DISCLAIMER: See prologue.

Act 5

Day 13:

The Ready room, 0847 hours:

Kathryn Janeway leaned back against the ready room couch, coffee mug in hand. She angled herself slightly to be able to watch the nebular gases swirling outside the viewport as she took a few minutes break from studying the data on the laptop monitor, which was on the low table in front of the couch along with several padds. She was startled out of her reverie by the door chime.

"Come."

Chakotay entered. Janeway turned away from the viewport with a concerned expression. She had not expected to see him before this morning's briefing.

"Chakotay?"

"Good news, Kathryn," he said. "I've just come from sickbay. Rather than make you listen to the Doctor's first-person account of his extraordinary medical heroics this early in the day, I told him I'd give you the good news myself. Tuvok's been released and is resting in his quarters."

"How's he doing?"

"The Doctor feels he's recovered enough to attend this morning's briefing, although he'll be wearing a cortical monitor for a day or two. After we're done, he's under orders to return to his quarters and spend some time in a healing meditation. If he can pass a physical tomorrow, he could be back for light duty."

Janeway rewarded him with a big smile. "I thought that might go down well with your morning coffee," Chakotay said. Janeway's smile grew into a grin. "Tom and I had only minor injuries – bruises mostly, from when we dove behind the stalagmites in the cave – which, by the way, Tom's been calling 'The Crystal Palace'."

"One of Tom's twentieth century references?"

"I think it's 19th, actually. He asked Seven to take a deep spectral scan of the entire cave where we found the quadlet, and is planning to make a holoprogram for the crew. I think you'll be amazed when you see it. That particular room was spectacular."

"I'll look forward to it, then," Janeway said as she set her mug down on the low table and picked up a padd. "As long as you're here, have a seat."

"So what have you come up with?"

"It keeps coming back to the map, Chakotay. Eyfrod told Neelix that a portal would be revealed every time all four quadlets of a map portion merged. I'm betting that Gunlag and his merry band are already on their way to the Second Portal, and I don't think they'll have much trouble finding it. Whatever else Gunlag is, he's not stupid. From what you and Tom told me yesterday, their allies have technology more advanced than ours. How else could they have beamed into the exact cave you were in when we couldn't?"

"True." Chakotay paused for a moment to choose his words carefully, and then plunged ahead. "Kathryn, have you considered the possibility of a partnership with the Magol so we can get through the Second Portal?"

"The thought crossed my mind, Chakotay, but I can't think of anything we could offer that might interest them."

"Eyfrod told us that we needed all the map pieces accumulated along the journey thus far to pass safely through each portal. Gunlag may have the Second Portal map, but he doesn't have safe passage, and I don't think he knows that. We might be able to make some kind of arrangement with him to share information without giving him direct access to our portion of the map, assuming we could persuade him to listen first and shoot later."

"I tried telling him that while you were unconscious on his bridge after they beat you," said Janeway, "but I don't think he took me seriously. If he did, he's just arrogant enough to think he can get through the Portal on his own."

"Maybe his allies would be more amenable to reason, then. You've seen what the Magol are like. This is probably just an alliance of convenience."

"Somehow, I don't think the allies have the map, even after they used their cloaked ships to help steal it from us. Gunlag would want to keep it for himself. The Magol are bullies, Chakotay, and have better weapons."

"Unfortunately, we might have no other way of getting through the Portal if we can't come up with another solution," said Chakotay.

"I'll keep that option in reserve as a last resort, but first I'd like to see what we can come up with on our own," said Janeway. "Let's get to the briefing."

In the briefing room, 0903 hours:

Janeway and Chakotay entered the briefing room in time to hear the end of Kim's thoughts on how to get through the Second Portal without the map section the Magol had stolen.

"...worked for them and the other two ships with them."

Janeway took her seat. "Let's hear it from the top, Harry."

Kim shifted in his seat to face her directly. "I thought we could use the subspace beacon frequency as a starting point for a password in case we need one, like we did at the First Portal."

"That thought crossed my mind too. The beacon frequency has been used consistently this time to lead us to the map quadlets. It seems to be a universal feature of the Second Portal map."

"That's what I thought. We could broadcast the password and then piggyback onto Gunlag's coattails when and his allies try to go through the Portal. That's what they did with us."

"It's a definite possibility, Harry," said Janeway. "Chakotay reminded me that we need all the pieces of the map to date to get safely through a portal and suggested I make a deal with Gunlag, but I'd rather exhaust every other option first."

"Captain, it is unlikely that you could make a viable 'deal' with the Magol," said Tuvok. "Even if you were to succeed in reaching an agreement, there is no guarantee that Gunlag would hold up his end of the bargain, especially once he has access to the First Portal map data. He is not to be trusted."

"You'll get no disagreement from me there, Tuvok."

"Also, consider the fact that there would no doubt be arguments regarding the order in which the ships would go through the Portal. The Magol would most certainly insist on leading, given that they have weapons superiority. I see no advantage for us in trailing behind the caravan. They could attack as we were emerging from the Portal and disable Voyager to the point where they could board and seize the First Portal map."

"I think you're right about our chances of a deal with Gunlag," said Janeway. "My sense of him is that he's so misogynistic that at some point, he would probably make a great show of rejecting the idea of cooperating with a woman so that everyone could get through the Portal. He'd end up being more trouble than he's worth. As far as I'm concerned, contacting Gunlag is our very last resort."

"Agreed."

"Let's investigate Harry's suggestion further," said Janeway to the senior staff. "Apparently, the map will protect several ships at once if they're close enough together. Harry, work out the farthest distance we can be from the last ship and still remain within the map's protection."

"Will do, Captain."

"I'd like to keep this option available, since it may be the only way we can pass through the Second Portal," said Janeway. "We have to face the fact that we may not be able to get the Second Portal map back. This way, we would at least be back in normal space, and with a few more years cut off our journey."

Seven of Nine had spent the entire meeting thus far at the wall console, monitoring the containment bubble. "Captain, I would like to make a suggestion that would ensure Voyager's safety if you must proceed without the Second Portal map."

"Let's hear it, Seven."

"We do not know what may await us at the entrance to the Portal," said Seven. "There may be an energy barrier or creature 'guardian' sensitive to the beacon frequency waiting in the entrance of the Portal to prevent Voyager from entering, or not. We are in alternate space with no further map data available to us about the nature of the Portal's interior. An enhanced structural integrity field may prove to be a very useful precaution."

"Go on," said Janeway.

