Kathryn, Doc and Tom manned the Class II shuttle as Harry and Seven took charge of the Delta Flyer. Kathryn had to admit to herself that she was glad for the company. More tests from the doctor revealed that Chakotay had been subjected to an regeneration treatment. His cells had been rejuvenated to that of an embryo and regrown, repairing the damage done to him on board Voyager.
She also admitted that the planet was beautiful. It would be the perfect place for one to go when they died, but since her first officer wasn't dead, it was time to bring him home.
Her heart almost beat out of her chest when they detected a human life sign on the planet.
And her heart almost stopped when they read Meadarit life signs closing in on Chakotay.
XI. Against
They landed the shuttle and exited, cautiously approaching the area where they knew Chakotay was as well as the Meadarit. As they approached, they heard the unmistakable sound of the Shuttle being blown to pieces. They were stranded.
Summoning her strength, Kathryn led the others into the clearing. Chakotay sat in the middle, huddled in a little ball. They went to him, shooting the two guards with their phaser's.
"Well?" She said, standing on one side of Chakotay while Doc ran his tricorder over him.
"He's fine physically, but we need to get him off this planet before he ages too much."
"What about his mind?" Kathryn asked.
"It's a complete void, captain. It would seem that I have all his marbles." Doc rolled his eyes. "Now I know what Doctor McCoy went through carrying around Captain Spock's consciousness. Though I must say I'm happier about it then I would be if it were Commander Tuvok or Mister Neelix."
Kathryn put a hand on his shoulder. "We need to get him to the Delta Flyer." As they began to hoist the body of the commander, they heard the unmistakable sound of a transporter.
"Don't." The Meadarit official said, leveling a weapon on the three. "Drop all weapons and communication devices." The three tossed their phaser to the ground, but kept on their comm badges. "Over there. All but Janeway." Doc and Tom began moving to the side.
"Can't they take my first officer with them?" Kathryn asked.
"No!" The Meadarit said.
"But why?" Kathryn said. She hadn't gone through all this just to lose him again.
"Because you ,I>wish it." He spoke into his communications device and seconds later, Doc and Tom disappeared.
"Why won't you let me take him?" Kathryn asked as the Meadarit came closer.
"Because this is sacred land. We lay claim to all the Senpicol deposit here."
"Can't you understand? He doesn't belong to anybody. He is my friend, my first officer, the father of my child. Surely those are sacred to you as well as me."
"No. He remains."
Kathryn put her hands on her hips and thrust out her chin. "Over my dead body." She leveled at him.
"My pleasure." He said. The Meadarit lunged at Kathryn, tackling her. The voice in the back of her mind was telling her to stop this madness, that her baby would suffer if she hurt herself.
He pulled her by the front of her uniform, forcing her against a rock. He put his hand over her neck and began squeezing. She narrowed her eyes and concentrated. She found leverage with her hands and took up against him, loosening his grip. Then she hauled back with her knee and hit him in the crotch. This made him release her completely. She slid to the ground, catching her breath. She ran when he came at her again. As he approached, she caught her foot up on the rock face and flipped up and over him.
He came at her again, and this time, he fell from a small embankment that led to a much higher cliff. Kathryn took the upper hand and flew over the ledge at him. Her thoughts were no longer on her child, on Chakotay. She was taking out every frustration she ever had on this man. Using her shoulder, she ran into him, sending him skidding to the edge. The ground, which was not too stable, came loose and he fell back, catching the ledge.
Reason again claimed Kathryn and she held out her hand. "Here," She yelled. "Take it."
The Meadarit growled and grabbed at her ankle. It sent her to the ground jarring her back. "You're going with me." He hissed.
Again the rage welled in Kathryn. She pulled back her foot and thrust it out. "I. . ." kick. ". . .have had. . ." kick. ". . . enough of. . ." kick. ". . .you!" And she gave him a final kick, sending him plummeting to the darkness below.
Kathryn gathered herself and pulled herself painfully up and to the ledge.
XII. Left
Kathryn could hear the whine of the Meadarit engines as she clawed her way back to the body of her first officer. She got to him and turned him over, noting how he looked the same as he always had. The tattoo. The dark hair. Crooked nose. She looked up in time to see the Meadarit ship's weapon bay come aglow before it fired. With a feat of strength, she grabbed Chakotay by his wrists and pulled him up to her, holding his body against hers.
His arms went around her, pulling her to him. From no where, a streak went over them and the Delta flyer shot at them. The Meadarit gave no fight and zoomed away. Kathryn held her hand against her eyes as the wind whipped around them. She tapped her comm badge.
"Janeway to Kim. Two to beam up."
The transporter engulfed her and she found herself on the bridge of the Delta Flyer. Doc and Tom were there as well, having been rescued by Harry and Seven.
"Mr. Paris, please take the commander in back and make sure he's comfortable. I need to check on the captain." Doc said as Tom took Chakotay's prone form from the captain. The Doc then ran a scanner over Kathryn.
"You're lucky, captain."
"I know. You don't have to tell me." She said, running her hand over her hair. "Is everything all right."
"Yes, but no thanks to your acrobatics. You could have lost this child." He said, reprimanding her slightly. Harry and Seven looked at each other, over hearing the comment.
"I know. But if I hadn't tried, the lose would have been my soul." She said.
The doctor pursed his lips together as Harry brought the flyer up and took her out to rendezvous with Voyager.