use it, and in approximately 90 minutes we are going to do just that. When we come out on the other side, we are going to be in the heart of Vulcan space. 

"I'd like to be able to tell you what is going to happen when we get there, but I can't. This is a first, for all of us. I can tell you this though: Whatever happens, we are still one crew. One damn fine crew who've worked long and hard to realize this day. I will do everything in my power to look out for the interests of every one of you, whether you signed up as Starfleet, Maquis or are along for the ride. You are all Voyager. 

"If anyone would like to voice concerns before we enter that wormhole, now is the time. Come talk to me. My ready room door is open." 

As Kathryn paced the area before her desk, the words she's spoken to the crew rang through her mind. She'd always prided herself on the ability to always be firmly in control of herself and her emotions. But suddenly she was besieged with an attack of the jitters. Everything was happening so fast. 

There were still 30 minutes until the time she'd appointed to initiate the worm hole and she'd completed many of the tasks she'd outlined to accomplish as she waited for any who wished to voice their opinions. Surprisingly, only Seven had, and even that had been positive. 

The list of the crew members she wanted to recommend for promotion was complete and among all of her other reports. She'd lingered over the list as she thought briefly over each crew member, and of the things she knew about them. So many little things that she might not ordinarily have known had theirs been a normal mission. Ensign Cellas on deck four had a thing for pop corn and white wine. Crewman Clearwater studied linguistics as a hobby. Commander Tuvok had hidden talents as a holo programmer. Ensign Wildman was a whiz with a pair of hair cutting shears. Ensign Harry Kim had had a brief crush on their resident ex-Borg - on second thought... no one could have missed that one. In either case, the young man's name had topped the list. He'd grown so much since that first day, but his enthusiasm hadn't waned a bit. 

She smiled as she thought of his latest gesture. He'd set up a countdown in the corner of his Ops display, heralding the time of their arrival into the Alpha Quadrant. According to her resource monitor, a number of crew members had tapped in to his countdown, and at last check it was running at the bottom of the forward view screen. 

She glanced at her own countdown. Twenty-seven minutes. She ordered another cup of coffee from the replicator. Soon no more rationing... Her smile turned bittersweet. Soon they'd all be going their separate ways. The family would be broken up. She wondered what they would all do. How many would remain in Starfleet? How many would move on to other careers? 

In the end her mind settled on Chakotay. What would he want to do? She found it disconcerting to realize that she didn't know. Either way, she wanted to give him the option of choosing. 

Despite the fact that the Maquis had been disbanded and the Federation had other things to worry about, she wasn't sure how they would react to the former Maquis members of her crew. Especially Chakotay - he was the one with the arrest warrant on his head. He had said that the ex-Maquis trusted her. She did not want that hope to be in vain. She'd gone through everything Voyager's database had to offer concerning the Maquis situation. Not surprisingly, there wasn't much. She'd set new precedent if need be. 

Twenty more minutes. She paced some more. 
-- -- 

~~"I couldn't leave without saying good-bye." Chakotay smiled at the old man who appeared before him. He noticed that the desert was still, peaceful. But despite its warmth, the old man was wrapped in a starburst patterned blanket. 

"I believe I made a wise choice in allowing you to join us," the old man smiled in return. "What will happen to you now?" 

Chakotay shrugged. "I don't know for sure. There are questions that I'll have to answer, hard questions. After that..." 

"What of your female one? She is strong. Won't she be with you?" Dredek asked. "The two of you work well together." 

Chakotay almost laughed at the irony. "Uh...that's part of the problem. Her mission was to apprehend me and bring me back to her superiors. It's been a long time since then, but those orders, as far as I know, have never been rescinded." 

Dredek grunted slightly as he considered that. "And will she fail in her mission?" 

Chakotay was silent for several moments. "No." 

"You choose with your heart, Chakotay, and so will she, I think. Your conscience is clear. You will remain in a position of honor among your tribe should you choose to return." 

Chakotay smiled. "Thank you. We will activate the wormhole soon. Please tell Aukiyana good bye for me." 

Dredek nodded in assent. "She will know of it. Good-bye my son. We will meet again." ~~ 

The desert faded to white and Chakotay opened his eyes. He was seated on the floor of his quarters surrounded by the items of his medicine bundle and his butterfly disk. He slowly removed his hand from the akoonah and began to gather his things. It was time. 
-- -- 

"Mr. Kim, initiate the carrier frequency." 

"Aye," Harry tapped the command that would began the preset sequence just as the computerized countdown clicked over to zero. Only the sounds of ship's equipment could be heard as they awaited the outcome of the command. Kathryn doubted that any one of the 19 individuals who'd found reason to be on the bridge, or those who were tied in via intercom even breathed. 

At first nothing obvious happened, and then an alarm went off. "We're getting power spikes off the scale," Harry announced. B'Elanna seconded. "It's coming from Telora Minor. Looks like we were right about that power source. The intensity is increas--" 

Before the words were out of her mouth a brilliant glow began to coalesce around the Minor world. The glow intensified and arched toward a point in space. The point blossomed into the glowing gold maw of a wormhole. 

"Well I'll be damned. There it is," Kathryn was on her feet. "Harry, can you get any readings from the other side?" 

"Negative, Captain. The scanners can't lock on to a focal point." 

"Is the probe ready, Mr. Tuvok?" 

"Probe ready, Captain." 

"Send it in." 

"Aye." 

There was a brief flicker as the probe disappeared into wormhole, and then the maw returned to normal. 

"Anything, Mr. Kim?" 

"Readings are coming in now, Captain." Harry tapped several keys and his face burst into a wide grin. "Confirmed Captain! It's the Alpha Quadrant!" 

"Good, good," Kathryn fought the urge to laugh. "Are you getting any readings on whether the probes navigational systems are on-line?" 

"They're on-line," B'Elanna said. "It should be coming through...now." 

Immediately the small silver and blue object appeared in the Delta Quadrant. It's surface was completely unmarred. "Status?" Kathryn called. 

"No damage. The probes systems are functioning at full capacity." 

Kathryn spun toward the helm, her voice softening. "Then what are we waiting for? Take us in Mr. Paris." She gazed toward the view screen as the swirling gold rings drew closer, a lump beginning in the back of her throat. Suddenly the gold swirls stretched as if the ship had suddenly gone to warp. The stretched light changed from gold to red to blue to white almost in an instant and then suddenly a starfield appeared before them. Kathryn had to fight the urge to put her hands up as if to keep from falling at a sudden loss of velocity. That wasn't like any wormhole she'd ever experienced before. 

"Mr. Kim?" she turned to the young man at Ops. 

"Confirmed Captain. We're home." Kathryn caught Harry's gaze across the bridge as his eyes filled. She offered a slow smile, sharing in his joy. Then suddenly she found herself grabbed up in a pair of strong arms. A cheer could be heard over the intercom as crew members all over the ship celebrated their arrival.