"I have made a thorough analysis of sensor readings taken from the First Portal's interior. It has similar properties to a transwarp conduit. A Borg cube encounters extreme gravimetric shear forces when it uses such a conduit, so it projects a structural integrity field ahead of itself to compensate," said Seven. "If a command subroutine was to be in place in advance to modify the deflector so that it could project a similar field on very short notice, it would be possible to avoid damage or possible destruction if Voyager were to unexpectedly encounter severe gravimetric shear forces. Based on our transit through the First Portal, I have projected the level of stress to which Voyager may be subjected in this new Portal, and have determined that the ship cannot withstand the interior and remain undamaged if it does not have the Second Portal map shields. Consider also the damage the Magol and their allies may inflict if you try this 'piggyback' option. An enhanced structural integrity field may prove to be a crucial asset."

"That's a valid concern, Seven," said Janeway. "The project is yours. Coordinate your efforts with Harry once he's finished his distance calculations." Seven nodded.

At this point, the Doctor chimed in and said, "If I had access to Seven's projection data, I could prepare a corresponding radiogenic vaccine for gravimetric radiation to have on hand should it prove necessary."

"Excellent. Seven, once you've finished with your and Harry's projects, work with the Doctor to interpret your data for his vaccine."

"I will comply."

"Captain, if I may?" said Tuvok.

"Go ahead, Tuvok."

"While it is logical to have contingency plans, I would give priority to retrieving the Second Portal map. It is undoubtedly key to finding the Third Portal set of quadlets. Even if Voyager were to succeed in passing through this Portal without the map, we would lose the possibility of any more large jumps, and would no doubt be in danger from whichever of these aliens controlled the Second Portal map."

"Recommendations?"

Tuvok continued. "I would strongly advise against sharing any map data with the Magol. It is conceivable that they may find a way to use that information in conjunction with the section of the map they already possess to complete the entire map. I also remind you of Eyfrod's statement that once we obtained all the quadlets, it would enable us to overcome anyone trying to cause us harm. He also alluded to a possible invasion of Earth. Should the Second Portal quadlets remain in other hands, we, and indeed the entire Alpha Quadrant and Earth could be threatened by any power-seeking entity that has control of the map."

"Good points, Tuvok," said Janeway. "Harry, what was the last known condition of our attackers before we entered the nebula?"

"I reviewed the sensor records just before this briefing, and they showed the allied ships were well along in the process of reinitializing their shields and propulsion, and they also had crews working out on the hull to repair the battle damage," said Kim. He continued, "The nadion pulse caused considerable damage to Gunlag's ship. I got readings through one of the rifts showing that several interior sensor nodes exploded when our photon torpedos hit the central processing relay. The relay itself was seriously damaged. We've managed to significantly slow the Magol down, which is why I suggested the piggyback option."

"Meaning?" asked Seven.

Tom Paris stepped in to answer. "I'd say a lot of their arrogance comes from having the biggest guns and best defense on the block, Seven. Now that they know we have something that'll bring 'em to their knees, I'd say they're less likely to attack. That's just simple self-preservation."

"It's still a viable option if we can't get the map back, Seven," said Janeway. "Anyone else have any suggestions? B'Elanna?"

"Well, the First Portal map is still protecting us to some degree, so we have that," said Torres.

"Does that mean that the Second Portal map is protecting those three ships?" asked Neelix.

"I don't think so, Neelix," said Torres. "Harry and I wondered the same thing, so I had Vorik run a detailed analysis comparing the sensor readings we had on them both before and after the map was stolen. They were identical, except for the faint signature of the beacon frequency from deep inside Gunlag's ship."

"So the map is definitely with Gunlag," said Chakotay.

"I'd say so," said Torres. "If I were to hazard a guess, I'd say that the map's continuing protection is cumulative, which is why we have to have all the fused quadlets from the beginning to get through a specific portal safely, and why the stolen map isn't protecting the Magol. We'd get some protection from the First Portal section of the map if we try to go though this next Portal, but it would be minimal at best."

"What about an away mission to board Gunlag's ship and take back the map?" asked Chakotay.

"I'd say wait until we've entirely disabled the central processing relay," said Torres. "The Magol were still holding you captive when Icheb paid us a little visit. He told us that they can run their ship with only a dozen crewmen in an emergency because the internal sensor technology is so powerful. Basically, they can operate their systems from wherever they have a sensor node. If we can take out the central processing relay, that will bring the internal sensor system down with it. We could search the entire ship without the Magol being able to put up much resistance. The one advantage we do have at this point is that the map-generated shields have kept Magol sensors from fully detecting the disparity between our technology and theirs."

"We can no longer assume this to be the case, Lieutenant," said Tuvok. "Logic would suggest that they now know our capabilities. I submit that Gunlag and his allies knew exactly where to find us when we were in the cave system, quite possibly because they knew about the beacon frequency and had superior scanners unaffected by the magnetic properties of the surrounding rock. They waited under personal cloaks until the exact moment the map was completed, stole it, and then beamed out without difficulty, suggesting that they or their allies have technology that was unaffected by the dispersion field."

"They could have found a surface entrance," said Paris, "and maybe the map transported them back to their ships."

"Possible, and unlikely," replied Tuvok. "My point is that they knew everything about the particulars of our mission, which aroused my suspicion. Add to that the fact that when they attacked Voyager, they knew exactly which areas of vulnerability to target. That was evidenced by the significant amount of damage they were able to inflict."

"What are you saying, Tuvok?" asked Kim.

"They had far more information about us than their limited contact would be expected to produce," Tuvok replied. "With this in mind, I took the opportunity after the Doctor discharged me from Sickbay to quickly go over Voyager's internal sensor logs, with a particular focus on the engineering department."

"Vulcans," muttered the EMH.

"Doctor…" Janeway warned. Tuvok nodded to her and continued.

"If you will recall, Ensign, Ms. Torres commed your station to report unusual readings near the warp core."

"That was a sensor ghost," said Kim.

"It was not. I found barely detectable localized spatial fluctuations in several areas of the ship. It was apparent that a spy with a very sophisticated personal cloak had somehow boarded Voyager, and had been in the shuttlebay, cargo bay 2 and astrometrics, in addition to engineering. We did not detect him because no one was running a deep level spectral scan as Seven of Nine had been when we were retrieving the map. With Seven's assistance, I was able to reconstruct his itinerary along with a time index, and determined that the spy had stowed away on Baxial during our mission to Nardonia's marketplace."

"That can't be," protested Neelix. "I took every precaution to secure my ship before we left for the marketplace. If someone had tried to force their way into Baxial, we would have seen it."

"Calm yourself, Mr. Neelix," said Tuvok. "If I were to have Seven check Baxial's internal sensor logs, they would most certainly show evidence of an unauthorized transport. It would appear that the spy heard enough of our discussions while aboard Baxial and Voyager to learn about the beacon frequency and our plans for the recovery of the final piece of the map."

"So it would appear," said Chakotay.

"Further, the computer shows irrefutable evidence that critical tactical information was downloaded during the time period in which the spy was aboard Voyager," said Tuvok. "I also checked the external sensor records for the same timeframe and found very faint subspace distortions, which confirmed that a shuttle with a highly sophisticated multispectral cloak was keeping station nearby.

"Great! That's just great," said Kim. "Paint a bullseye on us, why don't you?"

"Harry, the Magol's external sensors aren't very sophisticated, and wouldn't be particularly effective even if Voyager wasn't protected by the map shields," said Torres. "That's the one glaring weakness in their technology. They've upgraded them from the last time we ran into them, but not really by much."

"Your point, B'Elanna?" asked Kim.

"I'd worry first about their allies getting a fix on us, and then think about ways of setting up a scattering field to deflect their sensor scans," said Torres. "They're much more advanced than the Magol in that area if they could get a spy aboard Voyager, read the beacon frequency from orbit, and then transport in and out through a dispersion field to steal the map. Most of the Magol technology is roughly on a level with ours."

"Sounds like a pretty good reason for an alliance to me," said Paris.

"In terms of actual threat to Voyager, it's definitely the Magol we have to worry about most," said Torres. "With the metaphasic weapons and shields, they'll continue to have tactical superiority, even with any modifications Harren and I can make to the First Portal map shields."

"We still might still be able to send in an away team," said Kim. "The nadion beam was pretty effective against their shields, and the fact that Gunlag knows their weapons are better than ours could also work to our advantage."

"How so, Ensign?" asked a skeptical Tuvok.

"Quite honestly, I'm a little surprised the Magol metaphasic shields were so patchy, when you consider the level of their technological sophistication," said Kim. "Gunlag must have really been in a hurry to catch up to us if he didn't take the time to properly remodulate something as basic as shields. It's not as if the Magol don't know how."

"And even if they if they didn't, one or the other of their new friends could probably figure it out for them," said Paris. "What do you want to bet that after our 'warp core breach,' they won't even bother to do any more work on them? I'd lay odds that Gunlag thinks he can outshoot anybody in this godforsaken stretch of space now that we're 'gone'."

"Those are several valid points," said Tuvok. "The deep spectral scans Mr. Kim took of the Gunlag's ship before we entered the nebula revealed that the weak areas in the metaphasic shields are roughly equivalent to conventional shielding at Voyager's level. If we are going to re-engage the Magol, however, we must do it swiftly. Even if they have not yet adjusted their shields, there is nothing to prevent them from doing so once we make an attempt to regain the map."

"If we systematically targeted these weak spots," said Torres, "we could wear away their shield grid and do enough damage to the central processing relay to be able to send away teams in. Once they're aboard, they could disable the rest of the nodes and search for the map."

"Harry, I need you to reorder your priorities," said Janeway. "We need a way to quickly target the weak spots so we can get our people in. Check your readings to see if the weak areas are localized to a specific shield vector that we can exploit. After you've finished that, go back to your 'piggyback' idea and Seven's deflector modifications."

"I'm on it, Captain," responded Kim.

"B'Elanna, when are we going to be able to leave the nebula?"

"Just under five hours from now. With Seven monitoring the containment bubble for me and Harren's help in engineering, we'll be done ahead of schedule."

"Good. I'm going to ask you to oversee all of the projects we've discussed and report their progress to me," said Janeway. Torres nodded. "Tom, when we're ready to leave the nebula, I want you to take us out on the opposite side from where we went in, just in case our friends didn't believe our little lightshow and stayed behind."

"Yes, ma'am."

"One more thing, Captain," said Torres. "Harren came up with a few more calculations for integrating the First Portal map shields with our own, but we won't be able to test them until we're out of the nebula."

"Then we'll take it from there in about five hours, Belanna," said Janeway. She glanced briefly at her first officer before continuing. "Chakotay quoted one of his father's aphorisms to me when we were still in normal space. He said that the deciding factor in any battle is not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog."

The senior staff chuckled at the bit of homespun wisdom. Janeway looked at everyone around the table and said, "You know, our technology allows us to be out here in space with barely a second thought. In this alternate dimension, we're pioneers just as much as Jonathan Archer and his crew were when they entered the Expanse and encountered the Xindi. I commend every one of you and your departments for the ability to come up with remarkable solutions to circumstances none of us could have foreseen. I know your initiative and quick thinking will see us safely through. We'll leave the nebula and embark on the rest of this adventure at 1400 hours. Dismissed."

On the far side of the nebula, 1400 hours:

Five hours later, the U.S.S. Voyager emerged from the antimatter nebula to find that Gunlag and his allies had indeed left for the Second Portal. Torres dropped the containment bubble and began testing Harren's hypotheses for retuning the shields.

"I'm detecting three ion trails about 14 hours old," said Harry Kim. "They're very faint."

for the next few hoursy with a mild sedative, and she closed her eyes and drifted off into a dreamless sleep.ching you being tor

"Can you determine a heading?" asked Janeway.

"Transmitting it to the helm," said Kim. "Captain, I'm also getting some long-range sensor readings on the Magol, and it looks like they haven't done anything yet about their shields." said Kim.

"Tom, I think they bought our little 'mishap'," said Janeway.

"Looks like it," said Paris, "but it's pretty damn cocky for Gunlag to assume we were destroyed without sticking around to verify it."

"That's about what I'd expect from him," said Janeway. "Judging by his reaction to me when I was trying to negotiate Chakotay's release, he has a problem with women in authority over men. It's not such a far leap for him to assume that I was stupid enough to enter a nebula without checking my sensors first, or maybe too reckless to care about anything except eluding him. His mistake. Tom, set a pursuit course warp 9."

Paris turned in his seat to face Janeway and said, "Captain, we don't know the sensor range of those other two ships. There's a zone of subspace sensor disruption warp flight causes that I'd like to take Voyager through. It'd be a bumpy ride, but it should keep them from detecting us until we're fairly close. We'll have a better chance of taking them by surprise."

"Do it," said Janeway.

Paris made several adjustments to his console and said, "Course laid in."

"Engage."

Voyager jumped to warp. Janeway turned to Kim and said, "Begin long-range scanning for residual neutrino emissions, and keep an eye out for the beacon frequency."

"Captain, permission to begin drilling away teams for our mission to recover the map?" asked Tuvok.

"Granted," said Janeway. Tuvok left the bridge.

Chakotay leaned over the console and spoke quietly to Janeway. "Kathryn, we have about ten hours before we catch up to Gunlag. Things are going to be pretty routine until then, so why don't you get some rest in your quarters. I'll keep an eye on things for you."

Janeway chuckled and said, "I think I'll just take you up on that, Chakotay. I need to be sharp for what's coming up, and right now, I'm feeling a little burnt."

"Antimatter nebulas will do that to you, or so I've been told," said Chakotay.

Janeway just rolled her eyes and smirked in reply. She stood and said, "Commander, you have the bridge. I'll be in my quarters."

Day 13

Aboard the Magol ship, 2138 hours:

"Captain, the Abuskat are hailing us," said Flamm.

"Put them through."

Captain Helar of the Abuskat appeared on the viewscreen. "Gunlag, my sensors are showing the alien vessel pursuing us. It would seem that they were not destroyed in the nebula after all."

"That ship of vermin has more lives than a Taldarik beast," growled Gunlag. "Allow me to confer with my officers, Helar, and then we will contact Tarik to discuss how we will put Voyager of its misery once and for all."

Imot tensed as he sat at the helm controls of the Herat, absolutely certain of what was coming his way. Gunlag nodded to Flamm, who prepared himself to slide into Imot's place and take control of the ship's navigation. Imot felt the stabbing jolt of pain from Gunlag's punishment device before the Magol captain had entirely pulled him from his seat.

"You worthless piece of garbage," screamed Gunlag as he alternated between beating Imot and torturing him with the punishment device. "You told me Janeway and her ship had been destroyed. Are you blind as well as stupid? Or did you just lie to me to cover your own incompetence?" Gunlag raised the setting on the punishment device and jolted the unfortunate Expendable again.

Imot squealed in pain and cried, "The nebula clouded the sensors." He drew a shuddering breath and said, "You saw the readings yourself and agreed with me that they were destroyed. You saw the explosion." A spark of a thought flashed in Imot's pain-dulled brain. "Ask your allies why they did not tell you Janeway's ship was not destroyed. Maybe they were trying to deceive you in some way."

"Fool," said Gunlag. "Their sensors were damaged and not working. I don't expect them to be truthful with me, but I trust you even less." Gunlag began beating Imot once again.

"Captain! You don't see this for the opportunity it is," gasped Imot.

"Opportunity? I'm rewarding you for your treachery and you dare speak of opportunity? Well, let's hear this crazy idea," said Gunlag. "Oh, this should be good." He crossed his arms over his chest and glared at Imot as the bridge echoed with derisive Magol laughter.

"You wanted revenge against Janeway for what she did when she took the Map Finder from you," said Imot. "Fate has presented her to you once again. You know they are desperate to take the map from us, or they would not be pursuing after taking so much damage. You should contact your allies and send a boarding party to take Janeway hostage. Make them give you the Map Finder to get her back." Gunlag raised his fist to strike Imot again. "They have temporal sensor technology," Imot said. "Think of what you could do with that. Think of both your revenge and your future profit."

"A boarding party? All right, Expendable. I'll send a boarding party, and you're going to lead it," said Gunlag. "If you come back without Janeway alive for me to use as a hostage, I'll have the pleasure of executing you myself."

Imot cowered on the deck, but nodded his agreement.

"Flamm, contact Tarik and Helar to make arrangements. Four of their crew are still aboard the Herat, and I'd like them to join the boarding party. Fate indeed has presented me with another opportunity, but if this miserable Expendable's plan fails, he will never offer another idea for my consideration."

Day 14

On board Voyager, 0039 hours:

Three hours after Imot hatched his desperate plan, Voyager finally caught up to the Magol and their allies. They engaged Gunlag's ship and began to hammer away at its metaphasic shields with the nadion beam/covariant pulse combination.

"Condition of the Magol shields, Harry?" asked Janeway.

"Weakening. It shouldn't be much longer."

"Tuvok?"

"Away teams standing by in transporter room 2, awaiting your order."

Aboard Gunlag's Herat, 0103 hours:

The Abuskat engineer Kerak, one of the original team sent to the Herat to assist with the technology sharing project at the start of the alliance, leaned over Flamm's shoulder and pointed to a spot on the Magol's sensor readout of Voyager.

"Here, I think," he said. "This vector is on the point of failure. Direct your weapons fire there."

Flamm locked his pulse cannons on the place the Abuskat had indicated and unleashed a fierce volley.

Aboard Voyager:

"Get those shields back up now, Mr. Ayala," snapped Janeway. "Harry, keep that nadion beam and covariant pulse steady, whatever you do."

"Captain, there's a transport in progress. It's coming from the Magol and they're targeting the bridge" said Kim.

"Block it." Janeway jumped to her feet, phaser in hand.

"I can't – they're using the nadion beam as a carrier for their signal."

"Captain, the only way to block it is to discontinue the nadion beam," said Chakotay. "We'd be defenseless."

Janeway threw a glance over her shoulder to the tactical station. Ayala opened a channel and ordered security teams to the bridge.

"Harry, shipwide," ordered Janeway. The channel opened just as a boarding party of six materialized in the middle of the bridge. "Captain to all hands. We've been boarded. Arm yourselves."

An Abuskat quickly shot the phaser out Janeway's hand while a second shot from one of the Tarkada stunned her. The two Magol in the party dashed forward and grabbed her as she crumpled to the deck. The boarding party began to dematerialize the moment they had Janeway, before the rest of the bridge crew could get a clear shot and just as security teams arrived.

Chakotay spun around to face Ops. "Get them back now. I don't care how you do it. Once the lock is stable, send a graviton pulse back along their transporter signal to take out their targeting scanners."

"Skeletal lock obtained. Transmitting graviton pulse and rematerializing boarding party," said Kim.

Imot was horrified to find himself back on Voyager. He whirled and stunned the entire group, dropped his weapon, and threw himself at Chakotay's feet. "Asylum," he begged. "You promised me asylum if I helped you escape when you were Gunlag's captive. He'll kill me if you send me back without your captain."

Chakotay took one look at the bruised and bloodied Magol and barked, "Fine. You've got it." He turned to Ayala. "Put him in secured quarters and post two guards."

Chakotay bent down and gently removed his Captain from the crumpled pile of stunned aliens. He tapped his combadge. "Doctor, prepare for an emergency transport. The Captain has been injured."

"Acknowledged."

He turned to Kim as the security team hustled Imot off the bridge and said, "Beam them all back to Gunlag's ship along the nadion beam." The boarding party dematerialized.

"Time to complete repairs?" he asked Torres.

"Couple of hours. Nothing major this time. Harren's calculations made a difference."

Chakotay turned to Paris and said, "Tom, get us out of here, but stay within sensor range."

"With pleasure." Voyager jumped to warp.

"They're not pursuing," said Kim.

"Good," said Chakotay. "Hold all damage reports until I get back. I'll be in sickbay. Paris, you have the bridge."

On the Magol ship:

Gunlag flew into a rage the moment the boarding party rematerialized in front of him without Imot and Janeway, but he held his temper in check until the Abuskat and Tarkada had left the bridge. He rounded on Asmot, the other hapless Expendable who had accompanied Imot on this mission. Gunlag activated his punishment device and jammed into Asmot's back.

"You helped him escape. Tell me what you know."

"Nothing," Asmot screamed as a jolt of pain shot through him. "He told me nothing."

"I don't believe you," Gunlag snarled as he sent another jolt through Asmot. "I should make an example of you to teach the rest of you worthless Expendables a lesson in case any of you are thinking about escape." Asmot shook with dread, fearing that he would not see the beginning of another day. Gunlag looked at the trembling Expendable with disgust, and said, "Confine him. I will finish this interrogation later." Two Essentials jumped from their assigned posts and removed Asmot from the bridge.

"Flamm, can you read that garbage's calculations?"

"Yes," Flamm replied, "but they won't be necessary. He has the course already entered into the helm. All we have to do is follow it."

"Good. I'm well rid of him," Gunlag said as he settled back into his chair to weigh his options for when the three ships reached the Second Portal. He smiled as he remembered the Magol canon: "There is always time for treachery."

Day 14

In sickbay, 0115 hours:

"Report," barked Chakotay as he rushed through the sickbay doors and over to the surgical biobed where Janeway lay, barely conscious. The Doctor turned from where he was preparing medication, ready to snap out a sarcastic response until he saw Chakotay brush a wayward strand of hair from Janeway's face. He watched with a pang as the gesture turned into a gentle caress. The Doctor turned back to finish his medicine preparation, fully understanding the unrequited feelings behind Chakotay's action. His demeanor softened and he responded, "Second degree phaser burns on her hand and forearm, and trauma to her nervous system. What happened up there?"

"We were boarded, Doctor, and she was stunned twice within five minutes."

Janeway groaned and opened her eyes. She sat up clutching her head and moaned, "Why does it feel like the Delta Flyer just landed on me?"

Chakotay helped the Doctor ease her back down onto the biobed as he replied, "Lie still, Kathryn. What do you remember?"

"We were boarded. I remember someone shooting the phaser out of my hand. Nothing after that."

"They stunned you and tried to transport you with them off the bridge. Harry got a lock and pulled everybody back. The Magol leading the raid stunned all of you and then begged me for asylum. He was the one who agreed to help me escape when Gunlag captured me, so I put him in secure quarters with two guards posted."

Janeway glanced at her shoulder, where Chakotay's hand had remained since he had helped the Doctor ease her back into lying down on the biobed. She looked up at him and said, "You know, somehow, I don't think I'm going anywhere right now."

"Indulge a nervous friend who thought for a moment that he would be the one standing on Voyager's bridge, watching as you were being tortured by that monster. I don't know what I would have done if I'd had to listen to your screams."

"Come to think of it..." Janeway said as she shuddered involuntarily. She reached up and put her undamaged hand over his. "Thank you for making sure that didn't become my reality, Chakotay." She looked up at the Doctor, who was using a dermal regenerator to heal the energy weapon burns on her other hand.

The Doctor smiled and said, "You should recover fairly quickly, Captain, provided that you rest. You're in good health otherwise."

"I will, Doctor, after my first officer brings me up to date."

The Doctor sighed and rolled his eyes, but said to Chakotay, "Keep it brief," as he returned to his office to enter data into the Captain's medical records.

Chakotay removed his hand from Janeway's shoulder and switched to professional mode. "We took some damage when we lost our shields, but B'Elanna thinks it shouldn't be more than a few hours' work. Apparently, Harren's latest calculations did their job. There's only very slight damage to our systems. Once the repair crews are done, we'll be in pursuit again."

"All right, Commander, that's enough for now," said the Doctor as he left his office to shoo Chakotay from sickbay. "I will keep you updated on her condition, but my patient has to rest now."

"I'll expect it, Doctor," Chakotay said. He gave Janeway's hand a squeeze and said, "I'm going to speak to our refugee briefly, and then I'm going off duty for a few hours to get some sleep. Paris has the bridge, but don't hesitate to call me if you need me, Kathryn." Janeway nodded, and Chakotay turned and left sickbay.

The Doctor waited until the sickbay doors closed behind Chakotay before he spoke. "I've healed the weapon burns, Captain, but your nervous system is another story. I'm going to keep you here under sedation for the next four hours to help your body recover from the shock."

"Is that really necessary, Doctor?" Janeway asked, as he closed the bioshell arms around her.

"I want to monitor your progress," he said. "If your condition improves at the rate I expect it to, I will release you to return to duty at 0600. I know that short of putting you in an isotropic restraint, nothing will keep you off the bridge during a crisis. The least you can do for me is to rest for the next few hours."

"All right, Doctor, you win," she said. The EMH injected Janeway with a mild sedative, and she closed her eyes and drifted off into a dreamless sleep.

In secured quarters aboard Voyager, 0145 hours:

Chakotay nodded to the two security guards posted at the door as he entered the cabin in which Imot was being held.

"Map Finder, I owe you my life," Imot said as Chakotay stepped into the room.

"The name's Chakotay."

"Imot," the Magol said. "I knew you were an honorable man who would keep your word because of the way you escaped without letting Gunlag know that I had offered to help you."

"I know what they did to me, and judging by the look of you, Gunlag doesn't hesitate to torture his own when it suits his purpose," said Chakotay.

"Not all Magol are as vicious as Gunlag," said Imot. "My misfortune to have ended up serving on his ship."

"I'll ask our Doctor to come by and check you over, and someone will be along with a meal for you," said Chakotay. "Until they get here, I have some questions for you."

"Ask me anything."

"We found evidence that suggested there was a spy aboard Voyager," said Chakotay.

"There was," said Imot. "Gunlag made an alliance with two other species, and one of them had undetectable stealth cloaks. We were able to follow you in the marketplace where you found part of the map, and the spy was able to spend several hours on your ship gathering information."

"You said there were two other species."

"Yes," said Imot. "The species that has the cloak is called the Tarkada, and the other is the Abuskat. They have highly advanced sensor technology. Fortunately for you, their sensors were not working when you faked your own destruction, or they would have seen it was a trick."

"But we didn't fool you."

"No. I happened to be monitoring the Herat's sensors. The readings were not what I would expect for a ship of your size. My captain didn't understand what they meant, so I was hoping to get us through the map portal before he learned otherwise."

"So he has the map then?" asked Chakotay.

"Yes. A portion of it was blurred, but the coordinates to the map portal were easy enough to plot," said Imot. He hesitated for a moment, and then asked, "How is your captain?"

"She's resting in sickbay. She'll make a complete recovery. Why do you ask?"

Imot said, "I regret having shot her. Gunlag put me in charge of the raid, and told me he would execute me if I returned empty-handed. That is why I asked you for asylum."

"I saw you had been badly beaten, Imot. There was no way I could have sent you back to your ship. You'll find the people on Voyager to be compassionate, unlike what you've been used to," said Chakotay.

"If I had attacked a captain on any other vessel I know of, I would be dead now. There is something I can do to repay your kindness. I plotted the course to the map portal for Gunlag, and the coordinates are still fresh in my mind. Allow me to recreate that for you."

"All right. I can give you access to our astrometrics department. The woman who works there will assist you. I'm willing to give you more freedom to move around the ship, but you'll have to be accompanied by a security detail. It's standard procedure."

"I accept your conditions, Chakotay. You have been more generous than I deserve."

At that moment, the door opened and Neelix bustled in with a hot meal on a tray. "Well, Commander, I see we have a new passenger."

"Neelix, this is Imot. He'll be traveling with us through the Second Portal."

"Very good," said Neelix. "I have a little time right now to spend with Mr. Imot if you have something else you need to do. I can familiarize him with how we do things around here."

"Good idea, Neelix. I'll leave him in your capable hands for now." He turned and left the cabin as Neelix set the tray down and began to draw Imot out. Once in the corridor, Chakotay tapped his combadge. "Chakotay to Ayala."

"Ayala here."

"Mike, our Magol guest has offered to recreate the course to the Portal for us, and I need you to set that up with astrometrics. I've decided to let him out of secure quarters, but he'll need a security detail with him at all times. I'm going off duty to catch a few hours sleep before our final showdown with the Magol. Chakotay out."

Scylla and Charybdis:

Charybdis, 0615 hours:

About five hours later, Voyager was within sensor range of the Magol and their allies. Janeway had been released from sickbay and was on her way to the mess hall.

"Captain, so good to see you," said Neelix when he looked up from his stove to see who had walked through the doors. "How are you feeling?"

"Better, Neelix. Not 100, but the Doctor certified me fit for duty, so here I am. I've come to invite you to the bridge as an observer. You're the one who got us started on this adventure. I think your presence may be an asset when we try to go through the Portal. "

Neelix swelled with pride at the attention. "Anything I can do to help, Captain, I'm happy to do."

"Janeway to Chell. Please report to the mess hall to cover for Neelix." She turned to say something further to Neelix, and the worried expression on his face reminded her of the conversation with Chakotay over dinner the previous week. She remembered that he had mentioned Neelix's insecurity over having someone else in his kitchen and she hastened to reassure him. "Neelix, I just want the shift covered as a matter of procedure. You know no one could ever take your place. You're a Voyager institution."

Neelix ducked his head bashfully and said, "Captain, you always know that right thing to say to warm my Talaxian heart." Janeway smiled and started for the door. Neelix said, "Aren't you forgetting something?" Janeway looked puzzled until Neelix walked over to the replicator and punched in a code. He picked up the steaming cup of coffee and said, "Commander Chakotay told me that you beat the Borg with this. Gunlag doesn't stand a chance."

They both laughed and headed for the turbolift. When Janeway stepped onto the bridge, the first thing she saw was Tuvok back at his station. A smile lit up her face as she said, "How are you, old friend?"

"Improved, Captain. The Doctor cleared me for duty."

"Just in time, Tuvok. We're about to re-engage the Magol near the Portal. I'm assuming you've been brought up to date."

"I have."

"Captain," said Harry Kim, "I'm detecting weapons fire at the edge of our sensor range."

"Onscreen."

The viewscreen showed a particle fountain with three ships in the middle of a pitched battle near the edge of the anomaly.

"Magnify."

The image showed the Magol firing upon the two allies, one of whom was clearly losing the battle to keep from being driven into the particle fountain.

"How soon can we get there, Tom?" asked Janeway.

"Not soon enough," interrupted Kim.

"Harry?"

"The entire region around the particle fountain is riddled with subspace fractures and sinkholes."

"All stop."

"Coming to all stop," said Paris.

"We could go around it, but it would take too long for us to be any help," said Torres. "I can reconfigure the shields to repel the fractures, but we'll have to proceed at impulse only until we can find a stable area near the particle fountain. Subspace is pretty badly damaged here."

"All right, do it," said Janeway. "Janeway to Chakotay."

"Chakotay here."

"Commander, I'm sorry to disturb your rest, but I need you on the bridge. We're about to engage the Magol."

"On my way."

The bridge crew continued to watch the battle play out on the viewscreen. Chakotay arrived and took in the image on the viewscreen. He said, "Looks like Gunlag wants to keep the map for himself."

"So it would appear. That was undoubtedly his plan all along," said Tuvok.

"I think Mr. Vulcan is right," said Neelix. "Our Magol guest told me that Gunlag has crew from both of the allies on his ship, and said that he would probably torture them for information."

Voyager continued to pick its way through the damaged area of subspace surrounding the particle fountain, and found a stable area just in time to see the Abuskat ship being drawn into a sinkhole.

"Tractor beam."

"Captain, we're out of range," said Kim helplessly, as the bridge crew watched the Abuskat ship disappear into the anomaly. The Tarkada barely escaped being drawn in as well, and flew out of range of its gravitational pull. The Herat fired a last heavy phase cannon volley at them and began a run for the Portal, which was visible far in the distance. The Tarkada came about and matched Gunlag's course and speed.

"Captain, I have those distance calculations to follow that second ship into the Portal," said Kim. "Transmitting them to the helm."

"Got 'em, Harry," said Paris.

"Tuvok, how soon will we be in weapons range?' asked Janeway.

"We are in range now, Captain."

"Fire a couple of warning shots across Gunlag's bow. Try to slow him down."

"No effect."

"Tom, it's up to you now," said Janeway. "We're going to have to ride the tail of that second ship."

"Yes, Ma'am."

Scylla, 0743 hours:

The Second Portal's aperture was visible in the distance.

"Harry, what do have on sensors?" asked Chakotay.

"No creature this time, but I am detecting an energy barrier with the beacon frequency," said Kim. "I'm getting a few unusual readings, too – they're very faint, but nothing that sets off any warning bells."

"Keep an eye on those, Harry," said Janeway, "and start broadcasting the beacon frequency."

"Broadcasting, aye."

"Seven, activate the enhanced structural integrity field."

"Field activated," responded Seven.

"Captain, they're picking up speed," said Paris.

"Match it," ordered Janeway. "Move us up behind that second ship as close as you can get and still leave us room to maneuver away if we have to."

"Yes, ma'am."

The Herat easily passed through the energy barrier and into the Second Portal, closely followed by the Tarkada. After Tarkada ship entered the Portal, the entrance snapped shut behind it just as Voyager breached the energy barrier. Tom Paris slammed his fist on the console and uttered an oath as the ship sailed through empty space where only moments before a wormhole had existed.

Thick silence hung over the stunned bridge crew. Finally, Janeway spoke and said, "Tom, move us off in case the Portal opens again, and we can make another run. Seven, discontinue the structural integrity field while we consider our options."

"I'm not so sure that there are any options, Captain," said Kim. "Neelix, didn't Eyfrod say we would never see our homeworld again if the map was stolen?"

"He did indeed, Harry," responded a dejected Neelix. "This is starting to sound an awful lot like the "False Passage" story we heard on Nardonia."

"False Passage?" asked Kim.

"That legend was about a convenient wormhole that offers travelers an escape from an unfamiliar region of space full of spatial anomalies, and then destroys them when they're inside and can't turn back," said Neelix.

"Captain, the last Portal destroyed any ships that entered without the correct password," said Chakotay, "and you know that Eyfrod told us that any ship entering a Portal must have all the pieces of the map collected thus far to pass through safely."

Janeway leapt to her feet with a sharp intake of breath. "And Icheb told us that the portal will destroy the ships and eject the indestructible portion of map if they don't. Tom…"

Voyager was already moving before Janeway had finished her first sentence. "Way ahead of you, Captain. Taking us out of range," said Paris.

"Captain to all hands, brace yourselves."

The Second Portal abruptly popped open, spewing debris from Gunlag's ship over a wide area. Voyager rocked back severely from the force of the shockwave.

"Report!"

"Minor damage," said Tuvok. "It will take our systems several minutes to stabilize, but we are otherwise unharmed."

"Harry, scan the debris," said Janeway.

"Scanning. Captain, I'm only detecting pieces of the Magol ship. The other one must have made it through to Third Portal space."

"We'll worry about them later."

"Wait a minute," said Kim. "I'm reading the beacon frequency – I think it's the map."

"We'll soon find out. Lock onto it and beam it onto the bridge."

The Second Portal map materialized on the deck next to the helm. Tom Paris reached under his console for the First Portal map which he had stowed there when Voyager left the nebula and placed it on top of his station. He reached over and retrieved the Second Portal map and sat back down at the helm as he placed the second set of quadlets near the first. The entire bridge crew watched mesmerized as the two sets of quadlets were drawn together. The Second Portal map slid on top of the first set and fused itself to the First Portal map.

"Nice engineering," said an appreciative Torres from her station.

"Seven, bring the enhanced structural integrity field online," said Janeway. Harry, start broadcasting the beacon frequency."

"Online," said Seven.

"And broadcasting," said Kim.

"Tom, we're ready when you are. Take us in."

Paris laid his hand upon the fused quadlets and the grey mist of the living map sprung up around him, taking him into its grip and leaving him blind to his surroundings. Images of planets and stars whirled though the fog surrounding the helm. Janeway looked over at him with a swell of confidence and trust that her helmsman would get them safely through the Portal with the assistance of the map, just as he had done before. Voyager passed through the energy barrier and entered the Second Portal.

"Captain, someone has activated the containment bubble we used in the nebula," said Kim.

Janeway glanced back at Seven, who said, "I did not activate it."

She then turned to look at the Tactical station, where the gray mist was springing up around the console. Tuvok stood at his post, staring at the viewscreen, unseeing. The cloud of mist continued to grow and swirl until it had enveloped the Tactical and hidden the Vulcan from view.

"Captain, sensors are reading an antimatter lining close to the exit aperture of the Portal," said Kim. "This is an antimatter wormhole."

Neelix had an insight and it transmitted instantly across the Tasnixia bond to Chakotay. They turned to one another and said together, "The Deadly Welcome."

Before Janeway could ask what that was, Torres tapped her combadge and said, "Torres to Harren. Get up to the bridge on the double. We need you." She turned to Janeway and said, "I heard about this when Tom came back from Nardonia. He thought it sounded like a nav warning, and if he's right, we're not out of the woods yet."

Forks of intense energy began to crackle around the perimeter of the containment bubble. Torres glanced down at her console and an anomalous reading caught her eye. She realized that the quantum signature of the Portal's antimatter lining was slightly different from that which they had encountered in the nebula. She quickly began entering data to reconfigure the bubble.

Seven looked at her console when Torres went into action and immediately realized what the problem was. She had begun to make fractal algorithmic adjustments to stabilize the shield matrix when the turbolift opened and discharged Mortimer Harren onto the bridge. 'Mr. Harren, assist me," she called out. Harren sprinted to Seven's side.

After a very tense 30 seconds, the bridge crew saw the crackling energy decrease in intensity. Torres relaxed and looked up from her console to say, "There. We should be safe for the remainder of the trip." She glanced over at the helm and commented, "As Tom would say, just sit back and enjoy the ride."

Harren looked up at the viewscreen from his position next to Seven and silently watched the antimatter tendrils dancing across the containment bubble until Voyager exited the Portal and found itself back in normal space.

"You know," he said, "Tom once told me that he enjoyed the view he had at the helm. He was right. It is better from up here."

Janeway just smiled at her former lost sheep's observation.

Captain's Log, Stardate 54094.5:

I'm pleased to note in this log that we have covered 4,700 light years in two weeks with this latest Portal jump. That puts us 25,367 light years from home, which means nearly five years taken off our journey. As one would expect, the crew is elated.

Voyager exited the antimatter Portal without incident, and we are now underway for Sirana, a planet suggested by our Magol passenger, where we will set down for needed repairs and a long overdue warp coil refit. Imot assures me that the Siranians are friendly, and are receptive to travelers in need of a little shore leave.

We have been able to arrange for as much gallicite as we need for the refit in exchange for engineering assistance with repairing and upgrading Siranian technology damaged in a recent severe ion storm.

Sensors have shown no sign of the ship that entered the Portal with Gunlag. I would have liked to have learned how they were able to pass through safely without having the protection of the map. That kind of information could have proved useful later on in our journey.

Several days later, planetside:

Kathryn Janeway sat on the couch in her ready room, enjoying the feel of the warm sunshine pouring through the viewports as she caught up on reading reports. The door chimed, and she called out, "Come." Tuvok, Neelix, Imot, and a two-man security detail entered. Janeway came down to the lower level and stood behind her desk.

"Imot, I'd like to extend our thanks for charting the course to the Portal for us, and for recommending this planet."

"It is far less than enough to thank you for your kindness to me in saving my life," Imot said. "I knew of Sirana from an old friend who is a deep-space trader in commodities. It is fortunate for you that Gunlag never traveled this far out from Magol. You and your crew won't be tainted by association with him."

"It was fortunate for you as well, Imot," Janeway replied. "The Siranians certainly appreciate your way with their technology."

"That comes from having worked in the engine room on a long-haul Siranian cargo freighter for many years. I found them to be a very welcoming and tolerant people, one that I am happy to meet again."

"I'm glad to hear that," said Janeway. "I wanted to be the one to tell you that the planetary government has granted your request to settle here. You're free to transport down whenever you wish."

"I would like to go now, Captain Janeway, if I may. There are some friends from my cargo ship days that I'd like to look up."

"Of course."

"Mr. Neelix," said Tuvok. "Please escort our guest to the transporter room in my place. There are a few matters I wish to discuss with the Captain."

"My pleasure, Mr. Vulcan," said Neelix. "Imot, if you would come with me?"

"Goodbye, Imot, and the best of luck in your new life on Sirana," said Janeway.

Farewell, Captain. Fortunate journey," said Imot with a friendly wave as he left the ready room with Neelix and the security detail.

Janeway returned to her spot on the couch and invited Tuvok to join her. She picked up the fused map from the low table in front of the couch and handed it to him. Tuvok took a few moments to look it over and then glanced up.

"I hope the past few days of meditation have restored your equanimity, Tuvok," Janeway said. "It can't have been easy for you to be so totally controlled by the map."

"They have, Captain. I found the experience to be somewhat unsettling, but not negative in any sense. My mental discipline would have allowed me to resist the intrusion, but logic based on past experience suggested that the contact would benefit us all. I had already surmised that my previous connections to the map had opened my consciousness to the prompting of the Mapkeeper's mind, so I followed the impulse's prompting."

"Good thing you did, otherwise we would 'be toast' right now, as Tom would say. The people who scattered the map were obviously very resourceful. Who would have ever expected them to close the door to normal space with a booby trap like an antimatter wormhole?"

"We may encounter other such 'booby traps' in our search for the remaining portals, among other unusual phenomena. Although there is now some idea of what to expect, I do not think the search for the quadlets will become routine. We must keep our minds open and not limit our thinking to what we have experienced thus far."

"Agreed," said Janeway.

"I am looking forward with anticipation to studying the map anew when I return from the surface of the planet."

"Tuvok! Shore leave? You?"

"Vorik expressed a desire to visit the technology museums on this planet, and I agreed to accompany him," said Tuvok.

"Then I won't keep you any longer. Enjoy your museums."

"Tuvok nodded, and left the ready room. Chakotay and a large canister he was carrying slung over his shoulder managed to slip through the door just as it was closing.

Janeway looked up with a smile. "Well, this is unexpected," she said. "I thought you were taking a little shore leave with Naomi and Samantha Wildman today."

"I was, Kathryn, but we found a spot so beautiful that your captain's assistant insisted that I beam back and invite the only person on Voyager who's not taken shore leave to a picnic lunch this afternoon.

"Don't think I'm not tempted, Chakotay."

He sat down next to her and set the canister down on the floor. "I think I should tell you that I ran into the Doctor on my way over from the transporter room, and he was grousing about how the only way you'd take the shore leave he prescribed would be if he pulled rank on you as Chief Medical Officer. I think I headed him off, but it would be just like him use the emergency medical channel to check up on you."

"Well..."

"Repairs are on schedule, and our diplomatic reception for the Siranian officials isn't for another five days. Neelix has preparations for that well in hand. I've heard that even Tuvok is going down to the planet, Kathryn. We have plenty of time before we have to think about starting our search for the Third Portal."

Janeway looked out at the blue sky and felt herself begin to waver. "Well," she said, "it might be nice to spend a few hours out in the fresh air."

"Harry's back from his shore leave rotation. He can certainly mind the store for a few hours. I can promise you a setting as idyllic as anything we saw on New Earth, and I've even got a thermos of freshly replicated coffee with your name on it in here," Chakotay said, tapping the container for emphasis. "None of Neelix's coffee substitutes anywhere in sight."

"Awfully confident of your powers of persuasion, aren't you," Janeway said with a smirk. "Got any Jibelian fudge bars in there?"

Chakotay looked puzzled for a moment. "I suppose I could always replicate a few if you'd like some," he said.

"Good. I wouldn't want to disappoint my captain's assistant when it came time for dessert. My rations, and replicate enough for all of us."

"Aye, captain." Chakotay grinned, walked over to the replicator, and started punching in codes. Janeway tapped her combadge.

"Janeway to Kim."

"Kim here."

"Harry, there's something on the planet surface that the Commander thinks I should see. You wouldn't mind sitting in the big chair for a few hours, would you?"

"No, ma'am," he replied with enthusiasm. "Enjoy your time on Sirana."

Janeway set down her padd and took the arm her First Officer offered. They left the ready room through the private entrance that opened onto the corridor and went on their way to transport down to the planet. Warm sunlight continued to pour into the room as the doors snapped shut on a peal of the Captain's merry laughter.